Philadelphia Flyers Daily Clips – October 24, 2014

FLYERS Headlines

1. Philadelphia Inquirer- Flyers take positives from 2-1 trip 2. Philadelphia Daily News - Inside Holmgren's transition 3. Philadelphia Daily News - Mason or Emery? 4. Delaware County Times - Rob Parent: Ottawa shootings spark questions, fear 5. Bucks County Courier-Times - Razor-sharp Emery deserves another start 6. Camden Courier-Post - Couturier more than specialist 7. NJ.com - Flyers' Pierre-Edouard Bellemare scored first NHL goal after being told to fight someone 8. HockeyBuzz.com - Meltzer's Musings: Coburn, Phantoms and More

Detroit Red Wings Headlines

1. The Detroit News - Red Wings' furious comeback clips Penguins in OT 2. The Detroit News - Younger Red Wings struggling on offense

PHANTOMS Headlines

1. Allentown Morning Call - AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms ready for their first three-in-three

NHL Headlines

1. TSN.ca - Miller solid in net as Canucks beat Blues 2. TSN.ca - Bruins' Chara could be out 4-6 weeks with suspected knee injury 3. TSN.ca - Kings beat Sabres for fifth-straight win; Quick sets franchise shutout record 4. TSN.ca - Neal's hat trick lifts Predators past Blackhawks 5. NHL.com - Toronto at Ottawa game rescheduled for Nov. 9

FLYERS Articles

1. Philadelphia Inquirer- Flyers take positives from 2-1 trip

Sam Carchidi

In their first extended road trip of the season, the Flyers passed the test. Somehow. Though they had some unsettling defensive moments, the Flyers won two of three games - sandwiching wins in Dallas and Pittsburgh around a one-sided defeat in Chicago - to bring some equilibrium to a shaky start. "It's a good trip," coach Craig Berube said. "You're not happy about certain things, but when you look at the big picture, we got two wins on the road. We'll take it and go home, get rested up, and play Saturday."

The Flyers (2-3-2) overcame a 4-2 third-period deficit in Dallas and won in overtime, 6-5, before being totally outclassed and losing in Chicago, 4-0, in a game in which they were outshot, 14-1, at the outset. But they salvaged a winning trip by going into their second home - the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, where they are a mind-boggling 10-1-1 in regular-season games since the arena opened in 2010 - and overcoming another awful start. They trailed, 1-0, and were outshot by 9-3 at the start of the game. It marked the sixth time in the first seven games that the Flyers had allowed the first goal. No matter. Despite playing their second game in as many nights, despite missing their two top defensemen (Braydon Coburn and Kimmo Timonen) and their second-line center (Vinny Lecavalier), the Flyers outplayed the Penguins over the last 50 minutes of a 4-3 victory. "It was a huge game for us," said winger Jake Voracek, who had two assists, giving him points in six of the first seven games. "I said before we left on the road trip, if we get four points it would be huge, it would be successful. And that's what we got, so we can go home happy." The Flyers return to the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday night against Detroit, and Berube has an interesting decision: Does he go with Ray Emery (2-0-1) - who has five of the Flyers' six points - or Steve Mason (0-3-1) in the nets? Emery (2.84 goals-against average, .897 save percentage) has been the steadier goalie, but the Flyers want to get Mason (3.83, .878) untracked. "He's played well," Berube said of Emery. "We'll look at it and talk about it, like we always do. We'll put the best team on the ice Saturday." Breakaways General manager Ron Hextall had no update on winger Zac Rinaldo, who suffered an upper-body injury and didn't return after the first period Wednesday in Pittsburgh. . . . Lecavalier (foot injury) will skate on his own Friday at the Flyers' practice facility in Voorhees. . . . Wayne Simmonds has the team's best plus-minus rating at plus-4, while Luke Schenn has the worst at minus-8. . . . Winger Pierre-Edouard Bellemare on scoring his first NHL goal Wednesday: "It felt pretty unbelievable, especially because we won the game." . . . R.J. Umberger had his second career Gordie Howe hat trick: a goal, an assist, and a fight. . . . Tickets to the 38th annual Flyers Wives Carnival go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at comcasttix.com. The carnival is March 1.

2. Philadelphia Daily News - Inside Holmgren's transition

Frank Seravalli

WHEN PAUL Holmgren was promoted to Flyers team president last May, he didn't pack any boxes. Unlike his predecessor, Peter Luukko, who also served as Comcast-Spectacor chief operating officer, Holmgren didn't want or need a cushy office at Wells Fargo Center. For one, keeping his old digs at the team's practice facility in Voorhees, N.J., allowed him to stay closer to his South Jersey home. More importantly, with an office window that overlooks the ice, Holmgren could remain close enough to feel the heartbeat of the team he has spent almost his entire adult life employed by. "I'm still around the hockey team enough to feel the excitement of it," Holmgren said. That's not to say Holmgren has not eagerly delved into his new role, which focuses on the overall day-to-day operations of the franchise. The Flyers are Ron Hextall's roster to mold now, Holmgren wanted to make that clear. It's just that he still likes being in the loop on the hockey side. "Ron and I talk on a daily basis, just like I did with Peter Luukko," Holmgren said last week during the Phantoms' home opener in Allentown in an interview about his transition. "I think that's the communication that good organizations have." Holmgren dove in headfirst to the business side of the sport last summer. He participated in countless meetings over the summer at Wells Fargo Center, kind of a crash-course for the upcoming season. He has been involved in meetings in just about every side of the business - from marketing, to ticket sales, to premium seating, to finance. Acting as a sponge, Holmgren made it a point to familiarize himself with as many people and faces as possible. "I jumped in and met with a lot of people," he said. "The first part [of the summer] was a good learning experience for me. A lot of it was stuff that I hadn't paid attention to [as general manager] because I didn't have to or I didn't want to or I didn't have the time to. "Now, I want to, and a lot of it, I have to pay attention to. It's been good that way."

