In this inaugural teaser episode, Lifelong hockey goalies “Gatekeeper” and “Dutch” introduce you to all things goalie. With over 50 years of combined experience playing and coaching hockey goalies, these two netminders talk about their experiences, coaching methodologies, pro & amateur goaltenders, and goalie development with Dek/Inline/Ice players.

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The post The Net Perspective – Episode 1 – Every goalie wants to rule the world (teaser) appeared first on The Rink.

Rinkcast host Andy Campbell is joined by Rink staffers Eric Andrews,  Sean (Goldstein) Fitzgerald, and Andrew Bard to discuss several recent Chicago Blackhawks news items.

• Could the Blackhawks trade Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Kirby Dach and/or Alex Debrincat to kick the rebuild into overdrive?
• Some listener/watcher questions.

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Blackhawks/Rinkcast – S5Ep 21 – Is the “Cat” really on the trade block? https://t.co/Ywq69BIXEg

— The Rink Rinkcasts (@TheRinkcast) June 14, 2022

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The post Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 5, Episode 21 – Let the rumors fly and the offseason begin appeared first on The Rink.

Rinkcast host Andy Campbell is joined by Rink staffers Eric Andrews, Andrew Bard, and Jeff Osborn from The Rink Seattle to discuss the Chicago Blackhawks season from start to finish. From the scandal that rocked the hockey world, to the dismissal of head coach Jeremy Colliton, the hiring of Kyle Davidson as general manager, and another losing season, The Rink will cover it all, as well as a look to the future ahead of the 2022 draft, possible trades, and free agency.

Come for the Blackhawks analysis, stay for the Long Island Jawz / Chicago Cheetahs talk!

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Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 5, Episode 20 – The Chicago Blackhawks' Season in Review https://t.co/v7K0tkp1uc

— Chicago Blackhawks Rinkcast (@TheRinkcast) May 6, 2022

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Are you a RinkRat who also owns a business? Our data shows RinkCast listeners are (like you) affluent, discerning, and want to patronize like-minded brands. As part of our growth, we’re looking for an exclusive advertiser, at a VERY low cost.  Email podcast@the-rink.com for more details

The post Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 5, Episode 20 – Chicago Blackhawks’ Season in Review appeared first on The Rink.

Nathan is so fast he leaves an Avalanche of snow behind him #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/MNiD89LU4q

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 9, 2021

There were several occasions where MacKinnon did breakthrough and found daylight through the neutral zone, but the Golden Knights clogged the shooting lanes well, making it difficult for MacKinnon to create chances for his teammates. Mikko Rantanen was having the same issues as well. Gabriel Landeskog was the only top-line player that was not playing on the top line, so he was able to maneuver a little better on second line with Valeri Nichushkin and JT Compher. Together, they made some strong plays and had scoring opportunities that simply did not land in the back of the net.

And, while MacKinnon is the Avalanche’s best player, it cannot all fall on his shoulders to carry the team all the time. But, in a pivotal Game 5 during the biggest moments, you expect more from your stars.

Logan O’Connor was very noticeable. It was his first game back returning from injury, but you would not have guess it. When he played on the fourth line earlier in the season, you could tell he provided something to the Avs that they do not usually get. And, with Matt Calvert sidelined, O’Connor looked to give some energy to his club that got out-played the last pair of games.

While it was interesting that Jared Bednar slotted O’Connor on the third line, it was even more of a surprise that Brandon Saad was moved up to the top line. Saad has been a bright spot for the team and has kept the Avs in a lot of games in this series.

Here are some more notes from the Avs’ Game 5 loss to Vegas:

• Ryan Graves had seven scoring opportunities with none of them landing in the back of the net. The Avalanche were looking to their defensemen to play a big part in the scoring opportunities given the Golden Knights were shutting down the forwards.

Ryan Graves should study the concept of SHOT SELECTION. Still cannot believe that he would take the same bad, shin pad shot two consecutive times in OT. Frustrating loss because Colorado played a great hockey game. pic.twitter.com/hRI8o2rMAZ

— Avalanche Forever (@citchmook) June 9, 2021

• It was evident that Marc-Andre Fluery was struggling in the net. He gave up a lot of rebounds and did not seem to be on top of his game.

Wonder if I can squeeze this into tomorrow’s episode of Dang-Its

pic.twitter.com/luOSCq4YZe

— Drew Livingstone (@ProducerDrew_) June 9, 2021

• For the first two periods of hockey, the Avalanche looked more in control than they had in their two losses to Vegas in Sin City. Colorado was forechecking and forcing turnovers in the Vegas zone.

#Avs storming the house right now, doing everything they haven't done in last two-plus games. Puck pressure. Extremely physical. Forcing turnovers. Still 1-0, now 8:18 left in 2

— Mike Chambers (@MikeChambers) June 9, 2021

• Bednar said in his postgame press conference that he was happy with the team’s play, except for those few turnovers which made the difference in the game.

Jared Bednar: "I think you have to work through mistakes; it's a game of mistakes.

"I will say this: I loved the way we played tonight. We were on our toes, we were playing to win a hockey game, we played to our identity."#Avs

— Scott MacDonald (@0ffScottFree) June 9, 2021

Coach Bednar: "I thought O'Connor was hard, heavy, on pucks, using his grit and tenacity, as well as his speed…he did exactly what we needed him to do."#Avs

— Scott MacDonald (@0ffScottFree) June 9, 2021

• Landeskog nailed it in his press conference after the game when he said the team needs to be ready for Game 6.

Gabe Landeskog: "We don't have much time to do anything but rebound and forget about this.

"We have to go to Vegas and win a hockey game. It's as simple as that."

— Scott MacDonald (@0ffScottFree) June 9, 2021

The Avalanche are now in a make-or-break situation. They play in Vegas on Thursday night. Win and they come home to Colorado for Game 7. Lose and they go home again in the second round.

No one said beating the Vegas Golden Knights would be easy, and for the Avs, it is a real test of their ability to play Stanley Cup-winning hockey if they can make this a series, and win it.

The post Notes from Game 5: Where in the world is Nathan MacKinnon? appeared first on The Rink.

As someone interested in the mental aspect of the game though, I wish I could jump into his head, even just for a little while, to gain some understanding of what happened. As other teams’ fans will know, this is not the first time this has happened with Kadri, and yet since he moved to the Avalanche 18 months ago, he has not done anything like this. Is it the added tension of the playoffs that causes him to make these types of play?

Nazem Kadri about to get suspended in the first round AGAIN https://t.co/qoBYHiS2X1

— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) May 20, 2021

Kadri had a frustrating regular season this year. He had not produced nearly as much as he did last year. There have been a number of times when Head Coach Jared Bednar commented on not being happy with Kadri’s play. And yet, the stats do not show that he had a horrible regular season.

What is the most telling with these stats is that his penalty minutes dropped significantly to the lowest it has been since the 2014–15 season when he was playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs. It is 1/3 of what it was in 2019–20 when Kadri first joined the Avalanche. Given the shortened season and the breaks that were mandatory for COVID-19, Kadri was the only player to play all 56 games, so his stats are reasonable considering.

When you listen to Kadri speak about his play though, it is easy to consider that he may be someone that puts a lot of pressure on himself. For that sort of person, when they are not performing the way they think they should be, an inner tension builds. Often when that happens, the frustration boils over and manifests as outward anger. The crazy thing is that it is much more about what is going on internally for that player than anything else.

Watching the play at Ball Arena on Wednesday night, it was clear that Kadri did hit Faulk in the head. I do not condone any form of that, because while hockey is a tough sport, no one deserves to receive a head injury, especially at the hands of someone else.

During both Game 1 and Game 2 between the Blues and the Avalanche though, there were a lot of plays that in the regular season would have been called as penalties. This has not been the case during either game. Apparently, that is the nature of playoff hockey. But, even watching the game as a spectator, you have no idea what is being said or done in truth, on the ice, player to player.

The Blues play with a disruptive mindset. They like to check and push and try and create tension in the game. It has not been the way the Avalanche play games, so meeting that at a different playoff level may be hard to take.

Colorado’s Nazem Kadri has been offered an in-person hearing via Zoom for an Illegal Check to the Head on St. Louis’ Justin Faulk. Date and time TBD.

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) May 20, 2021

In the end, Kadri was given an eight-game suspension by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. The Avalanche have lost a valuable player in their second-line center. After Game 1, fans and others commentated that he had not done much, yet the stats showed otherwise.

Nazem Kadri ends Game 1 with an 82.71% shot share and and xGF of 85.72% at 5v5. And somehow people are criticizing how he played.

— Tom Hunter (@PuckDontLie) May 18, 2021

Having Kadri out of the Avalanche lineup will make a difference to the team. Will the team adjust?

Bednar said that Carl Soderberg would play in the lineup in place of Kadri, but would not comment on the line combinations for Game 3.

The options

• Alex Newhook to center the second line with Burakovsky and Donskoi. Is he up to it?
• Tyson Jost to move up, but that would disrupt the productive Brandon Saad, Jost, and Valeri Nichuchskin third line.

In Game 2, the hit on Faulk appeared to give the Blues momentum, as they put on 11 shots during the five-minute power play. Let’s hope the Avalanche lineup handles whatever the Blues throw at them in the upcoming games in this round.

The post Why did Nazem Kadri snap in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs? appeared first on The Rink.

Following a couple of days off, the Colorado Avalanche return to action looking to even the series against the Dallas Stars on Sunday. After coming away with a thrilling 6–4 victory over the Stars in Game Three, the Avalanche will seek to ride their momentum to level the series at two games apiece.

After leaving Game Three in the second period, Colorado defensemen Nikita Zadorov will be in the lineup Sunday against the Stars. Zadorov recording the first multi-point game of his playoff career in Game Three after recording a goal and an assist.

Nathan MacKinnon is also on an 11-game point streak, the longest in franchise history during the postseason. MacKinnon tallied two assists in the Avs’ 6–4 comeback victory in Game Three. The previous record of 10 games was set by Avs legend and now general manager Joe Sakic in 1996 and in 1982 by Quebec Nordiques icon Marian Stastny.

Jamie Benn

I am putting Benn down as the main Dallas player to watch for not only his scoring ability but due to how Game Three ended and his overall antics in the last game. From taking a run at MacKinnon to cross-checking Gabriel Landeskog at the end of Game Three, you can just feel that Benn will be trying to leave some type of impact this afternoon.

The post Preview: Avs look to carry momentum to tie series against Stars appeared first on The Rink.

The 5–3 loss to the Stars on Saturday was a result of many things, not least the fact that half of the team seemed to be asleep on the ice. The defense was unable to communicate and the defense was unable to get firing, with the notable exception of the top line, who scored all three of the Avalanche goals.

Bednar says “half the team” were passengers

— Adrian Dater (@adater) August 23, 2020

On top of those problems, Saturday saw two Colorado players injured. Defenseman Erik Johnson left the ice twice during the game in pain and will be doubtful for Game Two. In addition, goalie Philipp Grubauer suffered a lower-body injury during period two, leaving Pavel Francouz to take over in net. Given Grubauer’s history with lower-body injuries, the remainder of the playoffs may be Francouz’s time to shine. Matt Calvert was also a sudden scratch for Game One.

The Avalanche should be going into Game Two with something to prove, which has historically served them well. The flaws from the last game can be addressed, as they mostly came down to the fact that the team was not fully engaged with playing the game. With a more cohesive defense and more presence from the bottom three lines, there should be quite an improvement.

The question of the full lineup is still a mystery, as someone will need to fill Johnson’s spot if he is indeed unable to play. A few names have popped up here, as the Avs brought a number of additional defensemen with them to the bubble, including young prospective players Bowen Byram and Conor Timmins. They also have more familiar names in Mark Barberio and Kevin Connauton, both of whom logged minutes with the team this year.

Players to watch

With Grubauer out indefinitely, Francouz will need to step up big going forward. He only has one official full playoff game under his belt, though he also played in one of the round robin games. That round robin game, coincidentally, was a shutout against the Stars. Francouz also played in Colorado’s sole loss against the Coyotes, allowing two goals. While it would be nice to see the same Francouz we saw during the first game against Dallas, there will still need to be a considerable defensive effort to back him up.

Miro Heiskanen has had quite a run so far in the playoffs for the Stars, posting 13 points in 10 games. He had an assist on one of the goals against Colorado in Game One and will likely be a large contributing force in Game Two. His contributions mainly come in the form of assists, so the Avalanche will need to shut down his opportunities to set up plays.

Miro Heiskanen already has 10 assists this postseason

The franchise record is 12

This kid's good pic.twitter.com/AshruYkhCR

— X – Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) August 23, 2020

Despite it still being early in the series, Colorado needs to come out firing and tie the series here. Allowing Dallas to take a two-game lead will only serve to bolster their spirits, while an Avalanche win can rekindle the fire that saw them close out the series against Arizona.

