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Panthers beat Bruins with late game-winner, advance to Eastern Conference final

Panthers beat Bruins with late game-winner, advance to Eastern Conference final

Jimmy Golen, Associated Press  |  Updated May 17 - 10:32 p.m.  |  Save Story

Gustav Forsling scored the tiebreaking goal on a rebound with 1:33 left to lead the Florida Panthers to a 2-1 victory and eliminate the Boston Bruins from their second-round playoff series in six games. Bobrovsky stopped 22 shots for the Panthers. They advance to the Eastern Conference finals, where they will face the New York Rangers. Game 1 is on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. Anton Lundell scored for the Panthers and also set up the game-winner. The Panthers also knocked the Bruins out of the playoffs after their record-setting regular-season last year. Jeremy Swayman stopped 26 shots for the Bruins. Pavel Zacha scored Boston's only goal.
Boston captain Brad Marchand returns for must-win Game 6 against Panthers

Boston captain Brad Marchand returns for must-win Game 6 against Panthers

The Associated Press  |  Posted May 17 - 4:45 p.m.  |  Save Story

Bruins captain Brad Marchand was dressed and back in the lineup for Boston in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Florida Panthers. Marchand missed two games with an undisclosed injury after getting hit in the head by Panthers forward Sam Bennett. The team's longest-tenured player and No. 2 scorer this season returned to practice on Friday morning and was deemed a game-time decision. Marchand had 29 goals and 38 assists in the regular season and 10 points in the first 10 games of the playoffs. The Panthers led the best-of-seven series 3-2.
Oilers thinking 'one game at a time' ahead of must-win Game 6 against Canucks

Oilers thinking 'one game at a time' ahead of must-win Game 6 against Canucks

The Associated Press  |  Posted May 17 - 4:38 p.m.  |  Save Story

The Edmonton Oilers have been here before, heading back home with their season on the line. They're hoping for a different result this time around. Last year, the Oilers fell behind Vegas 3-2 before returning to Edmonton for Game 6. The Golden Knights wrapped up the series with a 5-2 victory in that game and went on to win the Stanley Cup. The Oilers are in a must-win situation again after a 3-2 loss to Vancouver in Game 6 of their second-round Stanley playoff series. The Canucks hold a 3-2 edge in the best-of-seven matchup and can advance to the Western Conference final with a win in Saturday's Game 6 in Edmonton.
Toronto Maple Leafs hire Craig Berube as coach, hoping veteran can turn around longtime playoff woes

Toronto Maple Leafs hire Craig Berube as coach, hoping veteran can turn around longtime playoff woes

The Associated Press  |  Updated May 17 - 3:42 p.m.  |  Save Story

The Toronto Maple Leafs have hired Craig Berube as coach. Berube replaces Sheldon Keefe who was fired after another early playoff exit. Berube brings championship experience to the NHL's most intense market after coaching the St. Louis Blues to the Stanley Cup in 2019. The Leafs have the longest Cup drought in the league having not won it since 1967 when there were just six teams. This is Berube's third stint as an NHL head coach. He's also the third coach who will lead the Maple Leafs' core group of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares.
Stars center Roope Hintz out for Game 6 with upper-body injury; Avs without center Yakov Trenin

Stars center Roope Hintz out for Game 6 with upper-body injury; Avs without center Yakov Trenin

The Associated Press  |  Posted May 17 - 12:40 p.m.  |  Save Story

The Dallas Stars will be without center Roope Hintz for a second straight game because of an upper-body injury. Hintz will miss Game 6 of their second-round series with the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night. The Stars can advance to the Western Conference Final for the second year in a row with a win. Hintz left Monday's 5-1 victory at Colorado after blocking a shot in the first period. Earlier in the game, he went down hard when he was cross-checked by Nathan MacKinnon. Colorado will be without center Yakov Trenin because of an upper-body injury.
Kreider pushes Rangers to the NHL's Eastern Conference Final for the 2nd time in 3 postseasons

Kreider pushes Rangers to the NHL's Eastern Conference Final for the 2nd time in 3 postseasons

Aaron Beard, Associated Press  |  Posted May 17 - 4:00 a.m.  |  Save Story

The New York Rangers are in the Eastern Conference Final for the second time in three seasons after a big performance from Chris Kreider. The 33-year-old forward who has spent his entire 12-year career with the Rangers had a third-period hat trick for the Rangers to rally past Carolina and close out that second-round playoff series in six games. Kreider leads the team with seven postseason goals and has 10 points. He has scored at least one point in seven of 10 playoff games. Kreider played in the Stanley Cup Final with the Rangers in 2014.
J.T. Miller's late goal lifts Canucks past Oilers to take a 3-2 series lead

