- The Associated Press
Stars beat Blues to draw Flames, St. Louis to face Canucks
Joe Pavelski tied it with 31.4 seconds left in the third period, Anton Khudobin stopped all three shots he faced in the shootout and the Dallas Stars beat the St. Louis Blues 2-1 in round-robin play Sunday to clinch the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. After Denis Gurianov scored the only goal of the shootout, Dallas will face the Calgary Flames in the first round of the playoffs. The Stars have some momentum going into that best-of-seven series after picking up their first win of any kind since Feb. 25.
- CBC
Back alley hockey viewing parties fun and safe for Kitsilano neighbours
Residents in Vancouver's Kitsilano neighbourhood are heading outdoors to watch the Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup playoffs.It's another example of how people are trying to find a sense of normal during the global pandemic by being together, yet staying physically distant.Aaron Anderson and his family helped set up an outdoor hockey viewing space in a back alley when NHL hockey started up again at the end of July."We were watching the first game with the family and thought, yeah I know the neighbours are next door watching inside as well, why don't we all find a place to get together," he said.Anderson says he spoke with some neighbours and they arranged to view the next game in the alley way joining their homes. He offered a couch and television, others brought their chairs and couches, and the children came out with their hockey sticks for a game of pick-up. "It's definitely better than sitting at home by ourselves with our family, because we can cheer with our friends and neighbours, and we can feel like we're doing our part by staying apart but by still coming together and cheering for the Canucks," said Anderson's wife Robin.Neighbour Ken Andersen, who brings his son to the viewing parties, says it's a great way to socialize. "Getting together with a bunch of friends to watch the hockey game is a lot of fun. It's a Canadian experience. But going to the bars right now you have to be in groups of six, can't have your kids there. "Having people inside you're all sharing the same air, so being outside means we can have the fresh air, we can just be a little safer, and enjoy the games."Alley concert seriesFinding unique ways to socialize is nothing new for this neighbourhood. In April, after weeks of being homebodies, the neighbours decided to organize a concert in the alley. "A lot of us really love live music, but of course with bars closed and theatres closed there's no chance to see live music in the pandemic," said Aaron Anderson.He says the neighbourhood pooled some money together and reached out to local artists. "We've now hosted six concerts, and really tried to help local artists who wouldn't otherwise have a place to perform."With neighbours watching from outside their garages, Anderson says they've welcomed an Elvis impersonator, children's musician Will Stroet and Neil Diamond tribute act Nearly Neal, among others.Anderson says the neighbourhood has another concert planned for the end of August, and the Canucks viewing parties will continue as long as the team stays in the hunt for the Stanley Cup.
- The Canadian Press
NHL notebook: Habs face stiff test, Canucks end drought, Pageau steps up
TORONTO — The Montreal Canadiens already have knocked out one Pennsylvania heavyweight this month.Now, the upstart Habs will try to do it again against an even tougher opponent from the Keystone State.Fresh off a qualifying-round upset over the 2016 and '17 Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins, the Canadiens draw the top-seeded Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the playoffs."I'm not going to stand here and say we're the underdogs, I'm not playing this card right now because it's a lot of wasted time," Canadiens coach Claude Julien said on a video conference with reporters on Sunday. "We're preparing to play in my estimation the best team here in the Eastern Conference right now by their play."The Flyers allowed just three goals in going 3-0 in the qualifying round to secure the top seed in the Eastern Conference.Had they not lost 2-0 to the Boston Bruins in their last game before the COVID-19 pandemic suspended play, the Flyers would be on a 13-game winning streak.Representing a city that produced boxing legends Joe Frazier and Bernard Hopkins, the Flyers exhibit that same sort of grit."I think Philly might be a little bit more physical and tough (than the Penguins)," Canadiens defenceman Victor Mete said. "They have a couple more bigger guys there."The Habs had some success against the Flyers this year, winning once and losing twice in overtime."We played well and had good games against Philly all year," Canadiens defenceman Brett Kulak said. "When you've got Pricey (goalie Carey Price), he's been playing at the top of his game, he gives us a chance to win every night." THE WAIT IS OVERThe Vancouver Canucks ended the longest playoff drought for any Canadian team, reaching the first round for the first time since 2015 by ousting the Minnesota Wild in the qualifying round in Edmonton.The team didn't hesitate in posting pictures and videos of the excitement in the aftermath of its Game 4 overtime win on social media."It's just nice to be back in playoffs now," Canucks forward Brandon Sutter said. "All year, we've talked about just getting in and anything can happen. After four years of missing out on it, we're pretty pumped to be back in now. You can see excitement on our team after we won. It was just that awesome feeling."Now, the Canucks will attempt to snap another skid when they meet the reigning Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues. Vancouver hasn't won a best-of-seven series since its run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final against Boston in 2011."There's no better way to learn than to have success," Canucks coach Travis Green said. "I know this wasn't an actual round-of-16 playoffs, but trust me it was no different than a playoff series. For them to go through this before you actually get to the playoffs, it means a lot for every team but it means a lot for a young team for sure." EXPERIENCE MATTERSThe Calgary Flames are singing the praises of Milan Lucic.Acquired in a deal with the Edmonton Oilers last summer, the big winger had just eight goals and 12 assists in 68 games this season.But the Vancouver native averaged a point a game (one goal, three assists) in a four-game win over the Winnipeg Jets in the qualifying round in Edmonton. Lucic, 32, has appeared in two Stanley Cup finals with Boston, winning one, and brings experience to a Flames roster gunning for its first playoff series win since 2015."He's been through every single high and low in hockey," Flames forward Dillon Dube said. "To have a voice like that in the dressing room, you can really lean on him."The Flames face the Dallas Stars in the first round. FITTING RIGHT INNew York Islanders supporters are learning why Jean-Gabriel Pageau was a fan favourite in Ottawa.Dealt to New York at the trade deadline after not coming to terms with the rebuilding Senators on a contract extension, Pageau had three goals in the Islanders' four-game win over the Florida Panthers in the qualifying round in Toronto.Pageau, who grew up just outside Ottawa before being drafted by his local squad, had Senators fans singing and chanting his name during the team's surprise run to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final in 2017."You check a lot of brackets and columns with him because he's like a little bit of a Swiss army knife," Isles coach Barry Trotz said of Pageau, who signed a six-year extension with his new club after the trade."I can use him on both special teams. He can be in a shutdown role, he can be in an offensive role, he can play all three forward positions and he's got some playoff experience."Trotz faces his old team, the Washington Capitals, next.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 9, 2020.The Canadian Press
NHL Pacific Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71 | 39 | 24 | 8 | 86 | |
| 71 | 37 | 25 | 9 | 83 | |
| 70 | 36 | 27 | 7 | 79 | |
| 69 | 36 | 27 | 6 | 78 | |
| 70 | 33 | 29 | 8 | 74 | |
| 71 | 29 | 33 | 9 | 67 | |
| 70 | 29 | 35 | 6 | 64 | |
| 70 | 29 | 36 | 5 | 63 |
- x
- - Clinched Playoff Spot