adplus-dvertising
Connect with us

Sports

SIMMONS SAYS: This could be the biggest year of Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly's professional career – Toronto Sun

Published

 on


Article content

This isn’t just a contract year for Morgan Rielly. This is an Olympic year. This is an enormous time in terms of professional opportunities.

Advertisement

Article content

This is Rielly’s ninth season — if you can believe that — with the Maple Leafs. He’s not a kid anymore at 27, even though he never acted the part. He arrived in Toronto and has been the Leafs’ most valuable and stable person over the years, just not necessarily the top player in any season.

And this can be the year of a playoff win of some kind, an eventual life-changing financial deal, along with the possibility to be part of Team Canada at the Olympic Games.

There is no sure thing in all this — other than the money that will come his way.

He’s a 50-50 shot, maybe, to go to Beijing. That’s primarily because he plays the left side on defence. Canada is stacked with right defencemen, starting with the already named Alex Pietrangelo, and the Norris Trophy candidates Cale Makar and Dougie Hamilton. There are also the veterans, Kris Letang and the historically great Drew Doughty, on the right side, along with Aaron Ekblad.

Advertisement

Article content

That’s a long list from which to choose three or four defencemen.

The left side, though — Rielly’s side — is not as complete. There is Shea Theodore in Vegas and Edmonton’s Darnell Nurse … and then, after that, a lot of guesses to be made by general manager Doug Armstrong, unless he chooses to play a right defenceman on the left side.

This may be where Rielly comes in. He’s among four or five left-shot defencemen who are no sure things to be selected for the Olympic roster. But his demeanour, his maturity, his ability to be low-maintenance, and his skating talent may work in his favour.

The Olympics would be new to him — as would a playoff-series win, as would his pending free agency. It’s a lot on Rielly’s plate as a new season is about to begin. A feast of possibilities.

Advertisement

Article content

The Florida Panthers inked star Aleksander Barkov to an eight-year, $80-million contract. GETTY IMAGES
The Florida Panthers inked star Aleksander Barkov to an eight-year, $80-million contract. GETTY IMAGES

THIS AND THAT

This may be completely unrelated to Carey Price’s current personal situation, but more than one hockey person was convinced this summer that Price wanted to be chosen in the expansion draft by the Seattle Kraken but remained in Montreal instead … This is Auston Matthews’ sixth season with the Leafs and, until the other day when training camp moved north, he had never been to Muskoka before. Honest … How ironic does this seem: When GM Kevyn Adams, now in the middle of the Jack Eichel mess in Buffalo, was originally drafted by the Boston Bruins and played his first NHL hockey for the Maple Leafs, he had to file a grievance with the NHL to determine who owned his playing rights. That was a quarter-century ago … The problem with the Eichel situation is there is no third-party decision-maker in the process. That’s the flaw. The Sabres’ doctors say one thing. Eichel’s doctors say another. There is no one to appeal to on this … After Aleksander Barkov’s first game in Toronto years ago, I rode down the elevator with then-Florida GM Dale Tallon. I told Tallon that Barkov reminded me of a little of Jonathan Toews, whom Tallon had drafted in Chicago. Tallon smiled and said “better.” Barkov’s new deal in Florida pays him $10 million a year. Toews is being paid $10.5 million after he helped bring three Stanley Cups to Chicago … My local gym can’t operate at full capacity. Nor can my favourite local restaurant. But the Maple Leafs and Raptors and Senators can fill their buildings indoors when the NHL and NBA seasons begin. Go figure … Some people happen to like Sheldon Keefe’s regular use of F-bombs in the Maple Leafs documentary All or Nothing. Some are offended by it. Like everything Leafs, there doesn’t seem to be any middle ground on this … My bet: If William Nylander spends the year on the Leafs’ first power-play unit, he’ll finish second on the team behind Matthews in goal scoring … Another bet: One of Shane Pinto or Cole Caufield will win the rookie of the year award in the NHL.

