NHL Rink Wrap: Oilers rally to tie series with Flames

By Adam GretzMay 21, 2022, 2:20 AM EDT

Derek Leung, Getty Images

• Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl put on a show for the Edmonton Oilers.

• Antti Raanta and the Carolina Hurricanes completely shut down the New York Rangers to take a 2-0 series lead.

• There is only one game on the schedule for Saturday as the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues play.

Game 2: Carolina Hurricanes 2, New York Rangers 0 (CAR Leads Series 2-0)

The New York Rangers do not have an answer for the Carolina Hurricanes’ defense, managing just one goal in the first two games of their Second round series. They were shutout on Friday night, 2-0, thanks to a 21-save effort from Antti Raanta and a shorthanded goal from Brendan Smith. The Rangers are clearly trying to play a more conservative style to improve their defensive play from the First Round, but they have completely taken away any threat of scoring. They have to find a middle ground if they are going to make this a series.

Game 2: Edmonton Oilers 5, Calgary Flames 3 (Series Tied 1-1)

Mike Smith gave up two early goals again for the Edmonton Oilers, but he slammed the door shut the rest of the way to give his teammates an opportunity to rally for a 5-3 win to tie the Battle Of Alberta at one game apiece. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl also had big games for the Oilers, while Zach Hyman‘s breakaway goal late in the third period goes in the books as the game-winning goal for the Oilers as they erased deficits of 2-0 and 3-1 to get the win.

[NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs 2022 First Round schedule, TV info]

Three Stars in NHL Playoffs (Game 2 of Lightning-Panthers and Hurricanes-Rangers)

1. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

He may not have had the most points in the game or scored the game-winning goal, but it is clear he was the best player on the ice and is the best player in this series. He helped swing this game in Edmonton’s favor in the second period when he put together a dominant stretch that included a goal to help bring the Oilers to within one, cutting Calgary’s lead from 3-1 to 3-2.

The goal was a thing of beauty.

2. Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton’s other offensive star had a huge game of his own. Draisaitl recorded a pair of assists and added a goal late in the third period to help put the game away. Draisaitl was a big X-factor coming into this series because he was not 100 percent had been a game-time decision before Game 7 in the First Round and before Game 1 in this round. He is obviously able to play and is still able to make a significant impact. He and McDavid have been carrying the Oilers all year, and that is continuing into the playoffs.

3. Antti Raanta, Carolina Hurricanes

Frederik Andersen is getting closer to a return to the lineup, but there is no guarantee he gets his starting job back. Not with the way that Raanta has played this postseason. Following his 21-save shutout on Friday he is now 5-2 this postseason with a save percentage over .935 for the playoffs. He has been sensational filling in for Andersen and is making the Hurricanes’ goalie overhaul from this past offseason look like a brilliant move by the front office. Andersen and Raanta combined to win the Jennings Trophy this season for allowing the fewest goals in the NHL, and by having two starting caliber goalies they are still in a great position when one of them is unable to play.

SATURDAY’S NHL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

Game 3: Colorado Avalanche vs. St. Louis Blues (Series Tied 1-1), 8 p.m. ET —

PHT’s 2022 Stanley Cup previews
• Avalanche vs. Blues
• Lightning vs. Panthers
• Makar, McDavid lead Conn Smythe watch after First Round
• NHL Second Round predictions
• Storylines for the NHL’s Second Round

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Adam Gretz is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @AGretz.

Sharks goalie James Reimer declines to wear Pride jersey

Associated PressMar 19, 2023, 3:44 PM EDT

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San Jose Sharks goalie James Reimer won’t take part in pregame warmups Saturday night, saying the team’s decision to wear Pride-themed jerseys in support of the LGBTQ community runs counter to his religious beliefs.

Reimer said in a statement Saturday that he made the decision based on his Christian beliefs, adding that he “always strived to treat everyone with respect” and that members of the LGBTQ community should be welcome in hockey.

“In this specific instance, I am choosing not to endorse something that is counter to my personal convictions, which are based on the Bible, the highest authority in life,” Reimer said.

Reimer is the second NHL player this season to refuse to take part in warmups with Pride-themed jerseys, with Philadelphia’s Ivan Provorov declining to in January. Reimer was not slated to start in Saturday night’s home game against the New York Islanders, which is Pride night.

Additionally, the New York Rangers opted not to wear Pride jerseys or use Pride stick tape as part of their night in January despite previously advertising that plan.

The Sharks said in a statement that they are proud to host Pride Night, saying the event reinforces the team’s commitment to inclusiveness.

“As we promote these standards, we also acknowledge and accept the rights of individuals to express themselves, including how or whether they choose to express their beliefs, regardless of the cause or topic,” the team said in a statement. “As an organization, we will not waver in our support of the LGBTQIA+ community and continue to encourage others to engage in active allyship.”

The You Can Play Project, which works to promote inclusiveness in sports, said the organization was disappointed in Reimer’s actions.

“Religion and respect are not in conflict with each other, and we are certainly disappointed when religion is used as a reason to not support our community,” the organization said. “Wearing pride jerseys, like any celebration jersey worn, is not about the personal feelings of an athlete; rather the communication from the team that a community is welcome in the arena and the sport.”

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports

Panarin, Shesterkin lead Rangers to 6-0 rout of Penguins

Associated PressMar 19, 2023, 1:18 AM EDT

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NEW YORK (AP) Mika Zibanejad had a goal and two assists, Artemi Panarin scored twice and Igor Shesterkin made 33 saves as the New York Rangers routed Pittsburgh 6-0 on Saturday night for their second win over the Penguins in three days.

