Something To Mitch About

--In reading a review of the CFL Draft, there was one individual who didn't like the Rider picks of Justin McInnis and Brayden Lenius saying the team should have grabbed an offensive lineman because that is what was needed.  I would suggest said individual grab a roster of the Riders pre-draft and tell me a receiver wasn't what was severely needed.  McInnis was not offered a contract after the Colts rookie camp this weekend.  He will try his luck with the Titans next weekend.  If that doesn't pan out, is it time to come north of the border?

--Some are asking what the future of former Rams receiver Mitch Picton is after the team drafted McInnis and Lenius.  I think he still has a future.  Picton has everything you want in a receiver and if given a chance to contribute, I think he can.  Injuries haven't helped Mitch out and it has set him back, but he still has a chance to be an impact player for this team like another homegrown receiver that had a nice career in Riderville....right Chris Getzlaf?

--If the NFL can have a referee in the booth to talk about calls and the NBA can have one.  Why can't the NHL?  For that matter, why can't the CFL? As a fan, don't you want hear an interpretation and whether or not the call is right or wrong.  I do!

--More players from the US were taken at the WHL Bantam Draft than Saskatchewan kids.  Should that be a red flag?  Only 30 Saskatchewan kids were taken out of the 228 players selected.  That number seems awfully low to me.  In 2018, there were 42.  Maybe its just me, but I think there should be a few more kids coming out.

--Say what you will about John Tortorella, but he doesn't give you the crafted cliches that so many give.  You could tell he was pissed after the Game 5 loss to Boston and it showed.  He said they would be back for Game 7.  I'd rather have that then a lot of the "coachspeak" we get from so many today.

--For whatever reason, Don Cherry continues to beat on the Carolina Hurricanes.  He didn't like the post-game celebrations that started the very popular "bunch of jerks" narrative and now he is referring to their fans as "bandwagonners".  Say what you will on this one, but he's not wrong.  Its not just the Hurricanes though. We all know when a team wins. interest grows.  The Hurricanes fan base wouldn't be the first one and they won't be the last to go through this.  Wins mean everything.  It is the continued success that counts as that is what will keep people in the seats.

--Ken Holland as the new GM of the Edmonton Oilers?  I'll take that!  He is a huge improvement over Peter Chiarelli and his track record in Detroit is solid.  The next month should be interesting as he evaluates what he has.  I am thinking Oiler fans can expect one of the core guys to be traded....don't be surprised if that player is Darnell Nurse.   With Caleb Jones and Ethan Bear ready to make the next step up, he could be expendable especially if you get a blueliner back.

--When the Dallas Stars were trying to pry Erik Karlsson from the Senators, Ottawa wanted Miro Heiskanen in return.  Dallas said no.  If you've been paying attention to the Stanley Cup playoffs, you now see why.  Heiskanen has been spectacular.  Speaking of Karlsson, it hasn't been the best season for him in San Jose and he will be a UFA come July 1st.  What would you offer him? I still think he gets at least eight million per year from someone

--Fanduel asked a question on Twitter this week saying what is the best name in sports history?  The possibilities are endless!  What's the best name in sports today?

--I will be completely honest.  I had no idea the Kentucky Derby was on Saturday until I saw the controversy at the end.  Horse racing isn't my thing.  Sorry!

--The Raptors and 76ers are tied at two in their NBA second round series.  The only reason the Raptors are where they are is because of Kawhi Leonard.  If he doesn't bring his "A" game, the Raptors are toast because no one else is stepping up their game ---at least not that I can see.

--The Baltimore Orioles are on pace to give up 368 homers this season.  That would be a record  The current record is 258.


--That's all I got.  Have a great week!

May 5th Stanley Cup Playoffs Morning Skate

THREE HARD LAPS: QUICK HITS FROM SATURDAY


* The Bruins and Sharks each captured victories in Game 5 to push their opponents to the brink of elimination and inch closer to a berth in the Conference Finals.

* David Pastrnak continued his point-per-game pace in the playoffs as Boston survived a frantic six-goal third period, including four in a span of 3:25 that saw Columbus overcome a multi-goal deficit, to leave TD Garden with a 3-2 series lead.

 * Boston and San Jose are the only remaining teams in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs to rank among the top 10 in the NHL standings this season – the Bruins finished third and the Sharks ranked sixth.


BRUINS OUTLAST BLUE JACKETS IN FINAL FRAME TO TAKE 3-2 SERIES LEAD

After fans at TD Garden were gifted with six goals in the final frame, including four in a span of 3:25 that witnessed Columbus overcome a two-goal deficit, David Pastrnak (2-0—2) scored with 1:28 remaining in regulation to lift the Bruins to a Game 5 victory and 3-2 series lead. The frenetic finish included a cross-crease stop by Tuukka Rask and a sprawling shot block by Charlie McAvoy, both with less than 20 seconds on the clock.

