Pacific Notes: Getzlaf, Ritchie, Miska
While much of the pre-series chatter of the Flames-Ducks playoff series centered around how the Ducks would be able to defend against Flames’ stars Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, Game 1 reversed those thoughts. After Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf took control of Friday night’s game, people now wonder how Calgary might be able to stop him instead.
The Orange County Register’s Eric Stephens writes the 31-year-old scored the opening goal 52 seconds into the playoff series, then assisted on Rickard Rakell‘s game-tying goal and then led the penalty killing unit in the final minutes to hold on for the victory. “He was huge for us last night,” said Rakell. “I mean, he did it all. When he plays like that, I think everybody else just wants to follow him. Hopefully that can just keep going”
The oft-overlooked Getzlaf has been leading the team with his energy and also has led the team in minutes played in Game 1. He fared well on faceoffs winning 12 of 20 Friday as well. Getzlaf has also been taking the lead on power plays, creating new problems for the Flames. “He’s got such good vision and poise with the puck,” Flames penalty killing defenseman Michael Stone said after Game 1. “He hangs on to it. You think he’s going to do one thing and he changes up and does something else. He’s got all the weapons when he’s back there looking at the whole ice.”
Other Western Notes:
- Ducks’ forward Nick Ritchie is expected to return to the lineup after a two-game suspension for tonight’s Game 2 playoff game against the Flames. Ritchie was suspended for the regular season finale and Game 1 of the playoffs for punching Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Michal Rozsival on Apr. 6. Ritchie finished the season with 14 goals and 14 assists in 77 gacmes this season. Because of his return, prospect Ondrej Kase was sent back to San Diego. Kase had two shots on goal in Game 1.
- The Arizona Coyotes have agreed to sign the University of Minnesota-Duluth freshman goaltender Hunter Miska, who led the Bulldogs’ hockey team to the NCAA Championship game last month. Duluth News Tribune’s Matt Wellens writes that Miska, who went undrafted, will forgo his final three years of eligibility to sign with the Coyotes. The 21-year-old backstop posted a 2.20 GAA and a .920 save percentage in his lone season for UMD. For Arizona, it gives the Coyotes a young prospect to develop after a season in which Arizona finished with the third-worst Goals Against with a 3.15. This is the second year in a row that Minnesota-Duluth has lost their starting goalie to the NHL. Last year, sophomore goalkeeper Kasimir Kaskisuo signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Washington-Toronto Playoff Notes: Zaitsev, Shattenkirk, Matthews
Nikita Zaitsev (upper body injury) has been ruled out for Game 2 in the Maple Leafs’ series with the Capitals today. Toronto coach Mike Babcock said he got excited when he saw him at the morning skate. However, the right-handed defenseman was ruled out instead, dealing a critical blow against the top-seeded Capitals after the team lost in overtime in game one.
“I saw him out there today, I got very excited, and they shut me down very fast,” Babcock said.
The loss is considered by many to be devastating as the series is expected to come down to the strength of each teams’ defensive depth. Washington general manager Brian MacLellan looks more and more like a genius for his deadline trade to acquire Kevin Shattenkirk. The veteran blueliner was acquired along with Pheonix Copley in a package that included Washington’s 2017 first-rounder, 2019 second-round pick, Bradley Malone, Zach Sanford and a conditional pick. The depth that he provides suddenly gives the Capitals a strong advantage against the young up-and-coming Maple Leafs.
Washington Post’s Isabelle Khurshudyan writes that Shattenkirk’s presence is not only enough to avoid concerns of a potential defensive injury, but the way in coach Barry Trotz managed his blueliners minutes in Game 1. Despite the game going into overtime, no defenseman played more than 25:22 or less than 16:32. Trotz’ ability to depend on his defensive depth is critical as it allows his defenders to get more involved in the offense. Shattenkirk showed that Thursday night when he put a game-high nine shots on goal.
“I think both teams and in this day and age in the game, you want to have the ability to be active,” Trotz said. “It’s so hard to score three-on-three, two-on-two, so you’ve got to create the next race, who’s going to create an odd-man rush, and if you can execute, you’re going to get a good look. That’s where the game is, that’s where you’re going to have some success, but you’ve got to jump at the right time.
“If you don’t have the legs to get up ice, you’re not going to have that opportunity. I think when you’re able to spread the minutes over, it does help. There’s a couple elite skaters in this league that can seem to go forever like a Drew Doughty or Brent Burns. They just don’t run out of gas, it seems, but for the rest of us mortals I think spreading the minutes is really helpful.”
Getting any offense out of their defensive pairings would only add a new element in their attempt to finally gain that Stanley Cup that has eluded the Capitals so far. Defensively, they were ranked fourth in the NHL during the regular season with a 2.16 goals against. “When we were able to acquire Shattenkirk, it even took it to a different level of being able to spread out our top guy and our bottom guy, minutes-wise,” associate coach Todd Reirden said. “In the Eastern Conference, we have the lowest differential between our highest-minute defenseman and our lowest-minute defenseman, so that’s been an important thing for me this year. I think keeping our players fresh for a long run and also I think it correlated with the few number of man-games we lost. It’s definitely a strategy and something we were able to really see through this year.”
