Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe is confident Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner can make the impact expected of them in Game 4 on Wednesday.The superstar pair have been under heavy fire since Monday's demoralizing Game 3 loss in which they were visibly outplayed and failed to find the scoresheet in a virtual must-win. The Matthews-Marner line owned 40.74% of shot attempts and a dreary 33.53% of expected goals across 13 five-on-five minutes in Florida's overtime victory, according to Natural Stat Trick, but Keefe is set to keep his top offensive weapons together."The production and performance of these guys that we're talking about and questioning, they're the reason why we're here, why we're even playing when there's only eight teams left," Keefe said, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox.Toronto is making one tweak to its top line, bumping Michael Bunting off left wing in favor of Calle Jarnkrok."When you get into a game like this, you look at the big samples," Keefe said. "Our team has been the best, our lines have been the best, when it's been Matthews, Marner, and Jarnkrok. That's the best line we've had all season."Keefe's preferred triumvirate played 85 minutes together in the regular season, commanding 59.9% of expected goals and 56.39% of shot attempts. Matthews, Marner, and Jarnkrok have only played 33 minutes together in the postseason but have outscored opponents 3-0.Matthews and Marner have combined for three assists so far against the Panthers. Along with John Tavares and William Nylander, Toronto's "Core Four" haven't scored a goal since advancing past the Tampa Bay Lightning. The drought marks the first three-game stretch where none have found twine since Tavares signed in 2018."We're the leaders, and we want to be the ones to step our foot forward," Marner said. "We all know we got a lot better ... and especially us."Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a pair of high-stakes games ahead of us on Wednesday night. The Florida Panthers have the ability to punch their ticket to the final four with a win on home ice, while the series out west carries huge swing potential.Let's take a look at a few of the best ways to attack these games.Golden Knights (+160) @ Oilers (-190)The Oilers have been a roller coaster through most of these playoffs. One night they look the part of a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, the next they can't keep the puck out of their net.We saw one of the lows in Game 3 - the Oilers struggled as a team and Stuart Skinner didn't help the cause - and I expect them to bounce back in Game 4. That's a common theme we've seen with the Oilers over the past few weeks.They dropped Game 1 and Game 3 against the Kings in the opening round and responded with wins where their offense was borderline unstoppable, posting expected goal outputs of 4.62 and 4.16.We saw the same kind of rebounding ability earlier in this series. After getting trounced in the opener against the Golden Knights, the Oilers generated 4.66 xG in a dominant 5-1 win.I don't know if I'd expect another blowout - now mostly healthy, this Golden Knights team is at the peak of its powers - but I do envision a much better effort from this Oilers team.We know, at their best, they are not just a lethal power play. They're also very good at five-on-five. Playing in front of their home crowd, and desperate to avoid hitting the road down 3-1, I think we are going to see the Oilers put their best foot forward in this game.Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are going to get all the ice time they can handle, and - as a team - some anger and extra motivation should help them tighten the screws defensively.Look for a much better 60-minute effort from the Oilers.Bet: Oilers in regulation (-120)Auston Matthews over 4.5 shots (-120)Matthews put up an absolute dud in Game 3. He didn't record a point for the first time during this year's playoffs, attempted only four shots, and spent most of his shifts chasing play in the defensive zone. It was bad.I expect a much better effort from Matthews with the season on the line. Prior to Game 3, he had attempted 60 shots over six games while logging no fewer than 22 minutes in any game.Even in tougher matchups come playoff time, Matthews is generally an ultra efficient shot generator. He can pile up the shots in bulk if the minutes are there, and ice time certainly won't be an issue with the team's season on the line.He should get as large of a workload as he can handle, especially having benefited from an extra day of rest. Win or lose, look for Matthews to make the most of it on the shot clock.Leon Draisaitl over 3.5 (-130)Draisaitl is on a shooting heater. He has recorded three shots or more in each of his last 10 games, attempting at least six shots in nine straight.He is routinely going over this number and giving himself a real chance to do so every single night.What I love about this run is the attempt volume - even more so of late. Draisaitl has registered seven or more in five of the past six games, including all three against the Golden Knights.That is sort of the sweet spot for Leon this season. Of the 27 games he attempted seven shots or more, he successfully hit his total 22 times. That's an 81% hit rate.I think he can get there again in Game 4. He'll be deployed in more advantageous situations on home ice, and it is essentially a must-win game for the Oilers. They can't go down 3-1 with two of the final three games being played in Vegas.Draisaitl has logged at least 21 minutes in six of the past seven, with Game 2's blowout victory being the lone exception. He is playing a ton and will have every opportunity to go over this number.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 Carolina Hurricanes pushed the New Jersey Devils around during Tuesday night's 6-1 Game 4 victory and are now one win away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 2019.The Hurricanes did most of their damage in an electric second period by scoring five goals, including four in a 5:20 span. Martin Necas kicked off the middle frame with his second tally of the contest, while Brett Pesce and Jesper Fast struck 1:16 apart as the Devils started to unravel.Just under two minutes later, veteran defenseman Brent Burns made his presence known with a booming shot for his first goal of the playoffs to chase New Jersey netminder Vitek Vanecek. Jordan Martinook scored with 24 seconds remaining in the stanza for his third point of the game and ninth of the series."We just let our heads hang," Devils captain Nico Hischier said postgame, according to team beat reporter Amanda Stein. "It's definitely not the recipe. We had a game going on there, and that five minutes, we just got away from our game right there and (they) made us pay."Devils star Jack Hughes opened the scoring within the first two minutes of the contest, but Carolina ran the show for the remainder of Game 4 with six unanswered tallies.New Jersey head coach Lindy Ruff was critical of his team's performance, calling it "a hard one to explain," per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski."We had guys that just went rogue," he said. "You can call that lack of experience. Even the power play turned into one man trying to something and the next time trying to do something. There was no team effort."The Jack Adams Trophy finalist added, "I look at the way we played after Game 7 (against the New York Rangers). It resembled some of this. Are we having a tough time dealing with a little bit of success? Play a really good game and then you bounce back with a game like that?"We didn't make it to a high enough level to win a tonight."Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen made 21 saves in the victory, rebounding from a shaky performance in Game 3 when he got pulled after allowing four goals on 12 shots.Carolina has outscored the Devils 21-11 in the series so far.The Hurricanes will get their first chance to put the Devils away during Thursday's Game 5 at 7 p.m. ET in Raleigh.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, Arizona Coyotes star Clayton Keller, and Chicago Blackhawks goalie Alex Stalock were announced as the 2022-23 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy finalists Tuesday.The award, voted on annually by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, goes to the player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey."Letang suffered a stroke - the second of his career - in late November but slotted back into the Penguins' lineup less than two weeks later. He led the team in ice time (22:14) and hits (7) during his return. Soon after, the 36-year-old spent time away from the Penguins while mourning the death of his father. Letang recorded a four-point performance - including an overtime winner - in his first game back.Despite the challenging campaign, the veteran blue-liner still led the Penguins in average playing time (24:51) while pacing the team's rearguards with 12 goals and 41 points in 64 contests.Keller's 2021-22 campaign was cut a couple of weeks short after he was stretchered off the ice with a leg injury in late March 2022. He recovered from surgery in time for the 2022-23 season and recorded a career-high 37 goals and 49 assists while suiting up for all 82 games. His 86 points tied him with Keith Tkachuk for the most in a single season since the Coyotes franchise moved to Arizona.After being limited to just one NHL game the previous two seasons following a myocarditis diagnosis, Stalock bounced back in a big way in 2022-23. The netminder appeared in 27 games with the Blackhawks, posting a .908 save percentage and 3.01 goals against average while saving 2.98 goals above average at all strengths, according to Evolving Hockey.The 35-year-old also battled through a concussion and ocular dysfunction this season but was consistently lauded by teammates and coaches alike for his positive outlook.Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price took home the hardware in 2022.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matthew Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers are soaking up every second of their six-game playoff winning streak.The Cats have a chance to sweep the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday and punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 1996."We have a very serious team where guys really want to do well," Tkachuk said, per NHL.com's Amalie Benjamin. "But I mean, tie game, late in the third, we're enjoying it on the bench, laughing, smiling, just looking around at the moment that we're in and just really, really enjoying it. We're having so much fun."Tkachuk said he believes part of the reason they're able to stay so loose is because there's no pressure on them. After all, Florida snuck into the playoffs as the Eastern Conference's second wild-card team, and everyone seemed to write the club off when it trailed the 65-win Boston Bruins 3-1 in the opening round.The Panthers also entered Round 2 as a major underdog against the Leafs, who were riding the high of their first series win in 19 years against the Tampa Bay Lightning."We don't really feel a ton of high pressure, I don't think," Tkachuk said. "There's no sense in feeling pressure for us. Eighth seed, limped in. We've been fighting our way for the whole year. It's just about having fun. Why play if you can't enjoy it, right?"There's no pressure on us. It's just about making sure that we're enjoying it."It's easy to see why Tkachuk, specifically, is playing without a worry in the world. He's emerged as a favorite for the Conn Smythe Trophy, as he sits tied for second in playoff scoring with 15 points in 10 games. Tkachuk's also posted a team-best 61.57% five-on-five expected goal share, per Natural Stat Trick, and he's been a physical presence with 36 hits.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will turn back to rookie netminder Joseph Woll with their season on the line Wednesday night in Florida, head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed, per TSN's Mark Masters.Ilya Samsonov is unavailable and considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury after leaving Game 3. Matt Murray, who hasn't played since April 2 due to a concussion, is set to serve as backup.Woll entered Monday's clash after Samsonov exited. He allowed three goals on 21 shots in the overtime loss that gave the Florida Panthers a 3-0 series chokehold. It was Woll's second appearance of the postseason - he played the third period of Game 1 in the first round against the Tampa Bay Lightning.The 24-year-old was 6-1 in the regular season with a .932 save percentage. Toronto drafted him 62nd overall in 2016.The Leafs also shook up their lines and defensive pairings at practice Tuesday. The most notable change was separating Jake McCabe and TJ Brodie.

Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog is expected to miss the entire 2023-24 season due to a knee cartilage transplant scheduled for May 10, the team announced Tuesday.Landeskog already missed the 2022-23 regular season and Colorado's brief playoff run due to knee issues. He underwent surgery in March 2022 before returning to help the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup and then had another procedure in October. He was originally given a 12-week recovery timeline but never suited up."I've talked to numerous doctors and medical experts, getting opinions, learning about what the different procedures would be. This is the one we feel like is the best way forward, the best solution for me to come back and play hockey again," Landeskog said, per The Athletic's Peter Baugh.Landeskog added that he hasn't contemplated retirement.The 30-year-old is in the second season of an eight-year, $56-million contract signed in 2021. He's spent his entire career with Colorado after being drafted second overall in 2011 and has racked up 571 points in 738 games.Landeskog had a career year in 2021-22, registering 59 points in 51 regular-season games before adding 22 points in Colorado's dominant championship run.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins' front office knows it has plenty of difficult decisions to make after crashing and burning out of a historic season."Roster changes are coming," general manager Don Sweeney said Tuesday, per Boston.com's Conor Ryan. "We're not going to be the same team."The Bruins enter the offseason with a roster size of 14 and only $6 million in cap space, according to Cap Friendly. Boston's list of unrestricted free agents includes Patrice Bergeron - who's unsure if he'll return for a 20th season - as well as veterans David Krejci, Nick Foligno, Connor Clifton and trade deadline acquisitions Dmitry Orlov, Garnet Hathaway, and Tyler Bertuzzi.Jeremy Swayman and Trent Frederic are the club's only notable restricted free agents. The Bruins have a $4.5-million cap charge next season for bonus overages this year."We still think we can be a competitive team, but there's a lot of work to do this offseason," president Cam Neely said, according to Matt Porter of the Boston Globe.The Bruins could trade some pieces to clear up cap space, but their options are limited. The club only has seven players under contract next year that don't have at least a modified no-trade clause.Boston led the Atlantic Division wire-to-wire this season, setting NHL records for wins and points. Despite entering the playoffs as heavy Stanley Cup favorites, the Bruins blew a 3-1 series lead against the eighth-seeded Florida Panthers and were eliminated on home ice in overtime of Game 7.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sunday saw cameo appearances in both New Jersey and Seattle as a pair of goaltenders came in for relief midgame. The Hurricanes mercy-pulled Frederik Andersen in their 8-4 loss to the Devils, giving Pyotr Kochetkov a look in mop-up duty. Later, Jake Oettinger got the hook for Scott Wedgewood after the Stars lost all hope of taking a series lead over the Kraken.We try to figure out what to make of Game 4 in both series in what's been a weird second round across the NHL.Hurricanes (+125) @ Devils (-145), 5.5Prospective bettors may have scratched their heads as they watched the Devils - fresh off two one-sided losses in Carolina - get bet up to as high as -165 on the moneyline for Game 3. That level of confidence seemed extreme after the Devils controlled even-strength play to the tune of a 60% expected goals share in Raleigh.That confidence was rewarded, though, as the Devils were full value for their win Sunday with 62% xG at even strength - right in line with the implied win probability of a team favored at -165.We look at those metrics to help decide whether a dominant score reflected the play on the ice. The Devils' win was no fluke, even if it's not clear why it takes New Jersey two games to get fully ensconced in a series.Vitek Vanecek returned between the pipes in Game 3 but, with four goals against, he didn't exactly steal the game. On the other hand, after allowing just nine even-strength high-danger chances in each of the first two games, Carolina allowed 20 in Game 3.We'll see whether New Jersey gets steamed back up before puck drop again, but with the Devils priced at a 59.2% chance of evening the series, they're worth backing to continue their strong play at home.Bet: Devils moneyline (-145)Stars (-135) @ Kraken (+115), 5.5Anyone with a long-term position on the Stars is hoping that the entire outlook of the Stanley Cup Playoffs wasn't altered by one errant shot that found the face of Dallas defenseman Miro Heiskanen on Sunday night.Jordan Eberle scooped up the puck after it hit Heiskanen square in the face and beat an unsuspecting Oettinger. It can't be a coincidence that the Kraken scored three more times in the next six minutes with the Stars' defensive rotation in flux after Heiskanen left. While we'd normally expect Dallas to bounce back, we'd need confirmation of Heiskanen's return from a facial laceration to feel good about it.The prevailing assumption might be that Oettinger will perform better in Game 4 as he did after Game 1 and after Game 3 of the series against the Wild. However, the Kraken seem more equipped than most teams to beat Oettinger, having converted 17.8% of their even-strength high-danger chances in this series. Plus, in a scheduling quirk, the Kraken faced Oettinger and the Stars three times in March - their only meetings of the season. They scored 10 times, converting a whopping six of 21 high-danger chances in those games.With or without Heiskanen (whom I expect to play), I predict a more pointed offensive effort from Dallas, but Seattle has proven it's unafraid of Oettinger. As a result, it's worth a bet on these two teams to help improve the over to 7-0 in their matchups this season.Bet: Over 5.5 (-115)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 lottery results are in, so theScore's Kyle Cushman, Nick Faris, John Matisz, and Josh Wegman are here to project all 32 first-round picks of the 2023 NHL Draft. A second mock will be published closer to draft day on June 28.Note: We used series betting odds and Stanley Cup odds from Monday, May 8, to determine the order for the eight remaining playoff teams.Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL)The first pick is a tap-in. Bedard bagged 81 goals over 64 WHL games in his draft year. He shattered the Canadian single-tournament scoring record at the world juniors. His release is phenomenal. His stickhandling spellbinds defenders, creating space for teammates to receive his passes and wreak havoc. Adding Bedard will revive the Blackhawks and eventually propel them into the Stanley Cup conversation again.Adam Fantilli, C, Michigan (NCAA)Fantilli is an all-situations force who's fresh off winning the Hobey Baker Award after tallying 65 points in 36 college games. A first overall pick most other years, the Canadian immediately rockets to the top of the Ducks' list of forward prospects. Fantilli skates very well, competes extremely hard, and is a dual threat capable of distributing and burying the puck on any given shift. Missing out on Bedard hurts, sure, but getting Fantilli is an ultra-soft landing.Leo Carlsson, C, Orebro (SHL)The Blue Jackets fell in the lottery but still get the franchise center they so desperately need. Carlsson spent much of the season on the wing in Sweden's top pro league - where he tallied an impressive 25 points in 44 games - but he possesses all the traits to be an elite player down the middle. Nobody would call him a burner, but he's a smooth skater for someone who's 6-foot-3, plus he possesses high-end skill, vision, and playmaking abilities.Will Smith, C, USNTDP U-18The Sharks land a much-needed offensive stud in Smith. The USNTDP star thrashed the U18s en route to tournament MVP and the gold medal, matching Jack Hughes' American record for scoring at the event. Smith is a well-rounded threat with a quality shot and passing ability, but it's his elite puck skills that truly make him a dynamic player. A coveted right-shot center, San Jose lands its future top-line pivot and running mate for William Eklund.Zach Benson, LW, Winnipeg (WHL)Benson racked up a point per night for the Ice when he was 16 years old. At 17, he surged to third in league scoring behind Bedard and WHL overager Chase Wheatcroft. Benson could tear up junior hockey next season before he graduates to the Canadiens' top six. Smart, slippery, scrappy, and defensively attentive, his toolkit justifies the decision to add a second diminutive winger beyond Cole Caufield.Matvei Michkov, RW, Sochi (KHL)The wild card of the draft, Michkov slides out of the top five and into Arizona's lap. The small, dynamic winger possesses game-breaking abilities. He's an elusive skater and nifty stick-handler with tremendous upside. Michkov, who's under contract in Russia through 2025-26, played for four different teams this past season, most notably piling up 20 points in 27 games for Sochi in the KHL. The Coyotes are in no rush to be competitive and desperately need an otherworldly talent like Michkov to sell to the local market.Dalibor Dvorsky, C, AIK (Allsvenskan)Dvorsky is the latest product of Slovakia's recent impressive run of player development. At 6-foot-1, 201 pounds, his pro-ready build could put him on the fast track to the NHL. Dvorsky will need to improve his skating if he's going to stick at center, but his high motor and pure offensive skill should make him a productive player, regardless of position.Ryan Leonard, RW, USNTDP U-18Washington takes Leonard with its first top-10 pick since 2007. A versatile, hard-nosed winger, Leonard was a dominant goal-scorer with the USNTDP this season. Despite an average 5-foot-11 frame, he plays with tenacity and has a nose for the net. He's a coach's dream and heads to Boston College in the fall.David Reinbacher, D, Kloten (Swiss National League)Detroit nabs a coveted defenseman for the third time in five drafts. If Moritz Seider remains paired with Jake Walman for years to come, Reinbacher and Simon Edvinsson could partner up to form an influential second pair. A mobile 6-foot-2 righty, Reinbacher's gap control and stretch passing are two of his top attributes.Colby Barlow, LW, Owen Sound (OHL)Barlow has "future St. Louis Blue" written all over him. The 6-foot-1, 187-pounder is a hard-working, physically mature, all-situations winger with a wicked shot. Barlow, captain of his junior team, accumulated 46 goals and added 33 assists for 79 points in 59 games this past season. The Blues own three first-rounders. Using the first pick on Barlow - a surefire NHLer with scoring touch - allows them to swing for the fences later in the round.Axel Sandin Pellikka, D, Skelleftea (SHL)The Canucks would've loved it if Reinbacher fell to them here, but Sandin Pellikka is an excellent consolation prize for an organization in dire need of defensemen - especially right-shooting ones. The 5-foot-11, 181-pounder lacks size, but his offensive creativity and puck-moving ability could make him a special player.Brayden Yager, C, Moose Jaw (WHL)The Coyotes swing for the fences on Michkov at No. 6 and add more scoring prowess with Yager at No. 12. After scoring 34 goals in 2021-22 and capturing CHL Rookie of the Year, Yager became more of a playmaker in Moose Jaw this season, doubling his assist total from a year prior. A superb showing in the WHL postseason should see him move back up draft boards.Oliver Moore, C, USNTDP U-18Buffalo drafted three standout young forwards - Matthew Savoie, Noah Ostlund, and Jiri Kulich - in last year's first round. Joining their ranks is Moore, an excellent skater whose doggedness at both ends of the ice heightens his