[mr. leisure]

The NHL’s Vancouver Canucks say 25 members of the organization have tested positive for the coronavirus, including 21 players. The team was shut down last week, and it’s uncertain when it will play its next game. In a statement attributed to team doctor Jim Bovard and infectious disease doctor Josh Douglas, the Canucks say the COVID-19 cases stem from a variant of the virus that was traced by Vancouver Coastal Health back to one individual contracting it in a public setting

How are they ever going to be able make up all those games ?

[hotcross]

Trade between Florida Panthers and Chicago Blackhawks:

Brett Connolly, Riley Stillman, Henrik Borgstrom and a seventh-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft were traded to the Chicago Blackhawks by the Florida Panthers on Thursday.

Florida receives defenseman Lucas Carlsson and center Lucas Wallmark.

[yisman]

As vaccinations ramp up past a pace of 3 million a day in the U.S, the NHL is in a tougher spot than the other three major North American professional sports leagues because seven of its 31 teams are based on Canada. While the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball are relaxing virus protocols when a certain percentage of each team is fully vaccinated, the top hockey league in the world is facing a severe outbreak with the Vancouver Canucks and grappling with vaccine inequity on opposite sides of the border.
"It all comes down to the government guidelines, and it’s out of our control," U.S.-born Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck said. "You definitely see the States getting out the vaccinations well and it’s very good, very nice, and it’d be nice to see that in Canada, but I don’t know the logistics of it all."

[mr. leisure]

Stamkos injured in Lightning win against Blue Jackets

Center leaves game in third period; Gourde has four assists for Tampa Bay


COLUMBUS -- Steven Stamkos scored for the Tampa Bay Lightning before leaving with an injury in a 6-4 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Thursday.

"If there's anything, we'll fill you in tomorrow, but not right now," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said of Stamkos, who left the game at 1:46 of the third period.
Yanni Gourde had four assists, and Ryan McDonagh scored twice for the Lightning (27-11-2), who had lost two straight. Barclay Goodrow and Blake Coleman each scored three points, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 32 saves.
Jack Roslovic scored and had two assists for the Blue Jackets (15-19-8), who are 2-7-1 in their past 10 games. Columbus defeated Tampa Bay 4-2 here Tuesday.

[hotcross]

Blue Jackets placed Zach Werenski on injured reserve Friday, ending his 2020-21 season. The defenseman has an “inguinal/sports hernia,” according to the team, and will undergo surgery next week.

“Zach has been playing through the injury for most of the season and as much as we would like to have him in the lineup, having the surgery now is the right decision and will allow him to be 100 percent before the start of training camp in the fall,” said Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen.



In 35 games this season Werenski scored seven goals and recorded 20 points while averaging 24:22 of ice time.


The Blue Jackets’ playoff hopes were already slim, with the team sitting seven points behind fourth-place Nashville in the Central Division with 14 games to play. After losing Boone Jenner and Riley Nash to injury this week, this is another blow to those chances. But with the NHL trade deadline coming up on Monday afternoon, it was likely Kekalainen will be in seller mode.

[yisman]

What are the chances he actually gets dealt before Monday's NHL trade deadline? The Athletic's Craig Custance and Eric Duhatschek reported Thursday that teams are still calling the B's about their asking price for DeBrusk.
"For teams interested in a younger player who would remain under team control, Jake DeBrusk might be the most interesting option," Custance and Duhatschek wrote. "Teams continue to call the Bruins to inquire about DeBrusk and get a sense of what it would take to acquire the 24-year-old winger. What makes him so intriguing? 'His scoring rate doesn’t drop in the playoffs,' pointed out one source. He has 14 goals in 49 career playoff games."

[Otters27]

What's the deal with these 7+ goal games?

[mr. leisure]

Nash traded to Maple Leafs by Blue Jackets

Forward out 4-6 weeks with knee injury, is pending unrestricted free agent; Columbus gets conditional pick in 2022 Draft

Riley Nash was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs by the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

"I definitely wasn't expecting it today, for sure, with a couple of days to go (before the NHL Trade Deadline on April 12)," Nash told The Athletic. "I feel like the eyes have been on the other guys, but this is definitely exciting and a great opportunity."
The forward is out 4-6 weeks after spraining his knee in the second period of a 3-0 loss to the Florida Panthers on Sunday. He was placed on injured reserve Tuesday.

