Several NHL clubs are backing the Black Lives Matter movement as the league resumes with exhibition play.The Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins stood side by side before their exhibition game Tuesday.

Either David Pastrnak genuinely believes Tom Wilson is an incredibly gifted offensive player, or someone (quite possibly the Washington Capitals pest) found the Boston Bruins superstar's phone lying around in the bubble. Predictably, Wilson replied about 20 minutes later.

The Anaheim Ducks inked winger Sonny Milano to a two-year extension, the club announced Tuesday.It carries an average annual value of $1.7 million, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Milano was drafted 16th overall by the Blue Jackets in 2014, but he fell out of favor in Columbus and was dealt to the Ducks at this year's trade deadline in exchange for Devin Shore.The 24-year-old got the chance to play alongside Ryan Getzlaf upon his arrival in Anaheim, and he showed some promise by tallying five points in nine games before the shutdown.In 125 career NHL games, Milano has 22 goals (14 of them in 2017-18) and 25 assists.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sidney Crosby is in the lineup for the Pittsburgh Penguins' exhibition tilt against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday, the team announced.Crosby missed five of Pittsburgh's final six practice or scrimmage sessions in training camp for undisclosed reasons. He was initially listed as a game-time decision.The 32-year-old remains one of the game's top players, tallying 47 points in 41 games for the Pens during the regular season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The matchup between the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes is arguably one of the most unpredictable of all the play-in series. There's enough talent on both teams to make some serious noise in the playoffs, but only one will advance.The Hurricanes finished the regular season with a better record, but this series may be more even than many think. Let's break it down.ScheduleGameDateTime (ET)1Sat. Aug. 112:00 p.m.2Mon. Aug. 312:00 p.m.3Tues. Aug. 48:00 p.m.4*Thurs. Aug. 6TBD5*Sat. Aug. 8TBD*If necessaryTale of the tapeHurricanesStatRangers38-25-5Record37-28-53.19 (11)Goals per game3.33 (5)2.84 (T11)Goals against3.14 (T23)22.3 (8)Power play %22.9 (7)84.0 (4)Penalty kill %77.5 (23)54.30 (3)5-on-5 Corsi For %46.73 (28)8.11 (17)5-on-5 SH%8.89 (7).912 (26)5-on-5 SV%.920 (12)Season seriesThe Rangers dominated the Hurricanes, sweeping the season series 4-0. New York didn't even concede a point to Carolina, winning all four games in regulation.Key players to watchSebastian Aho Gregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / GettyIt's hard to believe Aho turned only 23 years old last week. The young Finnish star has now strung together two straight elite seasons, recording 68 goals and 151 points over his last 150 games. In what should be a high-flying series, the Hurricanes will need Aho to be at the top of his game.The majority of the Hurricanes' scoring comes from their top line, which features Aho centering Andrei Svechnikov and Teuvo Teravainen. The trio combined for 77 markers this season, accounting for 40% of the club's goals. Among forwards who have logged 800-plus minutes of ice time this season, Aho ranks eighth in Corsi For rating at 56.79. Teravainen and Svechnikov rank just ahead of him in sixth and seventh, respectively.Aho creates magic, and he proved himself in his first taste of the playoffs last season, posting 12 points in 15 contests. The Hurricanes play a sound defensive game, but they'll depend on Aho and the top line to generate offense.Mika Zibanejad Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyMost will focus on Hart Trophy nominee Artemi Panarin when analyzing the Rangers, but Zibanejad deserves a lot of attention, too. It's clear what Panarin brings to the table, but Zibanejad showed this season he's just as dangerous when hot.The 27-year-old led the Rangers with 41 goals despite playing only 57 games. The center's goals-per-game rate (0.72) was the NHL's best this season. He was arguably the league's hottest player before the campaign was paused on March 12, racking up 25 goals and 44 points in the 31 games since Jan. 1.New York now hopes Zibanejad picks up where he left off, as beating the Rangers will be much more difficult if he catches fire.Hurricanes can win if ...The Hurricanes need to stick to their identity. Carolina is a pesky team that can play both sides of the puck extremely well and strike at any moment.The Canes are one of the league's best possession teams. They rank 11th in goals for and 11th in goals against. Their power play is the league's eighth-best, while the team's penalty kill ranks fourth.Carolina is an extremely balanced squad, and the Hurricanes can play a different style depending on their opponent or the game situation. The Rangers will certainly have their hands full.Rangers can win if ...It may be a tough pill to swallow for Rangers fans, but rookie netminder Igor Shesterkin needs to be in net for most of the series for New York to have a chance. The Russian phenom only played in 12 games this season, but he went 10-2-0 with a great .932 save percentage.The Rangers allowed a lot of goals while spending plenty of time in the defensive zone this campaign. They ranked 23rd in goals against per game (3.14), 28th in five-on-five Corsi For (46.73%), and allowed the ninth-most shots on goal (1,789).As good as Henrik Lundqvist has been in the past, the Hurricanes will test the Rangers often. Yes, he played extremely well in three games against Carolina this season. But the 38-year-old is coming off his worst statistical campaign. Nearly eight months after his last game versus Carolina, it will be a whole new story in the qualifying round.With a guaranteed back-to-back game in the series, Lundqvist should get at least one start. Overall, though, Shesterkin is much more capable of weathering the storm in a short series with little room for error.X-factorsJaccob Slavin Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyWhen Dougie Hamilton went down with a broken leg in January, Slavin stepped up to fill the gap on the blue line, playing significant minutes in mostly a shutdown defensive role. But he also chipped in offensively with six goals and 30 assists.He ranked sixth among all players in shorthanded ice time, and Slavin is a large reason why Carolina boasts one of the league's best penalty kills. With Hamilton nursing a new injury and possibly unavailable for most of the qualifying round, Slavin will need to step up once again.Tony DeAngelo Jared Silber / National Hockey League / GettyDeAngelo produced a breakout year with the Rangers this season, recording 15 goals and adding 38 assists in 68 games. He finished the campaign ranked fourth among all defensemen in points.The 24-year-old can be a bit of a defensive liability. He starts nearly 60% of his shifts in the offensive zone, but that's not necessarily an issue. If he can continue his elite offensive play and help keep the puck in the Hurricanes' zone as much as possible, DeAngelo will be a very valuable asset for the Rangers.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Paul Maurice has a theory about the rhythm of a new hockey season."It's kind of like when you're (horsing around) with your brother," the longtime Jets head coach said. "You start pushing and then next thing you know you're throwing haymakers. There's no play-fighting in hockey."Maurice's analogy carries extra weight in these strange times for the NHL. The league plans to stage a compact 24-team postseason tournament - beginning Saturday - following a nearly five-month break, which is the approximate length of the offseason for non-playoff teams in a normal, non-pandemic year. The 16 teams that face elimination right away are going to have to go from zero to haymakers quickly."It's not October, where you can go, 'OK, we had a slow start but we found our game,'" Stars interim head coach Rick Bowness said. "You don't have that luxury. If you're looking for your game going into these playoffs, it's going to be a short ride." Brian Babineau / Getty ImagesWhile attention in the lead-up to the qualifying round has centered on how players are adapting to unprecedented conditions, coaches are also wrestling with the various unknowns associated with the restart. This is all new to them, too.Near the top of the list of unknowns is the kind of hockey ahead. Should we be anticipating the looseness and fast pace of a typical October, when goal-scoring traditionally rises? Or will we see tightness and physicality that typically resembles April, when scoring dips?"You could have a hybrid," Oilers head coach Dave Tippett said. "I think there'll be a little bit of - what do you call it? - early sloppiness in games, but I also think there'll be a great emphasis put on detail, doing things right, making sure you're not beating yourselves. You're in the playoffs, so if you beat yourself you're going to regret it."There's a fine line between adopting a collective mindset that's proactive instead of reactionary; the last thing a team wants to do is gift wrap wins for its opponent."Mistakes lose you games, so that'll be the focus, I'm sure, of all 24 teams," Tippett added. John Russell / Getty ImagesNashville's John Hynes is one of six playoff head coaches hired or promoted during the shortened 2019-20 regular season. He was on the job two months before everything stopped. Training camp 2.0 allowed him to drill down on systematic details, practice habits, and overarching philosophies. Hynes knows his players and the West better now, but he's as unsure as anybody about what the on-ice product will look like once games that matter resume."You've gone through training camps where every team's only had one exhibition game (scheduled Tuesday through Thursday) and there's a lot of time off. Sometimes that may (result in) some looseness or some mistakes, especially with the intensity level that I think everyone's going to be able to play with, and the energy level that guys are going to (bring every shift)," said Hynes, who joined the Predators after more than four years in the East with the Devils.Another wrinkle of the restart has been the liberal use of scrimmages.Coaching staffs around the league varied in how frequently they used them to replicate game-like situations. Some were longer and more intense than others, resembling actual games. The Maple Leafs went as far as hiring AHL-level officials for practices, only to be told by the league that doing so created an unfair advantage. The experiment lasted just one day.Unlike a normal NHL preseason - which can drag on thanks to roughly two weeks of team workouts followed by an eight-game exhibition schedule - each club's time, energy, and resources have been directed solely towards the present. Each team gets a single exhibition game in the restart, making it incredibly valuable."This (camp) feels completely different, and it's not the fact that it's July," Maurice - who's coached 1,600 regular-season NHL games - said late last week. "I've almost got the opposite (mentality). I was concerned coming into camp, not knowing what to expect, that we were going to have a hard time grabbing these guys' attention. And then by the third day I realized they all understand we've got to get ready for playoff games. It's been, I'm going to say, more focused than a normal training camp." Gregg Forwerck / Getty ImagesRod Brind'Amour and his Hurricanes assistants kept Week 1 of camp on a familiar track. Players heard plenty about themselves, receiving refreshers on the ice and in the video room about how to navigate various in-game situations. But by the second week, some of the attention shifted towards studying the rival Rangers, who beat Carolina 4-0 in the season series."In (a normal) training camp, you're not even talking about the other teams, ever," Brind'Amour said. "So, now, you have to start (a week out). You're talking about the other team because the games count so much right away."Information about the playoff format leaked a month ago, providing staffs with far more scouting runway than usual. The Hurricanes should be fully prepared to defend against Hart Trophy finalist Artemi Panarin and the Rangers in their best-of-five series. Dallas, one of the top four teams in the West, will compete in a three-game round-robin series against the Avalanche, Blues, and Golden Knights, so Bowness assigned one team to each of his three assistants. Dallas' full pre-scout was already finalized, he said last week.Mind you, there is danger in having too much time on your hands."I've seen different scenarios where I think the overpreparation was paralysis by analysis," Tippett said. "I've been a big believer that you better make sure your team is up and going at their full max, their full strength, because it doesn't matter what your team does if you're not going to play to your capabilities."Said Maurice: "We all have our networks, so when (the schedule) comes out, you call your guys, other NHL head coaches or assistant coaches that you know, and you just start throwing around ideas." But, he later warns: "You've got to be ready because your pre-scout doesn't matter. The systems at the end of the day will not matter if your team cannot play at the pace of the game. So (that's) your (No. 1) priority." Christian Petersen / Getty ImagesFrom a health perspective, NHL coaches had a difficult decision to make before teams congregated for camps July 13, and then again over the weekend when teams departed for hubs in Edmonton and Toronto. COVID-19 is believed to have a greater impact on older people and 16 of the 24 head coaches are at least 50 years old. (Panthers assistant coach Mike Kitchen, who's 64, opted out of the restart prior to Phase 3.)Officially, the NHL doesn't require coaches to wear a mask behind the bench. A few them, though, including 56-year-old Rick Tocchet, have been taking precautions, like wearing a face covering during on-ice sessions.Which brings up yet another question about this unique scenario: How will the absence of fans affect a coach's job in the Stanley Cup Playoffs?"I'm not a big barker on the bench," Tocchet said with a smile. "I will a little. But I'll probably be a little louder (now). Less screaming and more talking to help out the team, to tell the guys that the guy by the bench has time with the puck, or to change and get a guy off the ice. (Normally) I might yell, and you're in some of these buildings where they can't hear the coach because of the fans. The players like to use that as an excuse, right? 'I didn't hear you, coach! It was the fan noise!' Now they know. If I want them off the ice, they're going to hear me."Coaches, the most detailed-oriented people in the hockey community, are pondering even the modulation of their voices as the NHL attempts to crown a champion in 2020."You can do a lot more coaching between timeouts now if the music isn't too loud. A lot of times that becomes a little bit of a hindrance," Lightning head coach Jon Cooper wondered aloud last week after a scrimmage. "In watching what I just went through now, it might actually make the game easier for the (players). Now, in saying that, for players that really play to the crowd, maybe it'll affect them a little bit? I'll be honest, once that puck dropped, it wasn't even a factor of thinking about the fans. Guys were so dialed into the game. They may not even notice."John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights have arrived in their hub city of Edmonton, but they're missing their top scorer.Max Pacioretty did not accompany his team into the bubble, instead staying behind in Las Vegas."Max had a minor injury in training camp, which we told you guys about," Golden Knights head coach Peter DeBoer said Monday, according to The Athletic's Jesse Granger. "I expected he would be back by the end of the camp, but he wasn't. It was a little longer than we thought. He's not with us, and he'll join us as soon as he's healthy and able to participate."Training camps around the league wrapped up over the weekend, and the Golden Knights arrived in Alberta on Sunday night.Pacioretty last practiced with the club on July 19, according to Granger. One day later, the skilled winger was deemed "unfit to participate," and a couple of days after that, DeBoer said he expected Pacioretty to rejoin the team before it left for Edmonton.The 31-year-old led the Golden Knights with 32 goals and 66 points while playing in all 71 games, coming a single point shy of his career high while suiting up for 11 fewer contests than he would have played in a typical season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice believes eliminating travel during the 2019-20 postseason will result in high-quality action on the ice."If you look just at the opportunity to be great, for your team to feel good, to be healthy, and to drive at a very high level - which is playoff hockey on steroids - there's a chance that this is as good of hockey as I've ever seen," Maurice said of a postseason without travel, according to TSN.The 24 teams involved in the league's restart arrived in their respective hub cities Sunday; the Eastern Conference's participants congregated in Toronto, while the Western Conference contingent gathered in Edmonton. The first slate of exhibition games is scheduled for Tuesday.Maurice believes playing the majority of the postseason in one location will particularly benefit Western Conference clubs such as the Jets, who typically log more travel miles than Eastern Conference teams throughout the regular season."For a team like ours, that travel's a factor. You get off the plane at 2 or 3 in the morning enough times, it starts to set you back," Maurice said. "So these guys are going to be really well-rested, really well taken care of, (and) very very focused."Winnipeg finished the regular season with a 37-28-6 record and will face the Calgary Flames in a best-of-five play-in series. Game 1 is set for Aug. 1.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Evander Kane and P.K. Subban headline the 31 nominees for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2019-20, the NHL announced Monday.The NHL hands out the annual honor to the player "who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”Teams determine the nominees, and then a group of senior league executives led by commissioner Gary Bettman and his deputy, Bill Daly, select the winner. The three finalists will be named in early August, and this season's recipient will be announced during the conference finals.Kane has been the leading voice among active NHL players in the fight against racial injustice and inequality. The San Jose Sharks forward is a co-head of the Hockey Diversity Alliance, which seven current and former players launched in June.Subban has also been vocal about the cause and donated $50,000 to the fundraising campaign for George Floyd's daughter, Gianna, in early June. He then contacted the league and got them to match the amount. The New Jersey Devils defenseman has made several charitable donations in the past, most notably when he pledged $10 million to a Montreal hospital through his foundation in 2015.Here's the full list:TeamPlayerAnaheim DucksCam FowlerArizona CoyotesOliver Ekman-LarssonBoston BruinsPatrice BergeronBuffalo SabresJack EichelCalgary FlamesTravis HamonicCarolina HurricanesJordan StaalChicago BlackhawksJonathan ToewsColorado AvalancheGabriel LandeskogColumbus Blue JacketsCam AtkinsonDallas StarsTyler SeguinDetroit Red WingsJustin AbdelkaderEdmonton OilersLeon DraisaitlFlorida PanthersSergei BobrovskyLos Angeles KingsTrevor LewisMinnesota WildMatt DumbaMontreal CanadiensCarey PriceNashville PredatorsPekka RinneNew Jersey DevilsP.K. SubbanNew York IslandersMatt MartinNew York RangersHenrik LundqvistOttawa SenatorsBrady TkachukPhiladelphia FlyersKevin HayesPittsburgh PenguinsSidney CrosbySan Jose SharksEvander KaneSt. Louis BluesRyan O'ReillyTampa Bay LightningAlex KillornToronto Maple LeafsMitch MarnerVancouver CanucksAlexander EdlerVegas Golden KnightsMarc-Andre FleuryWashington CapitalsGarnet HathawayWinnipeg JetsBlake WheelerMinnesota Wild forward Jason Zucker took home the award last season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL administered 4,256 COVID-19 tests from July 18 to 25 with over 800 players tested, and zero positive results surfaced, the league announced Monday.The league has been revealing results on a weekly basis leading up to its return. Last week, only two positive cases were confirmed.All 24 teams in the expanded playoffs reported to their respective hub cities on Sunday. Western Conference teams traveled to Edmonton, while Eastern Conference squads arrived in Toronto.Each club was permitted to bring 52 team members, including players and staff. Everybody will be tested on a daily basis inside the secure zones.Exhibition games are set to begin Tuesday, with the qualifying round slated to kick off Aug. 1.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