J.T. Miller's late goal lifts Canucks past Oilers to take a 3-2 series lead

The Associated Press  |  Updated May 17 - 1:04 a.m.  |  Save Story

J.T. Miller scored with 33 seconds remaining to lead the Vancouver Canucks to a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers that put them a win away from the Western Conference Final. Carson Soucy and Phillip Di Giuseppe both scored in their returns to the lineup for Vancouver, which will try to wrap up the series in Game 6 on Saturday in Edmonton. Rookie Arturs Silovs made 21 saves for the Canucks. Evander Kane and Mattias Janmark scored for the Oilers, who got 32 saves from Calvin Pickard.
Kreider's 3rd-period hat trick lifts Rangers into Eastern Conference Final with win over Hurricanes

Kreider's 3rd-period hat trick lifts Rangers into Eastern Conference Final with win over Hurricanes

Aaron Beard, Associated Press  |  Updated May 16 - 10:11 p.m.  |  Save Story

Chris Kreider had a third-period hat trick to help the New York Rangers erase a two-goal deficit and beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3 to close out the second-round playoff series in six games and advance to the Eastern Conference Final. Kreider single-handedly erased the Hurricanes' 3-1 lead entering the final period. He had the winner when he tipped in Ryan Lindgren's pass to make it 4-3 at the 15:41 mark. Barclay Goodrow added an empty-netter. Martin Necas, Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho scored for Carolina, which had won two straight after falling into a 3-0 hole.
Marchand may return from injury for Game 6, says part of playoff hockey is 'trying to hurt someone'

Marchand may return from injury for Game 6, says part of playoff hockey is 'trying to hurt someone'

Pat Graham, Associated Press  |  Posted May 16 - 2:00 p.m.  |  Save Story

Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand wasn't too outraged over the disputed hit he took that's sidelined him for the past two games. Because in his view, hurting players comes with the territory in the postseason. He says "every time you step on the ice, someone's trying to hurt someone." Marchand may be back on the ice for Game 6 against Florida on Friday. He's been out since being staggered on a hit to his head from Panthers forward Sam Bennett in Game 3. Like Boston, the Colorado Avalanche have a chance to avoid elimination when they host Dallas on Friday.
Makar scores 2 goals and Avalanche beat Stars 5-3 in Game 5 to stay alive in playoffs

Makar scores 2 goals and Avalanche beat Stars 5-3 in Game 5 to stay alive in playoffs

Stephen Hawkins, Associated Press  |  Updated May 15 - 10:53 p.m.  |  Save Story

Colorado defenseman Cale Makar scored two goals, the second after Casey Mittelstadt's go-ahead tally in the third period and the Avalanche beat top-seeded Dallas 5-3 in Game 5. The Avs snapped their three-game losing streak and extended the second-round Western Conference Series. Game 6 is Friday night in Colorado. Mittelstadt scored just 1:12 into the third period to make it 3-2. Maker added an unassisted goal about three minutes later. Avalanche goalie Alexandar Georgiev had 23 saves. Stars goalie Jake Oettinger stopped 22 shots. Joe Pavelski had his first goal of these playoffs for the Stars. Miro Heiskanen and rookie Logan Stankoven scored the other Dallas goals, and Jason Robertson had two assists.
Utah's Connor Ingram wins major NHL perseverance award

Utah's Connor Ingram wins major NHL perseverance award

Carter Williams, KSL.com  |  Posted May 15 - 9:48 p.m.  |  Save Story

Utah goaltender Connor Ingram is being honored by the National Hockey League for his perseverance through mental health struggles.
Connor Ingram wins the Masterton Trophy for perseverance and dedication to hockey

Connor Ingram wins the Masterton Trophy for perseverance and dedication to hockey

Stephen Whyno, Associated Press  |  Posted May 15 - 6:00 p.m.  |  Save Story

Goaltender Connor Ingram has won the NHL's Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Ingram had a breakout season for the Arizona Coyotes years after seeking and receiving help from the player assistance program for an undiagnosed obsessive-compulsive disorder that led him to drink to cope with anxiety. The 27-year-old, now with Utah where the franchise moved to begin play in Salt Lake City in the fall, hopes sharing his story helps others with similar problems.
Tony Finau's agent reportedly tapped for top hockey position with Utah's NHL franchise

Tony Finau's agent reportedly tapped for top hockey position with Utah's NHL franchise

Sean Walker, KSL.com  |  Posted May 15 - 5:55 p.m.  |  Save Story

Utah's new NHL franchise reportedly has its first hire since relocating from the Valley of the Sun, and he has plenty of connections to Ryan Smith.
The New York Rangers were headed for another sweep. Now they're fighting to close out Carolina