* After recording two points in Game 4, Pastrnak’s two-goal showing Saturday boosted his career playoff totals to 14-21—35 (30 GP). His average of 1.17 points per game is the third-highest through 30 career playoff games in Bruins history, behind Barry Pederson (1.70) and Bobby Orr (1.20). In fact, only two active NHL players had a higher points-per-game average through 30 career postseason games.

 Pastrnak’s Game 5 heroics put Boston within one victory of a matchup with Carolina in the Eastern Conference Final - a franchise they have faced four times before in the postseason. The Bruins last made a trip to the Conference Finals in 2013 when they eventually lost to the Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Final.


* Brad Marchand (1-2—3) factored on both Pastrnak goals, the latter being the sixth-latest winner in club history. Marchand (5-8—13 in 12 GP) is tied with Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (6-7—13 in 10 GP) and Mikko Rantanen (5-8—13 in 10 GP) for the League lead with 13 points. Marchand, who established a career-high with 36-64—100 in 2018-19, is the highest-scoring player from the regular season remaining in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

* Saturday’s contest marked the second time in Bruins playoff history that the club surrendered a multi-goal lead in the third period and won in regulation. They also did so in Game 3 of the 1989 Division Semifinals at Buffalo.

HERTL, PAVELSKI SPARK SHARKS IN GAME 5

Just moments after Tomas Hertl gave the Sharks a third-period lead with his second goal of the contest, captain Joe Pavelski ignited the SAP Center crowd with his first public appearance since leaving Game 7 of the First Round with an injury, as San Jose rode the momentum to a Game 5 victory. The Sharks moved within one win of advancing to the Conference Finals for the fifth time in franchise history and first since their run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016.

* Hertl (8-4—12 in 12 GP) pulled within one of teammate Logan Couture (9-3—12 in 12 GP) for the most goals in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Only two other postseasons in franchise history have featured multiple players with at least eight goals: Pavelski (14) and Couture (10) each hit double digits in 2016, while Pavelski (9) and Patrick Marleau (8) teamed up for the feat in 2010.

* Saturday’s victory marked San Jose’s third comeback win of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, trailing only Dallas and Carolina (4 each) for the most among all 16 postseason clubs. The Hurricanes reached the Conference Finals with a win Friday, while the Stars can join them with a victory Sunday.

* The Sharks earned their second win of the 2019 postseason when scoring two or fewer goals (also Game 6 of R1). During the 2018-19 regular season, San Jose failed to win a contest in which it scored two or fewer goals, posting a 0-17-3 record in such contests.

SERIES SCENARIOS: GAME 5 WINNER AFTER A 2-2 SPLIT

When a best-of-seven series is tied 2-2, the winner of Game 5 owns an all-time series record of 207-57 (78.4%), including a 2-2 mark in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

 * The Bruins hold an all-time record of 13-3 (.813) when winning Game 5 after splitting the first four games in a best-of-seven series. When simply leading 3-2, they own an all-time series record of 21-5 (.808).

* The Sharks hold an all-time record of 5-2 (.714) when winning Game 5 after splitting the first four games of a series; that record includes a series win against Colorado in 2010 and a series defeat against them in 1999. When simply leading 3-2, they own an all-time series record of 9-3 (.750).

 * Columbus is 0-2 when trailing 3-2 in a best-of-seven series, while Colorado is 2-10. The Avalanche rallied from a 3-2 series deficit to win in the 2002 Conference Semifinals against San Jose and 2001 Stanley Cup Final against New Jersey.

SNEAK PEEK AT SUNDAY’S ACTION

The series is on the line Sunday when Dallas hosts St. Louis in Game 6. The Stars/North Stars have won six of the previous 13 playoff series against the Blues, earning the series-clinching victory on home ice four times – with each of those four home wins coming before the club moved to Dallas in 1993-94 (Game 6 of 1991 Division Finals, Game 3 of 1985 Division Semifinals, Game 7 of 1984 Division Finals and Game 6 of 1971 Quarterfinals).

* The Stars sit one victory shy of reaching the Conference Finals/Semifinals for the ninth time in franchise history – a feat they achieved four times as the North Stars and four times since relocating to Dallas (but not since 2008).

* The Stars won their only potential series-clinching game in the First Round, with defenseman John Klingberg scoring in overtime on home ice to eliminate the Predators in Game 6. That goal boosted the franchise’s all-time record to 30-22 in potential series-clinching games, including a 16-8 mark on home ice.

* Stars goaltender Ben Bishop owns a career record of 6-3 when his team has a chance to advance (1.42 GAA, .952 SV%, 4 SO), with his four series-clinching shutouts one shy of the NHL record.

 * The Blues have won three of their last five games when facing elimination in the playoffs (all since 2016), including once in Dallas when they won Game 7 of the 2016 Second Round. Jaden Schwartz scored the game-winning goal the last time St. Louis fended off elimination, in Game 5 of the 2017 Second Round against the Nashville. Schwartz now leads the team with seven goals this postseason, third in the NHL behind Sharks teammates Logan Couture (9) and Tomas Hertl (8).

