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Steven Stamkos scores twice, Lightning avoid elimination with 6-3 victory over Panthers
Mark Didtler, Associated Press | Posted April 27 - 6:03 p.m. | Save Story
Steven Stamkos scored his fourth and fifth goals of the series and the Tampa Bay Lightning avoided elimination with a 6-3 victory over the Florida Panthers in Game 4 of the first-round playoff matchup Saturday night. Game 5 is Monday night at Florida. Only four times in 206 tries has an NHL team rebounded from a 3-0 deficit to win a series. Nicholas Paul added a goal during a 5-on-3 power-play goal with 3:38 to go. Brandon Hagel had two goals and an assist, Brayden Point added a goal and two assists, and Nicholas Paul also scored for the Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 22 saves, with Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman both getting three assists.. Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Reinhart and Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored for Florida.
Jets' Brenden Dillon day-to-day after receiving stitches on hand for apparent cut from skate blade
The Associated Press | Posted April 27 - 5:24 p.m. | Save Story
Winnipeg defenseman Brenden Dillon is considered day-to-day after receiving stitches in his left hand where he was apparently cut by a skate blade. The Jets face Colorado in Game 4 on Sunday in a first-round series the Avalanche lead 2-1. Dillon suffered the laceration after the final horn of Game 3 on Friday, when several players were involved in a fight. Soon after, Dillon skated toward the locker room holding his bleeding hand. There was blood on the ice and on the back of Avalanche forward Brandon Duhaime's jersey.
Mathew Barzal scores in 2nd OT as Islanders beat Hurricanes 3-2 to avoid series sweep
Vin A. Cherwoo, Associated Press | Updated April 27 - 5:24 p.m. | Save Story
to help the Islanders stave off elimination. Seth Jarvis and Stefan Noesen each had a goal and Frederik Andersen finished with 33 saves for Carolina, which is seeking to advance to the second round for the fifth time in six years. Game 5 is Tuesday night in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Lightning D Sergachev is surprise addition to roster for must-win Game 4 against Panthers
The Associated Press | Updated April 27 - 3:37 p.m. | Save Story
Tampa Bay defenseman Mikhail Sergachev is a surprise addition to the lineup for a must-win Game 4 against the Florida Panthers after being out since early February with a broken left leg. Sergachev had surgery one day after he got hurt during a game at the New York Rangers on Feb. 8. Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper had said before the playoff series started that the top-four defenseman would miss the matchup. But in his pregame media session, Cooper indicated that some roster decisions would be made after the pregame skate. Sergachev appeared in 34 regular-season games, picking up two goals and 17 assists.
Rangers' Matt Rempe is in the spotlight again after his hit on Capitals' Trevor van Riemsdyk
Stephen Whyno, Associated Press | Posted April 27 - 2:21 p.m. | Save Story
Matt Rempe's hit on Trevor van Riemsdyk drew a two-minute minor penalty on the New York Rangers rookie and knocked the Washington Capitals defenseman out for the rest of that game. There was nothing more in terms of retribution or punishment. Rempe is available to play in Game 4 Sunday night when the NHL's top team can finish off a sweep. But van Riemsdyk is out for Washington. And now Rempe, a 6-foot-8 rookie who took the league by storm in recent months, is again squarely in the hockey spotlight, now at playoff time.
Draisaitl, Hyman lead Oilers to 6-1 rout of Kings to take 2-1 series lead
Joe Reedy, Associated Press | Updated April 27 - 1:00 a.m. | Save Story
Leon Draisaitl had two goals and an assist, Zach Hyman also scored twice and the Edmonton Oilers rode the momentum of three first-period goals to beat the Los Angeles Kings 6-1 and take a 2-1 lead in their first-round NHL playoffs series. Connor McDavid (one goal, two assists) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (three assists) also had three-point nights. McDavid is the first player since Wayne Gretzky in 1987 to have at least eight assists in the first three games. Evander Kane added a goal and an assist while Stuart Skinner stopped 27 shots. Drew Doughty had the Kings' lone goal early in the second period and Cam Talbot made 35 saves. Game 4 in the best-of-7 series is Sunday night.
MacKinnon, Nichushkin lead 5-goal outburst in 3rd period, Avs rally for 6-2 win over Jets in Game 3
Pat Graham, Associated Press | Updated April 27 - 12:59 a.m. | Save Story
Nathan MacKinnon and Valeri Nichushkin scored on the power play during a five-goal, third-period outburst and the Colorado Avalanche rallied for a 6-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 3. Alexandar Georgiev stopped 22 shots to give the Avalanche a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Trailing 2-1 in the final period, Colorado, the highest-scoring team in the league, began pouring it on. The Avalanche scored four times in a 10:24 span to energize the crowd. Game 4 is Sunday in the Mile High City.
Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon heads to locker room with hand bleeding after fight following game
Pat Graham, Associated Press | Updated April 27 - 12:33 a.m. | Save Story
Winnipeg defenseman Brenden Dillon quickly made his way down the tunnel with his hand bleeding after a fight at the end of the game Friday night. Dillon suffered what appeared to be a deep cut following a 6-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in Game 3 of their first-round series. The Jets had no update after the game or if the injury happened because of a skate blade. The fight started soon after the horn and involved several players. There was blood on the back of the Avalanche forward Brandon Duhaime's jersey and on the ice near the goal.
Casey DeSmith makes 29 saves as the Canucks take 2-1 series lead over the Preds
Teresa M. Walker, Associated Press | Updated April 26 - 10:09 p.m. | Save Story
Casey DeSmith made 29 saves for his first postseason victory as the Vancouver Canucks held on to beat the Nashville Predators 2-1 Friday night for a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven series to open the NHL playoffs. This was DeSmith's second straight start and third all-time in the playoffs with Thatcher Demko out since the series opener with an injury. J.T. Miller had a power-play goal and an assist. Brock Boeser's power-play goal was the game-winner as Vancouver took back home-ice advantage. Game 4 is Sunday in Nashville. Luke Evangelista helped Nashville avoid being shut out putting a wrister top shelf with 3:12 remaining.
Special teams carry Rangers to a Game 3 win and a 3-0 series lead on the Capitals
Stephen Whyno, Associated Press | Updated April 26 - 8:44 p.m. | Save Story
The New York Rangers are one win away from the advancing after beating the Washington Capitals 3-1 to take a 3-0 lead in their first-round series. Vincent Trocheck had a power-play goal and a short-handed assist in the dominant special teams performance. Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves at the other end to stymy the Capitals and push them to the brink of elimination. Chris Kreider and Barclay Goodrow also scored for the Rangers, and Mika Zibanejad had two assists. Game 4 is Sunday night in Washington.
Golden Knights have limited Stars' scoring chances to take 2-0 series lead
Mark Anderson, Associated Press | Posted April 26 - 4:34 p.m. | Save Story
The problems for Dallas are two-fold. The Stars aren't getting great scoring chances and for long stretches aren't even putting the puck on net. That's primarily why the Golden Knights are back in Las Vegas with a 2-0 lead in the first-round NHL playoffs series. Game 3 is Saturday night. The Stars didn't get a shot on goal in the second period of Game 1 until 8:52 into it. Vegas closed out Game 2 by holding Dallas without a shot on goal over the final 5:38.
Sergei Bobrovsky makes 26 saves, Panthers beat Lightning 5-3 to take 3-0 series lead
Mark Didtler, Associated Press | Updated April 25 - 9:00 p.m. | Save Story
Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves, Matthew Tkachuk scored twice and the Florida Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-3 on Thursday night to take a 3-0 lead in the first-round playoff series. Brandon Montour, Sam Reinhart and Steven Lorentz also scored for the Panthers, who will seek a sweep Saturday night in Tampa. Tkachuk had a first-period goal and added an empty-netter with 32 seconds left. Steven Stamkos, Tyler Motte and Nicholas Paul scored for Tampa Bay, with Paul cutting it to 4-3 with 5:10 left. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 26 shots.
Avalanche goalie Alexandar Georgiev hoping confidence boost carries into Game 3 against Jets
Pat Graham, Associated Press | Posted April 25 - 4:48 p.m. | Save Story
Alexandar Georgiev got out of his own way in order to get out of his own head. The Colorado goaltender imagined winning and all the feelings that went along with it. By keeping negative vibes at bay, Georgiev snapped out of his shot-stopping doldrums and helped the Avalanche split games in Winnipeg. Georgiev is confident he has rediscovered his confidence heading into Game 3 on Friday night in the Mile High City. This time of year, it's all about quickly turning the page, no matter the outcome.
Defending champion Golden Knights beat Stars 3-1 to take 2-0 series lead home to Vegas
Stephen Hawkins, Associated Press | Updated April 25 - 3:37 p.m. | Save Story
Noah Hanifin broke a tie with an unassisted goal late in the second period and the Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights beat the top-seeded Dallas Stars 3-1 on Wednesday night to take a 2-0 lead in the first-round series. Hanifin was one of the three trade-deadline acquisitions for the Knights, the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. Jonathan Marchessault scored his second goal of this series, and his franchise-record 36th in the postseason while appearing in all 90 of Vegas' playoff games. Jack Eichel assisted on Marchessault's goal and added an empty-netter. Logan Thompson had 20 saves in his second career playoff start. Game 3 is Saturday night in Las Vegas.
'Struggling' Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is hoping patience pays off soon against the Rangers
Stephen Whyno, Associated Press | Posted April 25 - 11:56 a.m. | Save Story
Alex Ovechkin has just one shot on goal through two games of the Washington Capitals' first-round playoff series against the New York Rangers, which they trail 2-0. Coach Spencer Carbery acknowledged Ovechkin is struggling. The No. 2 career goal-scorer in NHL history believes he needs to be more patient starting with Game 3 Friday night at home. Washington needs production from its longtime captain to get back in the series.
Seattle Kraken move games to over-the-air broadcaster with streaming on Amazon's Prime Video
The Associated Press | Updated April 25 - 10:26 a.m. | Save Story
The Seattle Kraken will move their games to an over-the-air broadcaster and have a streaming partnership with Amazon's Prime Video beginning with the 2024-25 season. The Kraken will be the first NHL team to have a streaming deal with Prime Video for all non-nationally televised games and will be available to Amazon Prime members in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has a minority stake in the ownership group of the Kraken. Seattle will partner with TEGNA for the over-the-air component, with most of the broadcasts airing on KONG-TV in Seattle. At least 15 of the games are expected to air on KING, the NBC affiliate in Seattle, with games also on TEGNA-owned stations in Portland, Oregon, and Spokane, Washington.
Blackhawks agree to a 6-year contract with defenseman Alex Vlasic
The Associated Press | Posted April 25 - 10:18 a.m. | Save Story
The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to a six-year contract with defenseman Alex Vlasic, rewarding one of their best young players with a long-term deal. The contract runs through the 2029-30 season with a $4.6 million salary-cap hit. Chicago went 23-53-6 this year, setting a franchise record for losses. But it is hoping for a turnaround as soon as next season, and the contract for Vlasic stamps the Illinois native as part of the team's young core. The 6-foot-6 Vlasic, who turns 23 in June, had two goals and 14 assists in 76 games this season.
Anze Kopitar scores in overtime, Kings beat Oilers 5-4 in Game 2 to tie series
The Associated Press | Updated April 25 - 12:52 a.m. | Save Story
Anze Kopitar fired a wrist shot past Stuart Skinner's glove and into the top corner on a breakaway to give the Los Angeles Kings a 5-4 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series. Los Angeles rebounded from a 7-4 loss Monday night in the opener to send the series to Los Angeles tied 1-1. Game 3 is Friday night. Adrian Kempe scored twice in the first period for Los Angeles. Drew Doughty also connected in the first for the Kings, making it 3-1. Kevin Fiala scored in the third, and Cam Talbot made 27 saves. Dylan Holloway scored twice for Edmonton, tying it at 4 early in the third period.
Bruins beat Maple Leafs 4-2 in Game 3 to take series lead
The Associated Press | Updated April 24 - 10:13 p.m. | Save Story
Brad Marchand broke a tie midway through the third period and the Boston Bruins beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 on Wednesday night to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round playoff series. After Todd Bertuzzi tied it for Toronto with 8:35 left, Marchard put the Bruins back in front 28 second later. He took a pass from Danton Heinen and ripped a shot past goalie Ilya Samsonov's ear. Marchand capped the scoring with an empty-netter and also had an assist. Jake DeBrusk and Trent Frederic also scored for Boston, and Jeremy Swayman made 28 saves. Matthew Knies also scored for Toronto, and Samsonov made 30 saves. Game 4 of the best-of-seven series is Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena.
