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Wings Practice Before Flying To Nashville

03/22/2024 at 1:20pm EDT

via Ansar Khan tweets,

#RedWings practice before visiting Nashville tomorrow (5 p.m., ⁦@BallySportsDET⁩), the first of five in a row on the road. Larkin not skating, probably maintenance day after returning last night.
practice lines:
Perron-Czarnik (for Larkin)-Raymond
DeBrincat-Compher-Kane
Rasmussen-Copp-Fischer
Fabbri-Veleno-Sprong
Berggren (extra)
Chiarot-Seider
Edvinsson-Petry
Maatta-Gostisbehere
Holl (extra)
Lyon/Reimer/Husso

Points Piling Up For The Nashville Predators

03/22/2024 at 10:28am EDT

from Zach Gilcriest of the Predators website,

History has been made.

Kevin Lankinen earned his first shutout in Gold and Filip Forsberg scored twice as the Nashville Predators defeated the Florida Panthers, 3-0, to establish a franchise record 16-game point streak (14-0-2) on Thursday at Amerant Bank Arena.

“It was a great effort from the whole team,” Lankinen said. “[Florida] is one of the best teams in the League right now and we went head-to-head and out-battled and out-played them. That shows a lot of character, shows what kind of team we are. It's just so much fun to be a part of this and I’m really proud of the guys.”

“I think for our group, for [Lankinen] to come in and play as he did, and everybody, it's next man up and we're happy for the group,” Predators Head Coach Andrew Brunette said. “We played probably the best team in the League tonight and I thought we played our game, we stayed true to us, and again, we're building for this kind of success as we go forward.”

The result bolstered Nashville’s first Wild Card position and moved the team to 41-25-4 on the season and 22-10-3 on the road.

With a 5-10-0 record to begin their season, few could have predicted the heater the Predators would ultimately be on at this time of year. Even fewer could have predicted a franchise record-breaking 16-game point streak.

And yet, the Predators have done it.

“We’ve kind of found our identity and we’re enjoying what we bring every night,” Brunette said. “And when you have joy in what you're doing, if you enjoy the work, enjoy the grind, that usually puts you in a pretty good spot. So, it's been a heck of a run. We’ll enjoy this, and then we’ve got to go back to work on Saturday.”

continued

Detroit's Identity Line Gaining Traction

03/22/2024 at 7:55am EDT

from Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now,

Copp scored twice, his first goals in 21 games. Fischer would open the scoring with a dynamic breakaway tally. He was good for three points. With Rasmussen dishing a pair of assists, the trio combined for seven points.

It wasn’t merely that they were setting each other up. In the process, they were setting a tone for their teammates.

This Is Red Wings Identity

That unit forechecks like fiends. They thrive in matching up with top players from the opposition and grinding them into the ice surface.

“We all have similar mindsets and obviously three big bodies,” Fischer said. “Obviously doing some matchups with other lines. The three of us, we love that type of thing.

“It’s the game within the game if you could shut down those big boys amd make life hard for them. I think we’re just on the same page.”

Thursday, that was the front page. Following a scoreless opening frame, Fischer would finally put a crooked number up on the scoreboard. Breaking into the clear down the left wing, he cut to his forehand and slipped the puck past the outstretched glove of Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin.

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Below is the Eastern Conference Playoff picture as of this morning.

Let's Regroup

03/22/2024 at 7:43am EDT

from Shayna Goldman of The Athletic,

Is three-on-three overtime broken?

That’s what NHL general managers were tasked with deciding when they met this week in Florida.

No proposals for rule changes were ultimately made, but it was on the docket for a reason. The conversation was sparked in November, when all 32 general managers and league representatives met in Toronto.

Much of the discussion on overtime revolved around the idea of regroups, and whether they were starting to bring down the excitement level that three-on-three play can bring at its best. Early ideas for change included limiting regroups to the red line, adding a shot clock or penalizing teams with a loss in possession for intentionally leaving the offensive zone with the puck.

While there may be room for improvement with overtime, the NHL rightfully avoided a step in the wrong direction here.

The big question the NHL has to figure out is what about the current overtime system is holding the game back.

If the answer is players regrouping often, then the evidence would have to be that offensive creation and goal scoring are down.

In three-on-three action — excluding special-teams time in overtime — teams are generating offense at a rate of 9.7 expected goals for per 60. That is the second-lowest rate since 2020-21. The difference from years past is that scoring chances aren’t as concentrated in the slot area, but expand more throughout the entire home plate.

continued ($)

NHL Short Notes

03/22/2024 at 3:36am EDT

* The Art Ross Trophy race heated up as Nikita Kucherov and Connor McDavid notched their fourth and fifth four-assist outings of the season, respectively. The 2023-24 campaign became the first season to feature multiple players with at least four such performances since 1990-91.

