Penguins defeat Capitals, Calder nominees revealed and more in today’s collection of notable NHL morning headlines.
NHL Playoff Recap and News.
Penguins goalie Matt Murray carries his club to victory in Game 3 against the Capitals.
TRIBLIVE.COM/THE WASHINGTON POST: Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Matt Murray made a career-high 47 saves, including 19 in the third period, to backstop his club to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals in Game 3 of their best-of seven, taking a 2-1 lead in the series. The Penguins took a 3-0 lead into the third period and withstood the Capitals surge in the final frame. Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, however, could face a suspension for his blindside hit on Capitals winger Marcus Johansson. Caps blueliner Brooks Orpik received a three-game suspension for a similar hit on Penguins d-man Olli Maatta in Game 2.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Talking about the Orpik suspension before Game 3, Capitals coach Barry Trotz considered the defenseman’s punishment to be too harsh and insinuated the Pens got preferential treatment from the league. It’ll be interesting to see what punishment Letang receives in a series that is getting rougher as it goes along.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Will Kari Lehtonen or Antti Niemi be in net for the Dallas Stars in Game 3 of their series with the Dallas Stars as it shifts to St. Louis. Lehtonen played well in the first game but was replaced by Niemi during the second.
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH: The Blues penalty-killing against the Stars has been perfect thus far.
NEWSDAY: New York Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak (groin injury) is skating with his teammates again but isn’t ready to return to action. He’s been sidelined since March 8.
THE TAMPA TRIBUNE: Lightning forward Erik Condra (upper-body injury) has returned to practice but remains uncertain for Game 3 against the Islanders.
THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators are hoping for better puck luck against the San Jose Sharks as their series shifts to Nashville for Games 3 and 4 of their series. The Sharks lead two games to none.
THE MERCURY NEWS: The Sharks are trying to find a good home for “Jo Paw-velski”, the black kitten that scampered in front of their bench during warm-ups prior to the opening game of their series against the Predators. The cat is seen as a good luck symbol as the Sharks won that game 5-2.
Notable NHL Headlines.
NHL.COM: Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid and Chicago Blackhawks winger Artemi Panarin are the finalists for the 2016 Calder Memorial Trophy.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’m a little surprised Buffalo’s Jack Eichel or Arizona’s Max Domi didn’t get a nod, but those three are worthy candidates for the award.
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS: The Rangers re-signed backup goalie Antti Raanta to a two-year, $2 million contract worth $1 million per season.
DETROIT FREE PRESS: Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall is seeking options to improve his battered left knee.
NBC SPORTS: Rangers pending UFA defenseman Dan Boyle has no regrets over his angry tirade last week against New York Post reporters Larry Brooks and Brett Cyrgalis, but did apologize to the other reporters who witnessed it.
ESPN.COM: The NHL hopes to attract more Hispanic fans, eyeing the possibility of playing two preseason games in Mexico City.
What happened to selfish Phil Kessel dosent help a team win? Now 8 points in 8 games in the playoffs with the Pens.
I think Trotz should have a look at his own team before throwing preferential treatment claims out there. Ovechkin is one of the league’s dirtiest players and is rarely ever punished.
Seconded on all points – Kessel has stepped up and played well with Haglin/Bonino.
Ovie has been either absent or dirty during this series. CBC last night wouldn’t shut up about the Letang hit, but the only one that made sense was Don – why was Johannsen skating down the middle of his ice with his head down? Meanwhile at the end of the 2nd, everyone seems to think the Ovie hit on Dumolin was fantastic – if you watched it, the hit was 100% the same as Letang’s, only it was in the corner and Ovie got more of an elbow to the head on it. Ovie left his feet with the hit and drove forward. No call, that’s a great hit apparently. Then there is the hit on Cole to talk about. Nice to see Trotz have no comments about that….. Plus throw in the slew of other slashes, late hits, hits from behind (2 of the Pens 3 goals last night will clearly show the goal scorer cross checked from behind after the goal is scored), etc.
I also enjoyed the facewash Ovechkin had on Letang before any of this happened. All while laughing in his face waiting for retaliation and a Pittsburgh penalty. It’s disgusting seeing these things happen while enforcers are removed from the game.
I totally agree on that JR (plus I forgot about the face wash, but I recall it now). Frankly, I think it is because the enforcers are being pushed out that we see this garbage happening. I know the talking heads don’t see it like this, but enforcers help police things in my opinion. Would Ovie have face washed Letang like that if he knew a John Scott was coming to drop the gloves?
He wouldn’t scrap with Ian Cole last night (if you read lips during some of the stoppages of play around the Cole hits, you’d know what i mean), so I think we know what the answer would be.
I guess he grew a bit. haha
Lyle, are you really surprised Eichel and Domi didn’t get a nod? I mean who would you remove from the Ballot to fit them in?
Maybe McDavid? Hard to be a rookie of the year when you miss half the season. Or is the award called “Potential” Rookie of the Year?
Rookie of the year should be the best young player in his first pro season…any doubt thats not McDavid?
You don’t need one-dimensional “enforcers” (i.e, the pure goon) taking up a roster spot. What you DO need is the removal of the “third man in” instigator penalty and allow those that can engage in the fights (but who contribute elsewhere) confront the likes of Ovechkin. He’ll either fight or chicken-s*&t out – either way, he goes off. He should also be penalized for things like the “face wash.”
Well, say what you like about Ovechkin, but he’s one of the best! Extremely talented, tough and nasty. He gives and takes as well as anybody in the league.
Exactly