One other week of NHL motion is within the books, and there was virtually an excessive amount of hockey to maintain up with. Fortunately, the weekly NHL Rewind is right here to get you caught up with the largest tales.
On Monday, the NHL noticed one other teaching change when the New Jersey Devils selected to fireside Lindy Ruff after a horrible weekend in California. New Jersey will now attempt to hold its season on life help with a brand new coach behind the bench, but it surely is likely to be too little too late.
Elsewhere, the Nashville Predators stayed scorching with an enormous win over the Colorado Avalanche, and Cody Glass performed the function of hero. Additionally, the Pittsburgh Penguins took one other step backward, and Matt Rempe continued his tour of the NHL’s hardest enforcers.
Let’s have a look again on the largest tales and finest highlights from the week that was within the NHL.
Purpose of the week: Tommy Novak faculties Bowen Byram
The Nashville Predators are rolling as of late, and it is partially from the quantity of depth scoring they’re getting on a nightly foundation. One participant who has elevated his sport within the final couple of weeks is Tommy Novak, however he took it to a different degree Saturday.
In Nashville’s 5-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche, Novak took a stretch cross from Juuse Saros (not a typo) and entered the Avs’ zone with a pair white jerseys round him. That is when he hit Colorado defenseman Bowen Byram with a forehand-backhand transfer earlier than ripping a laser beam previous Alexandar Georgiev.
That aim was Novak’s thirteenth on the season, and he was rewarded handsomely for his efforts Monday. Amid rumors that Novak is likely to be on the transfer forward of the commerce deadline, the Predators introduced they’ve signed Novak to a three-year, $10.5 million contract.
Theft of the week: Charlie Lindren snatches a aim from the Coyotes
The poor Arizona Coyotes simply misplaced 14 video games in a row, and now they’ve Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren stealing targets from them. That is precisely what he did within the third interval of Sunday’s 5-2 win over the Yotes.
Within the third interval, Washington was attempting to guard a two-goal lead when Arizona received an excellent scoring probability. A damaged protection left Lawson Crouse on their own in entrance of the crease, and he had a rustic mile of house with the puck on his stick following some extent shot.
Crouse went to his forehand and tried to flip the puck into an empty cage, however Lindgren went Inspector Gadget and stretched out his arm to make the glove save.
A aim in that scenario might need turned the tide for the Coyotes, however Lindgren made certain that did not occur. The Capitals went on to win 5-2 and stay within the Jap Convention wild card race.
Devils hearth head coach Lindy Ruff
Because it seems, New Jersey Devils followers have been a few 12 months early on these “Fireplace Lindy” chants. Following a dreadful weekend that included an unacceptable loss to the Anaheim Geese and a drubbing by the hands of the Los Angeles Kings, the Devils fired Ruff Monday.
The Devils entered the 2023-24 season with Stanley Cup expectations, and for good purpose. That they had — and nonetheless have — one of the vital gifted ahead teams within the NHL. Additionally they had Dougie Hamilton patrolling the blue line with younger stars like Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec ready within the wings. Nonetheless, that simply hasn’t come collectively, and it value Ruff his job.
Ruff should not take all of the blame for this season. The goaltending has been unhealthy, and accidents have taken a toll on the lineup. Having mentioned that, New Jersey nonetheless has the ability to be a playoff staff, and it’s presently eight factors out with 21 video games left.
The Devils did have an opportunity to show their season round over the weekend, however that went awry in spectacular trend. New Jersey misplaced a sport by which it outshot Anaheim 55-23, and Jack Hughes missed a penalty shot within the closing seconds that might have tied the sport.
Two days later, on Sunday, the Kings shut down the Devils’ potent assault for a 5-1 win. It wasn’t fairly, and it was sufficient for GM Tom Fitzgerald to make a transfer.
Ruff, who simply signed a contract extension final summer season after taking the Devils to the second spherical of the postseason, leaves the staff with a 128-125-28 file. Now, because the commerce deadline nears, the Devils have some extra huge choices on their arms.
Predators win eighth straight, Cody Glass nets hat trick
After getting demolished by the Dallas Stars at residence on Feb. 15 and getting their journey to see U2 at The Sphere taken away, the Nashville Predators have refused to lose. With a formidable 5-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, the Predators have now gained eight in a row.
It looks as if a unique participant has stepped up for Nashville in each sport all through this win streak, and it was Cody Glass on Saturday. After battling accidents and a gradual adjustment to the brand new teaching employees, Glass entered the sport with simply two targets, however that quantity rapidly grew.
