Sport-scan daily brief

“If I could have been fairer to Step [Derek Stepan], I’d have done with him what I’m doing with Cally, and I don’t want to say play him in a lesser [offensive] role,” the coach said. “I know Step’s intentions were good, but he didn’t play in any games, and he’s got a guy right in his face, turns it over and the puck goes right into our net.

“We have to play these guys into shape.”

Stepan was on for Phoenix’s first and fourth goals, the latter a four-on-four score while going minus-two in 19:35. Brad Richards, playing left wing on the line, was likely the Blueshirts’ best forward in the opener, but Rick Nash was ineffective on the right side, barely noticeable until he avenged a hard and legal Martin Hanzal check on Stepan late in the match by dropping his gloves and engaging in his first fight since midway through 2009-10.

“From the standpoint of team respect and awareness, I thought [the fight] was real good,” Vigneault said. “But we need Rick to play like Rick Nash, and he will.”

The Rangers need to play with structure they can maintain. They need to control the pace. They need to operate on instinct. They need to be able to once and for all leave behind a contrived training camp schedule that turned the preseason into a counter-productive exercise.

“We all know that hockey is a game of details,” Richards said. “With the travel out West and back home, and then back out here to California, it’s been a challenge.

“But the way the schedule is set up now, we should be good. We’re working hard. We’ll be ready.”

New York Post LOADED: 10.05.2013

719587 New York Rangers

Rangers' Ryan Callahan expected to play Monday

Saturday, October 5, 2013

BY ANDREW GROSS

Ryan Callahan’s absence from the Rangers’ lineup at the start of the season will not be a long one.

Coach Alain Vigneault told the media Friday in Los Angeles the plan is for the captain to be back in the Rangers’ lineup for their next game, Monday against the Kings. Callahan underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder on May 31 and was expected to miss four to five months. He was cleared for contact on Sept. 26 but sat out Thursday’s season-opening 4-1 loss at Phoenix.

"If it would have been up to him he would’ve played but this gives him almost an extra four days, including two days of contact in practice," Vigneault told the media. "He’s ready to go. He’s cleared to play."

Vigneault placed Callahan on Brian Boyle’s third line with Taylor Pyatt at Friday’s practice with rookie Jesper Fast appearing to be the odd man out of the lineup.

Bergen Record LOADED: 10.05.2013

719588 New York Rangers

Ryan Callahan set to return to Rangers on Monday

Published: October 4, 2013 9:22 PM

By STEVE ZIPAY

LOS ANGELES - -- Rangers captain Ryan Callahan, sidelined since he had surgery in late May to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, will return to the lineup on Monday night against the Kings.

After the Rangers practiced Friday, when Callahan skated on a line with center Brian Boyle and left wing Taylor Pyatt, coach Alain Vigneault was asked if Callahan would be in the lineup for the team's second game of the season. "Yes," Vigneault replied.

A few moments before that, Callahan said he was targeting Monday. "That's my hope," he said. "It has to be 100 percent and right now, I feel good. I've been cleared for contact for a while."

Callahan, who was named captain before the 2011-12 season, injured the shoulder in a fight with Max Talbot of the Flyers last Jan. 29 but played through the injury the rest of the season, finishing with 31 points in 45 games. He had two goals and five points in 12 playoff games.

Vigneault again noted that if the decision had been up to Callahan, the right wing would have been playing by now.

Vigneault said he prefers to keep his top two lines -- Brad Richards-Derek Stepan-Rick Nash and Benoit Pouliot-Derick Brassard-Mats Zuccarello -- together and work Callahan into another line.

Presumably, Callahan also will be deployed on the penalty-kill, which was stretched thin against the Coyotes Thursday night. Last season, he averaged 2:33 per game shorthanded, one of the highest numbers among NHL forwards, and scored two goals.

Callahan, who will return from injured reserve, is much further along than Carl Hagelin, who had the same procedure on the same day. Hagelin, on long-term injured reserve, is ineligible for another nine games.

Callahan's comeback means rookie Jesper Fast, who played on the third line in Thursday night's 4-1 loss to the Coyotes in Phoenix, could be scratched or moved to the fourth line.

