P.K. Subban, always the entertainer.At the end of a comprehensive postgame interview with NBC's Pierre McGuire, the Nashville Predators defenseman couldn't resist poking a little fun.Related - Subban after starring in Game 1: 'That's why they pay me, you know?'"You get better looking every day ..." Subban said. "What's the secret?"McGuire's response? "I go to the gym like you."Gold.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars have signed forward Mattias Janmark to a one-year extension worth $700,000, the team announced Thursday.Janmark missed the entire 2016-17 campaign after suffering a knee injury in the previous offseason.Janmark made his NHL debut in 2015-16, finishing with 15 goals and 14 assists in 73 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The search for the next general manager of the Buffalo Sabres is rumored to have extended to the desert.But if asked, Arizona will reportedly not allow Buffalo to speak with John Chayka, the Coyotes' general manager, according to Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports.The 27-year-old has four years remaining on his current contract with the club, as Morgan reports, clarifying that he's not saying the Sabres have formally inquired.Chayka joined the Coyotes in 2015 as the assistant GM responsible for analytics. He moved into the top job last offseason following the firing of longtime executive Don Maloney.The Sabres are in search of a new GM and head coach after dismissing Tim Murray and Dan Bylsma last Thursday.A move to Western New York would mark a homecoming of sorts for Chayka, who hails from the nearby Niagara Region.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville Predators forward Kevin Fiala has been ruled out for the remainder of the postseason due to a fracture of the left femur suffered during Game 1 against the St. Louis Blues.Related: Predators' Fiala hospitalized after hard fall into boards"He (Fiala) underwent successful surgery at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis and is resting comfortably," general manager David Poile said in a statement. "He is extremely disappointed that he will not be able to help his teammates in their quest for the Stanley Cup, but is looking forward to starting his rehabilitation upon his return to Nashville."Fiala had scored two playoff goals for the Predators prior to the injury.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins are looking to build upon an encouraging portion of the season that saw them return to the playoffs for the first time in three years.In an end-of-season press conference Thursday, general manager Don Sweeney began by saying the team was excited to officially name Bruce Cassidy its head coach after the interim tag was removed this week.The GM added that he liked how the Bruins - who went 18-8-1 down the stretch under Cassidy - responded to the coaching switch from Claude Julien, saying they played with a more "aggressive bent," while scoring more without losing defensive structure, per Mike Loftus of The Patriot Ledger.An organizational commitment to winning was also reiterated, and while Sweeney believes in the core group of high-end players, he added, via Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe: "We need to be a deeper, more talented team."

Each week, theScore looks at the teams, players, and other hockey figures trending upward and taking a step back.The Toronto Maple Leafs won't win the Stanley Cup this season, but their coach could soon take home a little hardware of his own. He's one of four key bench bosses to make headlines this week:▲ Mike BabcockBabcock's trophy case is well decorated. From two Olympic golds, a world junior win, a World Cup, and a Stanley Cup during his time with the Detroit Red Wings, there's just one thing missing.The Maple Leafs bench boss has never captured Coach of the Year honors, but has a chance to do so this season. Babcock was nominated for the Jack Adams Award alongside Edmonton Oilers coach Todd McLellan and John Tortorella of the Columbus Blue Jackets.Babcock's best selling point may be the quick turnaround he pulled off with the Maple Leafs. After finishing dead last a year ago - and earning the top odds to draft Auston Matthews first overall - Toronto rebounded in a big way this season, qualifying for the playoffs for just the second time since 2004.No team has gone from last place to the dance in less time since the Philadelphia Flyers did so in 2008.▼ Bruce BoudreauBoudreau dominates in the regular season. It's spring hockey that continues to be a hurdle for the Minnesota Wild coach.After piecing together a 106-point season for the best finish in franchise history - including a 12-game win streak through December - the Wild face-planted in the opening round of the playoffs, losing out to the St. Louis Blues in five games.The elimination ended another season abruptly for Boudreau, who - despite his regular-season success (his teams have won their divisions in eight of 10 seasons) - hasn't quite figured out how to win in the postseason.Through stints with the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks, and now the Wild, Boudreau has advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs just once.▲ Bruce CassidyWin and you're in.The Boston Bruins made a change behind the bench this season, relieving veteran bench boss Claude Julien - the longest-tenured coach at the time of his firing - replacing him with Cassidy, who previously led the Bruins' farm team in Providence.The adjustment paid off, as the Bruins went 18-8-1 under their new coach, putting together a performance that snapped a two-year skid where Boston was on the outside of the playoff picture.Despite falling to the Ottawa Senators in the opening round, Cassidy earned his keep, and the Bruins were quick to drop the interim tag from his title and grant him the full-time gig.▼ Joel QuennevilleNobody saw this coming.Knocked out of the playoffs in a four-game sweep to the Nashville Predators, the Chicago Blackhawks were quick to evaluate their early exit. While general manager Stan Bowman noted his longtime coach was safe, changes quickly followed behind Quenneville's bench, much to his chagrin, as the team fired his longtime assistant Mike Kitchen.After capturing three Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks, it's hard to find fault with Quenneville's performance in Chicago. Still, he wasn't able to get his top players going against the Predators to reverse the tide, as the Blackhawks netted just three goals in the four-game set.It marked the first playoff sweep against Quenneville since 2008 when he coached the Colorado Avalanche.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On the seventh anniversary of his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut, P.K. Subban stole the show.Subban scored a goal and added two assists in Nashville's Game 1 win over the St. Louis Blues, becoming the first defenseman in Predators history to record three points in a postseason game.Related: Subban keeps raising his game in the playoffsOn April 26, 2010, and with only two regular-season games under his belt, Subban made his playoff debut as a member of the Montreal Canadiens. He's clearly relished the opportunity to perform on the big stage ever since."I guess you could say that I started my career in the playoffs, so whenever I get back here I get a certain feeling that just makes the game fun and makes me want to elevate my game," Subban said, per Arpon Basu of NHL.com. "It's not an easy thing to do, but let's face it; we can sugarcoat it, but that's why they pay me, you know?"It's to come up big in these games and perform."Following the offensive outburst in Game 1, Subban now has 43 points in 60 career playoff appearances, good for a point-per-game average of 0.72, up from his regular-season mark of 0.64.If he keeps this up, Subban could very well be heading to the conference finals for a third time in his career, while helping the Predators reach the third round for the first time ever.