Advertisement

Article content

HEAR AND THERE

This was Robbie Ray’s tweet of Oct. 6: “I know we fell short of our ultimate goal, but it was still an unforgettable year. Best group of guys and it was absolutely electric to finally experience the home-field advantage that Jays fans bring to the Rogers Centre. Thank you for a very special year, Toronto!” What he didn’t say: I’m staying or I’m leaving or I want to stay. Like his slider, this was difficult to fully read … We now know who and what Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette are, and we can’t wait for next season. What we don’t know is, what’s Cavan Biggio? … If I had to keep one catcher with the Blue Jays as a starter, I’d settle on Danny Jansen long-term and see what you can get for Alejandro Kirk … When Alex Anthopoulos was with the Blue Jays, he drafted Rowdy Tellez in the 30th round of the 2013 Major League draft. Who knew that eight years later Tellez would hit a playoff home run for the Milwaukee Brewers to defeat Anthopoulos’ Atlanta Braves in a National League playoff game? By the way, the Blue Jays scout who recommended Tellez was Darold Brown, who is still close to Tellez and currently works for the Detroit Tigers … What are the odds of this? In the year Hank Aaron passes away, Atlanta and Milwaukee, the only cities and teams for which he played, are meeting in a playoff series … And hard as this is to believe, the Giants and Dodgers, the historical rivals are meeting for the first time in a playoff series … The Tampa Bay Rays remind me of high school chemistry: I can watch the experiments, I just can’t explain them … I like the FOX game graphic that identifies the pitcher and the batter all game long. I don’t like the TBS graphic that identifies the pitcher, but not the batter … Sorry to report that one of Canada’s most powerful female sporting figures, Nathalie Cook, vice-president of TSN, has decided to move on from the sports network. There are not enough women in powerful sporting positions in the country. There’s one fewer today.

Advertisement

Article content

Former NHL referee Don Koharski has been hired as analyst for TNT’s hockey broadcasts. GETTY IMAGES FILES
Former NHL referee Don Koharski has been hired as analyst for TNT’s hockey broadcasts. GETTY IMAGES FILES

SCENE AND HEARD

Only in Canada: The Monday Night Football game featuring the unbeaten Raiders versus the red-hot Chargers, did an audience of 545,000 last week. That was just 25,000 more than a Leafs-Senators pre-season game managed … The former referee Don Koharski has been hired by TNT to work on its NHL broadcasts. Does this mean doughnuts in the green room for everybody? … It’s been 37 years since Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier combined with Grant Fuhr and Jari Kurri and so many more stars to win the Edmonton Oilers’ first of five Stanley Cups (Gretzky was only there for four). Now the two, born eight days apart 60 years ago, debut opposite each other on the two new American hockey networks, ESPN and TNT … The part of the Robin Lehner story that made no sense to me: Coaches don’t dispense medications. I’ve been around a lot of teams for a lot of years and have never seen a coach give out a pill. Training staff and medical staff provide medication. Why Lehner centred out Alain Vigneault, whom he never played for, was hard to understand. And I respect the hell out of Lehner for speaking out, even if some of his wording needed to be edited. Lehner later clarified to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan he never intended to accuse Vigneault of distributing pills … Emma Raducanu, who looked unbeatable at the U.S. Open, lost her opening round match at Indian Wells, where Leylah Fernandez began with a relatively easy win … Under the department of too many root canals: The 18 former NBA players, including ex-Raptors Jamario Moon, Milt Palacio, Sebastian Telfair, Alan Anderson and Antoine Wright, who were busted for attempting to defraud the league’s health and welfare benefit plan. You can only bill for so many procedures before somebody is going to notice that not all is well.

