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Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
Mackenzie Blackwood took pregame warmups, but Scott Wedgewood got the surprise start against the Penguins on Thursday night. Remarkably, the Devils looked ... quite respectable and won 3-2. [NHL] [All About the Jersey] [NorthJersey.com] [NJ.com]
This is good. This is very, very good:
Jack Hughes scored his seventh goal of the season for the @NJDevils (27 GP), equaling his total from his rookie campaign in 2019-20 (61 GP). #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/3AObKvzC19
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 18, 2021
A couple injuries to keep an eye on:
Mackenzie Blackwood is scratched from his expected start tonight for the #NJDevils. It is not COVID-19 related, per the Devils. He's meeting with the training staff. Could be an update later.
— Corey Masisak (@cmasisak22) March 18, 2021
#NJDevils coach Lindy Ruff: No updates on Blackwood (upper body from warmup) and Bastian (undisclosed).
— Corey Masisak (@cmasisak22) March 19, 2021
Pierre LeBrun on the Devils ahead of the trade deadline: “The New Jersey Devils have eight pending UFAs, so it’s no surprise that I’m told that the Devils have heard from every playoff team or bubble team over the last couple of weeks. The Devils are the action team heading into the trade deadline.” [TSN]
Hockey Links
ICYMI: Not exactly a surprising development given the awful, awful season Buffalo is having...
Head coach Ralph Krueger has been relieved of his duties. pic.twitter.com/IymNcxg7B3
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) March 17, 2021
BREAKING: I've learned Don Granato will be the #Sabres interim coach and Steve Smith has also been fired. Development coaches Matt Ellis and Dan Girardi are going to be behind the bench as assistants.
— Mike Harrington (@ByMHarrington) March 17, 2021
A, uh, really impressive period for Mika Zibanejad the other night as the Rangers beat the Flyers 9-0 (lol):
That's a natural hat trick and a three-assist second period for @MikaZibanejad!
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 18, 2021
Zibanejad (3-3—6) tied the NHL record for most points in a period, a mark first set by Bryan Trottier on Dec. 23, 1978 (3-3—6 vs. NYR). https://t.co/WAMJT30kv7 #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/LDVL9iQ2Cf
Might we see a reworking of the NHL’s agreement with the CHL for top prospects, allowing them to play in the AHL? [TSN]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.