Shayna Goldman

Massapequa

Staff Writer at The Athletic

national hockey words, numbers, & moving pictures @theathleticnhl. 1/3 of @2_much_man. 🦦🏒

Articles

Why NHL Western Conference playoff teams have reason to hope

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Shayna Goldman

No playoff contender is perfect. Every single team has a reason to be hopeful this spring. But all 16 teams have red flags casting doubt over their chances - whether it's due to their roster strength, recent play, injuries or path forward. After looking at the Eastern Conference on Tuesday, it's time to shift West. The playoff picture is almost set. The Blues essentially ended the wild-card race with an 11-game win streak.
Stars vs. Jets and other storylines to watch down the stretch

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Shayna Goldman

Can the Dallas Stars catch the Winnipeg Jets? That seemed impossible just a couple of months ago. The Jets have been the best in the West for most of the season and built separation against their Central Division rivals. On Feb. 1, the Jets had an 11-point lead over the Stars. On March 1, Winnipeg maintained a distance of 10 points. But on April 1, that lead had shrunk to just four points. That made the Jets' 4-0 win over Vegas all the more impressive on Thursday night.
How emerging young stars and improved depth put the Canadiens in a playoff race

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Shayna Goldman

The Montreal Canadiens were only six points outside the playoff picture at the 4 Nations Face-Off break, but the team seemed a mile away from the postseason. After stumbling into the break with a 2-7-1 record, their postseason odds dropped below two percent. Montreal needed a reset, and the break provided exactly that. The Canadiens returned to play with a purpose and started rattling off wins.
What we learned in the NHL in March: Blues’ green flags, Stars’ red flags, power-play slides

3 weeks ago | ourcommunitynow.com | Shayna Goldman

Is there a hotter team in the NHL than the St. Louis Blues?St. Louis was already showing signs of progress heading into the 4 Nations Face-Off break under Jim Montgomery. The team has made a statement since returning to play.
Blues' green flags, Stars' red flags, power-play slides

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Shayna Goldman

Is there a hotter team in the NHL than the St. Louis Blues? St. Louis was already showing signs of progress heading into the 4 Nations Face-Off break under Jim Montgomery. The team has made a statement since returning to play. The Blues boast a 15-2-2 record in 19 games over the last month-plus of action, with a league-high 0.842 point percentage over that span.
Lane Hutson, Macklin Celebrini and more keeper considerations

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Shayna Goldman

What is the go-to phrase after losing in fantasy hockey? "Maybe next season."It may seem eager or early, but with the season coming to a close this week, it's time to start looking ahead. Which players on current rosters should be kept for next season? You don't need me to tell you the obvious. Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes are slam-dunk keepers. So are Connor Hellebuyck and Igor Shesterkin.
How players traded at the deadline are faring with their teams

4 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Shayna Goldman

When the Oilers stumbled out of the 4 Nations Face-Off break with four consecutive losses, management needed to do something at the trade deadline if the team had any hope of returning to the Stanley Cup Final. Would they upgrade their chaotic goalie situation? Or focus on the two-way issues in front of the blue paint? With the addition of Jake Walman, Edmonton addressed a major area of need with one of the best defensemen on the market. Through eight games, the fit has been pretty perfect.
Why move makes sense but also carries risk

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Chris Johnston |Shayna Goldman

The Washington Capitals and defenseman Jakob Chychrun agreed to a multi-year contract extension, the team announced Tuesday. The new deal is for eight years and worth $72 million. "Jakob is a proven, dynamic defenseman in the prime of his career who has established himself as one of the premier blueliners in the NHL," Capitals senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick said in a news release.
It's time to change the NHL playoff format. Here are some ways to improve it

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Shayna Goldman

Last Sunday, the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche played in a playoff atmosphere. Most fans would have circled the game on their calendars, considering what a showdown it projected to be between two of the best in the West. It lived up to the hype, as the Stars completely changed the game's tone in 20 seconds to tie the score in the third period. That forced overtime, during which Cale Makar scored the game-winning goal.
Breaking down playoff chances for 9 NHL teams in the wild-card hunt

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Shayna Goldman

The intense race for the final playoff wild-card spots in both NHL conferences is going down to the wire. Spicy storylines and sizzling high-stakes matchups are happening nearly every night. In the East, you've got young and exciting squads emerging from long rebuilds who are trying to break lengthy playoff droughts. Standing in their way are last year's Presidents' Trophy winners and another cagey, veteran-laden team that just won't go away.