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Winnipeg Free Press
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ceci on the other side of Oilers-Stars battle as NHL's west final gets underway
DALLAS – Cody Ceci's on the other side now. The Dallas Stars defenceman and the Edmonton Oilers are frenemies in the NHL's Western Conference final. Ceci was a key cog on the back end and prime penalty killer for the Oilers in their run to Game 7 of last year's Stanley Cup final against the Florida Panthers. The 31-year-old from Ottawa helped the Oilers reach the conference final in two of his three seasons in Edmonton. 'It'll definitely be weird playing against that group,' Ceci said Wednesday before Game 1 at American Airlines Center. 'We've spent a lot of time together the last few years and went on some deep runs, so it will be a little weird, but I've just got to stay focused on the task.' Ceci was traded to the San Jose Sharks in August for a draft pick and defenceman Ty Emberson, shortly after Stan Bowman took over as Edmonton's general manager. The Stars acquired Ceci and forward Mikael Granlund from San Jose at the March 7 trade deadline for a first-round pick and a conditional third-rounder. 'It's been a crazy year, moving twice, and it's been kind of a whirlwind but it's nice to end up on a playoff team and get this opportunity,' Ceci said. The six-foot-three, 210-pound defenceman was a key part of Edmonton's penalty kill, which posted a 94.3 per cent success rate in the 2024 playoffs that ended with a Game 7 loss to the Panthers. That run included holding Dallas to zero power-play goals on 14 chances to take the Western Conference final in six games. Ceci now brings those skills to a Dallas penalty kill that ran at 86.1 per cent through the first two rounds. He also averaged nearly 22 minutes of ice time per game. 'He is a huge part of our kill that's been great and just defends super well,' said Stars centre Wyatt Johnston. 'He's even able to get up into the play and create some chances as well.' Ceci says he'll put friendships with Oilers players on hold during the conference final, and former partner Darnell Nurse plans to do the same. 'I'm not going to pump up Cees too much here,' Nurse said. 'He's on the other team here, but he was a great partner to play with. 'He's having success here, and good for him. Hopefully that doesn't carry on through the series.' — ROAD WARRIORS: After dropping their first two games of the playoffs in Los Angeles, the Oilers won four straight away from Rogers Place, including a sweep of the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. Oilers forward Zach Hyman says that's a product of a third conference final appearance in four years, and the Oilers being the oldest team left in the final four with an average age of 30.7 years. 'It comes with experience, just being able to play in those environments,' Hyman said. 'Playoffs bring out the best in everyone, in the fans as well, and it's louder the further you get, so having the experience to know that you've been there and you know how to play those environments, I think helps.' — RESTRICTING RANTANEN: Containing Stars forward Mikko Rantanen, who led all post-season scorers with nine goals and 10 assists entering Game 1, was among Edmonton's top defensive priorities to start the conference final. When asked how to contain the big, skilled Rantanen, Oilers forward Evander Kane replied, 'Play big, powerful, and skilled.' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'He's a big body out there and a great set of hands,' Kane continued. 'Like any player, you want to play them hard, whether that's Rantanen, whether that's Tyler Seguin or Cody Ceci. 'You want to play them hard. At this time of the year, both teams understand that. It's going to be a battle with everybody in their lineup and with everybody in our lineup. He's had a great playoffs. Hopefully, we can play him hard.' Rantanen's first game as a Dallas Star came the day after the March 7 trade deadline — a 5-4 loss to the Oilers in which he had a goal and an assist. Rantanen's knee caught Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner in the head during a March 26 rematch, sidelining Skinner for eight straight games. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 21, 2025.
Toronto Sun
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Thomas Harley scores power-play goal in OT as Dallas Stars beat Winnipeg Jets to win series
Published May 17, 2025 • 1 minute read Thomas Harley #55 of the Dallas Stars celebrates with Cody Ceci #44, Tyler Seguin #91 and Mason Marchment #27 after scoring the game winning goal in overtime to win Game Six on Saturday night. Photo by Sam Hodde / Getty Images DALLAS (– Thomas Harley scored on a power play 1:33 into overtime and the Dallas Stars advanced to the Western Conference final for the third season in a row, beating the top-seeded Winnipeg Jets 2-1 in Game 6 on Saturday night. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Mark Scheifele scored for the Jets hours after the unexpected death of his father, but also had the tripping penalty with 14.8 seconds left in regulation that set up Dallas to start overtime with a man advantage. Sam Steel, who had scored earlier for Dallas, was on a partial breakaway when Scheifele lunged forward desperately trying to make a play when he tripped up the forward at the blue line. The Stars called a timeout, but missed a shot and had another one blocked before the end of regulation. The Stars move on to face Edmonton in the West final for the second year in a row, and will host Game 1. Connor McDavid and the Oilers, who won in six games last year, wrapped up their second-round series with a 1-0 overtime win over Vegas on Wednesday night in Game 5. Golf Toronto Maple Leafs Sports Columnists Columnists
New York Times
14-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Mikael Granlund records hat trick in Game 4, Stars extend Jets' road woes: Takeaways
DALLAS — The Dallas Stars' other Finnish import put them on the verge of a return trip to the Western Conference final. Mikael Granlund scored three goals and Jake Oettinger made 31 saves in the Stars' 3-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 4 of their second-round series Tuesday night at American Airlines Center. The win gave Dallas a 3-1 series lead and extended the Jets' staggering road playoff losing streak to nine games, dating to Game 1 of their first-round series against Vegas in 2023. Advertisement Mikko Rantanen has, understandably, gotten most of the attention during his remarkable postseason run. But before the Stars stunned the hockey world by acquiring the Moose, it was another Finn who appeared to be Dallas' big in-season addition. Granlund was averaging approximately one point a game for San Jose when Stars general manager Jim Nill sent the Sharks first-round and third-round picks for Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci on Feb. 1. Granlund was getting top-line minutes in San Jose, so it's not a huge surprise that his numbers dipped a bit when he got to Dallas. In a mostly middle-six role, he still had seven goals and 14 assists in 31 games. But after scoring just one goal in the first 10 games of the postseason, Granlund came out flying in Game 4. He threw his body around — he was credited with five hits through two periods — broke up two Winnipeg rushes with a quick stick and scored three times. His first goal was on a power play — off a Dylan DeMelo holding-the-stick penalty that Granlund drew — taking a Thomas Harley drop pass in his own end, dancing past Brandon Tanev, racing right up the gut and snapping off a shot through Neal Pionk to beat Connor Hellebuyck. After Winnipeg tied the game with a sharp-angle Nikolaj Ehlers shot that caught Oettinger by surprise, Granlund gave Dallas the lead again with 2:08 remaining in the second period, keeping the puck on a two-on-one with Roope Hintz and beating Hellebuyck clean again with another wrist shot. Granlund then gave the Stars some badly needed breathing room 7:23 into the third period, potting a one-timer from the bottom of the right circle with three seconds left in a double-minor high-sticking penalty to Haydn Fleury. Hellebuyck stopped 21 of 24 shots for the Jets, who went 0-for-3 on the power play. Here are some takeaways from Game 4: Before Game 4, Jets coach Scott Arniel said: 'The biggest thing that a head coach once told me — and I've told our group — is there isn't a home or a road way to play. There's only the right way.' Advertisement And for the overwhelming majority of Tuesday's game, the Jets did play the right way. They forechecked well. They won battles in front of their own net. They kept Rantanen from scoring a goal, controlled the flow of play and spent more time in the Stars' zone than in their own end of the ice. If Game 4 had been Winnipeg's only road loss of the playoffs, the story would be about how well the Jets had played, despite their result. Now that they've lost every road game of the playoffs — and can't win the series without winning Game 6 in Dallas — it's fair to put a microscope on the Jets' road struggles. The Stars' two goals were the direct results of Jets mistakes: first, an ill-advised penalty, then poor rush coverage on the Stars' power play — and Hellebuyck's failure to stop the shot. In the second period, Nino Niederreiter correctly covered Pionk's foray into the offensive zone, guarding the blue line and picking up the Stars' clearing attempt, but he flubbed his backhand chip-in, creating a long two-on-one for Granlund's second goal. The third goal was punishment for Fleury's accidental high-stick on Roope Hintz. Tiny, individual moments. Massive consequences. The Jets haven't won a playoff road game in two years — and now they're not guaranteed another shot. Stars coach Pete DeBoer cautioned against expecting too much from defenseman Miro Heiskanen in his first game since Jan. 28. And DeBoer was careful to ease Heiskanen into the lineup, using him sparingly on the second power-play unit and not at all on the penalty kill. The man who was fifth in the NHL in average ice time during the regular season, at more than 25 minutes per game, played just 14:52 as DeBoer went with seven defensemen. Heiskanen looked rusty at times, and was hardly his usual dominant self. Winnipeg severely out-attempted and out-chanced Dallas — but didn't score — at five-on-five with Heiskanen on the ice. And his turnover just inside the blue line on the power play led to a Kyle Connor breakaway — Heiskanen couldn't catch him, only able to get a weak hook on him as he approached the crease — but Oettinger bailed him out with a pad save. Shortly afterward, with Dallas still on the power play, Heiskanen teed up Granlund's one-timer for his third goal. Advertisement Colin Blackwell, who's been an energizer for the Stars in these playoffs, was scratched to accommodate Heiskanen. 'Those decisions are always difficult because you're taking out players that have not only helped us all season, but have made some big contributions so far in the playoffs,' DeBoer said. 'The 11/7 thing's no big deal. It gives Mikko Rantanan some more ice time, so that's an easy one. The scratch decisions are tough, but our group understands.' Fleury's four-minute high sticking penalty was an accident — an errant follow through on an exit pass just over three minutes into the third period. His stick caught Hintz in the face all the same. If it had been the follow through of a shot, it wouldn't have been a penalty — but it was ruled a pass and then upheld by video review. It was a brutal turn for the Jets, down 2-1 in a must-win game, but Granlund's hat trick goal was worse. The Jets were three seconds from escaping the double-minor with a gutsy kill, punctuated by blocks from Brandon Tanev, one great save by Hellebuyck, and a short-handed breakaway by Connor — the tying goal scripted on his stick — that Oettinger turned aside. The Stars pressed and the Jets held until they couldn't hold anymore. Matt Duchene had just rung a scorching shot off the post when Heiskanen found Granlund for the one-timer that put Game 4 out of reach. The Jets were three seconds from escape. THROW THOSE HATS 🤠🤠🤠 GRANLUND HAS A HAT TRICK IN GAME 4!!! — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 14, 2025 The goal that Oettinger gave up in Game 4 was brutal, as Ehlers somehow beat him clean, unscreened, from a very sharp angle, from 33 feet out. But it was the only mistake Oettinger made. The trusty Stars netminder came up big time and time again. Among his best stops were gloving down a Gabe Vilardi shot in the opening minutes, getting his left foot on a Connor chance after Alex Iafallo wheeled around the net late in the second, stopping Connor's short-handed breakaway, getting in front of a big slapper from a hard-charging Josh Morrissey midway through the third, and denying Mark Scheifele shortly after that. Hellebuyck, again, didn't fare as well. Yes, two of the Stars' goals were power-play tallies, but all three Granlund goals came from distance. His road save percentage in these playoffs remains sub-.800. Advertisement Winnipeg's new forward lines controlled play in the first period, outshooting Dallas 10-4 at five-on-five and creating quality scoring chances for Vilardi, Ehlers and Connor — among others — plus a pair of odd-man rushes that started off looking dangerous. They even hemmed in Dallas its own zone for multiple shifts, including a hand-off shift from Adam Lowry's line to Mark Scheifele's line with Connor and Iafallo. It was a shift that should have led to a Jets goal, but instead led to an ill-advised Dylan DeMelo penalty for holding the stick. Granlund was the player he held up in the neutral zone after a 1:02 shift for Granlund — it's hard to believe he was a major rush threat that required that kind of impediment. Mind you, it was Granlund who then went one-against-the-world on the Stars' ensuing power play, eventually shooting through Pionk's stick check and beating Hellebuyck from range. The Jets had done almost everything right but still exited the first period down 1-0 because of big moments gone horribly wrong. (Photo of Mikael Granlund: Jerome Miron / Imagn Images)
Washington Post
10-03-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Granlund scores first goal for Dallas Stars in 4-1 win over Vancouver Canucks
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Mikael Granlund scored his first goal for the Stars and Dallas beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-1 on Sunday night. Dallas picked up both the Finnish center and Cody Ceci from the San Jose Sharks for first- and third-round picks on Feb. 1. Thomas Harley, Jason Robertson and Mikko Rantanen also scored for the Stars, who were coming off a 5-4 loss to the Oilers . Ceci and Matt Duchene each contributed a pair of assists.
