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Rangers and Bruins Give Thanks

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BOSTON – (Wire Service Preview) – After their Thanksgiving dinner tasted even better on the heels of Wednesday victories, the Boston Bruins will host the New York Rangers in their first meeting of the season on Friday afternoon.

The Bruins just spent 10 days completing a four-game road trip that spanned from California to New York, ending it on a high note with a 3-1 win over the Islanders on Wednesday. Friday will mark Boston’s first skate on home ice since Nov. 17, and another will follow against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night to complete a back-to-back.

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“We came into the trip wanting to at least be .500 on it, and felt like we left some points in California in a couple of those games,” Bruins forward Tanner Jeannot said. “We knew we wanted to come out and play (Wednesday’s) game really hard, finish off the road trip and head back home for Thanksgiving. The boys battled hard.”

Alex Steeves, who played on a new-look fourth line with Sean Kuraly and Mikey Eyssimont, recorded the first two-goal performance of his NHL career. Jeannot scored the eventual game-winner in the second period in between Steeves’ tallies, the latter of which came on a short-handed rush with 9:39 left in regulation.

“I’m not thinking I’m David Pastrnak or anything all of a sudden, but it definitely gives me confidence,” Steeves said.

Fraser Minten also played a key role in Boston’s latest victory, providing the only assist on both the tying and winning goals.

Goaltender Jeremy Swayman could be in line for his fourth consecutive start after making a career-high 44 saves against the Islanders. He is 7-2-0 with a .935 save percentage across his last nine starts, giving first-year coach Marco Sturm an easy decision of late.

“That’s why he was back in,” said Sturm, whose team was outshot 45-14. “We had that feeling (before the game) that we can’t get him out of the net because he’s playing that well — and he showed it. How calm he was, that gives us, I would say, a little bit of extra juice. We don’t have to worry about what’s behind us.”

The Rangers have followed up a four-game skid with back-to-back wins — including a 4-2 road win against their Metropolitan Division rival Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday — to move above the .500 mark at 12-11-2.

“We’re playing with more structure,” New York coach Mike Sullivan said. “I think we’re playing with better intentions. We’ve got numbers back. I think that’s the game that’s going to give us the best chance to win.”

In an unusual trend, the Rangers are 10-4-1 on the road and just 2-7-1 at Madison Square Garden, where they will return for a Saturday date with the Tampa Bay Lightning. They had just one road loss on the season prior to the recent skid.

A pair of third-period goals proved to be the difference in Wednesday’s game for the Rangers, who were at a 38-18 disadvantage in shots and withstood five Carolina power plays.

Artemi Panarin had a goal and an assist, while Vincent Trocheck scored the deciding goal 45 seconds into the final frame. Those efforts helped make a winner out of Igor Shesterkin (36 saves).

“I don’t think we were at our best, but we found a way to win and I thought the third was our best period,” New York captain J.T. Miller said. “It’s funny, you go through the first 15 games of the year, how many games we thought we should have won. This is one of those that hopefully can help even some of those out.”

–Field Level Media

Bruins Bounce Back

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Boston Bruins scored three goals in less than four minutes during the second period to erase an early two-goal deficit on the way to a 5-2 win over the visiting New York Islanders on Tuesday night.

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David Pastrnak, Michael Eyssimont and Elias Lindholm recorded a goal and an assist apiece while Fraser Minten and Morgan Geekie also scored for Boston, which has won two of its last three games.

Eyssimont scored the game-winning goal at 7:48 of the second.

Geekie has lit the lamp in five consecutive games.

Boston’s Charlie McAvoy added two assists and Joonas Korpisalo made 33 saves, stopped all 15 shots he faced in the third period.

Bo Horvat had a goal and an assist, Kyle Palmieri also scored and Ilya Sorokin turned aside 17 shots for Islanders, who took their first regulation loss in a six-game span (4-1-1).

New York had a 35-22 shots advantage. Boston went 2-for-4 on the power play and 5-for-5 on the penalty kill.

The Islanders buried their first shot just 1:08 into the game. After Boston defenseman Hampus Lindholm’s slap shot sailed high and wide, Jonathan Drouin started a rush the other way and dropped a pass to Horvat, who netted a wrister past Korpisalo’s blocker.

Palmieri converted on an extended delayed penalty to double the Islanders’ lead at 4:52, burying Mathew Barzal’s perfect cross-ice pass through the crease into an open side of the net.

The Bruins did not record a shot over the final 9:45 of the first, but turned the tables with a busy second.

Elias Lindholm got Boston on the board 3:57 into the middle frame, taking Pavel Zacha’s feed into the right circle for a one-time goal on the power play.

At 6:49, Pastrnak made it a one-goal game when he finished off Hampus Lindholm’s slap pass with a wrist shot from the right side.

Just 59 seconds later, Eyssimont flipped the score in the Bruins’ favor when his skate deflected McAvoy’s shot to the far post.

Korpisalo kept Boston ahead entering the second intermission, making back-to-back saves on a Horvat partial break with under 4:00 to play before backstopping a kill after Hampus Lindholm’s double-minor high-sticking penalty kill.

Following the Bruins’ second consecutive kill, Geekie made it 4-2 when he blasted a one-timer from the top of the left circle at 5:48 of the third. McAvoy set up the man-advantage tally.

After several key Korpisalo saves insured Boston’s lead, Eyssimont made a steal at the defensive blue line and sprung Minten for an empty-net tally with 3:23 left.

Boston defenseman Jonathan Aspirot played 14:16 in his NHL debut.

–Field Level Media

NHL: Bruins Look to Bounce Back

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SALT LAKE CITY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Boston Bruins look to erase a string of three consecutive losses and finish their first Western Conference road trip of the season strong, paying a Sunday night visit to Salt Lake City to clash with the Utah Mammoth.

Marco Sturm made the first major lineup shake-up of his young Bruins coaching tenure ahead of a 4-1 Saturday loss to the 5-0-1 Colorado Avalanche, opting to bring Johnny Beecher in for his season debut while Pavel Zacha joined Elias Lindholm and David Pastrnak on the top line.

“Against a team like Colorado, we need the whole package. We spread it out a little bit more (on the lines),” Sturm said, noting Beecher’s strong penalty-killing and faceoff ability.

Come Sunday, though, it could be back to the drawing board for Sturm.

Beecher rewarded his new coach with a first-period goal just 3:11 in, but the Bruins were dominated to the tune of 38-14 in shots and went more than 17 minutes without a single shot at one point.

Not nearly enough Bruins were going. For one, Pastrnak finished without a shot and had a minus-2 rating.

“My grinders were the best players again. If your grinders are your best players rather than your best players, you’re going to be in trouble,” Sturm said in a television postgame interview.

Defenseman Hampus Lindholm did give the Bruins a veteran boost after being considered a game-time decision on Saturday morning. He returned from a three-game absence (lower-body injury) to play 20:44 against Colorado and hopes to finish the back-to-back in Utah.

“It’s nice to be out there playing. Tough game tonight, but lots of stuff to build on for myself, and I feel like as a team, (we want to) get back on the horse,” Lindholm said.

Jeremy Swayman tended the goal for the first two games of Boston’s trip, which began Thursday with a 6-5 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Joonas Korpisalo is expected to make the Sunday start.

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The Mammoth has turned around a 1-2-0 start with back-to-back wins for the first time this season, including a season-high scoring output in a 6-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Friday. Utah enters Sunday as one of just five teams (2-0-0) still unbeaten at home this season.

“Eighty-two games, it’s a race for improvement. We’re far from the finish line, we need to improve,” Utah coach Andre Tourigny said. ” … I’m proud of the focus of the guys, the way they commit to what we have to do.”

Nick Schmaltz and captain Clayton Keller paced Utah as the first pair of teammates to record four points in the same game this season.

While Keller recorded his fifth four-point game in the last two seasons, Schmaltz notched his second career hat trick and the second in Utah franchise history with the help of two goals in a span of 3:52 in the first period. Schmaltz’s first goal broke the team’s 0-for-13 drought on the power play, which was a league-worst 1-for-16 entering the game.

Schmaltz leads the Mammoth with seven points, including at least one in four of the first five games.

