Roman Josi wasn't going to let an injury stop him from going for gold.
The talented Nashville Predators defenseman broke his hand in Switzerland's semifinal victory over Canada at the World Championship in May and played through it in the gold-medal game loss to Sweden, Switzerland head coach Patrick Fischer told Swiss radio station SRF on Sunday, as translated by Swiss Hockey News.
The Swiss national team had to ask the Predators for permission to dress Josi for the final, in which it fell to Sweden in a shootout.
Josi assisted on both of Switzerland's goals in regulation and logged more than 29 minutes of ice time in the championship game.
He chose to represent his home country at the tourney in Denmark after the Winnipeg Jets eliminated the Predators in the Western Conference semifinal.
Ottawa Senators assistant general manager Randy Lee pleaded not guilty Monday to a charge that he harassed a 19-year-old hotel shuttle driver in Buffalo last week, according to The Canadian Press.
Lee was granted permission to re-enter Canada on Monday after being arrested and having his passport confiscated following the alleged incident last Wednesday.
He faces a possible fine and up to 15 days in jail if convicted. His next court date is June 22.
Lee was in Buffalo with the Senators for the NHL's scouting combine.
On the strength of back-to-back wins from the Washington Capitals, the complexion of the Stanley Cup Final has shifted drastically.
The back-and-forth drama and theatrics of an epic Game 1 have become an afterthought, as for virtually the first time all season, the Vegas Golden Knights appear to be on the ropes.
The expansion team of destiny will quickly point to the thumping it received from the Winnipeg Jets to open the Western Conference Final as a similar experience of adversity - one the Golden Knights quickly overcame, reeling off four consecutive victories to reach this point.
Now, Vegas needs another bounce-back performance to make the final a best-of-three heading back to Sin City. Here are three areas where the club needs to show improvement Monday night to ensure that happens (all advanced stats courtesy Natural Stat Trick).
The second line
By this point in any playoff series, players are pretty familiar with who they'll draw for the majority of their matchups. For the Golden Knights' second line - composed of Erik Haula, James Neal, and David Perron - things haven't gone well against Alex Ovechkin and Co.
Outperforming the greatest goal-scorer of his generation as he looks to win the first Stanley Cup of his legendary career isn't exactly an easy task, but Vegas' trio needs to find a way to push back.
The Golden Knights' second line has combined for just one goal and three high-danger scoring chances all series. Head coach Gerard Gallant seems cognizant of that, as Alex Tuch will join the second line and Tomas Tatar appears set to replace Perron for Game 4.
For Vegas' sake, it better work.
Not-so-Wild Bill
(Photo Courtesy: Getty Images)
As Vegas' second line struggles, the performance of the top unit of William Karlsson, Reilly Smith, and Jonathan Marchessault becomes paramount to the Golden Knights' chances of winning. However, the trio's most potent goal-scorer hasn't found a way to make a grand impact just yet.
Aside from a goal in Game 1, Karlsson has been held pointless, and only mustered two shots on goal at five-on-five through three contests - including a goose egg Saturday night.
Marchessault and Smith have produced seven and three high-danger chances, respectively, to Karlsson's one. The Golden Knights' 43-goal man needs to be better if one of the most relentless lines in hockey is going to make a difference Monday in Washington.
Drive the net
In Game 1, the Golden Knights produced quality chance after quality chance - 24 in total, 14 of which were classified as high-danger at five-on-five.
Since, Vegas has 14 high-danger chances combined, and only three goals over two games. The Capitals' defensive corps deserves some credit for adjusting and keeping the Golden Knights' chances to the perimeter, but Braden Holtby isn't going to be solved by shots from the outside, and the onus is on Gallant's crew to change that.
Since Day 1 of this dream season, the Golden Knights' mandate has been to force opponents back with their speed, converting on their chances from dangerous areas along the way. After being bottled up for two consecutive contests, Vegas needs to push the pace and return to what's worked for 100 games so far.
The Vegas Golden Knights will shake things up for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, as winger Tomas Tatar confirmed he will draw into the lineup for the first time since Game 3 of the Western Conference Final.
It's not clear who he'll replace, though it appears David Perron will be the odd man out, according to multiple reports.
The Golden Knights acquired Tatar at the trade deadline and he's registered one goal in six playoff appearances so far.
How will you handle going up against larger players in the corners?
We’ve heard you have some attitude issues. What can you tell us about that?
What’s your Fortnite game like?
Here’s a picture of a bus with two front ends. Which way is it driving?
