Blues' Jordan Binnington out for Remainder of Series vs. Avalanche with Knee Injury
May 22, 2022
DENVER, CO - MAY 19: St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) during a break in play during a Stanley Cup Playoffs round 2 game between the St. Louis Blues and the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on May 19, 2022. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The St. Louis Blues announced goaltender Jordan Binnington will miss the remainder of the team's Stanley Cup playoff series with the Colorado Avalanche because of a lower-body injury.
Binnington was forced to exit the team's 5-2 Game 3 loss Saturday. The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford reported the Blues' initial fear was that he suffered a potential knee sprain.
Binnington was limited to just 6:45 on the ice Saturday. Avs forward Nazem Kadri collided into the netminder in the first period.
Binnington appeared to take exception, with Kadri claiming in a post-match interview a water bottle was thrown in his direction:
"Not sure if he just threw a water bottle at me" 😳
Nazem Kadri appears to have a water bottle thrown at him while discussing the collision with Binnington 🔎 https://t.co/6XLbAdxEEm
Blues coach Craig Berube made a cryptic comment about the sequence following his team's defeat.
"Look at Kadri’s reputation," he told reporters. "That’s all I’ve got to say."
Avs coach Jared Bednar came to his player's defense and thought Binnington's injury was an "unfortunate" consequence of a normal hockey play.
Here’s Jared Bednar’s full response on the Nazem Kadri-Calle Rosen-Jordan Binnington collision and Craig Berube’s comments. He did not seem to appreciate learning of Berube’s “reputation” comment and said it was a legal play by Kadri going for the puck. pic.twitter.com/gPb2ZBMEyl
What matters for St. Louis right now is that Ville Husso will be deputized as the starting goaltender against Colorado.
The 27-year-old had a .919 save percentage and a 2.56 goals-against average during the regular season. His save percentage has dipped to .891 in the postseason as he has surrendered 13 goals on 119 shots.
With the Blues staring at a 2-1 series deficit, losing Binnington could be a fatal blow to their hopes of advancing.
Nazem Kadri Touted as Hero, 'Villain' by Fans After Avs vs. Blues Game 3 Controversy
May 22, 2022
ST LOUIS, MO - MAY 21: (L-R) Nazem Kadri #91 and Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate Kadri's goal against the St. Louis Blues in the second period during Game Three of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Enterprise Center on May 21, 2022 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
The Colorado Avalanche defeated the St. Louis Blues 5-2 on Saturday in Game 3 of their second-round Stanley Cup Playoffs matchup to take a 2-1 series lead, but not without a little controversy.
Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington exited the game early in the first period after both Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri and Blues defenseman Calle Rosen crashed into him while chasing a rebounded shot.
Ville Huuso replaced Binnington for the remainder of the game.
While some fans were quick to blame Kadri for the collision, comparing him to the likes of Tom Wilson and former NHLer Sean Avery, others viewed him as the hero of Game 3 after scoring a goal in the second period and playing with a competitive edge.
Nazem Kadri is the new Tom Wilson. Convince me otherwise.
I really want the Washington Capitals to sign Nazem Kadri and put Tom Wilson on his wing just for the chaos. Ideally Brad Marchand is the other winger in this scenario
— Playoff Hockey Man Murphy O Canada 🇨🇦 (@MurphyOConnor2) May 22, 2022
Nazem Kadri, who has been booed every time he's touched the puck, scores just after the power play to make it 2-1. Cale Makar fired the puck in and Kadri tipped it.
Kadri has been viewed by a number of NHL fans in the past for being dirty, so it's not necessarily surprising that many laid into him during and after Saturday's game.
The 31-year-old was suspended eight games in June 2021 for an illegal check to the head on Blues defenseman Justin Faulk in their first-round playoff series. Including that suspension, he has been suspended a total of 16 playoff games and 11 regular-season games.
As for Binnington, his status moving forward is unclear. The 28-year-old played a significant role in St. Louis' 2019 Stanley Cup championship and will need him healthy to move further in the playoffs.
Binnington had also been playing well entering Saturday's game, posting a .948 save percentage and a 4-1 record in five playoff games. If he is unavailable, Huuso will likely get the start in Game 4 at Enterprise Center on Monday.
'Underrated' David Perron Praised for 2 Goals as Blues Upset Avalanche in Game 2
May 20, 2022
DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 19: Pavel Buchnevich #89, David Perron #57 and Ryan O'Reilly #90 of the St. Louis Blues celebrate a goal against the Colorado Avalanche in Game Two of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena on May 19, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
David Perron scored twice, including
the game-winning goal, to help lead the St. Louis Blues to a 4-1
victory over the top-seeded Colorado Avalanche in Game 2 of their
second-round playoff series Thursday night.
