Hockey Inside Out Games, News and Opinions | Montreal Gazette
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Vancouver will go nuclear for Game 7, says Canucks insider. Will Edmonton Oilers respond in kind?
This in from Canucks insider TSN’s Farhan Lalji, news of how the Vancouver Canucks intend to respond in Game 7 to the loss of star forward Brock Boeser. In previous games in Vancouver against the Edmonton Oilers, Boeser was counted on as a two-way ace to team with star forward J.T. Miller and winger Pius Suter to face Edmonton’s top line led by Connor McDavid. But with Boeser out, that line match-up — so fundamental to Vancouver’s home success against Edmonton, with the Canucks winning two out of three games — is not possible. What is possible, though, is the Canucks going nuclear, putting their top two forwards Miller and Elias Pettersson together to face the McDavid line in Game 7. As Lalji has reported, it will be difficult to replace such a player as Boeser, who not only scores but is counted on to check to top players. Here is a link to Lalji’s full report . Elias Lindholm will reunite with Connor Garland and Dakota Joshua and could be the match-up line against McDavid’s line, Lalji said, but then added: “I do think (Elias) Pettersson and (J.T.) Miller are going to see extensive minutes together so that they can provide some additional offensive support.” Presumably Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet would match up the Pettersson/Miller combo against Leon Draisaitl’s line with Dylan Holloway and Evander Kane. In this high-stakes coaching duel, how will Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch respond? My take 1. Vancouver has the last change on home ice so Tocchet has that trump card when it comes to line-up matches. Against this weapon, Knoblauch finally has the four best, most balanced and most effective two-way lines that he’s managed to put together the entire season. The question for Knoblauch is whether he’ll stick with those lines or go back to a trio of Draisaitl, McDavid and Zach Hyman on the top line, Edmonton’s own nuclear option. This might be a game of nuclear vs nuclear. 2. McDavid has regularly faced Miller in Vancouver, where Tocchet gets to play his trump card. In Games 1, 2 and 5, the Vancouver home-ice games, Miller’s 5-on-5 ice-time against McDavid has been 10.6, 14.5 and 9.8 minutes. Tocchet has played this card again and again, trusting his big, rugged and smart centre to have what it takes to thwart McDavid. In Edmonton, Knoblauch has tried to get McDavid away from Miller, with McDavid facing off against the Canucks centre 7.9 minutes in Game 3, 4.2 minutes in Game 4, and 3.9 minutes in Game 6. Of course, the Oilers lost Game 3, when Miller played more against McDavid, but won Games 4 and 6, when McDavid faced Miller less. It would appear, then, that any strategy where McDavid plays less against Miller works to Edmonton’s advantage. 3. Is Tocchet going to abandon the Miller vs McDavid match-up now, when it’s worked so well in the past in this series? Hmm. I have my doubts, but it could well be that Tocchet will match the Lindhom line against McDavid, and then have his Miller-Pettersson nuclear combo against the Drai line, hoping that the Draisaitl line will implode defensively, as Drai’s line did facing the Jack Eichel line in the crucial Game 6 loss to Vegas last season. If Tocchet does match-up Drai vs Miller, Draisaitl will have the biggest defensive responsibility of his career, at least since facing off against the Eichel line. Containing Miller and Pettersson will be a major chore for Draisaitl and Evander Kane. One thought: if Tocchet does indeed go Miller line vs Draisaitl line, will Knoblauch respond by shifting a more defensive winger, like Mattias Janmark, to play with Draisaitl and Kane? 4. Miller and Pettersson did not play much together this year, just 175 minutes at 5-on-5 between the playoffs and the regular season. They have been handily outshot on the ice together, but they have outscored the opposition 15 to nine goals. That’s a sizeable margin. You can see why Tocchet might well be going to his own nuclear option. If Pettersson and Miller can combine to out-score Edmonton by a goal or two at even strength that will go a long way to the Canucks’ winning Game 7, especially if the Lindholm line can at least saw it off against the McDavid line. 5. When teamed up with RNH and Hyman in the playoffs, McDavid has done exceptionally well. In 34 minutes, the trio