Author: Dans les Coulisses

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Dans les coulisses

Tomas Tatar: another difficult start to the playoffs

Tomas Tatar is a rather unusual field hockey player. In the regular season, we’re talking about a guy who does a very honest job on a second or third line, but in the playoffs, for one reason or another, it’s a completely different story.

That was the case with the Red Wings, it was the case with the Golden Knights and it was the case with the CH, where he spent the bulk of the team’s playoff run in the summer of 2021 in the stands.

Now with the Devils, Tatar is back in the playoffs this season. But even if the sample size is small, it’s clear that he’s off to another rocky start in his team’s spring campaign.

Of course, the Devils are currently being taught a field hockey lesson by the Rangers, but beyond all that, it’s clear that the Slovak’s playing time is already in freefall. In Game #2, he spent just 11 minutes and 24 seconds on the ice, which is far less than the 15 minutes he averaged per game on the ice during the season.

I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt about his -2 differential, given his club’s poor overall performance, but it’s still a far cry from the +41 he posted during the campaign.

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In his career, Tatar has just 12 points in 42 playoff games. That said, he has 455 points in 783 regular-season games. That’s night and day, no less.

If the Devils are to bounce back in this series, it’s going to take a lot of hard work from everyone, including Tatar. The goaltending change could whip the troops into shape, but it will take more than a goal a game if the Devils are to respond to the Rangers’ offensive firepower.

I don’t know if he’s just caught up in a spiral (his past playoff failures may be getting into his head), but it’s clearly a career-long trend that seems to be continuing.

I wonder if Lindy Ruff will be patient with him if he puts in another tough performance tonight.

We’ll have to wait and see over the next few games of the series. It’s up to him to prove that he can stand up when it counts, especially as the Devils really need him right now.

Breaking news

– Great read.

– Réjean Tremblay wants Pierre-Luc Dubois in Montreal as soon as possible. [JDM]

– Impressive.

– Too bad.

– Bryce Harper could have an exceptional feat of arms. My text on the subject.

– Once again, Kawhi Leonard is getting attention for all the wrong reasons, as I noted earlier on AlleyOop360.

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LAH: a camera explodes on the ice in the middle of a game

The AHL playoffs have been underway for a few days now. Unfortunately for the Laval Rocket, they were short-lived, as the Canadiens’ training club was eliminated last night.

Our colleague Pablo Herrara-Vergara told you all about it after the game.

That said, today it’s not the Rocket game I want to talk about. In fact, I’m taking you to Charlotte, where the Checkers (the Panthers’ feeder club) hosted the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (the Flyers’ feeder club) last night.

Early in the third, with the Checkers in complete control of the game thanks to a 5-0 lead, a Checkers player sent the puck deep into Phantoms territory along the boards. Seconds later, play was stopped.

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The reason? The camera along the band exploded when it came into contact with the puck, so that several small pieces ended up on the ice.

I love the referee’s reaction right next to the camera, him being totally confused by what just happened next to him.

What’s fascinating is that we’re not talking about a necessarily powerful clearance, when the player simply pushed the disc forward to send it deep into territory.

Having said that, we know that a device of this kind is quite fragile, so it didn’t take much for it to break like that.

The good news is that, apart from the financial implications, there was no damage to the footage. It’s already a camera incident not as bad as the one that injured Jeff Petry in the summer of 2021, when he got his little finger stuck in the camera hole.

In short, a rather unusual moment in the LAH yesterday. In the end, the Checkers prevailed by a score of 6-0 and, in so doing, won their series against the Phantoms.

Highlights

– The Kings’ winning goal yesterday is still the talk of the town.

– Like.

See this publication on Instagram

A publication shared by Noovo (@noovo.ca)

– He celebrates his 28th birthday today.

– Quite a story.

– Too bad.

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Dominique Ducharme named QAJHL field hockey consultant

Despite leading the Habs to the Stanley Cup Final in the summer of 2021, Dominique Ducharme’s time at the helm was short-lived. A dreadful start to the 2021-22 season and a change of regime at the helm saw him dismissed less than a year into his tenure.

However, he was given a three-year contract that began at the end of the 2021-22 season, so he’s still being paid ($1.7 million per year) by the CH until the end of the 2023-24 season.

