NHL

It almost happened again, but the Dallas Stars hung on this time.They escaped with a 5-3 win on Thursday night at American Airlines Center to tie their Western Conference second-round playoff series with the Colorado Avalanche at 1-1.The Stars lost Game 1 on Tuesday night 4-3 in overtime after blowing …

The New York Rangers did it again on Thursday night, beating the Carolina Hurricanes in overtime, 3-2, for the second consecutive game. They now have a commanding 3-0 series lead and remain perfect in the playoffs with a 7-0 record through the first two rounds.Artemi Panarin scored the game-winning goal …

Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said star center Leon Draisaitl could miss Friday night’s Game 2 of the Western Conference second-round playoff series against the Vancouver Canucks.After assisting on Edmonton’s two first-period goals in the 5-4 loss, Draisaitl missed the last half of the second period. He headed to …

5:53 p.m.: Chytil is listed on the Rangers’ lineup card for Game 3 and will play, per The Athletic’s Peter Baugh. He’s been taken off long-term injured reserve as a result, although the move has no salary cap ramifications in the postseason.5:43 p.m.: Pre-game line rushes indicate that Rangers center Filip …

The offseason has arrived for three-quarters of the NHL for teams that either missed the playoffs or were eliminated in the first round.  Accordingly, it’s now time to examine what they will need to accomplish over the coming months.  Next up is a look at Utah.The hockey operations staff that …

It was the news that surprised absolutely nobody.After five seasons and four first-round playoff exits, 43-year-old Sheldon Keefe was fired as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday after a run that included a 212-97-40 record, five playoff appearances and one division title.Keefe’s teams performed well during the …

 Is Leon Draisaitl healthy?That has to be the question after the Edmonton Oilers star center played only 16:43 in the 5-4 loss Wednesday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference second-round series on Wednesday night, in which the Oilers blew a three-goal lead.After assisting on Edmonton’s two first-period goals, …

The Utah-based NHL franchise may not have a name, mascot or brand identity for its inaugural season in 2024, but that will change in 2025.Team owner Ryan Smith, who also owns the NBA’s Utah Jazz, put out a link on Wednesday evening for fans to vote on the name of …

It has been many years since Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand licked an opponent during a playoff game, but it appears he will never live it down. There were several tense moments in the third period of Game 2 of the series between the Bruins and Florida Panthers on …

The Toronto Maple Leafs relieved head coach Sheldon Keefe of his duties Thursday morning after their latest first-round exit in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The team will begin a coaching search immediately and has not named a replacement. Toronto was eliminated by the Boston Bruins on Saturday night in a 2-1 …

David Pastrnak had his helmet knocked off during a fight with Matthew Tkachuk late in his Boston Bruins’ ugly loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference second-round playoff series on Wednesday night. The Panthers hammered the Bruins 6-1 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, …

The Edmonton Oilers had not lost a game during the entire regular season in which they had led by two or more goals after two periods. But that was the regular season. The Vancouver Canucks scored three goals in 4:48 in the third period to rally for a 5-4 come-from-behind …

There’s no NHL team facing more pressure to finally get the job done than the Edmonton Oilers. After losing to the eventual champion Vegas Golden Knights last year, Edmonton entered this season with the hockey world wondering how it would respond. But after making quick work of the Los Angeles Kings …

In the Boston Bruins’ 6-1 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday, David Pastrnak showed some guts, agreeing to fight Matthew Tkachuk near the end of the blowout.  However, while both combatants clearly agreed upon the fight, …

After a slow start in the series and in the first period Wednesday night, the Florida Panthers got back to their team personality: Skilled, fast and physical.The Panthers evened their Eastern Conference second-round series at one game each with a 6-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night at …

At the beginning of the season, Juraj Slafkovsky struggled mightily to the point where many felt he should have been assigned to the minors.  Instead, Montreal went the other way and put him on the top line and things clicked for him from there.  The top pick in 2022 went on …

Brad Marchand does not get too many chances to show off his jumping ability but he did so Wednesday night. After Marchand’s hit caused a turnover in the Florida Panthers zone, Marchand, the Bruins captain, leaped over Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola in setting up Charlie Coyle’s goal with 7:48 …

