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The Los Angeles Kings are not going down without a fight.
And who knows, they might not be going down at all.
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Top 5 Flames prospects: Coronato making successful jump to NCAA – Sportsnet.ca
It won’t be hard to keep tabs on the Calgary Flames’ prospects in this year’s world junior tourney, as they only have one.
But that’s not to say the Flames are short on top young players.
The Stockton Heat (18-2-3) are one of the best teams in the AHL, thanks to a generous helping of talented youngsters on their way up to the bigs.
For the next few weeks all eyes will be on Matthew Coronato, as the 2021 first rounder takes time out from Harvard to play a prominent role on the U.S. team’s junior squad.
However, a quick peek at the top five prospects in the organization shows there are plenty of reasons to be excited about life down on the farm:
Matthew Coronato, LW/RW, Harvard (NCAA)
GP: 11 │ G: 6 │ A: 6 │ PTS: 12
Since being selected 13th overall this summer, the just-turned 19-year-old has made a successful jump from USHL sniper to Ivy League force.
Coronato leads all rookies on his team in scoring and sits top-20 in ECAC scoring despite playing almost half the games other players have played.
“He’s a young player there, so to make that jump from the USHL is huge, playing with much older guys,” said Flames director of player development, Ray Edwards. “I’m anxious to see him against his own age group at the world juniors.”
As one of the best pure goal scorers in the 2021 draft, Coronato’s role for the American’s will likely involve being counted on to be a difference-maker.
It is at that tourney Flames fans will see the work ethic and compete-level that has Edwards comparing the five-foot-10, 183-pound winger to Andrew Mangiapane.
“When you draft a guy that high and he wants to get better, learn and be coachable and polite, it’s clear he’s just a great human being,” said Edwards, who has seen Coronato play live a handful of times this year.
“On the ice it all goes together. What sticks out is how hard he competes. He’s willing to go into tough areas to play, and he doesn’t mind paying the price.”
Dustin Wolf, G, Stockton Heat (AHL)
Record: 14-0-2 │ GAA: 1.84 │ SV%: .940
Leading the AHL in wins, and amongst the top three in every statistical category, Wolf continues to prove the hockey world was wrong to let him go undrafted until late in the seventh round in 2019.
The generously-listed six-foot, 168-pound goaltender has parlayed one of the greatest junior careers in decades into a flawless start as a pro.
“We had high expectations coming off a fantastic junior career and the handful of games he played in Stockton last year, but to go on the run that he has, you’d almost have to say he’s exceeded expectations,” said Stockton GM/Flames assistant GM Brad Pascall of the diminutive 20-year-old, who hasn’t lost a game in regulation in 18 outings dating back to last year.
“This is a guy that is a hockey player. We have a good team down there, but he is a big part of the success we’ve had in the start of the season. He’s a smart player. He reads the game so well and manages it so well as a goalie.”
Some intermission entertainment – check out this save bypic.twitter.com/bWwhdYAi9S
— Stockton Heat (@AHLHeat) December 5, 2021
Jakob Pelletier, C/LW, Stockton Heat (AHL)
GP: 23 │ G: 10 │ A: 17 │ PTS: 27
Never mind the fact he’s tops amongst AHL rookies, the 20-year-old sits third in league scoring.
Not a bad way to introduce yourself at the pro ranks, proving his size won’t be a detriment moving forward.
Like Coronato and Mangiapane, Pelletier’s offensive skills are complimented by a compete-level that make him a natural leader.
Tied with teammates Glenn Gawdin and Matthew Phillips at plus-17 atop the league, Pelletier has put himself in position to be a natural call-up at some point this season.
“Some guys it takes months to figure out the pro game, but for him it literally took a handful of games,” said Pascall. “He can influence the game just by his competitiveness and work ethic and he keeps having more and more of an impact on the game.”
In the midst of his stellar junior career the Flames selected Pelletier 26th overall in 2019, with hopes he could continue to find the scoring touch alongside the world’s best.
“He comes in and has a smile on his face, he makes everybody laugh,” said Stockton coach Mitch Love. “He’s still a little undersized but he finds a way every night. It’s impressive to watch.”
Connor Zary, C, Stockton Heat (AHL)
GP: 15 │ G: 4 │ A: 4 │ PTS: 8
Things haven’t come as easy this year as they appeared to last year when his season-opening stint in the AHL saw him pick up three goals and seven points in nine outings before heading back to junior.
This year things got off to a poor start after Zary suffered an ankle injury from a blocked shot in prospect camp, and missed plenty of time recovering.
“He’s coming along — it took him some time to find his game conditioning and the jump in pace from junior to this level,” said Love, who has been playing Zary up the middle, as opposed to last year’s AHL stint on the wing. “No one has ever questioned his offensive instincts, but I think the best thing he’s done a good job with the last three weeks is his play away from the puck.”
The 20-year-old is another Flames first-rounder (24th in 2020) who does plenty of everything with a six-foot, 178-pound frame.
“Talented and so smart — he’s a top prospect, no question,” added Pascall. “As of late he’s been solid, at both ends and producing more.”
Martin Pospisil, C/LW/RW, Stockton Heat (AHL)
GP: 15 │ G: 4 │ A: 6 │ PTS: 10
He doesn’t have any of the gaudy stats most of the franchise’s top prospects have, but he has size.
And skill.
And when the 22-year-old winger isn’t injured he puts all of it on display with a game Darryl Sutter is sure to love.
