NHL Horoscopes Week 11: Venus joins the sun in Aries

By Marisa IngemiMar 23, 2021, 12:00 PM EDT

Aries season has been as frenetic as expected. For one Aries club (Winnipeg) that’s been good news; not so much for the others. Now that Venus moves into Aries this week as well, and Mercury is still on its Pisces path, expect some more — stop me if you’ve heard this one before — chaos.

The Gemini Mars, plagued with indecision and a lack of focus, has been brutal for a lot of Gemini-leaning clubs, in particular, Toronto. There’s still time to get back on track leading into trade szn.

Stat Leaders

Connor McDavid: 60 points, 39 assists (Capricorn)
Auston Matthews: 21 goals (Virgo)
Trent Frederic: 53 PIM (Aquarius)
Andrei Vasilevskiy: .933 Save % (Cancer)

EAST DIVISION

• Boston Bruins: Highest concentration in Taurus

They’re dealing with Covid so it might be a while.

Horoscope: Regardless of what the cosmos say the Bruins need to chill for a bit and focus on recovering.

Do: Safety Don’t: Spread Covid

• Buffalo Sabres: Highest concentration in Sagittarius

Virgo Ralph Krueger is out.

Horoscope: This week’s first quarter moon was supposed to have an impact but this is still the Sabres.

Do: Win a game maybe Don’t: Idk, this

• Washington Capitals: Highest concentration in Taurus

They’ve won 11 of 13 but consistent goaltending would make a huge difference.

Horoscope: The Caps have played pretty well as we get to a slower Taurus period while Aries asserts its dominance.

Do: Goaltending Don’t: Make weird memes about suspended players

[Your 2020-21 NHL on NBC TV schedule]

• New York Rangers: Highest concentration in Aquarius

Aries Mika Zibanejad has finally come alive.

Horoscope: Perhaps the end of Aquarius season was just what the Rangers offense needed. Happy Aries season to Ziganejad.

Do: Zibanejad Don’t: Rely on rookies too much

• New York Islanders: Highest concentration in Aquarius

Cancer Anders Lee missing the rest of the season will hurt.

Horoscope: Saturn and Jupiter are still in the air sign, but the age of Aquarius is at an end. It appears it’s worked for them, too, winning eight of their last 10 games.

Do: Offense Don’t: Get comfortable

• New Jersey Devils: Highest concentration in Scorpio

Taurus Jack Hughes is showing some real development.

Horoscope: Another week where the stars leave the Devils primarily on their own.

Do: Mackenzie Blackwood x2 Don’t: Discourage the young guys

• Philadelphia Flyers: Highest concentration in Taurus

I mean, it’s not great.

Horoscope: A week with a 9-0 loss in the middle of it is generally not the vibe you’re aiming for.

Do: Ok maybe it is time to do something in net Don’t: Lose 9-0

• Pittsburgh Penguins: Highest concentration in Leo/Taurus

Leo Evgeni Malkin missing time is a huge blow to the Penguins.

Horoscope: A Leo moon early this week promises a generous time. Maybe they light up a scoresheet a bit here.

Do: Top offense Don’t: Ignore defensive issues x2

CENTRAL DIVISION

• Detroit Red Wings: Highest concentration in Aquarius

Aquarius Robby Fabbri has done real well since joining the Red Wings

Horoscope: The Red Wings don’t have anything positive going on in the stars or on the ice.

Do: Fix that scoring margin Don’t: Forget the power play

• Tampa Bay Lightning: Highest concentration in Gemini

To think, Gemini Nikita Kucherov hasn’t even played yet.

Horoscope: Gemini Mars marks a new phase coming soon. For the Lightning, might that have to do with Kucherov?

Do: Keep circumventing that salary cap! Don’t: Haters

[NHL Power Rankings: Ovechkin and the Capitals are back in familiar spot]

• Florida Panthers: Highest concentration in Virgo

Virgo Aleksander Barkov is having a Selke like season.

Horoscope: The Virgo moon on Thursday is all about balance. For the Panthers does that mean status quo this season or their history? There’s a difference.

