SAN JOSE, Calif. - Joel Ward scored the tiebreaking goal against his former team with 8:11 remaining in regulation to help the San Jose Sharks rally past the Nashville Predators 5-2 on Friday night in Game 1 of their second-round series.Ward also set up Tomas Hertl's power-play goal that tied the game earlier in the period before scoring one of his own to help San Jose win its first playoff game when trailing after two periods since 2011.Logan Couture added a power-play goal and an empty-netter for insurance, before Tommy Wingels sealed it with another empty-net goal as the Sharks showed few signs of rust after having six days off since beating Los Angeles in a five-game series in the first round. Martin Jones made 29 saves, and Brent Burns had two assists.Mike Fisher and Ryan Johansen scored for the Predators, who allowed five goals in the third period after having only one day off since winning Game 7 of a first-round series in Anaheim. Pekka Rinne made 33 saves.Ward has long played his best hockey in the postseason, most notably when he scored seven goals in 12 games in 2011 to help lead Nashville to its first appearance ever in the second round. He proved he could do it just as well against the Predators.He started the comeback by setting up Hertl near the side of the net late in a power play early in the third. Hertl then fired a shot just under Rinne's glove on the short side.Ward then scored his 15th career playoff goal when he was left all alone after taking a pass from Joonas Donskoi. He stickhandled past Rinne before tucking the puck into the net.Couture's first goal on the power play gave San Jose breathing room it needed when Johansen scored with 1:49 left and Rinne off for an extra skater.But Couture and Wingels answered with the empty-netters to clinch the win.The game lacked the usual playoff atmosphere in the Shark Tank at the start where there were rows of empty seats in the first non-sellout in the playoffs in franchise history.Nashville's tight-to-the-vest play also helped keep the crowd out of it as the Predators did their best to prevent the Sharks from setting up in the offensive zone and Rinne was once again sharp against San Jose.But San Jose nearly scored first when Melker Karlsson shot his own rebound toward the net just as a sliding Anthony Bitetto knocked it off the moorings. The Sharks argued that the puck would have gone in had Bitetto not knocked off the net but a replay review was inconclusive and the call of no-goal stood.The Predators then struck early in the second after Matt Nieto was sent to the box for tripping in the offensive zone. Nashville had failed to convert on 26 of its first 27 power-play chances this postseason, including one in the first period, and appeared on its way to another blown opportunity.But late in the man advantage, Johansen slid a cross-ice pass to Fisher, who beat Jones with a wrist shot from the circle to the short side.NOTES: The Sharks last overcame a deficit after two periods to win a playoff game in Game 3 against Detroit in the second round in 2011. San Jose trailed 3-2 after two before winning 4-3 in OT. ... F Craig Smith (lower body) missed his third game of the playoffs and Eric Nystrom got the nod in his place.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joel Ward lives for this time of year.The San Jose Sharks forward scored one of the finer goals of the postseason Friday, showing incredible smarts by faking his shot and then putting his immaculate hands on display to put the puck past a helpless Pekka Rinne.San Jose defeated the Nashville Predators 5-2 in Game 1 of their second-round series, scoring all five of their goals - including two empty-netters - in the final 20 minutes.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

St. Louis Blues forward David Backes is nothing if not self aware.The captain dropped some real talk after his team dropped Game 1 on Friday to the Dallas Stars to open their second-round series."This was a good game by them," Backes said. "They outplayed us, they deserved to win this one."The Blues woke up after 40 minutes, but the Stars were able to eke out a 2-1 win. It would have been much, much worse if not for the stellar play of Brian Elliott in the Blues' goal."We've got to play for a full 60 the way we did in the first series and we'll be just fine," Backes said. "They came out with tons of speed and pressure on us. It took us 40 minutes to start to look like ourselves."Head coach Ken Hitchcock agreed."I didn't like the way we played in the last 10 minutes of the first and the whole second," Hitchcock said. "After the second period, (Elliott) gave us a chance, gave us a real chance. We needed to punch through."Coming off an emotional Game 7, a letdown was expected. But there's so little room for error in the Stanley Cup Playoffs."I don't think anybody is really pleased with the type of game that we played," Elliott said. "We grinded it out. I think once we do get to the Blues' style of hockey, I think that will serve us well."They'll have to play Blues hockey on Sunday, or face a 2-0 series deficit against a very good Stars team.- With H/T to Lou KoracCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jason Spezza is feeling good. And you can't blame him.The Dallas Stars, with home-ice advantage in the playoffs thanks to a dominant regular season, opened their second-round series against the St. Louis Blues with a 2-1 win, and they looked good doing it.The Blues, coming off an emotional seven-game series win over the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks, looked a bit sluggish. And the Stars took advantage. Dallas outshot St. Louis 14-6 in the first period, and had a 31-17 advantage after two periods. The Blues woke up in the third, but you can't win a playoff game with 20 solid minutes."We've got somethin' going here," Spezza said after the game, according to Sportsnet's Mark Spector.He's right. The Stars look good. They've been slept on, despite their regular season, because of their propensity to allow goals, but they're playing solid hockey. They're still allowing a few too many goals - the Minnesota Wild scored five twice in the first round and four in Game 6 - but a one-goal win will do a lot for a team's confidence.Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen was good Friday night, stopping 31 of 32 shots. More games like that, and the Stars could be off to the Western Conference finals.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Steve Ott gave Antoine Roussel some bulletin-board material.In the hours before Game 1 between the St. Louis Blues and Dallas Stars, Ott was asked about facing pest Roussel, and after Dallas drew first blood in the best-of-seven series, Ott probably regrets his answer."There are a lot better players to worry about over there," Ott said, according to ESPN's Craig Custance.Roussel had himself a game Friday night. He opened the scoring, tallying his second goal of the playoffs, and finished a plus-2 with three shots and four hits in 13:33, including 56 seconds short-handed.Ott played 5:51 in Game 1. Roussel was a force. Oops.The Stars took Game 1 by a goal, 2-1. Game 2 goes Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET in Dallas.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

