The Ottawa Senators were pounding the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 Sunday in Game 3 of a first-round playoff matchup when every player on the ice — yes, two entire lines — decided they hated each other.

What ensued was a scene straight out of the movie “Slap Shot.” Nine game misconducts were doled out, including a total of 236 penalty minutes (Ottawa, 107; Montreal, 129). Ottawa won the game 6-1 and holds a 2-1 series lead over Montreal.

Here you go …

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1) Chicago Blackhawks (27-5-3, previous No. 2) – The Blackhawks regain the top spot since they’ve won two games in a row and most importantly, they have less injuries to key players than the Penguins. Patrick Sharp could return this week, which will only help Chicago’s NHL-best goal-differential of plus-43.

2) Pittsburgh Penguins (28-9-0, previous No. 2) – Pittsburgh’s 15-game winning streak ended on Tuesday against Buffalo but more importantly, Sidney Crosby (who would be the NHL MVP right now) is out indefinitely after breaking his jaw on Saturday. We’ll have to see how the Penguins play with newcomer Jarome Iginla in the lineup, but no Crosby.

3) Montreal Canadiens (23-7-5, previous No. 4) – The Habs didn’t make any real moves at the trade deadline which signifies confidence in their current group. They’ve won their last three games and they are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. Montreal is 2-1 against Boston this season and they have a chance to wrap up the season series on Saturday at the Bell Centre vs. the Bruins.

4) Anaheim Ducks (24-7-5, previous No. 3) – The Ducks haven’t been themselves lately (4-4-2 in their last 10 games), or perhaps they are finally regressing to the mean after an incredible start. The Ducks begin a five-game homestand tonight (tied for their longest of the season) which is bizarre since they played Dallas on Monday then they play them Wednesday and Friday (three games in a row).

5) Boston Bruins (23-8-4, previous No. 5) – Other than Iginla and Marion Gaborik, the B’s made probably the biggest acquisition of the trade deadline by getting Jaromir Jagr. After playing listlessly for a few weeks, they’ve won their last two games thanks to backup goaltender Anton Khudobin, who earned back-to-back starts (allowing two combined goals). Their concern is Patrice Bergeron’s health after the do-everything center left Tuesday’s game with a possible concussion.

6) Minnesota Wild (21-12-2, previous No. 6) – The Wild are in a dogfight for home ice with Vancouver but they made a nice move by trading for Buffalo captain Jason Pominville (10 goals, 15 assists) before the deadline. He should help create more balance between their lines that are very top heavy.

7) Vancouver Canucks (19-11-6, previous No. 7) – The Canucks were another winner from the trade deadline since they got Derek Roy (18 assists) from the Stars for a prospect and second-round draft pick. Vancouver tried to flip Roberto Luongo to Toronto but his albatross of a contract held them back from getting it done.

8) Los Angeles Kings (20-13-3, previous No. 10) – The Kings obtained defenseman Robin Regehr from the Sabres but other than that, the defending Stanley Cup champs are healthy and still loaded with talent. Thanks to Jeff Carter (20 goals, 4th in NHL), the Kings have scored more goals (104) than expected.

9) Toronto Maple Leafs (20-12-4, previous No. 12) – Toronto has won its last three games but it is weird that they didn’t make any moves at the trade deadline since their situation in goal is still muddled at best. It looks like they’ll make the playoffs which is a big deal for them, but advancing is another story.

10) San Jose Sharks (18-11-6, previously No. 14) – The Sharks are the hottest team in the NHL with five straight wins. It has taken them this long, but they have finally started to live up to their abilities – although it is interesting that they traded one of their emotional leaders, Ryane Clowe, to the Rangers for draft picks.

11) Ottawa Senators (18-11-6, previous No. 8) – If the Senators make the playoffs, they have to hope they don’t play the Bruins. Boston has won all four games against Ottawa this season (they meet once more) and making that more painful, they have all been by one goal. Craig Anderson is close to returning which is why they flipped backup goaltender Ben Bishop to Buffalo for rookie winger Cory Conacher.

12) Detroit Red Wings (18-13-5, previous No. 9) – The Red Wings didn’t make a single trade around the deadline which is interesting since this underachieving team hasn’t played nearly well enough to earn that respect. They are the only team currently in the top eight in the West without a positive goal-differential (zero).

13) New York Islanders (18-13-6, previous No. 19) – Nobody could have imagined this, and we’re still four weeks away from the playoffs, but at this moment the Islanders are the best team in the New York area (Islanders, Rangers, Devils and Sabres). Their next three games are against teams outside the top eight in the East: Washington, Tampa Bay and Philadelphia so they need to rack up the points there.

14) St. Louis Blues (18-14-2, previous No. 13) – Now that the Sharks have gained their skating legs, the Blues have to be called the most underachieving team in the West. Still, they are hanging on to the eighth spot so they haven’t been a complete train wreck. Defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, who they obtained from Calgary, should help them right away.

15) Edmonton Oilers (15-13-7, previously not ranked) – People have been waiting for years and it looks like the Oilers have finally put together enough good players to get to the playoffs. They have their work cut out for them since the West is better than the East but they’ve won their last four games and are playing well when it counts.

16) New Jersey Devils (15-12-9, previous No. 16) – The Islanders, Devils and Rangers are likely battling for the last two spots in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Of those, I like the New York teams better since New Jersey is treading water (3-3-4 in last 10 games) and their goal-differential is minus-11.

17) Nashville Predators (15-14-8, previously No. 17) – Pekka Rinne isn’t himself, although it’s not all his fault since the Predators are one of the lowest scoring teams in the West with 92 goals. Getting a goal-scorer seemed obvious at the deadline but apparently the front office felt otherwise.

18) Columbus Blue Jackets (15-14-7, previous No. 20) – The race for the eighth seed in the West is going to be one of the NHL’s best heading into the postseason and the Blue Jackets honestly have a decent chance to make it. The lowest scoring team (87 goals) in the West should receive a huge boost from Marion Gaborik (9 goals, 10 assists) who was having a poor season with the Rangers but he scored 41 goals last season and 40-plus two other times in the NHL.

19) New York Rangers (17-15-3, previous No. 15) – I have no idea why the Rangers traded their best goal-scorer when they have scored the fewest goals in the NHL (82) … and if they miss the playoffs, that will be the main reason why. Forwards Derick Brassard (7 goals) and Derek Dorsett (3 goals) along with defenseman John Moore (zero goals) better fit their trapping defensive style, but none of them can put the puck in the net.

20) Winnipeg Jets (18-18-2, previous No. 2) – The Jets are free-falling and they are only two points ahead of the Capitals for first place in the Southeast Division after losing four straight games. They are 3-7-0 with a goal-differential of minus-22 … not the resume of a playoff team in anybody’s eyes.

Follow Metro sports writer Richard Slate on Twitter: @RichSlate

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Records through March 27

1) Pittsburgh Penguins (26-8-0, previous No. 3) – It’s hard to have a much better week than the Penguins. They are riding a 13-game win streak and they’ve acquired Brendan Morrow, Jarome Iginla and Douglas Murray. The only things to worry about for them is the health of Marc-Andre Fleury (who left Tuesday’s game) and Kris Letang who went back on IR after returning for a game.

2) Chicago Blackhawks (25-4-3, previous No. 1) – No longer on their epic win streak, the focus and pressure has been taken off the Blackhawks. Chicago has an NHL-best goal-differential of plus-37 while they have the best home record (12-2-1) and road record (13-2-2).

3) Anaheim Ducks (22-7-4, previous No. 2) – There is bad news in Disneyland as the Ducks have lost four games in a row, twice to Detroit and twice to San Jose. The surprising part is that the first three were at the Honda Center where the Ducks were 13-1-0. Anaheim scored one goal in each game against the Red Wings and were blanked by the Sharks on Wednesday, shocking for a team that has scored the second most goals in the Western Conference (104).

4) Montreal Canadiens (21-7-5, previous No. 4) – The Canadiens proved their resiliency by rallying twice in the third period  in Boston on Wednesday. This was after pulled Carey Price after the second period plus lost 1-0 in Pittsburgh the night before. Montreal and Boston will have a great battle for first place in the Northeast Division.

5) Boston Bruins (21-7-4, previous No. 5) – The B’s are understandably reeling after a brutal loss to the Canadiens on Wednesday followed by them losing out on the Jarome Iginla sweepstakes when it looked to be a done deal that he’d joined the spoked ‘B.’ Boston gets two days without a game for the first time in over a month which should do wonders for the banged up team that’s currently missing three regulars (Chris Kelly, Adam McQuaid and Johnny Boychuk).

6) Minnesota Wild (20-10-2, previous No. 7) – The Penguins understandably are getting most of the publicity but the Wild are the hottest team in the Western Conference, having won their last seven games in a row. Minnesota is 9-1-0 in their last 10 games and 12-3-1 at the Xcel Energy Center. The crazy part is that a team that is so reliant on its top lines has scored 90 goals.

7) Vancouver Canucks (18-9-6, previous No. 12) – Similar to the Wild, the Canucks have really found their game in the last few weeks. They’ve won five straight games to tie Minnesota atop the Northwest Division. Vancouver is 7-3-0 in their last 10 games and 9-4-3 on the road which are both good trends

8) Ottawa Senators (18-9-6, previous No. 8) – Head coach Paul MacLean and his comical moustache is close to wrapping up the NHL coach of the year award with this remarkable run his team has turned in. They might not do anything in the playoffs but with 15 games left in the regular season, they look like a lock to make it (barring a major collapse) which for them is still very impressive.

9) Detroit Red Wings (17-11-5, previous No. 11) – The Red Wings began their four-game road trip with two excellent wins in Anaheim then they won in Phoenix last night. If they can grab two points in San Jose tonight, you’ll know that the Red Wings are truly back after a uncharacteristically slow start to the season. The ironic part was that Detroit was under .500 (5-6-2) on the road before the trip.

10) Los Angeles Kings (18-12-2, previously No. 6) – It was a strange week for the Kings who lost two in a row at home, where they are great (12-4-1) but then won 5-4 at Chicago on Monday. They are 6-8-1 on the road this season but that victory against the NHL’s best team could go a long way to giving them confidence during the stretch run.

11) Winnipeg Jets (18-14-2, previous No. 13) – Up six points now on Carolina and seven ahead of Washington, the surprising Jets are in good shape for the third seed in the Eastern Conference. They are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and 10-6-2 on the road this season which are good signs, unlike their goal-differential of -11 which is the worst mark of any team in the top eight of either conference.

12) Toronto Maple Leafs (18-12-4, previous No. 15) – The Leafs are treading water (3-3-4 in their last 10 games) but they are still in good shape to make the playoffs for the first time in nine years which in Canada is magnified tenfold. Toronto has identical 9-6-2 records at Air Canada Centre and on the road but they are 0-4 in shootouts. Good news for them is that if they make the postseason, they won’t face a shootout.

13) St. Louis Blues (17-13-2, previous No. 9) – The Blues have lost their last two games to drop into seventh place in the Western Conference. Anything can happen in the NHL playoffs as we see every spring but St. Louis really doesn’t want to face Chicago or Anaheim in the first round of the playoffs. Their next three games are really tough: vs. Kings, at Wild and at Blackhawks.

14) San Jose Sharks (14-12-2, previous No. 17) – The Sharks are hanging on for dear life to the eighth seed in the Western Conference but they are coming off their best two wins of the season: sweeping a home-and-home series with Anaheim. It’ll be interesting to see what they do at the trade deadline (April 3), they’ve already shipped defenseman Douglas Murray to Pittsburgh.

15) New York Rangers (16-13-3, previous No. 14) – If they make the playoffs, the Rangers are still a team that nobody in the Eastern Conference wants to face since their games always tend to be such physical grinds. New York’s margin for error is so small since they’ve scored a conference-low 78 goals. Up next, they play the three Eastern Conference Canadian teams (Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg) who would all be in the postseason if it started today.

16) New Jersey Devils (15-11-7, previous No. 16) – Ilya Kovalchuk is out with a shoulder injury for 2-4 weeks which means the Devils could drop out of the playoff picture if they’re not careful. This team hasn’t had any luck this season since Kovalchuk’s injury followed quickly in the footsteps of Martin Brodeur’s injury. Getting back to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second straight year seems highly unlikely.

17) Nashville Predators (14-13-6, previously No. 13) – The Predators haven’t been themselves for most of the season but they are turning it on (3 consecutive wins) when it matters most. Nashville needs to a find a way to win more on the road (5-11-2) since they are fine at home (9-2-4), otherwise they could miss the playoffs.

18) New York Islanders (15-15-3, previous No. 19) – One of the sneaky storylines in the NHL is that the Islanders have a decent chance to make the playoffs which would be a huge accomplishment for them. They’ve won their last two games and they are excellent on the road (9-4-1). Now they have to win at dumpy Nassau Coliseum (6-11-2).

19) Dallas Stars (15-14-3, previously not ranked) – You can certainly question Dallas’ desire to make the playoffs this season as they traded winger Brendan Morrow to Pittsburgh but they are only three points out of the eighth seed so like it or not, they will be a factor in who makes it. PS why is that franchise still there?