Glass opened the scoring by sliding a puck beneath Alexandar Georgiev off the push within the first interval.
Within the second interval, Glass doubled his season whole when Tommy Novak discovered him on their own within the slot. Glass did not miss his wonderful probability and buried it for his second of the sport.
Lastly, within the third interval, the Avalanche pulled Georgiev for the additional attacker. The Predators received the puck to Glass, and he fired it down the ice and into the empty web for his first profession hat trick.
In his postgame interview, Glass received emotional as the group cheered him loudly. It was a formidable sport from Glass, who the Predators hope can construct upon that efficiency and get some confidence again down the stretch.
As for the staff as a complete, the Preds are crimson scorching and have established themselves because the clear favourite to land a minimum of the second wild card spot. What a distinction a pair weeks and a missed live performance could make.
Penguins endure disastrous weekend
If the Predators are on one finish of the Vibes Meter, the Pittsburgh Penguins are on the opposite. Pittsburgh started its determined struggle to stay within the playoff race in Calgary on Saturday, and issues did begin off properly.
The Penguins took a 3-1 lead early within the third, however the wheels got here off somewhat rapidly. Nazem Kadri introduced Calgary inside one simply over 10 minutes into the ultimate body when he flew round a pair of Pens for a stupendous aim.
About 30 seconds later, Pittsburgh elected to desert the entrance of its personal web, and Blake Coleman was all by himself for the tying aim.
Even then, the Penguins had the possibility to get to additional time and salvage one level. That went out the window with 50 seconds left in regulation when a disastrous turnover allowed Yegor Sharangovich to bury the game-winner over the shoulder of Tristan Jarry.
The following day, Pittsburgh needed to attempt to bounce again in opposition to the Edmonton Oilers. … That didn’t go properly.
Edmonton mauled a demoralized Penguins staff, 6-1. Connor McDavid had a pair of factors, together with the aim that received the Oilers over the aim line and into the top zone.
Now that they are 10 factors out of a playoff spot, the Penguins in all probability must take a tough look within the mirror with the commerce deadline just some days away. Pittsburgh in all probability must look towards the longer term, and that appears to be what the staff is doing because the Jake Guentzel commerce rumors head up.
Rempe vs. Reaves
Matt Rempe, a 6-foot-7 rookie for the New York Rangers, has already made a reputation for himself simply eight video games into his NHL profession. Rempe has already gone toe-to-toe with a few of the NHL’s hardest clients, and he added to that checklist following a controversial hit in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
Within the second interval, Rempe took a wholesome run at Maple Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren. It was a thunderous hit, and it wasn’t deemed to be a penalty. It was proper on the road of unpolluted and unlawful, and Toronto positively took challenge with it.
Within the third interval, Leafs enforcer Ryan Reaves received the eye of Rempe, and the 2 had a heavyweight bout at middle ice in Scotiabank Area. Neither participant went down, and officers stepped in to finish the struggle.
Rempe has fairly actually pulled no punches after making his NHL debut on Feb. 18. The query now’s whether or not this sort of punishment is sustainable for the 21-year-old.
Appointment viewing this week
Oilers at Bruins | Tuesday, March 5: Connor McDavid vs. David Pastrnak. I may actually finish the pitch there, however I will not. These groups have excessive hopes for the postseason, and they’re looking for their sport on the proper time of the 12 months. Successful this sport would assist accomplish that aim.
Purple Wings at Avalanche | Wednesday, March 6: This matchup was on this part earlier this 12 months, however when these two groups are nationally related, it will likely be right here each time. These two groups must exhibit excessive ranges of hate for each other in huge video games. It is of their DNA, and I can not wait to see what occurs Wednesday.
Capitals at Penguins | Thursday, March 7: Neither of those groups are presently in a playoff spot, however we should cherish each Crosby vs. Ovechkin matchup we get. These two could also be on mediocre groups, however they nonetheless have lots of juice and seeing them on the ice collectively is one among hockey’s nice joys.
Canucks at Golden Knights | Thursday, March 7: Does anybody need to see a heavyweight battle of groups atop the Pacific Division? Tune in Thursday for this one. This could possibly be a second-round matchup within the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Stars at Kings | Saturday, March 9: The Stars have already made one commerce deadline improve, and they’re taking up a Kings staff that’s in all probability seeking to do the identical. By the point these two squads meet Saturday, the lineups may look slightly bit completely different.
