Monday's hockey: Twelve local players taken in USHL draft; Bruins take opener
Royal Oak's Nick Bogas of the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies U15 was the first Michigan-area hockey player drafted in Phase 1 of the United States Hockey League draft on Monday.
The 15-year-old defenseman had 12 goals and 27 assists for 39 points in 64 games this year. He was selected in the second round of the 10-round draft by Waterloo.
Also taken in the second round were: Little Caesars U15 defenseman Christopher Baird-Gajdos by Madison and Brighton center Cody Sokol of the Long Island Gulls U15.
Bogas was one of 12 local players selected on Monday. Little Caesars had seven players drafted, Oakland Junior Grizzlies two and Detroit Honeybaked one.
Phase 1 of the draft was for players born in 2008. Phase 2 is Tuesday for players of all ages who are eligible to play junior hockey but are not on the USHL 45-player rosters.
United States Hockey League Draft
Round 2
▶ 23. Waterloo: Nick Bogas, LD, Royal Oak, Oakland Jr. Grizzlies U15
▶ 24. Madison: Christopher Baird-Gajdos, LD, Little Caesars U15
▶ 27. Green Bay: Cody Sokol, C, Brighton, Long Island Gulls U15
Round 3
41. Tri-City: Trevor Theuer, C, Clarkston, Detroit Honeybaked U15
Round 6
86. Youngstown: Ethan Garden, C, Belleville, Detroit Little Caesars U15
Round 7
92. Muskegon: Will McLaughlin, LD, Detroit Little Caesars U15
105. Fargo: Jacob Monks, C, Wyandotte, Detroit Little Caesars U15
Round 8
106. Omaha: Ryan Yurkiw, LD, Novi, Detroit Little Caesars U15
Round 9
121. Omaha: Drake Gram, RD, Grosse Pointe Park, Detroit Little Caesars U15
129. Omaha: Noah Keyes, C, Rochester Hills, Oakland Jr. Grizzlies U15
Round 10
136. Omaha: Brayden Hughes, RD, Mattawan, Detroit Little Caesars U15
145. Sioux City: Travis Poliski, LW, Macomb, Detroit Little Caesars U15
Bruins 5, Panthers 1
Sunrise, Fla. — Jeremy Swayman stopped 38 shots, Brandon Carlo scored a goal just a few hours after his wife gave birth to their son and the Boston Bruins topped the Florida Panthers 5-1 in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Monday night.
Morgan Geekie, Mason Lohrei, Justin Brazeau and Jake DeBrusk also had goals for Boston, which improved to 5-0-0 against the Panthers this season. Pavel Zacha had a pair of assists for the Bruins, who scored three times in the final 7:08 of the second period to erase a 1-0 deficit and seize control.
Matthew Tkachuk had the goal for Florida, which has rallied from a 1-0 deficit to win an NHL playoff series only twice in nine previous opportunities – one of those was last year against Boston in Round 1. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 24 shots for the Panthers, who were playing for the first time in a week.
Game 2 is in Sunrise on Wednesday night.
Swayman has been in net for all five of Boston's wins so far in these playoffs and was stellar yet again – just as he was against Toronto in a Round 1 series that ended with a Game 7 overtime thriller on Saturday night. He stopped all seven shots he saw on Florida's three power plays, improving the best stats of any netminder so far in these playoffs.
Through seven playoff appearances, Swayman has made a league-best 210 saves with a most-stingy goals-against average of 1.43.
It was the first one-sided game of the five this season between the clubs who finished 1-2 – Florida first with 110 points, Boston second with 109 points – in the Atlantic Division. Boston won them all in the regular season, three by one goal and the other by two, but Florida was either tied or ahead in those games 78% of the time.
This one was different. Once Boston got the lead, the Bruins – who have now successfully rallied from deficits of 1-0 in four of the five games with Florida this season – went completely airtight defensively.
Swayman gave up the game's first goal to Tkachuk, the Florida star's fourth of the postseason, midway through the second after he and Bobrovsky were in a goalie's duel for the first 31 minutes. He didn't deal with the deficit for long.
