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.
EVEN-UP IN THE WEST: In the Western Conference, two teams that really don't like one another are facing off.
Let me tell ya, it's hockey at it's very best.
The Nashville Predators came into their game last night with a 2-1 lead in the series. Playing on home ice, it felt as if they would be able to make it a 3-1 series lead. The Anaheim Ducks came out to play though. Scoring one goal in the first and one in the second, courtesy of Richard Rakell and Nick Ritchie. The game looked to be all but over.
If there is one takeaway from this year's playoffs, don't discount the Predators.
Pernell Karl Subban got the comeback started for Nashville late in the third.
Filip Forsberg would tie the game in the waning seconds and make the comeback a reality. Pay attention to the crosscheck in the corner that went undetected. A lot of Ducks affiliated people weren't too happy with the officiating.
As the game went into overtime, all of the momentum was in the Predators favor. A foregone conclusion evaporated in no time when Subban went from hero to goat in a moments notice.
This deflection is haunting.
While the Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins series is a slog, the Predators and Ducks is pure adrenaline filled fun. Heck, even Kelly Clarkson sung the national anthem last night. We need more hockey in Nashville.
USA COMES AWAY WITH NO BLING: The 2017 IIHF World Championships have moved past the group stage of play and into the playoff. Team USA faced off against Team Finland, the results should make any country loving person shutter.
Game story: Finland moves on in #IIHFWorlds! 2-0 win vs. USA takes Suomi to semis. Recap, videos, photos, stats: https://t.co/eNFrTYiPi8 pic.twitter.com/OYf2pwXTEf
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 18, 2017
A poor start from the US was enough to bury them. Mikko Rantanen (Colorado Avalanche) opened the scoring up for Finland. Left all alone in front, it was easy pickings for the promising prospect. Joonas Kemppainen would add the second goal but the US wouldn't really threaten.
While Team USA didn't bring their best squad, for development purposes, you'd hope that the team would fair better.
Blue Jackets' back up goaltender Joonas Korpisalo (Finland) did not play in the game.
DRAFT SHAKE UP?: The Dallas Stars got their number one goalie in Ben Bishop. It doesn't look like they are going to be done making moves anytime soon.
The Stars already moved up five slots to be #3 in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft but with their window only just opening up. They are looking to improve in the here and now.
At least that is how general manager Jim Nill tells it.
"I have talked to other teams already about possibly moving that pick, getting an established player back," Nill told SiriusXM's NHL Network Radio, per the league's website. "It gives us lot of options. I think this will heat up more as we go."
Normally such chatter is saved for the week before the draft. With the entry draft and the expansion draft in such close proximity, moves feel more imminent than ever.
MOVING ON UP: The New York Islanders have added an assistant coach most Blue Jackets' fans would know.
Luke Richardson.
The former head coach of the Binghamton Senators is being brought on to head coach Doug Weight's staff. Weight closed out the year with a winning record at the helm but it was just short of the actual playoffs.
Richardson coached the Canadian Spengler Cup team to a gold medal in 2016. Before his time with the Binghamton Senators, he was an assistant for the Ottawa Senators from 2009-2012.
ICYMI: Our very own Jeff Svoboda evaluated Matt Calvert's year with a fine tooth comb. Could his usefulness for the team have run out?... Nick Foligno had a bounce back year that may have validated his captaincy... Multiple Blue Jackets' players are in the IIHF World Championship, catch up with how they are doing.
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