SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 12/2/2011

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1 SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 12/2/2011 Anaheim Ducks Ducks hope coaching change gives them a boost of energy Up next for the Ducks: Friday vs. Philadelphia Ducks' lost weekend brought down Carlyle No more excuses for Duck players Boudreau quickly takes charge of Ducks Ducks Boudreau familiar with change Selanne on Carlyle: This came as a big shock Boudreau hiring a real slap shot First task for new Ducks' coach Bruce Boudreau: Creating a belief system Boston Bruins Bruins take care of first order of business Comfortable in his new home Krejci: Chance to win biggest reason to re-up David Krejci signs extension with Bruins David Krejci at center of $15.75M deal Clutch Krejci rewarded with 3-year extension Buffalo Sabres Ennis prepared to step in, step up Curiosity surrounds Finley in debut Finley grateful for chance to make NHL debut Grier calls it a career Ennis with Roy and Stafford Ducks fire Carlyle, hire Boudreau; trade talks over? Sabres' season at crossroads Calgary Flames Game Story: Columbus 4 (SO) Calgary Flames suffer stinging result in shootout stumble Carolina Hurricanes No quick fixes for the Hurricanes Strong second carries Rangers past Canes Canes add MacLean to coaching staff Canes' Muller takes charge with 'energy-based' coaching Chicago Blackhawks Preview: Islanders at Blackhawks Kane heading back to right wing Hawks' Crawford making adjustments Kane no longer man in middle for Blackhawks Toews earns 'Second Star' honor for November Patrick Kane moved back to right wing on line with Jonathan Toews Marcus Kruger lands on new line Without consistent effort, Hawks aren't a very good team Kane going back home to right wing Hawks expect Crawford to work way out of slump Kruger earns shot as second-line center Line changes: Kane back at right wing Colorado Avalanche Jaden Schwartz delays NHL to play for Colorado College St. Louis Blues at Colorado Avalanche: 7 p.m. Friday, ALT, 950 AM Columbus Blue Jackets Blue Jackets 4, Flames 3 (SO): Late goals by Nikitin, Nash spark rally Blue Jackets notebook: Brassard is fall guy for Arniel, agent says Nash provides tying, winning goals in Jackets 4-3 shootout victory over Flames Dallas Stars Stars learning that patience is a virtue when it comes to slumping power play Eric Nystrom's stout 'stache leads NHL in fund raising Alex Goligoski will get cast off Friday, hopes to return next week Mounting injuries give Stars first big test with Gulutzan at helm Eric Nystrom's late goal propels Stars past Senators Detroit Red Wings Red Wings' Valtteri Filppula thriving next to Henrik Zetterberg Red Wings remain interested in hosting Winter Classic, waiting to hear from NHL Red Wings call up Chris Conner; Datsyuk promises 'bold December' Livonia's Chris Conner makes debut for Wings Friday Red Wings: Notebook Red Wings' Jimmy Howard has never looked better as team hits the road Goaltender Joey MacDonald getting closer to making return for Grand Rapids Griffins Red Wing Fabian Brunnstrom gets another chance to impress Buffalo Wings on the menu Edmonton Oilers Oilers sense a difference this season Oilers Nugent-Hopkins among NHL scoring leaders Mike Grier was the consummate pro Nugent-Hopkins a top-five scorer Hall hits the ice The long and short of shootouts Oilers enjoy not sucking Florida Panthers Panthers fall to L.A. Kings, Florida Panther s Shawn Matthias intense play pays off Florida Panthers Not 'Quick' Enough to Beat LA Kings Shawn Matthias' Work Paying Off... Kris Versteeg Out, Dmitry Kulikov IN... Say Hello to Bracken Kearns Florida Panthers' Jose Theodore goes from 'stinky' to savior Los Angeles Kings Kings defeat the Panthers for second win in a row Kings claw their way to victory Murray postgame quotes (Dec. 1) Johnson postgame quotes (Dec. 1) Quick postgame quotes (Dec. 1) Minnesota Wild Will Devils always have Parise? Wild-New Jersey game preview Clutterbuck, Powe doubtful for Friday's game Wild recalls Almond Clutterbuck, Powe injured? No problem as Wild pulls another W out of its hat Kyle Brodziak excels in all phases for Wild Could Zach Parise be headed to the Wild next season? Montreal Canadiens Sharks down Habs in shootout Montreal Canadiens edged by San Jose Sharks in shootout About last night with audio Where s Andrei? Coaching continuity keys success in pro sports

2 Nashville Predators Predators beat Vancouver Canucks on Mike Fisher's goal Jordin Tootoo's goal swings momentum for Nashville Predators Former Predator Alex Sulzer hopes for playoff series Predators rally for high-scoring victory at Vancouver New Jersey Devils Devils' Ilya Kovalchuk after minus-4: I don't think anyone slept well X-rays on ankle negative, Devils expect Dainius Zubrus to play vs. Wild Dainius Zubrus (ankle) does not practice with Devils in Minnesota Devils' Wild idea: Bounce back tonight New York Islanders Islanders call up Reese just in case New York Rangers Second-Period Outburst Powers Streaking Rangers NY Rangers' Marc Staal back on practice ice, but return from concussion is still 'long ways away' NY Rangers collect fourth straight win, beat Hurricanes 5-3 behind Ryan McDonagh, Marian Gaborik, Sean Avery Rangers never made proposal to Ducks for Ryan Rangers' Staal long way from return Confident Rangers clock Canes for 4th straight win Rangers rally to beat Canes, win 4th straight Marc Staal plans to return this season Rangers blow away Hurricanes, 5-3, for fourth win in a row Rangers' Marc Staal expects to play this season Rangers beat 'Canes for 4th straight win Staal takes step forward by skating Rangers beat Carolina for fourth straight win NHL Predators win wild one in Vancouver Revenge proves sweet for Jets Alex Burmistrov goes through growing pains Don Cherry s ratings take a hit Changing the coach takes away players' excuses Coach s Plan to Rouse Ovechkin Produces Little Ducks Look to Boudreau s Softer Touch for More Wins Leading Off: What s Gotten Into Hockey? Ottawa Senators Senators collapse late in loss to Stars Senators and Ducks a shadow of their former selves Attrition decimates 2007 Cup rosters Cheapseats: Foligno has Movember to remember Clean-shaven Sens take on the Stars Philadelphia Flyers Flyers seeking to recall defenseman Walker Flyers' Pronger still fighting mysterious virus Staying with Flyers suits Bourdon just fine Walker likely to play Friday Pronger baffled by virus, starts knee rehab Friday Pronger disheartened but still