Anaheim Ducks Chicago Blackhawks Arizona Coyotes Colorado Avalanche Boston Bruins Columbus Blue Jackets Dallas Stars Buffalo Sabres Calgary Flames

Transcription

1 SPORT-SCAN Anaheim Ducks Ducks rally for a point in loss to Toronto, secure a spot in playoffs Injuries, absences take their toll on Ducks Ducks clinch playoff spot despite 6-5 overtime loss in Toronto Ryan Kesler, Simon Despres leave Ducks to address personal matter, injury Arizona Coyotes BICKLEY:Arizona Coyotes coach Dave Tippett's Cup is filling up Martin Hanzal scores twice as Arizona Coyotes hold off Dallas Stars Sophomore season a success for Arizona Coyotes' Tobias Rieder Coyotes' Louis Domingue returns to net vs. Dallas Stars Coyotes brace for defensive test vs. high-scoring Stars Boston Bruins NHL s video review system is amateur hour Jimmy Hayes trade hasn t worked out for Bruins It s desperation night at TD Garden on Thursday Bad luck plus bad play equal bad result for Bruins Bruins suffer fifth straight loss More bad reviews as Bruins suffer fifth straight loss Video: Bruins tip cap to Claude Julien with pregame ceremony Bruins seek end to losing streak Yandle, Lundqvist lead Rangers over Bruins Bruins notebook: Third line struggles to score Bruins' losing streak is bad timing Bruins baffled by no goal call on Bergeron in 3rd Talking Points: Trocheck a beast vs. the B's Bruins feel the pressure in 4-1 loss to Panthers Boston head coaches pay tribute to Claude Julien Prospect Carlo reports to the Providence Bruins Haggerty's Morning Skate: Spacey and the Panthers Rangers loss will be forgiven if B's beat Panthers B's suffer bad breaks, 'weak calls' in Rangers loss Buffalo Sabres Rookie Fasching gets a crash course with Sabres Sabres season ticket prices going up again Sabres Bogosian impressive in stand-up role Ullmark gets start in Amerks vs. IceCaps, Part II Epic comeback for Amerks, epic collapse for IceCaps Calgary Flames Game Replay: Calgary Flames vs. Minnesota Wild Parise notches hat-trick as Flames fall 6-2 to Wild Wild netminder Dubnyk out to prove wasn't a fluke Flames could play spoilers to the Wild Calgary Flames goalie Niklas Backstrom honoured by Minnesota Wild in first period Long-term deal helps Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk focus on managing expectations Flames hoping to play spoiler as Wild chase wild-card berth Flames co-owner Murray Edwards changes residence from Calgary to London Carolina Hurricanes Big third period leads Hurricanes past Blue Jackets 3-2 NHL 03/25/16 DAILY BRIEF Chicago Blackhawks Blackhawks Q&A: Top line struggles, Corey Crawford's condition, playoff line predictions ! Marian Hossa on verge of making NHL history with Blackhawks Blackhawks playoff tickets go on sale Monday Blackhawks recall D Viktor Svedberg from Rockford Where s the bump? Q confident Ladd, Weise et al. will help Hawks Chicago Blackhawks' Hossa on doorstep of No Blackhawks looking to 'dig deep' on the road Colorado Avalanche Avalanche's loss to Flyers Thursday night raises concerns about team Avs' playoff hopes take a hit No update on Avs centers Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon Heinen: "I'm focusing on the playoffs and trying to win a championship here" Rantanen's approaches 10-game threshold that would burn a year on his 3-year entry-level contract Gudas, Giroux score late as Flyers beat Avs 4-2 Columbus Blue Jackets Hurricanes 3, Blue Jackets 2 Three-goal flurry spells doom Blue Jackets Jared Boll gets four-game suspension for hit Dallas Stars He said it: Players and coaches comment after Arizona's 3-1 win over Stars Thursday Heika: Stars' focus wavers in 3-1 loss to Arizona; Klingberg: 'We have to be better' Lindy Ruff, Jason Spezza are both closing in on career milestones Jamie Benn on logging his 500th career game: 'I take pride in doing whatever it takes to be there for my teamm Stars' fast start to season is allowing Russell, Janmark to get back to 100 percent before returning from inju Patrick Sharp on how playing with Stars rejuvenated him; what clinching a playoff spot in Chicago was like Cold facts: After 3-1 loss, Stars now have to wait to see what St. Louis does Friday Heika: Stars confident, working to help Niemi get out of career-worst slump; Spezza: 'We need him' Morning skate update: Facing speedy Coyotes, Stars stick with lineup that worked Tuesday vs. Chicago Coyotes snap West-leading Stars 3-game winning streak

2 Detroit Red Wings Rookie Anthony Mantha, fellow Red Wings reminisce about first goals Sharp: Red Wings' success can't be defined by extending playoff streak Riley Sheahan scores twice, but Red Wings need more scoring down stretch Petr Mrazek in as Detroit Red Wings host Habs to start key stretch Wojo: Flawed Red Wings face down stretch drive pressure Red Wings relieved as lead barely holds up Wings seek more offensive-zone possession UM-Notre Dame matchup stokes rivalry among Wings Mantha's family turning up for Wings-Canadiens game First NHL goal for Red Wings' Anthony Mantha memorable for many reasons Red Wings postgame: Great second period helps put two points in bank after near-fatal third Red Wings withstand furious third-period rally to beat Canadiens Red Wings' Anthony Mantha excited to have grandfather, Stanley Cup winner, at home debut Recap: Red Wings-Canadiens scoring summary, stats, video highlights and more Red Wings Gameday: At least 12 points in final 9 games likely needed for Detroit to make playoffs Red Wings prospect Joe Hicketts named WHL first-team All-Star, defenseman of year Red Wings lineup vs. Canadiens: Nyquist-Sheahan-Tatar need to be 'swing line' NHL Power Rankings roundup: Red Wings in holding pattern and that's a problem Watch Red Wings rookie Anthony Mantha score first NHL goal Sheahan scores 2, helps Red Wings hold off Canadiens 4-3 Edmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers sink San Jose Sharks Edmonton Oilers lose Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to concussion Edmonton Oilers centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins out with concussion Edmonton Oilers battle back from early deficit to earn victory Florida Panthers