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Bobby Ryan’s comeback from addiction earns him Senators’ Masterton nod – Sportsnet.ca

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In the safety and comfort of his summer home in Idaho, Bobby Ryan can admit he thought his career might be over when he left the Ottawa Senators last November to seek help for an alcohol addiction.

“Right when I left was the hardest time,” Ryan said on a Zoom call with Ottawa media Tuesday. “Obviously, with the [big] contract there was that, but I left knowing I might have played my last game in the NHL. And that was the hardest thing to swallow and get over.”

Whenever things look bleak for the Senators, Ryan has a way of stepping up.

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In 2017, he was an unlikely playoff hero during Ottawa’s surprising run to the Eastern Conference Final, producing 15 points and two overtime winners.

In late February of this year, the rebuilding Senators were in the throes of a four-game losing streak and had dropped 21 of their previous 26 games when Ryan returned from a rehabilitation centre to lift fans out of their seats with one of the most dramatic comebacks in the 28-year history of the hockey club.

Not having played in more than 100 days since declaring on Nov. 20 that he was leaving the team to take part in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program, Ryan responded to an expectant crowd at the Canadian Tire Centre with an explosion of pent-up energy and emotion: three goals and a fight (against Chris Tanev) in an inspiring 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.

Who saw this coming?

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Ryan’s first period goal, a tip of a Nikita Zaitsev shot, was Ryan’s first since Oct. 2. It launched the first of too many standing ovations to count.

“It just got harder to keep the emotions down throughout the game … I mean, you can’t write that,” Ryan said, of the script that unfolded that night. “It’s just an incredible evening.”

As he celebrated with his teammates — but not in the way he used to — Ryan heard one of his dressing room pals say, “you just threw your hat in the ring for the Masterton.”

On Tuesday, that comment proved prophetic. Ryan, 33, was named Ottawa’s nominee for the 2019-2020 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

Once again, Ryan has put a smile on a dark week, changing the subject matter following a negative news spiral surrounding owner Eugene Melnyk’s breakup with the Ottawa Senators charitable Foundation.

The Masterton Trophy, as voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association, is awarded to the NHL player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”

Masterton, a forward with the Minnesota North Stars in the 1960s, suffered massive brain trauma during a game against the Oakland Seals on Jan. 13, 1968. He died two days later. The award was launched in his honour in 1968.

Ryan, battling back from the scars of a traumatic childhood, and in recent years an alcohol addiction, is a worthy candidate for the Masterton award, which has only once gone to a Senators player — goaltender Craig Anderson in 2016-17.

Ryan has experienced personal loss and damage, which, to his credit, he has always been willing to share. In 2016 when he lost his mother, Melody, to cancer, Ryan penned a stirring tribute to her in a Players’ Tribune article. She was his rock as a child and a young man.

Ryan’s family background has been well documented. Born Bobby Stevenson in Cherry Hill, N.J., Bobby’s father, Shane was a fugitive from justice and changed the family name to Ryan as they set out for a life on the run. Shane Ryan was arrested in 2000. For perspective on Bobby Ryan’s bizarre early life, check out the in-depth feature by Sportsnet’s Christine Simpson.

Drafted by Anaheim second overall behind Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby in 2005 — another life moment with scarring potential — Ryan nevertheless emerged as a scorer with the Ducks, four times breaking the 30-goal threshold.

In the summer of 2013, Ryan was acquired by Ottawa in a blockbuster trade that sent forward Jakob Silfverberg to Anaheim along with forward prospect Stefan Noesen and a first-round draft pick (used to select Nick Ritchie).

With Ottawa, Ryan has become as well known for his contract as for his production. In October of 2014, Ryan signed a seven-year, $50,750,000 contract that will pay him $7.25M through the 2021-22 season.

This season, Ryan played in just 24 games, with five goals and three assists. This, after three straight seasons below the 20-goal mark — 13, 11 and 15.