Other series notes:
- The Capitals look at Thursday’s game as a wake-up call. However, they have won six of the last eight Game 2 playoff series and are now more focused than ever. “To me, it’s a really good wake-up call for us,” Trotz said of Game 1. “You get in the playoffs, and there are no easy games. The Leafs were well prepared, they’re a good hockey team, their kids are exceptional talents, and they can play. And you’ve got to play them hard.”
- Babcock praised the play of rookie sensation Auston Matthews, saying the 2016 first overall pick reminds him of former Detroit Red Wings’ Pavel Datsyuk. The veteran was well known for his elite defensive skills and his game-changing offensive abilities. “When you think you’re out of his range, he’s able to get a puck,” Trotz said.
- Speaking of Matthews, the youngster has preached patience after his quiet playoff debut. Babcock’s message: “Keep on keepin’ on.” What Babcock would like to see is Matthews and the Maple Leafs get more shots on goal in Game 2. They were outshot 19-9 in the third period and overtime and were outshot 44-37 overall. Matthews only managed one shot on goal.
Lindy Ruff Out As Dallas Stars’ Coach
The Dallas Stars’ General Manager Jim Nill announced today that coach Lindy Ruff will not return as head coach for the 2017-18 season on their website.
Toronto Notes: Andersen, Matthews
Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen has “no symptoms” of a concussion, but will sit tonight’s game against Blue Jackets, according to coach Mike Babcock. The goaltender is expected to start Game 1 of the playoffs.
Andersen, who was hit by Pittsburgh’s Tom Sestito who ironically was back for his first game after serving a four-game suspension for a hit against Tobias Enstrom, hit Andersen in a fly-by. Initial belief was he had suffered a concussion. Backup Curtis McElhinney took over in Saturday’s game and is expected to get the start with recent callup Garret Sparks to take backup duties.
Other Toronto notes …
- When rookie Auston Matthews scored his 40th goal Saturday, an empty netter with three seconds remaining that clinched the Maple Leafs a playoff spot, it put the teenager into rare company. The 19-year-old rookie is now the fourth rookie-teenager in NHL history to score 40 goals. He joins elite company next to Dale Hawerchuk (45 goals at 18 years of age in 1981-82), Mario Lemieux (43 goals at 19 years of age in 1984-85) and Sylvain Turgeon (40 goals at 19 years in 1983-84). Matthews had previously broken the American-born rookie scoring record when he recorded his 39th goal Monday.
- Dave McCarthy of NHL.com reports the Leafs will have nine players play 82 games this year, a testament to their health and one reason for the team’s success this year in reaching the playoffs. Matthews, Nazem Kadri, James van Riemsdyk, Connor Brown, Leo Komarov, Zach Hyman, Jake Gardiner, Matt Martin, Nikita Zaitsev have played all 81 games so far and are expected to play tonight. William Nylander is only at 80 games.
Pacific Notes: Miller, Doan, McDavid, Andersson
Longtime broadcaster Bob Miller called his last home game Saturday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and Los Angeles Times writer Tom Hoffarth parallels the broadcaster’s sendoff to that of Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully.
Miller who has worked 3,352 days as the voice of the Kings (with one game to go), called an exciting 3-2 overtime victory over the Blackhawks.
The Kings trailed 2-1 with 1:16 remaining in the game and the broadcast put up a window in which forlorn Miller waved goodbye to Kings’ fans. Seconds later, Dustin Brown tied the game, elating Miller. Not long into OT, Drew Doughty put in the game winner to Miller pumping his fists in victory.
“It was perfect the way it happened,” said the 78-year-old Miller as he came into the media room following a postgame ceremony where he addressed the crowd and thanked them for their support. “It was a great day.”
It’s a good piece, if you are a fan of the legendary broadcaster.
Other notes:
- Veteran Shane Doan notched an assist and played 17:10 in Saturday’s finale for the Arizona Coyotes. The 40-year old has wrapped up his 21st straight season, all with the Coyotes organization and it could have been his final game of his career after 1,540 games. “I truly haven’t made up my mind yet and that is probably one of the reasons why I haven’t, because if I had made up my mind it’d be a pretty emotional night and I didn’t want that,” Doan said after Arizona’s 3-1 loss to Minnesota at Gila River Arena. “I don’t know if that is the only reason but that is one of them. There is still a lot of me that wants to play. I enjoyed tonight though.”
- Edmonton Oilers Connor McDavid needs two points today in the regular season finale against the Vancouver Canucks. If he does it (and in his first full season in the NHL), he would be the first Oiler to reach 100 points since Doug Weight did it in 1995-96. Regardless, he is likely to win the Art Ross Trophy and a candidate for the Hart Trophy.
- The Calgary Flames have assigned defenseman Rasmus Andersson to the Stockton Heat, one day after finally getting to play in his NHL debut. The former second-rounder in 2015 was recalled on March 10, but has been a healthy scratch for 14 straight games until he made his debut last night. Andersson goes back along with goaltender David Rittich, who did not see any playing time. Both players are being returned to play against the San Jose Barracudas.