The weekend following the NHL commerce deadline was a busy one, and there was no scarcity of entertaining moments.
The Boston Bruins prolonged their profitable streak to 10 video games with a win over the New York Rangers. The Bruins at the moment are 49-8-5 and are on tempo to set a brand new file for factors in a single season with 132.
Elsewhere across the league, the Lightning have hit a tough patch, new acquisitions scored their first aim with new groups and Tyler Toffoli saved the Calgary Flames’ playoff hopes alive. Let’s have a look again on the greatest storylines and greatest highlights of this previous weekend within the NHL.
Goal of the weekend: Gabe Vilardi stick handles in a telephone sales space
There’s not lots of room to function in entrance of the online. The grown man with pillows strapped to his legs and the opposite grown males intent on hitting something that strikes make certain of that.
Those occupational hazards did not imply a lot to Los Angeles Kings ahead Gabe Vilardi on Saturday.
With the Kings on the facility play, Vilardi bought the puck down low in entrance of St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington. In the blink of a watch, Vilardi spun, faked a transfer to his forehand, went to his backhand and lifted a shot over Binnington’s pad.
With two Blues collapsing on him, Vilardi displayed some spectacular poise and a few silky clean palms.
Robbery of the weekend: Andrei Kuzmenko will get victimized twice
Andrei Kuzmeko is about to have some very lengthy conversations along with his insurance coverage firm as a result of he was robbed twice over the weekend.
The first time it occurred was on Saturday night time, when the Vancouver Canucks beat the Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-1. In the second interval, Kuzmenko and Conor Garland bought free for a 2-on-0, and the puck wound up on Kuzmenko’s stick. The Vancouver ahead could not elevate his shot, and Murray made him pay. Murray stretched back and forth to disclaim Kuzmenko with the pad.
Then, in Monday night time’s shootout win over the Nashville Predators, Anthony Beauvillier picked up a rebound within the slot and kicked it to a large open Kuzmenko. Once once more, Kuzmenko didn’t elevate the shot, and this time it was Juuse Saros sliding throughout to disclaim him with the skate.
It was a protracted weekend for the younger Canucks ahead, however maybe he has discovered to place slightly extra air beneath his pictures sooner or later.
Bruins win tenth straight recreation
The Bruins have been in a position to keep away from peaking too early by merely peaking all season. After Saturday’s 4-2 win over the New York Rangers, the Bruins have now received 10 video games in a row. It helps that they added Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway from the Washington Capitals and Tyler Bertuzzi from Detroit on the deadline.
In his first recreation with the Bruins, Bertuzzi made an instantaneous affect. Late within the first interval, Bertuzzi discovered Charlie Coyle with a lovely feed to place Boston up, 1-0.
In the second interval, an amazing solo effort from Tomas Nosek doubled the Bruins’ lead.
After the Rangers lower the Bruins’ lead in half, Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron went to work. After carrying the puck into the zone, Marchand circled the online and located Bergeron on their own in entrance for the aim.
David Pastrnak sealed the win with a rocket off a one-timer to complete off an ideal feed from Charlie McAvoy.
Boston has now received 49 video games whereas shedding simply 13. The staff is getting contributions all all through a lineup that was lately made deeper due to the commerce deadline. I’m accomplished questioning when the Bruins will run out of steam (or if they really ever will).
Bolts present indicators of slowing down
One staff that may really be working out of steam is the Tampa Bay Lightning. In the final three weeks, the Bolts have gone 3-5-3, which is the twenty fifth greatest file in that span.
In Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, head coach Jon Cooper benched Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos and Brayden Point for everything of the third interval. In his postgame press convention, Cooper stated these gamers simply weren’t performing as much as the usual that they set for the staff.
It would have been truthful to anticipate a greater effort from Tampa in opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday, however the staff bought blown out, 6-0.
Yes, it is a mistake to doubt this Lightning staff heading into the playoffs. Any staff that has been to the Stanley Cup Final three years in a row might lose curiosity in enjoying out the house stretch of the common season… however that is as mortal because the Bolts have seemed in a very long time.
At least the Lightning nonetheless have about 5 weeks to get again on monitor.
Meier, Chychrun get their first targets of their new uniforms
If you hadn’t heard, there have been a few trades made forward of the 2023 NHL commerce deadline. Two of the largest names on the transfer have been Timo Meier and Jakob Chychrun. Over the weekend, each of these gamers scored their first aim in a brand new sweater.
On Saturday, Chychrun cranked a seed previous Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins. He was clearly fired as much as get on the board for the primary time in Ottawa.
Chychrun’s grandfather was in attendance as nicely, and he celebrated with some Tim Horton’s in hand. After the sport, Chychrun bought emotional upon seeing the video of his grandfather celebrating the particular second.
On Sunday afternoon, Meier scored his first aim as a member of the Devils about midway by means of the primary interval. He merely scooped up a free rebound and shoveled by means of the legs of Arizona Coyotes netminder Connor Ingram.
Meier’s first recreation in New Jersey had an exhilarating finish along with his fellow Swiss native, Nico Hischier, delivering the win in extra time.
If this previous weekend is any indication, will probably be a blast to observe each of those gamers with their new golf equipment.
Tyler Toffoli retains Flames’ playoff hopes alive
The Western Conference playoff race is beginning to look extra simple, however the Calgary Flames are one of many groups that would make issues attention-grabbing. On Monday night time, it seemed like their playoff hopes have been about to take an enormous blow. Up 4-2 within the third interval, Calgary was cruising towards an enormous win over the Dallas Stars, however the wheels started to come back off.
Roope Hintz scored on a shorthanded breakaway to deliver the Stars inside one aim with simply over 10 minutes left.
With beneath six minutes remaining within the third interval, Jamie Benn deflected a degree shot house to tie the sport.
The Flames had blown a multi-goal lead within the third interval, they usually have been staring down the barrel of a devastating loss. That is, till Tyler Toffoli bought sprung on a breakaway within the dying seconds of regulation.
With lower than seven seconds left, Toffoli beat Jake Oetting to earn an enormous two factors for Calgary.
Appointment viewing this week
Golden Knights at Panthers | Tuesday, Mar. 7: The Panthers are nonetheless hanging round within the Eastern Conference playoff race, and this tilt in opposition to the Golden Knights will go a good distance towards figuring out their destiny.
Islanders at Penguins | Thursday, Mar. 9: It appears like these two groups have been preventing for his or her playoff lives for the final two months, and that can proceed on Thursday night time. As issues at present stand, the Isles and Pens occupy the 2 wild card spots within the Eastern Conference.
Oilers at Maple Leafs | Saturday, Mar. 9: Auston Matthews vs. Connor McDavid. That’s all that must be stated. Enjoy it now as a result of we can’t get it within the Stanley Cup Final.
Hurricanes at Devils | Sunday, Mar. 12: Watching these groups individually is sweet sufficient, however placing them on the identical sheet of ice makes for large hockey. The prime two groups within the Metro Division will duke it out on Sunday afternoon.
Jets at Lightning | Sunday, Mar. 12: Both of those playoff groups have been backsliding currently, and each want an enormous win. The excellent news for the Jets and Lightning is that somebody has to win this matchup. This must be an intense recreation between two determined golf equipment.