David Pastrnak joined the Boston Bruins at the hub in Toronto, and he's likely to participate in practice Monday, head coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed.Pastrnak and teammate Ondrej Kase had missed the majority of the club's training camp while quarantining. Kase is expected to join the team in Toronto at a later date.On July 17, Pastrnak's agent said his client was forced to quarantine after being in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, though the winger himself tested negative.Pastrnak finished the season tied for the NHL lead with 48 goals in 70 games, adding 47 assists for a career-high 95 points. Cassidy said the All-Star isn't showing any signs of rust after missing practices."He looks great. Probably needs a haircut," the coach noted.The Bruins enter the hub as the Eastern Conference's top seed. They're scheduled to play an exhibition game versus the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 30 before kicking off their round-robin tournament Aug. 2 against the Philadelphia Flyers.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Hurricanes stalwart defenseman Dougie Hamilton remains unfit to play, head coach Rod Brind'Amour told reporters Monday, including The Athletic's Sara Civian.Hamilton suffered a broken fibula in January and was deemed ready to play again in April. However, he suffered an unspecified injury in practice last week and hasn't returned since. Civian notes the injury wasn't a re-aggravation of his broken leg, and it's likely a matter of weeks until he returns, not months.The 27-year-old was producing the best season of his career before breaking his leg. In 47 games, he registered 14 goals, 26 assists, and 40 points while averaging over 23 minutes per contest.The Hurricanes could be down two blue-liners for the qualifying round, as Brett Pesce has already been ruled out for the opening series against the New York Rangers, which begins Aug. 1. Luckily, Carolina has incredible depth on the back end.Even without their top two right-handed defensemen, the Hurricanes were able to roll out these pairings on the final day of training camp:LDRDJaccob SlavinSami VatanenJake GardinerTrevor van RiemsdykBrady SkjeiJoel Edmundson (L)Haydn FleuryJake Bean (L)Vatanen and Skjei were acquired by Carolina at the trade deadline. Without them, the club would be forced to rely on two youngsters in Fleury and Bean.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Teams have traveled to Edmonton and Toronto. Exhibition games are on deck. It's time to talk hockey.We're looking at a storyline and player to watch for each Western Conference club participating in the qualifying round. We covered the Eastern Conference on Sunday.Arizona Coyotes Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesThis season has been about retaining Taylor Hall. The Coyotes wined and dined him and pitched him on the core of the roster, the coaching staff, the facilities at Gila River Arena, and the advantages of living and working in sunny Glendale.Now, they need to play well enough in the postseason - and avoid turning into a full-blown off-ice soap opera - to nudge Hall toward a contract. The biggest fish in the 2020 unrestricted free-agency class has appeared in just five postseason games in 10 years, so the pressure's on in the qualifying round.Player to watch: Darcy Kuemper and Antti Raanta. The Coyotes' formidable goaltending tandem - when healthy - can compete with the best in the league. Don't be surprised if head coach Rick Tocchet rotates between the two.Calgary Flames Gerry Thomas / Getty ImagesThe Flames may be the "home" team against the Jets, but they can't afford to look past the qualifying round. If any goalie can win a series on his own, it's Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck, and Calgary's offense - 20th in goals per game, 12th-ranked power play, unspectacular underlying numbers in the regular season - doesn't inspire a ton of confidence, particularly with Johnny Gaudreau's well-chronicled playoff woes and strange training camp hovering over the team.There are several teams involved in the resumption that changed coaches this season, and there are others that have a significant goaltending decision to make. The Flames somehow check off both boxes.Player to watch: Erik Gustafsson. It'll be interesting to see how the absence of top-four blue-liner Travis Hamonic, who opted out of the NHL's restart, affects Gustafsson's ice time. He averaged 18 minutes a night in seven games after the trade deadline.Chicago Blackhawks Bill Smith / Getty ImagesThis is a nightmare matchup for the Blackhawks, as their porous defense will try to stop Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the rest of the speedy Oilers forward group. To make matters worse, Corey Crawford didn't hit the ice until late in training camp due to a positive COVID-19 test and could be a bit shaky in Game 1.One shining light for the Blackhawks is Patrick Kane, who was brilliant in the regular season and always brings it come playoff time. He's an X-factor for a Chicago team with a gigantic hurdle to clear in the qualifying round.Player to watch: Kirby Dach. The third overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft contributed 23 points in 64 games as a rookie and has garnered plenty of attention over the past couple of weeks for his improved skating and added confidence.Colorado Avalanche Michael Martin / Getty ImagesThe Avalanche have shown some growth but still haven't quite hit their stride. This is a much deeper lineup than we've come to expect from Colorado during the Nathan MacKinnon era. Forwards Nazem Kadri, Joonas Donskoi, Vladislav Namestnikov, Valeri Nichushkin, and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare are all new additions this year and play important supporting roles to MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and the club's other studs.There's a distinct possibility the Avalanche go on a long run this postseason, perhaps all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. However, their best years are ahead as Samuel Girard, Conor Timmins, Bo Byram, and others continue to develop into impact NHLers.Player to watch: Kadri. The two-way center made a habit of getting suspended in the postseason at the end of his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, so controlling his emotions in the heat of battle will be vital.Dallas Stars Glenn James / Getty ImagesThis year has been full of extremes for the Stars. They lost eight of their first nine games before going on a 14-1-1 run. In December, former bench boss Jim Montgomery quit and later entered rehab for alcohol abuse. His replacement, Rick Bowness, has done a swell job, though the awkward interim tag remains.The season was paused at the right time for Dallas. Their points percentage placed the Stars fourth in the Western Conference and allowed them to avoid a play-in series. The defense is incredible, but the team struggles mightily to score goals. You should expect the unexpected with this wild card of a group.Player to watch: Jamie Benn. He's not the goal-scoring power forward he once was but still has the ability to dominate in small samples. Benn in beast mode is something to behold and perhaps the high stakes bring that version of him to the fore.Edmonton Oilers Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesThe Oilers will go as far as McDavid and Draisaitl take them. Management has improved the roster - especially the back end - over the past few years, but this team won't advance past the round of 16 without a strong superstar influence.This will be only the second time both McDavid and Draisaitl experience playoff hockey, so you can bet they'll be very motivated. There's an argument to be made that McDavid is one of the greatest beneficiaries of the five-month layoff after he spent virtually the entire 2019 offseason rehabbing his knee.Player to watch: Andreas Athanasiou. The trade-deadline pickup hasn't found a comfortable fit in Edmonton. He has the tools - mainly that blazing speed - to be a game-breaker, and now it's a matter of finding the right linemates.Minnesota Wild Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesThe Wild are in transition under new management and - on paper - new head coach Dean Evason doesn't have enough high-end talent up front to take on the Western Conference.However, Minnesota could conceivably beat the Vancouver Canucks in a best-of-five qualifying-round matchup. For that to happen, though, breakout winger Kevin Fiala must pick up where he left off in the regular season - 26 points in 18 games from Feb. 1 to March 8 - and the Wild's top defensive pair of Ryan Suter and Jared Spurgeon must minimize the Canucks' top contributors.Player to watch: Mats Zuccarello. The Norwegian waterbug put up so-so numbers in his first season of a five-year, $30-million deal with Minnesota, but last year he showed with Dallas that he saves his best hockey for the playoffs.Nashville Predators Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesThe Predators have one of the best goalie tandems in the NHL with Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros, and they have one of the best defensive pairings with Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis.Nashville is held back from being a legitimate Stanley Cup contender by its weak forward group. Filip Forsberg was the only skater to hit 20 goals in the regular season, and no forward reached 50 points. The club desperately needs more from Forsberg, Ryan Johanson, Matt Duchene, Kyle Turris, and Viktor Arvidsson, who are paid a combined $32.25 million per year to drive the attack.Player to watch: Dante Fabbro. The 21-year-old played third-pairing minutes last postseason before sliding into P.K. Subban's spot on the second pair after the star was shipped to the New Jersey Devils.St. Louis Blues Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesThere was no hangover in St. Louis. The Blues finished second behind the Boston Bruins in points percentage during the regular season and looked every bit like a Stanley Cup favorite right before the league's hiatus.Question marks coming into the season have been answered, too, with goalie Jordan Binnington proving he's not a one-hit wonder and captain Alex Pietrangelo performing at a Norris Trophy level despite the possible distraction of an expiring contract.Heading into the qualifying round, the bulk of the attention is rightly focused on Vladimir Tarasenko, who's been sidelined since late October. We'll have to see the impact the sniper has in his long-awaited return.Player to watch: David Perron. The big 32-year-old winger is coming off his second straight 60-point season and was a handful for the opposition with 16 points during the 2019 playoffs.Vancouver Canucks Jamie Sabau / Getty ImagesIt's important for playoff teams to capitalize on their early power-play opportunities, as it can tilt an otherwise even matchup. Referees tend to put their whistles away for long stretches, which can somewhat eliminate the special-teams factor.Enter the Canucks. Powered by a first unit of Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, J.T. Miller, Tyler Toffoli, and Bo Horvat, Vancouver finished with the fourth-ranked power play in the regular season, scoring on 24.2% of its opportunities. The Canucks have quality goaltending, some high-end skaters, and decent depth. They're not a perfect team, but they have a better chance than most lower seeds to go on a surprise run. And it all starts with the power play.Player to watch: Quinn Hughes. His Calder Trophy counterpart Makar blew away the hockey world last postseason, so now we'll see how Hughes' playoff debut measures up.Vegas Golden Knights Ethan Miller / Getty ImagesThe Golden Knights are gaining steam as a popular Stanley Cup pick among media and fans. Vegas is well-coached, plays a counterattacking style conducive to winning playoff games, is a top-10 squad in terms of team offense, and dresses a pair of No. 1-caliber goalies every game. And now, coach Pete DeBoer, who took over for Gerard Gallant midseason, has a training camp under his belt.The hot topic circling Vegas, though, is who will ultimately man the net. Incumbent Marc-Andre Fleury, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, had a down year - .905 save percentage in 48 starts. Robin Lehner - .920 SV% in 34 total starts - was acquired from Chicago at the trade deadline as insurance but could easily usurp Fleury for the top job. DeBoer said he's not afraid to tap either one, which means a little goalie controversy might be on the horizon.Player to watch: Max Pacioretty. The 31-year-old had a highly productive regular season (career-high 0.93 points per game). Nobody's hungrier for a deep run.Winnipeg Jets Darcy Finley / Getty ImagesThe Jets operated with an underwhelming defense corps during the regular season. Jacob Trouba and Tyler Myers left via trade and free agency, respectively, and the Dustin Byfuglien situation wasn't resolved until April. The latter handcuffed management's ability to bring in a big name on the blue line.Needless to say, the most interesting aspect of the Jets' return will be their defense. That attention will turn to Josh Morrissey, Dylan DeMelo, Neal Pionk, Dmitry Kulikov, Nathan Beaulieu, and Tucker Poolman, and how much help they can provide goalie Hellebuyck. The presumptive Vezina Trophy winner was fantastic during the regular season, so a little help in the defensive zone could go a long way in improving Winnipeg's playoff run prospects.Player to watch: Kyle Connor. Maurice said that Connor has "top-10 player" potential, which, fair or not, shines a bright light on the winger. He'll be in good company, lining up alongside Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler.John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nick Robertson and defenseman Timothy Liljegren have been selected as part of the club's 31-man roster for Phase 4 of the NHL's return, the team announced Sunday.Liljegren, 21, appeared in 11 games with the Maple Leafs this season. His status for the play-in round was uncertain after he was deemed unfit to play earlier this month and replaced on the Phase 3 roster by Mac Hollowell.The 18-year-old Robertson was selected by Toronto with the 53rd overall pick at the 2019 NHL Draft. The dynamic winger led the Ontario Hockey League this season with 55 goals in 46 games for the Peterborough Petes.The Maple Leafs are set to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets in their best-of-five play-in series, with Game 1 scheduled for Aug. 2 in Toronto.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Chayka is no longer the general manager of the Arizona Coyotes, and they're not exactly thrilled about it.The club confirmed his departure in a scathing statement on Sunday."John Chayka has quit as the general manager and president of hockey operations of the Arizona Coyotes," the team said. "The club is disappointed in his actions and his timing as the Coyotes prepare to enter the NHL's hub city of Edmonton, where the team will begin postseason play for the first time since 2012."Chayka has chosen to quit on a strong and competitive team, a dedicated staff, and the Arizona Coyotes fans, the greatest fans in the NHL."Chayka responded by taking aim at the club's ownership.”The past four years have been the most enjoyable of my life," Chayka wrote in a statement to AZCoyotesInsider.com's Craig Morgan. "In Arizona, I became a husband and a father, while working as hard as possible to make the Coyotes a Stanley Cup contender. I love our players, coaches, staff, and fans and I very much wish I could be with the team in Edmonton. Sadly, the situation created by ownership made that an impossibility."Steve Sullivan, who had been one of the club's two assistant GMs, will take over as the interim general manager.Chayka voided his contract with the club Friday, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports. There were three years left on the former GM's deal.It's unclear if Chayka is free to pursue other opportunities with NHL teams. He's not permitted to serve as president of hockey operations or GM of another club for the life of his now-terminated contract, a source told Morgan.A third party had reportedly asked the Coyotes about Chayka's availability at some point during the NHL's hiatus, after which the team granted him permission to pursue the opportunity, which is apparently outside the NHL.Chayka became the youngest GM in league history when Arizona promoted him from his previous role as an assistant general manager at the age of 26 in May 2016.The analytically minded executive traded for goaltenders Darcy Kuemper and Antti Raanta, as well as star forwards Taylor Hall and Phil Kessel. He also signed defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson to an eight-year, $66-million extension in summer 2018, and drafted the likes of Clayton Keller, Jakob Chychrun, and Barrett Hayton.Chayka failed to lead the Coyotes to a playoff berth in his relatively brief tenure, but Arizona did qualify for the play-in round of the upcoming expanded postseason.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oskar Lindblom's remarkable story has taken another positive turn.The Philadelphia Flyers named the forward to their 31-man roster for the postseason on Sunday.That doesn't necessarily mean Lindblom will play in Toronto, but it opens up the possibility.

Steven Stamkos isn't quite ready for game action, but he remains on track to be in the lineup by the time the postseason begins.Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper told reporters Sunday that the captain won't play in Wednesday's exhibition contest against the Florida Panthers, according to Bryan Burns of the team's official website.However, Tampa Bay general manager Julien BriseBois reiterated that Stamkos should be good to go in the near future."We have all reason to believe he will be going into the playoffs fully healthy and a full participant," the GM said, according to team reporter Caley Chelios.BriseBois said the same thing on July 18, when Stamkos was questionable to play in the exhibition game after returning to practice. The star forward sat out at the start of training camp after suffering an injury during voluntary workouts.The Lightning begin their round-robin schedule on Aug. 3 against the Washington Capitals.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes and general manager John Chayka appear to be heading in different directions.At some point during the NHL's hiatus, the Coyotes were asked about Chayka's availability, and the team granted him permission to explore another opportunity, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The potential opening is apparently not with another team and is a different professional opportunity, according to The Athletic's Craig Morgan."It was not a lateral move," said one of Friedman's sources. "He was not going to be the GM of another NHL team."Owner Alex Meruelo signed Chayka to a long-term deal in November and said he was "fully confident" that the general manager was the right person to lead the club moving forward.However, while recently discussing a possible "transition period" where Chayka would remain as the Coyotes GM through the remainder of the season, talks fell apart, according to Friedman.Chayka was reportedly not invited to a recent meeting between the team and pending unrestricted free-agent forward Taylor Hall, according to The Arizona Republic's Kent Somers.The 31-year-old has three years remaining on his current deal, per Friedman.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The hockey world has lost one of its most colorful figures.Eddie Shack has died at the age of 83, the Toronto Maple Leafs confirmed Sunday.

Dale Hawerchuk has been forced to renew his battle against cancer.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.It's hard to know what to expect when the NHL returns after a nearly five-month break, but it sure feels great to be betting on hockey again.With so much uncertainty and a deeper than usual field, it's best to avoid the top chalk when picking a Stanley Cup champion.Led by Cup favorites the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning, here's a look at the full oddsboard.TEAMODDSBoston Bruins+400Tampa Bay Lightning+400Philadelphia Flyers+700Colorado Avalanche+800Vegas Golden Knights+800Washington Capitals+900St. Louis Blues+1000Dallas Stars+1200Pittsburgh Penguins+1500Toronto Maple Leafs+1500Edmonton Oilers+2200Calgary Flames+3000Vancouver Canucks+3000Minnesota Wild+3500Arizona Coyotes+4000Carolina Hurricanes+4000Nashville Predators+4000New York Islanders+4000New York Rangers+4000Chicago Blackhawks+6000Columbus Blue Jackets+6000Florida Panthers+6000Winnipeg Jets+6000Montreal Canadiens+12500Vegas Golden Knights (+800)The Golden Knights were on an 11-2 run and cruising to the top of the Pacific Division when the season was suspended. It wasn't just a fluky hot streak, but a run that was coming for some time.The Knights were the NHL's best team in shots for percentage and expected goals for percentage. They were also generating more scoring chances per 60 minutes than any other club. What held this team back was poor puck luck - evidenced by a 9.14 shooting percentage, well below league average - and uncharacteristically poor goaltending - 25th in the league in save percentage.The deadline acquisition of Robin Lehner solidifies Vegas between the pipes. It offers a terrific insurance policy if Marc-Andre Fleury doesn't live up to his stellar postseason resume. Everything was coming together for the Knights before the pause and they're primed for a legitimate Cup run with improved goaltending.Carolina Hurricanes (+4000)The Hurricanes are the only team in the East that measures up to Vegas' statistical dominance. Carolina, however, isn't priced accordingly. The Canes led the NHL in Corsi For rating, expected goals for per 60 minutes, and high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes. Carolina was also second in shots for percentage and third in expected goals for percentage, just a hair behind Vegas in both categories. As a kicker, the Canes have the fourth-best penalty kill and eighth-ranked power play.This forward group is loaded with talent and led by young stars Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen, and Andrei Svechnikov. To top it off, no team in the NHL is better or deeper on the blue line. Headlined by one of the league's top pairings in Dougie Hamilton and Jaccob Slavin, the Canes have six outstanding options to fill the bottom four, including deadline additions Brady Skjei and Sami Vatanen.Their terrific depth on the back end will help them absorb the losses of Hamilton and Brett Pesce, both of whom are slated to miss the play-in series with the New York Rangers due to injury. However, they will be back to solidify the league's top blue line should the Canes progress.Petr Mrazek and James Reimer weren't particularly great this season, but goaltending can be streaky, and they both possess the skills to get hot. If they can do that, then Carolina can beat anyone given the quality and depth of this roster.Columbus Blue Jackets (+6000)Coach John Tortorella has built Columbus for the playoffs. The Blue Jackets are four lines deep, block shots, hit everything in sight, and wear teams down with an aggressive forecheck. Columbus was eighth in the NHL in points percentage and first in five-on-five SV% when top defender Seth Jones was hurt on Feb. 8.The Jackets are aided by a strong blue line and terrific goaltending tandem. Goaltenders Elvis Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo are capable of taking this team far. The Jackets had the fewest expected goals against per 60 minutes in the regular season.Their issue was scoring, but they were plagued with injuries and no club had more man games lost than Columbus this season. Oliver Bjorkstrand, Cam Atkinson, Alexander Texier, and Josh Anderson will all be back from injury. Opponents should fear the Blue Jackets if they can find a scoring touch to go with their lights-out defensive play.(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.

Teams are transitioning to hub cities. Exhibition games are on deck in Edmonton and Toronto. It's time to talk hockey.Below is a breakdown of one dominant storyline for each Eastern Conference club participating in the qualifying round, with a quick note about a player to keep an eye on when the action begins Saturday. (We'll cover the Western Conference on Monday.)Boston Bruins Dave Sandford / Getty ImagesArmed with veteran leadership and a playoff-tested roster, the Presidents' Trophy-winning Bruins looked practically bulletproof heading into summer camp. But with COVID-19 added as a potential cause of derailment for a stacked team, this postseason is tenuous. Star winger David Pastrnak - who missed the bulk of training camp to quarantine after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 - was one of many Bruins to sit out at least one day of summer camp. Pastrnak is off to Toronto with the team, so he appears to be on track to return to the lineup. But it would be a shame if non-hockey factors diminish Boston's chance at redemption following a Game 7 loss in the 2019 Stanley Cup Final. The Bruins were the only team to finish with a .700 points percentage in 2019-20. They boast the best line in hockey with Patrice Bergeron between Pastrnak and Brad Marchand, elite goaltending, a fearsome blue line, and a top-notch coach. Here's to good health.Player to watch: Brandon Carlo plays an understated game but the 6-foot-5 defenseman is more than capable of handling the opposition's best players.Carolina Hurricanes Gregg Forwerck / Getty ImagesFor the second straight year, the Hurricanes - who lost in the conference finals in 2018-19 - had a legitimate shot at going on a postseason run. Or so it seemed. Dougie Hamilton's slated return hit a snag this week when the stud defenseman left practice. Based on reports, his issue appears to be an injury, not an illness. If Hamilton's latest setback after breaking his leg in December is only minor, inserting him into the lineup will surely give Carolina a shot in the arm. However, the indefinite absence of Brett Pesce, another important member of the club's formidable blue line, at least partially offsets that potential boost. The vast majority of playoff teams are fully healthy, and the Canes are the exception. And neither of the team's goalies is elite. That means clutch performances from the forward group - namely, offensive catalysts Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov - will be critical. The Rangers, who swept the four-game regular-season series with Carolina, won't be an easy out in the qualifying round.Player to watch: Justin Williams rejoined the team in January for one last playoff run at 38 years old. Mr. Game 7 already has three Stanley Cup rings, a Conn Smythe, and eight game-winners.Columbus Blue Jackets Jeff Vinnick / Getty ImagesJohn Tortorella received his fifth Jack Adams Trophy nomination last week. The nod was wholly deserved: The Blue Jackets, who were steamrolled by injuries throughout the regular season, finished with the same points percentage as the Maple Leafs, who boast a superior roster. Yet, even with his club now close to full health, Tortorella will have his work cut out for himself versus Toronto and coach Sheldon Keefe. This tantalizing qualifying-round series pits a skilled, free-skating squad against a structured, defensive squad. We know the Blue Jackets are capable of winning that battle of extremes thanks to last year's sweep of the 62-win Lightning. But can they do it again?Player to watch: It'll be fascinating to see how Pierre-Luc Dubois, a 22-year-old No. 1 center, fares in a series that features stars Auston Matthews and John Tavares lining up on the other side.Florida Panthers Eliot J. Schechter / Getty ImagesThe Panthers haven't won a playoff series since 1996, so a qualifying-round victory over the Islanders would mean a lot to the franchise. Plus, the team's long-term pillars - Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, and Aaron Ekblad - have been around since 2014 but have appeared in only six postseason games (coincidentally, all versus the Islanders). Any additional high-pressure experience is helpful for this team to grow. But the Panthers will be doomed if Sergei Bobrovsky, who authored a career-worst .900 save percentage in 48 starts this season, doesn't stand on his head against New York.Player to watch: Mark Pysyk, who's a rare hybrid skater. He played both defenseman and forward in the regular season while posting a career year offensively. He's done double duty in summer camp, too, but has been penciled in to start at forward during the qualifying round.Montreal Canadiens Francois Lacasse / Getty ImagesThe Canadiens are lucky to be included in the 2020 postseason. But with a 13% chance of drafting top prospect and Quebecker Alexis Lafreniere, the prize for bowing out in the qualifying round isn't bad. That said, assertive performances from captain Shea Weber and goalie Carey Price are absolutely necessary if the Habs plan to make any noise against the Penguins. Also crucial: Phillip Danault's line, which features Brendan Gallagher and Tomas Tatar on the wings, must bury its scoring chances. Can the trio, which threw everything but the kitchen sink at opposing netminders every night in the regular season, capitalize on its possession and turn more shot attempts into goals in a best-of-five series?Player to watch: Max Domi, a Type 1 diabetic, is going to play in the restart, though it's possible his underlying health condition could become a psychological distraction within the tightly secured Toronto bubble.New York Islanders Mike Stobe / Getty ImagesAdam Pelech and Ryan Pulock combine to make the best defense pairing many NHL fans have never heard of. Based on certain metrics, they form one of the league's best pairings, period. Pelech, a 6-foot-3, no-frills left-hander who excels at the subtitles of the position, was initially ruled out for the playoffs after tearing his Achilles tendon in January. Then the hiatus dragged on. His return is welcome news to coach Barry Trotz, considering the Isles were 10-13-7 without Pelech in the lineup, losing 11 of their final 13 regular-season games. Pelech and his partner will be essential to minimizing Barkov's impact in the qualifying round against the Panthers.Player to watch: Jean-Gabriel Pageau. The two-way center signed a six-year deal immediately after the Senators traded him to the Isles. However, because of the NHL's pause, he's dressed for just seven games with his new squad.New York Rangers Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesSo, about that elephant in the Rangers' dressing room. Yeah, it didn't leave during the hiatus. What happens in the crease, with Igor Shesterkin, Henrik Lundqvist, and Alexandar Georgiev all capable of tending an NHL net? The smart money is on Shesterkin starting and Lundqvist backing up throughout the qualifying round, but there are no guarantees. It will be extra important for the Rangers, seeing as they aren't great defensively and the Hurricanes finished the regular season with the NHL's 12th-ranked offense. Being included in this restart is found money for the organization. The Rangers' rebuild - which started with a letter to the fan base in February 2018 - remains incomplete. Stanley Cup aspirations can wait.Player to watch: Reports out of Rangers camp suggest Kaapo Kakko, the second overall pick in the 2019 draft, is sharper and operating with "more swagger." The raw rookie totaled just 10 goals and 23 points in 66 regular-season games.Philadelphia Flyers Len Redkoles / Getty ImagesThe Flyers will be an intriguing group to monitor when action resumes. No team was hotter when the NHL paused March 12; Philadelphia had won 10 of 11 and boasted a sparkling 19-7 record since Jan. 8. The Flyers have earned their top-four spot in the Eastern Conference, but following an almost five-month break, will head coach Alain Vigneault's squad be able to recapture its pre-hiatus form? Carter Hart, the organization's 21-year-old savior in the crease, will experience NHL playoff hockey for the first time. Having the runway of the round robin could come in handy for Hart and his teammates.Player to watch: Oskar Lindblom continues to add chapters to his inspiring story and could potentially return to practice after undergoing treatment for bone cancer. He and the club agreed to a three-contract extension last week following the July 2 announcement that he was cancer-free.Pittsburgh Penguins Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesIt seems odd to say this about the three-time Stanley Cup champs during the Sidney Crosby-Evgeni Malkin era, but the Penguins are a sleeping giant. Pittsburgh ranked seventh in points percentage in the NHL prior to the pause. Yet, because of the unique restart format, they're competing in the play-in round as the Eastern Conference's fifth seed. The club's calling card is its enviable top six of Crosby, Malkin, Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust, Jason Zucker, and Conor Sheary, and we haven't seen those six at full force for any meaningful stretch. Crosby and Guentzel combined to miss 58 regular-season games, Malkin and Rust were out for 14 contests each, while Zucker and Sheary appeared in only 15 and eight games, respectively, after being acquired midseason. The goaltending battle - Matt Murray versus Tristan Jarry for the starter's job - is important, of course, but the Pens' offense will carry this team.Player to watch: Forty-year-old Patrick Marleau continues to chase that elusive Stanley Cup. The second-oldest player in the postseason came over from San Jose at the trade deadline, averaging 15:25 across eight games for Pittsburgh.Tampa Bay Lightning Ethan Miller / Getty ImagesAt every turn prior to the break, Lightning coach Jon Cooper fielded questions about the in-house impact of his team's first-round loss to the Blue Jackets last spring. When you tie an NHL record for regular-season victories but don't win a single game in the first round, there's no escaping external doubt. However, it might be time to recalibrate our attention. Already the league's best team on paper, the Lightning acquired Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow at the trade deadline. A deep team at every position got deeper. Can the new, jack-of-all-trades forwards add yet another layer of hell for opposing coaches and players?Player to watch: Anthony Cirelli is a brilliant two-way center. The 2015 third-rounder's profile was raised in the regular season thanks to a Selke Trophy-caliber body of work. A strong postseason would be the cherry on top.Toronto Maple Leafs Claus Andersen / Getty ImagesFor a franchise with playoff demons in desperate need of slaying, just getting past the qualifying round would be considered an accomplishment. The 36-25-4 Maple Leafs, who have made the postseason in each of Auston Matthews' four NHL seasons, haven't advanced beyond the first round since 2004. Former head coach Mike Babcock was criticized for not making necessary in-game adjustments against the Bruins last season. This year, rookie bench boss Sheldon Keefe has shown over a 47-game sample that he won't hesitate to mix and match his lines if necessary. In training camp, Keefe has debuted what's being called Toronto's "nuclear option" - Matthews alongside John Tavares and Mitch Marner. The Leafs rival any club in high-end talent, living and dying by the collective performance of their stars. We're about to see how the players and coaches react to a defensive juggernaut like the Blue Jackets in a short series.Player to watch: Frederik Andersen. The Leafs' starting goalie is coming off his worst regular season (.909 save percentage in 52 starts). The big Dane will be asked, as usual, to plug holes in Toronto's defense.Washington Capitals Patrick Smith / Getty ImagesThe average age of the Capitals' roster is 29.2 years old, tying them with Dallas for the oldest team in the restart, according to CapFriendly. That gray-beard label can be viewed as both a positive and a negative, though the age ranking mainly reminds us that the core behind the most successful period in Capitals history won't be together forever. While plenty of guys are locked up, starting goalie Braden Holtby might leave via free agency this fall, and superstar Alex Ovechkin is unrestricted next summer. For now, the Metropolitan Division champions are as big a threat as ever following a 41-20-8 regular season, and the pressure is off thanks to the 2018 Stanley Cup win.Player to watch: Ilya Kovalchuk is on his third team of the 2019-20 season. After being bought out by L.A. and signing in Montreal, the 37-year-old landed in D.C. at the trade deadline. He's pitched in four points in seven games.John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Roughly a year ago, Stephen Walkom was still processing the carnage. Over the course of the 2019 NHL playoffs, the league's director of officiating was seemingly forced to deal with a new headache involving his best referees and linesmen every time he turned around."Mistakes happen. Our job as officials is to recover. Last postseason wasn't easy," Walkom said in August 2019 at the league's annual officiating scouting combine. "A lot of unfortunate incidents affected results. And, our team collectively, we know we need to be better. That's life, and we'll learn from it."Walkom (right) with linesman Ryan Galloway Jonathan Kozub / Getty ImagesThis postseason won't be easy for Walkom and his crew, either, but for completely different reasons. The NHL is trying to crown a Stanley Cup champion through a 24-team tournament while the world continues to wrestle with a pandemic. Like all leagues trying to restart now, the NHL is walking a tightrope, and the health and safety of its on-ice participants is a significant issue.Not a single official lost their job during the league's hiatus, according to Walkom, despite the absence of games to officiate. So for the past four-plus months, management has tried to keep spirits high, minds sharp, and bodies in shape. Now, a total of 40 officials - two groups of 10 referees and 10 linesmen - are stationed in Edmonton and Toronto. Nobody tested positive for the coronavirus before commuting to their hub city and, in the few days they've been acclimating to bubble life, nobody has received a positive test."Our team was kept at the ready," Walkom said Friday in a lengthy phone interview, adding: "Now we know our guys are safe to go and skate."The bubbled officials hit the ice for the first time in groups Friday and will commence two-day mini-training camps Sunday. They'll call their first games in nearly five months over a slate of exhibition games Tuesday through Thursday.How will officials navigate the various obstacles inherent in the NHL's restart efforts? Walkom let us in on the group's mindset, role, and stiffest tests.––––––––––Is there some rust to shake off for officials since they're coming off a long layoff? It's essentially like coming out of the summer in a normal year.Stephen Walkom: It is. To mitigate that, that's why we did the dryland training. (It helped us) simulate skating, to simulate agility and mobility. That's what we really worked on because we know that that's going to be our biggest challenge. These teams are going to come out of the gate hard. We made sure that we came into the hub early so that we'd have lots of opportunities to get on the ice and get up to speed so that our skill set would match the pace of the game. That's what we planned on doing.From a practical perspective, how might an official's job be changed during the pandemic? Are there going to be fewer discussions with coaches and trips to the penalty box?SW: Once you get on the ice, you're really just trying to stay out of the way. (laughs) It's probably good - at any time - to stay out of the way. But, no, I think everyone in the bubble knows that all the participants that are on the ice have been thoroughly tested. I do believe that subconsciously you're going to understand that social distancing is probably in your best interest, even if everyone has been tested. I don't even know if (officials will) have enough time to think about it out there, but I'm sure it's going to be in the back of people's minds when you're on the ice. Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesThere's been plenty of talk about players having to adapt to buildings with no fans. How about officials? No booing, different sight lines, you can hear the players and coaches easier. What do you think it'll be like?SW: Unless they pipe in boos, we should be good in that regard, right? (laughs) The fortunate thing is, when you're on the ice, you don't really hear much besides the people you're in tune with. It's amazing in a hockey game. You will hear a linesman's voice, but you won't hear the fans, and the linesman will be over at the (far) blue line. You will know the difference between a coach that's trying to get your attention on the bench and the player who might just be venting a little bit. It's amazing what you hear in that environment and you're almost conditioned to only hear what you need to hear.So, I would think that you're not really going to notice as an official. If you're looking into the crowd or listening for the crowd, your focus is probably in the wrong place. And that's no different than being a player. As a player, you score a goal and you hear the fans screaming. But as you're flying up the ice and just about to beat a defenseman and then shoot a puck, you're probably not hearing anything. You're so focused in on playing. For the officials, I think it's the same thing. You're so focused in on officiating that you're really oblivious - except on stoppages - to people in the rink. So I don't know if it's going to change that much for officials. But, having said that, when you're an official and you step on the ice at the same time that a team steps on the ice, you hear the fans. You know for sure they're not cheering for you. There are times when you notice, but it's not during playing time. Do you understand what I mean?Yeah. You're just so dialed-in. Being attentive is a big part of the job.SW: You have to be dialed-in; A) for your safety, and B) to do a good job. You need to be absolutely focused on the game.On a conference call with media earlier today, you talked a little bit about a new whistle for your officials. Can you expand on what's happening there? And, as a follow-up, is there anything else that's new about NHL officials in terms of equipment, uniform, or anything like that?SW: I think that's the only thing that you'll notice, but it's not that big of a change for us. It's just a pealess whistle from Fox 40. Most people don't know, but we've been using it at the outdoor games for some time. The thing is, it has the same trill as a normal whistle, but it requires less force to blow. Less exhale. It doesn't have anything coming out of the top of the whistle, which may be better or it may not be better (for officials to use during the pandemic). I'm not a medical doctor, I've never tested it, but we thought this might be the best environment to test it in. Brace Hemmelgarn / Getty ImagesWas there any debate at all about officials wearing face coverings during games?SW: No, not really. We're following the guidelines of whatever we're instructed to do, so I'm not sure what discussions went on in relation to that, but I think with all the (COVID-19) testing that they're doing, they feel pretty good about us going out there and being able to skate and do our jobs without the masks.Are officials who get injured or fall ill going to be deemed "unfit to officiate" in the same way players are deemed "unfit to play," or is the league going to come out and say explicitly what the issue is?SW: I think we're going to be following the guidelines no different than the players. Whoever our medical authorities are here, they'll let us know. I know that we've had two days of testing - really, we've probably had 10 days of testing (total) - and our test results have all been negative, which is good. But if someone does get injured, we are going to ensure, even for the play-in games, to have a standby referee and a standby linesman ready to go. As you know, we could have two or three games a day (in each hub city) and we don't really have a lot of time in between games. If we can reduce the time for an official to get ready, without delaying a game, we're going to do it. We hope that our guys all stay healthy, but if for some reason they don't, we'll deal with it as it comes. Andy Marlin / Getty ImagesIs there going to be any connection between officiating, game operations, and the broadcast? Are officials going to be mic'd-up, for instance? Be part of the entertainment at all?SW: I'm hoping the majority of the entertainment comes from the players, but as you know, our guys have always cooperated with events (staff) in terms of being mic'd-up. We'll do the same going forward. Whatever they need us for, we'll help them out. Which is good. From what I'm told, I believe we're going to have a (microphone mounted at center ice pointed towards the top of the officials crease) for announcing penalties, so it won't be something we'll have to take off and transfer every single game. I think they're trying to minimize touchpoints in terms of the mics. You'd (normally) take off a mic and the next guy would wear it and the next guy would wear it (and so on).As well, we're going to have separate dressing rooms. A crew will work a game, and then they'll leave, and that room will be completely cleaned. Another crew that's working the next game will be in a different room that's already been sanitized and cleaned, much like the players' dressing rooms. We're all part of making sure the dressing room is clean after each and every use to mitigate the risk of transferring anything. That's a really good thing.What kind of treatment are officials going to receive inside the bubble? Do they have their own hotel floors? Private rooms? Will families be allowed in eventually? Can they access the same amenities as players?SW: They've been pretty good with the hotels. Everybody has their own room. We're following the same procedures for the cleaning of your room. For our officials, if you leave your room, you have your mask on. You have a set time to be tested (for COVID-19) every day. We go down as a team, get tested, and we leave. We have common rooms to minimize our exposure to other people and other players. Everything we do, we're going to be doing it apart yet together to keep our guys as safe as possible. I think when it comes to families and such, our focus is to work the hockey games. We do understand the players and playing for a Stanley Cup and wanting to celebrate with their family. I think that's what the (players' association) is talking about. We know we're not the players in that regard.John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. 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After taking the ice Saturday for his first practice with the Chicago Blackhawks since training camp began, Corey Crawford shed light on why he was forced to miss time.Crawford told reporters, including Carter Baum of the club's official website, that he tested positive for COVID-19.The 35-year-old revealed he quarantined after experiencing flu-like symptoms and waited longer than the 10-day requirement to return out of an abundance of caution."I was trying to stay as safe as possible with my family, we spent a lot of time at home with two kids … it was a really big surprise that I tested positive," Crawford said Saturday.He had yet to join his teammates for an on-ice session since Phase 3 started July 13 after sitting out the voluntary workouts (Phase 2), which opened June 8.

