St. Louis Blues prospect Jordan Kyrou was awarded the Red Tilson Trophy on Saturday, recognizing him as the Ontario Hockey League's player of the year.

The Winnipeg Jets scored their third marker of Game 1 on Saturday before the 10-minute point of the first period despite the fact that the goal was originally waived off due to goaltender interference.In fact, two reviews took place: one to see if Joel Armia kicked the puck in the net, and then another to assess if he interfered with goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. Both rulings turned out in Winnipeg's favor, and the Jets took an early three-goal lead as a result.

Nashville Predators players are heading to Denmark in flocks like the swallows of Capistrano.The lastest is New Westminster, British Columbia native Kyle Turris, Hockey Canada officially announced Saturday.After a 5-1 trouncing at the hands of Finland on Saturday, Canada will welcome any reinforcements it can get.Turris has a wealth of international experience, most recently at the 2014 World Championship, in which he potted three goals and added three helpers in eight games.In a season split between the Ottawa Senators and the Predators, Turris collected 51 points in 76 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In Aaron Ekblad's eyes, it wasn't just Canada's lack of discipline that led to the glut of penalties taken Saturday afternoon.Related: Finland upsets Canada in blowout victoryThe Canadians suffered their second defeat of the tournament, losing in stunning fashion, 5-1, to Finland. The game saw Canada take 11 minor penalties, a number that Ekblad attributes, in part, to the opposition diving."Discipline's definitely a factor, but I think I speak for a lot of hockey players in the game, diving isn't part of the game," Ekblad told TSN's Darren Dreger postgame. "I think it's cowardly. It's tough when players are playing that kind of dishonest game."Finland converted two power-play chances, both coming in the first period. But while Ekblad feels playacting played a role in the result, it's worth noting the Finns also took eight minor penalties of their own.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Canada was decimated on Saturday, falling to team Finland by a score of 5-1.Goaltending proved to be an issue for the Canadians, as Curtis McElhinney was pulled after allowing three goals, and Darcy Kuemper didn't fare much better upon his entry into the game, gifting Eeli Tolvanen a fourth goal for the Fins.While Canada's play in the crease is certainly concerning, that wasn't the sole reason it lost. It only managed to score once against journeyman netminder Harri Säteri. Canada's struggles to generate scoring chances likely come from its inability to stay out of the penalty box, as it collected 22 minutes in penalties.Mikko Rantanen, Teuvo Teravainen, and Tolvanen were the offensive catalysts for the Finns, combining for four goals and two assists.Canada will close out the round robin on Monday and Tuesday with games against Latvia and Germany before the medal round begins.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Fisher is hanging up his skates - for real this time.The Predators forward announced Saturday that his playing days are over following Nashville's second-round exit from the Stanley Cup Playoffs."This cow has been milked as much as it can," Fisher told Predators radio reporter Jeremy Gover. "It's bone dry."Fisher originally announced his retirement last offseason following the Predators' run to the Stanley Cup Final, but returned in January with the hope of taking one last shot at a championship.In all, Fisher appeared in 16 regular-season games, picking up two goals and two assists along the way. He finished the postseason with one goal in 12 appearances.Fisher ends his 18-season career, split between the Predators and Ottawa Senators, with 278 goals and 311 assists in 1,104 games.The 37-year-old left open the possibility of accepting an off-ice role with Nashville.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After marked improvement over the last two seasons, the next stage of the "Shanaplan" is upon the Toronto Maple Leafs.Friday's official hiring of Kyle Dubas as the club's general manager signifies a new era and direction for the organization. Lou Lamoriello's three-year stint as head honcho is over, and it appears there may be a new project for him elsewhere.The Maple Leafs had the luxury of choosing between two in-house replacement candidates in Dubas and former co-assistant GM Mark Hunter. Team president Brendan Shanahan said it was a difficult decision, but since prying Dubas out of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds organization in 2014, there was an overwhelming sense that he'd be the next guy in charge.After marinating behind the scenes under Lamoriello's Fort Knox-esque operation, focusing primarily on player development and running the Toronto Marlies, the reins are now firmly in the 32-year-old's hands.Dubas will be tasked with transforming a good roster into a great one, as simply qualifying for the playoffs again won't be enough for a market with grand expectations.So, what does he have to do to ensure that happens? Here are some ideas on where to start:1. Relationship with BabcockIt's paramount Dubas and Mike Babcock are on the same page in terms of how they want the team to play. Babcock has a reputation for being stubborn when it comes to his personnel, and certain lineup decisions over the course of the 2017-18 season certainly drew ire from media and fans alike.Dubas doesn't necessarily see things that way, though."He's very open to ideas. He's very open to change. We'll sit and discuss the way we play. We have a lot of work to do," he said of his head coach Friday, according to The Athletic's Scott Wheeler.Dubas has been characterized as a numbers-driven executive, but he's reached the point of running the biggest hockey team in the world, so he must be on to something other than simply understanding and utilizing data. He leans on analytics, to be sure, and based on his work over the years with the Marlies, it's clear he prefers skill and speed over safe and reliable on the ice.The Leafs saw a stark improvement midseason when Babcock optimized the team's lines to fit that mold, and it's safe to assume that will be the mandate going forward.2. Upgrade defenseEverybody knows the Leafs' weakness is their defensive corps, particularly the right side. It got heavily exposed in the postseason and was one of the main reasons they couldn't move past the Boston Bruins in Round 1.Morgan Rielly, Jake Gardiner, and Travis Dermott make up a solid, highly mobile left side, but Toronto can't move forward with Ron Hainsey and Nikita Zaitsev operating the opposite flank.Whether it's in free agency or a trade, Dubas has to find some reinforcements for the back end this summer.3. Matthews extensionAll the talk surrounding Auston Matthews lately has been regarding his alleged rift with Babcock, but whether it's true or not, there's a more pressing issue at hand: he's eligible for a contract extension July 1.It's not mandatory he puts pen to paper right away, but considering fellow young stars Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel played the final year of their entry-level contracts with long-term security, the precedent has been set for the Leafs and their franchise cornerstone to work out a megadeal.It's in Dubas' and the Maple Leafs' best interest to not only keep their best player happy but also avoid the inevitable incendiary speculation from the Toronto market on each day that passes without Matthews being locked down.4. DraftThe Maple Leafs have one more season before serious salary cap restrictions hit, so it's of the utmost importance they find future NHLers in the draft.Toronto will have to hit on several picks in all rounds over the next few years in order to fill out their future rosters with players they can afford. It's the key to staying competitive for years to come.5. Nylander contractWhile Matthews' next contract will garner more attention, his most dynamic linemate, William Nylander, needs a new deal before next season starts.Nylander's been scrutinized for an apparent lack of commitment on defense, but 22-year-olds with two 60-plus point seasons aren't very common, so it's up to Dubas to find an appropriate contract for a key contributor. It'll be interesting to see if it's a bridge or a long-term deal.It's also worth mentioning Mitch Marner is eligible for an extension this summer as well. Nylander didn't negotiate in the final year of his ELC, which may have been a Lamoriello-enforced rule, but the prospect of having each of the big three under contract for the future as soon as possible is intriguing for Dubas.6. Supplement rosterBlue-line upgrades are the primary focus, but the Maple Leafs could lose multiple centers, as Tyler Bozak, Tomas Plekanec, and Dominic Moore are set to become unrestricted free agents.Dubas will need to find some external replacements down the middle of the ice, and the potential loss of James van Riemsdyk and Leo Komarov will create some holes on the wing as well (Toronto has a plethora of internal options to fill those in, though).With several key departures on deck, and a small window before potentially being pushed to the brink of salary cap restrictions, Dubas and the Leafs have one summer to do some serious spending on supplementing (or maximizing) their roster.7. Establishing his cultureLamoriello was brought in in 2015 to help implement a culture of winning for a team that hadn't done so in a long, long time. Along with his veteran expertise came a range of strictly enforced rules: no beards, no high jersey numbers, and limited media availability for young players and assistant coaches.Whether Dubas holds onto the guidelines established by his mentor is largely inconsequential to the success of the Maple Leafs' season, but it's his team now, and he can do what he pleases. Though he may want to take care of the other items on this list first.