Perron now leads the Blues with seven
goals in eight appearances so far in the 2022 NHL playoffs. His 11
postseason points are already the second-most in his career, trailing
only the 16 he put up during St. Louis' run to the 2019 Stanley Cup
title.
David Perron is the most underrated player in the NHL and has been for years. It’s not particularly close, either. #stlblues#StanleyCup
The Blues and Avs are leveled at
one win apiece as the series shifts to the Enterprise Center in St.
Louis for the next two contests.
"It's playoffs. Big roller
coaster," Perron told reporters. "We didn't feel good about
ourselves last game. Tonight we had a lot more guys [playing well]."
Here's a look at more reaction to
the 33-year-old winger's standout performance:
I feel like we don’t talk about David Perron enough. 15 seasons in the league. Closing in on 1000 games and 300 goals. 20 or more goals six times. Would have had 20+ in the lockout and pandemic years as well. Consistent and underrated. And I just realized he’s from my hometown!
Jordan Kyrou and Brandon Saad also
found the net for St. Louis. Gabriel Landeskog tallied the only goal
for Colorado, which suffered its first loss of the playoffs after it swept the
Nashville Predators in the first round.
Goalie Jordan Binnington stopped 30 of
the 31 shots he faced to pick up the win for the Blues.
Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday night
at 8 p.m. ET on TNT.
5 Takeways from Day 1 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs
May 3, 2022
TORONTO, ON - MAY 2: Mitch Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning with teammate Auston Matthews #34 during the second period in Game One of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Scotiabank Arena on May 2, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
Frederik Andersen jumped on to the scene as a young goalie in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Anaheim Ducks had lost trust in their No. 1 goalie, Jonas Hiller, and instead turned to their rookie netminder.
Fast-forward to 2022, with Andersen now with the Carolina Hurricanes but injured to begin the playoffs, many wondered whether this would be the moment for another rising rookie, 22-year-old Pyotr Kochetkov. Instead, the net went to veteran goalie Antti Raanta, and he delivered in his first-ever playoff start, backstopping Carolina to a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins in Game 1 of their first-round series.
The Carolina goaltending situation was one of the biggest storylines to come from the first night of the2022 NHL playoffs. The Toronto Maple Leafs' decisive win over the Tampa Bay Lightning was another.
Here are five takeaways from the first night of postseason action.
TORONTO, ON - May 2 Prior to the start of the game, fans begin to gather. Sher (left-no last name) and Stephanie Scott (holding a photo of Auston Matthews) give a cheer in Maple Leaf Square.
The Toronto Maple Leafs took on the Tampa Bay Lightning in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. This is the first game of the first round of playoffs
May 2 2022 (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
New Year, New Narratives
It's been nearly 20 years since the Maple Leafs have won a playoff round, but a 5-0 thrashing of the reigning Stanley Cup champs twice over has the Leafs faithful eager for more. If they advance past the first round, you will likely be able to point to the five-minute power play they killed off Monday as a catalyst.
Early on, Kyle Clifford received a five-minute major and a game misconduct penalty for boarding Ross Colton, but Toronto actually generated more scoring chances than it surrendered during seven shorthanded minutes in the first period. David Kampf scored a shorthanded goal in the second period. The vaunted Tampa Bay power play went 0-for-5.
Matthews and Marner faced significant criticism last year when the Maple Leafs were eliminated in seven games by the Montreal Canadiens. Two key team leaders and two major components to the lineup, Matthews scored only a single goal and assisted on five, while Marner scored none, which was the same amount he scored in the 2019-20 postseason.
It's too early to see if the curse has been lifted, but there is such immense pressure on the Maple Leafs to get out of the first round, and yet Toronto thrived under it.
TORONTO, ON - May 2 In third period action, Morgan Rielly (44) of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Jan Rutta (44) of the Tampa Bay Lightning battle it out as part of a full on melee between teams.
The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-0 in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. This is the first game of the first round of playoffs
May 2 2022 (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Borderline Violence
Prior to the series starting, Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe gave us what could be the quote of the postseason:
"I expect it to be a very physical, borderline violent series in a lot of ways," he told reporters in Toronto. "And our guys will be ready for that."