Believe it or not, Holmgren was probably more involved than most NHL general managers with the business side of the Flyers. He was actually the creator of one of the team's marketing slogans one season. Now that he's more involved, two surprising nuances have grabbed the attention of a 58-year-old man who has never worked in an office before. "You sit in these big business deals that are going down and that stuff is pretty interesting - just the back and forth and the negotiation that goes on there," Holmgren said. The other is that the Flyers' business side - separated from the hockey operations side by the Delaware River and a more 9-to-5 pace - isn't all that different. "[Chief Operating Officer] Shawn Tilger and his staff are just another team," Holmgren said. "They have fun just like the hockey team does. They give each other [crap], they bust each other's [stones]. It's sort of different, because I've always been around a hockey environment. But it's pretty cool if you think about it." Emery or Mason? There is no goaltending controversy in Philadelphia. Steve Mason is the starting goalie. However, Craig Berube admitted after Wednesday's win in Pittsburgh that Ray Emery (2-0-1) has given him something to think about in terms of tomorrow night's starter vs. Detroit. "We'll look at it and talk about it, like we do everything," Berube said. "We're going to put the best possible lineup on the ice on Saturday." Mason, 26, has allowed 18 goals on 147 shots (.878 save percentage). He has not gotten much support defensively in five starts, but refused to let that serve as an excuse after Tuesday's shellacking in Chicago. "Guys are supportive, but at the same time, it's my job to stop the puck," Mason said. "Sometimes you've got to find ways to make saves that maybe you weren't supposed to make." There's no reason to suggest Mason's save percentage won't rise back toward his career average of .907. Many of the NHL's elite goaltenders are off to a rough start this season: Tuukka Rask (.880), Henrik Lundqvist (.894), Mike Smith (.822), Cory Schneider (.898) and Ryan Miller (.884). Until then, Emery (.897) may just be the Flyers' man tomorrow night. Emery started consecutive games on only four occasions last season when Mason was healthy. Slap shots

Despite a roller-coaster start, the Flyers awoke yesterday just two points back of first place in the Metropolitan Division. Through seven games last season (1-6-0), the Flyers were already eight points behind the Pittsburgh . . . GM Ron Hextall said forward Vinny Lecavalier (left foot) will resume skating today by himself at the team's practice facility. Lecavalier started out the season with three points in three games. He has been out since Oct. 11, but could return next week. 3. Philadelphia Daily News - Mason or Emery?

Frank Seravalli

There is no goaltending controversy in Philadelphia. Steve Mason is the Flyers’ starting goaltender. However, Craig Berube admitted after Wednesday’s win in Pittsburgh that Ray Emery (2-0-1) has given him something to think about in terms of tomorrow night’s starter against Detroit. “We’ll look at it and talk about it, like we do everything,” Berube said. “We’re going to put the best possible lineup on the ice on Saturday." Mason, 26, has allowed 18 goals on 147 shots (.878 save percentage). He has not gotten much support defensively in 5 starts, but refused to let that serve as an excuse after Tuesday’s shellacking in Chicago. “Guys are supportive, but at the same time, it’s my job to stop the puck,” Mason said. “Sometimes, you’ve got to find ways to make saves that maybe you weren’t supposed to make.” There’s no reason to suggest Mason’s save percentage won’t rise back toward his career save percentage of .907. Many of the NHL’s elite goaltenders are off to a rough start this season: Tuukka Rask (.880), Henrik Lundqvist (.894), Mike Smith (.822), Cory Schneider (.898), and Ryan Miller (.884). Until it does, Emery (.897) may just be the Flyers’ man on Saturday night. There were only four occasions last season that Emery started consecutive games for the Flyers when Mason was healthy.

4. Delaware County Times - Rob Parent: Ottawa shootings spark questions, fear

Rob Parent

It’s not like American athletes are exactly accustomed to being locked down in their hotel rooms because there’s a gun battle waging just outside the lobby’s swinging doors. But Canadian and European athletes seem even more shocked when live gun play, which is usually reserved for the news shows viewer or low-brow movie goer, but is also a commonly exercised hobby in American society. Not in Ottawa, however, literally at the hub of the Canadian government, the often tourist-blanketed National War Memorial site (where a guard soldier was killed) and Parliament Hill. And right outside the doors of the hotel where members of the Toronto Maple Leafs were resting up for Wednesday night’s game against their arch-rivals, the Senators. The game would be postponed. The memories on one of Canada’s darkest days will last forever. “We’re very fortunate to be in a safe environment here. You think more about what is going on outside. You hear a lot from the sirens, from what you follow on television, that it was a serious and significant event,” Maple Leafs general manager David Nonis said of his players, who were locked inside the historic (Fairmont) Chateau Laurier hotel. “It’s something that was in every player’s room and unfortunately that is the world we live in today.” Ottawa defenseman Cody Ceci said his father, mother and sister were all working downtown when reports filtered out that shootings — part of a planned terrorist attack in different locations in the city — were taking place there. Ceci was safely ensconsed in Kanata, going through their morning skate at the Canadian Tire Centre. “I know my parents and my sister are right down there so it was all pretty nerve-racking,” Ceci said. Not something anyone would expect to have part of their work day. But in Canada, where strict gun control (every firearm registered and licensed) was a blessed way of life for a long time until in most provinces reverted back in 2012 ... it seemed all the more shocking.

“I think we all feel a pretty safe sense of security playing in Canada,” Senators defenseman Chris Phillips said. “You see it happen around the world and you never expect it to happen in your own backyard.” • • • Coming off a pretty successful road trip and now 2-3-2 on the young season, the Flyers are getting a lot of attention. That’s because everyone knows their defense leaves a lot to be desired. Hence, there has been a growing sense of trade speculation that Brayden Schenn could be had if you sent a defenseman the Flyers’ way. Anyway, for what it’s worth, add Edmonton to the rumors list, since two-way defenseman Jeff Petry is a pending unrestricted free agent. He shoots from the right side and eats minutes and the speculators might think he’d make a good choice for the Flyers. But getting rid of a young players like Schenn to add another mid-line defenseman would be nonsense. Then again, how long can you wait before deciding what to do about a Flyers defense that appears in need of help? • • • Around the league...: Tyler Ennis scored with 5:06 remaining to play Wednesday to lift the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. That also ended a Sabres scoreless run of 197 minutes as they fell to 1-6, being outscored 26-9 in those seven games. ... Lousy news for Nathan Horton, who not long ago looked like a rising star for Florida, and is now a 29-year-old in Columbus whose career might be over. The Columbus Dispatch was quoting sources this week as saying Horton is suffering from a degenerative lumbar region condition affecting his entire back. What’s more, surgery is apparently risky. “It’s really hard for all of us; it’s just devastating because he’s a great guy,” Blue Jackets d-man Jack Johnson said of Horton. • • • QUOTES: Loveable coach Paul Maurice, to curious hockey reporters in Calgary when an injury question popped up the other day: “It’s not the player’s job to tell YOU about it. I don’t have to open this book up to you and tell you everything that goes on in the room. I can make you cry in the (um, bad word)ing room. Listen, I understand you have to work with what you’re given and I appreciate that. But the accountability in the room is fine. We deal with our problems directly. ... And I apologize for the profanity.”