Do: Barkov szn Don’t: Drop off

• Carolina Hurricanes: Highest concentration in Cancer

*Vine voice* Honey you’ve got a big storm comin’.

Horoscope: The moon in Cancer early this week seeks stability, and the Hurricanes have stabilized themselves as one of the best teams in the league.

Do: Goalies Don’t: Fall off in road success

• Nashville Predators: Highest concentration in Gemini

Rebuild szn.

Horoscope: The Gemini moon literally encourages rebuilding, start it over folks.

Do: Rebuild! Don’t: Not rebuild!

• Dallas Stars: Highest concentration in Gemini and Cancer

This group is real frustrating.

Horoscope: What do we make of the Stars? They have four more points than the Red Wings so it’s not good.

Do: Jake Oettinger show Don’t: Whatever this season has been

• Chicago Blackhawks: Heaviest concentration in Aries

The Blackhawks are finally hitting that mid-season slide.

Horoscope: It looked like the Hawks may have overcome their doubters but now they’ve won just three of their last 10 games, that’s not very Aries of them.

Do: Get on track Don’t: Falter late

• Columbus Blue Jackets: Heaviest concentration in Cancer

It’s kind of wild but they are in the playoff picture here.

Horoscope: This moon transit encourages Cancers to stop overthinking, but is that possible in Columbus?

Do: Settle down Don’t: Ignore rough goal differential

WEST DIVISION

• Minnesota Wild: Highest concentration in Virgo and Cancer

Leo Matt Dumba is hurt and they have to hope it’s not too serious.

Horoscope: The Wild have lost just three times at home all season. Feels like the Wild are just going to continue to straight up vibe.

Do: Home success Don’t: Become boring, please, this is so fun

• St. Louis Blues: Highest concentration in Cancer and Aries

Imagine when they get fully healthy.

Horoscope: It’s Aries season so it’s time for the Blues, who have been steady, to break out and become the beast they should be.

Do: Health Don’t: Slump

• Arizona Coyotes: Highest concentration in Leo

Maybe they should start making some trades.

Horoscope: Leos haven’t had a ton going on, but this moon period will be nice for a Coyotes team looking to start something, anything.

Do: Consistency Don’t: Keep losing at home

• San Jose Sharks: Highest concentration in Aries

Aries season has not saved the Sharks.

Horoscope: Last week we asked, can Aries season save the Sharks? The answer is no!

Do: Move along Don’t: This whole season, these past two seasons.

• Vegas Golden Knights: Highest concentration in Leo

Sagittarius Marc-Andre Fleury keeps rolling along.

Horoscope: The Golden Knights continue to roll along, nothing is stopping them.

Do: Fleury in net Don’t: Get away from best players

• Anaheim Ducks: Heaviest concentration in Aquarius

Aries Trevor Zegras is sure enjoying Aries season.

Horoscope: Getting out of the Aquarius cycle has, believe or not, not helped the Ducks.

Do: Believe in the kids Don’t: Hold onto bad contracts

• Los Angeles Kings: Highest concentration in Libra

Libra Cal Petersen has been a godsend to the Kings.

Horoscope: There’s a Libra moon at the end of the week but the Kings have already dropped off pretty significantly.

Do: Peterson Don’t: Olds

• Colorado Avalanche: Highest concentration in Scorpio

Virgo Nathan MacKinnon continues to be great, surprise.

Horoscope: There’s not much going on for Scorpios but do the Avs really need help, honestly.

Do: Stay healthy Don’t: Overreact to anything

NORTH DIVISION

• Vancouver Canucks: Heaviest concentration in Cancer and Libra

Sagittarius goalie Thatcher Demko is keeping them alive, somehow.

Horoscope: The games in hand are gonna be a killer.

Do: Keep winning when you can Don’t: Get away from Demko

• Calgary Flames: Heaviest concentration in Pisces

The (Leo) Darryl Sutter era (x2), everyone!

Horoscope: Maybe Pisces Mercury season will go better than Pisces sun season did.

Do: Get better on the road Don’t: Keep falling

• Edmonton Oilers: Heaviest concentration in Cancer and Libra

Capricorn Connor McDavid continues to roll.

Horoscope: When they’re not playing the Maple Leafs, the Oilers are pretty good all on their own.

Do: Top players etc Don’t: Focus too hard on the Leafs

• Winnipeg Jets: Heaviest concentration in Aries

The Jets have a real opportunity here, but they can’t go cold.

Horoscope: Winnipeg has cemented itself as a playoff contender. This Aries cycle can only help with that.

Do: Dubois season Don’t: Ignore defense’s ability to fall aaprt

• Ottawa Senators: Heaviest concentration in Pisces

Capricorn Tim Stützle is still pretty awesome.

Horoscope: Pisces season is over, but sickos season is here.

Do: Yes haha yes Don’t: They’ve given up 131 goals so try to stop that.

• Montreal Canadiens: Heaviest concentration in Leo and Taurus

Leo Jake Allen has been pretty good, at least.

Horoscope: The Habs are certainly still in it, even if they only lead the Canucks by five points. Games in hand might save them.

Do: Keep an edge Don’t: Panic

• Toronto Maple Leafs: Heaviest concentration in Gemini

Suddenly, they’ve lost six of their last eight.

Horoscope: The Leafs have had a bad run here during a Gemini Mars where everything can get pretty disjointed. Luckily for them, they’re pretty established at the top of the North anyways.

Do: One game at a time Don’t: Dramatic slump

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Marisa Ingemi is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop her a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow her on Twitter @Marisa_Ingemi.

NHL top prospect Connor Bedard draws comparisons to Connor McDavid as draft approaches

Associated PressJun 9, 2023, 10:51 PM EDT

Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA TODAY Sports

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The NHL is going to have another Connor to contend with very shortly.

For everything two-time NHL MVP Connor McDavid has accomplished in Edmonton since being selected No. 1 in the 2015 draft, Connor Bedard is on the same trajectory in being pegged as this year’s top eligible draft prospect, Central Scouting director Dan Marr said Friday.

“He’s right up there with Connor McDavid, it’s just the next generation,” Marr said in touting Bedard’s quickness, shot and ability to read and adapt. “So Connor McDavid started that trend, and Connor Bedard is going to lead it into the next trend.”

The annual NHL pre-draft combine in Buffalo, New York, is resembling more of a coronation for the 17-year-old Bedard, who has spent the past two years putting up generational numbers with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League while also shining against his peers on the international stage.

“I think you can use a lot of adjectives to describe it,” Regina coach John Paddock told The Associated Press recently in comparing Bedard’s production at the same age level to McDavid and Penguins captain Sidney Crosby.

“That’s quite a high ceiling,” said Paddock, a former NHL coach and player. “But there’s no indication he’s not going to do that based on what he’s done to date.”

The Chicago Blackhawks own the No. 1 pick, and are highly anticipated to use it on Bedard when the draft opens in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 28.

Bedard held his latest meeting with the Blackhawks at the combine in a relationship that began at a top-prospects camp in Toronto last summer.

Bedard’s arrival would coincide with the franchise in transition, with Chicago moving on from its aging core after trading 2007 No. 1 pick, Patrick Kane, and with captain Jonathan Toews’ future uncertain.

“Yeah, it’d be awesome,” Bedard said of the possibility of being selected by the Blackhawks. “The history of that organization, that city with sports would be unbelievable. We’ll see what happens, but to be selected, that would be a huge honor.”

Bedard said he’s following McDavid’s advice to stay in the moment and not peak too far ahead. He added, his dream to play in the NHL began no different than those of his colleagues: the moment he picked up a hockey stick growing up in North Vancouver, British Columbia.

What separates Bedard, however, is his exceptional skating ability and a hard shot, which is even more lethal given his quick release.

With Bedard the likely top pick, the intrigue at the draft is likely to revolve around who rounds out the remainder of the top five selections.

