Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne was yanked in the third period of Game 5 against the Winnipeg Jets after allowing six goals on 26 shots.This is already the third time this postseason - and the second time this series - that Rinne has been pulled mid-game in favor of Juuse Saros.Mathieu Perreault, who hadn't played since Game 1 of the first round against the Minnesota Wild, notched the sixth tally that led to Rinne's departure.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom left Game 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins with an upper-body injury, head coach Barry Trotz said after the game.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageJakub Vrana is the man of the hour in Washington.The Capitals winger scored the winning goal late in Game 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, and was clearly quite pleased with his accomplishment:

Step aside, Jaromir.Sidney Crosby surpassed Jaromir Jagr for the second-most playoff goals in Pittsburgh Penguins franchise history with his second-period tally against the Washington Capitals on Saturday night.

Washington sure capitalized on its opportunities late in the first period of Game 5.Down 1-0 to the Pittsburgh Penguins with less than two minutes remaining in the opening frame, the Capitals scored two goals in 33 seconds to take the lead.The first came off the stick of defenseman John Carlson on the power play.

The United States defeated Denmark on Saturday to improve to 2-0 at the 2018 World Championship.Goals were scored by Will Butcher, Chris Kreider, Cam Atkinson, and Nick Jensen, while goaltender Keith Kinkaid needed only 12 saves to earn the shutout.The American squad defeated Canada in a shootout on the opening day of the tournament, and will next face off against Germany on Monday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins will be without defenseman Torey Krug for the remainder of of their series against the Tampa Bay Lightning due to an ankle injury, the team announced Saturday.Krug will undergo additional testing to determine the full extent of the injury, and further information will be made available afterward.The injury was suffered during Game 4, and head coach Bruce Cassidy later said the initial prognosis wasn't all that encouraging."He's still getting evaluated, but doesn’t look good that it will be short term," Cassidy said Saturday.Krug is averaging just over 20 minutes of ice time for the Bruins this postseason, and ranks fourth on the team with 12 points in 11 games (three goals, nine assists).Cassidy added that Nick Holden will enter the lineup to play alongside Adam McQuaid in Game 5 on Sunday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kevin Fiala's absence from the Nashville Predators lineup will apparently be a short one.The young forward told Brooks Bratten of the club's communications department that he saw his name on the lineup for Game 5 against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night.Fiala will draw in for veteran Scott Hartnell, while the rest of the lineup is expected to mirror that of Game 4, according to The Tennessean's Adam Vingan.The veteran Hartnell replaced Fiala in Game 4, which the Predators won 2-1 on Thursday night,Fiala played in the first three contests in Nashville's second-round series against Winnipeg after appearing in all six games of the opening-round matchup against the Colorado Avalanche.The 21-year-old scored in two of the three against the Jets before sitting out Thursday. He chipped in with a goal and an assist in the first round.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL did, in fact, contact Brad Marchand to discuss his licking habit, and made it clear it won't be tolerated again.Colin Campbell, the league's director of hockey operations, spoke with the Boston Bruins forward and his general manager, Don Sweeney, on Saturday, the league confirmed.The NHL added that it put Marchand on notice that his actions Friday night - presumably referring to his lick of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Callahan's face - were "unacceptable" and that similar behavior in the future will result in supplemental discipline.Marchand licked Callahan's face after the Lightning winger shoved him twice in response to Marchand's low hit on him in the second period of Tampa Bay's Game 4 victory.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brad Marchand's tongue tactics are reportedly being addressed, but the hit that led to Friday's saliva sequel will apparently go unpunished.No hearing is scheduled regarding the Boston Bruins forward's low check on Ryan Callahan of the Tampa Bay Lightning, according to The Athletic's Joe Smith.Marchand hit Callahan moments after Ondrej Palat drilled Adam McQuaid.

The league office is apparently taking measures to ensure Brad Marchand doesn't lick any more opponents.For real this time.The NHL is involved and Marchand will be told to cut it out immediately, TSN's Darren Dreger reports.The Boston Bruins' talented agitator did it again Friday night, planting his tongue on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Callahan's face during the Lightning's 4-3 overtime win in Game 4 of their second-round series.Related: Callahan likens licking incident to spitting in faceThere were conflicting statements from the league about whether it told the Bruins and/or Marchand to stop licking other players after he did so to Toronto Maple Leafs forward Leo Komarov during their opening-round matchup.Marchand denied being asked to tone it down at the time.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Erik Karlsson often leaves Ottawa Senators fans salivating for more with his play on the ice, so perhaps it's only natural he weighed in on Brad Marchand's penchant for licking opponents.Unprompted, the superstar defenseman posed a surprising, but thought-provoking question when an Ottawa fan made his thoughts clear after the Boston Bruins pest licked Ryan Callahan of the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night.

