TORONTO (AP) Mike Babcock was at his daughter’s graduation when he received a text message from a friend about reports of a strained relationship with star center Auston Matthews.”I’ll find out in the morning Evgenii Dadonov Jersey Kids ,” the Toronto coach replied. ”I’ll meet him. I’ll ask him in the morning.”As the Maple Leafs cleaned out their lockers Friday in the wake of a seven-game loss to the Boston Bruins in the first round of the playoffs, Babcock and Matthews addressed speculation the coach had ”lost” his player during the series.”I said, `What’s going on?”’ Babcock told reporters of his conversation with Matthews. ”It’s interesting in Toronto, you (media) do such a good job. You’re everywhere. You’re under the bench, you’re in the crack in the door, you’re in the car http://www.officialhockeypanthersshop.com/authentic-adidas-james-reimer-jersey , you’re in the parking lot. You’re everywhere, and any time anybody does anything there’s a big story.”I asked him flat-out, `Do we have any (issues)?’ He was sitting right there. We don’t seem to.”Matthews, who had just a goal and an assist against Boston, said talk of friction also was news to him.”I don’t know what that’s all about,” he said. ”Our relationship’s fine. Obviously Youth Jamie McGinn Jersey , you guys can speculate all you want, but I think it’s pointless.”Stuff happens, people speculate. I can tell you right now it’s not the case.”The 20-year-old from Arizona scored 34 goals in regular season despite missing 20 games due to injury, but admitted to being frustrated in the Bruins series following a Game 7 where Toronto blew a 4-3 lead in the third period before losing 7-4.”Auston’s a young man trying to be the best player in the world,” Babcock said. ”The hardest part in life is when you’re disappointed and you thought you maybe could have done more. I know that from me as a coach … it makes you sick, almost. He’s a good young man. We’re lucky to have him. I’m lucky to get to coach him Womens Jared McCann Jersey , and we continue to grow our product here with him leading the way.” RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Thomas Greiss stopped 45 shots for his first shutout of the season, and the New York Islanders beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 on Friday night.Johnny Boychuk, Anthony Beauvillier and John Tavares scored to help the Islanders move past the Hurricanes into the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Greiss got his eighth career shutout one night after Jaroslav Halak had 50 saves in a 3-0 home win over the crosstown Rangers.Cam Ward finished with 20 saves for the Hurricanes. They lost their second straight and fell into a tie with Columbus, a point behind the Islanders for the conference’s last playoff spot.Article continues below ...JETS 6, AVALANCHE 1WINNIPEG Jonathan Huberdeau Jersey , Manitoba (AP) – Blake Wheeler had two goals and an assist and Mark Scheifele had three assists in Winnipeg’s victory over Colorado.Wheeler ended a 15-game goal drought and Scheifele now has seven points in his last three games.Kyle Connor, Andrew Copp, Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers also scored for Winnipeg, which is 5-2-1 during its 10-game homestand. Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers each had two assists. Connor Hellebuyck made 30 saves for his 30th win of the season, allowing only Mikko Rantanen’s third-period goal.STARS 2, BLUES 1DALLAS (AP) – Ben Bishop stopped 27 shots and Dallas beat St. Louis to move past the Blues into third place in the Central Division.Mattias Janmark and Stephen Johns scored for Dallas. The Stars had a season-low 16 shots on goal while winning for the sixth time in seven games. Brayden Schenn spoiled Bishop’s shutout bid with a power-play goal with 1:14 remaining.FLYERS 2 Keith Yandle Jersey , BLUE JACKETS 1, OTCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Sean Couturier scored 1:52 into overtime and Philadelphia ended an 11-game losing streak in Columbus.Wayne Simmonds also scored for Philadelphia, and Michael Neuvirth – filling in for the injured Brian Elliott – stopped 35 shots to pick up his eighth win of the season. The Flyers‘ streak on the Blue Jackets‘ home ice dated to 2005. Cam Atkinson tied it for Columbus late in the third period.
