The second round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs is here, with the Tampa Bay Lightning–Florida Panthers and St. Louis Blues–Colorado Avalanche series opening Tuesday, and the New York Rangers–Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers–Calgary Flames series opening Wednesday. What do we expect to happen when the games begin? What have we learned so far? Who … Read more
When the New York Islanders fired coach Barry Trotz, general manager Lou Lamoriello believed the team needed a new voice. That new voice is coming from inside the same coaches’ room. The Islanders on Monday named Lane Lambert as Trotz’s replacement, giving his longtime assistant his first head coaching job in the NHL. It took … Read more
The Vegas Golden Knights have fired coach Peter DeBoer after failing to make the playoffs for the first time in their short history. “We would like to thank Pete DeBoer for his commitment to the Vegas Golden Knights over the past three seasons,” Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said in a statement. “Since joining … Read more
RALEIGH, NC — Patrice Bergeron bent over at the waist, stick placed over his knees, in the manner that every player who’s had his heart torn out knows too well. He circled in the neutral zone. He tapped Charlie McAvoy with his stick. He did the same with several teammates. Then Bergeron approached center ice. … Read more
The Edmonton Oilers eliminated the Los Angeles Kings in Game 7 at home on Saturday 2-0 as star Connor McDavid scored a goal and assisted on the game winner. McDavid had the primary assist on defenseman Cody Ceci’s second-period goal and tallied his own insurance goal late in the third period as this first-round series … Read more
Three Game 7s in one day? What a treat for hockey fans. The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs has been full of tight series and Saturday’s trio of Game 7s is the best example. This is the first time in eight years there have been three Game 7s on the same day. On … Read more
One NHL playoff streak ended while another one just kept right on going. Florida snapped its 26-year playoff series drought with a 4-3 overtime victory over the Washington Capitals in Game 6 Friday night. The Panthers hadn’t won a playoff series since 1996, when they appeared in a Stanley Cup Final. “[That series win] was … Read more
While the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs has included a few too many blowouts for our liking, it has also provided at least three Game 7s, the ultimate “tension convention.” According to ESPN Stats & Information, Saturday will be the first time since Apr. 30, 2014, that there will be three Game … Read more
(3M) Penguins at (2M) Rangers 7 p.m. ET; ESPN, CBC, SN, TVAS, MSG, ATTSN-PT Pittsburgh leads best-of-7 series 3-1 The New York Rangers return home after two road losses facing elimination from the Stanley Cup Playoffs in a must-win Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden. … Read more
I checked in on the “Trending” channel on social media after the first period of Game 5. The Maple Leafs were in the midst of what looked like another inglorious meltdown, getting stomped by the Tampa Bay Lightning and fortunately escaping the first 20 minutes down only 2-0 despite being outshot 14-4. The mood in … Read more