Brad Marchand doesn't believe the quality of play will be ideal when the NHL's expanded postseason begins in August."I think it’s going to be really sloppy hockey, to be honest with you," the Boston Bruins forward told reporters Saturday. "We've been off for four or five months or whatever it's been, and it takes more than a couple weeks to get it all back and be at the top of your game."And the ice conditions are not going to be good in the middle of summer."Marchand continued, "We're all going to be on the same playing field and we've all had the same amount of time to get ready, and we're just going to have to battle it out regardless of the situation. It's still going to be intense, it's going to be hard-fought, and there are going to be some nice plays, but it should be a little choppy, especially at the start."The Bruins held their final practice in Boston on Sunday before they head to Toronto to take part in the Eastern Conference round-robin tournament against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals, and Philadelphia Flyers. The round-robin stage will determine seeding for the top four clubs in each conference for the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov will not accompany his teammates to Toronto and will remain in the U.S. capital to continue treatment after suffering an injury, the club announced Saturday, according to The Washington Post's Samantha Pell.The Capitals expect Samsonov to be healthy for the 2020-21 campaign.Samsonov didn't take part in Saturday's practice - the team's final session before its departure to Toronto on Sunday - and hasn't skated at all since training camp began, as Pell noted before the Capitals issued the statement.The rookie netminder posted a .913 save percentage and a 4.34 goals saved above average in 26 games during the regular season. He outperformed veteran starter Braden Holtby. who authored a .897 save percentage and a minus-14.7 GSAA - the latter of which was third-worst in the NHL - in 48 contests.Despite that disparity, Capitals head coach Todd Reirden said in June he expected Holtby to get the "first crack" at the No. 1 job in the postseason.The Capitals drafted Samsonov 22nd overall in 2015. The 23-year-old spent four campaigns in the KHL before coming over to North America as one of the league's most highly touted goaltending prospects.Washington will face the Carolina Hurricanes in an exhibition game Wednesday before the Capitals' round-robin opener against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Aug. 3.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The No. 6 seed Nashville Predators are gearing up to take on the 11th-seeded Arizona Coyotes in what projects to be one of the more tightly contested matchups of the qualifying round.Both clubs are built similarly, lacking offensive game-breakers but boasting strong goaltenders to support solid defensive schemes. Despite a considerable gap between the Predators and Coyotes in the standings, the two teams were only separated by four points, indicating this could be a long series.ScheduleGameDateTime (ET)1Sun. August 22:00 p.m.2Tue. August 42:30 p.m.3Wed. August 52:30 p.m.4*Fri. August 7TBD5*Sun. August 9TBD*If necessaryTale of the tapeCoyotesStatPredators33-29-8Record35-26-82.71 (23rd)Goals per game3.07 (16th)2.61 (4th)Goals against3.10 (20th)19.2 (18th)Power play %17.3 (25th)82.7 (5th)Penalty kill %76.1 (29th)48.37 (24th)5-on-5 Corsi For %50.95 (10th)7.27 (27th)5-on-5 SH%8.56 (12th).929 (4th)5-on-5 SV%.919 (13th)Season seriesThe Coyotes and Predators clashed twice this past season, splitting the season series with one win a piece. Arizona won the first matchup in October by a score of 5-2, while Nashville rebounded with a 3-2 victory just before Christmas.The two teams have met in the postseason once in their brief histories - a 4-1 Coyotes victory in the second round of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs.Key players to watchTaylor Hall Norm Hall / National Hockey League / GettyTen years after being drafted first overall, Hall has only appeared in five playoff contests, and he's expressed his desire to compete in more meaningful games on numerous occasions. Factor in his status as a pending unrestricted free agent looking for a long-term home with a team that can perennially compete for a Cup, and you can expect Hall to do all that's in his power to be a difference-maker this postseason.Hall is coming off a down season by his standards, registering 52 points in 65 games, but he's shown he's able to rise to the occasion in his brief playoff career, posting six points in five contests with the Devils in 2018. You can bank on Hall to make the most of his next playoff opportunity, and Arizona's typically goal-starved offense will need him at his best if it hopes to advance.Matt Duchene Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyNashville's attack was snuffed out rather easily by a stout defensive Dallas team in the first round of last year's playoffs, which is one of the main reasons the Predators awarded Duchene a seven-year, $56-million contract. His addition could be the ingredient they were missing in 2019.In saying that, Duchene will have to improve from his regular-season performance and be the offensive factor Nashville needs. Duchene tallied just 13 goals in his debut season in Music City, his lowest total since 2011-12. A strong playoff can erase a mediocre campaign, and it will be interesting to see if the Predators' highest-paid forward is up to the task.Coyotes can win if...They stick with their regular-season game plan. Goaltending and special teams are paramount in the playoffs, and the Coyotes have the advantage in both departments. Add in some timely goal-scoring, and this club could emerge as a tough out.Predators can win if...Their key offensive players perform up to their abilities. The Predators have deeper attack options and superior puck possession numbers. However, like Duchene, key forwards Filip Forsberg, Viktor Arvidsson, and Ryan Johansen all turned in disappointing offensive outputs this season. If the Preds' top six can turn it around, they'll look like the powerhouse many pegged them to be back in October.X-factorsDarcy Kuemper Norm Hall / National Hockey League / GettyKuemper was far and away the Coyotes' MVP this season, and his play indicated he may be capable of stealing a playoff series on his own. The 30-year-old was 16-11-2 while posting a stellar .928 save percentage and 2.22 goals against average before injury derailed his - and nearly Arizona's - season. It's hard to predict what kind of rust may carry over after such a long layoff, but if the Coyotes win, Kuemper will be a big reason why.Roman Josi Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyJosi is the single most dominant skater in the entire series. His 65 points in 69 games this season led both teams by a significant margin, and you can expect head coach John Hynes to up his ice time - he averaged a whopping 25:47 this season - in a shortened series with no margin for error. The Predators captain is the prototypical workhorse defenseman, and often asserts his presence in all situations to help Nashville win.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford has been included on the team's 31-player postseason roster, a source told The Athletic's Scott Powers.The veteran netminder has been deemed "unfit to participate" in the team's training camp since it began July 13, although no reason has been given for his absence. Crawford didn't participate in the team's voluntary workouts that began June 8, either.The 35-year-old appeared in 40 games this season after missing 80 contests over the last two seasons due to concussions. He put together a 16-20-3 record with a 2.77 goals-against average and .917 save percentage.Captain Jonathan Toews expressed confidence in the team's backup goalies if Crawford is unable to go when the Blackhawks take on the Edmonton Oilers in the qualifying round."We do feel confident in (Malcolm Subban), we do feel confident in (Collin Delia)," Toews said after practice Thursday, according to NHL.com's Tracey Myers. "Those guys are ready for the opportunity, they've played well when they've gotten NHL starts before. That's all we can really do is play our best defensive hockey, help out our goaltenders. We know those guys can do the job, and whatever happens to (Crawford), it's not fair to put that level of pressure on him right now."Subban and Delia didn't start a game for Chicago this season. Subban was acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights at the trade deadline, while Delia spent the entire season in the AHL.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook won't travel with the club to Edmonton for the playoffs, the team announced Friday.Seabrook has undergone three separate surgeries - one on his right shoulder and one on each hip - since he last played in December, but it was reported in early July that he'd attempt to take the ice if a return-to-play plan came to fruition.The 35-year-old appeared in 32 games for Chicago this past season, notching four points while averaging just over 18 minutes per contest.Seabrook is in his 15th NHL season and has won three Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Brett Kulak confirmed Friday he tested positive for COVID-19 in early July but has since recovered."I was a little bit shocked ... you just don't know how it will affect you and how symptoms kind of develop and increase," Kulak said, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels. "Some guys shake it off in a day or two and sometimes it can linger on and it can get, obviously, really severe."Kulak, 26, joined the Canadiens at training camp for the first time Thursday after completing his 14-day quarantine. The 6-foot-2 rearguard said he experienced symptoms that impacted his ability to train."I think the first couple of days were the worst," he said. "Waking up I just had pressure in my head, a little kind of dull headache all day."I was trying - because I had my first negative test - I was just trying to do exercise in my hotel room, some (bodyweight) stuff, and I could tell I just didn't have the energy for it that I should have for kind of the difficulty of stuff I was doing."Kulak recorded seven assists while averaging 17:08 of ice time over 56 contests this season, his second with Montreal.Canadiens defenseman Xavier Ouellet also said Thursday he tested positive but didn't feel any symptoms. The 26-year-old joined the team at training camp for the first time Wednesday.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL revealed a detailed plan on Thursday for the final phase of its return to play, including information about general rules and safety measures, life in the bubble for players and staff, and how broadcasts and game presentations will look.The league will test every person - players, team staff, event staff, and hotel staff - in the bubble daily and expects to receive results within 24 hours.A fencing system will run through and enclose the entirety of the bubbles to keep everyone inside. There will be 97 security guards and health ambassadors throughout the secure zones in Toronto and 125 in Edmonton.The JW Marriott, Sutton Place Hotel, and Delta Hotels will be used in Edmonton. All three are within walking distance to Rogers Place Arena. Sportsnet's Chris JohnstonIn Toronto, players and staff will be housed at Hotel X and the Fairmont Royal York Hotel. Sportsnet's Chris JohnstonThe players will have access to a number of amenities in both cities. Select restaurants will already be in the secure zones, but some pop-ups will also be created with the help of local chefs and restaurants. They will all be open early in the morning until late at night, and a variety of options will be available.Players and staff will also have access to a concierge system that will work with outside delivery companies to provide those in the bubble with food, pharmaceutical needs, and other goods.There will be space for indoor and outdoor activities, including pingpong, movie theaters, tennis, basketball, and pickleball. Each city will have at least 15 workout facilities and outdoor areas for people to train. Players in Toronto will also have access to BMO Field.Each arena will have dedicated lounges where players can stay after games to watch other contests. Hotels are also fitted with pools and patios, which players will have access to.The league will use video, audio, and lighting to its advantage to ensure that each game looks different from the previous one. There will be LED screens, monitors, and stages around the ice to create a unique look for television audiences.Regular NHL broadcasts utilize 20 cameras per game, whereas broadcasts for the upcoming playoffs will use 32. Teams will have their personal goal songs, goal horns, in-arena music compilations, and videos.The league also partnered with EA Sports to use its library of in-game sounds for crowd noise. It also received videos from fans of all 24 teams that will replicate team-specific chants.The qualifying round of the 24-team tournament is set to kick off on Aug. 1. Teams are expected to arrive in their respective hub cities by July 26.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby practiced with his teammates Friday after missing nearly a week of drills, the team confirmed.Crosby left a scrimmage early on July 18 but the reason was not disclosed. Coaches and players are prohibited from commenting on the specifics of players' injuries or illnesses under the NHL's postseason policy.Here's how the Penguins' lines looked with Crosby back in the fold:

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The Toronto Maple Leafs might be relieved to be playing a series against a team other than the Boston Bruins, but a healthy Columbus Blue Jackets squad poses a legitimate threat to Toronto's playoff chances.After orchestrating a shock sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of last year's playoffs, can John Tortorella's Blue Jackets make waves once again?TEAMODDSToronto Maple Leafs-155Columbus Blue Jackets+135The case for TorontoFew teams are as prolific as the Maple Leafs, who were third this season in goals per game, fourth in expected goals for per 60 minutes, and second in scoring chances for per 60 minutes. There's no shortage of talent up front for a squad capable of running opposing teams out of the building. Auston Matthews is the best forward in this series, while running mates Mitch Marner and John Tavares aren't far behind. The Blue Jackets don't have much to offer in terms of elite forward talent, which will greatly ease the pressure on a Toronto defense that isn't without its shortcomings.Much will be made of the matchup between the dynamic Maple Leafs forwards and Columbus' lights-out goaltending duo, but how sold are we after such a small sample? Elvis Merzlikins had a better save percentage in the NHL this season than he did in each of his last five years in the Swiss National League, while Joonas Korpisalo was having his best statistical campaign since 2015-16. It's entirely possible the duo caught lightning in a bottle this season. If that is the case, Toronto has all the artillery it needs to expose them.How large is Columbus' perceived goaltending edge in this series? Frederik Andersen didn't have a convincing regular season, but he was heating up before league suspended play, posting a .931 save percentage in his final seven starts. The Maple Leafs also have the added benefit of playing this entire series on home ice, and while the absence of fans somewhat mitigates the overall impact, the familiarity of playing at Scotiabank Arena could prove invaluable in such an unusual postseason.The case for ColumbusOne has to think some hearts in Toronto sank when this matchup was announced. The Maple Leafs struggle mightily against teams that get pucks deep into the offensive zone and grind down low along the boards, which is exactly how Columbus attacks. It's a Tortorella trademark, and the coach's fingerprints are all over this team. The Blue Jackets roll four forward lines, block shots, bang bodies, and wear teams down - essentially a nightmare scenario for Toronto.If there's any team capable of stifling the Leafs' high-powered attack, it's Columbus. Thanks to a formidable defense led by the shutdown pairing of Seth Jones and Zach Werenski, as well as a terrific goaltending duo, the Blue Jackets posted the league's lowest expected goals against rate and allowed the second-fewest high-danger chances this season. They led the league in five-on-five save percentage and ranked eighth in points percentage - significantly ahead of Toronto in that regard - before Jones suffered an injury in February.It's hard to overstate the importance of a healthy Jones for the Blue Jackets, who posted a miserable 1-5-5 record in his absence. He's not the only returnee, either. Forwards Cam Atkinson, Alexandre Texier, Oliver Bjorkstrand - who was having a breakout season - and possibly Josh Anderson will all be in the lineup to bolster the attack.Scoring wasn't a forte for this Columbus team during the regular season, but it boasts a deep group of forwards when healthy. The Blue Jackets were also plagued by an unlucky 7.92 shooting percentage this season - 29th in the NHL. For reference, the league average is around 9.5%, and Columbus ranked 10th in the league with a 9.88% mark last year. That suggests positive regression is coming. An imminent uptick in scoring combined with their lights-out defensive play could have the Blue Jackets playing deep into September.The pickColumbus Blue Jackets (+135)This pick might be different if the odds for this series were sitting at -110/-110. But sportsbooks will never be lacking in Maple Leafs support, and that's baked into this price. Despite the clash in styles, a pick'em would be appropriate given how evenly matched these teams are; they finished level on 81 points through 70 games. But the Blue Jackets' pace before injuries hindered them, their significant defensive edge, and their ability to wear the Maple Leafs down - Toronto still hasn't proven it can win a grind-it-out type of game - make them too attractive to pass up at this price.(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.