It took Boston only 67 seconds to get the equalizer, with Geekie cleaning up a loose puck in front. And the lead came 3:25 later, when Lohrei got his first playoff goal by going over Bobrovsky's shoulder from a tough angle.
That set the stage for Carlo to add to a day he'll never forget.
He wasn't on the flight with the Bruins to South Florida on Sunday, staying behind because his wife Mayson was about to give birth. She delivered their son Crew on Monday morning, in time for Carlo to hop on a plane for the three-hour trip south. He arrived at the arena after the rest of his teammates, but in time to be in the lineup – and he scored with 21 seconds left in the second, staking his club to a 3-1 edge.
Brazeau sealed it with 12:47 left, getting behind the Florida defense and beating Bobrovsky with a backhander. The Panthers pulled Bobrovsky with 5:30 left, and DeBrusk added an empty-netter about 2 minutes later.
Jets coach Bowness retiring
Rick Bowness walked off the ice following the Winnipeg Jets' final loss of the season, which eliminated them from the playoffs, unhappy with his performance and how his team played, and it dawned on him that it should be the final NHL game he coaches.
“Coaches have always told me … they’ve always said you’ll know it’s time,” Bowness said. “It just hit me then: It’s time.”
Bowness announced his retirement Monday after 38 NHL seasons, a well-respected career that included leading the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020 and more time spent behind the bench than anyone else in league history.
“When I leave, I just want to be remembered,” Bowness told reporters at a news conference in Winnipeg, choking back tears. “I just love the game, and I respected the game. I love this league. I respect the league.”
Health issues of his own and his wife, Judy, played a role in his decision, which went beyond disappointment over losing to Colorado in five games. After all, Bowness did a good enough job the rest of the time to be a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year for the first time for leading the Jets to a franchise-record 52 wins and a second consecutive postseason appearance in as many seasons on the job.
Bowness was planning to retire in the summer of 2022 before Winnipeg general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff called to try to persuade him to take one more shot at winning the Stanley Cup. He didn't return that call right away but eventually decided to give it a go.
“We asked them to put their lives on hold to come here to Winnipeg to help give us, this group, a different voice, a different path, some strong structure,” Cheveldayoff said. “Just really wanted to thank Rick for the two years that he came and gave us here.”
“We asked them to put their lives on hold to come here to Winnipeg to help give us, this group, a different voice, a different path, some strong structure,” Cheveldayoff said. “Just really wanted to thank Rick for the two years that he came and gave us here.”
Stars move on to face Avalanche
The Dallas Stars got one day off between their Game 7 victory over last year’s Stanley Cup champion, and the start of what could be a drastically different second round in the Western Conference playoffs against well-rested 2022 champ Colorado.
Coach Pete DeBoer and the top-seeded Stars won a tight series against Vegas when each team scored 16 goals. They now face the Avalanche, who by time the puck drops for Game 1 on Tuesday night will have gone a full week since wrapping up their opening round with 28 goals in five games against one of the league's top defensive teams.
“We're going to have to work ourselves into the series to see how we're going to have to win,” DeBoer said Monday. “My initial reaction, just watching what they did to Winnipeg, is I don't think we want to get in a track meet. … At the same time, we're not going to sit and try to defend in the entire series. I think we've got other layers to our game."
Dallas can score, too, with a franchise-record eight 20-goal scorers in the regular season and ranking third in the NHL at 3.59 goals per game. The Avs had a league-high 3.68.
While the Stars hope to have an advantage going right from one series to another one, the Avalanche are drawing on experience from long layoffs during their 2022 Stanley Cup title run. They had a break of more than a week between the first and second rounds, and another before the final when they knocked off Tampa Bay in six games.
“We approached this week the same as we did then,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “The way you handle every situation it’s not just like, you know, willy-nilly, you’re trying to think of the best way to do it. You’re gathering information from your team on rest, work, how they’re feeling, what we can go over, just trying to fine-tune everything so we’re ready to go when the puck drops.”
In veteran center Nathan MacKinnon’s view, the Avs should be ready for one thing: “Their best, hardest game,” he said. “We’re prepared to work our butts off and compete. We expect a very, very, very hard series. But we’re confident in ourselves. We feel like we have a deep team and we get the job done.”
Hurricanes focused on getting better
The Rangers and Hurricanes were among the top special teams units during the regular season. Carolina was second on the power play and first on the penalty-kill, and New York was third in both.
After special teams play keyed the Rangers' 4-3 win in the series opener, the Hurricanes know they will need to be better when the teams meet in Game 2 on Tuesday night (7 p.m. EDT, ESPN).
“We got to be a little bit better in all areas,” Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said. “They got a great team over there. They had to make high-end plays on the goals. … We have to find a way to be that much better.”
The Rangers scored on the game's first shot on goal. After the Hurricanes tied it, New York then scored on its two power plays in the first period to take a two-goal lead.
The Rangers’ two power plays totaled just 23 seconds. They needed only 9 seconds to get the first one when Mika Zibanejad scored from the left side off a pass from Chris Kreider in front, and 14 seconds before Vincent Trocheck put in a rebound in close of a shot by Zibanejad.
“Our kill is predicated on pressure and they gotta make three or four good passes to get a Grade-A (chance) and they did,” Carolina forward Jordan Staal said. “We’ll adjust, we’ll find ways to pressure maybe a little more at times, create opportunities and and make sure we can do a better job.”
The Hurricanes, meanwhile, finished the game 0 for 5 with the man-advantage while totaling just five shots on goal.
“We had our looks, we just didn't convert,” Brind'Amour said. “That's the difference. We got to find a way to get more looks and we'd like to have more opportunities when you get your power plays, but they did a nice job of blocking shots, pressure us at the right times. The execution wasn't where it needed to be.”
The Rangers, on the other hand, liked what they did on both sides and know that will be key in the series against a Hurricanes team that was 86.4% on the penalty-kill during the season and then 8 for 11 in the first round.
“For our power play, I thought we were executing, trying to attack,” Zibanejad said. “It's a really good PK that we're playing against, so we have to execute. … Something we're going to have to keep doing if we're going to have some success against these guys.”
Eastern Conference playoff matchups
Second round
Eastern Conference
Carolina vs. N.Y. Rangers
(Rangers lead 1-0)
▶ Game 1: Sunday @ New York, 4
▶ Game 2: Tuesday @ New York, TBA
▶ Game 3: Thursday @ Carolina, TBA
▶ Game 4: Saturday @ Carolina, TBA
▶ Game 5: May 13 @ New York, TBA
▶ Game 6: May 16 @ Carolina, TBA
▶ Game 7: May 18 @ New York, TBA
Boston vs. Florida
(Bruins lead 1-0)
▶ Game 1: Boston 5-1
▶ Game 2: Wednesday @ Florida, TBA
▶ Game 3: Friday @ Boston, TBA
▶ Game 4: Sunday @ Boston, TBA
▶ Game 5: May 14 @ Florida, TBA
▶ Game 6: May 17 @ Boston, TBA
▶ Game 7: May 19 @ Florida, TBA
Western Conference
Colorado vs. Dallas
▶ Game 1: Tuesday @ Dallas, 9:30
