Around these parts, we’ll do our best to give you everything you need to know about the Columbus Blue Jackets. We’ll also fill you in on the stories you may not have heard about (or those you didn’t think you need to know about), the social media buzz around the league, along with a few random nuggets for good measure.
Think of it as your morning coffee with a shot of hockey talk.
BACK-TO-BACK ACTION: This is as good as it gets for hockey-watching, my friends. On the same night, we will have not one but two decisive Game 7s in each conference, featuring four teams that (should they advance) have a legitimately strong chance to win the Stanley Cup. In the East, the Washington Capitals have rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to square it up and play Game 7 on home ice in D.C.
Not to humble brag here, but I will, because I called this in Monday’s The Fuse. Please read my column. Thanks.
Every team plays for home ice advantage – well, except the Blue Jackets – to have a chance at this exact scenario. It works both ways: if you’re forced to a Game 7, you can go home, re-group and try to advance in front of your home crowd. If you force a Game 7 by winning Game 6 on the road, the momentum swells and you’re playing in your barn with everything on the line. Win-win, right?
Out west, the Edmonton Oilers were punched in the mouth in Game 5; they blew a 3-0 lead with 3:14 left in the third period and lost in double overtime. They punched back and hung seven goals on the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6. They’ll have to win Game 7 on the road, as the Ducks will play this one at Honda Center.
Enjoy the night – it’ll be a good one.
WINTER "CLASSIC": I guess the only real surprise about the NHL’s latest Winter Classic announcement is that the Chicago Blackhawks weren’t somehow involved.
Really, the only thing you need to know about the NHL’s outdoor game process is that next January’s Winter Classic – announced to be between the Rangers and Sabres at Citi Field (home of the New York Mets) – is the league’s 23rd. There are still a handful of teams that have not been involved in an outdoor game period, with the Blue Jackets near the top of that list.
One of those teams is the Vegas Golden Knights, and they don’t even really exist yet.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman cited the “inter-state” rivalry between the Rangers and Sabres as a reason for choosing the two teams, which is interesting because one of those teams is good and the other is the Sabres.
DALLAS HAS A GOALIE: It’s safe to say that the Stars’ approach to goaltending the last few years hasn’t worked. GM Jim Nill gambled and invested over $10 million in Antti Niemi and Kari Lehtonen, who underperformed and contributed to Dallas’ swoon this past season, which culminated in the firing of coach Lindy Ruff who sadly couldn’t put the pads on and save his own job.
So now, the Stars are trying something new. They traded for the rights to pending UFA goalie Ben Bishop from the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday evening, and like the Hurricanes did with Scott Darling last week, Dallas will try and hammer out a contract to cement Bishop as their new No. 1 goaltender heading into next season. Dallas, like Carolina, has two goalies under contract and one or both are likely to be exposed in the upcoming expansion draft.
In discussions with Kings, Bishop made it clear he preferred certain teams. Told them he wanted to be in Dallas.
— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) May 9, 2017
ERIK KARLSSON IS NOT LIKE US: Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson is one of the best players in the game today. He logs huge minutes, plays at an elite level both offensively and defensively, and has shown up big-time in these Stanley Cup playoffs as the Senators try to keep shocking the bracket. Minutes after Mika Zibanejad (a former Senator) scored a big goal to get the Rangers on the board and cut Ottawa’s lead to 2-1 late in the second period, Karlsson gathered the puck in his own end and made it happen all on his own…yet again.
Erik Karlssonvery good. pic.twitter.com/mF6NB2Qq4g
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) May 10, 2017
“Best player on the ice – yet again,” NBC analyst Joe Micheletti said last night.
“By a mile,” added fellow analyst Pierre McGuire.
Karlsson executed a give-and-go with Bobby Ryan to give the Senators a 3-1 lead, which was his 13th point of this Stanley Cup tournament – fourth-best among all players. Not too shabby.
ICYMI: The hockey landscape in Columbus could be getting a major upgrade if Ohio State proceeds with plans for a new home for its hockey programs ... Markus Nutivaara's rookie season meant you no longer had to Google his name ... To kick off our "record breakers" series, we look at one of the more impressive turnarounds in recent memory, which so happened to be authored by the Blue Jackets.
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