Fast, 21, who played 10:13, said he had "a pretty tough game" and found it hard to find a rhythm when he played so few minutes compared to the preseason games.

"That's not an excuse, though,'' he said. "Hopefully, if I get a chance to play again, I have to do better."

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 10.05.2013

719589 New York Rangers

Rangers-Coyotes in review

04 October 2013, 8:17 am by Carp

New York Rangers v Phoenix Coyotes

Thoughts:

1) The Rangers’ pace was much, much better than in past years, and will be a more enjoyable watch … if and only if it’s successful. And if they can maintain it against more gifted offensive teams. For those keeping score at home, it’s now 10 goals in seven games under Alain Vigneault … and I know, the preseason games don’t and shouldn’t count. But when are the goals going to arrive? I mean, are they coming by boat?

2) The power play bodies and pucks to net philosphy was pretty evident, eh? And the top guys made some pretty good plays on the PPG by Marc Staal and on some of the chances on the other power plays. Very cool pass by Nash to Staal.

3) That first goal, fourth line vs. Your New NYR first line … geez. And Henrik Lundqvist’s got to be better than that with the puck behind the net. But also Derek Stepan—playing his first preseason game—lost the puck in front and Nash had a chance to take the scorer, Chipchura, and didn’t. Despite the assist, Nash—who sleep-walked through the preseason—was god-awful most of the night.New York Rangers v Phoenix Coyotes That lost puck that directly led to the fourth goal … then risking injury in a fight … though he gets points from me for sticking up for Stepan.

4) How often are we going to hear, again this year, how the Rangers lost momentum when they took a penalty? Every time they take a penalty? And, so, is this going to be another year of “we have to stay out of the box.” Because, you know, you really can’t play that way, not taking penalties ever, and having every one bite you in the butt.

5) Tell me your heart didn’t stop when Ryan McDonagh took that puck to the mug.

6) Gotta say that I didn’t mind Brad Richards game on the wing, for the most part. I thought he did some good things, and we know he can shoot it from the circles. His skating wasn’t noticeably bad. Good signs?

7) But I thought Stepan was way behind the play. As probably should have been expected.

8) Boy, that hybrid icing is an exciting play.New York Rangers v Phoenix Coyotes

9) By the way, this notion that Staal never got PP time … well, he kinda missed a ton of games the last few years. I remember him being really good when he got chances on the power play, and I seem to remember him scoring a huge playoff goal on the power play. The guy made, like, one mistake all game last night, and was pretty sensational.

10) Actually, I thought all six defensemen were pretty darn good … given the new system and all. The second goal, it would be tough to blame them after the long, long shift, and given that Dan Girardi had his man physically tied up.

11) That penalty against Girardi in the third=Pansification.

12) MSG didn’t even wait for the first puck to drop before hitting us with a Knicks promo. Some things don’t change. Then it was a constant assault.

13) It almost seemed as if there were no lockout at all this year.

14) Good gosh, is Phoenix really that much more skilled than the Rangers, too? Is Radim Vrbata that much better than Nash or Richards? And did Derick Brassard play? Mike Smith was the best player in the game, and that pass he made to force Girardi and McDonagh and John Moore to stay on the ice for the second goal was an enormous play in the game.

15) The upcoming three in four nights against the California powerhouses, followed by a fourth in six nights in St. Louis, might be a tad difficult for ya boys.

*************************************New York Rangers v Phoenix Coyotes

My Three Rangers Stars:

1. Marc Staal.

2. Mats Zuccarello.

3. J.T. Miller.

The real Kenny Albert’s Three Rangers Stars:

1. Brad Richards.

2. Marc Staal.

3. Mats Zuccarello.

Gravy’s Three Rangers Stars:

1. Marc Staal – best of the worst; showed some good offensive instincts,

threw some decent checks, but was a little sloppy on some coverage.

2. Brad Richards – resembled the player from two years ago; had and set

up some good scoring opportunities, plus no blue line drop passes.

3. Rick Nash – bit of a stretch, but defending a teammate always scores

points and he did set up Staal.

Your poll vote for Three Rangers Stars:

1. Marc Staal.

2. Brad Richards.

3. tie, Rick Nash and Derek Stepan.

