Learning curve continues for energetic Puljujarvi OVER THE LINE

Coach says winger good on the move but needs more patience on the puck, writes Jim Matheson.

Edmonton Oilers winger Jesse Puljujarvi had an energetic 14½ minutes on the right side with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins against Dallas on Tuesday and probably deserves another look there against Los Angeles Thursday. But was his body of work (one shot, one hit, one blocked shot) enough to totally win over coach Ken Hitchcock?

“He is what he is. There’s a lot of things you like off the rush, but there’s things that young players need. We have to teach him patience with the puck,” said Hitchcock. “That’s why I say I want that responsibility. You don’t teach that in the American Hockey League. It’s a different game, but any time he was good (against Dallas) he was on the move. He got into trouble when the puck was stopped and he wanted to get on the move again. When we can get that out of him, he will go to another level.”

SPOONER A NON-FACTOR

Once again forward Ryan Spooner finished a game with negligible effect on the final outcome and that has to change sooner rather than later.

He has played six games since the Ryan Strome trade, has no points and is minus-6 with eight shots on net. He played a meagre 8:25 against Dallas as the fourthline centre with Jujhar Khaira and Patrick Russell, just 7:39 at even strength, the fewest minutes he has played as an Oiler.

Strome has a goal and two helpers in the same six games with the Rangers and is minus-1.

Small sample, but so far the deal tips to New York.

“We have to put him in a Top 9 role, figure out where, and let him go. Hopefully next game,” said Hitchcock, who likes Spooner’s speed.

Spooner has some currency as a half-wall second-unit guy on the power play, but so far he’s spinning his wheels.

“He’s a skilled guy, a give-andgo player, and we have to find somebody to play him with. It’s nice he can play all three (forward) positions so there’s some flexibility, but we have to find him a top-nine role,” said Hitchcock.

Nugent-Hopkins wonders if there’s a better way to determine if pucks are completely over the goal-line than a camera angle.

“It’s 2018 now and I think we need a sensor,” said NugentHopkins. “What we think is the red line starts to fade a little bit as the game goes on. Maybe they should change it (rule) so only the nose of the puck has to be over.”

What was Nugent-Hopkins thinking when Jamie Benn almost won it with three ticks left?

“I was thinking please, please, no. I looked up and said, ‘C’mon.’ There were three seconds left and those were the slowest three seconds I’ve ever experienced. Another great save by Mikko (Koskinen) and he had to control (the rebound),” said NugentHopkins. “Mikko is very good at reading the play, anticipating it. He doesn’t cheat much. He’s aware of what’s going on.”

KOVALCHUK’S MINUTES DOWN

Kings winger Ilya Kovalchuk has played under 10 minutes for two straight games on the fourth line. He played with Sheldon Rempal and Nate Thompson in Vancouver. That has to change, doesn’t it? That’s a US$6.25-million cap hit for a bit player.

“When you’ve always been a top-two line guy and all of a sudden somebody puts you on the fourth line, it’s hard to find your game,” said Los Angeles coach Willie Desjardins, who might not be doing what his GM, Rob Blake, wants but is sticking to his guns.

They’ve won their last two games (Edmonton and Vancouver) with Kovalchuk playing 6:20 and 9:05.