Jagr, Hartnell Net A Pair Each, Captain Down

  The Philadelphia Flyers broke their two-game losing streak against the hardened Toronto Maple Leafs In last night’s meeting.

  The off-season acquisition of superstar Jaromir Jagr was bound to pay off in terms of physical goal scoring. It has officially come to fruition as the seasoned veteran netted a pair in the game, scoring the Flyers’ first and last goals. The goals were Jagr’s first in the NHL since April 6th, 2008, and first two-goal game since April 4th 2008 – his 114th two-goal game of his career. He moves two more points closer Joe Sakic for 8th all-time in NHL points, just 35 behind the classy veteran of Quebec/Colorado.

  Jagr, who wasn’t pushy about his first goal vocally, said he tried to do everything to get the marker and take the added weight by media off of his shoulders.

"I changed everything," Jagr said. "The skate, gloves. I got hit in the head during warm-ups, so that helped." he joked. ".. you guys aren't going to ask me anymore," Jagr laughed in regards of the erased goal-scoring question. "I'm glad it was tonight."

  Both of Jagr’s goals were finished with style, of course, as each goal was a breakaway tally that thrilled the home crowd. Jagr also had a third breakaway in the game, with his best shot at completing the hat-trick on an empty net chance, but he was swarmed too quickly to intercept the awkward pass from teammate Scott Hartnell.

  Jagr split the defense at 16:22 of the first period on the powerplay as he took a clean pass from linemate Claude Giroux. Jagr bolted down the middle, and beat Gustavsson blocker side on a simple wrist shot. His second tally, and 648th of his NHL career, also came on a breakaway as Hartmell found him wide open at center ice, feeding him the puck and sending him on his way. The shot to beat Gustavsson was identical to the first goal he scored.

"I had three breakaways today," said Jagr. "The first one I scored, the second one I tried to do something different. I thought maybe if I would shoot it, I would have a chance to score (Gustavsson denied him). The third one, I said, 'Why change something that is working?' And he was cheating a little bit. I think he lifted a leg there, but I kind of waited a little longer and I had a spot there."

  When the Maple Leafs pulled Gustavsson for the extra attacker, the really neat thing to see was when Scott Hartnell dug deep into the offensive zone, won the puck in the corner, and rather than shoot for his own chance at a hat-trick – he dished the puck to Jagr. The move was a classy one from Hartnell.

  Scott Hartnell netted his own first of the season to break a 1-1 tie at 15:46 with a snap shot, point blank at Gustavosson, after a nifty feed pass from Briere. Claude Giroux would feed a snap shot second-tally by Hartnell at 8:34 of the third period, extending the lead to two and scoring his 200th career point as a Flyer.

"It's nice to get those guys on the board," head coach Peter Laviolette said. "Jaromir had a lot of chances in the early games and lots of opportunity and their line was good. Hartnell has now had two solid games in a row, tonight being his best one. It's good to get those guys going, sure."

  23 year-old Sergei Bobrovsky also had a great night. ‘Bob’ moves to a personal 2-0-0 start in the early season after stopping His .918 save percentage and 2.00 goals against average have been a welcomed sight in Philadelphia behind their new starter Ilya Bryzgalov.

  The Flyers’ victory came at a high cost. In the early stages of the first period, Philadelphia Flyers captain Chris Pronger took a stick to the eye area on a freak accident from a failed attempt on goal by Mikhail Grabovski, as Grabovski’s stick slid up the shaft of Prongers, landing directly into his face.

"He was hit on the side, and there's a lot of swelling," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said. "The hope is that there's not a lot of blood buildup there where it will create issues."

  Pronger was rushed off of the ice, assisted by teammate Danny Briere. Pronger’s body language was scary.

"I think he was very scared and rightly so," Holmgren said. "When something like that happens to your eye, you're worried about what's going on. I think he settled down over a period of time and was fine when he left."

  Pronger, who does not wear a face shield, will apparently miss a suggested 2-3 weeks with the injury. The 6’6 220lbs. defenseman missed all of pre-season as he recovered from back surgery, and is the benchmark on the blue-line for the Flyers. Holmgren has made it clear that Pronger will not be cleared to play until the 18 year veteran wears a visor – which sparks an entirely different debate.

  The Maples Leafs were without goaltender James Reimer in the contest, who is expected to miss around ten days with head and neck injuries suffered in Saturday night’s game against the Montreal Canadiens, which handed goaltender Jonas Gustavsson his third start of the season. He stopped 26 shots on 30 Philadelphia Flyers shots.

  Phil Kessel naturally tallied again, lifting his league-leading totals to 9 goals and 15 points on the season. Kessel had the puck land at his feet after a wild bounce in front of the net, and he capitalized. The hockey gods have something going for Kessel this year. Recent acquisition David Steckel was responsible for the Maple Leafs’ second goal, which brought them within one at 11:34 of the third period. Steckel has scored in three consecutive games this year with the Leafs, and has continued his faceoff mastery as he is currently 7th league-wide, having taken over 50 more faceoffs than anyone ahead of him. To put it short, Steckel is fitting in quite well.

  The Flyers are keen to continue their great start as they play the struggling Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, while the Toronto Maple Leafs meet the struggling New York Rangers on Thursday.

  The Maple Leafs and Flyers come away from the game with 11 points, and sit 3rd and 4th in the Eastern Conference respectively. The trend is likely to continue, as both teams look solid.

- Kendall Grubbs

A Closer Look As Drowning Habs Make A Deal, Lose Again

  The Montreal Canadiens, who are off to their worst start since 1941, have swung another deal in an effort to right the sinking ship. If the Sunday afternoon trade was a warning shot, the Canadiens didn’t hear it untilk after the whistle blew in Monday night’s contest.

  The Candiens head into their ninth game of the young season on Wednesday with a miserable 1-5-2 record after suffering another loss to the Florida Panthers last night 2-1 in Montreal. The even tougher news to swallow is that Wednesday’s game is against the Philadelphia Flyers, followed by back-to-back games against last year’s championship winning Boston Bruins.

  The Canadiens are the league leader in blown leads with six after their loss to the Panthers, and Habs fans let the home team know it by the game’s conclusion.

  Off-season acquisition Scottie Upshall scored the game winner for his first as a Panther at 5:02 of the third period, as 24 year-old Jacob Markstrom had perhaps his best game of his career with 40 saves on the night. The rookie has gone 2-1-0 this year in goal, bettering his numbers to off-the-chart .967 save percentage and 1.29 goals against average marks. His opponent’s head coach, Jacques Martin, is the man responsible for drafting the young talent as GM of the Panthers in 2008. The 21 year-old has only four career games under his belt and he’s already becoming the NHL goalie he has been hyped to be.On Markstrom's glory night, Martin is feeling the complete opposite.

  Unfortunately for Montreal, leading points-scorer Max Pacioretty appeared to have suffered an upper body injury during the second period which he did not return from. The looming update has Habs fans all over feeling a bit nauseous. He is to be evaluated further tomorrow.

  The tightly contested game came to a climax in the third period with just 49.9 seconds remaining on the clock, where the Canadiens got a late powerplay opportunity. They would be six-on-four from that point to tie the game late.

  Did they score? No, of course not. But we’ll get to that.

  The four-player swap with the Phoenix Coyotes took place Sunday, as the Canadies acquired forward Petteri Nokelainen and defenseman Garret Sttafford from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for forward Brock Trotter and a 2012 seventh-round draft pick.

  Nokelainen, 25, is by far the most experienced NHL player of the batch. He spent last season with Jokerit of the Finnish league, where he appeared 46 times and registered 11 goals and 27 points. Nokelainen, who was drafted by the New York Islanders 16th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, has had a tough time sticking. In his 194 NHL games he has 17 goals and 35 points. He has played with four different clubs, his arguable best season being his second year - with the Boston Bruins – where he scored 7 goals and 10 points with a plus/minus 0. Nokelainen has one assist and five hits in five games this season with the Coyotes, and got an early chance last night with the Canadiens in the midst of their battered roster.

  Stafford, 31, has played twice with the Coyotes this season putting up four hits and two shots on goal. Stafford has spent the last two years consecutive in the AHL, and has only appeared in seven NHL games since being signed by the San Jose Sharks in 2003. Stafford has defensive ability, and uses his frame pretty well. At least in the American Hockey League, Stafford has proven useful with the puck as well. With the amount of injury on the blue-line, it’s possible Stafford gets to push for a chance at a bottom-six outing with the historic Canadiens. The large majority of Stafford’s career has been spent in the AHL, where he has totaled 562 games and scored 83 goals and 317 assists with a -16 rating.

  Brock Trotter, 24, was signed by the Canadiens in 2008 as a free agent. After three years with the Hamilton Bull Dogs of the AHL, he appeared just twice in his final contracted year. Last year, with the KHL’s Dynamo Riga, he scored nine goals and 26 points in 49 games. Trotter fit the mold of the undersized Canadien all too well, and has been sent to the Coyotes in the exchange.

  Ok, so enough trade talk, back to the team dynamics.

  The Canadiens have had more than their share of early season injuries. After veteran forward Scott Gomez went down with an upper body injury on the 20th the Canadiens’ roster has been depleted heavily. But, let’s not forget, Scott Gomez hasn’t scored in 45 games. At nearly $7.5 million, his chipping-in would be more than welcome in the city of Montreal.

  Putting aside Andrei Markov who, go figure, started the year out on the injured list, the Canadiens players’ Jaroslav Spacek, Mike Cammalleri, Chris Campoli, Scott Gomez, and Lars Eller, have combined for a total of 17 games lost on injury this year.

  But there’s got to be more to it than that. The powerplay, which has the potential to be of the deadliest in the league, has been terrible at just %9.4 which is 29th in the league. The penalty kill, which is 20th, isn’t much better considering they’re only 8th in terms of average penalty minutes per-game. The Canadiens are in last place in their division, and last in the Eastern Conference below the Winnipeg Jets and Ottawa Senators.

  Who are they missing? If you listen to Montreal media and press you would say head coach Jacques Martin. He’s not missing, but his winning tendencies have been. Journalist Jack Todd of the Montreal Gazette had some unfortunate things to say about the seasoned veteran coach.

“Martin is the league’s least innovative coach, he has the charisma of a boiled turnip and his constantly ballyhooed “system” seems tailored to the NHL circa 1997, when Jacques Lemaire’s trapping Devils ruled the roost.” He said.

“Sooner or later, Pierre Gauthier will fire Martin to save his own skin, because that’s what GMs do. But the onus here should be on a front office that has not drafted well enough, traded well enough or hired well enough. Again and again, the Canadiens have let go of the valuable, relatively inexpensive players who are the heart of any team: players like Dominic Moore, Jeff Halpern and Roman Hamrlik.”

  Ok, so you don’t like him. But seriously, the blame goes to the top, and I’m not speaking of the top line.

  General manager Pierre Gauthier and former GM Bob Gainey are to blame. The two made the hires and fires, he made the trades, and he made the undue signings. It’s not Martin’s fault, it’s not Carey Price’s fault – it’s his.
The team’s arguable top-six (Scott Gomez, Brian Gionta, Tomas Plekanec, Michael Cammalleri, Andrei Kostitsyn, and Erik Cole) combine for a total of over $31 million of their teams annual salary cap. They combine for eight goals, and 19 points.

  Let us not forget that a key departure from the Habs and Jacques Martin is clearly former assistant coach Kirk Muller. A former captain of the team, and a scorer of the Stanley Cup winning goal, Muller has impacted this franchise in more ways than one. Muller was greatly responsible for the special teams and defensive systems last year, but parted ways with the Canadiens in the January to pursue a head coaching job in the NHL.

  The Habs are, for the most part, stuck with the decisions made by the brass in Montreal, but the various moves thus far have not only been to replenish downed troops. A physical and determined dynamic is missing from this hockey club.

  For the immediate future, various moves are being made for depth players and checking-line roster players to have a challenge presented to them. On defense, the moves have been in efforts largely to get players that play harder, and make hits count. They simply can’t be superstars coming in without big money going out.

  So, unfortunately, this is the best that can be done at the moment. It always trends that the coach catches the door in the face too early, and too undeservedly often, but unless the Canadiens can turn things around change must be made.

  The Canadiens – established in 1909 - were off to their worst start at home since 1938-1939 heading into their home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night, and lost yet again. The club is experiencing its’ worst start since 1941, when it took the Habs 13 games to get their second win.

  I’m on board with everyone else on the lowly overall performance and currently marred future of the Montreal Canadiens, but things aren’t over. While the time is nearing for the team to hit the panic button and do something soon – before it’s too late – the ability of this very team is well documented. In recent years, the Canadiens haven’t been a slouch.

  The obvious fact is that the Canadiens need to find a way to both score and defend more effectively, but with the players currently in place it isn’t unfeasible for the Habs to turn it around.

  More importantly for the years lying ahead a deal needs to be made. But much like the New York Rangers’ brass, a wise move isn’t likely in the near future. Oops, did I say that?

- Kendall Grubbs

LTL REPORT: Michalek Out, Letang Returns

  Just as Penguins defenseman Kris Letang finished serving his two-game suspension, and was eligible to return to the lineup tonight against the New York Islanders, another Penguin fell.

  Defenseman Zbynek Michalek will reportedly be out 4-6 weeks with a broken finger. The injury occurred against the Penguins win on Saturday night against the New Jersey Devils.

  Michalek plays big minutes for the Penguins, and is part of one of the top shutdown units on the team, and arguably in the NHL. Michalek is third on his hockey club in average time on ice, and has registered one goal and two assists in ten games with a -5 rating. Michalek also leads his team in average penalty kill minutes, something the Penguins cannot afford to lose. The 28 year-old is in the second year of the five-year deal he signed in July, 2010.

“You hate to see anything like that, but at the same time it’s part of the game and we have some other good defensemen who will step in and do a good job,” said Michalek’s defensive partner Paul Martin. “We’ve been dealing with a lot of injuries on and off, so whoever is in there has to do the job. I’m sure that will happen now.”

  With Michalek out and Letnang back, the Penguins defensive pairings are looking a little different. Brooks Orpik and Deryk Engelland round out the top unit, followed by Paul Martin and Kris Letang, and Matt Niskanen and Ben Lovejoy.

“Ben Lovejoy is a guy who was and is very good on the penalty kill,” Bylsma said. “He was that guy down in Wilkes-Barre for a number of years. We have players who are very comfortable playing in the penalty kill position, showing they are very good at it."

“’Z’ is exceptional at it and excels at it, but Brooks is back in there and we are going to count on some other guys to step up and do that. Guys like Kris Letang who has grown into being a penalty killer over the last couple of years is going to be relied on a little more heavily than when Z was there.”

  The Penguins, who are still without captain and face of the NHL Sidney Crosby, are also down many other big name contributors. Evgeni Malkin has missed seven games with injury, Brooks Orpik eight, Dustin Jeffrey eight, and Tyler Kenney four.

  The injury bug bitten Penguins are somehow battling through. In fact, they’re doing so well that they are currently tied in points for top spot in the NHL with 14, having gone 6-2-2 in the early season. The club is also second in the NHL in the goal scoring differential with a +8 even without their two best goal scorers.

  The Penguins have had resilience, and ever since Dan Bylsma came into the fray the team has been consistently sound regardless of what is going on around them.

  The Penguins begin the first of a back-to-back series against the New York Islanders before facing the Toronto Maple Leafs before the end of the month.

- Kendall Grubbs

Quick Strikes Again

  Jonathan Quick wasted no time completing his 17th career shutout as be outdueled Dallas’ ace goaltender in a 1-0 victory on Saturday night.

  The game was set to be a battle of the goaltenders and defenses from the start. Karri Lehtonen entered the evening on top in the save percentage and wins department, but it was instead Andrew Raycroft getting the nod for the second time this year. Lehtonen had started in all five games straight through the Stars five game winning-streak allowing just eight goals. Jonathan Quick, who started his sixth game of the year, would leave victorious. After stopping 28 saves, Quick recorded his third straight shutout on the season. The shutout streak began with a shutout win over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, followed up with another against the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday, and finished the hat-trick of shutouts in last night’s Pacific Division matchup of the two very hot clubs. The game was pivotal, and Quick delivered.