On Sunday, chartered planes in 22 NHL cities across North America will take off carrying professional hockey players, coaches, and staff. One of two Canadian cities will be the destination: Edmonton for those from the Western Conference, Toronto for those in the East. The Oilers and Maple Leafs, "home" teams by geography only in an ambitious 24-team playoff tournament set to begin next Saturday, will be there waiting.Once on the ground, those groups of up to 52 people from each city - "traveling parties" is the official NHL term - will be transported by bus to assigned hotels. Proper physical distancing will be expected en route and as buses pass into fenced-in areas surrounding Sutton Place and the JW Marriott in Edmonton, and Hotel X and the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. Jeff Vinnick / Getty ImagesEveryone from the star forward to the backup goalie and from the equipment manager to the social media manager must follow the same protocol once inside one of these four high-end hotels. The hub-city "secure zones," or bubbles, are designed to shield all participants of the NHL's return-to-play efforts from the coronavirus, the cause of the pandemic that halted the 2019-20 season on March 12."Paramount in everything we've done to date and everything we'll be doing moving forward is the health and well-being of all NHL personnel," commissioner Gary Bettman said Thursday in a video presentation released by the league.Ultimately crowning a Stanley Cup champion in October amid a pandemic - easily the greatest logistical undertaking of Bettman's 25-year tenure - will rely upon the tightness of these bubbles over the coming weeks.Can they pull it off? We'll see. A better question right now might be: What do players think of the bubble and what will soon be their new reality?"We don't really know what to expect, to be honest with you," Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog said last week as details were still being ironed out. "But, at the same time, it'll be like a little tournament. We're used to going to tournaments as kids (where) you're together as a team.""Maybe guys will get a couple of mini sticks and have some good old times," Canucks forward Tanner Pearson added, half-jokingly. "I would imagine that we'll have a common room or something, where we can all hang out and at least get out of our rooms and not lay in our beds all day."It turns out amenities in both cities will be fairly extensive. National Hockey LeagueEdmonton's secure zone, which includes the two team hotels, a third hotel for overflow staff, an events plaza, and Rogers Place, offers 14 restaurants, bars, pubs, food trucks, and pop-ups. On-site food options range from tacos to Tim Hortons, while concierge service is available for orders at grocery stores, pharmacies, and other restaurants within the city.Also in the Edmonton bubble are eight movie theaters, dining areas, and activities spaces; 24 lounges, suites, and offices within Rogers Place; and 13 fitness centers, weight facilities, and practice rinks. Among the activities the NHL is promising players are pingpong, cornhole, basketball, and soccer."We're hoping our lifestyle, food-wise, doesn't change," Blues forward David Perron said. "We're guys who like to take care of ourselves, who like having good, healthy food. It's nice every once in a while to have a cheat day and eat whatever you want, but I think it's important that we're being taken care of that way." National Hockey LeagueToronto has two secure zones - one downtown near Scotiabank Arena and another a few blocks west at Exhibition Place, a mixed-use district in which Hotel X is located. Similar to Edmonton, there will be plenty of bars and restaurants, movie theaters, and team-dedicated rooms within the confines. Noteworthy perks: players will have access to BMO Field, home of Major League Soccer's Toronto FC, for leisure purposes - pickleball is being promoted as a marquee pastime - and the league's secured private access to the underground tunnel that connects Scotiabank Arena and the Fairmont Royal York.The most interesting part of both setups might be that players are being encouraged to watch other games from suites inside the arenas. It's kind of like a minor hockey tournament, after all."Appreciate what you have," Stars forward Joe Pavelski said. "We get to play some hockey, and we get to get back to compete. It's going to be unique as far as a bunch of teams in the same hotel, games going left and right once they get started. And no fans.""You have to keep a mental sharpness, in a sense where there's going to be a lot of time in the hotel rooms," Coyotes forward Derek Stepan said. "In order for us to do this thing right, guys have to be really smart. You've got to be able to keep your head on your shoulders, stay sharp, and not get into dulls and lulls and have good energy when you come to the rink. I think that's a mental toughness thing."Meanwhile, inside the hotels, every player is assigned his own room on a floor exclusive to the team, according to the NHL's Phase 4 health and safety protocol. No guests are allowed in private rooms - not even teammates, coaches, or staff. Housekeeping staff will be limited to every third day.Hotel pools are open, but saunas, steam rooms, and spas are not. Fist bumps, high-fives, and handshakes are big no-nos, and face coverings must be worn at all times, with obvious exceptions, such as eating and exercising. And no talking during elevator rides, which have rules regarding physical distancing.So far, the NHL's avoided a major outbreak; only two players tested positive during Week 1 of training camp out of a pool of more than 800. Teams have handled daily COVID-19 tests throughout Phases 2 and 3, but they'll pass that duty to the league upon arrival to hub cities. Those inside will be tested daily and know results within 24 hours. Boston Globe / Getty ImagesThese are high stakes from a health perspective and a competitive perspective. The protocol document states that breaking rules in the bubble environment could result in "significant penalties, potentially including fines and/or loss of draft picks.""Leaving the bubble is just not something that we can tolerate," Bettman reiterated in the presentation. "Everybody's used terrific judgment to this point, and I know that we can count on everybody moving forward.""I'm just trying to have an adequate number of shows downloaded before I get up to Canadian Netflix," Lightning goalie Curtis McElhinney quipped. "I'm not sure what to expect. I don't know what our lives are going to look like once we're up there. I think the teams, the organization, and the NHL are trying to do their best to make sure that everyone feels comfortable and accommodated. It'll certainly present its challenges, but it'll give us an opportunity as a group to spend a lot more time together."The Lightning's longest road trip this season lasted two-and-a-half weeks. A Stanley Cup favorite ahead of the restart, Tampa Bay's now bracing for a lengthy stay at Hotel X. Players could conceivably be living in the same room for weeks, potentially months, with the last possible day of the Stanley Cup Final tentatively scheduled for Oct. 4."We're going to bring a lot more stuff than when we go on a normal road trip. You plan on being there for two months," Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau said."Travel's just getting there, and once you get there you can set up," Pavelski said. "You don't have to pack up every other night. You can get your room how you want it and go from there."Capitals goalie Braden Holtby plans to bring one of his guitars; Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin won't forget his golf putter; Bruins forward Charlie Coyle is making room in his luggage for supplements and healthy snacks; Jets defenseman Luca Sbisa has "loaded up" on books; Hurricanes forward Jordan Martinook will be recruiting teammates to play the board game Super Tock; Rangers forward Ryan Strome fully expects poker games to commence in the team's common area; and seemingly every other player headed to one of the hub cities is ensuring all video game devices - XBox, PlayStation, Nintendo Twitch, etc. - are accounted for. Eliot J. Schechter / Getty ImagesThere should be fewer formal suits spotted this postseason. The players' association negotiated a looser game-day dress code into the resumption of play agreement, and Leafs center Auston Matthews and other fashion-forward NHLers expressed their excitement. Meanwhile, the Wild, the West's 10-seed, instituted a casual dress code featuring team-issued collared shirts and matching pants.Steve Mayer, the NHL's chief content officer, said Friday that players were told "in a very stringent tone" to remain separated from players from other teams for the first five days of the bubble experience. It's uncertain how much, if any, inter-team mingling will be permitted following those initial guidelines, but the idea of two bitter on-ice rivals grabbing a beer at the hotel bar on an off day is intriguing."That's going to be the real neat part, being in the same hotel as the teams you're playing against. That'll be different," Holtby said. "There's so many quality people around the league on different teams. I think guys can turn it off pretty quick once you get away from the game to see old friends and that kind of thing.""It's going to be hard not to see the other guys," Sbisa said. "You're going to share elevators on your way up to your floor. You're going to see all the other guys, so it's definitely going to be different. But it's going to be the same for everyone. Everyone is in the same boat. Everyone has to deal with the same thing. It's an even playing field."Depending on who you ask, the concept of a bubble's no big deal. These players are adults and professionals. The issue is leaving family behind. Families aren't permitted inside the bubbles until the conference finals, which will take place in Edmonton in September."I'm not worried about me," Jets captain Blake Wheeler said. "I'm going to be around my teammates, I'm going to be in a hotel, and playing hockey, really. For me, the hardest part is going to be everything going on back home. (My wife) and our kids and how all of that's going to work on the day-to-day. So that's going to be the hardest part, sort of weighing those things and being out of touch with that aspect of things. It's been four-plus months of doing it together and to just kind of up and leave is definitely tough. But it's all part of what I do for a living." Ethan Miller / Getty ImagesPlayers can leave the secure zone for only three reasons: to receive medical assessment or care; to get a second opinion on a health matter; or to return home for an urgent matter, such as a death in the family. If a player does leave - Washington's Lars Eller said he'll likely leave for the birth of his child - he must pass four consecutive COVID-19 tests over a four-day period before returning to normal bubble activities."I was quite against the league and the PA when it came to not being able to bring our families from the get-go," Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner said. "I had a lot of discussions with them about that. … It's not just about the players' mental health, it's about the families' mental health, too. There's a lot of players with young kids and wives and stuff, and we're going to leave them at home, alone, quarantined in the house with the kids. It's going to be equally as tough for them as it is for us."Players are about to enter the unknown on the ice - playing in empty arenas after a very long layoff - and off it. The integrity of the entire return-to-play plan rests on members of each traveling party looking out for themselves and one another."I've seen some quotes from other guys around the league saying, 'We have food, we have a bed, we have the boys,'" Strome said. "When you're on the road, I think that's all that goes on. It's just a good time to bond."John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.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.The Calgary Flames are desperate for a taste of playoff success after last season's disappointing first-round exit, but they face a tough draw against a Winnipeg Jets squad with mounds of playoff experience.Can Connor Hellebuyck and the Jets go into Alberta and inflict more playoff misery on the Flames?TEAMODDSCalgary Flames-115Winnipeg Jets-105The case for CalgaryThe Flames struggled to get out of first gear and were unable to build any energy after an early coaching change. Calgary's offense started to come to life before the pause, suggesting interim coach Geoff Ward found the right formula among his forwards. The Flames averaged 4.06 goals per game over their final 15 regular-season contests and Johnny Gaudreau broke out of his slump with 16 points over that stretch.Calgary should expose Winnipeg, despite the Flames' offensive woes. The Jets’ run-and-gun style allowed the second-most high-danger scoring chances in the regular season while creating the fourth fewest. Winnipeg was also a miserable 29th in expected goal rates and 22nd in shot differential.The Jets attempted to rebuild their defense on the fly and it simply hasn't worked. Calgary holds a significant edge on the blue line in this series. Mark Giordano is healthy after missing most of February and Noah Hanifin is making a welcome return to the lineup. That will be a big help for whomever the Flames pick to play goalie. Cam Talbot is enjoying a terrific bounce-back season and he's built a strong case to get the starting nod.The case for WinnipegIt's hard not to turn this into a "Connor Hellebuyck for Vezina" segment. The 27-year-old has enjoyed a spectacular season that should see him named top goaltender. Hellebuyck has posted an outrageous 22.37 goals saved above average, and he was second in save percentage among netminders who started at least half their team's games. He also faced 509 high-danger shots - by far the most in the NHL. Tuukka Rask, the only full-time starter with a better SV%, saw just 279.Hellebuyck managed his strong stats behind a defense that was a mess for most of the year. Winnipeg had the fifth-most expected goals against this season but allowed the 12th fewest thanks to the netminder.Hellebuyck should get more help from a defensive group that improved toward the end of the season. Deadline acquisition Dylan DeMelo has given a big push, while a healthy Sami Niku and Luca Sbisa should bolster the back end's strength. Winnipeg's forward group is loaded with high-end talent and shouldn't have any trouble providing goal support.The pickWinnipeg Jets (-105)There was so little separating these teams in the regular season - just a .001 points percentage difference in favor of Calgary - and both Canadian clubs will be feeling the pressure to live up to expectations. Neither was particularly impressive in any offensive or defensive categories, but it's hard to back the Flames as the favorite with a significant disadvantage in goal. In a battle between a pair of evenly matched teams, go with the likely Vezina winner and a plethora of game-breaking talent up front.