Advertisement

Article content

Tampa’s Randy Arozarena  steals home against the Boston Red Sox in the seventh inning during Game 1 of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field on Thursday. GETTY IMAGES
Tampa’s Randy Arozarena  steals home against the Boston Red Sox in the seventh inning during Game 1 of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field on Thursday. GETTY IMAGES

AND ANOTHER THING

So let me get this straight: The Oshawa Generals, or any other junior team, can travel by bus to the United States to play games in Erie or Saginaw or any other OHL centre. But, fully vaccinated, I can’t get in my car and drive to Buffalo and cross the border to watch the Bills play, or snowbirds can’t drive to their Florida homes. Can someone please explain? … There is no doubt about this: This is the worst season in Edmonton Elks history … One football rule I’d like to change: A forward lateral should not count as a completed pass. It’s essentially a running play. As it is, it distorts quarterback statistics and receiver statistics and messes up fantasy football results … Canadian Mark Lindsay, who has worked with Donovan Bailey, Maria Sharapova, Alex Rodriguez and Peyton Manning to name a few over the years, is now working with Christian McCaffrey, injured running back with the Carolina Panthers … Did Team USA GM Stan Bowman add Seth Jones to the Olympic team among his first three ahead of Adam Fox, Charlie McAvoy or John Carlson because he was the obvious choice or because he happens to be a Blackhawk? … Under the department of disgraceful: A Mexican League team hiring Mickey Callaway to manage … Still officially a rookie, Randy Arozarena, has hit 11 post-season home runs for Tampa in 87 at-bats. The legendary Mr. October, the three-homer man, Reggie Jackson, hit 18 career homers in 281 playoff at bats … Happy birthday to Brett Favre (52), Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (28), Troy Tulowitzki (37), Gene Tenace (75), Henrik Zetterberg (41), Mike Singletary (63), Trevor Daley (38), Kenny Anderson (51), George Kittle (28), James Murphy (62) and Joe Pepitone (81) … And hey, whatever became of Dustin Byfuglien?

Advertisement

Article content

Steve Simmons asks why tickets for the  the Argonauts, seen here beating the Ottawa Redblacks on Wednesday, are so difficult to come by. THE CANADIAN PRESS
Steve Simmons asks why tickets for the  the Argonauts, seen here beating the Ottawa Redblacks on Wednesday, are so difficult to come by. THE CANADIAN PRESS

SNUB HUB

A friend of mine decided a few months back that he wanted to buy season tickets for the Toronto Argonauts.

I know that’s rather unusual these days, but so was his journey in trying to purchase the most available sporting ticket in Toronto.

He called the Argos and was put on hold. After 45 minutes or so of waiting, he hung up. He called again, this time to Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment, the Argos’ owner, and the result wasn’t much different. More time on hold.

I told him to try emailing the sales reps, giving him two names of those who have sold me tickets in the past. He emailed, initially with no response. A few days later, he heard from an Argos rep. It took numerous phone calls, emails and communications for the sale to finally occur, but my buddy got his Argos season tickets — through almost no help from the Argos, which by itself is rather remarkable considering how desperate the club should be to sell tickets to anyone still interested in going to their games.

Advertisement

Article content

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Just last week, another person I know wanted to buy four additional tickets for their game on Wednesday night against Ottawa. He is a season-ticket holder, but wanted to bring others along with him for the experience.

He phoned the Argos, and phoned them again. They never called back. He never got to speak to a person. He gave up rather than buying the additional tickets.

The first-place Argos had a record-small crowd of 6,788 for their game against the Redblacks. Interest may be at an all-time low. But an inability to treat willing customers properly or at all, at this time in their history or, really, at any time, is simply inexcusable.

Canadiens goalie Carey Price has entered the league’s player assistance program. GETTY IMAGES FILES
Canadiens goalie Carey Price has entered the league’s player assistance program. GETTY IMAGES FILES

GETTING THE HELP HE NEEDS

You don’t hear the name Dr. Brian Shaw very often when people talk about the National Hockey League. Perhaps you should.

Advertisement

Article content

Dr. Shaw is one of the founders of the joint NHL/NHL Players’ Association player assistance program. His specialty is dealing with anxiety and sleep disorders. While the assistance program has had issues of its own over the years, over time it has become a more acceptable option for NHL players to take a leave, as Carey Price has done most recently to deal with personal issues, whatever they may be.

