On Sunday night, the Stars will take on the Canucks. The Canucks are struggling in virtually every aspect of the game except the penalty kill. Dallas needs to not look past its opponent and think that it will be an easy win. They need to come out with a high energy level from the beginning of the game and get the first goal. If they can manage to get the first goal then the Stars will need to keep pushing the pace, playing in the offensive zone and scoring goals. Dallas will need to play a good 60-minute road game and take care of the puck if they want to come out with a win.
The Canucks have a good opportunity to get the weak power play going since Dallas doesn’t have the strongest penalty kill. The team needs to get shots to the net since Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi have both given up some goals this year. The Stars decided to split up the top line of Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Brett Ritchie because of all the injuries that have been sustained, and they are looking for a more balanced attack. The Canucks need to avoid turnovers and mental mistakes because Dallas will take advantage of those errors.
On Tuesday night, the Stars return to the American Airlines Center for the start of a four-game home stand. The team will take on the New Jersey Devils, who have been playing good hockey of late. Dallas will need to get some traffic in front of the goaltenders because if they can see the puck then the save will most likely be made. If the Stars can manage to get the lead then they’ll want to keep pushing the pace and not sit back since the Devils have some come-from-behind wins. If the home team can stop New Jersey’s top line of Taylor Hall, Travis Zajac and P.A. Parenteau then they should have a good chance at winning the game since they are really the only line producing right now.
New Jersey will need to take advantage when they are on the man advantage since the Stars have had trouble killing penalties. If the Devils should get down then they need to keep battling since Dallas will give up some goals. New Jersey needs to avoid the turnovers in the neutral zone and offensive zone.
On Thursday night, the Stars and Avalanche face off in a divisional matchup. Dallas needs to come out with some energy and not look past a struggling Avalanche team. They will need to stay out of the penalty box because despite its record, the Avalanche still have a decent power play. It would help if Dallas could get the first goal since Colorado isn’t a good team when playing from behind. The Stars need to take advantage of a team that is struggling in all aspects of the game.
The Avs need to get the puck to the net since Lehtonen and Niemi will allow some soft goals. Colorado needs to make Dallas turn the puck over and then take advantage of those turnovers. Semyon Varlamov and Calvin Pickard will need to be on alert because despite all the injuries Dallas has some players that can put the puck into the net.
The Stars close out a week with a visit from Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers started the season off hot, but have come back to reality a little bit since. The key to beating the Oilers is shutting down McDavid and the first line of Edmonton. Dallas will need to stay out of the penalty box since the Oilers have a decent power play. They’ll have to beat the Oilers at even strength since Edmonton has great special teams stats. Dallas will need to get traffic in front of Cam Talbot or Jonas Gustavsson to make life difficult for the goalies.
The Oilers will need to keep Benn and Seguin in-check if they want to have a shot at winning the game. They’ll need to take advantage when on the power play since Dallas has a weak penalty kill. Edmonton needs to use its speed through the neutral zone to create odd man rushes and chances in transition. The Oilers will also need to get some pucks to the net and get the forecheck game established to have extended time in the offensive zone.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the youngest teams in the NHL and that may be one of the reasons that they are off to a 5-5-3 start to the season.
The team has had its up and downs this season, but there are four rookies that have stood out in the 13 games played so far this year. Those rookies include two 19-year-olds, a 20-year-old and a 24-year-old free agent signing in the offseason. Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and Nikita Zaitsev have been producing in the offensive zone for most of the young season.
Matthews, the highly touted 1st overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, started his career off with scoring four goals in his first NHL game against the Ottawa Senators on October 12. He went on to register a total of 10 points in his first six games. The forward also scored multiple points in three of those six games. Matthews registered his first multi-assist game on October 22 against the Chicago Blackhawks, and then went out and scored another goal and added an assist on October 25 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has cooled off since the hot start and only has one assist and zero goals in his last seven games played. Even during his rough stretch of late, he has been getting his shots and chances, but he just can’t find the back of the net.