5. Bucks County Courier-Times - Razor-sharp Emery deserves another start

Wayne Fish

Riding the hot goaltender is a concept that’s been around since just about the time they invented the hockey puck. So it was only natural to ask around the Flyers’ locker room in Pittsburgh after Wednesday night’s game against the Penguins about who might be starting in net back in Philadelphia on Saturday night when Detroit rolls into town. No one was saying much but based on what backup goalie Ray Emery accomplished on the just completed three-game road trip, it should be him. Emery not only slammed the door on Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin & Co. in a 5-3 Flyers’ win, he also saved regular starter Steve Mason’s bacon in a come-from-behind 6-5 overtime victory at Dallas last Saturday night. It’s no big secret Mason is off to a less-than-spectacular start. He’s looked shaky on several occasions, but, in all fairness, the Flyers’ defense this year has not exactly brought back memories of the 1976 Canadiens. Coach Craig Berube probably won’t announce a decision until Saturday morning. “He (Emery) has played well,’’ Berube said. “We’ll look at it and talk about it like we always do. We’ll put the best team on the ice Saturday.’’ What Berube doesn’t want to do is undermine Mason’s confidence level. It’s a long season and regardless of this little mini-drama in October, Mason likely will be the man standing on the blue ice when (or if) the Flyers get into playoff action. Simmonds rolling: It’s frightening to think where the Flyers would be in the early going if not for the play of Wayne Simmonds. Based on all aspects of hockey, Simmonds is off to the fastest start of his career. He says he really didn’t do anything different in his summer conditioning program to account for this quick getaway. He’s been with the same workout/supplement guru for a while. “I switched (several years back) to Matt Nichol who does the Bio Steel camp,’’ revealed Simmonds. Nichol is partnered with former NHL stalwart Gary Roberts, who hung around the big show a long time in part because of a strong conditioning/diet program.

“I really believe in what he (Nichol) does,’’ Simmonds said. “He’s a big believer in ‘when you rest, you rest. . .and when you’re going, you’re going full throttle.’ “I think that’s helped me out. This year obviously I’m off to a quick start but in the past I’ve tried to play the same way throughout the whole year. Sometimes you get bounces, sometimes you don’t. “(In the summer) we go to the gym five days a week, and the other two we do something fun, like beach volleyball (in southern California). He (Nichol) is a mad scientist, I just believe in everything he does.’’ Flyers Saturday What: Detroit Red Wings at Flyers. When: 7:05. Where: Wells Fargo Center. TV/Radio: CSN/97.5-FM. Season series: First meeting. What to watch: In recent years, the Red Wings have dominated the Flyers in Detroit, but the roles are reversed when the two teams square off in Philadelphia: Since 1990, the Red Wings are just 2-16-2 in the City of Brotherly Love. . .The Flyers are hoping defenseman Braydon Coburn, out since opening night with a foot injury, can get back into action in this game. 6. Camden Courier-Post - Couturier more than specialist

Dave Isaac

PITTSBURGH – Sean Couturier sprung out of the penalty box and immediately went back into his own end, helping out the penalty killers he usually joins. When the puck squirted free and Nick Schultz carried it across center ice and into the Pittsburgh Penguins’ end, Couturier followed. He accepted a pass, dished to Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and the Frenchman had his first NHL goal. Later in the game, Couturier accepted a pass on the left wing as he entered the Pittsburgh end and sent the puck across the ice to Matt Read who scored what would eventually be Wednesday’s game-winner. To cap it all off, he picked the puck off Kris Letang’s stick and sent a backhander 98 feet into the Penguins’ empty net

Not bad for a guy who has been typecast as a defensive specialist whose primary concern is to stop players such as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. While Malkin had an assist thanks to a faceoff win (Couturier wasn’t on the ice), Crosby was kept off the board. “He does a good job on both of them,” coach Craig Berube said. “I used him tonight on both guys and he takes away their speed. He’s got a great stick and obviously he’s smart. The biggest thing he does is he’s tight on them. He doesn’t give them room.” Couturier’s three-point performance is extra impressive considering Berube used him almost exclusively in defensive situations. In his 19:27 of ice time, Couturier had the second-most defensive zone starts on the team, according to war-on-ice.com. According to hockey-reference.com, Couturier has started in the defensive zone 71.8 percent of the time this season, the highest in his career by four percent. Last season, Couturier tied a career high with 13 goals. Similarly to this season, he was primarily used as a shutdown center. The Flyers want to see more offensive production out of Couturier, who is in the first season of a two-year extension. It’s tough to score from the defensive zone, though. Somehow Couturier found a way, even though his primary objective against the Penguins seems to be stopping Crosby and Malkin. It worked. The Flyers got their second win. “I liked the way we checked,” Berube said. “I think in the neutral zone, we did a real good job without the puck and took away their speed for the most part, kept them on the outside, which is what you gotta do with 87 and 71. You’ve got to make sure you neutralize and their speed.” • Bellemare confident after first goal: Because he hadn’t seen it for himself before, Bellemare learned of the importance of the Flyers-Penguins rivalry from a friend sending him text messages. The friend, a fellow Frenchman living in Philadelphia, suggested Bellemare get in on the action with a fight. Instead, he scored his first NHL goal. “Of course, a goal always helps with your confidence,” said Bellemare, who tipped in the pass from Couturier. “Once again, the thing is I just want to help the team win the games and maybe if this helped me to be even better to help the team, it’s perfect.” It’s been a big month for Bellemare, who is in his first NHL season at age 29. Prior to Wednesday night, the biggest goal Bellemare had scored in his career came at the World Championships in a shootout that gave France a win over Canada. Now he has a new biggest goal.

