Todd Nelson is back in the NHL.The former Edmonton Oilers bench boss was named to newly appointed Dallas Stars head coach Jim Montgomery's staff on Thursday.On Wednesday, The Athletic's Sean Shapiro reported the Stars were close to a deal with Nelson, and The Athletic's Craig Custance took it one step further shortly thereafter.

After a disappointing 2018 season, the Detroit Red Wings hold their highest draft pick at No. 6 overall since 1990, when they took Keith Primeau at No. 3.But that doesn't mean the team isn't willing to deal the top-10 pick."I've started to talk to some teams about a lot," general manager Ken Holland said, according to The Athletic's Craig Custance. "As you work your way towards (host) Dallas at the draft, draft movement possibilities - I think at this stage in the game, everybody is kicking tires as to what might be out there."I'm open to possibly move."Holland noted to Custance he has little desire to try to trade up in the draft, and with the team eyeing centers and defensemen - a position the draft has an abundance of - they wouldn't be opposed to moving down."We're also comfortable (doing nothing)," Holland said. "We're going to get a good player at six."In all, the Red Wings will have 11 picks at June's draft, giving them plenty of opportunities to make trades or simply add to their prospect pool.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are making a couple of changes behind the bench.Associate coach Rick Bowness was dismissed and assistant coach Brad Lauer agreed to part ways with the club, it was announced Thursday.Bowness had been with the Lightning since June 2013, overseeing the defense and penalty kill. He has coached more than 2,000 NHL games, largely in an assistant or associate capacity.Lauer joined the team in 2015 after spending four seasons with the Anaheim Ducks.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's never too late for firsts.With his power-play marker in the second period of Game 2 on Wednesday night, Alex Ovechkin collected his first career goal in the Stanley Cup Final. It was a big achievement for arguably the purest goal-scorer going, but more importantly, it helped the Washington Capitals walk away with a series-tying win against the Vegas Golden Knights.The goal was a classic one-timer from the side of the net, but looking at the entire play, it becomes evident that the tally was the product of the Capitals exploiting the Golden Knights' blown coverage on the penalty kill.Let's break it down.The full video can be seen here.The Golden Knights initially appeared to be in decent shape. As Nicklas Backstrom moved the puck to John Carlson at the point, Deryk Engelland (positioned in front of the net) made sure to get his stick in Ovechkin's shooting lane, anticipating a potential pass from Carlson.Instead, the puck went to Backstrom, and Engelland shifted his focus to T.J. Oshie, who was positioned in the slot. Unfortunately for the Golden Knights, it looks like all four of their skaters were trying to prevent the puck from getting to him.While all the Vegas players were fixated on the puck, Ovechkin started sneaking toward the side of the goal.The puck then went down low to Lars Eller. He quickly made a one-time, cross-ice pass to Ovechkin, leaving no time for Engelland to get his stick or body in position to block the pass.Marc-Andre Fleury attempted to poke-check the puck, but missed, leaving him with a desperation pad save as his lone hope.Meanwhile, it's worth noting that Tomas Nosek wasn't covering Oshie or Ovechkin.The pass got through. Ovechkin had moved down lower, and he isn't going to miss from there. Nosek finally noticed Ovechkin, but it was far too late.The Capitals' power play has been the second-most lethal unit during the playoffs and Wednesday night it clicked once again. Eller stepped up, taking the spot usually occupied by the leading scorer of the playoffs, Evgeny Kuznetsov (who left the game in the first period with an injury).As for the Golden Knights, next time, they might want to be sure they pay attention to the man with over 600 goals on his resume.(Photos courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Capitals head coach Barry Trotz was not a fan of Brayden McNabb's hit on Evgeny Kuznetsov, which knocked Washington's No. 1 center out of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final in the first period.Trotz described the play as a "questionable hit" from the Vegas Golden Knights defenseman, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli. Trotz added that he thought the hit was high, and said "the league will look at it."The Caps' bench boss may have a point:

Braden Holtby might've been the Washington Capitals' best player in their Game 2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, but Lars Eller was the team's best skater, and it couldn't have come at a more crucial time.Evgeny Kuznetsov, the Caps' No. 1 center and leading point-getter so far this postseason, left the game in the first period after taking a hit from Brayden McNabb and did not return. This bumped Nicklas Backstrom up to the top line and Eller up to the second line, and he did not disappoint.First, Eller buried Washington's opening goal into the yawning cage after two nice passes from Andre Burakovsky and Michal Kempny. Then, while taking Kuznetsov's spot on the power play, he fed Alex Ovechkin with a cross-crease pass to give the Caps the lead. For an encore, he started the rush on Brooks Orpik's goal, setting him up with a beautiful no-look dish.That gave Eller three points in the game, making him directly responsible for each of Washington's goals. And this wasn't the first time this postseason Eller stepped up in the absence of a key center.When Backstrom was out for the final game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round and the first three games of the Eastern Conference Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Eller was the team's unsung hero, collecting five points in those four games, three of which were wins.Eller signed a five-year contract extension in February with an average annual value of $3.5 million. Coming off a career-high 38-point season, he now has 17 points in 21 playoff games. It's safe to say that contract is looking like a bargain now, given the demand for quality two-way centers around the league.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby may have pulled off the save of the year at the most critical time.With the Capitals holding onto a narrow 3-2 lead, Vegas Golden Knights winger Alex Tuch appeared certain to tie the game up in the final stages, but Holtby had other ideas, getting his stick on the puck to preserve the lead.The hockey world was expectedly in awe of the save.

LAS VEGAS (AP) Alex Ovechkin, Braden Holtby and the Washington Capitals stayed cool in the 100-degree Vegas heat and evened the Stanley Cup Final.Holtby made 37 saves, Ovechkin scored a power-play goal and Lars Eller added a goal and two assists in the Capitals' 3-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 on Wednesday night.The Caps hung on through a scoreless third period for their first Stanley Cup Final victory in franchise history largely because of a bounce-back performance by Holtby, who was battered in Vegas' 6-4 series-opening win.Holtby capped his energetic performance with a jaw-dropping stick save with 1:59 to play, stretching back to rob Alex Tuch of a possible tying goal.''We refocus and pick each other up and that's a sign of a good team,'' Holtby said. ''That's one of our strengths.''Brooks Orpik ended a personal 220-game drought with the eventual winning goal for the Caps, who rebounded from a ramshackle loss in the opener and handed the expansion Golden Knights only their second home defeat - the first in regulation - in Vegas' nine postseason games.James Neal and Shea Theodore scored and Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 23 shots for the upstart Knights, who couldn't summon their usual clutch magic in the third period, even with lengthy man advantages.Washington lost leading scorer Evgeny Kuznetsov to an upper-body injury in the first period after a big hit from Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb. The Caps avoided any hotheaded retaliation and concentrated on a gritty effort that was enough to even the series.Game 3 is Saturday night in Washington.The Caps are just 4-5 at home in the postseason, but they'll ride a wave of momentum after going into the Golden Knights' daunting home arena and taking away home-ice advantage in their first Stanley Cup Final in 20 years.The Capitals have made the playoffs in 13 of 19 seasons since their only other trip to the Final in 1998, but hadn't managed to get their fans back to the final round until this year. Capital One Arena in downtown Washington was packed with red-clad fans watching Game 2 on the videoboards.The Caps improved to 9-3 on the road in the postseason after two games in this frequently chaotic series. The first two games of the Stanley Cup Final were split for only the third time in the last 13 editions of the NHL's final round.After a rough opener in Vegas, Holtby rounded back into something approaching his form in back-to-back shutouts to close the Eastern Conference finals. While his save on Tuch was the most impressive, he kept the Caps in charge with 15 saves in the third period, including a tenacious effort during a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:09 for the Knights.The temperature on the Las Vegas Strip spiked to triple digits in the hours before Game 2, likely making it the hottest Final game in NHL history. But the heat didn't fry the spirits of the fans who filled the plaza next to T-Mobile Arena to capacity before the puck dropped, continuing this gambling mecca's fanatical support of its first major pro sports team.After another elaborate, Vegas-style pregame introduction at T-Mobile Arena, the Knight took another early lead with their quick-strike offense and a little puck luck when Washington's Dmitry Orlov misplayed Luca Sbisa's long lob and allowed Neal to skate in easily on Holtby.The goal was the fifth of the postseason for Neal, the gifted scorer left unprotected in last summer's expansion draft after reaching the Final with Nashville.Shortly afterward, Kuznetsov went straight to the dressing room after absorbing a high check from McNabb. The game immediately took on a nastier tone, and the teams played 4-on-4 hockey moments later after a prolonged scrum led to two penalties.With extra space, Washington strung together several sharp passes culminating in Eller's sixth goal of the postseason. The Danish forward failed to hit an open net on a rushed play for a potential tying goal late in Game 1.Washington's excellent power play finally got a chance early in the second period, and Ovechkin scored a vintage goal with his powerful shot from a sharp angle.The Russian superstar led the NHL with 49 goals in the regular season and added 12 more in the Eastern Conference playoffs. After scoring the first Stanley Cup Final goal of his 13-year, 1,121-game NHL career, he skated to the glass with both arms raised triumphantly.The Caps then silenced T-Mobile Arena when Eller got the puck to Orpik, whose deflected shot bounced fortuitously off the ice and beat Fleury. Orpik, the grinding veteran forward with a 2009 Stanley Cup ring from Pittsburgh, hadn't scored since Feb. 26, 2016, adding up to the longest active goal-scoring drought in the NHL.But the relentless Knights earned a power play and cut the Caps' lead to 3-2 late in the second when Theodore slipped a long shot through heavy traffic.Vegas continued its pressure early in the third, forcing Washington into two early penalties. But the Golden Knights failed to score with that two-man advantage, with Holtby repeatedly coming up big.''We played smart. We played hard,'' Ovechkin said. ''Holtby made unbelievable saves.''NOTES: The Golden Knights have scored the opening goal in the first period of all nine of their postseason home games. ... Washington needs three more wins to become the second team in NHL history to win a Cup after trailing in all four postseason rounds, joining Pittsburgh in 1991. ... T-Mobile Arena reported 18,702 fans in the sold-out building, setting a franchise record for attendance.---More Stanley Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/StanleyCupFinalsCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov headed to the locker room after taking a high hit from Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb during the first period and did not return.Here is the play in question:

Washington Capitals forward Brett Connolly succinctly summarized the importance of a great start to Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights."In the playoffs, we've gotten down in games, we've played like s--- some nights," Connolly told Mike Hume of The Washington Post prior to Wednesday's contest.The Capitals actually took a 4-3 lead early in the third period of Game 1, but the Golden Knights responded with three consecutive goals to win 6-4.Connolly scored the opener for the Capitals in Game 1, and will be looked upon to continue providing secondary contributions. Time will only tell if his candid assessment serves as a rallying point.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Properly addressing the middle of the ice has eluded Mark Bergevin since the beginning of his tenure as general manager of the Montreal Canadiens. In a desperation effort to fill a top-line center role last season, the Habs shifted newly acquired Jonathan Drouin from left wing to the middle, and it came with some mixed results.Drouin finished the season with a minus-28 rating (third-worst on team, 11th-worst in NHL), won just 42.5 percent of his faceoffs at even strength, and his possession numbers hovered around 50 percent despite an offensive-zone start percentage of nearly 60, per Hockey-Reference. His point total also fell from 53 in 2016-17 to 46 last season.Bergevin admitted the learning curve of playing center was difficult for Drouin at times."As we speak today, there is a lack in the middle. (Drouin), well, I would say in the first half he had a hard time adjusting to center," he told NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger. "As the season progressed, well, is he the perfect centerman? Is he Sidney Crosby? Of course not. But can he fill a role at times? Yes he can. We'll have to address some of our needs, sure."Despite the 23-year-old's turbulent season, Bergevin isn't ready to call the Drouin-at-center experiment a failure."At the same time, there is a perception that (Drouin) failed there. I'm not ready to say that. He played some center in junior and he played some (with the Tampa Bay Lightning). Other than goaltending, I think center is probably the hardest position to fill. It takes some time and some mileage to play that position to a degree where you could really help your team win. So I'm not going to write him off there. But we have options we can look at as we speak."Drouin did show progression manning the middle of the ice as the season wore on, collecting 13 points in his last 15 games, and improving his faceoff win percentage to a respectable 48.7 percent during that span.Going about improving the center position could once again prove difficult for Bergevin this offseason. Though his team holds the third overall pick, the top end of the draft is filled with wingers and defenseman, not centers. On the free-agent market, John Tavares and Paul Stastny are the only capable No. 1 centers - but both will be highly sought after.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Edmonton Oilers right winger Normand Lacombe is asking for the public's help after his Stanley Cup ring was stolen from his vehicle Saturday night.Lacombe, who was a member of the Oilers' 1987-88 championship team, told CTV News he took the ring off before playing golf near his home in Spruce Grove, Alberta, and left it in his car overnight."(I'm) sick to my stomach," he said. "It's obviously sentimental value. My name is on it, my number.“You can't replace a Stanley Cup ring. (It's) probably one of my favorite memories playing in the NHL. Everyone dreams to win a Cup and I did and I have a ring, and I'd like it back."

Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley was on hand to see his team defeat the Washington Capitals in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, but there is one notable change he'd like to make moving forward.Foley was irked by the Capitals' traveling fan base that occupied large portions of the arena and is considering not selling blocks of tickets as the Golden Knights look to win a title in their inaugural season."I can move around the ticket locations," Foley told Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com. "I don't want to see them together."Foley said he believed Capitals supporters occupied approximately 12 percent of T-Mobile Arena.It doesn't appear Foley will get his wish imminently, but a raucous home crowd figures to give Vegas the home-ice advantage it needs entering a pivotal Game 2.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Magnus Paajarvi will be back with the Ottawa Senators for at least another season.The Senators signed the left winger to a one-year contract extension worth $900,000 on Wednesday.He was a pending unrestricted free agent who chipped in six goals and two assists in 35 games with Ottawa after being claimed off waivers from the St. Louis Blues in late January.The 27-year-old was chosen 10th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2009.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues named Mike Van Ryn as assistant coach, the team announced Wednesday.The news comes after the Tucson Roadrunners - the American Hockey League affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes - announced earlier in the day that Van Ryn was stepping down as the club's head coach to pursue an NHL job.

Ted Leonsis is no horrible boss.Employees of Monumental Sports & Entertainment learned this (if they weren't already aware) Thursday when they received an email explaining that Leonsis was flying them out to Las Vegas to attend either Game 1 or 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.A selection of 200 of the roughly 500 employees of the company - those who work closely with the Capitals and those who hold seniority - were put up for one night at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino and received a ticket to one of the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final with Leonsis footing the bill, according to Scott Allen of The Washington Post."It's truly amazing and out of this world," guest relations manager Omar Castro said. "I never expected an owner of the company to do this. We get to share in this with them. … He's thinking of us as part of a family, as part of the experience. There's no reason for him to do it. All I can say is a big thanks to Ted and his family for the opportunity, and for truly making this into something memorable for all of us here in the company."The employees took a chartered flight early in the morning on either Monday or Wednesday and, as they boarded the plane, were given Capitals rally towels.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights have one of their veteran players to thank for coining a moniker that's stuck with them on their unexpected run to the Stanley Cup Final.James Neal told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun that he came up with the "Golden Misfits" nickname during training camp in September, when he created it as the label for a group chat with his teammates.“Who do you think came up with it? Come on," Neal said to LeBrun in a story published Wednesday. "It was just a casual joke to get us going at first, to start the year off."Neal quipped that he should have trademarked it, given how many T-shirts bearing the sobriquet are being sold during the Golden Knights' storybook run.William Karlsson first revealed that the players were calling themselves the "Golden Misfits" in early May during Vegas' second-round series against the San Jose Sharks.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's going to take a mighty fine offer to nab the No. 3 pick from the Montreal Canadiens.The Canadiens own their highest draft selection since they took Alex Galchenyuk third overall in 2012. Speculation about trading high picks always ramps up as the draft approaches, but general manager Marc Bergevin maintained Tuesday that Montreal is unlikely to move its top selection.When NHL.com's Mike Zeisburger asked why Bergevin remains reluctant to deal the selection for assets, the GM answered, "You pay a hefty price to get that pick."Obviously having the season we had, that's what gave us the right to pick that high. It's certainly not the goal when your season starts. ... So it's not a fun time for our fans to suffer the way they did this year, but we're going to get rewarded in Dallas with a pick we feel will make our team better in the long haul. That's the price to pay."The Canadiens are coming off their worst 82-game season since the 2000-01 campaign when the club finished 11th in the Eastern Conference with 70 points.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With one free-agent winger off the board in Evander Kane, another is starting to gain attention.Ilya Kovalchuk's agent, J.P. Barry of Creative Artists Agency, is "in discussions with teams" interested in bringing Kovalchuk back to the NHL, reports TSN's Darren Dreger.Kovalchuk came off the voluntary retired list on April 15 - the day he turned 35 years old - officially becoming an unrestricted free agent. He and his camp can negotiate with any NHL team, but can't officially put pen to paper until July 1.The New York Rangers are just one team that has officially gauged interest in Kovalchuk thus far, as GM Jeff Gorton stated a month ago that the club has "checked in" with him.Kovalchuk was one of the game's elite talents before bolting for the KHL after the 2012-13 campaign, compiling 816 points in as many games with the Atlanta Thrashers and New Jersey Devils. He continued to be highly productive with SKA St. Petersburg, potting 31 goals and adding 32 assists in 51 games this past season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has played a key role in the team's run to the Stanley Cup Final, a fact not lost on his teammates.Fleury wasn't nearly at his best Monday in Game 1, allowing four goals on 28 shots, but the Golden Knights emerged with a 6-4 victory over the Washington Capitals.It's clear that Fleury has earned a pass from his teammates, who attributed the goals to mere misfortune."He still made big saves," Golden Knights forward James Neal said via Dan Rosen of NHL.com. "You can look at the ones he let in, the one that got stuck in his pad and he pushed in, and he'll be hard on himself, but we'll battle and do anything for him to get a win.""I don't think he should be hard on himself at all," Golden Knights defenseman Deryk Engelland added. "It's a tip, couple wide-open tap-ins. I think he shouldn't be hard on himself. We kind of hung him out to dry there on those ones. We just know we can be better for him for the next game."For his part, Fleury was quick to credit his teammates for their contributions while admitting he demands perfection from himself."I just want to stop them all, right?" Fleury said. "It doesn't matter. You can score 10, you still don't want to give up any. That being said, it's fun to play for a team that never quits, that always has a chance to come back in the game."Should the Golden Knights win the Cup, Fleury will likely be raising the Conn Smythe Trophy as the first goaltender to win the postseason MVP award since Los Angeles Kings star Jonathan Quick in 2012.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There appears to be a rift between Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan and star forward Phil Kessel, and the latter's displeasure with the former's lineup decisions during the playoffs is apparently at the forefront.Kessel was reportedly furious that he didn't play on a line with Evgeni Malkin on a regular basis during the playoffs, according to Josh Yohe of The Athletic. Instead, Kessel spent the bulk of his postseason on a unit centered by either Derick Brassard or Riley Sheahan - something he felt was not conducive to team or personal success.Sullivan believes Kessel's attitude about the lineup was selfish, Yohe wrote, while adding that multiple people in the Penguins organization believe Kessel was "pouty" about the situation.Kessel had just one goal in 12 playoff games, and while he did notch eight assists, only two of them were at even strength.Many assumed some sort of ailment had hindered Kessel's production during the postseason, but Sullivan told the media the forward wasn't dealing with a "significant injury" after the Pens were eliminated by the Washington Capitals in the second round. Kessel never commented on the matter.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Yohe also stated that Kessel is "the first guy off at practice most days and presumably spends more time at Rivers Casino than he does breaking down game film," so it's not surprising that some of his tendencies may drive a coach up a wall, even if he's popular among his teammates.And Sullivan's power with the Penguins is "almost unlimited," according to Yohe. General manager Jim Rutherford has the final say, but he often defers to Sullivan and has a great amount of respect and praise for his coach.Yohe believes Sullivan doesn't like Kessel very much, and that the feeling is mutual.He added that the Penguins aren't "actively seeking a trade involving Kessel, but they're willing to listen if anyone makes an offer."After a career-best 92-point season with a reasonable $6.8-million cap hit for the next four years (the Toronto Maple Leafs retain $1.2 million annually), there would presumably be no shortage of suitors for the 30-year-old.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A couple who survived the mass shooting at a country music festival in Las Vegas named their newborn baby girl after Golden Knights right winger Reilly Smith.Lauren and Brad Sugars welcomed their daughter on May 18, according to The Associated Press. They initially had the name Austin in mind, but settled on Riley instead."We know a lot of other friends that went through the same experience and had a lot of trouble moving on, and I think we got a very clear reason to move on straight away," Brad said.Fifty-eight people were killed and hundreds more were injured when a man opened fire on the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival on Oct. 1. The Sugars found out two weeks later that they were expecting a child."Route 91 was a very big negative, but our city turned it into a really big positive, and I think the Golden Knights has been a really big part of that," Brad said. "It's helped immensely to have something positive to focus on."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Although there's a stark contrast in the roster composition between the Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Capitals, both teams share a passion off the ice.In a profile written by Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post, it was revealed that the Capitals and Golden Knights share an affinity for the Nintendo 64 classic video game "Mario Kart 64.""You can’t practice all day, every day,” Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen said. “You’ve gotta find something to do with your downtime. It’s funny, too, because I’m not a gamer at all, but I can’t get enough of that."Capitals forward Jay Beagle said the game provides some levity during the most important stretch of his and his teammates' careers."We do keep it loose, but at the right times, too," he said. "We’re also focused and dialed in, and keeping it loose, it allows you to have fun with it and realize this is a game and this is an opportunity that you only get once in a lifetime."Nate Schmidt is credited with purchasing the Nintendo 64 console and the game for the Capitals during last year's playoffs, and started a similar tradition with his Vegas teammates this postseason."I thought I would leave it (the original console with the Capitals) so hopefully it would bring them to a place that’s here (the Cup Final), I guess," Schmidt said.Mario Kart emphasizes speed, skill, and cunning tactics, so it's only fitting that both Cup finalists would be so enthralled with the game during their spare time.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights have overwhelmed teams with their impressive speed and entries into the offensive zone this season, but Washington Capitals star Evgeny Kuznetsov - one of the most dynamic skaters in the Stanley Cup Final himself - doesn't agree that Vegas is all that intimidating.ESPN's Emily Kaplan relayed the following exchange Tuesday:

Tom Wilson's hit on Jonathan Marchessault has been one of the biggest talking points in what was a wild Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, but Wilson himself doesn't understand all the hoopla."It's a good hit," he told TVA Sports' Renaud Lavoie. "I don't know why there's so much media attention."For those who missed it, here's a look at the check.

Vegas Golden Knights forward David Perron narrowly avoided drawing further discipline after leaving the bench to confront Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson during Monday's opener of the Stanley Cup Final.Wilson crushed Vegas center Jonathan Marchessault with a late hit in the open ice, drawing the ire of Perron, who hopped the boards to seemingly confront the Capitals' winger. Both Wilson and Perron were assessed two-minute minors for their role in the confrontation but received no further infractions."(I was) just testing out my edge," Perron told reporters Tuesday. "I was going to see the ref, to be honest with you. I heard the whistle, so I went on to go see the ref to find out what was going to happen."Obviously, it was a bad hit. We were expecting a power play there. I don't know. (Alex Ovechkin) ran into me. At the same time, I gotta be careful. I know what the rule is and all that. I gotta be careful. Obviously, there was no intention for me to do anything or start anything. After he ran me, I kind of pushed him a little bit."Many lobbied for Perron to be suspended but he did not join an ongoing fracas, nor did he start an altercation upon hopping the boards, and thus skirted any supplementary discipline on a technicality.Perron, who notched an assist during Vegas' Game 1 victory, will likely be considered on thin ice for the rest of the series, which is slated to resume Wednesday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby was nowhere near his best during Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, but he's moving forward quickly.Holtby took accountability for his team's performance in Monday's 6-4 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, where he surrendered five goals on 33 shots. Tomas Nosek added an empty-netter with three seconds remaining to preserve the win for Vegas."For us, we just can't give up five goals and expect to have success," Holtby said via Lisa Dillman of NHL.com. "There's some areas where myself and our group, we can be more working on the same page and find ways to limit those and let our offense take over."The Golden Knights present a unique complication for other teams, as they don't have an established precedent to base their play off of.Holtby is well aware of the challenges the Golden Knights pose, but he's confident he will adapt to them as the series wears on."You can watch all the video of how to play other teams but you don't know how they're going to play you until they actually do it," Holtby said. "Every building is going to be loud. It's also another area, getting used to their team a little bit is going to help us."It's clear that Holtby will need to be better if the Capitals are to split the series heading back to Washington, and the 2016 Vezina winner will surely be sharing his analysis with his defensemen as they prepare for Game 2.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

D.C.'s Union Pub came up with a surefire way to get Washington Capitals fans through the door for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.For every goal scored by the Capitals on Monday night, the bar offered shots of alcohol for pennies based on the player's jersey number. For example, when Brett Connolly's deflection tied the game at 1-1 in the first period, shots were only 10 cents each.

Jonathan Toews would have liked to see his hometown team vie for a chance at the Stanley Cup.The Chicago Blackhawks captain's own club missed the playoffs for just the second time in his career and the first time since his rookie season in 2008. He admitted that though it pains him to see any other team lift the trophy, if he had to pick, he would have preferred the Winnipeg Jets to go the distance."I definitely don't want to see any team win the Cup," Toews told TSN's Kara Wagland. "I won't be happy to see someone else hoist it at the end of it all. But I was asked this question numerous times and being from Winnipeg, I think it would have been great for the city, and just knowing how passionate those fans are and how much they love the game. To see their team do well, I was secretly kind of rooting for them if I had to pick somebody."The Jets came up short, losing in five games to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final.Meanwhile, Toews remains confident that the Blackhawks will return to the playoffs next season."Absolutely," Toews said. "I think we all were disappointed and kind of shocked as to how the second half of our season went this year and we're all kind of feeling that sting pretty good. So I think everyone's going to be excited to bring their best hockey forward next year. We know that's the goal."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals agitator Tom Wilson won't have a hearing for his late hit on Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault during Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, according to multiple reports.Here's the play, which occurred in the third period of Vegas' 6-4 victory:

It’s touted as a one-stop shop for NHL general managers and scouting staffs to get a last look at prospects before the draft. In reality, the NHL combine can seem like a meat market, with top prospects on display and results dissected on social media (especially if they’re not positive).Sixty forwards, 37 defensemen, and seven goalies will attend this week's annual combine hosted at KeyBank Center and HarborCenter in Buffalo, giving teams a chance to evaluate these prospects in an off-ice setting. Notable names attending include Rasmus Dahlin, Andrei Svechnikov, Filip Zadina, Adam Boqvist, Quinn Hughes, and recent Memorial Cup Champion Noah Dobson.Why should you care?Teams don’t make their draft lists based on the scouting combine, it's more of a tool. It gives teams information that can help refine those lists. In scouting, the idea is to gather as much information as possible in order to make the best pick. The combine provides teams with a different kind of knowledge than the kind they gain while watching these kids play every day.Throughout the week, all 31 teams get the chance to interview around 10 prospects they want to learn more about. During the interviews, which last between 20 and 30 minutes, teams have the opportunity to see how players handle themselves in a one-on-one situation. This is considered the most stressful part of the weekend - and with good reason. Teams are looking at a player’s character, demeanor, and are considering how he’ll fit into their organizational culture. That’s not easy to do in half an hour.Moreover, players have to clear a medical screening before they undergo physical testing. The screening can reveal any lingering injuries, as well as potential health problems that may have been missed. Once they’re through the screening, players have their conditioning put under the microscope through various tests: the standing long jump, pro agility test, bench press, pull-ups, VO2 max bike test (which looks at endurance), and the Wingate Cycle Ergometer Test (which measures peak anaerobic power and anaerobic capacity).The VO2 max and the Wingate are the tests where players are most often reintroduced to their last meal. In fact, according to a now-deleted tweet from Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Galchenyuk from his time at the 2012 combine, the hurling happens even if you don’t eat before. (The tweet lives on in infamy on the Pittsburgh Penguins’ blog.)Players to watchOne intriguing attendee is Liam Kirk, who is ranked 65th among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting. Kirk, who spent this season with the Sheffield Steelers of the EIHL, is hoping to become the first NHL player to be born and trained in the United Kingdom. (Brendan Perlini, an Arizona Coyotes prospect, was born in the UK but grew up playing hockey in Canada and spent four years in the OHL.)Another participant worth monitoring is over-ager Sean Durzi of the Owen Sound Attack. Ranked 37th by NHL Central Scouting among North American skaters, Durzi is an offensive defenseman who attended Florida Panthers development camp last summer.Other players to watch include:– K'Andre Miller: An NTDP defenseman who just made the switch to defense from forward in the 2015-16 season, and is ranked 23rd among North American skaters by Central Scouting. The positional switch is pretty late to make, but is perhaps interesting commentary on where the defensive side of the game should or could be going.– Ryan Merkley: A contentious defensive prospect who is pretty much the definition of high-risk, high-reward. He could be a top-10 pick based purely on offensive talent; Central Scouting has him at 45th among North American skaters due to his tendency to make mistakes as big as his highlight-reel moments. Interested teams will probably be picking him apart in the interview portion of the combine to get an idea of whether he's worth it.Memorable momentsFor an event that’s geared more toward scouting staffs than to the media, the combine can still produce plenty of interesting stories.Here are some notable events from previous years:– In 2005, consensus first overall prospect and current Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby skipped part of the physical testing due to both a lower-body injury and a chest cold that briefly sent him to the hospital.– At the 2008 combine, new Denver University Pioneers head coach David Carle’s physical detected an abnormality that turned out to be hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. While the condition derailed his hockey playing career, he found another path in the sport. As an assistant coach with the Pioneers, Carle has worked with players such as Will Butcher (NJD), Troy Terry (ANA), and Henrik Borgstrom (FLA).– In 2014, top prospect and current Calgary Flames forward Sam Bennett did exactly zero pull-ups at the combine. Performance on one combine test obviously isn’t going to sink a prospect, nor is it a predictor of NHL success or failure, but the fuss made about it on social media was hilarious.– The scouting combine moved to Buffalo from its previous location in Toronto in 2015. KeyBank Center and the HarborCenter provided an “all-encompassing” venue for the event, including better sight lines and the ability to video the fitness testing. The KeyBank Center and HarborCenter currently have a contract to host the combine through 2019.– 2017 saw #BikeGuy go viral. Bike Guy, a.k.a. Jordan Marwin, has a special method of motivating prospects to do their best on the Wingate bike test.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Capitals certainly had its fair share of action.The teams combined for 10 goals, Tom Wilson threw another controversial hit, and before the puck even dropped, the Golden Knights' game ops crew took pregame intros to a previously unseen level.Once the dust settled, each team produced a litany of prime scoring chances and traded goal after goal, which likely drove both coaching staffs crazy. However, there was some beauty in all the madness, particularly on John Carlson's second-period tally, which we'll break down below.The full video can be seen here.With Vegas ahead 3-2 nearly halfway through the middle frame, Washington rookie Jakub Vrana broke into the attacking zone one-on-three - a harmless looking play.Vrana attempted a shot on goal, but it was deflected behind the net. He pursued the loose puck and beat both Reilly Smith (No. 19 in grey) and Shea Theodore (No. 27).After getting to the puck, Vrana noticed he had the support of his linemates, and promptly dished a pass to T.J. Oshie (top right).Oshie one-timed the pass, forcing a quality save from Marc-Andre Fleury that led to a scrum outside the blue paint, where the Caps were outnumbered three to two. But, with Oshie tying up his man, Nicklas Backstrom swooped in to aid his winger and regained possession.Backstrom (left) then glided up the boards, briefly slowing things down as he drew attention to himself. The gifted setup man spotted Carlson (top) coming off the bench and waited until the blue-liner was onside before making a quick pass.With Smith playing tight on the point, Carlson riskily attempted to pull it around him, but managed to make a safe play and chip the puck to open ice, where Oshie (bottom) pounced.Upon realizing Oshie would be first to the puck, Carlson shed his defender and headed right to the slot, where a truly incredible one-touch, no-look pass around Theodore ended up right on his stick.Yeah, he's not gonna miss from there.What started as an ordinary rush quickly turned into a dominant shift for the Capitals, and thanks to some strong puck support on the forecheck, plus a few splashes of showstopping skill, Washington was able to manufacture a key goal in a big moment.(Photos courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Things haven't been easy for Detroit Red Wings forward Johan Franzen's family.The 38-year-old hasn't played since Oct. 10, 2015 - the second game of an attempted comeback from a concussion suffered in January 2015.His wife, Cissi Franzen, recently wrote a blog post about the struggles Johan and the family have endured as he continues to struggle with post-concussion syndrome.

Las Vegas is entertainment incarnate, and the opening game of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final ended up being the best show in town Monday night.In an absolute thriller with wire-to-wire action, the Vegas Golden Knights emerged with a 6-4 victory over the Washington Capitals, putting them just three games away from winning the Cup in their inaugural season.Here are the five most memorable moments from a back-and-forth Game 1:A pregame show for the ages

Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson has become known for his menacing hits, and that didn't change Monday following another controversial incident.Shortly after scoring a goal in the third period, Wilson leveled Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault with a late open-ice check that briefly sent his opponent into the concussion protocol.Wilson, who received a two-minute minor for interference on the play, defended himself following Washington's 6-4 loss."You always have your reputation," he said via Greg Wyshynski of ESPN. "When you play my physical style, you’re going to have that reputation. I trust myself. I play the game hard. It’s my job to bring that energy, that physicality. Right after he (Marchessault) got up he said 'good hit.'"Although Wilson only received a two-minute penalty for the hit, many fans and reporters speculated about potential supplementary discipline from the league. However, Capitals head coach Barry Trotz was thoroughly unconcerned about his power forward's availability for the next game of the series.

It's time to get back to the negotiating table.On Monday, the City of Calgary voted in favor of forming a committee that hopes to reignite discussions with the Flames regarding the construction of a new arena."We've sent a strong signal today that says we have a strong contingent on council that wants to have a conversation," Calgary councillor Jeff Davison told Meghan Potkins of the Calgary Herald.Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi was among the City representatives who voted to begin negotiating again."I'm hopeful that the restart on our side will also be a restart on their side and that we can actually have a reasonable conversation without threats and acrimony, but actually sit down and look at what is possible," Nenshi said.Negotiations fell apart in September, but not before both the City and the Flames released their proposals for public consumption.The Flames have played out of the Scotiabank Saddledome since 1983, an arena NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has referred to as a "grand old building" that has become antiquated by league standards, according to Dave Dormer of CBC Sports."At some point, I envision without a new building there will be consequences that everybody is going to have to deal with," Bettman said in September.The Flames haven't directly threatened relocation, with the franchise stating it will remain in its current home for as long as possible. However, Flames president Ken King has also indicated there would be no threat of relocation, and that the team would simply leave.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

LAS VEGAS (AP) The Vegas Golden Knights' incredible inaugural season isn't slowing down in the Stanley Cup Final.Tomas Nosek scored the tiebreaking goal midway through the third period, and the expansion Golden Knights opened an improbable Final with a thrilling 6-4 victory over the Washington Capitals on Monday night.Marc-Andre Fleury made 24 saves in an occasionally shaky performance, but the three-time Stanley Cup winner's new teammates carried the goalie who has so often carried them with a relentless outburst of offense.The Eastern Conference champion Capitals hadn't given up this many goals in 29 games since March 18, but they hadn't seen anything like this charmed run by the upstart Knights.''We put fun ahead of everything, and you can tell,'' said Ryan Reaves, who scored the Knights' tying goal in the third period. ''Guys have are having fun and they're smiling.''With its sellout crowd of hometown fans at deafening volume all night, Vegas put its usual speed and relentlessness on full display while overcoming a third-period deficit to win the opener of a matchup between two franchises seeking their first Stanley Cup titles.The Game 1 winner has won the last six Cups and 61 of 78 overall.Braden Holtby stopped 28 shots for the Capitals, whose first Stanley Cup Final game in 20 years was a defensive nightmare. Washington still had chances to win, but never slowed the Knights.Tom Wilson got credit for the goal that put the Caps up 4-3 early in the third period when Fleury back-heeled a loose puck into his own net, but Reaves evened it 91 seconds later for Vegas.Nosek then put the Knights ahead after Shea Theodore kept the puck in Washington's zone, sidestepped a defender and fired a beautiful cross-ice pass to the Czech forward, who buried a one-timer for his second goal of the playoffs.Colin Miller, William Karlsson and Reilly Smith scored early goals before Nosek added an empty-netter for the Knights, who are three wins away from one of the most improbable championships in recent North American team sports history. Just 342 days after the Knights selected the backbone of their first roster in the expansion draft, Vegas had another party on the Strip with its remarkable collection of castoffs.Brett Connolly, Nicklas Backstrom and John Carlson scored for Washington, but its biggest stars didn't match the Knights' outburst.Captain Alex Ovechkin, who collected a career-high 22 points in the first three rounds, had one assist in his first Stanley Cup Final game. Evgeny Kuznetsov, who scored a whopping 24 points in the first three rounds, also had just one assist.The Golden Knights' playoff pregame shows have been a celebration of Vegas showmanship, and their first Final game started with an extravaganza including archers, a trebuchet and a spectacular light show.And then the Knights and Caps put on a high-energy production of their own with plenty of fireworks and drama.With none of the customary caution or high-pressure effects often shown by teams and players in their first game on the NHL's biggest stage, Vegas and Washington jumped right into an up-tempo thriller. Vegas had outscored its opponents 10-0 in the first period at home during the playoffs, but the Caps got two goals.Miller scored the Knights' first goal with a big shot on a power play, ending Holtby's scoreless streak from his back-to-back shutouts to end the conference finals at nearly 167 minutes. But Washington calmly surged ahead later in the first period with goals 42 seconds apart from Connolly and Backstrom.Smith put the Knights back ahead early in the second period after a stellar sequence of speed and puck movement, but Carlson tied it a few minutes later after being left alone in front of Vegas' unmanned net.The wild scoring continued in the third with an own-goal by Fleury, who lost track of a rebound and kicked it backward into his net.T-Mobile Arena was only quiet for a few seconds before the tying goal from Reaves, who cross-checked Carlson to the ice an instant before the puck unexpectedly bounced to him for an uncontested shot.Reaves didn't score at all in his first 26 games after joining the Knights in a trade, but the rough-and-tumble forward broke through with the game-winning goal in the Western Conference finals clincher against Winnipeg.Wilson delivered a crushing open-ice hit in the third period to Vegas' Jonathan Marchessault, who was shaken up on the play.NOTES: Vegas is aiming to be the first franchise in a major North American professional league to win a title in its first season since the 1950 Cleveland Browns, who entered the NFL as a fully formed team after four seasons in the AAFC. ... Vegas D Deryk Engelland had two assists after going scoreless in the first 15 playoff games. ... Vegas improved to 11-1 in the postseason when scoring first.---More Stanley Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/StanleyCupFinalsCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As the NHL prepared for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Capitals on Monday, commissioner Gary Bettman took time to address several questions and issues surrounding the sport at a press conference. Here are five key takeaways:Seattle expansionBettman reiterated that NHL expansion into Seattle won't be formally approved at next month's Board of Governors meetings. However, the commissioner noted that owners will be provided with an update on the process, and added that a formal vote could come as early as this fall.The hope is for Seattle to join the NHL for the 2020-21 season. In order for that to happen, one major step that needs to be completed is the renovation of the 1960-built KeyArena, the future home of a potential team.What about Quebec City?Perhaps not all hope is lost for hockey in Quebec's capital.When asked about the concerns of Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs, who chairs the NHL's executive board, that Quebec City's market would struggle to support a new team, Bettman was quick to note that expansion requires approval from three-quarters of the NHL's 31 owners, and that Jacobs holds only a single vote.Quebec City was part of the NHL's most recent expansion process along with Las Vegas. But while Sin City received the stamp of approval, Quebec City's bid was deferred due to the slumping Canadian dollar and a desire to correct the league's geographic imbalance.Meanwhile, could the NHL consider another southern U.S. market as its next expansion opportunity? Tilman Fertitta, the new owner of the NBA's Houston Rockets, has expressed interest in bringing hockey to the Texas hub.In a media scrum following Monday's press conference, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told TSN's Frank Seravalli that while the league has had discussions with Fertitta about placing a team in Houston, there's no sense that the potential ownership group will file an application in the near future.Bettman on bettingFollowing the recent groundbreaking decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to lift the federal ban on sports gambling, Bettman made it clear that the NHL wants in on the action."I'm not sure I buy the term 'integrity fee.' I don't worry about the integrity of our players," Bettman said. "I think, though, if you're going to allocate for yourself to run a business on our intellectual property and on the performance of our athletes, and the platform that we put on for our games, we're entitled to be involved in that."The Vegas storyFor fans of franchises like the St. Louis Blues, who haven't had a Stanley Cup victory in their 50-year history, and the Toronto Maple Leafs, who haven't won it all since 1967, it's surely frustrating to see the Golden Knights advance to the Stanley Cup Final in their very first season.Still, Bettman views it as a feel-good story."The bond is real between this city and its first-ever major league professional sports team. The connection is undeniable," he said. "This is the magic of sports. Anything can happen."So, what happens if the Golden Knights capture Lord Stanley? Could the fans actually cheer - rather than boo, as they usually do in other cities - when Bettman hands over the Cup? "That might be interesting," he quipped, before adding that the Vegas fans booed him at the event when the team was named.ConcussionsFew talking points have been bigger in the world of hockey than head injuries, as concussions, particularly to enforcers, have seen many former players suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).The neurodegenerative disease was found in the brain tissue of several deceased NHL players, including Steve Montador and Bob Probert.But there have been no new developments, according to Bettman."I'm not going to start another news cycle," he said. "There's nothing new on the subject."Daly, also on hand for the press conference, added: "This is not the commissioner's view, but follows science."(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Put away your checkbooks, prospective owners. The Ottawa Senators aren't for sale.That was the indication from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, who addressed the issue as part of his "state of the game" press conference on Monday prior to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Capitals."(Current owner) Eugene Melnyk is committed to the Senators and he's passionate about them," Bettman told reporters, per Sporting News Canada.The question came after a report stated that former Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson and Ottawa mayor Jim Watson both hope to see a change in team ownership.It was a hectic 2017-18 season for Melnyk and the Senators, as the outspoken owner floated the possibility of the franchise relocating if crowds stopped turning out. He later walked back his comments, stating that it's "his privilege" to own the Senators.Related - Look: #MelnykOut billboards appear across OttawaAlfredsson is the Senators' all-time leading scorer who later served as a senior advisor with the club for two seasons.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alexander Ovechkin is experiencing a liberation of sorts in these NHL playoffs, as he's finally reached the Stanley Cup Final. It's been a long time coming for the Washington Capitals superstar.The 11-time All-Star - who was criticized for years for never leading the Capitals to the final while his principal rival, Sidney Crosby, lifted the Cup three times - admits it was initially difficult to block out the talk that he couldn't win when it mattered most."Of course you read news. Of course you’re paying attention to what people saying," Ovechkin said to Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post. "But sometimes you just have to hear it, and it goes in one ear and out the other. Because if you’re going to take all of this information, you’re going to be crazy, you know? You’re going to be psycho. You just can’t play hockey after that. The first couple of years when we lost, of course it was hard. Of course, it was like, 'Oh Jesus, what did I do wrong?'"Ovechkin won the "Rocket" Richard Trophy for the seventh time in his career after leading the NHL with 49 goals during the 2017-18 season, and has displayed a dynamic all-around game throughout the playoffs.Washington head coach Barry Trotz says he's noticed a discernible change in his captain's approach."I think he’s approaching the playoffs with a little more ease," Trotz said. "He’s been freed a little bit - freed in a sense of understanding that he's a great player no matter what. I think too much was put on him. I think he got away from realizing that he is a good player and he’s a good person and he does all those things. It just freed him enough that he’s now got a chance to get the ultimate prize. We’re four wins away, and he’s been a big reason for it along with his teammates. You don’t win three rounds, you don’t win a round, you don’t win anything in this sport by yourself."It may be a bit trite at this point, but winning does indeed cure everything. And for Ovechkin, critical acclaim is less important than capping off one of the most decorated careers of this century with a Cup victory.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL deputy commissioner and chief legal officer Bill Daly confirmed during a press conference Monday that the salary cap for the 2018-2019 season is projected to be around $80 million, up from $75 million this season.A set number for next season has not yet been agreed upon as the NHL needs to consult with the NHLPA regarding the league's year-over-year growth.

William Karlsson has emerged as one of the great surprises of the 2017-18 season, mirroring the rise of the Vegas Golden Knights.The Swedish youngster posted just six goals during the 2016-17 season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, resulting in the team making him available in the June expansion draft. In his first campaign with the Golden Knights, Karlsson notched 43 goals, second only to Alex Ovechkin and Patrik Laine.With the Stanley Cup Final slated to get underway Monday, Karlsson lamented a lack of opportunity with his former club."I've always wanted to be a top-six player," Karlsson said to ESPN's Emily Kaplan. "Not being one in Columbus was really frustrating. I wanted the chance."The 25-year-old revealed that playing in a diminished scoring role took its toll on his confidence, but that he used his change of scenery to revitalize his career."There have been times when I doubted myself, could I really do this?" Karlsson said. "Then I got picked by Vegas and I thought to myself this is my big chance. It's up to me to take it. I'm glad I took it."On the verge of trying to pull off what was once believed to be an impossible feat, Karlsson will play an imperative role in the Golden Knights' bid to lift the Cup this summer.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The list of accurate real-world predictions made by "The Simpsons" will get even longer if the Vegas Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup.Related: 'The Simpsons' predicted U.S. curling gold medal win over SwedenAs NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika pointed out, the animated sitcom had the Stanley Cup in Las Vegas with Homer Simpson and Ned Flanders long before the Golden Knights existed.

The Vancouver Canucks signed forward Petrus Palmu to a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday, the team announced.The 20-year-old, who was drafted by the Canucks in the sixth round last year, is coming off his first season with TPS Turku of SM-liiga in Finland where he was named the league's Rookie of the Year.In 59 games, Palmu notched 17 goals and 36 points, recording another six points in 11 playoff games. He also played four years of junior for the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League where he boasted an impressive 40 goals and 98 points in 62 games during his draft year.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens have agreed to terms with free-agent defensemen David Sklenicka and Michal Moravcik on two-year entry-level contracts, the team announced on Monday.The Czech pair will join the team after playing together with HC Plzen in the Czech Extraliga. In 49 games, Sklenicka put up three goals and 14 points, while Moravcik tallied five goals and 16 points in 52 contests.Both men also recently represented the Czech Republic at the World Championship, where they combined for five points in eight games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Daniel Alfredsson is inadvertently stirring the pot in Ottawa after making an eyebrow-raising comment over the weekend.The former Senators captain and executive indirectly criticized team owner Eugene Melnyk while talking to Susan Sherring - a former Postmedia reporter and columnist - at Mayor Jim Watson's campaign kickoff event Sunday.“(Watson and I have) talked a lot, we’ve talked about the future of the Senators and of its ownership and we agree,” Alfredsson told Sherring, as she wrote on her blog shortly after the event. “We hope we get a new owner."After making the comment, Alfredsson claimed it was off the record, according to Sherring. However, standard journalistic protocol dictates that must be agreed upon before an interview begins. Otherwise, whatever is said is fair game.Watson wouldn't say whether he shared the same sentiment, but did reveal Alfredsson told him he didn't know he was talking to a reporter. His claim comes despite Sherring interviewing the former player several times, and despite Alfredsson asking the former reporter to keep the comments off the record.Alfredsson was the Senators senior advisor of hockey operations for nearly two years, beginning in the fall of 2015 and ending in the summer of 2017.He's the club's all-time leader in goals, assists, and points, and ranks second on the franchise's all-time games played list.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 25th edition focuses on the Boston Bruins.The GoodDavid Pastrnak. A part of one of the NHL’s best top lines, Pastrnak had the best season of his career, sporting highs in just about every category, with 35 goals, 45 assists, and 80 points. The Bruins signed the 22-year-old to a six-year, $40-million deal in September, locking down a player in his prime who just seems to be getting better. Pastrnak also tore it up in the playoffs, registering 20 points in 12 games.Tuukka Rask. The Bruins’ starting goaltender got off to a rough start at the beginning of the season but won 31 of his last 40 starts, ending the campaign with his best save percentage in three years. In an effort to keep him fresh for the playoffs, he played the fewest games since becoming the Bruins' starting goalie in 2013, a move that didn’t end the way Rask and the rest of the Bruins would have liked.The young guys. The 2017-18 Bruins were younger and even better than expected, and it looks like that trend will continue. Players like Charlie McAvoy, Jake DeBrusk, Danton Heinen, and Matt Grzelcyk began to establish themselves at the NHL level and there are even more youngsters waiting in the wings. Austin Czarnik, Trent Frederic, Jakub Zboril, and Jack Studnicka could all challenge for a spot on the NHL roster come training camp in the fall.The BadMarchand’s antics. Brad Marchand, at his best, is a highly effective goal-scorer and pest capable of getting under just about anyone’s skin. He led the Bruins in points in the regular season, so his decision to start licking players - Leo Komarov of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round and Ryan Callahan of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round - was puzzling. It prompted the NHL to step in. Surely he can find another way to pester his opponents, such as scoring goals, as his coach Bruce Cassidy suggested.5-on-5 struggles. Six goals were scored at five-on-five through the first two games of the second-round series against the Lightning. During the last three contests, the Bruins were completely shut down at even strength. This was especially surprising considering Boston finished the regular season with the sixth-best offense in the league. They just didn’t have an answer for the Lightning’s strong defensive series.Depth that didn’t deliver. Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron, and David Backes combined for 23 points in five games against the Lightning. Outside of that, the Bruins didn’t have much of anything else going. Only three players not on the top line (David Krejci, Rick Nash, Jake DeBrusk) recorded a point.The QuestionsWhich free agents will be back? The Bruins have some big decisions looming in free agency. Rick Nash, Riley Nash, Tim Schaller, Anton Khudobin, Tommy Wingels, Brian Gionta, and Nick Holden are all set to be UFAs July 1. Rick and Riley Nash and Khudobin seem the most likely to be brought back, with Gionta the most plausible departure. Don Sweeney will have to consider the cap and, of course, future deals with players like McAvoy.Do they re-sign Khudobin? Rask’s backup has been vocal about his desire to stay in Boston, but it’s possible he could be priced out. He made $1.2 million on his last two-year deal and could command at least $2 million on his next. Goaltending options outside the Bruins organization don’t look all that promising and none of the prospects in the pipeline look particularly viable just yet. It might be in both parties’ best interests to work something out.Will they trade for a first-round pick at the draft? The Bruins traded their 2018 first-round pick to the Rangers for Rick Nash, but they’ve discussed trading to get back in the first round. Otherwise, they won’t have a selection until late in the second round, one of their five picks in this year’s draft.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.