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's time for the conference finals, and to get you prepared for the Western showdown between the Winnipeg Jets and Vegas Golden Knights, we've prepared a statistical breakdown to set the table. (Advanced stats at 5-on-5 courtesy: Corsica)Jets 2C vs. Golden Knights 1PJetsStatGolden Knights8-4Playoff Record8-215Goal Differential1253.02% (3rd)5-on-5 Corsi51.47% (5th)7.45% (11th)Shooting Percentage7.69% (10th).942 (4th)Save Percentage.965 (1st)101.61 (4th)PDO104.2 (1st)Mark Scheifele (15)Leading ScorerReilly Smith & Jonathan Marchessault (11)If the Cinderella season is to continue for the Vegas Golden Knights, it will need to go through Canada's last standing team, the Winnipeg Jets.The two sides will meet in the conference finals after knocking out playoff heavyweights in the semifinals, with Game 1 set for Saturday in Winnipeg. It marks just the fourth time the two teams have linked up this season, as the Golden Knights took two of three regular-season contests against the Jets.Key to a series win for Winnipeg will be continued dominance of their high-powered offense, led by the likes of Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, and Patrik Laine. But in order to do so, they'll need to solve Golden Knights netminder Marc-Andre Fleury, who boasts a remarkable .951 save percentage through two rounds of postseason action.ScheduleGameDateTime (ET)HomeTV1Saturday May 127 p.m.WinnipegCBC/TVAS/NBC2Monday May 148 p.m.WinnipegCBC/SN/TVAS/NBCSN3Wednesday May 169 p.m.VegasCBC/SN/TVAS/NBCSN4Friday May 188 p.m.VegasCBC/SN1/TVAS/NBCSN5*Sunday May 203 p.m.WinnipegCBC/SN/TVAS/NBC6*Tuesday May 229 p.m.VegasCBC/SN1/TVAS/NBCSN7*Thursday May 248 p.m.WinnipegCBC/SN1/TVAS/NBCSN* If necessaryCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jon Cooper likened his team's performance Friday night to one he might see in midseason."They were playing in the Eastern Conference Final, and we were playing in Game 38," the Tampa Bay Lightning head coach told reporters, including Sportsnet's Arash Madani, after a 4-2 loss to the Washington Capitals in Game 1.The Lightning fell behind 2-0 in the first period after having a Nikita Kucherov goal disallowed thanks to a too-many-men penalty, then found themselves trailing 4-0 in the second intermission before showing signs of life that came too little, too late in the third.Washington outshot Tampa Bay 9-2 in the first period and 25-10 through 40 minutes, as they put the game out of reach."You could tell right away, you look up at the clock, we had a lot of zone time and we didn't have a shot on goal," Cooper said, according to Bryan Burns of the Lightning's official website. "That kind of summed up the way our night was about to go."For the record, the Lightning won Game 38 handily, shutting out the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-0 on New Year's Eve.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Is there such a thing as an away-ice advantage?The Washington Capitals might argue there is. With a decisive 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final on Friday night, the Capitals improved to 6-1 on the road this postseason.The Capitals' lone road loss of the playoffs came in Game 4 of the second round against the Pittsburgh Penguins. In all, Washington has now outscored the opposition 24-15 in road games.Meanwhile, the Capitals have gone 3-3 at home this postseason where they've outscored the opposition 23-18. Suffice to say, they haven't been pushovers on home ice either, so the Lightning will certainly be in tough the rest of this series.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Alex Ovechkin had a power-play goal and an assist in his Eastern Conference finals debut, leading the Washington Capitals to a 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night.Braden Holtby stopped 19 shots and Michal Kempny, Jay Beagle and Lars Eller also scored for the Caps, who are alive beyond the second round of the playoffs for the first time in Ovechkin's brilliant 13-year career.Steven Stamkos and Ondrej Palat scored for Tampa Bay, which trailed 4-0 heading into the third period.Game 2 is Sunday night at Amalie Arena, where Tampa Bay also lost Game 1 in the second round against Boston.The Capitals dominated in improving to 6-1 on the road this postseason, with Kempny giving them an early 1-0 lead.Ovechkin made it 2-0 a mere 5 seconds after the Lightning thought they had tied it in the closing seconds of the opening period. But Nikita Kucherov's would-be breakaway goal was waved off because Tampa Bay had too many men on the ice.T.J. Oshie won the ensuing faceoff in the Lightning zone, getting the puck to Evgeny Kuznetsov, who fed Ovechkin for the Washington superstar's ninth goal this postseason - 55th overall in 110 career playoff games - at 19:54 of the first.Beagle and Eller scored in the first seven minutes of the second period for a 4-0 lead. Up to that point, the Lightning - the NHL's highest-scoring team during the regular season - had allowed as many goals as they had shots.Tampa Bay replaced goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy with Louis Domingue after the starter allowed four goals on 25 shots through two periods.Holtby lost his shutout when Stamkos, assisted by Kucherov and Victor Hedman, scored at 3:45 of the third. Palat added his goal at 13:03, trimming Washington's lead to 4-2.Stamkos and Kucherov had one shot between them in the first two periods.The Lightning dropped the opener of a series for the second straight round. They rebounded from a lopsided Game 1 loss at home to Boston by winning four straight to advance to the conference finals for the third time in four years.The Capitals defeated Columbus and two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh in six games to reach the conference finals for the first time since 1998, when they beat the Buffalo Sabres.NOTES: Ovechkin has 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) in 13 playoff games. Kuznetsov had two assists, giving him nine this postseason. ... The teams are meeting in the playoffs for just the third time, first since 2011. Tampa Bay won both previous meetings, including a sweep in the Eastern Conference semifinals seven years ago. Stamkos and Hedman are the only players remaining on the Lightning roster from that series. ... The Capitals played without top center Nicklas Backstrom (hand), who is considered day-to-day. Winger Tom Wilson, meanwhile, returned from a three-game suspension for a hit on Pittsburgh's Zach Aston-Reese during in the second round. ... The Caps have outscored opponents 14-3 in the opening period this postseason. They've won seven of 10 games in which they've scored first.---More AP hockey: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockeyCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy was yanked from Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Washington Capitals after allowing four goals on 25 shots. Louis Domingue replaced him to begin the third period.Vasilevskiy had played every minute in the Lightning crease this postseason prior to being pulled.Domingue has no NHL postseason experience, but he managed to post a .914 save percentage and a 2.89 goals-against average with the Lightning this year after a midseason trade from the Arizona Coyotes.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Lou Lamoriello could indeed be making a return to the Tri-State Area.The former Toronto Maple Leafs and New Jersey Devils general manager is now talking with the New York Islanders about a position within that organization, Sportsnet's John Shannon reports.Sources insisted to The Athletic's Arthur Staple on Thursday that Lamoriello has no intention of staying on with the Leafs in a senior advisor position as originally planned.Kyle Dubas was promoted to the Maple Leafs' GM role Friday, less than two weeks after team president Brendan Shanahan revealed Lamoriello would not continue in that capacity.The 75-year-old had been Toronto's GM since 2015.Lamoriello's son, Chris, is the Islanders' assistant general manager, and the elder Lamoriello served as president and GM of the Devils for nearly 30 years.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Ovechkin made the Tampa Bay Lightning pay for getting a little greedy.The Washington Capitals captain blasted one home in the dying seconds of the first period to give his club a 2-0 lead in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final on Friday night.

