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Jon Cooper hints at a giant lineup change for Game 3.

Jamie Sabau/NHLI/Getty

The Tampa Bay Lightning and the Toronto Maple Leafs have played the first two games of their first round Stanley Cup playoff series and the outcomes of both games couldn’t have been more different.

In the first game the Maple Leafs looked lost as they were thoroughly dominated by the Lightning on the Leafs’ home ice, but the situation was completely reversed in Game 2 when the Leafs had arguably an even more dominant performance than that of the Lightning in Game 1.

Given how poorly his team faired in their second outing it should come as no surprise that Lightning head coach Jon Cooper will be looking to make adjustments ahead of Game 3 on Saturday night, but Cooper hinted at a potentially gigantic change to his lineup on Saturday.

Cooper indicated that we could see the return of massive Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman on the blue line tonight, although he did not confirm that officially instead listing Hedman as a gametime decision. More specifically, Cooper indicated that Hedman would take warmups with the Lightning tonight, something he did not do before Game 2, and that they would make their decision on his status at that point.

Additionally, Hedman was spotted on the ice with his teammates on Saturday and even participated in the drills, which to me is only more evidence of the fact that Hedman will likely make his return this evening.

The Maple Leafs manhandled the Lightning in Game 2 with the Lightning’s blue line severely depleted, and the Lightning will no doubt be hoping that they can temper the Leafs offensive onslaught with the return of Hedman on defense.

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Jim Montgomery calls out Bruins after Game 2 loss

NBC Sports

The Boston Bruins were punched in the mouth by the Florida Panthers on Wednesday night, and they had no response. The Panthers, who played the Bruins hard in Game 1 of their Round 1 postseason series despite a 3-1 setback, dominated Game 2 and tied up the series with a convincing 6-3 win. 

This is completely unfamiliar territory for the Bruins, who won an NHL record 65 games during the regular season and were viewed as the consensus Number 1 pick to win the Stanley Cup this year.

Multiple turnovers and poor decisions with the puck spelled doom for the Bruins last night, and they were appropriately called out by their head coach afterward. 

“Players didn’t make the best decisions at moments. I thought for the majority of the first two periods we were doing some really good things with the puck, but the turnovers we had tonight were catastrophic,” said Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery in his postgame media remarks. “They were right through the middle of the ice and not typical of the turnovers we usually have. That’s not typically an area where we’re trying to make plays, where we turned it over.”

Despite the score being knotted up at 2-2 going into the third period, the Panthers would explode for four goals in the final frame. Needless to say, Boston must use it as a learning experience heading into Game 3 in Florida. 

“It’s five guys working together, it’s not just defensemen and it’s not just forwards not scoring goals,” said Montgomery. “We believe in being a five-man unit in every zone. For the first two periods we thought we did that, except for some of the puck decisions that we made.”

“And in the third period, our game got away from us. For a team that’s been really good in the third period for a long time, it’s an opportunity for us to learn and grow from that.”

Game 3 between the Bruins and Panthers will be tomorrow night from FLA Live Arena starting at 7:30 PM EST. 

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Rumors swirling around Dubas even with Leafs in middle of 1st round

Zuma Press

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas is busy preparing himself and his team for what I’m sure he is expecting to be a lengthy playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. But behind the scenes there are rumblings that he already has his next job lined up.

Dubas’ contract with the Leafs is up after this season and President Brendan Shanahan has stated publicly that the Leafs won’t consider renewing his contract until the 2022-23 season concludes. In other words: If they crap the bed again, Dubas is hisotry.

Pittsburgh Penguins insider Rob Rossi reports that the Penguins are interested in Dubas however and that they’d give him “full power” to do what he wants with the team.

More from Rossi:

Does Dubas want it?

FSG would offer him whatever he wants — and not just money and power.

The Penguins are part of an FSG sports portfolio that also includes the Red Sox, Liverpool Football Club and RFK Racing. Dubas, long reported to see hockey and soccer as different sides of the same coin, is said to cherish an opportunity to learn from teams and leagues outside the NHL. He can do that now with Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Maple Leafs, Raptors and Toronto Football Club. FSG, though, is a global sports entity.

Perhaps most importantly, FSG could offer control.

Two sources familiar with the Penguins’ ongoing search told The Athletic that FSG would give Dubas full power with the Penguins. He wouldn’t be a GM reporting to Brendan Shanahan, as is the case with the Maple Leafs. Rather, in Pittsburgh, Dubas would be GM with the influence of a president of hockey operations, even if that’s not his title.

– Rob Rossi

Honestly… I could see it happening. The thing is, it’s just odd timing is all. Frankly, this is awfully close to tampering assuming that Rossi is reporting on information that he has received directly from Penguins stakeholders.

On paper it’s a move that makes a lot of sense and if indeed the Leafs fall flat on their faces again, I could definitely see Dubas as the Penguins’ new GM.

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Stuart Skinner sets Oilers mark not seen since 1982

NHLPA

The Edmonton Oilers were able to get back on track after their stunning overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 of their first round Stanley Cup postseason series, rebounding with a 4-2 win to knot things up at 1-1 before the two teams shift to Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles. 

And rookie goaltender Stuart Skinner has once again found himself in the team record books. Not only did he overtake team legend Grant Fuhr’s Edmonton Oilers rookie record for wins during the regular season, but thanks to his win in last night’s Game 2, he also became the 1st Oilers rookie since Fuhr himself to win a postseason contest. 

“Huge props for the guys in front of me, the job they were doing,” said Skinner of his teammates. “They did have time in the zone but to not get shots, the guys were blocking them, battling in the corners, in front. They made my job very easy in the first 18 minutes.”

For Skinner, he knows how to bounce back from a disappointing loss, and he gave a first hand demonstration 

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Marc-Andre Fleury “pissed off” after terrible Game 2

The Score

The good news for perhaps the most popular teammate in the National Hockey League today is that he’s now appeared in his 17th straight postseason. The bad news was that it was a performance that he’ll want to forget about immediately. 

The Minnesota Wild decided to start veteran goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury between the pipes for last night’s Game 2 of their Round 1 playoff series against the Dallas Stars, giving Filip Gustavsson the night off and a chance to stay fresh for Game 3. And needless to say, it wasn’t his best outing.

By the time it was all said and done, seven pucks found their way past Fleury in what would eventually be a 7-3 loss, trying the series at 1-1 apiece after the Wild had stolen Game 1 in double overtime. And as he typically is, Fleury was his own worst critic afterward. 

“Embarrassing on my part, giving up seven goals like that in the playoffs,” Fleury said, according to Michael Russo of The Athletic.

I want to come in and give a chance to my team to stay in the game and win. That’s not what I did. I gave up too many goals. I think we had to open up to try to come back in the game, and we gave up more chances, but bottom line, I didn’t make any good, key saves in the game.”

Fleury would finish the night with 24 saves on 31 shots, and admitted to being angry at himself at not being able to repeat Gustavsson’s performance from Game 1. 

“He was tremendous, awesome that last game,” Fleury said of his teammate. “I just wanted to do my part and my job tonight … and I didn’t. That pissed me off.”

“Wish I could’ve stepped up, give him a break and give him a win to keep going.”

The Wild and Stars continue their series in Game 3 from Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul on Friday night. 

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Leafs announce key lineup change prior to Game 2

NHL Hockey News

The Toronto Maple Leafs suffered more than one loss on the ice on Tuesday night in their opening game of their Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, as forward Michael Bunting was assessed a match penalty and subsequently suspended for the next three for catching Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak up high with what appeared to be his elbow.

With Bunting sitting for the next three, a lineup spot opened up for the Leafs, and they’ll be filling it with forward Matthew Knies, who recently made his NHL debut with the team after completing his season with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. 

He’ll be skating on a line tonight with Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari, and according to head coach Sheldon Keefe, there really isn’t that much pressure on the young forward. 

“I don’t think there’s any pressure on him,” Keefe said. “He’s not expected to come out here and save the world.”

Meanwhile, his new lineman in O’Reilly had nothing but good things to say about him.

“He’s a phenomenal player and he’s got to lean into that,” the 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy winner said. 

Tonight’s projected lineup: 

Forwards

Järnkrok-Matthews-Marner

Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander

Knies-O’Reilly-Acciari

Aston-Reese-Kämpf-Lafferty

Defence

McCabe-Brodie

Giordano-Holl

Rielly-Schenn

Goal:

Ilya Samsonov

Joseph Woll

Tonight’s Game 2 between the Maple Leafs and Lightning will get underway starting at 7:30 PM EST from Scotiabank Arena. 

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Canucks make a coaching change

Vancouver Canucks

This just in, the Vancouver Canucks have relieved assistant coach Jason King of his coaching duties. 

From the team’s press release:

Vancouver, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today a change to the club’s coaching staff. Assistant Coach Jason King will not be returning to the team for the 2023.24 season.

Originally drafted by the Canucks in the seventh round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, King enjoyed an 11-year professional playing career including 59 NHL games, 55 of those with the Canucks, 335 AHL games and 140 DEL games. 

King served as an Assistant Coach with the Canucks AHL affiliate for five seasons before being named Assistant Coach of the Vancouver Canucks in 2020. 

The organization would like to thank Jason for his hard work and dedication over the years. His commitment to the club is greatly appreciated and we wish him and his family all the best and future success.

King has been in the Canucks organization for over 20 years, first as a player, then as an AHL assistant coach and then most recently as an NHL assistant coach.

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Jeannot and Schenn throw down, then a fan tries to get at Jeannot in the box!

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UPDATE: Corey Perry has been tossed from the game after what appeared to be an exchange with a fan just outside the penalty box. Patrick Maroon is now giving it to fans, as well. Police are now attempting to calm the situation.

It’s all happening!

It looks like the Toronto Maple Leafs are about to make up for a poor showing in Game 1 of their opening round playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

The Leafs laid a metaphorical beatdown on the Lightning this evening on the scoreboard and now Leafs defenseman Luke Schenn is laying a physical beatdown on his opponents. The Leafs were up 6-1 on the Lightning in the 3rd period when Schenn and fellow Saskatchewanian Tanner Jeannot dropped the gloves for a spirited bout. 

Check it out:

What a tilt, indeed!

And if that weren’t enough action for you, a fan in the building actually tried to climb the glass to get at Jeannot in the penalty box.

As David Pagnotta reports, the fan was escorted out of the building by security. 

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Tkachuk to Nosek: “She’s A F***ing Wh***!”

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In case you missed it last night, the Florida Panthers laid an absolute beat down on the Boston Bruins in Game 2 of the two teams’ opening round playoff series. 

It was a close game until the 3rd period when the Panthers absolutely ripped the lid off things by scoring four goals to take a commanding victory. As you might expect, tensions were running high and things got pretty chippy as the game wore on and it was clear the Bruins wouldn’t be mounting a comeback.

Just check out this clip of the two team’s chirping each other in the final minutes of the game, listen closely for a “Nice clean hit, you f***ing loser.”

That’s hockey, baby!

It gets even better though…

Leave it up to Matthew Tkachuk to cross the line!

Old time hockey!

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Rumor: We now know why Patrice Bergeron played Game 82 in Montreal

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The health and wellbeing of Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron is a hot topic in Massachusetts these days.

Bergeron has missed Game 1 and Game 2 of the Bruins’ opening round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Florida Panthers in part because of an illness, but also in part because of an undisclosed injury. The thing is, Bergeron suffered the injury in the Bruins’ final regular season game. A game with no real significance in the standings and with the no real stakes for either the Bruins nor their opponent the Montreal Canadiens.

Bergeron though, he’s a Quebec native who relishes any opportunity to play in his home province. So Bergeron played in that 82nd regular season game, a meaningless game, despite calls from the team’s fanbase for him to sit out and prepare for the post-season. After all, other teams around the league were resting their stars down the stretch and the Bruins had the least to gain and least to lose by resting its top players. They were going to finish top of the league regardless of how that last week of the regular season played out.

Still, Bergeron played and made it clear that playing in front of family in friends, in what may be his last season, was important to him and his family. Fair enough, right?

The problem is that Bergeron left that game in the 1st period with what’s suspected to be an upper body injury. So yeah… the captain got hurt in a meaningless game. Just like fans predicted…

Now though, we’re learning the full scope of things from Bergeron’s perspective on that “meaningless” game and, frankly, it’s heartbreaking.

This evening there are multiple online reports that Bergeron’s father Gerard Cleary has cancer and that that “meaningless” game could be Cleary’s last opportunity to watch his son play hockey.

Check it out:

Reaction from Jimmy Murphy of Boston Hockey Now:

Shukri Wrights of ESPN:

Bergeron has not yet confirmed his father’s health through the team but with these rumors out there it’s only a matter of time before he’s asked about it by one of the team’s beat reporters. Stay tuned.