NHL

After an early second period goal from Blake Lizotte, it looked like the Los Angeles Kings might be on their way to making this series interesting, but the Edmonton Oilers’ stars had other plans.  For the remainder of the period, the iconic Oilers offense put on a vintage performance; …

On Wednesday, defenseman Alex Pietrangelo’s unnecessary penalty late in Game 5 helped set up the go-ahead powerplay goal in a pivotal 3-2 win for the Dallas Stars over the defending Stanley Cup-Champion Vegas Golden Knights, who are now only one loss away from a first-round exit. Following the loss, Golden Knights …

Finally, a home team won a game in this series. The Dallas Stars went up 3-2 on the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference first-round playoff series, thanks to the Stars’ 3-2 victory in Game 5 on Wednesday night at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The visitors won the …

An already-intense first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series between the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights became more so near the midway point of Game 5.  In the second period of a tied game 2-2, Stars forward Tyler Seguin delivered a massive hit on Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore, leading …

Will the Dallas Stars finally win on home ice for the first time this postseason or lose another tight matchup?  In Game 5 of their Western Conference first-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Stars responded quickly after they went down 1-0 early in the first period. At …

The Lindgren brothers said that once the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series between Ryan’s New York Rangers and Charlie’s Washington Capitals was over, they would start communicating again.But that hasn’t been the case.The brothers, who normally either talk or text regularly, agreed not to do either with each other during …

Brind’Amour’s current deal expires after this season. There have been extension talks throughout the year, but they did not discuss the framework of a deal last summer, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic and TSN reported in September. Other reporting over the past few months indicated Brind’Amour was waiting until extensions …

The Blues were one of the busiest teams on draft day in 2023, boasting three first-round picks. One of them had yet to sign his entry-level deal, but that’s changed Wednesday. Otto Stenberg, who was drafted 25th overall, has inked his three-year rookie contract, the club announced. Financial terms were …

The Tampa Bay Lightning and head coach Jon Cooper are only two days removed from being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, courtesy of their 6-1 loss in Game 5 to the Florida Panthers.Cooper said on Wednesday however, that one regret has caused him more distress than the …

The Washington Capitals’ loss in Game 4 of their first-round series against the New York Rangers on Sunday may have signaled the end of more than just their season. Longtime veteran T.J. Oshie, one of the few remaining Capitals from the 2018 Stanley Cup-winning squad, might be forced to …

The Canucks’ Quinn Hughes, the Predators’ Roman Josi and the Avalanche’s Cale Makar are this year’s Norris Trophy finalists for the league’s top defenseman, as announced Wednesday. Technically awarded “to the defense player who demonstrates the greatest all-round ability in the position throughout the season,” the Norris, like many others, is …

The Lightning have signed head coach Jon Cooper to a one-year extension, The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta reports. He’ll remain in Tampa through the 2025-26 campaign. He’d previously signed a three-year extension in October 2021 that ensured he’d be paid by the team through 2024-25. Speaking to reporters at this morning’s …

The Nashville Predators were the hunted on Tuesday night, but managed to survive.The Predators defeated the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver to stay alive in Game 5 of the Western Conference first-round playoff series.Game 6 is Friday as the series shifts to Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.Down 1-0, …

Mikko Rantanen finally got in on the Colorado Avalanche’s goal-scoring barrage.The star winger’s first two goals of the postseason came in the third period to break a tie on Tuesday night at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg and catapulted the Avalanche into the second round of the Stanley Cup …

The Carolina Hurricanes had already set a franchise record for the fastest two goals in a playoff game, so what better way to advance to the second round than to improve on that mark by a second. Jack Drury and Stefan Noesen scored eight seconds apart early in the …

The Carolina Hurricanes might finally have the correct recipe and the team to get over the hump and break through the glass ceiling they have been stuck under in the Eastern Conference.With Tuesday’s 6-3 win over the New York Islanders, the Hurricanes are through to the second round where they …

There was every reason to give up on the Toronto Maple Leafs going into Game 5 against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night. They were down 3-1 in the series and facing elimination. Boston had outplayed them in the series. They had years of playoff failures weighing on then.Even worse, their …

It took a while, but Evgeny Kuznetsov’s penalty-shot goal with 6:38 remaining in the first period gave the Carolina Hurricanes a 3-1 lead over the New York Islanders in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series. It took 11 seconds from the time Kuznetsov picked up the puck …

As if things weren’t bad enough for the Toronto Maple Leafs, center Auston Matthews was not in the lineup on Tuesday night for Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins. Toronto is facing elimination, down 3-1, in the series. Matthews, …

