CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016

Canes’ Staal back at practice, could play against Canucks BY CHIP ALEXANDER [email protected]

Staal, 28, was taken to the “quiet room” as part of the NHL concussion protocol, and said he was “told what I really didn’t want to hear.”

Carolina Hurricanes coach Bill Peters took the ice Monday for practice, quickly breaking into a smile.

Placed on NHL injured reserve the next day, Staal said he spent the first few days at home feeling like a “zombie” at

On that ice was center Jordan Staal, dressed for practice. It was the first time Staal, sidelined since Nov. 28 with a concussion, had been able to skate with the team, and Peters later said Staal – if medically cleared – could play

times, quickly drained of any energy. In the fall of 2014, he suffered a broken tibia that kept him out of the lineup the first 35 games, but this was different and more frustrating, he said.

Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks at PNC Arena. With a broken bone, there’s a healing time line and an “I think the biggest thing is to see how he reacts to (practice),” Peters said. “I thought he was very good today.”

expected return date. With a concussion, the recovery time is indefinite.

ADVERTISING Jordan said he talked with brothers Eric and Marc Staal Staal was upbeat after the practice session at Raleigh Center Ice and appeared more than ready to get back into it.

about the concussion symptoms and the feelings that are experienced during recovery.

He has missed the past seven games after being clipped in the head by the stick of Florida defenseman Jason Demers

“I learned a lot, understanding it’s a different injury that’s very

in the Nov. 27 game at PNC Arena.

difficult to read,” he said. “They said to take your time, so I feel like I’ve done a god job of trying to do that. It’s been hard

“It’s good to get out there with the guys and get a sweat on

but I wanted to be 100 percent when I get back.”

and get a good skate in,” Staal said. “I feel good and we’ll see how it goes.”

Peters responded to Staal’s absence – the Canes were 2-3-2 in the seven games – by making some line changes. Teuvo

Peters said Staal would go through Tuesday’s morning skate before a final decision is made. Staal said the concussion was his first, and it was the result of an unusual play. He collided with Demers, whose stick rose up as he was falling and hit Staal in the back of the neck and head with the blade. “It wasn’t crazy hard but it definitely knocked my head into a little different spot that I like for it to be, and it didn’t really come back,” Staal said.

Teravainen was moved from wing to center and has been effective with wingers Sebastian Aho and Lee Stempniak in the past few games. Derek Ryan also centered a line, although Peters moved him to a wing during Saturday’s game against the San Jose Sharks. He had him on the right wing Monday with center Victor Rask and Jeff Skinner.

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 Forward Elias Lindholm, out the past five games with a

body at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds on the penalty kill and

lower-body injury, was at practice Monday and on Staal’s

power play.

right wing opposite Joakim Nordstrom. Forward Phil Di Giuseppe was reassigned Monday to the Charlotte Checkers, the Canes’ AHL affiliate. Ryan and forward Brock McGinn were called up from the Checkers on Nov. 11. Staal, the Canes’ best checking center, is among the NHL leaders in faceoffs (60 percent) and gives the Canes the big

At one point Monday, Peters playfully put a slight hip-check into Staal. “He’s a load, too, boy oh boy,” Peters said, smiling. “That was my guy on that play. I was boxing him out, seeing if he could handle it. He can more than handle it.” The question now: Can Staal get back this week and start handling 18 or 19 minutes of ice time a night?

Gameday: Canucks vs. Hurricanes

by Michael Smith @MSmithCanes / CarolinaHurricanes.com Home for the holidays!

Last updated: 6:00 a.m.

This is the gameday hub, where you can find all the latest news and information related to tonight's cross-conference match-up between the Vancouver Canucks and Carolina

CANES RETURN HOME TO HOST CANUCKS 6:00 a.m.

Hurricanes in one handy location. Make this a regular stop After a segment of the schedule that sent the Carolina throughout the day, as we update it with notes, videos, Hurricanes on the road for nine of 11 games away from photos and more as puck drop draws near. home, the team has returned for Raleigh and will play six of We'll be rinkside at PNC Arena to provide you with the latest in roster news, quotes and much more from the Hurricanes morning skate at 10:30 a.m.

its last nine games in 2016 within the friendly confines of PNC Arena.

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 In a stretch dating back to Nov. 12, the Hurricanes have won

"It was good to get out there with the guys, get a sweat on

six straight games at home and will be looking to extend that

and a good skate in," Staal said. "I feel good. We'll see how

streak, the longest such since 2010, when they face the

it goes. It's always good to get out on the ice, and that's

Vancouver Canucks to open up a four-game homestand.

always a positive thing."

A three-game California road swing resulted in a 1-1-1

Also possible to return to the lineup is Elias Lindholm, who

record and three out of a possible six points for the

has missed the team's last five games with a lower-body

Hurricanes last week. Searching for offense, the Hurricanes

injury.

found just that our west, as they potted 11 goals in three games. "When we left to go on the trip, we thought we weren't scoring goals. Then we go out there and score 11, and now we've got to tighten up defensively," head coach Bill Peters said after practice at Raleigh Center Ice on Monday. "I think we can score and at the same time tighten up and do a

"Close. I think he's real close," Peters said. "If they're both [cleared], they'll both be in." Tonight's match will close out the two-game series between the Hurricanes and Canucks. In the first meeting of the season between the two teams, the Hurricanes' second game of the season, Carolina surrendered a 3-0 advantage in a 4-3 overtime loss.

better job away from the puck." The Canucks are now wrapping up a five-game road swing A boon to the Hurricanes' team defense would be the return of Jordan Staal, whose two-way presence down the middle is tough to match. Staal practiced with the Hurricanes on Monday, his first onice activity with the team since he suffered a concussion on Nov. 27.

that has taken them up and down the East Coast. They've won just one of the trip's first four games and were shut out 3-0 by the Washington Capitals on Sunday. CANESPR NOTES: Tonight marks the third of 12 times that the Hurricanes will wear their black third jerseys this season. They are 2-0-0 in their alternate threads this season and 59-

"If he's cleared, he's going to play," Peters said. "I think the

34-9 overall. … Derek Ryan (3g, 1a) and Jaccob Slavin (3a)

biggest thing is to see how he reacts to today. I thought he

each bring three-game point streaks into tonight.

was very good today. We'll just see how he reacts and feels tomorrow morning."

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016

Staal Readies for Return from Concussion by Michael Smith @MSmithCanes / CarolinaHurricanes.com December 12th, 2016 Jordan Staal skated with the Carolina Hurricanes in practice on Monday and even took some contact.

"Fortunately this is my first and hopefully last," Staal said, knocking on the wood of his locker stall at Raleigh Center Ice. "I learned a lot understanding a different injury that's very difficult to read."

That's the latest and most positive step in his recovery from a concussion, and the Hurricanes' big man in the middle could return to the lineup as early as Tuesday against Vancouver.

Unlike a broken bone or a sprain, a concussion doesn't have a definite recovery timetable. It's different for every player, in the sense of symptoms experienced, the severity of those symptoms and the duration of those symptoms.

"If he's cleared, he's going to play," head coach Bill Peters said after Monday's practice. "I think the biggest thing is to see how he reacts to today. I thought he was very good today, but we'll just see how he reacts and feels tomorrow morning." Staal has missed the team's last seven games after leaving the match against Florida on Nov. 27 in the first period. It was an innocent enough looking play. Staal pushed down

"Most of it was dizzy fogginess. I had a tough time finding my ground. I just wasn't feeling right at all," Staal said. "It took a few days to reset, and then it was just a slow process from there where I started to feel better every day, and here I am." Staal's recovery over the last two weeks has been a process, one he discussed with his brothers who have experienced concussions, as well.

defenseman Jason Demers to separate him from the puck,

"It's been difficult. Any player has told the same story of how

and as Demers fell to the ice, his stick came down and

difficult it is. I'm no different. I want to be out there, and I

contacted Staal on the head. It dazed Staal, who stumbled

want to be 100 percent. I feel like I've taken some good time

initially and left the ice to be tested for a concussion.

that I've needed for the melon to feel a little better," Staal

"It wasn't crazy hard, but it definitely knocked my head into a little different spot," Staal said. The 28-year-old was diagnosed with his first concussion and put into the protocol from there.

said. "I learned a lot from my brothers. They all had some good insight, and they said to take your time." While the Hurricanes were in California last week, Staal remained in Raleigh, spending time off and on the ice, trying to work his way back to a full bill of health.

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 "It was good to get out there with the guys, get a sweat on

"Close," Peters said of Lindholm. "I think he's real close. If

and a good skate in," he said after practicing with the team

they're both [cleared], they'll both be in."

on Monday. "I feel good. We'll see how it goes. It's always good to get out on the ice, and that's always a positive thing."

After playing nine of 11 games on the road, the Hurricanes will close out the 2016 calendar year with six of their next

"If we can get him back, we'll definitely put him in our lineup,"

nine games at home, where they've won six straight. The

Peters said. "It'd be a big addition to our team."

Hurricanes will look to make it seven in a row at PNC Arena

Elsewhere on the injury front, Elias Lindholm, who is nursing a lower-body injury, is closing in on a return to the lineup, as

when they host the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, the start of a four-game homestand.

well. Lindholm traveled with the Hurricanes out west but hasn't played since the first of the month.

Vancouver Canucks at Carolina Hurricanes: Game Preview, Statistics, Notes, How to Watch The Canes look for revenge for an October overtime loss as they hope to regain the services of Jordan Staal and/or Elias Lindholm.

•

Jordan Staal practiced yesterday for the first time since suffering a concussion on November 27th. It is possible that Staal will draw into the lineup tonight for the first time in 8 games. With that in mind, Phil Di Giuseppe was reassigned to the Charlotte Checkers yesterday to free up a roster spot for Staal’s return to the lineup.

•

Elias Lindholm also practiced yesterday, and he may play tonight as well. Since he was never moved to injured reserve, the Canes did not need to make a second roster move to add Lindholm to the lineup.

•

These two teams met on October 16 in Vancouver, when the Canucks won 4-3 in overtime after the Canes blew a 3-0 lead in the second period. Bo Horvat, who has five goals in four career games against Carolina, opened the scoring for the Canucks midway through the second period, and the dagger was delivered by old friend Brandon Sutter 32 seconds into overtime.

•

Joakim Nordstrom, should he play tonight, will skate in his 100th game with the Hurricanes. If Lindholm plays, someone will need to be scratched, so it isn’t a guarantee Nordstrom will suit up, but if he does he will hit triple digits with the Canes after

by andrewahr Dec 13, 2016, 8:03am EST Game Notes

•

The Hurricanes ride a six game winning streak in PNC Arena into tonight’s game against Vancouver. It’s the longest home win streak for the team since an eight-game streak in 2010. They will take on their fourth Pacific Division opponent in a row, after going 1-1-1 on a swing through California last week.

•

The Canes will be donning their alternate black jerseys tonight. The team is 2-0-0 this season, and an impressive 59-34-9 all time, in the alternate sweaters.

•

The Hurricanes have not given up a shorthanded goal in 6 straight games, encompassing 19 straight penalties. The team remains best in the league in penalty kill situations, allowing only 6 goals in 76 shorthanded situations and scoring 4 shorthanded goals. Opposition power plays are 2 for their last 49 against the Canes’ penalty kill, dating back to the start of November.

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 playing in 54 games with the Blackhawks before being traded to Carolina with Kris Versteeg in the summer of 2015.

•

Raleigh Rescue Mission. Bring a new toy to the game tonight (at any entrance) or to the VIP entrance of PNC Arena during business hours between now and next Monday and you’ll receive a buy-one-get-one-free voucher for one of four games in January.

Tonight is the first of four games where the Canes will hold a toy drive to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Durham and Wake counties and the

Carolina Hurricanes Prospect Corner: Booth Taking the Next Step, College & 2017 World Juniors Update, and Who’s Hot? Booth’s Progression in Quebec, Two Prospect Pivots Remain Hot, College Hockey and World Junior Championship Notes by kleblanchockey@kleblanchockey Dec 12, 2016, 5:34pm EST This week in the Prospect Corner, we check in on Callum Booth’s progression into a top QMJHL goaltender, look at two Canes prospects who have been scorching in December, provide a small College Hockey prospect update and a handful of World Junior Championships tidbits.

experienced a jump in his point-per-game output, nearly doubling from .79 last season to 1.38 this season. He too is currently in a particularly hot stretch, tallying 17 scoring points (6 goals, 11 assists) in his last nine games. With both teams pushing for playoff spots, Lorentz and Elynuik will remain integral parts to the success of their clubs for the remainder of the season.

College Prospects Tidbits

•

David Cotton continues to be a solid secondary scoring option for Boston College as he sits in tie for 20th among NCAA freshmen in scoring with 13 points (6 goals, 7 assists) in 20 games. The Texas native has points in three straight, including a goal in each of his last two games. Cotton has not been shy about firing the puck, ranking fifth on the Eagles with 44 shots on goal, averaging more than two per game.

•

Congratulations to Yale forward and Canes 2015 fifth-round selection Luke Stevens, who tallied his first career collegiate point in mid-November in a Bulldogs road contest against Clarkson. Currently, he has two assists on the season as he is worked into the lineup as a depth option. Although he has played just seven games this season, Stevens currently leads Yale with a plus-4 rating.

•

Both Max Zimmer and Matt Filipe have had modest point outputs to start their collegiate careers, which is to be expected as players jump up a level in competition. Zimmer has played in all of Wisconsin’s 16 games, currently ranking second among freshmen for the Badgers with five points, trailing only Bruins first-round selection Trent Frederic. Filipe has also played in all of his teams 16 games, providing four points as a secondary scoring option for Northeastern.

Callum Booth Progressing in Quebec It’s not the easiest task in the world to put up good goaltending numbers in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The Q is often a goal bonanza from night to night, due to the league’s many offensively talented players and open style of play. Typically a goals-against average of anywhere from 2.30 to 2.60 has led the league over the past 10 years. Prior to this season, Booth had a career goals against average of 3.02 and a career save percentage of .903 in 105 QMJHL games played. in 2016-17, Booth has bettered his numbers in all categories, stopping pucks at a 92.2% rate and sporting a significantly lower goals against average of 2.73. His 13 wins rank second among all QMJHL goaltenders, and his save percentage is first among all goaltenders who have played 20 games or more. The Remparts give him plenty of work to do on a nightly basis, as Booth ranks second in the league in both shots against and saves.

Steven Lorentz, Hudson Elynuik Remain Hot Both centers are in the midst of breakout campaigns for Peterborough (OHL) and Spokane (WHL) this season. Lorentz, whose previous career high in 2015-16 was 48 points in 58 games, has increased his point-per-game pace from a year ago from .83 to .97 this season. His 28 points rank in a tie for second on his team, just one off the lead. The 2015 seventh-round selection is in the midst of a seven game point streak, where he has put up five goals and seven assists, and his hat trick this past Thursday helped the Petes defeat the Ottawa 67’s. On the west coast, Elynuik has been consistently putting up good numbers playing in a first line role for the high-scoring Chiefs. The 2016 third-round selection ranks in the top 25 scorers in the Western Hockey League with 12 goals and 24 assists in just 26 games. Much like Lorentz, he has

World Junior Championship Notes

•

Team Canada are in the middle of their final camp and exhibition games before shoring up their roster for the World Juniors later this month.

•

It appears that both Nicolas Roy and Jake Bean are unlikely to be in the lineup tonight when Team Canada takes on the U-Sport All-Stars in their first of two exhibition games against the Canadian College group. However, no need to panic, as Canada may be getting a look at some of

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 their fringe players more closely. Also not playing tonight are virtual locks to make the final roster, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Tyson Jost.

•

Julien Gauthier will be in the lineup, playing on a line with New York Islanders top prospect Mathew Barzal and WHL scoring leader Sam Steel in what could be a formidable trio if grouped together during the tournament.

•

Janne Kuokkanen was named to Finland’s selection camp roster, and should be in lineup when the team plays its first exhibition game against

Team Canada on Saturday at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

•

Aleksi Saarela, who was a key player for Finland’s WJC winning entry last season will not participate this season for what have been labeled as “personal reasons”. The forward has been battling injury issues this year, but seems to be turning the corner as of late.

•

Be on the lookout for my full World Junior Championship preview which should be coming up within the next 10 days or so when all the rosters have been set.

News Roundup: Jordan Staal, Elias Lindholm full participants at practice; Di Giuseppe assigned to Charlotte The Canes could get a big boost in search of their seventh straight home win tomorrow night.

today. I thought he was very good today. We’ll see how he feels in the morning.”

by Brian LeBlanc@bdleblanc Dec 12, 2016, 3:35pm EST

Peters described Lindholm as “real close” and said that if either Staal or Lindholm, or both, is cleared to play tomorrow, they will be in the lineup tomorrow night. To that end, Peters said that the coaching staff would prepare three lineups for tomorrow night, and which one they used will be based upon the availability of both players.

The Carolina Hurricanes returned home — finally — for a semi-lengthy stint back at the friendly confines of their home rink yesterday, and hit the ice for practice at Raleigh Center Ice this morning. Jordan Staal (concussion) and Elias Lindholm (lowerbody) were both back on the ice this morning. Staal has missed six games, Lindholm four, and it looks increasingly like both will be available to play tomorrow night against the Vancouver Canucks. “If [Staal] is cleared, he’s going to play,” Canes coach Bill Peters said. “I think the biggest thing is to see how he reacts

Phil Di Giuseppe was not at practice today, and the word came out this afternoon that he has been reassigned to the AHL Charlotte Checkers, who desperately need his offensive skill to help the team break out of its current seven-game losing streak. Since Lindholm was never moved to injured reserve after his injury, the Canes do not need to make another roster move to open a space for both players to play tomorrow night.

Carolina Hurricanes Three Stars of the Week: California Edition A week in Cali wasn’t always glamorous for the Hurricanes, but some unlikely heroes stood out. by Brett Finger@brettfinger Dec 12, 2016, 2:01pm EST The Carolina Hurricanes went an even 1-1-1 on their California road trip last week. The trip started with a disappointing shootout loss in Anaheim on Tuesday, featuring a pair of two-goal leads being blown by the Canes. One night later, the club righted their wrong with an impressive 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings and they capped off the trip with a 4-3 regulation loss to the Sharks despite dictating the play throughout the night. Some Charlotte Checkers alumni led the way on the road trip, here are the three stars of the week. 1st Star - Derek Ryan Jordan Staal’s concussion has forced the Hurricanes to increase the role of all their centers, including November 12 call-up Derek Ryan.

Ryan had another strong week, starting with an assist on Jay McClement’s first goal of the season and a plus-one effort in a 6-5 loss in Anaheim on Tuesday. One night later, Ryan had his big coming out party. He beat Kings backup Jeff Zatkoff twice, including once while shorthanded. It was the first multi-point game of his stillyoung NHL career. His second goal may be the goal of the year thus far for the Hurricanes as he and Brock McGinn showed off their high chemistry that has been a common occurrence in Charlotte over the past year. Ryan went on to net a powerplay goal in San Jose and log a career-high 16:26 of ice time en route to a 4-3 loss to end the road trip. The journeyman has taken huge steps forward since Staal went on the shelf. He’s been good at even strength and in the faceoff circle and he has been a very valuable asset on Carolina’s red-hot powerplay that was three for seven on the California road trip.