has outshot the opposition 23 to 10 and outscored them five goals to zero. This line appears to be a solid bet. In 29 minutes together, the Draisaitl, Evander Kane and Dylan Holloway line has also done well, 20 to 17 on shots and four goals for to one goal against, so another solid bet. 5. All that said, in the one game that Edmonton beat Vancouver on Vancouver ice, the Oil’s 4-3 Game 2 win, Knoblauch went nuclear, playing McDavid, Draisaitl and Hyman together, and the threesome were dominant. That wasn’t the case, however, in Game 3, where the Oilers went with the McD-Drai combo but lost on home ice. But there’s no sure things for the Oilers here. The McDavid, RNH and Hyman line was also mediocre in Edmonton’s Game 5 loss in Vancouver, so it’s not like going with that trio that did so well in Game 6 is a certain master stroke for Game 7 in Vancouver. 6. A final consideration for Knoblauch? He’s finally put together two solid shut-down lines to back up his top lines. The Ryan McLeod-Derek Ryan-Warren Foegele line did well in the playoffs last season and had a solid Game 6, even as McLeod lost his footing and position on Vancouver’s loan goal against. The line of Sam Carrick, Connor Brown and Janmark was also solid on defence. As I see it, it’s a win for the Oilers any time that Knoblauch can get one of these two checking lines out against the Miller or Lindholm lines. Edmonton’s bottom lines can defend well enough, tire out these lines, and free up the McDavid and Draisaitl lines to face Vancouver’s bottom two lines. 7. How will it play out? I don’t expect Knoblauch to go with McDavid and Draisaitl together, not unless Edmonton is sinking in this game. Vancouver has suffered a major blow in losing Brock Boeser, forcing Tocchet to adjust, possibly moving away from his effective Swede line of Lindholm, Pettersson and Nils Hoglander. It’s likely best to leave the scrambling just now to Tocchet and for Knoblauch to stick with lines that worked so well in Game 6. Make sense? How do you see it?
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"This is bigger than hockey": Oilers and Canucks fans come together over Brock Boeser missing Game 7 due to blood clotting issues
News that top-line Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser will miss Game 7 due to blood clotting issues hit the hockey world hard on Sunday. And on the day of a game anticipated to be ferocious, fast and furious, it’s also brought together fans of both the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers in shared respect for Boeser and hope for his recovery. As one Oilers fan put it, “This is bigger than hockey.” The news was first reported by Vancouver hockey commentator Irfaan Gaffar on Sunday afternoon. Boeser is Vancouver’s leading scorer with seven goals and 12 points in 12 games in the 2024 playoffs. He was playing on the top line with J.T. Miller and Pius Suter. TSN’s Farhan Lalji has now reported the signs and symptoms were there even in Game 6 and worsened overnight. It will be difficult to replace such a player, who not only scores but is counted on to check to players, Lalji said. Here is some of the reaction in Vancouver, Edmonton and around the NHL: Vancouver sports commentator Irfaan Gaffar@irfgaffar Brock Boeser will not be available for the Canucks in game seven on Monday. If they advance, his status moving forward is unclear… Yes, it’s a blood clotting issue. Again, this is not career or life-threatening, thankfully. They are going to take it slow and see how Brock progresses. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser is expected to miss Game 7 against Edmonton with a blood clotting issue. The exact timeline for his return is unknown, but several sources stressed this, thankfully, is not considered a life-threatening situation. Vancouver hockey writer Daniel Wagner @passittobulis Devastating news for Brock Boeser and the Canucks. All that matters now is Boeser’s long-term health. The Cult of Hockey’s Kurt Leavins @KurtLeavins Never want to see this, no matter who you cheer for. Hoping for a full recovery for Boeser. Edmonton sports commentator Dustin Nielson @nielsonTSN1260 Hopefully Boeser is okay, what a huge loss for the Canucks. Certainly could have been a Game 7 hero. Sportsnet Vancouver commentator Iain MacIntyre @imacSportsnet Got to admit I read through mentions — and am impressed at the unilateral support for Canuck Brock Boeser. Many Oilers fans sending good wishes to him. Former Globe & Mail writer Rod Mickleburgh @rodmickleburgh There’s just something about it being Brock Boeser that makes it so heartbreaking, beyond the #Canucks losing their top scorer…he’s such a grounded, human being, who’s been through so much…my heart aches ESPN play-by-play John Buccigross @Buccigross Some people exude a natural grace that is divinely disarming, even to the enemy. Brock Boeser classes up the sport. He showed up in the 2016 NCAA Championship game for North Dakota & he would have shone bright Monday Night. 🙏🏻 #Game7 Canucks fan Logan @CanuckSkate After years of suffering through personal struggles, Brock Boeser has his spectacular bounce back season ended by blood clotting. The world is far too cruel to good people. Nucks Misconduct hockey blog writer Harsunder Singh Hunjan @HarsunderHunjan I seriously hope Boeser is going to be okay and has a complete recovery! Poor guy has been through so much already in his young life 🙏 All of #Canucks nation is with you Brock Boeser! Let’s get the win for him tomorrow! Vancouver fan Rob Sampare Brotchie @canucker101 Get well Canucks Brock Boeser. Oilers fan Lynn Mercereau @lynnmercereau This is bigger than hockey Sports gambling analyst Rachel Doerrie @racheldoerrie Gutted for Boeser. He’s been through so much the past few years. Loved watching him have the fantastic bounce back this season. Hockey doesn’t matter in these moments. Just hoping Brock gets healthy 🙏🏻⭐️🥦🚀 I can’t believe this needs to be said, but it does: the nature of Boeser’s blood clot is no one’s business and we don’t need to add ;vaccine conspiracy theories’ to the nuclear toxic wasteland that is Canucks/Oilers Twitter right now. Hope for a speedy recovery & leave it there. Canucks fan Alece Anderson @AleceAnderson I’m so sad for him… it’s just one thing after the other. Hope he’s gonna be ok ❤️ Daniel Wagner @passittobulis Win it for Boeser. Oilers fan K-JAM @KevinJamieson86 Boeser is a helluva hockey player and a thorn in the Oilers’ side. I wish he was playing tomorrow, and I hope he finds the good health he needs soon. Sportsent commentator Randip Janda @RandipJanda Awful news on the Brock Boeser front. Luckily it’s not life threatening, but scary nonetheless. Wishing him a speedy recovery and return to full health. Rinkwide Vancouver commentator Jeff Paterson @patersonjeff If ever a player could have played the ‘getting treatment’ card instead of talking to media after a tough loss it was Brock Boeser last night. To his credit, he showed up, answered pointed questions, owned his performance — and today we learned he’s out for Game 7 with blood clot. Oilers fan Reese Campbell @LarisseAtalie As an Oilers fan – I wish Boeser nothing but the best as he navigates his health stuff. When he first came to the YVR, he lived in a hotel I managed (all the young Canucks did)& he and his family were nothing but kind and warm to the hotel staff. This was rare and so appreciated. Sportsnet radio play-by-play announcer Brendan Batchelor @BatchHockey You just have to feel awful for Brock Boeser. He’s overcome so much adversity and had such a tremendous season. Hoping for a speedy and full recovery for him. Just a brutal blow to have this happen right now. Vancouver sports commentator Brendan Kobliuk JABO Vancouver Playoffs are about heroes. Some heroes you see coming, and others you would never have expected. Hopefully there are guys in that dressing room who are looking at Brock Boeser’s absence as their opportunity to step up and be that hero. This team will need it. Oilers fan Brock W. Harrison @BrockWHarrison Yikes. As much as I want the Oilers to win, and as much as Boeser has dominated them at times this series, you never ever want to see this. Edmonton Journal hockey writer Jim Matheson @jimmathesonnhl Brock Boeser is a helluva player and scorer. Been a big-time playoff threat for Canucks. Blood-clotting issues are serious stuff. Wish him the best Sportsnet commentator Iain MacIntyre @imacSportsnet Got to feel awful for Brock. Longest-tenured Canuck, who emerged better and stronger after two years of anguish…. It’s like the hockey gods convened a special meeting. They were not happy. They were like, “You mean, the Canucks might still win this thing with their third-string goalie?! What else can we do? Brock Boeser!” TSN reporter Farhan Lalji Big loss for #Canucks leading playoff goal scorer. Even if the team makes it through game 7 it doesn’t sound like Boeser’s return would be imminent. The team’s playoff mantra has been, “Resilient.” That would have been put to the test Monday night regardless, now even more so. Canucks fan Trent Leith @trentl14 You’ve gotta be kidding me. Brock Boeser finally reached his potential as a 40+ goal scorer, is tied for fourth in playoffs scoring with 7 goals in 12 games. Then he has to leave the series right before a crucial game seven at home. This poor guy can’t catch a break. #Canucks OIlers fan X-JESSE @97OrangeCrush29 🙏 speedy recovery to Brock Boeser. All the best. – Oil Country The Hockey Spotlight @nhlspotlight Oilers twitter has not disappointed at the news of the Boeser news. I respect every one of you who’ve came out in support for him. Canucks fan 𝕐 – 𝔾𝕞𝕒𝕟✨ @NotoriousGman88 No Boeser. No Demko. If the Canucks pull if off, that would be MASSIVE! The Cult of Hockey’s David Staples @dstaples Brock Boeser damn impressive this series, both shooting the puck but also defending. Reminded me of Jari Kurri now and then… Wishing him well in recovery from blood clotting issue. Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch (asked what it’s like to lose a top player suddenly): It’s amazing when you lose a player like that — obviously you look at your line-up is weaker just without a top player. I’ve seen it numerous times. — but it’s amazing how guys steps up. Everyone steps up and collectively. Sometimes you’re just a beter team. In the long term it’s not a recipe for success, but short term, you look what happened at the Boston series losing (Brad( Marchand (to injury)(. Yeah, we got to be ready…We have to anticipate a team that is going to be really stepping up their game. And in remembrance of TSN’s Darren Dutchyshen, a profile of him from 1990 when he was just a kid starting out in Edmonton, the brash, smart-talking and loveable pride of Porcupine Plain. Read it here . Related LEAVINS: 9 Things McCURDY: Player grades Game 6 At the Cult of Hockey McCURDY: Game 6 player grades LEAVINS: 9 Things
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SIMMONS SAYS: On second thought, Craig Berube was a good hire for the Maple Leafs
I wanted to dislike the hiring of Craig Berube as head coach of the Maple Leafs. I wanted to call it convenient, all too quick, bringing in a middle-of-the-pack Stanley Cup winner, with an otherwise average coaching record, to take over a club in need of major alterations. Then I started asking people I trust about Berube. People in hockey. People up high. Accomplished general managers and coaches. And I was surprised by their answers. They more than like Berube as a coach. They believe in him. They think his style and his personality might be the complete opposite of that of the fired Sheldon Keefe at a time when opposite may, in fact, be necessary. “Other than the big dogs, who is better than Craig?” asked a lifetime NHL coach in response to a question. “If you’re not going to get (Jon) Cooper and you’re not going to get Lavi (Peter Laviolette) or DeBoer (Peter DeBoer), who’s better? “Craig’s best quality is he builds team. He’s a motivator. He can inspire people to do uncomfortable things. You need that in hockey. He knows the game and he’s a lot more creative than people realize. He’s not a my-way-or-the-highway kind of coach. He’ll work with you. He’ll give you lots of rope. He believes in second chances. “Listen, the value system in Toronto needs to change. It’s going to take a whole coaching staff, not just Craig, to get that done. That’s the commitment here. To get that value system to change and I believe he can do that.” A current high end GM was asked to rate the coaches in the Atlantic Division in order and he went: 1. Cooper, Tampa; 2. Berube; 3. Jim Montgomery, Boston; 4. Paul Maurice, Florida. The ranking more than surprised me. When I asked why he had Berube ahead of Montgomery and Maurice, he said: “presence and leadership. “He has instant credibility in an NHL locker room. He won a Stanley Cup, he knows what he doesn’t know and is comfortable with that. He cares and players care in return. This is the most opposite hire of what I believe Sheldon was.” THIS AND THAT That Berube won a Stanley Cup in St. Louis has basically zero meaning now that he is coaching the Leafs. Randy Carlyle won a Stanley Cup in Anaheim before arriving in Toronto. How’d that one work out? … Toronto Sun hockey writer Terry Koshan pointed out that only one coach in the modern history of the NHL has won a Cup coaching more than one team. And that man happened to be Scotty Bowman … A list of middle-of-the- pack coaches were one-time Cup winners. Among them: Al MacNeil, Jean Perron, Dan Bylsma, Bob Hartley, Terry Crisp, Tom Johnson … Great coaches who haven’t won Cups: Pat Quinn, Roger Neilson, DeBoer, Ron Wilson, Maurice, Alain Vigneault, Bryan Murray, Bruce Boudreau … Curious to have heard the exchange of ideas between Berube and general manager Brad Treliving during the interview process. Wonder what Treliving said when Berube asked: “Who’s our goalie?” or “What are we doing with Mitch Marner?” … The team Berube has agreed to coach may not exactly look like the team on paper in late May … Freddy being Freddy. Where have you seen this before? Freddy Andersen did to the Carolina Hurricanes what he did to the Leafs way too often. He let it in a terrible goal with Carolina leading 3-1 in the third period of Game 6. The series with New York should have gone to a seventh game. The crappy goal — see Leafs vs. Capitals, Leafs vs. Bruins playoff time — is almost impossible to recover from … I give up. I don’t know what goalie interference is anymore, if I ever knew. And I don’t know cross checking is anymore, if I ever knew … My first choice to coach the Leafs, if available, was Joel Quenneville. My second choice, if available, was Rod Brind’Amour. The question of availability is a moving target. A number of teams have approached the NHL of late to inquire about Quenneville’s availability and some have contacted the former coach directly. Still, no word on what it will take to clear him after the sexual assault scandal from Quenneville’s staff with the Blackhawks of 2010. But teams did call the league. Leafs may also have inquired about Brind’Amour’s circumstance before finalizing the decision on Berube. HEAR AND THERE For those counting, this is 11 seasons for Nathan MacKinnon — five of them with Cale Makar and just one Stanley Cup. It tells you, teams win championships in hockey, individuals do not … Anyone who says Valeri Nichushkin quit on the Colorado Avalanche doesn’t comprehend the power of addiction. … “Look who’s left in the playoffs?” a former coach of giant credentials asked me. “Teams coached by Lavi, by Paul Maurice, by Pete (DeBoer) and by (Rick) Tocchet. Never mind retreads. Having that experience matters. And being comfortable in your own skin, that’s very important for a coach.” … When Berube won his Cup, he had Alex Pietrangelo, future Hall of Famer, on defence. When Bruce Cassidy won his Cup in Vegas, he had Alex Pietrangelo. When Carlyle won he had Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer on defence. When Quenneville won he had Duncan Keith. When Darryl Sutter won, he had Drew Doughty. When Cooper won, he had Victor Hedman. Berube now has Morgan Rielly. One of these things is not like the other … There is no evidence to indicate that either Leafs’ captain John Tavares or Marner will waive their no-trade arrangements this summer. But this much we know: If they do waive, there are teams interested in both those players and the prices they’re willing to pay is somewhat surprising … Berube has never coached a player who has scored more than 37 goals in a season. That was Jordan Kyrou, in Berube’s last full season with the Blues. Now coach, meet Auston Matthews … NHL teams still looking for coaches — Winnipeg, Seattle, Los Angeles, New Jersey, San Jose and we’re not sure about Columbus because the Blue Jackets don’t have a general manager … NHL goaltenders have never been better equipped or better prepared to play. But while they’re consumed with technique, too many still don’t know how to read the game or the play. It makes for more great stops and more dubious goals against than ever before … Ed Belfour was the most economical goalie I’ve ever seen up close. He was always square to the puck. He rarely made a great save because he didn’t have to … In my next life, I want to come back as a TSN network programmer. That way two channels won’t have bull riding on at the same time that Overdrive isn’t found on any of the five TSN channels … Love you Darren Dutchyshen. Always have. Always will. Rest well, big man. SCENE AND HEARD Is there anything less meaningful than Ross Atkins talking process and patience? The Blue Jays couldn’t hit last year. They couldn’t score last year. They can’t hit this year. The can’t score this year. His process doesn’t work. My patience is over. The next thing I want to hear Atkins say: “Anybody know a good real estate agent?” … It’s not your money or mine, and there is no salary cap in baseball, but the fact that George Springer is signed for