The New York Islanders have booked their ticket to the Round of 16 with a 5-1 victory over the Florida Panthers in Game 4 on Friday.Anthony Beauvillier led the way for New York with two goals in the first period, while Mathew Barzal, Brock Nelson, and Josh Bailey each contributed two points.More to come.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Kraken named Everett Fitzhugh as their team broadcaster Friday. He's now set to become the league's first Black full-time team play-by-play announcer when the Kraken begin play in the 2021-22 season."As someone who's worked in hockey for more than a decade, to be named a part of the broadcast and content for a brand-new NHL franchise - particularly one with an organization as strong as the Kraken - is a dream come true," Fitzhugh said. "Getting to the NHL has always been my goal. I look forward to representing the Kraken organization throughout the greater Seattle community."Fitzhugh spent the last five seasons as the radio play-by-play announcer for the ECHL's Cincinnati Cyclones. He also served as the Cyclones' director of media relations and broadcasting, as well as the team's official spokesperson."Everett has established himself as a unique and leading voice for hockey," Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke said. "He's going to bring tremendous energy and talent to our broadcast and content team, and we can't wait for our fans to get to know him."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will give goaltender Elvis Merzlikins his first start of the series against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday, according to team reporter Jeff Svoboda.Merzlikins entered Game 3 of the series midway through the second period on Thursday with his team facing a 3-0 deficit. The rookie netminder dazzled, stopping all 21 shots while steering the Blue Jackets to an impressive comeback victory.Joonas Korpisalo got the nod for the first three games of the series, and played extremely well for the most part. He stopped 76 of 81 shots through two and a half games, including one shutout. Overall, he put together a 2.05 goals-against average and .938 save percentage.During the 2019-20 season, Merzlikins managed a 13-9-8 record with a 2.35 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. After starting the season with eight straight losses, the Latvian goalie caught fire later on. He put together a dominant stretch of play in the new year that included eight straight victories in which he collected five shutouts.Columbus will take on the Maple Leafs in Game 4 of their qualifying series on Friday at 8 p.m ET. Columbus leads the best-of-five series 2-1.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper provided an update Friday on injured star Steven Stamkos, indicating his return isn't imminent but emphasizing the situation could change."Injuries are unpredictable, and if there's somebody that's working harder than him, I have not seen it in trying to get back," Cooper said, according to team reporter Bryan Burns. "He's rehabbing. Our staff has been working with him on a daily basis, and in situations like this, you never know."Cooper confirmed that Stamkos will not play in Tampa Bay's third and final round-robin game Saturday and added that the forward remains out indefinitely.The 30-year-old suffered a lower-body injury during Phase 2 of the league's return-to-play plan. He's managed to join some practices and skate on his own since.Stamkos recorded 29 goals and 37 assists in 59 games during the 2019-20 season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.We seem to be going back and forth here. After sweeping the first few days of the playoffs, we've flip-flopped between perfect and winless nights.We were winless Thursday, so Friday sounds like 3-0 to me.Edmonton Oilers (-135) @ Chicago Blackhawks (+115)I was on the Blackhawks in Game 3 and was feeling a bit fortunate to have cashed given the nature of their win. The Oilers gift-wrapped the victory late and now face a must-win situation.As sloppy as these games have been, things tend to change in a hurry when the prospect of elimination creeps into a series. We should see a drastic shift in tempo in Game 4. The Oilers can't afford to make life more difficult by playing so carelessly in their own end. What they've been doing thus far hasn't been working and adjustments are necessary.Pick: Under 6.5 (-110)Toronto Maple Leafs (-160) @ Columbus Blue Jackets (+140)When Nick Robertson scored to put the Leafs up 3-0 in Game 3, I had this whole thing written about how it broke the Blue Jackets. It was a brutal goal that Joonas Korpisalo saves 99.99% of the time, and it had Columbus' playoff hopes hanging by a thread.But the thing I forgot - and it's kind of huge - is you can't break the Blue Jackets. This is an incredibly resilient bunch - they battled through countless injuries this season - but to battle back from 3-0 down in a decisive Game 3 to put the Leafs on the brink of elimination is their biggest show of resiliency yet. This team is tough as nails, and Toronto is anything but.The Leafs are, to put it delicately, a fragile bunch. This team can't close out a game, let alone a series. The weight of the world is on their shoulders, and as history has proven, this is not a group to come out swinging with their backs against the wall. With Elvis Merzlikins dialed in and significantly fresher for this back-to-back, Columbus finishes the job in Game 4.Pick: Blue Jackets (+140)Vancouver Canucks (+100) @ Minnesota Wild (-120)I'm going back to the well with the Wild. Maybe this stubbornness will be my undoing, but even with Minnesota down 2-1 in the series, I'm still a firm believer its the better team. The Wild's second defensive pairing would be the Canucks' first and they have the sort of forward depth Vancouver could only dream of.Game 3 was unquestionably the Wild's worst in the series, yet for a third time in three games they posted a higher expected goals for total. They've been the considerably better team at five-on-five throughout the series, and the underlying numbers back that up. Even on Thursday in a 3-0 loss, the Wild created 41 scoring chances to Vancouver's 21. Jacob Markstrom was incredible, but in a back-to-back with fatigue setting in, don't expect a repeat. The Wild will find a way to solve the netminder and force a winner-take-all Game 5.Pick: Wild (-120)(Odds source: theScore Bet)Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's bubbled postseason continued Thursday with a five-game slate. Below are three takeaways from the Blue Jackets' 4-3 overtime comeback victory over the Maple Leafs, the Flyers' 3-1 round-robin win against the Capitals, and the Canucks' 3-0 shutout of the Wild.––––––––––No off switch for CBJ Chase Agnello-Dean / Getty ImagesAmong the countless punchlines from Thursday night's outcome - most notably that Toronto was up by three late in a playoff game, again, and lost - is a central truth about the tremendous theater unfolding between the Maple Leafs and the Blue Jackets.The Leafs, as talented as they are and as well as they've played for the majority of three games, can't afford to let their foot off the gas at any point in any series, let alone a best of five. Because the Blue Jackets, as offensively deprived and beatable as they might look on occasion, don't have an off switch. Even in dire times, like in the regular season when basically half their roster was sidelined, or in their Game 2 defeat, they simply refuse to go away.Under coach John Tortorella, Columbus is wired to stay in the fight until the bitter end. On Thursday, the decision to switch goalies down 3-0 midway through regulation proved to be a rallying cry. Led by an incredible performance from Pierre-Luc Dubois, the Blue Jackets picked away at the Leafs one goal at a time. Dubois is one of the only serious offensive threats Columbus has at its disposal, and after going pointless in the first two games of the series he exploded for a hat trick, including the game-winning goal with roughly a minute left in the first overtime period."With Luc, if he wants to be a difference-maker, a game-changer, one of the best players in the league, he has all the capabilities, all the tools. Tonight he showed it," Columbus forward Cam Atkinson said of the 22-year-old Dubois, whose very public shouting match with Tortorella during Game 2 suddenly takes on a different tone."It's not always going to go your way," Atkinson added, "but it's those moments where you capitalize on those opportunities. Big-time players step up in big-time, crucial situations. Sure enough, a hat trick, put us all on his back, and it was good to see him coming out like that tonight."Tortorella, with the benefit of last change, matched Dubois against John Tavares, the lesser of two evils most nights when facing a Leafs team starring Auston Matthews. The bet paid off."We didn't have any real purpose or plan to our game today," Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said during his postgame media availability. "We were making things up as we went along. We got what we deserved."On its face, Keefe's criticism seems a little harsh. "Got what we deserved"? For large portions of Game 3, his team was dictating play, and buzzing around the Columbus crease with regularity. Against this Blue Jackets group, though, you don't deserve anything until you're done for the night. Luckily for Toronto, the schedule calls for Game 4 Friday night. No time to dwell on another colossal collapse.Flyers look scary good Chase Agnello-Dean / Getty ImagesIf it was a heated debate before, it isn't now: The Flyers are damn dangerous, and a legitimate Stanley Cup contender in this wacky playoff format.Following a decisive 4-1 win over Boston on Sunday, the Flyers schooled Washington on Thursday in a 3-1 victory. Next is Tampa on Saturday, with the game's winner earning the East's No. 1 seed.The Flyers' success so far is rooted in their second line of Kevin Hayes between Travis Konecny and Scott Laughton. In 19 minutes and 44 seconds of five-on-five action together through two contests, the trio has bagged three goals while allowing one.Being plus-2 is nice, but the surface-level stats don't do this highly effective line justice. The unit is flat-out dominating.