  With the shutout, Quick becomes the first goaltender in the Los Angeles Kings’ 44 year history, ahead of names with big games as a Kings goalie like Rogie Vachon (389), Kelly Hrudey (360), Mario Lessard (240), Stephane Fiset (200), and Felix Potvin(136). Jonathan Quick, 25, has accomplished the feat in 180 games.

"It feels great to have that done -- but at the end of the day, it's one game and two points. That's all I was focused on," Quick said after the game.

"It's a long season, and we have to keep this momentum going. We've got guys battling at all areas of the rink, especially in the D-zone, where they're battling along the wall and in front of the net and clearing out rebounds. They're doing their job extremely well, and it's making my just that much easier."

  The only player to score in the low-scoring affair would be defenseman Jack Johnson, as he tallied at 15:03 of the third period for his third goal and fifth point in his club’s seventh game of the season. All three of Johnson’s tallies have been game winners on the year. The faceoff win by off-season mega acquisition Mike Richards left defensive partner Rob Scuderi with the puck. He quickly dealt it to Johnson, who blasted it in from the right point as Raycroft was screened by nearly eight other bodies. The well-timed goal gave the Kings all they needed, but Quick was the real difference maker.

"He deserves this as much as anyone, and we're so happy for him and really excited for him," Johnson said of his goaltender Quick.

"All the top goalies in the league like Tim Thomas and Ryan Miller, they all have the same characteristic -- they never quit on a play. Even when it seems like Quicker is down and out, he keeps coming and makes that miraculous save."

  The win marked the Kings’ fourth straight win in their seven regular season games. It ended Dallas’ win-streak at five. The victory boosts the Los Angeles Kings’ morale, as Dallas too has nothing to be ashamed of – especially given the situation.

"Any time a goaltender gets a shutout, everyone contributes. But you've got to give him a lot of the credit," Kings coach Terry Murray said. "He's focused on the play and he's aggressive to the shots. Tonight he was again on his game, and he just followed up on the game at Phoenix and brought the same game here tonight."

  Quick has stopped 175 of 180 shots through his six games this year. His shutout streak of 188 minutes and 10 seconds bests Rogie Vachon’s record of 185:55. Quick takes honors as the league’s leading goaltender in save percentage (.972) and shutouts with three. He is runner up for both goals against average (0.81) and wins (5) just one win behind Dallas goalie Kari Lehtonen. Quick also becomes the first goaltender to accomplish the feat since Columbus Blue Jackets Steve Mason did it in his rookie year in 2008.

  The game was significant in many ways, but the proof is on the stats sheets that the Los Angeles Kings are in fact one of the premier teams in the National Hockey League, and they’re doing it in one of the most competitive divisions in the league. The Kings sit just one point back from division rivals Dallas, good enough for an early third-best in the West.

"We're a confident group now and we have enough swagger now and cockiness that if we play well, we're going to beat anyone," Johnson said. "The only way we're going to lose is if we beat ourselves."

  The Dallas Stars on the other hand we not meant figured on being heart-breakers early on, but have done exactly that. The Stars may have ended the night with zero points, but given the team they played against; the team did quite well. The Dallas Stars saw their win-streak end at five, which lands them at the top of the West in the dawning of the new year.

"I don't think there are a lot of things in the game we can complain about, besides finishing," Stars captain Brenden Morrow said. "Sometimes the puck just doesn't go in for you, and we didn't get one tonight. When we have success, we're getting pucks deep. With guys like Kopitar and Richards, you don't really want to play in your zone. So the easiest way to defend is to play in the offensive zone."

  Yes, Anze Kopitar and Mike Richards.. these are the names you will hear all year-long, but don’t dismiss the likes of Jack Johnson and without question; Jonathan Quick.

- Kendall Grubbs

Scheifele Sent Back

  In the wake of the poorly start the Winnipeg Jets have had this season, the decision has been made to return first round draft pick of 2011, 7th overall, Mark Scheifele to the Barrie Colts of the OHL where he will continue to develop with the club.

"I think he took it great. He's a humble person. He worked hard and he took nothing for granted. That's his mentality." GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said.

  The 18 year-old broke into the NHL after a mesmerizing pre-season in which he led the club through five games posting four goals and four assists. Scheifele impressed the Winnipeg brass, but his regular season debut was not enough to earn him a permanent spot on the roster – yet.

  The Winnipeg Jets had just nine regular season games to make the call before the first year of his three-year entry-level deal kicked in as per National Hockey League rules and regulations regarding entry-level deals. Scheifele was given seven games to prove he should stick, and despite just scoring one goal and no assists, he truly did impress, and very well could have stayed on for the rest of the year.

"The way he played in Penticton (rookie camp) and the exhibition season, the way he handled himself at the National Hockey League level, we"re ecstatic," GM Cheveldayoff told TSN1290 in Winnipeg.

"He's going to be an impact player in junior. I think with that comes the pressure of leading a team and the expectations of producing all the time. I think those are the type of things, that when he comes to be an NHL player, will be his responsibility all the time. It's a development process. 18-years-old, that a big feather in his cap to have earned the right to play seven games here."

  The good thing for Scheifele and Winnipeg is actually in the fact that he did not stay. Scheifele obviously presents the current roster with a viable option on the ice, contributing in ways that Winnipeg needs contributions, but the fact is that there is a problem in the city of Winnipeg in the early stages of the season, and keeping Scheifele around for it would not have benefited anyone involved.

  Chalk it up to the excitement factor of the move from Atlanta to Winnipeg, the crazy schedule having placed the team in the Southeast Division while the team resides in Western Canada, or perhaps the new coach and new general management situation. Possibly the team still suffers from lack of chemistry, or overall experience. At the end of the day; none of it matters when you’re dealing with an 18 year-old that still has to learn and develop.

  And develop he will. Last year Sheifele played 66 games and tallied 22 goals and 53 assists for 75 points. His return should do nothing but bolster the confidence that the club has in the player, as not many 18 year-old get the chance to stick around off the hop. He will continue to grow in Juniors, especially in terms of overall strength and defensive responsibility – something that could really bring Scheifele full-circle into a complete hockey player.

  Scheifele brings size and strength at 6’3 184lbs to the center position. His play is smooth and awareness is primed for the NHL at only 18 years of age. As he proved in Juniors last year, and at the NHL level in pre-season this year, he has great skill in puck moving and a knack for scoring.

  When in fact Winnipeg comes to rely on Scheifele’s talents, he will be a force to be reckoned with in the NHL – as will the entire club that was built by former GM Don Waddell (who did a fine job by the way) in the city of Atlanta. Young talents in Evander Kane, Ondrej Pavelec, Alexander Burmistrov, Tobias Enstrom, Zach Bogosian, and the rest of the promising youth will come into their own as top notch players in the league. That combined with the proven veteran leadership already established may just in fact return the city of Winnipeg to glory, something that was taken from the club before it could ever come to fruition.

- Kendall Grubbs

Panthers Deal Booth, Reinprecht To Canucks

  The Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers have made an early season deal. The Vancouver Canucks have acquired forwards David Booth and Steven Reinprecht and a third round draft pick in 2013 from the Florida Panthers in exchange for forwards Marco Strum and Mikael Samuelsson.

  For the Panthers, the basis of the trade was likely salary implemented reasons. David Booth has four years remaining at $4.25 million per-year on a deal not made by new general manager Dale Tallon. The 26 year-old had his third 20-goal season of his career with the Panthers as he registered 23 goals and 17 assists for 40 points and a -31 rating last season. Tallon obviously didn’t like the signing, but there is some truth to the fact that Booth’s exit largely had something to do with Tallon’s off-season signings, as multiple players on the team make more than they rightfully should.

  This happens quite often in a small market. For example, the Columbus Blue Jackets overpaid through the off-season, and are currently the second highest in terms of salary payout, and Buffalo fourth. GM talon knows that sometimes you have to overspend to bring talent in, and to put rear ends in seats, but unfortunately the trend has cost the Panthers one of its’ own.