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A massive performance on the part of Edmonton Oilers defenseman Adam Larsson raised an inevitable line of questioning following a Game 1 win over the Anaheim Ducks.Larsson scored two goals - including the game-winner - and recorded an assist to become the first defenseman in team history to register at least three points in the third period of a playoff game, according to Tom Gulitti of NHL.com.Of course, no one will ever forget that the Swede came to Edmonton by way of a trade with the New Jersey Devils that saw star winger Taylor Hall sent the other way. Following the win, Oilers head coach Todd McLellan was asked about the impact Larsson has had on the club, once again having to address the merits of the deal."We needed to improve our blue line, and we needed an anchor back there. Larsson has become that," McLellan told reporters."We could have kept floundering without fixing that hole. ... What (Chiarelli) did to change the complexion of our team takes a lot of courage. It's not an easy thing to do when you're trading a player of Taylor's caliber and popularity in the community. Taylor's a tremendous player, but Larsson does solidify things back there for us."Larsson isn't known as an offensive dynamo, having recorded 19 points during the regular season with one previous three-point outing along the way.It's his defensive prowess that caught the Oilers' eye, and so far in the playoffs, he leads the team in total ice time with positive possession numbers at even strength, per Corsica Hockey. In other words, he's shouldering a heavy load and largely succeeding in keeping the puck away from goaltender Cam Talbot.The trade will continue to draw questions, but in the meantime, Larsson is indeed proving to be a key piece for the new-look Oilers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs surpassed everyone's expectations in 2016-17. Not only did they qualify for the playoffs, but they took the Presidents' Trophy-winning Washington Capitals to six games in the first round, with five of them needing overtime.All this one year after the Leafs finished dead last in the league.The Leafs have a legitimate chance to challenge for a Stanley Cup over the next few seasons before their young core of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner get paid top dollar. This could arguably be the most important offseason in the history of the franchise.Despite the rapid growth of this young team, there are still pressing issues that need to be taken care of this summer.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Acquire 3 defensemenEasier said than done, but possible nonetheless.One of these defensemen must be capable of logging top-four minutes, while the other two would need to be able to make up the third pairing.Morgan Rielly, Jake Gardiner, and Nikita Zaitsev are fully capable of making up 75 percent of the top four, but there's still one hole.In an ideal world, this fourth defenseman is a right-handed shot, a stable presence, brings some much-needed size and physicality to the table, and fits the timeline with regard to the rest of the team.The problem is, blue-liners like this are rare, and teams that have one that fits the description likely aren't willing to part ways with him.Jets defenseman Jacob Trouba would be a perfect fit, though it would likely cost the Leafs one of Nylander or Marner - an avenue they probably don't want to take.One team that may be open to trading a young defenseman that can play top-four minutes is the Carolina Hurricanes. Here's a look at their situation on the back end:NameAgeContract StatusJustin Faulk25$4.83M cap hit through 2019Noah Hanifin20RFA 2018Brett Pesce22RFA 2018Ryan Murphy24RFA 2018Klas Dahlbeck25RFA 2018Jaccob Slavin22RFA 2018Matt Tennyson27UFA 2017It's highly unlikely the Canes are able to hang on to the five defensemen who are restricted free agents following the 2017-18 season. Given the demand for young blue-liners around the league, Carolina is in the driver's seat when it comes to making a deal.The one the Leafs would be smart to target is Jaccob Slavin. Though he isn't a right-handed shot, or all that physical, he brings size (6-foot-2) and is already mature beyond his years.This past season he ranked second in the NHL with 82 takeaways, while only giving the puck away 54 times, despite logging over 23 minutes per game. It's no wonder he was plus-23 on a non-playoff team. He probably wouldn't cost Toronto one of its "big three."However, if the trade route doesn't work out, Toronto will have to turn to the free-agent market to acquire a top-four D-man.It's possible the Leafs could splurge on Kevin Shattenkirk or Karl Alzner to help solidify their back end, but both will likely come with hefty asking prices.Options who will come cheaper but are still somewhat capable of playing top-four minutes include Michael Del Zotto, Michael Stone, and Dmitry Kulikov. Serviceable, but less than ideal.As for the fifth and sixth defensemen, it's possible Toronto brings back Matt Hunwick and Roman Polak, both unrestricted free agents. However, upgrading the bottom pairing could go a long way in providing more depth and stability on the blue line. Signing veterans on short-term deals here isn't out of the question, considering prospects Andrew Nielsen and Travis Dermott, both 20, are only a year or two away from being NHL-ready.Lock up Nikita Zaitsev(Photo courtesy: Action Images)TSN's Bob McKenzie reported March 30 that the Leafs and Zaitsev were working toward a seven-year contract extension. Later that day, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that the deal would be worth $4.5 million per season.Not much has been reported since, but talks will likely heat up now that the Leafs' season's over.In his first NHL season, Zaitsev averaged 22:01 per game and tallied 36 points. At 25, he was old for a rookie, but a deal such as the one reported above would take him through the prime years of his career at a reasonable rate.Zaitsev isn't anything to drool over, but he is an exceptional skater who can move the puck and play reliably in his own zone.If the reported deal comes to fruition, Toronto would have Rielly, Gardiner, and Zaitsev under contract at $5 million or less per year.Trade James van Riemsdyk(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)James van Riemsdyk is a legitimate top-six forward, but it's difficult to imagine him being a part of this team long term since he's an unrestricted free agent after next season. As a perennial 25-30 goal-scorer who currently makes $4.25 million per year, he's due for a hefty pay raise.If the Leafs were to hang onto van Riemsdyk, they would likely have to pay him $6 or $7 million per year. That may sound like a bit much, but take a look at what some comparable players are making per season:PlayerCap HitBobby Ryan$7.25MBrandon Saad$6MLoui Eriksson$6MKyle Okposo$6MMilan Lucic$6MAndrew Ladd$5.5MA case can be made that van Riemsdyk is better than all of these players. With even larger pay increases on the horizon for Matthews, Nylander, and Marner, it doesn't make much sense for Toronto to invest a hefty sum in JvR.Since van Riemsdyk is in his prime (he'll turn 28 on May 4), Toronto could use him as its primary trade chip in order to acquire a top-four defenseman.The Leafs have a plethora of internal forward depth that could be used to replace van Riemsdyk's top-six role. Kasperi Kapanen had a great year in the AHL and scored some clutch goals for the big club down the stretch and in the postseason. He seems primed for a promotion.In addition to Kapanen, Josh Leivo was excellent whenever he was called upon. Brendan Leipsic had a superb season in the AHL and seems ready for a full-time role in the NHL. With the projected growth of its young core in place, Toronto could survive the loss of their second-leading point-producer.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tell us how you really feel, Grant.Former Edmonton Oilers goaltender Grant Fuhr took aim at the officiating during Game 1 of the Oilers' second-round series against the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night.

Blues goaltender Jake Allen gambled on a poke check with five minutes left in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, and it backfired.

P.K. Subban takes his game to another level in the postseason.The Nashville Predators defenseman was all over the ice in Game 1 against the St. Louis Blues, scoring a goal and adding a pair of assists in a 4-3 victory Wednesday night.Related: Subban's blasts from the point lead to 3 Predators goalsHe almost had another goal, too, but his empty-netter was waved off because the Predators were offside.Subban's big night gave him five points in five playoff games this spring and continued a trend of increased production come postseason time.