After getting eliminated from the postseason by the Calgary Flames, Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice offered some encouraging news about some of his injured stars."No, we don't think there's any long-term concerns. Mark (Scheifele) finished with a second opinion today. We don't think there is any Achilles damage so he'll heal," Maurice said postgame. "Patrik (Laine) sprained his hand and it's the top hand on his stick, so he couldn't hold his stick, and Mason Appleton suffered a shoulder injury. None of those are long term, but they're all two-to-three weeks minimum."Maurice offered some caution with his description of Scheifele's injury, saying the forward needs to "get more imaging done."Scheifele and Laine were both injured in Game 1 and never returned to the ice during the series. Winnipeg managed to win Game 2 without them, but their absence proved to be too much to overcome in Game 3 and 4.With the 2020-21 season not expected to begin for several months, the Jets will have plenty of time get healthy.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dillon Dube, Sam Bennett, Sean Monahan, and Rasmus Andersson provided the offense and Cam Talbot stopped all 31 shots he faced as the Calgary Flames ended the Winnipeg Jets' season with a 4-0 victory in Game 4 of their qualifying-round series Thursday night.The Flames prevailed 3-1 in the best-of-five matchup.Winnipeg dealt with injuries to two of its best players, Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine. Neither star played in the final three contests, as both players got hurt in Game 1.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sheldon Keefe believes his club got what was coming to it Thursday night.The Toronto Maple Leafs head coach wasn't happy with the team's play in a stunning Game 3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Keefe was disappointed with what he saw, even when the Leafs led the contest before blowing a three-goal lead and losing 4-3 in overtime, falling behind 2-1 in the best-of-five series.“I didn’t like our game at 1-0, 2-0, 3-0," the bench boss told reporters postgame, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton. "We got what we deserved. We didn’t have any purpose or plan to our game.”The Maple Leafs went up by three midway through the second period on rookie Nick Robertson's first NHL goal, following tallies from Cody Ceci and William Nylander. However, the Blue Jackets responded with Pierre-Luc Dubois' pair of goals and one from Seth Jones. Dubois later capped off a hat trick with the winner in overtime.Toronto dominated possession in the opening period. But Columbus improved in the second stanza and controlled play in the third, before the Maple Leafs earned a bigger share in the extra frame.5-on-5 xGF%Blue JacketsMaple Leafs1st period16.5283.482nd45.3754.633rd62.1937.81OT46.2853.72Neither club will be able to rest much after the extended contest Thursday night. The Maple Leafs will try to stave off elimination in Game 4 on Friday, with puck drop scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacob Larsson will continue to suit up for the Anaheim Ducks after inking a two-year contract extension with the club Thursday.The defenseman's new pact carries an average annual value of $1.2 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Larsson was a pending restricted free agent. The 23-year-old collected 11 points in 60 NHL games during the regular season, logging 16:09 of average ice time. He added a goal and an assist in five contests with the AHL's San Diego Gulls in 2019-20.The Swedish blue-liner spent the majority of the last two campaigns with Anaheim. He came to North America to play in the Ducks organization in 2016-17 after the team drafted him 27th overall in 2015.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Barry Trotz is a fan of the chaos.The New York Islanders head coach thinks the NHL should implement this year's 24-team playoff format permanently."I think the league is so tight and the league has grown over my time in the league with the number of teams, it should be a heavy consideration," Trotz said Thursday, per Newsday's Andrew Gross."There’s too much parity in the NHL," Trotz added. "I think it’s something the league will consider for sure and I’d be in favor of it."The NHL has used a 16-team playoff format since the 1979-80 campaign when there were only 21 franchises. After this past season was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league opted to stage a 24-team tournament featuring a best-of-five qualifying round for seeds five through 12 in each conference.Trotz's Islanders entered the expanded playoff field as the seventh seed in the East, and they hold a 2-1 series lead over the Florida Panthers.The qualifying round has been a dream for hockey fans, with six different playoff games on the schedule nearly every day. It's also provided plenty of early drama, as both No. 12 seeds - the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks - hold 2-1 advantages in their respective series.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers forward Tyler Ennis is out indefinitely after suffering an injury Wednesday night in Game 3 against the Chicago Blackhawks, head coach Dave Tippett announced.Ennis collided with Kirby Dach in the second period and was helped off the ice. He didn't return to the game - a 4-3 loss for the Oilers.

The Vegas Golden Knights gave back to their host city Wednesday by having pizza delivered to homeless and poverty-stricken Edmontonians near the NHL bubble.Boyle Street Community Services, an organization that provides support for Edmonton's vulnerable people, thanked the Golden Knights in a Facebook post.Elliott Tanti, the communications and development manager for Boyle Street, told Global News' Phil Heidenreich that the people who paid for the meals wanted to remain anonymous, but disclosed it was "a couple of guys from the Vegas team.""I got a call yesterday from an individual with the team who had mentioned that he'd noticed the people in front of our building and he asked if it would be appropriate ... if the team could send down some pizza to the group," Tanti said. "The call was later in the day and our building was shutting and we just didn’t have the staff to do that. So he asked if he could do it today instead."I said, 'Of course.'"The Golden Knights will face the St. Louis Blues on Thursday in their second round-robin contest.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Somehow, the No. 12 seed Canadiens and Blackhawks each moved within a victory of clinching their qualifying series Wednesday night. Four stats help explain how Montreal stunned Pittsburgh 4-3 and Chicago rallied to edge Edmonton by the same score.––––––––––6Weber, Petry, Chiarot's combined pointsGenerally, a team's most reliable sources of offense are its power-play units and No. 1 line. Even subpar power plays score close to 20% of the time, and it stands to reason that three skilled forwards will click given enough shifts to operate together.Those wellsprings have so far failed the Canadiens against Pittsburgh. They've struck out on 10 turns with the man advantage, and Phillip Danault, Brendan Gallagher, and Tomas Tatar remain goalless through three games. Context mitigates each of these shortcomings - Montreal scored twice soon after power plays expired Wednesday, and Danault and Gallagher did assist Jeff Petry's Game 1 overtime winner - but it's clear these go-tos haven't supplied the juice needed to spark the play-in round's biggest possible upset.Shea Weber scores in the first period of Game 3. Chase Agnello-Dean / NHL / Getty ImagesNo matter, as that upset's indeed at hand in Toronto, and Montreal's best defensemen deserve the majority of credit. Petry, Shea Weber, and Ben Chiarot's mitts were all over the effort that pushed the Penguins to the brink of elimination. All four Habs goals started or ended with one of those sturdy rearguards spearheading or joining a rush, shooting for a rebound or tap-in, or, in Petry's case, planting his feet on the goal line in the corner and wiring a nasty wrister off Matt Murray's collarbone and in.

