Hockey Hearsay compiles stories from around the hockey world and runs weekdays, 12 months a year.
BRUINS FANS SHOW THOMAS SOME LOVE
Thursday night marked Tim Thomas’s first trip to Boston since leaving the Bruins in 2012, but the injured goaltender wasn’t quite ready to get back between the pipes for his Florida Panthers. The Bruins beat the Panthers 4-1 and in the third period, the Bruins ran a video tribute on the scoreboard for their former netminder as he looked on from the press box. Thomas received a largely standing ovation from the crowd at TD Garden and here’s a sampling of the reaction on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/thekrewlife/status/398636653465456640
https://twitter.com/Hails_yea/status/398636777587482624
https://twitter.com/megg_elizabeth3/status/398637497829560320
SARICH PRAISES AVALANCHE’S ROY
The Calgary Herald spoke with Colorado defenceman Cory Sarich, who explains first-hand why Patrick Roy has his Avalanche faring so well.
“First and foremost,” says Sarich, “he makes you want to play for him. You’ve seen how hard he worked, how much he cared, how badly he wanted to win, so individually and as a group you don’t want to let him down in any of those departments. It’s been a good fit, for all of us. Not just the younger guys. He has a different philosophy from any other coach I’ve ever played for. So the whole thing has, for me, been fresh, challenging.
“I was fortunate enough to have played against Patrick. Having watched him growing up, we all saw what a tremendous competitor he is. Is, not was. That hasn’t changed. He’s brought that to coaching and he demands it of you as a player, too.
“His attention to detail I don’t think gets the attention it deserves. He’s a real thinker of the game. And he’s willing to adapt, willing to listen, too.”
On his trade from Calgary to Colorado, the 35-year-old Sarich offered this nugget: “The people in place (in Calgary), as far as who’s calling the shots, had kinda already pigeonholed me. So… I still feel I have lots to offer. I was just hoping coming to Colorado would be a good shot at doing that.
“And so far it has.
AVALANCHE, ROY HELP MACKINNON ‘S COMFORT LEVEL
The Denver Post describes how Nathan MacKinnon has two goals and nine points in 14 games, with a plus-5. It’s been, by all accounts, a good start for the native of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. But fans have quickly been abused of the notion that MacKinnon might come in and dominate the league right away like he did in junior with the Halifax Mooseheads.
“You can’t score every game, but I just have to stay confident and go forward and keep learning the game here,” MacKinnon said. “Patrick (Roy) has told me he doesn’t care how many goals and points I have, and we’re 12-2, so it’s still good. In junior, you could have a bad night and still pick up two or three points.”
MORRIS KNOWS HIS ROLE ON COYOTES
The Arizona Republic points out that despite the fact that Coyotes blueliner Derek Morris has 10 points already, he recognizes the defensive traits he possesses upon which his team can rely. Offensively gifted players like Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Keith Yandle are usually recognized as the league’s best at the position.
“That’s a gift,” Morris said. “I think that’s why (trophy voters) appreciate it as much as they do when it comes to the Norris because it’s so hard to do. It’s easier to play a defensive game and learn how to play it and be good at it than be offensive, so I think that’s why offensive defensemen get more appreciation.
“I don’t think you’ll ever hear a D-man argue that one because I think it’s always important. What Yands and what Oliver do are things that we can’t do. We can’t find the holes that they find to get offensive. We can’t walk the line like Oliver does. We can’t skate like Yands does. Those guys do certain things that we all can’t do.”
PANTHERS’ DINEEN KNOWS ABOUT THE HOT SEAT
The Miami Herald describes how Kevin Dineen chuckled when asked about a post-loss meeting Tuesday after which Panthers general manager Dale Tallon told The Herald Dineen’s coaching job was safe for now.
“The truth of the matter is we have new ownership here,” Dineen said. “When you’re spending whatever the figure is on something and you’re in a personnel based business, you’re evaluating everything on every single day at every level. Whether it’s management side, the players’ side, the coaches’ side. Those meetings are happening every day right now.”
THEY TWEETED IT
https://twitter.com/kylepalmieri/status/398592505836355585