“It’s a tough question, but yeah,” Bellemare said. “The goal against Canada, it’s a different thing because it’s for a whole nation. Now it’s something a little bit more personal. It’s hard to say this one is better just because it’s me, but I can tell you it feels pretty good.” • Injury updates: Zac Rinaldo, who left the win in Pittsburgh after the first period, was still getting checked out by doctors Thursday afternoon. If he’s unable to play Saturday against Detroit, look for Blair Jones to return to the lineup. … Defenseman Braydon Coburn, who hasn’t played since hurting his left foot in the season opener, continues to be considered day-to-day. … Center Vinny Lecavalier, who hurt his left foot blocking a shot in the third game of the season, will skate on his own Friday. Reach Dave Isaac at disaac @courierpostonline.com. RED WINGS AT FLYERS When: 7 p.m., Saturday TV/Radio: CSN/97.5 FM 7. NJ.com - Flyers' Pierre-Edouard Bellemare scored first NHL goal after being told

to fight someone

Randy Miller

PITTSBURGH - In the form of a few text messages, new Flyers center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare received advice on how to handle his first game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. A buddy from back home in France who moved to Philadelphia last year for a girl and college figured he's had a good handle of the Flyers-Penguins rivalry and that Bellemare needed to know. "You know this is an important game back in Philly," the friend wrote in a text. "People just keep talking about it. "You gotta fight somebody."

Fight somebody? Bellemare went online to do his own research and realized his buddy was right about one thing: There's definitely no love lost between the Flyers and Penguins. As for fighting somebody, Bellemare's unleashed a big punch in the form of a go-ahead goal Wednesday night at Consol Energy Center, his first goal and first point seven games into the 29-year-old's big jump this season from the Swedish Hockey League to the NHL. Bellemare's crash-the-net, redirect goal 13:18 into the first period gave the Flyers a 2-1 lead in a game they'd win 5-3. "It felt pretty unbelievable, especially that we won the game," Bellemare said. Pretty much everything Bellemare does for the first time in the NHL has him almost beyond belief because he's only the ninth player born in France to play in the league. Bellemare couldn't stop smiling after practicing with the Flyers for the first time, then after his first preseason game, then after making their opening-day roster, then after his first game ... and now this. It was about 3 in the morning in France when Bellemare scored, but he was sure there was no need to call home to tell everyone about his big night. "I think pretty much everyone is in front of the TV right now" he said. "I don't think I have to wake them up." Bellemare seemed to get a kick out of hearing Dallas Stars left wing Antoine Roussel, the only other current NHL player from France, had scored a goal in a win over the Penguins in Pittsburgh a week earlier. "Did he? Good place for French guys!" This first NHL goal for Bellemare was right up there with his biggest international hockey thrill. At the IIHF World Championships last May in Belarus, he was a giant killer scoring a game-winning shootout goal for France against Canada. After Wednesday's game, Bellemare couldn't pick which was bigger. He knows that the NHL's best didn't participate in the World Championships - he scored his shootout goal on Toronto Maple Leafs No. 2 goalie James Reimer - but he was representing his country.

"Tough question," Bellemare said. "The goal against Canada, it's a different thing because it's for a whole nation. Now it's something a little bit more personal. It's hard to say this one is better just because it's me, but I can tell you it feels pretty good." It was pretty impressive, too, because Bellemare found the energy to crash the net and tip in a shot by Sean Couturier during the end of a long shift that started when he was killing a Couturier penalty. "You saw my legs there?" Bellemare said. "They were gassed. I just saw somebody behind me. I thought it would open up for (Couturier). I had to be by myself and when Coots threw it to me, it was a perfect play. I'm just too tired to do anything with it, so I just tipped it and it went in." His coach loved the effort. "Hard-working guy," Craig Berube said. "Second effort. Any time you play the Penguins, there's gonna have to be a lot of second effort and third effort, too, to win the hockey game." The Flyers won the game to get to 2-3-2 on the season with Detroit at home up next on Saturday, so perhaps a teeny bit of credit goes to Bellemare's buddy for cluing him in on the rivalry with the Penguins. "He sent me texts about that (and) that's pretty much what I heard," Bellemare said. "I watched some highlights of last year. You could see there was a rivalry." Bellemare certainly didn't get caught up admiring Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in their first head-to-head. "I don't think about who is on the ice with me and I'm a terrible player to actually see the numbers and stuff like this," he said. "I just go on the ice and play against five guys. That's it. "I obviously knew when I was on the ice that Crosby was there. (But) last game I played against (Chicago Blackhawks stars Patrick) Kane and (Jonathan) Toews, the game before against (Dallas Stars star Jamie) Benn. Every team has it. I'm on the same team (as) (Claude) Giroux." Bellemare didn't take his friend's advice and fight a Penguin on Wednesday, but he was told afterward that he'd be loved forever by Flyers fans if he had picked a fight with Crosby and won decisively. Hearing that, Bellemare flashed a big smile and said, "Damn it!"

8. HockeyBuzz.com - Meltzer's Musings: Coburn, Phantoms and More

Bill Meltzer

Being a defenseman is often a thankless job. The player's mistakes are magnified compared to those that forwards make. An unforced turnover or lost coverage that results in an opposition goal or being forced to take a penalty can stand out more than an otherwise solid performance in 20-plus shifts. Hockey people don't hyper-focus on one or two bad shifts in a game -- they look at a bigger picture -- but fans are often quick to do so. Braydon Coburn is a player whom a segment of the Flyers fan base has turned into a favorite whipping boy over the years. Coburn is not an All-Star caliber defenseman. He is sometimes prone to making "the big mistake" that overshadows everything else he's done in a game. He also doesn't have much of an offensive game. The simpler he keeps his game, the better he does. That does not mean, however, that Coburn is an easily replaceable player. What his critics fail to recognize is that he plays a lot of tough minutes against other clubs' top lines and has certain attributes -- a rare combination of size and mobility, the stamina to handle short rest periods between shifts, long reach and a quick stick -- that make him tough to replace in the lineup. This is the reason why the Flyers have continually resisted trade offers in recent years. The left foot injury that Coburn sustained on opening night in Boston has kept him out of the lineup for the last six games. The team has gotten a chance to see what life would be like -- at least until some of the organization's defense prospects develop -- without number 5. It hasn't been a pretty picture. The current blueline even WITH Coburn has players forced to play bigger-than-ideal roles for players of each individual's skill set. Without Coburn and without the presence of Kimmo Timonen that had been part of the off-season plan for 2014-15, it has become a patchwork operation from game to game. The Flyers have managed to post a 2-2-2 record in the last six games because they have scored a lot of goals (apart from getting shut out in Chicago on Tuesday). They would have at least one more win in that mix if they could defend even marginally better. The Flyers forwards don't get a pass here, either. Successful hockey is all about teamwide commitment to two-way play. The forwards have a role to play in back pressure, gap control, coverages, puck management, board work, skating, etc.

Likewise, the Flyers need goaltender Steve Mason to have more games like Game 7 of the Rangers' series and opening night in Boston. He hasn't been awful -- despite ugly stats -- but the Flyers need him to come up with that one extra save here and there that he was making last season and have been going in the net so far this season. A good example was the Patrick Kane stuff-in power play goal off a end-board carom in the first period of Tuesday's game. The goaltender was by no means to blame for the goal. However, if Mason scrambles over in time and robs Kane -- he made quite a few of those sorts of saves last season when it looked like he'd have no chance to get over -- that first period might not have so disastrous. A 2-0 deficit at intermission after getting outplayed so severely would have seemed recoverable. At 3-0, the mountain was already too steep even for a team with the Flyers' undeniable comeback ability. Everything in hockey is symbiotic. Sustained subpar defense will eventually drag down the goaltender just as a goalie letting in repeated soft goals will eventually erode the confidence of the team in front of him. This has two potential outcomes, both negative. The team either starts playing TOO defensively and stops skating or it falls in the mindset that is has to outscore the mistakes and takes low-percentage gambles that result in more breakdowns. In stretches, the Flyers have been able to play at a high two-way tempo. They did that for much of Wednesday's win in Pittsburgh, except for the first portion of the open period. Sustaining it from game to game is the big challenge. In the meantime, it would help the Flyers if Coburn were back in the lineup. He has been practicing for the last week and, to outside observers and Berube, has seemed OK. However, an athlete knows his own body better than anyone else. Coburn did not feel ready to play in Dallas or Chicago. He remained out of the lineup in Pittsburgh as well. Berube said the right things when asked about it. He told the beat writers at the games in Chicago and Pittsburgh that the player has to be the one to make the call that he feels well enough to play. "He’s just got to be confident that he feels he’s ready to go,” Berube said to CSN Philly and HockeyBuzz writer Tim Panaccio. “That’s all it is. Sometimes it takes a little longer. A guy doesn’t feel proper, he doesn’t feel like he can help the team, so he made the decision not to play.” Despite the coach's words, the frustration is clear. The team really needs Coburn available to work back into his regular minutes-eating role. The blueline right now is like tissue paper. The thought of any of Andrew MacDonald, Mark Streit, Nicklas Grossmann or even Nick Schultz going down in addition to Coburn is a nightmarish proposition. Michael Del Zotto has had some good moments with the puck on his stick and quite a few bad ones

without the puck while Luke Schenn has neither been as bad as his minus-eight suggests nor consistently reliable enough this season to assign more minutes. When the Flyers hit the ice in Voorhees today in preparation for tomorrow's game against Detroit, there will be a lot of eyes on Coburn. Things have gotten to the point where he either needs to play -- even if it is means the team plays a forward short and starts seven defensemen for the next couple games -- or to be shut down for a longer period of time. *********** PHANTOMS START THREE-GAME WEEKEND The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (2-1-0) start a busy weekend slate tonight that will see them play three games in as many nights. Tonight, the Phantoms return to home action at the PPL Center, taking on the Hershey Bears (3-1-0). Game time is 7:05 p.m. EDT. The Phantoms are on the road for the rest of the weekend. Tomorrow night, the club heads to New York State for a 7:05 p.m. game with the Binghamton Senators. Last season, the Phantoms won four of six games against the Sens. On Sunday, the Phantoms have a return match with the Bears in Hershey for a 5:00 p.m. tilt. This weekend's two games with Hershey will be the 185th and 186th all-time meetings between the Phantoms and Bears since the Flyers ended their AHL affiliation with the Bears and the Phantoms were added as an AHL franchise. All time, the Phantoms are 86-88-10 against Hershey. ************ TODAY IN FLYERS' HISTORY: OCTOBER 24 There have been two Flyers hat tricks and two shutouts recorded by Flyers goaltenders on this date on the calendar. On an all-time basis, the Flyers have played 21 games on October 24 and sport a 14-4 record with three tie games. On Oct. 24, 1976, Rick MacLeish tallied a hat trick and Ross Lonsberry and Don Saleski chipped in one goal apiece as the Flyers downed the Colorado Rockies at the Spectrum. The Flyers outshot Colorado by a 40-28 margin. Bernie Parent earned the win in net. On Oct. 24, 1985, the Flyers grabbed an early 1-0 lead against the Hartford Whalers on a goal by Ilkka Sinisalo. Goaltender Pelle Lindbergh nursed the lead through a sloppy second period until Mark Howe put Philly back in charge of the game with a shorthanded goal in the opening minute of the third period. Tim Kerr added some additional insurance midway through the final stanza. Lindbergh took it the rest of the way, completing a 24-save shutout in a 3-0 home victory.

On Oct 24, 1992, Greg Paslawski scored a hat trick in a losing cause as the Flyers suffered a 7-6 regulation loss on home ice to the Montreal Canadiens. Playing on a line with Eric Lindros and Mark Recchi, Paslawski tied the game at 1-1 early in the first period and later notched a pair of third period goals to cut the Philadelphia deficit to 7-5. Paslawski also assisted on the final goal of the game; a tally by Philadelphia defenseman Brian Benning. Lindros helped set up all three goals by Paslawski, while Recchi earned a pair of assists. On Oct 24, 1999, John Vanbiesbrouck blanked his former Florida Panthers teammates on 22 shots. A mid-first period goal by Jody Hull (another former Panther) stood up for the duration of the game, supplemented by a Lindros empty net goal in the final minute of the third period. Detroit Red Wings Articles

1. The Detroit News - Red Wings' furious comeback clips Penguins in OT

Ted Kulfan

Detroit — What an amazing comeback Thursday for the Red Wings, getting two points when none looked probable. Justin Abdelkader capped the unexpected turn of events with a goal with 43.5 seconds left in overtime, giving the Red Wings a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Abdelkader jumped on a loose puck in the slot and scored on an assist from Henrik Zetterberg — who had a goal and two assists during the late surge. "Pretty exciting," said Abdelkader, who scored his third goal of the young season. "We don't want to put ourselves in that situation but we worked hard and battled back and found a way in the end to get a huge two points." Niklas Kronwall's second goal of the night tied it 3-3 with 38.9 seconds left in regulation, with Pavel Datsyuk and Zetterberg assisting. Datsyuk found Kronwall alone near the hashmarks and Kronwall let go with a slap shot that beat goalie Thomas Greiss high. It was Kronwall's 300th career point. The Penguins had the puck down in the Red Wings' zone and missed on an open net. Pascal Dupuis' attempt at a shot was blocked, and set up the Red Wings' tying rush.

