The third round of the NHL playoffs kicks off Thursday night, with a couple of sunbelt teams set to square off in Carolina.Let's get right to the best bets.Panthers (+120) @ Hurricanes (-140)The Hurricanes have been very impressive through the opening two rounds. Despite dealing with several key injuries, they own an 8-3 record and have been shockingly good at generating offense.Among the 16 teams to qualify for the playoffs, only the Oilers managed to generate expected goals at a higher clip during five-on-five play. With the Oilers bounced, the Hurricanes are the best of the bunch.That's remarkable considering they entered the playoffs without their two best goal-scorers and promptly lost Teuvo Teravainen to a healthy slash on the hands.The good news for the Hurricanes is that reinforcements are on the way. Teravainen has recovered remarkably quickly and is expected to rejoin Carolina for its series opener against the Panthers.He should provide the Hurricanes a nice jolt, giving them more talent to help convert on the abundance of chances they've managed to create without so many key pieces.With the way Sergei Bobrovsky is playing right now, the Hurricanes need to continue generating chances in bulk - and they need players like Teravainen on the receiving end.Luckily, that shouldn't be a problem. The Hurricanes have fared better at five-on-five during the playoffs and feasted on the Panthers in that aspect during the regular season, posting expected goal shares of 57%, 63%, and 65% over three head-to-head meetings.The Jaccob Slavin-Brent Burns pairing - and Carolina's relentless forechecking - should not only help neutralize Florida's offense but also lead to some excellent counterattacking opportunities against Bobrovsky.Sooner or later, he's going to come back down to earth. It could be soon considering the Hurricanes have had no trouble filling the net, scoring 3.54 goals per 60 minutes in these playoffs.Look for them to break through the wall of Bobrovsky and claim a Game 1 victory.Bet: Hurricanes (-140)Aleksander Barkov over 2.5 shots (-110)The Hurricanes aren't prone to breakdowns that allow opponents to generate Grade A opportunities off the rush. Opponents have to sustain pressure in the offensive zone and grind their way to the dirty areas to get shots on net. That's exactly what Barkov likes to do and likely plays a large part in his successful history against Carolina.Barkov has registered at least three shots in eight of the last nine meetings against the Hurricanes. He fell only one short in the lone exception and missed the net twice, meaning the opportunity was there.Barkov is routinely playing 22-plus minutes a night during these playoffs. Having sat on the sidelines resting for an extended period, he'll undoubtedly get a full workload. Look for him to take advantage.Brent Burns over 3.5 shots (-110)Of the teams to win a round, the Panthers are last in the Eastern Conference in shots allowed per game to opposing defensemen. That spells trouble when going up against a player like Burns.He's teeing off on a nightly basis, particularly at home. Burns has recorded four shots or more in four of six home dates, averaging just under 10 attempts per game in that time.He's playing 23-plus minutes per game and is as trigger-happy as any defenseman in the league. Without the goal-scoring threats of Andrei Svechnikov and Max Pacioretty, it's even more imperative that Burns contributes offensively. There's no reason to expect that volume to drop.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars have gotten key contributions from several players during their run to the Western Conference Final, but no one is turning heads quite like rookie center Wyatt Johnston.Johnston impressed during the regular season with with 24 goals and recently introduced himself on the biggest stage with a showstopping game-winning tally against the Seattle Kraken in Game 7."Special hockey mind," head coach Pete DeBoer told The Athletic's Saad Yousuf. "He just gets it. ... We've done very little individual video with him because it always seems like he's put himself in the right spot on the ice and the right spot within our system. He's special that way."Johnston was the 23rd overall pick in 2021. He missed an entire season of junior hockey due to the pandemic and wasn't projected to make Dallas' roster out of training camp last fall."I had no expectations," DeBoer said. "I haven't had a player that young step into the lineup and contribute at this level in my 15 years in the league. Really not anyone even close to being ready to do that. My expectations were small. It was, 'Let's give him a look and set him up to try to have success in training camp and see how long it lasts.' And he took that, and here we are today."Johnston has registered four goals and two assists in 13 playoff contests and has seen his ice time jump to 17:14 per game from 15:29 in the regular season. He's anchoring a line with veterans Jamie Benn and Evgenii Dadonov and has drawn rave reviews from Dallas' captain."His mindset coming into training camp was that he was going to earn a spot on this team and not be denied," Benn said. "You could kind of tell right from Day 1 that this kid was pretty focused, pretty dialed in, knew that if he worked hard and played with his confidence and played the way he knew he could, he would be here. That's exactly what he did."Johnston and the Stars will begin their conference final against the Golden Knights on Friday night in Vegas.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Now that the NHL's conference final pairings are set, it's time to ponder the possible Stanley Cup Final showdowns they could yield.Before we get there, we do have some compelling storylines in the upcoming round. For example, both series feature a head coach facing one of their former teams. Dallas Stars bench boss Peter DeBoer is going up against the Vegas Golden Knights, who he led from 2019-20 to 2021-22.Meanwhile, Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice faces the Carolina Hurricanes, who he guided for parts of 11 seasons over two separate stints, along with a pair of campaigns with their initial incarnation, the Hartford Whalers.While that won't be a factor once we get to the Cup Final, there should still be plenty of narratives in the decisive series. Each remaining club has top-end talent and has been captivating to watch for one reason or another.Here's how we rate the four potential scenarios:4. Stars vs. Panthers Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThis would be the least appealing simply because it involves the two worst teams of the four. The Stars finished second in the Central Division at 47-21-14, while the Panthers snuck in with the second Eastern Conference wild-card berth and placed fourth in the Atlantic at 42-32-8.Florida pulled off two monumental feats in getting to this point by dispatching the record-setting Boston Bruins in seven games and eliminating the Toronto Maple Leafs in five. Would it be fun to see if the lowest seed in a conference can win the Cup for the first time since the Los Angeles Kings in 2012? Sure. The Panthers are true underdogs (undercats?), and they've been a great story this spring. But this matchup as a whole doesn't elicit as much excitement as the others.The Stars do have their share of skill. They boast the electric Jason Robertson, the current leader in the Conn Smythe Trophy race in Roope Hintz, rookie sensation Wyatt Johnston, and the ageless Joe Pavelski, who'll turn 39 in July. Pavelski is looking to win the Cup for the first time, but he's been terrific this season. So while his pursuit of that elusive championship is a storyline, this may not be the veteran forward's last dance.3. Panthers vs. Golden Knights Jeff Bottari / National Hockey League / GettyNo matter who prevails in Round 3, the Cup Final will feature two teams from so-called "untraditional" hockey markets. Of course, that term has lost meaning now that the Stars, Hurricanes, and several other southern-based and/or western-situated squads have won titles.However, the fact remains that neither the Golden Knights nor the Panthers have ever hoisted Lord Stanley's mug, so this pairing would guarantee a first-time champion. Both Florida and Vegas have been right on the doorstep, reaching the final in 1996 and 2018, respectively. The Colorado Avalanche swept the Panthers in Florida's third season in the league, while the Washington Capitals took care of the Golden Knights in five games in Vegas' inaugural campaign.There are other reasons this could be a watchable series. For example, the Panthers and Golden Knights both have ultra-versatile, two-way wizards in the forms of Matthew Tkachuk and Mark Stone. It could be enjoyable to watch them battle in the corner. But the on-ice product as a whole won't be quite as fun as the two other possibilities.2. Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes Jeff Bottari / National Hockey League / GettyOn paper, this is the best possible matchup as it features two top seeds. But the games aren't played on paper. The Golden Knights won the Pacific, but that's the NHL's worst division. Vegas got three more points than Dallas during the regular season, but the Stars' plus-67 goal differential ranked second in the league, while their hypothetical opponents here sat ninth at plus-43.The Golden Knights are also an average possession team, having ranked 16th in five-on-five xGF% during the regular season. That being said, Jack Eichel's stellar play in his first crack at the playoffs has been a delight, and Vegas remains a talented group blessed with depth almost everywhere. It's a shame injured Hurricanes forward Max Pacioretty won't be able to take part in this potential final against his old squad, but there would be a lot to like about the scenario nonetheless.Carolina goaltender Frederik Andersen and Golden Knights netminder Adin Hill have both been dominant in these playoffs. Andersen is excelling after overcoming numerous past injuries, and Hill has stepped in admirably amid ailments sustained by his partners in the Vegas crease. Tom Pennington / Getty Images Sport / Getty1. Hurricanes vs. Stars This one's the most appealing for several reasons. Firstly, Carolina led the NHL in expected goals for percentage at five-on-five during the regular season, and Dallas is on top in that category so far in this postseason. These are two superb possession teams, and that combination of play-driving squads makes this possibility slightly more tantalizing than the Hurricanes' alternative.Sebastian Aho and his teammates are also looking to win it all without (and for) Andrei Svechnikov, whose campaign ended in March due to a torn ACL. Svech's absence has taken some oomph out of the Carolina offense, but it's also made the team even more of a sentimental favorite. The Hurricanes and Stars are both elite defensive teams, too. While that could hurt the ratings, it would add to the recipe for what would be the best Cup Final outcome.(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes appear to be staying put for the 2023-24 campaign despite rampant relocation speculation following their failed bid for a new arena in Tempe."I don't envision a scenario in which the Coyotes are not playing in Mullett Arena next season," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly wrote in an email to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.Coyotes president and CEO Xavier Gutierrez also said the team won't move this offseason."We remain committed to Arizona and have already started re-engaging with local officials and sites to solidify a new permanent home in the Valley," Gutierrez said, per PHNX Sports' Craig Morgan.Tempe residents voted Tuesday against a plan to build a $2.1-billion entertainment district featuring a new arena for the team.The organization and the NHL both expressed disappointment over the result, with commissioner Gary Bettman saying the league will "review with the Coyotes what the options might be going forward."The Coyotes moved into Mullett Arena, a 4,600-seat venue shared with Arizona State's collegiate hockey program, this past season and have two years left on that agreement. It's the team's third home arena since moving to Arizona from Winnipeg in 1996.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Leon Draisaitl scored just shy of a million goals in Round 1, and our theory that Connor McDavid was the only Oiler worth betting for the Conn Smythe Trophy looked like it might have some flaws. Then another round went by and McDavid reeled in his teammate. The problem for McDavid's playoff MVP candidacy? The whole "not getting out of the second round" thing.While the Oilers duo is no longer under consideration, it exemplifies the importance of allowing for a bigger sample size. Things can change in one series. While McDavid and Draisaitl are among the 75% of playoff participants that have been eliminated, eventual Conn Smythe resumes are only halfway built - and with memories being as short as they are, the most important half is yet to come.Conn Smythe Trophy oddsPLAYERODDSJack Eichel+600Sebastian Aho+600Matthew Tkachuk+800Frederik Andersen+900Roope Hintz+900Sergei Bobrovsky+900Mark Stone+1000Carter Verhaeghe+1600Jake Oettinger+1600Joe Pavelski+2000Martin Necas+2000Brent Burns+2500Jordan Martinook+2500Adin Hill+4000Aleksander Barkov+4000Brandon Montour+4000Jason Robertson+4000Jonathan Marchessault+4000Jordan Staal+4000Miro Heiskanen+4000Seth Jarvis+4000Chandler Stephenson+5000William Karlsson+5000Alex Pietrangelo+10000Jaccob Slavin+10000Nick Cousins+10000Shea Theodore+10000Jack Eichel and Sebastian Aho replace McDavid as Conn Smythe co-favorites, representing the leading scorers on each of the slight favorites in their respective conference finals. However, Eichel's 14 points don't put him far enough ahead of double-digit-scoring teammates Mark Stone, Jonathan Marchessault, and Chandler Stephenson, while Aho has just 10 points through two rounds.We had to wave goodbye to McDavid, but we're still holding out hope for one of Jake Oettinger, Jason Robertson, or Miro Heiskanen from before the playoffs. Oettinger will have to break a recent habit of getting pulled in order to be the Stars' MVP, but the best goaltender left in the tournament still available at 16-1 isn't bad if you haven't bought a ticket on him yet. Robertson, meanwhile, is seven points back of Roope Hintz for the Stars' leading scorer, but he could make up that gap with a few timely goals.Most interestingly, the Stars' actual MVP is still 40-1. It's been easy to lose focus on Dallas in the early rounds with late start times and other games on, but anyone paying attention knows that Heiskanen has been the best player on the ice for almost every one of his postseason-high 28 minutes per game. He may need to score to garner more attention from voters, but hopefully those responsible for crowning the playoff's most valuable player are capable of recognizing actual value.We've seen improved equity on Matthew Tkachuk since the Panthers upset the Maple Leafs. However, with the Golden Knights and Hurricanes just as likely to advance, it's time to add a player from each squad to our portfolio in case they do.None of the forwards for Carolina and Vegas have stood out, and if that continues to be the case, a defender could improve his chances in the next four weeks, especially playing in front of sketchy goaltending. Brent Burns (+2500) and Alex Pietrangelo (+10000) should find themselves among the top two or three candidates on their own team should they get to the Stanley Cup Final.Position of Conn Smythe Winner oddsFORWARD GOALTENDER DEFENSEMAN-250+275+1000*Odds from theScore BetUnlike those Oilers stars, or other headliners from the past, the four remaining teams' scorers aren't separating themselves from their teammates. Meanwhile, even in series victories, goaltenders are getting pulled at an alarming rate. Whether it's individually or as a group, defensemen are being undervalued relative to what they're providing their teams, with a prime contender on each of the remaining clubs. At 10-1, you can throw a blanket on Heiskanen, Burns, Pietrangelo, Brandon Montour, or any dark-horse contender to follow in the footsteps of Cale Makar and Victor Hedman - Conn Smythe-winning defensemen in two of the last three playoffs.Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ken Holland will honor the final year of his contract as president of hockey operations and general manager of the Edmonton Oilers."I've got a year to go on my contract. For me, it's unfinished business," Holland told reporters Wednesday, according to Sportsnet. "I plan to honor my contract."But after 2023-24, it's up in the air. The veteran executive used an unusual analogy to hint that his time running the club is winding down."Beyond that, at this stage in my life, I don't invest in green bananas," he said. "I'm not sure if I'm going to be around long enough to see them ripen to be yellow."Holland is 67 years old and just completed his fourth season running the Oilers. He previously served as executive vice president of hockey operations and GM of the Detroit Red Wings from 1997-2019, overseeing three Stanley Cups while in charge. He was part of another championship as assistant GM."The last time that I was the general manager of a Stanley Cup championship team was 2008. That's a player's lifetime. That's 16 years ago. I would love to do that one more time," Holland said. "I think we've got a group of players and a team that it can happen. But it doesn't just happen."The Oilers fell in Round 2 to the Vegas Golden Knights in six games even though many pundits picked them as a Stanley Cup favorite with the likes of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl leading the way."Massively, massively, massively disappointed that we didn't go farther," Holland said. "But I also have a total respect for Vegas. They beat us."Despite the devastation, Holland believes the Oilers' future remains bright."I've been around the National Hockey League a long time. I know how hard it is to win, and they won, and we didn't," he said. "But I also know that we've got, in my opinion, a hell of a hockey team. Most of those players in that locker room are in the prime of their career, so it's not like we're going away."Holland dealt his 2023 first-round pick at the trade deadline for defenseman Mattias Ekholm, who's under contract for three more seasons. It marked the first time in Holland's Oilers tenure that he traded away a first-rounder, signaling the time to win is now.Edmonton hasn't won a Stanley Cup since 1990.