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 With Staal and Elias Lindholm returning to practice today, Ryan’s five-on-five role may be suppressed upon their return, but his contributions on the man advantage should still be a significant impact.

Third Star - Brett Pesce

Second Star - Jaccob Slavin

He launched his first goal of the season in Anaheim and posted a plus-three rating despite a 6-5 loss and followed that up with a plus-two outing in Los Angeles.

Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce have continued to star as Carolina’s most dominant defensive pairing. Slavin posted an assist in each California game and was a plus-two on the trip. In a high-scoring shootout in Anaheim, Slavin posted a ludicrous 28:12 of ice time and was no worse for wear. Excluding Thursday’s win in L.A., a game in which Carolina was heavily ousted in the shot attempts department, Slavin posted a 37 to 25 (60%) corsi differential. This is the perfect time for Slavin and Pesce to start leading this defensive core. Faulk’s struggles have been welldocumented to this point and we still seem to be a little bit away from getting the best from Noah Hanifin on a nightly basis. This duo has been a game changer on both sides of the puck because of their high IQ and mobility on the backend. Also, they’re both just 22, so that’s cool.

Another week, another stretch of dominance from defenseman Brett Pesce.

Again, excluding the L.A. game, Pesce posted a 40 to 22 (65%) shot attempt differential at even strength on the road trip. The things said above about Slavin are also applicable here. I’ve always seen Pesce and Slavin as talented two-way defenders, except Pesce would exceed more in his own end and Slavin would do the same offensively. So, in theory, that would make them a perfect pairing and so far, they have been incredible together. The Carolina Hurricanes now enter a favorable homestand in which they take on the Canucks, Capitals, Sabres and Red Wings at the PNC Arena. They’ll look to extend their sixgame home win streak and propel themselves back into favorable standing in the playoff race.

Teravainen Settling into Hurricanes’ Rhythm DECEMBER 13TH, 2016

Entering the 2016-17 season as the Carolina Hurricanes’ most noteworthy forward additions, Teuvo Teravainen and Sebastian Aho each received their fair share of hype.

Aho, being a rookie, attracted perhaps slightly more, but that was only because Teravainen was seen as a sure-fire contributor, having already proven himself with the Blackhawks in 2015-16 and ready to explode with more playing time in Carolina.

In its preseason fantasy forecasts, ESPN projected Teravainen — whom it labeled a “budding wunderkind” — to finish fifth on the team in points, behind just Jeff Skinner, Victor Rask, Justin Faulk and Jordan Staal.

For a second-year player like Teravainen — often prone to suffering from the infamous “sophomore slump,” especially after switching from two so radically different teams as Chicago and Carolina — those were expectations that were surely daunting.

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 But with the help of a smooth transition period and instant

The common factor in each of those combinations, however,

chemistry with his partner-in-hype, Aho, the 22-year-old Finn

is certainly Aho, whose nifty puckhandling and agile skating

now appears on track to validate those projections.

have proven a perfect complement to Teravainen’s more direct, north-south offensive style.

Versatile Contributor The two seem to have an innate connection that allows them Asked Monday where Teravainen currently fits into a to work together, whether tangibly (with, say, a pass to each Hurricanes’ lineup disrupted by the uncertain injury statuses other) or more quietly (coordinating defensive coverage), at of Staal and Elias Lindholm, coach Bill Peters gave a ringing all times. endorsement of his young star’s versatility: “I like him The Anaheim game may have been their greatest duo everywhere.” masterpiece to date, with Teravainen and Aho combining for “I think he’s an excellent player, very smart player, getting three goals and repeatedly creating scoring chances. But comfortable with our system and with our organization,” even in other games in which they didn’t chalk up anything Peters added. “No matter where we play him now, he’s very onto the box score, the two have been among the most highly effective.” reliable and dangerous Hurricanes playmakers. Teravainen has been an influential possession creator and opportunity generator with every line he’s been frequently

Break the Vancouver Slump

slotted into, whether it be with Stempniak and Aho (61.3

Teravainen was one of three Hurricanes to score in the last

shot-attempt-for percentage), with Staal and Aho (65.5

meeting with the Canucks, when Carolina blew a 3-0 lead on

percent) or with Lindholm and Aho (58.7 percent).

Oct. 16 to lose their second of many heartbreakers so far this

Teravainen has also been an incredibly consistent player in

autumn.

that category, as a five-game rolling average of his shot attempt differential this season has never even once dipped into the negatives.

The Hurricanes will get a rematch with their crossconference foe Tuesday, seeking to end a seven-game losing streak against Vancouver dating back to Dec. 2011. Recently, it’s been Canucks youngster Bo Horvat

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 singlehandedly keeping that streak alive, scoring two game-

star on a still scoring-starved Hurricanes roster. His current

winners in two games against Carolina last year.

prorated scoring rate is 38 points; if he can push that pace to

If the Hurricanes have any counterpart to Horvat, it may well be Teravainen, who wasn’t around to experience the bitterness of those two narrow defeats in 2015-16. Instead,

45 or 50 points, it could make a big difference for the team’s playoff hopes and help establish Teravainen as the budding first-liner he was proclaimed over the summer to be.

he was busy scoring third-period goals against the Canucks,

In the meantime, helping the Hurricanes finally snap the

such as in a back-and-forth 3-2 Blackhawks win on March

Canucks’ hex could be an encouraging step towards that end

27.

goal.

With No. 86 having had 28 games now to settle into Bill Peters’ system, he has the opportunity to emerge as a true

Hurricanes open home swing against Canucks RALEIGH, N.C. -- Two teams anxious about going home will meet Tuesday night. by STATS LLC

"We're not used to playing those 4-3 games," defenseman Matt Tennyson said. "Maybe it threw off guys trying to do something else."

9h ago • 2 min read Update 9h ago

The Canucks are 1-3-0 as they complete a five-game road swing with the game at PNC Arena.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Two teams anxious about going home will meet Tuesday night.

Vancouver was within a goal of the Washington Capitals in the third period of Sunday's 3-0 loss.

The Carolina Hurricanes will be back on home ice after a West Coast trip, while the Vancouver Canucks will be finishing what so far has been a frustrating stretch on the road.

"On the road, I think that's a good position to be in," left winger Daniel Sedin said. "I think we are in every game."

"We've been a team that takes pride in playing well at home," Hurricanes right winger Lee Stempniak said. "We've got to come out and make hay when we can." Carolina has returned from a three-game swing that produced a 1-1-1 record, yet there could have been much more. The Hurricanes were engaged in a few high-scoring games, something out of character for the team.

Other than the one victory, the Canucks have been sluggish too often on the trip, particularly on power plays. That's a trend that coach Willie Desjardins would like to see reversed. "If you look at the 5-on-5 play, we were pretty good," Desjardins said. "We just didn't find a way to score." It has been a bit of the opposite at times in the past week for the Hurricanes, who excelled in some special team situations. Carolina coach Bill Peters said the Hurricanes need better play, particularly early in games, in 5-on-5 setups.

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 The Hurricanes held an 11-10 edge in goals in the past three games. That accounts for more goals than any three-game span of the season for Carolina, which had 11 total goals in its previous seven games before the outburst on the West Coast.

The Canucks and Hurricanes are both near the bottom of their respective divisions, so it's time to make moves.

Now, it's a chance for a string of home games. Carolina plays five of its next six at home.

The Canucks have been shut out in three road games this season. Sedin said picking up the scoring pace takes a certain process.

"It feels nice to be back in North Carolina and in our home rink and in front of our own fans," center Derek Ryan said. "We've been good there."

"You can't just look for shots all the time, you've got to play the game," he said.

The Hurricanes could receive a boost with the potential return of center Jordan Staal, who has missed seven games because of a concussion. The team seemed to set up Staal's comeback by sending forward Phil Di Giuseppe to Charlotte of the American Hockey League on Monday.

"We are not earning enough bounces," Vancouver goalie Jacob Markstrom said. "It's tough right now."

Vancouver produced a 4-3 overtime home victory against Carolina during the first week of the season in October. The Hurricanes failed to hold a three-goal lead in that game. Tuesday's game will mark the only game in Raleigh for former Hurricanes center Brandon Sutter, who scored the winning goal in the first matchup of the season.

Hurricanes Assign Phil Di Giuseppe To Charlotte Written by Nicholas Niedzielski Published: December 12, 2016 The Checkers are getting a much needed offensive boost heading into this homestand as the Hurricanes have assigned Phil Di Giuseppe to Charlotte. This marks the second stint with the Checkers for the thirdyear forward. In the first, Di Giuseppe was an offensive force for Charlotte, racking up seven points in eight games, with all of those points coming over the course of a six-game streak.

After notching 17 points over 41 NHL games last season, Di Giuseppe has appeared in 18 games with Carolina this year and recorded two points. In a corresponding roster move, the Checkers have released Cason Hohmann from his PTO. The second-year pro played two games for Charlotte during his stay, recording his first AHL point with an assist, but served as a healthy extra in each of the last four contests. Swapping Hohmann for Di Giuseppe still leaves the Checkers with 13 healthy options up front. Kris Newbury missed the California trip’s finale due to injury, though his status going forward is unclear.

Hometown Weekly Report: Dec. 12 Written by Nicholas Niedzielski

Week in Review

Published: December 12, 2016

Team Statistics

The Checkers’ struggles continued as they wrapped up their California road trip this past week. With that bumpy stretch behind them, the Checkers will look to get a fresh start with a busy four-game week on home ice.

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Overall record 9-13-2

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Home record 6-2-0

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Road record 3-11-2

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Last week's record 0-2-1

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Last 10 games 2-7-1

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 •

Division Standings 7th

Notables

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Conference Standings 15th

SCORING DROUGHT

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League Standings 26th

Stockton 3, Checkers 1

With a 5-2 loss in Ontario this past Saturday, the Checkers completed their California road trip, going 0-5-1 to collect one of a possible 12 points.

Returning to Stockton to kick off the second leg of their California trip, the Checkers started strong, with Sergey Tolchinsky putting his squad on top first with a quick snipe in the opening period. That lead wouldn’t last long, however, as the Heat responded one minute later and never looked back. The home team would pump in two more and, despite handing the Checkers eight power plays over the course of the game, those three unanswered goals would be enough. The Checkers held the Heat’s offense in check most of the night, limiting them to 15 shots, including just seven total in the final two periods, but it wasn’t enough as Charlotte fell 31. Full recap

That trip, plus road sweeps at the hands of San Antonio and Texas, put the Checkers at an 0-9-1 record against the Pacific Division.

Bakersfield 3, Checkers 2 (OT)

The Checkers, who have dipped to 27th in the AHL in terms of goals per game, have totaled 23 goals over their last 14 contests and have failed to score more than two goals in 12 of those 14.

In their second trip to Bakersfield, it looked like the Checkers would be doomed to repeat their past performance, as the Condors jumped out to a two-goal lead after 20 minutes of play. But the Checkers showed resiliency and battled back, with Valentin Zykov putting them on the board in the second and Lucas Wallmark evening things up inside the final two minutes of play. The Condors had a chance to end the game in regulation with a penalty shot in the last 30 seconds, but Michael Leighton, assigned to Charlotte for the game, turned it aside and forced overtime. With a point in the standings in the bag, the Checkers created some chances in the extra frame, but it was the home team who would light the lamp take the victory. Full recap Ontario 5, Checkers 2

Last season, the Checkers went 10-7-3 against the Pacific Division, including a 5-0-1 trip through California. OFFENSIVE STRUGGLES Charlotte’s struggles putting the puck in the net continued through the end of the trip, as it recorded five goals over three games last week.

That trend has been tough on the Checkers, who are now 114-1 in games where they score two or fewer goals. On the flip side, they are a perfect 8-0-0 when breaking that threshold. POWER OUTAGE

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Klas Dahlbeck Joins Checkers On Conditioning Stint Read More

Last Week's News

The Checkers were looking for a way to snap their franchiseworst winless streak as they traveled to Ontario to close out the trip, but couldn’t find it against the Reign. The home team roared out with three goals in the first period before tacking on another in the second to build a staggering 4-0 lead. Levko Koper put the Checkers on the board finally in the waning moments of the middle frame, but it wouldn’t be enough. Ontario would shut down any thoughts of a comeback with an early goal in the third and that would seal it. Koper would notch his second of the game later in the third, but the Checkers dropped the California finale 5-2. Alex Nedeljkovic started between the pipes, surrendering four goals on fifteen shots before Daniel Altshuller was inserted to start the third period. Full recap Three Stars Of The Week

3rd Star Andrew Poturalski- 0g, 2a

2nd Star Sergey Tolchinsky- 1g, 2a

1st Star Levko Koper- 2g, 0a

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Leighton Returns To Hurricanes

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Murphy Recalled By Carolina

With a power-play goal against Bakersfield last Friday, the Checkers were able to stop an 0-for-32 drought that had lasted the previous seven games. Still, even with that breakthrough the Checkers’ special teams have had a rough few weeks. Charlotte’s power-play percentage currently sits at 9.7%, last in the AHL more than two whole percentage points. They have scored three power-play goals in their last 56 opportunities over the last 14 games, a stretch that has coincided with the team’s 2-10-2 skid. On the other side, the Checkers’ penalty kill has been the better of the two special teams units, but has also seen its fair share of struggles. Charlotte allowed a pair of strikes on the man advantage Saturday in Ontario, marking the fourth time in the last 10 games that it has surrendered multiple power-play goals in a single contest. KOPER BREAKS THROUGH This year’s California road trip has produced significantly different results than a year ago. Last season, the Checkers rolled through California, taking

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 11 of a possible 12 points on the trip, whereas this season the Checkers have dropped each of their first three contests in the state. Including sweeps at the hands of the Stars and Rampage, the Checkers are now 0-7-0 against the Pacific Division this season, a year after going 10-7-3 against the league’s newest division. HOMESICK

Transactions Incoming

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Dec. 7 - Klas Dahlbeck assigned to Charlotte on conditioning stint

Outgoing

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Dec. 10 - Michael Leighton recalled by Carolina (NHL)

The road has not been kind to the Checkers.

Coming Up

Saturday’s loss to Ontario not only brought an end to the team’s dismal California trip, but it extended their road winless streak to a franchise-worst 10 games. With their last road win coming over a month ago on Nov. 11, the Checkers are 3-11-2 away from home, tied for the worst road win percentage. They also hold the most road losses in the AHL and all three of their road wins have come against the Iowa Wild.

Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 7 pm - Checkers vs. Manitoba

The good news for the team is that they are back in Charlotte for a four-game home stand over the next week. The Checkers are 6-2-0 at Bojangles’ Coliseum this season, though both losses have come in their last three home games.

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Ugly Sweater Night

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Toy Drive presented by Country Boy Landscaping donate a toy at the game to receive a free ticket for our game on Jan. 13!

Wednesday, Dec. 14 at 7 pm - Checkers vs. Manitoba

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Winning Wednesday presented by Farm Bureau Insurance - enjoy $1 Bud Light draughts and get a free ticket to our next Wednesday game on Jan. 18 if we win!

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College Night presented by Hendrick Acura - save on tickets by using your valid college email address! Click here for info.

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Toy Drive presented by Country Boy Landscaping donate a toy at the game to receive a free ticket for our game on Jan. 13!

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Ugly Sweater Night

FIGHT CLUB Kyle Hagel dropped the gloves against Paul Bissonnette in Ontario on Saturday for his fifth fight this season. That total is the most on the team and tied for the most in the AHL. He is also halfway to the 10-game threshold just 23 games into the season. Per new AHL rules, a player will be issued a suspension for each fighting major starting with number 10.

Saturday, Dec. 17 at 6 pm - Checkers vs. Grand Rapids Hagel is the only Checker thus far this season to fight more than once.

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Teddy Bear Toss presented by Novant Health. Bring a stuffed animal to throw on the ice after our first goal! Bears must be new, wrapped in plastic or in a ziplock bag.

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Family Night - save $45 (40 percent) on groups of four tickets when purchasing online!

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Slap Shot Saturday - stick around after the game and take a shot on goal!

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Black jersey night presented by Parks Heating and Cooling

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Ugly Sweater Night

Ranks

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Kyle Hagel is tied for the league lead in major penalties (5) Despite being currently on the Hurricanes' roster, Michael Leighton ranks third in the AHL in both goals-against average (1.78) and save percentage (.932)

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Levko Koper is tied for fourth in the AHL and third among rookies in shooting percentage (27.3)

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Andrew Poturalski is tied for eighth among league rookies in scoring

Injuries

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Brendan Woods missed 18 games starting Nov. 2

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Connor Brickley missed seven games starting Nov. 27

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Haydn Fleury missed six games starting Nov. 30

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Trevor Carrick missed six games starting Nov. 30

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Kris Newbury missed one game starting Dec. 10

Sunday, Dec. 18 at 1 pm - Checkers vs. Grand Rapids

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Star Wars Day - buy discounted tickets to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation! More info

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Blood Drive for Community Blood Center of the Carolinas. Donate at the coliseum from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and receive a free t-shirt!

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Black jersey night presented by Parks Heating and Cooling

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Ugly Sweater Day

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 By the Numbers Assists CATEGORY

RECORD

AHL RANK

LAST WEEK

Power play

9.7%

30th

30th

Penalty kill

80.6%

20th

20th

Goals per game

2.42

27th

25th

Shots per game

30.79

11th

t-7th

Goals allowed per game 2.88

17th

13th

Shots allowed per game 27.46

6th

12th

Penalty minutes per game

8th

t-9th

12.33

CATEGORY

LEADER(S)

Points

Andrew Poturalski (16), Derek Ryan (13), Lucas Wallmark, Valentin Zykov (11)

Goals

Valentin Zykov (7), Andrew Poturalski, Brock McGinn, Derek Ryan (5)

Andrew Poturalski (11), Derek Ryan (8), Lucas Wallmark (7)

Power play goals Valentin Zykov (3), Derek Ryan (2) Shorthanded goals

Patrick Brown, Derek Ryan, Brock McGinn, Patrick Dwyer (1)

Game-winning goals

Brock McGinn, Patrick Brown (2)

Shots on goal

Roland McKeown (56), Trevor Carrick (55), Lucas Wallmark (48)

Penalty minutes

Kyle Hagel (41), Mitchell Heard (31), Keegan Lowe (27)

Plus/minus

Matt Tennyson (+7), Levko Koper (+6), Andrew Poturalski (+5)

Wins

Michael Leighton (6)

Goals-against average

Michael Leighton (1.78)

Save percentage Michael Leighton (.932)

TODAY’S LINKS http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/article120426358.html https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/gameday-preview-vancouver-canucks-vs-carolina-hurricanes/c-284642006 https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/jordan-staal-readies-for-return-from-concussion/c-284640178 http://www.canescountry.com/2016/12/13/13933182/vancouver-canucks-at-carolina-hurricanes-game-preview-statistics-notes-howto-watch-jordan-staal http://www.canescountry.com/2016/12/12/13920484/carolina-hurricanes-prospect-corner-world-juniors-2017-callum-booth-hudsonelynuik-steven-lorentz http://www.canescountry.com/2016/12/12/13925676/carolina-hurricanes-jordan-staal-elias-lindholm-injury-phil-di-giuseppecharlotte-checkers http://www.canescountry.com/2016/12/12/13922302/carolina-hurricanes-three-stars-of-the-week-california-derek-ryan-jaccobslavin-brett-pesce http://thehockeywriters.com/teravainen-settling-into-hurricanes-rhythm/ http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/hurricanes-open-home-swing-against-canucks/ http://gocheckers.com/articles/transactions/hurricanes-assign-phil-di-giuseppe-to-charlotte-2 http://gocheckers.com/articles/features/hometown-weekly-report-dec-12

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016

1038116 Carolina Hurricanes

the lineup the first 35 games, but this was different and more frustrating, he said.