That said, it doesn’t necessarily stop Ducharme from trying to get back into the field hockey world, and in the last few hours, we’ve just learned that the former Tricolore coach has found himself back at work, as he has become a field hockey consultant for the Saint-Jérôme Panthères in the QAJHL. His arrival in the organization was announced at the same time as other important changes in the club’s management.

Appointment of a new managing director and head coach: https://t.co/vungsU0Olm

Given that the Panthères have just put in place a new group of coaches, Ducharme will be there to support them and help them develop in the business. After all, he’s got a ton of coaching experience and has enjoyed a great deal of success in the past. Because even if it all came to nothing, the fact remains that Ducharme has a good background as a coach and has what it takes to be a good mentor.

I don’t think Ducharme’s new duties will have any impact on his occasional appearances on BPM Sports (after all, Bob Hartley has pretty much the same duties for a Russian team and we still hear him on the radio), by the way.

Let’s remember that Ducharme doesn’t seem particularly interested in returning to coaching in junior. He hadn’t really shown any interest in the position available with the Drummondville Voltigeurs, and an advisory role seems to be more suited to what he’s looking for.

As a reminder, the Drummondville club fired coach Steve Hartley yesterday → https://t.co/fvkgbPq91u

Anyway, Ducharme is getting his feet back into the coaching world a bit, this time as an advisor. I can’t wait to see if he returns to a full-time role in the coming months or years, but until then, it’ll be up to him to help the Panthers to the best of his ability.

In short- He had a regular practice this morning. I expect to see him play tonight, but confirmation will come soon.

Jon Cooper says Victor Hedman is a game-time decision @TSN_Edge

Surprise for the Devils.

Appears Akira Schmid will get the Game 3 start for #njdevils at MSG tonight, backed up by Vitek Vanecek. https://t.co/Ay6KQ6YH3r

Good news for the Panthers.

🚨 Ekblad on the ice 🚨 pic.twitter.com/cilRIbsBsR

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A bridge contract for Cole Caufield: Vincent Damphousse wants nothing to do with it

Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton have an important off-season ahead of them at the helm of the Montreal Canadiens.

Indeed, the CH’s goal for next year is to be competitive, and therefore to look towards the top of the standings rather than the bottom.

To achieve this, Hughes and Gorton will have to work very hard on a number of issues.

And if there’s one issue that’s at the top of the Montreal Canadiens’ priority list, it’s Cole Caufield’s contract.

Indeed, signing the Tricolore star to a long-term contract is of the utmost importance.

The CH’s No. 22 reached the end of his three-year NHL entry-level contract this season, leaving him without a contract for next season.

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No need to worry, Caufield is a restricted free agent, and he can’t go to arbitration.

And that’s where, according to Vincent Damphousse, the CH has the big stick.

According to the Tricolore analyst, signing Cole Caufield to a bridge contract is out of the question.

Why would we do that?

Well, because it would put the CH in a very bad position, where it would be forced to give Caufield a lot more money per year at the end of this bridge contract, especially if Caufield has, for example, scored 40-goal seasons, and even 50-goal seasons.

According to Damphousse, the CH is in a strong position vis-à-vis Caufield.

“It’s eight years or stay with you until Christmas and you decide if you want to play field hockey.” – Vincent Damphousse

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It’s true that the CH may decide not to back down from its eight-year offer, and instead negotiate with Caufield on the amount per year.

However, if Caufield doesn’t want to sign for eight years, because he hopes to sign for more money per year later, well, that’s when the CH might decide not to flinch.

But that would penalize both Caufield and the CH.

Going without the little maverick for part of the season really wouldn’t be a good idea for the CH, especially if they want to win games next season.

In short, I understand Damphousse’s point of view about not wanting to give Caufield a bridge contract, and I agree with it.

Giving Caufield a bridge contract could greatly harm the CH later on, while creating doubt and fear in the minds of CH fans as to Caufield’s real intentions to stay in Montreal.

On the other hand, I don’t think the CH can afford to play the Kyle Dubas game with William Nylander, for example, a few years ago.

The CH needs Caufield, and it needs him right from the start of the season, especially considering that he hasn’t played since January 19.

In short, this is a key issue for Hughes and Gorton, and they need to make the best possible decision.

In a gust

– Good news for the Lightning.

– Erik Cernak is not on the ice, however.

– It’s already been a year since this incredible legend left us.

– Read more.

– Read more.

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Adam Engstrom not expected in Quebec for 2023-2024 season

The Montreal Canadiens currently have a number of excellent prospects on their roster.

Indeed, the CH has on hand a panoply of prospects who could one day render very proud services to the Tricolore.

Following the development of these prospects is very interesting and exciting for Habs fans.

The names that come up first are usually Lane Hutson, Logan Mailloux, Joshua Roy and Owen Beck.

But the list doesn’t end there, of course.

There are still several other prospects who are performing very well and who are potentially destined for a bright future in the National Hockey League.

One of these, who’s flying under the radar, is Swedish defenseman Adam Engstrom.

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Engstrom was drafted in the third round (92nd overall) by the CH in the most recent draft.

Since then, he’s been making great strides in Sweden, surprisingly playing most of the season in the SHL (Sweden’s premier league) rather than the junior league.

Engstrom’s solid progress has enabled him to make a name for himself among the Tricolore’s prospects, and he has become a defenseman whose performances are closely watched by CH analysts and fans.

Unfortunately, for those hoping to see Engstrom make the leap to North America already, well, all indications are that the 19-year-old defenseman will play the 2023-2024 season in Sweden with Rogle BK Angelholm.

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However, Engstrom explained in an interview with Nicolas Cloutier that he still hasn’t spoken with the Canadiens, so there’s nothing official yet.

“I think I’ll come back to Sweden for one last season. I haven’t spoken to the Canadiens yet though.” – Adam Engstrom

Considering that Engstrom can only play in Montreal or Sweden (and therefore not in Laval), it’s highly likely that he won’t be called up to the Tricolore’s training camp, which would mean missing his preparatory schedule in Sweden.

The Swedish defenseman will therefore normally continue his development for another season in the SHL, where he will play an even more important role for the 2023-2024 season, according to Rogle’s general manager.

“I think for a lot of players, the ideal scenario is to stay in an environment that allows them to get a ton of minutes, and at a high level. That’s what the SHL offers. So youngsters come to the NHL to make an impact, not just to survive. I see Engstrom playing in every situation for us next season.” – Chris Abbott

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Engstrom will follow in Mortiz Seider’s footsteps, playing the season of his 19th birthday with Rogle in the SHL.

The CH prospect has many qualities that could very well enable him to make it to the NHL and perform there, but the main interested party is aware that he needs to improve on several levels, including his physique.

In short, the 2023-2024 season is likely to be a decisive one for Engstrom’s career, as he should be one of Rogle’s pillars on defense.

To find out more, here’s Nicolas Cloutier’s excellent article.

En Rafale

– A potential major loss for the Wild.

– Foligno took Krejci’s place at the last minute last night.

– The Sabres’ last playoff win came in 2011.

– Read more.

– Great performances from Canada.

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Rocket: Rafaël Harvey-Pinard admits he lacked energy in the playoffs

Sadly, the Laval Rocket’s exciting and exhilarating end to the season only provided fans with two playoff games.

In fact, all those frenzied games that had to be won by the Rocket to confirm their playoff berth were for naught.

The Rocket lost 2-1 in a heartbreaking finale last night to the Utica Comets in Game 2 of their preliminary series.

Laval scored just one goal in two games, none of them at home in front of a packed Place Bell.

It’s a shame for the Rocket to pack it in so quickly, especially considering that Jean-François Houle had a very talented team on hand.

However, it should be noted that several players were probably not at 100%.

In fact, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard said he’d lacked energy in the playoffs with the Rocket due to the very demanding season he’d had this year.

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RHP makes no secret of the fact that he realized he didn’t have all the energy he would have liked to have to help his team get further in the playoffs.

As you can see from the sequence of the Comets’ heartbreaking tying goal, Harvey-Pinard (number 11) looks exhausted and frustrated by the situation.

If you look at the footage, you can see that Walsh’s shot came within centimetres of RHP. He was inches away from blocking the shot and allowing the Rocket to win the game.

It’s a shame for the Rocket and RHP, but you can’t blame the 24-year-old Quebecer.

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Indeed, it’s been a crazy season for Harvey-Pinard, both mentally and physically demanding.

The important thing for him is that, in the end, he succeeded in proving that he belongs in the National Hockey League.

All the energy he put into this feat will have been wasted in the playoffs for the Rocket, but that’s life, and so much the better for Harvey-Pinard.

It’s a far greater feat to establish yourself in the NHL and make your mark in Montreal than to spend one or two rounds in the AHL playoffs.

Harvey-Pinard can be extremely proud of his season and his accomplishments.

His efforts have paid off, and hopefully for next season in Montreal too.

In a gust

– Big game tonight between the Leafs and Lightning.

– It’ll be all white tonight in Winnipeg.

– CF Montreal will be in action tonight.

– Read more.

– I’d say B. B+ even.

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Series wrap-up: Kings win again in overtime

Last night saw the first Game 3 of the Stanley Cup playoffs, with all eight teams in the first wave of four series in action.

Here are the highlights.

1. Kings surprise Oilers again with overtime win

Many were surprised by the Kings’ overtime win in Game 1 of the series.

Most field hockey fans see the Oilers winning this series, but once again last night, the Kings proved that they are by no means to be taken lightly.

They have more than a fighting chance of winning this series, especially after taking Game 3 by a score of 3-2 in overtime last night.

Despite Connor McDavid’s awakening with his first two goals of the series, the Oilers couldn’t find a way to win.

Two truly impressive shots from the world’s best player.

Still, the Kings found a way to force overtime, and eventually prevailed thanks to Trevor Moore.

Moore is the first California-born player to score an overtime winner in the playoffs for a California team.

The Kings lead the series 2-1.

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2. Bruins cope despite absences of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci

The Boston Bruins needed to respond strongly in Game 3, after being dominated by the Panthers in Game 2.

Well, that’s exactly what the Bruins did, despite the absences of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.

They found a way to escape with a 4-2 victory.

It’s a much closer series than some imagined, with the Panthers still in the hunt.

The Bruins lead the series 2-1.

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3. Wild regain series lead with Filip Gustavsson in goal

Dean Evason’s decision to give the net to Marc-André Fleury in Game 2 of the series was the talk of the town, and was roundly criticized, especially after the 7-3 loss.

Filip Gustavsson was back in goal for the Wild last night in Game 3.

The Swedish goaltender wasn’t as busy as in the first game of the series (he turned aside 51 of 53 shots), but his 23 saves on 24 shots still enabled the Wild to win 5-1.

In the victory, Marcus Johansson scored a beauty, while Mats Zuccarrello scored two goals.

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4. A record four goals in 2:18 put the Islanders back in the series

The Islanders absolutely had to win Game 3 of this series, when they were already trailing 2-0.

Well, that’s exactly what they did, winning their first game of the series, which also represents the first series win at UBS Arena.

Casey Cizikas scored the first goal of the series at the UBS Arena.

It was a very close game until the very end of the third period, when the Islanders took control with two goals in 44 seconds, and eventually four goals in 2 minutes and 18 seconds, which is a record in NHL history.

A very big win for the Islanders, who are now back in the series.

The Hurricanes lead the series 2-1.

Overtime

– Here are yesterday’s results.

– Here are yesterday’s top scorers.

(Credit: NHL.com)

– On today’s program: the other four games number 3.

(Credit: Google/NHL)
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Brad Treliving is no longer GM of the Flames

Expectations were high in Calgary this year, and the Flames missed the boat. In fact, Darryl Sutter’s team had all the tools they needed to – at the very least – qualify for the playoffs… And they simply couldn’t do it.

Last summer, Brad Treliving (GM) made a lot of changes to his team, including trading Matthew Tkachuk to Florida and letting Johnny Gaudreau go on the free agent market. Clearly, Treliving didn’t win his bet, and his team disappointed again. With things no longer working out within the organization and his contract set to expire in June, the Flames’ GM will not be returning next year, the Calgary franchise announced on Twitter. At the same time, the Flames stated that Don Maloney has been promoted to President of Hockey Operations, and will also serve as Interim General Manager. The team will begin the search for its next GM “immediately”:

There’s a lot going on in Calgary, and it’s not necessarily a surprise. You’d expect changes to be made to the management team, but Darryl Sutter has been singled out for the team’s recent failings. The players have their share of the blame, of course. But, after all, Sutter had a pretty talented team on hand and wasn’t able to make things work. Therein lies the problem. The possibility of the veteran coach’s dismissal has been raised and is alive and well in the minds of many fans in Calgary… But for now, all indications are that he’ll be back in the job next year. I did say “for now”. At least, that’s what Fran Seravalli reported on Twitter… And the tipster goes on to say that this probably played a role in Brad Treviling’s decision to leave the team.

