ScuttlePuck NHL Hockey Podcast NHL Hockey Fans Mike Bonn and Dale Hoard

CEO of one of our favourite websites eliteprospects.com Peter Sibner joins us to discuss the lead up to the playoffs and who to watch for.  It was a fun conversation and Peter gave us some great insights.    Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio Title Players Wayne Merrick and Pierre Mondou
Feedback Arvids - What 2 Latvians to win cup in last 30 years. 
Interview: Peter Sibner - Elite Prospects President ESMG, North America
Guess the 5th
Connections - Last week: Rick Nash, Corey Stillman, Justin Braun, Riley Stillman,
This week: What connects Joe Nieuwendyk, Mike Keane, Claude Lemieux and Mark Recchi
Playoff Races
West is done - just a matter of whether Oilers play VGK or LAK
Flyers fall out in tight race in East
Hot/Not - 
Atlantic - TBL 7-2-1 / FLA - Panthers limping in while Lightning ramping up - BOS/TBL will be tough
Metro - NYR 8-2-0 / PHI - 2-5-3
Central - DAL 9-1-0 / WPG  4-5-1 - 
Pacific - LAK 7-3-0 / CGY 2-8-0  - Flames are tough to figure.   Sharks - -136 goal diff   
Worst in history  
74-75 Capitals - -265
93-94 Sens - -196
92-93 Sharks -196
72-73 Isles - -177
75-76 Caps - 170 
Will probably end up around -145  - 73-74 golden Seals area
Crazy Stat
DOPeS - Hartman 3 games for throwing stick on ice after OT loss. https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/minnesota-wild-ryan-hartman-suspended-three-games
Interesting in comparison with Guehle 1 gamer 

As the season winds down, players are hitting big milestones. Zack Hyman and Sam Reinhart hit 50G, Matthews hits 60G and McDavid tops 120 pts for 3rd straight year. We look at the playoff races and there is a new edition of Connections for listeners.    Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio Title Player Jerry Korab -> Zack Hyman
Korab 83-84 Sabres Dave Andreychuk -> 05-06 Lightning Paul Ranger -> 13-14 Leafs Nazem Kadri -> 2015-16 Leafs Hyman
News
Wild pull goalie in OT again but lose
Milestone watches
McDavid - 95 Assists - going to hit 100
If he stays on pace will get to 110, 4 short of Mario’s best at 114 
Gretzky’s record - 163!
3rd 120pt season in a row. 1st since Gretzky. He did it 13 times in a row - would have had 14 or 15 - thanks Gary Suter
Jonathan Quick - most wins for US goalie - 392 - passed Ryan Miller
Art Ross
MacKinnon 127
Kucherov 126
McDavid 125
Rocket Richard
Matthews - 60G 
Reinhart and Hyman hit 50 
MacKinnon and Pastrnak - 45 
Rookies - 
Bedard 21-35-56  in 59 GP
Marco Rossi MIN - 20 G
Tyson Foerster PHI - 19G 
Goalies
Going to hit 60GP 
Saros 58 GP 
Georgieve 57 GP
Hellebuyck 54 GP
Skinner 53 GP 
Andrew Berkshire on Twitter about Zack Hyman hitting 50
https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/analyst-gets-absolutely-roasted-for-insanely-rich-take-on-hyman
Guess the 5th
Connections - Last week - Staal, Poddubny, Delvecchio, Fogolin - Solution: All From Thunder Bay 
This Week - Cory Stillman, Justin Braun, Rick Nash, Riley Stillman 
Playoff Picture
Teams Clinched this week:
Boston, Florida, Carolina, New York Rangers, Dallas, Vancouver
Wild Card Races 
Hot/Not
Atlantic TBL 8-1-1 / DET  3-5-2
Metro CAR  8-1-1 / NYI 2-7-1
Central COL 8-1-1 / WPG 3-6-1 
Pacific VGK,EDM 7-2-1 / ANA, SJS 1-8-1 
Crazy Stat
DOPeS 
Guhle - 1 game from slashing from the bench - not a hard slash but a bit surprised they didn’t come down harder on him for this

The NHL GMs met this week and have provided some ideas for rule changes. Zach Hyman is getting close to 50 goals and Connor McDavid could well hit 100 Assists.  We also have a look at the playoff races.   Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio  
 
Title Player Curtis Joseph - 454 Wins 
Feedback 
Trent Buhler - @oldtimetablehockey on Insta - Makes incredible diaoramas of hockey scenes
News
Chris Simon dies by suicide at 52
Marner injury -  Leafs messed this up - why not have it happen before deadline and leave him out until playoffs. High ankle sprain - trouble?
Bettman statement on Chris Simon
https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/bettman-responds-to-simons-tragic-passing-after-his-family-blame~2888770
Board of Governor’s Meetings
LTIR - not on agenda but discussed, Daly asked Exec oommittee to come back if they believe change neededf Rule changes -  Can’t sit with leg over board for line change If goalie removed by concussion spotter, spare goalie gets warm up Coach challenge - can challenge any high stick - before had to be double minor or major Coach challenge - puck over glass - challenge if deflected - need to get right because if wrong go 2 men down Reviewed 3 on 3 but are content Zach Hyman at 48 goals 
McDavid 14 Assists away from 100 with 15 games to go.  Been done 13 times, by 3 players. 
Matthews 5 point game 57 G with 14 to play - prob not going to make 70, what do you think he will hit?
Will teams “load manage” players heading to end of season?
Guess the 5th
Connections - Last week - Johnson, Gelinas, Tardif, Carson - all part of Gretzky trade
Alex Delvecchio, Eric Staal, Walt Poddubny, Lee Fogolin
Playoff races
Washington on fire - could catch Philly - Tortorella healthy scratches Couurier? 
Philly not likely to get caught by Isles or Devils. 
St Louis, Minnesota chasing Nashville, Vegas , LA 
Hot / Not
Atlantic - TBL 7-2-1 / DET 3-7-0 
Metroo - CAR 8-1-1 / PIT 3-6-1 
Central - COL 9-1-0 / CHI 4-6-0 
Pacific - EDM 7-1-2 / SJS 1-8-1 
DOPeS - Tom Wilson attempts decaptiation - 6 games 
https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/washington-capitals-forward-tom-wilson-suspended-6-games-for-high-sticking
Is it enough?  
Kulikov 2 games check to head
https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/panthers-dmitry-kulikov-suspended-two-games-for-illegal-check-to-head 

Dale and Mike return from sun vacations to breakdown and discuss the big trade deadline deals and then look to the playoff races. Have the Oilers and Leafs done enough? Also, the DOPeS have been busy and we ask - did they create this mess?     Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio Banter -Vacations
Title Player Charlie Huddy 
News 
Trade Deadline  Biggest Stories
Vegas - Huge haul
Tomas Hertl, 2025 3rd, 2027 3rd for David Edstrom, 2025 1st rnd pick  - SJS retains $1.3875 Noah Hanifin, - 3 way deal with CGY, PHI - Hanifin cap hit ends at $1.2375 -  Anthony Mantha  from WSH for 2024 2nd, 2026 4th  Conveniently Mark Stone $9.5MM on LTIR out - will he be back for playoffs?
Friedge says SJS NOW fully rebuilding?????  
Leafs quiet  -Joel Edmundson for 2024 3rd, 2025 5th  $875 retained
Oilers - Adam Henrique, Sam Carrick from Ducks for 2024 1st, 2025 5th, 2025 4th - 3 way with TB to retain salary
Troy Stecher from AZ for 2027 4th 
Solid pick ups 
 
Carolina 
Kuznetsov from Washington for 2025 3rd - Kuz had been in minors 
Guentzel from Pitt for Bunting, 3 AHL players, 2024 2nd, 2024 5th 
Dubas getting picks to do a rebuild 
Sabres / Avalanche - Byram for Middlestadt - was surprised
Coyotes Arena - Coyotes to bid on land in North Phoenix - auction starts at 68.5 milliion.  Has to be the last chance. - Auction in 10 weeks Tortorella - gets ejected and initially won’t leave bench Fun full explanation here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqdGemIZbA8   2 games and $25,000 fine Crosby moving? - seems to be lots of speculation all of a sudden Wild Pull goalie in OT and win - if they lost, would lose OT point - did you know that?   
Guess the 5th 
Connections - previous -Gretzky, Ovechkin, Lemieux, Hull 
Hot / Not  - Full Standings with Current playoff positions 
Atlantic - FLA 8-2-0 / DET 3-7-0
Metro - NYR,CAR 6-3-1 / PIT 3-6-1 
EAST Wildcard  Race 
Central - NSH 8-0-2 / CHI 3-5-2 
Pacific - EDM 7-2-1 / SJS 1-7-2 - Vegas 3-6-1 
West Wildcard
Point of year when bad teams get REALLY bad - but no one is tanking
ANA 3-7-0
SJS 1-7-2
CHI 3-5-2
OTT 3-6-1 
Crazy Stat
DOPeS
Matt Rempe 4 games - https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/rangers-rempe-suspended-four-games-for-elbowing-devils-siegenthaler
 
Parker Kelly 2 games https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/parker-kelly-of-ottawa-senators-suspended-two-games-by-player-safety
 
Pospisil 3 games - https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/flames-martin-pospisil-suspended-three-games-for-boarding
 
Lots of dirty stuff going on - is league clamping down or are players playing on edge because of lack of consistencies

Auston Matthews passes 50 goals and on pace for 75. Are the Vancouver Canucks for real?  We assess it in our Team of the Week segment.     Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio Title Player Derek Sanderson - Connect to Jaromir Jagr
News
Matthews past 50! On pace for 75 - truly remarkable
Jagr sweater retirement - came out for the warmup 
Kekalainen fired - finally - 410-362-97 record in 869
11 years
Jackets 18-28-10 this year - last in Metro, 29th in league
Tilman Fertitta - owner of Houston Rockets is in talks to get an NHL franchise.  
Are Jets in trouble? 
Trade deadline looming - 
Guess the 5th
Connections - What do Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Brett Hull and Alexander Ovechkin have in common?
Team of the Week - Vancouver Canucks - 
 
82 PTS (1) .683 PTS % (4)
GF% 59.44 (2)  SF% 49.15 (19th) xGF 51.04 (13th) 
SH% 11.69 (1) 
SV% 92.29 (7) 
PDO 1.04 
PP 22.8 (11) 
PK 78.95 (19) 
Points
JT Miller 29 - 50 - 79
E Pettersson 29-45-74
Hughes 12-58-70
Boeser 33-27-60 
Goalies
Demko 44 GP .917  GSAA 17.3 (2) 
DeSmith 17 GP .894 -4.6
 
 Hot / Not
Atlantic FLA, TOR 8-2-0 / MTL 3-6-1 - Florida pouring it on
Metropolitan NYR 9-10 / NYI 3-4-3
Central - MIN 6-3-1 / ARI 0-9-1 
Pacific - LAK 6-3-1 / 4-5-1  A lot of middling performances 
Crazy Stat
DOPes Rielly ended up with 5 games - Leafs appeal, Bettman upholds
 

Dale is away but Mike has a great chat with Al Mitchell from Sports 1440 Radio in Edmonton. We discuss the state of the Oilers, and the Pacific division. Mike tested Al's draft knowledge in Guess the 5th.    Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio  
Title Player Dan Maloney 
News
Oilers winning streak ends with loss to Vegas - good game, had a playoff feel
Al Mitchell from Edmonton Sports 1440 
Guess the 5th - Who are the 5 players drafted in 2015 with the most NHL Games Played?
Hot / Not 
Atlantic DET 7-2-1 / MTL 4-4-2 - worst team at .500 
Metro CAR 7-3-0 / NJD, WSH, CBJ 3-6-1 
Central DAL 7-2-1 / CHI 2-7-1
Pacific EDM 8-2-0 / SEA 3-6-1 
 
DOPeS - Dillon Jets - 3 games - 
Nikita Zadorov - 2 games for hit on Lucas Raymond 
Rielly - 6 games? Seemed a lot like Perron