Fans relate to his vulnerability, honesty

Other players have been run out of NHL towns after signing big deals without the points to match, yet Ryan has become a popular figure among the fan base because people relate to his vulnerability and humanity, despite the salary.

Ryan represents the work in progress that many of us are, with our personal hardships and closet skeletons. He wears his heart on his sleeve, for all to see.

“I think when you look at players and athletes, people have a perception that they are making a million bucks and living the good life, and getting to play hockey and flying around, but I don’t think people get a chance to relate to some of the things that go on underneath,” Ryan said.

“Because I’ve been open and candid about that, I think people look at me and say, ’there is a very relatable person.’ Through my familiar [past] and then the alcohol issues, things like that, I’ve never hid from it.

“I’ve said, if I am going to do this, I am going to do it in the public eye and be candid with it. Some of the most rewarding things have been people that have reached out on social media, Instagram or whatever it might be, sending me private messages. And I am able to pay it forward by helping them.

“Some I’ve helped find treatments. Some I’ve helped have the right conversations. These are people I didn’t know that I indirectly affected. It’s incredible I am able to do that.”

Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what they think about it.

Other than a recent minor surgery, Ryan has been in terrific health and good spirits, with a routine of 6:30 a.m. workouts followed by dad duty with his two kids around 9 am.

“I was until last week when I had a vasectomy, I haven’t moved in five days and I feel like a bag of [expletive] right now,” Ryan said, in classic Bobby Ryan candour.

“I hope we’re not live on anything.”

The initial quarantine after the season ended in March was a godsend, he said.

“I felt like I was running at a hundred miles an hour for the last four months there. And I really hadn’t had a chance to take a step back. At first it was — OK, have another day sober.

“Then you get thrown into daily NHL life and you forget to do the daily affirmations for alcohol control.

“I took those 14 days [of quarantine] to almost re-educate myself in learning how to stay sober. And it helped immensely. It really gave me a chance to slow down.”

He thanked his wife, Danielle, for her role in this “familial” and the team Masterton nomination. He thanked his trainers for whipping him into shape, and head coach D.J. Smith for keeping him on the rails during a terrifyingly long road back to getting in the starting lineup.

“I thought I was leaving for 30 days, practicing and getting right back into things, and learned that wasn’t going to be the case.”

It took weeks to get the medical clearance to play again, to go with the off-ice and on-ice training.

“Coming back I felt I was having another obstacle every day, another obstacle every week and another thing to progress from, until I was part of the team again.”

Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover Canada’s most beloved game.

The Masterton nomination is a “great thing that came from all the tough things through the year,” Ryan said. “I’m extremely pleased to be the Sens representative.”

The other day, Bobby and his wife had a conversation about their journey.

“We talked briefly about how far we’ve come in the last six months, how far I’ve come with things that have led to the day-in, day-out rewards I’m getting now,” he said.

Assuming the Senators want him back, he vows to return in great condition, no longer a player who takes a drink.

“I’d like to continue to be a top six player, I think I still have that in me, I think I showed that a little bit in the four games I played [after the comeback] and if it’s with the Sens, I just want to help the kids get better and help them toward the path of being a consistent playoff team, because all the pieces are there. And they are going to continue to get there with all the drafting they have coming forward.”

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Need to Know: Bruins at Maple Leafs | Game 3 | Boston Bruins – NHL.com

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Familiar Territory

James van Riemsdyk has played his fair share of playoff contests here in Toronto – but all of them have come in blue and white. On Wednesday night, he would be on the other side for the first time if he indeed makes his Bruins postseason debut, which appeared to be a strong possibility based on the Black & Gold’s morning skate.

“It’s always special to play in this building,” said van Riemsdyk, who played in 20 postseason games with Toronto, including nine at Scotiabank Arena. “In this rivalry, it’s always a lot of fun. This time of year is always amazing, no matter where you’re at – if you’re at a 500-seat arena or a rink with all the tradition and history like this. It’s always fun and always a great opportunity to get in there.”

van Riemsdyk was a healthy scratch for the first two games of this series, following a trend across the second half of the regular season, during which he sat out several games.