DALLAS - Radek Faksa scored the tiebreaking goal on a rebound with 4:44 to play and had an assist on the other Dallas goal to help the Stars open the second round of the Western Conference playoffs with a 2-1 victiry over the St. Louis Blues on Friday night.Like Antoine Roussel did on his second-period goal on which Faksa had an assist, Faksa started the rush that led to his winner.Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk tied it at 1 with 8:28 left in the third period with a shot from the top of the left circle after Dallas failed to clear the puck out of the zone.Game 2 is Sunday in the best-of-seven series matching the Western Conference's top two teams from the regular season.After Faksa pushed the puck up the ice, Ales Hemsky had the initial shot stopped but not secured by Brian Elliott. Faksa was there to score his second goal of the playoffs.Along with the Western Conference's top two teams, this is a matchup of Stars coach Lindy Ruff and St. Louis' Ken Hitchcock, coaches who became friends after being assistant coaches as Team Canada won gold medals in the last two Winter Olympics.Hitchcock was coach of the Stars when the franchise won its only Stanley Cup in 1999, complete with a disputed clinching goal in triple overtime of Game 6 against Ruff's Buffalo Sabres. They also went head-to-head in the 2006 playoffs, when the Sabres beat Hitchcock's Philadelphia Flyers.Kari Lehtonen stopped 31 shots, withstanding a final surge when the Blues pulled Elliott out of the net and had an extra skater the final 1:40.Elliott, who has played all eight playoffs games for the Blues, had 40 saves.Dallas took its initial lead midway through the second period when Roussel started a rush down the right side and then had a cross-ice pass John Klingberg before Faksa's wrist shot from the om the left slot. Roussel was there to knock in the rebound.It was Roussel's second goal of the playoffs, the first one that he got a stick on the puck.Roussel scored from behind the net in Game 2 of the first-round series against Minnesota. A puck ricocheted off a teammate's skate and then hit Roussel's, popping over the net and into the back of the goalie's head before falling to the ice. The strange goal was initially waived off before being overturned following a lengthy review.NOTES: Stars right wing Patrick Eaves was down between the circles and had a struggle getting off the ice after getting hit by a shot taken by teammate Stephen Johns early in the third period. Once to the bench, Eaves hobbled to the locker room. ... The Stars hosted a Game 1 in the second round for the first time since 2003, the last time they were a No. 1 seed. ... St. Louis opened a playoff series on the road for the first time since 2009. ... Masters and U.S. Open champion Jordan Spieth was in a suite watching his hometown team with former Stars captain Brenden Morrow. In another suite was Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears Craig Smith's return to the Nashville Predators lineup may have been premature, as the forward has been ruled out for Game 1 against the San Jose Sharks.Smith missed Games 4 and 5 of the opening round series versus the Anaheim Ducks with a lower-body injury, but returned for Games 6 and 7.Predators forward Eric Nystrom replaces Smith in the starting lineup.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

T.J. Oshie hit the jackpot when he was traded to the Washington Capitals.Previously a staple in the St. Louis Blues organization, Oshie was dealt to the Capitals in the off-season to be the top-line right winger alongside Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom.While transitioning to a line with two all-world players may seem like a breeze, it was a bit more difficult than expected."It's not really that easy to come in and play with us because me and Ovi have been playing with each other for such a long time," said Backstrom, according to Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post."It takes a little while to get used to each other and where we want the puck," Backstrom added.The biggest hurdle for Washington during his transition was encouraging Oshie to use his shot more often."We had to sit him down a few times and say, 'Listen, you can shoot the puck pretty well. Don't always look for Ovi. If you've got a clear look, take your chances,'" said head coach Barry Trotz.The advice worked, as Oshie set a career-high with 26 goals, and netted a hat-trick in Game 1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.A self-proclaimed pass-first player, Oshie admitted it took some time to get used to a shooter's mentality."The hit on me is usually that I pass too much," Oshie said. "Maybe that's the reason. (On Thursday), I was shooting a little bit more, so I don't know. Just haven't had success in the past, and hopefully this can continue. It's feeling good right now."Ovechkin played a big role in encouraging Oshie to get the puck on net, according to Trotz."It took a while, but now I think he trusts his shot," Trotz said. "Ovi's been good, too. Ovi's said, 'Hey, you've got a clean look, so don't look for me. I'll be covered. I'll still get my shots and I'll still take my shots, but if you've got a clean look, go for it.' And he has."With the Presidents Trophy and a 1-0 second-round series lead in tow, whatever Washington's top line as been working on, is clearly paying off.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Better luck next time, Jason Demers.St. Louis Blues goaltender Brian Elliott robbed the Dallas Stars defenseman with a beautiful pad save in the second period of Game 1 on Friday.Elliott was stellar through two periods, stopping 29 of 30 shots as the Stars outplayed the Blues heavily through two periods.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Three of the most gifted defensemen in the world are up for this year's Norris Trophy.Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson, Los Angeles Kings All-Star Drew Doughty, and San Jose Sharks do-it-all blue-liner Brent Burns are the finalists, the league announced Friday.Karlsson, a two-time winner of the award, is the early favorite, as he finished fourth in league scoring with a career-high 82 points.Doughty, considered Karlsson's counterpart for the trophy all season long, registered 51 points and a plus-24 rating this season for the Kings while logging 28:01 of ice-time per game.Burns set a career high in goals (27) and points (75) for the Sharks this season, and earned his third All-Star Game selection.The winner 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.