The Anaheim Ducks' blue line will take a major step toward regularity in Game 1 on Monday versus the Edmonton Oilers with defenseman Cam Fowler and Hampus Lindholm back in the lineup.Fowler's been out since an ugly knee-on-knee hit April 4, while Lindholm was injured late in the Ducks' series-clinching win over the Flames last week.Both rearguards play big minutes in the Ducks' top four, and will surely have a role in trying to slow down high-flying Connor McDavid.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville Predators forward Kevin Fiala left Wednesday's Game 1 against the St. Louis Blues on a stretcher after falling hard into the boards following a hit by Robert Bortuzzo.Fiala, who was alert and in stable condition, was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation, according to Predators spokesman Brooks Bratten.The game was delayed several minutes while arena officials waited for another ambulance to arrive.Predators head coach Peter Laviolette had no update on Fiala's condition postgame, according to NHL.com's Arpon Basu.The 20-year-old winger scored twice in Nashville's first-round sweep of the Chicago Blackhawks.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rob Blake and John Stevens will leave no stone unturned in their quest to return the Los Angeles Kings to contention.After missing the playoffs in two of the past three seasons, the Kings opted to clean house by letting go of Stanley Cup architects Dean Lombardi and Darryl Sutter, and the newly appointed duo of Blake and Stevens aim to continue, as well as adjust, Los Angeles' strong directive toward analytics.Since the 2011-12 season - which ended with the Kings winning their first title - Los Angeles owns the NHL's best Corsi-for percentage (55.7 percent). Despite leading the league in that category again this season, the Kings couldn't score.Blake mentioned he and Stevens looked at the location of the Kings shots rather than volume, and how the club generates shots off the rush and in the slot."We've been at the bottom of the league in that statistically throughout the last season here, so there needs to be an emphasis and a detail on the change in that aspect," Blake told Kings Insider Jon Rosen."We were at the bottom of controlled entry, goals off controlled entry. We were near the bottom at getting the puck to the slot whether we were skating it or passing it so there were a lot of things that, the way goals are being scored now, that we weren't having success in."Jeff Carter and Tanner Pearson were the only Kings to score more than 20 goals this season, and Los Angeles as a whole ranked 25th in goals for (199) and dead last in team shooting percentage at five on five (6.26 percent).While all stats will be looked at diligently by the Kings' new regime, analytics won't be the be all end all."Yeah, and there's a lot of things, but you've got to be careful," Stevens said. "Like sometimes, is it a high volume number, or is it a percentage number? And some team might have a bad percentage, but the volume's high, so you've go to make sure you know what you're looking at and some of it is dictated by style of play."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock, Edmonton Oilers bench boss Todd McLellan, and John Tortorella of the Columbus Blue Jackets have been named finalists for the Jack Adams Award.The honor is given annually to the coach judged to have contributed the most to his team's success.Under Babcock, the Leafs made the playoffs for the first time since 2013, and for the first time in a non-lockout season since 2004 after finishing dead last in the league in 2015-16. He's never won this award, but was a finalist in 2008 and 2014 with the Detroit Red Wings.McLellan led the Oilers into the postseason for the first time since 2006, and kept them in the hunt for the Pacific Division title until the final day of the regular season. He was also nominated in 2009 while with the San Jose Sharks.Tortorella helped the Blue Jackets set franchise records for wins and points in a season. Columbus finished with the fourth-best record in the NHL after posting the fourth-worst mark in 2015-16. He's a four-time finalist who won the award in 2004 with the Tampa Bay Lightning.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs right-winger Mitch Marner will look to build off a stellar rookie campaign, as he is set to join Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship, according to Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun.If it weren't for one of the best rookie classes in NHL history, Marner would have gained some consideration for the Calder Trophy, as he finished the season with 19 goals and 61 points. The 19-year-old will be joining a Canadian team with a plethora of talent up front.Defenseman Morgan Rielly will not be joining his Maple Leafs teammate overseas. Rielly won gold with Team Canada at last year's World Championship, played with Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey, and is coming off his first NHL playoff run. That's a lot of hockey in a calendar year."I feel like it's best for me to go home and get some rest, recharge," Rielly told Koshan.The tournament is set to begin May 5 and will be played in both France and Germany.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins rookie defenseman Charlie McAvoy and Chicago Blackhawks rearguard Trevor van Riemsdyk have been added to Team USA's roster for the upcoming World Championships.McAvoy, who debuted impressively in the first round of the playoffs this month, will suit up for his fifth team this year, having represented both the Boston Bruins, Providence Bruins, Boston University, and USA's gold medal-winning world junior squad.Van Riemsdyk, meanwhile, played in 58 games for the Blackhawks this season, and will serve as one of the more experienced members of a young D-corps.USA's tournament begins May 5 versus Germany.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Travis Green is ready to go.Named the 19th head coach of the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday, the 46-year-old British Columbia native is excited by the opportunity to get his home team back on the map."I want to develop a culture that will breed winning. That's a process and that will take time but it starts today," Green said at his introductory press conference. "To our fans, we share the same goal: to have a winning team that's exciting to watch. It's not an overnight process, but it begins now."Green has spent the past four seasons with the organization as head coach of the Utica Comets, the Canucks' AHL affiliate. The Comets advanced to the Calder Cup Finals in 2015.

Only a couple of seats remain on the NHL's coaching carousel. This after two spots were confirmed to have been filled Wednesday.In Boston, the interim tag was removed from Bruce Cassidy's job title, as he was officially named head coach after 33 regular-season and postseason games behind the Bruins' bench. And out West, the Vancouver Canucks promoted their AHL bench boss by naming Travis Green to fill their vacancy.At present, then, only the Buffalo Sabres and Florida Panthers positions remain open. Here's the latest on those fronts:Panthers going to school?On Wednesday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the Panthers recently interviewed University of Denver head coach Jim Montgomery.This falls in line with Montgomery having told Mike Chambers of The Denver Post that he was scheduled to meet with Florida brass after leading his team to an NCAA men's title earlier this month.Friedman, however, added the Panthers may still be doing some legwork.Sabres getting busyMeanwhile, in Buffalo, the Sabres are looking for both a coach and a general manager, and owner Kim Pegula has confirmed the process - beginning with the latter - is well underway.

