Connect with us

Published

on

RK PLAYER POS HOMETOWN HT WT STARS GRADE SCHOOL

1 QB-PP Los Alamitos, CA
Los Alamitos High School 6’3” 185 93

2 QB-PP Detroit, MI
Martin Luther King High School 6’3” 210 93

3 QB-DT Denton, TX
John H. Guyer High School 6’1” 195 93

4 DT Alabaster, AL
Thompson High School 6’3” 275 93

5 QB-PP New Orleans, LA
Isidore Newman School 6’3” 204 93

6 OT Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’6” 325 92

7 WR Las Vegas, NV
Bishop Gorman High School 5’10” 172 92

8 DT Katy, TX
Patricia E. Paetow High School 6’4” 270 92

9 OLB Montgomery, AL
Carver High School 6’3” 230 91

10 OT Runnells, IA
Southeast Polk High School 6’6” 315 91

11 S Hoschton, GA
Mill Creek High School 6’0” 190 91

12 DE Tampa, FL
Berkeley Prep 6’5” 245 91

13 WR Los Alamitos, CA
Los Alamitos High School 5’11” 180 90

14 CB Lakeland, FL
Lakeland High School 6’2” 165 90

15 OLB Tallahassee, FL
Lincoln High School 6’2” 215 90

16 ILB Denton, TX
Billy Ryan High School 6’2” 230 90

17 S Denton, TX
John H. Guyer High School 6’0” 195 90

18 OLB Raleigh, MS
Raleigh High School 6’3” 200 90

19 CB Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’2” 185 90

20 DE North Kansas City, MO
North Kansas City High School 6’5” 230 90

21 OG Braintree, MA
Thayer Academy 6’5” 300 90

22 RB Lehigh Acres, FL
Lehigh Senior High School 5’11” 195 89

23 QB-PP Downey, CA
Warren High School 6’6” 195 89

24 RB Buford, GA
Buford High School 5’10” 185 89

25 DT Montgomery, AL
Carver High School 6’3” 300 88

26 WR DeSoto, TX
DeSoto High School 6’0” 175 88

27 S Lynn, MA
Saint John’s Prep 6’0” 200 87

28 WR Fort Lauderdale, FL
Stranahan High School 6’3” 200 87

29 QB-PP Zachary, LA
Zachary High School 6’4” 225 87

30 RB Orlando, FL
Edgewater High School 6’2” 220 87

31 QB-DT Pittsburg, CA
Pittsburg High School 6’4” 185 87

32 CB Arlington, TX
James Martin High School 6’1” 185 87

33 DE Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’4” 240 87

34 WR Plantation, FL
American Heritage High School 6’0” 190 87

35 DE Venice, FL
Venice High School 6’4” 235 87

36 QB-PP Snellville, GA
Brookwood High School 6’2” 210 87

37 CB Phenix City, AL
Central High School 6’2” 180 87

38 WR Atherton, CA
Menlo High School 6’3” 215 87

39 ATH Washington, DC
Archbishop Carroll High School 6’5” 225 87

40 TE-H Phoenix, AZ
Pinnacle High School 6’6” 235 86

41 OLB Tampa, FL
Jesuit High School 6’1” 210 86

42 QB-PP Birmingham, AL
Briarwood Christian School 6’3” 205 86

43 CB Cincinnati, OH
Winton Woods High School 6’0” 180 86

44 RB El Campo, TX
El Campo High School 5’11” 180 86

45 WR Houston, TX
Langham Creek High 5’11” 180 86

46 CB Florence, AL
Florence High School 6’2” 170 86

47 WR Longview, TX
Longview High School 6’2” 185 86

48 ATH Mustang, OK
Mustang High School 6’3” 185 86

49 DE Baltimore, MD
St. Frances Academy 6’4” 255 86

50 DT Tyler, TX
Tyler Legacy High School 6’4” 245 86

51 OT Monroe, LA
Neville High School 6’5” 300 86

52 CB Dallas, TX
South Oak Cliff High 5’11” 170 86

53 DT Gardendale, AL
Gardendale High School 6’5” 280 86

54 S Venice, FL
Venice High School 6’0” 190 86

55 OG Lee’s Summit, MO
Lee’s Summit North High School 6’5” 310 86

56 OT Mount Pleasant, SC
