Prior to the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Coach Jon Cooper spoke about how the team is dealing with the final weeks of the season. They are pretty much locked into their playoff spot at this point (although their opponent is very much undecided) and while they have four more games to go, the importance to them is quite minimal.
Coop will have to find a way to sneak in a little rest for his players, who have been grinding away at a near-playoff pace for two months, without letting them get out of the rhythm they’ve established. Hockey players are creatures of habit and superstition, so they never want to change things up too much. It’s likely that the coaching staff will use their days off as true days off and cut back a bit on morning skates.
With no more back-to-backs, Andrei Vasilevskiy is likely to start most of, if not all of the games left on the schedule. He might get a day off either against Ottawa on Thursday or Buffalo next Monday, but he’s probably making four more starts. By his standards, he’s pretty well rested, so overwork isn’t really an issue this season.
Cooper’s focus is on building solid habits and staying healthy. He also wants his team to maintain their intensity, which is hard to do when there isn’t much to play for. The coach spoke about the team “exhaling” a bit too much in the first two periods against Pittsburgh, but bouncing back in the third period.
Throughout the game against Columbus, the coaching staff and players both mentioned a need to handle these games as professionals. They acknowledged that some of the passion wasn’t there against Pittsburgh and Columbus, but it’s on them to find a way to generate it and win games down the stretch. They found it in the third period against the Blue Jackets, but Coop would love to see them find a way to bring a bit more urgency for a full 60 minutes against the Senators on Thursday.
Other Hockey News
Lightning win 5-2 [Raw Charge]
It was the Steven and Nikita show as The Captain had a hat trick while Kuch added three more points to his season total. He’s encroaching on the 100-assist mark for the season.
Jack Hughes out for the rest of the season [Sportsnet]
It’s been a rough season for Mr. Hughes and company. The dynamic scorer has battled injuries all year long and has only appeared in 62 games (granted he has 74 points in those games). Now his season is officially done as he will have shoulder surgery this week. The Devils are five points out of a wild card spot with only four games to go, so while they are not officially eliminated, it would take a preposterous miracle for them to make it.
Arber Xhekaj out for the rest of the season [Habs Eyes on the Prize]
Much like Jack Hughes, Xhekaj won’t be compiling any more stats for this season. He will undergo shoulder surgery as well. The team is hoping he is ready for training camp next season. It wasn’t all bad news for the Xhekaj family as Arber’s brother, Florian, signed his entry-level deal with the Canadiens.
How Lit’s 25-year-old ‘My Own Worst Enemy’ became a NHL anthem [The Athletic]
[Takes deep breath] PLEASE….TELL….ME…WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Write a song with a catchy, sing-a-long hook and keep cashing those checks, baby.
Brandon Duhaime apologizes to Marc-Andre Fleury [Minnesota Wild Twitter]
For reasons unknown, Brandon Duhaime declared prank violence on Marc-Andre Fleury by covering the goaltender’s car with toilet paper. He quickly learned that if you go after the king, you better not miss. And he missed. Fleury (allegedly) responded by removing all four tires from Duhaime’s S.U.V. and planting a literal flower bed on the hood of his ride. Duhaime issues an apology via social media.
There were some big goals from players around the ice last night as Alex Ovechkin hit the 30-goal mark and Auston Matthews hit 66 – the most any active player has scored in a season.