floor as a prospect. He's committed to play for the University of Minnesota next season.Nate Danielson, C, Brandon (WHL)Danielson is arguably the best player available. Versatile and big, the Red Deer, Alberta, native also packs enough offensive punch to warrant a top-15 selection. Danielson, who narrowly missed the age cutoff for the 2022 draft, averaged more than a point per game in the WHL this past season. Some evaluators believe he can become a reliable second-line center.Eduard Sale, LW, Brno (Czechia)Sale may take time before arriving in the NHL, as he needs to add weight to his 6-foot-1, 168-pound frame. However, his upside is tantalizing. He's a superb skater with great hands and vision. He impressed at the 2023 world juniors, helping Czechia win silver with six points in seven games as a 17-year-old.Riley Heidt, C, Prince George (WHL)The only WHLer with as many assists as Heidt this season was Bedard. The deft playmaker was particularly dominant on the power play, leading the league with 39 assists on the man advantage. A lackluster performance at the U18s hasn't helped him move up the board, but the Flames take a swing on Heidt's upside in the hopes he rounds out his defensive game and develops as a goal-scorer.Matthew Wood, RW, UConn (NCAA)Wood only turned 18 in February, yet paced a solid Huskies team in scoring as a college freshman, showing off his pinpoint shot and dexterity with the puck at 6-foot-4. Despite lacking quickness, Wood slots in behind Marco Kasper as Detroit's premier forward prospects.Tom Willander, D, Rogle (J20)Willander is a two-way, right-shot blue-liner with excellent skating chops. The 6-foot-1, 179-pounder spent this past season in Sweden's top junior league and plays in the same Rogle system that produced Bruins star Hampus Lindholm, among others. Winnipeg's prospect pool is low on NHL-bound defensemen. In Willander, the Jets steal a potential top-four guy at 18th overall.Andrew Cristall, LW, Kelowna (WHL)The Bedard-Cristall combination could be one of the league's most exciting duos for years to come. Cristall is polarizing among scouts because he's small (5-foot-10, 165 pounds), and his skating needs work. But his hands and shot are truly special traits that helped him produce 95 points in 54 games this season.Otto Stenberg, LW, Frolunda (SHL)Stenberg's stock has soared following an exceptional U18s with Sweden. He matched the nation's points record with 16 at the event, first done by William Nylander. Stenberg's struggled at the SHL level but has flashed a great shot against junior competition. The Wild dip back into the Swedish pipeline for a third straight first round.Gabe Perreault, LW, USNTDP U-18The fourth NTDP alumnus off the board set the program's single-season scoring record in 2022-23. Perreault racked up 53 goals and 132 points on Smith's wing. Don't mistake him for Hughes, Auston Matthews, or Patrick Kane, the erstwhile NTDP superstars he outproduced. Perreault is slight and not explosive, but he processes the game extremely well and is a visionary playmaker.Calum Ritchie, C, Oshawa (OHL)Despite puzzling scouts with stretches of inconsistent play this past season, Ritchie projects to be a two-way center down the road. He's physical and has power-play utility, thanks to a scorer's touch. The question is, where in an NHL lineup will he slot in during his prime seasons? Second line? Third? Fourth? At any rate, the Rangers' pipeline could use a right-shot forward of his ilk.Samuel Honzek, LW, Vancouver (WHL)The Blues have an organizational need at center and took a winger at No. 10, but while Honzek dabbled down the middle this season, he's probably best suited on the wing. Regardless, the Slovak is too tantalizing to pass up at this point in the draft. He might not become an elite point producer, but he projects to be a highly competitive two-way player due to his 6-foot-4 frame and strong skating ability.Oliver Bonk, D, London (OHL)The Blues take Bonk with the second of back-to-back picks and their third first-round selection. The 6-foot-2 right-shot defenseman has played a vital two-way role - no small feat for a draft-eligible player on the Knights. With an aging group of blue-liners, St. Louis adds an intriguing defensive piece to its prospect pool.Lukas Dragicevic, D, Tri-City (WHL)San Jose hasn't drafted twice in the first round since 2007. After landing Smith at fourth overall, adding a defenseman with playmaking instincts makes sense. Dragicevic's 75 points ranked fourth among WHL defensemen. He needs seasoning but could ascend to the NHL around the time the Sharks' playoff drought finally ends.Mikhail Gulyayev, D, Omskie (MHL)The 2022 Cup champs need to upgrade, well, just about everything in their system. Gulyayev is an undersized defenseman who toyed with Russia's top junior league to the tune of 25 points in 22 games this past season. His toolkit, which is highlighted by terrific skating and hockey sense, should translate well to the NHL, where transporting the puck efficiently is key.Quentin Musty, LW, Sudbury (OHL)This would mark the Golden Knights’ highest pick since the club took Peyton Krebs 17th overall in 2019, and they make the most of it here. Musty lacks foot speed but makes up for it with superb offensive skill, creativity, and an NHL-ready frame at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds.Gavin Brindley, RW, Michigan (NCAA)Brindley ticks all of the boxes the Maple Leafs covet in the draft. As a speedy skater and excellent forechecker that plays a defensively responsible game, everything about Brindley screams future top-nine complementary winger. He played an important role at Michigan as a freshman and earned a spot on the U.S. world junior team over higher-ranked draft-eligible prospects.Ethan Gauthier, RW, Sherbrooke (QMJHL)The son of rugged former NHL defenseman Denis Gauthier, Ethan is creative and hard-nosed for a 5-foot-11 winger. Gauthier might have the offensive touch to produce alongside Matty Beniers or Shane Wright toward the top of Seattle's future lineup.Daniil But, LW, Yaroslavl (MHL)But is already massive at 6-foot-5, 203 pounds. A point-per-game player in Russia's top junior league, he moves well for his size, unsurprisingly protects the puck with ease, and is armed with a dangerous shot. The Hurricanes love high-upside prospects with strong analytical profiles, and 30th overall is a spot in the draft where they should pounce on a player like But.Dmitri Simashev, D, Yaroslavl (KHL)Simashev is raw and needs seasoning, but there simply aren't many 6-foot-4 defensemen who can skate the way he does. He won't put up gaudy point totals in the pros, yet he has all the tools to become a modern-day shutdown defender.Charlie Stramel, C, Wisconsin (NCAA)Nashville completes the first round with Stramel. Once thought of as a top-15 prospect in the class, a disappointing freshman campaign with the Badgers has seen him plummet down rankings. The Predators bet on Stramel's 6-foot-3 frame, positive skating, and physical style in the hopes he rebounds in 2023-24.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. 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The Windy City is eager to feast its eyes on Connor Bedard at the United Center next season.Within 90 minutes of winning the right to draft first overall on Monday, the Chicago Blackhawks sold $2.5 million worth of season ticket plans for next season, including upward of 500 new packages, according to Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times.The Blackhawks won the draft lottery after entering the draw with the third-highest odds - 11.5%. They skipped over the Columbus Blue Jackets and Anaheim Ducks to secure the top prize, all but assuring Bedard will be the next face of the franchise in Chicago.The 17-year-old Canadian phenom has been the unanimous top 2023 prospect for years, and he cemented his status as a potential generational talent with 71 goals and 72 assists in 57 games with the WHL's Regina Pats this season. Bedard also won MVP at the world juniors after leading his country to a gold medal while notching 23 points in seven contests.Chicago has been tearing down its roster for much of general manager Kyle Davidson's tenure. The Blackhawks were major sellers at this year's trade deadline, highlighted by shipping off franchise icon Patrick Kane. They also recently announced they won't retain longtime captain Jonathan Toews after his contract expires this summer.The Blackhawks finished 30th in the standings this season with a 26-49-7 record and saw a 7.2% drop in home attendance, according to Sports Business Journal's David Broughton. That's the steepest decline across the league outside of the Arizona Coyotes, who moved to an NCAA-sized arena.Chicago hasn't had the No. 1 pick since drafting Kane in 2007.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft wasn't pleased with his team's performance in Monday's 5-1 loss in Game 3 to the Vegas Golden Knights."Not good enough," Woodcroft said postgame. "Not good enough in any way."Vegas outshot Edmonton 33-28 in the contest, and the Oilers controlled just 39.6% of the expected goals at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick."I didn't think we skated well," Woodcroft added. "I didn't think we were hard enough in certain areas and, to a man, not our finest hour in any way."The Oilers went 0-for-2 on the power play, marking the first game all postseason they couldn't convert with the man advantage."Not a lot to like about tonight," said Connor McDavid, who was held off the scoresheet for just the second time in these playoffs.The Golden Knights also kept Leon Draisaitl at bay. It was the first time this postseason that an opponent held Draisaitl without a point and only the third time all playoffs that he didn't score.Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was again quiet Monday. After posting a career-high 37 goals and 104 points during the regular season, he's been limited to zero goals and six assists in nine postseason contests."Maybe get a little grittier," Nugent-Hopkins said on how he can bust out of his slump. "I'm feeling good out there, I'm working hard, but it's not happening offensively. I gotta find a way to contribute."The Oilers now trail 2-1 in the series, but McDavid said he's confident they can bounce back and even things up Wednesday."I would expect our best game in Game 4," the captain said.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks got the opportunity to select Connor Bedard by securing the first overall pick in the NHL draft lottery Monday night.The Anaheim Ducks will choose second, while the Columbus Blue Jackets will pick third. Here's the full list of teams for the top 16 selections:The Blackhawks had the third-highest odds of winning the lottery at 11.5%. The Ducks had the best chance at 25.5%, while the Blue Jackets had the second-highest odds at 13.5%.Chicago has picked first overall just once in franchise history, selecting Patrick Kane in 2007. The club chose Kirby Dach third overall in 2019 before trading him to the Montreal Canadiens last July.Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson didn't seem to be expecting the result."I'm feeling a little bit stunned, to be honest," the GM said on ESPN, per Sportsnet. "I'm just really excited for the city of Chicago, the Blackhawks organization. ... I'm a little bit speechless but really, really excited."The Arizona Coyotes received what became the 12th pick in this year's draft from the Ottawa Senators in the Jakob Chychrun trade.The 2023 NHL Draft will be held on June 28 and 29 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Laurent Brossoit exited Game 3 of their second-round playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers in the first period due to injury.Brossoit needed help off the ice after sliding across the crease on an Oilers scoring chance.

