It's one of the most talked about storylines in hockey, and yet it still seems surprising.Stop us if you've heard this before: Alex Ovechkin has never advanced past the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in his 13-year NHL career.We can debate the reasons why until the cows come home, but the fact remains that despite producing at nearly a point-per-game clip in the postseason, the superstar's Washington Capitals teams haven't ever gone on a deep run.Standing in his - and their - way yet again are the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have knocked Ovechkin's squad out of the second round in both of the two previous campaigns. The Penguins have actually done it three times in the last nine years, and in every case, went on to win the Stanley Cup (2009, 2016, and 2017).In these playoffs, Ovechkin willed his club to a six-game first-round win over the Columbus Blue Jackets after the Capitals fell into a 2-0 series deficit in their own building. He guaranteed they'd return to Washington tied after four games (which they ultimately did), and helped Washington become the first team ever to win a series after dropping the first two at home in overtime.Is this the year he finally gets into the third round?Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Jersey Devils rookie Nico Hischier played the entire season with a chronic left hand/wrist injury, the team announced Thursday.Doctors determined that the 19-year-old will not require surgery, but he does need to immobilize the affected area for three-to-four weeks.Despite the injury, Hischier still played all 82 regular-season games - tallying 20 goals and 52 points - and all five playoff games, in which he scored one goal.In other injury news, the team also announced that forward Pavel Zacha suffered a ligament injury in his right hand toward the end of the season. Like Hischier, Zacha doesn't need surgery, but does require two-to-four weeks of immobilization.The injuries mean neither player will be available for the upcoming World Championship.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's still a long way to go in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but several players have begun to state their respective cases in the hunt for the Conn Smythe Trophy.From veteran household names to a budding young star, here are the players who've been most valuable to their teams in the postseason so far:5. Nikita KucherovLike some of his Conn Smythe competition, Kucherov averaged a goal per game (and two points per contest) in his first-round series as the Tampa Bay Lightning dispatched the New Jersey Devils in five.Kucherov's contributions have been clutch, as three of his five goals were eventual game-winners, including the go-ahead marker in Game 4 that came after he set up the tying goal, and which was then followed by a Kucherov insurance marker.The dynamic forward was in the Hart Trophy conversation for much of the regular season, and he's continued to thrive in the playoffs, helping the Lightning make quick work of the Devils.4. Martin JonesIf not for the goaltender he's about to face (more on him later), Jones might be a Conn Smythe front-runner, but he certainly deserves to be in the discussion.The San Jose Sharks netminder has been stellar so far in the postseason, allowing only four goals combined in the club's first-round sweep of the Anaheim Ducks.Jones was ranked fifth in our first edition of these rankings last week, and then he went out and stopped 30-of-31 shots in the Sharks' series-clinching victory in Game 4.3. David PastrnakSure, the 21-year-old Boston Bruins forward cooled off after his hat trick and six-point performance in Game 2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, notching a pair of assists in Game 4 but being held pointless in three of the next four games.However, Pastrnak busted out of his mini-funk and provided the dagger in Game 7, showing great patience and then burying one to give the Bruins a 6-4 lead with about eight minutes left in the third period.It was a timely goal that all but put away the Leafs, and it punctuated what was a tremendous series on the whole for the immensely talented young winger.2. Sidney CrosbyCrosby is tied with Pastrnak and Jake Guentzel for the points lead so far this postseason, but unlike his Pittsburgh Penguins teammate, the captain's 2018 playoff prowess hasn't been essentially limited to one incredible game.Yes, they both racked up six goals and 13 points in the Penguins' six-game series against the Philadelphia Flyers, and while Guentzel's four-goal, five-point eruption in Game 6 was impressive, Crosby was productive all series long with goals in four of the six games, a hat trick in Game 1, and four multi-point efforts.Here's a look at Sid's series:GameGAP130320003134411250116123The two-time reigning Conn Smythe winner is off to a roaring start in his quest for a third - and in pursuit of a fourth Stanley Cup championship.1. Marc-Andre FleuryThe Vegas Golden Knights haven't played a game since our first edition of the rankings, but the face of the franchise still has the best save percentage and goals-against average of any goalie in the playoffs.He'll be the front-runner until he falters.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)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 players. The second edition focuses on Filip Zadina.The Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL have an excellent track record when it comes to producing top-quality NHL prospects. Filip Zadina is the latest in a line that includes 2017 first overall pick and current New Jersey Devils forward Nico Hischier, and Colorado Avalanche star, 2013 No. 1 pick, and potential Hart Trophy nominee Nathan MacKinnon.To most draft pundits, Zadina is a solid No. 3 behind Rasmus Dahlin and Andrei Svechnikov (though a few rank Boston University’s Brady Tkachuk ahead of him). Yet, no matter his ranking, or where he goes in June, his performance across this season shows he will be a valuable addition to any team’s prospect pool and will make an impact in the NHL sooner rather than later.Year in reviewTaken 11th overall in the 2017 CHL Import Draft out of the senior Czech league where he played with HC Dynamo Pardubice, Zadina made an immediate impact with the Mooseheads. His 82 points in 57 games, including 44 goals, were the most of all QMJHL rookies, and he was named to the league’s All-Rookie Team and First All-Star Team.It was the 2018 World Junior Championships, however, that served as his breakthrough. With seven goals in seven games and a spot on the tournament All-Star Team, he had scouts raving and moved up from seventh among North American prospects on NHL Central Scouting’s list at midterms to second on their final list.It’s not usually a good idea to fully form an opinion of a player based on one tournament. In this case, though, Zadina was able to use the WJC to showcase how he’s grown as a player and his offensive prowess, holding his own against not only his peers but players one and two years out from their own NHL drafts.Areas of strengthZadina drives play when he’s on the ice. He averaged 1.12 primary points per game (goals and primary assists) and isn’t padding that total with power-play points as much as you might expect - his even-strength points per game total is 0.82. He’s a dangerous goal-scorer with a full arsenal of shots, able to beat the opposing goaltender from seemingly anywhere on the ice. You name it, and he can probably score it.He’s a good, but not amazing, skater with good straight-line speed and strong lateral movement and agility. While his top-end speed isn’t elite, he can evade defenders well. He’s probably the best stick-handler in this year’s draft and a strong playmaker. What's more, he’s sneaky and smart - that playmaking is driven by high-end hockey sense.Zadina protects the puck well, sometimes holding his stick with one hand and using his body to shield the puck from opponents. He’s also a tireless worker, which is a good thing given he does have a few aspects of his game to improve at the next level.Areas of improvementZadina has seen time on the Mooseheads’ penalty kill this season and is effective in breaking up shooting lanes, but his defensive positioning could use refining. The only real red flag when it comes to his play is his decision-making.While he is an incredibly skilled puck-handler, Zadina sometimes holds onto the puck for too long, which can lead to him missing a good scoring opportunity, or can allow his opponent to force a turnover. He’ll need to improve his decision-making, rather than hemming and hawing, in order to be successful in the NHL.Scouting reports“The power winger has been destroying CHL competition and saved his best performances for the Czech national team this holiday season. He uses his size and strength to create space and then delivers electric moves and finishing ability. Can beat you from anywhere on the ice. A tireless worker.” -Cam Robinson, DobberProspects.com“Rangy skilled winger with soft sands who mixes his game-breaking skills with a tremendous appetite for success. Zadina arguably is the best forward prospect to come out of the Czech Republic in the last few seasons, and since he was (a) 16-year-old has been hand-picked to lead his country at the biggest international tournaments. He has exceptional vision and hockey sense that makes every teammate a threat to score when he is on the ice.” - Steve Kournianos, TheDraftAnalyst.comDid you know?