Oceanside Collegiate Academy 6’7” 285 86

57 S New Iberia, LA
Westgate High School 6’2” 185 86

58 OG Wyomissing, PA
Wyomissing High School 6’4” 285 86

59 OLB Baton Rouge, LA
University Laboratory School 6’1” 210 86

60 WR Round Rock, TX
Stony Point High School 6’2” 175 86

61 OT Ramsey, NJ
Don Bosco High School 6’5” 290 86

62 WR Miami, FL
Gulliver Prep High School 6’1” 170 86

63 ATH La Grange, TX
La Grange High School 5’11” 185 86

64 OT Findlay, OH
Findlay High School 6’5” 260 86

65 DE Bellflower, CA
St. John Bosco High School 6’5” 265 86

66 OT Rock Island, IL
Alleman High School 6’6” 305 86

67 WR Rolesville, NC
Rolesville High School 6’2” 185 86

68 DT Oradell, NJ
Bergen Catholic High 6’6” 325 86

69 DE Miami, FL
Miami Central High School 6’3” 255 86

70 CB Seminole, FL
Osceola High School 6’1” 180 86

71 DT Warner Robins, GA
Warner Robins High School 6’5” 270 86

72 DE Eufaula, AL
Eufaula High School 6’3” 220 86

73 WR Baton Rouge, LA
Catholic High School 6’4” 185 85

74 OLB Orlando, FL
Jones High School 6’2” 235 85

75 WR Bellflower, CA
St. John Bosco High School 5’11” 190 85

76 OG Ashburn, VA
Broad Run High School 6’5” 280 85

77 QB-DT Maize, KS
Maize High School 6’2” 175 85

78 OLB Merrillville, IN
Andrean High School 6’2” 215 85

79 S Shiner, TX
Shiner High School 6’1” 175 85

80 WR Phenix City, AL
Central High School 5’11” 180 85

81 OG Odessa, TX
Permian High School 6’4” 300 85

82 CB Quincy, FL
Robert F. Munroe High School 6’1” 190 85

83 TE-H Bixby, OK
Bixby High School 6’3” 215 85

84 DE Platte City, MO
Platte County R-III High School 6’5” 210 85

85 TE-H Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’5” 230 85

86 DE Phenix City, AL
Central High School 6’4” 255 85

87 DT Hyattsville, MD
DeMatha Catholic High School 6’6” 260 85

88 OT Alabaster, AL
Thompson High School 6’7” 310 85

89 DE Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’5” 240 85

90 DT Seminole, FL
Osceola High School 6’3” 300 84

91 CB Tampa, FL
Wharton High School 6’1” 187 84

92 WR Orlando, FL
Boone High School 6’2” 180 84

93 RB Saint Louis, MO
Christian Brothers College High School 6’1” 195 84

94 S Alabaster, AL
Thompson High School 6’2” 190 84

95 WR Flower Mound, TX
Marcus High School 6’3” 175 84

96 OG Orange Park, FL
Orange Park High School 6’4” 295 84

97 ILB Barnesville, GA
Lamar County High School 6’1” 220 84

98 ATH Houston, TX
Dwight D. Eisenhower High School 5’10” 170 84

99 TE-Y Fairburn, GA
Langston Hughes High School 6’5” 230 84

100 CB Gardena, CA
Junipero Serra High School 5’11” 175 84

101 DE Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’4” 250 84

102 OLB Murfreesboro, TN
Riverdale High School 6’5” 205 84

103 WR Ridgeland, MS
Ridgeland High School 6’3” 190 84

104 S Fort Lauderdale, FL
Saint Thomas Aquinas High School 5’11” 180 84

105 CB Melbourne, FL
Eau Gallie High School 5’11” 180 84

106 DE Norman, OK
Community Christian School 6’4” 215 84

107 S Fulton, MS
Itawamba Agri High School 6’0” 200 84

108 OT Fairburn, GA
Langston Hughes High School 6’7” 290 84

109 ATH Houston, TX
The Kinkaid School 5’11” 170 84

110 OT Tuscaloosa, AL
Northridge High School 6’7” 300 84

111 QB-PP Ankeny, IA
Ankeny High School 6’6” 230 84

112 CB Plantation, FL
American Heritage High School 6’2” 185 84

113 OLB Lehi, UT
Skyridge High School 6’4” 220 84

114 DE Springdale, MD
C. H. Flowers High School 6’6” 230 84

115 OLB Crandall, TX
Crandall High School 6’1” 210 84

116 RB Dexter, MI
Dexter High School 5’11” 180 84

117 TE-Y Folsom, CA
Folsom High School 6’5” 235 84

118 DE Colleyville, TX
Covenant Christian Academy 6’5” 260 84

119 WR Heathsville, VA
Northumberland High School 6’2” 225 84

120 OT Windsor, CT
Loomis Chaffee School 6’6” 310 84

121 DE New Hope, MN
Robbinsdale Cooper High School 6’4” 245 84

122 TE-H Austin, TX
Westlake High School 6’2” 220 84

123 OT East Saint Louis, IL
East St. Louis High School 6’7” 355 84

124 OLB Tampa, FL
Tampa Catholic High School 6’0” 200 84

125 DE Seminole, FL
Osceola High School 6’5” 270 84

126 OT Clearwater, FL
Clearwater Academy 6’7” 300 84

127 TE-Y Saint Louis, MO
De Smet Jesuit High School 6’4” 250 84

128 OLB Hoschton, GA
Mill Creek High School 6’3” 200 84

129 ATH Dallas, TX
South Oak Cliff High 5’11” 170 84

130 OLB Fairfax, VA
Fairfax High School 6’2” 205 84

131 OT Austin, TX
Westlake High School 6’4” 310 83

132 OLB Teague, TX
Teague High School 6’2” 225 83

133 DT Camden, SC
Camden High School 6’5” 325 83

134 OG Douglasville, GA
South Paulding High School 6’4” 300 83

135 OT Roebuck, SC
Dorman High School 6’4” 305 83

136 TE-Y Thompson’s Station, TN
Independence High School 6’5” 225 83

137 OT McDonough, GA
Eagles Landing Christian Academy 6’7” 335 83

138 CB Long Beach, CA
Long Beach Polytechnic High School 6’0” 175 83

139 S West Orange, FL
West Orange High School 6’2” 205 83

140 RB Derby, KS
Derby Senior High School 5’8” 155 83

141 S Denton, TX
John H. Guyer High School 6’0” 175 83

142 WR Miami, FL
Miami Edison Senior High School 5’9” 170 83

143 DE Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’3” 250 83

144 WR Thomasville, GA
Thomas County Central High School 5’11” 175 83

145 CB Saint Louis, MO
De Smet Jesuit High School 6’0” 175 83

146 ATH Tampa, FL
Gaither High School 5’11” 170 83

147 ILB Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’2” 225 83

148 RB Baton Rouge, LA
Liberty Magnet High School 5’11” 200 83

149 CB Waxahachie, TX
Waxahachie High School 5’11” 180 83

150 QB-PP Cornelius, NC
Hough High School 6’3” 225 83

151 ATH Idaho Falls, ID
Skyline High School 6’4” 225 83

152 DT Jacksonville, FL
Westside High School 6’4” 300 83

153 DE American Fork, UT
American Fork High School 6’4” 240 83

154 CB Miami, FL
Gulliver Prep High School 6’2” 175 83

155 ATH Lincoln, NE
Lincoln East High School 6’5” 200 83

156 DE Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Santa Margarita Catholic High School 6’7” 255 83

157 WR Lakeland, FL
Lakeland High School 6’4” 190 83

158 CB Kankakee, IL
Kankakee High School 6’2” 170 83

159 WR Raleigh, NC
Millbrook High School 6’3” 200 83

160 TE-H Santa Rosa Beach, FL
South Walton High School 6’6” 210 83

161 CB Bellflower, CA
St. John Bosco High School 6’2” 185 82

162 WR Milton, FL
Milton High School 6’3” 205 82

163 DE Hickory, NC
Hickory High School 6’4” 230 82

164 DT Saint James, MD
St. James School 6’4” 275 82

165 RB Picayune, MS
Picayune Memorial High School 6’1” 215 82