Sutter doesn’t seem to have the unanimous support of the Flames and that’s exactly why I wonder why he hasn’t been fired yet. That said, there’s nothing to indicate that the new GM will be open to the idea of continuing with him behind the bench, which is why he’s still the team’s coach “for now”. In short, things have moved pretty quickly in Calgary, and they’re not likely to calm down in the next few days. It’s going to be another busy summer for the Flames organization and its fans.

In Brief

– Yes, yes and yes again.

– Will he hang up his skates?

– Please note :

– Is it any surprise?

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Bruins: A nasty virus is spreading through the organization

The NHL playoffs begin tonight. Four “first” games are on the schedule, including the one between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers. Obviously, the Bears are seen as the series favourites. That’s understandable, given that they’ve just broken the record for most wins in a single season and are the team to beat this year. But… things could get complicated pretty quickly for Jim Montgomery’s men. In fact, it’s the coach’s comments that are causing concern just a few hours before the first match-up against the Panthers. The coach confided this morning that a nasty virus is spreading within the organization… And that could force a few players to miss tonight’s game. Of the lot, Montgomery wouldn’t say whether Patrice Bergeron and Linus Ullmark will be in the lineup in a few hours.

It’s not an ideal situation for anyone on the Bruins’ side, but the team will have to find a way out. They’ve got the talent and the arsenal to do it, though, and the big guns will have to step up to compensate for the loss of the players who won’t be able to play tonight. David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand and company will have big shoes to fill, and they’ll have to answer the call if they don’t want to be surprised by the Floridian outfit. It’sa shame, because the expectations are huge for the Boston team… But that’s part of the game. It’s up to the Panthers to take advantage one way or another. We know that anything can happen in the playoffs, and that’s even more true now that the Panthers could be facing an unhealthy Boston team. That’s why we love the spring tournament.

In Brief

– A great initiative.

– He’s right.

– Connor Bedard with the Flyers? The NHL would love to, according to Elliotte Friedman.

– The Ducks have lost their last 13 games of the season.

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Devon Levi to battle Samuel Montembeault for playing time at World Championship

In the past few days, we’ve learned that goaltender Samuel Montembeault has chosen to represent Canada at the upcoming World Hockey Championships.Clearly, he’s still hungry after his first career season of 40 NHL outings.This is good news for giving him even more playing time, but it’s also good news for CH fans. After all, we know that Martin St-Louis and Nick Suzuki turned down Canada’s invitation… but at least the Flanelle will be represented. All this to say that it will be interesting to see Monty play in a context like this following the end of his second season with the Habs. Why would that be? Because the addition of two new data points fascinates me. Firstly, journalist Steve Turcotte reported that the goaltender should be André Tourigny’s right-hand man in front of the net for the tournament. Did he get any guarantees? Possibly.And then, that means he should get more playing time than Devon Levi, who has also confirmed his presence at the World Championships.

–

Devon Levi’s presence is interesting since the Sabres’ Quebecer had a fine season at Northeastern (NCAA) this season, but he especially finished his campaign well in Buffalo. His first steps in the NHL were very conclusive.

It’s normal for an established keeper to be faced with a prospect. But it’s also interesting to note that Levi, who finished his season in Buffalo and will finish his university term in Boston before heading to the World Championship, has his place in the sun.No, Canadian goalies aren’t as dominant as they used to be, and yes, some guys turn down their country’s invitation, but still: it’s a nice honor for the Montreal native.Of course, it will be interesting to note the dynamic between the two. But why? Because the Habs have always liked the goaltender… and the goaltender has always liked the Habs too. There have already been discussions to this effect between Buffalo and Montreal in recent months.

Of course, I’m not saying that Levi(who wants to start next season in Buffalo) will be heading to Montreal, since all indications are that the Sabres want to keep him. I’m just saying that it’s all very interesting… The tournament starts on May 12.

En rafale

– Indeed.

– Good question.

– What a great player.

– Interesting.