With the 2018 NHL Playoffs now in full swing, hockey fans across North America are being treated to a bevy of exciting games on a nightly basis for the next couple of weeks.However, for the first time in over 45 years, legendary play-by-play man Bob Cole won't be calling any postseason action. A fact Cole has struggled to come to terms with. "I’ve been doing playoffs every year of my life in broadcasting. This is the first time that I’m not involved," Cole said, according to Michael Traikos of Postmedia."It’s difficult to live with the fact that I’m not working. I surely will miss not working the playoffs. That’s the best way I can say it."Cole has been the voice of hockey in Canada since 1972, weaving himself into the fabric of the sport for generations of fans.However, his incredible run behind the microphone came to an unceremonious end this season. A reality that he says is tough to handle."The decision sure wasn’t mutual,” Cole said. “It was right out of the blue. Rogers decided to go with other (broadcast) teams and I have to live with that. But it was their decision - not mine."" ... But I was never told that once that playoffs start, I wouldn’t be working. I’m not going to be part of it all. That’s kind of tough, but you have to live with it."Cole's spot will be filled this postseason by a combination of broadcasters that includes Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, who are calling the Bruins-Leafs series for Sportsnet-CBC, with Paul Romanuk and Garry Galley covering the Jets-Wild series.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Don't rule out the Philadelphia Flyers just yet.After being blown out 7-0 by the Pittsburgh Penguins in a very lopsided Game 1, the club rallied with a commanding 5-1 win of their own Friday night thanks largely to an incredible bounce-back performance from goaltender Brian Elliott.After giving up five goals on 19 shots in Game 1, the 33-year-old was stellar in Game 2, making 34 saves on 35 shots. The performance had captain Claude Giroux questioning those who had doubted Elliott after the series opener."For all you doubters out there, there you go," Giroux said referring to Elliott, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen.Meanwhile, after his side's reversal in fortunes, head coach Dave Hakstol suggested the series has now changed entirely."I said it coming in: Nobody is really giving us a serious chance in this series. I don't know if anybody still will," Hakstol said. "But I know this, we just got it down to a five-game series and we introduced ourselves into this series tonight."With the win, the Flyers have now snatched home-ice advantage from the Penguins, and on Sunday will get the chance to complete the series turnaround.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild quite literally will not go down without a fight.Near the end of Game 2 against the Winnipeg Jets, all h-e-double hockey sticks broke out, resulting in four fighting majors, four misconducts, and a handful of minor penalties.The line brawl was highlighted by a spirited round of fisticuffs between Daniel Winnik and Brandon Tanev.Here's a look at the misdemeanor breakdown, courtesy of the NHL:Game 3 is set for Sunday in Minnesota with the Wild facing an 0-2 series hole.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang skated off to the locker room during the second period of Game 2 against the Philadelphia Flyers following this big collision with Claude Giroux:

Matt Murray has finally been scored on.With the Philadelphia Flyers' first goal of the series in Game 2, the Pittsburgh Penguins netminder saw his playoff shutout streak snapped at 225:49 - or nearly the equivalent of four full games.Shayne Gostisbehere fired a power-play goal past Murray with just 37 seconds left in the first period Friday, marking the first time the 23-year-old has given up a playoff goal since Viktor Arvidsson of the Nashville Predators scored in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final last season.Murray's streak still stands as the best in franchise history, but with a shutout in Game 2, he could have set a record for the most consecutive playoff shutouts in NHL history.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nazem Kadri won't be eligible to play again until a potential Game 5 against the Boston Bruins.The Toronto Maple Leafs forward has been suspended three games for boarding Boston's Tommy Wingels in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series Thursday night.Kadri was given a five-minute charging major and a game misconduct for hitting Wingels in the numbers and into the boards midway through the third period.In its video explanation, the NHL's Department of Player Safety said Kadri drove "recklessly into the defenseless Wingels, causing his head to dangerously impact the boards."The league acknowledged that Wingels hit Toronto forward Mitch Marner up high moments before the Kadri hit, but said players are never allowed to "retaliate in an illegal fashion," adding that plays like this are seen as retribution or "message sending" against a defenseless opponent and won't be tolerated.Kadri's hit came with the Bruins leading the Leafs 4-1 in an eventual 5-1 victory. Game 2 goes Saturday night in Boston.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets forward Mathieu Perreault will miss Game 2 against the Minnesota Wild, the team announced.Perreault was originally a game-time decision. He suffered an upper-body injury in Game 1 after playing just 6:52.His absence means rookie Jack Roslovic will make his playoff debut. The 21-year-old will occupy the left side on the Jets' third line alongside Bryan Little and Joel Armia.In 31 games this season, Roslovic collected five goals and 14 points.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Johnny Hockey is going to Denmark.With the Calgary Flames failing to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Johnny Gaudreau has reportedly decided to represent Team USA at the upcoming IIHF World Championship, according to The Athletic's Craig Custance.Gaudreau went home immediately upon season's end to be with his father following the latter's recent health scare, but an NHL source confirmed to Custance that he'll indeed be participating in the annual tournament.The offensively gifted winger has played for Team USA at the World Championship twice before, recording eight goals and 13 assists in 16 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol is going with his gut to give Brian Elliott another shot in goal for Game 2.Elliott struggled in Game 1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, giving up five goals on 19 shots in his team's 7-0 blanking, but Hakstol believes the netminder can bounce back."I have a high level of confidence in Brian," Hakstol said, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen.Following Game 1, Hakstol told reporters his gut instinct was to stick with Elliott for Game 2. On Friday, he stated that his confidence in the 33-year-old reflects Elliott's personality."Moose is a battler," Hakstol said. "Great pro. ... I’m confident in Brian because I know who he is as a person and who he is as an athlete."The Flyers won't make any other lineup changes for Game 2, thus relying on the same players to put together a better effort in an effort to square the series.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Kings D-man Drew Doughty wasn't shy about sharing his thoughts on the one-game suspension the NHL department of player safety handed him for his high hit on Golden Knights forward William Carrier.Doughty addressed the media Friday and commented on his forced absence from the Kings' crucial second game. "I don’t think for one second that was suspension-worthy," Doughty said. " ... I think it’s BS."Here is the hit that cost Doughty Game 2:

Now that all 16 teams competing in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs have kicked off their respective series, it's time for a small public service announcement, so take a deep breath and say it with us: "It's only Game 1."And while there is no diminishing the importance of earning that first win on home ice and shaking off the first-round jitters, going down two games to none is obviously a much deeper hole to climb out of.So, with that in mind, we take a look at one way each Game 1 loser can earn a big bounce-back win and draw the series level.Eastern Conference Washington Capitals Key to winning Game 2: Cut out 3rd-period penalties.The Caps were a few dumb penalties away from a convincing Game 1 victory over the Blue Jackets, as three third-period power plays propelled Columbus to a late-game comeback win, despite it trailing for the majority of the contest. The Jackets converted on two of their final-frame power plays and got the OT winner from a red-hot Artemi Panarin.Philadelphia FlyersKey to winning Game 2: Get more shots on Matt Murray.If you've been keeping even half an eye on the NHL playoffs over the last couple seasons, you might have noticed goaltender Matt Murray is developing into one of the most clutch postseason performers currently playing. So the Flyers' 24 shots on net (only five in the third period) against the Pens in their Game 1 loss just won't get the job done.Murray has already shown he doesn't get rattled easily and 24 shots are light work for a guy rocking two rings from his first two years in the show.Realistically, there is no simple solution to beat Pittsburgh in a seven-game series. But if the Flyers want to shock the world, they will need to get a lot more shots on target and create some confusion in front of Murray's cage.Toronto Maple LeafsKey to winning Game 2: Be more disciplined.Puck fans waking up in Toronto this morning had the unfortunate experience of not only having to deal with a Game 1 loss to the Boston Bruins, but also with a potential suspension for Nazem Kadri for his dirty hit on Tommy Wingels.And while Kadri's five-minute major was enough of a setback, the Leafs sent Boston to the power play five other times, a number far too high given the Bruins own the fourth-most efficient power-play unit, converting at an impressive 25.5 percent clip.New Jersey DevilsKey to winning Game 2: Shuffle lineup.The Devils lost Game 1 to the speedy Tampa Bay Lightning in convincing fashion. And while Keith Kinkaid has earned the right to be starting for Jersey, John Hynes' decision to keep Damon Severson and Jesper Bratt in the press box is causing some fans to call for a lineup shuffle.Instead, Hynes had the notoriously slow-footed Brian Boyle and Ben Lovejoy play against the Lightning on Thursday.Sure, calling for a guy in Cory Schneider, who struggled mightily in the second half of the season, is most likely a foolish move. But, given the impressive speed of all four Tampa forward lines, the injection of Bratt and Severson's speed compared to that of Lovejoy and Boyle's could go a long way for New Jersey. Western ConferenceMinnesota WildKey to winning Game 2: Take out crowd energy by scoring first.Minny was a Joe Morrow point shot away from taking Game 1 to an extra frame against the Winnipeg Jets. The Wild don't really need to do that much different to right the ship and earn a Game 2 victory.But burying the first goal would go a very long way to help silence the raucous crowd at Bell MTS Place - a crowd that was kept mostly in check during the first game until Mark Scheifele got the home team on the board near the end of the second stanza.It's hard to quantify something as intangible as a home-crowd advantage, but if you've ever watched a game in Winnipeg, you know how much energy the Jets get by feeding off the rabid crowd.L.A. KingsKey to winning Game 2: Generate more scoring chances.A tight, one-goal shutout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday night was a tough pill to swallow for the Kings. Even more so was losing Norris Trophy candidate and blue-line stud Drew Doughty for Game 2 due to suspension.Related: Doughty suspended 1 game for hit to head of Golden Knights' CarrierBut the Kings' biggest hurdle to clear will be their relative inability to score.The Kings finished in the bottom half of the league in goals per game at 2.89 and struggled to generate scoring chances against a Knights squad that averaged over three. Factor in that L.A. was badly out-chanced Wednesday in Game 1 (21 to 14 in favor of Vegas), and John Stevens' side will need to get its offense going if it wants to head back to California with a win in its pocket.Colorado AvalancheKey to winning Game 2: Pray that Jonathan Bernier steals the game.Let's not get it twisted: The Nashville Predators are scary good. A stacked blue line, solid forward group, and a potential Vezina winner in Pekka Rinne between the pipes have earned Nashville the right to be called Cup favorites.And after a convincing opening-game victory over the Avalanche on Thursday, it's clear Colorado just can't hang with the caliber and experience of the Predators' loaded core. Bernier will need to have a game for ages for the Avs to steal Game 2 in The Music City.Anaheim DucksKey to winning Game 2: Convert on scoring chances/power play.Another Game 1 result that wasn't indicative of how close the contest actually was, the Ducks' first game against the San Jose Sharks could have ended a lot differently had Anaheim capitalized on some of its chances with the man advantage.The Ducks came up with goose eggs on all three of their PP opportunities, managing a measly three shots against Sharks goaltender Martin Jones.Given all the close chances and hit posts Anaheim had during its loss, Game 2 should look a whole lot different if the Ducks can capitalize on their special teams chances.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images) Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews was on hand to help deliver to Humboldt the game-worn, Broncos name-plated, jerseys worn by teammates and the Winnipeg Jets last Saturday, one week after the tragic bus crash.

