Around hockey: Pass it to Pasta … Ceci can see the change
Boston’s David Pastrnak is halfway to 50 goals already, leading the league with 25 through just 27 games. Of all the 50-goal seasons in NHL history, 196 in total, only two dozen featured a player with 25 or more through 27 games — just six over the past 30 years. “Doesn’t mean anything,” Pastrnak said. “Two points in the standings is all that matters.” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said the forward could be the best player in hockey. “Nothing changes,” Pastrnak said. “I just put my head down and work every day. The big thing is we’re doing well as a team.
Ceci speaks up: Maple Leafs defenceman Cody Ceci took some heat over the weekend for his comments about the coaching change that saw Sheldon Keefe replace Mike Babcock. He was really only being honest, reflecting what everyone watching the Leafs had seen all season. “The biggest thing that I’ve noticed since (Keefe) has come in is that guys have just started working harder again, and got up for games and been a little more excited to play them than they have been in the past. Sometimes, when a change happens, that can happen, and I think guys have responded well to the change.” The Leafs are 4-1-0 under Keefe.
Secret’s out: The biggest names in women’s hockey — including Marie-Philip Poulin, Natalie Spooner and Hilary Knight — will be back on the ice in Toronto next month for a six-team tournament with 120 players. The Secret Women’s Hockey Showcase will feature four games at Herb Carnegie Arena: three on Saturday, Jan. 11, and one Sunday morning. Another game, with details to come, will be held on the Sunday in partnership with the Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour stop in Vaughan at the Al Palladini Centre.
Request for backup: It’s not just the Maple Leafs with backup goalie issues. The Canadiens, mired in an eight-game losing skid (0-5-3), put No. 2 netminder Keith Kincaid (1-1-3) on waivers Monday. And in Columbus, backup Elvis Merzlikins remains in search of his first win: 0-3-3, all on the road. He made a terrible giveaway against Winnipeg that led to the game-tying goal. Coach John Tortorella talked to him about it. “I’m not thinking any more (just) to win,” Merzlikins said. “I had a good talk with Torts when I (made a mistake) in Winnipeg with my pass. He was right. I was trying to win (too) hard.”
KHL keeper: Yaroslav Askarov, 17, became the first goalie born in the 21st century to start a KHL game. The next big hope in Russian goaltending won his debut for SKA St. Petersburg. Only Ilya Sorokin (now 24) has started a KHL game between the pipes at a younger age — by just eight days. Askarov is likely to be the first goalie chosen in the next NHL draft.
A Star is born: Ty Dellandrea, drafted 13th overall by the Dallas Stars in 2018, is the Flint Firebirds’ all-time leader in all major offensive categories. He’s been there four seasons, captain the past two. “It’s pretty special,” he said of holding all the records. “It’s been a long time coming, a lot of years working up to this. I have to give a lot of credit to teammates, present and former, for kind of showing me the way and showing me how it’s done.” Dellandrea was one of 12 OHLers among 27 players selected for Canada’s world junior tryout camp, which starts next Monday in Oakville.
Ex-Leaf of the week: Jhonas Enroth, who lasted six games as Frederik Andersen’s backup in 2016-17, is going to the KHL’s all-star game thanks to fan voting. Enroth is 7-13-5 with Minsk Dynamo. He’s been player of the week once this season.