20) Columbus Blue Jackets (13-13-7, previous No. 20) – The Blue Jackets lost a heartbreaker, 1-0 in a shootout at Vancouver, on Tuesday but one of the worst road teams in the NHL (3-9-2) has a good chance to bounce back. They are in Edmonton on Thursday and Calgary on Friday, two of the worst teams in the Western Conference that aren’t going anywhere this season. If Columbus is serious about make the playoffs, they need more points on this trip.

Follow Metro sports writer Richard Slate on Twitter @RichSlate

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Records through March 18:

1. Chicago Blackhawks (24-2-3, previous No. 1) – There was actually the thought of dropping the Blackhawks to No. 2 for the first time this season but they are still five points ahead of the Ducks. The Blackhawks travel to Anaheim Wednesday for their second meeting of the season. The Ducks won, 3-2, in a shootout in Chicago on Feb. 12.

2. Anaheim Ducks (21-3-4, previous No. 2) – Anaheim hasn’t lost in regulation in its last 11 games (8-0-3) and the Ducks have won their last 12 games at the Honda Center. There is no question that they are the hottest team in the Western Conference. Wednesday’s game is a possible Western Conference Finals preview, so be sure to check it out on the NHL Network.

3. Pittsburgh Penguins (22-8-0, previous No. 5) – Having won nine games in a row, the Penguins are the hottest team in the NHL. They beat the Bruins twice last week (highly impressive) and have scored an NHL-high 108 goals. A wrist injury to their best defenseman, Kris Letang, could be a serious issue.

4. Montreal Canadiens (19-5-4, previous No. 4) – It’s time to stop pretending that Montreal’s great start this season was a fluke. The Habs are legitimately one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and NHL. They’ve won five consecutive games and they are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games. Most impressive, they have been great on the road (10-2-2) as well as at the Bell Centre (9-3-2).

5. Boston Bruins (19-5-3, previous No. 3) – The Bruins came up short in both showdowns in Pittsburgh last week but they seem to be getting better at putting away inferior opponents. They dodged a major bullet as top line center David Krejci’s knee injury doesn’t appear all that serious. Still, injuries are an issue with third line center Chris Kelly out.

6. Los Angeles Kings (16-10-2, previous No. 6) – Their slow start has been pretty much forgotten as the Kings have owned games at the Staples Center (11-2-1). Similar to their playoff run last season, they are getting goals from many different lines and players along with solid goaltending (even though Jonathan Quick isn’t fully up to speed just yet).

7. Minnesota Wild (16-10-2, previous No. 8) – Minnesota has leaped over Vancouver for the lead in the Northwest Division. The Wild have won three games in a row and they are 7-3-0 in their last 10. It’s hard to see them getting higher than this but they have to be satisfied with where they sit at the moment.

8. Ottawa Senators (15-8-6, previous No. 10) – The Senators are still hanging around despite all their major injuries. Having the best record at home (10-1-3) in the Eastern Conference has helped them stay afloat through the tough times. They are 4-2-4 in their last 10 games, showing how either way it usually comes down to the wire for them.

9. St. Louis Blues (16-10-2, previous No. 15) – Called up from the minors, goaltender Jake Allen (8-1-0, 2.18 GAA, .920 save percentage) has been a revelation while Chris Stewart (14 goals, 14 assists) was the NHL’s No. 1 star last week after five goals (two game-winners) and two assists. The Blues aren’t going to catch the Blackhawks but they have a good chance to finish second in the Central Division.

10. Carolina Hurricanes (15-11-2, previous No. 7) – It looks like the Hurricanes are in for a competitive race with the Jets in the Southeast Division but Carolina has been doing enough lately (6-3-1 in their last 10 games) to be ranked ahead of Winnipeg. Carolina only has two games left this week, both at home, against the Panthers and Devils so they should continue to earn points.

11. Detroit Red Wings (14-10-5, previous No. 11) – Coming off possibly its best win of the season, a 5-2 victory at Vancouver on Saturday, Detroit has the toughest week of anyone in the NHL. They host Minnesota Wednesday, then go to Anaheim for two games (Friday and Sunday). Needless to say, they have to get a positive result against the Wild because the Ducks are nearly impossible to beat at home.

12. Vancouver Canucks (13-9-6, previous No. 14) – Don’t let this ranking fool you, the Canucks are struggling. They’ve lost their last two games and they are 3-5-2 in their last 10 games. Most troubling, it’s hard to figure out how a roster loaded with talent has a goal-differential of minus-2. If only the Sedin twins had any sort of leadership skills, then maybe Vancouver wouldn’t be in this situation.

13. Winnipeg Jets (15-12-2, previous No. 20) – The Jets have been one of the hotter teams in the Eastern Conference (6-3-1 in their last 10 games). They are a .500 team at home (6-6-0) but they have a chance to improve on that mark this week with four straight games at home. That includes back-to-back nights against the Capitals on Thursday and Friday.

14. New York Rangers (14-12-2, previous No. 12) – You still can’t trust the Rangers. They look great one night, then hopeless the next. They are 10-5-1 at Madison Square Garden and if they can win on the road (4-7-1), they will really be onto something. The Rangers need to find a way to score more goals since they have an Eastern Conference low, 67.

15. Toronto Maple Leafs (15-12-2, previous No. 9) – The Leafs have been treading water lately (4-4-2) which is still good enough to put them in front of some of the train wrecks in the Eastern Conference (looking at you Florida and Buffalo). A home-and-home with the Bruins on Saturday and Monday, a team that has absolutely owned them, will tell us whether to take Toronto seriously moving forward this season.

16. New Jersey Devils (13-10-6, previous No. 16) – Martin Brodeur has returned to practice, but not games for the Devils … about the best thing I can say about them. They are falling apart, hanging on to the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs with a terrible goal-differential of minus-9. It would be nice if Ilya Kovalchuk (10 goals, 15 assists) could carry them a bit more through the tough times but this is who he has become.

17. San Jose Sharks (12-10-6, previous No. 13) – You could argue that the Sharks have been the biggest underachievers in the NHL (Flyers fans rejoice!) and I wouldn’t disagree. Perhaps it’s time to break up this current cast that has been together for too long without ever really doing anything notable when it matters. It’s shocking that they have only scored 67 goals this season with all those great forwards.

18. Phoenix Coyotes (13-12-4, previous No. 17) – Being one of the worst road teams in the Western Conference (3-7-3) is holding the Coyotes back from being a better team. They have the pieces to be a playoff team but if they started today, they’d be on the outside (ninth place). Something is up with Mike Smith (11-9-3, 2.86 GAA, .900 save percentage) and they won’t go anywhere with their franchise goaltender playing like that.

19. New York Islanders (13-12-3, previous not ranked) – One of the biggest jokes in the NHL the last decade, the Isles are finally starting to turn it around thanks to John Tavares (17 goals, 14 assists) and a great record on the road (8-4-1). They have been playing well (5-3-2), winners of two in a row, but it’s hard to see that continuing when they’ve allowed so many goals (91).

20. Columbus Blue Jackets (11-12-6, previous not ranked) – This is not a misprint, the Blue Jackets haven’t lost in regulation (6-0-4) in their last 10 games. They have gone to overtime in nine of their last 10 games, which is insane. Not surprisingly, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (9-6-5, 2.00 GAA, .932 save percentage) was the NHL’s third star last week since he’s been on fire.

Follow Metro sports writer Richard Slate on Twitter: @RichSlate

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Change is coming to the NHL.

The NHL announced Thursday that the Board of Governors approved a realignment and divisional playoff format plan which will be implemented beginning next season. The plan calls for two seven-team Western Conference divisions and two eight-team Eastern Conference divisions. It also calls for all 30 teams to play in every market at least once a year.

The voting was done by email.

“We know this realignment was extraordinarily important to some of our clubs,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a mid-afternoon conference call.

The franchise realignment has created four divisions:

Eastern Conference
Division One: Carolina, Columbus, Devils, Islanders, Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington.
Division Two: Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Florida, Montreal, Ottawa, Tampa Bay and Toronto.

Western Conference
Division Three: Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis and Winnipeg.
Division Four: Anaheim, Calgary, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose and Vancouver.

During his introductory statement, Bettman said the plan was passed by a “majority” of votes. When pressed, Bettman said there were “more than enough to pass it. It wasn’t unanimous. [It] was well in excess than the three-quarters [required].”

Bettman was joined on the call by Winnipeg chairman and governor Mark Chipman, Dallas president, CEO and alternate governor Jim Lites, Columbus president of hockey operations and alternate governor John Davidson and Detroit executive vice president and general manager Ken Holland.

“This seems to make a lot of common sense,” Davidson said. “This is all positive.”

“It’s an exciting time for the National Hockey League,” Holland said.

Most likely the selection of team executives on the call was not coincidental. Columbus and Detroit have long wanted to move to the Eastern Conference, while Dallas and Winnipeg will join Colorado and Minnesota in the same division. The Jets have been in the Southeast Division the last two seasons despite relocating to Winnipeg prior to 2011-12.

“On balance if you look at the rivalries and geographic groupings, this appeared to make the most sense,” Bettman said. “Winnipeg needed to come out of the Southeast Division.”

Added Chipman: “We’re very relieved. [The] travel burden ought not to be so onerous.”

The top three teams in each division will qualify for the playoffs and there will be two wild-card spots for the final two slots in each conference. The top four seeds in each division will meet in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Two teams from each conference will meet in the conference final and the advancing team will meet in the Stanley Cup final.

The main criticism of the plan is the unbalanced conferences. There are 16 teams in the East and just 14 in the West.

“Seventh or eighth team[s in the playoffs] doesn’t make a whole lot of difference. [We] introduced [the] wild card to balance that off a little bit better [and it] begins to address what might be a concern,” Bettman said. “[It] won’t be borne out to be a concern.”

Names for the new divisions have not been decided upon but according to Bettman it will be announced in the “next few weeks” and will be “most sensible geographic, fan-friendly.”

According to the league’s statement, the National Hockey League Players’ Association gave its consent to the plan for three years. However when the NHLPA announced its consent to the realignment plan last week the statement noted it will be “re-evaluated following the 2014-15 season.”

Bettman professed no concern about a misunderstanding with the NHLPA.

“Subtlety of language,” Bettman said. “Just phrased a little differently.”

What was made clear was that the league does not have expansion or franchise relocations plans despite long-term rumors that the NHL is looking to expand to Markham, Ontario and Quebec City, and the uncertainty surrounding the Coyotes and Glendale, Ariz.

Holland dismissed any trepidation that potential expansion and franchise relocation would force the league to redesign the realignment plan while Bettman reported the league is in talks with potential ownership groups to take control of the Coyotes. The NHL has operated the Coyotes since 2009.

“They don’t foresee relocation,” Holland said. “[The league] doesn’t foresee expansion. Don’t foresee change.”

“There are a number of groups in process with us,” Bettman said of the state of the Coyotes’ sale. “Other people have indicated their interest.”

Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

The post NHL announces realignment for next season appeared first on Metro.us.

Records through March 11

1. Chicago Blackhawks (21-2-3, previous No. 1) – Somewhere the ’72 Miami Dolphins popped champagne when the Blackhawks went down 6-2 to the Avalanche on Friday, snapping their unbeaten in regulation streak at 24 games (half the regular season). Oh wait, wrong sport. Seriously though, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Chicago come back to Earth somewhat as they also lost 6-5 to the Oilers on Sunday.

2. Anaheim Ducks (18-3-3, previous No. 2) – Don’t look now but the Ducks are only six points (three wins) behind the Blackhawks. Given Chicago’s injuries at the moment, I might even like Anaheim’s chances against them in the playoffs. However, we’re still a month and a half away from that so no need to make rash judgments.

3. Boston Bruins (17-3-3, previous No. 4) – The B’s and Canadiens are in a virtual dead heat. They have even split their first two games (with both winning on the road). The only thing that separates them is that Boston has played three games less than Montreal and the Habs only have one more point. It feels like they’re building to another epic playoff series this spring. Wouldn’t that be great?

4. Montreal Canadiens (17-5-4, previous No. 3) The Canadiens have won three games in a row and they are 6-1-3 in their last 10 games. Their goal-differential is plus-18 and they are 9-2-2 on the road. The Bruins might jump them this week since they have five games and the Canadiens only play twice. Winger Michael Ryder (two goals, seven assists) has been solid in his seven games back in a Montreal uniform.

5. Pittsburgh Penguins (18-8-0, previous No. 5) – The Penguins are the hottest team in the Eastern Conference – they have won five games in a row entering Tuesday night’s showdown with Boston in Pittsburgh. It’s a huge week for the Penguins since they play four current playoff teams: Toronto, Rangers and Bruins (twice). We’ll see what kind of shape Pittsburgh is in next week after that gauntlet.

6. Los Angeles Kings (14-8-2, previous No. 9) – The defending Stanley Cup champs are the hottest team in the Western Conference: they are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games and 9-2-1 at the Staples Center. Their formula of great goaltending from Jonathan Quick and Jonathan Bernier, plus plenty of goals from Jeff Carter (17 goals, second in the NHL) has been working wonders.

7. Carolina Hurricanes (14-9-1, previous No. 10) – One team was added to the higher rung this week (Kings) but just like last week, after the top teams the drop-off to the mid-level teams is enormous. The Hurricanes have stayed afloat thanks to Alexander Semin’s 19 assists (sixth best in the NHL). They can put some more distance between themselves, Tampa Bay and Washington this week since they play the Capitals twice and the Lightning once.

