One other week of NHL motion is within the rearview mirror, and there was virtually an excessive amount of hockey to maintain up with. Fortunately, the weekly NHL Rewind has you lined with all of the can’t-miss moments of the final seven days.
Philadelphia Flyers coach John Tortorella was the speak of the hockey world Saturday when he had an epic blow-up, even by his requirements. Tortorella acquired ejected after giving the officers an earful, however he refused to depart the bench. That earned Tortorella a suspension and created one of many extra viral moments from this season.
Elsewhere, Minnesota Wild coach John Hynes took a calculated danger in time beyond regulation to maintain his staff within the playoff race, and it paid off. Plus, Connor McDavid joined some elite firm by reaching 100 factors for the fourth consecutive season.
Let’s have a look again at the perfect highlights and largest tales from the week that was within the NHL.
Aim of the week: Kotkaniemi picks his spot from vary
The NHL has some elite marksmen, however Jesperi Kotkaniemi might have outdone all of them along with his aim in opposition to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. He picked his spot from distance and from a foul angle to attain a key aim within the 4-2 win.
Early within the third interval, with the rating tied 1-1, Kotkaniemi acquired the puck within the left nook. Somewhat than turning and sliding a go as much as the blue line, Kotkaniemi determined to place a shot on aim, and it was among the finest photographs of his profession.
Kotkaniemi fired a shot proper previous the ear of Nico Daws with the puck hitting the far put up, kicking off Daws’ again and into the web.
That aim was Kotkaniemi’s eleventh of the season, and it helped hold the Hurricanes rolling. Kotkaniemi is probably not identified for his goal-scoring capability, however he simply potted among the finest tallies of the 2023-24 marketing campaign.
Theft of the week: Fleury kicks out his toe to steal one from Sherwood
Marc-Andre Fleury hasn’t had the best season, however he nonetheless has some magic up his pads. That was on full show within the second interval of the Minnesota Wild’s win over the Nashville Predators.
Nashville was main 2-1 and on the lookout for a two-goal lead when Mark Jankowski’s made a wraparound try throughout the slot to Kiefer Sherwood. Fleury’s head was turned the opposite means when Sherwood punched the puck towards the web.
Instinctively, Fleury kicked out his left leg and saved the puck out along with his skate. It was a superb save that saved Minnesota inside placing distance in a pivotal recreation.
That cease wound up being the distinction for the Wild, who received in time beyond regulation. Fleury is a residing legend, and he’s doing all the things in his energy to maintain his staff within the playoff race.
John Tortorella ain’t leaving (the bench)
Flyers coach John Tortorella is thought for being considerably of a sizzling head, however he has proven pretty spectacular restraint all through the 2023-34 season. Not less than, he had proven glorious restraint till his epic blow-up on the officers throughout Saturday’s recreation in opposition to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Lightning scored 4 objectives within the first 10:49 of the sport, and two of them got here on the facility play. After the fourth aim, and second power-play tally, Tortorella misplaced it on the officers.
After giving the referees a chunk of his thoughts, Tortorella earned an ejection from Wes McCauley, however that wasn’t the tip of it. Tortorella continued to share just a few alternative phrases with the officers, and he refused to depart the bench after the ejection. As soon as Tortorella had gotten his cash’s price, and the Lightning alumni within the suite liked the present, he lastly went again to the locker room.
The Flyers did not get a lot inspiration from Tortorella’s explosion. They went on to lose 7-0, however the information acquired even worse for Torts on Sunday: The NHL introduced he had been suspended two video games on account of his antics.
Wild hold playoff hopes alive with daring transfer in OT
The Wild want each level they’ll get their palms on to make the playoffs, so head coach John Hynes rolled the cube in time beyond regulation. It was an enormous gamble that might have simply backfired, however he might have began a development we’ll see down the stretch as groups scratch and claw for a playoff spot.
As soon as the Wild acquired possession, they pulled goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to make it 4-on-3 within the additional body. Minnesota was capable of efficiently enter the Predators’ zone, and the quartet on the ice executed completely.
Mats Zuccarello waited for a gap, and he fired a go throughout the slot to Matt Boldy, who did not miss his likelihood to win the sport. Boldy ripped a one-timer previous Juuse Saros to reward Hynes for his worthwhile danger.
Now, Minnesota is six factors behind the Vegas Golden Knights for the second wild card spot, and the staff nonetheless has an uphill battle to succeed in the postseason. If the Wild discover themselves in additional time beyond regulation conditions down the stretch, we would see Hynes pull the goalie once more.
Connor McDavid hits 100 factors once more
Hitting the century mark within the trendy NHL is kind of the accomplishment, however you would not understand that from taking a look at Connor McDavid’s profession stats. On Thursday, McDavid tallied an help within the Oilers’ 4-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, and that put him within the 100-point membership but once more.
The play itself wasn’t the prettiest of McDavid’s profession, however all of them rely the identical on the scoresheet. Leon Draisaitl’s preliminary go kicked off the skate of McDavid and onto the stick of Zach Hyman, who tapped dwelling a straightforward aim.
That is now the seventh time in McDavid’s profession he has reached 100 factors. It is also the fourth consecutive season in whih McDavid has eclipsed that mark, placing him in some elite firm.
The final two gamers to attain 100 factors in at the very least 4 straight seasons had been Brett Hull and Steve Yzerman. These two achieved the feat in 1992-93, and one thing tells me that is removed from the final time McDavid will hit the century mark.
Appointment viewing this week
Rangers at Hurricanes | Tuesday, March 12: The Hurricanes haven’t got the providers of Jake Guentzel simply but, however he is anticipated to make his Carolina debut within the very close to future. Regardless, this can be a matchup stuffed with postseason implications with the Hurricanes just some factors behind the Rangers for first place within the Metropolitan Division.
Avalanche at Canucks | Wednesday, March 13: After including substantial expertise in Casey Mittelstadt and Sean Walker on the deadline, the Avalanche are prepared for a possible Stanley Cup run. This actually may very well be a possible playoff preview as each groups proceed to attempt to get a leg up within the Stanley Cup Playoff race.
Panthers at Hurricanes | Thursday, March 14: The Panthers have been one of many league’s hottest groups because the All-Star break as they’ve solely dropped three video games since then. Florida seems primed for an additional deep playoff run, and going through off in opposition to the Hurricanes will probably be a pleasant regular-season take a look at.
Wild at Blues | Saturday, March 16: It will be an uphill battle, however the Wild and Blues are nonetheless in place to push for a wild card spot within the West. The Wild are simply six factors behind the Golden Knights for the ultimate Western Convention playoff spot proper now, so that is a particularly necessary contest.
Islanders at Rangers | Sunday, March 17: The wild card race within the East is very contested proper now. The Islanders just lately overtook the Purple Wings for the second spot, however 4 groups are at the moment separated by simply 5 factors. That is the kind of recreation the Islanders are going to want to win in the event that they need to attain the postseason in new head coach Patrick Roy’s first season behind the bench.