Come the Stanley Cup Playoffs, there's no sense in dwelling in the past, and the Tampa Bay Lightning know that.After relinquishing home-ice advantage in a 5-3 loss to the New York Islanders in Game 1, the Lightning are well aware the next game is crucial."We don’t want to lose Game 1 but understand the fact we have lost Game 1 in a series both home and the road and we’ve come back," head coach Jon Cooper said Friday, in reference to Tampa Bay's three Game 1 losses in last year's Stanley Cup Final run."We’re just making it hard on ourselves. Plus, it makes Game 2 paramount …We got home ice, we lost it but let’s put ourselves in a position to be 1-1 when we go (to Brooklyn). We’ve done this before. Let’s draw from our experiences and the past, but we’re going to have to play a little better than we did (Tuesday) night to pull this one out."Heading back to Brooklyn down 2-0 could pose a major problem for the Lightning, as the Islanders posted a record of 25-11-5 at the Barclays Center this season."The way you look at the playoffs, the next game is always a must-win," Lightning forward Alex Killorn said. "Especially at home when you're going down one game, you don't want to go to Brooklyn two games down."Tampa Bay turned in a strong effort in Game 1, but a 33-save performance from Thomas Greiss thwarted the Lightning's comeback.Game 2 goes Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After having yet another playoff run with high expectations yield the same disappointing result, Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray knows change is a necessity.The first head to roll was head coach Bruce Boudreau, who was let go Friday after leading the Ducks to four consecutive Pacific division titles.Boudreau was the latest victim of the organization's playoff disappointment, because after all, it's easier to replace a coach than a 23-man roster.But the coach doesn't play the game, and Murray is looking at those who do to right the ship."It's the way we go out. It's the way it happens," Murray said Friday, referring to the Ducks' four straight Game 7 eliminations. "Let's face it ... I'd like to know where the heck they were in Games 1 and 2. The players are going to have to answer that in the next four or five days. Where were they? They showed up in Game 7, but where was that passion? That controlled emotion? Where the heck was that? They're going to have to be held accountable too.""It's on all of us," Murray added. "I'm not pointing a gun. There are lots of people involved in this not going well. We're all held accountable."The core of Anaheim's roster, which has long been forwards Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, among others, came into question during Murray's press conference, and he believes his star players need to be held responsible as well."There are definite concerns in that area," said Murray, at Anaheim's state of the franchise address . "The core has to be held responsible. They have to be better. Maybe I haven't been hard enough in the last few years, but they're going to hear different words this time."Perry and Getzlaf had four and five points respectively in the Ducks opening round series versus the Nashville Predators.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhwaks have signed North Dakota forward Luke Johnson to a three-year entry-level contract, the club announced Friday.Johnson was selected 134th overall by the Blackhawks in 2013, and was a key member of North Dakota's championship winning roster last season.The 21-year-old registered 21 points in 43 games, and led the team in faceoff wins (394) and percentage (.549).Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames signed forward Daniel Pribyl to a two-year entry-level contract Friday.The 23-year-old enjoyed a breakout season in his sixth campaign with Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga, finishing second in league scoring with 45 points in 45 games, while also adding five goals and 11 points in nine playoff games.Pribyl was originally drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the sixth round in 2011, but never signed with the club.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres signed forward Johan Larsson to a one-year contract Friday.The 23-year-old is coming off his third season with the Sabres where he played a career-high 74 games while also hitting career-bests in goals and points with 10 and 17 respectively.The deal will pay Larsson $950,000, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.Larsson was originally drafted in the second round by the Minnesota Wild in 2010.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Chris Kunitz should play in Game 2 if all goes well.The 36-year-old took a puck to the ear in Game 1 against the Washington Capitals, but according to head coach Mike Sullivan, he should be fine."Chris Kunitz would be day to day," said Sullivan. "Hopefully Chris will be okay. We think he will be."Kunitz has spent time on the club's third line and has managed just one assist in six games this postseason.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks surprised very few when they announced the firing of head coach Bruce Boudreau Friday.The 61-year-old was shown the door less than 48 hours after his team fell in Game 7 to the Nashville Predators.For Boudreau it marked the fourth straight season that his team has been booted from the postseason in a pivotal Game 7. He concludes his time with the Ducks with a 209-104-40 record and an outstanding .648 winning percentage.The Ducks felt the need for a change behind the bench and they are not alone. Boudreau is bound to be a hot commodity on the open market with several teams waiting idly by.Here are three teams that should inquire about his services immediately.Ottawa SenatorsThe Ottawa Senators are currently in the midst of an extensive search for the team's next head coach.The club has already spoken with former Minnesota Wild head coach Mike Yeo and Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the team has scheduled interviews with Guy Boucher and Marc Crawford.The latter have both been absent from the NHL for the past three and four years respectively and while successful - both should be secondary options next to Boudreau.

