Daily Nuggets: Golden Knights Robbed, McNabb Injured; ‘Changes Coming’

Good morning, folks. The Vegas Golden Knights are down 2-0 in their second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers following a heartbreaking overtime loss on Thursday. The series shifts to Edmonton, and they’ll likely be without one of the best defensive defensemen in the league. Those aren’t great odds.

Elsewhere in the Daily Nuggets, New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald promises changes after his team fizzled out in the first round. Several teams continue to search for a general manager, and it sounds like Ken Holland turned the New York Islanders down. The Anaheim Ducks hired Joel Quenneville as their head coach.

Golden Knights News

On Thursday, the Golden Knights controlled play but struggled to solve Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard. They overcame two multigoal leads, one in the third period, to force overtime. But in the end, Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid were inevitable, and the Oilers won 5-4. My analysis here:

The officials were the biggest story of the night. Led by Adin Hill, the Golden Knights somehow killed off Nic Roy’s five-minute major. They regained the momentum and had some good looks on Calvin Pickard. And then, they were on the wrong side of one of the more egregious no-calls you’ll see this postseason.

Viktor Arvidsson sent Brayden McNabb crashing into the boards with a shove and a can opener. He lay facedown on the ice until the officials finally blew the play dead. McNabb eventually got up and headed right down the tunnel. 

Play resumed. And 17 seconds later, the game was over. 

Following the game, players steamed at the no-call. 

“It’s pretty clear that it’s a penalty,” said Golden Knights captain Mark Stone. “[Arvidsson’s] stick is between McNabb’s legs; he sends him head-first into the boards. It’s a pretty clear-cut penalty… Now, we might be down another defenseman… It’s a dirty play.”

“I think it was a pretty clear trip and a dangerous play,” said Victor Olofsson. “[McNabb was] going full speed maybe ten feet away from the boards.”

“Listen, Gord [Dwyer] is looking at it,” said head coach Bruce Cassidy postgame. “He blew it; he missed the call. I don’t know what else to say. It’s a can-opener trip, it’s a dangerous play, it’s all of those things. But it didn’t get called… It stings to lose that way.”

Even award-winning hip-hop artist Lil Wayne took to social media to express his thoughts on the matter.

NHL News, Rumors, & National Hockey Now

Sportsnet: The Toronto Maple Leafs hold a 2-0 lead as the series shifts to Florida. However, they’ll have to go at it without their starting goaltender, Anthony Solarz, who is doubtful to travel for Game 3.

Florida Hockey Now: From 2021-2024, former Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville was barred from the league after his role in the Chicago Blackhawks sexual assault scandal. On Thursday, the Anaheim Ducks announced that he’d be their next head coach.

The Athletic ($): The Anaheim Ducks got their guy, but multiple teams continue searching for head coaches and general managers across the league. Pierre LeBrun has the latest about teams like the Kings, Islanders, and Flyers.

New York Islanders Hockey Now: Speaking of the Islanders, their search for a new GM continues. As of Thursday, their first choice turned them down. Ken Holland is the belle of the ball, and it sounds like he told the Islanders that he didn’t want to dance.

New Jersey Hockey Now: Nothing strikes fear through the hearts of players and fans alike quite like the promise of change. For the Devils, after a first-round exit from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, that sounds more like a threat than a promise.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: One team that isn’t looking for a head coach is the New York Rangers, who took former Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan off the market a week ago. On Thursday, Sullivan met with the media for the first time and dodged questions about his exit from Pittsburgh.

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