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“Playoff time of year is always the best time of year,” said van Riemsdyk, who has 20 goals and 31 points in 71 career playoff games between Philadelphia and Toronto. “Obviously, in this rivalry, it’s always a lot of fun – two fun buildings to play in. You cherish every opportunity you get.

“This time of year, you learn that along the way, it’s all about the team. Whatever the team’s asking you to do, that’s always got to be your mindset and approach…you stay at it every day and just take it one day at a time.”

Montgomery said that if van Riemsdyk does re-enter the lineup, he’ll be looking for the veteran winger to help the Bruins’ offensive game. He also complimented van Riemsdyk’s professionalism throughout a trying second half.

“I guess getting his stick on more pucks,” Montgomery said on what he wants to see from van Riemsdyk. “We’ve talked about it a lot of times internally. Him and [Kevin] Shattenkirk have been great. They’re true pros. Every day come to work, come to get better. It’s not an easy situation, but he’s been great.”

van Riemsdyk concurred with his coach’s sentiments about helping Boston’s offensive attack, saying that he’ll be aiming to be around the net as much as possible.

“I think you’ve got to stay true to who you are as a player and play with good details and manage the game well and play to your strengths as a player,” he said. “This time of year, being around the net is always an important trait. You see all the goals being scored, it’s all within 5-10 feet of the net. That’s an area that I pride myself on, so going to be doing my best to get there and have an impact there.”

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NHL teams, take note: Alexandar Georgiev is proof that anything can happen in the playoffs

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It’s hard to say when, exactly, Alexandar Georgiev truly began to win some hearts and change some minds on Tuesday night.

Maybe it was in the back half of the second period; that was when the Colorado Avalanche, for the first time in their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets, actually managed to hold a lead for more than, oh, two minutes or thereabouts. Maybe it was when the Avs walked into the locker room up 4-2 with 20 minutes to play.

Maybe it was midway through the third, when a series of saves by the Avalanche’s beleaguered starting goaltender helped preserve their two-goal buffer. Maybe it was when the buzzer sounded after their 5-2 win. Maybe it didn’t happen until the Avs made it into their locker room at Canada Life Centre, tied 1-1 with the Jets and headed for Denver.

At some point, though, it should’ve happened. If you were watching, you should’ve realized that Colorado — after a 7-6 Game 1 loss that had us all talking not just about all those goals, but at least one of the guys who’d allowed them — had squared things up, thanks in part to … well, that same guy.

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Georgiev, indeed, was the story of Game 2, stopping 28 of 30 shots, improving as the game progressed and providing a lesson on how quickly things can change in the playoffs — series to series, game to game, period to period, moment to moment. The narrative doesn’t always hold. Facts don’t always cooperate. Alexandar Georgiev, for one night and counting, was not a problem for the Colorado Avalanche. He was, in direct opposition to the way he played in Game 1, a solution. How could we view him as anything else?

He had a few big-moment saves, and most of them came midway through the third period with his team up 4-2. There he was with 12:44 remaining, stopping a puck that had awkwardly rolled off Nino Niederreiter’s stick; two missed posts by the Avs at the other end had helped spring Niederreiter for a breakaway. Game 1 Georgiev doesn’t make that save.

There he was, stopping Nikolaj Ehlers from the circle a few minutes later. There wasn’t an Avs defender within five feet, and there was nothing awkward about the puck Ehlers fired at his shoulder. Game 1 Georgiev gets scored on twice.

(That one might’ve been poetic justice. It was Ehlers who’d put the first puck of the night on Georgiev — a chip from center ice that he stopped, and that the crowd in Winnipeg greeted with the ol’ mock cheer. Whoops.)

By the end of it all, Georgiev had stared down Connor Hellebuyck and won, saving nearly 0.5 goals more than expected according to Natural Stat Trick, giving the Avalanche precisely what they needed and looking almost nothing like the guy we’d seen a couple days before. Conventional wisdom coming into this series was twofold: That the Avs have firepower, high-end talent and an overall edge — slight as it may be — on Winnipeg, and that Georgiev is shaky enough to nuke the whole thing.

That wasn’t without merit, either. Georgiev’s .897 save percentage in the regular season was six percentage points below the league average, and he hadn’t broken even in expected goals allowed (minus-0.21). He’d been even worse down the stretch, putting up an .856 save percentage in his final eight appearances, and worse still in Game 1, allowing seven goals on 23 shots and more than five goals more than expected. That’s not bad; that’s an oil spill. Writing him off would’ve been understandable. Writing off Jared Bednar for rolling him out there in Game 2 would’ve been understandable. Writing the Avs off — for all of Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar’s greatness — would’ve been understandable.

It just wouldn’t have been correct.

The fact that this all went down now, four days into a two-month ordeal, is a gift — because the postseason thus far has been short on surprises, almost as a rule. The Rangers and Oilers are overwhelming the Capitals and Kings. The Hurricanes are halfway done with the Islanders. The Canucks are struggling with the Predators. PanthersLightning is tight, but one team is clearly better than the other. BruinsMaple Leafs is a close matchup featuring psychic baggage that we don’t have time to unpack. In Golden KnightsStars, Mark Stone came back and scored a huge goal.

None of that should shock you. None of that should make you blink.

Georgiev being good enough for Colorado, though? After what we saw in Game 1? Strange, surprising and completely true. For now.

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"Laugh it off": Evander Kane says Oilers won’t take the bait against Kings | Offside

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The LA Kings tried every trick in the book to get the Edmonton Oilers off their game last night.

Hacks after the whistle, punches to the face, and interference with line changes were just some of the things that the Oilers had to endure, and throughout it all, there was not an ounce of retaliation.

All that badgering by the Kings resulted in at least two penalties against them and fuelled a red-hot Oilers power play that made them pay with three goals on four chances. That was by design for Edmonton, who knew that LA was going to try to pester them as much as they could.

That may have worked on past Oilers teams, but not this one.

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“We’ve been in a series now for the third year in a row with these guys,” Kane said after practice this morning. “We know them, they know us… it’s one of those things where maybe it makes it a little easier to kind of laugh it off, walk away, or take a shot.

“That type of stuff isn’t gonna affect us.”

Once upon a time, this type of play would get under the Oilers’ skin and result in retaliatory penalties. Yet, with a few hard-knock lessons handed down to them in the past few seasons, it seems like the team is as determined as ever to cut the extracurriculars and focus on getting revenge on the scoreboard.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the longest-tenured player on this Oilers team, had to keep his emotions in check with Kings defender Vladislav Gavrikov, who punched him in the face early in the game. The easy reaction would be to punch back, but the veteran Nugen-Hopkins took his licks and wound up scoring later in the game.

“It’s going to be physical, the emotions are high, and there’s probably going to be some stuff after the whistle,” Nugent-Hopkins told reporters this morning. “I think it’s important to stay poised out there and not retaliate and just play through the whistles and let the other stuff just kind of happen.”

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch also noticed his team’s discipline. Playoff hockey is full of emotion, and keeping those in check to focus on the larger goal is difficult. He was happy with how his team set the tone.

“It’s not necessarily easy to do,” Knoblauch said. “You get punched in the face and sometimes the referees feel it’s enough to call a penalty, sometimes it’s not… You just have to take them, and sometimes, you get rewarded with the power play.

“I liked our guy’s response and we want to be sticking up for each other, we want to have that pack mentality, but it’s really important that we’re not the ones taking that extra penalty.”

There is no doubt that the Kings will continue to poke and prod at the Oilers as the series continues. Keeping those retaliations in check will only get more difficult, but if the team can continue to succeed on the scoreboard, it could get easier.

 

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