The first installment of theScore's NHL Playoffs Power Rankings was put together by NHL editor Craig Hagerman.1. San Jose SharksThe Sharks did it all in the first round en route to their series sweep of the Anaheim Ducks. The club averaged four goals per game, highlighted by a crushing 8-1 win in Game 3.San Jose has five players averaging a point per game in the playoffs, while Martin Jones has put up a save percentage of .970, second in the postseason only to Marc-Andre Fleury.2. Winnipeg JetsExcepting a 6-2 smackdown in Game 3 to the Minnesota Wild, the Jets cruised to their first series win in franchise history. In fact, it was after this game that Connor Hellebuyck took his play to another level, turning in two consecutive shutouts to close out the series.The Jets are also averaging the best shot differential in the playoffs, while Adam Lowry was the only series regular who failed to record at least a point. Facing a potent offense and an elite goalie, the Nashville Predators have their hands full in Round 2.3. Vegas Golden KnightsFleury didn't need to prove anything more to the people of Las Vegas regarding his value to the team, but he made sure to anyway. The 33-year-old put up two shutouts in four games and allowed just three goals in the four-game sweep of the Kings.The rest of the team could use a few more goals than they put up in Round 1, but that likely has more to do with the Kings' goaltending than it does the Golden Knights' offense.4. Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Penguins certainly look up to the task of competing for a third straight Stanley Cup.The club finished the first round having registered just shy of five goals per game. Sidney Crosby looks to be in Conn Smythe Trophy form with 13 points in six games while Jake Guentzel, on the back of a four-goal output in Game 6, has equaled that tally.5. Tampa Bay LightningThe Lightning didn't steamroll the Devils in the first round, but they did make short work of them, needing just five games.Nikita Kucherov continues to do his thing offensively, with five goals and 10 points in Round 1, and Andrei Vasilevskiy, who admitted to feeling fatigued toward the end of the season, appears no worse for wear, posting a 2.01 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage.6. Nashville PredatorsThe Avalanche gave Nashville a bit of a scare in the opening round, but when it came down to it, the Predators flexed their muscles and hammered Colorado in Game 6.Pekka Rinne proved to be human through the first five games, but with a shutout in the sixth, he's helped calm the nerves. The hope now is it's that version of Rinne we see in Round 2.7. Washington CapitalsAfter dropping the first two games of their opening series to the Blue Jackets at home, the Capitals reeled off four straight wins to advance to the second round for the fourth consecutive year.Of course, they are now poised to take on their playoff nemesis in the Penguins, but perhaps the desire to finally exercise their playoff demons will propel them past the reigning Cup champs. If John Carlson, Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Nicklas Backstrom can continue their blistering pace - the quartet combined for 33 points in Round 1 - that's a distinct possibility.8. Boston BruinsWhen the Bruins lost a game to the Maple Leafs in the first round, it was tight, but when they won, it was generally in commanding fashion.The top line of Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, and Patrice Bergeron further proved they are the best line in the NHL today, and that if you don't keep them in check, they'll make you pay. Meanwhile, David Krejci, Torey Krug, and Jake DeBrusk combined for 24 points; the Bruins are no one-trick pony.9. Toronto Maple LeafsIt wasn't 4-1-in-the-third-period painful, but the Maple Leafs' third-period unraveling in Game 7 that saw them give up a 4-3 lead en route to a 7-4 defeat to the Bruins certainly sunk Toronto fans.That being said, Toronto put some doubt into a strong Boston team by coming back from a 3-1 deficit to force Game 7.10. Colorado AvalancheIt didn't end the way the Avalanche wanted, but they took the Presidents' Trophy winners to six games after needing the penultimate night of the regular season to nail down a playoff spot.Considering the club finished with the worst full-season record in the salary cap era just one year ago, this season was most definitely a success for the Avs.11. Columbus Blue JacketsThe Blue Jackets appeared destined for a different playoff fate after finally drawing an opponent other than the Penguins.Unfortunately, after taking the first two games on the road, the same old problem arose: Sergei Bobrovsky struggled in the playoffs. He finished the series with a 3.18 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage. The fact those are better marks than his career playoff averages says it all.12. Philadelphia FlyersWhen the Flyers won against the Penguins, they looked great. When they lost, they looked pitiful.They gave up nearly five goals a game (28 in six contests) and managed a success rate of just 9.5 percent on the power play. That's not a winning formula.13. New Jersey DevilsThe Devils didn't make things easy for the Lightning, which is an achievement in itself.However, the fact was unless Taylor Hall scored 12 goals in the series, New Jersey didn't stand much of a chance against the top club in the Eastern Conference.14. Minnesota WildThe Wild are ranked ahead of a couple teams here because they actually managed to win a game, and did so in commanding fashion.They defeated the Jets in Game 3 by a 6-2 margin, but that was all the life they had. They laid a massive egg in the first period of Game 5, and that about says it all.15. Anaheim DucksThe Ducks averaged one goal per game and four against, and you just can't do that.Of course, taking an average of seven penalties a game doesn't help your chances either.16. Los Angeles KingsIt's surprising Jonathan Quick was able to skate off the ice of his own accord night in and night out after carrying the Kings throughout the entire playoffs.He did all he could, but in the end, it's physically impossible to win a playoff series when you only score three goals.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL is going to make fans wait to find out which teams land the three highest picks in the upcoming draft.Saturday's lottery will be a little different than previous years, as the top three picks won't be revealed until the second intermission of Game 2 between the San Jose Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights, according to Sportsnet.Picks No. 15 through No. 4 will be announced earlier in the evening, during a pregame show beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sportsnet, NBCSN, CBC, and TVA Sports.Game 2 is scheduled to begin after 8 p.m. ET.The Buffalo Sabres have the highest odds (18.5 percent) of securing the first overall pick by virtue of having the league's worst record this season. The Ottawa Senators and Arizona Coyotes finished with the second- and third-worst marks in the NHL, respectively.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wayne Gretzky has reclaimed the 12,000-square-foot Thousand Oaks home he sold to former New York Mets star Lenny Dykstra over a decade ago."The Great One" recently bought back the property for a cool $13.5 million - $5 million less than Dysktra paid for it in 2007, according to Jack Flemming of the Los Angeles Times. Dykstra lost the house to foreclosure after declaring bankruptcy.The property boasts six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a theater room, gym, fenced tennis court, two guest houses, and views of the Santa Monica Mountains.(Photo courtesy: Los Angeles Times)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

ARLINGTON, Va. - For the third year in a row, the Washington Capitals' path to the Eastern Conference final goes through Pittsburgh. And they can only hope their third attempt goes better than the first two.The Capitals have fallen short in back-to-back second-round series against the Penguins, who went on to win the Stanley Cup both times. It’s the 11th occasion on which the franchises have met in the postseason; Pittsburgh has won nine of 10, only losing in the first round in 1993-94.Both have taken turns dominating their division in recent years. Under the current playoff format, that means plenty of second-round encounters, and their third straight conference semifinal bout kicks off Thursday night at Capital One Arena."The way the playoff system is set up, it's going to be that way until it changes,” Capitals goalie Braden Holtby said. “That's just the way it is. I don't think it's a surprise to any of us that this would be another matchup that could come. But we didn't think too much about it.”Washington hopes this time will be different. Both series felt more like an Eastern Conference final than a second-round meeting and, while the Capitals were game opponents, the Penguins prevailed in six in 2016 and escaped with a seven-game triumph in 2017.Capitals players are well aware Pittsburgh has won nine consecutive playoff series dating back to 2016.“Nobody’s been able to beat them,” defenseman Matt Niskanen said. “They have a lot of experience, they’re talented. It’s quite the challenge. I think we’re excited for that challenge. Somebody’s going to beat them eventually, so let’s get excited about our opportunity that maybe we’re the team to do it.”The Capitals haven’t made the Eastern Conference final since 1998; they reached the Stanley Cup Final that season but were swept by the powerhouse Detroit Red Wings. Washington hasn't made it out of the second round during captain Alex Ovechkin’s career, despite making the playoffs in all but three of his 13 NHL seasons.“One day, it (has) to happen,” Ovechkin said. “If we want to get success, we have to beat Pittsburgh and move forward. They (are the) most experienced team right now in the league. Lots of great players over there, and it's a huge challenge."Both teams are a little different this time around. The Penguins lost Nick Bonino, Matt Cullen, and Trevor Daley to free agency, and Marc-Andre Fleury to the expansion draft. They added Riley Sheahan and Derick Brassard to bolster center depth, and Jamie Oleksiak on the blue line. Rookies Zach Aston-Reese and Dominik Simon were called up from Wilkes-Barre.Washington lost Justin Williams and Karl Alzner in free agency and Nate Schmidt in the expansion draft, was forced to trade Marcus Johansson to clear cap space, but added Michal Kempny and Jakub Jerabek to the blue line, and Alex Chiasson and Devante Smith-Pelly up front.The Capitals won the Metropolitan Division despite starting the season 10-9-1, and the Penguins certainly won't be taking them lightly.“You have to face everybody,” Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang said. “You have to face the best team going forward, so if you want to win it all, you have to face those big teams, and the Capitals are the next team that we have on our path. So we have to bring our 'A' game, they're a good team."One other way this series differs from the others is that the Penguins are facing major adversity heading into Game 1. Injured forwards Evgeni Malkin and Carl Hagelin will not play in the opener, though Malkin, who had 98 points in the regular season, made the trip to Washington; both were hurt during the Penguins' first-round triumph over the rival Philadelphia Flyers.Regardless of who shuffles in and out of the respective lineups, these are two top NHL teams painfully familiar with one another, and that should make for some great hockey.“We faced each other for a lot of games and we should know each other right now inside out,” Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom said. “That's just how it is. It's usually (a) tight series and one-goal games."Yeah. We're excited about this one.”Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's playoff time, folks. To get you prepared, we break down each of the Eastern Conference's second-round series. (Advanced stats at 5-on-5 courtesy: Corsica)Lightning 1A vs. Bruins 2ALightningStatBruins4-1Round 1 record4-36Goal differential853.58% (3rd)5-on-5 Corsi %52.23% (5th)7.5% (T-10th)Shooting percentage9.23% (4th)94.74% (4th)Save percentage91.36% (12th)102.24 (4th)PDO100.59 (7th)Kucherov (10)Leading scorerPastrnak (13)The Lightning will come into this series as the more rested team after making quick work of the New Jersey Devils in Round 1. But after coming off an emotional high from a wild Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, don't take the Bruins lightly. In fact, the Bruins owned the Lightning during the regular season after walking away with the W in three of their four meetings.The matchup should be highlighted by a battle between two of the best lines in hockey: Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak versus Kucherov-Stamkos-Miller. The Bruins' trio combined for 30 points in Round 1, while the Lightning's top three had 20 points in its five-game series with the Devils.Game 1 begins Saturday at 3 p.m. ET at Amalie Arena in Tampa BayCapitals 1M vs. Penguins 2MCapitalsStatPenguins4-2Round 1 record4-26Goal differential1349.23% (9th)5-on-5 Corsi %51.63% (7th)7.5% (T-10th)Shooting percentage15.22% (1st)91.93% (10th)Save percentage91.51% (11th)99.43 (9th)PDO106.73 (2nd)Carlson (9)Leading scorerCrosby & Guentzel (13)What would a second round be without the Capitals and Penguins going head to head?The Capitals will be looking for revenge after being eliminated by their Metropolitan rivals the past two postseasons. And, of course, the spotlight will once again shine brightest on the renewed showdown between the teams' respective captains. While Crosby (10 goals, 22 points) historically comes out on top in terms of series wins, Ovechkin (12 goals, 26 points) has statistically fared better between the two in their 20 playoff contests against one another.Game 1 begins Thursday at 7 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena in Washington(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With only eight teams remaining, the NHL unveiled the complete schedule for the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which kicks off Thursday night in Washington.Eastern ConferenceTampa Bay Lightning (A1) vs. Boston Bruins (A2)Game Date Time (ET) Home TV1Saturday April 283 p.m.LightningNBC / SN/ TVA2Monday April 307 p.m.LightningNBCSN / CBC / TVA3Wednesday May 27 p.m.BruinsNBCSN / CBC/ TVA4Friday May 47 p.m.BruinsNBCSN / CBC /TVA*5Sunday May 6TBDLightningTBD*6Tuesday May 8TBDBruinsTBD*7Thursday May 10TBDLightningTBDWashington Capitals (M1) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (M2)GameDateTime (ET)HomeTV1Thursday April 267 p.m.CapitalsNBCSN / CBC / SN / TVA2Sunday April 293 p.m.CapitalsNBC / CBC / TVA3Tuesday May 17:30 p.m.PenguinsNBCSN / SN / TVA 24Thursday May 37 p.m.PenguinsNBCSN / SN / TVA*5Saturday May 5TBDCapitalsTBD*6Monday May 7TBDPenguinsTBD*7Wednesday May 9TBDCapitalsTBDWestern ConferenceNashville Predators (C1) vs. Winnipeg Jets (C2)GameDateTime (ET)HomeTV1Friday April 278 p.m.PredatorsNBCSN / CBC / SN360 / TVA2Sunday April 297 p.m.PredatorsNBCSN / CBC / TVA3Tuesday May 18 p.m.JetsCBC / TVA / CNBC4Thursday May 39:30 p.m.JetsCBC / TVA / NBCSN*5Saturday May 5TBDPredatorsTBD*6Monday May 7TBDJetsTBD*7Thursday May 10TBDPredatorsTBDVegas Golden Knights (P1) vs. San Jose Sharks (P3)GameDateTime (ET)HomeTV1Thursday April 2610 p.m.Golden KnightsNBCSN / CBC / SN / TVA2Saturday April 288 p.m.Golden KnightsNBC / CBC / SN / TVA3Monday April 3010 p.m.SharksNBCSN / CBC / TVA4Wednesday May 210 p.m.SharksNBCSN / CBC / TVA*5Friday May 410 p.m.Golden KnightsNBCSN / CBC / TVA*6Sunday May 6TBDSharksTBD*7Tuesday May 8TBDGolden KnightsTBD*If necessaryCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jake Gardiner held himself accountable for Toronto's Game 7 loss to the Boston Bruins.The Maple Leafs defenseman saw a team-high 24:01 of ice time in the series decider, recording one assist and a minus-five rating on the night. While the perception of the latter stat has changed in recent years, being on the ice for five even-strength goals did not sit well with Gardiner, to say the least."Personally, I've got to be better," he said after the loss, per TSN's Mark Masters. "A lot of this game is on me and it's just not good enough, especially in a game like this. It was the most important game of the season and I didn't show up so not much I can say, really."There's no real explanation," he continued. "I felt fine. It just seemed like everything I was doing ended up in the back of the net and ... yeah."Gardiner was left to defend Boston's Jake DeBrusk and was burned on the eventual game-winning goal, and broke the play down as such:

The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs may have only provided one Game 7, but it sure was entertaining.The Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs combined for a high-octane, drama-filled deciding contest with the Bruins ultimately coming out on top, 7-4, after erasing three separate Toronto leads.Suffice it to say, Wednesday's game was full of memorable moments. Here are five of the best.Andersen swipes puck off goal line

The Bruins are moving on.Boston came out on top of a back-and-forth Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs and will now face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round.Down 4-3 heading into the third period, the Bruins erupted for four goals over the final 20 minutes, resulting in one of the highest-scoring Game 7 wins in NHL history.

The eyes of the hockey world are focused solely on the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins on Wednesday night, as Game 7 of their first-round series is the only game on the NHL slate.Through the opening 20 minutes, the contest didn't disappoint as the two sides poured in a combined five goals, with Boston taking a 3-2 lead as time expired.The action was fast and furious, as Patrick Marleau put the Leafs ahead with a power-play marker two minutes into the game.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly left Game 7 after taking a slap shot to the face off the stick of Boston's Zdeno Chara.The incident occurred in the latter half of the opening frame, and Rielly left the ice on his own after a few moments.Rielly was unable to get a good look at the shot with Brad Marchand right in front of him until the moment of impact.He was, however, able to return for the second period with a stitched upper lip.

Jared Bednar of the Colorado Avalanche, Bruce Cassidy of the Boston Bruins and Gerard Gallant of the Vegas Golden Knights have been named Jack Adams Award finalists.After the Avalanche finished with the worst full-season record since the adoption of the shootout in his first year behind the bench, Bednar helped Colorado improve by 47 points in the standings and jump into a wild-card playoff spot.In Cassidy's first full campaign as Boston's head coach and with a roster relying heavily on first-year players, the Bruins finished with 112 points - good for fourth overall in the league.Gallant guided the expansion Golden Knights to a 51-24-7 record and first-place finish in the Pacific Division (fourth overall) as Vegas defied all expectations in its inaugural season.This award is presented annually to the NHL coach deemed to have contributed the most to his team's success, as determined by members of the NHL Broadcasters' Association.The NHL Awards will be handed out June 20 in Las Vegas.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Dundon may be narrowing in on a decision.Buffalo Sabres assistant general manager Steve Greeley will be in Carolina on Thursday for a follow-up interview for the Hurricanes' vacant GM job, sources told TSN's Darren Dreger.Greeley is believed to have first interviewed for the job in mid-March. He just wrapped up his first season in the Sabres' front office, and previously served as the New York Rangers' director of player personnel, the assistant coach at Boston University, and a scout for the Kings.Carolina's new GM will be tasked with working alongside its new owner in the search for a new head coach after Bill Peters recently resigned.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Those Philadelphia Flyers are a tough bunch.Shortly after defenseman Ivan Provorov revealed he lost feeling in his arm and continued playing in Game 6 of the club's playoff series versus the Pittsburgh Penguins, forward Wayne Simmonds said he'd been playing with a torn pelvis since training camp.The injuries didn't stop there, though.

The Minnesota Wild received permission from the Nashville Predators to speak with assistant general manager Paul Fenton, and are holding a day-long interview with him Wednesday for their vacant GM position, sources told Michael Russo of The Athletic.Minnesota fired longtime executive Chuck Fletcher earlier this week after being eliminated from the playoffs in five games at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets, marking the third consecutive season the Wild were bounced in the first round.Fenton has been linked to several open GM positions over the years, and recently backed out of the running for the Carolina Hurricanes' job.The 58-year-old has been with the Predators for 18 seasons, and has played a key role in helping draft and develop one of the deepest teams in the NHL alongside GM David Poile.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After sweeping through the first round, it's time to double down.The Vegas Golden Knights made quick work of the Los Angeles Kings in Round 1, and will now face off against another California foe in the second round, as they're set to duel with the San Jose Sharks beginning Thursday.While the Golden Knights are just 12 wins away from winning the Stanley Cup in their first-ever season, the bookies have also put out some other numbers to make things even more interesting:Will either team score in the first 10 minutes of the game?Bet OddsYes+105No-125Will the game go to overtime?Bet OddsYes+270No-340Will Logan Couture score a goal?Bet OddsYes+190No-240Will Brent Burns get a point?Bet OddsYes-150No+130Will James Neal score a goal?Bet OddsYes+210No-260Will Erik Haula score a goal?Bet OddsYes+220No-270Will William Karlsson score a goal?BetOddsYes+180No-220Will Jonathan Marchessault get a point?Bet OddsYes-150No+130Will Reilly Smith get a point?Bet OddsYes-150No+130Will Alex Tuch get a point?Bet OddsYes+120No-140Will David Perron get a point?Bet OddsYes-125No+105How many shots on goal for the Sharks?Bet OddsOver 30.5-110Under 30.5-110How many goals will the Sharks score?BetOddsOver 2.5+110Under 2.5-130How many shots on goal for the Golden Knights?BetOddsOver 31.5-110Under 31.5-110How many goals will the Golden Knights score?Bet OddsOver 2.5-125Under 2.5+105(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)(Odds courtesy: Westgate Las Vegas Superbook)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We knew Ivan Provorov played through a shoulder injury in the Philadelphia Flyers' final playoff game, but now we know just how bad it was.On Wednesday at the Flyers' dressing room clean-out, the young defenseman told reporters, including the Courier-Post's Dave Issac, that he lost feeling in his left arm by the third period of Sunday's 8-5 series-clinching win by the Pittsburgh Penguins.Provorov added that he would have missed six-to-eight weeks if it had been the regular season, according to Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The latest NHL odds released by Bodog on Wednesday favor the Boston Bruins to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7 of their opening-round series.TeamMoneylineMaple Leafs+150Bruins-170The sportsbook isn't looking kindly on the Maple Leafs' postseason run in general, as Toronto has the longest odds to win the Stanley Cup of the nine teams remaining in the playoff picture.Team OddsPredators4-1Lightning9-2Penguins6-1Golden Knights6-1Jets6-1Capitals13-2Bruins9-1Sharks9-1Maple Leafs16-1Those odds are a slight change from last week, when Bodog favored the Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup in their very first season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced Wednesday that injured forwards Evgeni Malkin and Carl Hagelin will not dress for Game 1 against the Washington Capitals.Malkin traveled with the team to Washington but Hagelin did not make the trip. Malkin missed Game 6 of the first round against the Philadelphia Flyers with an undisclosed injury, while Hagelin left the same contest following a hit by Flyers captain Claude Giroux.Game 1 of the second-round series is set for Thursday.Malkin has picked up five points in five playoff games, while Hagelin has notched three points across six games.Here's how the lines looked Wednesday without Malkin and Hagelin in tow:

The City of Calgary wants to clean the slate.After talks between the city and the Calgary Flames on a new arena project went sideways in September, some councillors have begun efforts to renew negotiations with the hockey club.Led by councillor Jeff Davison, and sponsored by a strong majority of Calgary council, a motion will be filed in hopes of renewing talks with the Flames. The motion does not require the support of Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, one of the loudest voices in the last round of failed negotiations.The motion, which could come forward as soon as a council meeting next month, will establish a committee to negotiate with the Flames."We've got to start from some point and I believe, as city council, it shouldn't be us sitting around waiting for business to engage with us," said Davison, as per Sammy Hudes of the Calgary Sun. "We should be going out there and actively engaging with business and trying to make this happen."I'm not interested in playing a game of 'he said, she said.' What's important is that (negotiations) broke down and that I think there's a way forward. There's a social and economic benefit in seeing the team here over the long term and what the organization brings."Davison added that he's leading the charge to renew arena talks in an effort to retain the Flames in the city. While the franchise has not directly threatened relocation, the Flames have said the team can only remain at the Scotiabank Saddledome for as long as it is feasible.Flames President Ken King has stated the Flames would not issue threats, but instead just simply leave. Meanwhile, Flames president of hockey operations Brian Burke took it one step further last June, when he floated the possibility of the franchise uprooting to Quebec City."The reality is it's a possibility in the near future the team could leave," fellow Councillor Ward Sutherford, who sponsored the motion, told Rick Bell of the Calgary Sun. "To not come back to the table for a second time would be a disservice to everybody - to Calgarians and to the Flames."The Flames have played out of the Saddledome since 1983. Today, it's the league's oldest arena, outside of New York's Madison Square Garden, which underwent a recent $1-billion renovation. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has referred to the Saddledome as a "grand old building," but one that is antiquated."In the short term, nobody should doubt the Flames' or their ownership's commitment to the community," Bettman said in September. "But at some point, I envision without a new building there will be consequences that everybody is going to have to deal with."That same month, King added the Flames have become a recipient of revenue sharing, likely in part to the franchise's inability to generate new revenues in a facility competitive with other NHL markets.The team eventually walked away from negotiations, claiming the city did not have a genuine interest in an arena project. Prior to leaving talks at a standstill, the two sides released their proposals for public consumption.The Flames offered to fund $275 million of an arena project, with the remaining $225 million coming from a community revitalization levy generated from a surrounding arena district.Meanwhile, the city's proposal was split into thirds, with $185 million each coming from the city, team ownership, and a user-based ticket surcharge. However, the Flames claimed the city's offer would in fact see the Flames fund the entire project as, in part, it considers ticket fees as part of team revenue.On talks of the possibility of negotiations reopening, the Flames issued a statement, as per Meghan Potkins of the Calgary Herald, "Based on what has transpired to date, we have no basis on which to believe anything has changed with respect to a new arena. If the reports are true, it will be interesting to see what, if anything, the city decides to do."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bruce Cassidy is going back to his original lineup for Game 7.The Boston Bruins head coach reinserted Danton Heinen at Wednesday's morning skate and removed Tommy Wingels, with the forward lines looking like this:LWCRWBrad MarchandPatrice BergeronDavid PastrnakJake DeBruskDavid KrejciRick NashDanton HeinenRiley NashDavid BackesTim SchallerSean KuralyNoel AcciariNo changes will be made on defense, for which the pairings will be as follows:LDRDZdeno CharaCharlie McAvoyTorey KrugKevan MillerMatt GrzelcykAdam McQuaidHeinen played in the first five games of the first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs before being taken out for Game 6, which the Bruins lost 3-1 on Monday night.The 22-year-old rookie has been held without a point in the playoffs after posting 16 goals and 47 points during the regular season.Rick Nash will move back up to the second line after playing on the third line in Game 6.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 17th edition focuses on the Anaheim Ducks.The GoodAdam Henrique and Rickard Rakell. Traded from the New Jersey Devils to Anaheim for defenseman Sami Vatanen, Henrique went on a tear, producing 20 goals and 16 assists in 57 games. Rakell had a breakout season and is arguably Anaheim's most skilled player, as he notched a career-high 34 goals and 69 points.John Gibson. Though Gibson struggled with injuries at times, he still played 60 games and won a career-high 31. His .926 save percentage was sixth among goaltenders who played in at least 30 contests. The Ducks wouldn't have made the playoffs without Gibson's efforts.Kariya and Selanne's HOF induction. In November, the Ducks celebrated two of the franchise's biggest stars, Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne, as they were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame together. Selanne was inducted in his first year of eligibility; Kariya in his fifth.The BadNo Patrick Eaves. Eaves played just two regular-season games in 2017-18; he missed most of the season with Guillain-Barre syndrome, and then tore the labrum in his shoulder while rehabbing, which required surgery. He's expected to be recovered by mid-October. Eaves scored 11 goals in 20 games after being traded to Anaheim by the Dallas Stars at the 2017 deadline.Even-strength scoring. During the regular season, Anaheim's offense ranked 18th in the league. The Ducks then scored only two goals at five-on-five during their playoff series with the San Jose Sharks, in which they were swept in four games. Rakell, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Jakob Silfverberg, Ondrej Kase, and Henrique combined for seven points in the series; Perry was held off the scoresheet altogether.Defensive breakdowns. Two-way defenseman Cam Fowler injured his shoulder during the last week of the regular season and was not available for the playoffs. Francois Beauchemin, Hampus Lindholm, Josh Manson, and Brandon Montour were left in the lurch and had to deal with the Sharks' speed and quick transitions, which led to many odd-man rushes. With Fowler, the Ducks' defense was fourth in the NHL during the regular season.The QuestionsHow can the Ducks get better? During Anaheim's locker clean-out day, general manager Bob Murray was frank about the team needing to get faster to be able to compete in today's NHL. That includes getting younger, too. Unrestricted free agents Kevin Bieksa, Antoine Vermette, Jason Chimera, and Chris Kelly are not expected to return next year, while veteran defenseman Beauchemin announced that he won't be back for another season. It'll be worth keeping an eye on restricted free agents Nick Ritchie, Kase, Montour, and Andy Welinski.Will there be any front office changes? As of right now, Randy Carlyle will be back as head coach next season. Murray has made that much clear. However, this week the team parted ways with assistant coach Trent Yawney, who oversaw the defense for four seasons The Ducks gave up eight goals in Game 3 of the series against the Sharks.Will a core player be traded? It's possible. Getzlaf, Perry, and Kesler all have no-move clauses in their contracts, so someone would have to be willing to waive theirs. Perhaps a team that misses out on John Tavares could be interested in one of the aforementioned players. It all depends on how any of this fits with Murray's offseason plan.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Game 7: The moment we've all been waiting for.And if the intrigue of a winner-takes-all game isn't enough, this first-round series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins is the only one to go the distance in these 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs. So the entirety of the NHL world will be watching.The puck drops one last time Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET between the Maple Leafs and Bruins, with the eventual winner earning a date with the Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 2.Here's a look at some notable numbers ahead of the game:5: Of the 14 Game 7s the Maple Leafs have played all time on the road, just five have ended in victory. The Maple Leafs' last Game 7 as the visitors, of course, came in Boston in 2013. We all know how that ended.12: There are more than a few familiar faces who witnessed Boston's epic comeback win five years ago, counting eight Bruins and four Maple Leafs. For the Bruins, that includes Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara, David Krejci, Brad Marchand, Adam McQuaid, and Torey Krug, plus netminders Tuukka Rask and Anton Khudobin. Meanwhile, Nazem Kadri, Leo Komarov, Jake Gardiner, and James van Riemsdyk are back in familiar territory for the Maple Leafs. (Tyler Bozak was there, too, but watching from the press box that night.)12: Wednesday marks the 12th Game 7 for Chara, the most among active NHLers. The Bruins captain sits just one back of Patrick Roy and Chris Chelios for the all-time mark.13: Typically unlucky, but it's also the number of times the Bruins have come away victorious in Game 7. Even more impressive, 12 of those wins have come in their own barn.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)14: It's been a decade and change since the Maple Leafs won a playoff round, with their last coming against the Ottawa Senators in 2004.26: Wednesday's match marks the Bruins' 26th all-time Game 7, surpassing the Detroit Red Wings for the most in NHL history.31.6: Boston's power-play efficiency in the opening round, which trails only the Washington Capitals at 33.3. One piece of advice to the Maple Leafs? Take no penalties.41: Not all hockey games require only 60 minutes, as 41 Game 7s have gone to overtime to decide a winner.99: Usually Wayne Gretzky, but in this case it's the number of wins for the home team in the 169 all-time Game 7s. Good news if you're a Bruins fan.126: Score first and you'll like your odds, as the team to first find the back of the net has won 126 of the 169 Game 7s in NHL history. That's a win rate of nearly 75 percent.(Statistics courtesy: NHL PR)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We saw it coming from miles away, but now that it's here, let's take a moment to appreciate the potential greatness of the second-round series between the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets.The Western Conference juggernauts were the league's top two teams at the end of the regular season, and battled tooth and nail for the Central Division crown (the Predators ultimately prevailed by a three-point margin). It's a shame this clash of titans couldn't come one round later, but the Preds and Jets each have what it takes to win the Stanley Cup.Here's why this will be the playoffs' best series:The rostersLooking at the weapons and balance at all positions on both rosters, it's easy to see why the Predators and Jets finished where they did.Each team employs a Vezina Trophy finalist in goal. It's nearly impossible to determine who has the edge between Pekka Rinne and Connor Hellebuyck, but the Jets' netminder had the better start to the postseason, recording a .924 save percentage in five games versus the Minnesota Wild.On the blue line, the Predators are widely considered to have the deepest defensive corps in the league thanks to the vaunted foursome of P.K. Subban, Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm, and Ryan Ellis. But the Jets are no slouches in this department either, surrendering just 25.2 shots per game in the first round.Up front, both sides consistently roll four lines that all boast scoring threats. The Predators had six 50-point scorers - although two came from the back end - this season, while the Jets' offense had four players reach at least 60 points.The matchupsThe emphasis on matchups in the playoffs is one of the most common talking points, and it's the primary focus for each coaching staff. While it will be much more stressful for Peter Laviolette and Paul Maurice to find ways to exploit and take advantage of their opponents, from a fan's perspective, watching the Josi-Ellis pairing try to shut down Patrik Laine's group, or Subban taking a tall order of Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler for four-to-seven games, should provide excellent entertainment value.In addition to keeping an eye on the personnel chess match, it'll be interesting to monitor which side can make the right adjustments to win the series. What makes the Predators and Jets so difficult to contain is their ability to beat opponents multiple ways. Each roster has a terrific blend of size, speed, skill, and game-changing special teams, so the margin for error is going to be razor thin as they look to expose their counterparts.The budding rivalryPerhaps the most exciting aspect of the Predators-Jets series is that it could be the beginning of a rivalry. The NHL isn't interested in changing the playoff format, so these two could meet in the postseason for years to come - a la the Penguins and Capitals, who are set to renew hostilities for the third consecutive season on the Eastern side of the bracket.The Predators and Jets didn't get here by chance. Both teams have assembled young, cost-efficient rosters that have almost all the key contributors locked in long-term. The Preds earned contender status with a Cup run last season and followed up this year by claiming the Presidents' Trophy. The Jets, meanwhile, have developed a championship-worthy roster that's only in its first year of contention. The Cup window for both teams is more open than it is closed.They say true rivalries aren't formed until a playoff series is had, but in terms of this year's regular-season matchups, the Predators came away with the advantage, winning three of five contests. If those games serve as an indicator of what's to come, the hockey world is in for a treat, as two games were decided by one goal, while four had eight or more goals combined.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens signed free-agent centerman Alexandre Alain to a three-year, entry-level contract on Tuesday, the team announced.Alain is a 21-year-old undrafted forward and captain of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in his fifth season in the QMJHL. He finished the 2017-18 regular season as the third-highest scoring player, finishing with 44 goals and 43 assists in 65 games.The Quebec City native is also currently tied for the team lead in postseason scoring with 19 points (11 goals, eight assists) in 11 contests.Montreal's 2017-18 campaign did not exactly go to plan for general manager Marc Bergevin and Co., so it should continue to be an active offseason for the Canadiens' front office.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The dates and start times for the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs were announced Tuesday.Game 1 of the Washington Capitals-Pittsburgh Penguins series is set for Thursday at 7 p.m. ET, while Game 1 of the San Jose Sharks-Vegas Golden Knights series gets going later that evening at 10 p.m. ET.The showdown of Western Conference juggernauts between the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets is set for 8 p.m. ET on Friday from The Music City.As for the second Eastern Conference series, the Tampa Bay Lightning await the winner of Wednesday's Game 7 matchup between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs. If Boston advances, Game 1 between the Bruins and Lightning will start Saturday at 3 p.m. ET. If the Leafs move on, the game will start at 8 p.m. ET instead.The complete second-round schedule will be announced when available. All times are subject to change, per the NHL.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It all comes down to this.Game 7 will decide the winner of the opening-round series between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs, set for Wednesday at TD Garden.Here's how the series has played out so far:GameMatchupScore1Toronto at Boston5-1 Bruins2Toronto at Boston7-3 Bruins3Boston at Toronto4-2 Maple Leafs4Boston at Toronto3-1 Bruins5Toronto at Boston4-3 Maple Leafs6Boston at Toronto3-1 Maple LeafsThe winner faces the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Deryk Engelland, Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds, and Winnipeg Jets winger Blake Wheeler are the 2018 finalists for the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award, the league announced Tuesday.The award, introduced in 2006-07, recognizes "the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice, during the regular season and who plays a leading role in his community growing the game of hockey."Fans, teams, and NHL personnel are asked to suggest nominees, but former NHL great Mark Messier selects the finalists and picks the winner, who will be announced at the NHL Awards in June.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After the Bruins initially seemed poised to wrap up their first-round matchup with the Maple Leafs in four, Toronto clawed its way back to force a winner-take-all Game 7 on Wednesday night in Boston.This series has been similar to the first-round meeting between these two clubs in 2013, with the Bruins taking a 3-1 stranglehold once again, only to see the Leafs even things up in Game 6. Maple Leafs fans are painfully aware of how that series ended, but a new year brings new hope.Leafs-Bruins is the only opening-round series to go the full seven games in 2018, with the winner set to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round. Here are the three keys to Game 7:Can Toronto contain Boston's top line?The biggest key for the Maple Leafs is the same one that's been true all series long: Contain the Bruins' top line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak.The three laid waste to the Maple Leafs in the first two games of the series, putting up a combined 20 points. After six games, the trio has combined for 23 points and a whopping 64 shots. However, as seen below, the Maple Leafs managed to contain the Bruins' top line in Games 3, 5, and 6 - and, not surprisingly, skated off with the W in those contests:Game #Pastrnak PointsMarchand PointsBergeron Points132126443000421DNP50006000On the flip side, Bergeron, Marchand, and Pastrnak need to rekindle some of their magic from Games 1 and 2 if the Bruins hope to advance beyond Wednesday.Andersen vs. RaskAfter getting off to what seemed like a very uneven start to the series, the Maple Leafs - spearheaded by Frederik Andersen - have evened out the battle in the crease.Both goalies have three wins - Andersen has one fewer loss due to the time of his pull in Game 2 - and each have been yanked at one point in the series. Rask, however, has allowed two fewer goals across 19 extra minutes.GoalieWLGAASV%Times PulledRask332.74.9091Andersen323.30.9091Andersen has one-upped Rask during the last four games, however, having put up a .936 save percentage and a 2.28 goals-against average, compared to the Boston netminder's marks of .894 and 3.18, respectively.But with this series down to just one game, and potentially one goal, whichever team moves onto Round 2 will be largely contingent on who stands larger in the crease.DisciplineAfter the Maple Leafs nearly gave up their 4-1 lead to the Bruins in Game 5 on the back of a parade of penalties, Mike Babcock preached the importance of discipline ahead of Game 6"Stay out of the penalty box. We were in there, if I'm not mistaken, six times (in Game 5)," Babcock said. "The game was going perfect and then there was a parade to the box. Stay out of the penalty box."The Bruins' power play is currently firing at a success rate of 31.6 percent, good enough for the second-best mark in the postseason. That means the Maple Leafs, in response, are icing the second-worst penalty kill.The Bruins have capitalized on six of their 19 power plays. And of those six goals, two have stood up as game-winners.What's more concerning for the Maple Leafs is that they've taken 16 of those 19 penalties in games played in Boston, and all six of the Bruins' power-play goals have come at TD Garden.It's also important to point out that the Maple Leafs' power play has been no slouch, either. With a 23.1 percent success rate, Toronto's power play is tied for the fifth-best efficiency and it's been even better on the road, firing at a 25 percent clip.With that being said, James van Riemsdyk has been the only Maple Leaf to score a power-play goal in this series (he has three), so now's the time for Toronto to get a little more from its special teams.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Sami Vatanen confirmed Tuesday that he suffered a concussion on the hit from Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov in Game 4, according to Devils beat reporter Amanda Stein.Kucherov delivered the devastating blow late in the first period. The hit went unpunished and sidelined Vatanen for the remainder of the game and the decisive Game 5, in which the Lightning won the series.

Thanks, but no thanks.New Jersey Devils forward Taylor Hall has declined the opportunity to suit up for Team Canada at the World Championship, Devils reporter Amanda Stein announced Tuesday.The invitation was extended after Hall and the Devils were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games.Hall has previously suited up for three world championships, with his most recent appearance coming in 2016.The 2018 World Championship begins in Denmark on May 4.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jeff Vinik likes multi-overtime games, especially when they involve his next opponent.The Tampa Bay Lightning owner, whose club is waiting for its second-round matching after knocking out the New Jersey Devils in Round 1, hopes whichever team the Lightning ultimately face won't have the easiest time getting there."I hope they go four overtimes and beat the crap out of each other," Vinik told Joe Smith of The Athletic when asked for his thoughts on the upcoming Game 7 between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs.The Lightning wrapped up their first-round series in five games, meaning the team has had plenty of down time to rest and prepare for the next matchup. Clearly, neither the Bruins nor the Maple Leafs have enjoyed the same luxury.The three clubs were separated by just eight points in the regular season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's playoff time, folks. To get you prepared, we break down each of the Western Conference's second-round series. (Advanced stats at 5-on-5 courtesy: Corsica)Predators 1C vs. Jets 2CPredatorsStatJets4-2Round 1 record4-17Goal differential754.59% (2nd)5-on-5 Corsi %58.87% (1st)9.26% (3rd)Shooting percentage7.95% (8th).923 (8th)Save percentage.941 (5th)101.57 (6th)PDO102.06 (5th)Colton Sissons & Austin Watson (7)Leading scorerMark Scheifele & Dustin Byfuglien (5)It'll be a Battle of the Titans in this second-round series. The Predators and Jets finished first and second league-wide, while their regular-season meet ups were always competitive. One key to the series could be the Predators' Pekka Rinne, who was only average in Round 1 against the Colorado Avalanche, while Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck put up a far superior performance in eliminating the Minnesota Wild.Game 1 begins at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.Golden Knights 1P vs. Sharks 3PGolden KnightsStatSharks4-0Round 1 record4-04Goal differential1251.69% (6th)5-on-5 Corsi %46.83% (13th)5.21% (14th)Shooting percentage11.49% (2nd).990 (1st)Save percentage.979 (2nd)104.18 (3rd)PDO109.37 (1st)Reilly Smith (3)Leading scorerJoe Pavelski & Logan Couture (5)Both sides made quick work in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, sweeping away the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks, respectively. If Vegas isn't already getting its due credit, it should after taking out a two-time Cup champion. Netminder Marc-Andre Fleury played like a virtual wall, while Sharks goalie Martin Jones was no slouch either. San Jose could also get a boost in the second round should Joe Thornton return from injury.Game 1 faces off at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.(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 16th edition focuses on the Los Angeles Kings.The GoodCareer years from Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, and Drew Doughty. Kopitar was the Kings’ leading scorer during the regular season and playoffs. His 92 points were 40 better than his total in the 2016-17 season, and a career high. His 22:05 average ice time was also a career high, and helped him earn yet another Selke Trophy nomination. Brown established personal bests in assists (33) and points (61), while Doughty topped off a 60-point career year by being named a Norris Trophy finalist for a fourth time.Jonathan Quick's amazing season. Quick won his second Jennings Trophy by helping backstop the Kings to a 2.46 team goals-against average. Their penalty kill finished at an NHL-best 85 percent, thanks in large part to Quick. In the playoffs, he posted his best numbers since the Kings’ 2012 Stanley Cup-winning campaign, with a 1.55 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage. He also set a franchise record by making 54 saves in Game 2's double-overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.Daniel Brickley’s dynamic debut. Brickley made his NHL debut for the Kings on April 5, a week after signing a two-year entry-level contract. The defenseman recorded his first NHL point that night against the Minnesota Wild; it was a fitting milestone for Brickley, who had just finished his junior year at Minnesota State and also played for the U.S. at the world championships. He scored 10 goals and 35 points last season and finished with 20 goals and 77 points in 107 career games with the Mavericks.The BadA lack of postseason offense. The Kings scored just three goals in their four-game sweep at the hands of the Golden Knights. Two of those goals came in one game; they were shut out in Games 1 and 4. And the Kings’ most important players didn’t show up. Brown had just one point in the series. Doughty missed Game 2 with a suspension, but it didn’t really matter - he, Jeff Carter, Adrian Kempe, Tyler Toffoli, and Tanner Pearson combined for zero points. Suffice to say it’s impossible to win any game, much less a playoff series, if you can’t score goals.Missing Derek Forbort and Jake Muzzin. With Muzzin, third on the team with 34 assists, out with an upper-body injury for two games and Forbort out with a lower-body injury for the entirety of the Kings’ short playoff run, coach John Stevens was forced to lean on relatively inexperienced defensemen Oscar Fantenberg, Paul LaDue, and Kevin Gravel. Considering the Kings’ goal-scoring woes in their first-round series, they almost certainly would have fared better had Muzzin been available the entire time.That dismal home record. The Kings had the second-fewest regular-season home wins of any playoff team with a 23-15-3 record. They lost both home playoff games too, sinking their postseason home record to 0-5 over the last two years.The QuestionsDoes Doughty sign another extension in L.A.? Doughty’s eight-year, $56-million deal doesn’t expire until after next season, but he’s allowed to start discussing an extension with the Kings on July 1. Soon after the Kings were eliminated from the playoffs, Doughty made it clear he wants to stay and finish his career in L.A. General manager Rob Blake said negotiating an extension with Doughty is a top priority.How do they improve? Offensive depth is a major concern for the Kings this offseason. To keep up in today’s NHL, they need scorers beyond Kopitar, Brown, and Carter; only five of their players notched 15 or more goals last season. Center Gabriel Vilardi, the Kings’ first-round pick in 2017, could make the jump next year, among other prospects in the system. Whatever they do, they need to get younger and faster.Should they rebuild? The Kings were one of the oldest teams in the NHL last season. Their stars aren’t getting any younger, but it doesn’t make sense to tear it all down. Many NHL teams have rebuilt on the fly - keep the core players together, maybe add a couple pieces down the stretch, and make way for younger talent. The Kings would do well to get away from the heavy, Darryl Sutter hockey they played when they won the Cup in 2012 and 2014 and focus on what it takes to win now.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)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 players. The second edition focuses on Andrei Svechnikov.Comparing Barrie Colts forward Andrei Svechnikov to Alex Ovechkin is easy; Svechnikov is a pure sniper who's seemingly able to score on any shot and often intimidates his opponents. But that comparison would be lazy, and the weight of it would do Svechnikov a disservice. The 18-year-old is his own player - not just an elite goal scorer, but someone who's also put work into improving his playmaking over the last year, and someone who will enter the NHL as a highly skilled and well-rounded forward.After spending the previous season with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL, Svechnikov was selected first overall by the Colts in the CHL Import Draft. He sits atop NHL Central Scouting’s North American Rankings, and every independent scouting service that combines North American and international skaters has him second, behind only Rasmus Dahlin.Year in reviewSvechnikov's first season with the Colts did not get off to an ideal start. A broken hand in late October required surgery and kept him out until the beginning of December. His 44 regular-season games, however, were enough to lead all OHL rookies with 72 points, including 40 goals. He received the Emms Family Award as OHL Rookie of the Year, and was named to the OHL All-Rookie first team.He also recovered in time to join Team Russia for the world juniors. Russia’s coaching staff doesn’t typically give Under-18 players much ice time, so Svechnikov had less of an opportunity to impress than fellow prospects Brady Tkachuk and Filip Zadina, who played prominent roles on their respective teams and saw their draft stocks rise because of it. That being said, Svechnikov looked good when he saw the ice and finished the tournament with five assists in five games.Like Dahlin, Svechnikov isn't playing at the U18 World Championship. After the Colts were eliminated from the OHL playoffs, it was revealed he'd been playing through an injury of some kind. The Colts and the Russian Hockey Federation agreed he was too injured to be effective, and would be better served by resting.Areas of strengthSvechnikov is an offensive dynamo. He’s an elite goal scorer, with an arsenal of shots that seem NHL-ready. He can score from far out, or from in tight. He’s also a skilled playmaker who's able to stickhandle through traffic and make passes that confuse opponents, and he noticeably improved in that area in the second half of this season.His hockey sense and vision is top end, allowing him to seemingly score at will because he can read the ice and find the right play. He’s also a good skater - not elite, but good. He’s agile, especially for someone his height, and his stride is strong. He uses his physicality to win battles, and that physicality - combined with his strong balance - makes it difficult to knock him off the puck.Areas of improvementOne standout issue with Svechnikov is discipline. In addition to earning a four-game playoff suspension during the Colts' first-round series against the Mississauga Steelheads for a hit to the head, he finished the regular season with 67 penalty minutes in 44 games. Last season with the Lumberjacks, he had 68 PIM in 48 games. Svechnikov is going to be a key offensive weapon for the NHL team that drafts him, but to do that, he needs to stay out of the box. His aggressive style of play is a strength when he doesn’t cross the line - he just needs to find that balance.Otherwise, there are no glaring issues with Svechnikov’s game right now. He could stand to improve his play in his own end, and while he’s a good skater, he certainly isn’t the best in his class. Right now, however, his offensive prowess is such that it often makes up for what he lacks. Moreover, those lacking areas can be improved with commitment (which he’s shown he has) and focused development.Scouting reports“Physically ready for the NHL, Svechnikov blends world-class finishing ability with hard-nosed and defensively responsible play. A goal scorer who can impact the game in all situations. Terrific blend of speed, power, and precision. He’ll be a front-line threat for years to come.” - Cam Robinson, DobberProspects.com“Svechnikov plays a responsible game without the puck, has a strong stride with good top-end speed, good instincts at reading the play to set up or be open for chances. He also has an excellent finishing touch to bury his chances." - Dan Marr, director of NHL Central ScoutingDid you know?

theScore imagines what the cast of The Avengers would look like if it were comprised entirely of NHL stars.Thor - Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay LightningDude's got blonde flow and lightning bolts pasted all around him at all times. Sprinkle in the fact that Hedman also lays people out with thunderous hits on a nightly basis, and he might as well trade in his stick for a hammer to complete the ensemble.Plus, we already know he loves to dress up.Hulk - Dustin Byfuglien, Winnipeg JetsSpeaking of laying people out, both Byfuglien and the Hulk make a living off smashing their opponents. A task that the Jets' blue-liner has seemingly perfected over recent weeks, handing out a bevy of punishing hits while leaving his enemies in a crumpled heap.Word to the wise: Do not get Byfuglien angry. We all know what happens when he gets angry.Iron Man - Alex Ovechkin, Washington CapitalsOvechkin and Tony Stark sometimes find themselves in the unfortunate scenarios of trying to play the hero while instead becoming villainized for their shortcomings and ego-driven behaviors.And while Ovechkin has come a long way in terms of shedding the bad rep of being a selfish player, he's short on rings, and still operating in the shadow of some of the more accomplished players in the NHL. A feeling similarly shared by Iron Man when fighting alongside some of the more wholesome and popular Avengers like Captain America or Thor.Hawkeye - Connor McDavid, Edmonton OilersEven if you don't watch hockey on the regular, you watch enough highlight shows to know that McDavid makes a living out of threading needles, picking corners, and finding the slimmest of spaces to operate in. And, if you've been following the exploits of Clint Barton - aka Hawkeye - over the last handful of years, you're well aware he operates in a very similar manner.McDavid uses a carbon fiber stick, whereas Hawkeye gets his job done with a carbon fiber bow and arrow. But both men are surgical with their precision.Captain America - Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg JetsThe Jets captain might not have the ravishing good looks of the current version of Captain Steve Rodgers, as portrayed by actor Chris Evans, but the rest of Wheeler's attributes make him the perfect player to lead the NHL's band of Avengers.Strength, leadership, a willingness to sacrifice himself for the good of his squad, both Cap and Wheeler do it all, and all in the name of others. Oh, don't forget, despite playing north of the border in Winnipeg, Wheeler's still a good ol' American boy, obviously a necessary trait to fill this role.Ant-Man - Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary FlamesLet's not overthink this one: Ant-Man and Gaudreau go to their utility belt of tricks to fool their enemies, and both are effective at what they do despite being limited by their relatively small frames.Gaudreau might only stand 5-foot-9 and 157 pounds, and much like Ant-Man, that doesn't stop him from being larger than life once the pressure is on.Spider-Man - Andrei Vasilevksiy, Tampa Bay LightningNot only does Vasilevskiy spend a lot his nights sitting in a web of netting, but his freakish athleticism and seemingly supernatural flexibility are surely the result of a bite from some kind of radioactive arachnid.And while the young Russian will likely leave the professional photography to the real Spidey, his innate sixth sense and ability to contort his body are remarkably similar.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After falling down 2-0 and 3-1 to the Boston Bruins in their opening-round series, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock wants his crew to relish the opportunity that didn't seem possible only a few days ago.The Leafs staved off elimination for the second time on Monday night, forcing a Game 7 with a 3-1 win on home ice. Now, it's winner take all between the Atlantic Division rivals, and Babcock didn't mince his words on the magnitude of the situation."We've been talking about it all along, we're playing a really good team in Boston and this series is fun, it's high-end, there’s no room, they've got high-end players," Babcock said. "But, we think we're going to win. We've thought that all along, we started poorly and crawled our way back. Now, you have the opportunity of a lifetime."The situation mirrors that of the 2013 postseason, when the Maple Leafs clawed back from a 3-1 deficit versus the Bruins in Round 1, only to infamously watch their 4-1 lead slip away in the third period of the series-deciding contest.Toronto will once again travel to Boston carrying the momentum, but this time will seek to flip the script and finish the job in the only first-round series to go the distance.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Ovechkin is ready.The Washington Capitals' superstar winger scored a pair of goals in Monday's first-round series win over Columbus, and the Metropolitan Division winners are once again set to meet Pittsburgh in Round 2 as a result.Even after being eliminated in each of the past two postseasons by the Penguins, Ovechkin is embracing the challenge."I can’t wait," he said, per Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post. "It’s a huge opportunity for us to take a step forward."Ovechkin has, of course, been key to the Capitals' success to date, recording five goals and three assists in six games against the Blue Jackets.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here we go again.The Washington Capitals defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game 6 of their first-round series, thereby advancing to Round 2 where they will face the Pittsburgh Penguins for the third consecutive year.

TORONTO (AP) Frederik Andersen stopped 32 shots to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 3-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Monday night, forcing a decisive Game 7 in the first-round series.William Nylander, Mitch Marner and Tomas Plekanec scored for the Maple Leafs, who trailed the series 3-1 before winning two straight. They also trailed 1-0 early in the second period of this one. Nikita Zaitsev added two assists, and Marner and Plekanec each had one.Jake DeBrusk scored for the Bruins, and Tuukka Rask - pulled in Game 5 at home, finished with 27 saves.Game 7 is Wednesday night in Boston with the winner advancing to face Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference semifinals..There was a moment of silence before the opening faceoff at Air Canada Centre to honor the 10 people killed Monday when a van mounted a sidewalk in Toronto's north end and struck multiple pedestrians. Fifteen others were injured.Scoreless after an end-to-end first period, the Bruins grabbed a 1-0 lead 1:02 into the second when David Krejci won a faceoff after an icing against Auston Matthews right to DeBrusk, beat Andersen between his arm and body.Toronto responded just 35 seconds later when Nylander buried a rebound of Jake Gardiner shot from the point for his first goal of the playoffs.The Leafs appeared to go ahead at 3:04 when Zach Hyman beat Rask with a no-look backhand as he fell to the ice. The Bruins challenged the play for goalie interference, and replays showed the forward knocked the stick out of Rask's hands as he cruised through the crease just before scoring.Boston appeared to control the play after that as Toronto could barely get out of its own zone or complete a clean breakout. Andersen - who recorded 42 stops in a 4-3 victory in Game 5 on Saturday - made great saves off Rick Nash, Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron to keep things level.The Maple Leafs, however, wend ahead with 6:35 left in the period when Marner was quickest to a loose puck in the slot and beat Rask with a backhand to the far post after Marchand couldn't clear.Toronto killed off its first penalty early in the third, and was then left fuming when David Backes elbowed Andersen in the mask, but was only assessed an offsetting roughing minor when Roman Polak came to his goalie's defence.The Leafs couldn't connect on their third power play moments later, and Andersen stoned Sean Kuraly with under 10 minutes to go.Rask then robbed Nylander off a great feed from Auston Matthews.The Bruins went back to the power play with under six minutes left, but the best chance came when Rask stopped Kasperi Kapanen on a 2-on-1 that turned into a breakaway before stoning Krejci on a one-time shot that brought the towel-waving crowd to its feet.Rask followed that up by stopping Matthews on another 2-on-1 off a pass from Plekanec before Plekanec sealed the win with an empty-netter with 1:14 to play.Both goalies were on their game in the first as the clubs combined for 27 shots on goal, including 17 from Boston.Andersen made a nice stop on Nash less than two minutes in after a Maple Leafs turnover before Rask, who allowed four goals on 13 shots before getting pulled in Game 5, fought off Zaitsev's point shot.Marchand came close when his shot off another turnover struck the inside of Andersen's pad and bounced out the other side.Rask held the fort on the game's first power play, and Andersen followed up with his second incredible stick save of the series when he swatted a Backes attempt from in tight with Nash lurking.NOTES: The Maple Leafs fell behind the Bruins 3-1 the last time the clubs met in the playoffs back in 2013 before tying the series 3-3 with back-to-back 2-1 victories. Toronto then became the first team in NHL history to blow a three-goal lead in the third period of a Game 7 as the Bruins stormed back from a 4-1 deficit and won 5-4 in overtime. ... Coming into these playoffs, teams that take a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven series hold an all-time record of 270-28 - good for a success rate of 90.6 per cent. ... The Maple Leafs have trailed 3-1 in a best-of-seven series 15 times, with their only victory coming in the 1942 Stanley Cup Final when they stormed back from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Detroit Red Wings.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs issued a statement in advance of Game 6 against the Boston Bruins after nine people were killed and 16 injured as multiple pedestrians were struck by a van Monday afternoon.The game will go on as scheduled, but with increased security measures inside and outside the arena, where hundreds of fans are set to gather to watch."The Toronto Maple Leafs and MLSE are keeping all of those impacted by today’s tragic incident in Toronto in our thoughts and prayers. Our organization continuously works in close partnership with Toronto Police Service, and other security agencies, to ensure the safety of all fans attending games at Air Canada Centre, including playoff tailgate events at Maple Leaf Square."In addition to the safety measures already in place, Toronto Police Service will be implementing a number of additional measures including road closures surrounding Air Canada Centre tonight to create the safest environment for our fans watching in Maple Leaf Square, as well as providing enhanced security inside Air Canada Centre."Puck drop is set for shortly after 7 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Henrik and Daniel Sedin could ride off into the sunset with more hardware.The retiring legends are the Vancouver Canucks' co-finalists for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, the NHL announced Monday.This honor is awarded annually to the player (or potentially players, in this case) who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his (or their) community.Columbus Blue Jackets forward Nick Foligno won it last year and Henrik was the 2016 recipient.Here is the full list of finalists:Team PlayerAnaheim DucksRyan GetzlafArizona CoyotesOliver Ekman-LarssonBoston BruinsZdeno CharaBuffalo SabresZach BogosianCalgary FlamesTravis HamonicCarolina HurricanesJustin FaulkChicago BlackhawksDuncan KeithColorado AvalancheGabriel LandeskogColumbus Blue JacketsSergei BobrovskyDallas StarsTyler SeguinDetroit Red WingsJustin AbdelkaderEdmonton OilersRyan Nugent-HopkinsFlorida PanthersMike MathesonLos Angeles KingsDrew DoughtyMinnesota WildJason ZuckerMontreal CanadiensBrendan GallagherNashville PredatorsP.K. SubbanNew Jersey DevilsCory SchneiderNew York IslandersAnders LeeNew York RangersHenrik LundqvistOttawa SenatorsMark BorowieckiPhiladelphia FlyersShayne GostisbeherePittsburgh PenguinsMatt MurraySan Jose SharksChris TierneySt. Louis BluesAlex PietrangeloTampa Bay LightningRyan CallahanToronto Maple LeafsMatt MartinVancouver CanucksHenrik and Daniel SedinVegas Golden KnightsDeryk EngellandWashington CapitalsBrooks OrpikWinnipeg JetsMatt HendricksCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche have signed head coach Jared Bednar to a one-year contract extension, general manager Joe Sakic announced Monday, according to Paul Klee of the Colorado Springs Gazette.Bednar is coming off the second year of his original three-year contract, meaning he is now signed through the 2019-20 season."He's done an amazing job," Sakic said, adding that they agreed on the extension last week.After Bednar's miserable first season with the Avalanche, in which they finished with just 48 points and the worst record in the salary-cap era, the club took a huge step forward this season, clinching a playoff spot and pushing the Presidents' Trophy-winning Nashville Predators to six games."I really believe in (Bednar) and his entire staff," Sakic said. "He's done a tremendous job and has earned everything he's gotten."Under Bednar, this year's Avalanche were 47 points better, the biggest improvement of any team this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild's season was prematurely put to bed, and the team's owner isn't enjoying the afterglow.Craig Leipold offered an adult-themed analogy when asked Monday to follow up on a comment that his team hasn't been good enough."I just don't see us with this team getting to the (Stanley Cup Final)," Leipold told reporters, including The Athletic's Chad Graff, as he addressed the decision to not renew general manager Chuck Fletcher's contract. "I think we're a good team but not good enough right now."A reporter then asked what "good enough" looks like, to which Leipold replied, "It's like pornography. You know it when you see it."The Wild have qualified for the playoffs in each of the last six campaigns, but lost in the opening round in the last three and failed to advance past the second round during Fletcher's nine-season tenure.There's a joke in there about going unfulfilled, but we're not going to make it.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bill Peters got ahead of the awkward questions at Monday's press conference, where he was introduced as the new head coach of the Calgary Flames.During his introduction, he took the time to apologize to former Carolina Hurricanes netminder Eddie Lack - who began the year with the Flames before being dealt to the New Jersey Devils - for harshly criticizing his play."You won't get the Eddie Lack soundbite," Peters said, according to TSN's Jermain Franklin."That was a mistake, not a proud moment as a coach," Peters added, according to The Athletic's Craig Custance. "A little over the top."Here's his 2017 soundbite in full: