Philadelphia Flyers forward Oskar Lindblom is in the lineup for Game 6 against the New York Islanders, his team confirmed prior to puck drop Thursday night.
Lindblom had not played since his cancer diagnosis in December. He rung the bell for his final treatment in July and was added to the Flyers' postseason roster before the NHL's return to play.
More to come.
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The 2019-20 Dallas Stars are a perplexing hockey team, to put it mildly.
They began the regular season by losing eight of nine games under former coach Jim Montgomery. Then they went on a thrilling 14-1-1 run. By the pause in March, Dallas had strung together enough good stretches to secure a top-four spot in the Western Conference - yet the team dragged a six-game losing skid into the hiatus.
Defensively dominant but starved for goals, the Stars were considered a fringe contender heading into the restart. Six weeks in, they still can't get out of their own way, having coughed up a 3-1 series lead over the Colorado Avalanche in a second-round meeting of Central Division foes.
"We put ourselves in this position and now we have to deal with it," interim head coach Rick Bowness said following Wednesday's 4-1 loss in Game 6.
The franchise hasn't won multiple playoff series since 2008, back when Brenden Morrow was captain, Dave Tippett was coach, and Mike Modano was still around. In the 2019 postseason, the Stars lost in Game 7 of the second round to the eventual Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues.
History is not on Dallas' side. But you just never know with this group.
So, how might Friday's Game 7 shake out? Let's break down both outcomes.
Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon has been the restart's best player. Full stop.
There's also no debate over who's enjoying the biggest breakout performance: 21-year-old Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen has been the team's MVP this postseason with an absurd 19 points in 15 games. He's averaging 25:48 of ice time a night, which is third among second-round players. He's a multidimensional blue-liner who possesses an innate ability to ignite or calm a game at a moment's notice. He's a future Norris Trophy winner, and another dominant two-way performance from the Finn would tilt the scales in Dallas' favor in Game 7.
"I know there's a lot of attention on his points and everything else, but there should be just as much attention on his ability to get us out of trouble, his ability to skate the puck out of the zone, his ability to make the right play at the right time," Bowness said, adding: "When things aren't going well, put Miro on the ice and he'll settle it down."
The entire Dallas defense corps will be tested Friday. That's perfectly fine because it's the lifeblood of this team and you can't expect to beat an offensive juggernaut like Colorado without pushback from the blue line. Dallas' counterattack and defensive structure are highly dependent on its defensemen. This is the way the Stars were built, and when they're winning, Heiskanen, John Klingberg, Esa Lindell, Jamie Oleksiak, and Stephen Johns are in the middle of the action in all three zones. (Johns has been ruled unfit to play for all but one postseason game, however.)
Defensively, Oleksiak and Lindell have been especially sharp. "Big Rig: He's been fantastic for us all year. He's raised his game to another level," Bowness said of the 6-foot-7, 255-pound Oleksiak prior to Game 5. "You know what you're going to get every shift from Esa Lindell. Just a solid, reliable defenseman who competes very hard."
The club's top-four defensemen have been contributing on offense, too, accumulating 39 total points to lead all defense groups. That output accounts for 30% of the Stars' postseason offense. In Friday's do-or-die environment, active sticks and smart pinches will be key. "Good defense creates offense, right?" rookie forward Denis Gurianov, who has two goals and five assists in the second round, said earlier this week.
Only three Dallas regulars - third-pairing defensemen Andrej Sekera and Taylor Fedun, and depth forward Andrew Cogliano - have failed to register a point since the restart. Veteran Joe Pavelski and Gurianov lead the charge with eight goals apiece, with first-line wingers Alexander Radulov and captain Jamie Benn, as well as Heiskanen, contributing five each.
Yes, on aggregate, Dallas is being outshot, outchanced, and outscored at even strength by Colorado, but it's encouraging that just about everybody has pitched in. It's led to an odd contrast between the regular-season Stars and postseason Stars. The team scored four or more goals 15 times in 69 regular-season games; in the playoffs, they've scored four or more goals seven times in 15 games.
