#player-protection

#player-protection

"I prefer that the people criticize me, but don't touch the player," Pochettino said. "I hope in the future, criticize me, criticize me, but let the player play free, go and perform." Guided by goals on Tuesday from Alejandro Zendejas and Folarin Balogun, the mid-week result represented a turnaround for the manager that had suffered back-to-back defeats -- and gone seven games without a win -- after Saturday's loss to South Korea. Heading into the match against Japan, Pochettino had overseen losses in six of his 11 previous matches.

"I'm really excited," Reaves said, via NHL.com. "Everybody is asking me, 'Oh, I can't believe you're going to San Jose.' I go where anybody wants me and anybody who wants me I'm excited to do whatever I can for that team and that organization, so I'm excited to get down there."