▶ Game 2: Thursday @ Dallas, 9:30
▶ Game 3: Saturday @ Colorado, TBA
▶ Game 4: May 13 @ Colorado, TBA
▶ Game 5: May 15 @ Dallas, TBA
▶ Game 6: May 16 @ Colorado, TBA
▶ Game 7: May 19 @ Dallas
Edmonton vs. Vancouver
▶ Game 1: Wednesday @ Vancouver, 10
▶ Game 2: Friday @ Vancouver, 10
▶ Game 3: Sunday @ Edmonton, TBA
▶ Game 4: May 14 @ Edmonton, TBA
▶ Game 5: May 16 @ Vancouver, TBA
▶ Game 6: May 18 @ Edmonton, TBA
▶ Game 7: May 20 @ Vancouver, TBA
Eastern Conference
First round
Rangers vs. Capitals
(Rangers win 4-0)
▶ Game 1: Rangers 4-1
▶ Game 2: Rangers 4-3
▶ Game 3: Rangers 3-1
▶ Game 4: Rangers 4-2
Bruins vs. Maple Leafs
(Bruins win 4-3)
▶ Game 1: Bruins 5-1
▶ Game 2: Leafs 3-2
▶ Game 3: Bruins 4-2
▶ Game 4: Bruins 3-1
▶ Game 5: Leafs 3-2 (OT)
▶ Game 6: Leafs 2-0
▶ Game 7: Bruins 2-1 (OT)
Panthers vs. Lightning
(Panthers win 4-1)
▶ Game 1: Panthers 3-2
▶ Game 2: Panthers 3-2 (OT)
▶ Game 3: Panthers 5-3
▶ Game 4: Lightning 6-3
▶ Game 5: Lightning 6-1
Hurricanes vs. Islanders
(Hurricanes win 4-1)
▶ Game 1: Hurricanes 3-1
▶ Game 2: Hurricanes 5-3
▶ Game 3: Hurricanes 3-2
▶ Game 4: Islanders 3-2 (2OT)
▶ Game 5: Hurricanes 6-3
Western Conference playoff matchups
Dallas vs. Vegas
(Series tied 3-3)
▶ Game 1: Vegas 4-3
▶ Game 2: Vegas 3-1
▶ Game 3: Dallas 3-2 (OT)
▶ Game 4: Dallas 4-2
▶ Game 5: Dallas 3-2
▶ Game 6: Vegas 2-0
▶ Game 7: Sunday @ Dallas, 7:30
Winnipeg vs. Colorado
(Avalanche win 4-1)
▶ Game 1: Jets 7-6
▶ Game 2: Avalanche 5-2
▶ Game 3: Avalanche 6-2
▶ Game 4: Avalanche 5-1
▶ Game 5: Avalanche 6-3
Vancouver vs. Nashville
(Canucks win 4-2)
▶ Game 1: Canucks 4-2
▶ Game 2: Predators 4-1
▶ Game 3: Canucks 2-1
▶ Game 4: Canucks 4-3 (OT)
▶ Game 5: Predators 2-1
▶ Game 6: Canucks 1-0
Edmonton vs. Los Angeles
(Oilers win 4-1)
▶ Game 1: Oilers 7-4
▶ Game 2: Kings 5-4 (OT)
▶ Game 3: Oilers 6-1
▶ Game 4: Oilers 1-0
▶ Game 5: Oilers 4-3
American Hockey League playoffs
Central Division semifinal
(Griffins win series 3-1)
▶ Game 1: Grand Rapids 3-2 (OT)
▶ Game 2: Rockford 5-1
▶ Game 3: Grand Rapids 4-3 (OT)
▶ Game 4: Grand Rapids 4-2
ECHL
Central Division Semifinal
(Best-of-seven series)
▶ Game 1: Toledo 3-2 (OT)
▶ Game 2: Toledo 5-2
▶ Game 3: Toledo 6-2
▶ Game 4: Toledo 4-2
Road to the Memorial Cup in Saginaw
(Saginaw hosts May 24-June 2)
▶ Friday, May 24: WHL vs. Saginaw, 7:30
▶ Saturday, May 25: OHL vs. QMJHL, 4
▶ Sunday, May 26: Saginaw vs. QMJHL, 7:30
▶ Monday, May 27: OHL vs. WHL, 7:30
▶ Tuesday, May 28: QMJHL vs. WHL, 7:30
▶ Wednesday, May 29: Saginaw vs. OHL, 7:30
▶ Thursday, May 30: Tie breaker (if necessary)
▶ Friday, May 31: Semifinal, 7:30
▶ Sunday, June 2: Final, 7:30
CHL playoffs in WHL, OHL, QMJHL
Western Hockey League
▶ Saskatoon Blades vs. Moose Jaw Warriors
▶ Prince George Cougars vs. Portland Winterhawks
Ontario Hockey League
▶ Oshawa Generals vs. North Bay Battalion
▶ London Knights vs. Saginaw
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
▶ Baie-Comeau Drakkar vs. Cape Breton Eagles
▶ Drummondville Voltigeurs vs. Victoriaville Tigres