The New Jersey Devils have named their non-interim replacement for coach Lindy Ruff (who is now back in Buffalo). Sheldon Keefe, recently of Toronto, takes the helm with the presumed hope that they’ll find him a goalie. (I hear Ilya Samsonov may be available!)
Of course, the interim who filled in for Ruff, famed Gutless Puke Travis Green, is now behind the bench in Ottawa. The NHL coaching carousel: it never stops turning.
Meanwhile, in the playoffs, the Rangers did what they did best in Game 1, losing to the Panthers 3-0, despite a Florida goal being overturned for “goalie interference” and several late power plays to try to get the Smurfs back into the game.
Game 1 in the West final is Thursday night in Dallas.
Islanders Things
- Maxim Tsyplakov talked to the Post about adapting to the NHL. The Isles began looking at him around the New Year. [Po$t+]
- Boomer Esiason, who doesn’t deserve Matt Martin, asked Martin what he’d do if Chris Drury called to court him this summer. “I’m hanging up the phone.” [THN]
Bits
- In Game 1, Matthew Tkachuk hit people and scored. Keep doing that. [NHL]
- The Rangers were “not their best selves.” Keep being that way. [NHL]
- It was a defensive clinic from the Panthers. [Sportsnet]
- Keefe gets the nod in Jersey. The chance to coach more precocious talent without a goalie was too much to pass up. [NHL | Post]
- Jim Hiller gets the interim tag removed in L.A. [NHL]
- Jim Nill and Ken Holland, former junior teammates who were long management figures in Detroit before they stepped aside at different times essentially for Steve Yzerman’s, um, “rebuild,” are now foes in the Western final. [NHL]
- The Bruins aim to be aggressive this offseason. [NHL]
- Rick Tocchet is the Jack Adams winner. [NHL] His honest helped resurrect the Canucks. [Sportsnet]