The Vancouver Canucks have been fined $50,000 by the NHL for violating offseason training rules for players, sources told Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.The Canucks were holding on-ice sessions with players in Vancouver from April 17-23 after the season had ended, which is a violation of the collective bargaining agreement, per Sportsnet's Rick Dhaliwal.Forwards Dakota Joshua and Jack Studnicka were among six players to take part in the on-ice training sessions with Henrik and Daniel Sedin, who work for the team as development coaches.The Canucks finished 38-37-7 last season to miss the playoffs for the third straight year.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

2023 NHL Draft LotteryWhen: Monday, May 8 at 8 p.m. ETHow to watch: Sportsnet, SN NOW, ESPN, ESPN+, TVA Sports.A pivotal day for the future of multiple NHL franchises has arrived. The 2023 draft lottery has been highly anticipated thanks to a host of exceptional talent available at the top of the board, headlined by phenom Connor Bedard.The 16 teams that failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs are in the draft lottery and can move up no more than 10 spots. Two draws will occur to determine the order for the top 16 picks of the first round.Clubs can't win the lottery more than twice in a five-year span. Lottery winners prior to 2022 don't count toward this total, meaning every team is eligible to win a lottery.Only the bottom 11 teams in the league standings have a chance at landing the first overall pick. Ottawa, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Nashville, and Calgary won't pick first overall if they win one of the lotteries.The draft will be held June 28-29 in Nashville. The Predators last hosted the draft in 2003, when the Pittsburgh Penguins selected Marc-Andre Fleury first overall.Odds to win lotteryTeamLottery OddsAnaheim Ducks*18.5%Columbus Blue Jackets13.5%Chicago Blackhawks11.5%San Jose Sharks9.5%Montreal Canadiens**8.5%Arizona Coyotes7.5%Philadelphia Flyers6.5%Washington Capitals6.0%Detroit Red Wings5.0%St. Louis Blues3.5%Vancouver Canucks3.0%Arizona Coyotes (via OTT)***2.5%Buffalo Sabres2.0%Pittsburgh Penguins1.5%Nashville Predators0.5%Calgary Flames0.5%* - The Anaheim Ducks have a 25.5% of landing the first overall pick as five teams can't pass them with a lottery win.** - Should the Montreal Canadiens win one of the two lotteries, the club won't be eligible to win another draft lottery until the 2027 draft. The Canadiens selected Juraj Slafkovsky first overall in 2022.*** - The Ottawa Senators will keep their first-round selection should they move up in the lottery and would instead transfer their 2024 first-round pick to the Arizona Coyotes, as a result of the Jakob Chychrun trade.Projected top pick Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / GettyConnor Bedard is the most hyped prospect in hockey since Connor McDavid.The stats speak for themselves with 71 goals and 143 points in 57 WHL regular season games as a first-year draft eligible, a Canadian world junior-record 23 points in seven games en route to a gold medal in January, and 20 points in a single WHL playoff series.Whichever team wins the draft lottery is landing a legitimate franchise-altering player in Bedard.Bedard hasn't wowed quite the same way McDavid did in junior. While he's still a well-above-average skater, he's not the "best in the world" caliber burner that McDavid was. Bedard annihilates opponents with deception, skill, and a lethal shot. His drag-and-release wrister has decimated goaltenders across the WHL and international stage. Bedard processes the game at an incredibly high level - which combined with his array of puckhandling, playmaking, and shooting - makes for the best 17-year-old hockey player we've seen since McDavid.The lone knock on Bedard is his smaller frame. He's listed at just under 5-foot-10 and 183 pounds, leaving some to wonder whether he will be a better fit on the right wing in the NHL. He's played center with the WHL's Regina Pats but shifted to the wing with Canada at the world junior. Despite his lack of size, Bedard doesn't shy away from the rough stuff, playing with intense competitiveness and a surprisingly physical edge.Whether he remains at center or becomes a Nikita Kucherov-esque dominant winger, a team is getting an immediate game-breaking talent in Connor Bedard.The consolation prize Jaime Crawford / Getty Images Sport / GettyDon't be too disappointed if your team wins a lottery but doesn't get the first overall pick. Adam Fantilli is far from your typical consolation prize.Just as Bedard has drawn parallels to McDavid, Fantilli's profile is similar to that of McDavid's running mate in 2015, Jack Eichel.The University of Michigan star dominated the NCAA as a freshman. With 30 goals and 65 points in only 36 games, Fantilli captured the Hobey Baker Award as the top men's player in college hockey. He joins Eichel and Hall of Famer Paul Kariya as the lone first-year players to win the honor.Fantilli scored more goals than Eichel did in 2015 and exceeded his scoring rate on a per-game basis. In more than half of the past six drafts, Fantilli would have been a serious challenger for the top pick.Unlike Bedard, Fantilli's size makes him a safe bet at center long-term. His 6-foot-2 frame is ideal for a future top-line pivot, as is his blistering speed. Fantilli's a well-rounded offensive threat with immense puckhandling and skill. His pace and competitiveness can make him a forechecking nightmare and bodes well for future two-way prowess.Don't let a more average world junior performance get you down on his talents. Bedard is the exception, not the rule. Fantilli is a superb second-ranked prospect in the class.Wild card of the top 10 SOPA Images / LightRocket / GettyMatvei Michkov is one of the biggest wild cards in recent memory at the top of the NHL draft.On talent alone, Michkov would seriously contend - or possibly even be the favorite - for second overall. After all, it was Michkov, not Bedard, that led the 2022 U18s with 12 goals and 16 points.But there are many other factors involved that make Michkov's eventual landing spot on draft day so murky. For starters, Michkov hasn't showcased his talents on the international stage since the canceled 2022 world junior. He had three goals in two games against Sweden and Switzerland at the event but hasn't played against top junior-aged opponents since as a result of Russia's IIHF ban following the invasion of Ukraine.Then there's his KHL contract. He's signed through 2025-26 with SKA St. Petersburg, meaning Michkov won't be able to play in the NHL until the 2026-27 season. It's one thing to wait multiple years for a potential star like the Minnesota Wild did with Kirill Kaprizov when the team uses a fifth-round draft pick on the player, it's a very different thing to wait with a top-five pick.Michkov is right at the top of the class in terms of offensive talents. He's scored an incredible amount of goals at every level and he posted the best scoring rate of any draft-eligible player in KHL history, besting Vladimir Tarasenko's previous record.Everything about Michkov suggests a future elite goal-scoring winger that should be an easy bet to go top three. Thanks to off-the-ice factors, Michkov could instead very realistically be available later than anticipated.Other top-5 contenders Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / GettyLeo Carlsson: The Swedish sensation checks a lot of boxes for NHL clubs. Carlsson has a 6-foot-3 frame, played well at the world junior, produced at an impressive rate in the SHL against men, and improved his play in the SHL playoffs. Only the Sedin twins, Elias Lindholm, and Nicklas Backstrom scored more points in the top Swedish league than Carlsson as first-year draft eligibles. He's a lock to go in the top five.Will Smith: The American slapped the competition at the recently completed U18s with nine goals and 20 points in seven games. His production exactly matched that of Jack Hughes' in 2019, and Nikita Kucherov is the only player to have scored more points in the history of the event. Smith is surging late in the draft cycle, having earned a second-overall vote in Bob McKenzie's latest scout survey.Zach Benson: A top-five ranked player for much of the season, Benson's moved more to the bubble of the top five with Smith's excellent second half. The Winnipeg Ice star led one of the premier teams in the CHL in scoring during the regular season but has been usurped by older teammates in the playoffs. Factor in his smaller frame and average skating, and Benson could fall anywhere from fourth overall through the end of the top 10.Dalibor Dvorsky: A season after Juraj Slafkovsky and Simon Nemec made Slovakian hockey history going first and second overall, the nation has another top-five candidate in Dvorsky. Similar to Slafkovsky, the pivot has played his best hockey on the international stage. With excellent showings at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, 2023 world junior, and 2023 U18s, Dvorsky could find himself creeping into the top five given his safer projection and premium position down the middle.Statistics from Elite Prospects.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Much like the majority of the Toronto Maple Leafs fan base, head coach Sheldon Keefe can't seem to wrap his head around his club facing a 3-0 series deficit against the Florida Panthers after its first series win in 19 years."Obviously it's felt a lot more like what we've been through in the past. It's been challenging, it's been difficult to understand, yet it's our reality and it's where we're at," Keefe said Monday.He continued: "It's been a mixed bag in this series so far. At times we've played extremely well and then haven't converted or haven't gotten rewarded for it. At times we've been in control of the game and have given up a lead."The Leafs offered their worst game of the series Sunday, a 3-2 overtime loss in which they squandered a pair of leads. After controlling play for both contests in Toronto, the Panthers fought back on home ice to own 52.83% of the expected goals and 56.14% of the scoring chances, according to Natural Stat Trick.Keefe touched on the differences in effort levels between the two rounds."Perhaps most importantly in the Tampa series for us was how resilient we were just to stay with it. Even at times when we were on our heels and the opposition was really coming, we didn't make the big mistake ... Our team found different ways to win in that series, and we have found ways to lose here in this one," Keefe said.Much of the blame has fallen on the Leafs' core forwards: Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares, who haven't scored this series after carrying the offensive load against the Lightning."They've had a lot of scoring chances in this series that haven't fallen, haven't gone their way," Keefe said. "They were dominant, in many ways, in Game 2."Only four teams in NHL history have come back to win a playoff series after losing the first three games, the most recent being the 2014 Los Angeles Kings."It's meant to be hard," Keefe said. "Anything worth achieving is hard."Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have just one game on the docket for Monday. Thankfully, it's a high-octane matchup loaded with stars. Let's take a look at the best ways to attack it.Golden Knights (+160) @ Oilers (-190)The Oilers were arguably the league's best team down the stretch, going 20-4-1 over their final 25 games while posting remarkably strong numbers across the board.They controlled better than 55% of the expected goal share at five-on-five, a top-five rate. Couple that with the league's most dangerous power play, and it was an unmatched recipe for success.We're seeing that same recipe these playoffs, with the Oilers owning an xG share above 53% and averaging nearly two power-play markers per night.That makes them an extremely difficult side for any team to slow. The Golden Knights looked as sound defensively as any team in the opening round but don't appear to have any sort of solution for the Oilers, especially with Laurent Brossoit starting to regress.Brossoit has conceded at least four goals in each game thus far, stopping only 50 of 59 shots (.847 save percentage).He managed only an .895 save percentage in the NHL last season before losing his gig for the better part of a year. He is starting to look like that guy rather than the one who posted a .927 SV% down the stretch of the regular season to earn himself the opportunity to start playoff games.Led by Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, the Oilers are loaded with high-end players who can score at an extremely healthy rate. If the opposing goaltender isn't at the top of his game, we will see goals in bunches for the Oilers.They've netted nine through two games despite Bruce Cassidy having control of the matchups. With Jay Woodcroft now able to shelter some players and get his big guns in more advantageous offensive situations, I don't see things getting any better for the Knights.Look for Edmonton's offense to lead the charge en route to a win inside 60 minutes.Bet: Oilers in regulation (-115)Evan Bouchard over 0.5 assists (-132)Death, taxes, and Bouchard assists. The highly skilled puck-moving defenseman has registered at least one assist in seven straight playoff games, accumulating 11.Bouchard has spent nearly 80% of his five-on-five minutes playing behind McDavid. Naturally, that leads to a lot of point-producing opportunities. So too does quarterbacking a historically good power play.What I love about Bouchard is there are multiple paths to victory on any given night. He doesn't need a bunch of power plays to find success. Playing so much with McDavid, he has a real chance at getting the job done even if Edmonton isn't getting favorable whistles.He isn't just a passer, either. Bouchard has attempted six shots or more in six of eight playoff games. That opens the door for deflections and rebound opportunities since - being a defenseman often shooting from range - the goaltender is very likely to make the save.Jack Eichel over 3.5 shots (+105)Most star offensive players generate shots at a higher clip at home than on the road. Oftentimes, the gap can be significant. Eichel is not one of those guys.He recorded four shots or more in 53% of road games, a stark contrast from his 37% success rate in Vegas.His road success has continued early in these playoffs. He has only played two away games thus far but totaled 11 shots on 15 attempts and did the job on both occasions.The Oilers are vulnerable to opposing centers - they give up a lot of shots to the position - and Eichel has taken advantage, hitting in five of his last seven versus Edmonton, including the first two games of the series.I expect Vegas will need to score to keep up. That means Eichel should get plenty of ice and be pushing to generate offense.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.

Watch your back, Jack, there's a new Hughes brother in town, and he appears set on taking the New Jersey Devils by storm.That would be 19-year-old defenseman Luke, who drew rave reviews across the organization after an impressive Stanley Cup Playoffs debut in Sunday's Game 3 rout over the Carolina Hurricanes."I thought Luke had a great night," head coach Lindy Ruff said, per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "From the first shift to the end of the game, for the young man to step in the way he did and play the way he did ... you expect maybe you get a good game. He gave us a great game."The younger Hughes picked up two assists across 14 minutes Sunday after sitting in the press box for New Jersey's first nine playoff games. The Devils were in complete control of the contest with the youngster on the ice, owning 58.4% of expected goals, 68.18% of shot attempts, and 63.64% of scoring chances at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.Hughes has been among the Devils' top prospects since being drafted fourth overall in 2021. He joined the club for two regular-season games in April after his sophomore season at Michigan and was more than ready for the playoff spotlight after entering the lineup for the injured Ryan Graves."I don't really get nervous playing. I got a lot more nervous watching from up top," Hughes said. "I thought the fans were great. Loved the 'Luuuuuu' chants. But no nerves today."Veteran defenseman Brendan Smith sees a bright future for the newcomer on New Jersey's blue line."He skates like his brother. It's elite already," Smith said. "Obviously, the more he plays, the better he's going to be with decisions. But he can skate himself out of trouble, and there (are) only a few players that can do that in this league."While Luke attracted much of the post-game spotlight, brother Jack's four-point performance was the spark for the Devils' much-needed victory.Game 4 is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jamie Benn acknowledged his Dallas Stars got what was coming to them when the Seattle Kraken dominated Game 3 for a 7-2 win in their second-round playoff series Sunday night."I think we got what we deserved tonight," Benn said postgame, according to The Athletic's Saad Yousuf. "We're going to move on."Neither team scored in the first period, but the Kraken erupted for five goals in the second, four of which were unanswered in a span of just over six minutes.Dallas outshot Seattle 26-25 in the game and 17-8 in that second period. But skilled Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen left the game in the middle frame and didn't return after taking a deflected puck to the face, while typically dependable Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger gave up all five of those second-period goals on only eight shots in the frame before Scott Wedgewood replaced him for the final 20 minutes.The Stars went 0-for-3 on the power play, while the Kraken converted one of their two opportunities with the man advantage. Seattle commanded play in terms of expected goals, outplaying Dallas by a margin of 58.04 to 41.96 for the duration of the game, according to Natural Stat Trick.Seven different Kraken skaters provided the goals for the victors Sunday night, helping the second-year squad take a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 is scheduled for Tuesday night in Seattle.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Panthers pushed the Toronto Maple Leafs to the brink of elimination after Sam Reinhart scored the OT winner in Game 3 to give Florida a 3-0 series lead.

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov departed Game 3 of their second-round series against the Florida Panthers in the second period after teammate Luke Schenn slid into him while trying to prevent a goal.

Evander Kane had a simple explanation for why he went after Keegan Kolesar during the Edmonton Oilers' 5-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series Saturday night.Kane went on the defensive when a reporter mentioned the rarity of body shots in hockey fights like the ones he hit his counterpart with in the second period."You also don't see a lot of guys getting jumped from behind and headlocked," the Edmonton winger said postgame. "When you want to fuck around, sometimes you've got to find out, so that's what happened."The hostilities began when Brett Howden and Brett Kulak squared off, but they continued elsewhere. Kolesar peeled Kane off a scrum with two hands from behind, and Kane later punched Kolesar repeatedly while the Vegas player was lying on the ice.