Canes’ Staal back at practice, could play against Canucks

With a broken bone, there’s a healing time line and an expected return date. With a concussion, the recovery time is indefinite.

BY CHIP ALEXANDER

Jordan said he talked with brothers Eric and Marc Staal about the concussion symptoms and the feelings that are experienced during recovery.

Carolina Hurricanes coach Bill Peters took the ice Monday for practice, quickly breaking into a smile.

“I learned a lot, understanding it’s a different injury that’s very difficult to read,” he said. “They said to take your time, so I feel like I’ve done a god job of trying to do that. It’s been hard but I wanted to be 100 percent when I get back.”

On the ice was center Jordan Staal, dressed for practice. It was the first time Staal, sidelined since Nov. 28 with a concussion, had been able to skate with the team, and Peters later said Staal – if medically cleared – could play Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks at PNC Arena. “I think the biggest thing is to see how he reacts to (practice),” Peters said. “I thought he was very good today.” Staal was upbeat after the practice session at Raleigh Center Ice and appeared more than ready to get back into it. He has missed the past seven games after being clipped in the head by the stick of Florida defenseman Jason Demers in the Nov. 27 game at PNC Arena. “It’s good to get out there with the guys and get a sweat on and get a good skate in,” Staal said. “I feel good and we’ll see how it goes.” Peters said Staal would go through Tuesday’s morning skate before a final decision is made. Staal’s concussion, he said, was believed to be his first. It came when he collided with Demers, whose stick rose up as he was falling and hit Staal in the back of the neck and head with the blade. “It wasn’t crazy hard but it definitely knocked my head into a little different spot that I like for it to be, and it didn’t really come back,” Staal said. Staal, 28, was taken to the “quiet room” as part of the NHL concussion protocol, and said he was “told what I really didn’t want to hear.” Placed on NHL injured reserve the next day, Staal said he spent the first few days at home feeling like a “zombie” at times, quickly drained of any energy. In the fall of 2014, he suffered a broken tibia that kept him out of 2016

1038212 Vancouver Canucks

Ben Kuzma: Hansen happy he won't have to answer trade-deadline questions

BEN KUZMA Published on: December 12, 2016 | Last Updated: December 12, 2016 4:22 PM PST

RALEIGH, N.C. — Jannik Hansen’s response to the query was as quick as his stride. Asked what it meant to the veteran core when Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning recently pulled a surprise reversal from last year — declaring he won’t ask anyone to waive a no-trade clause — the winger obviously applauded the commitment.

Peters responded to Staal’s absence – the Canes were 2-3-2 in the seven games – by making some line changes. Teuvo Teravainen was moved from wing to center and has been effective with wingers Sebastian Aho and Lee Stempniak in the past few games. Derek Ryan also centered a line, although Peters moved him to a wing during Saturday’s game against the San Jose Sharks. He had him on the right wing Monday with center Victor Rask and Jeff Skinner. Forward Elias Lindholm, out the past five games with a lower-body injury, was at practice Monday and on Staal’s right wing opposite Joakim Nordstrom. Forward Phil Di Giuseppe was reassigned Monday to the Charlotte Checkers, the Canes’ AHL affiliate. Ryan and forward Brock McGinn were called up from the Checkers on Nov. 11. Staal, the Canes’ best checking center, is among the NHL leaders in faceoffs (60 percent) and gives the Canes the big body at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds on the penalty kill and power play. At one point Monday, Peters playfully put a slight hip-check into Staal. “He’s a load, too, boy oh boy,” Peters said, smiling. “That was my guy on that play. I was boxing him out, seeing if he could handle it. He can more than handle it.” The question now: can Staal get back this week and start handling 18 or 19 minutes of ice time a night? News Observer LOADED: 12.13. “It prevents you (media) guys from coming to us and asking when are we going to get traded this year — so it’s nice,” chuckled Hansen. “I want to play here. I love being around the guys. I love the city and I want to win here. And I’ve been here for a very long time (nine seasons). “It’s nice that you don’t have to speculate as to whether they’re going to come in five days or five weeks to ask you for a list of (trade) teams.” To those in the room, it was the ultimate vote of confidence. To those on the outside, it was confusing. Benning also said in the same breath that he wants to add draft picks and the best way to acquire them is at the NHL trade deadline. Alex Burrows and Hansen would command considerable interest from Stanley Cup contenders because of their versatility, experience and low financial risk as an unrestricted free-agent rental and attractive 2017-18 contract addition, respectively. It’s not a stretch to suggest that the healthy and rejuvenated 35-year-old Burrows could be reunited with Alain Vigneault in New York or land closer to home in Montreal. And who wouldn’t want Hansen? The 30-year-old Dane does everything any contender would covet — play up or down the lineup and kill penalties — and he has another year left on his contract at a US$2.5-million cap hit and $3 million in actual salary. Those are bargain numbers for a guy who scored a career-high 22 goals last season — after being aligned with Henrik and Daniel Sedin — and

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 does his damage at even strength. Burrows is free of hip issues and skating like he has turned back the career clock.

Jannik Hansen knows pain.

However, it now means the onus is on the players to approach management if they want to waive their NTCs for a shot at a championship. And that brings its own set of fuzzy optics about team loyalty versus personal agendas.

The Vancouver Canucks’ winger has had a broken collarbone and the injury he suffered Nov. 5 in Toronto on a heavy and somewhat questionable centre-ice check from Morgan Rielly — a rib fracture between the cartilage and sternum — became urban legend for what he did right after the blow.

In a polarizing market where public opinion is divided about whether to retool on the fly or tear apart the roster for the sake of even more youth, it’s another layer of potential angst.

Hansen took issue with Nazem Kadri’s targeted hit from behind that dropped Daniel Sedin. He bolted to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ centre and started throwing punches. Even with an injury. What was he thinking?

“Stuff that matters to us is when there’s some substance behind it (trades),” said Hansen. “Rumours are part of the game and stuff gets said all the time. When it’s more than rumours, that’s when you can see it on guys. It weighs on them.”

“I had no problem with range of motion or pain when I was skating up the ice,” said Hansen, who returned Sunday after missing 16 games. “That didn’t come until 40 minutes after the game. When you get shoulder injuries that are along the line of stingers, you can play for a while before your arm gets weaker and it starts to hurt more.

Leadership and mentorship are often referenced when the Canucks talk core. But factor in key injuries to Alex Edler and Chris Tanev, and a tumble down the statistical ladder — 29th in goals per game, 30th in firstperiod goals and 28th on the power play — and the prospect of already having to leapfrog four teams just to claim the final conference wild-card spot is beyond daunting. It’s unrealistic. That’s why there’s confusion. Last year, it was pending unrestricted free agents Dan Hamhuis and Radim Vrbata who agreed to waive their NTCs for the betterment of the club. What now? Talk to Burrows and Hansen and they mention family in the same breath as chasing the Cup somewhere else. And you know there’s some substance to the home-front concern when Hansen knows what it would mean to relocate his twin boys who turn four years old in March. “It’s peace of mind for them not having to worry about uprooting everything and finding new schools or a new place to live,” he said. “More goes into it. It’s easy for me to pack my bag and go to a different dressing room. “It’s a lot harder on the family and definitely something that weighs on your mind — when you hear there may be a possibility. Not so much hockey-wise, but for the family. It’s not easy.” It appears easier for the Canucks to see the current value in Hansen rather than the long-term return on what he could fetch at the deadline. If you’re looking for glue to keep it together in the room and on the ice, a guy who has become a greater voice of reason and leads by example is hard to part with. Then again, it’s a Catch-22 because of what he would bring via a trade. At least the Canucks know what they have in Hansen. There’s no mystery there. “A lot of different dimensions with his game,” said Canucks coach Willie Desjardins. “His speed is good, he adds a little life in the dressing room and he’s so good on the PK (penalty kill). And he’s getting better as he goes and more effective because he pushes the defence back and can jump on them. “He has come a long way. Two years ago, he wasn’t a guy you would think of on that (top) line. Now, he’s a pretty good fit.” A reduction in clutch-and-grab hockey has suited Hansen. So has a career path that purposely placed him in Portland of the WHL for one season. The 287th pick in the 2004 draft — back when there were nine rounds — needed to see where the game could take him. “The hockey was one part,” recalled Hansen, who had 24 goals and 40 assists in 64 games with the Winterhawks in 2005-06. “It was more about getting away from home (Rodovre, Denmark) and travelling, and I was only used to playing 36 games in a season. The grind of it (WHL), the back-to-backs, three-in-three nights and the life was as close to this (NHL) as you could come.” Not that Hansen knew much about the league growing up. He saw just one NHL game on TV. “We had hockey cards,” he said. “We traded. We knew (Wayne) Gretzky and (Joe) Sakic and if somebody asked me how they played, I could look (at the cards) and tell them.” HANSEN SEES TWO SIDES TO THAT RIELLY HIT

“I’ve broken my collarbone and there’s no way you’re fighting with that, because you’re just trying to make it to the dressing room. I thought I was going to play in New York (Nov. 8), but on the plane, it (rib) progressively got worse and the next morning I knew something was wrong.”

As for the Rielly hit, Hansen sees two sides. “It wasn’t in the head and if it’s not late, it’s not illegal or whatever you want to say,” he said. “But it’s tough to judge. The end result was not good and it’s one of those hits that you think was a little bit too hard. “But it’s tough to take hitting out of the game.” Vancouver Sun: LOADED: 12.13.2016

1038199 Washington Capitals

Capitals’ Jakub Vrana, at last, is getting his shots at the NHL level

By Isabelle Khurshudyan December 12 at 3:07 PM

Jakub Vrana exited the Washington Capitals’ plane in Tampa for the first road trip of his NHL career. It was then that the rookie realized he was the only one who didn’t bring a bag. “We call it ‘the Ovi’ because sometimes Ovi will come with just the toiletry kit, so we were saying he must have been learning from him a little bit,” defenseman Karl Alzner said with a laugh, referencing team captain Alex Ovechkin. “The captain taking him under his wing. One-day trips is just the toiletry kit.” Vrana took the ribbing from his new teammates in stride. Though he hadn’t brought his own bag, he had stuffed a toothbrush and a change of clothes into forward Paul Carey’s carry-on. But by the team’s next road trip to Buffalo, Vrana had purchased his own luggage, steadily getting the hang of how things work in the NHL. Vrana has nearly completed his second week in the league, and in six games he has scored a goal and flashed some scoring sense. After the Capitals took a patient approach to the 2014 first-round draft pick’s development, they hope this first taste of NHL hockey will help ready Vrana for potentially joining the team on a more permanent basis by the postseason, when the team might really need his infusion of skill and speed. “I didn’t know what to expect, but it’s a dream come true, you know?” Vrana said. “It’s obviously a very, very nice feeling to be around these guys. They’ve been in the league so long. It’s just a learning process for me.” Unlike forwards Marcus Johansson, Tom Wilson and Andre Burakovsky — who made quick leaps to the NHL — the Capitals kept Vrana in the American Hockey League all of last season. His development was slowed by a wrist injury that forced him to miss half the season, but Vrana still averaged nearly a point per game in his first full season of North American professional hockey, scoring 16 goals and 18 assists in

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 36 games. In the playoffs, he scored eight goals and six assists in 21 games. Vrana again returned to the team’s minor league affiliate in Hershey to start this season, and feelings of restlessness would have been understandable for one of the last players from his draft class to make his NHL debut. David Pastrnak, a 20-year-old Czech like Vrana, was the 25th overall pick in 2014, drafted 12 spots after Vrana, and in his third season with Boston, Pastrnak has 18 goals through 24 games. “Me and him, we each go different ways,” Vrana said. “His way is different, and my way is different, too. I want to do as best as I can do, and I wouldn’t say I want to do the same as him.” With Washington’s forward depth not leaving a role for Vrana, the Capitals thought playing him limited minutes last season would inhibit his development. But as Washington watched the Pittsburgh Penguins ride an addition of youth and speed from its call-ups to a Stanley Cup victory, the organization considered how Vrana and rookie Zach Sanford potentially could give the team a similar boost in the postseason. Sanford played 19 games with Washington before the team sent him down to Hershey and brought up Vrana — the Capitals don’t currently have enough salary cap space to afford both players. But if the team continues to conserve cap space now, it could bank enough to be able to afford both at the end of the season, the two being a sort of in-house trade deadline addition. “It gives our team more depth,” General Manager Brian MacLellan said. “It gives the coaches more options. It makes us not have to go and acquire players at the deadline for depth. We’re trying to get faster, and [Vrana’s] got some speed. We’re trying to develop him and Sanford. Hopefully they’re both playing at the end of the year, or they’re close to playing. We like them both. They’re a big part of the organization going forward.”

1038200 Washington Capitals

Capitals are fighting for standing in the NHL’s most competitive division

By Isabelle Khurshudyan December 12 at 6:30 AM

The Washington Capitals’ locker room was upbeat Sunday night, after a 3-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks, and deservedly so. The team had just won its fourth straight game, and this was its most complete performance. But the Capitals hadn’t gained on their Metropolitan Division rivals, as the teams ahead of them in the standings all won, too. In the league’s most competitive division, Washington is on a 112-point pace and could still finish in fifth place, as the last wild-card team. When Capitals Coach Barry Trotz said they were in a playoff race last week, it wasn’t hyperbole, even with it still being early in the season. As Trotz said Sunday, the Capitals have to “win them all.” “I’d rather be collecting points now and getting yourself in position than trying to catch from behind,” Trotz said. “I’ve been in that position before, and it’s not a great feeling because you’ve got to win every game, and you’re praying that there’s not very many three-point games. You don’t really have that in your control, so you want to put yourself in a position where you can control at least being invited to the dance. … You have a bad day, you could fall three or four spots.” From NHL.com (NHL.com)

MacLellan said he anticipates Vrana will return to the Hershey Bears at some point this season, likely alternating between playing in the NHL and AHL until he is able to naturally transition into a full-time Capitals player. Washington has given him every opportunity to shine, playing him on the second power-play unit and on a third line with center Lars Eller and Burakovsky. In Vrana’s first NHL test, the Capitals have been pleasantly surprised.

The top of the division is tight: The New York Rangers are in first, with 41 points, followed by the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers, with 39 points each. With Sunday’s win, the Capitals aren’t far behind, with 37 through 27 games, but every team ahead of them is also riding a winning streak. The Flyers have played the most games, with 31, but they’re on an impressive nine-game run. Columbus has won six in a row and has the most games in hand, with 38 points through 26 games.

“He’s been really good,” MacLellan said. “I think some of the stuff, the play away from the puck, he’s shown better ability up here than he has down in Hershey. That’s promising from our point of view.”

Last season, the Capitals ran away with the division, with 120 points; the Penguins finished second, with 104.

Said Alzner: “We’ve all seen his skill before. We all know that he’s going to be great. I’ve personally noticed that he has a really high hockey IQ already. For a young guy like that, it’s pretty tough to do.”

Through 35% of season, pace to win final wild card spot in East is 103 points. Metro

Alzner said “everything’s been a bit of an eye-opener” for Vrana off the ice. Wilson has occasionally driven him to Verizon Center for home games, offering to be a resource so Vrana feels comfortable. After his first practice with the team, Vrana watched with awe as a Washington equipment staff member put a sticker on the bottom of Vrana’s skates with the Capitals’ logo and Vrana’s jersey number. Before the team’s trip to New York on Monday, Vrana wondered how long the flight would be from Washington, because that’s not a trip on the AHL schedule.

1. CBJ 120

“Sometimes you joke around with him, and it takes him a second to understand what you’re saying, if you’re being serious or not being serious,” Alzner said. “You like to laugh at those kind of those things. He’s just the type of guy you enjoy having a conversation with because he makes you laugh, whether he means to or not.”

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) December 12, 2016

Vrana got acquainted with a Capitals tradition Friday night after he scored his first goal, as Wilson smeared shaving cream in his face after the game. Not even the burning in Vrana’s left eye could keep him from smiling. “It feels like you’ve arrived,” Coach Barry Trotz said. “You can put on the jersey and you can fly on the plane and you can go to the visiting city and all that, but until you put a stat up, I think you sort of feel like you haven’t quite contributed. Now you’re a part of something.”

Isabelle Khurshudyan Washington Post LOADED: 12.13.2016

2. PIT 113 3. WSH 112 4. NYR 110 5. PHI 103

“I’m cheering against every one of them every night,” Trotz said. “They cheer against us every night. You just realize how good the Eastern Conference is this year. … I think two years ago, we didn’t have as much balance in the Eastern Conference. There was six or eight teams that you knew they were going to be in, and there was just going to be a fight for the rest. Now, all those teams have drafted well, their young players have developed. Free agent signings were probably a little more prominent in the East than the West last year, and maybe the last two years. “I look at even the Metro Division, there is absolutely zero breathing room. Every game is an important game because every game has an effect on the standings. You have a little run of bad luck or poor play, you could find yourself, after 82 games, being on the outside. Looking at the standings right now, there’s going to be two or three teams that are playoff-worthy that are not going to get in.” Trotz said the high quality of competition “is a good challenge” that will make the Capitals better in the long run. Goaltender Braden Holtby said players haven’t been concerning themselves with the standings just yet.

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 “We’re more concerned about just building our team and getting better,” Holtby said. “Results aside, if we focus on our game, we’ll be in the playoffs at the end of the year, if we keep building it and getting better. We can’t worry about other teams or races. That’s when you get away from your focus and your ability to drive forward as a team.”

Isabelle Khurshudyan Washington Post LOADED: 12.13.2016

1038201 Washington Capitals

Metropolitan teams flexing their muscles as best in NHL

After losing four of its first six games, Columbus is rolling under coach John Tortorella. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is among the league leaders with a .932 save percentage and 1.98 GAA this season, and forward Cam Atkinson has 27 points in 26 games. “Everybody’s bought in,” Columbus center Brandon Dubinsky, who also played for Tortorella in New York. “I would venture to say he’s probably the most fair coach as far as time off and days off and treating the players with respect and giving them their space and just allowing them to focus on one thing and one thing only, which is the 60 minutes ahead of them and the game. It’s a two-way street with him, and I think it’s allowed us to excel.” Meanwhile, the Capitals shrugged off some early-season malaise, and Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Braden Holtby said, “We’re realizing a little bit more who we are.” Three-time Hart Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin snapped a seven-game goal drought Sunday, but Nicklas Backstrom and others are picking up the slack. Defenseman Karl Alzner isn’t surprised by the Metropolitan might.

