The Philadelphia Flyers could soon bolster their hockey operations, as Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post reports the club is interested in recruiting former Los Angeles Kings executive Dean Lombardi.Lombardi last served as general manager of the Kings, leading the team to Stanley Cup championships in 2012 and 2014. He was fired in April following a second playoff miss in three seasons.While it's unclear what role Lombardi would have with the Flyers, his addition would mark a reunion with Flyers general manager Ron Hextall.Hextall was a part of the Kings organization from 2006-13, where he served as assistant GM to Lombardi. He joined the Flyers in 2013.Lombardi is also familiar with Philadelphia, as he served as a scout with the Flyers from 2003-06 prior to joining Los Angeles.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals avoided elimination in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinal by thumping the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2.Game 6 goes Monday night from Pittsburgh, and the Caps will have to deal with a Pens squad attempting to shake things up.Enter the HBK line.Last postseason, ahead of another Game 6 second-round matchup against the very same Capitals, head coach Mike Sullivan decided to throw together a third-line combination that had some people raising brows.Nick Bonino, Carl Hagelin, and ... Phil Kessel?Believe it or not, the move paid off immediately - Hagelin had three points, Kessel had two goals, and Bonino buried the overtime game-winner.Coach Sullivan and the rest of the Penguins are surely hoping for the same kind of success in this year's Game 6 against Washington, as the bench boss has once again reunited the unlikely trio.

No one needs to remind the Washington Capitals what's at stake.Heading into Monday's Game 6 in Pittsburgh, the two-time defending Presidents' Trophy winners face elimination at the hands of the rival Penguins for the second consecutive year.Related: Where do the Capitals go if they're eliminated?Faced with the prospect of history repeating itself, head coach Barry Trotz is encouraging his players to focus on the present while being mindful of the past, all with a view to changing the narrative going forward."I think we just said, 'Embrace our past,'" Trotz said, per Tom Gulitti of NHL.com. "Our past is what it is. We can't change it, but what we can do is change our future. I think we've changed our mindset on that. You don't have to tell us what the past is. We already know."That's what I'm saying. We're just focusing on this game."A loss would signal the latest in a string of playoff failures for the franchise, magnifying the reality that Washington has not advanced past the second round in the Alex Ovechkin era.The Penguins, of course, went on to win the Stanley Cup after eliminating the Capitals last year, just as they did upon setting Washington aside in 2009.A win for the Capitals in Game 6 would set up a decisive Game 7 back in the nation's capital on Wednesday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

No, not the golf course.The Washington Capitals are coming off their third-best season in franchise history, after pacing the league with 118 points. However, the playoffs have been another story.The Capitals squeaked by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, needing three overtime victories to get by the rookie-heavy squad. In the second round, they're up against the reigning Stanley Cup champs, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and, after falling behind 3-1 in the series, will look to avoid elimination for the second straight game Monday night.Heading into their second do-or-die game of the series, the Capitals will hope Alex Ovechkin and Braden Holtby are up to their old tricks, and that they get some help elsewhere.Related: Holtby's elimination-game numbers are stellar, but he and Ovechkin need helpHowever, if they're unable to come back to take the series, some major questions will have to be asked, and none of them are easy to answer.Can you tear down a dominant regular-season team?Answering questions about the Capitals' future is so hard because they've been so dominant in the regular season over the last two campaigns.The team has won back-to-back Presidents' Trophies, and has ranked atop the league in almost every statistical category during that span.CategoryStatLeague rankGF/G3.102GA/G2.241PP%22.5%1PK%84.5%3Shots/G30.5T-8SA/G28.14CF%51.426Some argue the Capitals need to tear it down or make some drastic changes to their core, but it's hard to wreck a club that has been so good in so many facets of the game.Suggesting that Barry Trotz's job could be in jeopardy also doesn't seem realistic, given he's led Washington to the best record in the league in his only two years with the club.Will they have the money to make moves in offseason?Of course, an early exit will mean an attempt to upgrade in the offseason.At first glance, it seems the club should have plenty of room to make a splash in free agency, as T.J. Oshie, Justin Williams, Kevin Shattenkirk, Daniel Winnik, and Karl Alzner will all be unrestricted free agents.In all, the team is expected to have $22.8 million in cap space, but the problem is they also have some restricted free agents who could be in line for raises.Evgeny Kuznetsov, Andre Burakovsky, and Dmitry Orlov highlight a list of six roster players who will be RFAs, and it can be argued that both Kuznetsov and Orlov deserve a pay bump.That means what seems like a surplus of riches might not be so, and the Capitals could be hard-pressed to entertain free agents July 1.Can a roster with this core succeed? It's the daunting question that general manager Brian MacLellan might have to ponder very hard.On paper, Ovechkin, Holtby, Nicklas Backstrom, and John Carlson appear to be as strong of a core as any around the league - with all being among the best at their respective positions.They've been together full time since the 2012-13 season - when Holtby took over between the pipes - but in that time the Capitals have never made it past the second round. In fact, they haven't made it that far since the 1997-98 season.It seems far-fetched that the team would ever deal one of the four, but after countless playoff failures, maybe it's worth considering.And that's the biggest issue of them all: the fact that - at least on paper - there are no glaring problems with this team; that questions such as this have to be asked. The Capitals have all the skill in the world, and during the regular season have proven to be the team to beat.They aren't done yet, but if they don't get two victories in their next two games - beginning Monday night - these questions will become very real.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL has a problem - a really big problem - that is beginning to overshadow this year's Stanley Cup playoffs.Goaltender interference.It has never been more apparent than in Games 4 and 5 of the Western Conference second-round series between Edmonton and Anaheim, where the Oilers were clearly on the wrong end of botched goaltender interference calls - and it cost them both games in the series.The rule leaves too much for interpretation. And in some situations, even though the rule is clear, it still isn't called properly.The blown calls even have Hall Of Fame goaltender Grant Fuhr crying foul:

It was raining hats in Edmonton on Sunday night at Rogers Place, courtesy of Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl, who netted three goals in the team's 7-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 3 of their second-round series.If you didn't happen to catch the game, the ice was covered with hats following the German's third goal of the game. Take a look:Thanks to the amount of lids that were tossed onto the ice, the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation will be donating them to various charities across the city.

The following five players are all key ingredients in the Washington Capitals' winning formula, but they haven't been up to the task through five games against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Capitals will need better showings from all of them in Games 6 and 7 if they want to complete the series comeback after trailing 3-1.T.J. OshieOshie has yet to score in this series. If the Caps are going to pull off a comeback, they need more from a player who tied for the team lead in goals with 33 during the regular season.What's most concerning about Oshie's play is that he has only taken seven shots through five games. That's simply not enough, especially considering he has averaged 20:37 minutes of ice time this series - the most among Capitals forwards.Braden Holtby(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Facing the high-flying Penguins is obviously a tough task, but, frankly, Holtby has been terrible, sporting an .876 save percentage in the series.He won the Vezina Trophy last season as the league's top goaltender, and was nominated again this year. They need him to start playing like the perennial Vezina candidate he is.The Caps have outplayed the Pens all series. The only thing holding them back is Holtby, who has been bested by Marc-Andre Fleury in the opposite crease. It's been the difference in the series thus far.Justin Williams(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Williams is 35 years old, so it's hard to ask him to produce offensively like he did in his prime.However, the Capitals signed him based on his postseason pedigree. He scored clutch goals throughout three Stanley Cup runs, and has seven game-winners in his playoff career.Washington needs a big marker from this grizzled veteran, who has put up a goose egg in the goal column so far this series, if they plan on advancing past the Penguins.Dmitry Orlov and Matt Niskanen(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Even as their team dresses seven defensemen, Orlov and Niskanen need to elevate their games. The pairing is relied upon to play substantial minutes, but hasn't been up to the challenge so far.They've been on the ice for a combined 34 scoring chances for and 43 scoring chances against so far in the postseason at five on five, according to Corsica Hockey.Furthermore, the pairing has totaled 23 giveaways but only 13 takeaways in the playoffs. With the excellent transition game the Penguins possess, these two need to start making smarter decisions with the puck.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The most valuable member of the Nashville Predators might be a man who hasn't taken to the ice this season - or any season, for that matter.General manager David Poile has been at the Predators' helm since the team's inception in 1998, and while the team has enjoyed marginal success in the past, it's certainly been no slouch either, with nine previous playoff appearances since the 2003-04 campaign.With Sunday's Game 6 win over the St. Louis Blues, the Predators punched their ticket to the Western Conference Final for the first time in their history. Below are the biggest moves Poile made to turn his team into the juggernaut it appears to be:Subban trade(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Some Montreal Canadiens fans vowed to never cheer for the team again after P.K. Subban was dealt. Whether they meant it or not, it's a pretty good indication that the Predators won that trade.Subban has come exactly as advertised - not by Michel Therrien, though. He's been a competitor who gives his all on both ends, and a lively personality, too. Despite what some on-air personalities might think, though, he's also been all business for the Predators.He posted 10 goals and 40 points during the regular season despite missing 16 games, and has added another seven points during the playoffs. He also helped limit Vladimir Tarasenko to just two goals and an assist in six games, which was certainly a big reason for the club's second-round victory.The deal the Capitals will always regretFilip Forsberg for Martin Erat and Michael Latta ... yeah.Poile gouged his former team back in 2013, acquiring the young Swedish prospect for an aging Erat and Latta.It took a couple seasons for Forsberg to become a full-time NHLer, but the 22-year-old, now in his third full season with the team, looks to be on his way to becoming a career Predator. He's also been a vital cog in the playoffs, with eight points in 10 games.Meanwhile, Erat is coming off his first season in the Czech Extraliga, and Latta spent the 2016-17 season in the American Hockey League.Impeccable draft recordWhile Poile has struck gold on a lot of his trades, what might be even more impressive is his knack for making the most of his draft selections. The Predators' current roster is proof of that:PlayerYear draftedRound drafted (selection)'16-17 Playoff points/SV%Roman Josi20082 (38)8Ryan Ellis20091 (11)9Colton Scissons20122 (50)6Viktor Arvidsson20144 (112)5Mattias Ekholm20094 (102)3Kevin Fiala20141 (11)2Austin Watson20101 (18)2Craig Smith20094 (98)1Colin Wilson20081 (7)2Miikka Salomaki20112 (52)0Pekka Rinne20048 (258).951That's 11 players on the team's current roster. Not a bad haul.Johansen for Jones(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Before Poile made one of the biggest one-for-one deals - sending Shea Weber to the Canadiens for Subban - he shocked the hockey world by dealing towering defenseman Seth Jones to the Columbus Blue Jackets for center Ryan Johansen last season.It was a deal that seemingly helped both clubs, and was a great example of asset management, as the Predators were already stocked with defensemen.The Predators, in turn, got the high-caliber center they had coveted, and they're grateful for that. Johansen's 95 points since joining the team last year are just one shy of Forsberg for the team lead over that time, while his nine points in 10 playoff games this year tie him with Ryan Ellis for the most among all Predators.The other clutch dealsBesides the blockbusters mentioned above, Poile has also used some smaller deals to help fill out his roster:

Here's what happened on Day 4 of the World Hockey Championship in Paris, France and Cologne, Germany.Canada 6 - Belarus 0

The Pittsburgh Penguins' thin defense corps will take another hit on Monday night.Trevor Daley - who left Saturday night's contest in the third period - will miss Game 6 against the Washington Capitals as he deals with a lower-body injury, head coach Mike Sullivan announced Monday.Daley has averaged 18:27 of ice time per game, chipping in with one assist in 10 games.Meanwhile, fellow defenseman Brian Dumoulin had a maintenance day Monday and will suit up for Game 6.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals are 60 minutes or more from having their Stanley Cup dreams shattered again. But being on the brink is a good thing for two of the club's best players.The Caps will play their second straight elimination game Monday night against Pittsburgh. The Penguins are up 3-2, and are looking to end Washington's season in six games in the second round for the second consecutive spring.Barry Trotz, though, can rest assured goalie Braden Holtby and captain Alex Ovechkin will show up. They have a history of doing so.False narrativesBy now, you know the "Ovechkin doesn't show up in big playoff games" narrative is garbage. In 19 career elimination games, Ovie has 10 goals and 10 assists. He'll leave his mark on Game 6.Meanwhile, a dive into Holtby's playoff career suggests he's going to be in top form, as well, despite a subpar postseason so far, by his standards. Among goalies who have played at least five playoff games in 2017, his .909 save percentage is tied for 12th in the league - a far cry from his career .932 save percentage in the postseason.Throughout his career, though, Holtby's risen to the challenge when his team faces elimination:YearGame #OpponentRoundSV%Result2017Game 5Penguins2nd.909W2016Game 6Penguins2nd.905L-OT2016Game 5Penguins2nd.968W2015Game 7Rangers2nd.949L-OT2015Game 7Islanders1st.909W2013Game 7Rangers1st.815L2012Game 7Rangers2nd.935L2012Game 6Rangers2nd.972W2012Game 7Bruins1st.969WHe has a .930 save percentage (252 saves on 271 shots) in nine career elimination playoff games, and is 5-4, with two overtime losses.It's clear that with their backs against the wall, Holtby and Ovechkin rise to the occasion. But they need help in order to ensure a Game 7.Supporting castOvechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Evgeny Kuznetsov are each averaging a point per game through five games against the Penguins. They're not the problem.T.J. Oshie, Justin Williams, and Marcus Johansson each have three assists in the second round, but none of the three have beaten Marc-Andre Fleury. That has to change starting Monday night.Losing three of the first four to the defending champs has left the Capitals with an almost-impossible challenge. One down, two to go. While it's certainly possible Holtby and Ovechkin can force a Game 7 on their own, the Capitals' depth must make its mark at some point this week, or it'll be deja vu.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the offseason underway for a number of teams, and 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: FIn an era when NHL teams earn points for losing, the 2016-17 Colorado Avalanche proved to be the most inept.Since the adoption of the shootout coming out of the 2004-05 lockout, no team has finished with fewer than the 48 points amassed over 82 games by the Avalanche this season. If we include the lockout-shortened 2013 campaign, Colorado's .296 point percentage also ranks dead last.The next worst seasons were recorded by the Buffalo Sabres in 2013-14 and 2014-15, and it's no secret those rosters were not built to succeed, with a view to securing the best available talent through the draft.To make matters worse, Colorado fell hard in the draft lottery, entering the proceedings with the best chance at securing the first overall pick and coming away with the fourth selection.It doesn't get much worse than that.Free AgentsGeneral manager Joe Sakic's offseason to-do list features decisions to be made on a number of players who will need new contracts come July 1:Player (Position)2017-18 StatusAge2016-17 Cap Hit'16-17 PointsJohn Mitchell (F)UFA32$1.8M7Mikhail Grigorenko (F)RFA22$1.3M23Matt Nieto (F)RFA24$73500013Rene Bourque (F)UFA35$65000018Sven Andrighetto (F)RFA24$65000024Fedor Tyutin (D)UFA33$2M13Nikita Zadorov (D)RFA22$89416710Patrick Wiercioch (D)RFA26$80000012Cody Goloubef (D)UFA27$7500005Player (Position)2017-18 StatusAge2016-17 Cap Hit'16-17 Save %Jeremy Smith (G)UFA28$675000.8882017 Draft PicksPrior to that date, the Avalanche have eight picks in the NHL Draft.RoundPicks11213042 (Own + Rangers)516171Summer Priorities1. Get Sakic some help: At present, Sakic serves as the Avalanche's head of hockey operations, overseeing the big picture while also running things from the ground as GM. Team president Josh Kroenke sits above him, but the owner's son doesn't really bring much tangible puck knowledge to the table.At this juncture in the team's history, Sakic desperately needs help, and Colorado would do well by bringing in an experienced executive to run the show as head of hockey operations while Sakic focuses on the GM role, or by hiring a GM to direct the ship and make some more informed moves to help improve the team, with Sakic's approval.2. Determine which core players to build around: Amid the struggles of this past season, the likes of Gabriel Landeskog and Matt Duchene were oft mentioned in trade rumors.Sakic held his ground, but it's not known whether that was due to an affinity for the players or a lack of suitable offers. Sakic did say he wants the team to get younger and faster, with Mikko Rantanen and Tyson Jost set to play increasingly prominent roles.A significant shakeup isn't out of the question here.3. Make the most of the fourth overall pick: As mentioned above, a historically bad season produced a lower than expected first-round pick for the Avalanche, and while this year's crop won't reap a Connor McDavid or an Auston Matthews, an infusion of the best available talent would have been nice.Sakic and Co. will now have to work a bit harder to figure out who to select with the pick, or weigh the merits of either trading up or packaging the selection in an even bigger trade.2017-18 OutlookExpecting the Avalanche to make the jump from 30th to the playoffs in the vein of the 2016-17 Toronto Maple Leafs is a bit much, but a renewed emphasis on skill and speed, a bounce-back season for Semyon Varlamov - who spent much of the year on the shelf due to injury - and upgrades on the blue line should render Colorado at least somewhat competitive.Still, pending offseason moves, the Avalanche will likely tumble back to the bottom of the Central Division next season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Randy Carlyle isn't concerned with the Anaheim Ducks' recent history of ineptitude in Game 7s."It's not the same group, and I wasn't here, so don't pin any of the Game 7s on me," the Ducks head coach told reporters after the Edmonton Oilers forced the do-or-die game Sunday night. "Simple as that."Anaheim has lost four consecutive Game 7s on home ice, but Carlyle insists that's in the past."This is a different group and we're going to approach (this one) as we do every game," he said following a 7-1 loss to Edmonton in Game 6. "We're not afraid to go into our building and play a solid hockey game, and that's what's going to be required."Bruce Boudreau, who guided Anaheim for parts of the last five seasons, was fired after the Ducks fell in Game 7 to the Nashville Predators last spring.Carlyle said Sunday the franchise's difficulty in seventh games didn't have any impact on the blowout loss in Game 6."Not for me," he said. "I wasn't there for the situations that they lived through, and it's my job - and our job as the coaching staff - to prepare this group to play the best game of the year come Wednesday night in Anaheim."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

