SFT: 10 NHL Things, Volume XXI
Re-posted with permission from the South Florida Tribune
By: Rod Pedersen
1 – WINDY CITY: It was wonderful to get out on the road and spend four days in Chicago this past week, catching two Blackhawks games at United Center. The Hawks beat Vegas 5-3 on Saturday and fell 4-3 in OT to Carolina on Monday. We went to see the next Face Of The NHL, Chicago sophomore Connor Bedard, who notched a lone assist in the two contests. The 19-year old from North Vancouver boasts the #1-selling jersey in the NHL this season and is always a treat to watch live. The Blackhawks may be last place in the NHL but let me tell you the United Center ROCKED, and was filled to capacity on Saturday night. Chicago visits Tampa Bay on January 28 and Sunrise on February 1.
2 – MAC: Former Panthers coach Doug MacLean (1995-97) makes his winter home in Delray Beach and dropped by our Cats N Bolts Podcast set on Wednesday. The Summerside, PEI product offered assessments of Florida’s NHL teams. “Bob is playing good, but not ‘Stand on your head’ good,” MacLean offered of Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. Regarding the rival Lightning, MacLean assessed, “They’re still very good but I don’t see them being a contender.” The podcast featuring the beloved Panthers coach drops on Thursday on YouTube and Spotify.
3 – MCDAVID: The biggest news in the NHL this week was a three-game suspension handed down to Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid for crosschecking Vancouver pest Conor Garland in the face Saturday night on Hockey Night In Canada. Having had enough of Garland holding, mauling and harassing him all night, Edmonton’s #97 finally laid the lumber across his face. On Wednesday, McDavid admitted he’s “not proud of” his actions. Personally, I feel the punishment was far too harsh given the fact McDavid is left to stand up to the abuse himself, which he faces on a nightly basis. There are no “policemen” anymore since the NHL frowns on fighting. Just my $0.02.
4 – DARLINGS: ESPN’s Jeff Darlington offered a glowing, unsolicited endorsement of the Panthers Learn To Play program offered to South Florida. “So impressed with the NHL’s Learn to Play program,” Darlington Tweeted along with a video of his son motoring around the Baptist Health IcePlex surface. “Second practice for my 9-year-old son, who was supplied with head-to-toe equipment. I never would have thought this would be something a kid from Florida would try … they make it so easy. Not an ad – just a recommendation.” The video clip was viewed 411,000 times.
5 – CATS ROAD TRIP: At the time of this writing the Panthers sit at 28-18-3, second-place in the Atlantic Division, three points behind Toronto. In their most recent home action, Spencer Knight recorded a 34-save shutout in a 3-0 victory over Anaheim on Saturday. The Cats then headed out on a four-game western road trip which opened with a 5-2 victory at Anaheim on Tuesday. The very next night in L.A., the Kings scored twice in the third period to steal a 2-1 victory. Panthers coach Paul Maurice would not allow fatigue to be a reason for the loss. The Cats will visit San Jose and Vegas before returning home to face the Kings next Wednesday at Amerant Bank Arena. Doug MacLean feels the Panthers and Maple Leafs are the only two legitimate Stanley Cup contenders in the entire Eastern Conference.
6 – GO BOLTS: The Lightning are 25-18-3 and in third-place in the Atlantic Division which sets up another first round playoff meeting with the Panthers, although there’s plenty of hockey left to be played. Tampa Bay is in the midst of a four-game road trip which opened with a 5-3 loss at Toronto Monday, and a 3-2 loss at Montreal the next night. They’ll visit Chicago and Detroit before returning home to face the Blackhawks next Tuesday at Amalie Arena. Also on Tuesday the NHL will announce the Lightning’s All-Quarter Century team. That should be delicious!
7 – HABS: There was no shame for the Bolts to lose in Montreal. The Canadiens are the hottest team in the NHL since December 17, going 13-3-1. They’re in Year 4 of a rebuild, and it appears their ship has finally come in. Les Habitants currently hold down the final wildcard playoff spot in the East. Meanwhile Montreal rookie Jakub Dobes became the 13th goaltender in NHL history to win his first five starts. The product of the Czech Republic began his streak on December 28 with a 4-0 victory at Florida. After that game, Paul Maurice gushed, “Good for him!”
8 – THE GREAT 8: Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is currently 21 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s longstanding NHL goals record (894). He’s on pace to set the mark in early April. Meanwhile last Thursday Ovechkin set a quirky NHL record for “the most goaltenders scored on”. His tally against Ottawa’s Leevi Merilainen marked the 179th goalie Ovechkin has scored on in his illustrious career, breaking a tie with former Panther Jaromir Jagr.
9 – RANKINGS: Hang onto your hat! Things are shifting daily at the top, and bottom, of the NHL standings. Here’s our weekly ranking: 1) Washington, 2) Winnipeg, 3) Edmonton, 4) Vegas, 5) Toronto. At the bottom are: 28) Anaheim, 29) Buffalo, 30) Nashville, 31) Chicago, and 32) San Jose.
10 – JUST NOTES: The NHL’s 3 Stars of the Week are #1 Washington goalie Logan Thompson, #2 Nashville forward Filip Forsberg, and #3 Boston forward David Pastrnak. … It’s weird seeing Original Six teams Boston, NY Rangers and Detroit out of playoff spots. … On Wednesday night the New Jersey Devils honored former coach Jacques Lemaire by inducting him into the team’s Wall of Honor. The 79-year old is an 11-time Stanley Cup winner, with two of those coming on the bench of the Devils.
See you at the rink!
(Rod Pedersen covers the NHL for the South Florida Tribune. He also hosts the award-winning Cats N Bolts Podcast and the daily Rod Pedersen Show on Game+TV, YouTube Live & Podcast)
