Stanley Cup Final news and more in this morning’s collection of NHL headlines.
NBC SPORTS: Ice conditions at San Jose’s SAP Center were problematic for the players during Game 3. The outdoor temperature reached 90 degrees fahrenheit in San Jose on Saturday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: No word yet what, if anything, might be done to improve conditions for Game 4 tonight. Outdoor temperature today in San Jose is expected to reach 84 degrees.
NBC SPORTS: San Jose Sharks winger Tomas Hertl (lower-body) injury remains questionable for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final tonight. Hertl was sidelined for Game 3.
TRIBLIVE.COM: The Pittsburgh Penguins shot blocking is playing a significant role in the shot differential with the Sharks thus far.
CSN MID-ATLANTIC: This season was not one to remember for Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik. He missed half the season with a broken leg and half the playoffs with concussion symptoms and a three-game suspension.
NEW YORK POST: Are the Rangers alluring enough to attract pending free-agent college prospect forward Jimmy Vesey?
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS: “Northern Trust, a respected Chicago bank, appears to have enabled a shocking fraud scheme that lured a group of NHL players…into a crooked real estate venture that cost them at least $13.5 million in losses.”
Not to mention the penalties Orpik took in the playoffs, especially the double minor that put the nail in the Caps coffin. Those are in his control to change.
Poor Nashville. They can’t buy a break at the forward position. The last significant offensive weapon they’ve drafted and developed was Radulov 12 years ago (who was a demon in the playoffs before he left). How can they draft and develop defense like they do and miss so badly with forwards? Does their defensive mindset smother offensive productivity? Might that be part of the reason Vesey will sign elsewhere?
With 228 goals, the Predators finished ahead of St. Louis, the Wild,, Ducks, Kings, Tampa, Detroit and the Flyers (among others), although almost 25% came from the D. Not sure how that compares to those others without team-by-team analysis.