"It always feels good coming from behind, down a couple of goals with a few minutes left," Kronwall said. "It's all about finding a way and tonight we did a pretty good job of sticking with it." Zetterberg scored his third goal in three games, cutting the lead to 3-2 at 17:21 and giving the Red Wings hope on an evening that didn't look very promising. Zetterberg split the Penguins defense after receving an outlet pass from Danny DeKeyser, and beat Greiss from the high slot giving the Red Wings a glimmer of possibilities. "We had enough time," said Zetterberg, of the comeback after his goal. "We started bad, we got a little better in the second, and we thougth we had something going into the third. We got two late goals and that's good." "Pittsburgh is a team that will be there in the end. It's fun to play against them and it's nice to see we can come back and get two points." The Penguins came out skating circles around the Red Wings (4-1-2, 10 points), and didn't let up much, until the late Red Wings heroics. Dupuis, Olli Maatta, and Chris Kunitz scored for Pittsburgh (3-2-1, 7 points). "You have to be more desperate than the other team," said Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who was held without a point. "Especially with the talent and skill they have, you have to find a way to execute in those situations." The Penguins dominated for much of the game, out-working and out-skating the Red Wings, despite having played the night before. "We weren't as good as we wanted to be," coach Mike Babcock said. "We can skate and be a hard-working group and we didn't skate and work hard in the first period. We dug ourselves a hole. "You have to give the guys credit, they stuck with it and Howie (goalie Jimmy Howard) gave us a chance and we were able to get it done in the end. "We hung in there. We weren't pretty for a lot of the night and not as good as we're capable of being. We're a way better hockey club than that. But the guys stuck with it." The Red Wings special teams, enjoying vastly different degrees of success thus far, continued their normal trend. The penalty kill extinguished all three Pittsburgh power plays, and have now killed all 21 opponents' power plays this season.

But the Red Wings' own power play has not been nearly as inefficient. The Red Wings went 0-for-3 on the power play and are now 2-for-27 on the season. "We have to be better on the power play," Zetterberg said. "If we're better on the power play, it's a closer game earlier." 2. The Detroit News - Younger Red Wings struggling on offense

Ted Kulfan

Detroit — It's been an offensive struggle for some of the young Red Wings forwards. Through seven games, including Thursday's 4-3 overtime victory over the Penguins, Tomas Jurco, Riley Sheahan and Tomas Tatar have combined for three points. Three. Tatar has the lone goal. And for the Red Wings to be successful, that has to change. "It's hard to pinpoint," Sheahan said of the lack of offense. "If you look at the last game in Montreal, we played pretty well. We had a bunch of shots (he had a team-high five) and spent a lot of time in the offensive zone. "It's early in the season and there's no reason to get worried about point production." But with the return of Pavel Datsyuk, and the idea to maintain balance throughout the lines, Red Wings coach Mike Babcock separated the three young, struggling players. Jurco was to play with Darren Helm and Andrej Nestrasil against the Penguins on Thursday, and Gustav Nyquist was inserted on a line with Sheahan and Tatar. During Thursday's morning skate, Babcock also switched the power-play units involving Nyquist and Jurco. Nyquist, who has the two Red Wings power-play goals this season, was moved to a unit with Sheahan, Tatar, Nestrasil and Danny DeKeyser. Jurco moved to the top unit with Henrik Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Darren Helm and Niklas Kronwall.

"We want Gus to have more touches and whenever he plays with those guys (top unit), he never gets the puck," Babcock said. "We think having him with Tats and Sheahan gives him more opportunity to have the puck." Babcock also liked the idea of Jurco, with his size (6-foot-2, 193 pounds), to retrieve pucks for Zetterberg and Datsyuk. "You have to earn your goals, they don't give them to you for free," Babcock said. "If you get off to a great start, you don't have to worry about confidence. When you don't, you've got to worry about confidence. The game is the same for everybody. "The other thing is, when you arrive for the first year in the league, everything is rosy. You think it's going to be like that for the next 15 years. But the Guide and Record book shows that's not how it works. You have to bring it every day, every year. You have to keep getting better and better."

PHANTOMS Articles

1. Allentown Morning Call - AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms ready for their first

three-in-three

Gary R. Blockus

Are the Lehigh Valley Phantoms prepared for three games in three days? Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach Terry Murray calls it a reality of life in the American Hockey League, but it's no picnic for anyone. Because the weekend-oriented nature of the AHL, all teams are subject to a series of not just back-to-back games or three-in-four like in the top level NHL, but also three-in-three, or back-to-back-to-back games on consecutive nights. This season, the Phantoms have eight sets of back-to-back-to-back games. The first of those grueling three-game stretches begins this weekend when the Phantoms host the Hershey Bears at 7:05 tonight, travel to the Binghamton Senators for a 7:05 p.m. game at Broome County Arena Saturday, and then return to Pennsylvania to visit the Bears at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Giant Center in Chocolatetown.

Not only will it be three-in-three for the Phantoms, but it will be three-in-three critical East Division games. "They're all big games," Phantoms alternate captain Darroll Powe said of this weekend. "Hershey is obviously a big rivalry, and Bingo is right up there too. They're going to be big games and I expect a big push from our team." Last week, the Phantoms went 1-1 in their first set of back-to-back games this season, winning at home in overtime at the PPL Center against the Adirondack Flames, and then losing on the road to Adirondack. Veteran goalie Rob Zepp pulled the start in Allentown while rookie Anthony Stolarz had his first pro start in the road game. For this weekend, Murray said he plans on going with Zepp in goal the first two and Stolarz in the Sunday game, but added that he'll see how the weekend plays out. He was pretty happy with the way the team and both goalies performed last weekend. "I think the effort was very good in the second game," Murray said of the team's first regular-season road game. "That's something you're looking at: how do you respond to the travel; how do you play two in a row. Everybody responded really well to the travel and the back-to-back games." Murray likes to call the upcoming trifecta "three in 21/2," because of the matinee feature of the third game. He noted that practice hasn't changed this week in preparation for the first big grind of the season. Unlike minor league baseball, where teams hop on a bus and then spend a few days in a city, AHL teams go from city to city the night after a game, wake up for morning skate, and then play at night and move on again after the next game. There literally is no down time where players can afford to stay up late on the bus playing cards or watching videos. Murray said he'll look to the veterans on the team like alternate captains Andrew Gordon, Zack Stortini and Powe to lead by example when it comes to individual preparation. "It's tough," Powe said of the preparation and the reality. "There's a reason that the guys in the NHL aren't doing it. It's pretty demanding, and when you add travel in, it's tough … You just have to keep things simple and battle through it and work your system." Rookie defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere said that he's actually looking to the challenge. "Treat it like any other weekend," Gostisbehere said. "It's just an extra [game]. You're not going to go full blast right off the start every game … It's going to be a new thing, three in three. It should be fun."

Murray said there's a different way to prepare for "three in 21/2 " than normal back-to-back games, both mentally and physically. "Mentally, that's the part of the game that you have to learn as a young guy to become a good pro," he said. "Physically, you have to make sure you're setting yourself up for strong, consistent play throughout the weekend by eating right, resting right, rehydrating, and then you've got to make sure you're doing that right after each game as well because you have to do it all over again the next night, and the next night. "I think the preparation catches the young guys off guard sometimes in the early part of the year, but you have to quickly learn. That's the way the league is, and you have to play three in 21/2 ." BINGHAMTON: The Phantoms won't have to worry about Senators left wing David Dziurzynski, who was been suspended for three games as a consequence of an illegal check to the head of an opponent in a game at Syracuse on Oct. 18. Dziurzynski was suspended under the provisions of AHL Rule 28.1 (supplementary discipline) and missed games at St. John's on Tuesday and Wednesday, and will miss the Saturday game as well. NHL Headlines

1. TSN.ca - Miller solid in net as Canucks beat Blues

The Canadian Press

ST. LOUIS - Ryan Miller was looking forward to his return to St. Louis with his new team, and the former Sabres and Blues goaltender made the most of it. Miller made 15 of his season-high 31 saves in the third period, and the Vancouver Canucks scored three times in the final 15:06 of the game to beat the Blues 4-1. "It was one I was actually really looking forward to, especially here in St. Louis," Miller said. "It was fun." Nick Bonino, Linden Vey and Jannik Hansen broke open a tight game, scoring goals in the third period to help the Canucks (4-2-0, 8 points) snap a two-game losing streak. That

made a winner of Miller, who signed a three-year, $18 million contract with Vancouver after the Blues opted not to re-sign him in the off-season. "We didn't get the job done, and I'm going to feel really bad about that for a long time," Miller said of his time with the Blues. "But I'm going to continue to push in my career and this is where I ended up, and I'm happy to be a Canuck." The Blues fell to 2-3-1 with their second consecutive loss. The Canucks scored just 41 seconds into the first period off a Blues turnover in the neutral zone. Alexandre Burrows' wrist shot from the left circle was knocked down by goalie Jake Allen, but Chris Higgins was there to put home the rebound for his second goal of the season. The Blues tied the score with a power-play goal from Kevin Shattenkirk, off assists by David Backes and Alexander Steen, with 12:22 left in the second period after the Canucks were called for too many men on the ice. Bonino put the Canucks ahead to stay with 15:06 remaining in the third period when he scored on an odd-man rush following a Miller save of a Jori Lehtera scoring chance at the other end. "The save he made in the third was the game," Vancouver coach Willie Desjardins said of Miller's stop on Lehtera. "If they score there, it's 2-1 them. He made the big save, we went down and scored and that changed the game." Vey scored on the power play with 8:03 remaining, assisted by Henrik Sedin and Radim Vrbata, and Hansen added an unassisted, empty-net goal with 3:01 left. Bonino, Burrows and Higgins each finished with two points. "It's good to get that one, especially for Millsy," Bonino said. "He made some huge saves in the third and the second, so we're happy to win it for him." Miller, who had allowed five goals on 13 shots in a loss to the Stars on Tuesday, came up big in the clutch on Thursday. The Blues acquired Miller from the Sabres before the trade deadline last season, but after winning seven of his first eight starts he struggled down the stretch and posted an .897 save percentage in the six-game, first-round Stanley Cup playoff series loss to the Blackhawks. "Listen, things didn't work out here, but he's still Ryan Miller," Shattenkirk said. "We don't forget that. He's still a great goalie and one of the great goalies in this league, so he's a hard guy to beat. Playing the way we did tonight, we had some good chances. We just have to put some more by him."

NOTES: The Canucks recorded 23 blocked shots, including five from Luca Sbisa and four apiece from Christopher Tanev and Alexander Edler. . Thursday's game was the 500th for Edler, a Canucks defenceman, and the 200th in the career of Blues forward Ryan Reaves. . There was a delay with 12:02 remaining in the first period when a piece of glass behind the Canucks goal had to be replaced. . The Blues played their second straight game without injured centre Paul Stastny (upper body injury). . Lehtera won 11 of his 14 face-off attempts Thursday. 2. TSN.ca - Bruins' Chara could be out 4-6 weeks with suspected knee injury

The Canadian Press

BOSTON - Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara left the team's game against the New York Islanders on Thursday night with an undisclosed injury. The team didn't elaborate on why Chara didn't return to the bench at the start of the second period. He had a collision with Islanders captain John Tavares midway through the first, then played one more shift that ended with 8:04 remaining in the period. There was no outward indication of an injury at that time. The 6-foot-9 Slovakian, a third-round pick of the Islanders in 1996, is Boston's No. 1 defenceman and spends more time on the ice than any other Bruins player. He has two goals and an assist in nine games this season. Also Thursday, Islanders forward Josh Bailey left the game with a hand injury, and the team said he wouldn't return. 3. TSN.ca - Kings beat Sabres for fifth-straight win; Quick sets franchise shutout

record

The Canadian Press

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Although Jonathan Quick has a serious aversion to attention, the goalie reluctantly acknowledged the spotlight when he broke the Los Angeles Kings' 36-year-old franchise record for shutouts. After blanking the Buffalo Sabres, Quick would be happy to fade into the background again until he has another chance to raise the Stanley Cup.

Quick made 29 saves to set the club record with his 33rd career shutout, and the Kings beat the Sabres 2-0 on Thursday night for their fifth consecutive victory. Quick was tested only occasionally while pulling ahead of Rogie Vachon for the franchise lead in shutouts with his second in three games. Los Angeles, the NHL's best defensive team last season, has allowed just three goals while winning the first five games of its six-game homestand, which concludes Sunday against Columbus. "A shutout, it takes 20 men to do that, to shut a team out for 60 minutes, so I'm very grateful to my teammates over the years," Quick said. "It's over now. We'll keep playing. ... It's more about what as a team we're able to do, but I know what Rogie achieved and what he meant to this team and this city." Jeff Carter and Anze Kopitar scored power-play goals for the defending champions in their first game since defenceman Slava Voynov was suspended indefinitely by the NHL after his arrest on suspicion of domestic violence early Monday. Voynov, a two-time Stanley Cup winner and a key contributor to the Kings for the past three seasons, hasn't been charged. He was replaced by Jake Muzzin, who returned from injury for his first game of the season. The Kings ramped up their defensive play in Voynov's absence, and the spiraling Sabres couldn't crack them. "We've had to do it in different ways, different start times and different things going on," Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. "We've had a lot to deal with, and we handled it well tonight." Kings forward Jordan Nolan played against his father, Sabres coach Ted Nolan, for the first time in the NHL, but the son's team dominated the reunion. Jhonas Enroth stopped 37 shots for the Sabres, who have lost seven of eight to start the season despite an improved performance in their coach's eyes. "Our last couple of games, our effort has been a lot better," Ted Nolan said. "Everything starts with work. The first five or six games, the effort wasn't there. And now the last couple of games, the effort is there." Buffalo has scored one goal in its last four games, and its power play is 0 for 27 this season. "When you're struggling, you've got to simplify things, put pucks to the net and bang home some rebounds," Buffalo forward Chris Stewart said. "It's not very often that you're going to beat Jonathan Quick with a clean shot, so we've got to get traffic to the net, shoot for the pads, and get a couple of ugly goals. It's that simple."

Carter scored in the opening minute and added an assist. His third multipoint performance in five games highlighted another productive night for That 70s Line. Carter, Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson have scored 12 of the Kings' 16 goals this season. Carter put the Kings ahead just 36 seconds after the opening faceoff, firing a long shot through traffic 7 seconds into a power play for his fourth goal of the season. With fresh legs from three days off, Los Angeles had a step on the Sabres for much of the night. Kopitar doubled the lead late in the second period when he brought the puck in from the point and did a give-and-go with Carter, whose assist was his 100th point with Los Angeles. "We talked about it before this homestand — we want to have a strong start," Kopitar said. "It's a good way to start a season, and we're doing a fairly good job right now." NOTES: The Kings have killed 17 straight penalties. ... Former Buffalo defenceman Brayden McNabb levelled Torrey Mitchell with a big hit in the first period, and Drew Stafford got an instigator penalty and a misconduct for challenging McNabb to an immediate fight. The Kings acquired McNabb from the Sabres last March in a four-player trade that included Nicolas Deslauriers, who blocked two shots for Buffalo. ... Muzzin agreed to a five-year, $20 million contract extension while injured. 4. TSN.ca - Neal's hat trick lifts Predators past Blackhawks

The Canadian Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Peter Laviolette and his Nashville Predators, the only team in the NHL still unbeaten in regulation this season, believe they still can play better. James Neal showed he is just starting to get comfortable, too. Neal scored a natural hat trick, and Pekka Rinne made 30 saves in the Predators' 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night. "It's early in the season. We're a new group, it's a new coach and a new system, and the guys they're working hard at it," Laviolette said. "Tonight was a good win. "Last game I don't think we were at our best, so consistency would be one of the things you could easily throw out there. Tonight, the guys were on point." The two Central Division rivals came in as the only teams yet to lose in regulation.

They played into overtime six nights earlier in Chicago with the Blackhawks winning 2-1, a game in which Nashville managed only 12 shots through the first two periods. That loss hurt more because the Predators were on the power play when Jonathan Toews scored a short-handed goal for the win. "We didn't like the way we ended against Chicago last game," Neal said. "We got a little redemption." The Predators earned points in their seventh straight game before a sellout crowd, continuing their best start since the 2010-11 season when they got points in each of their first eight. For Neal, it was the fifth hat trick of his career. Acquired in a trade with Pittsburgh in June, Neal has five goals in four games. Filip Forsberg had two assists. "That was awesome," Rinne said of Neal's hat trick. "It's nice to see that kind of sniper. He has one of the better shots for sure in the league, and he used it tonight. Beautiful goals a couple of them, and obviously a huge game by him." Ben Smith and Andrew Shaw scored for Chicago. With Chicago trailing 3-1, Shaw tipped a rebound past Rinne at 12:36 of the third. That gave Chicago fans making the trip down for the game a reason to get loud again. The Blackhawks pulled goalie Antti Raanta for the extra attacker. Rinne gloved the puck out of the air with 1:18 left with Shaw trying to score. Chicago coach Joel Quenneville took his timeout, but the Blackhawks couldn't beat Rinne despite outshooting Nashville 32-27. Quenneville called the third the Blackhawks' best period by a mile. "They came at us hard, and they get their turn in this building," Quenneville said. "But you get down by two, and you put yourself in a tough spot." The Blackhawks left goalie Corey Crawford at home for this two-game road swing because of an upper body injury, and Raanta got his second straight start. The Predators outshot Chicago early with a flurry of action in front of Raanta. But Smith flipped a wrister over Rinne's outstretched leg off a rebound at 12:21 for a 1-0 lead for the Blackhawks. Nashville failed to take advantage of a power play when Marcus Kruger went to the box for high-sticking Colin Wilson, but defenceman Seth Jones found Neal with a nice cross-ice pass. Neal beat Raanta off his stick, tying it 1-1 in the final minute of the period.

Chicago got its only man advantage at 13:07 of the second, and the Blackhawks took turns shooting at Rinne. He stopped drives from Toews and Patrick Kane, and a slap shot from Patrick Sharp in killing the penalty. "We just couldn't find a way," Toews said. "We only got one power play in the second period, and it just wasn't going for us. And it was the same story late in the third." The Predators broke the tie at 16:12 of the second when the puck squirted over to Neal just inside the left circle near the slot, and his slap shot beat Raanta's glove. Neal completed his hat trick at 1:52 of the third from the side on a wrister. NOTES: Neal's previous hat trick was Dec. 29, 2013, against Carolina while he was with the Penguins. It was Nashville's first hat trick at home since Sergei Kostitsyn had one on Jan. 1, 2012. ... Predators forward Mike Ribeiro had an assist on Neal's goal, giving him points in five straight. ... Neal's third goal was the first allowed by the Blackhawks in the third period this season. ... Forsberg has a team-high six assists. 5. NHL.com - Toronto at Ottawa game rescheduled for Nov. 9

NHL.com Staff

NEW YORK -- Wednesday's postponed game between the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa has been rescheduled for Sunday, Nov. 9 in Ottawa, the National Hockey League announced today. The start time for the game will be 6 p.m., ET.