Francis on Carolina's mediocre start: 'At the end of the day, it's about getting results'

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1 Francis on Carolina's mediocre start: 'At the end of the day, it's about getting results' Posted 6:15 p.m. yesterday Raleigh, N.C. There were plenty of positives to come out of Carolina's late-night win Tuesday (early Wednesday) over the Vegas Golden Knights. The 3-2 shootout victory ended a four-game losing streak and helped the Hurricanes finish a West Coast road trip on an uptick. The triumph was also historic for goaltender Cam Ward, who tallied his 300th NHL victory. But 30 games into the regular season, the Canes are still a bit of a question mark. At , they are in the middle of a big group of teams that could all end up competing for a wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. But even now, Carolina is four points out of the last playoff spot, and they haven't shown consistent signs of being the improved team head coach Bill Peters and general manager Ron Francis expected to see on the ice this season. In an interview on 99.9 The Fan ESPN Radio Wednesday, Francis used a term he's used before to sum up where the team is. "It's been an up and down (start). It seems like I use this term a lot, but at times, frustrating," Francis said. "You look at things, and if it's just a little bit different, or we get a bounce or break here or there, it's totally different." The Canes got the bounces they've been hoping for Tuesday night in Las Vegas, but too often, the "puck luck" has been in favor of Carolina's opponents. That's been especially true in overtimes so far this year. The Canes are tied for the league lead in overtime losses with seven. Francis said the Canes have to start ending up on the winning side of close games. "At the end of the day, it's about getting results, and we've got to get the results," he said. Francis also noted a continued trend of the Hurricanes outshooting their opponents, something that has happened in 24 of the team's 30 games. On the road trip, Carolina has out shot its opponents four out of five games. "We're getting opportunities to score. We're not finishing them," Francis said. "We're limiting opportunities, but sometimes we're not getting critical saves." Francis said the key moving forward will be more consistent performances. Even with those, the road to the playoffs in the East won't be easy. "We have guys in that locker room who can help us win and be successful," he said. "We've shown we can play with the best. We just have to do it more consistently." And while some may wonder or even doubt that the Canes would be willing to make roster moves, Francis said he's open to anything that would improve the team. "Yeah, it's not like I'm sitting here on my hands saying, 'Everything is great,'" he said. "You're constantly working the phone lines and talking to teams and what they're looking to do and what they're looking for. When you look at the standings, there are so many teams that are in the same predicament, guys are a little hesitant at this point to do things." With a long West Coast trip now in the books, the Canes will play four of their next seven games at home. Six of those matchups will be with Eastern Conference teams.

2 Tweetmail No. 169: Vegas, Changes & Signed Sticks by Michael / CarolinaHurricanes.com December 13th, 2017 LAS VEGAS - Hello and welcome to Tweetmail, presented by our friends at Tijuana Flats! Wear your Canes gear to participating Raleigh locations on Wednesdays throughout the season and receive 50% off any entrée. Tweetmail is a weekly feature on CarolinaHurricanes.com in which I take your Twitter questions about the Carolina Hurricanes or other assorted topics and answer them in mailbag form. Hopefully the final product is insightful to some degree, and maybe we have some fun along the way. Let's get to it. Now that the team has been here, what does everyone think of the Las Vegas venue? #Tweetmail T-Mobile Arena gets full marks from me. I thought it was tremendous. The arena itself is gorgeous, and it's in a prime position on the Las Vegas Strip. That can't be beat. Inside are some unique features, like the two bars that hang out over the upper level. There are also some very Vegas features, like the castle adorned with a giant knight helmet at one end of the building and a panorama of The Strip above it. It's got all the bells and whistles you'd expect in a new arena, too - a big, crystal clear video board, on-ice projection and a thumping sound system. The game atmosphere was excellent - and it was a Tuesday night. The place looked full, and it was raucous at times. There were plenty of Vegas-like elements in the game presentation, like the story-based pregame introduction and the on-ice performance from their percussion line outfitted in pulsating LED lights (Drumbots) during the second intermission. It was different but a lot of fun from my perspective, and I can only imagine what it was like in the stands. Even the players took note. "Coming to a new building in a great city like this that looked pretty much full to me and it sounded pretty full," Trevor van Riemsdyk said. "It wasn't hard to get up for this game, that's for sure." "To face a new team in a new building in a new city, it was a fun atmosphere," Cam Ward said. "You can see why they have the record they do at home. They put on a pretty good show here. It was fun to be a part of." \ The best part of Tuesday night's atmosphere was the hundreds of Canes fans in attendance. You made yourselves heard throughout the night; hearing a "Let's go Canes!" chant in a road building was a treat. I hope everyone had a great time. Maybe we do it again next year? What kind of changes could the Hurricanes make to rise in the standings? i.e. trades, firings This is a tough question because if there was an easy answer, we probably wouldn't be having this conversation, right? And here's the thing: maybe a move doesn't need to be made; maybe the answer is in the locker room. If there was a trade to make the team better, I'm sure it would happen. But, when you look at it, it's not as if the Canes have played poorly recently. They've had some rotten luck and have struggled with consistency, but they've done some good things that finally paid off in Vegas. Tuesday night's win in Vegas, where visiting teams don't win too often, was huge. It was a good win in a tough building, and it swung some confidence back towards the Canes. Now, if the team can go into Buffalo and snag a win on Friday, you're looking at collecting six of a possible 12 points on this roadie. All things considered, that's not too bad for the longest trip of the season and keeps the team in a good position heading into the second half of the month. And let's pull back for a second: as of Wednesday, the Canes are four points out of a playoff spot. How many people generally win a signed stick each year for the first goal contests? #Tweetmail The chance to win a team-signed stick is a new wrinkle to the Kayem First Goal Contest this season. Each game, a puck signed by the goal-scorer is awarded to a randomly selected person who picked that player to score first. Guess it right three games in a row and you automatically win a team-signed stick. If correctly guessing the first goal scorer three games in a row sounds difficult, it is to a certain degree. I'm no mathematician, so I couldn't run the stats on the odds. But it's totally doable! In fact, we've already awarded three teamsigned sticks this season, and it's only December. If you haven't already played the First Goal Contest, try it out on Friday! It's super easy and adds some fun intrigue to the game. If you are at the Roulette table in Vegas tonight do you put money on Red or Black? Tough choice here I think. I did not play roulette while in Vegas, but had I, I would have put my money on red. After all, this is the #Redvolution.

