As much as signing John Tavares to a long-term contract extension would be a huge win for the New York Islanders, it's time to start being realistic. The best free agent to hit the open market in recent memory is highly unlikely to return to an organization that defines mediocrity and instability.The Islanders, fresh off an abysmal season in which they finished 17 points out of a playoff spot, just relieved their head coach and general manager of their duties less than a month before free agency begins, and saw the latter replaced with 75-year-old Lou Lamoriello.However, there is perhaps one silver lining associated with losing one of the game's best players in the prime of his career for absolutely nothing: a fresh start.With Tavares gone, the Islanders will have no reason not to begin a full-on rebuild. If they couldn't even sniff the playoffs with Tavares on the roster, there's no point in using every resource available to compete for one within the next couple of seasons, considering the prospect pipeline isn't exactly ripening with talent.Snow's GM tenure was such that he could have taken a page out of George Costanza's book and just done "the opposite" in running the club and probably would have improved the state of affairs. Despite all his shortcomings, he did somehow manage to leave the Islanders with one heavenly parting gift: Mathew Barzal.Likely to be a unanimous selection for the Calder Trophy, Barzal gives the Islanders a new face of the franchise moving forward. A first-line center whose agility, hands, and vision represent everything about today's NHL, the Islanders can build a contender around Barzal, but they must avoid making the same mistakes Snow made while trying to do the same with Tavares.Invest (competently) in the draftAfter selecting Tavares first overall in 2009, the Islanders failed to build a supporting cast in subsequent drafts despite having numerous high picks.2010, Nino Niederreiter (fifth overall): Niederreiter has developed into a good winger, but the Isles rushed him to the NHL, then traded him to the Minnesota Wild before his 21st birthday in exchange for Cal Clutterbuck and a third-round pick. The lesson here? Patience.2011, Ryan Strome (fifth overall): The Isles envisioned Strome turning into a 2A center behind Tavares, and had they chosen any one of the next three skaters taken, they would've had such a player. The three picks after Strome, in order: Mika Zibanejad, Mark Scheifele, and Sean Couturier. Ouch.2012, Griffin Reinhart (fourth overall): Peter Chiarelli's poor judgment bailed the Islanders out on this one, as Reinhart would eventually be swapped to Edmonton for the pick that would turn into Barzal. Nonetheless, if the Islanders were looking to bolster their blue line, they could not have been more off in their evaluation of this draft class' defensemen. Morgan Rielly, Hampus Lindholm, Matt Dumba, and Jacob Trouba made up four of the next five picks.2013, Ryan Pulock (15th overall): Pulock has the makings of a solid NHL defenseman, which is fine relative to the draft slot. Snow gets a pass here.2014, Michael Dal Colle (fifth overall): Much like the Reinhart pick, the Isles valued size and strength with this pick rather than speed and skill. Dal Colle did dominate junior in his draft year, but good scouting would've recognized that William Nylander (eighth overall) or Nikolaj Ehlers (ninth) had brighter NHL futures.With a rebuild on the horizon, the Islanders can't afford to miss on high draft picks again. Rather than spending money on free agents, the Isles need to use those resources on hiring the best scouting department possible. Adding former Maple Leafs draft guru Mark Hunter to the front office would be a good start.Build from the net outIn Snow's 12 years in charge, the Islanders finished in the bottom third of the league in goals against 10 times. Many of those seasons were right near the basement, too. One would think a goalie-turned-GM would've prioritized goal prevention, but clearly, that wasn't the case.SeasonGoals-against rank2017-18312016-17232015-16132014-15232013-14282012-13212011-12272010-11272009-10282008-09282007-08232006-0712Their overall struggles came in spite of the fact that some of these Tavares-led teams had no issues putting the puck in the net, which is usually tougher to accomplish when constructing a roster.While drafting the best player available should always be the main strategy, the Islanders clearly need to start gathering some quality goaltenders and defensemen into their farm system. Netminder Ilya Sorokin has shown promise overseas, but it's unclear when or if he'll come over to North America.Avoid free agency, prioritize youthFree agency has not been friendly to the Islanders over the years. Mikhail Grabovski's four-year, $20-million contract wound up costing them a first- and a second-round pick, while Andrew Ladd's $5.5-million cap hit will be on the books through 2022-23. These are just two examples.Ill-advised in-house extensions have also set the Isles back. Johnny Boychuk, 34, is heading into the fourth season of a seven-year, $42-million contract.The lesson here? Stay away from free agency - unless it's a low-risk, short-term deal - and don't sign any non-franchise player to an extension into their 30s if your team is not ready to compete for the Stanley Cup.Yes, that includes Jordan Eberle and Anders Lee, who are unrestricted free agents after the 2018-19 season. Eberle, 28, and Lee, who will be 28 on July 3, should be traded this offseason. Coming off a 40-goal season, Lee's value will never be higher and players his size (6-foot-3, 231 pounds) tend not to age well. Eberle, a perennial 50-60-point player, could also fetch a significant return.Snow likely would've paid Lee and Eberle handsomely into their mid-30s, so the Isles should do the opposite. Trade them both at peak value in exchange for prospects and picks.Instead of filling the roster with middling veterans, the Isles should see what they have in some of their younger players, such as Dal Colle and Josh Ho-Sang, even if they haven't exactly wowed in the AHL. If the younger players don't perform, they'll at least gain some valuable NHL experience.The youth movement should carry over to the bench as well. Hiring a coach who excels at developing young players should be made a priority.Would Lou go for a rebuild?It may seem hard to believe that Lamoriello would have interest in kick-starting a rebuild in what will likely be his swan song. However, he's left his fingerprints all over Toronto's uprising, and if he could right the Islanders ship, it would only further cement his legacy.Plus, if Lou's son, Chris (currently the Isles' assistant GM), were to take over the reigns one day, Lou would surely want to leave the team in good hands and headed in the right direction.Ownership would likely have no issues buying in as well. If the rebuild were to begin now, the team could be well on its way toward success by 2021 when its new arena at Belmont Park is ready for use. Constructing a young and exciting team with a bright future is the best way to get fans in the seats. Plus, it's the opposite of what Snow would've done, so it must be right.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders' firing of Garth Snow and Doug Weight shouldn't impede their attempts to re-sign John Tavares.On Monday, the team announced that Snow and Weight were relieved of their duties and that president of hockey operations, Lou Lamoriello, will assume the role as general manager. Following the announcement, Lamoriello noted that the club's attempt to re-sign its captain did not factor into the personnel changes."That certainly has not and did not enter into any of the decisions that were made," Lamoriello said, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Tavares will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Last month it was reported that Lamoriello had met with Tavares on behalf of the Islanders ahead of officially joining the team as president of hockey ops.Tavares has spent his entire nine-year career with the Islanders since being picked first overall in 2009, where he's tallied 272 goals and 621 points in 669 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Who doesn't love trades?With 29 of 31 teams focusing on offseason plans, we take a look at who could potentially be on the move this summer, starting with a candidate from each Eastern Conference team.Atlantic DivisionBoston Bruins: David BackesPositionAgeCap Hit (through) 2017-18 PointsRW34$6M (2020-21)33The Bruins electing to give Backes a five-year deal in 2015 was a red flag from the get-go, but after another injury-riddled season, Boston might want to find a taker for his hefty salary and give younger, quicker players within the organization a bigger role.Buffalo Sabres: Ryan O'ReillyPositionAgeCap Hit (through) 2017-18 PointsC27$7.5M (2022-23)61O'Reilly is an incredibly effective pivot, and year after year of losing in Buffalo has taken its toll. If the Sabres choose to move forward with a youthful core built around Jack Eichel, Casey Mittelstadt, and Rasmus Dahlin, making their No. 2 center available could create a bidding war and fetch some nice future assets.Detroit Red Wings: Luke GlendeningPositionAgeCap Hit (through) 2017-18 PointsC/RW29$1.8M (2020-21)19He's not the most glamorous name on the list but Glendening won 58 percent of his draws last season, and the Red Wings would be wise to shed as much long-term salary as possible.Florida Panthers: Mark PysykPositionAgeCap Hit (through) 2017-18 PointsD26$2.73M (2019-20)16Panthers general manager Dale Tallon should be forever barred from dealing forwards after the expansion draft fiasco, but he may be able to find a nice market for Pysyk: a low-cost, right-handed blue-liner that several teams could use.Montreal Canadiens: Alex GalchenyukPositionAgeCap Hit (through) 2017-18 PointsLW24$4.9M (2019-20)51Galchenyuk's tenure in Montreal has been far from smooth sailing, and perhaps a fresh start is needed to fully maximize his offensive talents. Shipping the sniper out won't completely fix what ails the Habs, but building upon the nine picks they own in the first four rounds of this year's draft seems like a reasonable step moving forward.Ottawa Senators: Erik KarlssonPositionAgeCap Hit (through) 2017-18 PointsD28$6.5M (2018-19)62Karlsson Watch is back on, and after the Senators didn't pull the trigger on a deal at the deadline, the offseason is their last chance to fetch a king's ransom for their captain. Of course, he could re-sign, or Ottawa could wait until the next deadline, but teams will be willing to pay a lot more for a full year of services from the best defenseman on the planet.Tampa Bay Lightning: J.T. MillerPositionAgeCap Hit (through) 2017-18 PointsC25RFA58Miller was brought in to help the Lightning win a Stanley Cup, but in need of a new contract, the 25-year-old could find himself on the move again. Tampa Bay would probably love to keep him, but how much can Steve Yzerman realistically offer with extensions for Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy on the horizon?Toronto Maple Leafs: Matt MartinPositionAgeCap Hit (through) 2017-18 PointsLW29$2.5M (2019-20)12Martin isn't going to bring back the top-four defenseman that the Leafs desperately covet, but there's no point in spending $2.5 million for a veteran fourth-liner to sit in the press box.Metropolitan DivisionCarolina Hurricanes: Justin FaulkPositionAgeCap Hit (through) 2017-18 PointsD26$4.833M (2019-20)31New Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon made it clear that he wants some changes, and Faulk could be a candidate to be traded over the younger defensemen Carolina has in-house.Columbus Blue Jackets: Brandon DubinskyPositionAgeCap Hit (through) 2017-18 PointsC/LW32$5.85M (2020-21)16Dubinsky endured a difficult 2017-18 season, but plain and simple: His contract isn't doing the Blue Jackets any favors.His modified no-trade clause would cause some complications in the market, but the veteran is eating key salary on a team that needs to pay Zach Werenski and Sergei Bobrovsky big bucks in the near future.New Jersey Devils: Damon SeversonPositionAgeCap Hit (through) 2017-18 PointsD23$4.166M (2022-23)24Severson is young, reasonably priced for five more seasons, a good puck mover, and can chip in offensively, yet he was a healthy scratch at times in the regular season and was left out of the lineup for Game 1 of the playoffs. If the Devils don't want to give him a full opportunity, surely they can sell him to someone willing to pay.New York Islanders: Cal ClutterbuckPositionAgeCap Hit (through) 2017-18 PointsRW30$3.5M (2021-22)18Until captain John Tavares makes his decision, it's hard to focus on any other Isles player, but Clutterbuck's onerous contract is one new boss Lou Lamoriello should strongly consider getting rid of.New York Rangers: Mats ZuccarelloPositionAgeCap Hit (through) 2017-18 PointsRW30$4.5M (2018-19)53Trading Zuccarello is far from a necessity, but he's one of the only Rangers with any market value. The 30-year-old's contract expires after next season, and New York, without any realistic championship expectations in the coming years, could feasibly ship him out over the summer to add more future pieces.Philadelphia Flyers: Brian ElliottPositionAgeCap Hit (through) 2017-18 Sv%G33$2.75M (2018-19).909The Flyers have three goalies under contract but don't boast any reliable ones to occupy the crease. Philly is best served to shed the elder statesman of the bunch, and come to terms with restricted free agent Petr Mrazek.Pittsburgh Penguins: Phil KesselPositionAgeCap Hit (through) 2017-18 PointsRW30$6.8M (2021-22)92*$1.2 million in salary retained by Maple LeafsEven after a career-best 92-point season, the speculation surrounding Kessel's possible departure out of Pittsburgh seems to have gained some traction. Numerous teams could use his firepower up front, but the Penguins have to consider the risks of subtracting a key cog in the offensive machine that led to back-to-back championships.Washington Capitals: Philipp GrubauerPositionAgeCap Hit (through) 2017-18 Sv%G26RFA.923Rather than going through negotiations, why not simply deal Grubauer to a team in need of a goaltender upgrade? The 26-year-old is talented enough to warrant outside interest, and prospect Ilya Samsonov appears ready to assume backup duties after inking his entry-level contract.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Lou Lamoriello didn't take long to shake things up with his new team.The New York Islanders have dismissed general manager Garth Snow and head coach Doug Weight, with Lamoriello - the club's president of hockey operations - assuming the GM role, the Islanders announced Tuesday.Snow and Weight will stay on with the organization, as both are reportedly still under contract.

A Connor McDavid rookie card was recently sold via an online auction for $55,655 USD, a new record for a modern card, according to PWCC Marketplace.The modern era consists of cards produced since 1986, and the most lucrative collectible prior to "The Cup Connor McDavid Rookie Auto Patch" from Upper Deck fetched $18,100 - another McDavid card.The card carries a grade of Gem Mint-10, and is one of only two McDavid rookie cards from that set to have that designation. The Gem Mint rating is reserved for cards that have perfect corners and centering, with no surface flaws on either side.With a $12.5-million salary set to kick in next season, McDavid could purchase 224 copies of his own ultra-valuable card.The McDavid card doesn't come close to matching the all-time record for most expensive hockey card. That belongs to a Gem Mint Wayne Gretzky rookie card from 1979-80, which sold for a whopping $465,000 USD in August 2016.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As we approach the climax of the Stanley Cup Final and the NHL season as a whole, it's time to take one more look at the top contenders for the Conn Smythe Trophy.The Washington Capitals find themselves on the cusp of the first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history, holding a 3-1 series lead. Consequently, four of the five front-runners for playoff MVP sport red, white, and blue.Here's where we stand after the Capitals' convincing win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4 on Monday:5. Nicklas BackstromGPGAPATOI195172220:41Backstrom has flown under the radar in these playoffs thanks to the stellar performances of some of his teammates, but his terrific play-making ability has undoubtedly been a factor in Washington's Cup run.The Swedish center missed four games due to injury, but he's excelled when healthy. He's provided steady production on the Capitals' second line, alongside a nearly equally productive T.J. Oshie, giving Washington a lethal top-six.4. Marc-Andre FleuryGPW-LSV %GAASO1913-6.9292.154Fleury was the Conn Smythe favorite for most of this postseason, and he has been the biggest reason for the Golden Knights' success, but he's looked human lately.The veteran netminder was simply overwhelmed Monday night, allowing six goals on 23 shots, and he's given up 16 in the four Cup Final games.Had Fleury continued to play lights-out, he would have remained a Conn Smythe favorite, even in a losing effort, but his play has simply slipped.3. Braden HoltbyGPW-LSV %GAASO2215-7.9232.132Holtby has made his fair share of game-saving stops throughout the Capitals' run, none more memorable than "The Save" in Game 2 versus Vegas. He's had a few hiccups, sure, but the former Vezina winner has been outstanding on the whole.Fleury still holds an edge in the save percentage department because of how good the Golden Knights goalie was for most of the playoffs, but Holtby has allowed only five goals in the last three games.If Holtby continues to stymie Vegas the way he has for most of this series, he'll have a legitimate case.2. Alex OvechkinGPGAPATOI2314122620:46Ovechkin's pursuit of a long-elusive title is arguably the best story of the playoffs, and he's one of the biggest reasons the Capitals are on the verge of winning it all.The "Great Eight" is tied with Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele for the postseason lead in goals. He's scored two in the Cup Final to go along with a pair of assists.Ovechkin, the heart and soul of his club for more than a decade, has always shouldered a disproportionate amount of blame for Washington's playoff failures. But now, with the tables turned, it's time to give credit where it's due.1. Evgeny KuznetsovGPGAPATOI2312193120:32Kuznetsov has simply been the best player in these playoffs.Ovechkin has been the Capitals' leader and top scorer. Holtby has been excellent for the most part, and exceptional at key moments. However, Kuznetsov has been the best, leading all skaters in playoff points and trailing only Ovechkin and the vanquished Scheifele in goals.Another four-point game for Kuznetsov on Monday night - his second such effort and fourth game with at least three points in this postseason - made him the clear favorite to win the Conn Smythe.

The Vegas Golden Knights certainly had early chances to potentially change their fortunes in an eventual 6-2 loss in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.The game's best chance early on fell onto the stick of James Neal, one of the league's best shooters. With the game scoreless, he faced a wide-open cage with Braden Holtby and the Capitals' defense at his mercy; he rung the post.After the game, Neal lamented that things would have been much different had he made his shot."On this stage, at that moment, it changes the game," Neal said, per Sportsnet's Luke Fox.

WASHINGTON – Asked if he’d given winning the Conn Smythe Trophy any thought, Evgeny Kuznetsov shook his head and grinned. Not a chance.He’ll take a Stanley Cup victory, though.The Washington Capitals routed the Vegas Golden Knights 6-2 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday to take a commanding 3-1 lead. They’ll have a chance to claim their first championship in the franchise’s 43-year history on Thursday in Game 5 at T-Mobile Arena.Kuznetsov hasn’t thought that far ahead, either."I never been there, you know? And I don't really care about that yet, so it's kind of easy for me," Kuznetsov said. "You know me, I always stay loose a little bit especially off the games. I'm pretty sure when game gonna come, we're gonna a little bit think about it. It's pretty hard to not think about that."A front-runner for the Conn Smythe, Kuznetsov assisted on four of Washington’s six goals in Game 4 and has 31 points in 23 games. And while he has 12 goals this postseason, he’s just fine with getting the assists, too."He has a huge effect on every game," linemate Tom Wilson said. "It’s not easy to be a star in the league, have to bring it every night. It’s the wear and tear, you’re playing big minutes. He’s the kind of guy that doesn’t care. He just keeps going."Vegas came out swinging in the early parts of Game 4, but James Neal hitting the post on a wide-open net in the first period underscored their frustration. The Capitals led 3-0 by the end of the opening stanza.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)"I’ve been on the other side of that and it’s deflating," Capitals defenseman Brett Connolly said of Neal’s miss. "They played well early. They came at us and they’re not gonna stop."Neal and Reilly Smith scored in the third to narrow the deficit to 4-2, but the Capitals responded with two more goals to send the Golden Knights’ Cinderella season to the brink of a heartbreaking end."It could have been a different hockey game if they scored on their power play so we got a little lucky there and I don’t know maybe it shouldn’t have been a 3-0 lead after the first, but you know we will take it," Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom said. "We are not going to feel sorry for them."The third period was punctuated by "We Want the Cup" chants from the crowd at Capital One Arena. Outside, streets were filled with thousands of fans chanting the same thing. Kuznetsov said the players heard that and fed off it, too."That's always emotional stuff and give us a lot of positive energy," Kuznetsov said. "But we feel their energy. I don't want to lie. Sometimes you feel when people cheering against you, you feel the energy too. In this playoff we're not very good at home, but in this series we keep the crowd happy. That's big thing for us."What the Capitals did in Game 4, and what they’ll have to do in Game 5, is the same thing they’ve done this entire postseason - show up when it matters most."When it mattered we were able to get it done," coach Barry Trotz said. "And that’s what this team has done over the course of the playoffs. Even when we’re maybe not at our best we’ve been able to get it done and when it mattered we’ve been able to get it complete."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After taking a 1-0 series lead, the Vegas Golden Knights have dropped three straight games and are now a single loss away from watching the Washington Capitals claim their first-ever Stanley Cup.The Golden Knights are now the 34th team in NHL history to fall behind 3-1 in the Cup Final, and in the 33 previous instances, only once has a team come back to win it all.

The Vegas Golden Knights' performance in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final was proof that Corsi - and other advanced metrics - mean nothing in a one-game sample size.The Golden Knights generated 65.4 percent of the game's shot attempts at even strength (Corsi For percentage), but lost 6-2. They also outchanced the Capitals 23-14, and had 12 high-danger scoring chances compared to Washington's five.So, what went wrong?For starters, their defensive zone coverage was abysmal. Six goals against would lead one to believe that Marc-Andre Fleury was the problem, but for the most part, he was hung out to dry. Capitals players were routinely left wide-open in the offensive zone, which is why they were able to capitalize on their chances.They also lost the special teams battle, which isn't factored into most advanced metrics, since the majority are calculated at even strength. The Capitals went 3-for-5 on the power play - partly due to some of the aforementioned defensive-zone lapses - while Vegas was 0-for-4 with the man advantage.Moreover, in the third period, when the Capitals were supposed to be weathering a 20-minute storm while preserving the lead, the Golden Knights failed to apply the pressure, generating just four even-strength shots on goal in the final frame.Here is what makes a stat like Corsi flawed: While shot attempts are a good way to indicate offensive-zone puck possession, it means nothing unless those shot attempts are actually getting through. They had 71 shot attempts in the game, but only 30 on goal.Corsi and other advanced metrics are great over a full season, where trends can be predicted, and puck luck tends to even out, but in playoff hockey, that all goes out the window. The victory formula in the postseason is about doing the little things right, taking advantage of the chances you do get, and winning the goaltending battle. The Capitals did all of these in Game 4, and are one win away from the Stanley Cup as a result.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colin Miller had good reason to be upset after Michal Kempny's third-period goal gave the Washington Capitals a 5-2 lead on Monday.Capitals forward T.J. Oshie rocked the Vegas Golden Knights defender with a hit that broke his nose, head coach Gerard Gallant revealed at his postgame press conference, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.

WASHINGTON (AP) The Washington Capitals are one win away from the first championship in their 43-year history after routing the Vegas Golden Knights 6-2 on Monday night to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Final.T.J. Oshie, Tom Wilson and Devante Smith-Pelly all scored in the first period to get the Capitals rolling against a determined Vegas team that had no answers early against Braden Holtby, who stopped 28 shots in another strong showing. The desperate Golden Knights outchanced the Capitals by a wide margin but fell apart after James Neal clanked a shot off the post instead of hitting a wide-open net early, and the expansion team's Cinderella run could be over in a matter of days.Evgeny Kuznetsov dished out four assists and John Carlson, Michal Kempny and Brett Connolly also scored as thunderous chants of ''We want the Cup! We want the Cup!'' rang out from the crowd.Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals will get their first chance to hoist the Cup in Game 5 on Thursday night back in Las Vegas. No team since the Detroit Red Wings in 1942 has blown a 3-1 lead in the Cup Final.The Capitals seem to be getting enough bounces to make up for nine previous first- or second-round playoff exits in the Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom era - and plenty more disappointments in the previous decades, too.While Vegas rang several shots off the posts, the Capitals seized just about every opportunity as they have throughout this surprising run. Kuznetsov padded his lead as the playoffs' leading scorer with primary assists on Oshie's power-play goal that made it 1-0 and Wilson's that doubled the lead.Smith-Pelly, who scored the insurance goal to ice Game 3, kicked the puck from his left skate to his stick and roofed a shot on Marc-Andre Fleury with 20.5 seconds left in the first period. Fleury came into the final as the Conn Smythe front-runner for playoff MVP honors but looked human again by allowing six goals on 23 shots at a defense that has often left him vulnerable.Kuznetsov leads all playoff scorers with 31 points, Ovechkin is tied for the goal lead with 14 and Holtby showed again Monday his ability to alter the course of a game.Holtby got some good fortune from the post on shots by Alex Tuch, Neal and Brayden McNabb. But he also made a handful of big saves early when the Golden Knights came out with a furious approach.By the time Vegas got third-period goals from Neal and Reilly Smith it was too late.---More Stanley Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/StanleyCupFinals---Follow Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SWhynoCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov joined an elite group thanks to his second four-point effort of the playoffs Monday night.The 26-year-old's third of four assists in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final gave him 30 points this postseason, making him just the fifth player to hit that mark in the last 21 years.

The Washington Capitals came out firing in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.In a crucial contest that can either give the Capitals a 3-1 series lead or allow the Golden Knights to even the series heading back to Vegas, Washington made a statement by scoring three times in the first 20 minutes.T.J. Oshie opened the scoring midway through the first period, before Evgeny Kuznetsov gave Tom Wilson a perfect feed for the second goal roughly six minutes later. And just when the Golden Knights thought they could escape the frame down only two, Devante Smith-Pelly buried a beautiful dish from Alex Ovechkin with just 21 seconds remaining.Making matters worse for the Golden Knights was that James Neal had missed a wide-open net earlier in the period that would have given them a 1-0 lead.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights forward David Perron is scratched for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Washington Capitals, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.As announced earlier on Monday, Tomas Tatar will be inserted into the lineup in his place.Perron, who didn't take part in pregame warmup, had a career-high 66 points in 70 regular-season contests this year, but has failed to find the back of the net in 14 playoff games, compiling eight assists.The 30-year-old is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While the Stanley Cup Final may be in full swing, NHL referee Garrett Rank has another tournament on his mind.The 30-year-old qualified for the U.S. Open golf tournament at Shinneock Hills after tying for first place in a qualifying event at Ansley Golf Club in Rosewell, Ga., on Monday."Was next to the best players in the world on the ice ... next week I get to play with the best golfers in the world," Rank told theScore contributor Adam Stanley. "It's a pretty cool life I'm living right now."Rank, who became a full-time ref in 2014, shot 2-under over 36 holes at one of the 12 regional qualifying tournaments on Monday.The U.S. Open gets underway on June 14.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Roman Josi wasn't going to let an injury stop him from going for gold.The talented Nashville Predators defenseman broke his hand in Switzerland's semifinal victory over Canada at the World Championship in May and played through it in the gold-medal game loss to Sweden, Switzerland head coach Patrick Fischer told Swiss radio station SRF on Sunday, as translated by Swiss Hockey News.The Swiss national team had to ask the Predators for permission to dress Josi for the final, in which it fell to Sweden in a shootout.Josi assisted on both of Switzerland's goals in regulation and logged more than 29 minutes of ice time in the championship game.He chose to represent his home country at the tourney in Denmark after the Winnipeg Jets eliminated the Predators in the Western Conference semifinal.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators assistant general manager Randy Lee pleaded not guilty Monday to a charge that he harassed a 19-year-old hotel shuttle driver in Buffalo last week, according to The Canadian Press.Lee was granted permission to re-enter Canada on Monday after being arrested and having his passport confiscated following the alleged incident last Wednesday.He faces a possible fine and up to 15 days in jail if convicted. His next court date is June 22.Lee was in Buffalo with the Senators for the NHL's scouting combine.The Senators say his status with the organization remains unchanged.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On the strength of back-to-back wins from the Washington Capitals, the complexion of the Stanley Cup Final has shifted drastically.The back-and-forth drama and theatrics of an epic Game 1 have become an afterthought, as for virtually the first time all season, the Vegas Golden Knights appear to be on the ropes.The expansion team of destiny will quickly point to the thumping it received from the Winnipeg Jets to open the Western Conference Final as a similar experience of adversity - one the Golden Knights quickly overcame, reeling off four consecutive victories to reach this point.Now, Vegas needs another bounce-back performance to make the final a best-of-three heading back to Sin City. Here are three areas where the club needs to show improvement Monday night to ensure that happens (all advanced stats courtesy Natural Stat Trick).The second lineBy this point in any playoff series, players are pretty familiar with who they'll draw for the majority of their matchups. For the Golden Knights' second line - composed of Erik Haula, James Neal, and David Perron - things haven't gone well against Alex Ovechkin and Co.Outperforming the greatest goal-scorer of his generation as he looks to win the first Stanley Cup of his legendary career isn't exactly an easy task, but Vegas' trio needs to find a way to push back.The Golden Knights' second line has combined for just one goal and three high-danger scoring chances all series. Head coach Gerard Gallant seems cognizant of that, as Alex Tuch will join the second line and Tomas Tatar appears set to replace Perron for Game 4.For Vegas' sake, it better work.Not-so-Wild Bill(Photo Courtesy: Getty Images)As Vegas' second line struggles, the performance of the top unit of William Karlsson, Reilly Smith, and Jonathan Marchessault becomes paramount to the Golden Knights' chances of winning. However, the trio's most potent goal-scorer hasn't found a way to make a grand impact just yet.Aside from a goal in Game 1, Karlsson has been held pointless, and only mustered two shots on goal at five-on-five through three contests - including a goose egg Saturday night.Marchessault and Smith have produced seven and three high-danger chances, respectively, to Karlsson's one. The Golden Knights' 43-goal man needs to be better if one of the most relentless lines in hockey is going to make a difference Monday in Washington.Drive the netIn Game 1, the Golden Knights produced quality chance after quality chance - 24 in total, 14 of which were classified as high-danger at five-on-five.Since, Vegas has 14 high-danger chances combined, and only three goals over two games. The Capitals' defensive corps deserves some credit for adjusting and keeping the Golden Knights' chances to the perimeter, but Braden Holtby isn't going to be solved by shots from the outside, and the onus is on Gallant's crew to change that.Since Day 1 of this dream season, the Golden Knights' mandate has been to force opponents back with their speed, converting on their chances from dangerous areas along the way. After being bottled up for two consecutive contests, Vegas needs to push the pace and return to what's worked for 100 games so far.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights will shake things up for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, as winger Tomas Tatar confirmed he will draw into the lineup for the first time since Game 3 of the Western Conference Final.It's not clear who he'll replace, though it appears David Perron will be the odd man out, according to multiple reports.The Golden Knights acquired Tatar at the trade deadline and he's registered one goal in six playoff appearances so far.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

How will you handle going up against larger players in the corners?We’ve heard you have some attitude issues. What can you tell us about that?What’s your Fortnite game like?Here’s a picture of a bus with two front ends. Which way is it driving?Prospects at the 2018 NHL Scouting Combine were faced with a wide variety of questions in their formal team interviews. That last one came from the Washington Capitals, and the number of prospects who got it right hovered between very few to none. The Capitals informed prospects they would learn the correct answer if they were drafted by Washington.Formal interviews are the toughest and perhaps most important part of the combine. While the fitness testing provides teams with information moving forward - shining a light on areas that need improvement, which teams can then use to create a plan for those players going into camp and beyond - the interviews allow teams to get to know players in a different setting.Many prospects noted Saturday that they’d spoken to upward of 20 teams, with some interviewing with all but one or two. Serron Noel of the Oshawa Generals had 10 interviews on his first day alone. (Noel also said that he likes being yelled at during the Wingate bike test, which will make some NHL strength and conditioning coach very happy one day.)In addition to the formal team interviews and grueling physical testing, prospects had to deal with questions from the media. Here’s what we learned about some of the prospects who likely won’t go in the first round this year, but will be assets to whichever team drafts them.C Blade Jenkins, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)In May 2017, Jenkins chose to leave the U.S. National Team Development Program, forgoing his scholarship at the University of Michigan and joining the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League."I think for me just kinda looking at it and seeing major-junior kinda fit my style of game and style of play a little bit more than others,” Jenkins said of what drove his decision to move to the OHL. "You’re developing and you’re playing against high-end draft picks. You’re playing against first- and second-rounders, and I think that kinda gives you a little bit of a taste of what it’s gonna take to get to the next level."Jenkins is ranked 26th among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting, and is on the younger side of this year’s draft class - he won’t turn 18 until August. He has areas of his game that require improvement moving forward including his skating, a fact of which he is well aware. Jenkins said he plans to develop his speed this summer, working both in the weight room and on the ice.When asked who he models his game after, if anyone, Jenkins said he tries to play like Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn."He’s a big body and his hockey IQ I think is what sets him apart, and his playmaking ability," Jenkins said. "That’s kinda what I like to bring to the table as well, to make others around me better, whether that’s them putting up a couple goals and me being able to give it to them.”C Ty Dellandrea, Flint Firebirds (OHL)Dellandrea’s draft year came with the challenge of balancing a successful personal season with a disappointing team campaign. While Dellandrea finished the year with 59 points in 67 games, the Flint Firebirds finished second-to-last in the league, ahead of only the Sudbury Wolves.Dellandrea is ranked 25th among North American skaters by Central Scouting, and showed great perspective when asked why he thought that he was on the verge of being considered a first-rounder, but not quite there."I think maybe I started taking this game and my career seriously a little bit later than others," Dellandrea said. "Some guys have been doing this for years and years, even from a little kid. I might’ve started hockey a bit later."He played multiple sports when he was younger including volleyball and lacrosse, which took up some time in summer he might’ve otherwise spent training for hockey."I think the past three summers, even two summers I’ve grown a ton in my play and in my size so I think with me I just have a lot of potential," Dellandrea said. “I’m gonna keep growing, whereas some other guys uh, you know maybe have already figured out - figured this out already. I think I got a lot of room to grow and to rise."While he understands it will take time and training, Dellandrea does see himself as eventually becoming a No. 1 center at the next level. He said he tries to model his game after Jonathan Toews."I think my ability to play an all-around game," Dellandrea said when asked about his strengths. "I take pride in playing a strong defensive game as well as offensive so I like to use my shot and my speed to my advantage."C Jack McBain, Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL)For McBain, the decision to play another year of Junior A and then head to Boston College this fall, rather than taking the major-junior route, was not one he made lightly."I had the opportunity to go watch a Michigan game and I really fell in love with college hockey, kind of everything about it," McBain said. "I think at that time and right now, I think it’s the best thing for my game, I think going there and playing against guys that’s 25 years old, basically men, I mean I think that’ll really benefit me in the future."When asked what aspects of his game he feels are the strongest, McBain said he’s a strong two-way player with a high hockey IQ, and that he uses his size well. He also said that while he’s a good skater, that’s an area where he can still improve."You know, I think when I’m in stride I can skate with anybody," McBain said. "For me though, I’ve been working on my first three strides, and getting quicker and more explosive and agile."McBain was a member of Canada’s gold-medal winning team at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup in 2017, and also represented Canada at this year’s Under-18 World Championships. What NHL jersey he’ll don in Dallas remains to be seen, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him off the board by the middle of the second round.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

ARLINGTON, Va. – In a season of firsts, the Vegas Golden Knights are faced with another heading into Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.They’ve lost two games in a row for the first time this postseason and are down 2-1 in their best-of-seven series with the Washington Capitals. It’s just the second time they’ve trailed a playoff series, after losing Game 1 of the Western Conference Final to the Winnipeg Jets."It's not something we're not used to," winger David Perron said. "We had a lot of media thinking we'd get run over the entire series against them. We find a way to win four in a row, win in five. We're in a familiar situation with a lot of doubters. It's fine with us. We have to step up and play the right way."Defenseman Luca Sbisa said the Golden Knights have handled adversity before, and that the self-belief is still there. But after sweeping the Los Angeles Kings, beating the San Jose Sharks in six games, and handling Winnipeg in five, adversity has been scarce for Vegas in its inaugural season.But the Golden Knights are facing plenty of it now, sitting just two losses away from watching the Capitals win the Stanley Cup - and ending their Cinderella season in the process."We've got to step up our game," head coach Gerard Gallant said. "In the three games, we haven't been good enough. And if we don't step up our game, the same result is going to happen (Monday) night. We'll see what we're made of."Alex Ovechkin set the tone for Game 3 by scoring in his first Stanley Cup Final home game. Evgeny Kuznetsov and Devante Smith-Pelly also scored for the Capitals, who have rolled four lines far more effectively than the Golden Knights. Tomas Nosek, who had the Game 1 winner, scored off a Braden Holtby turnover in Game 3, but Vegas' depth has been otherwise absent.The Golden Knights have so far been unable to answer Washington’s attack and find a solution to its stifling neutral-zone pressure."We’ve just got to get back to our game, getting pucks deep and getting in on the forecheck," veteran defenseman Deryk Engelland said. "It’s been our key all season long, is the five-man forecheck and five-guy pressure all over the ice. We do it for a little bit at a time and then I think we try to be too cute at times and they thrive on the turnovers."The Knights didn’t practice Sunday ahead of Game 4, but Gallant said he’d consider making some changes to the lineup, which hasn’t changed all that much during the playoffs. He has tweaked his fourth line and pushed the right buttons with Nosek, Ryan Reaves, and Tomas Tatar.The top line of Jonathan Marchessault, Reilly Smith, and William Karlsson has been a constant but faces plenty of pressure after being silenced in Game 3."I think they’re working hard," forward Ryan Carpenter said. "The pucks didn’t go in for them last game but I don’t know, just bounces. We can’t just look to them to lead us. we’ve got to find a way as depth lines to produce and get some offense."Gallant could make some tweaks, but he's not going to overhaul his philosophy after guiding the Golden Knights this far."You have to lose four games before you lose the Stanley Cup and we're far from out of it," he said.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

James Wisniewski was in the car with PGA Tour pro Bud Cauley when it crashed Friday night in Ohio.The former NHL defenseman sustained "a couple broken ribs" in the crash and was still in hospital Sunday, Justin Thomas - the world's No. 1 golfer and a good friend of Cauley - said after completing his fourth round at the Memorial Tournament, according to Steve Gorten and Bill Rabinowitz of the Columbus Dispatch.Cauley was in surgery after suffering a collapsed lung, five broken ribs, and a fractured left leg, as confirmed by his management firm IMG.The accident was first reported by Golf Channel's Todd Lewis on Saturday night.Wisniewski owns a home in Dublin, Ohio, where the Memorial Tournament was being held, and Thomas told the Dispatch that Cauley had been staying with the longtime blue-liner this week.There were two other people in the car at the time of the accident.Wisniewski played for six teams in 11 NHL seasons, spending parts of four with the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2011-15. He represented the United States at the Olympics in February.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It doesn't appear a reunion is in the works between Ilya Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils.Kovalchuk, the Russian superstar winger and unrestricted free agent, has expressed interest in coming back to the NHL, but a return to the Devils looks unlikely."I've not reached out to Kovalchuk's representatives and I've not heard from them, so there you go," Devils general manager Ray Shero told Mike Morreale of NHL.com.Kovalchuk has spent the last five seasons in the KHL after retiring from the Devils in 2013, a move that tore up his 15-year contract.A return to the NHL prior to this offseason would have seen the Devils retain his rights since Kovalchuk played out just three years of that pact before retiring. But now that Kovalchuk is over 35 years old, he's free to sign with any team.The New York Rangers are among the teams to have reached out to Kovalchuk. Recent reports indicate the prolific goal-scorer is looking for an extended stay in the NHL, likely on a two- or three-year contract.Kovalchuk picked up 63 points in 53 games with St. Petersburg SKA this season. He's also recorded 417 goals and 399 assists over 816 NHL games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Much of the time between Games 2 and 3 of the Stanley Cup Final was filled with speculation about whether Evgeny Kuznetsov would be healthy enough to participate come Saturday night.The Washington Capitals' top-line pivot bore the brunt of a thunderous hit from Vegas Golden Knights blue-liner Brayden McNabb in Game 2, but looked no worse for wear in Game 3, playing a pivotal role throughout a dominant 3-1 win.Kuznetsov was buzzing from the start of his first shift. He recorded an assist and scored the game-winning goal, and the Caps generated 51.52 percent of the shot attempts and 59 percent of the scoring chances when he was on the ice at even strength, per Natural Stat Trick.He's been a force throughout the postseason, leading all players with 27 points in 22 games, but perhaps his signature moment of the playoffs came in the second period, when his perfectly executed rush in transition led to a key insurance goal for the Capitals.We'll break down what happened below. The entire play can be seen here.The play started with the Capitals in good defensive-zone position, but they had a mishmash of players on the ice, as Kuznetsov (middle) is on with T.J. Oshie and Jay Beagle.As part of Shea Theodore's rather rotten night, his stick broke on his shot, leading to an easy block for Oshie.With two Golden Knights in pursuit, Oshie quickly chipped the puck to Beagle, who was in support. With Kuznetsov ahead of him, Beagle wisely deferred possession to the more skilled playmaker as the Capitals headed up ice with numbers in their favor.After wading through the neutral zone unscathed, Kuznetsov scanned his options upon crossing the blue line. He's got Beagle charging hard to the net and Orlov under back pressure from David Perron, while Colin Miller monitors the middle of the ice.With Marc-Andre Fleury now in the frame, Kuznetsov has to make his choice. Orlov is essentially a non-factor unless a rebound pops into the slot, so Kuznetsov can either shoot or attempt to feather a pass through Miller onto Beagle's tape. Note how far away he holds the puck from his body to keep Fleury guessing.It's a good thing he opted to shoot.With a quick change of his blade angle, Kuznetsov rifled a picture-perfect shot past Fleury that clanked off the post and in. Though Fleury cut down the angle well, Kuznetsov placed the puck under his blocker and over his pad - virtually the only spot where the acrobatic netminder couldn't reach it.Kuznetsov's impact on the Capitals' lineup was crystal clear in Game 3, and it's plays like his game-winner that make his case for a potential Conn Smythe Trophy.(Screenshots courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

WASHINGTON – Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals have traversed their share of uncharted territory this postseason - none more significant than playing a Stanley Cup Final game in D.C. for the first time in two decades.It only made sense that Ovechkin, the face of the franchise, would score the opening goal.“He’s very passionate, as everyone knows,” coach Barry Trotz said following Washington's 3-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday night. “It was the right thing in a playoff game, the first victory in the final, that Alex scores the first goal. Some poetic justice, if you will."Ovechkin has always played the game with abandon, but since vanquishing the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round, freed from the failures and expectations of the past, he’s almost looked lighter, unburdened.He scored 1:10 into the second period of the first June hockey game played in the nation’s capital since 1998, setting the tone for a decisive Game 3 win that gave the Caps a 2-1 series lead. Ovechkin threw the puck past Vegas goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury as he tripped over Brayden McNabb and after Fleury was unable to control John Carlson’s point blast.

Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik doesn't appear to have sustained an injury following a hit by Vegas Golden Knights forward James Neal that forced him to leave Game 3 midway through the third period."I'm not too concerned," Capitals coach Barry Trotz told Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press. "He's fine."Orpik left the ice following the hit, and some wondered whether he was undergoing the league's concussion protocol after hitting his face on the ice.The veteran defender is a frequent critic of the analytics crowd, but there has been no denying his value this postseason. He's averaged nearly 17 minutes of ice time a game, while he's also chipped in a game-winning goal.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's safe to say Shea Theodore will have trouble sleeping tonight.The Vegas Golden Knights' defenseman turned in a forgettable performance in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday night, making a handful of costly gaffes, and looked completely disengaged at times.Here he is (No. 27 in white) on the Capitals' second goal of the game, fanning on the shot, then making a poor decision to pinch at the blue line, leading to Evgeny Kuznetsov's goal on an odd-man rush.

WASHINGTON (AP) Alex Ovechkin went airborne, Evgeny Kuznetsov flapped his arms like a bird of prey and the Washington Capitals are flying high, just two wins away from winning the Stanley Cup.Ovechkin dived to score his 14th goal of the playoffs and raised his arms in joy when Kuznetsov beat Marc-Andre Fleury and broke out his signature bird celebration in a second period the two Russians will long remember. Led by their two best players, the Capitals beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-1 Saturday night to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final.Fired up in the first Cup Final game in Washington since 1998, the Capitals unloaded chance after chance on Fleury, who made 23 saves but couldn't backstop a frazzled, disjointed team that lost two games in a row for the first time in the playoffs. At the other end, Braden Holtby gifted Tomas Nosek a goal by giving the puck away but stopped the other 21 shots he faced from the Golden Knights, who looked nothing like the winners of 13 of their first 16 playoff games through the first three rounds.The Golden Knights' historic run in its inaugural season is now in danger of coming to an end with Game 4 back in Washington on Monday night. The Capitals are seeking their first title in their 43-year history.Holtby was there when the Capitals needed him, but they didn't need him much because they were on the attack for much of the game. Fleury stopped Ovechkin on a 2-on-1 rush early and the superstar captain was at his best early.In his first home Cup Final game, Ovechkin attempted eight shots in the first period and scored a goal that seemed inevitable. It came 1:10 into the second period when Ovechkin went full-extension over Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb to reach the rebound and backhanded the puck past Fleury.Ovechkin's 14th goal of the playoffs matched John Druce's franchise record set in 1990 and tied him for the league lead in these playoffs.His joy overflowed on the bench when Kuznetsov showed his injured left arm is just fine by scoring on a perfect wrist shot on an odd-man rush. Ovechkin looked to the ceiling with his arms extended as he was hugged by Lars Eller.''He's so emotional about playing for the Cup,'' coach Barry Trotz said of Ovechkin. ''You can tell by the expressions on his face all the time, his emotion. One thing you can see is Alex keeps his emotions on his sleeve. It's on the outside. It's not on the inside. You know exactly what he's thinking.''Capitals fans who have watched heartbreak after playoff heartbreak easily could've been thinking the worst when Vegas scored early in the third period. Holtby - well-aware of the Golden Knights' ability to cross up opposing goaltenders - had his puck-handling attempt intercepted by Bellemare. The puck skittered to Nosek for an easy goal.Vegas built some momentum, but Devante Smith-Pelly gave the Capitals an insurance goal with 6:07 left - his fourth of the playoffs - after Jay Beagle took the puck away from Shea Theodore on the forecheck and found his teammate skating in alone on Fleury.''I've always loved the playoffs,'' Smith-Pelly said. ''I love scoring the big goals. I don't know what it is, but these kinds of games are the most fun to play in.''---More Stanley Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/StanleyCupFinalsCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes want to make it very difficult for Oliver Ekman-Larsson to walk away from the desert.Following a report last month that indicated the two sides are discussing an eight-year extension worth north of $8 million a season, it's fair to say the team is pulling out all the stops to re-sign its star blue-liner."We've been very clear that we're willing to do whatever we possibly can to have him come back," Coyotes general manager John Chayka told Adam Kimelman of NHL.com. "(We) think he's a heck of a defenseman, heck of a player, heck of a person."Really believe in him and what he can bring to our team. Trying to get something done to lock him up long, long term. Build around him and really put together a team he deserves."Moves to appease OEL started last season, when the Coyotes recruited Ekman-Larsson's brother, Kevin, to suit up for their minor-league club.The team also acquired fellow Swedish defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson from the Chicago Blackhawks, a move that came at Ekman-Larsson's request.Ekman-Larsson has spent his entire career with the Coyotes, tallying 290 points in 576 games. He finished last season with 14 goals and 28 assists across 82 appearances.The 26-year-old is entering the last year of his current contract that carries a $5.5-million cap hit. He can re-sign with Arizona as soon as July 1.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov will be back in the lineup for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights.Kuznetsov left early into Game 2 with an upper-body injury after he was on the receiving end of a hit by Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb.On Saturday morning, the Capitals forward took part in pregame line rushes in his usual spot between Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson.Kuznetsov sits atop the playoff scoring race with 25 points in 21 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Evgeny Kuznetsov's status for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final won't be determined until shortly before puck drop.“I don’t know,” the Washington Capitals center told reporters, including NHL.com's Tom Gulitti, when asked whether he'll play against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday night. "We’ll see if I’m in, I definitely can help in the morning skate, no?"Capitals head coach Barry Trotz wouldn't confirm one way or another, either, simply giving his star forward the game-time decision designation.

Add Brooks Orpik to the list of Washington Capitals players with banged-up mitts.After Nicklas Backstrom missed four games earlier in the playoffs with a hand injury and Evgeny Kuznetsov exited Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final while appearing to favor his wrist, Orpik took a slash from Vegas Golden Knights forward Erik Haula in the waning seconds of Washington's 3-2 win on Wednesday that required upwards of 15 stitches on his index finger, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.Despite the repairs, Orpik said he'll be good to go for Saturday's Game 3.Orpik also surprisingly netted the game-winning goal in Game 2 - his first tally since the 2015-16 campaign - and has averaged just under 17 minutes per night in 21 games for the Capitals in these playoffs.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

WASHINGTON -- If fans in Las Vegas seem a bit spoiled by the rapid success of the Golden Knights, rest assured that the Washington, D.C. area has paid its dues.The Capitals, who host Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday night, are carrying the hopes of a city that hasn't seen a Big Four sports team play for a championship since, well, the Capitals way back in 1998 when they were swept by the Detroit Red Wings."I think everybody (is) excited in Washington," Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin told NHL.com. "It's going to be fun. It's going to be interesting. It's going to be hard. That's why we worked so hard to be in this spot and be in this moment."With the series tied 1-1, Washington carries the momentum into Game 3 and got a boost Friday when center Evgeny Kuznetsov, who left Game 2 with an upper-body injury in the first period, took part in an optional practice."He wanted to come back out there in the game, I think, but it just wasn't in the best interest, and I think him and the medical staff made the right call," Washington's Jay Beagle told The Washington Post on Friday. "He says he's feeling better today, and that's a great sign."Kuznetsov, who regularly centers a line with Ovechkin and Tom Wilson, is the NHL's top postseason scorer with 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points in 21 games.Washington is 4-5 at home in the playoffs but did win a huge Game 6 at Capital One Arena against Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference Final."I love playing at home," Capitals center Lars Eller told NHL.com. "There's no reason we can't play our best game (Saturday) night."Vegas enters Game 3 looking to overcome the frustration of "The Save" as it's being referred to. Goaltender Braden Holtby's amazing stick save on Alex Tuch's potential game-tying one-timer with two minutes remaining in Game 2 is already being compared locally to Washington's greatest sports moments.Holtby, who also stoned Vegas during a five-on-three advantage in Game 2, is 13-7 with a 2.19 GAA and .921 save percentage since replacing Philipp Grubauer in the second game of the first round, but the save on Tuch dominated the conversation after Game 2."We know it's never going to be easy to win a Stanley Cup," Vegas coach Gerard Gallant told the team's website. "So you've just got to focus on the next game. You don't worry about the last game ... "Vegas is 3-0 after a loss in the playoffs and 3-0 in Game 3s. They bring an 8-2 road playoff record into Washington."I think we try to play the same game no matter what building we're playing in," Gallant said. "It worked very well in the postseason. Try to play the same game, play a quick, fast game, an up-tempo game."Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has a 3.56 goals-against average and an .870 save percentage in the two games. He posted a 1.68 GAA and .947 save percentage in the first three rounds of the playoffs."There were maybe a few unfortunate goals throughout this series," Fleury told NHL.com. "I don't think I've sweat it too much so far."Knights defenseman Shea Theodore said his team needs to be more aware of Washington's physicality, which helped it swing the Tampa Bay series and has carried over into the final."They're a fast group and their physical," Theodore told the team's website. "They finish all their checks and I think that's something we have to be a bit more aware of. We have to use our speed and we have to turn over less pucks definitely."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ilya Kovalchuk is ready to return to the NHL for the long haul.The Russian superstar and unrestricted free agent is courting interest from possible NHL suitors, with the idea of a two- or three-year deal in mind, reports Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.Kovalchuk has spent the past five seasons in the KHL after he retired from the New Jersey Devils in 2013, a move that cut short his previously signed 15-year contract.The Devils retained his rights following his NHL retirement, a rule that may have prevented his return in past offseasons. But that's no longer the case, as Kovalchuk is now over age 35 and thus free to join any team of his choosing. He can officially sign as of July 1.The New York Rangers are among the teams who have reached out to Kovalchuk.In 53 games with the KHL's SKA St. Petersburg this season, Kovalchuk collected 63 points. The former Atlanta Thrashers forward tallied 816 points in as many NHL appearances.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators have arguably the NHL's best defense core, and general manager David Poile intends to keep it that way beyond the 2018-19 season.Ryan Ellis is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2019, but Poile said signing him to a contract extension this summer is the team's top priority, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.LeBrun added that Poile has already been in communication with Ellis' agent Rick Curran, and the two plan to talk again at the draft in Dallas later this month.Ellis is going into the last year of a team-friendly five-year, $12.5-million contract, and is bound to get a substantial annual raise from his $2.5-million cap hit.The former 11th overall pick has blossomed into one of the NHL's most effective blue-liners. He missed the first half of the 2017-18 campaign after undergoing offseason knee surgery, but still recorded nine goals and 32 points in 44 games.Poile could find himself in a similar situation next offseason, as fellow stud defenseman Roman Josi - who also carries a bargain cap hit at $4 million - will be a UFA after 2019-20.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford set the record straight Friday after a reported rift between Phil Kessel and head coach Mike Sullivan was revealed Tuesday.According to the report from The Athletic's Josh Yohe, Kessel was angry he didn't play on a line with Evgeni Malkin for most of the 2018 postseason. Yohe believes Sullivan and Kessel don't get along, and that the Penguins are "willing to listen" to trade offers for the winger.In an interview with The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun on Friday morning, Rutherford provided some clarity on the matter."This is something that I believe has been blown out of proportion," the GM said. "I don't know where this story started. It's unfortunate. I don't think it's been any secret here for three years that Phil's preference is to play with Gino. But, when Sully looks at our team, he believes balance throughout the lineup is the best way to win, and we won two Cups that way with Phil not playing with Gino. So there's times where they play together, when they're both really going, and there's times when they don't."But for someone to suggest it's an issue within our team, that can't be taken care of or resolved, I don't believe that's accurate."Rutherford came to Kessel's defense, squashing any trade rumors, and said the team being worn down by two Stanley Cup runs - not Kessel's lackluster play - was the main reason they were eliminated in the second round this year."So, I don't feel that we have to trade Phil Kessel," he said. "He was a difference-maker when we won the two Cups, he's coming off a year where he had 92 points, and we didn't win the Cup, we didn't three-peat, and now people are trying to come up with ideas why we didn't do that."And the reason we didn't do that is because we didn't have the energy to win three championships in a row. I'm not sure anybody has it. To me, that's ultimately what happened to us this year. I don't think pointing the finger at any one guy as the reason we didn't win the Cup is fair at all."Rutherford admitted that though the 2018-19 Penguins will have new faces, that doesn't mean drastic changes will be made."I said it at the end of the season that we wouldn't come back the same team. That doesn't mean that it's going to be a total overhaul," he said. "There's a couple of areas where we'd like to strengthen, and I'll try and do that. But it doesn't necessarily mean that it's any certain player that's going to be part of fixing that."Kessel has four years left on his contract with a $6.8-million annual cap hit and a no-trade clause in which he can choose eight teams he's willing to be traded to.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Adam Mascherin is hoping to hear his name called again on draft day.The 38th overall pick by the Florida Panthers in 2016 will re-enter the coming draft after he failed to sign an entry-level contract prior to Friday's deadline.Mascherin has spent the past four seasons with the OHL's Kitchener Rangers, for who he contributed a team-leading 86 points in 67 games this year. Only seven players league-wide topped Mascherin's 40-goal finish.A report by Craig Custance of The Athletic indicated that the Panthers tried to trade the rights to Mascherin before losing him for nothing, but the team was ultimately unsuccessful. A team only receives compensation from the league if it is unable to sign a first-round draft choice.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Barry Trotz isn't tipping his hand as much as his captain may have about Evgeny Kuznetsov's status for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday night.The Washington Capitals head coach wouldn't go as far as Alex Ovechkin, who declared after Friday's practice that he was "pretty sure" Kuznetsov would play.

Washington Capitals sniper Alex Ovechkin isn't playing as coy as head coach Barry Trotz when it comes to Evgeny Kuznetsov's status.Trotz declared his top-line center day to day with an upper-body injury following a massive hit from Brayden McNabb in Game 2 that forced Kuznetsov to leave the contest, and he doubled down on his diagnosis after the 26-year-old surprisingly took part in the Capitals' optional practice Friday.However, Ovechkin doesn't share the same opinion."I'm pretty sure he's going to play tomorrow," Ovechkin said of his linemate, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox.Kuznetsov's health is a major factor heading into Game 3, as he leads the playoff in points with 25.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators assistant general manager Randy Lee was arrested in Buffalo and charged with harassment, Erie County District Attorney John Flynn told reporters, including WBFO's Michael Mroziak, on Friday.Flynn said Lee is accused of putting his hands on the shoulders of a male hotel shuttle driver and making a lewd remark referring to Lee's genitalia. The driver immediately reported the incident to security.The Senators released an updated statement on Friday evening:

Even with John Tavares, John Carlson, Paul Stastny, and James van Riemsdyk headlining a top-heavy free-agent class, the following five players easily provide the most intrigue.Each of them has enough red flags that teams would ideally want to sign them to one-year contracts, but their upside is high enough that it will almost certainly take a multi-year deal to outbid fellow teams tempted by the ceiling.Here are the top five boom-or-bust unrestricted free agents set to hit the open market on July 1.Ilya KovalchukKovalchuk is set to make his return to North America after spending the last five seasons in the KHL. At 35 years old, the biggest question is if he has anything left in the tank.The NHL is a different league from when he last played in it in 2012-13. It's faster and filled with youth. At 230 lbs, does he have enough speed to keep up?He has remained prolific overseas, scoring 31 goals with 63 points in 53 games this past season, but the KHL is a much slower league and easier for an offensive player to put up gaudy numbers.Also, how would Kovalchuk respond to a lesser role? His entire life, he's been the best player - or one of the best - on every single team he's ever played on. He's a highly competitive, fiery player who always wants the puck on his stick. How would he perform if the offense didn't revolve around him, and he was only playing 15 or 16 minutes a night rather than 20-plus?Boom: Legitimate top-six winger, power-play dynamo

If Brian Gionta is going to play in the NHL again, it won't be with the Boston Bruins, as general manager Don Sweeney announced Thursday that the diminutive winger won't be offered a contract.Sweeney also announced defenseman Paul Postma and forward Kenny Agostino would not return, though he didn't rule out bringing back Austin Czarnik.The 39-year-old Gionta suited up in 20 games for Boston this season, recording two goals and five assists. He joined the Bruins after a five-game showing for the United States at the Winter Olympics, where he was held without a point.Postma played 13 games with the Bruins, while Agostino suited up in just five. The latter, however, is coming off four straight productive seasons in the AHL.Czarnik, 25, had four points in 10 games with Boston, and 69 points in 64 AHL contests.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov is considered day to day with an upper-body injury, head coach Barry Trotz told reporters Thursday.Kuznetsov leads all players with 25 points during the postseason, including 11 goals.The Capitals star left Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final after taking a high hit from Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb and did not return, with Lars Eller seeing increased minutes in his absence."He's been our best player in playoffs so far," Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom said to Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post. "I mean, that's tough. We'll see what happens."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Callahan is expected to be out for approximately five months after undergoing shoulder surgery Thursday, the team announced.If Callahan recovers within the expected time frame, he would miss training camp, preseason, and the first month of the regular season.The 33-year-old is no longer the offensive threat he once was, as injuries, age, and poor footspeed have caught up with him. He was relegated to fourth-line duties for most of the 2017-18 campaign, tallying five goals and 13 assists in 67 games.Callahan still has two years remaining on his contract with an annual cap hit of $5.8 million.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights became a genuine contender faster than anyone could've anticipated, and are going to reap obvious unintended benefits, as a result, this summer.Against all projections, Vegas made the Stanley Cup Final in its inaugural season and is now looking to topple the Washington Capitals, splitting the first two games of the series.Since the vast majority of the Golden Knights' roster was accrued through the expansion draft, the team has ample cap space and will be a major player in free agency, owner Bill Foley indicated in an extensive Q+A with The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.

Bill Peters will have a couple more experienced coaches on his new staff.Geoff Ward and Ryan Huska will join the new Calgary Flames head coach as associate coach and assistant coach, respectively, the club announced Thursday.Ward spent the last three seasons as a New Jersey Devils assistant after occupying the same role with the Boston Bruins for seven years before that.Huska was the head coach of the AHL's Stockton Heat for the last three campaigns, and he also guided the Flames affiliate for one season when it was known as the Adirondack Flames.Peters was hired by Calgary on April 23, three days after leaving the Carolina Hurricanes.The Flames' coaching staff already includes assistants Martin Gelinas, Jamie Pringle, and Jordan Sigalet.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks signed goaltender Michael DiPietro to a three-year, entry-level contract Thursday, the team announced.The 18-year-old was selected by the Canucks in the third round of the 2017 draft. He's coming off his third season with the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League, where he went 29-21-1 with a .910 save percentage, a 2.79 goals-against average, and seven shutouts.DiPietro's impressive season earned him the OHL Goaltender of the Year Award, and he was named Canada's third-string goalie at the World Championship in Denmark.With DiPietro locked up, the team now boasts another promising goaltending prospect alongside 2014 second-round pick Thatcher Demko.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As NHL teams are eliminated from Stanley Cup contention, theScore NHL freelance writer Katie Brown looks back at the highs and lows of their seasons, along with the biggest questions ahead of 2018-19. The 27th edition focuses on the Nashville Predators.The GoodA record-breaking season. The Predators won a division title and claimed the Presidents’ Trophy for the first time in their history a year after losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Final. They also recorded 53 wins, a franchise record. Vezina Trophy finalist Pekka Rinne could become the first player in Predators history to win the award, which would be the first of his career after three previous top-three finishes.Sensational Subban. P.K. Subban was named a Norris Trophy finalist for the third time after putting together his third 82-game season and recording 59 points. The veteran was the only Nashville player to appear in every game. Though he was one point off his career-best 60-point season in 2014-15, this year’s outing was his best statistically. He finished the season ranked eighth in the league in points by defensemen, while his 16 goals were tied for second.The JOFA line. The Predators’ top unit of Ryan Johansen, Filip Forsberg, and Viktor Arvidsson was dangerous all year. The line ranked among the league's top five statistically during the season and added an incredible 10 goals in 148 minutes at even strength in the playoffs.The BadInconsistent goaltending. Rinne might have had a Vezina-worthy regular season, but his playoffs were ... not the best. He was pulled three times, all at home, during the Predators’ series against the Winnipeg Jets. In Game 7, he gave up two goals on seven shots and was yanked within the first 11 minutes. Rinne did have a few good moments, including a 34-save shutout in Game 6, but his save percentage ended up a dismal .900 for the series. During the regular season, his stat line was impressive: 42-13-4 with a 2.31 goals-against average and .927 save percentage.Depth didn't deliver. Against the Jets, the Predators scored 19 goals - and 13 of them came from their top line and Subban. Basically, no one beyond the top line made much of an impact on the scoresheet. Nashville addressed its forward depth during the offseason by adding players like Nick Bonino, Kyle Turris, Ryan Hartman, and Mike Fisher to play with a healthy Kevin Fiala, but none of them scored more than two points in the series.The defense underperformed. The Predators’ formidable defense has become one of their trademarks. Subban, Mattias Ekholm, Roman Josi, and Ryan Ellis form one of the best top-four groups in the league. But they ran into a buzzsaw in the Jets. Winnipeg’s relentless attack, skill, and ability to pressure in the zone gave Nashville’s blue-liners a really tough time. There were stretches where the Predators held their own, but Winnipeg was just that much better.The QuestionsWhat does Ryan Ellis' next contract look like? Ellis has one year left until he’s a UFA, but he wants to stay in Nashville, and the two parties can start discussing an extension July 1. His current four-year contract, signed in 2014, pays him a reasonable $2.5 million a year, but he could command around $6 million annually on his next deal. Ellis missed part of the season because of knee surgery and played just 44 games but still managed 32 points, which equates roughly to a 60-point pace over 82 games.How much does Rinne have left? Rinne's said he'll play the one year left on his contract, but hasn't thought further than that. So he’ll be Nashville’s starter for at least one more season, but even he can recognize that he’ll eventually be overtaken by backup Juuse Saros (as long as the 23-year-old continues to progress).What else needs to change? Probably not much. With the exception of UFAs Scott Hartnell and Alexei Emelin, the Predators will ice mostly the same team in the fall. General manager David Poile could make a splash if he wants to, but don’t expect him to be one of John Tavares' suitors. Adding another forward or two to boost scoring depth might be prudent considering Nashville's offense looked top-heavy in the playoffs.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland is reportedly looking to put pen to paper with a couple of pending free agents.Holland has met with Newport group, which represents pending unrestricted free agent Mike Green, a player the team is interested in bringing back, according to The Athletic's Craig Custance.Green is coming off his third season with the Red Wings, posting eight goals and 33 points in 66 games.Holland has also met with Anthony Mantha's agent, Pat Brisson. They're reportedly nearing a bridge contract for the pending restricted free agent."I thought the meeting went well," Brisson said. "We obviously discussed some possibilities we're going to have to review together internally and we anticipate getting back to him probably within a week."Mantha is coming off his entry-level deal and just finished his third year with the team, recording 24 goals and 48 points in 80 games - good enough for third in team scoring.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.