One Nashville Predators fan put a new twist on what's becoming an old tradition.Prior to the start of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, several catfish were tossed onto the ice. One in particular was quite unique, in that it was decked out in a rally towel and a sparkly blue cowboy hat, and also had a stuffed penguin in its mouth.Hat tip to the ice crew member who scooped the fish up with his bare hands.(Photos courtesy: NBC)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears to be just a matter of time before the Vegas Golden Knights announce their first trade as a franchise.General manager George McPhee was in Buffalo for the NHL Combine this past weekend where he was able to pick the brains of many teams regarding potential trade opportunities with the expansion draft a mere weeks away.Talks with several teams appear to have gone very well, so much so that McPhee feels trades may start happening this week."We're far enough along with a few teams that my plan is to sit on the phone all day Monday, Tuesday to see what we can accomplish," McPhee said this weekend, according to NHL.com's Dan Marrazza."We've had some real good discussions and I expect some things will start happening next week."Teams can make trades with the Golden Knights so that they don't chose a certain player in the draft or with the promise that they will select a certain player over another. This ability gives the Golden Knights a lot of power heading into the expansion draft."There are teams that really want to protect some people and protect their rosters, and they're willing to pay a pretty fair price to get us to lay off certain people and go in a different direction," McPhee said."Most of the guys have been really forthright in what they want to do, who they'll probably expose and who they'd like to protect," McPhee said. "We're trying to find ways to accommodate each other. We won't be able to do that with everyone."Teams must submit their lists of protected players to the league by June 18, meaning the next two weeks could get very interesting.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Co-chairs of the NHL/NHLPA competition committee - namely Mathieu Schneider and Colin Campbell - issued a statement on minor rules recommendations following a meeting Sunday in Nashville.They are as follows:Rule 87 Time-outs: No time-out shall be granted following an icing for the team that committed the icing infraction.

The Florida Panthers and Jaromir Jagr are engaged in ongoing contract talks and are scheduled to chat again later this week, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The legendary winger is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and the sense is any agreement between the two parties would be announced following the upcoming expansion draft. This would keep the Panthers from having to protect Jagr from the Vegas Golden Knights.Jagr, of course, could choose to wait until July 1 and see what's available to him on the open market.The 45-year-old is coming off a one-year deal that carried a cap hit of $4 million, and he registered an impressive 16 goals and 30 assists in 82 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's no secret, Matt Murray has what it takes to get the job done on the NHL's biggest stage.However, Murray was lit up for five goals on 33 shots in the Penguins' Game 3 loss to the Nashville Predators on Saturday. And despite allowing a couple of questionable goals and posting an ugly .848 save percentage, his Penguins teammates know the kind of player they have between their pipes."He's a competitor," Penguins center Matt Cullen said Monday, according to Michelle Crechiolo of NHL.com. "You see it, he battles on every shot. At every practice he's (angry) if you score on him during practice and you love that.""You love that competitiveness and he's got a confidence about him. But I just love that he's a battler, he's a competitor and you know you're going to get a good game out of him."

Many scouts and media members have pegged the 2017 draft as one of the weaker classes in recent memory. Nolan Patrick, the draft's top prospect according to NHL Central Scouting, isn't buying it."I think the media's pumped it down more than it is," Patrick said, according to Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo Sports. "I think the scouts I talked to this week said it's an above average draft."Patrick and Nico Hischier are the consensus top two picks, but it's unclear how the rest of the draft will shape up."I think the NHL was spoiled with two unbelievable players in the last two years. I don't think you're going to get a Connor McDavid for a while," said Patrick. "He's one of the top two players in the NHL and he's 19 years old. I don't think any of us think we're that, and none of us should be compared to a guy like that."It's certainly unfair for anyone to compare Patrick or Hischier to a once-in-a-generation player like McDavid, who actually turned 20 back in January.McDavid aside, the bar was set extremely high by Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine last season. It's unfair to expect 35-40 goals out of Patrick or Hischier in their rookie season, feats Matthews and Laine both accomplished in their first year.Regardless of the comparisons, it looks as though the Devils and Flyers will walk away happy with the player they land."The top guys are going to be able to have an impact on their NHL clubs," Dan Marr, the NHL's director of Central Scouting, told Kevin Allen of USA TODAY. "But the list does get pretty shallow quick."Prior to the McDavid-Jack Eichel draft in 2015, the top two picks weren't always a sure thing in recent years.YearPick 1Pick 22014Aaron EkbladSam Reinhart2013Nathan MacKinnonAleksander Barkov2012Nail YakupovRyan Murray2011Ryan Nugent-HopkinsGabriel LandeskogPatrick could very well use this "weak draft" talk as motivation once his NHL career begins.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Rangers winger Jesper Fast underwent successful labral repair surgery on his left hip, the club announced Monday.His expected recovery timeline is five months.In 68 games this past season, Fast, 25, recorded six goals and 15 assists, adding an extra six points in 12 playoff contests.His contract expired at the end of the season, and he's slated for restricted free agency. However, on a Rangers roster chock-full of prominent forwards, Fast is vulnerable for exposure to Vegas in the upcoming expansion draft.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Peter Laviolette is wary of poking the bear.Days after his club held both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin without a shot - the first time that's ever happened in a playoff game - the Nashville Predators head coach wants to focus on the present and put that story to rest after the statistical rarity made headlines."There's being a lot made of it. If you go back and look, try to figure out the amount of plays that they figured into that created scoring chances, they're both excellent passers, they're both capable of scoring goals, obviously too," Laviolette told reporters at his press conference Monday."That being said, because you guys have beat the drum on it enough, they're probably going to shoot the puck from all over tonight."The Predators, as a whole, have effectively limited Pittsburgh's high-flying offense through three games, but any team would be foolish to take Crosby and Malkin lightly following a sub-standard performance.So far in the final, Malkin's recorded two points and Crosby has three, but considering they occupy the top two spots in the postseason scoring race, don't expect either player to remain cold very long.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Injured Predators forward Ryan Johansen has been named the honorary mayor of Nashville for the day, as the city's actual mayor, Megan Barry, declared Monday to be "Preds Pride Day."

You've heard it by now, the Pittsburgh Penguins have a darn good offense, while the Nashville Predators run the deepest defense in the NHL.The Predators, despite facing a 2-1 deficit in the Stanley Cup Final, have carried play through three games at even strength, often smothering Pittsburgh's speed and transition through the neutral zone.In this case, one would think Pittsburgh could gain some offensive traction through its power play with the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Phil Kessel patrolling the club's first unit.However, the Predators have remarkably stymied the Penguins on the man advantage as well, holding the league's third-most prolific regular-season power play (23.1 percent) to just one tally so far - a complete drop-off from Pittsburgh's production leading up to the final.Opponent PP%Blue Jackets33% (5-for-15)Capitals13.6% (3-for-22)Senators33.6% (6-for-19)Predators7.7% (1-for-13)Overall, Pittsburgh's power play is running at 21.7 percent in the postseason, but has been held off the scoresheet since Malkin's series-opening goal in the first period of Game 1.Power plays traditionally run hot and cold over prolonged periods of time, but what's most alarming from Pittsburgh's standpoint is a lack of chances. In the Penguins' 13 opportunities, they've only mustered four shots on goal, including a mere two on seven man-advantage opportunities in Game 2."They come with a lot of pressure," Penguins forward Conor Sheary told Yahoo's Greg Wyshynski following power-play practice Sunday. "They make you make quick decisions with the puck, and sometimes that can be difficult. Especially on the break-in. They pressure you right away and you can't make a play off the entry."With high-danger scoring chances coming few and far between for Pittsburgh so far at even strength, the Penguins' bone-dry power play needs find its old form, and soon.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Everyone knows Penguins forward Phil Kessel has one of the most lethal wrist shots in the entire game. With that in mind, assistant coach Rick Tocchet would like to see him utilize it more often throughout the rest of the Stanley Cup Final."A guy with that caliber of shot, very rarely he should be looking to pass," Tocchet told Dan Rosen of NHL.com. "He's an unselfish guy, but he's got to be selfish in these moments. If he gets those three chances again, I think he's got to come off the wall and really rip 'em."The three chances Tocchet was referring to all came on the power play in Game 3. One shot got blocked, Kessel flubbed another, and he attempted a cross-crease pass to Sidney Crosby on the third, which was certainly the right play.Nevertheless, a more aggressive mindset from Kessel could ignite a slumping Pittsburgh power play, which is just 1-for-13 in this series. It could also spark the forward, who has just two goals in his last 12 games.And Tocchet isn't just looking to see more shots out of Kessel with the man advantage."If he's going down the wing and he's in around the dots, unless it's a two-on-one and he's got somebody wide open, he should be ripping it," Tocchet said. "I told Phil if you do that early in the game, it's amazing how the game comes to you. If you pass those shots up in the first couple of periods, it kind of closes your mind."Kessel's evolution into more of a pass-first player hasn't happened overnight. It's been a trend ever since his days in Toronto (SPG = shots per game).SeasonTeamGASPG2009-10TOR30254.242010-11TOR32323.962011-12TOR37453.60*2012-13TOR20323.352013-14TOR37433.722014-15TOR25363.412015-16PIT26333.34'16 PlayoffsPIT10124.082016-17PIT23472.79'17 PlayoffsPIT7132.86*2012-13 season was shortened to 48 games for NHL lockout.Kessel's shot-per-game numbers have taken a pretty steady downturn since his first year in Toronto. In fact, this past season he took 1.45 less shots per game compared to his first year with the Leafs. That's a pretty staggering philosophical shift.Kessel has become a better passer through the years, and he's arguably one of the most underrated playmakers in the game, but it still wouldn't hurt for him to get back to some of his old ways - like he did during last year's playoff run."I just think if he has that home-run attitude, that 'Let me swing the bat, I'm not looking to hit a single, I want to hit a home run' attitude, that's when he's really got it," Tocchet said. "So I just reminded him, 'Hey, shoot.'"And as Wayne Gretzky once said: "You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take."It's hard to argue against The Great One.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One of two groups in the running to renovate Seattle's KeyArena pulled out Sunday night.Seattle Partners, a partnership comprised of arena giant AEG and Hudson Pacific Properties, announced it will no longer pursue rights to the renovation."We remain firm in the belief that our proposal best serves the people of Seattle, but, unfortunately, significant factors through the bidding process have eroded our confidence in the ultimate execution of this project, no matter which group is selected," the partners wrote in a letter in Seattle mayor Ed Murray.The AEG/HPP group submitted a bid in April to privately finance the renovation for $521 million, according to The Associated Press.Oak View Group, the apparent favorite in the process, put forth a $564-million plan and is expected to be selected by Murray to oversee the project this week, according to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times.The letter to the mayor cites a fear that "the city is driving toward an unrealistic financing structure," and expresses concern that the city didn't conduct "a sufficiently thorough, objective and transparent process to properly evaluate the respective strengths and weaknesses of the two proposals, and most significantly, to identify the proposal best positioned to deliver a project consistent with the community's interests."Specifically, the AEG/HPP group criticized the city for withholding "critical financial portions" of the Oak View Group's proposal from the public while sharing theirs with their full support, saying that act raised "serious questions about the integrity of the decision-making process and the ability of the public to make fair and equitable comparison."Oak View Group is led by former AEG president and CEO Tim Leiweke, who later held those same titles with Toronto-based Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment before forming OVG with MSG and Live Nation.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dino Ciccarelli is rooting for Jake Guentzel.The former Minnesota North Stars winger, who set an NHL record when he scored 14 goals during the 1981 playoffs, has a reason to keep tabs on the Pittsburgh Penguins this postseason.That's because Guentzel, a freshman forward, could soon eclipse the high mark Ciccarelli set 36 years ago. The Penguins winger scored his 13th of the playoffs Saturday against the Nashville Predators and is now just one shy of tying Ciccarelli."I hope he does break the record," Ciccarelli told Michael Russo of the Star Tribune. "He has great instincts. He has a knack for the net."Guentzel, whose 13 goals leads NHL playoff scoring, is also one point away from tying the NHL-best for rookie playoff points, a record also held by Ciccarelli, with 21. Former Philadelphia Flyers forward Ville Leino evened the record in 2010.No doubt Guentzel has given Ciccarelli reason to tune in."It's nice to see him having success and having fun," Ciccarelli added. "It reminds me a lot of me in 1981."Guentzel will have the opportunity to tie, and possibly pass Ciccarelli's mark, when the puck drops Monday for Game 4.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rick Tocchet insists he's not in as high demand as it might seem.The Pittsburgh Penguins assistant coach is downplaying the notion that he's a candidate for one of the two vacant NHL head coaching positions."I'd love to have another kick at it, but honestly I haven't been contacted by anybody," Tocchet told NHL.com's Dan Rosen on Sunday. "I'm just focused on (the Stanley Cup Final). I have no idea what's going to happen at the end of the (season)."The former NHL forward, ex-Tampa Bay Lightning head coach, and longtime assistant with several organizations believes he's only getting attention now because the Penguins have been so competitive."When you're a successful team and you win other teams like to look at the people in that organization," Tocchet said. "That's good. That's a good thing with being with Pittsburgh, you get looked at because we've won a lot of games the last couple of years. We've got a really good staff. Mike Sullivan is a great (head) coach. I've gone way back with him and that helps. But I don't know what's going to happen after the season."The Buffalo Sabres and Florida Panthers are the only NHL clubs without a head coach at the moment.Tocchet has been a Penguins assistant since June 2014.He went 53-69-26 as head coach of the Lightning from 2008-10, and served as interim head coach of the then-Phoenix Coyotes for five games when Wayne Gretzky took a leave of absence in 2005.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's no secret the Calgary Flames have a goaltending problem. Could the answer to these crease concerns be Arizona Coyotes netminder Mike Smith?After acquiring Brian Elliott from the St. Louis Blues last summer, coupled with free-agent addition Chad Johnson, it marked new beginnings in goal for the Flames. But the duo never lived up to expectations, as each netminder struggled for long stretches last season.While Elliott found his game later on, putting together an impressive 11-game win streak, that performance didn't carry through to the playoffs. Calgary went down in flames in the opening round, with Elliott taking the heat for his team's poor play.In the series-deciding fourth game, Elliott lasted less than six minutes, allowing one goal on three shots, leaving coach Glen Gulutzan to quickly change hands to Johnson. Elliott's time between the Calgary pipes was all but over.Outside of the blue paint, there is no doubt the Flames can ice a contending lineup. Dougie Hamilton, T.J. Brodie, and captain Mark Giordano headline one of the league's deepest defensive units, while Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan are young, legitimate scoring threats up front.Furthermore, help is on the way in prospect netminders Jon Gillies and World Juniors hero Tyler Parsons, who put up top numbers this season in the OHL.But neither up-and-comer is ready for prime time. A worthwhile stopgap is needed, yet free agency doesn't offer many strong options, with Steve Mason, Ryan Miller, and Jonathan Bernier among the best bets to be available this summer.That leaves the trade market, which is surely to focus on Pittsburgh Penguins netminder Marc-Andre Fleury. But there are no guarantees he'd accept a move to Calgary, and his greater demand is sure to set a higher price tag.Enter Smith. The 35-year-old has two years remaining on his contract and could be the perfect short-term solution in Calgary. He was near-dominant this season on a 28th-place Arizona squad, a bounce-back season that saw the veteran netminder named to the All-Star game after injuries limited him to 32 games a year earlier.Smith was busy this season, seeing plenty of pucks behind a leaky Coyotes defense that allowed 34 shots a night, the second most in the league. But that didn't stop Smith from putting up one of the league's best ratios when facing the competition at 5-on-5, with his .924 save rate ranking among the top 10.The Flames would need little selling on Smith. A move to Calgary would reunite him with general manager Brad Treliving, who was previously part of the Coyotes' hockey operations. Same with Don Maloney, a Flames pro scout who originally brought Smith to Arizona in 2011 when he served as Coyotes GM. Not many hockey minds could offer a deeper read on Smith.In Arizona, the coming expansion draft presents the perfect opportunity for the Coyotes to shift gears and add a younger netminder to develop alongside the team's emerging core. In other words, a goaltender to round out and grow alongside a youthful group that will soon be ready to contend.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nick Bonino joined his teammates on the ice Sunday, but whether he plays alongside them Monday is still up in the air.The Pittsburgh Penguins forward took the ice midway through the optional skate wearing some extra protection on his left skate, then departed before the end of the session.Bonino got some work in with the Penguins' second power-play unit before exiting, saying afterward he isn't sure about his availability for Game 4 yet."It's day to day, (and) we'll see what happens (Monday), but (I) just wanted to get out there and move it a little bit," he said. "If I don't think, or the coaches or the trainers don't think I'd help the team, I won't be out there."Bonino didn't play in Pittsburgh's Game 3 loss on Saturday night, the first game of the Stanley Cup Final in Nashville, after he arrived in Tennessee using crutches and wearing a walking boot Friday.He suffered the injury blocking a shot in Game 2.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The most bizarre hockey chirp may never have actually happened.A day after Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban claimed Sidney Crosby accused him of having bad breath during Game 3, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain insists it never happened."He made that up, I didn't say that," Crosby said, according to Sportsnet's Shawn McKenzie. "He's a guy that likes the attention. If he wants to make stuff up, what can I do?"Related - Subban: Crosby said I have bad breath, but I use ListerineSubban made the odd claim and then refuted it suggesting that he had good breath and that he used Listerine before the game.

With a shotless contest in Game 3, Sidney Crosby's problems in Stanley Cup Final games persisted.The Pittsburgh Penguins captain was limited to a single assist in Game 3 in 20:42 of ice time, pushing his current goalless skid to five games. However, in the bigger picture, his struggles to score in the Stanley Cup Finals have become much more alarming.After Saturday night's effort, Crosby has just one goal in his last 19 Cup Final games. In fact, the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner has tallied just three goals in 22 Cup Final games during his four trips to the final round.His last goal in a Cup Final game came back in Game 4 against the Detroit Red Wings in 2009 and prior to that his only other two goals came in Game 3 of the 2008 Final against those same Red Wings, meaning Crosby has gone goalless in 20 of his 22 career Cup Final contests.What doesn't help Crosby's chances in these games is that he has managed just 52 shots on goal, giving him an average of 2.4 per game, not exactly what you would expect from Sid.If Crosby does have one thing going for him, it's that, despite being snake-bitten in the goals department, he's still posted a respectable 16 points in those 22 games and, on top of that, he has two Stanley Cup rings.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Since 2013-14, only four defensemen have registered more regular-season points than Predators anchor Roman Josi (205): Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns, Victor Hedman, and Dustin Byfuglien.That's some pretty well-known company, but despite production that places him among the league's elite blue-liners, Josi was severely underrated before Nashville's run to the Stanley Cup Final. He's gained more respect while playing on the national stage, but why isn't Josi already a bigger star? Here are four possible reasons he's been overlooked.Shea Weber's D partnerDuring his first five seasons in the NHL, Josi was paired predominantly with Shea Weber. The perennial Norris candidate, team captain, Olympic gold medalist, and owner of the league's hardest shot obviously drew most of the attention.Small-market, Western Conference teamThough Smashville has gained admirers across the continent during these playoffs, it's still one of the smallest markets in the NHL, and as a young franchise, the Predators don't have a storied history.They also play in the Western Conference, so many of their games are late at night for viewers who live farther east, and East Coast bias is still a thing. Few prime-time games on major networks - the Predators only played on NBCSN twice during the regular season - make it tough to watch Josi unless you have NHL GameCenter or live in Tennessee.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Switzerland's low hockey profilePlayers from Canada and the United States get more attention while playing in their respective countries, and even players from Sweden, Finland, and Russia are highlighted on the international stage. But playing for Switzerland means Josi's rarely been seen competing in the late stages of the Olympics, World Championship, or world juniors.The only time he did appear in an international final - the 2013 World Championship - he was named tournament MVP at age 22, and scored the only goal in a 5-1 loss to Sweden.Not a highly touted prospectHad Josi been a top pick in his draft class, his nationality may not have mattered much. Anze Kopitar (Slovenia), Marian Hossa (Slovakia), and Leon Draisaitl (Germany) are widely considered stars despite hailing from smaller hockey nations. Kopitar's and Hossa's profiles were raised by Stanley Cup wins, but all three players were high draft picks.Instead, Josi was a second-round selection in 2008, and while there may have been some hype surrounding him within the Predators organization, it certainly wasn't league-wide. He just came into the league and quietly became a great defenseman by his third season.Is Josi a star now?Josi's certainly left his mark on the Stanley Cup Playoffs: He has 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 19 games with a team-leading 67 shots on goal. He's an exceptionally smooth skater with a rocket of a shot, as well as one of the league's most disciplined players - and the hockey world has taken notice.Expect the NHL to start marketing Josi like the star he is next season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators faithful did not disappoint on Saturday.The entire city was in a frenzy before, during, and after the club's triumphant 5-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 3. It was a spectacle, one that defenseman P.K. Subban correctly predicted ahead of the game.Related: Subban says Nashville's arena will 'be even louder in Game 4'Here is just a slight sample of the craziness that occurred during the team's first ever Stanley Cup Final game.They don't call it Smashville for nothing.While it was a great day for hockey, it wasn't a great day to go for a cruise downtown.Inside Bridgestone Arena, Predators mascot Gnash got the party started.Of course, what's a Preds game without a catfish (don't worry this one is fake).This one on the other hand ...And this one.Pekka Rinne was back to his old tricks.Inevitably, things got a little chippy.Though, Craig Smith did also deliver some finesse.All in all, it was one hell of a day in the Music City.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Predators defenseman P.K. Subban has aced his predictions thus far. Not only did he guarantee a Game 3 win, but he also claimed it would be one of the best atmospheres in NHL history.Well, the Preds took care of the Penguins on Saturday, and Bridgestone Arena was absolutely rocking. It may be a tough atmosphere to top, but Subban is pretty certain it can be done."Our fans don't get enough credit for knowing the game and knowing hockey. And they do know the game. And they understand the importance of these games. You thought it was loud today? It'll be even louder in Game 4," he said, according to Yahoo! Sports' Greg Wyshynski.Related: Listen: Preds fans give Murray the business with awesome chantSome of the chants the fans scream out - and the synchronization they do it with - makes the atmosphere resemble that of an overseas soccer game or a college football contest.The good people of Smashville have certainly made Bridgestone Arena a hostile environment for visiting teams, as Nashville now holds an 8-1 record at home during the postseason.Even during the regular season - in which the Preds stumbled into the playoffs as the West's second wild-card team and the NHL's 16th seed overall - they posted a record of 24-9-8 at home. Only Washington, Pittsburgh, and Anaheim finished with fewer regulation losses at home.If Game 4 is even louder than Game 3 was, it only increases the chances of Subban and the Preds evening the series up at two games apiece.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators' defense corps hit new heights Saturday night.Roman Josi led the way with a goal and two assists to jump into second in defenseman scoring this postseason, while Mattias Ekholm collected a goal - his first of the playoffs - and an assist in the team's crucial 5-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

With the offseason underway for a number of teams and the remainder to join them in a few weeks, we're looking at what's in store for each club in the coming months.2016-17 Grade: FThe disparity between the regular-season Western Conference champions and the outfit that managed just three goals in a four-game sweep at the hands of the Nashville Predators earns this year's Blackhawks a big fat F.General manager Stan Bowman himself called the season a "complete failure," after bowing out of the playoffs in the first round for the second time in as many seasons.The Blackhawks, as usual, are stuck to the salary cap ceiling, and some serious upheaval might be required to make things work, and help an aging, but still star-studded roster take another crack at glory.Free AgentsPlayer (Position) 2017-18 Status Age 2016-17 Cap Hit 2016-17 PointsAndrew Desjardins (C)UFA30$800K1Dennis Rasmussen (C)RFA26$575K8Tomas Jurco (LW)RFA24$900K1Brian Campbell (D)UFA38$1.5M17Johnny Oduya (D)UFA35$3.75M9 (2 with Blackhawks)None of these expiring contracts are all-too pressing, and the Blackhawks have awarded forward Richard Panik and defenseman Michal Kempny with extensions so far in the offseason.The most interesting decision surrounds Jurco, the former Red Wings prospect acquired by the club for a third-round pick before the trade deadline. Jurco has struggled to find his stride in parts of four NHL seasons, but he could fit on the wing for the cap-strapped Blackhawks.2017 Draft PicksRoundPicks112131 (From OTT)4153 (Own + CAR/STL)62 (Own + NYI)71 (From ANA)Chicago has a bevy of late picks, and while it's a good opportunity to stock its cupboard with promising prospects, Bowman would be wise to attempt to package picks with a high-salary player to create some cap space.Summer Priorities1. Don't let Vegas take van RiemsdykDue to no-movement clauses in the contracts of defensemen Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, and Niklas Hjalmarsson, Chicago's expansion protection choices are already made on the back end should it choose the 7-3-1 format.That would leave Trevor van Riemsdyk exposed for the Golden Knights, something the Blackhawks should nullify by offering Vegas general manager George McPhee one, or multiple of their excess draft picks in exchange for not picking van Riemsdyk in the expansion draft.Van Riemsdyk, 25, made positive strides last season and is only owed $825,000 for 2017-18. Sorting out a deal to keep the defenseman would make Marcus Kruger the best player available for Vegas, and his potential departure to Sin City would take $3.083 million off Chicago's books.2. Unload a big contractThis won't be easy, but Bowman needs to explore all options to get rid of one of the numerous long-term contracts burdening the Blackhawks' ledger.Some of the deals restraining Chicago's flexibility include:Player (Position)AgeCap HitNMC?Marian Hossa (RW)38$5.725MYesArtem Anisimov (C)29$4.55MYesSeabrook (D)32$6.875MYesHjalmarsson (D)29$4.1MYes (inclues modified no-trade clause)Again, it won't be easy. If Bowman can find a deal to move any of these players, he should take it, even if it includes retaining salary.Trading either defenseman makes more sense, as the Blackhawks can ill-afford to further deteriorate their forward depth. However, on the decline, Seabrook might not have many takers, while losing Hjalmarsson would greatly hurt Chicago's defensive-zone play.In hindsight, choosing any of the above players as a cap casualty rather than, say, Brandon Saad or Teuvo Teravainen, might have helped Chicago avoid this particular pickle in 2017, but it's paramount Bowman analyzes all avenues to afford himself some breathing room.3. Give DeBrincat a shot(Photo Courtesy: Getty Images)This decision will come closer to training camp, but the Blackhawks need to give Alex DeBrincat a serious look for an NHL job.DeBrincat's size (5-foot-7) pushed him down draft boards to 39th overall last June, where Chicago shrewdly nabbed him. As a member of the Erie Otters, DeBrincat recorded a whopping 65 goals and 62 assists in 2016-17, earning him CHL Player of the Year honors for 2016-17.In each of his three seasons with Erie, DeBrincat recorded 100-plus points, making him one of just eight players to do so in the OHL's modern era. His height may be a concern, but his junior days are clearly behind him, and Chicago should take advantage of his cheap entry-level cap hit.2017-18 OutlookThe Blackhawks have been in this position before, but this time around - with their core growing older - it feels like something has to give for the club to rediscover its championship identity.Writing off Chicago as contenders is a little premature, but in order to maintain and continue its run of success in the Western Conference, the Blackhawks' salary conundrum needs to be resolved this summer.Offseason Outlook SeriesCOL | VAN | NJD | ARI | BUF

It's getting personal in the Stanley Cup Final.P.K. Subban revealed after his Nashville Predators won Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final 5-1 that he was the victim of a vicious chirp from Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who accused the defender of having bad breath."Usually when guys chirp after the game or during the game, it's usually about your game or something personal," Subban said, according to Yahoo Sports' Greg Wyshynski. "(Crosby) went on to tell me that my breath smelled bad, and I really don't understand why, because I use Listerine before the game. I thought my breath smelled great. But at the end of the day, we're just going to take the win and move on."Three things:1. Credit to Subban for being the, uh, bigger man.

We've got ourselves a series, friends.The Nashville Predators won Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final over the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1 on Saturday, and now trail the best-of-seven series 2-1, with Game 4 set for Monday night.Here are six takeaways after a convincing and impressive Preds win in a rocking Music City.Pekka's backPekka Rinne looked like Pekka Rinne on Saturday, and that's a big reason why the series will go back to Pittsburgh.It was a bit of a shaky start for the Finn, as he seemed to be battling the puck. Considering Pittsburgh was up 1-0 only three minutes in, if Rinne didn't find his game/confidence, this series could have been deemed all but officially over.But Rinne was exceptional in the second period, stopping all 13 shots he faced, including two big stops a few moments after Nashville took its first lead of the series by scoring twice in 42 seconds. He kicked out a low Phil Kessel drive from the right wing before robbing Chris Kunitz on the rebound, moving left to right to make a brilliant glove save and keep his team in the lead.If Kunitz ties it up, who knows what happens?Rinne finished with 27 saves and outplayed Matt Murray. Precisely what the Preds needed.P.K.'s a prophetP.K. Subban guaranteed a Game 3 victory. P.K. Subban was very much right.While Subban didn't record a point, he was quietly a force Saturday, playing a game-high 25:53 (20:30 at even strength) and a ridiculous 3:02 shorthanded. No. 76 was a big reason why Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were held shotless in the same playoff game for the first time in their careers.Ask yourself: how could a team possibly trade Subban? It's insane. And appreciate the fact P.K.'s playing for the Cup. That's about as good as it gets.Hockey cityNashvile was up for its first Stanley Cup Final game. It enjoyed every minute of it.The tweets were flying from the moment warmups began: it was loud, very loud, arguably the loudest ever, at the Bridgestone Arena, where Predators fans took "playoff atmosphere" to a whole other level.Murray was ruthlessly jeered, catfish were thrown to the ice, and a good - and likely drunken - time was had by all (except the Penguins).The Predators improved to 8-1 in the playoffs at home, outscoring their opponents 30-14. They're all but unbeatable at home, which means this series could be heading back to Pennsylvania all tied up."This is a place we love to play," James Neal said after his team's win. "I'm proud to be a part of it."Murray will start Game 4Don't do it. Just, don't. Forget asking who'll start in goal for the Penguins in Game 4, don't even think about the question.Murray didn't have his best game, beaten four times to his glove side, but he'll be in the Pittsburgh crease when Game 4 begins Monday night. He has to be. Why? Because he's Pittsburgh's No. 1 goalie. He was last spring, he was this season, and while Marc-Andre Fleury deserves a ton of credit for playing an integral role in getting the Penguins back to the final, the Flower's the backup and remains the backup - period.These are the Western Conference champion Predators. They beat the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, and Anaheim Ducks to get to the final. They were never going to roll over, despite their injuries. A little respect, please.Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan deserves credit for going back to Murray when he did. But once he did, Murray became his guy the rest of the way. To go back to Fleury now would be to overthink the issue.Pittsburgh hasn't played very good hockey through three games, but they're still only two wins away from the Cup - and that's one closer than Nashville is.Josi the godThe best word to describe Roman Josi's Game 3 performance: Beastly.Josi was an absolute force, scoring his sixth goal of the playoffs (to lead all defensemen) and adding two assists. He's the first defenseman to record three points in a Cup Final game since Duncan Keith in 2010.Arguably the most underrated d-man in hockey, Josi played 23:36, including over five minutes on special teams. He finished with a 58.62 Corsi For percentage."He's as consistent a player as there is in the NHL," said his head coach Peter Laviolette, according to the Star Tribune's Michael Russo.Fact.Preds stepped upIn order for the Preds to get back into this series, Rinne had to return to form, and certain players had to step up. They did.Neal's goal was his first since Game 2 against the Ducks, Craig Smith and Mattias Ekholm found the back of the net for the first time in the playoffs, Calle Jarnkrok's two-assist game was his first multi-point effort of the second season, and Frederick Gaudreau's second career goal (both coming in the postseason) gave Nashville a lead it wouldn't relinquish. Huge contributions, all.Nineteen different Predators have scored a goal in the postseason, a club record. Mike Fisher can make it 20, and you get the feeling he will, perhaps as soon as Monday.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

No wonder Nashville won.The Predators defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1 in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, cutting their series deficit to one after dropping the first two games in Pittsburgh.Apparently, the key to success was holding the Penguins' two superstars, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, off the scoresheet. Both failed to register a shot in Game 3 - the first time they've done so in the same playoff game since becoming teammates in 2006.Crosby finished the night with an assist, while Malkin was held pointless, and had a minus-one rating. The two centers shared a seat in the penalty box and watched Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm's power-play goal - Nashville's fifth of the night.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Pekka Rinne and the Nashville Predators are very hard to beat on their own ice this postseason, and now they have added their biggest piece of franchise history yet.A victory in the Stanley Cup Final.The embattled Rinne not only started, he made 27 saves. Roman Josi and Frederick Gaudreau scored 42 seconds apart in the second period, and the Predators beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1 Saturday night to pull within 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.The Predators capped the biggest party in Nashville history with a victory that gave thousands of fans inside and outside of the arena reason to celebrate with even country star Keith Urban and wife, actress Nicole Kidman, high-fiving.And credit Rinne for coming through with a very stingy performance and improving to 8-1 in Nashville this postseason.The Predators call the 6-foot-5 Finn their backbone, yet critics wanted him benched after looking so shaky in the first two games in Pittsburgh giving up eight goals on just 36 shots. Coach Peter Laviolette benched him in the third period of Game 2 when Rinne gave up three goals in the first 3:28 of a 4-1 loss.Josi also had two assists. James Neal, Craig Smith and Mattias Ekholm also scored for Nashville as the Predators worked out some frustration against the Pens.''Like our team has done the whole playoffs against Chicago, St. Louis, Anaheim, we showed really good composure,'' said Nashville defenseman P.K. Subban, who had predicted a win in Game 3. ''We're going to take that into the next game.''Game 4 is Monday night.Jake Guentzel scored his 13th goal this postseason and fourth of this series for Pittsburgh and now is one off Dino Ciccarelli's rookie record of 14 in 1981 for Minnesota. Guentzel, already with two game-winning goals in the series, put the Penguins up 1-0 on their second shot with a wrister off a rebound of Ian Cole that beat Rinne just 2:46 into the game.Rinne stopped the next 26 shots for the victory and the party continued into the night.Laviolette stuck with Rinne after lots of questions about his goalie, though he did sit veterans Cody McLeod and Vern Fiddler to get more speed with Harry Zolnierczyk and P.A. Parenteau. Pittsburgh forward Carl Hagelin played for the first time with center Nick Bonino out after taking a Subban slap shot off his left foot in Game 2 that left him on crutches and in a walking boot.Matt Murray extended his scoreless streak to 72:54 with the Pittsburgh goalie looking ready to notch his 21st playoff win. Then he gave up five goals in the span of 15 shots.The Predators got it started with a three-goal flurry in the second.Josi scored his sixth goal off a slap shot at 5:51, tying it at 1-1 and finally giving nervous fans something to enjoy. Then Gaudreau, who scored his first career NHL goal in Game 1, scored 42 seconds later to put Nashville ahead with his wrister from the high slot, taking advantage of a screen by Penguins defenseman Cole to beat Murray glove-side.Just after that go-ahead goal, the Penguins had a rush on Rinne, and the three-time Vezina Trophy finalist made back-to-back big saves. First, he stopped Phil Kessel's wrister from the right circle. The rebound bounced back into the slot, and Rinne made a save on Chris Kunitz with an assist from Subban sliding over to help.Neal made it 3-1 with 22.6 seconds left in the second, banking the puck off Murray's left arm for his first goal in the series and sixth of the playoffs. Smith's goal on a breakaway at 4:54 was his first of the playoffs, and Ekholm padded the lead with a power-play goal with 6:50 left.Notes: Smith is the 18th different Nashville player to score a goal this postseason. ... The Penguins went 0 of 3 on the power play and now are 1 of 13 in this series. ... With an assist, Sidney Crosby now has 160 career playoff points (56 goals, 104 assists) and tied Mike Bossy, Gordie Howe, Bobby Smith and Al MacInnis for 20th all-time.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville's a hockey town.Predators supporters packed the building and the streets downtown for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, and the folks who paid to watch certainly got their money's worth, chanting in unison and letting Penguins goalie Matt Murray know that Pittsburgh's circumstances were all the goaltender's fault.It's lit in Smashville, as the kids would say.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pekka Rinne, the Predators, and the entire city of Nashville needed those two saves. But especially Rinne.Despite some foolish speculation that Rinne might watch Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final from the bench after two subpar efforts to begin the series, the Finn got the start and came up huge in the second period, stopping Phil Kessel's low shot and then reaching across his body to make a glove save on the rebound, which Chris Kunitz found in the slot.They were timely saves, too, coming shortly after the Predators took their first lead of the series.If Pekka's back, we may have a series.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins employ Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Phil Kessel, but apparently the key to beating them is to stop Jake Guentzel.Guentzel was at it again Saturday, opening the scoring in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final and quieting - briefly - the raucous crowd in Nashville.The goal - which came before the first period was three minutes old - was Guentzel's 13th of the postseason, good for tops among all goal-scorers (with no other player even in double digits). It also puts him one tally away from tying Dino Ciccarelli's rookie playoff record of 14 (and one point away from tying Ciccarelli's and Ville Leino's rookie playoff points record of 21).There's more: Guentzel's goal was his 50th of the season when taking into account his 21 goals in the AHL, 16 in the NHL regular season with Pittsburgh, and 13 in the postseason. And he's done it in only 95 games. Yeah.There's more, still:

No Nick Bonino.The PIttsburgh Penguins were without the center in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final versus the Nashville Predators on Saturday night. Speedy Carl Hagelin drew into the Pens' lineup in Bonino's place. It's Hagelin's first game of the series.Bonino was hurt after blocking a shot in Game 2. He arrived in Nashville on crutches while sporting a walking boot, yet was labeled a game-time decision.

Who says hockey can't work in Tennessee?The Nashville Predators will host their first-ever Stanley Cup Final game Saturday, and a huge throng of fans was on hand more than three hours prior to puck drop, crowding bar-lined Broadway and the area surrounding Bridgestone Arena:

Fitness testing at the NHL Scouting Combine is complete, and the projected top two picks are quite happy about the fact.Nolan Patrick and Nico Hischier each felt the burn during the Wingate cycle ergometer bike test Saturday, writes NHL.com's Mike Morreale."It was terrible," Patrick said, adding that the exercise caused him to lose his breakfast.Patrick is the top-ranked skater ahead of the June 23 draft, while fellow forward Hischier is ranked second by NHL Central Scouting.Here are their test results:Hischier Test Patrick105.75"Standing long jump99.75"7Bench press (70% of body weight)124.75 secondsPro agility test left4.76 seconds4.53 secondsPro agility test right4.75 seconds19.37"Vertical jump19.49"13Pullups11The New Jersey Devils will draft first overall, while the Philadelphia Flyers own the second overall selection.View full results by fitness test on the Central Scouting website.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The incoming Vegas Golden Knights won't put together a deal to acquire Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin.While a trade would reconnect Ovechkin with Golden Knights general manager George McPhee, who was at the Capitals' helm until 2014, he said it's not a move fans should expect to see in the coming weeks."That's not going to happen. Too many No. 8 jerseys in Washington," McPhee told Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal of the fan enthusiasm for the Russian superstar in D.C.Ovechkin's name joined the rumor mill when the Capitals lost again in the second round of the postseason. It was a disappointing finish for the Presidents' Trophy-winning team, which hasn't made it to the third round of the playoffs since 1998.That's led to talk of change in Washington, and Ovechkin is a central part of those discussions. Capitals GM Brian MacLellan did little to quiet the murmurs earlier this week, when he left open the possibility that Washington could consider trading their leader if a "hockey deal" emerged.The GM added that Vegas is unlikely to pursue Ovechkin's countryman, Ilya Kovalchuk, who's considering a return to the NHL after spending the past four seasons in the KHL."We haven't had any discussions and I don't imagine we'd go down that path," McPhee told reporters Saturday, via Sportsnet. "We'll be looking for younger players and people who will be with us three-to-four years from now."Kovlachuk, 34, can return to the NHL if he signs with the New Jersey Devils, who hold his rights, at which point he can be dealt to another club.While McPhee won't pursue either of the two Russians, he added that the Golden Knights are close to their first trade, and could have an announcement as early as Monday or Tuesday.Vegas will make its expansion draft picks as part of the NHL Awards ceremony held June 21 at T-Mobile Arena, the team's home arena.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights general manager George McPhee may favor familiarity when it comes to a few of his selections in the upcoming expansion draft.The former Washington Capitals GM could try to snag current Philadelphia Flyers goaltender - and former Caps 'keeper - Michal Neuvirth if he's available, according to Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer.McPhee described Neuvirth as an athletic and "technically perfect" goaltender, and said "he's at that point where he can be really good."Asked whether Neuvirth is a potential target for the Golden Knights, McPhee was less forthcoming, responding, "We'll see. I'm certainly not going to talk about who we might be interested in."I've said this 1,000 times: Until we see the whole universe of who's available and who we might like (it's tough to evaluate)."The 29-year-old Neuvirth is signed to a two-year contract with a cap hit of $2.5 million. In 2016-17, he posted a .891 save percentage, 2.82 goals-against average and a 11-11-1 record. His best season was his previous campaign with the Flyers, when he posted a .924 save percentage in 29 starts and 32 appearances.Over a Capitals tenure that began in the 2008-09 season and ended with a March 2014 trade to the Buffalo Sabres, he compiled a .909 save percentage and a 2.66 GAA, earning 105 starts.Philadelphia will likely have to choose between protecting Neuvirth or 23-year-old goaltender Anthony Stolarz. Stolarz, a restricted free agent, posted a .928 save percentage in seven games with the Flyers last season. He was Philadelphia's second-round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist sustained a Grade 1 MCL sprain at the World Championship in May, the team confirmed to Dan Rosen of NHL.com.The injury is not believed to be serious and the Rangers don't expect any disruption in Lundqvist's offseason training or preparation, adds Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.Lundqvist backstopped Sweden to a gold medal victory over Canada in a shootout, raising questions as to whether the injury was sustained after William Nylander tackled him in the ensuing celebration.According to TSN's Ray Ferraro - who covered the tournament from between the benches - the issue arose late in the semifinal match, leaving Lundqvist "iffy" to play in the final to begin with.Lundqvist made 42 saves in the win over Canada, and stopped all four attempts in the shootout.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights general manager George McPhee spoke with the media at the NHL Combine Saturday and said he's ready to start making moves.

The Nashville Predators are making a couple lineup changes in order to help win a game in the Stanley Cup Final.Down 0-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins heading into Saturday's Game 3, head coach Peter Laviolette will insert P.A. Parenteau and Harry Zolnierczyk into the lineup.

The Nashville Predators are set to host the first-ever Stanley Cup Final game in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday night. Down two games to none against the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins, they've set themselves up for a chance at an even more memorable Stanley Cup victory.Nashville is the 51st team to trail a final series 2-0, with just five of the 50 predecessors having overcome the deficit to lift Lord Stanley's mug.The trend is a growing one, though. Many of these same Penguins players pulled off the feat in 2009 against the Detroit Red Wings, and, more recently, the Boston Bruins pulled off the rare series victory in 2011, coming back to topple the Vancouver Canucks.Here's a reminder of how the Bruins-Canucks series played out:GameLocationVictorScore1VancouverCanucks1-02VancouverCanucks3-2 OT3BostonBruins8-14BostonBruins4-05VancouverCanucks1-06BostonBruins5-27VancouverBruins4-0The Canucks won their three games, all at home, by a cumulative score of 5-2. The Bruins won their four games by a much more convincing 21-2. The Canucks outshot the Bruins by 21 over the seven-game series, winning the shot count in four games.As Nashville looks to mount their comeback, they hold a 64-39 shot advantage, but trail 9-4 in goals.Here are the three key factors which led to the Bruins' series comeback in 2011 and what Nashville can learn from them:Home IceThe Bruins lost their first two games of the 2010-11 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at TD Banknorth Garden to the Montreal Canadiens before going 10-1 at home the rest of the way en route to their Stanley Cup victory. They allowed a total of just 15 goals and scored 43 in those 10 wins.They were never more dominant on home ice than they were in the final. After losing two extremely close games in Vancouver, they returned home to even the series with no-doubter victories by a cumulative score of 12-1.The Predators have been even more impressive in their home games in the 2016-17 playoffs. They sport a record of 7-1, with the lone loss coming in overtime at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final. They've outscored their opponents by a cumulative score of 25-13 at Bridgestone Arena, despite being the lower-seeded team in each seriesNashville swept Games 3 and 4 in Rounds 1 and 2. They'll need to do this in the final - as the Bruins did - in order to even the series before heading back out on the road.Special TeamsHere's how the scoring broke down in the 2011 Cup final:VancouverBoston5v5614PP25SH03EN01The Bruins finished the 2011 playoffs ranked 14th out of 16 teams with a power-play percentage of 11.4 and sixth with a penalty-kill percentage of 84.4. The Bruins took 41 minor penalties, one double minor, one fighting major, and seven 10-minute misconducts in the 2011 final. The Canucks, meanwhile, racked up 33 minors, one double minor, two majors, and six misconducts.The Bruins' improved, yet overworked, special teams play in the final proved to be a difference maker.The Predators currently have a 16.7 percent power-play conversion rate, ranking eighth among 16 teams. Their 88.5 percent penalty-kill rate ranks fourth. They're 2-for-7 on the power play in the final and they've held Pittsburgh to just one power-play goal in 10 opportunities. The Predators have served an additional four penalty minutes, the most glaring issue with their special teams play.This year's final has been significantly more disciplined through the first two games. This will be a key for Nashville in order to keep Pittsburgh's third-ranked playoff power-play unit off the ice.Tim ThomasLet's look at how the save percentages of Tim Thomas in 2011 and Pekka Rinne in 2017 compare through the regular season and round-by-round in the postseason:ThomasRinneReg. Season.938.918Round 1.926.976Round 2.953.932Round 3.916.925Round 4.967.778Playoffs.940.929Thomas had a superior save percentage in his second-career Vezina Trophy-winning season than Rinne did this year, but Rinne's first three playoff rounds were better than those of Thomas. The key difference between the two is their play in the final round.Thomas was nearly unbeatable in 2011, while Rinne has allowed eight goals on just 36 shots and was pulled early in the third period of Game 2. He's been Nashville's biggest weakness through two games. For the Predators to mount a series comeback, he'll need to outplay Penguins goalie Matt Murray and rival Thomas' 2011 performance.Rinne's career save percentage on home ice is .922, compared to .912 on the road. He'll need to receive that same boost for his next two games for the Predators to have a chance.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights have given us a glimpse of what NHL draft prospects are subject to at the annual scouting combine.Here's a look at prospective top pick Nico Hischier being pushed to the limit by "bike guy."

Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney is willing to sit out the first round of this year's draft if the right deal comes along.With clear and pressing needs on the left side of the ice at both forward and defense, Sweeney would not be averse to trading the 18th overall pick."It’s an effort to try and improve our hockey club," Sweeney said Friday at the NHL scouting combine, per Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald. "We have had a number of selections the last couple of years and we feel that they’ll all materialize into very good players for the Boston Bruins and I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t explore what could improve our hockey club now in the shorter term. I owe it to our players and the organization to continue to do that."The Bruins have made five first-round picks over the course of the past two drafts, but each of those players has yet to make their regular-season NHL debuts.Defenseman Charlie McAvoy - selected 14th overall in 2016 - was pressed into playoff action this year and is expected to be in the lineup come October, but whether the other four picks - defenseman Jakub Zboril and forwards Jake DeBrusk, Zach Senyshyn, and Trent Frederic - can contribute next season remains to be seen."We have areas that we think internally we can address, or we hope to be able to address with the growth of our own players," Sweeney continued. “(But) I want to look for a player who can help us improve our club. There’s a couple of areas that I think we can and that’s what I’d be willing to do. Impact (at left wing), impact on the back end. To me, I want a player that moves our club further along."Further along would mean building on a first-round playoff exit and returning to the status of Stanley Cup contenders.According to Cap Friendly, the Bruins have six selections to make in this year's draft, with no picks in the third and fifth rounds.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the offseason underway for a number of teams, with the remainder to join them in a few weeks, we're looking at what's in store for each club in the coming months.2016-17 Grade: B+Fire the cannon.The Columbus Blue Jackets were one of the feel-good stories of the regular season.Considering the club is only one year removed from finishing with the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference with a disappointing 76 points, the Blue Jackets' 2016-17 campaign was downright spectacular.Columbus bounced back in a big way, finishing third in the East with 108 points and qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2014.Fun fact: Columbus finished with the same amount of regulation victories as the Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh Penguins, the same team it would bow out to in the first round of the playoffs.In short, the Jackets' success this season can be broken down into two simple yet effective parts: The Vezina-caliber goaltending of Sergei Bobrovsky, and the superb play of a young core of forwards that lit the NHL on fire.Bob has been doing his thing in Columbus since the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season in which he won the Vezina Trophy, and although leading the league in GAA (2.06) and save percentage (.931) is impressive, the 28-year-old Russian's amazing year was slightly overshadowed by the play of a trio of young stars.Cam Atkinson, Alexander Wennberg, and Zach Werenski all had an excellent 2016-17 campaign and were major reasons for the Blue Jackets' success.Atkinson potted 35 goals, Wennberg finished second in team scoring with 59 points, and Werenski - at just 19 years old - racked up 11 goals, 36 assists, and a Calder Trophy nomination.Yeah, the future is pretty bright in Columbus.Free AgentsThe focus of general manager Jarmo Kekalainen's offseason will most likely take place up the middle, where Wennberg and veteran Sam Gagner (who also plays the wing) are the most notable free agents.Gagner is coming off, arguably, his best season in the NHL, setting a career high in points with 50 and matching a career high in goals with 18 - and he will have teams interested in acquiring his services.Player (Position)2017-18 StatusAge2016-17 Cap Hit'16-17 PointsSam Gagner (F)UFA27$650K50Lauri Korpikoski (F)UFA30$1M0Josh Anderson (F)RFA22$67833329Alexander Wennberg (F)RFA22$925K59Kyle Quincey (D)UFA31$1.25M3In the blue paint, backup 'tender Joonas Korpisalo is in line for a raise.The 23-year-old Finn impressed in 13 starts in relief of Bobrovsky, going 7-5 with one shutout and a respectable 2.88 GAA.Goalie2017-18 StatusAge2016-17 Cap Hit'16-17 SV%Joonas KorpisaloRFA23$742500.905Anton ForsbergRFA24$650K.8522017 Draft Picks The Blue Jackets hold six picks in the upcoming entry draft, but selecting 24th overall in the first round and not having a second-round pick will make for an interesting draft day for Kekalainen.Columbus' second-round selection was sent to the Vancouver Canucks as compensation for the John Tortorella signing.RoundPicks11203141516171Summer Priorities 1. Keep KorpisaloFinishing second-best in total goals against shouldn't lead to a team addressing its goalie situation, but this is one of those problems the Blue Jackets are happy to have.As mentioned above, Korpisalo offers a level of quality between the pipes that most clubs long for at the backup position. Bobrovsky is nasty and definitely worthy of another Vezina nod, but you can never have too many quality players on your roster.Especially in the crease.2. Let Gagner walkSure, he's coming off an excellent renaissance-type year, but does anyone actually expect him to repeat that level of success?Didn't think so.With so much talent on the horizon and a lengthier list of free agents coming next offseason, the Jackets' front office would be wise to let Gagner walk now in order to retain cap space and allow for the potential to lock down bigger names like Atkinson or Boone Jenner next year.3. Address the blue lineColumbus allowed the second-fewest goals against last season, Bobrovsky is all world, and of course, Seth Jones is a stud. But after that, the Jackets don't have much on the back end to be excited about.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Gabriel Carlsson and Markus Nutivaara provide some intrigue and both have flashed the potential to be contributing parts of Columbus' future. But, guys like Jack Johnson and Kyle Quincey need to be upgraded on if the Jackets ever want to get past the first round.Moving one of their many young and talented forwards such as Oliver Bjorkstrand may offer the kind of return that Tortorella and Kekalainen are searching for.2017-18 OutlookAfter last campaign's 108-point showing, the pressure will be on next season in central Ohio.Columbus got dealt with in the first round this year, but come on, they were playing Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. Next season will be very different; with success comes expectations, and those in Blue Jackets territory will be demanding a lot more from this young club.So much so, that a first-round exit in 2018 will be deemed a failure.But, realistically, this team is bursting at the seams with talent and if Tortorella can work his magic once again, there is absolutely no reason for Columbus not to be competing next May.Offseason Outlook SeriesCOL | VAN | NJD | ARI | BUF

Marc Bergevin continues to be a lightning rod for criticism after he sent P.K. Subban to the Nashville Predators, who are within four wins of a Stanley Cup.But the Montreal Canadiens GM has at least one supporter in Brian Burke, the Calgary Flames' president of hockey operations, who says it's not right to shovel blame on Bergevin."Marc Bergevin has done a great job in Montreal," Burke told TSN 690 on Thursday. "He's a great person and it's ridiculous the attacks that he's undergoing right now. It's absurd."Needless to say, the Canadiens' playoff run wasn't nearly as successful as Nashville's. Montreal was bounced in six games by the New York Rangers after kicking off the season with an impressive 13-1-1 showing.But the disappointing finish doesn't all trace back to the deal that made Shea Weber a Canadien, according to Burke."(Bergevin) is one of the great judges of talent in the modern era," he added. "There's a handful of guys that can really watch games and pick players out. He's one of them, Rick Dudley's one of them, Bob Murray's one of them."Dudley serves as Bergevin's assistant GM in Montreal, while Murray has been at the Anaheim Ducks' helm since 2008. Bergevin himself joined the Canadiens in 2012, after spending one year as assistant GM of the Chicago Blackhawks."What's haunting him here is the progression of Nashville through the playoffs. Nashville is not winning because of P.K. Subban alone," Burke said. "The notion Shea Weber for P.K. wasn't a good deal because P.K. is still playing, how does that work?"Bergevin has five years remaining on his contract with the Canadiens, and putting together a winning squad sooner rather than later would go a long way toward quieting the current concerns.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's apparently a coin flip as far as Valeri Nichushkin's future is concerned."He's in Russia now and it's 50-50 on whether we get him back next season," Dallas Stars director of amateur scouting Joe McDonnell told NHL.com's Mike Morreale at the scouting combine Friday."In the end it'll be up to him if he wants to come back."Nichushkin spent this season with CSKA Moscow in the KHL, notching 24 points in 36 regular-season games and adding five points in nine playoff contests.The 22-year-old signed a two-year deal with the Russian club last September, but the Stars retained his NHL rights and will have them until he's eligible for unrestricted free agency in about five years."(If he does return), coach Ken Hitchcock and him will have to forge a relationship," McDonnell said. "If you watch Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, that's what a Val Nichushkin can be in the end. But it's whether he has it in his heart. If he wants to do it, he can do it. It'd be huge for our franchise if we can get him back."Stars general manager Jim Nill said in March that the young winger will likely be protected in the upcoming expansion draft later this month.Nichushkin spent three seasons with the Stars after they drafted him 10th overall in 2013, missing all but eight NHL games in 2014-15 with a hip injury and managing only 23 goals and 64 points in his first 166 contests.He represented Russia at last month's World Championship, collecting three assists in six games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Captain Serious is ready to talk about the issues.Chicago Blackhawks leader Jonathan Toews took to Instagram on Friday to voices his thoughts on climate change, writing: "Whether you're super pumped that we are putting 'Americans first' or you are absolutely outraged at the idea that we are taking yet another step backwards in dealing with a major global problem, the only way to solve this argument is to try and set your own agenda aside and see how this affects everybody."Toews' post comes one day after the U.S. government pulled its support of the Paris Accord, an international agreement aimed at reducing global warming and greenhouse gas emissions."The only lie we tell ourselves is that we are more special than other life forms on the planet," the post continues. "Well, we're not. Even if we weren't responsible for any major climate catastrophes heading our way, shouldn't we still do our part to preserve what we have left?"It's not the first time Toews used social media to voice his opinions, taking to Twitter last year to talk about the benefits of growing your own food.Here's the full post:

Randy Carlyle won't be a lame duck next season.The Anaheim Ducks signed the head coach to a one-year contract extension through the 2018-19 campaign with an option for 2019-20, the club announced Friday.Carlyle guided the Ducks to the Western Conference Final after leading them to their fifth consecutive Pacific Division title in his first season back behind the Anaheim bench.He told reporters on a post-extension conference call Friday night that his new deal was actually triggered by an option in his original contract based on playoff performance criteria, according to Curtis Zupke of the Los Angeles Times.Carlyle is the franchise's all-time leader in coaching wins with 319 victories in 598 regular-season games, 516 of which came in his first stint with the organization from 2005 to 2011.The Ducks also announced Friday that assistant coaches Trent Yawney and Rich Preston will also be back next season, as will Todd Marchant, the team's director of player development and special projects.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.