Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images
After months of uncertainty and planning, the National Hockey League announced a 56-game regular season to begin in January and end in early May. Teams had to carry taxi squads of players to account for injured players and those affected by the Coronavirus. A COVID-19 protocol was implemented and, if need be, games could be re-scheduled as needed. All games would be played within a team’s division along with the first two rounds of the playoffs. The goal was simple: Have a truncated, compressed season to set up a full Stanley Cup Playoffs tournament. Then hope things would get better enough to have a full and more normal 2021-22 season in the Fall.
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Joel Eriksson Ek s parents never miss a Wild game.
Puck drop is usually in the middle of the night in Sweden, like 2 or 3 a.m., but Clas and Anna either stay up or catch the action first thing in the morning.
What they have seen this season is Joel at his finest. You re proud, Clas Eriksson said. You re glad that he is doing good.
A first-round draft pick as a defense-first center, Eriksson Ek has transformed into a reliable goal scorer, graduating from supporting cast to headliner while discrediting projections that pigeonholed him into a depth role. We wanted to see him take the next step in the offensive part of the game, and he s done that, Wild General Manager Bill Guerin said. Meanwhile, he hasn t sacrificed his 200-foot game doing so.
The Noon Number: Even Steven
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Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
127 - Number of goals scored at five on five by the Capitals this season, which currently leads the League (per Natural Stat Trick). Unsurprisingly, Alex Ovechkin leads the way among all Caps in this category with 14 of those 127 to his name. Perhaps more surprising is who sits right behind him on the team leaderboard, and that’s Conor Sheary and Daniel Sprong with 12 five-on-five goals apiece. Most Read
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When Value Metrics Disagree: The Murray-Severson Paradox and Assessing the Devils Defenders
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Has Ryan Murray been good this season?
It’s okay, take your time to answer. I had no idea when I started writing this piece, which is why I asked Twitter. To my eye, he started the season rough, getting exposed on the top pairing with Subban and the first penalty-killing unit. Lately, I haven’t really noticed him. For a defensive defenceman like Murray, that’s normally good news.
Has Damon Severson been good this season?
I feel like this answer was a bit easier for me. The short answer is “Yes.” Ty Smith was floundering with aspiring AHLer, Matt Tennyson, to start the season and then he looked like a true future stud alongside Damon. Ryan Murray’s improvement has also coincided with his time next to Seves. And not too long ago, I declared Andy Greene’s career revived while playing with Severson. How many partners in a row need to improve before we say that