Sport-scan daily brief

Krueger was reluctant to make changes when the team was on a winning streak, but after two straight losses, it’s time to mix things up.

“We’re definitely considering changing our look,” Krueger said.

Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 04.08.2013

668765 Edmonton Oilers

Are the Edmonton Oilers improving as the season continues?

Jonathan Willis

April 7, 2013. 12:04 pm

How have the Oilers fared in the latter portion of the season? Have they improved, stayed the same, or regressed as the 2013 campaign has played out?

Judging by the team’s record, the first and last half of their 38 games played so far have been pretty close to identical:

19GP - Record

The lone difference in the club’s record is one additional loss in regulation and one fewer loss in overtime/shootout. The goal differential for both segments is slightly in the red, at minus-3, but superficially there’s very little here to indicate the Oilers have done anything other than stay the course.

Interestingly, the shots and scoring chances data paints a very different picture.

19GP - Shots

By both shots and scoring chances, the Oilers have improved defensively, allowing fewer opportunities for the opposition. That improved defensive play has coincided, however, with a massive drop in offensive opportunities. The net result has been that the Oilers have been outplayed by a greater margin over the last 19 games. The “% of” boxes on the right of the table above shot the percentage of all shots and scoring chances that were in the Oilers’ favour through those 19-game segments; 50% represents the break-even mark, a mark the Oilers have fallen further away from.

(Note: the scoring chances above are my own numbers. Others also track the metric; using David Staples slightly different counting method the Oilers dropped from 48.3% of scoring chances over the first 19 games to 43.7% of chances over the last 19 games).

But if there’s been a dramatic decrease in shots and scoring chances, why hasn’t the Oilers’ record reflected that? The answer lies in the percentages.

19GP - PDO

“PDO” is the combination of shooting percentage and save percentage; the league-average number is 100 and most teams regress to that number over time. There are a bunch of reasons for that – one good explanation of the statistic, why it matters, and proof that most teams fall back to that magic 100 number is here – but for our purposes it’s enough to know that in the short-term a high PDO number (good shooting percentage, good save percentage) can help a team look good even if they’re getting outshot and that in the long-term it’s very difficult to maintain a high PDO (Note: in the chart above, I’ve used PDO to represent SH% and SV% in all situations, not solely at even-strength).

In this particular case, the Oilers’ shooting percentage spiked to well above league-average over the last stretch. Most fans will recall games where the Oilers scored on an exceedingly high portion of their early shots; no team can do it in the long-term but in the short-term it makes the club look awfully good. In this particular case, for an 11.3 SH% to be sustainable, the save percentage of the goalies the Oilers encounter would need to consistently stay around the 0.887 mark – something that most anyone will admit is unlikely.

The goaltending drop-off in the last 19 games should be unsurprising, and is entirely the fault of Nikolai Khabibulin. Devan Dubnyk’s numbers are virtually identical over the two stretches – he posted a 0.921 save percentage over the first 19 game segment, and a 0.923 save percentage over the latest stretch. Khabibulin, however, saw his save percentage fall from 0.935 over the first 19 games to 0.906 over the last; his injury also meant that Yann Danis played more (he managed a 0.844 save percentage over portions of two games).

The one bit of positive news comes from the Oilers’ schedule; it was significantly more difficult over the last 19 games than it was over the first 19:

19GP - Sked

“B2B” indicates the number of times the Oilers played their second game on consecutive days against a rested opponent; “Playoffs” indicate the number of games against current playoff teams while “Lottery” indicates the number of games against teams currently out of the post-season (as all non-playoff teams are eligible for the draft lottery).

But even with a tougher schedule of late, it’s difficult to say that the Oilers are improving under rookie head coach Ralph Krueger.

Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 04.08.2013

668766 Edmonton Oilers

Oilers' Justin Schultz all business

By Derek Van Diest

Edmonton Sun

First posted: Monday, April 08, 2013 01:32 AM MDT

Updated: Monday, April 08, 2013 01:52 AM MDT

ANAHEIM - Justin Schultz is not sure what to expect when he steps on the ice at the Honda Center Monday to face the Anaheim Ducks.