(NHL Media)

Raiders Even WHL FInal at One

Picture: Lucas Chudleigh 

For anyone who doubted the Prince Albert Raiders after Game 1 of the 2019 Rogers WHL Championship Series, those fears were put to bed in Game 2.

Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Ian Scott stopped all 15 shots sent his way for his league-leading fourth shutout of the 2019 WHL Playoffs while Dante Hannoun picked up the game-winning goal as part of a three-point night in a 4-0 win against the Vancouver Giants. The best-of-seven championship series is now tied at one game apiece.

The Raiders offensive flair and stingy defensive play that had made them successful to date returned when they opened the scoring in first and held the Giants to few opportunities throughout the game.

“For most of the game last night we were okay,” Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid said. “Tonight, we were that plus. Our execution, our physicality, there wasn’t much that was missing tonight.”

To get there though took time and effort as Giants goaltender David Tendeck, a prospect of the Arizona Coyotes, earned a quick deflection out of play to subside the energy from building early on.

Moments later, Jakob Brook  – Eastern Conference Scholastic Player of the Year – used his on-ice smarts to get the first good chance of the game at the side of the net. As Tendeck left his net to play the puck at one side, Brook received the puck at the other side and was primed to score until a Giants defender prevented the opportunity at the last moment. After that, WHL Rookie of the Month for April Aliaksei Protas gave it his best shot at getting the home side on the board, beating Tendeck but not the post with 11:48 to go in the opening period.

Undeterred, the Raiders would break through eventually. Forward Parker Kelly, a prospect of the Ottawa Senators, began the scoring play by bringing the puck out from the corner. As he battled his way to the net, he drew a penalty after a Giants player hooked him, causing the puck to slide through the crease where Hannoun was in the perfect spot to place the puck into the open part of the net on the delayed penalty. The goal extended his point streak to three games.

“Confidence is huge,” Hannoun said. “You’ve just got to battle through each game and just keep working hard.”

Prince Albert took further control of the game in the second period. While it wasn’t the most well-executed series of plays, a collection of back-and-forth play in Vancouver’s end eventually put the puck on the stick of Hannoun. He then fed it down low to Kelly, who dished it opposite side to Sergei Sapego. The product of Vitebsk, Belarus paused to control the puck before sniping it past Tendeck from the slot to double his team’s lead. 

As the Raiders increased their lead to three, Noah Gregor got in on the scoring fun. The Raiders used the power play to their advantage as a point shot by Max Martin was denied, only to be collected by the crafty Hannoun. With the San Jose Sharks prospect Gregor set up for the one-time goal to Hannoun’s right, Gregor took the soft pass and buried it into the back of the net.

Where the Raiders succeeded on the power play, the Giants couldn’t break through like they did in Game 1. Going on the man advantage late in the first and early in the third, Giants were repelled by the Raiders on this particular night. Giants head coach Michael Dyck acknowledged it would take a more consistent effort to beat the Raiders three more times in the series.

“I think we can take things from both games,” Dyck said. “There’s things we did really well in the first game and things that we didn’t do so well in the second. Today there was some spurts that we liked but just not enough.”

What shots did make it through Prince Albert’s defence were easily handled by Scott. The WHL Goaltender of the Year stopped six shots in the first, four in the second, and five in the third. His biggest save of the game came in the third period as a momentary lapse in defence by the Raiders caused Milos Roman to step into a one-time shot in the slot completely unopposed. A chance similar to a goal he had allowed in Game 1 was instead swallowed up into the pads of the Calgary, Alta. product.

The goaltender deflected any praise like he had turned aside shots in the game, turning the credit towards his defence for snuffing out chances and clearing lanes.

“The guys didn’t lose faith in me,” Scott said. “The sun came up this morning. Playoffs are going to be a roller coaster and you’ve just got to find that even level.”

Brett Leason, ranked 25th among North American skaters in advance of the 2019 NHL Draft, capped off the game with an empty-net goal with 1:21 left in regulation. The goal extended his point streak to five games. Kelly picked up a pair of assists for a second-straight game to highlight another strong individual performance for the Raiders.

May 4th Stanley Cup Playoffs Morning Skate

THREE HARD LAPS: QUICK HITS FROM FRIDAY


* The Hurricanes completed their first-ever sweep in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series to surge into the Eastern Conference Final.

* Ben Bishop helped secure a Game 5 win for the Stars, who will return to Dallas owning a 3-2 series lead over St. Louis.

 * The Bruins host the Blue Jackets at TD Garden and the Sharks welcome the Avalanche to SAP Center with each series tied 2-2.



HURRICANES SURGE INTO EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL 

Playing in front of the largest crowd in franchise history, the Hurricanes received goals from five different skaters – including the series-clinching tally by Greg McKegg 66 seconds after a strike by Teuvo Teravainen (1-1—2) – and Curtis McElhinney made 26 saves as Carolina swept its way into the Eastern Conference Final. The Hurricanes completed their first-ever sweep in a best-of-seven series to reach the Conference Finals for the fourth time in as many postseason appearances (also 2002, 2006 and 2009).

* With “Loudest House in the NHL” towels in hand, 19,495 “Caniacs” filled PNC Arena to set a Hurricanes/Whalers attendance record. It was the second time in as many days that an NHL franchise broke an attendance record, with the Blue Jackets doing so on Thursday.

* In addition to Carolina, only two other franchises have advanced to the Conference Finals in four or more consecutive playoff appearances (regardless of when those occurred) since 1982 when the round was introduced. Detroit and Colorado achieved the feat in consecutive years, from 1995-1998 and 1999-2002, respectively.

* Carolina became the first team in 26 years - and ninth in NHL history - to sweep an opponent who had won its previous series via a four-game sweep. Montreal was the last team to do so, going 4-0 against Buffalo in the 1993 Division Finals after the Sabres swept the Bruins in the previous round.

* The Hurricanes extended their overall win streak to six contests and improved to 5-0 at home in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Carolina won each of its first five home games in a postseason for the first time in franchise history; their overall win streak is the second-longest in Hurricanes/Whalers playoff history behind only a seven-game run in 2006.

* Only 0.012% of submissions to the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket Challenge presented by Jägermeister accurately selected all eight First Round winners and Carolina to advance past the Second Round (165 of 1.42 million). Only 4.1% of brackets submitted before the playoffs began had the Hurricanes reaching at least the Conference Finals.

 DID YOU KNOW? THE QUEST CONTINUES

* Since Carolina won the Stanley Cup in 2006, there have been six teams who reached the Conference Finals despite concluding the regular season outside the top six in their conference – including the Hurricanes in 2019 (also Edmonton in 2006, Philadelphia in 2010, Montreal in 2010, Los Angeles in 2012 and Nashville in 2017). Three other Wild Card teams are within two victories of joining Carolina in the next round: Colorado, Columbus and Dallas.

* After becoming the 15th team in the expansion era to eliminate the defending Stanley Cup champion in the opening round, Carolina now is the eighth of that group to win its next round. Four of those clubs reached the Final and one hoisted the Cup (1971 Canadiens).

* Carolina is looking to continue a recent trend among teams that have eliminated the defending champions. Since 2013, the team that knocked out the previous Stanley Cup winner has gone on to win the championship three of four times (CHI in 2013, LAK in 2014 and WSH in 2018).

^Los Angeles did not qualify for 2015 playoffs after winning in 2014; Pittsburgh repeated in 2017

BEHIND THE NUMBERS: THE STORY BEHIND THE SURGE

After finishing 14 points outside the playoff picture in 2017-18, the Hurricanes entered their first full season under new majority owner Tom Dundon with an organizational overhaul from top to bottom. Among their many changes in the offseason, Carolina hired a new general manager (Don Waddell), new head coach (Rod Brind’Amour), named a new captain (Justin Williams), traded two top-six forwards and their highest-scoring defenseman, lost a starting goaltender to free agency and acquired 14 players – including seven who have played this postseason. The Hurricanes also acquired Nino Niederreiter on Jan. 17.

 * Brind’Amour is the first rookie NHL head coach to reach the Conference Finals since Guy Boucher did so in 2011 with Tampa Bay. Brind’Amour was named to his current role on May 8, 2018 after skating with the Hurricanes for 10 seasons (1999-00 to 2009-10) and playing an integral part of each of their previous three trips to the Conference Finals.

* Williams scored to record his 100th career playoff point (39-61—100 in 151 GP), becoming the 10th active NHL player to reach the milestone. Exactly 20% of his postseason points have been earned in series-clinching wins (9-11—20 in 19 GP).

* Williams (13-23—36 in 42 GP) is one of four Hurricanes players to skate in at least one game beyond the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs; the others are Jordan Staal (6-2—8 in 22 GP w/ PIT), Teuvo Teravainen (3-4—7 in 12 GP w/ CHI) and Trevor van Riemsdyk (4 GP w/ CHI). Williams has skated 14 of those games with the Hurricanes, collecting 5-6—11 in those contests (also 8-17—25 in 28 GP w/ LAK).

* Teravainen (1-1—2) recorded multiple points for a second straight game and scored his team-leading sixth goal of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs (6-3—9 in 11 GP).

* Warren Foegele (0-1—1) collected his rookie-leading ninth point of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs (5-4—9 in 11 GP) to match the Hurricanes/Whalers rookie record for a single postseason (Erik Cole: 6-3—9 in 2002; 23 GP).

 * No stranger to coming up clutch in the playoffs, Foegele was named MVP of the 2017 OHL Playoffs after averaging over a point per game with the Erie Otters (13-13—26 in 22 GP). He became the third Otters player to capture the honor since its introduction in 1998-99, joining former Bruins forward Brad Boyes (2001-02) and Oilers captain Connor McDavid (2014-15) – with whom he played minor hockey.

 * Curtis McElhinney improved to 3-0 in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs (1.56 GAA, .947 SV%) since entering Game 2 in relief of Petr Mrazek. Carolina became the third team in the past 29 years to sweep a best-of-seven series with multiple goaltenders recording a win.

BISHOP BACKSTOPS STARS TO 3-2 SERIES LEAD

Ben Bishop made 38 saves, including 14 in the third period, as Dallas won Game 5 to take a 3-2 lead against St. Louis. The Stars moved within one win of reaching the Conference Finals for the seventh time in franchise history.

* Bishop matched the team record for most saves in a regulation playoff game (since 1993-94), equaling a mark set by Ed Belfour in Games 3 and 4 of the 2000 Conference Finals (2-0 L at COL, 4-1 W at COL) and matched by Marty Turco in Game 5 of the 2008 Conference Finals (2-1 W at DET).

* The franchise record for most saves in a regulation postseason game is 42, shared by North Stars goaltenders Cesare Maniago (Game 1 of 1971 QF: 3-2 W at STL) and Gilles Meloche (Game 1 of 1985 DF: 8-5 W at CHI).

* Bishop improved to 15-7 in 23 career postseason appearances on the road with a 1.81 goals-against average, .940 save percentage and two shutouts. His road goals-against average is the seventh-lowest in playoff history (min. 10 road GP) and third-lowest among goaltenders to play in the League’s modern era (since 1943-44), higher than only Patrick Lalime (1.77) and Mike Smith (1.78).

SNEAK PEEK AT SATURDAY’S ACTION

Two deadlocked series shift cities on Saturday as the Bruins and Blue Jackets clash at TD Garden before the Sharks and Avalanche close the doubleheader at SAP Center.

* The Bruins are tied 2-2 in a best-of-seven series for the 34th time in franchise history and own an all-time series record of 13-3 when winning Game 5 in those scenarios (81.2%). The Blue Jackets, meanwhile, look to win a Game 5 for the first time in franchise history (0-3).

* The Avalanche split Games 1-4 in a best-of-seven series for the 21st time in franchise history and own an all-time series record of 9-3 when winning Game 5 in those 2-2 scenarios (75.0%). The Sharks are tied 2-2 in a Stanley Cup Playoffs series for the 18th time in franchise history and own an all-time series record of 5-2 when winning Game 5 after splitting Games 1-4 (71.4%).

* Nathan MacKinnon enters Game 5 with an eight-game point streak, the longest by an Avalanche player in 17 years. Only four players in franchise history have recorded a point in nine or more consecutive games within a postseason: Marian Stastny (1982: 3-10—13 in 10 GP), Joe Sakic (1996: 12-5—17 in 10 GP), Peter Stastny (1982: 7-10—17 in 9 GP) and Claude Lemieux (1997: 8-8—16 in 9 GP). Did You Know? All player point streaks of 10 or more playoff games are available on records.nhl.com.

 * Sharks defenseman Brent Burns skated a game-high 28:39 Thursday in Colorado, his highest total in a regulation game this postseason. Burns, who leads the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs with 29:36 TOI/GP, has been on the ice for nearly half the series (46.8%; 112:21 of 240:00). Burns has spent 58.2% of his time on ice going head-to-head with MacKinnon, as the two have skated 65:24 together thus far (35:27 in San Jose and 29:57 in Colorado).

SERIES SCENARIOS

When a best-of-seven series is tied 2-2, the winner of Game 5 owns an all-time series record of 207-57 (78.4%), including a 2-2 mark in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

 Teams that earn that Game 5 victory on the road after being tied 2-2 own an all-time series record of 74-24 (75.5%) – including a 2-1 mark this postseason.

Teams that earn that Game 5 victory at home after being tied 2-2 own an all-time series record of 133-33 (80.1%) – including a 0-1 mark this postseason.

Giants Take Game 1 of WHL Final

Photo: Lucas Chudleigh

In their return to the Rogers WHL Championship Series for the first time since 2007, the Vancouver Giants quickly showed that they’re here to play. 

Forward Dawson Holt scored his second goal of the game late in the second period off a chance play that stood up as the game-winning goal while Bowen Byram, the CHL’s top-ranked prospect ahead of the 2019 NHL Draft, recorded four assists in a 5-4 win for the Giants against the Prince Albert Raiders in Game 1 of the 2019 Rogers WHL Championship Series.

Holt, a product of nearby Saskatoon, Sask., brought the cliché hockey expression ‘pucks on net’ to life for his seventh and most important goal of the 2019 WHL Playoffs to date. Coming with 17 seconds left in the second period, it helped restore a two-goal lead for the Giants that had evaporated in the first half of the middle period.

“I had a lot of family and friends here so to be able to get the win out here in front of them was obviously super special,” Holt said.

Before that goal, uplifting for one side and deflating for the other, the chaos of two unfamiliar opponents meeting with everything at stake had delivered. For the high-octane offences on both sides, the Giants had found their way onto the board in the first period.

Put on a five-on-three power play just minutes into the game, Byram took advantage. The second-year defenceman controlled the puck at the top of the zone with the confidence and poise of a player much older in years then served a perfect pass to his right where defensive partner Dylan Plouffe wired home the one-timer.

The Raiders managed to force the Giants back, killing off the power play, but were caught off-guard just seconds after it ended. With Owen Hardy entering the zone, he passed the puck to the left sideboards to his captain Jared Dmytriw, who stepped into the shot, only for it to go wide and bounce off the backboard behind the net. In the ensuing confusion directed towards Dmytriw’s shot, Holt slipped by the Raider defence, pouncing on the loose puck before shooting it into the empty net past an outstretched Ian Scott.

As far as Giants head coach Michael Dyck was concerned, it was the perfect road period to set the tone for the rest of the game.

“I thought we played really well in the first period,” Dyck said. “It was a great start for us. The second period, we got on our heels a few times.”

As the Raiders found their game, they continued to test Tendeck. The Arizona Coyotes product was equal to the task, standing tall as the Raiders’ patented hard-to-the-net style saw them direct 13 shots on the Giants’ goalkeeper in the opening 20 minutes with him turning them all aside.

Early in the second, the Raiders got a power-play opportunity of their own and made it count. Brett Leason’s shot from just above the face-off circle to the right of Tendeck squeaked past the goaltender and across the goal line to bring the home side within a goal.

The Giants would have a near-immediate response from the stick of their captain though. Just 113 seconds later, Dmytriw charged up ice with the puck and beat Scott blocker-side to quickly restore the two-goal lead.

Back came the Raiders though. Defenceman Zack Hayes sent a long pass up ice to Parker Kelly, who immediately passed it off to Noah Gregor rushing up ice. The San Jose Sharks prospect made quick of the opportunity, beating Tendeck glove side.

“We stayed calm and we worked hard,” said Raiders forward Dante Hannoun. “Shifts after goals is pretty huge here in the playoffs so we focused on that.”

Kelly factored into another goal later in the period to tie up the game. Getting the initial shot on net, Hannoun was ready in front of the crease for the rebound, backhanding it into the net for the game-tying goal, sending the arena into a frenzy.

“When we were using our speed and the crowd got into it, we were a force tonight,” captain Brayden Pachal said. “I think we can build off some things. We’ve just got to look forward for tomorrow.”
Costly minor penalties that came back to haunt both teams burned the Raiders once more late in the second. With Hannoun off for boarding, the Giants went to work on the power play and went ahead on Yannik Valenti’s second goal of the playoffs. After forcing the puck down low, the Raiders’ defence dropped low as well to deny a chance from below the goal line. As that happened, the sneaky Valenti created plenty of space and time in the slot to receive a pass from Davis Koch, before sending it into the back of the net.

“It’s given us momentum and that’s the key,” said Dyck of his power play. “When they tied it up at 3-3 and we got that opportunity, obviously it was a big goal for us to get us back in the hockey game and rolling again.”

Fortune would find the Giants seconds later for the game-winning goal from Holt. On what seemed like a nothing play in the final seconds of the period, Holt won the battle to the puck below the Raider goal line. Getting a quick shot on net before the Prince Albert defence could catch up, the puck snuck past Scott an into the back of the net.

“Their crowd is loud, there’s no secret about it,” Holt said. “To get some momentum and quiet them down a little bit it was big.” 

The third period brought the Raiders within a goal on a great individual play from Jeremy Masella. The defender cut to the outside then made his move to the inside quickly, beating Tendeck from in tight.

While they played hard down the stretch, Tendeck remained solidified and focused, making four of his 25 stops in the third period. Raider head coach Marc Habscheid – the WHL Coach of the Year – wasn’t quite ready to push the panic button after the Game 1 loss.

“I liked a lot of things, most things, except one of the things was the score. We were nervous at the start; first 10 minutes for sure. We got our legs in the second, started to play and when we played we played well.”

Byram continued to grow his legend in the opening game of the WHL Championship. His four assists swelled his point total to 22, keeping him comfortably in the scoring lead for the 2019 WHL Playoffs with 22 points (7G-15A) in 16 games.

(WHL) 

May 3 Stanley Cup Playoffs Morning Skate

THREE HARD LAPS: QUICK HITS FROM THURSDAY


* The Bruins and Avalanche each earned Game 4 wins to pull even in their respective Second Round series. The 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs mark the fourth consecutive year in which at least three Second Round series will require no fewer than six games and the fifth time in six years since the division-focused format was introduced in 2014.

 * Playing in the highest-attended game in Blue Jackets franchise history, Bruins forward Sean Kuraly became the first Ohio-born player to score a postseason goal against Columbus.

 * Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon (GWG) extended his point streak to eight games and Philipp Grubauer became the first German-born goaltender in NHL history to record a postseason shutout.


KURALY HELPS BRUINS EVEN SERIES AGAINST HOMETOWN TEAM

Patrice Bergeron scored twice including the winner and Dublin, Ohio native Sean Kuraly also found the back of the net against his hometown team to help the Bruins win Game 4 and even their Second Round series at 2-2. Boston, which suffered a 2-1 defeat in Game 3, improved to 4-1 following a loss in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.


* Kuraly, who played minor hockey with the Ohio Blue Jackets and also skated for the Miami University RedHawks, is one of 30 Ohio-born players in League history to appear in at least one NHL game (regular season and/or playoffs) – including one of 15 to debut since the Blue Jackets’ inaugural season in 2000-01.

* Kuraly has made a name for himself as a big-game player since making his NHL debut in 2016-17. His first two postseason goals were scored in Game 5 of the 2017 First Round in Ottawa, including the double-overtime winner to help Boston stave off elimination; he also collected 1-1—2 in Game 7 of the 2019 First Round as the Bruins eliminated the Maple Leafs.

 * Kuraly became the eighth Ohio-born player in NHL history to score at least one goal against the Blue Jackets, joining Bryan Smolinski (8 G), Peter Harrold (2 G), Jeff Hamilton (2 G), Brian Holzinger (2 G), Mike Rupp (1 G), J.T. Miller (1 G) and Jack Roslovic (1 G). Kuraly, however, was the only one to do so in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

* No players from the Buckeye State ever scored against the Cleveland Barons, who were active from 1976-77 to 1977-78. In fact, only one Ohio-born player ever played in a game against the Barons – Ab Demarco Jr., a native of Cleveland (3 GP).

 * Bergeron scored two power-play goals to record his 92nd and 93rd career points in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (36-57—93 in 123 GP) and leapfrog Bobby Orr (26-66—92 in 74 GP) for sixth place on the franchise’s all-time list.

 * Additionally, Bergeron scored his 35th and 36th career goals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs to pass Don Marcotte, Ken Hodge and David Krejci (all w/ 34) and tie Ray Bourque for sixth place on the franchise’s all-time list. His 11 career power-play goals in the postseason also propelled him past Craig Janney, Rick Middleton and Krejci (all w/ 9) for sole possession of the sixth-most in Bruins history.

* The Bruins find themselves tied 2-2 in a best-of-seven series for the 34th time in franchise history. They own an all-time series record of 13-3 when winning Game 5 in those 2-2 scenarios (81.2%).

AVALANCHE BLANK SHARKS TO PULL EVEN IN SECOND ROUND SERIES

Nathan MacKinnon scored his League-leading third game-winning goal of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs and Philipp Grubauer turned aside all 32 shots he faced as the Avalanche won Game 4 and pulled even in their Second Round series. Colorado improved to 3-1 at Pepsi Center in the 2019 postseason.

 * MacKinnon shares the League lead with 13 points in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs (6-7—13 in 9 GP) and has found the score sheet in each of the Avalanche’s last eight games, tied for the third-longest postseason point streak in team history (since 1995-96).

* MacKinnon’s six goals in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs are the most in a postseason by an Avalanche player since 2004, when Joe Sakic had seven (7-5—12 in 11 GP). He also became the first Colorado skater to score three game-winning goals in a postseason since 2002, when Peter Forsberg (4) and Chris Drury (3) did so.

* Grubauer became the fifth different Avalanche/Nordiques goaltender to record a shutout in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and first since Craig Anderson in Game 3 of the 2010 Conference Quarterfinals (1-0 OT W vs. SJS). Grubauer (Rosenheim, Germany) became the first German-born goaltender in NHL history to record a shutout in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the second of German nationality to do so, joining Olie Kolzig (6).

 * The Avalanche are knotted 2-2 in a best-of-seven series for the 21st time in franchise history. They own an all-time series record of 9-3 when winning Game 5 in those 2-2 scenarios (75.0%).

SNEAK PEEK AT FRIDAY’S ACTION

The Hurricanes look to become the first team to clinch a berth in the Conference Finals when they host the Islanders in Game 4 at PNC Arena. The Blues and Stars, meanwhile, shift to Enterprise Center in St. Louis with their Second Round series tied 2-2.

* Carolina can sweep an opponent for the second time in franchise history (and first in a best-of-seven format); the Hartford Whalers went 3-0 in the best-of-five 1986 Division Semifinals to defeat the Quebec Nordiques and earn the franchise’s first-ever series win in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

* The Hurricanes can reach the Conference Finals for the fourth time in as many postseason appearances (also 2002, 2006 and 2009). Only two teams have reached the Conference Finals in four consecutive postseason appearances (regardless of when those occurred) since the round was introduced in 1982: Detroit (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998) and Colorado (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002) each did so in consecutive years.

