By Jesse Andreozzi 11-20-14
The United States is in a deep freeze this week, so hockey is in its natural habitat. Here are some mid-week headlines:
Leafs Coach Carlyle on the Hot Seat
The Nashville Predators feasted on the Toronto Maple Leafs last night, to the tune of 9-2. In fact, the Leafs surrendered the first EIGHT goals of the game, and committed 35 turnovers through the first two periods! Toronto somehow still sits in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, despite losing three straight games. If the Leafs continue to get raked in these games, then Carlyle will likely be looking at a mid-season firing, and the underachieving roster will be overhauled at the trade deadline.
Jonas Hiller Leads Flames Past Former Team
Flames’ goalie Jonas Hiller spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Anaheim Ducks. Once the Ducks made it clear last summer they didn’t have Hiller is their plans, he signed a two-year deal with the Calgary Flames. That made his 24-save performance in a 4-3 shootout win against his former team on Tuesday night all the more satisfying. The Flames won in dramatic fashion, by completing a third period comeback with two Dennis Wideman goals. It was the league-leading fourth time the Flames have comeback to win a game after trailing through two periods. Their 27 third-period goals are also tops in the league. Calgary has surprised a lot of people this season, sitting pretty at third in the Western Conference, ahead of perennial powerhouses Los Angeles and Chicago.
Rask Earns First Shutout of Season
There’s no denying the Boston Bruins have struggled so far this season. Yet, things may be looking up for the B’s. Goalie Tuuka Rask improved to 10-5-0 on the season after earning his first shutout of the season on Tuesday night with a 33-save performance against the St. Louis Blues. The Bruins, who won the game 2-0, have won six straight games at home, and now sit at fifth place in the East.