8. Minnesota Wild (13-9-2, previous No. 14) – The Wild have played well lately (7-3-0) and they’ve been great at home all season (9-2-1). Their goal-differential of minus-1 and road record (4-7-1) say that they are frauds, but they also reside in the Western Conference’s worst division: Northwest. Minnesota has taken advantage of Vancouver’s inconsistent start.

9. Toronto Maple Leafs (15-10-1, previous No. 7) – The Leafs have receded to their more fitting level as they’ve hit a tougher portion of their schedule. They are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games but they play the Jets twice this week, sandwiched around a game with the Penguins, so they need to get points against Winnipeg. The Maple Leafs are 9-5-0 on the road, where they’ve played two more games than at home so far.

10. Ottawa Senators (13-8-5, previously No. 11) – If there was an award for playing hard, the Senators would be a runaway favorite. Unfortunately, this isn’t Little League. Ottawa is getting the most out of its limited roster at the moment but the Sens have trouble when facing the more talented teams that can wear them down. Blowing a 2-0 lead at home to the Bruins on Monday couldn’t have made them feel too good about themselves either.

11. Detroit Red Wings (12-9-5, previous No. 19) – Honestly, the Red Wings didn’t do anything specifically to make this big of a jump from last week. But then again, they are playing a tad better than the rest of the teams are at their same level. Detroit is 5-3-2 in their last 10 games and as always, they excel at home: 9-4-3. Figuring out how to win on the road (3-5-2) is the next step for them to take.

12. New York Rangers (13-9-2, previous No. 17) – The Rangers have clawed back into contention, playing their unique style of ugly, defensive hockey. Rick Nash (five goals, four assists) has been on fire in his last five games and has proven to be ready for the bright lights of New York City after toiling for years in Columbus. The Rangers can fatten up on the Sabres and Jets before facing the Penguins on Saturday in Pittsburgh.

13. San Jose Sharks (11-7-6, previous No. 12) – The Sharks have lost an NHL-high (tied with Vancouver) six games in overtime and they are 4-3 in shootouts this season. That seems like a risky proposition that is bound to catch up to them if they keep playing so many extra sessions. They are one of the more mercurial teams in the NHL since they are 7-1-4 at home but 4-6-2 on the road, plus they’ve lost their last two games (both in overtime).

14. Vancouver Canucks (11-7-6, previous No. 6) – Another team that is spinning its wheels and should be playing much better than they currently are. The Canucks are 3-4-3 in their last 10 games and are 2-5 in shootouts. It might be time for them to shake things up with a roster that has been basically the same for years.

15. St. Louis Blues (13-10-2, previous No. 13) – Speaking of underachievers, the Blues are a squad that look better on paper than they do on the ice. They are 8-5-1 on the road ,which is promising, and have played three less games at home, but they are 5-5-1 there so that has to improve if they want to get anywhere.

16. New Jersey Devils (12-9-5, previous No. 15) – The Devils would have dropped more, if only there were fewer middling teams just like them. They are 3-6-1 in their last 10 games but they are still in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, mostly because the teams on the outside-looking-in are hopeless. Martin Brodeur can’t return soon enough since Johan Hedberg (4-7-2) has been terrible since taking over as the starter.

17. Phoenix Coyotes (12-10-3, previously No. 8) – It’s not that they have struggled that much lately or that I overrated them, it’s more that their division (Pacific) is the toughest in the NHL with four points between the second-place and fifth-place teams. It will probably be that way for the rest of the season since only Los Angeles (first in Pacific) is a notch above the rest.

18. Dallas Stars (12-10-2, previous No. 18) – The Stars continue to hang around which is probably the best-case scenario for them this season. Their goal-differential is 0 and they are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games – it doesn’t get much more average than that.

19. Nashville Predators (10-9-6, previous No. 20) – The Predators put their two most talented forwards on IR Monday in Colin Wilson and Patric Hornqvist, which certainly doesn’t help a team that has still scored the fewest goals in the NHL (54, 31 less than Chicago and Anaheim). Pekka Rinne’s (9-8-5, 4 shutouts-best in the NHL) margin for error is smaller than any other goaltender in the NHL.

20. Winnipeg Jets (12-11-2, previously not ranked) – By virtue of being the only other team in the NHL over .500, the Jets make these rankings pretty much based solely on that. They are 8-5-2 on the road (they must be excited to get out of Winnipeg) and 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. Still, their goal-differential of minus-11 leaves something to be desired.

Follow Metro sports writer Richard Slate on Twitter: @RichSlate

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Records through March 4

1. Chicago Blackhawks (19-0-3, previous No. 1) – At some point, the Blackhawks are going to lose in regulation, right? This streak is turning into one of the great marks in regular season sports history and true to form, they are winning in a number of ways. Chicago is only two games away from the halfway point of the regular season. So how long until they clinch a playoff spot?

2. Anaheim Ducks (15-3-3, previous No. 3) – I doubt they have many nationally broadcast games this season, since nobody thought they’d be this good, but if you have NHL Center Ice then you already know about the Ducks. They have scored a Western Conference-best 75 goals and they are 8-1-0 at home.

3. Montreal Canadiens (14-4-4, previous No. 5) – You can argue that the Bruins could be here since the Canadiens have played three more games then them, but we’ll go with Montreal since they won 4-3 in Boston on Sunday night. Plus, the Canadiens (7-0-3) are unbeaten in regulation in their last 10 games and they topped the B’s with backup goaltender Peter Budaj in net.

4. Boston Bruins (14-3-2, previous No. 2) – Boston had its six-game win streak snapped on Sunday night vs. Montreal but they have been playing great hockey on the whole. The Northeast Division doesn’t appear to be the walkover it has been the last few seasons with Montreal and Toronto much improved. Tyler Seguin is heating up, while linemates Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron are on fire too.

5. Pittsburgh Penguins (15-8-0, previous No. 4) – The Penguins have 30 points, just like the Bruins, but they have played four more games. Pittsburgh leads the NHL with 81 goals, they’ve gone 7-3-0 in their last 10 and they are 9-4-0 on the road. Evgeni Malkin returned from a concussion Monday and scored a highlight reel goal. Be scared of this team.

6. Vancouver Canucks (11-6-4, previous No. 7) – There is a seismic drop from Pittsburgh to Vancouver. The Canucks haven’t played well in their last 10 games (4-4-2) but you have to respect the assorted talent they throw on the ice every night. Ryan Kesler returned from a shoulder injury for seven games before breaking his foot last week. Vancouver will miss his leadership on a team that lacks many standup guys.

7. Toronto Maple Leafs (14-9-0, previous No. 11) – It is still hard to take the Leafs too seriously but they are treading water while many teams around them fall back due to major injuries or terrible play. Toronto is 9-4-0 on the road and it’s a big week for them with a home game against the Senators on Wednesday, at the Bruins on Thursday and at the Penguins on Saturday. Those three games should give us more of a clue as to whether Toronto is a contender or not.

8. Phoenix Coyotes (11-8-3, previous No. 15) – The Coyotes are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games which means something in the Western Conference (the superior conference). One of the best in the NHL, goaltender Mike Smith is healthy and back on the ice for Phoenix. Nobody has noticed but they have built a nice team in the desert.

9. Los Angeles Kings (11-7-2, previous No. 16) – Outside of the Blackhawks, there is no hotter team in the NHL right now than the defending Stanley Cup champions. They are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games and they have been great at the Staples Center (6-1-1). Jeff Carter had a natural hat trick on Monday night as the Kings’ previously dormant offense has begun to wake up.

11. Ottawa Senators (12-7-4, previous No. 6) – It might have taken a little longer than we expected but colossal injuries to the Senators are wearing them down. They are 9-1-2 at home but they’ve already played in five shootouts (3-2), most in the Eastern Conference. It’s hard to see them staying ahead of Montreal, Boston and even Toronto with this AHL-infused roster.

12. San Jose Sharks (10-6-4, previous No. 13) – The Sharks have struggled in their last 10 games (3-4-3) but it’s hard to see them continuing to play at that mediocre level. Don’t ask how a team with Logan Couture, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau is tied with Nashville with the least goals (47) in the NHL. San Jose has played fine at home (7-1-3) but they haven’t gotten enough results on the road (3-5-1).

13. St. Louis Blues (11-8-2, previous No. 10) – Did you know six teams in the Western Conference all have 24 points? It’s absurd. The Blues are one of those squads but they aren’t trending upward since their goaltenders (Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott) haven’t been themselves. The Blues are 6-3-1 on the road which shows you that they can be a quality team when they put their minds to it.

14. Minnesota Wild (11-8-2, previous No. 17) – They still don’t score goals (49) but the Wild have won on their home ice (8-2-1) and have played well in their last 10 games (6-3-1). Mikko Koivu (13 assists) is one of the best passers in the NHL and one of the best defensemen – Ryan Suter (14 assists) – has adjusted quickly to his new team.

15. New Jersey Devils (10-7-5, previous No. 8) – No team has slid farther than the Devils in the last few weeks. That’s what happens when you lose a Hall of Fame goaltender like Martin Brodeur to IR. New Jersey is 2-6-2 in its last 10 games while their division foes, the Flyers and Rangers, have finally awoken. That’s bad news in the Garden State for the Devils who are 0-3 in shootouts.

16. Philadelphia Flyers (11-11-1, previous No. 20) – The Flyers won their only two games last week but they face a much tougher stretch this week: at Rangers (Tues.), vs. Penguins, at Bruins and vs. Sabres. You can’t expect them to be consistent with Ilya Bryzgalov between the pipes but they are tough and can score with anybody so they’ve got that going for them.

17. New York Rangers (10-8-2, previously unranked) – The sons of crazy John Tortorella have started to play their favored style. Fittingly, their goal differential is 0 since they’ve scored the same amount of goals (51) as they’ve allowed. The big news for them is that Rick Nash has returned although Brad Richards is banged up after a dirty hit by Buffalo’s Patrick Kaleta (suspended five games) on Sunday.

18. Dallas Stars (11-9-2, previous No. 12) – If the playoffs started today, the Stars would be left out of the Western Conference playoff picture despite having the same amount of points as LA, San Jose, St. Louis and Minnesota. It’s hard to see them really jumping any of those teams but there is always a random team or two that manages to sneak into the postseason.

19. Detroit Red Wings (10-8-4, previous No. 14) – Not sure if the alarms have sounded yet in Hockeytown but the Red Wings have been arguably the NHL’s biggest disappointment so far this season. They had a great chance to knock off Chicago on Sunday but after grabbing a 1-0 lead in the third period, they took two straight delay of game penalties which led to Patrick Kane’s tying goal. After a scoreless overtime, Chicago won in a shootout. That’s how it’s been for Detroit.

20. Nashville Predators (9-9-5, previous No. 9) – They fell more than anyone in this week’s rankings but unlike the Devils, they don’t have a built-in excuse with a major injury. The Predators have just been playing poorly as they are 3-6-1 in their last 10 games and they’ve lost three games in a row. That minus-12 goal differential sticks out like a sore thumb. They have to find a way to manufacture more goals.

Follow Metro sports writer Richard Slate on Twitter: @RichSlate

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Records through Feb. 26

1) Chicago Blackhawks (16-0-3) – Off to the best start in NHL history qualifies Chicago for the coveted top spot in the inaugural power rankings of the season. The Blackhawks also lead the NHL with a ridiculous plus-24 goal differential and even backup goaltender Ray Emery (8-0-0) has played out of his mind while starter Corey Crawford has been out with an injury.

2) Boston Bruins (12-2-2) – It’s hard to argue that the B’s aren’t the Eastern Conference’s best team at the moment. They’ve won four in a row (all on the road) and are 8-1-1 away from TD Garden. Head coach Claude Julien couldn’t have dreamed of a better start for the Black and Gold.

3) Anaheim Ducks (13-3-1) – The surprise of the NHL so far has been the team formerly known as the Mighty Ducks. Unknown rookie goaltender Viktor Fasth (8-1-0) has propelled Anaheim while ageless wonder Teemu Selanne (5 goals, 11 assists) is still getting it done at 42.

4) Pittsburgh Penguins (13-7-0) – Few teams can match the Penguins’ top-end talent (Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Chris Kunitz and James Neal) but they also have two major issues: Malkin is out with a concussion and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (10-4, 2.27 GAA) was a puddle in last season’s playoffs.

5) Montreal Canadiens (12-4-3) – They actually lead the Eastern Conference in points but the Bruins get the nod over since Boston has played three less games. They don’t score a ton which is why they traded for former Bruins winger Michael Ryder, who previously played in Montreal as well. The good Carey Price (10-3-2, 1.90 GAA) has so far made an appearance this season for the Habs.

6) Ottawa Senators (12-6-2) – Nobody deserves the amount of major injuries suffered already by the Senators to their best players: defenseman Erik Karlsson (out for the season), center Jason Spezza (out indefinitely) and goaltender Craig Anderson (day-to-day). Ottawa might be put together with duct tape but they’re making the best of it thus far, they’ve won five games in a row.

7) Vancouver Canucks (10-5-4) –The team that everyone loves to hate is off to its usual solid start. For some reason, they haven’t traded lame-duck goaltender Roberto Luongo (5-1-3) and he’s actually performed better than the projected starter Cory Schneider (5-4-1) … awkward!