Tom Wilson may have escaped timed penalty, but not the monetary kind.The bulldozing Washington Capitals winger received a maximum allowable fine of $2,404 for kneeing Conor Sheary in Game 1 versus the Pittsburgh Penguins, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Friday.Almost always toeing the line, Wilson drew significant ire for charging through the extended leg of Sheary, who was at a standstill after releasing the puck.Sheary finished the game, but wasn't at practice Friday along with Chris Kunitz, Matt Cullen, and Bryan Rust.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's a chance the communication lines at Rexall Place are compromised on Saturday. The rough estimate on that is 13.5 percent.Staffers will be busy sifting through hate mail, conspiracy takes, and all kinds of venom over at headquarters if the Oilers' lottery ball is plucked from the NHL's air machine again, and they're awarded the first selection at the draft for the fifth time in seven seasons.But regardless of whether Kevin Lowe or Craig MacTavish has to call hydro, or Peter Chiarelli slides behind the hysteria, accepting the fifth overall pick at a TV studio in Toronto, the working transmission must be fortified. And swiftly sprung into use.***It's the next most important summer in the history of the Edmonton Oilers, who after wasting another season - their last at Rexall Place - have indicated they may be finally prepared to make the leap.Chiarelli's now had a season to appraise a franchise whose commitment to the rebuilding process is only rivaled by its staunch devotion to its first-round lottery selections spent. In their failures to do the audacious, the Oilers have cemented their place as the NHL's punchline and the average fan's fall-back to cope with insecurities borne from their own frustrations. Rightly so. It's something the club must, and will continue wearing until it finally does something different - something lasting.In his short time with Edmonton, Chiarelli's only success has come working the margins. In an effort to be "Bruin-ized," he acquired Zack Kassian and Patrick Maroon - two big bodies who quickly carved out roles - in-season and at virtually no risk. Where Chiarelli's failures lie is his sharing of the same reluctance to shake the roster at its very core. It's only been a season, but he's fallen into the same pattern as those who have previously failed to satiate the team's agonizing and glaring need since Chris Pronger requested a trade.After Dougie Hamilton landed with the rival Flames, Chiarelli almost seemed to panic in his pursuit of help on defense, impatiently trading a mid-first round pick for a slow-footed project before signing a veteran with a second-pairing ceiling to a lucrative long-term contract in free agency.But while the $33 million and Matt Barzal isn't coming back, and as much as it might feel this way, this situation is not beyond repair.Edmonton has retained every capability to deal from a position of saturated strength to fill their holes this summer, an opportunity only helped along by the valuable - and perhaps importantly faceless - top-five draft ticket they will toss into their asset pool Saturday night.It's absolutely imperative that this team starts to win, so when the lottery balls finally settle, and regardless of where they stand, it behooves the Oilers to use that leverage and unearth every option under the sun to aid a starving defensive corps.The last thing this team should do is wait on Olli Juolevi.Edmonton will have a competitive advantage with Travis Hamonic, and - only spit-balling here - might be able to broker a deal for a restricted free agent like Erik Gudbranson from the Panthers, or perhaps even pry Sami Vatanen or Hampus Lindholm from the Ducks.But to find that stallion on the back end, that elite defender who'll not just take 25 minutes a night but slot everyone down into their proper functions, it's going to take more than a draft pick.The Oilers must be willing to dig deep, to pillage their superfluous collection of top-six skill, and completely transform the environment around Connor McDavid to finally stop spinning their wheels.Full measures, this time. It's the only way out.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alexander Radulov will have a third stint in the NHL.Related: Report: Alexander Radulov not at Russia's World camp, considering NHL returnThe Russian forward confirmed that he will return to the NHL for the 2016-17 season, according to sport-express.ru's Igor Eronko.

Bruce Boudreau has suffered his last heartbreak in Anaheim.The Ducks announced Friday, two days after their fourth consecutive loss in a Game 7 on home ice, that they relieved Boudreau of his head coaching duties.The fastest coach to 400 wins, Boudreau's time in Anaheim ends with four consecutive division titles, and a sparkling 208-104-40 record. But for all his regular-season success, which includes another 200 wins in five seasons as the Washington Capitals' head coach, Boudreau has guided his ultra-talented teams past the second round once, and hasn't reached a Stanley Cup Final.His success, though, which includes organizing both the league's top power play and penalty kill, and also his ability to completely reshape the Ducks' scheme on the fly this season, will ensure he's not out of the game for very long. Fans and pundits alike are already linking him to the vacant Ottawa Senators job.General manager Bob Murray, who many thought was also vulnerable, released this statement:"I would like to thank Bruce for his hard work and dedication to the franchise. This was a very difficult decision to make. Bruce is a good coach and character person, and we wish him the best of luck in the future."Murray will presumably be charged with finding Boudreau's successor.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators search for a new bench boss appears to include a look at a couple more former NHL coaches.Related: 3 candidates to coach the SenatorsThe Senators have scheduled interviews with Marc Crawford and Guy Boucher, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported in his latest 30 Thoughts column.The Senators have already interviewed former Minnesota Wild head coach Mike Yeo. The team began their due diligence with an initial list of around 30 names, according to Friedman.Eyes could also shift to former Anaheim Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau who was fired Friday after his team's Game 7 loss to the Nashville Predators on Wednesday.Crawford and Boucher have both spent the last number of years coaching in Switzerland. Crawford has been with Zurich since the 2012-13 season - even having the opportunity to mentor highly touted prospect Auston Matthews this year. Meanwhile Boucher has coached Bern over the last three seasons.Both coaches are expected to return to North America this year.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators will tangle in the playoffs for the first time in nine years when the puck drops Friday.Both the Sharks and Predators enter the second round after knocking off higher seeds in their first-round matchups. The Sharks now sit atop the throne in California, while the Predators proved though they might get down, but they're never out.The Predators bested the Sharks in the regular season, taking the season series 2-0-1 while outscoring San Jose 10-6.However, previous playoff history strongly tips the scales back in the Sharks' favour. The two have squared off twice in playoffs past and both times (2006, 2007) the Sharks have walked out with a 4-1 series win.Heading in to the third installment, the Sharks should prevail once again and here is why:Brent BurnsThough the Sharks have just five games under their belt, they still hold the most productive defenseman this postseason.The bearded-wonder Brent Burns paces the league with eight points to date, good enough for an impressive 1.6 points per game.He has been the quarterback of a power-play unit that sits fifth among the remaining teams and he ranks second among defenders with three power-play points.Burns has nearly matched the Predators' entire defensive core in points per game largely due to his six assists.The Sharks forwards have also been more potent thanks in large part to Burns' six helpers. Burns has been in on 50 percent of his team's goals in the playoffs making it pretty obvious, the Predators must stop him.Sharks besting Predators statisticallyWhile the Predators may have taken the regular-season series from the Sharks, the fact is throughout the playoffs the Sharks have been out performing the Predators in most statistical categories.While the Sharks have had to play just five games to date, the team made quick work of the Los Angeles Kings and did so in commanding fashion as the numbers suggest.SharksStatPredators3.2Goals for22.2Goals against2.5723.8Power play3.878.6%Penalty kill84%25.6Shots for27.625Shots against28.645.6Corsi49.8While the Predators do edge the Sharks in three categories, the Sharks have outscored and outdefended the Predators. Special teams could be very telling of the series. The Predators have been the more penalized team of the two clubs while the Sharks boast a far superior power play.Simply put, the Predators will need to be better all around to compete.X-factor: Joe PavelskiThe Sharks have sat idly by for a week waiting for their second-round opponent, and in so have been keeping arguably the postseason's hottest goal-scorer waiting.Joe Pavelski went off in the first round, netting five goals and an assist in five games. His goal-scoring prowess is only matched by Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov.In his first year as captain, he had 11 more goals than the next highest-scoring Shark, and during the postseason leads the team in power-play goals and in shooting percentage with a wicked 35.7 percent success rate.Not to mention he has netted nearly a third of his club's goals so far.ScheduleGameDateTime (ET)LocationNetworks1Fri. April 2910:30 p.m.San JoseNBCSN/TVA Sports2Sun. May 18 p.m.San JoseNBCSN/TVA Sports3Tues. May 39 p.m.NashvilleUSA/TVA Sports4Thu. May 59 p.m.NashvilleCNBC/TVA Sports*5Sat. May 7TBDSan JoseTBD*6Mon. May 9TBDNashvilleTBD*7Thu. May 12TBDSan JoseTBD* If necessaryCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Though their season may be over, the Florida Panthers have not lost the support of their beloved Kevin Spacey.All votes on Thursday for the player to grace the NHL '17 cover were worth double on Twitter thanks to an EA Sports campaign. It was an opportunity that Spacey made sure to take full advantage of, casting his vote for forward Aleksander Barkov.

