Key NHL updates: Timo Meier's suspension, Boeser's return for the Canucks, and Thompson's readiness for the Sabres.
The NHL games on November 27, 2024, were full of drama, excitement, and thrilling comebacks. One of the major stories was the banning of Timo Meier after an altercation in the New Jersey Devils’ game against the St. Louis Blues.
In Vancouver, Brock Boeser returned from injury triumphantly, bringing new optimism to the Canucks’ season. As teams ramp up their efforts during this crucial part of the season, these changes are set to mix up the standings and team dynamics going forward. Let’s explore the latest key points influencing the NHL today.
The National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today that Timo Meier, a forward for the New Jersey Devils, has been suspended for one game without pay.
This is due to him cross-checking Zachary L’Heureux, a forward for the Nashville Predators, during NHL Game No. 336 in New Jersey on Monday, Nov. 25.
The event took place at 12:17 in the third period. Meier received a severe penalty and was ejected from the game for cross-checking.
Per the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and calculated using his yearly pay average, Meier will lose $45,833.33. The funds are allocated to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Brock Boeser made his comeback for the Vancouver Canucks in their game against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Tuesday.
The forward was out for seven games due to an upper-body injury he got on Nov. 7 from a hit by Los Angeles Kings forward Tanner Jeannot, who was given a match penalty for an illegal check to the head and was suspended for three games by the NHL Department of Player Safety.
Boeser started skating again on November 19 and, after three days, he participated in a practice session with his teammates while wearing a noncontact jersey before reuniting with them in Boston on Monday.
”He’ll play today, He came to me yesterday. He wants to play. Those situations, when you’re medically cleared, then it’s the player’s decision I always think. And a guy like Brock, he wants to play every game. He’s played a lot of hockey for us over the years. It’s good to have a guy like that in the lineup” : Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said after the morning skate.
“Felt great, Anytime you get to go back out there with your teammates and be able to skate full contact, it’s a nice little treat. … It was my first full-contact practice, so we’ll see how the rest of the day goes, and if all good, then hopefully I’m in [Tuesday].” : Boeser said after practicing fully Monday.
Boeser is one of five Canucks players with six goals in 12 games, and he ranks seventh with 11 points. After scoring 40 goals and earning 73 points in 81 games last season, he continued to play on the top line and power-play unit in the NHL.
The forward, aged 27, has accumulated 395 points (185 goals, 210 assists) in 491 NHL games, exclusively with Vancouver, after being chosen in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft.
The Canucks are missing Boeser’s typical first-line center, J.T. Miller, who has been absent for two games due to personal leave and will not be joining them on a six-game road trip that began with a 4-3 victory against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
Boeser said he isn’t very worried about his conditioning after skating with Danton Heinen and Teddy Blueger on Monday.
Tage Thompson is prepared to come back from a lower-body injury for the Sabres’ game against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday.
The center sat out five games following an injury on Nov. 11 against the Montreal Canadiens. He participated in one period of play during the second before exiting the game.
“I think just taking that week to make sure I was 100 percent and make sure it’s not something that’s going to nag the rest of the season, So, feeling good, had a good day today and ready to go tomorrow.” : Thompson said after practice Tuesday.
“I just love the compete and the will to not give up, especially being down in a couple of those games, clawing our way back, I think it just speaks to the character of our guys in our room, and I think there’s obviously no doubt from the guys inside these walls that we can do something special, so it’s just being consistent.” : Thompson mentioned.
Thompson, who has scored 11 goals and has 18 points in 16 games to lead Buffalo, played his regular position between forwards Alex Tuch and JJ Peterka and participated fully in the top power-play unit on Tuesday.
He informed the coaching staff he was prepared to participate in the game on Saturday, a 4-2 victory against the San Jose Sharks, but due to three games in four days on the West Coast with no practice time, the Sabres (11-9-1) decided to wait. Buffalo had a record of 4 wins, 1 loss, and 0 ties while Thompson was away, which included winning all three games of their California trip.
Mikhail Sergachev netted the game-winning goal in overtime with 27 seconds left, leading the Utah Hockey Club to a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on Tuesday.
Sergachev guided a pass from Nick Schmaltz into the crease and towards the left post.
“We don’t have to score six every time to win the game, We can help out our goalies a little bit and give up two, maybe one, and still win the game. And we showed it tonight. Now we’ve just got to keep it going. It’s not going to be pretty sometimes. You have to go to the net and take shots and get elbowed in the face, but you have to get through it, and I feel like our guys are doing that right now.” : Sergachev said.
Mike Matheson was sidelined due to a lower-body injury. During Montreal’s three-game road trip, he will participate. At 14:37 of the second period, Utah defenseman Robert Bortuzzo exited the game due to a kneeing penalty following his open-ice collision with Montreal forward Joshua Roy.
He suffered a lower-body injury. … Roy played 11:30 and had one shot on goal in three shot attempts in his season debut after being brought up from Laval of the American Hockey League on Monday.
Schmaltz, who has yet to score, has 17 assists, the most by an NHL forward before scoring their first goal since Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders (19 assists) and Jonathan Drouin (18 assists) with Montreal in 2022-23. Utah has not had a shootout this season. Montreal has a record of 0-2 in overtime and 0-1 in shootouts.
Image Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images
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