8) New Jersey Devils (10-5-4) – This is misleading since the Devils are freefalling a bit with goaltender Martin Brodeur placed on IR earlier this week. Their games are not easy to watch but they usually get the job done. They are the defending Eastern Conference champions for a reason.

9) Nashville Predators (9-5-4) – The Predators still can’t score goals but goaltender Pekka Rinne (8-5-4, 1.90 GAA, 3 shutouts) is one of the NHL’s best and they’ve built the team around him. BU product Colin Wilson (5 goals, 10 assists) seems to be on the verge of a breakout season, in his fourth year in the league.

10) St. Louis Blues (10-6-2) – After a great start, the team that most resembles the Bruins in the Western Conference have come back to Earth (4-4-2 in their last 10). There is plenty of reason to believe in their deep and talented roster and they look to be built for the long run.

11) Toronto Maple Leafs (12-8-0) – It’s hard to trust a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in nearly a decade (2003-04) and sports the longest Stanley Cup drought in the NHL (45 years). Still, the Leafs are playing decently despite shaky goaltending (as always). Former Bruins whipping boy Phil Kessel (4 goals, 12 assists) hasn’t been finding the net at his usual clip.

12) Dallas Stars (10-8-2) – The Ryder trade, which netted Erik Cole in return. was about building cap space for the future. The Stars also sent a third round draft pick to Montreal. That won’t sell more tickets in an awful market. It’s hard to see this group staying at this level.

13) San Jose Sharks (9-6-3) – For the first few weeks, the Sharks were right there with the Blackhawks. Then they went 2-6-2 and started to fold faster than they normally do. Joe Thornton (4 goals, 15 assists) is still one of the top passers in the NHL but no team is under more pressure to do something in the playoffs than them.

14) Detroit Red Wings (9-7-3) – These aren’t your father’s Red Wings that steamrolled over everyone. With Nicklas Lidstrom’s retirement, Detroit has suddenly taken a major step back in the West. Henrik Zetterberg (6 goals, 19 assists) and Pavel Datsyuk (8 goals, 14 assists) are still must-see TV.

15) Phoenix Coyotes (9-7-3) – Nobody really knows how or why this team is still stuck in the desert, the NHL’s worst decision now that Atlanta doesn’t have a team anymore, but they are not bad at all. The lack of a crowd doesn’t seem to affect them either considering they are 6-3-1 at home and 3-4-2 on the road.

16) Los Angles Kings (9-6-2) – The Stanley Cup champions have gotten off to a bumpy start but that shouldn’t be a shock since they snuck into the playoffs last spring as the No. 8 seed before their unforgettable run. They are 7-3-0 in their last 10 games and have won four straight so they appear to be getting things in order.

17) Minnesota Wild (9-7-2) – Zach Parise (8 goals, 5 assists), the biggest free agent splash of last summer, predictably hasn’t lived up to his absurd price tag while the front office hasn’t surrounded him with much talent. They have scored an NHL-low 39 goals so it’s hard to see them making the playoffs without trading for another sniper.

18) Tampa Bay Lightning (9-9-1) – On the other end of the spectrum, the Lightning can score with the best of them (NHL-high 70 goals) but they still lack a true No. 1 goaltender. Steven Stamkos (14 goals, 16 assists) is basically unstoppable and should be the odds-on favorite to be the NHL MVP (Hart Trophy) this season.

19) Winnipeg Jets (9-9-1) – You won’t find a more boring team than the Jets. They don’t have any stars and they don’t do anything particularly well. Perhaps that’s fitting for such a non-descript outpost. Bruins fans have to laugh at Blake Wheeler (6 goals, 10 assists) being one of their top scorers.

20) Philadelphia Flyers (9-11-1) – I can’t really say the Flyers deserve to be ranked even this high but take a look at the other awful teams below them. Philly is here by default. They are 4-8-0 on the road and still haven’t solved their goaltending issue of the past 10 years or so.

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Simply put, it was a superlative penalty killing performance by the Devils on Super Bowl Sunday.

New Jersey’s 3-0 matinee win over the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum was marked by a perfect seven-for-seven effort against the NHL’s best power play.

“What killed us basically the last game [a 5-4 loss to the Islanders Thursday] was the power play,” Devils head coach Pete DeBoer said. “We tightened up defensively and the big difference was the penalty kill. I thought defensively, at home the other day, we were fine five-on-five and they ate us alive on the power play. So we fixed that.”

The Devils clogged the middle of the ice and challenged the Islanders’ shooters, who only managed five shots on seven power plays. By comparison, the Devils had three short-handed shots.

“We can’t get too frustrated. We had our opportunities on our power play,” Islanders head coach Jack Capuano said.  “[The Devils] came a little bit more aggressive I thought.”

Steve Bernier scored twice in a 50-second span of the third period to give the Devils a 2-0 lead. David Clarkson potted an empty-netter with 22 seconds left to salt away the Devils’ first win in five games (1-1-3). Johan Hedberg made 22 saves as he earned his 22nd career shutout.

“That’s depth. You need it. It’s a long season especially in the grind of the schedule that we’re in the middle of right now,” DeBoer said. “You need contributions from all kinds of different people.”

Bernier slammed a power-play rebound past Evgeni Nabokov at 16:06 of the third period for the game’s first goal. He added his second at 17:16.

“We [shot] the puck and go for the rebound. That’s exactly what happened,” Bernier said. “On the second, our line did a great job on the forecheck. We were able to keep the puck in. I was trying to put the puck in the right places in front of Nabby where I [would] be able to get the rebound and the puck went in. It’s great. Obviously great work by everybody on the ice.”

Nabokov was the best Islander on the ice Sunday afternoon as he made 24 saves.

“He played well. Kept us in, especially in the second period when they gained some momentum,” Capuano said. “[New Jersey] came at us pretty hard. Nabby gave us a chance to win the game.

“He made some good saves at key moments of the game. I thought he played exceptionally well.”

But Nabokov was the only Islander player to receive praise from the coach.

“There was no movement. There was no energy. They were winning all the puck battles. We weren’t moving our feet. We weren’t functioning properly,” Capuano said. “You’re not going to generate any offense if you don’t go to those hot areas and tonight I thought we were on the perimeter way too much.

“There’s a few adjustments we have to make [before Tuesday’s game against the Penguins]. I don’t know if it is personnel or lines but we have to realize that it’s not good enough. We were in a pretty good hockey game for 55 minutes. We just couldn’t close it out.”

Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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Doubtful. Nash carries an average cap hit of $7.8 million on a deal that runs through the 2017-18 season.

Coupled with what’s widely believed to be Columbus general manager Scott Howson’s demands — Brandon Dubinsky, Derek Stepan, Michael Del Zotto or Ryan McDonagh, prospect Chris Kreider and a draft pick — there is a better chance of seeing Denis Potvin receive a standing ovation from the MSG faithful.

2. Why did they let Jeff Carter go to the Kings?

It was a more doable trade than Nash since he’s not the star Hash is, but he has 10 years and $52 million left on his long-term deal.

Also, Carter is not among the league’s Frank J. Selke Trophy candidates — an award given annually to the forward who shows the most defensive ability.

Besides, Carter would have been a poor fit in John Tortorella’s defense-first system. It’s not a disappointment Rangers fans. 

3. So who should the Rangers be looking to add?

The smart thinking has general manager Glen Sather tinkering around the edges. The Rangers need a forward to contribute to the power play and fit into the defense. Think an Andrew Brunette-type.
The Rangers could also use a defenseman. The Wild’s Marek Zidlicky could be had after he complained about being a healthy scratch three games in a row.

The post 3 deals Rangers could pull off at deadline appeared first on Metro.us.

The Tampa Bay Lightning sent centre Dominic Moore and a seventh-round draft pick this year to the San Jose Sharks for a 2012 second-round pick. The trade was announced just before the Sharks faced the Lightning.

“Dominic is an extremely versatile player that has performed in a lot of important playoff games the last two years,” San Jose general manager Doug Wilson said in a statement. “We feel that he is a great fit in several areas and his veteran presence will benefit our team greatly.”

Tampa Bay GM Steve Yzerman announced earlier Thursday that he was also working on a deal involving veteran defenceman Pavel Kubina.

“We’ve decided to protect our interest and keep Pavel off the ice until the situation is resolved,” Yzerman told reporters in Tampa.

Entering Thursday’s game, Tampa was 10 points back of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Lightning join a list of teams willing to trade players ahead of the Feb. 27 trade deadline. Columbus, Edmonton and Carolina are among the others looking to make moves with an eye on the future.

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“I think we did pretty good, but it’s still a long season,” Marian Gaborik said after the Rangers beat Pittsburgh, 4-3. The Rangers have won three in a row, beating Washington, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. “We play six games against these guys so it’s always a big rivalry. [These] are four-point games so we want to make sure that we play well.”
 
The tone was set 16 seconds in when Sean Avery and Tyler Kennedy wrested at center ice. After their two-minute minors for roughing had expired, Avery and Kennedy fought at center ice. Two minutes and twenty one seconds had expired and Avery and Kennedy had seven penalty minutes each.

“Sean did a great job; he stood up for himself and the team,” Michael Sauer said. “It was good for us, got us going.”
 
At the end of the first period, the Rangers had committed 17 minutes worth of penalties, including a roughing minor to Lundqvist, and were forced to kill three power plays. By comparison, Pittsburgh had nine penalty minutes in the first 20, but did not have to penalty kill.
 
Pittsburgh was only able to convert on one of its three first period power plays, a Neal wrist shot with 2:04 remaining. Neal later added an assist on Malkin’s goal with six seconds left in the second.
 
That the Rangers went into the first intermission only trailing 1-0 was due to Henrik Lundqvist’s routine brilliance and the Penguins hitting his posts multiple times. Lundqvist made 13 saves in the first.
 
Ryan Callahan tied the game 1-1 with a power play stuff on Marc-Andre Fleury’s glove side at 8:01 of the second period. The captain’s ninth goal of the season capped a brilliant sequence of skill, speed and passing involving Richards and Callahan.
 
The Rangers grew in confidence after the goal.
 
Mitchell, who was called up from AHL Connecticut along with Carl Hagelin on Nov. 24, snapped a wrist shot over Fleury’s glove six minutes after Callahan’s goal to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead. The goal was his first in 338 games. His last goal occurred on Dec. 26, 2010, while he was a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Mitchell’s second period goal on Martin Brodeur was the game-winner in Toronto’s 4-1 win over the Devils.

“I can’t complain about [scoring on Brodeur and Fleury]. Every goalie in this league is pretty good, whether it’s Fleury [or] Marty, it doesn’t matter,” Mitchell said, while wearing the Broadway Hat. “You have to try to make a good shot or take a good shot.”
 
Richards increased the Rangers’ lead to 3-1 90 seconds later when he whipped a shot over Fleury’s glove. When Gaborik shoveled a rebound over Fleury’s right pad at 18:26, it completed the Rangers’ four-goal outburst in a span of 10:25.  

“It’s just what you see,” Mitchell said of the Rangers’ penchant for shooting high to Fleury’s glove side. “You just have to try to get that shot off as quick and as hard as you can and pick the corners.”
 
Still, the 4-2 lead wasn’t entirely comfortable and it became tenuous after Dupuis cut the Rangers’ lead to 4-3 3:32 into the third.
 
The Rangers were 2-for-4 on the power play. Pittsburgh went 1-for-4 with the man advantage.
 
“They certainly were very good on the power play and very dangerous,” said Dan Bylsma.

Fleury stopped 26 of 30 shots. Pittsburgh is 3-2-0 in the five games since Sidney Crosby’s return.

Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman for news on all three local teams.

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“There [are] no excuses. We have to finish our checks. We have to be more physical,” Capuano said after the Islanders’ 4-1 loss to Vancouver.

The Islanders are 1-6-3 since Oct. 20 and their 4-7-3 record is the second worst in the NHL. The Islanders’ 29 goals are the fewest in the league while their 43 goals allowed ranks 19th out of the league’s 30 teams.   

“We have to find the will to win. We can talk a good game. The players can talk a good game. But you have to find the will to compete every single night,” Capuano said, a damning critique of a team that was a trendy preseason pick to reach the playoffs. “At some point, if it doesn’t, the lineup is going to have to change and other guys have to get an opportunity.”

It’s in this atmosphere that the Islanders host the Rangers tonight at the Coliseum.

The Islanders won the first match, 4-2, at home on Oct. 15. But as the Islanders have descended, the Rangers have ascended — having won six in a row.

The post Rangers make trip to the Island appeared first on Metro.us.

It was a few minutes after 9:30 p.m. on the night of Sept. 26, and the Rangers’ center was sitting at a stall inside the visitors’ dressing room in the bowels of Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center. The Rangers had lost an exhibition game to the Flyers, 5-3.

The loss was not what was on Christensen’s mind. Rather, two checks on Rangers prospect Andre Deveaux bothered Christensen.  

“Stuff that was going on tonight … what can you say?” Christensen asked rhetorically.

Tom Sestito was ejected for checking Deveaux face first into the end boards during the first period. Max Talbot drove Deveaux into the boards in the second period.  

“It’s tough to watch,” Christensen said.

