NHL Weekly: Maurice Loses His Cool at the Right Moment and Pickard Steps Up

A packed week of NHL action is behind us, but who racked up the most points? Which goaltender shined? What’s trending on social media? And what caught the eye of former player and Flashscore expert Ladislav Smid? All that and more in our regular NHL Weekly.

Most Productive Player

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are making waves in the playoffs, but the remarkable season of young defenseman Evan Bouchard for Edmonton often goes unnoticed. This week, he tallied five points (2+3) in three games, including a last-minute game-winning goal in game four against Vancouver. Bouchard is only the fourth player in club history to clinch a playoff game in the final minute of regulation.

Averaging 24:10 of ice time, he’s the team’s most utilized player and with 18 points (5+13) in 11 games, he’s the highest-scoring defenseman in the playoffs.

Goaltender of the Week

Calvin Pickard, a 2016 World Champion with Canada, has had a challenging year. Initially placed on Edmonton’s unprotected list, he got his chance primarily due to Jack Campbell’s struggles. Pickard stepped in during the playoffs’ fourth game, replacing Stuart Skinner, and helped Edmonton to a 3-2 victory. Although he returned to the bench after a 3-2 loss in game five, he performed admirably, stopping 51 of 56 shots for a 91.1% save rate, keeping Edmonton’s hopes alive.

Story of the Week

Russian forward Valeri Nichushkin of Colorado is facing personal challenges. On the ice, he’s impressive with nine goals in eight playoff games, but off the ice, he’s struggling. Nichushkin hasn’t played since January due to entering an assistance program for addiction, his third time, resulting in a six-month suspension without pay. This comes in the third year of his eight-year, $49 million contract. His future remains uncertain.

Stat of the Week

The Colorado Avalanche demonstrated the stark difference between the regular season and playoffs. Despite a stellar 31-9-1 home record in the regular season, they lost all three home games in the second round against Dallas. Conversely, Dallas excelled on the road with a 26-10-5 record in the regular season.

Social Media Highlight

Paul Maurice, the Florida Panthers’ coach, is the second most experienced coach in NHL history after Scotty Bowman. In game four against Boston, with the Bruins leading 1-0, Maurice’s impassioned outburst motivated his team to score on the very next play.

Ladislav Smid’s Hot Take

“The series between Boston and Florida was marked by a clash between Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand. Bennett’s controversial hit on Marchand led to the Bruins captain missing two games.

“The playoffs are different; fans might wish for regular-season officiating, but the Stanley Cup is the hardest to win because it’s a tough game. Physical teams prevail, and finishing every hit is an investment for future games. Some hits are borderline, but overall, it’s clean hockey. This year’s playoffs are the best I’ve seen in years.”