PITTSBURGH - These days, if the Pittsburgh Penguins score a goal, there’s an excellent chance Sidney Crosby is involved.Crosby has been on the ice for all 10 of the Penguins’ goals in their second-round series against the Washington Capitals, which resumes Saturday night in Washington with the teams tied at two wins apiece.He's been a terror, recording multiple points in three of the series' first four games - giving him seven multi-point efforts in the postseason. It's no surprise to his teammates or head coach Mike Sullivan.“I just think he’s the best player in the game,” Sullivan said. “He’s the best player in the game. He plays his best when the stakes are high, he plays at both ends of the rink. We rely on him to defend, we rely on him to score goals and create offense, and he’s really good at both. It doesn’t surprise me.”Ranked second among active players in playoff points with 183 - Behind only Jaromir Jagr, though you can dispute his "active" status - Crosby looks every bit the two-time Conn Smythe winner and three-time Stanley Cup champion. As if there was any question he would rise to the occasion.“Since I’ve been his coach, that’s been my experience with him,” Sullivan said. “I just have so much respect for the type of person that he is, the type of player that he is, the care factor he has for the team and winning. He always elevates his game whenever our team needs it."And Jake Guentzel has elevated his play alongside his star center.Guentzel has been red-hot in the playoffs, scoring nine goals while racking up a league-best 21 points - equaling his total from last year’s postseason. His four-goal explosion in Game 6 against the Philadelphia Flyers advanced the Penguins to the second round.He was at it again in Game 4 on Thursday, scoring two goals on eight shot attempts in a 3-1 win against the Capitals. The 23-year-old now has 23 goals in 35 career playoff games; his 0.66 goals per game is the best mark among active players who have played at least 25 playoff games.“Last year he surprised me,” Penguins defenseman Kris Letang said. “This year I expected it. This is the mentality in this locker room. We expect always more from each other.”It seemed like the Penguins spent years searching for a winger for Crosby. Since Guentzel was called up for a second time in January last year, he's almost continuously been on the Penguins captain's line.They have similar styles, and that's led to big plays and big goals. It's also the reason the Penguins have been able to keep up with the Capitals.“They’re two players that like to go (into) traffic, they like to hold onto pucks, they like the physical game,” Letang said. “When you have the matchup like we had tonight, in a tight game like this, these are the guys that are gonna get rewarded. They go to the net hard and they get rewarded."It doesn’t seem to matter who’s playing on Crosby’s right wing, either. Patric Hornqvist had been on Crosby’s line and scored a pair of goals against the Capitals. Then Sullivan shook things up in Game 4 and put Dominik Simon on the top line. Simon assisted on Guentzel’s first goal of the night.Getting Evgeni Malkin back in Game 3 gave the Penguins' offense more juice, but the rest of the team hasn’t been able to get anything going. Derick Brassard, Phil Kessel, and Riley Sheahan all scored in the opening round against the Flyers, but have been silent against Washington.That won't be a problem as long as Crosby and Guentzel can keep producing the way they have been all spring.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

LAS VEGAS (AP) Alex Tuch scored twice to lead Vegas to a 5-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Friday night, giving the Golden Knights a 3-2 series lead in their Western Conference semifinal.James Neal, Erik Haula and Jonathan Marchessault also scored for Vegas. Veteran goalie Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 27 shots, making save after highlight save until things got interesting late in the third period.With San Jose trailing 4-0, Kevin Labanc, Tomas Hertl and Boedker scored in a 6:09 span to pull the Sharks within one with 4:16 remaining. However, Marchessault's empty-netter with 21 seconds left sealed it for Vegas.Martin Jones allowed four goals on 31 shots before being pulled in the third. Aaron Dell came on and stopped all six shots he faced.From a spectacular glove save on Mikkel Boedker's point blank shot in the first period, to a pair of back-to-back saves before and after being knocked into the goal midway through the second period, or an incredible pad save on Tomas Hertl early in the third, Fleury was dialed in from the start.After looking lethargic for Game 4 in San Jose, the Golden Knights came out refreshed and looking more like the team that won Game 1 by a 7-0 final. Vegas set the tone in the first period, outshooting the Sharks 15-7, outhitting them 26-14, and taking a 1-0 lead.Neal made sure the Golden Knights didn't head into the locker room empty-handed after a strong first period. Logan Couture blocked Shea Theodore's shot from the point, with the rebound going right to Neal, who drilled it past Jones to give Vegas the lead with 3 seconds left in the period.Tuch made it 2-0 when he was in perfect position in front of the net, where he tapped in Reilly Smith's rebound past Jones on the power play.Jones may still be trying to figure out how Haula scored, as he threw the puck at the net from the goal line and it somehow slipped through to make it 3-0 midway through the second.Tuch pushed the lead to 4-0 with an exquisite tip over Jones' glove at 8:36 of the third, while ending the night for Jones.The Sharks ended Fleury's bid for a fourth shutout this postseason when Labanc sniped a wrist shot top shelf, glove-side for a power-play goal to make it 4-1 at 9:35. Less than two minutes later San Jose made things interesting when Boedker's wraparound got loose, and Hertl was in the right spot to poke it in and cut Vegas' lead to 4-2.With a little more than four minutes left in the game, and Fleury sprawled out in front of the net behind a slew of traffic, Boedker picked up a loose puck and lifted it over the pile to make it 4-3.NOTES: A record 18,693 filled T-Mobile Arena for Game 5. ... Veteran D Luca Sbisa saw his first action since Feb. 27 for the Golden Knights, replacing Jon Merrill. ... Vegas F Oscar Lindberg made his playoff debut, taking Tomas Tatar's place on Cody Eakin's line, while Ryan Carpenter also returned to the Golden Knights' lineup, taking Tomas Nosek's spot on Pierre-Edouard Bellemare's line along with William Carrier.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Martin Jones will watch the rest of this one from the pine.The San Jose Sharks netminder got the hook midway through the final frame of Game 5 against the Vegas Golden Knights after allowing four goals on 31 shots. Backup Aaron Dell entered the game in relief.Jones posted a 34-save shutout against Vegas in Game 4.Entering Friday's contest, he owned a .934 save percentage and a 2.01 goals-against average this postseason.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Game 4 between the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning was full of controversy. Brad Marchand's lick stole the headlines, but an apparent missed call that led to Steven Stamkos' game-tying goal for Tampa Bay had some Bruins up in arms.Here's a look at Stamkos' goal, which came right after Boston's Charlie McAvoy was hauled down by Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov:

It's all the same to Ryan Callahan.The Tampa Bay Lightning forward, who was on the receiving end of lick from Boston Bruins agitator Brad Marchand in Friday's Game 5, was left stunned when the incident didn't result in an infraction."I don't know what the difference is between that and spitting in someone's face," Callahan told Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Related: Twitter disgusted by another Marchand lickAccording to the NHL rule book, spitting on an opponent can result in a game misconduct.Lightning coach Jon Cooper didn't bite his tongue when discussing Marchand's antics, either:

Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug left Friday's Game 4 against the Tampa Bay Lightning late in the third period and did not return after suffering a lower-body injury.

Somebody should tell Brad Marchand that his tongue belongs in his own mouth.Related - Watch: Brad Marchand licks Ryan CallahanThe polarizing Boston Bruins super pest was at it again with the licking Friday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning, this time getting in Tampa forward Ryan Callahan's face and licking from Callahan's lips to the tip of his noise.Related: Twitter disgusted by another Marchand lickSpitting on another player warrants a match penalty, yet Marchand continues to lick players at will. So, what do you think? Should the league discipline Marchand for his licking?Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

That's certainly one way to get the opposition off its game.Boston Bruins agitator Brad Marchand was back to some familiar antics Friday, as he licked the face of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Callahan.It's been a too-frequent tactic from Marchand, who also hit Toronto Maple Leafs forward Leo Komarov with his tongue in the first round of the postseason.Reports originally indicated that the league warned Marchand for his conduct, but NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly later denied it.Not surprisingly, Twitter was quick to react to Marchand's latest gross misconduct:

With a chance to take a 3-1 stranglehold over the Boston Bruins, the Tampa Bay Lightning have emerged as Cup favorites.The Lightning enter Friday's pivotal Game 4 having won two straight to flip the momentum in their second-round series, and oddsmakers have taken notice.Here's a look at the odds for each team still in the dance.TeamUpdated OddsLightning15-4Predators19-4Jets26-5Penguins11-2Golden Knights11-2Capitals7-1Bruins15-2Sharks19-2(Odds courtesy: Bodog)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The United States erased an early two-goal deficit and came back to beat Canada 5-4 in a shootout at the World Championship on Friday.Canada opened the scoring 47 seconds into the contest with a goal from Pierre-Luc Dubois, followed by another by Ryan O'Reilly. Anthony Beauvillier and Colton Parayko also scored for Canada.Meanwhile, Dylan Larkin scored twice, and Johnny Gaudreau and Anders Lee each found the back of the net for the Americans.After each team had a power play in overtime, the game advanced to a shootout, where Cam Atkinson scored twice to seal the deal. Canada captain Connor McDavid was unable to shoot because he was in the penalty box at the conclusion of the extra frame.Goaltender Keith Kinkaid was named the U.S. player of the game after making 44 saves and five more in the shootout.Canada's next matchup is against Korea on Sunday, while the United States faces Denmark on Friday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars officially named Jim Montgomery as their new head coach on Friday.Montgomery spent the last five seasons behind the bench for the University of Denver. This is the 48-year-old's first NHL head coaching gig."We are extremely happy to announce Jim as the head coach of the Dallas Stars," general manager Jim Nill said. "He has achieved success at every level throughout his coaching career, establishing a unique culture around every team that he has led. He has created a standard of excellence by building trust with his players, while putting systems in place that allow his teams to compete for championships season after season."Through his tenure with the Pioneers, Montgomery held a record of 125-57-26 and appeared in two Frozen Fours, winning the national championship in 2017. He also had a brief career as an NHL player, suiting up in 122 games for the Blues, Canadiens, Flyers, Sharks and Stars.Ken Hitchcock, the winningest coach in Stars history, retired in April.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins are turning to youngster Ryan Donato in Game 4 versus the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night, as the 22-year-old will be back in the lineup, head coach Bruce Cassidy announced.Additionally, veteran forward Brian Gionta is set to make his postseason debut. Bruins forward Riley Nash won't take part in Game 4.Donato hasn't played since Game 2 of the opening-round series versus the Toronto Maple Leafs. But following a listless Game 3 loss to the Lightning in their second-round showdown, Cassidy felt the need to shake things up.Related: Lightning's depth has flipped the script in taking series lead over BruinsDonato didn't make much of an impact in his first career playoff game, but in 12 contests to close out the regular season, he managed nine points.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals have signed goaltender Ilya Samsonov to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Friday.Samsonov was drafted 22nd overall by the Caps in 2015, and has spent the last three seasons with Magnitogorsk Metallurg in the KHL. He's eligible to join Washington next season, which could create an interesting scenario in goal for the Metropolitan Division champs, as current backup Philipp Grubauer is scheduled to become a restricted free agent at season's end.Samsonov posted a .926 save percentage in 26 games this season. The 21-year-old has represented Russia twice at the world juniors, capturing a silver medal in 2016 and a bronze in 2017, as well as earning All-Star honors for the tournament.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As each NHL season winds down, talented players commit to represent their countries at the IIHF World Championship. This year, a plethora of young, skilled forwards are set to make their mark on one of the biggest stages that hockey can provide.Here are five young guns to keep an eye on once tournament action begins Friday in Denmark.Kirill Kaprizov, F - RussiaKaprizov, Russia's captain at the 2017 World Junior Championship, is already a proven performer on the international stage at only 21 years old. He also finished second in scoring for the Russian squad at PyeongChang 2018 with nine points in six contests, earning a gold medal in the process.The Minnesota Wild selected the offensively gifted Kaprizov in the fifth round of the 2015 draft, but he's yet to play in the NHL, suiting up instead in the KHL over the last three seasons and registering 117 points in 179 games.His contract with CSKA Moscow doesn't expire until 2020, so this might be the best chance to witness his tremendous talent and consistent production. Tage Thompson, F - USAThe St. Louis Blues' first-round selection might have had a hard time adapting to the quickness of the NHL as a rookie, but Thompson has been an effective scorer in the AHL.What Thompson may lack in foot speed, he makes up for with his soft hands and a wicked-fast release. The latter was on full display in his first NHL goal against Cam Talbot and the Edmonton Oilers:Thompson is far from the flashiest player on our list, but he's still an exciting young prospect with great potential.Pierre-Luc Dubois, F - CanadaDubois has already started to make a name for himself in North American arenas, setting a Columbus Blue Jackets franchise record for goals by a rookie with 20 this season.The physically gifted center has the versatility and skill set to also play the wing, and he can bring the body when needed.Those strengths, combined with his superb offensive instincts and nose for the net, should help Dubois light up the worlds - especially if he gets the benefit of playing on a wing with an elite Canadian pivot such as Connor McDavid, Mathew Barzal, or Bo Horvat. Elias Pettersson, F - SwedenPotentially the most exciting player in the tournament who's yet to grace an NHL ice surface, Pettersson has been sensational in the Swedish Hockey League this season for the Vaxjo Lakers.After being drafted fifth overall by the Vancouver Canucks in 2017, he led the SHL in scoring with 56 points (24 goals, 32 assists) in 44 games, broke the regular-season record for points by a player under 20 years old, and also set the league record for playoff points by a U20 player.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) Pekka Rinne made 32 saves, P.K. Subban and Ryan Hartman scored and the Nashville Predators held off a late charge by the Winnipeg Jets to win 2-1 on Thursday night and even their second-round series through four games.Patrik Laine scored off a faceoff in the final minute, but Nashville's Nick Bonino won two key faceoffs after that to end it.Game 5 will be Saturday in Nashville, with Game 6 set for Winnipeg on Monday. Game 7, if necessary, would be in Nashville next Thursday.Connor Hellebuyck stopped 27 shots, but Nashville snapped Winnipeg's 13-game home winning streak, which dated to March 2.Rinne allowed five goals amid a series of defensive miscues in a 7-4 Game 3 defeat. He rebounded impressively behind a team that was much sharper in its own end.The Jets found far less space in the neutral zone, but also saw a couple of golden opportunities bounce over their sticks.The Predators led 1-0 after the first period and stretched their lead with 5:24 left in the second when Subban blasted a one-timer on Nashville's first power play.Booed by the thunderous white-clad crowd every time he's touched the puck the last two games, Subban seemed to feed off the noise. It was Subban's third goal of the series after being held without one in the first round.The Jets had a couple of great chances to tie it earlier in the period. Kyle Connor missed on a pass from Bryan Little in the slot on a power play, and Mark Scheifele let the puck skip over his stick on a 2-on-1 with Blake Wheeler moments before Subban silenced the crowd with his goal.Laine scored on a 6-on-4 with 50.2 seconds left in the third - his third of the playoffs and first of the series - but the Predators held on from there to wrestle back home-ice advantage.Nikolaj Ehlers was back on the Jets' top line alongside Scheifele and Wheeler after switching spots with Connor following Tuesday's disastrous opening 20 minutes when Winnipeg fell behind 3-0. Connor once again skated with Laine and Paul Stastny.Nashville opened the scoring with 2:40 left in the first when Hartman scored his second of the playoffs off a scramble in front. An attempted clear by Winnipeg's Ben Chiarot in front instead went off defense partner Tyler Myers and directly to Hartman, who beat Hellebuyck up high.The teams traded chances earlier in the period, with Hellebuyck stopping Roman Josi and Scott Hartnell on 2-on-1 breaks, while the butt end of Rinne's stick stopped Josh Morrisey's backhand chance along the ice at the other end.Notes: The Jets inserted winger Joel Armia into the lineup after he missed the first three games of the series with an upper-body injury. Rookie forward Jack Roslovic was a healthy scratch. ... Hartnell stepped in for Kevin Fiala, who scored in double overtime for Nashville in Game 2. The Predators also dressed defenseman Yannick Weber in place of Alexei Emelin.---More AP hockey: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockeyCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The bad blood continues to flow.Late in Game 4 between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins, T.J. Oshie quite literally flew into Kris Letang with a body check that resulted in some fisticuffs.All of this took place as Jake Guentzel was sealing a Pittsburgh win with an empty-net tally.No penalty was called on the hit, but each player received a five-minute major for fighting.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jake Guentzel's postseason legend continues to grow.With a goal in Game 4 against the Washington Capitals, the Pittsburgh Penguins winger reached the 20-point mark in only his 10th game of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Former NHL winger Jeff Parker had advanced chronic traumatic encephalopathy when he passed away last September, according to researchers at Boston University's CTE Center.“It was fairly advanced, and we called it Stage 3 because it was significant,” Dr. Ann McKee, director of the CTE Center, told John Branch of the New York Times.CTE is a degenerative brain disease associated with repetitive head trauma, and Parker's was classified as Stage 3 out of four.McKee added the disease affects "the very important areas for memory and learning" of the brain.Parker, who was 53 years old when he died, appeared in 141 NHL games between 1986-91, and joins six other former players who were diagnosed with CTE: Reggie Fleming, Rick Martin, Bob Probert, Derek Boogaard, Larry Zeidel, and Steve Montador.He was also among more than 100 former players who filed a lawsuit against the league, arguing the NHL withheld information about the long-term health risks caused by concussions.As recently as 2016, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman denied a link between concussions suffered in the course of play and CTE.Parker recorded 16 goals, 19 assists, and 163 penalty minutes in the NHL, with much of his time in the box coming via fighting majors.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carl Hagelin is ready to go.The Pittsburgh Penguins forward returned to the lineup for Game 4 against the Washington Capitals after missing the last three with an upper-body injury.Hagelin suffered the injury in Round 1 when he was on the receiving end of a huge hit by Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux.In six playoff appearances, Hagelin has notched two goals and an assist. He finished the regular season with 31 points in 81 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's hard to begrudge Nashville Predators fans for wanting to get in a few jabs at Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien. He's been in beast mode all playoffs, establishing his physical presence while being one of the best players on the ice for Winnipeg.So, naturally, Nashville fan Ben McGreevy started chirping Big Buff almost immediately after taking his seat at Bridgestone Arena for Game 2. However, he soon found out that the two Jets fans sitting behind him had a pretty special connection with the hulking Winnipeg blue-liner."I hear them laughing every single time I throw something at Byfuglien and finally, late in the second period, I stood up, and that's when I say, 'Byfuglien, you're the biggest piece of dirt on the ice!'"And they just started dying at that," said McGreevy, according to CBC Sports.After turning around to apologize to the couple, McGreevy learned they were closer to Byfuglien than he expected."I turn around, and I acknowledge the fact that (Byfuglien's) a good player and that's why I do it, and they stop and say 'No, no, no, we think it's awesome, it's hilarious - he's our son,'" Greevy explained.That's right: The two committed Jets fans that made the trip down to Nashville were actually Byfuglien's mother and stepfather."I was honestly speechless. My words couldn't come out. I just started stuttering - I've just insulted someone's son for two hours right in front of their face," McGreevy said.The couple took the trash talk in stride and shared a few laughs with McGreevy, even answering a fan's question from Twitter about how they raised such a strong and physically imposing hockey player.McGreevy's next chance to heckle his favorite Jet comes Saturday when the series shifts back to Nashville for Game 5.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

David Quinn will not be the next coach of the New York Rangers.The Boston Terriers bench boss was in the running, but has now withdrawn his name from consideration, a source told Larry Brooks of the New York Post.The Rangers are in search of a new coach after Alain Vigneault was fired at season's end. Vigneault spent the past five seasons with New York.As for Quinn, he's set to return to Boston University, his home for the last five seasons. He guided the Terriers to regular-season championships in 2015 and 2017.Prior to joining the college ranks, Quinn spent four seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, including one year as an NHL assistant coach and three seasons as the bench boss of Colorado's AHL affiliate.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators are making a gutsy lineup decision ahead of Game 4.Youngster Kevin Fiala was scratched in favor of grizzled veteran Scott Hartnell for Thursday's game against the Winnipeg Jets, according to Tomas Willis of the team's official website.

The Carolina Hurricanes and Arizona Coyotes have pulled off an oddly-timed trade.Marcus Kruger and a 2018 third-round pick are headed to the Coyotes for Jordan Martinook and a fourth-round selection, the clubs confirmed Thursday.Kruger cleared waivers in February and was assigned to the Charlotte Checkers, where he collected eight points in 19 games after managing only six points in 48 contests with Carolina.Martinook potted six goals and chipped in 15 points while appearing in all but one regular-season game for the Coyotes this season.Both players have another year left on their contracts, with Kruger on the books for about $2.7 million in 2018-19 after Carolina retains 10 percent of his salary, per CapFriendly. Martinook carries a cap hit of $1.8 million.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie doesn't exactly agree with the three-game suspension imposed on teammate Tom Wilson for his hit to the head of Pittsburgh Penguins forward Zach Aston-Reese.The incident marked the third time in the postseason Wilson has been on the giving end of a questionable hit. That, tied in with a broken jaw and concussion for Aston-Reese, likely played a role in the NHL Department of Player Safety opting to make a significant statement.However, Oshie says he's been the recipient of several high hits in his career that went uncalled, and he isn't overly pleased to be without the Caps' top agitator until a potential Game 7."I'd like for them to watch the hit. I'd like for them to break it down for me," Oshie told NHL.com's Brian McNally. "From what I see, it's two guys that see each other. It's a north-south hit. Tom goes straight through his body. Yes, the head gets hit. But there's been a million times when I've gotten hit, I go to the ref, I say: 'I was hit in the head,' and the ref just says 'he's bigger than you.'"That's the way it goes. I've been blown up a couple times this year and I haven't complained about it when it's a monster hit. I remember in New Jersey, someone blew me up at the end of the game. I knew he was coming, but I had to make a play. My head was down, he flew overtop of me, which I guess is jumping now if you fly up, and not a word was said."Regardless of Oshie's thoughts, the highly entertaining Pens-Caps series moves on to Game 4 on Thursday night, with Washington facing an opportunity to grab a 3-1 series lead.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Legendary former New York Islanders general manager and Florida Panthers president Bill Torrey died Wednesday night at the age of 83.He passed away at his home in Florida, the NHL confirmed Thursday afternoon.Torrey was the architect of the Islanders' four consecutive Stanley Cup championships in the early 1980s and later helped build the Panthers into instant contenders in the following decade."It is no wonder that he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and was the recipient of a Lester Patrick Award," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement Thursday."From his iconic bow tie, retired by the Islanders organization, to his devilish sense of humor, he truly was one of a kind," Bettman continued. "He grew up in close proximity to NHL greatness, near the Montreal Forum, where his passion for the game at all levels developed at an early age. He attended as many games as he could in junior rinks, where he was as at home as at an NHL Board of Governors meeting - and his counsel was sought out at both."On a personal level, Bill was a close and cherished friend and a great source of counsel. I will miss his wit, wisdom and warmth."Torrey became the Islanders' first employee in 1972 and spent 21 years with the franchise, including 20 as GM and alternate governor."Bill set the model for how to build a franchise with the leadership he instilled through his coaching staff, his innovative drafting methods, and the trades he executed," current Islanders president and GM Garth Snow said Thursday."He was a pioneer, who became a mentor and even better friend, to so many in the industry. The teams he constructed set records that may never be broken, including the four straight Stanley Cup Championships and 19 straight playoff series wins. On behalf of the entire organization, we send our deepest condolences to Bill's family."Torrey was named president of the expansion Panthers in 1993 and helped them reach the Cup Final three years later. He retired in 2001.Panthers owner Vincent Viola said Thursday that he was heartbroken to hear of Torrey's passing, offered condolences to the family, and said it was an honor to work with him, while current President GM Dale Tallon also expressed his thoughts on one of modern hockey's most influential figures."Bill was a giant of our game," Tallon said. "He was the architect of a dynasty, a Hockey Hall of Famer and most importantly, a committed family man. I'm heartbroken by the news of his passing. Bill was a mentor and a dear friend who was instrumental in bringing me to South Florida to work alongside him."He was a wonderful person who never lost his passion for the game and loved being at the rink," Tallon continued. "I am proud to have worked with him and I will always be grateful for his support and friendship. He was a legend and the original Panther. I send my deepest condolences to his family and many friends. Bill's tremendous legacy will never be forgotten."Torrey was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the Lester Patrick Award for outstanding service to the hockey community in 1983.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Any postseason matchup between the top two teams in their respective conference is bound to be a good one. But when you look at the star power between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins, it's easy to get excited at the prospect of these rosters going head to head in a best-of-seven series.It's even easier to get excited when you look at the bodies of work each side produced in Round 1, as the ultra-hyped David Pastrnak-Patrice Bergeron-Brad Marchand line was an ice-tilting machine in taking down the Toronto Maple Leafs, while Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos combined for 16 points in dispatching the New Jersey Devils in just five games.But three games into their second-round series, the Bruins' and Lightning's stars have gone mostly quiet, shifting the focus into a depth battle.The Bruins' top line was dominant in Game 1, a 6-2 victory, but haven't been as potent in Games 2 and 3. The Kucherov-Stamkos pairing, on the other hand, has been completely silent, mustering just one point - an empty-netter from the captain to close out Wednesday's win.With Tampa's duo struggling to get going, one would think Boston easily holds the upper hand. However, in back-to-back wins, the Lightning's depth players have outplayed the Bruins', and it's been the difference so far in the series.After an admittedly poor Game 1, Brayden Point flipped the script and put forth a four-point effort in Game 2. Ondrej Palat, Point's left winger, scored two goals early in Game 3 to set the tone in what was a near perfect road victory, which also saw Anthony Cirelli bury his first NHL postseason marker.(Photo Courtesy: Getty Images)All in all, the Lightning have 25 points from lines two through four combined with the defensive corps through three games, while the Bruins have generated just nine points from players outside the aforementioned first unit.The Bruins' strength all season long was the success of the Bergeron line, and that carried into the postseason, as they only beat the Leafs when that line was rolling. Now facing a deficit in a series for the first time in the playoffs, head coach Bruce Cassidy knows changes, either in performance or personnel, need to be made.Cassidy was asked about the production of his third line, the scoreless triumvirate of Danton Heinen, Riley Nash, and David Backes, following Game 3, and he indicated a shakeup may be in order to help find a spark."I am concerned," he said, per Tim Rosenthal of Boston.com. "We've got some guys that weren't dressed tonight that have played well for this team."Some guys have had a tough time ... if they stay in, obviously they need to better."The good news for the Bruins is they have several internal options capable of subbing in successfully, as the likes of Ryan Donato and Brian Gionta occupy the press box, and could feasibly step in and help balance the scales.The Bruins just better hope it happens fast, because their season may depend on it.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets forward Joel Armia will be back in the lineup for Game 4 versus the Nashville Predators on Thursday night, he confirmed to reporters following the morning skate.Armia hasn't played since Game 5 of Round 1 when he left the contest with an upper-body injury. He recorded 29 points in 79 regular-season games and has one goal to his name so far in the playoffs.There could be further reinforcements on the way for the Jets, as Mathieu Perreault, out since Game 1 of the first round, participated in the morning skate and could be an option as Winnipeg seeks a 3-1 series lead.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets forward Joel Armia will be back in the lineup for Game 4 versus the Nashville Predators on Thursday night, he confirmed to reporters following the morning skate.Armia hasn't played since Game 5 of Round 1 when he left the contest with an upper-body injury. He recorded 29 points in 79 regular-season games and has one goal to his name so far in the playoffs.There could be further reinforcements on the way for the Jets, as Mathieu Perreault, out since Game 1 of the first round, participated in the morning skate and could be an option as Winnipeg seeks a 3-1 series lead.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Zach Werenski will be out until at least early October as he recovers from a shoulder procedure.The Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman had surgery Thursday to repair an injured shoulder and his recovery is expected to take five-to-six months, the club revealed.Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said Werenski has been dealing with the ailment since early this season, and the expectation is that the talented blue-liner will be ready to play by the start of next season or shortly thereafter.Werenski ranked second only to defense partner Seth Jones among Blue Jackets in average ice time during the 2017-2018 regular season, logging 22:35 per game before the playoffs and bumping that up to 24:11 (fourth on the team) in the postseason.He potted 16 goals and collected 37 points in 77 regular-season contests, chipping in a goal and three points in the Blue Jackets' six playoff games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Zach Werenski will be out until at least early October as he recovers from a shoulder procedure.The Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman had surgery Thursday to repair an injured shoulder and his recovery is expected to take five-to-six months, the club revealed.Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said Werenski has been dealing with the ailment since early this season, and the expectation is that the talented blue-liner will be ready to play by the start of next season or shortly thereafter.Werenski ranked second only to defense partner Seth Jones among Blue Jackets in average ice time during the 2017-2018 regular season, logging 22:35 per game before the playoffs and bumping that up to 24:11 (fourth on the team) in the postseason.He potted 16 goals and collected 37 points in 77 regular-season contests, chipping in a goal and three points in the Blue Jackets' six playoff games.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 fourth edition focuses on Quinn Hughes.Born in Florida, raised in Toronto, and a key part of the future of USA Hockey, Quinn Hughes sounds like an inspirational sports movie. And his NHL career is just months, at the least, away from its start. With a father who is the former director of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs and a mother who played at the University of New Hampshire, hockey is in the eldest Hughes son's blood - and when he's on the ice, it shows.Last season in his Draft-2 year, Hughes was a point-per-game player in 26 USHL games. Those numbers are almost unheard of for a defenseman his age. To give you an idea of just how good they are, no other defenseman in USHL history has put up a better points-per-game ratio in his Draft–1 year (i.e. the season leading up to his draft). That includes fellow Americans Seth Jones and Charlie McAvoy, who are widely considered some of the top defensemen among USA Hockey’s younger set.Year In ReviewHughes accelerated his education and finished high school early to attend the University of Michigan and play for the Wolverines this year. Despite being the youngest player in college hockey (he turned 18 in mid-October 2017), he finished the season with 28 points, the third-highest on his team. He was named to the All-Big Ten freshman team and the All-Big Ten second team, and currently sits in first place for assists by a freshman D-man in program history with 24.He represented Team USA at the 2018 World Junior Championships in Buffalo, where he had three assists and earned a bronze medal. Hughes is currently in Denmark as a member of Team USA for the upcoming IIHF World Championships. It remains to be seen how much ice time he'll get - he was listed as the team’s seventh defenseman in the first tuneup game against Denmark. It's a great opportunity for him either way, and it shows that USA Hockey clearly has him in mind when looking at its future.Areas of StrengthHughes is probably the best skater in this year's draft class. He separates himself from his opponents easily with his stride and top-end speed. He's agile, able to beat defenders easily 1-on-1 and to get back quickly if it becomes necessary. He's got a quick release and a solid arsenal of shots, but he's an even stronger playmaker. He constantly jumps up into the rush, his elite hockey sense and vision guiding him when it comes to choosing his opportunities.He frequently anticipates the play better than those on the ice with him, opponents and teammates alike. Hughes is a creative player, so he's going to take more risks than your average stay-at-home blue-liner. High-risk, high-reward. It's the direction the defensive game is going in the NHL, albeit slowly.Areas of improvementThere is some belief that Hughes needs to add size, as he's a smaller player (he's listed at 5-foot-10 and 174 pounds). Size issues can be overcome with his speed and his elusive nature, however. His play in the defensive zone could use some work, including improving his positioning and working on getting pucks from attackers. But given how high-level his hockey IQ is, it's a good bet that those things will come with further experience.Scouting Reports"After an initial feeling-out phase as the NCAA's youngest player, Hughes has been entering dominant mode ... For comparison sake, the 5-foot-10 rearguard outproduced fellow 2018 draft pick and forward, Brady Tkachuk and has more points than 2017 fourth overall pick Cale Makar as a first year NCAA player. Hughes blends exquisite edgework with blistering acceleration and a mind for creating offense. He's a one man breakout machine and could challenge Filip Zadina for third overall when names are being called in Dallas this June." - Cam Robinson, DobberProspects.com"Hughes is a strong playmaker with excellent vision, capable of threading the needle with either hard or saucered cross-ice passes. Additionally, he has a heavy shot with a quick release, and goaltenders have to work hard to control rebounds off his shots. Hughes makes plays on his backhand look effortless, and he's adept at receiving and settling down pucks while traveling at a high rate of speed. His defensive play is relatively sound in terms of positioning and 1-on-1 tactics. Hughes has improved the timing of his step-ups and hip checks, and he stands his ground on zone entries despite obvious limitations in size and stick length. Losing slot territory to bigger players should be expected, but Hughes is a clever thief with a quick stick who transitions from defense to offense in the blink of an eye. He has top-pairing potential and can quarterback any power play regardless of the talent or skill level of the surrounding personnel." - Steve Kournianos, TheDraftAnalyst.comDid You Know?

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 fourth edition focuses on Quinn Hughes.Born in Florida, raised in Toronto, and a key part of the future of USA Hockey, Quinn Hughes sounds like an inspirational sports movie. And his NHL career is just months, at the least, away from its start. With a father who is the former director of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs and a mother who played at the University of New Hampshire, hockey is in the eldest Hughes son's blood - and when he's on the ice, it shows.Last season in his Draft-2 year, Hughes was a point-per-game player in 26 USHL games. Those numbers are almost unheard of for a defenseman his age. To give you an idea of just how good they are, no other defenseman in USHL history has put up a better points-per-game ratio in his Draft–1 year (i.e. the season leading up to his draft). That includes fellow Americans Seth Jones and Charlie McAvoy, who are widely considered some of the top defensemen among USA Hockey’s younger set.Year In ReviewHughes accelerated his education and finished high school early to attend the University of Michigan and play for the Wolverines this year. Despite being the youngest player in college hockey (he turned 18 in mid-October 2017), he finished the season with 28 points, the third-highest on his team. He was named to the All-Big Ten freshman team and the All-Big Ten second team, and currently sits in first place for assists by a freshman D-man in program history with 24.He represented Team USA at the 2018 World Junior Championships in Buffalo, where he had three assists and earned a bronze medal. Hughes is currently in Denmark as a member of Team USA for the upcoming IIHF World Championships. It remains to be seen how much ice time he'll get - he was listed as the team’s seventh defenseman in the first tuneup game against Denmark. It's a great opportunity for him either way, and it shows that USA Hockey clearly has him in mind when looking at its future.Areas of StrengthHughes is probably the best skater in this year's draft class. He separates himself from his opponents easily with his stride and top-end speed. He's agile, able to beat defenders easily 1-on-1 and to get back quickly if it becomes necessary. He's got a quick release and a solid arsenal of shots, but he's an even stronger playmaker. He constantly jumps up into the rush, his elite hockey sense and vision guiding him when it comes to choosing his opportunities.He frequently anticipates the play better than those on the ice with him, opponents and teammates alike. Hughes is a creative player, so he's going to take more risks than your average stay-at-home blue-liner. High-risk, high-reward. It's the direction the defensive game is going in the NHL, albeit slowly.Areas of improvementThere is some belief that Hughes needs to add size, as he's a smaller player (he's listed at 5-foot-10 and 174 pounds). Size issues can be overcome with his speed and his elusive nature, however. His play in the defensive zone could use some work, including improving his positioning and working on getting pucks from attackers. But given how high-level his hockey IQ is, it's a good bet that those things will come with further experience.Scouting Reports"After an initial feeling-out phase as the NCAA's youngest player, Hughes has been entering dominant mode ... For comparison sake, the 5-foot-10 rearguard outproduced fellow 2018 draft pick and forward, Brady Tkachuk and has more points than 2017 fourth overall pick Cale Makar as a first year NCAA player. Hughes blends exquisite edgework with blistering acceleration and a mind for creating offense. He's a one man breakout machine and could challenge Filip Zadina for third overall when names are being called in Dallas this June." - Cam Robinson, DobberProspects.com"Hughes is a strong playmaker with excellent vision, capable of threading the needle with either hard or saucered cross-ice passes. Additionally, he has a heavy shot with a quick release, and goaltenders have to work hard to control rebounds off his shots. Hughes makes plays on his backhand look effortless, and he's adept at receiving and settling down pucks while traveling at a high rate of speed. His defensive play is relatively sound in terms of positioning and 1-on-1 tactics. Hughes has improved the timing of his step-ups and hip checks, and he stands his ground on zone entries despite obvious limitations in size and stick length. Losing slot territory to bigger players should be expected, but Hughes is a clever thief with a quick stick who transitions from defense to offense in the blink of an eye. He has top-pairing potential and can quarterback any power play regardless of the talent or skill level of the surrounding personnel." - Steve Kournianos, TheDraftAnalyst.comDid You Know?

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 21st edition focuses on the Philadelphia Flyers.The GoodClaude Giroux’s regular season. Giroux's first regular-season hat trick in the Flyers’ last game of the season helped them clinch a playoff spot. It was a fitting end to a sensational individual campaign that yielded a career-high 102 points and saw Giroux lead the NHL with 68 assists.Sean Couturier. A Selke Trophy finalist, Couturier proved just how indispensable he is to the Flyers by playing in all 82 games and posting career highs in points (76) and goals (31). He even played through a torn MCL in Game 6 of the first round of the playoffs, scored a hat trick, and had five points before Philadelphia was eliminated in the 8-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.Big steps for young players. In their second years, defenseman Ivan Provorov logged big minutes and career-highs in goals (17) and points (41) while Travis Konecny played on the top line at times and nearly doubled his production from his rookie year, scoring 24 goals and 47 points. Rookie center Nolan Patrick had a slow start because of bilateral hip surgeries and another injury early in the season but scored most of his 13 goals and 30 points in the back half of the campaign.The BadPlayoff goaltending. The Flyers used three goaltenders in their first-round series with the rival Penguins. Brian Elliott was rushed back from core muscle surgery and ended up with a 1-3 record, a 4.75 goals-against average, and a .856 save percentage. Backup Michal Neuvirth (1-1, 4.40 GAA, .847 SV%) wasn't any better, while Petr Mrazek relieved Elliott in Game 1 and posted a .857 save percentage.Power play. There was talk about how the Flyers’ penalty kill would fare against the Penguins’ NHL-best power play, but one of their downfalls ended up being on their own power play: It was 2-for-21, which is about 9.5 percent, during the series. A missed opportunity in Game 6 on a four-on-three that could have tied the game looms large in hindsight.Couldn’t win at home. Outscored 18-6 at home during their first-round series with the Penguins, the Flyers failed to win even one of their three playoff games on home ice, just the second time in 20 years that has happened.The QuestionsWho’s coming back? After the Flyers’ season ended, Hextall said most, if not all, of the team’s unrestricted free agents would not be brought back - a list that includes Valtteri Filppula, Matt Read, Brandon Manning, and Johnny Oduya. This is not a surprise for a few players. Read spent much of the year in the AHL, while Oduya was claimed off waivers to be a depth defenseman. The writing was on the wall for Manning, and his departure will make room for a younger blueliner to take the next step. There’s a chance Filppula could come back if the Flyers are unable to find something better in free agency or if a younger center is ready to move up.How will they improve this summer? Some of the Flyers’ success next season will depend on young players like Travis Sanheim, Robert Hagg, Oskar Lindblom, Patrick, and Konecny continuing to improve. There’s also the 14th and 19th overall picks in the 2018 NHL Draft. Hextall could additionally make trades this summer, a possibility he hasn’t ruled out. There would likely be a veteran player traded, or Hextall could try to move up in the draft.Who’s the goalie? It’s a question that’s seemingly plagued the Flyers year after year as far back as anyone can remember. Hextall has said he is fine with using Neuvirth and Elliott next season as long as they are healthy. Whether both can stay fit is another matter entirely and Hextall didn’t rule out looking into other options during the offseason.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)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 21st edition focuses on the Philadelphia Flyers.The GoodClaude Giroux’s regular season. Giroux's first regular-season hat trick in the Flyers’ last game of the season helped them clinch a playoff spot. It was a fitting end to a sensational individual campaign that yielded a career-high 102 points and saw Giroux lead the NHL with 68 assists.Sean Couturier. A Selke Trophy finalist, Couturier proved just how indispensable he is to the Flyers by playing in all 82 games and posting career highs in points (76) and goals (31). He even played through a torn MCL in Game 6 of the first round of the playoffs, scored a hat trick, and had five points before Philadelphia was eliminated in the 8-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.Big steps for young players. In their second years, defenseman Ivan Provorov logged big minutes and career-highs in goals (17) and points (41) while Travis Konecny played on the top line at times and nearly doubled his production from his rookie year, scoring 24 goals and 47 points. Rookie center Nolan Patrick had a slow start because of bilateral hip surgeries and another injury early in the season but scored most of his 13 goals and 30 points in the back half of the campaign.The BadPlayoff goaltending. The Flyers used three goaltenders in their first-round series with the rival Penguins. Brian Elliott was rushed back from core muscle surgery and ended up with a 1-3 record, a 4.75 goals-against average, and a .856 save percentage. Backup Michal Neuvirth (1-1, 4.40 GAA, .847 SV%) wasn't any better, while Petr Mrazek relieved Elliott in Game 1 and posted a .857 save percentage.Power play. There was talk about how the Flyers’ penalty kill would fare against the Penguins’ NHL-best power play, but one of their downfalls ended up being on their own power play: It was 2-for-21, which is about 9.5 percent, during the series. A missed opportunity in Game 6 on a four-on-three that could have tied the game looms large in hindsight.Couldn’t win at home. Outscored 18-6 at home during their first-round series with the Penguins, the Flyers failed to win even one of their three playoff games on home ice, just the second time in 20 years that has happened.The QuestionsWho’s coming back? After the Flyers’ season ended, Hextall said most, if not all, of the team’s unrestricted free agents would not be brought back - a list that includes Valtteri Filppula, Matt Read, Brandon Manning, and Johnny Oduya. This is not a surprise for a few players. Read spent much of the year in the AHL, while Oduya was claimed off waivers to be a depth defenseman. The writing was on the wall for Manning, and his departure will make room for a younger blueliner to take the next step. There’s a chance Filppula could come back if the Flyers are unable to find something better in free agency or if a younger center is ready to move up.How will they improve this summer? Some of the Flyers’ success next season will depend on young players like Travis Sanheim, Robert Hagg, Oskar Lindblom, Patrick, and Konecny continuing to improve. There’s also the 14th and 19th overall picks in the 2018 NHL Draft. Hextall could additionally make trades this summer, a possibility he hasn’t ruled out. There would likely be a veteran player traded, or Hextall could try to move up in the draft.Who’s the goalie? It’s a question that’s seemingly plagued the Flyers year after year as far back as anyone can remember. Hextall has said he is fine with using Neuvirth and Elliott next season as long as they are healthy. Whether both can stay fit is another matter entirely and Hextall didn’t rule out looking into other options during the offseason.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The IIHF World Hockey Championship begins May 4 in Denmark.Below, we break down players' commitments by country:Canada

San Jose Sharks netminder Martin Jones stood on his head Wednesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights, stopping all 34 shots he faced. In doing so, Jones improved his already sensational career postseason numbers:W-LGAASV%SO22-162.01.9276With his sixth career playoff shutout - and his second of 2018 - Jones tied Matt Murray for the most by any netminder across the last three years, per NHL Public Relations. He also moved one back of Evgeni Nabokov for the most playoff shutouts in Sharks history. Amazingly, Jones has done it in just 38 games, while it took Nabokov more than double (80) to reach seven shutouts.Considering his playoff numbers, it's odd that Jones hasn't been especially great during the regular season. He's played well, but he's never had a season with a .920 save percentage, and he's never finished in the top five in Vezina Trophy voting.But given his outstanding play when it matters most, it might be time to start including Jones' name in conversations about the game's elite netminders.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.