two more seasons at $25 million a pop is almost offensive. The more Springer plays, the worse he plays. All this for $149,176 per game. Springer, by the way, turns 35 in September … The Blue Jays first World Series win in 1992 seems even more impressive when you look back at who was pitching for Atlanta. Hall of famer Tom Glavine started two games. Hall of famer John Smoltz started two games. And 22-year-old ace Steve Avery started two games. The Jays won the Series but scored only 17 runs in six games played … The next year, the Jays scored 45 runs in six games over Philadelphia with should be hall of famer, Curt Schilling making two starts for the Phillies. Roberto Alomar hit .480 in that World Series and Paul Molitor hit .458, scoring 10 runs and knocking in seven others … And since then, no World Series … When Yoshinobu Yamamoto was getting lit up in spring training, the narrative was the Dodgers wasted all that money signing the Japanese free agent. But since the season started Yamamoto has a 4-1 record with a 3.21 earned run average in nine starts in Los Angeles … Next time I hear someone lecturing me about how hard Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hits the ball, I will happily point out that Luis Arraez, batting champion of both the American and National Leagues, doesn’t hit the ball very hard and has a .324 lifetime average … If my math works and I hope it doesn’t, the young fireballer Paul Skenes will not pitch in Toronto the weekend the Pittsburgh Pirates are here at the end of the month. Skenes made his second big league start on Friday, pitched six innings, allowed no hits, struck out 11 in Chicago to register his first career win. He’s scheduled to pitch, barring rain-outs, in games before and after the Blue Jays series … After this weekend, Jays play 10 games against the dreadful White Sox and the semi-dreadful Tigers. This is a time to go 8-and-2 and make a push, if there is still a push in it for this Blue Jays club. AND ANOTHER THING The longer it is between the time Vince Carter played for the Raptors and whatever day this happens to be the more the mythology of his time in Toronto changes. It’s as though some of the past has been erased. Carter has been deservedly elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame and will inducted this summer. Toronto basketball voices seem consumed with the notion of the Raptors honouring and possibly retiring his number. The same people, however, don’t seem to mention Chris Bosh, who played 106 more games for the Raptors than Carter did, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2021. Bosh’s jersey shouldn’t be retired. He never won a playoff series as a Raptor. Carter’s jersey shouldn’t be retired either: He never won a best-of-seven series as a Raptor either. What would you be honouring him for? Winning a slam-dunk competition? … It’s pretty clear now that TNT is losing its NBA television rights. What isn’t clear is what happens to the brilliant Inside the NBA show and halftime shows with Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith. They’re better than most games … Kind of a sad ending to a great first Toronto season in the PWHL. I watched all five periods of the double overtime loss in Minnesota. The game sounded more spectacular than it actually was … This represents good news for Canada: Jaylen Brunson is not on the U.S. Olympic basketball team and should be. Indiana’s Tyrese Halliburton was chosen ahead of the Knicks scoring star. Brunson is averaging 27 points a game in the playoffs … I’d like to be Scottie Scheffler’s lawyer if the World No. 1 golfer had a bent finger, a hand issue, an elbow problem anything that bothered his golf game after his altercation with police in Louisville on Friday? How big of a cheque would they be writing? … I hope, strictly for entertainment purposes, that Connor McDavid is still alive and well in the Stanley Cup playoffs by the time you wake up Sunday morning … Happy birthday to Reggie Jackson (78), Jari Kurri (64), Archie Manning (75), Kevin Garnett (48), Marty McSorley (61), Connor Hellebuyck (31), Donyell Marshall (51), Bill Laimbeer (67), Rick Cerone (70), Michael Che (41) and Manny Malhotra (44) … And hey, whatever became of Brian Rafalski? Berube will quickly command the respect factor needed to lift Leafs Embattled Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins fails to calm turbulent waters ssimmons@postmedia.com x.com/simmonssteve
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