ARLINGTON
Brian
Elliott Jersey , Va. (AP) back two of
the more important players from their Stanley Cup run by getting new contracts
done with winger Devante Smith-Pelly and defenseman Michal Kempny.Smith-Pelly
had offers from other teams and took less money to sign a $1 million, one-year
deal Thursday. A person with knowledge of the move later in the day said the
Capitals agreed to terms on a multiyear contract with Kempny. The person spoke
to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been
announced.¡±We all want to come back and play and try it again with the same
group,¡± Smith-Pelly said. ¡±Obviously it might not work that way, but I think
that¡¯s what¡¯s everyone intention to all come back and all be the same
group.¡±Smith-Pelly and Kempny were key acquisitions for the Capitals who played
dividends in the playoffs. Smith-Pelly scored seven goals in the postseason,
while Kempny filled the need for a top-four defenseman.Each player said after
the season he¡¯d like to return. For Kempny, it¡¯s the chance to keep an ¡±amazing¡±
time going after fitting in perfectly alongside John Carlson and found his game
under associate coach Todd Reirden.¡±I¡¯m very happy here,¡± Kempny said recently.
¡±We had plan with Todd, with defenseman coach, and the plan work out very
well.¡±The Capitals acquired Kempny from Chicago at the trade deadline for a
third-round pick. He did not seem to be a favorite of Blackhawks coach Joel
Quenneville
Womens
Claude Giroux Jersey , was largely a third-pairing defenseman in Chicago
and doubted his own ability to play difficult minutes against top NHL
players.¡±Todd, defenseman coach, he get my belief in myself back and I really
appreciate (him) for it because when I came here I didn¡¯t believe in myself,¡±
Kempny said. ¡±I didn¡¯t have confidence enough. Now, I¡¯m back and my confidence
is getting better and better.¡±The 27 year-old Czech had two goals and three
assists while playing 17:42 a game in the playoffs. Even better news for him is
Reirden is the strong front-runner to replace departed coach Barry
Trotz.Smith-Pelly likewise got his career back on track in Washington after he
was bought out by New Jersey last summer. When signing Smith-Pelly to a two-way,
league-minimum $650,000 contract, general manager Brian MacLellan called him a
¡±project¡± and made no assurances he¡¯d crack the opening night roster.The Toronto
native put up seven goals and nine assists in 75 regular-season games and then
had two game-winners during his scoring tear in the playoffs. Being comfortable
in Washington and embraced by teammates and fans led Smith-Pelly to take the
Capitals¡¯ offer rather than a one- or two-year deal elsewhere with a higher
salary.¡±It wasn¡¯t worth it to leave somewhere where I¡¯m happy and somewhere
where I really want to be,¡± the 26-year-old third-liner said. ¡±The money to me
personally is not that important if I¡¯m not going to be happy somewhere
else.¡±Smith-Pelly has 40 goals and 53 assists for 93 points in 341
regular-season games with the Anaheim
Ducks
http://www.flyersshoponline.com/authentic-ivan-provorov-jers ey ,
Montreal Canadiens, Devils and Capitals. Smith-Pelly was ready to stop the
career carousel.¡±It¡¯d be nice to just stick in for one place for a couple years,
and hopefully if it works out, longer than just this one next year,¡± Smith-Pelly
said. ¡±It definitely played a role in the decision. I¡¯m kind of tired of playing
on new teams and all that stuff. It¡¯s good to come back and be in the same place
consecutive years.¡±A 2010 second-round pick who had yet to find a foothold
anywhere, Smith-Pelly was more than happy to take a chance on putting up bigger
numbers going into unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2019.¡±I have
confidence in myself that I can carry over from the playoffs and do something
and then set myself up for something bigger and more stable later,¡± Smith-Pelly
said. ¡±It¡¯s definitely betting yourself. That¡¯s what I¡¯m doing, and I¡¯m
confident in myself.¡±The Capitals wanted him back even after not giving him a
