Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Three most snakebitten players
Tyler Seguin, C, Dallas Stars
His combined total of 11 hit posts and crossbars leads the league, and his 59 missed shots rank 11th.
Brandon Saad,
LW, Chicago Blackhawks
Only Saad has hit as many crossbars (five) as Seguin, and he also has hit four posts. His nine total pipes hit is tied for second in the league.
Johnny Gaudreau,
LW, Calgary Flames
Gaudreau is tied for the league lead with eight posts hit, meaning he clanks the puck off one about every six games. He’s also hit one crossbar.
He’s looked like the Seguin the Stars need if they’re going to make the playoffs for the first time in three seasons, even if Benn is still lagging behind. Benn scored three points in his first six games since being roasted and missed a game Jan. 4 with an upper-body injury.
“I knew things were going to start going in,” Seguin said Tuesday. “I just didn’t know when. I just wanted to keep shooting, and right now they’re going in.”
Saga of Sergei Bobrovsky
It’s been an interesting week for the Columbus Blue Jackets and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
The two-time Vezina Trophy (NHL’s best goalie) winner wasn’t with the team for a game against the Nashville Predators on Thursday because of an undisclosed incident.
“There are certain expectations and values that we have established for our players that define our culture,” general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said. “An incident occurred in which Sergei failed to meet those expectations and values.”
Bobrovsky was back with the Blue Jackets on Friday, but it was a bizarre occurrence for a team in third place in the Metropolitan Division.
Birds of different feather
Friday’s game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Anaheim Ducks gave an interesting window into the state of both teams.
The Penguins rallied from a three-goal deficit to win 7-4 in Anaheim and continued to soar toward first place in the Metropolitan with their sixth straight road victory.
The Ducks collapsed and fell to 0-7-3 in their past 10 games, which puts plenty of pressure on coach Randy Carlyle.