One of Dave Tippett's biggest lineup decisions as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers will revolve around his two star players: Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.During Tippett's introductory press conference Tuesday, he was asked whether he'll pair them together on the same line."Together it seems like they feed off each other," Tippett told reporters.Tippett recalled his time as an assistant with Team North America during the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. The coaching staff decided to try Auston Matthews - who had yet to play an NHL game - on McDavid's wing. Tippett described Matthews as "an unbelievable compliment" to McDavid."I see Draisaitl a little bit in that same vein as Matthews," Tippett said. "Real solid, great plays, Connor can give-and-go with him, and then basically, Draisaitl shoots when he gets a chance."That's something that sticks out in my mind, but with that being said, I'm not stuck on that."Here's a look at how McDavid and Draisaitl fared together, and away from each other, at five-on-five this past season, according to Natural Stat Trick:ScenarioTOICF%GF%xGF%McDavid & Draisaitl805:3750.7456.4450.28McDavid w/o Draisaitl557:0148.7939.2245.84Draisaitl w/o McDavid572:1944.6036.9644.99TOI = Time on ice

The Edmonton Oilers officially named Dave Tippett their head coach Tuesday.Tippett's contract will be for three years, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. He'll earn somewhere between $2.75 million and $3 million per season, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The 57-year-old brings a wealth of coaching experience to Edmonton, where he will serve as the 16th bench boss in franchise history.Tippett was the Dallas Stars' head coach for six seasons from 2002-09, and the team earned a conference finals berth in 2008.Following his dismissal in Dallas, Tippett moved to the then-Phoenix Coyotes and found instant success. He was named the Jack Adams Award recipient in his first year after guiding the Coyotes to a franchise-record 107 points. He took them to the conference finals two seasons later but would miss the playoffs during his last five years in the desert and was relieved of his duties after 2016-17.Tippett, a Moosomin, Saskatchewan native, was hired by Seattle's upcoming NHL team as a senior adviser last summer.Despite boasting ample star power with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers have missed the playoffs in back-to-back years. Todd McLellan was fired after a 9-10-1 start to last season and his interim replacement, Ken Hitchcock, didn't fare much better, going 26-28-9 the rest of the way.Tippett's hiring marks the first major move made by new general manager and president of hockey operations Ken Holland.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gary Bettman says the NHL will look to expand its video review process, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Speaking during his annual league address prior to the start of the Stanley Cup Final, the commissioner said the league will now determine what plays will be subject to future reviews.“This is the challenge," Bettman said. "This is the challenge we will focus on and we will meet.”What the new review process will include is yet to be determined, and Bettman said that will be discussed when the league's general managers convene on June 20, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Bettman did add, however, that the league won't get carried away."The flow of the game would be inalterably affected if we reviewed everything," Bettman said, per TSN's Gino Reda.Reviews have been a major controversy throughout the postseason. In Game 7 between the Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks, Cody Eakin was wrongfully assessed a match penalty for a cross-check on Joe Pavelski. The Sharks scored four goals on a power play that shouldn't have happened and won the series.Then in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final, Sharks forward Timo Meier set up the overtime winner with a hand pass, and that play isn't reviewable under current NHL rules.Bettman said the Meier play bothers him."What I thought was it would be good if my head didn't explode," he said, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Bettman also said no teams will be travelling to China for preseason games prior to the 2019-20 campaign, and there's been no movement between the NHL and IIHF regarding the 2022 Olympics.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Video contains graphic contentThe Washington Capitals are investigating a video that appears to show Evgeny Kuznetsov with two lines of white powder."We are aware of the video that surfaced on social media of Evgeny Kuznetsov," a team spokesman told the Washington Post's Isabelle Khurshudyan on Monday. "We are currently in the process of gathering facts and will have no further comment at this time."In a statement translated by Russian Machine Never Breaks' Igor Kleyner, Kuznetsov told Russian outlet Sport-Express that he has never used drugs and doesn't plan to, adding that the video was taken following the Capitals' championship victory last year:

Details about the potential blockbuster trade between the Minnesota Wild and the Pittsburgh Penguins that fell through last week are starting to come to light.Penguins forward Phil Kessel, who owns an eight-team "yes" trade list, nixed a deal that would've sent him to the Wild, sources confirmed to The Athletic's Michael Russo. The veteran sniper apparently has a couple of concerns about playing for Minnesota - the biggest one being his belief that the club isn't close to contending for a Stanley Cup, several people close to Kessel told Russo.Moreover, Kessel is concerned about who would get him the puck, and wasn't swayed by a phone conversation with Wild general manager Paul Fenton - who tried talking up the team's young players - sources told Russo.Kessel is coming off a productive 82-point season and has three years remaining on his contract with a $6.8-million cap hit.The 32-year-old has ties to Minnesota. He grew up in nearby Madison, Wis., and played one year at the University of Minnesota before turning pro.However, the Wild finished last in the Central Divison this past season, ending their six-year playoff streak in the first year under Fenton. The new GM wasted little time putting his fingerprints on the roster, trading away Nino Niederreiter, Mikael Granlund, and Charlie Coyle - all of whom were considered core players by the previous regime.Jason Zucker, who signed five-year, $27.5-million extension with the Wild last summer, was reportedly the main part of the package heading to Pittsburgh in exchange for Kessel before the trade fell through. Zucker has a 10-team no-trade list that kicks in on July 1.This wasn't the first time Fenton came close to dealing Zucker. At the trade deadline, a deal to send the 27-year-old forward to the Calgary Flames reportedly fell through.The Penguins and Flames don't appear to be giving up on their hopes of landing the former 30-goal scorer, though. They're both among a list of teams - joined by the Vancouver Canucks, Arizona Coyotes, and Anaheim Ducks - that are interested in Zucker, sources told Russo.In Zucker talks, the Wild have inquired about Christian Dvorak and Christian Fischer in Arizona, Sam Bennett and Michael Frolik in Calgary, and Jonathan Marchessault with the Vegas Golden Knights, according to Russo.Zucker tallied 21 goals and 21 assists in 2018-19, but his shooting percentage dropped over 5 points from his previous 33-goal campaign.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins begin the Stanley Cup Final on Monday. Here, we focus on betting tips for who'll win the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the most valuable player throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Before we dive into the odds, here are some things to keep in mind:- No goalie has won the Conn Smythe since Tim Thomas and Jonathan Quick took the honors back-to-back in 2011 and '12, respectively. Five of the last six recipients have been forwards.- Only five players have won the Conn Smythe as a member of the losing Stanley Cup Final team.- Bruins skaters will be shaded a bit shorter due to Boston being favored in the series.Conn Smythe oddsPlayerOddsTuukka Rask (BOS)2-3Jordan Binnington (STL)13-5Brad Marchand (BOS)6-1Jaden Schwartz (STL)10-1David Pastrnak (BOS)20-1Patrice Bergeron (BOS)20-1Vladimir Tarasenko (STL)25-1Alex Pietrangelo (STL)40-1David Krejci (BOS)40-1Ryan O'Reilly (STL)80-1Charlie Coyle (BOS)100-1David Perron (STL)150-1Oskar Sundqvist (STL)200-1Tyler Bozak (STL)200-1Goalies favored to buck the trendBoth Rask and Binnington have had memorable postseasons and odds say one of those netminders will end the six-year Conn Smythe goalie drought. Rask boasts a 1.84 goals-against average and .924 save percentage along with two shutouts over 17 postseason games. Meanwhile, Binnington has been excellent in his playoff debut despite being roughed up in his previous series against the San Jose Sharks. Overall, the rookie has posted a .914 save percentage with one shutout.Forwards to considerSchwartz is the front-runner for the Blues at 10-1 odds thanks to potting 12 goals so far in the postseason, including a pair of hat-trick performances. However, Tarasenko might be the more intriguing winger on that top St. Louis line. Following a slow start to the playoffs, Tarasenko has recorded a point in each of his previous six outings and has put the second-most pucks on net of any player in the postseason.Marchand leads Bruins skaters at 6-1 odds thanks to posting 18 points in 17 games. His linemate, Bergeron, only has 13, but has been a consistent point producer in the championship round, registering six goals and nine points in 12 career Stanley Cup Final games.Long shot to considerO'Reilly was St. Louis' top point-getter during the regular season, recording 77 along with 28 goals and 49 assists. He's only found the back of the net three times this postseason but the 80-1 number for O'Reilly to win the Conn Smythe is too long not to take a shot on with a player who's currently second on the Blues with 14 playoff points.Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara will play in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday after being held out of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final with an undisclosed injury, the team announced.The Bruins were able to complete the sweep of the Carolina Hurricanes without their towering leader.Chara is averaging 22:32 of ice time during the postseason and leads all players with a plus-11 rating. Injuries limited the 42-year-old to 62 games during the regular season, during which he tallied five goals and nine assists.During Sunday's practice, Chara skated alongside defensive partner Charlie McAvoy on Boston's top pairing. John Moore, who was inserted into the lineup for Game 4 against the Hurricanes, is expected to be the odd man out on the Bruins' blue line.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Stanley Cup isn't won on paper, but the Boston Bruins have been better than the St. Louis Blues statistically in this postseason.Boston has been superior at both scoring and preventing goals, and the Bruins also possess the edge on both sides of the special teams battle. However, the Blues have been better at suppressing opposing shots.Here's how the two teams are faring in the key conventional categories this spring:CategoryBluesBruinsGames Played1917Goals For Per Game33.35Goals Against Per Game2.531.94Power Play %19.434Penalty Kill %7886.3Faceoff Win %49.453.3Shots For Per Game30.933.6Shots Against Per Game28.432.4Overtime Record1-21-1Team Goals LeaderJaden Schwartz (12)Patrice Bergeron (8)Team Points LeaderJaden Schwartz (16)Brad Marchand (18)The Bruins boast the most efficient power play among all postseason clubs this year.Boston also mostly holds the five-on-five possession advantage this spring:CategoryBluesBruinsCorsi For %50.8650.74Scoring Chances For %49.9450.88High-Danger Chances For %46.6953.57Expected Goals For %49.5251.73St. Louis' slight edge in the Corsi department isn't encouraging for the Blues because the Bruins have been better at generating scoring chances, both in general and of the high-danger variety. Boston is also posting a stronger expected goals rate.Elsewhere, the goaltending matchup should be one of the biggest storylines in the series.Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask is producing one of the best postseason save percentages since the NHL began tracking the statistic in 1955-56.

Over the weekend, theScore's John Matisz tapped two hockey writers - one in Boston, another in St. Louis - to help preview the Stanley Cup Final. Below is an email thread between Matisz, who acts as the moderator, Boston Sports Journal's Conor Ryan, and Dan Buffa of St. Louis Game Time. (Note: The following roundtable discussion has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.)Matisz: If you think back to the end of the regular season and compare the local vibe then to now, with the Cup Final about to begin, what's the confidence level in the home team? Has it changed, stayed the same?Ryan: For as many titles as Boston has scooped up over the last two decades, Bruins fans can still be a rather pessimistic lot, taking a bit of a Murphy's Law approach when it comes to charting out the odds for a Cup at the outset of spring.The local vibe has been very positive for this team, especially thanks to that 25-6-5 run Boston went on from the Winter Classic all the way to the middle of March, but there was plenty of pessimism about Boston's chances of a deep run given the looming issue of Tampa Bay at the top of the bracket. As soon as the Lightning and the Capitals (with Bruins killer Braden Holtby) were bounced in the first round, things did become MUCH more positive around town.It's been an interesting road for Boston, but the team is making the most of the opportunity. And the fans are clearly responding, given they sold out TD Garden for an intrasquad scrimmage last week.Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesBuffa: Around St. Louis, imagine a huge party after a proposed funeral. It's a classic rise-fall-rise storyline.This past fall, the Blues were projected to go deep into the playoffs with the addition of Ryan O'Reilly, Tyler Bozak, and Pat Maroon. Hopes were high, but games weren't won. Mike Yeo was fired, and a guy named Craig Berube - whom few knew of - was put into his place. Jake Allen had another episode in net, Maroon got off to a terrible start, and Vladimir Tarasenko even ghosted the Blues for a few weeks. The city was talking about pre-ordering Jack Hughes for Christmas, and the team was literally in the cellar around New Year's. Most of the fans, outside of what they said on Twitter, wrote this team off as a bad joke.And then the winning streak happened. Jordan Binnington happened. Berube Hockey became infused with the team's mantra and their love for the song "Gloria." The fans were leaving the house, but got pulled back in for a song, and they never left. They've been glued to their seats ever since and are truly believing in this team.Matisz: Speaking of believing, both clubs are set between the pipes. Tuukka Rask's been Boston's best player this postseason, and Jordan Binnington's played a starring role in St. Louis' incredible ascension. Who has the goaltending advantage?Buffa: While Binnington has been great, I have to give Rask the edge here. This is a close battle because Binnington has passed every test that the playoffs have thrown in front of him, but when it comes to the final, it's a whole new world.Rask has been lights-out this postseason, and he has his name etched on the Cup. He's like Ben Bishop - who gave the Blues all they could handle - but better, and a monstrous step up from Martin Jones, who rolled over for the Blues in the Western Conference Final.Boston Globe / Getty ImagesRyan: It's definitely going to be a fascinating matchup in net - especially when you factor in the extended break for both teams leading up to Game 1. Binnington has been fantastic in net, his play carrying over from the regular season. He's the sixth netminder in NHL history to win at least 12 playoff games in a rookie campaign while boasting a .914 save percentage and a shutout.If the Blues are going to topple the Bruins, they're going to need Binnington to steal a couple of games, and he currently has the moxie to do it. But, even at Binnington's best, Rask still might be even better. The case could be made that this is the best stretch Rask has played since first donning a black-and-gold sweater 12 years ago. He leads all playoff goalies with a .942 save percentage and a 1.84 goals against average while posting a pair of shutouts in clinching victories over both Columbus and Carolina.Where Rask holds a clear edge over Binnington is when it comes to negating prime scoring chances, as he's posted a high-danger save percentage of .918 - tops among all playoff goalies with at least 10 games played. In a series that will likely feature multiple low-scoring games, a timely save or two might be the difference. So far, Rask has answered the call in that regard for Boston.Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesMatisz: Stylistically, there are similarities between Boston and St. Louis - the relentless forechecks, the ability to limit scoring chances against, the scoring punch throughout the lineup. Which matchups will you be monitoring closely?Ryan: Two matchups that I'll be keeping tabs on are the battles for positioning in the slot, as well as Patrice Bergeron vs. Ryan O'Reilly. Throughout the postseason, Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy has harped on the need for Boston to get inside against the opposing D corps and generate quality looks down low. He's noted before that the failure to do so against guys like Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh was the main reason why Boston came up short against Tampa last spring, with the Lightning holding a 38-25 lead in five-on-five high-danger scoring chances during that five-game series.The club has really responded this spring, holding a 150-130 edge in high-danger chances in the 2019 playoffs. With goals surrendered by Binnington this postseason coming from an average of 19 feet away from the net, Boston is going to have to fight inside and get those quality looks down low - though it's easier said than done against a big Blues D corps. This could be a key series for a player like Jake DeBrusk, who has the speed to get inside in a hurry against bigger bodies, and he's more than wiling to scrap down low.It wouldn't come as much of a surprise if Bergeron and Boston's top line primarily matches up against Jaden Schwartz, Brayden Schenn, and Tarasenko. However, I think the main matchup storyline is which of Bergeron and O'Reilly blinks first when it comes to locking down the opposition. In more than 86 minutes of five-on-five time on ice in which O'Reilly, David Perron, and Sammy Blais have rolled out this postseason, the Blues have outscored the competition 5-0.As for Bergeron, he's excelled at shutting down the opposition's top scoring option all playoffs long, with the latest target being Carolina's Sebastian Aho. In 15:30 of five-on-five TOI when Bergeron was on the ice at the same time as Aho during the Eastern Conference Final, the Hurricanes managed to generate only two shot attempts. Zero shots on goal. Crazy stuff.Elsa / Getty ImagesBuffa: There's a few things I'm looking at. First, the net-front presence of the Blues. Can they overcome Zdeno Chara and the mighty Bruins defense? Specifically, a guy like Maroon, who is so effective in front of the net and can get inside the heads of the goaltender and defensemen by using his body and soft hands to redirect shots. Same thing for the Blues and big-bodied blue-liner Colton Parayko. If he can limit the chances the Bruins generate in front, the series could tilt in St. Louis' direction. Parayko has been key in swiping away scoring opportunities against the Jets, Stars, and Sharks.Second, the face-off battle. Can O'Reilly get his dot efficiency back for this series? During the regular season, he was a 60 percent guy and was reliable in dictating the action, helping his team set up and generate scoring opportunities. In the playoffs, he's been nowhere near 60 percent. The Bruins will have Bergeron, David Krejci, and Charlie Coyle on the dot battling for possession.The third thing has to be special teams. Boston has a clear advantage here. The Bruins have a fantastic power play and it has helped them dominate. Boston's 34 percent on the PP nearly doubles the Blues' 19 percent. If Brad Marchand works his magic, the Blues will take penalties and Boston will win those games. Penalty killing has also favored Boston, which holds an 86 percent kill rate over the Blues' 78 percent. During the playoffs, St. Louis' PP has either been missing altogether or solid. It'll have to be efficient against the Bruins.Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesFourth, I'm looking at Tarasenko. He hasn't truly gone off yet this spring. He's scored goals and had big moments, but has taken off large parts of even-strength action. Can he break through and dominate a couple of these games? People forget it was his resurgence in January and February that helped the Blues launch into their streak. When he's on, the team hits another level. He makes everyone else more lethal when he's putting the puck where he wants, moving his feet, and crashing around. If he waits on the dot like a guy waiting for his Uber, the Blues are in trouble. He has to hit another gear.Boston is big, pushes people around, and generally has its way. The Bruins have ruled like an army of steamrollers during the regular season and playoffs. In a way, they are the Jets with superpowers. St. Louis, though, has pushed back against every unstoppable force so far this postseason, finding new contributors along the way. If the Blues can improve on face-offs, win some battles in front of the net, and run an efficient power play without falling for Boston's traps in drawing penalties, this could be a very entertaining series.Matisz: Finish this sentence, Conor - the Bruins win if...Ryan: The Bruins win if they are able to get inside against the Blues' big D corps and are able to make Binnington work down low with high-danger attempts and second-chance scoring bids. Also, Rask needs to shake off any rust that might have come with a 10-day break between games.Matisz: Same to you, Dan - the Blues win if ...Buffa: The Blues win if Binnington outplays Rask. When it comes down to it, Binnington was the reason San Jose got frustrated and fell apart. He stopped shots, controlled action, and dictated pace. He held his own with Bishop in Round 2, but if he can do it again in the final and best Rask, the series will tilt in the Blues' favor. If the Bruins come out and drop a barrage of goals on Binnington, the confidence will disappear. If the rookie stands tall, it will propel the Blues. On this stage, a sharp goaltender means everything to a team.Gregg Forwerck / Getty ImagesMatisz: Prediction time. Who wins the Cup and in how many games?Ryan: Bruins in 6 after six hard-fought, low-scoring bouts. David Backes buries the game-winner at Enterprise Center.Buffa: Man, I hate predictions. One day, I thought Boston in 7. A couple of days later, I convinced myself it was Blues in 7. These are two tough teams with some serious resolve. An unstoppable force against an immovable object. So close. At the end of the day, I am going with Bruins in 7. The Blues will push them to the brink, but in the end, the extra polish and skill of the Bruins will make a difference. Honesty is a double-edged sword for a sportswriter but a necessary travel companion.Matisz: I picked Bruins in 7 for theScore's Staff Predictions post. I'll stick to it. Thanks for doing this, guys. Enjoy the series!Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brad Marchand has made some interesting plans for his day with the Stanley Cup if the Boston Bruins win another championship.The forward listed two items and a baby when asked what he'd put in the trophy if his team wins it for the second time in eight years.