By STEPHEN WHYNO - Associated Press - Monday, December 12, 2016

Justin Williams knows from missing the playoffs twice with defending Stanley Cup champions just how difficult it is to make it to the postseason, which is why the Metropolitan Division standings have his full attention. “I see our division, I see everyone winning,” the Washington Capitals right winger said. “The top eight in the East is going to be tough to get in this year. We plan to be at the top.” Even for the Capitals, who ran away with the division, the top seed in the Eastern Conference and the Presidents’ Trophy last season, that’s easier said than done. They’re on pace for 112 points, which would leave them in third place because the Metropolitan is home to five of the top eight teams in the NHL. Since Dec. 3, Metro teams are an astounding 28-7-3, led by the Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, red-hot Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets, and streaking Capitals. The Flyers have won a league-best nine in a row, the Blue Jackets six and the Penguins five, so the Capitals’ four-game winning streak doesn’t have them moving up the standings. “Win them all if you can,” coach Barry Trotz said. “You have a bad day, you could fall like three or four spots. You could go from being a wildcard team to not being in the playoffs to being second in your division if you win.” The competition is so hot that the New York Islanders are still in last place despite winning six of their last 10 and the New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes are five and seven points out of the last playoff spot in the East. At the top of the division, the Penguins, Rangers, Flyers, Blue Jackets and Capitals have combined to win their last 27 games. “Everyone’s playing at a high level,” Rangers center Derek Stepan said. “There’s no room. We’re in our playoff push.” No team has pushed toward the playoffs harder than the Flyers, who were 13th in the East before their run began Nov. 27. Philadelphia has risen to fifth in the East behind 15 points from Jakub Voracek, a .930 save percentage from goaltender Steve Mason and a strong power play and penalty kill. Coach Dave Hakstol said the Flyers are finding different ways to win games, as evidenced by them beating the Edmonton Oilers 6-5 and then a few days later the Detroit Red Wings 1-0 in overtime.

“We all knew that when the divisions got made that ours was going to be really hard and it wasn’t as hard as it could’ve been, I think, the last few years,” Alzner said. “I think we’re finally getting to see what the Metropolitan is all about.” Asked if Washington getting tested by a tougher division could help come playoff time after running away with it last year, Williams simply shrugged and said, “Maybe.” His coach definitely thinks so, or at least that the Metropolitan being this good isn’t a bad thing for any team that makes the postseason. “I think competition makes you better,” Trotz said. “I think the quality in the Metro this year is terrific. That’ll make all the teams better, not only ours. It’s a good challenge, and I think it prepares you just to have some consistency in your game. If you don’t, then you’ll fall out.” Washington Times LOADED: 12.13.2016

1038202 Washington Capitals

ARE THE CAPITALS TURNING THE CORNER?

By Tarik El-Bashir December 12, 2016 3:10 PM

During the first seven weeks of this season, Barry Trotz often lamented the fact that the Capitals were unable to get all facets of their game going at the same time. But now, with his team riding a four-game winning streak, including 60minute efforts against Buffalo and Vancouver, there have been subtle signs that things are finally coming together for last year’s Presidents’ Trophy winner. “That’s a good way to describe it—more in concert,” Trotz said after Monday's practice. “I would say that we’re trending that way. More pieces are falling into place.” “Contribution through the lineup is starting to spread out a little bit,” he added, “not only in five-on-five play but in specific areas, be it special teams, three-on-three, all those special situations.” Indeed, important contributions are starting to come from different sources. Consider:

“I think we’re playing better defensively as a team,” said Voracek, who has 32 points and trails only Edmonton’s Connor McDavid in the NHL scoring race. “When we’re making mistakes, Mason is playing unreal … I think as an overall game we got better not only over the winning streak but in the games before. We lost the games when we should’ve won earlier in the year and now we’re winning them. It’s a good sign.”

The power play has scored four times during the winning streak (11 opportunities). It's also scored at least one goal in seven of the past 10 games and 10 times in the past 12 contests. If you just look at that 12game segment, the power play has the eighth best success rate in the NHL during that span (at 21.7-percent). Last season, the unit was ranked 5th (at 21.9-percent).

The Penguins have avoided the dreaded Stanley Cup hangover thanks to Sidney Crosby’s league-leading 20 goals in his first 22 games. As Henrik Lundqvist sits, Rangers backup goalie Antti Raanta has won three consecutive starts with a 0.33 goals-against average and .984 save percentage.

The penalty kill has also steady improved its ranking. In fact, after snuffing out 14 of 16 short-handed opportunities during the winning streak, the unit has improved to 11th overall at 83.3-percent. A year ago, the penalty kill was ranked second at 85.2-percent.

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 Just as critical as the improving special teams, the Caps are now getting points from some key players who had been ice cold to start the year. John Carlson ended his season-long goal drought against the Sabres and now has four points in four games (goal, three assists). Evgeny Kuznetsov, meantime, has five points (all assists) during the winning streak, while Justin Williams has four points, including three goals, over the past four games. The Caps have been strong defensively and in goal all season, but even those areas have been a bit better in recent games. Including the shootout loss in Tampa, the Caps have yielded only seven goals in the past five games, including Braden Holtby's 20-save shutout against the Canucks. Winger T.J. Oshie agreed that the Caps' play across the board is on the upswing. He also says the collective confidence within the dressing room is growing as a result.

As Trotz alluded to, there were times in which Vrana appeared to rush some of his opportunities which resulted in his shot missing the net completely. That’s a product of having to adjust to the pace of the NHL game, one of the hardest transitions for any player to make. “Everybody on the ice is very smart, not so many mistakes you see in the game,” Vrana said. “Everybody plays very professional and details and that's what makes the game very fast.” “Anybody will tell you, everything just closes down on you a lot quicker, goalies are better, everything's just that much quicker,” Trotz said. What makes the pace of the NHL so hard for a player like Vrana to adjust to is that the speed of play can make shooters impatient. They become antsy when they get the puck and that forces bad decisions, whether it be a rushed shot or a turnover. Vrana’s biggest goal going forward now is to remain patient offensively.

“Our five-on-five game we’re starting to play more direct,” Oshie said. “We’re getting more pucks in deep and with our speed, our work ethic and our talent following that, it presents a lot of O-zone time. Special teams has kind of got to our standard of play. Obviously, the PP, it was struggling for a while there. But we’re getting more shots, we’re getting more goals, we’re not missing the net as much. Our PK, I don’t think it was doing terrible; I think we were doing good. But from the standard we set last year, I think we’ve gotten back to that. It’s made some huge, huge stops, especially [against Vancouver] when we had a lot of penalty kills.”

“It's tough to stay confident when it doesn't go exactly your way,” Vrana said. “I'm not saying it doesn't because as long as you have chances, you pretty much doing your job, create chances. But you have to put it in as a goal scorer and when that doesn't go your way you have to work, work every day on it and just be patient and hopefully it's coming.”

Defenseman Karl Alzner said he’s isn’t sure what precipitated the turnaround, but he’s sure of this much: there are unmistaken signs that the Caps’ mojo is back. Or, at the very least, on its way.

Vrana called it a weakness of his, but Trotz said he has seen great improvement in that aspect of his game.

“The exact reason, I don’t know,” Alzner said. “But we’re playing with more urgency, but under-control urgency. …Every team goes through their low point. Hopefully, that was ours that we just had and we don’t have anything like that again, and somebody else goes through it in January or February and we’ll make up some ground.” Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.13.2016

But it’s not all about what Vrana does with the puck. He has to be better without it as well. That was the biggest concern for him heading into the season and probably the major reason why he did not make the Caps’ roster coming out of training camp.

“He's made great strides from the first time I saw him,” Trotz said. “He's just maturing as a player and getting comfortable, getting trust within the group and with the coaching.” With improved play away from the puck, it appears the only thing really standing in the way of Vrana from a prolonged stay in Washington is production. If he keeps generating scoring chances at the same rate he is now, that production will come. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.13.2016

1038203 Washington Capitals 1038204 Washington Capitals JAKUB VRANA'S PLAY IN THE NHL CONTINUES TO IMPRESS EVERYONE BUT HIMSELF

By J.J. Regan December 12, 2016 2:25 PM

It should come as no surprise that Alex Ovechkin had a game-high five shots on goal in Sunday’s win against the Vancouver Canucks. What is surprising is who was right behind him. Rookie Jakub Vrana was a major offensive threat throughout the game with four shots on goal against the Canucks and another three shots missed.

NHL POWER RANKINGS: KEEPING UP WITH THE METROPOLITAN

By J.J. Regan December 12, 2016 12:30 PM

The Caps' three-game losing streak is in the rearview mirror thanks to their current four-game win streak. So how far have they climbed in the standings? Not much.

With six games of NHL experience now under his belt, Vrana has only one goal to show for his efforts, but he continues to generate multiple chances every game. He is averaging over two shots per game and has only been held without a shot on goal only once.

It's a good thing the Caps have turned things around because the Metropolitan Division is on fire right now. The Columbus Blue Jackets are 7-0-1 in their last eight games and they're not even the hottest team in the division. The Philadelphia Flyers have won nine straight which is only good for third place in the Metro. Meanwhile, the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins remain two of the best teams in the conference.

“For the six games I've played, I have one goal, but I would say I could put easily two, three in,” Vrana said after Tuesday's practice. “But it's a little different NHL and AHL.”

In the standings, the Metropolitan Division has five of the top six teams in the East and five of the top seven teams in the NHL.

Vrana was called up at a time when the Caps were struggling to find any consistency on offense. While Vrana ultimately needs to be able to convert on his chances, head coach Barry Trotz remains pleased with the young winger’s efforts. “What I like about him that he does, he does become dangerous because of his speed,” Trotz said. “He is dangerous because of his ability to shoot the puck. He gets in those areas, got a real quick release and last night he probably had the most scoring chances. He had a couple good looks where he just gets it on net we probably score, he's trying to get a little flying there, but he's had some good looks. "I like the speed aspect, I like the skill aspect and he's competing at a pretty good level.”

That makes it critical the Caps continue winning. Even after winning four straight, Washington still sits fifth in the division. Even in December, it's easy for a team to dig itself a hole it can't dig out of. Considering the competition in the Metropolitan Division, the Caps need to keep on winning or it could be a tight race to the playoffs. Where do the Caps stand among the rest of the teams in the Metropolitan? Find out in this week's NHL Power Rankings. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.13.2016

1038205 Washington Capitals

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 Sabres Notebook: Kings open brutal road trip PREDICTION RECAP: CAPITALS DEFENSE STEALS THE SHOW AGAINST CANUCKS

Mike Harrington Published Mon, Dec 12, 2016

By J.J. Regan December 12, 2016 10:25 AM

The Caps shutout the Vancouver Canucks 3-0 on Sunday for their fourth straight win. Here's a recap of the three bold predictions. 1. The Caps will score four or more goals - Wrong Washington came within one, but it actually wasn't all that close considering goal No. 3 was an empty-netter. Jacob Markstrom played well for Vancouver keeping the Canucks in the game, but the Caps won this game because of a strong defensive performance. 2. Both Sedins will register a point - Wrong Vancouver may not be a great team, but there's no denying the talent of the Henrik and Daniel Sedin. In two games against the Canucks, the Caps have held both Sedins without a point. That's no small feat. Tom Wilson, meanwhile, scored twice in those two games. 3. Alex Ovechkin will score a goal - Correct Ovechkin snapped his seven-game goal drought thanks to his first-period power play tally. The pass came in behind Ovechkin so he could not wind up for the one-timer, but he still had plenty of time to corral the puck and fire off the wrister past Markstrom. That was some loose defending by the Canucks. Ovechkin should never have had that kind of time to work with on the power play and this goal shows why. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.13.2016

1038206 Washington Capitals

CAPITALS DAILY QUOTE: KUZNETSOV IS BECOMING 'EXTREMELY DANGEROUS' AGAIN

By J.J. Regan December 12, 2016 5:45 PM

After an incredible start to the 2015-16 season, Evgeny Kuznetsov faded down the stretch and finished with only two points in 12 playoff games. His struggles followed him to the start of the 2016-17 season where he has only three goals in 27 games. But, things finally seem to be turning around for the Russian center, according to head coach Barry Trotz: He's starting to use what his biggest asset is, to me, his ability to skate. He's skating at a higher level and when he's doing that and his drive train is high last couple games where he's winning those battles, taking the pucks to areas and his skill comes out and therefore he's creating more, he's more dangerous. He's that top centerman that you saw at the start of last year where he could take over a game. You saw that last couple games that if he keeps doing that, he's being extremley dangerous. That line has been very productive last couple games.

As road trips go, there's not many that will be more arduous than what the Los Angeles Kings will open Tuesday night in KeyBank Center. The Kings' game against the Buffalo Sabres will be the first of nine straight away from Staples Center. They'll start it with seven games over 12 days, break for Christmas and then play two more away from home. The trip is the result of a packed schedule at Staples, a four-day run of Disney on Ice plus seven NBA games in a 10-day stretch for the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers. The Kings are just 4-7-1 on the road this year, compared to 10-4-1 at home. Their trip continues Thursday in Detroit, Friday in Pittsburgh, Sunday in Boston, Dec. 20 in Columbus, Dec. 22 in Nashville and Dec. 23 in Dallas before the Kings get their Christmas break. They head back out on the road for games Dec. 28 in Vancouver and Dec. 29 in Edmonton before hosting San Jose on New Year's Eve in what will be their first home game in 21 days. Sabres captain Brian Gionta recalled a nine-game road trip when he was part of the New Jersey Devils at the start of the 2007-08 season, prior to the Devils' inaugural game in Prudential Center. "It was a grind but it was important to go out and stay focused," Gionta recalled of the trip, which saw the Devils go 3-5-1 but stay entirely in the Eastern time zone. "It's not like what these guys have. Ours was broken up a bit. We came back home and practiced some, had games at the Rangers and Islanders, but it was still 10 days at the start." The longest road trip in Kings history is a 10-gamer in 2010-11 but their longest uninterrupted roadie resulted in a 1-7-1 record in 1969-70. "I can relate to it as a player. I never have as a coach," said Sabres coach Dan Bylsma, whose career included a stint with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. "When you play out in the West that far away, you get the 10 and 11-dayers once or twice a year and it's a whole different ball of wax managing your schedule, managing the road trip. It's a different mentality and outlook from a coaching staff perspective too. I have experienced them as a player where you pack for 12 days, say your goodbyes and you're out East for a long time." The Kings are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games but are on a brutal run of games in Buffalo. The Sabres are 13-1-1 here against Los Angeles since the 1992-93 season and have won seven straight since a 4-1 Kings win on Feb. 21, 2003. The Kings did not practice Monday, flying to Buffalo to prepare for the start of the trip. Former Sabres defenseman Brayden McNabb has been sidelined by a broken collarbone that required surgery since the Kings' loss Oct. 29 to the St. Louis Blues Sabres winger Kyle Okposo sat out practice Monday with the flu, but coach Dan Bylsma said it was likely that Okposo would be fine for Tuesday's game. That did, however, cost Okposo a second practice with new linemates Jack Eichel and Evander Kane, a switch Bylsma first unveiled at practice Sunday in HarborCenter. Former Sabres captain Daniel Briere and current Buffalo assistant coach Terry Murray were named as honorary captains for the AHL All-Star Classic Jan. 29-30 in Allentown, Pa., AHL president David Andrews announced Monday.

In the first 23 games of the season, Kuznetsov managed only nine points. He now has five in his last four games. That’s a very good sign for a player who has the skill to be one of, if not the best offensive player on the team.

Briere and Murray will join the teams in the locker room and on the benchs of the event, which will be played in a 3-on-3 format. They will also be recognized for their careers at the annual AHL Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 12.13.2016

Murray, in his second system on Dan Bylsma's staff, was a two-time winner of the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL's outstanding defenseman in 1978 and 1979 with the back-to-back Calder Cup champion Maine Mariners in the Philadelphia organization. He played 363 regular-season games in the AHL and won 150 games as an AHL head coach with the Baltimore Skipjacks (1988-90) and the Adirondack/Lehigh Valley Phantoms (2012-15).

1038109 Buffalo Sabres

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 Briere spent the majority of his first four professional seasons in the AHL, playing 169 games for the Springfield Falcons in the Phoenix organization. He won the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL’s outstanding rookie in 1998 after scoring 36 goals and collecting 92 points.

Bylsma said one thing he noticed through the first quarter of the season was how well Eastern teams were doing against the West. One result is that six of the top seven teams overall are from the East.

Buffalo News LOADED: 12.13.2016

The current winning streaks in the league right now are also eyeopening. Entering Tuesday, there are four NHL teams who have won at least six straight (Philadelphia-9, Columbus-6, Calgary-6 and Pittsburgh6) while Washington and Minnesota have both won four in a row. The Sabres' top run this year is three wins in a row and they haven't hit five straight since March, 2012. That's the kind of streak they're going to need now.

1038110 Buffalo Sabres

Playoff race slipping away as Sabres' East foes stay hot

Mike Harrington Published Mon, Dec 12, 2016 Updated Mon, Dec 12, 2016

As playoff droughts in these parts go, the folks down at One Bills Drive hardly have a monopoly on things. Terry Pegula's first purchase when he swept into town in 2011 has come up awfully dry on postseason trips as well and is quickly heading down the path to its sixth straight quiet spring on the ice. During an idle weekend, the Buffalo Sabres slipped into last place in the NHL's Eastern Conference. They are in danger of falling out of touch with the playoff race entirely before their season even hits the halfway mark. Even though the Sabres have just 26 points, they have hardly been terrible of late. They enter Tuesday night's game against the Los Angeles Kings in KeyBank Center with a 5-3-2 record in their last 10 games, but their main problem is that teams in the East are dominating the West and playing at an astounding pace overall. The top five teams in the Metropolitan Division -- New York, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Columbus and Washington -- combined to go 17-1 last week and are 29-7-3 since Dec. 3. After losing to Boston on Monday, Atlantic Division-leading Montreal is first overall with 42 points and holds a league-leading 14-1-2 home record. Washington holds the final wildcard slot and is already 11 points ahead of the Sabres. Buffalo is eight points behind Boston for third in the Atlantic and the Sabres will have three games in hand over the Bruins when play starts Tuesday. Wild-cards look unreachable, so a top-3 finish in their division already looks like the Sabres' only hope at their first playoff trip since 2011. "It's frustrating. That's where we want to be," Sabres center Ryan O'Reilly admitted after practice downtown Monday. "We want to stay close to these teams. You see the success they're having and the ways they're finding to win games. We have to go inside ourselves and see what we can do to get back in it." Captain Brian Gionta admitted he checks the standings daily, party to catch up on the previous night's scores but also to see where his team fits in the picture. "It's still about winning your games, getting as many points as you can," Gionta said. "It's still early in some ways but we know there's a lot of people between us and the playoff spots and we need to start making up some ground." Coach Dan Bylsma said he's a daily standings watcher as well and that they're posted in the team's dressing room complex so players and coaches can see the task at hand. "We have a good understanding where we're at in the standings right now," Bylsma said. "I don't over-obsess about it but I want it to be something that's prominent for our players and to have a good idea where we're at and where we need to go." According to Sportsclubstats.com, the Sabres entered Monday with just a 10.5 percent chance of making the playoffs. Their chances don't even hit 50 percent unless they win at least 30 of the remaining 55 games.