"He has a history of being a reliable defensive player and a guy who knows exactly who is and what he needs to do to help this team win," Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said Saturday. "It's great for us to add somebody of his experience and a guy who plays a little bit lower in the lineup. The priority is for us to get him healthy and take it from there but we are excited to add him to the group."
Nash scored seven points (two goals, five assists) in 37 games and can become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
The 31-year-old has scored 172 points (63 goals, 109 assists) in 578 NHL games with the Carolina Hurricanes, Boston Bruins and Blue Jackets, and eight points (two goals, six assists) in 32 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"What I know of him, what stands out to me was the way he played against us in the [Stanley Cup Qualifiers] against Columbus last year," Keefe said. "I just thought he was a real factor and got a sense of what he could bring there. As a guy who gets really difficult match ups, starts in his own end, plays against good players, I thought he had a lot of shifts against our best players where you thought perhaps we'd get the upper hand and it didn't work out that way."
The Maple Leafs (27-10-3) lead the seven-team Scotia North Division, five points ahead of the Edmonton Oilers.
Nash told the website he expects to be healthy by the start of the playoffs (the regular season is scheduled to end May 11). Columbus defeated Toronto in the Qualifiers last season.
"You follow teams around the League, and they've been having a really strong year," Nash said. "We played them last year, so that was a chance to see what they're all about. They were knocking on the door last year. ... I'm excited to add whatever they need, and go on, hopefully, a long playoff run. An opportunity like this doesn't come around very often. This should be fun."
The Blue Jackets (15-19-8) are seventh in the eight-team Discover Central Division, seven points behind the fourth-place Nashville Predators. The top four teams in each of the four divisions qualify for the playoffs.
"The way this year has gone, just the team aspect of not quite putting it all together to give ourselves a real chance," Nash said. "That's a nagging feeling for a lot of guys, especially these next few days (until the deadline). ... Things are changing (with the Blue Jackets) because we weren't able to get it done. That's frustrating, but you try to learn from it and be better moving forward."
The draft pick will become a sixth-round selection if Nash plays in 25 percent of Toronto's playoff games this season.

[yisman]

The NHL has extended its regular season to May 16 to allow teams in the all-Canada North Division to make up games that were postponed because of a COVID-19 outbreak among the Vancouver Canucks. The league has left open the possibility, however, that teams in the three other divisions that were created for this pandemic-postponed, 56-game season might start their postseason competition on May 11.

[mr. leisure]

Dubnyk, Nemeth acquired by Avalanche in separate trades

Sharks receive Pateryn, fifth-round pick for goalie; Red Wings get fourth-round selection for defenseman

by David Satriano @davidsatriano / NHL.com Staff Write

Devan Dubnyk was traded to the Colorado Avalanche by the San Jose Sharks on Saturday for defenseman Greg Pateryn.

San Jose also received a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft for the goalie, who is in the final season of a six-year contract he signed with the Minnesota Wild on June 27, 2015 and can become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Dubnyk was expected to join the Avalanche on Saturday.
"I think it sends a pretty strong message that [general manager Joe Sakic] believes in this group and that we are trying to make a run at this thing," Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog said. "That's been no secret since Day One of training camp. Looking at our roster and looking at the team that we have, we know this is a really good year for us and a real good opportunity for us to definitely go after this thing and we're excited and got a lot of work ahead of us.
"It's not going to happen overnight, but we're excited about where we're at in the standings and have an opportunity to win our division and keep working ahead of the playoffs."
The Avalanche (27-9-4) lead the eight-team Honda West Division; the Sharks (18-17-4) are sixth, three points behind the fourth-place Coyotes. The top four teams will qualify for the playoffs.
With Pavel Francouz having not played this season because of a lower-body injury, Colorado previously acquired goalie Jonas Johansson from the Buffalo Sabres on March 20. Johansson is 2-0-1 with a 2.13 goals-against avervage and .920 save percentage in four games (three starts) since the trade, including his first NHL shutout in a 2-0 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.
"We saw last year how important goalie depth is in the playoffs, actually over the last few years," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "And to be able to acquire the two guys we've acquired here recently, I think it just makes our team deeper and stronger, and to add the veteran leadership and guys who have sort of been there before going into this time of the year is real important."
Dubnyk was 3-9-2 with a 3.18 GAA and .898 save percentage in 17 games (13 starts) for San Jose. The 34-year-old was acquired by the Sharks in a trade with the Wild on Oct. 5.
Selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round (No. 14) of the 2004 NHL Draft, Dubnyk is 250-204-54 with a 2.60 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in 537 games (509 starts) with the Sharks, Wild, Arizona Coyotes, Nashville Predators and Oilers. He is 8-18 with a 2.72 GAA, .904 save percentage and two shutouts in 26 Stanley Cup Playoff games.