The Toronto Maple Leafs know they've dug themselves a hole by dropping the first two games of their second-round series to the Florida Panthers, but they don't appear worried just yet."The challenge is the challenge and it's pretty obvious of course, but the group feels good and remains confident and optimistic," the head coach said Saturday, per NHL.com's Dave McCarthy. "We're excited to get out on the road, it's a place we've developed some confidence, but it doesn't make it any easier."The puck will drop and the game will be hard and competitive again but we just have to stay with it as a group, minimize our mistakes, stay on the attack and keep shooting."Many considered Toronto the favorites after the eighth-seeded Panthers advanced to Round 2, but the Leafs have been unable to capitalize on the momentum of their first series win in 19 years, losing twice on home ice in underwhelming fashion.The Leafs never led in Game 1, then coughed up an early 2-0 lead in Game 2. Keefe called his club's parade of costly turnovers in the latest loss "baffling," but he and the players feel they can fix it."To my knowledge or my experience, I don't think there's ever been a team in the history of the NHL who has gone through the playoffs and had great runs without going through adversity," defenseman Luke Schenn said.The Leafs haven't trailed 2-0 in a series since 2018 against the Boston Bruins, when they ultimately lost in seven games.While the odds are against Toronto to reach its first conference final since 2002, a trip to Florida might be exactly what the club needs, as it went 3-0 in the Sunshine State in its first-round clash with Tampa Bay.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers and Gerard Gallant agreed to end his tenure as head coach, the club announced Saturday.Gallant and general manager Chris Drury reportedly had a heated exchange following the Rangers' Game 4 loss to the Devils in the first-round matchup that New Jersey ultimately won in seven.On Wednesday, the 59-year-old scoffed at questions about his future with the team and defended his record, chalking the early exit up to one lackluster series."Did we have a tough two weeks? Yeah. But besides that, I can't believe I have to answer some of these questions about me getting let go or getting fired (that were) brought up by the media," he said at the time. "Disappointing."Gallant coached the Rangers for two seasons. In 2021-22, he guided them to the Eastern Conference Final, which they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six. Drury loaded up at this season's trade deadline, acquiring forwards Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane in separate deals.The GM said Saturday that he isn't going to limit his search to any specific style or type of coach and is "just looking for the right fit."The Prince Edward Island-born bench boss coached the Vegas Golden Knights for most of their first three campaigns, helping them reach the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season of 2017-18. The Golden Knights fired Gallant in January 2020, replacing him with Pete DeBoer.New York hired Gallant in June 2021. He led the team to a 99-46-19 record.Before joining Vegas, Gallant served as head coach of the Florida Panthers and Columbus Blue Jackets.All three Jack Adams Award finalists from 2021-22 are no longer with the clubs they coached at the time. In addition to Gallant, the Calgary Flames fired Darryl Sutter earlier this week and Paul Maurice replaced Andrew Brunette with the Panthers last June.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With their backs against the wall versus the Carolina Hurricanes, the New Jersey Devils are turning to 19-year-old defenseman Luke Hughes in Game 3 on Sunday, head coach Lindy Ruff announced.Hughes will replace Ryan Graves, who's out with an upper-body injury.The Devils used the following defense pairs during Saturday's practice:LDRDJonas SiegenthalerDougie HamiltonLuke HughesDamon SeversonKevin BahlJohn MarinoHughes received work with the top power-play unit at practice, too.Veteran Brendan Smith was an option to replace Graves, but the Devils are rolling with the rookie instead.Hughes, the younger brother of Devils forward Jack Hughes and Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes, tallied a goal and an assist - including a memorable overtime winner - in two games with New Jersey during the regular season after turning pro.The 2021 fourth overall pick registered 10 goals and 38 assists in 39 games at Michigan this past season.The Devils trail 2-0 in the series.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Another Starboy has entered the sweepstakes to purchase the Ottawa Senators.Canadian singer Abel Tesfaye, best known by his stage name The Weeknd, has joined the Harlo Capital Group led by Toronto billionaires Jeffrey and Michael Kimel to hope to buy the Sens, sources told Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch.Actor Ryan Reynolds and rapper Snoop Dogg are also making separate efforts to purchase the NHL franchise. Reynolds' group is reportedly prepared to bid $1 billion. Seven groups overall remain involved in the bidding.The Weeknd, a native of Toronto, has won four Grammys, is the most streamed artist on Spotify, and performed the Super Bowl LV halftime show."He's going to be a great partner for Ottawa and the NHL," a source close to The Weeknd told Garrioch. "The team he works with grew up in Ottawa, so they know the market really well, but he's the largest musician (on the) planet right now. He has the most views, the most streams, and he's a hockey guy."He doesn't like to be in the media very often, so this really says something that he wants to be part of a bid. He wants to get this deal done, he wants to build something that will be great in Ottawa and he'll be a good fit. He's got a lot of connections worldwide."The Senators have been owned by Anna and Olivia Melnyk since their father, Eugene, died in March 2022. The franchise was put up for sale in November.New York-based bank Galatioto Sports Partners, which was hired to sell the club, has set a May 15 deadline for final nonbinding offers.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes are in complete control through two games of their second-round playoff series, having outscored the New Jersey Devils 11-2. The typically dynamic Devils, who also lost the first two games in Round 1, are looking to flip the script in Sunday afternoon's pivotal Game 3. Here are three duos primed to swing the series as the action shifts to Newark, New Jersey.Jack Hughes and Jordan Staal Josh Lavallee / Getty ImagesYou need to see, oh, maybe five seconds from the first two games to get a strong read on how the highly anticipated Hughes-Staal matchup is unfolding.In Game 1, Hughes was accidentally high-sticked by Staal. The unpenalized incident led to Hughes, one of the faces of the NHL, losing a front tooth. In Game 2, Hughes backchecked to no avail as Staal scored on a breakaway deke. The 3-0 goal led to Hughes banging his stick against the end boards.Hughes, a 99-point man in the regular season, produced three goals and two assists in the Devils' seven-game first-round series against the New York Rangers. Held pointless through two contests versus the Hurricanes, No. 86 has been on the ice for four goals against, zero for, and has personally gone entire periods without looking dangerous - in large part due to Staal. Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesHughes, 21, and Staal, 34, have shared the ice for 20 five-on-five minutes. In that time, Carolina leads in shot attempts (15-14), shots on goal (9-5), and goals (2-0), while New Jersey holds the edge in high-danger attempts (5-4).Hughes epitomizes the Devils' patented rush offense, which has been virtually nonexistent to start the series, while Staal - who's five inches taller and 45 pounds heavier - epitomizes the Hurricanes' smothering, error-free defense.Plain and simple, if New Jersey can't find a way in Game 3 to gain speed through the neutral zone, make controlled zone entries, and then infiltrate Carolina's defensive zone structure, this series will only go four games. The Devils are days from golfing if they're unable to access the inner-slot area.New Jersey has the home-team benefit of last change on Sunday. Expect coach Lindy Ruff to work feverishly to get Hughes away from Staal. It's been a pretty lopsided matchup, with rare glimpses of hope mixed in along the way.Nico Hischier and Timo Meier Scott Taetsch / Getty ImagesThe Devils were outscored 10-2 to start the Rangers series and 11-2 so far in this one. So, if you're a New Jersey fan looking for a silver lining … the Devils have been in this spot before, and it worked out fine in the end. Does that help at all?Yeah, it ain't pretty for the Devils, who are being schooled by the Hurricanes in all even-strength facets: pace of play, teammate-to-teammate connectivity, board battles, functional physicality, and puck management. What's more, New Jersey's power play, a respectable 13th-best in the regular season, is 0-for-5."We should be really pissed off right now," said Hischier after Game 2. The Devils captain and Selke Trophy finalist was referring to overall team results, but he may as well have been talking about himself and Meier.Consider this: According to Natural Stat Trick, 16 players have accumulated 3.5 expected goals or more in the playoffs. Fourteen have bagged between two and seven actual goals. The other two - Hischier and Meier - have zero. Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesHischier is goalless in nine playoff games despite recording 24 shots on goal and 39 total attempts. Yes, he's collected five assists - three of them primary, none versus Carolina - but the lack of finishing is crushing, especially considering he's received a ton of offensive-zone starts in the second round.Meier, the splashy midseason acquisition, is even more snakebitten. Zero goals off 32 shots of many types: 16 wrist shots, six snap shots, six backhands, two tips, and two slap shots. Injured in Game 7 of Round 1 thanks to a thunderous hit by Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba, Meier missed the series opener. He looked OK, if not slightly tentative, in his return to the lineup on Friday. Like his teammates, Meier generated very little in the middle of the ice in Game 2.For their careers, Hischier and Meier are above-average finishers, scoring on 11.9% and 10.5% of regular-season shots, respectively. If the hockey gods have any mercy, they'll let at least one puck cross the goal line in Game 3.Brent Burns and Jaccob Slavin Joel Auerbach / Getty ImagesFormer top-three draft pick Jesperi Kotkaniemi between grinders Jordan Martinook and Jesper Fast is the forward line operating at a higher clip than all others in this series. The unsung trio has hounded pucks in each zone, delivered body checks at the right times, and buried scoring chances.In less obvious ways, the Hurricanes' top defensemen have been equally valuable over the first two games. And, based on how well Burns and Slavin performed in the regular season, there's absolutely no reason to believe the yin-and-yang pairing will be rendered ineffective anytime soon.Burns and Slavin, who sit second and third in ice time, trailing only Devils blue-liner Jonas Siegenthaler, have put on a defensive clinic. Tight neutral-zone gaps. Textbook stick checking. Brute force on occasion. Seven combined blocked shots, including four on the doorstep of Carolina's crease. Josh Lavallee / Getty ImagesThe No. 1 pairing is leading the charge in insulating goalie Frederik Andersen, either by denying New Jersey clean zone entries or keeping opposing forwards to the perimeter throughout their time in the zone. In other words, Burns and Slavin, each with 50-plus games of playoff experience, are executing Rod Brind'Amour hockey to a tee, and the rest of the Canes players aren't lagging far behind.That's what, from the Devils' perspective, is ultimately so demoralizing about going down 2-0. Despite missing offensive catalysts Max Pacioretty, Andrei Svechnikov, and Teuvo Teravainen, Carolina is scoring enough while playing its coach's system perfectly. The Canes aren't perfect. They are vulnerable like every other team. But right now, they're completely dialed in.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.

New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier hopes his teammates are as angry as he is after Friday's blowout loss at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 2."What bothers me the most is that we just got outbattled," Hischier said after the loss. "It's the playoffs, we should be really pissed off right now."The Devils dropped the critical contest 6-1 and have now been outscored 11-2 in the series.The game was scoreless after the first period, but New Jersey unraveled in the second, allowing four straight Carolina goals. The onslaught prompted the Devils to pull goaltender Akira Schmid for the second consecutive game.Devils head coach Lindy Ruff hasn't committed to a Game 3 starter yet, according to team reporter Amanda Stein.The Hurricanes have held the Devils' high-octane offense in check so far. Carolina holds an 8-2 advantage in five-on-five goals and has controlled 56.16% of expected goals, 52.69% of scoring chances, and 53.11% of shot attempts, according to Natural Stat Trick."We have lots of skill here, but skill doesn't mean a thing in the playoffs," Hischier said.Hischier has been on the ice for three goals against through two games. He entered the second round on a five-game point streak but hasn't found the goal column in the playoffs after a breakout regular season in which he notched a career-high 80 points in 81 appearances.If there's a silver lining for the Devils after Friday's demoralizing loss, it's that they found themselves in an 0-2 hole in Round 1 against the New York Rangers before winning the series in seven.Game 3 goes Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET in Newark.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Jersey Devils forward Timo Meier returned to the lineup for the 6-1 Game 2 loss against the Carolina Hurricanes.Meier didn't play the closing minutes of the Devils' Game 7 victory over the New York Rangers and was sidelined for the opening game of their second-round series against the Hurricanes after taking a massive hit from Jacob Trouba.

Jim Montgomery of the Boston Bruins, Dave Hakstol of the Seattle Kraken, and Lindy Ruff of the New Jersey Devils were named finalists on Friday for the 2023 Jack Adams Award, given annually to the head coach "adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success."The honor is voted on by members of the league's broadcasters association.Montgomery guided the Bruins to the best regular season in NHL history, collecting records in wins (65) and points (135). Boston led the Atlantic Division wire-to-wire, and its plus-128 led the league by 61. He accomplished all this in his first season with the club.Hakstol oversaw a remarkable turnaround for the Kraken, who improved by 40 points this year after a disappointing inaugural campaign as the NHL's 32nd franchise. Seattle earned its first-ever playoff berth in 2022-23 and shocked the hockey world by eliminating the defending champion Colorado Avalanche in a seven-game thriller in Round 1.Ruff established Devils franchise records in wins (52) and points (112), and helped the club snap a four-year playoff drought with the league's third-best record. New Jersey won 13 games in a row early in the year to establish itself as a Metropolitan Division powerhouse and erase the angst of a restless fanbase that famously chanted "Fire Lindy" after a slow start to the campaign.This marks Ruff's fourth nomination for the award. He won it in 2006 with the Buffalo Sabres, and he was a finalist in 2007 with the same club as well as in 2016 with the Dallas Stars.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice admitted his heart was no longer in it when he decided to step down from his post with the Winnipeg Jets in December 2021."This might be too much of a simplistic answer, but it's true," he told NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger. "I'd lost my love of the game. And it was affecting me. And I found it again."This has been a challenging year for everything we've went through. But at the same time it's been fun for me."Maurice declined to get into details about what ended his desire to coach the Jets, but he said he was dealing with more than people realized."The answer is no," he said. "It's also something I'm not going to go into detail about. The most succinctly I can put it is: I needed to be off the bench for me personally."Maurice is riding high with the Panthers, who currently lead their second-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-0 and are fresh off upsetting the record-setting Boston Bruins in seven games.Maurice was brought in last offseason in favor of Andrew Brunette, who guided the Cats to a Presidents' Trophy in 2022 and was a Jack Adams finalist. A return to coaching wasn't on Maurice's radar until Florida called."It's funny how life works," Maurice said. "It was in very early June. Everything was perfect. I truly wasn't missing anything. I wasn't yearning for anything. I'd had two teams reach out to me from the time I stepped down to the time I'd stepped back. It was easy for me. I didn't see a fit. I wasn't interested. I'm good. And then Panthers GM Bill Zito called."Maurice has also coached the then-Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes, and Maple Leafs in his 25-year career. He ranks sixth on the all-time coaching wins list at 817.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning signed forward Michael Eyssimont to a two-year contract worth $800,000 per season, the team announced Friday.Eyssimont was scheduled to become a Group 6 unrestricted free agent this offseason as a 25-and-older player with three professional seasons under his belt but fewer than 80 total games.The Bolts acquired Eyssimont before the trade deadline from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Vladislav Namestnikov, and he produced two points in 15 games after arriving in Tampa.Eyssimont started the 2022-23 campaign with the Winnipeg Jets and was a fifth-round draft choice of the Los Angeles Kings in 2016.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett was fined $5,000 for cross-checking Toronto Maple Leafs winger Michael Bunting in the neck in Game 2 on Thursday, the league announced.Here's the play:

Toronto Maple Leafs rookie forward Matthew Knies suffered a concussion in Game 2 against the Florida Panthers on Thursday and will miss at least the next two contests, head coach Sheldon Keefe said Friday, per TSN's Chris Johnston.Keefe added that Knies is unlikely to return to the series against Florida.Knies was slammed into the boards and then onto the ice by Panthers forward Sam Bennett, who wasn't penalized on the play.

The Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves in a 2-0 hole despite playing fairly well through the first leg of their second-round series against the Florida Panthers. A critical Game 3 is set for Sunday in Sunrise, Florida. Here are four ways the Leafs - who must win four of the next five games - can salvage their season.Let Nylander cook Richard Lautens / Getty ImagesListen, William Nylander can be a frustrating player. He can occasionally space out on defense, missing an assignment or putting forth little effort, as he did at points in Game 1. He can make the odd head-scratching decision with the puck, too, as he did at points in Games 1 and 2. For example, he inexplicably passed on a wide-open lane to Florida's net in the second period of Game 1.Nylander can also be an exhilarating player. The boxscore might not reflect it, but he's overwhelmed the Panthers all series, pressing the speed-boost button in the neutral zone countless times over 38 minutes of action. The smooth-skating Swede's been weaving through Florida's defensive shell, completing clean zone entries, and shooting from high-leverage scoring areas.The results, Part 1: a series-high 13 shots on goal, and the second-highest individual expected goals generation, at 1.66, according to Natural Stat Trick.The results, Part 2: zero points. Mark Blinch / Getty ImagesSergei Bobrovsky, a .901 goalie in the regular season, has turned aside 69 of 73 Toronto shots on goal for a series-tilting .945 save percentage. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner has been nothing short of phenomenal, already saving a cool 4.28 goals above expected, per Natural Stat Trick.On one hand, Nylander's lack of finishing is unacceptable. There are no moral victories in the playoffs, and it's not as if Nylander and his teammates are throwing everything possible at Bobrovsky. He isn't battling tricky deflections and tips, or being screened.On the other hand, no Leafs player is feeling it right now quite like Nylander, and Sheldon Keefe knows this better than anyone. The Leafs coach must take the bad with the good and feed the explosive winger and his center, John Tavares, with offensive-zone starts. Doubling down should lead to goals.At the top of the lineup, the Panthers have Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk to counter Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Florida's second layer of offensive pop, matching up with Nylander and Tavares, includes who? Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett? Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart? These are fun, clutch players, but none of them are as purely talented as Nylander.That's precisely why No. 88's so crucial moving forward: He's the Leafs' edge.Meanwhile, Tavares had a few Grade-A scoring opportunities of his own in Game 2, even hitting the post in the second period. Matthews, who struck iron in the third period of Game 1, has been buzzing all series, peppering Bobrovsky on the power play while earning a series-high 72% five-on-five expected goals rate. Marner's been his usual crafty self. All three are due.Simplify puck plays Michael Chisholm / Getty ImagesThe Panthers have recorded 21 five-on-five goals in nine playoff games. Nine of 21, including two Thursday, have come within five seconds of a turnover.This opportunistic brand of hockey, fueled by a surgical forecheck and cycle game, has been the series' key battleground. Similar to Nylander failing to solve Bobrovsky, the Leafs deserve plenty of blame for surrendering these chances. Yet the Panthers' nearly flawless execution can't be discounted.Florida's such a well-connected, straight-line team that it's reasonable to expect its habit of turning nothing into something will continue. The Panthers' opening tally in Game 2 was a masterclass in how to score a "gritty" goal in the modern NHL. Each of Reinhart, Eetu Luostarinen, and Anton Lundell knew their specified duties and got to work as a unit - steal the puck, dump the puck, chase the puck, pass it, shoot it. No luck, just sustainable hockey.The Leafs need to simplify in Game 3 and beyond, especially in transition. Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesIf the puck's on your stick a few feet inside or outside your blue line, opt for the safer play. In that vulnerable area of the ice, manage the puck under the assumption the Panthers are ready to embarrass you. Sure, that's Hockey 101-level advice for the best of the best on the planet. It isn't anything they haven't heard. However, puck management's become a back-breaking issue.The Leafs have averaged 15 giveaways per game this series, and defenseman Timothy Liljegren (first Panthers goal), Nylander (second goal), and both Marner and Matthews (third goal) all coughed up the puck in devastating fashion in Game 2. It's been a comedy of errors for a squad that averaged 10.5 giveaways per game in the first round and 10.3 a contest in the regular season.Toronto had problems breaking the puck out of its own end in Game 1. While Florida is still wreaking havoc deep in Toronto's end, the Leafs were better at penetrating the Panthers' multi-layered forecheck in Game 2. Progress.Make Panthers payFor all the offense initiated by their functional physicality and nifty stick work, the Panthers cross the line often. We knew about this undisciplined streak ahead of Round 2, and the first two games have only solidified the reputation.The Leafs have been granted seven power-play opportunities in two games - not bad if you hadn't watched the games, but not great if you had, given the handful of missed calls. The on-ice officials have ignored clear-cut infractions from the more aggressive team. Most glaringly, Bennett's WWE-style takedown in Game 2 injured Leafs rookie Matthew Knies but went unpenalized. Steve Russell / Getty ImagesToronto can't control what's going to be called and not called. What the Leafs can do is make Florida pay for being undisciplined. Tampa Bay shut out their power play in Games 5 and 6 of the first round; in the second round, Matthews, Marner, and the rest of the star-studded power-play contingent has generated just one goal off 12 scoring chances over 10 minutes.Keep an eye out for Bennett in Game 3. Not because the Leafs will be looking for blood following the Knies incident, but because it feels like Bennett's been taking too many risks. He's prioritized body checks and cross-checks over winning 50/50 pucks, directing more energy toward agitating than scoring.Will Bennett get caught up in the villain role? Will the constant agitation come back to bite him in the form of a stupid penalty and subsequent Leafs goal?Address blue-line woes Mark Blinch / Getty ImagesThe extra day off between Games 2 and 3 is a blessing for the Leafs. The players could use the rest and Keefe could use the lineup-pondering time.With Knies out with a concussion, Zach Aston-Reese could return to the wing. The back end is an entirely different conundrum, with the Panthers carving Mark Giordano and Liljegren in Game 2. Giordano, 39, has looked his age as the postseason has chugged along. Liljegren, listed at 6-foot-1 and 192 pounds, has been equally bad against Florida, constantly getting outmuscled along the boards and mishandling the puck under pressure.In Game 6 of the Lightning series, Liljegren's first game of the playoffs, he played only 10:31 because Keefe opted for an 11-forward, seven-defenseman configuration. Perhaps the bench boss forgoes reinserting Aston-Reese on Sunday and instead tries 11-and-7 again, with either Justin Holl or Erik Gustafsson occupying the seventh blue-liner spot. Holl's the better penalty killer and Gustafsson's the better puck-mover. Given the Leafs' breakout struggles, Gustafsson would be the natural choice, while there's a pros-versus-cons conversation to be had about Holl replacing Giordano or Liljegren.The 11-and-7 would also unlock a few additional shifts for the Leafs' top guns and secondary contributors, specifically wingers Michael Bunting and Calle Jarnkrok, who skated for only 15:11 and 8:36, respectively, in Game 2.The third pair's been a disaster. Luckily for the Leafs, Jake McCabe and T.J. Brodie, despite a few mental lapses, have held their own against Florida, and Morgan Rielly and Luke Schenn have been tremendous the entire playoff run.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.

Thursday was a solid night for our best bets. Although the Maple Leafs failed us, Roope Hintz and Auston Matthews cashed our player props to give us a profitable 2-1 evening.We'll look to build on it with three more plays for the weekend ahead.Devils (-105) @ Hurricanes (-115)

The Ottawa Senators signed forward Jiri Smejkal to a one-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Friday.The Czechia native spent the 2022-23 season with IK Oskarshamn of Sweden's top professional league, tallying 23 goals and 20 assists in 49 games.Smejkal boasts tremendous size at 6-foot-4, 223 pounds."Jiri's signing is a good addition for us; it improves our depth and provides us with an additional bottom-six option at forward," Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said. "He's a big body who's strong with previous experience playing in North America which should help his transition to a rink with smaller dimensions. We're pleased that he's committed to the Senators for the next step in his career."The 26-year-old played two years of junior hockey in the WHL with the Moose Jaw Warriors and Kamloops Blazers from 2014-2016, but he's skated in Europe ever since.Smejkal has represented Czechia on the international stage numerous times, most notably in the 2022 Winter Olympics and the 2022 World Championship - the latter of which he took home a bronze medal.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Jose Sharks veteran Erik Karlsson, New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox, and Colorado Avalanche blue-liner Cale Makar are the 2022-23 Norris Trophy finalists, the NHL announced Thursday.The award is voted on annually by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association at the end of the regular season and presented "to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position."Karlsson is gunning for his third Norris Trophy after enjoying a comeback season for the ages. The 32-year-old led all defensemen with 25 goals and 101 points in 82 contests and became the first rearguard since Brian Leetch in 1991-92 to hit the century mark. Karlsson also ranked fourth among all skaters with 74 even-strength points while averaging the fifth-most ice time (25:37) in the league, trailing just Makar, Drew Doughty, Rasmus Dahlin, and Quinn Hughes.The 6-foot Swede also posted respectable underlying numbers on the struggling Sharks this season. San Jose controlled 53.6% of the shot attempts, 52.3% of the shots, 53.5% of the expected goals, and 50% of the goals at five-on-five with Karlsson on the ice, per Natural Stat Trick. Opponents outscored the Sharks 124-72 in the almost 2,326 minutes with Karlsson on the bench at five-on-five this campaign.Fox took home the Norris Trophy in 2021. He set a new career high with 12 goals this season and ranked eighth among all blue-liners with 72 points in 82 games. Fox also tied Carolina Hurricanes stalwart Jaccob Slavin for the most takeaways (88).The 25-year-old paced his teammates in average ice time (24:23) and was a plus-28. New York again drove the play with Fox on the ice this season. Among all Rangers skaters to log at least 500 minutes at five-on-five, Fox led the way in shot attempts for percentage (54.3) and scoring chances for percentage (55.1) while ranking in the top five in goals for percentage (59.5) and expected goals for percentage (54.1).Makar is the reigning Norris Trophy winner and was named a finalist for the third straight year. If he's victorious this season, he'll become the first blue-liner to win in back-to-back years since Nicklas Lidstrom pulled off the three-peat beginning in 2006.The star missed 22 games due to injury this season, but he was stellar when he slotted into the lineup, contributing 66 points (17 goals, 49 assists) in 60 contests. Makar's 1.10 point-per-game rate places second among all rearguards in 2022-23 - trailing only Karlsson - and he led the league in average ice time, eating up 26:23 minutes per night.Despite his time on the sidelines, Makar still ranked eighth among defensemen in goals above replacement (16.4) and wins above replacement (2.8), according to Evolving Hockey. The Avalanche dictated 56.6% of the shot attempts, 54.2% of the shots, 59.1% of the goals, and 56.6% of the expected goals with Makar on the ice at five-on-five.The 2023 NHL Awards begins at 8 p.m. ET on June 26.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Several Calgary Flames players took back trade requests after the club fired Darryl Sutter as head coach earlier this week, Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli revealed Thursday on Sportsnet 960."In talking to various people around the league that have connections to Calgary, the sentiment was any trade requests that were out there, or demands so to speak, have been rescinded now that there's been a coaching change," Seravalli said. "That, I think, opens the door for some players that might have been hesitating to eventually re-sign. That'll of course be the call of whoever's the next general manager."Seravalli added, "I believe there was at least a handful of players who had spoken honestly and frankly to (former general manger) Brad Treliving and (president of hockey operations) Don Maloney, who were in the room for the exit interviews, to say exactly that. Essentially, it's as simple as, 'If this guy's back, I don't wanna play here.'"The Flames axed Sutter on Monday after three seasons behind the bench and a Jack Adams Award in 2022. Calgary missed the playoffs this year after a dramatic offseason that saw Johnny Gaudreau leave in free agency and Matthew Tkachuk demand out instead of re-signing as a restricted free agent, while the club landed Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar via trade.Huberdeau disappointed with 55 points after netting 115 last season with the Florida Panthers, and he admitted Monday that he and Sutter didn't click."Having a new coach is going to help my game and my confidence too," Huberdeau said.It's unknown which players requested trades if Sutter stayed, but veterans Mikael Backlund and Elias Lindholm, both eligible to sign extensions this summer, were noncommittal when asked about re-upping with the Flames at their end-of-season interviews.Other key 2024 free agents on the Flames' docket include Tyler Toffoli, Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev, and Nikita Zadorov.Calgary also parted ways with GM Brad Treliving after the regular season and is in the midst of searching for his replacement on top of finding a new bench boss.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant and general manager Chris Drury had a heated altercation after the club's Game 4 loss to the New Jersey Devils in the first round, reports The Athletic's Arthur Staple.The Rangers lost the contest 3-1 on home ice, letting the Devils equalize the series after the Blueshirts won the first two games. New Jersey ultimately took the series in seven.Gallant's job security has been in question since New York's demoralizing elimination to one of its biggest rivals, prompting him to defend himself at his end-of-season interview on Wednesday."I can't believe I have to answer some of these questions about me getting fired, brought up by the media," Gallant said. "Disappointing."Despite tensions appearing to be high, the Rangers aren't likely to move on from Gallant, according to Staple. The crop of candidates to replace the 59-year-old - which includes veterans Peter Laviolette and Darryl Sutter - reportedly isn't enticing enough to sway Drury to make a change behind the bench.The Rangers hired Gallant prior to the 2021-22 campaign, and he's led the club to back-to-back 100-plus point seasons. He was nominated for the Jack Adams Award after his first year behind the bench on the strength of a 110-point effort while also leading the club to the Eastern Conference Final.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Thirteen-year NHL veteran Petr Klima died at 58 years old on Thursday, the league announced.Klima is best remembered for scoring the triple-overtime winner in Game 1 of the 1990 Stanley Cup Final for the Edmonton Oilers, who ended up defeating the Boston Bruins in five contests that year.

A stellar sophomore season from Matt Boldy wasn't enough to earn a pat on the back from Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin heading into the summer."In talking to a guy like Boldy, his style of play in the playoffs doesn't … He's got to change certain things in his game," Guerin told The Athletic's Michael Russo. "It is a different game in the playoffs. It's just different."And I think a lot of people get frustrated with that in hockey, but I think it's one of the things that makes hockey great is that it is a whole different ballgame. You look at the goals that are scored, they're hard goals. There's not a lot of pretty goals, and you've just got to get your nose dirty. For him, that's something that he's got to work on."Boldy tallied 31 goals and 32 assists in 81 games during the regular season, but he was held scoreless with three helpers in six playoff contests before the Wild were eliminated by the Dallas Stars."Still not good enough," the 22-year-old answered when asked to compare this postseason to last year's. "To be honest, I don't think I played well. That's my opinion. It just wasn't what it needed to be, and obviously it sucks. It's not what you want to have happen, feeling like you let teammates down and stuff like that. But it's another thing to learn from, and we don't want to let it happen again."Boldy recorded one goal and zero helpers in six games during the 2022 playoffs after producing 39 points in 47 contests as a rookie.The 6-foot-2 winger was selected 12th overall by Minnesota at the 2019 NHL Draft. He signed a seven-year, $49-million extension in January that will make him the Wild's third-highest-paid player next season.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wednesday was a tough one on the ice. Jack Hughes and Brent Burns combined to miss the net seven times, both failing to go over their shot prop totals. The Oilers also fell at the hands of the Golden Knights despite a four-goal performance from Leon Draisaitl.We'll aim to get back on track with three more plays for Thursday's card.Panthers (+160) @ Maple Leafs (-190)The Maple Leafs once again dropped their series opener at home by multiple goals.They had no problem crawling out of the early hole against the Lightning and I expect similar against the Panthers.Everything was there but the finish in Game 1. The Maple Leafs won the expected goals battle 5.21-2.66, good for a 66.23% share - their second-highest of the playoffs.Their best players piled up the chances as well. The core four of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander combined for 20 shots on goal and 11 grade-A scoring chances. They simply couldn't convert, translating those opportunities into zero goals.That is very abnormal for them. Each player scored 30-plus goals and scored on at least 12.2% of their shots in the regular season. They are lethal finishers.So long as the chances are there, the goals will come, especially against a netminder like Sergei Bobrovsky.While you have to tip your hat to him for a great Game 1 performance, he is a very exploitable goaltender. He posted a pedestrian .901 save percentage in the regular season and his playoff total matches that. There is a reason the Panthers went to unproven journeyman Alex Lyon for chunks of the opening round series; Bobrovsky is simply not reliable.He helped steal a game, but that is an exception to the rule, and the Maple Leafs showed they can generate chances in bulk. I would expect them to start going in sooner rather than later.Look for Toronto to even the series without the aid of overtime.Bet: Maple Leafs in regulation (-110)Auston Matthews over 4.5 shots (-135)We backed Matthews in the series opener and he rewarded us with a six-shot, 11-attempt performance against the Panthers. There's no reason not to go back to the well in Game 2.Matthews has attempted at least eight shots in five consecutive games, combining for 20 over the last two in Toronto. He is shooting every chance he gets right now and the goals have been there in bunches as a result.Including special-teams play, Matthews was on the ice for 34 attempts and 20 shots on goal last time out. That led all forwards for either team.It's no secret that getting him the puck in shooting situations is priority No. 1. The Panthers are a better offensive than defensive team and they tend to play high-event games. That bodes well for Matthews, who should try to shoot the Maple Leafs onto level terms.Roope Hintz over 2.5 shots (-105)The Kraken have mostly played well defensively through eight postseason games. Their one area of weakness is slowing down opposing centers.They had a very tough time with Nathan MacKinnon in the opening round - granted, anybody would - and that's spilled over into their series against the Stars.Roope Hintz had a very strong offensive showing in Game 1, registering seven shot attempts, five shots on goal, and four high-danger scoring chances. Outside of Joe Pavelski, nobody did a better job of creating quality opportunities.Hintz has enjoyed success against the Kraken all year, recording three shots or more in three of four meetings. With only the Panthers allowing more shots per game to centers in these playoffs, Hintz should have ample opportunity to get the job done once again.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.

Of all the first-round successes we had, nothing worked better than hopping on a handful of teams after they were downed in Game 1. We went 4-1 for approximately plus-4 units, with just the long shot try on the Islanders falling short, thanks to a pair of overtime losses.Overall, the team that lost the first game of the series went 6-2, with just the Kraken (who later trailed 2-1) and Hurricanes eventually closing their opponents out after leading 1-0.So is it as simple as just backing the team down 0-1 to go on to win the series? No, not usually. That's why we picked our spots in Round 1. However, with all four pre-series favorites losing in Game 1 of Round 2, taking the trailing team is that much more appealing.Instead of the article ending there, we'll actually rank each series by just how interested we are in a position for a comeback. In honor of both Joe Pavelski and Leon Draisaitl scoring four times - albeit in losing causes - we'll rank them by "goals."*4 goals*Oilers to win series (+120)At least the Oilers lost the first game on the road. The advantage to not having home-ice advantage is that it's no catastrophe to go down 0-1 in the other team's barn - or should I say, "palatial concert venue?"Edmonton was given a 60% implied win probability for this series before it started based on a -150 series price. Converting +120 into probability gives you 45.5%. That near 15% change is too high of a gap for my liking, as I've already jumped on Edmonton at the best price I can find for Game 2. In fact, that moneyline seems destined to close higher than the Oilers' odds to win Game 1.Once Edmonton takes Game 2, its series odds won't just revert back to -150, they'll likely go higher after the Oilers have wrestled away home-ice advantage. As for Game 1, while the Golden Knights get credit for having the marginally better expected-goal share at even strength, Vegas converted two of just seven high-danger chances in that game state on top of two of four power-play chances. Those are two outlier events that'll be hard to repeat, especially if both are required to win by just one goal.*3 goals*Stars to win series (-115)We sniffed out a potential over-pricing on the Stars before Game 1, advocating to take the Kraken +1.5 for the series in a way of finding a middle ground between having a position on Dallas to take the Western Conference and taking advantage of some obvious value.However, we're still all Stars around here. Jake Oettinger has earned a pass for whatever that was in the first period of Game 1. The Kraken had two high-danger chances in the opening stanza but scored four even-strength goals. Yikes. Oettinger cleaned it up the rest of the way, with the Seattle game-winner coming in an overtime frame where Dallas was the better side. Throw in Pavelski - not only back and healthy but scoring four times - and that actually alleviates one of the worries about the long-term viability of Dallas.So why not a "four-goal certified play?" Price matters around these parts, and oddsmakers are sticking to their pre-series (over)valuations by making Dallas 53.5% to win the series, just a 12% change from -190 before the series.*2 goals*Devils to win series (+140)The first period in Raleigh wasn't pretty for the Devils; there's no denying that. It fed into the narrative that a team who played the game of its life on Monday night had too quick of a turnaround before a road series opener, with the ideally-rested Hurricanes trying to smother their speed.The least predictable type of goal for handicapping is the "soft" goal, and Brett Pesce's seeing-eye wrister to open the scoring was no high-danger chance. Throw in three goals on nine HDCs - a 33% clip far exceeding Carolina's usual 9% conversion rate of the last two months - and you have another dual-outlier night.The Devils will be better - as they were in periods two and three - and a 13% change in win probability is enough to keep us interested in a team we liked before the series.*1 goal*Maple Leafs to win series (+100)We were on the Panthers in Game 1 and for the series, so there's no flip-flopping now. The thought process was that this was far more of a coin-flip series than the pre-series odds suggested. The Maple Leafs may have felt like the better team in the opener, but 50% splits in expected-goal share and high-danger chances at even strength confirm that they aren't better enough to be 63.6% probable to win the series and even higher than that to win Game 1.As a result, a 13.6% drop to their win probability puts them at even money to win the series, a price that might be enticing to some based on how Round 1 shook out and the Leafs being a significant favorite to salvage a split. However, it's only worth a tertiary glance for those with Panthers positions.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.

Snoop Dogg wants fans to know his interest in purchasing the Ottawa Senators is completely genuine, fo shizzle."This ain't no joke or no gimmick. Or an image or likeness play. This is a real ownership play," he told The Athletic's Ian Mendes. "And Snoop will put his foot in the town."The highly popular rapper and entertainer is part of a bid fronted by Los Angeles-based entrepreneur Neko Sparks to buy the Sens, he confirmed Monday.But why the Senators? Why Ottawa?"I love the city. Every time I've come through the city, they've rolled out the red carpet for me. The fans, the city. Everyone. It's been nothing but love," Snoop said. "When you go around the world as much as I have, there are certain places that stick out in your heart. Everywhere I go in Canada, it's always been love, but there's something about Ottawa. And the opportunity for the team to be bought? It's impeccable timing right now."Snoop's hockey fandom is well-documented. He famously wore a Pittsburgh Penguins jersey in the music video for his breakthrough 1994 single "Gin and Juice," and the Long Beach, California, native has served as an occasional guest broadcaster for Los Angeles Kings games. He says he even went to go watch Kings games in the '80s when they were led by Marcel Dionne.The 51-year-old says his role in an ownership group would be primarily as a community activist, and he'd come to Ottawa at least six times a year - 10 if the Sens make the playoffs. But he also said that he wants to grow the game at the grassroots level."I've always wanted to do something in hockey with kids," Snoop told Mendes. "Because I never had hockey offered to me as a kid."Snoop also believes he could play an important role to help better market the game's biggest stars."They don't know how to market," he said. "Like McDavid, he's the No. 1 hockey player in the world. Why doesn't he have commercials everywhere?"Snoop isn't the only celebrity interested in purchasing the Senators, though. Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds has joined forces with the Remington Group, which is reportedly preparing a $1-billion offer. There are at least five other interested parties, too.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights topped the Edmonton Oilers 6-4 in a track meet Wednesday, weathering Leon Draisaitl's masterly four-goal night to win the second-round series opener. Keep an eye on these important battlegrounds as the matchup continues.The big guns Ethan Miller / Getty ImagesConnor McDavid led all NHL forwards in ice time in Round 1, skating for 25:10 nightly. Draisaitl ranked second at 23:47. Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft leans on his stars, and he played his trump card during the Los Angeles Kings series, uniting Draisaitl with McDavid to stack Edmonton's top line.Smartly, Woodcroft stuck with the idea Wednesday. McDavid's crafty feeds bookended Draisaitl's epic performance. Exhibiting genius, Draisaitl banked another puck in off of Laurent Brossoit's nameplate as McDavid charged to the net to receive a potential pass.Draisaitl was the second player in as many nights to pot four goals in defeat, emulating Dallas Stars veteran Joe Pavelski. The Oilers center is the first skater since the dawn of the Original Six era to score 11 goals in seven playoff games. Draisaitl maxed out at seven goals in the 2022 playoffs despite averaging a sublime two points per contest. If the Oilers rally in this series, he might obliterate the long-held NHL postseason record of 19 tallies.Edmonton's firepower is unparalleled, but Vegas trots out stars, too.Jack Eichel led the Golden Knights in shots on net and shot attempts in Round 1. Healed from back surgery, Mark Stone produced eight points and eight takeaways to shine at both ends. Vegas outscored the Winnipeg Jets 5-1 and owned 67.7% of the scoring chances when Stone skated with Chandler Stephenson and Brett Howden at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick.Seen laboring at practice this week, Stone absorbed bumps and cross-checks throughout Game 1 but kept venturing to the grimy areas. He beat Vincent Desharnais in a puck battle, then capped the shift seconds later by scoring on a redirect. Eichel, who passed to the point to facilitate Stone's goal, stripped McDavid in the final minute to earn a free shot at Edmonton's empty net. Sliding the puck the length of the ice, Eichel made no mistake.The secondary scorers Jeff Bottari / NHL / Getty ImagesFamiliar names (Evander Kane, Zach Hyman) and unsung heroes (Klim Kostin, Kailer Yamamoto) stepped up throughout Round 1 when Edmonton needed a boost. In all, 10 Oilers players scored against the Kings, with seven scoring multiple times to tie the Toronto Maple Leafs for the opening-round high.That help dried up in Game 1. Hyman's elbow grease and passing touch contributed to two of Draisaitl's goals, but Edmonton's remaining lines were silenced.The Oilers couldn't contain the Golden Knights' transitional attacks or protect the puck when forechecked. Vegas is clinical in those phases of the game. Michael Amadio and Chandler Stephenson raced into open space off the rush before they buried shots behind Stuart Skinner. Ivan Barbashev induced a Desharnais giveaway when he bagged the first of his two goals.Stephenson and William Karlsson paced Vegas with four goals apiece in the triumph over Winnipeg. Howden (two tallies) and Amadio (crucial overtime winner) emerged as X-factor contributors. That diversity of scoring maximizes the Golden Knights' offensive potential, as their 14th-ranked attack this season trails every remaining team except the Carolina Hurricanes.Watch out for the defensemen when Vegas pushes the puck up ice. Alex Pietrangelo combined with Shea Theodore to record eight assists in Round 1, though no Golden Knights blue-liner scored. That dry spell continued Wednesday, but Zach Whitecloud's outlet pass and wrister from the point sparked separate Vegas goals, including Barbashev's tip that restored the lead for good in the third period.The Oilers' power play Jeff Bottari / NHL / Getty ImagesThe blatant mismatch that could sink Vegas in this series was significant but not decisive in Game 1. McDavid's vision and Evan Bouchard's heavy shot teed up Draisaitl to convert two of Edmonton's three power-play opportunities. The Oilers went 19-2-4 in the regular season when the power play struck multiple times, per Stathead. Usually, it's a winning formula.Because the Oilers besieged the Kings in Round 1, capitalizing on nine of 16 power-play tries (56.3%), Vegas' penalty kill was spared the shame of ranking last league-wide. The Golden Knights let the Jets capitalize on five of 12 attempts (41.7%).No team was penalized less than the Golden Knights this season. They never went a man down on the night they bounced the Jets, and they generally minimized the damage of Winnipeg's power play.They have to avoid the box in this round. The obstruction penalties Nicolas Hague and Nicolas Roy took in Game 1 were excusable, unlike Pietrangelo needlessly roughing up Bouchard after the second-period horn sounded.The goaltenders Jeff Bottari / NHL / Getty ImagesAdvantage Brossoit.Neither goalie was solid in the opener, but the Vegas netminder had less to do and made the requisite saves, denying McDavid's four shots on net and all five high-danger shots he faced at five-on-five.At the other end, Barbashev neutralized Draisaitl's first and third goals by scoring on Skinner within a minute of the ensuing faceoffs. Five shots eluded Skinner for the first time since March 11.It's remarkable that one of these guys will be a conference finalist. Brossoit made 20 starts for the Oilers over a four-year span back when Draisaitl and McDavid were finding their footing in the league. He quieted fans of the Jets, his next team, who needled him with "You're a backup!" chants in Round 1. Demoted to the AHL at the outset of this season, Brossoit turned 30 in March and has now started eight games in a row for Vegas, a new career high.Skinner withstood adversity against the Kings - being yanked a period into Game 4, being scored on when his stick snapped in Game 6 - to win with a meager .890 overall save percentage. Despite the rocky postseason introduction, Woodcroft's faith in the Calder Trophy finalist didn't waver. Seven appearances in, Edmonton's still waiting for Skinner to submit a dominant playoff performance.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils were without star trade-deadline acquisition Timo Meier when they opened the second round with a 5-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night.Jesper Boqvist took his place in the lineup.Devils head coach Lindy Ruff labeled Meier as "day-to-day" after the game, per team beat reporter Amanda Stein.Meier exited Monday's Game 7 against the New York Rangers after taking a crushing hit from defenseman Jacob Trouba in the third period. Trouba wasn't penalized on the play.

Matty Beniers, Owen Power, and Stuart Skinner are the 2022-23 finalists to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie.Beniers tied for the league lead among the class in goals (24) and led all rookies in both points (57) and even-strength points (46).The 20-year-old also ranked second in average ice time (17:06) among rookie forwards who played at least 35 games. Beniers is already centering Seattle's top line, and his play was a major reason the Kraken made the playoffs for the first time in their second season.Power led the entire class in average ice time with 23:48, outpacing second-place Jake Sanderson of the Ottawa Senators by nearly two minutes. The Buffalo Sabres blue-liner, who's also 20 years old, led all rookies at the position in assists (31), points (35), and even-strength points (26).Skinner grabbed the job as the Edmonton Oilers' starting goaltender away from offseason signing Jack Campbell, and Skinner was certainly deserving of the role. The 24-year-old authored a .914 save percentage and a 29-14-5 record and got the majority of starts for his club over the latter half of the campaign.It should be noted that Vancouver Canucks forward Andrei Kuzmenko is ineligible for this award despite having just played his first NHL season. The Russian turned 27 on Feb. 4, so he does meet the requirement for being no older than 26 by Sept. 15 of his debut campaign.However, the other rule is that a player can't have played more than 25 games in any single preceding season, nor in six or more games in each of any two preceding seasons, in any major professional league. Kuzmenko played eight years in the KHL, suiting up for 315 contests in that span.The Professional Hockey Writers Association votes on the Calder Trophy at the end of the regular season. Detroit Red Wings rearguard Moritz Seider won it last summer.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gerard Gallant doesn't think he should be held responsible for his New York Rangers bowing out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the first round.The Blueshirts head coach insisted Wednesday that he's done enough to keep the job and added that he hasn't yet spoken to general manager Chris Drury about his future.