Matthews has six goals, five assists and 11 points on the season. His 11 points rank third among rookies, and his six goals are second among the rookies. The forward’s four power play points are fourth among rookies in scoring and his 54 shots lead the way for the rookies this year. He is tied for first on the Leafs with six goals, and his 11 points are second on Toronto. His one power play goal is tied for third on the team, and his four power play points are tied for second on Toronto.
William Nylander played some with Toronto at times last season, and earned his spot with the big club. The winger’s line mates are fellow rookies, Zach Hyman and Matthews. Nylander has been a consistent offensive threat for a majority of the young season. He has only been kept off the score sheet in five of the 13 games that Toronto has played, and his longest pointless streak of the year is two games. He has four multiple point games including opening night against the Senators, where he had two assists. The other three multi-point games came against the Winnipeg Jets, the Blackhawks and the Lightning.
He has four goals, eight assists and 12 points in 13 games this season. His 12 points rank second among all rookies and his four goals are fourth. The eight assists rank second among this year’s rookies, while his three power play goals and seven assists are second among the rookie class. Nylander’s four goals are fourth on the Maple Leafs, while his eight assists rank first. He leads the Leafs with 12 points, three power play goals and seven power play points. Nylander has shown that he can be a playmaker, but also put the puck in the net when needed.
Mitch Marner made the team after having a good training camp and preseason. He had three total points in his first five games, but has seven points in his last eight games. In the last eight games played, Marner has three multiple point games including a three assist game against the Florida Panthers. He also had his first multi-goal game on November 3 against the Buffalo Sabres. Marner has been kept off the score sheet in seven of the 13 games, but the effort is usually there even if he isn’t producing.
The forward has four goals, six assists and 10 points on the season. His four goals are fifth on the Leafs, and his six assists are second. Marner’s 10 points are third on the team and his three game-winning goals are leading the way for the Maple Leafs. Marner ranks 6th among rookies with 10 points, and his four goals are fifth. The forward’s six assists are ranked fourth among rookies, and the three game-winning goals are first among the rookie class this year.
Nikita Zaitsev was a free agent signing in the offsesaon, and the signing seems to be paying off so far. Zaitsev is the oldest of the four rookies at 24-years-old, who can move the puck. He is second among the Leafs’ defenseman in points (6), and is tied for first among defensemen with six assists. He had a point in the first five of his seven games played, but only has one point in his last six games.
The kids basically carried the Leafs for the first couple of weeks of the season until the veterans could get their games going. The kids will learn-on-the-go this year and will have to battle through some scoreless droughts, but this team has a bright future.
Military Appreciate night is always an emotionally charged game for the home team. Possibly there is also a little added pressure on that team to get the win to show added appreciation to the military in attendance.
Ceremonial puck drop by Staff Sgt. Ryan Pitts
The Boston Bruins have certainly had their fair share of home ice struggles. As the puck dropped for their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, it looked like the Bruins had certainly come to play. Brad Marchand got the puck on his stick off a Zach Werenski turnover and fired it on net for netminder Sergei Bobrovsky to have to deny. At the other end on only their second shot on goal, Columbus would get on the board first—a scene all too familiar at TD Garden.
However, just a little over six minutes later, Torey Krug, with the one-timer from the blue line, would get his first goal of the season and tie the game. Building off the solid penalty kill from Matt Beleskey’s hooking call, the Bruins worked along the outside, David Krejci playing catch with Krug who would beat Bobrovsky on the blocker side.
Matt Beleskey and Sergei Bobrovsky
Just 1:08 later, Beleskey would get the go ahead goal, also his first of the season—something he’s admitted to wanting to get the monkey off his back—while recalled Austin Czarnik got the assist. Two and a half minutes later Czarnik put the Bruins up 3-1 and then on their ninth shot on goal, Tim Schaller would put the puck in the back of the net again. Just 12:48 into the game the Bruins were up by three goals and Bobrovsky would view the rest of the game from the bench. Curtis McElhinney came in and allowed only one more goal on the 23 shots he saw.
It was clear that Krug’s goal and the strong response after getting behind so quickly set the tone for the remainder of the match.