Hits on defenseless players — and the concussion that often follow — have become the hot-button topic in the NHL. Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Clarke MacArthur recently told the Canadian Press that he believes the NHL will become a “no hitting” league.

MacArthur and Sestito are two of the nine players who received supplemental discipline from the NHL during the preseason. NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety and Hockey Operations Brendan Shanahan suspended the athletes for 27 exhibition games and 31 regular season games. As part of the suspensions, the players were fined $701,682.56. The fine money is earmarked for the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

While Christensen favors the punishments, he is concerned that his fellow players do not seem to have heeded Shanahan’s rulings.

“It’s troubling. The message [doesn’t seem to be] getting across. How serious does it have to be for guys to go, ‘Whoa?’” Christensen said. “I don’t want [an incident] to be so serious that a guy can’t play anymore. We don’t want that. What is it going to take?”

Those that favor strong enforcement of the rules point to the number of high quality players that have been sidelined due to injuries — specifically concussions — suffered from the hits.

A short list of players that have missed time includes Boston centers Patrice Bergeron and Marc Savard, Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and David Booth of the Florida Panthers.

Booth suffered two concussions in the span of 152 days during the 2009-10 season. The first occurred on Oct. 24, 2010, in a 5-1 loss to Philadelphia. Booth had just completed a pass when he was slammed into by then-Flyers center Mike Richards. Booth returned to the Panthers after missing 45 games. His season ended following a check from Montreal’s Jaroslav Spacek at the Bell Centre on March 25. He had played in only 28 games that year.

Peter DeBoer was the head coach of the Panthers at the time. He is now the head coach of the Devils. He recalled the Booth hits after a Devils’ 1-0 preseason win over the Islanders at The Prudential Center, in which Islanders rookie center Ryan Strome boarded Devils right wing Stephen Gionta late in the third period.

“I was behind the bench in Florida when David Booth got hit,” DeBoer said. “It was a scary moment that transcends the game. You’re dealing with someone’s life.    

“I think anything they can put in to protect players, I’m willing to live with,” DeBoer said. “We should be open-minded about it and be prepared to accept some of the good and the bad that go with it.”   

The job of protecting players is Shanahan’s. He was formally introduced as the NHL’s new Czar of Discipline on June 1, replacing Colin Campbell. Campbell, in a conference call with Shanahan and reporters, said he thought the job needed “a fresh look and fresh eyes.”

Shanahan worked with fellow recent NHL retirees Rob Blake, Joe Nieuwendyk and Steve Yzerman to modify Rule 48, which penalizes targeted “contact with an opponent’s head.”  NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Shanahan made the announcement at the NHL Board of Governors meeting in June.

Prior to the start of training camps, Shanahan sent DVDs to the league’s 30 teams that detailed legal and illegal hits. Christensen told Metro that the DVDs were explicit in their clarity as to what was a punishable hit.  

However there is already concern as to what is and is not a suspendable hit. Strome was ejected for his hit on Gionta, but was neither fined nor suspended. Talbot was assessed a two-minute minor for boarding Deveaux, but he did not face additional punishment. Shanahan announced on NHL.com that Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ryan Malone would not be punished for a hit on Montreal Canadiens defenseman Chris Campoli this preseason. The force of the hit spun Campoli 360 degrees as he fell to the ice. Shanahan termed the decision the “most difficult to date” and “the most challenging one so far in the preseason.”

“I haven’t seen the replay. The guy kind of turned as I was going by. I don’t know how bad it was. I definitely didn’t mean to hit him too hard. I’m not a dirty player but things happen. If he is hurt, I feel bad, but things happen quick and it wasn’t intentional by any means,” Strome said of his hit on Gionta.  

“I assume so, the way things are going. But you never know,” Strome said when asked by Metro if he anticipated hearing from Shanahan. “That’s the way it is. They [have] to lay down the law and try to make a point to people. It’s just the way things are going. It’s the way it is.”

Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman for news on all three local teams as well as news from the league as a whole.

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Follow Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman for coverage of all three local NHL teams.

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Just ask Jack Capuano.

“You know what, as a coach you think about that but, again, we had 33 shots tonight. We had 17, 18 scoring chances. It’s not like we played real bad or poorly. The guys worked hard and they created some offense. So it hasn’t really crossed my mind, yet.” a clearly irritated Capuano said after the Islanders were shut out 3-0 by the Penguins for their third straight loss. The teams will play in Pittsburgh tomorrow night.

Even though Capuano correctly noted that the Islanders were credited with 33 shots on goal, the Islanders were not able to sustain offense. As a result, Marc-Andre Fleury did not have to work especially hard to earn his 20th career shutout. The Penguins blocked 26 shots and their team defense would not allow the Islanders to forecheck and cycle the puck. Fleury’s best save occurred early in the third period as he stretched out to stuff a Matt Moulson wraparound attempt.

“They did a good job blocking shots and [clearing out] rebounds,” Fleury said of his teammates.

Pascal Dupuis’s slapshot goal at 17:06 of the first period opened the scoring. Dupuis, who beat Evgeni Nabokov (26 saves) stickside, was sprung for his semi-breakaway by a spectacular Brooks Orpik headman pass.

Former Islanders Aaron Asham and Richard Park doubled the Pens’ lead to 2-0 21 seconds into the second period with a wrister over Nabokov’s glove. Asham set up Park in the high slot for the shot as Matt Cooke screened the Islanders goaltender. Pittsburgh milked the lead until Jordan Staal’s empty-net goal with 2:00 remaining ended the scoring.

“Obviously we have to score a few goals to win. But to cut a couple more of their chances down, we have to be sharper,” John Tavares said. “That would definitely help.”

Pittsburgh finished with 29 shots. 

Sidney Crosby did not make the trip to Long Island as he continues to recuperate from two concussions that prematurely ended his 2010-11 season. Evgeni Malkin did play for the first time since Oct. 13. Malkin, who had his 2010-11 season ended due to torn right knee ligaments, missed the Penguins’ last five games. Malkin appeared to labor as the game progressed, but did have three shots on goal in 19:19 of ice time, including 2:53 of power play time.  

“My knee feels good,” Malkin said.

He admitted that it could bother him “a little bit.”

“I put ice [on the knee] after the game. Now it feels pretty good and I’m ready to play [Thursday’s] game,” Malkin said.

The primary angle leading up to last night’s match was the renewal of hostilities between the Atlantic Division rivals. The teams combined for 342 penalty minutes, 15 fighting majors and 10 game misconduct penalties in the Islanders’ 9-3 win last Feb. 11.

Those that attended in hopes of viewing an amalgamation of boxing, mixed martial arts and professional wrestling on ice were sorely disappointed. Just five minor penalties were called. The Penguins were unable to score on their two power plays and the Islanders were 0-for -1 with man advantage.

Follow Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman for news on all the New York-area hockey teams.

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Among the strongest advocates for the elimination of fighting in the game is   The Hockey News columnist Adam Proteau. He is the author of a soon-to-be-released book that challenges the NHL to clean up its on-ice product titled “Fighting The Good Fight: Why On-Ice Violence Is Killing Hockey.”
“It’s what I consider the exceptionalism that says ‘We’re different from all those other sports.’ The NFL, where guys will grab each other’s testicles in a scrum, somehow that’s less manly or less forceful than what happens in the NHL. I don’t buy it,” Proteau told Metro by phone this week. “It’s an unnatural part of hockey.”

The website Hockeyfights.com reports there have been 34 fights in the first 74 games this year, and it projects that there will be 565 fights by the end of the 2011-12 regular season. Moreover, there have been 3,754 fights in the 7,448 regular season games that have been contested, as of this writing, since the lockout. That works out to an average of one fight every two games.

“Guys are bigger, stronger, faster every year. You take away where the guys can police the game themselves then it’s going to be a bunch of stick work,” Islanders enforcer Trevor Gilles said following practice at Nassau Coliseum Tuesday. “It’s important that guys know that they have to be held accountable for taking liberties with star players.”
 
His words echoes those of Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke at the NHL Board of Governors meeting in June. When asked by Metro about the state of fighting in the NHL, Burke replied, “Even people like me, who are pro-fighting, are happy with where fighting is and don’t want to see its role expanded. The place fighting has in our game is that players do self-police.”
 
It is a rationale that Proteau vehemently disputes.
 
“I don’t buy any of that Brian Burke talk and I like Brian. He’s part of the hockey establishment that believes hockey is exceptional [compared to other major professional sports],” Proteau said. “I don’t buy the self-policing angle either because it’s always the so-called policeman in the game they’re the ones that wind up snapping, whether it’s Trevor Gillies or Chris Simon in the past, or some people might say Matt Cooke is a policeman. Derek Boogaard, when he was alive, he was certainly a policeman. They’re the ones that go off and take a baseball swing or stomp down on somebody’s skate.
 
“I just think this idea that there’s this Wild West romanticized ethical code that all hockey players live by is nonsense.”
 
Last Feb. 11, the Penguins and Islanders played in a game where they combined for 342 penalty minutes, 15 fighting majors and 10 game misconduct penalties in the Islanders’ 9-3 win. 

It was a game that left a black eye on the NHL. 

“I don’t think many people really thought it was right or it was hockey; obviously it was a game that had a lot of emotion. I guess that’s the way it kind of worked out,” said Islanders center John Tavares. “I think that game is in its own kind of category. Obviously, that was a little bit over the top and really
wasn’t much of a hockey game after the first half.”

While Tavares acknowledged the public outcry that emanated in the aftermath of the now-infamous game, he views the enforcer as someone who is in the sport for the foreseeable future.
 
“I think your linemates create you more [scoring] opportunities, but the ability an enforcer has, to make sure you’re not being taken advantage of in certain situations, is a big role. They’re there to protect you in a sense,” Tavares said. “Fighting is part of the game and I think we all believe it should stay. I think [if] you ask other players, for the most part, believe in it as well. Obviously not everyone is a fan of it but it’s been in the game for so long.”

Follow Metro’s NHL writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman for coverage of all the area teams.

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The word that best describes the Devils forward units is thin. Yes, Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk are unquestionably stars, while Travis Zajac, Patrik Elias and David Clarkson are solid players.
 
Then, uncertainty.
 
Are Jacob Josefson, Adam Henrique and Nick Palmieri ready to play second- and third-line roles? Zajac will miss at least the first month as he recuperates from Achilles surgery. Who will fill in for him on the top line? Can Dainius Zubrus and Mattias Tedenby provide enough secondary offense?
 
The Devils 2.08 goals per game ranked last in the league, while their power play was 28th out of 30.
 
DEFENSE 

In the Devils’ two decades of dominance, defense was a position strength. It wasn’t last year and doesn’t appear to be one this year. Fourth-overall pick Adam Larsson impressed in training camp and in the exhibition season. The 18-year-old Larsson, who played for Skelleftea of the Swedish Elite League last season, won admirers in Parise and Kovalchuk for his ability to run the power play.
 
After Larsson, there’s not a whole lot to be excited about.
 
Anton Volchenkov is one of the league’s better hitters and shot-blockers on the blueline, but his salary (five years and $21.25 million remaining) screams for a franchise defenseman instead of solid piece. Andy Greene and Henrik Tallinder are fifth and sixth defensemen on most teams.
 
GOALTENDING

A question mark. Martin Brodeur is 39 years old and Johan Hedberg is 38. Both showed their age during the preseason. Moreover, both are unrestricted free agents after this season. Is Jeff Frazee the long-term answer in goal? If not, is there a young, NHL-ready goaltender in the Devils system?
 
PREDICTION:  Last season was the first since 1995-96 that the Devils did not make the playoffs. It appears that the Devils will miss the playoffs this season because of the plethora of on-and-off-ice issues facing the organization. The 1985-86 and 1986-87 seasons marked the last time the Devils did not qualify for the playoffs in consecutive years.    

Follow NHL writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman for coverage of all three area teams.
 

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A plethora of riches. Tavares, the No.1 overall pick in the 2009 draft, is improving on a game-by-game basis. He ended last season with 29 goals — one of five Isles to score 20 or more. Michael Grabner led the team with 34 goals and partnered with Frans Nielsen to form a dynamic penalty-kill duo. Matt Moulson finished with 31 goals, which marked the second year of 30 goals for the former Los Angeles King. Burgeoning power forward Kyle Okposo recorded 20 points in 38 games and third-line wing P.A. Parenteau broke the 50-point barrier for the first time in his NHL career.
 
Last year’s first-round pick (fifth overall) Nino Niederreiter is expected to make the team. The right wing played nine games last year totaling two points and eight penalty minutes before being returned to the Western Hockey League’s Portland Winterhawks. Niederreiter had 41 goals, 70 points and 67 penalty minutes in 55 games at Portland.
 
DEFENSE

No team suffered a worse injury to one of its athletes last season than did the Islanders, who lost Mark Streit in training camp to torn labrum and torn rotator cuff. The Islanders’ power play finished 17th in the league without its quarterback and the team ranked 27th out of the league’s 30 teams in defense. What the organization did learn was that Andy MacDonald and Travis Hamonic made for a solid shutdown pair. Calvin De Haan could make the jump from OHL Oshawa to the Island.
 
GOALTENDING

Like the forward and defense positions, there’s depth and more depth in goal. Like Moulson and Grabner previously, Snow may have stumbled onto something with Al Montoya. Montoya, acquired from Phoenix midway through last season, posted a respectable 9-5-5 record with a 2.39 GAA and .921 save percentage. Evgeni Nabokov attended camp and according to his teammates and GM, there are no ill feelings towards the former Shark, who did report to the team after not being claimed on waivers in January. Rick DiPietro and his $4.5 million cap hit is on the books through the 2020-21 season.
 
PREDICTION: What killed the 2010-11 Islanders were their 20 losses in 21 games early in the season. That won’t happen again. For argument’s sake, had the Islanders gone 10-10-1 in that stretch, they would have earned 21 points. They finished last season with 73. Add those numbers together and they would have been the Eastern Conference eighth seed.
 
Snow signed Tavares, Grabner, Okposo and Moulson to extensions over the summer instead of spending in the free-agent market. The organization believes it must keep its youth because free agents are disinclined to sign with the Islanders because of the condition of the Nassau Coliseum and the franchise’s long-term uncertainty. Still, the perception of the Islanders would have changed for the positive had the franchise made a play for RFA’s Drew Doughty, Shea Webber, Zach Parise or Steven Stamkos. Moreover, in a stacked Eastern Conference, one of those four players might have boosted the Islanders to their first playoff berth since 2007.

Follow NHL writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman for coverage of all the local teams.

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After an announcement yesterday confirmed that the worst kept secret in hockey — the 2011 Winter Classic — will be played between the Flyers and Rangers at Citizens Bank Park, the Flyers captain was telling reporters to stay off the outfield grass.

“Hey, off the grass, let’s go,” Pronger shouted.

Pronger will be a center of attention when the Flyers and Rangers get mic’d up for HBO’s “24/7” reality series, an all-access program that takes viewers inside each team’s locker room in the weeks leading up to the Jan. 2 game.

Both teams admit that it will take time to adjust.

“I think there will be an adjustment period at first, having a camera in your face 24/7 and having to do a little bit more interview-wise, but it’s a great opportunity for the fans to see what we’re like off the ice,” said Rangers captain Ryan Callahan.

“I don’t like being mic’d and I don’t like being taped,” Flyers coach Peter Laviolette, “but if the deal is that in order to get a Winter Classic and to be well-represented by HBO like they were [last year], the two teams and the National Hockey League, then I’m all for it.”

Last year, Washington coach Bruce Boudreau morphed into an overnight celebrity — largely due to his penchant for swearing. (He used the F-word 15 times during a speech).

Callahan said he’d definitely be checking out the show, but said he doesn’t plan on trying to show up the Flyers.

“No, I’m not one of those guys that thinks like that,” he said. “But you can tell from last year that the rivalry intensifies a little bit as each show goes on and on.”

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Follow Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman for news on all the local NHL teams.

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“This is a lot different feel than some other stuff that we do. I think everyone was excited to come here and show our support and meet these men and women, who put their life on the line,” Callahan said.

Callahan was part of a group of Rangers players and executives who visited three lower Manhattan firehouses on behalf of the Garden of Dreams Foundation, Wounded Warriors, NYPD Widows and Children and the Uniformed Firefighters Association in remembrance of the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

The team posed for pictures, chatted and signed autographs for the firefighters and their families along with presenting a jersey signed by the team to Hook and Ladder Company 5, Engine 24.
 
“We’re going out and playing a sport and these guys are putting their lives on the line every day to make us safe,” Callahan said. “What we do compares nothing to what they do and it’s not even close. If anything, we should be asking for their autographs and thanking them for keeping us safe.”
 
The team posed for pictures, chatted and signed autographs for the firefighters, their families and the troops along with presenting a jersey signed by the team to Hook and Ladder Company 5, Engine 24.
 
“When they approached us about doing this, everyone jumped on board. Everyone’s excited to do it,” Callahan added. “You get a sense of what this is all about and how much this affected New York City. I don’t think you realize that until you live here and experience the City life. Even today, meeting the families that were affected, you realize how much this affected everyone in New York. It’s a sad thing and we’re happy to be here and hopefully get to meet them and cheer them up a little bit.”
 
One of the NHL’s youngest teams, only a handful of Rangers were in the league on Sept. 11, 2001. Rangers coach John Tortorella was in his first full year as a head coach with a Tampa Bay squad that included rookie Brad Richards. Martin Biron was entering his fourth season with Buffalo, while Ruslan Fedotenko was a Flyers rookie.
 
Tortorella, who was an assistant coach with the 1999-2000 Rangers before being named interim head coach for the final four games that season, remembered
 
“I was on the ice. It was my first camp as a head coach. I came off after one session and someone told me one of the towers was hit,” Tortorella said. “I had no clue what was happening but when the second one — when we got word that the second one was hit — that’s when we figured that something was really wrong.
 
“We went about our business. We made a decision, ‘do we keep on working?’ We went about our business that day. Obviously things deteriorated and it really changed our world.”
 
Richards recalled that the Lightning visited Ground Zero during their first trip to New York that season. The visit left an impression.
 
“Our first game we played the Rangers, probably six weeks after it happened,” Richards said. “I think it was actually Torts who set it up. We went down and checked it out. We walked around the area and saw what was going on
 
“It [was] totally different once you were there. Just chaos. Just couldn’t fathom what happened.”

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At first glance, it hardly seems fitting that a celebratory press conference, complete with a highlight reel and flowery words from rivals, teammates, coaches and executives, never occurred.

But in the case of Chris Drury, bidding adieu to the game in a quiet manner is befitting his personality.

The NHLPA announced Drury’s retirement Friday morning. The center leaves the game having played 892 regular season games with Colorado, Calgary, Buffalo and the New York Rangers. He amassed 255 goals and 360 assists for 615 points and was minus-6. Drury played in 139 playoff games and totaled 47 goals, 42 assists, 89 points and was plus-24. He won a Cup with the 2001 Avalanche and was named the 1998-99 Calder Trophy winner.

“It was a surprise to me,” Ryan Callahan told Metro by phone Friday afternoon.

Long recognized as one of American sports’ greatest big game athletes, Drury totaled eight goals, 11 assists and 19 points in 52 games as a member of Team USA in international competition (World Junior Championships, World Championships, World Cup and the Olympics, where he earned two silver medals and a bronze), along with being a key component to the 1989 Little League World Series Champions from Trumbull, Conn.

“Throughout his career, Chris Drury was always a great competitor, a tremendous leader and teammate, and the heart and soul type of player that every team would love to have,” Rangers GM Glen Sather said in a statement.  “His commitment, determination and will to win were apparent each and every day.  Those characteristics will have a lasting impact on all those who were fortunate enough to learn from Chris over his 12 years in the National Hockey League.”

The Rangers signed Drury to a five-year, $35.250 million free-agent deal following the 2007 season with the belief that he and fellow signee Scott Gomez would seamlessly fit into a team that already had Jaromir Jagr.

Drury scored 62 goals and 151 points in 264 games with the Rangers. However, his on-ice production paled in comparison to his intangible qualities, including teaching the organization’s young players how to be NHL players.

Callahan said Drury was someone he “looked up to, tried to emulate. [He was a] pro on and off the ice. I don’t think I’d be here without Dru. Definitely, being an assistant captain to Dru helped me to be a leader.” 

Both the Rangers and Drury seemed to prepare for a separation as player’s moved into the offseason.

Drury had only played in 24 games last season due to a lingering knee injury, and the organization had embarked on a youth movement. While praising their relationship, John Tortorella noted that Drury “tried like hell but he slowed down as [the first-round playoff series against the Capitals] went on.” Tortorella added that the organization would be “going young. We’re trying to build it up again.”

Drury told reporters when asked about his future that he “just kind of take it one day at a time. I just kind of always prepare for the next practice and the next game.”

The Rangers bought out the last year of Drury’s contract on June 29. Fifty-one days later, he said goodbye.

Follow Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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The Rangers and Richards agreed to a nine year, $60 million contract Saturday morning.  The pact, in which there is a no movement clause, calls for Richards to earn $57 million in the first six years and $1 million in each of the final three years while being an annual $6.67 million hit to the Rangers cap.
 
The Richards signing should improve the Rangers’ offensive production in the foreseeable future. The Rangers were a playoff team in 2010-11 due to its willingness to grind along the boards and forecheck. But the lack of skill was evident in the first round playoff series loss to Washington. The Rangers lost the series in five games and were outscored 13-8.  
 
“We have to add skill within our lineup. We need to look at all avenues. We’re building the right foundation. We had some really good growth and some surprises,” Head coach John Tortorella said on breakup day. “When you get into the real stuff of the playoffs and play a skillful team like Washington, you can see where we need some help in that area. We’ll have to look at all areas.”
 
During a Saturday afternoon conference call in which Rangers President Glen Sather and Richards also participated, Tortorella said that organizational decision makers determined that the Rangers’ biggest needs were “an elite center ice man” and “a guy to run the power play.
 
“We got that with Richie.”
 
The Rangers power play was mostly ineffective in the regular season as they connected on a 16.9 percent rate in the regular season. The ineffective power play in the regular season became impotent in the playoffs. The Rangers only scored once on 20 man-advantage chances against Washington.
 
Moreover, the Rangers finished 16th in the NHL with a 2.73 goals per game average in 2010-11. Richards has scored 716 points in his 772 career regular season game, an average of 1.078 points per game. He finished last season with 77 points in 72 games. He will center Marian Gaborik on the top line. Gaborik fell from 42 goals in 2009-10 to 22 last season. Tortorella moved the right wing throughout the lineup, trying to find the linemates that boost his production.
 
“I know Gabby is very excited that Brad is here,” Sather said. “It’s going to make him a much better player.”
 
Along with signing Gaborik, Sather signed former Pittsburgh center Mike Rupp to a three-year, $4.5 million contract, and brought back Ruslan Fedotenko. The Rangers are $15 million under the cap but have to agree to terms with restricted free agent forwards Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov and Brian Boyle, and RFA defenseman Michael Sauer. The organization could also re-sign UFA defenseman Steve Eminger to add depth.  

Rangers: Added the “elite center,” to quote John Tortorella, by agreeing to the nine-year, $60 million contract with Brad Richards. Added a respected veteran in Mike Rupp, who should fit nicely alongside Brian Boyle and Brandon Prust. Organizational decision makers will be ecstatic if that line contribute 30 goals, 300 hits and kill penalties effectively.

Re-signing Ruslan Fedotenko means that one of the third line wing slots is filled, leaving an intriguing job battle between Erik Christensen, Mats Zuccarello, Dale Weise and Sean Avery. Tortorella often spoke glowingly about the organizational depth, especially at AHL Connecticut. At least two of the four players that lose the third line wing job will start 2011-12 with the Whale. Glen Sather has $15 to lock up his RFAs. Grade: A

Devils: Lou Lamiorello was limited to re-signing Andy Greene and Johan Hedberg due to the Devils’ cap situation. Greene is serviceable as a third or fourth defenseman. Hedberg should play 20-to-25 games next year in order for Martin Brodeur to be fresh down the stretch. The Devils hope Swedish defenseman Adam Larsson, whom they selected with the fourth overall pick in the draft, becomes the No.1 defenseman the franchise has lacked since Scott Stevens retired and Scott Niedermayer left Jersey for Anaheim. The one must-sign is Zach Parise. The wing and Devils went to arbitration before the start of free agency, with the popular thinking being the two sides agree to a one-year deal while working out a long-term extension during the 2011-12 campaign. Grade: Incomplete

Islanders: The Islanders were conservative in free agency, signing Marty Reasoner. He’ll help on ice by winning faceoffs and contributing offensive production from third line.  With the Islanders not all that far away from contending for a playoff spot, the organization desperately needs to make bold, decisive moves in the RFA market. Should Lightning center Steven Stamkos and/or Kings defenseman Drew Doughty not sign long-term pacts with their teams, the onus will be on the organization to present lucrative, multi-year offer sheets to one or both worth over $100 million. While their production make Stamkos and Doughty worth the offer sheet, the real benefit would be to the perception of the organization in the eyes of players, league executives and, with the New Nassau Coliseum referendum vote scheduled for August 1, in the eyes of voters. Grade: Incomplete

Follow Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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Around the horn

Phillies at Mets
Friday, 7:10 p.m. (SNY)
Baseball has the stage to itself this weekend, but Bud Selig won’t put on a show. This is the only rivalry or game worth flipping on all weekend — what else are you going to watch? Yankees at Mariners with a lovely 10:10 p.m. first pitch? And even this NL East clash is lacking, as neither Roy Halladay nor Cliff Lee will take the mound. That’s fine with the Mets, who dropped two of three in each of the first two meetings with the Phils. Ryan Howard is hitting .320 vs. N.Y. with three homers and nine RBIs, while his cleanup counterpart Jason Bay is just 1-for-13 against the Phillies.

NHL playoffs

Lightning at Bruins
Friday, 8 (VERSUS)
Hockey and summer go together like Kelly Clarkson and a diet. Still, with the NBA finals basically decided, this Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals will be the most competitive game on this side of the pond this weekend. The Lightning lit up Tim Thomas for five goals on 26 shots in a Game 6 win, while Tampa’s Dwayne Roloson improved to 7-0 in elimination games. Boston is trying to reach the Cup finals for the first time in 21 years, but Martin St. Louis, with four goals and seven points in this series, should lead the Lightning to a win.

Across the pond

Barcelona vs. Man. U
Saturday, 2 (FOX)
Soccer’s two biggest powers collide in the UEFA Champions League final for the second time in three years. Barcelona won the 2009 crown with an early netter and 2-0 victory. Manchester United will show a balanced, conservative defense to trip up Lionel Messi and try to steal a win at Wembley on the golden boot of 22-year-old Javier Hernandez, who has scored 20 goals since joining the club 13 months ago.

Greens fees

BMW PGA Championship
Sat./Sun., 9 a.m. (GOLF)
Stay overseas if you want to watch real contenders on the course. A Tiger-less PGA Tour has taken a backseat to the European Tour, and it stays that way this weekend on the outskirts of London. All four reigning major champions and six of the world’s top seven players are competing, including No. 2 Luke Donald, who shot a 7-under 64 to take the first-round lead Thursday. The Byron Nelson in Dallas, meanwhile, boasts just one top-10 player in American Matt Kuchar.

Rev your engines

Indianapolis 500
Sunday, noon (ABC)
You may know only two names at this year’s race, but it’s still worth checking out. Literally. Danica Patrick snuck into the field after a top-10 finish last year, while Ashley Judd could be in the winner’s circle yet again if husband Dario Franchitti takes the checkered flag for a third time. Franchitti, the defending champ, and Scott Dixon are the co-favorites to win the 100th running of this iconic race.

Court of appeal

French Open
Monday, noon (ESPN2)
Rafael Nadal continues his march to a record sixth French Open title, while Caroline Wozniacki will try to move on to the quarterfinals for the second straight year. Novak Djokovic may end up stealing the spotlight, though, if he remains undefeated this season.

Big screen

Take in a matinee
Monday, noon (AMC)
We told you baseball was bogus this weekend. That’s why we suggest tuning in to “Patton” at noon, then “The Longest Day” at 4 p.m. After that, it’ll be the longest month-plus until one of the best shows on TV right now, “Breaking Bad,” comes back for Season Four in July.

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Now those 16 have the opportunity in the next two months to participate in the games that really matter.

The playoffs are upon us.

The two-month marathon for the Stanley Cup begins tonight with Game 1 in five series: Washington vs. New York, Pittsburgh vs. Tampa Bay, Vancouver vs. Chicago, Detroit vs. Phoenix and Anaheim vs. Nashville.

The other three series —Philadelphia vs. Buffalo, Boston vs. Montreal and San Jose vs. Los Angeles — start tomorrow.

In this new, parity-driven world of Gary Bettman hockey, there are no dynasties. Legendary teams such as the late-’70s Canadiens, the early-’80s Islanders or the five-Cups-in-seven-years Oilers would have been broken up due to the salary cap.

There have been five Cup winners in the five postseasons following the lockout, and only one team — the Detroit Red Wings — even reached the Final in consecutive years.

What the salary cap has done by leveling the financial playing field is guarantee all 30 of the NHL’s franchises are flawed in some way.

But arguments can be made for and against any of the 16 playoff squads winning the Cup. The ice is open. Anyone can win.

That was proven last year, when the Philadelphia Flyers clinched the last playoff spot in the East in the regular-season finale, then got red-hot and reached the Stanley Cup Final. Philadelphia lost the series in six games to Chicago.

Playoff capsules:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Washington Capitals (48-23-11, 107 points) vs. 8. New York Rangers (44-33-5, 93 points)

Game 1 is Wednesday, 7:30 P.M.

The scoop: A rematch of the 2008-09 first round series that Washington won in seven games after the Rangers took a 3-1 lead. The Rangers won the 2010-11 regular season series 3-1-0.

Player to watch: Washington goaltender Michael Neuvirth. There is a belief that Washington will not win a Cup because their young goaltenders, Neuvirth, Semyon Varlamov and Braden Holtby are viewed as not yet ready.  If the Caps are to win it all, Neuvirth will have to take the next step. 

The prediction: It would be simplistic to suggest that the series breaks down to the whole-greater-than-its-parts Rangers versus the high octane Capitals. It is also the correct assessment. Bruce Boudreau implemented a defensive system to prepare Washington for the playoffs but their goaltending with cost them, again. New York Rangers in six.  

2: Philadelphia Flyers (47-23-12, 106 points) vs. 7: Buffalo Sabres (43-29-10, 96 points)

Game 1 is Thursday, 7:30 P.M.

The scoop: The last time Philadelphia won the Stanley Cup was the spring of 1975. Since then, they have had fantastic teams that came up short. The 2010-11 Flyers are deep at forward and on defense and could make a Cup run…if their goaltending holds up.

Player to watch: Philadelphia goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. The Flyers goaltending situation is akin to Washington’s. The difference is that while the Capitals have never won a Cup, Philly has two in its history. However, Philadelphia’s last Cup came 35 years ago.  

The prediction: Danny Briere said after a recent loss that Philadelphia’s focus is “the playoffs.” While it had been long known that the Flyers would participate in the important spring games, their cavalier attitude in the season’s final weeks is a concern. Buffalo Sabres in six.

3: Boston Bruins (46-25-11, 103 points) vs. 6: Montreal Canadiens (44-30-8, 96 points)

Game 1 is Thursday, 7:00 P.M.

The scoop: The 33rd playoff meeting between the Original Six rivals may be the most heated in Bruins-Canadiens history. In the aftermath of Zdeno Chara’s devastating check to Max Pacioretty, Mark Recchi questioned the severity of the Canadiens’ rookie’s injuries. Milan Lucic acknowledged that the Bruins “hate” the Canadiens while Montreal police began an investigation into the incident.

Player to watch: Boston defenseman Zdeno Chara. Following his check of Pacioretty, Chara, the Norris Trophy candidate, has become a villain in 29 of the 30 NHL markets. Already despised in Montreal, he will be booed lustily every time he touches the puck at the Bell Centre.  

The prediction: Of the eight first round matchups, this is the one to watch. The hockey will be intense and emotional throughout. Boston, for a very good team, has a troubling tendency to stop playing for portions of games. That Achilles Heel will bite the Bruins at the most inopportune time. Montreal Canadiens in six.   

4: Pittsburgh Penguins (49-25-8, 106 points) vs. 5: Tampa Bay Lightning (46-25-11, 103 points)

Game 1 is Wednesday, 7:00 P.M.

The scoop: Perhaps with the exception of Nashville GM David Poile and coach Barry Trotz, no two individuals meant more to their team that Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. That the Penguins are a playoff team following the losses of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have a great deal to do with the efforts of the Jack Adams and Hart candidates. 

Player to watch: Tampa Bay center Steven Stamkos. The National Hockey League’s second leading goal scorer makes his playoff debut.  

The prediction: The potent Pens transformed into a shutdown unit after Crosby and Malkin were shelved. Eventually, though, the lack of offense will hurt Pittsburgh, and the damage should come from Tampa Bay’s explosive group. Tampa Bay Lightning in six.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1: Vancouver Canucks (54-19-9, 117 points) vs. 8: Chicago Blackhawks (44-29-9, 97 points)

Game 1 is Wednesday, 10:00 P.M.

The scoop: Vancouver, the National Hockey League’s best team in the regular season has an opportunity to exorcise playoff demons by eliminating the team that ended their 2008-09 and 2009-10 campaigns. Chicago qualified for the last playoff slot when Minnesota beat Dallas, 5-3, Sunday night. 

Player to watch: Chicago goaltender Corey Crawford. You’re a rookie manning the nets for one of the NHL’s historically significant franchises. Oh, you’re the no.1 for a team that is defending its first Stanley Cup Championship since the 1961-62 season. Other than that, no pressure.  

The prediction: We picked the Canucks as its Stanley Cup Champion before the season began. Nothing transpired over the six month regular season to change our mind. That they get to face Chicago in the first round is wholly appropriate considering that the Blackhawks ended their last two seasons. That won’t happen this time. Vancouver in five.

2. San Jose Sharks (48-25-9, 105 points) vs. 7. Los Angeles Kings (46-30-6, 98 points)

Game 1 is Thursday, 10:00 P.M.

The scoop: The NHL’s Pacific Division Nor Cal vs. So Cal playoff matchup. San Jose and Los Angeles each won three of the six regular season games between the rivals. Both entered the season as Cup contenders, so expect animosity to ratchet up as the veteran Sharks and young Kings meet in the playoffs for the first time.    

Player to watch: San Jose center Joe Thornton and San Jose right wing Dany Heatley. Have two supposed great players accomplished so little in the meaningful games? For the Sharks to win the first Stanley Cup in franchise history, both will have to be dominant figures.

The prediction: Much like two of the franchise’s cornerstone players, Thornton and Heatley, the Sharks have yet to accomplish much in the playoffs. Two years ago, GM Doug Wilson publicly criticized his team following a first round loss. Will he break the team up after they lose to the Los Angeles Kings in seven games?

3. Detroit Red Wings (47-25-10, 104 points) vs. 6. Phoenix Coyotes (43-26-13, 99 points)

Game 1 is Wednesday, 7:00 P.M.

The scoop: The Western Conference second seed prepped for the playoffs by going 8-7-4 in the final two months. Phoenix qualified for the playoffs for the second straight year despite its well-chronicled ownership issues.

Player to watch: Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard. So you finish the regular year tied for second in wins with 37, but due to a 2.77 goals against average and a .908 save percentage, your employer publicly woos an over-the-hill goaltender who struggled badly in the KHL. When that fell through, the organization stated you’re their guy. Got to feel the support, no?

The prediction: The Red Wings are one of the most underappreciated dynasties in major American sports. Detroit has qualified for the NHL playoffs each of the last 20 seasons. In that time, they have won four Cups. Yet due to injuries and age, it seems as if they are ripe for the taking. Maybe it’s foolish but METRO is going with the Phoenix Coyotes to win in six.

4. Anaheim Ducks (47-30-5, 99 points) vs. 5. Nashville Predators (44-27-11, 99 points)

Game 1 is Wednesday, 10:30 P.M.

The scoop: If Pittsburgh-Tampa Bay is a dark horse as the best first round series, Anaheim-Nashville is 1A. The Ducks top line of Bobby Ryan-Ryan Getzlaf-Corey Perry is among the NHL’s top five trios, while the Predators boast a Vezina and Hart candidate in goaltender Pekka Rinne and Norris candidate in Shea Webber.

Player to watch: Anaheim right wing Corey Perry. The 2010-11 Rocket Richard Award Winner scored 50 goals in 82 games, and finished with 98 points. For good measure, he added 104 penalty minutes and staked a legitimate claim as one of the best power forwards in the game.

The prediction: The toughest of the eight series to pick. Anaheim’s physical style of play is designed to be successful in the playoffs. Much like the Rangers, Nashville’s whole is stronger than the sum of its parts. Only nine Predators finished in double figure goal scoring, yet 20 players finished with 10 or more points. Oh, and Pekka Rinne is the best player no one talks about. That’s why we’re going with the Nashville Predators in seven games.

The post NHL Playoff preview: Canucks favored, upsets likely appeared first on Metro.us.

The biggest deal of the day was Dustin Penner leaving Edmonton for Los Angeles. In return, the Oilers received a first round and third round pick at this June’s draft along with prospect Colten Teubert.

With 24 of the league’s 30 teams in playoff contention, and myriad trades having been made in the last six-to-eight weeks, perhaps the lack of last minute deal-making should have been expected.

The biggest acquisition made by the three local NHL franchises was the Rangers landing Bryan McCabe from Florida for Tim Kennedy and a third round pick on Saturday. The 35-year-old McCabe is the heavy power play point shot that John Tortorella had publicly stumped for.   McCabe has 143 goals and 522 points in 1,117 NHL games.

“Bryan McCabe adds an established veteran presence to our young defensive corps. He can help provide offense with his strong shot on the power play, and his versatility allows him to play either the left or right side effectively,” GM Glen Sather said in a statement.  “Bryan also brings outstanding leadership qualities, having served as team captain for Florida for the past two seasons.”

McCabe met with the media before Sunday’s 2-1 home loss to Tampa Bay, in which he played 17:35, was credited with two shots on goal while having another three blocked, and displayed good puck-moving ability that has been one of the hallmarks of his career.

“They are a hard working team. They come to play every night. They have one of the best goalies in the league, so that always helps. They have some big forwards that can get to the net and pay the price. Hopefully I can get some pucks there for them,” McCabe said of his new team before analyzing what he brings to the Rangers. “Obviously, I’m a shooter. They have some big bodies—(Brian) Boyle, (Brandon) Dubinsky and (Artem) Anisimov—who get to the net. My job will be just to get the puck there for them and let them do what they have to do.”

Despite myriad rumors linking the Rangers to Dallas UFA center Brad Richards, Sather held firm to his belief that youth is vital to the franchise’s future and did not pull the trigger on the blockbuster trade. Recent reports stated that Dallas GM Joe Nieuwendyk had demanded Dubinsky, All-Star defenseman Marc Staal and rookie center Derek Stepan in a package for Richards. Instead, Sather dealt a seventh-round pick to Toronto for 26-year old utility forward John Mitchell. Mitchell has three points (2-1) and 12 penalty minutes in 23 games this season. He has played 159 NHL games over three seasons, having recorded 55 points (20-35) and 76 penalty minutes.

