THN S1 Ep43: Stanley Cup Final, Games 3 & 4

THN Episode 43 Show Notes Music by Bensound at http://www.bensound.com Rangers highlights courtesy of MSG Network.  Bruins highlights courtesy of NESN.  Hurricanes highlights courtesy of Fox Sports Carolinas.  Other highlights and clips courtesy of NBC, NBC Sports Network, CBC, Sportsnet, and the National Hockey League.   Opening Headlines:   Break: Where we are: We are now on The Hockey Writers Podcast Channel! thehockeywriters.com @TheHockeyWriter #THW Itunes Stitcher Soundcloud iHeartRadio TuneIn Google Play Music fm Spreaker? Android/Apple apps RSS: http://thehockeynuts.libsyn.com/rss Our Web Site: http://www.thehockeynuts.com How to support the show: This show is a labor of love for us, but it does cost us money each month to produce.  So, we are exploring options to allow you, our listener, to help us cover the costs of producing it.  For starters, we have set up affiliate relationships with a couple companies.  In the future, we may have more, but for now, you can support us through your purchases at Amazon.com and HockeyMonkey.com (Hockey Monkey is a hockey equipment provider).  Your purchases there will not cost you a dime more, but a small percentage of your purchase will come back to us.  In order to support us through our affiliates, simply go to our web site at TheHockeyNuts.com, and click on the appropriate affiliate link on the right side of the page.  Coming soon: Seatgeek.com Additionally, we are looking at ways to directly support us through a donation program.  For now, if you would like to donate, go to thehockeynuts.com/donate and you will redirected to paypal.  Finally, if you can’t support us financially through one of the programs we just mentioned, you can support us through the following: Share our show with other hockey fans you know. If you have the itunes app on your computer or device, subcribe to our show there. It will help us rise up the rankings. Speaking of itunes, we also encourage you to give us a review on itunes, as it will also help us get noticed more there. Like, comment, and share our content wherever you see us on various social media pages. Get involved with the show! We are just a couple hockey fans, and we love interacting with the audience. Finally, we are looking for guest hosts to come on from time to time. If you feel you can provide more insight on your favorite team or league than we are, let us know!  All you would need to join the show is a computer and Skype.   How to get in touch with us: Twitter: Wayne: @waynehallee9 Steve: @sball504man Email: [email protected] Voicemail: 919-960-1718 Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thehockeynuts/ Youtube Channel: http://www.thehockeynuts.com/youtube (Don’t forget to like and subscribe!) Live streaming!!! We now stream to 3 places at once! Youtube: https://www.thehockeynuts.com/youtube Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehockeynuts/ Twitch:  https://www.twitch.tv/thisoldnoob     Final Standings: https://www.nhl.com/standings   NHL Playoffs! https://www.nhl.com/stanley-cup-playoffs     Penguins (2) vs. Predators (WC2) Series tied 2-2 |  Series Coverage Gm 1 Mon, May 29   Pittsburgh 5     Nashville 3 Penguins lead 1-0 RECAP GAMECENTER WATCH Gm 2 Wed, May 31   Pittsburgh 4     Nashville 1 Penguins lead 2-0 RECAP GAMECENTER WATCH Gm 3 Sat, Jun 3   Nashville 5     Pittsburgh 1 Penguins lead 2-1 RECAP GAMECENTER WATCH Gm 4 Mon, Jun 5   Nashville 4     Pittsburgh 1 Series tied 2-2 RECAP GAMECENTER WATCH Gm 5 Thu, Jun 8   Nashville @   Pittsburgh 8:00 PM ET|, CBC, SN, TVAS PREVIEW TICKETS BUY/SELL Gm 6 Sun, Jun 11   Pittsburgh @   Nashville 8:00 PM ET|, CBC, SN, TVAS PREVIEW TICKETS BUY/SELL Gm 7* Wed, Jun 14   Nashville @   Pittsburgh 8:00 PM ET|, CBC, SN, TVAS PREVIEW TICKETS BUY/SELL * If necessary         Other News:   Transactions All Transactions: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/transactions More College and Junior players joining the pro ranks. http://www.eliteprospects.com/?status=league&view;=&leagueid;=7   06/07/2017  Jan Rutta (D) Piráti Chomutov Chicago Blackhawks         The Blackhawks won the “Jan Rutta Sweepstakes” on Wednesday.Signing the 26-year old Czech defender to a one-year, $925,000 entry-level contract, the Blackhawks beat out both the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames who were also both reportedly interested in Rutta. In 46 games last season with Chomutov Pirati of the Czech League, the right-handed shot Rutta scored eight goals and career highs in assists (24) and points (32) while also adding two goals and 13 points in 17 postseason contests. TheChicago Blackhawks will name Ulf Samuelsson assistant coach to fill the vacancy created by Mike Kitchen's firing, a source told Arizona Sports' Craig Morgan.  