(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.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.There seems to be a belief in hockey circles that young legs will be the least impacted by the NHL's long pause, while older players will take longer to get going.That idea will be put to the test as the budding Vancouver Canucks take on a veteran Minnesota Wild squad in a best-of-five series.TEAMODDSVancouver Canucks-135Minnesota Wild+115The case for VancouverThe Canucks are among the league's biggest beneficiaries from the pause in play. When the campaign was halted, they were on a 6-9-2 run, had just lost starting goalie Jacob Markstrom for the season, and were trending toward missing the playoffs altogether. This break afforded them a mental reset while allowing their prized asset to get back between the pipes.With Markstrom, the Canucks have a massive edge over Minnesota in goal. The Swede is enjoying a career season with a .918 save percentage and 2.75 goals-against average. Playing for a new contract and going up against a Wild team that doesn't pack much scoring punch, a rested Markstrom will thrive.That's not the only area where the Canucks have an edge. Led by Elias Pettersson - whose campaign was worthy of Hart consideration - Vancouver has the superior top six, as well as an advantage behind the bench (the Wild are being instructed by an interim coach) and a favorable mismatch on special teams, where the Canucks' fourth-ranked power play will face the Wild's 25th-ranked penalty kill.The case for MinnesotaVancouver's high-flying attack won't strike much fear into a Minnesota team that excels defensively. The Wild do a terrific job of suppressing high-danger shots and forcing opponents to the perimeter, reflected in their 2.07 expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) total this season - the lowest mark in the NHL. Their overall goals-against numbers weren't great, but that's down to Devan Dubnyk's struggles. Alex Stalock eventually took over as the regular starter and posted a .920 SV% from Jan. 16 on, with the Wild going 11-4-1 in his starts over that span.While limiting goals against wasn't an issue for the Wild, scoring was. Minnesota ranked in the bottom third of a number of offensive categories but experienced a reversal of fortune over the second half following the emergence of Kevin Fiala. The 23-year-old came to life in February and ignited the Minnesota offense, posting 14 goals and 12 assists in the Wild's 18 games before the break. It's no coincidence that they averaged 3.5 goals per game over that span. For comparison, the Tampa Bay Lightning were the league's best offense this season, averaging exactly 3.5 goals per game.If the Wild truly have the offense to match their typically dependable defense, the Canucks are in trouble. Also helping Minnesota's cause is a porous Vancouver defense that posted a 2.77 xGA/60 this season - third-worst in the NHL. The Wild play a fundamentally sound brand of hockey suited for the postseason, while the Canucks' defensive game plan is for Markstrom to bail them out. That's ... not ideal.The pickMinnesota Wild (+115)Minnesota came a long way over the second half of the season thanks to Fiala's emergence, a more aggressive approach under interim head coach Dean Evason, and the steadiness of Stalock. Vancouver boasts plenty of firepower, but it's still a very green team that's a bit too unstructured in its approach, and that will cost the Canucks against the stingy, patient Wild.(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.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The play-in round will give the Nashville Predators a second lease on what was a disappointing season by their standards, but they'll face a hungry Arizona Coyotes squad with its sights on ending a seven-season playoff drought.Will the Predators punch their ticket to the postseason for a seventh successive year, or will the Coyotes secure their first playoff berth since the franchise changed its name from Phoenix to Arizona?TEAMODDSNashville Predators-135Arizona Coyotes+115The case for NashvilleThe Predators know what this is all about. With a roster boasting mounds of playoff experience, they're no strangers to high-pressure situations. They didn't post great numbers offensively this season, but they are well and truly four lines deep. That makes them incredibly dangerous in postseason play. Leading the group is a legitimate game-breaker in Filip Forsberg, who can take over a series if he heats up.Nashville also happens to own one of the NHL's top defensive pairings featuring Norris Trophy nominee Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis. Both are capable of logging heavy minutes and should be fresh following a lengthy layoff, meaning the Predators can lean heavily on their top unit in this series.What really held Nashville back this season was goaltending. The Predators' underlying numbers suggest they were slightly above average defensively, yet they were on par with some of the NHL's worst defensive teams in terms of goals allowed. That's because Pekka Rinne was, to put it mildly, abysmal. The 37-year-old saw his play fall off a cliff in 2019-20, posting a 3.17 goals-against average and .895 save percentage in 40 starts - easily the worst marks of his career.Juuse Saros took over as the starter in early February, and it's no coincidence Nashville's play drastically improved around that time. The Predators were 10-4-0 in his starts from February on, with the 25-year-old posting an outrageous .940 save percentage over that stretch. He should be the unquestioned starter heading into this series. With their goaltending issues finally behind them, the Predators can focus on making another deep playoff run.The case for ArizonaThrow the standings out the window. The Coyotes were four points back of Nashville for the Western Conference's final playoff spot when the league suspended the season, but they were 20-12-4 when Darcy Kuemper got hurt in December. That's a 100-point pace over the course of a standard 82-game campaign. Because he plays in Arizona for a team that consistently flies under the league-wide radar, you probably didn't realize just how great a season Kuemper was having.The native of Saskatchewan was third in the NHL in both save percentage (.928) and goals-against average (2.22) this season and would have been a lock for a Vezina Trophy nomination if he hadn't suffered an injury. He returned to play following a two-month absence and posted a .924 save percentage and 2.55 goals-against average in four games, so there's no evidence to suggest he'll be negatively impacted by the NHL's hiatus. On the off chance he does falter, Antti Raanta is one of the league's best backups.Both Coyotes netminders will be supported by an extremely strong defensive corps. Jakob Chychrun is an absolute stud, emerging as the 22-year-old leader of a group that includes the dynamic Oliver Ekman-Larsson, as well as sturdy veterans Alex Goligoski, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Jason Demers (with the latter two now healthy following the break). Only the Dallas Stars and Boston Bruins allowed fewer goals than Arizona this season, a testament not just to the Coyotes' goaltending, but to the defensive strength of their roster - especially in Kuemper's absence.We know the Coyotes can keep goals out, but can they score? They had the league's fifth-worst shooting percentage this season, which suggests they were victims of some bad luck. They need more out of their top forwards, but Taylor Hall is playing for a new contract this summer and Phil Kessel has a history of elevating his game in the postseason. Improved play from those two - and some better puck luck - could help Arizona make some serious noise in the playoffs.The pickArizona Coyotes (+115)Comb through all the numbers you want; the fact is, these teams are very similar. The difference? Arizona holds a significant edge between the pipes, behind the bench - Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet is criminally underrated - and on special teams. Nashville's power play (25th in the NHL) and penalty kill (29th) were disastrous this season, while the Coyotes boasted a top-five penalty kill and a middle-of-the-road power play. Those are three massive advantages for Arizona, which is one of my favorite bets of the play-in round at +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.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The Edmonton Oilers will feel aggrieved for being forced to take part in the play-in round. They earned the fourth-most points in the Western Conference when the season was halted, but their points-per-game mark was a shade lower than the Dallas Stars, which leaves their playoff fate hanging in the balance.Playing the entirety of the series on home ice is somewhat of a consolation prize, but a date with the offensively inclined Chicago Blackhawks makes for a tricky return to the ice for the high-powered Oilers.TEAMODDSEdmonton Oilers-160Chicago Blackhawks+140The case for EdmontonThis draw couldn't be much better for the Oilers, as the Blackhawks' flaws play right into Edmonton's strengths. Chicago placed last in the NHL in expected goals against at even strength. The Hawks are a defensive mess and have to face the league's two most dangerous scorers in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.The Blackhawks' brutal defense was often bailed out by Robin Lehner, who was understandably shipped off to Vegas at the trade deadline because Chicago didn't appear close to making the playoffs. Well, here we are. Corey Crawford has enjoyed a bounce-back season, but he'll have to stand on his head to steal this series for Chicago, and the supporting cast won't do him any favors.Edmonton converted on an absurd 29.5% of power plays - by far the league's best mark - and the team received some much-needed secondary scoring from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who really stepped up this season. These Oilers love to attack and will have their way with a Blackhawks team that bleeds goals.The case for ChicagoYes, Chicago struggled defensively, but the Oilers weren't much better. Edmonton finished 24th in expected goals against at even strength, and for as offensively gifted as the Oilers are, Chicago still posted a higher expected goals for mark. The Blackhawks will fight fire with fire, and they aren't lacking in artillery.The Oilers' struggles at even strength are legitimately concerning and holds them back from being considered strong title contenders. Even Draisaitl and McDavid were pedestrian at even strength, being scored on almost as often as they scored. Edmonton's third and fourth lines were particularly bad, which could mean a big series for Chicago's Dominik Kubalik and Kirby Dach. The Oilers' run-and-gun style leaves them far too exposed far too often - hardly a recipe for playoff success.Chicago needs to turn this into a bit of pond hockey, which feels like the natural progression of the series given the styles and weaknesses of both teams. From there, the Blackhawks can lean into the likes of Patrick Kane and his electrifying supporting cast while counting on Crawford to rise to the occasion as he's done in previous postseasons, outplaying Mikko Koskinen and setting the scene for an upset.The pickEdmonton Oilers (-160)Every case that can be made for the Blackhawks can also be made for the Oilers. Chicago is essentially a lesser version of its opponents. The Oilers are flawed, but the Blackhawks are not the team to expose them. Edmonton will lean into its stars and have its way with Chicago's miserable defense, ending a two-year playoff drought.(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.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.In what could prove to be the most lopsided series of the play-in round, the Montreal Canadiens will lean heavily into the hope that all-world goaltender Carey Price rediscovers his once dominant form against a Pittsburgh Penguins team with eyes on making another run at the Stanley Cup.Can the Habs catch lightning in a bottle, or will the Pens take the first step in their bid to hoist another championship?TEAMODDSPittsburgh Penguins-220Montreal Canadiens+180The case for PittsburghFor all the uncertainty surrounding the return to play, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin feel like a safe bet. The pair have 326 games of playoff experience between them, and there isn't a situation that will have them fazed.Their running mates aren't bad, either. The team traded for Jason Zucker when Jake Guentzel was presumably lost for the season, but Guentzel is back, and now this forward group is among the best and deepest heading into the playoffs. Bryan Rust was enjoying a breakout campaign, Conor Sheary has been reunited with Crosby, and Patric Hornqvist and Patrick Marleau provide invaluable veteran savvy.Adding insult to injury for opposing teams, the Pens also boast two legitimate options in goal. Tristan Jarry was nothing short of spectacular during the regular season, and while Matt Murray endured somewhat of a down campaign, he's proved capable of elevating his play in the postseason. There are few holes in this team, which makes this series feel like little more than an appetizer ahead of the main course.The case for MontrealJust think of the chaos. The Canadiens were 10 points out of a playoff spot with 11 games remaining and already booking April tee times at Club Saint-Raphael when the season was suspended. They're playing with house money, and Price with a freeroll is a dangerous proposition.Price's body of work this season wasn't quite up to the standards we've come to expect, but spells of dominance - including a .950 SV% and 1.6 GAA during a 10-game run from Jan. 11 to Feb. 8 - suggest there's still plenty of reason to fear the former Vezina winner. It wouldn't be the first time a Habs goalie got hot and bounced the Pens from the playoffs.If there's any team that will face the Penguins head-on, it's the Canadiens. They're an excellent puck-possession squad that can skate circles around opponents, and with all those young legs, Montreal won't be lacking in energy when the series gets going. Jonathan Drouin and Jesperi Kotkaniemi are healthy and have plenty to prove, while the likes of Nick Suzuki and Max Domi will be champing at the bit for their first taste of postseason hockey. Speaking of Domi, his decision to rejoin the team has morale sky-high at Habs camp. The Canadiens are a young, hungry team with nothing to lose and will expect to make life difficult for their illustrious opponents.The pickMontreal Canadiens (+180)The Penguins definitely should win this series, but following such a long layoff and with so much uncertainty heading into these unprecedented play-ins, I simply can't justify backing any team with a -220 price tag, regardless of the talent gap. At +180 I'm willing to find out just how wacky these playoffs are going to get.(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.