166 DE Concord, NC
J. M. Robinson High School 6’5” 260 82

167 ILB Many, LA
Many High School 6’2” 205 82

168 CB Roswell, GA
Roswell High School 5’11” 165 82

169 OG West Bloomfield, MI
West Bloomfield High School 6’3” 280 82

170 DE Detroit, MI
Cass Technical High School 6’3” 245 82

171 DT Chandler, AZ
Chandler High School 6’4” 295 82

172 RB Farmerville, LA
Union Parish High School 5’8” 180 82

173 CB Coppell, TX
Coppell High School 6’1” 190 82

174 OG Huber Heights, OH
Wayne High School 6’3” 280 82

175 QB-DT Nashville, TN
Montgomery Bell Academy 6’1” 170 82

176 WR Converse, TX
Judson High School 5’11” 170 82

177 OLB Jacksonville, FL
Andrew Jackson High School 6’3” 215 82

178 ATH Waco, TX
Connally High School 6’2” 190 82

179 DE Ellenwood, GA
Cedar Grove High School 6’6” 210 82

180 QB-DT Hendersonville, TN
Pope John Paul II High School 6’2” 205 82

181 CB Ellenwood, GA
Cedar Grove High School 5’11” 170 82

182 DE Austin, TX
Westlake High School 6’5” 230 82

183 OLB Durham, NC
Southern Durham High School 6’4” 215 82

184 ATH Temple, TX
Temple High School 6’0” 185 82

185 ILB Smyrna, TN
Smyrna High School 6’1” 215 82

186 CB Jacksonville, FL
Bartram Trail High School 6’0” 165 82

187 ATH Dublin, GA
Trinity Christian School 6’0” 180 82

188 CB Chandler, AZ
Basha High School 5’10” 175 82

189 ILB Fayetteville, GA
Whitewater High School 6’1” 220 82

190 OT Garland, TX
Naaman Forest High School 6’4” 285 82

191 DE Amarillo, TX
Tascosa High School 6’3” 255 82

192 QB-DT Brentwood, TN
Ravenwood High School 6’0” 210 82

193 OT McDonough, GA
Eagles Landing Christian Academy 6’5” 300 82

194 S Fort Lauderdale, FL
Dillard High School 6’1” 180 82

195 OLB Manteca, CA
Manteca High School 6’3” 215 82

196 ILB Altamonte Springs, FL
Lake Brantley High School 6’1” 200 82

197 DE Indianapolis, IN
Lawrence Central High School 6’4” 225 82

198 TE-H Ashdown, AR
Ashdown High School 6’5” 215 82

199 QB-PP Baton Rouge, LA
Woodlawn High School 6’3” 185 82

200 WR Chula Vista, CA
Mater Dei Catholic High School 6’1” 190 82

201 DT Richmond, VA
Benedictine College Prep 6’4” 310 82

202 CB Baton Rouge, LA
Woodlawn High School 6’0” 165 82

203 TE-H Milton, MA
Milton Academy 6’4” 215 82

204 RB Plantation, FL
American Heritage High School 6’1” 220 82

205 DE HIghland Home, AL
Highland Home High School 6’6” 245 82

206 ATH Miami, FL
Miami Palmetto High School 5’11” 170 82

207 DE Trussville, AL
Hewitt-Trussville High School 6’4” 255 82

208 CB Charlotte, NC
Providence Day School 6’0” 175 82

209 OC Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’3” 325 82

210 ATH Carrollton, GA
Central High School 6’0” 175 82

211 DE Olney, MD
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School 6’5” 235 82

212 S San Jacinto, CA
San Jacinto High School 6’1” 180 82

213 TE-Y Saint Charles, MO
Francis Howell Central High School 6’6” 225 82

214 CB Frisco, TX
Lone Star High School 6’0” 170 82

215 DE Pleasant Valley, IA
Pleasant Valley High School 6’5” 240 82

216 S Munford, AL
Munford High School 5’11” 195 82

217 DE Columbia, MD
Wilde Lake High School 6’5” 205 82

218 CB Las Vegas, NV
Bishop Gorman High School 6’1” 190 82

219 DT New Bern, NC
New Bern High School 6’3” 285 82