The NHL announced Thursday that it will move forward with the final phase of its draft lottery on Monday, Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. ET.In the initial draft lottery in June, a placeholder team won the first overall selection. The second phase of the lottery will be a draw involving the eight teams that are eliminated during the qualifying play-in round to determine which team gets the top pick.The only team that has been eliminated from the qualifying round as of Thursday morning is the New York Rangers.Each team will have an equal 12.5% chance at the No. 1 selection.The seven teams that do not win the top pick will be assigned 2020 NHL Draft positions 9-15 in inverse order of their points percentages at the time the regular season was paused.The projected top pick of the draft is QMJHL phenom Alexis Lafreniere.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's best regular-season club will not be one of the Eastern Conference's top two seeds in the round of 16.The Boston Bruins are unable to finish higher than No. 3 in the East following their 3-2 round-robin loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday."Well that part sucks, I'm not going to lie to you," Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters, including The Athletic's Scott Wheeler, postgame. "We knew the rules going into it, that we would lose a bit of the advantage we'd gained. Would I have rather been the No. 1 seed? Absolutely."Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask took a pragmatic approach to his team's fate."I think if you want to make a run in the playoffs, you've got to beat every team, anyways," he said, according to NBC Sports Boston's Nick Goss. "The situation is what it is. I think the worst thing that's going to happen to us is we're gonna lose the locker room in our practice rink. That's about it."I really don't care where we finish. We just have to focus on our game and try to (win) Sunday, and then going into next week. You gotta beat everyone, anyways."Boston is now 0-2-0 in the round-robin stage after losing its opener to the Philadelphia Flyers by a 4-1 margin on Sunday. The Bruins will battle the Washington Capitals in Boston's final round-robin game Sunday.The Lightning are 2-0-0 in round-robin play after defeating the Capitals in a shootout Monday, while Washington is 0-0-1 and the Flyers are 1-0-0.Philadelphia will hold the tiebreaker over Boston if both teams finish 1-2-0 by virtue of its win over the Bruins.Boston was the only NHL team to manage a triple-digit point total in the regular-season standings, finishing with 100 in 70 games. The Lightning were second in the conference with 92 points in 70 contests. Washington finished third in the East with 90 points through 69 games and Philadelphia posted 89 points - also in 69 outings - to sit fourth.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Thursday is a massive day on the ice with a pair of crucial Game 3's, a couple of intriguing round-robin contests, and one team facing elimination.So let's get straight to some winners.Vancouver Canucks (-105) @ Minnesota Wild (-115)I've said about all I've needed to say about the Wild and Canucks, picking Minnesota in my series preview, in Game 1, and Game 2. The Wild let me down for the first time on Tuesday, but despite the loss, their performance reaffirmed why I'm much higher on this team than the Canucks.Through two games, Vancouver posted expected goals marks of 1.02 and 0.79 at five-on-five, while Minnesota managed tallies of 1.86 and 1.19. Trailing 1-0 in the series, the Canucks played with more desperation in Game 2, with Jacob Markstrom doing his part to prevent them from falling into a 2-0 hole. With the series level, and the Wild now getting the second change as the home team, they take care of business in a decisive Game 3.Pick: Wild (-115)Washington Capitals (-125) @ Philadelphia Flyers (+105)These round-robin games have lacked intensity, to put it mildly. They've improved slowly, but without the threat of elimination, the excitement level has paled in comparison to the play-ins. This one should be a lot more fun, at least.Brian Elliott, whose numbers were underwhelming this season, starts here for the Flyers as Carter Hart gets a breather. The Capitals were great offensively in their first game, posting an excellent expected goals mark of 5.15. Andrei Vasilevskiy's strong outing helped limit the damage against Tampa Bay, but Washington will have much better luck against Elliott.The Capitals are a middle of the road team defensively, and with the Flyers consistently producing on offense, this has all the makings of an entertaining, high-scoring affair.Pick: Over 6 (-115)Calgary Flames (-165) @ Winnipeg Jets (+145)We get a great price on the Jets here as well, following their 6-2 Game 3 loss. That score doesn't inspire much confidence, but the reality is not nearly as concerning. The Flames did the bulk of their damage on the power play, scoring three times with the man advantage.The Jets held a slight edge in scoring chances and high-danger chances at five-on-five. They had 18 more shot attempts at even strength, had 11 shots on net from the slot - compared to six for Calgary - and almost a full minute more of possession time in the offensive zone. But they didn't quite get the puck luck on Connor Hellebuyck's rare off night.Not having Mark Scheifele or Patrik Laine is hardly ideal - though at least one of them could be back for this game - but the Jets have faced adversity all season are certainly aren't lacking in mental toughness. Winnipeg tends to come out swinging when backed into a corner, and Game 4 will be no different with this team facing elimination.Pick: Jets (+145)(Odds source: theScore Bet)Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks forward Micheal Ferland has been deemed unfit to play for the remainder of the club's qualifying-round series versus the Minnesota Wild, the team announced Wednesday.Ferland has left the Western Conference bubble in Edmonton and returned home, the Canucks added. He will be re-evaluated following the series, which is currently tied 1-1.The Canucks did not provide specifics regarding Ferland's current ailment, but he logged just 2:36 of ice time in Game 2 after playing 11:41 in the series opener.Concussion issues limited Ferland to only 14 regular-season games before he returned to the lineup for the postseason.Ferland signed a four-year, $14-million contract with Vancouver last offseason. The 28-year-old has racked up 134 points in 335 career games through six NHL seasons.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars are playing Wednesday's round-robin game without two of their most important players.Goaltender Ben Bishop and defenseman John Klingberg are unfit to play against the Colorado Avalanche, the Stars announced prior to puck drop.Anton Khudobin is starting in Bishop's place, with rookie Jake Oettinger serving as his backup. Thomas Harley, selected 18th overall by Dallas in 2019, is making his NHL debut on the Stars' blue line.Bishop posted a .920 save percentage and 13.29 goals saved above average across 44 games during the regular season. He allowed four goals on 32 shots in a 5-3 round-robin loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday.Klingberg is one of the Stars' top defensemen. The 27-year-old ranked third on the team in average ice time (22:10) prior to the postseason, producing 32 points in 58 contests in 2019-20.Dallas is 0-1-0 in round-robin play. The Avalanche are 1-0-0 following a last-second victory over the St. Louis Blues on Sunday.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The general managers of the seven clubs not participating in the NHL's 24-team restart have submitted a collaborative proposal to the league requesting extended training camps for their respective teams prior to the 2020-21 season, sources told The Athletic's Craig Custance and Pierre LeBrun.The Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Anaheim Ducks are not involved in the league's return to play.The general managers of those teams are reportedly requesting a minimum of two additional weeks of minicamp for their clubs before other organizations begin camp. Training camps for next season are tentatively scheduled to open on Nov. 17.Players from the 24 teams that qualified for the playoffs were able to participate in voluntary workouts and condensed training camps before the league resumed play in early August.The squads that did not enter the bubble environments in Toronto and Edmonton face an eight-month gap between their last games in March and their next opportunity to hold organized skates."All we want is what the 24 teams got," one executive told Custance and LeBrun.Players from the seven teams in question would reportedly have the option to opt out of the additional weeks of training camp.It's not known when the NHL will issue a decision on the reported request.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL play-in action continued to heat up Tuesday with Carolina's 4-1 sweep-clinching win against the Rangers, Calgary's 6-2 blowout of Winnipeg, and Vancouver's 4-3 squeaker over Minnesota. Here's a rundown of three players whose influence was of the essence in these games.––––––––––J.T. Miller, Canucks CKevin Fiala tried his mightiest to make things interesting late - seriously, the guy can flat out shoot; that's 17 goals in a 20-game stretch for the Wild winger dating back to early February - but Vancouver's all-hands-on-deck performance atoned for a Game 1 no-show and demonstrated that Alex Stalock is indeed beatable.Brock Boeser scored his first career postseason goal in Game 2, and whiz kids Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson both got on the scoresheet with breakthrough assists. All night, though, the Canucks took their cues from Miller, a 27-year-old sage on the young team he quietly topped in scoring (27 goals, 72 points) this season.Advanced metrics and a purist's tastes alike confirm that Miller led the charge for Vancouver. He controlled the puck in the offensive zone for 1:31, 21 seconds more than any other skater, according to data provided by SPORTLOGIQ. That he, Pettersson, and Boeser combined to score twice at five-on-five was consistent with the line's hearty 65.2 expected-goals percentage. Jeff Vinnick / Getty Images Sport / GettyOn the other hand, Miller's otherworldly toe-drag sidestep of Matt Dumba and the wrister he subsequently slung past Stalock in the second period pretty much spoke for itself. So did the Ryan Donato blast he blocked later in the frame at close range, which the Canadian telecast nonetheless replayed on repeat to laud his guts and leadership by example.That so many core Canucks had never before suited up in the NHL playoffs - Boeser, Hughes, Pettersson, Troy Stecher, Jake Virtanen, even 30-year-old goalie Jacob Markstrom - threatened to be a hiccup even against the 10th-seeded but experienced Wild. Somehow, Miller's Game 2 snipe was only his fourth goal across 63 career playoff appearances. It stabilized Vancouver when needed, the mark of a star who's keen to last in the Edmonton bubble for longer than a week.Sebastian Aho, Hurricanes CTwice in Toronto on Tuesday, decisive sequences in the Hurricanes-Rangers game called for Aho to make a play. He delivered both times, first covertly and then overtly.Viewers could be forgiven for missing the slick Finn's handiwork on the Hurricanes' first goal, the product of a 75-second shift in the Rangers' end. Toying with a tired group that included a stickless Marc Staal, Carolina held onto the puck while swapping out its fourth line for Aho's forward unit. The cycle finally concluded with Andrei Svechnikov feeding Teuvo Terevainen for a sweet backhand in the slot - assisted by Aho's timely stick lift on Phillip DiGiuseppe.The interminable shift was peak 'Canes, the NHL's third-best Corsi team in the regular season; rarely are the merits of maintaining puck possession exhibited so clearly. Sweeping the Rangers with Dougie Hamilton out of the lineup was a team effort, and at this particular series-shaping juncture, Aho took care of the important little thing. Mark Blinch / NHL / Getty ImagesCarolina's third goal was Aho's entirely. If 'Canes goalie James Reimer could have taken a catnap prior to Terevainen's tally, this one emerged from nowhere when Aho stripped Jacob Trouba at the New York blue line and immediately crossed up Tony DeAngelo. By then, the backhand he flipped from his knees past Igor Shesterkin's shoulder and under the bar seemed inevitable. (Same goes for the empty-netter Aho added in the final minute.)The effect of Aho's showing was to wrest unofficial player-of-the-game honors from Reimer, the surprise choice to make his first playoff start since 2013 in place of Petr Mrazek. Reimer's point-blank paddle save on Filip Chytil, the most spectacular of his 37 on the night, may remain the denial of the postseason when all is said and done in two months' time.For now, Carolina advances to the round of 16 with two decent goaltending options - and the center who just outplayed every skater in the qualifiers not named Connor McDavid.Andrew Mangiapane, Flames LWNearing the end of his first full NHL season, Mangiapane doesn't have the profile to match those of his fellow top-six Flames forwards. Johnny Gaudreau's niftier with the puck, while Matthew Tkachuk's way more adept at rankling the opposition. Sean Monahan, Mikael Backlund, and Elias Lindholm all have significantly greater track records of producing at the highest level.Those five players each found twine in Game 3 against Connor Hellebuyck, as did Milan Lucic, who also had another goal disallowed due to goalie interference. The story of Calgary's authoritative victory was that of its big guns hammering the Jets for three power-play scores and a ton of chances at even strength. It was Mangiapane who played the role of unsung hero, operating doggedly and shrewdly in the margins to make some of those finishes easy. Andy Devlin / NHL / Getty ImagesWill and skill enabled the 24-year-old left winger to set up the Flames' two goals at five-on-five. On both occasions, Mangiapane applied forechecking pressure off dump-ins, repossessed a loose puck in or around the trapezoid, and fired a perceptive pass to the front of the net for Backlund and Tkachuk, in that order, to roof snapshots past Hellebuyck.Without touching the puck, Mangiapane's positioning subtly keyed Calgary's final power-play goal. His presence in the slot attracted Neal Pionk and Cody Eakin's undivided attention, leaving Lucic open on the weak side to bury a rebound.Twice a 100-point scorer in junior, Mangiapane's hands have benefited him in the NHL in concert with his energy and edge. By venturing to the grimy areas Tuesday while Backlund and Tkachuk slipped into scoring position, he helped the line carry 75% of scoring chances at five-on-five, proving his two primary assists were well earned.The Jets still await a vintage Hellebuyck performance, which the Vezina Trophy finalist might yet unleash in Game 4 to push this best-of-five to the brink. Winger Nikolaj Ehlers scored and was generally a force in Game 3 - his five scoring chances tied Backlund for the game high - but without Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine, Winnipeg's depleted top lines have simply been less effective than Calgary's. Surrounded by bigger names, Mangiapane's contributions to that imbalance have been noticeable.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Following a 3-0 loss in Game 2 at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella wasn't interested in dissecting what went wrong."I'm not going to break the game down, at all," Tortorella told reporters in the first answer of his postgame presser. "Toronto played a really good game; we sucked. I'm not interested. It doesn't help our club at all right now to break it down with you guys. I hope you can understand that."When asked another performance-related question later, Tortorella doubled down."Toronto was really good. We sucked," he repeated.Columbus suffocated Toronto's offense in Game 1 with an impeccable defensive performance but was unable to do it again on Tuesday. The Maple Leafs were in control for most of the contest, owning a 56-36 advantage in even-strength shot attempts and a 19-12 edge in scoring chances, according to data provided by SPORTLOGIQ.The best-of-five series is now tied 1-1. Game 3 takes place Thursday at 8:00 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The OHL is aiming to push back the 2020-21 season to Dec. 1, subject to ensuring the players, fans, staff, and community are able to play and attend games safely, the OHL announced Wednesday.The season will include a 64-game schedule and 16-team playoff format. The 102nd Memorial Cup is scheduled to begin on June 17 and will be hosted by either the Oshawa Generals or Soo Greyhounds."We are looking forward to getting back to playing hockey, but are committed to ensuring that we do so in a manner that is safe and healthy for our players, officials, families, billets, teams, staff, fans, and the community,” OHL commissioner David Branch said. “Players will remain at home until the season resumes and teams will work closely with them on both their academic studies and overseeing their on and off-ice development."The league typically begins play in late September and includes a 68-game schedule. The Memorial Cup typically begins in the middle of May.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin was discharged from the hospital early Wednesday morning and is back at the hotel, the team announced.He will be unavailable for the remainder of the team's qualifying-round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets due to injury, but he will remain in quarantine within the hotel.Late in Game 2 on Tuesday, Muzzin was cross-checked from behind by Blue Jackets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois. The hit caused Muzzin to awkwardly fall face-first into the leg of Columbus winger Oliver Bjorkstrand.The league reportedly won't look into supplementary discipline for Dubois.The series is tied heading into Game 3, which will take place Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois will not receive any supplementary discipline for his hit on Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin in Tuesday's game, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.The league "views the hit as a freak play that had a terrible outcome," Johnston added.Late in the third period of Game 2 of the teams' qualifying-round series, Dubois cross-checked Muzzin behind the Toronto net, which caused the defenseman to fall and hit his head on the leg of Columbus forward Oliver Bjorkstrand.Muzzin laid on the ice for several minutes, seemingly alert, before he was eventually stretchered off and taken to a hospital in Toronto. The Maple Leafs confirmed later Tuesday night that he was alert and able to move all his limbs.Game 3 of the series is set for Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.We had our first losing day of the play-ins on Tuesday, but we've still brought home a nice profit since the NHL returned. Frankly, we're winning every day we get to sit and watch hockey for 14 straight hours.But it helps to win money, and I'm feeling good about Wednesday's card.Nashville Predators (-145) @ Arizona Coyotes (+125)Game 2 was a weird one for the Coyotes, who found themselves in a hole after the first period and couldn't recover. Nashville had just three scoring chances and one high-danger chance through 20 minutes, compared to eight and six for Arizona. The Coyotes led the Predators 1.25 to 0.39 in expected goals for, yet trailed 2-0 at the end of the first period.It was a mixture of bad puck luck and an uncharacteristic showing for Darcy Kuemper, who will be beating himself up over a pair of goals he'd undoubtedly like back. The good news for Kuemper and the Coyotes is the back-to-back scenario allows them to have a short memory.Being the home team doesn't mean much in terms of the setting, but Arizona head coach Rick Tocchet gets that valuable second change here. He will be able to pick the defensive matchups while freeing his offensive playmakers to get after a Predators blue line that's vulnerable beyond its top pairing. Combined with a strong bounce-back from Kuemper, the Coyotes will steal a pivotal Game 3.Pick: Coyotes (+125)Edmonton Oilers (-140) @ Chicago Blackhawks (+120)The Oilers' stars were shining Monday night as they evened the series in an entertaining 6-4 win that saw Connor McDavid pot a hat trick. It was a huge victory for the Oilers to get a split at home, as they get set to, well, stay home for Games 3 and 4, as the visiting team.Silly, right? Not entirely. Wednesday's game is in Edmonton, but being the home team will suit the Blackhawks and coach Jeremy Colliton. The bench boss will be able to utilize that second change to isolate better matchups for his scorers and get his best defensive players on the ice to avoid another McDavid masterclass.We can trust Colliton to put his best five out there to slow McDavid. He did it during the regular season, where the Oilers lost both road games against Chicago. McDavid failed to register a single point in both losses. Look for the Blackhawks to emphasize neutral-zone defending, learning from their mistakes as they take a big step toward pulling off the series upset.Pick: Blackhawks (+120)(Odds source: theScore Bet)Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The moment the NHL announced its return-to-play plan, the hockey world began pontificating about one particular matchup: the Columbus Blue Jackets against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The prevailing narrative centered around one familiar paradox: What happens when an unstoppable offensive force meets an immovable defensive object?Both squads are on the board through two games, with Columbus drawing first blood Sunday with a 2-0 win and Toronto responding Tuesday with 3-0 victory. The former result caused minor panic in Leafs land, while the latter prompted one of the season's top quotes."Toronto was really good; we sucked," Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella said following Game 2, which ended in a gloomy haze as medical staff stretchered Toronto defenseman Jake Muzzin off the ice late in the third period.Momentarily putting aside Muzzin's health - now the most pressing matter of this series - let's examine some major areas of influence through two games, and what it could all mean when the action resumes Thursday in Game 3.Slot shots and zone time Mark Blinch / Getty ImagesIn the modern NHL, protecting the house is a hallmark of virtually all excellent defensive teams. Consider the New York Islanders and the way they insulate their goalies in Barry Trotz's system. The same goes for the Dallas Stars in recent years.When Tortorella's Blue Jackets are maximizing their collective potential, they frustrate opponents to no end by refusing them access to the truly dangerous areas of the offensive zone, such as the crease, slot, and upper slot. This is, in essence, how they manage to consistently beat superior teams.Case in point: Toronto's formidable offense recorded only 16 even-strength shot attempts from the slot in Game 1, according to data provided by SPORTLOGIQ. The Blue Jackets, for context, put up 27 attempts from the slot at even strength despite their limited firepower up front. Columbus delivered a masterclass in stick checking and gap control. Everybody from stud defenseman Seth Jones to rookie fourth-liner Emil Bemstrom adhered to the game plan set out by Tortorella and, crucially, didn't allow the Maple Leafs to penetrate the inside of the ice at their leisure. They were dialed in. Mark Blinch / Getty ImagesTuesday was a different story. Toronto not only dominated in total even-strength shot attempts (56-36), but it also had the upper hand in slot-area attempts (19-12), breaking down the structure forced upon it in Game 1."We were just quicker tonight, and that's not necessarily the way we were moving our feet," Maple Leafs captain John Tavares said postgame. He was referring specifically to the way his team transferred the puck from zone to zone, and how it won more individual battles by getting pucks behind Columbus' defense and "getting to work.""I liked the way we were in sync and connected," added Tavares, who scored Toronto's second goal of the night on a third-period breakaway.Columbus, meanwhile, wilted offensively in Game 2. The Blue Jackets' even-strength possession time in the offensive zone dropped to 2:50 from 5:33. In the opener, Columbus constantly pressured the puck carrier - on the forecheck, in transition, and in the opponents' own zone - which led to scoring chances on Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen. Two days later, the counterattack was essentially nonexistent, producing Tortorella's worst nightmare: Toronto's offense hummed along nicely, and his squad had no response whatsoever."You can dissect it any way you want, but it ultimately came down to we didn’t play a very good game," Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno told reporters after the loss. "It's unacceptable."It didn't help that Columbus handcuffed itself by taking five penalties in the second contest following a one-penalty showing in Game 1. Toronto went 0-for-5 on the power play in Game 2, so kudos to the Blue Jackets' penalty killers. But time and energy spent icing the puck is time and energy lost trying to generate offense.Considering the margin of error is razor-thin in a short series against such a talented team, airtight, disciplined hockey is a must for Columbus moving forward; the offense won't come unless the Blue Jackets play to their identity on defense.Skater and goalie matchups Mark Blinch / Getty ImagesThere's no denying the key matchup in this series is Auston Matthews versus Seth Jones; the efforts of Jones and defensive partner Zach Werenski are vital to Columbus' success in general. The duo shoulders a lot of responsibility.Matthews played a total of 23 minutes at even strength in Game 1. Jones, by virtue of Toronto's right to last change as the home team, faced Matthews for only 11 of those minutes. Though Matthews looked to be in midseason form, contributing six shots on goal and buzzing around the ice all night, he was kept off the scoresheet - a huge boon for the Blue Jackets.Matthews played less in Game 2, but the matchup ratio was on par: Six-and-a-half of his 14.5 minutes of even-strength ice time overlapped with Jones' workload. This time, Matthews neatly redirected a Zach Hyman pass for a beautiful goal, ending the incredible 55-save, 96-minute shutout streak with which Blue Jackets goalie Joonas Korpisalo opened the series.So what happens when Columbus gets last change? Does Tortorella glue Jones - and by extension, Werenski - to Matthews for the next two games, forcing counterpart Sheldon Keefe to play his version of matchup chess?It would be tempting to chart a new course, one that puts the Blue Jackets in the driver's seat. But the potency of the Matthews line, which has featured Hyman and either Mitch Marner or William Nylander on the wings, forces opposing coaches to do everything in their power to minimize the inevitable damage.Columbus' right to last change might end up benefiting Werenski more than Jones. The smooth-skating lefty could sneak out for the start or end of a few shifts against weaker competition since his role in shutting down Matthews and Co. is smaller than that of his blue-line partner. Mark Blinch / Getty ImagesBetween the pipes, Korpisalo has stolen the show. He robbed Matthews point-blank in Game 1 and has yet to surrender a weak goal on 66 total shots. One can't say the same about Andersen after he misplayed a rush shot from Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson on Sunday, but the big Dane has otherwise played admirably, turning aside 54 of 55 shots.Goaltending was a bit of a question mark heading into this series: Andersen's wonky playoff history and subpar regular season caused concern for Maple Leafs fans, while Columbus hadn't settled on a starter at the onset of training camp. Yet it's been a strength for both teams thus far.Which brings us back to the paradox - what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? A 1-1 series tie, apparently. As is always the case in the postseason, this showdown will come down to execution, goaltending, and which team plays to its ultimate potential as a group. Ahead of Game 3, there's no clear-cut front-runner, just storylines galore.John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jesse Puljujarvi is staying in Finland for at least another season.The 22-year-old forward inked a one-year contract extension with Oulun Karpat of the Finnish Elite League, the team announced Wednesday.The deal comes with an NHL out clause that would allow the winger to return to North America for the 2020-21 season, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. The Oilers still hold his NHL rights, Johnston added.After requesting a trade from the Edmonton Oilers in 2019, Puljujarvi said last week that he would be open to rejoining the team now that it has a new coach and new general manager.Puljujarvi was selected with the No. 4 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, but he failed to excel at the NHL level after cracking the lineup at 18 years old. After three seasons with the Oilers, in which he managed 37 points in 139 games, he went overseas to play in his home country.During the 2019-20 season with Karpat, Puljujarvi was one of the league's top performers. He recorded 24 goals and added 29 assists in 56 games.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin was taken to hospital after being stretchered off Tuesday following an awkward collision late in Game 2 of his club's qualifying-round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets.Columbus center Pierre-Luc Dubois cross-checked Muzzin behind the Toronto net, and the blue-liner then appeared to hit his head on the leg of Blue Jackets winger Oliver Bjorkstrand.

The New York Rangers will start rookie Igor Shesterkin between the pipes for their must-win contest Tuesday night versus the Carolina Hurricanes, the team announced.Henrik Lundqvist started and lost the first two games (3-2 and 4-1) of the series, with Shesterkin deemed unfit to play.Shesterkin, 24, made his NHL debut in January and played a massive role in the Rangers' second-half surge up the Eastern Conference standings. Shesterkin went 10-2 in 12 starts with a .932 save percentage and 2.52 goals against average.Puck drop for the critical contest is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask will return to the crease against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday, according to Boston Sports Journal's Connor Ryan.Rask had an illness and did not dress for the Bruins' 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday.The 33-year-old netminder allowed three goals on 20 shots over 29:54 of action against the Columbus Blue Jackets in exhibition play last week.Rask enjoyed a strong 2019-20 campaign, posting a 26-8-6 record with a league-leading 2.12 goals-against average and .929 save percentage.The Finnish puck-stopper boasts impressive postseason numbers with a 2.19 GAA and .927 SV% in 89 career playoff appearances.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Washington Capitals forward Brendan Leipsic signed a one-year deal with CSKA Moscow of the KHL, the Russian team announced Tuesday.Leipsic, 26, was released by the Capitals in May after a group chat between him and his friends containing inappropriate and misogynistic comments surfaced on social media.The 5-foot-11 winger was in the final year of his NHL deal and was set to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2019-20 campaign.Leipsic tallied 16 goals and 59 points in 187 NHL contests.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After startling Game 1 losses, the NHL's No. 5 seeds evened their play-in series in Game 2 on Monday night. Here are three lessons from Pittsburgh's 3-1 win over Montreal and Edmonton's 6-3 handling of Chicago.