WASHINGTON - T.J. Oshie and Devante Smith-Pelly scored, Braden Holtby stopped all 24 shots he faced and the Washington Capitals beat up the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-0 Monday night to even the Eastern Conference final and force a deciding Game 7.Alex Ovechkin, Tom Wilson and Brooks Orpik led the charge, throwing their bodies around all night in Game 6. Tampa Bay got 31 saves from goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy in another impressive showing but had no answer for Washington's hit-everything-that-moves approach facing elimination at home.Game 7 is Wednesday night at Tampa Bay. The winner faces the Vegas Golden Knights, who are in the Stanley Cup Final in their first season.The Capitals outhit the Lightning 39-19 and outshot them 34-24, bruising and battering them all over the ice. Orpik separated Cedric Paquette from the puck twice on one shift, Ovechkin leveled rookie Yanni Gourde and Wilson was his usual self, dishing out a handful of crushing body checks.With a physical tone set, the Capitals kept testing Vasilevskiy and eventually cracked him. There wasn't much he could do on Oshie's second-period power-play goal from the slot after a deft pass from Nicklas Backstrom gave Vasilevskiy little time to adjust for the one-timer.Drawing a penalty made all the difference for Washington, which hadn't had a power play since the second period of Game 4. Lightning defenseman Braydon Coburn hooked Smith-Pelly to give the Capitals that opportunity, and their penalty kill kept Tampa Bay's potent power play off the board for just the second time in the series.With the Lightning pressing and Holtby shining under pressure, the Capitals had chances to go the other way. Smith-Pelly scored Washington's second goal midway through the third, beating Vasilevskiy after fellow fourth-liners Chandler Stephenson and Jay Beagle did the work on the forecheck to set it up.As strong as Vasilevskiy was, the physical game took a toll on the Lightning, who weren't able to muster a comeback. Oshie iced it with an empty-netter in the final minute.The Lightning missed a chance to close out an opponent for the first time in these playoffs. They eliminated New Jersey and Boston in five games apiece but are now on the brink themselves.The Capitals improved to 10-2 in the Ovechkin/Backstrom era when facing elimination any time before Game 7. They're 3-7 in Game 7 over that time.NOTES: Washington improved to 4-5 at home in the playoffs. The Lightning dropped to 5-2 on the road. ... An assist on Oshie's goal extended Capitals C Evgeny Kuznetsov's point streak to nine games, tied with Backstrom in 2009 for the longest in franchise playoff history. ... F Andre Burakovsky returned to the Capitals' lineup after being a healthy scratch for Game 5. Burakovsky replaced Alex Chiasson.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights' improbable inaugural season has been nothing short of miraculous, leading many fans and experts around the league to dub it a "Cinderella story."But if you ask Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper, however, the Knights' success this campaign is far from a fairy tale."It's a success story is what it is. It's not a Cinderella story," Cooper said, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "There's been talk of 'how could that happen?' or whatever. I'll tell you how it happened: They got an owner that hired an unreal GM and they got an unreal GM that hired an unreal coach. They were all left to do their jobs."Vegas punched its ticket to the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday night with a convincing 4-1 series win over the Winnipeg Jets, continuing a year in which the Knights have easily been the best story of the NHL campaign."I know the gentlemen well that are involved, the GM and coach, and I couldn't be prouder of the guys of the job they've done. They deserved to get there, and I only hope we're the team they get to play."Cooper's team will look to clinch its series against the Washington Capitals on Monday night. And in doing so, the Lightning will then be tasked with stopping a very game Golden Knights team vying for its first championship.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild officially named Paul Fenton as their new general manager Monday, the team announced."It is my distinct pleasure to welcome Paul Fenton as the general manager of the Minnesota Wild," team owner Craig Leipold said. "Paul is uniquely suited for this job having played 10 years of professional hockey and holding 25 years of management experience in the NHL. His gift of evaluating talent is obvious in Nashville's roster and recent success."My relationship with Paul goes back to my early days in Nashville and I know that Wild hockey fans are going to love Paul's infectious passion for the game and unsurpassed work ethic. He's the right person to deliver a Stanley Cup to the State of Hockey."Fenton, 58, was previously with the Nashville Predators organization for 20 seasons, the last 12 of which were spent serving as assistant GM to legendary Nashville executive David Poile.Prior to joining the Predators, Fenton spent five seasons with the Anaheim Ducks organization in their scouring department.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The main pillar in the foundation of the Buffalo Sabres' organization is excited to add the next one.After finally winning a draft lottery, the Sabres will have the No. 1 pick in June, and Jack Eichel is excited at potentially adding a certain generational defenseman out of Sweden."Obviously, it's tough to say that we're excited to have him because we haven't drafted him yet, but if we were to get a player named Rasmus Dahlin, I think it would be great for our team, our city," Eichel told John Vogl of The Buffalo News. "After the season that we had, it was a tough one, and just trying to build that excitement again for next year. I think that's just another piece to it."Dahlin has been the consensus top pick of the 2018 draft all year, and owns an extraordinary skill set capable of making an immediate impact for the Sabres."I've seen him play and I've talked to a few guys about him," Eichel said. "Obviously, he's got some pretty incredible highlights. It seems like he's a special, special player."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Things are getting interesting on Long Island, as reports surfaced Monday regarding a meeting between soon-to-be Islanders front-office executive Lou Lamoriello and New York captain John Tavares, according to The Athletic's Arthur Staple.Related: Report: Lou Lamoriello to join Islanders to run hockey operationsThe news about last week's meeting comes on the same day reports emerged linking the legendary general manager and an official move to the Islanders within the coming days.Lamoriello's connection to New York has seemingly gotten stronger over the past few weeks since his former club, the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced that Kyle Dubas would be taking over the team's GM duties at the end of April.Tavares becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and will undoubtedly be the biggest name on the market this summer, so it comes as little surprise that Lamoriello would attempt to sit down with him in anticipation of his front-office switch.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It would appear Leo Komarov would prefer to return to the Toronto Maple Leafs next season.Komarov is a pending unrestricted free agent and his representative Todd Diamond is hopeful he and newly appointed general manager Kyle Dubas will meet soon to discuss his client's future with the team, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Komarov has played his entire five-year NHL career with the Maple Leafs but is coming off his worst season statistically, in which he tallied just seven goals and 19 points in 74 games.During the playoffs, Komarov spent the majority of the Maple Leafs' series against the Boston Bruins as a scratch, playing in just two games of the seven-game series.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello will join the New York Islanders to run their hockey operations, according to Arthur Staple of The Athletic.There's been speculation he would join the Islanders since the Maple Leafs announced on April 30 that Lamoriello would be leaving the team.Lamoriello is expected to officially join the Islanders' front office in next few days.The 75-year-old had been with the Maple Leafs the past three seasons and was instrumental in constructing the team that reached the playoffs in each of the last two years, and most recently set franchise records in points and wins in a campaign.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After taking out the Nashville Predators in a heated seven-game series in the second round, it seemed like a near formality that the Winnipeg Jets would cruise into the Stanley Cup Final.There was just one problem, though - they met a determined Vegas club. After taking Game 1, the Jets were grounded by the Golden Knights in the final four games and ousted from the playoffs.After such a promising campaign followed by two strong rounds in the postseason, the loss in the conference finals has, presumably, left an emptiness with the Jets and their fans. In the end, there were three main aspects that led to the team's downfall:GoaltendingEntering the series, the goaltending battle was expected to be among the best in the playoffs. In one end, a Vezina Trophy nominee in Connor Hellebuyck, and in the other, the Conn Smythe Trophy front-runner Marc-Andre Fleury.Game 1 was a bit of a wash with Hellebuyck coming out slightly ahead statistically, but from Game 2 to Game 5, it was quite clear that Fleury had the upper hand over his counterpart.FleuryStatHellebuyck4GP4135Shots Against1186Goals Against11.956SV%.9071.50GAA2.82Overall, Fleury was by far the more tested goalie, facing 161 shots to Hellebuyck's 139. Fleury also faced a higher number of quality scoring chances and once again came out the victor against Hellebuyck.Lack of secondary scoringNow, while Hellebuyck might shoulder a lot of the blame for the Jets' exit, the fact is, many of the club's most dependable scorers also failed to get results.Through five games, the Jets found the back of the net just 10 times, and among those, only six came at five-on-five. Meanwhile, Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine were the only Jets to score more than a single goal in the series, accounting for half of the team's production.Further, Blake Wheeler, Mathieu Perreault, Paul Stastny, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Bryan Little all went goalless in the series (though Wheeler did record six assists). In all, only four forwards mustered a goal against the Golden Knights.Entering the series, it was quite clear that the Golden Knights were up against a potent offense, the likes of which they had not encountered in the previous two rounds, but in the end, they were able to neutralize the Jets' most deadly weapons.Golden Knights' opportunistic playWhat was easily the most demoralizing part of the Golden Knights' attack was how opportunistic they were.After Game 1 of the series, the Golden Knights clamped down on the Jets' offense, so much so that Winnipeg never held a lead at any point through the rest of the series. This was mainly due to the fact that on three separate occasions, Vegas quickly responded to a Jets goal by scoring one of their own less than 90 seconds later.