Game Two will be at 7:45 p.m. MDT on Monday.

Calvert day-to-day, Grubauer is out indefinitely, EJ not expected to play tomorrow

— Adrian Dater (@adater) August 23, 2020

The post Preview: Avs look to battle back in Game Two appeared first on The Rink.

Players to watch

Our predictions

The post Series Preview: Avs to face Dallas Stars in Western Conference Semifinals appeared first on The Rink.

If you came here looking for another “feel good” article about the Chicago Blackhawks’ return to playoff glory in 2020, you are probably in the wrong place. And certainly, there are lots of those out there.

That said, we offer, as always, an objective take on the games just concluded, as well as an assessment of where the team is in a larger sense—so here it goes.

Good news: The Blackhawks made it further than most expected.

Bad news: They pretty much got dominated in the first actual playoff round by a team with a talent level the Blackhawks need to attain themselves.

Which means: The Blackhawks have some work to do. And they may not be able to get that work done soon enough in light of their salary cap structure, prospect pipeline and other factors.

There is a temptation, that some may have already succumbed to, to color this first round loss to the Vegas Golden Knights as proof that “whatever Stan Bowman et al are doing, it’s working.” And therefore, just stay the course, In Stan We Trust.

And in the America of 2020, where opinions are driven entirely by emotion and not fact, you can always find the “right” set of “facts” somewhere on the internet to support your opinion.

So, on the surface, you can point to the fact (and it is a fact) that the Blackhawks made the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. However (also a fact), they got an assist from a pandemic and a “liberal” play-in format that included all but the worst seven teams in the league. The Blackhawks were in that tier between No. 17 and No. 24 that got a break, and they took advantage of it, beating a disappointing Edmonton Oilers team three games to one.

In that series, the Blackhawks showed more balance, more desire and more willingness to mix it up physically than the highly touted Oilers. Those are all positives, at least in terms of how Chicago measures up against what was ultimately an overrated team like Edmonton.

But, in the first real playoff round, against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Hawks struggled for the most part (to put it charitably). Were it not for the Game Four heroics of goaltender Corey Crawford, the team would have been swept. The Blackhawks also foiled the Vegas power play for the first four games. But otherwise, at five-on-five, arguably the best metric of playoff viability, the Blackhawks were dominated by a bigger, deeper, more-disciplined and relentless team.

The Brandon Saad-Jonathan Toews-Dominik Kubalik line, that was the best for either team against the Oilers, was less of a factor versus Vegas. Newly minted, $6.4 million-per-year winger Alex DeBrincat got his first goal of the playoffs on an empty netter in Game Four, and had a nice actual goal in Game Five. Pierre McGuire, predictably, was all oooohs and ahhhs over Kirby Dach and Adam Boqvist (deservedly so in terms of the potential of both young players), but failed to point out how physically overwhelmed both were (in reality) at times.

The point of all this: Vegas is a very good team, and one that may go deep in the playoffs this year or even come out of the Western Conference. So, you can choose to rest your argument that the Hawks are “improving, just not there yet” on that. Or, you can take a more discerning stance and say the gulf between the Hawks today and the team they need to become is wide, with at best a highly questionable bridge.

Because as always, with the “plan” that Bowman is seeming to execute, the calculus is: “Let’s find and develop youth around the remaining Stanley Cup core (Crawford, Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith), and we will get back to the top of the league.”

The problem is, as we have just seen, there is a difference between 19-year-olds dabbling in a few first-round games, and 27-year-olds pushing to make the finals. It is called development, experience and time.

Sure, the Hawks have “experience” aplenty in the aforementioned core. But, it is experience that is getting old and running down with each successive season.

Two years ago, we all thought Crawford and Brent Seabrook would be around and contributing for at least a few more seasons. Seabrook now looks done. Crawford had a couple of phenomenal games in these series, but the rest were pedestrian (at best). And how will we be talking about Keith or Toews two seasons from now?

So, the only way to validate or support the approach that the Blackhawks organization is taking to return to the league’s elite is betting that, in order to improve, they will acquire more players and prospects of Dach and Boqvist caliber (i.e., top-10 draft picks who at least somewhat pan out), and then develop them awfully quickly before the current core loses any more tread off its tires.

Thanks to “winning” the play-in series, the Blackhawks look to be drafting around 17th in the first round, not exactly prime position to snag an impact player, not even the goalie of the future they so desperately need.

That is literally the only way the Hawks can do it—through the draft—thanks to some pretty bad salary cap management.

There was a time 5-10 summers ago when the Blackhawks would have to nip and tuck every offseason and get creative to hopefully sign their RFAs and stay under the salary cap, which is a zero-sum game—if you are spending every dime you have under the cap to retain your current guys, there is not much money left to improve with.

This summer, the Blackhawks are back there again, but this time, they are going to have to spend every dime to retain Kubalik, who at 26, may never be better than what he is now, and possibly Dylan Strome (ditto). And, they may even have to lose a serviceable veteran defenseman like Olli Maatta to do it.

The zero-sum game now applies to a fringe playoff team, not a perennial Cup contender.

How did we get here? Look no further than the money being paid to Toews, Kane, DeBrincat, Saad, Seabrook and soon Kubalik. The only “value” in the core is 37-year-old Duncan Keith at $5.5 million per year.

Following the Game Five loss to Vegas, Steve Konroyd and Jamal Mayers were throwing around the idea of extending Crawford this offseason for three years at $5-6 million per year, a notion that it would seem a lot of Chicago fans would be okay with, because…the salary cap is “fake news” and, hey…“Crow.”

But, here is an actual fact. Including the two admittedly stellar outings Crawford had in the playoffs, his overall numbers were 4–5 with a .907 save percentage and 3.31 goals against average. He will be 36 soon and he has had long periods of inactivity due to concussions (which do not get “cured”).

You want to lose Maatta or Saad to finance this madness? Guess what, Maatta was maybe your best defenseman in these playoffs and Saad is not easily “replaced” by some kid who was playing for Penn State last year. It does not actually ever work that way.

In life, to paraphrase “Da Coach,” be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.

Or, in the end, you get what you really deserve, because there is really nothing to suggest that the Blackhawks can be a meaningfully better team next year, with another year coming off the careers of the aging core.

So, if you really just want to be a team sniffing around maybe getting a playoff spot (and “anything can happen”) year after year, then you may want to just “stay the course.”

Another quote ringing around my head as I pen this recap is the title of that old Talking Heads song: The Road To Nowhere.

If you would rather rejoin the league’s elite, larger work needs to be done—that probably cannot be done without a fresh, no-holds-barred perspective from the top of the organization down, and some big (and probably unpopular in the short term) rebuilding moves.

For fans, it was fun to actually make the playoffs, and to win one game while there, but in the larger sense of redirecting this franchise, the Blackhawks still desperately need to shake things up.

These playoffs should not be seen as validation of Bowman and Jeremy Colliton, but rather further proof that measured baby steps, and resting on past laurels, are not going to be nearly enough to lead the team back to glory.

Being “positive” about the Blackhawks should not be defined as just seeking validation for Bowman or Colliton or a roster and organization still full of holes. It should be defined as recognizing and applauding when the team is actually aggressively pursuing the greatness fans deserve for their dollars.

And when the Blackhawks do that, we will.

The post ANALYSIS: Blackhawks’ playoff run ends; now what?  appeared first on The Rink.

Jeremy Colliton inserted forward John Quenneville into the lineup, sitting Alexander Nylander in the press box. Such a small move would usually not bring much fanfare, but Nylander is a trade acquisition by General Manager Stan Bowman that has not quite panned out, even after his “change of scenery” from Buffalo.

First period

The first few minutes of the contest did not generate much action other than Vegas getting extended zone time after a Brandon Saad turnover near his own blue line. Saad’s attempt to stickhandle his way into the Vegas zone, instead of dumping the puck to a corner, only to have his pocket picked which turned into a rush for forward William Carrier. Carrier made a nice drive to the net and found forward Ryan Reaves in front of the net with a nifty pass. Duncan Keith made a recovery and broke up the high-scoring chance in front of the net. Such a small detail like dumping the puck in instead of trying to make a play at the blue line nearly cost Chicago at the other end.

A few minutes later, Crawford stoned forward Reilly Smith in deep with a sprawling save. What appeared to be an early goal for the Golden Knights was turned aside. Luckily for the Hawks, Crawford carried over his excellent play from Sunday night into Tuesday’s game since midway through the first period, Chicago’s defense was non-existent at best.

Corey Crawford remains good. Deflection goes right to Smith's stick and he makes the stop. First dangerous chance for #VegasBorn this game. pic.twitter.com/jNna45z0ZH

— Danny Webster (@DannyWebster21) August 19, 2020

Chicago caught what you can only say was a “huge” break when Vegas goaltender Robin Lehner gave up a juicy rebound after a soft backhand shot by Dominik Kubalik that resulted in Jonathan Toews pounding home the rebound for a 1–0 Blackhawk advantage. The goal, the Chicago captain’s fifth goal of the playoffs, was assisted by Kubalik and Brandon Saad. Kubalik did an excellent job of getting the puck to the net, rewarding Toews for getting to the front of the net, a recipe for success in the playoffs.

Crawford kept Vegas off the scoreboard after a few grade-A chances, allowing Chicago to extend their lead to 2–0 after Alex DeBrincat found himself in front of the net by himself and tapped home a pass from Dylan Strome. Strome delayed just enough time to allow Lehner to slide out of position. The goal came after a spin-o-rama by Connor Murphy inside the blue line, reminiscent of Chicago great Denis Savard.

Connor Murphy… pic.twitter.com/K9PJnbVgQY

— Eric Lear (@EricLear312) August 19, 2020

Vegas forward Max Pacioretty cut the Chicago lead in half at 2–1 after he buried a quick wrist shot into an empty net, as a shot from Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb was tipped by Toews on its way to the net, finding Pacioretty to the right of Crawford with nothing standing in front of him.

After being outplayed for the first half of the period, Chicago led on the scoreboard 2–1 while being outshot 14–10.

Second period

Within the first minute of the period, Vegas forward Mark Stone beat Crawford after a bad change by Chicago. Stone’s goal was an early backbreaker for Chicago, a team trying to hang onto some momentum from having the lead after one period of play. The goal tied the game 2–2. Keith made a poor decision at center ice allowing Vegas an odd-man rush into the Chicago zone.

At the 4:02 mark in the period, Patrick Kane found himself alone in front of Lehner after a Vegas turnover at the blue line, and beat the Vegas goalie five-hole after a nifty forehand-to-backhand move. Drake Caggiula assisted on the play, saucing the biscuit through the Vegas defense to a wide-open Kane. Kane’s second goal in the playoffs gave Chicago a 3–2 lead.

#AllforOne #CHIvsVGK #Blackhawks #VegasBorn

pic.twitter.com/QveJr1xvoQ

— The Rink — Chicago Blackhawks (@TheRinkChi) August 19, 2020

Vegas defenseman Alec Martinez scored his first goal of the playoffs—and first playoff goal since scoring the Stanley-Cup winning goal in 2014—at the 7:28 mark in the period. The goal came on the power play after Adam Boqvist was called for holding the stick of Vegas forward Jonathan Marchessault. Midway through the affair the game was tied 3–3.

Vegas has established a sizable lead in the stats yet again tonight, but this feels like a much more evenly matched game. Stats through 40 min:

Goals: 3-3
Shot attempts: 45-32 VGK
Shots on goal: 28-19 VGK
Scoring chances: 22-14 VGK

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) August 19, 2020

Third period

Early in the period, Vegas forward Alex Tuch tucked home a rebound under Crawford giving the designated home team the lead at 4–3. Tuch beat Boqvist to the outside and scored off his own rebound. Tuch’s fourth goal of the playoffs was assisted by Marchessault and defenseman Shea Theodore.

Alex Tuch scores to give Golden Knights their first lead of the game. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/gJOKjpSQkE

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) August 19, 2020

After falling behind, Chicago could only muster three shots on goal through 10 minutes of play in the period. Vegas clamped down on the Blackhawks, playing a smart, simple style of hockey. This type of game was remindful of when the Stanley Cup Blackhawks could turn a one-goal contest into a sure-win outcome.

Chicago’s season appeared over when Tuch appeared to have scored his second goal of the period. Tuch scored into another empty net while Crawford was interfered with by forward Nick Cousins in the crease. Following a Blackhawks challenge, the referees determined there was contact with Crawford, therefore disallowing the goal. With just over four minutes left in the game, Vegas clung to a one-goal lead.

With 1:14 left in regulation, Colliton pulled Crawford for the extra attacker. When Chicago was finally able to settle into the Vegas zone with 20 seconds left in the game, a few shots on net did not end up in the back of the net. After 60 minutes of play, Vegas held onto the 4–3 lead to claim a 4–1 victory in the first-round playoff series.

The taste of playoff hockey, during a season in which Chicago would not have qualified during a non-pandemic year, was a huge plus for the youngsters on the roster. Before the season’s stoppage of play, the Blackhawks were going to play out the final 12 games of the season and head home to golf. The change in playoff format saw Chicago defeat Edmonton was a pleasant surprise for the youngest team in the 2020 NHL postseason before ultimately succumbing to Vegas. However, the experience did come with the price of the possible first overall pick, or at the least, a higher draft pick in the NHL Entry Draft, as the Blackhawks will be selecting either 16th or 17th instead of in the top 10. Time will tell which would have been better.

The post Along the Boards: Vegas wins series after 4–3 victory appeared first on The Rink.

Though the score for the third game in the series was 4-2 Coyotes, the game also saw the Avalanche playing some of their best hockey of the series. They ended with 51 shots on goal following an offensive effort that was stopped only by the incredible play of Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper.

To secure Game Four, the Avs will need to approach the entire game with the same level of intensity we saw previously and they will need to clean up the defensive errors that cost them late in the game, like the empty-net goal that came just prior to an Avs goal that could have tied things up:

Thank you for this, Taylor. pic.twitter.com/sOufwEbLJ5

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) August 15, 2020

Again, solving Kuemper will be a priority. Without him, the Coyotes would not pose nearly as much of a threat. The Avs will need to throw everything they have at him in the hopes of breaking through. Keeping the puck in Arizona’s end will need to be the move to get on the board, as Arizona has done a decent job of limiting breakout chances from the skill players on the Avs.

Though Joonas Donskoi played last game despite initially being listed as day-to-day, Vladislav Namestnikov did not take the ice. He is still considered day-to-day, so he likely will not be in the lineup for Monday’s game.

Pavel Francouz, who made his official playoffs debut in Game Three, stopped 21 of the 23 shots he faced — two of the goals being empty-netters at the end of the game. We will likely see starter Philipp Grubauer back in net for Game Four, as Francouz didn’t have the kind of performance that would wrest the starting position away.

Players to watch

Andre Burakovsky has been playing well recently, with five points in his last five games. He opened the scoring for the Avs last game, sinking a laser from the blue line. With the Avs powerplay lackluster in the postseason, his goal served to invigorate the team and opened the offensive onslaught late in the game. Several players on the Avalanche have had issues shooting the puck, preferring to take the pass or handle the puck — if Burakovsky can continue throwing his skills at the net, he can easily be a big impact player going forward.

A few more of these, please.#GoAvsGo https://t.co/TFfCA6SQhy

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) August 15, 2020

The Arizona top line stepped up in a big way last game, combining for two of the four goals. The first goal of the game came courtesy of Derek Stepan, with an excellent setup by Clayton Keller behind the net. Arizona doesn’t tend to generate meaningful offense without this line on the ice, so I would expect to see them leading the charge as the Coyotes look to even the series in Game Four.

Great setup, great goal. pic.twitter.com/9BpZ20r7Fh

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) August 15, 2020

The post Preview: Avalanche look to reclaim the series appeared first on The Rink.

Game Four began with the Knights returning to Robin Lehner between the pipes, while center Paul Statsny missed his second game in a row, ruled “unfit to play.” Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton returned to the Brandon Saad-Jonathan Toews-Patrick Kane combination to start the game in the hopes of igniting his offense. The Hawks would later shift Kane back to a line with Kirby Dach and Drake Caggiula.

Just over four minutes into the first, Caggiula got the Hawks on the board. Olli Maatta joined the rush with Kane, and from behind the net, found Caggiula open in front of the cage. Caggiula wasted no time, smacking it low and hard behind Lehner for a 1–0 Chicago lead.

#AllforOne #CHIvsVGK #Blackhawks #VegasBorn

pic.twitter.com/ajSLE9ezT2

— The Rink — Chicago Blackhawks (@TheRinkChi) August 16, 2020

The Knights kept pushing and carried the play throughout the period. With 6:20 on the clock, the Hawks caught a break and extended their lead when Matthew Highmore threw the puck to the net from a near impossible angle. The puck banked off of Lehner’s mask and into the back of the cage, doubling the gap to 2–0.

Tough angles?

No such thing. #NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/fJTaBdGZuQ

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 16, 2020

But, just 18 seconds later, Vegas got that goal right back on a blast from the point, off the stick of Shea Theodore, making it 2–1.

https://twitter.com/Kingsgifs/status/1295139105269927936?s=20

In the second frame, the Vegas onslaught continued, as did Crawford’s brilliance in net. Chicago killed off a Adam Boqvist holding penalty and a Saad slash, while Crawford kicked away 16 shots. The Hawks were unsuccessful in their one power play attempt in the second and rarely challenged Lehner, registering a mere seven shots on net.

Corey Crawford's glove save on Shea Theodore. #Blackhawks #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/3XGQmKMDuu

— Brandon Cain (@brandonmcain) August 17, 2020

The third period provided more of the same. The Hawks failed to convert yet again on a power play, finishing 0–3 on the night with the man advantage. Crawford fended off a furious final push from the Knights, who tested him in the final minute and a half with an extra attacker. After missing two grade-A chances earlier in the period, Alex DeBrincat finished off the game with an empty-net goal with 10 seconds remaining to push the score to 3–1. Crawford finished his sublime performance with 48 saves.

NBC rewarding Corey Crawford for his incredible Game 4 performance pic.twitter.com/TChAQLmUG8

— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) August 17, 2020

The Blackhawks will need to replicate this gutty performance should they wish to keep the series going. Game Five will be Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. CDT in Edmonton.

The post Along the Boards: Crawford’s brilliance keeps series alive, Hawks win 3–1 appeared first on The Rink.

Prior to the start of the game, there was an interesting turn of events in warmups. Marc-Andre Fleury was announced as the starter for Vegas instead of former Blackhawk Robin Lehner.

Additionally, Paul Stastny and Tomas Nosek were ruled “unfit to play” for Vegas, while Max Pacioretty returned after missing Game Two. For the Blackhawks, Adam Boqvist, who turned 20 on Saturday, returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch on Thursday.

Despite the decent start to the first period, the Blackhawks let a poor play put them down a goal. On the power play, Duncan Keith mishandled the puck at the blue line and Mark Stone was right there, ready to grab possession. Stone skated along the boards, dished a pass over to a wide-open William Karlsson and the Swede backhanded the puck over Corey Crawford‘s blocker to give the Golden Knights a 1–0 lead.

Wild Bill

It's a #VegasBorn shorty. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/tWaaHkuqye

— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) August 16, 2020

After falling behind early on, the Blackhawks played better the rest of the first period. Kirby Dach had a great shorthanded opportunity and then drew a penalty with five minutes remaining. Alex DeBrincat had a few great chances on the power play. Patrick Kane hit the post despite having a wide-open net.

DeBrincat had another fantastic opportunity to score on the power play in the second period, but barely missed on the backhand. Halfway through the period, Crawford robbed Nate Schmidt on a Vegas power play. A few minutes later, the Hawks’ goaltender made another great save on Nicolas Roy‘s backhand to keep Chicago in the game.

Big glove save by Corey Crawford. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/OpyMLdy7zd

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) August 16, 2020

Once again, DeBrincat had more chances to get the puck in the net, but Fleury stoned him twice in a span of 30 seconds. DeBrincat had six shots on goal through two periods.

As the second stanza progressed, the Golden Knights began to turn their game up a few notches. They had ample opportunities to score in the last 10 minutes of the period. With 4:37 left, the Blackhawks turned the puck over in the offensive zone, leading to a Vegas rush up the ice. While Alex Tuch could not put the puck past Crawford, Patrick Brown did on the rebound and doubled the Golden Knights’ lead to 2–0 heading into the third period.

The first career #StanleyCup Playoff goal for Patrick Brown.

Have a night! #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/XGRZDBBavG

— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) August 16, 2020

The Blackhawks put on the pressure during the third period, creating chance after chance and maintaining offensive zone time. It all paid off when Drake Caggiula sent a pass to Olli Matta to create a rush up the ice six minutes into the final frame. Maatta simply threw a wrist shot at Fleury, and it squeaked through the goaltender’s arm to cut the lead for Vegas to 2–1.

*screams*
HOLY MAATTA

Watch live on @NBCSChicago: https://t.co/mfQ1ZBTGTC pic.twitter.com/DbckosxRri

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) August 16, 2020

Despite all the pushes to tie the game throughout the rest of the period, the Blackhawks could not get another puck past Fleury. The Golden Knights won the game 2–1 to claim a commanding 3–0 series lead.

Along the Boards

Patrick Kane. Goalpost. That's five for him and 14 for #Blackhawks this postseason.

Unreal. https://t.co/B2fqQfwRLt

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) August 16, 2020

It is not that the Blackhawks are not getting their chances this series, especially in the last two games. Throughout the entire postseason, they have missed the net a lot and hit a lot of posts. Tonight, Kane hit the post twice and brought the total for Chicago to 14. If only they could hit the net instead of a post more often.

Blackhawks PK keeps rolling. 11-for-11 since Game 4 against Edmonton.

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) August 16, 2020

While the power play as been horrid so far, the penalty kill has been a highlight for the Blackhawks during this series. They had multiple good kills in the game and did not allow many chances for the Golden Knights. It is good to see at least one of their special teams doing well.

Alex DeBrincat will have nightmares about this game. #Blackhawks

— Slavko Bekovic (@SBekovic) August 16, 2020

Will he ever. Outside of maybe Crawford, DeBrincat was the best player for the Blackhawks in Game Three. He was doing everything, from stick checking to solid passes to actually putting the puck on net. DeBrincat had a team-high eight shots on goal. He did everything right and just was not rewarded. Hopefully, he can cash in during Game Four.

The Blackhawks will face elimination on Sunday, as they take on the Golden Knights in Game Four at 5:30 p.m. CDT.

The post Along the Boards: Blackhawks defeated by Golden Knights 2–1, fall behind 3–0 in series appeared first on The Rink.

With a couple of players listed as gametime decisions for Game Three, the Avalanche had some choices to make as far as the forward group, but they also made a change in net.  Making his Stanley Cup Playoff debut was Pavel Francouz, who played well in the qualifying round.  Joonas Donskoi returned to the lineup, while Vlad Namestnikov was sidelined for concussion protocol after a collision with Nathan MacKinnon in game two.

First period

Similarly to game two, it looked like the Coyotes wanted to come out strong and try to skate with the Avs.  Just three minutes into the game, the Avs were sent to the penalty kill on a Tyson Jost high-sticking minor.  Colorado killed it off after allowing just one shot to the Coyotes, making them 0/7 on the powerplay in the series.  A few minutes later, in the Avs zone, Nazem Kadri turned the puck over to Arizona and Clayton Keller fed Derek Stepan in the slot for the game’s first goal, beating Francouz who appeared to not have his stick.  It was the first time in the series that the Coyotes have led.

Great setup, great goal. pic.twitter.com/9BpZ20r7Fh

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) August 15, 2020

Later in the period, the Avs went to the powerplay on a Carl Soderberg goaltender interference minor.  Colorado was moving the puck really well and getting great chances, but Kuemper stopped them all.  The period ended with the Avs leading the Yotes 20-12 in shots, and there was a little skirmish after the horn sounded.  In the middle of it all was Matt Calvert.

Second period

The first ten minutes of the second period weren’t as exciting as the last ten minutes, but there were some highlights.  MacKinnon took a hooking minor.  It was his second penalty of the game, which is uncharacteristic for the Avalanche.  The Coyotes didn’t convert and, after two periods, each team was 0/3 on the powerplay.  Just after the Avs third powerplay that was awarded following an Oliver Ekman-Larsson tripping call, Andre Burakovsky finally found the back of the net on a deflected puck past Kuemper that tied the game at one.

It took 30 shots for the Avalanche to beat Darcy Kuemper.

Andre Burakovsky ties the game #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/AlC8nNnSzc

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) August 15, 2020

Another story was the play of Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson.  He has been great in the NHL bubble so far making great plays but today he made two big blocks and stayed in the game.

Erik Johnson with a Superman shift.

Gets in front of Hjalmarsson and Kessel's shot #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/phJskTkDFg

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) August 15, 2020

And with just 34 seconds left in the second period, the Coyotes’ Conor Garland found Brad Richardson in the left circle who fired a wrist shot that beat Francouz, giving the Yotes a 2-1 lead going in to the third period.  Arizona had just four shots that period compared to Colorado’s 16.  The story continued to be the play of Coyotes goaltender Kuemper, who didn’t give up many second-chance opportunities.

Third period

The Avalanche had the Coyotes under siege in the third period, firing shot after shot at Kuemper and the Arizona defense.  The Avs defenseman were very active, jumping into rushes and into deep into the offensive zone to keep pucks in.  But the Coyotes were committed to holding onto their 2-1 lead.  They got big shot blocks from Lawson Crouse, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Stepan, trying to keep as many pucks away from Kuemper as possible.

In the final minutes, the Avs kept the pressure up, but it wasn’t enough.  With the Colorado goalie pulled, Taylor Hall scored an empty net goal to make the score 3-1.  The Avs pulled the goalie again and this time scored on a Mikko Rantanen shot that got redirected.  But, with under a minute left, the Coyotes’ Crouse scored their second empty-net goal of the period, icing the game at 4-2. Kuemper stopped 49 of 51 shots and helped carry Arizona to their first win of the series.

What’s next?

The Avalanche and Coyotes meet again on Monday at 3:30 MT on NBCSN.  It’s very possible that head coach Jared Bednar goes back to goaltender Philipp Grubauer, but the story is really the Avs running into a hot goaltender.  If they want to beat Kuemper, they’ll have to keep pucks low and get traffic in front of the net.  Like the Columbus Blue Jackets, this Coyotes team is committed to team defense and they don’t need much of a lead to win the game.  The Avs have shown they can beat Kuemper, it’s just going to have to come in a grittier way than they’re used to.

The post Coyotes steal game 3 from the Avalanche after 49-save effort from Kuemper appeared first on The Rink.

Ready for some more playoff hockey?

Good.

Only 24 hours after the Colorado Avalanche came away with an exciting 3-2 victory in a tightly contested Game Two, the Avalanche have an opportunity to increase their series lead over the Coyotes on Saturday. A win on Saturday would help the Avs claim a 3-0 series lead, and create a situation where the Coyotes could be facing elimination in Game Four on Monday, August 17 at 3:30 p.m. MDT.

However, if Game Two taught us anything, the Coyotes will more than likely be ready to give it their all to possibly avoid this situation. So far in this series, we have seen two completely different Coyote teams — one who allowed the Avalanche to completely establish their style of play and dominate all aspects fo the game, and one gritty and in your face style. We suspect that the Avs will see more of the same from the Coyotes, so don’t be surprised if this game ends up being a close one again.

Joonas Donskoi and Vladislav Namestnikov are considered day-to-day by Avs head coach Jared Bednar, so it will be interesting to see what the lineup will look like for Game Three. If one of these players are not able to return to the lineup tomorrow, one of the main players who could make an appearance would be former DU Pioneer and Colorado Eagles standpoint Logan O’Connor — however, time will tell.

Starting in goal the past two games, it will be interesting to see if the Avs continue with the hot hand and keep Philipp Grubauer in net, or if we may see Avs goaltender Pavel Francouz make his official postseason debut (minus round-robin) in Game Three against the Coyotes. Francouz last played in the Avs round-robin series when the Avs shutout the Dallas Stars 4-0.

Players to watch

Nazem Kadri

With one game-winning goal and assist, Avs forward Nazem Kadri continues to be a difference-maker for the Avalanche in the playoffs. Kadri tallied four points (One goal, three assists) in the round-robin series and has continued to prove that he can be a difference-maker in the playoffs for the Avalanche. After being suspended the past two playoffs with the Toronto Maple Leafs, questions were circling about how he would perform with the Avs in the playoffs. So far, he continues to be one of the best Avalanche forwards. It truly seems like he is playing with a chip on his shoulder and is on a mission to prove critics wrong — which is good for the Avalanche.

Michael Grabner

While I felt like I could pick a few Coyotes who could be a difference-maker in Game Three, I eventually kept circling back to speed Coyotes forward and penalty-killing specialist Michael Grabner. While there was some controversy in regards to his goal in Game Two, Grabner was able to help the Coyotes tally their first real goal against the Avalanche — since the first goal was an unfortunate own goal. If Keller and Phil Kessel are unable to get things going right away for the Coyotes, keep an eye on Grabner.

The post Preview: Avs Seek to Extend Series Lead Over Coyotes appeared first on The Rink.

It wasn’t pretty, but the Colorado Avalanche found a way to come away with the Game 2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes with a late third period tally from Avs forward André Burakovsky. With the victory, the Avalanche take a 2-0 series lead and have the opportunity to increase their series lead Saturday at 1 p.m.

Compared to Game One, this was a completely different looking Coyotes squad right from the opening faceoff. They were in your face and constantly held a two-man forecheck that seemed to catch the Avalanche off-guard. However, good playoff teams find a way to win, and that is exactly what the Avalanche were able to do.

After being held without a shot, but finishing Game One with two assists, Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon tallied his first goal of the series, as he just seemed to be all over the ice. Tyson Jost tallied a goal of his own, and Phillipp Grubauer made 30 saves to help the Avalanche come away with the victory and extend their series lead over the Coyotes.

“Nobody feels like they have to dominate,” said MacKinnon, who had two assists in Game One. “We’re all trying to chip in. We have such a deep team and we’re ready, hopefully, for a long run. To do that, we need all four lines to be going and they were today.”

Clayton Keller and Michael Grabner scored for the Coyotes, while Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper made 25 saves for the Coyotes.

Avalanche forward Vladislav Namestnikov left the game late in the third period after a collision with MacKinnon and is not deemed day-to-day by Avs head coach Jared Bednar. Joonas Donskoi is also considered day-to-day for the Avalanche.

After a lopsided Game One and a tightly contested Game Two, we can make bets that the Avalanche can expect more of the same style of play from the Coyotes that they saw today. Expect another tightly contested style of game on Saturday.

The post Avalanche take 2-0 series lead with gritty win over Coyotes appeared first on The Rink.

In the early portion of the period, the Golden Knights dominated play, although the score stayed tied at goose eggs for both teams. However, the scoring silence did not last long. 

Right around the midpoint of the period, Jonathan Marchessault made a perfect pass from below the goal line to Paul Stastny out in front of Corey Crawford. The pass evaded numerous skates and sticks on its way to Stastny’s stick, who easily banged home the feed and gave Vegas an early 1–0 lead. 

Hi, I'm Paul! #VegasBorn | @Raising_Canes pic.twitter.com/Z59nVC8oTv

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) August 13, 2020

The Golden Knights continued to dominate play in the first period. Just around five minutes after the Golden Knights took a 1–0 lead, Vegas added more. Tomas Nosek, who was inserted into the lineup because Max Pacioretty was deemed unfit to play, rifled a perfect shot past Crawford and gave the home team the early two-goal advantage at 2–0. 

great time of year for GOALS #VegasBorn | @Raising_Canes pic.twitter.com/sMdAGbFBTD

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) August 13, 2020

The Hawks took their two-goal disadvantage into the intermission and regrouped. Just three minutes into the middle frame, Patrick Kane set up Calvin de Haan for a shot on Vegas goaltender Robin Lehner. However, the blue liner’s first shot was blocked, his second was stopped, but the rebound found Kirby Dach at the side of the net and the youngster cut into the Golden Knights’ lead at 2–1. The goal was the rookie’s first ever postseason goal. 

Eh, what's up Dach?

Watch live: https://t.co/mfQ1ZBTGTC pic.twitter.com/UFz9tEUxl2

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) August 13, 2020

The Hawks continued their push on the power play. After being set up by Kane, Dominik Kubalik fired an absolute missile of a wrist shot past Lehner to tie the game at 2–2. The shot from Kubalik was placed perfectly where Lehner could not stop it, grazing the pipe before finding the back of the net. 

Kubalik ties it up with a nifty wrister!

Watch live: https://t.co/mfQ1ZBTGTC pic.twitter.com/BI5pyzq7dO

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) August 13, 2020

However, the Golden Knights flexed their muscles and showed why they are the better team. With about three minutes remaining in the second period, Mark Stone tapped home a loose puck around the net to give the home team the one-goal advantage once again at 3–2. The goal was Stone’s third of the postseason. 

yep. we like this. #VegasBorn | @Raising_Canes pic.twitter.com/BCfES9mVvS

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) August 13, 2020

One thing Blackhawks’ fans are learning about this team is that they really do not quit. Just before the end of the period, Chicago turned into the Harlem Globetrotters, as Kane received a cross-ice pass before slinging the puck to Dylan Strome, who was back door in the blue paint. In one fluent motion, Strome tapped home the perfect feed from Kane and tied the game at 3–3 just before the end of the period. 

tic tac GOAL!

Watch live: https://t.co/mfQ1ZBTGTC pic.twitter.com/XgdMcRN0kk

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) August 13, 2020

There was not much action in the third, as both teams were scoreless despite the Golden Knights brutally outshooting the Hawks. However, the score remained knotted at 3–3 and Game Two was heading for overtime. 

Despite pushing the game to extra time, the Blackhawks ended up falling short. After a great sequence by the Golden Knights in the Blackhawks’ zone, Stastny threw a perfect pass to Reilly Smith in front of Crawford and the Vegas forward tipped the puck past Crawford to give the Golden Knights the 4–3 win for a 2–0 series lead. 

YOU SIMPLY LOVE TO SEE IT #VegasBorn | @Raising_Canes pic.twitter.com/8nVZyRbdZe

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) August 14, 2020

Around the boards

BREAKING NEWS @NHLBlackhawks…

SHOOT THE PUCK!#AllforOne #CHIvsVGK #Blackhawks #VegasBorn

— Puckin Hostile (@PuckinHostile.bsky.social) (@PuckinHostile) August 13, 2020

The Blackhawks missed many key opportunities to shoot the puck in this game. There were two opportunities alone for Strome and Dach where they elected to pass instead of shoot. Who knows what may have happened had those passes been shots in this one. The post was the Blackhawks’ best—or worst—friend as well, continuing the “what if” movement offensively for this one. 

If you’re looking to get a #Blackhawks sweater, with a non-One Goal Dynasty player, go with Dach #77. Kid’s going to be a great player for Chicago for a long time. Book it.

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) August 13, 2020

Get your jerseys folks; despite a Vegas victory, Dach looked very good once again for the Blackhawks tonight, scoring the first postseason goal of his career. He continues to play strong games in the playoffs and is not afraid to try and carry a line at times. Look for Dach to be a star for a very long time. 

Honestly I don’t hate Slater Koekkoek. He works hard. Has some offensive talent. Not a bad 5-6 guy if you have a decent top 4. #AllforOne #CHIvsVGK #Blackhawks #VegasBorn

— Puckin Hostile (@PuckinHostile.bsky.social) (@PuckinHostile) August 14, 2020

How about Slater Koekkoek? The former first-round pick was dogged by fans, myself included, for a long time. However, he seems to have found a home opposite of Olli Maatta and as a third-pairing defenseman for the Blackhawks. If the Blackhawks only have two young defensemen ready to step into the big-league roster next year, Koekkoek may have found a home on the third pairing for the Hawks.

The Blackhawks will return to action against the Golden Knights as the home team on Saturday at 7 p.m. CDT. 

The post RECAP: Golden Knights take commanding lead in series with OT win appeared first on The Rink.

Solving Kuemper

Darcy Kuemper is an excellent goalie. He finished off the abbreviated 2019–20 season with a .928 save percentage and a 2.22 goals against average. He also consistently proves to be difficult for the Avalanche to score on. Game One between these teams saw Kuemper make 37 saves against an aggressive Colorado team, some of which were absolute robberies, including this left pad save:

"No." – Darcy Kuemper pic.twitter.com/MGIKucccMp

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) August 12, 2020

If the Avalanche can figure Kuemper out, that should theoretically guarantee them the series. Having had one game to feel things out, we may see an adjustment on how the team approaches the net, hopefully resulting in sustained offensive pressure rather than a series of quick goals late in the game.

The key to beating Arizona is going to be patience, which the Avs displayed in Game One. They need to sustain that patience going into this game to ensure that they do not get frustrated and allow Arizona to capitalize on any mistakes.

Goalies for the back-to-back

These teams meet on Friday at 12:30 p.m. MDT and again on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. MDT. With how both goalies have been performing lately, seeing a split here would not be surprising. Pavel Francouz shut out the Stars in his first NHL postseason game last week and Philipp Grubauer shut out the Coyotes in Game One. While Grubauer is likely going to be the main starter for the Avs in the playoffs, switching goalies for the back-to-back would allow him a reprieve.

If the Avs keep up the whole-team defense we saw in Game One, the choice of goalie should matter even less. Grubauer faced only 14 shots on goal, a product of the Avs being able to keep the puck in Arizona’s end for almost the entire game.

Players to watch

The Avalanche top line is going to get firing at some point during the playoffs. We saw a glimpse of their capabilities at the end of Game One, with Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen combining for a pretty goal to close out scoring in the third:

MacKinnon, Rantanen, and Landeskog are pretty good at hockey pic.twitter.com/JVOFCcPLVg

— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) August 13, 2020

While the storyline of this season has been about the depth that the Avalanche have, it would be ideal to combine that depth with production from the Avs’ most skilled line.

If the Coyotes do get their offense firing, it will likely come at the hands of Clayton Keller or Oliver Ekman-Larsson, both of whom have had a consistent presence in the postseason for their team. Being shut out in the first game will see the Coyotes come into Game Two with a higher degree of competitiveness, which should make this next matchup all the more exciting to watch.

Game schedule

Game Two: Friday, 12 p.m. MDT

Game Three: Saturday, 1 p.m. MDT

Game Four: Monday, Aug. 17, 3:30 p.m. MDT

Game Five*: Wednesday, Aug. 19, TBD

Game Six*: Friday, Aug. 21, TBD

Game Seven*: Sunday, Aug. 23, TBD

The post Preview: Avalanche vs. Coyotes Game Two appeared first on The Rink.

Make sure to check out our in-depth preview of this series against the Coyotes on The-Rink.com.

Playoff hockey. Is. Here.#GoAvsGo https://t.co/sfZN2vvstK

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) August 12, 2020

I absolutely love the intensity and physicality the @Avalanche are playing with right now.

— Orlando Franklin (@OFranklin74) August 12, 2020

First period

Now that the games truly count, it was pretty obvious that the Colorado Avalanche flipped a switch and started playing playoff hockey.  They were forechecking hard and finishing all their checks on the Coyotes players.  Even skill players like Mikko Rantanen were laying the body.  The result of the physical play was that it was almost all Avs in the first period.  Arizona had the puck in their zone almost the entire period.  One player who stood out was centerman Nazem Kadri who got some quality shots on goal.  The Avs did get one powerplay from a holding minor on Jason Demers, but it was killed off by the Yotes despite several good looks by the Avs.  The period ended with no score but a lopsided shot total with the Avs leading 13-3.

The moose is LOOSE!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/XNg0CV3BSB

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) August 12, 2020

Second Period

The pace picked up a little bit in the second period as both teams began to really feel each other out.  The Yotes clearly wanted more than just three shots on goal in the next period so they were noticeably more aggressive, but the story continued to be Arizona goaltender Darcy Kuemper.  Adding 15 more saves to his total, Kuemper made it look pretty easy on his side of the ice, making saves without much traffic in front of the net.  Arizona was again outshot heavily in the second and couldn’t really get their possession game going, however, Avs goaltender Philip Grubauer made a few good saves of his own. The Avs defense then locked down in the final ten minutes of the period where they didn’t allow a single shot on goal.

Here are the second period highlights!

Keep firing those shots @Avalanche! #GoAvsGo https://t.co/pCMUdnh8zB

— AltitudeTV (@AltitudeTV) August 12, 2020

Third Period

Noticeably frustrated with not scoring through the first 40 minutes of play, the Avs turned it on late in the third period and broke the ice.  With seven minutes left in the game and the score still tied, Kadri cleaned up a rebound and finally got the Avalanche on the board.  The adrenaline was running through the Avs lineup as it took just 15 seconds for the Avs to score again.  This time it was forward J.T. Compher who found a loose puck again in front of Kuemper and scored on a nice backhand shot.  But the Avs weren’t even done yet!  They generated a three-on-two rush that resulted in a really nice tic-tac-toe goal scored by Rantanen.  All three goals were scored in just 1:23, putting the game out of reach for Arizona.  Grubauer got the 14-save shutout as the Avs take a 1-0 lead on the Coyotes in the series.

The @Avalanche just scored three goals in 1:23.

Here's the opener from @43_Kadri!#NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/kheV7eLprs

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 12, 2020

JT Compher
2-0 #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/i4U59yiIDE

— Fuck Dave Portnoy (@TheReplayGuy) August 12, 2020

MacKinnon, Rantanen, and Landeskog are pretty good at hockey pic.twitter.com/JVOFCcPLVg

— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) August 13, 2020

What’s next?

The Avs and Yotes will meet again on Friday for game two and will drop the puck at 12:00 PM MST.  Colorado will most likely see some adjustments from Arizona and will have to be prepared, but, in the meantime, it looks like Grubauer will stay in net.  Backup Pavel Francouz has been very good this season and beyond, which is great insurance in case Grubauer falters.  The game did have some physicality, especially with the star players, but it’s unclear how Arizona will find an edge against this Avs team.  With the Avalanche limiting their opponent to just 14 shots in a playoff game and exploding for three goals in under two minutes, they have to feel good going into game two.

The post Avalanche solve Kuemper late, take Game 1 from the Coyotes 3-0 appeared first on The Rink.

With the round-robin series coming to an end, the battle for the top spot in the Western Conference comes down to the Colorado Avalanche and the Vegas Golden Knights. The winner will nab the top seed in the Western Conference, while the loser will secure the second seed for the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

In their last game before the break, the Avalanche beat the Knights 7–3 at the T-Mobile Arena with former Golden Knights forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare tallying two goals in the victory. During the regular season, the Avs held a perfect 2–0–0 record against the Knights, tallying 6–1 and 7–3 victories respectively. The interesting thing about these lopsided victories was that the Avs beat Vegas on the road both times.

Since the Golden Knights arrived into the NHL in 2018, the Avalanche hold an all-time record of 5–3–0, but currently, ride a four-game winning streak against the highly entertaining Knights.

Following an exciting day of eliminations during the qualifying round, the Avs now have a better idea of who they will face in the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. With a victory over the Knights, the Avalanche will face off against the Chicago Blackhawks, who are coming off of a surprising series win against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.

If the Avs happen to lose this showdown against Vegas, they will capture the No. 2 seed and will meet the Arizona Coyotes in the first round of the playoffs, who are coming off on an exciting series against former Avs forward Matt Duchene and the Nashville Predators.

So…who should you keep an eye on during the Avs showdown against the Knights?

With two assists, I think we can expect a big performance from Avs superstar Nathan MacKinnon. Knowing everything that is at stake, expect MacKinnon to take control of the game, and put the Avs on his back with an exceptional performance.

On the other side of the die, the player to watch for the Knights will be forward Mark Stone. With 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) in the two round-robin games played, Stone has been on a roll as of late and has found his offensive touch.

The post Avalanche Aim For Top Seed Against Golden Knights appeared first on The Rink.

First period

The first period started off with a good pace, but things tilted in the Avs’ favor when Stars defenseman Esa Lindell went off for interference just three minutes into the game.  Colorado didn’t waste any time on the powerplay when Cale Makar scored on a one-timer from the point that got by Stars’ goaltender Anton Khudobin, who was starting in place of Ben Bishop, currently unfit to play.  The Stars continued to give up several odd-man rushes throughout the period, but had a good chance of their own when Avs goaltender Pavel Francouz had to cover up a puck deep in his net that was reviewed as a no-goal.

Haven't had your daily serving of veggies today?

Cale Makar's got you covered with this incredible one-timer @Avalanche | #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/lh1LwjjavK

— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) August 5, 2020

The Avs returned to the powerplay when Mikko Rantanen drove the net on another rush and was tripped by Seguin.  Dallas killed the minor penalty, but the Avalanche scored just a couple seconds later when Joonas Donskoi cleaned up a shot by Sam Girard, putting Colorado up 2-0.  Donskoi got good net-front position on Stars’ defenseman Miro Heiskanen and was able to easily put back the rebound.  The whole play started with a clean faceoff win from J.T. Compher in what seemed like a set play in the offensive zone.  The period ended with a minor penalty to Girard that was killed off, but the damage was done.  The Avs went into the tunnel up two goals and had 14 shots on goal.

Easy, breezy, beautiful backhand.#GoAvsGo https://t.co/Y738cA3IUg

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) August 5, 2020

Second Period

One minute into the second period, the Avs drew their third penalty of the night when Valeri Nichushkin was tripped by Roope Hintz.  The Stars killed it off, but the Avalanche continued to keep up the intensity.  Francouz was brilliant, making all eight saves in the middle frame while the Stars were making it difficult for him with a lot of traffic in front of the net.  The Avs seem to be on a mission this year as they finished every check in a game that technically doesn’t count.

The Stars caught up to the Avs in shots towards the middle of the period, but Francouz kept them off the board.  After a sloppy play through the neutral zone where everyone seemed to lose track of the puck, Nathan MacKinnon ended up with it on his stick and took a hard wrist shot in the slot.  The puck found Vladislav Namestnikov, who scored, putting the Avs up 3-0.  The period ended with Rantanen drawing another tripping penalty, this time on Stars forward Mattias Janmark.

The @Avalanche can't be stopped!

Vladislav Namestnikov makes it a 3-0 lead for the Avs. #NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/0kPauGHqgv

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 6, 2020

Third Period

To start the period, Avs forward Andre Burakovsky made the Stars pay when he ripped a shot bar-down, making it 4-0.  The Avs were then 2/4 on the powerplay and, moments later, MacKinnon was tripped up by Alexander Radulov, sending Colorado to their fifth powerplay of the night. Thankfully for the Stars, Colorado was unsuccessful.  You could tell the 4-0 score let the wind out of the Stars’ sails, as they were sloppy with the puck and turned it over several times in their own zone.

Burakovsky goes bar down and off Khudobin.

DAL 0 – 4 COL // P3 pic.twitter.com/Xo10ustGdO

— Dylan Nadwodny (@dnadders) August 6, 2020

Halfway through the period, the Avs took their second penalty when captain Gabriel Landeskog went off for cross-checking.  Colorado looked good again on the penalty kill, breaking up passes and sending the puck all the way down for the Stars to collect.  Dallas forward Corey Perry was sprung loose on a breakaway, but was denied by Francouz, who remained brilliant.  Frankie ended the game making all 27 saves against Dallas.

What’s next?

The Avs play their third and final round-robin game on Saturday against the Vegas Golden Knights, who came back in the third period to beat the Stars 5-3 on Monday.  Vegas will play their second round-robin game against the Blues on Thursday and could be competing with the Avalanche for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.  Until then, it looks like the Avs could be in the driver’s seat entering the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The post Avalanche, Francouz shut out the Stars 4-0 in second round-robin game appeared first on The Rink.

Fans talked a lot over the course of the 2019–20 regular season about the Avalanche’s mediocre-to-awful power play execution and what changes needed to be made in order to improve it. Whether the team relied too much on one-timers from Nathan MacKinnon in the left face-off circle, whether their passing lanes were too predictable, whether the second unit was underperforming or whether special teams simply needed to put more pucks on net were all issues discussed and debated as the calendar year turned from 2019 to 2020 and the Avs’ power play conversion rate…well, let’s just say it did not look much better.

Nathan MacKinnon fires a one-timer. (Photograph courtesy of Sports Illustrated)

The Avalanche ended their regular season with a power play percentage of 19.1, while the other top three teams in their division—the Jets, Stars and Blues—finished with percentages of 20.5, 21.1 and 24.3, respectively. The differential is not massive, although St. Louis ranks third in regular season power play conversions, and yet for a team currently sitting near the top of Western Conference power rankings and one that has made such a strong run this year for Ole Stanley, you would think their power play numbers would be a little higher.

But should you?

Yeah. You probably should.

On the other hand, I think most of us would agree that single statistics rarely tell the whole story.

Colorado is currently third in the league in scoring differential, behind only Boston and Tampa Bay, and despite much anxiety regarding the goaltending situation, Philipp Grubauer and Pavel Francouz have brought their A game and kept the Avalanche’s save percentage hovering around .913. While Colorado did go 1/5 on the power play in their postseason exhibition game against Minnesota, they also went 18/80 on power play conversions from January through March, which puts their power play percentage over the second half of the season right around .225. And, there are some things stats just cannot track, like whether MacKinnon goes on a record-breaking 13-game point streak or just how good Cale Makar’s defensive playmaking abilities are going to be.

Oh, or if they manage to score a game-winning goal with 0.1 seconds left in the game.

Thanks, Naz.

So, for a little bit of postseason inspiration in the midst of anxiety surrounding Colorado’s special teams, let’s take a look at some teams who managed to grab the Cup in recent years while underperforming on the power play.

In the 2011–12 season, Los Angeles finished with a power play conversion rate of 16.96 when the league average that year was 17.31. When they won the Stanley Cup again in the 2013–14 season, their percentage was even worse at 15.14 when the league average was 17.89. But, they had a killer center in Anze Kopitar, who led the playoffs in points both years, as well as a top-scoring defenseman in Drew Doughty and a goaltending performance for the books from Jonathan Quick.

The Chicago Blackhawks also struggled on the power play in both of their most recent Stanley Cup finals. In 2012–13, their power play percentage came in at 16.67 when the league average was 18.82, and in the 2014–15 season, it was a little better, but still not great, at 17.69 when the league average was 18.66. But, they also had star forwards Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, solid netminding from Corey Crawford and exceptional defensive performances from the likes of Duncan Keith, not to mention some good young draft picks contributing like Teuvo Teravainen.

So, what is it going to take for the Avalanche? And how much need is there to worry?

Clearly, the team has a lot of the ingredients it takes to win. Blue line depth, all-star forwards, two goaltenders who are both reliable enough that Bednar does not even decide who to play until the very last minute. Five on five, Colorado looks pretty darn good.

But five on four, or even five on three…

Maybe special teams need to force the puck to MacKinnon less often. Maybe Colorado needs to shoot more and stop looking for that extra short pass. As one Twitter user suggested, maybe the Avalanche could just…refuse to take the advantage?

Yeah alright, that is not an option.

But, while I certainly hope the Avs figure out a way to fix their special teams, I have also been a little less worried knowing that previous teams have snatched the Stanley Cup with worse regular season power play performances.

On the other hand, we probably should not let our guards down. Playoff hockey is never quite like regular season hockey, and in this regard, 2020 is no exception.

The post How successful can the Colorado Avalanche be with a mediocre power play? appeared first on The Rink.

This time it all counts.

After an exciting day of NHL Qualifying games where we saw plenty of surprises, we will finally be able to enjoy an Avs game again as the Colorado Avalanche will set their eyes on obtaining the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference when they take on the St. Louis Blues on Sunday in the first game of the Round Robin series to determine seeding for the rest of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Starting against the Blues on Sunday, the Avalanche will also take on the Dallas Stars on Wednesday, August 5, and the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, August 8 to determine the Western Conference seedings for the playoffs.

So, what is actually important about obtaining the top spot in the Western Conference in this bubble situation? There is no home ice, no fans, so what could possibly be the motivator for winning your way towards earning the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference?

This all comes down to strategy, as Avs head coach Jared Bednar will want to have the ability to have the last line change. This may not sound that important, but it really becomes paramount in later games in series when you want to make sure you have the right people on the ice at the right moment. Hypothetically, imagine the Avalanche have made it to the Stanley Cup Finals. There’s three minutes left in Game 7. Winner takes it all and the faceoff is in the opponents’ zone. Bednar would want the ability to have the last line change to put out the best possible players he can to help the Avalanche score the game-winning goal and take home the Stanley Cup.

Sounds nice, doesn’t it? That is how important the last line change can be in the playoffs.

What can you expect in this game against the St. Louis Blues?

In layman’s terms, expect a hard-hitting and fast-paced game.

After a poor exhibition game showing against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Blues will be looking to tune up their physical game on the Avalanche with the hopes of slowing the Avs down and enforcing the style of game that helped them win a Stanley Cup last season.

I expect the Avs to try to use their speed to enforce their own style of play to dominate the Blues. If the Blues will be looking to make some big hits, the Avalanche have plenty of grit of their own to match that. However, one of the specific players fans will want to keep an eye on during this game will be Nazem Kadri. Suspended the past two playoffs with the Toronto Maple Leafs, this may be a defining game for the talented forward. Which Kadri will we see against the Blues?

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Avs defenseman Samuel Girard will be back in the lineup after missing the Avs 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild in their lone exhibition game.

What has led up to this showdown with the Blues?

Leading up to this round-robin showdown, the Avalanche and the Blues have been practically equal throughout the season (before the pause), as they split the season series. They nearly perfectly split goals for and goals against as well, with the Avalanche leading 15-14 in that category.

With the pre-pause season series set in stone, the Avalanche defeated the Wild 3-2 in their exhibition game, while the Blues fell to the Blackhawks 4-0.

The post Round Robin Preview: Avs vs Blues appeared first on The Rink.

As the Avs are finally back to playing hockey and we’re back in the playoffs, we wanted to know if Colorado would get the good Kadri or the bad Kadri.  With a reputation of being a wildcard with history of suspensions, Kadri could be one of the final pieces the Avs needed to get them to the Stanley Cup, or something that holds them back.

To get more insight on Kadri, we asked Cris Caruso from The-Rink Toronto a few questions about the former Leafs centerman.

What should Colorado fans expect from Kadri in the playoffs?

During his time in Toronto, when on his game, he played a physical game, staying on the right side of the line. However, as seen in the last two years’ playoffs, it was easy for him to slip up. As some Leaf fans called it, he saw “red mist”. That is what led to his suspensions.

Kadri has had history with questionable hits and penalties that have cost his team.  Do you think he will have more trouble towing the line between being competitive and dirty, or do you think he’s matured from this?

If anything is going to get Kadri to grow up, it was this trade. He had previously been suspended by both his team and the league, yet he didn’t seem to mature. Honestly, trading him was the last option on the table. I obviously don’t have a definite answer, but in my opinion it is likely to have worked. It will definitely be interesting to see how it plays out.

Kadri has reached the 30 goal plateau a couple of times in his career.  Do you see him more as a scoring or playmaking centerman?

Kadri is a lethal playmaking centre. He is excellent at closing down the opposition. In fact, Kadri had his most successful years in Toronto (in terms of points and play in general) when he was acting as a shutdown centre.

What is something that Kadri excels at in big games, and what is something he struggles with?

Kadri excels at, for lack of better terminology, being a pest.  He will antagonize his opponents and get under their skin.  What he struggles with, or has struggled with in the past, is staying on the right side of the line.

A year from the trade, how do the Leafs feel about the Kadri / Barrie trade now?

Barrie has become an important piece to the team.  He has taken some of the weight off of Morgan Rielly’s back in terms of powerplay time and offense, and was extremely important with all the Leafs’ injuries early in the season. Kerfoot is a key part of the Leafs now. When he is going, he can get the team going. He has also been excellent at killing penalties, a real bad part of the Leafs’ season in 2018-19.

Who do you expect to go deeper in the playoffs this year, the Leafs or the Avs?

In my opinion, that depends on which version of the Toronto Maple Leafs shows up. One thing they’ve battled with all year is consistency. Another thing to watch is where Andersen is at. When he is at his best, he can steal games for the team, but he too has struggled with being consistent. However, basing my answer solely on how the season ended, I would say the Avs.

You can follow Cris on Twitter at @cmcaruso13 and read all her work for The-Rink Toronto here.

The post What will the Avalanche get out of Nazem Kadri in the playoffs? appeared first on The Rink.

Here are our picks:

Photo courtesy of NHL.com

New York Rangers vs Carolina Hurricanes

Cris:  CAR in 5

The biggest question mark on the Canes is their goaltending. However, their defense corps is one of, if not the best in the League. I think that, in the end, it is just too much for the Rangers to overcome.

Jeff:  CAR in 5

I really wanted to pick the Rangers. They have a three-headed monster in goal, promising youth, and MVP candidate Artemi Panarin. Unfortunately, they were the second worst team in the Metro this year. They just aren’t ready. I think they make it a series because the Canes have a pretty tense situation in goal, but it won’t be enough. Better days are ahead for the Rangers.

JJ:  CAR in 5

John:  NYR in 5

Just a hunch – Carolina’s playoff mojo doesn’t carry over to this year. The Rangers have the feel of a team on the rise in a hurry.

Juliana:  NYR in 5

I almost picked the Hurricanes. In my opinion, this series really hinges on two things: goaltending and if Dougie Hamilton can play for the Canes. This prediction is based off him not playing and Igor Shestyorkin stealing the show. It also helps that the Rangers have Hart candidate Panarin leading the offense. This will be one of the more interesting series to watch.

Marie:  CAR in 4

Let me just start by saying, I have no idea. I’m an AHL fan. I only halfway pay attention to the NHL so a lot of my picks will be based more on random feelings than actual facts. But I think Carolina tends to rally and play well when it matters most. As cliché as it sounds, it’s often about which team wants it more, and I think that’s Carolina.

Photo courtesy of NHL.com

Chicago Blackhawks vs Edmonton Oilers

Cris:  EDM in 4

Corey Crawford missed the majority of training camp. Although both teams struggle to defend, the Oilers do have an edge with their goaltending. This should definitely be an interesting series to watch.

Jeff:  EDM in 4

Edmonton has holes but not as many as the Blackhawks have. Edmonton also has two of the best players in the world in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.  In goal, both teams have question marks, but the Oiler hold the slight COVID edge. If Crawford was available for a full training camp, I would give the Blackhawks the edge in net, but he is really behind the curve. The Blackhawks were last in the Central for a reason. Their defense stinks.

JJ:  EDM in 5

This series I was split on, as I can really see either team taking this series in five games. However, I do believe that the Oilers will have a slight advantage over the Blackhawks. I think the Oilers offensive firepower will eventually prove to be too much for the Blackhawks, and that they just will not be able to put a quick stop to the dynamic duo of McDavid and Draisaitl.

John:  EDM in 4

Whether Crawford plays or not, the match-ups between the nets are in Edmonton’s favor, both center on center, and Edmonton’s blue line corps versus Chicago’s small, softish forwards. Not to mention what may be an absolutely sieve-like Chicago blue line against Edmonton’s overall forward corps.

Juliana:  EDM in 5

Edmonton is simply the better team. They have top-ranked special teams, McDavid, and Draisaitl. That’s really all you need to win. I think the Blackhawks can make this series tough for the Oilers, but they’re lacking too much defensively.

Marie:  EDM in 3

This hasn’t been Chicago’s year, and I don’t see that changing in the playoffs.

Photo courtesy of NHL.com

Florida Panthers vs New York Islanders

Cris:  NYI in 5

This was a tough one. I do think that Florida could pull it off, seeing as they have the offense. However, after the season Sergei Bobrovsky has had, you can’t rely on him to steal the Panthers any games. While the Islanders have difficulty scoring, their defense definitely outperforms Florida’s. If Bobrovsky does manage to get hot at the right time though, this could be a totally different series.

Jeff:  NYI in 5

While I like the Florida roster overall, I think that the Isles’ stingy defense and goaltending will eventually be too much. If the Islanders get in trouble, Joel Quenneville can out-coach just about anybody. Even though they scored a lot of goals in the regular season, Florida just doesn’t have the high-end scoring they will need to overwhelm the Islanders. That said, Bobrovsky will be in goal for Florida and he has carried his team past better opponents in the playoffs.

JJ:  NYI in 4

John:  NYI in 5

Bobrovsky has been, at times, a good playoff goalie, but he has looked human too often for a $10 million a year guy.

Juliana:  NYI in 5

I truthfully think Florida is a more well-rounded team than the Islanders are, but Bobrovsky looked terrible in the exhibition game against Tampa and he’s been streaky throughout his entire career. If the Isles can tighten their defensive game and play like we know they can, they’ll easily win the series. But the Panthers have Joel Quenneville behind the bench and good offensive firepower. I still think the Isles pull through here.

Marie:  NYI in 5

Just seems like the Islanders are on a roll this season. It feels like they have something to prove.

Photo courtesy of NHL.com

Montreal Canadiens vs Pittsburgh Penguins

Cris:  PIT in 4

I would never count out a fully healthy Penguins team. The Canadiens just don’t have the depth necessary to combat that. As well, based on his performance over the last season or so, I do not expect Carey Price to be stealing any games for MON.

Jeff:  PIT in 4

Much like EDM over CHI, the Pens have Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Montreal was the 12th seed for a reason. They just don’t have the firepower to take out Pittsburgh.

JJ:  PIT in 3

John:  PIT in 4

I agree with Gatekeeper, this one feels a lot like Chicago-Edmonton for similar reasons.

Juliana:  PIT in 3

Simple explanation: Price is not the goaltender he used to be and Montreal doesn’t have the star power that Pittsburgh does. If Jake Guentzel and Brian Dumoulin didn’t come back, I’d say this series would be closer. But they’re back, so Pittsburgh has a great advantage.

Marie:  MON in 4

This is one of those cases where logic holds no sway with me. My football biases bleed over into hockey. I simply cannot pick the Steelers on Ice Penguins. Also, Alex Belzile (who played a big role when the Eagles won the Kelly Cup in 2017) made the Canadiens roster. I’m not saying he’s going to carry the team or anything, but I love him as a player and hope he gets a real shot (assuming he plays again after that hit he took on Tuesday). Therefore, I’ll cross my fingers and hope for Montreal to pull off the upset.

Jake Muzzin Alex Belzile #HFhits

Well. I guess they’re not going to stop being physical. pic.twitter.com/SfTonrpR6O

— hockeyfights (@hockeyfights) July 29, 2020

Winnipeg Jets vs Calgary Flames

Cris:  WPG in 5

Connor Hellebuyck. The goalie has had an MVP caliber season, despite all the pieces WPG lost on the back end (Trouba, Byfuglien etc). Hellebuyck can and will steal the Jets games.

Jeff:  WPG in 5

If you asked this question prior to the season, I would have said Calgary, hands down. Hellebuyck was having an MVP worthy season for the second time in the last three years, though. A hot goaltender can win a cup for a team. I wouldn’t pick them as a cup winner, but Calgary has so many issues and too much drama.

JJ:  WPG in 5

John:  WPG in 5

Scheifele, Wheeler and Laine. This could be the year Winnipeg puts it all together and makes a run. They have the size and talent to be a brutalizing playoff team, and Hellebuyck is hot.

Juliana:  WPG in 5

Despite how similar these teams are on paper, Calgary lacks in goaltending while Winnipeg has Vezina candidate Hellebuyck in net. The stars of the Flames also had down years, while the stars of the Jets still played like stars. If he continues to play like he did during the regular season, the Jets will sneak out of this qualifying round.

Marie: Winner: WPG in 5

Hellebuyck. That is all.

Save and celly?

Connor Hellebuyck with the can't-miss highlights. pic.twitter.com/yTKLecVJ0i

— NHL (@NHL) September 19, 2019

Arizona Coyotes vs Nashville Predators

Cris:  NSH in 5

ARI doesn’t have the scoring depth they will need. While I wouldn’t pick NSH to be a cup contender, they are a more well-rounded team than the Coyotes.

Jeff:  NSH in 4

I’d love to see this upset but I just don’t think ARI can pull it off. As long as the Preds get decent goaltending, they should be able to send the Coyotes home. That’s not to say that Phil Kessel and Taylor Hall can’t put a scare into the Preds, but I just can’t see it being enough to carry the Yotes.

JJ:  NSH in 4

John:  NSH in 5

In the end, the Yotes will not have enough versus a deep, albeit perennially under-performing Nashville team.

Juliana:  NSH in 4

Both of these teams greatly lack offense, but the defense of the Predators is simply better than the Coyotes. If Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros can be consistent in net, this is an easy series win for Nashville. If there’s any series where an upset can happen though, it could be this one.

Marie:  NSH in 4

Back when the Colorado Eagles were winning back-to-back Kelly Cups, a certain ECHL owner complained that his team, which (in his opinion) dominated the regular season by playing NHL-style hockey, consistently got beat in the ECHL playoffs. He felt the fast, furious, hard-hitting nature of the ECHL playoffs put his team at an unfair disadvantage. Well, like it or not, the playoffs are a whole different animal in just about any league. What worked in the regular season won’t always work in the post-season. Which is all my long-winded way of saying I don’t think Arizona’s style of hockey is going to cut it.

Photo courtesy of NHL.com

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Toronto Maple Leafs

Cris:  TOR in 4

Columbus is at their best when they are playing their system. Due to the break, the play-in round is going to be very similar to early season hockey, where games are decided by talent rather than the systems in place.

Jeff:  TOR in 5

I’d say TOR in 4 but it’s the Leafs. They will find a way to introduce some drama. Elvis Merzlikins is a nice story in goal for CBJ, but TOR can take this series on talent alone. Columbus’ -7 goal differential should be enough to send them to the second draft lottery.

JJ:  TOR in 4

John:  CBJ in 4

Columbus, like Winnipeg and Boston, is a team built more for the grind and attrition of the playoffs. They’re going to follow much the same prescription as they did in sweeping the Lightning last year. Probably not a popular pick, but the Jackets may pull off the early upset again. It’s also easy to see the officiating favor Toronto, in that the games are in Toronto, and it’s… Toronto. That could shift the series very much in the opposite direction.

Juliana:  TOR in 5

This is another fun series everyone should pay attention to. The Blue Jackets are relatively healthy now, and so are the Leafs. While Columbus has a way better defense corps than Toronto, the Leafs have a monstrous offense that can score their way out of almost anything. I’d love to say Leafs in 3 or 4 games, but we know better than to say that. Still, I think Toronto pulls away with a series win.

Marie:  CJB in 4

I’m basing this largely on their sweep of Tampa in last year’s playoffs. They’re a team on a mission.

Photo courtesy of NHL.com

Minnesota Wild vs Vancouver Canucks

Cris:  VAN in 5

I do believe MIN will put up a fight; however, as I mentioned above, the play in rounds will likely be more reliant on talent. Vancouver has the edge there.

Jeff:  VAN in 3

Vancouver has a solid team that has promising young players at every position. Minnesota is stuck between over-the-hill vets and unproven youth. I’m not a Devan Dubnyk fan and feel like he puts up decent regular season stats and then turns back into a pumpkin in the playoffs. The Wild gave up a ton of goals while the Canucks scored a ton. This should make for a short series for the team from the, “State of Hockey.”

JJ:  VAN in 5

John:  VAN in 3

Sort of like the Rangers-Carolina prediction. Vancouver just has that feel of a team on a quick rise, where Minnesota is more like Chicago. A team sort of stuck in the middle of the pack and lacking a clear character at this point.

Juliana:  VAN in 5

As boring as the Wild can be, the Canucks give away games like it’s free food. Ultimately, it comes down to lines and defensive pairs clicking. If Vancouver’s top six can score like we know they can, this is an easy series win, but who knows how many defensive lapses they’ll make. I think this series will be closer than some might think, but the Canucks will be heading into the first round of the playoffs.

Marie:  MIN in 5

This is another case where there’s not a lot of logic behind my pick. The two Wild teams (Minnesota and their AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild) seem to pull off victories when I least want them to. I’m predicting that trend will hold true and some really ugly wins will carry them through the qualifying round.

What do you think?

Tell us your thoughts! 

Are we wrong? 

Who do you think will move on to the next round?

The post Round Table: The-Rink staff play-in predictions appeared first on The Rink.

The-Rink.com co-hosts Jeff Osborn, John Jaeckel, are joined by Rink writer Ray Napientek to wrap up the Blackhawks exhibition win and preview the play-in series vs the Edmonton Oilers

• • Corey Crawford emerged from the shadows post-COVID and played with only three days of practice.
  • Dominik Kubalik is ready for the postseason.
  • Kirby Dach also looked energized.
  • The Blues laid a huge turd in the wrap of the exhibition game.
  • We talk about Calvin de Haan and Connor Murphy.
  • The Oilers aren’t going to look like the Blues did Wednesday.
  • We discuss the Blackhawks banning Native American headdresses at all future games and team events.

Watch the entire replay of the ZOOM call on Facebook live right here:

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The post Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 3, Episode 22 – Post Season Preview appeared first on The Rink.

This week, Nathan MacKinnon was nominated for the Ted Lindsay Award and Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, while the Avalanche star rookie defenseman Cale Makar was nominated for the Calder Trophy.  Both players are well deserving of those nominations but seem to have bigger plans in mind.

Eyes on the prize @Avalanche | #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/kMLAkp9gdS

— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) July 15, 2020

Before the Avalanche officially get into playoff hockey, we wanted to take a look at a few questions surrounding the team.  Our experts JJ Seaward, Lucas Rozell, and Marie Sexton discuss everything Avalanche hockey and some general NHL topics.  We’re all really excited to be back and providing you excellent coverage of our favorite team the Colorado Avalanche!

Photo courtesy of NHL.com

Which player who is returning from injury will make the biggest impact in the playoffs?

JJ:  While there are plenty of good options, I believe the return of Mikko Rantanen will bring the biggest impact for the Avs in this year’s playoffs. His return marks the return of the big three headed monster of Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon, and Gabriel Landeskog, but he also adds to the overall depth for the Avs as he can fit anywhere in the lineup. No matter where he plays, he will make an impact for the Avalanche.

Lucas:  This one is difficult because I think a few players are going to have a strong impact. Obviously, the return of the first liners Rantanen and MacKinnon is going to impact the team greatly, as MacKinnon carried the team on his back for most of the season.  Other than the stars, the first name that springs to mind is Kadri – he’s been a really consistent force this season and I think he’s good at tying a line together. Burakovsky has also been a pleasant surprise this season and I’m hoping to see him make a big impact on his return, preferably on a line with MacKinnon.

Marie: I’d like to preface my first answer by saying I’m an AHL girl. I watch the Avalanche when they don’t overlap with the Eagles, but I don’t know the ins and outs of the team the way I do with the Eagles. But of the guys who were injured, I think Kadri will have the biggest impact.

How much of Timmins, Byram, and Bowers will we actually see?  And will any Eagles see any ice time?

JJ:  I think it will all really depend on how they perform in the summer camp leading up to the Avs exhibition showdown against the Minnesota Wild on July 26th. There is no doubt that all of them could make an impact, but it will depend on if Bednar believes they are ready. From what I have heard, Byram has been making a solid impression so far. I do believe some Eagles will definitely see at least some ice time, but only time will tell on how much exactly.

Lucas:  I think this will depend on both training camp and the series go for the Avalanche. The safer bet is to go with the squad that’s already had a really good year. While the newcomers had good seasons of their own, throwing them into these unusual playoffs would be an interesting move, unless they really impress during camp.  I could realistically see Bowers slotting in the easiest, especially if some of the other fourth line forwards fail to impress.

Marie: I doubt we’ll see much of the forwards. The Avs are just too deep up front. Maybe Logan O’Connor gets a bit of time on the fourth line, but unless somebody gets hurt (let’s hope not!), I don’t see the Eagles forwards getting any ice time.  Defense is another story. Zadorov is a wild card who appeared to be in Bednar’s doghouse before the break. Sometimes Cole is on fire, but other times, he’s a bit of a liability. And Barberio just isn’t that strong of a player, in my opinion. On the other hand, Timmins improved immensely this year. He and MacDonald are easily as good Barberio, and less likely to commit a costly penalty than either Cole or Zadorov. Connauton and Lindholm aren’t flashy, but they’re strong, reliable players. I think any one of these guys could find themselves part of the third defensive pairing.  As for Byram, I’ve seen all the hype, but I’ve also learned not to trust the hype because 99% of the time, it’s completely overblown. Yes, Makar managed to step into the playoffs last year and did great, but he’s an anomaly. In my experience, guys coming out of college at the end of the season are never as ready for the pros as people think. Those players almost always struggle being thrown into the AHL playoffs and don’t make much of an impact until the following season, Shane Bowers being a perfect example. So unless Byram is really as good as Makar (which I doubt), then I wouldn’t expect him to play.

What level of competition do you predict the round robin will have?

JJ:  I am a firm believer that every stage of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs will be help to the highest possible levels of competition. With teams being completely healthy, we will be in for some extremely good hockey games. In order for teams to advance past any stage, they will need to perform at their fullest potential to come away with the series victory — this will all start at the round robin games.

Lucas:  I believe there’s going to be a fair amount of competition. The teams were prepared to fight until the end to be at the top of the standings before the pause, so I definitely think that level of competitiveness is going to continue here. It’s a pride thing and it’s also a matter of getting into the right mindset for playoffs after the break.

Marie: The first time I really paid attention to hockey was the year the Avalanche won their last Stanley Cup. We watched the Finals, and it was undeniably exciting. I reluctantly conceded that maybe my husband was right and we should start watching hockey more often. I was psyched.  Right up until the new season started in the fall and my husband turned on a game.  Being early in the season, it was nothing like the intensity I remembered from the playoffs. “Why are they all skating at half speed?” I asked my husband. “Is this a preseason game or something?” Of course, I understand now that a) it’s a long season, and b) it takes some time to work up to playoff level intensity.  That’s all a very long-winded way of saying, I expect them to take it more seriously than a preseason game, but I think it’ll look more like early-season hockey than postseason hockey.

Photo courtesy of The Denver Post

Will the Avs have a goaltender controversy?

JJ:  Like Avalanche goaltender Pavel Francouz mentioned to Ryan Clark the other day in a post skate interview, it appears as if Phillip Grubauer and Francouz are ready to do whatever they have to do in order to win the third Stanley Cup in Avalanche history. While this is obviously exactly what fans want to hear heading into the playoffs, anything is obviously possible during the playoffs.

Lucas:  Ideally, the goaltending situation plays out like it did during the season – ride the hot goalie. The best option is always going to be the goalie that’s the most likely to succeed, but who’s to say who that’s going to be after such a long time away.  I like Francouz and Grubauer as a tandem and I think the fact that they can each step up when the other struggles that played a role in the success the Avalanche enjoyed this year.

Marie:  Well, if by “controversy” you mean, will everybody on Twitter be arguing over it, then yes.  I expect Grubauer and Francouz to get roughly even time in the first couple of rounds, but I think Francouz emerges as the stronger (and more consistent) of the two.

Could we see Zadorov benched at some point in the playoffs?

JJ:  I would hope not, but it will all depend on a few different variables. We have seen Zadarov be an imposing and intimidating factor in games throughout the year, but we have also seen times where he had a lack of judgment. Whether it be from missing assignments leading to goals against, or not playing physical, there have been a few common errors in his game that have led to him being benched. With these specific playoffs being all about wearing the opposition down, I am going to take a stand and say that no, we will not see him benched. He knows how he needs to play, and will do whatever he can to help the Avs win.

Lucas:  This one comes down to attitude. We’ve seen Zadorov with some splendid performances this season and I think he’s had moments of brilliance as a shutdown defenseman. If that slips, though, or if he continues to have issues with Bednar, we might see an appearance from one of the younger defensemen that are looking to earn a roster spot.

Marie:  Yes. There are too many other hot defensemen available. Admittedly, none of them play the same style of game as Zadorov, but that also means they’re less likely to be called for costly penalties

Do you think the Avs will be at an advantage as a skating team coming out of the break?

JJ:  If everything goes smoothly, and there are no injuries for the Avalanche heading into the official first round, then I definitely see the Avalanche having an advantage. The Avs will be playing against some of the tougher competition battling for the top spot in the Western Conference, and with a healthy lineup, the overall depth of the Avalanche could prove to be too much for any team.

Lucas:  Absolutely. The Avs have a lot of talent in one roster and they look to be working hard during this training camp period. With everyone back from injury, I see this team going back to their basics, running a very fast and skilled game.

Marie:  It’s good to have injured players back in the lineup, but I don’t necessarily think that gives them some huge advantage because all the other teams are in the same boat.

How much pressure is on the Avalanche right now to win the Stanley Cup?

JJ:  This is by far the most amount of pressure the Avalanche have had to win the Stanley Cup since probably the 2000-01 season. The Avalanche have all of the pieces to come away with the Cup this season. Coupled with depth throughout the lineup, and MacKinnon with a clear goal in mind, this is the best possible shot the Avs have of capturing Lord Stanley. Anything short would be a failure.

Lucas:  I think the pressure is high, both from the fanbase and within the team itself. This team has improved over the past few years and had themselves a great regular season, even though it was cut short. The guys in that locker room definitely want to win.  The fanbase wants them to win, too, as they always do. I think, as a fan, you look at the depth this team has and you want to see them go all the way. I’m not sure if we’re going to see this assembly of talent again soon for this team and it’s easy to get into a “now or never” mindset.

Marie:  Obviously everybody wants them to win it, but I don’t feel like it’s now or never for them. They’re a team on the cusp of becoming absolutely exceptional. If it’s not this year, it’ll be next.

Photo courtesy of NHL.com

Who is the biggest threat to the Avs in the Western Conference right now and why?

JJ:  I believe the biggest threat towards the Avalanche in the Western Conference has to be the Dallas Stars. Going 0-2-2 against the Stars this season, they are the one team who has had the Avs number during the regular season. However, if last year’s playoffs have told us anything, playoffs are a completely different beast and anything can happen. I would not count the Avs out in a best of seven series against the Stars.

Lucas: I think the Stars are going to be an issue for the Avalanche. They didn’t win a game against the Stars this year, which can’t be said of the other Western Conference teams. Unless something clicked over the break, I think the Avalanche style of play and the Stars style of play are going to continue to clash.

Marie:  While the Blues may be the better team, the Avs have struggled a lot more against the Stars this season. So yeah, I’ll go with the Stars.

Matt Nieto stepped up last year in the playoffs.  Who could be this year’s dark horse?

JJ:  While there are plenty of dark horses on the Avs roster, I believe big Valeri Nichushkin will continue to surprise people. Built as a true workhorse, Nichushkin has made a resurgence in his career after recording 27 points in the regular season. Due to his playing style, he is exactly who fans could see playing the role of difference-maker for the Avs.

Lucas:  I’m seeing Kadri or Nichushkin as important players this year. I think Kadri’s game is consistent and skilled and he’s been a force to contend with on the ice when he’s been healthy.
Nichushkin emerged as an interesting player on the team this year, finally breaking his scoring drought and starting to contribute a lot. I think the way he contributes to the play is a key in overcoming some styles of defense the top line can’t contend with.

Marie:  I’m going to go out on a limb here and say Jacob MacDonald. I know, it’s a long shot, but MacDonald scored 16 goals and 26 assists this season in the AHL, finishing first in goals and fourth in points amongst AHL defensemen. Granted, he scored a lot of those points while playing forward rather than defense. But he’s a versatile player with a strong shot, and I think he could emerge as this year’s dark horse. (Conor Timmins may be the safer bet. But “safe bet” and “dark horse” don’t really go together.)

Will the return to play Stanley Cup plan work or will we see issues with COVID impacting it?

JJ:  I would say that there will be no issues, but it is definitely difficult to make a statement in regards to how events will go nowadays, so let’s just all cross our fingers that everything goes as planned and enjoy playoff hockey. 2020 is an unpredictable boogeyman.

Lucas:  I should be up-front and say that I don’t really agree with the return to play. I love hockey, but the plan hasn’t been well thought-out, with players getting sick and ignoring regulations. That said, I think issues with COVID will impact it, certainly. I think the staff is being put at risk, which will impact arena flow. I also think that at least one player is going to get very sick, at which point we’re going to need to reevaluate if we’re willing to put the players at risk to this extent.

Marie:  I’m going to throw some positive vibes into the universe and say of course the plan will work! (In reality, I give it about a 50/50 chance).

The post Questions surrounding the Colorado Avalanche heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs appeared first on The Rink.

The-Rink.com co-hosts Jeff Osborn, John Jaeckel, are joined by Don from the Game On Sports Podcast for Everyone to talk about the first few days of Blackhawks and Rangers raining camp

• • We’re all still skeptical that the NHL plan will continue to completion
  • Corey Crawford is a no show to training camp and deemed “Unfit to Play”
  • Dominik Kubalik named Calder finalist
  • Ian Mitchell signing made official
  • Andrew Shaw and Zack Smith also not in camp.
  • The Blackhawks’ chances for the first overall pick are still much stronger than their chances of advancing past the Oilers. #AllForOne and #DoneInOne
  • We have some discussion of the New York Rangers and our old friend Artemi Panarin.

Watch the entire replay of the ZOOM call on Facebook live right here:

Please do us a favor. Subscribe, rate this episode, share with your friends, and even write us a review. The best reviews will be read on the air.

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The post Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 3, Episode 21 – Return to Play with GameOnPodcast appeared first on The Rink.

The-Rink.com co-hosts Jeff Osborn, John Jaeckel, are joined by good friend’s Uncle Forklift and CT from HockeeNight.com to talk about the latest developments in the NHL.

• • New COVID-19 cases in Florida, Texas and Arizona should put plans into disarray, but the NHL just keeps trucking along.
  • Draft lottery is coming.
  • Who the Blackhawks won’t be picking up in free agency.
  • More specifics on the Blackhawks chances or lack thereof.

Watch the entire replay of the ZOOM call on Facebook live right here:

Please do us a favor. Subscribe, rate this episode, share with your friends, and even write us a review. The best reviews will be read on the air.

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At the practice rink.

As the NHL creeps closer to the return to action, what is being called “Phase 2” of the return to play plan is underway for some teams. Players are beginning to return to there respective practice facilities for voluntary workouts as they prepare for the 24-team playoff return to play format.

On Wednesday, several Blackhawks players returned to their practice facility at the Fifth Third Arena in Chicago including Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, Malcolm Subban, and Alexander Nylander.

Several Blackhawks returned to Fifth Third Arena on Wednesday, June 10, for voluntary workouts as the NHL opens Phase 2 of its Return to Play plan
(Photo Credit: Taylor Wilder/Chicago Blackhawks)

The Blackhawks were last in action on March 11 at the United Center, downing the San Jose Sharks 6-2 before the NHL suspended play on March 12. The league has been out of action since then, having unveiled their 24-team return to play format recently as the NHL looks to properly finish the 2019-20 season and postseason.

IT'S HAPPENING

We've got ice back at @FifthThirdArena, the #Blackhawks Community Ice Rink! pic.twitter.com/zENsFVGdjq

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 10, 2020

The Blackhawks are set to face the Edmonton Oilers in a best-of-five play-in series when the league does return to action. As the fifth-seed in the Western Conference, the Oilers are led by two of the top players in the NHL in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. This season, the Blackhawks held a 2-1-0 record over the Oilers with 3-1 and 4-3 wins in October and March, with both happening at the United Center. The loss was a 5-3 decision on the road in Edmonton in February.

Heading into their best-of-five play-in series against the Oilers, the Blackhawks have the second-lowest odds to win the Stanley Cup at +7500, according to William Hill. Only the Montreal Canadiens have worse odds at +10000, with the Boston Bruins at +500 and Vegas Golden Knights at +600 leading the Eastern and Western Conferences.

UPDATE: Following Wednesday’s return to the ice, the NHL and NHLPA agreed to a July 10 start date for “Phase 3”  of the league’s plan to return to on ice action. “Phase 3” sets all team training camps to begin on July 10, and if all goes to plan, the NHL could be looking at a return to action some time in early August.

The @NHL and NHLPA have agreed on a July 10 opening date for formal training camps: https://t.co/AjHX2Q1zuu pic.twitter.com/2QbJfzKyKr

— NHLPA (@NHLPA) June 11, 2020

The NHL has yet to announce dates for the Stanley Cup play-in round and the Stanley Cup Playoffs to begin.

The post Chicago Blackhawks return to the ice as “Phase 2” workouts begin appeared first on The Rink.

7:30 p.m. CST
United Center
TV/Radio: NBCSCH/WGN

PROJECTED STARTERS

Chicago – Corey Crawford (14–18–5, save percentage: .907, goals against average: 2.96)
Dallas – Anton Khudobin (16–16–5, save percentage: .926, goals against average: 2.47)

TEAM STATISTICS

Power Play
Chicago (20.5 percent, 12th)
Dallas (20.5 percent, 14th)

Penalty Kill
Chicago (73.1 percent, 31st)
Dallas (82.4 percent, Fifth)

Shorts for/against
Chicago (32.6, 11th; 34.6, 30th)
Dallas (30.5, 21st; 31.7, 18th)

Shooting Percentage
Chicago (9.9 percent, Ninth)
Dallas (8.4 percent, 28th)

Faceoff Percentage
Chicago (49.4 percent, T-20th)
Dallas (51.9 percent, Fourth)

Average height and weight
Chicago 6’1”, 197 lbs.
Dallas 6’2”, 207 lbs.

PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS

Chicago Blackhawks

Drake Caggiula–Jonathan Toews–Patrick Kane

Alex DeBrincat–Dylan Strome–Brendan Perlini

Brandon Saad–Artem Anisimov–Dominik Kahun

Chris Kunitz–Marcus Kruger–John Hayden

Duncan Keith–Erik Gustafsson

Gustav Forsling–Brent Seabrook

Carl Dahlstrom–Connor Murphy

Dallas Stars

Jason Dickinson–Tyler Seguin–Alexander Radulov

Jamie Benn–Roope Hintz–Mats Zuccarello

Andrew Cogliano–Radek Faksa–Blake Comeau

Mattias Janmark–Jason Spezza–Tyler Pitlick

Esa Lindell–John Klingberg

Miro Heiskanen–Roman Polak

Taylor Fedun–Ben Lovejoy

Analysis

Coming off their 4—3 victory against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night, the Blackhawks look to continue playing the role of spoiler as they welcome the Dallas Stars to the United Center.

The Stars enter play on Friday firmly cemented in one of the two wild card positions in the West. The Stars can’t move up, but they can certainly fall to the second wild card spot if the Colorado Avalanche continue to collect points.

The Blackhawks can play spoiler and aid in setting the Stars up to play the top seed in the Western Conference, the Calgary Flames. A tough matchup such as this one could spell a quick end to the Stars’ playoff run.

At this point, this game is essentially meaningless for the Blackhawks. They are too high in the standings to get a lottery pick (unless they luck out), so they will probably pick somewhere between 10 and 15.

That said, a team with nothing to lose is a dangerous team. The Stars need to be cautious on Friday night, otherwise, they could fall into the second wild card spot and be set for a date with the talented Calgary Flames, who may be the most complete team in the Western Conference.

Comment below in our live game thread tonight!

And look for the internet’s most robust recap of the game tomorrow morning on the-rink.com.

The post Preview/Game Thread: Blackhawks vs. Stars appeared first on The Rink.