e isnRobin Lehner will make his long awaited return to Ottawa onTuesday night.
February 16 is exactly one year anniversary of the collision and ensuing concussion which marked his last game in Senators net.
The Lehner -Clarke MacArthur collision also marked the start of Ottawa's improbable run to a 2015 playoff spot.
The Lehner-MacArthur collision occured with 52 seconds remaining in the second period of Ottawa’s home game against the Carolina Hurricanes on February 16, 2015.
A back-checking MacArthur got collided with Carolina forward Jay McClement who was making a hard charge to Lehner's net.
Thanks, Sportsnet
The Lehner-MacArthur collision had catastrophic consequences on the two players involved.
Lehner and MacArthur were both ruled out with concussions.
At the time of Lehner's injury Craig Anderson was still suffering from a bruised blocker hand. Enter Andrew “The Hamburglar” Hammond.
In May 2015, Hammond earned a new three year, $4.05 million contract after he went 20-1-2 with a 1.79 GAA and .941 save percentage after he was called up from AHL Binghamton following the injuries to Lehner and Anderson.
The Sens were 14 points out of a playoff spot on February 10, 2015 and rallied hard to earn the first wild card in the Eastern Conference.
In June, injury notwithstanding, Sabres GM Tim Murray traded Buffalo's 21st pick in the NHL Draft in exchange for Lehner. The Big Swede wasn't cleared for hockey related on and of ice training until late July. He reported to Buffalo and to begin the long and winding road to reclaim his high echelon hockey status. Lehner performed well during the exhibition season and was named by Dan Bylsma the opening night starter.
Then, on October 8 Lehner's road to recovery to a sudden, unexpected turn for the worse when he suffered a freakish high ankle sprain injury. Just 27.5 minutes into his Buffalo debut against the team that drafted him, his world came crashing down. Again.
Lehner would miss a total of 13 weeks while he recovered from the dastardly high ankle sprain.
The 6'5" 240 lb. Lehner has performed admirably in his 10 starts since returning from the high ankle sprain. He is 3-4-0-1 with a 2.73 GAA and .922 save percentage.
Lehner made 35 saves on 36 shots faced (.971 save %) in Sunday's 4-1 home win over Colorado.
Lehner made 36 saves in his January 26 victory over the Sens in Ottawa.
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The Sabres enter Tuesday's game with points in a franchise-record eight straight road games against divisional opponents, having gone 6-0-2 in those games. Their last regulation road loss to a divisional opponent came on Oct. 17 at Tampa Bay.
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Evander Kane isn't suspended. He will be scratched for Tuesday night's game against the Ottawa Senators after the seven year vet “slept in” and missed Monday's practice.
"Suspension" would mean that he wouldn't get paid for the game. "Scratch" allows him to get paid while eating popcorn on press row.
Great job, E.
Way to attract negative attention to yourself again.
A disappointed Dan Bylsma met with media after practice.
Bylsma said Kane called him and GM Tim Murray this morning and told them he wouldn’t be coming to practice.
Kane was in Toronto for the NBA All Star Game Sunday night after scoring his 16th goal of the season in Buffalo's 4-1 win over Colorado on Sunday afternoon.
“Broke a team rule,” Bylsma said. “We’ll be dealing with it internally.”
Bylsma also said: “I’m disappointed.”
Per the Buffalo News, the 24-year-old Vancouver, B.C. native posted video of the NBA All Star Game and it's festivities on his Snapchat. Some of the videos show Kane and associates drinking, partying, and having no cares in the world.
You work in the NHL for the Sabres, Evander. Not the NBA. Dude loves attention. More than hockey?
Kane is only suspended for one game.
“He could’ve made it to the game just fine and made it back,” Bylsma said.
Kane's been plating his most productive, inspired brand of hockey in tge past two weeks. Kane has scored 8 goals in his last 13 games. He fought Florida Panthers D Alex Petrovic 3 times in one game last week.
You will recall that in October, Kane tweeted pics of he and a couple of his teammates flying via helicopter to Toronto to watch a Blue Jays ALCS game.
I would bring Kane to Ottawa and bag skate him mercilessly on Tuesday morning after Buffalo takes it's morning skate.
Isn't it amazing that NHL young stars Ryan O'Reilly, Jack Eichel, Samson Reinhart, Rasmus Ristolainen, Zemgus Girgensons and Jake McCabe know how to follow team rules better than Kane does?
Kane has some serious growing up to do.
More to come.
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Tampa Bay Lightning VP and GM Steve Yzerman issued the following statement on Monday regarding his captain Steven Stamkos:
“As February 29th approaches, I am stating today that Steven Stamkoswill not be traded before the NHL’s trade deadline. I have said repeatedly that it is our hope to reach an agreement with Steven on a new contract at some point, and with 27 games remaining in the season, our entire organization, Steven included, wants to focus on making the playoffs. I will keep the negotiating process strictly between the involved parties and have no further comment on the state of those negotiations.”
Technically speaking, Yzerman cannot trade Stamkos now, on February 29 or beyond because Stamkos is the owner of a full no trade clause. Yzerman would need the approval of Stamkos and his agent in order to complete a trade. Stamkos said last week that he is not talking about waiving his no movement clause. Rather he prefers to play hockey instead. The Bolts are stuck in a lurch right now. Stamkos holds the hammer and all of the leverage in any contract negotiation. Yzerman cannot proceed without Stamkos' approval.
I can see Stamkos taking his sweet time, finishing his season with the Bolts then entering unrestricted free agency on July 1. If that happens, Yzerman will lose the face of his franchise with zero compensation in return.
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