3 Money, time, energy essential for new Hurricanes ownership How Tom Dundon can re-energize hockey in the Triangle December 13, 2017 Cory Lavalette Article, NHL, Sports Hurricanes forward Jeff Skinner celebrates with teammates after scoring at PNC Arena. There is an agreement in place for Peter Karmanos Jr. to sell a majority stake of the team to Tom Dundon. (James Guillory / USA TODAY Sports) RALEIGH The question of who will be the next owner of the Carolina Hurricanes has been answered with the announcement that Dallas businessman Tom Dundon will pending NHL approval buy a majority stake of the team from Peter Karmanos Jr. Karmanos, long criticized by supporters of the Hartford Whalers for moving the team to North Carolina three years after buying the franchise, seemingly got everything he wanted from the sale. Dundon will, according to Sportnet s Elliotte Friedman, buy 52 percent of the team for nearly $240 million, allowing Karmanos to remain a minority owner for a few years as he desired. Dundon would them have the option to buy the rest for a total of about $500 million. As Karmanos, the NHL and just about anyone informed of the facts of Carolina s ownership situation already knew, the team will remain in the Triangle under Dundon s ownership. So what can Dundon, 45, do to change the fortunes of a franchise that is tracking toward a ninth straight season outside of the playoffs and ranked at or near the bottom of the league in attendance the past few seasons? Win at all costs No, we re not talking about pouring sugar into opponents gas tanks after the front end of back-to-back games. Carolina needs sugar, though a sugar daddy. The Hurricanes have been closer to the salary cap floor than its ceiling, and the team needs its new owner to spend beyond the purchase cost. There are raises for several players on the horizon. Defenseman Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce will, combined, cost nearly $9.5 million against the cap starting next year under their new long-term contracts, while Noah Hanifin and Jeff Skinner are due new deals after this season and , respectively, along with others. Taking care of your own and being a player in the market, however, are different animals. This is not an endorsement of throwing money in every corner of the free agent or trade markets (see Terry Pegula and Buffalo; this can go horribly wrong), but there s certainly cash that hasn t been spent under Karmanos. Be present Karmanos often talked about being more hands-on with the Hurricanes after he retired from Compuware in 2013, but he remained mostly an absentee landlord. Given his penchant for ruffling feathers, Karmanos was perhaps best suited to be a long-distance owner. That said, the Hurricanes and the region never embraced Karmanos because he simply wasn t around. Compare that to Blue Jackets owner John H. McConnell, who was beloved in Columbus and helped keep the franchise afloat even as the team struggled on the ice from inception through the turn of the century. The Hurricanes need an owner the fanbase and Triangle can embrace. It would be hard to replicate the bond McConnell had with Blue Jackets fans or the admiration Pittsburgh Steelers fans have for the Rooneys, but Dundon needs to be a calming and positive force for the franchise. Look no further than the excitement surrounding the first suitor for the team, Chuck Greenberg. When reports leaked that Greenberg was deep in negotiations to buy the team, observers took notice of his ownership history of making fan experience a priority. Hurricanes supporters are starving for someone who will share their enthusiasm for the team even in lean times. Be a mover and shaker Karmanos held a seat on the NHL executive committee until last year, but he was often only mentioned during collective bargaining when he was seen as a hard-liner in negotiations with the NHLPA. Dundon, if the sale goes through, will be one of the NHL s youngest owners and could eventually infuse energy into the league s ownership ranks. Of the 10 owners currently serving as executive committee governors, only Montreal s Geoff Molson is in his 40s. Dundon won t bulldoze his way into a prominent role from the get-go, but the owners could use a young face like him front and center, rather than the likes of Boston owner Jeremy Jacobs.