The Stars' power play is tops among the final eight squads, humming at 25.5%. Against the Avalanche in Round 2, it's buried seven goals on 21 opportunities for a sizzling 33.3%. The penalty kill has been equally effective. The Avs' power play has managed to score three times off 28 opportunities (10.7%). And center Nazem Kadri - who assumes the bumper position on Colorado's No. 1 unit and entered the series with five power-play goals in eight games - has recorded just two five-on-five goals against Dallas.
The final factor working in the Stars' favor is out of their control but nevertheless very important: the Avs' lineup. Captain Gabriel Landeskog and young defenseman Conor Timmins are both questionable for Game 7, while coach Jared Bednar's goaltending options - will third-stringer Michael Hutchinson get the nod or will Pavel Francouz be cleared to play? - are, at best, mediocre.
The Stars have looked capable of both big wins and aimless losses during the restart. Which version of the team will show up for a potential narrative-changing Game 7? "We know what we've got in our dressing room. We believe," forward Tyler Seguin said. "We never thought that it was going to be a sweep or an easy series. We always said it was going to go to Game 6 or 7. So here we are."
Only two goals separate the teams after six games, with the Avalanche ahead 25-23. But remember that so far the Stars have faced an NHL starter - in this case, Philipp Grubauer - for a grand total of 23 minutes in the series.
For 198 minutes, Francouz, a 30-year-old playoff rookie with 42 games of regular-season experience, has manned the net, while Hutchinson, also 30 and a career backup, has racked up 129 minutes in the crease. These are beatable goalies that Stars forwards should be peppering with pucks and screens. Instead, Dallas has mostly failed to create chaos in Colorado's end, allowing the Avs to insulate their goalies.
"If you get too cute, you're playing right into their hands. We're making it an easier night on the goalie than it should be," Bowness said following Game 6, in which Hutchinson stopped 27 of 28 Dallas shots. Forward Corey Perry, who has six points in 15 games, believes sustained pressure is the missing ingredient: "It's the O-zone time. It's wearing them down and getting those second opportunities that we really need to capitalize on."
The lack of execution is most evident with the Stars' stars - Seguin, Benn, and Radulov. For a trio that makes a combined $25.6 million a year, five even-strength goals in six games versus a backup and a third-stringer don't cut it. The underlying numbers aren't pretty, either: The line owns just 44% of the shot attempts and 44% of the scoring chances, according to Natural Stat Trick. It's hard to fathom them breaking through in Game 7 when both the results and the process haven't been up to par.
"Don't sugarcoat it. It is what it is. Your top players have to carry you at this time of year and they've got to produce," Bowness said Wednesday night.
Ben Bishop, a Vezina Trophy finalist in 2018-19, is both a top player and a puck-stopper - someone Bowness could really use beyond what was essentially a trial run in Game 5. But, like Grubauer, he's unavailable for Game 7. Dallas has the better backup in Anton Khudobin, who has been solid in relief, but not lights-out. Among the 12 goalies who have logged at least 500 minutes during the restart, Khudobin is 11th in save percentage.
Compounding the issue is the copious amount of penalties Dallas is taking. While the penalty kill is doing an admirable job, every infraction puts a greater strain on Khudobin and robs the top line of ice time. In Game 6, for instance, the Stars were shorthanded on five occasions. This led to Radulov getting 15:52 of ice time, Seguin 15:09, and Benn 14:31. Also, the more penalties Dallas takes, the more it's playing with fire. Colorado has enviable personnel at its disposal - MacKinnon, Rantanen, Kadri, and Cale Makar, for starters - and the floodgates will open at some point.