Florida Panthers snap Boston skid with crucial 4-1 victory Willie Mitchell s dilemma: Return to Panthers or retire because of concussions Vincent Trocheck's line leads Panthers to 4-1 win over Bruins and into first place Panthers captain Willie Mitchell close to decision to return or not Panthers climb into 1st in Atlantic with 4-1 win over Bruins Los Angeles Kings Kings fails to extend division lead with loss at Winnipeg March 24 postgame quotes: Darryl Sutter March 24 postgame notes March 24 postgame quotes: Doughty, Carter Game 74: Los Angeles at Winnipeg Game 74 Preview: Los Angeles at Winnipeg Few results recently, but Doughty finds soft ice on PP Skate notes: Pearson returns; no Versteeg, Lecavalier March 24 morning skate quotes: Darryl Sutter Good morning, Winnipeg March 24: Practice notes March 23: Reign practice notes Minnesota Wild Postgame: Parise's hat trick, Avalanche's blown lead give Wild three-point edge in wildcard race David Jones fitting in with Wild after trade from Calgary last month Parise's scoring touch returns as Wild routs Calgary Wild-Calgary game recap Parise scores 3 to lead Wild past Flames, Pominville, Vanek return, Zucker out vs. the Calgary Flames? Parise banged up Russo's Rants Q&A: Leave your Wild/NHL questions here NOW Tom Powers: Ex-Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom s last ghost walk is one he won t forget Zach Parise s hat trick buries Flames and former Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom Like Niklas Backstrom, Wild s David Jones ready to face his former team Montreal Canadiens Sheahan scores two goals, helps Red Wings hold off Canadiens In the Habs' Room: 'We watched them play with the puck', Pacioretty says Canadiens' valiant comeback bid falls just short in loss to Red Wings About last night A homecoming game for Habs McCarron in Detroit Canadiens-Wings preview: Desharnais returns to lineup This Date in Habs History: March 24 Nashville Predators takeaways from Predators' win over Canucks Predators strong in shootout again Predators rally over Canucks in shootout Predators' Colin Wilson looks to put struggles behind him New Jersey Devils Devils Rookie Goalie Shuts Down Penguins Scott Wedgewood and Devils shut out Pittsburgh Penguins, 3-0 Rapid reaction Devils' Blake Pietila set to make NHL debut against Penguins What time, TV channel is Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New Jersey Devils? Live score updates, NHL live stream Undeterred by standings, injuries, Devils win again; Greene, Larsson carry load; Palmieri nearing Scott Wedgewood continues dream start to NHL career by shutting out Sidney Crosby and Penguins Live post: Devils at Pittsburgh Penguins, 3/24/16; Moore returns from sore left knee Wedgewood trying to emulate Brodeur's calm demeanor; "Just another hockey game" for Warsofsky Devils still hoping Elias can play before season's end; Pietila in middle; Moore game-time decision Devils notes: Hope for Patrik Elias to return Rookie Wedgewood stars in Devils' 3-0 win over Penguins Kyle Palmieri scores twice as Devils blank Penguins New York Islanders Playoffs Not Assured, but Crucial Win Relieves Pressure on Islanders Islanders still looking for their young players to produce offense New York Rangers Rangers regain momentum after rough road trip, prep for key weekend vs. Canadiens, Penguins Can Rangers win the Stanley Cup? Eddie Olczyk discusses Is Derick Brassard ready for grind of Crosby, Tavares & Co.? Rangers are happy that defenseman Keith Yandle is paying dividends

3 Ottawa Senators Sens power play shooting blanks All eyes of Sens Army on draft lottery Stone provides troubled Sens with hope for future Philadelphia Flyers Flyers rally past Avalanche, keep pace in wild-card race Lowly teams will test Flyers down the stretch Flyers look to stop Mile High low Flyers rally late to topple Colorado Flyers Saturday Flyers respond to meltdown with comeback win over Avalanche Instant Replay: Flyers 4, Avalanche Columbus' Jared Boll suspended for late hit on Bellemare Flyers Skate Update: Moving on after loss to Blue Jackets Flyers-Avalanche 5 things: Bouncing back from meltdown Pittsburgh Penguins Rossi: With Rust, Penguins can jerk around opponents Penguins' 6-game win streak ends with dud performance against Devils Penguins notebook: Bennett returns from shoulder injury Ron Cook: Lack of spark on power play troubling trend for Penguins Penguins notebook: After missing 42 of the past 43 games with an injury, Beau Bennett returns Penguins' six-game win streak snapped with 3-0 loss to Devils San Jose Sharks Sharks undone by Oilers 4-goal 2nd period To their credit, [they pushed] back. We didn t respond Instant Replay: Sharks blow lead, opportunity to clinch Notes: Sharks recall Haley for meeting with Nurse, Oilers Morning Skate: Sharks try to clinch playoff spot again vs Oilers St Louis Blues Preview: Blues vs. Canucks Blue notes: Both goalies will get chances down stretch Blues closing in on fifth straight playoff berth Elliott will start in goal on Friday, Allen on Saturday Tampa Bay Lightning Condra trying to add bite to Bolts as NHL playoffs near Lightning's Condra hopes his game is returning for stretch run Toronto Maple Leafs Anaheim Ducks season offers lessons for the rebuilding Maple Leafs Leafs Tyler Bozak ready to return after missing 21 games with concussion Maple Leafs centre Tyler Bozak returns to lineup tonight Getzlaf and Perry a long-time dynamic duo for Anaheim Ducks Leafs' three-headed monster on fire Maple Leafs' Parenteau closing in on 100-goal milestone Leafs will have hands full with Ducks Nazem Kadri notches winning goal in overtime as Toronto Maple Leafs upend Anaheim Ducks French Canadian NHL referees give more penalties to English players, new study says Was the NHL s concussion research as flawed as the NFL s? Vancouver Canucks Canucks bump scoring slump but lose in shootout to Predators Game Day: Canucks look to bump slump against pumped-up Predators Predators 3 Canucks 2 (SO): Scoreless streak snapped but still not quite enough Freed from Torts' doghouse, playing for Predators is sweet music for B.C. boy Ryan Johansen Canucks Game