The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook opened its 2020 Stanley Cup betting on Saturday and the Tampa Bay Lightning are favored, even after the eighth-seeded Columbus Blue Jackets swept them in the first round this season.The Lightning boast league-best 6-1 odds to capture the cup in 2019-20, while the Blue Jackets didn't make the top 10 despite their surprising postseason run.The Toronto Maple Leafs are the favorites among Canadian teams, and the Ottawa Senators are extreme underdogs.The Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues are included in the top 10 after topping off strong regular-season finishes with convincing playoff performances.Team2020 Stanley Cup oddsTampa Bay Lightning6/1Boston Bruins10/1Toronto Maple Leafs10/1Vegas Golden Knights10/1San Jose Sharks14/1Colorado Avalanche14/1St.Louis Blues16/1Washington Capitals16/1Pittsburgh Penguins16/1Winnipeg Jets20/1Calgary Flames20/1Montreal Canadiens40/1Vancouver Canucks60/1Edmonton Oilers60/1Ottawa Senators300/1Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Don Cherry isn't backing down from his criticism of the Carolina Hurricanes, and now he's taking aim at their supporters.On Saturday night during his "Coach's Corner" segment, the "Hockey Night in Canada" pundit began discussing the team by reiterating his disapproval over the regular-season "Storm Surge" and was baffled that his previous "bunch of jerks" criticism was adopted by the club as a rallying cry."I don't understand this. I said this up in Canada and it goes down in there," Cherry said. "And it's a funny thing. They know that it's the wrong thing to do or they'd do it in the playoffs."The 85-year-old analyst then took a shot at the Hurricanes' attendance."I'm told the owner said, 'Entertain the crowd,' and they still draw 13-to-14,000 people," Cherry said. "And these people that are here now, now (that) they're winning (are) front-running fans as far as I'm concerned."When asked by broadcast partner Ron MacLean whether it's hard not to enjoy it now, Cherry was dismissive."I don't embrace nothing," he answered. "I said they look like a bunch of jerks being a fish in the water, (miming) a bowling ball. This is professional hockey and no sport in the world does it except them. It came down from the top (that), 'I want to entertain the fans.' The fans there now, the 17-and-18,000, they're front-runners. They're there because they win. Not because they act like fish."The Hurricanes fired back shortly thereafter, making a clear reference to Cherry based on the "Star Wars"-themed suit he was wearing during his segment.

Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon heaped heavy praise on head coach Rod Brind'Amour after their club finished off a sweep of the New York Islanders on Friday night to advance to the Eastern Conference Final."It's unfair to boil it down to one thing, but the truth is he's the one thing," Dundon told FOX Sports Carolinas' Mike Maniscalco postgame.Dundon promoted Brind'Amour to the head coaching position last May after Bill Peters resigned about three weeks earlier. Brind'Amour had been an assistant and development coach with Carolina prior to his promotion, joining the staff in 2011.The Hurricanes posted a 46-29-7 record under Brind'Amour in the 2018-19 regular season, improving by 10 wins compared to Peters' fourth and final campaign in 2017-18 when Carolina went 36-35-11 and missed the playoffs.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

What a bunch of final-four jerks.The Carolina Hurricanes may have shelved the "Storm Surge," but they're certainly not done surging. On Friday, the plucky outfit that waited until the third-last day of the regular season to clinch a postseason spot became the first club to advance to the third round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Following a seven-game battle with the Washington Capitals, the Hurricanes needed only four contests to dispose of the New York Islanders, winning 5-2 at PNC Arena in Raleigh. A franchise-record crowd of 19,495 chanted "SWEEP! SWEEP! SWEEP!" during the third period.Mike Stobe / Getty ImagesHead coach Rod Brind'Amour and captain Justin Williams deserve heaps of praise for guiding such an inexperienced group to the Eastern Conference Final. Intangibles are difficult to judge from the outside, sure, but nobody should be doubting the tandem's influence on this Cinderella run.That being said, let's take a look at three quantifiable reasons why the Canes are moving on:Goaltending duo shuts the doorIt's safe to say that the "use two goalies" strategy wasn't in Brind'Amour's pre-series playbook. But, rather quickly, he ended up relying upon both of Carolina's netminders to win the matchup.In Game 1, starter Petr Mrazek went save for save with New York's Robin Lehner in a 1-0, 31-save overtime win. Then, Mrazek went down with a right-leg injury 26 minutes into Game 2. It could have been disastrous, but backup Curtis McElhinney had other plans.McElhinney - a 35-year-old October waiver pickup who had two playoff contests to his name prior to Game 2 and carries a sub-$1-million salary cap hit - went on to save 71 of 75 shots to close out the series. He was dialed in.Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesWhile the Isles goalies - Lehner for the majority of the series, and Thomas Greiss for half of Game 4 - played well and shouldn't be blamed for the quick exit, Carolina's unexpected platoon had a steadying impact on the outcome of the series.Case in point: NaturalStatTrick.com houses a metric called expected goals. It's an advanced statistic which uses shot-location data to calculate how many goals a team should be expected to score over a specific time period. The formula pegs the Isles at 11.6 expected goals in four games, yet Barry Trotz's squad actually buried just five on Mrazek and McElhinney.Moving forward, since Mrazek's availability is up in the air, it's uncertain who will be between the pipes for Game 1 of the next round. Fortunately for Carolina, the Boston-Columbus series, which is tied 2-2, could go the distance. A stretch of time off could be huge.Barzal never shook off the shacklesThe Isles were a dominant defensive team during the regular season, allowing the fewest goals in the league. Conversely, they didn't have a potent offensive attack, and that discrepancy haunted them against Carolina.Mat Barzal, a menace with the puck on his stick and the only New York skater to hit 60 points this season, was mostly held in check. He registered just 11 shots on goal, seven high-danger shot attempts, and two power-play goals.The goalies definitely contributed, but which skaters shut down the Isles' deadliest weapon? Here's the ice-time distribution for the six-man crew that kept Barzal scoreless at five-on-five:PLAYERTOITeravainen - F24:43Slavin - D24:18Faulk - D22:25Hamilton - D22:04Niederreiter - F21:13Staal - F21:01Overall, the Isles - a hardworking team which has an offensive identity strongly linked to creating scoring chances off the forecheck and cycle - were unable to generate a ton of prime looks during five-on-five action, namely in Games 3 and 4. Carolina made sure New York couldn't access the middle of the ice and crash the opposing crease area as it had done all season long.The Isles scored a grand total of five goals - three on the power play and two at even strength - or roughly 1.25 per game. Unless you're competing in the Dead Puck Era, that's simply not going to cut it in an NHL playoff series.Production from just about everyoneAn impressive 16 Carolina skaters recorded at least one point in this series. And nine of them scored a goal ... or two ... or three.It was longtime Cane Jordan Staal in Game 1. Newcomers Warren Foegele and Nino Niederreiter in a 2-1 second game. A mix - Teuvo Teravainen twice, Justin Faulk, Williams, and Sebastian Aho - in a 5-2 third contest. And then Aho, Teravainen, and Williams again, plus fourth-liner Greg McKegg and recently injured Andrei Svechnikov in the clincher.Grant Halverson / Getty ImagesCarolina scoring often? OK then. It's quite the development, really, given the franchise's recent history. It typically doesn't cash in on its chances; aside from goaltending, scoring's been the team's downfall for years.The playoffs so far have been different: the Hurricanes are scoring on 10 percent of their shots. Corsi kings for the better part of the analytics era, they are enjoying a nice run of shooting success.Mind you, it's no fluke. For one, Jaccob Slavin has been an unbelievable distributor this postseason and has registered 11 assists in 11 games. Every forward line is feeding off the puck-moving ability of Slavin and other defensemen, bolting straight for the mucky parts of the ice with or without the puck. And, against the Isles specifically, the entire Canes attack targeted the home-plate area and managed to capitalize on seemingly every net-front chance.When the final buzzer rang Friday, the numbers told a tidy story: Carolina scored all 12 of its second-round goals from the money spot - the real estate below the hash marks and between the faceoff dots. Nothing from the outside, or from the point. All hard-earned, high-percentage chances turned into goals.The team that gave itself a strong chance to win every single game won this series. There should be no surprise about the Canes' sweep. They earned it.John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly acknowledged the Seattle-based franchise has dealt with arena construction delays but said the expansion team is still in the mix to host the draft in 2021, according to Tim Booth of The Associated Press.Daly said the NHL hopes to determine a host at least one year before the event takes place and clarified that it will consider more than just the various buildings around the league when choosing where the draft will be held. He reiterated Gary Bettman's past pledge that Seattle will likely host one eventually."There are a lot of logistical issues you have to make sure are squared away before you make a decision like that," he said. "If (Seattle doesn't) get the draft in '21, it's not going to be long before (it hosts) a draft. That's been part of our discussions already. It's really part of the ownership transaction."The arena at Seattle Center is being renovated to accommodate the new club and officials were hoping it would be ready by early spring 2021, but the project has been slowed by a change in contractors and design delays.Bettman revealed in January that the NHL promised Seattle an All-Star Game within seven years, while also floating the possibility of a future draft and outdoor game being held there.The new franchise is scheduled to begin play in the 2021-22 season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Islanders netminder Robin Lehner was replaced by Thomas Greiss in the second period of Game 4 on Friday night after the Carolina Hurricanes scored their third goal just over three minutes into the frame.Islanders head coach Barry Trotz tinkered with the idea of starting Greiss with his club facing a 3-0 series deficit but evidently stuck with Lehner, who entered the game with a .946 save percentage in this year's playoffs.The Vezina Trophy finalist didn't get much help, as the Hurricanes' first goal came off the stick of Isles defenseman Adam Pelech. Lehner was then hung out to dry on a brilliant Carolina passing play for the second goal, and the third marker came off a deflection.Greiss allowed a goal to Justin Williams on the second shot he faced.The Islanders tandem allowed the fewest goals (191) in the NHL in the regular season, and their goaltending had been a strength in the playoffs, too. However, New York's attack has offered little support, with just one even-strength goal so far in the second-round series.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Petr Mrazek did not return from his lower-body injury for Game 4 against the New York Islanders on Friday night."When he's 100 percent we will get him back in there," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said on Thursday, according to NHL.com's Kurt Dusterberg. "But until then, you can't. There's no point."The Hurricanes entered Friday's game with a 3-0 series lead over the Isles, and veteran backup Curtis McElhinney owns a .957 save percentage since relieving an injured Mrazek in Game 2, providing little incentive to rush the starter back between the pipes."We can't rush a goalie back," Brind'Amour said. "He can't play with an injury. There's a difference with a goalie, I think. (Skaters) can kind of baby it a little, hide it. A goalie can't. He has to be 100 percent in order to feel good about making his moves and exploding."Mrazek and McEhlinney formed an admirable platoon during the regular season, but both netminders have elevated their play in the postseason.McElhinney, 35, became the oldest goalie to make his first playoff start in Game 3 and now has a chance to punch Carolina's ticket to the conference finals Friday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers have narrowed their general manager search to one of the most decorated executives of all time.The Oilers and Detroit Red Wings senior vice president Ken Holland have conducted extensive negotiations for Edmonton's general manager vacancy, sources told Sportsnet's Mark Spector. Holland will have full autonomy to hire and fire at will if he takes the job, Spector added.Essentially, Holland can take complete control of Edmonton's hockey operations if he wants the job.Mark Hunter, Sean Burke, and current interim GM Keith Gretzky reportedly remain contingency candidates if Holland declines the position.The Red Wings won three Stanley Cups during Holland's 22-year run as general manager. But Detroit named Steve Yzerman its new GM and executive vice president on April 19, removing Holland from his position of ultimate hockey operations authority in the process.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks forward Loui Eriksson admitted Wednesday he doesn't exactly see eye-to-eye with head coach Travis Green."The coach and I don't really get on 100 percent," he said in Swedish to Hockeysverige, according to Patrick Johnston of The Province. "It is difficult when I do not get the same trust that I received from all the other coaches I had during my career. Of course, it is tough on that front."Eriksson signed a six-year, $36-million contract on July 1, 2016, and has been the Canucks' highest-paid player since Henrik and Daniel Sedin retired at the end of last season. His tenure has been viewed as a major disappointment; he's scored just 32 times in three campaigns with Vancouver after recording a 30-goal campaign in his final year with the Boston Bruins."I haven't had so much ice time," Eriksson added. The 33-year-old averaged 14:04 minutes per game this season, his lowest average since 2007-08.Green has deflected most of the criticism to come Eriksson's way, notes Johnston, as the second-year bench boss has often defended the Swedish winger for doing the "little things" well."It feels like I'm still a good player in the league," said Eriksson, who's currently overseas preparing for the World Championship.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If anyone on the Carolina Hurricanes knows how rowdy the crowd at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Long Island can get, it's former New York Islanders defenseman Calvin de Haan.The Hurricanes haven't been forced to contend with such an atmosphere during their second-round series against the Islanders, as the first two games were played at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.De Haan, who spent his first five NHL seasons with the Islanders before signing a four-year contract with the Hurricanes last summer, believes the change in venue is to the detriment of his former club."It's great for us," De Haan told Newsday's Andrew Gross on Thursday. "It's good for the away team. It kind of negates the home-ice advantage to a certain extent. I've played there (the Coliseum) and it's loud and you do feed off of that. Whether you think of it or not, you do feed off the momentum of the crowd and it seemed to elevate everybody on the bench. But it is what it is. That's Mr. Bettman's decision, so, whatever."The Islanders split their home games between the two arenas during the regular season. It was announced that their first-round playoff series would be played at the Coliseum, but the remainder of their postseason would take place at the Barclays Center, citing that "Nassau Coliseum does not qualify as an NHL major-league facility."Playing the one series at the Coliseum required a letter from Nassau County executive Laura Curran to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. The Islanders took full advantage of the two contests played on Long Island, sweeping the Pittsburgh Penguins to begin the playoffs.Here's a look at the team's arena splits during the regular season:ArenaRecordAttendanceMax. capacityNassau Coliseum12-7-213 51413 900Barclays Center12-6-211 24815 795New York opened its second-round series against the Hurricanes by dropping two games at the Barclays Center and now finds itself trailing 3-0 with Game 4 slated for Friday in Raleigh.The Islanders moved to the Barclays Center in 2015 despite the arena being built primarily for basketball. Obstructed seating views and a lengthy commute from Long Island have drawn the ire of fans, while players have complained about poor ice conditions.Nassau Coliseum, the Islanders' sole home between 1974 and 2015, underwent renovations prior to the 2017-18 season. A $2.1-billion development project at Belmont Park, which includes a 19,000-seat arena for the Islanders, is expected to be ready by 2021.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, theScore colleagues Josh Wegman and Sean O'Leary join John to discuss the early stages of the postseason's second round. Topics include:

It's fair to wonder how differently Game 4 might have gone for the Blue Jackets in a parallel universe, one in which the NHL saw fit to suspend Brad Marchand for punching an unsuspecting Columbus defenseman in the back of the head.Granted, Tuukka Rask was brilliant, and the Jackets' only goal on 40 shots was the direct result of an egregious officiating error. But the Bruins' 4-1 win made clear that in a series where each goalie — Rask and Sergei Bobrovsky — has starred, their greatest advantage is the capability of their best forwards to take over at a moment's notice.With Marchand let off unscathed, Boston head coach Bruce Cassidy reunited him, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak on Thursday after deploying that trio sparingly at even strength in Games 1, 2, and 3. Neither Marchand nor Bergeron had registered a point in this series alongside fill-in linemate Danton Heinen, and it didn't take them long at all to atone for that shortfall.Kirk Irwin / Getty ImagesBy combining to score three goals, two of which rippled the twine behind Bobrovsky before the game was eight minutes old, Marchand, Bergeron, and Pastrnak finally mustered a sufficient response to Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene, and Cam Atkinson, whose cumulative offensive production — four goals and five assists entering the night — had helped power Columbus to a 2-1 series lead.Each of those goals developed through tidy combination play. On the first, Pastrnak buried a cross-ice pass from Charlie McAvoy from the left faceoff circle as Marchand and Bergeron occupied attention on the weak side. Marchand set up Bergeron for his first power-play tally; Bergeron's second came courtesy of a rebound Pastrnak created with a lethal one-timer.

Jamie Benn had a simple explanation for the extracurricular activities between his Dallas Stars and the St. Louis Blues in Game 4 on Wednesday night."Just a bunch of grown men being donkeys out there," the Stars captain told reporters postgame, according to NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger.Late in the second period of Dallas' 4-2 victory, St. Louis forward David Perron slashed Stars goaltender Ben Bishop in the back.

Before this week, Curtis McElhinney had appeared in all of two playoff games in his 11 years as an NHL goaltender, and one of those took place a decade ago.Still, it probably shouldn't come as a surprise that in this zany Carolina Hurricanes postseason run, McElhinney - like so many of his teammates - has delivered when pressed into action.Ever since the injured Petr Mrazek ceded his crease to McElhinney midway through Game 2 against the New York Islanders, Carolina's backup has stopped 45 of the 47 shots he's faced. That includes 28 saves on Wednesday, when the 35-year-old McElhinney became the oldest goalie in league history to make his first playoff start and his surging club moved within a win of the Eastern Conference Final.Grant Halverson / Getty ImagesReserve netminders aren't supposed to look impregnable, especially against an opponent that advanced to the second round via a sweep. But Mrazek and McElhinney have combined to yield just three goals in three games - all Hurricanes victories - and the Isles appear bound to suffer the same fate they just imposed on the Pittsburgh Penguins.The Canes' performance in their 5-2 win in Game 3 was well in line with the ethos that has gotten them this far. Through 10 postseason games - and particularly in their past eight, of which they've won seven - it seems like Carolina's always had a "next man" ready to rise to the occasion.Five Hurricanes have scored at least three goals in these playoffs, and three others have tallied a game-winner. The team didn't stumble when forwards Andrei Svechnikov, Micheal Ferland, and Jordan Martinook all went down in the first round with various injuries. The same goes for life without Mrazek, Saku Maenalanen, and Trevor van Riemsdyk, all of whom were hurt in Game 2 against New York.And how emphatically did Carolina put the "bunch" in Bunch of Jerks on Wednesday? Every single Hurricanes skater finished Game 3 with positive shot-attempt and scoring-chance ratios at even strength, signifying that New York had a lesser chance of scoring for practically the entire game.Karl DeBlaker / National Hockey League / Getty ImagesThe Hurricanes' dominance was especially pronounced in the third period, which began tied 2-2 and ended with the Islanders robbed of all but the faintest hope of coming back in this series.In that final frame, Carolina had eight scoring chances to New York's three, including a 5-0 edge in quality chances. Even after Justin Williams scored to put the Hurricanes ahead 3-2 with 9:45 remaining - assisted by Sebastian Aho's midair interception of Robin Lehner's attempted clearance around the boards - they continued to control the run of play despite the Isles having an incentive to push aggressively for a tying goal.Given how well his team played, McElhinney's effort didn't have to be Herculean, but he did make a tremendous toe save on Nick Leddy when Jordan Eberle sprung the defenseman for a breakaway in the second period, and made another with his glove when Eberle tried to pot the rebound. That was plenty on a night when the Isles generated only six quality scoring chances, far fewer than the 10.5 they averaged in the first two games.It's hard to fathom any way New York could mount a miracle comeback. Any such blueprint would probably start with Lehner playing lights-out - his .915 save percentage at even strength in this series is significantly below his .934 regular-season mark - but at some point, they'd actually have to score. It's easier to forgive Brock Nelson for tapping McElhinney's head when you consider it came after his team's first and only goal at five-on-five through three games.Karl DeBlaker / National Hockey League / Getty ImagesWhen the Islanders are inevitably eliminated, they'll rue not capitalizing on opportunities to win Games 1 and 2, in which they could have legitimately claimed to be the better team.However, the Hurricanes fully earned their Game 3 victory, even as their power play failed to score for the seventh straight contest. Pretty much everything else is playing out in their favor - McElhinney being the latest embodiment of that trend.Dallas flexes scoring depthStars head coach Jim Montgomery's successful decision to tweak his top two lines ahead of Game 4 on Wednesday accentuated the reason his team has kept pace with the St. Louis Blues: Dallas is getting secondary scoring.Rather than forging ahead with Tyler Seguin centering Jamie Benn and Alexander Radulov - the trio that netted 89 of the Stars' 209 goals this season - Montgomery shifted Seguin to the second line and promoted flourishing Finnish 22-year-old Roope Hintz in his place.The shakeup worked out happily for everyone involved, as Dallas won 4-2 on the strength of three terrific joint efforts from the members of those two lines: Seguin won a puck battle to feed new linemate Jason Dickinson for a tap-in; Dickinson, Mats Zuccarello, and Seguin all made key plays to set up a John Klingberg goal; and Hintz scored to reward Radulov and Benn for two consecutive pretty passes.Ronald Martinez / Getty ImagesHintz now has five goals in these playoffs, tied with Radulov for the team lead. Seguin, Dickinson, and Zuccarello have all scored three times, while Benn has contributed two goals and seven assists.Their combined production has fortified Dallas' offensive punch in a series where Vezina Trophy finalist Ben Bishop - he of the .945 save percentage against the Nashville Predators in Round 1 - has looked shockingly beatable (.906 save percentage through four games).Even in a 2-2 series, it's remarkable how little separates these teams. The Stars and Blues have each scored nine goals at even strength, while Dallas has a modest edge in total scoring chances at 123-119.Like Bishop, St. Louis netminder Jordan Binnington has fared worse than expected (.904 save percentage) after his sterling second half of the regular season, mainly thanks to Dallas' aforementioned top-six forward group.Does either goalie have a shutdown showing in him? In what's now a best-of-three matchup, it could make all the difference.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tuukka Rask and the Boston Bruins emerged victorious in Game 4 against the Columbus Blue Jackets Thursday, but that didn't stop them from questioning a controversial non-call.Following the 4-1 win, the Bruins goaltender said it's "crazy" that Blue Jackets forward Artemi Panarin's goal couldn't be looked at after the fact, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Panarin's first-period goal wasn't reviewed even though the puck touched the netting protecting spectators earlier in the play. The officials didn't initially see it hit the netting, and the play wasn't eligible for video review.Rask admitted postgame he didn't notice it, either.“If I saw it, then I would have probably slammed the stick and chased the refs," the netminder said.David Backes took a more calm approach."Let's take a deep breath and get it right," he said, according to The Boston Globe's Matt Porter.Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy hadn't gotten a good enough look when asked about it postgame, but he appeared to wonder how the call was missed.

Renowned neuropathologist Dr. Ann McKee claims NHL commissioner Gary Bettman inaccurately described what she told him seven years ago when he recalled their discussion during his testimony in Ottawa this week."Mr. Bettman misrepresented our 2012 conversation," McKee wrote in a statement Thursday, according to TSN's Rick Westhead. "Our research at Boston University and the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank clearly shows that chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is associated with ice hockey play."While testifying before a subcommittee on sports-related concussions on Parliament Hill Wednesday, Bettman gave his account of their meeting."Dr. Ann McKee ... told me in my office that hockey and football are not the same," the commissioner said. "We don't have the repetitive head contact and impact that some of the other sports do. While we understand that this is an issue that needs to be constantly followed and focused on, there have not been conclusive determinations."McKee, an expert in degenerative brain conditions who was named one of TIME's 100 most influential people in 2018, outlined the evidence that supports her conclusion."We have found CTE in every former NHL player we have examined and we have also found it in amateur hockey players, some of whom had no significant fighting exposure," she wrote in Thursday's statement. "We would be delighted to have Mr. Bettman visit the Brain Bank and discuss our research on CTE and repetitive brain trauma so that any future statements will more accurately reflect the state of the science."Bettman also testified Wednesday that he believes banning hits to the head would eliminate body checking altogether.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former NHL defenseman John Erskine was severely injured in a highway accident early Wednesday morning, his former agent, Pat Morris, confirmed to TSN's Rick Westhead.According to the Ontario Provincial Police, a collision occurred at 12:48 a.m. Wednesday morning on Highway 401 near the town of Napanee, Ont., after a pickup truck collided with a transport truck while driving the wrong way in the eastbound lanes.Morris said his former client is hospitalized with severe injuries but did not have any further information.Police arrested the driver of the pickup truck, a 38-year-old man from Elginburg, Ont., at the scene of the collision. He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the OPP. The driver of the transport truck was not injured.An investigation into the accident continues and charges have not yet been laid, OPP spokeswoman Const. Shannon Cork told Westhead on Thursday.A second-round pick of the Dallas Stars in 1998, Erskine played 491 NHL contests split between the Stars, New York Islanders, and Washington Capitals. The Kingston, Ont., native last played in the league in April 2014.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey Hall of Famer Red Kelly died Thursday at the age of 91, his family announced.Kelly spent the first 13 years of his career as a Detroit Red Wings defenseman, winning four Stanley Cups, three Lady Byng trophies, and one Norris Trophy, and collecting 472 points in 846 games along the way.The Simcoe, Ontario native played the next eight years with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs moved him to center and he succeeded after the position change, tallying 351 points in 470 games while adding another Lady Byng and four more Stanley Cups to his resume.Kelly won more Stanley Cups than any player in NHL history to not play for the Montreal Canadiens.He also enjoyed a 10-year coaching career. The legend even dipped his toes into politics before his playing days ended, as he was elected to the House of Commons in 1962.Kelly was named to the "100 Greatest NHL Players" list in 2017. Both the Maple Leafs and Red Wings have retired his No. 4.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

More than 200 of the world's top female hockey players have agreed to boycott North American professional leagues for the 2019-2020 season in an effort to alter the direction of women's hockey and push for a sustainable professional league."We will not play in any professional leagues in North America this season until we get the resources that professional hockey demands and deserves," read a prepared statement published Thursday morning.The group of players includes U.S. national team star Hilary Knight and Canadian icon Marie-Philip Poulin."We cannot make a sustainable living playing in the current state of the professional game. Having no health insurance and making as low as $2,000 a season means players can't adequately train and prepare to play at the highest level," the statement adds."It's time for a long-term, viable professional league that will showcase the greatest product of women's professional hockey in the world."The NWHL is the only remaining professional women's league. The Canadian Women's Hockey League folded March 31 after 12 years of operation."The thought of not playing in a pro league is daunting and nerve-racking," said Knight, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie. "But we firmly believe we're doing the right thing for our sport and that when we do play, we will do so in a league that embodies the values of our game."We can see where our game is now and where it has to be in order to be sustainable in the long term."NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has repeatedly stated the NHL will not involve itself in the operations of the NWHL. The NHL previously gave $50,000 annually to both the CWHL and the NWHL, upping its NWHL contribution to $100,000 after the CWHL ceased operations.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The night the San Jose Sharks shot seven pucks past Michael DiPietro, his phone wouldn't stop pinging with messages of consolation.The Vancouver Canucks prospect got lit up in his surprise NHL debut at age 19. Without a healthy backup goalie available, he was stranded in the crease for all 60 minutes of what became a 7-2 loss."You don't see many of those in the Ontario Hockey League," Sportsnet color commentator John Garrett said on the Canucks' TV broadcast after Evander Kane scored San Jose's fourth goal on a nasty top-shelf wrister.DiPietro's family and friends were sad and sorry about the barrage to which he'd been subjected. His perspective, though, was radically different.Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / Getty Images"I played one of the best teams in the NHL, a veteran lineup, and I had a ton of fun doing it," DiPietro says now. "It was a dream come true, and the teammates in Vancouver were absolutely phenomenal with me, keeping my spirits up and cheering me on."I let in seven goals, but looking back on it, those seven goals I can learn from."It's unlikely that any player in hockey has experienced as wild a season as DiPietro, the Canucks' possible netminder of the future. In late December and early January, he endeared himself to Canada by allowing a mere five goals on 103 shots at the world junior championship in Vancouver. One of those goals, however, was an inconceivably fluky ricochet off an opponent's skate in a 2-1 quarterfinal loss to Finland.Your browser does not support the video tag. TSNCanucks fans were reintroduced to DiPietro on Feb. 4, when the team, beset by goalie injuries, summoned him from the OHL's Ottawa 67s to back up Jacob Markstrom. The Windsor, Ontario, native would watch and learn from the bench for a couple of weeks as Thatcher Demko nursed a sprained knee.That was the plan - at least until Feb. 11, when Markstrom's back began to spasm and DiPietro was forced to face Kane, Tomas Hertl, Timo Meier, and Joe Pavelski, a quartet of 30-goal scorers who all beat him at least once that night.Those experiences against Finland and San Jose might have tanked most other teenagers' play, but few prospects seem to be wired like DiPietro, the OHL's goalie of the year in 2017-18. A 6-footer, he's long been knocked for being short for the position, but he's always felt mature for his age. He says he thrives on pressure - "Call me crazy, call me whatever, but that's just something I love to do" - and considers his battle and his drive to be the twin attributes that define his game."I'll do whatever it takes to stop a puck," he says.That mentality has translated into consistently positive results for his whole junior career, which itself has been anything but typical. In 2016-17, DiPietro backstopped his hometown Windsor Spitfires to a Memorial Cup championship - before he ever won an OHL playoff series. (Windsor lost in the first round and spent the next 44 days practicing before playing in the national tournament as hosts.) The Canucks drafted him 64th overall in 2017. Michael DiPietro's 2018-19 seasonSept. 20Windsor Spitfires open OHL seasonDec. 4Spitfires trade DiPietro to Ottawa 67sDec. 10Canada's world-junior selection camp beginsDec. 14DiPietro named to Team CanadaDec. 26World juniors begin in VancouverJan. 2Canada loses 2-1 to Finland in quarterfinalsFeb. 4Canucks recall DiPietro from 67sFeb. 11DiPietro allows 7 goals in emergency NHL debutFeb. 13Canucks return DiPietro to 67sMarch 1767s finish with OHL's best record (50-12-6)March 2767s sweep Hamilton Bulldogs in Round 1April 1167s sweep Sudbury Wolves in Round 2April 2467s sweep Oshawa Generals in Round 3The rebuilding Spitfires traded DiPietro to the ascendant 67s shortly before he left for the world juniors this past December, which brings us to the final phase of his one-of-a-kind season. By winning 12 consecutive games to open the OHL playoffs - sweeping three Eastern Conference opponents in the process - DiPietro and Ottawa are within striking distance of a Memorial Cup trip of their own."In the playoffs, right now, I think we're seeing what he's really all about," says 67s head coach Andre Tourigny, whose team will face the Western Conference champion Guelph Storm in the OHL's best-of-seven final starting Thursday."He's making key saves, keeping us in the game all the time. The more the game is on the line, the better he is."Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesFacing an average of 28 shots per game, DiPietro has recorded a .913 save percentage in these playoffs. In the high-scoring OHL, that slots him third among goalies whose team advanced past the first round. In Game 4 of the second round, his 58 saves powered Ottawa to a 3-2 triple-overtime win that eliminated the Sudbury Wolves. Their starter, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, tended goal for Finland when that team won gold at the world juniors and was picked 10 spots ahead of DiPietro in the 2017 draft.What skills have enabled DiPietro to become a junior star since the Canucks selected him? Different observers point to different strengths. Tourigny praises DiPietro's reaction time, lateral quickness, and competitiveness. DiPietro's agent, Darren Ferris, lauds his client's technical ability, his character, and his insatiable desire to excel and to win.SeasonGPSV%OHL rank (min. 25 GP)2015-1629.9126th2016-1751.9173rd2017-1856.9105th2018-1938.9113rdDiPietro's drive helped convince Hockey Canada head scout Brad McEwen to invite him to the country's two most recent world-junior selection camps. His assessment: DiPietro doesn't get rattled and finds a way to make saves on broken plays, a trait that compensates for his relative lack of size.DiPietro was a late cut from Canada's 2018 world junior team. (Philadelphia Flyers rookie Carter Hart wound up leading the team to gold, supplemented by Dallas Stars prospect Colton Point.) But he handled his release graciously, and by the time DiPietro left the Canadians' pre-tournament headquarters, McEwen was already confident he'd want him to start the following year."If there's anybody that can handle adversity, it's Michael," says Ferris, whose DHG Sports Agency also represents Taylor Hall, Mitch Marner, and several other NHLers."It's going to be an easy transition for him (to professional hockey). His next steps, the path he has to take, I think, will probably be a lot more accommodating for him because of his maturity. He handles everything just like a pro."

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 4, Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Garret Sparks walks us through the finer details of two masks he wore during the 2018-19 season. From graffiti to Fortnite to Illinois to the Humboldt Broncos, Sparks is inspired by a variety of things - and it shows in his mask art.Previously in this series:

Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews underwent a procedure Thursday to remove surgical hardware from a 2014 surgery, the team announced. The procedure won't disrupt his summer on-ice program.Matthews suffered a broken femur from a knee-on-knee collision while playing for the USA Hockey U17 National Team Development Program in September 2013. The injury eventually required surgery.The 21-year-old center recently declined an invitation to play for the U.S. at the upcoming World Championship.Matthews tallied 37 goals and 73 points in 68 games in his third NHL season. He added five more goals and an assist in seven postseason contests against the Boston Bruins.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kelly McCrimmon will be the new general manager of the Vegas Golden Knights, the team announced Thursday, removing McCrimmon from the list of potential candidates to fill the GM position for the Edmonton Oilers.McCrimmon slots in for George McPhee, who remains Golden Knights president of hockey operations and will continue to be responsible for all hockey operations decisions. The changes become effective Sept. 1.Vegas hired the 58-year-old McCrimmon as assistant general manager in 2016 and he has been with the club since.The Oilers reportedly requested permission to interview McCrimmon in April once the Golden Knights completed their end-of-season procedures.Mark Hunter, Sean Burke, and Keith Gretzky are apparently the remaining candidates for the Edmonton position, reports TSN's Darren Dreger. Gretzky has acted as interim general manager since the Oilers fired Peter Chiarelli in January.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gary Bettman believes outlawing all head contact would bring about the decline of hitting as a whole.The NHL commissioner insisted as much while testifying before a subcommittee on sports-related concussions on Parliament Hill in Ottawa Wednesday.“There would be no more body checking in the game,” Bettman said when asked about the possibility of implementing a more strict rule governing hits to the head, according to The Canadian Press.The commissioner's reasoning was that larger players would be penalized for unavoidable headshots on smaller players in the normal course of play.Bettman pointed to Rule 48, which bans hits on which the head is the main point of contact, and said he doesn't believe the league can go beyond that to reduce head contact.The commissioner also reiterated his long-held stance that there isn't sufficient evidence to link hockey concussions and CTE, a brain condition associated with repeated blows to the head."I don’t believe there has been, based on everything I’ve been told - and if anybody has information to the contrary, we’d be happy to hear it - other than some anecdotal evidence, there has not been that conclusive link," Bettman said.The NFL affirmed a link between CTE and playing football in 2016.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Detroit Red Wings superstar Pavel Datsyuk announced on Wednesday that he won't be returning to SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL next season.The Magic Man didn't announce his next move, but Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports Datsyuk and Red Wings senior vice president Ken Holland had discussions about a possible return to Detroit before Steve Yzerman took over as general manager.Datsyuk's agent, Dan Milstein, said the Red Wings would be his clients' only landing spot should he return to the NHL."The only team he'd play for in the National Hockey League would be the Detroit Red Wings," Milstein told Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News. "With that said, if he was to entertain returning to the NHL, I would be speaking to (Arizona Coyotes general manager) John Chayka before I would approach anyone else."Datsyuk left for the KHL after the 2015-16 season with one year left on his NHL deal. Detroit dealt his contract to the Coyotes, who own his rights until he officially becomes an unrestricted free agent July 1.The 40-year-old remained a star after he left North America, amassing 111 points in 135 games in the KHL while also captaining the Olympic Athletes from Russia to gold in 2018.Datsyuk carved out a surefire Hall of Fame career during this NHL tenure, registering 918 points over 14 seasons while winning two Stanley Cups, four Lady Byng Trophies, and three Selkes.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gary Bettman says Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand should have been assessed a penalty for his sucker punch to the back of Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Scott Harrington's head Tuesday night."That play should have been penalized," the NHL commissioner told Canadian lawmakers while testifying before a subcommittee on sports-related concussions on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, according to TSN's Rick Westhead. "Sometimes things are missed on the ice. Our officials must have the most difficult job in sports."Bettman told the panel that the NHL Department of Player Safety has warned Marchand about his behavior and that if it's repeated, "he should look forward to a suspension."Marchand punched Harrington from behind after the whistle late in the Blue Jackets' Game 3 victory. He wasn't given a penalty and is reportedly expected to avoid a suspension and fine.Last May, the NHL said it warned the talented Bruins pest that "similar behavior in the future will be dealt with by way of supplemental discipline" after he licked the face of then-Toronto Maple Leafs forward Leo Komarov.At Wednesday's testimony, Bettman once again refused to acknowledge a link between repeated brain trauma and CTE, a brain condition associated with repeated blows to the head.The commissioner also said banning all hits to the head wouldn't be feasible if the NHL "is to be maintained as a physical contact sport."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrei Svechnikov is on the mend.The young Carolina Hurricanes forward returned to the lineup Wednesday for Game 3 against the New York Islanders.Svechnikov was injured in a fight with Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin in Game 3 of the Hurricanes' first-round series and hadn't played since.The 19-year-old had been in concussion protocol since leaving that contest on April 15.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers forward Milan Lucic spoke candidly Wednesday about the prospect of playing for his hometown Vancouver Canucks before his career comes to an end."It's definitely something I wouldn't rule out. It's obviously something that could still happen," Lucic said on Sportsnet 650. "Things haven't gone that well for me here with the Oilers, especially the last year and a half. New GM, new coach, which haven't even been named yet, so you don't know what their plan is moving forward and stuff like that. It's definitely something that potentially could happen."Lucic signed a seven-year, $42-million contract with the Oilers on July 1, 2016. Barring a potential buyout to his bonus-heavy contract, Lucic likely isn't going anywhere in the foreseeable future.The hulking power forward's production has decreased each year since joining the Oilers, capped by a six-goal, 20-point campaign this past season.Neither Edmonton or Vancouver were in the thick of the playoff hunt this season, but Lucic raved about the growth of the Canucks."I think the Canucks right now are a very exciting team," Lucic said. "I love what Jim's done as far as building the team within through the draft and developing players, he's done a great job of that. I think Travis (Green) has done a real good job as well from a coaching standpoint. It's an exciting team, it's a growing team, and you never know what the future has in store for you."I remember doing an interview in '07 before the (Memorial) Cup and I said it would always be a dream of mine to someday play for the Canucks, and you still have that kid inside of you, you still have that dream of playing for your hometown team and like I said you never know what the future has in store."Lucic starred for the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League prior to breaking into the NHL as a 19-year-old with the Boston Bruins.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey fans have been spoiled of late with seemingly deep drafts, but 2019 is a bit different. The strength of this class seems to lie mostly at the top, with a chunk of potential diamond-in-the-rough players in the middle.Slots three through 15 could play out in any number of ways. Many overagers returning to the draft pool have made quite an impression and could skew things - Brett Leason of the Prince Albert Raiders chief among them.Here's our first attempt at projecting what general managers and scouting staffs may do with this year's crop of players.Editor's note: Draft order determined by NHL standings along with certain assumptions made by theScore regarding playoff results.1. New Jersey Devils - Jack Hughes, C, USNTDPIt's difficult to imagine a world in which the Devils don't take American center Jack Hughes first overall. It's not impossible, of course (nothing is until the draft is done), but it's difficult. Everything about Hughes' game is designed for the modern NHL. He skates fast and thinks faster. He can make opponents look silly. If someone tells you he's too small or will get outmuscled by NHLers, remind them that the NTDP U18s play against college teams with some players as old as 24. Size won't be an issue for Hughes.2. New York Rangers - Kaapo Kakko, RW, LiigaKevin Light / Getty Images Sport / GettyKakko is more than a consolation prize for the Rangers. He's skilled to the point that some pundits argue he could potentially be selected first. While we're confident Hughes is going No. 1, there is a divide between Kakko and the next group of players in this year's class. He's strong on the puck and efficient away from it, and he uses his impressive puck skills and hockey sense to torment the opposition.3. Chicago Blackhawks - Alex Turcotte, C, USNTDPTop five is where I've wanted to rank Turcotte all season, and it's where I had him on our first couple Big Boards. Since our most recent Big Board, he returned from injury (though later missed a few more games due to a different one) and showed how consistently and truly good he can be. Turcotte's tenacity and hockey IQ may prove difficult to pass up for a Blackhawks team that is creeping ever closer to the end of the Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane era. Bonus: If Turcotte manages to make the team while the two Chicago stalwarts are still playing, his style of play will slot in neatly alongside theirs.4. Colorado Avalanche (via Ottawa) - Kirby Dach, C, WHLThe Avalanche may not be drafting first overall thanks to the Senators, but they still stand to walk away with a good player. Despite being 6-foot-4, Dach isn't unwieldy. He's not the best skater in the class, but it's a positive when a prospect that tall still has good agility and edge work. Dach pairs his size and skating with a high offensive ceiling, and he'll become a more consistent player as he develops.5. Los Angeles Kings - Vasili Podkolzin, RW, MHLThere are enough high-end facets to Podkolzin's game to make him worth taking a chance on. His acceleration is above average, he's smart and tenacious with and without the puck, and he's got an excellent wrist shot. Don't let the bias against Russian players fool you - if Podkolzin's drafted by a team that's dedicated to his development, he projects to be a solid NHLer.6. Detroit Red Wings - Cole Caufield, C/RW, USNTDPCaufield is arguably the best goal-scorer in this draft class. A final tally of 72 goals in 64 games (1.12 per game) is difficult to debate, especially when you sit down and watch him score those goals - he's not just padding his stats by picking up passes from linemates (including projected No. 1 pick Hughes). Steve Yzerman is in charge in Detroit now, and we all know he's not afraid to take a chance on smaller skill guys. With the Red Wings in rebuild mode, there's very little downside to adding Caufield.7. Buffalo Sabres - Bowen Byram, D, WHLMarissa Baecker / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhile this year's crop of defensemen isn't as strong as last year's, Byram is eye-catching. He's a fantastic skater with a fluid stride and very good top speed, and he's just as good skating backward. One of the best parts of his game is his vision - it lets him read the best options to get a pass to a teammate through traffic, or to find or create shooting lanes for himself.8. Edmonton Oilers - Peyton Krebs, C, WHLKrebs has passed Dylan Cozens on our list, and here's why: Despite playing on a dramatically bad team (the Kootenay Ice won 13 of 68 games this season), Krebs averaged more than a point per game, and over 70 percent of those were primary points. That's not easy to do, especially as a draft-eligible player. Underlying numbers, including but not limited to controlled entries, indicate Krebs drives play a bit more than Cozens. The Oilers are in a tough spot. Adding more young guys who can drive offense and, in Krebs' case, who aren't afraid to get involved physically can only be a good thing.9. Anaheim Ducks - Trevor Zegras, C/W, USNTDPAfter a bleak season, adding Zegras to the standouts already in their prospect pool could offer a light at the end of the tunnel for the Ducks. Zegras marries stellar hockey sense, which allows him to anticipate the flow of the game and create plays, with high-end acceleration and puck skills. He's also effective in his own zone, using that hockey sense to limit opponents' opportunities. He's headed to Boston University in the fall where he'll have the opportunity to add strength while continuing his development.10. Vancouver Canucks - Dylan Cozens, C/RW, WHLIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyCanucks fans were likely hoping for that top lottery slot so that the Hughes brothers could be reunited, but Vancouver can still add a solid player at No. 10. Cozens is a very good prospect, despite the fact Krebs and Dach passed him in our mock. He comes with a high offensive ceiling and terrific goal-scoring ability. Any concerns about his ability to drive play can be addressed in his development. He reads his options on the ice fairly well, and while he can sometimes skate into trouble, his skating itself (including his first step and top speed) is high end.11. Philadelphia Flyers - Matthew Boldy, LW, USNTDPThe last NTDP left winger the Flyers took has worked out OK so far, eh? While Boldy is a completely different player than Joel Farabee - not quite as relentless on the forecheck, for example, and perhaps more creative as a playmaker - there's a lot to like about the kid. He'd probably be a valid choice inside the top 10 as well as just outside it. He's got an NHL-level release, and he can set up his teammates as well as he can score himself. His vision allows him to read the play and know when to strike or when to hesitate. His defensive play noticeably improved over the course of the season, too.12. Minnesota Wild - Alex Newhook, C, BCHLNewhook is another player who could go just about anywhere in that No. 7-15 range, and he's likely underrated by some due to playing in the BCHL. His 102 points in 53 games this season stand out, but it's not just the numbers that make him a legitimate top prospect. He's fast and agile, and his high-end hockey sense allows him to make the right decision at top speed.13. Florida Panthers - Philip Broberg, D, AllsvenskanBroberg is down from his spot on our most recent board, but that has more to do with what the players ahead of him accomplished than his own performance. He looked good at the recent U18 worlds and impressed in the Swedish second-tier men's league this season. Hallmarks of Broberg's game include exceptional positioning, fluid skating, and elite hockey sense that allows him to see where the game is and where it could go. He can play in all situations, and while he could stand to improve his shooting accuracy, he has good offensive instincts.14. Arizona Coyotes - Pavel Dorofeyev, LW/RW, MHLThough Dorofeyev struggled to translate his scoring touch in the MHL to higher levels, he saw action in both the KHL and the Spengler Cup this season - valuable experience for a crafty young forward who shows lots of promise. He doesn't just drive play offensively; he's also active and perceptive in his own end. However, he needs to become a more explosive skater to grow into the dynamo he could be thanks to his creative puck skills and excellent vision. His top speed is good, not great, and he needs a better first step. Fortunately, those capabilities can be developed.15. Montreal Canadiens - Arthur Kaliyev, LW, OHLMarissa Baecker / Getty Images Sport / GettyKaliyev is right behind Caufield as the class' best scorer, with 51 goals in 67 games this season. He's got a terrific shot arsenal, and his puck skills make him difficult to defend. He needs to be better in his own end, but that comes with time, and his goal-scoring talent is elite enough to make him worth the risk. One thing he absolutely needs to improve, however, is his skating - specifically, his first step and top speed. If he does, he'll be a far more well-rounded prospect and will absolutely benefit the Canadiens.16. Avalanche - Philip Tomasino, C, OHLTomasino has experience playing down the middle and on the wing, and he's sharpened the defensive aspect of his game enough that, with his hockey sense and skating ability (he's got terrific speed and edge work), he could very well succeed as a center at the next level. In order to do that, he'll need to improve both his positioning and upper-body strength, but his work ethic is strong enough that that's not as concerning as it might be for other prospects.17. Vegas Golden Knights - Cam York, D, USNTDPYork is a solid, complete two-way defender. His hockey sense is high end, lending itself to smart decision-making under pressure and excellent passing ability, though he could stand to get his own shot on net more consistently. (That area of his game looked more promising at the U18 worlds, where he scored four goals in seven games.) One particularly useful aspect of his skating is his agility, which allows him to pivot and change direction at the drop of a hat. His top speed may not be great, but his quick reaction time helps him get off on the right foot, so to speak.18. Dallas Stars - Bobby Brink, RW, USHLBrink seems to make things happen every time he's on the ice. He's an explosive and agile skater who can make high-quality plays at his top speed. Brink is also good in his own end, anticipating the moves of opponents and using that knowledge to position himself to force turnovers. He's committed to the University of Denver, where he'll have the opportunity to round out his game against college competition.19. Ottawa Senators (via Columbus) - Matthew Robertson, D, WHLAt 6-foot-4, Robertson is surprisingly mobile, with above-average speed in both directions. He's smart, maintains good gap control, and knows when to jump up into the play (and, more importantly, when not to). He can start the rush and make sneaky-good passes to his teammates, using his agility to create shooting lanes. While he may never put up high-end offensive numbers himself, it wouldn't be surprising to see Robertson help drive play.20. Carolina Hurricanes - Ryan Suzuki, C, OHLVaughn Ridley / Getty Images Sport / GettySuzuki is incredibly gifted offensively. The younger brother of Canadiens prospect Nick Suzuki, Ryan has terrific hands and is flashier with the puck than Nick. He also goes in hard on the forecheck, using his instincts to force turnovers that he can sometimes turn into opportunities the other way. He's got a burning top speed, thinks the game at a very high level, and is just plain fun to watch. He'd be a fine addition to the Hurricanes' group of young forwards, though he'll probably spend another year in the OHL first.21. Rangers (via Winnipeg) - Victor Soderstrom, D, SHLThe Rangers got the forward their rebuild needed in Kakko. Now it's time to nab a defenseman. Soderstrom played in the top Swedish league this season, and his seven points were the most for any U18 player who appeared in the league this year. His elite skating allows him to pivot quickly and transition from offense to defense - crucial in today's NHL. His vision and puck skills are also high end.22. Pittsburgh Penguins - Connor McMichael, C, OHLConnor McWho? He's no McDavid, but Connor McMichael is a valuable prospect, and with more opportunity this season came more production. Last year, McMichael had six points in 28 games. This year, he put up 72 points in 67 games - and 63 of those were primary points. His production is driven by excellent hockey sense and puck skills, and he's strong in his own zone as well. It's time for Pittsburgh to stop trading away first-round picks and start restocking the cupboards, and a smart player like McMichael would be a great place to start.23. Kings (via Toronto) - Ville Heinola, D, LiigaAnother draft-eligible defenseman who spent the season in a top European men's league, Heinola also won gold with Finland at the 2019 world juniors. A strong and agile skater, he could stand to improve his first step and get a bit quicker. Still, his mobility, combined with the vision to effectively start the transition game and create opportunities for his teammates, would make selecting him a step in the right direction for L.A.24. Nashville Predators - Raphael Lavoie, C/RW, QMJHLLavoie has shown consistent offensive improvement over his three years with the Halifax Mooseheads, who seem to continually churn out NHL-caliber forwards. He's another prospect with NHL size, already standing 6-foot-4, and he's quite agile and fast considering. One of the highlights of his game is his quick release, but he's also got the vision to be an effective playmaker.25. Washington Capitals - Egor Afanasyev, C, USHLAs Muskegon's top-line center, Afanasyev made a strong case for himself to be a first-round pick this year. He's got excellent hands, and his offensive production leaped from 14 points in 45 games last season to 62 in 58. More importantly, he has elite skating ability, with good edge work that allows him to be elusive and a smooth, fluid stride. While he could improve his decision-making in his own end, the rest of his game is appealing enough to take a chance on.26. Calgary Flames - Samuel Poulin, LW, QMJHLPoulin is another player with impressive primary point production: 62 of his 76 points came from either goals or primary assists. He's a power-forward type, with the size that more traditional scouts like to see combined with a killer shot, passionate work ethic, and good puck-protection skills. He needs to work on his first step to improve his quickness and be more explosive in his skating.27. Tampa Bay Lightning - Moritz Seider, D, DELKeep an eye on Seider, who's been ranked anywhere from 11th to 27th this year. The German defenseman played in the top German men's league this season and helped his teammates win D1A world juniors gold. Seider is a great skater with good vision and strong shots. He sometimes gets out of position in his own end while looking for a hit, but that part of his game can be coached and developed.28. New York Islanders - Jakob Pelletier, LW, QMJHLAt 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds, Pelletier is small by hockey standards, but in a draft with Cole Caufield, no one should care about that. Pelletier is an excellent skater (particularly when it comes to his first step and acceleration), and his hockey IQ allows him to read his options and make the best play for the situation, setting up his teammates for quality opportunities. His defensive positioning could use work, but he's got time.29. Ducks (via St. Louis) - Brett Leason, C, WHLMarissa Baecker / Getty Images Sport / GettyLeason will be 20 years old by the time of the draft - which would make it very unusual for him to be chosen in the first round - but he's consistently been ranked either inside or just barely outside the first round for good reason. He can score effectively thanks to his quick release, he's got quality vision that allows him to set up teammates, and he's dramatically improved his skating over the last season or so. Plus, scuttlebutt suggests that scouts just really like the guy. Realistically, Leason will probably fall to the second round, but the Ducks are in a position to take a chance with their second first-round pick.30. Buffalo Sabres (via San Jose) - Albin Grewe, RW, SuperElitGrewe is another prospect more likely to go in the second round than the first, but with the Sabres' second pick, they're playing with house money. Grewe's been a power-forward type in the SuperElit, with good vision and slick puck skills. His energy is relentless, and he's one of the hardest-working guys whenever he's on the ice. If he can translate his offensive production to a higher league, he'll be a solid addition to Buffalo's top six down the road.31. Boston Bruins - Robert Mastrosimone, C, USHLMastrosimone is perhaps a slight reach at No. 31, but at this point in the first round, there's too much to like about his game, starting with the fact that 51 of his 60 regular-season points were primary. He's a goal-scorer for sure, and his skating improved over the season (though it could still stand to get better). Bonus: He'll be right in the Bruins' backyard at Boston University next season, where he'll have plenty of opportunities to keep developing his game away from the puck.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jack Hughes will get one more chance to showcase his talents prior to the 2019 NHL Draft, as the projected No. 1 overall pick was added to the United States' World Championship roster for the upcoming tournament in Slovakia, the program announced Wednesday.At 17 years old, Hughes will be the youngest American player in the history of the tournament, according to NHL.com. He'll turn 18 on May 14.Hughes has been considered the top prospect in the 2019 draft for years. This season, he lived up to the hype while playing for the U.S. National Team Development Program, posting 112 points in 50 games.The dynamic center has already represented the stars and stripes numerous times during his junior career. He recently broke Alex Ovechkin's scoring record at the IIHF World Under-18 Championship with 32 points in 14 games over a two-year span.Hughes will now join a loaded USA roster for the World Championship that features the likes of Patrick Kane, Johnny Gaudreau, Jack Eichel, and his brother Quinn, who was selected seventh overall by the Vancouver Canucks in 2018.The U.S. will begin its tournament on May 10 against the host Slovaks.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

(Note: After the league had a chance to review the incident Tuesday, Marchand is expected to avoid further discipline.)Suspend him. Full stop.At this point, if player safety really is important to the NHL, there’s no other option - Brad Marchand doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt.With the Boston Bruins winger once again skating past the line of healthy competition and into a zone of reckless behavior, the NHL's Department of Player Safety has a terrific opportunity to send a stern message.In case you missed it: Marchand punched Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Scott Harrington in the back of the head following a whistle in the dying moments of Tuesday’s Game 3. The cheap shot went unpenalized, allowing Boston to continue peppering Columbus goalie Sergei Bobrovsky as the seconds ticked off.Your browser does not support the video tag. Via NBCSNThe Jackets survived the six-on-five barrage to win Game 3 by a final score of 2-1 to take a 2-1 series lead. Nobody's focusing on Bobrovsky's 36-save performance, though. The Marchand-Harrington incident is the clear-cut No. 1 talking point from Tuesday’s tilt.Marchand didn’t hit Harrington during the run of play. In fact, he waited about four seconds after the play had been whistled to deliver the blow. Making matters worse, Harrington, who was on his knees helping contain the puck under Bobrovsky's sprawled body, wasn’t roughing up one of Marchand’s teammates. He was in a vulnerable position.If you focus solely on Marchand in the clip, it’s obvious he’s assessing the scene following the whistle, taking inventory of everybody’s whereabouts and temperaments. He waits until all four officials are consumed by a skirmish to the right of Bobrovsky, and then slyly approaches Harrington.That’s clear premeditation, and the screen capture below - taken milliseconds before Marchand punches Harrington - shows the preoccupied officials.Via NBCSNYou can certainly forgive the officials on the ice for missing this call. Marchand planned it out perfectly and, at best, the infraction itself was a flash in their peripheries.But, in the aftermath of Game 3, the DoPS can take their sweet time evaluating every facet of this sequence. Department head George Parros and staff have the benefit of video review. And that’s important because this isn’t Marchand’s first rodeo, and his history should be a crucial part of the equation.Here’s another angle, courtesy of Reddit:Your browser does not support the video tag. Via Sportsnet OntarioNow, the hit itself - while irresponsible and cheap and completely unnecessary - was hard but not hard enough to knock out Harrington or even prevent him from getting up immediately. It's more of a jab than a vicious attack and, at least based on postgame media availabilities, Harrington seems fine.So, the actual force used to commit the crime wasn’t record-breaking and the victim wasn't injured. Also important to note: The DoPS tends to dish out supplemental discipline differently in the playoffs. An identical infraction committed during the regular season would likely receive a stiffer penalty because the games aren't considered of equal value.Those three factors should help Marchand and may ultimately earn him a fine, not a suspension.What shouldn’t help Marchand and could tip the scales toward a suspension: He premeditated the cheap shot, he clearly tried to sneak one past the refs, and he's been assessed six suspensions over a 10-year NHL career. His rap sheet includes a five-game ban for elbowing, five games for clipping, three games for clipping, two games for elbowing, two games for slew-footing, and two games for spearing.In other words, Marchand - the most polarizing hockey player on the planet - has pushed the boundaries yet again (let’s not forget he’s also a serial face-licker and, in Game 1, stomped on Cam Atkinson's stick). And that matters, especially since the hit itself, without context, probably wouldn't qualify as an automatic suspendable offense.Marchand is a fabulous talent, an MVP-level player, and is entertaining as hell to watch. He's a pest who just recorded 100 points in the regular season, for crying out loud. In a vacuum, what's not to like?These reckless acts, however, are also a part of Marchand’s brand, and he can’t seem to help himself. He's a repeat offender five times over, already.Plus, how about the timing from a Bruins perspective? You’re down a goal with one minute left in a crucial playoff game and one of your best players decides to pull this stunt? Suboptimal move.Again, suspend him. Even if it's for one game. Send a message to a guy who thinks he's untouchable.John Matisz is theScore's National Hockey Writer. You can find him on Twitter @matiszjohn.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL reviewed Brad Marchand's punch to the head of Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Scott Harrington during Game 3 on Tuesday night, and the Boston Bruins winger is expected to avoid supplemental discipline, reports The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.

After taking the first two games on the road to open their second-round series against the New York Islanders, the Carolina Hurricanes have been given the best odds of winning the Stanley Cup, according to Jeff Sherman of SuperBookUSA.

Vancouver Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini took to social media on Tuesday to deny reports that he reached out to former president and general manager Mike Gillis about potentially returning to the club.

The Buffalo Sabres' coaching search now reportedly includes an advisor to the NHL's newest franchise.Dave Tippett interviewed with the Sabres for their head coaching vacancy, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman wrote in Tuesday's edition of "31 Thoughts."The Sabres have also reportedly spoken with Pittsburgh Penguins assistant Jacques Martin, and Swedish national team head coach Rikard Gronborg is expected to be in the mix, too, adds Friedman.Tippett was hired by the Seattle expansion team in June as a senior advisor.The 57-year-old last coached the Arizona Coyotes from 2009 to 2017 and led them to playoff berths in each of his first three seasons, including a Western Conference Final appearance in 2011-12.Prior to that, he coached the Dallas Stars for six campaigns, helping them advance as far as the conference finals in 2007-08.The Sabres fired former head coach Phil Housley in April.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators' coaching search will reportedly include a candidate employed by their provincial rivals.It's the Senators' intention to interview Toronto Maple Leafs assistant coach D.J. Smith for their head coaching position within the next couple of weeks, according to The Athletic's Chris Stevenson, who adds that Marc Crawford, Troy Mann, Jacques Martin, and Nate Leaman will also be considered.The Senators have received permission to talk to Smith about the position, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on "Saturday Headlines."Smith has been a Leafs assistant since 2015, and has long been viewed in hockey circles as a future NHL head coach.Crawford took over as the Senators' interim bench boss after the club fired Guy Boucher on March 1. Mann is the current coach of the Belleville Senators, Ottawa's AHL affiliate.Martin is an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and was Ottawa's head coach for parts of nine seasons from 1995-96 to 2003-04. Leaman is currently the bench boss at Providence College.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Auston Matthews will not suit up for the United States at the upcoming World Championship, Sportsnet's John Shannon reports.The dynamic Toronto Maple Leafs forward told TSN's Mark Masters last week that he would think about it and that it was "really enticing."Matthews has forgone the tournament since he was drafted in 2016. He racked up 11 points in seven games at the 2016 tourney, helping the U.S. claim bronze.He also represented his country twice at the world juniors and twice at the Under-18 worlds.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers have acquired defense prospect Adam Fox from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a 2019 second-round pick and a conditional third-round pick in 2020, the Rangers announced Tuesday.The third-rounder becomes a second-round selection if Fox plays at least 30 games for the Rangers next season, the Hurricanes stated in their release.Fox racked up 48 points in 33 games for Harvard this past season and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA's top player, losing out to burgeoning Colorado Avalanche blue-liner Cale Makar.Originally a third-round pick of the Calgary Flames in 2016, Fox was traded to Carolina along with Dougie Hamilton and Micheal Ferland in exchange for Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin this past summer.The Rangers are in the process of finalizing an entry-level deal for the 21-year-old, TSN's Bob McKenzie reports.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Petr Mrazek won't play in Game 3 against the New York Islanders on Wednesday but hasn't been ruled out for Game 4, head coach Rod Brind'Amour said Tuesday, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti.Mrazek exited Game 2 on Sunday with a lower-body injury and remains day-to-day. Brind'Amour added that he "shouldn't be too long," according to Michael Smith of the team's website.Mrazek, who signed a one-year, $1.5-million deal with the Hurricanes in the offseason, owns a .913 save percentage and a 2.22 goals-against average in nine games during the playoffs.Veteran Curtis McElhinney, who stopped all 17 shots he faced in relief in Game 2, will get the call Wednesday. He registered a .917 save percentage and a 2.58 goals-against average in 33 games this season after being claimed off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

At this stage of the playoffs, the Carolina Hurricanes have all the reasons in the world to fret about their chances of progressing past the second round.Already down three of their top nine forwards due to injury, the 'Canes lost three more players - including starting goalie Petr Mrazek - to assorted ailments in Game 2; Mrazek's counterpart, New York Islanders starter Robin Lehner, has turned aside 47 of the 50 shots he's faced through two games; Carolina's power play, now 0-for-7 in the series, scarcely looks capable of generating a scoring opportunity, much less a goal.And yet the Storm Surge is alive and well as this Eastern Conference semifinal shifts to Raleigh for Game 3 and 4. The Hurricanes have carved out a reputation for themselves as the postseason's most resilient team, and have taken a 2-0 series lead by the thinnest of margins due to the Islanders' inability to produce at even strength.Resilience ranks among the best explanations of how the Hurricanes managed to win 2-1 Sunday after their offense barely tested Lehner through 40 minutes. Any of the Isles' 13 high-danger scoring chances at even strength (Carolina had five) could have knotted the series. Instead, they'll hit the road with no margin of error remaining.Mike Stobe / National Hockey League / Getty ImagesHere are three takeaways from Game 2 that will set the tone for the remainder of the series.Islanders need to score - for Lehner, more than anyone elseLehner's Game 2 stat line was nothing special - 16 saves on 18 shots - but New York's Vezina Trophy finalist has kept his squad in each of their past two losses with a sparkling .940 overall save percentage. Sunday marked the first game since the Islanders' playoff opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins that Lehner allowed more than one goal.His effort should be enough for any NHL lineup to succeed, even one that scored fewer goals than every playoff team but the Dallas Stars this season. But a litany of missed chances (along with a disallowed goal) kept New York off the scoreboard at five-on-five for the second straight game.Though the posts and crossbars Josh Bailey, Jordan Eberle, and Ryan Pulock struck at various points in the final 10 minutes were particularly painful, the Isles' inability to finish plagued them from puck drop. Driving toward an open net five minutes in, Anthony Beauvillier whiffed on a tap-in; on the two-on-one rush that directly preceded Mrazek's exit with a lower-body injury, Eberle and Casey Cizikas were unable to connect for a shot.Mike Stobe / National Hockey League / Getty ImagesMeanwhile, the Hurricanes have capitalized on key opportunities. In Game 1, Jordan Staal scored in overtime by beating Isles defenseman Devon Toews to a rebound off a shot that missed the net. On one of the Hurricanes' few open-ice rushes Sunday, Warren Foegele collected a banked pass from Lucas Wallmark and wired a wrister past Lehner for Carolina's first goal. Less than a minute later, Nino Niederreiter tipped in the game-winner.The Islanders are probably due for better luck in the next couple of games, but at this point, time is of the essence.Injuries haven't caught up with Carolina … yetAfter going down 2-0 to the Washington Capitals in the first round, the Hurricanes have now won six of their past seven games despite injuries to forwards Andrei Svechnikov, Micheal Ferland, Jordan Martinook, Saku Maenalanen (who left in the third period with a hand injury and will be sidelined 10-to-14 days), goaltender Mrazek, and defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk (who hurt his shoulder 25 seconds into Game 2 and is out indefinitely).If Svechnikov (concussion) and Martinook (leg) return soon, it would be a boon to Carolina's offense, which has operated on a by-committee basis through nine playoff games. Seven 'Canes have scored multiple goals, led by Foegele's five, while defenseman Jaccob Slavin has a team-high 10 assists.Mike Stobe / National Hockey League / Getty ImagesCan they withstand these latest blows? One argument in the Hurricanes' favor is the way they've responded to adversity. Carolina dug itself out of a two-game deficit and overcame a 6-0 loss in Round 1. Before Niederreiter scored on Sunday, the Hurricanes hadn't led for any amount of time since Game 6 against the Caps, aside from their overtime goals.As for the Mrazek injury, Carolina might not be that much worse off with Curtis McElhinney in net. To be fair, that isn't a ringing endorsement of McElhinney, but an acknowledgment that their stats from this season were similarly mediocre (.914 save percentage in 40 games for Mrazek; .912 in 33 games for McElhinney). Mrazek posted a 31-save shutout against the Isles in Game 1, but his .899 save percentage against Washington was poor.Hurricanes' power play looks brokenRanked 20th in the NHL, Carolina's power play was pretty drab this year. But they could sure use more in this stage of the playoffs, especially on an afternoon when their offense looked lifeless for extended stretches.Mike Stobe / National Hockey League / Getty ImagesThe Hurricanes' time on the man advantage actually did them more harm than good in Game 2. They went 0-for-3 and didn't put a single puck on net during a five-on-three that lasted 1:25 in the second period. The tail end of that particular power play produced the odd-man rush where Cizikas could've scored and Mrazek appeared to hurt himself.Foegele and Niederreiter finally solved Lehner at five-on-five in the third period, but the Hurricanes certainly didn't make it easy on themselves. (Nor have they for most of the playoffs: Game 3 vs. Washington was the last time they scored on the power play.)The gap between now and Game 3 on Wednesday will be the first time the Hurricanes have consecutive days off in nearly two weeks. Rest won't be the only order of business they attend to.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey fans have been treated to 13 overtime games so far in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with the last seven days all featuring contests that required extra time.Overtime winners are of often of the greasy variety, but some pretty tallies this postseason have stood out above the rest, in some high-pressure situations, no less.Here are the five best overtime goals from the playoffs so far:5. Bruins play tic-tac-toe

Marc-Edouard Vlasic is expecting to hear from the NHL after what he believes was a missed call Sunday.The San Jose Sharks defenseman made his feelings known postgame after an apparent icing infraction went unwhistled in Game 2 against the Colorado Avalanche.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Petr Mrazek was forced to leave Game 2 during the second period and was replaced in goal by Curtis McElhinney.Mrazek appeared to tweak something while making a save in the middle frame and won't be able to return to the contest due to a lower-body injury, the team announced.Since Carolina is only traveling with two goalies in the playoffs, the team had an emergency netminder on call.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, and Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid have been named the 2019 finalists for the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player, the league announced Sunday.Kucherov claimed the Art Ross with a dominant 128-point campaign, the highest mark the NHL has seen since 1995-96. The 25-year-old was also nominated for the Ted Lindsay Award, which goes to the league's most outstanding player as voted by his peers.Crosby is up for MVP for the seventh time in his career, and if he gets selected, it will be the his third Hart Trophy and first since 2014. Sid was a two-way force for the Penguins this season and finished fifth in the NHL with 100 points in 79 games.McDavid recorded his third consecutive 100-point season, notching a career-best 116 in 78 contests. He shined for the Oilers, who missed the playoffs for the second year in a row, and logged 22:50 per game - the highest mark in the league among all forwards. If he wins the award, he'll join Wayne Gretzky as the only players in NHL history to win multiple MVP's before turning 23.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jack Hughes somehow seems to be pushing his draft stock even higher.The projected No. 1 pick in June's draft proved he's worthy of phenom status at the IIHF World Under-18 Championship on Sunday, breaking Alex Ovechkin's record for points at the tournament by recording 32 (14 goals, 18 assists) in 14 combined games, according to NHL.com. Ovechkin previously held the record with 31 points (23 goals, eight assists) in 14 combined contests.Hughes set the record across two years and wrapped up 2019's showing with a tournament-high 20 points in seven contests, helping the U.S. capture a bronze medal over Canada.Ovechkin set the mark at the 2002 and 2003 tournaments before he was drafted first overall by the Washington Capitals.Hughes has been the consensus No. 1 prospect all year. His NHL fate will be decided at the draft June 21 with the New Jersey Devils owning the first overall pick.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miro Heiskanen insists he isn't upset about not being included among the finalists for the NHL's rookie of the year award.The Dallas Stars defenseman expressed as much after St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, and Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson were revealed as the three nominees for the Calder Trophy on Saturday."I don't care," Heiskanen told The Athletic's Sean Shapiro after his team's Game 2 victory over the Blues. "They are good players also. So I'm having fun here in playoffs."The 19-year-old led all first-year players in average ice time during the regular season, logging 23:07 per game, while posting 33 points.Ironically, Heiskanen scored a goal on Binnington in the first period of Game 2, shortly before the finalists were revealed during intermission.Stars forward Tyler Seguin weighed in on the snub postgame.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson, St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington, and Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin have been named finalists for the 2019 Calder Trophy given to the league's top rookie, the NHL announced on Saturday.Pettersson lived up to some enormous hype, netting 10 goals in his first 10 games and going on to break the Canucks' rookie scoring record that Pavel Bure previously held. The 20-year-old finished his debut campaign with 66 points in 71 games, establishing himself as the face of the franchise.Binnington came out of nowhere and played a significant role in saving the Blues' season. From Jan. 1 onward, the 25-year-old owned a 24-5-1 record with a .930 save percentage and five shutouts. His emergence thrust St. Louis into a playoff spot, and he's maintained his form in the postseason, helping the Blues past the Winnipeg Jets in Round 1.Dahlin, the first overall pick in 2018, was sensational for the Sabres, immediately becoming the team's top blue-liner in his first year. He appeared in all 82 games and tallied 44 points - the second-highest total for an 18-year-old defenseman in NHL history.The winner will be announced at the NHL Awards show on June 19 in Las Vegas.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins super-pest Brad Marchand is up to his old tricks against the Columbus Blue Jackets.Marchand's antics began in Game 1 of the second-round series when he appeared to intentionally stomp on and break the stick of Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson during an overtime faceoff.