After Pittsburgh's win over Arizona on Monday, the East is 92-54-19 against the West, while the West was just 73-74-18 against the East. The Metropolitan's top five are 42-13-6.

This might be as good a time as any for the Sabres to get hot. After meeting Los Angeles, the Sabres' final five games before Christmas are all against Eastern teams currently on the outside of the playoff pack. There are two games apiece against Carolina and the New York Islanders and a game at Florida. The Sabres obviously need to get more scoring throughout the lineup and especially at crunch time. They are just 2-6 in overtime/shootouts while Philadelphia, by contrast, is tied for the NHL lead with seven wins past 60 minutes. "You look at teams that are on a roll and you win, say, three games overtime or shootout, you're still on a roll," said Bylsma. "You come out on the wrong side of those, you end up with two in a row or three in a row and don't extend the streak. That's something we're going to have to do and are looking to do in these six games before the break." "You have to stay in the process," O'Reilly said. "It's one period at a time, one game at a time. It's winning battles, competing more than the other team and that gives you a better chance. It's one win at a time to get back into this. Of course, we want to have a five-game winning streak or more than that. You want to get on a roll but it starts with Tuesday."

Buffalo News LOADED: 12.13.2016

1038111 Buffalo Sabres

Standings tell ugly tale for Sabres

Mike Harrington Published Mon, Dec 12, 2016 Updated Mon, Dec 12, 2016

The Sabres take the ice Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings in KeyBank Center, starting their final six pre-Christmas games with the sobering reality that they're in last place in the Eastern Conference. The recent dominance of the top five teams in the Metropolitan Division -who went 17-1 last week and are 28-7-3 since Dec. 3 -- has essentially rendered Buffalo's wild-card chances moot, as the Sabres are already 11 points behind Washington for the final slot. The Sabres are, however, only six points behind Boston for third in the Atlantic Division heading into the Bruins' game Monday in Montreal and Buffalo will have three games in hand after that contest is played. Sneaking into a top-3 slot in their division appears to be the Sabres' only chance. "You have to stay in the process. It's one period at a time, one game at a time," said center Ryan O'Reilly. "It's winning battles, competing more than the other team and that gives you a better chance. It's one win at a time to get back into this. Of course, we want to have a five-game winning streak or more than that. You want to get on a roll but it starts with tomorrow." Going against the Kings is good idea based on the history books but recent history shows LA is 7-2-1 in its last 10 games. Still, the Sabres are

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 13-1-1 in Buffalo against Los Angeles since the 1992-93 season and have won seven straight since a 4-1 Kings win here on Feb. 21, 2003. The Sabres have not won as many as five games in a row since March, 2012. There are currently four NHL teams on such a run (Philadelphia-9, Columbus-6, Calgary-6 and Pittsburgh-5). In addition, Washington and Minnesota have both won four straight. "You look at teams that are on a roll and you win, say, three games overtime or shootout, you're still on a roll," said coach Dan Bylsma. "You come out on the wrong side of those, you end up with two in a row or three in a row and don't extend the streak. That's something we're going to have to do and are looking to do in these six games before the break." Winger Kyle Okposo sat out practice Monday with the flu, but Bylsma said it was likely that Okposo would be fine for Tuesday's game. That did, however, cost Okposo a second practice with new linemates Jack Eichel and Evander Kane, a switch Bylsma first unveiled Sunday in HarborCenter.

Buffalo News LOADED: 12.13.2016

Devante Stephens (Kelowna Rockets, defenseman) – Had two assists over the weekend to give him 15 points (seen goals, eight assists) in 30 games. OHL Austin Osmanski (Mississauga Steelheads, defenseman) – Has four points in 24 games this season (one goal, three assists) along with 26 penalty minutes. Cliff Pu (London Knights, forward) – Collected five points over three games this weekend, including a two-goal performance in a 4-2 win over the Sarnia Sting. Ranks sixth in the league in scoring with 47 points (21 goals, 26 assists) in 28 games. QMJHL Vasily Glotov (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, forward) – Has 20 assists on the season with four goals in 20 games. Glotov ranks third on Cape Breton in scoring with 24 points with 11 of those points coming on the power play. NCAA William Borgen (St. Cloud State, defenseman) – Has nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 16 games. Borgen has a plus-3 rating.

1038112 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres Prospects Report: Amerks drop three, Guhle back in juniors

Christopher Brown (Boston College, center) – Ranks second on BC in scoring with 18 points (six goals, 12 assists). He picked up a pair of assists in a 3-2 loss at Notre Dame on Saturday. Ivan Chukarov (UMass, defenseman) – Has one goal and three assists in 15 games for the Minutemen.

Amy Moritz Published Mon, Dec 12, 2016 Updated Mon, Dec 12, 2016

It was a road trip to forget for the Rochester Americans who dropped three games in three days. The Amerks first were swept by the Lehigh Valley Phantoms then dropped a game on Sunday to the Hershey Bears. The Amerks opened the weekend Friday with a 4-3 loss to the Phantoms in Allentown, Pa. Nick Baptiste scored his team-leading 11th goal of the season in just his 15th game with the Amerks. Cole Schneider and Justin Bailey had two-point nights with a goal and assist each while Linus Ullmark made a season-high 44 saves in the loss. The Phantoms earned the sweep with a 4-2 win on Saturday. Eric Cornel, in his second professional season, picked up his first career multi-point game. He notched his fourth goal of the season and assisted on a tally by Alexander Nylander. It was Nylander’s fifth goal of the season. John Muse made his third start of the season for the Amerks, making 31 saves. The weekend ended with a 6-1 loss to the Hershey Bears on Sunday. The Amerks took a 1-0 lead when Kyle Bonis scored shorthanded at 11:26 of the first with assists from Evan Rodrigues and Erik Burgdoerfer. But the Bears scored five goals in the second period. Ullmark made 36 saves in the loss.

Casey Fitzgerald (Boston College, defenseman) – Was named to the Team USA preliminary roster for the IIHF World Juniors. The sophomore has 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 19 games for the Eagles. Anthony Florentino (Providence, defenseman) –The senior leads all Friar defensemen in scoring with 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 14 games. He picked up two assists on Friday in a 5-1 win at RIT Connor Hurley (Notre Dame, center) – Assisted on a power play goal that opened the scoring for the Irish in a 3-2 win over Boston College on Saturday. Hurley has 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 17 games. Sean Malone (Harvard, center) – Has 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in 11 games this season. Philip Nyberg (Wisconsin, defenseman) – The native of Sweden originally signed his National Letter of Intent to play at Wisconsin this season, but reports from the Wisconsin State Journal said the letter of intent was voided because Nyberg did not pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language. He was projected to join the team for the second semester, but it was reported Wisconsin expected to roster additions at the semester break. Playing with Madison Capitols of the USHL where he has two goals and five assists in 23 games. Cal Petersen (Notre Dame, goalie) – Gave up two goals and made 15 saves in a 3-2 win against Boston College on Saturday. On the season, the junior is 9-6-2 with a 2.26 goals against average and a .913 save percentage.

Rochester, now 9-15-0-1, hosts Toronto at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday in Blue Cross Arena.

Judd Peterson (St. Cloud State, center) – Scored twice in a 4-2 over Nebraska-Omaha on Saturday. Peterson has nine goals and four points through 16 games.

Vojtech Budik (Prince Albert Raiders, defensemen ) – Pick up his ninth assist of the season on Dec. 10 in a 5-4 loss to the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Max Willman (Brown, forward) – Recorded his fourth assist in a 6-3 win over Rensselaer on Saturday. He has eight points on the season.

Giorgio Estephan (Lethbridge Hurricanes, forward) – Had a goal and an assist in three games over the weekend. Estephan has collected 32 points (17 goals, 15 assists) in 29 games.

Europe Rasmus Asplund (SHL, forward) – Has 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 25 games for Farjestad BK.

Brendan Guhle (Prince George Cougars, defensemen) -- In his first game back in major-juniors after his emergency recall to the Buffalo Sabres, Guhle scored twice, including the game-winner with 12 seconds left in the third, in a 64 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds on Saturday.

Jonas Johansson (Allsvenskan, goalie) – Has a 2.05 goals against average and a .919 save percentage in 19 games for Almtuna IS.

Brandon Hagel (Red Deer Rebels, left wing) – Had two goals, including one on the power play, in a 6-1 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings on Saturday. Hagel has 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists) in 31 games with three power play and two shorthanded goals.

Gustav Possler (SHL, forward) – Websites from Sweden say that he has a broken ankle and will be out until Christmas.

Victor Olofsson (SHL, forward) – Has six goals and seven assist in 2y games for Frolunda HC.

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 Buffalo News LOADED: 12.13.2016

scoring chances. It was a low-scoring game, and they played well too. It was probably one of the toughest battles we’ve had this year.” The fact that Boston won it can only help the animosity carry over to their next meeting.

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Sportsnet.ca / Rivalry revived in heated game between Canadiens, Bruins

ERIC ENGELS DECEMBER 13, 2016, 12:32 AM

The Bruins had lost 15 of their last 18 games against Montreal, they had dropped nine straight against Carey Price, and the rivalry had fallen short of its billing of late. “For this year, that was the game with the most intensity,” acknowledged Therrien. It’s been too long since there was a game between these two teams that was truly worth circling on our calendars. The next one should be a dandy.

MONTREAL—It didn’t take much to stoke the rivalry.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.13.2016

Two hits in the first period of the 737th meeting between the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins Monday ensured that the final game between them (Feb. 12, and possibly more come playoff time) will be must-see TV.

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The first one came at 13:13 of the frame, care of Canadiens defenceman Alexei Emelin, who laid his shoulder into Bruins leading goal-scorer David Pastrnak. It was a violent collision that slammed Pastrnak into the boards and then onto the ice, sending the fans in attendance into a frenzy. Nineteen seconds later, the reaction was one of shock when Torey Krug’s shoulder connected with Andrew Shaw’s face in the neutral zone, leaving the Canadien flat on his back. Shaw left the ice, his nose bloodied, and didn’t return before the start of the second period. It was the type of hit that provoked much debate over social media between fans of two teams that have a healthy dislike for one another. Many on the Montreal side of the rivalry argued—as Canadiens coach Michel Therrien did after the game—that Shaw was vulnerable and was hit directly in the head. The Boston fans replied that Krug was committed to the hit and avoiding throwing it meant allowing Shaw to skate away with the puck on a clean rush towards their team’s net. The NHL will decide if supplementary discipline is required; it is in fact being reviewed. Shaw was receiving medical treatment after his team’s 2-1 overtime loss and wasn’t available for comment. “I was just going for the puck and I assumed Andrew Shaw was going to hit me,” said Krug. “I saw him, I knew who it was, and I just assumed he was going to play the body because he’s a physical player.” Krug also said he expected what came next. Montreal’s Brendan Gallagher challenged him to a fight at the 15:26 mark of the first period. “It’s one of those things, regardless of whether it was clean or not,” started Gallagher. “Any time you see your teammate get up with blood on his face…I think Shaw’s the type of guy who would’ve done that for anyone in this locker room. I think everyone here was willing to step up, it was just my turn and it’s something teammates do for each other.” As Gallagher took Krug down to the ice, the crowd erupted. The game then settled into the low-risk, tight-checking affair it was bound to become at 0-0 going into the second period. It wasn’t until the third that—with the Bruins leading 1-0 on Austin Czarnik’s late-second-period marker—tempers ran hot once again. Emelin flipped Brad Marchand with a hip check, and Marchand retaliated with a high-stick. Shaw ran Adam McQuaid into the rounded glass near Boston’s bench before Boston’s David Backes capped it all off with a clean run at Emelin. By night’s end both teams had combined for 64 hits, and the score was indicative of how closely contested the game was—with Montreal outshooting Boston 31-29. “That was a fun hockey game,” said Canadiens defenceman Nathan Beaulieu. “It’s the type of game you want to play, not giving up many

Sportsnet.ca / Things looking up for Blue Jackets after years of frustration

MARK SPECTOR DECEMBER 12, 2016, 8:13 PM

All hail the Columbus Blue Jackets — the best team in the National Hockey League. Swirl that around in your mouth for a time. Savour the bouquet of a vintage that has never before been uncorked. Because as futile as that franchise has been since they and the Minnesota Wild began their duelling journeys of irrelevance back in 2000, that’s how good the Jackets are through the one-third mark of the 201617 season. “Positive energy is spreading around the room. It spreads just like negative energy does,” discovered Blue Jackets defenceman Jack Johnson, in an interview with the Columbus Dispatch. “We go into the third period feeling confident right now,” echoed centre Brandon Dubinsky. “Right now, it feels like we know we’re going to win the hockey game. Guys are composed. We keep our structure.” Let’s face it: Through 15 seasons this franchise has made the playoffs twice — the appearances came five years apart — posting a playoff log of 10 games, two wins, and eight losses. But laugh no longer at this group, one that beat the Montreal Canadiens 10-0, a whipping so sound that Newsy Lalonde was issued a minus on the night. Sure, the Jackets don’t have the most points in the NHL today. They are, in fact, sixth with 38 points — but they have played the least number of games in the league (26). So we go to the stats: • The Jackets are the only team with a points percentage over .700 both at home (.750) and on the road (.708). • Their points earned per game is tied with Montreal atop the NHL at 1.46, and Columbus is the only team that ranks in the top three in both goals for (3.31) and goals against (2.12) per game, ranking third in each category. • Their power play (24.6%) was tops in the NHL heading into play Monday. They’re second to the Rangers in goal differential at plus-31. And isn’t it fitting that their poster boy for revitalization is 27-year-old Sam Gagner, one of the earliest victims of the Edmonton Oilers' “blindfold rebuilds” who now leads the Jackets with 11 goals. “Adversity is a good thing, if you can frame it the right way,” said Gagner, speaking for himself when he could really be speaking on behalf of a Blue Jackets franchise that sits 68 games below .500 through it’s decade and a half of existence. “My work ethic really never wavered,” he said over the phone from Columbus, about to board the team charter for a three-game swing

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 through Alberta and B.C. “The adversity over the last number of years has really helped. “At the same time I’m on a good team, and it’s just about of finding a role on that team, and giving it some purpose.” Gagner was named the NHL’s third star of the week on Monday after registering three goals and six points in the Jackets’ perfect 3-0 week. Columbus has won six straight and has gone 7-0-1 in its past eight games to improve to 17-5-4 on the season.

of 10 games, two wins, and eight losses. But laugh no longer at this group, one that beat the Montreal Canadiens 10-0, a whipping so sound that Newsy Lalonde was issued a minus on the night. Sure, the Jackets don’t have the most points in the NHL today. They are, in fact, sixth with 38 points — but they have played the least number of games in the league (26). So we go to the stats: • The Jackets are the only team with a points percentage over .700 both at home (.750) and on the road (.708).

“I went through it in Edmonton. Even last year for Columbus was a tough year,” Gagner said of the constant losing that has pained this franchise. “You gain some confidence — we’ve got really good goaltending — and when we lose we put it behind us and move on.

• Their points earned per game is tied with Montreal atop the NHL at 1.46, and Columbus is the only team that ranks in the top three in both goals for (3.31) and goals against (2.12) per game, ranking third in each category.

“Torts has done a really good job of giving us time away from the rink and giving us rest, and when we come to the rink we’re ready to work.”

• Their power play (24.6%) was tops in the NHL heading into play Monday. They’re second to the Rangers in goal differential at plus-31.

Of course, “Torts” is head coach John Tortorella who hopped right from the tire fire that was Team USA at the World Cup of Hockey into a Columbus team that has overachieved to the same degree. No one in hockey — least of all Columbus — saw this coming.

And isn’t it fitting that their poster boy for revitalization is 27-year-old Sam Gagner, one of the earliest victims of the Edmonton Oilers' “blindfold rebuilds” who now leads the Jackets with 11 goals.

Credit goes to rookie defenceman Zach Werenski, this year’s Shayne Gostisbehere who has taken the NHL by storm with 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) and a stunning 21:48 of ice time per game, third among rookies. Add in pint-sized emerging right-winger Cam Atkinson (10-17-27) and 22 points each from Brandon Saad, Nick Foligno and Alexander Wennberg, and the Jackets are coming at you from all flanks. “You play this game to win, and you go through those years where you’re out of the playoffs early. Yeah, it’s been real fun here,” Gagner said. “The thing with Torts is, you always know where you stand. There is never any guesswork. When you come back to the bench you know whether you had a good shift or a bad one. “He’s really prepared. When you come to the rink you know exactly what the expectations are of you. If you work hard and do all the little things well, Torts rewards you.” Thus far, his players have rewarded Tortorella in return. All is quiet on the Blue Jackets’ front, for now. With Tortorella in command, however, that tends to change. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.13.2016

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“Adversity is a good thing, if you can frame it the right way,” said Gagner, speaking for himself when he could really be speaking on behalf of a Blue Jackets franchise that sits 68 games below .500 through it’s decade and a half of existence. “My work ethic really never wavered,” he said over the phone from Columbus, about to board the team charter for a three-game swing through Alberta and B.C. “The adversity over the last number of years has really helped. “At the same time I’m on a good team, and it’s just about of finding a role on that team, and giving it some purpose.” Gagner was named the NHL’s third star of the week on Monday after registering three goals and six points in the Jackets’ perfect 3-0 week. Columbus has won six straight and has gone 7-0-1 in its past eight games to improve to 17-5-4 on the season. “I went through it in Edmonton. Even last year for Columbus was a tough year,” Gagner said of the constant losing that has pained this franchise. “You gain some confidence — we’ve got really good goaltending — and when we lose we put it behind us and move on. “Torts has done a really good job of giving us time away from the rink and giving us rest, and when we come to the rink we’re ready to work.” Of course, “Torts” is head coach John Tortorella who hopped right from the tire fire that was Team USA at the World Cup of Hockey into a Columbus team that has overachieved to the same degree. No one in hockey — least of all Columbus — saw this coming.

Sportsnet.ca / Things looking up for Blue Jackets after years of frustration

Credit goes to rookie defenceman Zach Werenski, this year’s Shayne Gostisbehere who has taken the NHL by storm with 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) and a stunning 21:48 of ice time per game, third among rookies.

MARK SPECTOR DECEMBER 12, 2016, 8:13 PM

Add in pint-sized emerging right-winger Cam Atkinson (10-17-27) and 22 points each from Brandon Saad, Nick Foligno and Alexander Wennberg, and the Jackets are coming at you from all flanks.

All hail the Columbus Blue Jackets — the best team in the National Hockey League. Swirl that around in your mouth for a time. Savour the bouquet of a vintage that has never before been uncorked. Because as futile as that franchise has been since they and the Minnesota Wild began their duelling journeys of irrelevance back in 2000, that’s how good the Jackets are through the one-third mark of the 201617 season. “Positive energy is spreading around the room. It spreads just like negative energy does,” discovered Blue Jackets defenceman Jack Johnson, in an interview with the Columbus Dispatch. “We go into the third period feeling confident right now,” echoed centre Brandon Dubinsky. “Right now, it feels like we know we’re going to win the hockey game. Guys are composed. We keep our structure.” Let’s face it: Through 15 seasons this franchise has made the playoffs twice — the appearances came five years apart — posting a playoff log

“You play this game to win, and you go through those years where you’re out of the playoffs early. Yeah, it’s been real fun here,” Gagner said. “The thing with Torts is, you always know where you stand. There is never any guesswork. When you come back to the bench you know whether you had a good shift or a bad one. “He’s really prepared. When you come to the rink you know exactly what the expectations are of you. If you work hard and do all the little things well, Torts rewards you.” Thus far, his players have rewarded Tortorella in return. All is quiet on the Blue Jackets’ front, for now. With Tortorella in command, however, that tends to change. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.13.2016

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CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 Sportsnet.ca / Leafs’ Babcock coaching for both now and the future

It helps explain the gentle kick Marner got Sunday when Connor Brown took his usual spot alongside Bozak and van Riemsdyk for a period and a half. Babcock called it “the right thing to do.”