A number of the Nashville Predators' core players have elected not to hang up their skates just yet.A day after being eliminated in a blowout Game 7 by the Winnipeg Jets, seven members of the Predators signed on to play at the World Championship, the team confirmed.Filip Forsberg, Viktor Arvidsson, and Mattias Ekholm will join Sweden, Roman Josi and Kevin Fiala will play for Switzerland, Nick Bonino will represent the Americans, and Eeli Tolvanen will suit up for Finland.Sweden and the United States currently lead their respective groupings, while Switzerland sits tied for third in Group A and Finland ranks third in Group B.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals will be without Nicklas Backstrom for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Patrick Kane and Charlie McAvoy each had a game-high two goals and five points as the Americans continued to cruise through the round robin with a 13-1 win over Korea on Friday.Korea actually held the lead at one point, scoring the game's opening goal courtesy of a power-play tally from Jin Hui Ahn just over five minutes into the game.However, it was all USA from that point on, as the Americans responded with four goals to close out the first period.Derek Ryan and Cam Atkinson also chipped in with two goals apiece with the remainder of the team's goals coming from Tage Thompson, Neal Pionk, Blake Coleman, Anders Lee, and Sonny Milano.Scott Darling had a fairly quiet afternoon in goal, turning away nine of the 10 shots thrown his way.The Americans will enjoy a day off before their meeting with Norway. Meanwhile, Korea gets right back to it with a clash against Denmark on Saturday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Humboldt Broncos will be back on the ice for the 2018-19 SJHL season, the team announced in a release Friday, per ESPN's Emily Kaplan.The team's season was put on hold after a fatal bus crash in April killed 16 people, including the head coach, players, and staff members within the organization.In wake of the tragedy, the hockey community offered its unending support and a GoFundMe campaign raised over $15 million in donations from across the world.Now, the club wants to return to hockey, and the Broncos are beginning with a search for a new head coach and general manager this week. The previous holder of both titles, Darcy Haugan, was killed in the crash."Darcy Haugen was selfless, inspirational, and motivating, building up his players to be great ambassadors and role models both on the ice and in the community," Broncos president Kevin Garinger said. "He was the coach every player wanted, and that other coaches wanted to emulate. As a general manager, Darcy made smart decisions and was driven to ensure the Broncos organization succeeded in every aspect of its operations. He took our team to new heights - it will be incredibly difficult to find someone that can rise to his standards."The Broncos also announced they will hold an invite-only tryout for 80 players May 27-28.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bet on the Bolts.The latest odds favor the Tampa Bay Lightning to win the Stanley Cup, which would mark the franchise's first championship since 2004.Team OddsLightning2-1Jets11-5Golden Knights7-2Capitals4-1Meanwhile, the top odds also favor the Lightning's conference finals matchup against the Washington Capitals to last either five or seven games:Results OddsCapitals win in 420-1Capitals win in 510-1Capitals win in 69-2Capitals win in 711-2Lightning win in 49-1Lightning win in 57-2Lightning win in 69-2Lightning win in 77-2In the Western Conference, oddsmakers anticipate the Winnipeg Jets to eliminate the Vegas Golden Knights in Round 3, earning the right to line up against the Lightning in the Stanley Cup Finals:Results OddsGolden Knights win in 416-1Golden Knights win in 517-2Golden Knights win in 69-2Golden Knights win in 711-2Jets win in 411-1Jets win in 59-2Jets win in 69-2Jets win in 74-1The conference finals kick off Friday when the Lightning and Capitals will face off, while the Jets and Golden Knights get underway Saturday.(Odds courtesy: Bodog)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bonino, Bonino, Bonino!Predators forward Nick Bonino will join Team USA at the World Championship following Nashville's elimination from the Stanley Cup Playoffs.The Connecticut native last suited up at the World Championship in 2015, when he appeared in 10 games and notched two goals and two assists.In 71 contests with the Predators this season, Bonino tallied 12 goals and 13 assists, before adding five points in the playoffs.Bonino won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andre Burakovsky is back.The Washington Capitals forward returned to the lineup Friday for Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning after missing the past 10 games with an injury.He had sat out all but two playoff games after undergoing minor surgery in April. The 23-year-old re-entered the lineup alongside Chandler Stephenson and Brett Connolly, forming the same third line that practiced together earlier Friday.Burakovsky, who was a game-time decision, notched 12 goals and 13 assists in 56 appearances this season.Meanwhile, fellow forward Nicklas Backstrom is also a game-time decision for Game 1. He missed the series-clincher versus the Pittsburgh Penguins due to an upper-body injury.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the conference finals set to begin Friday night, theScore's Sean O'Leary put together the second installment of NHL Playoff Rankings. (Rankings 9-16 unchanged from the last edition.)1. Winnipeg JetsIt was the seven-game war we all expected, but the Jets' thrashing of the Presidents' Trophy winners in their rink to close out the most anticipated series of the playoffs puts them in the top spot heading into the conference finals.2. Tampa Bay LightningThat 6-2 loss to the Bruins in Game 1 sure seems like an eternity ago, doesn't it? After the surprising result, the Bolts quickly found their groove, getting contributions from all areas and looking like the team that led the standings for the majority of the regular season.3. Vegas Golden KnightsIt seems most people are still waiting for the Golden Knights to fall back to earth, yet here they are, four wins from a Stanley Cup Final berth in Year One. On top of stellar netminding from Marc-Andre Fleury, Vegas controls 53.57 percent of expected 5-one-5 goals so far in the playoffs. Why stop now?4. Washington CapitalsIt's hard not to feel good for Ovi and the Caps, finally getting past their mortal enemies in Pittsburgh. Ideally the momentum of slaying their biggest dragon carries them forward, as a draw against the Lightning for Eastern Conference supremacy is yet another tall task.5. Nashville PredatorsThroughout their 117-point regular season, the Predators lost just nine games at home in regulation, which leaves one baffled looking at their three losses to the Jets at Bridgestone Arena in Round 2. Shaky goaltending can sink even the best of teams.6. Pittsburgh PenguinsYou know you've been dominant when a second-round elimination results in a longer-than-usual summer break. Hats off to the Pens, whether you love 'em or hate 'em, falling short of a three-peat can hardly be considered a failure.7. Boston BruinsThe Bruins got hit hard by injuries at a tough time, helping lead to the demise of an incredibly deep roster that winds up a lick or two short of competing for a championship.8. San Jose SharksCredit where it's due: The Sharks actually managed a playoff win over the Golden Knights, which is more than their in-state rivals can say, but they got shutout twice as well, so that doesn't help their cause.The rest