Another checkpoint has apparently been reached in the expansion process.TSN's Gary Lawless reported Friday morning that the NHL and NHPLA have agreed in principal to an expansion draft model and mandate on existing no-movement clauses.Lawless notes this doesn't mean that expansion is imminent, but that the agreement is a "major hurdle cleared" in the process because it couldn't be recommended by the NHL's executive committee without proper regulation in place.The NHL's working concept is believed to have each team losing one player per expansion entity, with the option to protect either seven forwards, three defensemen, and a goaltender, or eight skaters and a goaltender.Groups from Las Vegas and Quebec City are currently working through the NHL's exhaustive application process in hopes of obtaining a franchise for the 2017-18 season.If one, or both, is granted a team, the NHL's expansion draft, with the rules apparently now agreed upon, figures to take place at some point just over a year from now.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are a different beast. The games are tighter, the defense better, everybody's laying the body, and the goalies are practically unbeatable.The field's down to eight from 16. Here are three players who must improve in order to help send their teams to the final four.Paul StastnyPaul Stastny was an afterthought in the St. Louis Blues' seven-game first-round win over the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks - even though he played 21:42 a game.Now, his ice time matters, especially when Vladimir Tarasenko's playing only 17 minutes a game, and is unhappy about the fact. Tarasenko paced the Blues offensively, along with Jaden Schwartz and Robby Fabbri, while Stastny had only two assists.Making matters worse: Stastny finished the first round with a ghastly 43.7 Corsi For rating, according to War On Ice. Not only is he a non-factor offensively, the Blues are being peppered at the defensive end when he's on the ice. (Granted, the sample size is small.)It was a disappointing season for Stastny offensively, though, to his credit, he produced better than his first season in Missouri. But he's got to be get going, because the Dallas Stars are no pushover, and this may be his last chance at redemption.Evgeny KuznetsovIt's one thing to lead your team in scoring during the regular season, and another to do it in the playoffs.After exploding for a Washington Capitals-best 77 points in his second full season, Evgeny Kuznetsov managed only a power-play goal against the Philadelphia Flyers in six games in the first round, and was held pointless in Game 1 of the second round. Now, in Kuznetsov's defense, the Capitals' offense went cold as a whole in Round 1, as the Flyers almost pushed the series to seven games thanks to some puck luck and brilliant goaltending from Michal Neuvirth.But against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the focus is going to be on Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, so Kuznetsov heating up will go a long way for Washington. And he's done it before - he had five goals in 14 postseason games last spring.It's not that Kuznetsov is playing bad hockey - he went into Game 1 against Pittsburgh with a 59.4 Corsi For rating. The puck's just not finding the back of the net, as evidenced by his one goal on 20 shots.In other words, the hockey gods are playing a part.Filip ForsbergIt can't be understated how massive the Nashville Predators' first-round win over the Anaheim Ducks was. After blowing a 2-0 series lead, they rallied, backs against the wall, winning two elimination games, one of them - Game 7 - on the road.Problem is, they're going to have to do it again, as they face another formidable California foe in the San Jose Sharks. And they're going to need a little bit more out of Filip Forsberg, who managed only a goal and two assists in the first round.Should the Predators move on, it'll be thanks to their defense and Pekka Rinne. Nashville scored only 14 goals against the Ducks - in fact, the Predators were outscored, allowing 18 goals. But Forsberg's going to have to be more of an offensive factor if the Preds hope to get past a Sharks team stacked with scoring talent.The Swede needs some help, too. Ryan Johansen and James Neal had three points in seven games, as well, while Mike Ribeiro tallied only one assist, and Mike Fisher only one goal. The Predators, as a club, need a bit more bite.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

T.J. Oshie is living the dream, literally.Related: Watch: Capitals' Oshie wins Game 1 in OT with wraparound hat-trick goalThe Washington Capitals forward was the difference in Game 1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring his first-career playoff hat trick - including the overtime winner. It was a moment that brought back childhood memories."I haven't won too many championships in my lifetime," Oshie said, according to NHL.com's Katie Brown. "Maybe through the youth years. That's kind of the stuff you dream about when you're a kid playing in the backyard by yourself is scoring the OT winner and getting a hat trick. It was awesome."