Bednar said he expects Dubnyk and Johansson to each play behind starter Philipp Grubauer, who is tied for the NHL lead in wins (24) with Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning and leads goalies in games played (33). Grubauer has a 2.00 GAA, .919 save percentage and five shutouts this season.
"It's a busy schedule going down the stretch," Bednar said. "We know we want to give 'Grubi' some rest -- he's getting some right now. This is a much-needed break for him getting ready for the stretch run, and heading into the playoffs we want to make sure he's rested and healthy. He's obviously our No. 1 and the goalie depth is real important."
On Friday, Colorado acquired defenseman Patrik Nemeth in a trade with the Detroit Red Wings for a fourth-round selection in the 2022 NHL Draft.
Nemeth is expected to join the Avalanche on Monday or Tuesday. The 29-year-old, who can become an unrestricted free agent after this season, scored eight points (two goals, six assists) in 39 games this season. He previously played for Colorado from 2017-19.
Bednar said defenseman Erik Johnson, who hasn't played since Jan. 30 because of an upper-body injury, is expected to be out for the season.
"To add veteran guys like 'Nemo' into the mix, it gives us more options," Bednar said. "He's a guy that has a specialty too, and that's penalty killing. He's been an outstanding penalty killer for us before, he's had a good two-year run in Detroit where he's logged a lot of minutes and been relied on on the defensive side of things, and that's what we see him bringing to us. He's another veteran guy that's hungry in trying to win a Cup and that we know and everyone in our room likes him."
Pateryn is in the final season of a three-year contract he signed with the Wild on July 1, 2018 and can become an unrestricted free agent after the season. The 30-year-old has no points in 11 games this season with the Avalanche and Wild.
"He's a quality defenseman," Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said. "He was involved in a trade earlier in the year (with the Wild on Jan. 19) for Ian Cole. We know him, he's a big right-shot defenseman who's played on some very good hockey teams. … Greg's a good player and we're looking forward to him coming and joining us too."
Selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the seventh round (No. 128) of the 2008 NHL Draft, Pateryn has scored 41 points (four goals, 37 assists) in 278 regular-season games with the Avalanche, Wild, Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens, and has three assists in seven playoff games.

[BarkingToad]

Great ending by Blues, scored with 30 seconds left in regulation to send to overtime, and Oreilly scored a backhander with 2 seconds left in OT. Climbed into final playoff spot as of now.

[Otters27]

Red wings with a big underdog win last night

[batt33]

Great ending by Blues, scored with 30 seconds left in regulation to send to overtime, and Oreilly scored a backhander with 2 seconds left in OT. Climbed into final playoff spot as of now.

pretty fun game to watch at the end!

[hotcross]

Nick Foligno was acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday in a three-team trade involving the Columbus Blue Jackets and San Jose Sharks.


Columbus traded the forward for a first-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft from Toronto.

The Sharks received a fourth-round pick in 2021 from the Maple Leafs for forward Stefan Noesen.

Foligno was captain of the Blue Jackets since May 20, 2015. The 33-year-old has scored 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 42 games this season and 482 (203 goals, 279 assists) in 950 regular-season games with Columbus and the Ottawa Senators.

[yisman]

Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid had some choice words for the NHL over its decision to schedule a game after the emotional memorial service for former teammate Colby Cave.
“Some days are about a little more than just about hockey,” the Oilers captain said after his team's 5-0 loss to the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
Several hours before puck drop, the Oilers attended and participated remotely in the service for Cave, whose tragic and sudden death on April 11, 2020 rocked the hockey world. Cave, who was 25 at the time of his death, died after suffering a brain bleed.

[mr. leisure]

Nick Foligno was acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday in a three-team trade involving the Columbus Blue Jackets and San Jose Sharks.


Columbus traded the forward for a first-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft from Toronto.

The Sharks received a fourth-round pick in 2021 from the Maple Leafs for forward Stefan Noesen.

Foligno was captain of the Blue Jackets since May 20, 2015. The 33-year-old has scored 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 42 games this season and 482 (203 goals, 279 assists) in 950 regular-season games with Columbus and the Ottawa Senators.

