Puck Previews: Sharks GM talks Rick Nash; Bruins vs. Blues; Toews injury update (Yahoo! Sports)
Back by popular demand, here are your Puck Previews: Spotlighting the key games in NHL action, news and views as well as general frivolity. Make sure to stop back here for the nightly Three Stars when the games are finished.
Every the showman, Rick Neilsen of Cheap Trick waited until the climax of “Surrender” to have a stroke.
Preview: Boston Bruins at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m. EST. One team is a physical, defense-minded group with great goaltending and few holes on their lineup. And the other team is the Boston Bruins. Andy Brickley’s advice to the inconsistent Bruins: Loosen up on your sticks, boys.
Preview: Washington Capitals at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m. EST. Washington has won six of seven against Ottawa to improve to 13-3-3 in the series since the start of 2007-08, according to STATS. Of course, they’ll enter this one without Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, and with the fragile psyche of a team that had its lunch served at Carolina on Monday. Meanwhile: Other players whine; Zenon Konopka wines.
Preview: Los Angeles Kings at Colorado Avalanche, 9 p.m. EST. Thus begins the Steve Downie era in Denver, as he plays right wing on Ryan O’Reilly’s line tonight. Said Joe Sacco: “We’re excited (to) bring a player like Steve who adds some grit and some skill to our lineup.” Said the Kings’ defensemen: ‘Well that makes one of us.’ Los Angeles enters the game hoping they didn’t use up their goals for the week against Phoenix last night.
Check out previews and updated scores for all of today’s games on the Y! Sports NHL scores and scheds page. For tonight’s starting goalies, check out Left Wing Lock.
Evening Reading
• Jonathan Toews has been ruled out for Thursday’s game against Dallas. Joel Quenneville on whether Toews is concussed: “We’re upper-body and that’s where we’re at with it.” [Sun Times]
• Sens GM Bryan Murray “won’t part with pending unrestricted free agent defenceman Filip Kuba unless some GM makes a very enticing offer.” [Citizen]
• San Jose GM Doug Wilson on the Rick Nash rumors: “We don’t talk about other teams’ players and any conversation I do have with a fellow GM would be kept in confidence… Historically, though, one of the most important things we do is make this a place that players do want to play and make it an attractive destination for players.” [Working The Corners]
• An epic Twitter war over booing Ilya Bryzgalov. [Crossing Broad]
• The top 10 ironman streaks in the NHL. [THN]
• Asking on TSN Radio, Brian Burke says of the Leafs trading for a goalie: “I’m not sure we’re not going to be in the market before we’re done.” [@Bruce_Arthur]
Puck Daddy Reader Comment of the Day: Licker on the Tuomo Ruutu contract:
29 other GMs just collectively said “WHAT???”
This is what gets professional athletes salaries all out of wack… This is going to be used as the comparison for every 2nd line winger with 60 point upside now.
Indeed.
Bold Prediction: Alex Semin scored twice without Ovi. Because Sasha cares.
Jeff Quirin: Blues Honor Walt; Kick Off Key Back to Back vs BOS + Interest in Hamrlik?
You know, those types of teams the Blues have struggled to keep up with when the intensity level ramps up for most of the season.
Though this is an inter conference contest, the Bruins certainly want off the schneid badly and back to the November/December form before heading in to a key three game intra-divisional set over the weekend against Buffalo and a back to back with Ottawa. Doubtful they care that a banged up Blues team trying like the dickens to better their positioning with a rare late season home game would be their springboard.
Not to be a debbie downer, but the Blues home ice advantage isn’t as strong as it has been when contrasted against tonight’s opponent.
The Blues are 26-3-4 at home, but Boston is 17-10-0 on the road and those 17 wins are the third most in the league. St. Louis is 12-0-2 against the Eastern Conference. The Bruins have taken 17 of a possible 28 points (60.7%) vs. western foes. They’re also 4-0-1 vs. the Central Division. Thanks to Elliott and Halak the Blues have the lowest team GAA in the NHL (1.88), but Patrice Bergeron leads a balanced offense that is 2nd in league scoring (3.21 GoalsFor/Game) and has four players on a 60+ point pace over 82 games.
Sure, that’s a lot of doom and gloom on a sunny day, but the difficulty of the matchup underscores the importance of a Blues victory.
Between tonight and Thursday’s game in Nashville, if the worst case scenario happens, by Saturday’s game in Winnipeg the Predators could be one point behind and Chicago just four. Extrapolate that trend over the Blues five straight road games from February 25th to March 3rd. The outcome isn’t pretty.
It’s not all that bad though. There is at least one positive sign to point to.
Divide the Blues record by the East’s current top eight vs bottom seven. They’ve posted a 6-0-1 record so far against the former. The perfect in regulation mark is not from just beating up on the Islanders and Hurricanes. Quality clubs from the other conference have fallen to the Note.
Is this a benchmark game? By itself, no? In conjunction with the Nashville game? You bet.
Brian Elliott will start in goal for the Blues. Reports state Tim Thomas was first off the ice for the Bruins. Fantasy owners, set your lineups accordingly.
Andy McDonald is expected to play after taking Tuesday off to combat the flu bug that seems to be running around the locker room.
Defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo returns to Alex Pietrangelo’s pairing. Kent Huskins will get the night off.
For those curious, the lines and pairings from yesterday’s practice and expected for tonight:
Sobotka – Backes – Oshie
McDonald – Berglund – Perron
Porter – Arnott – Stewart
Crombeen – Nichol – Reaves
Colaiacovo – Pietrangelo
Jackman – Shattenkirk
Russell – Polak
If you missed the FYI, TJ Hensick was recalled from Peoria. Presumably to cover for McDonald in case he was unable to go. There is always a chance Hitchcock tinkers with the lineup further, but doubtful Hensick is on the ice for more than a morning skate before heading back to Peoria.
Salute to Big Walt
April 9th, 2010 was the last big hurrah for Keith Tkachuk as a member of the St. Louis Blues. He retired after a career spanning 18 season, 1201 games, 538 goals, 1065 points, and 2219 penalty minutes. Following the game fans cheered and said goodbye to Walt the player.
Tonight he returns to Scottrade Center for another round of accolades. Not only as a Blues alumni, but as one of the greatest American born players in his generation. The celebration is for his induction to the US Hockey Hall of Fame.
There is not much that needs to be said about good ole number 7. So I’ll leave it to you all. Let’s here is Jets, Coyotes, Blues and Thrasher (curb the snickering…) fans. What are your favorite Walt members?
One stands out above all others. How many guys can score a goal with their face?
Obligatory Trade Rumor Commentary
Today Ek mentioned that interest in Roman Hamrlik is rising. Yesterday he reported that the Blues have been linked to Steve Ott and Brian Rolston.
Presumed interest in Hamrlik, by virtue of Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post Dispatch reporting that Blues scouts have taken Capitals games recently, is not surprising at all. He hits all the points on the proverbial checklist. A veteran, playoff experienced, left handed defenseman who can still play 18-20 minutes a game. Whether or not that interest turn to something more remains to be seen.
That said, there are some interesting connections to consider.
There is a history of trading players to acquire draft picks that can be used to trade other draft picks to acquire other players. This has happened twice recently. The trading of Jamal Mayers to secure an additional pick which allowed for the Chris Mason trade and the Brad Boyes, Eric Brewer and Brad Winchester trades that brought back picks to cover for the pick lost to take Evgeny Grachev from the Rangers. Chatter surrounding the future of Ben Bishop has picked up of late and a draft pick could be the price. Tampa is looking for goaltending and has stockpiled selections. Brewer was sent to Tampa. The Blues executed a sign and trade moving DJ King to the Capitals in return for Stefan Della Rovere.
A flip Bishop for a pick to send another pick away for Hamrlik scenario involving two teams that have a history of making trades with the Blues? A plausible scenario? What say you?
Given Ott’s antics, undercutting Colaiacovo and “attacking” Kevin Shattenkirk (among others), I can’t imagine he’d be well received in St. Louis. I know hockey at this level is a business, but I’m not sure Ott is the right player. He is the right type of player though. Gritty and abrasive with some scoring ability.
For that reason, I wouldn’t blame Armstrong for making a call to check the price if he is available. However, I agree with Stars writer Bill Meltzer, Ott likely stays put. Because, if it would take another Neal/Niskanen for Goligoski type scenario, I don’t think the Blues will pull that type of deal for Ott.
Rolston is a veteran of many wars and one has to wonder if it’s caught up with him. Only 9 points in 48 games with his contract doesn’t make one giddy over a trigger pull. Granted,only paying a prorated portion and an assumed low purchase price would make the proposition more palatable. He does have playoff experience, 70 games worth. Something the Blues are very likely trying to add more of. He could be that veteran addition to the power play that Timmo Seppa of Hockey Prospectus alluded to when he talked to KMOX earlier this month.
Enjoy the game everyone. Thanks for reading.
As always you are welcome to follow me on Twitter: @JTQ_1
Ty Anderson: Do they score? B’s in St. Louis to take on Blues
God, the Bruins hope not.
Stoned on all 48 shots thrown at Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom, the most he’s ever faced in a shutout throughout his NHL career, the frustration of a Boston club that’s dropped six of their last nine was crystal clear following an ax-chop to the ice by Milan Lucic following Backstrom’s biggest stop of the afternoon affair.
Victimizing Tim Thomas to his 12th loss of the season despite stopping 27 of 29 shots faced, the Bruins will be led tonight by the 37-year-old for the second straight contest. In three career games against the Blues, Thomas is 0-1-2 with a .904 save-percentage, but comes into tonight’s match-up with a 2.15 goals against average on the road this year.
He’ll be opposed by the story of the NHL season, Brian Elliott.
A winner in five of his last six starts — a 24-save loss against Chicago in his last start the lone blemish in the month of Feb. — the 26-year-old Elliott comes into play with a bundle of experience when it comes to playing the Black-and-Gold. But none of its really any good. In 10 career starts against Boston, all coming during Elliot’s tenure as a Senator, he boasts just three wins with a 2.86 goals against average.
Just which Elliott shows up tonight? The one that the Bruins have ripped apart time and time again or the one that’s lost just eight games in 27 starts this year? If the Bruins’ offense gives us any indication, I’d have to lean towards the latter.
Game-Changers
As the Bruins continue to search for offensive contributions from anybody outside of the Bergeron line, Chris Kelly returns to centering Boston’s first line tonight. Featuring Milan Lucic on the wing and now with David Krejci playing right-wing, the steady two-way center comes into play without a goal in his last 13 games, but should get plenty of looks tonight given the skill-set of the wingers around him. Plus, given Kelly and Elliott’s connection through their Ottawa days, you’d have to think that Kelly’s got a feel for Elliott’s tendencies, no?
For St. Louis, former Bruins forward Vladimir Sobotka gets his crack on the Blues’ top-line. Scoring three goals and adding 14 assists in 50 games this year, the scrappy center has 10 goals and 36 points in 115 games since being traded out of Boston, but comes into play with one goal in his only game against the Black-and-Gold. St. Louis is 11-4-0 this year when Sobotka has a point.
Stats of Note
- Boston’s 9-0-0 this year when Benoit Pouliot scores. The problem? He’s only scored nine times.
- Joe Corvo enters play with three goals and five points in 15 career games against the Blues.
- B’s winger Tyler Seguin has just one goal and two assists in his last ten games with a minus-5 rating.
- Hey, this guy’s a defensemen: St. Louis’ Alex Pietrangelo has tallied eight points in the last five games.
- With one goal in the past 17 games, to say that power-forward Chris Stewart is in a slump is an understatement.
- David Perron has a goal and two assists in four career games against Boston.
News and Notes
Given Kelly’s jump to the top line, expect Carter Camper to make his National Hockey League debut tonight. Called up on Monday, Camper’s scored 14 goals and tallied 24 assists in 53 games for the Providence Bruins this year, and is slated to center Boston’s third line.
On a sour note, the B’s will potentially be without Shawn Thornton for tonight’s contest. Thornton is one of just a handful of Bruins skaters to suit up for all 57 games this year. Reeling from the flu, if Thornton’s unable to go, expect Josh Hennessy to be in the lineup. Suiting up in the last two games, the 27-year-old Massachusetts native has averaged 13.5 shifts a game along with 7:57 of time-on-ice with the Big B’s. Sounds fourth-line-esque to me.
Wingers Matt D’Agostini and Alex Steen are both out indefinitely with a concussion, while Jaroslav Halak will get the night off after missing both games this past weekend with a flu.
Follow me on Twitter, shoot me an email at TAndersonBruins@gmail.com, or become Facebook friends with the HockeyBuzz Bruins profile for links, interactions, and updates.
*********
KINDLE USERS: Please subscribe to Bruins Buzz; a one-stop feed for all things Bruins related on HockeyBuzz. For more information, click here.
Which NHL teams may have reinforcements on the way as the trade deadline arrives? (Yahoo! Sports)
The NHL trade deadline is Monday, and team executives are huddled together figuring out what they need to make the playoffs or compete for the Stanley Cup.
And, in turn, trying to factor in the unknown.
Like if injured players will be available for a playoff push. Like if they return, will they be effective or will there not be enough time to shake the rust?
Here are a number of the teams facing “X-factors” in their trade deadline plans.
Boston Bruins
What the Bruins are pretty sure about: Winger Rich Peverley will be back for the playoffs after an MCL injury. What the Bruins, and the rest of the Eastern Conference, are unsure of: Whether Nathan Horton will be back for the playoffs, because it’s not looking good with his concussion rehab.
It’s the X-factor that will affect everything they do or don’t do in the next several days. He was arguable their most important forward in last season’s run before he was Rome’d. What if he’s out for the postseason?
Calgary Flames
The Flames could get a hell of a lot better over the next two weeks. Or, barring that, healthier.
The hope is that Curtis Glencross, who suffered a knee injury on Jan. 17, is back by early March. He had 18 goals in 45 games when he went down.
Defenseman Derek Smith is skating again after an ankle injury in December. Ditto forward David Moss, whom the Calgary Herald said is expected back in “another few weeks.” Right wing Lee Stempniak had a targeted return of mid-March after a high ankle sprain against the Red Wings on Jan. 31. Center Mikael Backlund is another player expected back in the next two weeks, which could move some pieces around the lineup.
Florida Panthers
The Panthers have been fading of late, but that’s directly tied to injuries on their back end. Jason Garrison missed four games with a bum ankle. Ed Jovanovski missed 14 games but is nearly back after a broken hand last month. Dmitry Kulikov has been out since Jan. 23 but is expected back next month. He was in the midst of a career offensive year when he went down.
The Panthers should also get back Marco Sturm shortly, although who knows for what reason (3 points in 28 games). The wild card: Scottie Upshall, who had sports hernia surgery but whom coach Kevin Dineen said won’t be in the lineup until he resembles the “real deal” again.
New Jersey Devils
The Devils have three significant pieces out of the lineup that could be back for the playoffs. Defenseman Adam Larsson has been out since Feb. 2 with a back injury and should be nearing a return. Defenseman Henrik Tallinder had a blood clot in his lower leg and last played on Jan. 17; he could be back by the middle of the month. Travis Zajac — arguably the best center on the team when he’s on — hasn’t resumed skating after his Achilles tendon injury but could still be considered in the team’s playoff plans.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Oh, right: Sidney Crosby. Remember him? Pretty good player. Working his way back from a deep tissue bruise or whatever the hell it is. He’s out indefinitely, but would infinitely make this a better team. Problem is that his uncertain status affects everything the Penguins shall do, according to the Canadian Press:
With only about a quarter of the regular season remaining, the Penguins have no idea when—or if—Crosby will play again this season. The superstar has been sidelined by concussion-related problems for all but eight games over the last 14 months and currently isn’t cleared for contact even during practice. As the season winds down, it appears increasingly less likely he will return to play a meaningful number of regular-season games.
Given the steep price Shero might need to pay to acquire a more-than-pedestrian scorer in what is widely acknowledged to be a sellers’market, this is one season when he might have to take a step back rather than pursue yet another Crosby-line forward.
The Penguins sitting out the trade deadline, other than a possible minor tweak? It just might happen. Their biggest deal this month may be the $ 30-million contract they gave Neal last weekend.
‘Tis tough to find Sid a winger when you’re not sure there will be a Sid.
San Jose Sharks
This is a huge one: Martin Havlat, acquired specifically as a playoff upgrade over Dany Heatley, is due back in mid-March. Via Kevin Kurz of CSN Bay Area:
In theory, getting Havlat back could be viewed as a trade deadline acquisition. The Sharks aren’t expected to make any major moves in the days leading up to the Feb. 27 cut-off date, but a healthy Havlat adds to their depth at the forward position — something that’s been lacking in recent months, especially before the recent acquisition of Dominic Moore.
When that hypothesis was offered up to McLellan, he said: “Yes and no. You get a player that comes into your lineup that you haven’t had for a long, long time and he’s a very good player. He’s ahead of a player that you would trade for because he understands our philosophies, he knows his teammates, he’s familiar with his environment.
“The difference with Marty when he comes back is he hasn’t been playing. He’s going to have to find his game, and find it quickly.”
Question is: Will he return to play with Rick Nash?
St. Louis Blues
The Blues hope they get two key offensive players back before the postseason. Alex Steen isn’t expected back in the lineup soon, but Ken Hitchcock has spoken about his potential return this season. Jamie Langenbrunner will be out until late March with a broken bone in his left foot. Still, the notion they could be back in the lineup for the playoffs might have GM Doug Armstrong thinking defense first.
Washington Capitals
If center Nicklas Backstrom returns from his concussion, it could be a game-changer. But that’s a big “if”, considering he recently said he had no idea when he’d be back. But there isn’t a player available at the deadline that could have his impact as an offensive player outside of Rick Nash. Question is: If he does return, would it be too late for the Caps?
Bruins Announce 2012-13 Season Ticket Renewal Information
Bruins Announce 2012-13 Season Ticket Renewal Information
Oilers extinguish Flames with four-goal second period (The Edmonton Journal)
Calgary Flames’ Miikka Kiprusoff makes a stop against Edmonton Oilers’ Taylor Hall during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Calgary, Alberta February 21, 2012. REUTERS/Mike Sturk (CANADA – Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY)
REUTERS
CALGARY – Taylor Hall, a self-proclaimed hockey historian, needed no reminders of what had become of the once storied showdown between the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers.
He played his first NHL game against Flames on Oct. 7, 2010 which ended with a 4-0 victory. It was the last time the Oilers had beaten Calgary and the first of five games he’d play against the Flames without registering a point.
But the winger, at his energetic best Tuesday in the Scotiabank Saddledome, had a heavy hand in altering Edmonton’s fortunes against their provincial foes. He netted a goal, added an assist and registered a career-high nine shots in the Oilers’ 6-1 victory over the Flames.
It was the first time the Oilers have won in Calgary since Oct. 17, 2008.
“I’ve never won in this building, never come close,” said Hall, who spent his early years in Calgary.
“It shows you the potential that we do have if we want to play the right way. It’s there for us,” he continued. “It’s a pretty simple game to play — a simple game plan — and, if you do it really well, it’s going to pay off. We showed that tonight.”
