The Toronto Maple Leafs and goaltender Matt Murray just can’t seem to catch a break.
The Maple Leafs were the victims of a very unfortunate incident on Sunday night during the first period of their game against the Detroit Red Wings. Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond appeared to accidently trip/slew-foot the aforementioned Matt Murray when he lost his footing and crashed in Murray’s crease.
Unfortunately for Murray, he never saw the Red Wings forward coming and as a result he would crash to the ice, slamming the back of his head in the process. Murray’s head bounced off the ice and he appeared to be feeling the ill effects of that blow to the head almost immediately.
That forced Murray off the ice and subsequently that forced goaltender Ilya Samsonov back into action after he played against the Ottawa Senators just 24 hours ago.
Update: No surprise here but Murray will not return to tonight’s game.
The Detroit Red Wings selected Jackson, Mich. native 70th overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He grew up watching the Red Wings and even penned an essay as a youngster in school stating that his life goal was to one day suit up in the NHL wearing the Winged Wheel.
And now, that dream is one step closer to becoming a reality. Earlier today, the Red Wings signed Mazur to a three year entry level contract, and he’ll be reporting to the American Hockey League affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins for the remainder of this season on an amateur tryout basis.
Soon after the deal was announced, Mazur took to social media with this special message that included a picture of his essay he wrote years ago:
In 40 games played this season with the University of Denver, Mazur tallied a total of 22 goals and 15 assists along with a +19 plus/minus rating.
Mazur also played in his youth for the Little Caesars AAA hockey team, and also practiced at both Joe Louis Arena and the Belfor Training Center inside Little Caesars Arena, Detroit’s practice rink.
Frsutrations boiled over for Detroit Red Wings bench boss Derek Lalonde on Tuesday night against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins, and thanks to whatever it was that he said against the on-ice referee, he was removed from the game and assessed his first career ejection.
The game misconduct game not long after Penguins forward Jeff Carter was ruled to have legally scored a goal, and it withstood a challenge from Detroit for goaltender interference:
Red Wings assistant coach Bob Boughner would take over as acting head coach for the remainder of the game, an eventual 7-4 Red Wings victory.
Lalonde becomes the 2nd NHL bench boss to get the gate during a game this season, following San Jose Sharks head coach David Quinn earlier in the year.
It was a first last night for Detroit Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde, who was given a game misconduct and tossed from their game at Little Caesars Arena against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins.
Lalonde was irate after it was ruled by the on-ice officials that Jeff Carter legally scored a goal, despite forward Jason Zucker pushing goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic’s pad across the red goal line along with the puck. After an expletive-filled outburst, cameras caught Lalonde calmly walking back to the dressing room; it was soon announced that he’d been assessed a misconduct, the first of his coaching career. Assistant coach Bob Boughner would take over for the remainder of the night.
Following practice this morning, Lalonde explained his side of things while keeping it classy.
“It was the accumulation of my reaction on the initial calls, which was a little much, and then our conversation at the timeout, which was three minutes later. It was very calm but I just think he (the official) had enough of a combination of both,” Lalonde said. “I was a little shocked. I don’t know if it was warranted but he has every right to do that. He’s trying to manage a game.”
“It was very calm. I asked him one question and said I felt it was under the pad. He said it wasn’t. I had my comment and he probably didn’t like it and didn’t say a word and calmly skated out and gave the sign. I assumed it was an ejection. It was not a heated exchange. As far as the call, I would make that challenge 100 out of 100 times. I’m very comfortable with it.”
While drawing a comparison to baseball managers getting ejected, Lalonde said that he doesn’t want to be known for losing his temper.
“It’s a little unfortunate,” Lalonde said. “It’s just not the culture of our sport. Other leagues, getting ejected, being demonstrative on the sidelines or on the bench, it’s applauded sometimes. Our culture is calm demeanor. Obviously, I don’t want to put myself in those situations.”
While it was originally being speculated earlier this week that Detroit Red Wings goaltender Ville Husso’s season could be finished after playing in a career high 51 games, it seems as though there is a bit of good news to be shared on his status as the regular season schedule winds down to a close.