Columbus has disappointed all year , I wonder if Torts is on the hot seat ?

[batt33]

Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid had some choice words for the NHL over its decision to schedule a game after the emotional memorial service for former teammate Colby Cave.
“Some days are about a little more than just about hockey,” the Oilers captain said after his team's 5-0 loss to the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
Several hours before puck drop, the Oilers attended and participated remotely in the service for Cave, whose tragic and sudden death on April 11, 2020 rocked the hockey world. Cave, who was 25 at the time of his death, died after suffering a brain bleed.

yeah that move by the NHL didn't feel right.....

[yisman]

ST. PAUL, Minn. — For the third time this season the Blues found themselves in an opposing team’s city ready to play hockey, only to have the game postponed. And each time for a different reason.

The latest case came Monday when the Blues learned in the middle of the afternoon, about 4½ hours before the planned puck drop, that their scheduled game against the Minnesota Wild was being postponed.

The Blues already had conducted their morning skate at Xcel Energy Center. The trade deadline came and went, and then the game was postponed — and rescheduled for May 12, with a 7 p.m. start.

[mr. leisure]

Canucks practice after COVID-19 outbreak, to play Oilers on Friday

First activity since 11-day pause; Pettersson could return from injury

by Tim Campbell @TimNHL / NHL.com Staff Writer
The Vancouver Canucks had 10 players skate Monday, their first day of team activity since an outbreak of a COVID-19 variant paused their season for 11 days.

Canucks general manager Jim Benning said they are on track to resume the 56-game regular-season schedule Friday at home against the Edmonton Oilers.
Eight Vancouver games were postponed, including Monday and Wednesday at Edmonton.
"Some guys feel really good and they're ready to go," Benning said. "Other guys are still feeling some residual effects of the COVID. But the next step for them is to start working out, getting on the ice and getting back in shape to play again.
"We'll just deal with, if they have any effects through this week, skating and stuff with the COVID, we'll deal with them, but hopefully when we play Friday night we've got our full team back in play."
The Canucks had 22 players and four staff members test positive. There were 18 players on the NHL COVID-19 protocol list Monday.
Benning said coach Travis Green was one of those affected.
"Travis is feeling better every day," Benning said. "I haven't talked to him yet today, so hopefully he's ready to go too, when we get back going."
Forward Tanner Pearson, who has scored 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 33 games, was one of the Canucks who didn't test positive.
"Obviously I've stayed on the right side of it," Pearson said. "For the most part, our team hasn't. I've talked to most guys that got it, array of symptoms, some are still battling them, so hopefully that gets in a positive way better soon. It's one of those things where you just hope everyone that got it and their families are doing well and can recover from it."
The Canucks last played March 24, a 5-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, and has been off the ice since March 31. Vancouver is scheduled to play its remaining 19 games in 31 days, ending the regular season at home against the Calgary Flames on May 16.
The NHL regular season was originally scheduled to end May 8. There have been 49 games postponed because of COVID-19 protocol since the NHL season began Jan. 13.
Vancouver's next six games will be at home.
"We've got a tough schedule coming up here once we get started playing," he said. "The good thing about it, the way I see it, is in the next couple of weeks, we're still at home, so hopefully our guys get feeling better, their families get feeling better, and then once we get on the road, they have that peace of mind where their families are doing well and they can concentrate on the hockey when we're on the road.
"It's not going to be easy, but in this season with all the things you have to deal with, with COVID and stuff, it is what it is."
Pearson has been skating after missing four games with a lower-body injury.
"I can't speak for everyone, but I'm excited," he said. "I want to play. It's way better than sitting in an apartment all day and just waiting for the OK that you're good to come back to the rink or waiting that day to see if you ended up positive. It's stressful, and hopefully we get over this soon."
Vancouver (16-18-3) is sixth in the seven-team Scotia North Division, 10 points behind the fourth-place Montreal Canadiens with two games in hand. The top four teams qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"First and foremost, it's about getting healthy, getting back on the ice, getting back in game shape," Benning said. "My hope is that physically the guys feel well from coming off COVID and we can compete. Hopefully we're going to get some injured guys back to that should help out. I'm hoping we can win our share of games here so we can make it competitive going down the stretch."
Forward Elias Pettersson, who has scored 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in 26 games, could be close to a return and has been skating, Benning said. He last played March 2 and has missed 11 games with an upper-body injury.
"I'm hoping he's able to play here by the end of the week, but we'll have a better idea once he meets with the specialist on Wednesday," Benning said.
The Canucks on Monday added defenseman Madison Bowey in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, traded forward Adam Gaudette to the Blackhawks, and traded defenseman Jordie Benn to the Winnipeg Jets. Gaudette was the first Canucks player placed on the COVID-19 protocol list during this outbreak. Benn did not appear on the list during the outbreak; he missed six games at the start of the season due to protocol.

