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Round 3
Stanley Cup Final
(Page 17 of 22)
Player Profiles

Kunitz has elevated his game in absence of Crosby

Thursday, 03.24.2011 / 2:30 PM / Player Profiles

Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer

PHILADELPHIA -- Despite the loss of linemate Sidney Crosby, left wing Chris Kunitz might very well be playing his best hockey since arriving in Pittsburgh two years ago.

Don't believe it? Just ask his coach, Dan Bylsma.

"It might be some of the best games I've seen him play for the Penguins ... he's elevated his game," Bylsma said. "I think he's really setting the tone for our team in a lot of aspects through his work ethic and how we're playing the game with speed. It's a great time of the year, and I think Chris is excited about how he feels physically and it's really noticeable on the ice."

It also helps that Kunitz has found some chemistry alongside Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy on the team's second line. The Kunitz-Staal-Kennedy trio has actually produced 9 goals over the last four games. Kunitz, who is in his seventh NHL season and third with the Penguins, has led the attack with 4 goals, 8 points, 6 hits and 10 shots over that four-game stretch.

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Durability, dominance reasons for Lundqvist's Vezina Trophy consideration

Wednesday, 03.23.2011 / 12:06 PM / Player Profiles

Dave Lozo - NHL.com Staff Writer

When it is time to talk about Vezina Trophy candidates and goaltenders who have a convincing case for the Hart Trophy, Boston's Tim Thomas and Nashville's Pekka Rinne dominate the conversation.

Thomas and Rinne have earned the distinction as front-runners for those trophies with their sparkling numbers and stellar play this season. Barring something unforeseen, both likely will be finalists for the Vezina and perhaps one or both will have a crack at the Hart.

But if there is one goaltender who is making an under-the-radar push for Vezina consideration during the season's homestretch, it is Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers.

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Versatile Korpikoski helping Coyotes charge

Friday, 03.18.2011 / 11:12 AM / Player Profiles

Jerry Brown - NHL.com Correspondent

He can play all three forward positions and serves as a nice fit on any of the four lines. He blocks shots, scores shorthanded, checks the opposition's top skill and his stickhandling and shooting is becoming a strong compliment to his blazing speed.

To all but diehard Phoenix Coyote fans and shrewd NHL fantasy league owners, Lauri Korpikoski isn't any easier to recognize than his name is to pronounce. That is changing quickly, with the Coyotes now streaking toward another Western Conference playoff berth and the former understudy now playing a starting role.

The 24-year-old Finn, scooped up from the New York Rangers in the summer of 2009 for a player no longer in the League (Enver Lisin), is tied for the Coyotes team lead with 17 goals, has chipped in 19 assists and is doing it all for the bargain-basement price of $700,000.
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Rookie season was eye-opening experience for Hall

Wednesday, 03.16.2011 / 4:03 PM / Player Profiles

Robin Brownlee - NHL.com Correspondent

EDMONTON -- Taylor Hall of the Edmonton Oilers was putting together a season worthy of Calder Trophy consideration as NHL rookie of the year when he suffered a season-ending high-ankle sprain in a fight with Derek Dorsett of the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 3.

The 19-year-old Hall, a two-time Memorial Cup winner and MVP with the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL, and the first player selected in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, played 65 games with the Oilers. He had 22 goals and 42 points when his season ended. Hall's fight with Dorsett was the first of his NHL career.

Hall sat down with NHL.com Wednesday for an exclusive interview and a look back at his rookie season.

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Austrian-born Grabner a revelation for Islanders

Tuesday, 03.15.2011 / 5:10 PM / Player Profiles

David Kalan - NHL.com Staff Writer

Austria has been a major player in central Europe for centuries, with an influential history spanning the Hapsburg dynasty to Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

But hockey is a different matter.

The NHL has had players from a wide swath of nations across three continents in recent decades, but Austria curiously has lacked a position of influence in the NHL and international hockey in general, having not won a medal in a major tournament in decades.

"Honestly, (for kids) it was mostly soccer," New York Islanders rookie forward Michael Grabner said in attempting to explain where hockey stands in his homeland. "Obviously it's an expensive sport. Every year you've got to buy new stuff, so a lot of families just didn't have the money to keep their kid going."
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Holtby seizing opportunity as Caps' go-to goalie

Monday, 03.14.2011 / 3:53 PM / Player Profiles

Dave Lozo - NHL.com Staff Writer

Braden Holtby's first stint with the Washington Capitals started out with immense promise but ended with major disappointment.

The 21-year-old rookie goaltender stopped all four shots he faced in relief of Semyon Varlamov against the Boston Bruins on Nov. 5. It wasn't exactly the greatest debut in NHL history, but it was a flawless 10:09 for the native of Lloydminster, Saskatoon. Holtby made his first career start two nights later and made 23 saves against the Philadelphia Flyers in a 3-2 overtime victory.

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Arnott still hopeful of visiting White House

Saturday, 03.12.2011 / 4:59 PM / Player Profiles

Corey Masisak - NHL.com Staff Writer

WASHINGTON -- Patrick Kane stood near the President of the United States on Friday and listened to the leader of this country laud him for scoring an overtime goal to deliver the Stanley Cup to Chicago.

Jason Arnott has also scored a Cup-winning overtime goal, but he's still waiting for his date at the White House.

"We never went," said Arnott, who helped the New Jersey Devils claim the Stanley Cup in 2000 with a goal in the second overtime of Game 6 against Dallas. [General Manager] Lou [Lamoriello] wouldn't fly us special there if it didn't work with our schedule. It is one of the most disappointing things in my life. It was horrible. It was great winning the Cup, but I never got to meet the President.
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Versatile Benn key to Stars' climb up standings

Friday, 03.11.2011 / 3:00 PM / Player Profiles

Steve Hunt - NHL.com Correspondent

"He's given us some great play. He's been very versatile. He's played all three forward positions, played on the penalty kill, been on the power play as well, and he's scored some big goals for us."
-- Stars coach, Marc Crawford

DALLAS -- The big story in Dallas earlier this week was the return of All-Star center Brad Richards, who missed 10 games with concussion-like symptoms.  But another phenomenon has been the strong play of second-year forward Jamie Benn, who has goals in a career-best five straight games.

On Feb. 22 against New Jersey, the versatile 21-year-old returned from a 10-game absence with a shoulder injury. And two nights later in Detroit, he assisted on Mike Ribeiro's game-opening goal to help the Stars to a 4-1 win against the Red Wings.

In his eight games back, he has centered the top line in place of Richards and also played on both wings. But such versatility is nothing new.
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Stability helping Leddy feel more at home

Thursday, 03.10.2011 / 3:30 PM / Player Profiles

Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer

"He's calm with the puck and it seems like he makes a lot of plays. You tell him to do one thing and he'll do it the next time out. I think he's going to be really good." -- Patrick Kane

The word from Stan Bowman has come enough times this season to make Nick Leddy's head spin. Chicago’s 19-year-old rookie defenseman has been sent to the American Hockey League and called up to the big club six times since he won a spot in the opening-night lineup.

Most of the transactions involving Leddy simply have been for flexibility with the salary cap, sending him down during stretches where the Hawks had a break in the schedule. However, it didn't stop the youngster from feeling the stress of the business.
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Ladd finding his niche in first season as captain

Wednesday, 03.09.2011 / 9:00 AM / Player Profiles

John Manasso - NHL.com Correspondent

DULUTH, Ga. -- When Craig Ramsay took over as Thrashers coach to start this season, he did not name a captain right away. He wanted to get to know his personnel first.

After the team muddled through the first five weeks, coinciding with one particularly disappointing loss, Ramsay named 25-year-old Andrew Ladd as captain.

He could not have made a better choice. The Thrashers immediately took off and at one point in late December occupied first place in the Southeast Division.

Since then, all has not gone so well. Entering Wednesday's key game at Carolina, the Thrashers remain a bit of a long shot to make the playoffs, trailing eighth-place Buffalo by seven points with 16 games to play. But the fact that they have any chance at all would seem, to a large degree, because of Ladd, their leading goal-scorer whom they acquired over the summer via trade for a second-round pick and a prospect.
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