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Aaron Ward Thought He Had Gambling Under Control

05/19/2024 at 9:11am EDT

from Luke DeCock of the News & Observer at Yahoo,

The gambling ads are everywhere. On the boards. On the ice. During the commercials. In the middle of the broadcasts. When the Carolina Hurricanes played at PNC Arena during the playoffs, there were advertisements for three different online sportsbooks on the playing surface.

The ads have become overwhelming. They are ubiquitous, and for Aaron Ward, they’re a constant reminder of how he lost everything. He gambled away a life and career he has been trying to rebuild ever since.

Gambling wasn’t the only cause of Ward’s downfall, but it was his primary vice, his addiction, his escape from reality, until reality came crashing down on the former Hurricanes defenseman.

He lost his marriage, his prominent job on Canadian television and his place in the hockey media. He had to build entirely new relationships with his three children, whose childhood he scarred. His 2015 arrest after getting in an argument with his then-wife at their Cary home was the proximate cause — the charges were later dropped and expunged, which didn’t come with the same international headlines — but it was also the rock-bottom moment that led him to accept an offer of help.

“My agent, over and over, made attempts,” Ward said. “I’ve gone back to those people and reconciled: In retrospect, years later, I appreciate you. I just wasn’t in a place where I could recognize and understand what you meant by it. I just felt like I had everything under control. I was just completely hiding that I was out of control.”

continued

Notes During The Stanley Cup Playoffs

05/19/2024 at 8:49am EDT

from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

- Freddy being Freddy. Where have you seen this before? Freddy Andersen did to the Carolina Hurricanes what he did to the Leafs way too often. He let it in a terrible goal with Carolina leading 3-1 in the third period of Game 6. The series with New York should have gone to a seventh game. The crappy goal — see Leafs vs. Capitals, Leafs vs. Bruins playoff time — is almost impossible to recover from.

- I give up. I don’t know what goalie interference is anymore, if I ever knew. And I don’t know cross checking is anymore, if I ever knew.

- For those counting, this is 11 seasons for Nathan MacKinnon — five of them with Cale Makar and just one Stanley Cup. It tells you, teams win championships in hockey, individuals do not.

- NHL goaltenders have never been better equipped or better prepared to play. But while they’re consumed with technique, too many still don’t know how to read the game or the play. It makes for more great stops and more dubious goals against than ever before … Ed Belfour was the most economical goalie I’ve ever seen up close. He was always square to the puck. He rarely made a great save because he didn’t have to.

more notes, including Berube/Leafs...

The Players On The Coach

05/19/2024 at 8:39am EDT

from Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now,

This is going to be Derek Lalonde’s third season on the job as head coach of the team when the Red Wings go to training camp in the fall. He’s also entering the last year of the three-year deal he signed with Detroit, so viewing it from the outside, it’s easy to see this as a make it or break it season concerningas his future with the team.

That being the case, it’s interesting to get a sense of the sentiments that the Red Wings players have of the job their bench boss is doing.

“Newsy, one thing I really respect about him and like about him as a coach is he’s always pretty even keeled,” Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin said. “He’s demanding but he knows how to get the best out of each guy I believe.

“Whether it’s different, or the same, I think he’s just really always the same, even keel. You know what you’re gonna get and I respect that.”

f you pay attention during Lalonde’s sessions with the media, his answers often take on a point-counterpoint aura. Reporters covering the team are often referring to this as Lalonde’s ‘yeah but’ instinct.

He’ll frequently follow a compliment about a player by highlighting a moment of an instance where they could’ve done something better, especially if it’s an example of how they hampered the team’s chances at success.

“I can’t say I’ve watched too much of what he’s like in the press room but he is a pretty calm guy, but he’s still passionate,” Red Wings forward J.T. Compher said. “There’s times where he’s fired up.”

read on

NHL Short Notes

05/19/2024 at 12:16am EDT

* The regular suspects rose to the occasion for the Oilers as either Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl factored on each of Edmonton’s five goals to help the club avoid elimination and force the 197th all-time Game 7 and third of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

* Connor McDavid’s 13th outing with three or more assists in 2023-24 (regular season & playoffs combined) helped the Oilers score at least five goals in a game to fend off elimination for the first time since Game 6 of the 2017 Second Round versus Anaheim.


* Leon Draisaitl extended his postseason-opening point streak to 11 games and joined elite company in Stanley Cup Playoffs history by recording his 100th career point in just 60 contests.

Conference Finals Schedule

05/18/2024 at 10:58pm EDT

NEW YORK (May 18, 2024) – The National Hockey League today announced the dates, starting times and national broadcast information for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Finals. The Eastern Conference Final will feature the Florida Panthers versus the New York Rangers. The Western Conference Final will feature the Dallas Stars versus the winner of Monday’s Second Round series Game 7 between the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks. All times are ET and subject to change.

