The NHL executive committee's meeting on expansion lasted over four hours Tuesday, but there is still no word on whether the league will be adding teams in time for the 2017-18 season.The nine-member committee - chaired by Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs - was expected to decide on a recommendation to give to the league's Board of Governors when they meet on June 22 in Las Vegas.They could recommend not to expand at all, delay expansion indefinitely, add one team, or add two teams.Las Vegas and Quebec City were the only cities to submit applications for the current expansion process, and the potential ownership groups are also yet to hear word on the fate of their bids."Nobody has said anything to me," potential Las Vegas owner Bill Foley told Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.The league has not expanded since the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild joined the NHL in 2000.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ken Holland is hoping to re-sign a pair of free-agent forwards before July 1.The Detroit Red Wings have made offers to impending UFAs Darren Helm and Drew Miller, Ansar Khan of MLive.com reports.A new contract with Miller is expected to be completed soon, while any deal with Helm is likely to come after the free-agent interview process at the end of June.Miller missed 54 games due to injuries this season, but Holland is hopeful to bring his leadership back to the Wings' dressing room."We're working away, hopefully find a solution," Holland said. "He's a good penalty killer, he's a good leader in the room. He doesn't wear a letter but he's well-respected by the younger players. Hopefully we find a solution to keep him here for another year."Helm, another strong penalty killer, is expected to command between $3.5 million and $4 million per year, according to Khan. The speedy forward has stated interest to stay in Detroit, but is hoping to have his role more clearly defined with the organization.Meanwhile, Holland has already stated he will not make offers to fellow UFAs Brad Richards and Kyle Quincey before July 1, "if at all."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Murray's rise to stardom in Pittsburgh continues to grow.According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, city council agreed to rename Murray Avenue - a street in the residential neighborhood of Squirrel Hill in Pittsburgh's east end - to Matt Murray Avenue for Thursday, Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.The idea reportedly came from a local radio host, who called city council presenting the idea, and was backed by nearly 20,000 listeners.The Penguins have a chance to clinch the Stanley Cup on home ice for the first time in franchise history, and if Pittsburgh can close it out, fans will be partying on the street regardless of the name.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild are adding an imposing figure behind the bench.Scott Stevens was hired as an assistant coach, the Wild announced Tuesday.Stevens will run the defense and penalty kill, according to the Star Tribune's Michael Russo, and join head coach Bruce Boudreau, who was hired last month after being dismissed by the Anaheim Ducks."I think he'll have instant respect," Boudreau said of Stevens on Tuesday. The head coach hopes to name his second assistant - who'll help run the power play - by early next week.Stevens was most recently an analyst for the NHL Network.The Hall of Fame defenseman was named co-coach of the New Jersey Devils in 2014 after serving as an assistant for two campaigns.Stevens, a 13-time All-Star, captained the Devils to Stanley Cup championships in 1995, 2000, and 2003 and won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2000.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Look out, NHL. Erik Karlsson hasn't reached his peak yet, the superstar Ottawa Senators defenseman declared Tuesday.

Braden Holtby will represent the Washington Capitals in the city's annual pride parade on Saturday.The goaltender will walk with Capitals mascot Slapshot and the team's Red Rockers, as well as members of the NBA's Washington Wizards and the WNBA's Mystics, the Capitals announced Tuesday.“I am honored to represent the Capitals and participate in this important event that shines light on the contributions the LGBT community makes every day,” Holtby said. “I believe in equality for all people and I look forward to showing my support along with our organization and fans.”The Capitals are partnering with the You Can Play Project, an organization that promotes the equality of all athletes regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.The parade, which typically draws 150,000 spectators, will run from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET on Saturday.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Todd Richards has been hired as an assistant for the Tampa Bay Lightning, the club announced Tuesday.Richards coached Columbus for five seasons, leading the franchise to its first-ever playoff wins in 2014 and finishing as the team's all-time leader in wins.He was fired this season after Columbus started the campaign with seven consecutive losses, but is happy to get a shot with Tampa Bay."They play fast, they play an aggressive style. And I love that," Richards said, according to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times.The hiring comes a day after former assistant Steve Thomas was released, as the Lightning decided not to renew his contract.Richards was also the head coach of the Minnesota Wild from 2009-11, and owns a career record of 204-176-37.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jaromir Jagr's hips don't lie.The Florida Panthers forward showed off his dance moves in a video posted to his Facebook page Monday.Yes, that's the 44-year-old legend shaking his groove thing and displaying his torso for a couple of dollar bills.A loose translation of the Facebook caption implies Jagr felt a bit slighted by Czech journalists who failed to give him credit for his skills on the dance floor.Never change, Jaromir.- With h/t to Pro Hockey TalkCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are 60 minutes from hoisting the Stanley Cup.A number of factors led to the Penguins' 3-1 victory Monday over the San Jose Sharks that gave Pittsburgh a 3-1 series lead.Here are three keys to the win that put the Sharks on the brink:Malkin's luck turns aroundIt was only a matter of time.Evgeni Malkin found the scoresheet for the first time in the series, notching the game-winner and assisting on Ian Cole's goal that opened the scoring.Malkin was bound to break through, considering he entered Monday leading all Penguins forwards in even-strength Corsi For per 60 minutes in the Cup Final and had a score-adjusted Fenwick above 60 against the Sharks heading into Game 4.He continued to drive puck possession Monday, as only four Penguins had better Corsi For percentages in all situations than Malkin in the victory.The dynamic center has 17 points in 21 playoff games this spring.The first cut is the deepestCole's first-period goal marked the fourth straight time the Penguins scored first, and that trend has helped Pittsburgh take three of the four games.Strong starts have been a key element in the recipe for the Penguins' success. They've nearly doubled the Sharks in first-period shots on goal, outshooting them 46-24 (or by an average of 11.5 to six) over the first four contests.

By no means have the Pittsburgh Penguins locked anything up, but for Game 5 on Thursday night, the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy will be in the building.Pittsburgh is one win away from finishing off the San Jose Sharks for their fourth Cup in franchise history, and since there's two days between games, allow us to speculate.Here are three candidates who could be named MVP of the playoffs.Phil KesselLast offseason, Kessel was blamed for another tumultuous season for a disastrous franchise in the Toronto Maple Leafs, counting down the minutes until he'd inevitably be traded.This offseason, there's a strong chance he spends his summer as a champion and Conn Smythe winner. What a difference a year makes.Simply put, Kessel has been outstanding in the playoffs. He leads the Penguins with 21 points in 22 games. He's formed the league's best third line alongside Nick Bonino and Carl Hagelin and has flat out loved every second of his first run to the Stanley Cup Final.If he wins, Kessel would become the fifth American to take home the award, joining Brian Leetch, Tim Thomas, Patrick Kane, and Jonathan Quick. Not bad for some one who is uncoachable.Sidney CrosbyIt's pretty much the only thing he hasn't won.Crosby's total of 17 points isn't particularly overwhelming, but he's silenced critics and has noticeably been the best skater in the Stanley Cup Final.The 28-year-old has been a force in all facets in the game, and was instrumental in getting the Penguins to this point, scoring three game-winning goals in the conference final versus the Tampa Bay Lightning.He only has two assists in the final, but his impact off the scoresheet has been greater than anyone's.Matt MurrayMurray continues to shine.The 22-year-old was thrust into the spotlight because of an injury to starter Marc-Andre Fleury and has flourished in his first opportunity as a No. 1.He boasts a 14-5 postseason record, while sporting a 2.09 goals against average and .925 save percentage. He hasn't lost consecutive games in the playoffs.Only expected to be a placeholder, Murray has made quite a name for himself, and could become the fifth rookie goaltender to ever win the Conn Smythe.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Phil Kessel's record suggests that regardless of the situation, he's a productive NHL scorer. For what he's done and what he's continued to provide the Pittsburgh Penguins this spring, however, that sort of thinking is suddenly doing the sniper a disservice.Kessel recorded a pair of primary assists in Monday's Game 4 win over the San Jose Sharks, a triumph that pushed the Penguins to within a victory of capturing the Stanley Cup. Individually, he strengthened his improbable crusade toward the Conn Smythe Trophy.For his Game 4 performance, and really his complete portfolio this spring, head coach Mike Sullivan heaped praise unto the formerly maligned winger unlike anything we've heard before."Phil has made a complete commitment to this team," Sullivan said. "We don't get to where we're at if Phil doesn't play the type of hockey that he's played here throughout the course of this playoffs. He has been one terrific player for us."He scores big goals. His offense speaks for itself. He's dangerous on the power play. He's dangerous off the rush. But I think was his teammates admire and respect, what his coaching staff certainly does, is his commitment away from the puck and to play at both ends of the rink."He's a complete player right now. When he players that way, he's one of the more elite players in the league, in our opinion."Pittsburgh's scoring leader has contributed 10 goals and 21 points in its 22 games - more than three times his postseason appearances in six seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We don't know much about Matt Murray, the 22-year-old netminder who, after only recently entering the public consciousness, has the Pittsburgh Penguins within one win of the Stanley Cup.But we do know he's enjoying the moment."My mindset has been this whole time to stay in the moment, take things as they come, focus on being in the present, and taking things one shot at a time," Murray said after making 23 saves in a 3-1 win over the San Jose Sharks in Game 4."I'm just trying to have fun through all this. It's been an absolute blast so far."To say his strategy is working, of course, is a colossal understatement. Murray has lost once in his last six starts, and authored a .931 save percentage since reclaiming the starter's role from Marc-Andre Fleury in time to stave off elimination in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final.The veteran of 13 regular-season starts now has 14 wins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, placing him third all time among Penguins goalies.He has a chance to match an NHL rookie record with a win that would also clinch the franchise its fourth Stanley Cup.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's not over yet.That's the message espoused by San Jose Sharks head coach Pete DeBoer following a Game 4 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins that left his team sitting in a 3-1 series hole."There's no quit in our group," he told reporters. "We've been the best road team in the league. We're going to show up and try to get this back here for Game 6. Until you win four, this isn't over."The key, he added, will be bucking the series-long trend of allowing the Penguins to open the scoring."We've been chasing the game the whole series by not scoring first. That takes you out of your four-line rhythm. It affects all parts of your game," he said."That's the biggest thing we have to fix. We have to find a way to get on the board earlier in the game instead of chasing it all night."Apart from Joonas Donskoi's overtime winner in Game 3, the Sharks haven't led a game at any point in the series.At any rate, it's going to be tough to come back.