The loss dropped the Flames (28-23-9) out of eighth place. They were passed by the Los Angeles Kings, who picked up a point in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Phoenix Coyotes. It was also Calgary’s first loss in regulation in the month of February.
“Our second-worst night of the year,” said Flames captain Jarome Iginla, who put Tuesday’s result right behind a 9-0 drubbing by the Boston Bruins on Jan. 5.
“It was so bad on our part. Sharpness, energy, making plays happen. Unfortunately, it was the Oilers. You want to win those ones.”
“We were bad tonight. There’s really no explanation,” said Calgary coach Brent Sutter. “Was it something I was expecting? No. It’s how you react to it now.”
As for the Oilers (23-30-6), Hall said the team can return to Edmonton with something to hang their helmets on after losing three straight on home ice. They host the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday at Rexall Place.
“Even though they got the first goal of the game, we set the tempo right off the bat,” Hall said. “All four lines had a great first shift, then we kept going. We took note of what a couple of teams had done to us in our building. We didn’t quit.”
The Oilers peppered Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff with 17 shots in the first 20 minutes and didn’t show any signs of a letdown after defenceman Scott Hannan beat Edmonton netminder Devan Dubnyk with the Flames’ sixth shot. Instead, Jordan Eberle put his own rebound in off the crossbar to send the teams to the first intermission tied 1-1.
“It’s fun playing spoiler,” said Eberle, who added a pair of assists and had seven shots on net. “We’re in a situation where we want to win hockey games. We want to move up the standings and be the best team we can be. So when you get a team like this, fighting for a playoff spot, and you can come in and disrupt that, it’s fun. That’s what we want to do. We want to be competitive.”
By the time the second period was in the books, the Oilers had a 5-1 lead on the scoreboard and a 34-11 advantage on the shot clock. Calgary didn’t even register a shot on net in the second until the period was 10 minutes old.
Ales Hemsky, Eric Belanger, Sam Gagner, and Ryan Smyth all got pucks past Kiprusoff, who was given the mercy hook after two periods. Henrik Karlsson was left to mop up the final 20 minutes.
Hall got a power play goal past Karlsson late in the third.
“What we have left of this season is all about days like this, trying to find the game that we need to be a playoff contender in the future,” said associate coach Ralph Krueger after registering his first NHL win.
Krueger has been filling in for head coach Tom Renney (concussion) and is 1-5 over the last two seasons.
“We went down 1-0 after having so much pressure in their end. That’s a challenge we haven’t really risen up to. The team persisted and continued to press,” Krueger said.
“Probably the best feeling ever,” said defenceman Ladislav Smid, “especially when they’re fighting for a playoff spot and we come in and beat them in their building. It’s a hell of a feeling.”
jirelandedmontonjournal.com
Twitter.com/jirelandEJ
Oilers extinguish Flames with four-goal second period (The Edmonton Journal)
Calgary Flames’ Miikka Kiprusoff makes a stop against Edmonton Oilers’ Taylor Hall during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Calgary, Alberta February 21, 2012. REUTERS/Mike Sturk (CANADA – Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY)
REUTERS
CALGARY – Taylor Hall, a self-proclaimed hockey historian, needed no reminders of what had become of the once storied showdown between the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers.
He played his first NHL game against Flames on Oct. 7, 2010 which ended with a 4-0 victory. It was the last time the Oilers had beaten Calgary and the first of five games he’d play against the Flames without registering a point.
But the winger, at his energetic best Tuesday in the Scotiabank Saddledome, had a heavy hand in altering Edmonton’s fortunes against their provincial foes. He netted a goal, added an assist and registered a career-high nine shots in the Oilers’ 6-1 victory over the Flames.
It was the first time the Oilers have won in Calgary since Oct. 17, 2008.
“I’ve never won in this building, never come close,” said Hall, who spent his early years in Calgary.