Rod Brind’Amour Staying In Carolina

05/18/2024 at 9:27pm EDT

Open Post- Game 6 Between The Vancouver Canucks And The Edmonton Oilers

05/18/2024 at 8:00pm EDT

A win tonight in Edmonton will propel the Canucks to the Western Conference Final to play the Dallas Stars.

A loss would force a game 7 in Vancouver on Monday, with a winner take all scenario.

The game starts just after 8pm ET and can be watched on ESPN, CBC, Sportsnet and TVAS.

The Winner Of The Frank J, Selke Trophy Is Aleksander Barkov

05/18/2024 at 7:59pm EDT

NEW YORK (May 18, 2024) – Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov is the 2023-24 recipient of the Frank J. Selke Trophy, recognizing “the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game,” as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Barkov is a Selke winner for the second time in his career, having become the first winner in franchise history in 2020-21. Adding a third-place finish in voting in 2021-22, the Panthers captain has been a Selke Trophy finalist in three of the past four seasons.

A Controversial Remark From Paul Bissonnette

05/18/2024 at 2:52pm EDT

Rick Tocchet Has The Canucks A Game Away From the Conference Finals And Questions For The Oilers

05/18/2024 at 11:35am EDT

from Iain MacIntyre of Sportsnet,

If this thing doesn’t work out with the Vancouver Canucks — and being a National Hockey League coach carries the job security of a newspaper delivery person — Rick Tocchet could probably make more money batting cleanup for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Tocchet has mashed for power and average while pushing the Canucks to the brink of the franchise’s fourth conference final in 54 years and the first one since 2011.

Plus, we all know the Blue Jays need the help, although Tocchet is more likely to replace manager John Schneider than Vlad Guerrero Jr.

On Wednesday, after excoriating his team for its “passengers” while tied 2-2 in a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers, Tocchet reminded reporters that he was here to take his cuts at the plate. Twice fired as a head coach from unwinnable situations in Tampa and Phoenix, Tocchet made it clear soon after he was hired by the Canucks 16 months ago that he would swing for the fences, not try to work the count or sneak on base with a bunt. He did not come to Vancouver to play it safe.

“I told you guys when I took the job, 'I'm swinging the bat,’” Tocchet said Wednesday. “Like, I'm not scared. You can't play safe if you want to win. You've got to go for it.”

continued

from Mark Spector of Sportsnet,

Nate Danielson Headed To Grand Rapids

05/18/2024 at 11:11am EDT

The Boston Bruins Failed To Get To The Conference Finals

05/18/2024 at 11:01am EDT

from Rich Thompson of the Boston Herald,

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman couldn’t close the deal on a second straight elimination game.

Florida defenseman Gustav Forsling flicked home a rebound inside the near post at 18:27 of the third with the game winner in the Panthers’ 2-1 victory in the deciding Game 6 on Friday night at the TD Garden.

“I didn’t see it,” said Swayman. “I wish that I had put the rebound in a better spot and I didn’t see the release of the second shot. There was a hole there obviously and it was unacceptable.”

Swayman brought the series back to Boston with a 28-save effort in a 2-1 elimination game victory over the Panthers in Sunrise, Fla., last Tuesday. The Panthers eliminated the Bruins from the Stanley Cup playoffs in consecutive seasons and will face the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference finals.

Swayman will be restricted free agent with arbitration rights, but he made it clear after the game his heart is in Boston.

“I told these guys in the locker room after that I never loved a team more, especially at the pro level when guys all have their own lives and their own families,” said Swayman.

“Every one of these guys took the initiative to come to the rink every day and make this our family. I don’t think there are many locker rooms in the world that have that. I think we should celebrate the fact that every day when we come to the locker room that everyone has each other’s backs away from the rink and at the rink.”

continued

Another Year Wasted In Denver

05/18/2024 at 10:52am EDT

from Mark Kiszla of the Denver Gazette,

Two years after hoisting the Stanley Cup, every step away from the victory parade gets heavier with regret of what might have been for this ridiculously talented Avalanche team.

The clock struck midnight on another Colorado season in the waning seconds of Friday night. And this 2-1 loss, in double overtime to Dallas, couldn’t have been more bitter, because our old friend Matt Duchene drove a stake in the Avalanche’s heart with the game-winning goal.

Another early exit from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. A team that professed to be all in has bombed out.

"A devastating result," Avs defenseman Cale Makar said, after the disappointment of Friday turned to Saturday and the first day of vacation the Avs didn't want.

Another season wasted in the prime of the careers of Makar, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, players Duchene called "borderline super-human."

continued

Videos- The Dallas Stars Advance To The Western Conference Final

05/18/2024 at 2:12am EDT

Dallas defeated the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 in 2OT to win the series 4-2

They will face the winner of Vancouver/Edmonton.

Here is the game winner and below find handshakes and highlights.