Top Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot is expected to spend the next two to three months recovering from a wrist surgery that’s set to take place in the coming weeks, reports Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun. Ottawa has spent the last month debating the necessity of this surgery, following Chabot’s …

The Toronto Maple Leafs will likely be without superstar Auston Matthews in Tuesday’s Game 5, reports Jonas Siegel and Chris Johnston of The Athletic. Matthews has played through an unknown illness in the team’s last two games, though he left before the third period of Game 4, getting pulled by team …

The Penguins have not received any formal requests to speak with head coach Mike Sullivan about other league vacancies, general manager Kyle Dubas told The Athletic’s Rob Rossi. However, that doesn’t mean they’re not internally debating the future of the rest of their coaching staff, as Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports internal …

Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas seemingly slammed the door shut on head coach Mike Sullivan possibly leaving the organization to join the New Jersey Devils this offseason.”There have been no requests and no permissions granted,” Dubas told Rob Rossi of The Athletic about whether the …

Heading into the 2022-23 season, Russian winger Matvei Michkov was the slam-dunk second-best prospect in the 2023 draft behind eventual Blackhawks first-overall pick Connor Bedard. Fast forward to draft day, though, and Michkov was still available with the Flyers’ pick at seventh overall. There were a couple of reasons for this …

The Toronto Maple Leafs face long odds in their first-round playoff match against the Boston Bruins. They enter Tuesday night’s road contest down 3-1 in the series. Multiple Leafs players said on Tuesday morning, however, that the team isn’t giving up and is using their opponent’s 2023 playoff collapse …

Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, Wild defenseman Brock Faber and Devils defenseman Luke Hughes have been named finalists for this year’s Calder Trophy, awarded to the league’s top rookie.Bedard, still just 18, led or tied for the lead in rookie (and Blackhawks) scoring with 22 goals, 39 assists and 61 points despite …

Home cooking is no good for the Dallas Stars nor the Vegas Golden Knights.At least in their Western Conference first-round playoff series it isn’t.The visiting team has won all four games of the series after the Stars’ 4-2 victory on Monday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The series is …

It’s official. The Florida Panthers are the NHL’s new Sunshine State champion.The Panthers eliminated their in-state rival Tampa Bay Lightning from the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 6-1 win on Monday night at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.Florida wins the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series 4-1.The Panthers, who …

Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe wouldn’t be denied on Florida’s first goal of Game 5 against the Lightning. Verhaeghe broke a scoreless tie in the opening minute of the second period when he scored a goal off a rebound from his initial miss. Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy stonewalled Verhaeghe’s first shot …

Considering how things have been going, it’s not a surprise the Vancouver Canucks don’t know who their goalie will be on Tuesday in Game 5 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series with the Nashville Predators.Despite using three goalies, the Canucks lead the series 3-1. Each goaltender has won a …

Hakstol, now 55, was hired as the first head coach in Kraken history in June 2021, four months before the puck dropped on the team’s inaugural season. The former Flyers bench boss had been working on Sheldon Keefe’s bench in Toronto as an assistant after getting fired by Philadelphia in …

The NHL has revealed the finalists for the 2024 Vezina Trophy, awarded each year to the top player at the goaltending position. Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark took home the award last year after backing a historically strong Bruins season.This year’s finalists are the Winnipeg Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck, the Florida …

The remaining teams in the Stanley Cup Playoffs are on notice.That’s because the high-flying offensive juggernaut that is the Edmonton Oilers won a 1-0 game with only 13 shots on goal Sunday night.Yes, you read that correctly. The win over the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles gives …

The Washington Capitals were the last team into the playoffs and the New York Rangers made sure the Capitals were the first out. The Rangers completed a four-game sweep in their Eastern Conference first-round series on Sunday night,  earning a 4-2 win at Capital One Arena in Washington. …

How are the Vancouver Canucks up 3-1 in this series?They have used three goalies — each has won a game — and have a combined 32 shots on goal in the last two games … both wins.Their 4-3 overtime victory over the Nashville Predators on Sunday was at least as …

After their rather uninspiring 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs are facing a 3-1 series deficit and facing elimination going into Game 5 in Boston on Tuesday night. Unless the Maple Leafs can find a way to win three straight games against a Boston …

The Vancouver Canucks have gone from their backup goalie to their No. 3 goaltender.Arturs Silovs started Sunday’s Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round series against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.Casey DeSmith, who started Game 2 and Game 3 for injured No, 1 goalie Thatcher Demko, was …

Valeri Nichushkin got the hat trick on Sunday but Cale Makar was the difference for the Colorado Avalanche.Maybe the best defenseman in the NHL had a big hand in turning a tie into a two-goal Avalanche lead in less than four minutes in Colorado’s 5-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets …

Colorado Avalanche left winger Artturi Lehkonen has turned into a goal-scoring machine this postseason. In Game 4 of their first-round Western Conference series against the Winnipeg Jets, Lehkonen scored a goal with 8:10 left in the first period, giving Colorado a 1-0 lead. Lehkonen is one reason …

It may not be possible to convey how much Wyatt Johnston’s overtime goal on Saturday night meant to the Dallas Stars. Of course, it gave them the 3-2 win in Game 3 on the road after losing the first two games at home to the Vegas …

When calling a player out for poor performance, most analysts, especially former players, do so as respectfully as possible. Then there’s what Paul Bissonnette of TNT did during the second intermission of Game 4 between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs.  With the Leafs trailing the Bruins 3-0 …

Boston Bruins pesky forward Brad Marchand is at it again.  In Game 4 of the Bruins’ first-round playoff series against the rival Toronto Maple Leafs, Marchand delivered a questionable hit near the end of the first period, going dangerously low on winger Tyler Bertuzzi.  In …

The man so many people in hockey love to hate got another milestone goal on Saturday night. Brad Marchand’s power-play goal 8:20 into the second period of Game 4 in the Easter Conference first-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs was his 56th career playoff goal. That breaks the …

If this was Steven Stamkos’ last game at Amalie Arena as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, he made it count.The veteran forward scored two goals in Saturday’s 6-3 win over the Florida Panthers and helped stave off elimination in their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.With Tampa Bay down …

We had our first double-overtime game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Saturday afternoon, and it resulted in the New York Islanders avoiding elimination and sending their first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes to a fifth game. Mathew Barzal ended up getting the winner to give the Islanders their …

 Another example of the grit of hockey players. Defenseman Mikhail Sergachev returned to the Tampa Bay Lightning lineup on Saturday only two-and-a-half months after breaking his left tibia and fibula on Feb 7. The Lightning are on the brink of elimination, trailing the Florida Panthers 3-0 in the Eastern …

Nashville Predators forward Michael McCarron did what he usually does, but this time he will have to pay for it.McCarron is 6-foot-6 and more than 230 pounds, and over a nine-season professional career, he has played 228 regular-season games with 23 goals, 48 points and 320 penalty minutes.As hockeyfights.com shows, …

The offseason has arrived for half of the league’s teams that aren’t taking part in the playoffs.  Accordingly, it’s now time to examine what they will need to accomplish over the coming months.  Next up is a look at Chicago.The Blackhawks had a rough 2022-23 season but were big winners …

Following a third-period collapse in Friday’s loss to Colorado which saw the Jets allow five unanswered goals, they’ve opted to make a roster move. The team announced today that they’ve recalled winger Axel Jonsson-Fjallby from AHL Manitoba.The 26-year-old split the regular season between the Jets and Moose. Jonsson-Fjallby started the season …

With the college free-agent market pretty much wrapped up, it’s time to take a look at the international market.  Unlike college free agency, most of these players are older and have multiple professional campaigns overseas under their belts, allowing for the possibility that they’ll be able to have a bigger …

What would an NHL team be without a goalie? Well, probably allowing a ton more goals. Some netminders are better than others, though. If you are the top goalie in an NHL campaign, you get to walk away with the Vezina Trophy. Back in the day, though, the Vezina was …

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are the resident superstars for the Edmonton Oilers, but Zach Hyman is averaging two goals per game in the playoffs.Hyman, who scored a career-high 54 goals during the regular season, got his fifth and sixth goals of the playoffs in the Oilers’ 6-1 win over …

The Colorado Avalanche used a five-goal explosion in the third period on Friday night to go up 2-1 in their Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets. The Avalanche defeated the Jets 6-2 at Ball Arena in Colorado. Game 4 is Sunday at Ball Arena at 2:30 p.m. Colorado …

Casey DeSmith has been a backup goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins for most of his career, but he took center stage on Friday night.DeSmith made 30 saves for his first career playoff win as the Vancouver Canucks held off the Nashville Predators 2-1 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville to take …

To say there has been a lot of speculation about Thatcher Demko’s injury would be a considerable understatement.  After playing the series opener against Nashville, Demko was ruled as out day-to-day and then week-to-week soon after, fueling plenty of theories about the nature of the injury.  Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports …

The New York Rangers are one game away from a sweep.They defeated the Washington Capitals 3-1 on Friday night at Washington’s Capital One Arena to go take a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.Game 4 is Sunday at the Capital One Arena at 8 p.m. ET.Vincent Trocheck …