Prospects at the 2018 NHL Scouting Combine were faced with a wide variety of questions in their formal team interviews. That last one came from the Washington Capitals, and the number of prospects who got it right hovered between very few to none. The Capitals informed prospects they would learn the correct answer if they were drafted by Washington.
Formal interviews are the toughest and perhaps most important part of the combine. While the fitness testing provides teams with information moving forward - shining a light on areas that need improvement, which teams can then use to create a plan for those players going into camp and beyond - the interviews allow teams to get to know players in a different setting.
Many prospects noted Saturday that they’d spoken to upward of 20 teams, with some interviewing with all but one or two. Serron Noel of the Oshawa Generals had 10 interviews on his first day alone. (Noel also said that he likes being yelled at during the Wingate bike test, which will make some NHL strength and conditioning coach very happy one day.)
In addition to the formal team interviews and grueling physical testing, prospects had to deal with questions from the media. Here’s what we learned about some of the prospects who likely won’t go in the first round this year, but will be assets to whichever team drafts them.
C Blade Jenkins, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
In May 2017, Jenkins chose to leave the U.S. National Team Development Program, forgoing his scholarship at the University of Michigan and joining the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League.
"I think for me just kinda looking at it and seeing major-junior kinda fit my style of game and style of play a little bit more than others,” Jenkins said of what drove his decision to move to the OHL. "You’re developing and you’re playing against high-end draft picks. You’re playing against first- and second-rounders, and I think that kinda gives you a little bit of a taste of what it’s gonna take to get to the next level."
Jenkins is ranked 26th among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting, and is on the younger side of this year’s draft class - he won’t turn 18 until August. He has areas of his game that require improvement moving forward including his skating, a fact of which he is well aware. Jenkins said he plans to develop his speed this summer, working both in the weight room and on the ice.
When asked who he models his game after, if anyone, Jenkins said he tries to play like Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn.
"He’s a big body and his hockey IQ I think is what sets him apart, and his playmaking ability," Jenkins said. "That’s kinda what I like to bring to the table as well, to make others around me better, whether that’s them putting up a couple goals and me being able to give it to them.”
C Ty Dellandrea, Flint Firebirds (OHL)
Dellandrea’s draft year came with the challenge of balancing a successful personal season with a disappointing team campaign. While Dellandrea finished the year with 59 points in 67 games, the Flint Firebirds finished second-to-last in the league, ahead of only the Sudbury Wolves.
Dellandrea is ranked 25th among North American skaters by Central Scouting, and showed great perspective when asked why he thought that he was on the verge of being considered a first-rounder, but not quite there.
"I think maybe I started taking this game and my career seriously a little bit later than others," Dellandrea said. "Some guys have been doing this for years and years, even from a little kid. I might’ve started hockey a bit later."
He played multiple sports when he was younger including volleyball and lacrosse, which took up some time in summer he might’ve otherwise spent training for hockey.
"I think the past three summers, even two summers I’ve grown a ton in my play and in my size so I think with me I just have a lot of potential," Dellandrea said. “I’m gonna keep growing, whereas some other guys uh, you know maybe have already figured out - figured this out already. I think I got a lot of room to grow and to rise."
While he understands it will take time and training, Dellandrea does see himself as eventually becoming a No. 1 center at the next level. He said he tries to model his game after Jonathan Toews.
"I think my ability to play an all-around game," Dellandrea said when asked about his strengths. "I take pride in playing a strong defensive game as well as offensive so I like to use my shot and my speed to my advantage."
C Jack McBain, Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL)
For McBain, the decision to play another year of Junior A and then head to Boston College this fall, rather than taking the major-junior route, was not one he made lightly.
"I had the opportunity to go watch a Michigan game and I really fell in love with college hockey, kind of everything about it," McBain said. "I think at that time and right now, I think it’s the best thing for my game, I think going there and playing against guys that’s 25 years old, basically men, I mean I think that’ll really benefit me in the future."
When asked what aspects of his game he feels are the strongest, McBain said he’s a strong two-way player with a high hockey IQ, and that he uses his size well. He also said that while he’s a good skater, that’s an area where he can still improve.
"You know, I think when I’m in stride I can skate with anybody," McBain said. "For me though, I’ve been working on my first three strides, and getting quicker and more explosive and agile."
McBain was a member of Canada’s gold-medal winning team at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup in 2017, and also represented Canada at this year’s Under-18 World Championships. What NHL jersey he’ll don in Dallas remains to be seen, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him off the board by the middle of the second round.
