The Philadelphia Flyers are interested in acquiring Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones, reports The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.However, the Flyers are one of several teams after the star blue-liner."The level of interest is off the charts," a league source told LeBrun.Jones, an unrestricted free agent in 2022 and eligible for an extension this offseason, reportedly informed the Blue Jackets in May he won't sign long term with the organization.The 26-year-old carries a $5.4-million cap hit for one more season. The size of a potential return for Jones, if Columbus decides to trade him, would depend on if he signs an extension with his new club or if he's a one-year rental.Jones was drafted fourth overall by the Nashville Predators in 2013 and traded to the Blue Jackets during the 2015-16 season. He's notched 223 points in 381 games with Columbus and was a second-team All-Star in 2018.The Flyers have a projected $13 million in cap space for the 2021-22 season, according to Cap Friendly. Restricted free-agent goaltender Carter Hart is the most notable player on Philadelphia's roster in need of a new deal.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz is anticipating a significant bounce-back effort from his club versus the Tampa Bay Lightning in Wednesday's Game 6."You'll get our best. Whatever we got left, you're going to get our best," Trotz said, per Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.The Lightning handed the Islanders their worst playoff defeat in franchise history in Game 5 - an emphatic 8-0 drubbing to push New York's back against the wall."Hopefully it's only a 24-hour thing and just like a 24-hour flu we can get over it and move on," Trotz said.Despite coming off a discouraging loss, the underdog Islanders have played the defending champions nearly even in several metrics to this point in the series.Five-on-five stats through five gamesIslandersStatLightning7Goals1247.48%Corsi-for52.52%47.03%Shots-for52.97%51.13%xGF48.87%45.59%SCF53.41%Advanced stats courtesy: Natural Stat TrickTrotz has faced this situation before. As the Washington Capitals coach in 2018, his club erased a 3-2 series deficit - against the Lightning - in the Eastern Conference Final and went on to capture the Stanley Cup.The veteran bench boss plans to relay that message to his troops ahead of Game 6."How much do you want to commit to have one shot to go to the Stanley Cup Final? How much are you willing to commit? That’s really the message," Trotz said. "Go after it, guys, because you only get so many cracks at this."The Islanders are 5-3 at Nassau Coliseum so far in the postseason. If they're able to win Wednesday, a decisive Game 7 would be held in Tampa on Friday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the Seattle expansion draft one month away, theScore is predicting every team's protected list and putting one club from each division under the microscope. This edition offers potential lists for the Atlantic Division. (We'll project a full 30-player roster for the Kraken closer to the July 21 draft.)Atlantic | Metropolitan | Central | Pacific (June 24)The 2021 expansion draft will follow the same rules as the 2017 expansion draft that welcomed the Vegas Golden Knights to the NHL:

The Vegas Golden Knights turned back to Marc-Andre Fleury for Game 5 versus the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night.In addition, top-line center Chandler Stephenson was also back in Vegas' lineup after missing Games 2-4. He was sidelined with an upper-body injury but returned to his usual spot between Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone.Fleury had started eight consecutive contests but was benched in favor of Robin Lehner for Game 4.Lehner was fantastic in his only showing of the series, turning aside 27 of 28 shots as the Golden Knights evened the series.Fleury is 9-6 this postseason with a .921 save percentage and 1.97 goals against average.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello is the winner of the 2020-21 Jim Gregory GM of the Year Award, the league announced Tuesday.Lamoriello beat out the Montreal Canadiens' Marc Bergevin and the Florida Panthers' Bill Zito.A panel that includes all 31 NHL general managers votes on the award, and the voting took place after the second round of the playoffs.This is the second straight year Lamoriello has been given the award, and he's the first general manager to win it twice, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti.Bergevin earned one more first-place vote than Lamoriello, but he came in second place. Here are the full results:

Buffalo Sabres legend Rene Robert has died at the age of 72, the team announced Tuesday.Robert had been hospitalized after suffering a heart attack late last week.The Sabres acquired Robert in 1972 in exchange for Eddie Shack. He went on to play alongside Gilbert Perreault and Rick Martin, and the trio quickly became known as the "French Connection" line, since all three were French Canadians hailing from Quebec.They combined for 1,681 points between 1972 and 1979, helping to lead the Sabres to their first Stanley Cup Final appearance in 1975. The line was broken up when Robert was traded to the Colorado Rockies in 1979.Robert played eight of his 12 NHL seasons with the Sabres, and he also logged stops with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Colorado Rockies. He finished his career with 702 points over 744 career games, and the Sabres retired his number in 1995.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Single-game sports betting is set to become legal in Canada after Bill C-218, the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, was officially passed in the Senate of Canada on Tuesday.The private member's bill - sponsored by Conservative MP Kevin Waugh (Saskatoon-Grasswood) - passed without amendment, by a vote of 57 to 20 (five abstentions). Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government will decide on a date when the legalization of single-game sports betting will take effect.

The Sedins are back in Vancouver.The Canucks added Daniel and Henrik Sedin to the team's hockey operations department as special advisers to the general manager, the club announced Tuesday."Henrik and Daniel's hockey intellect and experience is exceptional," general manager Jim Benning said in a statement. "We've had an open line of communication since they retired as players. They are students of the game, eager to learn, who will make valuable contributions and strengthen our staff."The Sedins will support Benning in decision-making and organizational strategy. Their work will include player evaluation, development, and communication from the amateur level to the NHL."When we retired, we always thought we'd like to be involved in the business side of hockey one day," Daniel said. "There's a lot to learn, but we are excited and ready for the opportunity. This team has some of the best young players in the NHL and we want to do everything we can to support the group and achieve our goals."Henrik added: "The province and the fans care deeply about this team. As we've said, being part of the Canucks family has been the best time in our lives. It is an honor to be back."The twins retired in 2018 after spending their entire NHL careers with the Canucks. Henrik is the franchise leader in games played (1,330), assists (830), and points (1,070), while Daniel leads in goals (393).Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Islanders star Mathew Barzal has been fined $5,000 for cross-checking Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jan Rutta in the face during Game 5 on Monday, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Tuesday.The fine is the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement.Barzal was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct on the play, which occurred at the end of the second period.

Gerard Gallant sees progress on the horizon for the New York Rangers.Gallant was formally introduced as head coach Tuesday and said the Rangers look ready to "take a big step" toward becoming a playoff contender, according to The Associated Press' Stephen Whyno.New York hasn't made the playoffs since 2016-17 but did qualify for the play-in round in last year's bubble as an 11-seed. The Rangers finished the 2020-21 campaign 16th in the league standings with 60 points but placed outside the postseason cutline in a deep East Division.The club cleaned house when the regular season concluded, as ownership was unimpressed with the team's direction. Head coach David Quinn, general manager Jeff Gorton, and president John Davidson were all let go.Despite the changes, the Rangers are widely believed to be on the upswing. Over the past two seasons, New York ranks eighth in the NHL with 409 goals, and its star-powered core of Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox, and Igor Shesterkin is one of the league's best. The Blueshirts also boast one of the NHL's top prospect systems.With several key pieces already in place, Gallant says the team's first order of business is forming an identity."I want to be the hardest-working team in the league - to work hard, to battle hard, to make other teams say, 'That team works hard every night,'" he said.Gallant holds a 270-216-4-51 record as an NHL head coach. He most recently spent two-plus seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal was handed a five-minute major and game misconduct for cross-checking Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jan Rutta in the face at the end of the second period in Game 5.Here's the play:

Tampa Bay Lightning pivot Brayden Point finds himself in an esteemed class because of his dominant postseason.Point registered a goal and an assist during the Bolts' 8-0 win over the New York Islanders in Game 5 on Monday night, extending his goal streak to eight games in the process.That's the second-longest goal streak in a Stanley Cup Playoff run.

The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the New York Islanders 8-0 in Game 5 on Monday to take a 3-2 series lead in the semifinal matchup.Steven Stamkos and Alex Killorn each had two goals and an assist, while Nikita Kucherov chipped in three helpers. Andrei Vasilevskiy recorded a 21-save shutout.The Lightning chased Semyon Varlamov early, scoring three goals on him in the first period. Ilya Sorokin entered the game and didn't fare much better, allowing five goals on the 24 shots he faced.Islanders star Mathew Barzal was ejected from the game and handed a major penalty for cross-checking Jan Rutta in the face at the end of the second period. Brayden Point scored a goal for the eighth straight game on the ensuing power play.The Lightning will now head to New York for Game 6 on Wednesday night.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks re-signed winger Matt Nieto to a two-year pact, the team announced Monday.Nieto's deal is worth $850,000 per season, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun."Matt brings a consistent, veteran presence to our lineup, and his speed and defensive awareness have made him a valuable part of our penalty-killing unit," general manager Doug Wilson said. "Additionally, his ability to chip in offensively gives our coaching staff a versatile option in crafting our lineup from night to night."Nieto registered five goals and two assists in 28 games this past campaign. The Long Beach, California, native was originally drafted by the Sharks in the second round in 2011 before spending parts of four seasons with the Colorado Avalanche from 2016-2020.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Stanley Cup semifinals have delivered. Both series are down to a best of three for a spot in the final, with six of the eight games so far decided by just one goal.Oddsmakers pegged each series to be lopsided, with the Lightning -300 favorites over the Islanders and the Golden Knights an almost unheard of -500 to beat the Canadiens.They've been anything but one-sided through four games a piece, but oddsmakers have refused to change their stance. Will the favorites pull away, or will the underdogs continue to shine?Lightning (-240) vs. Islanders (+200)The Islanders were dealt a bit of a lucky hand to help them come out of the East Division. At five-on-five, they owned just a 46.3% share of the expected goals against the Penguins and a 46.4% share against the Bruins. They were outshot and outchanced through the first two rounds, but the downfall of Tristan Jarry and Tuukka Rask afforded them a clear lane to the semifinals.However, they've grown stronger as these playoffs have worn on, and there's been nothing lucky about the Islanders' success against the Lightning. New York has controlled an exceptional 57.7% share of the expected goals at even strength in the series. That number has only dropped to 55.5% at all strengths as the team has contained a Tampa Bay power play that looked unstoppable through two rounds.While the Islanders' top players don't get the same recognition as the Lightning's, they've been the better group in this series. Mathew Barzal has been the best player, with three goals and a ridiculous 78.18 xGF% against Tampa Bay. The top four players in expected goal share in this series are all Islanders. Three of their six defensemen have over a 60% share, while five of six are above 50%.Conversely, Jan Rutta leads all Lightning defensemen with a 50% share. Three Tampa Bay blue-liners sit below the 40% mark. Also, Victor Hedman's injury is seemingly hampering his effectiveness. This team isn't the same without Hedman dominating on the back end.The key here for the Islanders - this season's second-least penalized team - is to stay out of the box, because at five-on-five, Barry Trotz and Co. have figured out how to beat the Lightning. It would be ludicrous to lay -240 on a Tampa Bay team that's been second best through four games.Pick: Islanders (+200)Golden Knights (-360) vs. Canadiens (+300)This series has largely mirrored Tampa Bay versus New York. Despite being overwhelming underdogs, Montreal has left little doubt it belongs in the final four. At five-on-five, the team owns 54.3% of the expected goal share and has generated 50 high-danger chances to just 34 for the Golden Knights.The Canadiens have kept Vegas to the outside and away from the front of the net while using their speed to pose a consistent threat in transition. The Tyler Toffoli-Nick Suzuki-Cole Caufield line has been dominant, as has the Artturi Lehkonen-Phillip Danault-Brendan Gallagher trio. All six players have an expected goals share above 57% at five-on-five, with three of them over 67%. They've outplayed the Golden Knights' top six, which hasn't scored in this series.Enough can't be said about the work the Danault line is doing. After shutting down Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews in Round 1, it's doing the same thing to Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty, who've combined for two points. Stone's 31.3 xGF% in this series is the lowest among all skaters. Pacioretty's isn't much better at 38.3%.Vegas has received timely scoring from the back end to stay even in the series - seven of its 10 goals have been scored by defensemen - but that's not a sustainable method for success. Until Peter DeBoer can make the necessary adjustments to penetrate Montreal's stubborn defensive structure, this series will continue to be played to the Canadiens' tune.Furthermore, while it's impossible to account for officiating when capping a game or series, you have to assume power-play opportunities will be about even. That's hardly been the case thus far. Vegas has been the biggest beneficiary of some glaring missed calls. The Golden Knights have enjoyed a rare 11-6 power-play advantage, a gap that's sure to be much more even over the final three games. There's a lot working in the Canadiens' favor, and we get them at a generous price to boot.Pick: Canadiens (+300)Alex Moretto is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Wild assistant general manager and former NHL defenseman Tom Kurvers has died after a battle with lung cancer, the team announced Monday. He was 58.The Wild hired Kurvers in 2018. He previously worked in the Tampa Bay Lightning's front office."Tom's kindness and enthusiasm will be greatly missed by the countless number of people on whom he had a positive influence throughout his life," the Wild's statement read. "We join the State of Hockey in mourning the loss of a great hockey player and an even better person."Kurvers, a Minnesota native, had a prolific collegiate career with the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He won the Hobey Baker Award as the nation's top player in 1983-84 after notching 76 points in 43 games.The Montreal Canadiens drafted Kurvers in 1981. He won the Stanley Cup with the franchise in 1986. Kurvers also played for the Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, and then-Anaheim Mighty Ducks.He had 421 points in 659 NHL games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars signed veteran winger Blake Comeau to a one-year contract worth $1 million, the team announced Monday.The 35-year-old has spent the last three seasons with the club and notched 14 points in 51 games in 2020-21 while averaging over 15 minutes per contest.Comeau was drafted 47th overall by the New York Islanders in 2004 and has played 903 career contests to date.The Stars have nearly $16 million in cap space after Comeau's new deal, but have five unrestricted and four restricted free agents currently on their roster, according to Cap Friendly.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marc-Andre Fleury's gaffe has at least temporarily cost him his job.Robin Lehner started Game 4 for the Vegas Golden Knights in their Stanley Cup semifinal series against the Montreal Canadiens.It's Lehner's first game in exactly three weeks and only his second start in the playoffs. The Swede surrendered seven goals on 37 shots in a 7-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in Game 1 of the team's second-round matchup.Vegas head coach Peter DeBoer informed Lehner and Fleury of the decision Saturday, according to ESPN's Emily Kaplan.DeBoer initially wouldn't confirm his starter when asked about it after Sunday's morning skate. Lehner was the first Golden Knights puck-stopper off the ice at the session, and that generally determines who gets the nod.Fleury had been mostly stellar in this postseason, but his giveaway in Game 3 against the Canadiens allowed Montreal to tie that contest in the final minutes and then win it in overtime.The 36-year-old, who's a 2021 Vezina Trophy finalist, also outperformed Lehner during the regular season, though the soon-to-be 30-year-old goalie played only 19 games due to a concussion.Lehner started every contest for Vegas during the 2019-20 playoffs but has suited up for only four games in the last 50 days.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon tested positive for COVID-19 and is now self-isolating, the team announced Sunday, according to The Athletic's Jesse Granger.No Golden Knights players were on the NHL's COVID-19 list that was released at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday.McCrimmon's positive test is the second confirmed case during his team's semifinal series against Montreal, with Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme also testing positive on Friday.The Golden Knights will take on the Canadiens in Game 4 in Montreal on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights head coach Pete DeBoer wouldn't reveal his starting goaltender for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup semifinal series against the Montreal Canadiens when asked about it Sunday."Not a chance I'm confirming that," DeBoer said after the Golden Knights' morning skate, according to NHL.com's Danny Webster.Robin Lehner was the first netminder off the ice for Vegas at Sunday's session, according to Sportsnet's Kyle Bukauskas. Lehner hasn't played since allowing seven goals on 37 shots in a 7-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in Game 1 of his team's second-round matchup on May 30. That's his lone appearance in these playoffs.Marc-Andre Fleury started the other 15 games, posting nine wins and a .921 save percentage in those contests. However, his misplay of the puck late in Game 3 against the Canadiens on Friday allowed Josh Anderson to tie it with under two minutes left in regulation.Montreal ultimately prevailed in overtime, and DeBoer said afterward, "there's no doubt" Fleury's gaffe affected his team in the extra frame.A concussion limited Lehner to 19 regular-season games this year, but he produced a .913 save percentage and 2.5 goals saved above average in 2021 prior to the postseason. The Swedish puck-stopper, along with Fleury, helped the Golden Knights win the Jennings Trophy this year as the tandem with the fewest goals against in the NHL.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rick Tocchet is on the Seattle Kraken's shortlist for their head coaching vacancy.The former Arizona Coyotes bench boss is a finalist to become Seattle's first-ever head coach, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on "Saturday Headlines."Last month, it was reported that Tocchet had interviews lined up with both the Kraken and New York Rangers, who ultimately hired Gerard Gallant earlier this week.Tocchet and the Coyotes parted ways on May 9. The 57-year-old's contract was set to expire on June 30.The former NHL forward guided Arizona for four seasons, posting a 125-131-34 record and helping the club reach the postseason in 2019-20 for the first time since 2011-12.Tocchet won back-to-back championships as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017 before the Coyotes hired him. He was the Tampa Bay Lightning's head coach for parts of two seasons from 2008 to 2010.The Ontario-born former winger played 18 years in the league before joining the coaching ranks. He amassed 440 goals and 512 assists in 1,144 games with six teams.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gerard Gallant is officially the new head coach of the New York Rangers, the organization announced Wednesday."Gerard's proven track record has made him one of the league's most sought-after coaches, and we are fortunate to have him as part of the team," team owner James Dolan said. "I have no doubt that he will play a critical role in helping us take the next steps to building a championship-caliber team."Gallant replaces David Quinn, who was fired in May after three seasons with the club.The 57-year-old recently guided Team Canada to an improbable gold medal at the world championship. He was previously head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights from 2017-20, where he led the team to a Stanley Cup Final in its inaugural season.Gallant also previously served as head coach with the Florida Panthers from 2014-17 and Columbus Blue Jackets from 2003-07.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson is on the trade block again, but the Arizona Coyotes captain is entering the process with a more open mind this time around.The Swedish blue-liner was involved in trade rumors last offseason but was reportedly willing to accept a move only to the Boston Bruins or Vancouver Canucks by using his full no-movement clause.However, the Coyotes and Ekman-Larsson's camp will use a different approach this summer."What Ekman-Larsson has told the Coyotes and what the Coyotes have agreed to do is, 'We're going to go out there, we're going to check the market, and we're going to bring a deal to you, and then you can decide whether you're comfortable with that team,'" Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on "Saturday Headlines".Ekman-Larsson tallied three goals and 21 assists in 46 games in 2020-21 while averaging 20:58 of ice time per contest - the lowest since his rookie campaign. The underlying numbers haven't been kind to him at even strength over the last three years, though he's produced on the power play, according to Evolving-Hockey. Evolving-HockeyEkman-Larsson turns 30 years old in July and has six seasons remaining on his contract carrying an annual cap hit of $8.25 million, according to CapFriendly.The Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers were reportedly among the other teams to show interest in Ekman-Larsson last summer.Ekman-Larsson said in October he's "never really wanted to do anything but to stay in Arizona."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If the Montreal Canadiens are to march on to the Stanley Cup Final, they'll have to do so without their interim head coach.Dominique Ducharme needs to isolate for 14 days before he's eligible to rejoin the team following a positive COVID-19 result Friday, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Assuming Friday counts as one of Ducharme's 14 isolation days, he wouldn't be eligible to return to the team's bench until July 2. Game 7 between the Canadiens and Vegas Golden Knights is scheduled for June 26.General manager Marc Bergevin said Friday that Ducharme is doing fine. Ducharme received his second COVID-19 vaccination shot June 9. However, he's not considered fully vaccinated because that date was less than two weeks ago.Assistant Luke Richardson took over the reins and coached Montreal to victory over Vegas in Game 3. Alex Burrows and Sean Burke served as his assistants.Ducharme replaced the fired Claude Julien behind Montreal's bench midseason. He led the Habs to a 15-16-7 regular-season record before defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets in the playoffs.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin edged out Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews and Minnesota Wild captain Jared Spurgeon to win the 2021 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.The award is given to the "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability."The 27-year-old is the fourth defenseman ever to win the award in its 96-year history. Brian Campbell was the last to do so in 2012. Red Kelly (1951, 1953, 1954) and Bill Quackenbush (1949) also won the trophy.Slavin, who's regarded as one of the league's better shutdown defenders, recorded just two penalty minutes in 52 games while averaging 22:59 per contest. His one infraction was a delay of game for flipping the puck over the glass.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights understand that their ineptitude with the man advantage is the primary reason they trail their Stanley Cup semifinal series 2-1 to the Montreal Canadiens."There are a lot of problems (on the power play), I don't think you can just pinpoint one," said Golden Knights forward Reilly Smith after Montreal defeated Vegas 3-2 in overtime Friday."(Our) breakouts have been bad. We're not doing a good job handling pressure. We're not releasing the puck very well, and we're not doing a good job crashing the net and picking up rebounds. So, there are a lot of things we have to get better at, and it's costing us the series right now."Vegas went 0-for-4 on the power play in Game 3 and lost - largely thanks to Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury's late gaffe - despite dominating the Canadiens at five-on-five.The Pacific Division club outshot their North Division counterparts 45-27 in the game. Vegas also outplayed Montreal in terms of scoring chances for percentage (59.18 to 40.82) and expected goals for percentage (53.88 to 46.12) at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick."Our five-on-five play was excellent tonight," said forward Mark Stone. "We controlled the majority of the game and had tons of scoring chances, but in a game like this, your power play needs to step up for you."The last two games, our power play has had to step up, and we haven't even gotten us any momentum. ... It's about time as a group we take a little bit more pride in playing on the power play. (We need to) take that five-on-five mindset to the power play."Vegas has a league-low 10.5% success rate with the man advantage in this postseason, scoring just four times in 38 opportunities. Over the last 30 years, no team has won the Stanley Cup with a rate under 11%, and no champion has ever had the lowest percentage of any club in the playoffs, according to The Athletic's Jesse Granger.Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday in Montreal at 8 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights head coach Pete DeBoer believes Marc-Andre Fleury's gaffe leading to the Montreal Canadiens' late third-period equalizer in Game 3 had an effect on his club in overtime.Fleury mishandled a dump-in behind his goal and Habs forward Josh Anderson deposited the loose puck into the empty net, evening the score at 2-2 with 1:55 remaining in the final frame. Anderson then buried his second of the night in overtime.

Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers has been named the 2020-21 winner of the Frank J. Selke Trophy as "the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game," the league announced Friday.The award is voted on annually by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.Mark Stone of the Vegas Golden Knights and Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins were the other finalists.Barkov, a first-time finalist for the Selke, was listed on 92 of 100 ballots and earned 62 first-place votes to claim the award.Florida's captain registered 58 points in 50 games this season while averaging 20:56 of ice time per contest, good for 10th among all NHL forwards. The Panthers dominated possession with Barkov on the ice at five-on-five, notching 61.43% of expected goals and 59.85% of shot attempts, according to Evolving Hockey.Barkov also recorded 39 takeaways and won 54.9% of his faceoffs.The 25-year-old is the fifth player in NHL history to win both the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy and the Selke, joining Pavel Datsyuk, Ron Francis, Anze Kopitar, and Ryan O'Reilly.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme has tested positive for COVID-19, the NHL announced Friday.Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said Ducharme is doing fine but added he isn't sure how long Ducharme will be away from the team.Bergevin said assistant coach Luke Richardson will run the Canadiens' bench with fellow assistant Alex Burrows and goalie coach Sean Burke on Friday night for Game 3 of Montreal's semifinal series against the Vegas Golden Knights.Ducharme received his second COVID-19 vaccination shot on June 9. He is not considered fully vaccinated because that date was less than two weeks ago. He was immediately isolated from the team under the NHL's COVID-19 protocols.No other coaches or players from either the Canadiens or Golden Knights yielded a positive COVID-19 test result.Montreal named Ducharme its interim head coach upon firing Claude Julien in February. The Canadiens went 15-16-7 after Ducharme took the reins, finishing fourth in the North Division. They then upset the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games during the first round of the playoffs before sweeping the Winnipeg Jets in Round 2.The Canadiens and Golden Knights are tied 1-1 in their best-of-seven series.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NOTE: This story was published before reports surfaced that Montreal Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme is believed to have tested positive for COVID-19 and won't be available for Game 3, and possibly longer.Just about everybody has counted out the Montreal Canadiens at some point or another during the 2021 postseason. It could have been in the opening round versus the Toronto Maple Leafs, the second round against the Winnipeg Jets, or, over the past few days, Round 3 opposite the Vegas Golden Knights.But Montreal is still kicking and enters Friday's Game 3 at the Bell Centre in decent shape after splitting the first two games of its series against a heavily favored Vegas team. Let's look at this with the glass half-full, shall we? Here are three reasons for optimism.'Playoff Price' in full formLet's start with some Carey Price stats.Ahead of Game 3, Price owns a postseason save percentage of .930. Among the six goalies who have appeared in 10 games or more this postseason, he is bested in that regard by only Vezina Trophy finalist Andrei Vasilevskiy. Price has recorded a "quality start" - a game in which his save percentage is greater than the league average for the year - in eight of 13 playoff games, according to Hockey-Reference.com. Pretty good. What's more impressive is that Price has avoided a "really bad start" (posting single-game save percentage below .850). Each of his peers, including Vasilevskiy, has recorded at least one poor outing.Put another way, the 33-year-old has been masterfully consistent, particularly since the Habs fell behind 3-1 against Toronto. Named the league's third-best goalie in a recent poll of NHLPA members, Price has been so technically sound and mentally sharp between the pipes that his teammates should have nothing but the utmost confidence in his abilities. That's huge; not having to worry about goaltending can do wonders for a team's psyche. Ethan Miller / Getty ImagesSpeaking of psyches … Price is clearly in the heads of Vegas' triggermen. Golden Knights captain Mark Stone looked rather frustrated following a huge glove save in Game 1. Same for Jonathan Marchessault, whom Price also stoned in the opener, and Alec Martinez, whose incredible backdoor chance in Game 2 became yet another clip for Price's postseason highlight reel.The Habs are now 9-1 when scoring the first goal of the game. Half of that equation is the goal; the other half is Price. From Vegas' perspective, slow starts have set the wrong tone. The Golden Knights conceded seven high-danger shot attempts in the first 20 minutes of Game 1, and they allowed a pair of goals in Game 2's opening period. Then, of course, they were faced with trying to solve Price."Chasing the game is not an easy task against anybody, but these guys play a good team game when they get the lead," Stone told reporters. "We've got to do a better job with our starts, and we've got to find our preparation."Vegas' nagging scoring problemFrom a roster-construction standpoint, Vegas is an imposing squad: a top-tier goalie tandem, a stacked defense corps, and depth up front. Fan bases across the league would kill to cheer for such a well-rounded, entertaining outfit.Really, the only glaring weaknesses are the absence of a true No. 1 center (more on that later) and a lack of world-class finishers. The latter deficiency has been on full display against the Habs, with just one of the Golden Knights' six goals thus far in the series credited to a forward. Jeff Bottari / Getty ImagesWhile Price and Montreal's defensive structure deserve kudos, there's some historical precedent for Vegas' struggles. Failing to capitalize on a boatload of scoring chances was a key reason the Golden Knights were bounced by the Dallas Stars in the 2020 Western Conference Final. The forward group, which features one pure goal-scorer in Max Pacioretty, bagged only five goals in that five-game series.It's not as if Vegas' centers and wingers have contributed nothing in these playoffs. Marchessault leads the team with six goals in 15 games. Stone has five tallies, and four others have four each. Finding a way to convert on a higher percentage of opportunities from Game 3 onward is the challenge. (And perhaps a run of bad bounces has something to do with it? The Golden Knights' forwards have combined for 10 posts and crossbars during their run.)That said, does it actually matter who scores? It matters how many and when; a goal is a goal - right? But it can also be true that relying on defensemen to carry the attack this deep into the playoffs is risky business. It feels like an unsustainable way to try to win another best-of-seven series.Interestingly, three of Vegas' six goals have been the result of a well-executed sequence immediately after a faceoff win. One can assume the Habs have been trying their best to adjust to this development between Games 2 and 3 and, at the very least, identified a way to stop losing defensive-zone draws cleanly.Everything's coming up HabsNo matter how well they've played over the past month, there's no denying the Canadiens have been the beneficiaries of a few random and unfortunate events.All three of their opponents lost a top-six center early on. Toronto's John Tavares was hurt in Game 1 and never returned due to injury. Winnipeg's Mark Scheifele was ejected in Game 1 and never returned due to suspension. And, now, Vegas' Chandler Stephenson is at risk of missing consecutive games after getting hurt in Game 1 and sitting out the entirety of Game 2. (Yes, the player Scheifele hit, versatile Montreal forward Jake Evans, is sidelined with a concussion right now. It's not all good for the Habs.)No offense to Keegan Kolesar - Stephenson's replacement on the Stone-Pacioretty line - but Vegas' depth chart thins out quickly after No. 2 man William Karlsson. All of a sudden, the Canadiens have an easy top-line matchup and can get creative with last change over the next two games. Francois Lacasse / Getty ImagesThat's especially true with stud blue-liner Jeff Petry back in action for Montreal after missing the final game of the Winnipeg series and the Vegas opener. Petry may be dealing with a hand injury (and bloodshot eyes), but he was quite effective in Game 2, finishing with a 66% expected goals share during 20 minutes of five-on-five play alongside Joel Edmundson."He's an important player for us on both sides," Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme told reporters Wednesday. "The way he defends, the way he moves, the way he moves the puck is really good. And he's a gamer. Every time you get in the critical moments, the big games, you see him at his best."Ducharme has seen players at their best throughout this run. Joel Armia has five goals after a seven-goal regular season; youngster Jesperi Kotkaniemi has blossomed into a star; veteran Corey Perry has found another gear as a grinder; rookie Cole Caufield has been flashing serious playmaking chops; captain Shea Weber looks locked in. To name just a few standouts.Sometimes seemingly everyone hits at the same time. Sometimes everything comes up Habs for a stretch of time. For pessimists, the tidal wave is about to come crashing down. For optimists, the wave is still cresting.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. You can follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) and contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes inked Liam Kirk to a three-year, entry-level contract Friday, agent Dan Milstein confirmed.On Tuesday, it was reported the Coyotes gave permission for other clubs to talk to Kirk. Arizona had his rights for one more season before signing him.The 21-year-old forward scored seven times in as many games for Great Britain to tie for the goal-scoring lead at the recently concluded World Championship in Latvia.Kirk became the first British-trained player to be drafted by an NHL team when the Coyotes selected him in the seventh round in 2018.He played two seasons with the OHL's Peterborough Petes after starting his career with the Sheffield Steelers in England. When the OHL canceled its 2021 campaign, he returned to Europe, collecting five goals and as many assists in 12 games with Hanhals at Sweden's third-tier pro level. Kirk then reunited with the Steelers, posting 10 markers and as many helpers in 14 contests to wrap up the season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rod Brind'Amour of the Carolina Hurricanes has won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's top coach of the 2020-21 season, the league announced Thursday.Dean Evason of the Minnesota Wild and Joel Quenneville of the Florida Panthers were the other finalists.Brind'Amour led the Hurricanes to a 36-12-8 regular-season record, good for first in the Central Division. It marked Carolina's first divisional title since 2005-06, the same season he captained the franchise to its only Stanley Cup.The Hurricanes have qualified for the playoffs in three straight seasons with Brind'Amour at the helm. They were eliminated by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round of the postseason earlier in June.Brind'Amour earned 61 of 129 (47%) first-place votes to claim the award, which is voted on by members of the NHL Broadcasters' Association.Carolina rewarded Brind'Amour's body of work before he collected his hardware, signing the 50-year-old to a three-year contract extension Thursday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Although the 2020-21 season was an unconventional one, there's one aspect of the campaign players want to keep.According to the results of the 2020-21 NHLPA Player Poll released on Thursday, 66.3% of players are in favor of keeping series-style schedules. The mini-series were added specifically for the condensed season, but players clearly enjoyed the benefits of less travel and more rest.However, the biggest change of the 2020-21 season, the temporary realignment, did not go over well with the players. Among 447 votes, 68.2% said they didn't want to see regional divisions moving forward. Fortunately for the majority, the NHL is aiming to return to the normal Atlantic, Metro, Central, and Pacific Divisions next season.Here are the rest of the results from the poll:On-iceWho is the best goal-scorer? Claus Andersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyPlayerVote %Auston Matthews46.27Alex Ovechkin33.82David Pastrnak6.02Connor McDavid4.56Who is the best defenseman?PlayerVote %Victor Hedman64.71Roman Josi7.35Cale Makar7.35Drew Doughty2.73John Carlson2.10Who is the best goalie? Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images Sport / GettyPlayerVote %Andrei Vasilevskiy54.12Marc-Andre Fleury8.88Carey Price8.25Connor Hellebuyck5.07Tuukka Rask4.02Who is the most complete player?PlayerVote %Sidney Crosby23.78Patrice Bergeron23.78Aleksander Barkov14.65Connor McDavid7.22Nathan MacKinnon5.52Anze Kopitar4.46If you need to win one game, who is the one player (any position) you would want on your team? Darcy Finley / National Hockey League / GettyPlayerVote %Connor McDavid36.74Sidney Crosby23.04Nathan MacKinnon5.87Patrice Bergeron4.57Andre Vasilevskiy4.57Patrick Kane3.48Who has the best shot?PlayerVote %Alex Ovechkin48.95Auston Matthews28.78Shea Weber5.04Patrik Laine2.94Nathan MacKinnon1.89David Pastrnak1.89Who is the best stick-handler? Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Sport / GettyPlayerVote %Patrick Kane49.48Connor McDavid25.79Nathan MacKinnon7.55Auston Matthews2.52Mathew Barzal1.47Aleksander Barkov1.26Who is the best passer?PlayerVote %Nicklas Backstrom20.72Patrick Kane20.30Leon Draisaitl18.39Connor McDavid9.73Mitch Marner5.71Sidney Crosby4.23Player personalityWho is the most superstitious player? Mike Stobe / National Hockey League / GettyPlayerVote %Sidney Crosby27.35Michael Frolik5.09Andrew Cogliano4.83Corey Perry4.56Samuel Girard2.95Which player is the most fashionable?PlayerVote %Auston Matthews21.16David Pastrnak11.08P.K. Subban6.55Henrik Lundqvist5.04Kris Letang4.53Roope Hintz2.52Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens' Marc Bergevin, the New York Islanders' Lou Lamoriello, and the Florida Panthers' Bill Zito are the three finalists for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award.Voting among GMs, league executives, and media members was conducted after the second round of the playoffs, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.The Habs and Islanders are still going strong in the semifinals, while the Tampa Bay Lightning eliminated the Panthers in Round 1.Bergevin made multiple key offseason acquisitions, adding Josh Anderson, Tyler Toffoli, Joel Edmundson, Jake Allen, and Corey Perry. He also landed Eric Staal and Jon Merrill prior to the trade deadline.The Isles' offseason was quiet, but Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac have been integral during the team's run to the final four after being added before the trade deadline. Lamoriello is the reigning winner of the award.Zito led the Panthers to the best season in franchise history by points percentage during his first campaign on the job. Signing Carter Verhaeghe to a two-year contract worth $2 million was the steal of last summer. The deadline acquisition of Sam Bennett also paid immediate dividends, and he's still under team control.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rod Brind'Amour isn't going anywhere.The Carolina Hurricanes announced Thursday that they've signed their head coach to a three-year extension.Brind'Amour has led the Hurricanes to three straight playoff berths, the first time the franchise has done so since relocating to Carolina in 1997. Before he arrived, the Canes had missed the postseason nine years in a row."Rod has been the driving force behind the culture change we've undergone here," general manager Don Waddell said. "He keeps our players motivated, demands accountability, and has our team ready to compete every night. He has truly raised the bar for our organization, and we're thrilled to have him continue as our coach for years to come."Brind'Amour is a finalist for the 2020-21 Jack Adams Award, presented to the coach of the year, after leading Hurricanes to a Central Division title.The 50-year-old's career .631 points percentage is the 10th-best all time among those to coach at least 100 NHL games, according to Hockey Reference.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In a surprising turn of events, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jeff Petry returned to the lineup for Wednesday's 3-2 Game 2 victory against the Vegas Golden Knights.The Canadiens didn't include Petry in their initial lineup, but they announced moments before puck drop that he'd play in place of Brett Kulak.

The Toronto Maple Leafs inked Jason Spezza to a one-year contract extension worth $750,000, the club announced Wednesday.Spezza will earn the new league minimum next season after collecting the lowest-possible NHL salary for the last two campaigns."I know where the team’s at with the cap and everything. And I’ll be honest, all I care about is playing on a good team and just trying to win," Spezza said after inking his new deal, per Sportsnet. "So if I could take less I would."You know, I love playing the game. I love competing. The chase of a Cup is at the forefront of my mind, you know, daily. And anything I can do to kind of help the team acquire better players, that’s kind of why I just take the league minimum and want to move forward."The veteran forward, who turned 38 on Sunday, produced 10 goals and 20 assists in 54 regular-season games with the Maple Leafs in 2021 before excelling in the playoffs with three markers and two helpers in seven contests.Spezza has played his last two campaigns with the Leafs. He has proven to be a perfect fit with the club in a bottom-six role. The Toronto-born player first signed with his hometown squad as a free agent in July 2019 after spending five seasons with the Dallas Stars.He suited up for his first 11 campaigns with the Ottawa Senators, who drafted him second overall in 2001.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are rewarding their all-time leading scorer, promoting Rick Nash to director of player development Wednesday.Nash spent the last two seasons as a special assistant to Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen after retiring as a player following his 15-year career.The former star forward, who turned 37 on Wednesday, will now supervise the team's development staff, monitor the progress of the club's prospects, and offer feedback to upper management about which players should advance within the organization.Columbus also hired former Blue Jackets forwards Mark Letestu and Derek Dorsett as development coaches, among other moves Wednesday.Last month, the team brought back John Davidson as president of hockey operations and extended Kekalainen through 2024-25.Nash ranks first in Blue Jackets history in goals, assists, points, and games played. The 2002 first overall pick racked up 547 points in 674 contests for Columbus and 805 points in 1,060 career games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz bemoaned a missed too-many-men call that led to a go-ahead goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 2 on Tuesday night.Ondrej Palat scored in the second period to give Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead, but replay showed the Lightning had extra players on the ice at the time. Trotz was predictably incensed on the bench afterward.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Oskar Lindblom has been named the 2021 recipient of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, the league announced Tuesday.Mathew Dumba of the Minnesota Wild and Patrick Marleau of the San Jose Sharks were the other finalists.The annual award is given to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. It's voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.Lindblom was also a finalist in 2020. The 24-year-old recovered from Ewing's sarcoma - a rare form of blood cancer - and was a regular in Philadelphia's lineup this season."Just to be able to get back on the ice again was so, so good, and I can't say more than that," Lindblom said. "It was an awesome feeling to be back on the ice again."He added: "I would like to thank my family, my girlfriend, my whole team, the organization, and especially the doctors and nurses who have been helping me along the way, and everyone else who have been with me the whole way. I just want to say a big thank you to all of you."Lindblom finished the year with eight goals and six assists.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Bell Centre will be a bit more full when the Montreal Canadiens return for Game 3 on Friday.The Quebec government announced Tuesday that it's relaxing the rules for public events. One of the changes will increase the indoor capacity from 2,500 people to 3,500 and go into effect on Thursday.Montreal was the first Canadian city to allow fans to attend NHL games during the first round of the playoffs. The majority of American teams welcomed back fans during the regular season, and the remaining teams in the postseason are operating near full capacity.The Canadiens will take on the Vegas Golden Knights at the Bell Centre for Game 3 on Friday and Game 4 on Sunday. There were 17,884 fans in attendance for Game 1 in Vegas, according to TSN's Mark Masters.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With a focus on the four teams still standing in the 2020-21 NHL playoffs, here's what we've learned during the first month of action and what it means for the rest of the third round.Habs' formula getting tested David Becker / Getty ImagesOver the past month, the Montreal Canadiens have developed a distinct formula for winning playoff games against opponents who, on paper, possess more than enough offensive talent to overwhelm them.The formula involves scratching and clawing for an early lead, clogging up the neutral zone and insulating goalie Carey Price to keep the puck on the perimeter of the defensive zone, and then relying on Price to make a big save now and then.This approach worked beautifully for seven straight games, from Game 5 of the first round to the end of the second round. Montreal didn't trail on the scoreboard for a single second during that stretch - a crazy accomplishment that made series victories over the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets extra impressive. Sure, an injury to a star player on both teams helped them advance, but the Habs still earned their place in the NHL's semifinal round.Unfortunately for them, the formula hit a snag on Monday in Game 1 against a deep, well-structured Vegas Golden Knights squad.For a second straight game, No. 1 defenseman Jeff Petry was sidelined by injury, and his absence had a noteworthy ripple effect on a blue line that thins out significantly after Ben Chiarot and Shea Weber on one pair and Petry and Joel Edmundson on another. Third-pair staple Brett Kulak skated for nearly 17 minutes; rookie Alexander Romanov, a healthy scratch for 10 of 11 previous games, played 15:11; the one-dimensional Erik Gustafsson played 13:45, elevating his playoff average to just 10:30.The Habs lost 4-1 to the Golden Knights, and one of Kulak or Gustafsson was on the ice for three of the four goals. Kulak, in particular, looked a step behind everybody else throughout Game 1. On Vegas' second goal, the 27-year-old was cluelessly out of position, and on the 3-1 marker, he got outmuscled at the goalmouth by Mattias Janmark, the eventual goal-scorer.Making matters worse for Montreal, it was the opposition's defense corps that tilted the ice this time around. Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore, and Alec Martinez combined for two goals, one assist, and 12 shots on goal. Overall, the Golden Knights' six defensemen were credited with 33 of the team's 62 shot attempts while keeping the Habs to 53 total attempts of their own.Now, it would be foolish to suddenly write off the plucky Habs. They rallied to beat Toronto in seven games after falling behind 3-1. At worst, Montreal deserves a game to redeem themselves.That said, Petry's status (which is unclear for Game 2) is so critical to the direction of this series. Vegas is a different kind of challenge than Toronto or Winnipeg because its defensemen are constantly in the thick of the action. Keeping the opposition to the outside, away from Price, is a less effective approach if the opposition is skilled and smart enough to turn perimeter possession into goals. Plus, Petry can skate the puck out of trouble or get it in the hands of a capable forward better than any other Montreal defenseman. He's essential to what the Habs are trying to accomplish, period.Vegas continuing to adapt Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesThe Golden Knights have evolved into a model franchise. Everything from game presentation and social media to roster building and player development is top tier for the 4-year-old team. And this postseason it's become abundantly clear coaching is yet another area in which Vegas excels.Head coach Pete DeBoer, who in January 2020 took over for Gerard Gallant, is now fully settled into his role - and it's showing. In Round 2 against the Colorado Avalanche, he decided to fight fire with fire by counterattacking the counterattack-happy Avs, and it paid off en route to a 4-2 series victory.Yes, Vegas was a counterpunch team under Gallant. Against the Avs, though, it felt as if the club took its identity to the extreme in an effort to put Colorado on its heels as often as possible. DeBoer didn't want to play it safe or give the opponent too much respect. He gave his players the green light to rush the puck in numbers whenever the Avs coughed it up in transition.There's some logic behind the approach. If what typically makes the Avs so deadly (that mobile defensive corps working hand in hand with an abundance of speed and skill up front to smother the opposition with offense) is disrupted, the team must adapt. In other words, if pace-pushing blue-liners like Cale Makar and Sam Girard are forced to play transition defense every time their own offensive sequence goes awry, how much time and energy is left for a second rush?Of course, DeBoer wouldn't have leaned into this game plan if the Golden Knights hadn't been effective in the aggressor role in the past. Vegas is the heaviest group in the entire league, its system offers ample puck support on both offense and defense, and there's plenty of depth throughout the lineup. Truly, they have been built to trade fast-break chances with the opposition.Like captain Mark Stone, the Golden Knights don't necessarily skate fast but they play fast. They defend well and make you pay off the rush.This, in a nutshell, is why the margin of error is so small for Montreal.Isles charting Cup path? Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesGame 1 of the Tampa Bay Lightning-New York Islanders semifinal couldn't have gone much better for the well-oiled machine from Long Island.Tampa wasn't able to generate a ton of prime looks at five-on-five, registering just eight high-danger shot attempts in 47 minutes of action, according to Natural Stat Trick. The Lightning often turned the puck over, too, and the Isles capitalized on one particular gaffe midway through the second period, with Mathew Barzal opening the scoring off a Steven Stamkos giveaway.The process (a relatively low-event game) and the result (a 2-1 win) should give Isles coach Barry Trotz plenty of confidence heading into Tuesday's Game 2. If the Isles didn't believe it prior to the series, they now know containing the powerhouse Lightning isn't an impossible task at five-on-five.This matchup is very much an immovable object (New York's five-on-five defense) versus an unstoppable force (Tampa's five-on-five offense). There is a full range of outcomes, but a nightly split in goals might be the most likely.Which brings us to special teams. Will a trip to the Stanley Cup Final ultimately come down to the battle between New York's penalty kill and Tampa's power play? The Lightning converted one of two opportunities in Game 1 to improve their playoff success rate to a ridiculous 42%. There are simply too many options on their top unit of Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Victor Hedman, and Alex Killorn. Yet, if the Isles stay out of the penalty box, which they are quite good at (they took the fewest penalties in the NHL during the regular season), the Lightning's advantage is useless.Conn Smythe front-runnersThere are a few weeks left before the Conn Smythe Trophy is handed out to the playoff MVP, so much can change, but here are two front-runners per team:Islanders: Barzal (10 points in 13 games, including seven in his last seven), Ryan Pulock (excellent defensive play, plus three game-winning goals)Lightning: Kucherov (playoff-high 19 points in 12 games), Andrei Vasilevskiy (playoff-high 8.86 goals saved above expected, per Evolving Hockey)Golden Knights: Stone (dominant two-way force, heart and soul of team), Pietrangelo (top shutdown option, plus eight points in 14 games)Canadiens: Tyler Toffoli (team-leading 11 points in 12 games, including series-clinching goal in Round 2), Price (4.3 goals saved above expected, per Evolving Hockey)John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. You can follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) and contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney and Taylor Hall appear to be on the same page regarding the talented forward's future."In talking with (Hall and fellow Bruins forward David Krejci) at the end of the (season), and even when Taylor got here, he's expressed interest (and there's been) mutual interest to have him back," Sweeney said Tuesday." ... Obviously, we'll have to see where all the pieces fit together."Last week, Hall said he sees a fit with Boston and hoped the club felt the same way while adding he would prioritize fit over money or term.The 29-year-old rediscovered his form after the Buffalo Sabres traded him to the Bruins this spring, notching eight goals and six assists in 16 games with his new squad during the regular season before adding three goals and two assists in 11 playoff contests. Hall only produced two markers and 17 helpers in 37 games with Buffalo after inking a one-year, $8-million pact with the team last offseason.Boston has several key pending unrestricted free agents to sign this offseason, including Hall and Krejci as well as goaltenders Tuukka Rask - who's expected to be out until at least January - and Jaroslav Halak.Hall has played for four squads in the last four campaigns. The Alberta-born winger, who the Edmonton Oilers picked first overall in 2010, won the Hart Trophy in 2018.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne is the 2021 recipient of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, the league announced Monday.The award is given annually to the player who exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice, and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution to his community.Rinne edged out San Jose Sharks forward Kurtis Gabriel and New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban to earn the honor."After spending 15 years with the same organization and in the same city, and with the opportunities I've had through local charities in my community - this is very special to me," Rinne said. "At the same time, I was to congratulate P.K. and Kurtis on their nomination and for everything they do for their communities. I want to thank the Predators and the Predators Foundation for letting us players get involved and help in our community."Rinne has raised over $3 million for cancer research at a children's hospital in Tennessee through his 365 Pediatric Fund. He also works with Best Buddies, a nonprofit advocating for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and Make-A-Wish, among others.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers are hiring Gerard Gallant as their head coach, reports Larry Brooks of the New York Post.Gallant will replace David Quinn, who the Rangers fired in May.New York also interviewed former Arizona Coyotes bench boss Rick Tocchet, among others, for its vacancy.Gallant's deal is believed to be for four years, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The 57-year-old is fresh off winning gold as Canada's coach at the world championship. Gallant last coached in the NHL with the Vegas Golden Knights from 2017-2020. He led them to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season before being fired midway through his third campaign in Vegas.Gallant has also had three-year stints with the Florida Panthers (2014-2017) and the Columbus Blue Jackets (2003-2007). He has a 270-216-4-51 career record.The Rangers missed the playoffs in 2021. However, New York is widely regarded to be on the verge of contention. The Blueshirts have a strong core built around superstars Artemi Panarin and Adam Fox, and they also boast one of the league's top prospect pipelines.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Apparently, the Carolina Hurricanes aren't entirely optimistic about their chances of re-signing stalwart defenseman Dougie Hamilton.The Hurricanes have granted the pending unrestricted free agent permission to speak to other teams, which opens the door for a potential sign-and-trade, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports.Hamilton could still potentially re-sign with Carolina if he gauges the market and realizes the Canes are making him the best offer, Friedman added.The 6-foot-6 blue-liner recorded 42 points in 55 games during the 2020-21 campaign and received down-ballot Norris Trophy votes in each of the previous four seasons. Hamilton turns 28 on Thursday.Carolina is no stranger to such scenarios - the club shipped pending UFA defenseman Joel Edmundson to the Montreal Canadiens last offseason for a fifth-round pick. Edmundson went on to sign a four-year, $14-million deal with the Habs.Kevin Hayes was the last major player to have his rights traded before unrestricted free agency in 2019 when the Winnipeg Jets dealt him to the Philadelphia Flyers for a fifth-round pick. Philly ended up signing Hayes to a seven-year, $50-million contract.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Instagram post contains coarse languageStephen Johns is ending his NHL career.The 29-year-old defenseman, who was a pending unrestricted free agent with the Dallas Stars, revealed his plans Sunday on Instagram.

Now that we've reached the final four of these Stanley Cup Playoffs, it's time to re-evaluate the remaining clubs.4. Montreal Canadiens Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Canadiens' unexpected run has been a terrific story, and they deserve recognition. Vanquishing the North Division champion Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 1 before sweeping the Winnipeg Jets was impressive work. The Jets couldn't pin their defeat on being without Mark Scheifele for the series' final three games, and he deserved his suspension anyway. Likewise, the Leafs couldn't - and didn't - use injuries to John Tavares and Jake Muzzin as excuses.Montreal was the better team in both matchups. However, the Canadiens' semifinal opponent - the No. 1 team on this list - will be a much greater challenge than either of their previous foes, and it enters this stage without any significant roster concerns. Montreal is rightfully a heavy underdog, and despite Carey Price's heroics, the team that's averaging only 2.55 goals for this postseason remains the worst of the four squads still standing.3. New York Islanders Mike Stobe / National Hockey League / GettyThe Islanders have looked like Bizarro World versions of themselves in these playoffs, but it's working. New York is scoring at a high rate this postseason while allowing more goals per game than any remaining team.That's the opposite of a squad that typically locks it down defensively and doesn't produce much offense. But the playoffs are a different beast, and all that matters to the Islanders is that they're winning. They have their hands full in a final-four rematch with the No. 2 team on this list, but this is a well-coached club with skill and experience.2. Tampa Bay Lightning Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Lightning looked like a well-oiled machine as they dispatched the talented Carolina Hurricanes in five games. Tampa Bay is a true juggernaut with Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos back in the fold and Andrei Vasilevskiy playing at a Vezina Trophy level.However, there are a couple of reasons why the Lightning aren't the top squad here. For one, they've done a large portion of their damage (35% of their goals for in the playoffs entering Round 3) on the power play. Before the start of the semis, they led the NHL with a ridiculous 41.7% success rate on the man advantage this postseason. Also, the club had a subpar expected goals for percentage at five-on-five (48.75) despite its 54.29 goals for percentage in those situations during this postseason.Tampa Bay is a powerhouse, but there's another team that's been better this spring.1. Vegas Golden Knights Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Golden Knights outplayed the Colorado Avalanche for most of their second-round series, a trend that wasn't too surprising considering the teams posted the same number of regular-season points.The Golden Knights never seemed intimidated by the Avalanche, and Vegas warrants plenty of praise for knocking out the Presidents' Trophy winners, despite how close that race was down the stretch. This team looks as dangerous as ever with the likes of Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty, and even depth players like Mattias Janmark stepping up at key moments.Unlike the Lightning, the Golden Knights have driven possession at five-on-five. Vegas' impressive 56.78 xGF% is the best among the quartet of remaining clubs, as is the team's 58.49 GF% and 52.95 scoring chances for percentage in those situations. Five-on-five prowess is the best indicator of future success, and the Golden Knights had to beat a tougher opponent to get where they are than the Lightning did. As such, Vegas has now proven it's the team to beat.(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin isn't buying the idea that the North Division was easy to play in."There was not an easy night in our division," Bergevin said Saturday, per Sportsnet. "Like I said, travel was hard. Even the last-place team, or close to the last-place team, the Ottawa Senators, they finished pretty strong, and if it wasn't for their start they'd probably be battling for a playoff spot."He added, "Plus, hockey in Canada, you're in the spotlight every night. So it was a tough division and hockey was at its best. Every team almost had superstars, and it was not easy."The NHL realigned its divisions for the 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the Canada-U.S. border being closed, the league was forced to create a seven-team all-Canadian division.The division was criticized throughout the year for not being as competitive as the other three. Some have pointed to the fact that the Canadiens made the postseason despite finishing in 18th in the league's overall standings.Several of this season's top performers hailed from the division. Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid led the league with 105 points, while Toronto Maple Leafs sniper Auston Matthews won the "Rocket" Richard Trophy with 41 goals. Five of the top 10 scorers came from the North: McDavid, Matthews, Leon Draisaitl, Mitch Marner, and Mark Scheifele.The Canadiens are the final team standing in the North after defeating the Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets in the first two rounds. The club will open its third-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday night.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.