University of Michigan’s Adam Fantilli is second among North American skaters on Central Scouting’s final list, followed by top American prospect, William Smith, who played for USA Hockey’s developmental program. The top two European skaters are also considered in the mix with Sweden’s Leo Carlsson and Russia’s Matvei Michkov.

Anaheim is scheduled to pick second followed by Columbus, San Jose and Montreal.

Marr gives the edge to Bedard while also being impressed with Fantilli – just the third freshman to win the Hobey Baker Trophy awarded to college hockey’s top players – in a draft class considered very deep with offensive-minded forwards.

“You’re going to win with both,” Marr said. “And whoever gets these two players they’re going to help define a franchise.”

What distinguishes Bedard, who doesn’t turn 18 until next month, has been his consistency.

Last season, his 71 goals in just 57 games were the most in the WHL since Pavel Brendl scored 73 in 1998-99. Bedard’s 143 points were the most in the CHL since three players topped that mark in 1995-96. And it was a season in which he enjoyed 10 games with five or more points, and just five games in which he failed to register a point.

In 2020-21, Bedard became just the third WHL 16-year-old to reach 100 points, and was the youngest to score 50 goals in finishing with 51.

He’s also made a splash on the international stage. Bedard led Canada with nine goals and 23 points at the world juniors last winter, and his combined production of 17 goals and 36 points in just 16 games ranks fourth on the career tournament list.

Bedard has honed his talent by spending countless hours practicing shots in his backyard, which he referred to as his “Happy Place.” He was so dedicated to work on his shot that he preferred practicing than joining his family for a vacation to Disneyland, and eventually vacationed in Hawaii but only after he was allowed to bring his inline skates and sticks to practice.

Noted for being soft-spoken, Bedard said he’s not yet allowed himself to envision being drafted or making his NHL debut yet.

“It’s hard kind of think of that. But of course, I’ll work as hard as I can to try to achieve that goal,” he said. “And hopefully I do.”

Blue Jackets acquire D Damon Severson from Devils after he signs 8-year deal

Associated PressJun 9, 2023, 1:53 PM EDT

Kirk Irwin/Getty Images

The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired Damon Severson from the New Jersey Devils on Friday after the veteran defenseman and soon-to-be free agent signed an eight-year $50 million contract.

Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen sent a third-round pick, 80th overall, in this month’s draft to the Devils for Severson, who will be under contract through the 2030-31 NHL season.

Severson had 58 goals and 205 assists in 647 career appearances with the Devils since making his NHL debut in 2014-15. He scored seven game-winning goals and averaged more than 21 minutes of playing time during his nine seasons. The 28-year-old had seven goals and 26 assists this season, including two game-winning goals, in 81 games.

“Damon is a versatile defenseman who has great vision, moves the puck extremely well, has good size and can play heavy minutes at both ends of the ice,” Kekalainen said.

The Canadian was selected in the second round in the 2012 draft. He has collected 30 or more points five times in his career and twice notched 11 or more goals. He played in every game in three straight seasons from 2018-21 and has played 80 or more contests four times in his career.

With the addition of the third-round pick, New Jersey now has six selections in the draft, including its own picks in rounds two, four, five, six and seven.

Matthew Tkachuk returns from big hit in Stanley Cup Final, adds more playoff heroics

Associated PressJun 9, 2023, 9:59 AM EDT

James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Matthew Tkachuk was down, out briefly and then back with plenty of time to make a difference.

The Florida Panthers star left early in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final after a big hit from Vegas Golden Knights forward Keegan Kolesar, and he missed most of the first period and didn’t return immediately following intermission while being evaluated for a concussion. After looking as if he might be lost for the night, Tkachuk returned in the second and then came through with more of his now trademark playoff heroics.

Tkachuk scored the tying goal with 2:13 left in regulation, forcing overtime and giving the Panthers new life. He then provided the screen on Carter Verhaeghe‘s OT goal for a 3-2 victory that cut Florida’s series deficit to 2-1.

The 25-year-old said he knew he was coming back when he left the game, pulled by concussion spotters. That absence felt like a long time ago in the aftermath of another big win he was largely responsible for.

“I felt great – I feel great,” Tkachuk said. “I’m ready to go. Everybody’s excited that we’re in this position right now.”

Florida is in this position rather than facing elimination in Game 4 on Saturday thanks in large part to Tkachuk, who also set up Brandon Montour‘s goal that opened the scoring less than five minutes in.

Not long after, Tkachuk stumbled getting up after the hit from Kolesar and skated to the bench. He took a shift on Florida’s power play before going down the tunnel at the demand of concussion spotters mandated by NHL protocol.

At that point, there was zero clarity, even on the Florida bench.

“You’re not informed at all: It’s a complete shutdown,” coach Paul Maurice said. “You are completely in the dark on those. You don’t know when the player’s coming back. There’s not an update.”

Players insist they were not worried. Montour called it a no-brainer.

“He’s going to come back no matter what,” captain Aleksander Barkov said. “He’s really tough guy, and he’s going to battle through everything.”

Tkachuk rejoined his teammates on the bench a few minutes into the second. When he stepped back onto the ice for his first shift since leaving, fans cheered and chanted, “Chucky! Chucky!”

The crowd was even louder and threw rats when Tkachuk scored his biggest goal of many during this run to tie it. He didn’t get an assist on Verhaeghe’s goal but made it happen with a tape-to-tape pass in the neutral zone and was in front of Adin Hill when it happened.

Asked if he was happy Tkachuk returned, Maurice joked that it was after midnight.

“It was fine,” he quipped.

Panthers rally, top Golden Knights 3-2 in OT of Game 3 of Stanley Cup final

Associated PressJun 8, 2023, 11:48 PM EDT

Sam Navarro/USA TODAY Sports

SUNRISE, Fla. — Carter Verhaeghe scored 4:27 into overtime and the Florida Panthers pulled off some more postseason dramatics to beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday night.

Matthew Tkachuk tied it with 2:13 left in the third period for the Panthers, who got the franchise’s first title-series game win in seven tries. Florida had to fend off a power play to start overtime, and Verhaeghe got the winner from the slot to get the Panthers within 2-1 in the series.

Game 4 is Saturday night.

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 25 shots for Florida. Adin Hill made 20 saves for Vegas, but got beat on the only shot that came his way in overtime.

Brandon Montour also scored for Florida, which pulled Bobrovsky down 2-1 late in the third for the extra attacker and Tkachuk — who left for parts of the first and second periods after taking a big hit — made that move pay off when he tied the game.

His goal breathed life into a very nervous building. But the Panthers were furious — and replays showed they had a case — when Gustav Forsling was sent to the box with 11.2 seconds remaining for tripping. Florida survived that scare, and a few minutes later, had life in the series again.

The odds are still long, but the Panthers at least have a bit more statistical hope now. Of the previous 55 teams to trail 2-1 at this point of the Stanley Cup Final, 11 have actually rallied to hoist the trophy.

It’s improbable, sure. So are the Panthers, who were the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, were down 3-1 to Boston in Round 1, were 133 seconds away from trailing this series 3-0 — and now have tons of reasons for optimism.

Jonathan Marchessault and Mark Stone each had power-play goals for Vegas.

Marchessault’s goal was his 13th in his last 13 playoff games, his fourth of this series and his third with the man advantage.

As if all that wasn’t enough, there was a little history in there as well. Vegas joined the 1980 New York Islanders as the only team with at least two power-play goals in three consecutive games in the Cup final. And Marchessault became the third player in the last 35 years to score in each of the first three games of a title series — joining Steve Yzerman in 1997 with Detroit and Jake Guentzel with Pittsburgh in 2017.

But it wasn’t enough to give Vegas a 3-0 lead in the series.

AROUND THE RINK

Before Thursday, Florida’s last home game in the title series was June 10, 1996, when Uwe Krupp scored in the third overtime for a 1-0 win as Colorado finished off a four-game sweep of the Panthers for the Cup. … Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was in the crowd, as was NBA great Charles Barkley, and former Dolphins star Dan Marino was the celebrity drummer to welcome the Panthers onto the ice.