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Morning Skate: The NHL injury bug has struck the playoff-bound Stars and Islanders
Just another playoff foe to contend with.
Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Lace ‘em up. Time for the Morning Skate.
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WEAR AND TEAR
Here’s a comprehensive list of Islanders on the mend:
Meanwhile, Dallas is missing Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza (who amount to 63 goals between them), Jason Demers,Mattias Janmark and Patrick Eaves.
Aside from Hamonic, Lee, Seguin and Spezza (and arguably Halak), each of those players is replaceable on some level. And most of the sidelined players should be back for the playoffs. But the postseason tests a team’s depth and health unlike any stretch in the preceding 82 games.
Can Tyler Seguin, who relies on his speed to overwhelm defenders, find his sea legs quickly enough to push the Stars past the first round? He was silent two years ago in the playoffs and it cost Dallas. This is the second knee injury for Hamonic in the last two years. Is rushing him back going to hurt or help the Islanders? And whether it'sStephen Johns and Jason Dickinson in Dallas or Ryan Pulock and Shane Prince in New York, can either team rely on its young players to fill in admirably if these injuries become nagging in the playoffs?
So many questions that didn’t exist a few weeks ago. The Islanders and Stars can play as well as they have been but still fall victim to circumstance and bad timing. It’ll be fascinating to watch whether these injuries persist and, if they do, which team rises above them.
TORONTO DID THE IMPOSSIBLE
- We need to break it down.
- First off, they beat the Flyers. I called that a lay-up win for Philly yesterday so I accept responsibility.
- That in itself is impressive until you realize the larger context. The Red Wings lost in Boston, so Philly could've gained ground on Detroit with a win. Alas...
- So all of this should've been great for Boston, right? Nope. Toronto won in overtime, so the Flyers at least picked up a point and sit one point back of the Bruins for the last wild card spot.
- And finally, the Leafs screwed themselves by winning. This tanking for Auston Matthews isn't going so well.
- One win, three teams screwed over. Terrific work, Leafs.
- Still waiting for that Flyers/Red Wings/Bruins drama to get sorted out. Detroit can clinch with a win on Saturday, Philadelphia can clinch with two wins in their last two games and Boston needs some luck.
- Meanwhile, the Stars could've clinched the top Western Conference seed with a win and a Bluesregulation loss. Dallas got the win, but St. Louis beat Chicago in overtime. So that race is still alive.
- Jonathan Drouin got a goal in his return.
- Sidney Crosby and the Penguins held off the Capitals for their 8th straight win.
- And Qunnipiac and North Dakota advanced to the NCAA championship game.
- It's been too long since the Capitals and Penguins faced off in the playoffs.
- A Capitals fan flipped off Sidney Crosby as he celebrated his game-winning goal.
- Turns out Red Wings fans will throw an octopus on the ice even if their team is losing.
- We figured out the No. 1 goalies for the playoff teams without one.
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PLAYOFF PICTURE:
WHAT ELSE HAPPENED LAST NIGHT:
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