The NHL Evening Skate for Nov. 6
Heading into this evening’s action, here are the day’s top NHL storylines:
Blackhawks cut ties with head coach Joel Quenneville
The Chicago Blackhawks have severed ties with the longest-tenured head coach in the NHL, announcing Tuesday morning that they have fired Joel Quenneville. His surprising dismissal comes at the end of a five-game losing streak for the Blackhawks. Assistants Kevin Dineen and Ulf Samuelsson have also been let go. [More]
NHL coaches and players react to Senators Uber recording
Members of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights react to the news after several Ottawa Senators players were captured ripping their team and coaches on video without their consent. [Watch]
Uber reminder: Retreating still safe play for NHL players
If there’s a single takeaway from the uncomfortable learning experience that an UberXL-load of Ottawa Senators players had to endure when their mildly incriminating conversation was captured on video without their consent, it’s the harrowing reminder that it remains far safer for NHL players to retreat into their shells while present in the public eye. [More]
Lamp-lighters
NHL Power Rankings: The NHL isn’t short on great teams
The Tampa Bay Lightning and Nashville Predators, No. 1 and No. 2 respectively in our latest power rankings, went a combined 6-1-0 last week, with Tampa outshooting its opponents by 54 in four games. This should dispel an argument on Twitter that “there are more great players in the NHL than ever before, but are there any great teams?” [More]
Panthers, Golden Knights prime candidates to shake off early-season rust
Yahoo Sports NHL writers Justin Cuthbert and Nick Ashbourne discuss the future of the Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights, two teams they expect to bounce back to form after early-season struggles. [Watch]
Just like Kings, a new coach won’t make a difference for Blackhawks
Chicago, which has just seven points in its last 10 games, made years of whispers and rumors manifest, firing Joel Quenneville because it couldn’t fire all the players General Manager Stan Bowman has overpaid. And just like John Stevens’ departure from L.A won’t help the Kings, Quenneville’s firing isn’t likely to make much of a difference this season for the Blackhawks. [More]
Game of the night
Edmonton Oilers at Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning will look to slow down Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers when the two teams meet at Amalie Arena on Thursday. McDavid continues to put up points on a consistent basis and sits second in league scoring with 22 points through 14 games. Meanwhile, the Lightning have seven different players who have already reached the 10-point mark and four with at least five goals. [Full preview]