A total of 122 penalty minutes were doled out in Game 1, so clearly the Leafs were, in fact, ready. A line brawl even broke out midway through the third period involving two longtime NHL tough guys in Corey Perry and Wayne Simmonds.
The ESPN2 cameras cut away for a commercial during the post-whistle scrum, but there were skirmishes in other games as well. A suspension could also be coming from the department of player safety for Clifford's hit from behind on Colton. It would be unfortunate for Toronto, who relies on Clifford, a two-time Stanley Cup champion, to bring energy on the fourth line, but the Leafs proved they could win without him on Monday.
This is the time of year when the levels of intensity and physicality go up a few notches. This is when you hear players say they need to "play between the whistles." The key is making sure the emotions don't boil over to the point that it becomes detrimental.
Speaking of which…
SAINT PAUL, MN - MAY 02: Minnesota Wild Defenceman Jared Spurgeon (46) attempts to bump St. Louis Blues Winger Pavel Buchnevich (89) off the puck during game 1 of the NHL playoffs between the St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild on April May 2nd, 2022, at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, MN. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Un-Gentlemanly Conduct
The Minnesota Wild clinched home-ice advantage against their Central Division rivals St. Louis, but it didn't help much. David Perron scored a hat trick for the Blues in a 4-0 win, and Ville Husso became the first St. Louis goalie to record a shutout in his playoff debut, but all of that was overshadowed by a late penalty for a crosscheck by Jared Spurgeon.
With 1:34 left in the game, Spurgeon was tied up with Pavel Buchnevich. Frustrated by his inability to connect on the puck with Buchnevich upending him, he crosschecked the back of the Blues forward's legs, slamming his stick down with considerable force. It didn't really matter that the Wild was left shorthanded for the rest of the game—it was lost well before the penalty—but it was a dangerous play that is going to get reviewed by the department of player safety and could land him a suspension.
It was also uncharacteristic and unbecoming of a captain. Spurgeon was a Lady Byng finalist last season and is a perennial candidate for the sportsmanship award given to the most "gentlemanly" player combined with a high standard of playing ability.
A captain goes down with the ship. He doesn't put himself in a position to sit out games.
The Blues are 13-1-1 in their last 15 games against the Wild. Ouch.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 02: Antti Raanta #32 of the Carolina Hurricanes leads his team onto the ice against the Boston Bruins during Game One of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 02, 2022 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Storm Surged
The Bruins have a relentless forecheck. Carolina did its best to stop it, but if you look at the underlying numbers, you'll see this was a pretty evenly matched game. Shot attempts at 5-on-5 were 56-48 in favor of Boston, scoring chances were 24-23 and high-danger chances were 11-11. But the power play woes resurfaced for the Bruins. Despite the fact that Boston generated chances on the first two power plays, the third didn't even yield a single shot attempt.
There was also some consternation in the Bruins net. Linus Ullmark made the start for Boston and at one point gave up a goal off his mask. Do the Bruins go with rookie goalie Jeremy Swayman in Game 2? Ullmark started because Swayman struggled down the stretch, going 4-6-0 with an .877 save percentage in the final 10 games.
It's possible he hit a wall and these last few days off have been beneficial for him. But there is no doubt a tandem that once looked strong is suddenly in doubt.
But the story today is Raanta.
"For me, it was obviously the first start in the playoffs in the NHL," Raanta said in his postgame press conference. "I was just trying to focus on the things that have (allowed me) to be successful. It was working nicely. But it's only one game, one win, and now it's just regrouping and getting ready for Wednesday."
EDMONTON, AB - MAY 2: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers stands for the singing of the national anthem prior to Game One of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings on May 2, 2022 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
One-Man Rush
Connor McDavid did very Connor McDavid-like things against the Los Angeles Kings. You can call it an odd-man rush because technically one is an odd number, but it was a 1-on-5 with McDavid as the lone man in an orange and blue jersey in the offensive zone.
With the Kings up 2-0 in the final minute of the first period, McDavid picked up the puck in the defensive zone and picked up some serious speed. He went 1-on-everyone and skated coast-to-coast, going down the boards and cutting through two defenders while another two failed to pick up his movement and another watched helplessly as he sniped one past Jonathan Quick from the edge of the right circle.
It was an absurd goal scored by one of the most elite players in the world. He just completely walked the Kings' entire five-man unit.
But when Leon Draisaitl scored around the 10-minute mark of the second period to tie the game at 3-3, it underscored the fact that McDavid and Draisaitl can put a team on their backs and win on their own. The Oilers don't have to be fantastic, but they don't completely roll over, this team will stay in games.