Now that the first 16 picks of the 2024 NHL Draft have been finalized following Tuesday night’s draft lottery, let’s take a look at some of the top prospects in this year’s class.Here’s five players to know not named Macklin Celebrini, the presumed 2024 No. 1 pick.Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan …

The National Hockey League has announced the three finalists for the 2024 Ted Lindsay Award, given to the most outstanding player in the NHL as voted on by the players. The finalists are Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche and Auston Matthews of …

Miles Wood’s overtime goal 11:03 into the extra period capped a rally from a three-goal deficit to give the Colorado Avalanche a 4-3 win over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The Avalanche take a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference second-round playoff series. …

The New York Rangers took a commanding 2-0 series lead against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night thanks to a 4-3 double overtime win.  Forward Vincent Trocheck won it with a power play goal, which was a fitting result given the way special teams has already swung the series …

The San Jose Sharks will have the No. 1 pick for the time ever later this summer after winning the 2024 NHL Draft Lottery on Tuesday night. The Sharks finished the regular season with the NHL’s worst record and had the highest odds going into Tuesday’s lottery. The top 16 picks …

It will be a bit of a homecoming for Macklin Celebrini.The San Jose Sharks won the NHL Draft Lottery on Tuesday and the right to pick first in the 2024 NHL Draft, which will be held at the Sphere in Las Vegas June 28-29.Celebrini is the consensus choice to be …

The Sharks have officially won the race for superstar prospect Macklin Celebrini — the consensus top prospect in the 2024 NHL Draft. The franchise landed the top pick in this year’s draft after going into the lottery as a favorite with an 18.5 percent chance.Celebrini recently became the youngest player …

The Western Conference second-round playoff series between the Oilers and Canucks begins Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET.Edmonton eliminated the Los Angeles Kings in five games in the first round while Vancouver defeated the Nashville Predators in six games.Here are the three reasons why the Oilers will win the series:1. Too …

Germany will be without one of its best players in the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship, which begins on Friday and runs through May 26, in Prague and Ostrava, Czechia, because of insurance.Or, rather, the lack of it.Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider’s three-year, entry-level contract ran out at …

The Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov, the Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon and the Oilers’ Connor McDavid have been named the finalists for the 2024 Hart Trophy, per Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek.When the final votes come out, this will likely be one of the closest ballots in recent memory. Out of the gate, there’s no clear favorite. Kucherov …

The Boston Bruins didn’t seem tired at all. Despite just finishing their first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night the Bruins took the opener of their Eastern Conference second-round series on Monday evening at Amerant Bank Arena, 5-1, over the Florida Panthers, who have had the …

Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo missed the team’s morning skate in Sunrise, Florida, on Monday because he was with his wife, Mayson, who had delivered the couple’s second child, Crew. But Carlo grabbed a flight and was there in plenty of time for Game 1 of the Bruins’ Eastern …

Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei broke a 1-1 tie with an absolute heater in the second period of Game 1 in Boston’s second-round series with the Panthers. Defenseman Parker Wotherspoon recorded an assist on the goal, sending the puck to Lohrei, who ripped a shot that Panthers …

The Western Conference second-round playoff series between the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche begins Tuesday at the American Airlines Center at 9:30 p.m. ET.The Stars eliminated the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights in seven games in the first round while the Avalanche defeated the Winnipeg Jets in …

Green finished 2023-24 as the interim head coach for the Devils, who fired Lindy Ruff four days before the trade deadline in a last-ditch effort to make the playoffs. While he remained in consideration for their still-open vacancy, New Jersey granted him permission to speak to Ottawa, Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch …

Bowness, 69, had mulled retirement two seasons ago after the Stars announced he wouldn’t be returning as their bench boss, but he was offered a two-year agreement with a one-year club option from the Jets to stay in the game. Speaking to reporters last week, Bowness said the team hadn’t …

The Swiss Ice Hockey Federation announced its roster for the 2024 World Championship on Monday, becoming the final team in Group A to do so. Its complement of players, staffed with a handful of current impact NHLers and former major-league players, will aim to reverse some disappointing results for Switzerland in …