Rockland Journal News: LOADED: 10.05.2013

719590 NHL

Jets take off after first period to beat Kings home opener

JAMES BRADSHAW

WINNIPEG — The Globe and Mail

Published Friday, Oct. 04 2013, 11:15 PM EDT

Last updated Saturday, Oct. 05 2013, 1:44 AM EDT

The Winnipeg Jets weathered a late barrage by the Los Angeles Kings, riding Devin Setoguchi’s first two goals as a Jet to their second straight win to start the new season on Friday night.

Evander Kane, Olli Jokinen and Bryan Little also scored for the Jets, who capitalized on an uncharacteristically wobbly performance by star Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick, chasing him from the net in the third period and hanging on to take their home opener 5-3.

After outshooting the Jets 18-7 in the first period, the visiting Kings seemed to go flat, having notched a shootout win in Minnesota one night earlier, and struggled to test Jets netminder Ondrej Pavelec for long stretches. But they came alive again with a pair of power-play goals in the latter half of the third period, setting up a nervous finish for Winnipeg.

It was the Jets’ second close call to start the season after mounting a late comeback to beat the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, but they nearly found the roles reversed on Friday.

“Well, we have a way of making games exciting,” said Jets’ head coach Claude Noel. “It’s not something that we want to get in the habit of doing. I thought we started off slow again, and I thought the game changed a little bit in the second period and the third period. I thought we were quite a bit better.”

Fired up by the always raucous Winnipeg crowd at the MTS Centre, the Jets came out roaring in the opening minutes, hitting everything in a Kings uniform, but were fortunate to get out of the first period tied at 1-1.

The Kings got on the board first, just after a tripping penalty to Jets’ defenceman Paul Postma expired. Dustin Byfuglien whiffed on a clearing attempt, sending the puck bouncing to the point, where Matt Greene corralled it and blasted a slap shot off Byfuglien and past Pavelec.

But less than a minute and a half later, the Jets drew even when a harmless-looking wrist shot from Kane handcuffed Quick, beating him over his glove.

“We played our game after the first period and we’ve got to learn to do that right off the bat and get better starts,” Setoguchi said.

The Jets appeared to take the lead on a power play in the second period, when Blake Wheeler one-timed an Andrew Ladd feed, beating Quick over the right pad. But the goal was disallowed when video review showed the net had been off its moorings – a bizarre turn of events as the goal came off the rush and no one had been near it, which had escaped the notice of the on-ice officials.

But the Jets kept pressing, and after another harmless puck took an odd bounce off Quick, who seemed unsettled all night, Olli Jokinen pounced on a blocked Michael Frolik shot and lifted a fluttering puck over Quick as he sprawled to his left, giving the Jets a 2-1 lead going into the second intermission.

Setoguchi broke the game open 2:22 into the third period with a power-play goal, neatly deflecting a shot off the stick of Kane, with Greene looking on from the penalty box. The assist gave Kane a Gordie Howe hat trick, having also dropped the gloves with Colin Fraser earlier on.

Less than three minutes later, with the Kings reeling, Setoguchi struck again, tucking a wrap-around past a swimming Quick. The goal gave the Jets at 4-1 lead and ushered in Kings backup Ben Scrivens, newly acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs, for his first regular season action for Los Angeles.

The forward line of Setoguchi, Kane and youngster Mark Scheifele combined for seven points on the night, notching their second strong outing the start the season.

“When you enjoy the guys you’re playing with, it makes it even easier,” Kane said. “Obviously, me and [Setoguchi] definitely have some chemistry and [Scheifele] has done a really good job of coming in the middle and kind of being part of that trio. So hopefully we can continue to get better and continue to produce.”

Jeff Carter, who scored the tying goal and shootout winner against Minnesota a night earlier, sparked the Kings’ comeback attempt with nine minutes remaining, slipping a wrist shot through Pavelec’s five-hole off an offensive zone faceoff. Then, with just over four minutes left, a Matt Frattin shot rattled off the post and onto the stick of Justin Williams, who potted his first of the season to bring the Kings within a goal.

But a late tripping penalty to Robyn Regehr sapped the Kings’ momentum and the Winnipeg faithful breathed a collective sigh of relief when Ladd fed a pass to Little for an empty-net goal, sealing the victory.

“We made it close and exciting, but we just couldn’t find that last one,” Scrivens said. “It’s something to build off of. So, that’s what you play hockey for.”

The Jets will host the Anaheim Ducks Sunday night, while Los Angeles heads home to host the New York Rangers on Monday.

Globe And Mail LOADED: 10.05.2013

719591 NHL

Brian Burke: To Russia, with pride

Gary Mason

The Globe and Mail

Published Friday, Oct. 04 2013, 6:00 AM EDT

Last updated Friday, Oct. 04 2013, 6:00 AM EDT

The noisy position Brian Burke has taken against Russia’s anti-gay laws is rooted in feelings that run deep. That’s why he will refuse to be silent about the matter when he touches down in Sochi next February for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

“Nope,” Mr. Burke told me this week, “when I’m asked about it, I’m going to say how I feel. Something this repugnant should not be left untouched. There should be outrage about something this offensive.

“The law is reprehensible.”

This won’t shock anyone who’s known Mr. Burke for several years, as I have. The newly appointed president of hockey operations for the Calgary Flames (and former Hartford, Vancouver, Anaheim and Toronto GM) has never backed down from a fight, although I’m not sure he’s ever taken on an entire country before. He’s certainly never been shy of the big stage or the public glare, and the Olympics will offer him a soap box of titanic proportions from which to press his case.

No one who knows Mr. Burke’s personal connection to this issue can be surprised by his passion. He became publicly pro-gay after his youngest son, Brendan, came out. “I had a million and one reasons to love and admire Brendan,” Mr. Burke said in 2009. “This news didn’t alter any of them.” Tragically, Brendan Burke was killed in a car accident in 2010.

Soon, Mr. Burke was appearing at Pride events in homage to his son. The paradox his presence highlighted was evident to all: Over his career, Mr. Burke had become a walking, talking embodiment of the macho world of the NHL. He often played to his rough, tough and gruff persona. His public image seemed, at times, to be almost a parody.

But people would soon discover that his beliefs about gay issues were deep-seated and sincere. His older son, Patrick, started up the You Can Play organization to honour Brendan. It’s dedicated to the eradication of homophobia in sports, professional and otherwise. Brian Burke sits on the board.

The Russian law criminalizes any public behaviour deemed to be pro-gay, including holding hands in public with someone of the same sex. For this, someone can spend up to two weeks in prison. Not surprisingly, Mr. Burke finds this distasteful. He says the law criminalizes pursuits that many parents of a gay child would wish to undertake.

“They have eliminated my ability to be a parent,” Mr. Burke told me. “If my son were still alive, it’s made activities such as public support and demonstration of affection and support for those in the LGBT community illegal.

“Even in his memory, supporting what You Can Play does or doing other things to respect Brendan [such as marching in a Pride parade] would be illegal. That’s wrong.”

Mr. Burke believes we should be outraged that the Russian government is, in his view, targeting and setting out to destroy a minority group. A history buff, he says the past has taught us that left unchallenged and rebuffed, bigotry escalates. The world has a responsibility to voice its objection.

Many people have called for a boycott of the Games. Not Mr. Burke, who will be in Sochi as an executive with the U.S. men’s hockey team. He believes that would only be punishing athletes who have trained for years for an Olympic opportunity. Plus, he says, the law was introduced well after Sochi was awarded the Games. But he thinks that sports organizations should refuse to stage any future international competitions in Russia until the law is repealed.

He’s urging Olympic athletes in Sochi to wear rainbow pins, in solidarity with gay people around the world and their fellow competitors. He hopes that if athletes acquire a few words of Russian before heading to the Games, they’ll include how to say: “I am pro-gay.” He’s said that You Can Play will outfit any athlete in apparel promoting the organization’s cause.

Mr. Burke will be decked out in the stuff. It’s uncertain whether that constitutes a violation of the new law, but he says he doesn’t care. He doesn’t intend to stop talking about the anti-gay law any time soon either.

“The pressure to do the right thing doesn’t end with the closing ceremony,” he said. “We have to get rid of laws based on bigotry and ignorance because until they are, people they’re aimed at will suffer.”

Globe And Mail LOADED: 10.05.2013

719592 Ottawa Senators

Anderson outduels Miller as Sens win opener

by Wayne Scanlan

on October 4, 2013

BUFFALO — After waiting a week to play a game, the Senators waited most of the night to score a goal.

It was worth the wait, as Erik Karlsson’s goal in the final two minutes of the third period gave Ottawa a 1-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in the Senators’ first game of the season.

So much for Craig Anderson and Ryan Miller not thinking about the U.S. Olympic team.

If this was an audition for Sochi selectors, and Anderson of the Senators and Miller of the Sabres both made a strong pitch. Against the other team’s best — Jason Spezza and Bobby Ryan for Ottawa and Thomas Vanek of the Sabres — Miller and Anderson were at their best.

Vanek and Spezza each suffered heartache after being robbed of what seemed like sure goals. So spectacular were Miller and Anderson that longtime NHL coach and broadcaster Harry Neale spotted Senators goalie coach Rick Wamsley after a scoreless 40 minutes and cracked: “You must be coaching both goalies.”

After an entertaining first period, in which the Senators tested Miller 23 times, both benches were anxious to break the deadlock. No line was pushing harder than Ottawa’s top trio of Jason Spezza, Bobby Ryan and Milan Michalek, together in a regular season game for the first time.

Ryan was involved, taking a couple of minor penalties and firing shots on goal every chance he had, even from long range.

It was a strange game, a little unfamiliar to those who have been watching Sabres-Senators hockey for a long time. Maybe it had something to do with the missing persons. Namely, Lindy Ruff and Daniel Alfredsson.

This was the Sabres’ first home opener without Ruff behind the bench since 1997. And the Ron Rolston-coached Buffalo team was facing a Senators club that has had Alfredsson on the roster since the fall of 1995.

Different times. Both teams are embarking on a journey — the Sabres in the early stages of a massive rebuild and the Senators, under new captain Spezza, trying to show that learned enough from old No. 11 to carry on contending without him.

Both the Sabres and Senators were guilty of admiring the goalie show for the first 20 minutes, as Miller and Anderson took turns making routine saves, with occasional gusts to the spectacular.

Most notable was a sliding pad save by Anderson to rob Bryan Flynn, who was driving to the net with a pass from Mikhail Grigorenko, one of three teenagers in the Sabres lineup.

Anderson also stopped Buffalo captain Thomas Vanek, twice, in close.

Ottawa’s best early chance came on the game’s first power play with Tyler Ennis off for hooking. Defenceman Patrick Wiercioch cranked a slapshot off the far post.

Ottawa outshot the hosts 23-16 in the first period, with nothing to show for it.

The combined 39 shots were the most by two teams in a scoreless first period in any game since the NHL expanded from the Original Six. Yes, that long.

GAME FILE

WHY THEY WON

Patience. The virtue. The Senators survived trading chances with the Sabres and finally got the overlap they needed as Karlsson took a Clarke MacArthur pass and buried a low shot past Miller.

CHEERS

JEERS

MATCH GAME

Winning the game is motivation enough, but Craig Anderson also got a kick of out trading saves all night with Miller. “When you watch the other guy at the other end make big save after big save, it just gives you a little fire under your butt to kind of return the favour.”

Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 10.05.2013

719593 Ottawa Senators

Philippe Trudeau stands tall

Acquisition of 6-6 goalie helping 67’s improve

By DON CAMPBELL, Ottawa Citizen October 4, 2013

You can’t fool veterans for long, and those on the Ottawa 67’s figured out pretty quickly head coach Chris Byrne was spinning them a tall tale.

When he told his players he had acquired a new goaltender, Byrne painted the new puckstopper as something akin to the second coming of Darren Pang, the vertically-challenged yet highly-successful former 67 (1982-84).

“All Byrnie told us was he had got this new goalie and he was really small, like 5-5 ... and that he couldn’t speak a word of English,” laughed 67’s alternate captain Taylor Fielding, coming up on the two-week mark since the arrival of Philippe Trudeau to the 67’s net.

“Next thing, there’s half the team sitting in the stands, watching goalie drills before practice, all of us just staring at him and watching what he can do. We all wanted to see what Brynie had picked up,” Fielding said. “Usually you get a guy and someone on the team either has played with him or knows him. We knew nothing about Trudes ... not a thing.”