Fighting stars, rumours in Pittsburgh, another successful Stadium Series and more. Here are six things we learned in the NHL on Saturday night.
Stars shouldn’t fight
We all know Don Cherry loves a good fight — just not when it comes to the NHL’s top stars.
“Crosby should never have to put up with stuff like this,” Cherry said on Coach’s Corner on Hockey Night in Canada Saturday. “He’s had concussions, he shouldn’t fight.”
Leafs of playoffs past (and future)
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced the two latest additions to Legends Row. The monument, which sits just outside of the Air Canada Centre, will soon feature Leafs greats Syl Apps and George Armstrong, both of whom spent their entire careers with the club, winning a combined seven Stanley Cups with the Leafs.
“Both Syl and George led their respective teams through two different eras of the team’s glory days with Hall of Fame careers and left a lasting legacy for future generations of Maple Leaf players to look up to,” said Toronto Maple Leafs President Brendan Shanahan.
The Leafs made the announcement prior to their 4-3 overtime win against the Winnipeg Jets, and also honoured several other leafs Legends.
Watch the whole ceremony:
While the Leafs looked back, Don Cherry was looking ahead. Three years ahead, to be exact. During Saturday’s Coach’s Corner segment, Cherry stated that the Leafs will be successful in three years, crediting a strong front office.
Don’t believe it? See for yourself:
Jordan Eberle is living his childhood dream
Here’s a feel-good story: At age 10, and coming off a 216-goal season (!), Jordan Eberle was quoted in a newspaper article saying he hoped to someday play for the Edmonton Oilers. His reasoning? “So I can be with my friends.”
Looks like you made it, Eberle.
Watch:
Jordan Staal could be a Penguin again
Jordan Staal played a pretty big role in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances (and, of course, their Cup win in 2009). But when he left the team in 2012 to join his older brother, Eric, in Carolina, it seemed those days were over.
Well, maybe not.
According to a report, Staal could be ready to return to the Penguins, and would be willing to forgo his no-trade clause to make it happen. The question is: Can the Penguins afford him?
Get all the details here. This is certainly a story to watch.
Stars lose in a controversial barn-burner
You win some, you lose some. But in this case, the Dallas Stars are none too happy about their 7-6 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings. ‘Furious’ is a pretty strong word, but it certainly fits the bill for Stars’ goaltender Kari Lehtonen. He was on the receiving end of some pretty blatant goaltender interference which led to the Red Wings’ game-tying goal with under two minutes left in regulation. Immediately after Detroit’s overtime goal, Lehtonen threw his stick against the boards, nearly hitting a referee.
It’s clear in the video that Stars coach Lindy Ruff had some choice words for the officials. He let it all out during his post-game press conference, in which he unabashedly slammed the officiating for their blown calls.
Sharks host a successful Stadium Series
The NHL’s Stadium Series is all about the fan experience — and this year’s matchup between the Los Angeles Kings and the San Jose Sharks held at Levi’s Stadium was no exception. The home of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers was the perfect host for the big game, for which 70,205 people were in attendance.
And the weather? Perfection.
NHL Public Relations on Twitter
Those mini Zambonis certainly didn’t hurt, either:
The game itself did not disappoint, with the Los Angeles Kings surviving a late-game push from the Sharks to win the game 2-1 in regulation.
Next year’s Stadium Series will see the Chicago Blackhawks vs. the Minnesota Wild at TCF Bank Stadium, and the Detroit Red Wings versus the Colorado Avalanche at Coors field, with Gillette Stadium hosting the Winter Classic between rivals Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens.