qualifying offer Monday as a restricted free agent. Doing so at a cost of
$715,000 would have opened them up to an arbitration case
and
Jakub
Voracek Jersey Kids , at the very least, kept Smith-Pelly¡¯s salary-cap hit
an unknown until the hearing in July or August.It didn¡¯t get to that point. The
team continued to negotiate with agent Eustace King, and Smith-Pelly was more
than happy to take a chance on putting up bigger numbers going into unrestricted
free agency in the summer of 2019.¡±I have confidence in myself that I can carry
over from the playoffs and do something and then set myself up for something
bigger and more stable later,¡± Smith-Pelly said. ¡±It¡¯s definitely betting
yourself. That¡¯s what I¡¯m doing, and I¡¯m confident in myself.¡±¡ª TAMPA, Fla. (AP)
A record performance from rookie Clayton Keller helped the Arizona Coyotes knock
off one of the NHL¡¯s top teams.Keller set the Coyotes¡¯ rookie goal mark with an
empty-net score in Arizona¡¯s 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday
night. Keller¡¯s goal was his 23rd, surpassing Peter Mueller¡¯s total in the
2007-08 season. Keller also became the 22nd Coyote to reach 60 points in a
season, and Arizona improved to 17-12-6 since January.¡±I think we¡¯re trying to
treat every game like a playoff game and we kind of get up for that,¡± Keller
said. ¡±We just want to come out and finish the year strong and hopefully bring
something home for next year.¡±The Coyotes got two goals from defensemen as
Trevor Murphy and Jacob Chychrun each scored to help Arizona. Brendan Perlini
also scored for the
Coyotes
Youth
Jordan Weal Jersey , and Antti Raanta had 19 savesChychrun scored the
winner on the power play at 17:22 of the second period as Arizona, which blew a
two-goal lead on Saturday against Florida, held Tampa Bay to just 20 shots on
goal.¡±I was kind of hard on them in practice in the other day and they
responded,¡± Arizona coach Rick Tocchet said. ¡±I liked the way we played
tonight.¡±The Lightning played without captain Steven Stamkos, who missed the
game with an undisclosed lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day.Nikita
Kucherov scored on the power play with 5:23 left for his 38th goal. Louis
Domingue made 31 saves facing the team he started the season with as Tampa Bay
has lost consecutive games for the second time in 10 days.Since scoring seven
goals against the New York Islanders on Thursday, the Lightning have two goals
in two games.¡±We can play better in the offensive zone than we have,¡± Tampa Bay
coach Jon Cooper said. ¡±We just have to get a little bit confidence factor of
guys being able to make plays the way they can and execute the way they can. I
think that¡¯s one thing we were lacking tonight, our execution was just a little
off and obviously the guys were getting a little frustrated.¡±Tampa Bay has been
in first place in the Eastern Conference since Oct. 19 but is just two points
ahead of the Boston Bruins, who have played two fewer games.¡±We were definitely
not as sharp offensively as we have
been
Scott
Laughton Jersey ,¡± Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman said. ¡±A big game
for us trying to fight off Boston behind us and that¡¯s not what we wanted.¡±After
a scoreless first period, Murphy fired a slap shot from the outside of the left
circle that hit off the inside back post at 10:45 for his first career goal.
Chychrun¡¯s goal, on an open look from the slot with Domingue prone on the ice,
made it 2-0.Arizona increased the lead to 3-0 when Perlini was in the slot for a
quick one-timer off a feed from Dylan Strome. The goal was originally waived off
for goaltender interference but overturned on a challenge.NOTES: Keller extended
his scoring streak to nine games. ¡ Tampa Bay RW Adam Erne left the game in the
first period with a lower-body injury and did not return. ¡ Lightning D Slater
Koekkoek was in the lineup for the first time since March 8. He was a healthy
scratch in 11 of the previous 12 games. . Domingue had his personal four-game
winning streak end.UP NEXTLightning: At Boston on Thursday night.Coyotes: At
Vegas on Wednesday night.¡ª