“He really turned heads last year, then he got hurt,” said Pascall of the fourth-rounder who had his shoulder operated on and had a knee injury, one year after a concussion derailed his season.
“He’s had some bad luck. He’s big, he plays with grit and he’s got skill and ability. He’s an exciting guy that can excel at centre but also at the wing. He just needs more consistent reps.”
He’s missed a handful of games this year due to injury, but is learning to limit the recklessness that has led to past ailments.
“He plays an abrasive style, no doubt,” said Love of the six-foot-two, 190-pound forward. “When he’s moving his legs and feet he’s hard to play against. He’s a big, long kid who goes to the puck hard. The biggest thing for him is staying healthy, and he’s putting a lot of work into his body in the gym.”
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After trouncing the Los Angeles Kings 7-4 in a one-sided Game 1 romp and then wiping out every sniff of momentum the visitors had in Game 2, the Edmonton Oilers looked like they were fully in charge of a potentially short series.
But a funny thing happened on the way to the sweep.
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The Kings delivered a rousing, spirited response Monday night at Rogers Place, never trailing in a 5-4 overtime victory that evens the series and steals away home ice advantage.
How’s that for a plot twist?
“In the first period we dug ourselves a big hole being down 2-0 and 3-1, but after that I thought we played a lot better, especially in the second period,” said Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch. “I felt like if we ever able to get the lead we could have finished the game but we were never quite able to do that.”
Edmonton spent the entire night in chase mode — trailing 2-0 in the first, 3-1 in the second and 4-3 in the third before Anze Kopitar stuck the knife in at 2:07 of the extra period to spoil the party and flip the series on its head going back to Los Angeles.
The winning goal started with a freaky bounce off of L.A.’s Quinton Byfield along the boards, right to Kopitar for the breakaway. This, after two Kings goals went in off of skates and another as the result of a broken stick in Game 1.
If you’re scoring breaks, L.A. leads the series 2-0.
“You saw some of the goals that they scored last game, you saw some goals that they scored tonight, not to take anything away, but they seem to be fluky goals somehow,” sighed Oilers defenceman Mattias Ekholm, wondering when the Kings run of luck is going to dry up.
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“Whether it’s a bat out of the air or a shot from the outside of the hashmarks on the ice. They just seem to find its ways through. That’s the playoffs.”
Goaltender Stuart Skinner has been on the receiving end of it for two games now. He’s been a victim as time, but the bottom line is nine goals against in two games. He needs to get back to his regular season level.
“Games like this where you feel like the universe is against you, the pucks just not working well for you, it’s part of life,” he said in the post-game dressing room. “It’s part of playoffs too.
“The takeaway for tonight is just kind of, wash it out. I know who I am. I know my game and I’m going to get back to work.”
The Oilers knew exactly what to expect from a desperate Los Angeles team that knew falling behind 2-0 is as close to a death sentence as you can get without actually being dead, and that’s what they got.
The prospect of having to win four of the next five games against a team that’s beaten them 11 of the last 14 provided all of the adrenaline the Kings needed and they rode it to the win.
The outcome wasted a great night from Oilers forward Dylan Holloway, who scored the first two playoff goals of his career in the loss.
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So suddenly it’s the Oilers who are in peril, having to play Games 3 and 4 in Los Angeles against a team that has come to life in a big way. The Kings have finally broken through against a team that’s owned them for a long time and who knows where it goes from here.
“I thought we played a good game and had the puck most of the night,” said Ekholm, adding the Oilers still feel very good about who they are. “They (Kings) are going to have their looks and their bounces, but I still liked the way we played and hopefully we can build off of that.”
THE CALIFORNIA STORM
If Game 1 was played on the Oilers terms, Game 2 was played on L.A.’s.
At the start, anyway.
The Kings scored first (courtesy of an Oilers breakdown that went about four players deep), choked things up (the shots were 4-3 through 14 minutes) and took a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.
Everything was going their way. Even when it wasn’t.
When Brett Kulak got the crowd into it with a rocket of a one-timer to make it 2-1, Drew Doughty took them out of it 29 seconds later when he and Skinner both whiffed on a breakaway shot that trickled in through the five-hole
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Skinner allowed three goals on seven shots in the opening 20 minutes and while you couldn’t lay the deficit at his feet, the Oilers needed a save.
CUE THE COMEBACK
The second period was all Oilers. The same team that ran away with Game 1 showed up in the second period, washing away L.A.s lead in less than 11 minutes and turning the volume in Rogers Place as loud as it’s been in years.
Their relentless forecheck had the Kings on their heels all period, breaking them on Holloway’s first goal of the playoffs at 7:51 and Zach Hyman’s power play marker at 10:33.
In addition to scoring, Hyman also delivered the hit of the playoffs, crushing Phillip Danault with a violent open-ice check in the third period that sent the Kings centre straight to the dressing room. He returned a few minutes later after gathering himself in the room.
GRAND FINALE
The Kings refused to go away, tying it 1:46 into the third period on Kevin Fiala’s goal, but this time it was Edmonton’s turn to answer with a quick strike — Holloway at 3:23.
From there, it was next shot wins territory.
E-mail: rtychkowski@postmedia.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.
“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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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.
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. Panthers–Lightning is tight, but one team is clearly better than the other. Bruins–Maple Leafs is a close matchup featuring psychic baggage that we don’t have time to unpack. In Golden Knights–Stars, 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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