The Florida Panthers Will Face The New York Rangers In The Eastern Conference Final

05/17/2024 at 10:07pm EDT

The Panthers defeated the Boston Bruins 2-1 to win the series 4-2.

Here is the late winning goals and handshakes and highlights are below.

Open Post - Two Teams Facing Elimination Tonight

05/17/2024 at 6:43pm EDT

A Win For Trey Augustine At The World Championship

05/17/2024 at 6:42pm EDT

from Ansar Khan of Mlive,

Detroit Red Wings prospect Trey Augustine made 20 saves Friday in his first World Championship start and the United States defeated Poland 4-1 in Ostrava, Czechia.

It was the third appearance for Augustine, 19, in the tournament. He previously relieved an injured Alex Lyon and replaced an ineffective Alex Nedeljkovic.

Augustine ranks third in goals-against average (1.37) and fourth in save percentage (.929) among all goalies. He has stopped 39-of-42 shots in three games.

continued

Craig Berube Is The New Coach In Toronto

05/17/2024 at 6:31pm EDT

Coach Talk

05/17/2024 at 11:27am EDT

The Vancouver Canucks Were The Better Team

05/17/2024 at 3:29am EDT

from Mark Spector of Sportsnet,

This series turned here in Game 5, a smash and grab by a Vancouver Canucks team that got their hands around this game and simply just took off with it.

The Edmonton Oilers, a team that’s been chasing this series since blowing a 4-1 lead to lose Game 1, just didn’t have any more chase in them Thursday, losing 3-2 on a J.T. Miler goal in the game’s final 30 seconds.

It was another blown lead by Edmonton, but this one was different. When the teams came out of the dressing rooms for Period 2, Vancouver had more, played faster, executed better.

In the end it was a one-goal game in name only, a 5-2 drubbing dressed up like a 3-2 thriller.

The Canucks were not just the better team for the vast majority of the final 40 minutes, the players on both teams weren’t the only ones who noticed. So did the Hockey Gods, as a puck that hit the Oilers post with 29 seconds left in the game was guided perfectly to the stick of the deserved, Canucks bulldog Miller.

continued

From Both Sides - New York Rangers/Carolina Hurricanes

05/17/2024 at 2:51am EDT

from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

His signature is all over recent Rangers history. You can’t miss it. Just as no one, but no one, could miss him down here on Thursday night.

The. National. Hockey. League. Saw. Chris.

Number 20 came about as close as possible as pulling a No. 11, for it was Chris Kreider, the senior Ranger, who recorded a natural hat trick in the third period to enable the Rangers to overcome a 3-1 deficit and record a Game 6 series-clinching 5-3 victory over the Canes.

It will mark the Blueshirts’ fifth trip to the conference final in the 13 years since Kreider joined the team fresh out of Boston College for the first round of the 2012 tournament. He was there for Adam Henrique. He was there for Jonathan Quick. He fairly famously crashed into Carey Price one time. He was there for the Tampa Bay letdown. He was there for The Letter.

And Kreider was there in the locker room after the second period Thursday. He stood up and said he would get one. He lied. He got three.

continued

Mark Lazerus of The Athletic on the Carolina Hurricanes,

NHL Short Notes

05/17/2024 at 2:15am EDT

* The Rangers became the first team to advance to the 2024 Conference Finals after overcoming a multi-goal deficit in the third period with the help of Chris Kreider who scored three straight goals, including the series clincher.

* J.T. Miller scored with 33 seconds remaining in regulation – the second-latest go-ahead goal in Canucks postseason history – to move Vancouver within one win of the Conference Finals.

* The Bruins and Avalanche both aim to force a Game 7 in their Second Round series Friday, while the Panthers and Stars take another crack at advancing to the Conference Finals.

Videos- The New York Rangers Advance To The Eastern Conference Finals

05/16/2024 at 9:57pm EDT

With a 5-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, the New York Rangers win the series 4-2. They will face the winner of Florida/Boston.

It was the Chris Kreider show in the third period.

Handshakes and highlights are below.


Another Head Coaching Job For Jeff Blashill?

05/16/2024 at 7:59pm EDT

from Ansar Khan of Mlive,

Could former Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill get another opportunity as an NHL head coach?

Blashill apparently is a candidate to take over the San Jose Sharks, according to Elliotte Friedman, who said on his 32 Thoughts podcast, “I think Blashill is someone they’re considering.”

Blashill, 50, has been an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning the past two years. He spent seven seasons as the Red Wings head coach from 2015-16 to 2021-22, compiling a record of 204-261-72.

continued

Open Post- Two Stanley Cup Playoff Games Tonight

05/16/2024 at 6:31pm EDT

The Carolina Hurricanes will try to force a game 7 tonight which would be played Saturday at MSG.

One team, either Vancouver or Edmonton will go up 3-2 tonight. Your guess is as good as mine but expect the unexpected.

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