Peter Laviolette isn't resting on his laurels.The Nashville Predators head coach kept things in perspective after becoming the fourth bench boss in NHL history to take three different teams to the Stanley Cup Final."Probably means that I got fired a lot," he told reporters with a laugh postgame Monday night. "I'm fortunate to be here working and fortunate (general manager) David Poile gave me a job. And when you do that, you're not thinking about things like that, you're just thinking about coming to work."The Predators advanced to their first Cup Final with a 6-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final, sending Laviolette back to the championship round for the first time since 2010, when his Philadelphia Flyers lost to the Chicago Blackhawks.He won it all as head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006, and he now joins Scotty Bowman, Dick Irvin, and Mike Keenan as the only bench bosses to reach the final round with three different organizations.

Anaheim Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle provided some clarity regarding his starting netminder Monday following the club's loss in Game 6, revealing it was a hamstring injury that hampered John Gibson with the season on the line.Gibson was injured in the first period of Game 5 on Saturday night, which the Ducks originally classified as a lower-body ailment. The crease was left to Jonathan Bernier on Monday, who made his first-career postseason start, a 6-3 loss that sent the Nashville Predators to the Stanley Cup Final.It's impossible to determine whether Gibson could have extended the Ducks' season, but goaltending was certainly a problem for Anaheim in their final game, as Bernier allowed two goals in 8:47 to begin the first period.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators weren't going to have their team picture taken without Ryan Johansen.The club waited for the injured forward to join them on the ice for the celebratory photo following a series-clinching 6-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final on Monday night.Johansen was ruled out for the rest of the playoffs Friday with a thigh injury that was eventually confirmed to be acute compartment syndrome.He and fellow injured Predators forward Kevin Fiala helped fire up the crowd Monday night after watching Game 5 together from a local hospital.Injured Predators captain Mike Fisher also joined the club for the photo Monday night, stepping on to the ice in a suit and tie.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Adversity doesn't mean a thing to the Nashville Predators.After a disappointing start to the regular season, and a slew of injuries in the Western Conference Final, the Predators have still managed to make history.Not only are the Preds off to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in the franchise's existence, they're the first team to play for the cup as the No. 16 seed, per Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Nashville closed out the season with 94 points, tied with Calgary for the lowest total of any team to qualify for the playoffs. Due to regulation and overtime wins, the Preds were slotted at the bottom of the West, and while the NHL doesn't use the traditional one-to-eight conference seeding anymore, it's a wildly impressive feat nonetheless.Three No. 8 seeds have reached the finals in the salary cap era, most recently the Los Angeles Kings, who won it all in 2012.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Colton Sissons scored his third goal with 6:00 left, ensuring the Nashville Predators' magical postseason now includes the franchise's first trip to the Stanley Cup Final after eliminating the Anaheim Ducks with a 6-3 win in Game 6 on Monday night.The Predators, who've never won even a division title in their 19-year history, came in with the fewest points of any team in these playoffs.Now they've swept the West's No. 1 seed in Chicago, downed St. Louis in six in the second round and then the Pacific Division champ in six games. Peter Laviolette became the fourth coach to take three different teams to the Final, and the first since the playoffs split into conference play in 1994.The Predators will play either defending champion Pittsburgh or Ottawa for the Stanley Cup. Game 1 is next Monday.Anaheim lost in the conference finals for the second time in three years.Cam Fowler tied it up at 3-3 at 8:52 of the third for Anaheim as the Ducks tried to rally for the fifth time this season when trailing by multiple goals.But Sissons, who scored on the third shot of the game, scored twice in a wild third period to give the Predators a 3-2 lead at 3:00 and then 4-3 three minutes later.Austin Watson scored on Nashville's first shot and had an empty-netter with 1:34 to go. Filip Forsberg also had an empty-net goal.Pekka Rinne made 38 saves to improve to 12-4.Ondrej Kase scored his second career goal - both in this series - giving Anaheim a chance to tie the NHL record with a fifth rally when trailing by multiple goals. Chris Wagner banked the puck off Rinne's head for a goal at 5:00 of the third to keep the Ducks close.But this has been the best postseason ever for Rinne, a three-time Vezina Trophy finalist, a stretch ranking among the NHL's best. And the 6-foot-5 Finn used his big body to turn away shot after shot even with the Ducks trying to crash the net every opportunity. He helped the Predators improve to 7-3 in one-goal games.Music City buzzed all day leading up to the puck drop waiting for one of the biggest sports parties this town has ever seen.Superstar Garth Brooks spoiled the usual mystery of who would sing the national anthem with Twitter hints hours before the game. Sure enough, his wife Trisha Yearwood became the latest to handle the honors. Former Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George waved the rally towel to crank up the fans.That didn't even include the throngs packing the plaza outside the arena's front doors and the park across the street.The Ducks, who came in 2-1 when facing elimination this postseason, outshot Nashville 6-2 to start the game trying to force this series back to Anaheim.But they had goalie Jonathan Bernier making his first career playoff start with John Gibson scratched with a lower-body injury. Gibson, who went out after the first period of Game 5, skated Monday morning only to be scratched with Jhonas Enroth dressed as Bernier's backup.Watson's third this postseason deflected off the left skate of Anaheim defenseman Brandon Montour just 81 seconds into the game. Sissons skated on the top line with Ryan Johansen out after needing season-ending surgery on his left thigh and captain Mike Fisher scratched for a second straight game with an upper-body injury.Notes: Laviolette won the Stanley Cup with Carolina in 2006 and coached Philadelphia to the Final in 2010. ... The Predators now have clinched five of the six series won in franchise history on home ice. This was their third this postseason.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colton Sissons has officially reached legend status in Nashville.The Predators center, thrust into an increased role due to injuries to Ryan Johansen and Mike Fisher, delivered the game of his life Monday night, bagging a hat trick to secure his club a berth in their first-ever Stanley Cup Final.Sissons' third goal came at 14:00 of the third period on a beautiful feed from Calle Jarnkrok, and appropriately sent the Bridgestone Arena crowd into pandemonium.Nashville would end up adding two empty-netters for a 6-3 final.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dylan Strome was in seventh heaven Monday night.The Arizona Coyotes prospect exploded for four goals and three assists in the Erie Otters' 12-5 rout of the Saint John Sea Dogs in Memorial Cup action Monday night.Here's the goal that gave Strome the record for points in a single game at the tournament:

Viktor Arvidsson's bloody scarlet letter didn't go unnoticed on social media.Some Twitter users went to work filling in the word(s) Arvidsson's gash supposedly spelled out, while others pondered the letter's significance after the Nashville Predators forward's forehead was cut open on a hit by Anaheim Ducks winger Nick Ritchie in Game 6 on Monday night.

The Anaheim Ducks' early two-goal deficit to the Nashville Predators in Game 6 was quickly made worse when forward Nick Ritchie was given a five minute major and a game misconduct for boarding Viktor Arvidsson.Here's the play:Already missing Rickard Rakell due to injury, losing Ritchie is a tough blow to the Ducks' offensive depth.Arvidsson was bloodied, but looks to have avoided serious injury. Amazingly, the letter "R" was captured on his forehead in some sort of Ritchie-led wizardry.

The Nashville Predators will be without captain Mike Fisher for Monday's Game 6 versus the Anaheim Ducks.Fisher missed Game 5 with an undisclosed injury suffered in Game 4, which the club has yet to elaborate on.The 36-year-old has yet to record a point in the postseason, but his absence at center with Ryan Johansen out of the line up as well surely hurts the Predators, as they look to advance to their first-ever Stanley Cup Final.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's Jonathan Bernier, not John Gibson, in the Anaheim Ducks' crease for Game 6 of the Western Conference Final against the Nashville Predators.Bernier is making the first playoff start of his career in place of the injured Gibson, who was forced to leave Game 5 after the opening period Saturday night with what the Ducks would only call a "lower-body" ailment.Jhonas Enroth is serving as Bernier's backup Monday night, meaning Gibson isn't even dressed for the contest.Gibson took part in Monday's morning skate and was a game-time decision.Bernier stopped 16-of-18 shots in relief on Saturday, in what was only his third appearance of these playoffs and fourth career playoff game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nolan Patrick, the consensus top prospect on the NHL's Central Scouting final rankings, isn't going to let an injury-riddled draft year ruin his focus on transitioning to the pros.Patrick only played in 33 games for the Brandon Wheat Kings this season - scoring 46 points - as sports hernia surgery and a leg injury limited the spotlight of his presumed final junior campaign.Some scouts believe the emergence of Swiss pivot Nico Hischier could knock Patrick off his perch at the top of draft boards, but the Winnipeg native isn't letting doubts over his fitness get to him."If someone doesn't want to take me because of my injuries this year, so be it," Patrick told Dave Isaac of The Courier Post. "I'll be happy to go anywhere."The New Jersey Devils surprisingly won the lottery, with the Philadelphia Flyers and Dallas Stars rounding out the top three.Patrick admitted he struggled to discover his game after surgery, which kept him out of the world juniors on top of the majority of the Wheat Kings season."Not nearly as effective as I wanted to be," Patrick said. "For me coming back I didn't skate for two months just healing. It's tough to get your legs back. Quite a few of the games I wasn't in good enough shape to be as effective as I wanted to be out there. I think in the second half I put together a few good games there. It wasn't the ideal year, but it is what it is."Patrick, however, did state earlier in the month that he feels 100 percent healthy. The draft is scheduled for June 23-24 at the United Center in Chicago.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sidney Crosby was the playoff MVP a year ago on the back of six goals and 13 assists in 24 games.Flip the calendar a year later and the Pittsburgh Penguins captain has already scored seven times this postseason, doing so in eight fewer games as he picked up the elusive tally Sunday against the Ottawa Senators.The goal was one of two points Crosby recorded in Game 5, bringing his total to 19 in the playoffs, tying last year's output. It also marks the third-highest playoff production of Crosby's career, after he scored 27 and 31 points in 2008 and 2009, respectively.This spring, Crosby is the playoffs leading scorer behind only teammate Evgeni Malkin, which bodes well for possible back-to-back MVP honors. He finished tied for sixth in scoring en route to the Conn Smythe last year.Now one win away from his fourth trip to the Stanley Cup Final, Crosby has saved his best goal-scoring performance for the Senators:OpponentGPGAPG/GPBlue Jackets52570.40Capitals62570.33Senators53250.60In Game 4 against Ottawa, and down 2-1 in the series, Crosby first set up Olli Maatta for the game-opening goal before putting the Penguins ahead by a pair midway through the second period. Pittsburgh went on to win 3-2, and Crosby's performance wasn't lost on his coach."(Crosby) was really inspired, and when he plays that way he's tough to handle and he inspires our group as well," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan told reporters. "For him to continue to play the inspirational game that he plays, I think is indicative of how badly he wants to win."He's probably the fiercest competitor that I've been associated with in the game ... He's got an insatiable appetite to be the best."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The crease belongs to Matt Murray.After stepping into Game 3 against the Ottawa Senators in relief of Marc-Andre Fleury - who allowed four goals on nine shots - the Pittsburgh Penguins youngster has taken the puck and run with it.Now with three appearances this spring, Murray is once again the man between the pipes in Pittsburgh after his postseason debut was delayed by a groin injury.That left Fleury to carry the load early on, and he emerged as one of the Penguins' top performers as they knocked off the Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals en route to their fifth trip to the conference finals in 10 seasons.Through the first two rounds, Fleury was sensational, owning a .927 save percentage to push the Penguins halfway to Lord Stanley.But the veteran netminder hasn't seen as much success in Round 3 against the Senators. After respectable showings through the first two games, it all fell apart for Fleury in Game 3, with Murray coming in midway through the first period and not looking back. Murray has since picked up two victories and allowed just a pair of goals through two starts.In all, Murray hasn't missed a beat since coming on to the playoff scene a year ago, owning a 17-6 spring record to go with a .927 save percentage over two postseasons.That performance not only guided the Penguins to the Stanley Cup a year ago, but it had Murray's name bandied about for Conn Smythe honors. This season, while the 22-year-old wasn't nominated for the Calder Trophy, he was the top freshman goalie, carrying a 32-10-4 record.That all bodes well for Murray's future, while only further cementing Fleury's impending exit from Pittsburgh. The veteran is nevertheless in good spirits despite being back on the bench."I don't want to make this about me," Fleury told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette following Game 3. "Last playoff, this season, it's about the team."The coming expansion draft will play a big part in determining Fleury's fate. The rules allow teams to protect one goaltender, meaning another must be exposed to the Vegas Golden Knights. The catch is that Fleury holds a no-movement clause that restricts his availability.But unless Pittsburgh wants to leave Murray free for the taking, or offer up a prime piece to persuade the Golden Knights to pluck another Penguin besides a goaltender, Fleury will ultimately be on the move this offseason, whether to Las Vegas or elsewhere.Fleury's time as the starter in Pittsburgh may have come to a close, but he could be home to a new team and its top job as soon as next month.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It hasn't been easy to back the Nashville Predators into a corner.Of the four teams remaining in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Predators are the only one that hasn't faced elimination this spring. Nashville owns a 11-4 record in the postseason, having not lost more than twice in a series so far.That hasn't been the case for the still-standing Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, and Ottawa Senators.The Penguins already staved off elimination once, emerging victorious in their Game 7 contest against the Washington Capitals. Pittsburgh took the second round series with a 2-0 win on goals from Bryan Rust and Patric Hornqvist.Like Pittsburgh, Anaheim made quick work in the opening round but took seven games to defeat the Edmonton Oilers in Round 2. Now down 3-2 to the Predators, the Ducks must win their next two matches to mark their first trip to the finals since 2007.Meanwhile in Ottawa, after knocking off the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers in six-game sets, the Senators are down 3-2 in the Eastern Conference Final after being shellacked 7-0 by the Penguins in Game 5. It was the first time this postseason Ottawa has dropped three games in a series. The Senators will play for their playoff lives Tuesday on home ice.As for the Predators, a win Monday will close out their series against the Ducks and mark the franchise's first-ever trip to the Stanley Cup Final. Nashville joined the NHL in 1998.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was a season of stalled progress for the St. Louis Blues.After advancing to the Conference Final a year ago, the Blues were ousted in the second round of this year's playoffs. But there was still plenty to be happy about in the Gateway City."When you consider everything that was done and the decisions that were made, that's a pretty darn good performance," Blues co-owner Tom Stillman told Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "Like (general manager) Doug (Armstrong) said at the time, maybe we're going to take a half step back to take some big strides forward in the future."Slumping to a 24-21-5 midseason showing, the Blues fired former bench boss Ken Hitchcock on Feb. 1, replacing him with associate coach Mike Yeo. Under his guidance, the club went 22-8-2 to finish third in the Central.Hired last offseason as the heir apparent to 65-year-old Hitchcock, the transition to Yeo came sooner than scheduled."Every major company in America wants to have a succession plan for their leadership and be grooming somebody to take over. It was interesting to me that it got criticized so much," Stillman said. "I thought it was good to be transitioning somebody and have him ready when the time comes. The idea was next season."As for Armstrong, he's been focused on the future since the beginning. After spending 16 years with the Dallas Stars, Armstrong joined the Blues in 2008 and was named GM two years later.From Day 1, the goal has been to build from the ground up, where his tenure reveals keen draft choices like Jaden Schwartz, Vladimir Tarasenko, Colton Parayko, and Robby Fabbri, among others.That focus on the future was most apparent at this year's trade deadline. Despite his team sitting in the playoff picture, Armstrong dealt Kevin Shattenkirk, cashing in on his top-scoring defenseman's pending free agency after key assets like Troy Brouwer and former captain David Backes walked away the previous summer."I think Doug is unusual in that he was so focused on the long term," Stillman said. "A lot of GMs, I think, are inclined to be focused on what's going to keep my job next year and the year after."Today, Armstrong sits among the NHL's top 10 of tenured GMs. And while he only has one year left on his contract, according to the Post-Dispatch, an extension in St. Louis appears to be all but a formality.Blues' ownership surely seems happy with the season that was."Some would perceive it as taking a risk to be looking farther down the road even though it might not lead to as many wins in the current year," Stillman added. "That's an important quality, looking long-term for the organization and not looking at your short-term survival. I think Doug knows that I am in tune with looking at things in that longer-term way."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks may have found their man.Ulf Samuelsson is the leading candidate to join Joel Quenneville's coaching staff, according to Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune.The Blackhawks fired former assistant coach Mike Kitchen following the team's first-round sweep to the Nashville Predators. Kitchen had been a longtime member of Quenneville's staff, coming to Chicago in 2010. The two also coached together for six seasons with the St. Louis Blues.Related - Report: Quenneville upset by Kitchen's firingSamuelsson, 53, is a familiar name to Quenneville. The two were former teammates with the Hartford Whalers for five seasons up until 1990.Currently head coach of the Charlotte Checkers, the AHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes, Samuelsson previously spent three seasons as assistant coach with the New York Rangers and five seasons as associate coach of the Arizona Coyotes.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kings of the world.A shootout victory over Canada at the world championships captured gold for Sweden, goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, and his lesser-known twin brother, Joel.Henrik, of course, is the mainstay between the pipes for the New York Rangers. But Joel doesn't have the same star power as the Broadway netminder.Drafted by the Dallas Stars in 2000 - 137 selections before Henrik - Joel made his NHL debut in 2006. He spent part of three seasons with the Stars, totaling 26 points in 134 games, before returning to Sweden to play out his career.While Joel's time in the NHL was short-lived, his success on the international stage has been much more decorated. Sunday's gold-medal win at the worlds was his third first-place finish, while he also has three bronze medals to his name from international competitions.

With the offseason underway for a number of teams, and the rest 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: BIn the case of the Washington Capitals, this piece could be more fittingly titled, "Offseason Overhaul."We've been here before with Alex Ovechkin and company. A regular season of dominant proportions that ends in a premature second-round exit. Still, this year felt different for Barry Trotz's men, as the Capitals were finally playing a defensive-minded, tight-checking style that had the club finish with a league-best goals-against average of 2.16 and an impressive 118 points.Of course, a lot of that also had to do with the Vezina-level play of netminder Braden Holtby. The former fourth-round pick was a big reason for Washington's success and his regular-season numbers were downright nasty. Holtby led the league in shutouts (9) and finished tied for the league lead in wins (42) while also posting a sparkling 2.07 goals-against average.However, that's the regular season. Sure, the group deserves some credit for putting together yet another impressive campaign, but in this era, Presidents' Trophies don't mean jack.Success is defined by how many rings you're rocking.Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, T.J. Oshie, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Holtby, the list of elite-level talent is lengthy and impressive - but at the same time, also kind of staggering. How does an All-Star studded group like this not even advance to a Cup final?More questions are sure to follow the Capitals, as it's set to be a very long and interesting summer in D.C. for owner Ted Leonsis and general manager Brian MacLellan.Free Agents The Capitals have a number of big-name free agents to deal with this offseason, and the outcome of the forthcoming negotiations and potential trades will have a big impact on what the next few seasons will look like in Washington.Oshie, Kevin Shattenkirk, Karl Alzner, and Justin Williams are all unrestricted free agents who will garner a ton of attention on the open market.Player (Position)2017-18 StatusAge2016-17 Cap Hit'16-17 PointsBrett Connolly (F)RFA25$85000023Andre Burakovsky (F)RFA22$89416735Evgeny Kuznetsov (F)RFA25$3M59Justin Williams (F)UFA35$3.25M48Daniel Winnik (F)UFA32$2.25M25T.J. Oshie (F)UFA30$4.1M56Nate Schmidt (D)RFA25$81250017Dmitry Orlov (D)RFA25$2.5M33Karl Alzner (D)UFA28$2.8M13Kevin Shattenkirk (D)UFA28$4.256The No.1 goaltending job is secure with Holtby, but the Caps will need to shore up their crease by re-signing backup Philipp Grubauer. The young German is coming off a solid season where he posted a 13-6 record to go along with a 2.04 goals-against average.Goalie2017-18 StatusAge2016-17 Cap Hit'16-17 SV%Philipp GrubauerRFA25$750000.9262017 Draft PicksAnother wrinkle in Washington's offseason plans is its lack of top-round draft picks - the Capitals do not have a selection until the fourth round this year. Expect MacLellan to be very active this summer, especially in the lead-up to June 23's entry draft.RoundPicks10203041516171Summer Priorities 1. Find replacements for Oshie and WilliamsThe veteran forwards have both expressed interest in staying in Washington, but both will also have a number of teams expressing their own interests in two proven goal-scorers. There's also the cap crunch to consider.Regardless, replacing their production won't be easy, but this could be the exact kind of opportunity that some of the younger Caps have been waiting for, a chance to prove themselves in a lineup that is usually dominated by veteran names.Andre Burakovsky, Jakub Vrana, and Riley Barber are three players that stand to see increased roles with the club next campaign.2. Figure out what's going on with OvieThe 2016-17 season was a rough one for Ovechkin.He finished the regular season with his lowest point output in four years, ended the postseason playing on the third line, and failed to push his team through to the Conference Finals for the sixth time of his 12-year career.At this point, trading Ovie would be a slip. But if he doesn't turn his game around quickly, that may be the route MacLellan is forced to take.3. Trade for blue-line helpPotentially losing Shattenkirk and Karl Alzner would be two massive blows to the team's back end that will need immediate attention.Moving one of their talented forwards for either an NHL-ready rearguard or a high-end defensive prospect would serve the Capitals well. After all, who does Washington have to count on moving forward other than Matt Niskanen and John Carlson?Sorry Brooks Orpik, your age and injury liability don't instill a ton of confidence.2017-18 Outlook(Images courtesy: Getty)By the time the puck drops on next season, Washington's roster could realistically be a shadow of its former self, making this section a lot more difficult to surmise.With that being said, the Caps still have enough firepower to compete in the East, and Holtby is all world, so expect them to be in the mix for their third Presidents' Trophy since 2010.Another trip to the postseason is obviously the floor for expectations in Washington, but a berth in the Conference Finals and beyond may be just out of reach for a group that will look a lot different come October.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nick Bonino had some vehicle issues on the way to Sunday's Game 5 against the Ottawa Senators, leaving him temporarily stranded.Until his wingman appeared, that is."All of a sudden the gas didn't work and the power steering went out in the middle of the highway," Bonino explained after the 7-0 win. "I was able to get it to the side. Great teammate Phil Kessel came and picked me up."I owe a lot to Phil tonight for being here, a great guy."More proof that Kessel really is an uber-good teammate.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Guy Boucher has left no doubt that Craig Anderson is his starter.The Ottawa Senators goalie allowed four goals on 14 shots in 18:32 of play Sunday during a lopsided Game 5 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but the head coach won't entertain the thought of turning to Mike Condon for Game 6.From the NHL's official postgame transcript:

For the second time during the playoffs, Erik Karlsson's game came to an early end.The Ottawa Senators captain was pulled in the second period Sunday for precautionary reasons and did not return for the final frame of a blowout Game 5 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.Karlsson has been playing on an injured foot, and the situation was similar to Game 4 of the second round against the New York Rangers, when he left the game with his team down by three goals."The score was not what we wanted, and not only me but we decided to shorten down minutes a bit and move on and get ready for the next game," Karlsson said, per Dan Rosen of NHL.com.Derick Brassard and Cody Ceci also left the game, but head coach Guy Boucher later confirmed they could have come back if necessary and should be good for Game 6.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

From the Ottawa Senators' perspective, calling Game 5 of their Eastern Conference Final versus the Pittsburgh Penguins a catastrophe would be an understatement.Pittsburgh cruised to a 7-0 win, the worst shutout loss in Senators playoff history, and head coach Guy Boucher didn't mince his words when asked about his opponent's performance."We know they're a better team," Boucher told reporters following the loss. "Everybody knows that on the planet. They're the Stanley Cup champions. They're the best team in the league. That's no secret."To be fair, the Penguins sure looked the part, dominating the Senators from start to finish.Pittsburgh got goals from seven different players, and outshot Ottawa 36-25 to take a 3-2 series lead. What's more, the Penguins out-attempted the Senators 56-47 in all situations, and generated 27 even strength scoring chances to Ottawa's 17, per hockeystats.ca.

William Nylander capped his first appearance at the World Championship with both a gold medal and MVP honors.The young forward led his country in scoring with 14 points in 10 games, and his seven goals tied for first among all players.Nylander - whose best moment of the tournament came on a brilliant goal in the quarterfinals against Switzerland - finished the worlds with the fourth-highest point total, behind Russian forwards Artemi Panarin (17) and Nikita Kucherov (15), as well as Canada's Nathan MacKinnon.He also highlighted the tournament's All-Star team:ForwardsDefenseGoalieWilliam NylanderColton ParaykoAndrei VasilevskiyArtemi PanarinDennis SeidenbergNathan MacKinnonIn line with these selections, Panarin was named the tournament's best forward, Seidenberg earned best defenseman honors, and Vasilevskiy was deemed to be the top goalie.Sweden defeated Canada in a shootout to capture its first gold medal since 2013.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators confirmed Saturday's report that center Ryan Johansen was treated with surgery on his left thigh for acute compartment syndrome.Predators general manager and president of hockey operations David Poile released the following statement on Sunday:

PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Penguins are one win away from a return trip to the Stanley Cup Final.The defending champions pounced on the Ottawa Senators early in a 7-0 demolition in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals Sunday to take a 3-2 series lead. Sidney Crosby scored for a third consecutive game as part of a four-goal first period in which the Penguins twice chased goalie Craig Anderson.Bryan Rust had a goal and an assist in his return from a concussion. Olli Maatta and Scott Wilson also beat Anderson in the first period. Matt Cullen scored his second of the playoffs, and Phil Kessel his seventh.Matt Murray stopped 21 shots to win his second straight start following a six-week injury layoff. Game 6 is Tuesday night in Ottawa.Anderson was pulled briefly after the Penguins went up 3-0 in the first and removed for good to start the second period. He stopped 10 of 14 shots he faced on his 36th birthday.The Penguins appeared to hit their stride during a 3-2 victory in Ottawa on Friday night in Game 4, playing with the kind of speed and intensity that fueled their run to the franchise's fourth Cup last June. Still, they stressed the importance of finding a way to keep it going in a series that saw the teams alternate wins and losses through the first four games.The momentum Pittsburgh generated did more than carry over. It crushed the Senators completely.Rust watched Games 3 and 4 while recovering from a concussion suffered during an open-ice collision with Dion Phaneuf in Game 2. Coach Mike Sullivan placed him on the third line with Nick Bonino and Carter Rowney, and the impact was immediate.Rust set up Maatta's opening goal by grabbing a loose puck in the Ottawa zone - a common occurrence during the Senators' nightmarish first period - then dropping it to Maaatta. The defenseman who scored just once during the regular season zipped home his second in two games 8:14 into the first.The Penguins were just getting started. Crosby redirected Trevor Daley's shot past Anderson on the power play 12:03 into the first, and Rust did the same on a shot by Bonino with 3:56 left in the period.Ottawa coach Guy Boucher briefly removed Anderson in favor of Mike Condon only to return Anderson about 90 seconds later. It didn't help. The player perhaps most vital to the Senators' first appearance in the conference finals in a decade let Wilson bank a shot from behind the goal line off him and into the net to make it 4-0.Condon came on for Anderson in the second but it didn't exactly provide a jolt. Cullen scored off a centering pass from Mark Streit to make it 5-0 just 1:54 into the second and the Penguins kept pouring it on.The Senators head back home on the brink of elimination for the first time in their postseason. They head home a little dinged up too. Defenseman Erik Karlsson, playing with a pair of hairline fractures in his left heel, sat out the last 25 minutes after colliding with Wilson. Forward Derick Brassard and defenseman Cody Ceci also skipped the third period, leaving the final 20 minutes as little more than a glorified exhibition.NOTES: The Senators went 0 for 4 on the power play and are 0 for 29 in their last 29 chances with the man advantage. The Penguins were 3 for 3. ... Crosby's assist on Kessel's goal gave him 100 career playoff assists. He's the 22nd player in NHL history to reach that milestone. ... Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin played in his 141st postseason game, surpassing Jaromir Jagr for the most in franchise history. ... The Penguins scratched D Justin Schultz (upper body) and F Patric Hornqvist (upper body). F Conor Sheary was a healthy scratch. ... Rowney had three assists for Pittsburgh.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The smell of victory was Swede in Cologne.Nicklas Backstrom scored the winning goal in a shootout to give his country a victory over Canada and its first World Championship gold medal since 2013.Oliver Ekman-Larsson also recorded a shootout goal, while Henrik Lundqvist stopped all four of Canada's attempts.

The first period of Game 5 was an absolute disaster for the Ottawa Senators.Pittsburgh notched the games opening goal 8:14 into the first frame, and it unraveled for the Senators from there, as the Penguins added three more to take a dominant 4-0 lead into intermission.The weirdest part of it all, though, was netminder Craig Anderson being pulled after the third goal, then returning after replacement Mike Condon faced one shot.Because sports make zero sense, Anderson allowed another goal on the next shot he faced, and Twitter did it's best to sum up the circus act:

During Game 4 of the Western Conference Final versus the Nashville Predators, Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf directed a homophobic slur at a referee and was subsequently fined $10,000.Following Saturday's defeat in Game 5, Getzlaf offered up his version of an apology, accepting responsibility for his actions as well as his fine. However, what Getzlaf failed to recognize, is the impact that a slur of that nature has on certain communities.Related: Getzlaf addresses fine for remark: It's up to me to be more respectful of the gameOn Sunday, gay former hockey player Brock McGillis spoke with John Chidley-Hill of The Canadian Press and was openly critical of Getzlaf and his actions."I don't care how you mean it, when you say the word, it's a homophobic slur," McGillis said in a phone interview."He doesn't sound, in my opinion, very apologetic. He's comparing what he said to a curse word and he didn't apologize to the LGBTQ community or take ownership of his actions. That's quite disappointing."As Chidley-Hill notes, the $10,000 fine is the maximum allowable under the league's collective bargaining agreement, but McGillis was quick to point out the negative effects of Getzlaf's comments."It seems like it's almost backwards," said McGillis. "We took a step back for equality and for hockey to be a safe space for everybody."Last postseason, then-Chicago Blackhawks winger Andrew Shaw was suspended one game for the same offense, using a homophobic slur against an on-ice official and was fined $5,000.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It seems as if the Ottawa Senators do their best work during the day.Heading into Sunday's Game 5 matinee against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Senators hold a 4-0 record this postseason in games that drop the puck in the afternoon. In the previous two rounds, the Sens played four games that started at 3 p.m. ET, and they have won each contest.Date & Start timeOpponentResultApril 15 @ 3 p.m. ETBoston Bruins4-3 OT WinApril 23 @ 3 p.m. ETBoston Bruins3-2 OT WinApril 29 @ 3 p.m. ETNew York Rangers6-5 OT WinMay 6 @ 3 p.m. ETNew York Rangers5-4 OT WinIt's also interesting to note that each of the victories came in overtime, so not only does it seem that the team prefers the daylight, but also a flair for the dramatics.Head coach Guy Boucher was quick to downplay the success his team has had with early starts when he spoke to the media Sunday, but also pointed out the benefit of playing an afternoon game."I don't think there's a magic potion there, we just come to the rink and play and there's less to think about," Boucher said when asked about the afternoon streak his club is on this playoffs."When you have a whole day to mingle in your mind and try to focus on your game it's a long day. When guys just get up, eat, and go, there's less things to worry about and less nervousness and you just get going and play the game."Puck drop for Game 5 goes at, you guessed it, 3 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The crown belongs to Craig Anderson for now.The Ottawa Senators netminder has put up the best showing among goaltenders through the first half of the conference finals, turning aside 112 of the 118 shots he's faced for a league-best .949 save percentage.That lofty clip is 10 points higher than the one belonging to Anaheim's John Gibson, who left Game 5 on Saturday with a lower-body injury.In Pittsburgh, coach Mike Sullivan started Matt Murray in Game 4 after he entered Game 3 in relief of Marc-Andre Fleury.In all, six netminders have seen crease time in the third round:Goalie GP Starts Record GAA SV%Craig Anderson442-21.48.949John Gibson552-22.16.939Matt Murray211-01.69.935Pekka Rinne553-22.09.924Marc-Andre Fleury331-22.62.910Jonathan Bernier100-13.08.889Through the postseason so far, the credit for the best single-series showing belongs to Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne, who allowed just three goals in a four-game sweep of the Chicago Blackhawks.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Russians proved to be too much for Finland on Sunday at the World Championship in Cologne, Germany, as the Red Machine pulled out a 5-3 victory to earn the bronze medal.Nikita Gusev continued his hot streak with two goals and an assist, Valeri Nichushkin added three helpers, and Andrei Vasilevski made 26 saves in the win.Despite scoring three goals, the Finns were never really in the game and have the Russian's sloppy play to thank for the trio of tallies. Mikko Rantanen had a goal and an assist and 19-year-old Sebastian Aho chipped in with two apples in the losing cause.Russia broke out to a formidable 4-0 lead - chasing Finland goalie Joonas Korpisalo from his net - before allowing the Finns to score three unanswered goals. The comeback effort would be for naught, however, as Nikita Kucherov sealed the victory with just under 12 minutes to play with his seventh goal of the tournament.Finland fails to medal for the fifth time in eight years, while the Russians earned some hardware for the fourth consecutive tournament.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The IIHF Hall of Fame added eight new inductees Sunday, including former NHLers Teemu Selanne, Joe Sakic, and Saku Koivu.Selanne is the highest-scoring Finnish player in NHL history, recording 1457 points in 1451 games. He was the NHL rookie of the year with the original Winnipeg Jets, scoring a record 76 goals in 1992-93. Selanne won an Olympic silver in 2006 and the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007.Sakic ranks ninth all time in NHL scoring, tallying 1641 points in 1378 games. He spent his entire career with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise, captaining the team to the Stanley Cup in 1996 and 2001. He won the Hart Trophy in 2000-01, scoring 118 points in 82 games.Koivu won a silver medal alongside Selanne at the 2006 Olympics. He is the NHL's third all-time leading scorer from Finland, behind only Selanne and Jari Kurri. Koivu was named the 27th captain of the Montreal Canadiens in 1999. In 2001-02, he was diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma, missing most of the season before making an inspiring return. Koivu received the Bill Masterton Trophy that year, recognizing his dedication to hockey.The induction ceremony was held prior to the medal rounds at the world championships in Cologne, Germany. Here are the eight inductees:PlayerLeagueCareerJoe SakicNHL1988-2009Teemu SelanneNHL1992-2014Saku KoivuNHL1995-2014Uwe KruppNHL1986-2003Dieter KaltAustria1990-2012Angela RuggieroU.S. Women's1998-2011Tony HandBritain1983-2015Patrick FrancheterreFrance1966-1987Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Win and you're in.The Nashville Predators are one victory shy of advancing to the Stanley Cup Final. It'd mark the first trip for the 19-year-old franchise and the third for head coach Peter Laviolette.Joining the Predators in 2014, Laviolette brought winning experience from his Stanley Cup championship with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and Cup Final showing with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010.Only three coaches have guided three franchises to the championship round: Scotty Bowman, Dick Irvin, and Mike Keenan.While Laviolette doesn't get the same recognition as Chicago's Joel Quenneville, Washington's Barry Trotz, or Toronto's Mike Babcock, his playoff pedigree places him in the upper echelon.Earlier this season, Laviolette became the second U.S.-born coach to win 500 games, one month after Columbus Blue Jackets bench boss John Tortorella did so. In league history, only 25 coaches have reached that total.Laviolette is also the third coach since 1994 to guide three different clubs to the conference finals, joining Ken Hitchcock and Darryl Sutter.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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: CThe New York Islanders nearly salvaged their season after swapping out Jack Capuano for new bench boss Doug Weight.The change was made in mid-January, with Weight, the former assistant, filling in throughout the stretch drive. Under his guidance, the Islanders went 24-12-4, but missed the postseason by a single point.Free agentsOnly three Islanders are in need of new contracts, with just one regular among the trio. Defenseman Calvin de Haan had a breakout year, appearing in all 82 games and finishing with 25 points while holding down top-four minutes.Player (Position)2017-18 StatusAge2016-17 Cap Hit'16-17 PointsStephen Gionta (F)UFA33$575K6Calvin de Haan (D)RFA25$1.967M25Meanwhile, the three-headed monster in New York's crease will be no more, as Jean-Francois Berube can become an unrestricted free agent this summer. That leaves Thomas Greiss and Jaroslav Halak to tend the twine for the Islanders.Player (Position)2017-18 StatusAge2016-17 Cap Hit'16-17 SV%Jean-Francois Berube (G)UFA25$675K.8892017 draft picksThe Islanders have five picks in the coming draft. They had the lowest odds at the draft lottery, with just a 0.9 percent chance at the first pick, and a three percent shot to move into the top three. In the end, New York held on to its top pick and will select 15th overall.RoundPicks11213140516071Summer priorities1. Sign John Tavares to a long-term extensionIt could be the Steven Stamkos saga all over again. The captain and face of the franchise needs a new contract, but this time it's in Brooklyn.Tavares' contract expires after next season, but the Islanders can put pen to paper with their leader as soon as July 1, when a maximum eight-year extension could be in the cards.But while New York needs a commitment from their captain, the top center also needs to see more from the club. The Islanders' future remains in flux, with complications from bad ice conditions to poor fan experiences potentially leading to a quick exit from the Barclays Center.Whether the franchise ends up in Belmont Park or heads back to a renovated Nassau Coliseum remains to be seen, but there's no doubt Tavares will need a concrete idea of the club's future before agreeing to a long-term pact.2. Surround Tavares with a scoring wingerAfter Tavares has signed on for the long term, or in enticing him to do so, it's up to general manager Garth Snow to find his prized center a comparable winger.The Islanders walked away from former first-rounder Kyle Okposo last summer, replacing him with free-agent addition Andrew Ladd. Okposo, who signed with the Buffalo Sabres, excelled in his first season in Western New York, scoring 45 points, while Ladd was limited to just 31.If the Islanders wade back into the free-agent pool this summer, there's no better option at wing than T.J. Oshie, who potted 33 goals this season with the Washington Capitals. Oshie is familiar with playing alongside big-game talent in D.C., where he lines up with Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin, and he'd have a similar scenario in New York with Tavares.3. Ride Thomas Greiss as the go-to goaltenderGreiss has earned the top job. Now it's time to leave him in the crease. Despite outdueling Halak a year ago - posting more wins and a better save percentage - there were still too many question marks in goal in New York this season.Related: Islanders complete 3-year extension with Greiss worth reported $10MGreiss has proven he's capable of holding down the top duties. He appeared in 51 games this season and should be rewarded with more starts next year.2017-18 outlookThe Islanders adjusted to Weight, who has since lost his interim tag for the full-time coaching duties. If he can translate his half-season success to a full year, chances are his team will return to the playoffs in 2017-18.The biggest question mark entering the coming season will surround Tavares if a long-term extension isn't on the books. Getting that out of the way will keep the captain's focus where it needs to be: on the ice.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Following a Game 5 loss to the Nashville Predators, Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf addressed a $10,000 fine that was levied against him for an inappropriate remark uttered in Game 4.The exact nature of his remark was not disclosed by the NHL, and Getzlaf said it was a comment not necessarily directed at anyone in particular. It was, however, labeled a homophobic slur in a report from TSN's Frank Seravalli.This did not appear to sit well with Getzlaf."It's tough to see anyone refer to it as (a homophobic slur). I didn't mean it in that manner in any way, and for it to go that route was very disappointing for me," Getzlaf told reporters."I did accept responsibility and I accepted a fine. We talked to the league and I understand that it's my responsibility to not use vulgar language, period. Whether it's a swear word or whatever it is, we've got to be a little bit more respectful of the game and that's up to me. I accept that responsibility and will move forward."In regards to what he said, Getzlaf said you won't hear it from him again and he hopes no one was offended.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's been a true team effort in the playoffs for the Nashville Predators.Ten different men have played the role of hero in Nashville's 11 wins. Only James Neal has netted multiple game-winning goals.Win #OpponentScoreGWG1Blackhawks1-0Viktor Arvidsson2Blackhawks5-0Ryan Ellis3Blackhawks3-2 (OT)Kevin Fiala4Blackhawks4-1Colton Sissons5Blues4-3Vernon Fiddler6Blues3-1Cody McLeod7Blues2-1James Neal8Blues3-1Ryan Johansen9Ducks3-2 (OT)James Neal10Ducks2-1Roman Josi11Ducks3-1Pontus AbergOddly enough, Filip Forsberg, who leads the team with seven goals in the playoffs and tied for the team lead in the regular season with 31, has yet to notch a game-winner.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Gibson wants to get right back out there.The Anaheim Ducks goaltender left Game 5 against the Nashville Predators with a lower-body injury, but, despite being listed as day to day by head coach Randy Carlyle, came out and said after the 3-1 loss that he'll be ready to play Game 6.Carlyle, for his part, tapped the brakes on that declaration.

The Nashville Predators were forced to dig deep in Game 5.Playing without their top two centers in Ryan Johansen and Mike Fisher, a full team effort was needed to beat the Ducks in Anaheim on Saturday, with three players in particular stepping up to do the most damage.Colin WilsonFacing a 1-0 deficit late in the second period, the Predators tied things up thanks to Wilson's second goal of the postseason.

Pontus Aberg scored his first career playoff goal with 8:59 to play, and the Nashville Predators moved to the brink of their first Stanley Cup Final with a 3-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals Saturday night.Aberg scored on a rebound of Filip Forsberg's shot for the Predators, who took a 3-2 series lead despite the injury absence of top scorer Ryan Johansen and captain Mike Fisher.Pekka Rinne made 32 saves in the Finnish goalie's latest dominant playoff performance in Anaheim, where the Predators have won five of their last seven playoff games over two seasons.Chris Wagner scored for the Ducks, who lost starting goalie John Gibson to injury during the first intermission.Game 6 is Monday night in Nashville.Jonathan Bernier took over and stopped 16 shots in his first appearance in nearly two weeks for the Ducks, who already were without 30-goal scorers Rickard Rakell and Patrick Eaves before losing Gibson to a lower-body injury.Anaheim was knocked out of the playoffs last year by Nashville, and the Ducks are facing their second elimination game of the postseason after winning Game 7 against Edmonton in the second round.The Predators still haven't lost back-to-back games at any point in what's looking like a charmed playoff run for an 18-season-old franchise that's finally one game from playing for the Stanley Cup.After Colin Wilson scored the tying power-play goal late in the second period for the Predators, Aberg went flying when he stretched out to guide home Forsberg's rebound for the tiebreaker.The 23-year-old Swede has only one goal in his 15 games of regular-season NHL experience, but Nashville's injuries thrust him into a key role alongside Forsberg on its top line.Austin Watson added an empty-net goal in the final minute, emphatically ending Anaheim's streak of seven consecutive Game 5 victories at home since 2011. The last team to beat the Ducks in a Game 5 at Honda Center also was Nashville.Aberg and several other role players all came up big in the Predators' first game of the season without Johansen, their top-line center and leading postseason scorer. Johansen had emergency surgery shortly after Game 4 and was ruled out for the rest of the playoffs.Fisher missed his first game of his scoreless postseason with an undisclosed injury after taking a hit to the head in Game 4.The Ducks also were hurting without Rakell, a surprise omission due to a lower-body injury, and Eaves, who missed his ninth straight game. The duo combined for 65 regular-season goals.The Ducks won Game 4 against Nashville in overtime and controlled long stretches of play in Game 5, but their depleted forwards repeatedly struggled to finish strong sequences against Rinne, who has beaten Anaheim in two previous playoff series.When Gibson failed to return for the second period, Bernier was abruptly sent into the fourth playoff game of his NHL career, and he immediately made a handful of strong stops. Wagner then put the Ducks ahead by cleaning up a rebound of a shot by dynamic young defenseman Brandon Montour.Nashville got a power play shortly before the second intermission when Josh Manson was whistled for cross-checking Forsberg, who got away with an unpenalized stick to Manson's mouth moments earlier. Wilson made the Ducks pay, slipping a difficult backhand around Bernier for his second goal of the playoffs and the 13th of his Predators postseason career, tying four other Preds for the franchise lead.NOTES: C Frederick Gaudreau made his Stanley Cup playoff debut for Nashville, and veteran C Vern Fiddler returned from a two-game absence. F Miikka Salomaki also returned from five games off. ... F Nic Kerdiles made his third appearance of the postseason for Anaheim in Rakell's absence. Coach Randy Carlyle hadn't indicated before pregame warmups that Rakell might miss a game. ... Anaheim's Ryan Kesler, Andrew Cogliano and Antoine Vermette have all scored just one goal apiece over the Ducks' 16 playoff games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The physicality of the Ducks-Predators series has taken a toll on the players. Both teams are dealing with numerous injuries, begging the question, which team's injury situation is worse? To recap:Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks called upon Jonathan Bernier to begin the second period of Saturday's Game 5 against the Nashville Predators, replacing starter John Gibson.The reason for a switch after a scoreless opening period was not immediately given, but prior to the start of the final frame, the Ducks announced Gibson was questionable to return due to a lower-body injury.Gibson stopped all 10 shots against in the first period and did not return, while Bernier allowed two goals on 18 shots in the eventual 3-1 loss.After the game, head coach Randy Carlyle listed Gibson as day to day, putting his status for Game 6 up in the air.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Johansen is on the mend.The Nashville Predators center has been ruled out of the remainder of the Stanley Cup Playoffs after reportedly being diagnosed with acute compartment syndrome, and took to Twitter on Saturday to extend thanks to those who've wished him well.

The Nashville Predators are dangerously thin down the middle.Already without Ryan Johansen, the team will face off against the Anaheim Ducks in Game 5 without captain Mike Fisher, who's been sidelined with an undisclosed injury.Here's what the lines looks liked in warmups without Fisher and Johansen.

Ducks forward Rickard Rakell is out for Game 5 against the Nashville Predators with a lower-body injury, the team announced.Rakell tallied 33 goals in the regular season and has added seven more during the playoffs, so his offensive touch will surely be missed. With Patrick Eaves also sidelined, the Ducks are without two of their top goal-scorers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Predators forward Ryan Johansen, who has been ruled out for the NHL playoffs after undergoing thigh surgery, was diagnosed with acute compartment syndrome, according to Jon Morosi of NHL Network and FOX Sports.Acute compartment syndrome occurs when excessive pressure builds up inside an enclosed muscle space in the body. It usually results from bleeding or swelling after an injury. It can be limb- and life-threatening.Morosi added that Johansen is doing well and is expected to recover fully.Johansen was seen taking an awkward hit along the boards during the second period of Game 4. He appeared to be favoring his left leg after the play as he skated to the bench, but ended up finishing the game. He then underwent emergency surgery following the overtime loss.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Injuries and the Stanley Cup Playoffs go together like peanut butter and jam.Much has been made of the postseason-ending injury suffered by Nashville Predators center Ryan Johansen, but Anaheim Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle was quick to point out his team is also playing shorthanded."When you lose players, it's part of life in the playoffs," Carlyle said Saturday. "We lost a pretty good player in Patrick Eaves. You guys seem to forget about that. He was one of our top goal scorers, maybe one of our best players since the trade deadline. Reignited our offense."Carlyle added it has to be a team effort when an important player goes down.

Sweden defeated rival Finland 4-1 on Saturday to advance to the gold medal game of the 2017 IIHF World Championship. The Swedes will battle Team Canada for international supremacy.Just 1:49 into the first period, Nicklas Backstrom's faceoff win was one-timed by defenseman Alex Edler past goaltender Harri Sateri to give Sweden an early lead.Three minutes later, Joonas Kemppainen pounced on a loose puck and pushed it by Henrik Lundqvist to tie things at 1-1, but that's as close as Finland, who will take on Russia in the bronze medal match Sunday, would get.Sweden's power play took over in the middle frame, with goals from John Klingberg and William Nylander, who leads the tournament with seven tallies in nine games and is tied for second with 14 points.Joakim Nordstrom added a fourth goal late in the third period, which was a suffocating 20 minutes from Sweden's talented blue-liners, as the final shot count finished 41-23 in favor of Tre Kronor.Sweden hasn't played for gold since 2013, when they defeated Switzerland on home soil. The Swedes and Canadians last met in the final in 2004, with Canada winning the title.Puck drop for the deciding game is set for 4:45 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.