“Well Boston is a good team. They get a lead like that, they are still not going to take a bunch of chances and get the game wide open,” Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella said after the game. “They are going to check. So when you get down so early, and quite honestly, other than Zach’s [Werenski] turnover the first shift, the first few minutes of the game, we looked like we were ready to play. But then we just self-inflicted wounds and Boston locks it down and they are not going to take a bunch of chances with that type of lead.”
Perhaps what was also clear was the confidence the Bruins brought back from their game in Montreal on Tuesday. Despite the loss on the score sheet, the play on the ice in that game in front of emergency call up Zane McIntyre spoke to a different mindset.
Beleskey and Bruins celebrate goal
“I think lately, we’ve trusted that game that we’ve built and had success on the road,” said David Backes. “I think the game in Montreal we had 43 shots on the second night of a back-to-back with travel against a really good team and I think that really instilled a belief in us that if we play that game, we’re going to tilt the scales in our favor. That mindset did it tonight—they scored the first one, we had a great reaction to it, get a couple quick ones and don’t look back after that.”
When the final buzzer sounded the score was 5-2. That second goal for Columbus, while attributed to Sam Gagner was actually the result of a misplay by Colin Miller that resulted in the puck getting under Tuukka Rask’s pad and going in. It is surely something that Miller would definitely like to forget. Post game Rask chuckled and inferred that because it wasn’t a game changer there was no harm, no foul as far as he was concerned.
Another area in which the Bruins have been laboring the past couple of games is in the faceoff circle. Even Patrice Bergeron has not been his usual over 50 percent. Thursday night the Bruins dominated in the circle: Bergeron 10 for 14 (71%), Dominic Moore 13 for 16 (81%), Krejci 6 for 11 (55%), and Riley Nash 5 for 9 (56%). When a team can win so consistently on the draw, they can certainly capitalize. And what makes this all the more impressive is that the Blue Jackets are not a team that the Bruins see repeatedly throughout the regular season. Coupling that with the nine players who had at least one point in the game speaks to a level of balanced play that had not yet been exhibited by the Bruins.
This is an excellent energy level for Boston to be on as they head out for a three-game road trip into next week before returning to TD Garden on Saturday, November 19 to host the Winnipeg Jets. There are still some areas in which the Bruins need to get stronger, themselves having ten giveaways on Thursday, but their confidence is at a much better level going into the first on the road against the Arizona Coyotes this Saturday night.
Perhaps Marian Hossa‘s gold stick came with magical powers. Since hitting his 500th goal (coincidentally his first of the season) Oct. 18, he’s scored six goals, tallied two assists, and contributed to a seven-game win streak for the 10-3-1 Blackhawks.
It could be the stick. Then again, there could be power in a nose-honk from cute daughters like Zoja.
Most recently, Hossa struck first Wednesday against the St. Louis Blues in a 2-1 overtime win, special thanks to Artemi Panarin‘s Gordie Howe hat trick.
Just prior was an overtime game-winner Sunday night, launching the Hawks 4-3 over Dallas Stars. With just 28.7 seconds left in OT, Hossa fired a slapshot from the high slot past goalie Kari Lehtonen, earning victory and his 1,100th point with the league. It came with the help of a screen from Artem Anisimov, who has had a hot stick of his own this season with eight goals and nine assists in 13 games earning the second star of the week Oct. 23.
But the first, Goal 500, came against the Flyers Oct. 19. It came in his 18th season after ending last year just one literal goal and one figurative–another Stanley Cup ring–short.
It was part of a 7-4 Blackhawks victory that, despite a loss to Columbus Oct. 21 and an overtime loss in Calgary Oct. 24, sparked a chain of wins.
On Oct. 22, Chicago beat Toronto 5-4 in the shootout after Richard Panik (six goals and four assists in 13 games this season) tied the game in the third. Captain Jonathan Toews and winger Artemi Panarin finished the game in the shootout.
Hossa tallied the game-tying goal on the power play at the end of the third in what would be an overtime win Oct. 28 in New Jersey. Anisimov scored the game-winner with 3:45 left in overtime for the 3-2 victory. Panarin, of course, had the other Chicago goal.
Two days later, at home, Corey Crawford recorded his first shutout of the season with a 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Toews, Anisimov, and Hossa scored while Crawford made 32 saves.
Anisimov continued a streak of his own in a 5-1 victory over the Flames Nov. 1. He had one goal, one assist. Winger Patrick Kane had three points (one goal, two assists), while rookie Tyler Motte had one goal, as did Panarin and Niklas Hjalmarsson.
Hossa tallied two goals, one in the first and one in the third, in a 4-0 shutout over the Avalanche Nov. 3. Toews and Panarin also scored.
Hossa, Panarin, Toews, and Anisimov have been solid in recent weeks.
Coach Joel Quenneville has been especially grateful for the veteran.
“It’s a tremendous accomplishment, tremendous career,” he said. “The best part of his game is the consistency of being a pro night in, night out, being responsible both sides of the puck, plays hard every single game.”
Hossa was drafted 12th by the Ottawa Senators in 1997. He joined the Blackhawks after losing the Stanley Cup in 2009. He’s since won three. After his 500th goal, he told the media:
“I never thought I would one day play 1,000 games or reach 500 goals or get tHe has 328 goals at even-strength, 139 on the power play and 33 shorthanded,o 1,000 points. That was something I never thought about. If somebody would tell me that, I would say, ‘Yeah, right. You’re crazy.'”
Hossa ranks 39th of 44 players in the time it’s taken to score 500. He has 328 goals at even-strength, 139 on the power play and 33 shorthanded.
Next, the Washington Capitals visit the Blackhawks Nov. 11 for the annual Veterans Day game–players will wear special warmup jerseys to honor the military.
The Boston Bruins were back at it on home ice Monday night against the Buffalo Sabres. After a disappointing outing against the New York Rangers on Saturday, it was beginning to look like the Bruins home-ice struggles would continue. Going into Monday night’s game they were 1-3-0 at home and 5-2-0 on the road.
Dominic Moore
Despite being dominated in the faceoff dot throughout the first period, having only won 25% of their faceoffs, and taking a couple of penalties, the Bruins managed to keep from being dramatically outshot and went into the first intermission scoreless. This was in large part due to some crafty saves by Tuukka Rask, who looked sharp from the first puck drop.
While the Bruins looked better, the first period really didn’t have anything special and looked eerily like many of their other home games; that is until they came out for the second. The middle frame has been a struggle for the team to date, but not Monday night.
Sabres Ryan O’Reilly found himself in the box for the second time of the night, this time for a high stick. The Bruins power play, that had looked coordinated on their first opportunity on the night during the first period, appeared to be a little less organized. However, the dogged determination of Brad Marchand resulted in the Bruins getting on the board first. And it appeared that that first goal set the tone for the Black and Gold for the remainder of the game.
“I’m looking at my two penalties and I’m looking at where they were in the game and where they were on the ice—it’s pointless,” said O’Reilly after the game. “I have to be more aware of my stick and staying out of the box is huge. You can’t give their best players more time with the puck and as you see, they put it in.”
The Bruins would actually put it in two additional times during the second period, adding another power play goal, the first goal of the season for David Krejci after the Sabres were called for two double minors in the space of a minute and a half. Riley Nash would get an unassisted even-strength goal, that actually deflected off a Sabre stick and then the skate of the Sabres defenseman who was trying to move Matt Beleskey out of the crease area.
While they were scoring goals, they continued to be outmaneuvered in the faceoff circle, though unlike other games, they were not chasing after the puck, instead managing to get it back quickly.
“They’re a good faceoff team,” explained Sabres Brian Gionta. “They’re a team that battles hard around that dot and they have guys that can take big draws, so we have to do a little more of a group effort around that circle.”
The Bruins may also want to apply that same battle around the circle as they go into Montreal, where they will play on Tuesday night. Of course, the Canadiens have been dealing with their own puck luck struggles and trials getting shots on goal. However, for the Sabres, Monday night was a parade to the penalty box coupled with an inability to solve Rask.
Ryan O’Reilly
“Yeah, it’s definitely not the game we wanted. I guess scoring goals has been an issue for us as of late, and again tonight,” O’Reilly shared. “You know, we need to get on the board early. It changes the momentum. It gives us some energy and you know what, it’s on myself. It’s got to start with me. I’ve been struggling the last few games and I got to find a way to put the puck in the net. Even the power play struggled and it’s something we have to step up on.”
Meanwhile, though the Bruins got the win, and Rask the shutout, with the final score 4-0, their play has been anything but consistent this season. Head Coach Claude Julien put responsibility on the guys on the power play to step up, which they did, but the team as a whole needs to step up, especially on Tuesday night. Though usually better on the road, their streaky play is still a concern.
“Yeah, we’ve definitely been streaky. Right now, we need to be consistent. It starts again tomorrow night,” Bruins Tim Schaller said. “Two points there would be big. But right now, it’s the biggest game of the season coming up tomorrow. So hopefully we can come out with two points.”
The Buffalo Sabres will face off against the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night in an Atlantic Division matchup. It will be the second time in five days that the teams play each other.
Here are five keys to the game:
1.) ERIK KARLSSON- SABRES
Erik Karlsson
The Sabres will need to be aware when defenseman Erik Karlsson is on the ice. He can act as a fourth forward on the ice, and will join in the play on the offensive side of the puck. Karlsson isn’t afraid to shoot the puck, nor is he afraid to lead a rush up the ice. The defenseman can also dish out the puck and set up his teammates. Karlsson is among the leaders on the Senators in assists and points.
2.) PUCK MOVEMENT- SABRES
The Sens will get in the way of the puck and block shots. They will get their sticks and bodies in the lanes and make it difficult to get pucks through to the goalies. The Sabres will need to have quick puck movement and pick their spots of when to shoot. Another way that the Sabres can erase the shot blocking of the Senators would be to use their speed through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone.
3.) GET THE POWER PLAY GOING- SENATORS
Robin Lehner
Ottawa hasn’t exactly been the best on converting on the power play early in the season. They will need to take advantage of its power play chances and score some goals. The Sabres do have a decent penalty kill, but they will give up goals. The Senators will need to get pucks through to the net with traffic in front for some deflections since Robin Lehner has been playing well lately.
4.) GET THE FIRST GOAL- SENATORS
The Senators are a much better team when playing with the lead then trying to come from behind so they need to get the first goal. If Ottawa can manage to get the first goal of the game then they can take the home crowd out of the game, and maybe build on its lead. If the Senators can have the lead going into the third period then they have a good chance of winning the game.
5.) GOALTENDING- SABRES & SENATORS
The goalies will play a big part in the outcome of the game. If the Sabres’ starting goalie can make the saves that need to be made and make some highlight reel saves then they should be able to win the game. If the Senators’ starting goalie can make saves and not give up many rebound chances then the Sens have a decent shot at winning the game. The Sens and Sabres will both need to get traffic in front of the net for deflections and screens.
The Dallas Stars will have a chance to be road warriors this week. They have four games and they are all on the road.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Stars will face the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday, then travel to Winnipeg to take on the Jets on Tuesday, facing off against the Calgary Flames on Thursday night and finally they will end the week on Friday night in Edmonton taking on the Oilers.
On Sunday night they will finish up a home-and-home series with the Blackhawks. Dallas will need to find a way to get its power play going since the Hawks have one of the worst penalty killing units in the League. The Stars will also need to stay out of the penalty box because the Chicago power play can be dangerous with the likes of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin to name a few players. Dallas needs to get the first goal of the game to take the Chicago crowd out of the game and they do have a good record when scoring first. The Stars will also need to make the bottom six forwards of the Blackhawks beat them since Chicago is a two line team.
The Blackhawks need to convert on some of its power play chances since the Stars haven’t been at its best while killing penalties. If the Hawks manage to get down in the game then they need to keep battling because the Stars goalies will allow some goals. The point producers for Dallas are the duo of Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn so the Hawks need to find a way to keep them off the board. If Chicago can manage to get in behind the Dallas defense and force them to turnover pucks in its own zone then they’ll have a good chance at winning the game.
Winnipeg Jets
On Tuesday night, the Stars visit the Jets. Dallas will need to get the first goal of the game to take the crowd out of the game. The Stars also need to take advantage of a lineup that is missing some key players due to injury. They will need to take care of the puck while on the man advantage since Winnipeg does have a couple of shorthanded goals. If the Stars can manage to get the lead then they’ll need to make sure that they don’t sit back because the Jets have some come-from-behind wins this year. The last key for the Stars to get the win is to keep these four guys in-check since they are the Jets’ top scorers: Nikolaj Ehlers, Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine.
The Jets need to have a decent game at even strength and make the Stars beat them while on the power play, since they are struggling in that department right now. Winnipeg needs to get pucks to the net and put pressure on the defense to force those turnovers especially in its own zone. The team will need to get off to a better start and play a full 60-minute game if they want to beat the Stars.
Calgary Flames
The Stars visit the Flames on Thursday night. Dallas needs to take advantage while on the power play since the Flames special teams aren’t very good, even though the Flames do have some shorthanded goals. They’ll need to get pucks towards the net since Calgary is giving up too many goals against this season. The defensemen need to be aware because the Flames do have a physical edge to their game, and the Stars will also need to move the puck quickly since Calgary isn’t afraid to block some shots.
The Flames need to stay out of the penalty box since they don’t have a great penalty kill. The goalies need to stay on top of their game and not allow too many goals, especially soft goals. The Flames will need to use its speed to beat the Stars to loose pucks. Calgary also should use its speed to cancel icings, get behind the Dallas defense and in transition to force some odd man rushes.
Edmonton Oilers
On Friday night, the Stars take on the Oilers and Connor McDavid. Dallas will need to keep McDavid off the board and have someone shadow him so he doesn’t have time or space to create. They’ll need to get traffic in front of the Edmonton net for deflections and screens. They need to be aggressive on the penalty kill since the Oilers have allowed a few shorthanded goals against. They will also need to figure out a way to play a solid road game since the Oilers have a balanced lineup that can produce.
The Oilers have the special teams advantage and need to be good to beat the Stars. Edmonton needs to get the puck on net since the Dallas goalies tend to give up some goals. If they bring their physical game then the Oilers can force turnovers on the Dallas defense and that could lead to some scoring chances in the offensive zone for the Oilers. The Oilers need to watch out for the Dallas defense since they can put up some numbers in the offensive zone.
If the Toronto Maple Leafs were to have a Rookie of the Month most people would have thought it would be Auston Matthews, the first overall pick of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, but they would have been wrong.
William Nylander, Matthews’ teammate & linemate, was named the Rookie of the Month for October. Nylander beat out Matthews (6-4-10 in 10 games played), Winnipeg right wing Patrik Laine (6-2-8 in 9 games played), Philadelphia left wing Travis Konecny (1-6-7 in 10 games played), and Rangers left wing Jimmy Vesey (5-1-6 in 9 games played).
Nylander led all rookies with seven goals and 11 points in nine games played in the month of October. He has at least one point in seven of his nine games played this year. In his nine games so far, Nylander has scored more than one point in four of them. On October 22 against the Chicago Blackhawks he had his first multi-goal game. His first multipoint game of the season came on opening night on October 12 against the Ottawa Senators, where he registered two assists. Then on October 19 at Winnipeg, Nylander added another goal and assist to his point total. Finally his latest multipoint game came on October 25 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he added another goal and assist to his resume. In the two games where Nylander has zero points, the Leafs have won the game. In his four multipoint games, Toronto has four loses.
Nylander’s seven power play points lead the League, not just the rookies. He was second among rookies with three power play goals and 31 shots on goal. The rookie’s four goals were tied for second on the Maple Leafs with James Van Riemsdyk. His seven assists ranked first on the team, and he had the most points on the team with 11 during the month of October. Nylander’s three power play goals led Toronto along with his seven power play points. He was also second on the team with 31 shots on goal.
This shouldn’t be the first time this season that a Leafs rookie wins the honors.
The big story leading into the game is the matchup of the 2015 1st overall pick, Connor McDavid going up against Auston Matthews, the first overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft. McDavid has 12 points to pace the NHL so far and Matthews has lived to his expectations in the first nine games of his NHL career. This is the first meeting of the season between the two players.