However, staying in games isn't good enough for McDavid, who is desperate for a championship. And that desperation may be needed after the Kings grabbed a late goal to take a 1-0 series lead.
Phillip Danault scored after an incredible sequence that saw Mike Smith turn the puck over off the back of the boards, then dive back to the crease to make a save before Danualt tipped Sean Durzi's point shot into the net.
"I was just trying to make something happen," Smith told reporters in his postgame press conference. "Obviously, just trying to do too much there. In a tight game like that, you can't afford to make mistakes like that. It ended up costing us the game."
Smith has lost his last 10 playoff games, including all six he has played for the Oilers.
6 NHL Storylines to Watch in Final Week of the 2021-22 Regular Season
Apr 25, 2022
TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 12: The Stanley Cup is shown before the first period of a game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Pittsburgh Penguins at Amalie Arena on October 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
We've made it to the final week of the 2021-22 NHL regular season. The playoff picture is starting to become clear, and on the other end of the spectrum, the draft lottery odds are starting to come into focus as well.
But some things are still undecided. The awards race is heating up, and the Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers are in a battle for the President's Trophy. Plus, there is still time for teams to battle for playoff positioning.
With that in mind, let's get into some of the questions that still need to be answered over this final week of play.
KITCHENER, ONTARIO - MARCH 23: Shane Wright #51 of the Team Red poses for a team photo prior to the 2022 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on March 23, 2022 in Kitchener, Ontario. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)
Which team has the best odds for the No. 1 overall draft pick?
The rights to draft Shane Wright are on the line.
The NHL will hold the draft lottery remotely on May 10. The odds were adjusted this season to allow for the addition of a 32nd team, the Seattle Kraken.
The 16 teams that did not make the Stanley Cup playoffs will be entered into the lottery. The team with the fewest points will have an 18.5 percent chance of winning the top pick, while the second-worst squad will have a 13.5 percent chance.
Currently, the Arizona Coyotes and Montreal Canadiens have the fewest amount of points with 51. The Coyotes kinda sorta openly tanked this season, and the franchise is in a strange state, with the team temporarily relocating to a college arena next season while it attempts to work out a deal for a new arena in Tempe. Winning the lottery and drafting Wright, who is projected to go No. 1 overall, would be a boon to an organization struggling to attract fans.
However, the Habs are hosting the draft in July, and that city could see a celebration even rowdier than the one we saw when the team advanced to the Stanley Cup Final last year.
The Philadelphia Flyers and Seattle Kraken will likely be the next-worst teams.
The Chicago Blackhawks and New Jersey Devils have point totals in the low 60s.
There are two new rules this year: A team will be restricted from moving up more than 10 spots if it wins one of the lottery draws, and it cannot win the lottery more than two times in a five-year period. However, wins in lotteries prior to 2022 will not be counted, which is good for the Devils, who won the lottery in 2017 and 2019.
New York Rangers' Igor Shesterkin stands in front of the gaol as time runs out during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Saturday, April 23, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Will Igor Shesterkin win the Hart Trophy?
Full disclosure: I'm an awards voter as a member of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. It's a privilege that I take seriously, and I do a lot of research when it comes to my ballot each season. I'm not going to disclose my ballot, especially since I have yet to finish my deep dive on the candidates, but Igor Shesterkin is making my job and the job of other voters interesting.
It's not often that a goalie makes a case for hockey's version of the MVP award, but the New York Rangers goalie will certainly be a finalist. He would be the eighth goalie to win the award. It would be the ninth time it was given to a goalie (Dominik Hasek won it twice) and the first since Carey Price won it in 2014-15.
Shesterkin leads the league in save percentage (.936) and goals-against average (2.03). His 36 wins are tied for fifth. But the traditional analytics don't illustrate his full value, in part because sometimes it is difficult to quantify a goalie's full value.
But if fancy stats are more your thing, then consider his 24.46 goals saved above average at five-on-five, which is second behind New York Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin and his 0.887 high-danger save percentage (also at five-on-five).
It's tough to compare a goalie to skaters, which is why they're often overlooked in the Hart Trophy race. And there is also the age-old question of what constitutes the most valuable player: Is it the player who make the biggest contribution or the one who does the most for the team without ending up on the scoresheet?
Shesterkin is also a strong candidate for the Vezina Trophy, the award given to goalies and voted on by NHL general managers.
Other top candidates for the Hart right now are Jonathan Huberdeau, Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid. If it was up to Huberdeau, who has a career-high 114 points, he would give it to Matthews.
And speaking of Matthews…
OTTAWA, ON - APRIL 16: Toronto Maple Leafs Center Auston Matthews (34) after a whistle during second period National Hockey League action between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators on April 16, 2022, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Will he score 60 goals?
Matthews is sitting at 58 with two games left to play against the Detroit Red Wings and the Boston Bruins. The Toronto Maple Leafs have already grabbed a playoff spot, but they cannot win the Atlantic Division. They enter the week five points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning, so there isn't much left to play for in these last two games and this is typically where we see some veterans and some top players resting in anticipation of the playoffs.
But no one has netted 60 goals in a season since Steven Stamkos did a decade ago. The only other active player to have scored 60 or more is Alexander Ovechkin, who really hasn't slowed down much considering he scored 50 this season, marking his ninth season with at least 50. It's a remarkable feat that has only occurred 39 other times and has been done by only 20 players.
Matthews might have already reached the milestone had he not missed eight games this season, especially three he sat out last week with an injury. But he returned to the lineup Saturday and tallied two assists on Sunday in a win over the Washington Capitals.
Is the injury nagging him enough that he should sit out and get ready for the postseason? Or should he go for 60? It's a tough call, but he appears to be well enough to play for now.
CALGARY, AB - APRIL 14: Jack Eichel #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights in action against the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on April 14, 2022 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
Will the Golden Knights make the playoffs?
Things sure have changed in Las Vegas since the club began its inaugural season in 2017-18. The expectation has been to win a Stanley Cup, and they went all-in this season by acquiring star center Jack Eichel, but injuries derailed the 2021-22 season.
The Golden Knights are currently sitting on the outside looking in, six points behind the Los Angeles Kings in the Pacific Division and three points behind the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference wild-card standings.
Their playoff prospects are nearly dead after a disaster of a game on Sunday night against the San Jose Sharks. San Jose was down by two with two minutes left but came back to tie it with 0.9 seconds left. The Sharks killed off a penalty in overtime and won in a shootout.
They do have a game in hand on the Stars, and they will play in Dallas on Tuesday. However, goalie Robin Lehner has been battling a knee injury since early March, and there seems to be a disconnect between him and the club as to whether he will undergo surgery. He did back up Logan Thompson on Sunday night against the Sharks, but it's been a little bit of a soap opera of late.
A few weeks ago, I wrote that the Eichel trade needs to be judged for the long-term benefits and that the season shouldn't be considered a disaster if the team fails to make the playoffs. However, it's tough to know what management and ownership make of the situation.
This team has been known to turn on a dime when it comes to decision-making. They jettisoned former coach Gerard Gallant in January 2018 with the team sitting in fifth place in the Pacific Division and traded goalie Marc-Andre Fleury in a salary-cap maneuver last summer. Both moves were quite unpopular. How will the management and ownership groups view the situation with current coach Peter DeBoer? DeBoer is widely regarded as one of the top coaches in the league, but there could be some heat on his seat as the season winds down.
SUNRISE, FL - APRIL 23: Florida Panthers fans hold signs up prior to the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the FLA Live Arena on April 23, 2022 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
Can anyone beat the Panthers?
The Panthers saw their franchise-best 13-game winning streak come to an end on Sunday night in a loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Avs have been stuck at 116 points for a week. They've lost their last four games, and backup goalie Pavel Francouz has been injured after an errant puck struck him on the bench.
The schedule for Colorado isn't light this week with games against the St. Louis Blues, Predators and Minnesota Wild. So the attention turns to the Panthers to see whether they can stay hot in the postseason against either the Capitals or the Boston Bruins.
The good news for Florida is that star defenseman Aaron Ekblad appears to be on the mend. He skated with the team on Long Island last week, so there is hope he can return for the postseason. He's been out since March 18 when he was injured in a game against the Anaheim Ducks. Without him, the Panthers have gone 15-1-0. If that's how they play without one of the best blueliners in the league, imagine what they might look like in the playoffs with him.
Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov (97) celebrates with teammate left wing Nicolas Deslauriers (44) after defeating the Seattle Kraken in an NHL hockey game, Friday, April 22, 2022, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
How will the brackets shake out?
We have one postseason matchup set: The St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild will square off in the first round. The rest of the matchups are still up in the air, but you can probably pencil in the Edmonton Oilers and the Los Angeles Kings.
The two series I would most like to see in the first round are Rangers-Bruins and Toronto-Tampa Bay. The second one is still in play.
The first round continues to vex a Toronto squad laden with talent and questionable goaltending. However, if the Leafs can get past the two-time defending champs in the first round, then it would make a huge statement that this team is ready to move on from its recent history and finally contend for a Cup once again.
As for the Rangers and Bruins facing one another, it's not quite Yankees-Red Sox, but it could be close. The intensity seems to ratchet up a few notches when Boston and New York teams play one another. Boston vs. New York might be the greatest rivalry in sports, and this is coming from a born-and-raised Californian.
This scenario would mean the Rangers leapfrog the Carolina Hurricanes in the standings. The two will play each other on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden, but the Rangers are four points behind the Canes.
It's a race to the finish for some and a race to the bottom for others. This next week should be high on drama and build up some excitement for the upcoming playoffs.
NHL Playoff Picture 2022: Latest Standings After Blues, Flames Clinch Berths
Apr 16, 2022
ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 16: Vladimir Tarasenko #91 of the St. Louis Blues is congratulated after scoring a goal against the Minnesota Wild at the Enterprise Center on April 16, 2022 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Scott Rovak/NHLI via Getty Images)
The St. Louis Blues clinched a spot in the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs with a 6-5 overtime win against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday at Enterprise Center. The win also vaulted the Blues into second place in the Central Division.
This is the fourth straight season that St. Louis is in the playoffs and the 10th time in the last 11 seasons. The team is aiming to win its first Stanley Cup since 2019.
The Calgary Flames also clinched a spot in the playoffs with the Edmonton Oilers' 4-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday. It's the first time since the 2019-20 season that Calgary is back in the postseason.
Here's an updated look at the top of the Western Conference standings following the Blues' and Flames' victories:
Central Division
Colorado Avalanche: 54-14-6, 114 points
St. Louis Blues: 45-20-10, 100 points
Minnesota Wild: 46-21-7, 99 points
Pacific Division
Calgary Flames: 45-20-9, 99 points
Edmonton Oilers: 44-26-6, 94 points
Los Angeles Kings: 39-27-10, 88 points
Wild Card
Nashville Predators: 43-27-5, 91 points
Dallas Stars: 42-27-5, 89 points
And here is a look at the top of the Eastern Conference standings:
Metropolitan Division
Carolina Hurricanes: 48-19-8, 104 points
New York Rangers: 49-21-6, 104 points
Pittsburgh Penguins: 43-23-11, 97 points
Atlantic Division
Florida Panthers: 53-15-6, 112 points
Toronto Maple Leafs: 48-20-6, 102 points
Tampa Bay Lightning: 45-21-8, 98 points
Wild Card
Boston Bruins: 46-24-5, 97 points
Washington Capitals: 41-23-10, 92 points
The Blues have been paced offensively this season by Vladimir Tarasenko, Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas.
Tarasenko entered Saturday's game against the Wild with 31 goals and 41 assists in 67 games. It is the sixth 30-plus goal season of his career. Kyrou, meanwhile, is in the midst of a career year, recording 18 goals and 53 assists in 66 games. Thomas has notched 18 goals and 53 assists in 64 games.
St. Louis' defense has been just as good with Torey Krug and Justin Faulk leading the way. Colton Parayko, Marco Scandella and Robert Bortuzzo have also helped hold down the fort on the back end.
But while the Blues clinched a playoff spot, they'll face a difficult battle to reach the Stanley Cup Final. The Avalanche and Wild have both excelled this year, and the Flames or Oilers could also pose a significant challenge.
The Flames, meanwhile, have been led offensively by Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Tkachuk and Elias Lindholm.
Gaudreau is in the midst of a career year. He enters Saturday night's game against the Arizona Coyotes with 34 goals and 67 assists for 101 points in 74 games. Tkachuk is also having a career season, notching 37 goals and 55 assists for 92 points. Lindholm has 38 goals and 36 assists for 74 games.
Calgary has also received some nice depth scoring from Andrew Mangiapane, Blake Coleman, Mikael Backlund, Dillon Dube, Tyler Toffoli and Milan Lucic, all of whom have at least 10 goals this year.
The Flames' defense has also been solid. Noah Hanifin, Oliver Kylington and Erik Gudbranson headline a group that also includes Christopher Tanev, Juuso Valimaki and Nikita Zadorov.
Goaltenders Jacob Markstrom and Dan Vladar have arguably been the most impressive. Markstrom owns a 2.24 goals-against average, third-best in the NHL. In addition, Calgary's goaltenders have posted a combined 2.51 GAA, second-best in the league, and .918 save percentage, fourth-best in the league.
But like the Blues, the Flames will face an uphill battle in the West as they aim to win their first Stanley Cup since 1989.
Blues Spoil Minnesota's Winter Classic Party and Send Message to the Rest of the NHL
Jan 2, 2022
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 01: Jordan Kyrou #25 of the St. Louis Blues celebrates his second goal of the period during the second period of the 2022 NHL Winter Classic between the St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild at Target Field on January 01, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS — The 2022 Winter Classic lined up to be a celebration of Minnesota and the sport the state loves so much. The "State of Hockey" was finally hosting the most prestigious of all of the outdoor hockey games. The rink at Target Field was designed to look like one of the frozen ponds and lakes the residents of Minnesota grow up skating on, and the experience was authentic right down to the temperature: minus 8 at puck drop, the coldest temperature ever recorded at a Winter Classic.
"I was looking over my shoulder for a polar bear," said Minnesota Wild winger Marcus Foligno. "That's how cold it was out there."
They didn't care about the weather, the fanfare or the stadium lights. The Blues stole the show in more ways than one.
They showed up wearing beach gear in subzero temperatures, walking from the bus to the locker rooms in Hawaiian shirts and sandals. The initial plan was to dress as lumberjacks in an effort to join the fun and fit in with the locals. It would have worked out nicely, considering there were lumberjack demonstrations taking place in right field for much of the night, but instead the Blues crashed the party and made it their own.
"Everybody was talking about how cold it was and us kind of being like, 'Nobody cares,'" Blues captain Ryan O'Reilly said. "But walking out of that hotel was probably the quickest I've ever woken up for a game."
Jordan Kyrou scored twice and assisted on two goals for a four-point night in St. Louis' 6-4 win over the Wild on New Year's Night. Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota's star winger, came into the game as the focal point and likely would have remained in the spotlight with his three points had the Wild won and had Kyrou not set a record for the most points recorded in a Winter Classic.
To say that Kyrou is in the midst of a breakout season might not be entirely accurate. He's been a productive player for the Blues for two seasons, even if the numbers didn't always show it. The once-heralded prospect's name is well-known in St. Louis, but he's not exactly a star on the national stage just yet.
"He's played really well for us all year. He's a really good offensive player and has tons of ability," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "He played on a big stage tonight and showed everybody what he can do. He's a talented guy and he's got a great shot and great skill. He showed that tonight."
"They should probably put someone on Jordan Kyrou"
His deft puck-handling on a tricky ice surface in a nationally televised game was key for the Blues. Berube had been forced to shuffle lines in the prior game against the Edmonton Oilers because of COVID-19 absences and injuries. Kyrou ended up on a line with Robert Thomas and Vladimir Tarasenko and stayed there on Saturday.
The chemistry between Tarasenko, who is having a bounce-back season with 14 goals, and Kyrou was obvious. The playmaking was stellar.
"I thought he came out with energy and confidence and he was making plays," O'Reilly said. "It's not easy out there on that ice. Pucks are bouncing on that ice. So for him to have the confidence that he had and make some of the plays he made, it was impressive to see."
The Wild have been forced to adjust their own lineup for the same reasons. It might be fair to say they struggled without defensemen Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin. When Minnesota coach Dean Evason pulled goalie Kaapo Kahkonen with eight full minutes to go in the third period, forward Joel Eriksson Ek's ability to move bodies around up front was also missed.
Kahkonen did not start the game. He replaced Cam Talbot after Talbot was injured. He allowed six goals on 28 shots, with five coming in the second period alone. Talbot's fashion choice to wear a toque over his helmet proved to be exceptionally popular on Twitter, so it was a shame that Evason was forced to go to the bullpen.
But he was trying to reignite a stagnant squad. This might have been a novelty game, but it was a regular-season contest with two points and the Central Division lead on the line.
"I think they got to their game quicker than we got to ours," Evason said. "Our sense of urgency has to be way quicker than the last 10 minutes of a hockey game when we're pulling goalies. We shouldn't be pulling our goalie with eight minutes left in the third period. That's not what we want to do. Having said that, we had a whole ton of chances to tie that hockey game up, or at least get it to one, but we have to find that.
"We didn't simplify our game. They did."
To be fair, the circumstances didn't exactly favor the Wild. Minnesota hadn't played since Dec. 20 and had played only two games in the last 19 days because COVID-19 forced the league to postpone so many games. It's not easy for a team to sit like that and then battle the elements in an outdoor rink with unfamiliar sightlines.
But the Wild were ultimately doomed after that second period.
"The first two periods, I don't have words. Like, it's embarrassing," forward Mats Zuccarello said. "I think the first two periods, you have 40,000 people coming, freezing their asses off and we're playing like that?"
There were several aspects of the 2022 Winter Classic that characterized everything Minnesotans love about the hockey culture in the state. But in the end, it was the Blues doing the celebrating.
"You know what you're going to face. You're going to face a good crowd and bouncing pucks, not many plays and very cold," Tarasenko said. "But the people that organized this did a very impressive job. We're trying to have fun, and I don't think anybody complained about ice or the weather. It was a really nice experience for us."
Jordan Kyrou Tallies 4 Points as Blues Defeat Wild in 2022 Winter Classic
Jan 2, 2022
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 01: Vladimir Tarasenko #91 of the St. Louis Blues celebrates his goal with Justin Faulk #72, Jordan Kyrou #25, Niko Mikkola #77 and Robert Thomas #18 during the second period of the 2022 NHL Winter Classic between the St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild at Target Field on January 01, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
The St. Louis Blues defeated the Minnesota Wild 6-4 in the 2022 NHL Winter Classic at Target Field in Minneapolis to move to 19-9-5 and maintain first place in the Central Division.
The Blues were lucky enough to get several players back from injury for Saturday's contest, including Jordan Kyrou, Robert Thomas, and David Perron, who returned to the team for a 4-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 29. Oskar Sundqvist, Ivan Barbashev and Pavel Buchnevich also returned to the lineup against Minnesota.
Saturday's win was the Blues' second Winter Classic victory. They defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 when they hosted the outdoor event at the St. Louis Cardinals' Busch Stadium in 2017.
Notable Stats
Jordan Kyrou, FWD, STL: 2 goals, 2 assists, +1
Kirill Kaprizov, FWD, MIN: 1 goal, 2 assists, +1
Ivan Barbashev, FWD, STL: 1 goal, 1 assist, +1
Ryan Hartman, FWD, MIN: 1 goal, 1 assist, +1
Blues' Jordan Kyrou Has Record-Setting Night
Kyrou couldn't be stopped on Saturday night, and he was arguably the best player on the ice.
The 23-year-old finished with two goals and two assists for four points. He is the first player in NHL history to record at least four points in an outdoor game.
Kyrou entered the Winter Classic with 10 goals and 18 assists in 28 games. He's on pace to surpass his career high of 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists), which he set during the 2020-21 campaign.
The 23-year-old has been particularly hot over his last two games. In his last outing on Dec. 29 against the Oilers, he tallied one goal and two assists in a 4-2 win. What's even more impressive about this run is that he missed four games before Wednesday's game against Edmonton because of an upper-body injury.
Much of Kyrou's success can also be attributed to his linemates, Robert Thomas and Vladimir Tarasenko, who is a two-time All-Star and five-time 30-plus goal scorer. Thomas has been more of a depth player over his four-year career, but did put up 42 points during the 2019-20 season.
The Blues selected Kyrou in the second round of the 2016 draft. He agreed to a two-year, $5.6 million deal before the 2021-22 season and will remain with the franchise through the 2022-23 campaign.
Based on his performance in the Winter Classic and throughout the season, it's probably safe to say Kyrou will be a big part of the Blues' future.
Kirill Kaprizov's Effort Not Enough
Kaprizov is one of the most thrilling young players in the NHL, and he kicked off the Winter Classic by scoring Minnesota's first goal of the night 25 seconds after Blues forward David Perron tallied St. Louis' first goal of the game in the first period.
Kaprizov also assisted on Ryan Hartman's third period goal for his second point of the night, and Kevin Fiala's third period goal for his third point of the game.
The 24-year-old has been playing on Minnesota's top line alongside Hartman and Mats Zuccarello, and entered Saturday's game leading the team with 36 points (12 goals, 24 assists) in 30 games.
Kaprizov agreed to a five-year, $45 million contract with the Wild in September. His $9 million cap hit is the largest in franchise history, and that deal is already paying off for Minnesota.
The Wild selected Kaprizov in the fifth round of the 2015 draft, but he didn't make his NHL debut until the 2020-21 campaign. The native of Russia tallied 27 goals and 24 assists in 55 games last year to win the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie.
If anything, the Winter Classic proved that Kaprizov can be Minnesota's face of the franchise, and only big things are expected from him in the future.
What's Next?
The Blues will travel to face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday, while the Wild will be on the road Thursday to take on the Boston Bruins.
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