For St. Louis Blues netminder Jordan Binnington and forward Jaden Schwartz, Game 5 of the Western Conference Final against the San Jose Sharks was a night to remember.With 21 saves in the Blues' 5-0 victory, Binnington became the first rookie goaltender in the franchise's history to record a shutout in the playoffs, according to NHL Public Relations. The 25-year-old's 11 wins this postseason also marks a franchise record for most in a single playoff run.For Schwartz, he continued his incredible run with his second hat trick of the postseason, becoming the first player in franchise history to record multiple three-goal efforts in the same playoff run. The last NHLer to accomplish this feat was Detroit Red Wings forward Johan Franzen in 2008.With just 11 goals in 69 regular-season contests, Schwartz has come alive at the perfect time, as he leads the Blues with 12 goals this postseason and has a chance to break Brett Hull's franchise record of 13 in a single playoff run.St. Louis is now one win away from its first Stanley Cup Final appearance since 1970 after being in last place in the NHL on Jan. 3.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson is in the lineup for Game 5 of the Western Conference Final against the St. Louis Blues, head coach Peter DeBoer confirmed prior to the contest.Karlsson played just over six minutes in the third period of the Sharks' loss in Game 4 on Friday night.The superstar blue-liner has clearly been playing through an injury during these playoffs, and he was seen laboring through an apparent ailment on several occasions in the 2-1 defeat.Karlsson was absent for a stretch of more than seven minutes late in Friday's game, but only teammate Brent Burns finished with more ice time than his workload of 25:09 among all skaters.The two-time Norris Trophy winner came into Sunday's game tied with Burns for third with 16 points in these playoffs.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Will it be five or seven in 2020?Ever since the NHL introduced its current playoff format in 2013-14, the number of new teams to qualify for the postseason each year has been one or the other. This season, for instance, the Islanders, Hurricanes, Blues, Flames, and Stars supplanted 2018's Flyers, Devils, Ducks, Kings, and Wild. Five in, five out. The year prior, it was seven in, seven out.Sure, it's only five years of data, but it's still notable that between 16 and 23 percent of the playoff field has changed each spring. So, which of this year's 15 non-playoff teams are poised to break through and compete in the 2020 postseason?Keeping in mind two high-impact events on the horizon - June's draft and July's free agency period - let's identify three teams that could make the leap.Florida PanthersThe roster may be top-heavy, but it's young and talented. The coach may be new, but Joel Quenneville is revered as one of the best to ever run an NHL bench. The general manager may have his work cut out for him, but Dale Tallon certainly has incentive to build a winner. And the club's owner may have trouble filling the arena with warm bodies, but Vinnie Viola has publicly said he's willing to spend.With Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, Vincent Trocheck, and Keith Yandle already on the roster, the Panthers are heading into the draft and free agency with a full head of steam. They own the 13th overall pick and eight other selections, and appear to be a front-runner in the battle to land free-agent headliners Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky.Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesAll of that is producing a sense of cautious optimism around a club that missed the playoffs by 12 points this spring and by one point two years ago. By all accounts, the Panthers are fanatical about being competitive in the NHL, which bodes well for their future postseason chances.Of course, Florida must address a few sore spots to earn just its third postseason berth since 2001. At the top of the list: goal suppression, with a focus on goaltending. In 2018-19, only three teams allowed more goals per game, and only the Sharks ended up with a lower team save percentage.It'll also be interesting to see which way the power play trends under a new coaching staff. Paul McFarland, who ran the league's second-best power play, was fired in April alongside bench boss Bob Boughner.Quenneville will undoubtedly provide stability. The potential acquisitions of Panarin and Bobrovsky, plus depth pieces through free agency or trades, would bolster Florida's middle-of-the-pack lineup. It's far from a guarantee, especially in a deep Atlantic Division. But if the Cats follow through with a transformative offseason, the playoffs are attainable.Montreal CanadiensRe-entering the playoff field is often dependent on consistent performances from cornerstone veterans and continued growth from important youngsters. The Canadiens, who missed the Eastern Conference cutoff by two points this season, line up quite well with this simple-but-tested theory.No. 1 defenseman Shea Weber had a strong campaign, but he appeared in only 58 games because of offseason surgery. There's no reason to believe the captain can't bounce back to his old, dominant form. Over the short term, nobody should be worried about Weber, 33, or 31-year-old Carey Price, who posted a .918 save percentage in 2018-19.Francois Lacasse / Getty ImagesThe emergence of newcomers Max Domi and Tomas Tatar, the goal-scoring prowess of Brendan Gallagher, and Philip Danault's Selke Trophy-caliber play will give the Habs a solid group of vets next season. Jonathan Drouin is an X-factor of sorts. He's 24 and produces at a second-line rate, yet it doesn't feel like he's reached his ceiling yet.Perhaps most important, Jesperi Kotkaniemi is just getting started. He was largely forgotten in a rookie class stacked with difference-makers at every position, and he went about his business in Montreal amid little fanfare. His counting stats - 11 goals and 23 assists in 79 games - tell only a part of the story, because the Finnish center is still raw, still learning the North American game, and was playing down the lineup this season.If the 18-year-old can continue on his upward trajectory, and if incoming rookie Ryan Poehling can mimic what Kotkaniemi accomplished in Year 1, suddenly Montreal looks dynamic at forward. That boost up front should place this team firmly in the playoff conversation as long as Price and Weber stay healthy.Arizona CoyotesIf any team got the short end of the stick in 2018-19, it was the Coyotes. Coach Rick Tocchet's group lost the third-most man games to injury, and those injuries were sustained by some marquee players. Starting goalie Antti Raanta appeared in only 12 contests, and center Nick Schmaltz played in only 17 after coming over in a November trade. Both ultimately required season-ending surgery.TEAMMGLPTSANA48480DAL41093ARI38686NJD35872VAN31481Data source: ManGamesLost.comThe rest of the Coyotes willed their way into playoff contention, staving off elimination until the third-last day of the regular season. Heading into a presumably busy offseason, this is an upstart squad with depth on the blueline and a tremendous goaltending duo - Darcy Kuemper didn't get enough recognition for his stellar work in relief of Raanta - but with a dearth of shooting talent at forward.Perhaps John Chayka, one of the most active GMs in the NHL, will seek a trade in order to supplement All-Star forward Clayton Keller. The club's top pick in 2018, Barrett Hayton, is progressing. And in free agency, maybe a veteran UFA, such as Jordan Eberle or Gustav Nyquist, can be lured to sunny Arizona. The team has cap room and can't spin its wheels forever.A clean bill of health for key contributors Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jakob Chychrun would be a good start. Some five-on-five scoring would go a long way. The Western Conference isn't exactly stacked with sure bets. Why not Arizona in 2020?John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Add a legendary figure to the mix in the Ottawa Senators' head coaching search.Talk in league circles on Saturday was that Senators general manager Pierre Dorion is expected to make Patrick Roy his final interview, reports Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch, who adds it's believed the team could speak with Roy next week.A Senators source confirmed to Sportsnet's John Shannon that Roy will interview for the position.Ottawa fired former head coach Guy Boucher on March 1.The Senators have already interviewed interim head coach Marc Crawford, Troy Mann of their AHL affiliate, Pittsburgh Penguins assistant Jacques Martin, Toronto Maple Leafs assistant D.J. Smith, Dallas Stars assistant Rick Bowness, and Providence College's Nate Leaman, according to Garrioch.Roy served as the Colorado Avalanche's bench boss from 2013-14 to 2015-16. He resigned unexpectedly in summer 2016 and later returned to lead the QMJHL's Quebec Ramparts.The Hall of Fame goaltender went 130-92-24 during his three seasons coaching the Avalanche, guiding Colorado to a playoff appearance in 2014. He won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's coach of the year that season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kaapo Kakko believes the New Jersey Devils could select him first overall at the NHL draft next month.The Finnish prospect has long been the presumptive No. 2 pick behind American forward Jack Hughes. But Kakko is excelling at the World Championship in Slovakia, and he recognizes that could sway the Devils into selecting him."This is a big thing for me for the draft," Kakko said at the tournament through a translator, according to NHL.com's Aaron Vickers. "I think I can be the first (pick)."Kakko is among the leaders in goals at the worlds with six markers over five games. He's outshining Hughes, who collected his first point at the tourney on Saturday."I've played well," Kakko said. "I haven't paid much attention to Jack Hughes and his game, but I'm confident I've been able to let everyone see my skills and the level of my game. It's not going to be an easy choice for the teams."Hughes topped NHL Central Scouting's final list of North American skaters, while Kakko finished atop the final rankings for international skaters."It's great that people are interested in me and my game, of course," Kakko said. "I'm glad I've been able to play well and execute. There are so many great NHL players in this tournament and it's huge I've been able to play well against them. I'm hoping I could play in the NHL."No player from Finland has been chosen first overall in the NHL draft. The Winnipeg Jets took Finnish forward Patrik Laine second in 2016 after the now 21-year-old said he was worthy of the No. 1 selection. The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Auston Matthews with the top pick that year.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Jose Sharks star defenseman Erik Karlsson missed 29 games this season with a groin injury, and it doesn't require Sherlock Holmes' work to detect that he's been battling a lower-body ailment throughout the postseason.However, Karlsson's injury appeared to take a turn for the worst during the Sharks' 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues in Game 4 on Friday night.With San Jose on the man advantage midway through the third period, there were two instances in which Karlsson was noticeably laboring as he attempted to be first to a loose puck.After the Blues cleared the zone, Karlsson had a gap on Ryan O'Reilly as he went back to retrieve the puck, but nearly lost the race and had to chop the disc out of harm's way. Later in the shift, Tyler Bozak received a scoring chance after chipping a puck past Brent Burns - a situation in which a healthy Karlsson almost certainly would've been able to cut him off.Midway through the power play, the Sharks called a timeout. Karlsson left the ice and wouldn't return for over seven minutes until the final two minutes when San Jose's net was empty. Here's his ice-time breakdown, courtesy of ShiftChart:PeriodIce time19:0329:4636:20It's no secret that Karlsson's effectiveness is directly tied with the Sharks' Stanley Cup aspirations. He won't have long to recover before Game 5, however, as it takes place Sunday in San Jose.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks aren't happy with the perception that they've been fortunate in these Stanley Cup Playoffs."It irks me when you use words like (lucky) because this team has played four or five elimination games," Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer said Friday, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "Not moments - games. Twelve-to-15 periods of elimination hockey against Vegas, against Colorado in Game 7, so I think it's a ridiculous statement."You know what? We've found a way. And we've faced a lot of adversity. We've had calls go against us and we've had calls go for us, and we're still standing. For anybody to minimize that, I think is disrespectful to our group and what we've done."The Sharks benefited from an egregious non-call in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night, when all four officials missed Timo Meier's hand pass prior to Erik Karlsson's overtime winner.NHL executive vice president Colin Campbell later admitted the goal shouldn't have counted.San Jose also benefited from a coach's challenge that negated a Colorado Avalanche goal in Game 7 of their second-round series, when Gabriel Landeskog was deemed offside while standing by the bench waiting to go off on a line change.In the first round, the Sharks stormed back to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 7 thanks in large part to the controversial five-minute major assessed to Vegas forward Cody Eakin, a call for which Golden Knights general manager George McPhee said the league later apologized."I wouldn't say we're lucky," San Jose forward Gustav Nyquist said. "(Against Vegas) our first-unit power play executed that to perfection. They scored four goals in five minutes. In Game 3, (Logan Couture) comes up clutch and ties the game. We battle through. We know we're never out of a game until it's over."Tomas Hertl agreed."I don't care what everybody's saying," the Sharks center said. "We deserve to win. I don't like 'lucky' overall. If you work for it, you deserve it."Game 4 of the Western Conference Final goes Friday night in St. Louis.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins' opponent in the Stanley Cup Final has yet to be determined as the St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks continue to battle for Western Conference supremacy, but the schedule for the final round of the NHL playoffs has been unveiled.GameDateTimeHomeAwayTV1May 278 p.m.BruinsBlues/SharksNBC/SN/CBC/TVA2May 298 p.m.BruinsBlues/SharksNBCSN/SN/CBC/TVA3June 18 p.m.Blues/SharksBruinsNBCSN/SN/CBC/TVA4June 38 p.m.Blues/SharksBruinsNBC/SN/CBC/TVA5*June 68 p.m.BruinsBlues/SharksNBC/SN/CBC/TVA6*June 98 p.m.Blues/SharksBruinsNBC/SN/CBC/TVA7*June 128 p.m.BruinsBlues/SharksNBC/SN/CBC/TVA*if necessaryThe Bruins will have 11 days between games leading into the Stanley Cup Final, which is the longest stretch in the salary-cap era, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Ottawa Senators assistant general manager Randy Lee and the team are being sued for negligence by a hotel shuttle bus driver who says Lee harassed him last June in Buffalo, N.Y., according to The Associated Press.The 19-year-old driver said Lee inappropriately touched himself while making lewd comments and rubbing his shoulders while still a member of the Senators.The lawsuit states that the plaintiff "was injured externally, internally, and permanently in and about the head, body, limbs, and nervous system so that he became and will continue to be disabled and will continue to suffer pain, discomfort, disfigurement, distress, and psychological adjustment, distress, and trauma."The suit says the Senators should be found liable because the club was aware of Lee's alleged history of lewd behavior and didn't take action to stop it. A bar and grill called 716 is also listed as a defendant, as the suit says the establishment's employees continued to serve drinks to Lee after he was visibly drunk.An attorney for the Senators said the organization would "vigorously fight" what he called a "frivolous" civil complaint. Lee's lawyer declined to comment, while the owners of 716 didn't provide an immediate comment.Lee resigned from his position with the organization in August and pleaded guilty in December for a criminal violation stemming from the incident.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Davidson has departed his post as president of hockey operations with the Columbus Blue Jackets after the New York Rangers hired him to become their team president.The Blue Jackets announced Davidson's departure on Friday afternoon, and the Rangers later confirmed the hiring.Davidson leaves Columbus with four years left on his contract, and New York is expected to introduce him on Wednesday, The Athletic's Aaron Portzline reports.Glen Sather stepped down as New York's team president last month.Davidson became the Blue Jackets' president of hockey operations in fall 2012 after spending about six years in the same capacity with the St. Louis Blues. He hired Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen in February 2013.Kekalainen will take on an alternate governor role in Davidson's absence, but won't be relinquishing his primary duties."I'm going to be the GM and that's going to be my role," Kekalainen said Friday, according to Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch. "That's going to be my focus. That's my dream job. I'm not done."The Blue Jackets made the playoffs in four of Davidson's seven seasons at the helm, and they swept the Tampa Bay Lightning for their first-ever series win earlier this spring.Davidson was a color commentator on Rangers telecasts for about 20 years, and the lead analyst on FOX's NHL broadcasts alongside Mike Emrick for about five years in the '90s.The former goaltender played eight of his 10 NHL seasons with the Rangers from 1975-76 until 1982-83, leading New York to the Stanley Cup Final in 1979 on an injured knee.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL executive vice president Colin Campbell admitted the league made a mistake on the controversial play that led to the conclusion of Game 3 between the San Jose Sharks and St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night.“That was the wrong call," Campbell said on Sportsnet's Hockey Central at Noon. "It should’ve been a whistle if the referee had seen it live.”With the contest in overtime, Sharks forward Timo Meier made an illegal hand pass that led to San Jose's game-winner. The pass went undetected by the officials, and under the NHL rule book, it wasn't a reviewable play."It's so unfair that the game ended that way," Campbell added. "The wrong way."Yes, you could probably use (Rule 38.4(ix)) but I think it has to be a discussion (before expanding use of that rule)."Rule 38.4(ix) allows the league to "assist the referees in determining the legitimacy of all potential goals (e.g. to ensure they are 'good hockey goals'). For example (but not limited to), pucks that enter the net by going through the net meshing, pucks that enter the net from underneath the net frame, pucks that hit the spectator netting prior to being directed immediately into the goal, pucks that enter the net undetected by the referee, etc."This wasn't the first time in these playoffs a non-reviewable play has caused a game to end in contentious fashion.Trailing 3-0 with 11 minutes left in Game 7 of their opening-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Sharks were awarded a five-minute power play after forward Cody Eakin was called for a controversial cross-checking major. San Jose scored four goals on the power play and won the game in overtime.The Sharks recaptured home-ice advantage over the Blues and now lead the series 2-1 with Game 4 set for Friday night in St. Louis.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For nearly a decade, the Hurricanes were a league-wide footnote, and postseason hockey in Carolina was nothing but a pipe dream and a reflection of yesteryear.However, the 2018-19 season was a different story, as the Hurricanes captivated fans with exuberant post-win celebrations and embraced those who looked down on their fun shenanigans. But most importantly, they won, snapping the NHL's longest postseason drought and making it all the way to the Eastern Conference Final.Even though the season ended in bitter fashion - a sweep at the hands of the Boston Bruins on Thursday night - captain Justin Williams was able to reflect on the impact this campaign had not only on Carolina fans but on the entire league."I'm proud of what we've done," the 37-year-old told reporters postgame, per NBC Sports. "I'm proud that we've gotten ourselves relevant again. I'm proud that we raised the bar in the organization, and I'm proud of every one of my teammates."One of the primary reasons for the Hurricanes' miracle run was the leadership from head coach Rod Brind'Amour. But even though his squad exceeded all possible expectations, he didn't stray from his fiery yet compassionate persona when reflecting on Thursday's 4-0 loss."I want to thank the people and community for supporting us. I hate that we went out like that on that game," Brind'Amour told Michael Smith of the team's website. "That was a dud game for them to come watch. I apologize for that. Tremendous support for our team. ... It's a real community feel. It's something special."The Bunch of Jerks' season may be over, but with a young, promising core and plenty of cap space, there's no reason to believe it'll be another nine-year wait for playoff hockey in Raleigh, N.C.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins got the job done without Zdeno Chara on Thursday night, completing the sweep of the Carolina Hurricanes, but it doesn't appear that they'll have to contend for the Cup without their captain in the lineup.Head coach Bruce Cassidy said postgame that he doesn't believe Chara's injury is serious and thinks he'll be ready to go for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.Chara was limited to 62 games in the regular season due to a knee injury but had played in all 16 of the Bruins' playoff contests prior to Thursday.Boston's captain hasn't been prominent on the scoresheet with just three points in the postseason, but he's still logged over 22 minutes per night on the club's top defensive pair and is an integral factor on the Bruins' penalty kill.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins' Don Sweeney, St. Louis Blues' Doug Armstrong, and Carolina Hurricanes' Don Waddell have been named finalists for general manager of the year, the teams announced Thursday.Sweeney made two key trades for the Bruins prior to the deadline, landing Marcus Johansson from the New Jersey Devils for a pair of draft picks and acquiring Charlie Coyle from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Ryan Donato and a conditional draft pick.The Bruins GM didn't make any major offseason splashes, but the low-risk depth signings of Jaroslav Halak, John Moore, Joakim Nordstrom, and Chris Wagner proved integral to Boston posting the second-best regular-season record in the Eastern Conference.Armstong endured one of the busiest offseasons in Blues franchise history. He landed Selke Trophy candidate Ryan O'Reilly from the Buffalo Sabres without giving up any major assets and signed Tyler Bozak, David Perron, and Patrick Maroon in free agency.His best move, though, may have been not making one at all. After an abysmal start to the season, the Blues were rumored to be sellers, but Armstrong gave his group time to gel before making any major moves. The team rewarded him with one of the league's hottest second-half runs, going from last in the NHL on Jan. 2 to a playoff berth by the end of the regular season.Waddell had a busy offseason of his own during his first summer at the helm in Carolina. He made a blockbuster trade with the Calgary Flames at the draft, shipping out highly touted youngsters Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin to acquire Dougie Hamilton and Micheal Ferland.He also solved the club's longstanding goaltending issues by signing Petr Mrazek to a one-year deal and claiming Curtis McElhinney off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs. His pre-deadline trade sending Victor Rask to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Nino Niederreiter has proven to be one-sided in Carolina's favor.The NHL's 31 general managers vote on the award at the end of the regular season. The winner will be announced on June 19.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anthony Mantha scored two goals as Canada defeated France 5-2 for its third straight victory at the worlds.After Mantha opened the scoring, Darnell Nurse and Anthony Cirelli gave Canada a 3-0 advantage heading into the first intermission.Damien Fleury potted the lone goal in the second frame to get France on the board. Anthony Rech made it a one-goal game just minutes into the third period, but Mantha's second of the contest put Canada back in control before Mark Stone delivered the dagger with 10 minutes to play.France will look to capture its first win of the tournament when the team takes on host Slovakia on Thursday.After dropping its tournament opener to Finland, Canada has rallied and now sits in second place in Group A.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The system is broken.If the National Hockey League, its fans, and the media didn't believe that prior to Wednesday night, the hand-pass debacle in overtime of Game 3 of the Western Conference Final eliminated all doubt.Officiating shouldn’t be the prevailing talking point following an entertaining 5-4 win by the San Jose Sharks over the St. Louis Blues. It shouldn't have led the discussion after Game 7 of the Sharks-Avalanche second-round series, but it did because of the Gabriel Landeskog offside snafu. There was also the major penalty called on Cody Eakin in Game 7 of the hard-fought Sharks-Golden Knights opening-round matchup, which dramatically altered the final result.And here we are. Again.Off the top, let's state the obvious: Wednesday’s on-ice officials deserve a chunk of the finger-pointing. Referees Dan O'Rourke and Marc Joannette and linesmen Matt MacPherson and Jonny Murray all missed Timo Meier’s hand pass that led to Erik Karlsson's game-winning goal and a 2-1 series lead for the Sharks. Those officials are at the top of their profession, they've survived the playoff cuts to work the third round, and they're expected to perform under pressure. They didn’t.Dilip Vishwanat / Getty ImagesNobody's perfect at their job, but that doesn’t make the blunder any easier to swallow for the Blues. Afterward, GM Doug Armstrong reportedly yelled profanities at the officials room, head coach Craig Berube sternly declined comment, and captain Alex Petriangelo wondered aloud if there are separate sets of rules for the Sharks, a team that's been on the happy end of all three controversial moments listed above.So, yes, there are human beings responsible for not blowing the play dead before the goal, and they'll face consequences in the court of public opinion. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone in the hockey world who doesn’t believe that the officials - as well-intentioned as they are - screwed this one up. Their superiors can't be pleased.Dilip Vishwanat / Getty ImagesWhich brings us to the NHL and its rule book, which turns the referees' on-ice mistake into something much bigger.Rule 38.4 states only the following sequences are eligible for video review:

The Dallas Stars signed defenseman Esa Lindell to a six-year, $34.8-million contract extension on Thursday, the team announced.Lindell's first big-money contract comes at an average annual value of $5.8 million and keeps the 24-year-old in Dallas until the end of the 2024-25 season.The Finnish blue-liner logged a team-high 1553:37 of ice time at five-on-five this season and led the club with 161 blocked shots. He tallied career highs in goals (11) and points (32) in his third full NHL campaign.Dallas selected the 6-foot-3 rearguard in the third round of the 2012 draft.With blue-chip defenseman John Klingberg under contract through 2021-22, the Stars have locked up the core of their blue line for the next several years.Still, with Ben Lovejoy, Roman Polak, and Taylor Fedun scheduled to become unrestricted free agents July 1, and Julius Honka coming off his entry-level deal, the Stars will have to make some important decisions to round out their defense corps.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After the controversial conclusion of Game 3 of the Western Conference Final between the St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night, FanDuel Sportsbook announced Thursday that it will refund moneyline bets on the Blues.

Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour wasn't an active participant in Wednesday's Game 3 between the St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks, but that didn't keep him from offering his opinion on the controversy that overshadowed yet another exciting postseason contest.The Sharks won in overtime after the officials missed an illegal hand pass from forward Timo Meier. The 48-year-old bench boss put forward a rather interesting idea to help get calls right on the ice."Take two refs off the ice," Brind'Amour said Thursday, per Sportsnet. "Put them in the penalty box - have their skates on if they want. One guy can be watching the calls. The linesman can be watching the offsides. Get them out of the way. They're getting in the way."It's hard, the game is so fast. You watch how often the puck hits them. To me, you can get these calls done quickly and done right, and that's all you want. As a player, as a coach, as a fan. You just want to make sure you get the calls right. I think. But we'll see."When asked if the league needs to expand video review in order to avoid these contentious plays, Brind'Amour insisted it's been long overdue."It's been time forever," he said, according to ESPN's Emily Kaplan. "It's time to get the calls right, because it's just too important. Games matter so much. That was tough last night to watch."The Hurricanes were burned by a controversial call in Game 2 of their opening-round series against the Washington Capitals when forward Michael Ferland was ejected for what the officials deemed a hit to the head. That play was also not reviewable.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jason Spezza isn't ready to hang up his skates just yet.“If there were any doubts about whether I wanted to keep playing or not, I’ve erased them," the 16-year NHL veteran said, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. "I still have the passion for it. I definitely intend to play next year.’’Spezza's four-year, $30-million contract with the Dallas Stars is set to expire, and the 6-foot-3 center will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Now he's looking to play for a team that values his abilities.“After being scratched a few times down the stretch this year, I also want to be somewhere where they want me,” Spezza said. “That’s probably the most important criteria, that I have a role and am able to use my strengths.’’The 35-year-old recorded 27 points in 76 games last season, and his eight goals in each of the two previous campaigns marked Spezza's lowest single-season totals since his rookie year (excluding an injury-shortened 2012-13 season).He became a valuable contributor during the Stars' postseason run, however, notching five points in 11 contests while bringing plenty of playoff experience."I think I have something I can add to a team,” Spezza said. “I don’t see a reason to stop just because it’s been a difficult stretch for me. And I think by playing in the playoffs and kind of having an impact, it re-affirmed with me that I can still contribute. And physically, I feel good."Spezza has tallied 915 points in 1,065 career games, and he needs 85 more to become the 89th player to join the 1,000-point club.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's tough to gauge what goes on behind closed doors inside NHL dressing rooms. Fans and media may believe a player fits as a team's captain due to their on-ice performance and the way in which they carry themselves in interviews, but it's their teammates and coaches who best know who the real leaders are.Here, we predict who the six captainless organizations believe is their best leader and hand the "C" to next.Detroit Red WingsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyLast captain: Henrik Zetterberg (2012-2018)

For 20 years before he entered politics, Doug Eyolfson worked as a physician at an emergency room in Winnipeg, Manitoba, treating, among other patients, people who'd suffered a nasty blow to the head.Be it the result of a fall, a car crash, or a collision in a contact sport, Eyolfson would ponder two questions about the injury. Could it have been prevented? And if not, could anything have been done to reduce its severity?That line of inquiry was front of mind for Eyolfson when, in his present capacity as a federal Member of Parliament, he got to grill NHL commissioner Gary Bettman about the necessity of hockey players engaging in fisticuffs.In an exchange before a government subcommittee on concussions in sports - a body that recruited Eyolfson last year because of his medical background - the doctor-turned-legislator trained his ire and his decades of ER experience on Bettman, arguing that the NHL should stop tolerating fights and move to outlaw the practice entirely.Bettman's rebuttals would have been familiar to any fan of his league. Fewer NHL games than ever feature fights, the commissioner said, and besides, most players approve of its presence as a recourse: They believe fighting helps discourage stickwork, elbows, and other unsavory forms of aggression.The refrain was predictable, but it didn't make the moment any less extraordinary. For a couple of hours on the afternoon of May 1, a group of politicians foraying into hockey's ongoing reckoning with head injuries was granted equal footing with the most influential man in the sport - and one of its members didn't care at all for what he heard."(Bettman's testimony) told me that at a very, very high level, there is someone who wields a great deal of power in sport that is refusing to accept that this is a potentially catastrophic series of injuries," Eyolfson said from Winnipeg in a recent phone interview."He doesn't believe the league can do anything more to improve its situation."Since the Canadian government's Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions first convened in Ottawa, Ontario, last fall, Eyolfson and six of his colleagues from the national legislature have spoken with a range of high-profile witnesses who have firm opinions on the issue at hand. They include Hockey Hall of Famers Ken Dryden, who has called for a ban on all hits to the head, and Eric Lindros, who has championed concussion prevention ever since a string of head injuries derailed his career.Steve Caplan / National Hockey League / Getty ImagesThe subcommittee, chaired by former Olympic marathoner Peter Fonseca, is tasked with recommending ways that provincial governments, sports organizations, and the rest of the country can effectively prevent and treat concussions. It was not explicitly designed to lecture the chief executive of the world's biggest hockey league on how to protect the health of his players.Still, by chiding Bettman about the endurance of fighting in a climate where ex-NHLers have sued the league for failing to properly warn them about the risk of head injuries - and, in some cases, have spoken out about their hellacious transitions after retirement - Eyolfson hinted at a larger desire: for himself and his fellow politicians to help shape the conversation about player safety."I understand hockey is a physical game and there's going to be physical contact and there's a chance of injury," Eyolfson said. "But it can be minimized. I'd like to see the NHL listen to this. I'd like Mr. Bettman to believe the science that repeated head injuries lead to CTE and to appreciate that, in fact, there are real dangers to the continued tolerance of fighting, and that this (should) be removed from the league."Eyolfson, who is in his mid-50s, played hockey when he was a teenager and now tunes into games from time to time. His favorite leisure activities these days are long-distance running and downhill skiing. He also rides a motorcycle; that pastime, combined with his fondness for the slopes, makes him keenly aware that people can't and shouldn't be bubble-wrapped as they move through life.Christian Petersen / Getty ImagesNone of this has persuaded him that fighting serves a legitimate purpose. Citing the experiences of youth players who testified to the subcommittee, he argues that the presence of fights in NHL games creates a "culture of violence" that trickles down to minor hockey, convincing impressionable kids that they have to be willing to trade blows - and to expose themselves to the consequent health risks - if they want to succeed in the sport.In response to one pillar of Bettman's testimony - that the players who want fighting to be preserved believe it deters dirty play - Eyolfson contends that there's no evidence to support the claim. (The NHLPA/CBC survey Bettman appeared to reference in his answers, saying 98 percent of players want to keep fighting in the game, is from 2011.)At the very least, Eyolfson's skepticism was well timed. During a playoff game on the night before Bettman spoke to the subcommittee, Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand punched Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Scott Harrington in the back of the head. The day after Bettman's appearance, the Blue Jackets' Dean Kukan elbowed Boston's David Backes in the chin."We still see the dirty hits that we've seen," Eyolfson said. "It does cause this continuing violence that could be removed entirely, the way it is in other leagues - like, for instance, in European hockey, where you don't see it at all - and where you don't see it in other sports."Kirk Irwin / Getty ImagesIt remains to be seen what recommendations Eyolfson and his subcommittee colleagues propose. Bettman and his deputy commissioner, Bill Daly, were their last witnesses. The subcommittee is due to report its conclusions to the Canadian legislature's health committee by early June.Another unresolved question is whether the subcommittee will ask the NHL to take any particular actions. There is some precedent for a government panel effecting change in pro sports - MLB, for instance, strengthened its drug testing policy after a congressional investigation into steroid use helped prompt Bud Selig to commission the 2007 Mitchell Report. However, Bettman isn't bound to comply with any recommendations from a handful of Canadian politicians.No matter what transpires, Eyolfson has staked his position in a seminal hockey debate. During Bettman's testimony, the commissioner told him that fighting has diminished to the point where it doesn't occur in 85 percent of NHL games. To the former ER doctor, any number below 100 percent is insufficient."People are going to undertake activities that have risk to them. I'm no stranger to that," Eyolfson said. "I understand what risk is about. But whenever I see an injury, I think: Is there a way that could have been minimized?"Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask has saved his best for the playoffs, and after splitting time with Jaroslav Halak throughout the regular season, it's evident No. 40 has extra gas in the tank as Boston chases its seventh Cup in franchise history.The 32-year-old played in 46 games this season - his lightest workload since the lockout-shortened 2013 campaign. When comparing his postseason numbers this year to the 2013 playoff run that saw the Bruins make the Stanley Cup Final, the similarities are difficult to deny.YearGPGAASV%2013221.88.9402019161.96.939Rask has had to prove himself in one of hockey's most passionate markets, often being targeted as the scapegoat for the Bruins' shortcomings. But the Finn has been extremely reliable since becoming the team's full-time starter in 2012, even capturing a Vezina Trophy in 2014.Perhaps the real problem is just how much the Bruins have relied on him. Between the 2013-14 and 2017-18 seasons, Rask's 311 games played and 17,980 minutes logged led all NHL goaltenders. During that span, the team found little success as the 6-foot-3 backstopper's numbers continued to decline.SeasonRask GP (reg season)Playoff SV%Bruins' outcome2012-1336.940Lost Stanley Cup Final2013-1458.928Lost Round 22014-1570N/AMissed playoffs2015-1664N/AMissed playoffs2016-1765.920Lost Round 12017-1854.903Lost Round 22018-1946.939Up 3-0 in ECFThis season, Rask ranked outside of the top 20 in terms of both games played and minutes logged between the pipes.Only Rask knows for sure if fatigue has been a factor over the previous several seasons, but the numbers show that the less of a load he's had to carry during the year, the better the outcome is for the Bruins.Perhaps the most concerning part for the teams that remain between the Bruins and the Stanley Cup this postseason is the fact Rask gets stronger as the playoffs wear on - another sign the netminder may have some energy in reserve.RoundOpponentW-LGAASV%1Toronto Maple Leafs4-32.31.9282Columbus Blue Jackets4-21.70.9483Carolina Hurricanes3-01.66.944It's not just the volume of his incredible work, either, but the timing of it that's made this run so special.Rask made 54 saves on a combined 57 shots through two elimination games against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 1. With the Bruins down 2-1 in their second-round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets, he made 39 saves to steal Game 4. Since that victory, the Bruins have won five straight games and Rask has conceded just eight goals.The veteran deserves a ton of credit for his play this season, but it would be remiss not to mention the team in front of him. Head coach Bruce Cassidy has implemented a defense-first mentality, stressing the importance of limiting high-danger scoring chances.With the Bruins on the verge of making their third Stanley Cup Final appearance this decade, it looks as though the decision to lighten Rask's regular-season workload has unlocked Boston's full potential.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues didn't hold back after Game 3 of the Western Conference Final ended on a controversial goal.San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson scored the overtime winner around five minutes into the extra frame, but officials missed what appeared to be a hand pass prior to the goal - which was not eligible for video review.Blues general manager Doug Armstrong made his feelings known after the loss.

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, Anthony Petrielli of Maple Leafs Hot Stove and theScore's Josh Wegman join John to discuss a variety of topics, including:

Fresh off a playoff run in which the Colorado Avalanche were one win away from their first Western Conference Final berth since 2002, general manager Joe Sakic plans on using this summer's free-agency period to help his club take the next step."It's a pretty good class this year," Sakic said at his end-of-season media availability. "(We) already have targeted players in mind if they become available that we're gonna want to talk to about joining our club. We see positions of need, of what we're looking to do. There's a few guys that we're gonna want to talk to if they become available. We'll be more aggressive this year ... but if it doesn't work out with the players that we want to talk to we're not just gonna go spend on anybody. We want the right players and the right fit."The Avs are projected to have more than $31 million in cap space this summer, per Cap Friendly. Even factoring a potential cap hit of $8 million-$10 million for a new contract for young superstar Mikko Rantanen, Sakic will have plenty of leftover space to work with.This summer's marquee free agents include Artemi Panarin, Sergei Bobrovsky, Matt Duchene, Erik Karlsson, Jordan Eberle, and Tyler Myers, among others. Colorado could also be a threat to toss out an ever-rare offer sheet to one of this summer's star restricted free agents, such as Mitch Marner, Brayden Point, Matthew Tkachuk, Kyle Connor, and Patrik Laine.The Avalanche have qualified for the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, and Sakic has built a promising young core - centered around Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon, and Cale Makar - that appears ready to contend for years to come.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan understands the challenges that lie ahead for his team in the salary cap era.The 50-year-old executive signed a six-year extension with the club Tuesday and was transparent about the Maple Leafs' cap situation as they continue their effort to end a 52-year Stanley Cup drought.“As long as we are hopefully a Stanley Cup contender we will have cap issues, so Toronto should get used to that," Shanahan said, according to Sportsnet 590 The Fan’s Prime Time Sports."The better you become, the less peaceful it is, the more anxiety there is, because each decision means more and so you still have problems,” he added. “They’re just better problems."The Maple Leafs face a challenging summer, with young blue-chipper Mitch Marner lined up for his first big-money contract, and valuable core pieces Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson also becoming restricted free agents.Defensemen Jake Gardiner, Ron Hainsey, Martin Marincin, and forward Tyler Ennis are all coming off the books this summer as well.When it comes to Marner, the two sides are still early in the negotiation process, but Shanahan said he had a positive meeting with the 22-year-old's agent Tuesday.“I have a lot of respect for Darren Ferris,” Shanahan said. “Obviously, our admiration for Mitch and how he plays the game and how he evolved this year and how he developed, rounded out his game and added, not even just his offensive creativity and prowess but penalty killing and just his overall game has improved so much, so it was a positive meeting."With John Tavares' $11-million contract and Auston Matthews $11.63-million on the books next season, the Leafs may end up rostering three players making $10-plus million.Shanahan understands that while staying beneath the cap and remaining competitive in the long run is difficult, it's a privilege to be in a situation where you have a chance to lock up high-end talent.“When we’re not dealing with cap issues, we’re probably rebuilding,” he said.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour wore his heart on his sleeve during his playing career, and apparently, not much has changed in his first season as a bench boss.Brind'Amour offered a candid response Tuesday following his team's 2-1 loss to the Boston Bruins, who now hold a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Final."This hurts," Brind'Amour said postgame, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli. "I told the guys, 'I'm not gonna sugarcoat it. We just got kicked in the you-know-where.'"Despite the loss, the Hurricanes controlled 56 percent of the shot attempts and 54.8 percent of the high-danger scoring chances, according to Natural Stat Trick."I think we can feel good about the fact that we at least gave them a game," Brind'Amour told WBZ's Michael Hurley. "I mean, we hadn't given them a game yet. It was pretty easy for them, so at least we battled hard."The Hurricanes' power play was perhaps their biggest problem Tuesday night. They went 0-for-5 with the man advantage, and the Bruins' best penalty killer was none other than goaltender Tuukka Rask."He's definitely the difference-maker," Brind'Amour said of Rask, according to Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer.The goaltender stopped 35 of the 36 shots he faced, including all 14 he saw while the Bruins were shorthanded.If the Hurricanes are to avoid a sweep and force a Game 5, they'll have to find an answer for Rask, who has a .939 save percentage in the postseason.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres officially hired former Edmonton Oilers bench boss Ralph Krueger as their head coach, the team announced Wednesday.Krueger has taken an unconventional path to his newest job. He was the head coach of the Swiss national team from 1997 to 2010 and then served as an assistant coach with the Oilers for two seasons before taking over for the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. After compiling a 19-22-7 record, he was relieved of his duties.He was also on the bench as a consultant for Team Canada's gold-medal triumph at the 2014 Winter Olympics.The 59-year-old then ventured into associated football and was director - and chairman shortly thereafter - of Southampton FC. In 2016, Krueger briefly returned to the ice and coached Team Europe to an unlikely second-place finish at the World Cup of Hockey.Krueger will replace Phil Housley, who was fired on April 7. The Sabres interviewed six other candidates before ultimately deciding on Krueger, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The Sabres boast plenty of young star power with Jack Eichel and Rasmus Dahlin but finished as the fifth-worst team during this past regular season and own the NHL's longest active playoff drought at eight seasons.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Curtis McElhinney is in goal for Carolina Hurricanes for Game 3 versus the Boston Bruins, replacing Petr Mrazek as the home team's starting netminder for the pivotal contest.Mrazek was the Hurricanes' starter down the regular-season stretch and during the first round of the playoffs. But he suffered an injury versus the New York Islanders in Round 2 and has struggled since returning, allowing 10 goals through two games against the Bruins.McElhinney's appeared in one game in relief of Mrazek and started two others so far this postseason, posting a .947 save percentage over those outings.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite leading the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs in both goals and points, San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture isn't letting his gaudy production distract him from the ultimate prize."You're playing for the Stanley Cup here," Couture told Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre. "We've never won it, I've never won it and it's something I want to do for this team and this city. I'm definitely proud of being able to contribute and help this team win. But until we win the Stanley Cup, I won't be satisfied."Couture's registered 13 goals and 19 points so far this postseason, pacing his peers by four in each category. His latest stellar performance came in Game 2 against the St. Louis Blues, when he notched two goals in just under two minutes to tie the game.Despite his efforts, the Sharks eventually lost the contest and now head to St. Louis tied 1-1 in the Western Conference Final. It's that fact, not his personal performance, that stands out for Couture."In my opinion, that wasn't anywhere near what we're capable of, and I don't think we've played up to our capabilities for a while now," Couture told NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika. "We did just enough to beat the Avalanche, but we haven't played our best hockey since that Vegas series."And it's discouraging, it's frustrating because we're going to need everyone here if we're going to beat these guys because they're a very good hockey team."The Sharks return to action Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed president and alternate governor Brendan Shanahan to a six-year extension through the 2024-25 season, the team announced Tuesday."On behalf of the MLSE Board of Directors, and certainly our company and fans as well, we are very pleased to see Brendan continue in his role as president of the Toronto Maple Leafs," said Larry Tanenbaum, chairman of Leafs ownership group MLSE. "Brendan's positive impact on this team has not only been felt on the ice, where the team is on an impressive path, but throughout the league, with the Leafs' alumni, and in the community."We look forward to continued success for the Maple Leafs under Brendan's leadership over the next six years."The former head of the NHL's Department of Player Safety, Shanahan joined the Maple Leafs in April 2014 and has overseen massive organizational changes since taking over.Under Shanahan, the Leafs brought in Mike Babcock as head coach and Lou Lamoriello - since replaced by Kyle Dubas - as general manager. With Shanahan at the helm, the team also drafted several members of its young core including Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander, and made a franchise-altering free-agent splash with the signing of John Tavares last July.Shanahan's arrival has paid major dividends for Toronto, as the team has transformed from a perennial cellar dweller into a legitimate Stanley Cup threat. The Leafs have qualified for the playoffs in each of the last three campaigns and have now recorded back-to-back 100-point regular seasons for the first time in franchise history.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dale Hunter has been selected as Canada's head coach for the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship, Hockey Canada announced on Tuesday.Hunter has spent 18 seasons as owner, president, and head coach of the OHL's London Knights, leading the team to five Memorial Cup appearances, including titles in 2005 and 2016. He captured OHL coach of the year honors in 2004, 2005, and 2010, and was named CHL coach of the year in 2004.The 58-year-old has only coached on the international stage once, winning a gold medal as head coach of Canada’s under-18 team at the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup.Ottawa 67's head coach Andre Tourigny and Saskatoon Blades head coach Mitch Love will join Hunter as assistant coaches.Canada finished sixth at the world juniors in 2019, the team's second sixth-place finish in four years. With just two gold medals at the event this decade, Canada is looking to get back on top of the national junior stage.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Staring down a 2-0 series deficit against the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference Final, the Carolina Hurricanes have opted to keep their starting netminder a secret for Game 3.Although head coach Rod Brind'Amour confirmed Tuesday a decision had been made, he wasn't willing to share the information."I can't be that guy that does that, right? I know who we're starting, but I guess you'll have to wait and see. Sorry," Brind'Amour said, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen.The goaltending tandem of Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney have been at the core of the Hurricanes' success all year, and with Mrazek allowing 10 goals on 52 shots through the opening two games of the series, it's possible McElhinney gets a shot between the pipes.McElhinney made 17 saves after replacing Mrazek in Game 2 against the New York Islanders to capture the victory. The 35-year-old followed up the strong relief performance by allowing just four goals on 58 combined shots through Game 3 and 4, helping the Hurricanes complete the four-game sweep."We're 100 percent on board with anybody that goes in the hockey nets," Hurricanes forward and captain Justin Williams said Monday. "I have zero qualms about anybody going in. Whoever is going to go in is going to do a great job and we're going to have a great game."The Hurricanes faced a 2-0 series deficit in their opening-round matchup against the Washington Capitals. The team ultimately stuck with Mrazek and were able to complete the comeback and take the series in seven games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mark Stone ripped a power-play goal with 1.8 seconds left in regulation to help Canada escape with a 6-5 win over the host Slovakia in their round-robin clash at the World Championship on Monday.

Ryan Kesler might not play in 2019-20, but his career may not be over.The Anaheim Ducks center underwent hip resurfacing surgery on Thursday, a procedure that makes continuing his career possible following a lengthy recovery, the club announced on Monday."While it's unlikely he will play in 2019-20, we will support any decision he makes about his future playing career," Ducks general manager Bob Murray said.In April, Kesler's career appeared in jeopardy when he was mulling hip-replacement surgery.The 34-year-old missed Anaheim's final 14 games of this season and was limited to 60 contests in 2018-19.He's battled through hip issues for years, missing 60 games over the last two campaigns.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oliwer Kaski intends to sign a contract with the Detroit Red Wings after the conclusion of the World Championship, the Finnish blue-liner's agent, Todd Diamond, told TSN's Darren Dreger on Monday.Kaski notched an assist in Finland's overtime loss to the United States on Monday.The 23-year-old posted 51 points in 59 regular-season games with the Lahti Pelicans in the Finnish Liiga in 2018-19. He added four points in six playoff contests this spring.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Barry Trotz's right-hand man could be in line for a head coaching job of his own.Lane Lambert will interview for the Anaheim Ducks' vacancy, reports Sportsnet's John Shannon.The New York Islanders associate coach previously served on Trotz's staff with the Washington Capitals and Nashville Predators.The 54-year-old former forward also has head coaching experience at the AHL level with the Milwaukee Admirals.Anaheim is one of four NHL clubs without a head coach at the moment, including the Buffalo Sabres, Edmonton Oilers, and Ottawa Senators.Ducks general manager Bob Murray took over behind the bench after firing Randy Carlyle in February.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Last time, it was the Sharks in six. This time? TBD.San Jose and the St. Louis Blues, two clubs still searching for their first Stanley Cup, are set to face off in the Western Conference Final for the second time in four years. When they met in 2016, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau helped lead the Sharks to a conference title.Dilip Vishwanat / Getty ImagesBoth teams are heavy, deep, and very good at even strength. San Jose needed 14 games to advance this far, defeating Vegas and Colorado in seven-game series, while St. Louis required 13 to send Winnipeg and Dallas packing. Neither the Sharks nor Blues have a significant player sidelined by injury, eliminating health-related excuses and setting the table for fierce competition.Let's break the series down ahead of Game 1 on Saturday night.ForwardsSharks: Among the final four, San Jose is the only team to boast five players with at least 10 playoff points. The club is averaging 3.9 goals per game in wins and was the lone squad to finish the regular season with four 30-goal scorers.This forward group has proven it can inflict serious damage thanks to a nice blend of high-end talent and quality depth. It starts with the Logan Couture line, which has produced 13 goals, and ends with the fourth line, which features Barclay Goodrow and his two game-winning goals. Thornton, Joe Pavelski, Evander Kane, and Kevin Labanc lead the middle six.Timo Meier and Tomas Hertl top the list in the game-breaking ability department. The 20-somethings are modern-day power forwards who are more than capable of taking over a shift. Hertl's been a monster through two rounds (nine goals to pace the playoffs alongside Couture), and Meier appears to be sitting on a breakout performance (three goals in 14 games).Something to keep an eye on: Meier and Kane have found themselves in penalty trouble this spring, combining for 11 minor penalties in the playoffs. Can they straddle the line better in Round 3?Matthew Stockman / Getty ImagesBlues: Hands up if you knew Jaden Schwartz had eight goals this postseason, including seven at even strength, and a Corsi For rating of 60 percent? Yeah, his excellent numbers have been lost in the shuffle.Patrick Maroon dominated discussion out of the Blues' second-round victory over the Stars - and rightfully so. The local hero scored the series-clinching goal in overtime, with his young son crying in the stands. Maroon's been solid on a third line with Tyler Bozak and Robert Thomas.No. 1 center Ryan O'Reilly will be one to monitor. His line will most likely draw the toughest defensive assignment, the Gus Nyquist-Couture-Meier trio. If O'Reilly can hold his own and Vladimir Tarasenko capitalizes on a few five-on-five scoring chances, the Blues should be on the right track.Brayden Schenn's production, or lack thereof, after two rounds is concerning. Four points in 14 games (0.3 PPG) from your second-line center is simply not going to cut it if you have Cup aspirations. Luckily for Schenn, the slate is wiped clean for Game 1.Edge: SharksDefensemenSharks: At this point, at least one of Brent Burns, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, or Erik Karlsson is on the ice for nearly the entire game. It's a gigantic advantage for San Jose, and you can bet head coach Peter DeBoer will be doubling down on the approach moving forward.Burns has been particularly effective, banking 14 points in 14 games while wreaking havoc in open ice. The hard-hitting rover - who's averaging 29 minutes per contest to lead all skaters - thrives in the high-stakes environment.Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesBlues: St. Louis has horses on the back end, too. Right-handed stalwarts Alex Pietrangelo and Colton Parayko anchor the top two pairs, while the mobile Vince Dunn is having a coming-out party this postseason on the third duo.Head coach Craig Berube has a big and nasty defense corps that can transport the puck with ease. Defensively, it's all hands on deck against the Sharks. Continued yeoman's work from Jay Bouwmeester (five assists) and Joel Edmundson (58 percent Corsi For) is required if the club plans on advancing.Edge: SharksGoaltendersSharks: Do you believe in Martin Jones? That's the question Sharks fans have been asking themselves all season. And the jury is probably still out.After a disastrous regular season, Jones, the unquestioned starter ahead of backup Aaron Dell, has proven his worth these playoffs. He has a .910 save percentage overall and .928 since Game 5 of the first round. The playoffs bring the best out of Jones. Now, he must seal the deal.Michael Martin / Getty ImagesBlues: Another chapter in Jordan Binnington's dream rookie season is upon us. The 25-year-old has been instrumental in St. Louis' incredible 2019 turnaround and hasn't looked out of place whatsoever in the postseason.Backed up by Jake Allen, Binnington enters the series with a .915 save percentage in 13 contests. He's been pretty consistent from the opening puck drop of the playoffs through Game 7 against Dallas. As a bonus, his puckhandling has supplemented the Blues' breakout quite nicely.Edge: BluesSpecial teamsSharks: San Jose's power play, the sixth-ranked unit in the regular season, is doing all right for itself, scoring 10 times in 54 opportunities for an 18.5 percent success rate. Hertl and Couture account for seven of those 10 goals. The penalty kill has been fairly effective, operating at 80 percent.Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesBlues: St. Louis' power play, the 10th-best unit during the regular season, is doing OK, too, finding the net seven times in 41 chances for a 17.1 percent clip. Tarasenko has scored four of those goals. The penalty kill has been decent, performing at 75 percent.Edge: SharksX-FactorsSharks: Meier. There is a gear in the Swiss winger's system that hasn't been activated yet. Beast Mode Meier could tilt the series in San Jose's favor.Blues: Tarasenko. He's St. Louis' offensive spark plug. If he can find his touch at five-on-five and continue to drag along the power play, look out.PredictionSharks in sevenScheduleDateLocationTimeGame 1Sat. May 11at San Jose8 p.m. ETGame 2Mon. May 13at San Jose9 p.m. ETGame 3Wed. May 15at St. Louis8 p.m. ETGame 4Fri. May 17at St. Louis8 p.m. ETGame 5*Sun. May 19at San Jose3 p.m. ETGame 6*Tues. May 21at St. Louis8 p.m. ETGame 7*Thurs. May 23at San Jose9 p.m. ET* if necessaryJohn Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Justin Williams went with a rather vivid description of his team's performance in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final on Sunday."We've got to rediscover who we are," the Carolina Hurricanes captain told the assembled media, including FOX Sports Carolinas, after a 6-2 defeat to the Boston Bruins."You spend all this time off leading up with everyone writing articles about how great you are and then you come out and sometimes you've got to eat a poop sandwich," Williams added. "It doesn't taste good. You have to chew on it for a little bit, and we'll have to do it for a couple days and get the taste out of our mouth next game."The Hurricanes allowed two goals in each of the three periods on Sunday, falling behind 6-0 in the final frame before tallying a couple of late markers.The shots-on-goal tally was fairly even, with the Bruins leading 25-23 in that area.However, Boston dominated possession, posting a 76.47 high-danger scoring chances for percentage at five-on-five compared to Carolina's 23.53, according to Natural Stat Trick.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ralph Krueger is rising on the Buffalo Sabres' list of coaching candidates and will get "a real shot at the job," Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman wrote in Sunday's edition of "31 Thoughts."Friedman adds that Sabres general manager Jason Botterill spoke to Krueger in 2017 before hiring Phil Housley, who was fired last month.Krueger, the soon-to-be former English Premier League executive, coached the Edmonton Oilers in 2012-13 and led Team Europe to an unexpected run to the World Cup of Hockey final in 2016.The Sabres have reportedly considered several candidates for the position, including Dave Tippett, Jacques Martin, and Todd McLellan, who the Los Angeles Kings later hired.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators are interested in reuniting with an old flame.The Sens have received permission to interview Dallas Stars assistant coach Rick Bowness for the team's head coaching vacancy, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.Hiring Bowness would bring the organization full circle, as he was the first head coach in the franchise's history. He compiled a 39-178-18 record before he was fired in his fourth season during the Senators' forgettable infancy years.The 64-year-old has been coaching since the mid-80s. His long resume also includes stops as the bench boss of the original Winnipeg Jets (1988-89), as well as with the Boston Bruins (1991-92), New York Islanders (1996-98), and Phoenix Coyotes (2003-04).Before joining the Stars this past season, Bowness spent five campaigns on the Tampa Bay Lightning's coaching staff and seven seasons as an assistant with the Vancouver Canucks.Bowness will mark the sixth coaching candidate Ottawa has interviewed, according to McKenzie. Interim head coach Marc Crawford and Belleville Senators bench boss Troy Mann represent two internal candidates. Another one of the club's former coaches, Jacques Martin, has also been interviewed, as well as Toronto Maple Leafs assistant D.J. Smith and Providence College head coach Nate Leaman.Ottawa finished last in the NHL with 64 points this season. In the midst of a rebuild, the Senators made it clear after Guy Boucher's dismissal that they're seeking someone with player development expertise.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares will miss approximately one month of offseason training due to the oblique injury he suffered with Team Canada at the World Championship, the Leafs announced Saturday.Tavares was sent home from the tournament - held in Slovakia - on Thursday to be evaluated by the Leafs' doctors before playing a game for his country.The 28-year-old registered a career-high 47 goals and 88 points in the regular season and added five points in seven playoff games during his first campaign with the Maple Leafs.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to Art of the Mask, a video series in which theScore sits down with some of the world's top netminders to talk about goalie mask art.In Episode 5, Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Louis Domingue walks us through the finer details of a team-themed mask he wore during the 2018-19 season. From a sky line depiction to shouting out organizational pillars, Domingue dedicates most of the design to the Tampa Bay area and its NHL club.Previously in this series:

It sounds likely that St. Louis Blues interim head coach Craig Berube will be assuming his duties on a permanent basis next season.Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said Friday that his search for a future head coach is down to “a list of one.”"When we asked Craig to take over the team, we were in flux at that point," Armstrong said, according to the St.Louis Post-Dispatch's Jim Thomas. "I said to Craig: 'You take over on the interim basis and we'll go from there.'"And as I started to work with Craig, whatever name was on the (candidate) list started to get crossed off and crossed off ... then I found the synergy that Craig and I have had. Now we're at a list of one."Berube was nominated for the 2019 Jack Adams Award after orchestrating one of the biggest single-season turnarounds in NHL history. Under Berube, the Blues became the first team in the NHL expansion era (since 1967-68) to win a playoff series after ranking last at any point after New Year's Day (minimum 20 games played), per NHL Public Relations.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Unrestricted free agent Sergei Bobrovsky put his downtown Columbus condo up for sale, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.The Columbus Blue Jackets were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Boston Bruins earlier this week, and speculation regarding Bobrovsky's future has been a major talking point all season.The 30-year-old will be one of the top free agents on the market come July 1, with his $29.7-million contract set to expire.Bobrovsky won the Vezina Trophy in 2013 and 2017 with the Blue Jackets and owns nearly every franchise record among goaltenders including games played, wins, and shutouts.Along with Bobrovsky, forwards Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene, and Ryan Dzingel all become UFAs on July 1.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Slovakia defeated the United States in front of a raucous home crowd by a score of 4-1 in its opening contest at the 2019 IIHF World Championship on Friday.Matus Sukel led the way with one goal and one assist, while Tomas Tatar, Erik Cernak, and Michal Kristof also found the back of the net for Slovakia.Netminder Patrik Rybar made 25 saves for the host nation, while Alex DeBrincat scored the lone marker for the U.S.Cory Schneider turned aside 32 shots for the Americans in his first game on the international stage since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.Jack Hughes, the projected first-overall pick at the 2019 NHL Draft, recorded two shots on goal in 13:30 of ice time in his tournament debut.Slovakia will look to continue its strong play against Finland on Saturday, while the U.S. will look to bounce back against France on Sunday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The club that swept the Tampa Bay Lightning is out. So is the team that beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in four games. So, will it be the Boston Bruins or the Carolina Hurricanes representing the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Final?It hasn't been an easy playoff run for the Bruins. The Toronto Maple Leafs forced them to Game 7 in the first round and the Columbus Blue Jackets were hardly pushovers after entering Round 2 with the luxury of some added rest. Adversity has afforded the Bruins the opportunity to prove their mettle: They've gone down in a series on four occasions already, but won the next game each time.The Hurricanes, meanwhile, are rounding into form at the ideal moment. They haven't lost since the Washington Capitals pummeled them 6-0 in Game 5 of the first round; six straight victories against the Caps and the New York Islanders should have them brimming with confidence entering the franchise's first trip to the conference finals in a decade.Gregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / Getty ImagesAll told, the stage appears to be set for a stellar matchup. Let's break it down ahead of Game 1 on Thursday night.ForwardsBruins: Boston has gotten offense from a multitude of sources. Seven Bruins forwards have scored at least twice at five-on-five in the postseason, and none of them are named Patrice Bergeron, who has done most of his sniping (four of five goals) on the power play.David Pastrnak has vacillated between Boston's second line and his usual perch on Bergeron's right wing, but no matter where he plays, he's found the net (team-high six goals). David Krejci leads the Bruins with nine points at even strength, while Brad Marchand has paced the club with 13 points amid his spats with Columbus defenseman Scott Harrington and Sportsnet reporter Kyle Bukauskas.One player whose fortune is probably due to improve is Jake DeBrusk, who has scored only twice on 40 shots (a 5 percent success rate) after potting 27 goals on a 17.3 shooting percentage during the regular season.Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesHurricanes: Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen, and Jordan Staal are all producing like stars - together they've scored 14 of Carolina's 34 goals - and rookie winger Warren Foegele has thrived in third-line minutes with five goals and nine points of his own.Like Boston, Carolina is hoping to get more out of a typically dependable second-liner whose woeful shooting rate has him stuck in a slump. Nino Niederreiter has scored just once on 23 shots (4.3 percent) despite creating 15 quality scoring chances, which is second on the team behind Teravainen.Micheal Ferland, Carolina's fourth-leading scorer this season, is expected to return from the upper-body injury he sustained in the first round, and rookie Andrei Svechnikov, who's healthy again after Alex Ovechkin concussed him in a fight, should finally get the chance to showcase his considerable skill over a full series.Edge: Bruins. Both teams have star power and depth, but Marchand, Bergeron, and Pastrnak are peerless when they're clicking. They all finished in the top 10 in points per game this year and are capable of winning Boston a game or two practically on their own during any series.Jamie Sabau / National Hockey League / Getty ImagesDefensemenBruins: With a back end that blends size, skill, youth, and experience, Boston - a perennially strong Corsi team, just like Carolina - can rely on its defense to move the puck and help drive the offense. Zdeno Chara and Brandon Carlo log tough minutes, Torey Krug and Matt Grzelcyk each have four points on the power play, and Charlie McAvoy has evolved into a No. 1 defenseman at just 21 years old.A sample of McAvoy's stats against Columbus - he played 25:36 per game and contributed three assists, and Boston had 57.39 percent of scoring chances when he was on the ice at five-on-five - demonstrates how much he'll be missed in Game 1 as he serves a suspension for shouldering Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson in the head.Hurricanes: Jaccob Slavin has emerged as a star in his fourth NHL season and first taste of the playoffs. Playing a team-high 26:36 per game, his 11 points (all of them assists) tie him with St. Louis blue-liner Alex Pietrangelo for third most among defensemen in the postseason, trailing only San Jose's Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson.Gregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / Getty ImagesEvery Canes defenseman has been a positive Corsi player in the playoffs. Dougie Hamilton has scored three goals, two of which came on the power play, and Justin Faulk has looked impressive in his 25:54 of average ice time.Haydn Fleury, Carolina's No. 6 blue-liner, embodies one minor concern. With Trevor van Riemsdyk sidelined after shoulder surgery, Canes head coach Rod Brind'Amour has been willing to play Fleury only around seven minutes per game, fewer than every other defenseman in the playoffs. Can the rest of the unit continue to handle the increased load?Edge: Hurricanes. Slavin could easily distinguish himself as the top defenseman in the series even after McAvoy returns from his banishment.GoaltendersBruins: It would be more than fair to consider Tuukka Rask the best netminder left in the playoffs. He's authored a remarkable turnaround from what, by his standards, was a so-so regular season.Jamie Sabau / National Hockey League / Getty ImagesShorthanded goals were his Achilles' heel this year, but he's let in only one through 13 games while posting a .944 save percentage at even strength (and .938 across all situations). Goals saved above average (GSAA), a metric that melds average save percentage across the league with the number of shots a goalie faces, rates Rask leaps and bounds higher than the rest of his class: His playoff GSAA figure is 8.09, with Dallas' Ben Bishop next at 6.14.Hurricanes: Rask's Carolina counterparts, Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney, have combined to post a combined 0.6 GSAA, but that number is skewed by Mrazek's poor showing against the Capitals in Round 1. Mrazek had allowed just one goal (a power-play tally) to the Islanders when he hurt his lower body in Game 2 and relinquished the crease to McElhinney, who turned aside 71 of the 75 shots fired his way during the rest of the series.It's still unclear if Mrazek will be healthy enough to dress for Game 1. Even if he does, Brind'Amour might opt to let McElhinney try to prolong his hot streak. Twenty-two of the Islanders' shots against McElhinney were quality chances and he saved all but one - a mark that could be seen as either extremely promising or sure to regress.Gregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / Getty ImagesEdge: Bruins. Setting aside the question of whether Mrazek or McElhinney gets the nod to start, neither has shown he can consistently perform at the level Rask has achieved in the past month.Special teamsBruins: Marchand and Bergeron haven't played like world-beaters at even strength, but they've been lethal on the power play with a combined five goals (four from Bergeron). Boston has scored 10 power-play markers on 35 tries (an NHL-best 28.6 percent) and killed 31 of 37 penalties (83.8 percent).Hurricanes: The bad news is that Carolina's penalty kill is operating at a feeble 75 percent (nine goals allowed). The worse news is the Hurricanes' power play has scored all of four goals on 38 opportunities (10.5 percent), including a seven-game goalless drought they finally snapped in Game 4 against the Islanders.Edge: Bruins. The numbers don't lie, and they should be a major worry for Brind'Amour and Co.Jamie Sabau / National Hockey League / Getty ImagesX-FactorsBruins: First-line scoring. Marchand, Bergeron, and Pastrnak could make matters simple and hasten the arrival of Carolina's offseason by producing to their potential.Hurricanes: Goaltending. It's a big if, but if either Mrazek or McElhinney can outperform Rask, the conference title could be Carolina's for the taking.PredictionBruins in six. What a story it would be if this "bunch of jerks" surge all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. They'll keep the series close and could even send it back to Boston tied at two games apiece, but it seems smarter to bank on Marchand, Bergeron, Pastrnak, and Rask uniting to lead the Bruins to their third final in nine years.ScheduleDateLocationTimeGame 1Thurs. May 9at Boston8 p.m. ETGame 2Sun. May 12at Boston3 p.m. ETGame 3Tues. May 14at Carolina8 p.m. ETGame 4Thurs. May 16at Carolina8 p.m. ETGame 5*Sat. May 18at Boston7:15 p.m. ETGame 6*Mon. May 20at Carolina8 p.m. ETGame 7*Wed. May 22at Boston8 p.m. ET* if necessaryNick Faris is a features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.