The Devils did the expected and traded center Jason Arnott. The UFA-to-be was sent to Washington for David Steckel and a second round pick. Arnott totaled 13 goals and 24 points in 62 games with New Jersey. Steckel has found fame for having shouldered Sidney Crosby in the head at the Winter Classic.

Atlanta claimed Rob Schremp off waivers from the Islanders. 

WINNERS

New York Rangers
The deal
» Added a young scoring forward (Wojtek Wolski), a power-play defenseman (Bryan McCabe) and a utility forward (John Mitchell) for Michal Rozsival, AHLer Tim Kennedy and picks.
Impact
» They desperately needed special teams scoring.
» Glen Sather did not mortgage the future for Brad Richards, who he will have every opportunity to sign as a free agent July 1.

Philadelphia Flyers
The deal
» Acquired Kris Versteeg, a legitimate top-nine forward, for a first- and third-round pick in June.
» Improved NHL-best back end by grabbing Nick Boynton off waivers from Chicago.
Impact
» Coming up short last season, Philly could have folded to the pressure and reached for big-name guys to throw off chemistry.
» Instead, it added nice complementary pieces.

Pittsburgh Penguins
The deal
» Landing burgeoning power forward James Neal and solid defenseman Matt Niskanen from Dallas for Alex Goligoski was a coup.
» Gave up a seventh-rounder to Ottawa for Alex Kovalev.
Impact
» When Sidney Crosby returns from a concussion—whether this season or next — the world’s best player will have a presence in front of the net to swat rebounds in Neal.

Vancouver Canucks
The deal
» Picked up forwards Chris Higgins from Florida and Maxim Lapierre from Anaheim, along with Ducks’ minor leaguer MacGregor Sharp, for two prospects and two third-round picks.
Impact
» GM Mike Gillis found a weakness and upgraded his fourth line, which has used 11 different forwards. The minor pieces bring energy to a club coasting to the playoffs.

LOSERS

Washington Capitals
The deal
» Fading Caps added veteran forward Jason Arnott from the Devils for David Steckel and second-round pick in next year’s draft.
» Also picked up defenseman Dennis Wideman.
Impact
» Arnott has recorded 66 points in 106 postseason games, but he’s not the final piece of the puzzle for a team that is championship or bust.
» Needed an upgrade in net.

Dallas Stars
The deal
» GM Joe Nieuwendyk on keeping center Brad Richards:?“I wasn’t going to move him unless someone really knocked our socks off with something we couldn’t refuse.”
Impact
» Plain and simple, Nieuwendyk overplayed his hand. Now he’ll watch Richards sign with the Rangers or Kings in July.
» You had to get some value back for a top-15 player.

Ottawa Senators
The deal
» They aren’t contending for anything but the No. 1 pick.
» Forward Chris Neil, defensemen Matt Carkner and Filip Kuba, and goaltender Craig Anderson all stayed put.
Impact
» Missed out on stockpiling a ton of draft picks.
» The Sens are to the NHL what the Nets are to the NBA. Only the Nets showed up on deadline day.

The post NHL Deadline dissection appeared first on Metro.us.

It was the end of the second period of the Winter Classic and Sidney Crosby was in the slot. An anonymous Washington Capitals forward named David Steckel sprinted from behind the net and up ice. Crosby had his backed turned and never saw Washington’s left wing. Steckel collided with Crosby, his shoulder slamming into the head of the world’s best player.

Crosby, the tough son-of-a-you-know-what that he is, suited up and was slammed down in the next game against Tampa Bay. The next day, Penguins coach Dan Bylsma announced Crosby had a mild concussion and would miss a week’s worth of time. Crosby has not even practiced with the team since that game.

You think the NFL would let Tom Brady or Peyton Manning get cold-cocked like that?

Such is what separates the NHL from other top sports leagues — it’s not exactly protecting its stars. Rule 48, which prohibits blindside hits to the head, simply isn’t doing enough.

The national sports debate over concussions was rejoined following the sixth week of the NFL season that saw four players leave games after frightful, high speed hits to the head that left them concussed. One player, Philadelphia wide receiver DeSean Jackson did not play in the Eagles’ 37-19 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Jackson told reporters that he looks "forward to playing" but admitted the impact was akin to being "in a car accident." The NFL was proactive, immediately implementing penalties for head shots, despite criticism from defensive players such as the Chicago Bears’ Brian Urlacher and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ James Harrison.

The NHL, by comparison, was faced with its own concussion crisis during the 2009-10 season. Florida’s David Booth, Boston’s Marc Savard, New Jersey’s Anssi Salmela, Colorado’s Darcy Tucker, Edmonton’s Sheldon Souray and Philadelphia’s Ian Laperriere were among those whose year’s were limited because of concussions. In the cases of the concussion suffered by Booth, Savard and Tucker after hits to the head, the NHL convened a conference to discuss how to punish head shots.

During his media address during the All-Star Weekend in Raleigh, commissioner Gary Bettman said that concussions are on the rise, citing the information and evidence he has received. He also noted that head shots had very little to do with the players’ concussions.   

However, there have been instances of players taking advantage of defenseless opponents as the implementation of Rule 48 has not slowed the epidemic of head shots. Savard, Crosby, Blake Comeau, Eric Tangradi, John Tavares and Jason Pominville are among the very short list of players who have missed time during the 2010-11 season due to head injuries.   

Examples include:

Chicago defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson checked Pominville from behind and into the glass at the HSBC Arena. Pominville suffered a concussion and cuts to his face and had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher. Hjalmarsson, a first time offender, was suspended two games very early this season.

Pittsburgh center Max Talbot hit Comeau from behind during the Penguins’ 3-0 win over the Islanders at the Consol Energy Center on Feb. 2.

Nine nights later, at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Trevor Gillies responded by elbowing Tangradi in the back of the head in a brawl-filled 9-3 Islanders’ win.  

While the NFL and NHL began to take the moral high ground by finally penalizing illegal head shots, teams and the athletes are still performing a delicate dance as it pertains to bringing a player back after suffering a concussion. This is especially in the NHL.

Before the season, Savard and Laperriere failed conditioning tests administered by their teams and post-concussion symptoms were fingered as the reasons why. Both players told reporters that they should not have returned for their teams playoffs runs.

"It’s such a fine line, even with injuries. There’s pain and then there’s a definite injury. Players are more than willing to play through pain. We don’t want them to play through an injury and make it worse. With a head injury, a player could feel quite good and have a good day, but as soon as he stresses himself, he has a relapse. He has a symptom. You can’t keep those symptoms to yourself. We have open lines of communication with the trainer," Atlanta Thrashers head coach Craig Ramsay told
Metro earlier this seasm. Ramsay was an assistant coach with the Bruins last year and saw Savard return to the team before he had fully recovered from his concussion.

"He appeared fine. He scored in his first game back. He looked like he was maybe not in the best of physical condition but mentally he seemed fine. That was the difference for us. We thought the physical conditioning wasn’t there in the last round with Philadelphia. Mentally, he seemed alert. He seemed fine. So everybody felt comfortable with him coming back and playing." Ramsay added that there is "always" a concern that a player may lie to him-or-herself, the organization and medical personnel in order to return.

Unfortunately for Ramsay and  the Thrashers organization, both have experienced players suffering a frightening on-ice injury as No. 1 goaltender Ondrej Pavelec collapsed onto the ice during a first period stoppage of play in the season opening 4-2 win over Washington at the Phillips Arena. Medical personnel tended to Pavelec on the ice before he was taken to a local medical center where he was diagnosed as having a fainting spell, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Trashers defenseman Freddy Meyer fell to the ice during Atlanta’s 4-2 loss to Calgary on Feb. 2 after bumping into Tim Jackman and Curtis Glencross. The newspaper reported that the team fears Meyer may have suffered a concussion and placed him on injured reserve, although Meyer reported that he did not experience headache symptoms.  

"It was a scary thing, a guy going down like that. You don’t know what’s going on at first. Thank God now everything worked out well. At first it’s scary. You don’t know what’s going to happen. You hope for the best but you really don’t know. I think everybody was shocked at first," Johnny Oduya said about Pavelec’s collapse. The defenseman added the organization gave Pavelec’s teammates updates on the goaltender’s condition "every now and then" and deemed the informational flow as "good."

Pavelec returned to play for Atlanta on Oct. 30 and has been among the reasons that the Thrashers are in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Pavelec is 18-15-8 with a 2.58 GAA and .922 save percentage this season, and is on the short list of goaltenders contending for the Vezina Trophy.   

"He’s a great goalie. We obviously saw him play last year. He’s a young guy and he has huge potential. He’s a star goalie in this league," Oduya said.

In Oduya’s final two sentences lay the uncomfortable question organizations and players must ask. Winning is important but how important is it when factored against an athlete’s short and long term quality of life? Athletes want to compete, and jobs–playing, coaching, management–are at a premium.

"One of the worst things about coaches in all sports is when you become a coach, you almost become a fully qualified doctor, and make decisions about players-or try to. I don’t want to. I don’t expect to. That is the trainer’s job. That is the doctor’s job. When they come to me and say ‘A player’s ready to play’ then I coach him. But up until then, I made up a saying: I coach whoever shows up," Ramsay said. "I don’t try to make them play. I think that’s a very dangerous thing to do. When a player is ready and the trainers have agreed, then we’ll put him in the lineup. But we’re not going to force a player back, no matter what the injury is."

Meanwhile a debate rages in the National Hockey League, one that seems to have no immediate answer.

The post NHL playing head games appeared first on Metro.us.

Presenting the case for Crosby
Love him or hate him, “The Kid” is making the best case to date for being the “The Next One.”
Despite playing in six fewer games than the NHL’s top scorer, Steven Stamkos (67 points), Crosby sits just one point behind him.

And consider this: Crosby’s 25-game scoring streak, which included 26 goals and 24 assists, was the best stretch of the post-lockout era.

But statistics don’t tell the whole story. Crosby, once deemed a crybaby by his peers, is finally earning respect. His leadership skills are drawing comparisons to Hall of Famers like Steve Yzerman and even Mark Messier. Last year, Crosby won the coveted Mark Messier Leadership Award.

“I’m a big fan myself,” Messier said after presenting Crosby with the award. “He’s been the face of the NHL since he came into the league [at age 18]. A lot of pressure was put on Sidney to carry the league through the lockout season. … Not only did he do a tremendous job of doing that, but also, at the same time, leading his own team to a Stanley Cup.”

When Messier endorses you, you must be doing something right.

Midseason hardware

Vezina Trophy (best goaltender)
Left for dead after offseason surgery, Boston’s Tim Thomas has been the Berlin Wall. The 36-year-old leads the NHL with 1.81 goals-against (seven shutouts) and a .945 save percentage.

Norris Trophy (best defenseman)
We’re going old school with six-time winner Nicklas Lidstrom. He’s a more complete defender than our other two finalists: Atlanta’s Dustin Byfuglien and Boston’s Zdeno Chara.

Calder Trophy (best rookie)
San Jose’s Logan Couture is a more all-around threat, but Carolina’s Jeff Skinner leads all rookies by a full seven points (40). More impressive, he’s only 18 years old.

Jack Adams award (best coach)
Given a full year to integrate players into his system, Peter Laviolette’s Flyers own the best record in hockey. And he’s doing it with a rookie and career backup in net.

Biggest bust
New Jersey Devils. The dynasty is over, as they rank dead last in points (35). Plus, Martin Brodeur is a shell of himself.

The post KID ROCKS: Love him or hate him, Crosby’s the best appeared first on Metro.us.

One of the NHL’s premier two-way forwards stood in front of three reporters. He had a Superman logo tattooed on his right arm — the ‘S’ inside the shield was replaced by a ‘K.’

On a roster populated by stars, Ryan Kesler may be the Vancouver Canucks’ most indispensable player.

Routinely a leading candidate to win the Selke Trophy, Kesler — who will play in his first-ever NHL All-Star Game on Sunday in Raleigh, N.C. — has 27 goals and 20 assists for 47 points this year.

It’s been a great individual season by any measurable standard for the All-Star. Did he think this was possible?

“Sure,” Kesler said. “Every year I strive to get better. This year is no different. I think I’ve improved every year offensively since I’ve been in the league so it doesn’t surprise me at all.”

Kesler will be an alternate captain on Team Staal in Sunday’s game. He’s joined by captain Eric Staal of the hometown Carolina Hurricanes and defenseman Mike Green of the Washington Capitals.

Feeling a draft

THE DEAL:
The NHL is picking teams for Sunday’s 2011 All-Star Game in a playground style fantasy draft Friday night (8 p.m., VERSUS). Eric Staal and Nick Lidstrom are the captains. Twelve rookies, including Tyler Seguin, will compete in the skills competition Saturday.

RULES:
The first pick will be decided by a coin toss. Goalies must be picked by the end of the 10th round; defensemen must go by the end of the 15th.

ANALYSIS:
You have to assume Alex Ovechkin will go first overall, regardless of who has the pick. Cam Ward, the goalie for the hometown Carolina Hurricanes, will surely be a hot item. Rangers D Marc Staal should end up on his brother’s team. Other than him, nobody cares about defensemen.

Tampa Bay C Steven Stamkos leads the NHL with 67 points at the break. Sidney Crosby, who will not play, is second with 66.

The post Kesler a truly super All-Star this season appeared first on Metro.us.