Welcome to Puck Pursuit, an NHL podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's national hockey writer.Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Spotify.Puck Pursuit · The Hockey News senior writer Matt LarkinMatt Larkin, senior writer for The Hockey News, joins the show to discuss a variety of postseason-related topics, including:

The New York Islanders and Florida Panthers play totally opposite styles, and with veteran head coaches behind each bench, this Eastern Conference matchup could turn into somewhat of a chess match.Florida has made the postseason just twice during the last two decades, while the Islanders look to crack the playoffs for the fourth time in six seasons. Can the Panthers' run-and-gun style overwhelm the Islanders, or will New York's pesky approach knock Florida off its game?ScheduleGameDateTime (ET)1Sat. Aug. 14 p.m.2Tue. Aug. 412:00 p.m.3Wed. Aug. 512:00 p.m.4*Fri. Aug. 7TBD5*Sun. Aug. 9TBD*If necessaryTale of the tapePanthersStatIslanders35-26-8Record35-23-103.30 (6)Goals per game2.78 (22)3.25 (29)Goals against2.79 (9)21.3 (10)Power play %17.3 (24)78.5 (20)Penalty kill %80.7 (15)49.79 (16)5-on-5 Corsi For %46.45 (29)9.01 (6)5-on-5 SH%7.88 (19).911 (29)5-on-5 SV%.923 (10)Season seriesThe Islanders implemented their game plan to its fullest against Florida in 2019-20, sweeping the season series 3-0 and holding the Panthers to just four goals across those contests. Netminder Thomas Greiss stood tall in all three games for New York while Panthers stars Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov combined for only one even-strength point.It's hard to weigh the significance of those results, however, as the two clubs haven't faced off in nearly eight months; all three meetings came prior to Dec. 13, and each side has made key changes since. The deadline addition of Jean-Gabriel Pageau will help the Islanders match up at center, and Panthers newcomers Erik Haula and Lucas Wallmark round out Florida's offensive depth.Key players to watchAleksander Barkov Eliot J. Schechter / National Hockey League / GettyA premier two-way talent, Barkov will be tasked with catalyzing the Panthers' offense and keeping the Islanders' top scorers in check. The Finnish star slightly regressed offensively this season following his career-best 96-point campaign in 2018-19, but he remains the team's most important player and is counted upon in all situations.One of the key matchups in this series will likely feature Barkov's line going against the defensive pairing of Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock. Only four blue-liners spent more time on the ice against Barkov than the Islanders' shutdown duo this season. Though Barkov struggled to find the net, the Panthers' captain posted a dominant Corsi For rating (71.05) and expected goals-for percentage (67.77) while on the ice against Pulock and Pelech.Mathew Barzal Mike Stobe / National Hockey League / GettyBarzal's tremendous vision and elite skating ability have helped him become one of the game's most dangerous playmakers. The 23-year-old tallied seven points in eight playoff games last spring and led the Islanders in scoring with 60 points in 68 contests this season while pacing the club's forwards in average ice time (20:03).He's a possession monster whose ability to control the play gave the Panthers nightmares this season. New York owned 60.11% of expected goals for against Florida with Barzal on the ice at five-on-five and 64% of high-danger scoring chances. He also found the scoresheet in all three meetings, netting two goals and four points.Florida will need to be particularly aware of Barzal in transition. The crafty pivot ranked second in the league with 66 takeaways at five-on-five and will make the Panthers pay for any mistakes in the neutral zone.Panthers can win if ...They score early. The Islanders have no problem gaining leads and sitting back in a neutral-zone trap to suffocate their opponent. With a league-best .963 winning percentage when leading after two periods, it will be paramount for the Panthers to implement their style and dictate the tempo of each contest early on.Islanders can win if ...Their numbing forecheck disarms the Panthers' potent offense. New York led the NHL this season in hits per 60 minutes (27.71) and Florida ranked fifth in turnovers per 60 (11.11). The Panthers rely on speed and skill through the neutral zone, and the Islanders will do all they can to keep their opponents in their own end while grinding down their defense.X-FactorsAnders Lee Mike Stobe / National Hockey League / GettyThe Islanders' captain has been the club's most consistent scoring threat over the last several seasons and will hope to rebound after regressing slightly in 2019-20. Lee hit the 20-goal mark for the fourth straight campaign and embodied the club's gritty style of play with 102 hits and 50 blocked shots this season.It's not only the frequency of Lee's scoring but the timing of it that makes him such an important player. The 30-year-old owns a team-best 28 game-winning goals, including six this season. At 6-foot-3, Lee also has the ability to cause chaos in front of the Panthers' goal, and his 31 deflected shots ranked second in the league this season.Sergei Bobrovsky Norm Hall / National Hockey League / GettyThe Panthers will hope Bobrovsky has saved his best for this final stretch. The Russian netminder has had a debut season to forget, and his play against New York will go a long way in deciding the outcome of the series.If Bobrovsky isn't sharp, Florida's offense may not be able to bail him out against the defensively sound Islanders. In what could be a low-scoring series, the 6-foot-2 puck-stopper simply can't afford to be outplayed in goal. Bobrovsky was phenomenal for the Columbus Blue Jackets during their stunning first-round sweep over the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019 and will hope to recapture that form.(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have been practicing for nearly two weeks now, and head coach John Tortorella doesn't love what he's seen from some of his players."My concern is some of the people that we are going to need to make a difference for us to win a series, I don't think they're ready right now," Tortorella said after practice Thursday, according to NHL.com's Craig Merz. "I don't think they're doing the things they need to do right now to get ready for that series. Not a bunch. A few. A couple."Columbus is gearing up to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs in the best-of-five play-in round. The Blue Jackets finished the season with a 33-22-15 record and enter the qualifying round as the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference."For the most part, I've liked what I've seen here," Tortorella continued. "It's just the two or three guys that are pretty important people. It's a concern of mine. ... I'm not so sure we get total concentration out of some key people. That's what we're working to try to get."The Blue Jackets hit the ice Thursday after a day off. Tortorella stopped practice and yelled at the team after 30 seconds of the opening drill, according to Merz.Tortorella was recently named a finalist for the Jack Adams Trophy, though he's entering unknown territory with the upcoming playoff format after spending nearly five months away from hockey."This isn't getting ready for the regular season and then trying to find your game in 15 games during the regular season. This is a sprint. And I think some guys have been dead-on right from the start," Tortorella said. "Other guys, not so much. I think we're in single digits right now as far as getting ready to play. I don't want us to fall into this trap of wading in. We need to be ready to go."The first game of the series is on Aug. 2.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Xavier Ouellet and Winnipeg Jets blue-liner Anthony Bitetto each confirmed Thursday they tested positive for the coronavirus.Ouellet says he initially tested negative upon arriving to training camp, but subsequently had a positive result despite not feeling any symptoms."I had zero symptoms, there was not one point where I felt sick or anything," Ouellet said, according to Sportsnet."I don’t really know if I actually had it or not. But the protocols with the league and the governments are pretty strict and they’re there to keep it safe for everyone. So I had to isolate myself and wait a little bit before I could come back which is what I did. But since that positive test I’ve tested negative every day and felt healthy, zero symptoms."The 26-year-old joined the Canadiens at training camp for the first time Wednesday.Bitetto tested positive positive for the virus June 24 and recently completed a 29-day quarantine, according to Sportsnet's Ken Wiebe. The 30-year-old says he feels fortunate that his case wasn't too serious."I feel very lucky to have had minor symptoms," Bitetto said, per Wiebe. "I didn't have it bad by any means. There were days I woke up and I was completely fine and I'm like 'I have this virus? How?' It didn't make any sense. It was nothing like I've ever had."Ouellet and Bitetto join Edmonton Oilers defenseman Caleb Jones and Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews as the only four players to make their positive tests public.The NHL has seen a decline in COVID-19 cases since Phase 3 began July 13. Two out of 2,618 tests administered to more than 800 NHL players over the first five days of training camp returned positive.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Release the Kraken.The NHL's 32nd franchise officially unveiled its name Thursday, opting for a reference to the mythological ocean beast.The brand-new logo was revealed in an incredible video from the club's social media team.

One of the most intriguing matchups of the play-in round pits the seventh-seeded Vancouver Canucks against the 10th-ranked Minnesota Wild.The dynamic, upstart Canucks are the clear favorites, but the more battle-tested Wild have a couple of tricks up their sleeves that make them prime candidates to pull off an upset.Minnesota hasn't gone far in the postseason recently, but the club qualified for the playoffs in six straight years before missing out in 2018-19. Conversely, Vancouver hasn't taken part in the postseason since it was bounced in the first round in 2014-15.While the Canucks boast more firepower, the Wild's experience and a young game-breaker of their own could make this series more interesting than many are anticipating.ScheduleGameDateTime (ET)1Sun. Aug. 210:30 p.m.2Tues. Aug. 410:45 p.m.3Thu. Aug. 6TBD4*Fri. Aug. 7TBD5*Sun. Aug. 9TBD*If necessaryTale of the tapeCanucksStatWild36-27-6Record35-27-73.25 (8th)Goals per game3.16 (12th)3.1 (21st)Goals against3.14 (24th)24.2 (4th)Power play %21.3 (11th)80.5 (16th)Penalty kill %77.2 (25th)48.43 (23rd)5-on-5 Corsi For %49.6 (17th)8.6 (9th)5-on-5 SH%9.43 (2nd)91.9 (14th)5-on-5 SV%91.5 (20th)Season seriesThe Canucks took the first meeting between these clubs 4-1 on Jan. 12, but the Wild responded by winning both subsequent clashes, first by a 4-2 margin on Feb. 6 and then by a 4-3 count in a shootout less than two weeks later. Vancouver outshot Minnesota 87-59 (an average of 29-19.7) over those three games.Key players to watchElias Pettersson Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyPettersson is clearly the Canucks' most dangerous weapon. The 21-year-old has proven capable of taking over games at will, tying for the club lead with 27 goals and ranking second with 66 points in 68 contests this season. He improved in his second NHL campaign after winning the Calder Trophy with as many points in three more games in 2018-19.The Swedish center can drive possession at an impressive clip, posting favorable expected goals for (54.75), scoring chances for (53.16), and Corsi For (54.34) percentages in 2019-20.Kevin Fiala Bruce Kluckhohn / National Hockey League / GettyAfter collecting nine goals and 28 points over the first 46 games of the season, Fiala exploded down the stretch, racking up 14 goals and 26 points across 18 contests before the league halted play. The 24-year-old finished atop the Wild's points rankings and trailed Zach Parise by only two markers for the club's goal-scoring lead despite playing fewer games than many of his teammates.Fiala is now arguably Minnesota's best offensive player and certainly its best young forward suiting up against the Canucks. His performance will be critical for a Wild team that lacks a wealth of scoring punch.Canucks can win if ...Vancouver will advance if its young phenoms can rise to the challenge of heightened stakes and vanquish a team more accustomed to playoff-level competition. The Canucks were only one point better than the Wild through the abbreviated regular season, but they're the superior team and possess more skill than their play-in opponents.They also need their elite power play to remain as effective as it was during the regular season, and goaltender Jacob Markstrom - who's been cleared to return - must pick up where he left off after an injury forced him out of action in late February.Wild can win if ...Minnesota can prevail if its defense manages to stifle the Canucks' young guns. The Wild were the league's best team in expected goals allowed during the regular season and ranked fourth in expected goals for percentage, so it's not completely out of the realm of possibility. Given Vancouver's potency with the man advantage, staying out of the penalty box should help accomplish that.The Wild also need to resolve their goaltending situation. No. 1 netminder Devan Dubnyk had a difficult campaign and was ultimately displaced as the starter by perennial backup Alex Stalock. Minnesota must get reliable play in the crease from Dubnyk, Stalock, or, if necessary, rookie Kaapo Kahkonen if the team is to have a shot at defeating Vancouver.X-factorsTanner Pearson Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Wild will be focused on containing Pettersson, Brock Boeser, J.T. Miller, Tyler Toffoli, and Calder Trophy finalist Quinn Hughes. That could create space for Pearson to do some damage in this series.Pearson was playing on Bo Horvat's left wing opposite Boeser before the pause, but the Canucks recently bumped him to the top line in practice. Regardless of how he's ultimately deployed, Pearson could be a difference-maker. He ranked fourth on the team with 21 goals in 2019-20, with only three of his markers coming on the power play.Alex Galchenyuk Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyGalchenyuk was starting to find his game before the hiatus after the Wild acquired him from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the trade for Jason Zucker in early February.Held off the scoresheet in his first three games with Minnesota, Galchenyuk collected three goals and seven points in his final 11 contests. As a third-liner, he won't command the attention that Fiala, Parise, and other Wild forwards will warrant. That could present the former Montreal Canadiens and Arizona Coyotes forward with a prime opportunity to make an impact.(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to Puck Pursuit, an NHL podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's national hockey writer.Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Spotify.Puck Pursuit · Sportsnet NHL writer Luke FoxLuke Fox, hockey writer for Sportsnet, joins the show to discuss a variety of NHL restart-related topics, including:

Boston Bruins forwards David Pastrnak and Ondrej Kase aren't expected to practice with the club until the team arrives in Toronto, team president Cam Neely said Wednesday, according to NHL.com's Amalie Benjamin."It's hard to say right now," Neely said. "My best guess would be Toronto. Once we get to Toronto, I think we'll be fine."Pastrnak and Kase haven't participated in the majority of Boston's training camp. Pastrnak's agent said July 17 that his client is quarantining after coming in contact with someone that tested positive for COVID-19, though Pastrnak himself tested negative.Pastrnak finished the season tied for the NHL lead with 48 goals in 70 games, adding 47 assists for a career-high 95 points. Kase only played in six games with the Bruins after being acquired from the Anaheim Ducks prior to the trade deadline.Both players spent the majority of the NHL's hiatus in their native Czech Republic. The Bruins have missed numerous key players during training camp because of Massachusetts regulations regarding the pandemic."Some other teams are dealing with this, obviously, but what the state regulations are compared to maybe some other states are a little different across the country," Neely said. "We're following all the state guidelines. ... We're following all the protocols, not just the league protocols, but the state protocols."All teams are expected to travel to their respective hub cities by July 26. The Bruins, the No. 1 seed in the East, will participate in a round robin with the other top-four teams in the conference beginning Aug. 2 versus the Philadelphia Flyers.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews opposed the return-to-play plan and CBA extension ratified by the NHL and NHLPA in early July.The Blackhawks and the Carolina Hurricanes were the only teams two to vote against the league's proposal when the NHLPA's executive board took its most recent tally, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said on "31 Thoughts: The Podcast" on July 16.Toews is the Blackhawks' player representative, and Jordan Martinook serves the same role for the Hurricanes."I have been told by many, many, many people that one of the most vocal players during the process of coming back to play was Jonathan Toews, that he asked a lot of questions," Friedman said."And other players said ... he was great, he asked relevant questions, (and) he challenged whether or not this was really safe to play. They said that when you talk about star players standing up for other people, he did that."The Hurricanes and the Tampa Bay Lightning were the only two teams to oppose the NHL's 24-team playoff in an earlier vote in May.The NHL and NHLPA ratified the deal to resume the 2019-20 season on July 10.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers have signed forward Oskar Lindblom to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3 million, the club announced Wednesday.Lindblom was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, in December. He missed the rest of the regular season while undergoing treatment, which he concluded earlier in July.The Swedish winger, who turns 24 on Aug. 15, was tied for the team lead with 11 goals at the time of his diagnosis. He produced 18 points in 30 games during his third NHL campaign in 2019-20.Lindblom was selected last week as one of three finalists for the Masterton Trophy - awarded annually to the player "who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey."Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher implied Wednesday that he hasn't ruled out the possibility of having Lindblom suit up for games when the league begins its 24-team postseason.

Despite Toronto being chosen as a hub city for the NHL's return to play, the Maple Leafs are adjusting to not having full use of their regular amenities.To level the playing field, the NHL is making distinct efforts to ensure the host teams - Toronto and Edmonton - don't get full use of their facilities. For example, the Maple Leafs will have to use the visitors' dressing rooms and converted media room space for games where they're the "road" team."That's going to be quite challenging," head coach Sheldon Keefe told Sportsnet's Chris Johnston on Tuesday. "I think we've got enough time next week where we're going to get that feeling."Captain John Tavares said the Leafs won't have time to dwell on the differences from their normal routine."I think for our group, the getting comfortable with being uncomfortable (is important) and dealing with the uncertainties and things that you're accustomed to or used to, just realizing they may not be there," Tavares said. "You might not have access to that. We're the visiting team in our building, there's going to be no fans."It just is what it is."The Maple Leafs are the visiting team for their exhibition contest versus the Montreal Canadiens on July 28. Afterward, they're the home squad for Games 1, 2, and 5, if necessary, for their play-in series versus the Columbus Blue Jackets.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.