Friday's hockey: Retooled Vegas waiting for Wings; UM wins Game 1 vs. Notre Dame
Leave it to the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights to pull off what could be the biggest deal at the NHL’s trade deadline on Friday.
After the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers slugged it out in adding talent to shore up their respective rosters with offense and experience, the Golden Knights sneaked in under the deadline to land Tomas Hertl in a trade with San Jose. Vegas will host the slumping Red Wings on Saturday (10 p.m., BSD/97.1).
Hertl, who has enjoyed nine 15-goal seasons in his 11-year career, provides the Golden Knights offensive depth down the middle, and joins a retooled team that added defenseman Noah Hanifin in a trade with Calgary on Wednesday and acquired forward Anthony Mantha in a trade with Washington on Tuesday.
The only downside for the slumping Golden Knights, who have dropped four straight and are 2-8-1 in their past 11, is waiting a few more weeks while Hertl continues recovering form having left knee surgery last month.
In the meantime, the Panthers and Hurricanes – the teams who met in the Eastern Conference finals in a series Florida won in a four-game sweep – were major players on the trade front.
After acquiring scoring winger Jake Guentzel from Pittsburgh in a blockbuster deal late Thursday, Carolina kicked off the action Friday by adding center Evgeny Kuznetsov in a trade with Washington.
The Panthers followed suit. Two days after landing scoring winger Vladimir Tarasenko from Ottawa, Florida added depth and leadership in landing Buffalo’s Kyle Okposo. Buffalo acquired minor-league defenseman Calle Sjalin in a deal that provides the 35-year-old Sabres captain a chance to compete in the playoffs in what could be his final NHL season.
“I think they know it at this point that we are going to do everything we can to help them do their thing,” Panthers GM Bill Zito said of helping a team that entered Friday leading the NHL with 43 wins and 90 points, and last year lost the Cup Final to Vegas in five games.
“It’s their team. It’s their success,” he added. “But to the extent that we can help, I think the guys appreciate it. And they know that we’re all in it with them.”
Unofficially, because the NHL hasn't released its totals yet, 23 trades were completed on Friday involving 32 players and 22 draft selections. That compares with 21 trades involving 34 players and 14 draft picks moving on deadline day last year.
The Boston Bruins became the last of the top contenders in the East to add, getting three-time Cup champion Patrick Maroon from Minnesota for young forward Luke Toporowski and a conditional 2026 sixth-round pick.
The Metropolitan Division-leading New York Rangers added blue-line depth by acquiring Chad Ruhwedel from a Penguins team that is suddenly entering a rebuilding mode. They also got center Jack Roslovic from Columbus.
In other moves:
▶ Winnipeg completed separate trades with New Jersey, acquiring forward Tyler Toffoli and defenseman Colin Miller.
▶ Nashville, which holds one of the West’s two wild-card spots, attempted to shore up its playoff position by getting forward Jason Zucker from Arizona for a sixth-rounder this year.
▶ Philadelphia shored up its depleted defense by acquiring veteran Erik Johnson for a fourth-round draft pick in a deal with Buffalo.
▶ Tampa Bay added hard-hitting defenseman Matt Dumba in a trade with Arizona.
▶ The Devils swapped goalies, acquiring Kappo Kahkonen from San Jose for Vitek Vanecek. New Jersey also acquired goalie Jake Allen from Montreal for a conditional third-round pick.
The Hurricanes were busy adding to an already talented roster, and a team that managed a combined six goals in being swept by Florida in the playoffs last year.
“Evgeny is a high-level playmaker who will add to our offensive firepower,” Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said. “He brings even more playoff experience to our lineup, and we’re excited to give him a fresh start in Carolina.”
Kuznetsov, 31, cleared waivers last weekend upon being able to practice after receiving care from the player assistance program. He was then demoted to the minors, with Capitals GM Brian MacLellan saying he would attempt to trade the player who led Washington in scoring during its run to win the 2018 Stanley Cup.
More:Red Wings acquire defenseman Simek in trade with San Jose
Guentzel is eager to join the Hurricanes and get back on the ice, with the trade coming as he is on the verge of returning to play after missing nearly a month with an upper body injury.
“You know what the team’s done in the past and how close they’ve been,” Guentzel said Friday. “This is a special team. They’ve got a lot of high-end players, and they’re really well-coached.”
The Los Angeles Kings were the only team among the top 12 Stanley Cup favorites not to make a significant addition over the past several weeks.
Meantime, its the Capitals and Penguins who find themselves in the unusual position of being sellers at the trade deadline after nearly two decades of dominance that began with the arrivals of Alex Ovechkin in Washington in 2004 and Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh a year later. Two teams that have combined to win four Stanley Cups since are focusing on the future with both in jeopardy of missing the playoffs for a second consecutive season.
“It’s a tough situation, we understand. Just enjoy playing the game and play hockey. It’s a great group here, great people around, great organization. I still believe in myself,” Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin said Friday.
The 37-year-old Malkin, however, made it clear he’s not given up on the season, though the Penguins sit eight points out of contention.
“Maybe a couple new guys give us energy, who knows?” he said. “We still believe we have, not big chance, but we still believe we have a chance to make the playoffs.”
Chicago 2, Grand Rapids 1 (SO)
The Grand Rapids Griffins have points in 14 straight home games after Friday's 2-1 shootout loss against the Chicago Wolves at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.
Taro Hirose scored the only goal and Sebastian Cossa made 25 saves for the Griffins.
Michigan 5, Notre Dame 4
Michigan opened the Big Ten tournament with a 5-4 victory over Notre Dame on Friday in Game 1 of the best-of-three series at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor.
Seamus Casey had four assists, Rutger McGroarty had two goals, including the winner and Garrett Schifsky had one goal and two assists.
Game 2 is Saturday at Yost Ice Arena at 7 p.m.
Western Michigan 3, Miami (Ohio) 2
Sam Colangelo's third-period goal gave Western Michigan a 3-2 victory and a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.
Luke Grainger and Matteo Costantini scored goals and Cameron Rowe made 18 saves for the Broncos.
Friday's NHL games
(At) Colorado 2, Minnesota 1 (OT): Valeri Nichushkin scored a power-play goal 2:32 into overtime in his return to the lineup after a two-month absence and Alexandar Georgiev stopped a penalty shot late in regulation for the Avalanche.
Nichushkin knocked in the winner shortly after Kirill Kaprizov drew a penalty for hooking. Nichushkin returned after receiving care through the player assistance program. It was his first game since Jan. 10.
Nathan MacKinnon had two assists to extend his home points streak to 32 games, tied with Guy Lafleur (1978-79) for the third-longest run in NHL history.
Artturi Lehkonen had a goal 42 seconds in for the Avalanche. Devon Toews scored with around 2:30 remaining, but the Wild challenged for offside and it was ruled no goal after a review.
Brock Faber scored Minnesota's goal.
Winnipeg 3, (at) Seattle 0: Laurent Brossoit made 17 saves for his first shutout of the season, Mark Scheifele scored his 19th goal 7:15 into the third period and Winnipeg beat Seattle.
Adam Lowry scored with 8:32 left to give Winnipeg a 2-0 lead and the Jets pulled even with Dallas and Colorado atop the Central Division. Nikolaj Ehlers had an empty-netter with 49 seconds left.
Brossoit posted his fourth career shutout and first since February 2022 while playing for Vegas. Tomas Tatar had Seattle’s two best scoring chances, hitting the post in the second period and sending a backhand wide early in the third. Seattle was shut out for the sixth time.
Dallas 6, (at) Anaheim 2: Roope Hintz had a goal and two assists to surpass 300 career points, Chris Tanev scored his first goal for Dallas and the Stars extended their winning streak to four games.
Jamie Benn and Joe Pavelski each had a goal and an assist for the Central Division-leading Stars, who jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period. Dallas also had three power-play goals and is 6 of 12 with the man advantage in its last three games.
Radek Faksa and Mason Marchment also scored for Dallas, and Jake Oettinger stopped 26 shots for his fifth win in his last six starts.
Ryan Strome had a goal and an assist, and Alex Killorn also scored for Anaheim.
Playoff tracker
Atlantic
▶ Panthers (90)
▶ Bruins (89)
▶ Maple Leafs (80)
Metropolitan
▶ Rangers (84)
▶ Hurricanes (80)
▶ Flyers (74)
Wild card
▶ Red Wings (72)
▶ Lightning (72)
(Top two wild-card teams make the playoffs)
▶ Islanders (70)
▶ Capitals (67)
▶ Devils (66)
▶ Pittsburgh (64)
▶ Sabres (63)
Michigan-area hockey this week
Friday
▶ Arizona 4, Red Wings 0
▶ Chicago 2, Grand Rapids 1 (SO)
▶ Michigan 5, Notre Dame 4
▶ Western Michigan 3, Miami (Ohio) 2
▶ Michigan Tech 5, Bowling Green 0
▶ Minnesota State 2, Northern Michigan 1
▶ Bermidji State 5, Ferris State 4 (OT)
Saturday
▶ Red Wings at Vegas, 10 (BSD/97.1)
▶ Grand Rapids at Milwaukee, 7 (AHL/106.9/1300)
▶ Notre Dame at Michigan, 7
▶ Miami University at Western Michigan, 6
▶ Bowling Green at Michigan Tech, 6
▶ Northern Michigan at Minnesota State, 7
▶ Ferris State at Bermidji State, 7
▶ NTDP U17s at Chicago, 7
Sunday
▶ Bowling Green at Michigan Tech, 5 (if necessary)
▶ Notre Dame at Michigan, 7 (if necessary)
▶ Northern Michigan at Mankato, 5 (if necessary)
▶ Ferris State at Bermidji State, 6 (if necessary)
▶ NTDP U18s at Chicago, 4
Wednesday
▶ Avalanche 7, Red Wings 2
Monday
▶ Cleveland 5, Grand Rapids 3