The Dallas Stars advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 2-1 Game 7 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday night at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The Stars will play the Colorado Avalanche in Round 2. Dallas’ fourth line …

The New York Rangers held on for a 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday at Madison Square Garden to take a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference second-round playoff series. Game 2 is Tuesday night in New York. It is the Rangers fifth consecutive …

After beating the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games to move on to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Florida Panthers spent a few days waiting to see if their next opponent would be the Boston Bruins or Toronto Maple Leafs. It ended up being the …

After avoiding blowing a 3-1 series lead in successive seasons with its 2-1 overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night, the Boston Bruins will immediately face the team that beat them three times in a row facing elimination in the first-round of the 2023 playoffs, the Florida …

Team Finland has finalized its roster for the 2024 IIHF World Championship, with the additions of Jesse Puljujarvi and Valtteri Puustinen bringing the lineup to a full 23 skaters and three goalies. The lineup isn’t too deep with NHL talent, though it does feature top 2024 NHL Draft prospect Konsta Helenius, …

The NHL has announced the finalists for the 2024 Selke Trophy, awarded annually to the forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game. Boston Bruins legend Patrice Bergeron took home the trophy last season, marking his sixth time winning the award.This year’s Selke Trophy finalists …

USA Hockey has invited nine more players to join its upcoming World Championship roster, including college hockey standouts Will Smith, Ryan Leonard and Trey Augustine. The roster now carries 21 skaters and two goaltenders, one shy of the limit for both positions. There’s been no indication of who could round out …

The Toronto Maple Leafs invented a new way to lose a Game 7 and crush their fans. Thanks to David Pastrnak’s goal just two minutes into overtime on Saturday night, the Boston Bruins were able to eliminate the Maple Leafs in the first round and set the wheels in motion for …

David Pastrnak stepped up. His goal 1:54 into overtime on Saturday night at TD Garden gave the Boston Bruins a 2-1 win in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bruins advance to play the Florida Panthers in the second round. …

Boston Bruins fans got an unexpected treat Saturday when franchise legend Patrice Bergeron made an appearance in Game 7 of their first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Bergeron was revealed to be the surprise fan banner captain before the action on the ice began. Once the former Bruins captain …

The Toronto Maple Leafs are turning to goalie Ilya Samsonov for Game 7 of their first-round series against the Boston Bruins on Saturday night, a shocking twist in the series before the winner-take-all game. Joseph Woll had started Games 5 and 6 of the series and backstopped the Maple Leafs to …

 No NHL team should be fooled by Pierre-Luc Dubois again. This is hockey, but a baseball term sums up the situation best: Three strikes and you’re out.Three teams have fallen for the center’s combination of size (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) and all-around skill. All three have wound up regretting it.First, it was …

The Maple Leafs may be getting generational goal-scorer Auston Matthews back in the lineup for Saturday night’s Game 7 against the Bruins, as he took morning skate and arrived at the arena with the team’s starters, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports. It’s not all good news for Toronto, though, as netminder …

The offseason has arrived for half of the league’s teams that aren’t taking part in the playoffs plus several others who have already been eliminated.  Accordingly, it’s now time to examine what they will need to accomplish over the coming months.  Next up is a look at Columbus.After a tough …

You know what’s cooler than 50 goals in an NHL season? Sixty goals in a season. By hitting the 60-goal mark, an NHL player reaches truly rarified air. Only 23 players have scored 60 or more goals in a season. That means many acclaimed lighters of the lamp have not …

The NHL continues to announce the finalists for its end-of-season awards. Saturday, it revealed the three contenders for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, given annually to “the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability”.  The finalists …

It’s not a surprise that the series between the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights is going to a Game 7.The Golden Knights ensured that with a 2-0 win on Friday night in Game 6 at T-Mobile Arena in Vegas. Game 7 is Sunday at American Airlines Center in …

Incredibly, the Vancouver Canucks advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Pius Suter’s goal with 1:39 left gave the Canucks a 1-0 win over the Nashville Predators on Friday night at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series in six games.Vancouver will play the …