Oh, right: MacKinnon, on top of all the Stars' other problems. Every single time the dynamic, explosive center is on the ice, Dallas - and any other team in the NHL - plays on its heels. He's a constant threat, especially when he winds up off the rush or regroups in the neutral zone. MacKinnon has an eye-popping 25 points in 14 games. That's already a higher total than last year's Conn Smythe winner Ryan O'Reilly, who tied Brad Marchand atop the postseason points leaderboard. If MacKinnon adds to his tally in any meaningful way Friday, the Stars are done.
John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.
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The NHL is taking a multitude of steps aimed at combating racism and fostering inclusion, the league announced Thursday.
Along with the NHLPA, the NHL will hold mandatory inclusion and diversity training for every player. It will take place during training camp and the beginning of the 2020-21 campaign.
Three new committees will be formed, including the Player Inclusion Committee, which New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban and NHL alumnus Anson Carter will co-chair.
In addition, a new Executive Inclusion Council, co-led by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Buffalo Sabres co-owner Kim Pegula, will seek to foster further inclusion and demand accountability. The council will have several missions, including "working to establish specific hiring targets (and) recommendations on a realistic timetable while commissioning an outside audit of these efforts."
The NHL and NHLPA will launch a hotline, run by a third party, to allow those working in the game to report "unethical behavior and misconduct." In December, Bettman announced the league was considering a hotline following a series of incidents involving coaches.
The league is taking steps to help fans become "active civic participants," and will collaborate with two non-partisan groups to increase voter education and participation in the United States.
All NHL employees will take part in an "inclusion learning experience" overseen by an organization called White Men as Full Diversity Partners. The subject matter will include anti-racism, unconscious bias, and cultural competency.
The league and the players' union pledged to work together with the Hockey Diversity Alliance to set up a grassroots hockey development program for BIPOC boys and girls in the Greater Toronto Area, as well as a similar program in the United States.
The NHL will also proceed with several ongoing initiatives, including its "Courageous Conversations" series - which gives club personnel opportunities to discuss relevant topics - and its "Committing to Change" guide, which will continue to amplify the voices of players, prospects, and alumni who advocate for the cause in order to educate fans and stakeholders.
Click here for a complete overview of the initiatives.
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Boston Bruins blue-liner Torey Krug is after long-term security this offseason, saying Thursday that he's against the idea of signing a one-year contract as he enters unrestricted free agency.
"I'm very opposed to that," Krug said, according to Matt Porter of the Boston Globe. "I've bet on myself and I've taken shorter-term deals and less amount of money my whole career now, so this is my time in terms of my value at its peak."
Krug, 29, signed a four-year, $21-million contract with the Bruins in 2016. His $5.25-million cap hit was well under market value considering his offensive abilities from the back end, and he's one of the top defensemen set to hit free agency.
The Bruins have over $15 million in projected cap space next season, according to CapFriendly. Jake DeBrusk and Matt Grzelcyk are in need of new contracts as restricted free agents, while captain and UFA Zdeno Chara confirmed Thursday that he wants to return for a 23rd NHL campaign.
Krug said in April, in the midst of the NHL's coronavirus-induced pause, that he hoped he hadn't played his last game with the Bruins. In mid-July, before Boston returned to the ice, the defenseman admitted he'd probably have to prepare to enter free agency.
Krug joined the Bruins for his first full season in 2013-14. Since then, he ranks seventh among all defensemen with 335 points in 520 contests while averaging over 20 minutes per night.
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All signs point toward Zdeno Chara returning to the Boston Bruins for the 2020-21 campaign.
The towering 43-year-old blue-liner conducted his season-ending press conference Thursday, and as a pending unrestricted free agent, was asked what his future holds.
"I feel strong physically," Chara said, per NBC Boston's Joe Haggerty. "I'm positive and feel like I can still play and contribute to this team. I want to be a Boston Bruin. That hasn’t changed."
Chara added what comes next is up to management and his agent, but he appears fully committed to returning for a 23rd NHL season.