Perhaps the biggest boos will rain down from the seats of the Ducks executive, having failed to come to terms with the talented defenceman, allowing him to pick his destination.

Schultz will face the Ducks for the first time when the Oilers round out their four-game road trip against one of the top teams in the Western Conference.

"We'll see when game time comes, whatever happens, it is what it is," said Schultz. "I've thought about what it would be like. But I've played a lot of games before this, so we'll see what happens.

"But I think being able to get into the league and play a lot of games before coming here might make it a little easier."

The manner in which Schultz ended up with the Oilers is well documented. Having been selected by the Ducks in the second round — 43rd overall — of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, the Kelowna product failed to ink an entry-level contract with the team.

Once he decided to leave the University of Wisconsin, Schultz became an unrestricted free agent, able to entertain offers from any NHL club.

The Oilers went on to win the sweepstakes, as the two sides agreed on a two-year contract.

For Schultz, 22, it was nothing personal with the Ducks. It was only business.

"It was just me having the option to be a free agent and choose where I wanted to play," Schultz said. "I saw an opportunity in Edmonton and I don't regret making that decision."

In 38 games this season, Schultz, has six goals and 14 assists. He's the Oilers leading-scoring defenceman and should get some consideration for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the league's top rookie.

During the lockout, Schultz tore up the American Hockey League with the Oklahoma City Barons, scoring 18 goals and adding 30 assists in 34 games. By the time the lockout came to an end, Schultz was the league's second-leading scorer behind Jordan Eberle.

"It's been a very challenging rookie season for Justin," said head coach Ralph Krueger. "Never in the history of the NHL has a rookie at that level, begun with over half a season in the American League, averaging ice-time of over 30 minutes a night, then being called upon to follow it up with the most compressed 48-game schedule in NHL history.

"I think he's doing an excellent job with it. We all know that Justin, in a normal 82-game schedule with the proper preparation, is going to be able to bring, here and there, some extra elements that other players won't be able to. He's a genius at the game, does and sees special things, and at the moment, we're please with what he's doing."

Schultz has proven in his short time with the Oilers that he was worth the effort the club put into sign him.

Once it became clear the NCAA star was not going to sign with Anaheim, the Oilers put on the full-court press trying to land Schultz, which included putting out a call to their famous alumni to help recruit.

In the end, however, it was a connection with Krueger, which seemed to sway his decision.

"When Justin and I connected at that meeting, there were 15 people in the room, but somehow we were alone in our conversation," said Krueger. "The questions I asked him, the questions he asked me, the conversation we had, it was just really natural, right from the start, as has our relationship here been on a practical sense.

"That's what I remember that we felt really comfortable with each other right away as player and coach and that's continued. I didn't do a hard sell on him at all on that day, it was an honest message of what was going to happen here."

Schultz has proven to be a good fit with the Oilers young core. The club hopes his game will continue to develop along with Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Eberle and Nail Yakupov to create the nucleus for a Stanley Cup contending team.

"Our team is now and will always be built on players who are here for the right reasons," said Krueger. "When you come to Edmonton, you come because you really love the game. It's a great city and if you love the game of hockey, you can't play in a better city than Edmonton.

"So when Justin made that decision, that was one of the reasons and that's what we love about our core and about our future players, they all love the game every single day and they're feeding on each other and building a fire that the NHL is going to see burning very quickly here."

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 04.08.2013

668767 Florida Panthers

Florida Panthers goalie Scott Clemmensen stymies Ottawa Senators

By George Richards

It has been a while since Scott Clemmensen started a game for the Panthers and stole a victory.

Clemmensen got a chance to shine Sunday and did just that, turning back 40 shots to earn top player honors in Florida’s 2-1 victory over Ottawa at BB&T Center.

The Panthers have won four of the past five games with Jacob Markstrom and Clemmensen giving up a total of nine goals in the wins.

“Clemmensen stood on his head for us,” said defenseman Dmitry Kulikov, whose wrister on a power play served as the game-winning goal. “We needed that.”

It has been no secret Clemmensen has struggled this season as Sunday’s win — one in which Florida was outshot 41-17 — was just his third of the season and first since Feb. 26.