There will be no supplemental discipline coming in the aftermath of a chippy Game 1 between the Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets.Both teams had a player involved, as Caps winger Tom Wilson charged Alexander Wennberg, while Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson caught Michal Kempny with a hit from behind.Both plays resulted in penalties - minor for Wilson and a major for Anderson - but neither will be suspended for their actions, reports Isabelle Kurshudyan of The Washington Post.Meanwhile, Wennberg was ruled doubtful for Game 2, and Kempny is day-to-day.The club's next square off Sunday, with the Blue Jackets holding a 1-0 series lead.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Alexander Wennberg is doubtful for Game 2 against the Washington Capitals after taking a dangerous hit from Tom Wilson in the series opener Thursday night, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced.Here's a look at the play, which forced Wennberg from the game with an upper-body injury and resulted in a charging penalty for Wilson:Wilson has a history of suspensions and could face supplemental discipline for the hit.

Dallas Stars bench boss Ken Hitchcock announced his retirement from coaching Friday after 22 seasons as a head coach. He'll remain with the team in a consultant role."Ken Hitchcock is an icon when it comes to head coaches, not only in hockey, but across all of sports," general manager Jim Nill said, according to Scott Bell of the Dallas Morning News. "He poured his whole life into better understanding in-game concepts and strategy, inspiring players and enhancing teams."The 66-year-old led the Stars to their only Stanley Cup in franchise history in 1999.Hitchcock inked a multi-year contract with Dallas at the completion of the 2016-17 regular season with the intention to join the front-office staff once the contract was finished.He ends his coaching career as the 2012 Jack Adams Award winner and with 823 regular-season wins under his belt.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri will have a hearing Friday for boarding/charging Boston's Tommy Wingels during Thursday's Game 1 loss to the Bruins, the NHL announced.The incident occurred in the third period, and Kadri was assessed a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct.Kadri later said he was already committed to the hit before Wingels dropped to the ice, and did not intend hit him when he was down.Wingels did not return to the game, and no update was offered with regards to his status.Kadri would be the second player to be suspended already this postseason, as Los Angeles' Drew Doughty will sit one game against Vegas for a high hit.Game 2 of Toronto's series is set for Saturday in Boston, so expect a ruling before then.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals have been here before.A Game 1 overtime loss at the hands of the Columbus Jackets has put them in an early hole, raising age-old questions as to whether this team will ever be able to get it done in the postseason.In reality, Washington played well on Thursday, largely controlling play and benefiting from an early five-minute power play that carried the Capitals to the second period with a two-goal lead.Columbus, however, kept chipping away, and stole the game on a beautiful overtime winner by Artemi Panarin.As far as head coach Barry Trotz is concerned, a lack of discipline hurt his team's chances to secure the win."I thought it was almost three different games," Trotz said after the game. "The first period, we were very disciplined and we carried the play, obviously got our power-play goals. Second period, you know they're going to have a push. I thought the first part of that period they were a little bit better, a little bit stronger on the puck. I thought we got it back later in the period."We took three penalties in the third period and that ended up putting us in a position where we're going to overtime."A big adjustment that could be made for Game 2 would be in net. Trotz said Philip Grubauer was fine and he'll take some time to evaluate whether to go back to him or turn to Braden Holtby.As far as captain Alex Ovechkin is concerned, there's no reason to panic.

Nazem Kadri knows his fate is in the hands of the NHL's Department of Player Safety.The Toronto Maple Leafs center was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for boarding Tommy Wingels during Thursday's Game 1 against the Boston Bruins, and while he acknowledged it'll be reviewed by the league, he argued there wasn't much he could do to avoid it."It's out of my control at this point," Kadri said, per TSN's Mark Masters. "I certainly wasn't trying to hit him when he was down like that. I was already committed to the hit. If he's still standing up, there's nothing wrong with that."Related: Poll - How many games should Kadri get for his hit on Wingels?Kadri added he was reacting to Wingels' hit on Mitch Marner moments earlier."Initially, I felt like he made contact with Mitchy's head and I didn't see a call there. He was turned up the wall so I was committed to the hit and he ended up falling. It happened quick and he was reaching for the puck. I don't think I stuck my leg or arm out."Here's another look at the play in question:Game 2 is set for Saturday in Boston, and Kadri may or may not be available, and the same goes for Wingels, according to Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy.

It may not be a question of if - but rather how long - Nazem Kadri will be suspended for his hit on Tommy Wingels on Thursday night.The Toronto Maple Leafs center was given a five-minute charging major and a game misconduct for hitting the Boston Bruins forward in the numbers and into the boards late in Game 1 of the teams' first-round playoff series.Kadri appeared to be retaliating after Zdeno Chara and Wingels hit Mitch Marner up high in quick succession.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nazem Kadri was ejected from Game 1 of the Toronto Maple Leafs' series versus the Boston Bruins after he received a penalty for charging Tommy Wingels.Kadri was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct.

Josh Anderson's night has been cut short.The Columbus Blue Jackets forward received a five-minute major and a game misconduct after boarding Washington Capitals defenseman Michal Kempny in their series-opening game Thursday:

The Los Angeles Kings will be without their defensive anchor in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday night.Drew Doughty has been suspended one game for his high hit on Golden Knights forward William Carrier.Doughty delivered what the NHL called an "illegal check to the head" of Carrier midway through the third period of Game 1 on Wednesday night. The league described it as a "high, forceful hit that makes Carrier's head the principal point of contact on a hit where such head contact was avoidable."Here's a look at it:

Team Canada has turned to the St. Louis Blues to beef up its roster for the upcoming World Championship.Forwards Brayden Schenn and Jaden Schwartz were among Thursday's additions, as were St. Louis teammates and blue-liners Colton Parayko, Vince Dunn, and Joel Edmundson.Here's an early projection of Canada's full lineup:LWCRWSchenn (Blues)McDavid (Oilers)Eberle (Islanders)Schwartz (Blues)Nugent-Hopkins (Oilers)Barzal (Islanders)Beauvillier (Islanders)O'Reilly (Sabres)Pageau (Senators)Horvat (Canucks)LDRDChabot (Senators)Ekblad (Panthers)Nurse (Oilers)Parayko (Blues)Dunn (Blues)Edmundson (Blues)Pulock (Islanders)GKuemper (Coyotes)Related: World Championship commitment trackerThe 2018 World Championship begins May 4 in Denmark.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Ian McLaren caught up with Maple Leafs forward William Nylander to talk about playing for coach Mike Babcock, life in Toronto, and the pressure that comes with representing the blue and white.theScore: It’s been an interesting season for you, bouncing between center and the wing, mainly out of necessity (due to Auston Matthews being injured at various points). Do you have a preference between playing on Matthews’ wing or centering your own line?Nylander: Wherever (Babcock) needs me to play. I think the chemistry is there between me and (Matthews) and we’re able to find each other really well. I love playing with him but if (Babcock) needs me at center, I can.theScore: Speaking of Babcock, he’s known as a tough coach, but obviously the results are there. What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned playing for him?Nylander: You learn to play both ways, that’s one of the bigger things … There’s small things that you don’t really think about system-wise.theScore: Playing in Toronto, there's a lot of expectations. Is the weight of the past something that you and the other younger guys feel?Nylander: Me and the younger guys, we came here and that's the way we knew it to be. We haven’t been anywhere else where the pressure might have been a little less. That’s the way we know it to be, it’s just part of it. It’s the way it is.theScore: Your dad played in Calgary for a while and in some other bigger markets (New York, Washington). Did he give you any advice about playing in Canada or markets where the focus is more on hockey than other sports?Nylander: You have to be prepared. Play your best. Battle every night. That’s all you can do.theScore: Favorite spot to eat in Toronto?Nylander: I like this Thai place called PAI.theScore: What about to just hang out?Nylander: Me and (Kasperi Kapanen) went to Real Sports the other day to play golf in the simulator, so that’s fun. There’s a lot of fun things to do.theScore: Finally, a lot of people are talking about the playoff format, and how Toronto will play either Boston or Tampa Bay* - the two top teams in the East - in the first round. Any thoughts on the format and is there anything you’d change about it, or are you looking forward to that challenge right off the bat?Nylander: To go where we want to go, we have to beat every team, so it doesn’t matter. That’s the way it is right now and you can’t really control that.theScore: Is there a preference between Boston or Tampa Bay?Nylander: Like I said, we just have to beat whatever team we play. If you don’t play one team right away, if you go next time, you’ll play those guys.*The Maple Leafs are in Boston on Thursday for Game 1 of their Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round series.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils are sticking with the hot hand.Netminder Keith Kinkaid will start Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, coach John Hynes confirmed.Kinkaid has taken over the Devils' net in recent months, usurping starter Cory Schneider, who missed significant time with injury and then struggled upon his return.Schneider has dropped his last 12 appearances, his most recent victory coming against the Detroit Red Wings in late December.Goalie GP Record SV% GAAKinkaid4126-10-3.9132.77Schneider4017-16-6.9072.93Kinkaid's unbeaten in regulation in his last eight games, with a 7-0-1 record and a .931 save rate.The Devils took all three games against the Lightning this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For a series featuring as opposing goaltenders a two-time Vezina winner and a backup netminder with just one playoff start to date, it's strange to think the bonafide superstar is the one facing more pressure.Philipp Grubauer outplayed Washington Capitals cornerstone Braden Holtby down the stretch and earned the No. 1 spot in the crease for the time being. Keep it up in the postseason, and he'll be a hero.Meanwhile, Sergei Bobrovsky enters the postseason after another terrific campaign in which the 29-year-old started 65 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets, winning 37, while posting a .921 save percentage and 2.42 goals against average. Those numbers were down from his dominant 2016-17 season but still among the game's elite nonetheless.However, Bobrovsky, unequivocally the Blue Jackets' most important player, holds a playoff resume which is in stark contrast to everything he's accomplished in the regular season:Regular seasonStatPlayoffs395Games Played18218-129-36Record3-10.920Save %.8872.44GAA3.6324SO0Obviously, the postseason sample size is much smaller, this being just the fourth playoff berth in Blue Jackets history, and third in Bobrovsky's tenure. Still, something hasn't clicked for him come springtime.Perhaps it's because the Jackets always draw the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round, but their consolation prize this year isn't much better. The potent Caps offense ranked ninth in goals this season on the back of Alex Ovechkin, probably the last player on Earth a goalie wants to be tasked with shutting down throughout a series.Bobrovsky was dynamite leading up to the playoffs, going 12-2-1 with a .926 save percentage in his final 15 games to secure the first wildcard seed in a crowded Metropolitan Division race. While those numbers instill some confidence, his career stats against the Capitals don't offer similar optimism, as he's won just seven of 22 games with a pedestrian .900 save percentage.(Photo Courtesy: Getty Images)So, how can he and the Blue Jackets flip the script this time around?They can start by playing the game at even strength. Over the course of the regular season, the Blue Jackets' penalty kill was dreadful, 27th league-wide at 76.2 percent. Bobrovsky himself ranked last among 25 goalies to play at least 200 shorthanded minutes with a save percentage of .830. That doesn't bode well against the Caps' seventh-ranked power play.However, the chart below shows Columbus has a considerable advantage over Washington in several key metrics at even strength, including shot share (CF%), goals for, and scoring chances, both high-danger and overall.Blue JacketsStat (5-on-5)Capitals51.49% (9th)CF%47.96% (24th)53.31% (7th)GF%52.63% (9th)51.28% (12th)SCF%48.18% (25th)50.33% (13th)HDCF%45.12% (31st)(All Stats Courtesy: Natural Stat Trick)In last season's first-round exit, the Blue Jackets' inability to kill penalties was a back-breaker, as they allowed five goals in five games while a man down. They faced tough times against the Penguins' star-studded power play, but a repeat performance (or anything close) won't be enough to advance. It has to be better.It goes without saying the Blue Jackets must avoid taking penalties and letting Ovechkin open a shooting gallery from his office, but they legitimately have the talent to dictate play against the Capitals and discipline should be a top priority as they look for a first playoff series win in franchise history.Columbus' success, be it over the course of the 82-game schedule or the postseason, rests largely on the shoulders of Bobrovsky, an all-world goaltender leading a team capable of making noise in the Eastern Conference bracket. They're just going to have to stay out of the box to give themselves a chance.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers CEO Bob Nicholson confirmed general manager Peter Chiarelli will retain his role as general manager and president of hockey operations next season, but head coach Todd McLellan's status is being evaluated.Nicholson hosted a press conference to address the future of the organization Thursday afternoon - one day after Chiarelli's meeting with the media, in which he declared he expects a return to the playoffs next season and might deal the club's first-round draft pick.

Winnipeg Jets forward Mathieu Perreault will be a game-time decision Friday for Game 2 against the Minnesota Wild after leaving Wednesday's game with an upper-body injury, head coach Paul Maurice said, per Jets TV's Jamie Thomas.Perreault played just 6:52 before departing.If he can't go, Jack Roslovic or Matt Hendricks would be the most obvious candidates to replace him in the lineup. The 36-year-old Hendricks brings grit and experience, while the 21-year-old Roslovic - a former first-round pick - would add skill and offensive upside.Perreault was a valuable source of secondary scoring for the Jets this season, with 17 goals and 39 points in 70 games while mostly playing in a third-line role.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins forward Rick Nash will play in Game 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, head coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed.

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty will have a hearing for an illegal check to the head of Vegas Golden Knights forward William Carrier, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Thursday.Here's the play in question, which occurred in Wednesday's Game 1:

After a disappointing 67-point season, changes could be coming in Canada's capital.The Ottawa Senators will likely make a decision about head coach Guy Boucher's future with the club after the draft lottery April 28, general manager Pierre Dorion said at his end-of-season press conference Thursday, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.If Boucher is back behind the Senators' bench, he'll have to change two parts of his coaching style.

The Ottawa Senators appear to be keeping their 2018 first-round pick in-house.As part of the blockbuster trade that landed Matt Duchene in November, the Senators dealt a conditional first-round pick to the Colorado Avalanche, which Ottawa could choose to keep if it ended up in the top 10. It obviously will be, as the Sens finished in 30th place this season, and general manager Pierre Dorion said the club is "99.9 percent" holding onto the lottery selection, per Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.By holding onto the pick, the Senators will instead forfeit their 2019 first-rounder to the Avalanche.The Senators own the second-best odds at securing the first overall pick at 13.5 percent.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite finishing with a franchise-record 105 points - tied for the third most in the Eastern Conference - the Toronto Maple Leafs come into their first-round series with the Boston Bruins as the underdog.That's because the Bruins finished with the fourth-best record in the entire league, and were easily the NHL's best team in the second half of the season - even with a glut of injuries.With that being said, the Leafs have the talent and the ability to go toe to toe with the Bruins, but in order to come out on top, the following will need to take place:1. Agitate MarchandEveryone knows Brad Marchand is not only the league's best super-pest, but also one of the game's best overall players. Yet, there's a way the Leafs can neutralize him.They need to agitate him, specifically by giving him a taste of his own medicine. Marchand himself will stir the pot, but in every post-whistle scrum, the Leafs need to get up in his face and do whatever it takes to get him thinking about revenge, rather than scoring goals. While the Buds aren't known as a physical team, they do have players like Nazem Kadri, Zach Hyman, and Leo Komarov who can drive opponents up a wall.Marchand plays with a ton of emotion - and it's part of what makes him great - but he's also very undisciplined because of it, as evidenced by his 329 penalty minutes over the past four seasons (302 games). He hasn't toned it down in the playoffs, either, with 87 PIMs in 72 career postseason games.If the Leafs can get Marchand to take stupid penalties, not only will it leave one of Boston's best players - if not its very best - in the box rather than on the ice, but it will also allow Toronto's second-ranked power play to go to work.2. Zaitsev has to be betterTo say Nikita Zaitsev endured a sophomore slump would be a massive understatement:Stat16-1717-18GP8260PTS3613PIMs3831+/--22+8TK3321GV5876CF% rel-1.8-4.1The Leafs will likely try to get their top defensive pairing of Morgan Rielly and Ron Hainsey out against Boston's top line of Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak as much as possible, but when Boston's at home and has the last change, Zaitsev and Jake Gardiner will see their fair share of time against the NHL's best trio.As a right-handed shot, Zaitsev will see a heavy dose of Marchand, a left winger. He doesn't need to rack up points, but he certainly needs to be better with and without the puck in his own end. Simply put, if Zaitsev plays like he did in the regular season, it could be a short series.3. Andersen must outplay RaskGoaltending is key in every playoff series, but between two streaky netminders, it seems especially important in this matchup.Both Frederik Andersen and Tuukka Rask got off to shaky starts this season, but played exceptionally well through the middle portion of the schedule. However, both stumbled down the stretch - in their last 15 games, Anderson posted an .899 save percentage, while Rask was at .906.Given how prolific both offenses are, whichever goaltender carries their poor play into the postseason could get shelled. The Leafs are capable of winning by scores of 5-4 and 6-5 - even though those games make Mike Babcock lose his hair - so Andersen doesn't necessarily have to stand on his head ... he just needs to be better than Rask.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights continue to be the best story in the NHL.It took the expansion club just one game to notch a first-ever postseason victory, as it edged the Los Angeles Kings 1-0 in Game 1 of the teams' first-round series Wednesday night.It was an evening full of firsts for the Golden Knights, who needed less than four minutes to score their first-ever postseason goal off a Shea Theodore shot. It was also the first playoff game at T-Mobile Arena, where a raucous crowd witnessed a quintessentially Vegas pregame introduction.Game 2 goes Friday night.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While Brian Elliott may have given up five goals in Game 1, Philadelphia Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol is leaning toward starting him again in Game 2 against the Pittsburgh Penguins."He's our guy," Hakstol said, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen, adding that his gut instinct is to go back to Elliott.Elliott gave up five goals on 19 shots in Wednesday's 7-0 drubbing, before being mercilessly pulled in the second period. Unfortunately, Petr Mrazek didn't fare much better in relief, as he gave up two goals on 14 shots in just under 31 minutes of work.Hakstol will have Thursday to mull over his decision before Game 2 of the series on Friday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Murray wasn't exactly overworked, but he kept his playoff shutout streak intact nonetheless.The Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender stopped all 24 shots he faced as he notched his third consecutive postseason shutout in a 7-0 shellacking of the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 1 of their first-round series Wednesday night.

The ghosts of Thrashers past have been quieted.Down 2-1 early in the third period of Game 1 of a first-round series against the Minnesota Wild, the Winnipeg Jets scored twice and held off a late push from the opposition, winning their first playoff game in franchise history.

By now, we should be accustomed to Sidney Crosby's jaw-dropping skills, but with each beautiful goal he scores, it seems we never learn.On Wednesday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain put those skills on display again, scoring the team's fifth goal of the game by batting the puck out of the air off a Brian Dumoulin point shot.His latest feat of brilliance once again has the NHL world buzzing.

The 2018 NHL Awards will be held Wednesday, June 20 at The Joint in Las Vegas' Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, the league announced Wednesday.It marks the second year in a row and ninth overall that the ceremony will take place in Las Vegas. Last year's awards were handed out at T-Mobile Arena, home of the Golden Knights."Our players, coaches and fans look forward to coming to Las Vegas each June to honor the Award nominees and winners," said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. "This year, for the first time, those honored could include members of the home team, the Vegas Golden Knights."Finalists for each award will be announced daily, beginning April 17.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Derick Brassard is in the lineup for Game 1 against the Philadelphia Flyers after missing the previous five games of the regular season with a lower-body injury, the team announced.He will center the third line between forwards Conor Sheary and Phil Kessel.Brassard's return to the lineup is a big boost for the Penguins, as he has proven to be a solid playoff performer throughout his career. In 78 career playoff games, he has 22 goals and 55 points.The 30-year-old finished the regular season with 21 goals and 46 points in 72 games with the Penguins and the Ottawa Senators.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Humboldt Broncos athletic therapist Dayna Brons has died, her family announced in a statement, according to Charles Hamilton of CBC Saskatoon.Brons is the 16th person confirmed dead following the tragic bus accident Friday night.Her family said she passed away peacefully Wednesday afternoon as a result of her injuries while surrounded by her loved ones.Brons was the only woman on the bus and had been in critical condition, as The Globe and Mail's Andrea Woo reported earlier Wednesday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite a last-place finish in the NHL standings this year, Buffalo Sabres general manager Jason Botterill still has faith in head coach Phil Housley.The Sabres held their end of the year press conference on Wednesday, during which Botterill said Housley would return as the team's head coach next season."One-hundred percent, Phil Housley will be our coach next year," Botterill said. "I have certainly enjoyed working with Phil. The way I want to put the team together, the way he wants to play, it's a good mix."Housley is coming off his first year as a head coach in the league after serving as an assistant coach with the Nashville Predators from 2013-2017.While the team won't make any changes behind the bench, Botterill did hint at potential changes to the team's core players."There certainly has to be change, and there will be change," Botterill said. "When you finish where we did, you have to look at everything, and that includes even changing up our core players."The Sabres finished the year with a record of 25-45-12 and now have the best odds (18.5 percent) at landing the first overall pick in the draft.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League decided Wednesday to resume its postseason in the wake of the Humboldt Broncos bus accident that claimed 15 lives last Friday, according to Farhan Lalji of TSN.Hockey was put on hold after the horrific accident, but the decision to complete the season was made with the full support of the Broncos' team and staff.The bus was struck by a tractor trailer as the team traveled to play its SJHL semifinal against the Nipawin Hawks.The vote to resume the season was a unanimous one, according to Lalji, with Game 1 of the final expected to be Saturday in Nipawin.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

At the end of a disastrous 2017-18 season for the Edmonton Oilers, general manager Peter Chiarelli faced plenty of questions Wednesday about how he plans to erase those bad memories.Many expected Edmonton to contend for the Stanley Cup this season, yet a lack of talent surrounding Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, along with a dreadful campaign from goaltender Cam Talbot, sunk the Oilers to 23rd in the league standings.Chiarelli faces tremendous pressure to turn things around quickly, and the veteran executive is counting on his club to be back in the postseason in 2018-19."I expect this team to be in the playoffs next year and that's what we're going to strive for," Chiarelli said at a press conference.One method for Chiarelli to potentially bring in new blood would be dangling his higher-than-expected first-round draft pick, which should be inside the top 10 selections.

Aside from lifting that beautiful silver chalice we all know and love as the Stanley Cup, the Conn Smythe Trophy is the piece of hardware players covet most at season's end.The award is handed out to the playoff MVP, with recent winners including superstars like Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane, and Evgeni Malkin.With the playoffs only a few hours away, Las Vegas oddsmakers have chimed in with their favorites to be named 2018's postseason MVP.Check out the updated odds from Bodog released Wednesday:Player (position)TeamOdds to winPekka Rinne (G)Predators17-2Andrei Vasilevskiy (G)Lightning14-1Marc-Andre Fleury (G)Golden Knights18-1Filip Forsberg (F)Predators18-1Tuukka Rask (G)Bruins18-1Nikita Kucherov (F)Lightning20-1Sidney Crosby (F)Penguins22-1Connor Hellebuyck (G)Jets22-1Patrice Bergeron (F)Bruins25-1Evgeni Malkin (F)Penguins25-1William Karlsson (F)Golden Knights30-1Alex Ovechkin (F)Capitals30-1Frederik Andersen (G)Maple Leafs35-1Auston Matthews (F)Maple Leafs35-1John Gibson (G)Ducks40-1Anze Kopitar (F)Kings55-1Devan Dubnyk (G)Wild66-1Sergei Bobrovsky (G)Blue Jackets75-1Eric Staal (F)Wild75-1Martin Jones (G)Sharks80-1Taylor Hall (F)Devils100-1Claude Giroux (F)Flyers100-1Nathan MacKinnon (F)Avalanche100-1Three Hart Trophy candidates at 100-1 could be worth a little sprinkle. Good luck!Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's really no denying it: The Vegas Golden Knights took the NHL by storm this season, becoming the first expansion team in 38 years to qualify for the playoffs.Their reward for their historic Pacific Division crown? A first-round matchup with a Los Angeles Kings squad that's hungry to avenge its bitterly disappointing 2016-17 campaign, and also has more success over the last eight seasons than most franchises achieve over decades.All credit's due to the Knights, who have done a lot more than just win games for the Las Vegas community, but the bubble is about to burst on their dream season. Here's why:L.A.'s smothering penalty killVegas finished tied for ninth in the NHL in power-play proficiency at 21.4 percent, scoring 53 of its 268 goals (20 percent) on the man advantage. Point being, the Knights rely on power-play scoring.The problem is, they're going up against the stingiest penalty-killing group in the league in the Kings, who are tops in PK efficiency at a sparkling 85 percent, allowing just 39 goals on 260 chances. Only the San Jose Sharks allowed fewer (34).Vegas' speedy core - snipers William Karlsson, Erik Haula, and Reilly Smith - scores many of its goals on the man advantage, so L.A.'s ability to snuff out power-play opportunities could be an X-factor - especially with penalty-killing specialists like Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, and Drew Doughty playing the lion's share of the shorthanded minutes for John Stevens' group.If the Kings can impose their will on the PK, the Knights might be enjoying the Nevada golf courses a lot sooner than planned. Finger jewelry will do the talkingGerard Gallant and George McPhee have done an admirable job of building a winning lineup, but their pieced-together roster doesn't have the advantage of a core of players who have won multiple rings together.The Kings boast a group in Jon Quick, Jeff Carter, Kopitar, and Doughty that played a key role for the Cup-winning teams in 2012 and 2014. Add in the rest of the Kings' rings, and L.A. ices a nightly lineup with 17 combined to Vegas' three, which are all owned by ex-Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.How many rings players are rocking is far from the be-all and end-all in picking a team to pull off an opening-round upset. But at the time of year when games get tighter and clutch players make names for themselves, boasting a lineup stacked with battle-tested players who have lifted Lord Stanley multiple times can't hurt. Knights may have peaked too soonThere's something to be said for a team hitting its stride too early. With all the club's accolades from its inaugural campaign, no one would hold it against the Knights if they entered Wednesday night without a sense of urgency.Not to mention, Vegas lost seven of its last 13 games down the stretch, while the Kings are playing some of their best hockey, winning five of their last eight and punching their playoff ticket for the seventh time in nine seasons.The Knights have had a campaign for the ages, breathing life into a league that has been complacent in its expansion of the sport. But that'll mean very little, or nothing, when the puck drops on the Golden Knights and Kings, because L.A. knows what it takes to win at this time of year.Vegas peaked early with its Pacific Division win, and will be in tough against a battle-tested group that has played a lot of playoff hockey in recent years.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former NFL chief operating officer Tod Leiweke has been named CEO and president of the prospective NHL franchise expected to arrive in Seattle in the near future, he confirmed at a press conference Wednesday.Leiweke's brother, Tim, is leading the charge for the $600-million renovation of KeyArena as head of the Oak View Group.Tod has prior experience in the Pacific Northwest as the former CEO of the NFL's Seattle Seahawks, and is excited to be involved."It's an incredible thrill to come home, Leiweke said, according to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times. "Not just for me but for my family."Seattle's group proposal to the NHL is still under review, though its expected to be awarded the league's 32nd franchise in June at a cost of $650 million. The goal is to have the team on the ice for the 2020-21 season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.