Tag Archives: NHL

Brassard, Kreider proving to be playoff beasts for Rangers

Derick Brassard and Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers certainly love playing hockey in the spring.

With a three-point effort Saturday in Game 2 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Brassard has joined some impressive company on New York's all-time postseason scoring list.

The Rangers have played a lot of playoff hockey over the past three years, and are hoping to make it four. Brassard's been an integral member of the Rangers' Stanley Cup dreams, having amassed 44 points in 56 career playoff games. He had nine goals and 16 points in last year's 19-game New York run, and six goals and six assists in 2014, when the Rangers went to the final.

Kreider, meanwhile, now has 13 goals in his last three playoffs. He had seven last year in 19 games, and five in 15 games in 2014. He's also making his way up the Rangers' playoff goal-scoring list:

Since 2012, his first playoffs, Kreider has 19 playoff goals, most by any Eastern Conference player, according to Sportsnet Stats.

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Capitals coach Trotz believes offside challenges are the ‘right thing’

Just days into the NHL postseason, many are calling for the end of the coach's challenge for offside calls - especially after a successful challenge overturned a go-ahead goal for St. Louis Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko on Friday - but one head coach is surprisingly speaking out in support of offside reviews.

Washington Capitals coach Barry Trotz said he's 'confident' that 99 percent of calls are correct after off-side challenges, which he believes is better for the game.

"I'd rather have them get it right 99% of the time than 77% of the time," Trotz said, according to Tom Gulitti of NHL.com. "I think it's the right thing."

It didn't take long for the rule to affect a game Saturday, as a go-ahead goal in the second period by New York Rangers forward Derick Brassard was challenged by the Pittsburgh Penguins. This time, the goal was not overturned as Brassard was ruled onside.

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Ducks’ Manson dealing with head injury, Bieksa a game-time call Sunday

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Josh Manson played only 4:44 against the Nashville Predators on Friday night before leaving the game with an injury.

On Saturday, head coach Bruce Boudreau said it's a head/upper-body injury, according to the Los Angeles Times' Curtis Zupke, but wouldn't divulge any further details, including a timeline as to how long the 24-year-old may be out of the lineup.

Manson's been a regular on the Ducks' blue line, averaging 18:47 in ice time per game during the regular season, and tallying five goals and 10 helpers in 71 games.

Manson didn't skate Saturday, and the Ducks recalled forward Nick Ritchie from the AHL. Kevin Bieksa, dealing with an upper-body injury of his own, didn't play Friday, and said he's a game-time decision Sunday, according to The Tennessean's Adam Vingan.

"We'll see (Sunday)," Bieksa said. "You know the drill."

The Ducks dropped a 3-2 decision in Game 1 at home. Game 2 goes Sunday night at 10:30 p.m. ET.

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Watch: Kessel finishes off Penguins’ surgical odd-man rush

These Penguins are lethal with their march.

Phil Kessel finished off one of the more eye-popping plays you'll see in these playoffs, driving home a one-touch feed from Trevor Daley off the backhand saucer from Nick Bonino in transition.

That's Kessel's 14th goal - and 23rd point - in his 24th career postseason game.

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Malkin returns, Zatkoff gets another start in Game 2

Geno's back.

Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Evgeni Malkin is playing in Game 2 of his club's first-round series against the New York Rangers, his first action since mid-March, when he suffered an upper-body injury that cost him the final month of the regular season.

Malkin played only nine minutes against Columbus on March 11, recording two assists before leaving the game, and the Penguins have been on fire ever since. Pittsburgh beat the Blue Jackets 3-2, and have since won 15 of 17, including Game 1 against New York.

Meanwhile, in goal, Marc-Andre Fleury remains out due to the lingering effects of a concussion, and Jeff Zatkoff made his second consecutive start. The 28-year-old third-string goalie was thrust into the spotlight in Game 1, and he was a star, stopping 35 of 37 shots in his playoff debut. Tristan Jarry will back up Zatkoff.

The Penguins are peaking at the right time, and Malkin's return will make a formidable squad that much better. The dynamic center was having another superb season, finishing with 27 goals and 31 assists in 58 games. He had 27 power-play points, including 11 power-play goals, and six game-winners. While the Penguins - and Sidney Crosby - got off to a slow start, Malkin was consistent throughout.

The Rangers already face an uphill climb. And even though Henrik Lundqvist is good to go after sustaining an eye injury in Game 1, Malkin's return means New York's path to the second round is now that much more difficult.

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Kings’ Gaborik a game-time call; McBain in for Martinez

Marian Gaborik is on the verge.

The Los Angeles Kings right winger, out since Feb. 12 with a knee injury, has been medically cleared to play and will be a game-time decision Saturday night for Game 2 against the San Jose Sharks, head coach Darryl Sutter said.

"It becomes a coach's decision (and) a player's declaration of whether he's ready or not," Sutter said, according to Kings Insider's Jon Rosen.

It was a supremely disappointing regular season for Gaborik, the 34-year-old scoring 12 goals in 54 games and finishing with only 22 points. However, the Kings have fond memories of Gaborik's 2014 postseason, when he scored 14 goals and added eight assists in 26 games to play an integral role in the club's Stanley Cup win.

Meanwhile, on the blue line, Sutter confirmed that Alec Martinez will not play due to an undisclosed injury, and Jamie McBain will suit up in his place, according to NHL.com's Shawn Roarke.

Martinez played only 11 minutes in Game 1 - none in the third period - and that meant Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin saw a ton of ice. The two will be relied upon heavily again, regardless of how many minutes McBain can go. Martinez's loss is a big one, as he averaged more than 21 minutes a game during the regular season.

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Colborne hopes to stay with Flames for ‘next 10-12 years’

Joe Colborne is a pending restricted free agent, and if he could have it his way, he'd remain a member of the Calgary Flames for a long time.

"I'd like to spend the next 10-to-12 years here," Colborne said. "I'd love to be part of the group that brings a Stanley Cup back."

The 26-year-old Calgary native was traded to the Flames in 2013 and enjoyed a career-best season this year, scoring 19 goals and 44 points.

"I just think confidence-wise, it was huge," Colborne said. "I thought I came into my strength and my offseason commitments have really started to pay off. My comfort level as a guy who can go to the front of the net, win battles, go to the corners and control the puck has started to come to fruition."

Calgary's front office faces plenty of important decisions this offseason, including new contracts for forwards Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau, plus a chance at a top-five pick in the draft.

Colborne understands general manager Brad Treliving has his own priorities.

"I would like to get it done sooner rather than later, but I understand there are some other guys that will be getting pretty good raises here that are probably the most important thing for them to take care of," Colborne said.

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Lightning’s Paquette: ‘Probably’ payback coming after Abdelkader attack

The Tampa Bay Lightning can see the effects of Justin Abdelkader's handiwork.

The Detroit Red Wings' super agitator left forward Mike Blunden with nine stitches during a brawl - which Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper called "mild" - and up 2-0 in the series, the Lightning may think they have some breathing room for retribution.

Cedric Paquette, asked if he expects the Lightning to retaliate, was honest: "Probably," he said, according to Lightning website writer Bryan Burns.

"That's not smart from (Abdelkader)," Paquette added. "When there's a guy laying on the ice like that, you respect your opponent."

Abdelkader disagrees, clearly. With Blunden beneath him in the melee, Abdelkader let his fists fly.

After the game, both teams said what was expected: It's hockey. It's the playoffs. There's a lot of emotion out there.

The bad blood will carry over. Because it's hockey. Because it's the playoffs. But Cooper's not worried about it.

"I hope our compete carries over," he said. "That's all that matters."

Game 3 should be fun to watch.

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