The season is over for the Nashville Predators, but Eeli Tolvanen isn't ready for a break, as the first-year forward will join Finland for the remainder of the World Championship, the team announced Friday.Tolvanen headed to the Predators in March after finishing his KHL season with Jokerit, for whom he tallied 36 points in 49 games.The native of Vihti, Finland, appeared in just three games for the Predators, and was held off the scoresheet in each contest. He didn't dress for any of Nashville's 13 playoff games.The Preds selected Tolvanen with the 30th pick in the 2017 draft.Finland has won three of its four games thus far at this year's World Championship.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have named Kyle Dubas their new general manager, succeeding Lou Lamoriello, the club announced Friday.Upon the expiry of the three-year contract he signed in 2015, the Maple Leafs announced earlier in the month that Lamoriello wouldn't return as GM. Though it was initially announced that the veteran executive would transition into an advisory position with the team, it's now unclear if he intends on fulfilling that role.Dubas, only 32, is the 17th GM in the history in the franchise. He joined the Maple Leafs in 2014 as an assistant GM after a successful run with the OHL's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.Since joining the Maple Leafs, Dubas has also served as the GM for the AHL's Toronto Marlies, helping develop a strong farm system that's bred the likes of William Nylander, Kasperi Kapanen, Andreas Johnsson, and Travis Dermott, among others.While the Maple Leafs kept the situation largely under wraps, it was long believed the position would come down to Dubas or fellow AGM Mark Hunter, who's also played a key role in the club's recent rebuild.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the second round of the playoffs wrapped up and only four teams remaining, we take a look at the leading candidates for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.5. Braden Holtby, Washington CapitalsGPW-LGAASV%SO118-32.04.9260Perhaps the biggest reason the Capitals got the monkey off their back and defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in Round 2 was that Braden Holtby outplayed his counterpart, Matt Murray. He'll need to do the same against Tampa Bay Lightning netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy if the Caps are to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.Holtby is coming off the worst regular season of his career, but he's making up for it in a big way this postseason.4. Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay LightningGPGAP+/-1066120The Bolts have won eight games so far in the playoffs and Kucherov has scored in five of them, notching the game-winning tally on three occasions. However, after picking up 10 points against a relatively easy first-round opponent in the New Jersey Devils, Kucherov's production tailed off a bit in the second round against a better Boston Bruins team, which is why he's somewhat low on this list as Tampa Bay's representative.3. Alex Ovechkin, Washington CapitalsGPGAP+/-128715+3Ovechkin still managed to be productive during the Capitals' playoff failures, so it's not surprising that he's been playing at an extremely high level during the franchise's deepest postseason run this century.Arguments can be made that Holtby or Evgeny Kuznetsov have been Washington's most valuable players this postseason, but the Caps march to the beat of Ovechkin's drum. He's the heart and soul of the team, which he leads in both goals and points in these playoffs.2. Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg JetsGPGAP+/-1211516+6The most impressive part about Scheifele's spectacular performance this spring is that nine of his 11 goals have come away from home, including an NHL-record seven road goals in one series against Nashville - not exactly an easy place to play. He was also clutch when it mattered most in Winnipeg's Game 7 win over the Presidents' Trophy-winning Predators, finding the twine twice.1. Marc-Andre Fleury, Vegas Golden KnightsGPW-LGAASV%SO108-21.53.9514Anyone who disagrees with ranking Fleury at the top of this list probably hasn't watched more than a minute of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He's been nothing short of sensational, and has single-handedly stolen four wins. If Vegas is going to continue its miraculous run all the way to the final, Fleury will be the reason why.And while Scheiefle has been remarkable, Fleury's had a greater impact on the direct outcomes of games, giving him the edge.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets took control of Game 7 against the Nashville Predators and never looked back, winning 5-1. Here are three players who stepped up in the winner-take-all affair, and three who did not.StudsConnor HellebuyckHellebuyck was calm, cool, and collected in the Jets' crease, stopping 36 of 37 shots that came his way. The only puck that beat him was off a P.K. Subban power-play blast that went in off the post. Even when the Predators amped up the tempo late, Hellebuyck was there to weather the storm.Paul StastnyMaybe the best trade-deadline acquisition of all time? Stastny notched two goals in Game 7, including the game-winner. The Jets generated 62.96 percent of the shot attempts and 66.67 percent of the scoring chances while Stastny was on the ice (at 5-on-5), both of which led the team.Mark ScheifeleScheifele had two goals, though one was an empty-netter. It's tough to choose between him and linemate Blake Wheeler since they both had phenomenal games, but Scheifele gets a slight edge. In addition to his nose for the net, he also had three hits and three blocked shots in the contest.DudsPekka RinneGame 7 nightmares could keep Rinne up at night all summer long. He allowed two early goals and was yanked less than 11 minutes into the game. To make matters worse, both goals were awfully ugly on his part.Ryan EllisIt was also a game to forget for Ellis. He could've been much more aggressive on Statsny's first goal, as he allowed him to walk in and get not one, but two shots on Rinne - even if they were both from a bad angle. He finished with two giveaways, was on the ice for three goals against, and nine scoring chances against at 5-on-5 - the second-most on the team.Roman JosiGiven that he's paired with Ellis, it's not all that surprising that Josi didn't have his best game, either. He had two giveaways, was on the ice for three goals and a team-high 10 scoring chances against at 5-on-5. We're accustomed to the Josi-Ellis pairing controlling the game and driving offense, but they failed to do that when it mattered most.(Advanced stats courtesy: Natural Stat Trick)(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In P.K. Subban's eyes, Pekka Rinne is not responsible for the Nashville Predators' demise in Game 7.The club fell to the Winnipeg Jets 5-1 on home ice in a game highlighted by Rinne, who was pulled early in the first period after allowing two goals on seven shots.Rinne claimed postgame that he felt he had let his team down, but Subban wasn't having it."Critics that want to criticize him don't know what they're talking about, I don't care if they played in the NHL or not," Subban said, per Brady Trettenero of the Nation Network. "He's the backbone of our hockey club and he's one of the main reasons we're here."I'm sick and tired of people always talking about him. He's the backbone of this team. He's the main reason we're here. You talk about top goaltenders in the league it's him, it's (Carey) Price, it's (Andrei) Vasilevskiy, it's (Connor) Hellebuyck, it's these guys. You're lucky to have one of them."While Subban might not believe Game 7 was Rinne's fault, it's hard not to wonder if the team might have had a better fate in the series had it gotten stronger play from its No. 1 netminder.Rinne concluded the postseason with a .904 save percentage. The 35-year-old was abysmal at home during the second round, posting an .848 save percentage and 4.93 goals-against average at Bridgestone Arena.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pekka Rinne faced the music after faltering in the Nashville Predators' biggest game of the season, taking full responsibility for his lackluster performance."It's tough," the veteran goaltender told reporters, including NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger, after the 5-1 loss that eliminated the Predators and sent the Winnipeg Jets to the Western Conference Final."It's the most important game of the season and I let the whole team down."The 35-year-old was pulled just over halfway through the first period after giving up a soft goal to Paul Stastny, the second weak one he gave up while facing only seven shots as the Jets jumped out to a 2-0 lead they would not relinquish."It’s a terrible feeling," Rinne added, according to Brooks Bratten of the club's communications department. "You let your teammates down and it’s tough to swallow.”Rinne's self-deprecation didn't end there.

