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.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Tomas Hertl scored his team-leading fifth goal of the playoffs, Martin Jones made 34 saves for his sixth career postseason shutout and the San Jose Sharks evened their second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights with a 4-0 victory in Game 4 on Wednesday night.Marcus Sorensen and Joonas Donskoi scored in the first period to allow San Jose to play from ahead and Joe Pavelski added a power-play goal in the third to help the Sharks rebound from an overtime loss at home in Game 3.Marc-Andre Fleury made 30 saves and Vegas failed to convert on all five power-play chances to lose for the second time in eight games this postseason.The teams have now alternated wins through four games, heading into Game 5 on Friday night in Vegas.Each team has a shutout and an overtime win so far this series, which is now a best-of-three for a spot in the Western Conference Final.Jones was sharp from the start, tying Evgeni Nabokov's record for most saves in a playoff shutout in Sharks history.He robbed Reilly Smith early in the game and delivered big saves throughout. He was helped on a delayed penalty when Brent Burns cleared a puck off the goal line and when James Neal hit the post on a power play in the first period.But he also delivered some big-time saves, including back-to-back stops against William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault on a Vegas power play in the final minute of the second period. Jones then turned aside Smith on a power play in the third.Hertl helped give Jones a cushion with his goal early in the second. Logan Couture won an offensive zone faceoff against Erik Haula and Mikkel Boedker took the puck behind the goal for a wraparound attempt. Hertl was in front and knocked the loose puck in to make it 3-0.Pavelski's goal on the rebound of Couture's shot sealed the game midway through the third.The Sharks made some lineup changes from Game 3 with defenseman Joakim Ryan returning to the lineup for the first time since March 16 in place of Paul Martin and Donskoi getting back in after missing the previous game with a lower-body injury.The moves paid off as the Sharks got off to the fast start coach Peter DeBoer was seeking. After an early giveaway led to a scoring chance for Vegas, Ryan fared well and stripped William Carrier of the puck to thwart a chance for the Golden Knights.San Jose then scored twice in the final five minutes of the first period. Sorensen struck first, using a pick from linemate Eric Fehr to get loose from the corner and then skated around two defenseman to beat Fleury with his fourth goal of the playoffs.The Sharks added to the lead with 5.1 seconds to go when Donskoi skated from his own zone and beat Fleury with a wrist shot from the high slot.NOTES: Vegas had outscored the opposition 7-1 in the first period in the first seven games this postseason. ... Sorensen has five goals in 14 playoff games compared to six in 51 regular-season games.---More NHL hockey: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockeyCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Tomas Hertl scored his team-leading fifth goal of the playoffs, Martin Jones made 34 saves for his sixth career postseason shutout and the San Jose Sharks evened their second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights with a 4-0 victory in Game 4 on Wednesday night.Marcus Sorensen and Joonas Donskoi scored in the first period to allow San Jose to play from ahead and Joe Pavelski added a power-play goal in the third to help the Sharks rebound from an overtime loss at home in Game 3.Marc-Andre Fleury made 30 saves and Vegas failed to convert on all five power-play chances to lose for the second time in eight games this postseason.The teams have now alternated wins through four games, heading into Game 5 on Friday night in Vegas.Each team has a shutout and an overtime win so far this series, which is now a best-of-three for a spot in the Western Conference Final.Jones was sharp from the start, tying Evgeni Nabokov's record for most saves in a playoff shutout in Sharks history.He robbed Reilly Smith early in the game and delivered big saves throughout. He was helped on a delayed penalty when Brent Burns cleared a puck off the goal line and when James Neal hit the post on a power play in the first period.But he also delivered some big-time saves, including back-to-back stops against William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault on a Vegas power play in the final minute of the second period. Jones then turned aside Smith on a power play in the third.Hertl helped give Jones a cushion with his goal early in the second. Logan Couture won an offensive zone faceoff against Erik Haula and Mikkel Boedker took the puck behind the goal for a wraparound attempt. Hertl was in front and knocked the loose puck in to make it 3-0.Pavelski's goal on the rebound of Couture's shot sealed the game midway through the third.The Sharks made some lineup changes from Game 3 with defenseman Joakim Ryan returning to the lineup for the first time since March 16 in place of Paul Martin and Donskoi getting back in after missing the previous game with a lower-body injury.The moves paid off as the Sharks got off to the fast start coach Peter DeBoer was seeking. After an early giveaway led to a scoring chance for Vegas, Ryan fared well and stripped William Carrier of the puck to thwart a chance for the Golden Knights.San Jose then scored twice in the final five minutes of the first period. Sorensen struck first, using a pick from linemate Eric Fehr to get loose from the corner and then skated around two defenseman to beat Fleury with his fourth goal of the playoffs.The Sharks added to the lead with 5.1 seconds to go when Donskoi skated from his own zone and beat Fleury with a wrist shot from the high slot.NOTES: Vegas had outscored the opposition 7-1 in the first period in the first seven games this postseason. ... Sorensen has five goals in 14 playoff games compared to six in 51 regular-season games.---More NHL hockey: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockeyCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Wilson's three-game suspension is a massive blow to the Washington Capitals' aspirations of defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the playoffs. Not only does the right winger's physicality make opponents aware of when he's on the ice, but he's also been a nice compliment to Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov on the Caps' top line, scoring 14 goals during the regular season.This trio has also been firing on all cylinders in the playoffs. Ovechkin (8-5-13), Kuznetsov (5-4-9), and Wilson (2-5-7) have combined for 29 points in nine postseason games, so finding the correct replacement for Wilson is a key decision, to say the least.Here are the forward lines Washington's been rolling out the last few games:LWCRWAlex OvechkinEvgeny KuznetsovTom WilsonChandler StephensonNicklas BackstromT.J. OshieBrett ConnollyLars EllerDevante Smith-PellyJakub VranaJay BeagleAlex ChiassonAssuming Andre Burakovsky remains out of the lineup with an upper-body injury (he hasn't played since Game 2 of Round 1), whoever enters the lineup in Wilson's place likely won't be inserted into a top-line role. Instead, here are five candidates to play alongside Ovechkin and Kuznetsov:T.J. OshieOshie would be a great fit. He isn't afraid to go in the corners, can be a playmaker and a finisher, is responsible defensively, and has experience playing with both Ovechkin and Kuznetsov. The problem is that it would leave Nicklas Backstrom without a proven offensive player on the second line. Lineup depth is crucial against the Pens, so this doesn't seem all that logical.Brett ConnollyConnolly is a right-handed-shooting right winger currently playing out of position on the third line at left wing, so moving him back to his natural position could be a good fit.Though he doesn't bring the same physicality as Wilson, Connolly isn't afraid to throw his weight around (72 hits during the regular season, 13 during the playoffs), brings size at 6-foot-3, and has scored 30 goals over the past two seasons despite a limited role. He could be Trotz's best option.Devante Smith-PellySmith-Pelly is basically a poor man's Wilson. Weighing 223 pounds and having already delivered 28 hits in the playoffs, he's Washington's second-most physical forward. His problem is offense, however, as he posted just seven goals in the regular season, while his career high is only 14.Yet, given that Ovechkin and Kuznetsov create plenty of offense on their own, replicating Wilson's toughness might be Trotz's top priority in order to keep the line's chemistry intact. Going in that direction would make Smith-Pelly the best choice.Jakub VranaAside from Oshie, Vrana has the most offensive upside of the options. The 22-year-old was the 13th overall pick in 2014, and while he scored just 13 goals during the regular season, he has exceptional speed and offensive ability.However, Trotz clearly doesn't trust him defensively. Vrana has been relegated to fourth-line duties, averaging just over nine minutes per game in the playoffs. Being out on the ice against Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin requires acute defensive awareness, so while a promotion to the top line would be exciting, it's probably unwise.Chandler StephensonStephenson is probably the least sexy pick of the bunch, but he's had a nice playoffs so far, tallying five points and playing the sixth-most minutes among Washington's forwards - meaning Trotz clearly trusts him. He's fast and kills penalties, too, so even though he's just 24 with little playoff experience, he wouldn't be a defensive liability, provided his left-handed shot can play on the right wing.Like with Oshie, promoting Stephenson would result in breaking up the team's second line, but it could turn out to be a shrewd move.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

BOSTON (AP) Ondrej Palat scored twice in the first 3:19 of the game, and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Boston Bruins 4-1 on Wednesday night to open a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 28 shots for Tampa Bay, which has won two straight since losing the series opener at home.Anthony Cirelli scored his first career NHL playoff goal - with an assist from Yanni Gourde, whose wife gave birth on Tuesday - giving Tampa Bay a 3-1 lead late in the first.Patrice Bergeron scored his fourth goal of the playoffs for Boston, and Tuukka Rask made 33 saves.Game 4 is Friday night.Palat scored just 1:47 in after Boston defenseman Matt Grzelcyk settled the puck with his glove in his own end, then appeared to lose track of it and skated away, leaving the Lightning with an easy 2-on-1 opportunity.Palat made it 2-0 just 92 seconds later on a shot that deflected off Bruins defenseman Torey Krug and into the net.It stayed that way until the Lightning picked up a power play in the final two minutes when Krug tripped Cirelli as he chased after the puck with an empty net in front of him.The Lightning made it 4-1 anyway when Steven Stamkos found the empty net on the power play with 42 seconds left.NOTES: Former Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez was the honorary fan banner captain, waving a Bruins flag before the game. He was also showed several times on the scoreboard trying to get the fans fired up. ... Brad Marchand picked up a second-period slashing penalty and had to be forcibly steered to the penalty box by a linesman while he argued the call. ... The Lightning won for just the 10th time in 54 visits to TD Garden. Tampa Bay is 13-9 all-time in Game 3s and 7-5 in Game 3s on the road.---More NHL hockey: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockeyCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson has been suspended three games following an illegal check on Pittsburgh Penguins forward Zach Aston-Reese.The suspension comes after Wilson landed a head check on Aston-Reese in Game 3 of the second-round series between the Capitals and Penguins.Wilson was not penalized on the play in question. Following the Capitals win, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan noted Aston-Reese suffered a concussion and a broken jaw as a result of the hit.The suspension comes just one game after Wilson escaped further discipline following a check to the head of Penguins blue-liner Brian Dumoulin.The Capitals currently hold a 2-1 series lead over the Penguins.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Talk about lightning-quick offense.Tampa Bay Lightning winger Ondrej Palat needed just 92 seconds to put two pucks past Boston Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask in the early stages of Game 3, giving Tampa Bay a quick 2-0 lead.

Recently retired Vancouver Canucks forwards Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban, and Minnesota Wild forward Jason Zucker were named finalists for the King Clancy Trophy on Wednesday.

Brian Burke doesn't see a spot for Hartford on the NHL map.Appearing on "Sportsnet's Starting Lineup" on Wednesday, and asked whether the NHL's return to the Connecticut capital is a possibility, Burke retorted, "You'll see Jesus before you see a team back in Hartford."The former general manager of the Hartford Whalers - from 1992-1993 - described a desolate market that was known as the "roaring '80s" during his tenure, noting that many big employers and high-paying jobs uprooted for nearby Manhattan.The resulting loss of industry and jobs eventually stripped away at the local economy and contributed to the Whalers moving to Raleigh, N.C. in 1997, where the club rebranded as the Carolina Hurricanes.Despite the loss in Hartford, the passion for the team still exists. Recent years have seen Connecticut governor Dannel Malloy leading those discussions, as he's floated the idea of renovating the XL Center - the Whalers' former home - to lure the NHL's return. He also invited the nearby New York Islanders, then in search of a new arena, to make their digs in the old barn.Earlier this season, the Hurricanes, under new owner Thomas Dundon, paid tribute to the franchise's legacy, bringing back team gear with the iconic Whalers logo and the unforgettable Brass Bonanza goal song.Meanwhile in Hartford, while the XL Center now houses AHL hockey, the market itself is still seemingly behind Seattle, Houston, and Quebec City on the NHL's expansion radar.As for Burke, the former president of hockey operations with the Calgary Flames resigned from the club earlier this week, later accepting a role with Sportsnet as a playoff analyst.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If Dan Carcillo had a say, Tom Wilson would certainly be suspended.The former NHL enforcer took to Twitter on Wednesday to offer his take on a hit delivered by the Washington Capitals winger on Pittsburgh's Zach Aston-Reese during Game 3, using this angle as a reference point:

You can understand why Philadelphia Flyers fans are high on Carter Hart.On Wednesday, the up-and-coming netminder was named the recipient of the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy, presented to the WHL's goaltender of the year.It marks the third straight year Hart has laid claim to the trophy, while he's also the first netminder to win it more than twice.Related: Why the Flyers must look to acquire Grubauer this offseasonAcross 41 appearances with the WHL's Everett Silvertips this season, Hart notched a 31-6-3 record, alongside a .947 save rate and 1.60 GAA.The Alberta native also suited for Team Canada at last year's World Juniors, when he led the Great White North to its first gold-medal finish in three tournaments.The Flyers selected Hart with the 48th pick in the 2016 draft.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche have gone to Russia for a little netminding insurance, as on Wednesday the club agreed to a one-year deal with KHL goaltender Pavel Francouz.The 27-year-old Czech native has spent the past three seasons in the KHL, where he owned a .946 save percentage and 1.81 GAA in 37 appearances this season.Francouz also represented the Czech Republic at the 2018 Winter Olympics, suiting up for six games. More recently, he's been tabbed to play for the Czechs at the upcoming World Championship in Denmark.As it stands, Semyon Varlamov is the lone Avalanche netminder under contract through next season, meaning Francouz could be in the running for the backup job.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins and Calgary Flames will play two preseason games in China in September, the league announced Wednesday.This marks the second year in a row the NHL has organized games in China, as the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings traveled across the Pacific last year to play a pair of contests in an effort to grow the game in the Chinese market.The first game will be held Sept. 15 in Shenzhen, followed by another one Sept. 19th in Beijing, along with multiple camps and fan interactions hosted by the two teams.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

University of Denver's Jim Montgomery will be the next head coach of the Dallas Stars, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.Mike Chambers of The Denver Post adds Montgomery informed the school he has agreed in principle to become the head coach of the Stars, according to a source.Montgomery said he won't comment until Friday, when Dallas is expected to have a news conference to introduce him as Ken Hitchcock's replacement.The news comes after a report on Tuesday indicated that Montgomery had become one of the emerging candidates for the job. Montgomery was also believed to have garnered serious interest from the New York Rangers, who are also currently without a head coach, according to The Athletic's Craig Custance.Montgomery is coming off his fifth year as coach of the Pioneers, capping his tenure off with a semifinal loss to Ohio State in the Frozen Four. In his five years with the team, he posted a record of 125-57-26.Last offseason, the Florida Panthers gave Montgomery some serious consideration as their next head coach before ultimately hiring Bob Boughner.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the second straight game in the series, Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson delivered a devastating hit to a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins.After avoiding discipline for his hit on defenseman Brian Dumoulin in Game 2, Wilson leveled rookie Zach Aston-Reese with a head shot and will now have a hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety.The hit left Aston-Reese with a broken jaw and a concussion.It seems Wilson's luck has run out as he's likely to be suspended for his latest infraction. The question now is how many games does he deserve to sit?Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The IIHF has doled out suspensions to five Swedish players and three coaches for their actions during the medal ceremony at the conclusion of the 2018 world juniors in Buffalo.Following a 3-1 loss in the final to Canada, several Swedish players were seen taking their silver medals off their necks, most notably captain Lias Andersson, who famously tossed his consolation prize into the stands.Although the event ended nearly four months ago, here are the issued suspensions for the players involved:

Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson will have a hearing Wednesday for his check to the head of Pittsburgh Penguins forward Zach Aston-Reese, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced.In Game 3 Tuesday, and for the second straight contest, Wilson delivered a questionable hit, this time to Aston-Reese at the midway point of the second period. Wilson was not assessed a penalty on the play, but the hit left Aston-Reese with a broken jaw and a concussion.In Game 2, Wilson hit Brian Dumoulin with what appeared to be a head shot, but avoided any discipline after the league determined Dumoulin had turned at the last minute.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg, Manitoba is rarely mentioned as a destination that needs to be on your vacation itinerary. But anyone who's traveled to the hockey-mad city to witness the hometown Jets take the ice at Bell MTS Place knows it's a true spectacle of sport - especially in the playoffs.For everyone who couldn't make the trip to southern Manitoba, here are some of the best photos and clips from the Jets' 7-4 smackdown of the Nashville Predators in Game 3.The game, the crowd, the atmosphere - Tuesday night was a special one for the Winnipeg whiteout.The calm before the storm.

This may be their year.For the first time since Game 1 of their 2016 matchup, the Washington Capitals have edged the Pittsburgh Penguins for the lead in a playoff series.The Capitals defeated the Penguins 4-3 in Game 3 on Tuesday, putting themselves up 2-1 thanks to a late winner by captain Alex Ovechkin.This spring marks the third straight playoff meeting between Pittsburgh and Washington. Here's how the last two series played out:2017Game Matchup Score Series1PIT @ WSH3-2 Penguins1-0 PIT2PIT @ WSH6-2 Penguins2-0 PIT3WSH @ PIT3-2 (OT) Capitals2-1 PIT4WSH @ PIT3-2 Penguins3-1 PIT5PIT @ WSH4-2 Capitals3-2 PIT6WSH @ PIT5-2 Capitals3-37PIT @ WSH2-0 Penguins4-3 PIT2016GameMatchupScoreSeries1PIT @ WSH4-3 (OT) Capitals1-0 WSH2PIT @ WSH2-1 Penguins1-13WSH @ PIT3-2 Penguins2-1 PIT4WSH @ PIT3-2 (OT) Penguins3-1 PIT5PIT @ WSH3-1 Capitals3-2 PIT6WSH @ PIT4-3 (OT) Penguins4-2 PITThe Capitals have the chance to push their series lead to 3-1 when they head to Pittsburgh for Game 4 on Thursday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Zach Aston-Reese suffered a broken jaw that will require surgery, as well as a concussion from a hit delivered by Tom Wilson during Game 3, Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan announced.The check was delivered during the second period; Aston-Reese was bloodied and skated off to the locker room in obvious frustration, while Wilson was not penalized.Sullivan and Capitals coach Barry Trotz had different takes on the hit:

Tom Wilson is under scrutiny once again.The Washington Capitals winger was on the giving end of another crushing check during Game 3 against Pittsburgh, this time at Zach Aston-Reese's expense.Aston-Reese left the ice bleeding while throwing his glove into the bench. Wilson did not receive a penalty on the play.Wilson caught Brian Dumoulin with a high hit in Game 2 that also went unpenalized in any fashion.Interestingly, NHL Department of Player Safety head George Parros was in the building for Game 3, and may be in contact with Wilson afterward.Aston-Reese was not on the ice to begin the third period.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild have extended their search for a new general manager.According to The Athletic's Michael Russo, John Ferguson Jr., who serves as the Boston Bruins' director of player personnel, spent Tuesday in Minnesota interviewing with Wild owner Craig Leipold and president Matt Majka.On Wednesday, New Jersey Devils assistant GM Tom Fitzgerald is expected to go through the same process, and last week, Columbus Blue Jackets assistant general manager Bill Zito was in Minnesota for an interview.All this after Nashville Predators assistant GM Paul Fenton also traveled to Minnesota to put his hat in the ring.The Wild fired longtime executive Chuck Fletcher after being eliminated from the playoffs in five games at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets, marking the third consecutive season that Minnesota has been set aside in the first round.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville Predators forward Calle Jarnkrok was out of the lineup for Game 3 against the Winnipeg Jets due to an apparent injury.Miikka Salomaki drew into the lineup in place of Jarnkrok, skating alongside Mike Fisher and Ryan Hartman.Jarnkrok missed the first three games of Nashville's opening-round series against the Colorado Avalanche due to an upper-body ailment.He has one point through five playoff appearances after he wrapped up the regular season with 16 goals and 19 assists.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Help is on the way for the Pittsburgh Penguins, as forward Evgeni Malkin will play against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night after missing the last three games with an undisclosed injury.Malkin returned to practice Saturday in a full-contact jersey, and resumes game action after missing Game 6 of the Penguins' series versus the Philadelphia Flyers and the first two games of their second-round series against the Capitals.Pittsburgh is looking to gain a series lead by defending home ice Tuesday night.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If you haven't heard by now, hockey fans in Nashville have developed a fairly fishy fascination with heaving dead catfish on the ice at Predators home playoff games. But not everyone is thrilled about it.One of the groups opposed to the act is PETA, which lashed out at the Tennesse Titans offensive line on Monday after some of the players fired up the Nashville crowd during Game 3 on Sunday using a massive catfish.

Count Jim Montgomery among the candidates to become the next head coach of the Dallas Stars.The University of Denver bench boss is in the mix to fill the Stars' coaching vacancy, reports TSN's Frank Seravalli. But it's a crowded field, with TSN's Pierre LeBrun adding that Dallas has about 10 names on its wishlist.The Stars are in search of a new head coach following the retirement of Ken Hitchcock, who called it a career after one final season in Dallas.The search reportedly included Bill Peters prior to his hiring as the new coach of the Calgary Flames. Peters spent the last four seasons behind the bench of the Carolina Hurricanes.Last offseason, Montgomery received consideration by the Florida Panthers before Bob Boughner was ultimately named head coach.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dale Tallon will have money to spend this summer.The Florida Panthers general manager confirmed Tuesday that he'll be able to pursue major free agents once the signing period begins July 1."We’ve identified and we like certain players," Tallon told Matthew DeFranks of the Sun-Sentinel. "We have it in our budget. We’re going to do what we can to improve our team."His statement comes as the expansion Golden Knights roll on in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with two former Panthers on the top line, namely Reilly Smith and Jonathan Marchessault. The latter was believed to have been offered to Vegas as an incentive to take on the former's cap hit, leading to fears of a self-imposed salary cap.That appears neither here nor there at the moment for Tallon, who'll be looking to upgrade both up front and on the blue line."My preference would probably be both, but it depends on what it is, and who it is, and when it is," he qualified. "I think our goals against has got to get better as well. I think it can improve. I guess defense, probably. I would like to address both needs possibly."Florida finished 16th overall in the NHL standings but failed to clinch an Eastern Conference playoff spot, finishing a point behind New Jersey.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators head coach Guy Boucher and his staff will return next season, general manager Pierre Dorion told TSN 1200, according to TSN's Ian Mendes.Dorion went into detail, noting that Boucher will run the team's power play (ranked 27th in the NHL this season), Rob Cookson will be behind the bench as an assistant, Martin Raymond would become the club's "eye in the sky," and that Marc Crawford will remain behind the bench as an assistant.A year after a double-overtime goal in the Conference Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins brought their season to an end, the Senators failed to build off that strong showing in the playoffs and finished with the second-worst record in the league.The Senators' 67 points this season was their lowest total in a full 82-game season since the 1995-96 campaign.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers agreed to terms with KHL goaltender Mikko Koskinen on a one-year contract Tuesday, the team announced.The 29-year-old is coming off his fourth season with SKA St. Petersbrug where he put up a monstrous 1.57 GAA and a .937 save percentage in 29 games.The deal's worth $2 million plus a $500,000 signing bonus, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, and will be made official on July 1.Koskinen also represented Finland at the Olympics where he once again was stellar, finishing with a 1.62 GAA and a .932 save percentage en route to an eighth-place finish.He was originally drafted 31st overall by the New York Islanders in 2009, where he played just four career games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After years of poor finishes, the Sabres finally secured the first overall pick at Saturday night's draft lottery, giving Buffalo GM Jason Botterill the opportunity to alter his franchise's future. It's arguable, however, that this year's draft gets much more interesting after the first three picks.Let's take a look at how the first round might play out (playoff team draft order determined by regular-season point totals):1. Buffalo Sabres D Rasmus Dahlin | D | Frolunda HC (SHL)

If only Bill Foley had thought of this when he was struggling to name Vegas' expansion franchise."We are the Golden Misfits," William Karlsson proclaimed, according to NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika, after scoring the overtime winner and setting up another goal with an incredible pass in the Vegas Golden Knights' 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks in Game 3 on Monday night.The star forward explained that the players refer to themselves by that name, but that he doesn't consider himself a leader of the group."I wish," Karlsson added, per The Athletic's Eric Duhatschek. "There were some other Golden Misfits leaders. I just try to blend in.”The Golden Knights' unexpected success has been well-documented, and they've indeed done it with a collection of players who were cast aside for one reason or another by their former organizations.Karlsson has enjoyed a phenomenal breakout season with Vegas since being left exposed by the Columbus Blue Jackets and chosen by the Golden Knights in the expansion draft. He ranked third in the NHL with 43 goals in the regular season and racked up 78 points in 82 games, obliterating his previous career highs of nine goals (in 2015-16) and 25 points (last season).He's carried that success into the playoffs as Vegas' improbable run has continued, potting four goals (including two game-winners) and nine points in seven games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

WASHINGTON - Braden Holtby has looked a little more like himself lately - and that's great news for the Capitals.Since coming off the bench in the first round, Holtby has won five of his six starts and stopped all but 14 shots he has faced. He owns the fifth-best save percentage (.932) and fourth-best goals-against average (1.95) among qualified playoff goaltenders heading into Game 3 of the Capitals' second-round tilt with the Penguins on Tuesday night in Pittsburgh.Holtby has been particularly sublime in the second round, turning aside 54 of 58 shots in two games against the Penguins. He was a big part of Washington's series win over the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round, and he could play an even more important role in helping his team reach the conference final."He's been rock solid, really making the routine saves look really easy," Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen told theScore. "He's mixed in some big saves on better scoring chances. Gives you a lot of confidence. You can just focus on your own game, knowing that he's going to be there for you."Some suggested coach Barry Trotz's decision to start backup Philipp Grubauer instead of Holtby for Washington's first-round series against the Blue Jackets was essentially a benching. Others thought Trotz was just going with the guy who was playing better.Holtby lost six of his last 12 starts of the regular season and admitted he'd struggled with fatigue throughout the year. He certainly wasn't at his best. His .907 save percentage in 2017-18 was his lowest ever, and he was pulled more often than at any other point in his career, including three times in a six-game span in early March.Then, after a shaky Grubauer allowed eight goals on 46 shots in his two starts, Holtby replaced him late in the second game of the first-round series. Since then, he's resembled the goalie who won a Vezina Trophy two years ago, the Jennings Trophy last year, and owns the second-highest career playoff save percentage in NHL history."He's been sharp and that's what you need in the playoffs," Niskanen said. "You need your goalie to be really good, especially to beat a good team."(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Holtby didn't have a good outing in the playoffs last year, and that was arguably the difference in Washington's second-round series against Pittsburgh. Simply put, the Penguins got much better goaltending from Marc-Andre Fleury than the Capitals did from Holtby.By the end of the series, which Pittsburgh won en route to its second straight Stanley Cup win, the teams were separated by two goals (20-18). It's crazy to think how it might have ended had Holtby made a few more saves.This might be the year he'll do it. No longer tentative against their longtime rival, the Capitals have come flying out of the gate in each of the first two games against a team still dealing with the absence of second-line center Evgeni Malkin. Washington built a 2-0 lead only to see it evaporate in a Game 1 loss, but bounced back nicely to even the series heading to Pittsburgh.None of that is by accident. The Capitals aren't facing the pressure of the last two years, and it shows. They don't seem intimidated by the Penguins - and part of that is because of Holtby. His confidence and poise in net have had a trickle-down effect on the rest of the team."Just confidence," coach Barry Trotz said. "It starts there. Any time you have a goaltender who's playing well in this sport, it gives your team confidence. It gives them trust, it gives them confidence - I'll just say a more aggressive posture when you're playing the game. When that's not there, you tend to not be as aggressive."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes are turning to one of the most experienced executives in hockey as they continue to reshape their front office.Rick Dudley is vacating his position as Montreal Canadiens senior vice president of hockey operations to join the Hurricanes in the same capacity, Carolina announced Tuesday.Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin revealed shortly thereafter that the position Dudley most recently occupied with Montreal will not be filled.Dudley has more than 45 years of experience in professional hockey, and worked with current Hurricanes acting GM Don Waddell with the Atlanta Thrashers from 2009-11.He joined the Canadiens as assistant GM in 2012 and was promoted to the senior VP level in 2014.The 69-year-old has served as GM with four NHL franchises - the Thrashers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Ottawa Senators, and Florida Panthers - and has held senior executive roles with seven clubs - the Thrashers, Lightning, Senators, Panthers, Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Canadiens.Dudley was also head coach of the Buffalo Sabres for parts of three seasons in the late 1980s and early '90s, and had a 40-game stint as the Panthers bench boss in 2003-04.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Even after watching Brayden Point's line get torched in Game 1, Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper didn't consider making any adjustments.The trio of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak was typically dominant in a series-opening win, combining for 11 points, with Point finishing a team-low minus-five, and linemates Tyler Johnson (minus-3) and Ondrej Palat (minus-4) joining him on the ice for several of those goals.Cooper said he gave zero consideration to switching the Point line away from the Bergeron line, though, and it paid off as Tampa Bay evened the series with a Game 2 victory."We had faith in them," Cooper said after the win. "If there was any talk of switching them off, those three would have walked right into my office and said ‘What are you doing?'"

In the wake of Tom Wilson's hit on Brian Dumoulin in Game 2 between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins, the NHL Department of Player Safety released a video Monday clarifying what "unavoidable head contact" is, based on the league rulebook.Here's the play:

Lou Lamoriello's tenure as ​​​​​​Toronto Maple Leafs general manager was short, but over the course of those three years, the club's fortunes and future shifted dramatically.Hired by team president Brendan Shanahan on July 23, 2015, the Hall of Fame executive took the helm of a franchise in the throes of a rebuild, a process that many hoped would finally bring the Maple Leafs not only back to relevance, but ultimately rival the great success stories of the NHL's salary cap era.After bottoming out (with a purpose) in his first year on the job, Lamoriello's Maple Leafs have improved season over season, with certain key moves along the way considered critical to that success, and maybe a couple others seen as potentially burdensome as the club moves on under new management.An honorable mention off the top: Selecting Auston Matthews first overall in 2016 was obviously a franchise-altering event, but we can't pump Lamoriello's tires too hard for that one. Making that pick is like hitting a hole in one in mini putt where the cup sits directly at the bottom of a narrow funnel.Time will tell whether the other picks made under his watch in 2016 and 2017 - none of whom have cracked the NHL lineup - will pan out.Trading Phaneuf to OttawaWith Phil Kessel having already been jettisoned to Pittsburgh by the previous regime as part of a big move in a different direction, Lamoriello pulled off another seismic deal seemingly out of nowhere with the rival Ottawa Senators.Gone was Dion Phaneuf and a host of spare parts in exchange for, well, a bunch of other guys who would never suit up for Toronto. In essence, the deal saw Toronto not only part ways with its captain but also shed a boatload of salary while taking on some pieces that would be quickly discarded.The Maple Leafs went on to finish dead last that season, allowing them to draft potential future captain Matthews.Locking up Kadri, RiellyLamoriello locked up a pair of core, young players, signing defenseman Morgan Rielly and forward Nazem Kadri to six-year contracts.Rielly's deal is worth $30 million ($5-million cap hit), while Kadri's is set at $27 million ($4.5-million cap hit), both of which have provided excellent value for Toronto, and will for years to come.Acquiring franchise goalieLater in 2016, Lamoriello concluded the goalie tandem of James Reimer and Jonathan Bernier wasn't going to cut it, leading him to acquire Frederik Andersen from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a pair of draft picks, including a first-round selection that year.That pick was used by Anaheim to add forward Sam Steel, who has yet to make his NHL debut.Andersen was immediately signed to a five-year, $25-million contract extension, and Toronto has ridden him hard over the past two seasons, as no other goalie has faced more shots from the opposition.If the Maple Leafs are going to reach the promised land anytime soon, it'll be on Andersen's back.Gotta have gritTry as they might to navigate the waters of a new speed- and skill-based NHL, the Maple Leafs could not resist committing money and term to tough guy Matt Martin, who was signed to a four-year, $10-million contract on July 1, 2016.Martin appeared in all 82 regular-season games and six playoff contests in the first year of his deal, but dressed for only 50 this past season, and none in a first-round series loss to Boston. Still, he was protected from the expansion draft, with skilled forward Brendan Leipsic landing in Vegas.Only two years to go on this one; not Lou's finest moment to be sure.Extending Zaitsev for a long, long timeSpeaking of questionable decisions ...No Maple Leafs player has a longer-running contract than defenseman Nikita Zaitsev, who signed a seven-year, $31.5-million deal on May 2, 2017 after having completed his rookie season.Unfortunately for Toronto, the Russian took a step or three back this past season, the first under his new deal.Zaitsev has a modified no-trade clause that will come into effect beginning in 2019-20 as well, meaning he'll be harder to move over the final five years.Adding veteran experienceAs free agency opened in 2017, Lamoriello announced two big signings on consecutive days.Fresh off a Cup win in Pittsburgh, defenseman Ron Hainsey was brought aboard on a two-year, $6-million deal, and a day later, forward Patrick Marleau - long in search of hockey's greatest prize - surprised many by making the move from San Jose to Toronto on a three-year, $18.75-million deal after two decades in Northern California.Both did all that could be asked of them and more during their first seasons in blue and white, and will be counted on to bring the kind of leadership and experience needed to go deeper in the playoffs in 2019.Team-friendly deals for Hyman, BrownAlso last summer, the Maple Leafs extended a pair of restricted free agents with solid deals for the team: winger Zach Hyman at four years and $9 million, and Connor Brown for three years and $6.2 million.In order to succeed in the salary cap era, you need secondary scoring on the cheap, and having Hyman and Brown signed to these deals as the likes of Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner come up for big-money deals is huge.A new GM will be on the job if and when Toronto makes good on years of hope, but Lamoriello's legacy will only be boosted by what he was able to accomplish while working for Shanahan, a player he drafted second overall in 1987 back in his New Jersey days.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite attending a Vegas Golden Knights game in team gear, Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller says he isn't switching NHL allegiances.After the Golden Knights tweeted a photo of Miller during Game 2 of their series against the San Jose Sharks, some accused him of being a bandwagon fan.

The Carolina Hurricanes terminated the contract of president of hockey operations Ron Francis on Monday, the team announced.The club also announced that Joe Nieuwendyk has resigned as a pro scout and advisor.The move comes after Francis was reassigned from his general manager duties to president of hockey operations back on March 7. Since then, the team has reportedly seen a number of GM candidates pull themselves out of the running for the job. According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the GM role has been appointed to Don Waddell for the time being.Last week, former head coach Bill Peters signed with the Calgary Flames after opting out of his contract with the team.On the flip side, the Hurricanes were lucky enough to acquire the second overall pick on Saturday at the draft lottery, which Waddell feels should make the team more appealing to potential coaches and GM candidates.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Lou Lamoriello isn't planning on leaving the Toronto Maple Leafs anytime soon.The 75-year-old held a conference call Monday addressing the news he won't return as the team's general manager next year. He noted he plans to honor his original contract with the team and move into the role as senior advisor for four years, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

Lou Lamoriello will not return as the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs next season, the team announced Monday."Three years ago, Lou and I agreed on a contract that would see him serve as general manager of the Maple Leafs for three years and then transition to senior advisor for the following four years," president Brendan Shanahan said in a release. "This morning, I informed Lou that I was not going to deviate from that course of action. I will now focus all of my attention towards making a decision regarding our next general manager."Lamoriello joined the Maple Leafs back on July 23, 2015, after resigning from the New Jersey Devils. Under his direction, Toronto drafted Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews and acquired goaltender Frederik Andersen.The team also made the playoffs for the first time in a full 82-game season last year, repeating the trick this term while posting a franchise-best 105 points."I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lou for his tireless work over the last three years as general manager," Shanahan said. "His leadership in helping establish a cultural foundation, as well as his invaluable mentorship to everyone in this organization, has been instrumental in our development."The team will hold a conference call Monday at 1 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson won't have a hearing for his hit on Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin in Game 2, the NHL confirmed Monday to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.The incident occurred early in the second period on Sunday and saw no penalty called. Meanwhile, Dumoulin didn't return to the game.

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 20th edition focuses on the New Jersey Devils.The GoodNico Hischier. The Swiss star's rookie season was, by all indications, a success. Hischier wasn't a Calder Trophy finalist, but that won't diminish his achievements. He recorded 20 goals and 52 points, good enough for second on the team. Hopes are high for the 2017 No. 1 pick.Taylor Hall. Hall is a finalist for the Hart Trophy alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Anze Kopitar, and for good reason. He was the Devils' best player all season and put together an incredible 26-game point streak. Hall finished with 39 goals and 54 assists, and his 93 points were 41 more than the next-closest player on the team (Hischier).A major improvement. The Devils went from finishing last in the Eastern Conference in 2016-17 to snagging the second wild-card spot in the playoffs this year. That climb featured a 16-win, 27-point bump from last season. While they were eliminated in the first round by the Tampa Bay Lightning, there are plenty of reasons for optimism going forward.The BadGoaltending issues. John Hynes chose to start Keith Kinkaid - who took over for injured starter Cory Schneider midway through the season - for the first two games of the Devils' first-round series. Halfway through Game 2, Hynes replaced Kinkaid with Schneider, who made 34 saves in the Devils' only win of the series. Kinkaid did well in the regular season while Schneider was out, but it's easy to imagine the Devils faring better with their No. 1 goalie in net to start the playoffs.Secondary scoring. Secondary scoring was an issue during the season and became even more of a problem in the playoffs. While Hall is a prolific scorer, he and the top two lines can't be expected to do it all.Goals against. The Devils allowed 240 goals for the second consecutive year, putting them in the middle of the pack. New Jersey must improve in this area next season if it wants to make a deep playoff run.The QuestionsWhich free agents will stay? Patrick Maroon, Michael Grabner, and John Moore will all be unrestricted free agents this summer. Grabner and Maroon were acquired at the trade deadline; of the two, Maroon made a better case to be kept. Moore might be cut loose to make room for younger players.What is Ray Shero's plan? Ray Shero traded for defenseman Sami Vatanen, and it wouldn't be a stretch to expect him to target another defenseman this summer, with the likes of John Carlson potentially being available. He's integrated rookie Will Butcher with veterans Andy Greene and Ben Lovejoy while upgrading the blue line the last couple of years, and it's possible he'll want to add a top-four defenseman to that group.Who is the No. 1 goalie? There could be a battle in training camp for the No. 1 goalie spot. Kinkaid was outstanding during the second half of the season filling in for Schneider while he was down with groin and hip injuries, and was one of the reasons the Devils were able to push for a playoff spot. He won 16 games in the last two months of the season. Shero seems fine with having two No. 1 goalies on his roster, though. There are worse problems to have.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid will captain Canada at the World Championship, Hockey Canada announced Monday.In addition, Buffalo Sabres forward Ryan O'Reilly and the St. Louis Blues' Brayden Schenn will serve as alternates."We have a mix of youth and veterans on our team, and the three players chosen to wear a letter know what it takes to be successful in international competition and that will help us be successful in our ultimate goal," head coach Bill Peters said in a release.This marks the second time McDavid has represented Canada at the World Championship after the 21-year-old suited up for the 2016 tournament. That year, he put up one goal and nine points in 10 games en route to a gold medal.Canada will look to reclaim top spot after settling for silver last year against Sweden.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes' search for a new general manager is being put on hold, and team president Don Waddell will continue holding down those duties for now, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.This after Carolina was unable to make a deal with Buffalo's assistant GM Steve Greeley, who interviewed twice for the job.Friedman adds there are no plans to hire anyone in the near term.Waddell has been sitting in as acting GM ever since Ron Francis was promoted to president of hockey operations.The Hurricanes were awarded the second overall pick at Saturday's draft lottery, and Waddell said the selection makes the club more appealing to potential coach and GM candidates.Waddell served as Atlanta Thrashers general manager for 12 years and joined the Hurricanes in 2014.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Wilson's hit on Brian Dumoulin is under scrutiny.The Washington Capitals forward caught the Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman with a hit to the head in Sunday's Game 2, a collision that went unpenalized.Related: Dumoulin leaves Game 2 after hit to head from WilsonNow, the NHL Department of Player Safety is in the process of closely reviewing the incident, a league source told Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post.Since Wilson was suspended twice in the preseason, he is considered a repeat offender, which could potentially lead to a stiffer punishment if the league decides the hit warrants action.That history, however, does not factor into whether there should be supplemental discipline to begin with.Dumoulin was unable to return to the game, and there's no word yet on his status for Game 3.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets can put some offense together in a hurry.Case in point: Dustin Byfuglien and Mark Scheifele scored 29 seconds apart in the first period of Game 2 in Nashville, making Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne look very human in the process.Patrik Laine also hit the post shortly after Scheifele's goal.The Jets were looking to head back to Winnipeg with a 2-0 series lead.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

What would Stanley Cup Playoff action be without some sort of goal controversy?The issue Sunday was whether the Pittsburgh Penguins were able to get the puck all the way across the goal line during the third period of Game 2.Patric Hornqvist sure thought he scored on Braden Holtby, but the Capitals goaltender was able to shield the puck from view just enough to hinder the officials from conclusively ruling it a goal.