4 A full audit Karmanos has always taken care of his own look top to bottom through the organization and you ll find countless people who climbed the organizational ladder. Dundon, however, will surely want his people in place, and a hard look at every corner of the operation from on-the-ice hockey operations to parking lot attendants is long overdue. The Triangle has proven it can be a flourishing and vibrant hockey market. An increase in the team s hockey payroll from a new owner who has an up-front and active role in accessing both the organization and the NHL will return the Hurricanes to respectability. 5 things to watch entering U.S. World Juniors selection camp Naming captain, goalie battle among pre-tournament storylines by Mike G. / NHL.com Staff Writer 12:00 AM Right wing Kailer Yamamoto has plenty of motivation entering USA Hockey's selection camp for possible participation in the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. The selection camp, which runs Friday through Tuesday at Nationwide Arena and the OhioHealth Ice Haus in Columbus, Ohio, will include 15 forwards, eight defensemen and three goalies. Training camp will begin at Northwest Arena in Jamestown, New York, on Wednesday. U.S. coach Bob Motzko said he'd like to have his 23-player roster (three goaltenders, seven defensemen, 13 forwards) in place by the end of the first exhibition game against Belarus on Wednesday. Yamamoto, who was one of the final cuts from the gold medal-winning 2017 United States national junior team, is also the player with the most NHL experience at camp. He played nine games for the Edmonton Oilers to begin this season before being returned to Spokane of the Western Hockey League. "I'm really determined this year to make the team and help USA win the gold medal again," said Yamamoto, chosen with the No. 22 pick of the 2017 NHL Draft. "Last year was disappointing not making the team but it was a good lesson. I want to come in with a lot of confidence and help the team however I can." Motzko, the coach at St. Cloud State University, led the U.S. to gold at the 2017 tournament with a 5-4 shootout win against Canada in the final. The United States has a chance to win a medal for the third straight tournament for the first time. It won the bronze medal in The 2018 WJC will be held in Buffalo from Dec. 26 through Jan. 5, Here are five things to watch entering select camp: Who will be captain? The logical choice would be one of the five returning skaters who played a part in the gold medal-winning effort at the 2017 WJC in Montreal, including defensemen Adam Fox (Calgary Flames) and Ryan Lindgren (Boston Bruins), or forwards Joseph Anderson (New Jersey Devils), Patrick Harper (Nashville Predators) and Kieffer Bellows (New York Islanders). Goaltenders Jake Oettinger (Dallas Stars) and Joseph Woll (Toronto Maple Leafs) are also returning players. Motzko said he wants to identify his leadership group quickly, so a captain will likely be announced during select camp. Goaltending battle The competition to earn the No. 1 job could turn out to be the most intriguing of any positional battle at camp. In the mix are college sophomores Oettinger of Boston University and Woll of Boston College. Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins) of the University of Maine was also invited. It's possible Motzko will take the same approach he took at the 2017 WJC when he alternated between Tyler Parsons (Calgary Flames) of Kansas City in the ECHL and Woll on the way to a first-place finish in Group B after the four preliminary-round games. Parsons then played every game of the medal round NHL Draft-eligible invites Boston University freshman center Brady Tkachuk and University of Michigan defenseman Quinton Hughes, each a

5 projected first-round candidate for the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas on June 22-23, are two of four NHL draft-eligible players on the select camp roster. They are joined by defenseman Scott Perunovich (University of Minnesota-Duluth) and forward Hugh McGing (Western Michigan University). "[Hughes] is great with the puck and he has ice in his veins and an ability to make plays at top speed," Motzko said. "Tkachuk plays like a Tkachuk. His energy and level to battle was high and those are ingredients that were encouraging." Top line success Can the trio of Casey Mittelstadt (Buffalo Sabres), Logan Brown (Ottawa Senators) and Yamamoto be even more productive than the threesome (Clayton Keller-Colin White- Joey Anderson) that totaled 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in seven games at the 2017 WJC? Mittelstadt, Brown and Yamamoto combined for 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) in five games during the World Junior Summer Showcase in Plymouth, Michigan, in August. They were linemates and helped the United States win the bronze medal at the 2016 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, combining for 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) at that event. First-round finds There will be 10 first-round NHL draft picks at the camp: Forwards Yamamoto, Mittelstadt (Sabres, No. 8, 2017), Bellows (Islanders, No. 19, 2016), Logan Brown (Senators, No. 11, 2016), Ryan Poehling (Canadiens, No. 25, 2017), Joshua Norris (San Jose Sharks, No. 19, 2017), Max Jones (Anaheim Ducks, No. 24, 2016), Riley Tufte (Dallas Stars, No. 25, 2016) and Trent Frederic (Bruins, No. 29, 2016), and goalie Oettinger (Stars, No. 26, 2017). USA HOCKEY SELECT CAMP ROSTER GOALIES: Jake Oettinger, Boston University, H-EAST (Dallas Stars); Joseph Woll, Boston College, H-EAST (Toronto Maple Leafs); Jeremy Swayman, Maine, H-EAST (Boston Bruins) DEFENSEMEN: Michael Anderson, Minnesota Duluth, NCHC (Los Angeles Kings); Adam Fox, Harvard, ECAC (Calgary Flames); Quinton Hughes, Michigan, BIG10 (2018 draft eligible); Philip Kemp, Yale, ECAC (Edmonton Oilers); Ryan Lindgren, Minnesota, BIG10 (Boston Bruins); Andrew Peeke, Notre Dame, H-EAST (Columbus Blue Jackets); Dylan Samberg, Minnesota Duluth, NCHC (Winnipeg Jets); Cole Hults, Penn State, Big Ten (Los Angeles Kings); Scott Perunovich, Minnesota Duluth, NCHC (2018 draft eligible); Reilly Walsh, Harvard, ECAC (New Jersey Devils) FORWARDS: Joseph Anderson, Minnesota Duluth, NCHC (New Jersey Devils); Jack Badini, Harvard, ECAC (Anaheim Ducks); Kieffer Bellows, Portland, WHL (New York Islanders); Logan Brown, Windsor, OHL (Ottawa Senators); Trent Frederic, Wisconsin, Big Ten (Boston Bruins); Patrick Harper, Boston University, H-EAST (Nashville Predators); Max Jones, London, OHL (Anaheim Ducks); William Lockwood, Michigan, Big Ten (Vancouver Canucks); Hugh McGing, Western Michigan, WCHA (2018 draft eligible); Casey Mittelstadt, Minnesota, Big Ten (Buffalo Sabres); Joshua Norris, Michigan, Big Ten (San Jose Sharks); Ryan Poehling, St. Cloud State, NCHC (Montreal Canadiens); Brady Tkachuk, Boston University, H-EAST (2018 draft eligible); Riley Tufte, Minnesota Duluth, NCHC (Dallas Stars); Kailer Yamamoto, Spokane, WHL (Edmonton Oilers) Patrick Brown Scores Twice to Lead Checkers Over Lehigh Valley Written by Nicholas Niedzielski Published: December 13, 2017 The Checkers got revenge against a divisional foe Wednesday night, upending the Lehigh Valley Phantoms by a 4-2 score. Wednesday opening stanza didn t much resemble the fireworks from last night, as a power-play tally from Patrick Brown stood as the only mark in the period. The Checkers wasted no time adding to that advantage in the middle frame, with Valentin Zykov lifting a loose puck out in front for another man-advantage strike early on, followed quickly by a bar-down snipe from Andrew Poturalski. Brown closed out the period with his second of the night, scooping home a cross-ice feed from Aleksi Saarela to give Charlotte a 4-0 lead. The Phantoms high-flying attack wouldn t roll over, however, as a late power-play goal in the second and an early mark in the third suddenly cut the Charlotte lead in half. The Phantoms, who fired 28 of their 37 shots in the second two frames, pushed hard down the stretch, but the Checkers stood strong. Jeremy Smith shook off those two blemishes to

6 finish the night with 35 saves, and an empty netter from Andrew Miller sealed the netminder s fifth win of the season and sent the Phantoms packing. QUOTES Coach Mike Vellucci on the response from last night s loss Last night wasn t that bad of a game we just gave up the power-play goal when we were going for a shorthanded goal and it put us on our heels. This time we played smarter with the puck and kept it deep. They re a real good team with a lot of older guys they have two lines that are just dynamite and Smitty played really well tonight. Vellucci on getting two power-play goals for the second consecutive game Both of them tonight were net-front plays. You have to have net front, because if you don t have that you re not going to score many goals. We talked about getting back to basics, because on the road trip we only had one power-play goal. We wanted more shots and more traffic to get some of those ugly ones, and I think we got four in the last two games. Vellucci on goaltender Jeremy Smith I thought he was awesome and that he made some big saves at quality times. They re a great offensive team and he made some big saves late and early. Patrick Brown on the game I thought we had a great team effort and started the game on time. Last night we gave up a couple early, bounced back but then couldn t finish. Tonight we played three full periods of solid hockey with four lines. Brown on the power play The power play has been huge for us and we re just trying to get more pucks to the net. We have really skilled players but sometimes we re tying to make too many skill plays. A lot of our power-play goals have just been greasy shots and rebounds, and we re going to try to keep doing that. NOTES The Checkers and Phantoms, who entered this week s matchups as the AHL s two highest-scoring teams, combined for 16 goals in two games Brown recorded his first multigoal game of the season (third career) and first multi-point game since picking up two assists in the season opener on 10/6 Zykov s team-leading 13th goal of the season ties him for fourth in the AHL. The Phantoms Danick Martel and Greg Carey are two of the three players ahead of him Zykov is tied for second in the league with seven power-play tallies Andrew Miller picked up a goal and an assist to extend his point streak to six games (3g, 6a), which is the longest by a Checker this season and his longest since a career-high, seven-game run during the season Andrew Poturalski has a goal in each of the last four games, which is the longest streak of his career and the longest by a Checker this season The Checkers scored two powerplay goals for the second consecutive game (4-for-9 combined) For the first time all season, the Checkers were not missing a player due to injury Forwards Mike Ferrantino, Nick Schilkey and Zack Stortini and defenseman Dennis Robertson were healthy extras. TODAY S LINKS

7 Carolina Hurricanes Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward wins 300th game in Vegas shootout victory BY CHIP ALEXANDER DECEMBER 13, :14 AM UPDATED 9 HOURS 0 MINUTES AGO It s hard to say which was more important: Cam Ward winning his 300th game for the Carolina Hurricanes or the Canes winning a game. Ward had a quick answer to that Tuesday in Las Vegas after the Canes 3-2 shootout victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Let s be serious, we needed a win, he said. That the 300 career wins all have come with the Hurricanes is quite the milestone. That it came in a shootout at T-Mobile Arena also had a touch of irony. Ward in a shootout has never been a safe bet during his career, but he shined Tuesday in Las Vegas as the Canes ended a four-game winless streak on the six-game road trip that ends Friday against the Buffalo Sabres. It feels real good and it s something I ve been striving for for a while and was fortunate to get, Ward said of No I thought the guys put forth a great effort, especially coming in a back-to-back situation. To face a new team in a new building, a new city, it was a fun atmosphere. You can see why they have the record they do at home. They put on a good show here and it was fun to be a part of. The Golden Knights, in their first year, have become one of the league s most compelling stories. Taking the expansion castoffs from the other 30 teams, the Knights had a record before Tuesday and were at T-Mobile Arena. The Golden Knights also had Marc-Andre Fleury back in net, adding more punch and emotion to the game. Fleury, with his 378 career wins, had been sidelined since Oct. 14 with a concussion and was playing his comeback game. He s a guy I respect a lot, Ward said. Obviously I ve been going up against him for a lot of years and he s got a lot more wins than I do. It was great to see him back in the net. Ward s first career victory came in a shootout against the Pittsburgh Penguins in October Now, No It s kind of weird how it all comes in a circle, Ward said. Again, just thankful for all the opportunities I ve been given throughout my whole career to stay in the same organization for 13 years and get those 300 wins. Ward hasn t gotten as many of chances this season with Scott Darling brought in to be the Canes No. 1 goalie. The start Tuesday against the Golden Knights was his ninth appearance of the season. Ward became the 32nd goalie in NHL history to win 300 games. Among the five active goalies with 300 wins, only Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers has all his victories with one franchise. The Canes needed a goal from Brock McGinn to extend the shootout, and got it. Phil Di Giuseppe then had a chance to win it for the Canes and did. The Canes all swarmed around Ward as Jeff Skinner collected the puck as a memento for his goalie. It was their first victory celebration since beating the Florida Panthers 3-2 on Dec. 2 at PNC Arena. We ve been on the road for about 10 days now looking for our first win, Ward said. It s a big confidence booster. We needed to put two points in the board. Hopefully we can build