CHRIS JOHNSTON DECEMBER 12, 2016, 3:52 PM

Remember that he is coaching for tomorrow as well as today.

TORONTO – It wasn’t so long ago that Mike Babcock said of Mitch Marner: “I’ve never coached a kid that good that young.”

Upon reaching 1,000 career NHL games back in February, Babcock laid out his long-range plan with the Leafs: “Well I’ve got this year and seven more here. And then I’m going to stay for two more because the team’s going to be that good.”

Yet there Marner was skating on the Toronto Maple Leafs fourth line on Sunday night. He seemed an odd fit alongside Matt Martin and Ben Smith – players not likely to amass 20 points in a season, much less the first 27 games of their NHL career.

To make good on that prediction he’ll need some of these kids to grow into pillars.

To Babcock, though, this arrangement made sense.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.13.2016

The foundation is being pushed into place now.

“Well I’ve been just been watching the games,” he said. No one gets let off the hook easy by the straight-shooting coach. Not even the kids. Heck, Babcock looked out a sparse media gathering before Sunday’s game against Colorado and remarked that the absentee reporters should get canned for “half an effort.” Marner’s stint with the lunch pail line lasted a little more than a period. Four even-strength shifts in total. That left him with a shade under his season average in ice time against the Avalanche, but there was a message built into the unusual assignment. “I think there’s been a message going on for a bit,” said Babcock. “You know, that’s the process of growing up in the National Hockey League. It doesn’t go your way all the time. You’ve got to work hard every single day: practice, games, period.” Slowly, but surely, the internal expectations for Toronto’s impressive group of rookies is growing. After being carefully protected by the coach earlier in the year, we saw William Nylander recently get a stretch of games with the fourth line before Marner’s brief stopover there. Those moves represent a reminder rather than a punishment from Babcock, who believes in challenging his players constantly. He is pushing buttons in hopes of seeing a response and, in the case of Nylander, he got a positive one last week after the 20-year-old winger was reunited with Auston Matthews and Zach Hyman. This is precisely why the Leafs so aggressively pursued him to oversee the rebuild. He may be demanding in approach, but there is a proven method behind it. “Coaching them how to be not just good hockey players, but coaching them on how to be winning hockey players is a real process and one that Mike is a perfect fit for here in Toronto,” president Brendan Shanahan said last week in an interview. “That it’s not just simply good enough to be in the NHL. Mike has great experience at winning and turning a good team into a winning team.” In some ways, he is almost coaching this season on parallel tracks. There is the matter of the games immediately ahead on the schedule – San Jose is next up Tuesday at Air Canada Centre – but he’s also got an eye on the much wider picture as well. Matthews, Marner and Nylander have each made a sizeable impact as rookies this season, but their continued growth will help dictate if the organization ultimately gets where it wants to go down the road. That’s why Babcock will push, when necessary. At least he is an equal opportunity agitator – employing the same tact with more established players like Nazem Kadri, James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak and Morgan Rielly, too. “We’ve got a lot of young players that are playing prominent roles,” said Shanahan. “We also have a lot of players that were here when we arrived that have adapted very well to really a lot of new standards that are expected of them, and demands. Mike’s done a great job of making it very clear to players what their role on any given night is. “So it’s not just about the rookies; it’s really about even the guys that have been in the NHL for a little while that have embraced Mike’s challenges.”

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Sportsnet.ca / Flames fans finally seeing the dangerous Dougie Hamilton they expected

ERIC FRANCIS DECEMBER 12, 2016, 3:15 PM

Dougie Hamilton is the poster boy for the Calgary Flames recent turnaround. Oh sure, the two Johnnys — Gaudreau and Chad Johnson — are the main catalysts. But it’s the 23-year-old defenceman who symbolizes how far the Flames have come of late. As part of the club’s six-game winning streak, Hamilton leads the way with four goals and an assist, going a remarkable plus-eight in that stretch. And while performances like his might otherwise have been lost in the shuffle of the club’s stirring surge, his dramatic Orr-like overtime winner in Phoenix last Thursday caught many people’s attention. He followed it up with two goals at home Saturday against the Jets as part of an effort that saw him throw seven shots on goal. In short, fans are finally seeing the impactful, dangerous Dougie Hamilton they expected when he was acquired from the Bruins two summers ago. Given the fanfare surrounding his acquisition for two second-rounders and a first, expectations were impossibly high for the Toronto native to live up to. When Hamilton struggled to adapt right away to his new environment early last year — he famously sat minus-11 after nine games — he became one of the city’s favourite whipping boys. That hadn’t changed, until now. Surely fans can start to get behind the six-foot-six, 210-pound puckmover who has truly found his game alongside captain Mark Giordano. In the last six games alone, Hamilton has had 26 shots on goal, which not only helps him lead the team in that category but puts him third amongst NHL rearguards this season. Rag on him all you want but he’s tied for 11th in scoring amongst defencemen, sitting ahead of notables like Drew Doughty, Oliver EkmanLarsson, Alex Pietrangelo, John Klingberg and Shayne Gostisbehere. And he’s done so despite a start that saw the Flames post four regulation wins in their first 16 games. Defensively it certainly helps that he’s now paired with the team’s hardest worker and best defenceman, Giordano. It has given rise to Hamilton’s offensive game, landing him tied for second with Sean Monahan in team scoring (6 goals, 11 assists), a shocking two points behind Gaudreau.

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 His recent scoring binge has him sitting plus-5 on a team that is still sporting a minus-5 differential despite jumping into a dogfight for the division lead. Surely it’s time for fans to stop picking apart his game and realizing the youngster is not only continuing to improve at a position that takes time to master, but is proving he is indeed a core part of the club. At this point in the season there’s no doubt he’s been better than the universally lauded T.J. Brodie, who is struggling much like Hamilton did last year. (For what it's worth, Hamilton's "season of adjustment" saw him pick up a career-high 43 points, good for 22nd amongst NHL defencemen.) The irony of ridiculous suggestions the Flames might be interested in moving Hamilton is that if general manager Brad Treliving could snap his fingers and add one thing to his club it would be a big, mobile, puckmoving defenceman who can contribute at both ends of the rink. Um, that’s Dougie Hamilton. No wonder every team would be interested — they all need more players like him. No, he’s not being traded, as Flames boss Brian Burke so emphatically declared before taking the youngster aside to clear up rumours. Never was. Of course, many will still be slow to join the Hamilton fan club. Clearly the first star in Saturday’s 6-2 drubbing of Winnipeg, the broadcast mistakenly showed a picture of the wrong Hamilton as part of its Three Stars graphic, giving brother and teammate Freddie rare national exposure. An honest mistake that few will make down the road as the Bruins’ ninth pick overall in 2011 continues to prove he’s worthy of the six-year, $34.5 million deal he signed after the Flames landed him.

The Metro isn't unbeatable top-to-bottom, of course. But even the Devils and Hurricanes have had their moments, and both are probably better than their records show. And even the division's only truly bad team—the last-place Islanders—have been trending up lately, beating some good teams over the past two weeks before falling flat in a 6-2 loss to the Blue Jackets on Saturday. Here's something to keep an eye on: If things keep trending in this direction, we have the possibility of running into a scenario that's long been possible in the NHL but rarely actually happens: a top-eight team in a conference not making the postseason. That would require the relatively unlikely outcome of one division's sixth place team ending up ahead of the other's third place finisher, and we're almost there right now. The Devils are technically the East's ninth-place team, tied with the Panthers, Lightning and Red Wings. But those three Atlantic teams are all two points out of a playoff spot because they can catch the Bruins, while New Jersey is seven back of the Capitals for the last wildcard spot. The Devils (or Hurricanes) could theoretically finish eighth or even seventh in the East and still miss out on a postseason invite. The NHL playoff format is weird. On to this week's power rankings. Hey, you'll never guess which division is dominating the top five… Road to the Cup The five teams that look like they're headed towards Stanley Cupfavourite status. 5. New York Rangers (19-9-1, +31 true goals differential*): We always knew their starting goaltender would start winning them some games eventually. We just kind of assumed that would be Henrik Lundqvist. 4. Columbus Blue Jackets (17-5-4, +31): I give up. I said I wouldn't put them in the top five until they left me with no other choice. Here we are. 3. Chicago Blackhawks (18-8-4, +10): Their weekend included a 1-0 loss to the Rangers; they get a rematch tomorrow night.

Yes, the Dougie Hamilton Flames fans prayed for has arrived, in plenty of time to help save the Flames season.

2. Montreal Canadiens (19-6-3, +29): A 10-1 final? Geez, Montreal, what did Colorado ever do to you? Oh, right.

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1. Pittsburgh Penguins (18-7-3, +12): Sidney Crosby has officially entered "scary good" mode. With 20 goals through 22 games and 54 games left on the Penguins' schedule, he's on pace for 69 goals despite missing most of October. Nobody's had more than 65 in a season since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96.

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Sportsnet.ca / Down Goes Brown Weekend Wrap: Monsters of the Metro

*Goals scored minus goals allowed, without counting shootouts like the NHL does for some reason. --

SEAN MCINDOE DECEMBER 12, 2016, 10:43 AM

Every Monday, Sean McIndoe looks back at weekend play in the NHL and the league’s biggest storylines. You can follow him on Twitter. Every now and then, hockey fans like to argue over which division is the league’s strongest. Those fans have been out of luck in recent years, as the Central took hold of the title and didn’t seem interested in giving it up. But this year, there’s a new king of the hill, and it’s not even close. The Metro is crushing everyone. We could crunch the numbers a few different ways. As of this morning, five of the division’s teams find themselves holding down spots in the top seven of the overall standings. The Metro boasts the two best goal differentials in the NHL, courtesy of the Rangers and Blue Jackets, as well as the league’s hottest team, the Flyers. Oh, and there’s also the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins and defending Presidents Trophy-winning Capitals. The Metro features the three highest-scoring teams in the NHL, and two of the three top teams in goals allowed. The division is stacked. And they’ve spent the last week absolutely stomping the rest of the league. THIS IS OFFICIALLY HILARIOUS. METROPOLITAN DIVISION TEAMS ARE NOW 24-3-3 SINCE SATURDAY. #CAPS ARE 16-7-3 WITH 35 POINTS - AND IN 5TH PLACE! — BRIAN MCNALLY (@BMCNALLY14) DECEMBER 10, 2016

Last week, we looked at what seemed like a glitch in the NHL matrix— absolutely nobody was especially hot or cold, with every team in the league muddling along at close to a break-even pace over the past few weeks of action. We wondered if that meant anything, or if it was just one of those flukes that would sort itself out soon enough. One week later, plenty of teams are still muddling away. But a few have broken loose and decided to go streaking. Right now, we've got four teams in the NHL who are riding win streaks of five games or more. Not surprisingly, three of those teams are in that powerhouse Metro Division, including the team with the league's best streak. That's the Flyers, who picked up their ninth straight win with Sunday's 1-0 overtime decision over the Red Wings. That low-scoring game was a bit of a new wrinkle for Philadelphia, given that they're second in the league in goal scoring and had potted three or more in every other game of their streak. But now that the goaltending is settled down, the Flyers look like the dynamic young team we thought they'd be heading into the season. What they're not doing is gaining all that much ground in the race for the Metro title, thanks to the Penguins putting up a five-game streak of their own. They've scored 28 goals over that stretch, and will look to continue it tonight at home against the last place overall Coyotes. Then there's the Blue Jackets, who’ve won six straight. That's been a bit of an odd streak, with the last five games coming against some of the league's worst teams, but wins are wins. Factoring in that their last loss came in a shootout, Columbus has points in eight straight. And they're doing it by blitzing teams; they've had 37 shots or more in all but one of

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 those games, including that 60-shot effort against the Coyotes two weeks ago.

that's the point—their shooting is so low that it has to rebound, suggesting that better days are ahead for the offence.

Meanwhile, the league's hottest non-Metro team is in Calgary, where the Flames have won six straight. That was good enough to briefly boost them all the way to first place in the Pacific yesterday, before the Ducks took the lead back with their win over Ottawa. Still, that's one heck of a surge for a team that was well out of the playoff hunt not all that long ago.

So sure, some patience may be in order here. But Sabres fans have been patient for a long time, and they've had precious little payoff for it. At some point, this team needs to start moving up the standings. It's getting to the point where it will almost be too late for that to happen this year, although we're not there yet.

Not to look too far ahead, but the Flames and Blue Jackets will face each other on Friday in Calgary, for a game in which both teams could be riding seven-game winning streaks. That would be a lot of fun, and a nice change from watching matchups between indistinguishable lukewarm teams like we were just a week ago.

It's true that you can't rush these things, and that Murray panicking now would be just about the worst-case scenario. But you also can't wait around forever. When you finally shift the car into gear and step on the gas, you might expect the wheels to spin for a bit. But if you don't start moving forward soon, you're not being patient. You're stuck, and going nowhere.

Road to the lottery The five teams that look like they're headed towards watching Nolan Patrick highlights and clicking refresh on draft lottery simulations.

• Well, we might as well start with the highlight everyone will be talking about today: Patrik Laine's game-winning goal in last night's loss. What can you say? The kid's got a nose for the net.

5. New York Islanders (11-11-5, -9): Saturday's loss against Columbus aside, if they keep playing the way they have recently they won't be on this list much longer.

• That loss was the Jets' fourth straight. That's the longest current streak in the league, and has dropped them back out of a playoff spot.

4. Buffalo Sabres (10-11-6, -14): Sit tight, we're going to talk about them down below. 3. Vancouver Canucks (12-15-2, -21): With yesterday's loss to the Caps, they became the first team in the NHL to hit double digits in regulation road losses. 2. Arizona Coyotes (9-13-5, -22): They snapped a six-game losing streak with an impressive 4-1 win over the Predators on Saturday. 1. Colorado Avalanche (11-15-1, -25): They gave up 52 shots to the Maple Leafs last night. And that was their good game of the weekend. -So yeah, the Sabres. They're not very good again this year. Is it time to worry? Buffalo suffered through a pair of truly awful seasons, finished dead last in the league in both 2013-14 and 2014-15. But it was suffering with a purpose. Some called it tanking, while others called it a strategic rebuild. (The second group still thought it was tanking, they were just too polite to say it out loud.) But either way, the organization was looking down the road and making an investment in the future. Last place now, glory in the days to come.

• Congratulations to Jarome Iginla, who played in his 1,500th game... in Saturday's 10-1 loss. • Another milestone: Ottawa's Chris Neil, who reached the 1,000-game mark on Saturday against the Kings. • That Senators' game produced the first suspension in over five weeks, as Ottawa's Mark Borowiecki was given two games for a hit from behind on Tyler Toffoli. Later, Stars' defenceman Jamie Oleksiak was suspended two games for a check to the head of Philadelphia’s Chris VandeVelde. • Days after landing Peter Holland in a trade with the Maple Leafs, the Coyotes continued to add forward depth by claiming Josh Jooris off waivers from the Rangers. • The Senators went 0-for-the-weekend, dropping road games to the Kings and Ducks. Ottawa has yet to lose three straight on the season. • In injury news, Shayne Gostisbehere missed yesterday's game with an upper body injury after blocking a shot on Saturday. He's listed as day-today. • Speaking of the Flyers, they unveiled the jerseys they'll be wearing in the outdoor game you already forgot they'll be playing in. In a surprising turn of events, they're black and orange.

That future isn't quite here yet—nobody thought the Sabres were going to be a two-year turnaround. But after signs of progress last season during a semi-respectable 81-point campaign, the Sabres seem to be stalling this year, if not outright regressing. They're on pace for 78 points, sitting last in the Eastern Conference, and are dead last in the league in goals scored.

• Finally, the best goal of the weekend by a guy who was bleeding: Nathan MacKinnon walks through the Maple Leafs.

We can't say for sure what Tim Murray's plan was, but it's a safe bet that still being last in the conference in Year Four wasn't part of it.

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Rebuilds are tricky things and there are no guarantees, but we've seen teams like the Blackhawks, Penguins and Kings make quick transitions from laughingstocks to legitimate Cup contenders. Maybe those are the outliers, but you'd like to think that two years out from rock bottom and with a big-name new coach behind the bench, you'd at least be pushing for a playoff spot.

TSN.CA / Creating NHL draft buzz at the World Jr. A Challenge

So what's going on in Buffalo? In fairness, injuries are playing a big part. The team made a big move to bring in Robin Lehner as the goaltender of the future two summers ago, but he missed most of last season and has been slowed somewhat this year by illness and hip problems. When healthy, he's looked fine, so there's still room for optimism here, but at some point the Sabres will want to be sure they've got a guy who can shoulder the load. Then there's Jack Eichel, who missed the first two months of the season. He's looked great since returning, and the Sabres have picked up seven points in those six games. Evander Kane has missed time too, so the Sabres haven't had many games where they could say they've had their best lineup on the ice. Then again, injuries happen to everyone. Maybe a better sign for the Sabres is that they're shooting a league low 5.3 percent at even strength; nobody else is even under 6.0 percent. That's not good, obviously, but

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 12.13.2016

By Bob McKenzie

In an NHL draft year that has been decidedly absent of buzz, Cale Makar, we thank you. The 18-year-old right-shot defenceman who plays for the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League made a statement of sorts on Sunday night, when he scored two goals and five points to lead Canada West to a 6-2 win over Switzerland in the World Junior A Challenge in Bonnyville, Alta. The stands were filled with NHL scouts, who came away mightily impressed with the offensive defenceman, even though it was clear the Swiss did not provide a stern test. No sooner had Makar put his WJAC tournament record five points in the bank -- including these two goals...

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 Blainville, Que., is the site of Canada's national junior team selection camp for the 2017 World Junior Championship. At least a couple of NHL scouts believed Makar's effort signified worthiness to be amongst the top 10 Under-20 defenceman in Canada trying out for seven spots on Team Canada. "He should be there," another scout said. "He would be the Canadians' best defenceman for the World Junior Championship." It's not as if Makar has come out of nowhere. The graduate of Calgary midget hockey took the Junior A level by storm last season. Makar was named AJHL Rookie of the Year and AJHL (South Division) all-star. He helped lead the Bandits not only to the AJHL championship but to the RBC Cup national Junior A championship, where he was named the tourney's top defenceman and top scorer.

By Scott Cullen

The Pittsburgh Penguins have taken over top spot in the TSN.ca NHL Power Rankings, ahead of the Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets. That the defending Stanley Cup champions should find themselves at the top of the rankings isn’t any great surprise, but they’re on a particularly good run, showing the offensive explosiveness that few other teams can match. Other than the Penguins, who jump from five to one, teams moving up this week include the Philadelphia Flyers, Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames. It’s the second straight week in which the Flyers and Flames were among the big climbers.

