Anton Stralman provided every indication during Monday's morning workout that he'll return to the Tampa Bay Lightning lineup versus the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 2.Stralman, out of the lineup since fracturing his fibula in late March, exited the ice with the regulars after full participation. Nikita Nesterov, meanwhile, stayed on the ice to get in work with the Lightning's expected scratches.The top-pairing defenseman would be a massive addition for the Bolts, who have defied many expert expectations through the opening two rounds. If he's fit, he'll presumably play alongside Victor Hedman, who's providing some of his best hockey of the season at the right time.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

P.K. Subban now has a rap song with his namesake.Montreal rapper Wasiu is leading the promotion of his new mixtape with a song entitled "P.K. Subban," which extols the Canadiens blue-liner for being a star athlete, philanthropist, and an empowering figure in the local black community.Wasiu explained his vision in an essay for Fader, writing that he hopes Subban will further establish his place as one of, if not, the face of their city with the help of the song."People are going to have to accept that the face of a white, French city is a black man - whether they like it or not."- With h/t to Luke Fox of SportsnetCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pete DeBoer is still beating the drum.For a second straight day, the San Jose Sharks coach reminded the media - and in turn the officiating crew - their Western Conference final opponent St. Louis Blues have a penchant for taking penalties."St. Louis is one of the most penalized teams in the league," DeBoer said Monday, as quoted by the Vancouver Sun's Ian MacIntyre. "They need to call the game accordingly."For the one power play they received in Game 1, the Blues committed three minor penalties, which is in line with their average throughout the playoffs and slightly down from the regular season.The Sharks, by the way, converted more power-play tries than any team in the regular season, and have scored more goals than any team remaining in the postseason tournament with the man up.Blues coach Ken Hitchcock, has since been asked about his counterpart's subtle campaigning, telling reporters the Blues won't "whine" for calls.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the stinging six-game defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins having now sunk in, the Washington Capitals' latest playoff failure has come clearer into focus for Brian MacLellan.In a media debriefing Monday morning, the second-year general manager spoke in confidence about his core, but said that improving his bottom six must be an offseason priority.MacLellan mentioned the ancillary importance of former Capitals middle-six forward Joel Ward, who sprung to the San Jose Sharks in free agency last summer."He's the kind of guy we needed in the playoffs," MacLellan said, according to the Associated Press' Stephen Whyno.MacLellan said that Tom Wilson is the type of player they want to mold into a Ward-type function, but they'll likely have to explore other options to remedy another issue: speed. He noted that Washington got "exposed" by quicker teams, namely the Penguins.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are likely going to shake up their blue line for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final, as defenseman Justin Schultz is expected to be in the lineup Monday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.Schultz will replace Olli Maatta, who remained on the ice with the regular healthy scratches during Monday's morning skate.Head coach Mike Sullivan has said his lineup of defensemen will be a game-time decision, but he was critical of Maatta's Game 1 performance. The young Finn was on the ice for the Lightning's first goal Friday, as Alex Killorn snuck behind him and scored on a breakaway.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While Joe Thornton's beard continues to garner a lot of attention in these playoffs, San Jose Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer believes his play isn't getting nearly the respect it deserves."If this guy was playing in Toronto, Montreal or New York, he'd be a living legend," DeBoer told reporters Monday, adding that he never truly appreciated his play until taking the Sharks' coaching job this season, calling the forward an "incredibly honest player."At age 36, Thornton continues to produce at an incredible rate, finishing tied for fourth in league scoring this season with 82 points. It was the first time he produced at a point-per-game pace since 2010.He's also carried that success into the playoffs, recording three goals and eight assists through two rounds, trailing only All-Stars Logan Couture, Brent Burns, and Joe Pavelski on his team.Though it shouldn't be ignored Thornton started his career in an incredible hockey market with the Boston Bruins, his consistency over the past 10 years in San Jose have gone somewhat under the radar. With 1,341 career points, the London, Ontario native trails only Jaromir Jagr among active players.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Now two games into Round 3, more than half the leg work en route to a Conn Smythe Trophy has been accomplished.Here's how they stack up after two-plus rounds:1) Brian Elliott, St. Louis Blues It wasn't without a hiccup, several slabs of fortune, or even brief consideration of his backup from the coaching staff, but Elliott was, without question, the most important player on his team through the first two rounds.Excluding his forgettable 17 minutes versus the Stars in Game 6, Elliott's dazzled, sporting a .937 save clip in competition against the three highest scoring Western Conference outfits throughout the regular season, and also in the face of 100-plus shots more than any surviving goaltender.Despite his per-game averages being slightly skewed by his four-save performance versus Dallas, he bumped his per-game standard up to 30 saves with his ninth win of the tournament in Sunday's Game 1 of the West final.2) Joe Pavelski, San Jose SharksLogan Couture and Brent Burns might sit one-two in postseason points, but the captain's contributions can't be overstated.Before he recorded an assist in Sunday's Game 1 loss to St. Louis, the Sharks were a perfect 8-0 through two rounds when Pavelski collected at least one point (he scored in seven of those games) and 0-4 when he failed to decorate the scoresheet.His ninth goal, which gives him a share of the postseason lead, came nine minutes into Game 7 versus the Predators, helping set the table for a blowout in the do-or-die second-round tilt.3) Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning As menacing a sniper that remains, Kucherov's wielding talents were largely responsible for Tampa Bay having cruised into a conference final in consecutive springs.He shares the goal-scoring lead with Pavelski, but reached nine goals in two fewer games and on a more efficient 23 percent shooting clip, and he's also provided 27 percent of his team's total offense.4) Matt Murray, Pittsburgh Penguins Murray's convinced everyone - including Vegas bookies - in his first 10 starts in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.The 21-year-old rookie kept the now-able Marc-Andre Fleury on the bench, and helped the Penguins emerge as Stanley Cup favorites heading into Round 3 after their six-game win over the 120-point Capitals.He authored a .925 save percentage in the second-round meeting, which included wins with 36, 39, and 49 stops.5) Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay LightningHedman, the Lightning's minutes eater, was sensational in the club's second straight swift advancement - a five-game triumph over the Islanders.Three of Tampa Bay's wins saw the mountainous defender record multi-point games, including a two-goal effort in the decisive Game 5.And after one game versus Pittsburgh, he's in fixed bullet-point position on the opposition's white board.In the runningLogan Couture: Rewrote a 22-year-old franchise record for points in a seven-game series and seized the postseason lead with 11 versus the Predators.Phil Kessel: Two goals and an assist on Nick Bonino's overtime winner in the preeminent single-game performance of his career, and a tie for fifth in postseason scoring.Ben Bishop: Injured, but still statistically superior to his peers.Brent Burns: The Sharks' rover has had a hand in 38 percent of the team's total offense.David Backes: St. Louis' captain is tied for third in goals, and two of his league-best three game-winners have come in overtime.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If Steven Stamkos' in-scrum banter is any indication, then he's closing in on a return to game action with the Tampa Bay Lightning.It won't be for Game 2, though.Moments after telling the media it would "have to wait and see" if the captain will suit up versus the Pittsburgh Penguins, Stamkos admitted he won't be in the lineup.Stamkos also clarified comments he made Sunday, stating he's remained on the same injectable form of blood-thinning medication since his April 4 surgery. On Sunday, he told reporters he and the Lightning medical staff had been experimenting with an injectable treatment that's believed to have helped Kimmo Timonen return from the same condition last season.It's unclear if the dosage has been altered.He also cautioned there are no guarantees he'll return in these playoffs.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As reported earlier in the month, Florida Panthers executive vice president and general manager Dale Tallon has officially been promoted to president of hockey operations, the team announced Monday."This is a great day for the organization as it ensures continuity within the hockey operations department," Panthers owner Vincent Viola said. "I have the utmost confidence in Dale's vision and leadership and this group's ability to build on this year's playoff appearance and make the Panthers a Stanley Cup contender for years to come."Tallon will continue to oversee all scouting, player acquisitions, and development, but all decisions on trades, signings, and draft picks will be done by committee.This group will include three men who also received promotions Monday - general manager Tom Rowe and assistant GMs Eric Joyce and Steve Werier."I'm looking forward to continuing to work with Tom, Eric and Steve," Tallon said. "Our organization took a big step forward this season and these moves made in hockey operations continue to strengthen the future of our front office."Tallon began serving as the team's general manager in 2010.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning's medical staff are testing a new method of treatment that could help spur on his return to the lineup.The captain's switched to an injectable form of the blood-thinning medication he's been required to take after having surgery to repair a blood clot near his right collarbone in early April.Using this method, Stamkos could return to the lineup while still receiving the assistance of blood thinners."There have been guys that have played in this league who are on it," Stamkos told Postmedia's Mike Zeisberger on Sunday.Stamkos said that Kimmo Timonen, who went on to win a Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks, used this method last season with the Philadelphia Flyers when first returning from his bout with blood clots."I think for me, too, even just being able to read articles like that and know guys have done that puts your mind at ease a little bit," Stamkos said.He isn't expected to be in the lineup Monday when the Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins square off in Game 2.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Logan Couture capped off the second round of the playoffs with a goal and two assists in the San Jose Sharks' series win over the Nashville Predators.The offensive outburst concluded a round that saw the 27-year-old set a franchise record with 11 points in one series.However, while Couture has been one of the many players who've risen to the occasion by turning in monstrous playoff performances, the fact is many of the league's best have not.Through two rounds, many of the clubs that have bowed out of the postseason did so with little pushback from their key contributors.Here are five players who've turned in disappointing performances in the 2016 playoffs:Filip ForsbergWhile much of the talk following the Predators' Game 7 loss to the Sharks was directed toward captain Shea Weber, the fact is the team's regular-season points-leader was invisible in the playoffs.After pacing the team with 33 goals and 64 points during the regular season, Forsberg managed just two goals and two assists in 14 games. He also recorded just two points at even strength.Jaromir JagrWhile Jaromir Jagr mystified the hockey world this season, leading the Florida Panthers with 66 points, it appears his age caught up with him in the playoffs.The 44-year-old could muster just two assists in his team's six-game series against the New York Islanders, bringing an end to a feel-good season.What's more disappointing was that he extended his playoff goalless skid to 37 games, giving him just 20 points in his last 39 playoff games.Kari Lehtonen/Antti NiemiIt's no secret what the Dallas Stars' biggest weakness was this postseason.The team's two goaltenders both failed to rise to the occasion when it mattered most. The Stars gave up 3.23 goals per game - the third-worst mark of the postseason and worst of any team to make it past the first round.Kari Lehtonen posted a 2.81 GAA and a .899 save percentage, while Antti Niemi was even worse with 3.29 and .865 marks.Pavel DatsyukWe may have seen the last of Pavel Datsyuk in the NHL.The Magic Man has hinted at a return to Russia to play in the KHL and this postseason may have been our last look at the magician in a Detroit Red Wings uniform.Unfortunately, he failed to marvel the hockey world one last time. As his team bowed out to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games, Datsyuk went pointless.Eric StaalEric Staal was arguably the most sought-after player at the trade deadline, and for what?The 31-year-old managed just 10 goals and 33 points with the Carolina Hurricanes before being dealt to the New York Rangers. Upon joining the Blueshirts on Broadway, Staal managed just six points in 20 regular-season contests.Staal's play didn't improve in the postseason, as he went pointless in five games, managing just five shots on goal and a minus-7 rating.Dishonorable MentionHenrik LundqvistHenrik Lundqvist was given no simple task when his team drew the third-best offense in the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round.King Henrik subsequently had his worst playoff outing since his rookie campaign in 2006, posting a playoff-worst 4.39 GAA and .867 save percentage as the Rangers lost in the opening round for the first time since 2011.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Following his beard-pulling battle with San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton during Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, David Backes gave an entertaining explanation as to what happened during the first period.Related: Backes, Thornton engage in beard tug of war​"Just seeing whose is real and making sure that they were glued on well," the St. Louis Blues captain joked, per NHL.com's Lou Korac. "It seemed like both checked out and we moved on with life."In the end, Backes said this is all part of what will be a tough, competitive series."We love the competition and get the emotions running high," he continued. "Both guys are trying to establish themselves in this series and here's a couple big bodies going at it and you love that competition."After the Blues went on to take the series opener 2-1, Thornton and his beard will look for revenge in Game 2 on Tuesday.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brian Elliott could get used to playing against the San Jose Sharks.The St. Louis Blues netminder was nearly perfect in his team's 2-1 victory in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final and in doing so extended his unbeaten streak against the Sharks in postseason play.

Ken Hitchcock is a man of the people.The St. Louis Blues head coach made a questionable decision to use a coach's challenge after a goal scored by Patrik Berglund in the first period was waved off due to goaltender interference, but it was all with the league in mind - or so he says."The league is looking for goals and I'm trying to help them out," Hitchcock said, according to Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Dispatch.The disallowed goal and lost time-out didn't seem to phase the Blues who skated to a 2-1 victory.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

ST. LOUIS - Brian Elliott had another standout game in net, David Backes and Jori Lehtera had goals and the St. Louis Blues opened their first Western Conference final in 15 years with a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night.Tomas Hertl scored on a first-period deflection for the Sharks, who outshot St. Louis 32-23 but couldn't quite solve Elliott.The Sharks were the best road team in the NHL in the regular season at 28-10-3, but have dropped four in a row on the road in these playoffs, including all three in the second round against Nashville. They had seven goals in three road losses to the Predators and were 0 for 5 on the power play, which had been a major plus. San Jose had been converting on 33 percent of its power plays in the postseason.The Blues made good on their first chance with home ice advantage in the playoffs, although they're just 4-4 at the Scottrade Center heading into Game 2 on Tuesday night.Elliott was at his best - and got some luck - in the second period when the Blues were outshot 16-5, but got the lone goal when Lehtera scored unassisted. The goalie benefited from a quick whistle with 1:14 left when he unsuccessfully tried to smother the puck on a long dump-in by Melker Karlsson, and it slowly slid between his pads and off his stick into the net, just after play had been ruled dead.Backes opened the scoring with a deflection and is tied with sharpshooter Vladimir Tarasenko for the team lead with seven goals in the playoffs. The team captain had 21 goals in the regular season.Lehtera's second of the playoffs came off an errant clearing attempt by Brent Burns for a 2-1 lead. He powered through on his shot after Chris Tierney got a piece of the stick.Just 34 seconds elapsed between the opening goal by Backes and Hertl's answering goal redirected a shot by Joe Pavelski with the puck bouncing past Elliott.The Blues had just enough despite a third disallowed goal in the playoffs. Patrik Berglund's deflection was waved off because of incidental contact with goalie Martin Jones, a call confirmed after video review.NOTES: The Sharks totaled nine goals in Game 1 the first two rounds and were 2-0. The Blues had two, one in each game, and were 1-1. ... Burns earned his 16th point of the postseason, second-most on the team, on the Sharks' first goal. ... There were no surprises in the scratches. ... Lehtera's other goal this playoffs came in Game 7 of the first round against the Blackhawks. ... The Sharks are 0-5 in series after winning the previous series in seven games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joe Thornton is a wizard the puck.So much so that he can make them disappear. The San Jose Sharks forward got the game started Sunday with a bizarre incident that saw a Brent Burns point shot get stuck in his pants, bringing play to a halt.The search had to be taken to the bench where Thornton remained baffled. Luckily the puck was eventually found.Video courtesy: NHL.comCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL playoffs can get a bit hairy as teams move closer to the Stanley Cup Final.San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton and St. Louis Blues forward David Backes proved this on Sunday when the two - in the midst of a tussle - gave a nice tug on each others's beard.Backes clearly has the advantage in terms of beard length, but Thornton could get redemption as the series prolongs and Backes' beard grows.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Darcy Tucker looks ready to back the city's MLB squad.Following a crazy scene Sunday that saw Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor punch Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista in the face, setting off a bench-clearing brawl, Tucker made his free-agent status known.

Tampa Bay's blue line could receive a huge boost Monday night, as top-pairing defenseman Anton Stralman's status was upgraded to day to day, and he could be available for Game 2, head coach Jon Cooper said.Stralman broke his leg in late March and hasn't played since, but is showing few ill-effects at this point, according to Cooper.

Ben Bishop might not miss any more time, and the Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender knows he escaped a potentially serious injury.Head coach Jon Cooper said Sunday that the goaltender hasn't been ruled out for Game 2 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night, despite leaving Game 1 on a stretcher.Bishop didn't practice Sunday and Cooper said his netminder is still day to day after departing early in Friday's win following an awkward fall in the crease."I was really scared. I thought my leg was broken," Bishop said Sunday, according to ESPN's Joe McDonald. "It was a feeling I've never felt."X-rays came back negative after the game and he was declared day to day on Saturday.Andrei Vasilevskiy and Kristers Gudlevskis took the ice for Sunday's practice. Vasilevskiy stopped 25 of 26 shots after relieving Bishop in Game 1.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks' new unofficial mascot has been adopted."Jo PAW-velski" - the black cat that ran on to the ice before a game between the Sharks and the Nashville Predators in San Jose last month - found a home Friday, the Sharks announced via the San Jose Mercury News."We are pleased to know that ‘Jo’ has found a good, loving home,” Sharks COO John Tortora said in a statement.“I want to personally thank the staff and volunteers at the Humane Society Silicon Valley for the time and attention they have dedicated to ‘Jo’ and the other animals in their care."I also want to thank our fans who immediately expressed concern for the well-being of the cat. I would like to encourage all fans who were interested in adopting ‘Jo’ to now consider adopting one of the other many animals at HSSV in need of a home.”Jo, a three-month-old kitten, was adopted along with a companion kitten and had been under the care of the HSSV since May 1.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will look to even their Eastern Conference finals matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night, and they'll do so with Matt Murray in goal.Head coach Mike Sullivan confirmed Murray will start, putting rumors of Marc-Andre Fleury's return to rest.Murray allowed three goals in the Game 1 loss, but his fortitude has gained the trust of his head coach."He was a maturity level beyond his years and responds to adversity really well," Sullivan said.The Penguins haven't lost consecutive contests since mid-January and will look to continue the streak in Game 2.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin says he feels well enough to play in Game 2 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday, and his head coach believes he will.

Mike Babcock's reaction mirrored that of many Toronto Maple Leafs fans on the night of the draft lottery.While team president Brendan Shanahan smiled and said all the right things on national TV following the announcement that the Leafs had won the right to select first overall, Babcock celebrated from his lakehouse."When we got in the top three I had my hands in the air,” the head coach told Postmedia's Michael Traikos from the World Championship in Russia on Saturday.Related: Maple Leafs fans rejoice over draft lottery win“I thought it was unbelievable and then obviously when we were set up to be No. 1 it was a real big thing for our franchise. There’s real good players and you get the chance to select a player that’s going to make a real difference, both as a human being and as a player in our city. And I think it gives our fans hope, which is so important.”Babcock is in St. Petersburg, where he'll watch top prospects Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine play for the United States and Finland, respectively, on Sunday.“Elite players,” said Babcock. “We’re going to have a big decision in the end. It’s exciting for us. We’ve all spent a long time watching these players. In the end, that’s why we pay (head scout Mark Hunter) the big bucks, to make that decision. I’m sure we’ll all have some input. But we’re excited.”Babcock also knows the franchise player they choose will need some time to fully develop."They’re not going to be dominant players right away. I’m not saying that at all. But they’re going to be good players.”Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Ovechkin is in Russia, competing to win the World Championship on his native soil, but that's not where he wants to be playing.The Washington Capitals captain and face of the franchise is still coming to grips with another early playoff elimination. After winning the Presidents' Trophy, it appeared this was the year Washington was destined to breakthrough. Instead, the second-round hurdle tripped the Capitals once again.Now 30, Ovechkin admitted gearing up for another offseason of training isn't as easy as it used to be."I start thinking about summer, training and all that kind of stuff," Ovechkin told Chuck Gormley of CSN Mid-Atlantic. "Right now you have to take months off or whatever and start doing it again. It's not fun, to be honest with you. When you get older, you have to take more time to practice and train (than) when you were 21 or 22 years old. But again, it's life and you have to live with it."Ovechkin was the leader the Capitals needed, scoring 12 points in 12 games, but it still wasn't enough as the Pittsburgh Penguins won the most advertised series of the playoffs."Obviously, it's disappointing. Obviously you don't want to stand here and talk about finishing the year and all that kind of stuff," he said."It sucks when you lose in the first round, second round or third round - it doesn't matter. Your goal is to win the Cup, obviously."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There will be no Canadian national anthem in St. Louis on Sunday after all.Related: Blues make pitch for Canada's rooting interestAs part of the Blues' attempt to be embraced by the true north strong and free, the team tweeted that "O Canada" would be sung along with "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.Not anymore.

After losing Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, the biggest decision Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan faces is whether to stick with rookie netminder Matt Murray, or swap him out for well-rested Stanley Cup champion Marc-Andre Fleury.Though a healthy Fleury is certainly an enticing option, there are a number of reasons why the Penguins are likely to stick with the 21-year-old in Monday's Game 2 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.Conn Smythe candidateThough Fleury provides additional veteran experience in the crease, is that really enough to dethrone the goalie who has carried the Penguins through the opening two rounds?Not only has Murray posted an incredible .929 save percentage through 10 playoff games, but he's recorded his seven victories opposite goaltending giants Henrik Lundqvist and Braden Holtby.Though Andrei Vasilevskiy is no typical backup in the event Lightning starter Ben Bishop's injury sidelines him for an extended period, neither is Murray. He's proved throughout this spring that he's not afraid of postseason pressure, making him a clear candidate for playoff MVP.Rutherford's rookiesThough this is Sullivan's first trip to the third round of the NHL playoffs, it's the third time for general manager Jim Rutherford after two long playoff runs as GM of the Carolina Hurricanes. And if anybody should be confident in running deep into the postseason with a rookie goalie, it's him.In 2006, Martin Gerber won 38 games during the regular season for the second-seeded Carolina Hurricanes, but it was a rookie thrown into action midway through the first round that changed the course of the playoffs.Cam Ward, then 21, won 15 games on the way to a Conn Smythe and the franchise's first Stanley Cup. If Rutherford believes history can repeat itself, he'll remember that after losing Game 1 of the '06 conference finals, the Hurricanes stuck with Ward and went on to win in seven.Not at faultThough allowing three goals on 20 shots in Game 1 hardly appears to be a strong performance, Sullivan was quick to defend his goalie's effort."The goals that were scored were high-quality chances," said Sullivan, per Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. "Very difficult saves. So I don't think it's an instance where Matt had a subpar performance."It's hard to peg any game of Murray's so far as "subpar." He's allowed four goals just once in these playoffs, while the other three remaining starters - Bishop, Martin Jones, and Brian Elliott - have allowed at least four multiple times.Though disappointing, Murray's performance Friday was better than anything either Fleury or Jeff Zatkoff could put together across the Penguins' three regular-season losses to Tampa Bay. There's no reason to pull the 21-year-old out of the crease until his play is truly a cause for concern.Penguins goalies vs. Lightning (2015-16)GoalieTOIGAASv%Murray *57:443.12.850Fleury91:265.91.769Zatkoff86:343.47.853* - Game 1 of Eastern Conference finalsCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Marlies head coach Sheldon Keefe needs more from William Nylander.The 20-year-old, who was drafted eighth overall by the Maple Leafs in 2014, recorded an impressive 45 points in 38 regular season games for the AHL club this season, but his postseason performance has left something to be desired.So says Keefe, who spoke about Nylander directly following a Game 6 loss to the Albany Devils on Saturday."We need (Nylander) to be a lot more competitive with and without the puck," Keefe told reporters. "Right now, he's 'foot off the gas' quite a bit when we don't have the puck, and as a result we're not getting it nearly enough when he's out there and he's not able to use his strength."Keefe added Nylander is one of many players that need to step up in order for the Marlies to come out on top in Game 7.Toronto finished with a league-high 114 points this season, and a second-round loss would be a huge disappointment for a club with serious Calder Cup aspirations.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Western Conference finals feature two teams that have never won a Stanley Cup in the St. Louis Blues and the San Jose Sharks.The Sharks have never advanced to the championship round, while the Blues haven't reached it since 1970, when they were posterized by Bobby Orr.The fortunes of one franchise will change over the next four-to-seven games, leaving the other to wear the underachiever tag for at least another year.Here are three reasons why the Blues will be singing anything but once the dust has settled in this series.The well runs deepThe fact the Blues outlasted the Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars in back-to-back seven-game series is a testament to the depth of talent put together by general manager Doug Armstrong.No fewer than a dozen players have recorded at least five points over the course of those 14 games, with half hitting double digits. At the same time, the Blues have limited the likes of Patrick Kane and Jamie Benn to well below average production.The Sharks have serious bite, boasting three top-10 regular-season scorers in Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, and Brent Burns. On top of that, Logan Couture absolutely torched the Nashville Predators in the second round with 11 points in seven games.The Blues, however, have three balanced scoring lines that can get the better of the opposition on any given night, with the trio of Robby Fabbri, Paul Stastny, and Troy Brouwer playing as well as any line left in the postseason.

After recovery from shoulder surgery limited Patrik Berglund to just 42 games in the regular season, and a career-low 15 points, the St. Louis Blues are in awe of his play after an incredible effort in his team's second-round series win over the Dallas Stars."I think the last two games against Dallas were some of the best hockey I've seen him play in his career," captain David Backes praised, per NHL.com's Lou Korac.Berglund scored a third-period goal in an eventual Game 6 loss, but that didn't slow him down in Game 7. He wristed the Blues' third goal past Kari Lehtonen in the final seconds of the first, and picked up an assist on a goal by Backes early in the second.The 27-year-old finished the series with three goals, three assists and an impressive plus-6 rating."This is the best he's played since I coached him," added head coach Ken Hitchcock, though his praise almost went unnoticed by the Swede.

Jamie Benn has no desire to explore his options.The Dallas Stars captain and Hart Trophy finalist, who's set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2017, can sign a contract extension as early as July 1, and agreeing to terms with the club is something he certainly wants to do prior to the start of training camp."Going into the last year of your contract, you don't want it to be a distraction for your team," Benn said, according to Mike Heika of the Dallas News. "I'll let (general manager) Jim (Nill) and my agent try to figure that out."This is where I want to play, this is where I want to be. I don't think it's going to be a problem."For his part, Nill plans to meet with Benn and his agent in the coming days."I've got to meet with Jamie over the next week or 10 days. Going to start discussing that and then I'll get a hold of his people," Nill said. "It's something we'd like to start up, if it's something we can get done in July, August."Benn has played all 508 games of his career in Dallas, winning the Art Ross Trophy with the club last season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A pair of prominent Philadelphia Flyers will undergo surgery on May 17, general manager Ron Hextall announced Saturday.Claude Giroux and Shayne Gostisbehere are both scheduled to have surgery on their right hips, as well as repairs for bilateral lower abdominal tears.Both players are expected to return to regular activities in 10-12 weeks, meaning they should be good to go come training camp.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A pair of Nashville Predators defensemen are bound for the World Championship.Ryan Ellis has been added to Canada's roster, the nation's governing body for hockey confirmed following a 5-0 win over Slovakia on Saturday.Mattias Ekholm told reporters Saturday that he will join Sweden at the tournament in Russia.Shea Weber was a possibility for Canada, but he needs rest after a tough seven-game series against the San Jose Sharks, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Roman Josi revealed Saturday that he played through a broken nose and finger in the playoffs, and he won't suit up for Switzerland as a result.The Sharks ended the Predators' season with a 5-0 win in Game 7 of their second-round series Thursday night.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Playing injured in the Stanley Cup Playoffs isn't uncommon, just ask a pair of Nashville Predators stars.Regular-season leading scorer Filip Forsberg told reporters Saturday he suffered a back injury, and still isn't 100 percent healthy, while top-pairing defenseman Roman Josi played through a broken nose and finger.Forsberg struggled in the franchises longest playoff run to date, scoring only four points in 14 games with a minus-11 rating.Josi, meanwhile had one goal and eight assists in the postseason while averaging nearly 28 minutes of ice time. His injuries will prevent him from joining Switzerland at the World Championship.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ben Bishop appears to have dodged a major bullet.Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said Saturday that the goaltender is day to day with a lower-body injury, according to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times.Bishop was taken off the ice on a stretcher after falling awkwardly in his crease early in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night.Lightning head coach Jon Cooper wouldn't provide an update on Bishop's status Saturday, but said he was relieved the injury wasn't as serious as it may have appeared.

During the second-round playoff series between the Stars and Blues, the Dallas and St. Louis zoos made a friendly bet on Twitter that the loser's vice president would have to shovel elephant poop while wearing the winning team's gear.Dallas Zoo vice president, Sean Greene, made good on the bet Friday, cleaning up 250 pounds of elephant poop while donning a Blues jersey.

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan is playing coy. Either that, or he's incredibly focused on Game 2.In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Callahan drove Penguins defenseman Kris Letang head-first into the boards.Callahan was assessed a five-minute major, and was thought to be the target of the NHL Department of Player Safety, but reports indicate the Lightning forward won't be suspended.Sullivan is adamant on leaving the incident in the past."I don't have any thoughts or observations," Sullivan said, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. "We're just going to play hockey."Friday's Game 1 had no shortage of fireworks, and expect the same Monday in Game 2.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

They'll be partying in the streets of Budapest.Hungary defeated Belarus 5-2 at the World Championship on Saturday, earning its first victory in the tournament's top pool in nearly 80 years.

Tampa Bay Lightning fans held their collective breaths Friday when Vezina Trophy finalist Ben Bishop went down with a knee injury in Game 1, but thankfully backup netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy was ready to calm their nerves.Vasilevskiy made 25 saves in relief, and although it's unknown how long Bishop will be out, the Lightning crease belongs to the 21-year-old for the time being.Fear not, Lightning supporters, it's not completely uncommon for a backup to take the reins in the playoffs.Here are three instances when an unsuspecting goalie was thrust into the postseason spotlight:Jussi Markkanen - 2006Riding the momentum of a magical playoff run, the Edmonton Oilers saw their underdog lives flash before their eyes when starter Dwayne Roloson went down in Game 1 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Final.Markkanen got the nod in Game 2 - a 5-0 loss - but the Finn turned things around. He allowed one goal in Game 3, then posted a shutout in a do-or-die Game 6. He led the Oilers to Game 7, but ultimately lost 3-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes in the championship-deciding contest.Steve Shields - 1997Dominik Hasek was the backbone of the Buffalo Sabres in the 1990's, leading the team to the playoffs nearly every season during his Hall of Fame career. It was a different story in 1997, however.Hasek won his third of six Vezina trophies as the Sabres won their division, but a knee injury in the postseason's opening round saw Shields take over.Shields helped the Sabres take down the Ottawa Senators in seven games, then remained in goal versus the Philadelphia Flyers, who ended Buffalo's run in five games with Hasek sidelined.Matt Murray - 2016Vasilevskiy's counterpart knows the feeling.Murray took over for an ailing Marc-Andre Fleury, and while some wrote the Penguins off, the rookie has shined.The 21-year-old has a .929 save percentage and 2.15 goals against average in his first taste of playoff action, and has proven to be more than adequate between the pipes.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Callahan reportedly won't be disciplined further for his hit on Kris Letang.The NHL's Department of Player Safety does not have a hearing scheduled with the Tampa Bay Lightning forward, according to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times.Callahan drove the Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman into the boards early in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final on Friday night.He was given a five-minute major for boarding but was not ejected. Letang was forced to leave the game, but returned before the first intermission.Callahan said after the game that he thought the position Letang was in made the hit "worse than it was".Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One game into the Eastern Conference final and the Pittsburgh Penguins are still gauging their opponent.Since head coach Mike Sullivan took over, the Penguins have feasted on opposition with speed and skill in transition, but the Tampa Bay Lightning beat them to the punch with the same game plan Friday in Game 1.A breakaway goal from Alex Killorn, and a perfectly executed 2-on-1 finished by Jonathan Drouin provided Tampa Bay's margin of victory, and Pittsburgh knows they'll have to stifle those opportunities going forward."That's where they got all their opportunities, from transition," Penguins goalie Matt Murray told Tom Gulitti of NHL.com. "It's nothing they're doing that's overwhelming us. We're just giving them a couple too many turnovers and they're a fast, skilled group in transition. I think it's something we game to them. It's not necessarily them outplaying us. It's something that can be fixed for sure."Pittsburgh outshot Tampa Bay 35-20, but fell victim to the Lightning striking on their mistakes, and Sullivan knows that was the difference."We've got to make sure that we're diligent with out decisions with the puck and in those 50-50 battles," Sullivan said. "We've got to stay above people and stay on the right side so we don't allow some of the odd-man rushes."The Penguins haven't lost consecutive games since mid-January, and have to focus on their own game rather than becoming fixated on the strengths of the Lightning."I think we need to be better just understanding how they play, what it looks like," Sidney Crosby said. "We've got a better feel for that, but at the end when it's all said and done here we still have another level we've got to find if we want to win games."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Callahan didn't intend to board Kris Letang and was happy to see him return.Related: Lightning's Callahan assessed boarding major for hit on Penguins' LetangSo said the Tampa Bay Lightning forward after Friday's Game 1, describing the incident with the Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman as unfortunate.

Following the Tampa Bay Lightning's Game 1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, head coach Jon Cooper provided an update on goaltender Ben Bishop, who left the game on a stretcher with an apparent lower-body injury.Related: Ben Bishop leaves Game 1 on stretcher​"Everything came back negative," Cooper said of Bishop's X-rays, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "So we're hoping for the best.""He's definitely hurt," he added. "But there's nothing structurally wrong."Cooper could not provide any description of the injury, or any timetable for how long the 29-year-old may be sidelined.Backup netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy filled in admirably in Bishop's absence, stopping 25 of the 26 shots he faced to help the Lightning take a 1-0 series lead.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin was forced to leave Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals after being boarded by Ondrej Palat of the Tampa Bay Lightning.Head coach Mike Sullivan did not have an update on the defenseman's status immediately following the game.Kris Letang was also boarded earlier in the game but was able to return and is said to be fine, according to the coach.Dumoulin is averaging over 20 minutes a night in the playoffs, with four assists in 12 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.