“It shows you the potential that we do have if we want to play the right way. It’s there for us,” he continued. “It’s a pretty simple game to play — a simple game plan — and, if you do it really well, it’s going to pay off. We showed that tonight.”
The loss dropped the Flames (28-23-9) out of eighth place. They were passed by the Los Angeles Kings, who picked up a point in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Phoenix Coyotes. It was also Calgary’s first loss in regulation in the month of February.
“Our second-worst night of the year,” said Flames captain Jarome Iginla, who put Tuesday’s result right behind a 9-0 drubbing by the Boston Bruins on Jan. 5.
“It was so bad on our part. Sharpness, energy, making plays happen. Unfortunately, it was the Oilers. You want to win those ones.”
“We were bad tonight. There’s really no explanation,” said Calgary coach Brent Sutter. “Was it something I was expecting? No. It’s how you react to it now.”
As for the Oilers (23-30-6), Hall said the team can return to Edmonton with something to hang their helmets on after losing three straight on home ice. They host the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday at Rexall Place.
“Even though they got the first goal of the game, we set the tempo right off the bat,” Hall said. “All four lines had a great first shift, then we kept going. We took note of what a couple of teams had done to us in our building. We didn’t quit.”
The Oilers peppered Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff with 17 shots in the first 20 minutes and didn’t show any signs of a letdown after defenceman Scott Hannan beat Edmonton netminder Devan Dubnyk with the Flames’ sixth shot. Instead, Jordan Eberle put his own rebound in off the crossbar to send the teams to the first intermission tied 1-1.
“It’s fun playing spoiler,” said Eberle, who added a pair of assists and had seven shots on net. “We’re in a situation where we want to win hockey games. We want to move up the standings and be the best team we can be. So when you get a team like this, fighting for a playoff spot, and you can come in and disrupt that, it’s fun. That’s what we want to do. We want to be competitive.”
By the time the second period was in the books, the Oilers had a 5-1 lead on the scoreboard and a 34-11 advantage on the shot clock. Calgary didn’t even register a shot on net in the second until the period was 10 minutes old.
Ales Hemsky, Eric Belanger, Sam Gagner, and Ryan Smyth all got pucks past Kiprusoff, who was given the mercy hook after two periods. Henrik Karlsson was left to mop up the final 20 minutes.
Hall got a power play goal past Karlsson late in the third.
“What we have left of this season is all about days like this, trying to find the game that we need to be a playoff contender in the future,” said associate coach Ralph Krueger after registering his first NHL win.
Krueger has been filling in for head coach Tom Renney (concussion) and is 1-5 over the last two seasons.
“We went down 1-0 after having so much pressure in their end. That’s a challenge we haven’t really risen up to. The team persisted and continued to press,” Krueger said.
“Probably the best feeling ever,” said defenceman Ladislav Smid, “especially when they’re fighting for a playoff spot and we come in and beat them in their building. It’s a hell of a feeling.”
jirelandedmontonjournal.com
Twitter.com/jirelandEJ
Feel-good story of Byron Bitz takes a turn (The Vancouver Sun)
NASHVILLE, TN – FEBRUARY 7: Byron Bitz #34 celebrates his goal with Daniel Sedin #22 and Henrik Sedin #33 of the Vancouver Canucks against Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predatorsduring an NHL game at the Bridgestone Arena on February 7, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NHLI via Getty Images
NASHVILLE — The Vancouver Canucks have their man. But can they keep him in the lineup?
Byron Bitz so perfectly seemed to fill the Canucks’ need for more size, grit and toughness among their bottom six forwards that his unheralded acquisition last summer by general manager Mike Gillis seemed an act of brilliant prescience.
Bitz can skate and handle the puck, and hit and fight and does so willingly. He is probably a better depth player than anybody Gillis could pick up — without exorbitant cost — at the National Hockey League trading deadline.