determined Simmonds' success based on courage, dignity Pronger concerned over 'mystery' ailment Flyers can expect the unexpected from Ducks Flyers arrive in Anaheim at odd time for Ducks Pronger on virus: 'Never felt like this before' Walker to rejoin Flyers... if he clears waivers Phoenix Coyotes Winnipeg Jets shut out Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes Pittsburgh Penguins Defensive Penguins put clamps on Capitals Boudreau aims to boost Ducks' confidence Penguins make call to top prospect Despres Fourth line pushes Penguins past Capitals Penguins' Despres to make NHL debut tonight Penguins Notebook: Defenseman Simon Despres makes NHL debut Penguins beat Capitals, Kunitz goal pushes Penguins past Capitals San Jose Sharks San Jose Sharks beat Montreal Canadiens in shootout Former San Jose Shark Mike Grier retires from NHL Sharks beat Canadiens 4-3 in shootout St Louis Blues Blues still have unanswered questions Matchup box: Blues at Colorado Hockey Guy: Avs suffering from Kroenke neglect? Tampa Bay Lightning Deficits becoming a habit Roloson, Lecavalier lead Lightning past Pens, Bolts notes: Detroit fans welcome back Yzerman Guy Boucher's Tampa Bay Lightning must strike with speed Toronto Maple Leafs The greatest show on ice bids farewell Canadian junior team hit by injury bug Kadri named AHL player of the month Young gym rats taking over the NHL Maple Leafs most valuable team in NHL: Forbes Carlyle available but Burke backs Wilson Don't jump gun on Wilson contract Leafs' coach Wilson 'isn't going anywhere' Leafs most valuable in Forbes list Vancouver Canucks Game Within a Game - No goal line stands Predators send Canucks reeling, Not so fast - Raymond's debut delayed Coaches need the message to reach the right people So who s starting now? Predators beat Canucks 6-5 in wild, inexplicable game Canucks vs. Predators Game Day preview Toothless Nashville Predators can still bite Canucks Paperwork glitch keeps Raymond out of game Washington Capitals Kings get goals from Brown, Johnson, run penalty-kill string to 24 in 2-1 win over Panthers NHL Capsules Kunitz scores tiebreaking goal as Penguins beat Capitals 2-1, keeping Hunter winless Dale Hunter is ready to fight for the Washington Capitals, as always Back to work: New coach Bruce Boudreau returns to NHL after 2 days off, aiming to fix Ducks F Mike Grier retires after 14-year NHL career, that included stops in Buffalo, San Jose Capitals lacking offense in 2-1 loss to Penguins Roman Hamrlik will be healthy scratch against Penguins Bruce Boudreau introduced as head coach of Anaheim Ducks Arron Asham had a couple of sleepless nights after fight with Jay Beagle On the history of fisticuffs between Dale Hunter, Caps assistant coaches Penguins Coach Dan Bylsma: You always circle the

3 calendar and know when you re playing the Capitals In five games back, Sidney Crosby has played some awesome hockey Capitals-Penguins rivalry: Share your experiences Capitals react to Bruce Boudreau taking over in Anaheim Tomas Vokoun will start for Capitals against Penguins Dale Hunter s first project: Altering Capitals defensive system Mike Green not concerned about his role changing under Dale Hunter Offense is hard to come by for Capitals as they drop fourth straight, 2-1 to Penguins) apitals Roman Hamrlik a healthy scratch against Penguins Canned by Capitals, Bruce Boudreau wastes no time landing job with Ducks Dale Hunter s priority is getting most out of Alex Ovechkin SNYDER: Bruce Boudreau fared well among firings, hirings Sources: Woods joins Boudreau s staff with Ducks Crosby-Ovechkin rivalry on back burner with Penguins, Capitals Ducks hire ex-capitals coach Bruce Boudreau New system, same result for Capitals in loss to Penguins Caps Postgame loss to Penguins Penguins beat Capitals 2-1 to keep Hunter winless Websites ESPN / Is Dale Hunter perfect choice for Caps? ESPN / Time can't dampen Pens-Caps rivalry ESPN / Daily Debate: Does coaching change keep Bobby Ryan in Anaheim? NBCSports.com / Bruce Boudreau talks to the media in Anaheim NBCSports.com / Anaheim GM quells the Bobby Ryan storm NBCSports.com / Hunter raises eyebrows by scratching Hamrlik (healthy scratch, that is he s not literally scra NBCSports.com / Schneider will start seventh straight, but is it a controversy? NBCSports.com / Pronger on mystery illness: I really don t know what s going on NBCSports.com / Five interesting facts about Carlyle fired, Boudreau hired NBCSports.com / Tim Thomas is the NHL s Player of the Month for November NBCSports.com / Derick Brassard s agent slams Columbus head coach NBCSports.com / Marc Staal expects to play again this season NBCSports.com / Caps coach preaching defense in DC Sportsnet.ca / Waiting his turn Sportsnet.ca / Glass remains half full USA TODAY / Ducks opt for personality transplant behind bench Wall Street Journal / Surprise! You're an NHL Player YAHOO SPORTS / Can Ovechkin catch Crosby in bestplayer race? Winnipeg Jets Old Jets swoop into New Jets' territory Jets down Coyotes Jets Snapshots: Boos for Doan? Classy Jets showing some finish Jets ready to do battle versus Coyotes SPORT-SCAN, INC Anaheim Ducks Ducks hope coaching change gives them a boost of energy General Manager Bob Murray thought the team didn't believe in itself anymore, so he fired Randy Carlyle and replaced him with Bruce Boudreau. By Helene Elliott December 1, 2011, 10:15 p.m. The Ducks had gone through many slumps under Coach Randy Carlyle but he had always steered them through a screeching U-turn and back into playoff position. So when they slipped into a funk after a 4-1 start, General Manager Bob Murray wasn't initially alarmed. But when Murray saw players lose hope as often as they lost games, when slumped shoulders and bowed heads became their natural posture, he knew Carlyle could no longer lead them. Up next for the Ducks: Friday vs. Philadelphia Up next for the Ducks: Friday vs. Philadelphia Penguins beat the Capitals, 2-1 Penguins beat the Capitals, 2-1 Ducks fire Randy Carlyle, hire Bruce Boudreau as coach Ducks fire Randy Carlyle, hire Bruce Boudreau as coach NBA can learn some things from the NHL NBA can learn some things from the NHL NHL: Pluses and minuses around the league NHL: Pluses and minuses around the league