* Carolina can become the second Wild Card team to clinch a berth in the Conference Finals since the division-focused playoff format was introduced in 2014; they would join the Predators (No. 2 Wild Card), who did so in 2017 en route to the franchise’s first-ever appearance in the Stanley Cup Final.

 * Teams that take a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series own an all-time series record of 188-4 (97.9%); the Islanders, however, are one of the four teams in NHL history to overcome a 3-0 deficit and win a postseason series – doing so in the 1975 Quarterfinals against the Penguins.

* The Blues finds themselves tied 2-2 in a best-of-seven series for the 24th time in franchise history. They own an all-time series record of 7-1 when winning Game 5 in those 2-2 scenarios (87.5%), including a series victory over the Jets in the First Round. Their only series loss when winning Game 5 after splitting Games 1-4 was suffered against the Red Wings during the 1996 Conference Semifinals.

 * The Stars are tied 2-2 in a best-of-seven series for the 24th time in franchise history and own an all-time series record of 10-1 when winning Game 5 in those scenarios (90.9%), including a series victory over the Predators in the First Round. Their only series loss when winning Game 5 after splitting Games 1-4 was suffered against the Blues during the 1972 Quarterfinals.

This And That

--Welcome to Friday and the usual thoughts running through my muddled mind.  As always, they come in no particular order


--The Riders wanted receivers in the draft.  Mission accomplished!  Is it a revival of the Canadian air force? Justin McInnis and Brayden Lenius give the team some young, talented Canadian pass-catchers.  Add him to Mitch Picton and that area of the roster is no longer a concern.  While you can't give official grades on drafts for a while, the early prognosis would be Jeremy O'Day did quite well in what was his first draft as a GM.  I would expect barring injury or an extended stint in the NFL that both will be on the opening day roster and both could start, but that might be a stretch. 

--The Toronto Argonauts appeared to have held a draft party Thursday.  That is solid!  Did any other teams do that. By watching the TSN coverage, it appeared as if the Argos invited some people to show up and they had a good showing. One can only wonder why the Riders didn't do a draft party.  Good on the Argos for drumming up interest. 

--Brad Marchand is getting under everyone's skin again.  I love it. I've said it once and I will say it again. I would have Brad Marchand on my team every day of the week. He is an agitator extraordinaire and he is a 100 point man. That combination is rare in the game.  Yes, every now and then he may cross that line, but he is the game's ultimate villain. Was the hit on Scott Harrington that hard?  Mrs. Scruffy has hit me in the back of the head harder than that while at Costco on a Saturday afternoon.  If that is anyone else, we aren't even discussing this. 

 Leafs fans hate him and for good reason.  Is he any worse than Darcy Tucker? 

--The Carolina Hurricanes aren't the most talented team in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but no team is working harder than Rod Brind'amour's squad which should be no surprise.  If a team was ever like their coach, it is this one. They made the Islanders look foolish at the end of Game 3 on Wednesday night  They just skated circles around them in the final 10 minutes.  Could "The Jerks" win the Stanley Cup?  Find Steve Martin and get him to a game. 

--What is a Roope Hintz?

--Have people forgotten about common courtesy?  It doesn't matter if I am downtown, south Regina, north Regina or wherever, I just keep seeing people who A) refuse to hold a door open for someone--man or woman or B) if they do, there is no thank you from the person whom you've held the door open for --man or woman. Let's be better!

--Is the Jon Ryan situation going to come right down to training camp?  You know he wants to be here and I'm sure the Riders want him as well.  Its just a matter of $$$$ if you ask me. 

--I have no problem with fighting in hockey as long as it isn't staged. I do have a problem with two players fighting at a spring camp and the bout being put on social media as the SJHL's La Ronge Ice Wolves did this past weekend.  Was the camp so bad that that was the only highlight?  Is that the image the Ice Wolves are trying to present?  Well, they do have former Blade Kevin Kaminski as their head coach and those who remember him know he would drop the mitts from time to time.  At the end of the day, this was just a stupid mistake.  I am guessing fights happen at spring camps all the time, but they aren't put on social media. 

--It takes some stones for 200 lady hockey players to say they aren't playing next year unless a major overhaul to their game is given.  The ladies are right in saying they won't play until they get the proper resources, but will anyone listen.  Here's hoping.  Say what you will about women's hockey, but the game is getting better and while it will never rival men's hockey in our lifetime, they deserve some recognition.   The NHL should be stepping in here and creating a WNHL much like the NBA with the WNBA.  Why can't this be done? You can't tell me they couldn't put teams in the original six locations and then some.  Would you follow a team if they put one in Saskatchewan?

--Who ya got in the WHL final? One has to think Prince Albert is the favourite, but I think this could be a long series.  Goaltending may very well decide it and if that's the case, expect some low-scoring games with Ian Scott and David Tendeck patrolling the pipes.  I may have to shell out and get WHL Live for the finals. It will be a great series. 

--That's all I got.. Have a great weekend!