Nice try, Roman.Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi tried to avoid a too many men on the ice call by jumping into the San Jose Sharks' bench.The Sharks, of course, weren't having it, and were indeed awarded a power play - on which they scored the first goal of Game 2 - as a result of Nashville's literal misstep.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Any concerns about Pekka Rinne's health should probably be put to rest.The Nashville Predators goaltender absolutely stoned San Jose Sharks forward Joonas Donskoi with a brilliant save in the second period of Game 2 on Sunday night.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik has been suspended three games for interference against defenseman Olli Maatta of the Pittsburgh Penguins.(Courtesy: NHL.com)As the video explains, Orpik delivered a late hit on Maatta, making significant head contact and causing injury.The Penguin was not eligible to be checked, seeing as he was not in possession of the puck. A full second passed after Maatta shot the puck at the net, and therefore he should not have reasonably expected to be hit by Orpik at that point.The hit was deemed to be forceful, unacceptably high and excessively late, and that the point of contact was the head which added to the egregiousness of the play.Maatta's injury and Orpik's previous suspensions also played a role in the decision.Pittsburgh head coach said Maatta is "obviously out" of the lineup pending further examination, which he underwent Sunday. His condition has not yet been formally updated.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks are turning a traditional bad-luck charm into a source of inspiration.Prior to Game 2 against the Nashville Predators on Sunday, the club set up a puck display resembling the feisty feline that ran onto the ice before Game 1 at SAP Center on Friday night.The setup also included a stuffed animal version of "Joe Paw-velski," as the cat's now known.(Courtesy: San Jose Sharks)The cat was transferred to a local animal shelter Sunday and may soon be made available for adoption.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kari Lehtonen's poor first period in Game 2 has given Lindy Ruff a tough decision for Game 3.The Dallas Stars starter was yanked after allowing three goals on five shots, while Antti Niemi stopped 19 of 20 shots in the eventual overtime loss.Related: Blues' Backes scores Game 2 overtime winner on 32nd birthdayAfter the game, the head coach said a decision on the starter for Game 3 will be made Monday, as he and the coaching staff continue to balance the 1A-1B goalie situation."Just digest the game, take some time," Ruff said in regards to his thought process on the decision, according to Mike Heika of the Dallas News."It's the same as we've done all year. It's whether we go and let Kari bounce back. It just seems there comes a point sometimes here Kari needs a rest, plays well after that. So we'll make that decision sometime tomorrow."Neither goalie has been especially great so far in the playoffs.PlayerGamesRecordSv%Kari Lehtonen64-1-0.906Antti Niemi31-0-2.892The series is set to resume in St. Louis on Tuesday.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ken Hitchcock did not tell his players to sit on a two-goal lead.The St. Louis Blues head coach watched as his team built a 3-1 first-period lead over the Dallas Stars in Game 2, then allowed the opposition to tie it up and force overtime.Even though the Blues were outshot 13-2 in the third period, Hitchcock maintained after the game that the coaching staff did not instruct players to play prevent defense. It just happens that way, he explained.

The black cat that ran across the ice before Game 1 between the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators is in good hands.The Sharks made arrangements to transfer the feline, now known as "Joe Paw-velski," to a local animal shelter, where it will have full health and microchip exams, the club announced Sunday.Related: Sharks send black cat past Predators' benchIf the cat is deemed healthy and isn't microchipped, the Sharks believe it will be put up for adoption."The amount of interest generated by 'Joe's' appearance and those wishing to adopt him has been overwhelming," Sharks COO Tortora said in a statement."We want to make sure the cat is safe and healthy and returned to its rightful owner, in the event it has a microchip. If he is indeed a stray, our goal is to find the best home for him with the support of our local animal shelters."If families are interested in adopting 'Joe' but unsuccessful, we strongly encourage you to consider adopting another animal in need of a good home from one of our terrific local animal shelters."Sharks vice-president of media relations Scott Emmert tweeted Saturday that, contrary to one report, the cat had been found and was safe with food and water.Another Sharks PR staffer, Jim Sparaco, shared the following update Sunday afternoon:

It matters not to the St. Louis Blues who tends the twine for the opposition.After allowing three goals in five shots during the first period of Sunday's Game 2, Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen was yanked in favor of Antti Niemi.The Blues' response?

The Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues didn't wait long to get on the scoreboard in Game 2 on Sunday.It was the home team who opened the scoring as Stars captain Jamie Benn set up Alex Goligoski who roofed a one-timer past Brian Elliott to give Dallas an early 1-0 lead, just over three-and-a-half minutes in. Goligoski's third goal of the postseason ties him for the league lead among defensemen.

Pascal Dupuis, Mats Zuccarello, and Jaromir Jagr have been named this year's finalists for the Bill Masterton Trophy.The award honors the player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey."Dupuis earned the nomination after he was dealt a devastating blow this season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Following multiple battles with blood clots, he made the decision to retire on Dec. 8.

The Washington Capitals are two games into the second round, and head coach Barry Trotz is still waiting for his team to bring a complete effort.The Capitals failed to take a 2-0 series advantage in Game 2 on Saturday, dropping a nail-biter 2-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins, leaving Trotz hungry for more."I don't think we've played our best game, yet," Trotz said, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "We've had periods where we've played pretty well. The third period, I thought we played pretty well. The same thing (in Game 1); I thought we were good in (the first period) and then in overtime. We haven't strung enough periods together. They're a good opponent. This seems to be a series where they'll own a period, we'll own a period, so the trick is to try to own more periods than they do."They're a good hockey team and I think we've got a good hockey team, but we can be better in a lot of areas right now."Goaltender Braden Holtby agreed with his coach following Game 2, and feels the team still has more to give."We know we can be better," Holtby said. "It's been pretty tight both games, score-wise, but we know we have a lot more to offer and that's our goal, to get better as the series goes on. Game 3 will be a big one."The Capitals will get their chance to prove they can be better in Game 3 on Monday.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly was asleep when his team was awarded the first overall pick in the upcoming NHL draft on Saturday, as he is in Europe preparing for the IIHF World Championship, but the 22-year-old was able to share his reaction after Team Canada's practice Sunday."It's pretty exciting," Rielly told TSN. "I'm sure that the people back home are looking forward to that, and it's a big opportunity for the team. We'll see what happens, but it's great."With the first pick, the Maple Leafs are expected to select center Auston Matthews - who will be representing the United States at the IIHF tournament - and Rielly is aware the American could be a big part of the team's future as long as he can handle the burden of being a star in Toronto."He's a big, two-way guy. He's one of the guys every team wants," Rielly said. "If that's who we end up taking then that's good, but whoever it is, he's gonna have a little bit of pressure on him in Toronto, but that's just the way it is."Rielly will get a better look at his potential future teammate soon, as Canada opens Group B play at the World Championship against the United States in St. Petersburg on Friday.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When he faced the media with the No. 1 pick firmly in his grasp, it would have been easy for Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan to declare his intention to select Arizona native Auston Matthews. He was pressed, but he wouldn't budge."We'll discuss it, but we have a pretty good idea of who it is," Shanahan said of Toronto's target.Of course, Shanahan had nothing to gain by speaking his mind. In fact, he is the opposite of one of his predecessors, Brian Burke, who kicked off Sportsnet's broadcast of Saturday's NHL Draft Lottery by giving his take on just about everything.Shanahan has said before that everyone on his staff has input, but it appears clear that there's a consensus upstairs in Toronto.As for Matthews, it'll be quite the environmental leap. He was born in Arizona - a place where he could help put hockey on the map, the hometown kid done good, had the Coyotes won the first pick. He left for Switzerland last season, where no one plays during their draft year. Now he's headed to a place many call the "center of the hockey universe."Recognizing the increased attention Matthews is about to receive, Shanahan was quick to pump the breaks and take some of the pressure off."The number-one pick is not going to be a savior," Shanahan said."We are very happy with the way things worked out," he added.ShanaplanShanahan has been measured throughout the rebuild in Toronto. Patient. The second half of the Maple Leafs' season was difficult to watch, but the pain was tempered, as management and fans were able to see the promising young talent in the system get a chance. But it was clear the Maple Leafs were assembling to finish where they did in the standings - last - while putting in an honest effort.On Saturday, when the No. 1 pick placard revealed the Maple Leafs' recently unveiled new logo, it represented change. Good fortune. For long-suffering Maple Leafs fans, it feels worth it. For management, it's worth it.The Maple Leafs got what they wanted, and what they needed. Now they have to show some improvement."We can't get much worse," Shanahan rightfully pointed out.Change is goodIn addition to Toronto, the Winnipeg Jets and Columbus Blue Jackets were winners on Saturday. Both teams moved up in the lottery, from their original positions of sixth and fourth into second and third, respectively. It was the first time the lottery decided which teams pick second and third, a method similar to the one used in the NBA Draft.This year's pick will be the Jets' highest since the franchise moved from Atlanta. In 2002, the franchise drafted Kari Lehtonen second overall. It's likely Winnipeg will pick another Finn, with forwards Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi projected to go second and third.Columbus appears content to pick the remaining Finn at third overall. Especially with general manager Jarmo Kekalainen at the helm.Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers didn't seem too down about the fact they fell from second to fourth.

Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik will have a hearing Sunday for his hit on Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced.The hit occurred during the first period of Game 2 of the Capitals' second-round series against the Penguins on Saturday. Orpik received a two-minute minor for interference, but Maatta was forced to leave the game with an upper-body injury.Related - Watch: Penguins' Maatta leaves Game 2 after late check by Capitals' OrpikOrpik appeared to make contact with Maatta's head with the hit, well after the Penguins blue-liner took a shot at Capitals goalie Braden Holtby. According to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun, Orpik told head coach Barry Trotz that he "thought the puck was going to be there" when he made the hit.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the first time in a long time, the Toronto Maple Leafs won a meaningful game Saturday.Of course, the game was one of chance and wasn't played on the ice, but the Maple Leafs still won the right to select first overall at this year's draft.It's all thanks to a lottery system that picked a winning four-digit combination. You can see here exactly how the entire process played out.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For just the third time in the last six years, the Edmonton Oilers will not be making the first selection at the NHL Draft this June.The team entered Saturday's draft lottery with the second-best chance of capturing the coveted pick, but instead saw fate push them back two spots to a less commendable fourth-overall slotting.Related: Report: Top 3 picks 'unlikely' to be moved; Oilers' No. 4 pick 'in play'The move sees them miss out on yet another 'franchise player.' While the Oilers might be a little sour - though they have no reason to given their recent success with the lottery - the fourth-overall pick should and will certainly yield an incredibly talented prospect.In fact, claiming the fourth-overall selection might have been the best outcome Edmonton could have hoped for entering Saturday.The Oilers have been chastised in years past for consistently selecting the "best player available" - though Connor McDavid is a clear exception - rather than addressing the team's needs at that moment in time. In other words, the team has a history of electing for the high-scoring forward instead of the dependable defenseman.Sportsnet's Mark Spector reported in late March that back in 2012, the team's scouts had pressured management to select defenseman Ryan Murray with the first-overall pick instead of Nail Yakupov. Management ultimately vetoed the recommendation.This time around, the Oilers will select fourth and will likely miss out on highly touted forwards Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine, and Jesse Puljujarvi. However, perhaps this finally forces Edmonton's hand to select the defenseman they so desperately need.The team finished with the fifth-highest goals against this season, which was actually an improvement from the team's 30th-place finishes in the two seasons prior. This team needs assistance on the back end.This year, the two defenseman making the most noise are Olli Juolevi of the Ontario Hockey League's London Knights and Jakob Chychrun of the Sarnia Sting.Juolevi is a rookie, but the Finn is making quite a name for himself early in his first season in North America. The youngster finished the season with 42 points in 57 games, while finishing third amongst all defenders with a plus-38 rating.He currently sits fifth in playoff scoring amongst defenseman, with 11 points in 14 games. According to TSN's Craig Button, his closest NHL comparison is New York Rangers captain Ryan McDonaugh."He's not going to put up big points, he's not going to be on the highlight reels, but as a coach and teammates you want that player on the ice in every critical situation because you know he will deliver," says Button.The Oilers could also entertain Chychrun, whose draft stock has dropped slightly this season but still remains among the best d-men available.The 18-year-old finished fourth among OHL defenders with 49 points this season, ranking first with eight power play goals. Chychrun's greatest asset is his speed which Button suggests allows him to recover from his mistakes and allows him skate the puck out of his own zone with ease.His NHL comparable is Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler, according to Button.Chychryn and Juolevi rank fourth and fifth among North American skaters on the NHL's Central Scouting rankings, and would be welcome additions to a thin defensive core.Other forwards such as Pierre-Luc Dubois, Matthew Tkachuk, and Alexander Nylander project to be solid NHLers, and could catch the eye of the Oilers.That said, with the unique position the draft balls have bestowed upon the Oilers, the team has no reason not to finally make the move they've needed all along and draft by necessity.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears the Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, and Columbus Blue Jackets - the teams with the first three selections in the NHL draft - have no intention of trading their picks.TSN's Darren Dreger reported Sunday that the Maple Leafs, Jets and Blue Jackets are "very unlikely" to trade out of the top three, but adds the No. 4 pick - held by the Edmonton Oilers - is "definitely in play."Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli admitted after Saturday's lottery that he was disappointed to drop from the second selection, but is confident his team will acquire a quality player in June if it holds on to the pick."I was preparing myself for potentially moving down," Chiarelli said, per Chris Wescott of Oilers.com. "It was disappointing, but I've been watching a lot of these players lately and we're going to get a real good player."The Oilers are widely expected to be eyeing a defenseman at the draft and while they'd likely be able to pick the blue-liner of their choice with forwards Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi projected to go 1-2-3, trading down could bring the team an additional asset moving forward.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Sullivan was not pleased with what he saw from the opposition in Game 2 Saturday night.More specifically, he took exception to a late and high hit leveled on Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta by Brooks Orpik of the Washington Capitals."I think it's the type of hit that everyone in hockey is trying to remove from the game," Sullivan told reporters after the game.As far as Maatta's status, he's considered out indefinitely, pending further examination.

The Nashville Predators summoned goaltender Marek Mazanec from the AHL on Saturday night, leading to speculation about the health of starter Pekka Rinne.Rinne appeared to be in discomfort after allowing San Jose Sharks winger Joel Ward to score the go-ahead goal with about eight minutes remaining in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series.He was replaced by backup netminder Carter Hutton with 20 seconds left.Mazanec went 19-15-5 with a 2.45 GAA, a .912 save percentage and four shutouts with the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals this season.Game 2 between the Predators and Sharks goes Sunday night at the SAP Center in San Jose.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Auston Matthews would relish the opportunity to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs."The idea of playing in Toronto, if they were to choose me, it's pretty exciting," the top draft prospect told TSN's James Duthie after the Leafs won the lottery Saturday night. "It would be very special."Matthews had plenty of reasons to be excited about potentially starting his NHL career in Toronto."It's the hockey mecca of the world," he said. "They have one of the best coaches in the league and it's a very exciting place to play. Their fans are very passionate and I think everybody really enjoys watching them play."The Arizona-born forward wasn't concerned about possibly playing for a Canadian franchise, whether the Maple Leafs select him first overall, or the Winnipeg Jets choose him second."To me, it doesn't matter. I just want to play in the NHL, so wherever that may be, it would be a tremendous honor either way."He'll find out on June 24, when his name is called at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The pain of another losing season was all worth it for Brendan Shanahan."We earned this the hard way," the Toronto Maple Leafs president told Kathryn Tappen on Sportsnet after winning the draft lottery Saturday night."It wasn't a whole lot of fun this year, but our coaching staff and our management staff did a lot of really good things here in Toronto, (and) this will certainly help."Sitting through the lottery wasn't easy for Shanahan."I'm just a little bit rattled from this whole experience," he said. "That was a pretty tense moment for all of us. I think just to get into the final three, even (the) Columbus (Blue Jackets), Winnipeg (Jets) and us, we just felt that we were all going to get a great player."The Leafs had the highest odds of winning the lottery at 20 percent. The Jets secured the second overall pick despite having the sixth-highest odds, while the Blue Jackets had the fourth-highest odds and moved up to third.Shanahan said landing the first pick will aid the club's rebuild, but it will take more than one great player to turn things around."It's a team sport and it's not about one guy, and that's one thing that (head coach) Mike (Babcock) and (general manager) Lou (Lamoriello) really believe in, but certainly when you have an opportunity to pick first overall, it's an important moment for the Toronto Maple Leafs."It's an important moment for our fans, our ownership group has given us the support to do this build the right way, so this is a little bit of luck here, it's a lottery, and we're just happy to be lucky today. But we didn't get here without a lot of support from our fans, from our ownership group and from our whole staff."The 2016 NHL Entry Draft will begin June 24 at First Niagara Center in Buffalo.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brooks Orpik of the Washington Capitals may be in some hot water following a late hit delivered to Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta early in Saturday's Game 2.Maatta was helped off the ice and sent to the locker room for examination, while Orpik was assessed a two-minute penalty for interference. The Penguin did not return for the second period.

The Toronto Maple Leafs won the NHL Draft Lottery on Saturday, and own the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo on June 24.The Winnipeg Jets will draft second, while the Columbus Blue Jackets will draft third overall.Here’s a look at the rest of the lottery results:Draft PositionTeam4Edmonton Oilers5Vancouver Canucks6Calgary Flames7Arizona Coyotes8Buffalo Sabres9Montreal Canadiens10Colorado Avalanche11New Jersey Devils12Ottawa Senators13Carolina Hurricanes14Boston BruinsToronto entered the night with a 20 percent chance of winning the top pick, while both Columbus and Winnipeg made a jump up the board, Edmonton and Vancouver fell out of the top three.Auston Matthews has long been considered the best available prospect heading into the 2016 NHL Draft, with Finnish forwards Patrick Laine and Jesse Puljujärvi expected to round out the first trio of picks.The 2016 NHL Draft is scheduled for June 24-25 at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Watching from the crease, Ben Bishop has a unique perspective on the game.As far as the Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender is concerned, Jonathan Drouin's impact in the playoffs can't be understated.Related: Lightning's Drouin slides 1st-career playoff goal past Greiss"He's been carrying this team ever since he's come up here," Bishop told reporters after a Game 2 win over the New York Islanders. "You've got to respect that. He's come up with great attitude.""Up," of course, is a reference to Drouin's AHL exile and subsequent team suspension upon making a trade request public earlier this season.In seven playoff games, Drouin has recorded one goal and six assists, and is driving the offense devoid of star Steven Stamkos.Head coach Jon Cooper put it this way:

TAMPA, Fla. - Tyler Johnson had two goals and an assist and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the New York Islanders 4-1 on Saturday to even the second-round series at a game apiece.Lightning goalie Ben Bishop rebounded after being pulled in second period of Game 1 to make 19 saves. He gave up four goals on 13 shots Wednesday night in a 5-3 loss.Jonathan Drouin and Victor Hedman each had a goal and an assist for Tampa Bay.Nikolay Kulemin scored for the Islanders, and Thomas Greiss 27 stopped shots.Game 3 is Tuesday night in Brooklyn.After Islanders teammates Cal Clutterbuck and Nick Leddy collided at the Tampa Bay blue line, the Lightning got an odd-man rush that resulted in Johnson's backhander that opened the scoring 6:03 into the game.Johnson extended the Tampa Bay advantage to 4-1 with a late empty-netter.Drouin made it 2-0 on another backhander that trickled past Greiss at 11:55 of the first. It was the first career playoff goal, coming in his 13th game, for the third overall pick in the 2013 draft.Kulemin's deflection cut the deficit to 2-1 on the Islanders' third power play with 4:45 left in the first.Hedman stopped a 23-game playoff goal drought to give Tampa Bay a 3-1 lead during a power play at 11:59 of the second. His shot from the blue line went off New York's Calvin de Haan.Hedman's goal came after Clutterbuck was sent off for goalie interference, a penalty that appeared to stun players on the New York bench.NOTES: Tampa Bay D Anton Stralman, out since breaking his left fibula March 25, is skating before practice but is not ready yet to return. Tampa Bay also was without D Matt Carle, who sat out with an undisclosed injury. ... Islanders D Ryan Pulock (upper-body injury) missed his fourth straight game but could soon be ready to play. ... New York has allowed the first goal in seven of its eight playoff games this season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If the St. Louis Blues underestimated the Dallas Stars, they learned a big lesson in Game 1."I think there's a realization that this is a better team than anybody we've played," admitted head coach Ken Hitchcock.This comes on the heels of the Blues' seven-game opening-round series win over the Chicago Blackhawks, who happened to be the defending Stanley Cup champions.Still, the Stars finished the season in first place in the highly competitive Central Division, and proved to be a formidable foe Friday, even without the services of injured center Tyler Seguin.Hitchcock added the Blues will have to step up accordingly.

Trevor Linden is hoping for some luck of the Irish in Toronto on Saturday.The Vancouver Canucks president is carrying a 1971 Pat Quinn rookie card to Saturday's NHL Draft Lottery proceedings.

The feline is fine.There was some confusion about what happened to the black cat that ran on to the ice before Game 1 between the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators, but that was quickly cleared up.Kevin Kurz of CSN Bay Area appeared to have the scoop Saturday afternoon.

The Tampa Bay Lightning came storming out of the gate in Game 2 on Saturday.After forward Tyler Johnson opened the scoring six minutes in, forward Jonathan Drouin picked up his first-career playoff goal just under six minutes later, sliding a backhand through the legs of New York Islanders goaltender Thomas Greiss.The Islanders would stop the bleeding, collecting a goal of their own thanks to a deflection by Nikolay Kulemin.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While many fans are excited to see if their favorite team will be awarded with the first overall pick in Saturday's NHL Draft Lottery, just as many are simply hoping the Edmonton Oilers don't win the lottery for the fifth time in seven years.Among that crowd, unsurprisingly, is Calgary Flames president Brian Burke, who gave this response when asked by Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman how he would react if the team's Alberta rivals is given the No. 1 pick:

Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov, Boston Bruins forward Loui Eriksson, and Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar were named this year's nominees for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy on Saturday.It's the first time Barkov has been up for the award, given "to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability."The 20-year-old concluded his third season in the league, setting career-highs in goals and points with 28 and 59, respectively.Meanwhile for Eriksson, the nomination was the second of his career after the 30-year-old finished third in voting during the 2010-11 season.Kopitar receives his second award nomination in three days after being named a finalist for the Selke Trophy on Thursday, awarded to the best defensive forward.Winners will be announced at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas on June 22.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Stars forward Valeri Nichushkin will get another chance to prove his worth in the postseason.Head coach Lindy Ruff said the 21-year-old will draw back into the lineup for Game 2 against the St. Louis Blues on Sunday, according to Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News.The move could be the result of Patrick Eaves' foot injury, which currently has the forward day to day, according to Ruff.The 31-year-old left Friday's game after blocking a shot, and was seen in crutches on Saturday.Eaves has fared admirably this spring, with five points in seven games. On the other hand, Nichushkin has gone pointless in five contests.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning find themselves in an early hole in their second-round series after dropping Game 1 against the New York Islanders on Wednesday, but ahead of Saturday's Game 2, the city's baseball team gave them some additional support.

In an all-too-familiar narrative Saturday, the players appear to be shouldering the blame for the firing of Anaheim Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau on Friday.Captain Ryan Getzlaf spoke to the media at the team's closing interviews, and lent his support to his former bench boss."Coaches can only do so much," said Getzlaf. "They have a responsibility, as do we. We have to absorb a lot of that."I take a lot of responsibility for things that go on here," Getzlaf added. "I look in the mirror and look at the group and what we can do better."Getzlaf had five points in seven games, but was held off the score sheet in the club's final two games of the series.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the NHL Draft Lottery just hours away, Auston Matthews - widely expected to be picked first overall - will soon learn who will have the first chance to draft him in June.On Saturday, Matthews received some welcome advice on how to handle the situation from last year's No. 1 pick, Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid, who poked fun at his own reaction from a year ago."My advice is just smile no matter what," McDavid said, per TSN's Ryan Rishaug.

It's now clear what was ailing Anaheim Ducks defenseman Josh Manson in the first round of the playoffs.The team held exit interviews Saturday where Manson revealed that he suffered a mild concussion and a separated shoulder following a hit by Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg in the opening series.The 24-year-old will not need surgery to repair the shoulder, Manson told NHL.com's Chris Zupke.Manson was hopeful to return to the lineup for the second round, but a Game 7 loss to the Predators derailed his plans.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The hit on Conor Sheary that landed Tom Wilson a maximum fine was unintentional, Wilson claims.The Washington Capitals forward was handed a $2,404 fine Friday for kneeing his Pittsburgh Penguins counterpart in Game 1, but according to Wilson, the hit in question was meant to merely psych Sheary out."I was just gonna bluff check him, give him a fake attack, go to the bench, and our legs got caught up," Wilson told Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post.The edgy forward has gone pointless during the playoffs but has accumulated 11 penalty minutes and is tied for seventh in hits.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After playing in all five games of the Detroit Red Wings' first-round series loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, forward Joakim Andersson will be returning home to Sweden next season.The 27-year-old has signed a two-year contract with Örebro of the Swedish Hockey League, the club announced Saturday, MLive.com's Ansar Khan confirmed.Andersson recorded just a goal and two assists in 29 games this past season. He leaves the Red Wings with 15 goals and 21 assists in 205 career games over a five-year stint with the team.The center was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There has been a belief Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman could play before the end of his team's second-round series against the New York Islanders, but though he is skating once again, Jon Cooper isn't optimistic about an imminent return to the lineup."He's not near ready yet," Cooper said after Stralman skated in full gear prior to Friday's team practice, according to Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune.The 29-year-old has not played since suffering a fractured fibula during a March 25 game against the Islanders, who hold a 1-0 series lead over the Lightning after a 5-3 win Wednesday.Erlendsson noted fellow blue-liner Matt Carle missed practice due to an unspecified injury. It is unclear if he will be available for Game 2 on Saturday.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The moment has come, Canada. And for you too, America.The NHL Draft Lottery takes place Saturday night in Toronto, and the results will be broadcast at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, CBC, and TVAS. The fate of a number of franchises hang in the balance ahead of the 2016 NHL Draft on June 24 and 25 in Buffalo, N.Y.There's a significant change to this year's lottery: It will decide the top three picks, as opposed to the first overall selection. In previous years, the team finishing in last place in the standings was guaranteed a top-two pick. That's no longer the case.There will be three draws, one each to determine the clubs that will draft first, second, and third. The drama!OddsThe Toronto Maple Leafs were the worst team in the NHL this season and have the best odds at the No. 1 pick. Five Canadian teams have a 7.5 percent chance or more to land the first pick. Woe, Canada!Team OddsMaple Leafs20%Edmonton Oilers13.5%Vancouver Canucks11.5%Columbus Blue Jackets9.5%Calgary Flames8.5%Winnipeg Jets7.5%Arizona Coyotes6.5%Buffalo Sabres6%Montreal Canadiens5%Colorado Avalanche3.5%New Jersey Devils3%Ottawa Senators2.5%Carolina Hurricanes2%Boston Bruins1%VoteThe Big 3The class of 2016 is thought to be three deep: Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine, and Jesse Puljujarvi; the American and two Finns.Matthews is the prize. At 6-foot-2 and 194 pounds, he's the No. 1 center teams dream about. While his path to the NHL has been unorthodox, the 18-year-old choosing to spend his draft year playing in Switzerland's National League, there's no doubt about his talents - he scored 24 goals and 22 assists in 34 games as a teenager in a men's league. The Scottsdale-born kid is ready for primetime, and the team that lands him is going to be set up the middle for 10 years.Laine is one hell of a consolation prize. He celebrated his 18th birthday on April 19, and already has the body of a man at 6-foot-4 and 209 pounds. The winger turned heads at the World Junior Hockey Championship, scoring seven goals and finishing with 13 points in seven games as the Finns won gold on home soil. The scary part: He only got better as the Finnish Elite League season went on. He scored 17 goals in 46 regular-season games, but bagged 10 in 15 playoff games. In the postseason, the game plan was "Pass it to Laine." He's going to score at the NHL level. We'll find out for who Saturday.Puljujarvi is only 17. He's 6-foot-3 and 201 pounds. He's a better skater than Laine. He's been compared to Jamie Benn. Let's put it this way: The team drafting third is going to get a very, very good player in Puljujarvi, if Matthews and Laine go 1-2 as projected. As good as Laine was at the juniors, Puljujarvi was better. He finished with five goals and 17 points in seven games - the highest total since 1990, when some guy named Jaromir Jagr put up 18 - and had a hat trick in the gold-medal game. This kid brings size, speed, skill, and toughness. Whatever the situation, Puljujarvi has the ability to thrive.HistoryThe Edmonton Oilers have drafted first overall in four of the past six years: Taylor Hall in 2010, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in 2011, Nail Yakupov in 2012, and Connor McDavid last year. Just when you think Edmonton can't possibly land another No. 1 pick, it does. Nothing goes the Oilers' way on the ice, but the ping pong balls have been kind. No one will be surprised if Matthews is an Oiler on June 24. You can't be.While history's on Edmonton's side, the Maple Leafs put themselves in the best position to land Matthews. But history has never been on Toronto's side. In any respect. But Toronto's rebuild will add a big piece if the Maple Leafs land in the top three - which means they're all but guaranteed to drop to No. 4.As for the team that could truly use Matthews, it has to be the Vancouver Canucks. The club's never drafted first overall. And there's no time like the present.Godspeed.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After missing the playoffs a year ago, the Dallas Stars rocketed to the best record in the Western Conference in 2016, and while their offense continues to be a major part of their success, their improvement at the defensive end cannot be overlooked.Head coach Lindy Ruff attributes part of that improvement to three key additions from the offseason - forward Patrick Sharp, defenseman Johnny Oduya and goaltender Antti Niemi - who all won Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks."That's the impact I think we were hoping for," Ruff said, according to Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News. "I think their impact in the regular season helped us, and now, I think it's even bigger."Meanwhile, it was the team's youth that provided the boost in Friday's Game 1 victory over the St. Louis Blues - with rookie forward Radek Faksa recording a goal, assist, and three hits, while first-year blue-liner Stephen Johns added three hits of his own in 13 minutes of ice time."They've brought a physicality, they've brought a hardness to our lineup that I think was needed," Ruff said of the young duo. "We were getting away with high-end speed and skill, and I think they've brought a hardness to the adjustments that the league has played against us."We've been able to physically come in and win more battles and create more situations that have helped us win games."The Stars will need to continue to keep the puck out of their net if they hope to knock the Blues out in the second round. Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday.Type your content...Type your content...Type your content...Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Red Wings fans really aren't having the name of their new arena.On Thursday, the team announced that the club's new arena - currently being built - will be named the Little Caesars Arena after naming rights were sold to Mike Ilitch, the owner of the pizza chain.Fans were immediately displeased with the new name, and some have gone so far as to sign an online petition to change it.The petition, started by Julien Nadeau, is fighting to change the name to Caesars Colosseum. Nadeau says the new name has a better ring to it and is a fair compromise that "will still pay homage to Little Caesars, but will sound better (AND TOUGHER) for the deserving team."Related: Twitter reacts to Red Wings' announcement of Little Caesars ArenaThe Red Wings have called the Joe Louis Arena home since the 1979 season and once the team makes the move to their new arena - whatever the name may be - New York's Madison Square Garden will be the only NHL arena without a corporate sponsor.As of Saturday morning, the petition had received more than 12,700 supporters.- With h/t to BarDownCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks might have had too much time off between the first two rounds.The club went off for five goals in the third period of Friday's 5-2 win over the Nashville Predators, proof to head coach Peter DeBoer that the team might have been affected by the week-long break through the first 40 minutes."Coming off the break, we had some questions of how we would be. I saw some of the effects of that (in) the first two periods," DeBoer said, according to NHL.com's Eric Gilmore. "We found a way. (Martin Jones) made some saves and let us hang around and survive that. We got going."To be able to come out of Game 1 with a win even though I think we didn't play our best 60 minutes is good because I think we'll be better in Game 2."Related: Watch - Ward fakes Rinne, scores 1 of the best goals of the playoffsForward Joe Pavelski picked up an assist in the win, giving him seven points in the postseason while pushing his point streak to three games. The captain admitted the club had to shake off the cobwebs early, but felt the team did a great job of rallying."We tried to fight against any kind of rust or intensity issues," Pavelski said. "We came out, we didn't really take it to any level in the first. We were just kind of there. We just kind of played with them. As the game went on, we got better and we could feel them on their heels a little bit, I think."It was just good to see the guys keep feeding off the crowd, feeding off the goals and really pushing for the next one."The Sharks will be hoping all lingering effects are behind them when they head into Game 2 on Sunday.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.