Author: Hockey Feed

Categories
Hockey Feed

Jon Cooper takes a shot at Mattews, Tavares and O’Reilly!

Press conference / Postgame

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper is focused on the next game, because, as he put it when he addressed the media after his team’s 7-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 2 on Thursday, this is a seven-game series.

Maybe that’s why he targeted his message to the Maple Leafs’ superstars Auston Matthews, John Tavares and Ryan O’Reilly when asked on whether the challenge changed against a team lining up Matthews – Tavares – O’Reilly down the middle. Cooper quickly chirped back:

“How did it change? So how many centers deep are we? Let me ask you that. Give me Point, Cirelli, and Paul all day against anybody in the league.”

While Cooper did not blink with his answer, he might want to take a look at the stats sheet to see that there might be an exception. And it is Game 2. Point, Cirelli, and Paul ended the night with a single point, an assist collected by Point, and an overall rating of -5.

On Toronto’s side, Matthews put up two assists, O’Reilly had one and the captain collected the hat trick.

Want another shot at that question, Cooper?

Game 3 and 4 shift to Tampa Bay, starting with the tie-breaking on Saturday as the series is square at 1.

Recommended articles:

Categories
Hockey Feed

Vasilevskiy refused to leave the net despite coach Cooper trying to pull him after 2nd period

YouTube

This was the answer the Toronto Maple Leafs needed to send to the Tampa Bay Lightning. And they were loud and clear in Game 2 of their first round series on Thursday night. Captain John Tavares completed the hat trick in a 7-2 victory to bounce back and even the series at 1 in a loud Scotiabank Arena.

However, Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy cannot blame the local fans for not hearing what his head coach Jon Cooper had to say. According to insider Chris Johnston, Cooper attempted to pull Vasilevskiy after two periods, however, the veteran goalie, who has played every second of Lightning post-season action since 2020, refused. He returned to the cage for the last frame and allowed seven goals on 37 shots.

Cooper did not appear offended to have his goalie refuted his suggestion to be replaced in between the pipes, crediting Vasilevskiy for his desire to be better.

“That’s why he’s the best in the world. He’s not coming out.”

However, during the second intermission, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman had a feeling Vasilevskiy would not want to be yanked, seeing that he has a reputation of not being happy with getting replaced in net.

Vasilevskiy might have need the fuel for Game 3, which takes place on Saturday in Tampa. To make things worse for the goalie, he could not count on defenseman Victor Hedman, who was out with undisclosed injury that forced him from Game 1 after one period, as well as blue liner Erik Cernak, who took a hit to the head from forward Michael Bunting that landed the Maple Leafs’ forward a three-game suspension.

Let’s see how Vasilevskiy and the Bolts respond this weekend in Florida.

Recommended articles:

Categories
Hockey Feed

Trent Frederic and Ryan Lomberg at the center of disturbing scene in Game 2

Twitter / Broadcast Game 2

It was a chaotic to Game 2 in Boston as the Bruins fell 6-3 to the Florida Panthers who tied up the series at 1 on Wednesday night.

The disturbing scene took place in the final two minutes as Radko Gudas, Nick Foligno and Garnet Hathaway were sent off with game misconducts. It all came to a brutal end when Bruins’ Trent Frederic got tangled up with Ryan Lomberg and both players started throwing punches. Frederic took down the Panthers’ forward, who however reversed their position while down on the ice before reportedly throwing the Bruins’ forward into a choke hold.

The video shows Frederic kicking his legs wildly while linesmen Kyle Flemington flails around trying to separate the two players.

After the game, Frederic was visibly upset, and probably got even more frustrated that there was no supplemental discipline for Lomberg’s actions as it remains unclear on whether he actually choked Frederic.

Frederic commented on the choke hold on Friday after practice: “Couldn’t breathe. Maybe panicked a little too early. But it was getting close there where the lights were going to turn off for a second. I’ve never seen that one.”

You can only imagine that Lomberg will get some special attention and treatment from the Bruins in Game 3.

Game on, boys!

Recommended articles:

Categories
Hockey Feed

Brock Boeser resented hockey and explains why he wanted out amidst mental struggles

YouTube

Vancouver Canucks top forward Brock Boeser wanted nothing to do with hockey this past season. And while it showed on the ice, it was especially made clear when reports emerged closer to the March 3rd deadline that Boeser had hinted at a possible trade out of Vancouver, asking his agent to look for potential suitors across the league.

After his end of season press conference, Boeser opened up to Iain McIntyre of Sportsnet on what happened and how his father’s passing had a huge impact on his mental health and his vision of hockey.

“I’m being pretty open with you right now … it’s not easy to explain this to teammates, especially when they haven’t been through it in life,” Boeser said after publicly rescinding his trade request during Saturday’s year-end press conference. “I don’t want to tell people that I hated the game. I never really, truly hated the game of hockey but … “

He resented it?

“Exactly,” he said. “Yes, exactly.”

Boeser did not share his feelings with anyone, which probably made it harder on the 26-year-old to heal.

“It was a long year; I went through some stuff,” he said. “I’m trying to explain this right. It’s hard for people to understand the aftereffects of what I went through. Unless you really go through this, you can’t understand what it’s like dealing with a (dying) family member. I really blamed hockey for not being home with my dad. That was a big challenge I worked through this year. And with my hand injury, then the trade rumours, and I wasn’t playing good – it just all was a lot.”

While Boeser admitted that at the time he was only seeking a fresh start when asking for a trade, he has since rescinded it since what he was really looking for was closure.

“Just really took a step back and realized this was my dad’s dream and my dream to play in the NHL,” he explained. “Why am I holding it against … why am I angry? I think I just got to a point where I became at peace with it. I’m not going to lie, there were some days that were hard to come to the rink. But the last month, I’ve been excited to come to the rink. I don’t want the season to end. And I’m really excited to start training because I have another level to my game. I haven’t gotten there yet, but I know I can get there and that’s where my head’s at.

“I kept pushing through and I found that fire and drive again. It’s just really exciting to me, just feeling that again.”

Boeser ended the 2022-23 season with 18 goals and 37 assists for 55 points in 74 games. But most importantly, he got the feeling that he wants to be a Canuck and is hoping to grow under head coach Rick Tocchet.

“It’s out of my control, but I do want to play here,” he added. “What we’re building, I think is something legit with this coaching staff, and I want to be part of it.”

Recommended articles:

Categories
Hockey Feed

Jim Montgomery comments on Bruins’ error to play Patrice Bergeron in Game 82

Sportsnet

On Thursday night, it was mentioned by some pundits that the reason why Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron played in a meaningless Game 82 against the Canadiens in Montreal was because the veteran forward wanted to play in front of his father, who has reportedly been diagnosed with cancer. No one from the Bruins have confirmed the reports, though Fluto Shinzawa hinted at the possible truth in the speculation in his latest The Athletic’s column:

“Perhaps Bergeron wanted to play to honor his commitment to the team. Maybe he wanted to make a possible final appearance in front of his family in Montreal. He probably felt a final tuneup would optimize him for Game 1.”

The truth is that Bergeron was on the ice for Game 82 and did not sit out once he got injured. Since, he has not played in the first round series against the Panthers and is likely to miss Games 3 and 4 in Florida since he did not travel with his teammates.

When asked about the Bruins’ error in playing the captain in Game 82, head coach Jim Montgomery sounded off to Shinzawa, but appears to have no regrets.

‘Even with the hindsight, we would do it exactly the same way’: Jim Montgomery has no Game 82 regrets.

“Life happens. Tweaked something in that last game,” and even with hindsight, they’d go the same route again.

Montgomery also noted Bergeron is in good spirits mentally.

“He doesn’t get rattled by anything,” Montgomery said earlier this week. “He promotes positivity and cool, calm confidence that permeates through the group. We keep him involved. Like yesterday, we’re having him in the coaches’ room. ‘What are you seeing?’ He’s in the dressing room talking to the players about what he’s seeing. That gives the players confidence. He has a huge presence with us, even if he’s not on the ice.”

This might be why the Bruins’ error won’t sink them in this series, even if Bergeron is truly missed on the ice.
At least, he remains involved and could return to action in Game 5 back in Boston next week.

Categories
Hockey Feed

Encouraging update released on Patrice Bergeron, BUT…

NHL.com

Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron has missed the first two games of the series against the Florida Panthers with an upper body injury. The updates were spared and on Friday morning when the Bruins jumped on the ice in Florida as it wasn’t clear if Bergeron had accompanied his teammates on the trip. Head coach Jim Montgomery finally revealed that Bergeron had not travelled with the team and stayed in Boston, meaning that he will not play Games 3 or 4 in Florida.

However, good news finally took over the unfortunate update as Montgomery stated that Bergeron was likely to take part in Game 5 back in Boston, per insider Fluto Shinzawa. 

The veteran forward was injured in the regular-season finale against the Montreal Canadiens. It has been rumoured that Bergeron wanted to play in Montreal in front of his sick father and kept playing despite the injury since it could very well be the last time his dad saw him play in Montreal.

In 78 regular-season games, Bergeron had 27 goals and 58 points as the Bruins ran away with the Presidents’ Trophy with an NHL single season record in wins (65) and points (135).

Montgomery hinted at lineup changes Wednesday night but didn’t offer any specifics. After practice on Friday hours before Game 3, the head coach mentioned that goalie Linus Ullmark was a game-time decision.