Day: Hansen returns, and the general dread surrounding Tim McGrawMarch 24, :28 am Secti Washington Capitals Long January break did Capitals goalie Braden Holtby no favors A Caps fan s guide to passing the time before the playoffs start T.J. Oshie likely to miss Friday s game with the flu Capitals prepare for return of their 'game changer' Carlson returns to practice Thursday, Oshie sits out Websites ESPN / Rangers looking like contenders again after big win over Boston ESPN / Ryan Johansen re-energized with Predators, has a dog named... Doug? ESPN / Unexpected trade to the Sharks has energized James Reimer Sportsnet.ca / Should homegrown talent be a priority for Maple Leafs? Sportsnet.ca / Don t bet on the Red Wings to miss the playoffs Sportsnet.ca / Getzlaf fed up following lousy performance from Ducks Sportsnet.ca / Five things we learned in the NHL: Buckle up, Bruins Sportsnet.ca / Bruins fans, announcers, coach Claude Julien all upset with no-goal call Sportsnet.ca / Should Brendan Smith be suspended for hit on Canadiens Matteau? Sportsnet.ca / Sharks James Reimer thought he would survive Maple Leafs overhaul Sportsnet.ca / Ducks Frederik Andersen will be in demand this summer TSN.CA / Rangers won t win without altering blueline TSN.CA / Where it went wrong for Canada s teams Winnipeg Jets A win the lottery dreamers didn't want to see Jets dethrone Kings 4-1, win 2 straight at home for the first time in Hip, knee surgery will keep Jets' Myers off ice until late summer Jets' win over Kings 'too late:' Pavelec Tyler Myers' season over SPORT-SCAN, INC

4 Anaheim Ducks Ducks rally for a point in loss to Toronto, secure a spot in playoffs Associated Press Despite not playing their best, the Ducks clinched a playoff spot for the fourth consecutive season in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night. The Ducks entered the game needing only one standings point to reach the playoffs and got it when they rallied from a 4-1 deficit to force the extra period. The first 38 minutes we didn't compete, Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau said. They were getting the pucks deep and beating us to the punch. We scored the first power-play goal, but we must have given the puck away six times in the next five minutes. To the team's credit in the third period, or even at the end of the second, they never quit. Then in the third period I thought we played pretty well, for the most part. Nazem Kadri had two goals and two assists for the Maples Leafs, including the overtime winner. My mind-set's totally changed, Kadri said of his evolution as a player. Before I went pro, taking faceoffs, if I won them I won them, if I lost them I lost them. Half the time I was trying to go forward on draws anyway to try to create offense. The Maple Leafs scored three power-play goals against the NHL's top penalty kill to win for the fifth time in six games. They gave up four unanswered goals before rallying to even the score at 5-5 on Connor Brown's first NHL goal before Kadri sealed the victory 41 seconds into the extra period. Tyler Bozak also scored twice for the Maple Leafs, with Frank Corrado getting his first goal for Toronto. Jamie McGinn tallied twice for the Ducks, who also got goals from Andrew Cogliano, Ryan Garbutt and Brandon Pirri. We had some guys step up and make some plays, Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf said. You saw on the goals, we executed properly and we were able to maintain puck control, those kinds of things. Garret Sparks made 33 saves for Toronto, Frederik Andersen 20 for the Ducks. The Ducks, who have the NHL's top power play, opened the scoring with the man advantage. Picked up in a midseason trade with the Buffalo Sabres, McGinn was first to a rebound in the slot and tucked the puck past the right pad of Sparks. Bozak matched his effort just over a minute later. Playing his first game since Feb. 6 after a 21-game absence because of a concussion, Bozak fired a shot from the right point that eluded Andersen, who was screened in front by winger Josh Leivo. The Leafs pulled in front less than three minutes later on a power play. Kadri ended an 11-game goal drought with his first goal since Feb. 29. The Ducks hadn't given up a power-play goal in eight games. Before the game, the Ducks announced that Ryan Kesler and Simon Despres had returned to Southern California, Kesler for personal reasons and Despres for further evaluation of an injury Boudreau told reporters that Despres was hit Tuesday and wasn't feeling right and alluded to Despres' sitting out 42 this season because of a concussion. Times correspondent Curtis Zupke contributed to this report. LA Times: LOADED:

5 Anaheim Ducks Injuries, absences take their toll on Ducks By ERIC STEPHENS / STAFF WRITER TORONTO Inward and outward, the Ducks have known that they would be in the Stanley Cup playoffs for some time, and it became official Thursday night. Where they will slot and who they will face still need to be determined. But the Ducks find themselves hit with adversity as they try to find their game again in the season s final 21/2 weeks. Already without injured winger David Perron, the Ducks didn t have the services of top forward Ryan Kesler and minutes-eating defenseman Simon Despres for Thursday s loss to Toronto, and lost veteran defender Kevin Bieksa early in the 6-5 overtime defeat. Kesler returned home to deal because of an apparent family matter. Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said he doesn t know if the center will return for the final two games of the trip in Ottawa and Edmonton. He had to go home for an emergency, Boudreau said. Despres was sent home to be evaluated, possibly to see if he doesn't have any recurring symptoms of a concussion after recovering from one that kept him out for 42 games before returning to action Jan. 26. He got hit last game and he wasn't feeling right, Boudreau said. With his history, we wanted to make sure that he's completely better before he plays. And then Bieksa could not return after suffering an upper-body injury in the first period, leaving the Ducks with just five defensemen. Two of them Clayton Stoner and Korbinian Holzer had become part-timers when Despres returned to action. Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf is concerned about the team s recent play, saying a higher amount of professionalism is needed in light of their current setbacks on and off the ice. We got through so many things throughout a year, Getzlaf said. Everybody has families, everybody has stuff, which we understand. That s important. Kes needs to go and do his thing and be with his family. And we have guys that have opportunities to step up into his minutes. I didn t think we executed as a group. Some aid could be coming soon. Sami Vatanen, their top-scoring defenseman, could return either Saturday or Monday as he is close to recovering from a head injury that s kept him out for seven games. Vatanen said he has felt like his normal self for the past four or five days. I feel good now, he said. It s just more like finding my game speed back. Passing and things like that. After that, I m ready so it should not take too long. Shea Theodore, who was brought up on an emergency recall from San Diego (AHL), did not make it into Thursday s game but he could play against Ottawa if Bieksa is unable to. Chris Stewart resumed skating with the team, six weeks after suffering a broken jaw in a fight. MARKED MANSON With a dark ring around his left eye and small cuts across his face, Josh Manson is wearing the mark of Wednesday s fight with Montreal s Michael McCarron. Manson took some shots but also landed some as well. He s a big man at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, but he had to move up in class to take on McCarron, who checks in at 6-6 and 230. I needed to do it, right? Manson said. It s part of the game. It doesn t matter who it is. Sometimes you get hit with one and sometimes you hit them with one. Manson said the worst part is walking around on their trip with the visible aftermath. But he was satisfied with how he fared. It was tough getting a hold of those big, long arms, he said. Struggled a little bit with that. I just had to wait (him) out and now I got the wounds to show. HORCOFF HITS 1,000 In a season that has been clouded by a 20-game performance-enhancing drugs suspension, Shawn Horcoff could celebrate his appearance in 1,000 NHL games. The bulk of those were played during 12 seasons with Edmonton. I wasn t really nervous at all, Horcoff said. It was just another game. At least for me, I think milestones and things like that are something I ll look back on later. It s obviously something to be very proud of. It s not easy to stay in this game, especially nowadays with such a big youth movement. It s just something in the years gone by, I ll probably look back and think fondly. Orange County Register: LOADED:

6 Anaheim Ducks Ducks clinch playoff spot despite 6-5 overtime loss in Toronto By ERIC STEPHENS / STAFF WRITER TORONTO Clinching a playoff spot has become an annual ritual for the Ducks, and it seems their case of pre-playoff malaise also is a yearly exercise. The Ducks are in the Stanley Cup tournament for the fourth consecutive season, but there was little to celebrate about a 6-5 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night at Air Canada Centre. A four-goal rally rescued them from a one-sided loss after more poor play on this increasingly forgettable road trip. And even their chance at stealing a win went for naught on Connor Brown s first NHL goal to tie the score and Nazem Kadri s second of the night to win it. The Ducks ( ) only needed a point to sew up their spot in the postseason but they re against Winnipeg, Montreal and Toronto and have managed to scratch out three points. We can say whatever we want about it, Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf said. It s the fact that we need to be playing good hockey going into the playoffs. There s no excuses. We re professionals. We got to play. That s just it. We got to show up. It doesn t matter who s on the ice, us or them. We got to be able to show up to play and execute our system a little bit better than what we are. Kadri s score 41 seconds into the extra session as Getzlaf and Cam Fowler looked on was the final defensive breakdown in a game full of them for the Ducks, who lost Kevin Bieksa in the first period and didn t have center Ryan Kesler or defenseman Simon Despres. Bieksa suffered an upper-body injury. Kesler returned home to attend to a personal matter, while Despres is also back in Orange County to be evaluated for a possible concussion. Frederik Andersen made 20 saves but the Ducks, as they did with John Gibson on Wednesday in Montreal, once again had their goalies facing a multitude of prime scoring chances. A penalty-killing unit that s been the best the NHL most of the season suffered without Bieksa, Kesler and Despres as the Maple Leafs scored three times on five power plays. Brown s conversion after a failed clear of the puck tied the score at 5-5 with 4:23 left. It s pretty hard to talk about shorthanded when we re playing that team over there, Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said. They ve got 11 guys up from the minors so I can t use that as a crutch or an excuse. Everybody goes through it. We just have to persevere. This is the worst two-game stretch as far as goals against that we ve had this year. I m pretty confident we ll get back to allowing two goals or less pretty soon. Kadri scored twice and Tyler Bozak also had two after missing 21 games because of a concussion. Toronto scored four straight times for a 4-1 lead before Jamie McGinn s second power-play goal trigged a wild Ducks comeback. Andrew Cogliano scored nine seconds later to draw the Ducks within a goal and then Ryan Garbutt and Brandon Pirri scored 2:38 apart in the third for a 5-4 lead. But in looking at the whole, Getzlaf said, We didn t play a good hockey game tonight. The first 38 minutes, we didn t compete, Boudreau said. It s simple. They were getting the pucks and beating us to the punch. You could tell. We scored the first power-play goal but we must have gave the puck away six times in the next five minutes. But to the team s credit, in the third period and even at the end of the second, they never quit. Orange County Register: LOADED:

7 Anaheim Ducks Ryan Kesler, Simon Despres leave Ducks to address personal matter, injury By ERIC STEPHENS / STAFF WRITER TORONTO The Ducks will be without center Ryan Kesler and defenseman Simon Despres for Thursday night's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs as the two were sent home to address different matters. Kesler left the team Thursday to attend to a personal situation back home, according to Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau. The center had played in all 72 games and is one of their most important players. "He had to go home for an emergency," Boudreau said. Kesler, who signed a six-year, $41.25 million contract extension over the summer, is their defensive stopper against every team's top center and has also contributed 17 goals and 27 assists this season. Boudreau said he wasn't sure if the center would return on their current road trip. Despres was sent home to be evaluated, possibly to see if he doesn't have any recurring symptoms of a concussion after recovering from one that kept him out for 42 games before returning to action on Jan. 26. "He got hit last game and he wasn't feeling right," Boudreau said. "With his history, we wanted to make sure that he's completely better before he plays." Shawn Horcoff will move up to Kesler's spot on the checking line between Andrew Cogliano and Jakob Silfverberg. Nate Thompson will be back at fourth-line center after missing five games due to a lower-body injury. Sami Vatanen (head) and Chris Stewart (jaw) have joined up with the Ducks but neither will play. The two did take part in the club's morning skate at Air Canada Centre, with Boudreau saying it "won't be long" before either is ready to play. The Ducks also recalled defenseman Shea Theodore from San Diego of the American Hockey League but will go with Clayton Stoner and Korbinian Holzer against the Maple Leafs. Orange County Register: LOADED:

8 Arizona Coyotes BICKLEY:Arizona Coyotes coach Dave Tippett's Cup is filling up Dan Bickley, azcentral sports 9:55 p.m. MST March 24, 2016 Dave Tippett is a hands-on guy. He fixes motorcycles and hockey teams. Yet he has never touched the Stanley Cup. If there s any justice in hockey, he will lift the chalice before his ice time expires. I ve been in the vicinity a few times, Tippett said. I had some friends win it. I ve been at some parties when it s been there. I ve been to the Hockey Hall of Fame a few times and saw it there. Put it this way: I know where it s at. He should. He s been chasing it for a lifetime. The Coyotes head coach is currently wrapping up his seventh season with the Coyotes, once again performing perennial magic tricks with very little fanfare. He has a decided disadvantage against most every opponent he faces. He s been handed organizational chaos, half-empty arenas and low-budget rosters. He rarely fails to churn out winning hockey teams. His commitment to the Coyotes is as important as the loyalty of their captain, Shane Doan. I m a big believer that you get rewarded for your work, for what you put into it, Tippett said. Hopefully your work is moving things forward, and you reap the benefits at the end. You put the work in, you stay with it, and you have a chance to be successful. That s my whole approach. Not just to the Arizona Coyotes. But in life. Tippett will not get the trophy this season. Even with return of starting goalie Mike Smith, he concedes that making the playoffs is possible, but not realistic. Yet his mood is vastly improved from a year ago, a season when General Manager Don Maloney admitted to tanking over the back half of the season. Imagine the strain that must have put on their relationship. This season, the Coyotes have freshened the air space, turning a significant corner. They ve restored the hope of winning in the near future. Their farm system is loaded with talent. They re exploring a return to the East Valley, possibly sharing a facility with Arizona State s hockey program. Tippett knows potential can be a tricky word. He notes there is a lot of prospecting going on in gold mines, and nobody finds anything. But like everyone else, he senses the long years in obscurity might be coming to an end. This year is a start, Tippett said. The main goal at the start of the season was to make sure we grow. The young players have brought energy. The ownership group seems to have settled in. We re developing a core group of players, and that s what championship teams need. Instead of grabbing whatever we can, we re building a competitive team the right way, with guys that are homegrown, home-developed and this is their team. Look at the teams that have been successful recently. Chicago manipulates the (salary) cap, but their core group stays the same. We haven t had the core, but we re building one now. After spending 11 seasons as a NHL player, Tippett reached a significant milestone earlier in the season. He is one of 25 men to coach over 1,000 games. After his stellar work during the dark times, his job status is almost bulletproof. He has transcended the normal pink-slip pressure that affects most in the coaching fraternity. His standing in the organization is similar to Gregg Popovich in San Antonio and Bill Belichick in New England, even though Tippett doesn t have any jewelry. That is remarkable, but not surprising. Tippett is an innovator. He was practicing analytics in 1995, only with pencils and notebooks, charting and ranking players with his own mathematical system. He s a troubleshooter. He likes to spot a curve and get ahead of it. His motto is simple: If it s not broke, you re not looking hard enough. Through all the years, his voice and message remain fresh, unscathed by the seasons of dysfunction. That s no small feat in Arizona. I m a pretty simple guy, Tippett said. I m not hard to read. A big part of my approach is to not get too high, and not get too low. And when all else fails, you put your head down and go back to work. But I m always trying to evolve. Tippett is one of our finest, and one of the best coaches to never win a championship ring. Here s hoping he shows up for work in the near future, and see the Stanley Cup staring back at him. This time, he will be free to touch. Bickley at dan.bickley@arizonarepublic.com or Follow him at twitter.com/danbickley. Listen to Bickley and Marotta, weekdays from 12-2 p.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. Arizona Republic LOADED:

9 Arizona Coyotes Martin Hanzal scores twice as Arizona Coyotes hold off Dallas Stars Sarah McLellan, azcentral sports 10:41 p.m. MST March 24, 2016 It was as if the puck had been flung inside a pinball machine, swerving among skates and shin pads and sticks until momentum carried it into the net. This could describe hockey itself, with players striving every shift to tame the rubber disc enough to send it in a desired direction, but on Thursday, it characterized the play that mattered the one that pushed the Coyotes past the Stars 3-1 in front of 11,887 at Gila River Arena. A half-wall shot from defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson set the sequence in motion, leading to a bouncing puck that eventually caromed off of center Martin Hanzal and behind Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen only 55 seconds into the second period for Hanzal s first of two goals on the night. I was thinking I didn t touch it at first, but I don t know, Hanzal said. It must have hit me somehow. The tally marked the 100th of Hanzal s career and was his second in as many games this after going idle for the previous 15. There s a lot around the front of the net there, coach Dave Tippett said. I don t think he had a lot of long shots, but he keeps chugging along. He s a real force out there, both ends of the ice. It's great to see him get rewarded with goals because he spends a lot of time around there." As challenging as it might be to eke out a lead against the Stars, who clinched a playoff berth earlier in the week and currently pace the Central Division, it s probably equally as tough to hold them off. And that s exactly what the Coyotes were tasked with doing for almost two periods. But they managed, improving to 2-0 on this four-game homestand. Obviously going into the third with a one-goal lead, it was obviously important to keep the score like it was and try to push the game as far as we could with a one-goal lead," goalie Louis Domingue said. "When we did that, we managed to score another goal after and that s pretty much where we took the game." Credit Domingue, who didn t appear to show any rust after not playing since last Saturday. He made 37 stops and was particularly steady in the third as the Stars vied for the tying goal. This was the third straight start in which Domingue allowed only one goal, a span in which he boasts a.969 save percentage. Lehtonen turned aside 26 shots for the Stars. Just real solid, Tippett said of Domingue s play. I love it when he just catches the puck and hands it back to the referee. Let s go again. Calm. I like that calm. The Coyotes actually had the puck change direction on their first goal, too. After the puck squirted out to the point, defenseman Connor Murphy s one-timer was redirected by winger Tobias Rieder at 14:11 of the first period. Like Hanzal, it was also Rieder s second goal in his past two games and bumped him up to 14 on the season a career-high after the sophomore totaled 13 during his rookie campaign last season. But on the ensuring shift, the Stars tied it. A bobbled puck after a Coyotes faceoff win ended up as a 2-on-1 for the Stars with winger Ales Hemsky pulled the puck in-tight before lifting it by Domingue at 14:20. The Coyotes would have 50 seconds of power-play time carry over to the second, and they used the 5-on-4 setup to capitalize with Hanzal s goal only five seconds after Dallas captain Jamie Benn stepped out of the penalty box. "There's momentum shifts in the game, and that was one that went our way," Domingue said. Arizona finished 0-for-6 on the power play. Special teams could have played a bigger role in this one; the Coyotes would get another look later in the second but negated the full two-minute advantage on a hooking penalty from Ekman-Larsson. During 4-on-4 action, center Brad Richardson who established a career-high in points (28) when he assisted on Rieder s goal was hauled down during a breakaway. Richardson was awarded a penalty shot, but his attempt sailed over the net. While the Coyotes power play was unsuccessful, their penalty kill shined. Not only did it snuff out three power plays for Dallas, but the unit also came up with a short-handed goal. At 7:51 of the third, defenseman Klas Dahlbeck s shot dropped into the crease after hitting the crossbar and Hanzal was in position to shuffle in the rebound for an important insurance goal. "I was really, really lucky on the first one, and the second one was pretty easy for me," Hanzal said. "Just a tap-in. I'll take any goal right now." It was Hanzal s first shorthanded goal since Dec. 4, 2008, and No. 4 for the Coyotes on the season. "Everybody has to play for something, so we can t just pack it in," Rieder said. "Obviously, you want to win those games. It's a privilege to play in this league and you want to do your best. So I think everybody understands that, and we're trying to win every game." Key player: Coyotes goalie Louis Domingue made 37 saves. Key moment: The Coyotes went up 2-1 only 55 seconds into the second period when the puck caromed off center Martin Hanzal and behind Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen. Key number: 1 Short-handed goal by the Coyotes. View from the press box: This game is a perfect example of what the Coyotes still have to play for even though they re on the outside of the playoff picture. Winger Tobias Rieder continues to spin a successful second season, center Martin Hanzal is rediscovering an offensive groove after a silent spell and Domingue is proving his effectiveness. The team may have fallen down the standings, but individuals still have plenty to showcase. Arizona Republic LOADED:

10 Arizona Coyotes Sophomore season a success for Arizona Coyotes' Tobias Rieder Sarah McLellan, azcentral sports 9:54 p.m. MST March 24, 2016 at this year s World Junior Championship and also nabbed gold in 2014 and 2015 with the U.S. Men s National Under-18 Team. The 18-year-old is expected to go first overall in this summer s NHL draft and recently completed his first season playing with the Zurich Lions in Switzerland s top professional league. Matthews posted 46 points (24 goals) in 36 games and was recognized with the league s Rising Star Award. Arizona Republic LOADED: Wingers Max Domi, Anthony Duclair and Jordan Martinook have headlined the youth movement that s remodeled the Coyotes this season, but there s another up-and-comer that continues to impress early in his career. With the game-winner in Tuesday s 4-2 win over the Oilers, second-year winger Tobias Rieder matched his goal output from last season at 13 while notching his 36th point 15 more than the 21 he racked up as a rookie in He continues to grow his game, coach Dave Tippett said. Maybe he s got lost in a little bit of the shuffle of Max, Duclair and Martinook, but Toby s still a young player. For a young player to play as many important situations as he does penalty kill, power play, against top players I would say it s a very successful year. His offensive production continues to improve, which is good. I think there s still another level to get to. But all in all, he s a very good young player. A setback in a player s sophomore season is often talked about, but it makes sense why Rieder would buck that trend. By helping out in so many areas, he isn t dependent on one factor to define his performance. He understands if he doesn t score a goal, it s not the end of the world, Tippett explained. He can still contribute. So he s a smart, good methodical player that thinks both sides of the game well. That methodical part of his game doesn t allow him to get too high or too low. It isn t often a 23-year-old is tasked with so much responsibility, but it s warranted especially considering his reliability. Rieder is one of only three Coyotes to play in every game so far this season. I think it was a good season, he said. Obviously, I would have liked to score a little more goals. But all in all, I think it was good. I think I improved a lot, and I ll keep going from here. At the start of the season, Tippett envisioned Domi hopping over the boards as a penalty killer but Domi hasn t skated with the unit until recently with Tippett not wanting to overwhelm the rookie with challenges in Year 1. And despite the small sample size, it isn t hard to see why Tippett tabbed Domi for the role. Domi ended up negating an Oilers power play in Tuesday s game by hustling into the offensive size and creating a scoring chance that led to an Oilers penalty. I think he can be a good penalty killer, Tippett said. He s a young player. We ve integrated him into a lot of power play, a lot of offensive situations. There s a 5-on-5 responsibility that he continues to grab on to. Good, young players like that, they continue to expand their games. That s one part of his game I think you saw (Tuesday), there s something to grab on to there. He created a chance, created a penalty. His quickness is unbelievable, quickness and good stick. I think he should be a good penalty killer. We ll keep working him into that. A to Z Defenseman Zbynek Michalek became only the second player in Coyotes history to appear in 600 games with the team, accomplishing the feat Tuesday. The 33-year-old is currently seventh in franchise history in games played and trails only Teppo Numminen (1,098) for most games by a defenseman. He s just as solid pro, Tippett said. I know guys in that dressing room, especially the young defensemen, look at him and understand what playing the position is all about. Replay: This week's Coyotes chat with Sarah McLellan Matthews to play for U.S. Scottsdale native Auston Matthews has been named to the 2016 U.S. Men s National Team that will compete at the IIHF World Championship in Russia in May. Matthews is the first player to make the roster, marking the fifth time he will represent the United States in IIHF competition. He previously won bronze

11 Arizona Coyotes Coyotes' Louis Domingue returns to net vs. Dallas Stars Sarah McLellan, azcentral sports 10:52 a.m. MST March 24, 2016 NHL: Edmonton Oilers at Arizona Coyotes Stars ( ) vs. Coyotes ( ) Puck drop: 7 p.m. TV/Radio: Fox Sports Arizona/KMVP-FM (98.7). Coyotes goalie Louis Domingue will make his first start since a 2-0 loss to the Lightning last Saturday. Louis will play (today), and then we ll probably go back to Smitty (Mike Smith) on Saturday, coach Dave Tippett said. But we ll decide after (today). The Coyotes beat the Stars 6-3 in their only other meeting this season Feb. 18. I remember it was a fast game, Tippett said. Fast game, transition, back and forth. Makes it exciting. You gotta be ready to play fast, and you gotta be able to think fast. Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson was on the ice for all four of the team s goals in the Coyotes 4-2 win over the Oilers in his first game back after missing six with a bruised shoulder. Obviously, I want to play every single night and it was fun to get back out there, Ekman-Larsson said. Fast facts for Thursday s game The Coyotes are when leading after two periods. They re when defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson scores a goal. Ekman-Larsson leads Arizona in points on home ice (32). The Coyotes had a season-high 42 shots against the Stars Feb.18. Captain Shane Doan has 69 points in 102 career games against the Stars. The Stars clinched a playoff berth Tuesday with a 6-2 win over the Blackhawks. They re in first place in the Central Division, two points ahead of the Blues. Overall, Dallas has won three in a row. During the team s win streak, the Stars have outscored their opponent Dallas is on the road. Possible Coyotes lines: Domi-Hanzal-Sekac Tanguay-Vermette-Duclair Rieder-Richardson-Doan Martinook-Gordon-Plotnikov Ekman-Larsson-Murphy Dahlbeck-Michalek Connauton-Stone Domingue Potential scratches: Grossmann, Chipchura and Tikhonov. Injury update: Goalie Anders Lindback (Achilles tendon) and center/winger Joe Vitale (fractured orbital bone) are on injured reserve. Possible Stars lines: Jamie Benn-Eakin-Sharp Nichushkin-Spezza-Eaves Roussel-Faksa-Hemsky Sceviour-Fiddler-Ritchie Klingberg-Goligoski Nemeth-Jordie Benn Oduya-Johns Lehtonen Potential scratches: Russell, Demers, Oleksiak, Janmark, Moen and Seguin. Injury update: Center Tyler Seguin (cut Achilles) and defensemen Jason Demers (upper-body) and Kris Russell (lower-body). Arizona Republic LOADED:

12 Arizona Coyotes Coyotes brace for defensive test vs. high-scoring Stars After getting their offense back on track Tuesday night, thanks in part to the return of Oliver Ekman-Larsson from a six-game injury absence, the Arizona Coyotes will face a stern test for the defense on Thursday night. The Western Conference-leading Dallas Stars will bring the NHL's highest-scoring offense to Gila River Arena to battle the Coyotes. The game can be seen on FOX Sports Arizona, starting at 6:30 p.m. Vernon Fiddler scored two of Dallas' four first-period goals to help the Stars ( ) clinch a playoff spot with a 6-2 win at Chicago on Tuesday night. "It's really step one in what we are trying to accomplish," coach Lindy Ruff said. "Clinching is really important, but now it's moving on and making sure our game's in the right place. We've been playing some good hockey lately." Back in the playoffs after missing out for the sixth time in seven years last season, the Stars hold a two-point lead over St. Louis in the Central Division and the conference. "We're not going to sit back," said forward Colton Sceviour, who had a goal and an assist Tuesday. "There's still a lot of stuff that can be accomplished and obviously the division is so tight that if you let up, all of a sudden you're not in the position you wanted to be in. "We're in a good spot right now." The Coyotes ( ) are coming off a 4-2 win over Edmonton on Tuesday night in Ekman-Larsson's return from a shoulder injury. Martin Hanzal had a goal and an assist and Max Domi snapped a 13-game goal drought as the Coyotes broke out after being blanked in the previous two contests. Ekman-Larsson had an assist and posted a plus-3 rating for the second time in his last three games. He had 20 minutes and 50 seconds of ice time despite it being his first game in more than two weeks. "You can't replace that guy," Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith said. "He's a special player and when he's out... our defense has done a great job filling the void, but those minutes, the skill and the leadership is a lot to cover for." Smith has gone with a 1.25 GAA since missing 40 games with a lower-body injury. He's lost four in a row against the Stars, last facing them in November The Coyotes beat the Stars 6-3 on Feb. 18, getting two goals and an assist from Domi and three assists from fellow rookie Anthony Duclair. Dallas captain Jamie Benn has two goals and three assists in the past three overall against Arizona. The Stars are averaging 3.6 goals in their past 12 road games, going Antii Niemi was in goal for the February loss to Arizona, but Kari Lehtonen is likely to start on Thursday. He has a 1.20 goals-against average during a five-game winning streak against the Coyotes but hasn't faced them since Dec. 31, foxsportsarizona.com LOADED:

13 Arizona Coyotes Coyotes brace for defensive test vs. high-scoring Stars After getting their offense back on track Tuesday night, thanks in part to the return of Oliver Ekman-Larsson from a six-game injury absence, the Arizona Coyotes will face a stern test for the defense on Thursday night. The Western Conference-leading Dallas Stars will bring the NHL's highest-scoring offense to Gila River Arena to battle the Coyotes. The game can be seen on FOX Sports Arizona, starting at 6:30 p.m. Vernon Fiddler scored two of Dallas' four first-period goals to help the Stars ( ) clinch a playoff spot with a 6-2 win at Chicago on Tuesday night. "It's really step one in what we are trying to accomplish," coach Lindy Ruff said. "Clinching is really important, but now it's moving on and making sure our game's in the right place. We've been playing some good hockey lately." Back in the playoffs after missing out for the sixth time in seven years last season, the Stars hold a two-point lead over St. Louis in the Central Division and the conference. "We're not going to sit back," said forward Colton Sceviour, who had a goal and an assist Tuesday. "There's still a lot of stuff that can be accomplished and obviously the division is so tight that if you let up, all of a sudden you're not in the position you wanted to be in. "We're in a good spot right now." The Coyotes ( ) are coming off a 4-2 win over Edmonton on Tuesday night in Ekman-Larsson's return from a shoulder injury. Martin Hanzal had a goal and an assist and Max Domi snapped a 13-game goal drought as the Coyotes broke out after being blanked in the previous two contests. Ekman-Larsson had an assist and posted a plus-3 rating for the second time in his last three games. He had 20 minutes and 50 seconds of ice time despite it being his first game in more than two weeks. "You can't replace that guy," Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith said. "He's a special player and when he's out... our defense has done a great job filling the void, but those minutes, the skill and the leadership is a lot to cover for." Smith has gone with a 1.25 GAA since missing 40 games with a lower-body injury. He's lost four in a row against the Stars, last facing them in November The Coyotes beat the Stars 6-3 on Feb. 18, getting two goals and an assist from Domi and three assists from fellow rookie Anthony Duclair. Dallas captain Jamie Benn has two goals and three assists in the past three overall against Arizona. The Stars are averaging 3.6 goals in their past 12 road games, going Antii Niemi was in goal for the February loss to Arizona, but Kari Lehtonen is likely to start on Thursday. He has a 1.20 goals-against average during a five-game winning streak against the Coyotes but hasn't faced them since Dec. 31, foxsportsarizona.com LOADED: