Nashville News & Notes
Ekholm the OT hero as Predators slip Hurricanes | Sportsnet.ca
Predators news is a bit thin on the ground, so re-watch Ekholm’s game winner from last night. Every goal he scores is amazing.
Harvard tops Gophers hockey 4-3 in OT to win Mariucci Classic | StarTribune
Jimmy Vesey with assists on the game-tying and game-winning goals, and Tommy Novak with a helper on the losing side.
Saros Shines; Admirals Outlast Monsters 3-1 | Admirals Roundtable
The Admirals are playing very good hockey this season after their rough start.
AHL announces All-Star Classic coaches | The American Hockey League
Dean Evason gets the nod as the Central division’s coach as his team leads it with a .682 record.
World Junior Championships
World Junior Championship. Russia – Denmark – 4:3 OT | SKA.ru
Kamenev led Team Russia to a 4-3 overtime victory over Denmark.
Finland eliminates undisciplined Canada from world juniors | TSN
Jake Virtanen should probably hire bodyguards, just saying.
U.S. Blanks Czech Republic, 7-0, in WJC Quarterfinals | USA Hockey
Team USA absolutely destroyed the Czechs in their quarterfinal matchup, but Monday’s game against Russia will be a much tougher challenge.
Five Things Learned From World Junior Quarterfinals | NHL.com
Notable: Auston Matthews is a goal away from tying the American record for goals scored at this tournament.
Around Hockey
Atkinson’s been one of the Jackets’ ‘most consistent forwards’ under Tortorella | ProHockeyTalk
Cam Atkinson is pretty good for a tiny dude.
Florida Panthers give coach Gerard Gallant ‘multi-year’ extension | Puck Daddy
The team has done very well with him, but I tend to be skeptical of most coaching moves.
USA Hockey Partnering in Return of Kraft Hockeyville USA | USA Hockey
USA Hockey is partnering with Kraft Hockeyville again this season. I am not a fan of the Hometown Hockey clone but the money goes for a good cause.
Drouin sent down to AHL Syracuse | Tampa Bay Times
While this move was largely greeted with confusion, Drouin is their only player who would not have to pass through waivers.
Curtis McElhinney injures himself by randomly falling down on his own leg | SBNation.com
That looks bad. Fortunately for the hapless Jackets, third string rookie call-up Forsberg helped them survive OT and win it in the shootout.
Coach’s Corner: Darnell Nurse can’t be fighting Oilers’ fights | Sportsnet.ca
Don Cherry guarantees Canada will win the WJCs next year, after lamenting that the Oilers shouldn’t be depending on Darnell Nurse to fight their battles.
Johnson, Saad score twice each; Jackets beat Caps 5-4 in SO | USA Today
Brandon Saad is having a very underratedly good season in the midst of doubts that he’s worth what the Jackets paid him. (He is. Whether they can afford him is a different question.)