Game recaps, updates on Jiri Hudler and Matt Hendricks plus the latest on the Canadiens.
Game Recaps.
THE VANCOUVER SUN: Nick Bonino and Radim Vrbata scored shootout goals to lift the Vancouver Canucks to a 5-4 victory over the Nashville Predators. It was a costly victory for the Canucks, as forward Alex Burrows and defenseman Kevin Bieksa could face suspension for illegal hits.
Ottawa Senators forward Mark Stone scored the shootout winner against the Detroit Red Wings.
OTTAWA CITIZEN: Mark Stone’s shootout goal gave the Ottawa Senators a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. The win kept the Senators within three points of the Boston Bruins for the final wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference.
WINNIPEG SUN: Chris Kreider’s late third-period goal lifted the New York Rangers to a 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Winnipeg defenseman Dustin Byfuglien could face a suspension for a crosscheck to the neck of Rangers’ forward J.T. Miller.
TORONTO SUN: James Reimer made 40 saves as the Toronto Maple Leafs upset the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The second-place Canucks widened their lead over the idle third-place Calgary Flames to four points (95 to 91) in the Pacific Division. The Jets meanwhile remain two points ahead of the LA Kings for the final wild-card berth in the Western Conference.
Notable Headlines.
CALGARY HERALD: Flames forward Jiri Hudler could be NHL player of the month following a 23-point performance in March.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers have selected forward Matt Hendricks as their nominee for the Masterton Trophy.
MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens coach Michel Therrien shuffled his lines once again at practice following his club’s recent loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Blueliner Tom Gilbert skated with Nathan Beaulieu on the third defense pairing while Greg Pateryn was alongside Sergei Gonchar. At forward, Max Pacioretty was on a line with center Tomas Plekanec whilst David Desharnais skated with winger Alex Galchenyuk and P.A. Parenteau.
Have to wonder…how much of a difference does a full training camp, and the first 10 20 games of the season (most coaches agree thats about how long it takes to see what you “got” with a hockey team) makes for the Leafs…not suggesting at all that they are a good team, still doubt they make the playoffs but I think the resultts of the last part of the season could be a little exaggerated, by trying to switch over to a completely different system/philosophy than the team has employed for the past several years.
If you look at the horrific collapse of the last half even there are some small signsof iimprovement in individual players, Gardiner Panik Booth Kadri Rielly have all looked better, Phaneuf has been a bit better. Again not saying they would be a playoff team or anything of the sort, just that the results might not be quite what they seem. Should be an interesting off season.
Well I believe you’re absolutely correct. If they started the season using this system and had some exhibition games to settle it out and acquired players suitable to play in this system before the season began they’d fair much much better. Instead they switched mid season with the intent from what I can tell to move the players after they learn this system and kinda start fresh next season. Basically this season is a wash for them. Which is where my belief leaf management is intentionally tanking this team. They can’t really go any lower so now they are permitted to win games. Well not prevented. They won’t sit kadri again over something silly.
Sorry wasn’t intended to post this as a response. ahha
OMG haha. this response telling someone I did not mean to post a response was meant for the below post haha. Where is my coffee.
What new system? Is it the one where players play hockey for 60mins or is it the one they play as a unit throughout the zones and don’t blow them? The system other successful teams use, commonly known as work ethic and commitment? All teams play the same system, some teams work hard to correctly play the system and others like the Leafs, just don’t.
Really Ron.
Have you ever heard of the Left wing Lock. The system the Red wings historically use.
Perhaps you remember when Swedens National team used a system they called the Torpedo.
Maybe you know of something called the Trap.
How about Man to Man. You know what that is?
Perhaps you’ve heard of possession hockey, run and gun or dump and chance.
The Senators System has changed from something similar to what Detroit implements under Maclean to a simpler North, South south, heavy forecheck and back check system under Cameron.
there are many systems to run in hockey. Some are simply more conducive than others.
Torterella (sorry for spelling) tried to implement a defensive first system where blocking shots and physically protecting your own end was more important than the cycle game and east west hockey Vancouver is more built to do. Out goes Torts and look how much the system works in Vancouver now. Torts basically wasted a year of the Sedins career.
Seriously? lol
bang on ron the majority of the season there has been no effort on the ice for the leafs the system doesn’t matter when nobody follows it
If Burrows went back to biting he wouldn’t have these kind of problems….
I’m not giving up on my Sens yet. Obviously it is in Bostons favour as the Sens need to win 2 more games than boston to get in and there simply is not many games left. They way I am looking at it though is with Ottawa’s game in hand. The next two for Ottawa will be tough but they need to win both. Hope Boston loses one of their two. Sit 1 point back of the Bruins and the next game vs Toronto will be the night Boston is idle and the Sens will use up that game in hand. They need to beat Toronto their and gain a point over the Leafs.
bottom line is Ottawa can’t lose and need a bit of help from the league. However I am very pleased to see them back to the North south hockey with a heavy fore check and back check
good win last night. They out shot the Wings 25 to 9 or something like that in the 1rst 2 periods.
It’s nice to see they went back to the north south, heavy forcheck and
Hold the phone.. Alex Burrows was involved in a questionable hit!?!? What a shock. Guy is a dirty player and kind of a scumbag. Always has been.
Maybe actually take a look at the incident before passing knee-jerk judgement.
Nice, call a guy a scumbag really? Burrows has a huge heart outstanding in the community and you call him that? I agree he is tough to play against and knows his R
really a scum bag really? guess you don’t really know what kind of community guy he is the guy has a huge heart. I get he is tough to play against but he plays his ROLE on the canuck’s.. guess you agree with all the dirty crap he receives against him as well or even the bad calls he gets for real hockey plays! You know what before you judge him alone judge the all the players of the NHL equally
Burrows has always been dirty. Not too many guys around the NHL these days who have speared someone. But hey, it’s obviously a knee-jerk reaction on my part. And who cares what he does in the community. Plenty of rich people do nice things for their community. It’s a side effect of being rich. Billionaires donate to charities and help out the less fortunate. Doesn’t mean they don’t do all kinds of shady things as well. I’m very sorry that you disagree with my opinion.
Matt Cooke does a lot of great things for the community as well. But I’m sure you have an opinion on him.
Therrien can shuffle his lines and pairings all he wants but until he actual implements some kind of system the team is going to have to rely on Carey Price.