No magical comeback in the cards this time 'round for the Anaheim Ducks, as the Pacific Division champs were dusted 7-1 Sunday at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers, and according to winger Andrew Cogliano, Anahiem got exactly what it deserved."There’s a lot of mistakes that we made tonight, uncharacteristic mistakes, and we deserve to lose that way," Cogliano lamented postgame.With an opportunity to book their ticket to the Western Conference final for the third time in 12 years, the Ducks laid a massive egg, managing only one goal while allowing a crooked number against.Cogliano recognizes the missed opportunity, but was also quick to give the Oilers the respect they've earned."You don't see other teams giving up breakaways in the first 10 minutes of a hockey game to move onto the conference finals," said Cogliano. "I think that was the difference tonight, they wanted it."They outplayed us, they outclassed us, and they out-battled us, really."Anaheim will have two-plus days to lick its wounds and prepare for a do-or-die Game 7 Wednesday night at Honda Center.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Gibson knows he didn't play well enough in the Edmonton Oilers' shellacking of the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night."I wasn't very good. I (have) to come up with a couple saves," the Ducks goaltender said postgame, according to Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register. "Maybe it's different (if I do), maybe it's not."Gibson was pulled less than nine minutes into the 7-1 loss after allowing three goals on six shots. He took responsibility for his lackluster play afterward."Stuff happens sometimes," he said. "It's my job and obviously I wasn't good enough tonight as I want to be. I just kind of let them down."Jonathan Bernier relieved Gibson for only his second postseason appearance this spring, making 25 saves on 29 shots after taking over following Zack Kassian's goal that gave the Oilers a 3-0 lead.Edmonton forced Game 7 with the victory, and the winner-take-all contest will go Wednesday night in Anaheim.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers' ailing blue line will likely get a boost for the final game of their second-round series against the Anaheim Ducks.Oilers head coach Todd Mclellan said postgame Sunday that Oscar Klefbom is expected to be ready for Game 7 on Wednesday night in Anaheim.Klefbom missed Game 6 with an undisclosed injury after briefly joining his teammates for the pregame warmup.Earlier Sunday, Oilers defenseman Andrej Sekera was ruled out for Games 6 and 7 with an injury of his own.Klefbom ranks second on Edmonton in average ice time in the playoffs, logging just under 23 minutes per contest.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Have yourself a night, Leon.Edmonton Oilers pivot Leon Draisaitl had a game to remember Sunday, as the 21-year-old scored a hat trick while also chipping in two assists in the Oilers' 7-1 dismantling of the Anaheim Ducks.The five-point night bumps Draisaitl's playoff total up to an impressive 16 points (six goals, 10 assists), good for second-best in the NHL, trailing only Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins who has 17.

Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers are laying it on the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6.He opened the scoring Sunday, tallied another one less five minutes later, and capped off his hat trick by banging home a one-timer on the man advantage late in the second period to restore the Oilers' six-goal lead.Draisaitl notched his first playoff hat trick in his 12th career postseason game, and became the first Edmonton player to score three goals in a contest since Doug Weight and Bill Guerin did so in back-to-back playoff contests in 2000.He's also the second-youngest Oiler ever to post a postseason hat trick, behind some guy named Wayne Gretzky, according to Sportsnet.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Gibson's night didn't last long Sunday.The Anaheim Ducks goaltender was yanked less than nine minutes into Game 6 against the Edmonton Oilers after surrendering three goals on six shots.Jonathan Bernier replaced Gibson in the Ducks' crease, getting his first playoff action since Game 3 of Anaheim's first-round series against the Calgary Flames.Leon Draisaitl scored on a breakaway less than three minutes into Sunday's game, and then tucked a backhand past Gibson about four and a half minutes later.Zack Kassian subsequently beat the netminder five-hole at the 8:25 mark of the opening frame, ending Gibson's evening.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sometimes, Twitter can be everything it was always meant to be. Particularly when P.K. Subban succeeds.With Montreal Canadiens supporters unable to accept that a team, any team, their team actually traded Subban, Twitter lights up every time Subban reminds the hockey world that he's not only one of the game's best players, but arguably the sport's best ambassador.In his first season with Nashville after being acquired for Shea Weber, the Predators are off to their first Western Conference final, and that fact brought out some fantastic 140-character bursts Sunday evening.It's nothing personal against Weber. It's just that you don't trade P.K. Subban. Ever.

The Edmonton Oilers are playing Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks without yet another defenseman.Oscar Klefbom is not in the lineup Sunday, compounding matters for the Oilers, who are already without Andrej Sekera for the rest of their second-round series.Klefbom took part in the pregame warmups, but left after about five minutes, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.Eric Gryba and Griffin Reinhart drew in for their injured teammates.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues were bounced from the Stanley Cup playoffs in Game 6 on Sunday, losing the contest 3-1 and the series 4-2 to the Nashville Predators.Sure, the Predators deserve their cred for an excellent series in which they held the Blues to only five goals over the final four games, but the Blues struggled to execute on offense, especially on the man advantage.St. Louis managed only one goal on 16 power-play chances versus Nashville, and despite throwing out guys like Vladimir Tarasenko, Jaden Schwartz, and Alex Steen on every power play, the Blues were unable to beat Pekka Rinne more than once while up a man.Futility on the power play was a theme plaguing the Blues in their previous series against the Minnesota Wild as well, where the club managed only one goal on 15 opportunities.The Blues' struggles were amplified by the fact that Nashville's blue line played at an insane level.Ryan Ellis continues to impress, while Matthias Ekholm and P.K. Subban have been rock solid. And let's not forget about Roman Josi - the 26-year-old has arguably been the Predators' best D-man while also registering six points thus far.

Safe to say P.K. Subban enjoyed the Nashville Predators' series-clinching victory.The affable defenseman played the part of reporter Sunday, popping into teammate Roman Josi's media scrum after the Predators knocked out the St. Louis Blues in Game 6 to move on to their first Western Conference final.

Never question Alex Steen's commitment to the cause.After the St. Louis Blues were eliminated by the Nashville Predators on Sunday, the series over in six games, Steen revealed that he was playing on a broken foot suffered in Game 1 of the first round against the Minnesota Wild, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Jeremy Rutherford.Steen missed Game 5 of the Predators series when his foot "suffered further complicated damage" after he blocked a shot in Game 4. Sounds painful. And yet, he played 17:12 in Game 6, including 2:35 shorthanded.The 33-year-old's postseason ends after 10 games, in which he scored three goals and added four assists.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Ryan Johansen scored the game-winning goal 3:15 into the third period, and the Nashville Predators advanced to their first Western Conference final in franchise history Sunday by beating the St. Louis Blues 3-1 to take the series in six games.The Predators won their ninth straight playoff game in Nashville going back to last postseason.Goalie Pekka Rinne made 23 saves and had an assist. Roman Josi had a goal and an assist, and Calle Jarnkrok added an empty-netter with 60 seconds left.Nashville will play either Anaheim or Edmonton.Paul Stastny scored for St. Louis, which fell short of a second straight conference final.The Predators and Blues were tied through the first 40 minutes for a third straight game and fourth overall in this series when Johansen skated up the slot for a pass from Viktor Arvidsson and beat Jake Allen with a backhand.Allen kept the Blues close as he had all series, stopping Filip Forsberg on a breakaway with 13:31 left. But Jarnkrok scored with a minute to go to clinch it, amping up Nashville's celebration.The Predators got forward Craig Smith back for the first time in this series after he was hurt in Game 3 against Chicago in the first round. And the Blues got back left wing Alexander Steen, who missed Friday night's 2-1 win with an injury.Nashville had Grammy winners Lady Antebellum sing the national anthem, and forward Kevin Fiala, who broke his left leg in Game 1, wave the towel to rev up the fans who were ready for the puck to drop.The Predators weren't.St. Louis took the first seven shots and went up 1-0 on Stastny's goal, a wrister just 2:04 into the game off assists from Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz.Tarasenko's shot from the right circle hit off Rinne, then Stastny who knocked the puck in for the goal. The Blues even took the first two penalties of the game, and Nashville couldn't take advantage of the man advantage with sloppy puck-handling and too many turnovers.It was the first even-strength goal the Predators had allowed in the first period this postseason.The Predators needed only 35 seconds into the second to tie it up. Mattias Ekholm found Josi all alone in the right circle for a quick shot past Allen's glove. That gave Nashville defensemen nine goals this postseason, a franchise record.Johansen, Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg came into this game having combined for only three points in this series after getting 15 in sweeping Chicago.Johansen had an assist on Josi's goal, then scored his first goal of the series and second this postseason with Arvidsson getting his first point against St. Louis on the primary assist.Notes: The Predators' only playoff series clinched outside of Nashville came in Game 7 in Anaheim to clinch their first-round series last year. ... This was just the third game this postseason Nashville did not score the first goal, and it was the Blues scoring first for a third straight game. ... Rinne has three assists this postseason.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Even after playing hero, Kyle Turris had time for the community.The Ottawa Senators center joined the Capital City Condors - a local hockey organization for kids with developmental disabilities - for dinner Saturday after he scored the overtime winner in Game 5 against the New York Rangers.He has served as the honorary captain of the Condors since taking over for Matt Carkner, who selected him as his successor after departing the Senators for the New York Islanders in 2012.Turris also hosts a golf tournament with the Condors, and the sixth annual Kyle Turris and Capital City Condors Golf Classic will take place next month.- With h/t to Taylor LoucksCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A familiar face emerged from the depths of Bridgestone Arena to pump up Nashville Predators fans in advance of Game 6 against the St. Louis Blues.That would be forward Kevin Fiala, who recently underwent surgery to repair a fractured femur, a season-ending injury suffered earlier in the playoffs.

The questions began right after an unlikely Game 5 win.The Anaheim Ducks erased a 3-0 deficit late in the third period and went on to beat the Edmonton Oilers in overtime, setting up an opportunity to erase a dubious recent trend.

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Andrej Sekera will be out for the remainder of the team's second-round series against the Anaheim Ducks, head coach Todd McLellan announced on Sunday.Sekera was forced to leave Game 5 after taking a hit from Ryan Getzlaf after playing just 1:54.The 30-year-old's omission was felt during the team's heart-breaking double-overtime loss in Game 5 as his injury forced Adam Larsson to play a league-high 44:58, while the remaining five defenders also played over 27:30.Sekera has blocked the third most shots per game among all Oilers players and has averaged 21:10 of ice time in the postseason, the fifth highest mark on the team.Game 6 goes Sunday night, with the Oilers needing a win to avoid elimination.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Erik Karlsson continues to set himself apart as one of the greatest players in Ottawa Senators history.Karlsson, who leads the team with 11 points in 10 postseason games to date, has already set club records for assists (10) and points in a playoff year by a defenseman.Three of those assists were earned in Saturday's Game 5 overtime win over the New York Rangers.Granted, it's not a high bar to clear, but impressive nonetheless, especially seeing as he played the first round with a pair of hairline fractures in his foot and that he made an early exit from Game 4 against the Rangers.Here's how Karlsson stacks up to Ottawa defensemen of playoff years past.PlayerYearGamesGoalsAssistsPointsErik Karlsson20171111011Wade Redden2007203710Wade Redden200692810Joe Corvo200720279Wade Redden200318189Karlsson could have as many as two more games against the Rangers to add to those totals, and possibly also another round, provided the Senators can make good on a 3-2 series lead.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After a first round that was highlighted by some incredible goaltending performances - including some of the record-breaking variety - things appear to have settled in Round 2.All eight of the remaining teams are now five games deep in the second round and with a few more games under their belt it appears skaters are beginning to find the holes in the opposing netminders, as goalies are not stopping pucks at nearly the same rate as they were in their opening series.Goalie 1st Round SV%1st Round G.A.A.2nd Round SV%2nd Round G.A.A.Pekka Rinne.976.070.9282.03Jake Allen.9561.47.9122.47Henrik Lundqvist.9471.70.9092.75Marc-Andre Fleury.9332.52.9252.61Cam Talbot.9272.03.9133.30John Gibson.9262.59.9012.78Braden Holtby.9252.36.8762.78Craig Anderson.9211.94.8983.30There isn't a single goalie among the eight remaining clubs who is posting better numbers than they did in Round 1. In fact, some are playing leaps and bounds worse than in the conference quarterfinals, including Pekka Rinne, Jake Allen, Henrik Lundqvist, and Craig Anderson who are all giving up more than one goal per game more than they did in Round 1.Of course, the most likely reason is that teams are now playing tougher competition in the second round, but even still these numbers are puzzling.During the regular season, the average save percentage was .913, while the averaging goals-against average was 2.59. As we can see above, six goalies are stopping pucks at or below average rate and six are also allowing more goals against in Round 2.It's an interesting trend, but who doesn't love more goals?(Stats courtesy: Hockey-Reference.com)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Slovenian forward Ziga Jeglic missed Sunday's game against Canada after being suspended two World Championship games for this dangerous kicking violation involving Switzerland's Thomas Rufenacht on Saturday.

Taking care of business and working overtime.It's a refrain that has to be running through the minds of those participating in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, where 23 games have been decided past regulation.Here's a look at five of the best goals scored in extra frames.Kevin Fiala: Game 3 vs. Blackhawks (Round 1)Prior to suffering a season-ending leg injury, Kevin Fiala of the Nashville Predators played the role of overtime hero in Game 3 against the Chicago Blackhawks with one of the nicest goals we've seen at any point during the postseason.Tyler Bozak: Game 3 vs. Capitals (Round 1)A first-round series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals featured no fewer than five games settled in overtime, with Tyler Bozak's nifty deflection from the slot in Game 3 serving as a finisher to remember.David Desharnais: Game 5 vs. Sharks (Round 1)David Desharnais ended Game 5 between the Edmonton Oilers and the San Jose Sharks with a wicked one-timer, but the pass from Leon Draisaitl to set it up was equally as deadly.Corey Perry: Game 5 vs. Oilers (Round 2)Corey Perry capped an epic comeback for the Anaheim Ducks in Game 5 against the Oilers with a patient strike on Cam Talbot.Kyle Turris: Game 5 vs. Rangers (Round 2)Kyle Turris impressed in Game 5 against the New York Rangers by staying onside, tracking the puck following an initial shot that was blocked, kicking it up to his stick, and beating one of the best goalies in the world, Henrik Lundqvist.All this and we're still only in the second round.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here's what happened on Day 3 of the World Hockey Championship in Paris, France and Cologne, Germany.United States 7 - Denmark 2

Sidney Crosby made a successful return to the Pittsburgh Penguins' lineup Saturday after missing Game 4 with a concussion.While No. 87's crew wasn't able to clinch a spot in the Eastern Conference Final, with the Washington Capitals forcing a Game 6 back in Pittsburgh, Crosby looked like his dominant self, leading all Penguins forwards with 19:10 in ice time. He also led his team with a 59.38 Corsi For rating, according to Corsica Hockey, and won 15 of the 22 faceoffs he took.Crosby assisted on Phil Kessel's second-period goal, tying him with legend and Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux for most playoff assists by a Penguins player (96). Lemieux did it in 107 postseason games, while Crosby played in his 133rd Saturday night.Player Playoff GP G A P PPGCrosby13353961491.120Lemieux10776961721.607Yeah, that Lemieux guy was good.The Penguins' postseason assists record will soon be Crosby's alone, and he's also hoping to break another tie with Lemieux in the coming weeks. Both players have two Stanley Cup rings.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Ovechkin hadn't scored in three games. What a travesty.The Washington Capitals captain and generational sniper extraordinaire was bumped to the third line ahead of Saturday's Game 5, and one would think the sky was falling in D.C. based on the ensuing fallout.Head coach Barry Trotz made the decision to balance Washington's attack, and Ovechkin himself took the blame for a poor performance in Game 4 that dealt his club a 3-1 deficit.In need of a win to avoid another wasted season, Ovechkin delivered an absolutely massive goal in the third period, and while many don't want to believe it for some reason, Ovi's performance in the do-or-die game is further proof he can, in fact, get it done in the playoffs.

No pressure, Alex Ovechkin.The Washington Capitals captain put Game 5 out of reach Saturday night, as the crew in D.C. kept its season alive against the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 4-2 win. Just as teammate Evgeny Kuznetsov predicted.

WASHINGTON - Evgeny Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin scored 27 seconds apart in the third period as the Washington Capitals avoided elimination by beating the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2 in Game 5 on Saturday night.Nicklas Backstrom tied the score early in the third as the Capitals finally solved Pittsburgh goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who allowed four goals on 32 shots. Washington's comeback spoiled the return of Penguins captain Sidney Crosby after a one-game absence due to a concussion.Crosby had an assist and Carl Hagelin and Phil Kessel also scored for the Penguins, who lead the second-round series 3-2 with Game 6 back in Pittsburgh on Monday night.While Fleury struggled for the first time against the Capitals, Vezina Trophy finalist Braden Holtby had his best game of the series, stopping 20 shots. Andre Burakovsky also scored for Washington.Even though players were loose at the morning skate facing elimination, the nerves were palpable inside the arena even before puck drop. When an early Capitals power play went nowhere and Hagelin made it 1-0 Pittsburgh 10:24 in, it got quiet fast - except for Penguins fans' derisive chants of ''HOLT-BY, HOLT-BY.''Burakovsky pumped some energy back in with a psychologically important goal with 29.7 seconds remaining in the first period, his first of the playoffs. He earned a promotion to the top line because of his strong play in the series but scored back with the third line on a toe drag that bought him space and a shot that froze Fleury.Hours after defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk bemoaned that ill-timed penalties were hurting the Capitals, a holding call on Nate Schmidt paved the way for another momentum shift as Kessel scored on the power play 4:20 into the second. The Penguins went into the second intermission with a lead having won 37 of 39 games in that spot during the regular season and all six in the playoffs.It took an individual effort from Backstrom to begin Washington's stunning turnaround. The Capitals' top-line center carried the puck up the ice, executed a give-and-go with Burakovsky and beat Fleury for the tying goal at 2:49 of the third.With the crowd buzzing again, Kuznetsov sparked more chants of ''FLEU-RY, FLEU-RY,'' by scoring the go-ahead goal from a sharp angle 7:20 into the third. It was his fifth goal of the playoffs and fourth in the series.Ovechkin wasted no time making it 4-2 and making coach Barry Trotz look like a genius for dropping him to the third line as he wired a shot past Fleury at 7:47. Trotz talked about spreading offense throughout the lineup, and his flipping Burakovsky and Ovechkin allowed for Washington's first goal from its bottom two lines in five games.NOTES: In addition to Crosby, Penguins RW Conor Sheary returned after being concussed Monday in a collision with teammate Patric Hornqvist. ... Capitals D Brooks Orpik appeared to shake his left hand after being slashed by Evgeni Malkin in the first period. ... The Capitals again dressed seven defensemen. ... Super Bowl winning Redskins quarterback Mark Rypien received a nice ovation from the sellout crowd when he was shown on the video boards.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Although they faced a 3-1 series deficit, no one in their right mind could say the Washington Capitals were playing bad hockey.The Presidents' Trophy winners were at the mercy - once again - of their nemesis, the Pittsburgh Penguins, despite controlling the majority of play through four games.Entering Game 5, the Capitals had out-attempted the Penguins 306-180, and they continued the trend Saturday night with one major difference: they scored.The final count in Game 5 favored Washington 66-52 in all situations, and while their chances of staving off elimination looked grim after 40 minutes, the relentless Capitals attack paid off, at last.Facing a 2-1 disadvantage, Nicklas Backstrom knotted things early in the third, then goals 27 seconds apart, from Evgeny Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin, gave the Caps four tallies in a game for the first time in the series.

Kyle Turris scores big-boy goals. Ones that matter. He's been doing it all year for the Ottawa Senators.His tally Saturday, though, was the most significant of his season - and arguably of his career.The 27-year-old won Game 5 against the New York Rangers in overtime, going five-hole on Henrik Lundqvist and putting the Senators a win away from the Eastern Conference finals.Mr. GWGTurris finished second on the Sens with six game-winning goals during the regular season - only Mike Hoffman had more, with eight.Saturday's goal was the seventh GWG for Turris, with five of them scored in the third period or later, including three in overtime, and six in one-goal games. No cheapies here:Date Period GWG scored in Final ScoreMay 6OT5-4March 313rd3-2Feb. 262nd2-1Jan. 191st2-0Nov. 263rd2-1Nov. 1OT2-1Oct. 12OT5-4Rising to the occasionTurris played 24:58 on Saturday, most among Sens forwards. He finished with three shots on goal, a team-high nine hits, and won 15 of the 23 faceoffs he took. He was a force, precisely when Ottawa needed him to be."It's Kentucky Derby day and he was our horse tonight," Senators head coach Guy Boucher said after his team's pivotal win, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen.Ottawa is Erik Karlsson's team, of that there's no doubt. But Turris' 27 goals in the regular season led all Sens, and he finished third on the club in scoring with 55 points.Turris scored an OT winner on opening night, and is still doing the damn thing seven months later. The Senators aren't on the cusp of the final four without him.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators biggest game of the season fell on the same day as the biggest day of the year in horse racing, but you don't have to tell that to head coach Guy Boucher.After Kyle Turris delivered the overtime winner and provided the Sens a 3-2 series lead over the New York Rangers, Boucher gave an appropriate response when asked about Game 5's hero:

Sidney Crosby will return to the Pittsburgh Penguins' lineup as they look to close out the Washington Capitals on Saturday night.Crosby was held out of Game 4 after suffering a concussion from a cross-check to the face courtesy of Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen on Monday.His return is massive for Pittsburgh, as he's recorded 11 points in eight playoff contests.Winger Conor Sheary, who was also diagnosed with a concussion, will be back in the lineup as well.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators center Kyle Turris beat New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist at the 6:28 mark of the first overtime period in Game 5 Saturday to give Ottawa a 5-4 win.Turris' third of the playoffs gives Ottawa a 3-2 series lead and sends the Rangers to the brink of elimination.Game 6 goes Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Deja vu.Down a goal in the dying minutes of Game 5, the Ottawa Senators once again overcame adversity when Derick Brassard batted home a loose puck out of mid-air - and off several New York Rangers - to force overtime.Ottawa forced overtime late in Game 2 as well, and completed the comeback on the strength of Jean-Gabriel Pageau's winner.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Acquiring goaltender Scott Darling from the Chicago Blackhawks might not be the last offseason move the Carolina Hurricanes make.After signing the netminder to a four-year, $16.6-million extension Friday, general manager Ron Francis said the club is open for business, according to NHL.com's Brian Hedger, adding that he's been in constant dialogue with other teams.Related - Darling: Signing extension with Hurricanes was 'no-brainer'The team's top priority over the next little while is likely the goaltending position, since with Darling in the fold, it's not clear what Carolina will do with Cam Ward and Eddie Lack.Francis noted that the upcoming expansion draft might help him out in that regard.

Once Scott Darling was dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes last week, he knew he'd be signing a contract extension with the club.The former Chicago Blackhawks backup goalie - who could have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 - inked a four-year, $16.6-million deal with the Hurricanes on Friday, which the 28-year-old said was an easy decision."Once we worked out the contract part, it was a no-brainer," Darling said, according to NHL.com's Brian Hedger.Related: 3 teams that should attempt to acquire Ward with Darling now signedThe Hurricanes are just Darling's second NHL team after the goaltender debuted with Chicago in the 2014-15 campaign."I'm so proud to have played for the Blackhawks," Darling said. "I've loved the team since I was a little kid."

After getting dominated by the New York Rangers in Games 3 and 4, the Ottawa Senators will turn to veteran enforcer Chris Neil to provide a spark.The longtime Senator has been inserted into the lineup for Game 5 in place of Ryan Dzingel, according to TSN's Brent Wallace.Neil has 1,026 regular-season games and 93 postseason contests under his belt with Ottawa, but has played just once since the trade deadline. He had 63 penalty minutes and 108 hits in 53 games this season, and will likely look to set the tone with his physicality in Game 5.His 94th playoff game for the Senators ties him with Wade Redden for third-most postseason appearances in the franchise's history, behind Daniel Alfredsson and Chris Phillips.At age 37, it's possible that this could be Neil's final NHL game, so expect him to leave everything he has on the Canadian Tire Centre ice.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.