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Posted On Monday, 02.24.2014 / 3:39 PM

By Mike G. Morreale -  NHL.com Staff Writer /NHL.com - 2014 NHL Draft blog

Eden Prairie's Snuggerud, Spinner up for Mr. Hockey

The top 10 candidates for the 2014 Mr. Hockey Award for the state of Minnesota have been announced.

The Mr. Hockey Award is given to the outstanding senior high school hockey player in the state of Minnesota and is selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts, NCAA Division I coaches and selected media members from around the state.

The nominees include five players ranked on NHL Central Scouting's midterm list of the top North American skaters for the 2014 NHL Draft.

The 10 finalists are forwards Tyler Cline (Blaine), Spencer Naas (Benilde-St. Margaret's), Avery Peterson (Grand Rapids), Mitch Slattery (Hill-Murray), Steven Spinner (Eden Prairie) and Zach Yon (Roseau), and defensemen Phil Beaulieu (Duluth East), Tyler Nanne (Edina), Luc Snuggerud (Eden Prairie) and Nick Wolff (Eagan).

Nanne, Slattery, Spinner, Snuggerud and Wolff are on Central Scouting's midterm list.

Posted On Monday, 02.24.2014 / 1:15 PM

By Barry Melrose -  NHL Network Analyst /NHL.com - Melrose Minute

Melrose: Canada's defense star of the Olympics

After two wild weeks the 2014 Sochi Olympics have come to an end, and Canada was the last team standing after a convincing win against Sweden on Sunday in the gold-medal game. Obviously if you're a native Canadian like I am it makes you extremely proud to see Canada win gold for the second consecutive Olympics and third time in the last four tournaments.

Each team in the tournament made its own mark and had its own interesting story though. Here is what stuck out to me:

CANADA'S DEFENSE NEARLY WAS PERFECT

I've never seen a defense dominate as much as this one did, and when I say dominate I mean in all areas of the game. Offensively they scored almost half of Canada's goals and defensively they made life easy for goalie Carey Price. While Price did a great job, Canada went into this Olympic tournament thinking goaltending might be a weak link. I think Price got a lot of help from his defense corps. Canada's defense did a great job with puck movement, picking guys up and making a great first pass out of the zone.

If you look at the goals Canada was scoring early in the tournament, Drew Doughty or Shea Weber were scoring while the forwards struggled. But even when the forwards made plays, like on Jamie Benn's game-winner against the United States, it was set up on a great pass from the blue line by Jay Bouwmeester. The more I watched those guys the more I thought this was how defense is supposed to be played. If you build a perfect defense it has to look something like this one did. Size-wise, skating ability, puck-handling, toughness, compete-level, this defense had all of those things and it's the biggest reason Canada came away with the gold medal.

Posted On Sunday, 02.23.2014 / 7:04 AM

By Arpon Basu -  Managing Editor LNH.com /NHL.com - Road to Sochi blog

Backstrom missing from Sweden lineup

SOCHI -- Sweden was without Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom for the gold medal game against Canada at the 2014 Sochi Olympics on Sunday (7 a.m. ET, NBC, CBC).

Backstrom was listed on the lineup sheet but did not come out for pre-game warmups. There was no immediate explanation for Backstrom's absence but multiple media reports cited his the reason for his absence was a migraine.

The Washington Capitals center is tied for the team with four assists in five games. Backstrom also has a plus-3 rating while averaging 18:22 of ice time per game. He had been centering Sweden's top line, between Daniel Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks and Loui Eriksson of the Boston Bruins.

Jimmie Ericsson, the only non-NHL player in Sweden's lineup, started the game in Backstrom's spot. He's the brother of Sweden teammate and Jonathan Ericsson and plays for Skelleftea in the Swedish Hockey League.

Posted On Saturday, 02.22.2014 / 9:23 AM

NHL.com - Road to Sochi blog

Rask to start for Finland against U.S.

SOCHI – After missing his country’s semifinal contest because of illness, Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask will be back in net for Finland against the United States in the bronze medal game of the 2014 Sochi Olympics at Bolshoy Ice Dome.

Rask has started three of Finland’s five games of this tournament, yielding seven goals on 78 shots. Kari Lehtonen, who started the semifinal loss to Sweden, will not dress for the game. San Jose Sharks starter Antti Niemi will back up Rask.

Finland has a chance to medal for the fourth time in five Olympics when the NHL has taken a recess in its season to allow its players to complete in the event. Rask will oppose Jonathan Quick for the United States, which will be trying to earn medals in consecutive tournaments for the first time since 1956 and 1960.

Posted On Saturday, 02.22.2014 / 8:07 AM

By NHL.com Staff -  /NHL.com - Road to Sochi blog

Quick to start for U.S. against Finland

Goaltender Jonathan Quick will start for the United States on Saturday against Finland in the bronze-medal game at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, USA Hockey reported on its website.

Quick, of the Los Angeles Kings, played Friday and allowed one goal on 37 shots in a 1-0 loss to Canada in the semifinals. He will be backed up by Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres.

Posted On Saturday, 02.22.2014 / 12:23 AM

By Kevin Weekes -  NHL Network Analyst /NHL.com - Weekes on the Web

Sweden and Canada go for Olympic gold

After a wild up-and-down tournament that has seen countless incredible moments and more than a few upsets, the gold-medal game at the 2014 Sochi Olympics is finally upon us. It features two of the most talented rosters in the entire tournament as Sweden takes on Canada with the gold medal on the line.

Each team features specific strengths that helped them get it this far and will rely on those strengths to win one last game for gold.

Posted On Friday, 02.21.2014 / 10:39 AM

By NHL.com Staff -  /NHL.com - Road to Sochi blog

Martin to miss rest of Olympics with injury: report

United States defenseman Paul Martin will miss the remainder of the 2014 Sochi Olympics due to a hand injury, according to a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review report.

The report said the Pittsburgh Penguins have no timetable for Martin's return to the lineup, but the early indication is Martin could miss a month but return in time for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Martin has no points in four games at the Olympics but has a plus-2 rating and is averaging 17:54 of ice time per game, third among the team's defenseman. He was scratched from the lineup for the team's semifinal game Friday against Canada (Noon ET, NBCSN, CBC). No reason was given at the time but NBCSN reported during broadcast of the semifinal game between Sweden and Finland that Martin was ill.

Justin Faulk will replace Martin in the U.S. lineup against Canada. It will be Faulk's first game of the tournament. In 52 games with the Carolina Hurricanes, Faulk has three goals and 22 points while averaging a team-high 23:50 of ice time per game.

Posted On Friday, 02.21.2014 / 7:58 AM

By Dan Rosen -  NHL.com Senior Writer /NHL.com - Road to Sochi blog

Faulk in, Martin out for U.S. vs. Canada

SOCHI -- Defenseman Justin Faulk will make his debut at the 2014 Sochi Olympics on the United States blue line Friday against Canada (Noon ET, NBCSN, CBC). Paul Martin, who played in the previous four games, is scratched from the semifinal. NBC reported Martin is ill.

Martin has no points, a plus-2 rating and has averaged 17:54 of ice time in four games.

Faulk, of the Carolina Hurricanes, was a healthy scratch for the first four games but will play as the seventh defenseman. John Carlson, who was the seventh defenseman in the previous three games, will play with Brooks Orpik, who is Martin's defense partner with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The other two defense pairs will remain the same: Ryan Suter with Ryan McDonagh, and Kevin Shattenkirk with Cam Fowler.

Posted On Friday, 02.21.2014 / 7:10 AM

By Shawn P. Roarke -  NHL.com Senior Managing Editor /NHL.com - Road to Sochi blog

Finland scratches Rask from Olympic semifinal

SOCHI -- Finland goaltender Tuukka Rask has been scratched from the semifinal game against Sweden on Friday at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, according to the lineup posted by the IIHF.

Rask, of the Boston Bruins, is suffering from the flu, according to Finnish officials.

Backup Kari Lehtonen will replace Rask.
Posted On Friday, 02.21.2014 / 5:57 AM

By Arpon Basu -  Managing Editor LNH.com /NHL.com - Road to Sochi blog

Canadian women provide inspiration for men's team

SOCHI -- Canada had some inspiring visitors at its pregame skate Friday.

As the team prepared for its semifinal game against the United States at the training rink of the Bolshoy Ice Dome, sitting in the stands were two key players from Canada's women's team that won gold against the U.S. in a dramatic, come-from-behind 3-2 overtime victory 12 hours earlier.

Forward Hayley Wickenheiser and starting goaltender Shannon Szabados were there to support the men in their bid to move past the U.S. and reach the gold medal game Sunday.


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