On to the next.Now that new Los Angeles Kings general manager Rob Blake has taken care of a big piece of business by signing forward Tanner Pearson to a four-year, $15-million contract extension, he'll now look to get a deal done with another key restricted free agent, namely Tyler Toffoli.To that end, talks between the two sides are set to begin soon, agent Pat Brisson said Wednesday on SiriusXM's NHL Network."I think (Tyler) is a core player on the Kings," Brisson said, according to Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider. "He's a top-six forward, so we'll be talking here shortly. His deal is up (and we'll talk about) what we could potentially do."Brisson also explained why Toffoli, who scored 31 goals in 2015-16, saw his numbers dip to 16 goals and 34 points in limited time this past season."Tyler this year played on one leg. He was hurt," Brisson said. "He missed 21 games, and I would say, honestly, I think he played probably another 20 on one leg, so, yeah, he had a little drop in his production as well as other players on the team, but he's a true offensive threat out there. He's a 25-to-35 goal-scorer and still young, so he's in a great position."Toffoli signed a two-year, $6.5-million deal with the Kings in 2015. In 293 regular-season games with the Kings, he's registered 84 goals and 91 assists, and he was also a key contributor to Los Angeles' 2014 Stanley Cup win.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban has been fined $2,000 under NHL Rule 64 (diving / embellishment), the league announced Wednesday.The fine is based on an incident that took place during the third period of Game 4 of Nashville's series against the St. Louis Blues in which Subban (embellishment) and Blues defenseman Joel Edmundson (roughing) received offsetting minor penalties.Subban was issued a warning back in January, meaning the next occurrence would trigger the fine based on the graduated scale outlined by Rule 64.The next occurrence of diving or embellishment would result in a $3,000 fine.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Who knew it was possible to contain Connor McDavid?The Edmonton Oilers star laughed off the viral photo in which he was flanked a little too closely by a pair of fans at the airport Tuesday night."That picture was a little bit weird," McDavid told reporters with a smile Wednesday. "I don't how you're supposed to feel comfortable when they're holding you like that."Those comments drew laughs from the assembled media, and McDavid wasn't done poking fun at the bizarre yet hilarious image."I was pretty much in a death grip, so I was just trying to get on the plane as fast as I could, but I was obviously stopped up pretty good there," he added.Here's the photo, if you haven't had the good fortune of seeing it yet:

Here's what happened on Day 6 of the World Hockey Championship in Paris, France, and Cologne, Germany.United States 3 - Italy 0

The New York Rangers' season went out with a whimper Tuesday night in a 4-2 loss on home ice in Game 6 against the Ottawa Senators.Despite accruing 102 points in the regular season and avoiding the Metropolitan Division to begin the playoffs, the Rangers weren't able to deliver despite a seemingly favorable path through the postseason.The Rangers boast four quality lines up front, and while Henrik Lundqvist endured more ups and downs than usual this season, goaltending isn't completely to blame for New York's departure.Instead, the team's aged defensive corps was its undoing, unable to contain Ottawa's resolve or the best defenseman in the game, Erik Karlsson.Alas, another season in the Rangers' expiring championship window has fallen by the wayside, and fixing the problem won't come easily for general manager Jeff Gorton.The outlookRyan McDonagh is a legitimate No. 1 pairing defenseman, while Brady Skjei emerged as a reliable defender in his first full season.They aren't the problem - it's the elder statesmen on the back end who need to be addressed.PlayerAgeCap HitContract ExpiresCF%Scoring Chances For - AgainstPoints Dan Girardi33$5.5M202044%139-14515Marc Staal30$5.7M202146.9%185-18510(All regular-season stats recorded at 5-on-5, Courtesy Corsica-Hockey)After a troubling regular season, Girardi and Staal continued to struggle in the playoffs. Despite averaging the second-most minutes of all New York blue-liners, Girardi was ineffective in suppressing shots while improperly deployed on the top pairing.Staal, meanwhile, logged a modest 19:15 per game in 12 playoff contests with a team-worst 45.88 Corsi For percentage.The eye test did neither player favors, either, as the declining footspeed of both Girardi and Staal left them exposed in various matchups throughout the postseason.Unfortunately for New York, the stay-at-home style that the duo employs is becoming less and less effective in today's NHL, making the committed money much more difficult to bear.The optionsBoth Girardi and Staal own no-movement clauses, meaning automatic protection in the upcoming expansion draft. If New York chooses the 7-3-1 protection format, the third spot will undoubtedly go to McDonagh, leaving a cheaper and more reliable Kevin Klein available to be plucked.The most feasible option for New York to move on from Girardi or Staal would be a buyout, and while it would still count against the cap for years to come as dead money, Gorton and the Rangers' brass have to consider it to overhaul the blue line.Is there real room to improve?New York went out and acquired Brendan Smith at the deadline, which helped, but he's a pending unrestricted free agent, and there's no guarantee he won't test the market - especially if the Rangers can't clear any money.The pool of free-agent defensemen this summer is thin, but is headlined by Kevin Shattenkirk, who was linked to his hometown Rangers in trade talks all season. Again, available funds will be the deciding factor.The wound of another early postseason exit is still fresh for the Rangers, but any attempt at improvement this offseason has to be centered around repairing the back end. Difficult, imperative decisions lie ahead.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Martin Brodeur is done pulling double duty.The St. Louis Blues assistant general manager will not serve as the club's goaltending coach in 2017-18."He wasn't fired, just for the record," head coach Mike Yeo quipped Tuesday, according to the team's official website.Blues GM Doug Armstrong said Brodeur will lead the search for the team's next goalie coach.Brodeur took over the goalie role in February after Yeo was promoted to head coach following the firing of Ken Hitchcock. The legendary former netminder was named assistant GM of the Blues in the spring of 2015.Blues starter Jake Allen and backup Carter Hutton both played well down the stretch before St. Louis was eliminated by the Nashville Predators in the second round of the playoffs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Murray isn't quite ready to start, but he'll be on the bench Wednesday night.The Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender is healthy enough to back up Marc-Andre Fleury in Game 7 against the Washington Capitals, Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan confirmed.Murray has been out since suffering an injury in the warmup before the Penguins' opening game of the playoffs against the Columbus Blue Jackets last month.Fleury has provided stability in Murray's absence, winning seven of Pittsburgh's 11 playoff games while posting a .921 save percentage.Murray was the Penguins' starter more often than not in the regular season, going 32-10-4 with a 2.41 GAA, a save percentage of .923, and four shutouts in 49 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's no shortage of intrigue as the Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers prepare to decide their second-round matchup in Game 7 on Wednesday night.The Ducks will have the home crowd behind them for the winner-take-all contest, but that's hardly been an advantage for either team in this series.Anaheim enters the game as the favorite, but the Ducks' difficulty in Game 7s at home is well documented. Edmonton has the momentum by virtue of a 7-1 destruction of the Ducks in Game 6 at Rogers Place, but Anaheim can still get the last laugh with a better effort in Game 7.Here are a few things the Oilers have to do to advance to the Western Conference final:Keep McDavid and Draisaitl apartOilers head coach Todd McLellan decided to break up Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in Game 5, and while Edmonton lost that game, the move has largely paid off.Both players scored in that contest - before the Oilers' collapse and crushing defeat in double overtime - and while McDavid was held off the score sheet in Game 6, Draisaitl exploded for a hat trick and five points in Edmonton's blowout victory.McDavid's line is still likely to draw the attention of stellar defensive forward Ryan Kesler, but spreading the Oilers' most dynamic scorers out over two lines has freed up Draisaitl and allowed Edmonton to better utilize its best offensive options. Learn from Game 5The last time the Oilers played in Anaheim, things didn't end well. Edmonton scored three times in the second period, but blew a 3-0 lead in the third and lost 4-3 on Corey Perry's double-overtime winner.However, Edmonton won the first two games of the series in California, and finished strong in both contests.The Oilers gave up the first goal in the opening game, but then scored five of the next seven en route to a 5-3 win at Honda Center. Edmonton followed that up with a 2-1 victory in hostile territory in Game 2.If they can close out the final game of the series the way they finished the first two, Edmonton should be able to avoid another heartbreaking defeat. Get in the Ducks' headsThe Ducks have more playoff experience, but they also have more baggage.Anaheim has lost four consecutive Game 7s on home ice, and while Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle tried to distance himself from the club's previous failures under Bruce Boudreau, the pressure is squarely on Carlyle and his veterans to exorcise the demons.Edmonton hasn't been intimidated on the road in this series, winning two of three away games and coming within one third-period meltdown of emerging victorious in all of them.As much as the Ducks insist their Game 7 struggles aren't an issue, the longer the Oilers control play Wednesday night, the more doubt will creep into the minds of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and the other members of Anaheim's leadership group who've endured the quartet of disappointments in decisive games.Regardless of how it ends, Game 7 between the Oilers and Ducks should live up to the hype.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers made the playoffs for the first time in 11 seasons and are now a win away from advancing to the Western Conference Final.But they'll have to go through the Anaheim Ducks to do it, a team which has proven that it doesn't go away easily. That was most evident in Game 5, when Anaheim rallied for a 4-3 double-overtime win after trailing by three goals with less than four minutes left in regulation.Here's the tale of the tape after six games:TeamGFGASFSASV%PP%PK%FOW%Ducks1923242187.8779.1% (2-for-22)72% (18-for-25)58%Oilers2319187242.92128% (7-for-25)90.9% (20-for-22)42%Cast your vote:The puck drops at 10 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor McDavid: he's a popular guy.The Edmonton Oilers captain recently met some admirers at the airport, and they latched on for a quick picture, which had an ... interesting result.

Just one month into his new gig, it's clear Rob Blake assumed power in the Los Angeles Kings' front office with a plan.The franchise icon, whose No. 4 hangs from the rafters at Staples Center, took over for two-time Stanley Cup visionary Dean Lombardi as the Kings' general manager when ownership decided to clean house upon missing the postseason for the second time in three years.On Tuesday afternoon, Blake conducted his first orders of business, trading Ben Bishop's rights to Dallas and inking forward Tanner Pearson to a team-friendly four-year extension.The Bishop deal was an inevitability, and fetching a fourth-round pick is a reasonable return for a player who started seven games for the organization. However, it's the latter move, a shrewd signing of one of Los Angeles' best forwards, that sticks out as a step in the right direction.Pearson, just 24, was one of two Kings players to eclipse 20 goals last season, and set career highs in that mark (24) and points (44). His four-year, $15-million extension makes him the fifth-richest forward on Blake's roster - a bargain for a player of his caliber.Working with new head coach John Stevens, Blake's No. 1 priority this offseason has to be improving the Kings' dismal offense, and locking down Pearson secures one of the top possession drivers on the team. Among all Los Angeles forwards with similar minutes, he ranked third with a 56.7 Corsi For rating, and trailed only Jeff Carter with 25 primary points at even strength.Re-upping on Pearson at an appropriate price was a necessity if Blake and the Kings are seeking a retool rather than a full-fledged rebuild.Blake still has plenty of work to do to return the Kings to relevance in the Western Conference, particularly unloading salary to create more cap flexibility, and infusing youth into a team that looked flat-out slow down the stretch. Not to mention, Pearson's linemate, Tyler Toffoli, needs a contract, too.It's just a small sample at the beginning of his tenure, but the Kings' new GM is off to a good start heading into a summer with a long to-do list.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: FAfter finishing the 2015-16 season with the worst offense in the league, it seemed like the addition of Taylor Hall meant things could only get better.Wrong.After managing 2.22 goals per game in 2016, the team averaged 2.20 goals per game this past campaign. They also gave up the sixth-most goals, had the 22nd-ranked power play, and the 23rd-ranked penalty kill. They were bad all over. So the grade is well earned.Free AgentsObviously, Marc Savard has not played in the league since 2011, so his contract ending means little to nothing for the team. Meanwhile, the club has four restricted free agents, with Damon Severson being the most important.Player (Position)2017-18 StatusAge2016-17 Cap Hit'16-17 PointsMarc Savard (F)UFA39$4 029 429DNPJacob Josefson (F)RFA26$1.1M10Beau Bennett (F)RFA25$725K19Stefan Noesen (F)RFA24$600K8Damon Severson (D)RFA22$605 83331The only questionable unrestricted free agent on the Devils' hands is Keith Kinkaid. He played in a career-high 26 games this past season and after posting a respectable .916 save percentage, he could be a cheap backup option once again.Player (Position)2017-18 StatusAge2016-17 Cap Hit'16-17 SV%Keith Kinkaid (G)UFA27$725K.9162017 Draft PicksThe Devils have 10 picks in the upcoming draft including the all-encompassing No. 1 selection after pulling off the mother of all upsets at the draft lottery.Related: Shero never thought he'd get chance to draft Nolan Patrick or Nico HischierHere is how their June 23-24 weekend will look:RoundPicks1122 (Own+Bruins)32 (Avalanche+Sharks)42 (Own+Predators)5162 (Own+Predators)70Summer prioritiesLock up Kovalchuk or trade himIt appears to be a done deal that Ilya Kovalchuk will be returning to the NHL next season and - unlike the draft lottery - the Devils hold the best chances of landing the veteran sniper.Related: Devils will reach out to Kovalchuk's agent to gauge interest in NHL returnKovalchuk is on voluntary retirement and the Devils already own his rights until the 2024-25 season. He remains an incredible talent and would be an asset for the team's aforementioned weak offense.However, if Kovalchuk does not want to play with the Devils the team must make sure to at least agree to a sign-and-trade with him so they can recoup assets for the sniper.Kovalchuk must sign with the Devils or receive consent from every club if he wishes to sign elsewhere. Ray Shero should be in the driver's seat here as he can easily veto a signing anywhere else.Fix Schneider's gameIt's easier said than done, but the fact is despite posting far and away his worst statistical season during the 2017 campaign, Schneider has the ability to be among the elite goaltenders in the league.Be it some help on the blue line, a new goaltending coach, or even just some more rest, the Devils need to find a way to get Schneider playing to his proven potential.Capitalize at draftThe debate between Nolan Patrick and Nico Hischier appears to be razor thin, a good sign for the Devils. They posses the first overall pick and shouldn't go wrong with either.However, where the Devils need to capitalize is the rest of the draft where they have 10 picks in total with half of those coming in the first three rounds. The Devils aren't in full rebuild mode, so they must take advantage of this abundance of picks.2017-18 OutlookThe Devils looked like they were going to take a big step forward in 2017. After an admirable 84 points in 2016 and 30-goal campaigns from Adam Henrique and Kyle Palmieri, the team added Hall.Although it seemed the offense had gotten a huge boost, we know how that went. Hall still had a solid season, potting 20 goals and 53 points in 72 games, but the rest of the cast was uninspiring.Heading into next season the Devils are an enigma. They have proven goal-scorers at their disposal and could add the likes of Kovalchuk and one of Patrick or Hischier to the mix as well. So the potential is there.On the back end they could use some help, but players such as Severson continue to grow and mature and could take a big step forward.Ultimately it comes down to Schneider. Can he be the goalie that kept the Devils above water in his first few seasons with the club? If he can, the Devils could challenge for a playoff spot.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Change is inevitable for the last-place Colorado Avalanche, but Joe Sakic says the overhaul of the team's roster this offseason is likely to be significant nonetheless."There's going to be a lot of turnover and we're going to get some younger guys in here," the general manager told Altitude Sports Radio on Tuesday. "We're expecting to be a quicker team and a much more competitive team."The Avalanche were anything but competitive this season, posting a mere 48 points and compiling the worst record since the 1999-2000 Atlanta Thrashers.Colorado does have some encouraging young forwards in the fold, with Tyson Jost and J.T. Compher debuting for the club in 2016-17, while Mikko Rantanen excelled in his first full NHL season.On defense, Sakic said the Avalanche are hopeful they'll soon be able to announce the signing of KHL defenseman Andrei Mironov, who was drafted in the fourth round by Colorado in 2015.The availability of both Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog was no secret this season, and while trades remain possible, Sakic says the free-agent market is one avenue the Avalanche won't be exploring."We're not going to be players in free agency," the GM said. "We want to grow our kids, keep the youth movement going and try and develop and have them grow together."- With h/t to SportsnetCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Game 7. Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins. Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. In the words of Bob Cole: "Oh, baby!"The Caps were left for dead after falling behind 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, but they're alive, and now have a chance to exorcise some demons - as major as hockey demons get, really - on home ice.Here's the tale of the tape after six games:TeamGFGASFSASV%PP%PK%FOW%Capitals1818200133.87123.8% (5-for-21)85% (17-for-20)47%Penguins1818133200.91015% (3-for-20)76.2% (16-for-21)53%Cast your vote:Faceoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET. Enjoy.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers will spend the rest of the postseason on the sidelines, and forward Derek Stepan was quick to criticize his own play in the second-round loss to the Ottawa Senators."Individually, I'm disappointed and ashamed and flat out embarrassed," Stepan told Dan Rosen of NHL.com after the Game 6 defeat. "It kills me that I was not able to find my game."Related: - Stepan: 'I've stunk since the playoffs started'Stepan was held off the scoresheet in Tuesday's 4-2 loss, registering a minus-2 rating in 20:43 of ice time.Through 12 playoff contests, Stepan recorded six points, with a goal and three assists coming in Round 2 against the Senators.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators are off to the conference finals, and it's a moment to be celebrated, says coach Guy Boucher."Let's not kid ourselves, this is a big accomplishment," Boucher told TSN's Brent Wallace following Tuesday's victory that eliminated the New York Rangers.It's a slight change of tune for the Senators coach, who has long proclaimed his team as the underdog in an effort to keep his squad's focus on the ice.The Senators eliminated the Rangers in Game 6 of their second-round series, punching their ticket with a 4-2 victory at Madison Square Garden.After knocking off the Bruins and Rangers, the Senators are one of three teams left standing in the East. Their next opponent will be determined Wednesday, when the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins face off in Game 7.Tuesday's victory paved the way for Ottawa's first trip to the conference finals since 2007, and just its third visit there in franchise history, after also doing so in 2003.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Poor King Hank.For the 11th time in his 12-year career, New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist was forced to face the media after being bounced from the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Tuesday night was more of the same: questions about what went wrong, how he can improve, and what happens next - queries that are all too familiar for the 35-year-old."Obviously losing all three up in Ottawa where we had a chance to win a couple, (I think) it hurt us big time in this series," Lundqvist said when asked about the reason for New York's series defeat."We just didn't get it done."The sharply dressed, guitar-playing 'tender was especially candid when asked about whether he had anyone to blame but himself."Sometimes it's not about playing your best game," Lundqvist said. "It's about finding a way to win games and they did that better than we did."There's always next season; Lundqvist still has four years and $34 million left on his current deal.So, barring a significant injury or an unforeseen trade, the Rangers' all-time leader in wins (405) will be occupying the blue paint when New York attempts another Cup run next season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators are off to the final four.They'll know who they face in the next round shortly, as the winner of Wednesday's Game 7 between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins will go toe to toe with the Senators in Round 3.After Ottawa's Game 6 victory over the New York Rangers on Tuesday, we ask you: Which team do the Senators have a better chance of defeating next round?The Senators have advanced to the conference finals twice previously, doing so in 2007 and 2003.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals have been here before.Holding destiny in their hands with the opportunity to advance to the conference finals with one more win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.Wednesday night in D.C. presents the Capitals with a huge opportunity to silence their haters.Beating the Penguins would obviously be sweet enough. But, more importantly, what would be even tastier is the prospect of facing the Ottawa Senators in the next round.All due respect to the Senators - who have had a storybook year - but the fact remains: they are a club that Washington matches up very well with on paper.The Caps were 2-1 in three regular-season games this past campaign against Ottawa. That number certainly doesn't jump of the page, and, realistically, it doesn't mean jack unless Washington can step up in Game 7 and get the job done against Pittsburgh.Seriously, though, how long have we been waiting for the Capitals to turn the page?Each year since Alex Ovechkin entered the league in 2005, Washington - to some degree - has been pegged with lofty expectations. Expectations it has never fulfilledOvechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, T.J. Oshie, Kevin Shattenkirk, Braden Holtby - the talented list goes on. Most teams would kill to have those kinds of players.Nevertheless, this is the situation that Barry Trotz and his club are in.

NEW YORK - Erik Karlsson had a goal and an assist to help the Ottawa Senators advance to the Eastern Conference finals with a 4-2 victory over the New York Rangers in Game 6 of their second-round series Tuesday night.Mike Hoffman and Mark Stone scored in the first period to power Ottawa to a fast start, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau added an empty-netter. Clarke MacArthur had two assists, and Craig Anderson stopped 37 shots.The Senators, headed to the conference finals for the first time since their run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2007, will face either Pittsburgh or Washington in the next round. Their series is headed to Game 7 on Wednesday night.Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider scored for New York, and Henrik Lundqvist had 22 saves.The Rangers trailed 3-1 after two periods, but Kreider got them within one just 53 seconds into the third. He skated up the middle, went to his left and put the puck past Anderson for his third goal of the postseason.New York outshot Ottawa 15-5 in the third but couldn't get the equalizer. Kreider had a chance a little over 5 minutes in, but didn't get a clean shot on a pass from Zibanejad as his attempt from in front trickled off his stick and was stopped by Anderson.Lundqvist made some stellar saves late in the third, including a stop on Derick Brassard from the right side with 5 minutes left.Pageau capped the scoring with 6.2 seconds left for his sixth of the series and seventh of the postseason.Playing with a 2-0 lead, Ottawa was more aggressive to start the second period, outshooting the Rangers 6-1 over the first 7 minutes.Anderson stopped a shot by Kevin Hayes and then smothered a follow attempt by Michael Grabner in front near the midpoint of the middle period.Zibanejad got the Rangers on the scoreboard with about 6 1/2 minutes left in the second. He took a pass from Mats Zuccarello, skated in and beat Anderson on the glove side into the top right corner.Karlsson then beat Lundqvist on the blocker side with 4:07 remaining to restore the Senators' two-goal lead.The Rangers outshot the Senators 13-10 in the first, but trailed 2-0 after 20 minutes. New York had three power plays and more scoring chances, but Ottawa was aggressive on defense while blocking nine shots in the opening period, and whatever got past the defense was stopped by Anderson.Hoffman got the Senators on the scoreboard 4:27 into the game. He got the puck behind the net and sent a pass out to MacArthur. He then went in front of the net and deflected a shot from Karlsson past Lundqvist for his fourth of the playoffs.It came on the Senators' second shot on goal of the game and marked the first time Ottawa scored first in the series.Anderson had to make a flurry of saves over the next few minutes, including tip attempts by Kreider and Rick Nash about 30 seconds apart.Lundqvist also had a nice glove stop on a slap shot by Karlsson as he was falling to his left and into the goalpost.Stone scored with 5:16 left in the first when he got a pass from MacArthur on the left side as he crossed the blue line, skated up and fired a shot past Lundqvist for his fourth of postseason. Rangers coach Alain Vigneault challenged the play for offside, but the goal stood after a review.NOTES: The NHL announced the Rangers will face the Buffalo Sabres in the Winter Classic at Citi Field, home of baseball's New York Mets. Commissioner Gary Bettman made the announcement on television during the first intermission. ... The Senators were 0 for 2 on the power play, finishing the series 1 for 18 and falling to 6 for 41 in the postseason. ... The Rangers were 0 for 4 with the man advantage. They finished 2 for 24 in the series and 3 for 39 in the playoffs. ... The Rangers lost for just the second time in their last 10 in a Game 6 or 7.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers are taking it outside.The two New York clubs will participate in the 2018 Winter Classic to be held Jan. 1 at Citi Field, home of MLB's New York Mets, the NHL announced Tuesday."With New York City as its host, the renewal of our New Year's tradition will continue to inspire hockey memories for our clubs, our players, and our fans," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.The Sabres participated in the inaugural Winter Classic, held in Buffalo in 2008. The Rangers took part in the 2012 Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

You asked for it and the hockey gods have provided.The Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins will go toe to toe Wednesday night in a Game 7 that's shaping up as one of the best contests on the NHL calendar in recent memory.Here are three reasons why it'll also be 2017's best playoff game thus far.Crosby vs. OvechkinLet's not beat around the bush: We all know why most people will tune in Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.Since Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin entered the league in 2005, the NHL has not been the same, and for good reason.(Photo credit: Action Images)As was the case in '05, the success of these two clubs is closely tied to the success of their two superstars.This postseason has been much of the same for Crosby, who - despite a Matt Niskanen cross-check to the face - continues to produce at an elite level. Heading into Game 7, Sid's tied for fourth in league playoff scoring with teammates Phil Kessel and Jake Guentzel at 13 points.His Russian rival, on the other hand, has struggled at times, especially in this series - he's found the back of the net only twice, leaving his 2017 playoff point total at a disappointing eight.The Ovechkin haters will state the obvious: Crosby performs when it matters most, two rings, blah blah blah. While he may lack finger jewelry, though, No. 8 is actually a clutch performer.

The Los Angeles Kings have re-signed winger Tanner Pearson to a four-year contract extension, the club announced Tuesday.Pearson's new deal is worth an annual average of $3.75 million and comes on the heels of the winger's most productive season to date. It's also a hefty raise from the $1.4 million he earned in 2016-17.Pearson, a 2012 first-round pick of the Kings, turned heads this past campaign, notching 24 goals and 20 helpers.Forty-four points at age 24 isn't too shabby, and if the Kitchener, Ontario, native continues to impress, his next raise will be even more significant.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins announced that goaltender Tuukka Rask and center Patrice Bergeron underwent successful surgeries this week.Bergeron had a sports hernia procedure Monday, while Rask underwent right groin surgery Tuesday.Related: Bruins' Bergeron played all season with sports herniaBoth players are expected to make full recoveries and be ready for next season.Bergeron skated in 79 games this season, registering 53 points.Between the pipes, Rask appeared in 65 contests, posting a 37-20-5 record alongside a .915 save percentage.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars acquired the rights to goaltender Ben Bishop from the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday for a fourth-round draft pick in 2017.The Stars now have the opportunity to sign Bishop to a contract extension. He is eligible for unrestricted free agency July 1.Bishop, 30, split last season between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Kings. He was dealt to Los Angeles at the March trade deadline.

The Florida Panthers apparently like what they hear from Michel Therrien.The former Montreal Canadiens bench boss is in the running to become the next head coach of the Panthers, and will soon sit for a second interview with the Sunrise club, reports George Richards of the Miami Herald.Panthers general manager Dale Tallon says the team will interview about a dozen candidates, according to NHL.com. That reportedly includes University of Denver coach Jim Montgomery, who's already had his second interview, according to Richards.Florida began last season with Gerard Gallant as coach. He was replaced in November by interim head coach Tom Rowe, the team's first-year general manager. The Panthers missed the playoffs by 14 points after winning the Atlantic Division a year earlier, and Rowe has since moved into an advisory role with the organization.Therrien spent nearly five seasons as coach of the Canadiens in his most recent stint with the club. He had a 31-19-8 record this season before his February dismissal, and was replaced by Claude Julien.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Earlier Tuesday, New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero confirmed that Ilya Kovalchuk wants to return to the NHL for next season.Kovalchuk remains property of the Devils, but they simply can't trade his rights. Kovalchuk's agent is able to speak with other teams about a contract, but once an agreement is in place, he would have to sign with New Jersey who would then trade him to said team.Since New Jersey is in rebuilding mode, they probably want nothing to do with Kovalchuk, but will happily trade him for assets to help speed up their rebuild.Kovalchuk is 34 years old, but is coming off his best season in the KHL in which he recorded 32 goals and 78 points in 60 games. He hasn't played in the NHL since 2012-13, but there will certainly be a long list of teams interested in acquiring the Russian sniper.Without further ado, here are the five most logical fits for Kovalchuk (projected cap space courtesy of Cap Friendly):Edmonton Oilers17-18 proj. cap spaceTrade Bait?Win now?$22.5MYesYesThere's something to be said about two GMs who have a good rapport. Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli and Shero pulled off one of the biggest blockbuster trades in recent memory last spring, swapping Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson.Kovalchuk will likely demand somewhere around $6 million per season, so a short-term deal in Edmonton, who is obviously in win-now mode, would make plenty of sense.The Oilers could use a high-powered winger to play alongside either Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, or even Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. They are also in need of a legitimate right-handed shot on their power play (no offense, Mark Letestu).Though a one-for-one deal likely wouldn't work since Shero has very little trade leverage, it's possible the Oilers could send Jordan Eberle the other way in a deal. He has been brutal during Edmonton's playoff run, so it's possible management's patience could be wearing thin with the 26-year-old.From Shero's point of view, it's possible reuniting Eberle with Hall could rejuvenate the slumping winger. If this were the case, Shero could then trade him once his value is higher, or keep him as part of New Jersey's core moving forward.Dallas Stars17-18 proj. cap spaceTrade Bait?Win now?$20.8MYesYesThe Stars are just a year removed from a first-place finish in the Central Division in which they recorded 109 points. This past season was a debacle, but they are still likely looking to win right away while Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin are in the prime of their careers.If they wind up putting their third overall pick on the trade block for help in goal or on the blue line, then it would only provide further proof that they are looking to contend for a cup right away.The addition of Kovalchuk would give the Stars arguably the most prolific offense in the entire league. It's unclear how this would sit with newly minted head coach Ken Hitchcock. However, the veteran bench boss could be on board considering lack of goal-scoring (and playoff failures) eventually led to his demise in St. Louis.Montreal Canadiens17-18 proj. cap spaceTrade Bait?Win now?$22.5MNot a lotYesAfter a first-round playoff exit, saying Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin is on the hot seat would be an understatement.Bergevin is running out of time to right the ship in Montreal, meaning he isn't afraid to move what few prospects his organization has in order to bring in a piece who could help them win now.He made the bold move last offseason of signing former NHLer turned KHLer Alexander Radulov, and it turned out to work brilliantly. Whether or not the Habs bring Radulov back shouldn't alter their interest in Kovalchuk. They are desperate for offense.Vegas Golden Knights17-18 proj. cap spaceTrade Bait?Win now?N/ANoNoThe Golden Knights obviously aren't in win-now mode. Their trade bait won't be known until the expansion draft on June 21, but they will certainly have plenty of cap space.What they will want is something, or someone, that will ignite a fan base and bring people to the rink. If they can form a somewhat competitive team, it will go a long way in keeping fans interested.The Golden Knights have already signed Vadim Shipachyov, and have shown interest in Evgeny Dadonov - both of whom played with Kovalchuk at SKA Saint Petersburg in the KHL last season.Heck, if they were able to bring in two Russian defensemen in addition to Dadonov and Kovalchuk, they could form the latest installment of "The Russian Five." Now there's something you can sell to your fans.Carolina Hurricanes17-18 proj. cap spaceTrade Bait?Win now?$27.4MTonsGetting thereThe Hurricanes might be the biggest wild card on this list. They are not exactly in win-now mode, but they're much closer to being a competitor than most think.The acquisition of Scott Darling solidified their goaltending issue. They have a surplus of young defensemen that every team in the league covets, but they still need help up front.New Jersey is one of many teams in the market for a young defenseman. They wouldn't be able to pry away one of Carolina's high-end blue-liners for Kovalchuk, such as Noah Hanifin, Jaccob Slavin, or Brett Pesce, but Ryan Murphy or Klas Dahlbeck, plus something else would make sense.Furthermore, Carolina also has three second-round picks and two third-round picks that it could dangle in a potential trade, though it would not be able to officially complete the trade until July 1 after the selections had been made. With the addition of Kovalchuk, the Hurricanes could very well be a playoff team come 2017-18.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. 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Sidney Crosby was evaluated by a doctor during the first intermission of Monday's Game 6 after a dangerous collision in the final minutes of the opening period. It was then decided he didn't need to go through concussion protocol, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain revealed after practice Tuesday, according to the Washington Post's Jesse Dougherty.Crosby went headfirst into the boards with 2:15 left to play in the first, and considering both the fact he missed Game 4 due to concussion and his head-injury history, the hockey world lost its collective you know what after he wasn't immediately pulled by the league's concussion spotters.The play remained the talk of the hockey world Tuesday, after NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the collision wasn't grounds for Crosby's mandatory removal because he hit the boards, and not the ice. In other words, concussion spotters didn't have the authority to call him off the ice, because the NHL's studies have shown that ice "has been found to be a predictor of concussions," while boards have not been.Complicating matters further: Head coach Mike Sullivan wouldn't go into much detail about Crosby after his team's loss, stating only that he wasn't evaluated for a concussion. Sullivan could have put a lot of people at ease had he at least said his captain was looked at by a doctor.Crosby called the collision "pretty standard," saying he simply had the wind knocked out of him.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Team Canada will be getting a large upgrade on its blue line, as St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko is set to join his country overseas, the team announced Tuesday.Parayko stands at 6-foot-6, 226 pounds, bringing much-needed size, and a right-handed shot to Canada's back end.The 23-year-old registered a career-high 35 points this season and added two goals and three helpers in 11 playoff games before the Blues were eliminated at the hands of the Nashville Predators.Canada is 3-0 so far in the tournament, but in a weak division, the team hasn't really been tested. Parayko should be expected to log big minutes as Canada seeks its third straight gold medal at the IIHF World Hockey Championship.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's true: Ilya Kovalchuk wants to return to the NHL.New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero confirmed with Kovalchuk's agent that the 34-year-old is indeed serious about returning to North America after spending the past four seasons in Russia's KHL, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.A couple of weeks ago, TSN's Bob McKenzie provided details on Kovalchuk's status, pointing out the forward is on the league's Voluntary Retirement List (VRL) but remains property of the Devils. Since he's on the VRL, the Devils can't trade his rights, making a sign-and-trade scenario the most likely solution.

Controversy swirled during Game 6 between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals on Monday night, after Pens captain Sidney Crosby continued to play despite appearing to suffer another head injury.The incident occurred late in the first period when Crosby - who was diagnosed with a concussion in Game 3 - got tangled with Braden Holtby and tumbled violently into the end boards.After questions quickly surfaced as to why Crosby wasn't pulled from the game by the league-mandated concussion spotter to undergo tests, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly provided an explanation Tuesday."Depending on the mechanism of the injury, 'slow to get up' does not trigger mandatory removal," Daly told USA Today Sports. "The protocol has been interpreted literally to mandate a removal. 'Ice' as compared to 'boards' is in there for a reason. It's the result of a study on our actual experiences over a number of years. 'Ice' has been found to be a predictor of concussions - 'boards' has not been."Regardless of what the rule book states, the decision to leave Crosby in the game and the league's questionable subsequent response have further damaged its reputation for dealing with head injuries.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Trailing 3-1 in the series, Capitals head coach Barry Trotz opted to make a bold lineup shuffle. He demoted seven-time 50-goal scorer Alex Ovechkin to the third line and promoted Andre Burakovsky, who scored just 12 regular-season goals, to the top line.This move drew heavy skepticism from the media. However, two games with the new lineup has Trotz looking like an absolute genius.Here is a look at Burakovsky's playoff stats before and after the switch:LineGPGASOG3rd line1002191st line2317Ovechkin's transformation hasn't been as dramatic. He scored the key fourth goal in a 4-2 win in Game 5, though he was held off the scoresheet in Game 6. He has been getting more scoring chances though.Ovechkin was getting 1.06 individual scoring chances for per 60 minutes (iSCF60) at 5v5 from Games 1-4, but since being demoted to the third line, he is getting 7.45 iSCF60, according to Corsica.Hockey via Neil Greenberg from The Washington PostPart of the reason why he's getting more scoring chances, despite playing alongside less talented players, is the fact that he doesn't have to face Pittsburgh's shutdown D pairing of Brian Dumoulin and Ron Hainsey every shift.Trotz's hope with this move was to "spread out the offense," and so far it has worked brilliantly. His club has scored the same amount of goals in the last two games than they scored in the first four games.Having a savvy, veteran coach, unafraid to make a bold move, is truly paying dividends for the Capitals.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two second-round series have already locked down a Game 7, so why not make it three?The New York Rangers hope to do exactly that Tuesday night, as they return to Madison Square Garden seeking to force a seventh and deciding game versus the Ottawa Senators.While their backs are against the wall, the Rangers won't go out easy, and here are three ways they can live to fight another day:Home sweet homeNew York's home record throughout the regular season was subpar, but the postseason has been a different story.The Rangers have won four in a row at The World's Most Famous Arena, and are 4-1 overall in the playoffs. They defeated Ottawa by a 4-1 score in Games 3 and 4, and have looked far more comfortable on Broadway.Hank(Photo Courtesy: Action Images)The King won't be knocked off his throne easily.Although Henrik Lundqvist misplaced his crown in a leaky Game 5 performance, Hank loves to bounce back. This season, Lundqvist managed a 10-3-2 record with a .924 save percentage after losses in which he allowed three or more goals.What's more, dating back to 2012, Lundqvist is 15-5 in elimination games, posting a 1.74 GAA and .945 save percentage. At The Garden, he's 10-1, posting a 1.05 GAA and .965 save clip with his season on the line.If it ain't broke, don't fix it If it weren't for 6-on-5, the Rangers could very well be onto the Eastern Conference Final by now.In Games 2 and 5, New York was stunned in the final minutes as Ottawa converted with an empty net, forcing overtime and eventually winning each time.Throughout the entire series, the Rangers have only trailed for 13:10, and a one-goal margin has been all that's separated the two teams in New York's losses. The Rangers can't dwell on any bad breaks, but if they stick to what they've been doing, perhaps they'll finally catch one.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: FThe Vancouver Canucks finished the year with the second-worst record in the league, and if not for a few stellar individual performances from Bo Horvat and the remarkable ineptitude of the Colorado Avalanche, they could have easily finished dead last.To say that the Canucks hit some rough stretches last season would be the understatement of the NHL year.Vancouver managed losing streaks of at least three games a mind-boggling seven times, including eight- and nine-game tailspins.Daniel Sedin registered his lowest point total in four years, the blue line struggled mightily, and in net? Well, let's just say somewhere Roberto Luongo is smiling.Despite already owning a handful of exciting young prospects - such as Olli Juolevi, Nikolay Goldobin, and Jake Virtanen - Vancouver still badly needs an injection of talent before it can start calling itself a playoff contender once again.The above letter grade also corresponds fittingly with the category the Canucks should file their 2016-17 season under: F, for "Forget it ever happened."Free Agents Despite the majority of the Canucks' "core" returning next season, general manager Jim Benning still has a busy summer ahead of him with names like Erik Gudbranson, Ryan Miller, and Horvat on his restricted and unrestricted free-agent lists.Player (Position)2017-18 StatusAge2016-17 Cap Hit'16-17 PointsBo Horvat (F)RFA22$89416752Brenden Gaunce (F)RFA23$8633335Anton Rodin (F)RFA26$9500001Joseph Cramarossa (F)RFA24$72450010Reid Boucher (F)RFA23$71500010Drew Shore (F)RFA26$6000002Michael Chaput (F)RFA25$6000009Jack Skille (F)UFA29$7000009Erik Gudbranson (D)RFA25$3.5M6Benning has previously made his opinion known that he believes Miller is the No.1 in Van City, and as recently as April, voiced his desire to have the veteran return next season.Goalie2017-18 StatusAge2016-17 Cap Hit'16-17 SV%Ryan MillerUFA36$6M.9142017 Draft PicksThe Canucks have six picks in the upcoming draft, including a fourth-rounder from the San Jose Sharks that was sent Vancouver's way in the Jannik Hansen trade. RoundPicks11213142 (Own + Sharks)506071Summer Priorities 1. Ink Bo Horvat long termHorvat was by far Vancouver's best player last season, and let's be honest, after him, what do the Canucks have up front to rely on moving forward?I'll wait.2. Strike gold at No. 5If Vancouver didn't have bad luck they wouldn't have any at all.However, Cale Makar or Owen Tippet are two names that should still be available at No. 5, and both offer skill sets that would slot in nicely on the Canucks' roster.It will be interesting to see how the club rebounds from falling in the draft lottery for a second straight season.3. Stop the bleeding in netThe goalie situation in Vancouver has been unsettled since the Luongo-Eddie Lack fiasco that plagued the club during the 2013-14 campaign, and last season was no different.Miller and Jacob Markstrom were each given an opportunity to claim the cage for themselves, but both netminders struggled to find consistency and the team as a whole suffered because of it.If the Canucks want to even start dreaming of the postseason, they will have to find an answer in the blue paint, and fast.2017-18 OutlookDespite Vancouver's crop of exciting young talent - both NHL-ready and otherwise - the next few seasons will be painful for Canucks fans.The team was dealt another raw hand in the draft lottery and will be forced to select outside of the top three once again, further slowing the rebuild of a club in need of help up and down the lineup.In short, a lot of things need to go right in the next few months for Vancouver to have a successful 2017-18 season.If the Canucks can manage to draft well with their top pick, make smart moves in free agency, and get some form of consistent goaltending, then they may be able to treat their fans to playoff puck for the first time since 2015.Don't hold your breath, Vancouver.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oilers defenseman Eric Gryba is taking his club's second-round series with the Anaheim Ducks personally. Extremely personally.Ahead of Edmonton's Game 7 versus the Ducks on Wednesday night, Gryba cooked himself up an actual duck for dinner Monday.

The Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins will square off in a winner-take-all Game 7 on Wednesday night in the U.S. Capital. The Caps are surely ecstatic that they have Mr. Game 7 himself, Justin Williams, on their side.Williams is undefeated in seven Game 7s throughout his 16-year career, tallying an amazing seven goals and seven assists in those contests, per Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.The veteran winger has been quiet thus far in the series, recording no goals, three assists, a minus-1 rating, and only 10 shots. Clearly, he is just saving all of his bullets for this do-or-die contest.Williams, of course, is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, winning with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and the Los Angeles Kings in both 2012 and 2014. He is one of just two Capitals with a Stanley Cup ring (Brooks Orpik being the other) and therefore brings a rare kind of pedigree to a locker room where the majority of players have never played beyond the second round.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Barry Trotz is a man of few words and even fewer compliments.So when the reigning Jack Adams Award winner pays tribute to his team, people tend to take notice.Such was the case following Monday's 5-2 Game 6 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. With his Washington Capitals backed into a win-or-go-home scenario, Trotz said his team's veterans stepped up in the clutch."That’s good on our leaders, that’s good on our group," Trotz said during his postgame presser. "I thought we’ve had a calmness since probably Game 3." ... We're having fun now."Yeah, winning is usually a lot more fun than losing, but Trotz's assessment is accurate. Washington's go-to guys stepped up when it mattered most.T.J. Oshie scored his fourth of the playoffs, Nicklas Backstrom netted his sixth, and despite allowing two garbage-time goals, Braden Holtby was solid, saving 16 of 18 shots.Trotz recognizes that his core group of players are a big reason for the club's turnaround since Game 5."It starts with our leadership. Our leadership has (sort of) grabbed hold the last few games and it starts there."The Capitals will need another strong performance from that same group of leaders Wednesday night in Game 7.Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from Verizon Center.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dial T.J. Oshie for goals.The Capitals winger was there again when needed Monday, picking up a goal and an assist in Washington's 5-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.It was a must-win game for the Capitals, who entered the contest down 3-2 in their second-round series.Oshie opened the scoring for Washington, getting on the board at the 12:41 mark of the first period when he fired home a shot from the slot past Penguins netminder Marc-Andre Fleury.It marked the 30-year-old's third multi-point game this postseason, with the other two contests coming in Round 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. In Game 4 against Toronto, Oshie netted twice, including the game-opener before later sealing the contest with the winning tally in the final frame.A pending free agent, Oshie is coming off a career-best 33-goal campaign. That performance has now carried over to the postseason, where he has reached a career-high 12 points.As for the Capitals, the Presidents' Trophy winners have rallied for two straight wins after the Penguins carried a 3-1 series lead into Game 5. It appeared the series would be a repeat of a year ago, when the Penguins knocked out the Capitals through six games in the second round.But things are seemingly different this spring, with Oshie attributing the team's change in perspective as the biggest difference this time around."Instead of feeling pressure, we relaxed," Oshie told Carol Maloney of NBC4 Sports.The Capitals will try for three straight victories and the series win Wednesday on home ice.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

No alarms appear to have been set off after Sidney Crosby took a hard, headfirst crash into the boards only a week after suffering a concussion.The incident took place late in the opening period of Game 6, with little reaction from the Pittsburgh Penguins during the intermission, according to head coach Mike Sullivan.Poll: Should Crosby have been pulled from Game 6 after headfirst crash?

PITTSBURGH - Andre Burakovsky scored twice, Nicklas Backstrom got his sixth of the playoffs and the Washington Capitals beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 on Monday night to force a Game 7 in their taut Eastern Conference semifinal.John Carlson and T.J. Oshie also scored for the Capitals. Braden Holtby stopped 16 to send the series back to Washington for the deciding game on Wednesday night.Jake Guentzel picked up his playoff-leading ninth goal and Evgeni Malkin added another 52 seconds later late in the third period to make the score look cosmetically better, but the Penguins were never in it. The Capitals controlled play throughout. Marc-Andre Fleury finished with 21 saves and received little help in front him.This is the fourth time the Penguins and Capitals will meet in a Game 7. Pittsburgh has won each of the three previous deciding games, the last in 2009 in Washington on its way to the Stanley Cup.The Capitals appeared on the verge of another unceremonious exit at the hands of the Penguins going into the third period of Game 5. The Presidents' Trophy winners responded with a three-goal barrage over the final 20 minutes that extended their season.The momentum carried over two days later and 250 miles northwest. Washington systematically dismantled the defending Stanley Cup champions, who looked listless as they struggled to generate any kind of sustained pressure.Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan tinkered with his lines after Game 5, reuniting the "HBK" line (Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel) that played an instrumental part in the team's Cup run last spring. Sullivan also moved rookie Guentzel alongside Malkin and put Conor Sheary with Crosby.Crosby was a nonfactor for a second straight game after sitting out Game 4 with a concussion. He took a nasty spill in the first period when he was slammed into the end boards head-first while he tangled with Carlson. He remained in the game but found little room to work.Then again, neither did any of his teammates as Washington dominated on both ends of the ice. Pittsburgh's first shot in the opening 17 minutes was a 136-foot flip by Brian Dumoulin that made its way to Holtby. By then the Capitals already had a 1-0 lead on Oshie's shot from the right circle on the power play.It wasn't unlike most of the first four games of the series, when Washington would control play for long stretches only to have Pittsburgh expertly counterpunch on its way to a 3-1 series lead.This time, there would be no response by the Penguins. Pittsburgh had trouble executing even the simplest of plays. Defenseman Ron Hainsey went to boards to retrieve a loose puck in the Penguins end only to get checked by Burakovsky, who skated away with the puck and stuffed a shot past Fleury 6:36 into the second.Holding two-goal leads in the postseason has been a tenuous proposition at best, with 13 times teams letting them away so far in the postseason.Yet instead of simply trying to protect its advantage, Washington kept pressing. Backstrom flipped a wrist shot by Fleury 16 seconds into the third to make it 3-0 and when Carlson fired on past Fleury 11:17 into the third, the arena began emptying out, perhaps for the last time this season.Game notes

Sidney Crosby made history in a losing effort.The Pittsburgh Penguins center recorded an assist on a Jake Guentzel goal in the third period of Game 6, setting a new franchise benchmark for playoff helpers.

After waiting nearly a month into this year's Stanley Cup playoffs for Game 7 action, NHL fans will be treated to a double-dip of winner-take-all postseason play Wednesday evening.Up first will be the Pittsburgh Penguins visiting the Washington Capitals in D.C. for the initial batch of gut-wrenching do-or-die madness that will have the Pens wishing they'd finished off the Caps in either Game 5 or Game 6.Pittsburgh blew a pair of chances to send Washington packing after taking a 3-1 series lead, and after Monday's insipid showing, momentum has most definitely swung in the Capitals' direction.Second on the docket Wednesday night is the Edmonton Oilers heading to SoCal to tangle with the Ducks.

One week after suffering a concussion that sidelined him for one game, Pittsburgh Penguins superstar center Sidney Crosby fell headfirst into the end boards during the first period of Game 6 against the Washington Capitals.Related: Crosby falls headfirst into end boards, remains in Game 6As evidenced by Twitter's reaction, many eyebrows were raised when Crosby was not immediately pulled from the game by the NHL's concussion spotters, and again upon his return for the second period.Have your say:Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sidney Crosby found himself trending on social media for all the wrong reasons in Game 6.One week after suffering a concussion that sidelined him for a single playoff game, the Pittsburgh Penguins superstar took a hard, headfirst fall into the end boards near the conclusion of the first period of Game 6 against the Washington Capitals, and appeared to be a bit shaken up as a result.Still, he remained in the game, leaving many to wonder about the efficacy of the NHL's concussion protocol.

Sidney Crosby was a bit slow to get up off the ice following a headfirst fall into the end boards during the first period of Game 6 against the Washington Capitals.The Pittsburgh Penguins center skated hard to the net and appeared to trip over Braden Holtby's left pad while getting tangled up with defenseman John Carlson and teammate Patric Hornqvist.He did not, however, have to leave the game, and was on the ice to begin the second period.Crosby was diagnosed with a concussion following a hit to the head delivered by Matt Niskanen in Game 3 on May 1.He missed Game 4 but was able to return to the lineup for Game 5.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders are getting set to open the bank for captain John Tavares.According to Newsday's Arthur Staple, the club is likely to offer Johnny T an 8-year contract worth upward of $10 million per season.Tavares is still under contract for one more season, but as Staple points out, New York general manager Garth Snow is eager to lock down his franchise player before potentially losing him for nothing in the 2018 free-agency window.Next season Tavares is under contract for a bargain price of $5.5 million and, despite a down year this past season in which he posted 66 points - his lowest since the 2013-14 campaign - the 27-year-old is still an elite-level talent who would have teams salivating at the thought of acquiring his services.Whether Tavares ends up staying in Brooklyn, or Long Island, long-term remains to be seen.However, the four-time All-Star has previously made it clear that he fully intends on staying with New York, wanting a deal in place as soon as possible, according to Brian Compton of NHL.com.Tavares has played all of his 587 NHL games with the Islanders.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Islanders captain John Tavares had end-of-season surgery on his right hand, reports Arthur Staple of Newsday.The report indicates the procedure repaired an issue that had lingered for much of the season, and that Tavares is expected to make a full recovery for next season.Tavares appeared in 77 games with the Islanders in 2016-17, registering 28 goals and 38 assists. He has one year remaining on his contract and can sign an extension July 1.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The first step toward opting out of a 25-year agreement between Barclays Center and the New York Islanders has been taken, sources tell Jim Baumbach and Robert Brodsky of Newsday.The arena's parent company, Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, recently notified the club in writing that the window to renegotiate the terms of the license agreement is open, as per the terms of the deal.Baumbach and Brodsky further explain what this means:

The Golden Knights hope Vadim Shipachyov brings his hot streak to Sin City.After signing a two-year deal Thursday with the NHL's newest franchise, the former KHL star has given Golden Knights fans a preview of his game as he skates with Team Russia at the World Championship.In early tournament action, Shipachyov has put up two goals and four assists through three games, good for third in team scoring behind Nikita Kucherov and Artemi Panarin, who have recorded seven and nine points, respectively.Shipachyov spent this season with St. Petersburg SKA of the KHL, where he was second in team scoring with 76 points. He finished two points shy of former NHL superstar Ilya Kovalchuk, despite playing in 10 fewer games.Shipachyov is the second free agent to sign with the Golden Knights after the club agreed to terms with Brandon Wheat Kings forward Reid Duke in March.But he may not be the only KHL free agent to sign in Sin City. General manager George McPhee confirmed reports the Golden Knights are pursuing Shipachyov's KHL teammate Evgeny Dadonov.Dadonov, 28, appeared in 53 games with St. Petersburg SKA this season, finishing with 30 goals and 36 assists.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.