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound blueliner is committed to the University of Massachusetts-Amherst for next season. Born on Oct. 30 -- he's already turned 18 -- Makar missed being eligible for last year's draft by a monthand-a-half.

Teams falling this week include the Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators and New Jersey Devils.

This season, based on his strong play in the AJHL and last night's scintillating performance, he's been rocketing up the NHL draft charts.

THIS WEEK: 1 LAST WEEK: 5

For some NHL teams, he's emerged as the top Canadian defenceman eligible for this year's draft, ahead of Kelowna Rocket Cal Foote (son of ex-NHLer Adam was born in the U.S but will eventually get Canadian status from IIHF) and Mississauga Steelhead Nic Hague. Both are projected as potential first-round picks in this year's draft. "(Makar) has skill that could make him best defenceman in North America for the draft," another NHL scout said. Another scout, while acknowledging the weakness of competition last night, said Makar's performance was the best he'd seen from any player at any level this year. As for Team Canada and its ongoing tryouts in Blainville, Hockey Canada brass were cognizant on Monday of the buzz generated by Makar and the increasingly popular theory he should be in Blainville, not Bonnyville. By no means is Hockey Canada unaware of Makar and did give some consideration to him this season. He's almost certain to be invited to the Under-20 national junior team summer camp this August, but not one draft-eligible defenceman is amongst the 10 in Blainville, trying out for Team Canada. Foote likely would have been invited had the IIHF approved his status as a Canadian.

1.

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 18-7-3

GF: 3.39 GA: 2.96 SA CF%: 52.0 PP%: 19.6 PK%: 76.0 The Penguins have won five straight, outscoring the opposition 28-14, and while Sidney Crosby’s 20 goals in 22 games is drawing the spotlight, the Penguins also have two more point-per-game performers – Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel both have 30 points in 28 games. Key Injuries: None. 2.

MONTREAL CANADIENS 19-6-3

THIS WEEK: 2 LAST WEEK: 2 GF: 3.21 GA: 2.18 SA CF%: 52.7 PP%: 21.6 PK%: 81.7 The Habs may be missing a couple of centres, but that doesn’t appear to be a problem, as Saturday’s 10-1 thrashing of the Avalanche leaves the club 3-0-1 in the past four games. Key Injuries: C Alex Galchenyuk (knee), C David Desharnais (knee). 3.

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 17-5-4

Many scouts I talked to on Monday said they don't disagree with the Hockey Canada assessment as far as the WJC is concerned, but it's by no means unanimous.

THIS WEEK: 3 LAST WEEK: 3

"He's a great prospect," a scout said. "That doesn't automatically make him a great player for U-20."

PP%: 24.6 PK%: 81.4

"Outside of playing in last year's World Junior A Challenge and this year's event, he's only played Jr. A in Alberta," another scout said. "He's a gifted offensive defenceman but he hasn't shown any ability to play without the puck against high-end competition. That would be an incredible step up for him."

GF: 3.31 GA: 2.12 SA CF%: 52.0

The hockey world is finally taking notice of the Blue Jackets, as they have one regulation loss in the past 14 games (and they outshot Calgary 34-20 in that loss). Their leading goal scorer, with 11 in 26 games, is Sam Gagner, making a modest $650,000. Key Injuries: None.

That sterner test for Makar will come tonight. Canada West faces Russia at 9:30 p.m. ET in Bonnyville. Russia's lineup includes potential top 2018 NHL draft prospect Andrei Svechnikov.

4.

"Let's see how he fares against the Russians before we get too excited," another NHL scout said.

GF: 2.67 GA: 2.11 SA CF%: 53.6

If Makar shines against Russia, there's no telling how many text messages will be sent from Bonnyville to Blainville on Tuesday.

The Capitals have gone five in a row without a regulation loss, though they don’t seem nearly as powerful as last season, when they didn’t have scoring difficulties. Can the young forward group that includes Evgeny Kuznetsov, Andre Burakovsky and Jakub Vrana help pick up the scoring pace?

In any case, Makar has established himself amongst the top defencemen for this year's draft and created a whole lot of buzz. TSN.CA LOADED: 12.13.2016

PP%: 17.0 PK%: 83.3

Key Injuries: None. 5.

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WASHINGTON CAPITALS 17-7-3

THIS WEEK: 4 LAST WEEK: 4

NEW YORK RANGERS 20-9-1

THIS WEEK: 5 LAST WEEK: 1 GF: 3.50 GA: 2.30 SA CF%: 47.8

TSN.CA / Penguins move to No. 1 in NHL Power Rankings

PP%: 22.6 PK%: 85.9

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 The Rangers have won three straight games, allowing a single goal over the cousee of those three games. More surprisingly, Antti Raanta has been the choice in goal for all three.

PP%: 23.6 PK%: 80.8

Key Injuries: C Mika Zibanejad (fibula), RW Pavel Buchnevich (back), LW Rick Nash (groin).

6-1-1 in the past eight games, the Ducks are making progress. They’re still working out the bottom half of the forward depth chart, rotating through bodies, but they’re getting goals from Ryan Kesler (12) and Rickard Rakell (11) and Corey Perry is starting to heat up.

Nino Niederreiter has nine points in the past 10 games.

Key Injuries: D Simon Despres (concussion).

6.

12.

MINNESOTA WILD 15-8-4

EDMONTON OILERS 15-11-5

THIS WEEK: 6 LAST WEEK: 9

THIS WEEK: 12 LAST WEEK: 7

GF: 2.74 GA: 2.00 SA CF%: 49.6

GF: 2.97 GA: 2.68 SA CF%: 52.3

PP%: 15.4 PK%: 83.8

PP%: 22.4 PK%: 84.8

The Wild aren’t controlling play, but have one regulation loss in the past 10 games. Thanks, Devan Dubnyk (.946 SV%)!

The Oilers needed Patrik Laine to bury a puck in his own net for the deciding goal in Sunday’s win against the Jets, ending a five-game streak without a regulation win.

Key Injuries: None. 7.

ST. LOUIS BLUES 16-9-4

THIS WEEK: 7 LAST WEEK: 10 GF: 2.69 GA: 2.69 SA CF%: 52.8 PP%: 21.0 PK%: 87.7 A 9-3-1 record in the past 13 games has the Blues moving up, though they are still on break-even terms when it comes to goals for and against. They could use better goaltending and more offence from players like Paul Stastny, Jori Lehtera and Patrik Berglund. Key Injuries: None. 8.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS 18-8-4

THIS WEEK: 8 LAST WEEK: 8 GF: 2.63 GA: 2.30 SA CF%: 50.1 PP%: 16.7 PK%: 72.7 Scott Darling has played well in goal in the absence of Corey Crawford, but the Blackhawks have all of three regulation wins in the past dozen games. It’s tough to Key Injuries: C Jonathan Toews (upper body), G Corey Crawford (appendix). 9.

SAN JOSE SHARKS 16-11-1

THIS WEEK: 9 LAST WEEK: 6

Key Injuries: D Brandon Davidson (lower body), D Darnell Nurse (ankle). 13.

LOS ANGELES KINGS 14-11-2

THIS WEEK: 13 LAST WEEK: 12 GF: 2.59 GA: 2.52 SA CF%: 53.1 PP%: 16.5 PK%: 81.1 The Kings only have two regulation loss in the past 10 games, but there is an area of concern: C Anze Kopitar has scored two goals in 22 games. Maybe this is his thing, though, because he had just seven points (5 G, 2 A) in his first 18 games last season too. Key Injuries: G Jonathan Quick (groin), D Brayden McNabb (arm). 14.

BOSTON BRUINS 15-12-2

THIS WEEK: 14 LAST WEEK: 11 GF: 2.31 GA: 2.38 SA CF%: 54.8 PP%: 13.9 PK%: 87.2 The Bruins have one regulation win in the past seven games and their scoring issues have prompted a line change, moving David Pastrnak to play with David Krejci, with David Backes taking his physical play to the wing with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. Key Injuries: LW Frank Vatrano (foot), D John-Michael Liles (upper body), LW Matt Beleskey (hip).

GF: 2.43 GA: 2.18 SA CF%: 52.9

Johnny Gaudreau has four straight multi-point games since returning from a broken finger.

PP%: 18.1 PK%: 81.4

15.

The Sharks are 7-3 in the past 10 games, and they’re generally pretty solid, but not getting the offensive production that their talent should warrant. Their leading scorer is defenceman Brent Burns, who has a dozen goals and 25 points.

THIS WEEK: 15 LAST WEEK: 22

Key Injuries: LW Tomas Hertl (knee).

8-1-1 in the past 10 games, the Flames are feeling better about their goaltending, with Chad Johnson posting a .932 save percentage, and with Johnny Gaudreau back in the lineup, they’re scoring more too.

10.

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS 8-10-3

CALGARY FLAMES 16-13-2

GF: 2.55 GA: 2.74 SA CF%: 49.3 PP%: 15.5 PK%: 78.8

THIS WEEK: 10 LAST WEEK: 14

Key Injuries: None.

GF: 3.16 GA: 2.97 SA CF%: 50.7

16.

PP%: 24.1 PK%: 81.7

THIS WEEK: 16 LAST WEEK: 15

Nine straight wins sends the Flyers climbing up the standings and Power Rankings. Amazing what some consistent goaltending can do for a team with above-average possession and a terrific power play.

GF: 2.31 GA: 2.69 SA CF%: 46.4

Key Injuries: G Michal Neuvirth (knee), C Sean Couturier (knee), RW Matt Read (oblique).

The Sens dropped three of four on the road and it’s possible that the bubble is bursting a bit on Mike Condon, who has been lit up in his past couple of starts as he tries to hold the goaltending fort in the absence of Craig Anderson.

Ryan Kesler has scored seven of his team-leading 12 goals on the power play. 11.

ANAHEIM DUCKS 15-9-5

THIS WEEK: 11 LAST WEEK: 16 GF: 2.76 GA: 2.55 SA CF%: 49.3

OTTAWA SENATORS 16-11-2

PP%: 16.3 PK%: 80.2

Key Injuries: LW Clarke MacArthur (concussion). 17.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS 12-11-4

THIS WEEK: 17 LAST WEEK: 13

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 GF: 2.89 GA: 2.81 SA CF%: 52.6

23.

PP%: 20.4 PK%: 81.6

THIS WEEK: 23 LAST WEEK: 24

The Predators have lost four of five, and while G Pekka Rinne has slumped a bit, they could use more production from their top-tier forwards. LW Filip Forsberg (2 G, 14 A in 27 GP) and Ryan Johansen (5 G, 13 A in 27 GP) need to be better.

GF: 2.28 GA: 2.66 SA CF%: 47.0

Key Injuries: D Ryan Ellis (upper body). 18.

FLORIDA PANTHERS 13-12-4

THIS WEEK: 18 LAST WEEK: 19 GF: 2.34 GA: 2.59 SA CF%: 52.7 PP%: 13.3 PK%: 84.6 A home date against Vancouver is just what the Panthers needed to earn their first regulation win under the new head coach. With Jonathan Marchessault injured, the current Panthers lineup is led in goals by C Vincent Trocheck and D Aaron Ekblad, who have seven. Oddly enough, Ekblad only has two assists. Key Injuries: LW Jonathan Huberdeau (Achilles), D Alex Petrovic (ankle), LW Jonathan Marchessault (lower body). 19.

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 14-13-2

DETROIT RED WINGS 13-12-4

PP%: 14.4 PK%: 84.9 The Wings aren’t overpowering, but they’ve also suffered only two regulation losses in the past 10 games. Veteran C Henrik Zetterberg has picked up his offensive game, putting up 16 points (6 G, 10 A) in the past 19 games. Key Injuries: C Darren Helm (shoulder), D Brendan Smith (knee), LW Justin Abdelkader (knee). 24.

WINNIPEG JETS 13-16-3

THIS WEEK: 24 LAST WEEK: 23 GF: 2.53 GA: 2.97 SA CF%: 48.1 PP%: 15.1 PK%: 77.6 One regulation win in the past seven leaves the Jets in a bad spot. In the Central Division, only Colorado has fewer points per game than the Jets. Key Injuries: D Tyler Myers (lower body), RW Joel Armia (lower body), C Nic Petan (lower body).

THIS WEEK: 19 LAST WEEK: 17

25.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS 11-11-5

GF: 2.72 GA: 2.76 SA CF%: 48.7

THIS WEEK: 25 LAST WEEK: 28

PP%: 22.3 PK%: 80.6

GF: 2.59 GA: 2.93 SA CF%: 45.5

The thinking was that the Tampa Bay Lightning would be able to get by just fine with Steven Stamkos injured, but they’re currently on an eightgame streak without a regulation win. Nikita Kucherov needs help.

PP%: 13.0 PK%: 83.0

Key Injuries: C Steven Stamkos (knee), RW Ryan Callahan (lower body).

5-1-1 in the past seven games, the Islanders are digging out of a hole, but they’re in a tough spot trying to climb in the Metropolitation Division, the league’s best.

20.

Key Injuries: C Mikhail Grabovski (concussion).

CAROLINA HURRICANES 11-11-6

THIS WEEK: 20 LAST WEEK: 21

26.

GF: 2.43 GA: 2.61 SA CF%: 53.0

THIS WEEK: 26 LAST WEEK: 25

PP%: 20.7 PK%: 92.1

GF: 2.50 GA: 3.20 SA CF%: 49.0

The Hurricanes are barely treading water, going 3-5-2 in the past 10 games, but they hit a crucial portion of the schedule with a five of six at home before the Christmas break. They need to be better than breakeven over those six games.

PP%: 17.1 PK%: 76.4

Key Injuries: C Jordan Staal (concussion).

DALLAS STARS 11-13-6

The Stars have two wins in the past eight games and while they have been massively disappointing to this point in the season, there is a chance to turn it around – eight of the next nine games are at home (and the road game is at Arizona after Christmas).

THIS WEEK: 21 LAST WEEK: 20

Key Injuries: LW Mattias Janmark (knee), RW Ales Hemsky (hip), RW Jiri Hudler (illness), D Julius Honka (upper body), LW Mattias Janmark (knee).

GF: 2.93 GA: 3.00 SA CF%: 51.1

27.

PP%: 18.3 PK%: 84.0

THIS WEEK: 27 LAST WEEK: 26

One win in the past five games puts the Leafs in a hole if they are still harbouring playoff hopes. It sure seems that some little things – backup goaltender, the fourth line and the continued deployment of veteran defencemen Matt Hunwick and Roman Polak – are areas that need to be fixed while the club tries to find another high-quality defender.

GF: 2.04 GA: 2.56 SA CF%: 48.3

21.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS 11-11-5

Key Injuries: LW Joffrey Lupul (sports hernia). 22.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS 12-10-6

THIS WEEK: 22 LAST WEEK: 18 GF: 2.39 GA: 2.89 SA CF%: 47.7 PP%: 15.4 PK%: 83.3 The Devils have one regulation win in the past 14 games, and were outscored 14-3 in the past three games. Possession numbers are falling and, aside from left wingers Taylor Hall, they’re not scoring. Key Injuries: None. Henrik Zetterberg is leading the Red Wings attack.

BUFFALO SABRES 10-11-6

PP%: 22.8 PK%: 74.2 The Sabres have gone four without a regulation win, and they’re still trying to generate offence. Even with an effective power play, they are the lowest-scoring team in the league, which means their 5-on-5 numbers aren’t good. Key Injuries: D Zach Bogosian (knee), LW Tyler Ennis (groin). 28.

VANCOUVER CANUCKS 12-15-2

THIS WEEK: 28 LAST WEEK: 27 GF: 2.21 GA: 2.93 SA CF%: 47.6 PP%: 13.8 PK%: 84.8 It’s tough to gain ground with one regulation win in the past six games and the top defence pairing on injured reserve. For all the loyalty that the organization is committing to the Sedins, are the 36-year-old twins still productive enough to warrant sacrificing future value to the franchise?

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 Key Injuries: D Chris Tanev (lower body), D Alexander Edler (hand).

PLAYER TEAM

POS

29.

Connor McDavid 39

Edmonton C

G

A

PTS

31

12

27

Vladimir Tarasenko St. Louis RW 32

29

14

18

Jakub Voracek 21

Philadelphia 32

RW

31

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Sidney Crosby 31

Pittsburgh C

22

20

11

Nikita Kucherov 17

Tampa Bay 30

RW

28

13

Evgeni Malkin 30

Pittsburgh C

28

12

18

Phil Kessel 30

Pittsburgh RW

28

9

21

PP%: 17.6 PK%: 79.2

Tyler Seguin 29

Dallas

30

10

19

The Avs split a four-game road trip, but the bottom is falling out – they were crushed 10-1 at Montreal Saturday and needed a miraculous 51save goaltending performance to win at Toronto Sunday.

Claude Giroux 20

Philadelphia 29

C

31

9

Key Injuries: D Erik Johnson (fibula).

Wayne Simmonds 13

Philadelphia 28

RW

31

15

Mark Scheifele 28

Winnipeg C

29

14

14

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Patrick Kane 28

Chicago

30

8

20

TSN.CA / Statistically Speaking: Pacioretty powers Habs

Sidney Crosby – Pittsburgh’s superstar centre scored two goals in Saturday’s 4-3 win at Tampa Bay, giving him a league-leading 20 goals in 22 games.

ARIZONA COYOTES 9-13-5

THIS WEEK: 29 LAST WEEK: 29 GF: 2.22 GA: 3.04 SA CF%: 44.2 PP%: 13.9 PK%: 80.9 Saturday’s win against Nashville snapped a six-game winless skid and it happened about the only way the Coyotes are going to win – with G Mike Smith standing on his head. They’re getting outplayed, badly, and adding centres Peter Holland (via trade) and Josh Jooris (via waivers) isn’t likely to change that in a tangible way. Key Injuries: C Brad Richardson (tiba/fibula), LW Max Domi (hand). 30.