4 "It was just the way we were losing, the body language and how we were losing," Murray said. "I just don't think they believed in themselves anymore and I had never seen that before in six years we've been here." He first thought of making a change Sunday after the Ducks coughed up several leads against Chicago and fell flat against Toronto, and the idea solidified Monday after the Washington Capitals fired Bruce Boudreau as their coach. Granted permission by Washington to contact Boudreau, Murray heard an unmistakable enthusiasm the Ducks needed. "It was time for this group to have a new voice in the locker room," said Murray, who insisted he acted on his own and not under pressure from owners Henry and Susan Samueli. Minutes after the Ducks defeated Montreal on Wednesday, Murray fired Carlyle and signed Boudreau to a two-year deal. Orange ballcap jammed on his head, the 56-year-old Toronto native presided over his first practice Thursday at Anaheim Ice with a positive voice that had been missing for too long. "They've been a really good team. They've just sort of lost their way a little bit," Boudreau said at a news conference. "I told them this morning that I believe in them. I think they're a really good team. "I wouldn't have done this if I didn't believe they have a really good shot at doing a lot of good things this year. I want them to believe in themselves and if they do, then good things can happen." He instantly won their approval by reuniting the big line of Bobby Ryan, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, a significant move because Murray had said he was listening to trade offers for Ryan. Murray said the coaching switch might be change enough and that he'd "like to settle things down right now," rather than deal the winger who has scored 100 goals the last three seasons. Boudreau, who will make his debut Friday when the Ducks face the Philadelphia Flyers at Honda Center, also sketched plans to cycle the puck less and score off the rush more. The promise of more offensive freedom appealed to players who felt constrained by Carlyle's system. "I think the guys are excited to have him here and you could just tell in practice everybody was ready to go, even in the dressing room," Perry said. "The dressing room just feels a little livelier right now." Carlyle hasn't commented publicly since his dismissal, and a Ducks spokesman said the former coach requested a few days to retrench. Murray said Carlyle is "a terrific coach and will be a terrific coach again," but he wasn't the right coach for the Ducks anymore. That's partly an occupational hazard. It's worth noting that of the last 10 Stanley Cup-winning coaches a list that includes Carlyle in 2007 only Scotty Bowman was with that team more than four seasons at the time he won. Carlyle was the fourth NHL coach fired this season and third this week. Winger Teemu Selanne, who credited Carlyle with reviving his career in 2005, said he was shocked that Carlyle and assistants Dave Farrish and Mike Foligno were dismissed. "I thought some players were going to go before the coaches," Selanne said. "It has been a great, long road together so I really felt sorry for those guys. They had to pay the price for what we did on the ice." Carlyle, gruff and old-school, got a lot out of not much raw material for a while, including a fourth-place finish in the Western Conference last spring. But his words became background noise, his bark ignored. "I think that over time it's a natural progression for some guys to tune out certain things and maybe not buy in quite as much as they should be," Getzlaf said. "That's on us as players, not on the coach. "Nobody could really put their finger on why everything was going on and why we couldn't put things together. I thought that Randy was trying different things and trying to get through to us and it just didn't work." Now, Boudreau gets his chance to fix what's broken. "This is a team that before the season started, if you read a lot of the clippings, should really contend for the West and Pacific crown and I think they're very capable of doing it," he said. "I want them to believe in themselves. That's the message for today, believing in themselves." But never forgetting that the clock starts Friday for him, and for them. LA Times: LOADED: Anaheim Ducks Up next for the Ducks: Friday vs. Philadelphia Anaheim will play its first game under new Coach Bruce Boudreau. December 2, 2011 When: 7. Where: Honda Center. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 830. Records: Ducks , Flyers Update: Welcome to the first game of the Bruce Boudreau era. Boudreau, who was dismissed Monday by Washington, replaced the fired Randy Carlyle on Wednesday and conducted his first practice with the Ducks on Thursday. He put left wing Bobby Ryan back with center Ryan Getzlaf and right wing Corey Perry and said they would be that way from the opening shift Friday night. "That's good news," Ryan said. "I'll take that." Ryan was also reassured by General Manager Bob Murray that things would be settled down for the time being on the potential trade front. The Ducks won for the first time in eight games, beating Montreal on Wednesday, but Murray acknowledged the sizable task, saying, "This is a fresh start for them all and they've got a mountain to climb. And I fully expect them to start climbing it." Lisa Dillman LA Times: LOADED: Anaheim Ducks Ducks' lost weekend brought down Carlyle By ERIC STEPHENS :40:57 ANAHEIM Giving up a lead and then a game in a matter of minutes that could have ended a long losing streak would turn the stomach of any NHL general manager. Losing the next game in a dreary manner sent Bob Murray, the Ducks' chief architect, into action. Murray responded to consecutive home defeats to Chicago and Toronto over the weekend by discussing a coaching change with owners Henry and Susan Samueli and Ducks CEO Michael Schulman. Then Murray replaced Randy Carlyle on Wednesday night with Bruce Boudreau, whom he began to court three days earlier. "I called Mike late Sunday night and said I'd like to talk to you all Monday morning," Murray said. "And we all came to... it was a total conclusion that it was time to start looking for something else. Once I talked to them, it was unanimous." The Ducks had won just two of 18 games until they defeated Montreal, 4-1, on Wednesday, which ended a losing streak that stretched to seven games. Carlyle was on the bench, but the victory did nothing for his status as Murray's mind was made up. Murray received permission from Washington general manager George McPhee to speak with Boudreau, whom McPhee fired Monday after a swoon after opening the season with seven consecutive victories. Boudreau had one more year on his contract with Washington. Murray was on the telephone with him Tuesday morning.

5 "I'm a patient person with lots of things and it took me a long time to get to this point," Murray said. "But once I make my mind up on things, I'm going in that direction." Boudreau, 56, expressed to his new team how much he wanted them to be positive and play with energy. "This was a team before the season started, if you read a lot of the clippings, which they said would really contend for the Pacific Division crown," Boudreau said. "I think they are very capable of doing it. "I want them to believe in themselves. That is the message for today, to believe in themselves." Murray acknowledged the awkwardness of seeking a replacement for Carlyle while having him coach the team in practice earlier this week and in Wednesday's game. "It's been an awful three or four days," he said, solemnly. The slow starts in every season since Carlyle coached them to the 2007 Stanley Cup title were overcome with tremendous second-half pushes, resulting in playoff appearances in all but But this season was different. The players were no longer responding to Carlyle and the message he was selling. "That is exactly what led me to the decision that it was time," Murray said. "We had done this before, but it was just the way we were losing, the body language and how we were losing. It hadn't been there before. "I just didn't think they believed in themselves anymore. I had never seen that before in the six years we've been here." The Ducks are expected to hire Bob Woods as an assistant coach. Woods coached with Boudreau and also was let go Monday. Woods will join Brad Lauer, who was hired Wednesday night. Lauer, a former assistant with Ottawa, was on the staff at Syracuse (AHL), the Ducks' AHL affiliate. Orange County Register: LOADED: Anaheim Ducks No more excuses for Duck players By JEFF MILLER :36:14 ANAHEIM So, like they always do, the players ultimately got their way. That's how it works in sports, where removing dozens of hands is simply too messy when, as an alternative, a head or two can be lopped off. These Ducks underachieved more dramatically than any team in franchise history to the point where they got four people fired, including Randy Carlyle and his two assistants. The old coaches are gone. So are the old excuses. Ducks, if this is what you wanted and all the talk Thursday about suddenly being re-energized and filled with fire again certainly suggests that's the case congratulations! Now prove Carlyle was the problem. A team everyone agrees is sufficiently skilled, was good enough last spring to be the No. 4 seed in a steep Western Conference and still possess the reigning league MVP, today is free to display the will it has chosen to mostly hide this season. General manager Bob Murray said Thursday that this group's potential was the only reason he decided to fire rather than torch. To be accurate, Murray used the phrase "blown things up" in reference to what he could have done to the Ducks' roster. From his position on the ice, goaltender Jonas Hiller can see the bigger picture better than anyone. Identifying the source of the embarrassment we've all witnessed lately wasn't difficult. "I don't think it was wrong or anything, what Randy taught," Hiller said. "But it seemed like he couldn't get through to all the guys. Some guys, I don't know if they were tired of hearing it, if they didn't believe in it, but it seemed like he couldn't get us going every night." We're not saying Carlyle deserved to keep his job, no. This team had every symptom of a group that had stopped listening to the message. The players left Murray no choice but to replace the voice delivering that message. We're also not suggesting anyone should feel sorry for Carlyle. This is a big-boy business and people are canned all the time. Besides, we'd probably have more success trying to convince Ducks fans to feel sorry for the swine flu virus. Our point here is that the players are more accountable, more responsible than ever today, accountable for what they've done or not done, responsible for what they'll do or not do in the future. Ducks, it's on you, each of you. The old coaches are gone. So are the old excuses. OK, Ryan Getzlaf, now you're playing for Bruce Boudreau, who talked more about offense on Thursday than Carlyle did in a typical month. Time to develop into a top-10 player to match your top-10 talent. Bobby Ryan, you're officially unleashed now, too, free to play hard every shift and every night because Boudreau will embrace your creativity, encourage you to be a blur all over the ice. Luca Sbisa? Boudreau's system could make you an offensive weapon. Francois Beauchemin? You could emerge, as well, if you stop spitting out turnovers. Cam Fowler? Just hang on until Lubomir Visnovsky returns, OK? Calling out these guys would be more satisfying if there were a Sean Avery among the group. But there's nothing even close to that here. Getzlaf never has been anything but accommodating and professional, always standing up even when he or his teammates fall face-first. Ryan is as decent a person as we've ever encountered, inside a locker room or otherwise. Beauchemin? Sbisa? Fowler? These are guys we'd gladly sit and drink a beer with, even if Fowler's still too young to do so legally. All the Ducks who've spoken publicly about Carlyle so far have said the exact proper things. And, sure, we believe them when they say they feel badly for their former boss. "You almost feel like you let coach down, you let all three coaches down," Ryan said. "They worked. They were fair in all categories. They wanted to provide us with a winning atmosphere. There's a little bit of a letdown there." Said Getzlaf: "We feel like we let Randy down a little bit. You never want to see your coach, or anybody for that matter, get fired...we let him down a little bit." And Hiller: "I owe him a lot. He gave me the chance to play here. He gave me the chance to be a No. 1. So I really appreciate that." They've taken the classy route, which is admirable, even if some of the Ducks privately rooted for this day. Well, they ultimately got their way and now have to prove they deserved it. The old coaches are gone. So are the old excuses. The new Ducks have dawned, that light Carlyle spoke of recently eclipsed by deaf ears and relentless underachievement. Orange County Register: LOADED: Anaheim Ducks Boudreau quickly takes charge of Ducks By ERIC STEPHENS :14:42

6 ANAHEIM Bruce Boudreau was introduced on Thursday as the Ducks' eighth coach in franchise history but not without some lament for the previous bench boss. Boudreau replaces Randy Carlyle, who won the most games by far of any coach over the Ducks' 17 seasons and guided them to their only Stanley Cup championship. Carlyle got the news Wednesday night from Ducks general manager Bob Murray less than an hour following the team's 4-1 home victory over Montreal. "I think he's very sad," Murray said at a press conference at Anaheim Ice. "As I said, he did a terrific job here. Unfortunately, this is part of our business. When you've been with a team for awhile, it happens. "It's not his fault. It seems to be happening more and more with these teams that have won championships.... They go for awhile and it just happens." Murray moved into action when Boudreau was cut loose by Washington on Monday, first informing ownership that he wanted to look for a potential replacement and then asking Capitals GM George McPhee for permission to talk to Boudreau. Boudreau, 56, flew into Orange County on Wednesday in order to sign a two-year contract and meet the team Thursday morning before running his first practice. He was in four seasons with the Capitals, winning Southeast Division titles in each. "If I didn't believe that this was a team that had the possibilities and the makings of something special, I think I would have sat at home and waited," Boudreau said. "But I don't think opportunities like this come around every day, with the talent that we have here." Said Murray: "When I talked to Bruce, I wanted to sense in his voice if he was ready to go right back at it or not. That was important to me. I moved fairly quickly." Murray consistently supported Carlyle, his good friend, through the slow starts the Ducks have had ever since their Cup season and resisted call for his firing. But the team's run over six weeks and weekend home losses to Chicago and Toronto were the final straw. "We've been through funks before with this group and we were in one," he said. "After watching the way we played on Friday and Sunday, I decided that it was time for a new voice. It doesn't mean that the guy has become a bad coach or a bad person. "It was just time for this group to have a new voice in the locker room. It was time to move forward." Orange County Register: LOADED: Anaheim Ducks Ducks Boudreau familiar with change By MARK WHICKER :06:15 ANAHEIM If you're making a change, make a real one. If you think the former coach was too negative, get positive. If you think your offense was too stuffy, release Cam Fowler and Luca Sbisa and all the other hounds. And if you have seen Bruce Boudreau pull a hockey team out of deepest quicksand, you must figure he can do it again. The Ducks' awfulness finally dissolved Bob Murray's reluctance to fire Randy Carlyle. It presented him with the choice players or coach that only brings one answer. So, about 13 hours after Carlyle was summing up the Ducks' victory over Montreal Wednesday night, Boudreau was standing at a greaseboard at Anaheim Ice and coaching Carlyle's former Ducks. That was three days after Washington had dismissed Boudreau. It is the way meritocracy is. When things don't work, the leader does not take a $100 million parting gift. When things don't work, the leader is not allowed to blame others (i.e., Jacksonville's Jack Del Rio, who threw offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter under one too many motorboat). When things don't work, the leader cannot extend his failed five-year plan to 10. He gets replaced, just as Carlyle will replace another NHL coach someday. Boudreau told the Ducks how much he believed in them. He also said, "There's no reason we can't be a great team defensively and offensively." Later, he remembered Mike Green, who is the only active defenseman besides Nicklas Lidstrom who has a 70-point season. "I had Mike in Hershey (in the AHL)," Boudreau said. "I said, make as many mistakes as you want and eventually you'll learn, you'll get it. "Now you can't do that on the NHL level because the costs are much higher. But I see a little bit of the same qualities with Cam. And in time, maybe Cam will develop like Mike did." A little wistfully, he added, "We were 8-0 this year (in Washington) when Mike was healthy." Boudreau was still in Hershey when the Capitals fired Glen Hanlon on Thanksgiving Day, Those Capitals and these Ducks could have been twins. Washington was when the axe fell. Boudreau's debut game was a 4-3 victory over the Flyers, whom the Ducks play tonight. "I had some advantages there because I had coached seven of the guys in Hershey," Boudreau said. "Here I don't have that knowledge of the players. But, back then, I was a little wide-eyed about being in the NHL." His players couldn't tell. Five minutes into his first practice Boudreau made one Capital skate a lap because he was the final man to get to the team huddle. But he unbuttoned Washington's skill, particularly Alex Ovechkin, and owner Ted Leonsis observed, "Glen was a technically wonderful coach but he didn't want to make a mistake. With Bruce, he wants teams to succumb to our will." By Jan. 9 of that first season the Capitals were , and Boudeau announced, "We've officially reached mediocrity." They won 11 of their final 12 regular-season games, began filling the arena (there is a waiting list for season tickets now) and lost in Game 7 of the first round of the playoffs. That pattern continued, but Boudreau got to 200 victories quicker than any NHL coach. Still, he did not forget the midnight buses of Biloxi and the shivering locker rooms of Muskegon. For 15 years he was a continuous head coach in the minors and won two championships. On Thursday, Boudreau was discussing Game 7 of the 2006 AHL semifinals, when Hershey beat Portland. "I'm just glad Ryan hit the post in overtime," he said, meaning Ryan Getzlaf, who joined Portland, with Corey Perry and Dustin Penner, for that specific game. What he didn't say was that he and Portland coach Kevin Dineen had shouted each other down that morning when Dineen tried to scout Boudreau's practice. It was "Slap Shot" brought to life, and in fact Boudreau appeared in that 1977 classic, with Paul Newman as Reg Dunlop. The apartment where Dunlap lived? It was really Boudreau's, in Johnstown, Pa.

7 Boudreau was a great minor league player his junior hockey scoring record stood until Wayne Gretzky arrived and so loved coaching the Kings' affiliate in Manchester, N.H., that he plans to retire there. "I coached George Parros there for three years," Boudreau said. "And I coached Andrew Gordon in Washington. Now I'm waiting for three guys (here) to tell me I coached them in the minors." You never know. When Boudreau scored his first NHL goal, for Toronto in 1976, he got an assist from a combative defenseman named Carlyle. Boudreau's concentric circles stretch to hockey's ceiling. The Ducks hope one of them is still unbroken. Orange County Register: LOADED: Anaheim Ducks Selanne on Carlyle: This came as a big shock December 1st, 2011, 10:15 am posted by Eric Stephens, Staff writer Randy Carlyle had been the Ducks only coach since the NHL lockout and his time behind their bench will always be marked by the franchise s greatest success. As with the majority of coaches in sports, Carlyle s time ultimately ran out Wednesday night as Ducks GM Bob Murray fired him and brought in former Washington bench boss Bruce Boudreau. Teemu Selanne weighed in on the firing after the Ducks 4-1 victory over Montreal as Samuel Savolainen of Finnish-language sports magazine Urheilulehti caught up with him for his thoughts. Here s the original article in their native tongue but Savolainen was gracious to provide Ducks Blog an English translation: This came as a big shock, Selanne told the magazine. I feel sorry for him, also behalf of myself. The business is tough sometimes. We sat with five players at the GM s office, when he told us. All of us just sat there quietly. When he [got] his three-year extension, I couldn t expect that he could be fired. This was tough news. All I can hope is that this will rejuvenate the team. It s sad that a wake-up call like this has to be made, before we get back on track. I m very grateful for the coaching staff for them giving me an opportunity to get a silver lining to my career. After all, we won a Stanley Cup together. All of the guys have been very important for my career, especially Randy. He gave me an opportunity after my reconstructive knee surgery, even though I was an older guy. I m quite down about the news right now. Orange County Register: LOADED: Anaheim Ducks Boudreau hiring a real slap shot November 30th, 2011, 11:01 pm posted by Mark Whicker, ocregister.com Wow. Bruce Boudreau began the week as the coach of the Washington Capitals. On Thursday he will be introduced as the coach of the Ducks. They announced Randy Carlyle was fired after the victory over Montreal. Carlyle led the Ducks to the 07 Stanley Cup and to playoff berths every year but one since Will Boudreau do for the Ducks what he did for the C apitals? Ducks fans can only hope. He took over the Capitals when they were in They finished the season and finished first in the Southeast Division. The next three years, Washington won 50, 54 and 48 games. But this year, after being picked as Stanley Cup favorites by most, the Capitals started the season and Boudreau was fired. The Capitals won only one playoff series during Boudreau s tenure, but the Ducks aren t worried about that. They wanted a different voice, even though Boudreau s voice will sometimes be as raspy and demanding as Carlyle s. Boudreau is also one of the game s characters. He was a proliic minor league scorer and coached six different minor league teams, including Manhester in the Kings organization. Slap Shot, the definitive movie about minor league hockey, featured Boudreau in a cameo role, skating against the Hanson Brothers. Hiring Boudreau was about as bold a move as the Ducks could make. And it didn t cost them Bobby Ryan. Posted in: Ducks front office Bruce Boudreau Orange County Register: LOADED: Anaheim Ducks First task for new Ducks' coach Bruce Boudreau: Creating a belief system By Elliott Teaford Staff Writer Posted: 12/01/ :18:07 PM PST Updated: 12/01/ :53:30 PM PST ANAHEIM - Losing was difficult enough to take, but it was the way they were losing that started Ducks general manager Bob Murray on the path toward a coaching change this week. He believed it was obvious the team needed someone new as its leader. "We've been through funks before, but after watching the way we played Friday and Sunday (during losses to the Chicago Blackhawks and the Toronto Maple Leafs), I decided it was time for a new voice," he said Thursday. "They didn't seem to believe in themselves anymore." So, when the Washington Capitals fired Bruce Boudreau as their coach Monday, Murray called to gauge his interest in relocating to Anaheim and trying to work his magic in turning around the underachieving Ducks. "I told ownership Monday it was time to look around," Murray said during a news conference to introduce Boudreau as the replacement for Randy Carlyle, who was fired less than an hour after the Ducks' 4-1 victory Wednesday over the Montreal Canadiens. The first order of business after Boudreau signed a two-season contract was to conduct practice Thursday and get to work restoring the Ducks' confidence, which had been sagging noticeably during a seven-game losing streak. "They have been a really good team," Boudreau said of the Ducks, who are and in last place in the Pacific Division. "They just lost their way a little bit. I want them to believe in themselves. If they do, good things can happen." Boudreau has experience rescuing foundering ships. He did it after the Capitals hired him early in the season, with the team dead last in the NHL's overall standings. Washington rebounded with a finish. The 56-year-old Boudreau was with the Capitals, winning the Southeast Division four times, earning the best record in the regular season in and being honored with the Jack Adams Award as the league's top coach in "I hope they buy into the message and we surge from here," Boudreau said after his first practice with the Ducks, a spirited workout that lasted well over

8 an hour. "I want them to believe in themselves. That was the message for today." Murray said the rampant speculation he would break up the team by trading right wing Bobby Ryan should now come to an end. He said his big move was to replace the coach rather than one of the team's top young talents, which was a relief for Ryan. "It's been pretty much of a nightmare," Ryan said of the rumors of a trade. "It seemed like every time I turned the TV on or changed the channel or tweeted or whatever, it was out there. I tried to block out as much as I could, but it was there." Said Murray: "If I didn't believe in what they (the players) can do, I would have gone in a totally different direction and blown the whole thing up. "I'm hoping everything settles down (on the rumor mill), and I think it will." Certainly, the players were focused more on the possibility of a trade in the wake of a mind-boggling 6-5 loss last Friday to the Blackhawks, when the team collapsed after leading 4-2 going into the third period, or after a dreary 5-2 loss to the Maple Leafs. Murray has resisted making a dramatic roster move in the past, but as the Ducks' losses mounted, it seemed every team in the league was rumored to be interested in swapping a player or two to get Ryan or one of the other top Ducks. So, instead of watching their teammate pack his bags, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry welcomed Ryan back onto the top line for Thursday's practice. Carlyle had shifted Ryan to the third line for Wednesday's game against Montreal. Carlyle, 55, left the Ducks as their most successful coach, guiding them to the Stanley Cup championship in after they advanced to the Western Conference finals in his first season in He had a record in 516 games. "These moves are very difficult, but we respect Bob Murray's decision and are optimistic we can turn this season around, led by Bruce and his staff," team owners Henry and Susan Samueli said in a statement ed by the team. Carlyle was not available for comment. LA Daily News: LOADED: Boston Bruins Bruins take care of first order of business By Fluto Shinzawa Globe Staff / December 1, 2011 TORONTO - When November began, the Bruins were the 15th-ranked team in the Eastern Conference, and the second-worst team in the league. A month later, after last night s 6-3 win over Toronto at the Air Canada Centre, they are the No. 1 team in the Northeast Division, a point ahead of the Maple Leafs, and a point behind conference-leading Pittsburgh. Going is more than I think anyone imagined, said Milan Lucic, who busted an eight-game goal-scoring drought with a pair of strikes. It all comes down to the commitment of all the guys and our game plan that we did this whole month. A big reason for that is that it wasn t one line or a pair of defensemen. It was everyone stepping up, doing their job, and playing more like we ended off last year. It was the first time the Bruins finished an entire month without a regulation loss since January 1969, when they went They have recorded points in 13 straight games, a feat last accomplished in That season, they rolled off points in 17 straight. Last night wasn t their best game. Tim Thomas allowed a rare softie, a badangle Matt Frattin goal in the third that rattled through his equipment and trickled over the line. The fourth line, usually a dependable crew, was on the ice for a handful of Toronto s scoring chances. With the Bruins clinging to a 4-3 lead in the third, the Leafs sent wave after wave of pressure on Thomas. But like they did during the entire month, the Bruins came up big when big performances were required. Lucic broke Toronto s back with his second goal at 15:21 of the third. Brad Marchand capped the win with an empty-net goal at 19:08. I didn t necessarily think we played that well tonight, said coach Claude Julien. We didn t get much support. We didn t defend as well. But sometimes you have to find a way to win in a long schedule. We did tonight. We made the most of our opportunities. Thomas (34 saves) didn t look like an NHL puck-stopper on Frattin s goal. But in the first, Thomas bailed out his boys - Joe Corvo and Dennis Seidenberg flubbed an exchange in the offensive zone - when Phil Kessel, of all people, pulled away for a breakaway. I quickly think, Man, I know he wants to score really bad, Thomas said. I didn t really start thinking about what he was going to do. I just decided to play him honestly. I realized there was just enough back pressure to keep him pretty much to one side of the net, which really helped me out. Kessel tried to slip the puck five-hole. Thomas jammed his pads shut at 16:00, keeping the score tied at 1-1. From there, Thomas s boys took over. Entering last night, Lucic, David Krejci, and Nathan Horton had been ghosts on the scoresheet. Krejci s last goal was on Nov. 7. Lucic hadn t found the back of the net since Nov. 10. Horton had just one assist in his last four games. Last night, the power line played like a No. 1 threesome. In the second, they hurtled out of the defensive zone with enough speed that Horton had a close-range shot on goal. Jonas Gustavsson kicked out the shot, but Krejci was coming so quickly that the center was in perfect position to knock home the rebound at 3:33, giving the Bruins a 2-1 lead. Later in the second, after Joffrey Lupul slammed in a Kessel feed to tie the game at 2-2, Krejci s line came through once more. Again, they attacked Toronto with speed. Because of the size of Lucic and Horton, few teams can repel the forwards when their legs are whirring. After Horton fed a feathery pass to Krejci, the center spotted Zdeno Chara joining the rush. Once Chara took Krejci s dish, the captain whistled a wrister past Gustavsson at 15:30 to give the Bruins a 3-2 edge. I think it s important for those guys to build on that, Julien said of his power line s performance. They ve got the confidence now. They ve got to make the most of it more than they can relax and say, Well, now we re getting points. I d like to see them build on it. In the third, Frattin s goal gave the Leafs late life. Thomas was under siege. For the last time, Krejci s line came through to apply the crushing blow. Late in the third, Krejci slipped behind the net and waited for Toronto to make a mistake. Luke Schenn obliged by leaving his net-front position to apply pressure on Krejci. The shifty center floated away from Schenn, who then had to scramble back to cover Lucic in front of the net. By then, Lucic had gained a foothold in the slot. Schenn arrived too late, as Lucic directed Krejci s pass past Gustavsson at 15:21, giving the Bruins a 5-3 lead. We always talk about the third period being our best period, Lucic said. That s been the case this year. We always talk about the killer instinct and pushing for more. We didn t have it in October. But we found it here in November. That s a big reason why we ve been able to put together the record that we have. Boston Globe LOADED: Boston Bruins Comfortable in his new home By Fluto Shinzawa Globe Staff / December 1, 2011

