News from Dagens-Hockey.se

NHL Playoffs 2012: Will the Extra Day Between Games Help Phoenix Coyotes?

Sat, 19 May 2012 17:20:06 +0200

As harrowing as a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven bout ought to be, the Phoenix Coyotes may be undertaking their task to take four straight do-or-die games in the least harrowing fashion.

The interlude between Games 3 and 4 of the Western Conference finals is the longest of the series, namely the only gap lasting more than two full calendar days. The former ended at 8:35 p.m. local time Thursday night and the latter is slated to commence shortly after noon local time on Sunday.

And the two games in question are both being hosted by the opposing Los Angeles Kings. This means there will be none of the 700-mile travel it takes to go to Glendale and back at any point in the 64-plus hours between Thursday’s final horn and Sunday’s faceoff.

In turn, the Coyotes should benefit from being consistently assembled as one under the roof of their Los Angeles hotel.

That just means more quantitative and qualitative time to sweep away the shards from Martin Hanzal’s suspension and other discipline-related unpleasantness stemming from the last two games. It means more time to reassess the man-for-man matchups that have so far worked in the Kings’ decisive favor for the first three installments of this series.

And it means more time for the Coyotes to soul search, and just enough time for them to recall how they catapulted themselves from a non-playoff spot to this stage in a matter of three months.

Coming out on top in a volatile four-way Pacific Division derby, Phoenix indubitably appreciates its feat and how challenging it will be to follow up on it next season. Both the Kings and the San Jose Sharks had their own lengthy lulls during the 2011-12 regular season, which contributed to their respective finishes at the very bottom of the playoff bracket.

This is not to say the Coyotes must operate under a one-and-done mentality. They have nine players age 30 or younger under contract through at least next season, none more vital than goaltender Mike Smith, whose breakout year was only recently put on hold as LA’s Jon Quick has outclassed him so far in this series.

And of those who are more seasoned and more mature, the likes of Shane Doan and Daymond Langkow will likely allow the success of this season to influence their decisions ahead of free agency in July.

Even so, Doan and Langkow will both be 36 and going on 18 NHL seasons by the next training camp. And this is the closest either man has come to even playing in a Stanley Cup Final, which still isn’t saying much when you consider they still need four wins to claim that passport.

If that notion in particular sinks in and solidifies, it will only be a surprise if the Coyotes are not beaming with healthy desperation by Sunday. What that will do, if anything, to push up a narrowly open window against an assertive Kings team is another story.

Read more NHL news on BleacherReport.com

Flames Coaching Contender: Mike Sullivan

Sat, 19 May 2012 07:50:07 +0200

In a column in Friday's Calgary Herald, the venerable George Johnson mentioned that the Flames have been rather mum about the coaching search, theorizing that they're waiting for the New York Rangers to be bounced from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The reasoning being that Rangers assistant coach Mike Sullivan It's not a bad theory.

Blast From the Past

If you're a Flames fan, you probably vaguely remember Mike Sullivan as one of the bright spots of some thoroughly mediocre teams of the mid-1990s. A very capable two-way player, Sullivan's work on the penalty kill was rather impressive ? topping off with three short-handed goals in 1996-97. On the whole, Sullivan was relied upon as a bottom-six defensive role player with varying results. Notably, he was a -42 with the 1992-93 San Jose Sharks. He played 709 games with San Jose, Calgary, Boston and Phoenix before retiring and becoming a coach.

While some players take some time to transition to coaching, Sullivan took to it rather quickly. He immediately became a head coach with the AHL's Providence Bruins, winning 41 games before being brought up to the NHL as an assistant late in the season. Somewhat surprisingly, he was made the head coach in Boston in his second year as a professional coach. It was probably too much, too soon, and he only coached the Bruins for two years (the years before and after the lock-out) before being turfed in the off-season.

Since then, Sullivan has seemingly been laying in wait for another opportunity at an NHL job. He was an assistant coach for a year in Tampa Bay, hired in part by now-Flames general manager Jay Feaster. Most recently, he's been an assistant for three seasons in Manhattan.

Way of the Future?

In a lot of ways, Mike Sullivan is similar to Troy Ward. Both are college educated. Both played hockey, although Sullivan played in the NHL. Both have been assistants in the NHL (Sullivan has been there more often and more recently). In addition, Sullivan has international experience as a player (the 1987 World Juniors) and an assistant coach (the 2006 Olympics).

He's also younger than Ward.

Hiring Sullivan would send a lot of the same messages to the players (and the league) that hiring Ward would, as well as having the added benefit of bringing in an established head coach with previous NHL experience.

If the Flames aren't actively considering Mike Sullivan as a contender for the head coaching gig, they probably should. He's been quite successful as a coach, even in a situation in Boston that probably wasn't ideal. That said, the New York Rangers likely know how good Sullivan is ? that's why they're employing him ? and it's yet to be seen if they're willing to let him head to another team, even if it is Calgary.

Three Stars of the Week Ending March 19, 2012

Sat, 19 May 2012 05:50:06 +0200

NEW YORK (March 19, 2012) ? Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford and Nashville Predators right wing Martin Erat have been named the NHL?s ?Three Stars? for the week ending March 18.

FIRST STAR ? ILYA BRYZGALOV, G, PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Bryzgalov posted a 3-0-1 record, 1.44 goals-against average, .950 save percentage and one shutout as the Flyers (42-22-8, 92 points) earned seven out of a possible eight points. He began the week by making 17 saves for his third consecutive shutout in a 3-0 win against the New Jersey Devils March 13. Bryzgalov extended his career-best shutout streak to 249:43, a Flyers franchise record, before allowing a goal with 6:30 remaining in a 3-2 victory at the New York Islanders March 15. He then made

31 saves in a 3-2 shootout loss at the Boston Bruins March 17 and 38 stops in a 3-2 come-from-behind victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins March 18.

The 31-year-old netminder has reached 30 wins for the third straight season and has a 2.49 goals-against average, .911 save percentage and six shutouts in 53 appearances.

SECOND STAR ? COREY CRAWFORD, G, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Crawford had a 3-0-0 record, 1.09 goals-against average and .948 save percentage as the Blackhawks (40-25-8, 88 points) improved to 7-1-1 in their last nine games. He stopped all 18 shots he faced in 45 minutes of relief and denied all three challengers in the shootout as Chicago earned a 4-3 come-from-behind victory against the St. Louis Blues March 13. Crawford then closed the week by making 21 saves in a 4-1 win at the Dallas Stars March 16 and 16 stops in a 5-2 victory against the Washington Capitals March 18. He improved to 25-16-5 with a 2.83 goals-against average and .902 save percentage in 49 appearances.

THIRD STAR ? MARTIN ERAT, RW, NASHVILLE PREDATORS
Erat led the League with seven points (two goals, five assists) in four games as the Predators (42-22-8, 92 points) leapfrogged the Detroit Red Wings for fourth place in the Western Conference. He recorded one goal and two assists in a 5-4 shootout win at the Phoenix Coyotes March 12 and collected one helper in a 2-1 shootout loss at the San Jose Sharks March 15. Erat then tallied a goal and an assist in a 4-2 defeat at the Los Angeles Kings March 17 before closing the week with an assist in a 3-1 victory at the Anaheim Ducks March 18. The Trebic, Czech Republic native leads Nashville with 38 assists and 56 points in 64 games, and is on pace to establish career highs in both categories.

World Championship Update

Fri, 18 May 2012 21:15:05 +0200

Sharks forward Michal Handzus scored the game-winning goal for Slovakia to eliminate Canada at the 2012 IIHF World Championship.

San Jose Sharks stacked with NCAA talent

Fri, 18 May 2012 20:40:09 +0200

The San Jose Sharks have good variety in their prospects group at the NCAA level but no prospects playing in Europe.

Los Angeles: Better Hockey Town Than San Jose?

Fri, 18 May 2012 19:45:05 +0200

If you’ve ever been to San Jose during playoff season you know how the team just DOMINATES the landscape of the city. I’m not just talking about on a gameday either. During the playoffs the city is littered with cars with flags on them, … [visit site to read more]

Los Angeles: Better Hockey Town Than San Jose? - Blades of Teal - Blades of Teal - A San Jose Sharks blog

WCF/ECF Summaries? Kings close to Stanley Cup Final; Rangers-Devils Tied thru Two Games

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:20:06 +0200

The NHL’s conference finals are well underway and it looks as if through three games of the Western Conference Finals, the LA Kings are a mortal lock to make their second Stanley Cup Final appearance in franchise history. Meanwhile in the Eastern Conference Finals, the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils have split the [...]

WCF/ECF Summaries… Kings close to Stanley Cup Final; Rangers-Devils Tied thru Two Games - Blades of Teal - Blades of Teal - A San Jose Sharks blog

2011-12 San Jose Sharks: Logan Couture Report Card

Fri, 18 May 2012 04:30:06 +0200

This offseason, I began an ambitious series examining each individual player to suit up for the San Jose Sharks in 2011-12.

However, I took a couple days to grade the playoff performance of each San Jose Sharks player. Last week, I took a tangent to examine the team's reported pursuit of Rick Nash.

So why not resume the series with the player the Columbus Blue Jackets were reportedly interested in getting in return at the trade deadline? Here is a look at how this last six-plus months have told us about the good, bad and ugly truth moving forward on Logan Couture...

Begin Slideshow

Great Playoff Saves: Evgeni Nabokov '08

Fri, 18 May 2012 03:15:04 +0200

A look back at some of the best playoff saves of all-time.

Coaching News: Kehler to Europe, McLellan Staying?

Fri, 18 May 2012 03:15:04 +0200

A couple of former members of the Bronco coaching staff are in the news. Multiple reports say former Swift Current Coach/GM Todd McLellan will remain behind bench for the San Jose Sharks. Sharks GM Doug Wilson won’t confirm those reports. … Continue reading →