COLORADO AVALANCHE 11-15-1

THIS WEEK: 30 LAST WEEK: 30 GF: 2.22 GA: 3.15 SA CF%: 45.2

TSN.CA LOADED: 12.13.2016

By Scott Cullen

Pacioretty powers the Habs; Schenn, Crosby, Hamilton, Raanta, Bobrovsky and more in Scott Cullen’s Statistically Speaking. Montreal Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty tallied four goals and added an assist in Saturday’s 10-1 rout over Colorado. He has 10 points (7 G, 3 A) in the past six games and, now that he has 24 points in 28 games, has a higher points per game (0.86) than any season in his career, except for 2012-2013, when he had 0.89 points per game. It was also acknowledged that Pacioretty played through a broken bone in his foot earlier in the season, so he also may be looking at more ice time the rest of the way. In fact, it’s already picked up. He averaged 17:33 per game through the first 19 games of the season, and is up to 19:23 per game since. In any case, it appears that any concerns about Pacioretty that might have existed earlier in the season no longer qualify as pressing issues now. #Habs Pacioretty explaining how Radulov has enabled him and Plekanec to form an effective line 2 games ago, using puck possession & cycling. pic.twitter.com/7ngisH1jIh — John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) December 12, 2016 HEROES Embedded Image Brayden Schenn is back Brayden Schenn – The Philadelphia forward, who is playing more centre with Sean Couturier injured, recorded a hat trick in Saturday’s 4-2 win over Dallas and scored the lone goal in Sunday’s 1-0 OT win at Detroit. He has six points (5 G, 1 A) in the past six games. Teammate Jakub Voracek put up a goal and three assists Saturday, his second straight four-point game, and is tied for second in the league with 32 points in 31 games. SCORING LEADERS

GP

C

RW

Dougie Hamilton – After putting up a couple of goals and an assist in Saturday’s 6-2 victory over Winnipeg, the Flames defenceman has 11 points (4 G, 7 A) in the past 12 games. Antti Raanta – The Rangers backup is starting to steal starts from Henrik Lundqvist. Raanta posted a 26-save shutout in Friday’s 1-0 overtime win at Chicago then stopped all 19 shots that he faced in Sunday’s 5-0 win over New Jersey. He has a .951 save percentage in his past 10 games. Sergei Bobrovsky – Columbus’ netminder stopped 32 of 33 shots in Friday’s 4-1 win at Detroit then turned away 28 of 30 in Saturday’s 6-2 win against the Islanders, giving him a .933 save percentage in his past 11 starts. ZEROES Blake Wheeler – Winnipeg’s captain was on the ice for three goals against (and none for) during 5-on-5 play in two weekend losses. Jamie Benn – Dallas’ star winger generated just one shot attempt and was on the wrong end of possession (19 for, 22 against, 46.3 CF%) in two games over the weekend. His per-game shot rate (2.27) is his lowest since his rookie season and he’s averaging 5:26 more ice time per game this season compared to his first year in 2009-2010. Francois Beauchemin – Colorado’s 36-year-old blueliner continues to play big minutes, but he was overwhelmed in a pair of games against Montreal and Toronto, on the ice for four goals against and dominated when it comes to shot differentials (21 for, 45 against, 31.8 CF%, 2-10 scoring chances). Brett Pesce – Carolina’s quality young defenceman had strong possession numbers (22 for, 11 against, 66.7 CF%) but was on the ice for three goals against in Saturdays’ 4-3 loss at San Jose. Mike Condon – In a pair of Senators losses in California, Condon allowed a total of seven goals on 32 shots (.781 SV%) in 80 minutes of play. That dropped his save percentage to .923 in 10 appearances. Cory Schneider – The Devils goaltender surrendered five goals on 31 shots in Sunday’s 5-0 loss at the Rangers. He has a .879 save percentage in his past nine starts, dropping his save percentage to .907 in 21 starts.

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 VITAL SIGNS Shayne Gostisbehere – Philadelphia’s puck-moving sophomore blueliner is out with a bone bruise on his hand, which allowed Michael Del Zotto, who has been a healthy scratch recently, to return to the lineup Sunday. Brent Seabrook – Chicago’s veteran defenceman remains out due to an upper-body injury suffered against Arizona last Tuesday. Michal Rozsival played in both Chicago games over the weekend as a result. Marc Methot – Ottawa’s veteran blueliner returned to action to play both games on the weekend after missing a couple of weeks with a lowerbody injury. Dmitry Kulikov – Returned to the Buffalo lineup Friday after missing a month with a back injury. Jonathan Ericsson – With a back injury sidelining the veteran Detroit defender, journeyman Brian Lashoff has been taking turns on the Red Wings blueline. Lashoff, 26, had three points (1 G, 2 A) and was minus-1 in 18 AHL games when he was called up. Seth Griffith – With Jonathan Marchessault injured, the Florida Panthers moved Seth Griffith onto the top line with Aleksander Barkov and Jaromir Jagr. Griffith had an assist and played 17:21 on Saturday, the secondhighest ice time of his career. Sven Baertschi – The Canucks winger was a healthy scratch for Sunday’s 3-0 loss at Washington. He had no points and three shots on goal in his previous three games, but had six points (3 G, 3 A) in five games before that. SHORT SHIFTS Cam Atkinson has been quietly productive in Columbus. Capitals RW T.J. Oshie had a goal and an assist in Friday’s 4-1 win at Buffalo; he has six points (3 G, 3 A) in his past fivegames…Capitals LW Marcus Johansson also had a goal and an assist at Buffalo, and has six points (3 G, 3 A) in his past five games…Capitals C Nicklas Backstrom chipped in a pair of assists at Buffalo and an assist Sunday against Vancouver, giving him 16 points (7 G, 9 A) in the past 13 games…Blues Jackets RW Cam Atkinson contributed a goal and an assist in Friday’s 41 win at Detroit and another goal and an assist in Saturday’s 6-2 win over the Islanders. He has 19 points (6 G, 13 A) in the past 14 games…Blue Jackets RW Sam Gagner also had a goal and an assist Friday and has seven points (3 G, 4 A) in the past six games…Blues RW Robby Fabbri scored a pair of goals in Friday’s 4-1 win at New Jersey and assisted on the Blues' only goal in Sunday's 3-1 loss at Minnesota; he has eight points (4 G, 4 A) in the past seven games…Blues RW Vladimir Tarasenko put up three helpers Friday and scored St. Louis' lone goal Sunday, and has 23 points (10 G, 13 A) in the past 18 games. The Penguins have an embarrassment of riches, including complemtary scorers Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel. Canadiens C Brian Flynn produced a couple of goals in Saturday’s 10-1 win vs. Colorado, his first goals of the season…Canadiens D Jeff Petry had a goal and an assist, snapping a nine-game point drought…Canadiens C Tomas Plekanec piled up four assists against the Avalanche, and has six points (1 G, 5 A) in the past three games…Canadiens RW Alexander Radulov contributed a goal and an assist, giving him 18 points (4 G, 14 A) in his past 18 games… Canadiens RW Andrew Shaw had a couple of assists against Colorado, and has eight points (3 G, 5 A) in the past eight games…Canadiens D Zach Redmond had two assists as well. He has three assists in his first two games this season…Kings RW Trevor Lewis produced a goal and an assist in Saturday’s 4-1 win against Ottawa. He has six points (3 G, 3 A) in the past seven games, after managing four points in the previous 20 games…Maple Leafs D Matt Hunwick had a pair of assists in Saturday’s 4-1 win at Boston; he had one assist in his previous nine games…Penguins C Evgeni Malkin scored two goals in Saturday’s 4-3 win at Tampa Bay, giving him 13 points (4 G, 9 A) in the past eight games…Penguins RW Phil Kessel added three assists, and has nine points (3 G, 6 A) in the past five games…Penuins D Kris Letang also contributed three helpers, giving him six assists in the past five games…Lightning LW Jonathan Drouin scored two goals in the loss, and has six points (3 G, 3 A) in the past four games…Panthers C Aleksander Barkov had a goal and an assist in Saturday’s 4-2 win against Vancouver. He has five points (3 G, 2 A) in the past four games…Panthers C Derek MacKenzie also had a goal and an assist, ending a 10-game point drought…Blue Jackets D Jack Johnson

produced a goal and an assist in Saturday’s 6-2 win over the Islanders, giving him four points (1 G, 3 A) in the past five games after he started the season with three points in the previous 21 games…Blue Jackets D Seth Jones also had a goal and an assist, and has five points (1 G, 4 A) in the past six games…Flames C Mikael Backlund contributed a goal and two assists in Saturday’s 6-2 win over Winnipeg, giving him five points (2 G, 3 A) in the past five games…Flames rookie LW Matthew Tkachuk chipped in three assists and has five assists in the past five games…Flames LW Johnny Gaudreau had a couple of assists against Winnipeg, his fourth straight two-point game since returning from injury…Sharks C Joe Thornton recorded a couple of assists in Saturday’s 4-3 win against Carolina; he has five assists in the past four games. Ducks RW Corey Perry and C Antoine Vermette both had a goal and an assist in Sunday’s 5-1 win vs. Ottawa. Perry has seven points (2 G, 5 A) during a five-game point streak, while Vermette managed one goal in his previous nine games…Capitals LW Alex Ovechkin picked up a goal and an assist in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Vancouver; he had no goals and one assist in his previous five games…Rangers LW Chris Kreider and C Brandon Pirri both contributed a goal and an assist in Sunday’s 5-0 win vs. New Jersey. Kreider has seven points (4 G, 3 A) in the past six games. Pirri snapped a 12-game point drought…Oilers C Mark Letestu scored twice in Sunday’s 3-2 victory over Winnipeg, giving him six points (4 G, 2 A) in the past seven games. Scott Darling is holding the fort in Corey Crawford's absence from the Chicago net. Capitals G Philip Grubauer stopped 27 of 28 shots in Friday’s 4-1 win at Buffalo; he has a .940 save percentage in six starts…Blackhawks G Scott Darling stopped 36 of 37 shots in the loss then stopped 23 of 24 shots in Sunday’s 3-1 win vs. Dallas, and has a .941 save percentage in his past nine games…Maple Leafs G Frederik Andersen turned away 32 of 33 shots in Saturday’s 4-1 win at Boston, and has a .935 save percentage in his past nine starts…Coyotes G Mike Smith had 44 saves on 45 shots in Saturday’s 4-1 win against Nashville. He has a .943 save percentage in his past eight starts…Wild G Devan Dubnyk continued his amazing campaign, stopping 25 of 27 shots in Friday’s 3-2 shootout win over Edmonton, then turning away 22 of 23 shots in Sunday’s 3-1 win against St. Louis. He has a .951 save percentage in his past 20 starts…It was a wild weekend for Avalanche G Semyon Varlamov, who allowed six goals on 16 shots in Saturday’s 10-1 loss at Montreal, then rebounded by stopping 51 of 52 shots in Sunday’s 3-1 win at Toronto. He has a .904 save percentage in 19 games. FIRSTS Anthony Stolarz – Philadelphia’s 22-year-old goaltender, a second-round pick in 2012, recorded a 28-save shutout in his second NHL start, a 1-0 OT win at Detroit on Saturday. Since the start of last season, he has a .918 save percentage in 55 AHL games. Antoine Bibeau – A sixth-round pick of the Maple Leafs in 2013, the 22year-old made his NHL debut, stopping 26 of 28 shots, in Sunday’s 3-1 loss to Colorado. He has a .911 save percentage in 84 career AHL games. Jakub Vrana – The 13th pick in the 2014 Draft scored his first NHL goal, in his fifth career game, Friday’s 4-1 win at Buffalo. Brendan Perlini – Arizona’s rookie winger, the 12th pick in the 2014 Draft, scored his first NHL goal, in his fourth game, Saturday’s 4-1 win vs. Nashville. Lukas Sedlak – Columbus’ rookie centre scored his first NHL goal, in his 23rd game, Friday’s 4-1 win at Detroit. He liked it so much, apparently, that he scored again Saturday against the Islanders. FANTASY FOCUS Players being added most, yet still available in more than half of TSN leagues: Provorov a rising star on the Philadelphia blueline. Justin Schultz – The Pittsburgh defenceman has eight points (3 G, 5 A) in the past six games, making the most of limited ice time. Owned: 28.5% Ian Cole – Schultz’s partner doesn’t have as much of an offensive track record, yet still has seven points (1 G, 6 A) in the past six games. Owned: 27.4%

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 Sam Gagner – Columbus’ bargain free agent signing from the summer has seven points (4 G, 3 A) in the past six games. Owned: 32.9%

this season with 32 points. The Flyers are second in goal scoring, thanks in no small part to Voracek’s rebound.

Conor Sheary – Pittsburgh’s second-year winger has six points (3 G, 3 A) in the past six games. Owned: 23.9%

He has 11 goals in 31 games, the same amount he scored in 73 games last season. At 27, he’s on a pace for a career-best 29 goals.

Ivan Provorov – Philadelphia’s rookie defenceman played a career-high 24:56 Sunday, and has five points (2 G, 3 A) in the past six games. Owned: 36.5%

USA TODAY LOADED: 12.13.2016

TSN.CA LOADED: 12.13.2016 Anaheim Ducks 1038222 Websites

Ducks defenseman Clayton Stoner (lower-body injury) is skating on his own but will be at least a week away from playing once he joins the team, Carlyle said.

USA TODAY / Five unsung NHL MVPs keying their teams' early success

Buffalo Sabres

Kevin Allen , USA TODAY Sports 3:26 p.m. EST December 12, 2016

Winger Kyle Okposo sat out practice Monday with the flu, but Dan Bylsma said it was likely that Okposo would be fine for Tuesday's game. That did, however, cost Okposo a second practice with new linemates Jack Eichel and Evander Kane, a switch Bylsma first unveiled Sunday in HarborCenter.

It would be challenging to argue that a single person has been more important to a team’s transformation this season than Carey Price has been to the Montreal Canadiens. Likewise, Connor McDavid’s importance to the Edmonton Oilers’ rise can’t be overstated. But here are people whose contributions to their team’s success are not gaining enough notice: Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (Columbus Blue Jackets): As much of a difference Zach Werenski is making as a puck-moving, top-pairing defenseman, Bobrovsky’s resurgence is the primary reason why the Blue Jackets have only lost five games in regulation. He might be playing sharper than he did in 2012-13 when he won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goalie. His 1.98 goals-against average and .932 save percentage are much improved over last season’s 2.75 and .908 marks. Coach Guy Boucher (Ottawa Senators): After posting 85 points last season, the Senators could be on their way to 100-plus points. They are 16-11-2 (34 points), good for second in the Atlantic Division. Knowing that he inherited a sneaky-good offensive team, Boucher has placed early emphasis on the team’s defensive play. Boucher has made the Senators more accountable on the defensive side; they are giving up 2.69 goals per game, an improvement over last season's 2.94. His fire and brimstone style keeps them on their toes. Boucher called out his team publicly Sunday after a 5-1 loss, saying the Senators were a “no-show,” according to the Ottawa Sun. Boucher's iron will be an important aspect of the Senators' game plan. Center Kevin Hayes (New York Rangers): Hayes is far more important to the Rangers now than he was a season ago. He has gone from a question mark to an indispensable player. He is averaging 16:34 per game, but has logged more than 18 minutes per game in three of the last five games. The 6-5 center kills penalties, plays on the power play and is tied for second on the team in points with 21. Last season he had 14 goals in 73 games and this year he already has 11 in 30 games. It’s clear that coach Alain Vigneault is more pleased with his level of play than he was a year ago. Goalie Chad Johnson (Calgary Flames): It’s not an overstatement to say that Johnson has saved the season in Calgary. With Brian Elliott not performing up to expectations and the team struggling, the Flames turned to Johnson. He has rallied them into a playoff spot, winning nine of his last 10 starts. Johnson has given up nine goals in his past five starts. His .932 save percentage is among the best in the NHL. This shouldn’t be viewed as total shock. When Johnson was signed last summer, he was viewed as a quality Plan B option. He was impressive for the Buffalo Sabres last season, posting a .920 save percentage. His career save percentage is .919. Winger Jakub Voracek (Phadelphia Flyers): After suffering a 26-point decline in production last season, Voracek is the Flyers’ leading scorer

Carolina Hurricanes Carolina Hurricanes coach Bill Peters took the ice Monday for practice, quickly breaking into a smile. On the ice was center Jordan Staal, dressed for practice. It was the first time Staal, sidelined since Nov. 28 with a concussion, had been able to skate with the team, and Peters later said Staal – if medically cleared – could play Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks at PNC Arena. Forward Elias Lindholm, out the past five games with a lower-body injury, was at practice Monday and on Staal’s right wing opposite Joakim Nordstrom. Forward Phil Di Giuseppe was reassigned Monday to the Charlotte Checkers, the Canes’ AHL affiliate. Ryan and forward Brock McGinn were called up from the Checkers on Nov. 11. Columbus Blue Jackets Captain Nick Foligno returned to practice on Monday after missing the past two games with a stomach disorder. Edmonton Oilers There are no good ways to get injured, just some ways that are harder to accept than others. And Oilers defenceman Brandon Davidson still believes the circumstances that cost him 30 games this season are the worst. He’s ready to go now, his shoulder injury and subsequent re-injury having finally healed, and could be back in the lineup as early as Tuesday against Columbus The news is worse than the Oilers feared regarding defenceman Darnell Nurse. The club announced Monday that the 21-year-old needed surgery to repair ligament and bone damage in his right ankle and will be out for three months. Minnesota Wild Wild LW Chris Stewart (maintenance) didn’t practice Monday but is probable, and coach Bruce Boudreau (illness) missed Monday’s practice as well. D Christian Folin (knee) is cleared to return and questionable. C Zac Dalpe (knee) is out. Panthers LW Jonathan Huberdeau (Achilles) and D Alex Petrovic (ankle) are out. C Jonathan Marchessault (lower body) might return. New York Islanders Johnny Boychuk, who left Saturday’s game late after blocking a shot with his right hand, practiced and said he felt fine. Judging by Capuano’s practice lines, Anthony Beauvillier will go back in and Alan Quine will be scratched on Tuesday. Jaroslav Halak appeared in line to make the start in goal.

CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • December 13, 2016 Ottawa Senators A major, make-or-break “neuro-psych” exam awaits Ottawa Senators left winger Clarke MacArthur in his concussion recovery. “I’ve never done this before,” MacArthur told Postmedia before the Senators returned home from their four-game road trip Monday. “It’s like a full-body (test), where you are doing physical tests, not just a pen and paper (concussion test). I will be active, wearing the workout gear. They will be judging reaction time, testing certain things. That will give me a full-body baseline, instead of just a ‘neuro’ baseline.” MacArthur, who suffered his fourth concussion in 18 months when hit by Senators prospect Patrick Sieloff in the club’s first intrasquad scrimmage at training camp in September, hasn’t played an NHL game since October, 2015. Philadelphia Flyers Mark Streit suffered an injury to his left shoulder in the third period of the Flyers' 1-0 overtime win in Detroit on Sunday, and after he was examined Monday, the Flyers announced he would miss two weeks. In the previous game, Shayne Gostisbehere injured his right hand in a 42 victory Saturday over Dallas. He sat out Sunday's win and is listed as day to day. San Jose Sharks The Sharks recalled defenseman Mirco Mueller from the Barracuda on Monday, ahead of their four-game road swing that begins on Tuesday.

The move likely means that at least one of the Sharks’ two injured defenseman won’t be able to play against the Maple Leafs, as Mueller will be the eighth rear guard on the roster. David Schlemko has missed the last three games with a right ankle injury, while Marc-Edouard Vlasic did not play in the second half of Saturday’s 4-3 win over Carolina with a lower body injury. Sharks coach Pete DeBoer told reporters on Sunday that Vlasic had improved since Saturday but was still “day-to-day.” Last season, the Sharks were 7-7-1 without their defensive stalwart in the lineup. Schlemko said on Thursday that he had hoped to play in one of the two Sharks games over the weekend, but that didn't happen. St Louis Blues D Carl Gunnarsson (lower body), questionable; D Robert Bortuzzo (lower body), out. NHL Daily Transactions Carolina Hurricanes Phillip Di Giuseppe AHL

Sent to minors, Charlotte-

Edmonton Oilers AHL

David Musil

Sent to minors, Bakersfield-

San Jose Sharks San Jose-AHL

Mirco Mueller

Called up from minors, from

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