Morning Skate - Thursday, November 10

Morning Skate - Poutine, Street Tacos & 'Stranger Things'

November 10, 2022

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Yesterday's NHL Scores

Last Night's News 📰

LUFF HURTS: Detroit Red Wings forward Matt Luff will miss the next 10-12 weeks with an upper-body injury suffered in Tuesday night's 3-2 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Luff was hit from behind by reigning No. 1 overall pick Juraj Slafkovský, who received a major penalty and game misconduct for the collision. Additionally, Slafkovský will serve a two-game suspension for the check. 

KAPRIZOV FINED: Yesterday, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced that Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov has been fined $5,000 for his hit on Drew Doughty. On Nov. 8, Kaprizov received a match penalty for roughing the Los Angeles Kings defenseman, and the money will go to the NHL Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

KANE HEADING TO LTIR: Edmonton gave an update on forward Evander Kane's condition after he took a skate to the wrist from Tampa Bay Lightning forward Pat Maroon on Nov. 8. Yesterday, the Oilers announced that Kane was placed on long-term injured reserve and will miss 3-4 months, but he will be okay! 

MURRAY & McAVOY MENDED?: Wednesday, the Boston Bruins placed defenseman Mike Reilly on waivers with the intent of assigning him to Providence of the American Hockey League, a sign that Charlie McAvoy is close to returning. McAvoy could make his season debut against the Calgary Flames tonight in Boston. Meanwhile, in Toronto, Matt Murray participated in full for the first time at practice since his adductor muscle injury sustained on Oct. 15. 

BACK THAT THING UP: It was a night for backups on Wednesday, as all four winning teams started their second-string goalie. Spencer Knight recorded a 40-save shutout for the Florida Panthers against the Carolina Hurricanes to help coach Paul Maurice move into sixth place on the all-time wins list. In Washington, Casey DeSmith stopped 24 shots in his first win of the season, ending the Pittsburgh Penguins' seven-game skid. Speaking of initial victories, Filip Gustavsson recorded his first with the Minnesota Wild after turning away 31 chances by the Anaheim Ducks in a 4-1 triumph, following Sam Montembeault's 31 saves for the Montreal Canadiens to defeat the Vancouver Canucks, 5-2. 

Top Shelf Thursday - Hockey Recipes

Did you know 

 debuted this week in 2016? Airing for three seasons, the unlikely but lovable duo provided their viewers with delicious recipes and memorable laughs. The show's concept had us thinking about which celebrities and hockey players should partner with to bring hockey fans some delicious gameday snacks. Let's start with a classic Canadian dish. 

Matthews & Bieber Making Authentic Canadian Poutine

and the Biebs have the ultimate bromance. During an interview, the 

: "It’s not one of those ‘celebrity whatever’ relationships—like, it’s a true friendship. I know he cares about me a lot, and the same goes for myself with him. He’s somebody that I know I can lean on for just about anything; he’s someone to talk to, to vent to, or just kind of B.S. with. It’s pretty cool to have somebody like that in your corner.” If these two had their cooking show, we know they would be whipping up some authentic Canadian poutine. 

Here's what you'll need to create this cozy dish for your next viewing party:

  • Russet potatoes

  • White cheddar cheese curds

  • Butter

  • All-purpose flour

  • Broth

  • Salt

  • Pepper

  • Garlic powder

  • Onion powder

  • Peanut oil

This recipe requires homemade french fries, so we recommend a deep fryer. With a total cook time of 51 minutes, it's the perfect gameday snack on a Saturday night.

Kopitar & Perry Making Santa Monica Street Tacos

Did you know that Matthew Perry is an avid Los Angeles Kings fan and hosted a party for the team after their Stanley Cup victory? Perry and 

 met at a Dodgers game and became fast friends. During an 

, the actor said, "the Cup did make an appearance at my house. Grown men just act like absolute morons when they're around the Stanley Cup. I lifted it over my head very quickly, and I drank a Red Bull from the Cup." Together these two would attempt to replicate some good old LA street tacos customized with either steak, chicken, or shrimp! 

Here's what you'll need for your next taco Tuesday:

  • Corn tortillas

  • Skirt steak - trimmed of fat and sliced into thin strips

  • Salt

  • Cayenne pepper

  • Garlic powder

  • Minced garlic

  • Oil

  • Diced onion

  • Cilantro leaves

  • Red cabbage

  • Lime juice

  • White vinegar

  • Sugar

  • Milk

  • Sour cream

This meal takes a quick 25 minutes, which makes for an ideal weekday dinner. Our expert tip is to pair your homemade street tacos with your favorite margarita. Cheers, hockey fans!

Real or Fake: Ryan O'Reilly & St. Louis

This weekly segment looks at a notable, eye-opening trend in the league, be it an individual or team performance, and examines whether it’s real or if it’s more likely an aberration that should correct itself over time.

Full disclosure: we were going to focus on Jonathan Huberdeau and the slumping Calgary Flames here, but then Huberdeau got hurt, and it just felt a little mean to add insult to a legitimate injury. Therefore we will focus on the St. Louis Blues, losers of eight straight, and their struggling captain Ryan O'Reilly.

O'Reilly potted St. Louis' only goal in a lethargic 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night, doubling his point total on the season (two goals, no assists). Despite that sliver of encouragement, the Blues have now suffered a franchise-record eight regulation losses in a row, a stunning downfall for a team that started 3-0-0 coming off a season in which they took the eventual champion Colorado Avalanche to six games in the Western Conference semifinals.

Real: The O'Reilly Problem

O'Reilly is such a likable, high-character guy and a tremendous leader, making it hard to watch him struggle to a minus-12 and drop down to the Blues' third line. While the club doesn't necessarily need him to be a goal scorer (he only potted 12 in 71 games in 2019-20), they do need his brand of toughness and play-making to be a contributing member of the top-six. The 31-year-old's start raises questions about how much he has left in the tank, which is not good news for the pending free agent. 

Fake: O'Reilly is Taking the Heat

Some of the narrative surrounding O'Reilly's struggles stems from how open he's been when addressing them. O'Reilly didn't mince words when speaking to the media after a recent practice, saying, "I've been absolutely horrible right now. I'm not really doing anything. I'm kind of fighting for my life right now." Although slightly true, this is—at least partially—the well-intentioned efforts of a leader to ease the burden on his teammates by shouldering the blame.

Real: It's More Than Just O'Reilly

It would be much simpler if these struggles did come down to just one player. But while O'Reilly has been lacking, he's not alone. Jordan Kyrou has followed up last season's breakout campaign with just three goals and an assist in 11 games while sporting a league-worst minus-17. Meanwhile, the team is allowing nearly four goals per game, and Jordan Binnington is vastly getting outplayed by Ville Husso, whom St. Louis opted to move on from in the crease this past summer.

Verdict: Probably a good time to cue up some video of the 2019 Cup win, Blues fans.

NHL Players as 'Stranger Things' Characters

During the New York Rangers and New York Islanders matchup on Nov. 8, they had a special guest in the audience as actor Gaten Matarazzo from Netflix's hit TV show "Stranger Things" 

, the Rangers. With that in mind, we thought we would take the opportunity to see how NHL players would do in Hawkins, Indiana, and compare them to some of the "Stranger Things" characters.

Jason Dickinson as Mike Wheeler

Mike Wheeler is the leader of the friend group in "Stranger Things" but often is criticized for how oblivious he is to the things happening around him. For example, in Season 4, his friend Will confessed his feelings to Mike, and he wasn't catching on. 

 on the Chicago Blackhawks carries that same Johnny-come-lately persona. When asked by the media if he had seen any online reactions from his three-point game, Dickinson 

 Dickinson may not be up to date on the social media trends, but he is someone you want on your squad—like Mike!

Kyle Okposo as Steve Harrington

Steve Harrington has been lovingly referred to on the show as the "babysitter" because he is always stuck with Mike, Will, Lucas, Max, and Dustin, driving them wherever they need to go. Steve is always there for the kids and is a trusted friend and ally. Someone who fits that description is Kyle Okposo on the 

. The Sabres are currently the youngest team in the NHL—with an average age of 25.4—and Okposo, the oldest forward at 34, is trying to lead his group of "kids" to the playoffs this season. 

Bo Horvat as Will Byers

Will Byers is a character that keeps to himself. He doesn't say much throughout the show, but when he does, it's significant. During the finale, Will shared with Mike a bombshell that Vecna, a dangerous monster who lives in the Upside Down, is still alive after the group previously thought they had killed him. 

 on the Vancouver Canucks is a lot like Will. He doesn't say much and doesn't have to, as he lets his game do the talking. Horvat is currently second-best in the NHL with 12 goals. Yet, when he does speak, people listen. When the Canucks endured a six-game losing streak, Horvat talked to the media and stated that the team 

and that after encountering a lot of rebuilding years with Vancouver, it seemed like they were never going to win again. Brutal honesty from a typically quiet leader. 

Connor McDavid as Eleven

Eleven is the main character with special powers that she uses to save the group and the city of Hawkins from the danger lurking in the Upside Down. She is always there to save the day, like when she protected her best friend Max from Vecna. 

 is the Eleven of the Edmonton Oilers, as he is always there to rescue his team. If the Oilers are down 3-0 against the Canucks, no problem. He will get 

 to lead his team to victory. 

Trevor Zegras as Dustin Henderson

Dustin Henderson is the goofiest character in the friend group. He is outgoing and is never afraid to make a joke or a sarcastic comment. He once said, "You guys do realize if there is a gate there [to the Upside Down at the bottom of a lake], it's technically a water gate. Watergate!" 

 of the Anaheim Ducks has the personality. When NHL Media Day had players do introductions the same as NFL players, he said, "

." Yep—just like Dustin!

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