“I feel like I’ve had a lot of chances early on in the season here and (I’m) trying to shoot the puck more, take it to the net, be around the net more,” Schmaltz said. “A couple guys made some great plays to me and found me in open areas. It was fun to see a couple go in there.”

The teams split their two meetings last season. Utah won its home game 2-1 in overtime on Oct. 19, 2024.

–Field Level Media

Bruins Ex-STURM-inated

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Tampa Bay’s Anthony Cirelli’s planted a pair of first-period goals which helped the visiting Lightning build a three-goal lead and hold off the Boston Bruins for a 4-3 victory on Monday afternoon.

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Pontus Holmberg had a goal and an assist, Yanni Gourde added a goal, and Jonas Johansson made 30 saves for the Lightning, who shook their first 0-2-0 start under coach Jon Cooper.

Tampa Bay’s Gage Goncalves and Jake Guentzel each had two assists.

The Lightning finished 5-for-5 on the penalty kill, with the last coming during Johansson’s 10-save third period.

Casey Mittelstadt, Jordan Harris and Morgan Geekie each scored a goal for the Bruins, who saw their three-game season-opening win streak come to an end. Boston’s Joonas Korpisalo stopped 19 shots.

The Lightning scored 1:09 into the game as Cirelli tipped home Guentzel’s shot from the right side. Guentzel picked off Boston defenseman Charlie McAvoy at neutral ice and bumped the puck to Goncalves, who made the play with a cross-ice pass.

Cirelli made it 2-0 at 13:16 when he deposited Guentzel’s backhand from behind the goal over Korpisalo’s glove-side shoulder. Another turnover extended the Lightning’s zone time before the goal.

After Boston was held scoreless in the first period for the first time this season, Tampa Bay extended its lead to 3-0 on the opening shift of the second period. Holmberg drove to the net and spun to feed a wide-open Gourde for a tap-in at the 39-second mark.

Mittelstadt responded with Boston’s first goal just 30 seconds later, scoring a wrist shot from the high slot off a strong rush sequence.

Tampa Bay reestablished a three-goal lead at 3:37 of the second period when Holmberg banged in a loose puck in the crease after Max Crozier centered it from the side wall.

Harris scored his first as a Bruin at 5:31. After David Pastrnak chipped the puck off the defensive zone wall, Harris beat Johansson with a short-side wrister.

Pavel Zacha’s faceoff win led right to Geekie for a quick flick of the wrist from the left circle, bringing Boston back within 4-3 at 11:35.

With Boston skating 6-on-5 in the final minute, Pastrnak blocked Brandon Hagel’s shot at an empty net before Johansson’s key rebound stop on Geekie in the slot preserved the victory.

–Field Level Media

 

STURM-IN-ATORS

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Under new coach Marco Sturm, the Boston Bruins have continued a familiar trend. The Bruins have won their first three games this season, doing so for the fourth time in seven campaigns. They will look to continue their October pace when they close a three-game homestand against the Tampa Bay Lightning this afternoon.

Boston passed its first Atlantic Division test in a 3-1 victory Saturday over the Buffalo Sabres. Pavel Zacha, Mark Kastelic and Sean Kuraly each scored a goal and the Bruins received strong goaltending from Jeremy Swayman (21 saves), while going 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.

“(We’re) paying attention to our system and having high attention to detail,” Swayman said. “There’s a reason why we’re getting results — because each guy is buying in and sticking to our system the coaches put together.”

Since the Morgan Geekie-Elias Lindholm-David Pastrnak top line did all of the scoring in Wednesday’s 3-1 win at the Washington Capitals, Boston has received top-to-bottom contributions.

Defenseman Jordan Harris provided a perfect example in his Bruins debut, subbing for Hampus Lindholm (lower body). The Massachusetts native played a strong game and chipped in immediately with the primary helper on Zacha’s first goal.

In net, Swayman has allowed just one goal in each of his two starts.

“(Saturday) was just a good example of how we want to play,” Sturm said. “It doesn’t always have to come from the big boys. I think everyone is chipping in and excited to get out there.”

The Bruins’ results have come in close games as well, closing two victories with empty-net goals and winning the other in overtime.

“It’s not easy to play tight games like that at this level,” Harris said. “Every team has players that can make plays. I think it’s really impressive how we stuck to our game.”

Following a 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, the veteran-laden Lightning are 0-2-0 for just the third time ever and the first in Jon Cooper’s 13 full seasons as head coach.

Tampa Bay allowed three goals in a five-minute stretch during Saturday’s first period. Two nights earlier, the Ottawa Senators erased a pair of first-period deficits and handed the Lightning a 5-4 loss to begin the season.

“There were a lot of uncharacteristic plays left out there that guys that are normally used to making them weren’t making. So that’s part of the reset too,” Cooper said. “And then ultimately, you have to just go back to basic winning hockey habits. We did it for a while, clearly not enough.”

All three members of Tampa Bay’s top unit have contributed multiple points so far, including center Brayden Point with a team-high four and defenseman Darren Raddysh with two goals. But there is work to do.

The Lightning has been outshot by at least nine in both games, with former Vezina Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevskiy off to a rough start (.855 save percentage).

“We just didn’t go from a good team to a bad team in two games,” Cooper said. “You lose two in a row in January, it’s one thing. When you lose two in the beginning, it’s a little eye opening. So, a lot of runway left here.”

Cooper’s team hopes hitting the road for all four games this week can provide a bit of a fresh start. The first of two back-to-backs in that span moves from Boston to Washington for a Tuesday tilt.

“It’s only two games, and we’re gonna go on the road, we’re gonna come out hard,” Lightning forward Yanni Gourde said. “That’s all we can control is the next game and the first shift of the next game, and we go from there.”

–Field Level Media

It’s a Wide Open NHL Season Ahead

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers are among the Stanley Cup favorites at several sportsbooks, but there is public momentum behind several other teams in what is seen as a wide-open Stanley Cup race as the 2025-26 NHL season begins on Tuesday.

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The Knights and Oilers are co-800 favorites at Digital Sports Desk’s Betting Hero, where Las Vegas has been a popular choice since opening at +1200, drawing 8.3 percent of all money wagered on this season’s Stanley Cup champion. The Golden Knights have seen the largest movement at the book since the market opened.

Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche have been backed by the second-most money with 9.7 percent at +850, the same odds as the Carolina Hurricanes. The most heavily-backed team has been the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have drawn 10.6 percent of the money while moving from +2000 to +1600.

“The Stanley Cup race is wide open, and bettors are focused on the Maple Leafs, Avalanche and Golden Knights,” BetMGM senior trader Matthew Rasp said. “More than 40 percent of handle is on these three teams to lift the Cup. After a late-season surge last year, there is also betting interest in the Canadiens. We expect Montreal to take another step forward and for liability to grow on the team.”

DraftKings has the Hurricanes as the slightly +750 Stanley Cup favorites ahead of the Tampa Bay Lighting (+800), Oilers (+850) and then the Knights and Avalanche at +900.

STANLEY CUP CHAMPION ODDS*
Vegas Golden Knights (+800)
Edmonton Oilers (+800)
Colorado Avalanche (+850)
Carolina Hurricanes (+850)
Dallas Stars (+900)
Florida Panthers (+1100)
Tampa Bay Lightning (+1100)
New Jersey Devils (+1400)
Toronto Maple Leafs (+1600)
Los Angeles Kings (+2200)
New York Rangers (+2500)
Winnipeg Jets (+2500)
Washington Capitals (+1800)
Ottawa Senators (+3300)
Minnesota Wild (+3500)
Utah Mammoth (+4000)
Montreal Canadiens (+5000)
St. Louis Blues (+5000)
Vancouver Canucks (+6000)
Detroit Red Wings (+9000)
Columbus Blue Jackets (+10000)
Buffalo Sabres (+10000)
Calgary Flames (+10000)
Nashville Predators (+12500)
Anaheim Ducks (+12500)
Philadelphia Flyers (+15000)
New York Islanders (+15000)
Boston Bruins (+20000)
Seattle Kraken (+20000)
Pittsburgh Penguins (+30000)
San Jose Sharks (+50000)
Chicago Blackhawks (+50000)

*See HERE for ODDS

The longshot Sharks and Blackhawks are the book’s two biggest liabilities, with each drawing 1.9 percent of the total money at +50000. The third biggest liability is St. Louis with 2.2 percent of the money at +5000

The Golden Knights open the season as the +400 favorite to win the Western Conference, with the Hurricanes the +400 in the Eastern.

–Field Level Media

Bettman On Hand to Open NHL ’25-26

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SUNRISE – (Miami) – NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was on hand as the league opened its 109th season with the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers hosting the Chicago Blackhawks.

Among other topics, Bettman shared his opinion on NHL players returning to the Olympics next year after a 12-year hiatus.

“I think it’s going to be great,” Bettman said about the Olympics’ competition and the nearly three-week break and stoppage of league play. “It’s important to our players. That’s why we’re doing it. Listen, there are lots of reasons that I’m never thrilled about taking a couple of week break in the season. Changes a lot of things.

“But on balance, I think it’ll be worth it, A) for the exposure, B) for the fan engagement, but C) and most importantly, this is and has always been very important to our players. And that’s why we’re doing this.”

League games will pause from Feb. 6-24 to accommodate the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The last time NHL players competed in the Olympics was in 2014, when Canada won gold in Sochi, Russia.

If the exposure that the league earned with the 4 Nations Face-Off is any indication, the Olympics will be another feather in the NHL’s cap.

“We came off of 4 Nations on a high,” Bettman said. “It shows you what our players can do representing hockey and what we think is the best best-on-best in international competition.”

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Bettman also addressed the Tampa Bay Lightning’s actions in the preseason finale against Florida on Saturday night.

One night after the two teams combined for 49 penalties and 186 penalty minutes, Tampa Bay recalled six players from its AHL affiliate in Syracuse to play on Saturday. That group amassed 77 penalty minutes and five of the six were assessed match penalties, misconducts or game misconducts.

The league suspended Tampa Bay forward Scott Sabourin four games and defenseman J.J. Moser for two games on Monday. Sabourin was one of the six players who was recalled for Saturday’s game. The NHL also fined the organization $100, 000 while Lightning coach Jon Cooper was fined $25,000.

“I think we made our position clear in terms of our response,” Bettman said. “That’s not what the game is all about.

“We didn’t think what happened was appropriate for a variety of reasons.”

–Field Level Media

NHL Entry Draft: A Deep 2025 Draft

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LOS ANGELES – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The NHL Draft was held on Friday night and the New York Islanders selected No. 1 for the fifth time in franchise history and first since 2009. The Isles made highly touted defenseman Matthew Schaefer of the Erie Otters the top pick. Schaefer became the first OHL player to go first overall in the Draft since Connor McDavid in 2015 (also out of Erie) and the first OHL defenseman to be picked at No. 1 in more than a decade, with Aaron Ekblad (2014) the last before him.

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An emotional moment for any top pick of a major league sports draft, the dream-fulfilling night had added meaning for Schaefer who lost his mother, Jennifer, to breast cancer in February 2024.

A few picks after the Islanders, the Boston Bruins selected forward James Hagens in the first round (7th overall) of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Hagens, 18, appeared in 37 games for Boston College during the 2024-25 season, recording 11 goals and 26 assists for 37 points, with a plus-21 rating. The 5-foot-11, 177-pound forward ranked third among Boston skaters and fourth among NCAA freshmen in points, earning a spot on the Hockey East All-Rookie Team.

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In 2023-24, Hagens appeared in 58 games for the U.S. National U18 Team, as part of the National Team Development Program, totaling 39 goals and 63 assists for 102 points. The Hauppauge, Long Island, NY native was part of the United States’ gold medal-winning team at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, ranking second among U.S. skaters in points (nine). Hagens was named most valuable player after leading tournament scoring at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Junior Championship, recording 22 points in seven games to help Team USA win the silver medal.

He also won gold at both the 2023 IIHF U18 World Junior Championship and 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge

Panthers Prep for Oilers’ Best

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SUNRISE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Edmonton Oilers showed their disdain for losing with some late-game antics in Monday’s Game 3 loss to the Florida Panthers.

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Now, the Oilers must find a way to turn their angst into a victory or risk falling into a dangerously deep hole when they resume the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday in South Florida.

With the Panthers leading 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, the next clash could either send the series back to Edmonton all-square — and with the Oilers regaining the home-ice advantage — or put the Panthers on the cusp of a second consecutive title against the Oilers.

“We’ve always been a good team at coming back out with a strong effort,” Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl said of turning the page from Monday’s 6-1 loss. “Obviously it was not our best showing, not our best game, but we have a great chance … to show what our team is all about.”

Edmonton must do more than just talk about a better performance. The Oilers reached this point thanks to an improved defense to go with their high-octane attack, but they have been undisciplined in the finals and have struggled keeping pucks out of their net.

Goaltender Stuart Skinner is under the microscope having surrendered 13 goals in the series, and boasting an .866 save percentage. But the Oilers as a whole must find another gear to send the series back to their home on even ground.

“It’s one game. We’re looking for the whole series,” Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm said. “We know we’re down 2-1 and we gotta be better next game … but we’re one win away from having the best-out-of-three (series) with two home games.”

[Read more…] about Panthers Prep for Oilers’ Best

NHL: Bruins Name Strum Head Coach

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Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney that Marco Sturm was named the 30th head coach of the Boston Bruins.

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“We’re proud to name Marco as the 30th Head Coach of the Boston Bruins and welcome him, Astrid, Mason, and Kaydie to Boston,” said General Manager Don Sweeney. “Throughout this process, our goal was to identify a coach who could uphold our strong defensive foundation while helping us evolve offensively. We were also looking for a communicator and leader – someone who connects with players, develops young talent, and earns the respect of the room. Marco impressed us at every step with his preparation, clarity, and passion. His path – playing for multiple NHL teams, coaching internationally, and leading at both the AHL and NHL levels – has shaped a well-rounded coach who’s earned this opportunity. As a former Bruin, he understands what this team means to the city and our fans. We’re embracing a new direction with Marco behind the bench and are confident his energy, standards, and commitment to a competitive, hard-nosed brand of hockey reflect exactly what Bruins hockey should be.”
“I’m incredibly honored to be named head coach of the Boston Bruins,” said Sturm. “I want to thank Charlie Jacobs and the Jacobs family, Cam Neely, and Don Sweeney for trusting me with this opportunity. Boston has always held a special place in my heart, and I know how much this team means to the city and to our fans. I’ve felt that passion as a player, and I can’t wait to be behind the bench and feel it again. I’m excited to get to work and do everything I can to help this team succeed.”
Sturm, 46, served as head coach of the AHL’s Ontario Reign for the past three seasons (2022-25). Under Sturm, the team compiled an overall record of 119-80-11-6 and made three consecutive playoff appearances. Prior to his time in Ontario, Sturm spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Kings from 2018-22. In his final year behind the bench with Los Angeles, the Kings earned their first Stanley Cup playoff berth since 2018 and posted a 99-point regular-season (44-27-11).
Before joining the Kings organization, Sturm served as head coach and general manager for the German Men’s National Team from 2015-18. In 2018, Sturm led Germany to a silver-medal finish in the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, becoming the first German team to ever appear in the gold-medal game and the first German team to make the Olympic podium since 1976. Sturm’s coaching tenure with Germany was additionally highlighted by a Deutschland Cup title in 2015 and back-to-back quarterfinal appearances (2016, 2017) at the IIHF Men’s World Championship, the best final placement for Germany since 2011.
As a player, Sturm skated in 938 career NHL games with Florida, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Boston and San Jose from 1997-2012, recording 242 goals and 245 assists for 487 points with a plus-59 rating. He scored the game-winning overtime goal for the Bruins’ 2-1 win over the Flyers at the 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park. The Dingolfing, Germany native was originally selected by San Jose in the first round (21st overall) of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. He leads all German players for most NHL games played and ranks second for career goals and career points. Internationally, he represented Germany at three Olympic Games (1998, 2002, 2010), four IIHF Men’s World Championships (1997, 2001, 2004, 2008) and the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.