In looking to shake things up, the Carolina Hurricanes turned to a familiar face.Rod Brind'Amour was formally announced as the team's new head coach at a press conference Wednesday, with new club owner Tom Dundon and recently appointed general manager Don Waddell also on hand.Brind'Amour had served as an assistant coach with the Hurricanes since 2011 under former bench bosses Kirk Muller and the recently departed Bill Peters, who exercised an exit clause in his contract that allowed him to accept another coaching job.While Brind'Amour has been a longtime member of the organization - he also played for the Hurricanes for 10 seasons, captaining the franchise to its lone Stanley Cup win in 2006, before joining the coaching ranks - he quickly made a positive impression on Dundon, who assumed ownership of the Hurricanes in January.Dundon went as far as to call Brind'Amour the franchise's best asset, and expressed confidence that the former player can help the owner implement his vision."The culture is going to change because we are going to change it," Dundon said. "... I know I can do it and I know (Rod) can do it because he's done it."On Wednesday, the Hurricanes also formally introduced Waddell as general manager. He replaces the outgoing Ron Francis. Waddell served as GM of the Atlanta Thrashers from 1998 to 2010.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As the Washington Capitals prepare for the third round, their lineup could get a boost.Forward Andre Burakovsky is inching closer to returning from an upper-body injury, Capitals coach Barry Trotz announced Wednesday, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. Burakovsky underwent minor surgery in April, and has been sidelined for all but two playoff games.He'll travel with the Capitals as they head to Tampa Bay for Friday's Game 1 against the Lightning.Burakovsky missed 20 games earlier this season due to a broken thumb. The 23-year-old wrapped the regular season with 25 points in 56 games.Washington is making its first appearance in the conference finals since the 1998 postseason.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As NHL teams are eliminated from Stanley Cup contention, theScore NHL freelance writer Katie Brown looks back at the highs and lows of their seasons, along with the biggest questions ahead of 2018-19. The 24th edition focuses on the San Jose Sharks.The GoodTomas Hertl. After playing just 49 games in 2016-17 because of injury, Hertl bounced back to score a career-high 22 goals and equal his career-high 46 points in 2017-18. Hertl was also one of the Sharks' best playoff performers. He led the team with six goals and was second in points with nine and scored the series-clinching goal in the Sharks' first-round sweep of the Anaheim Ducks.Pavelski, Couture, and Kane. Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture were the Sharks' two highest-scoring forwards during the season with 66 and 61 points, respectively; Couture's 34 goals were a career high. The addition of Evander Kane at the deadline made the Sharks' top six even more lethal; he had nine goals and 14 points in 17 games after his trade from Buffalo.Brent Burns. The 33-year-old defenseman got off to a rough start (he didn't score in the first 20 games of the season) but bounced back to become the Sharks' leading scorer one year removed from winning the Norris Trophy. Burns was a force in the playoffs too, and recorded seven points in 10 games.The BadNo Joe Thornton and other injuries. A couple of days after the Sharks' season ended at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights, Joe Thornton revealed he had a fully torn ACL and MCL in his right knee. Thornton had been out since Jan. 23 and though there was some hope he’d be able to join the Sharks at some point in the postseason, it's clear he was farther off from a return than expected. Trade deadline pickup Kane didn't look like himself for most of the playoffs because he played with a separated shoulder. Joonas Donskoi played hurt, too; he dealt with a lower-body injury in Game 2.One-dimensional offense. Because of Kane's suspension and Donskoi's injury, the Sharks had to shuffle their top line a bit in the playoffs - but even when Donskoi, Kane, and Pavelski played, they weren't all that effective. The three combined for five points, each with one at even strength. San Jose just didn't have the depth they needed to compensate for when its stars weren't performing.Slow starts. San Jose allowed the first goal in four of six games against Vegas and were shut out twice in the series. The Sharks never seemed to be able to dictate play or established any momentum. They were forced to play from behind more often than not, and Vegas took full advantage.The QuestionsWill the Sharks give Thornton another year? The one-year deal Thornton signed last year is coming to an end. Depending on how things shake out in free agency, the 38-year-old may have played his last game in a Sharks jersey. It's also possible he's re-upped for one more year, which he's said he's fine with doing, as well as taking less money. If not, Thornton is still a valuable player and would have plenty of options to choose from should he end up on the market.Will Tavares be a target? If soon-to-be coveted UFA John Tavares decides to leave the Islanders, he'll have plenty of interested parties. The Sharks might be one of them - and they certainly have an advantage over other teams that might be making a run. They wouldn't have to make any trades to clear cap space for him, (which is rare) and should be counted among teams with a wider window to win a Stanley Cup. There's still no guaranteed Tavares will make himself available, but if he does, the Sharks could be a major player.What will GM Wilson do with all this cap space? The Sharks are expected to have somewhere in the neighbourhood of $14.5 million to play with this summer. General manager Doug Wilson might delay any decision on Kane or Thornton until Tavares decides what he'll do. And then there's extensions for RFAs Chris Tierney, Dylan DeMelo, and Hertl to be dealt with. Hertl is due for a significant raise, too, as one of the Sharks' most improved players and their fifth-highest scoring forward over the last two seasons, an impressive feat considering he missed nearly half the 2016-17 season with injury.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wednesday in Boston was locker clean out day for the Bruins, meaning the team also released a laundry list of injured players who were hurt during their postseason run.Leading that list was defenseman Torey Krug, who suffered a fractured ankle during Game 4 of Boston's series versus the Tampa Bay Lightning. He will wear a walking boot for the next two months, but will not require surgery.The following Bruins were also playing through various injuries during the postseason:

Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand is quickly developing a reputation as one of the most polarizing players in the NHL.And after a playoff run that included him licking or trying to kiss multiple players, which led to a warning from the NHL and his team, Marchand is getting the message."I need to cut that (expletive) out," Marchand said during locker clean out Wednesday, according to Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic.Marchand and the Bruins had their season ended by the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, giving the diminutive winger plenty of time to mull over his on-ice antics.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights' inaugural season has become one of the best stories in professional sports, and it's still being written. With the club continuing its dream campaign by qualifying for the conference final, it's no longer a matter of if Hollywood is going to make a movie about this team's historic first season, but when.Aside from the whole "expansion team having success" theme, there's no shortage of potential subplots that make this feel-good story Hollywood worthy.Whether it's Vegas resident Deryk Engelland - who's having a career year - delivering a compelling speech at the team's home opener following the tragic Vegas shootings, William Karlsson going from six goals last season to 43 this one, or the three Florida Panthers castoffs having amazing campaigns - including Gerard Gallant getting let go in the worst way possible. Take your pick.So, without further ado, here is an ideal star-studded cast for the eventual Hollywood film on the Vegas Golden Knights:Adrien Brody as Marc-Andre FleuryIn a season that has not been short on excellent storylines, Fleury's might be the best of them all. So why not have a guy like Brody play him. He does, after all, know a thing or two about winning trophies.Not to mention, the uncanny physical resemblance. Which, at the very least, would help keep makeup and costume costs down.Chevy Chase as Bill FoleyKnights owner Foley is the man who made all of this possible. Though the bulk of his scenes would be prior to the start of the regular season, he still needs to be featured. Chase is not only a pretty close lookalike, but he could easily portray an over-the-top, wealthy executive.Danny DeVito as Gary BettmanIf you're too young to remember DeVito from his famous role as the Penguin in 1992's "Batman Returns," let's just say it's the perfectly sinister precursor to the equally sinister league commissioner.DeVito might need a bit of help from the makeup department to cover up his trademark bald spot to fit the Bettman look appropriately, but his salty demeanor and limited frame fit the billing nicely.Kiefer Sutherland as Gerard GallantLast year, Gallant was prematurely fired from the Panthers. Now, he's on the verge of winning the Jack Adams Trophy as the coach of the year. He'd be the star of this film, so who better to portray him than one of the most distinguished Canadian actors in the business?Nicolas Cage as George McPheeCage hasn't been in a good flick for almost a decade, but luckily for ol' Nicky boy, this concept is foolproof. McPhee's role in the film might be limited due to his position in the franchise, but capping Cage's screen time could be the perfect way to integrate his quirky "skills" into this story.Tom Hardy as Deryk EngellandHardy is a perfect fit to play Vegas' tough, rugged leader. The Golden Knights don't have a captain, but if they were miraculously able to win the Stanley Cup, you can bet Engelland would be the first player to lift the trophy.Engelland also rocks a pretty robust beard, so Hardy checks that box nicely, and we all know he can take on a physically-tasking role if need be.Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Jonathan MarchessaultIn addition to the right look and build to play the diminutive Marchessault, Gordon-Levitt has proven to be a master of dialects and accents, a must to properly portray the Quebec native.Marchessault operates mostly under the radar, so Gordon-Levitt's screen time and lines might be limited. Regardless, he'd be the perfect fit to play one of the Golden Knights' top forwards.Chris Hemsworth as William KarlssonNot only is Hemsworth capable of pulling off Karlsson's luscious blonde flow, but playing Vegas' 43-goal phenom would require some sort of heroic presence, which the Australian actor has in spades.Ben Affleck as James NealNeal might have recently earned the moniker "The Real Deal," but Affleck has been a leading man for decades. So he has the acting chops to play a character like Neal, who would be featured prominently throughout the film as one of the biggest reasons the Knights find themselves in the hunt for a Cup.Some solid makeup work would need to be done here, as Affleck has 15 years on Neal and is beginning to rock the salt-and-pepper dad look on the regular. But we still think he could pull it off with relative ease.Jay Baruchel as Reilly SmithHaving a hockey movie without Baruchel would just seem wrong. While he may not be a perfect lookalike to Smith, he would undoubtedly bring humor to the locker room, even if it's in a small part.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Czech Republic's roster at the ongoing World Championship is apparently about to be bolstered by a couple of talented Boston Bruins forwards.David Pastrnak and David Krejci have an agreement in place to join the squad soon, Czech head coach Josef Jandac told Sport-Express' Igor Eronko on Tuesday night.Jandac added that the duo will play on the same line when they arrive.Pastrnak set new career highs in goals (35), assists (45), and points (80) this season, and became the youngest player in NHL history to notch six points in a playoff game, eclipsing none other than Wayne Gretzky. The 21-year-old racked up 20 points in 12 postseason games.Krejci was limited to 64 regular-season contests, but chipped in 17 goals and 44 points of his own prior to the playoffs, adding 10 points in 12 postseason games.If Krejci does suit up, it will be the first time he's represented his home country since the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, according to 98.5 The Sports Hub.Pastrnak played in the World Cup of Hockey in Toronto in the fall of 2016.The Czech Republic defeated Switzerland in a shootout Tuesday to move into fourth place in Group A. The Czechs have no regulation wins through the first three games, but still have four contests remaining in the preliminary round.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joe Thornton would like to remain in San Jose, and he's open to some concessions if that's what it takes to make it happen."I want to come back, and I'm sure we'll try to work something out. It's no secret I'm a Shark," the veteran forward said Tuesday at the club's clean-out session. "I bleed teal, and I want to come back. I know I'm going to be healthy when I come back, so I'm sure we can figure something out, but I want to come back."When asked if the one-year deal he signed last summer is where he is "at" in terms of a potential contract, Thornton said that's something to which he'd be amenable."Yeah, I'm comfortable signing one-year deals, and it's fine."The 38-year-old also took a selfless approach when asked if he'd be open to taking less money if that allowed the Sharks to pursue a "big fish" in free agency."Absolutely, there's enough money around for everybody ... I want this team ultimately to win the Stanley Cup," he said. "This city deserves it and these guys deserve it, so whatever we decide, (what's) going to be in the back of my head is just making this team better."Thornton agreed to a one-year, $8-million deal with the Sharks last July after appearing in all but three regular-season games and four of San Jose's six playoff contests.He played 47 games in 2017-18 before sitting out the final 35 in the regular season and all 10 in the postseason with what he revealed Tuesday to be MCL and ACL tears in his right knee, the same injuries he endured in his left knee last season.Thornton is the Sharks' all-time assist leader, and he ranks second in points and games played behind Patrick Marleau.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The dates are set, with one participating team yet to be determined.The NHL has released the Conference finals schedule, with the Washington Capitals set to visit the Tampa Bay Lightning for Game 1 in the East on May 11.The winner of Thursday's second-round Game 7 between the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets will host the Vegas Golden Knights out West on May 12.Here's a look at the full schedule:Washington vs. Tampa BayGameDateTime (ET)Home1Friday May 118 p.m.Tampa Bay2Sunday May 138 p.m.Tampa Bay3Tuesday May 158 p.m.Washington4Thursday May 178 p.m.Washington5*Saturday May 197:15 p.m.Tampa Bay6*Monday May 218 p.m.Washington7*Wednesday May 238 p.m.Tampa Bay* if necessaryVegas vs. Nashville or WinnipegGameDateTime (ET)Home1Saturday May 127 p.m.Nashville/Winnipeg2Monday May 148 p.m.Nashville/Winnipeg3Wednesday May 169 p.m.Vegas4Friday May 188 p.m.Vegas5*Sunday May 203 p.m.Nashville/Winnipeg6*Tuesday May 229 p.m.Vegas7*Thursday May 248 p.m.Nashville/Winnipeg* if necessaryCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's been well documented that San Jose Sharks centerman Joe Thornton was dealing with knee injuries this season, but we are finally learning just how banged up he was.The longtime Shark suffered both an MCL and ACL tear in his right knee, according to Paul Gackle of Bay Area News Group. They were the exact same injuries he dealt with in his opposite knee a season before.Thornton's extended absence from the Sharks' lineup began Jan. 23, forcing him to sit out San Jose's final 35 regular-season games. The injured knee also kept him sidelined for the entire playoffs.The 38-year-old inked a one-year, $8-million deal last July. He went on to register 13 goals and 23 assists in 47 games this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Canada's defense is getting a huge boost.Marc-Edouard Vlasic of the San Jose Sharks is heading to Denmark to represent his country at the World Championship, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Vlasic has appeared in four major international tournaments for Canada, winning gold at the Olympics (2014) and the World Cup (2016), as well as two silver medals at the worlds (2009, 2017).The 31-year-old recorded 11 goals and 21 assists in 81 regular-season games, and added two assists in 10 postseason appearances.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As NHL teams are eliminated from Stanley Cup contention, theScore NHL freelance writer Katie Brown looks back at the highs and lows of their seasons, along with the biggest questions ahead of 2018-19. The 23rd edition focuses on the Colorado Avalanche.The GoodNathan MacKinnon. The former No. 1 pick was Colorado’s best player and leading scorer during the regular season. MacKinnon scored a career-high 39 goals and 97 points before being named a Hart Trophy finalist. If that wasn't enough, he led his team to the playoffs and a 47-point improvement over last season.An improbable season. Just making the playoffs was an accomplishment many thought the Avalanche wouldn’t be able to pull off - but they did, in their last game of the regular season. That the team was able to survive a litany of injuries and make the playoffs just one year after having one of the worst seasons in NHL history was truly remarkable.Trading Matt Duchene. When the Avalanche traded Matt Duchene to the Ottawa Senators, they didn’t look like a playoff-bound team. Afterward? They looked like a completely different club. There’s no way to know if this was solely due to unloading Duchene, who was linked to trade rumors for what seemed like forever, but some of the pieces acquired in the deal - goalie Andrew Hammond and defenseman Samuel Girard - ended up becoming important ones down the line.The BadLosing the starting goaltender, then the backup. Semyon Varlamov's season ended right before the playoffs when he went down with a lower-body injury, a huge blow to a team that had snuck into the playoffs. Varlamov played in 51 regular-season games, owning a .920 save percentage and 2.68 goals against average. Backup Jonathan Bernier started the first four playoff games, allowed 14 goals, and then left Game 4 with a lower-body injury. That meant Hammond, who’d played in one regular-season contest all year was next up. He was lights out in Game 5 of the Avalanche’s series against the Nashville Predators but gave up five goals on 37 shots in Game 6, where they were eliminated.One-dimensional offense. The top line of MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, and Mikko Rantanen scored 243 of the team's collective 658 points during the campaign. When they faltered in the postseason, so did the Avalanche, who lost every game where the top line recorded fewer than three points.Inexperience vs. experience. The Predators were a more experienced team than the Avalanche, and not just in playoff games played, of which Colorado had the least of any playoff team at the start of the postseason. Nashville’s defensive depth was intimidating, their forward group was deeper, and their goaltending was better in the first-round series. Colorado was able to keep up with Nashville longer than many thought, but in the end, experience won out.The QuestionsWhat’s on Sakic’s summer to-do list? One of general manager Joe Sakic’s priorities this summer should be finding at least one defenseman. There were points during the season where the Avalanche were playing with more than one AHL blue-liner. Patrik Nemeth and Anton Lindholm will probably not be returning, so Sakic may have two spots to fill. If it's decided not to bring Bernier back, a decision will also need to be made for a backup goaltender.Who should be re-signed? Without a doubt, Rantanen should be signed to a long-term extension. He has one year remaining on his entry-level deal and is arguably one of the franchise’s most important pieces going forward. Mark Barberio, Blake Comeau, Gabriel Bourque, Mark Alt, Hammond, and Bernier are all unrestricted free agents this summer, and Sakic will have to consider who he wants to keep around. It’s doubtful that all of them will be brought back. Of RFAs in need of new contracts, the only one who will probably not be given a qualifying offer is Nail Yakupov.Should they make a run at Tavares? Pending UFA John Tavares could stay with the New York Islanders. There’s also a chance he may not, and there are a dozen or more teams who would love to win the Tavares sweepstakes. With $25.3 million to play with, minus whatever Rantanen’s contract runs (if Colorado goes that route) and any other free agents, the Avalanche would have a lot to offer Tavares. And they need to address scoring, so why not? If Tavares doesn’t pan out, James van Riemsdyk is another intriguing option.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils announced a trio of significant medical updates Tuesday.Hart Trophy finalist Taylor Hall underwent surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left hand. The injury was suffered in late December, but he was able to play through it under the care of the team's medical staff.

Barry Trotz is finally heading to the third round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs as a head coach.It's a stage he was never able to reach in 15 seasons with the Nashville Predators, nor in his first three campaigns behind Washington's bench, but Trotz and the Capitals were finally able to get over that hump with a Game 6 win in Pittsburgh on Monday."I’ve been at this for a while and it’s so hard to move forward sometimes," Trotz said, per Adam Zielonka of the Washington Times. "It’s always thrown in your face everywhere you turn. I know it’s thrown in (Alex Ovechkin's) face everywhere he turns, and he’s a great player in this league."It’s a hard league to get there. I knew the frustration because you’re so close and you just can’t get it, and you just gotta stay with it."Trotz's reaction when Evgeny Kuznetsov scored the overtime winner really says it all:

The Carolina Hurricanes have their new man behind the bench, as the team named former NHLer Rod Brind'Amour as their new head coach Tuesday. The club also announced president Don Waddell will serve as general manager."Rod is the greatest leader in the history of this franchise, and has earned the opportunity to take charge of our locker room," Waddell said in a team release."We spoke to a number of candidates for this position, but our conversations with staff and players consistently returned to the same person. Rod's fresh ideas, ability to motivate and understanding of what it takes to bring a championship to Raleigh will help our young team take the next step toward competing to bring the Cup back to North Carolina."Brind'Amour's addition comes only weeks after former head coach Bill Peters exercised the opt-out clause in his contract to join the Calgary Flames as their new bench boss.The 20-year NHL veteran assumes the head coaching role after serving as an assistant and player development coach. He joined Carolina's staff in 2011. Brind'Amour also captained the 'Canes to the franchise's only Stanley Cup in 2006.Brind'Amour amassed 452 goals and 732 assists across 1484 career regular-season games to go along with two Selke Trophies and a Cup ring, so he obviously knows what it takes to get the job done at the NHL level.Waddell, meanwhile, has been team president since July 2014. He's also been serving as interim general manager since former executive Ron Francis was fired at the end of April after being reassigned to another front-office position in March.The hirings continue a whirlwind spring in Carolina, as new owner Tom Dundon shakes things up within the organization.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler didn't lose his sense of humor in defeat.Following a Game 6 loss to the Nashville Predators on home ice, Wheeler was asked what he would have said if he had been told at the beginning of the season that his team would be facing a Game 7 with a chance to go to the Western Conference finals.His response brought to mind a former teammate's recent actions."I'd have given you a big kiss," he said, adding "kiss, not a lick" after a brief pause.Wheeler's disclaimer was in reference to Brad Marchand, with whom he played with for the Boston Bruins prior to being traded to the then-Atlanta Thrashers in 2011.Game 7 is set for Thursday in Nashville.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the weeks leading up to the 2018 NHL Draft, theScore NHL prospect writer Hannah Stuart breaks down 10 of the most notable draft-eligible prospects. The fifth edition focuses on Adam Boqvist.You’re an NHL general manager who isn’t drafting first overall. You can’t have Rasmus Dahlin, but you still want a high-flying, dynamic blue-liner. What do you do? While there is no shortage of talented defensemen in the top half of this year’s first round, Adam Boqvist stands out among his peers - and not just because he’s a right-handed shot.With his August 2000 birthday, Boqvist is one of the youngest players in this year’s draft class - almost a full year younger than Quinn Hughes and Evan Bouchard. Considering the high-end skill Boqvist already displays, knowing he’s got almost a year of development potential on his fellow defensive prospects has to be tempting.Year in reviewBoqvist bounced around a bit this season, playing 25 games with Brynäs IF J20 in the SuperElit league and 15 games with Brynäs IF in the SHL. He was also loaned to Almtuna IS of the Allsvenskan for seven games. He didn’t put up high point totals in the latter two leagues, notching one and two points, respectively. This is not particularly concerning, however, given how young of a prospect he is.In part, this is because Boqvist was dominant against players his own age this year. He was almost a point-per-game player in the SuperElit with 24 points, including 14 goals, and was phenomenal in both the Ivan Hlinka tournament and this year’s U18 World Championship, where he won a bronze medal and was named the tournament’s best defenseman.Areas of strengthBoqvist is a phenomenal skater. His edgework and agility allow him to take chances as he can quickly transition from offense to defense. He’s dangerous offensively, able to both make plays and score goals. A key to his success? He thinks the game at an elite level, uses his hockey sense to find or create opportunities, and determines whether the right call is to shoot or pass.On defense, Boqvist has good positioning and gap control. He knows how to use his stick to free up the puck from opponents, and his speedy and elusive skating allows him to carry the puck out of the zone. His aggressive approach can, on occasion, get him into trouble, but refining that will come with time - keep in mind he’s still only 17. His potential ceiling is sky-high and worth any risk that may come along with it.Areas of improvementBoqvist is another prospect whose size is noted as a detriment, though he is not afraid to take hits and can outskate opponents. The youngster will likely spend at least one more season in Sweden, giving him time to add muscle, ideally in a way that won’t affect his speed and agility. More development will also help him improve his play in his own end, where he has strengths, but could stand to get more playing time against tough competition.One area to keep an eye on - and one where his size might come into play - is Boqvist’s tendency to take the aforementioned risks. He likes to gamble. Most of the time it pays off for him, but when you lose the puck, it takes upper-body strength to get it back from opponents. Mentioning this feels a bit like nitpicking, but it is a valid observation.Scouting reports“A dynamic offensive defenceman that can carry plays with the puck on his stick. A highly mobile and nimble skater that moves with fluidity, balance, and confidence. Utilizes an active stick and creates turnovers frequently. Could be more proactive in his own end, but has shown progression in understanding lanes and reading unfolding plays; most of his best defensive work comes through the neutral zone, as there is a lot less time and space to work with, and it is in those moments that Boqvist shines. Offensively, Boqvist is electric; he has the toolbox of a top-line forward. Slick puckhandling ability paired with excellent vision and positional awareness makes him a dangerous threat every time he is on the ice. He also takes advantage of the attention and bodies he draws toward himself in creating space for teammates. All-in-all, Adam Boqvist is a complete offensive defenceman that knows how to get the puck from point A to the back of the net, and can make it happen all by himself.” — Curtis Joe, EliteProspects.com“Boqvist is a confident, puck-moving blue-liner … skates well with quick agile feet that generate solid levels of speed … solid on his edges … very efficient skater … keeps the game simple, and cuts out the extra overly creative pass by finding open teammates in good position … moves the puck quickly and beautifully around the ice with crisp clean passes … can fire the puck accurately on the net with a quick release … adept at sneaking into open lanes for an opportunity … a steadying presence … plays the point well and has impressive ability to keep the puck in the offensive zone … very active stick at both ends, and uses it wisely to keep the pressure on the defense, helping hem them in their own zone or to disrupt the attack defending in his zone … very active feet, can contain his assignment with good agility and willing to get after the opposition with physical play … positions his body to box out opponents … his size is the obvious drawback … provides his team with a steady presence on the blue line, and thinks the game at a high level … a potential top-four, two-way defenseman.” — FutureConsiderations.caDid You Know?

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) Filip Forsberg had two goals and an assist, Pekka Rinne stopped 34 shots for his second shutout of the playoffs, and the Nashville Predators beat the Winnipeg Jets 4-0 on Monday to force a decisive Game 7 in their Western Conference semifinal series.Viktor Arvidsson also scored twice, including a late empty-netter, and added an assist for the Predators. Roman Josi and Ryan Johansen each had two assists.Connor Hellebuyck stopped 25 shots for the Jets.Game 7 is Thursday at Nashville, Tennessee, with the winner advancing to face the expansion Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference final.This back-and-forth series has yet to see a team win consecutive games.With the Predators up 1-0 after one period, Forsberg doubled the lead at 8:44 of the second on a great solo rush for his sixth of the postseason. After breaking his stick in the defensive zone blocking a shot, the Swedish forward raced to the bench to get a new one as the puck almost simultaneously arrived at his feet. Forsberg stayed onside, fought off Jets defenseman Ben Chairot and beat Hellebuyck short-side before crashing into the net.Winnipeg had made an earlier push coming out of the first intermission, with Paul Stastny's shot just wide being the best chance after Mathieu Perreault's dump in hit the linesman and caromed into the slot. Stastny also missed from a tight angle off the boards on the follow up on Rinne.After Forsberg made it 2-0, Rinne was there to stop Adam Lowry with his pad before just getting a piece of Mark Scheifele's shot on an abbreviated 2-on-1 to keep Nashville up by two.The Jets got their fourth power play of the night early in the third, but Scheifele fired wide on the best opportunity.Forsberg then took a pass from behind the net, played it between his own legs and beat Hellebuyck for his second of the night and seventh of the playoffs at 5:55.With Hellebuyck pulled for an extra skater, Arvidsson scored into the empty net with 4:02 left to seal Nashville's win.While disappointed with the result, the Jets will travel to Music City knowing they've already won twice there in the series, including a 6-2 victory in Game 5 after the Predators ground out a 2-1 decision in Winnipeg in Game 4 to tie the series 2-2.Nashville took the lead just 62 seconds into the first period to quiet the usual rowdy, white-clad crowd at Bell MTS Place on Arvidsson's fourth. The speedy winger crashed into the end boards after being taken down by Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien. Arvidsson briefly complained to the referee before getting back in the slot just in time to make a defensive deflection of a blast from Josi that looked destined to hit him directly in his head as he dropped to the ice.Referee Wes McCauley initially waved off the goal that bounced past Hellebuyck for high-sticking, but it was determined after video review that Arvidsson's stick was below the crossbar on the tip.After one toothless power play, the Jets got a couple of chances on their next man advantage, but Rinne was there to deny Stastny twice on the doorstep before also stopping Patrik Laine's one-timer.Winnipeg then got its third power play of the period, but it looked a lot like its first as the Predators went to their locker room up 1-0.Winnipeg had never seen one of its teams win even a single game in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs before this spring.The old Jets claimed three WHA titles in the 1970s, but the franchise was swept aside by Edmonton in its only two NHL conference semifinal appearances - 1985 and 1987 - before leaving town to become the Phoenix Coyotes in 1996.The NHL returned to Winnipeg in 2011 when the Atlanta Thrashers relocated to the Manitoba capital, but the new Jets' first foray into the playoffs in 2015 resulted in a four-game ouster in the first round at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks.The Predators and Jets finished with the two best records during the regular season - Nashville had 117 points to win its first Presidents' Trophy, while Winnipeg was right behind with 114 points.NOTES: The extra day before Game 7 is due to a Justin Timberlake concert at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday night. ... Teemu Selanne, a member of the original Jets from 1992-96, was in attendance. ... Predators forward Scott Hartnell returned to the lineup after sitting out Game 5 as a healthy scratch. Calle Jarnkrok also drew in for Nashville on the fourth line with Mike Fisher after sitting out the last three.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The most highly anticipated series of the playoffs is going the distance.That it's going seven games might have been predictable, but that won't make it any less exciting Thursday night when the Nashville Predators host the Winnipeg Jets in Game 7 of their second-round series with a berth in the Western Conference Final on the line.The teams split the first two games of the series at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, and the Jets then took Game 5 by a 6-2 margin on the road.With that in mind, who will win Game 7?Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Video and story contain coarse language

Alex Ovechkin is happy to be putting any previous vacation plans on hold.The Washington Capitals advanced to their first Eastern Conference Final since 1998 with an overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 on Monday. For Ovechkin, the win was a long time coming and he explained what it's like to finally beat the Penguins in the playoffs."Finally, you know? It's been too long," Ovechkin said postgame to Sportsnet's Chris Simpson, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. "Finally we beat Pittsburgh and finally we move to the next round. We didn't go home, we're not going to vacation, we're still battling and it's fun."The Washington victory snapped a streak of seven consecutive series wins by the Penguins against the Capitals, dating back to the 1995 conference finals. It was also Ovechkin's first time defeating the Penguins in the playoffs in four career series.

PITTSBURGH (AP) Evgeny Kuznetsov's breakway goal 5:27 into overtime gave the Washington Capitals a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 on Monday night, and a berth in the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 20 years.Kuznetsov took a lead pass from Alexander Ovechkin and tucked the puck by Matt Murray to end Pittsburgh's two-year reign as Stanley Cup champions and propel the Capitals into the NHL's final four for just the third time in franchise history.Braden Holtby stopped 21 shots for the Capitals, who will face Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference finals. Alex Chiasson scored his first playoff goal in four years during a taut, tight contest through regulation.Kris Letang scored for the Penguins and Murray finished with 28 saves but couldn't close his legs fast enough to stop Kuznetsov's forehand flick from in close as Pittsburgh's bid at becoming the first team in 35 years to win three consecutive Cups came to an abrupt end.The Capitals played without center Nicklas Backstrom, who was scratched due to a right hand injury suffered in the third period of Washington's Game 5 victory. Forward Tom Wilson also sat for a third straight game while serving a suspension for an illegal hit on Pittsburgh's Zach Aston-Reese in Game 2.Washington spent the series saying its forgettable playoff history littered with squandered leads and blown opportunities - particularly against the Penguins - is not a factor. That this time is different. That this team is different. Twice the Capitals rallied in the third period to stun Pittsburgh, including a four-goal outburst in Game 5 that pushed them to the brink of their first Eastern Conference finals appearance in 20 years.That last step, however, has always been tricky. Four times previously during the Ovechkin Era the Capitals won three games in the second round only to come up short in Game 7.The Penguins, by contrast, have been impossible to finish off since head coach Mike Sullivan took over in December 2015. Pittsburgh came in 4-0 in elimination games under Sullivan, including a 2-0 victory in Game 7 in Washington last spring on its way to a second straight title.The stakes led to an unusually slow start for both before the Capitals broke through 2:13 into the second when Walker held off Pittsburgh's Derick Brassard behind the Pittsburgh net and fed Chiasson in the right circle. Chiasson's shot slipped under Murray's left arm for his second career playoff goal and first in more than four years when he played for Dallas.The deficit, however, hardly appeared to stoke the Penguins. Instead they continued to plod along, staying only one goal behind thanks in large part to the play of Murray. He stuffed Jakub Vrana on a breakaway to keep Pittsburgh's hole from getting any larger and at about the game's midway point, Sullivan had seen enough. He reshuffled the lines - putting Patric Hornqvist alongside Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin alongside Phil Kessel - and the energy shifted immediately.The score soon followed.Crosby won a faceoff in the offensive zone and fed it to Letang, whose shot from the point Washington's Chandler Stephenson and slipped by Holtby 11:52 into the second to tie it and set the stage for more drama in a series and a rivalry that continues to one-up itself spring after spring.NOTES: Washington forward Andre Burakovsky missed his 10th straight game with an upper-body injury. ... Crosby's assist pushed his career playoff total to 185, tied with Hall of Famer Steve Yzerman for 10th most all-time. ... Walker's assist was the first ever in the playoffs by an Australian.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sidney Crosby continues to climb the ranks of the best playoff performers of all time.With an assist on Kris Letang's second-period goal, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain collected his 185 career playoff point, putting him in a tie with Steve Yzerman for 10th all time in playoff points.

Make it two more milestones for the Washington Capitals' trailblazing Aussie.Nathan Walker made his playoff debut in Game 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night, becoming the first Australian to play in a playoff game, and he later became the first player from that nation to collect a point when he assisted on Alex Chiasson's second-period goal.Walker was inserted into the lineup Monday on the Capitals' fourth line alongside Jay Beagle and Alex Chiasson, and that line went over the boards less than two minutes into the game.The 24-year-old forward made history at the beginning of the season when he became the first player from Down Under to play an NHL game, scoring a goal in his debut.Related: Nathan Walker gets congratulatory call from Australian PMWalker was waived by the Capitals and then claimed by the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 1, but Edmonton put him back on waivers after a two-game NHL stint, and Washington reclaimed him.He spent most of the season with the AHL's Hershey Bears, with whom he produced nine goals and 22 points in 40 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom will not play Game 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins as he deals with an upper-body injury, the team announced.The upper-body injury in question appears to be to his hand, as Backstrom arrived at the rink ahead of the game wearing a cast on his right hand.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored twice and Connor McDavid chipped in with three assists as Canada cruised by Denmark 7-1 on Monday at the World Hockey Championship.Josh Bailey and Mathew Barzal had two points apiece in a game which featured 13 different players on the scoresheet.Bailey, Jordan Eberle, Ryan O'Reilly, Tyson Jost, and Aaron Ekblad rounded out the goal-scoring for Canada, which improved to 2-0-1-0, good enough for second place in Group B behind the Americans.Curtis McElhinney was nearly perfect once again in his second straight start, allowing just the lone goal on 17 shots. Denmark's Jesper Jensen Aabo ruined McElhinney's bid for a second consecutive shutout, scoring at the 11:56 mark of the third period.Canada will enjoy a two-day break before taking on Norway on Thursday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sidney Crosby knows there isn't much that separates his Pittsburgh Penguins from the rival Washington Capitals.Despite having beaten the Capitals in each of the past two postseasons on the way to back-to-back Stanley Cup wins, Crosby doesn't see anything different in Washington this year. That's to their credit, he adds, acknowledging how slim the margin of error is when these two clubs face off."I thought they were pretty relentless the last couple years, too," Crosby said Monday, per Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post. "The games are separated by one goal here, mistake here, mistake there. I didn't see them give in before. That's an easy storyline because we ended up winning."The Penguins face elimination entering Game 6 of a third straight second-round series between the two clubs; last year's series went seven games, while Pittsburgh won in six back in 2016.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville Predators head coach Peter Laviolette is hoping Scott Hartnell can push the right buttons once again.The veteran winger will make his third appearance of the postseason in Monday's Game 6 against Winnipeg, wherein the Predators will look to avoid an early playoff exit.

The United States rode a hot hand from New Jersey Devils goaltender Keith Kinkaid to a 3-0 shutout victory over Germany on Monday in Herning, Denmark.Kinkaid earned his second straight shutout on the back of a 24-save performance, getting offensive support from captain Patrick Kane who chipped in with a goal and two assists. Kane was named U.S. player of the game for his exploits.The story of the contest for Germany was 27-year-old netminder Niklas Treutle, who kept his team in the game all afternoon, registering 37 saves on 40 shots.Derek Ryan and Alex DeBrincat scored the other two goals for the Americans in the winning effort.Team USA is in action next when it takes on Latvia on Thursday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brad Marchand didn't get any shots off during a Game 5 season-ending loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday, but he sure did take a cheeky shot at the Montreal Canadiens a day later.Early on Monday, the Canadiens' Twitter account sent a public service announcement to an unnamed player, citing the dangers of licking golf balls. It was obviously a not-so-subtle dig at Marchand and his recent propensity for licking opposing players.Marchand's response, however, is sure to leave a bad taste for Habs fans:

Credit the Montreal Canadiens with a win despite not advancing to the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year.On the morning after the Boston Bruins were eliminated by Tampa Bay, the team's Twitter account posted a public service announcement regrading the dangers of licking golf balls.

As NHL teams are eliminated from Stanley Cup contention, theScore NHL freelance writer Katie Brown looks back at the highs and lows of their seasons, along with the biggest questions ahead of 2018-19. The 22nd edition focuses on the Columbus Blue Jackets.The GoodPanarin, Dubois, and Atkinson. Artemi Panarin scored a franchise-record and career-high 82 points in his first season with the club. He also reached a career-high 55 assists playing alongside 2016 third overall draft pick Pierre-Luc Dubois, a big skilled center who scored 48 points in his rookie NHL season. Cam Atkinson was held back by several injuries early in the year and missed a month of action with a foot fracture but found his groove in the later part of the season. He scored 18 goals and 15 assists in 33 games, mostly while playing with Dubois and Panarin.Trade deadline acquisitions. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen worked some magic at the trade deadline and acquired three players that fit almost perfectly with the existing roster: Mark Letestu, Thomas Vanek, and Ian Cole. Letestu meshed well on the fourth line in a shutdown type role, Vanek meshed well with linemate Boone Jenner, and Cole found instant chemistry with defensive partner David Savard; the two bearded men were even dubbed the "Lumberjackets" by Blue Jackets fans.Jones and Werenski. Seth Jones, 23, and Zach Werenski, 20, make up one of the best young defense pairs in the NHL; they've played more than 2,000 minutes of 5-on-5 hockey alongside one another. The two set franchise records for goals by defensemen (16), a milestone Jones reached first. Jones had the best season of his career and recorded 57 points. Werenski's 37 points were 10 fewer than his highest, but his 16 goals were a career best.The BadTop players disappeared. As good as Panarin, Atkinson, and Dubois were during the regular season, they struggled in the postseason. Panarin scored the overtime winner in Game 1 and recorded seven points in the first three games of the first-round series against the Washington Capitals. He had no points in the last three games, however. Atkinson followed a similar trajectory - two goals and four points in the first three games, then nothing in the last three. Dubois scored in Game 3 and was silent until a late goal in Game 6.Losing Wennberg. Injured by a hit from Washington forward Tom Wilson in Game 1 of the first round, No. 2 center Alexander Wennberg missed three games. His absence impacted the Blue Jackets hard, who were forced to make lineup adjustments - Nick Foligno was moved up to the second line, Dubinsky taken off the wing and moved to the third line, and Letestu centering the fourth line. With Wennberg, Columbus could normally roll three scoring lines, but without him, no one could seem to get anything going. He was also missed on the power play, which dried up after Game 2. He returned in Game 6, but by then, it was too late. Washington won four straight games and won the series in six after going down 0-2.Special teams. Going into the series it was easy to see the Blue Jackets were a little outmatched by the Capitals in special teams, especially on the power play. Washington had 27 power plays in the first round (the most of any team) and scored nine goals with an extra man. Columbus went 4-for-24 on the power play but all four of those goals were scored in the first two games of the series. After that they were 0-for-16 the rest of the series. The Blue Jackets not only gave the Capitals too many opportunities on the man advantage, but they failed to convert on their own power play when given the chance.The QuestionsWhich UFAs to re-sign? Cole was acquired as a rental, but there's a possibility he could be offered a contract as an upcoming UFA. With Jack Johnson almost certainly not coming back, there will be room to make that happen. Letestu could also be brought back on a one-year deal. Jenner, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Ryan Murray will likely re-sign, while the futures of Matt Calvert and Vanek are a little more up in the air. Of the two, Vanek seems the most likely candidate to end up on the market.Will Panarin or Bobrovsky sign an extension? The expiring contract was undoubtedly a factor in the Chicago Blackhawks' decision to move Panarin, and now it's going to be something Columbus has to deal with. Panarin says he's happy in Columbus and is setting franchise records as its top player. It's hard to think of reasons why he wouldn't remain in Columbus on a big-time long-term deal. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is entering the last year of his contract as well and Kekalainen will have to decide if he's better than anyone available in free agency. Bobrovsky has won two Vezinas and is still in his prime, but will Kekalainen want to give him a long-term contract?Where are upgrades needed? If there's any lesson to be learned by the hardship of losing Wennberg for most of the first round, it might be that it would be wise to go after a center in free agency or through a trade. You can never have too many centers, they say, but Kekalainen could opt to stand pat. It might be more likely that Dubinsky will be expected to have a better season next year, and the continued development and improvement of Wennberg and Dubois will be counted on as well.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Four times under coach Mike Sullivan, the Pittsburgh Penguins have gone into an elimination game in the playoffs. They have won each en route to back-to-back Stanley Cup titles.On Monday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, the Washington Capitals will try to end the Penguins' run with a win in Game 6 of a second-round series. Washington, after winning 6-3 in Game 5, leads the series 3-2 and can advance to the Eastern Conference final with a win.The Capitals are 1-9 all time in postseason series against Pittsburgh, with two of the losses coming the past two years, so they have a sense of needing to get past the Penguins' roadblock."It's not over yet," Capitals winger Brett Connolly said. "They're a good team. We know that. (Game 5 Saturday was) obviously a big win. We just need to find a way this year. We need to find a way to get that last win no matter what it takes."The Penguins will need to win not only Monday but also Wednesday in a potential Game 7 at Washington if they are to have a chance to win a third Cup in a row.Even with that cushion, the Capitals are taking a conservative approach."I can tell you how I feel if there's four wins," goaltender Braden Holtby said. "Where it's at right now doesn't matter at all. All that matters is the next game. That's got to be our mindset if we want to have success and take a mature approach to it."Pittsburgh can draw on those four elimination games it won in its recent Cup runs for experience. One of those games was a 2-0 victory in Game 7 against Washington last year, also in the second round."We've done it before," Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin said. "We know we've got it in this group. We're going back home. We've been good at home all year. We win one game there, come back (to Washington) and play a Game 7. That's nothing new to us, nothing we're afraid of. We've just got to bring our best effort again in Game 6."Sullivan said the Penguins have another intangible."It comes down to character and the people we have in our dressing room," he said.Washington's win in Game 5 might have had a couple of caveats, possible injuries to defenseman John Carlson and center Nicklas Backstrom, although coach Barry Trotz said both were expected to travel to Pittsburgh and should be available.The Capitals already are without wingers Andre Burakovsky (injury) and Tom Wilson (suspension). Wilson would be eligible to return for a Game 7.Pittsburgh came away from its loss Saturday -- in which Washington scored two empty-net goals -- feeling pretty good about everything but the final score."I liked our effort," winger Patric Hornqvist said. "I liked our attitude and all that. We just have to clean up our mistakes, and we'll be fine."That is a popular belief among the Penguins."Everybody understands the situation," Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby said. "It brings out everyone's best. You don't have anything to save it for, so you go out there with one focus, and that's win a hockey game and get to a Game 7. That's our mindset here."We have a lot of good things to build off. We just need to make sure we keep going, keep playing the same way."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When the series is on the line, you can count on Marc-Andre Fleury to have a big game.With his 28-save shutout in Game 6 of the Vegas Golden Knights' second-round series against the San Jose Sharks, Fleury earned his fourth career shutout in series-clinching games, the second-most among any goaltender in NHL history, and just one shy of the all-time leader, Chris Osgood.

Evander Kane's sudden drop in offense this postseason might have been the result of injuries.On Sunday, the San Jose Sharks forward told The Athletic's Kevin Kurz he'd been playing with a separated shoulder, and had previously dealt with an MCL injury.After recording three goals and an assist in the Sharks' opening-round series against the Anaheim Ducks, Kane scored just one goal in six games against the Vegas Golden Knights, going pointless in the final three contests as San Jose was eliminated.The 26-year-old will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and is sure to be a hot commodity after a 54-point regular season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Who pushed the Vegas Golden Knights harder?The San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings debated that issue in a Twitter feud just minutes after Vegas punched its ticket to the Western Conference Final on Sunday.The back-and-fourth tweets began when the Kings reminded the Sharks about a tweet sent during Game 2 of the second-round series, in which San Jose's account mocked Los Angeles' lack of scoring against Vegas in the first round:

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Marc-Andre Fleury made 28 saves in his fourth shutout of the playoffs and the expansion Vegas Golden Knights are headed to the Western Conference Final in their inaugural season after beating the San Jose Sharks 3-0 in Game 6 of their second-round series Sunday.Jonathan Marchessault opened the scoring, Nate Schmidt added an insurance goal that was only detectable by replay and Cody Eakin sealed it with an empty-netter to help Vegas become just the third team in NHL history to win multiple series in its first season.The Toronto Arenas won the Stanley Cup in the first postseason in league history in 1918 and St. Louis won two rounds to win the all-expansion West Division in 1968.The Golden Knights relied on a crew of castoffs, led by a goalie who was part of three Stanley Cup-winning teams in Pittsburgh before headlining a new team. Fleury posted shutouts in Games 1 and 6 against the Sharks and was also spectacular in an overtime win in Game 3.Next up for Fleury and Vegas will be the Western Conference Final against either Winnipeg or Nashville. The Jets lead that series 3-2 heading into Game 6 on Monday night.The Sharks had numerous opportunities all night but were thwarted by a couple of shots that hit the iron, some acrobatic saves from Fleury and other chances that trickled just wide. This marked the fourth straight postseason for the Sharks that ended with a loss on home ice.The Golden Knights took control of this game with some good fortune in the second period. It started when usually reliable Marc-Edouard Vlasic turned the puck over in his own zone. Reilly Smith took control near the blue line and found Marchessault alone in front for a goal that trickled between Martin Jones' pads.Vegas nearly added to the lead when Smith had a shot at open net that San Jose forward Chris Tierney blocked from the crease. But Fleury made sure the Sharks couldn't capitalize on that momentum when he stopped Tomas Hertl.The Golden Knights then added to the lead after an icing by Brent Burns led to an offensive zone faceoff. David Perron beat Tierney on the draw and Schmidt took a shot that appeared to deflect off the post and out.Play went on for 25 more seconds before the buzzer rang, with the situation room in Toronto calling for a video review. That quickly showed that the puck bounced off the post, off a piece equipment inside the net and out.Vegas then had a delayed celebration for the goal that made it 2-0.The Golden Knights then smothered the Sharks for most of the third period with Fleury getting some help again when Burns' point shot hit the post with about six minutes left. Fleury then rubbed the post in appreciation at the next stoppage.The Sharks came out fast with Hertl drawing an early penalty and the team generating numerous chances. But none of those opportunities could beat Fleury, who got some fortunate bounces to go his way.Hertl hit the crossbar on a partial breakaway and Logan Couture whiffed on a rebound attempt with an open net. Evander Kane had a deflection hit the cross bar in final minute of the period. He raised his hands in celebration, thinking he had scored, and that might have cost him a chance at knocking in a rebound.San Jose had a handful of other deflections that Fleury was either able to stop with an acrobatic move or trickled just wide as the teams played just their second scoreless first period of the series.NOTES: Jones made 30 saves. ... Vegas F William Carrier was scratched with a lower-body injury and replaced by Ryan Reaves, who played his first game this postseason.---More AP NHL: www.apnews.com/tag/NHLhockeyCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brayden Point doesn't appear to be intimidated in just his first NHL postseason.The Tampa Bay Lightning forward has thrived in his sophomore campaign, and as a result of his playoff performance, garnered incredible praise from head coach Jon Cooper after Game 5 on Sunday."In my opinion, he was the best player in the series," Cooper said, according to Joe Smith of The Athletic.Point tallied three goals and seven points in the series win over the Boston Bruins, which was highlighted by a four-point effort in Game 2."I think Pointer’s line, the way they responded after that first game, was pretty inspiring to us as a team," captain Steven Stamkos said.In all, the 22-year-old has now tallied four goals and 10 points in 10 playoff games, numbers the team will hope he can build off as the club awaits the winner between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Brayden Point and J.T. Miller scored second-period goals, helping the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Boston Bruins 3-1 Sunday and advance to the Eastern Conference final for the third time in four years.Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 27 shots - 14 in the final period - for the Lightning, who rebounded from losing the series opener at home to eliminate the Bruins in five games.David Krejci scored on the power play in the final minute of the first period to give Boston a 1-0 lead that Point erased with his unassisted goal at 10:43 of the second.Miller's power-play goal broke the tie less than four minutes later, and Anton Stralman added an empty-netter with 1:29 remaining to end any chance for a Boston comeback.One day after being put ''on notice'' by the NHL for licking Lightning forward Ryan Callahan during Friday night's overtime loss in Game 4, there were no more such incidents involving Bruins winger Brad Marchand, who also made headlines after appearing to lick Toronto's Leo Komarov in the first round.Marchand was given an edict Saturday to stop licking opponents or face a possible fine or suspension for future incidents.Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said before the game that he talked with Marchand, delivering a simple, straight-forward message: ''We need you on the ice, we need you playing. If part of his M.O. is to annoy people, find a different way to annoy them. Preferably by scoring some goals, that would be the best way.''The Lightning once again did a good job of containing Boston's top line of Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak and Marchand. Although the trio combined for 23 points in the series (seven goals, 16 assists), about half that production (11 points) came in the Bruins' 6-2 win in Game 1.Bergeron and Charlie McAvoy assisted on Krejci's goal, but Vasilevskiy came up big against the high-scoring line with four huge saves - one on Bergeron's point-blank shot - in the closing minutes while Tampa Bay was killing off Boston's last power-play opportunity.NOTES: Bruins RW David Backes left the ice after taking a hard hit from Miller with just under eight minutes remaining in the second period. He did not return. ... The Lightning improved to 5-1 in Game 5s when holding a 3-1 series lead. ... Boston played without D Torey Krug, who injured his left ankle during Game 4. Nick Holden took over Krug's spot, making his first appearance since Game 3 of Boston's opening-round series against Toronto.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins forward David Backes was forced from Sunday's game after taking an open-ice hit from Tampa Bay Lightning forward J.T. Miller in the second period.

The Washington Capitals' two key injured players appear to be good bets to suit up for Game 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night.Capitals head coach Barry Trotz said defenseman John Carlson is fine, and he expects Nicklas Backstrom to play but cautioned "we'll see where he is (Monday)," according to Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post.Carlson was hit up high by Jake Guentzel with about a minute remaining in Saturday's 6-3 Capitals win. Carlson is the Capitals' average ice-time leader in the playoffs (27:02) after having that distinction during the regular season (24:47) and ranks fourth overall in the league in that department during the postseason, to go along with 11 points in as many games.Backstrom left Saturday's contest in the third period with an injury the club would only describe as an "upper-body" ailment.The all-world center played only 15:55 in Game 5, and didn't return after his fifth shift of the third frame. Three of Backstrom's last four spells on the ice lasted 11 seconds or fewer, and he departed for good after a nine-second stint with 13:12 remaining in the third period.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bruce Cassidy is shaking things up with his club on the brink of elimination.The Boston Bruins head coach made more than one tweak to his forward lines ahead of Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, with the Bruins trailing the second-round series 3-1.

Jake Guentzel is apparently off the hook.The Pittsburgh Penguins forward will not face a hearing to answer for his check on Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson in Game 5 of their second-round series Saturday night, The Washington Post's Isabelle Khurshudyan reported Sunday, adding that it was considered a full-body hit.Guentzel caught Carlson up high behind the Capitals' net with the Penguins trailing 5-3 late in a game they ultimately lost 6-3.

It will be a somewhat unfamiliar situation for the two Toronto Maple Leafs goaltenders at the World Championship on Monday.Curtis McElhinney will start against Denmark, Team Canada head coach Bill Peters told reporters including TSN's Ryan Rishaug on Sunday after McElhinney stopped all 25 shots he faced in Canada's 10-0 destruction of South Korea.That means he'll square off against his NHL netminding partner, Frederik Andersen, the Maple Leafs starter who's representing the host Danes.Andersen will have his work cut out for him against a Canadian squad oozing talent including the likes of Connor McDavid, Mathew Barzal, Brayden Schenn, Jordan Eberle, Ryan O'Reilly, Colton Parayko, and Aaron Ekblad.Denmark earned a shootout win over Germany in its opener Friday before being shut out 4-0 by the United States the next day. Andersen has a .925 save percentage through two games.McElhinney will be starting his second game in as many days, but he wasn't exactly overworked in his first appearance of the tourney Sunday. Darcy Kuemper played in Canada's shootout loss to the U.S. on Friday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Team Canada didn't have much trouble with South Korea on Sunday, and that's putting it mildly.Tyson Jost scored twice, and he was one of nine Canadian players to light the lamp in a 10-0 victory over South Korea at the World Championship in Denmark.Canada held a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes but blew it wide open with a six-goal second period. South Korea was out-shot 50-25 in the game.Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle, Brayden Schenn, Colton Parayko, Ryan O'Reilly, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Joel Edmundson potted the other goals for Canada.Curtis McElhinney made 25 saves for the shutout.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Even after getting annihilated 6-2 in Game 5 by the Winnipeg Jets, P.K. Subban is awfully confident his Nashville Predators can win Game 6 and force a Game 7 back in the Music City."We're going to go (to Winnipeg), we're going to win a game and come back here. It's that simple," he said, according to Adam Vingan of the Tennessean.The charismatic Subban is no stranger to bold predictions. After going down 2-0 against the Pittsburgh Penguins in last year's Stanley Cup Final, he guaranteed a win in Game 3, which the Preds won 5-1.Can he go two-for-two? We'll find out Monday in Game 6.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson is being evaluated after taking a high hit from Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel in Game 5 on Saturday night.Capitals head coach Barry Trotz was not pleased."John took a high hit. He was unsuspecting, with about a minute left. He's being evaluated right now," he said, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "I know the standard's been set, so I'm going to leave it up the league. It was a head shot in my opinion."Here's a look at the hit:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Kyle Connor scored two goals and had an assist as the Winnipeg Jets beat the Nashville Predators 6-2 on Saturday night, pushing the Presidents' Trophy winners to the brink of elimination with a 3-2 lead in their Western Conference semifinal.Now the Jets, who just won their first playoff series in the first round, will have a chance to clinch a spot in their first Western Conference final Monday night in Game 6 back in Winnipeg.Connor Hellebuyck made 38 saves for the Jets.Dustin Byfuglien and Mark Scheifele each had a goal and an assist, and Paul Stastny and Mathieu Perrault also scored as the Jets got four goals on 14 shots in the second period. Blake Wheeler also had three assists, and Nikolaj Ehlers added two.Yannick Weber and Ryan Johansen each scored for Nashville. The Predators have not won consecutive games since taking a 2-0 lead over Colorado to start the playoffs.Pekka Rinne, Nashville's Vezina Trophy finalist, was pulled for the third time this postseason after giving up six goals on 26 shots.Lady Antebellum became the latest star act to handle the U.S. anthem, and the Grammy-winning trio missed part of the lyrics . But Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton waved the rally towel, and one of first catfish to hit the ice was tossed by Caleb Daniel, a 5-year-old Predators fan with a new heart.Nashville coach Peter Laviolette switched his lines again, swapping out Scott Hartnell for Kevin Fiala. This change didn't work.Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice brought back Perrault on the third line after missing eight games with an upper-body injury.The Predators had plenty of great scoring chances while outshooting the Jets 11-7. Only a great performance by Hellebuyck kept it scoreless through the first period for the first time in this series.They made up for that in the second. Patrik Laine helped get the Jets on the board with a shot that deflected off Stastny's right hand and past Rinne at 7:44. Defenseman Yannick Weber tied it up for Nashville with a wrister from the left circle at 11:08 .Then the Jets scored two goals 2:05 apart. First, Connor scored off the rebound of a shot by Scheifele with 7:30 left for his first postseason goal, then Rinne lost his stick in a scrum in the crease. The puck squirted out, and Byfuglien scored with a slap shot for a 3-1 lead with 5:25 remaining. Connor made it 4-1 with a wrister from the slot with just under three minutes to go.The period seemed to be slipping further away from Nashville when Viktor Arvidsson went to the box for slashing. But Johansen scored his fifth goal this postseason with 2:01 remaining for the first short-handed goal of his career in the postseason.The Jets made it 5-2 just 28 seconds into the third, stifling any Nashville rally when Scheifele scored his ninth goal this postseason from the slot . Perreault capped the scoring at 6:23 to chase Rinne for the second time this series.NOTES: Nashville now is 0-4 when trailing after two periods. ... Weber's goal was the fourth of his career in the postseason and first with Nashville.---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.