––––––––––Price really is MTL's sole hopeWe'll address Connor McDavid's hat trick in short order. First, it's only fair to lavish a few paragraphs of praise on the hero of the earlier prime-time game: the Canadiens goaltender whose steadiness under siege went unrewarded.Any misgivings that Pittsburghers harbored about the Habs' chances in this playoff matchup - the creeping fear that even the 24th-ranked team in the restart could win three of five games with Carey Price in net - remain well warranted even after Monday's Penguins triumph. Price's 35 saves increased his series total to 74 on 78 shots faced. That gives him a .949 save percentage against heavy fire, relegating the memory of his mediocre .909 figure from the regular season to some remote recess of the mind. Andre Ringuette / Getty ImagesSophomore center Jesperi Kotkaniemi's scored twice in two games, but Price undoubtedly has been Montreal's MVP so far. He held the fort in Game 1 until Jeff Petry's overtime winner and kept the underdogs within striking distance in Game 2 despite Pittsburgh dominating the first 40 minutes. Per Natural Stat Trick, the Penguins attempted 30 more shots than Montreal (53-23) and created 20 more scoring chances (29-9) through two periods - and had one mere Sidney Crosby goal to show for it.Price was at his best when he was bailing out Joel Armia, whose buzzkill three-penalty night included a hooking minor he picked up in the second frame 200 feet from the Montreal net. Price's impact crystallized on the ensuing kill, when his wonderful sprawling sequence denied no fewer than three quality Penguins offerings. Later, in the last seconds of the period, he made consecutive huge stops on Jason Zucker and Bryan Rust.Price couldn't be faulted for the shots that beat him Monday, including the wrister that Crosby uncorked from in close after shaking free of Armia (yikes) on an early rush. His team has asked a lot of him - Pittsburgh took 14 shots on the power play to Montreal's one - but that was expected all along. So long as Price maintains this form, Montreal's upset aspirations will persist.Strong starts do wonders Chase Agnello-Dean / NHL / Getty ImagesAbout that opening goal where Armia lost Crosby on the backcheck: it came 4:25 into the first period, at the end of a sequence where Penguins coach Mike Sullivan deployed Crosby's line, Evgeni Malkin's unit, and the Crosby trio again on three straight shifts. The maneuvering laid plain Sullivan's intention to take the game to the Habs immediately, and it worked to perfection.That Crosby's flick eluded Price was a key difference from the run of play in Game 1, when Pittsburgh directed 18 shots on goal but saw them all turned away. The Pens trailed 2-0 before rallying to tie and later falling short in OT. Sullivan's aggressive strategy, Jake Guentzel's tape-to-tape pass, and Crosby's finish put Montreal in an everlasting hole this time around.Matt Murray's 26-save effort wasn't nearly as strenuous as Price's night, but the Penguins goalie deserves credit for stoning Tomas Tatar on a two-on-one 15 seconds into the third period. Starting strong is paramount out of intermissions, too, and Murray safeguarded Pittsburgh's one-goal lead there rather than allow a dispiriting equalizer. Dave Sandford / NHL / Getty ImagesOver in Edmonton, meanwhile, the Oilers avenged a sloppy 6-4 defeat in Game 1 by, first and foremost, letting McDavid do McDavid things from puck drop. Nineteen seconds was all he needed to discover space by Corey Crawford's crease and cash a one-timer to open the scoring. Within four minutes he potted the goal of these young playoffs, taming a bouncing puck as he jetted past helpless Olli Maatta and roofed a mean backhand over Crawford's shoulder.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.We lost our first bet of the playoffs on Monday with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens game staying comfortably under the total.It ended quite the winning run and I wasn't particularly fond of that, so let's make it three winners on Tuesday, shall we?Columbus Blue Jackets (+125) @ Toronto Maple Leafs (-145)This price is a gift. Win or lose, there's no way we can pass up +125 with this Blue Jackets club, which presents a brutal matchup for the Leafs. Toronto really struggles against aggressive teams that are both physical and relentless on the forecheck, and it showed in Game 1. The Jackets were able to crowd the neutral zone and suffocate the Leafs in transition.Toronto also got no contributions from its fourth line, which inexcusably played less than four minutes. Given Columbus' depth and physicality, the Leafs can't expect their top guys to carry that sort of burden without tiring. There's a reason they didn't have a shot attempt in the final six minutes of the third period. The Jackets are exhausting to play against, and until the Leafs show an ability to adapt, how can one possibly justify paying this price?Pick: Blue Jackets (+125)Calgary Flames (-140) @ Winnipeg Jets (+115)We saw it in the playoffs last year and we're seeing it in this series: The Flames don't have that quality a team needs to succeed beyond the regular season. Up a game, and with the Jets missing both Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine, the Flames should have stepped on Winnipeg's throats in Game 2. Instead, they came out flat and the series is level.The Jets are rallying around Matthew Tkachuk's hit on Scheifele. They put in a great effort in Game 2, and in a back-to-back situation, they go into Tuesday's tilt with all the momentum. Both Scheifele and Laine could potentially return for Game 3, but even without them, the Jets possess the offense, elite goaltending, and the know-how needed to grind out postseason wins. The Flames have a lot to learn in that regard.Pick: Jets (+115)Minnesota Wild (-115) @ Vancouver Canucks (-105)After taking the Wild in Game 1, I'm going back to the well for Game 2 without hesitation. The Canucks, while talented atop the roster, are overrated as a team. They lack depth, they're weak on the back end, and they play a naive brand of hockey - selling out for offense and relying on Jacob Markstrom to bail them out. It's not a recipe for long-term success, and especially not in the playoffs.What's even more concerning for Vancouver is the performance of its top six. They were unable to drive play and all finished with an expected goals for percentage below 40%. The Wild were able to completely shut them down thanks to some terrific depth on defense and valuable contributions from all four lines. Minnesota's fourth line had a 90.59 xGF% and that about sums up the Wild's Game 1 dominance. They play a much more sophisticated brand of hockey and are a bargain at this price.Pick: Wild (-115)(Odds source: theScore Bet)Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Six games were on the docket in the NHL playoffs Monday. Here's a selection of winning storylines from around the league, including Carolina's 4-1 triumph over the Rangers, Winnipeg's 3-2 defeat of Calgary, and Vegas' 5-3 toppling of Dallas.––––––––––Four peers join Dumba Jeff Vinnick / Getty ImagesOn Saturday, Matt Dumba became the first NHL player to kneel during a national anthem. He remained the only one until Monday evening when Dumba found allies in Tyler Seguin and Jason Dickinson of the Stars and Ryan Reaves and Robin Lehner of the Golden Knights, who all knelt for the anthems prior to a round-robin matchup in Edmonton's Rogers Place.This act by two sets of teammates has raised the bar. Previously, public gestures within teams had been limited to locked arms by Bruins players and coaches, Bruins and Predators wearing BLM-related T-shirts, and those so-called "acts of solidarity" before exhibition games. Generally speaking, the outpouring of support for Black Lives Matter from white NHLers amid the league's hiatus had slowed to a drizzle in the cities hosting the 2020 playoffs.What we witnessed Monday - four players, three of whom are white, stopping to support a worldwide anti-racism movement - was profound, a statement that could act as a turning point for a predominately white sport traditionally known for only loose stances on issues plaguing society at large."At the end of the day, it's about human rights, not politics," Lehner said postgame.Finally, Dumba - who delivered a heartfelt speech Saturday while flanked by Darnell Nurse and Malcolm Subban, two other NHLers of color - has some company. We'll see in the coming days if the powerful pregame imagery from Dallas-Vegas resonates across the league. It could be the start of a trend and an ignited conversation about racism in and out of hockey. Or, it could be a one-off. Earlier Monday, Wild head coach Dean Evason noted that his team hadn't really considered raising fists or locking arms in unity alongside Dumba."Nope, there's been no discussions," Evason said, "and the only thing that we've discussed as a staff - as I've mentioned before - is that we want to eliminate racism for good."Schneider's a TV natural Debora Robinson / Getty ImagesCory Schneider is still an active player in the NHL so it's important not to put the cart before the horse here, but his early postseason work for NBC suggests he's headed for a long, successful post-playing career as a TV analyst. (If he chooses to pursue permanent work in broadcasting, that is.)Schneider offers viewers a rare perspective, much like recently retired defenseman Kevin Bieksa, this season's breakout star on Sportsnet. The 34-year-old Devils goalie knows these playoff performers intimately, giving him the ability to contextualize certain gameplay scenarios in ways other broadcasters - including most former players - simply cannot.Schneider's well-delivered take on Andrei Svechnikov's second of three goals, for instance, helped put viewers in Henrik Lundqvist's skates for a moment."He's got a clear sightline and you say, 'He's got to have it,'" Schneider said of Lundqvist. "But there's not much you can do about it. He's sitting on a 95-mph fastball and you get a change-up."The icing on the cake in Schneider's broadcasting debut: that hockey flow.Glue guys vault Canes Chase Agnello-Dean / Getty ImagesSvechnikov made history Monday by recording the first playoff hat trick in Hurricanes history. At 20 years old, he's already cemented himself as one of the NHL's preeminent snipers, and the NHL playoffs provide a fitting stage for him and two-way star Sebastian Aho.In saying that, Svechnikov, Aho, and Carolina don't make such a bold statement in Game 2 against the Rangers without contributions further down the lineup. Guys like Jordan Martinook, Morgan Geekie, and Joel Edmundson - far from household names - were critical to the victory.Martinook, a boisterous glue guy up front who is said to be beloved by his teammates, scored his first career playoff goal. He also got in a dustup with Rangers defenseman Tony DeAngelo, a penalty trade-off that Carolina will take all day. According to data provided by SPORTLOGIQ, fellow bottom-six forward Geekie had 33 seconds of offensive-zone puck possession time - good for second on the Canes - in just his fourth NHL contest. Meanwhile, Edmundson, acquired last September to bolster an already deep defense corps, recorded a game-high seven shots on goal, four of which came from the slot area.That last stat was key in Game 2, as the Canes not only outshot the Rangers 34-24 overall but also 20-10 from the slot. And they did it without the services of offensive catalyst Dougie Hamilton, who's been "unfit to play" thus far.No matter how you slice it, these Hurricanes look scary after two games.COVID-19 staying away Rick Madonik / Getty ImagesBravo, NHL, the bubble environment is working.On Monday, the league announced COVID-19 testing results from July 27 to Aug. 1, a period that covers the first week of Phase 4. No positive tests were discovered among the 7,013 administered over this time to players, coaches, and other members of each club's 52-person traveling party.The latest update represents another milestone for return-to-play organizers, even if there were also no positive tests across the league upon entry into the two hub cities of Edmonton and Toronto. A continuously clean sheet indicates rules are being obeyed and the thorough health and safety measures outlined by the league and its doctors are helping keep a tight lid on the bubbles.Really, the NHL isn't letting anything slip, with Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask revealing Monday that he was placed into a two-day quarantine after reporting a cough during a symptom check. His COVID-19 test, of course, came back negative. The veteran is expected to start in Boston's net Wednesday.Cynics might point out that it's still very early in the postseason and there are many obstacles ahead for the NHL. That's fair. But so far so good from a health perspective and on other fronts. There's been little to no major complaints from players about ice quality or quality of life away from the rink.Maurice's candor pays off Darcy Finley / Getty ImagesAfter a Game 1 loss to the Flames, Jets head coach Paul Maurice didn't hold back in his criticism of Calgary's Matthew Tkachuk, who injured Winnipeg's top center, Mark Scheifele, during a tight play along the boards. Then, in the Jets' media availability Sunday, Maurice criticized Tkachuk again when asked for his unemotional thoughts on the controversial sequence."If you sin once are you a sinner? Sin 10 times? I don't think he came off the bench and said, 'Hey I'm going to see if I can go stab the back of Mark Scheifele's leg with my skate.' I think he got to that point and I think that's exactly what he did," Maurice said of Tkachuk.This wasn't the first time that a head coach stood up for a star player in NHL playoff history, and it won't be the last. However, it also doesn't happen all the time. Coaches have been known to bite their tongues in an effort to keep the focus on the next game. Maurice decided he was going to stick to his guns.Well, on Monday, Maurice's team went out and executed without Scheifele and Patrik Laine, two of its best players. Winnipeg captain Blake Wheeler called it a "gutsy win" and "one win in a long journey." The players seemed to have a chip on their shoulders, similar to their coach.Maurice is one of five NHL bench bosses to have coached 1,600 regular-season games. The others - Scotty Bowman, Joel Quenneville, Barry Trotz, and Al Arbour - have all hoisted the Stanley Cup. You can bet Maurice, at 53 years old and in his seventh year with the Jets, is fired up by the victory.Secondary attackers pitch in Jeff Vinnick / Getty ImagesPositive signs were there to be found on either side of the Golden Knights and Stars' opening brush in the Western round robin.It was a nice boost for Vegas that Chandler Stephenson required all of 64 seconds to break a 13-game goal drought that dated back to early February. Stephenson was a major possession-driver on the NHL's best Corsi For team, validating general manager Kelly McCrimmon's call to flip Washington a fifth-round pick for him two months into the season. With his usual center Max Pacioretty out, Stephenson cycled between positions on the first line and was influential all game, helping Vegas control 67.9% of shot attempts when he played at five-on-five.The late collapse notwithstanding, a Dallas team that ranked 26th in goals per game this year will be encouraged by who generated offense earlier on; namely, players who aren't Seguin, the lone Star to even approach 50 points this season. Joe Pavelski, Corey Perry, and Jamie Oleksiak all scored off assists from Miro Heiskanen, who's already a crucial offensive creator from the blue line at age 21.Their stellar defense might yet spearhead a long Stars playoff run if they can avoid being caved in for entire periods like Monday's final frame. Consistent production from the likes of those supplementary guys would make that more achievable in the top-heavy West.John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Members of the Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars made a statement prior to their round-robin tilt Monday, as Ryan Reaves and Robin Lehner of Vegas and Tyler Seguin and Jason Dickinson of Dallas knelt for both the U.S. and Canadian national anthems.

Minnesota Wild head coach Dean Evason says the team hasn't talked about showing solidarity with Matt Dumba during his protests against racism and in support of Black lives."Nope, there's been no discussions, and the only thing that we've discussed as a staff - as I've mentioned before - is that we want to eliminate racism for good," Evason told reporters Monday when asked by theScore's John Matisz whether the club has internally addressed the possibility of locking arms or raising fists along with the defenseman.

Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson won't play Monday in the club's round-robin opener against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Capitals announced.Carlson exited during the third period of Washington's exhibition game against the Carolina Hurricanes last week and did not return. He skated with the team over the weekend, but the nature of his injury is unknown.The Norris Trophy candidate enjoyed a career campaign in 2019-20, leading all defensemen with 60 assists and 75 points through 69 games. His 15 goals matched a personal best.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets will be severely shorthanded as they look to even their qualifying-round series with the Calgary Flames on Monday.Superstars Patrik Laine and Mark Scheifele, who both suffered injuries in Game 1, are unavailable to play, according to Sportsnet's Ken Wiebe.Here's a look at the Jets' lines for the pivotal contest.

The NHL's bubble plan worked seamlessly in its first week.Among the 7,013 COVID-19 tests administered from July 27-Aug. 1, there were zero positive results, the league announced Monday.The 24 teams entered the secure zone in either Toronto or Edmonton on July 26 for the start of Phase 4. Testing has been administered daily to every person in each of the clubs' 52-member traveling parties.Following Monday's action, every team will have played at least one game in the restart.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers netminder Mikko Koskinen will make his first career postseason start in Game 2 against the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.Koskinen took over during the second period of Game 1 after Mike Smith allowed five goals - including four in the opening frame - on 23 shots. Koskinen turned aside 18-of-19 shots he faced in the 6-4 loss.The 32-year-old Finnish puck-stopper owned an 18-13-3 record with a 2.75 goals-against average and .917 save percentage this season, his second with the Oilers.Edmonton will look to give its goaltenders more support in Game 2. The Blackhawks owned a Corsi For of 55.7% and a 60% share of high-danger scoring chances in the series opener.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks forward Micheal Ferland has been fined $5,000 for spearing Minnesota Wild winger Ryan Hartman during Sunday night's contest, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Monday.The play occurred in the third period when Ferland got tangled up with the Wild's bench. He was assessed a two-minute minor for slashing and Minnesota received a minor bench penalty for interference, which Hartman served.Wild forward Luke Kunin also received a $1,000 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct for holding Ferland's stick.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Nate Thompson had high praise for teammate Carter Hart after the sophomore puck-stopper became the youngest in franchise history to record a postseason win.Hart stopped 34 of the 35 shots he faced in the Flyers' 4-1 victory over the Boston Bruins on Sunday in the first game of round-robin play.“He doesn’t look 21 to me," Thompson said, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia's John Clark. "He’s pretty poised, even off the ice. He carries himself well beyond his years."He reminds me a little bit of a goalie I used to play with in Montreal”Thompson spent parts of two seasons with the Canadiens from 2018 to 2020. The 6-foot-1 grinder played in front of Carey Price, the franchise's all-time wins leader who's known for his calm and stoic demeanor.Price was also excellent in his first start of the return, making 39 saves to help the No. 12 seed Canadiens take a 1-0 series lead over the No. 5 seed Pittsburgh Penguins.After finishing second among netminders in Calder Trophy voting in 2018-19, Hart followed up his rookie campaign with another strong season. The Alberta native posted a 24-13-3 record with a 2.42 goals-against average and .914 save percentage over 43 appearances.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

So much of what's intriguing about the unique 2020 postseason can be summed up by the Eastern Conference's No. 8 vs. No. 9 qualifying series. Below is a breakdown of three representative storylines that began to take shape during the Columbus Blue Jackets' 2-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.––––––––––Defense beats offenseOn one side of this series is an offensive powerhouse that ranked third in the league in goals per game this season but hasn't won a playoff round since the arrivals of its headlining stars - or, more specifically, since 2004. On the other stands a lockdown defensive team with a leading scorer who topped out at 49 points in 2019-20.The Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets ended the regular season with identical .579 points percentages but are otherwise polar opposites, which explains why their encounter in the Eastern Conference qualifiers is so appealing. Coming out of short training camps and straight into meaningful games, this matchup doubles as a case study for a larger question: Which style is more conducive to immediate success in the bubble? Running, gunning, and seeking to score at will, or staying structured and composed for 60 minutes? Chase Agnello-Dean / NHL / Getty ImagesCount Game 1 - a quintessential Columbus win - as a point for the latter approach. Employing their signature high forecheck, the Blue Jackets stymied their opponents' breakouts at the source or otherwise choked them in the neutral zone. They mostly kept the Maple Leafs a safe distance from Joonas Korpisalo, whose 28-save shutout made for an admirable NHL playoff debut. Columbus was consistently first to the puck in the offensive end, winning corner battles and using timely pinches to stop counterattacks before they materialized. Scoring a minute into the third period, Cam Atkinson empowered the Blue Jackets to burn the remaining time without allowing any scoring chances of consequence.A team unlocking and playing to its strengths has a major edge in a short series. The advantage is all the more apparent in matchups that feature clashing styles. Consider Game 1 of the New York Islanders' series against the Florida Panthers, in which defensively adept New York limited Florida's attack to a single Jonathan Huberdeau goal for a 2-1 win. The Blue Jackets' effort was similar. They were stingy, they didn't give Toronto's stars an inch all night, and they only needed to score once.Blueprints to go deepAhead of any other year's 16-team playoff tournament, the Leafs and Jackets would have spent the final month of the season fighting tooth and nail for the final berths in the East. Their respective faults kept them from faring any better in 2019-20. Toronto was prone to breaking down in front of Frederik Andersen and to coming out flat. Columbus scored one goal or was blanked in 19 of 70 games, typifying the squad's struggle to put the puck in the net.Still, both clubs have the potential to make a run in the bubble, the Leafs thanks to their offensive weaponry - this shutout notwithstanding - and the Jackets thanks to the defensive fortitude that keyed their stunning sweep of Tampa Bay in 2018-19. One line of thought holds that the better teams that emerge from the qualifiers will have a leg up on their favored opponents who weren't seriously challenged in the round robin. The clubs that had to scrap for postseason survival from the jump could theoretically generate momentum from there. Andre Ringuette / Getty ImagesThe Jackets started that journey auspiciously by following their blueprint to a tee in Game 1. Their first line - Pierre-Luc Dubois between Alexandre Texier and Oliver Bjorkstrand - produced four high-danger scoring chances and 58.62% of shot attempts when they played together at five-on-five. Dubois was especially noticeable: He drew a penalty and created several chances with his footwork, strength on the puck, and incisive passing. As usual, Zach Werenski and Seth Jones were horses on defense, logging more than 25 minutes apiece and limiting the damage Auston Matthews' line caused.The Leafs weren't bad, but one goose egg is plenty in a best-of-five series. Considering the dearth of open space for Toronto puck carriers to operate and shoot, it would help to earn more power plays than the one they failed to convert. So would kindling havoc, or even a single rebound opportunity, in front of Korpisalo on those shots that do squeeze through.The Leafs have to score to expose the limitations of the Jackets' offense. That Atkinson was the player to capitalize on an opening and beat Andersen blocker-side - on what could have been a nothing play - ultimately made all the difference.Lafreniere lottery looms largeFor at least a day following the qualifying round, the eight squads that are bounced posthaste can find comfort in a silver lining. That would be the equal 12.5% chance they'll have to win the draft lottery a week from Monday, which would confer them the privilege of leapfrogging Detroit, Ottawa, and the rest of the league's dregs to bring aboard consensus top prospect Alexis Lafreniere. Mathieu Belanger / Getty ImagesNo player or coach would say this publicly, but for some teams perceived to have no hope of going deep, losing immediately and banking on those 1-in-8 odds might seem preferable. Toronto and Columbus don't fit that bill, but in either franchise's case, Lafreniere would constitute a heck of a consolation prize.Picture the Jackets blowing this one-game lead, subsequently getting lucky, and adding the sort of thrilling offensive talent they've sorely lacked since Artemi Panarin left to sign with the Rangers last summer. If Dubois is an elite two-way center in the making, imagine how much more clinical his line could look with Lafreniere fashioning oodles of scoring chances from the left wing.Depending on your allegiance, what a dream-worthy and nightmarish scenario it would be in equal turn if Lafreniere joined Toronto's embarrassment of riches up front. Right now, the Leafs are cap-strapped with Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander signed long term for big money. Integrating Lafreniere on a three-year entry-level deal would change that calculus, affording general manager Kyle Dubas the option to try to flip, say, Nylander for a comparatively good defenseman without sacrificing any scoring punch.Toronto's season is by no means almost over, and it's 87.5% likely that whichever club winds up falling short here won't win the lottery. But the slim flipside possibility is significant for what it signals to teams in similar situations, those that Lafreniere could elevate immediately into contention. Think of him teaming with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in Edmonton, or of him injecting life into the Predators' or Islanders' pedestrian forward corps. Only in 2020 are these outcomes conceivable.Likewise, you don't have to strain to envision the transformative impact Lafreniere could have on Columbus or Toronto's fate - one bonus reason this series is so enticing. On to Game 2 on Tuesday afternoon.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's bubbled postseason continued Sunday in Toronto and Edmonton. Here are four takeaways, one each from the Arizona Coyotes' 4-3 win over the Nashville Predators; Philadelphia Flyers' 4-1 victory over the Boston Bruins; Colorado Avalanche's 2-1 defeat of the St. Louis Blues; and Minnesota Wild's 3-0 toppling of the Vancouver Canucks. (Note: The Toronto Maple Leafs-Columbus Blue Jackets game was covered in a separate post.)––––––––––Kadri flips the script Jeff Vinnick / Getty ImagesSomehow, someway, Nazem Kadri and the Avalanche defeated the Blues in regulation Sunday night.Kadri - who's been on the wrong end of some notable playoff moments in recent years (see: multiple suspensions) - whacked the puck into a yawning cage with 0.1 seconds remaining in the third period, his internal clock telling him to hurry as he launched into the crease."Not quite down to the decimal point," he said. "But I knew there wasn't much time left."

The Minnesota Wild shut out the Vancouver Canucks 3-0 on Sunday with the help of Alex Stalock's 28-save performance in Game 1 of their best-of-five qualifying round series.More to come.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele seems to have avoided a major injury scare.All indications suggest Scheifele did not suffer any damage to his Achilles tendon after he appeared to sustain a devastating injury during Game 1 of Winnipeg's qualifying-round contest against the Calgary Flames on Saturday, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.Though his injury may not be as serious as originally anticipated, Scheifele remains doubtful to play in Game 2 on Monday, according to TSN's Sara Orlesky. He was seen in a walking boot inside the Edmonton bubble on Sunday, reports TSN's Ryan Rishaug.The 27-year-old got tangled up along the boards with Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk early in the first period before Tkachuk's skate nicked the back of Scheifele's leg. Scheifele was in obvious pain and was unable to put pressure on his leg as he left the ice.Jets winger Patrik Laine is also doubtful to play Monday after leaving Game 1 in the third frame with an apparent hand injury, Orlesky added.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cam Atkinson scored early in the third period and Alexander Wennberg added an empty-netter as the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-0 in the opening game of their qualifying-round series Sunday night.Blue Jackets goaltender Joonas Korpisalo stopped all 28 shots he faced in the victory, while Maple Leafs netminder Frederik Andersen turned aside 33 of the 34 shots Columbus fired his way.Atkinson was involved in both Blue Jackets goals, registering a secondary assist on Wennberg's tally after the Maple Leafs pulled Andersen for the extra attacker.Columbus outshot Toronto 27-17 over the final 40 minutes.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.What a weekend it was. Not only did we get to watch a ton of hockey, but we made some quality coin off it as well. How can you beat that?The best part: We keep going. Another batch of games Monday means more opportunities to make money. Let's stay hot.New York Rangers (+130) @ Carolina Hurricanes (-150)The Rangers can be an extremely fun team to watch, but this is a bad matchup for them. The Hurricanes' roster is a deep one, while New York's is anything but. Carolina exposed that lack of depth in Game 1, and it's shaping up to be a glaring problem in Game 2 with Brendan Lemieux still suspended and Jesper Fast now injured. The latter development is a tough blow for an already shallow group of forwards.The Canes are not only a very deep and talented team, but they're so fundamentally sound under head coach Rod Brind'Amour. They play suffocating defensive hockey and are relentless on the attack, with all four forward lines capable of contributing offensively.Carolina's home-team designation will allow Brind'Amour to pick his matchups, so the Hurricanes should be able to take advantage of the depth discrepancy. That was glaringly apparent Saturday, with the Rangers posting the lowest even-strength expected goals for mark (1.01) among all teams in Game 1 of their respective play-in series. Carolina will assert itself once again in Game 2 and push New York to the brink of elimination.Pick: Hurricanes (-150)Montreal Canadiens (+140) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (-160)As well as Carey Price played Saturday, it's a disservice to the Canadiens to suggest he was the only reason they won. Montreal was very much in the contest aside from a poor showing in the first period, and it fully deserved Jeff Petry's game-winning goal based on the balance of play in overtime.The Canadiens were aggressive when they needed to be and clinical in pouncing on the Penguins' mistakes. Matt Murray was predictably a scapegoat, but was he really at fault for any of the three goals he surrendered? Those playing in front of him seemed more responsible.Most concerning for Pittsburgh was the performance of its bottom six. The Penguins' third line was especially exposed, as was their third defensive pairing. The Canadiens lack star power, but they're deep enough to take advantage of the mismatches presented to them. They could have scored a couple more goals Saturday and should continue to generate chances in Game 2.It's the Penguins who will now be expected to produce more offensively. They fired a lot of shots on net in the series opener, but they didn't do enough to get in Price's grill. When they did, they scored - both of their goals came from a few feet out. Expect much more of that from Pittsburgh in Game 2, along with a better showing from a power play that has far too much talent to struggle as it did.Pick: Over 5.5 (+105)(Odds source: theScore Bet)Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Stalock is the starting netminder for the Minnesota Wild in Game 1 of their qualifying-round series against the Vancouver Canucks.Stalock, 33, beat out Devan Dubnyk to start Sunday's series opener. The two shared the Minnesota net this season, with Stalock appearing in 38 contests and Dubnyk in 30.Stalock played well in 2019-20, posting a 20-11-4 record with a .910 save percentage and 2.67 goals-against average. He's appeared in four postseason games in his career, most recently in 2018.Dubnyk, meanwhile, struggled during the regular season. He went 12-15-2 and managed an .890 save percentage and 3.35 goals-against average. The 34-year-old is a veteran of 26 postseason games, all with the Wild.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.