If the Pittsburgh Penguins had it their way they would wrap things up in regulation.The club dropped Game 1 of their second-round series to the Washington Capitals Thursday thanks to a T.J. Oshie hat-trick goal in the fourth period.And while the club still gave a valiant effort it was just the latest in a series of bad outcomes in playoff overtime.

What a playoff game.The Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins opened their second-round series Thursday night with what can only be described as a thrilling game of spring puck. T.J. Oshie scored three times, including the winner - barely - in overtime on a wraparound. It needed review - the good kind - and Washington now needs to win three of six.And you need not worry: It was only 70 minutes, but this series is already living up to the hype. And neither Alex Ovechkin nor Sidney Crosby were factors in Game 1.Supporting castsTurns out, this series is going to be about a lot more than Sid and Ovie.Nick Bonino had a night in Game 1, stapling poor Dmitry Orlov to the bench in the process. T.J. Oshie went to the rink Thursday with six playoff goals to his name in 36 games, and made it nine in 37. Phil Kessel had six shots and an assist. Matt Niskanen - the former Penguin - played 32:13, including 27:24 at even strength. Kris Letang did him even better, skating 34 minutes, 30 at five on five. Brooks Orpik stepped back into the Caps lineup and played almost 26 minutes. Carl Hagelin had two assists.Crosby dominated the faceoff circle Thursday night, but if you weren't paying attention to the puck drops, you'd be forgiven for wondering whether Sid was out there at all. It was an uncharacteristically quiet game for No. 87, even though his 57.5 Corsi For rating says otherwise. And, yeah, plus-minus is a flawed statistic, but it's hard to ignore Crosby's minus-3 (we tried).After the game, talk focused on what Ovechkin didn't do, as rookie Matt Murray stopped No. 8 twice on breakaways. Ask Ovechkin and there's no way Game 1 should have been more than 60 minutes.But it was, and any extra hockey played by these two teams is a gift. These are two excellent teams, with skill - and brawn - up and down their lineups."You can expect a good series here," Oshie said after the game, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. "The momentum shifts, the big hits, the goals, overtime, the big saves. This is what the playoffs are all about," Oshie added, tweeted the Associated Press' Stephen Whyno.Amen.Solving BradenMurray played well between the Pittsburgh pipes. Especially in the first period, when he stopped 14 of 15 shots, weathering the early Capitals onslaught with aplomb. He had no chance on Andre Burakovsky's goal, which opened the scoring, as it came on a rebound. And we all know goalies can't be faulted for rebounds.The second and third periods, though, were about the Penguins and their march. Pittsburgh outshot Washington 30-12 in the game's final 40 minutes, solving Braden Holtby three times - a feat in and of itself.Holtby was perfect in overtime, stopping all six Penguins shots he faced, and he finished with 42 saves. Let's face it: He's better when he faces 40 or more shots. It was the first time Holtby allowed more than two goals in a game this spring and for the Penguins to come away without a win hurts, because he's not going to do it often.Murray's a good goalie with a bright future and it appears as though he'll be the man, as Marc-Andre Fleury remains in a suit. But to ask him to outplay Holtby is a task that he's unlikely to live up to.For as much digital ink is spilled about Ovechkin and Crosby and superstars in supporting roles like Evgeni Malkin and Nicklas Backstrom, this series may come down - like so many do at this time of year - to the men in the crease. And you're fooling only yourself if you think the Capitals don't have a marked advantage.Looking aheadIt was a physical game. Seventy-two hits. Numerous penalties. A knee-on-knee hit. And what makes the playoffs beautiful is that they'll do it again after only one day off.Game 2 goes Saturday at 8 p.m. in D.C. If you're a hockey fan, you're rooting for the Penguins. Because this series deserves to go as long as it possibly can.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Among Washington Capitals goaltenders, Braden Holtby stands alone in the playoffs.Holtby backstopped his team to a 4-3 win in Game 1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night. T.J. Oshie scored the winner in overtime, and his hat-trick marker gave Holtby his 21st career win in the postseason - a new Capitals record.Holtby entered the game with 20 career playoff wins, which is tied with Olaf Kolzig for the all-time club lead. Kolzig started 41 spring games for the Capitals during his career, while Thursday's start was Holtby's 41st, as well.The Penguins gave Holtby all he could handle, outshooting Washington 30-13 in the second and third periods combined. Holtby stopped all six shots he saw in overtime, and made 42 saves overall.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Ovechkin believes in a higher power. The hockey gods, at the very least.The NHL's best goal-scorer was sprung on two breakaways in Game 1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night - the second after an incredible tip pass by Nicklas Backstrom - but was stopped each time by rookie Matt Murray.Luckily for Ovechkin, his Washington Capitals teammate T.J. Oshie bailed him out, scoring his hat-trick goal on a wraparound in overtime."Thank God we win the game," Ovechkin said in the aftermath of his club's 4-3 win.The win was the 20th in 50 playoff games for the Capitals against the Penguins, and only the third in 10 in overtime, according to StatsCentre.

After a lengthy review, officials determined T.J. Oshie's overtime wraparound crossed the goal line ... but just barely.Related: Watch: Capitals' Oshie wins Game 1 in OT with wraparound hat-trick goalThe puck squeaked over the line and gave the Washington Capitals a 1-0 series lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins, but while the Capitals celebrated, Penguins goaltender Matt Murray thought the game should have continued."I don't know how the ref that called it a goal could have seen it from his angle," Murray told reporters after the game. "I think I had it."It's too late now for Murray and the Penguins, as the difference in a hard-fought Game 1 was a matter of millimeters.Game 2 goes Saturday night in Washington.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For a new hockey fan, Tony X. is a quick study.The St. Louis-based viral sensation - who gained a massive following by live-tweeting Game 7 between the Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks - correctly predicted that Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie would score the overtime winner Thursday night.Tony X. submitted his picks for the #BucciOvertimeChallenge, a Twitter tradition started by ESPN's John Buccigross.

Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov watched Game 1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins like most of us, but he has Nick Bonino to blame.Bonino absolutely owned Orlov on Pittsburgh's opening goal of the game Thursday, scored by Ben Lovejoy.Lovejoy's goal came at 10:40 of the second period.Orlov played 30 seconds in the third frame, and none after the 2:08 mark. He played a total of 5:44 over 12 shifts. That's big, considering the game went into overtime and dropped the Capitals to five defensemen.The other half of the bottom pair, Nate Schmidt played only 12:13 of the Capitals' Game 1 win, as Washington relied heavily on its top four of John Carlson, Karl Alzner, Matt Niskanen, and Brooks Orpik.Defenseman Ice TimeKarl Alzner27:56John Carlson29:49Matt Niskanen32:13Brooks Orpik25:56Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Steven Stamkos feels good. And that's the worst part.After having surgery in early April to remove a blood clot, Stamkos skated with his Tampa Bay Lightning teammates Tuesday, but while he's nearing game shape, he has no idea when that game will be played."It could be weeks. It could be months," Stamkos said, ESPN's Joe McDonald reports. "That's the tough part."Stamkos watched his team drop Game 1 against the New York Islanders on Wednesday, but he's on blood thinners, and that means there's almost no chance he plays in the second round. There's officially no timetable for his return, though he could return quickly after getting off the medication, which he's taking twice a day, according to Sportsnet's Arash Madani."That's why I'm trying to stay in shape," Stamkos said. "I wait it out, I work in the gym, I work on the ice and wait for the doctors to tell me what's next."It's a bit of a helpless situation for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. Like every other hockey player, this is the time of year Stamkos dreams about. But the Lightning aren't waiting for him to come back. They must play on without him."That's the frustrating part," Stamkos added. "When you're hurt with a broken hand or broken leg, you can't get out there and play because your body can't function properly. My body feels pretty good."Game 2 between the Lightning and Islanders goes Saturday at 3 p.m. in Tampa Bay. Stamkos will be watching, of course, and wishing.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Wilson is a notoriously rambunctious player, but the Washington Capitals enforcer may have crossed the line with this hit on Pittsburgh Penguins forward Conor Sheary.Wilson took a direct line at Sheary, and the knee-on-knee contact was missed by the referees, resulting in a missed penalty call.Sheary was shaken up on the Penguins bench after the collision, but remained in the game.A call from the Department of Player Safety is likely in Wilson's future.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anything can happen in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Just ask Washington Capitals forward Jay Beagle, who somehow got his stick caught in his visor. The struggle to get out it was very, very real.The still images were something, too:

Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are getting all of the hype, but don't forget about Evgeni Malkin.The Pittsburgh Penguins forward scored a highlight-reel goal Thursday night in Game 1 against the Washington Capitals, lifting an incredible shot just over Braden Holtby on his backhand.Malkin's second-period marker came less than a minute after teammate Ben Lovejoy tied the game, but Washington's T.J. Oshie scored 33 seconds after Malkin to tie it up again.The teams combined for three goals in 90 seconds.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

T.J. Oshie took it into his own hands to even the score in Washington on Thursday.Just 33 seconds after Evgeni Malkin gave the Pittsburgh Penguins a 2-1 lead, Oshie scorched the defense and fired a quick wrister to even Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals in the second period.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After missing the final three games of the first round, Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik will play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.An upper-body injury kept Orpik out of the lineup. He was pointless and played 18 minutes a game in the first round.Orpik was paired with John Carlson in warmups. The stay-at-home defenseman had three goals and seven assists in 41 games this season. He's a former Penguin, having spent the majority of his career in Pittsburgh after being drafted in the first round by the club in 2000.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Three veteran centers are in the running to be named the NHL's best defensive forward.Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins, Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings, and Ryan Kesler of the Anaheim Ducks are the 2016 finalists for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, announced Thursday.Bergeron took home the honor for the first time in 2012, and has won the award in each of the last two seasons.Kopitar was nominated in 2014 and 2015, but has never won.Kesler picked up the trophy in 2011.The 2016 winner 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.

