Swedish NHL reporter Jonatan Lindquist gave me a terrific tip about William Karlsson.
He had pressed Karlsson to try to explain his incredible season -- Karlsson is up to 36 goals now, after six last year with the Blue Jackets. Karlsson noted that he had changed some equipment going into this year -- he shortened his stick and changed his blade.
Obviously, this isn't the sole reason for a 500% scoring increase -- but it clearly hasn't hurt. I talked to Karlsson about this change today.
HockeyBuzz: I heard you changed your stick before the season. You cut a couple inches off the top. You're also using Victor Rask's blade. Has that helped your scoring?
William Karlsson: I'd say so. Had a long stick last year. Cut it a couple inches, changed the curve. I think it helped me.
HB: Is Victor mad that you've stolen some of his goals this year?
WK: (laughs) No, I just think he's happy for me. I don't think he minds.
HB: I assume the shorter stick helps with pucks in tight. Whereas the longer stick is more useful defensively. And of course, you played a more defensive role in Columbus.
WK: Yeah, of course. It's made me a [better] player when I have the puck. Protecting the puck is easier too. Stuff like that, just little details. It has its pros and cons. But I think it fits me more to have a shorter stick.
HB: You've scored a lot of goals this year on the one-timer. I have to imagine the shorter stick makes the one-timer easier.
WK: It makes sense what you're saying. At least for me. Some guys, they have the skill to have a longer stick, like Barkov. He's really good with the long stick.
HB: Oh shit, I've cracked the code on your 36-goal season.
WK: Yeah, right. (laughs)
(Update: I talked to Karlsson a couple days later about the difference between his old blade and Victor Rask's. Alex Tuch provides a colorful cameo.)
***
There was a lot of news at practice this morning.
Both James Neal and Malcolm Subban were participating fully.
Gerard Gallant believes both will likely be available tomorrow night.
Neal was practicing with William Karlsson, and Gallant revealed that it's a "strong possibility" that he'll be playing with Karlsson and Marchessault for the first time this season tomorrow night.
For the second day in the row, Reilly Smith came out after practice to work out on the ice. Today, he was taking passes from Assistant Coach Ryan Craig; he was also stickhandling. Hopefully, those are good signs for a return soon.
Meanwhile, Gallant didn't have a significant update for William Carrier or Oscar Lindberg. They certainly won't be ready by this weekend and may be out for much longer than that.
He also noted that he got over the sting of last night's 8-3 loss to New Jersey with a bologna sandwich:
Gallant: I was pissed off last night. I got home at midnight, had a bologna sandwich, went to bed, and I feel really good today. You forget about it.
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 15, 2018
SP: Did you really have a bologna sandwich?
GG: Yeah, change it up. (winks)#VegasBorn
The Devils danced around the Golden Knights last night 8-3.
This was an omninous sign for a Vegas crowd which has been so accustomed to their team's best at home.
Full credit to Blake Coleman, real hustle. He takes the short-handed defensive zone draw, then beats every Knight up the ice. Granted, Colin Miller could've been harder on the puck, while Marc-Andre probably wants that one back.
But it was the type of letdown which would be repeated time after time last night.
Pluses
Except for losing Coleman short-handed, solid period by #VegasBorn. Per @NatStatTrick, #VGK 25-9 5v5 Corsi, 13-6 chances, 6-2 high-danger Corsi for
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 15, 2018
Somehow, league's +/- leader, William Karlsson, comes out of 8-3 loss with a +1. Now up to +38 #VegasBorn
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 15, 2018
"Weirdest game I've ever been a part of in my career." -David Perron
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) March 15, 2018
Said his line was -5 and he felt like they could have been +5. He was just flat out miffed by what had just happened.
Negatives
However...
After Coleman's game-opening short-handed strike, we can give that line a pass on the Nico Hischier goal -- Tatar was in good defensive position, it was a 2-on-2, so we'll just say Tatar's deflection past Fleury happens. Then, the Golden Knights are in the middle of a line change, the Perron line is just coming on, and there's nobody available to pick up the late man (Travis Zajac) coming down the slot on New Jersey's third goal.
Perron, on strange beginning: "We're -3 and haven't really done too much to warrant that. It wasn't good enough. It's crazy. We scored 2 PP goals. Feel like we could've scored 5, 6 more. I really liked the line in PHI. Don't know how to say good on a -5 night. It is what it is."
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 15, 2018
Noesen comes out late on line change; neither Tatar nor Engelland mark him pic.twitter.com/WPVN0ts0vj
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 15, 2018
Vegas fought back to score a pair and bang a couple posts to end the second period. At 4-2, there was hope for a dramatic comeback, but this was blunted by a quick Coleman goal to start the third. It was a tough spot, but this wasn't back-up Maxime Lagace's finest performance.
Then this goal put the game out of reach, making it 6-2. Some more bad Vegas hockey:
Grabner spins away from Schmidt, create 2-on-1 down low as Hischier beats Eakin out of corner. Schmidt caught in no man's land. Super job by Gibbons to win puck in corner too #NJDevils #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/89QyazV0vo
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 15, 2018
SP: You switched up lines in the 3rd, was that something where you're sending a message, or you're trying to jumpstart things, change things up?
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 15, 2018
Gallant: What do you think? It's 8-2, what do you think the coach is going to do? Next question, please. It was too late to jumpstart.
***
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