on this. News Observer LOADED: Carolina Hurricanes Ward wins 300th, Hurricanes top Golden Knights in shootout BY W.G. RAMIREZ DECEMBER 13, :40 AM UPDATED 9 HOURS 4 MINUTES AGO LAS VEGAS On a night when top goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made his long-anticipated return to the Vegas Golden Knights, it was his Carolina counterpart who grabbed the headlines. Cam Ward earned his 300th career win Tuesday when Phillip Di Giuseppe's goal in the fifth round of a shootout lifted the Hurricanes to a 3-2 victory over Vegas. "It's something I've been striving for, for a while, and was very fortunate to get it tonight," said Ward, whose first career win was also in a shootout. "I'm just really thankful for the opportunities I've been given throughout my entire career, to be able to stay in the same organization for 13 years and get those 300 wins." Marcus Kruger and Trevor van Riemsdyk scored for the Hurricanes in regulation. Ward, who made 22 saves, became the 32nd goalie in NHL history to reach 300 wins. Deryk Engelland and Reilly Smith scored in the second period for Vegas. The expansion Golden Knights fell to 7-2 in games that have gone to overtime, while the Hurricanes improved to 4-7. In his first game back after spending nearly two months on injured reserve, Fleury stopped 35 shots for Vegas. But it was the last one of the night that the 13-year veteran wished he could have back. "I think I got impatient and lunged forward too much," Fleury said about Di Giuseppe's game-winning goal. "I've got to see the replay. The two (shootout) goals were pretty much the same, just on different sides."

8 Fleury hadn't played since Oct. 13, when he sustained a concussion in the second period against Detroit. Though he finished the game, a 6-3 loss, he was placed on injured reserve the next day and missed the next 25 games. The Golden Knights, however, flourished with Malcolm Subban, Oscar Dansk and Maxime Lagace filling the void and leading the fledgling franchise to a mark without its No. 1 netminder. Vegas is in second place in the Pacific Division with 40 points, three behind the Los Angeles Kings "We got a big point that we probably didn't deserve, but we found a way," Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant said. "I'm a firm believer of when you work hard, you compete hard, you're going to get your breaks. We were flat. We didn't come out with the same emotion like we usually do. It was one of those games where we didn't play our best hockey." Carolina opened the scoring when Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb attempted to clear from behind the net. The puck bounced off the shaft of Kruger's stick, then his knee and the bottom of Fleury's skate. It was Kruger's first goal of the season. "We haven't had many of those," Carolina coach Bill Peters said. "It was obviously a bizarre-type play and an unfortunate bounce for them, but a good bounce for us. We were due to get a bounce and we got one here tonight." The Golden Knights tied it a minute into the second period when Engelland's wrist shot from the right point beat Ward to the upper left corner. The Hurricanes took a 2-1 lead when van Riemsdyk's wrist shot made its way through traffic and past Fleury. It was van Riemsdyk's first goal of the season. Golden Knights defenseman Colin Miller sent a beautiful stretch pass through Carolina's defense to Smith, who beat Ward to tie it 2-all at 12:48 of the second. NOTES: It was the fifth stop on Carolina's six-game road swing, the team's longest of the season. The 11-day trip will end up spanning 7,500 miles.... Carolina has outshot its opponent in 24 of 30 games.... Vegas came in ranked third in the NHL in goals per game with 3.48 and sixth in total goals with 101. News Observer LOADED: Carolina Hurricanes Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward wins 300th game in Vegas shootout victory BY CHIP ALEXANDER calexander@newsobserver.com DECEMBER 13, :14 AM UPDATED 9 HOURS 5 MINUTES AGO That the 300 career wins all have come with the Hurricanes is quite the milestone. That it came in a shootout at T-Mobile Arena also had a touch of irony. Ward in a shootout has never been a safe bet during his career, but he shined Tuesday in Las Vegas as the Canes ended a four-game winless streak on the six-game road trip that ends Friday against the Buffalo Sabres. It feels real good and it s something I ve been striving for for a while and was fortunate to get, Ward said of No I thought the guys put forth a great effort, especially coming in a back-to-back situation. To face a new team in a new building, a new city, it was a fun atmosphere. You can see why they have the record they do at home. They put on a good show here and it was fun to be a part of. The Golden Knights, in their first year, have become one of the league s most compelling stories. Taking the expansion castoffs from the other 30 teams, the Knights had a record before Tuesday and were at T-Mobile Arena. The Golden Knights also had Marc-Andre Fleury back in net, adding more punch and emotion to the game. Fleury, with his 378 career wins, had been sidelined since Oct. 14 with a concussion and was playing his comeback game. He s a guy I respect a lot, Ward said. Obviously I ve been going up against him for a lot of years and he s got a lot more wins than I do. It was great to see him back in the net. Ward s first career victory came in a shootout against the Pittsburgh Penguins in October Now, No It s kind of weird how it all comes in a circle, Ward said. Again, just thankful for all the opportunities I ve been given throughout my whole career to stay in the same organization for 13 years and get those 300 wins. Ward hasn t gotten as many of chances this season with Scott Darling brought in to be the Canes No. 1 goalie. The start Tuesday against the Golden Knights was his ninth appearance of the season. Ward became the 32nd goalie in NHL history to win 300 games. Among the five active goalies with 300 wins, only Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers has all his victories with one franchise. The Canes needed a goal from Brock McGinn to extend the shootout, and got it. Phil Di Giuseppe then had a chance to win it for the Canes and did. The Canes all swarmed around Ward as Jeff Skinner collected the puck as a memento for his goalie. It was their first victory celebration since beating the Florida Panthers 3-2 on Dec. 2 at PNC Arena. We ve been on the road for about 10 days now looking for our first win, Ward said. It s a big confidence booster. We needed to put two points in the board. Hopefully we can build on this. Herald-Sun LOADED: Buffalo Sabres It s hard to say which was more important: Cam Ward winning his 300th game for the Carolina Hurricanes or the Canes winning a game. Ward had a quick answer to that Tuesday in Las Vegas after the Canes 3-2 shootout victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Sabres Notebook: Winter Classic documentaries; ticket donation drive By John Vogl Published Wed, Dec 13, 2017 Let s be serious, we needed a win, he said.