The Atlantic Division's second-seeded Ottawa Senators will take on the Eastern Conference's top wild-card team, the New York Rangers. Ottawa won the season series 2-1, outscoring New York 8-5. This series comes roughly nine months after the two teams made a trade involving centers Derick Brassard and Mika Zibanejad.Here are three reasons why the Senators will take the series:Ottawa's 1-3-1 trap will stifle New YorkSenators head coach Guy Boucher deploys a very boring (from a viewers perspective), but effective system: the 1-3-1.This means, when the opposition has control of the puck and begins to head up ice, one skater will wait in the neutral zone and attack the puck carrier, three will stay between the red line and their own blue line to prevent a zone entry, and one skater will sit back in the defensive zone in anticipation of a dump in.When everyone on the team buys into this system - which it seems the Senators have - it can be very difficult for an opponent to generate offense.Over a full series, playing against this system can become frustrating. Frustration can lead to sloppy play - something to which the Rangers are no strangers.New York had the fourth-most giveaways in the regular season, and has the second-most giveaways in the playoffs, according to Corsica.Hockey. Ottawa ranked 15th in takeaways during the regular season, but has the most takeaways in the postseason.If the Rangers turn the puck over in the neutral zone on a regular basis, Ottawa has enough speed up front to burn the Rangers' immobile defense in transition.Rangers' poor shot generation could bite themThe Blueshirts ranked 21st in shot attempts during the regular season. The only other teams to qualify for the playoffs with fewer shot attempts were the Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues.Another staple of a Boucher-coached team is elite shot-blocking. The Sens ranked third in blocked shots during the regular season.Factoring in both of these statistics could mean a relatively light workload for Senators goaltender Craig Anderson. The Sens are 13-6-0 when Anderson faced fewer than 30 shots during the regular season and playoffs.In addition to shot quantity, the Rangers could fail to generate quality shots. In the first round, Anderson faced just 4.04 high-danger shots per 60 minutes at 5v5 - the lowest among playoff goaltenders.In comparison, Henrik Lundqvist faced 7.82 high-danger shots per 60 minutes at 5v5 - the highest among playoff goaltenders.Though both goalies have the potential to rob a series, the one who projects to face fewer quality shots and fewer shots overall is more likely to succeed.Erik KarlssonIn what projects to be a low-scoring series, games will often come down to one crucial play. This is where Sens defenseman Karlsson factors in.The argument could be made that Karlsson is the biggest difference-maker in the entire league, let alone this series. He made three plays in particular that essentially won Ottawa's opening-round series against Boston.The Rangers are a deep team with talent up and down the lineup, but they lack that one marquee player they can count on night in and night out. Ottawa has the X-factor in Karlsson. Even while playing through a foot injury, his first step is superior to anyone's in this series. Even in the muddiest of games, he can create offense and make plays.Prediction: Senators in six.Betting LineTeamMoneylineNYR-115OTT-105(Odds courtesy: Bodog)Series ScheduleGameDateTimeHomeAwayTV1Thurs. April 277 pmSenatorsRangersCNBC / CBC / TVA Sports2Sat. April 293 pmSenatorsRangersNBC / CBC / TVA Sports3Tues. May 27 pmRangersSenatorsNBCSN / CBC / TVA Sports4Thurs. May 47:30 pmRangersSenatorsNBCSN / CBC / TVA Sports*5Sat. May 6TBDSenatorsRangersTBD*6Tues. May 9TBDRangersSenatorsTBD*7Thurs. May 11TBDSenatorsRangersTBD(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Yeo knows his St. Louis Blues are about to face a hungry bunch.In advance of a second-round series with the Predators, the Blues bench boss said he was impressed with Nashville's aggressiveness in a four-game sweep of the Chicago Blackhawks."They showed Chicago no respect," Yeo said, according to Adam Vingan of The Tennessean.It's something Yeo will have to stress over and over again, with the unlikelihood that the Blues will be as lucky this time around following a series win of their own against the Minnesota Wild.Of the 16 teams that competed in the opening round, St. Louis ranked second in shots allowed per game (36.4) while coming in last in shots for per game (26.8).Jake Allen came up huge with a .956 save percentage over the five games against Minnesota, but Pekka Rinne was even better against Chicago, stopping the puck at a success rate of .976.Combine St. Louis' shot trends with Nashville's aggressiveness and general lack of respect for their opponents, and the Blues could find themselves being easy prey.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Travis Green has been named the next head coach of the Vancouver Canucks.Green spent the past four seasons as head coach of the Canucks' AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets."Travis is a talented head coach who's played a key role in the development of our young players through four seasons with the Comets," Canucks general manager Jim Benning said in a statement.Before joining the AHL, Green spent one season as a head coach in the WHL, guiding the Portland Winterhawks to the championship."(Travis) has an intense desire to win and build a team identity that is hardworking, responsible on both ends of the ice and competitive," Benning added. "He has an excellent understanding of where we are as an organization and we're confident in his ability to help build our team and develop a winning culture."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Memories are made in the playoffs.While superstars often garner the hockey headlines, depth proves invaluable in the postseason, where players around the league have the opportunity to rewrite their story.Here are five lesser-knowns who will play key roles in the second round of the playoffs:Kevin BieksaThe Anaheim Ducks defenseman is a dying breed - a blue-liner who plays a hard-nosed game and who isn't afraid to mix it up in defending his crease.On a young and deep blue line that boasts the likes of Hampus Lindholm and Cam Fowler, and rising stars in Shea Theodore and Josh Manson, Bieksa's name is often shuffled to the back. But that's where he does his best work.His game is simple: Bieksa helps keep pucks out of his own net, as his proficiency in the opposition's zone has waned in recent years - he finished with just 14 points in the regular season (To note, he tallied four points in the opening-round sweep of the Calgary Flames).He certainly has the support of his coach. As Ducks bench boss Randy Carlyle told Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times on April 18, critics don't see the value Bieksa brings, noting, "We like Kevin Bieksa. I don't care what anybody else says about him, personally."Bieksa's shutdown abilities were invaluable in Round 1, and the Ducks hope he can put together a similar performance in the second round against the Edmonton Oilers.Nick BoninoBonino, Bonino, Bonino!Introductions aside, the Pittsburgh Penguins center may have the most difficult task of the second round: keeping the scoring prowess of the Washington Capitals in check.After eliminating the Columbus Blue Jackets in Round 1, Bonino will need to be up to the task in taking down the Presidents' Trophy winners. For a group that boasts the likes of Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and more, that's no easy task.As for Bonino, the 29-year-old played a key role in last year's Stanley Cup win, putting up 18 points in 24 games. He had just one point in the opening round against the Blue Jackets, but where the Penguins truly need Bonino to contribute is in shutting down the opposition.A strong two-way player, Bonino is regularly relied upon by Penguins coach Mike Sullivan, leading the team in important but less flashy categories, like defensive zone faceoff wins and short-handed time on ice.Mattias EkholmIt's a crowded blue line in the Music City, which leaves little spotlight for one of the Nashville Predators' most valuable defenders.Behind the likes of P.K. Subban, Roman Josi, and Ryan Ellis, Ekholm is the behind-the-scenes blue-liner that keeps the machine roaring in Nashville. While Josi led the group in ice time through its opening-round sweep over the Chicago Blackhawks, the quartet's numbers aren't all that different:Defenseman Games Points Time on IceJosi4327:14Ellis4425:49Subban4225:17Ekholm4125:10Playing a simple and mistake-free game, Ekholm's value in the opening round came in shutting down the opposition's best, knocking out the highly-favored Blackhawks in a quick four-game sweep. Ekholm was a primary piece in stifling Chicago's scorers, as the Blackhawks exited the playoffs having tallied just three goals.The next challenge: a repeat performance in the second round against the St. Louis Blues, where the rival music town has no shortage of offensive support of its own in the likes of Vladimir Tarasenko, Jaden Schwartz, and Alex Steen, among others.Mike HoffmanThe Ottawa Senators rely on scoring by committee to get ahead of the opposition, and there's no more underrated producer than Hoffman.The 27-year-old made his full-time debut with the Senators three years ago, and in the ensuing campaigns has put together consecutive 