* Artemi Panarin reached the 40-goal mark for the first time in his career with his third hat trick of the season and helped the Rangers move within one point of the Bruins for first place in the League standings. His three-goal showing brought AstraZeneca’s contribution to the Hockey Fights Cancer Fund of the V Foundation up to $495,000 – one hat trick shy of their donation goal this season.

* Alex Ovechkin will look to record multiple goals for a third straight game when the Capitals clash with the Hurricanes on Sportsnet, TVA Sports and NHL Network in the first of four contests scheduled for Friday.

Dylan Larkin's Return Spurs The Wings To Victory

03/21/2024 at 11:35pm EDT

from Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now,

...the return of the team’s captain seemed to provide teammates a booster shot of confidence.

Lalonde said Larkin tried to play Tuesday against Columbus. “He was every disappointed that our athletic training staff was just doing their job,” Lalonde said.

Larkin was more adamant today. “He didn’t get the OK until the afternoon,” the coach said.

His teammates understood how important it was to have him back in the lineup. They were more excited than usual when he scored his first goal.

“There was a little bit more jump,” Red Wings forward Christian Fischer said. “I’m sitting right next to the guy, but he means everything to this team. The season that he’s had up until that injury is remarkable. I’ve seen a true number one center, which is really hard to find. He drives the play. I think you could see every guy just competing a little bit harder, just having the presence of Larks back there. It’s huge for this group. You saw it the last three weeks of us kind of slipping a little bit. I think that played a factor into it. Emotionally, you’re missing your horse. It’s pretty easy to see once he’s back how much the guys want it and how much the guys care.”

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Quick Recap- Detroit Red Wings/New York Islanders

03/21/2024 at 9:43pm EDT

0-0 after 20 minutes with the Islanders holding a slight advantage.

In the second...

Wings added two quick goals in the third to make it 5-1 but the Islanders scored the next two to make it 5-3 with about eight and a half minutes left. Nail biting time.

ENG from Larkin puts a bow on this game, Wings win 6-3.

Team Stats

Detroit goals are below.

Send Them Packing

03/21/2024 at 6:30pm EDT

Good evening and welcome to all. The Red Wings understand that tonight’s game against the Islanders is a must win situation, as the playoffs are on the line for both teams. The Wings have to come out tough and dish it out all game long. Send them packing.

A little levity regarding Mo; “and his hair was perfect.”-Warren Zevon

Reimer has the net. Larkin is a game time decision. Walman is listed as DTD.

It’s the Islanders vs the Red Wings. The puck is set to drop around 7:00 PM and will be broadcast on Bally Sports Detroit and on the Red Wings Radio Network 97.1(The Ticket in Detroit) for your listening pleasure. Also available on ESPN+/NHLPP, MSGSN2, SPORTSNET+, and TVAS-D.

Toronto Maple Leafs Lost To Carolina Hurricanes In Explosive Saturday Showdown While A Familiar Face Watched On

03/21/2024 at 5:30pm EDT

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost a hotly-contested game to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. Newly acquired Jake Guentzel scored the only goal of the ensuing shootout to help his team win 5-4 after Carolina stormed back from a deficit.

Tom Wilson Has Been Offered An In-Person Hearing

03/21/2024 at 1:01pm EDT

How to Read and Understand Hockey Stats

03/21/2024 at 12:00pm EDT

Modern sports are very different to how they were played decades ago. Even if the rules of hockey haven’t changed much, the way athletes and coaches prepare for games and the way we as fans watch the sports are completely different. One of the biggest things that’s changed is the growing importance of statistics. Over the years, coaches, athletes and broadcasters have paid greater attention to stats and what they mean for the game.

An Optional Morning Skate For The Wings

03/21/2024 at 10:37am EDT

The Playoff Race In The East

03/21/2024 at 9:48am EDT

from Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic,

The Eastern Conference playoff race is a hot mess; a middling sludge containing seven teams that wish they were anywhere else.

Not one team is where it wants to be right now and it’s made for a completely chaotic slide to the finish. The clubs that want to lose for the hope of a brighter future are finding ways to keep winning, and the teams that want to win keep falling all over themselves trying. The eighth seed is currently on pace for just 90 points and that number seems to get lower each week.

Does anyone in the East actually want to make the playoffs?

The Islanders were hoping to return to conference final form and currently have the inside track on a wild-card spot at 47 percent. But it sure doesn’t feel like it now that the team has dropped five straight games, four of which have been by three or more goals. They have just one more win than the Senators and have a .426 win percentage. That’s a 35-win pace. The lowest full-season win total in the cap era for a playoff team is 38, set by the 2011-12 Panthers and the 2015-16 Wild.

The Red Wings were hoping this season could be their big leap, and while it looked like it would be at some point, they’ve had a disastrous drop-off over the last few weeks that’s blown this race wide open. Detroit has lost eight of its last 10 games and seen its playoff odds drop from a peak of 76 percent, all the way down to 36 percent.

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Videos- Patrick Kane On Lucas Raymond And His SCF OT Cup Winning Goal

03/21/2024 at 1:53am EDT

Kane on the bright future for Lucas Raymond and below, on his SCF OT goal which won the Cup for the Blackhawks.

NHL Short Notes

03/21/2024 at 1:38am EDT

* The NHL entered the final 30 days of its regular season with Jason Robertson, Auston Matthews and Anze Kopitar leading their team to wins.

* Wednesday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured more notes from the three-game slate, including Alex Ovechkin now needing fewer than 50 goals to tie Wayne Gretzky for the most in League history.

* Closely-contested races for the Art Ross Trophy, Presidents’ Trophy and Wild Card spots will be front-and-center during Thursday’s 11-game slate, which is highlighted by Seattle visiting Vegas on ESPN and Florida hosting Nashville on ESPN+ and Hulu.

Closing Out The GM Meetings

03/20/2024 at 2:41pm EDT

from Dan Rosen of the NHL's website,

NHL general managers completed three days of meetings Wednesday, and Commissioner Gary Bettman said the group is leaving with a sense of the game being in a good place with strong revenues and exciting races for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"We talked about a lot of little tweaks that we can focus on to maybe make things a little bit smoother, but nothing that I would categorize as problems," Bettman said. "I think we're in a good place and we're looking forward to the stretch drive and beginning the playoffs."

On Tuesday, the GMs voted to propose several minor adjustments to rules, including allowing penalties subject to coach's challenges to include delay of game penalties for pucks shot over the glass and certain high-sticking minors.

The proposals next go to the NHL/NHLPA Competition Committee for approval before the NHL Board of Governors for ratification.

Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly touched on a number of other topics in their post-meeting press conference.

Long-term injured reserve

This topic was not on the agenda at the meetings because it is a collectively bargained issue that involves the NHL Players' Association, but the usage of LTIR for injured players as it relates to the salary cap was discussed Sunday when the six members of the GMs' executive committee met with Bettman and Daly.

continued

A Noon Practice For The Wings

03/20/2024 at 12:10pm EDT

Chris Simon - A Sad Canadian Story

03/20/2024 at 9:45am EDT

from Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star,

On the surface, Chris Simon was a classic Canadian story.

He was born to an Ojibwa father and an Anglo-Saxon mother in the tiny town of Wawa, Ont. He moved to the bigger town of Sault Ste. Marie as a teen, seeking better opportunities in hockey. He wound up playing 782 NHL games with seven franchises, was on a Stanley Cup-winning team in Colorado, and his teammates adored him. A lot of people would sign up for that ride.

The actual story was so much more complicated, of course, darker and sadder and harder. Simon died in Wawa on Monday night; a cause of death was not provided. He had four children, and two ex-wives. He was only 52.

People used to say there were at least two Chris Simons. There was the giant who loved hunting and fishing and was a gentle, caring teammate. Then there was the six-foot-three, 235-pound hulk on the ice, the one who didn’t just fight but sometimes snapped.

continued

NHL Short Notes

03/20/2024 at 2:25am EDT

* David Pastrnak, Mark Scheifele and Mikko Rantanen each propelled their teams to victory with a hat trick and boosted the NHL’s total in 2023-24 to 98. Pastrnak joined elite company among active players by notching a three-goal performance against a 12th different franchise.

* The Red Wings captured a crucial come-from-behind win to shuffle back into the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference and did so thanks to a franchise-first.

* Auston Matthews and Alex Ovechkin, who own a combined 11 Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy wins since the award was introduced 25 years ago, will go head-to-head to open an NHL on TNT doubleheader Wednesday as Washington looks to reclaim the Eastern Conference’s final Wild Card spot.

Post Game Talk

03/19/2024 at 11:20pm EDT

from Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now,

Their opponent was the Columbus Blue Jackets, a team sitting 29th in the NHL overall standings. This was going to be the ‘W’ that would get them rolling. Lalonde expected his team to breathe fire in the first period. Instead, the Red Wings played one of their worst periods of the slump. They were out-shot 20-5 and outscored 2-0 on breakaway goals.

“I was flabbergasted,” Lalonde said. “I was shocked. Disappointed. I never thought with this group that … it felt like they quit, and I couldn’t believe it.”

Lalonde would not reveal the specifics of what he said to his players after the period. “I’ll probably just keep that in the room,” he said....

The win pushed the Red Wings back into the Eastern Conference’s second wild card position, one point ahead of the Washington Capitals and three ahead of the New York Islanders. The Red Wings play the Islanders Thursday.

“So many emotional narratives this time of year,” Lalonde said. “Obviously, if we lose it’s a big narrative. Now we win and we’re won two of our last three and we’re over that line again. Separated ourselves a little bit from one of the teams we’re chasing with. It was huge, but it means nothing if we don’t get a little more battle to start. Stop feeling sorry for ourselves. It’s got to come from everyone. Honestly, going into this game, I thought we would have some jump.”

Kane was involved in all three of Detroit’s goals, setting up both of Raymond’s goals. He admitted it was challenging to stay positive after the disastrous first period.

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