9 The "Road to the Winter Classic" acknowledges the Buffalo Sabres are, at best, a work in progress, so it's not surprising the premiere started by focusing on the New York Rangers. But fans of Jason Pominville, bowling and behind-the-scenes clips likely enjoyed the opening episode Wednesday night. The four-part television documentary, which tracks the Sabres and Rangers as they head toward a New Year's Day game in Citi Field, began on NBCSN. It will continue for the next three Wednesdays. The show opened with a look at the difference between the teams and cities, with New York laying claim as the "biggest stage in the world." The cameras followed the Rangers' Jimmy Vesey, Brady Skjei and Kevin Hayes as they rode the subway in full gear on their way to an outdoor practice. After shifting back to Buffalo, the talk was of the hole in the franchise's résumé its lack of a Stanley Cup. Coach Phil Housley spoke of wanting to win one and introduced viewers to Jack Eichel. "He has the skill to become one of the elite players in the game," Housley says of Eichel, who gave the team an end-of-practice pep talk. Transit Lanes, Roswell Park and the Sabres' foundation got airtime as the cameras filmed Buffalo's annual Bowl-A-Rama. There was a comical look at Kyle Okposo's lack of bowling ability. After an extended look at Kevin Shattenkirk living out his dream of playing for his hometown team, the defenseman helped the Rangers beat New Jersey. There was a chance to see and hear Lindy Ruff, who is an assistant coach in New York. The cameras then headed to the home of Buffalo's Jason Pominville. It was easily the highlight of the 23-minute show for Sabres fans. He and his wife played hockey and did gymnastics with their children. Pominville talked of getting sticks signed for his son. The series also profiled New York's Rick Nash before taking in the Sabres' visit to St. Louis last weekend. After a quiet interview with Eichel, the show had highlights of Buffalo's 3-2 overtime loss. Viewers went inside the dressing room for pep talks by Josh Gorges and Housley. Narrated by Emmy- and Tony-nominated actor Bill Camp, the "Road to the Winter Classic" is providing enough Buffalo material to keep Sabres fans watching. There will be no shortage of Winter Classic material this month. NHL Network will present "The First NHL Winter Classic, Hockey Goes Outside." It will offer a look back at the 2008 game between the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins in the Bills' stadium. The documentary will air on NHL Network at 8 p.m. Wednesday. There will be a special screening in (716) Food and Sport at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The film will feature interviews with Sabres participants Ryan Miller, Brian Campbell, Pominville and Ruff. Narrated by actor and Pittsburgh native Michael Keaton, there will also be interviews with Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and NBC announcers Mike "Doc" Emrick and Bob Costas. The game in Orchard Park proved that outdoor games would work and set the precedent for 21 stadium games for the NHL. Thousands of tickets to Sabres games have been going to waste. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie County and Community Beer Works want to change that. The nonprofit organization and the Buffalo brewery are asking fans who aren't interested in the games to donate their tickets rather than let them sit on the shelf. The tickets will be given to the Big Brothers Big Sisters program so children and their mentors can attend the games. Fans are asked to bring printed tickets to Community Beer Works at 15 Lafayette Ave. from 3 to 10 p.m. Friday. In exchange for every pair of tickets, fans will receive a receipt for their tax-deductible donation and a free pint of Frank American Pale Ale. Fans who use virtual tickets through the One Buffalo app can also donate by forwarding them to tickets@communitybeerworks.com or contacting Community Beer Works on Twitter (@communitybeer) or Facebook (Facebook.com/communitybeerworks/). The Rochester Americans went to the Big Easy for a big hire. The Amerks have announced Rob Minter will serve as the team's vice president of business operations. He will oversee the day-to-day business activities of the Sabres' minor-league club. Minter arrives in Rochester after three years as the director of premium seating for the NFL s New Orleans Saints and the NBA s New Orleans Pelicans. He organized and managed a staff that focused on the sale and retention of premium products for both franchises. I m tremendously excited to join such a longstanding and historic organization like the Rochester Americans, Minter said. I look forward to getting to know our loyal season-ticket holders, corporate partners and the great hockey fans we have in the city of Rochester. The Virginia native has also worked in the American Hockey League for the Lake Erie Monsters, overseeing their ticket operations. The Amerks' position opened in October after the organization let go of Rob Kopacz. He had been the vice president of business operations since July Buffalo News LOADED: Buffalo Sabres Amerks extend point streak to nine games By Staff Published Wed, Dec 13, 2017 Updated Thu, Dec 14, 2017 Rookie star C.J. Smith scored his ninth goal of the season and the Rochester Americans extended their point streak to 10 games with a 3-1 triumph over the Utica Comets in their American Hockey League game Wednesday night at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester. Smith's goal, his 27th point of the season, gave the Amerks a two-goal cushion at 1:17 of the third period. Seth Griffith and Zach Redmond assisted. Griffith extended his point streak to six games. Utica scored the first goal of the game when Michael Cercone tallied at 1:27 of the opening period. Steve Moses tied it for Rochester at 17:33 of the same period with assists by Sahir Gill and Casey Nelson. Smith and Nicholas Baptiste assisted on Stuart Percy's goal that put the Amerks in front, 2-1, at 6:50 of the second period. Linus Ullmark made 29 saves for Rochester as his record in goal improved to for the season. With 36 points, Rochester ( ) moved to within four points of the Toronto Marlies, who lead the AHL's North Divison. Rochester will be home to the Marlies ( ) on Friday night. Buffalo News LOADED: Buffalo Sabres

10 NHL Network to air documentary on original Winter Classic in Buffalo "We'll help make the holidays special for each kid as they and their mentor will be able to enjoy a game while you enjoy the spirit of giving and a free pint," Community Beer Works wrote in its release. By John Vogl Published Wed, Dec 13, 2017 Updated Wed, Dec 13, 2017 Buffalo News LOADED: There will be no shortage of Winter Classic material this month. In addition to "Road to the Winter Classic," which begins airing Wednesday night, NHL Network will present "The First NHL Winter Classic, Hockey Goes Outside." It will offer a look back at the 2008 game between the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins in the Bills' stadium. The documentary will air on NHL Network at 8 p.m. next Wednesday. There will be a special screening in (716) Food and Sport at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The film will feature interviews with Sabres participants Ryan Miller, Brian Campbell, Jason Pominville and Lindy Ruff. Narrated by actor and Pittsburgh native Michael Keaton, there will also be interviews with Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and NBC announcers Mike "Doc" Emrick and Bob Costas. The game in Orchard Park proved that outdoor games would work and set the precedent for 21 stadium games for the NHL. (A clip is available here.) Hockey deserves it," Miller says in the documentary. "We finally kind of got that model where we re just like, Well, there s not many of these. It s special. You can celebrate the game the entire day.'" Buffalo News LOADED: Buffalo Sabres Not using those Sabres tickets? Here's a way to donate them By John Vogl Published Wed, Dec 13, 2017 Updated Wed, Dec 13, 2017 Thousands of tickets to Buffalo Sabres games have been going to waste. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie County and Community Beer Works want to change that. The nonprofit organization and the Buffalo brewery are asking fans who aren't interested in the games to donate their tickets rather than let them sit on the shelf. The tickets will be given to the Big Brothers Big Sisters program so children and their mentors can attend the games. Fans are asked to bring printed tickets to Community Beer Works at 15 Lafayette Ave. from 3 to 10 p.m. Friday. In exchange for every pair of tickets, fans will receive a receipt for their tax-deductible donation and a free pint of Frank American Pale Ale. Fans who use virtual tickets through the One Buffalo app can also donate by forwarding them to tickets@communitybeerworks.com or contacting Community Beer Works on Twitter (@communitybeer) or Facebook (Facebook.com/communitybeerworks/). Season-ticket holders' interest in attending games has waned during Buffalo's start. Tickets are routinely available for as low as $6 on the secondary market Buffalo Sabres Review: 'Road to the Winter Classic' will keep Sabres fans interested By John Vogl Published Wed, Dec 13, 2017 Updated Wed, Dec 13, 2017 The "Road to the Winter Classic" acknowledges the Buffalo Sabres are, at best, a work in progress, so it's not surprising the premiere starts by focusing on the New York Rangers. But fans of Jason Pominville, bowling and behind-the-scenes clips will enjoy the opening episode Wednesday night. The four-part television documentary, which tracks the Sabres and Rangers as they head toward a New Year's Day game in Citi Field, will begin at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday on NBCSN. The Buffalo News received an early look Wednesday afternoon. The show opens with a look at the difference between the teams and cities, with New York laying claim as the "biggest stage in the world." The cameras follow the Rangers' Jimmy Vesey, Brady Skjei and Kevin Hayes as they ride the subway in full gear on their way to an outdoor practice. After shifting back to Buffalo, the talk is of the hole in the franchise's résumé its lack of a Stanley Cup. Coach Phil Housley speaks of wanting to win one and introduces viewers to Jack Eichel. "He has the skill to become one of the elite players in the game," Housley says of Eichel, who gives the team an end-of-practice pep talk. Transit Lanes, Roswell Park and the Sabres' foundation get airtime as the cameras film Buffalo's annual Bowl-A-Rama. There's a comical look at Kyle Okposo's bowling abilities, while Zach Bogosian's choice of footwear is certainly intriguing. After an extended look at Kevin Shattenkirk living out his dream of playing for his hometown team, the defenseman helps the Rangers beat New Jersey. It's a treat to see and hear Lindy Ruff, who is an assistant coach in New York. The cameras then head to the home of Buffalo's Jason Pominville. It's easily the highlight of the 23-minute show for Sabres fans, so we'll skip the details. The series also profiles New York's Rick Nash before taking in the Sabres' visit to St. Louis last weekend. After a quiet interview with Eichel, the show has highlights of Buffalo's 3-2 overtime loss. Viewers go inside the dressing room for pep talks by Josh Gorges and Housley. Narrated by Emmy- and Tony-nominated actor Bill Camp, the premiere of "Road to the Winter Classic" provides enough Buffalo material to keep Sabres fans watching. Buffalo News LOADED: Buffalo Sabres

11 Amerks hire former Saints, Pelicans exec as VP of business operations By John Vogl Published Wed, Dec 13, 2017 Updated Wed, Dec 13, 2017 The Rochester Americans went to the Big Easy for a big hire. The Amerks have announced Rob Minter will serve as the team's vice president of business operations. He will oversee the day-to-day business activities of the Buffalo Sabres' minor-league club. Minter arrives in Rochester after three years as the director of premium seating for the NFL s New Orleans Saints and the NBA s New Orleans Pelicans. He organized and managed a staff that focused on the sale and retention of premium products for both franchises. I m tremendously excited to join such a longstanding and historic organization like the Rochester Americans, Minter said. I look forward to getting to know our loyal season-ticket holders, corporate partners and the great hockey fans we have in the city of Rochester. The Virginia native has also worked in the American Hockey League for the Lake Erie Monsters, overseeing their ticket operations. The Amerks' position opened in October after the organization let go of Rob Kopacz. He had been the vice president of business operations since July Buffalo News LOADED: Buffalo Sabres Sabres' Pouliot holding up his end of the bargain By John Vogl Published Wed, Dec 13, 2017 Updated Wed, Dec 13, 2017 Benoit Pouliot had a lot to prove. He's actually proving to be quite the bargain. The Buffalo Sabres took a flier on Pouliot following his buyout by Edmonton. They signed him to a one-year contract worth $1.15 million July 1. There were nine other forwards who signed for more money on the opening day of free agency. Pouliot has more goals than all of them with eight. It's taken him just 31 games to match the goal total he recorded in 67 games with Edmonton last year. "I feel pretty good," Pouliot said in KeyBank Center. "It's positive, and for the whole team it's good." It could be even better for the team come trade-deadline time. Of the pending unrestricted free agents also known as deadline rentals Pouliot is tied for ninth in goals. Teammate Evander Kane is fifth with 14 goals, so the Sabres could have a few bargaining chips. The players, of course, are focused on building up Buffalo, not picturing their next home. The Sabres head into Thursday's game in Philadelphia on a run that has lifted their spirits more than their overall record (8-17-6). "We've got to build on it and keep the momentum," Pouliot said. After falling out of favor in Edmonton, Pouliot turned to Buffalo because he figured he'd get a chance. He is. He has consistently lined up as the second left winger behind Kane, which means he skates with playmaking centers Ryan O'Reilly and Jack Eichel. Pouliot has responded by tying for second on the team in goals. On a team that lacks finish, Pouliot is providing it. He is scoring on 17.4 percent of his shots, which is higher than his already-impressive career average of 13.4 percent. "I just show up at the rink and try to play hard, try to play good and help the team as much as I can," he said. "The guys that I play with help a lot, too, and being in different situations in games helps." Pouliot is an equal-opportunity scorer, connecting six times at even strength to go with one power-play goal and one short-handed tally. The Sabres are when he scores and when he registers a point. The 31-year-old added another entry to the Sabres' highlight reel during Tuesday's 3-2 victory over Ottawa. He kick-started a three-goal second period by picking up the puck at his blue line, sneaking between two Senators at their blue line and slipping a shot between the pads of goaltender Mike Condon. The goal energized the fans and made the Senators look silly, particularly Condon and Dion Phaneuf. The big defenseman shoved Pouliot, but the winger barely slowed while going past. "I kind of picked my head up there at the last second and saw him stepping up, so he kind of surprised me a little bit," Pouliot said. "I thought he was going to put a check on me, and I just snuck by him luckily, and things went well after that." Mike Harrington: Sabres fans finally get some rewards, make some noise Things are going well for the Sabres in terms of the contract. Pouliot has two more goals than fellow July 1 signees Nick Bonino (four years, $16.4 million with Nashville), Justin Williams (two years, $9 million with Carolina), Brian Boyle (two years, $5.1 million with New Jersey) and Brett Connolly (two years, $3 million with Washington). Pouliot has 11 points, which is topped only by Williams' 20. The one area Pouliot would like to improve is his consistency. He had one assist in the opening eight games, then went on a run of six goals and seven points in 10 games. He followed that with nine straight games without a point. He has two goals and three points in the last four games, so Buffalo is hopeful it's the start of another hot streak. The game in Philadelphia features streaking teams that sit at the bottom of the standings. While the Sabres have points in four straight, the Flyers have won four in a row. They've improved to , which is good for seventh in the eight-team Metropolitan Division but puts them just four points out of a wild-card spot. Philly beat Toronto, 4-2, Tuesday to kick off a five-game homestand. The Flyers had lost six straight at home. They'll be meeting a Buffalo team that is finally feeling good about its ability to make plays and get points. "We're starting to make a few plays, starting to execute a little bit," right wing Kyle Okposo said. "We did a really good job with our middle guy on the ice. We hit him a couple times, especially in the second period, and we were able to get some speed. We were able to generate some chances that way, and we just did a better job of executing." Buffalo News LOADED: Columbus Blue Jackets