20-goal seasons. In all, he's amassed 82 goals in 231 games. Not bad.Hoffman was somewhat quiet in the club's opening-round series against the Boston Bruins, scoring twice in Game 3, but held off the scoresheet in four other contests. Going back to the team's scoring-by-committee approach, that left the likes of Bobby Ryan and Derick Brassard to carry the mail for the Senators.But now it's Hoffman's turn. Finishing second to Kyle Turris in goals this season, and behind only star defenseman Erik Karlsson in points, the Senators will need Hoffman to be a key contributor in their second-round matchup against the New York Rangers.Here's the good news: Hoffman has saved some of his best performances when going toe-to-toe against the Broadway Blueshirts, having scored seven points in 12 career games against the Rangers.Nate SchmidtA healthy scratch to begin the postseason, Schmidt has made it a difficult decision for coach Barry Trotz to put him back on the sidelines.Schmidt seized his opportunity when the Capitals lost top-pairing defender Karl Alzner to an upper-body injury after Game 2 in their opening round against the Toronto Maple Leafs.But Schmidt has held his own since becoming a regular, averaging more than 18 minutes a night. He's also picked up two assists, pulling even in points from the back end with more offensive producers like John Carlson and Dmitry Orlov.Where Schmidt lands once Alzner is set to the return to the lineup is unknown, but he's no doubt made his case to stick around.After knocking off the Maple Leafs in Round 1, Schmidt's extended audition will carry through to the second round as the Capitals look to take down the rival Penguins.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin underwent shoulder surgery Tuesday to repair a torn labrum and is expected to recover well before training camp begins, general manager Jim Nill told Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News.Seguin appeared in all 82 games for the Stars this season, recording 26 goals, 46 assists and a career-high 301 shots.He'll enter next season with two years left on his current contract and no doubt with the goal of helping the Stars get back to the playoffs.The expected recovery time from the procedure is four months, per the Stars.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It shouldn't be happening this early in the playoffs, but that shouldn't stop anyone from appreciating the upcoming second-round series between the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins.We all know the NHL's divisional playoff format is flawed. The Capitals won the Presidents' Trophy with a league-best 118 points in the regular season, and the Penguins finished with the second-best record in the NHL. They shouldn't be facing each other until the Eastern Conference final.A traditional bracket pitting No. 1 vs. No. 8, No. 2 vs. No 7, and so forth, makes much more sense. That's why it still exists in the NBA and in the ultimate example of numerical seeding, the NCAA tournament.No disrespect to the New York Rangers or the Ottawa Senators, but the fact that one of those inferior squads is guaranteed a spot in the conference final before having to play either the Capitals or the Penguins is ridiculous.Related - Winnik slams playoff format: 'It's the stupidest thing ever'However, boasting a top seed doesn't mean much once the NHL's two-month postseason marathon begins. The Capitals were No. 1 entering the playoffs last season, but the Penguins knocked them out in six games.The top seed in the Western Conference this season, the Chicago Blackhawks, were swept out of the opening round by the Nashville Predators, a wild-card team.It's unfortunate that the two best teams in the NHL are playing each other one round too soon, and that one of these two dominant squads is going to be sent packing before the Eastern Conference final just because of the format, but they were going to have to play each other eventually."(We) kind of expected that we'd probably see each other at some point, so we just have to prepare," Sidney Crosby told reporters Monday, via Sportsnet.The Penguins have won eight of nine playoff series against the Capitals in their history, but this Pittsburgh squad looks a little different than the one that eliminated the Capitals last spring.Marc-Andre Fleury isn't watching from the bench this time around. He's the Penguins' No. 1 netminder again due to an injury to Matt Murray, who hasn't resumed skating since he was hurt moments before Game 1 against the Columbus Blue Jackets.Crosby is flanked by two talented young wingers, Jake Guentzel and Conor Sheary, and the trio has been one of the NHL's most effective units since it was formed earlier in the campaign.The Capitals have made some changes since their last meeting, too. All-world center Nicklas Backstrom has jumped up to the top line with Alex Ovechkin and T.J. Oshie, while Justin Williams is now in the team's top-six. "Mr. Game 7" provided the overtime winner in the extra frame of Game 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs last week.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)We're well past the point of focusing exclusively on the Crosby-Ovechkin narrative, particularly because these two teams have so much secondary scoring and all-around depth.Both offenses are stacked with prolific scorers and dynamic playmakers. The Penguins led the NHL with 3.39 goals per game, and the Capitals weren't far behind that pace, ranking third with 3.18. Many of those goals came via the man advantage, and the two teams tied for third in the league with a 23.1 percent success rate on the power play in the regular season.The Capitals have the unquestioned edge in goal with 2016 Vezina Trophy winner Braden Holtby, who's nominated for the 2017 award. Washington also got a boost on the back end before the trade deadline, landing Kevin Shattenkirk in a deal with the St. Louis Blues.Pittsburgh was ravaged by injuries on the blue line this season, the most devastating of which was the neck ailment that forced Kris Letang out for the rest of the season earlier this month. But Olli Maatta and Trevor Daley are back, and the additions of Ron Hainsey and Mark Streit before the deadline now give the Penguins options on the back end.It's always a blast when the Capitals and Penguins play in the postseason, and even if it is happening a little earlier than it should, this one should be another doozy. Betting lineTeamMoneylinePeguins+125Capitals-145(Odds courtesy: Bodog)PredictionCapitals in seven. Washington allowed fewer goals than any other team in the regular season, and while Holtby deserves much of the credit for that, it was a team effort.Offense is obviously important, too, but these two high-powered scoring machines are essentially a wash. It will likely come down to who's more effective in their own end. Between goaltending and the defense corps, the Capitals have the edge there.ScheduleGameDateStart TimeAwayHomeTV1Thurs. April 277:30 pmPenguinsCapitalsNBCSN / Sportsnet / TVA Sports2Sat. April 298 pmPenguinsCapitalsNBC / CBC / TVA Sports3Mon. May 17:30 pmCapitalsPenguinsNBCSN / CBC / TVA Sports4Wed. May 37:30 pmCapitalsPenguinsNBCSN / CBC / TVA Sports*5Sat. May 6TBDPenguinsCapitalsTBD*6Mon. May 8TBDCapitalsPenguinsTBD*7Wed. May 10TBDPenguinsCapitalsTBD*If necessaryCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Johansen is ready for the next challenge.The Nashville Predators center played a huge role in the disposing of the Chicago Blackhawks in four games, leading the team with six points (one goal, five assists) while also going head to head with and containing Jonathan Toews.A second-round series with the St. Louis Blues is now on deck, and the 24-year-old doesn't see how he can be held back."Knowing that I played solid against Toews and got the job done versus him, why can’t I do that against anyone?" he opined, per Adam Vingan of The Tennessean.In fact, Johansen - who's set to become a restricted free agent on July 1 - is embracing the Stanley Cup Playoffs as a chance to prove he's a bona fide No. 1 center that can be relied upon to come through when it matters most."I want to be a guy that’s counted on," he said. "I want to be a guy that must perform for us to be successful ... It’s a fun time right now for me. It’s just a great opportunity for me to go out there and prove myself that I can be a top player in this league on the biggest stage."Based on how he played against Chicago, he's well on his way.Game 1 between the Predators and Blues is set for Wednesday in St. Louis.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bruce Cassidy has officially been named head coach of the Boston Bruins.The club confirmed Wednesday that the interim tag has been removed from Cassidy's title, making him the 28th head coach in team history.Following the dismissal of Claude Julien in early February, Cassidy served as acting bench boss over the course of the final 27 regular-season games, guiding the Bruins to a record of 18-8-1 and a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2014. There, Boston fell to the Ottawa Senators in six games.Prior to joining the Bruins, Cassidy spent five seasons as head coach of Boston's AHL club.Including a stint with the Washington Capitals from 2002-04, Cassidy's career head coaching record now stands at 65-55-9-8 with two first-round playoff exits.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After an unforeseen first-round sweep at the hands of the Nashville Predators, word on the street is that the sky is falling in Chicago.Who could've seen that coming, certainly not the entire ESPN panel ... and yours truly, who not only predicted a first-round win by the Blackhawks, but a Stanley Cup victory.Instead, the NHL's most successful dynasty of the last decade was ousted in four games and - for the second straight year - in the opening round.With that considered, it's not all that surprising that many are starting to feel that the Blackhawks' heyday is in the rear-view mirror. And with three Stanley Cups in six years from 2010-2015, it's most likely true.However, to think that the Blackhawks will plummet from the top of the league standings is an outrageous assertion, and here is why:The numbers back it upWhat shouldn't be forgotten is that the Blackhawks had the third-best record in the league this season, behind just the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins.They paced the Western Conference standings and, against all 29 opponents, had a points percentage of under .500 against just six. In fact, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals were the only teams not to lose to the Blackhawks this season.In terms of goal scoring, the Blackhawks finished with the ninth-most tallies - averaging 2.93 goals per game - while boasting six 20-goal scorers, the most of any team.Then there's the goaltending, which has been no slouch either. This season, the Blackhawks allowed the 11th-fewest goals against per game, but had the fifth-best team save percentage.Corey Crawford and Scott Darling are not a bad tandem.Sweep by Preds more of an anomalyMore important than the other reasons not to discredit the Blackhawks is the simple fact that their failed postseason appears to be more of a one-off than anything.During the regular season, the Blackhawks were dominant against the Predators, going 4-1-0 and outscoring them 20-13, including three games where the Blackhawks scored five.This isn't to take anything away form the Predators, but it's clear the Blackhawks got the better of Pekka Rinne during the regular season.Factor in that the Predators had only won three playoff series' in their previous 18 seasons, and it's also quite clear that history wasn't on the Blackhawks side this time around.Just look at that rosterIn the end, the clearest reason why the Blackhawks will still be a team to be feared is their ridiculous roster.They are still very much the envy of the league with Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane - the league's MVP last season - Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Artemi Panarin, Marian Hossa ... the list goes on.This roster has proven itself time and again that there's no quit and that they are among the best in the league - hell, they did as much during the regular season.Not many predicted this fate for the Blackhawks, and it's easy to see why. However, despite their loss, the Blackhawks remain a lethal franchise and they aren't going anywhere anytime soon.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL announced Tuesday that Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds and New York Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic were named the finalists for the NHL Foundation Player Award.The award is given to the player "who applies the core values of hockey - commitment, perseverance, and teamwork - to enrich the lives of people in his community."The winner will be presented with $25,000 toward a charity of their choosing.Simmonds has been instrumental in raising money for kids in his native Scarborough, Ontario by hosting Wayne's Road Hockey Warriors for the past five years. The program - which aims to help children learn the fundamentals of hockey - has raised over $100,000.Hamonic, meanwhile, continues to work with his D-Partner Program that helps children who have lost a parent at a young age. Hamonic has hosted children at Islanders' games and also conducted meet-and-greets and other events with program participants.The award will be announced Tuesday, June 20 at the 2017 NHL Humanitarian Awards.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Don't expect a farewell tour from Zdeno Chara next season.The Boston Bruins captain confirmed at the team's locker clean-out Tuesday that he would like to sign a new contract after his current seven-year deal concludes next season, according to WEEI.com's Ty Anderson.The 40-year-old is coming off his 11th season with the Bruins and 18th in the NHL. He posted 10 goals - his highest total of the past three years - and 29 points in 75 games. Despite his age, he still led the team in ice time, playing an average of 23:20 a night.Chara will make $4 million next season, and if he can continue to to produce at his current clip, he should be welcomed back with open arms at a similar rate.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A day after admitting to playing with a torn MCL and ACL, San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton underwent successful surgery Tuesday to repair both ligaments, the team announced.The 37-year-old is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the 2017-18 season, according to the Sharks.While the news is encouraging, it will be interesting if the injury impacts where he plays next season. Thornton will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and while his 50 points were impressive, he managed just seven goals (with three of them empty-netters).Still, wisdom would suggest if the Sharks aren't eager to bring him back, another suitor will quickly emerge.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins' top center fought through a serious malady all season long.Patrice Bergeron revealed he was playing with a sports hernia throughout the 2016-17 campaign and may require surgery, according to Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com.A sports hernia, per OrthoInfo, is "a painful, soft-tissue injury that occurs in the groin area that most often occurs during sports that require sudden changes of direction or intense twisting movements."Bergeron was still able to appear in 79 regular-season games - earning a Selke Trophy nomination as one of the best two-way forwards in the NHL - but the hernia may explain why he recorded only 12 points from October until the end of December.In six playoff games, Bergeron scored two goals and added two assists while logging almost 23 minutes a night.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Graphic imageWith his season now done, Logan Couture went to the dentist.The San Jose Sharks forward was struck in the face with a puck late in the regular season, and took some time Monday to start fixing things up after being eliminated from the playoffs by the Edmonton Oilers.

The Los Angeles Kings were hurting at the end of the season.The club announced Tuesday that four players - defensemen Derek Forbort and Alec Martinez and forwards Marian Gaborik and Tyler Toffoli - have already undergone offseason medical procedures.PlayerProcedureBody PartForbortMinor surgeryLeft kneeGaborikIn-depth medical procedureLeft kneeMartinezMinor medical procedureChronic groin issueToffoliMinor surgeryLeft kneeForbort, Martinez, and Toffoli are expected to be ready for training camp, while new GM Rob Blake announced Monday during new head coach John Stevens' presser that Gaborik won't be ready to open camp, and that the oft-injured forward will not have his contract bought out.The Kings cleaned house earlier this month, firing general manager Dean Lombardi and head coach Darryl Sutter, with Blake and Stevens taking over.Gaborik, 35, is signed through 2020-21, and that he's hurt again has to be extremely disappointing for the Kings. It appears they're going down with this ship.Forbort and Martinez are big contributors on defense, where the Kings excel, finishing third and fifth on the team in ice time per game, with each playing more than 20 minutes.Toffoli followed his breakout 31-goal and 58-point 2015-16 season with a dud, scoring only 16 goals in 63 games. On a team that couldn't score, however, his goals ranked third and his 36 points tied for sixth.A second-round pick of the Kings in 2010, Toffoli turned 25 on Monday and is a restricted free agent ahead of July 1. He's going to be a top priority for the Kings in what has already been a busy offseason.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Braden Holtby is the betting favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP - which means Vegas believes the Washington Capitals are going to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins for only the second time in 10 playoff series.Bodog issued its Conn Smythe odds Tuesday, and the Caps' star goalie is slightly favored over those Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid guys.Place your bets:Player OddsHoltby (WSH)11/1Crosby (PIT)14/1McDavid (EDM)15/1John Gibson (ANA)16/1Evgeni Malkin (PIT)16/1Pekka Rinne (NAS)16/1Jake Allen (STL)18/1Nicklas Backstrom (WAS)18/1Henrik Lundqvist (NYR)18/1Alex Ovechkin (WSH)18/1Ryan Getzlaf (ANA)20/1Feeling lucky? Mike Hoffman, Roman Josi, and Bryan Rust are your plays, each coming in at 60/1.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On the heels of a wildly successful season wherein the Maple Leafs not only advanced to the playoffs, but gave the first-place Washington Capitals all they could handle in an eventual first-round loss, head coach Mike Babcock acknowledged a roster that finished 30th just last season still needs work.

The Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers are set to duke it out for Pacific Division bragging rights in a second-round playoff series.Here are three players who could make a huge impact and give their team the edge.Rickard RakellIn case you missed it, someone other than Corey Perry led the Ducks in goals this season for the first time in five years, and by a wide margin. That would be Rakell, who broke out to the tune of 33 goals in 71 games, with Jakob Silfverberg coming in a distant second with 23.Rakell has remained productive in the postseason, recording two goals and three assists in Anaheim's four-game sweep of the Calgary Flames.A big factor in the Swede's surge has been the shift from center to the wing, where he's found success playing alongside Ryan Getzlaf, who drew the primary assists on both of Rakell's goals against the Flames. It's not his natural position, but he's taking advantage."Playing more on the wing this year gives me different looks and more opportunities to score," Rakell said in late March, per Jared Clinton of The Hockey News. "It gives me more of a chance to find rebounds and have the puck closer to the net. It’s obviously easier to score from there."Credit goes to head coach Randy Carlyle for making the adjustment and helping Rakell find his wings.Ryan Nugent-HopkinsIt might sound odd to pump the tires of a player who failed to record a single point in the opening round, but here we are.In truth, Nugent-Hopkins was one of the most important contributors in the Oilers' series win over the defending Western Conference champion San Jose Sharks.Flanked by Milan Lucic and Jordan Eberle, Nugent-Hopkins led Edmonton with 17 shots over the six games, and created several other chances that just didn't click. But for head coach Todd McLellan, the center's contributions at the other end of the ice have been equally important."He has the tools to be a tremendous two-way player. When you’re chosen at that spot in the draft (first overall in 2011), you often come in as a one-dimensional, offensive-type player," McLellan said, per Reid Wilkins of CHED 630."In his situation here, he was thrust into that role, and he produced, and that’s the way he was going to go. He had some good years, but the team didn’t win a lot. It’s always about the team. He’s been able to adjust and learn a few things."While paying in that two-way role and being counted on to shut down the opposition, Nugent-Hopkins was a positive possession player against the Sharks, meaning he was on the ice for more shot attempts for than against.If his line can start finishing its scoring chances, and if Nugent-Hopkins starts putting up points - thereby relieving some pressure from Connor McDavid - these Oilers could be a force.John GibsonWhen the Ducks traded Frederik Andersen to the Toronto Maple Leafs last summer, it was with the intention to give Gibson - who's long been thought to be the heir apparent in Anaheim - the starting job.In his first full season in that starting role, Gibson impressed with a record of 25-16-9 and a .924 save percentage, but was slowed through March with a lower-body injury. Backup Jonathan Bernier, who was indirectly acquired in the Andersen move, filled in admirably, but Gibson was always tabbed as the main man in net when healthy, and largely proved himself worthy against the Flames.In three of the four games, Gibson stopped 101-of-106 shots against, good for a save percentage of .953. His series numbers were brought down by a poorer showing in Game 3, in which he was yanked after allowing four goals on 16 shots.Provided that one start was a blip, Gibson appears ready to backstop the Ducks to new heights, fully justifying the decision to anoint him as the team's goalie of the present and future.Betting LineTeamMoneylineEDMEVENANA-120(Odds courtesy: Bodog)PredictionThe Ducks have flown under the radar in Carlyle's second tour of duty behind the bench, but there are reasons why Anaheim rose to the top of a competitive Pacific Division and earned home-ice advantage in this series.For one, and as mentioned above, this isn't just Getzlaf and Perry's team, as the Ducks boast the kind of veteran savvy and youthful exuberance that takes teams deep into the playoffs.On the blue line, for example, the likes of Shea Theodore and Brandon Montour have stepped up and in for the injured Cam Fowler and Sami Vatanen. The latter two could return any day, giving the Ducks seemingly impenetrable depth on the back end.And up front, the scoring of Rakell and Silfverberg is balanced out by the shut-down ability of Ryan Kesler, who recently earned a nod as a Selke Trophy finalist, as well as Antoine Vermette, who remains a force in the faceoff circle. And Patrick Eaves, by the way, is looking like the best trade deadline pickup of them all at this point.Make no mistake, the Oilers are an up-and-coming force, but these Ducks are skilled, tough, and hungry, and their experience will thwart Edmonton's surge - for the time being at least.Ducks in six.ScheduleGameDateTimeHomeAwayTV1Wed. April 2610:30 pmDucksOilersNBCSN / Sportsnet / TVA Sports2Fri. April 2810:30 pmDucksOilersNBCSN / Sportsnet / TVA Sports3Sun. April 307 pmOilersDucksNBCSN / Sportsnet / TVA Sports4Wed. May 310 pmOilersDucksNBCSN / Sportsnet / TVA Sports*5Fri. May 5TBDDucksOilersTBD*6Sun. May 7TBDOilersDucksTBD*7Wed. May 10TBDDucksOilersTBD(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Auston Matthews needs a break.The Toronto Maple Leafs center and likely winner of the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie decided against representing Team USA at the World Championship, saying he's "exhausted" from the grind of a long season, according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet.Here's what his year has looked like:

The Minnesota Wild will be standing relatively pat following an early exit from the Stanley Cup Playoffs.That was the message delivered by general manager Chuck Fletcher on Tuesday, with the caveat that the hockey world is headed for an interesting offseason with the addition of the Vegas Golden Knights and a salary cap that isn't expected to rise all that much.

Nikita Zaitsev will not represent Russia at the 2017 World Championship in Paris and Germany.The Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman did not gain the necessary medical clearance from team doctors after suffering a head injury, according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet.

It was a rare moment of honesty in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Following a series win over the Boston Bruins, Erik Karlsson admitted to having been playing with two hairline fractures in his left heel.As the Ottawa Senators now prepare to face off against the New York Rangers in the second round, head coach Guy Boucher was asked if he was concerned about what Karlsson had disclosed, fearing the opposition may target the sore spot."It's over," Boucher countered Tuesday, per Ian Mendes of TSN. "That's why he said it. He's perfectly healthy now."Perhaps a higher power has been at work since Karlsson suffered the injury back in late March:

The Vancouver Canucks are close to finalizing a deal with Travis Green to be the team's new head coach, according to Bob McKenzie of TSN.The former NHL center has served as head coach of the AHL's Utica Comets since 2013, and although Vancouver's farm team finished outside of the playoff picture this season, Green led the club to success in the past, including a Calder Cup Final appearance in 2015.Green also coached the WHL's Portland Winterhawks to a league championship in 2013.As a player, he logged 970 games over 16 seasons, recording 193 goals and 262 assists.A formal announcement is expected within the next couple of days, per McKenzie.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's the matchup that was never supposed to happen.The Nashville Predators pulled off the mother of all upsets in the first round, knocking out the Western Conference-leading Chicago Blackhawks in a clean sweep. The St. Louis Blues then followed that up with a 4-1 series win over the No. 2-ranked Minnesota Wild.So here we are.The Predators and Blues will now battle for a spot in the Western Conference Final. This series looks to be a battle of two defensive specialists, but that's just one of the storylines to keep an eye on heading into this second-round clash.Will Tarasenko break out?The Blues just aren't the same team without Vladimir Tarasenko.No, the Russian forward hasn't been injured, but with just one goal and only two helpers in the previous series, it's clear the Blues will be wanting more from their offensive dynamo.Tararensko had 16 more goals than his closest teammate and 20 more points during the 2016-17 campaign. He also led his club with nine power-play goals during the regular season and the team could certainly use more of those.So it's time for him to get back on track. During his playoff career he has averaged at least one goal every other game and that's exactly what the Blues would like to see from the 25-year-old.The Blues need Tarasenko to be at his best. That being said, if the Predators can keep him in check, they will certainly help their chances of escaping the series with a win.Rinne vs. AllenDon't expect any blowouts here.This matchup will feature the two hottest goalies going in Pekka Rinne and Jake Allen. In fact, these two men both arguably won their team's first-round series single-handedly.Goalie GP Save Percentage Goals-Against Average ShutoutsRinne4.9760.702Allen5.9561.470Rinne certainly has the edge in the numbers, thanks in large part to the two goose eggs he posted in the first two games against the Blackhawks, but it should be noted that Allen has been the busier of the two, having faced an average of nearly five more shots per game.That being said, it sure looks like we have the makings of a real goaltending duel on our hands.Can Blues up their game?Minnesota dominated St. Louis in their first round series, just ask head coach Bruce Boudreau.The Wild were the better team, but still the Blues reigned victorious thanks in large part to the man mentioned above. The Blues were out-dueled in almost every aspect of the game and sit in the playoff basement in several important categories.They rank last among all postseason clubs in shots per game (26.8), shots against per game (38.8), tied for last in power play proficiency (6.7 percent), and rank second-last among teams remaining in goals per game (2.20).It's becoming quite clear that this is not a winning formula, and while they may have escaped the first round, they cannot depend on Allen to save the day once again.Mike Yeo must get his club back to controlling some of the play if they are to advance to the next round.Betting LineTeamMoneylinePredators-125Blues+105(Odds courtesy: Bodog)PredictionAs mentioned above, this should be a tight one.Both teams muscled their way to the second round on the backs of great goaltending and solid play in their own end. However, recent trends in these playoffs suggest the Predators have the edge.While the Blues got by almost entirely on goaltending, the Predators got both great performances from Rinne and solid offensive contributions in the first round.The team averaged 3.25 goals per game, good enough for third in the postseason behind the Pittsburgh Penguins and Anaheim Ducks. The Predators are averaging the highest percentage of goals scored at 5-on-5, while just seven of the Blues' 11 goals have come at full strength.The Predators also own the more well-rounded and versatile defense core. We could see some ugly looking hockey, but when all is said and done, the Predators are likely to prevail.ScheduleGameDateTimeHomeAwayTV1Wed. April 268 pmSTLNASNBCSN / CBC / TVA Sports2Fri. April 288 pmSTLNASNBCSN / CBC / TVA Sports3Sun. April 303 pmNASSTLNBC / Sportsnet / TVA Sports4Tues. May 29:30 pmNASSTLNBCSN / Sportsnet / TVA Sports*5Fri. May 5TBDSTLNASTBD*6Sun. May 7TBDNASSTLTBD*7Tues. May 9TBDSTLNASTBD(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

And then there were eight.The first round's in the books, and a good time was had by all. (Well, except the teams that had their seasons end.)Related: 5 reasons why the 1st round was excellenttheScore's hockey editors are ready for Round 2. Our picks for the four series are below, as well as our first-round prediction performances.Eastern ConferenceSenators vs. RangersEditorPickJosh Gold-SmithNYRCraig HagermanNYRFlip LivingstoneNYRIan McLarenOTTSean O'LearyNYRSonny SachdevaNYRNavin VaswaniNYRCory WilkinsOTTJosh WegmanOTT

The Chicago Blackhawks' decision to fire assistant coach Mike Kitchen reportedly didn't sit well with Joel Quenneville.Kitchen's firing was not orchestrated by the head coach, who was upset by the move, multiple league sources told Chris Hine of the Chicago Tribune.The team didn't include a statement from Quenneville in the news release announcing Kitchen's dismissal.Related: Blackhawks fire assistant coach Kitchen after playoff sweepKitchen's firing is expected to cause more conflict between Quenneville and general manager Stan Bowman, wrote Hine. The two Blackhawks staffers engaged in a power struggle over personnel in 2012 that was alleviated by a pair of subsequent Stanley Cup championships in 2013 and 2015.Bowman likely fired Kitchen to reassert authority over the organization's personnel and to send everyone, including Quenneville, a message, according to the report.The GM said Saturday that changes were coming, but the head coach was not going to be let go at this juncture, following a first-round sweep at the hands of the Nashville Predators.Kitchen was fired Monday after a seven-season stint with the Blackhawks that began when he was reunited with Quenneville in the summer of 2010.Quenneville and Kitchen worked together from 1998-2003 with the St. Louis Blues.They also played together with the Colorado Rockies and New Jersey Devils from 1979-83.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson, Anaheim Ducks forward Andrew Cogliano, and Carolina Hurricanes forward Derek Ryan have been named the three finalists for the Bill Masterton Trophy, the Professional Hockey Writers Association announced on Monday.The award is voted on by the PWHA and recognizes players who best exemplify perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to the game.Anderson earned his nomination after the tough year he endured. Back in late October, his wife Nicholle was diagnosed with a rare form of throat cancer.The diagnosis forced Anderson to miss various chunks of time with Senators during the regular season, but still turned in incredible performances. Ultimately, he concluded the year with a 25-11-4 record in 40 games with a 2.28 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage.Cogliano got the nod for his unmatched durability. The 29-year-old is now in his 10th season in the league and has yet to miss a game since he stepped on the ice in his first season in 2007-08.He is the current Ironman with 779 consecutive games played and has now played the second most games to begin a career in NHL history behind Doug Jarvis, who played 964 games.Ryan rounds out the nominees, having made the NHL on a full-time basis this season after a rather unorthodox journey to the league. Ryan earned his first full-time gig with a team this season, playing 67 games with the Hurricanes and chipping in 11 goals and 29 points.This comes after he went undrafted while playing in the Western Hockey League, the United Hockey League, for the University of Alberta, in Austria, in the Swedish Elite League, and the American Hockey League.Ryan has certainly payed his dues and is finally living the dream.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.