NHL Daily: Leafs and Islanders battle for playoff position, Rasmus Ristolainen facing suspension, Should the Sens sign Colin White, Ethan Bear named top WHL defenceman, and much much more! (Morning NHL Headlines)
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Wednesday night only saw three games of NHL action, but each game had playoff implications. The Maple Leafs stayed hot with a 5-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Islanders matched the Maple Leafs by defeating their state rivals the New York Rangers 3-2. The Anaheim Ducks got within two points of the San Jose Sharks for the Pacific Division title with a huge 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers.
The highlight of the night.
NHL Daily: Morning NHL Headlines
Rasmus Ristolainen Could Miss A Chunk Of Games
Buffalo Sabres defender Rasmus Ristolainen mad headlines when he took out Penguins forward Jake Guentzel with a slightly questionable hit. Ristolainen was given a five-minute major for interference and he will have a hearing on Thursday. Guentzel was injured on the play, so Ristolainen is almost guaranteed at least a two-game suspension. (Sabre Noise)
Ethan Bear Named Top WHL Defenceman
Edmonton Oilers 2015 5th round draft pick Ethan Bear was named the best defenceman in the WHL in which he has produced a solid 70 points in 67 games. Bear has already been signed to his entry-level contract, so he will turn pro with the Edmonton Oilers next season. It bodes well to see the Oilers have finally been able to find decent talent in the NHL draft outside of the first round (Oil On Whyte)
Leafs Should Never Trade William Nylander
Nylander is the most underrated and least talked about rookie in Toronto, but he really shouldn't be. Nylander scored his 20th goal of the season against the Columbus Blue Jackets and he is within five points of the team lead in points. Nylander is part of the solution, and should remain in Toronto for a long, long time. (Editor in Leaf)
The Flames Are Without Matthew Tkachuk
Matthew Tkachuk has made a reputation for himself that he isn't scared to do the dirty things. While guys like Theo Fleury may like it, most of the NHL is wary of the young Flames forward. Either way, Tkachuk being out of the lineup is a huge loss for the Flames. How can the Flames continue to be gritty without their prized rookie in the picture? (Flame For Thought)
What To Do With Colin White?
Ever since prospect Colin White's season with Boston College ended, many Sens fans have been wondering if their prized possession would sign his entry level deal and join the Senators for the stretch run to the playoffs. The biggest issue is whether they would wait until next season to burn a year of his entry-level contract. If they feel they need some extra offence going forward, it can be a win-win for the player and the franchise. (Sen Shot)
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