220 CB Seattle, WA
Rainier High School 6’0” 180 82

221 ATH Pittsburg, CA
Pittsburg High School 6’1” 175 82

222 DE West Roxbury, MA
Catholic Memorial High School 6’4” 255 82

223 S Mansfield, TX
Mansfield High School 6’0” 185 82

224 DT Camden, NJ
Eastside High School 6’4” 300 82

225 DE Thomaston, GA
Upson-Lee High School 6’5” 245 82

226 DT Rome, GA
Rome High School 6’4” 270 82

227 ATH Folsom, CA
Folsom High School 6’1” 190 82

228 CB Arlington, TX
Timberview High School 5’11” 185 82

229 ATH Fort Lauderdale, FL
Dillard High School 5’11” 190 82

230 RB Charlotte, NC
West Charlotte High School 6’0” 185 82

231 DE Houston, TX
C. E. King High School 6’4” 245 82

232 WR Tallahassee, FL
James S. Rickards High School 6’3” 190 82

233 RB Scranton, PA
Scranton Preparatory School 5’11” 190 82

234 CB Montgomery, AL
Alabama Christian Academy 6’2” 180 82

235 QB-PP Colorado Springs, CO
Vista Ridge High School 6’5” 195 82

236 OT Provo, UT
Timpview High School 6’4” 260 82

237 WR Hollywood, FL
Avant Garde Academy 6’2” 195 81

238 OLB Watkinsville, GA
Oconee County High School 6’2” 195 81

239 OG Gilbert, AZ
Highland High School 6’5” 265 81

240 S Irvington, NJ
Irvington High School 6’0” 190 81

241 WR Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’2” 185 81

242 ILB Altamonte Springs, FL
Lake Brantley High School 6’1” 190 81

243 DE Mentor, OH
Mentor High School 6’5” 240 81

244 WR Chipley, FL
Chipley High School 6’2” 185 81

245 CB Spanaway, WA
Spanaway Lake High School 5’11” 170 81

246 RB Naples, FL
Naples High School 6’1” 195 81

247 DE Saint Petersburg, FL
Lakewood Senior High School 6’4” 225 81

248 ATH Ocean Springs, MS
Ocean Springs High School 6’2” 190 81

249 RB Sandersville, GA
Washington County High School 5’11” 190 81

250 DE Washington, DC
St. John’s College High School 6’3” 235 81

251 ILB Philadelphia, PA
Imhotep Institute Charter High School 6’1” 220 81

252 TE-H Norcross, GA
Norcross High School 6’3” 220 81

253 S Zachary, LA
Zachary High School 6’2” 200 81

254 WR Lansdale, PA
North Penn High School 6’2” 175 81

255 S West Chester, OH
Lakota West High School 6’3” 175 81

256 OT Columbus, GA
Carver High School 6’5” 300 81

257 WR Tulsa, OK
Booker T. Washington High School 5’11” 170 81

258 TE-Y Tucson, AZ
Mountain View High School 6’4” 245 81

259 DE Gainesville, FL
Buchholz High School 6’3” 245 81

260 RB Middleburg, FL
Middleburg High School 5’11” 195 81

261 DE Manor, TX
Manor High School 6’4” 225 81

262 QB-DT Tacoma, WA
Lincoln High School 6’0” 205 81

263 ILB Fort Worth, TX
North Crowley High School 6’1” 215 81

264 OG Hyattsville, MD
DeMatha Catholic High School 6’5” 305 81

265 OLB Cleveland, OH
Glenville High School 6’3” 215 81

266 RB Canutillo, TX
Canutillo High School 6’1” 205 81

267 DE Cypress, TX
Cypress Ranch High School 6’3” 260 81

268 OT Arlington, TX
Lamar High School 6’7” 285 81

269 WR Owasso, OK
Owasso High School 5’10” 180 81

270 ATH Clearwater, FL
Clearwater Central Catholic H. S. 5’10” 170 81

271 QB-PP Dripping Springs, TX
Dripping Springs High School 6’2” 180 81

272 S Lake Charles, LA
Lake Charles College Prep 6’1” 180 81

273 DE Miami, FL
Gulliver Prep High School 6’4” 220 81

274 CB Rome, GA
Rome High School 6’0” 170 81

275 OG Elk Grove, CA
Elk Grove High School 6’3” 310 81

276 ATH Granada Hills, CA
Granada Hills High School 6’0” 175 81

277 WR Mesquite, TX
North Mesquite High School 6’2” 190 81

278 RB Montgomery, AL
Montgomery Catholic High School 5’11” 185 81

279 TE-H Havelock, NC
Havelock High School 6’4” 210 81

280 RB New Caney, TX
New Caney High 5’11” 190 81

281 DT North Kansas City, MO
North Kansas City High School 6’3” 285 81

282 ATH Los Alamitos, CA
Los Alamitos High School 6’3” 185 81

283 S Fairburn, GA
Langston Hughes High School 6’2” 195 81

284 RB San Diego, CA
Abraham Lincoln High School 6’1” 240 81

285 WR Roanoke, VA
Patrick Henry High School 6’0” 170 81

286 OLB Friendswood, TX
Friendswood High School 6’5” 230 81

287 OC Ferndale, WA
Ferndale High School 6’3” 280 81

288 DE Orlando, FL
Olympia High School 6’7” 265 81

289 OLB Hampton, VA
Phoebus High School 6’4” 215 81

290 ATH Arthur, IL
Arthur High School 6’2” 220 81

291 WR Mission Viejo, CA
Mission Viejo High School 5’9” 170 81

292 TE-Y Concord, CA
De La Salle High School 6’6” 255 81

293 QB-DT Florence, SC
South Florence High School 6’2” 225 81

294 OLB Post, TX
Post High School 6’4” 210 81

295 CB West Orange, NJ
West Orange High School 6’4” 180 81

296 OT Chattanooga, TN
Baylor School 6’6” 280 81

297 TE-H Fort Worth, TX
North Crowley High School 6’5” 215 81

298 ILB Gainesville, GA
Gainesville High School 6’2” 220 81

299 ATH Maiden, NC
Maiden High School 6’3” 190 81

300 CB Fort Mitchell, KY
Beechwood High School 5’10” 175 81

Continue Reading

Sports

Rangers polish off Caps for first sweep since ’07

Published

on

By

Rangers polish off Caps for first sweep since '07

WASHINGTON — Artemi Panarin scored the go-ahead goal on the power play early in the third period, Igor Shesterkin made 23 saves and the New York Rangers advanced to the second round of the playoffs by finishing off a sweep of the Washington Capitals with a 4-2 victory in Game 4 on Sunday night.

Trade deadline pickup Jack Roslovic sealed it with an empty-netter with 51 seconds left, and the Rangers next will face either the Carolina Hurricanes or crosstown rival New York Islanders with a spot in the Eastern Conference finals at stake. Carolina leads that series 3-1.

They’ll get the benefit of some extra rest thanks to Panarin’s goal with 16:39 left in regulation, 11 seconds after T.J. Oshie was penalized for high-sticking Vincent Trocheck, which helped them avoid overtime or this series returning to Madison Square Garden for a Game 5 on Wednesday. The Presidents’ Trophy winners for having the best regular season in the NHL needed just four to vanquish the Capitals and become the first team to advance this spring.

It was New York’s first sweep since 2007, when they ousted the Atlanta Thrashers in the firstg round.

New York moves on thanks to another dominant performance from Trocheck, who was the best player on the ice all series. Trocheck long before drawing the crucial penalty scored on the power play and broke up a scoring chance by Alex Ovechkin, who was held off the scoresheet entirely through four games — the first time that has happened in a single postseason in the Capitals captain’s 15 trips.

But he was not Washington’s only problem, and part of the lack of offense was Shesterkin, who several times sparked chants of “Igor! Igor!” from the many Rangers fans in attendance. He turned aside Dylan Strome 14 seconds after Kaapo Kakko scored in the first minute to put them ahead and later made back-to-back saves on Tom Wilson’s point-blank chances on the doorstep.

Trocheck, Shesterkin and MVP candidate Panarin leading a victory is nothing new, but Kakko contributing made him the 11th New York player to score a goal in the series. That came after Nick Jensen turned the puck over on his first shift back from a two-week injury absence, and Kakko beat Charlie Lindgren for a goal that could boost his confidence after a rough regular season.

Lindgren, who has not lacked self-belief, couldn’t again play the hero despite stopping 19 of the 22 shots he faced. Youngsters Martin Fehervary and Hendrix Lapierre scored for Washington, a significant underdog now able to take solace in making the playoffs as a building block for the future.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Continue Reading

Sports

3-1 Canucks earn 3rd win with 3rd different goalie

Published

on

By

3-1 Canucks earn 3rd win with 3rd different goalie

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Injuries have forced the Vancouver Canucks to change goalies now for a third time in their first four playoff games.

Thanks to Casey DeSmith and now Arturs Silovs winning the first postseason games of their careers, the Canucks are making history and are one victory away from the next round.

Silovs made 27 saves in his NHL playoff debut Sunday as Vancouver rallied and staggered Nashville with a 4-3 overtime victory.

A sixth-round pick in the 2019 draft, Silovs said he had a little bit of a blackout at the final horn and didn’t know who hugged him first. But with All-Star Thatcher Demko and then DeSmith both sidelined by injuries, Silovs learned Saturday he would be starting.

“It was great. My time to shine,” Silovs said.

The Canucks became only the second team in NHL history to have three different goalies win each of their first three games in a postseason. Vancouver also did it during the 2004 Western quarterfinals with Dan Cloutier in Game 1, Johan Hedberg in Game 3 and Alex Auld in Game 6.

Chicago in the 1972 quarterfinals was the only other team in NHL history with three different goalies to win a game at any point in a series. Tony Esposito won Game 1, Gary Smith took Game 3 and Gerry Desjardins was in net for Game 4.

The Canucks started Demko in a Game 1 win in the All-Star goalie’s third game back from a knee injury that sidelined him March 9. Coach Rick Tocchet announced Demko is week-to-week with an unspecified injury.

That’s when DeSmith started both Games 2 and 3, and he got his first postseason victory Friday night. DeSmith was leveled by a hit from Predators forward Michael McCarron behind the net, which earned McCarron a $2,000 fine from the NHL on Saturday. DeSmith was seen at practice Saturday.

Tocchet said DeSmith is dealing with an injury. Asked who will start in net Tuesday night for Game 5 with Vancouver having a chance to clinch a series on home ice for the first time since the 2011 Western Conference final, Tocchet said they would evaluate DeSmith’s status Monday.

“It’s next man up, so I think that’s the approach and we’ll see how it shakes out,” Tocchet said.

A native of Riga, Latvia, Silovs is 6-2-1 with a 2.62 goals against average and an .898 save percentage in the regular season. He leaned on his experience playing for Latvia in the world championships in this game.

“It was like the same atmosphere, I would say,” Silovs said. “Either they boo you or they’re for you. It’s always great to play.”

Tocchet didn’t think Silovs looked nervous, even before the game when the goalie wasn’t saying much.

“I don’t think the moment’s too big for him,” Tocchet said. “I like his demeanor. I think watching Casey and watching Demmer is something that he’s watched the last couple of years for help.”

Continue Reading

Sports

‘Self-inflicted’ issues doom Jets as Avs win Game 4

Published

on

By

'Self-inflicted' issues doom Jets as Avs win Game 4

DENVER — The Winnipeg Jets are on the verge of getting eliminated in five games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the second straight season.

A 5-1 loss Sunday to the Colorado Avalanche sent the Jets into a 3-1 series hole while facing numerous questions about what has gone wrong with them since they won Game 1.

