Spartans in the NHL: The Chase For The Cup Is On

When the National Hockey League resumes play on Aug. 1, six former Spartan hockey players will retake the ice and begin their quest for the Stanley Cup. Torey Krug (Boston Bruins), Derek Grant (Philadelphia Flyers), Jeff Petry (Montreal Canadiens), Duncan Keith (Chicago Blackhawks), Mason Appleton (Winnipeg Jets) and Mackenzie MacEachern (St. Louis Blues) will all take part in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers, which will take place in Toronto and Edmonton. A seventh former Spartan player, Rod Brind'Amour, will look to lead the Carolina Hurricanes to another strong playoff run in his second year as head coach.

NHL play was halted indefinitely on March 12, but eventually the League and NHLPA came to an agreement in late May to resume play.

>> Complete Stanley Cup Qualifiers Schedule

"There was a period where you didn't think too much about hockey because you were just kind of focused on staying safe and doing things the right way," Appleton said during his media availability on July 20. "As stuff kind of got put back into place, that's when the mind started getting back toward hockey."

For MacEachern, he and the Blues will be looking to join elite company as they attempt to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. MacEachern became the 12^th Spartan to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup last season and the eighth in the last 14 seasons when St. Louis downed the Bruins and Krug in a seven-game battle.

MacEachern put up 10 points, including seven goals, in 51 games for St. Louis during this year's regular season.

As one of the top four teams in the Western Conference, MacEachern and the Blues will play a three-game round-robin with Dallas, Vegas and Colorado to determine the order of the top four seeds.

Appleton, who played 36 games for Winnipeg in his rookie season of 2018-19 and did not see any playoff action last year, is looking forward to this year's version of postseason play inside "the bubble."

"I think it's kind of the same scenario for everyone heading into this," Appleton said. "No one has ever played a playoff game with no fans, so we're all rookies in that sense and it will be a first for everyone."

Appleton missed just over two months of the 2019-20 regular season with a leg injury, but still appeared in 46 games, registering five goals and three assists.

"I think personally, and as a team, we've gotten better as the season has gone on," Appleton said.

Keith has won three Cups with the Blackhawks and was the MVP of the playoffs in 2015. This year, he's a part of a Chicago team that is the 12^th seed in the west and will take on Edmonton. Keith, who is in his 15^th NHL season, played in 61 regular-season games this year and recorded 27 points (3g, 24a).

In the Eastern Conference, a pair of Spartans will be involved in the top-four round-robin with Krug and the Bruins and Grant and the Flyers vying for the highest seed.

Despite the shortened season, Krug put up at least 40 assists for the fifth consecutive year. Krug had 49 points (9g, 40a) in helping Boston to the highest point total (100) in the NHL.

The Bruins' staff includes former Spartan netminder Bob Essensa, who is in his 17th season as the club's goaltending coach.

Grant was dealt from Anaheim to Philadelphia in February and played seven games for the Flyers before play was halted. In just 56 games, Grant posted a career high 15 goals and 25 points.

Petry and the 12^th-seeded Canadiens will face fifth-seeded Pittsburg. Petry notched his third consecutive 40-point season with 11 goals and 29 assists in 71 games.

"I think we played well against them," Petry said during his media availability on July 18 of the matchup with the Penguins. "It's obviously diff circumstances right now, but I like our chances against them. If we can play the way we did against some of those really good teams throughout the year, I don't think there is any reason we can't compete and win this round.

"It's going to be tough. Everyone is at a level playing field and it's just going to be a matter of which team is prepared and ready to go in the first game."

Brind'Amour led the Carolina Hurricanes all the way to the Eastern Conference Final last season is his first year behind the bench. This year, the Hurricanes are the No. 6 seed and will face the New York Rangers in the opening-round best-of-5 series. Brind'Amour's staff includes former Spartan netminder Jason Muzzatti, who serves as the club's goaltending coach.

Another former Spartan behind the bench that will be taking part in the NHL Stanley Cup Qualifiers is Newell Brown, who is an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks. Brown helped the Anaheim Ducks to the Stanley Cup in 2007 in serving in the same role.

EASTERN CONFERENCE (Scotiabank Arena, Toronto)

(No. 5 seed) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (No. 12 seed) Montreal Canadiens (Best-of-5 series)
Saturday, Aug. 1: Canadiens vs. Penguins, 8 p.m. | NBC
Monday, Aug. 3: Canadiens vs. Penguins, 8 p.m. | NBCSN
Wednesday, Aug. 5: Penguins vs. Canadiens, 8 p.m. | NBCSN
Friday, Aug. 7: Penguins vs. Canadiens*
Saturday, Aug. 8: Canadiens vs. Penguins*

(No. 6 seed) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (No. 11 seed) New York Rangers (Best-of-5 series)
Saturday, Aug. 1: Rangers vs. Hurricanes, 12 p.m. | NBCSN
Monday, Aug. 3: Rangers vs. Hurricanes, 12 p.m. | NBCSN
Tuesday, Aug. 4: Hurricanes vs. Rangers, 8 p.m. | NBCSN
Thursday, Aug. 6: Hurricanes vs. Rangers*
Saturday, Aug. 8: Rangers vs. Hurricanes*

Round-robin
Sunday, Aug. 2: Flyers vs. Bruins, 3 p.m. | NBC
Wednesday, Aug. 5: Lightning vs. Bruins, 4 p.m. | NBCSN
Thursday, Aug. 6: Capitals vs. Flyers, TBD
Saturday, Aug. 8: Flyers vs. Lightning, TBD
Sunday, Aug. 9: Bruins vs. Capitals, TBD

WESTERN CONFERENCE (Rogers Place, Edmonton)

(No. 8 seed) Calgary Flames vs. (No. 9 seed) Winnipeg Jets (Best-of-5 series)
Saturday, Aug. 1: Jets vs. Flames, 10:30 p.m. | NBCSN
Monday, Aug. 3: Jets vs. Flames, 2:30 p.m. | NHLN
Tuesday, Aug. 4: Flames vs. Jets, 4:45 p.m. | NHLN
Thursday, Aug. 6: Flames vs. Jets*, TBD
Saturday, Aug. 8: Jets vs. Flames*, TBD

(No. 5 seed) Edmonton Oilers vs. (No. 12 seed) Chicago Blackhawks (Best-of-5 series)
Saturday, Aug. 1: Blackhawks vs. Oilers, 3 p.m. | NBC
Monday, Aug. 3: Blackhawks vs. Oilers, 10:30 p.m. | NBCSN
Wednesday, Aug. 5: Oilers vs. Blackhawks, 10:30 p.m. | NBCSN
Friday, Aug. 7: Oilers vs. Blackhawks*, TBD
Saturday, Aug. 8: Blackhawks vs. Oilers*, TBD

Round-robin
Sunday, Aug. 2: Blues vs. Avalanche, 6:30 p.m. | NBCSN
Thursday, Aug. 6: Golden Knights vs. Blues, TBD
Sunday, Aug. 9: Stars vs. Blues, TBD

* - if necessary

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