After 49 years, it's the rematch we've all been waiting for.Well, maybe not, but for the second time in NHL history, the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues will do battle in the Stanley Cup Final.The last time these teams met with the championship at stake, the Blues got swept and Bobby Orr went airborne.Bettmann / Bettmann / GettyWhile it'd be fun for a new "most famous picture in hockey history" to emerge from this year's series, let's not get greedy. Instead, we'll break down every position and determine who owns the edge in this winner-take-all matchup.ForwardsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyBruins: At this point, the entire hockey world knows Boston's top line is the best in the league. The Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak triumvirate has been dominant throughout the postseason, owning 55 percent of shot attempts, 53 percent of scoring chances, and 75 percent of goals scored at five-on-five through three rounds. Slowing this unit down at even strength should be the No. 1 priority for any opponent.But while the top line is the constant, these Bruins also have depth. David Krejci has solidified his status as one of this generation's top playoff producers and ranks third on the squad with 14 points this spring. Elsewhere, deadline acquisitions Charlie Coyle (12 points) and Marcus Johansson (nine points) have consistently impacted games, while the club has a pair of sleeping giants in Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen who could break out at any time.Overall, 13 different Bruins forwards have lit the lamp in these playoffs, and the team is tied with the Blues at 57 goals scored, but in two fewer games.Blues: The Blues might just possess the antidote to the Bergeron line, as their top unit that's spearheaded by fellow all-world two-way pivot Ryan O'Reilly can counter any punch - at least on paper. Alongside O'Reilly, left winger Jaden Schwartz is probably the Blues' most viable Conn Smythe threat with 12 goals this postseason, while Vladimir Tarasenko showed up big time in the Western Conference Final. That line will need to stay hot for St. Louis to have any chance at hoisting the Cup.Down the lineup, the Blues' production thins out. There are a number of steady contributors - including David Perron, Brayden Schenn, Pat Maroon, and Tyler Bozak - but if this series comes down to depth scoring, it'll be tough to match the Bruins' overall firepower.Edge: BruinsDefensemenIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyBruins: It feels like the Bruins' defense corps flew a tad under the radar throughout the first three rounds. The group features a tremendous blend of speed, physicality, and poise, and it played a big role in holding the trigger-happy Hurricanes to less than 25 shots in two of the four conference final games.Charlie McAvoy looks destined to become one of the most complete D-men in the league, Torey Krug is masterful with the puck on his stick, and Zdeno Chara still finds ways to impose his will every night. With those three leading the charge, and with Brandon Carlo, Matt Grzelcyk, and Connor Clifton serving as complementary pieces, the Bruins have quietly built a rock-solid group one through six.Blues: This is a tight matchup, as the Blues are also strong on the back end. Alex Pietrangelo and Colton Parayko are both superstars who can eat up heavy minutes, while Joel Edmundson and Vince Dunn (who's dealing with health concerns) are effective at suppressing shots while staying out of the spotlight.Then there are veterans Jay Bouwmeester and Carl Gunnarsson, who have experience and smarts but lack foot speed, which could be a factor the Bruins look to exploit when drawing up their offensive game plan.Edge: BruinsGoaliesGregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / GettyBruins: Backstopping the Bruins is the runaway Conn Smythe favorite, Tuukka Rask, who's been lights-out this postseason with a 12-5 record, a .942 save percentage, and two shutouts.Rask has made saves look impossibly easy at times and even owns a .921 save clip when the Bruins have been shorthanded. St. Louis will have to hope Boston's long layoff knocked him out of his zone a touch.Blues: Rookie Jordan Binnington's ice-cold demeanor has translated well in these playoffs, as he owns a sturdy .914 save percentage through 19 starts.It also helps that Binnington has looked his best when the stakes have been highest, as he allowed just two goals to the San Jose Sharks in three games after falling behind 2-1 in their Western Conference Final clash. He'll need to carry that form over to the championship round against the hottest goalie on earth.Edge: BruinsSpecial teamsGregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / GettyBruins: Boston does the lion's share of its damage on the power play, which leads the playoffs with a ridiculous 34 percent conversion rate. And the Bruins simply scorched the Hurricanes with the man advantage, going 7-for-15 in four games. Simply put, stay out of the box against these guys.On the flip side, the Bruins have been stingy on the penalty kill, fending off 86.3 percent of power-play opportunities by opponents. Dating back to Game 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 1, that number goes up to 90.2 percent.Blues: Perhaps the Blues are piecing it together at the perfect time. Through the club's first 15 playoff games, the man advantage was futile at just 14.8 percent. But, to close out the Sharks, the power play woke up and went 5-15 from Game 2 to Game 6. Staying hot in that department would go a long way against the Bruins.At the other end, patching up the penalty kill is a must for St. Louis. The unit surrendered only two goals against the Sharks, but it's operating at just a 78 percent clip for these playoffs. That won't cut it in the final.Edge: BruinsHead coachesJoe Puetz / National Hockey League / GettyBruins: Since being hired in February 2017, Bruce Cassidy has coached the Bruins to 117 wins, trailing only the Tampa Bay Lightning over that span. His team plays a committed, adaptive style and is near the top of the pack in both special-teams categories. He's quickly cemented himself as one of the top bench bosses in the league.Blues: Craig Berube is technically still the Blues' interim head coach, which is laughable, as he's a lock to remain behind the bench after steering one of the most drastic in-season turnarounds in NHL history. Berube has gotten a talented roster that lacked cohesion to buy in and play for one another, and he hasn't budged from his game plan despite facing deficits in each of the past two series.Edge: TieCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Stanley Cup Final is upon us, and it promises to be a neck-and-neck affair between two of the NHL's elite: the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins.With so much at stake, in-game matchups could prove crucial in gaining an advantage. On paper, it appears the Blues have multiple X-factors who could play a significant role in slowing down the well-rested Bruins.So, before you grab a smart snack like Wonderful Pistachios and talk about the NHL's final series with your friends, do a little homework and read up on three Blues players who are primed to drive the Bruins nuts in pursuit of a championship.Jordan BinningtonElsa / Getty Images Sport / GettyBoston has lost just five games on its march to the Stanley Cup Final thanks in large part to the stellar play of goaltender Tuukka Rask. However, the Bruins could receive a taste of their own medicine when they go up against Blues rookie netminder Jordan Binnington.The 25-year-old took over the Blues' crease midway through the season and earned himself a Calder Trophy nomination after posting a 24-5-1 record and .927 save percentage in his debut campaign. His postseason numbers aren't quite as dominant, but Binnington's been clutch when needed. In the three games after St. Louis went down 2-1 in its series against San Jose, the 25-year-old allowed just two goals.If Binnington stays in his groove, the Bruins' shooters will be in tough.Ryan O'ReillyIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThis year's Stanley Cup Final features a pair of the league's best two-way centers in Patrice Bergeron and Ryan O'Reilly. Bergeron normally feasts on whatever top-line center his opponents throw his way, but he'll have his hands full against the Blues' top pivot.O'Reilly is arguably the only center in the league with a defensive prowess comparable to Bergeron's. He's a monster in the faceoff circle with a career success rate of 55.3 percent. The 28-year-old is coming off a career-best 77 points during the regular season and ranks second on the Blues in playoff scoring with 14 points in 19 games.No one's been able to slow down Bergeron and the Bruins' top line, but the Blues just might have the answer in O'Reilly.Vladimir TarasenkoElsa / Getty Images Sport / GettyThere are few talents who can change the outcome of a game as quickly as Vladimir Tarasenko.The sniper possesses one of the most lethal shots in the NHL and is possibly the Blues' only marksman capable of beating the red-hot Rask on his own.Tarasenko had eight points in six games versus the Sharks, and if he remains in form, he'll be a nightmare for the Bruins' defensive scheme.Are you ready for the conference finals? Make sure you have lots of snacks handy, like Wonderful Pistachios. Wonderful Pistachios, like all pistachios, contain a winning combination of fibre, protein, and fat, which may help curb hunger between meals or during the big game.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies scored four unanswered goals, rallying to beat the host Halifax Mooseheads 4-2 in the championship final to claim the Memorial Cup for the first time on Sunday night.Felix Bibeau, Joel Teasdale, Peter Abbandonato, and Vincent Marleau tallied for the Huskies.

Finland upset Canada on Sunday to take gold at the 2019 IIHF World Championship, winning 3-1.It's the third time the Finns have won the event, and their first victory since 2011. The resilient group faced a major uphill battle during the tournament, going head to head with powerhouses Sweden, Russia, and Canada in the medal round.Defenseman Henri Jokiharju and forward Juho Lammikko were the only Finnish players with NHL experience, suiting up for the Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers, respectively in the 2018-19 NHL season.Canada started strong in Sunday's game, with blue-liner Shea Theodore opening the scoring midway through the first period. Marko Anttila then tied it up for Finland in the middle frame. He didn't record a point during the preliminary stage of the tournament, but the Finnish captain bagged a goal in each of his country's elimination games.Anttila added another goal in the third to put Finland up by one, and Harri Pesonen netted the dagger with five minutes remaining after goaltender Kevin Lankinen weathered Team Canada's furious push.Next year's tournament takes place in Zurich and Lausanne, Switzerland.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Canada's Mark Stone earned Most Valuable Player honors at the World Championship despite losing 3-1 to Finland in the gold medal game Sunday.The Vegas Golden Knights forward led the tournament with eight goals and notched in a team-high 14 points in 10 games for Canada.He was also named to the all-tournament team.

With the 2019 Stanley Cup Final between the Boston Bruins and the St. Louis Blues about to begin, theScore's Mike Dickson, Josh Gold-Smith, John Matisz, Sean O'Leary, Matt Teague, and Josh Wegman make their picks for who will emerge with Lord Stanley's mug and who will take home the Conn Smythe Trophy.Stanley Cup Final picksEditorPickDicksonBlues in 6Gold-SmithBruins in 6MatiszBruins in 7O'LearyBruins in 6TeagueBlues in 7WegmanBlues in 6Conn Smythe winnerEditorPickDicksonJordan BinningtonGold-SmithTuukka RaskMatiszBrad MarchandO'LearyBrad MarchandTeagueJordan BinningtonWegmanAlex PietrangeloHave your sayCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It wasn't the color they wanted, but Russia will leave Slovakia with a medal in hand.Russia claimed the bronze medal Sunday at the IIHF World Championship, defeating Czech Republic 3-2 in a shootout.

To say the Boston Bruins will be rested once the puck drops in the Stanley Cup Final would be an understatement.The Eastern Conference champions haven't suited up since May 16 when they completed their sweep of the Carolina Hurricanes. Once their matchup with the St. Louis Blues commences Monday, it will mark an 11-day gap between games."It's been a long stretch of not playing games," Boston forward Charlie Coyle told NHL.com's Amalie Benjamin. "We're just itching to get there. But we've just used the time to our advantage, stay positive and stay upbeat. Once the time comes, we'll be ready."Along with a regular practice schedule, the Bruins hosted a packed crowd at TD Garden on Thursday night for a scrimmage to simulate a game-type atmosphere amid the lengthy layoff.When Game 1 starts, the Blues will have been off for six days.It all gets underway May 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Stanley Cup Final will be a little more personal for Boston Bruins forward David Backes.Starting on Monday, the Bruins take on the St. Louis Blues, the team that drafted the Minneapolis native in 2003 and helped him develop over 10 seasons."There's going to be heightened emotions," Backes said, according to NHL.com's Amalie Benjamin. "It's a binary decision now: It's us or them. There's no third party. No ties, none of that stuff. One of us is going to win the Cup. Either the St. Louis Blues or the Boston Bruins.""I think it'll be extra sweet if we're able to win against that team and maybe an extra thump if they win it and we're not able to in this room," Backes added.The 35-year-old recorded 206 goals and 460 points over 727 games with St. Louis, serving as team captain from 2011 to 2016.Backes became an unrestricted free agent after the 2016 season, a campaign when the Blues were eliminated in the Western Conference Final. The power forward signed a five-year, $30-million contract with the Bruins that July, leaving behind teammates he had grown close to over the years in St. Louis, and the only city he knew in professional hockey."There are still some good friends - one of my best friends is on that team, he's the captain of their team," Backes said, referring to defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. "I told him I love him now, I'm going to love him afterward, but I'm going to hate him for the next three weeks here. I think that's a mutual decision."The 13-year veteran understands the magnitude of the moment, and although he appreciates his former club, he's happy to be a member of the Bruins heading into the Cup Final."The stars have aligned for this to be one heck of an event," Backes said. "We're just going to embrace it and throw what we have out there in every shift and every moment of every game. I love this group. I wouldn't want to be in the Finals with any other group."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wes McCauley's status for the Stanley Cup Final is still unclear, but he is among the referees who've been selected to work the championship round.The popular and well-respected official was one of five refs chosen for the series, according to the NHL Officials Association. The others are Gord Dwyer, Steve Kozari, Chris Rooney, and Kelly Sutherland.They'll be joined by linesmen Derek Amell, Scott Cherrey, Greg Devorski, and Pierre Racicot.McCauley left Game 6 between the St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks on Tuesday after suffering a hamstring injury when he tripped over Cherrey during play. Dwyer replaced McCauley, who was later ruled out for the remainder of the contest.He won't require surgery but may be a game-time decision for the start of the matchup between the Boston Bruins and the Blues, reports The Associated Press' Stephen Whyno.This would be McCauley's seventh straight Stanley Cup Final, which is more than any of the other five referees in this year's series. Amell and Racicot will work their seventh and 10th Cup Finals, respectively.The NHL typically selects four referees and four linesmen for the Stanley Cup Final, and the extra ref this year is likely due to McCauley's injury, according to Scouting The Refs.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mark Stone scored his tournament-leading eighth goal and added one assist as Canada knocked off the Czech Republic 5-1 to advance to its fourth gold-medal game in the last five World Championships.Canada will play Finland - the only team to have beaten them at this year's event - for the gold medal Sunday.Matt Murray was sensational for Canada, stopping 40 shots for his fifth victory of the tournament on his 25th birthday.After Stone opened the scoring in the first period, Darnell Nurse and Pierre-Luc Dubois added to the lead in the second to put Canada up 3-0 heading into the final frame.

Finland has advanced to its first gold-medal game at the worlds since 2016 with a 1-0 victory over Russia on Saturday.Kevin Lankinen was sensational in net for Finland, turning aside all 32 shots he faced for his second shutout of the tournament.Neither goaltender would budge in the defensive affair until Finnish captain Marko Anttila found twine with under 10 minutes to play in what would prove to be the game-winner.

Carolina Hurricanes president and general manager Don Waddell confirmed he will continue to lead the club next season despite being without a contract."The answer is yes," Waddell said when asked if he'd be returning, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. "(Owner Tom Dundon and I) are working on terms, but we have a mutual agreement to continue in this direction."After replacing former general manager Ron Francis on an interim basis in March 2018, Waddell was officially named president and full-time GM that May.In his first full year filling the roles, Waddell helped the Hurricanes return to the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons, reaching the Eastern Conference Final. The 60-year-old was named a finalist for GM of the Year for his work.Waddell put his first imprint on the club by replacing head coach Bill Peters with assistant Rod Brind’Amour. He then traded Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm to the Calgary Flames for Dougie Hamilton and Micheal Ferland.In need of goaltending, Waddell signed free-agent netminder Petr Mrazek and claimed Curtis McElhinney off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs. He then acquired forward Nino Niederreiter from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Victor Rask in a trade that worked out overwhelmingly in the Hurricanes' favor.Carolina found tremendous success despite having the NHL's lowest payroll last season, with no player making more than $6 million.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Erik Karlsson thanked the San Jose Sharks organization and its fans on Friday, writing in a tweet that he appreciated the support in his first season with the team.

Referee Wes McCauley was forced to exit Game 6 between the St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks in the first period after colliding with linesman Scott Cherrey during play.Gord Dwyer replaced the official, and the NHL later announced McCauley will not return.Sportsnet's Scott Oake said on the broadcast that McCauley told him it's a hamstring injury.The veteran referee is the most popular official in the league, and one of the most well respected.He'll likely be in line to work the Stanley Cup Final if healthy.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to Puck Pursuit, a weekly NHL podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's National Hockey Writer.Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, Google Play, and Spotify.In this episode, Gus Katsaros of McKeen's Hockey and Rotoworld joins John to discuss a variety of topics, including:

The Edmonton Oilers have come to terms on a one-year, entry-level contract with Swedish forward Joakim Nygard, the team announced Friday.The 26-year-old spent the last six seasons suiting up for Farjestad BK of the Swedish Hockey League, and is fresh off a campaign in which he recorded a career-high 21 goals and 14 assists in 52 games.In March, TSN's Darren Dreger reported the Ottawa Senators and Calgary Flames were among the teams trying to lure Nygard to the NHL.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville Predators general manager David Poile knows the top item on his summer to-do list is to sign star defenseman Roman Josi to a new contract, as it will make shaping the rest of the roster that much easier."When and if we do that, that checks off a lot of boxes for what we may have to do in the future," Poile told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun on Monday. "So that would certainly be our No. 1 priority, to get that done."Josi's agents, Judd Moldaver and Jeff Jackson, plan to meet with their client over the next few weeks after his return from the World Championship, according to LeBrun. Josi's Switzerland squad lost to Canada in the quarterfinals Thursday.The Predators captain, who'll turn 29 on June 1, ranked fifth in the NHL in average ice time during the 2018-19 regular season and poured in 56 points while playing all 82 games.Josi has one year remaining on his current deal and thus can agree to an extension as of July 1. Poile can also sign trade-deadline acquisition Mikael Granlund to a new contract beginning on that day.Craig Smith is also eligible for an extension at the beginning of July, and the Predators have four pending unrestricted free agents in Brian Boyle, Wayne Simmonds, Cody McLeod, and Zac Rinaldo, plus pending RFAs Colton Sissons and Rocco Grimaldi.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joe Thornton hasn't decided whether he'll suit up for another NHL campaign, but if he does, it'll be with the San Jose Sharks."It is safe to say," the veteran forward told reporters Thursday. "I'm a Shark. There's one team and it's here."Thornton said he still has to discuss his future with the team before figuring out his next move."I've got to talk to (head coach) Pete (DeBoer), (general manager) Doug (Wilson), and (team owner) Hasso (Plattner), but we'll see," he said. "I feel like I can still play, that's for sure, but I haven't made any decision."The 39-year-old added that he hasn't set a timeline for his choice.Thornton will turn 40 on July 2, one day after free agency opens. He's a pending unrestricted free agent on his second straight one-year deal with San Jose.The skilled playmaker just finished his 21st NHL season and has spent parts of 14 campaigns with the Sharks.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arbitrator Shyam Das has upheld NHL commissioner Gary Bettman's decision to suspend former Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov for the equivalent of one NHL season, the league announced Thursday.Voynov was suspended in April for unacceptable off-ice conduct and filed an appeal shortly thereafter. Das credited Voynov with already serving 41 games, meaning the ban will remain in effect until halfway through of the 2019-20 regular season.A statement from the NHL reads:

The Minnesota Wild have a trade proposal on the table that's centered on Pittsburgh Penguins sniper Phil Kessel, sources told The Athletic's Josh Yohe.However, Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford continues to talk to other teams about Kessel, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports, who adds that it's a question of when - not if - Kessel is dealt.Rutherford has said publicly he's willing to shake up his roster, while Kessel's name has frequently been mentioned in rumors.Kessel helped the Penguins win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017, but the team was swept out of the first round by the New York Islanders this postseason.The 31-year-old has three years remaining on his current eight-year deal and carries an annual cap hit of $8 million.In terms of what the Penguins can expect in exchange, it's believed that talented winger Jason Zucker would be part of the trade, reports Yohe. The 27-year-old's speed would fit the Penguins' run-and-gun style and he's hit the 20-goal mark in four of the past five seasons.The two sides also apparently discussed Penguins defenseman Jack Johnson and Wild forward Victor Rask, both of whom are signed to long-term deals.Kessel - a Madison, Wis., native - played one season with the University of Minnesota in 2005-06 before turning pro.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild have hired Hall of Fame forward Mike Modano as their executive advisor, the team announced Thursday. He'll begin his new role Sept. 1.Modano will work directly with Wild president Matt Majka and owner Craig Leipold on initiatives related to the team's sales, community relations efforts, and corporate partnerships in the club's newly created position."I am very thankful for this opportunity and excited to work with Craig and Matt to help support a number of Minnesota Wild business initiatives," Modano said. "I have always felt a special relationship with this community and look forward to reconnecting with all the wonderful fans in the State of Hockey as a member of the Wild organization."Modano compiled 561 goals and 1,374 points in 1,499 career NHL games during 21 seasons with the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars franchise and the Detroit Red Wings.The 48-year-old won a Stanley Cup with the Stars in 1999 and was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014.The hire marks Modano's second stint in a front-office position, as he previously served as an executive advisor and alternate governor with the Stars from 2013-15.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mark Stone scored the overtime winner on Thursday to eliminate Switzerland and launch Canada into the World Championship semifinals.

The New York Islanders and forward Brock Nelson have agreed to a six-year contract extension.The deal carries an annual average value of $6 million, according to Arthur Staple of The Athletic.The 27-year-old Nelson is coming off a career-high 53-point season. He played an integral top-six role for a surprise Islanders team that finished second in the Metropolitan Division and then contributed four goals - including two game-winners - in eight playoff contests.After being selected by the Islanders with the 30th overall pick in the 2010 draft, the 6-foot-3 center has racked up 241 points in 480 career games.Nelson was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators have hired former Toronto Maple Leafs assistant D.J. Smith as their new head coach, the team announced Thursday.Smith agreed to a three-year deal with the club and will take over for interim head coach Marc Crawford, becoming the 14th bench boss in Senators history."D.J. Smith is a winner," general manager Pierre Dorion said in a statement. "We believe he is the best person to drive the development and success of the Ottawa Senators. D.J. is a great communicator and an exceptional strategist."His passionate approach, coupled with his ability to teach the game, is exactly what we were looking for throughout the process."The Senators finished last and second-last in the NHL over the past two campaigns and will hope Smith can get the most out of the team's young core as the franchise continue to rebuild.The 42-year-old served as head coach of the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League from 2012-15, leading the team to a Memorial Cup championship in his final season. Smith also captured the Matt Leyden Trophy as the OHL Coach of the Year in 2014.The Toronto Maple Leafs hired Smith in 2015 to serve as an assistant coach on Mike Babcock's staff.The rumored candidates for the Senators' job included Smith, Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy, Troy Mann, Rick Bowness, and Crawford.The move marks the 23rd head coaching hire in the NHL since 2017, according to Sportsnet's David Amber.

Could it be the end of an era in San Jose?The Sharks were bounced from the Western Conference Final in six games by the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night, marking a disappointing finish for a team that undoubtedly had a Stanley Cup-or-bust mentality.This was supposed to be San Jose's year. With the beloved Joe Thornton on his last legs vying for his first Stanley Cup, the acquisition of pending UFA Erik Karlsson, a handful of youngsters playing out their entry-level deals, and a supremely skilled lineup in its prime, it seemed at times like the Sharks were a team of destiny.From a pure talent perspective, this was arguably the best Sharks roster ever assembled. Yes, even better than the 117-point Presidents' Trophy-winning squad in 2008-09, or the team that lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2016 Stanley Cup Final.But after falling short of the ultimate goal, it's possible the roster could undergo a dramatic transformation this offseason, leaving in the dust the organization's best chance at a Stanley Cup.Who's coming back?Michael Martin / National Hockey League / GettyThe Sharks are projected to enter the offseason with $24.7 million in cap space, but they have a bevy of both unrestricted and restricted free agents in need of new contracts:PlayerPos.AgeExpiry statusPrevious cap hitJoe PavelskiF34UFA$6MJoe ThorntonF39UFA$5MGustav NyquistF29UFA$4.75MJoonas DonskoiF27UFA$1.9MMicheal HaleyF33UFA$825KTimo MeierF22RFA$894KKevin LabancF23RFA$718KDylan GambrellF22RFA$925KErik KarlssonD28UFA$6.5MTim HeedD28UFA$650KJoakim RyanD25RFA$650KNearly every player on this list - with the exception of Thornton and Micheal Haley - will be due for a raise this summer. It's possible Thornton, who's had multiple knee surgeries over the past few years, will retire. That would leave a hole down the middle of San Jose's lineup, and an even bigger void in the dressing room.Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc will be in line for the team's most significant salary increases. Both youngsters enjoyed breakout seasons, and it's possible they'll combine for an annual cap hit close to $10 million, putting a dent in San Jose's spending flexibility.Then there's Karlsson, who was one of the NHL's best bargains at $6.5 million a year. After a nagging groin injury cost him a chunk of the regular season and ultimately ended his postseason prematurely, there are questions about his health moving forward. But on the open market, he could still command Drew Doughty-like money in the neighborhood of $11 million per season; there'd likely be more than one team willing to open the vault for the two-time Norris Trophy winner.Gustav Nyquist and Joonas Donskoi are likely bets to be gone as cap casualties, and retaining both Karlsson and Joe Pavelski - who should be seeking a modest raise after a 38-goal campaign - seems improbable.Never underestimate Doug Wilson, though. The Sharks general manager is as savvy and shrewd as they come, and he has a history of getting core players to stay in the Bay Area. But if he's able to retain both Karlsson and Pavelski while also locking up Meier and Labanc, it'll be some of his most impressive work yet.Even if Thornton and Pavelski are both back in teal next season, it's hard to imagine they'll be as effective with another year of mileage on their bodies. Fellow members of the veteran nucleus - Logan Couture (30), Brent Burns (34), and Marc-Edouard Vlasic (32) - have yet to show signs of slowing down, but the clock is ticking.Down but not outChristian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyIt's difficult to envision the Sharks being as deep and talented in 2019-20 as they were this season. That's just the nature of a salary-cap league. To completely dismiss San Jose, however, would be an erroneous oversight.Cause for optimism stems from three of the team's brightest young forwards in Meier, Labanc, and 25-year-old Tomas Hertl, all of whom have been exposed to top-notch professionalism within the Sharks organization. If Thornton and Pavelski leave, players like Couture, Burns, and (possibly) Karlsson will take on greater leadership roles. Even the oft-maligned Evander Kane has shown signs of growth since joining the Sharks and could be looked to as a leader going forward. Eventually, the torch will be passed to Hertl, Meier, and Labanc.Wilson and the rest of the Sharks' front office have established a winning culture, as San Jose has missed the playoffs just once in the 15 seasons since his hiring. If any GM is equipped to re-tool on the fly, it's Wilson.There's a case to be made that the Western Conference Final is a completely different series with a healthy Karlsson. Regardless, though, this season will still be viewed as a squandered opportunity for a franchise seeking its first Stanley Cup. It's the toughest trophy to win for a reason.But if we learned anything from the Washington Capitals' repeated playoff failures prior to their first Stanley Cup win, it's that writing off one of the NHL's most consistent organizations because of a missed opportunity is a big mistake. The Sharks will be back, they just may not have the same familiar bite.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anthony Mantha has been suspended for Canada's quarterfinal matchup with Switzerland for a check to the head of Colin White during Tuesday's game against the United States, the IIHF announced Wednesday.