“The problems are self-inflicted,” Jets coach Rick Bowness said. “Want to take penalties? Want to play a three-quarter ice game? You’re playing right into their hands.”

One of the main questions facing the Jets: What’s going on with star goaltender and 2020 Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck?

Hellebuyck entered the playoffs with a 37-19-4 record, a 2.39 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. It was the sort of season that allowed the Jets to finish with 52 wins and 110 points and become discussed as a serious challenger in the Western Conference.

It’s also why Hellebuyck is in line to potentially win a second Vezina as he finished the regular season ranked second in wins, second in save percentage, third in GAA among goaltenders with more than 40 games and fifth in shutouts.

This postseason, however, has provided a contrast.

The Jets were formidable in the regular season in part because they allowed 29.6 shots per game, 11th fewest in the NHL, while also giving up the ninth-fewest scoring chances per 60 minutes, according to Natural Stat Trick.

In four games against the Avs, they have allowed an average of 38.3 shots. Only the Los Angeles Kings have allowed more, at 38.7 per contest, this postseason. As for their scoring chances per 60, only the Vegas Golden Knights have given up more than the Jets on that front.

Sunday was a reflection of that reality. Hellebuyck faced more than 30 shots and allowed more than four goals for a fourth straight game. It led to him being pulled to start the third period, with the Jets turning to Laurent Brossoit to finish the contest.

Hellebuyck has a 5.05 GAA, a .870 save percentage and has allowed 19 goals through four playoff games.

“[To] give him a break,” Bowness said of why he pulled Hellebuyck. “It was just too much. … He was having to make save after save. Just giving him a break. It’s not on him whatsoever. It’s on the players in front of him.”

Jets alternate captain Mark Scheifele agreed with Bowness’ assessment.

“I don’t think those goals are his fault,” Scheifele said. “He’s our backbone, he’s our heart and soul.”

Giving up power-play opportunities and watching the Avalanche convert those chances are what doomed the Jets in a 5-2 loss in Game 3.

The same issue hindered them again Sunday.

Both teams went on the power play four times, but the Avalanche scored twice while the Jets didn’t score at all. Valeri Nichushkin, who finished with a hat trick, scored the first power-play goal that gave the Avs a 2-1 lead more than eight minutes into the second period.

After star defenseman Cale Makar pushed the lead to 3-1 more than four minutes later, Nichushkin increased the lead to 4-1 with his second power-play goal of the day. He completed the hat trick with an empty-net goal in the third.

“For us right now, we’re working well as a five-man unit,” Makar said. “I think both power-play units are doing a great job at puck possession and finding ways to generate opportunities at the net, whether that’s to screen or getting pucks there. For us, I think it’s just a cohesive unit right now and we’re trying to find different ways to exploit them.”

The Jets entered Sunday without defenseman Brenden Dillon, who sustained a lacerated right hand as part of an on-ice scrum at the end of Game 3.

Dillon’s absence was compounded by the fact the Jets also lost Vladislav Namestnikov in the third period. The forward, who once played for the Avalanche, was injured when the Jets won a faceoff and a Nate Schmidt slap shot struck Namestnikov’s face.

Namestnikov was on the ice for a few minutes before slowly getting up. The Jets athletic training staff assisted Namestnikov, who compressed the blood on his face with a towel, to their back room for treatment. Bowness said Namestnikov was taken to a hospital but the coach had no update on his condition.

After missing the playoffs in the 2021-22 season, the Jets returned in 2022-23 and opened with a 5-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights before losing the next four games to the eventual defending champions.

Having one of the strongest regular seasons of any team in the NHL led to the belief that this year could be different. The idea was made even more real by the fact that they were 3-0 against the Avs and scored 17 goals in those contests.

Now the Jets must win Game 5 or they will have another early exit as the Avs try to win their second Stanley Cup title in three years.

“It’s completely different,” Scheifele said when asked if this year’s playoffs are similar to those of last season. “Completely different teams on both sides of the coin. We had a good regular season against them. They made adjustments and we haven’t. We’ve got to bring a different game come Tuesday.”

Continue Reading

Trending