With two goals in Game 7, Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele set an NHL record with his seventh road goal in a single series.Scheifele did all his goal-scoring in the second round at Bridgestone Arena and in doing so, bested the previous record for road goals in a series that was shared by 10 different players, including Sidney Crosby.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Winnipeg Jets are headed to the first Western Conference final in their short history after knocking off the NHL's best team in the regular season.Tyler Myers and Paul Stastny scored 2:06 apart in the first period, and the Jets stunned the Nashville Predators 5-1 on Thursday night in their first Game 7 - continuing an amazing run for a team swept in its previous two playoff appearances.Stastny finished with a second goal and an assist, and Mark Scheifele also had two goals. Blake Wheeler and Kyle Connor each had two assists.Connor Hellebuyck made 36 saves for Winnipeg, which won three of four games in Nashville after missing the Presidents' Trophy by three points to the Predators.The Jets now host Vegas in Game 1 on Saturday night in a conference final nobody could've predicted when this season started.P.K. Subban scored for Nashville, now the ninth Presidents' Trophy winner in 10 years not to win the Stanley Cup.The best season in Predators history ended earlier than a year ago, but in the same fashion on their own ice. They lost to Pittsburgh in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final last June.Pekka Rinne, Nashville's Vezina Trophy finalist along with Hellebuyck, was chased for the third time in this series after giving up two goals on seven shots. He lasted just 10 minutes, 7 seconds for the quickest exit by a starting goalie in a Game 7.These teams combined for 231 points in the regular season, making this series the two best teams on points ever to meet in a series before a conference final. This was the third Game 7 all-time for Nashville with a big edge in experience over the Jets playing on this stage.Nashville also brought out the star power once again with Sheryl Crow singing the U.S. anthem and former NFL Titans running back Eddie George waving the towel to rev up the crowd. A couple catfish hit the ice before the puck dropped.The Predators took five of the first six shots, then the Jets stunned the crowd. Myers squeezed a wrister between the post and Rinne's left skate for a 1-0 lead at 8:40 of the first. Then Stastny put a backhander off Rinne and into the net 2:06 later for a 2-0 lead on just seven shots.Nashville coach Peter Laviolette didn't hesitate and pulled Rinne for Juuse Saros , trying to snap the Predators out of a slow start while saving his timeout. Subban started the rally with his fourth power-play goal of this series with a big one-timer from Ryan Johansen over Hellebuyck's stick at 15:54. Subban then pointed to the Nashville bench and once there yelled at his teammates.In the second, the Jets simply dominated keeping the puck in the offensive zone and outshot Nashville 6-2. Only Saros making save after save kept it 2-1 until Scheifele's snap shot for his 10th goal this postseason from the left circle with 2:10 left in the period. That was the first goal Saros had allowed in four appearances this postseason.Stastny sealed the victory with his sixth goal this postseason on the Jets' lone power play at 11:59. Scheifele added an empty-net goal with 2:33 left.NOTES: Scheifele scored seven goals in Nashville in this series. ... Jets coach Paul Maurice now is 3-0 all-time in Game 7s all on the road. ... Laviolette is 5-3 in Game 7s, and Nashville is 1-2 in Game 7s all-time.UP NEXT:Game 1 of Western finals against Jets in Winnipeg.---More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockey---Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalkerCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne was yanked for the fourth time this postseason after allowing two goals on seven shots to open Game 7 against the Winnipeg Jets.In the process, he made history for all the wrong reasons.

Nashville Predators forward Ryan Hartman and defenseman Alexei Emelin are back in the lineup for a pivotal Game 7 against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, the team announced.Hartman replaces the injured Mike Fisher. Emelin, meanwhile, is filling in for Matt Irwin on the back end.Related: Fisher won't play in Game 7 due to injury

The Nashville Predators will be without their most experienced player for their biggest game of the season.Mike Fisher has been ruled out of Game 7 against the Winnipeg Jets and is day to day with what the Predators are only referring to as a lower-body injury.The 37-year-old departed Game 6 of the second-round series after playing only 2:58.Ryan Hartman replaced Fisher on Thursday night after taking the Game 7 warmup alongside Scott Hartnell and Calle Jarnkrok, according to The Tennessean's Adam Vingan.Fisher had been centering the Predators' fourth line. He hasn't contributed much offensively since his return, with two goals and four points in 16 regular-season games and only one point - a goal - in 12 playoff contests.However, he won 58 percent of his even-strength faceoffs in his limited regular-season action and improved that to 65 percent in the playoffs.Nashville's former captain retired in August but then signed a one-year deal to rejoin the club in late February.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor McDavid potted a hat trick and Bo Horvat scored twice as Canada cruised to a 5-0 victory over Norway at the World Championship in Denmark on Thursday.McDavid tallied twice in the first period and added one in the second, while Horvat got on the board in the opening frame and then again in the third.Canada improved to 3-0-1-0 at the tournament and moved into a tie with the United States for first place in Group B. Norway sits in second-last place in the group with no regulation wins (0-1-1-2) through four contests.Next up for Canada is a matchup with Finland on Saturday. Norway faces Denmark on Friday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Braden Holtby's masterful performance during the Washington Capitals' second-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins is the highlight of a whirlwind postseason for the veteran goaltender.Only two weeks removed from being benched in favor of usual backup Philipp Grubauer, Holtby turned in one of the best series of his eight-year career, and was instrumental in the Capitals punching their ticket to the conference finals for the first time since 1998.He wasn't peppered with pucks in every outing against the Pens, but he stood tall when his team needed him most, stopping 73 of 79 high-danger chances and posting a .921 save percentage through six games.Simply put: Washington doesn't slay its dragon without Holtby.Of course, he's far from the first goaltender to steal a series. Here's a look at a few other netminders from recent history who are guilty of postseason robbery.Matt Murray, Penguins - 2016, 2nd round vs. CapitalsMurray burst onto the NHL scene in the 2016 playoffs, earning three wins against the New York Rangers en route to a Penguins first-round victory. But he truly caught fire in the next round.The Penguins are never true underdogs thanks to their two megastars in Evegni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, but they were meeting a Capitals team that put up a staggering 120 points during the regular season.Murray wasn't fazed. Then 21, the rookie played like a 30-year-old vet, stopping 187 of 202 shots and posting a .926 save percentage while carrying his team to a six-game victory. But it's the way he got the job done that really impressed.He was easily the best player on the ice for multiple games, putting up highlight-reel stops night after night. Here are two perfect examples, starting with a pad save late in the third period of a tied Game 1. Washington ended up with the win, but that result would have been much more one-sided if not for Murray's heroics. It also set the tone for the remainder of the series.The second example is from Game 2. Murray once again kept the game knotted with a late third-period stunner, this time stoning Andre Burakovsky on the doorstep.The Penguins went on to win the Cup, and can credit Murray as the main reason they got past the Capitals.Jaroslav Halak, Canadiens - 2010, 1st round vs. CapitalsThe Montreal Canadiens have a distinguished history of producing elite goaltenders. Jacques Plante, Ken Dryden, Patrick Roy ... and Jaroslav Halak? Well, for a few weeks in 2010, hockey fans in la belle province were ready to anoint Halak as the second coming of Georges Vezina thanks to his unreal first round against the No. 1-seeded ... Washington Capitals.Montreal qualified for the postseason with 88 points, securing the eighth spot by one point over the Rangers. No one expected the Habs to win a game, let alone the series.Check out Halak's ridiculous numbers from Montreal's four wins:GameSavesGASV%Game 1452.957Game 5371.974Game 6531.981Game 7411.976He was also solid in the following round when the Canadiens unseated the fourth-seeded Pittsburgh Penguins, but that was a tighter series that went the distance. Regardless, his wizardry against the Caps springboarded Montreal's trip all the way to the conference finals.J.S. Giguere, Mighty Ducks - 2003, 1st round vs. Red WingsWhile his Western Conference Final performance against the Minnesota Wild was arguably more impressive - he allowed only one goal on 123 shots in a four-game sweep - it's Giguere's first-round mastery of the powerhouse Detroit Red Wings that cements his spot here.The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim squeaked into the 2003 postseason as a seventh seed and immediately met a squad of defending Cup champions that boasted several Hall of Famers, including Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, and Nicklas Lidstrom. Instead of bowing to his more talented and decorated opponents, though, "Jiggy" went into beast mode.He set an NHL postseason record for saves in a playoff debut when he stopped 63 shots in a triple-overtime Game 1 win.Although it was his first trip to the playoffs, Giguere was the difference-maker, turning aside 165 of 171 Red Wings shots en route to a four-game sweep. If it wasn't for his stellar play, Anaheim's epic run to the Cup Final would have ended almost before it began. He went on to win the Conn Smythe Trophy even though the Mighty Ducks lost to the New Jersey Devils.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images) Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While most fans tune into a Game 7 for its edge-of-your-seat entertainment and painstaking pressure-packed moments, others throw it on to watch their degenerate bets cash - or crumble - before their eyes.And with Game 7 between the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets set for Thursday night from the Music City, oddsmakers have come up with a fun list of prop bets to keep even the most avid of bettors occupied.Check out the list of props for the Predators' and Jets' deciding game:Team to score first?Winnipeg Jets (2.05) Nashville Predators (1.74)Team scoring first wins the game?Yes (1.435) No (2.90)Goal in the first 9:30 of first period?Yes (1.83) No (1.90)First team to three goals?Winnipeg Jets (3.00) Nashville Predators (2.10) Neither (3.40)(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Total goal number Odd/Even?Even (3.05) Odd (1.35)Will the game go to overtime?Yes (3.70) No (1.26)Total saves in the game - Connor Hellebuyck (Jets)?Over 29.5 (1.87) Under 29.5 (1.87)Total saves in the game - Pekka Rinne (Predators)?Over 30.5 (1.87) Under 30.5 (1.87)Game 7 puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET from Bridgestone Arena.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins want Brad Marchand to let his game speak for itself.The winger has come under fire for a pair of incidents involving licking opposing players during the playoffs, and was officially put on watch by the NHL as a result of the odd behavior.Speaking at a year-end press conference Thursday, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said he believes Marchand's remorse is sincere."... I think he realizes the impact," Sweeney said, per Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald. "We spoke a little about his family and how it reflects on him as a person, more so than him as player. I think he's gained a tremendous amount respect around the National Hockey League, worldwide as a matter of fact for him as a player. And I think that's where the attention needs to be 100 percent focused on, his impact as a hockey player ... and as a leader of our hockey club."The things that he does to take away from that really don't need to exist anymore. And it'll be up to him. The proof will be if he can find that line and never really cross it anymore. Because he doesn't need to. He's accomplished things as a hockey player and now hopefully he wants to accomplish things as a leader and quality person."Head coach Bruce Cassidy echoed his GM's sentiments."Brad's an elite player in the National Hockey League so when I have conversations with him, it always starts there," he said. "Then it goes to 'Well, what do you want your legacy to be?' He's at a stage in his life and maturity where he understands, he truly gets it that he doesn't need the other stuff to make him to truly be an elite player."Marchand, who recorded 34 goals and 51 assists in 68 games this season, remains under contract with the Bruins for the next seven seasons at a cap hit of $6.125 million.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The United States defeated Latvia 3-2 in overtime on Thursday to stay undefeated through four games at the 2018 World Championship.After Chris Kreider opened the scoring, Latvia responded with two goals to take a 2-1 lead, but Colin White notched the equalizer midway through the second frame.Early in overtime, USA was awarded a power play, and Cam Atkinson buried the game-winner on a play set up by superstars Patrick Kane and Johnny Gaudreau.The win places USA atop the Group B standings, and its next game comes Friday against Korea. Latvia, meanwhile, earns a point for the loss and will play Germany on Saturday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's time for the conference finals, and to get you prepared for the Eastern showdown between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals, we've prepared a statistical breakdown to set the table. (Advanced stats at 5-on-5 courtesy: Corsica)Lightning 1A vs. Capitals 1MLightning Stat Capitals 8-2Playoff Record8-411Goal Differential1054.33% (1st)5-on-5 Corsi49.71% (8th)7.76% (8th)Shooting Percentage8.14% (5th).943 (3rd)Save Percentage.930 (7th)102.12 (2nd)PDO101.19 (5th)Nikita Kucherov (12)Leading ScorerAlex Ovechkin (15)After finally taking down the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Capitals face another stiff test in the top-seeded Lightning. The main storyline, of course, is Alex Ovechkin, who after somewhat quietly producing 15 points in 12 games so far, gets his first-ever taste of playoff hockey beyond the second round.If he wants to go even further, he and his teammates will need to be at their absolute best, as the Lightning enter the matchup as favorites after dismantling the Boston Bruins in a convincing series win. Tampa Bay heads into the showdown allowing just seven goals in the last four games of Round 2, while overwhelmingly controlling play at even-strength.Both sides have excelled on the strength of their high-powered offenses, and have benefited from rock-solid goaltending from two world-class netminders. The Lightning appear to hold the edge in terms of defensive corps, but in three regular-season contests between the two clubs, Tampa Bay won twice by a combined score of 9-8, and with a trip to the Stanley Cup Final on the line this time around, it's safe to expect an extended battle.Game 1 begins Friday at 8 p.m. ET (View full schedule)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy has been added to the American World Championship roster, USA Hockey announced Thursday.McAvoy's schedule opened up following a second-round elimination at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He joins Boston teammates David Pastrnak and David Krejci, who will represent the Czech Republic in Copenhagen.The 20-year-old finished his first full NHL season with 32 points in 63 games, and added five more in 12 postseason contests. McAvoy suited up for the U.S. at last year's tournament as well, and won a gold medal at the world juniors in 2017.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Does any hockey family share a clearer on-ice resemblance than the Tkachuks?They’re all cast from the same mold: offensive upside combined with the habit of being a real pain in the neck for opponents. Matthew Tkachuk’s lineage has already become obvious in his emergence with the Calgary Flames - he may take a lot of penalties, but he draws more (and puts up points besides), and it infuriates opposing teams.With that in mind, each Tkachuk is his own player. Brady isn’t Keith, nor is he Matthew. Here’s who he is: a potential power forward with a nose for the net. Though he isn’t the best forward available in this draft, he should still make the NHL team that selects him very happy.Year in reviewTkachuk spent the 2017-18 season playing for Boston University, where he was used mostly as a left wing (though he can play center). He curbed his tendency to take penalties, averaging just under two penalty minutes per game. He also put up 31 points, including eight goals, in 40 games. The Terriers won the Hockey East championship, and Tkachuk was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie team.Tkachuk also played for Team USA at the 2018 World Junior Championship. He and Quinn Hughes were the only first-time draft-eligible prospects on the roster. Tkachuk totaled nine points, including three goals, in seven tournament games, and took home a bronze medal.It was recently reported that Tkachuk will return to BU in the fall. While things can certainly change (especially if, for example, he were to make his NHL team), it seems unlikely, as BU apparently stopped pursuing a graduate transfer student-athlete because Tkachuk would be back.Areas of strengthWhen Tkachuk goes to the crease, everyone watching knows he’ll shoot as soon as he gets the opportunity - that’s why he crashed the net in the first place. His offensive strengths lie more in his creative playmaking ability, however. His hockey sense and passing ability are high-end. He can make the kind of perfect pass in a tight space that other players might not be able to execute, and his stickhandling is good.Tkachuk is also effective away from the puck. In an echo of his brother Matthew, he is capable of driving his opponents up the wall. Brady goes about it a bit differently, however, constantly battling for the puck, staying in the faces of opposing goaltenders, and using his stick to cut down passing and shooting lanes. He’s also not shy about finishing his checks - or running his mouth.Areas of improvementSkating is frequently listed as an area where Tkachuk needs to improve, and with good reason. He has a powerful stride, good lower-body strength and balance, and his top speed is good. The problem lies in his first step. Acceleration and explosiveness off that first step are crucial when trying to reach top speed and win races. He could improve his agility as well.It's also important to note that Tkachuk isn’t the elite goal-scorer that many people who rank him above prospects like Filip Zadina want him to be. That’s more an indictment of the person evaluating him than his skill level, however. He shouldn't be drafted based on what a team wants to believe he is, or simply hopes he’ll grow into. As one of the oldest players in this draft class, the trajectory of his development is more clear than it might be for others.Scouting reports“Skilled, two-way power winger with a soft touch who mixes physical play with elite vision and hockey sense. Brady with his helmet off may look like a teenager, but every aspect of his play on the ice makes you wonder how a kid so young can perform with such savvy and maturity.Brady, whose father Keith was one of the NHL’s top snipers of the 1990s, is a relentless puck hound with decent speed and a long, smooth stride. His agility and exceptional stickhandling buy him more than enough time and space to create for his linemates. And although his zone entries are controlled and calculated, he has mastered the art of the soft dump-in and chase - Tkachuk has a long reach and finishes his checks with authority, and defenders appear wary to turn their backs for puck retrieval. Additionally, he is deadly from in close, using an array of moves and dekes to bury the puck. Want to talk hybrid? How about a physical, 200-foot winger with size who doubles as a top-line playmaker and is an outstanding penalty killer.” - Steve Kournianos, TheDraftAnalyst.com“Brady Tkachuk plays the game as his name would suggest: physically, aggressively, and with a significant amount of skill. Tkachuk has a pro-ready game in most respects as he is physically mature and strong enough to play against men. His skating is an asset as he has good acceleration and top speed, and is very strong on his skates in terms of balance and can make power drives to the goal when he drops his shoulder ... He is dangerous in front of the goal as he uses his size and strength to plant himself as a screen in front of the goalie and has excellent hand-eye coordination for tips and rebounds. Tkachuk has a quick release on his shot, (and) has a variety of dangerous shooting options from a quick wrist shot to a powerful one-timer.” - Peter Harling, DobberProspects.comDid You Know?

It's only been 10 days since Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan announced the decision to transition Lou Lamoriello from his role as general manager into a senior advisor position.However, the legendary front-office exec has no intention of filling that role, sources told The Athletic's Arthur Staple, leading to "an avalanche of chatter regarding Lamoriello's inevitable arrival on Long Island."The reports linking Lou to the Islanders come one month after New York's co-owner Jon Ledecky said he would be re-evaluating all aspects of the organization, including GM Garth Snow, who's not exactly a popular guy in New York hockey circles.Since that presser, discussions surrounding a potential front-office shakeup have died down for the Islanders, with no further statements coming from either Ledecky or the team.Although, it should also be noted Lamoriello's son, Chris, has been serving as the Isles' director of player personnel since August of 2016. Working side by side with his son might be too good of an opportunity for Lou to pass up.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Over half of Filip Forsberg's goals this postseason have been extraordinary.Four out of seven, to be exact.And as the Nashville Predators get set to host the Winnipeg Jets for Game 7 of their second-round series on Thursday, Forsberg could either be hanging up his skates for the last time this spring or he may get at least another four games to add to that highlight reel in the Conference finals.For now, here's a look at Forsberg's memorable goals from the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, ranked in reverse order.4. Sticking with itIn a season-saving Game 6 win over Winnipeg, Forsberg skated by the bench to retrieve a new stick after his had broken. He then proceeded to receive a pass from Craig Smith, get a lead on Ben Chiarot, and score on Connor Hellebuyck while being dragged to the ice by the trailing Jets defenseman.As we shall see, it wasn't even his most impressive goal of the night.3. Dunk's on SiemensPoor Duncan Siemens didn't have a chance, really.Back in Game 3 of the opening round, the Colorado Avalanche defenseman was tasked with going man-on-man with Forsberg, and the result was utter domination on the part of the Predator.In fairness to Siemens, he gave more of an effort than goaltender Jonathan Bernier on the play.2. Between the legs, Part 1In a goal previewed in the last clip, Forsberg had already made a mockery of the Avalanche defense earlier in the series.In Game 1, he dangled past former teammate Samuel Girardi by putting the puck between his legs while in full motion. He then slid the puck between Girardi's legs before firing the puck past Bernier.Talk about hitting the ground running.1. Between the legs, Part 2Back to Game 6 in Winnipeg.Early in the third period, Forsberg took a centering pass from Viktor Arvidsson and once again put the puck between his legs.This time, he fired off a shot directly from that vantage point in front of the net after gathering himself following a bump from defenseman Jacob Trouba.Does Forsberg have any magic left for Game 7 and beyond? All signs point to yes.Puck drop in Nashville is set for shortly after 8 p.m. ET on Thursday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

That the NHL's two best teams during the regular season are going to a Game 7 on Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., isn't a big surprise.That the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators have mirrored each other statistically in several key areas speaks to how equal -- and good -- they are and were in combining for 231 regular season points.In their Western Conference semifinal, they have each attempted 338 shots and put 177 shots on net during 5-on-5 play, per Natural Stat Trick. Nashville has a 12-11 edge in 5-on-5 goals, while Winnipeg owns a 66-65 advantage in high-danger chances.The teams have also alternated wins, with the Jets taking the odd-numbered games. Both are 2-1 on the road in the series, so one could say that the Predators have home-ice disadvantage for a win-or-die showdown.But there is one big factor in Nashville's favor -- Game 7 experience. Its roster has a combined 45 games of Game 7 experience, as opposed to Winnipeg's 12. Only seven Jets have ever played in a Game 7, none with this franchise.It is Winnipeg's first Game 7 since the franchise moved from Atlanta following the 2010-11 season, and the Predators' third in franchise history. It's also the first Game 7 Nashville has ever played at home."I would expect that the way we play matters the most," Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. "We're certainly glad to be back in our building with our fans, they've been incredible all year long, but we really need to focus on the game. Just make sure we're ready to play the game and do the right things on the ice."Nashville certainly did all the right things in Game 6, other than take three first period penalties. But its penalty-killing and Pekka Rinne's play in net were matchless as it captured a 4-0 win, preventing the Jets from reaching a conference final for the first time.Rinne bagged 34 saves for his fifth career postseason shutout, while Viktor Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg each scored two goals. Forsberg made the highlight clips with his second goal, a between-his-legs wrister at point-blank range early in the third period that essentially ended the game's competitive phase.Winnipeg vows it won't do anything different in preparation for the biggest game in franchise history."There's no big speech or departure from our game," Jets coach Paul Maurice said following practice Wednesday. "The important one that was delivered all year is to enjoy what we do. Have the confidence that you're going to go out and perform at your best. You can't be on pins and needles."Winnipeg has outscored the Predators 22-18 in the series and seems to be the healthier team going into Game 7. While the Jets should be able to ice their regular lineup, Nashville might have to play without center Mike Fisher, who left Game 6 in the first period because of an undisclosed injury and never returned. Fisher didn't practice on Wednesday.The series survivor will host Vegas in Game 1 of the conference finals on Saturday night.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Flyers goalie prospect Alex Lyon made 94 saves Wednesday as the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms defeated the Charlotte Checkers 2-1 in quintuple overtime, setting the record for the longest game in league history.

When it comes to coaching, Tom Dundon doesn't believe the Xs and Os are as critical as the mindset of the Jimmys and Joes.The Carolina Hurricanes owner downplayed the importance of game-planning and emphasized unquantifiable traits when asked whether strategy or personality was a bigger factor in the hiring of new bench boss Rod Brind'Amour."I've come to the conclusion that the strategy is pretty overrated," Dundon told reporters at Brind'Amour's introductory press conference Wednesday."I don't believe the strategy differences (between coaches) are nearly as important as getting the most out of the culture and the attitude, and I think he can do both," the owner clarified. "But the important one here in this organization is going to be effort and I think he gives us the best chance at getting the most out of these players."As an assistant coach with the Hurricanes, Brind'Amour ran a power play that ranked 22nd in the NHL this season in terms of efficiency, and 21st in 2016-17.He was named a Carolina assistant ahead of the 2011-12 campaign, but the club hasn't made the playoffs since his penultimate season as a player, when it reached the conference finals in 2008-09.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The unrestricted free-agent pool isn't always stacked with big-name players every summer. But that never seems to get in the way of all the hype attached to an NHL franchise potentially adding a game-changing piece.After all, some of the names below have built reputations for being exactly that: clutch performers who've earned the right to be called the biggest names on the market. Naturally, those top-tier free agents have also earned something else - major paydays.So as teams across the league prepare their Brinks trucks to shell out some serious loot, we felt it was the perfect time to take a look at what the top UFAs could be making come July 1.John TavaresCurrent contract: Six years, $33 million. Signed in 2011 with Islanders.2018 stats:GamesGoalsAssistsCF%TOIGWG82374749.419:563Obviously, the most talented player set to become a UFA, Tavares would start an absolute monstrosity of a bidding war if he were to decide to hit the open market.Given the relative mess the Islanders currently find themselves in off the ice with front-office discord, as well as on the ice with a rag-tag team that failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second season in a row, you can't really blame Johnny T if he's seriously considering changing cities for the first time in his nine-year career.But, what's he worth? Tavares possesses a strong two-way game, some of the softest mitts in the league, and the ability to change any given game with his elite offensive prowess.Tavares has earned the rep as being not only a consistent producer, notching 621 points in 669 career regular-season games, but a clutch one, as well, registering 42 game-winning goals.However, stats and production isn't the be-all or end-all in determining what Tavares - or any player, for that matter - is worth. Another important factor in that determination is taking a look at what other elite players from around the league are making.Comparable contracts:Player (Team)AgeTermValueAAVSteven Stamkos (Lightning)288$68M$8.5MBrad Marchand (Bruins)288$49M$6.1MEvgeny Kuznetsov (Capitals)258$62.4M$7.8MTavares turns 28 in September, so it's quite obvious that he's in the midst of his prime production years, which will be factored into any team's pitch. However, he remains one of the most well-rounded centermen in the league, so don't be surprised if a heated bidding war and the bear market drives up his price tag north of $9 million per season.Projected contract: Seven years, $66.5 million. AAV: $9.5M.John CarlsonCurrent contract: Six years, $23.8 million. Signed in 2012 with Capitals.2018 stats:GamesGoalsAssistsCF%TOI+/-82155349.224:470While Tavares is the biggest-name forward on the market, Washington Capitals blue-liner John Carlson is undoubtedly the most sought-after rearguard set to become a UFA on July 1.Carlson had himself a career year at the most opportune time, logging career highs in goals and assists while playing more minutes per game (24:47) than ever before - all right before becoming eligible for a hefty payday. He was easily the Capitals' best defenseman throughout the regular season, and he's continued his stellar play into the playoffs, with three goals and 11 points in 12 games.The one knock on Carlson is his lack of physicality, as he sometimes gets pushed around by more aggressive forwards in front of the net despite owning a 6-foot-3, 218-pound frame. However, Carlson is one of the more disciplined D-men out there, finishing with 32 penalty minutes or less in the last seven consecutive seasons.There's no doubt he'll have a number of teams courting those services, but what they're willing to pay and offer in term are different stories. A look at some recent contracts signed by other young-ish defensemen will offer a better idea in terms of length and value.Comparable contracts:Player (Team)AgeTermValueAAVKevin Shattenkirk (Rangers)284$26.6M$6.6MCam Fowler (Ducks)258$52M$6.5MColton Parayko (Blues)245$27.5M$5.5MDuring a season in which Washington's D-core is arguably at its weakest in recent memory, Carlson has been a revelation, anchoring the Capitals' blue line and putting up his most productive season to date. Sprinkle in the fact that the 28-year-old is only two seasons removed from garnering Norris Trophy votes, and Carlson could soon find himself among the top-paid defensemen in the league.Projected contract: Five years, $33.75 million. AAV: $6.75M.Evander KaneCurrent contract: Six years, $31.5 million. Signed in 2012 with Winnipeg Jets.2018 stats:GamesGoalsAssistsCF%TOIGWG78292551.519:352Despite being, arguably, the most one-dimensional player on the list, Kane's skill set and recent offensive production still have him in line to be one of the most sought-after UFA forwards of the summer.However, just like it's been since his midseason trade out of Winnipeg in 2015, the biggest question surrounding Kane this summer will be whether he's a franchise-type player or a peripheral piece destined to always play a supporting role.To Kane's credit, he's looked like a different player over the past few seasons, both on and off the ice. But especially since his deadline move to San Jose, where he racked up nine goals and five assists in 17 games while forming nice chemistry on the Sharks' top line with pivot Joe Pavelski. Kane continued that success in the playoffs with four goals and an assist in nine games.His sensational speed and rugged demeanor - along with his explosive offensive ability - make Kane the complete power forward that all general managers spend sleepless nights on the phone trying to acquire. So don't be surprised when multiple teams come calling.Comparable contracts:Player (Team)AgeTermValueAAVNino Niederreiter (Wild)245$26.2M$5.25MPatric Hornqvist (Penguins)315$26.5M$5.3MTomas Tatar (Golden Knights)*264$21.2M$5.3M* Deal signed with Detroit Red WingsIt should be noted that if the Sharks sign Kane to a new deal, the conditional first-round pick they sent to the Buffalo Sabres at the deadline would remain a first instead of becoming a second-rounder were he to sign elsewhere. It will obviously weigh into San Jose's decision of whether or not they want the 26-year-old in their future plans.Regardless, he's as pure a sniper as they come. And when he's on his game, few opposing defensemen have the size or strength to slow him down.Projected contract: Four years, $24 million. AAV: $6M.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denmark put on a show for the home crowd with a 3-2 upset win over powerhouse Finland on Wednesday.Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen turned away 33 of the 35 Finish shots thrown his way as Denmark improved to 1-1-0-2, good enough for a share of fourth place in Group B.Frans Nielsen, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Nichlas Hardt scored the goals for Denmark, while Sebastian Aho and Mikael Granlund did the damage for Finland.Finland entered the game with a perfect 3-0-0-0 record, having outscored the opposition 23-2.Denmark will now enjoy a day off before returning to action Friday against Norway. Meanwhile, Finland will look to get back in the win column Saturday when it takes on Canada.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There will be only one man to wear the "C" in Carolina next season, and newly installed Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour has already pinpointed who that player will be, he said Wednesday.

The Boston Bruins check a couple of key boxes for Rick Nash as he gets set to become an unrestricted free agent."Obviously to win, that's No. 1," he said, per NHL.com's Matt Kalman. "No. 2 is a good place to live, a good place that my family enjoys. And Boston's been great. It's been a pretty seamless transition for us, so everything was positive."The veteran winger was acquired from the New York Rangers prior to the trade deadline with a view to boosting the team's chances at playoff success, a run that ended with a second-round loss to Tampa Bay.He'll be free to sign with any of the NHL's 31 clubs on July 1, but his experience with the Bruins was positive, despite the end result.Nash recorded three goals and three assists in 11 regular-season games, adding three goals and two assists in 12 postseason appearances. He did suffer a concussion that forced him out of the lineup for a dozen games prior to the start of the playoffs, but even that didn't cloud his overall perception of his time in Boston."It was disappointing with having the concussion and having some effects during it and only playing a certain amount of games and then coming back for the playoffs," Nash said "But everything was positive. The organization was great, the guys were awesome, so it was a great chapter here and hopefully it can continue."Nash, 33, is coming off an eight-year, $64.2-million deal signed with Columbus in 2009.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.