Recommended articles:

Categories
Hockey Feed

Bruins apprehend significant lineup change due to unexpected health update

NHL

I’m not going to mess around : the Boston Bruins and head coach Jim Montgomery announced after practice on Friday that goalie Linus Ullmark was a game-time decision for Game 3 later tonight in the first round series against the Florida Panthers, per insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. 

Ullmark was absent from practice in the morning after turning aside 24of 29 shots against the Panthers in Game 2’s 6-3 loss.

All eyes will be on the warmup in a few hours to see if Boston will turn to Jeremy Swayman for the third contest of the series.

The Bruins and Panthers are tied 1-1 in the first round.

More to come as the story develops.

Recommended articles:

Categories
Hockey Feed

Tickets still available just hours before Game 2 in Edmonton!

CBC

The Edmonton Oilers stopped playing towards the end of Game 1 of their first round series against the Los Angeles Kings, and fans were so upset with the 4-3 overtime loss that they littered the ice with garbage after the final whistle.

Fans have apparently continued to show their frustration as the Oilers announced just a few hours prior to Game 2 in Edmonton that “a limited number of seats were just released for tonight’s Game 2! “ Which means : we ain’t sold out, please come and fill Rogers Place.

After losing a heartbreaker in Game 1, the Oilers need to get back on track and also will require the support of their home fans to focus on forgetting about the loss and getting the W in the second contest of their first-round series.

Earlier on Wednesday, before the announcement that seats were available, the Oilers demanded fans not throw litter on the ice after a beverage nearly hit Kings captain Anze Kopitar in the aftermath of the series opener. Oilers vice-president Tim Shipton wrote in a statement that Edmonton’s loud and passionate fans give his club a huge home-ice advantage inside Rogers Place, but that they needed to respect the rules. 

“There is zero tolerance for this behaviour and no one wants to get ejected from a playoff game.”

Oilers players understood the fans’ disappointment following the first game, but would prefer not to see flying debris and feel their positive energy throughout the contest. 

Let’s see if the arena is sold out later tonight at puck drop.

Recommended articles:

Categories
Hockey Feed

Michael Bunting gets multi-game suspension in first-round series!

YouTube

After his meeting with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Wednesday, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Michael Bunting has been suspended three games for his illegal hit to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak.

Bunting was assessed a match penalty after making contact the defenseman’s head. Cernak, who did not have the puck, fell back and laid down on the ice before he was assisted in leaving the game. He did not return.

Toronto lost 7-3 to Tampa Bay in Game 1. Calle Jarnkrok took over in Bunting’s place on a line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner and scored a goal.

Before the announcement was confirmed, it felt like the Maple Leafs already knew they’d be without Bunting. During Wednesday’s morning practice, rookie Matthew Knies skating in a regular jersey, while Bunting wore the extra grey, anticipating a suspension.

They anticipated correctly and will be without Bunting until Game 5, once / (if) they return to Toronto. 

Recommended articles:

Categories
Hockey Feed

Former Blackhawks call out team in yet another controversy

NBC Sports

The (shortened) 2013 NHL season was in the midst of the glory years for the Chicago Blackhawks, who saw their franchise resurrected from the dead and having been named not even a decade prior by ESPN as the worst franchise in all of professional sports. 

Not only did Chicago cruise through the regular season, they were able to overcome a 3-1 series deficit against the rival Red Wings and then take down the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings before a clash of the titans matchup against the Boston Bruins. The goals 17 seconds apart in the waning moments of Game 6 in Boston by Brian Bickell and Dave Bolland will forever be one of the greatest moments in Windy City history. 

But now, things are vastly different for the Blackhawks, who are in full rebuild mode and also coming off a stunning controversy that put a permanent cloud of shame over the organization for how they handled the sexual assault of former player Kyle Beach by video coach Brad Aldrich during the 2010 postseason. Meanwhile, the Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews era is officially over, with the former having been dealt to the New York Rangers while the latter played his final game in a Blackhawks uniform last week. 

And a few additional former members of the Blackhawks who were part of the 2013 Cup winning squad are speaking out on the organization’s lack of recognition for their accomplishment a decade later.

“We’re all hoping they do one,” Brandon Saad said with a shrug. “I know there’s usually a 10-year reunion, and we’re hoping they do it. Hopefully, whenever it is, we’re not playing and I have a chance to come back and enjoy it. It’s always nice to get back with guys you had success with.”

“I don’t know if it’s been delayed or something like that. But we’re all still hoping.”

Meanwhile, an additional player who spoke anonymously said that it seemed to be part of a trend. 

“It’s like they just want to move on from us completely,” the player said. “Doesn’t make much sense to me.”

Another former player said that “nobody asked” members of the 2013 team with regards for a date that would work for them all to be recognized at United Center. 

Unfortunately for the Blackhawks organization, this is just another lump of coal in the stockings of fans who were on top of the world at this point in 2013.