[yisman]

June 2016: Oilers trade Taylor Hall to the Devils
December 2019: Devils trade Hall to the Coyotes
October 2020: Hall signs with Buffalo as a free agent (odd signing)
April 2021: Sabres trade Hall to the Bruins

[batt33]

Canucks practice after COVID-19 outbreak, to play Oilers on Friday

First activity since 11-day pause; Pettersson could return from injury

by Tim Campbell @TimNHL / NHL.com Staff Writer
The Vancouver Canucks had 10 players skate Monday, their first day of team activity since an outbreak of a COVID-19 variant paused their season for 11 days.

Canucks general manager Jim Benning said they are on track to resume the 56-game regular-season schedule Friday at home against the Edmonton Oilers.
Eight Vancouver games were postponed, including Monday and Wednesday at Edmonton.
"Some guys feel really good and they're ready to go," Benning said. "Other guys are still feeling some residual effects of the COVID. But the next step for them is to start working out, getting on the ice and getting back in shape to play again.
"We'll just deal with, if they have any effects through this week, skating and stuff with the COVID, we'll deal with them, but hopefully when we play Friday night we've got our full team back in play."
The Canucks had 22 players and four staff members test positive. There were 18 players on the NHL COVID-19 protocol list Monday.
Benning said coach Travis Green was one of those affected.
"Travis is feeling better every day," Benning said. "I haven't talked to him yet today, so hopefully he's ready to go too, when we get back going."
Forward Tanner Pearson, who has scored 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 33 games, was one of the Canucks who didn't test positive.
"Obviously I've stayed on the right side of it," Pearson said. "For the most part, our team hasn't. I've talked to most guys that got it, array of symptoms, some are still battling them, so hopefully that gets in a positive way better soon. It's one of those things where you just hope everyone that got it and their families are doing well and can recover from it."
The Canucks last played March 24, a 5-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, and has been off the ice since March 31. Vancouver is scheduled to play its remaining 19 games in 31 days, ending the regular season at home against the Calgary Flames on May 16.
The NHL regular season was originally scheduled to end May 8. There have been 49 games postponed because of COVID-19 protocol since the NHL season began Jan. 13.
Vancouver's next six games will be at home.
"We've got a tough schedule coming up here once we get started playing," he said. "The good thing about it, the way I see it, is in the next couple of weeks, we're still at home, so hopefully our guys get feeling better, their families get feeling better, and then once we get on the road, they have that peace of mind where their families are doing well and they can concentrate on the hockey when we're on the road.
"It's not going to be easy, but in this season with all the things you have to deal with, with COVID and stuff, it is what it is."
Pearson has been skating after missing four games with a lower-body injury.
"I can't speak for everyone, but I'm excited," he said. "I want to play. It's way better than sitting in an apartment all day and just waiting for the OK that you're good to come back to the rink or waiting that day to see if you ended up positive. It's stressful, and hopefully we get over this soon."
Vancouver (16-18-3) is sixth in the seven-team Scotia North Division, 10 points behind the fourth-place Montreal Canadiens with two games in hand. The top four teams qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"First and foremost, it's about getting healthy, getting back on the ice, getting back in game shape," Benning said. "My hope is that physically the guys feel well from coming off COVID and we can compete. Hopefully we're going to get some injured guys back to that should help out. I'm hoping we can win our share of games here so we can make it competitive going down the stretch."
Forward Elias Pettersson, who has scored 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in 26 games, could be close to a return and has been skating, Benning said. He last played March 2 and has missed 11 games with an upper-body injury.
"I'm hoping he's able to play here by the end of the week, but we'll have a better idea once he meets with the specialist on Wednesday," Benning said.
The Canucks on Monday added defenseman Madison Bowey in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, traded forward Adam Gaudette to the Blackhawks, and traded defenseman Jordie Benn to the Winnipeg Jets. Gaudette was the first Canucks player placed on the COVID-19 protocol list during this outbreak. Benn did not appear on the list during the outbreak; he missed six games at the start of the season due to protocol.