Price’s teammate Jonathan Drouin took leave from the Montreal Canadiens last April, missing out on the Habs’ remarkable run to the Stanley Cup final, to deal with his own difficulties of anxiety and insomnia, which at the time were kept private, as they should be. Those closest to Drouin now say Dr. Shaw and the program significantly altered Drouin’s life.

Advertisement

Article content

Years ago, NHL players such as Shayne Corson suffered in near silence while dealing with mental-health issues while trying to play professional sports. Just how many others have suffered without public knowledge is impossible to know. The outlet either wasn’t there for players or the comfort was not there to take leave from your team.

We don’t know what Price is suffering through — nor should we know. It’s his personal life, his personal situation. He is fortunate to have Dr. Shaw’s program available to him and to have the personal strength necessary to admit something is wrong.

We’re not quite ready to write off the rebuilding Toronto Raptors and Pascal Siakam just yet. USA TODAY SPORTS
We’re not quite ready to write off the rebuilding Toronto Raptors and Pascal Siakam just yet. USA TODAY SPORTS

THERE’S REASON TO HOPE

I’m not completely pessimistic about the kind of season the Toronto Raptors might have.

Part of it begins with elementary math and, hopefully, good health.

Advertisement

Article content

Once Pascal Siakam is ready to play, he should be good for 20 points a night, a number similar to what Fred VanVleet should add. If you add OG Anunoby at 15 points a night — and he’s capable of more than that — you’re already at 55 points a game.

Add in 10-to-12 points from rookie Scottie Barnes, from Chris Boucher, from Goran Dragic, from Gary Trent Jr., from Precious Achiuwa, and that’s the possibility of another 50 points a night. And that’s without figuring what Khem Birch might contribute at centre or what Malachi Flynn will manage coming off the bench.

Through exhibition games, it’s surprising what little-known Justin Champagnie has shown as a kind of poor man’s Junkyard Dog.

Is this a playoff team? It’s impossible to know just yet. Is this a team that should be in the play-in round come April? Possibly. Is this a scrappy group that coach Nick Nurse may be able to coach up, and get more out of than expected? Very possible.

It looks like a team you’re going to enjoy watching grow. It’s a new beginning. It doesn’t appear hapless.

ssimmons@postmedia.com

Advertisement

Comments

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

Adblock test (Why?)

728x90x4

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Cult of Hockey Player Grades: Strong 4-1 Edmonton Oilers win over L.A in possible 1st round preview – Edmonton Journal

Published

 on


Article content

The Edmonton Oilers won a big divisional battle on Thursday, a 4-1 victory over the Kings creating a 5-point spread between Edmonton and L.A. in the Pacific. Vegas slides into 3rd place but is 4 back of the Oil.

300x250x1

Edmonton won both ends of the specialty teams battle (PP ½, PK 2/2) and the goaltending showdown (Skinner over Talbot).

Article content

L.A. had 33 shots on net…but they are volume shooters. Overall, a sound defensive performance by the home club.

Advertisement 2

Article content

Here is the tale of the tape…

Edmonton Oilers Player Grades

STUART SKINNER. 8. Steady 1st from Skinner but without a lot of serious work. But he had to be very sharp early in the 2nd as the Kings pressed with 7 unanswered shots, making solid saves off Moore (2-on-1) and Lewis. Stuffed Kempe a few shifts later. With the game still 1-0 Skinner stoned Kempe and then Kopitar in tight. Those were tide-turning saves as just shifts later his mates scored the 2-0. Precious little chance on the 3-1, it was a bang-bang play after a turnover. Big glove save off a Roy point shot. Then helped close it out late in the 3rd with big stops on Dubois and a 1-timer off Kempe’s stick. Stopped 32 of 33. Named the game’s 2nd Star. Looked to be in playoff form.