The St. Louis Blues and Enterprise announced a longtime naming-rights agreement that will see "Scottrade Center" renamed "Enterprise Center" on Monday.The agreement is for 15 years with an additional five-year option and goes into effect on July 1.

Monday night's Game 6 against the Tampa Bay Lightning will be new territory for Alex Ovechkin.The Washington Capitals captain - who's playing in his first conference finals - will be looking to help keep his team's Stanley Cup aspirations alive, and admitted it's likely the biggest game of his 13-year NHL career."Yeah, probably," Ovechkin replied when asked if Game 6 would be the most important contest he's played to date, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "It's two steps and you're in the Stanley Cup Final. We just have to play our best. We can't lose. They have the advantage right now, but we have to win the game and go back and play Game 7 in Tampa."The Capitals - who trail the Lightning 3-2 in the series - will be back at home on Monday, where they lost Games 3 and 4. Still, Ovechkin expressed confidence that his team can turn things around."Tonight is the night," he said, according to Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post.With a win in Game 6, the Lightning would punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final, where the Vegas Golden Knights await. If Washington wins, Game 7 would be Wednesday night in Tampa Bay.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's something inherently human about rooting for an underdog.We've seen it plenty of times throughout the decades of sports history: N.C. State's March Madness upset of Houston, Buster Douglas' stunning knockout of then-heavyweight champ Mike Tyson, or even the New York Giants' shocking defeat of the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.The David in all of us usually wants to see big bad Goliath slain.However, this year's Vegas Golden Knights expansion success story is putting hockey fans in a bit of a tough spot: jump on the bandwagon and throw support behind one of the best feel-good stories ever, or root against an organization that's had more success in its inaugural season than a lot of franchises have had in the past 20 years?Related: Golden Knights' GM at a loss to explain team's successThis is the scenario that both average and committed hockey heads find themselves in as the Golden Knights gear up for an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final to face either the Tampa Bay Lightning or the Washington Capitals.And as Vegas continues to prove even the most astute prognosticators wrong, fans are left with polarizing views on what the Knights' run means to the game of hockey.Love itLook, we get it, Vegas is out here smashing narratives and doing something that only the 1918 Toronto Arenas and 1968 St. Louis Blues have ever done before in NHL history - making the Cup Final in its debut season. And there is no denying that a unique feat such as that is something people are bound to be attracted to.Whether it's William Karlsson's stunning development from fringe forward to fabled 40-goal man, Marc-Andre Fleury's rejuvenated career and mastery in the blue paint, or the lethal combination of Florida Panthers castoffs Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith, there really is no shortage of reasons to be loving the Knights' miraculous journey.Heck, the year is even big-screen worthy. And with the plethora of potentially epic storylines to choose from, it's seemingly only a matter of time before some Hollywood hotshot pens the script.Regardless of the label put on it, Vegas' improbable campaign continues to gain more media attention and fan support with each passing historic moment. But there's another developing feeling toward the magical run that's much less positive. Hate it Whether it's because you're jealous, or maybe a little sour with the seemingly favorable expansion draft rules the Knights were subject to, or perhaps you're just annoyed that a group of castoffs is performing so well when they were supposed to be a complete doormat - whatever the reason, there are many detractors when it comes to the Cinderella story that is the Golden Knights.Some long-suffering fan bases - such as the one in St. Louis and the much-maligned hockey market in Toronto - have endured one losing season after another for decades on end. So with that lens, it's easy to see how some are starting to get a little fed up with the success surrounding the NHL's latest expansion team.It's almost like watching your new neighbor stumbling onto a backyard filled with gold after you searched through yours for years to only come up with spare change and the T.V. remote your dog hid in the '90s: It's just downright frustrating.Whether that's the appropriate feeling, who's really to say.But one thing does remain true: Regardless of what side of the fence you fall on, Vegas' magical season is forcing fans off the sideline and right into the game.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild are set to name Nashville Predators assistant general manager Paul Fenton as the team's third general manager in team history, according to Michael Russo of The Athletic.Fenton was reportedly offered the job nearly two days ago and sources confirmed to Russo on Sunday that he had indeed accepted. It is expected that he'll be introduced by the team on Monday or Tuesday.The 58-year-old has been with the Predators for 18 years, serving as the team's AGM for the past 10. It was reported back in late April that Fenton was interviewing for the job and he also reportedly interviewed for the Carolina Hurricanes GM job, but withdrew his name from the job in March.The Wild elected not to re-sign previous general manager Chuck Fletcher this past season after the club was bounced from the first round of the playoffs for the third straight season and the fourth time in six years.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Even the architect of their success can't fully understand the juggernaut that is the Vegas Golden Knights.With a win over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 5 on Sunday afternoon, Vegas is heading to the Stanley Cup Final. And while general manager George McPhee was the man who built the team's roster from scratch, it's safe to say even he didn't predict a trip to the finals."It's a hell of a team. I don't know how we did it," McPhee said, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun. "We just played our game and these players played their guts out. There's just something special about them. They made it happen. I don't know how to explain it."That McPhee is at a loss for words shouldn't really come as a surprise, especially considering that the Golden Knights have become just the third team in NHL history to clinch a berth in the Cup Final in its inaugural season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final and in doing so - as they have been doing all season - made history in the process.With their win on Sunday afternoon the Golden Knights became just the third team in NHL history to reach the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season, joining the Toronto Arenas who did so in 1918 and the St. Louis Blues in 1968.

They did it.The Vegas Golden Knights booked their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday with a 2-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final.The idea of an expansion team reaching the big show is difficult to comprehend. So when the Golden Knights actually made it happen, Twitter was left astonished.

Sweden walked away with its second consecutive World Championship gold medal Sunday evening in Denmark, but that wasn't the only hardware being handed out by the IIHF.The federation also announced the tournament award winners, which were led by Chicago Blackhawks superstar Patrick Kane, who earned the honors as MVP after racking up eight goals and 12 assists for Team USA.Toronto Maple Leafs and Denmark netminder Frederik Andersen was voted as best goaltender. Dallas Stars rearguard John Klingberg was voted best defenseman after putting up six points and a plus-six rating for Sweden, while Carolina Hurricanes and Finnish forward Sebastian Aho was voted as the tournament's best forward after turning in nine goals and nine assists in eight games.The media All-Star team was also revealed:

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) The Vegas Golden Knights are going to the Stanley Cup Final - with a chip on their shoulder.''Everybody on this team has something to prove,'' Ryan Reaves said. ''We call ourselves `The Golden Misfits' for a reason. We're doing a good job of proving everybody wrong.''Reaves scored the winning goal, Marc-Andre Fleury made 31 saves and the Golden Knights beat the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 on Sunday to wrap up the Western Conference final in five games.''It's insane,'' said defenseman Deryk Engelland, who grabbed the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl after the final buzzer to celebrate with his teammates. ''Your goal is always to make the playoffs. But if I were to guess I would be sitting here doing this right now, you would be a little skeptical at the time.''Alex Tuch also scored for the Knights. They lost Game 1 in Winnipeg before winning four straight to become the first expansion team since the 1968 St. Louis Blues - when the six initial expansion teams were put alone in the West - to get to the final.''It was their time,'' Winnipeg captain Blake Wheeler said. ''They're just playing really well.''Vegas will meet Tampa Bay or Washington in the final. Tampa Bay leads the Eastern final 3-2, with Game 6 set for Monday night in Washington.The Knights, whose jaw-dropping inaugural 109-point campaign included a Pacific Division crown, swept Los Angeles in the first round, and knocked out San Jose in six games in the second.''All those records and everything, it doesn't mean anything if you're not the last team standing,'' Vegas center Jonathan Marchessault said. ''I think we have a lot of gas left.''Josh Morrissey scored for the Jets, and Connor Hellebuyck made 30 saves.''It's very difficult to find that positive feeling at this moment,'' Jets coach Paul Maurice said.Reaves, the bruising Winnipeg native acquired from Pittsburgh before to the trade deadline in February, snapped a 1-1 tie with 6:39 left in the second period when he tipped Luca Sbisa's point shot past Hellebuyck. Reeves last goal before Sunday came 3 1/2 months ago while with Pittsburgh.''The guys that weren't playing, myself included, we stayed ready,'' Reaves said. ''We had fun while we were doing it, but we worked hard so when we were called upon we were ready to go.''Fleury stopped 151 of 161 shots in the series, and allowed just six goals the rest of the way after giving up four in the opener.''Everybody's stepping up at different times,'' Fleury said.Winnipeg got a power play early in the third, but couldn't muster much of anything. The Knights smothered much of the Jets' attack for the next 10 minutes, with Hellebuyck having to come up with big stops on William Karlsson and Eric Haula to keep his team within one.The Jets pressed with under 4 minutes to go, with Fleury stopping captain Blake Wheeler on the doorstep, but it wasn't nearly enough as the Knights closed out their third straight series on the road.The Jets had the NHL's second-best record with 114 points in the regular season. They advanced to the first conference final in city's history with a five-game victory over the Minnesota Wild in the opening round before topping the Presidents' Trophy-winning Nashville Predators in Game 7 on the road.The usual raucous, white-clad crowd at Bell MTS Place were silenced just 5:11 into Game 5 when Tuch jumped on Morrissey's turnover and fired his sixth past Hellebuyck.The Jets were tentative to start and it got worse after the opener as Vegas dominated the next couple of shifts, forcing some good saves from Hellebuyck before Winnipeg got its feet moving.After being outshot 7-1 in the first 7 minutes, the Jets finally pushed back and turned the tide with the next nine attempts on goal, culminating with Morrissey making amends for his early gaffe with 2:46 left in the period.Bryan Little won a faceoff in the offensive zone straight back to second-year defenseman, who blasted his first career playoff goal past Fleury's glove.One of Winnipeg's downfalls in the series through four games was an inability to maintain momentum. The Knights scored within 1:28 of a Jets' goal in each of the first four games - a crushing 12 seconds after Winnipeg tied Game 3, and an equally gut-wrenching 43 seconds after the Jets knotted Game 4 - but they managed to take the game to the locker rooms tied 1-1.Both teams had chances in the second period before Reaves made it 2-1, with Jets center Mathieu Perrault just missing on a pass from Little that had too much speed.Right after Reaves scored the second playoff goal of his career - and first since 2015 with St. Louis - Winnipeg's Nikolaj Ehlers rang a shot off the post on Fleury.NOTES: The Jets were an NHL-best 32-7-2 at home in the regular season, but were a pedestrian 5-4 in the playoffs, including losses in four of their last five post-season outings. .... Winnipeg had won a combined 13 straight at home before dropping a 2-1 decision in Game 4 against Nashville.---More NHL hockey: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockeyCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Filip Forsberg scored the shootout winner as Sweden beat Switzerland 3-2 to win its second straight World Championship gold.Sweden overcame a scare against the underdog Swiss team, who led twice in the game before Mika Zibanejad's game-tying goal in the second period.For Switzerland, this marks the team's second silver medal in six years after coincidentally losing to Sweden in the final in 2013.Vancouver Canucks netminder Anders Nilsson stopped 26 of 28 shots in regulation and overtime and another four shots in the shootout to get the win. Meanwhile, Swiss goaltender Leonardo Genoni did all he could turning away 43 shots in the game and another two on four shots in the shootout.With the win, Sweden has now captured gold in three of the last six editions of the tournament and medaled in four.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets coach Paul Maurice has opted to shake up his lineup ahead of a do-or-die Game 5 against the Vegas Golden Knights.In Sunday's game, the Jets will dress defensemen Dmitry Kulikov and Joe Morrow, who are replacing regular blue-liners Toby Enstrom and Ben Chiarot. Up front, Joel Armia will play in place of winger Andrew Copp, per Brian Munz of TSN 1290.In the pregame line rushes, Kulikov was paired alongside Tyler Myers, while Morrow skated with fellow defender Dustin Byfuglien.This will mark Kulikov's first appearance since March 8, as he missed the final 15 regular-season contests and every playoff game to date while recovering from a back injury.The Jets trail the Golden Knights 3-1 in the Western Conference Final.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Team USA defeated Team Canada 4-1 on Sunday to claim the bronze medal at the World Championship.After a 0-0 first period, New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider opened the scoring for the Americans midway through the middle frame, notching his ninth point of the tournament when he picked up a turnover courtesy of Canada's Connor McDavid before tucking the puck past netminder Curtis McElhinney.Canada got on the board with less than two minutes remaining in the second period, as San Jose Sharks blue-liner Marc-Edouard Vlasic slipped into the offensive zone to bury one by American goaltender Keith Kinkaid.A power-play marker by U.S. forward Nick Bonino with less than seven minutes remaining in the third period sealed the victory for the Americans, as he knocked a backhand rebound by McElhinney.Anders Lee and Kreider added a pair of empty-netters to bump the final score to 4-1. Kreider was named Player of the Game for the Americans, while McElhinney took home the same honor for Canada.The bronze marks Team USA's first medal finish at the World Championship since 2015, when the Americans defeated the Czech Republic to capture third place. The United States has not played in the gold medal game since 1960.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The World Hockey Championship runs May 4-20 in Copenhagen and Herning, Denmark. Stay up to date with all game action via our daily scoreboard (all times Eastern).Championship Round Schedule

With July 1 less than two months away, theScore takes a look at the top 50 pending unrestricted free agents heading into the start of free agency.10-1 | 20-11 | 30-21 | 40-31 | 50-41Stats legend:

Matt Niskanen took the blame for all three Tampa Bay Lightning goals in the Washington Capitals' Game 5 loss on Saturday night.The Capitals defenseman picked his performance apart after Tampa Bay prevailed 3-2 to move within a win of the Stanley Cup Final.“It’s pinballing around in the neutral zone there, I stepped up, didn’t get the man or the puck, they got a 2-on-1 out of it and scored,” Niskanen told reporters, via Sportsnet, in reference to the Lightning’s goal in the opening minute.“(The) first three goals (were) all my fault," Niskanen added. "I had a tough first 20 minutes and 30 seconds. So I’ve got to be better next game.”He had a point.Niskanen failed to prevent Ryan Callahan from chipping the puck into the Capitals' defensive zone before Cedric Paquette opened the scoring 19 seconds in, screened Braden Holtby on Ondrej Palat's marker that gave the Lightning a 2-0 lead later in the opening frame, and then allowed Anton Stralman to blow past him before Callahan banged in the goal that made it 3-0 at the 33-second mark of the second period.Granted, other Capitals players made mistakes on those goals, and Niskanen kept them in the game with a shot that was deflected in by Evgeny Kuznetsov about four minutes later.Despite his early miscues, Niskanen actually drove possession at 5-on-5 with a 51.61 Corsi For percentage, but he posted a Scoring Chances For rate of only 28.57 percent in those situations, according to Natural Stat Trick.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Cedric Paquette scored in the opening minute and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 28 shots to help the Tampa Bay Lightning hold off the Washington Capitals 3-2 on Saturday night in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final.Ondrej Palat and Ryan Callahan also scored as the home team won for the first time in the best-of-seven matchup, with the Lightning taking a 3-2 series lead and moving within one victory of advancing the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in four seasons.The Capitals, in the conference final for the first time in the Alex Ovechkin era, have lost three straight after winning twice on the road to begin the series.Ovechkin scored with 1:36 remaining, trimming what once was a three-goal lead to one, however Vasiliveskiy made three more saves down the stretch to finish the victory.Game 6 is Monday night in Washington, where Tampa Bay has already won to improve to 5-1 on the road this postseason.The Capitals won the first two games on the road, scoring 10 goals on Vezina Trophy finalist Vasilevskiy and sending the Lightning - won had the best record in the East during the regular season - into desperation mode.Tampa Bay responded by winning Game 3 in Washington, evening the series despite being outshot and outplayed for sizeable stretches of a 4-2 victory in Game 4 and returning home, where coach Jon Cooper was confident the Lightning would be better than they were in the first two games.Turns out Cooper was right.Washington's Dmitry Orlov turned the puck over in the neutral zone on the opening shift of the night and Callahan made the Caps pay for the mistake, feeding Paquette for a 1-0 lead just 19 seconds into the game.Palat's second goal of the series made it 2-0. Tampa Bay extended the advantage to three goals when Callahan scored 33 seconds into the second period.Outshot 13-4 and limited to one scoring opportunity in the opening period, the Caps began to put some pressure on Vasilevskiy in the second.Evgeny Kuznetsov scored a goal in his fourth straight game, giving him a franchise single-year, playoff-best 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) and trimming Washington's deficit to 3-1 at 4:21 of the period.The Capitals kept pressing in the third period, but didn't breakthrough against until Ovechkin scored his 11th goal this postseason.Notes: The road team won each of the first four games of a series for the sixth time in the last 10 years and 26th time in Stanley Cup playoffs history. Under that scenario, the road team has won Game 5 only three times. ... Paquette's goal was his first in the playoffs since Game 3 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final, ending a 34-game drought for the 24-year-old center. ... At 19 seconds of the opening period, Palat's goal was not the fastest to start a game in Lightning history. Adam Hall scored for Tampa Bay 13 seconds into Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final against Boston in 2011. ... Capitals winger Andre Burakovsky was a game-time scratch.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Remember that Sioux Falls Stampede goaltender who celebrated in hilarious fashion after scoring from behind his own net back in November?Well, the Winnipeg Jets gave him a three-year, entry-level contract Saturday.Mikhail Berdin is the netminder who, as you may recall, did this:

The New York Rangers will hire Boston University's David Quinn as their next head coach, Rick Carpiniello of The Athletic reports.There are still details to work out, however, and an official announcement isn't expected until Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton returns from scouting the World Championship in Denmark, Carpiniello adds.Quinn will replace the recently fired Alain Vigneault, and is expected to sign a five-year contract worth approximately $12.5 million for his first NHL head coaching gig.The 51-year-old had spent the last five seasons behind the bench as coach of the Terriers, accumulating a record of 105-67-51 in that span while winning the Hockey East and finishing as NCAA runners up in 2014-15.The Rangers missed the playoffs for the first time since 2009-10 this season, and formally announced an impending rebuild over the winter. With a head coach reported to be in place, the organizational focus will shift to the draft, where New York owns three first-round picks.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Switzerland pulled off a massive upset Saturday at the World Championship, defeating Canada in the semifinals 3-2 to advance to the gold-medal game against Sweden on Sunday.Swiss goaltender Leonardo Genoni was sensational, making 44 saves and leaving a Canadian squad full of NHL stars shaking their heads as they went to the bench after each failed scoring attempt.In the crease opposite Genoni, Darcy Kuemper's performance was lackluster. He allowed three goals on just 16 shots.The Swiss offense was stuck in neutral in the third period, as it had only one shot compared to Canada's 18. That lone shot - a redirect from Gaetan Haas on a wrister that was going wide - turned out to be the game-winning goal.Despite the one-sided final frame, Switzerland weathered the storm in its own end. Canada got within a goal after Colton Parayko's tally with two minutes left, but no closer.This marks the first time in four years that the Canadians won't play for gold at the worlds. They'll take on the United States at 9:45 a.m. ET on Sunday for the bronze medal.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals are shaking up their forward group a bit ahead of Saturday night's Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, head coach Barry Trotz announced to reporters, including NBC Sports Washington's Tarik El-Bashir.Winger Andre Burakovsky will sit in favor of Alex Chiasson, who will provide Trotz with a bit more size and physicality on the wing of the fourth line along with Jay Beagle and Devante Smith-Pelly. Nicklas Backstrom will resume his natural spot on the Capitals' second line between T.J. Oshie and Chandler Stephenson.Burakovsky's been a non-factor, registering zero points in six playoff games. Chiasson hasn't exactly been lighting it up, but he's been used by Trotz much more frequently, tallying one goal and one assist across 15 games.With the series tied 2-2, Game 5 is set for 7:15 p.m. ET at Amalie Arena.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marian Hossa, a veteran of 19 NHL seasons, announced the end of his playing career Saturday."I'm done playing hockey," he told Slovak newspaper Novy cas, as translated by NHL.com. "I have a contract with Chicago for the next three years, but I have to watch my health, and my body says the comeback is not possible."Hossa missed the 2017-18 season due to a progressive skin disorder and the side effects of the medication used to treat it."Before the season, the NHL sent me to a clinic in Minneapolis to see a specialist who confirmed that it's impossible to play hockey when using those (anti-allergic) medicaments," he said. "I have to be aware of what might happen and I don't want to get back to the state I had been in during the previous seasons."It's unclear what will happen with the remaining three years of Hossa's contract, as the Blackhawks could again place him on long-term injured reserve, or even possibly trade him."Let's see how this is done in the club," he said. "Maybe my contract changes to another club, I can not say yet, or I will stay on the list of injured players."Slovak publication Dennik Sport recently reported that Hossa was planning to meet with Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz and president John McDonough to discuss a potential new role within the organization, according to The Athletic's Scott Powers."I can only do it after the expiration of the contract," Hossa said. "I have already talked to the boss of the club, so it's real that after three years I will work in the Chicago organization."One of the best two-way forwards of his generation, Hossa finishes his career with 1,134 points in 1,309 games. He spent seven years with the Ottawa Senators to begin his career before a blockbuster trade sent him to Atlanta in exchange for Dany Heatley. After brief stints in Pittsburgh and Detroit, where he helped both teams reach the Stanley Cup Final, he joined the Chicago Blackhawks, with whom he spent the last eight seasons of his career, winning three Stanley Cups.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sweden earned a 6-0 shutout victory over Team USA at the World Championship on Saturday, advancing to Sunday's gold medal game.The Americans got off to a solid start, but the game was seemingly always Sweden's to lose, as the Tre kronor dominated play at both ends of the ice.Swedish goaltender Anders Nilsson was rock solid, turning aside all 21 shots he faced.The team's offensive charge was led by Viktor Arvidsson, who registered two goals, including a first-period tally that held up as the game-winner. Adrian Kempe, Patric Hornqvist, Magnus Paajarvi, and Mattias Janmark also chipped in with goals.American netminder Keith Kinkaid made 12 saves on 16 shots in the loss.Sweden will get a chance to defend its gold medal Sunday afternoon against the winner of Canada-Switzerland.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights wrote another chapter in their storybook season Friday night, dusting aside the Winnipeg Jets in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final thanks to Reilly Smith's third-period bar-down game-winner.The takeaway, the blistering speed, the patience to hold the puck with defenders breathing down his neck, and then the laser-like wrister - Smith's one-man show definitely deserves a closer look.For a full video of the goal, click here.Blue-line behemoth Dustin Byfuglien has been a game-changing presence almost every night of the postseason, so he's potentially earned a pass from Jets fans for this gaffe.Byfuglien fanned on a point shot and Smith sprang into action, jumping on the loose puck and quickly turning up ice with only Connor Hellebuyck in front of him.This is when Smith's solo effort starts to get highlight-reel worthy. He shows off some impressive foot speed by leaving Brandon Tanev (No. 13) in the dust, and recognizes that Josh Morrissey (No. 44) is closing in from the center of the ice.Smith got from blue line to blue line in under two seconds, leaving Morrissey and Tanev in poor position to defend him.Instead of waiting for his linemates or making the kind of sweet dish he's become known for, the speedy winger protected the puck from the Winnipeg defenders' outstretched sticks and switched the puck to his forehand.Smith then quickly sized up Hellebuyck, who'd come out to the very edge of the blue paint, and unleashed a rocket to the top-left corner.Smith beat Hellebuyck bar down over the blocker side with a perfectly placed shot that nine out of 10 goalies probably don't stop, capping off a stellar solo effort that has the expansion Golden Knights only one win from a trip to the final.(Images courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With July 1 less than two months away, theScore takes a look at the top 50 pending unrestricted free agents heading into the start of free agency.10-1 | 20-11 | 30-21 | 40-31 | 50-41Stats legend:

It's not where many expected the Winnipeg Jets to be, but through four games the team trails the Vegas Golden Knights 3-1 in the Western Conference Final.After taking a split in the first two games at home, the Jets have been edged by the Golden Knights twice at T-Mobile Arena, including Friday night in a contest that captain Blake Wheeler suggests the team deserved to win."We win that game nine times out of 10," Wheeler said, per Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. "Tonight was the one. Had some looks where their goalie made some extraordinary saves. You've got to sometimes take your hat off to a good player stealing a game."Teammate Tyler Myers echoed his captain's sentiment, suggesting the Jets outplayed the Knights for the majority of the past two games."For the last five periods, we’ve been the better team," Myers said, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.Myers makes a compelling case as the Jets have outshot the Golden Knights in each of the last five periods by a combined 69-49. Unfortunately, they've been outscored 6-4 over that span to a team that's developed a habit of bouncing back after conceding goals.

LAS VEGAS (AP) Reilly Smith scored on a breakaway late in the third period to lead the Vegas Golden Knights to a 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 4 of the Western Conference final Friday night.Vegas, a 500-to-1 long shot to win the title when the season started, can advance to the Stanley Cup final when the series resumes Sunday in Winnipeg.William Karlsson and Tomas Nosek also scored for Vegas, and Marc-Andre Fleury, ninth all-time for postseason wins, made 36 saves to earn his 73rd career playoff victory.With the game tied at 2, Smith raced down the left side of the rink and beat Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck above his blocker to put the Golden Knights ahead with 6:58 left in the game.Hellebuyck made 27 saves, but lost for the third consecutive game. Patrik Laine and Tyler Myers scored for Winnipeg, which is on the brink of elimination.---More AP hockey: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockeyCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

David Perron is back in the Vegas Golden Knights' lineup as they look to take a 3-1 series lead over the Winnipeg Jets in the Western Conference Final on Friday night.Perron missed Games 2 and 3, as head coach Gerard Gallant said the winger "wasn't feeling well."In nine postseason games, Perron's recorded seven assists.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Forward Nikolaj Ehlers will return to the Winnipeg Jets' lineup for Game 4 of the Western Conference Final on Friday after missing Game 3 with an illness, the team confirmed.Ehlers' return will reunite the club's second line alongside Patrik Laine and Paul Stastny. Jack Roslovic - who replaced Ehlers for Game 3 - remains in the lineup with Joel Armia serving as a scratch.While Ehlers is still looking for his first goal of the playoffs, he has contributed seven assists in 13 games.In other roster news, goaltender Michael Hutchinson will back up Connor Hellebuyck rather than Steve Mason.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

St. Louis Blues forward Jaden Schwartz will miss the remainder of the World Championship due to an upper-body injury, Hockey Canada announced on Friday.The 25-year-old tallied four assists in eight games for Canada.Luckily for the Blues, the injury is not expected to affect his availability for training camp ahead of next season.Canada will face Switzerland in the semifinals on Saturday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Mastercard Memorial Cup kicks off Friday in Regina, Saskatchewan, and hockey fans should expect to see plenty of players who will appear on NHL rosters in the not-too-distant future.The host Pats kick off the 100th edition of the Canadian junior hockey championship against the Ontario Hockey League champion Hamilton Bulldogs. The Acadie-Bathurst Titan, who won the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League title last weekend, and the Western Hockey League champion Swift Current Broncos will face off Saturday in their round-robin openers.The tournament has 28 players, spread across all four rosters, who have either been drafted or signed free-agent contracts with NHL teams. With a focus on that group, here’s a look at the tournament field:Acadie-Bathurst TitanGM Sylvain Couturier, who played 33 games for the Los Angeles Kings and is the father of Philadelphia Flyers forward Sean Couturier, has masterfully overhauled his roster over the past two seasons.Forward Antoine Morand was one of Couturier's prized draft picks in the rebuild and is now a member of the Anaheim Ducks, who took him with the 60th overall pick last spring. The Montreal-area native has been a point-a-game player in the playoffs and scored slightly more regularly than that during the regular season. He's also a player to watch for possible inclusion on Canada's World Junior roster in Vancouver next season.San Jose Sharks free-agent signing Jeffrey Truchon-Viel won the Q's postseason MVP award after leading the Titan in scoring with 23 points (14G, 9A) in 20 games. Truchon-Viel grew up in Rimouski, Quebec, watching Sidney Crosby win a QMJHL title and playoff MVP while leading the Rimouski Oceanic to the 2005 Memorial Cup final in London.Russian German Rubtsov joined the Titan midseason. He was a first-round pick (22nd overall) of the Flyers but his offensive production has lagged both Morand and Truchon-Viel.Goaltender Evan Fitzpatrick, a trade pickup from the Sherbrooke Phoenix, is a draft pick of the St. Louis Blues. The 20-year-old from St. John’s, Newfoundland, has been sharp, registering a 2.10 GAA in the Titan’s run to the President Trophy.Another Maritimer, defenseman Noah Dobson (17G, 52A), put up impressive numbers from the blue line this season and could be a first-round pick in June.The long trip and emotional letdown after beating the favored Blainville-Boisbriand Armada suggest the Titan could be underdogs this week.Hamilton BulldogsBulldogs GM Steve Staois raised eyebrows when he left a job in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization to become president of his hometown team.It's difficult to argue with that decision now. Staois, who has since added the GM portfolio, has assembled a talent-laden roster that has nine players who have either been drafted or signed by NHL teams.Forward Robert Thomas, a first-round pick (20th overall) of the Blues, is one of four Memorial Cup participants attempting to add the national crown to the gold medal won with Team Canada back in January. Thomas won the OHL's postseason MVP award and has been an offensive catalyst since coming over from the London Knights. But he's part of a balanced attack that has been relentless on the puck, particularly in the Bulldogs' win over the heavily favored Soo Greyhounds in the OHL final.Matthew Strome (Flyers), Will Bitten (Montreal Canadiens), Marian Studenic (New Jersey Devils), MacKenzie Entwistle (Arizona Coyotes), and Nicholas Caamano (Dallas Stars) are all NHL-drafted forwards at head coach John Gruden's disposal. Undrafted Brandon Saigeon (35G, 35A) was the Bulldogs' leading scorer and his tenure with the team dates back to its time in Belleville.Strome will be attempting to become the first of his family to win the Memorial Cup. While playing for the Erie Otters, Dylan Strome lost in the final last year but won the MVP award. Seven years ago, Ryan Strome lost in the OHL final as a member of the Niagara IceDogs.Defenseman Riley Stillman is the son of longtime NHLer Cory, who is now the head coach of the Sudbury Wolves. Stillman's grandfather, Bud Stefanski, was the associate head coach of the 2000 Barrie Colts, who lost to the Oceanic in the Memorial Cup final in Halifax. Stillman (Florida Panthers) is one of two NHL-drafted defensemen on the Bulldogs, joining Nicolas Mattinen (Maple Leafs).Regina PatsThe Pats lost a seven-game heartbreaker to Swift Current in the first round of the playoffs and enter the Memorial Cup after being idle for more than six weeks.The Windsor Spitfires won the Memorial Cup under identical circumstances last year. But John Paddock's team is probably more talented on paper, complete with captain Sam Steel and defenseman Josh Mahura, who both won gold with Team Canada in Buffalo.Both Steel (30th overall) and Mahura (85th overall) were drafted by the Ducks two years ago. Defenseman Libor Hajek (New York Rangers) went the other way in the Ryan McDonagh trade this year. Cale Fleury (Canadiens) is also a leader on the Pats' defense corps.Up front, the Pats have Jake Leschyshyn (Vegas Golden Knights), son of former NHLer Curtis; Nick Henry (Colorado Avalanche); Cameron Hebig (Edmonton Oilers); and Jesse Gabrielle (Boston Bruins). Overager Matt Bradley was the Pats' second-leading scorer behind Steel. He was drafted by the Canadiens three years ago but was unsigned and is a free agent.Whatever can be inferred from the first-round exit, Paddock's team played at a feverish pace after Christmas but had two elite teams - the Moose Jaw Warriors and the Broncos - ahead of them in the WHL's ultra-tough east division. Those three teams effectively beat each other up during the first two rounds of the playoffs. The looming Pats-Broncos showdown could have extra meaning for that reason, but especially so in a province attempting to overcome the Humboldt Broncos tragedy.Swift Current BroncosGlenn Gawdin (56G, 69A) was one of three 100-point performers on the Broncos' roster, along with Aleksi Heponiemi (Panthers) and Tyler Steenbergen (Coyotes). That trio combined for an incredible 345 regular-season points, despite Steenbergen and Heponiemi each missing more than a month through injury/illness and World Junior duty.Another storyline to watch is Steenbergen's status as the hero of Team Canada's gold medal win after he scored with 1:40 to play in the victory over Sweden. Similar exploits in Regina could make Steenbergen a hero of very rare distinction.Gawdin was formerly a pick of the Blues but was scooped up by the Calgary Flames; he won the WHL's playoff MVP award after the Broncos' series triumph over the Everett Silvertips.Overager Giorgio Estephan is a well-traveled and well-respected WHLer who helped the Broncos defeat his former team, the Lethbridge Hurricanes, in the WHL's Eastern Conference Final. He's a former pick of the Buffalo Sabres but is now a free agent.On defense, New Jersey signee Colby Sissons was a point-a-game player from the back end and is joined by Colorado Avalanche pick Josh Anderson. Undrafted Sahvan Khaira is a workhorse defenseman who, like Estephan, could be in the running to earn a free-agent deal.Goaltender Stuart Skinner was outstanding in the playoffs, recording six shutouts, four of which came on the road. He was recently signed by the Oilers, who drafted him 78th overall last season.Forward Beck Malenstyn (Washington Capitals) rounds out the Broncos NHL-connected contingent.Broncos head coach Manny Viveiros has an interesting backstory as well; he won the Memorial Cup with the Prince Albert Raiders 34 years ago. Since then, he has embarked on a circuitous playing and coaching career. Viveiros’s career included time with the Minnesota North Stars as a player, and then all over Europe.He stayed in Europe to coach and led Austria to Olympic qualification four years ago in Sochi, where they played Canada in the round robin. His installation as Broncos head coach two years ago was a surprise, but he's proven as adept as a WHL coach as he was a former WHL star defenseman.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Without Andrei Vasilevskiy's stellar play between the pipes, the Tampa Bay Lightning's season would probably be over today.Vasilevskiy single-handedly stole Games 3 and 4 of the Eastern Conference Final after the Lightning buried themselves in an 0-2 hole, stopping a combined 72 of 76 shots in back-to-back 4-2 wins to even the series.The Lightning did not deserve to win either of those contests, as they were dominated in nearly every facet of the game:Game 3LightningStatCapitals23Shots3847Shot attempts6921Scoring chances269High-danger chances11Game 4LightningStatCapitals20Shots3845Shot attempts6519Scoring chances3312High-danger chances14But Vasilevskiy made one highlight-reel save after another, constantly bailing out a team that's yet to show up for a full 60 minutes in this series.Related: Solo effort: Breaking down Vasilevskiy's clutch glove save on ConnollyWhile the Capitals have dictated the play at five-on-five in this series, their biggest offensive weapon so far in this playoff run has been a dynamic power play. Heading into Game 3, the Caps were 16-for-49 (32.7 percent) with the man advantage, but there's been a power outage across the last two games, with the unit going 0-for-7.Tampa Bay's penalty killers certainly deserve credit, but against such a lethal unit, the goalie has to be the best penalty killer - and Vasilevskiy has been just that.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Across the past two games, the Caps generated 16 shots, 11 scoring chances, and seven high-danger scoring chances with the man advantage, but Vasilevskiy turned aside everything.On the flip side, the Lightning's power play has been their main source of offense, going 3-for-7 across the last two games, and 6-for-14 overall in the series. Braden Holtby has struggled in the opposite crease, while Vasilevskiy has shined, and that was the difference in Games 3 and 4.On the surface, Vasilevskiy's sensational play shouldn't come as a surprise, considering his regular season was worthy of a Vezina Trophy nomination. But for those who followed the season closely, he was a bit of a question mark heading into the playoffs after recording a save percentage of just .900 in his last 31 regular-season games, compared to a .939 mark across his first 34. Fatigue was clearly an issue for 23-year-old in his first full season as a starter, but he's since erased any doubts.Even if Vasilevskiy had stolen one game on the road, the Bolts would still be looking at a 3-1 series deficit - a steep mountain to climb against a Capitals team that's playing exceptionally well.But by stealing both contests, not only did Vasilevskiy put his team in the driver's seat heading back to Tampa Bay to begin a best-of-three, but he literally saved its season in the process.(Stats courtesy: Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrei Vasilevskiy's highway robbery on Brett Connolly in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final may very well end up being the turning point in the series.With the game even at two goals apiece in the third period, Vasilevskiy made a ridiculous glove save on Connolly to keep the game tied. A little over six minutes later, Alex Killorn notched the game-winning goal for Tampa Bay. Below, we'll break down how Vasilevskiy was able to make such a difficult stop.For a full video of the save, click here:Capitals forward Chandler Stephenson (No. 18, bottom of screen) scoops up the puck along the boards. Lightning defenseman Dan Girardi (No. 5) then overcommits, forcing his partner, Victor Hedman, to apply pressure to the puck-carrier, assuming the center will be back to take the high guy. The latter doesn't happen, though, and Connolly (top right) is left all alone in the slot.Hedman does a good job of forcing Stephenson in deep before he can get a pass through to the middle of the ice. Realizing this, Vasilevskiy puts the paddle of his stick on the ice in an attempt to break up the pass before it can reach Connolly.Vasilevkiy's decision to throw his paddle down backfires, as the puck ramps off his stick, into the air, and into the slot, leaving him in a vulnerable position deep in the crease while Connolly is streaking in to bury the loose puck.Amazingly, Connolly bats the puck out of midair. And remember, Vasilevskiy was leaning to his right when he tried to break up the pass, so the top right part of the net is open for Connolly. The puck looks like it's heading right over Vasilevskiy's left shoulder.This last part can't be taught. Vasilevskiy uses his otherworldly reflexes to lift his left hand and get a piece of the fluttering puck. He doesn't catch it in the web of his glove, but he gets a big enough piece to knock it into the slot. Matt Niskanen doesn't get much on the rebound attempt and misses the net.Vasilevskiy has bailed out his defense routinely over the last two games, but this was perhaps his best example of a sensational solo effort.(Photos courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers have added to their defensive depth, agreeing to a one-year contract with Swedish free-agent blue-liner Joel Persson, the team announced Friday.Persson spent the 2017-18 campaign with the Vaxjo Lakers of the Swedish Hockey League, where he led all defenders with 34 points in 51 games. He then posted five points across 13 playoff games en route to the SHL championship."(Joel) has progressed rapidly in the last year and has shown a very good offensive side to his game which is compatible with some of our needs," Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli said in a statement.Chiarelli added that the Oilers intend for Persson to play in Sweden next season, but that the club has the right to recall him to the NHL.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With July 1 less than two months away, theScore takes a look at the top 50 pending unrestricted free agents heading into the start of free agency.10-1 | 20-11 | 30-21 | 40-31 | 50-41Stats Legend:

Home ice has had little advantage in the Eastern Conference Final.With the Tampa Bay Lightning's 4-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Thursday night, the road team has now won each of the first four games of the series.It's a rare trend, but as the teams turn their focus to Game 5 with the series now a best-of-three, the success they've had on the road has Capitals head coach Barry Trotz confident in his club going forward."Our intention is to go on the road and win a game in Tampa," Trotz said, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press. "We've already done that twice."This marks just the sixth time in the last 10 years where the road team has taken the first four games of the series. The Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks last did it a season ago in their second-round series.

WASHINGTON (AP) Alex Killorn scored the tiebreaker with about 8 minutes left, Andrei Vasilevskiy made 36 saves, and the Tampa Bay Lightning weathered the equivalent of more than a period without a shot on goal to edge the Washington Capitals 4-2 on Thursday night, evening the Eastern Conference final at two games apiece.Killorn was left pretty much alone during a defensive breakdown by Washington and scored 6 seconds after a Tampa Bay power play expired, putting in a pass from Ondrej Palat.Steven Stamkos and Brayden Point scored Tampa Bay's first two goals, and Anthony Cirelli added an empty-netter with a second left.Washington's goals came from Evgeny Kuznetsov - off an assist by Alex Ovechkin - and defenseman Dmitry Orlov.The Lightning host Game 5 on Saturday night, with Game 6 back in Washington on Monday.The road team has won every game in the series so far.The Capitals, who eliminated the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round, fell to 3-5 overall at home during these playoffs - and even got booed late in the first period, which ended with the Lightning ahead 2-1.The Lightning won Game 4 despite going nearly 21 full minutes of game time - the last 10:41 of the first period, followed by the initial 10:11 of the second - without putting a single official shot on net. And they won even though the Capitals finally got back center Nicklas Backstrom, who was third on the team in points this season behind Ovechkin and Kuznetsov. Backstrom had missed four games in a row with an injured right hand.One key: Vasilevskiy played just like the Vezina Trophy finalist he is. He was spectacular at times, including stops against Chandler Stephenson on a breakaway and Backstrom from the doorstep in the second period. Early in the third, Vasilevskiy used his left glove to swat away a try from Brett Connolly.After one flubbed chance, Ovechkin threw his head back and looked up, the very picture of disappointment.Capitals goalie Braden Holtby didn't need to make nearly as many saves, given the shot discrepancy: Washington ended up with 38 to Tampa Bay's 20.Orlov put the hosts ahead about 4 1/2 minutes after the opening faceoff with a shot from the left circle, but the Lightning needed all of 70 seconds to draw even.Washington defenseman Michal Kempny's backhand clear attempt went awry, sliding right onto the tape of Tyler Johnson's stick. From there, it was as easy as 1-2-3 for Tampa Bay: Johnson passed to rookie Yanni Gourde, who moved it to Point, whose immediate shot from close range gave Holtby no chance.The Lightning went up 2-1 lead less than 3 minutes later, with Stamkos putting the team's lone shot of a power play in off the left post. That capped a slick sequence of passes, from Nikita Kucherov to J.T. Miller, back to Kucherov, back to Miller, to Point, who found Stamkos.The Lightning have produced 11 power-play goals over their last nine games, with at least one in each. And it's been Stamkos leading the way: He has scored on a power play in each game of this series.The game was barely 8 1/2 minutes old, and the Lightning had only accumulated five shots. But Tampa Bay already had scored twice and silenced a boisterous, red-clad crowd that went from supportive chants of ''Let's go, Caps!'' before the game even began to a nervous hush to - somewhat unbelievably, given that Washington began the day two wins from playing for the Stanley Cup - a smattering of groans and jeers in the closing seconds of the opening period.Those boos arrived after the Capitals failed to score on any of a succession of three man-advantage opportunities.The Capitals were much better at the outset of the second, recording the period's initial eight shots and making it 2-all when Kuznetsov took a flipped backhand pass from Ovechkin and put the puck between Vasilevskiy's pads. That gave Kuznetsov 21 points - 10 goals, 11 assists - and tied him with Ovechkin (who did it in 2009) for the most by a Capitals player in a single postseason.Vasilevskiy wouldn't let another puck go in.NOTES: In the Western Conference final, the Vegas Golden Knights hold a 2-1 series lead over the Winnipeg Jets. Game 4 is in Las Vegas on Friday night. ... Stamkos showed zero effects from being hit in the face by a puck during the morning skate Thursday; he briefly left the practice ice before returning. ... Washington is 7-1 in away games. ... Lars Eller was whistled for both of Washington's penalties. He has been sent to the box five times in the past two games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The $14.7 million raised from the Humboldt Broncos GoFundMe page will go directly to the 29 families impacted by the tragedy, it was announced at a press conference on Thursday.Broncos president Kevin Garinger was on hand and explained that, in all, the GoGundMe page raised $15.175 million, but was met with fees that amounted to nearly $500,000.Related: Roughriders to hold practice in Humboldt to commemorate BroncosOnce the money is transferred to the team, the funds must go through the province where the distribution timeline will be determined. Until then, the money will remain in a trust until it is given to the respective families."One hundred percent of that total, as well as any interest ... will go toward the 29 families that have been impacted by this unthinkable tragedy," Garinger said.It is still to be determined how the money will be divided among the 29 families. Scott Thomas, whose son died in the crash, noted that some families may require larger sums of money to cover added expenses.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom returned to the lineup for Game 4 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday after missing his club's last four games with a hand injury.Backstrom had not played since Game 5 of the Capitals' second-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. With Backstrom back in the fold, forward Alex Chiasson was made a scratch.Despite missing arguably their top center, the Capitals have gone 3-1 without Backstrom in the lineup, with Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Lightning in Game 3 serving as the lone blemish.In 11 games this postseason, Backstrom has three goals and 13 points. It's good enough for fourth in team scoring.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins already boast one Finnish blue-liner, and now it appears they're adding another.Juuso Riikola has agreed to terms with the club, sources told TSN's Darren Dreger on Thursday.The 24-year-old posted 24 points in 59 games with KalPa in the Finland-based Liga this season, his sixth with the team.Riikola also represented his homeland at the ongoing World Championship, chipping in a pair of assists in eight contests before Finland was eliminated in a surprising quarterfinal loss to Switzerland on Thursday.If he cracks the NHL club, he'll join Olli Maatta, the 23-year-old Finn who's been a fixture on the Penguins' back end - despite several health setbacks - for about the last five years.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced Thursday that they'll hold a practice in Humboldt, Sask. on June 3 in memory of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash."While we continue to mourn for all those affected by the devastating event of April 6, we want to demonstrate our ongoing support for the Broncos organization and the community of Humboldt," stated Craig Reynolds, Saskatchewan Roughriders president and CEO.The day will consist of a walkthrough practice at Glenn Hall Park from noon until 1 p.m., with the team providing a barbecue lunch for community members."We have been working in partnership with the Broncos' organization since the tragedy, hoping to play a small role in assisting the team, victims, the community and entire province through this painful time by channeling the healing power of sport, and by lending the strength of Rider Nation," said Reynolds.Players and coaches will take time to sign autographs and socialize with fans after the practice hour concludes.The team will also announce details of a "Humboldt Strong" home game to be played on June 30 that will be dedicated to the victims and affected families.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Switzerland upset Finland and Sweden overcame a scare against Latvia to punch their tickets Thursday to the World Championship semifinals.Finland entered action as the top seed in Group B, but after taking a 1-0 lead, it allowed three straight goals to the Swiss and dropped the contest 3-2.The Swedes avoided a potential upset. After heading to the third period tied 1-1, Sweden scored two straight goals and held off a late Latvia attack to take the game 3-2.Sweden will now square off against the United States, while Switzerland will face Canada in semifinal action Saturday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings signed rearguard Oscar Fantenberg to a one-year contract extension worth $650,000, the team announced Thursday.Fantenberg suited up in 27 regular-season games for L.A. last campaign, registering two goals and seven assists in 14:16 of ice time per night. He also appeared in all four of the Kings' playoff games, chipping in with one assist.The 26-year-old undrafted Swede is currently on a one-year deal worth $925,000.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.