Can't believe it's been that long since the canucks have played....

[mr. leisure]

NHL Buzz: Avalanche cancel skate due to COVID-19 protocol

Scheduled to play Blues; Raanta could start for Coyotes; Murray returns for Senators

NHL.com @NHLdotcom

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche canceled their morning skate as a precaution because one person tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. That person is in isolation and all other staff and players have tested negative.
Defenseman Bowen Byram has been on the NHL COVID-19 protocol list since Friday.
Colorado is scheduled to play at the St. Louis Blues (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, ALT, NHL.TV).
Arizona Coyotes

Antti Raanta could return to the lineup against the Minnesota Wild (2 p.m. ET; NHLN, BSN, BSAZ, NHL.TV).
The goalie has missed 11 games because of a lower-body injury.
"'Raants' is going to take warmups and we'll see how it goes from there," coach Rick Tocchet said.
Raanta is 5-4-2 with a 3.20 GAA, and .913 save percentage in 11 games 910 starts) this season.
The Coyotes are also without goalie Darcy Kuemper, who has missed 18 games with a lower-body injury.
"The past four or five days was more positive, but a little bit of a setback," Tocchet said of Kuemper. "I don't know when he's going to be back. He obviously won't be back today or Saturday (against the St. Louis Blues) but we'll see next week sometime. He's trying his hardest to get himself ready, and the same for 'Raants'."
Adin Hill had started 10 straight games prior to rookie Ivan Prosvetov playing in a 4-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. -- Jessi Pierce

Ottawa Senators

Matt Murray will make his first start in more than a month against the Winnipeg Jets (7 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDS2, TSN3, NHL.TV).
The goalie hasn't played since March 10 because of an upper-body injury sustained in warmups before a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 14. He is 7-12-1 with a 3.84 goals-against average and .880 save percentage in 22 games (20 starts).
"We just want him to be solid and get his groove back," coach D.J. Smith said. "[New goaltending coach Zac Bierk] has been able to work with Matt for about a week, but that's not a lot of time for a goalie coach and a player. But that was probably the reason that we did it now, is that he has the rest of the year to work with him and certainly, it's not just about tonight."
Ottawa has gone 5-6-3 without Murray and used four goalies in his absence: Joey Daccord, Filip Gustavsson, Anton Forsberg and Marcus Hogberg.
"It's about [Murray] throughout the next 13 games, getting his game to where we need it to be, and then carrying it through the summer to work with him, and then into next season," Smith said. -- Callum Fraser

Florida Panthers

Carter Verhaeghe is week to week with an upper-body injury.
The forward was injured late in a 4-1 loss at the Dallas Stars on Saturday, coach Joel Quenneville said. He has scored 17 goals this season, second on Florida behind Aleksander Barkov (18), and is third with 35 points.
The Panthers won 3-2 at the Stars in overtime Tuesday in their first game without him.
Florida visits the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; NBSCN, TVAS, BSFL, NHL.TV).

[hotcross]

Dallas Stars players:

Alexander Radulov will have surgery to repair a core muscle injury. He is out for the season.

Goalie Ben Bishop has been ruled out for the rest of this season.

[yisman]

The Vancouver Canucks have had 22 players and an additional four staff members test positive for COVID-19 since March 30. The team is finally expected to return to the ice on Friday to take on the Edmonton Oilers after what will have been a three-week hiatus.
Following Vancouver's return, the team is currently scheduled to play 19 games in just 30 days, including six back-to-backs. Considering the lofty workload ahead, forward J.T. Miller believes that's not enough time for Vancouver to get all of those games in.
"I don't feel ready if I'm being honest... It's kind of crazy. I know everyone has a job to do but to expect our entire team to be ready to play in one practice and a pre-game skate is a bit hard to comprehend," Miller told reporters on Wednesday.

[mr. leisure]

Dallas Stars players:

Alexander Radulov will have surgery to repair a core muscle injury. He is out for the season.

Goalie Ben Bishop has been ruled out for the rest of this season.

They look to be done this year anyway .

[yisman]

The Vancouver Canucks' return to game action was delayed by the NHL on Thursday.

The Canucks will not play the Edmonton Oilers on Friday, which was to be Vancouver's first game since March 24 following a COVID-19 outbreak within the team that had 22 players test positive for the coronavirus.
"The decision to extend the period prior to the team's resumption of play was made to provide club staff and players with additional time for recovery and preparation following its recent COVID outbreak," the NHL said in a statement. "The NHL made the decision with input from the League's, NHLPA's and club's medical groups."

[mr. leisure]

The Vancouver Canucks' return to game action was delayed by the NHL on Thursday.

The Canucks will not play the Edmonton Oilers on Friday, which was to be Vancouver's first game since March 24 following a COVID-19 outbreak within the team that had 22 players test positive for the coronavirus.
"The decision to extend the period prior to the team's resumption of play was made to provide club staff and players with additional time for recovery and preparation following its recent COVID outbreak," the NHL said in a statement. "The NHL made the decision with input from the League's, NHLPA's and club's medical groups."

Had a feeling that was going to happen .

[batt33]

And now the avs game postponed after a 3rd player tested positive.....

[yisman]

After Tampa Bay's 3-2 overtime victory Thursday versus Florida, the team announced captain Steven Stamkos was out with a lower-body injury, was placed on long term injury reserve and would miss at least 10 games/24 days retroactive to his last game, which came April 8 in Columbus when he suffered a non-contact injury in the third period.

Meanwhile, Kucherov practiced with the Lightning Friday at the TGH Ice Plex and was in a gray jersey. He's still not a full participant, but he took line rushes with Daniel Walcott and Gemel Smith and was on the ice for the duration, even continuing to train while most of the non-taxi squad roster had gone inside the locker room to work on his shooting and stickhandling.
Cooper said fans shouldn't read too much into the color of Kucherov's practice jersey. He still has a considerable road ahead to return from the hip surgery performed December 29 that's forced him to miss the entire regular season.
Kucherov hasn't been cleared for contact and is not anywhere near getting into contact drills.

[mr. leisure]

And now the avs game postponed after a 3rd player tested positive.....

Avalanche have three games postponed due to COVID-19 protocol

Will not play Kings, Blues; targeting April 21 for return; Donskoi third player placed on list

NHL.com @NHLdotcom

The Colorado Avalanche had three games postponed by the NHL on Friday, through April 20, due to COVID-19 protocol.

Avalanche home games against the Los Angeles Kings on Friday and Sunday, and at the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, have been postponed. Rescheduled dates have not been announced.
Colorado is next scheduled to play at St. Louis on Thursday. The NHL is targeting Wednesday for the Avalanche to be able to return to practice.
Forward Joonas Donskoi entered NHL COVID-19 protocol Friday. Goalie Philipp Grubauer was placed in protocol Wednesday and will be out at least two weeks, coach Jared Bednar said. Defenseman Bowen Byram has been on the list since Friday.
Colorado (30-9-4) last played Wednesday, winning 4-3 at St. Louis. The Avalanche lead the eight-team Honda West Division, four points ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights. The top four teams in the division will qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
There have been 53 games postponed because of COVID-19 protocol since the NHL season began Jan. 13.

[Stallion]

The NHL should just shut down the Canucks for the season.

[yisman]

Travis Green probably knew he was in trouble when he had to stop worrying about his players in order to start worrying about himself.
The Vancouver Canucks’ coach, one of the most severely stricken members of the National Hockey League team during its P.1-variant COVID-19 outbreak, finally returned to the ice Saturday to run a full practice at Rogers Arena. He plans to coach Sunday when the Canucks emerge from the most serious health crisis of the NHL season with a home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver’s first game since March 24.
Only a couple of days ago, Green said, he wasn’t sure he could do it.
“There was a point where I think I was worried about our players a lot,” he told reporters in his first Zoom call since the Canucks’ crisis began March 31. “And then I was pretty sick, and worried just to get through each day. Selfishly, maybe my focus turned to myself a little bit, and getting a little bit worried. But I think when you play on a team everyone's worried about everyone.

[mr. leisure]

The NHL should just shut down the Canucks for the season.

Going to play sunday but still have 5 players out from covid .

[batt33]

Going to play sunday but still have 5 players out from covid .

Going to be interesting how it plays out.... as the days go on.

[yisman]

Forward Patrick Marleau's first shift of Saturday's NHL game lasted just 40 seconds but it was the most significant moment of the San Jose Sharks 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild.
Three-time all-star Marleau finished with 19 shifts as the 41-year-old Canadian equalled Hall of Famer Gordie Howe's record for the most career games played with 1,767.
Marleau will set the league record on Monday night when the Sharks face the Vegas Golden Knights.