The former NHL defenseman served as head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes' AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, this past season, guiding them to a 39-29-7-1 record and a first-round appearance in the Calder Cup playoffs.  He was an assistant coach with the New York Rangers from 2013-16 and associate coach of the then-Phoenix Coyotes from 2006-11.  Kitchen was fired after the Blackhawks were swept out of the first round by the Nashville Predators in April. The move was reportedly made to send a message to Quenneville and didn't sit well with the head coach, who spent seven years with his former assistant in Chicago and several more in St. Louis.  Samuelsson played five seasons with head coach Joel Quenneville as members of the Hartford Whalers from 1985-86 to 1989-90. Injuries Detroit Red Wings centerLuke Glendening could miss the start of training camp after having surgery Monday on his left ankle to repair tendon damage.  Glendening's expected recovery time is 3-4 months.  "The surgery was done to repair an injury he suffered late in the season," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said Tuesday. "We hoped he would improve with rest and immobilization, but we decided at this point that surgery was necessary to make sure he is ready for the 2017-18 season."  Glendening, 28, broke his ankle and partially tore tendons during the Red Wings' 4-3 overtime win against the Carolina Hurricanes on March 27 and missed the final seven games of the regular season. He had 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) and was minus-10 in 74 games.  New York Rangers forwardJesper Fast is expected to miss the start of next season after having surgery to repair the labrum in his left hip.  The projected recovery time is five months.  Fast sustained a shoulder injury in March and missed seven games.  Fast, 25, could become a restricted free agent on July 1. He had 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) and a plus-6 rating in 68 regular-season games. He also had six points (three goals, three assists) in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games for the Rangers, who were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Second Round by the Ottawa Senators in six games.  New York Rangers goalieHenrik Lundqvist sustained an Isolated Grade 1 MCL sprain in his knee playing for Sweden at the 2017 IIHF World Championship.  The Rangers confirmed a report by Swedish website expressen.se and said they don't expect any issues with Lundqvist going forward. The website reported Lundqvist will need 4-6 weeks to recover.  It is unclear when Lundqvist sustained the injury.  Lundqvist had a 1.31 goals-against average and .945 save percentage in five games at the tournament, and stopped four shots in the shootout in the gold-medal game, a 2-1 win against Canada on May 21.  After the win, he was tackled by Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander during Sweden's celebration.  Lundqvist, 35, joined Sweden at the World Championship after New York was eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference Second Round in six games. He was 6-6 with a 2.25 GAA and .927 save percentage during the postseason.  Lundqvist had the worst GAA (2.74) and save percentage (.910) of his NHL career during the regular season, finishing 31-20-4 in 57 games (55 starts).  Milestones/Records/Honors/Deaths: Suspensions/Fines:        NHL Debuts: http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2017_debut.html   Other Interesting Stories: 84-85 Edmonton Oilers Named greatest of the NHL top 100. The run-and-gun Edmonton Oilers cruised past the competition to win a second consecutive championship in 1985, going 15-3 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including a five-game win against the Philadelphia Flyers in the Final. Wayne Gretzky set NHL records for assists (30) and points (47) in a single postseason, and he scored seven goals in the Final to tie the modern record shared by Jean Beliveau of the Montreal Canadiens (1956) and Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders (1982).  91-92 Pittsburgh #2, 76-77 Montreal #3.  https://www.nhl.com/news/greatest-nhl-teams-top-10-list/c-289599886 CenterRyan Johansen continued the Nashville Predators' takeover of the city.  