They don't ask how. They ask how many.
The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Ottawa Senators 4-3 in Game 1 on Wednesday.
In the heat of the moment, Montreal's best player, PK Subban lost his cool and slashed Senators forward Mark Stone with a vicious hack. Subban was assessed a five minute major and was tossed from the game. The Subban disqualification was the catalyst for a six goal eruption in a nine minute period of clock time in the second period. The Habs scored four goals in the wild second period. The Sens scored twice.
I didn't like the Subban hack, however, I agree with five and a game ruling. I don't see the adding supplemental discipline.
The NHL officials swallowed their whistles on most nights this season to the point where it drove fans crazy. Watching NHL games during the 2014-15 season was like watching silent movies. Most games featured pace and play making, however, whistles and power play opps were rarities on most nights. That's why I commend the refs for busting Subban and banning him from Game 1 vs. Ottawa.
Two former Buffalo Sabres grinders played big roles in the Montreal win. Brian Flynn scored the game winning goal and added two assists. Torrey Mitchell's second period goal tied the game for the Habs.
GIF: PK Subban gets kicked out of Game 1 after this slash pic.twitter.com/S7FwOPkVfp
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 16, 2015
In the end, the Canadiens kept a stiff upper lip and kept fighting with their best player in the shower.
Subban wasn't thrilled with the verdict to banish him to the Montreal room for the final 50 minutes of Game 1.
GIF: Subban didn’t appear to agree with his game misconduct pic.twitter.com/iNpZZOAdJY
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 16, 2015________________________________________________________________________
Todd McLellan is still the head coach of the San Jose Sharks. For how long exactly remains to be seen. McClellan said Wednesday that he is still is still unsure of his role with the Sharks moving forward.
McClellan’s boss, Doug Wilson, said that he hasn’t made up his mind yet on the head coach’s future.
In 540 career regular season games as head coach of the Sharks, McClellan has 311 career regular season wins and 163 losses. That's a .637 winning percentage. However, his Achilles Heel is his playoff record. In 62 career playoff games, McClellan is 30-32, with a .484 win percentage.
If I’m McClellan, I’m updating my resume and sending my suits to the dry cleaners. Looks like he’ll be interviewing for a new job in the near future. The Buffalo Sabres fired Ted Nolan on Sunday night. The Toronto Maple Leafs fired their interim head coach Peter Horachek, his coaching staff and their scouting staff on Sunday.
The Bruins fired GM Peter Chiarelli on Wednesday and head coach Clode Julien may be the next casualty in Boston. The Philadelphia Flyers may end up turfing their head coach Craig Berube in the days to come.
McClellan will be a man in hot demand and will command heavy attention were he to lose gig in San Jose. McClellan will get the job that Mike Babcock turns down, assuming he leaves Detroit when his Red Wings get bounced from the playoffs.
Unlike the pending UFA Babcock, McLellan has one more year remaining on his current contract. McClellan said that he wants this matter to be resolved by the time he leaves for the Czech Republic on April 24, where he will bench boss Team Canada for the Men’s Hockey World Championships in Prague.
It’s looking and sounding more and more like McClellan will be leaving the Sharks after he failed to guide his team to the playoffs. This is the first time in seven seasons that a McClellan coached Sharks team has missed the playoffs.
“The answers you guys are looking for today, I'm not going to be able to give them to you. I need a little more time,… said McLellan, who spoke with his wife and family earlier this week.
“I'm sure the organization needs a little more time.…
“There's a lot that goes into a review. Organizationally, too. We've got a lot of decisions that have to be made. You've got ownership involvement, you've got managerial decisions that have to be made. There's a lot that goes into it."
Thanks, CSN Bay Area
So, where’s the urgency on Doug Wilson’s behalf?
“Todd shared with you guys that he wants to have some discussions with his family,… Wilson said. “We always have the process where he and his staff will sit down and say what did work, what didn't work. Once that is concluded, then Todd and I will sit down. But there's not really any time frame on that.…
Is Wilson going to survive and keep his job after this soap opera season in San Jose?
“I don't follow the media reports. I have a boss, he will review me, and we will make decisions as to where we go as an organization,… Wilson said.
You’ll recall that Wilson stripped his captain Joe Thornton of his “C… last summer and ripped the “A… off of Patrick Marleau’s sweater in the name of handing more leadership to the young guys like Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski.
Sharks owner Hasso Plattner is very involved with his Sharks. He is a hands-on kind of owner. Last month, Wilson made public comments about Thornton at a team season ticket holder event. Thornton caught wind of the remarks and told Wilson to “shut his mouth… and “stop lying…. “As far as ownership, I think it's unfair and untrue some of the things I hear, because he's tremendously involved and cares deeply about this team and this organization.…
**
Thornton isn’t holding his tongue these days. He’s taking runs at McClellan now.
The Sharks cleaned out their lockers on Wednesday and Thornton spoke his mind on a few topics, including: blow back on the comments that Wilson made last summer, the overall culture of the Sharks, and the possibility of a head coaching change in San Jose.
Did what happened at the end of last season carry over at all?Thornton: "It didn't for me. I can just say personally it didn't for me. No." Did it for the team? Thornton: "It shouldn't have. If it did, we don't want them here. We want tough individuals that can handle adversity. If it did, we don't want you here." Where does that improvement need to come, in terms of culture? Thornton: "Everywhere. It comes from the coaches, and they bring it down to us. It comes from everywhere." There’s a lot of focus on the coaching staff. Do you sense any need for change?
Thornton: "I have no idea. Todd has to talk to his family. Maybe he should talk to this family as well in here. We'll see what happens."
Earlier in the week, Thornton’s agent and brother, John Thornton, sent out this curious tweet regarding McLellan’s selection as the head coach of Team Canada at the World Championships.
The “Jim… to whom John Thornton is referring to is Team Canada’s general manager, Jim Nill, who is also the GM of the Dallas Stars.
McLellan was asked on Wednesday about his relationship with Thornton. “I think we have a good relationship, a respectful one,… McLellan said. “I respect his game. I respect his career, the impact that he has in the locker room. I think he’s a tremendous asset for our team and our community. I think he’s a hell of a player. He proved that this year by digging in and getting a lot of the things done that he needed to get done on the ice. There’s evidence there to support it.…
Thanks, Sharks TV