  Booth, who was drafted 53rd overall in the 2nd round by the Florida Panthers in 2004, made his NHL debut in 2006-2007 in 48 games, resulting in 3 goals and 10 points. The following year the speedy and gifted puck handler would register 22 goals and 40 points, and then raise his totals in 2008—2009 to 31 goals and 60 points. 2009-2010 would be marred by injury with a concussion, seeing him off for 45 games through the regular season, but Booth would rebound again notching 23 goals last year for the Panthers. In 309 NHL games with the Panthers, Booth has tallied 87 goals and 80 assists for 167 points. Booth has proven himself a legitimate top line player, and is likely to start his time with the mighty Vancouver Canucks next to Ryan Kesler.

"It's an opportunity to have a top-six forward and a left-winger to play with Ryan Kesler," Vancouver general manager Mike Gillis said.

"Booth is a fast player. He's a north-south player and he's going to get a chance to play with another guy who plays that way."

  The Canucks also benefit from the fact that Kesler and Booth played minor league hockey together in the Detroit area, and are familiar with each other on and off the ice.

"Ryan knows him very well. He's scored over 30 goals in the league before and he's 26 years old," Gillis said.

"We think if we can get him here and get him moving in the right direction he'll embrace it."

  Steven Reinprecht, the other player going to Vancouver in the deal, heads into his 12th NHL season. The 35 year-old has play 663 NHL games for five different teams in his career, but his time in the NHL has been falling over the past couple of years. Reinprecht, who signed a three-year deal with the Panthers in June, 2009 heads into his last contracted year with the Canucks not having played a single game to this point in 2011-2012. He was loaned last year to Manheim, Germany where he played 18 games, and dressed with the Panthers just 29 times. The veteran still has plenty to offer, especially on the fourth line center position and on penalty killing. His speed of foot, faceoffs ability, and veteran presence is something that younger Canucks can benefit from, however his $2.05 million contract may keep him out of the lineup unless the Canucks sustain injury to high paid players.

  The Panthers in turn receive an 11 years experienced 34 year-old as well in veteran Mikael Samuelsson. 33 year-old Marco Sturm also come into the mix, with both players ending the year as unrestricted free-agents. The positive for the Panthers is that neither of these players must be committed to beyond this year, and both can play.

  Samuelsson, who was scratched in the last two Canucks games with abdominal stiffness after an off-season surgery, brings scoring presence to the team immediately. Though his career started long before his time with the Wings, the Swede proved himself with the Detroit Red Wings where he really developed into a high points getter. In his four years with the Red Wings he collected a Stanley Cup and an Olympic Gold Medal. Samuelsson has registered at least 50 points in his last two seasons with the Canucks, and at least 40 points in each of the two previous years with the Red Wings. In 621 NHL games he has totaled 135 goals and 314 points. In the post-season, he has totaled 92 games, collecting 22 goals and 53 points.

  Samuelsson brings veteran presence and scoring ability within the top-six of the Panthers’ roster. While Samuelsson is good with the puck, he’s not the most consistent player on the ice, and now has much less talent around him. Samuelsson does have experience with Panthers forward Tomas Kopecky, who signed a four-year deal in June with the club. Samuelsson may just compliment the large center Kopecky quite well.

  Marco Sturm also heads to the sunshine state in his 14th NHL season. Sturm has played a total of 896 games in the NHL registering 239 goals and 482 points. The 33 year-old 1st round draft choice of the San Jose Sharks in 1996 has seen his games played totals drop since his ACL and MCL tear in 2010. Sturm has played just 35 games last year split between the Los Angeles Kings and Washington Capitals. Sturm signed as an unrestricted free-agent in the off-season with the Canucks to a $2.25 million one-year contract.

  If Sturm can return to his 2009-2010 form where he registered 22 goals and 37 points with the Boston Bruins, the deal could shake out well for the Panthers in scoring depth. The unfortunate part is that no one is quite sure what Sturm has left in the tank.

  The deal overall left each club with two NHL players. In terms of who won the deal, most would lean towards the Canucks for getting the most out of the deal. Though the Panthers shed $1.55 million collectively, the truth is that Reinprecht wasn’t actually eating away their cap dollars. Both acquired players are in their mid thirties, and a building block in David Booth has been lost. To add to that fact, the Panthers also gave up a third round draft choice in 2013 just to shed the cap dollars, which truthfully doesn’t free up a large amount of money until the offseason.

  The deal accomplished what both teams ultimately were looking for. The Panthers gave away committed cap dollars, and the Canucks have solidified their lineup with a true top-six forward that is still young, and locked up long term. In fact, the only big-name forward with an expiring contract at the end of the year is Mason Raymond, who becomes a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

  So, if anyone thought the Canucks had a small window of opportunity to succeed in their Cup efforts, they’ve probably just been proved wrong. The Canucks have a wealth of talent locked up through at least the next three years, at which point the negotiations with the Sedin twins – the bread ‘and butter of the team’s success – must be done. Booth’s dollar amount doesn’t make for freed up money in the future, but the club is hopeful that it is in fact money well spent.

- Kendall Grubbs

Quick Start; Kings Goaltending Paying Divedends

  The Los Angeles Kings Continued their strong start to the 2011-2012 season with another victory against the Phoenix Coyotes Thursday night. For the second game consecutive, goaltender Jonathan Quick denied every shot he faced for his second straight shutout. The Kings improve their regular season record with the 2-0 win to 4-1-1.

"It's a good start, but we can't be satisfied with what we've done," said Quick."We've been good defensively the last couple of years and you come to expect it because out guys work so hard. It makes my job a lot easier when they are battling the way they do in front of me."

  The healthy start is reflective of the off-season acquisitions quickly finding chemistry with the already soundly built team that started last season off with twelve wins through the first fifteen regular season games. What is also a significant part of the Kings productive numbers lies in the goaltending with Jonathan Quick at the helm, and the young and promising Jonathan Bernier behind him. In six regular season games thus far the club has only allowed nine goals.

  After shutting out the St. Louis Blues two nights ago, Quick picked up his 16th career shutout last night with 28 stops. He recorded his 100th career NHL win in the game, and became the first goaltender since Mathieu Garon on April 1-3, 2006 to record back-to-back shutouts.


  The team is playing solid, all around. The early season’s schedule combined with the preseason schedule, and the fact that they began the year in Europe has not fazed the team in a negative way. Since the beginning of the season, the Kings have played only once at home in a 5-0 blitzing by the home team over the St. Louis blues, Quick’s last shutout.

"The schedule was a big concern this summer when we saw the schedule and what was in front of us, especially the road games after coming back from overseas," coach Terry Murray said. "It really speaks a lot of the players in the dressing room; there is a great leadership group in there.

"When you just accept what it is and go out and play and take real good care of yourself with proper rest, you can get through it. We're still battling through it, but it's starting to come."

  Opposite from Quick, off-season acquisition for the Coyotes Mike Smith played a strong game in front of the dismal attendance of 7,128 with 20 stops on the evening. Though the Coyotes outshot the Kings in the first period, the Kings limited Phoenix to only 17 shots through the last two periods of play. The Coyotes fall to 2-3-1 on the season with the loss.

"Mike Smith was excellent," Phoenix coach Dave Tippett said. "We were more determined (than the Chicago game), but the bottom line is you got to find a way to win and we didn't do that. You've just got to continue pounding away at it."

  Kyle Clifford and Dustin Brown’s second period goals were all that were needed to grab the victory against the offensively lacking Coyotes. Captain Dustin Brown’s second goal of the season came on the powerplay at :56 of the second period. Brown was left all alone in front of the net for the second time on the night and buried it on the later chance. Off-season blockbuster acquisition Mike Richards dealt it out of the corner, and fed a perfect pass to Brown, who one-timed it in. Anze Kopitar would also assist of the goal with his nifty backhand dump to the waiting Richards, bringing him just two points away from the League lead, currently held by Toronto’s Phil Kessel. With the primary assist, Mike Richards improved to five points in six games.

  Kyle Clifford would add insurance for the Kings at 15:23 of the second period. Clifford’s first goal on the year was a great lift for the team, having had the fourth line put the puck in the net. The goal came even strength as Kevin Westgarth broke into the offensive zone on a three on two, with a fourth King, Willie Mitchell, rushing in at the last moment for a potential rebound. Clifford gathered the pass from Kevin Westgarth, only to bury it short-side against Smith.

  The Kings have been sound in the early season, as they are a legitimate threat in the West to an even greater extent. The offseason additions and growing wealth of young talent have matched well. The outstanding play of Jonathan Quick has bettered the team.

"Each guy is doing his job and it's a total team effort," defenseman Rob Scuderi said. "We're playing a strong team game and when things are easy, they go your way."

  The Kings are (20-8-3) since the beginning of 2009-2010 in the month of October. Jonathan Quick is 4-0-1 in the regular season this year, with a league leading save percentage of .967 and shutout mark of two, and a second best (by.01) goals against average of 0.96 in five games.Quick has joine the 100 win club in LA, but accomplished the feat i just 185 games - 45 games fewer than Rogie Vachon and 43 fewer than Kelly Hrudey.

"This team has great accountability," said Quick. "We take pride in our defensive game, and have come to expect solid play on defense."

  The Kings are reigning, a trend that is likely to continue through the season as Los Angeles seeks the spoils of the Stanley Cup.

- Kendall Grubbs

Scheifele Nets First As Lupul's Hot Stick Denies Jets Victory

  It wasn’t hard for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets game to take honors for “game of the night” seeing how theirs’ was the only game to be played Wednesday evening. To no one’s surprise, neither team disappointed in a thrilling down to the wire hockey game.

  The Leafs hosted the Jets in each respective team’s fifth game of the season. The game would have many talking points, as the two Canadian clubs played hard and heavy from start to finish. The two teams matched in total hits with 27 a piece in the physical bout, tie in penalty minutes in a rather low eight minutes each, and match on powerplay goals as well on an equally amount of chances going 2-4 on the powerplay.

The goaltending was also quite evenly matched, as both Toronto’s James Reimer and Winnipeg’s Ondrej Pavelec stood on their heads to make game saving stops again and again – especially through the third period.

  James Reimer is 4-0-1 to start the year, with a .913 save percentage and 2.55 goals against average with one shutout. Reimer impressed the Maple Leafs’ brass heavily in his 37 games last season. He went 20-10-5 with a .921 save percentage and 2.60 GAA and three shutouts. The 23 year-old has picked up the reigns in Toronto, and looks to be headed for another fantastic year in the crease. Reimer stopped 26 of 29 shots in regulation, followed by two stops for the win in the shootout.

The impending showdown between the young netminders resulted in a shootout, where each one made precision stops. Toronto forward Joffery Lupul, however, would play the hero for the home team as he got the better of Pavelec for the third time on the night. Young forward Matt Frattin buried his shot in turn, which clinched the victory for the Maple Leafs 4-3 in the shootout.

  Although Frattin’s game-winning shootout goal didn’t count, he did put the puck in the net to win the game. Mark Scheifele, however, did officially score his first goal in the National Hockey League.

Scheifele, who was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets 7th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft has been ever closer to his club’s decision that must be made within the next week or so. Scheifele, like Jake Gardiner and Matt Frattin, has nine games to show what he’s got to the organization, and try to stick with the club for the rest of the year - or be sent back to Juniors for further development. He has four of those games remaining.

"I don't want to think about that too much," Scheifele said Tuesday morning in regards to the looming decision. "I think I'm able to take that pressure and kind of turn it into motivation and turn it into that determination to work even harder."

 The 18 year-old has one goal in his first five NHL games after an impressive pre-season in which he posted four goals and four assists through five games. He netted his first NHL goal at 7:53 of the second period on the powerplay to give the Jets a 3-1 lead. As defenseman Dustin Byufiglien powered his way to the net and put a shot on goal, Scheifele picked up the rebound far-side as he skated in and buried it past James Reimer.

"It was definitely special to get it here in front of a bunch of people that came to the game," Scheifele said. "But it would've been nicer to get the win."

  Scheifele’s immediate future is unknown generally, as his pre-season and regular season stats haven’t matched. The 18 year-old is in fact a huge addition to the Winnipeg Jets in what he can provide for the here and now, but head coach Claude Noel isn’t giving any feelers out just yet for a decision.

"We've got some time to make assessments on him," Noel said Tuesday. "We'll do what's best for him in the long run. Where we're at, management's got to kind of sort through that stuff there. He's playing, he's been in all the games."

"So we'll see how he goes."

Scheifele wasn’t the only youngster trying to prove he should stick last night, as two of Toronto’s own young talents also impressed greatly on the game and all who enjoyed it. Jake Gardiner and Matt Frattin are also signed on entry-level contracts, and are working hard to stick with the Leafs.

    Jake Gardiner was a beast in the game. He started just his third game of the year and wound up leading all Maple Leafs players in time on ice with 22:58. He had one shot on net in the contest and finished a +1. He also increased his totals on defense as he now has seven blocked shots on the season. The 17th overall draft pick of the Maple Leafs in 2007 made it clear that he is ready to compete at the NHL level.

  Matt Frattin also chipped in. His numbers thus far don’t match his ethic. Frattin has played a part in the Maple Leafs’ start this season, and his shootout goal, although not an official ‘first goal’, did put the game away in front of the home team.

  The goaltenders and the youngsters were splendid tonight, but Joffery Lupul sneaks in as the arguable player of the game. Lupul first got the Maple Leafs on the board late in the first period. He made the game 2-1 on a perfect pass by the streaking-in Phil Kessel, for Lupul’s third goal of the year. His fourth goal came at 7:28 of the third period as he shot far-side, somehow beating Pavelec. Once again, Kessel assisted on the goal.

"Things are really going our way right now -- we are getting some bounces, and we are playing well too," Lupul said. "But some of the goals we are getting now I don't expect to be getting throughout the entire season. It's nice when things are rolling like this but there are still some things we can do better." "Things are really going our way right now -- we are getting some bounces, and we are playing well too," Lupul said. "But some of the goals we are getting now I don't expect to be getting throughout the entire season. It's nice when things are rolling like this but there are still some things we can do better."

  Phil Kessel registered his fourth and fifth assists in the game – on both of Lupul’s goals, and tallied his league leading seventh goal to tie the game at 7:55 of the third period on the powerplay, less than a minute behind Lupul’s second tally. Captain Dion Phaneuf’s one-time pass to Kessel was labeled for the back of the net and found it quicker than Pavelec could have dreamed it up. Kessel would be denied in the shootout, but was just as much of the Leafs’ victory as anyone else. He entered and exited the ice leading the NHL in goals (7) and points (12). Kessel is and has been for some time the glue that has kept the Maple Leafs together.

“He's backchecking, forechecking, making good decisions with the puck and staying on top of things.” Head coach Ron Wilson said of Kessel."

"He wants the puck all the time, he's demanding it and he's getting it. That's the big thing."

"The fact of the matter is that line got the job done with different centremen at different times," he added. "Those two guys (Kessel and Lupul) are hot. We've got to find a way to get the Grabovski line going a little bit more here."

  The Toronto Maple Leafs move to an impressive 4-0-1 start with the victory, and are set to take on the (Stanley Cup) hung-over Boston Bruins, followed by the Montreal Candiens, Philadelphia Flyers, and New York Rangers all within the next week on their four-game road trip.

  The Jets came up short-handed against their first Canadian opponent of the year, falling to a 1-3-1 overall record – a sluggish start for the excited city of Winnipeg. The Jets finish up the short road trip tonight against the equally struggling Ottawa Senators before going home for their third and fourth home games of the year as they take on the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers inside of the next week.

- Kendall Grubbs

Injury Woes Continue As Kennedy, Brodeur, Carter Drop

  To add to the growing list of injuries suffered League-wide, more players have fallen with various injuries over the past week.

  Pittsburgh Penguins forward Tyler Kennedy was held out of their Monday night game against the Winnipeg Jets with concussion-like symptoms. The news is grim for the organization that is just now beginning to work star forward Sidney Crosby back into the lineup since sustaining a concussion on January 6th.

  Kennedy was a big part in filling the unfillable void of Crosby. Through six games this year Kennedy has registered one goal and two assists. Head coach Dan Bylsma is unsure on the severity, nor the timetable for his return.

  The Penguins’ division rivals, the New Jersey Devils, also are without future hall of famer Martin Brodeur for 7-10 days. Broduer suffered an injury to his right shoulder on a save in Thursday night’s game against the Los Angeles Kings. Thankfully, the injury will not require surgery, but instead some time off.

“Obviously when you’ve got a guy like Marty you want to take a cautious approach and a long-term approach, anyway, that he’s with you for the entire year,” said head coach Peter DeBoer. “He’s been very good, exactly as advertised,” he continued. “He’s a great pro, great person. Someone gave me a stat that he’s 12-2 going back to last year in his last 14 games.”

  In his absence, New Jersey will be leaning on veteran backup Johan Hedberg, who has played solid in the early season having gone 3-0-0 with a 1.41 goals against average and .945 save percentage. Hedberg relieved Broduer after the injury in the game against the Kings, as Hedberg stood tall and helped the Devils to a 2-1 shootout victory.

  Te Columbus Blue Jackets have also lost off-season acquisition Jeff Carter to a foot injury. He is listed as week-to-week, and been placed on injured reserve with a hairline fracture to his foot. Carter has a past with foot injury, as he had his foot surgically repaired in April, 2010, and missed eleven playoff games.

  Carter’s entry to the team was hopeful of giving star forward and captain Rick Nash someone to play with, but this far the Blue Jackets have continued to struggle.

 Head coach Scott Arniel is hopeful his forward can return soon, after being believed to sustain the injury in training camp, and re-injuring it on a blocked shot against the Dallas Stars.

  Young center Derick Brassard will step up to the top-line on center in the mean time.

“I just need to try and find my two wingers,” Brassard said. “We need to work hard and we’ll make some space in the offensive zone. We have to win some battles, and if I have a chance to shoot the puck, I will. And if I have a chance to get it to Rick, obviously I’m going to find him."

“We needed to try something else and this is a good challenge for me.”

  Carter has picked up three assists in five games with the Blue Jackets, while Brassard has one goal in six contests.

- Kendall Grubbs

DiPietro Concussed, Long Island's Headache Continues

  On Wednesday October 12th, the New York Islanders left practice with familiar worries and emotions when goaltender Rick DiPietro suffered yet another injury. He suffered a concussion when he took a shot off the mask by veteran forward Brian Rolston in the team’s practice. The shot left the old-school mask dented, but the ever-so injury prone goaltender concussed, and out for indefinite amount of time.

“It is what it is,” DiPietro said. “It happened. I’m just going to follow the steps to get back.”

  There will be plenty of steps in the NHL’s improved concussion regulations, but DiPietro has remained upbeat and positive as usual.

“Every day has been better,” he said. “I’m just listening to what the doctors have to say. There is so much more that goes into (precautions with concussions) now as opposed to years past... so there is an advanced protocol you have to follow.”

“On the bright side, the puck didn’t go into the net so it counts as a save.” DiPietro jabeed. “ I just have to shake it off and keep a positive outlook.”

  His positive outlook is commendable. DiPietro is a class act and a proven National Hockey League goaltender, but his time out has been costly for the organization over the past four years. The 30 year-old appeared for 26 games with eh Islanders last year, after having only played a total of seventeen games through the previous three years with various injuries. Beyond his two concussions, hip surgically repaired hip, his groin, (his) left and right knee which have been operated on multiple times, and facial injuries have accounted for a very heart-breaking storyline of the Winthrop, Massachusetts native.

“It is frustrating,” DiPietro said. “I guess, in the end, you just have to tell yourself that the payoff is always going to be better than what it is now. You have to keep pushing.”

  Rick DiPietro, who was drafted by the New York Islanders 1st overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, has been pushing. His numbers when healthy are excellent, and his speed is nearly unrivaled. In 307 NHL games with the Islanders he is 127-131-25 with a .903 save percentage and 2.84 goals against average and 16 shutouts. DiPietro is the building block for the organization, and the walls have been crumbling around them.

“That’s the most frustrating part; I felt that my body, as far as my knees, I felt great. I felt like my game was where it needed to be. It was just getting sharp and working on things to make sure I was ready when I got the call. To have this happen, it’s kind of sucks.”

  DiPietro’s injury spree began in the third and fourth year of high mega contract of 15 years back in September of 2006. The deal shocked the hockey world, and the unfortunate amount of time has changed goaltending plans in terms of commitment long-term, and salary peaks by teams league-wide.

  DiPietro is doing well financially as he brings home the second highest salary amongst all Islanders players at $4.5 million for every single year of the deal that takes him through 2020-2021. The deal seamed fit for one of the League’s top rated goaltenders, but the casualties of war have put a very different spin on how goaltender’s contracts are negotiated.

  As DiPietro heads to injured reserve, the Islanders are dealt with the ever daunting theory behind buying him out, or riding out his lengthy commitments to the team. The spent cap money of the cash-strapped Islanders has hindered their ability to better the team as a whole on the ice, but taken from another vantage point the circumstances may just be helping the team out.

  Not in a literal sense, as everyone who loves hockey would love to see him overcome and be one the ice, but in a financial stance it does work in the business world . Taking what e to the Dallas Stars this season in consideration, the spent cap dollars does help the team consistently hit the cap floor in these dire times.

  The Stars, who still pay out half of departed Sean Avery’s annual salary after waiving him, went under the floor briefly when Sean Avery cleared waivers from the New York Rangers. They in turn had to deal for a player at a much higher price dollar amount with no time in hand.

  The Islanders have benefited heavily through the last few years with goaltenders that have stood up and played exceptionally well in DiPietro’s absence, and typically for very little money on very short deals. Goalies like Dwayne Roloson, Martin Biron, Joey MacDonald, and Wade Dubielewicz have all put in many minutes in the wake of DiPietro’s injuries. They’ve also benefited from young netminders such as Al Montoya and Kevin Poulin as they’ve come up the ranks and become very sound goaltenders.

  Al Montoya returns this year after going 9-5-5 with an impressive .921 save percentage last season. He has gotten the nod three of the four games the Isle’s have played this year and only let four goals get by him. His third best 1.35 goals against average and fourth best .958 save percentage League wide has proven he is deserving of the chance.

  Continuing with recent history, the Islanders also debuted veteran all-star goaltender Evgeni Nabokov who was acquired via a tough dealing waivers process in the offseason. Post suspension by the club for a defiant stance on the entry to the team’s roster; Nabokov is on the ice, and very much on the cards for possible return at a later date. In the meantime, the veteran will assist the Islanders in attaining wins throughout the year at a minute $575,000 contract for a single year. Trade bait and potential league-leading abilities of Nabokov’scombined with the level at which the young Montoya is playing at leaves the team just fine in goal – for the time being.



  Though DiPietro is out, his cap hit does allow the team to meet the floor and work on their young talents rather than overpaid regulars. The ultimate truth is also in the fact that DiPietro is a stud when he is healthy, and still fairly young at that. He has over three-hundred games in him, and his numbers are great. If and hopefully when DiPietro has a good luck streak from the injury bug, the youth will be there with experience of their own, hopefully collectively returning Long Island into a winner together.

- Kendall Grubbs

Anaheim's Blake Out 3-4 Months

  Anaheim Ducks’ veteran forward Jason Blake is expected to miss up to four months after an injury sustained in last Friday’s game against the San Jose Sharks.

  Blake suffered a lacerated arm injury when he fell down by San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns as he attempted to play the puck. With ten and a half minutes remaining, it appeared as Burns’ skate accidently sliced the veteran on the left forearm. His arm went straight up, and he went straight off the ice. It was known right away his arm had been severely cut.

"Jason is resting at home and doing very well," said Ducks Executive Vice President and General Manager Bob Murray. "This was an unfortunate, freak accident, but we are pleased to hear that Jason is expected to make a full and complete recovery. He's a real character person and teammate, and we look forward to having him back in our lineup when he's ready."

  The Ducks won the game 1-0 in the always-so tightly contested California meet-up. The teams have been building a hard fought and well known rivalry over the years, especially as the Sharks have only come so close in many years consecutive while the Ducks completed the task in 2006-2007.

  The Ducks as a team has had some building to do, and Jason Blake was clearly a part of it. The Ducks currently sit second in the Pacific Divison, just one point clear of the California based Los Angeles Kings. The Sharks at the moment are dead last in the division.

  Though Jason Blake hadn’t tallied a single point through his first three games, he does account for fourth highest shots total amongst Ducks forwards with 11. Blake isn’t the same high point-getting forward he was four or five years ago, but the 38 year-old does have a knack for coming up big at good times in hockey games. Of his sixteen goals last year, three of them were game winners. His ability to see the puck and effectively play it also betters the team’s special teams units. With youngsters coming into the mix, Blake’s off-ice leadership abilities are positive for the club as well.

  All doesn’t seem so bad for Anaheim despite losing Blake for an unknown amount of time. Veteran forward Teemu Selanne has been lighting the lamp, and leading his team in points. All of the veterans are getting in on the points scoring, with the youngsters coming in solid to back them up>

  Anaheim is every year a threat to Western Conference rivals come playoff time, but they’ve been more successful with Blake on the ice.

- Kendall Grubbs

LTL REPORT: Kesler In Tonight

  The Vancouver Canucks were thrilled to edge their Western Canadian rivals the other night as they bested the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in regulation. The win in itself brought the team to a five hundred record in the early season, but the true thrill of the organization and its’ loyal fans is the fact that star forward Ryan Kessler will be playing tonight.

  Kesler has missed the first five games of the season to due an offseason hip surgery.

"My hip's 100 percent," Kesler said. "I'm definitely not going out there to limp into the lineup."

  The reigning Selke Award winner had a career year last season as he tallied 41 goals and 32 assists for 73 points in the regular season, followed by 7 goals and 19 points in the post season as the Canucks ran all the way to a game 7 showdown for Lord Stanley’s Cup in a losing effort. He tied forward Daniel Sedin for most goals on the team, and cam third behind the twins in most points. The 27 year-old’s contribution to the team is no secret.

  Kesler has spent his seven year NHL career as a Canuck, drafted in 2003 23rd overall, and has registered 131 goals and 157 assists for 288 points in 484 games.

  The news isn’t so great for New York Rangers fans, as the Rangers visit Vancouver in hopes of winning in that city for the first time in 14 years. The last victory for the Rangers came on October 11, 1997 in the city of Vancouver. The Canucks have bested the Rangers 9 of the last 11 times the two clubs have met up.

  The Rangers’ sluggish start has heated the collar of fiery head coach John Tortorella as the Rangers still search for their first win. The club opened up the season in Eaurope, falling twice in the shootout to the Kings and Ducks respectively. Their defeat by the Islanders did the team no favors. Now, they search for victory on a four-game road swing in Western Canada as they play the Canucks, Flames, Oilers, and Jets to wrap up their seven game road trip to start the year off.

"Don't go there. There's no excuses here. We lost a hockey game. That team played better than us," Tortorella said in regards to the loss suffered against the Islanders on Saturday night. "They were more disciplined than us. I don't want to hear about Europe. I don't want to hear is it a penalty or not a penalty. We're not disciplined enough and Europe has nothing to do with tonight's game."

  The hockey world will sit and wait to see what Ryan Kesler has to do with tonight’s game, as his full intention is to make New York wait longer for their first win of the season.

- Kendall Grubbs

Ryan Nugent-Hat Trick

  The Edmonton Oilers were back home for their third game of the season, against a mighty Western Canadian opponent as they play host to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. For Edmonton, it was the first time this year the game was not decided in a shootout. For the Oilers it was the first time the team left without a point, but it was the second time that Oilers’ fans left Rexall Place happy and ecstatic about their new talent on forward.

  16:37 of the second period marked the fourth time the 2011 1st overall NHL Entry Draft Pick, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, scored a goal at Rexall Place in just his third NHL game. He completed the hat trick in a mad scramble in front of Roberto Luongo, as the entire building shook around him.

"I definitely didn't expect to have that kind of a start. I just want to keep it going," said Nugent-Hopkins, who netted first career hat-trick in his hat trick’s worth of games played in the National Hockey League.

  Nugent-Hopkins’ first goal came at 13:44 of the first period on the powerplay. Taylor Hall fed a pass deep to Jordan Eberle on the short-side, who then fed Nugent-Hopkins shot that barely powered through Luongo as the 18 year-old batted at the puck for his second NHL goal. His tally had tied the game at 1-1, as the kids finally came through. The trio of first rounders’ would wreak havoc on Vancouver’s netiminder throughout the game.

  His second tally also came in the opening period with just 29 seconds remaining. Jordan Eberle once again assisted on the goal, as he passed to point-man Tom Gilbert, who fired the puck for a touch-pass to Nugent-Hopkins who redirected the puck past an obviously frustrated Luongo for the 2-1 lead.

  His third came in the second to give the oilers the lead at 16:37 during a mad scramble in front of Luongo when he received a pass from Potter, and dug to the net and passing to Taylor Hall deep on the short-side. Hall buried the puck into the pads of Luongo, as Nugent-Hopkins stayed alive on the play and rushed in for the rebound shot. Jubilance filled the hearts of Oilers fans to see hats trickled down onto the ice surface for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

  Youth continues in excellence in the form of some very high draft picks and downright hard working individuals in Edmonton, Alberta. 2010 1st overall pick Taylor Hall registered two assists and four shots through the game. 2009 22nd overall selection Jordan Eberle kept things rolling as well, as he picked up two assists of his own, matching Hall with four shots. The trio of first rounder’s led forwards in powerplay time in the contest, and quite effectively in points as the three combined for seven points in the game.

  But unfortunately for the sellout crowd of 16,839 the youngster’s contributions were short of attaining victory on this night. Veteran players of the Vancouver Canucks took the young players back to school in a lesson that experienced and wise veterans do know what’s best. Canucks defenseman Sami Salo would get the goal scoring started at 8:49 of the first period on a slapshot from the point on a Vancouver powerplay. He would end the scoring as well, as he was also the eventual game winner with a heavy wrist shot through traffic 7:47 into the final period. The 37 year-old Finn finished the night with two goals and one assist, and the Sedin brothers once again didn’t do so bad either.

  Henrik Sedin’s powerplay tally just over four minutes into the second tied the game at 2-2, and split up Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ eventual hat trick. His brother Daniel assisted on the game tying goal, and the twins also collected helpers on the post-hat trick response from the Canucks as Alex Burrows tipped in the second tying tally at 3-3 with just 16 seconds remaining in the second period.

  For Nugent-Hopkins’ first two periods of play it was a fantastic result for himself personally. The team is extremely young overall, Nugent-Hopkins now being the youngest at just 18 years of age. The young squad put together some great scoring chances, with a total shot differential of 30-26 in favor of the Oilers In the end, the experience wore the youngsters down to an ultimate defeat. Through the first two periods the young Oilers outshot their opponents 26-17, but managed just four shots in the third period. Salo’s second goal of the night 7:47 into the third period would seal the deal for the Canucks, which gave them a split in their four game road trip.

"We outplayed them for most of the game so it's disappointing to come up short," Nugent-Hopkins said.

  Vancouver’s Roberton Luongo and head coach Alain Vigneault complimented their own team’s abilities, and credited the young Oilers team with a job well done.

"We find ways to win games," said Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo, who stopped 23 of 26 shots. "It's just that comfort level I think the guys have. Going into the third no matter what the score is we feel we can win."

  And win they did, as they improve to an overall record of 2-2-1 ahead of their matchup back home against the New York Rangers. The Canucks have gotten off to a bit of a rocky start this year, which is something not too far from the norm having gone deep into the playoffs in successive post seasons. The Canucks have some rust to knock off, but the team is poised to return to the Finals with an exceptional roster.

"You've got to give credit to the Oilers and especially their young line," Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault said. "They were all over the place, it was a phenomenal (second) period by three young kids that all have a great skill set and a lot of speed and a lot of competitiveness. They really outplayed us in that second period.
"We were fortunate we were able to tie the game with a couple of seconds left in the second. That gave us momentum going into the third. And in the third period, with the game on the line, I thought we played real well. We didn't give them anything and we got a few scoring chances and were able to score on one of them. I'm happy about that."

- Kendall Grubbs

Tavares and Montoya Steal The Show; Lightning Strike Is A Dud

    The first two games of the season showcased that the New York Islanders could be in for another long season. There wasn't enough firepower and the top line only managed two points through those games. They proved everyone wrong on thursday while taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning. John Tavares had four points in the first period and his line was all over the place while Al Montoya definitely took advantage of his third consecutive start making 34 saves. It certainly didn't help that the Lightning continued to shoot themselves in the foot with awful turnovers and undisciplined defensive zone coverage and play.

The game started off in odd fashion as Tavares took a slap shot from the circles that former Islander Dwayne Roloson batted away only to have a backchecking Victor Hedman glove the puck in as he attempted to swat it out of harms way.   Tavares took the momentum and ran with it as he and Matt Moulson both got whacks at a rebound with Moulson knocking it in. After a brutal giveaway between the circles by Hedman, Tavares curled into the slot and set up PA Parenteau to the side of the net for the third goal of the period. The line continued to click when with 3:45 remaining in the first, Tavares went hard to the net and Moulson hit him with a ridiculously sharp angle pass from the bottom of the circle that was an easy tap in to give the Islanders a 4-1 lead going into the second. Steven Stamkos scored the only Tampa Bay goal to tie it at 1-1 midway through the period.

Tavares wanted his line to make something happen despite a poor start to the season and coach Jack Capuano said it certainly showed.

"He played relaxed. He went out and did the little things," Capuano said of Tavares. "I thought he had an excellent game. I thought he was the best player on the ice." 

"We were hungry out there," Tavares said. "It was only two games. There are still 79 to go, but it's always nice to break the ice and get a positive feeling and get rewarded."

The Lightning know they have their problems to solve and need to solve them quickly. Allowing early goals and playing erratically in their own zone and the neutral zone. Goaltending also is an issue, but it certainly not to be blamed. Roloson was pulled in the second period as Mathieu Garon stopped 16 shot in relief. Don't be surprised if Garon start their next contest. Stamkos acknowledges that the early mistakes are going to make for long nights.

"If you give up four goals in the first period, you're not going to win many games," Stamkos said.

Long Island has to be liking their problem between the pipes as they have two former All-Star goalies on the roster and a 26-year old with 29 games of NHL experience has started every game. This will be a delicate situation to monitor as Evgeni Nabokov surely wants to prove his worth while Rick DiPietro is temporarily sidelined due to a puck he took of his mask.

The Islanders will make a name for themselves if they continue their hard work while the Lightning will destroy the name they started to build last season after a very slow start going 1-2-1 to start the season.

-Dustin Lundberg

Pens Missing Malkin, Crosby Finally Cleared

p; The Pittsburgh Penguins head into tonight’s matchup against the Wahington Capitals short of their two elite snipers and team leaders in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The early season has been reminiscent of last year’s injury woes for the two, as they each missed half of the season with injury.

  The Penguins and Capitals have built up a bitter rivalry over the years, leading up to a surely great game tonight. Though the Pens are short their two studs for their fifth game of the season, they are absolutely thrilled with the news that team captain and leader Sidney Crosby has finally been cleared for contact. It’s odd how things work out, as Crosby initially sustained the concussion that has seen him out for entirely too long against the Capitals in the 2010 NHL Winter Classic on January 1st . Crosby took part this morning in his first full-contact practice since January.

"Yeah, it's full contact, so it's a good step in the right direction," Crosby said following his first full-scale practice since January. "It's a big step … it's a big one and we'll see how things go. But I don't think it's hard to be patient at this point," he admitted. "I'm getting closer and I want to make sure I respond well in the next however long it is."

  Crosby Will not make his season debut tonight against the Capitals, but instead will work hard in practice to return to complete playing shape with an ability to absorb actual hits in actual game situations. The face of the NHL has been skating with the team since preseason and working incredibly hard on his skating and shooting abilities.

"Going through training camp, (from) where he came from, was significant and helped with that process. He's been with a line, he's been in full drills, even in some drills that had contact although he had the non-contact helmet. It's significantly different than coming back halfway through season," Bylsma said. "That helps with the situation."

  Watching the 24 year-old in practice would not lead one to assume he’s missed any time at all. Crosby and head coach Dan Bylsma aren’t pushing the issue with his return.

"I'm not going to give you a timetable and I'm not going to make one right now," Bylsma said. "Going through training camp, (after) where he came from, was significant and helped with that process. He's been with a line, he's been in full drills, even in some drills that had contact although he had the non-contact helmet. It's significantly different than coming back halfway through season. That helps with the situation."

  Crosby is an invaluable asset to the team that drafted him 1st overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, and is equally invaluable to the National Hockey League. The League justly dubbed him as “The Next One” and Crosby has done nothing but prove that he is through six years played in the NHL.

"Basically, after I talked to the doctor, doing light stuff like that (practice drills) and feeling pretty good, the way I responded the last couple of weeks was a good sign," said Crosby. "We discussed things and we decided I was ready to kind of go to the next step here and go to full contact."

“Full Contact” are two words the Penguins fans and NHL in general have been anxiously waiting to hear.

  Crosby has carried success with him everywhere he has gone. The youngest captain to ever win the Stanley Cup has also accomplished an Olympic gold medal, a Hart Trophy, and the Art Ross Trophy all by age 22. Crosby has played 412 games with the Penguins, notching a staggering 215 goals and 357 assists for 572 points. In 62 playoff games he has registered 30 goals and 52 assists for 82 points.

  Crosby was well on his way to a career high in points as he came out of the gates blazing. Through 41 games Crosby had already notched 32 goals and 34 assists for 66 points and a +20 rating. Despite only playing 41 games, he still finished the year as the team leader in points and goals. His early numbers haven’t been seen since the hay-day of the legendary Mario Lemieux.

  Crosby wasn’t the only Penguins stud last year to miss a great deal of time as forward Evgeni Malki too missed half of the year. In the offseason, Malkin had his injured knee surgically repaired, and started off in the preseason as easily one of the best players league-wide. Malkin appeared to not have missed a beat in a full recovery as he netted a goal and an assist in two preseason games.

  Malkin would only make It through two regular season games before sustaining a lower body injury against the Calgary Flames last Saturday. Head coach Dan Bylsma stressed that the cause of his absence was not related to the knee Malkin had surgically repaired in a serious manor. The extent or details of the injury have been hush-hush in the city of Pittsburgh to an extent, as the entire hockey world remains hopeful that the club isn’t hiding a harsh reality to avoid the pushing of the panic button in Pittsburgh. Malkin is reportedly suffering from a common amount of inflammation of the repaired knee.

"After the second period my knee started to feel a little bit tired," he said referring to Saturday's game in Calgary. "I tried to skate but couldn't push it. I don't know why. Nothing was wrong before the game. It just started to feel a little sore, and I didn't feel comfortable."

  The Penguins’ Malkin will be a game time decision according to head coach Dan Bylsma for tonight’s Eastern Conference matchup.

  The Pens are undefeated in regulation thus far going 3-0-1, and face their most difficult opponent yet tonight as they meet up with Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals. The Pens may have benefited by having some relatively easier competition in their first few games, but looking forward it may be much more difficult early on for the Pens as they wait for their two stars to get back on the ice. The Penguins are playing 13 games in October, having already played four. They play their last eight games in ten days.

  The Pittsburgh Penguins are well coached, and well built, and are fully capable of overcoming. Even with the unknown health factor of these two players the Pens are an obvious threat to win the Stanley Cup this year.

- Kendall Grubbs

Stars Deal For Nystrom; Solve Cap Floor Woes

    The Dallas Stars have rid of their "Avery Pains" for now, trading for Minnesota's Eric Nystrom to get over the salary floor. The Stars needed this contract to hit the salary cap floor after Sean Avery, who the Stars were still paying, was waived and demoted by the New York Rangers. When a one way player is demoted, their salary is negated from the cap hit. Nystrom had just cleared re-entry waivers, which the Starts could have had him for half of the cost, yet Dallas wanted the full cap hit for a player that the organization feels will bring something different and productive to the table.

Regarded as a defensive specialist in the college ranks, he has only posted a career high of 19 points in a single season but plays the game hard and makes life difficult for opponents. This attribute as well as the cap hit drew the attention of GM Joe Nieuwendyk who desperately needed to gain salary.

"Eric is a hard-working forward who kills penalties and will help with the depth of our current roster," said Stars General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk in a statement.

The New York native has posted 51 points in 286 NHL contests with Calgary and Minnesota.

-Dustin Lundberg