Johansen was named Honorary Mayor of Nashville for the Day during Preds Pride Day celebration at city hall Monday.  "I'm really excited," he said prior to Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday (8 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, SN, TVA Sports). "What a cool opportunity and tremendous honor. It's great that they thought about having a Predator out to do something like this and celebrate our team. I'm just going to soak in the experience and really enjoy the experience of being Honorary Mayor."  Along with Mayor Megan Barry, he unveiled a sign renaming 5th Avenue South "Predators Way" for the month of June. The street runs alongside Bridgestone Arena.  The Carolina Hurricanes would like to trade picks for players prior to the2017 NHL Draft at United Center in Chicago on June 23-24, general manager Ron Francis said.  The Hurricanes have 10 picks in the 2017 draft, including six in the first three rounds. They have the No. 12 pick in the first round, three picks in second round and two in the third.  "I'm hoping we don't use all 10 picks when it comes to the draft, and I've had contact with other teams telling them we are willing to give up some picks to get players so I wanted to let you know that up front," Francis told his scouting team in a video posted on the Hurricanes website Monday.  Francis acquired goalie Scott Darling from the Chicago Blackhawks in a trade for a third-round pick in the 2017 draft on April 29, and signed him to a four-year, $16.6 million contract on May 5.  Scouting Combine happened this week… Dallas Stars forward Valeri Nichushkin could return to the NHL next season after playing this season in the Kontinental Hockey League. Stars director of amateur scouting Joe McDonnell told NHL.com on Friday at the NHL Scouting Combine that it will be up to Nichushkin.  "He's in Russia now and it's 50-50 on whether we get him back next season," McDonnell said. "In the end it'll be up to him if he wants to come back."  Nichushkin has one year left on a two-year contract he signed with CSKA on Sept. 20. He had 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 36 KHL games.  "[If he does return], coach Ken Hitchcock and him will have to forge a relationship," McDonnell said. "If you watch Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, that's what a Val Nichushkin can be in the end. But it's whether he has it in his heart. If he wants to do it, he can do it.  Nichushkin, 22, was selected No. 10 in the 2013 NHL Draft. He had 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) as a rookie in 79 games in 2013-14 but missed all but eight games in 2014-15 because of hip surgery, and had 29 points (nine goals, 20 assists) in 79 games in 2015-16.  The Stars, who retain Nichushkin's NHL rights until he can become an unrestricted free agent at age 27, would need to protect those rights in the upcoming NHL Expansion Draft. If they leave him unprotected, the Vegas Golden Knights could select him even if he decides to play in the KHL for another season.  Stars captain Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin often were linemates with Nichushkin during his time with Dallas. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/cwhl-china-hc-red-star-kunlun-join-1.4147421 ·         http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2017/06/07/so-someone-reportedly-paid-more-than-31000-for-tickets-to-game-6-in-nashville/ ·           The Hockeynuts.com Power Rankings: https://www.nhl.com/standings Team (reg season rank) Nashville (15) Pittsburgh (5)   Ottawa (14) Anaheim (4) Edmonton (11) Washington (1) NY Rangers (3) St Louis (12) Chicago (2) Minnesota (6) Columbus (9) San Jose (7) Boston (8) Montreal (10) Toronto (16) Calgary (13) NY Islanders (17) Tampa Bay (18) Philadelphia (19) Winnipeg (20) Carolina (21) Los Angeles (22) Florida (23) Dallas (24) Detroit (25) Buffalo (26) New Jersey (27) Arizona (28) Vancouver (29) Colorado (30) Las Vegas (31)       AHL Calder Cup Playoffs: Theahl.com Bracket: http://theahl.com/stats/playoffs/56 Western Final: Grand Rapids (DET) vs. San Jose (SJ) Eastern Final: Providence (BOS) vs Syracuse (TB) ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs: Bracket: http://www.echl.com/playoffs     KHL Minute: ·         KHL:  http://en.khl.ru/ ·         http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Aivis-Kalnins/KHL-board-of-governors-meeting-recap/246/85365 (5/24/17) The annual KHL Board of Governors meeting was held to discuss league's future, approve a new financial strategy and make other decisions on leagues future and out of that meeting, the Metallurg Novokuznetsk hockey club has officially suspended from participating in KHL for 2017/2018 season.   