With 46 goals and 106 points, Patrick Kane had one hell of a season.He became the first American-born player to win the scoring race, and is likely to take home the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player.While clearing out his locker after a rare Chicago Blackhawks first-round playoff exit, Kane said this season may have been the most fun he's ever had on the ice as a professional."I've had a lot of fun playing this year - maybe throughout the regular season, more fun than any year," Kane said Wednesday, according to Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun Times. "Teaming up with (Artem Anisimov and Artemi Panarin) on a line and seeing your chemistry build and scoring goals and being able to control the puck and playing the game that way you want, it was a lot of fun doing that."Although his career-high regular season was the league's best, the offseason that preceded it was the polar opposite. Kane was investigated for an accusation of sexual assault in the summer, though no charges were ultimately filed.Kane doesn't want to attract that type of spotlight again as he enters another offseason."Probably more than ever, you know that all eyes are on you," Kane said."I think it goes without saying that in today's world, with the social media and everything you're doing, you almost have to act like there's a camera on you or someone's watching you at all times, whether you like it or not. I guess you kind of live and learn from those situations."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Corey Perry isn't done playing competitive hockey this spring.The Anaheim Ducks forward will suit up for Canada at the World Hockey Championship in Russia in May, Hockey Canada announced Thursday.Perry and the Ducks were eliminated by the Nashville Predators in Game 7 of their first-round series Wednesday night.The 30-year-old winger has represented Canada three times, winning two Olympic gold medals (2010 and 2014) and one gold at the World Junior Hockey Championship in 2005.Hockey Canada also confirmed the additions of Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba and New York Rangers forward Derick Brassard to the Canadian roster.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2015-16 season represented a rebirth of sorts for Joe Thornton.Although he'd produced 65 points the season prior, Thornton's status with the San Jose Sharks came into question as the entire organization endured a tumultuous campaign.Thornton was stripped of his captaincy, and was rumored to be at wits' end with former Sharks coach Todd McLellan as San Jose missed the playoffs for the first time in Thornton's 10 years with the club.A year later, and now an alternate captain, Thornton collected 82 points - his highest total since 2009-10. His production came as no surprise to first-year Sharks coach Peter DeBoer."He truly loves being at the rink, being around the guys," DeBoer told USA Today's Kevin Allen. "He loves practice to a fault."The biggest knock on Thornton - and the Sharks as a franchise - has been an inability to get it done in the playoffs.As the center of attention, the brunt of the blame fell on Thornton's shoulders, and a Stanley Cup is the one thing missing from his sparkling resume. But the idea that Thornton is the reason for San Jose's playoff futility is simply untrue, according to his coach."It's a misconception," DeBoer said. "When you hear that, and when you are around Joe Thornton, you realize how ridiculous it is. This guy is exactly what you want in your dressing room and on the ice if you are trying to win a championship."In 137 career postseason games, Thornton has registered 103 points, including three points in five playoff games this season."The fact that he hasn't won (a championship) has nothing to do with him or the effort he puts in," DeBoer added. "I don't think he could be a better leader or example or have more passion for winning. He's just one of those guys whose stars haven't aligned yet."Thornton and the Sharks begin their second-round series versus Nashville on Saturday night.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A pair of Florida Panthers forwards will play for Finland at the upcoming World Hockey Championship.Aleksander Barkov and Jussi Jokinen are headed to Russia next month to represent their home nation at the tournament, which runs May 6-22 in Moscow and St. Petersburg.Barkov notched a career-high 28 goals and 59 points in his third season with the Panthers. He won bronze with Finland at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, and registered seven points in eight games at the 2015 World Championship.Jokinen recorded 60 points in 81 games with Florida in 2015-16. He'll be representing Finland at the tournament for a seventh time.The veteran winger has two Olympic medals to his name, earning a silver for Finland in 2006 and a bronze in 2014.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Conn Smythe Trophy for the league's postseason MVP remains almost exclusively reserved for a Stanley Cup champion. So, with just one round in the books, we acknowledge that it's far too soon to really consider anyone for the career-defining honor.But of course, that hasn't stopped us from ranking individual performances with antecedent information we've gained from series to series before.So, back for another spring, it's theScore's Conn Smythe Power Rankings:1) Braden Holtby, Washington CapitalsThe greatness not necessarily required throughout the regular season was from the Vezina Trophy front-runner in Round 1.Holtby posted a .968 save clip and 0.84 goals-against average, and allowed five goals with two recorded shutouts for the Capitals (he had three in the regular season) in their six-game triumph over the Flyers, helping them avoid a potentially calamitous collapse after their offense ran dry.Washington scored six times at even strength in the series, and only twice in its three elimination tries, and will move onward having scored 14 goals (tied for the fewest among advancing teams) - a total a touch inflated by its garbage-time outburst in Game 3.2) John Tavares, New York IslandersTavares was, more than any other skater, absolutely essential for his team's advancement.The Islanders captain scored five times, totaling nine points, in the club's six-game series with the Panthers. He scored in the final minute to tie, and again in his 32nd minute of their double-overtime eliminator, almost single-handedly lifting the franchise to its first series win in 23 seasons.He's since taken the lead in postseason scoring with 11 points after netting a goal and assist in Game 1 versus the Lightning.3) Jamie Benn, Dallas StarsThe NHL's most consistent scorer, well, consistently scored in Round 1. Benn compiled four goals, six assists, and a league-best 10 points as the Stars vanquished Minnesota in six games.Most impressively, his dominance was most prevalent at even strength. He earned a league-best eight points at five-on-five, contributing on half the team's total production in that scenario.4) Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay LightningStepping into Steven Stamkos' shoes as the Lightning's specialized sniper, Kucherov provided virtually all the offense Tampa Bay needed to slip past the Red Wings for a second straight spring.Kucherov was one of just two players to score goals at a per-game rate in Round 1, scoring five times on 15 shots. He was in on 75 percent of the team's total offense, assisting three times.5) Brent Burns, San Jose SharksThe lone defender to produce better than a point per game, Burns tallied twice and collected eight points as the Sharks swiftly broke down the best statistically defensive team in the West.To that, he was miles ahead of Drew Doughty in the series, a showcase that might give pause to Norris Trophy voters. Or not.Of noteSidney Crosby - Eight points and the driving force behind a power play that fired at a 38 percent clip.Alex Pietrangelo - A rock on the back end for St. Louis, he took almost 214 minutes in seven games versus the Blackhawks, adding six points. How did his own general manager leave him off Team Canada again?Joe Pavelski - The only other per-game goal-scorer in these playoffs, how quickly the Sharks did away with Los Angeles might be the only thing holding him back.Pekka Rinne - Rinne did everything to rid himself of his haunting season in goal for the Predators by stealing Game 7 with 36 saves in Anaheim.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.