The New York Rangers were headed for another sweep. Now they're fighting to close out Carolina

Aaron Beard, Associated Press  |  Posted May 15 - 2:13 p.m.  |  Save Story

The New York Rangers have gone from being on the verge of sweeping the Carolina Hurricanes to battling to close them out. The Hurricanes have won two straight games after falling behind 3-0 in the series. They have home-ice advantage for Thursday's Game 6 with a chance to even the series and force Game 7 in their second-round series in the NHL playoffs. The schedule also includes Edmonton and Vancouver playing Game 5 in a 2-2 series in the Western Conference.
Participation in the NHL's player assistance program is up this season. That may not be a bad thing

Participation in the NHL's player assistance program is up this season. That may not be a bad thing

Stephen Whyno And Pat Graham, Associated Press  |  Updated May 15 - 1:46 p.m.  |  Save Story

Five NHL players left their teams this season to receive care from an off-ice assistance program run by the league and union. That's the same number that entered the program the previous three seasons combined. Officials believe the increase can be credited to a growing trust in the program that has been around since 1996 and also mirrors the general population getting help since the pandemic. The venture offers assistance for drug and alcohol use as well as mental health issues. Colorado defenseman Samuel Girard says it changed his life.
Stars center Roope Hintz out for Game 5 against the Avalanche with upper-body injury

Stars center Roope Hintz out for Game 5 against the Avalanche with upper-body injury

The Associated Press  |  Posted May 15 - 12:04 p.m.  |  Save Story

Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz is out for Game 5 of their Western Conference playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche because of an upper-body injury. Stars coach Pete DeBoer said Radek Faksa will be back in the lineup Wednesday night. Hintz played only 6 1/2 minutes Monday before leaving in the first period of Game 4. Faksa hasn't played since Game 1 against the Avs on May 7, two nights after scoring the game-winning goal in the Game 7 clincher against Vegas. A victory on Wednesday night would send the Stars to the Western Conference Final for the second year in a row.
Bouchard scores late winner, Oilers edge Canucks 3-2 to tie playoff series at 2 games apiece

Bouchard scores late winner, Oilers edge Canucks 3-2 to tie playoff series at 2 games apiece

The Associated Press  |  Updated May 15 - 7:08 a.m.  |  Save Story

Evan Bouchard scored the game-winning goal with 38.1 seconds remaining and the Edmonton Oilers edged the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in Game 4 of their second-round playoff series. The victory evened the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series at 2-2, with Game 5 set for Thursday night in Vancouver. Leon Draisaitl opened the scoring for the Oilers on a first-period power play and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins added a tally late in the second period. Conor Garland and Dakota Joshua had third-period goals for the Canucks. Calvin Pickard made 19 saves in his first-ever NHL playoff start, while Arturs Silovs stopped 27 for Vancouver.
Swayman delivers on vow, Bruins top Panthers 2-1 in Game 5 to stave off elimination

Swayman delivers on vow, Bruins top Panthers 2-1 in Game 5 to stave off elimination

Tim Reynolds, Associated Press  |  Updated May 14 - 8:58 p.m.  |  Save Story

and finally found a way to hold the Panthers' offense in check. Sam Reinhart scored for Florida, and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 26 shots.
From one Rangers captain to another: Jacob Trouba earns NHL's Mark Messier Leadership Award

From one Rangers captain to another: Jacob Trouba earns NHL's Mark Messier Leadership Award

The Associated Press  |  Posted May 14 - 5:33 p.m.  |  Save Story

From one former New York Rangers to a current one, Jacob Trouba was selected as the winner of the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award, the league announced. The award winner is selected personally by Messier and presented since 2007 to a player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice, and plays a leading role in his community to grow the sport. Trouba is the first Rangers' player to earn the honor after helping lead his team to a franchise-best 55 wins and a Presidents' Trophy for leading the NHL with 114 points.
Colorado Avalanche try to forge ahead after losing Valeri Nichushkin to six-month suspension

Colorado Avalanche try to forge ahead after losing Valeri Nichushkin to six-month suspension

Pat Graham, Associated Press  |  Updated May 14 - 4:24 p.m.  |  Save Story

For a second consecutive year, the Avalanche are on the brink of elimination with Valeri Nichushkin, one of their top players, unavailable due to circumstances away from the ice. The 29-year-old Russian forward was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in stage 3 of the league's player assistance program. The National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players' Association announced the news about an hour before the start of the Avalanche's 5-1 loss to the Dallas Stars in Game 4. The Avalanche trail the second-round series 3-1.