Here a part of my story from last week:  After the KHL executive board meeting, multiple sources have indicated that Metallurg Novokuznetsk is close to folding. The Kontinental Hockey League was due to have changes this off-season as Medvescak Zagreb announced they were leaving the league due to financial reasons.  Now Kuzna joins the group of departing teams and there may be more to come. League executives have refused to comment at this time.  ·         17:11 Moscow time league officially announces that Medvescak and Metallurg both are out of the competition for the upcoming season.   ·         17:15 League announces that only 27 teams will play in the 2017/2018 season, no expansion teams to come in.  ·         17:20 President of KHL Dmitri Chernyshenko suggests that KHL will have 24 teams by the start of 2018/2019 season. KHL will reduce its size by 3 teams in near future.  ·         17:23 Dmitri Chernyshenko says that Novkuznetsk will have a chance to return to KHL. Metallurg continues to run its hockey development program.  ·         17:25 KHL expects to have 8 foreign clubs for 2019/2020 season.  ·         17:26: KHL will be replacing poorer KHL teams with European and Asian teams. Over each of the next 3 years, KHL will deduct the financially weaker teams one by one.  ·         17:28 KHL introduces salary cap. ·         2017/2018 season's salary cap to be roughly above 15milion dollars + luxury penalty for teams that exceed that. By 2020 season, the league expects the salary cap to be down at 10 million a year. Each team will be allowed to exclude 2-3 players from their salary cap hit.  ·         17:35 KHL announces the participating teams in 2017/2018 KHL season: Bobrov Division: Tarasov Division: Dinamo Minsk Vitjaz Podolsk Dinamo Riga Dinamo Moscow Jokerit Helsinki Lokomotive Yaroslavl SKA St.Petersburg Severstal Cherepovets Slovan Bratislava Nizhni-Novgorod Torpedo Moscow Spartak HK Sochi CSKA Moscow ·         Harlamov Division Chernishov division Jekaterinburg Avtomobilist Avangard Omsk AkBars Kazan Admiral Vladovostok Togliati Lada Habarovsk Amur Metallurg Magnitagorsk Barys Astana Neftehimik Nizhnekamsk Kunlun Red Star Beijing Chelyabinsk Traktor Salavat Julaev UFA Yugra Hantimansijsk Sibir Novosibirsk ·         17:41 Source suggests that KHL is set to expand to United Kingdom in coming years. Lada, Yugra and Amur are candidates to ''most likely'' to be excluded from participation in KHL. ·         18:04 KHL insists that the teams to be deducted will be only the Russian teams, European side of the league will have option to leave if agreed by both sides.  ·         Sergei Bobrovsky was asked to comment on the Novkuznetsk deduction by ''Sport-express'':  "It's terrible news," Bobrovsky said to Marat Safin of Sport-express, "For the club, for the city, for the region, the city loved hockey."'' The club has a rich history, it brought up many good guys and could continue to supply young players for the leading KHL clubs, for the Russian team. For a hockey school without a team of pro players, it's easier to destroy than to build  something, it's just another decision made, and for thousands of boys from all over the region it's a loss of motivation, a loss of a dream. "  ·         18:35 Medvescak Zagreb officially confirms that they will play in EBEL.   19:14 Metallurg Novokuznetsk will play in VHL.    KHL hockey club Dynamo Moscow said on Friday it was raided by police on 6/1, the latest twist in a bitter dispute over its finances.  Officers from an anti-fraud and corruption squad arrived late Thursday at Dynamo's offices and seized financial documents, the club said.  According to the club, the raid was prompted by an allegation of embezzlement by an employee of the club's training base, made in a letter by a senior executive of the Dynamo sports society. The society owns the club and has been in dispute with its management.  The club said it was co-operating with police, but suggested the corruption complaint was being used as "a means of putting pressure" on the club.  Dynamo was until recently one of Russia's top hockey teams with backing from billionaire former club president Arkady Rotenberg, and won the Kontinental Hockey League in 2012 and 2013.  