“It has been a long time since my last win, unfortunately,” Clemmensen said.

The Senators, who might be slipping out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, enjoyed a nice South Florida Saturday off and came out flying.

Ottawa, which had won 11 of the past 12 against the Panthers, made it a 1-0 game when former Tampa Bay forward Cory Conacher — traded to Ottawa a day after playing the Panthers last Tuesday — tapped in a shot after being allowed to camp out in front of Clemmensen’s cage with 7:34 left in the first.

Few would have figured that would be it for the Sens. In the final 40 minutes, Ottawa peppered Clemmensen with 30 shots — including a few in a hectic final minute with two extra attackers. Clemmensen seemed unfazed.

“It’s nice to win no matter who you are playing or the situation,” said Clemmensen, now 3-6-2 this season. “This team has been working hard. They get paid too, and sometimes they get the best of you. Regardless, we got the win. That’s the name of the game no matter the fashion in which it comes.”

Said coach Kevin Dineen: “We were all happy with Clem’s performance tonight, including his teammates. It was one of those where he was the difference maker. They put a lot of pressure on us, and we were able to withstand it.”

Clemmensen’s biggest save came with 4:11 left in the second when Kyle Turris ripped a shot that Clemmensen leapt at and got a piece of with his leg pad. The puck was close to going across the line, so much so, it was officially looked at via video in Toronto. Replays showed the puck didn’t fully cross the line.

“I shouldn’t have had to make that save in that fashion,’’ Clemmensen said. “Sometimes you have to be lucky to be good.’’

Florida — 0-5 in the second game of a back-to-back set coming in — tied the score early in the second when Marcel Goc knocked in a nice shot from Tomas Fleischmann 1:08 into the second. Florida had seven shots at that point and would take just one more over the next 15 minutes.

Kulikov got his second game-winner in a week by rifling a shot past Craig Anderson — whom Clemmensen replaced as Tomas Vokoun’s backup here in 2009 — midway through the third. Florida was being outshot 34-14 at that point and ended up taking just three more shots at Anderson.

Anderson, who played three seasons with the Panthers, lives in South Florida during the offseason and trained with Roberto Luongo at the Panthers’ facility in Coral Springs during the lockout.

On Sunday, he lost to the Panthers in regulation for the first time in 11 decisions. Anderson had won eight in a row against his former team since leaving for Colorado as a free agent on July 1, 2009.

“Don’t discount that he has a home here, works out here,” Dineen said. “He has a quality fanbase and friendbase here. So good for him, but good for us in finally busting that bubble.”

DINEEN UPSET

Dineen has been more than a little unhappy with his team’s perceived treatment from officials this season — and it does seem the Panthers, as general manager Dale Tallon said Sunday, get “no respect.”

On Sunday, Dineen was livid after officials missed, or just didn’t call, a obvious trip from Ottawa’s Erik Condra on T.J. Brennan during a third-period power play.

Florida would have had an extended 5-on-3 chance had the trip been called. Kulikov scored during that power play anyway. Florida was 1-for-1 on the power play Sunday; the Sens were 0-5.

“We worked so hard to get some respectability last year,” Dineen said. “These guys are human; they look at the standings before the game and go, ‘This thing should play out a certain way.’ We get no respect, and it’s our fault. Our situation is what it is.”

Miami Herald LOADED: 04.08.2013

668768 Florida Panthers

DINEEN OFFICIALLY UPSET: Panthers Coach Upset with 'Lack of Respect'

GeorgeRichards

Panthers coach Kevin Dineen has been more than a little unhappy with his team's perceived treatment from officials this season - and it does seem the Panthers have, as general manager Dale Tallon said Sunday, get "no respect."

On Sunday, Dineen was livid after officials missed, or just didn't call, a obvious trip from Ottawa's Erik Condra on T.J. Brennan during a third period power play.

Florida would have had an extended 5-on-3 chance had the trip been called. Kulikov scored during that power play anyway. Florida was 1-for-1 on the power play Sunday; the Sens were 0-5.

"We worked so hard to get some respectability last year,'' Dineen said. "These guys are human; they look at the standings before the game and go 'this thing should play out a certain way.' We get no respect and it's our fault. Our situation is what it is.''

Goc, who scored Florida's first goal, was bloodied after a stick to the mouth that not only didn't draw a four-minute penalty but wasn't called a penalty at all.

Last month, officials didn't penalize New York's Rick Nash after he left his feet to deliver an elbow to Tomas Kopecky's head - yet ejected Colby Robak for a soft tap the next game.

Florida has been on the penalty kill 125 times this season and has had the advantage 120 times.

Posted by George Richards at 09:45 PM | Permalink

Miami Herald LOADED: 04.08.2013

668769 Florida Panthers

CLEMMENSEN STRONG ON SUNDAY: Panthers Beat Anderson and Sens 2-1 Thanks to Great Start by Clemmensen

GeorgeRichards

It has been a while since Scott Clemmensen started a game for the Panthers and stole a victory.

Clemmensen got a chance to shine Sunday and did just that, turning back 40 shots to earn top player honors in Florida's 2-1 victory over Ottawa at BB&T Center.

The Panthers have won four of the past five games with Jacob Markstrom and Clemmensen giving up a total of nine goals in the wins.

"Clemmensen stood on his head for us,'' said defenseman Dmitry Kulikov, whose wrister on a power play served as the game-winning goal. "We needed that.''

It has been no secret Clemmensen has struggled this season as Sunday's win -- one in which Florida was outshot 41-17 -- was just his third of the season and first since Feb. 26.

"It has been a long time since my last win, unfortunately,'' Clemmensen said.

The Senators, who may be slipping out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, enjoyed a nice South Florida Saturday off and came out flying.

Ottawa, which had won 11 of the past 12 against the Panthers, made it a 1-0 game when former Tampa Bay forward Cory Conacher -- traded to Ottawa a day after playing the Panthers last Tuesday -- tapped in a shot after being allowed to camp out in front of Clemmensen's cage with 7:34 left in the first.

Few would have figured that would be it for the Sens. In the final 40 minutes, Ottawa peppered Clemmensen with 30 shots -- including a few in a hectic final minute with two extra attackers. Clemmensen seemed unfazed.

"It's nice to win no matter who you are playing or the situation,'' said Clemmensen, now 3-6-2 this season. "This team has been working hard. They get paid too, and sometimes they get the best of you. Regardless, we got the win. That's the name of the game no matter the fashion in which it comes.''

Said coach Kevin Dineen: "We were all happy with Clem's performance tonight including his teammates. It was one of those where he was the difference maker. They put a lot of pressure on us and we were able to withstand it.''

Clemmensen's biggest save came with 4:11 left in the second when Kyle Turris ripped a shot that Clemmensen leapt at and got a piece of with his leg pad. The puck was close to going across the line, so much so, it was officially looked at via video in Toronto. Replays showed the puck didn't fully cross the line.

"I shouldn't have had to make that save in that fashion,'' he said. "Sometimes you have to be lucky to be good.''

Florida - 0-5 in the second game of a back-to-back set coming in - tied the score early in the second when Marcel Goc knocked in a nice shot from Tomas Fleischmann 1:08 into the second. Florida had seven shots at that point and would take just one more over the next 15 minutes.

Kulikov potted his second game-winner in a week by rifling a shot past Craig Anderson -- whom Clemmensen replaced as Tomas Vokoun's backup here in 2009 -- midway through the third. Florida was being outshot 34-14 at that point and ended up taking just three more shots at Anderson.

Anderson, who played three seasons with the Panthers, lives in South Florida during the offseason and trained with Roberto Luongo at the Panthers' facility in Coral Springs during the lockout.

Sunday, he lost to the Panthers in regulation for the first time in 11 decisions. Anderson had won eight straight against his former team since leaving for Colorado as a free agent on July 1, 2009.

"Don't discount that he has a home here, works out here,'' Dineen said. "He has a quality fanbase and friendbase here. So good for him, but good for us in finally busting that bubble.''