Peter DeBoer is taking some of the blame for the fact that Joe Thornton won't win his first championship this spring."He's the face, he's the heartbeat of the organization," the San Jose Sharks head coach told the assembled media, including Sportsnet, following a season-ending 5-1 defeat to the St. Louis Blues in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final on Tuesday night."Like all the players in that room, as coaches, we're disappointed for not helping him get there because he gives you everything he's got and (he) should be there," DeBoer added. "It's hard not to feel responsibility as one of the people around him for not helping him get where he belongs. He belongs playing for a Stanley Cup and that's the disappointing part."Thornton said postgame that he hasn't thought about his future.The 39-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent who's spent parts of 14 of his 21 seasons with the Sharks.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Peter DeBoer lamented the fact that Erik Karlsson wasn't at 100 percent during the playoffs, and the San Jose Sharks head coach said the superstar blue-liner wasn't fully healthy and thus at his best for much of the season."Sure (it's) disappointing, absolutely. Maybe the best defenseman in the world or in that conversation. But really, we had him healthy for probably six weeks and dialed in," DeBoer told the assembled media, including Sportsnet, following his team's elimination Tuesday night."The first two months of the season, he was getting used to us, (maybe) two-and-a-half (months)," the Sharks bench boss added. "I thought he got dialed in in January (or) February, and I thought maybe we were the best team in the league through that stretch and then he wasn't healthy again."DeBoer declined to specify what Karlsson's most recent injury was, but the all-world rearguard was limited to about six minutes in the third period of Game 4 of the Western Conference Final against the St. Louis Blues.He left Game 5 and didn't return after playing about 10 minutes, and didn't suit up for Game 6 on Tuesday, which the Blues won to end San Jose's season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joe Thornton wasn't ready to say whether he plans to continue his career in the aftermath of his club's elimination on Tuesday night."No. Nope," the veteran San Jose Sharks forward told reporters, including NHL Network's Jon Morosi, when asked if he's thought about his future following the Sharks' 5-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final.Thornton is a pending unrestricted free agent who will turn 40 on July 2, one day after free agency opens.He contributed 51 points in 73 games during the 2018-19 regular season, adding 10 points in 19 playoff contests.Tuesday's loss ended Thornton's 21st NHL season. He's spent parts of 14 campaigns with the Sharks.The supremely skilled playmaker has signed one-year contracts to remain with San Jose before each of the last two seasons.Thornton ranks eighth on the NHL's all-time assists list, and 14th among the league's all-time points leaders.He's also the Sharks' all-time assists leader, sits second in franchise history in points and games played, and ranks third on San Jose's all-time goals list.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Jose Sharks captain Joe Pavelski is listed among the scratches for Game 6 of the Western Conference Final against the St. Louis Blues.The Sharks are already without Erik Karlsson and Tomas Hertl, who were ruled out earlier Tuesday.All three players left Game 5 with various injuries and didn't return.Pavelski was listed as a game-time decision.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dave Tippett could succeed Ken Hitchcock in Edmonton.Tippett remains the front-runner for the Oilers' head coaching job, and the club could hire its new bench boss as early as Friday, according to TSN's Ryan Rishaug.TSN's Pierre LeBrun later backed up Rishaug's report, adding that Tippett "still figures prominently" in Edmonton's search.The former Arizona Coyotes head coach has been a senior advisor with the Seattle-based expansion franchise since last June.Tippett reportedly interviewed for the Buffalo Sabres' head coaching position before they hired Ralph Krueger.Oilers general manager Ken Holland revealed at his introductory news conference on May 7 that Hitchcock wouldn't be back next season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Canada defeated the United States 3-0 on Tuesday, the final day of the preliminary round at the 2019 IIHF World Hockey Championship.With the victory, Canada is the winner of Group A, while the U.S. finishes fourth. The top four teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals.Group APointsGF:GACanada1836:11Finland1622:11Germany1518:18United States1427:15Slovakia1128:19Denmark618:23Great Britain29:41France214:34Canada will now face Switzerland - which finished fourth in Group B - in the quarterfinals.Matt Murray stopped all 28 shots he faced to earn the shutout, submitting his bid to be Canada's starting netminder in the elimination round. It won't be an easy decision for head coach Alain Vigneault, as fellow goalie Carter Hart posted a 0.70 goals-against average and a .964 save percentage in three games.Pierre-Luc Dubois, Kyle Turris, and Jared McCann found twine for Canada, while Mark Stone, Anthony Mantha, and Dante Fabbro reached the scoresheet with assists.The U.S., meanwhile, will contend with an undefeated Russian team that finished atop Group B. The Americans may have to do so without forward Dylan Larkin, who exited Tuesday's tilt after blocking a shot with a less-than-ideal area of his body.Group BPointsGF:GARussia2136:17Czech Republic1839:14Sweden1541:21Switzerland1227:14Latvia921:20Norway619:33Italy25:48Austria19:40Russia steamrolled Sweden 7-4 on Tuesday to clinch Group B, with multi-point efforts from Evgeni Malkin and Evgenii Dadonov in the contest.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers general manager and president of hockey operations Ken Holland is already leaving his mark on the organization's front office.The club parted ways with vice president of player personnel Duane Sutter on Tuesday, according to TSN's Ryan Rishaug.Sutter had worked in Edmonton's front office since the 2011-12 season and moved into his most recent role in 2016. He was a large part of the team's pro scouting operation, Rishaug added.The Oilers' pro scouting has faced increased criticism in recent years, with much of the blame being placed on former general manager Peter Chiarelli.Prior to his tenure with the Oilers, Sutter worked in varying roles for the Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks will be shorthanded for Game 6 against the St. Louis Blues.All-Star defenseman Erik Karlsson and forward Tomas Hertl won't play in Tuesday's do-or-die clash, head coach Peter DeBoer told The Athletic's Kevin Kurz.DeBoer added that Sharks captain Joe Pavelski will be a game-time decision.Karlsson, Hertl, and Pavelski all left Game 5 with various ailments and did not return.Karlsson's been dealing with a nagging groin injury that cost him 29 games during the regular season. Despite the ailment, he's tied for second on the Sharks with 16 points during this playoff run.The extent of Hertl's and Pavelski's injuries are unclear, but they both took hard hits in Game 5. Hertl is second on the Sharks with 10 goals during the postseason. Pavelski missed the first six games of San Jose's second-round series with the Colorado Avalanche, but still has nine points in 13 playoff games.The Sharks have lost back-to-back contests and trail the Blues 3-2 in the Western Conference Final series.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said the team hopes to re-sign pending unrestricted free-agent goaltenders Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney, according to Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer.Mrazek and McElhinney formed an unlikely, cost-efficient duo for the Canes this past season. Mrazek signed a one-year $1.5-million contract with the club last summer, and McElhinney was claimed off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs while riding out the last campaign of his two-year, $1.6-million pact.Together, they gave Carolina much-needed reliable play between the pipes.StatMrazekMcElhinneyRec.23-14-320-11-2GAA2.392.58SV%.914.912SO42Both netminders are likely in line for raises after their stellar seasons.If both are retained, it could signal the end of fellow goalie Scott Darling's time in Carolina. After acquiring Darling from the Chicago Blackhawks in April 2017, the Hurricanes signed him to a four-year, $16.6-million contract. However, he struggled mightily in 2017-18 and spent the bulk of this past season in the AHL.Waddell said no decision has been made on whether the club will buy out the remainder of Darling's contract, according to Alexander.It could be a very busy offseason in Carolina. The Hurricanes have more than $28 million in expected cap space, according to Cap Friendly, but star forward Sebastian Aho's projected new deal will likely eat up a large chunk of that. Waddell said he'll talk to Aho's agent within the next few days, according to Alexander.Waddell added that the club is looking to extend defenseman Justin Faulk, who will hit unrestricted free agency after next season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In completing the sweep over the Carolina Hurricanes last Thursday, the Boston Bruins bought Zdeno Chara 11 days to recover from an undisclosed injury, and the captain says he's "taking it one day at a time" in order to return for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on May 27, according to NHL.com's Eric Russo.Chara returned to practice on Monday and worked out with the full team for the first time since sitting out the Bruins' conference-clinching victory.The 42-year-old won a cup with the Bruins in 2011 and has been a part of many series-clinching victories over his career. Despite his experience, Chara admits that being in the stands for such a critical game was extremely difficult."It was, I'm not gonna lie," he said. "Watching games are not fun. You want to play them, you want to be involved in them. It was that feeling of an anxiousness to play. But the guys did a great job."Chara's 112 playoff games ranks him fourth among NHL defenseman since 2009. Despite all the miles on his odometer, the 21-year veteran is second among Bruins in average time on ice this postseason, logging 22:31 per game.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sam Reinhart scored a pair of goals as Canada blanked Denmark 5-0 for its fifth straight win at the worlds on Monday.Pierre-Luc Dubois, Jared McCann, and Jonathan Marchessault got Canada out to a quick 3-0 lead with tallies in the first nine minutes of the contest. Reinhart put the game away with a goal in the second frame and another in the third.Mark Stone followed up his hat trick against Germany on Saturday with two assists against the Danes.Carter Hart and MacKenzie Blackwood combined for Canada's second shutout of the tournament. After making 22 saves, Hart was replaced by the third-string netminder with nine minutes left in regulation in order to get Blackwood some crease time. The 22-year-old made two saves in relief.Canada improved to 5-1 in the tournament with its only loss coming in its opening contest against Finland. The Canadians close out the preliminary stage Tuesday against the U.S.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Hurricanes captain Justin Williams has yet to determine whether or not he has the desire to return for a 19th NHL season."I haven't made a decision yet," Williams said according to NHL.com's Kurt Dusterberg. "You don't do those things irrationally. You put thought into it. You find out inside whether you have the full capabilities emotionally and physically to do it. I put everything I had into it this year. If I have everything again, then I'll be here."The 37-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but Williams made it clear that he'd like to remain in Carolina should he sign another NHL contract."I've set up shop here and I'm very comfortable here," he said. "I'm not quite sure where anything else would go."Williams won one of his three Stanley Cups with the Hurricanes in 2006, and said he was proud to make the team relevant again this season.The veteran led the Hurricanes to the Eastern Conference Final in their first postseason appearance since 2009. In 15 playoff contests, he contributed four goals and seven points.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was a tough night at the office for the San Jose Sharks. Not only were they blown out 5-0 by the St. Louis Blues in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final, but they took a few bumps along the way.The Sharks were hit hard with the injury bug during the contest; at one point in the third period, Joe Pavelski, Erik Karlsson, Joonas Donskoi, and Tomas Hertl were all in the dressing room, leaving San Jose's bench shorthanded. Donskoi was the only one to return.Head coach Peter DeBoer did not offer updates on any of the injured players following the game.