But with that deadline looming Monday, Bitz was not only absent from the Canuck lineup here Tuesday against the Nashville Predators, he was unable to skate in the morning due to soreness in his hip and groin area. And that has alarm bells ringing within the organization because the 27-year-old has had four abdominal surgeries in his career, including three in the last two years, as well as a major operation on his hip to repair a torn labrum and shave bone around the socket.
The feel-good story of the Canucks’ season is suddenly causing much concern to a team that must decide this week if it can rely on Bitz and, if not, alter its deadline priorities.
“We’re hopeful that he will be healthy,” Gillis said Tuesday from Vancouver, where he was taking and making trade calls. “But you’re asking me to look into a crystal ball, which I can’t do. I’m kind of at the mercy of the next day or two to find out how he’s feeling.
“He’s had surgery on that area, but I don’t know any more than that. We’re being pretty conservative with him, like we are with everybody, but I can’t answer that [question about his long-term health].
That’s why I’m going to wait and see what information we get. I’ll see what the reports are, and then we’ll make a decision.”
Earlier, after Bitz was the only Canuck on the road trip who didn’t take the morning skate, coach Alain Vigneault admitted the timing of the player’s injury is especially difficult.
“It’s a complicated time of year that way,” Vigneault said of the looming deadline. “Especially with a guy whose past history, as far as him being healthy, is not very good. It’s making it a little bit more challenging for him and for us right now. Again, I don’t want to over-react on this. This might just be something real minor and come tomorrow he might be able to practise and feel real good again. We’ll see how he responds.”
Asked about the level of concern for Bitz, Vigneault said: “I think on his part, on a personal level, there has to be some concern. He has played a couple of games in Chicago [in the American League] and he comes here and he plays five games. Then all of a sudden, the body feels some pain and then he can’t play anymore.
“For us, it’s a big question.”
Signed in July, 25 days into free agency when few other teams showed interest in a player who was hurt all of last season, Bitz underwent the last of his sports hernia operations in September and was finally able to play in January.
After sitting out nearly 22 months, Bitz played 10 games for the Chicago Wolves before being recalled Feb. 3 by the Canucks. He had four points in seven games and recorded 14 penalty minutes, most of those in two fights against respected Colorado Avalanche enforcer Cody McLeod.
Although the team has never admitted publicly that it lacked toughness in the Stanley Cup final loss to the Boston Bruins last June, Gillis made it a priority to collect players last summer who could provide more bite to the depth positions.
Tough minor-leaguer Steve Pinizzotto was signed as a free agent but suffered a pre-season shoulder injury that later required year-ending surgery. Aaron Volpatti made the team but also was lost for the season to a shoulder injury. Dale Weiss was claimed on waivers but has spells where he lacks a physical presence. Energy player Mike Duco has significant limitations.
Bitz was easily the most impactful of the newcomers, drawing praise last Saturday from CBC commentator Don Cherry, who said the Canucks were now in the same class physically as the Boston Bruins and Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers.
Bitz helped set up a goal that night and logged 11:10 of ice time in the 6-2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. But he hasn’t played since.
Typically, the Canucks prohibit interviews with injured players. But Bitz said after his last surgery that he didn’t think his body or career could withstand another major setback.
The next few days are critical.
The Canucks were scheduled to practise Wednesday in Nashville before travelling to Detroit for Thursday’s showdown against the Red Wings. Vancouver’s last game before the trade deadline is Sunday against the Dallas Stars. The road trip ends Tuesday against the Phoenix Coyotes.
Facing steep asking prices in a sellers’ market, Gillis may not deal for another role player even if the medical outlook for Bitz worsens.
“I don’t feel the compelling need to do that, but you never know what comes your way,” Gillis said. “We’ll see. I’m comfortable with what we have. I think this deadline could be very different than previous ones for a lot of reasons. That’s why we did the David Booth trade when we did [in October]. You can’t manufacture things; either they’re going to be there or not be there.”
The same goes for Bitz.
imacintyre@vancouversun.com
On Twitter: Twitter.com/imacvansun
vancouversun.com