Posted by George Richards at 09:43 PM | Permalink

Miami Herald LOADED: 04.08.2013

668770 Florida Panthers

Clemmensen stars in net and Kulikov scores to lift Panthers to 2-1 win over Sens

Despite being outshot 41-17, Panthers win fourth in past five games

By Harvey Fialkov, Sun Sentinel

10:28 PM EDT, April 7, 2013

SUNRISE

In the better-late-than-never category, the Panthers have discovered their special teams and re-discovered their backup goalie with nine games remaining.

And backup goalie Scott Clemmensen, who has taken on a Maytag repairman-like role since rookie Jacob Markstrom has taken over the net, received his first start in the past seven games and responded with his first win since Feb. 26 (0-5 in his previous eight appearances).

"It's been a long time since my last win, unfortunately,'' said Clemmensen, who had a season-high 40 saves. "It's a good feeling, but at the same time you look at your game honestly and I thought my last outing was pretty good but didn't get the win. You learn to control what you can control.''

The Panthers dominated special teams, especially their 30th-ranked PK unit, which stopped the Senators on all five of their power-play opportunities, including a two-man advantage in the final 9.3 seconds.

The Panthers, who have won four of their last five games, were outshot 41-17, their largest negative shot disparity of the season. They had lost 11 of their last 12 to Ottawa.

They finally managed to solve arch-nemesis and former Panthers goalie Craig Anderson, who was making his first appearance since Feb. 21 because of an ankle injury.

"I thought overall as a team we played a pretty good game," said Anderson, who spent Saturday at his home in nearby Coral Springs. "We had momentum for most of the game and we put a lot of pucks at the net. It was one of those nights we ran into a hot goaltender.

"Give Scott credit where credit is due. He made some big saves and stole them the game."

Anderson, who leads the NHL in goals-against average and save percentage, had won eight straight against Florida and was 9-0-1 lifetime.

"That's one of those stats that you flip through the game notes before and that sticks out,'' Panthers coach Kevin Dineen said. "Don't discount that he's got a home here, works out here and has got a quality fan and friend base, so good for him, but even better for us to pop that bubble.''

Tied at 1-1 after two periods, rookie Quinton Howden's mad dash to the net forced Sergei Gonchar to hold, to set up the Panthers' suddenly formidable power play (7 of 14 in the past five games) against Ottawa's second-ranked PK unit.

After Kulikov's blast was saved by Anderson, he took a pass from rookie forward Jonathan Huberdeau and flicked in a wrist shot for his second goal of the season (and second game-winner in the past four games).

"Getting the special teams going gives us a better chance to win games,'' Kulikov said. "Clem made some huge saves for us.''

The Senators took a 1-0 lead at 12:26 on a slick interior pass from Jakob Silfverberg to newly acquired rookie Cory Conacher, who simply tapped it in for his 10th goal.

The Panthers are now 2-16-3 when trailing after one as they handed the sixth-place Senators their fourth straight loss.

The Panthers woke up at the start of the second period when Marcel Goc re-directed Tomas Fleischmann's shot past Anderson at 1:08 for a 1-1 tie.

Clemmensen preserved the tie with 4:12 left in the second when, while on his knees, he made a sensational, sprawling kick save on a point-blank blast by Kyle Turris that even the judges in Toronto didn't believe. The video review upheld the no-goal call.

"For some reason my weight wasn't on the correct side, so I ended up falling over on my side,'' Clemmensen said. "It's probably a save I shouldn't have made in that fashion. You got to be lucky to be good sometimes.''

Clemmensen has just three wins this season.

"I think we're all really happy with Clem's game tonight, including his teammates," Dineen said. "It's one of those ones where he was a difference-maker. They put a lot of pressure on us and we were able to withstand it and find a way to win."

Senators coach Paul MacLean summed up the loss.

"I thought we played great really the whole night," MacLean said. "I thought we dominated the game for the most part, but we got goalied.''

Dineen takes blame

Dineen doesn't accept excuses from his players or himself as he took the blame for Saturday's loss to the Capitals because he forgot to put a player in the penalty box to serve Erik Gudbranson's five-minute major and game misconduct late in the first period.