Don't count Tomas Hertl out of the Stanley Cup Final just yet.Following a Game 4 loss at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks head coach Pete DeBoer said the forward remains day to day with a lower body injury.The question was raised in light of a report out of the Czech Republic earlier Monday suggesting Hertl's season is over as a result of the injury.

Even with his playing days well behind him, Mario Lemieux still has a passion for the game.Case in point: The Pittsburgh Penguins owner jumped to his feet in celebration after Eric Fehr scored a late third-period goal to ensure the Game 4 win.Lemieux's club is one win away from a Stanley Cup, meaning he's probably feeling pretty good about not selling the team when it was reportedly up for grabs earlier this season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Phil Kessel and Evgeni Malkin collected two points each, and Matt Murray made 23 saves as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-1 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night.Now up 3-1 in the series, the Penguins, whose three previous titles were clinched on visiting ice, can now return to the summit after seven seasons with a win Thursday at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh.Ian Cole set the table for the favorable road split, smacking a rebound past Martin Jones off a Kessel shot early in the first. He became the 17th different goal scorer for the Penguins this postseason, and the club's eighth U.S.-born scorer to match an NHL record.Kessel then directly set up Pittsburgh's second goal, spotting Malkin at the side of the net with a precise feed for a tap-in goal.Melker Karlsson brought the Sharks to within one eight minutes into the third period, but Eric Fehr iced the game with 122 seconds left in regulation, scoring on a partial break, off a feed from Carl Hagelin.Jones made just 17 saves in the contest, as the Sharks outshot the Penguins for the first time in the series.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Insert platitude here.Patric Hornqvist showed us what the playoffs are all about, and also what he's willing to do to have his name etched on the Stanley Cup, blocking a shot with the side of his head in the waning moments of the second period of Game 4.Seriously, though, let's hope he's not just able to return, but genuinely able to shake off the blow.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Evgeni Malkin is back on the board.Held without a goal over his past six playoff games, the Pittsburgh Penguins superstar center finally converted, scoring on the power play in the second period of Game 4.The goal was set up by Phil Kessel - his second assist of the night - who deftly passed the puck to Malkin while Martin Jones and the San Jose Sharks were anticipating a shot.Malkin scored his fifth of the playoffs on the play, but only his second in 16 games.

Discord continues to mount between perhaps the two most important skaters in the Stanley Cup Final.Marc-Edouard Vlasic received a minor penalty for depositing Sidney Crosby into the San Jose Sharks' bench after a frustrating shift in the defensive zone for the shutdown blue-liner.On the man advantage, and in a rare instance on the ice without Vlasic since the series shifted to San Jose, Crosby and the Penguins failed to capitalize.- video courtesy bmac39Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

An unlikely scorer gave the Pittsburgh Penguins a 1-0 lead early in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.Defenseman Ian Cole made the most of a juicy rebound served up by Martin Jones of the San Jose Sharks by scoring his first career playoff goal.

Coach's Corner will be back, and for years to come.Don Cherry, 82, has signed a multi-year contract to return to Hockey Night in Canada for the 2016-17 NHL season and beyond, Rogers president Scott Moore confirmed to Bill Brioux of the Canadian Press on Monday.Cherry, known for his outlandish sartorial choices, old-school opinion, and insight, has been a staple of Hockey Night in Canada since being hired by the CBC in 1981.Moore hinted at possible changes to the CBC and Sportsnet's NHL coverage after the company took a ratings hit this season, but the prevailing voice of the first intermission will remain in his chair.His previous deal, a two-year agreement, was set to expire at the end of the season.Cherry skated in one NHL game in two decades playing competitive hockey, but coached in the league for six seasons, making two Stanley Cup Final appearances behind the Boston Bruins bench.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jiri Sekac has signed a one-year contract with KHL club Ak Bars Kazan.The 23-year-old, who finished this past season as a member of the Arizona Coyotes after being claimed off waivers from Chicago, was set to become a restricted free agent this offseason.Sekac began his NHL tenure with the Montreal Canadiens in 2014-15, and was with Anaheim to kick off 2015-16.In 108 games, he recorded 10 goals, 19 assists, and 134 shots on net.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Contract talks between Milan Lucic and the Los Angeles Kings appear to have simmered down.Gerry Johansson, the two-way forward's agent, joined News 1130 Radio in Vancouver on Monday and noted there has been no talks of late between his client and the Kings regarding a new contract.Despite the recent lull in communication with the club, Johnasson admits his client would still like to remain with the Kings."Milan Lucic would love to re-sign with Kings but is preparing for July 1 as well," said Johansson.

On top of elite size, strength, and a laser shot, top draft prospect Patrik Laine beams confidence.The charismatic Finn is projected by many to be selected No. 2 behind American center Auston Matthews in June's draft, but Laine believes he can just as well go No. 1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs."I think I have the ability to someday become the best player in the NHL," Laine said according to Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star. "Maybe other guys are good at everything, but they don't have that one thing they are very good at. I have that.""He's (Matthews) better than me at some stuff and I'm better than him at some things. Toronto has a tough decision to make."It's still widely believed the Leafs are leaning towards Matthews, a potentially franchise-altering top-line center, rather than Laine - who plays on the wing but has the best scoring prowess in the draft.It will all be revealed June 24 in Buffalo.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kind words from one generational talent to another.Before he was drafted, many deemed Sidney Crosby the next "Great One" in comparison to Wayne Gretzky, and though many of No. 99's records are safe from Crosby's reach, Gretzky lauds what "Sid the Kid" has accomplished, and what he's doing this postseason."I watch him play a lot because I admire the way he plays," Gretzky told Sportsnet, according to Chris Johnston. "It's not a big secret: I think he's the best player in the game. He just sees the game the right way, he always has."He's on a different level when he's playing like he is right now."Gretzky went on to compare him to additional hockey immortals."What Sid has is a little bit of an extra gear as far as his passing ability, his playmaking ability, the ability to make players around him on his team that much better," Gretzky said. "Guys like Bobby Orr did it and Mario (Lemieux) did it and obviously Crosby's doing it. He's just making his team better."Through his 11-year career, Crosby has averaged 1.33 points per game, which is fifth all-time behind Gretzky, the aforementioned Orr and Lemieux, and Hall of Famer Mike Bossy.The generation's best player - and a Hall of Fame lock at the age of 28 - has done nothing but meet the expectations of an incredibly hyped career, according to Gretzky."He came into the NHL under the microscope and with a great deal of pressure on him, and he's answered pretty much every question there is," Gretzky said. "He's made a franchise really strong, he's won a Cup, he's won two (Olympic) gold medals and it just seems like the bigger the game the better he plays and that's always the sign of a true superstar."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks will be without Tomas Hertl for a second straight game on Monday, head coach Pete DeBoer confirmed.The 22-year-old will miss Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final as he continues to deal with a lower-body injury believed to have been suffered late in Game 2 of the series.Hertl's solid two-way play and 11 points in the postseason were missed in Game 3, despite the Sharks capturing their first win of the series in his absence.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dominique Ducharme will be the head coach of Team Canada's World Junior team for the 2017 tournament in Montreal and Toronto, Hockey Canada announced Monday.Ducharme was an assistant coach for Canada's sixth-place finish in 2016, and recently took over as general manager and head coach of the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the QMJHL.He previously spent five years as head coach of the Halifax Mooseheads, winning the Memorial Cup and coach of the year in 2013.Ducharme is joined by assistants Tim Hunter, Kris Knoblauch, and Misha Donskov."Dom, Tim, and Kris bring a great cross-section of experience to this team, and an understanding of what it takes to be successful at tournaments where you don’t have the luxury of time on your side. Their individual records speak for themselves, but we’re most excited about the prospect of what these three great hockey minds can produce working as a coaching unit," said Scott Salmond, vice-president of hockey operations and national teams.Canada will look to bounce back from a disappointing showing in Finland, this time on home soil, where they won gold in 2015.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Stanley Cup Final, meet Metallica.James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett of the legendary California-based metal band will perform the national anthem ahead of Game 4 between the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have had preliminary talks with the club's lone 20-goal scorer from this season.P.A. Parenteau is set to become an unrestricted free agent July 1 and after making good on a one-year, $1.5-million contract, talks with the club on a new contract have begun, according to his agent Allan Walsh."There have been a couple of discussions. Very preliminary. I would say every possibility is on the table," Walsh said, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. "They have not closed the door to him coming back, but I don't think it's a decision that's going to be made now. I think it's a decision that's going to be made just before we get to July 1."Let's be very clear on this point: P.A. Parenteau loved playing in Toronto. He loved playing for Mike Babcock. He believes in the direction of the organization and where it's going," Walsh said. "The only thing he didn't like was not making the playoffs, and he would love to come back."It was a good fit, and everyone saw him as an honest player," Walsh said. "He worked hard and he enjoyed being there."Parenteau hit the 20-goal plateau for just the second time in his career, while his 41 points were the most since the 2012-13 season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joe Pavelski hasn't scored in three games, and because he's Joe Pavelski, that's considered a drought.The San Jose Sharks captain found the back of the net 38 times in the regular season, and leads the postseason with 13 tallies - three more than Pittsburgh Penguins leader Phil Kessel.With the Stanley Cup Final intensifying, Pavelski's dry spell has been thrust under the microscope, but it isn't fazing him."I think they've done a good job, I think," Pavelski told Nick Cotsonika of NHL.com. "I've passed on a few shots recently that maybe I haven't earlier, so get back to the shooting mindset a little bit. There's been a lot of plays where it's been almost there, and they get a stick on it. Not worried about that, because we're creating some chances and it's just that end result hasn't been there."His teammates alike think he just needs to keep firing."He's a guy that just needs to keep swinging the bat," forward Tommy Wingels said. "You talk about a .333 hitter. Does he hit 1-for-3 every game? No. Joe's a guy that might not score for a game or two, and then he'll pop two or three one day."Five of Pavelski's playoff goals have come on the power play, and San Jose has only earned six man advantages through three games - converting once - which has heavily limited Pavelski's opportunities.Pittsburgh has played Pavelski tight, but head coach Peter DeBoer is confident he'll deliver."I have no doubt he's going to break through here," DeBoer said. "He has all year for us. It's just a matter of time."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In a series that's produced three one-goal games, the Pittsburgh Penguins came up short for the first time Saturday, falling 3-2 in overtime to the San Jose Sharks.Despite the narrow margins of victory, Pittsburgh was the convincingly the better team on home ice, and out-shot San Jose 42-26 on the road in the Game 3 loss.Regardless, it's the final score that matters, and the Sharks have life with an opportunity to even the Final on Monday night.Here are three ways Pittsburgh can get back in the win column.Big guns get goingEveryone is still waiting for Evgeni Malkin to show up to the Stanley Cup Final.The former Conn Smythe winner has yet to register a point, only appearing on the scoresheet via eight shots on goal and two penalty minutes.Head coach Mike Sullivan wants Malkin to find the level he's capable of playing at to open up Pittsburgh's attack. Malkin was slated against the Sharks' third defensive pairing in Game 3, a matchup he would typically win. Instead, he was a non-factor, taking the pressure off San Jose's entire defense.On top of Malkin, Sidney Crosby had his quietest performance of the Final after being shadowed by Marc-Edouard Vlasic. With only two assists thus far, the captain will surely be looked upon to create some offense.Force Sharks to rely on depthPittsburgh has done a tremendous job neutralizing San Jose's top line. With Joe Pavelski yet to score, and Joe Thornton scoring his first two points of the series in Game 3, the Penguins have to be comfortable with how they've played the dynamic duo so far.Justin Braun, Joel Ward, and Joonas Donskoi were the goalscorers on Saturday, and although Ward and Donskoi were dangerous all game long, the Sharks cannot win the series on the backs of role players. San Jose's star power got them here, and will be needed to win the series.Kris Letang and Brian Dumoulin have been terrific atop Pittsburgh's defense, and can take much of the responsibility for thwarting the Sharks' offense.Murray bounces backMatt Murray made some key saves in Game 3, but he likely wants another chance at the goals he allowed.The 22-year-old couldn't track a long point shot from Braun, and allowed Ward's blueline missile to deflect off his pad and into the top corner.Murray won't dwell on the miscues, though, as he's carried his team this far and has faced 39 less shots than counterpart Martin Jones through three games .Murray hasn't lost consecutive games this postseason.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bobby Ryan's wife is on the verge of giving birth, and he appears to be having fun with it.The Ottawa Senators forward has been sharing updates since Sunday morning.

The San Jose Sharks have made a fan out of Marreese Speights.After soaking in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday in San Jose, the Golden State Warriors reserve big man arrived for Game 2 of the NBA Finals sporting some new duds.

The father of Vancouver Canucks forward Linden Vey and Angela Nicholson were found guilty on Sunday of plotting to kill their spouses.A jury found Nicholson and Curtis Vey guilty on two counts each of conspiracy to commit murder, according to CTV Saskatoon.The couple planned to kill Linden's mother, Brigitte, in a house fire and plotted to drug Nicholson's husband, Jim Taylor.Brigitte testified that she secretly recorded the pair making the plans in July 2013.Curtis and Nicholson will be sentenced on Sept. 2.Linden opened up about the case and its effect on him earlier this month, admitting that it's been difficult to focus on hockey.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the San Jose Sharks gaining last change as the Stanley Cup Final shifted to Northern California over the weekend, Pete DeBoer in essence dared Evgeni Malkin to be the difference-maker.With Marc-Edouard Vlasic shadowing Sidney Crosby and Brent Burns' unit drawing the "HBK line" in Game 3, Malkin - one of the game's most dangerous attacking weapons - primarily received the favorable matchup of third-pairing defenders Brenden Dillon and Roman Polak.DeBoer's hunch paid off. Malkin was largely ineffective, failing to generate meaningful attacking pressure with Chris Kunitz and Bryan Rust, and was eventually bumped up to the top line as Pittsburgh was forced to shorten its bench.So on Sunday, and in response, it was DeBoer's counterpart who issued a challenge of his own."He's been a big part of our playoff success, but I know there's another level that he has to help us win," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said, via the team's official Twitter page.Malkin has yet to record a point in the Stanley Cup Final, registering eight shots on goal, but his lack of production is not unlike most stars being featured in the NHL's terminating series. Crosby, Joe Thornton, Kris Letang, Brent Burns, and Logan Couture haven't scored, while Joe Pavelski - like Malkin - is still looking for his first point.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Jose Sharks head coach Pete DeBoer isn't as bothered over the shot count in the Stanley Cup Final as one might think.After the Pittsburgh Penguins came out on top in that category in all three games of the series so far, DeBoer admitted at a press conference Sunday his team could probably do a better job of getting in the shooting lanes to block some shots on net, but overall he's not worried about it."They shoot from everywhere, they slam the pucks from everywhere. So I think you do have to look at quality versus quantity," he told reporters. "I don't think it's as easy as looking at the shot clock and saying, 'You're getting dominated because they have 40 shots and you have 26.' I don't think the game's that simple."While there does exist a wide gap in total shots over three games, the total attempts are much closer, as is the goal margin.TeamShotsAttemptsGoalsPenguins1132027Sharks741866(Courtesy: HockeyStats.ca)And while the Penguins did have a 42-26 advantage on Game 3, San Jose had the edge in attempts (79-76), which speaks to DeBoer's call for his team to jam up the shooting lines in the way Pittsburgh was able to do Saturday.Finally, DeBoer added the shot difference may be more about storyline than anything else.

Jaromir Jagr is heading back to the Czech Republic, but not before bidding farewell to Florida with a strange Facebook video with the help of Snapchat.The translated caption reads:

One can imagine Matt Murray blasting some Taylor Swift in his earbuds after Game 3, as the Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender was clearly in "shake it off" mode after the overtime loss.Murray allowed three goals on 26 shots fired at him by the San Jose Sharks, two of which appeared quite stoppable, namely Joel Ward's third-period equalizer and Joonas Donskoi's overtime winner.Still, he appears quite ready to move on to Game 4 with his confidence well intact."I definitely don't dwell on it," Murray said after the game, according to Dan Rosen of NHL.com."After a goal goes in you can't take it out of the net and you can't take it off the scoreboard, so you move on and you just worry about stopping the next one," Murray continued. "I made a couple good saves there in the third and a couple in overtime. Unfortunately that one (in OT) gets past me, but I felt really good all night to be honest."Even with veteran Marc-Andre Fleury - who won a Stanley Cup in 2009 - ready and able to step in, Murray's calm demeanor bodes well for a bounce back in Game 4.The 22-year-old has certainly demonstrated an ability to do just that over the course of the postseason, posting a record of 3-0 following a loss.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joonas Donskoi lived out a dream in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.The San Jose Sharks rookie scored the game-winning goal in overtime, further garnering the respect of his teammates, including all-world defenseman Brent Burns.Related: Donskoi roofs OT winner to cut Penguins' series lead in half"It's great for him. What a special moment," Burns said after the game, according to Michael Traikos of Postmedia. "You score in overtime, Stanley Cup Final, it’s pretty badass."It's no secret for us, he's been great all year and it's been fun to watch for us him come in. He plays beyond his years."The Finnish forward may be a rookie on paper, but the 24-year-old came to the NHL with plenty of professional hockey experience in his home country, with 60 goals in 271 career games with Liiga's Karpat.Donskoi recorded 11 goals and 36 points during the regular season and has upped his game in the playoffs, where he has six goals and 12 points in 21 games.While there's sure to be plenty more goals to come in Donskoi's career, an overtime goal to secure San Jose's first win of the Stanley Cup Final will be hard to top.Badass, indeed.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

And just like that, we have a series.For the fourth time in the past five years, at least two games of the Stanley Cup Final have been decided in overtime, and thanks to a 3-2 win for the San Jose Sharks in Game 3, this year's championship series rests at 2-1 in favor of the Pittsburgh Penguins.Here are three primary reasons why the Sharks came out on top of a game they simply had to win.His name is JoonasThe hero of the night was rookie forward Joonas Donskoi, who assisted on Joel Ward's game-tying goal (more on that below) and scored the overtime winner.Originally drafted by the Florida Panthers in 2010, Donskoi was signed by the Sharks last summer after his rights were relinquished. The 24-year-old brought plenty of professional experience with him to the NHL after several seasons with Karpat of the Finnish Elite League, and it's paying off when it matters most.Following Saturday's heroics, Donskoi now sits in a tie first among rookies with six goals this postseason, and ranks second with 12 points. And in scoring his second game-winning goal of the playoffs, Donskoi also became the fourth rookie in Sharks history to notch a postseason overtime goal.Donskoi is also only the sixth rookie to register an overtime goal in the Stanley Cup Final - and the second to do so in as many games, following Conor Sheary's goal in Game 2's extra frame.

The San Jose Sharks failed to effectively establish territory in the attacking zone in losses to the Pittsburgh Penguins in Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.However, on home ice for Game 3 on Saturday while staging the first Stanley Cup Final clash ever contested at The Shark Tank, San Jose saw a steady increase in sway, ultimately leading to a quick-strike attack off a dogged forecheck and a goal that would ensure its rise in the Western Conference gauntlet wouldn't be all for naught.Joonas Donskoi scored the decisive goal a little more than 12 minutes into the first overtime period in Game 3, circling and firing a riser off the ear of Matt Murray, and in. But his moment would've never been without a tenacious, yet tidy offensive zone pressure from a patchwork unit from Pete DeBoer.Here's the play that got the Sharks back in the Stanley Cup Final:The lead-up begins in the defensive zone, with Marc-Edouard Vlasic knocking a puck flipped in the Sharks' end past Chris Kunitz and safe onto the stick of Joel Ward. Ward collects, sweeping it along the wall past Bryan Rust and down softly into the Penguins' end off a deflection from Nick Spaling. This has Melker Karlsson on the chase to begin the series-altering forecheck in a 50-50 battle with Ian Cole as both teams change.Karlsson uses his momentum to crash Cole into the glass, dislodging the puck. Justin Schultz arrives in support of Cole, but Karlsson's quick release from the contact forces Schultz to rim the puck blindly in the other direction, and to no specific target. The Sharks have now established the zone.Chris Tierney has a chance to win the race to the puck, but recognizes it's rolling around the boards to an oncoming Donskoi. So Tierney pulls up and settles into a support position beneath the goal line, placing his stick down as a target. Donskoi rebounds it back along the boards to Tierney with a one-touch pass, then darts to below the goal line between Cole and Evgeni Malkin, who are now closing in on the puck.Karlsson sprints back to the bench, leaving Tierney and Donskoi playing a one-two game below the goal line. Tierney never truly gains possession, but is able to knock the puck between his legs toward the cutting Donskoi, who boots it into space opened up further by Schultz overplaying his weak-side coverage.With Malkin on the chase and Schultz too far to close out, Donskoi's able to push the puck out to the bottom of the circle to create a decent shooting angle. There, he turns and fires the climacteric riser between tardy defenders, and over top a rookie netminder crouched down far too low."Just tried to hit the net," Donskoi said postgame. "I think I've had a lot of scoring chances through the whole finals; It was time to get it in."Donskoi's winner is his sixth goal and 12th point of the postseason, and his third contribution in the series - obviously none bigger.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was a paramount moment for the San Jose Sharks. It was pure ecstasy for Finnish play-by-play announcer Antti Makinen.With incredible enthusiasm and cries that surely tested the limits of his vocal cords, Makinen narrated another glorious moment in Finnish hockey this season: Joonas Donskoi's overtime winner in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.Incredible.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Jose Sharks top-line winger Tomas Hertl's status for the remainder of the Stanley Cup Final remains unknown.Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said Saturday that Hertl remains day to day with the suspected lower-body injury believed to have been suffered late in the team's Game 2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.Hertl was unable to practice during multiple days off between Games 2 and 3 before being ruled out for the Sharks' return to home ice.Melker Karlsson filled in on the top line with Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton in Game 3, failing to record a shot.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks avoided setting a rather unenviable record Saturday night.The Sharks entered Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins having lost all four of their games that required overtime in the 2016 playoffs.No team has ever lost five overtime contests in a single postseason, as pointed out by The Associated Press' Josh Dubow, and Joonas Donskoi's game winner prevented San Jose from doing so Saturday.There's obviously still a chance the Sharks will lose another overtime contest before the end of the final, but for now, they've cut the Penguins' series lead to 2-1 and improved to 1-4 in overtime games this spring.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Another rookie is an overtime hero.In the first-ever Stanley Cup Final game in San Jose, Joonas Donskoi skated the puck out from behind the net and went top shelf with a beautiful wrist shot to beat Matt Murray just over 12 minutes into extra time, giving the Sharks a massive 3-2 victory in Saturday's Game 3.In Game 2, fellow first-year forward Conor Sheary scored the OT winner that gave the Penguins a 2-0 series lead.

This is one way to celebrate a big goal.San Jose Sharks winger Joel Ward was seen cutting his fingernails after blasting home the tying goal Saturday in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins.Related - Watch: Joel Ward slaps in another clutch goal

The NHL has apparently given its players fair warning.Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that the NHL informed the NHLPA this week that next season's salary cap could dip below $70 million should the players not exercise the escalator clause built into the Collective Bargaining Agreement.The escalator was designed to have the cap rise five percent every year - something that would ordinarily be in the players' best interest. But current economic factors, like the revenue downturn and weak Canadian dollar, may impact escrow in a manner that might ultimately cost the players, should they vote in favor.That said, and regardless of whether or not the proviso was a scare tactic, the threat of the salary parameters sinking below $70 million might be motivation enough for the players to vote in the five-percent escalator - especially the ones entering free agency.The salary cap for the 2015-16 season was $71.4 million.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.