Job change lets Deboer see Smith in a new light
Hockey coaches spend more time watching their own players than guys on the other side so while Pete Deboer always knew winger Reilly Smith was productive when he coached in San Jose, Deboer has a different appreciation now as his Vegas boss.
“He’s one of the best defensive forwards in the league, the way he kills penalties, his ability to be on the right side of the puck in battles all the time. He’s a fantastic 200-foot hockey player,” said Deboer.
Smith got the winner in overtime in Game 2 against Chicago against some dead-tired Hawks’ defenders including Jonathan Toews, and also had two in the third period, in Game 1. He has seven points in the round robin seeding portion and the series against the Blackhawks. But, for Deboer, he not only sees a forward with 35 points in the last 32 playoff games for Vegas, but also a guy who does all the little things right.
“I would see the goals and the individual skill as an opposing coach but, boy, when you stand there (Vegas) and see the detail to his game, how coachable he is ... he executes all the things you’re talking about in the game plan,” said Deboer.
MACK TRUCK COMING
Vegas winger Ryan Reaves, one of the NHL’S wrecking balls, escaped supplemental discipline for his tune-up game shoulder to the head of Arizona’s first-line centre Nick Schmaltz because the league said the hit was “unavoidable.” Schmaltz has missed the last six games. And Thursday, the Blackhawks thought Reaves got away with pile-driving into Toews in the faceoff circle in Game 2.
Toews was engaged with
Tomas Nosek and Reaves skated over and levelled the Hawks captain. No penalty, lots of harm, no foul, which had the Hawks furious. They said Reaves rocked a defenceless player.
“We saw it, we didn’t like it and we let the referees know we didn’t like it. We didn’t think that was a hockey play,” said Hawks coach Jeremy Colliton.
“We’re going to start taking freebies at centremen tied up in the dot? The puck was gone. They (NHL) know how we feel about it.”
COMPLAINTS DEPARTMENT
While Boston goalie Tuukka Rask doesn’t like playing in empty buildings because of COVID -19, saying it’s “dull” and it’s like “playing an exhibition game,” in Deboer’s eyes, it’s sour grapes.
“Typically when you hear comments like that the team has usually lost,” said Deboer, aware the Bruins dropped a 3-2 decision to Carolina on Thursday. “Honest to god, at ice level it feels like any other game. There is a playoff intensity.” Deboer coached New Jersey and San Jose to the Cup finals, so he knows playoff emotion when he sees it.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Dallas winger Corey Perry, 35, and Calgary counterpart Matthew Tkachuk, 22, are cut from the same cloth — antagonistic, not the greatest skaters but always around the blue paint. Always walking that line between villain and hero. Both proud London Knights junior alums, albeit years apart, both playing for Dale Hunter.
“During the last lockout (2012-2013) I was skating with the Knights and got to know him (Tkachuk) a bit and I worked with him. He’s turned into a really good player. Yeah, we both play the same way. We got into a fight (Game 1 off a faceoff ), we move on and we keep playing,” said Perry.
KUDOS TO KANE
Deboer was holding his breath in Game 2 whenever Patrick Kane had the puck. He played 24 minutes on different lines, setting up all three Chicago goals, wheeling into the Vegas end, throwing passes into areas where his linemates could get them.
“He was dangerous all night,” said Deboer.
“There’s certain moments in games where you can see the fire in his eyes. You can tell there’s a bit of extra juice. He’s fun to play with, fun to watch. The playoff Patrick Kane is a different player than the regular-season Patrick Kane,” said linemate Drake Caggiula.