CONNOR McDAVID. 9. Hit the 120-point mark for the 3rd consecutive season with the 1-0 in the first, knocking down a Mattias Ekholm point shot then back-handing it home for a 4v4 goal. Levelled a hard check on Lizotte late in the 1st frame. No call from the Zebras when he was dropped while cutting hard across the slot. Wins the faceoff after a bad icing by L.A. and ends up with the secondary assist on the 2-0. Earned the primary assist on Bouchard’s 3-0 goal with a pass from behind the goal line. A rare turnover in his zone with possession and the net empty at the other end but eventually cleared the zone on that series. Fought relentlessly through the Kings withering trap. Ended up +3. Named 1st Star.

Article content

Advertisement 3

Article content

RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 6. Fine defensive performance. An excellent clear on the 1st Period PK. Blocked shot and then a steal and clear on the same 3rd Period PK. Hard battle and clear of his own zone in the 3rd. Superb back-check forced an L.A. off-side.

ZACH HYMAN. 6. Good backhand chance from a 3-way passing play with Bouchard and McDavid. Could not convert a sneaky inside pass from Ekholm late in the 1st. Called for a 3rd Period Interference infraction. But then drew a slashing call leading to the 3-0. 5 shots.

DARNELL NURSE. 7. A tower of strength. High Dangers 6-2 5v5 on Darnell Nurse’s stingy watch. Delivered 7 hits to lead the squad. His elite-level speed was a definite edge over a team like the Kings with average boots by comparison. Both sides of this 1st pairing (tonight) were excellent.

CODY CECI. 7. His best effort in a long time. Ceci got a shot on net off a lovely Draisaitl pass in the 1st. The two teamed up in a similar fashion early in the 2nd. Showed particularly good patience deep in his own end and the net empty, found a lane, and drained a 193-foot shot right up the gut for the 4-1. High Dangers 5v5 5-2.

Advertisement 4

Article content

LEON DRAISAITL. 8. Smart stick to end an L.A. sortie early in the 1st. Erased a pending Oilers PP with the tiniest slash on an L.A. player but it was ‘right’ in front of the referee. Just missed potting a bounce off the back boards on a shot-pass by Bouchard. Thumped Roy with hard hit mid-way through the 1st. A terrific pass to Ceci for a chance. Found Ceci again in the 2nd for a point-bank chance. Dangerous shot through a screen. A hard, power move behind the net leads to a pass throw at Henrique in front for the 2-0. Won the faceoff on the 3-0 and ultimately earned the secondary assist. Hard backcheck on Kempe. A spectacular backhand pass set up Henrique in the high slot. Had a rough night in the faceoff circle until it really mattered. Then, won 3 D-zine faceoffs with the Kings net empty, earning a primary assist on the 4-1 with his 3rd win. 3 assists, +3. 3rd Star.

ADAAM HENRIQUE. 7. “Go to the net, kids”. Henrique was rewarded for doing just that, on the ice with sparse seconds remaining in the 2nd after a bad Kings icing. A Draisaitl pass deflected off Henrique’s shoulder right at the top of the crease and in, sending dejected L.A. to the room with a 2-0 deficit after 2. Could not drain a hi-light reel pass from Draisaitl in front. 6 hits.

Advertisement 5

Article content

WARREN FOEGELE. 5. Hard 2nd Period hit on Doughty. Worked hard on the fore check, responsible without the puck. Just did not have a lot of numbers to illustrate a good effort.

MATTIAS EKHOLM. 5. Earned the primary assist on the 1-0 with a point shot that McDavid converted. A fine pass up the middle for Hyman late in the 1st. A glaring giveaway behind his own goal line, leading to the 3-1. A rare night on the bad end of High Dangers 5v5 (4-6).

EVAN BOUCHARD. 8. He was excellent. Secondary assist on the 1-0. Sifted a hard pass off the back wall which Draisaitl nearly swept home for the 2-0. Excellent stick check of Kempe in front. A sweet pass up the middle to spring McDavid and Hyman on a break. Played a 2nd Period 2-on-1 expertly. Part of the sequence on the 2-0. Hammered home the 3-0, a one-timer high glove off a McDavid feed. It was his first since a goal versus L.A. back on February 26th. Involved in the 3-1 against but I had no problem with Bouchard’s decision to pinch in the neutral zone.

RYAN McLEOD. 5. Fine pass by Ryan McLeod led to a break between Kane and Perry. But his best work was without the puck. Very responsible. Sawed off in 5v5 CF. His speed in between Kane and Perry seems to work well.

Advertisement 6

Article content

EVANDER KANE. 6. Set the tone for the game by thumping Drew Doughty with a heavy check in the first, whistled for a questionable trip on the play. Delivered another heavy hit on Englund when he returned. Crisp pass across to perry on a good chance on a 2-on-1. Kane finished up with 6 hits and a string North-South game.

COREY PERRY. 5. Career NHL game number 1,300. Good feed to McLeod in the 2nd who must missed. Tried to deke Talbot 5-hole on a 2-on-1 with Kane. 3rd Period blocked shot.

BRETT KULAK. 5. The far superior member of the Oilers 3rd pairing tonight. Bailed out his D-partner on a bad pinch as Kulak swept the puck away from the gaping Edmonton net. Sawed off on High Dangers 5v5.

VINCENT DESHARNAIS. 3. Struggled. Drew a 2nd Period slash. 2nd Period turnover with a soft pass behind his own net, a harbinger of bad things to come. Yet another giveaway led to point-blank shots by Kempe and Kopitar. Ill-timed pinch led directly to a Grade A chance against.

DEREK RYAN. 5. This line decidedly lost the shot-shares battle but all 3 were so solid defensively they still receiving passing grades. Good anticipation for an interception high in his own zone in the 2nd.

Advertisement 7

Article content

MATTIAS JANMARK. 5. Hard play along the wall to earn a zone clear on the PK in the 1st. Clever deflection on a 3rd Period shorthanded chance. 4 hits. Coach trusted him out on the ice late to protect the lead.

CONNOR BROWN. 5. Nice zone clear on a 1st Period PK. Set up Janmark for a dangerous chance shorthanded.

Edmonton’s record now sits at 44-23-4, 92 points. They remain 2nd in the Pacific, opening up a 5-point gap between them and L.A., 4 points up on Vegas. And the Oilers have 2 games on hand on the Golden Knights, 1 on the Kings.

Prior to the game, Official Kyle Rehman was recognized for his 1,000th NHL game. We do not pull punches here when it comes to officiating. We also recognize meaningful accomplishments.

Find me on Threads @kleavins, on Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, Mastodon at KurtLeavins@mstdn.social, and X @KurtLeavins.

Recently, at The Cult…

McCURDY: Are the Edmonton Oilers better or worse since the trading deadline?

STAPLES: Oilers show their grit in 4-3 win over Winnipeg Jets

LEAVINS: Oilers loss to Leafs begs important questions.

Article content

Comments

Join the Conversation

This Week in Flyers

Adblock test (Why?)

728x90x4

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Allen on trade to Devils from Habs: 'Sometimes you've got to be a little bit selfish' – Yahoo Canada Sports

Published

 on


Jake Allen loved being a member of the Montreal Canadiens.

The hockey-mad market, the crackling Bell Centre on a Saturday night, the Original Six franchise’s iconic logo.

The 33-year-old goaltender is also realistic.

300x250x1

With the Canadiens still in full rebuild mode — and two young netminders in Sam Montembeault and Cayden Primeau ready for more playing time — Allen could see the writing on the wall.

Desperate for help in their own crease, the New Jersey Devils asked Montreal about the veteran’s availability. But the team, general manager Tom Fitzgerald told reporters earlier this month, was initially on Allen’s no-trade list.

There wasn’t anything the Fredericton product disliked about the organization or city. The Devils simply appeared to have their crease set for years to come.

But when the club that finished with 112 points and made the second round of the playoffs in 2022-23 was badly hampered by poor play from Vitek Vanecek, Nico Daws and Akira Schmid — each netminder owned save percentages below .900 — the Devils circled back.

And Allen had changed his tune.

“Loved my time as a Hab,” he said of pulling on Montreal’s red, white and blue threads. “I always will cherish that. Put on probably the most special jersey in hockey, in my books. But you realize in your career, it doesn’t last forever.

“You’ve got to make decisions sometimes.”

Allen, who is signed through next season, eventually agreed to a deal that sent him to New Jersey ahead of the NHL’s March 8 trade deadline for a conditional third-round pick at the 2025 draft.

Apart from playing meaningful hockey on a team trying to claw its way back into the Eastern Conference playoff race, the swap gave him more runway to get his family settled in a new city instead of waiting to see what this summer’s crowded goalie market might bring.

“Sometimes you’ve got to be a little bit selfish,” said Allen, a Stanley Cup champion with the St. Louis Blues in 2019. “Look yourself in the mirror and wonder what’s best for you and your family.”

He’s been really good for his new team.

Allen was lights out in Tuesday’s first period against the Toronto Maple Leafs, making an eye-popping 25 saves in what would turn into New Jersey’s 6-3 victory.

So far he’s 4-2-0 with a .925 save percentage and a 2.51 goals against average in six starts for the Devils, who sit five points back of the East’s second wild-card spot.

“A real pro,” said interim head coach Travis Green.

Allen is a combined 10-14-3 in 2023-24 with a .900 save percentage and a 3.39 GAA. Across his 11 seasons with St. Louis, Montreal and now New Jersey, he’s 193-164-41 with a .908 save percentage and 2.75 GAA.

“Makes the saves we need to get some momentum back,” Devils captain Nico Hischier said. “If you have a solid goalie in the net, that makes your work easier.”

Allen is also 11-12 with a .924 and a 2.06 GAA all-time in the playoffs — a good sign for his new club should New Jersey manage to make the cut.

For now, though, he’s just enjoying being back in a post-season race.

“I thought this was a good opportunity to come in the rest of this year, play some games,” Allen said.

“It’s been a good start.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 28, 2024.

___

Follow @JClipperton_CP on X.

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

Adblock test (Why?)

728x90x4

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Matthews game-time decision for Maple Leafs against Capitals with illness – NHL.com

Published

 on


TORONTOAuston Matthews will be a game-time decision for the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Washington Capitals at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; SN1, MNMT) because of an illness.

“It’s going to be on how he feels throughout the day,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said.

The forward did not participate in Toronto’s morning skate. Max Domi took his place as the center on a line between Tyler Bertuzzi and Mitch Marner, a right wing recovering from a high-ankle sprain sustained March 7 and will be out the next two games.

300x250x1

Matthews leads the NHL with 59 goals, one from becoming the ninth player in NHL history with at least two 60-goal seasons. He scored 60 in 73 games in 2021-22, when he won the Rocket Richard Trophy, Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award. He had one goal and nine shots in 23:44 of a 6-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, which extended his point streak to five games (four goals, seven assists).

He missed one game this season with illness, a 7-0 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 16.

“Of course, it’s an adjustment when your best player is out of the lineup,” Domi said, “when anybody is out of the lineup, but I think we’ve done a great job all year of guys stepping up when they have to, and we just have to continue to do that.”

Toronto defenseman Morgan Rielly will miss his second straight game with an upper-body injury.

“He just remains day to day,” Keefe said. “We’re hopeful he’s going to bounce back here. The one thing that is good is once he gets through this day or two here, it’s not going to be a lingering situation. It’s not going to be an injury that’s ongoing. Once he’s past it, he’s past it so we just need to give him some time.”

Adblock test (Why?)

728x90x4

Source link

Continue Reading

Trending