Devils’ Scott Stevens – Dirty or Tough?
* originally published in Jan. 2018 Scott Stevens can be considered one of the last of a breed of NHLer that wreaked havoc on other players. During a time when…
Monthly Archives: April 2025
3 Bruins’ Bright Spots From 2024-25 Season
The 2024-25 season has had a bit of everything for the Boston Bruins, from firing their coach to rumors of infighting amongst superstars (which was then quickly and vehemently denied),…
The Hockey News Big Show: Debating Who Wins A Senators And Leafs Playoff Series – Ft. Steve Warne
It’s time for The Hockey News Big Show, where we explore some of the biggest NHL and hockey topics
Debating Who Wins A Senators And Leafs Playoff Series - Ft. Steve Warne by The Big ShowundefinedHere’s what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and guest co-host Steve Warne discussed in this episode:
1:07: The Ottawa Senators hold a decent lead on the Eastern wild-card standings. What has allowed this group to nearly seal a spot in the post-season?
4:08: Are there any similarities between this year's Senators and the 2017 team that made it to the Eastern Conference final?
7:24: We could see the Battle of Ontario in the first round if the Toronto Maple Leafs earn the top spot in the Atlantic Division. Who wins it?
10:32: Are the Montreal Canadiens running out of steam? Which team looks likeliest to get the second wild-card spot?
13:38: Leon Draisaitl is up to 51 goals this season. There are now just two active players with four or more 50-plus-goal seasons. Could Draisaitl be a better goal-scorer than Auston Matthews?
16:43: Where do we think Brad Marchand could end up next season?
19:44: Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog was seen this week working on special teams with one of the power-play units. Will he return for the playoffs? If so, what kind of impact would his comeback have on the Avalanche?
23:50: Which team has the most pressure to win in the first round of the playoffs?
27:19: The Seattle Kraken and the Nashville Predators are the newest teams to be "officially eliminated" from the playoffs. What moves would you like each team to make this off-season?
30:08: Only four players from the Senators’ last playoff appearance are still active in the NHL. Can you name them?
31:19: College hockey studs Jimmy Snuggerud (STL) and Ryan Leonard (WSH) are both expected to make their NHL debut Tuesday night. Who do we think will make a bigger impact as an NHL player?
32:59: The New York Rangers' bus reportedly hit San Jose rookie Macklin Celebrini's car. What is a bigger bummer: losing in a blowout to the Rangers or having your car hit?
35:01: The NCAA Hockey Frozen Four is officially set. Denver is back to defend its title and will face Western Michigan. Penn State continues its Cinderella run and will take on Boston University. Who are your picks to win it?
37:10: Gavin McKenna has nine points in just two playoff games. If he was draft-eligible this year, would he go first overall?
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St. Louis Blues Enter Stanley Cup Playoffs As Dark Horse Contender
The St. Louis Blues ride nine-game winning streak and could be labeled as the biggest dark horse to win Western Conference
When looking at the state of the NHL right now, there is no hotter team than the St. Louis Blues.
After winning their last nine straight games, the Blues quickly ended the conversation about the race for the final wild card spot by separating themselves from the pack.
More NHL: Blues To Prevail in Tight Wild Card Race Over Flames, Canucks, Utah HC
There is a special feeling around this team that spawned following Team Canada's win at Four Nations Face-Off this past February that was lead by Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington.
History Repeating Itself?
St. Louis will face a tough first round matchup as a wild card team but as we've seen in recent history, anything can happen when teams get hot.
The Blues severely struggled back in the 2018-19 season, sitting with a league-worst 15-18-4 record through 37 games. They finished the season off by going on a similar hot streak to this season with 11 straight wins that was sparked by the arrival of Binnington to the team.
The Blues would make the playoffs and meet the Winnipeg Jets in the first round. The Jets were coming off a Conference Finals appearance the year prior and labeled the Blues as a sizeable underdog going in. The Blues found a way to win the series in six and would go on the continue their hot streak all the way until they won their franchise's first Stanley Cup.
St. Louis is once again expected to play Winnipeg in the first round matchup with the Jets entering as a sizeable favorite once again after finishing with the most points in the Western Conference during the regular season.
It would be surreal to see history repeat itself and the Blues find a way to get edge out a win and they have a history of doing it before. We can look to benefit from their current value greatly and take them before the league notices.
More NHL:The GR8 Chase: Predicting When Alex Ovechkin Breaks Wayne Gretzky's All-Time Goal Record
St. Louis has done the impossible before and at +3500 odds to win the Western Conference and +6500 odds to win their second Stanley Cup, it could be the best value on the board heading into the playoffs.
There's several reasons as to why you can trust this Blues team and a small $10 bet on a Western Conference title can give a massive return at $350 in winnings.
In Binnington We Trust
Since coming back from the Four Nations Face-Off, Binnington is tied for the most wins in the NHL with a 10-2-0 record that aligns itself with a 2.09 goals against average and a .917 save percentage, which both rank top seven in the league during that span.
Binnington will enter the playoffs red hot and play in a high-pressure environment, where he does well with a 2.73 career goals against average in the playoffs as well as a .910 save percentage. He should be able to keep St. Louis in almost every game versus Winnipeg and beyond.
Confidence can be the most important thing for a goaltender and Binnington has tons of it right now.
Young Talent Surging With More On The Way
The Blues have two of their top three point producers under the age of 27 in Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou. The pair of elite forwards have been dying to play meaningful NHL games and could make an impact.
More NHL:MacKinnon or Draisaitl? Predicting Who Prevails in Tight Art Ross Trophy Race
Thomas has more assists than names like Aleksander Barkov and Dylan Strome with 49 while Kyrou has outplayed the likes of Nathan MacKinnon, Auston Matthews and Filip Forsberg with 31 goals this season.
There's been a lot of chatter around the Capitals and how they are going to be getting prospect Ryan Leonard from Boston College after they were eliminated from the NCAA tournament. What most people don't know is the Blues are also expected to get an impact player out of college hockey with forward Jimmy Snuggerud.
Best of Jimmy Snuggerud | Minnesota Golden Gopher Hockey Career HighlightsTake a look back through some of the top goals and moments from Jimmy Snuggerud's career at Minnesota.Sign up for daily email updates from Gopher Athletics! ...After returning to Minnesota for his junior season, the 20-year-old winger has grown immensely according to St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong and should slide into a prevalent role when joining the team, starting Tuesday versus the Red Wings. Snuggerud was the captain of the Golden Gophers with 24 goals and 27 assists for 51 points in 40 games this past season.
"I do think he can score some goals and we're gonna find out here over the next five or six games on how he fits into our group,"- Armstrong said on Jimmy Snuggerud during Tuesday's episode of the Spittin' Chiclets Podcast
The youngster could add to an already solid forward unit for the Blues and could take them to another level that opposing teams may not be able to predict. If you haven't considered it yet, a subtle investment on the Blues could be worth an extra look.
James Stefan: Oilers Prospect Struggling in First Professional Season
The Edmonton Oilers decided to sign forward James Stefan from the Portland Winterhawks after he had a strong 2023-24 campaign in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Portland Winterhawks…
(4-1-25) Red Wings-Blues Gameday Lineup
ST. LOUIS – Jimmy Snuggerud will make his NHL debut for the St. Louis Blues (40-28-7) when put their nine-game winning streak on the line to open a three-game homestand against the Detroit Red Wings (34-33-6) at 7 p.m. (FDSNMW, ESPN 101.1-FM).
“Snuggerud’s going to play tonight, his first NHL game,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “We’re excited to see how he’s going to help us.
“’Do what you do best and what got you here, and enjoy the moment.’ It’s a special moment and if you’re a highly-competitive player, make sure you really compete hard. If you’re a goal scorer, don’t pass up shots. If you’re a defensive player and you finish checks, finish five checks tonight. Do what you do best.”
The 20-year-old and No. 23 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, who signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday after his junior season at the University of Minnesota ended at the Fargo Regional on Thursday, skated with the Blues for the first time on Monday and skated on a line with Oskar Sundqvist and Zack Bolduc.
“Conversations, just getting to know him too,” Blues captain Brayden Schenn said regarding making Snuggerud feel comfortable. “I’ve never really met him before. I’ve met him once in Minnesota earlier this year and that’s it. Hear a lot about him, same agent and stuff [Ben Hankinson], I hear he’s a great kid, a guy that obviously is well-liked by his teammates. He’s going to be quiet initially. That’s the reality of coming into pro sports being a young guy. You just kind of talk to him and if he has any questions, you’re there to answer them.”
Snuggerud, who had 24 goals and 27 assists in 40 games with the Golden Gophers this season, also will get time on the power play in the bumper.
Snuggerud said he’s played bumper, “A little bit. I’ve played it growing up with the national team a little bit. I’ve been in some scenarios up there, but it really makes it easy playing bumper when you’re with four other really good players out there, so it was really fun.”
As for using him as a bumper to start and not for the one-time threat, Montgomery said, “I don’t know, it’s the first time he’s probably been in a bumper, to be honest, and beggars can’t be choosers with the way our power play’s been. But that being said, he did a really good job there. He supported pucks well, you can tell his brain (that) he understands time and space. He’s a scorer and a shooter and those guys know how to get open. They’ve been getting open their whole lives. You could see his puck support and release are ideal for the bumper position.”
He will become the third Golden Gopher to play in the NHL and make his debut after college teammates Oliver Moore and Sam Rinzel each made his debut with the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.
“I’ve talked to Oliver Moore and ‘Rinzy’ [Sunday] night after their game and just see how it went for them,” Snuggerud said. “Obviously they both had a good game. I thought ‘Rinzy’ stood out a lot. He’s a strong player and he’s had that skating ability and ‘Mooresy’ made strong plays throughout the whole game.
“It’s nice to know you have your teammates going through that too. Matthew Wood is signed with Nashville now. It’s awesome to see them doing well and in their programs.”
Bolduc, who was in a similar position not too long ago as the No. 17 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, is looking forward to playing with Snuggerud.
“For sure I can help him,” Bolduc said. “I’ve been though it not a long time ago. It’s exciting. [Tonight’s] going to be his first NHL game. It’s a dream-come-true and just got to enjoy it. You’re kind of blacked out on those days and try to enjoy it as much as you can, just work on the ice. It’s all about trying to enjoy the first one.
“He’s a good skater and he’s smart. If I put myself in his shoes, probably a little stressed, but it’s part of it. It’s part of the experience of that first game, that excitement. He’s a good player and he can shoot it too. I’m looking forward to playing with him.
“He’s a good player. He’s smart, he’s working hard and he can shoot it. … We’ve got a great line and just looking forward to it [tonight].”
- - -
Blues Projected Lineup:
Jake Neighbours-Robert Thomas-Pavel Buchnevich
Dylan Holloway-Brayden Schenn-Jordan Kyrou
Zack Bolduc-Oskar Sundqvist-Jimmy Snuggerud
Alexey Toropchenko-Radek Faksa-Nathan Walker
Cam Fowler-Nick Leddy
Philip Broberg-Justin Faulk
Ryan Suter-Tyler Tucker
Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Joel Hofer will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Matthew Kessel, Dalibor Dvorsky, Alexandre Texier and Mathieu Joseph. Colton Parayko (knee) is out. Torey Krug (ankle) is out for the season.
- - -
Red Wings Projected Lineup:
Alex DeBrincat-Dylan Larkin-Patrick Kane
Michael Rasmussen-Marco Kasper-Lucas Raymond
Jonatan Berggren-J.T. Compher-Vladimir Tarasenko
Craig Smith-Tyler Motte-Austin Watson
Ben Chiarot-Moritz Seider
Simon Edvinsson-Justin Holl
Albert Johansson-Jeff Petry
Cam Talbot will start in goal; Alex Lyon will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include William Lagesson and Dominik Shine. Andrew Copp (upper body), Elmer Soderblom (undisclosed), Erik Gustafsson (undisclosed) and Petr Mrazek (upper body) are out.
Golden Knights Sign Trevor Connelly To Entry-Level Contract
The Vegas Golden Knights have signed top prospect Trevor Connelly to a three-year, entry-level contract.
The 19-year-old completed his first and only season in the NCAA with the Providence Friars, scoring four goals and 13 points in 22 games.
He dealt with injury issues throughout the season, forcing him to miss a significant amount of games. Connelly and Providence earned a spot in the college playoffs but were eliminated in the first round by the University of Denver.
The 19th pick in the 2024 NHL Draft did not take home any hardware during his college career but earned a gold medal with Team USA's world junior team, scoring a goal and four points in seven games.
Connelly is listed at 6'1, but just 161 lbs, which means he still has a lot of muscle and weight to add to his frame. His goal heading into his freshman season was to do so, but the injury he sustained hampered that.
The Golden Knights have a bit of a log jam with NHL forwards which means Connelly will likely join the Henderson Silver Knights in the AHL. The Silver Knights have eight games remaining on their schedule which should provide Connelly the opportunity to gain his first bit of professional hockey experience.
Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.
Mitch Marner Amid Maple Leafs’ Playoff Struggles: Correlation or Causation?
The Toronto Maple Leafs‘ prolific young forward Mitch Marner is undeniably one of the most dynamic players in the NHL, known for his playmaking ability and skill. But as great…
Golden Knights Looking To Clinch A Playoff Spot With Win Against The Oiler
The Vegas Golden Knights could clinch a playoff spot tonight if they can beat the Edmonton Oilers tonight.
Despite not playing on Monday, the Golden Knights could have clinched their seventh playoff berth in eight years. If the Calgary Flames lost in regulation to the Colorado Avalanche the Golden Knights would have earned a spot in the postseason, but a two-goal comeback in the third and a shootout win put a halt on those celebrations.
The Golden Knights now have the opportunity to control their fate and with a win over the Oilers, they'll bring themselves a step closer to locking up their desired regular season achievements.
If the Golden Knights lose in regulation and the Flames also lose in regulation to Utah HC, the Golden Knights will clinch a playoff spot.
The Oilers are attempting to hunt down the Golden Knights for the Pacific Division lead, but a six-game win streak by the Golden Knights has created some much-needed separation.
The Oilers remain without Connor McDavid but recently reinstated Leon Draisaitl back into their lineup. In his return on Saturday, Drasaitl recorded two goals and three points, picking up points on all three goals and scoring the overtime winner.
Slowing him down will be a difficult task but it's a matchup that Jack Eichel seems to relish in. His game elevates whenever he's matched up against another superstar and his history against the Oilers is quite good. In 19 games against the Oilers, the 28-year-old has scored eight goals and 21 points.
The Oilers are ravaged by injuries at the moment, currently without McDavid, Mattias Ekholm, Stuart Skinner, Trent Frederic and Evander Kane, but the Golden Knights too are dealing with several injuries. They'll be without Tomas Hertl, Ilya Samsonov and likely Alex Pietrangelo.
It's a vital game for the Golden Knights as they continue to gear up for the playoffs.
Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.
Tomas Hertl Unavailable For The Golden Knights This WeekVegas Golden Knights forward Tomas Hertl will be unavailable this week as he deals with an injury.
Golden Knights Recall Akira Schmid Amid Injury Concern For Ilya SamsonovThe Vegas Golden Knights have recalled goaltender Akira Schmid from the Henderson Silver Knights as they deal with a possible injury concern with Ilya Samsonov.
NHL Rumors: Rangers, Flyers, Sabres, Tavares, Maple Leafs
In today’s NHL rumors rundown, the New York Rangers signed NCAA talent Gabe Perreault. He’s already at practice with the team. Will he play this week? Meanwhile, are the Philadelphia…