In an Instagram post Thursday thanking Bruins' fans for their support this season, part of Chara's caption read: "See you next season, hopefully with a full stadium of passionate Boston Bruins fans cheering us on."
Chara is currently 15th on the all-time games played list, but he isn't interested in chasing individual accolades. His focus is solely on helping Boston win.
"My dreams are not reaching stats. My dream is to compete and be in the ice in crucial situations and defend when it matters," Chara said, according to Michael Hurley of CBS Boston.
Chara has signed a one-year contract in each of the past two offseasons, with his most recent deal paying him $2 million. The Bruins have over $15 million in projected cap space next season, according to Cap Friendly. However, Torey Krug is a UFA, while Jake DeBrusk and Matt Grzelcyk are both in need of a new contract as RFA's.
Chara signed with the Bruins for the 2006-07 season and has suited up in over 1,000 games for the club. He's a five-time All-Star since joining Boston, while also capturing a Norris Trophy and Stanley Cup. This past season, he notched 14 points in 68 games while averaging over 21 minutes per contest.
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Long before he lifted the Stanley Cup as head coach of the Washington Capitals, Barry Trotz won his first pro championship one rung down in the organization. In 1994, the AHL's Portland Pirates teemed with skill. Future Vezina Trophy goalie Olaf Kolzig manned the crease. Trotz's roster was so crowded with past and budding NHLers - Brian Curran, Ken Klee, Jason Woolley, Jason Allison - that prized 20-year-olds Sergei Gonchar and Andrew Brunette only dressed for two playoff games apiece.
Barely older than some of his players at 31, Trotz was already an adept counterpuncher behind the bench, said Paul Gardner, Trotz's assistant coach in Portland and later with the expansion Nashville Predators. Trotz had a knack for processing how to negate what the opponent set out to do and moving swiftly to act. This aligned with the priority Trotz preached to his team: the need for five skaters to commit to defending in unison.
The approach was Calder Cup-caliber. Its proponent has since become the fourth-winningest coach in NHL history.
"Let's play defense, boys, and the other end will take care of itself," Gardner said, summarizing the foundation of Trotz's philosophy. "We had a lot of talent, but we made it a team game."
In his finest NHL seasons, Trotz has leveraged this focus on the collective to great effect, elevating the fortunes of scrappy Predators teams and guiding Alex Ovechkin's mighty Capitals to that elusive title in 2018. His current club is a different beast entirely. Depending on how you rate Mathew Barzal, the New York Islanders either have one star or none, but the difference is trivial. The Isles are a monolith, chock full of unacclaimed players who chip in for the cause and who, by trusting and executing Trotz's system, have made New York the breakout team of this postseason.
Losing Game 5 in overtime to the Philadelphia Flyers dented the Islanders' sparkling record in the Toronto bubble, but hardly. Ostensibly the underdog in matchups with the Capitals and Philly, they've won 10 of 14 playoff games on the strength of a 46-26 goal differential. New York's outscored those opponents and the Florida Panthers 30-16 at five-on-five. The results evince dominance, not unsustainable overachievement or luck.
The Isles haven't looked the part of a Cup contender in 27 years, dating to the franchise's most recent appearance in a conference final. (Shoutout to David Volek.) Their next shot to oust the Flyers and join the Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 3 comes Thursday night in Game 6. Winning is the road out of the wilderness. It's characteristic of Trotz that his group has charted this course together.
"When you get contributions right through the whole lineup and you can contribute as a bottom-six forward or a top-six forward or a D-man, I think it goes into the Islander concept," Trotz told reporters recently.
"Barry makes you feel like you're part of a family," said Brent Peterson, Trotz's assistant coach with the Predators from 1998 to 2011. "He builds such a good culture around his team. He's done it in three places. We had to redo it about three times (in Nashville). Then he did it in Washington and now he's done it there."
"He's very confident in how he wants the guys to play," Peterson added. "They listen to him and they go play that way. That's why they've been successful this year. They're the best 'team' team (in the playoffs), I think."
It's hard to rebut Peterson's assessment when New York's defensive structure clicks. At their best, the Islanders hound opposing blue-liners with a high, pesky two-man forecheck, behind which the supporting forward and defense pair congest center ice with active sticks. When hemmed in the defensive zone, the Isles retreat into a shell formation to inhibit the quality of the shots that reach goaltender Semyon Varlamov. Forced turnovers spur rapid counterattacks, and the members of Trotz's mobile, balanced defense corps are empowered to join the rush.
The method isn't infallible. Adam Pelech's futile pinch late in the second period of Game 5 led to an odd-man rush and a Philadelphia goal. The Flyers also scored on an offensive-zone steal and two deflected point shots. Big picture, though, New York's 4-3 defeat was an outlying blip in a month's worth of commanding performances.
Consider the Philly series on the whole. Before Claude Giroux, Scott Laughton, and James van Riemsdyk finally scored goals in Game 5, the Islanders had kept each of those forwards, as well as Travis Konecny, Jakub Voracek, and Joel Farabee, from scoring. New York has also gotten to Carter Hart, whose save percentage in the matchup is .902. The Isles own just 45.7% of shot attempts at five-on-five but have conjured 58.0% of high-danger chances in the series, according to Natural Stat Trick, a sign that the rope-a-dope strategy is working as intended.
The Isles are scoring a half-goal more per game in the playoffs than in the regular season (3.29 to 2.78), and credit can be spread around. Josh Bailey's 13 assists put him in the company of Nathan MacKinnon. Anthony Beauvillier, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Brock Nelson, Anders Lee, and Barzal have combined to net 30 goals, 24 of which have come at even strength. Among defensemen who've logged more than 100 minutes, Pelech and top-pair partner Ryan Pulock each rank in the top 10 league-wide in expected-goals percentage. It helps that Varlamov's save percentage is .929 and .943 at even strength.
"He won nine games in a row for me when I went over to Russia," Gardner said of his stint coaching Varlamov's KHL team in 2007, when the goalie was 18. "They thought I could walk on water. He was a big part of it, trust me."
Minus Varlamov, this entire Islanders core was around for Doug Weight's firing and Trotz's hiring in 2018 following a season in which New York conceded the most goals in the league and missed the playoffs by 17 points. The reversal of fortunes was immediate. The Islanders recorded 103 points and finished second in the Metropolitan Division last season. They were on track for 96 points had the full schedule been played this year.
Including those squads, Trotz's clubs have finished inside the top 10 in the NHL in goals against in nine of 15 seasons since the 2004-05 lockout. It's no coincidence that Trotz has won the Jack Adams Award twice and sits a hot streak back of Ken Hitchcock in career regular-season victories.
| Rank | Coach | GP | Wins | PTS% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scotty Bowman | 2141 | 1244 | .657 |
| 2 | Joel Quenneville* | 1705 | 925 | .608 |
| 3 | Ken Hitchcock | 1598 | 849 | .599 |
| 4 | Barry Trotz* | 1674 | 845 | .568 |
| 5 | Al Arbour | 1607 | 782 | .564 |
| 6 | Lindy Ruff* | 1493 | 736 | .561 |
| 7 | Paul Maurice* | 1600 | 732 | .527 |
| 8 | Mike Babcock | 1301 | 700 | .608 |
| 9 | Dick Irvin | 1449 | 692 | .557 |
| 10 | Alain Vigneault* | 1285 | 689 | .591 |
* denotes current NHL head coach. Stats source: Hockey Reference.
To Peterson, Trotz brings to the table "the whole spectrum of everything you need as a head coach." He delegates to his assistants, motivates a locker room, and communicates instructions and feedback frankly without berating players. He treats people well - Peterson remembers Trotz buying gifts for his players' newborns and never failing to acknowledge a birthday - and has demonstrated he can get the most out of any kind of skater, from grinders to the likes of Shea Weber, Ovechkin, and the dynamic Barzal.
Players have commended Trotz for imparting expectations and his game plans clearly and consistently. "There's predictability in our game, which makes it a lot easier for us out there," Pelech told reporters during the Flyers series.
Beyond his fondness for team play, Trotz is a stickler for individual effort and attention to detail, Peterson said, down to where a player positions his stick when he defends an oncoming puck carrier.
"You should have your body in one lane and your stick in another lane and then you can block a (pass or) shot," Peterson said. "He teaches you little things that nobody sees."
The playoffs were Trotz's kryptonite for the longest time, the 1994 Calder Cup triumph notwithstanding. His teams' points percentage has eclipsed .600 in 10 of 15 seasons since the '05 lockout, but that track record didn't translate to a series victory until 2011 - his 12th year in Nashville and Peterson's last alongside him on the bench - nor lead him past the second round until 2018. One more win would make him a conference finalist again, a gratifying prospect for the coaches who witnessed his rise from the beginning.
If the Flyers can be quelled, the task ahead would be onerous: facing a Tampa Bay team in the midst of atoning for getting swept in the first round by the Columbus Blue Jackets last year. The Lightning's control of the proceedings has been authoritative: They bounced Columbus and the Boston Bruins in five games apiece and have lost a mere three times in the bubble. No player has tallied more points at even strength than Brayden Point (16), and Andrei Vasilevskiy's .931 save percentage is tops among all starting goalies.
The 2018-19 Blue Jackets, of course, showed that stingy clubs can slow Tampa's roll, and the Islanders seem capable of scoring with anyone right now - especially in third periods, during which their playoff goal differential is 21-6. Another demarcation point has proved telling: Across the whole postseason, the Isles have invariably won when they've allowed two goals or fewer and have lost each time they've surrendered three or more.
It's fitting, really. How could a Trotz team thrive if it doesn't neutralize the opponent?
"That's been his key. We're going to play aggressive in the offensive zone when we get the chance, but if you don't play defense, you don't play," Gardner said. "It's easier with his reputation now. If you go to the Islanders, you know you've got to play defense. Barry doesn't have to walk up to you and say that."
Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.
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St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong began creating cap space to re-sign captain Alex Pietrangelo by trading goaltender Jake Allen - and his $4.35-million cap hit - to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday.
There's still more work to be done, though.
Even after dealing Allen, the Blues hold just $6.4 million in projected cap space, according to CapFriendly, which doesn't include RFA Vince Dunn's estimated raise. As the top pending UFA defenseman, Pietrangelo could command upward of $8 million annually.
One more player needs to go if Pietrangelo is to return. Armstrong could go 10% over the $81.5-million salary cap with Vladimir Tarasenko projected to begin the season on the injured reserve, but that would just delay the inevitable.
The Blues would surely love to ship off Alexander Steen and the final year of his contract with its $5.75-million cap hit, but he holds a full no-trade clause. Only bottom-feeding teams would likely be interested while trying to reach the cap floor. And at 36 years old, if Steen approves any trade, it would surely need to involve a contender. Buying him out likely isn't worth it, either.
Justin Faulk is probably immovable, too. He's the player Armstrong acquired and extended to create this dilemma, and Faulk is coming off a rough year while owed $45.5 million over the next seven campaigns.
If Pietrangelo is indeed re-signed, one of these four players are prime candidates to be dealt to create the necessary cap space:
Contract: $5.5M AAV through 2021-22
There would be no shortage of suitors for Parayko, as the 6-foot-6 stalwart is one of the NHL's best shutdown defensemen. He was on pace for career highs offensively in 2019-20, too, racking up 10 goals and 28 points in 64 games before the season suspension. He's also just 27 years old.
With Faulk already in the fold, though, re-signing Pietrangelo would give St. Louis two high-priced right-handed defensemen inked long-term. Re-signing a third in Parayko when his contract expires seems like a luxury the Blues can't afford. Trading him now is sensible, and Armstrong would certainly get a haul in return.
Trade likeliness: ★★★★☆
Contract: $5M AAV through 2020-21
Dealing Bozak would be much more difficult than moving Parayko. Of course, he doesn't possess the same value, and the 34-year-old also carries a 10-team no-trade list in his contract. If he's smart, Bozak will put center-needy clubs like the Winnipeg Jets or Florida Panthers on that list.
If Armstrong can find a trade for Bozak, moving him would be a no-brainer since, unlike Parayko, there are easy internal replacement options for the veteran pivot. Robert Thomas has shown he could move to the middle on a full-time basis, and Zach Sanford, Oskar Sundqvist, Sammy Blais, and Ivan Barbashev should all be capable of logging more minutes.
Trade likeliness: ★★★★☆
Contract: $5.35M AAV through 2020-21
Schwartz seems more likely to be re-signed than traded, especially with Tarasenko probably out to begin the 2020-21 campaign. But Schwartz will also be up for a new contract during the same offseason as Thomas and due for a significant raise. If Armstrong is adamant about keeping Parayko and can't find a deal for Bozak, Schwartz could be the one to go.
The 28-year-old is coming off a productive bounce-back season when he tallied 22 goals and 57 points in 71 games. He's an important member of the Blues, but Armstrong could also fetch a strong return for the winger. Schwartz likely won't be traded, but it can't be ruled out.
Trade likeliness: ★★☆☆☆
Contract: $4M AAV through 2021-22
Armstrong has traded Perron before (in 2013). Would he do it again?
A move doesn't seem probable based on Perron's modest cap hit and the fact he's signed for two more years. He's also just produced the three best seasons of his career. It could, however, be the best time to sell high on an asset, as Perron's trade value will likely never be higher. Still, a deal probably won't happen with St. Louis in win-now mode.
Trade likeliness: ★☆☆☆☆
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Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar and Vancouver Canucks blue-liner Quinn Hughes spent the regular season dueling it out in the Calder Trophy race, and now the two are battling for a spot in the postseason record book.
Makar set the NHL record for the most single-postseason points from a rookie defenseman on Wednesday, according to NHL Public Relations.
Cale Makar scores and boosts his 2020 postseason totals to 4-11—15 in 14 games. He established an NHL record for points by a rookie defenseman in a single playoff year. #NHLStats #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/QbhZZwhjxg
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) September 3, 2020
Hughes is just one point behind, and his Vancouver Canucks are back in action Thursday night, so he could easily pass Makar. However, Makar's Avs forced a Game 7 on Wednesday, so he'll get at least one more chance to add to his total.
| Stat | Makar | Hughes |
|---|---|---|
| GP | 14 | 15 |
| G | 4 | 1 |
| A | 11 | 13 |
Makar now also owns the rookie defenseman all-time playoff points record, according to StatsCentre. He made his NHL debut in the postseason last year and notched six points in 10 games. His 21 playoff points as a rookie blue-liner push him past Chris Chelios' previous record of 20, which he set in the 1984 and 1985 postseasons with the Montreal Canadiens.
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Nathan MacKinnon notched a goal and an assist as the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Dallas Stars 4-1 in Game 6 of their second-round series Wednesday night to stave off elimination and force Game 7.
Avalanche goaltender Michael Hutchinson bounced back after allowing a soft goal early in the contest. The 30-year-old stopped 27 of the 28 shots he faced and earned his second straight playoff victory in only the netminder's second career postseason start.
Nikita Zadorov, Cale Makar, and Mikko Rantanen also scored for Colorado. Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog left with an apparent leg injury late in the second period, but he returned for one shift in the third.
Miro Heiskanen opened the scoring with the Stars' lone tally less than three minutes into the game.
Game 7 is scheduled for Friday at a start time to be determined.
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