According to Detroit Free Press beat writer Helene St. James, Husso is expected to be able to make a return to action, though it won’t be for tonight’s game against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes or in Detroit’s following contest on the road against the Winnipeg Jets.
She writes:
“Alex Nedeljkovic starting Thursday for Red Wings. Derek Lalonde says Ville Husso not done for season after all, but won’t be available Thursday or Friday.”
It was Nedeljkovic who was between the pipes for Tuesday night’s victory at Little Caesars Arena against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins. Despite allowing four tallies, the pending unrestricted free agent made several strong saves as he continues to make the case that he deserves a new contract.
Husso, who is in his first year with the Red Wings after being acquired from the St. Louis Blues in a trade last summer, has amassed a record of 25-19-6 with a 3.02 goals against average, .899 save percentage and three shutouts.
The Red Wings and Hurricanes will battle one another tonight starting at 7:30 PM EST in a nationally televised game (ESPN Plus/Hulu).
With the 15th pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, the Detroit Red Wings went with Western Hockey League goaltender Sebastian Cossa of the Edmonton Oil Kings, a towering figure who many analysts believe could fit the profile of a franchise goalie of the future.
And while it wasn’t exactly smooth sailing for Cossa earlier this season with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye, he’s suddenly caught fire, having not suffered a loss since early February while sporting a save percentage above that of .960 and an equally stellar goals against average. He was also named the ECHL goaltender of the week earlier in the month.
And while it’s still going to be a bit before we see him in the red and white of the Red Wings, head coach Derek Lalonde can’t help but notice his success .
“It’s excellent,” Lalonde said of Cossa’s hot streak. “It’s not an accident that a ton, most percentage of goalies in the NHL have spent time, even some significant time in the ECHL.”
“Sometimes that game is a little more chaotic,” Lalonde continued. “You’re dealing with rotating rosters. Sometimes you’re stuck on an overnight and you’re playing with a depleted lineup. Sometimes it’s a less organized game and the goalies down there actually are looking at tougher chances, percentages than they do at every level.
“If he’s doing it over that period of time, no matter what the circumstance is, I think that speaks pretty well of how he’s playing. This is the vision the management team had for him and it’s going exactly to the script.”
Red Wings fans are certainly right to be optimistic about one day seeing the 6’6 goaltender between the pipes for their team.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are in the battle for their lives in order to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a 17th consecutive season. The fact that the Florida Panthers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in overtime last night does nothing to help that, while the additional fact that they were unable to put away the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night despite mounting two separate comeback efforts didn’t aid that quest either.
The Penguins allowed Detroit to jump out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first period Tuesday night at Little Caesars Arena before they decided it was time to start playing. Three second period goals by Pittsburgh tied the score, and it appeared as though they had the momentum. They were even able to once again tie the score after Detroit took a one goal lead in the 3rd.
However, it would be two soft goals allowed by goaltender Casey DeSmith to forward and one time ex-Penguins forward David Perron that would seal their fate for a regulation loss in the standings. And while the Penguins are back at it tonight at PPG Paints Arena against the visiting Nashville Predators, fans aren’t exactly in an optimistic mood.
Take a look at a sampling of some of the responses levied towards the Penguins official Twitter account earlier today.
Minutes ago, it was announced by the Detroit Red Wings that 2022 1st round draft selection Marco Kasper has officially been called up to the team from Rögle BK:
Kasper, who was signed to a three year entry level deal by Detroit shortly after being drafted, scored eight goals with 15 assists along with a +7 rating in 52 games played this past season.
Upon being selected by Detroit with the 8th overall selection last year, he became the highest drafted native Austrian player since former Red Wings forward Tomas Vanek was taken by the Buffalo Sabres in 2003.
The rebuilding Vancouver Canucks brought aboard a key asset at this year’s NHL Trade Deadline, acquiring offensive minded defenseman Filip Hronek from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a conditional first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
And while he’ll be under contract for another season after the current one ends, Canucks fans will have to wait until the fall to see him suit up for them again. It was announced earlier today that Hronek won’t play again for the remainder of the regular season and will be focusing on strengthening his shoulder in order to be ready for the start of next season.
In 64 games played this season split between Detroit and Vancouver, Hronek has tallied a career high 39 points (nine goals, 30 assists).