9 TORONTO - It was tough for Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli. It was hard for Toronto counterpart Brian Burke. But when Joe Colborne was traded to Toronto last Feb. 18 in a package for Tomas Kaberle, the person who felt the sting the most was the youngster himself. I was pretty disappointed when it happened, Colborne said. I loved Boston. I loved everything about Boston. You could see they were on a path for a lot of success. It was tough. But since I ve been here, the organization s welcomed me with open arms. It s been unbelievable. I love the city. I love the guys, management - they ve been great to me. I m pretty happy with where I am now. Last night was the third meeting of the season between the Bruins and Maple Leafs, but Colborne was with the Marlies, Toronto s AHL affiliate, for the first two. This time, Colborne was up with the big club, where he s been since Nov. 19. It was Colborne s first opportunity to play against the club that selected him 16th overall in the 2008 draft. A lot of good memories, said Colborne. I have Boston to thank for a lot of my development over the past few years. Colborne, centering the third line between Joey Crabb and Matt Frattin, skated 16 shifts for 14:36 of ice time. Colborne didn t record a shot, and lost seven of 10 faceoffs, looking more like a rookie than a center who had racked up a goal and three assists in his five previous NHL games. The Bruins were wary of trading Colborne. The former University of Denver star projected to be a top-six forward, either at center or wing. He was a leader during development camps. Last year, in his only training camp with the Bruins, management and the coaching staff liked Colborne s mature approach. But Colborne, who will turn 22 Jan. 30, might not have made the varsity roster until next season. The Bruins are deep in the middle. Colborne s better shot might have been at left wing. It s all speculation now, said Colborne. They re deep at center, too. It would have been a tough decision, I m sure. But trading Colborne was part of doing business for the Bruins in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup. The Leafs needed a young, broad-shouldered presence up front. Zach Hamill wouldn t have gotten the deal done. The trade can be considered from two angles. Trading Colborne, a 2011 first-rounder, and a 2012 second-rounder was costly for Kaberle. However, given that the Bruins wouldn t have won the Cup without Kaberle (11 assists in 25 playoff games), it is a trade Chiarelli would make every day. For now, it will be Colborne s job to prove the Bruins paid too much for the Kaberle rental. He only has to look back at last year as motivation. It was hard watching, knowing that I could have been up there, watching and being a part of it, said Colborne. At the same time, you feel happy for them. I went through the whole Philadelphia series the year before. I realized how much hard work went into that. Right from management on down, they had one big gut-check. The way they came back and bounced back was pretty neat. I m happy for the guys. An eye on Seguin Tyler Seguin entered last night s game without a point in his two previous matches, and had not gone scoreless in three straight games all season. Right now, being the leading scorer on our team, there s no doubt other teams are paying more attention to him, said coach Claude Julien. Now he s got to overcome the challenge of teams playing him harder than maybe they did during the beginning of the season, when they probably didn t respect him as much as they do now. That s another area he s going to have to grow in. I have confidence in his personality and his demeanor that he can overcome that. Seguin assisted on Boston s first goal. During a first-period power play, he slipped a cross-ice pass to Milan Lucic. After Leafs goalie Jonas Gustavsson hit the deck, Lucic went upstairs to tie the game at 1-1 at 15:08 of the first period. Spreading the wealth Every Bruin played 10 or more minutes, with Zdeno Chara leading the charge with 27:25 of ice time. Every time we win, it s usually a constant thing in our game, Andrew Ference said. Going back into last year, that s the only way we won, when we had a whole team effort. Not necessarily scoring-wise. Just the ability for the coach to roll four lines and have consistency out of every line. It s no secret that s an important part of what we need.... Tim Thomas (34 saves) completed a perfect month by winning his ninth game in nine starts. Appropriately, Thomas will most likely trim his November moustache instead of shaving it off. Thomas cautioned, however, that a mistake with the clippers could lead to another result. A lot of times when you trim it, you mess it up, Thomas said. Then you have to take the whole thing off.... Rich Peverley (9 for 11) and Gregory Campbell (8 for 11) submitted excellent performances on faceoffs... Chara led the Bruins with six shots on goal... Steven Kampfer and Jordan Caron were the healthy scratches. Boston Globe LOADED: Boston Bruins Krejci: Chance to win biggest reason to re-up By Jake Seiner, Globe Correspondent Bruins center David Krejci and general manager Peter Chiarelli held court with the media today to announce a three-year extension for the 25-yearold pivot. The Czech Republic native will earn $5.25 million per year over the life of the extension, as was confirmed by Chiarelli during the press conference. Talks for the deal began last summer, and were finalized Wednesday afternoon, when Krejci signed the contract in Chiarelli's hotel room before registering three points in a 6-3 win over Toronto. Chiarelli said Krejci could've earned more money testing the free agent waters as a restricted free agent at year's end. Krejci said the decision to lock up with Boston through was fairly simple. "We won the Cup last year, and I feel this team can do it again and I want to be part of it," Krejci said. "It was a great experience, and I hope that I ll win it one more time. I feel like I have a really good chance here with this team. That was the biggest reason." He also praised the team's fans. "It s great to play in front of these fans," he said. "They can get pretty loud. They are our seventh player on the ice. Last year, they showed it in the playoffs. They were outstanding. It was so much fun to play for them. They definitely helped us to win the Cup. That s for sure." Boston Globe LOADED: Boston Bruins David Krejci signs extension with Bruins December 01, 2011 Matt Pepin, Boston.com Staff, Globe Staff Bruins center David Krejci has agreed to a three-year contract extension, the team announced today. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. According to ESPN, the deal averages $5.25 million per season. Krejci played a key role on the Bruins' Stanley Cup championship team in June, and has 62 goals, 165 assists and 227 career points. Krejci was a second-round draft pick of the Bruins in Boston Globe LOADED: