Saturday’s Dump & Chase: The Road Is Long
And it sure does have many a winding turn.
The Buffalo Sabres are a cautionary tale | On the Forecheck
In case you missed it, I wrote a bit about one of the league's more notorious failed rebuilds, and what the Preds can learn from it. Probably worth noting that several commenters have already brought up The GM Question (we'll have more on that in our *sigh* ongoing rebuild discussion, too).
Keller and Flanagan an impressive top pair for Team WSF | The Ice Garden
I am deeply regretting that I haven't been able to catch any of the PWHPA games so far. Megan Keller and Kali Flanagan sound like they're an absolute joy to watch, and goodness knows I could use watching some good defense right now.
Bettman: Helmet Ads “More Likely Than Not” to Stay in NHL | SportsLogos.Net News
Hands up if you're actually surprised.
Belarusian teams needed six OTs in third-longest hockey game ever | ProHockeyTalk
Even more surprising than the length of this game is the fact that the coach of the losing team played in a loss that was only four minutes shorter. Now that's a way to hate even the concept of overtime.
Blue Jackets' Tortorella says he didn't bench Laine in loss to Panthers | Sportsnet.ca
I think that we're getting into the question of what the definition of "is" is, here. Patrik Laine wasn't injured, but his final shift in an OT loss came with seven minutes left in regulation. Tortorella can say it was a coaching decision instead of a benching if he wants (he does want), but...c'mon.
Senators drop seventh straight to Oilers this season as McDavid goes off | Sportsnet.ca
I'd ask if the Sens are okay, but I think we all know the answer to that question.
Edreys Wajed discusses inspiration behind his 'Breaking Barriers' design | Buffalo Sabres
There are some extremely cool graphic design elements in this Sabres Black History Month shirt.
Capitals not ruling out potential return for Henrik Lundqvist this season | Sportsnet.ca
Well, I'll just keep wishing him a complete recovery, on whatever timetable he manages it. It would be great if he were able to go for one last shot at the Stanley Cup, but not at the cost of his health or his life.
US-Canada border decision looms in playoffs for NHL | ProHockeyTalk
A reminder that these will be the first actual yardstick games of the season. Bizarre that it’s going to be so late.
Grubauer notches fourth shutout, Avalanche beat Kings | Sportsnet.ca
The Avs have been having some surprising difficulty of late actually converting on their shots. Conveniently for them, they've controlled play and gotten excellent goaltending in spite of that.
NHL still navigating challenges one year after pausing season | ProHockeyTalk
It would be more surprising if they weren't.
I hope you're all being kind to yourselves as the one-year anniversary of lockdowns beginning (in the US, anyway--earlier for a lot of our international readers, later for some of you) passes. Anniversaries of painful or stressful events can be incredibly hard, whether or not you're consciously thinking of them.