The New York Rangers can expect another heavy dose of Erik Karlsson in Game 5 on Saturday afternoon.While the Ottawa Senators captain was forced to leave Game 4 after a series of collisions with Chris Kreider and J.T. Miller, he will suit up for Game 5 back in Ottawa, and head coach Guy Boucher doesn't expect to play him any less than usual."He's ready to go. We should be able to give him the minutes he usually gets," Boucher said, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen.What Karlsson usually gets is a lot.The 26-year-old is averaging 28:44 of ice time per playoff game, the third-most of any player this postseason and the most of any player to reach the second round.The Senators will look to their captain to help lead them to victory after losing their 2-0 series advantage with two straight defeats at Madison Square Garden.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sidney Crosby will be a game-time decision for Saturday's Game 5 against the Washington Capitals after sitting out Game 4 due to a concussion, Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said.Crosby was diagnosed with a concussion after Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen cross-checked him in the face in Game 3. Crosby, of course, has a history of concussions, but he passed his baseline test Friday, according to Nick Cotsonika of NHL.com.Pens winger Conor Sheary also hasn't played since Game 3 with a concussion. Like Crosby, he's a game-time decision Saturday, Cotsonika added.Pittsburgh getting two of its best offensive players back would go a long way toward helping secure a Game 5 victory and clinching the series.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers would certainly agree that enough is enough with these potential goaltender interference calls.The Oilers have come up on the wrong side of two such calls - both deemed good goals by the league - against the Anaheim Ducks in Games 4 and 5, pushing them to the brink of elimination in Round 2.Related - Poll: Was Talbot interfered with on Rakell's game-tying goal?Milan Lucic and head coach Todd McLellan sounded off following Friday's double-overtime defeat, suggesting neither is sure what constitutes goaltender interference anymore.Of course, those two instances are not the only such calls that have received criticism. Your favorite team was likely wronged at one point or another during the regular season.So, what can be done?Some have called for the league to do a better job of defining what exactly counts as goaltender interference. That could work, but could still open the door for the same problems. A better suggestion would be implementing rules already used by the IIHF.Under IIHF rule 595, play is blown dead if an opposing player stands in the goaltender's crease, regardless of where the puck is on the ice:

The St. Louis Blues staved off elimination with a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night. They now trail in the series 3-2. If they're going to come back and advance to the Western Conference Final, the following three factors are going to need to come to fruition:Play tight to the pointsThe Predators generate so much offense from their blue line. Here is a look at their scoring leaders so far in this series through five games:PlayerPositionGAPSOGRyan EllisD32511P.K. SubbanD1457James NealRW30317Roman JosiD12313Colton SissonsC0331As you can see, Ellis, Subban, and Josi have shouldered the load offensively. The Blues need to do a better job at taking away time and space from these three defensemen when Nashville is in the offensive zone.The Predators' top line of Ryan Johansen, Filip Forsberg, and Viktor Arvidsson is dangerous, but they lack scoring depth on their bottom three lines. If the Blues' wingers play tight to the points and force Ellis, Subban, and Josi to simply throw pucks deep rather than firing off point shots, St. Louis' sturdy D-core should manhandle Nashville's forwards down low.Many NHL coaches, including Blues bench boss Mike Yeo, have their forwards collapse in the defensive zone in order to block shots, but the Preds have done a tremendous job getting pucks through traffic so far in the playoffs. This strategy clearly isn't working against Nashville's mobile defense unit.Jake Allen has to stand on his headIn St. Louis' six wins so far in the postseason, Allen has allowed a total of nine goals. If the Blues are going to complete the comeback, their netminder has to be their best player.The Blues don't have enough offensive firepower to win games 5-4. With the way Pekka Rinne has played in the opposite crease, St. Louis realistically has to win the next two games by scores of 1-0, 2-1, or 3-2 if it plans on advancing. This is going to require Allen to be at his best.Vladimir Tarasenko has to step upTarasenko had two goals in St. Louis' Game 2 victory, but has been held off the score sheet in every other game this series. If the Blues are to mount a comeback, they're going to need more from their leading scorer.In his two-goal performance, Tarasenko fired six shots on goal. He has averaged only three shots on goal in the series' other four games. He needs to frequently utilize his heavy shot if he hopes to beat Rinne.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks are now in the driver's seat after a pivotal Game 5 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers, but if their recent history has proven anything, it's that this series is far from over.Friday's win marked the sixth time in the last five seasons that Anaheim has earned a Game 5 victory to take a 3-2 series lead, but in four of the last five instances, the Ducks have gone on to lose both Games 6 and 7, NHL Network's Steve Mears pointed out.It's a rather bizarre trend - here's how those four series losses have gone down.In 2013, after splitting the first four games of their opening-round matchup with the Detroit Red Wings, the Ducks won Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead. However, the Red Wings took Game 6 in overtime and edged the Ducks in Game 7 by a 3-2 score.The following year was wild, to say the least. In their second-round meeting with the Los Angeles Kings, the Ducks rallied after the Kings took Games 1 and 2, winning three straight for a 3-2 series lead. That did little to scare the Kings, though, as they took Game 6 and then blew out the Ducks 6-2 in Game 7 to advance.In 2015, the Ducks had the upper hand on the eventual Cup-winning Chicago Blackhawks after Game 5. Then the Blackhawks - spearheaded by Patrick Kane, who had five points in Games 6 and 7 - awoke, cruising to 5-2 and 5-3 wins.Finally, last season, after falling behind 2-0 in their Round 1 matchup against the Nashville Predators, the Ducks rallied, winning the next three contests. But the Predators shut down the Ducks' offense in the final two games, allowing just two combined goals to dismiss Anaheim in seven.Recent history certainly hasn't been kind to the Ducks while leading a series 3-2, so if they're keen on advancing to the conference final, it's something they'll need to overcome against a young Oilers club.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rickard Rakell's controversial game-tying goal in the waning seconds of Game 5 between the Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks left many on the Edmonton side confused and frustrated by trying to understand the definition of goaltender interference."If someone knows what goalie interference is anymore, please call me and tell me," Oilers forward Milan Lucic told TSN's Frank Seravalli after Friday's game.Related: Poll: Was Talbot interfered with on Rakell's tying goal?Oilers head coach Todd McLellan was at a similar loss."We're disappointed, but we can't be mad at anybody. ... Interference? You're asking the wrong guy, I don't know what that is anymore," he told John Hoven of MayorsManor.com.On the Rakell goal, netminder Cam Talbot had to deal with a sprawling Corey Perry on top of him and Ryan Kesler appeared to grab Talbot's pad with his hand. The goal was allowed because Kesler was shoved into the crease by Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse.It stood as Anaheim's third tally in the final three minutes of the game. Perry went on to complete the comeback and give the Ducks the win in double overtime.The Oilers get a chance to even the series at three games apiece Sunday on home ice.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Though it was overshadowed by the Anaheim Ducks' miraculous comeback, Cam Talbot turned in a record-setting performance Friday night.The Edmonton Oilers netminder stopped 60 shots in the team's 4-3 double-overtime loss in Game 5, setting a new Oilers record for saves in a playoff game.Dwayne Roloson held the record previously after he made 54 stops against the Detroit Red Wings in 2006.With his 60-save effort and 64 shots against Friday night, Talbot has now faced a playoff-high 372 shots in 11 games, while making a playoff-best 342 saves.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers are mad.After blowing a 3-0 lead in Game 5 and eventually losing 4-3 in double overtime, the club is left searching for answers. Particularly to one question: Why wasn't Rickard Rakell's game-tying goal disallowed?The Anaheim Ducks forward scored with only 15 seconds left to force extras, and while the tally was automatically reviewed for goaltender interference, it stood. The rest is history. But the Oilers want an explanation, especially about Ryan Kesler's left hand:

The Edmonton Oilers are officially facing elimination, and were sent to the brink in the most heartbreaking way imaginable.Corey Perry scored the game-winning goal in double overtime as the Anaheim Ducks won Game 5 by a 4-3 score. Anaheim now leads the series 3-2.Perry and his teammates erased a 3-0 lead late in the third period, scoring three goals in 3:01, all with goaltender John Gibson on the bench. Rickard Rakell's game-tying marker was scored with only 15 seconds left on the clock.Related - Poll: Was Talbot interfered with on Rakell's game-tying goal?The Ducks outshot the Oilers 20-9 in overtime, and 64-38 overall. Edmonton goalie Cam Talbot played one of the best games of his life, but it wasn't enough.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Is there anything Connor McDavid can't do?The Edmonton Oilers star swatted the puck out of mid-air to give his club a 2-0 lead on the Anaheim Ducks early in the second period of Game 5 on Friday night.It came on a two-man advantage for Edmonton, and it was McDavid's fifth goal of these playoffs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

ST. LOUIS - Dmitrij Jaskin scored in his first playoff game this season, Jaden Schwartz got the game-winner and the St. Louis Blues topped the Nashville Predators 2-1 on Friday night to stay alive in their second-round series.Schwartz scored 25 seconds into the third on a rebound off a Colton Parayko shot, giving St. Louis a 2-1 lead. Schwartz has a team-high four postseason goals.Jake Allen made 21 saves for the Blues, who had dropped two in a row.James Neal scored for the Predators, and Pekka Rinne made 30 saves.Game 6 is in Nashville on Sunday.Jaskin put the Blues in front at 5:43 of the second period, banging home a rebound off an Alex Pietrangelo shot. It was Jaskin's second career playoff goal.Jaskin was inserted into the lineup in place of Alexander Steen, who was sidelined with a lower-body injury. He had just one goal in 51 games this season.Neal tied it with Nashville enjoying a two-man advantage with 6:10 left in the second. The power play was set up when Pietrangelo and Patrik Berglund both took minors with 7:19 left.The Blues managed just one shot on goal, a 45-footer by Pietrangelo, during more than four straight minutes of power-play time between the first and second periods, including 1:50 of a 5-on-3 opportunity.Mike Fisher had three blocks for the Predators - all on Vladimir Tarasenko - during the Blues' two-man advantage. St. Louis is a league-worse 2 for 28 on the power play in the postseason.NOTES: The Blues and Predators announced a joint effort to donate to flood relief efforts in the Midwest. The Blues will be donating all of the proceeds during Game 5 from their 50/50 raffle, memorabilia sales and Blues for Kids silent auction to the American Red Cross disaster relief efforts. The Predators announced that all of the proceeds raised from the ''Smash Car'' at Bridgestone Arena, as well as the Nashville Predators Foundation's Game 5 online auction, would be donated to the relief efforts in St. Louis.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes believe they've found their new starter in Scott Darling, agreeing to a four-year pact with the former Chicago Blackhawks backup.It's not the first time a team has made a backup their go-to goaltender. In fact, several teams currently have a No. 1 who used to hold down secondary duties with another club. Here are five former backups who are embracing starting roles on new teams:Robin LehnerThe Buffalo Sabres netminder blazed his trail with the Ottawa Senators before arriving in Western New York in 2015.With the Senators, Lehner played second fiddle to Craig Anderson, but he's held down the top job since coming to Buffalo, appearing in 59 games this season and posting a .920 save percentage. Only four netminders who saw as many contests owned a better save rate.Cam TalbotTalbot's career started on Broadway before he took his show to Northern Alberta following a trade to the Edmonton Oilers in 2015. He played two seasons with the New York Rangers, where an injury to starter Henrik Lundqvist put the spotlight on him for 36 games in 2014-15.He appeared in 73 games with the Oilers this season, posting a league-high 42 wins. That performance helped push Edmonton into the playoff picture for the first time since 2006.Thomas GreissAfter backup stints in San Jose, Arizona, and Pittsburgh, Greiss has taken hold of the starter's job in Brooklyn.Drafted by the Sharks in 2004, he spent his developmental years with the Bay Area club under the tutelage of Evgeni Nabokov. Now in New York, he's taken hold of the No. 1 role ahead of Jaroslav Halak, appearing in 51 games with the New York Islanders this season and posting a 26-18-5 record.Martin JonesJones showed starter potential with the Los Angeles Kings, recording seven shutouts in 34 games, but his time in the crease was infrequent behind starter and former Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Quick.The Kings gave Jones his own opportunity in 2015, dealing him to the Boston Bruins before he was quickly flipped to the Sharks. In San Jose, he has played 65 games in each of his two seasons, leading the Sharks to their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2016.Mike SmithDrafted by the Dallas Stars, Smith played behind go-to netminder Marty Turco, to whom he credits his strong puck-handling skills. After his short time in Texas, he moved on to Tampa Bay, this time as the backup to veteran netminder Dwayne Roloson.Four years later, the Arizona Coyotes rolled the dice on Smith after walking away from Ilya Bryzgalov. He delivered the franchise's first playoff series win in 25 years and led the club to the Western Conference Final - all in his first season in the desert.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Scott Darling is signed, sealed, and delivered.Related: Hurricanes sign Darling to 4-year, $16.6-million contractThe former Chicago Blackhawks netminder will join two other under-contract goalies in Raleigh, as the Carolina Hurricanes have both Cam Ward and Eddie Lack signed through next season.Goalie Age Record GAA SV% ContractCam Ward3326-22-122.69.9053.3M AAV - 1 yearEddie Lack298-7-32.64.9022.75M AAV - 1 yearScott Darling2818-5-52.38.9244.15M AAV - 4 yearsThat makes for a crowded crease, meaning a trade of one of the Hurricanes' extra goaltenders is likely around the corner. Netminding needs will be a common concern this offseason, and three teams rise above the rest as the most viable candidates to make a deal with Carolina for Ward:Edmonton OilersWard could stay in Carolina, where he's spent the first 12 years of his career, but he'd now play second fiddle to the new starter in Darling.Or he could accept a trade - Ward carries a 15-team no-trade list - to head to Alberta and play for the Oilers. It would mark a Western Canada homecoming of sorts for Ward, a Saskatoon native who spent his junior years with the WHL's Red Deer Rebels.While Ward would still be the second option in Edmonton, the Oilers showed this season that they need a reliable backup behind starter Cam Talbot. He appeared in all but nine games this season, primarily due to Edmonton's limited depth in the crease.Ward could offer the Oilers insurance on the short term, as he's signed for just one more season. That cap space will be needed after 2017-18, when captain Connor McDavid becomes due for a new contract.Winnipeg JetsThe Jets have a promising young netminder in Connor Hellebuyck, the goaltender of the future in Winnipeg. But he showed this season he's not yet ready to handle prime-time duties.That left Winnipeg to experiment with veteran 'keeper Ondrej Pavelec, who started the season in the minors. That wasn't the case with Ward, who still put up decent numbers with the Hurricanes, holding down a .905 save percentage on a team that did not qualify for the postseason.Aside from Hellebuyck, the Jets also have Michael Hutchinson and Eric Comrie working their way up the ranks, and Ward could serve as a vital stop-gap while the franchise's young goalies continue developing their games.Vegas Golden KnightsThe Golden Knights wouldn't need to trade for Ward. They could simply add him for free. That is, if the Hurricanes opt to expose him in the summer expansion draft.Vegas will build its initial roster from a blank canvas, with two spots to fill between the pipes. Thirty netminders will be made available to the Golden Knights, so the question will be whether general manager George McPhee believes Ward is one of the two best goaltenders to be free for the picking.Ward won the Stanley Cup and playoff MVP honors in his rookie season with the Hurricanes in 2005. He'd bring a winning pedigree to the NHL's newest franchise.Only a year away from free agency, the possibility remains Ward could put together a solid campaign in Vegas, backstopping plenty of pucks on a piecemeal team. That would make him an attractive rental option at next year's trade deadline, with the first-year Golden Knights likely set for the seller's seat.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes traded for their goalie of the future last week. They signed him Friday.The club announced a four-year, $16.6-million contract with Scott Darling, who takes over the No. 1 goaltender duties from incumbent Cam Ward.Darling, acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks for a third-round draft pick in 2017 (originally belonging to the Ottawa Senators), had a career season in 2016-17. He started 27 games as Corey Crawford's backup, and won 18 games thanks to an impressive .924 save percentage, which ranked fourth in the NHL.The 28-year-old was set for unrestricted free agency on July 1, but committed to Carolina, choosing not to test the market.

Mike Futa may not be in the mix for the Buffalo Sabres' vacant general manager position, but if he isn't, he still has a decent consolation prize.The longtime Los Angeles Kings executive no longer appears to be under heavy consideration for the Sabres job, Fox Sports West's Jon Rosen reported after talking to Futa twice and to another team source Thursday.Futa was promoted to assistant general manager of the Kings last month when former GM Dean Lombardi was fired.He told Rosen multiple times that he's "excited" about his new role with the Kings, speaking passionately about the feeling in the organization after the elevation of Luc Robitaille to team president and Rob Blake to GM.Futa said he was "thrilled" to interview with the Sabres, adding that the experience was "gratifying."He's spent 10 years with the Kings in various roles, the last three of which as the club's vice president of hockey operations and director of player personnel.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bryan Bickell is happy to be starting the next phase of his life.The former Carolina Hurricanes and Chicago Blackhawks forward, who retired after the regular season due to multiple sclerosis, is settling in to life after hockey."I'm feeling a lot better now that I'm not playing hockey. Slowing the heart rate down, slowing the body down, and slowing the mind down definitely helps me feel a lot better. From the get-go to a month afterward and then working my way back, I got better," Bickell told Tracey Myers of CSN Chicago. "I feel comfortable now. I can do a lot of things that, that month, I couldn't really do."Bickell was diagnosed with MS in November, but was intent on making a return, which started in the AHL and eventually led him back to the Hurricanes' lineup for four games to close out the regular season.He scored a shootout goal in his final NHL game, and concluded his career with 176 points in 395 games to go with three Stanley Cup rings.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here's what happened on Day 1 of the World Hockey Championship in Paris, France and Cologne, Germany.Germany 2 - USA 1

Vegas Golden Knights general manager Goerge McPhee is hopeful Vadim Shipachyov isn't the only player his club can lure from the KHL.After the team inked Shipachyov to a two-year, $9-million deal on Thursday, McPhee confirmed on Friday that the Golden Knights are in talks with fellow KHL forward Evgeny Dadonov, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.Despite the talks, McPhee admitted he was still unsure if Vegas would be able to sign Dadonov to a deal or if the 28-year-old was even going to come to the NHL.Dadonov is coming off his third season with St. Petersburg - the same club Shipachyov played for - where he finished fourth in the league in goals and fifth in points with 30 and 66, respectively.Dadonov was originally drafted in the third round in 2007 by the Florida Panthers where he played 55 games over three years before returning to the KHL during the 2012-13 campaign.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sidney Crosby spoke to the media for the first time Friday following the cross-check from Matt Niskanen that resulted in a concussion."It's hard to say," Crosby told TSN's Mark Masters. "I'm not going to sit here and guess, but it's not one that happens often."By "guess," Crosby is likely referring to the widespread debate as to whether Niskanen intentionally cross-checked Crosby in the face during Game 3, or whether it was an accident. Unsurprisingly, Crosby didn't offer his opinion.Alex Ovechkin's slash, which happened seconds before Niskanen's cross-check, has also been a topic of discussion. Crosby was fairly forgiving of his rival."The slash, he's trying to prevent a goal," Crosby told Masters. "That's a pretty common play for the most part."Crosby's Penguins will have a chance to eliminate the Capitals in Game 5 on Saturday in Washington, though No. 87's status remains up in the air after missing Wednesday's Game 4.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby participated in his first full practice on Friday since sustaining a concussion, but his status for Game 5 remains up in the air.Crosby said he's feeling better, but that the ultimate decision on his return will come from the club's medical staff."I feel good. You know, right now just kind of following what I'm told to do. I feel good," Crosby said, according to TSN's Mark Masters. "We'll see. I don't want to rule it out. It's not really up to me."Having missed just one game since suffering the concussion, a return for Game 5 would be a quick turnaround for such an injury. Still, Crosby suggests he knows his body well enough."Having gone through this, I'd like to think I'm pretty aware of my body at this point," Crosby said. "I understand the importance of making sure you're good before you come back ... I trust (medical staff), I trust the process."In the meantime, Crosby is considered day to day, according to head coach Mike Sullivan.

Capitals sniper Alex Ovechkin was moved from Washington's first line with Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie to the third line with Lars Eller and Tom Wilson at the club's practice Friday morning.

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have been one of the most prolific offensive duos in the entire league this year, but it's time for Edmonton Oilers head coach Todd McLellan to split up the band.The tandem has combined for an impressive 10 points in this series, but separating their two best players will give the Oilers the best chance to win the series. Edmonton was able to win the first two games, but the Ducks have stormed back, evening the series at two games apiece.Here is how the Oilers have lined up for most of the series:LWCRWPatrick MaroonConnor McDavidLeon DraisaitlMilan LucicRyan Nugent-HopkinsJordan EberleDrake CaggiulaMark LetestuZack KassianBenoit PouliotDavid DesharnaisAnton SlepyshevA major reason why the Ducks have been able to even the series has been the outstanding play of Ryan Getzlaf. The hulking center has eight points in the series, including three goals and three assists in Anaheim's two victories.With Edmonton's current line configuration, they have no "shutdown" line. Nugent-Hopkins has been given the task of playing against Getzlaf, but he has clearly failed. Getzlaf, who stands at 6-foot-4, 221 pounds, has been able to impose his will physically on the 6-foot, 196-pound Nugent-Hopkins.Aside from the obvious physical mismatch, Getzlaf's dominance in the faceoff circle has allowed the Ducks to control the play, forcing Nugent-Hopkins' line to play in its own end far too often. Getzlaf has won 57.6 percent of his faceoffs this series, while Nugent-Hopkins has only been able to win 37.7 percent of his.Given that Draisaitl (6-foot-1, 216 pounds) is a natural center and, at 49 percent, was a better faceoff man than both McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins this season, McLellan would be smart to shift him back to the middle of the ice. Here is a lineup he could send out for Game 5:LWCRWMaroonMcDavidLetestuLucicDraisaitlKassianCaggiulaNugent-HopkinsEberlePouliotDesharnaisSlepyshevEven though Game 5 will be played in Anaheim and McLellan won't have last change, this lineup would give him much more balance and depth. McDavid and Draisaitl are skilled enough to carry their own lines offensively.The proposed Draisaitl line would give Edmonton enough physicality to play with Getzlaf's line. Lucic also has the ability to put the puck in the net, so Draisaitl's playmaking wouldn't be put to waste.Letestu obviously doesn't have anywhere near the talent that Draisaitl does, but he scored 16 goals this year and showed good chemistry with McDavid on the power play. He can also step in and win a draw (50.4 percent this season) to support McDavid (43.2 percent).McDavid's line, of course, would still draw the attention of one of the league's best defensive forwards, Ryan Kesler. This would allow Nugent-Hopkins' line to face Anaheim's third or fourth line.Nugent-Hopkins and Eberle have combined for zero goals and five assists so far in the postseason, so giving them an opportunity to skate against lesser players could get them going. Their secondary scoring is crucial to Edmonton's chances in this series.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The IIHF unveiled its power rankings as the World Championship opens Friday, and it's hard to debate the rationale behind them.The hockey body's rankings seem accurate, with Canada and Russia placed No. 1 and 2, respectively, and the tongue-in-cheek descriptions of each country's merits make for enjoyable reading.

In this week's playoff themed "On the Fly," theScore's weekly NHL roundtable series, we take a look at four players who have put forth surprising - good or bad - performances throughout the postseason thus far.Jakob Silfverberg - DucksO'Leary: Perhaps after reaching a new career high in points this season, Silfverberg's impressive playoffs shouldn't qualify as a surprise, but be honest - did you expect him to have the second-highest goal output among all players nearly midway through the postseason?Through eight games, Silfverberg's racked up seven goals and two assists, and delivered a monumental overtime winner in Game 4 versus the Oilers to even the series at 2-2.Deployed in a shutdown role with Ryan Kesler and Andrew Cogliano, Silfverberg is getting it done at both ends of the ice, and has individually controlled 53 percent of shot attempts in the playoffs at five-on-five.His production is drawing the attention of opposing defenses, and opening up more opportunities for Ryan Getzlaf's top line - something that's working rather well for the Ducks at the moment.Braden Holtby - Capitals(Photo Courtesy: Action Images)Gold-Smith: Holtby hasn't been underwhelming by most goalies' standards in these playoffs, but he hasn't been his typically dominant self.The Washington Capitals netminder has an .867 save percentage in four games against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and a .909 mark over the whole postseason. It's a small sample size, sure, but now is not the time for the reigning Vezina Trophy winner to be merely average.Holtby allowed four goals in three separate first-round games as the Capitals required six contests to dispatch the upstart but inexperienced Toronto Maple Leafs, and he was pulled before the third period of Game 2 against the Penguins after allowing three goals on 14 shots.He's faced only 83 shots in 4 games against Pittsburgh, or about 21 per game in the series. Some goaltenders have trouble getting into a rhythm when they're not peppered with shots, but Holtby's play is still concerning for a Capitals club on the brink of elimination.Bobby Ryan - SenatorsLivingstone: Ryan's first four seasons as a Senator have not exactly gone to plan.Following the July 2013 trade that sent him to Ottawa in exchange for Silfverberg, Stefan Noesen, and a 2014 first-round draft pick, Ryan has failed to live up to the lofty expectations that come along with being a four-time 30-goal scorer.Fast forward to today, and Ryan has gone from perennial whipping boy to one of the main figures in the Senators' Stanley Cup drive.What a time to be alive (Drake voice).The 30-year-old sniper has been a catalyst for the Sens in these playoffs, and is currently in a three-way tie for the team's postseason points lead along with Derick Brassard and Erik Karlsson at eight.Despite another dismal regular-season performance this past campaign in which he registered his lowest offensive output in four years (13 goals and 12 assists), Ryan is proving his haters wrong with a postseason to remember.Sure, there's a lot of puck left to be played, but if Ryan keeps up his current pace and the Sens continue to advance, a Conn Smythe nod may not be completely outside the realm of possibility.Connor McDavid - OilersHagerman: During their first postseason run in 11 years, the Edmonton Oilers are making some noise.The club knocked off the defending Western Conference champion, the San Jose Sharks, in Round 1, and have earned a split through four contests with the Pacific Division-winning Anaheim Ducks.It's been a great performance, despite a less dominant Connor McDavid.The Art Ross Trophy winner has been good, but not spectacular in his first taste of playoff hockey.He's posted four goals and seven points in 10 games - solid numbers for most players, but sorry Connor, we expect more from a godly talent.Of course, expectations were even higher after McDavid concluded the year with some ridiculous numbers. He ended the regular season on a 14-game point streak that saw him amass a total of 25 with eight multi-point contests.In the playoffs, though, McDavid remains without a multi-point game. He's still dazzled - his goal in Game 4 was proof - but we expect a little more from the player who will likely take home the Hart Trophy next month.(Photo Courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Money apparently wasn't the biggest factor in Vadim Shipachyov's decision to ink a deal with the Vegas Golden Knights.The Russian forward signed a two-year, $9-million deal on Thursday, while reportedly turning down a four-year contract that would have paid him $5 million per season to remain with St. Petersburg in the KHL, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels.Related: Golden Knights poke fun at barren line combos after Shipachyov signingPrior to signing his deal with Vegas, it was reported that Shipachyov was "fielding big offers." The Montreal Canadiens are believed to have been one of the NHL clubs that pushed hard to acquire him, but it was made clear he would not agree to sign with the team.The 30-year-old will be taking part in the World Championship, which kicks off Friday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

BOSTON - A former NHL player who was on two Stanley Cup championship teams has been sentenced to probation for his role in the illegal sale of prescription painkillers.Kevin Stevens was sentenced Thursday in U.S District Court in Boston to three years' probation and fined $10,000. He pleaded guilty in December.The 52-year-old Massachusetts native was arrested in 2015 after a traffic stop and was found to be in possession of 175 pills. Prosecutors say he would supply the pills for another man to sell.Stevens apologized in court Thursday. His lawyer said he was prescribed oxycodone after a serious on-ice injury in 1993 from which he has still not recovered.Stevens was on the Pittsburgh Penguins 1991 and 1992 Stanley Cup-winning teams. He also played for the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers, and Los Angeles Kings.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Much of the 2017 postseason chatter has been dominated by the play of defensive wizards such as Erik Karlsson or P.K. Subban, and for good reason - they've been beasting at both ends of the rink.However, a group of lesser-known rearguards are carving out a name for themselves as well.Here's a look at five D-men that deserve a lot more credit than they're currently receiving.Ryan Ellis - Nashville Predators The grizzly beard aside, it's been a pretty solid spring for Ryan Ellis.An underrated stellar regular season has translated into more of the same, as the former 11th overall draft pick is having a postseason to remember.The Nashville defenseman is coming off a benchmark year in which he posted a career-high in goals (16) and tied his career-high in assists (22).The 26-year-old, believe it or not, currently paces the league in playoff scoring by defensemen with nine points - some dude named Erik has eight.Ellis is one of the major reasons the Predators have the St.Louis Blues on the brink.Shea Theodore - Anaheim Ducks A defenseman named Shea is making his mark on the NHL playoffs and, no, his last name is not Weber.Shea Theodore of the Anaheim Ducks is very quietly following up a solid rookie campaign with an excellent postseason performance.After playing only 34 games during the 2016-17 regular season, the 21-year-old has suited up in all eight of the Ducks' contests so far this spring.Theodore has registered two goals and five assists on 16 shots on goal, good enough for second in playoff rookie scoring behind wunderkid Jake Guentzel.Due to the deep pool of defensive talent in Anaheim, you may not have heard much about him before now, but if he continues to impress, get used to hearing his name.Brady Skjei - New York Rangers Here's another name you probably haven't heard before, but New York Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei is once again turning heads.After a regular season in which he finished second in scoring among Rangers defensemen with 39 points, the smooth-skating rookie is currently tied for the team lead in playoff goal scoring with four.At 6-foot-4 and 211 pounds, the former first-round draft pick not only has the size, but also the pedigree and talent to develop into a quality, top-four defenseman for years to come.Joel Edmundson - St. Louis BluesJoel who?St. Louis Blues defenseman Joel Edmundson is logging over 21 minutes of ice time per game this postseason while also leading the Blues in scoring by a defenseman.Edmundson's six playoff points are impressive, but the fact that he's cracked top-four minutes in a defensive-minded lineup like St. Louis' should be enough of an indication of just how solid the young D-man has played.At a base salary of just over $1 million per season, the Blues' 2011 second-round pick is proving to be a serious bargain.Justin Schultz - Pittsburgh PenguinsBy now, most puckheads know that the Pittsburgh Penguins' D-core has been decimated by injury.However, what you probably don't know is Justin Schultz has stepped up in the clutch to fill in for guys like Kris Letang by logging over 20 minutes per game, giving Pittsburgh's forwards a chance to do their thing.Schultz has also chipped in offensively, tallying two goals and five apples for seven points, including the game-winner against Washington in the Penguins' Game 4 victory Wednesday night.Losing guys like Letang and Crosby is obviously a huge blow to Pittsburgh's cup hopes, but if glue guys like Schultz can continue to hold things together, the Penguins will have a very legitimate shot at being the last team standing come June.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vadim Shipachyov joined Reid Duke as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night, but the two newcomers are still missing a few teammates.The team highlighted that fact with a brilliant reminder by way of the updated line combinations:

NEW YORK - Oscar Lindberg scored two goals, Henrik Lundqvist made 22 saves, and the New York Rangers beat the Ottawa Senators 4-1 on Thursday night to tie their Eastern Conference semifinal series at two games apiece.Chris Kreider and Nick Holden also scored and Tanner Glass added two assists for the Rangers, who have won four consecutive home games this postseason.Kyle Turris scored for Ottawa, and Craig Anderson made 17 saves before being replaced by Mike Condon for the third period. Condon finished with nine stops.Senators star defenseman Erik Karlsson also left the game after the second period with an injury. Karlsson played during the first round with two microfractures in one of his feet from blocking a shot late in the regular season.Game 5 is Saturday at Ottawa.Lundqvist has stopped 48 of his past 50 shots after allowing six goals in the Senators' double-overtime win in Game 2.Lindberg scored both of the Rangers' second-period goals. Glass, playing his second consecutive game, blocked Ben Harpur's shot and Michael Grabner grabbed the loose puck and broke in with Lindberg, who scored on a one-timer at 2:01.Glass also helped set up Lindberg's next goal. He outworked Senators defenseman Cody Ceci for the puck behind the Ottawa net and sent it to the boards. J.T. Miller grabbed the loose puck and passed to Lindberg at the point for a 3-0 lead at 15:54. Lindberg also scored the Rangers' final goal in their Game 3 win.Kreider made it 4-0 with a power-play goal at 10:45 of the third.Turris scored at 13:34, but the Senators had trouble generating sustained pressure against Lundqvist and were sloppy with the puck at times.For the second consecutive game, the Rangers controlled the first period. In Game 3, they scored the first two goals and outshot Ottawa 15-5. On Thursday, they outshot the Senators 11-7 and opened the scoring again.Holden led a breakout from the defensive zone and sent a pass to Kevin Hayes at center ice. Hayes passed back to Holden along the left wing and he broke in toward the net and beat Anderson with a wrist shot that went over his right pad at 14:04.The Rangers have scored the first goal in each game of the series.NOTES: Lundqvist earned his 61st playoff win to tie Tom Barrasso for 13th on the NHL's career list. ... Senators Fs Bobby Ryan and Zack Smith returned to the lineup after leaving Game 3 with injuries. D Chris Wideman and F Tom Pyatt both made their debuts in the series. D Fredrik Claesson and F Tommy Wingels were scratched. ... Rangers F Pavel Buchnevich was scratched for the second consecutive game and replaced by Glass.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators' series lead over the New York Rangers is nothing but a memory.Back on Broadway for Game 4 on Thursday night, the Sens were overpowered to the tune of a second consecutive 4-1 loss that evened the series at 2-2.If laying back-to-back eggs in New York wasn't already cause for concern, consecutive losses in a playoff series have been a historically troublesome trend for the Senators.

Erik Karlsson's departure from the third period of Game 4 against the New York Rangers appears to have been precautionary.Ottawa Senators head coach Guy Boucher said Karlsson could have played the final frame but the team chose to keep him out, and the superstar defenseman is expected to play in Game 5 on Saturday."We felt it was better for him to keep him off the ice in the (third) period," Boucher told reporters postgame. "He could've came back but we just wanted to make sure."The head coach would only classify Karlsson's ailment as a "lower-body" injury.The all-world blue-liner left for the dressing room at the second intermission in apparent pain after colliding with Rangers forward J.T. Miller near the boards on his last shift of the frame.He didn't return for the third period with the Senators trailing 3-0, and New York held on for a 4-1 victory that evened the series at 2-2.After Ottawa's first-round series win over the Boston Bruins, Karlsson admitted playing through a pair of hairline fractures in his left heel, and Boucher said at the time that his captain was "over" it and "perfectly healthy."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights have another player.The NHL's 31st franchise signed free-agent forward Vadim Shipachyov to a two-year, $9-million contract, general manager George McPhee announced Thursday.In 50 games for SKA Saint Petersburg of the KHL last season, Shipachyov recorded 26 goals and 50 assists - good for third in league scoring."Vadim is a highly skilled playmaker who has had an impressive career in the Kontinental Hockey League," McPhee said. "He has won two KHL championships, has been among the league leaders in scoring the last two seasons, and has enjoyed success at the international level for Team Russia. We believe he can be an impact player in the NHL."The 30-year-old was believed to be "fielding big offers" earlier in the week, and previously drew interest from the Montreal Canadiens. He's currently in Cologne, Germany, with Team Russia at the World Championships.Shipachyov is the second player signing in Golden Knights history, joining Reid Duke, who joined the team in March.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Erik Karlsson left Thursday's game against the New York Rangers following a collision with J.T. Miller before the end of the second period.Karlsson left the bench wincing with a noticeable limp as the teams left the ice for the second intermission.The Senators star admitted to playing Ottawa's first-round series against the Boston Bruins with two hairline fractures in his left heel, but head coach Guy Boucher later said, "he's perfectly healthy now."Karlsson entered Game 4 leading the Senators with an average ice time of more than 30 minutes.He played nearly 15 minutes over two periods before departing Thursday night.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Craig Anderson won't close out Game 4 for the Ottawa Senators, as the veteran netminder was pulled in favor of Mike Condon to begin the third period Thursday night.Anderson had allowed three goals on 20 shots versus a New York Rangers club determined to even the series.Through nine starts this postseason entering Thursday's game, he's crafted a 6-3 record, with a goals-against average of 2.28 and a .917 save percentage.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Claude Giroux will wear the "C" for Canada at the upcoming World Championship.The Philadelphia Flyers forward was named captain of the Canadian squad, Hockey Canada announced Thursday.Matt Duchene of the Colorado Avalanche, Ryan O'Reilly of the Buffalo Sabres and Marc-Edouard Vlasic of the San Jose Sharks will serve as alternate captains.Canada begins its preliminary-round schedule Friday against the Czech Republic.The tournament runs until May 21 in Paris and Cologne, Germany.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jim Montgomery is reportedly getting another opportunity to impress the Florida Panthers.The University of Denver head coach will have a second interview with the NHL club near the end of this month for its vacancy behind the bench, a source told Mike Chambers of The Denver Post.Montgomery met with the Panthers about two weeks after leading the Pioneers to the national championship last month.He declined to comment when reached by Chambers on Thursday, saying he'd only take an NHL job if it were "the perfect opportunity," and adding, "Denver's been great throughout this process. I feel valued. I feel loved, and loyalty means a lot to me."Ron Grahame of the school's athletic department wouldn't get into specifics but said the Pioneers have taken significant steps financially to help Montgomery, his staff and the program itself, in an effort to keep the head coach.Montgomery signed a contract extension with the university last summer and has four years remaining on the deal.Other reported interviewees for the Panthers' job include former Montreal Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien and San Jose Sharks assistant Bob Boughner.At season's end, the Panthers opted not to continue having general manager Tom Rowe serve as head coach. He took over for Gerard Gallant, who was fired 22 games into the season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The best way to build your fan base is by attracting youth, and the Vegas Golden Knights are doing just that.The Golden Knights will offer free street hockey clinics for kids in Las Vegas from ages 5-to-15 on May 20, 21, and June 3, according to Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.Each child who participates will receive a free hockey stick. Not a bad deal.What once was an untapped market, the Golden Knights will have to compete for fandom with the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders upon their arrival in 2019 or 2020.The Golden Knights will certainly do whatever they can in their brief time as the city's only major professional sports franchise to build a foundation of die-hard fans. What better way to begin this than providing children the chance to take up road hockey?Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche put together the worst season of the salary-cap era in 2016-17, but team president Josh Kroenke says general manager Joe Sakic isn't going anywhere."Joe's leash hasn't changed at all," Kroenke said Wednesday when asked if Sakic's leash has been shortened, according to Terry Frei of the Denver Post. "Nobody wants to get the Avalanche back to where they were, where we all expect them to be, more than Joe Sakic."We're going to continue to give him every resource at his disposal. ... At the end of the day, Joe wants what's best for the Colorado Avalanche. Whether that's him in his current role or something else, it doesn't matter."Sakic captained the Avalanche to two Stanley Cups during his playing days and is the most decorated player in the franchise's history.He has been in charge of the team's personnel decisions since May 2013. Since then, the once-promising team has taken a nosedive, finally hitting rock bottom this season.YearPoints2013-141122014-15902015-16822016-1748Though this year's Avs were right up against the salary cap, they managed just 48 points. The 2013-14 and the 2014-15 Buffalo Sabres, who were in clear "tank mode," managed to earn 52 and 54 points, respectively.Kroenke called Colorado's 2016-17 campaign "unacceptable." However, taking into account factors including head coach Patrick Roy's abrupt August resignation and injury-riddled seasons from defenseman Erik Johnson and goaltender Semyon Varlamov, he said Sakic "deserves the benefit of the doubt" based on what he's done for the organization as both a player and an executive."I want to be sure that this staff, based on being in the tough position that they were, has a chance to get it right," said Kroenke.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sidney Crosby is back on the ice.The Pittsburgh Penguins captain, who missed Wednesday's Game 4 against the Washington Capitals due to a concussion, took part in an optional, no-contact practice Thursday.

Each week, theScore looks at the teams, players, and other hockey figures trending upward and taking a step back.â–² Nashville PredatorsPeople like the Predators. Sweeping the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round will do that.But it's not only in Nashville, where the team is setting local television ratings; the Predators are drawing eyeballs on the national level as well.

There's elite company, and then there's the company Penguins forward Jake Guentzel joined by scoring his eighth goal in his first nine playoff games Wednesday against Washington.

The captain stepped up when the team needed him most.The Anaheim Ducks found themselves in a 2-0 hole Wednesday after the first period of Game 4 against the Edmonton Oilers, but erased the deficit with three unanswered goals in the second. Two were scored by Ryan Getzlaf, who earned the primary assist on the third.For him, it was all about walking the walk."I can say anything I want in the dressing room, but I have to go out and live it," Getzlaf said after the win, according to the Ducks' website. "I tried to do that in the second period and the group went along with it. We kept playing."Though the Oilers tied the game late in the third, Getzlaf beautifully assisted Jakob Silfverberg's overtime winner, drawing praise from head coach Randy Carlyle."It's just another exclamation point on the type of player he's been for our hockey club," Caryle said. "He's our captain and leader. He's done a lot of things that go unnoticed. Now, in these situations in the playoffs, he's been a guy who has stepped to the forefront. Even the play in overtime, he read that, cut the pass off, and found Silfverberg all alone."The four-point effort was the second of Getzlaf's postseason career, while the two strikes marked his first career multi-goal playoff game.Game 5 is set for Friday in Anaheim with the series tied 2-2.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cam Talbot wasn't happy with the officiating after the Edmonton Oilers' Game 4 loss Wednesday night.The goaltender implied that he might need to start faking contact to get calls after Anaheim Ducks forward Corey Perry touched him in the crease on Ryan Getzlaf's goal early in the second period of Game 4.Oilers head coach Todd McLellan challenged the play looking for a goaltender interference ruling, but the call on the ice was upheld."I thought that was pretty obvious," Talbot told reporters postgame, according to Sportsnet's Gene Principe. "(Perry) ran into my bIocker/pad. I play with integrity and don't flop ... but maybe I have to."Talbot and the Oilers lost the game on Jakob Silfverberg's overtime winner that came 45 seconds into the extra frame.The series is tied 2-2 with Game 5 scheduled for Friday night in Anaheim.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jakob Silfverberg wasn't interested in staying up all night.The Anaheim Ducks forward slammed a one-timer past Edmonton Oilers goaltender Cam Talbot only 45 seconds into overtime for a 4-3 victory that evened the second-round series at 2-2.Ryan Getzlaf fed Silfverberg for the winner and finished with four points, including a pair of goals of his own.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins had their captain top of mind Wednesday night."We wanted to go out there and try to win one for Sid, and well, that’s what we did tonight," Chris Kunitz told reporters after the Penguins' 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals in Game 4 that gave them a 3-1 series lead in the second-round matchup.Crosby was concussed on a cross check by Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen in Game 3 on Monday night. He was ruled out for Game 4, and his status going forward remains unclear.Despite Crosby's injury, the team that's also missing the likes of Conor Sheary, Matt Murray, and Kris Letang will have an opportunity to eliminate the Capitals in Game 5 on Saturday night.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.