It’s a significant pay increase from the $2.9 million he earned in his only season at West Virginia.
Luke Schenn To Miss Second Consecutive Game; Jets Swap Fourth Liners Ahead Of Test Against Golden Knights
The Winnipeg Jets will be without Luke Schenn for the second consecutive game tonight as they continue their road trip against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Schenn left Tuesday's practice ahead of the Jets game against the Los Angeles Kingswith "stiffness" and was announced as a game-time decision. He did not play that night, and despite skating this morning, he did not participate in any line rushes.
Similar to their matchup with the Kings, the Golden Knights roster multiple big forwards, eager to impose themselves physically on the forecheck. That style of play is common in the playoffs, and it's why the Jets acquired Schenn at the deadline.
The Jets have elected to make multiple changes to their lineup tonight, adding Jarett Anderson-Dolan in replace of David Gustafsson. Anderson-Dolan hasn't played a game with the Jets this season but has scored seven goals and 19 points in 51 games with the Manitoba Moose in the AHL.
HC Scott Arniel has also reunited the second and third lines, placing Nikolaj Ehlers back with Cole Perfetti and Vladislav Namestnikov. Perfetti will also join the first power play unit, rewarded for his strong offensive results as of late.
Finally, Eric Comrie will step in between the posts for the Jets, making his 18th start of the season. He's posted an 8-9-1 record, a .909 SV% and a 2.49 GAA. He'll duel Adin Hill, in line to make his fifth start in 10 days.
The Dallas Stars could be within two points before the Jets finish their first period tonight, increasing the need to pick up the two points tonight.
Puck drop is at 9:00 PM CST at T-Mobile Arena.
Stay updated with the most interesting Jets stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.
Is Logan Stanley Deserving Of A Spot In The Jets Lineup?The Winnipeg Jets had cut the lead in half and were building off of the momentum before a costly turnover by Logan Stanley allowed the Los Angeles Kings to regain their two-goal advantage, proving to be enough to sink their hopes of a comeback. Braves are desperate for recovery as they enter their home opener as the majors’ only winless team
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves’ longest winless start since 2016 has left manager Brian Snitker desperate for a recovery he hopes begins with the team’s home opener against Miami.
Atlanta blew a 5-0 lead and lost 6-5 on Shohei Ohtani’s ninth-inning homer. The loss left the Braves 0-7 for their worst start since their 0-9 opening in 2016, when they finished last in the NL East.
The Braves are the only team in the majors still looking for their first win, and the pain of the woeful start has been made worse by losing two players. Left fielder Jurickson Profar, the team’s leadoff hitter and top offseason addition, was suspended for 80 games for performance-enhancing drug use. Right-hander Reynaldo Lopez was placed on the 15-day injured list because of an inflamed right shoulder.
Snitker, who has enjoyed a run of seven consecutive postseasons, including the 2021 World Series championship, and six straight NL East titles, didn’t try to hide the pain of the latest loss.
“I wouldn’t wish this on anybody honestly, you know, in a competitive arena,” Snitker told reporters. “And what we’re going through is tough. Very tough.”
The Braves were swept by San Diego in four games to open the season before three straight losses in Los Angeles.
A lack of hitting was the glaring weakness for most of the devastating road trip. After scoring only nine runs in their first six games combined, the Braves appeared to break out of their funk by taking an early 5-0 lead. They failed to score after loading the bases with no outs in the sixth. Closer Raisel Iglesias gave up Ohtani’s tiebreaking homer in the ninth.
“There’s nothing you can do but just continue to fight your way out of it and show up,” Snitker said, adding that the performance “was more of a real game than we’ve played, I think, in six days.
“It’s a shame that we lost it. But you know what? That’s up to us. I mean, we had it there. We couldn’t finish the deal.”
The Braves rank last in the majors with their .151 batting average and 28th with 14 runs, only two per game.
Looking for answers, Snitker shook up his lineup in Los Angeles. Shortstop Nick Allen had a combined three hits while starting the last two games. Outfielders Michael Harris II and Jarred Kelenic were rested.
“What are we going to do? Not score?” Snitker asked before the game when discussing the new lineup. It was his way of saying things couldn’t get much worse.
Matt Olson, Austin Riley and Harris are hitting below .200. Olson and Riley have yet to hit a homer.
“From an offensive point of view, there’s no excuses,” Riley told reporters after the game. “It’s embarrassing.”
Pitchers are avoiding designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, who leads the majors with 13 walks.
“It’s pretty evident that they haven’t wanted to pitch to him,” Snitker said. “... Eventually some of the guys behind him are going to get it going as a whole. We will as a team.”
Line Combinations: Jets at Golden Knights
The 51-20-4 Winnipeg Jets will face the 45-21-8 Vegas Golden Knights from T-Mobil Arena in Nevada on Thursday night.
The late-night affair will be a critical contest in the Jets' race for the Central Division crown, and further, the outright lead in the NHL standings.
There will be some changes again for Winnipeg, which continues to see the rehab of injuries to Neal Pionk, Rasmus Kupari and Gabe Vilardi, leading to further opportunity for younger players.
Jaret Anderson-Dolan will make his Jets debut on Thursday, slotting in for David Gustafsson on the fourth line, while Eric Comrie will get the start in goal.
Luke Schenn - who missed Tuesday's game vs. Los Angeles - will be a game-time decision due to a minor ailment that has been bugging him since Tuesday morning. If he cannot go, both Logan Stanley and Haydn Fleury will dress for Winnipeg.
Winnipeg Jets expected line combinations for Thursday, April 3 at Vegas:
Connor-Scheifele-Iafallo
Ehlers-Namestnikov-Perfetti
Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton
Anderson Dolan-Barron-Tanev
Morrissey-DeMelo
Samberg-Miller
Fleury-Stanley
Comrie
Healthy scratches: Gustafsson, Heinola
Injured: Pionk, Vilardi, Kupari, Schenn
Moses Moody's vicious dunk of the year candidate vs. Lakers overturned by refs
Moses Moody's vicious dunk of the year candidate vs. Lakers overturned by refs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Warriors guard Moses Moody put Lakers wing Austin Reaves on a poster Thursday night, but the referees didn’t play along.
Moody threw down a dunk of the year candidate in the first quarter of the Warriors’ game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. Upon replay review, the officials determined that the fourth-year guard committed an offensive foul.
MOSES MOODY POSTER … but it got overturned. 😔
Did the refs get this right?!?!pic.twitter.com/lkBqRj4LuD
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 4, 2025
Reaves had his feet set outside the restricted area, leading to the overturned call.
Moody, starting his 28th game of the season, has played an instrumental part in the Warriors’ midseason turnaround and he almost had his moment of the season.
Auburn’s Broome says there’s no pain in his elbow and he will be ready to face Florida in Final Four
Auburn forward Johni Broome returned to practice for the Tigers on Thursday and said he has no pain in his right elbow and “no limitations” ahead of the Tigers' Final Four matchup with Florida. Broome, a unanimous first-team AP All-American, is the Tigers' leading scorer and emotional leader. Auburn got a major scare when he injured his elbow in the Tigers' win over Michigan State to get to the Final Four.
Three takeaways: Panthers shots not getting through, Bobrovsky hits another milestone
You have to go back pretty far in the schedule to find the last time the Florida Panthers stacked up three L’s in a row.
Not since the end of November has Florida gone this long between victories.
Interestingly, the Panthers aren’t really unhappy with how they’ve been playing, feeling it’s been more a situation where they’re simply not getting results.
With challenging road games coming up against Ottawa and Detroit, picking up the suddenly elusive win isn’t going to get any easier.
For now, let’s get to Wednesday’s takeaways:
PUCKS ON NET
One constant during Florida's three-game skid this week has been an issue with recording shots on goal.
In the two games against Montreal, the Panthers recorded 53 shots on 94 attempts. The Canadiens were credited with blocking 52 shots, nearly the same amount Florida was able to get on net.
It wasn't any better against Toronto.
Florida recorded 31 shots, the most of their three games this week, bus still had 49 attempts that never got to Anthony Stolarz, 26 of which were blocked.
Consider that the Cats have scored exactly two goals in each of their three losses, which is over a goal less than their season average of 3.09 goals per game, and it's clear where the disconnect is coming from.
We'll see how long it takes Florida to get things cleaned up.
"We're having a hard time hitting the net, and getting a bunch blocked," said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. "I think we probably had close to 50 that never got to the net. We had some good looks."
NOT ALL BAD
Florida did score first on Wednesday in Toronto and carried much of the play throughout the game.
The second period was particularly strong for the Cats, outshooting the Leafs 16-5, but still coming out with only a 1-1 tie.
A less-than-idea start to the third period allowed the home team to build some momentum that eventually helped them take a commanding late lead on Florida.
Once again, there was a lot to like within the game, but ultimately the results were less than ideal.
"I didn't like the first six minutes of third period. I just didn't think we skated, and then we got hemmed in a little bit," said Maurice. "The overview is I expected the whole game to look like that, I thought that's the way the game was going to be played. I loved the first 40, probably the last 10-12 minutes of the third period, I liked out game an awful lot."
BIG MILESTONE FOR BOB
Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky played in his 750th career NHL game against the Leafs on Wednesday.
It's just the latest milestone for a guy that should absolutely end up in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
He's won multiple Vezina Trophies, is a three-time NHL All-Star and in recent years has earned a reputation as one of the league's best playoff goalies.
There is also that Stanley Cup he helped Florida win last summer.
As elite and exceptional as Bob has been on the ice, he's been equally impressive as a teammate, always smiling and seeming to enjoy himself while displaying a work ethic that has become legendary among his peers.
"He's a new experience for me," said Maurice. "He's an incredibly interesting man off the ice, just a wonderful person to talk to. I still consider him a young guy. Boy, you learn a lot from conversations with him, and then his prep and how much he cares. He seems, as well, to have found a way to have a little bit of fun with all the pressure that a number one goalie carries. So he's been a pleasure."
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The Magic of Owen Tippett: Unpacking His Impact On Flyers Beyond The Scoresheet
Owen Tippett is a player who makes you sit up in your seat.
He’s the kind of skater who, when given even a sliver of open ice, can change a game in an instant.
He’s fast, powerful, and deceptively creative, a rare combination of size and skill that makes him one of the Philadelphia Flyers’ most dangerous weapons.
And while the numbers don’t always tell the full story, interim head coach Brad Shaw has made it clear: Tippett’s impact on the ice goes well beyond what shows up on a stat sheet.
“When he gets a pocket of open ice, there’s few players like him in the league,” Shaw said. “I’d like for that to show up a little bit more.”
It’s a sentiment that feels both like praise and a challenge. Tippett’s ability is undeniable—he’s shown flashes of brilliance that few players possess. But Shaw, like many who have watched him over the years, knows there’s still another level he can reach.
The Art of the Impossible
Take Jakob Pelletier’s goal against the Buffalo Sabres. The play Tippett made to set it up was, in Shaw’s words, “ridiculous.”
“The play he makes on [Pelletier’s] goal is, you know, a play that you couldn’t describe to somebody unless you really knew how hard that is to do at this level. That’s ridiculous.”
OWEN TIPPETT 🤯
— NHL (@NHL) March 29, 2025
He makes an unreal move to set up Jakob Pelletier for his first goal with the @NHLFlyers!
📺: @NHLNetworkpic.twitter.com/K4tO0H9HW8
Tippett has this uncanny ability to make the impossible look routine. It’s something Flyers fans have seen before—those moments where he seems to slow the game down, taking an extra second or two when everyone else is panicking. Shaw pointed to a goal Tippett scored against Dallas, where he used his backhand to beat a goaltender in a way that will leave anyone who watches it with their jaws on the floor.
OWEN TIPPETT OH MY GOODNESS 😱 pic.twitter.com/kRY2yhTJcm
— NHL (@NHL) January 19, 2024
“In my three years here, he’s probably made a dozen or so of those plays,” Shaw said. “Whether it’s the goal against Dallas on his back end, or where he takes three or four seconds and just turns the game magical. He has that ability.”
That’s the thing about Tippett—he’s not just a player who has speed and a great shot. He has creativity. He has vision. He has that intangible ability to see the game differently, to hold onto the puck just a moment longer than expected, to find seams where none seem to exist.
The Battle for Consistency
So why doesn’t it show up more often? Why isn’t Tippett making highlight-reel plays every single night?
“I think the consistency is hard for a guy who has that skill package,” Shaw admitted.
It’s the eternal battle for players with Tippett’s unique blend of size, speed, and finesse. The very thing that makes him special—the ability to slow the game down and create—also makes it difficult to replicate night after night. The NHL doesn’t always allow for that kind of artistry. Sometimes, you don’t have time to slow down. Sometimes, the best play is the simple play.
Shaw acknowledged that balance, noting that Tippett doesn’t always need to be flashy to be effective.
“You can’t always show that, but I think he’s becoming a more consistent performer…I don’t think it needs to show up all the time because it’s good enough in other elements to play a simpler game at times, or maybe a more north-south game.”
Owen Tippett with a move you often only see in video games! 🎮
— NHL (@NHL) October 16, 2024
Imagine if he scored? 🤯
📺: @espn ➡️ https://t.co/S5tPrXCygmpic.twitter.com/34xNyqWvwl
That’s the evolution of Tippett’s game—figuring out when to simplify and when to dazzle. The best players in the world don’t turn every shift into a highlight reel, but they also know when to take over. For Tippett, it’s about finding that balance.
A Player Still Coming Into His Own
Tippett has come a long way since arriving in Philadelphia. He’s no longer just the speedy prospect trying to prove he belongs. He’s a foundational piece of the Flyers’ offense, a player capable of taking over games when he’s on. But, as
Shaw alluded to, he’s still figuring out exactly what his best hockey looks like.
“I think how he combines the two eventually when he starts playing his absolute best hockey,” Shaw said. “I think you’ll see a little bit more of that simplicity come through, along with the exceptional skill and talent that he has.”
It’s a fascinating thought—what will Owen Tippett look like when he fully puts it all together? When he finds the perfect mix of creativity and structure, of raw skill and efficiency? If he’s already capable of producing moments of pure magic, what happens when those moments start appearing more frequently?
The Flyers Need Tippett at His Best
With the Flyers looking to finish out the season strong, players like Tippett—players who can turn a single shift into a game-changing moment—are invaluable down the stretch. The challenge, as Shaw laid out, is to find that next level, to bring that magic a little more often while still playing within the team’s structure.
It’s a difficult balance, but Tippett is well on his way to figuring it out. He’s already shown what he’s capable of. Now, it’s about doing it just a little more often. And if he can, he won’t just be a player with flashes of brilliance—he’ll be one of the most dangerous wingers in the league.
Louisville basketball transfer tracker: Pat Kelsey, Cardinals have top-rated portal class
Here's a look at who Louisville has landed so far in the transfer portal and where the Cardinals' haul ranks nationally
Pat Cummins’ Sunrisers Hyderabad suffers heaviest defeat after $4.4m star’s blitz in IPL final rematch
India batter Venkatesh Iyer smashed 60 off 29 balls to fire holders Kolkata Knight Riders to an 80-run hammering of Sunrisers Hyderabad in a comeback IPL win on Thursday.
Henderson Silver Knights Sign Cameron Whitehead And Trevor Connelly To PTOs
The Henderson Silver Knights announced they have signed forward Trevor Connelly and goaltender Cameron Whitehead to professional tryout agreements (PTO) for the remainder of the season.
Connelly signed a three-year entry level deal while Whitehead signed a two-year entry level deal that begin next season with the Vegas Golden Knights earlier this week.
Vegas' first round pick in the 2024 draft, Connelly recorded four goals and nine assists in 23 games as a freshman with the Providence College Friars this season.
The 19-year-old also won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2024 World Junior Championship.
After dealing with injuries and putting up average point totals this season it is somewhat surprising to see Connelly turn pro after only one NCAA season and it will be interesting to see how he plays with Henderson down the stretch.
Whitehead posted a record of 13-17-3 with a .911 SP and 2.74 GAA with the Northeastern Huskies this season.
A fourth round pick of the Golden Knights in 2022, he finishes his two-year NCAA stint with a 30-31-6 record, .914 SP and 2.68 GAA, backstopping Northeastern to the 2024 Beanpot title.
With the Silver Knights sitting last in the Pacific Division Connelly and Whitehead will have the opportunity to adapt to the pro game with little pressure.
Check out The Hockey News' Vegas Golden Knights team site for more roster updates and analysis.
Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.
Alex Ovechkin Has Reached A Big Milestone With Hat Trick Vs Blackhawks Before
The Chicago Blackhawks will pay a visit to the Washington Capitals on Friday night. Even though the Capitals have their playoff spot wrapped up and the Blackhawks are nowhere near contention, this game could be special.
In their most recent game, Washington captain Alexander Ovechkin scored his 39th of the season. He is now sitting on 892 career goals.
That is two shy of Wayne Gretzky’s all time mark of 894. Three more goals for Ovechkin will make him the NHL’s leader in career goals which is a record that was once considered unbeatable.
If Ovechkin has a hat trick against the Blackhawks on Friday night, it will go down as one of the most memorable games in NHL history.
Correctly predicting a player to score a hat-trick on a specific night isn't easy. However, Ovechkin has reached a major goal-scoring milestone by scoring a hat trick against the Blackhawks once before.
On December 13th, 2022, Ovechkin tallied career goals 798, 799, and 800 in the same game against Chicago at the United Center. It would be hockey poetry if he completed a hat trick to break the record against the Hawks in Washington this time around.
Ovechkin has 32 career hat tricks. His most recent one came on February 23rd against the Edmonton Oilers, so it isn't out of the question for him to do this.
The Blackhawks are not that great of a defensive team, so he may come into this one dreaming big. If the Capitals can bait Chicago into a chance-for-chance type of game, Ovechkin has what it takes to do the deed.
If Ovechkin doesn't end this chase on Friday night, he will still have six more chances this season to finish it off. Spencer Knight or Arvid Soderblom likely don't want to be the goaltender who allows the big goal, but it will have to be someone in the coming days.
Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.
The Wraparound: Will Canadiens' Lane Hutson Contend For The Norris Trophy Next Season?
NHL and hockey topics in rapid-fire discussions are what The Hockey News' Wraparound Show is all about.
Will Canadiens' Lane Hutson Contend For The Norris Trophy Next Season? by The WraparoundundefinedHere's what Emma Lingan and Michael Augello discussed in this episode:
0:00: What should the Boston Bruins look to add at the NHL draft?
3:27: Does Ottawa Senators coach Travis Green deserve more consideration for the Jack Adams award?
5:34: Could Patrick Roy’s criticism of Anthony Duclair affect his future with the New York Islanders?
9:12: Which NHL team will most likely hang on to their current interim coach?
11:49: Is Zayne Parekh the best defenseman who is not in the NHL?
14:25: Should Niko Mikkola have been suspended for his actions against the Montreal Canadiens?
16:24: Do the Vegas Golden Knights have a sustainable style of management?
19:03: Which playoff team has the most questionable goaltending situation heading into the post-season?
24:22: Could Lane Hutson contend for the Norris Trophy as early as next season?
26:12: Which team that has clinched a playoff spot is most likely to be upset in the first round?
See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.
Shohei Ohtani MVP bobbleheads were free at Dodger Stadium. Now they cost up to $1,450 online
Shohei Ohtani ended Wednesday's Dodgers game in spectacular fashion, sending the first pitch he saw from Atlanta Braves reliever Raisel Iglesias 399 feet over the center-field wall for a walk-off home run and a 6-5 Los Angeles win.
It just so happened that everyone who witnessed that moment at Dodger Stadium had a tiny replica of the Japanese superstar in their possession, as all fans in attendance with a valid ticket were given an Ohtani bobblehead commemorating the National League MVP award he received last year.
What a wonderful memento for those folks!
Or in some cases, what a wonderful money-making opportunity!
Read more:Shohei Ohtani hits walk-off homer on his bobblehead night to keep Dodgers undefeated
The Ohtani MVP bobbleheads — which feature a smiling Ohtani in his Dodgers uniform, holding his NL MVP award in his right hand and resting a bat on his shoulder with his left hand — have been a hot seller on the resale market, with more than 250 having sold on eBay since Wednesday.
As of Thursday morning, the most paid for the standard bobblehead was $299.99, while some lucky fan got a bargain at $90. The majority of the items seemed to sell in the $150 to $170 range.
A limited number of bobbleheads featuring Ohtani holding a silver bat appear to have been handed out as well. A handful of those variants have also sold on eBay, for prices ranging from $499 to $900.
The Dodgers declined to comment for this story.
If you're still in the market for an Ohtani MVP bobblehead, fear not. There are more than 100 still for sale on eBay. Many of the standard models are available for buy-it-now prices ranging from $143 to $500, while others are up for bid with final prices yet to be determined.
A number of silver-bat variations are listed as well, with price tags ranging from $699 to $1,450.
The Dodgers are handing out Ohtani bobbleheads at Dodger Stadium three more times this season — twice to commemorate him becoming the first player to reach 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases (May 15 vs. the Athletics and Aug. 27 vs. the Cincinnati Reds, respectively) and once to commemorate his 2024 World Series ring (Aug. 6 vs. the St. Louis Cardinals).
Ohtani items seem to hold special value for collectors. An Ohtani Topps Dynasty Black baseball card featuring his signature in gold and a patch from the pants he wore while reaching the 50-50 milestone last season sold for $1.07 million this month, while his 50th home run ball was auctioned for $4.392 million in October.
Read more:Plaschke: Who says the Dodgers can’t go 162-0? Dramatic win over Braves extends a perfect start
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
'We Have A Close Team': WBS Penguins Practice In Pittsburgh, Talk Chemistry Of Group
The Penguins took to the ice for practice on Thursday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, Pa.
But, no, it was not the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins - Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate - held a practice at the NHL club's regular facility on Thursday, giving fans and media the chance to see some of the organization's best prospects in action.
This was the first time they've been in Pittsburgh since training camp, and a lot has happened since then. WBS is in the midst of a great AHL season, as they clinched a playoff berth against Hartford on Mar. 27 and are looking to make a deep playoff run.
“There’s not many teams that can match our skill level," forward Avery Hayes - who recently signed a two-year entry-level contract - said. "We can all skate, and personally, I feel like we can play any style of game. We’re learning to play a gritty game right now, but I’m confident that we can come playoff time.
"I’m just super excited. We have a close team, which helps... so I’m excited.”
And the Calder Cup run - as well as a chance at a bye - is something that isn't all that surprising when you sense the energy around the group. Many of the players - as well as management and coaches - talked about the close-knit culture in the locker room, which they believe has very much contributed to their success as a group.
WBS Penguins Clinch Playoff Berth With Thrilling 4-3 Overtime Win Over HartfordHeading into a massively important game against the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins had led the season series 5-0 and had outscored Hartford, 24-5.
There is a good mix between veteran leadership and youth, and those relationships have benefitted the group as a whole.
"We have a good group of older players, and they know how to handle the younger players and to be close to us," defenseman Filip Kral said. "So I think that's the main thing. We support each other every day, and that's the biggest thing."
Head coach Kirk MacDonald also pointed to the veteran support being a crucial aspect of the team's chemistry and success this season.
"I think our leadership group has done an outstanding job showing the young guys what it means to be professionals and how they need to show up every day and work," MacDonald said. "To me, they have a lot of fun together, so it’s a lot easier to show up every day and work hard and compete. Watching practice today was a great example with the energy level. We worked really hard, but they were having a good time. That’s part of it.”
But it's not just the the players who have fostered an excellent team culture.
“[It's] a mix of a little bit of everything," said Amanda Kessel, who is the manager of minor league operations and assistant general manager of the WBS Penguins. "Great coaching. It’s been great to have Kirk and staff this year. They’ve been unbelievable with our young guys. Spend a lot of time on development. They’re heavily bought into that."
But it certainly helps when the players to have great relationships on and off the ice, especially within a young prospect group that figures to be part of the team's future.
Hayes said the team even gathered together in Charlotte, NC to watch the NHL debut of Ville Koivunen against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday. Rutger McGroarty made his return to the NHL in that game as well.
Crosby Earns OT Winner For 1-0 Win Over Senators On Koivunen's DebutThere was hockey being played on Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, although one might not even know it for how low-event it was.
“It’s awesome," Hayes said. "We were watching that game, all together, in Charlotte at a restaurant. We’re the biggest fans when they come up, so it’s amazing watching them [in Pittsburgh]. And, hopefully, we don’t get them back until the end of the regular season and we can watch a couple more of their games.”
WBS has a crucial back-to-back set against the Cleveland Monsters on Friday and Saturday. In order to clinch a bye for the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs, they need to leapfrog at least the Charlotte Checkers within the Atlantic Division, as they are currently ranked second behind the Hershey Bears. The top-two teams in the Atlantic clinch a first-round bye.
MacDonald and the rest of the team is aware of how important that bye is, and - despite the Penguins having already clinched a playoff berth - it's giving them a lot to play for during the final stretch of the season.
"It's huge," MacDonald said. "I actually went and looked, and five of the six teams that made the finals in the American League since they changed the playoff format got the bye. We know how important it is. It’s not the end of the world if we have to play a best of three, but we do know it’s important.”
And what is most important through all of this is that the young group of Penguins prospects is winning together, which is important to fostering a championship culture within the group.
Hopefully, that's something that can carry over as the wave of youth makes the jump to the NHL level, too.
“I feel like it’s huge," Hayes said. "You don’t want to be playing throwaway hockey at the end of the year. Everyone wants to be playing for the championship. So, that’s our goal in the end.
"Playing winning hockey starts now. You go to war with guys, you become brothers with them, and it makes everyone play harder, so I feel like it’s going to be huge for all of our development.”
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