Cuban star cashes in
Dakota Mermis scored his first NHL goal, fellow defenseman Connor Carrick got his first of the season and the Devils stunned St. Louis 4-2 on Friday night in Newark to snap the Blues' eight-game winning streak.
Cory Schneider made 31 saves in helping the Devils end a 12game skid against the defending Stanley Cup champions, dating to January 2014. Jesper Bratt also scored and Joey Anderson iced the game with an empty-net goal.
Vince Dunn and Jaden Schwartz scored for the Blues, who coincidentally started their winning streak with a 3-0 victory over the Devs on Feb. 18. Jordan Binnington had 28 saves in losing for the first time in seven starts.
Schwartz's goal with 3:11 left in regulation cut the Blues' deficit to a goal, but Anderson tallied his third of the season with 57 seconds left.
The Devils won despite having what would have been a third second-period goal nullified because Kevin Rooney's skate prevented Binnington from using his pads to stop a shot.
Mermis, who was recalled from Binghamton last month, broke a 1-all tie with a remarkable shot. He got the puck backing up in the left circle and wristed a shot past a seemingly screened Binnington that found the top right corner of the net at 6:50. Playing in his 18th career game, he laughed about it on the bench.
Carrick, who was playing in his 27th game this season, upped the lead to 3-1 with a wrist shot from the point at 17:58 that Binnington also didn't see.
Schneider, who was also recalled from Binghamton last month and got an assist on Mermis' goal, stopped nine shots in the final 20 minutes to improve to 3-0-1 since returning.
Bratt had given the Devils the lead 8:38 after the opening faceoff. He swooped around defenseman Colton Parayko and beat Binnington with a forehand for his fifth goal in eight games.
Yoan Moncada finalized a $70 million, five-year contract with the White Sox on Friday, signing up long-term for a situation he thinks will turn into a World Series championship.
“Definitely the talent we have right now is something that makes you feel really excited,” Moncada said.
The Cuban third baseman gets a $4 million signing bonus, payable in equal installments each Nov. 15 from 2020-23, and salaries of $1 million this year, $6 million in 2021, $13 million in 2022, $17 million in 2023 and $24 million in 2024.
Moncada's deal includes a $25 million team option for 2025 with a $5 million buyout. The option price can increase by a maximum of $2.5 million based on his finish in MVP voting from 2020-24: $2.5 million for winning and $1.5 million for second or third.
11-TIME CUP-WINNER DIES
Henri Richard, the speedy and durable center who won a record 11 Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens, died Friday. He was 84.
The Canadiens announced the death of the Hall of Famer on Twitter, calling him “one of the organization's greatest legends and ambassadors.” Richard had Alzheimer's disease.
He was better known as the younger brother of superstar Maurice “Rocket” Richard and was nicknamed the Pocket Rocket for his 5-foot-7, 160-pound frame.
“Henri Richard was one of the true giants of the game,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said, lauding him as an “incomparable winner, leader, gentleman.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also paid tribute to Richard on Twitter.
“A legend on and off the ice, in Montreal and beyond, Henri Richard was one of the fiercest competitors in hockey history. And as an 11-time Stanley Cup champion, he set a record that no one has matched. Rest in peace, Pocket Rocket,” Trudeau tweeted.
Known for his tenacity and playmaking, Richard was captain of the Canadiens from 1971 until his retirement in 1975. He succeeded the legendary Jean Beliveau, with whom he shares the record of playing 20 seasons for the NHL club.
Henri Richard played 1,256 regular-season games, another Canadiens record. He scored 358 goals and had 1,046 points, third in team history behind Guy Lafleur (1,246) and Beliveau (1,219). He added 129 points in 180 playoff games.
CBS SPORTSCASTER DIES
Ed Ingles, who helped pioneer sports updates on radio during a 60-year broadcasting career, died Friday. He was 87.
His death was confirmed by Hofstra University's radio station WRUHU, where Ingles most recently was the professional in residence.
Ingles was a former New York sports director for WCBS. He also was an analyst on NFL and college basketball games, and covered golf, tennis, horse racing, auto racing and several Olympics.
Considered a strong reporter and dynamic story teller, Ingles spent 24 years at WCBS, often as the morning sports anchor.