Since Rotenberg left in 2015, the club has experienced cash shortages, and relations with the Dynamo sports society's leadership have become tense.  Last month, society head Vladimir Strzhalkovsky told Russian media the club racked up debts of around 2 billion rubles $35 million US.  The Kontinental Hockey League, Jokerit Helsinki and SKA St.Petersburg announced that there will be an outdoor game held in Helsinki on December 2nd to celebrate 100 years of Finnish hockey and the 10th season of the KHL.   The Ice Challenge will be played in front of over 18,000 people at the Kaisaniemi Park. As expected Jokerit also announced that a Liiga game will take place at the same field (HIFK vs. Kärpät) making it more entertaining in the format of Best of Europe and Best of Finland.   Two of the traditional Helsinki hatchbacks, HIFK and Joker, are now joining 100 years of Finnish power. The Helsinki Ice Challenge honors 100-year-old Finland and our national hockey teams by bringing the speed of today's discovery to the starting point of Kaisaniemi Park. There are two unique and solemn sporting events in which both teams play seriously at the points of their hardcore series.  The City of Helsinki wants to be one of the Helsinki Ice Challenge enablers. The city wants to welcome hockey fans and everyone to encourage and enjoy the event. The experience is complementary to Helsinki's rich Christmas event.  Tickets for both games will be available on Thursday 8 June. At 9.00 am at ticketmaster.com        Picks of the week: Steve: ??? https://www.nhl.com/news/derick-brassard-gives-young-fans-impromptu-roadside-meet-and-greet/c-289733182 ??? ·         Wayne:    https://www.nhl.com/news/charles-barkley-attends-game-4-of-stanley-cup-final/c-289793586   #2:  http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/luke-decock/article154053389.html?src=rss   Honorable mention:      Listener Feedback     Close the show   Next Week’s scheduled stream: Wed., 6/14 6:30 PM   Topics for Next Week: Where we are: We are now on The Hockey Writers Podcast Channel! thehockeywriters.com @TheHockeyWriter #THW Itunes Stitcher Soundcloud iHeartRadio TuneIn Google Play Music fm Spreaker? Android/Apple apps RSS: http://thehockeynuts.libsyn.com/rss Our Web Site: http://www.thehockeynuts.com How to support the show: This show is a labor of love for us, but it does cost us money each month to produce.  So, we are exploring options to allow you, our listener, to help us cover the costs of producing it.  For starters, we have set up affiliate relationships with a couple companies.  In the future, we may have more, but for now, you can support us through your purchases at Amazon.com and HockeyMonkey.com (Hockey Monkey is a hockey equipment provider).  Your purchases there will not cost you a dime more, but a small percentage of your purchase will come back to us.  In order to support us through our affiliates, simply go to our web site at TheHockeyNuts.com, and click on the appropriate affiliate link on the right side of the page.  Coming soon: Seatgeek.com Additionally, we are looking at ways to directly support us through a donation program.  For now, if you would like to donate, go to thehockeynuts.com/donate and you will redirected to paypal.  Finally, if you can’t support us financially through one of the programs we just mentioned, you can support us through the following: Share our show with other hockey fans you know. If you have the itunes app on your computer or device, subcribe to our show there. It will help us rise up the rankings. Speaking of itunes, we also encourage you to give us a review on itunes, as it will also help us get noticed more there. Like, comment, and share our content wherever you see us on various social media pages. Get involved with the show! We are just a couple hockey fans, and we love interacting with the audience. Finally, we are looking for guest hosts to come on from time to time. If you feel you can provide more insight on your favorite team or league than we are, let us know!  All you would need to join the show is a computer and Skype.   How to get in touch with us: Twitter: Wayne: @waynehallee9 Steve: @sball504man Email: [email protected] Voicemail: 919-960-1718 Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thehockeynuts/ Youtube Channel: http://www.thehockeynuts.com/youtube (Don’t forget to like and subscribe!) Live streaming!!! We now stream to 3 places at once! Youtube: https://www.thehockeynuts.com/youtube Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehockeynuts/ Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/thisoldnoob