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The writing might finally be on the wall regarding the Arizona Coyotes' tenure in the desert.After 27 years in the state and a significant amount of organizational turmoil, the future of Arizona's franchise appears to be in significant jeopardy following a failed bid to secure a new arena in Tempe. The Coyotes said the NHL will determine what's next, and deputy commissioner Bill Daly has since stated the Coyotes are expected to stay put for at least another season. Still, the burning question remains at the forefront of the hockey world: Where might the Coyotes relocate?Gary Bettman has deflected answers to that question for years and has fought tooth and nail to keep the club in the Southwest. He even said if the Tempe arena deal was secured then the Coyotes would stay in Arizona forever.Bettman's hand could now be forced, and with that in mind, we're exploring seven options to be the Coyotes' new home. The locations vary in feasibility, but here are our best guesses.Already in the mixHoustonHouston has been a rumored NHL destination for a while, and it's a sensible fit for the Coyotes. They wouldn't have to leave the Central Division if they packed for Texas, and it would create a natural rivalry with the Dallas Stars.Additionally, the NHL is the only big-four North American league that doesn't have multiple teams in the state, and Houston is a gigantic market to explore as the United States' fourth-most populated city. Of course, a dense population clearly isn't the be-all and end-all for a successful NHL team, as Phoenix ranks fifth.Houston also has an NHL-caliber arena in the Toyota Center, home of the NBA's Rockets. Owner Tilman Fertitta expressed a desire to bring the NHL to Houston when the league expanded to Vegas in 2017, and it's easy to imagine he'll be in the mix again.Salt Lake City Melissa Majchrzak / National Basketball Association / GettyUtah's capital hasn't traditionally been viewed as a hockey hotbed, but Salt Lake City may get its chance. It's another location that could serve in the Central Division and as a possible geographical rival with the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights.Salt Lake City also has a ready-made arena thanks to the Utah Jazz, who are run by an ambitious owner with his sights set on the NHL. Ryan Smith caused a stir in April when he tweeted that bringing hockey to the area is "in motion."Smith was in the mix to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins when they went up for sale in 2021, and Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the billionaire had dinner with Bettman in March. That hardly guarantees an NHL team in the Beehive State, but it's a notable development considering the lack of concrete information available.Geographical fitsKansas CityYou've may have surmised by now that Central Division options are a common theme. It makes sense, given how adamant Bettman has been about keeping the league's division-based playoff format and how recently the league realigned to welcome Seattle into the fold. With that in mind, we're tossing Kansas City out there despite no clear ownership candidates.Kansas City has a failed NHL history with the Scouts - now the New Jersey Devils - in the 1970s, but the league has shown a willingness to return to a market before. (More on that later.) Kansas City has a modest population of approximately 500,000 but has proved to be a passionate fan base for teams in the area. Superstar Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is a noted hockey nut and would be a terrific ambassador to help popularize an NHL franchise.There's an 18,000-seat arena at the ready in the T-Mobile Center and an immediate rivalry option with the nearby St. Louis Blues, who have built a strong market in the Midwest that was rewarded with a Stanley Cup in 2019.Milwaukee Jesse D. Garrabrant / National Basketball Association / GettyHere's the last of of Central Division fits. The University of Wisconsin is one of the most revered college hockey programs, and the state has produced stars such as Joe Pavelski, Phil Kessel, Gary and Ryan Suter, and Cole Caufield, among many others. Despite seeming like a natural fit for an NHL franchise, Milwaukee hasn't garnered much attention.Maybe now is the time. There's an arena available to be shared with the Bucks and plenty of potential enemies in the area, including the Minnesota Wild, Chicago Blackhawks, and Winnipeg Jets. Milwaukee was almost granted a franchise when the league expanded in 1992 but was beat out by the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators. The market still might be too small for Bettman's taste.Let's get crazyAtlantaIs the third time a charm in Atlanta? Even before the Coyotes' arena plan fell through, the city has been occupying headlines as a rumored destination. ESPN's John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes both raised eyebrows with cryptic tweets about a return to Georgia, and then Bettman confirmed Atlanta's interest in March before insisting expansion wasn't on the league's to-do list.Atlanta has seen two teams leave the city: the Flames in 1980 and Thrashers in 2011. There's an arena downtown that the Thrashers used to share with the NBA's Hawks, but Bettman mentioned bidders have tabled funding new buildings for a potential NHL return, which wouldn't help the Coyotes in the near term.Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo has ties to Atlanta, as he bid to buy the Hawks in 2011. The Coyotes have two more years on their deal at Mullett Arena, so maybe there's a path to relocate to Atlanta down the road, but at this juncture, it feels unlikely given the current hurdles.Toronto Steve Russell / Toronto Star / GettyIf the league wants instant interest, it's difficult to imagine a better landing spot than Toronto. The Maple Leafs are perennially one of the league's top revenue-earners, and there's an expansive population in the area that could easily financially support a second team. It shouldn't be difficult to find fans, given how big the market is and how jaded Leafs supporters have grown in the wake of seven consecutive playoff failures and a Cup drought in its 56th year.This is the least likely scenario on the list. There's been no hints from pundits, ambitious owners, or Bettman, but it'd be the most chaotic option, and that's why we love it.Quebec CityDevoted supporters of the old Nordiques are sure to be dreaming again. Quebec has been vying to get a franchise back since the Nordiques left for Colorado in 1995 and has gone as far as building a state-of-the-art rink in the Videotron Centre. Bettman hasn't exactly been bullish on bringing a second team back to the province given the small market in Quebec City, and he has reason to be hesitant about an eighth franchise in Canada considering the Winnipeg Jets are near the bottom in league revenue 12 years after coming back.Realignment would also likely be required. It's not impossible - with 32 teams, the NHL could move to smaller divisions like the NFL - but Bettman has vouched for the current setup time and time again. Although there's technically a slight opening for an NHL return to Quebec's capital, supporters in La Belle Province shouldn't hold their breath for the Coyotes.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Lindy Ruff isn't going anywhere.New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald confirmed the veteran bench boss will return as the team's head coach next season."I've always said that Lindy Ruff was the right coach for this group," Fitzgerald said Wednesday, per team reporter Amanda Stein. "So here we are today. He's still the right coach for this group, he's earned that right. He deserves that, we deserve him to be quite honest."Fitzgerald added: "Those kids love him."Ruff's contract expires June 30, but he's already in the midst of negotiating a new deal, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The veteran bench boss guided the Devils to their first postseason appearance since 2018 with a 52-22-8 record. New Jersey defeated the rival New York Rangers in Round 1, marking the team's first playoff series win since they went to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012. They fell in five games to the Carolina Hurricanes in Round 2.Ruff was named one of three finalists for the Jack Adams Award, given to the coach of the year, for his efforts. He won the award previously in 2006 with the Buffalo Sabres.The 63-year-old owns a 98-98-24 record in three seasons with the Devils. He ranks fifth on the NHL's all-time coaching wins list with 834 career victories.Signing Ruff to a new deal will just be the first order of business for Fitzgerald. He has lots on his plate this offseason, including new deals for restricted free-agent forwards Jesper Bratt and prized trade deadline pickup Timo Meier.Fitzgerald is optimistic a deal will get done with Bratt."We paused the talks prior to the playoffs which I think was the right thing to do," Fitzgerald said regarding Bratt. "There's definitely progression for sure. There's framework for a deal long-term if Jesper wants that. Jesper knows exactly what that framework looks like. I know Jesper wants to be a Devil long-term and so do we."The GM has already reached out to Meier's agent about an extension."Meier knows that I believe this is the right place for Timo," Fitzgerald said. "He and his agent and I will talk and go through this and hopefully figure something out long-term."Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Stanley Cup race has been winnowed to four teams. The Carolina Hurricanes will face the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final (Game 1 goes Thursday) as the Vegas Golden Knights square off with the Dallas Stars for Western supremacy (series starts Friday). Expect these key players, two per squad, to influence who emerges from Round 3.Note: Statistics are updated through the second round. Tracking data is courtesy of Sportlogiq.Jonathan Marchessault Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesMarchessault, the Golden Knights' franchise leader in goals and points, didn't score for seven games to open the playoffs, despite firing 23 pucks on net.Bound to get rewarded, he bagged five goals on 23 shots over the next four outings. Marchessault's natural hat trick in the Round 2 clincher, which extinguished the Edmonton Oilers, showcased his wicked release and willingness to storm the crease.Every Vegas forward line can attack with speed, strike off the cycle, and expose the opposing defense's vulnerabilities. The top trio - Jack Eichel between Marchessault and Ivan Barbashev - is the tip of the spear. Edmonton got outscored 7-1 in this combo's five-on-five shifts, according to Natural Stat Trick. Marchessault leads Vegas and ranks in the top 10 league-wide in slot shots, scoring chances off the rush, and individual expected goals.Marchessault is one of six holdovers from the Golden Misfits expansion team that stunned the sport by surging to the 2018 Cup Final. He's delivered six multi-goal efforts in the playoffs since that year, the third-most in the NHL in the span, per Stathead. The chances he generates and finishes might lift Vegas to victory in another monumental game.Adin Hill Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesLaurent Brossoit's injury could have sunk Vegas last round. Instead, the opposite happened.Hill - one of five netminders the Golden Knights have deployed in 2022-23 - replaced Brossoit partway through Game 3 and sparkled from that moment onward. Hill recorded a .934 save percentage against Edmonton, and he stopped 5.56 goals above expected, per Evolving Hockey.The former Arizona Coyotes and San Jose Sharks backup compiled a .915 save percentage over 27 appearances for Vegas in the regular season. Shelved in March with a lower-body ailment, the Oilers series was Hill's first action in two months. He celebrated his 27th birthday last week by starting in the playoffs for the first time.Logan Thompson remains out with a lower-body injury. Jonathan Quick, the aging former Conn Smythe Trophy winner, was one of the NHL's shakiest goalies this season. Despite his inexperience, Hill is the Golden Knights' best healthy option. They can win the West if his sterling play persists.Miro Heiskanen Christopher Mast / NHL / Getty ImagesCut on the cheek by an errant deflection, Heiskanen rocked a face shield for most of Dallas' seven-game slugfest with the Seattle Kraken.Figuratively if not literally, Heiskanen looked fine. He skated for more than 30 minutes in Games 4 and 7, even though neither contest went to overtime. Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard is the only other player who's done that in regulation this spring.The Stars lean on Heiskanen in all situations. He tops the playoffs in average ice time at even strength (23:33) and overall (28:15). Trailing Bouchard, Heiskanen ranks second among NHL blue-liners with nine assists and seven power-play points. No defenseman has won more puck battles at five-on-five than Heiskanen. He's also first at the position in blocked passes, third in stick checks, and seventh in zone denials, spoiling chances before they materialize.A grizzled vet at 23 years old, Heiskanen has competed in 60 playoff games over five years. He's absorbed more hits - 61, or 4.69 per night - than any player in this postseason, per Natural Stat Trick. Heiskanen's stamina will be tested when he and 38-year-old partner Ryan Suter are tapped to contain the Marchessault line.Max Domi Steph Chambers / Getty ImagesPatrick Kane - Domi's former Chicago Blackhawks teammate - changed squads at the trade deadline. Timo Meier, Ryan O'Reilly, and Vladimir Tarasenko all joined prospective Cup contenders, as well. Ultimately, Domi outproduced each of these marquee acquisitions when it counted.Domi was Chicago's top scorer when Dallas dealt for him in March, trading Anton Khudobin and a second-round pick. He's driven offense in the playoffs in a complementary role. Domi's 11 points have all come at even strength, tying him for the league lead in that phase with the likes of Florida's Matthew Tkachuk.Domi intercepted a breakout pass and continually moved the puck up ice to assist three Joe Pavelski goals in the Kraken series opener. He sniped to the top corner and hustled to score into an empty net in Game 4. Domi also snapped back 57.1% of his draws across Rounds 1 and 2 to help Dallas lead the postseason in faceoff percentage.Jason Robertson, the Stars' perennial 40-goal man, didn't find the back of the net against Seattle and only has two playoff tallies. But Roope Hintz has racked up nine goals, and Pavelski has eight. Slightly down the lineup, Domi's breakout has heightened Dallas' offensive ceiling.Sergei Bobrovsky Claus Andersen / Getty ImagesThis is the Panthers' first conference final appearance since 1996. It's also unfamiliar territory for 34-year-old Bobrovsky, a historically up-and-down goalie who won the Vezina Trophy twice in his 20s but in his 30s has failed to live up to a mammoth contract. But "Bob" has been fantastic in the postseason.Bobrovsky, who took over the crease after Game 3 of the first round, boasts a .920 save percentage in 10 contests. His goals saved above expected rate (0.21 per 60 minutes) ranks second among the 15 goalies with at least six games played. The Russian's signature outing so far: Game 2 versus the Toronto Maple Leafs, when he turned aside 35 of 37 shots, including a handful of grade-A looks.Carolina presents a different challenge than the Maple Leafs or New York Islanders. The Hurricanes rely on a relentless forecheck, launch shots from all areas of the offensive zone, and have made a habit of capitalizing on opponents' turnovers by counterstriking quickly off the rush. This smothering style could be trouble for Bobrovsky, who struggles with rebound control.Sam Reinhart Eliot J. Schechter / Getty ImagesThe Panthers tend to keep Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov apart during five-on-five action. Why? The team's best players can each drive their own line.Reinhart fills the same catalyst role on a highly effective third line alongside a pair of Finns - center Anton Lundell and left winger Eetu Luostarinen. Somewhat quietly, the ultra-smart Reinhart is tied for the team lead with six playoff goals.Luostarinen-Lundell-Reinhart has won on the scoreboard (4-1 edge in goals) and territorially (3.7-2.8 expected goals) through 94 five-on-five minutes. The line's generated 11 scoring chances off the cycle, the most among Florida trios and fifth-most overall. The chemistry was palpable on the Game 3 overtime goal against Toronto, as Luostarinen set a pick for Reinhart on the zone entry, Reinhart rimmed the puck to Lundell for a give-and-go, and Reinhart finished with a wraparound. Game 2's 2-1 goal played out similarly.Reinhart didn't appear in a single playoff game for Buffalo over his first seven NHL seasons. Now he's up to 22 after arriving in Florida via trade in 2021. An excellent two-way winger, the 27-year-old is hiding in plain sight on the Panthers' depth chart - a star in the bottom six. He's an East final X-factor.Brent Burns Jaylynn Nash / Getty Images"We love to chuck a good biscuit on net," Burns said moments after the Hurricanes clinched a second-round series win over the New Jersey Devils.It was a perfect soundbite from the eccentric and electric defenseman.Burns is a true reflection of Carolina's blue line, which contributed 59 goals in 82 regular-season games for a league-high 22.5% of the team's offense. In 11 playoff contests, the group of large defensemen has pitched in another seven.Burns, who scored 18 goals while appearing in every regular-season game, has two tallies in the playoffs. He ranks first and second among blue-liners in shot attempts (101) and shots on goal (42). He's fired a shot on target from the perimeter 37 times and from the slot five times. Carolina's team-wide breakdown probably follows a similar pattern - more quantity than quality.Put another way, the Canes' defensemen are heavily involved in the club's shot-happy attack. And Burns, acquired with salary retention last offseason from San Jose for an underwhelming package, is the straw that stirs the drink.Jordan Staal Josh Lavallee / Getty ImagesThe East final matchup pits an offensive team (the Panthers) against a defensive team (Hurricanes). That contrast will be especially apparent during Staal's shifts, as he'll be tasked with neutralizing either Tkachuk or Barkov.Staal, listed at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, is one of the strongest players in the NHL. This helps him win faceoffs (53.4% success rate over his career) and, more crucially shift to shift, frustrate opponents. Just ask Jack Hughes, who Staal schooled at even strength in the second round to the tune of a 4-0 edge in goals, 47-25 edge in shot attempts, and 6-1 edge in inner-slot shots.Of course, the Panthers' stars aren't carbon copies of Hughes. Tkachuk's a 6-foot-2 agitating power winger, and Barkov's a 6-foot-3 cerebral distributor at center. Both of them are capable of pushing back against Staal's strength.There's also a Staal family storyline. Jordan's brothers Marc and Eric will suit up for Florida, albeit in depth roles. The Thunder Bay, Ontario-based family - which crazily had a fourth brother, Jared, make the NHL - surely will be torn.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just like that, we're down to the final four.With the conference finals of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs upon us, we're taking another crack at the shortlist of players who could take home the Conn Smythe Trophy next month. Several players on our previous edition didn't advance, so there's plenty of turnover. What a difference a few weeks can make.The field got significantly smaller after the Edmonton Oilers were eliminated, as they iced three of the league's top four scorers through two rounds. But without further ado, here are the front-runners to take home the NHL's most coveted individual award.5. Sebastian Aho Josh Lavallee / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIXGF%115518:2057.59The Carolina Hurricanes have looked unstoppable for much of these playoffs but are getting by on the strength of their impressive depth rather than a single standout performer. Frederik Andersen has been great since taking over between the pipes and might fly up the list if he continues his five-game heater into Round 3 and beyond. Since his sample size is too small, we're shining a light on Aho, who's pacing Carolina with 10 points in 11 games and has only been held off the scoresheet three times in the postseason.The Hurricanes are outscoring opponents 9-3 with Aho on the ice while commanding 57% of expected goals and 55% of scoring chances. As Carolina deals with several key injuries up front, Aho has been the constant for the Cup-chasing Canes and can truly establish himself as a Conn Smythe threat if he keeps contributing at a similar level against the Florida Panthers.Another Conn Smythe option for Carolina down the road could be Jaccob Slavin, who has played a whopping 213 five-on-five minutes in these playoffs and has only been on the ice for four goals against compared to 17 goals for. His low point total will likely work against him in the eyes of voters, but he should be on the radar.4. Sergei Bobrovsky Joel Auerbach / Getty Images Sport / GettyGSSV%GAAGSAXGSAA9 (7-2).9182.828.624.93Bobrovsky's position on this list is the most fragile of the bunch. He can't lose a step if he wants to stay in the mix. But without knowing what lies ahead for Florida's surprise run through the Eastern Conference gauntlet, all we can do is commend the veteran netminder for an impressive showing so far. He's taken a lot of flak since signing a $70-million contract with the Panthers in 2019 but has made one thing abundantly clear this spring: He loves to be an underdog in the playoffs.The man who shut down the record-tying Tampa Bay Lightning four years ago is back on the case, vanquishing the Boston Bruins in Round 1 and stonewalling the Toronto Maple Leafs with an utterly dominant series in Round 2. Bobrovsky was undeniably the X-factor against Toronto, posting a .943 all-situations save percentage to stymie the Leafs' high-flying attack while stopping 7.75 goals above expected in only five games.He'll get no time to rest against a relentless Hurricanes squad, but Bobrovsky has proven time and time again he's up to the task this time of year.3. Jack Eichel David Becker / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIXGF%116819:5958.73Eichel is making the most of his long-awaited playoff debut, leading the hungry Vegas Golden Knights in scoring and ice time among forwards while posting dominant advanced stats through 11 games. He was especially impressive against Edmonton, living up to the highly anticipated clash with 2015 draftmate Connor McDavid by netting three goals and six assists, highlighted by a pair of three-point efforts in Vegas' wins in Games 3 and 5. Perhaps most impressively, Eichel was on the ice for only one goal surrendered against the Oilers' lethal attack.Eichel made it clear that making an impact in the playoffs was a priority for him, and he's delivered in spades thus far while looking like the elite No. 1 center Vegas has craved since entering the league. What a story it'd be if Eichel led the Golden Knights to a Cup while winning playoff MVP in his first kick at the can.2. Matthew Tkachuk Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAATOIXGF%1251121:4060.06Tkachuk didn't register a goal in Florida's second-round beatdown of the Maple Leafs, but he still managed five assists to continue a remarkable playoff run and further cement his status as one of the world's best players.He's fifth in playoff scoring - and first at even strength - while owning sterling underlying numbers to reinforce his importance to the red-hot Panthers. Florida is outscoring its opponents 12-3 at five-on-five with Tkachuk on the ice in these playoffs, and although he's stuck in a goal drought, the 25-year-old winger always finds a way to impact the game, whether it's through physicality, gamesmanship, or shutting down opponents' top players. If the Panthers continue this run beyond Round 3, it's hard to imagine Tkachuk anywhere but the top of this list.1. Roope Hintz Christopher Mast / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIXGF%1391018:2668.87Hintz carried over an explosive first round, producing seven points in a tight second-round series victory against the Seattle Kraken. He's now second in playoff scoring and first among players left in the competition. The dynamic Finn is posting eye-popping analytics and has delivered a handful of signature moments this postseason, including a four-point effort in Game 2 of Round 1 and the opening goal in Monday's Game 7.It's become crystal clear Hintz is the offensive catalyst for the Dallas Stars through two rounds. In eight victories, he's contributed 18 points compared to a single goal in Dallas' five losses. The unheralded Hintz may not have been the favorite to claim playoff MVP at the start of the playoffs, but it's his trophy to lose right now.(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving-Hockey)Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Residents of Tempe, Arizona, voted Tuesday against building a $2.1-billion entertainment district that would've included a new arena for the NHL's Arizona Coyotes."We are very disappointed that Tempe voters did not approve propositions 301, 302, and 303," Coyotes president and CEO Xavier Gutierrez said in a statement. "As Tempe Mayor Corey Woods said, it was the best sports deal in Arizona history."Gutierrez added: "What is next for the franchise will be evaluated by our owners and the National Hockey League over the coming weeks."NHL commissioner Gary Bettman also released a statement:"The National Hockey League is terribly disappointed by the results of the public referenda regarding the Coyotes' arena project in Tempe. We are going to review with the Coyotes what the options might be going forward."The Coyotes needed a majority to vote in favor of all three propositions. Ultimately, 56% of residents voted no for propositions 301 and 302, while 57% voted no for 303.Tempe City Council voted unanimously in favor of the project back in November, but a vote from the residents was required to seal the deal.The results of the vote could spell the beginning of the end for the NHL team in the desert. The Coyotes have two seasons remaining on their agreement to play at Mullett Arena, a 4,600-seat rink in Tempe on the campus of Arizona State University. After that, the Coyotes will again be without a home.Mullett Arena is already the Coyotes' third arena since the franchise relocated from Winnipeg in 1996. The club first played out of America West Arena in downtown Phoenix before moving to Glendale's Gila River Arena in 2003, then to Mullett Arena last season.The proposed Tempe Entertainment District would've included a 16,000-seat rink for the Coyotes, a 3,000-seat music venue, and a 19,000-unit residential complex, plus restaurants, hotels, and luxury retail shops.The Coyotes have ranked bottom-five in the league in average attendance every season since at least 2011-12. Forbes ranked Arizona as the NHL's least valuable franchise in December.In 26 seasons since moving to Arizona, the team has undergone seven ownership changes and made the playoffs nine times - just once in the past 11 years. The Coyotes have only advanced past Round 1 once, making it to the Western Conference Final in 2012.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames don't want the Pittsburgh Penguins contacting Brad Treliving about their general manger vacancy - at least for the time being.The Penguins wanted to reach out to the ex-Flames GM as part of their initial round of interviews, but the Flames wouldn't allow it, reports The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. Calgary said Pittsburgh would need to wait until Treliving's contract expires June 30 before contacting him.Though the Flames are paying Treliving for another six weeks or so, the team and the executive agreed to part ways in mid-April. Don Maloney took over as president of hockey operations and interim GM.The Penguins fired GM Ron Hextall along with president of hockey operations Brian Burke a few days before Calgary and Treliving made their decision official.Pittsburgh reportedly interviewed 10-12 candidates in the first round of discussions about the GM role, including Peter Chiarelli and Marc Bergevin.The Penguins are slated to draft 14th overall next month. Calgary will be on the clock two picks later.Treliving assembled a Flames squad that won the Pacific Division last season. However, Calgary lost in the second round of the playoffs in 2021-22 and failed to make the postseason this campaign after a roller-coaster offseason in which management was forced to overhaul the roster.The 53-year-old was initially lauded for acquiring Jonathan Huberdeau and Mackenzie Weegar from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Matthew Tkachuk, but the former didn't mesh with head coach Darryl Sutter and had a disappointing season. Calgary fired Sutter in early May.Treliving had served as Flames GM since April 2014. He drafted the likes of Dillon Dube, Rasmus Andersson, and Andrew Mangiapane and was never afraid to make a blockbuster trade or signing. In 2018, he landed Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin in an ill-advised swap with the Carolina Hurricanes in which he gave up future Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox.The former GM signed Nazem Kadri to a seven-year, $49-million pact last summer, but the gritty forward had a somewhat disappointing campaign. Kadri enjoyed a career year with the Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche last season.Before joining the Flames, Treliving was the Arizona Coyotes' assistant GM.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have spoken to veteran free-agent bench bosses Mike Babcock and Peter Laviolette about their head coaching vacancy, reports The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.The club also reportedly interviewed Pascal Vincent, who served as the team's associate coach the last two seasons under Brad Larsen before the latter was fired in April.Babcock hasn't coached in the NHL since the Toronto Maple Leafs fired him in November 2019. Since his departure, he's taken volunteer gigs as an advisor for the University of Vermont's hockey program and as head coach of the University of Saskatchewan's hockey team. He said last summer that he was "retired" from coaching.The 60-year-old ranks 12th all time on the NHL's head coaching wins list with 700 career victories. He spent two years with the Anaheim Ducks, leading them to the Stanley Cup Final in 2003. He then led the Detroit Red Wings for 10 campaigns, winning the Stanley Cup in 2008 and making another Cup final appearance a year later. He joined the Leafs in 2015 and coached them for parts of five seasons, making three playoff appearances.Babcock was highly successful on the international stage, coaching Team Canada to Olympic gold medals in 2010 and 2014 and a World Cup of Hockey title in 2016.However, he also came under fire shortly after his tenure with the Leafs for his treatment of players. When Mitch Marner was a rookie, Babcock made him rank his teammates based on work ethic and then shared the list with the team. Former Red Wings forward Johan Franzen called Babcock "the worst person I have ever met."Laviolette, meanwhile, coached the Washington Capitals for the last three seasons, making playoff appearances in each of his first two years with the club. He ranks eighth on the NHL's all-time coaching wins list with 752 victories and is the winningest American head coach in league history.The 58-year-old won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and made two more Cup final appearances with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010 and the Nashville Predators in 2017.The Blue Jackets were hampered by injuries last season and finished with the league's second-worst record at 25-48-9. However, they have ample star power with Johnny Gaudreau, Patrik Laine, and Zach Werenski, and they hold the third pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For as much as Sunday was scary among those of us backing the Oilers, Monday was a fun day. We threaded the needle between the value bet of 'Kraken: +1.5 games' from our Kraken-Stars preview and various positions on the Stars to advance that we started before the playoffs, and built upon that once they went down 0-1.Now the Golden Knights - a team we faded in failure - take on the Stars, who we pinpointed before the first puck-drop as an under-the-radar contender. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Stars are the play, but we still need to reiterate why.Series oddsTEAMGAME 1SERIESSERIES HANDICAPStars+115+120+1.5 (-190)Golden Knights-135-140-1.5 (+150)The Golden Knights again have home-ice advantage, but unlike Round 2 - where they were series underdogs - they are short favorites to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. These lines suggest that the Stars (45.5% implied win probability) are notably worse than the Oilers (60.8%), which is a concept I just can't agree with. Even if the Oilers were overrated in their pricing, a 14% swing is excessive.RatingsUsing primarily even-strength metrics to evaluate a team's quality, we've established how a team rates relative to an average NHL team. We use these ratings to create an implied win probability split in each game, which we then translate to a fair moneyline price for each before home-ice advantage is applied and the sportsbook takes its vig on a bet. Here's how these teams rated over the season, when isolating play after the All-Star break, and in their first-round matchup (relative to their opponent).TEAMSEASONPOST-ASBROUND 1ROUND 2Stars+12%+4%+8%+20%Golden Knights+11%+2%+8%+10%One of the reasons the implied win probability of the series' odds is hard to get behind is that - relative to their competition - the Stars played better in Round 2 than the Golden Knights. Seattle - an average NHL team this regular season - was outplayed at even-strength at a 60% rate by Dallas, whereas the Golden Knights got by Edmonton despite only generating 46.6% of the expected goals at even-strength.Advanced metrics at even strength (regular season)xG%= Expected goals share

The Seattle Kraken are holding their heads high despite a heartbreaking Game 7 loss to the Dallas Stars on Monday night."From day one, everyone's kind of written us off," veteran Jordan Eberle said. "We took a big leap this year. I don't think anyone expected us to make the playoffs, no one expected us to beat Colorado, and I'm sure no one had us to get to Game 7 here. I think obviously as a group, this is the first time we've been through this. You've got to obviously learn how to lose first and then find a way to win."The Kraken claimed the first wild-card seed in the Western Conference this season with 100 points - a 40-point improvement from a disappointing inaugural campaign as the league's 32nd franchise in 2021-22. After qualifying for the postseason, Seattle claimed its first-ever series victory by knocking off the defending champion Avalanche in seven games.The massive turnaround this season led to a Jack Adams nomination for head coach Dave Hakstol. He believes what his club accomplished this year is much bigger than on-ice results."That's a perspective that I want our players also to have - and it probably won't register home tonight - but this group also changed the landscape of hockey in Seattle," Hakstol said, per NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika. "This particular group had the guts to change the culture, the trajectory, the belief, of our franchise as well."That's something for later, but that hits home with me, that this group of guys did that, and at some point in time, they should look at that and take a lot of pride."Even after an impressive showing in 2022-23, the Kraken are well positioned to improve this summer. Seattle's biggest piece of offseason business will be a new contract for star restricted free agent Vince Dunn, but the club has the financial flexibility to pay the blue-liner handsomely and still be aggressive in free agency with a projected $18.3 million in cap space, according to Cap Friendly.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars defeated the Seattle Kraken 2-1 in Monday's Game 7 to march on to the Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights.Roope Hintz pickpocketed Jamie Oleksiak to open the scoring for the Stars late in the second period. Rookie Wyatt Johnston went upstairs with a slick backhand for a key insurance tally midway through the third period that turned out to be the eventual game-winner.Johnston, who turned 20 on Sunday, became the youngest player in Stanley Cup Playoff history to score a series-clinching goal in Game 7. Jaromir Jagr, who did so at 20 years, 76 days with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1992 division semifinals, previously held the distinction.Oliver Bjorkstrand made things interesting, getting the Kraken on the board with 17 seconds left in regulation. But it was too little too late, as Dallas held on for the victory.Both goalies played excellently, but Jake Oettinger earned the victory for Dallas by stopping 22 of 23 shots. He wasn't tested often, as Seattle generated just seven high-danger chances in the game compared to Dallas' 17, according to Natural Stat Trick."It's great," Oettinger said of his team's defensive effort, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "Just, you know, hangin' out."Miro Heiskanen shined bright on the Stars' blue line, logging a game-high 32:06 in the contest. The Stars controlled 66.57% of the expected goals when Heiskanen was on the ice at even strength.The Western Conference Final will be a revenge series of sorts for Stars bench boss Pete DeBoer, who coached the Golden Knights the previous three seasons."There's a lot to unpack there," DeBoer said, laughing. "I think we'll just enjoy tonight and talk about that as we go forward."Dallas and Vegas met in the 2020 Western Conference Final, with DeBoer's Golden Knights falling to the then Rick Bowness-led Stars in five games.DeBoer now owns a career 7-0 record in Game 7s and has advanced to at least the conference finals during his first year on the job in each of his last four NHL stops. He took Vegas to the West final in 2020, the San Jose Sharks to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016, and the New Jersey Devils to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012. He's yet to win a ring, though.Dallas' lone Stanley Cup victory came in 1999.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The conference finalists in these Stanley Cup Playoffs will have a little bit of time to rest up before their series begin.Here's how and where each matchup takes place. All of the Eastern Conference games will start at 8 p.m. ET and air on TNT, Sportsnet, CBC, and TVA Sports.*If necessaryEastern Conference Final Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyCarolina Hurricanes (M1) vs. Florida Panthers (WC2)GameDateHome1May 18Hurricanes2May 20Hurricanes3May 22Panthers4May 24Panthers5*May 26Hurricanes6*May 28Panthers7*May 30HurricanesWestern Conference Final Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyVegas Golden Knights (P1) vs. Dallas Stars (C2)GameDateHomeTime (ET)1May 19Golden Knights8:30 p.m.2May 21Golden Knights3 p.m.3May 23Stars84May 25Stars85*May 27Golden Knights86*May 29Stars87*May 31Golden Knights9All of the Western Conference Final contests will be broadcast on ESPN+, Sportsnet, CBC, and TVA Sports. ABC will also air Games 2 and 5, with ESPN showing the rest of the matchups.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A quartet of groups reportedly remains in the hunt to purchase the Ottawa Senators on the final day bids can be submitted.The final four majority owner candidates are Michael Andlauer, Steve Apostolopoulos, Jeffrey and Michael Kimel, and Neko Sparks, reports Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch.One of the bids exceeds $1 billion, according to Sportico's Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams.Andlauer is a Montreal Canadiens minority owner who also owns the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs.Apostolopoulos reportedly bid $6 billion for the NFL's Washington Commanders, who were later sold to New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris. Apostolopoulos is based in Toronto.The Kimels are also Toronto-area billionaires and former Pittsburgh Penguins minority owners who recently sold their stake in the club. Canadian singer The Weeknd has partnered with their bid.Sparks is an L.A.-based entrepreneur, CEO, and producer. He's aiming to become the first Black owner in NHL history. Snoop Dogg has joined his efforts. Sparks reportedly wants to offer First Nations communities equity stakes in the team.Snoop Dogg posted a message for the Senators and their fans on his Instagram account Monday.

Marc Bergevin, Peter Chiarelli, Jason Karmanos, and Eric Tulsky are among the first wave of 10-12 candidates to interview for the Pittsburgh Penguins' general manager vacancy, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Bergevin spent parts of three seasons with the Penguins to close out his 20-year playing career. He served as GM and executive vice president of hockey operations for the Montreal Canadiens from 2012-21, leading the team to a Stanley Cup Final berth in 2021. He's been working as a senior advisor with the Los Angeles Kings over the last couple of seasons.Chiarelli boasts 13 years of experience as an NHL GM - nine with the Boston Bruins from 2006-15 and four with the Edmonton Oilers from 2015-19. He was maligned for trades during both tenures, most notably dealing away Tyler Seguin with Boston and Taylor Hall with Edmonton. However, Chiarelli led the Bruins to a Stanley Cup title in 2011 and another Cup Final appearance two years later. He's worked in the St. Louis Blues front office for the past four seasons.Karmanos is most familiar with the Penguins organization among the reported candidates. He spent six-plus years as the team's assistant GM under Jim Rutherford from 2014-20, helping the Pens win back-to-back Cups in 2016 and 2017. Karmanos was also Rutherford's right-hand man with the Carolina Hurricanes for 14 seasons from 1998-13. The 48-year-old spent the last three campaigns as the Buffalo Sabres' assistant GM.Tulsky owns the least NHL front-office experience among the reported candidates but is considered one of the brightest minds in the game. He's spent nine seasons in the Hurricanes' front office, working his way up from analyst to director of analytics to assistant GM over the last three campaigns.The Penguins fired GM Ron Hextall and president of hockey operations Brian Burke in April after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Members of Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate and Pens head coach Mike Sullivan have been making hockey operations decisions in the interim.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Should Kyle Dubas remain the Toronto Maple Leafs' general manager this summer, the team could be in store for significant changes."I would consider anything with our group here that would allow us a better chance to win the Stanley Cup," Dubas said Monday during the team's end-of-season availability, according to ESPN's Kristen Shilton. "I would take nothing off the table at all."Dubas cited the Florida Panthers' blockbuster trade with the Calgary Flames to acquire Matthew Tkachuk for Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar, among other assets, as an example, per Sportsnet's Luke Fox.The Maple Leafs advanced to the second round for the first time since 2004 before flaming out in five games against the Panthers.Dubas lauded head coach Sheldon Keefe's adjustments during the postseason but said that "there still needs to be a full evaluation of everything," according to TSN.Dubas has been the Maple Leafs' GM since May 2018. His contract is set to expire this summer. He was noncommittal about his future in Toronto but said he wouldn't serve as general manager for another team this summer, per The Hockey News' David Alter.Defenseman Morgan Rielly spoke of his admiration for Dubas earlier in the day."I think the world of Kyle," Rielly said."He's a world-class GM," he added. "I'm not in charge of what happens with his contract, but everything he did was in the team's best interest, and he put us in a position where we had a chance to play and to win and to succeed. Ultimately, the players are the ones that were on the ice at the end of the season."Leafs president Brendan Shanahan is set to speak to the media later this week.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Auston Matthews doesn't plan on leaving the Toronto Maple Leafs."My intention is to be (in Toronto)," Matthews said Monday during the team's end-of-season availability, according to the Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan."I think I've reciprocated that before, how much I enjoy playing here and what it means to me, the organization, my teammates. … The work that we're putting in to continue to strive for that end result is extremely motivating."Matthews said signing an extension before next season is "important" and that a potential deal "will work itself out in due time."He signed a five-year contract with a cap hit of just over $11.6 million in February 2019. That deal is set to expire after next season, which would make Matthews an unrestricted free agent.Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon signed an eight-year contract extension in September that will give him the league's highest cap hit in the fall at $12.6 million.After scoring key goals in the first round against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Matthews was unable to find the back of the net in Toronto's five-game series loss versus the Florida Panthers. He finished the postseason with five goals and 11 points after tallying 40 goals and 85 points in the regular season.The 25-year-old said he was dealing with bumps and bruises throughout the 2022-23 campaign but noted it's his "job to push through that," per The Hockey News' David Alter.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights advanced to the third round of the playoffs on Sunday night, erasing an early 2-1 deficit en route to an impressive road win over the Edmonton Oilers.We'll find out who their next opponent is in what should be an exciting Game 7. Let's take a look at the best ways to attack it.Kraken (+170) @ Stars (-200)The Stars - like the Kraken - have taken their lumps in this series. They have consistently shown resiliency and responded, no matter how bad the previous effort.The Stars dropped Game 1 on home ice and followed it up with a multi-goal victory. They lost again in Game 3, getting blown out of the rink by a 7-2 scoreline, and followed that up with yet another multi-goal victory.Bouncing back from off nights is a key sign of a great team, and the Stars have shown that time and time again. Including their first-round series against the Wild, the Stars are 4-0 with a plus-10 goal differential following a loss.Impressive totals, especially on the biggest stage - but that shouldn't be surprising. The Stars have done this for quite some time. They have lost back-to-back games only once since the beginning of March.Whether the Stars are faced with a one-goal defeat or blown out of the rink, they consistently rebound with a win. I expect that will be the case against the Kraken in Game 7.For as vulnerable as the Stars have looked at times this playoffs, they lead all 16 teams in expected goals at five-on-five. They've controlled better than 55% of the xG share and have finished at 66% or higher in three of the past five against these Kraken.The Kraken are a deep team, but they lack star power and that has been very evident at times.It's worth noting Dallas' big guns are remarkably more productive on home ice. Roope Hintz (12 points), Joe Pavelski (eight), Jason Robertson (eight), and Miro Heiskanen (seven) have all piled up the points at home. For perspective, Hintz (six) is tied for the team lead in points on the road.Look for the Stars' top players to shine in Dallas and help guide them to a win inside 60 minutes.Bet: Stars in regulation (-125)Roope Hintz over 2.5 shots (-140)Robertson and Heiskanen were the priority targets for shots all season long. They have taken a back seat to Hintz in the playoffs, though.Hintz leads all Stars skaters in goals, points, shots, scoring chances, and high-danger opportunities through nearly two rounds.If we isolate the Kraken series, Hintz takes a back seat to Pavelski in a couple of those categories - but shots remain an exception.He has registered 21 through six games, going over the total in four of six meetings. That success rate is nothing new for Hintz against the Kraken. Throughout their existence, he has generated at least three shots in eight of 12 games.With the Stars at home in a do-or-die affair, head coach Pete DeBoer will no doubt lean heavily on Hintz and the team's top players. There might not be a tomorrow, and their usage should reflect as much.Look for Hintz - the team's top offensive threat through two rounds - to make the most of his ice.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs trade deadline acquisition Ryan O'Reilly was disappointed with his postseason performance as he spoke to reporters Monday during the team's end-of-season media availability."I don’t think I created enough out there," O'Reilly said, according to The Hockey News' David Alter. "It’s disappointing."The 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy winner scored three goals and registered nine points in 11 playoff games with Toronto. After a strong start with seven points in the opening four games of the first round against the Tampa Bay Lightning, O'Reilly tallied just one goal and two points in the Maple Leafs' final seven games.Toronto traded a 2023 first-round pick, three other draft picks, prospect Mikhail Abramov, and depth forward Adam Gaudette to acquire O'Reilly and Noel Acciari from the St. Louis Blues in February.O'Reilly sustained a broken finger late in the regular season that forced him to miss 14 games. He clarified that his finger felt fine in the playoffs and that he was not dealing with a big injury, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox.A pending unrestricted free agent, O'Reilly also addressed whether he'd consider re-signing with the Maple Leafs."Yeah, absolutely," O'Reilly said. "I'm still reflecting on the loss, and coming forward here I have a lot to think about what I plan to do. This organization is incredible."I'm so thankful I was able to be brought into it. Obviously, sorry we couldn't get the result we wanted, but just to be part of this organization was an amazing thing. I'll have some decisions to make going forward."The Maple Leafs are projected to have just under $7.5 million in cap space heading into the offseason, per to CapFriendly. O'Reilly's coming off of a seven-year contract that had a $7.5-million cap hit with the Buffalo Sabres.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two springs ago, Jesse Puljujarvi scored the icebreaker in the Edmonton Oilers' first playoff game, whirling in the slot to net a rebound off of Tyson Barrie's point shot. The Winnipeg Jets blanked the Oilers for the next 102 minutes. Defenders subdued Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl while shackling their supporting cast to initiate a Jets sweep.The Oilers have changed since that meek loss. They traded Puljujarvi, whose Carolina Hurricanes are in the Eastern Conference Final. They swapped Barrie for Mattias Ekholm, grasping that Evan Bouchard could replace his power-play productivity.Meanwhile, McDavid and Draisaitl flipped a switch. No opponent since Winnipeg has contained them in the postseason. That includes the Vegas Golden Knights, who eliminated the Oilers in six games even though the superstars padded their stats.Draisaitl's four-goal eruption in the opener against Vegas helped raise his playoff total to 13 in a dozen games. McDavid's 20 points top the league through Sunday's action. Draisaitl is right behind him on the leaderboard, as was the case when both players recorded two points per contest in last year's postseason.Since the 2022 playoffs started, McDavid paces the NHL with 53 points in 28 postseason appearances. Draisaitl racked up 50 points in this span. The next-closest scorer, Mikko Rantanen of the Colorado Avalanche, collected 35 points in 27 games. Rantanen's numbers are merely great, not stupendous.McDavid and Draisaitl have competed in nine career playoff series. Certain legends of their era - think Stanley Cup winners like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Alex Ovechkin, and Nikita Kucherov - are considerably more experienced and boast shinier resumes. But on a per-game basis, the Oilers duo's colossal output is unparalleled.Wayne Gretzky scored 1.84 points per game in 208 playoff outings. Mario Lemieux averaged 1.61 points in 107 games. History supplies no other comparison for what's happening in Edmonton.Offense has risen NHL-wide - scoring soared to a 29-year high this season - but McDavid and Draisaitl deserve more credit than anyone for driving that boom. Most star players have off-nights or go cold intermittently. These guys rarely slump, though Vegas held Draisaitl pointless in three of six games. At their playoff peak, Edmonton's top dogs toy with elite opposition, resembling ringers who descended from some imaginary better league. Andy Devlin / NHL / Getty ImagesThe salary-cap era record for points in a postseason - Malkin tallied 36 in 2009 - might have fallen if the Oilers reached the Cup Final. The Golden Knights nixed that possibility. Stealing the spotlight on Sunday, Jonathan Marchessault's natural hat trick sparked Vegas to a gutsy 5-2 win in Game 6.Draisaitl was on track to smash the cap-era high for goals (15), set by Crosby in 2009 and matched by Ovechkin in 2018 when their squads hoisted the Cup. He could have become the first player this century to sniff the all-time record.Moving at half-speed, Draisaitl torched the Calgary Flames for 17 points in five games on a sprained right ankle last postseason. He was the best playmaker in the sport in that window. This spring, he finished lethally throughout the offensive zone.By blasting one-timers, foraging for garbage goals, and banking in one wrister off of Laurent Brossoit's nameplate, Draisaitl boosted his shooting percentage in these playoffs to 28.9% (his career average is 18.1%). He exits as the league leader in even-strength goals (seven), power-play goals (six), opening goals (three), and hit posts (three). That said, his giveaway behind the Oilers' net Sunday led directly to Marchessault's winner. Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesMcDavid couldn't buy a whistle when the Jets threw sticks and bodies at him in 2021. He drew eight penalties in this postseason and elevated both Oilers special-teams units. Motoring to the net, McDavid poked the puck through Brossoit's legs on a shorthanded breakaway in Game 2 and tapped his own rebound past Adin Hill on the power play in Game 5. McDavid's snipe in the opening minute of Game 6 was his first goal against Vegas at even strength.He dazzled at times, but his team's inconsistency was vexing.Poor defensive reads and careless or untimely penalties, like Ekholm's boarding minor Sunday, burned the Oilers in various Vegas wins. Never solid in back-to-back games, Stuart Skinner allowed five, one, four, one, four, and four goals, in that order, and was yanked from the net on three occasions. Vegas responded to four Edmonton tallies throughout the round by beating Skinner within the next couple of minutes, instantly reversing the momentum.The Golden Knights iced the best line in the series. They outscored Edmonton 15-9 at five-on-five, including by a 7-1 margin when Marchessault skated with Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev, per Natural Stat Trick. Eichel and Marchessault led the matchup in points at even strength with seven apiece. Andy Devlin / NHL / Getty ImagesEdmonton's power play remained laughably good in defeat (39.1% success rate in the round, 46.2% in the playoffs). Bouchard's 15 power-play points in 12 games constitute a new high for defensemen in the cap era. He pulverized the puck and benefited from dishing it to McDavid and Draisaitl on the flanks. Bouchard would have needed nine more points with the extra man to equal Gretzky's record for one postseason (24 in 1988).This bombardment didn't crush the Golden Knights. They won Game 5, the swing contest in the series, despite conceding three power-play goals. McDavid's scoring rate at five-on-five dipped from 2.71 points per 60 minutes in the regular season to 2.06 against Vegas. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Evander Kane, and Kailer Yamamoto - four of Edmonton's top six forwards - combined to score once in that phase.The Oilers went 18-2-1 to end the regular season after Ekholm arrived at the trade deadline. The NHL's hottest team over the final quarter of the schedule was too leaky in May to fulfill its potential. Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesThe four goals Skinner let in Sunday came on 17 shots, lowering his save percentage in the round to .875. Hill - a .934 goalie in the series as Brossoit's injury replacement - whiffed on two shots to open Game 6 before he stoned 38 in a row. Hill's third career playoff start was his greatest to date.Draisaitl, who turns 28 in October, is signed for two more years at the bargain rate of $8.5 million. McDavid is 26, and his megadeal runs through 2026. Neither player will get worse anytime soon, not after they combined to notch 281 points in the regular season. But several big-ticket teammates - Nugent-Hopkins, Hyman, Kane, Ekholm, and Jack Campbell, to name five - are in their 30s, reducing general manager Ken Holland's runway to build a winner.This could have been Edmonton's year. The playoff run didn't last long enough to be transcendent. The Oilers have changed, but their story ended the same way.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl was choked up Sunday after his team's season ended in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights."It hurts. It's tough to find words right now," Draisaitl told reporters postgame. "Obviously, when you start a season, you're in it to win it, and we're at that stage. If you don't complete that then it feels like a failure or a wasted year almost. It hurts."

Jonathan Marchessault recorded a natural hat trick in the second period and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 in Game 6 to punch their ticket to the Western Conference Final.It marks the fourth time in the Golden Knights' six-year history they've advanced to the final four of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Vegas will take on the winner of the Dallas Stars and Seattle Kraken, who meet in a Game 7 on Monday in the other conference semifinal.Adin Hill turned in a tremendous performance in goal for Vegas, making 38 consecutive saves after allowing the first two shots of the game to get by. Hill began the series as the backup goalie to Laurent Brossoit, but thrived upon entering in relief of his injured teammate in Game 2."He was a wall back there at the end," Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy said, according to The Athletic's Jesse Granger.The same can't be said in the Edmonton crease. Stuart Skinner was pulled for the third time in the series after allowing four goals on 17 shots through two periods. Jack Campbell entered in relief and stopped all four shots he faced in the third period. Skinner finished his first postseason with an .883 save percentage."It's hard to take this one on the chin," said Skinner, per The Athletic's Daniel Nugent-Bowman.The contest got off to a roaring start. Reilly Smith opened the scoring for Vegas 24 seconds in. The Oilers responded with a goal from Connor McDavid 31 seconds later and another one from Warren Foegele at the 2:43 mark, jumping out to a 2-1 lead less than three minutes into the game. That was all the offense Edmonton would get.Marchessault scored three consecutive goals in the second period, two of which were assisted by Ivan Barbashev. The Oilers pressed in the final frame and generated many glorious chances, but Hill shut the door, notably robbing Mattias Ekholm with an excellent blocker save midway through the third. William Karlsson notched the empty-netter to put the icing on the cake.Edmonton's elimination ensures a Canadian team won't win the Stanley Cup for the 30th straight year.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers went back to Stuart Skinner between the pipes for Sunday's Game 6 against the Vegas Golden Knights.On Saturday, head coach Jay Woodcroft was non-committal on who would get the nod after Skinner was replaced by Jack Campbell in Edmonton's Game 5 loss Friday. It was the third time Skinner has been pulled in 11 playoff starts this spring. Vegas won 4-3 to take a 3-2 series lead."He's a mature, calm, young man that works his tail off and is ready to meet whatever moment is before him," Woodcroft said of Skinner. "Specifically in this playoff run, I think he's had an ability to have a short memory and an ability to play his best when it matters most."Skinner entered Sunday with a 5-5 record in the postseason along with an .890 save percentage and a 3.52 goals against average. Campbell has a .957 clip in these playoffs, but has only faced a combined 47 shots in relief.The Oilers handed Skinner the reins in the regular season amid an impressive rookie campaign. The 24-year-old went 29-14-15 with a .914 save percentage, drastically out-performing Campbell, who was expected to be Edmonton's No. 1 after inking a five-year contract with the club in free agency last summer.The Oilers came into the contest with a 3-2 record at home in the playoffs.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils may have recently been eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes, but Jack Hughes can still take solace in the fact that he silenced his critics with a huge breakout season."I think I had a really good year, established myself as a really good player in the league," Hughes said Saturday when asked what personal accomplishment he's most proud of. "Maybe the goal-scoring a bit, I don't know if anyone expected me to score 40 in my career, let alone three years after everyone was calling me the biggest bust ever."Hughes shattered all of his previous career highs with 43 goals, 56 assists, and 99 points in 78 games this past season.The 2019 first overall pick struggled out of the gate to begin his career, leading many skeptics to view him as a bust. He tallied just 21 points in 61 games during his rookie year and 31 points in 56 contests during his sophomore campaign.But after his fourth season, Hughes is now regarded as one of the game's brightest young stars. And while he may still be a better playmaker than a shooter, he showed he's not a one-dimensional threat after firing 336 shots on net, good for fifth in the league.Hughes is also proud of the steps his team made this season. While they didn't reach the ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup, the Devils made the playoffs for the first time with the current core and even beat the rival New York Rangers in Round 1, which was extra sweet for Hughes."Winning Game 7 against the Rangers, I think that was really special," Hughes said. "To beat those guys, we wanted to do that. That was definitely the best moment (of the season)."Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jay Woodcroft isn't tipping his hand about which Edmonton Oilers goaltender will be in the crease to start Game 6 of their second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday night."I'm going to reserve the right to take the time that we have before we have to make that decision," the Oilers head coach said Saturday.Stuart Skinner has started all 11 playoff games for Edmonton this spring. He owns a .890 save percentage in that span. Woodcroft has pulled him in favor of Jack Campbell three times this postseason, including in a 4-3 loss Friday.However, Woodcroft praised Skinner and insisted the 24-year-old's performance wasn't a factor in giving Campbell a few opportunities."(Skinner has been) very good," Woodcroft said. "He's given us a chance to win ... in those pulls, that was more to either stem the tide of momentum or to try and change something up. Those are on the team, they're not on one individual. So, for us, we're in the position we're in because of the people that we have in the locker room, and we believe the solutions to what we're trying to get done here - the answers - are in the locker room."Woodcroft also lauded Campbell for his ability to step in when called upon."He's someone who's come (on in) relief very well," the bench boss said. "He's done his job, and I think that's a big thing for all players. ... For Jack to come (on in) relief the times he has, he's come in and done his job and been an important member of our group."Campbell was a prized offseason signing for the Oilers, who inked him to a five-year, $25-million deal last July. The 31-year-old began the campaign as Edmonton's starter, but Skinner snatched the job from him and ran with it by outplaying him in the second half.The elder netminder also replaced Skinner during a 5-1 loss in Game 3 of this series and a 5-4 overtime win against the Los Angeles Kings in Game 4 of their first-round matchup. Campbell has turned aside all but two of 47 shots in these playoffs.Skinner was voted a Calder Trophy finalist earlier in May. He posted a .914 save percentage during the regular season, going 29-14-5 in 50 games and starting all but two of them. Skinner had never played in the postseason before starting Game 1 against the Kings in April.The Golden Knights lead the ongoing series 3-2. If necessary, Game 7 would take place Tuesday night.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Stars defenseman Esa Lindell wasn't pleased with his outing in his team's 6-3 loss to the Seattle Kraken in Game 6 on Saturday night."I'm just so disappointed at myself, too," Lindell said postgame, according to The Athletic's Saad Yousuf. "Only thing now is to move on and get prepared for Game 7 and be way, way better in that one."Usually a steady, reliable shutdown defender, Lindell posted a game-worst minus-four rating in the contest."I don't know if I've played that bad for a long time," Lindell continued. "It felt they got odd-mans, won battles, all the things we've been good at before went sideways today."Lindell's underlying numbers were much stronger in the contest, as the Stars controlled 56.26% of the expected goals while he was on the ice at five-on-five.Dallas head coach Pete DeBoer doesn't believe the blame should fall on Lindell and his partner Jani Hakanpaa, who posted a minus-three rating in the contest himself."They weren't worse than anybody else," DeBoer said.He added: "I mean, we won Games 4 and 5. Those two guys both dressed and played, and played pretty well. Again, I know what the numbers say, but they weren't any worse than anybody else in our group tonight."Game 7 is set for Monday in Dallas.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Kraken and the Dallas Stars are going the distance.The two clubs will play a winner-take-all Game 7 on Monday after the Kraken edged the Stars 6-3 in Game 6 on Saturday.Jordan Eberle and Eeli Tolvanen were offensive catalysts for Seattle, racking up three points apiece. Philipp Grubauer made 20 saves between the pipes.The Kraken are 1-0 all time in Game 7s in franchise history after besting the Colorado Avalanche in Round 1.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's no secret that the Edmonton Oilers have made a conscious effort to finish their checks on multiple Vegas Golden Knights players, including veteran defenseman Alex Pietrangelo.However, Pietrangelo, who was just suspended one game for slashing Leon Draisaitl, believes the Oilers are targeting him to the point that it warrants supplemental discipline."It's pretty obvious what's going on. I mean, there's premeditated stuff, I'm pretty sure, coming at me," Pietrangelo said Saturday. "(The department of player safety) didn't really seem to care in the meeting, but I'll get up and take it."Pietrangelo also hinted that some Oilers players have been embellishing."You know, I'm not going to lay on the ice like what's going on and we've been seeing," he said. "So, I'll get up and play the game the way it needs to be played."Pietrangelo was notably cross-checked from behind into the boards moments before he slashed Draisaitl.

Just when you thought excitement for "Carolina" and "Panthers" hit its high point with the first pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, Raleigh's Hurricanes take on Florida's cats for a spot in the Stanley Cup Final.Carolina has taken a bite out of our account by knocking off the Islanders and Devils, but the Panthers have more than made up for it with a playoff run that we saw some early signs of, leaving us less surprised than we were when their nickname-sake traded up to grab Bryce Young.Series oddsTEAMGAME 1SERIESSERIES HANDICAPPanthers+120+115+1.5 (-170)Hurricanes-140-135-1.5 (+130)Oddsmakers think both teams have a better chance of winning this series than they did in the last round. While the Panthers remain underdogs - albeit at shorter and shorter prices, it's easy to forget that Carolina was actually the smallest of underdogs before the puck dropped against the Devils.RatingsUsing primarily even-strength metrics to evaluate a team's quality, we've established how a team rates relative to an average NHL team. We use these ratings to create an implied win probability split in each game, which we then translate to a fair moneyline price for each before home-ice advantage is applied and the sportsbook takes its vig on a bet. Here's how these teams rated over the season, when isolating play after the All-Star break, and in their first-round matchup (relative to their opponent).TEAMSEASONPOST-ASBROUND 1ROUND 2Panthers+17%+16%+27.8%+7.2%Hurricanes+30%+20%-2%27.9%Unsurprisingly, the Hurricanes had a better rating during the regular season - commensurate with winning a highly competitive Metropolitan division. The Panthers graded out far better than mainstream hockey media was giving them credit for, which is why we've been able to find value on Florida in the first two rounds.Perhaps more interesting is that both teams have managed to win a round without playing their best. The Hurricanes weren't convincingly better than a very average Isles team in Round 1, while the Panthers had just one game (Game 3) where they outpaced the Maple Leafs at even strength.Advanced metrics at even strength (regular season)xG%= Expected goals share

One win in five home playoff games.A measly two goals scored in each of the final seven games of the season.Just three times in which they definitively outplayed the opposition over an 11-game stretch - the only 11 that mattered out of the 93 since October.There are countless ways to frame the Toronto Maple Leafs' latest playoff exit, which came at the hands of the Florida Panthers on Friday night in Game 5 of the second round. Yet it all comes down to this simple truth: the Leafs' most successful postseason of the Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner era includes five wins - still 11 short of the tally required to hoist the Stanley Cup. Mark Blinch / Getty ImagesIn other words, the Leafs, for the seventh straight season, weren't even close to completing their preseason objective. An objective that's been elusive for 56 years. An objective that didn't seem preordained with a core of Matthews, Marner, John Tavares, William Nylander, and Morgan Rielly, but at the very least felt within the range of reasonable possibilities.Who's presiding over the franchise, managing the roster, coaching the team, and slipping on the Leafs crest next season is all hanging in the balance. Changes are inevitable. The severity of those changes is to be determined.The uncertainty starts at the top. The ownership group, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, can opt for the nuclear option of firing president Brendan Shanahan. The team initiated the so-called "Shanaplan" nine years ago, but three general managers and four coaches on, it has produced one series victory.Process be damned - that's unacceptable for a club with endless resources.Shanahan, who's under contract through 2024-25, hasn't done a poor job. The Hockey Hall of Famer's overseen unprecedented regular-season success, and it's not as if he and GM Kyle Dubas haven't adjusted after playoff losses. Sandpaper, defense, leadership, and depth have been added over the years.A president shouldn't have unlimited runway, though, and Shanahan's coming up on a decade in charge. There's been anger, frustration, and sadness within the fan base for years. Apathy now, too. Moving on from Shanahan would signal a completely new era. A way to save face and chart a different path. Lance McMillan / Getty ImagesIf Shanahan's canned, Dubas and coach Sheldon Keefe likely lose their jobs.If MLSE sticks to the Shanaplan, Dubas or Keefe, or both, may still get fired.Dubas, in case you haven't heard, is on an expiring contract. The public has assumed this lack of job security is directly related to playoff success. There's an argument to be made that Dubas excelled in 2022-23 by surrounding the core with layers of veteran support - Ryan O'Reilly, Luke Schenn, Jake McCabe, etc. - and that finally winning a playoff series validates those moves.But that argument ignores the past. Dubas has been at the helm for five years, and the collection of players he's bet on hasn't lived up to the hype. Devoting half of the salary cap to four players has proven to be an unwise strategy. And while goaltending luckily wasn't a major issue in the postseason, it's fair to criticize Dubas for his offseason acquisition of injury-riddled Matt Murray, who closed out the year as the backup to rookie netminder Joseph Woll.Make no mistake: Dubas will be highly sought after if he hits the free-agent market. The 37-year-old is well-respected across the NHL, and let's face it, he made far more good moves than bad during his first twirl in the GM's chair.Consider this, too: Even if the Leafs want Dubas back, he could choose to walk away. It might be a better long-term career move for him to pull the chute on the Leafs experiment and start fresh elsewhere, whether that be in Pittsburgh, Calgary, or another city. His paychecks will be fatter, he'll likely have more autonomy, and he'll be working with a different core. Minas Panagiotakis / Getty ImagesPro sports is a results-driven business, and at least one person always pays for a lack of results. It's usually the coach, which means Keefe's job isn't safe, even if Shanahan stays, and, yes, even if his buddy Dubas stays. Keefe, who boasts one of the finest regular-season winning percentages in NHL history yet owns a 13-17 record in the playoffs, is under contract through 2023-24.Player motivation is part of the coach's job, and Keefe is responsible for a hefty chunk of the Leafs' uninspiring performance in Game 3 versus Florida. He was arguably outcoached throughout this playoff run and past postseasons - for instance, shuffling his forward lines too often or not enough and failing to get his team ready for the relentless Panthers forecheck.Like his players, Keefe didn't execute to the best of his abilities as the pressure mounted. There was progress this year, but not enough.After past playoff losses, there were three options: stay the course, tinker through a handful of minor alterations, or turn the page with major changes. This time around, turning the page appears to be the only viable option.Firing one, two, or three of Shanahan, Dubas, and Keefe would be the start. From there, the Core Five - the four highest-paid forwards and the highest-paid defenseman - probably shouldn't return fully intact. Move one? Two?Matthews, the team's best player, launched the Leafs' comeback in Game 4 of the first round. He finished with five goals and six assists, or a point per contest, off a league-high 49 shots on goal and 66 scoring chances. Most crucially, though, Matthews failed to score a single goal in the second round. Kevin Sousa / Getty ImagesMarner, the team's top point producer in the regular season and playoffs, scored the game-winner in the club's lone second-round win. He was also the biggest no-show of any Leafs star in Wednesday's painfully poor Game 3.Tavares notched the series-clinching goal in Round 1 and won some key faceoffs. Otherwise, he continued to show signs of decline. Nylander, snakebitten before scoring in back-to-back games to end the season, was consistently dangerous. Rielly, meanwhile, was a puck-hungry menace all postseason, contributing 12 points from the back end, many in clutch moments.The collective performance of Toronto's five top players was far from terrible. But it wasn't quite strong enough in gut-check situations. Again. And now the clock is ticking. In a matter of weeks, we'll find out plenty about the long-term plan.Matthews, who turns 26 in September, and Nylander, 27 as of May 1, are both eligible to sign new contracts on July 1. Matthews' current deal includes a no-move clause in the final year, while Nylander's has a 10-team no-trade clause.Marner, who turned 26 last week, and Tavares, 33 in September, each have two seasons remaining. Tavares' deal includes a no-move clause for all seven years, while Marner's no-move clause kicks in - conveniently - on July 1. Claus Andersen / Getty ImagesThe Leafs, regardless of who's in charge, will probably view Matthews as an untouchable in trade talks. What's going on inside the superstar's head is just as relevant, though. Does Matthews want to stay in Toronto? If so, does he truly believe the Leafs can win a Cup? The same questions can be applied to Nylander, the favorite whipping boy for a segment of Leafs Nation.Perhaps Nylander wants to play out his final year and then take his talents elsewhere via free agency. Or maybe the front office, which is handcuffed by Tavares' undesirable contract and likely uninterested in involving Rielly in trade talks, can shake up the core by shipping out Nylander. Or Marner. Or both.No matter what route it takes, the front office will need to get creative.The downside of trading Nylander and/or Marner: It'll be difficult to win the trade(s). The Panthers did something similar last offseason, sending longtime core member Jonathan Huberdeau to the Calgary Flames in a blockbuster that brought back 2022-23 Hart Trophy finalist Matthew Tkachuk. Yet the Flames-Panthers trade isn't much of a template because the circumstances (Tkachuk wanted out, Johnny Gaudreau had recently left) don't align with Toronto's. There's just so much risk associated with trading a star still in his prime.The upside of trading Nylander and/or Marner: It's the next step in the evolution. A last-ditch effort for this era. Everything around the core - from the second-tier guys to the role players to the goaltenders - has been turned over, and it'll be turned over again this offseason, with 10 unrestricted free agents on the roster. The only thing left to do is to add and subtract from the Core Five.Well, that and maybe firing somebody in charge. That's the first domino to watch.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in Game 5 on Friday to take a 3-2 lead in their second-round series.The winner of the matchup will face either the Dallas Stars or Seattle Kraken in the Western Conference Final. The Stars hold a 3-2 edge in that series.Vegas scored three unanswered goals in a span of 89 seconds in the second period Friday night. The Golden Knights took a 4-2 lead in the contest as a result, and they withstood Connor McDavid's marker that cut the lead to one early in the third.The Golden Knights netted a pair of power-play goals in seven opportunities, while the Oilers converted three of their four chances on the man advantage.Game 6 is scheduled for Sunday in Edmonton.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nick Cousins scored the overtime winner as the Florida Panthers held off the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in Game 5 on Friday to advance to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 1996.Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky played a key role in the victory, turning aside 50 of 52 shots.Maple Leafs forward William Nylander netted the equalizer with less than five minutes remaining in regulation to force the extra frame. Toronto defenseman Morgan Rielly thought he tied the game earlier in the contest with his second goal of the middle frame, but the initial no-goal call was upheld upon review because the referee deemed the play dead before the puck crossed the line.Aaron Ekblad and Carter Verhaeghe also found the back of the net for the Cardiac Cats.The Maple Leafs failed to score more than twice in a game throughout the series and were largely stymied by Bobrovsky, who saved 7.64 goals above expected at all strengths in five contests, per Natural Stat Trick.Toronto beat the Tampa Bay Lightning to break out of the first round for the first time since 2004, but the team has failed to find any other playoff success with its current core of players.Despite that, some of the Maple Leafs made it clear that they want to stay the course."We all got years left on our contracts," Mitch Marner said postgame, per Sportsnet's Luke Fox. "I mean, I don't know. It's not up to us, but we got a lot of belief in this group. We got a lot of belief in that core. It sucks right now, but I got belief."Rielly agreed with his teammate."I love these guys. I don't want any change," he said, per TSN's Chris Johnston.The Panthers eliminated the Presidents' Trophy-winning Boston Bruins in seven games in the opening round.Maple Leafs fans made waves for chanting, "We want Florida!" after Toronto eliminated the Bolts. Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk was pleased that his team was able to make them eat their words."We don't hear many 'We want Florida's' at this moment right now, and God, does that feel good," he said after Game 5, per TSN. "To do it in (Toronto), that's a big one, and that's an important one for us and our franchise."Florida will take on the Carolina Hurricanes, who punched their ticket to the conference final after beating the New Jersey Devils in Game 5 on Thursday.The Panthers and Hurricanes have never squared off in a playoff series, but there are still some connections between the two teams. Carolina captain Jordan Staal will face his brothers, Eric and Marc. Florida bench boss Paul Maurice was head coach of the Hurricanes franchise for parts of 13 seasons, dating back to the 1995-96 Hartford Whalers.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Morgan Rielly and his Toronto Maple Leafs teammates thought they tied up Friday's Game 5 against the Florida Panthers late in the second period, but a play that was ruled no goal on the ice was upheld on review.

Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid, Florida Panthers stud Matthew Tkachuk, and Boston Bruins sniper David Pastrnak were announced as the 2022-23 Hart Trophy finalists Friday.The Professional Hockey Writers Association votes to determine the winner of the Hart Trophy, which is given annually "to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team."McDavid is a five-time finalist for the hardware and two-time winner. He was also nominated Wednesday for the Ted Lindsay Award, which is voted on by members of the NHL Players' Association.The megastar was once again in a league of his own this campaign, reaching new heights with 64 goals and an outlandish 153 points in 82 contests while factoring in on almost 50% of the Oilers' goals. McDavid recorded 45 multi-point games - including 10 with at least four points - and 14 multi-goal contests. With that consistent output, it's no wonder he captured the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy and Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's most prolific scorer.McDavid led all skaters in goals above replacement (31.7) and wins above replacement (5.4) while producing at a rate of 2.09 goals and five points per 60 minutes at all strengths, according to Evolving Hockey.Tkachuk is a first-time nominee for the Hart Trophy. The talented agitator's first season in Sunrise really couldn't have gone any better, and he was a key reason the Panthers forced their way into the playoffs. He led his teammates with a career-high 109 points (40 goals, 69 assists) in 79 contests and had the fifth-most even-strength points (72) in the league while boasting the fourth-highest point-per-game rate (1.38).Florida scored 288 goals this campaign, meaning Tkachuk had a hand in approximately 38% of them. He ranked second league-wide in both goals above replacement (28.8) and wins above replacement (4.9), trailing only McDavid in both metrics.Also a Ted Lindsay Award finalist, Pastrnak ranked second in the league with 61 goals and third with 113 points while skating in all 82 games. Sure, the Bruins were a well-oiled, dominant juggernaut in the regular season, but that was in large part due to Pastrnak, who also led all skaters in even-strength goals (43) and shots (407).The gifted scorer didn't just pace the Bruins in goals and points - he blew his teammates out of the water. Pastrnak was 34 goals clear of Jake DeBrusk and Patrice Bergeron in second place and held a 46-point lead on Brad Marchand. Out of all skaters to play at least 10 games this campaign, Pastrnak led the field with a rate of 2.28 goals per 60 minutes in all situations.Toronto Maple Leafs sniper Auston Matthews took home the Hart Trophy last season.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Jersey Devils players woke up Friday without a game on the schedule for the first time in seven months. It surely felt horrible to challenge the shorthanded Carolina Hurricanes in the second round but ultimately drop Game 5 and the series in overtime. Losing always sucks.Give those players a few days, though, and the entirety of a wildly successful season should come into focus. The 2022-23 Devils set franchise records in wins and points. Center Jack Hughes leveled up from star to superstar. They beat the rival New York Rangers in the first round. Most crucially, they experienced the highs and lows of playoff hockey as a group. Josh Lavallee / Getty ImagesThis is only the beginning for New Jersey. Hughes, 21, and captain and Selke Trophy finalist Nico Hischier, 24, combine to cost only $15.25 million over the next four seasons. That's a dream scenario under next year's $83.5-million cap limit, and the sweetheart deals will get only sweeter as the limit rises.Ondrej Palat, Dawson Mercer, and Michael McLeod - the latter of whom had a coming-out party in the playoffs - provide an enviable base for the supporting cast up front. The defense corps is in capable hands with veterans Dougie Hamilton, Jonas Siegenthaler, and John Marino under contract through 2026-27. The goalie duo of Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid isn't ideal but is competent enough and signed at a combined $4.25 million cap hit. And youngsters Alexander Holtz, Simon Nemec, and Luke Hughes - the latter looked both 19 years old and brilliant in three playoff games - all have star potential. Rich Graessle / Getty ImagesOtherwise, general manager Tom Fitzgerald has a good dozen decisions to make on free agents. The unrestricted class - Erik Haula, Tomas Tatar, Miles Wood, Damon Severson, and Ryan Graves - is a mixed bag, with the smart money on only one or two guys returning. The restricted class - Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, McLeod, Kevin Bahl, Nathan Bastian, Jesper Boqvist, Yegor Sharangovich, and Mackenzie Blackwood - is naturally more straightforward.The beauty of Fitzgerald keeping the books clear of albatross contracts while also locking up cornerstones on team-friendly deals is that New Jersey can tolerate imminent raises for 32-goal scorer Bratt and 40-goal scorer Meier. Fitzgerald can theoretically run back the same core and upgrade the club's depth pieces through free agency or trade. He has flexibility most GMs don't.The Devils project to be the toast of the Metropolitan Division for years to come. They're one of a handful of teams across the entire league with an NHL roster, prospect pool, and cap sheet that screams future powerhouse.Nothing to hang your head about, Jersey.Woll's stock trending up Eliot J. Schechter / Getty ImagesRegardless of what happens in Friday's Game 5 between Toronto and Florida, one thing appears certain: the Maple Leafs finally developed a goaltender.Joseph Woll, a third-round pick in 2016, turned aside 24 of 25 shots in Wednesday's Game 4 to improve his career save percentage to .921. The Panthers didn't test him often in his first career playoff start and 14th overall appearance, but the 24-year-old still looked like he belonged in an NHL crease.Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe, who opted to start Woll over two-time Stanley Cup winner Matt Murray in the wake of No. 1 goalie Ilya Samsonov's injury, said Woll is "ready for this." In the context of the big-market Leafs, "this" is the immense pressure associated with coming in cold while trailing in a series."He's dialed in, and he's just a really, really focused kid," Bruce Racine, Woll's former goalie coach in the St. Louis area, said via phone Thursday. Joel Auerbach / Getty ImagesRacine, who's known Woll for 16 years, coaching him for the first 10 or so, praises the 6-foot-3, 203-pound goalie for his size, technical base, athleticism, and work ethic. It's all there. Yet Woll's edge is his mental makeup. He takes criticism well. He's intelligent on and off the ice. He's learned how to quickly get over bad goals and bad outings. He's calm, meditating between whistles.One time, Racine gifted a young Woll a mental toughness packet: three pieces of paper stapled together containing lessons on mindset. For instance, if a coach is running a three-on-zero drill in practice, it's natural for a goalie to think, 'Oh my god, I hate this.' A healthier inner dialogue might be, 'OK, this is a tough drill, and I'm going to fight through it, no matter what.'Woll, it turns out, cherished those three pages. "His mom told me a year and a half later that it's been on his bedside table the whole time," Racine said.Put another way: So much of the goaltending position is mental, and Woll is advanced for his age. (Much like his former goalie partner Jake Oettinger.)The Leafs haven't turned a draft pick into an NHL starter since James Reimer, a fourth-round selection in 2006. Woll, a Boston College alumnus with two world junior medals and 83 AHL games of experience, isn't quite ready for the No. 1 job, but he's tracking towards claiming it down the road. He's a bargain, too, signed for the next two years at $766,667 annually.Endless respect for CoglianoInjuries defined the 2022-23 Avalanche campaign, and next season is already off to a miserable start, with captain Gabriel Landeskog ruled out for 2023-24.Andrew Cogliano is another Av with an uncertain future. The 35-year-old winger suffered a fractured neck in Game 6 of Colorado's first-round series loss to the Seattle Kraken. He was considered "out indefinitely" at the time and entered the offseason without a contract for 2023-24. Cogliano's endured plenty of wear and tear over 1,200-plus games spread across 16 seasons. Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images / Getty ImagesIf this is it: Bravo.Cogliano, the 25th overall pick in 2005, has an impeccable reputation. His teammates love him. Coaches love him. Rivals love him (as much as one loves a rival). And he's adapted his game over the years, becoming a pseudo-defensive specialist while bouncing from Edmonton to Anaheim, Dallas, and San Jose, before landing in Colorado. Prior to the 2022 trade deadline, Avs star Nathan MacKinnon reportedly lobbied management to acquire Cogliano.At the end of the regular season, I poked around NHL dressing rooms to find out what makes a "good room." Figuring the wily vet would be an expert on the topic, I made sure to approach Cogliano when Colorado visited Toronto."Selflessness. That's probably the biggest thing, to be honest with you," Cogliano said matter of factly on March 15. "It's a business. It's a sport where you have to take care of yourself individually. That stuff matters. But a good room - a good team culture - comes when you get guys who are selfless and through their actions show that the team is more important than themselves." Dustin Bradford / Getty ImagesTo many, Cogliano embodies that selflessness through his commitment to the sport, once dressing for 830 consecutive games. He's long embraced the less desirable aspects of the job, like absorbing slap shots on the penalty kill."I remember last year watching the Stanley Cup when Colorado won, and so many of the guys who had been on that team for a while talked about how Cogliano had such a big impact," Detroit Red Wings forward Alex Chiasson said, bringing up Cogliano unprompted when discussing good rooms."He was traded at the deadline. He came into a new team. Yet they singled him out in interviews. That speaks for itself. He was playing 10 minutes a night. He knew his role. A lot of experience. But how much of his impact in the room translated to the ice? I'm sure that was really big, just because in such a short amount of time, he became so important to the rest of that group."Parting shotsDefenseman factory: The Anaheim Ducks are likely taking forward Adam Fantilli second overall in June. It'll be more riveting to watch who they select with their other eight picks because Anaheim has an outstanding track record of drafting and developing blue-liners, regardless of draft slot. From 2008-18, the Ducks drafted Hampus Lindholm (sixth overall), Cam Fowler (12th), Jake Gardiner (17th), Shea Theodore (26th), Marcus Pettersson (38th), Justin Schultz (43rd), Brandon Montour (55th), Sami Vatanen (106th), and Josh Manson (160th). One day we might look at the 2019-22 cohort of Jamie Drysdale, Jackson LaCombe, Noah Warren, Pavel Mintyukov, Olen Zellweger, and Tristan Luneau just as fondly. Mintyukov (OHL), Zellweger (WHL), and Luneau (QMJHL) won their league's top defenseman award this year, making Anaheim incredibly the first NHL team to sweep all three in a single season.

We have a juicy two-gamer ahead of us to begin the weekend. Elimination is on the line in the early window, while the late contest is a swing game with each team missing its best defensemen in the series due to suspension. Fun stuff!Let's take a closer look at three of the bets that most stand out.Panthers (+150) @ Maple Leafs (-175)With their backs against the wall, the Maple Leafs took a different approach in Game 4 against the Panthers - and it worked.Rather than try to open things up offensively and score their way to victory, they simplified their game and focused on playing the suffocating style opposing teams always try to use against them.The Maple Leafs worked as hard without the puck as they did with it. They completely sucked the life out of the Panthers' attack at five-on-five, holding them to only 1.62 expected goals generated. That's nearly a full xG less than their previous lowest output in this series.Perhaps the Maple Leafs felt this approach was necessary with youngster Joseph Woll between the pipes. Perhaps they felt it was the best way to win no matter who was between the pipes. Either way, the change paid off.Toronto controlled more than 58% of the expected goal share at five-on-five, their second-highest total of the playoffs and best mark of the series. And they didn't give up a goal in that game state.They had answers for all of the questions surrounding the team, too. It's so often been about the stars going quiet in an elimination games or the power play not finding a way to make its mark. Not in Game 4.The Maple Leafs scored on one of their two power-play opportunities. William Nylander and Mitch Marner found the back of the net. Auston Matthews and John Tavares combined for nine shots and a bundle of chances. The stars did enough, and the defense was great behind them.I expect Toronto to ride that wave and come through with another victory at home, where it really caused the Panthers problems defensively.It feels like ages ago, but the Maple Leafs combined for more than nine expected goals over the first two home games. They made a few blunders in bad spots - and paid the price for it - but by and large generated chances in bulk. Sergei Bobrovsky was the only thing slowing them down.I don't expect him to turn into Swiss cheese on a whim. Having said that, he has by far the highest second-round save percentage at .934. Sooner or later, one would expect that to regress and Bobrovsky to be the .900 goaltender we've watched for years now.Should that regression start to kick in Friday night, the Maple Leafs will likely extend the series with a multi-goal victory inside 60 minutes.Bet: Maple Leafs in regulation (-110)Auston Matthews over 4.5 shots (-120)Matthews let us down in Florida - he had four shots last time out - but we're going back to the well at home Friday night.He put forth matching offensive performances in Games 1 and 2 of the series, recording six shots on 11 attempts in each.The higher volume at home is a trend we've seen from Matthews - and many star players - all season long. His hit rate is 14% higher when playing in Toronto than on the road.He should get a few extra shifts in cushier matchups, and in a do-or-die game, he could approach 25 minutes of ice if the game is close. He'll have every opportunity to get the job done.Evan Bouchard over 2.5 shots (+115)Bouchard has quietly posted some strong shooting numbers against the Golden Knights. He's attempted 25 shots through four games, good for an average of more than six per contest. That'll more often than not be enough for a player with a 2.5 line - and Bouchard is no different.The Oilers defenseman has a 63% hit rate this season when attempting at least six shots. If we adjust to games where he had at least seven attempts, a number Bouchard has already hit twice this series, his success rate climbs to a whopping 74%.I think we could see that sort of ceiling from Bouchard in this game. He's already the quarterback for the top power play. With Darnell Nurse suspended, he'll play an even bigger role at even strength as well.Bouchard should log 22 minutes or more, which is more than enough time for such a trigger-happy player to get three shots.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Reynolds won't be part of the new ownership group of the Ottawa Senators, as the actor's bid for the club isn't moving forward, reports ESPN's Emily Kaplan.Reynolds' request for an exclusive window to finalize the deal was declined, adds Kaplan.The "Deadpool" star was aligned with a bid from real estate mogul Christopher Bratty's Remington Group. The consortium was reportedly prepared to offer $1 billion for the team, which Forbes valued at $800 million in December.Reynolds' group had pledged to improve the Canadian Tire Centre - where the Senators currently play - and look into building a new downtown arena, according to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch.Two more celebrities recently joined the pursuit to purchase the Senators. Earlier this month, Snoop Dogg confirmed he's part of a group fronted by L.A.-based entrepreneur Neko Sparks. On Saturday, reports indicated the Weeknd is bidding with the Harlo Capital Group. That bid is spearheaded by Toronto billionaires Jeffrey and Michael Kimel, who recently sold their share in the Pittsburgh Penguins.Others to have reportedly met with Senators CFO Erin Crowe and president of business operations Anthony LeBlanc include fellow Toronto billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos (who made a $6-billion bid on the NFL's Washington Commanders), Vivek Ranadive (who owns the NBA's Sacramento Kings), and Michael Andlauer, who owns the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs.The deadline for interested parties to submit final offers is Monday. The Senators' longtime owner, Eugene Melnyk, died in March of last year. His daughters, Anna and Olivia, took over control of the club upon his death. They hired New York-based firm Galatioto Sports Partners to oversee the sale.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Linus Ullmark of the Boston Bruins, Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders, and Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets are Vezina Trophy finalists, the NHL announced Thursday.The Vezina Trophy is voted on by the general managers of all 32 NHL teams and is awarded annually "to the goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at this position."Both Ullmark and Sorokin are first-time finalists for the honor.Ullmark, 29, was the backbone of the Bruins' Presidents' Trophy-winning campaign, which saw them set new records for most wins (65) and points (135). He led the league in save percentage (.938), goals against average (1.89), and goals saved against average (46.69) while ranking third in goals saved above expected (38.21) at all strengths, per Evolving Hockey.Widely considered to be the front-runner for the hardware, Ullmark posted a sparkling 40-6-1 record across 49 appearances. He even added a goalie goal to his resume, becoming the first netminder to find the back of the net since Pekka Rinne in 2020.Sorokin, 27, led all goaltenders with six shutouts this season and boasted a 31-22-7 record. He registered a .924 save percentage - the third-best clip of all goalies with at least 20 starts this season - and 2.34 goals against average in 62 showings, allowing one goal or fewer in 23 of those outings.The Russian trailed only Ullmark in goals saved above average (36.23) and paced the entire field in goals saved above expected (51.36).Once again one of the NHL's busiest goaltenders, Hellebuyck started a league-leading 64 contests and faced the third-most shots (1,964) in 2022-23. The veteran handled his heavy workload with ease, posting a .920 save percentage and 2.49 goals against average to go along with a 37-25-2 record.Hellebuyck finished fourth in both goals saved above average (30.11) and goals saved above expected (33.62) en route to earning his third Vezina Trophy nomination. The 29-year-old won the coveted honor in 2020.New York Rangers stud Igor Shesterkin took home the hardware last season.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the second night in a row, we have an exciting slate featuring an elimination game and a swing game.Let's dive into the best ways to attack them.Devils (+110) @ Hurricanes (-130)This series hasn't been overly exciting in terms of competitiveness. All four games to date were complete blowouts decided by four goals or more.But it has been exciting in terms of offense. We've seen 32 goals through four games, good for an average of eight per game. The lowest output thus far was in Game 1, where the two sides combined for six goals.The reason that's exciting is because of the total. Each game, the line was set at 5.5, and each game, we had more than that.While Akira Schmid versus Frederik Andersen is probably the optimal goaltending matchup for preventing goals, I still expect to see plenty.Schmid has come back down to earth following a lights-out performance against the Rangers. He's appeared three times in this series, allowing eight goals on just 48 shots. That's an .833 save percentage.Clearly, he hasn't played impeccable hockey, and being yo-yoed in and out of the net probably won't help his confidence, either. I think Schmid is a better goaltender than he's shown in this series, but certainly not the guy we saw dominate the Rangers in the opening round.On the flip side, Andersen is a gettable goaltender as well. He's statistically one of the worst goaltenders in the league in terms of coughing up rebounds. There should be second-chance opportunities for a Devils team that has plenty of supremely talented forwards.Andersen has tightened up a little bit in the playoffs, but during the regular season, he legitimately was a negative in goals saved above expected. That means he allowed more goals than he should have, given the workload faced.The Hurricanes have proven they can score without some of their big guns up front. If they're behind, they'll put a ton of pressure on Schmid.We know the Devils have plenty of stars as well that can get to Andersen. Not to mention, they'll likely pull the goalie with plenty of time to spare if they're down one, two, or even three goals in the third period. That could lead to an extra tuck or two to get us over the number.Bet: Over 5.5 (-125)Brent Burns over 3.5 shots (+110)It hasn't been a noisy series for Burns. While his Hurricanes hold a commanding 3-1 lead over the Devils, he hasn't been overly involved in the offense. He's found the scoresheet in only one of four games and failed to record four shots in any of them.Despite that, I still favor Burns in this spot. He's been a monster at home in these playoffs, attempting 46 shots over five games and generating at least eight attempts in all but one. The exception was Game 1 against the Devils, where the Hurricanes led for 50 minutes and didn't need to attack.One would think the Devils aren't going to get blown out again with their season on the line. If that proves true, Burns will spend upwards of 25 minutes on the ice looking for opportunities to get involved and help create offense.Roope Hintz over 2.5 shots (-135)Hintz has cracked the Kraken. He's piled up 15 shots through the first four games of the series, going over his total in all but Game 4. That was a blowout in which the Stars spent the final period and change dumping pucks in and not seeming the least bit interested in trying to generate any offense.His two best shooting games of the series came at home, where Hintz attempted six and seven shots in Games 1 and 2, respectively. Hintz is a selective shooter who likes to get in tight before pulling the trigger, so if he's generating that kind of volume, it's going to lead to insane success.That's no exaggeration, either. Over the 30 games Hintz attempted six shots or more, he recorded at least three shots in 26 of them. That translates to an 87% hit rate.He's gone over the number in four of five home playoff games and all five home games played against the Kraken this season. Look for him to stay hot in Game 5.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers blasted the Vegas Golden Knights 4-1 at home Wednesday to square their second-round playoff clash at two wins apiece. Edmonton needs to tick these four boxes to triumph in the series as it goes down to the wire.Be cool under pressure Andy Devlin / NHL / Getty ImagesVegas' tenacity and pace have troubled the Oilers on occasion. The Golden Knights forecheck aggressively, reducing a defenseman's time and space to move the puck, and race up ice to try to strike in transition when those opportunities arise.Edmonton was prone to blunders in Games 1 and 3. Giveaways, blown tires, and lackadaisical checking produced Golden Knights goals. Vegas scored on numerous three-on-three rushes when the Oilers' defenders got disconcerted and left a man open.Game 2 supplied the blueprint for Edmonton to stem the tide. Defensemen made short, simple passes that eluded the high forecheckers and sparked breakouts, which stopped Vegas from racking up quick-hit chances and offensive-zone time. Stuart Skinner stoned every rush shot he faced in a 5-1 win.Edmonton flipped the script on Vegas in Game 4. Forechecking hard, Nick Bjugstad stripped Shea Theodore by the Golden Knights' net before depositing a wraparound. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' snappy release beat Adin Hill at the end of a lengthy cycle shift. The Oilers' puck poise and crisp passing in the D-zone helped them dominate on the shot clock and scoreboard in the first two periods.Crucially, Skinner cleaned up a defensive lapse. When Mattias Ekholm and Kailer Yamamoto both converged on the puck-handler on one Vegas foray, letting Mark Stone slip to the net behind them, Skinner denied Stone's deke with his pad. Leon Draisaitl teed up Ekholm's blast from the left faceoff dot 20 seconds later.Some nights, the Oilers author their own demise. When the puck's in their zone, they need to be in sync in man coverage, box out the screener on point shots to deter tips, and avoid handing Vegas possession on a platter. They can't afford to repeat the careless plays that led to backbreaking goals earlier in the series. Game 4 was a positive step, though Game 5 will be tougher if Darnell Nurse is suspended for instigating a late fight.Swamp Vegas on power play Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesEdmonton's incandescent power play has started to cool. The Oilers are 1-for-8 since Hill entered Game 3 as Laurent Brossoit's injury replacement. That said, they potted the one goal efficiently. Evan Bouchard accepted Connor McDavid's pass and tickled twine Wednesday nine seconds after Shea Theodore went off for a retaliatory slash.Edmonton's top unit marries three dynamic talents - Draisaitl, McDavid, and Bouchard - with a complementary 100-point playmaker in Nugent-Hopkins and a skilled worker bee in Zach Hyman.This quintet scores off Draisaitl's one-timers, McDavid's snipes, Bouchard's bombs from the blue line, and the rebounds and scrambles those clappers create. Six of Draisaitl's playoff-high 13 goals have come on the man advantage. Edmonton's success rates in the series (35.3%) and postseason (45.5%) remain extraordinary.The NHL's least penalized team, the Golden Knights were shorthanded 2.38 times per game in the regular season and 2.40 times per game in Round 1. That rate has rocketed to 4.25 times per game against the Oilers. The minors they took in Game 4 included a blatant too-many-men offense and an elbowing infraction in the Edmonton zone. Alex Pietrangelo's late, reckless slash to the hands of Draisaitl could trigger a suspension.Five NHL power plays have scored at a 35% clip over a full postseason (minimum 10 games played) since 1978, when data for this became available. The top team's success rate - the 2021 Colorado Avalanche - hit 41.4%. The Oilers' power play could set a new record in defeat or propel them to the conference finals.Match Golden Knights' scoring balance Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesWhen they click into top gear, any of Vegas' top three lines can dictate tempo and turn defense into offense. They force turnovers, string together nice passing sequences, cycle the puck back and forth, and create openings to pepper it on net. NHL ironman Phil Kessel has been scratched since Round 1 because Vegas boasts so many capable scorers and potent forward combinations.Six Golden Knights - linemates Ivan Barbashev, Jack Eichel, and Jonathan Marchessault, plus Chandler Stephenson, Michael Amadio, and Zach Whitecloud - tallied goals at even strength in Games 1 through 3. Besides Draisaitl, Warren Foegele was the lone Oiler to score in that phase until Wednesday. It's significant that Bjugstad, Ekholm, and Nugent-Hopkins all lit the lamp at five-on-five.The Oilers excel if their stars uplift the supporting cast and vice versa, like when Yamamoto shrugged off Stone's huge hit in Game 2 to collect his own rebound and feed Draisaitl to score. McDavid's two assists in Game 4 upped his playoff total to 12, the league high.At worst, no one produces when the big guns rest. That wasn't a problem in Round 1: Yamamoto, Hyman, Bjugstad, Evander Kane, and Klim Kostin all bagged important goals. Although Hyman and Kane are scoreless in the last five contests, Nugent-Hopkins just snapped his 11-game skid.Subdue Eichel Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesVegas' first-line center was productive in Game 1 (assist, empty-net goal); out of sorts in Game 2 (two defensive-zone penalties); and forceful in Game 3 (two helpers, snipe that chased Skinner from the net). In Game 4, Eichel fired five shots on target and whipped a dangerous no-look pass to Barbashev to no avail.Forever linked to McDavid as the second guy drafted in 2015, Eichel never lifted the Buffalo Sabres to the playoffs, idling as the Oilers experienced the highs and lows of the Stanley Cup chase. In his first postseason, Eichel has done damage as a shooter and facilitator on the Vegas power play's left flank. The Golden Knights' expected goals share is 62.6% when he skates with Barbashev and Marchessault at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick.Eichel is tied with Draisaitl for the series lead with four points at even strength. He and Marchessault are Vegas' top shot generators by a wide margin. They won't outscore Edmonton's superstars on most nights, but managing it once more would dent the Oilers' Cup hopes. More than anyone, Eichel is the player Edmonton has to quiet.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Even though, statistically, Game 3s have been studied to be more critical to a team's overall win probability of a series, it's hard not to believe that a Game 4 - where a team can either draw even, go down 3-1, or go home - isn't the most pivotal of the first four games in a best-of-seven.With a big chunk of data built up through four games, let's take a look at each series to see if there's anything worth playing in the in-series betting markets.Series: Devils (+500) vs. Hurricanes (-700)Even-strength numbersTEAMxGHDCHDGDevils8.65457Hurricanes10.834012Normally, I try to take the Hurricanes' constant domination in even-strength expected goals with a grain of salt, as their high-danger chance numbers don't always match what their puck pressure creates in the analytics. However, whether it's having watched the four games or acknowledging that 20 of the Devils' 45 high-danger chances in this series came as part of their one big effort in Game 3, predicting New Jersey to take three straight games would seem foolhardy.There's a bigger issue afoot for the Devils, and that's between the pipes. Vitek Vanecek's goals saved above expected is the worst in these playoffs by a mile at -8.08, behind Andrei Vasilevskiy's surprisingly bad -3.69 in the first round. Akira Schmid has actually stopped around a half-goal above expected per goal, but Lindy Ruff made him the scapegoat for the first two games in Carolina and might now be out of confident options.Series: Kraken (+170) vs. Stars (-210)Even-strength numbersTEAMxGHDCHDGKraken8.84406Stars11.16487Our stance for this series has long been, "The Stars, but not at these prices," and only diverted from that twice: after they lost Game 1, and when the Stars were being priced at a discount prior to confirmation that Miro Heiskanen would be OK to play in Game 4.The Stars are driving the even-strength play at about a 56% rate, and it could be argued that outside of two very unusual segments in this series - four Kraken goals in four minutes of Game 1 and four more goals in six minutes after Heiskanen was maimed in Game 3 - Dallas has been the vastly superior team. However, laying more than 2-to-1 odds for Dallas to finally vanquish the Kraken should be left for those who didn't make a bet after Game 1 and are without futures positions on the Stars and their best Conn Smythe candidates.Series: Panthers (-425) vs. Maple Leafs (+325)Even-strength numbersTEAMxGHDCHDGPanthers9.58446Maple Leafs9.77483They needed the help of a referee shin pad, a post, and the back of Sergei Bobrovsky's head, but the Maple Leafs kept hope alive of pulling off a fifth 0-3 comeback in a Stanley Cup Playoffs series.After Game 3, the Leafs were still in the neighborhood of just +700 to win what amounts to four straight coin flips - if you adhere to the largely even on-ice metrics. As you might assume, that was a less advantageous payout versus just rolling over Toronto moneylines, but either option seemed too short for something that has historically happened around 2% of the time. After Toronto found its first of four required wins Wednesday, +325 isn't enough to bet on three more.Series: Oilers (-165) vs. Golden Knights (+140)Even-strength numbersTEAMxGHDCHDGOilers7.5343Golden Knights8.31367We were getting to the point where the Oilers, their fans, and their backers probably had flashbacks to years past when goaltending - or a lack thereof - undermined whatever five-on-five advantage they had. Instead of leaving it up to Stuart Skinner, Edmonton strangled the Golden Knights defensively in Game 4 with just 0.86 expected goals against. The Oilers also generated six power plays - unlike in Game 3 where it took them 36 minutes to get one.Edmonton is -130 on the moneyline to take Game 5 in Vegas, and the impending suspension of Alex Pietrangelo, who leads Vegas in ice time, changes the calculus for the series. A series price of -165 suggests Edmonton needs to win the series 62.3% of the time, and if you haven't been adding Oilers bets before the series, or when they've trailed, you can still back Connor McDavid and Co. at a decent price.Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers hired Keith Jones as their president of hockey operations and removed the interim tag for Daniel Briere as general manager, the team announced Thursday."It was critical to find someone who would complement coach (John) Tortorella and Danny (Briere) in their roles while overseeing the strategic direction of the team," Flyers CEO and Governor Daniel J. Hilferty said in a press release. "'Jonesy' understands the value of creating chemistry and enabling leadership within a team. He has extensive experience analyzing and evaluating talent and knows firsthand how important collaboration is on and off ice."Jones has no front-office experience. He played nine NHL seasons during the 1990s and early 2000s, including three campaigns with the Flyers to end his career. Jones has worked as an analyst for NBC Sports Philadelphia and TNT in his post-playing days."I consider the Philadelphia Flyers organization the gold standard of the NHL and professional sports," Jones said. "I've seen how this city and these fans can rally around their team, and there is nothing that compares to that feeling. With this leadership group in place, I am beyond excited and fully confident that we are on the right path and the results will come."Known as a hard-nosed winger, Jones tallied 117 goals, 141 assists, and 765 penalty minutes in 491 career NHL games.Eddie Olczyk, John Chayka, Scott Mellanby, Chris Pronger, and Doug Wilson were reportedly among the candidates considered for the president vacancy.Chuck Fletcher previously served as the team's president of hockey operations and general manager before being fired in March. Briere immediately assumed Fletcher's GM duties on an interim basis.Briere has limited NHL front-office experience. He began his executive career in 2015-16 with the Flyers as a special assistant to the GM under Ron Hextall, a position he held for two seasons. Briere then worked for the ECHL's Maine Mariners in various roles, including vice president of hockey operations, general manager, and president.He started working with Philadelphia again as a team consultant in 2020-21 before becoming a special assistant to Fletcher the following campaign. He played six seasons with the Flyers from 2007–13."Briere brings a fresh perspective and intense drive to the general manager role. … He understands today's game, today's player, and how to make smart hockey decisions as we navigate the future of both," Hilferty said. "Danny has proven without a doubt that he is the right person for this job and what we are trying to accomplish.""I truly believe this is an exciting time for the Flyers with the steps that we've taken this past season, the way our team has responded on and off the ice, and the path that we are on," Briere said."There is a lot of work to be done, but these last few months have only strengthened my resolve and made me even more eager to rebuild this team and deliver this city a Stanley Cup," he added.Philadelphia went 31-38-13 in 2022-23, missing the playoffs for the third year in a row for the first time since the early '90s. The team holds the seventh overall pick in the upcoming draft.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2023 World Hockey Championship will take place May 12-28 in Tampere, Finland, and Riga, Latvia. Tourney rosters are taking shape, and we've compiled the notable names listed alphabetically by country.Austria Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / GettyPlayerPositionTeamMarco RossiFWild (AHL)David ReinbacherDEHC Kloten (NL)Canada Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / GettyPlayerPositionTeamSammy BlaisFBluesMichael CarconeFRoadrunners (AHL)Lawson CrouseFCoyotesAdam FantilliFMichigan (NCAA)Cody GlassFPredatorsBrad HuntFAvalanchePeyton KrebsFSabresScott LaughtonFFlyersMilan LucicFFlamesJack McBainFCoyotesJake NeighboursFBluesJack QuinnFSabresTyler ToffoliFFlamesJoe VelenoFRed WingsJustin BarronDCanadiensEthan BearDCanucksPierre-Olivier JosephDPenguinsJake MiddletonDWildTyler MyersDCanucksMacKenzie WeegarDFlamesJoel HoferGBluesDevon LeviGSabresSamuel MontembeaultGCanadiensCzechia GINTS IVUSKANS / AFP / GettyPlayerPositionTeamFilip ChytilFRangersMartin KautFSharksDominik KubalikFRed WingsLukas SedlakFHC Dynamo Pardubice (Czechia)Jiri SmejkalFSenatorsVladimir SobotkaFHC Sparta Praha (Czechia)Michal KempnyDHC Sparta Praha (Czechia)Ronald KnotDRoadrunners (AHL)Jakub ZborilDBruinsKarel VejmelkaGCoyotesDenmark Eurasia Sport Images / Getty Images Sport / GettyPlayerPositionTeamMikkel BoedkerFHV71 (SHL)Nikolaj EhlersFJetsOscar Fisker MolgaardFHV71 (SHL)Frederik DichowGFrolunda (SHL)Finland Markku Ulander / AFP / Getty ImagesPlayerPositionTeamJoel ArmiaFCanadiensKaapo KakkoFRangersKasperi KapanenFBluesSakari ManninenFSilver Knights (AHL)Mikko RantanenFAvalancheOlli MaattaDRed WingsFrance Xavier Laine / Getty Images Sport / GettyPlayerPositionTeamAlexandre TexierFBlue JacketsGermany Codie McLachlan / Getty Images Sport / GettyPlayerPositionTeamJJ PeterkaFSabresNico SturmFSharksLeon GawankeDMoose (AHL)Moritz SeiderDRed WingsMaksymilian SzuberDEHC Munchen (DEL)Kai WissmannDBruins (AHL)Latvia ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP / GettyPlayer Position TeamRudolfs BalcersFCrunch (AHL)Dans LocmelisFLulea (J20)Uvis BalinskisDPanthersArturs SilovsGCanucks (AHL)Norway EMMI KORHONEN / AFP / GettyPlayerPositionTeamPetter VesterheimFMora IK (Allsvenskan)Ole Julian Bjorgvik HolmDMonsters (AHL)Slovakia PressFocus/MB Media / Getty Images Sport / GettyPlayerPositionTeamMartin ChromiakFReign (AHL)Milos KelemenFRoadrunners (AHL)Richard PanikFLausanne (NL)Pavol RegendaFGulls (AHL)Samuel KnazkoDMonsters (AHL)Sweden Andy Devlin / Getty Images Sport / GettyPlayerPositionTeamJonatan BerggrenFRed WingsLeo CarlssonFOrebro HK (SHL)Carl GrundstromFKingsAlex NylanderFPenguinsLucas RaymondFRed WingsJakob SilfverbergFDucksFabian ZetterlundFSharksRasmus DahlinDSabresPatrik NemethDCoyotesRasmus SandinDCapitalsJesper WallstedtGWild (AHL)Switzerland Eurasia Sport Images / Getty Images Sport / GettyPlayerPositionTeamAndre HeimFBluesDenis MalginFAvalancheNino NiederreiterFJetsTim BerniDBlue JacketsJJ MoserDCoyotesUnited States Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / GettyPlayerPositionTeamAnders BjorkFBlackhawksNick BoninoFPenguinsMatt CoronatoFFlamesMikey EyssimontFLightningSean FarrellFCanadiensConor GarlandFCanucksCutter GauthierFBoston College (NCAA)Rocco GrimaldiFIceHogs (AHL)Carter MazurFRed WingsAlex TuchFSabresLuke TuchFBoston University (NCAA)T.J. TynanFReign (AHL)Sammy WalkerFWildRonnie AttardDFlyersLane HutsonDBoston University (NCAA)Connor MackeyDCoyotesNick PerbixDLightningScott PerunovichDBluesDylan SambergDJetsHenry ThrunDSharksDrew CommessoGIceHogs (AHL)Casey DeSmithGPenguinsCal PetersenGKingsCopyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

William Nylander knows the Toronto Maple Leafs' job is far from over after they narrowly avoided being swept by the Florida Panthers on Wednesday night."It's going to take even more than it did tonight, but I think winning one here is obviously a step on the way," the winger said postgame when looking ahead to Game 5. "Don't want to get too high, it's just one win. We've got a long ways to go."He added: "If we battle, we have a chance against these guys."After facing criticism for their quiet series so far, two of Toronto's "Core Four" forwards had a big night in the 2-1 Game 4 win. Nylander opened the scoring with a power-play marker in the middle frame for his first goal since Game 2 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, while Mitch Marner also collected his first tally of the series with the eventual game-winner in the third period.Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe lauded the victory as his team's "best effort of the season." Toronto blocked 21 shots in the contest, with forwards Auston Matthews and Noel Acciari leading the way with three apiece.Keefe was particularly pleased with the way his key players rebounded from a weak showing in Game 3."The first thing is that they care, they care deeply," he said. "Because of that, you give that type of effort. They didn't want to go quietly, and that's what we've been talking about. We were going to leave it all out there here today."Of course, from the coach side of it, now you look and say, 'That's the standard. That's what we've been trying to get to, that is what's required.' So, we can't have any letup in that regard."Maple Leafs netminder Joseph Woll made 24 stops in his first career playoff start and saved 1.33 goals above expected at all strengths, according to Natural Stat Trick. The rookie's poised play didn't go unnoticed by Keefe."Our team in front of him gave him every opportunity for success today with how they competed in front of him. ... Anything that did get through, he looked really confident and in control," he said.Puck drop is set for Game 5 on Friday at 7 p.m. ET in Toronto.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid, Boston Bruins sniper David Pastrnak, and San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson were named 2022-23 Ted Lindsay Award finalists on Wednesday.Like the Hart Trophy, the Ted Lindsay Award is given annually to the league's "most outstanding player," but it is voted on by members of the NHL Players' Association rather than the Professional Hockey Writers Association.McDavid has won the trophy three times (2017, 2018, 2021). Another victory would put him in the same rarefied air as Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky as the only players to win the award at least four times.McDavid handily won his first career Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy this season as well as his third straight Art Ross Trophy - and fifth overall - after blitzing the league with his high-octane offense. He established new career highs with 64 goals and 153 points while skating in all 82 contests. The 26-year-old also became the first player to hit the 150-point plateau since Lemieux in 1995-96.Both Pastrnak and Karlsson are first-time finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award.Pastrnak was a force for the record-setting Bruins this season, leading the way with a career-high 61 goals and 113 points in 82 games while trailing only McDavid in the "Rocket" Richard Trophy race. The 26-year-old factored in on 37.5% of Boston's 301 goals scored this season.The Czech winger potted the most even-strength goals (43) and game-winning goals (13) in the NHL while pacing the league with 407 shots. Pastrnak also boasted the second-best goals-per-game rate (0.74) and ranked top 10 in both goals above replacement (22.9) and wins above replacement (3.9), according to Evolving Hockey.Karlsson, 32, can become the second defenseman to win the Ted Lindsay Award after Bobby Orr claimed the honor in 1975. Karlsson logged a 101-point campaign this season, making him the first rearguard to hit the century mark since Brian Leetch in 1991-92.The Swede was named a Norris Trophy finalist last week. He led all blue-liners with 25 goals and 76 assists and averaged the fifth-most ice time (25:37) while appearing in all 82 games. Karlsson also ranked fourth among all skaters in even-strength points (74) and finished top five among defensemen in goals above replacement (18.3) and wins above replacement (3.1).Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews won the Ted Lindsay Award last season.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Turner Sports broadcasters Eddie Olczyk and Keith Jones are the finalists for the Philadelphia Flyers' president of hockey operations vacancy, sources told Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.An announcement is expected this week, Seravalli adds.The club fired Chuck Fletcher in March after four-plus seasons in the position. Fletcher's general manager duties were handed to Daniel Briere, who is expected to keep that job after initially receiving an interim tag.Olczyk had a 16-year NHL career and got into broadcasting after retiring in 2000. He had a stint as Pittsburgh Penguins head coach from 2003-05 but only oversaw 113 contests behind the bench due to the 2004-05 lockout. He was fired 31 games into the following campaign and then returned to the booth where he's worked for NBC, Versus, and TNT.Jones played three-plus seasons with the Flyers and is the lead color commentator for the club's games on NBC Sports Philadelphia, as well as serving on TNT's national broadcasts. The 54-year-old doesn't have any experience in an NHL front office.The Flyers also interviewed John Chayka, Scott Mellanby, Chris Pronger, and Doug Wilson for the position, among others, according to Seravalli.Philadelphia finished seventh in the Metropolitan Division this season and missed the playoffs for the third consecutive year.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.