ARLINGTON, Va. – In a season of firsts, the Vegas Golden Knights are faced with another heading into Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.
They’ve lost two games in a row for the first time this postseason and are down 2-1 in their best-of-seven series with the Washington Capitals. It’s just the second time they’ve trailed a playoff series, after losing Game 1 of the Western Conference Final to the Winnipeg Jets.
"It's not something we're not used to," winger David Perron said. "We had a lot of media thinking we'd get run over the entire series against them. We find a way to win four in a row, win in five. We're in a familiar situation with a lot of doubters. It's fine with us. We have to step up and play the right way."
Defenseman Luca Sbisa said the Golden Knights have handled adversity before, and that the self-belief is still there. But after sweeping the Los Angeles Kings, beating the San Jose Sharks in six games, and handling Winnipeg in five, adversity has been scarce for Vegas in its inaugural season.
But the Golden Knights are facing plenty of it now, sitting just two losses away from watching the Capitals win the Stanley Cup - and ending their Cinderella season in the process.
"We've got to step up our game," head coach Gerard Gallant said. "In the three games, we haven't been good enough. And if we don't step up our game, the same result is going to happen (Monday) night. We'll see what we're made of."
Alex Ovechkin set the tone for Game 3 by scoring in his first Stanley Cup Final home game. Evgeny Kuznetsov and Devante Smith-Pelly also scored for the Capitals, who have rolled four lines far more effectively than the Golden Knights. Tomas Nosek, who had the Game 1 winner, scored off a Braden Holtby turnover in Game 3, but Vegas' depth has been otherwise absent.
The Golden Knights have so far been unable to answer Washington’s attack and find a solution to its stifling neutral-zone pressure.
"We’ve just got to get back to our game, getting pucks deep and getting in on the forecheck," veteran defenseman Deryk Engelland said. "It’s been our key all season long, is the five-man forecheck and five-guy pressure all over the ice. We do it for a little bit at a time and then I think we try to be too cute at times and they thrive on the turnovers."
The Knights didn’t practice Sunday ahead of Game 4, but Gallant said he’d consider making some changes to the lineup, which hasn’t changed all that much during the playoffs. He has tweaked his fourth line and pushed the right buttons with Nosek, Ryan Reaves, and Tomas Tatar.
"I think they’re working hard," forward Ryan Carpenter said. "The pucks didn’t go in for them last game but I don’t know, just bounces. We can’t just look to them to lead us. we’ve got to find a way as depth lines to produce and get some offense."
Gallant could make some tweaks, but he's not going to overhaul his philosophy after guiding the Golden Knights this far.
"You have to lose four games before you lose the Stanley Cup and we're far from out of it," he said.
The former NHL defenseman sustained "a couple broken ribs" in the crash and was still in hospital Sunday, Justin Thomas - the world's No. 1 golfer and a good friend of Cauley - said after completing his fourth round at the Memorial Tournament, according to Steve Gorten and Bill Rabinowitz of the Columbus Dispatch.
Cauley was in surgery after suffering a collapsed lung, five broken ribs, and a fractured left leg, as confirmed by his management firm IMG.
The accident was first reported by Golf Channel's Todd Lewis on Saturday night.
Wisniewski owns a home in Dublin, Ohio, where the Memorial Tournament was being held, and Thomas told the Dispatch that Cauley had been staying with the longtime blue-liner this week.
There were two other people in the car at the time of the accident.
Wisniewski played for six teams in 11 NHL seasons, spending parts of four with the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2011-15. He represented the United States at the Olympics in February.
It doesn't appear a reunion is in the works between Ilya Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils.
Kovalchuk, the Russian superstar winger and unrestricted free agent, has expressed interest in coming back to the NHL, but a return to the Devils looks unlikely.
"I've not reached out to Kovalchuk's representatives and I've not heard from them, so there you go," Devils general manager Ray Shero told Mike Morreale of NHL.com.
Kovalchuk has spent the last five seasons in the KHL after retiring from the Devils in 2013, a move that tore up his 15-year contract.
A return to the NHL prior to this offseason would have seen the Devils retain his rights since Kovalchuk played out just three years of that pact before retiring. But now that Kovalchuk is over 35 years old, he's free to sign with any team.
The New York Rangers are among the teams to have reached out to Kovalchuk. Recent reports indicate the prolific goal-scorer is looking for an extended stay in the NHL, likely on a two- or three-year contract.
Kovalchuk picked up 63 points in 53 games with St. Petersburg SKA this season. He's also recorded 417 goals and 399 assists over 816 NHL games.
