NEWSLETTER
Ordinarily when there’s an exciting, overtime Stanley Cup playoff game last night that’s our lead topic of conversation. HOWEVER, we’re headed to Seattle to open the morning. Grab some coffee and enjoy some comments from Kevin Korchinski and watch Colton Dach and Nolan Allan skate a lap with the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL champions because the Thunderbirds clinched a berth in the Memorial Cup last night! Seattle won the game 3-1 with Allan picking up an assist on the first goal. On to the next!
- In the NHL, when regulation ended and the game was tied at three, I think there were a lot of NHL fans who were wondering how much longer Friday night’s game might go. After all, Thursday night’s game ended Friday morning thanks to almost four complete overtimes.
- Thankfully, Brett Howden ended this one 95 seconds into the first overtime and Vegas grabs a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference Final. William Karlsson scored the first two goals for the Golden Knights on their home ice and Teddy Blueger’s first of the postseason was their third. Jamie Benn tied the game for Dallas with 1:59 left in regulation, giving us all the sinking feeling that this might be another marathon.
- Tonight we get to watch whatever’s left of the Panthers and Canes try to compete in a Game 2. After playing one of the longest playoff games in the history of the NHL ending less than two days ago, I’ll be watching to see if there are any roster substitutions to get some fresh legs into the lineup for either side.
- Losing a 4OT game hurts deep, but even more when the L comes on home ice. Carolina really needs this one or they’re in serious trouble heading to Florida for Games 3 and 4.
- Today would have been Stan Mikita’s 83rd birthday. He still owns almost every major record in the history of the Chicago Blackhawks and, in my mind, remains the greatest to ever wear the sweater. Many players have come and gone with class and represented the organization well, but none better than Stosh. He was part of a golden era of Chicago hockey and one of the greatest players in NHL history.
- One of the most high profile jobs in the NHL is reportedly opening up this summer. Toronto has one year remaining on the contracts of both Auston Matthews and William Nylander and cap headaches to deal with this summer. Whomever takes over the job after Kyle Dubas has their work cut out for them big time. After another disappointing playoff dismissal, could a change in the front office lead to a change in the head coach’s office? And big changes on the roster?
- Based on what Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan said in his press conference on Friday, it appears Dubas played himself. Shanahan provided some details on the timeline behind the decision to move on from Dubas — and there’s a hard left turn late in the process. Shanahan said they talked about an extension after the Leafs lost to the Panthers, but Dubas’ comments when he met with the media changed everything. Oops!
- Not a shock here, but it’s still something significant. Logan Cooley was the third overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and had a stellar season for Minnesota. He could have turned pro. But he was drafted by the Arizona Coyotes, and considering the quality of the program he’ll be staying in and the turmoil surrounding the Coyotes right now this makes a lot of sense. One does have to wonder what Cooley’s NHL future is given we don’t know the future of the Coyotes in Arizona…
- Make that two familiar names on the final list for the Calgary Flames general manager job. According to this report from Frank Seravalli, Stan Bowman and Marc Bergevin are among the finalists for the job and an announcement could come as soon as this coming week.
- Finally, Christopher Morel did the thing again last night. ยกAdiรยณs pelota!