Vladimir Tarasenko, Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba also scored for the surging Rangers, who have won nine of their last 11 home games and are 12-4-0 in their past 16 at Madison Square Garden.

Shesterkin won his fifth straight and posted his second shutout this season. He nimbly denied Pittsburgh forward Mikael Granland with a sprawling save five minutes into the third period to preserve the shutout, the 10th of his career. His other one this season was a 1-0 home win over Philadelphia on Nov. 1.

“When you put in hard and honest work, miracles happen,” Shesterkin said through a translator. ”We played wonderfully today – scored many, many goals. Honestly, I hope the fans loved it. We’re playing for them.”

The Penguins lost their third straight and trail the Rangers by 12 points for third place in the Metropolitan Division. Pittsburgh, still in wild-card position, is trying to reach the playoffs for the 17th straight time.

“Tonight was a humbling experience for all of us,” coach Mike Sullivan said. ”At this time of year, you have to have a short memory. We still have control of our destiny.”

Patrick Kane and defenseman K’Andre Miller also had two assists apiece as New York improved to 7-1-1 in its last nine home games against Pittsburgh. The Rangers are five points behind the second-place New Jersey Devils, who lost at Florida on Saturday.

“This was a big game for our goalie and our team,” Panarin said. “If you work at playing the right way, you have opportunities for goals.”

Since Dec. 5, when they turned around their season with a 6-4 comeback win at home over St. Louis, the Rangers are 29-9-5.

As he did on Thursday when the Rangers beat the Penguins 4-2, Zibanejad opened the scoring. He got his team-leading 36th goal at 5:10 of the first, beating Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry. Trouba and Miller assisted.

Panarin made it 2-0 at 19:49 on the power play, whipping the puck past Jarry from the left circle off a pass from Adam Fox.

Tarasenko increased the lead at 3:54 of the second with his fifth goal since joining the Rangers in a trade with St. Louis on Feb. 9. Tarasenko has points in 10 of his first 18 games with the Rangers.

Kreider made it 4-0 at 6:43 with his 31st goal and third in two games against the Penguins. Kane and Vincent Trocheck assisted on Kreider’s 260th career goal, which moved the Rangers forward within two of Vic Hadfield for fifth place on the franchise list.

New York won Thursday when Kreider scored the go-ahead goal in the third and added an empty-netter.

After Casey DeSmith replaced Jarry in net following Kreider’s goal, Trouba beat the replacement with a sharp-angle shot at 8:39 for his eighth to increase the margin to 5-0. Trouba has points in six of his last eight games.

Panarin scored again at 16:38 of the second – his 22nd goal of the season – to make it 6-0, with assists to Kane and Filip Chytil.

“We’re building chemistry, building every day and every game,” Kane said.

Panarin has points in eight of his last 10 games and leads the Rangers with 77 points overall, while Kane has seven points in his last six games.

“It’s nice to see that many great players on your team,” added Panarin, whose first two NHL seasons were played alongside Kane with the Chicago Blackhawks. “We’re happy tonight.”

Zibanejad assisted on goals by Tarasenko and Trouba and has 25 points – including 14 goals – over his last 20 games.

“It was just one of those nights when the puck goes in for us,” Zibanejad said. “And obviously Igor gives us a boost making all those saves.”

NOTES: The Penguins were missing defenseman Jeff Petry after he was hit with an unpenalized elbow from Rangers forward Tyler Motte on Thursday. … Pittsburgh also scratched defenseman Jan Rutta and forward Dalton Heinen and played defenseman Mark Friedman for the first time since Feb. 11. … The Rangers were without injured defenseman Ryan Lindgren for the 10th straight game.

UP NEXT

Penguins: Host the Ottawa Senators on Monday.

Rangers: Host the Nashville Predators on Sunday night.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports

Coyotes sign Shane Doan’s son to entry-level contract

Associated PressMar 17, 2023, 12:35 PM EDT

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

TEMPE, Ariz. — Josh Doan is following his father’s footsteps into professional hockey.

The Arizona Coyotes signed the 21-year-old forward to a three-year entry-level contract, beginning with the 2023-24 NHL season. He will report to the Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL and play his first game against the Calgary Wranglers.

Doan’s father, Shane, played 21 seasons with the franchise, many of those as captain, and followed it from Winnipeg to the desert in 1996. Shane Doan now serves as Arizona’s chief hockey development officer.

The Coyotes drafted Josh Doan in the second round of the 2021, but he opted to play for the hometown Arizona State Sun Devils.

Josh Doan set school records for goals (12) and assists (25) as a freshman last season. He had 16 goals and 22 assists in 39 games with Arizona State this season.

The 6-foot-1, 183-pounder also played two seasons for the Chicago Steel of the USHL.

Blackhawks forward Cole Guttman has shoulder surgery

Associated PressMar 17, 2023, 12:34 PM EDT

Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

CHICAGO — Chicago Blackhawks forward Cole Guttman had surgery on his right shoulder.

The team said the operation was performed in Los Angeles. Team physician Michael Terry said the 23-year-old Guttman is expected “to be out of hockey activities for approximately four months.”

Guttman had been a pleasant surprise for rebuilding Chicago. He made his NHL debut last month and finished the season with four goals and two assists in 14 games.

Guttman was selected by Tampa Bay in the 2017 draft. He agreed to a two-year contract with Chicago in August 2022 that had a $950,000 salary cap hit.