Here are five keys to the game:
1.) Keep Connor McDavid In-Check- Maple Leafs
If the Leafs even want to have a chance at winning this game then they are going to have to bring its A game, especially the defense. The line that matches up against the McDavid line will have to make sure that they have him covered at all times, and even may want to be physical. The defensive pairing is going to want to stick to him like glue and not allow him much time or space to create anything. If he has that time and space then look out because it could be a long night for the Leafs. Another good way to keep McDavid off the board is to play in the offensive zone while he’s on the ice.
2.) Get the Lead, Keep the Lead- Maple Leafs
Toronto has had some trouble keep the leads and part of that has been the defense, but some of it has been on the goaltending. The Leafs need to be better defensively and play team defense. The forwards need to support the defense and the defense needs to be careful with the puck. They’ll also need to avoid turnovers especially in its own zone and the neutral zone. The Leafs need to get off to a fast start and keep the pressure on the Oilers with a decent forecheck game so the team has a chance at winning this game.
3.) Contain Auston Matthews & William Nylander- Oilers
Auston Matthews and William Nylander have lead the Leafs in the scoring production this year so far. The duo has combined for 21 total points. Nylander has 11 points with Matthews right behind him with 10. Matthews is the goal scorer and Nylander is the setup man, but Nylander does have four goals on the season. Another way to keep these two off the board is to stay out of the box because 11 of their 21 points have come while on the man advantage. Generally, as Nylander and Matthews go, the Leafs offense goes.
4.) Power Play- Edmonton
The one weakness of the Oilers early going has been its power play. In 27 power play opportunities, the Oilers have only four power play goals. Edmonton has given up two shorthanded goals against. They are operating at a 14.8% while on the man advantage. Toronto have allowed six power play goals against while being shorthanded 30 times. The Oilers need to take advantage of its power play opportunities especially since the Leafs allow some goals.
5.) Goaltenders- Toronto & Edmonton
Cam Talbot has a record of 7-2-0 with a 2.05 goals against average and a .936 save percentage. Talbot has faced 280 shots and only allowing 18 goals against.Talbot also has two shutouts on the season too. Frederik Andersen has struggled to start the season after signing a new five-year deal to become the Leafs number one goalie in the offseason. In his last five games played, Andersen has allowed four or more goals three times. He has been better in his last two starts and has only allowed two goals in each of those games. The goalies could turn out being the difference in the game.
BOSTON, MA – Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney announced today, October 26, that the team has recalled forward Austin Czarnik from Providence (American Hockey League). Czarnik is expected to join the team for their pregame skate and be available for their game at N.Y. Rangers on Wednesday, October 26, at 8 p.m.
Sweeney also announced the following update on forward David Backes:
“David Backes underwent the removal of the olecranon bursa from his elbow on Monday, October 24. His condition will be updated after the weekend.”
Austin Czarnik and Matt Grzelcyk
Austin Czarnik has skated in two games with Boston in 2016-17 – his first two career NHL games – and recorded two penalty minutes. He has also skated in two games with Providence this season, posting one goal and two assists for three points.
He appeared in 68 games with Providence in 2015-16, tallying 20 goals and 41 assists for 61 points with a plus-17 rating. The 5-foot-9, 167-pound forward ranked 7th in the AHL in points and 11th in assists in his rookie season with the P-Bruins.
Prior to joining Providence, Czarnik finished up his senior season at Miami University (Ohio) in 2014-15, appearing in 40 games while registering nine goals (tied for fifth on the team) and 36 assists (led the team) for 45 points (led the team) with a plus-five rating. The forward led the Redhawks the previous three seasons (2012-14) in both assists and points.
At the collegiate level with the Redhawks, the 23-year-old competed in 159 games and racked up 46 goals and 123 assists for 169 points (1.06 points per game average). Czarnik was named a Hobey Baker finalist in 2012-13 and served as team captain for his junior and senior campaigns.
The Washington, Michigan native signed an entry-level contract with the Bruins on April 1, 2015.
TRANSACTION: Boston Bruins recall forward Austin Czarnik from Providence.
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