from Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet,

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser is expected to miss Game 7 against Edmonton with a blood clotting issue.

The exact timeline for his return is unknown, but several sources stressed this, thankfully, is not considered a life-threatening situation.

It’s a big loss for the Canucks, as Boeser is having an excellent season — leading Vancouver with seven goals and 12 assists in 12 playoff games.

from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,

The Wings have six potential unrestricted free agents this summer, and they will not bring everyone back. Be it because of the need to incorporate young players into the lineup, or because of salary-cap issues, some useful veteran players will not return.

The need to re-sign talented restricted free agents Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider, both of whom will command large contracts, and the Wings suddenly creeping toward the salary-cap ceiling are big issues Yzerman must face....

Here is a look at the Wings' potential unrestricted free agents, and their 2023-24 salaries:

▶ Shayne Gostisbehere, 31, $4.125 million: The Wings will need to shed bodies on defense with Simon Edvinsson being inserted into the lineup and Albert Johansson no longer waiver-exempt. Gostisbehere is a pending UFA, but Yzerman expressed an interest, a strong interest actually, in bringing back the elite offensive defenseman. He's not as effective defensively, but the level of offense Gostisbehere brings (56 points, team-leading 29 power-play points) to the lineup can't be overlooked. Gostisbehere will be looking for a multi-year deal, and it wouldn't be surprising if he gets a competitive offer elsewhere. Return: Possible.

▶ Patrick Kane, age 35, $2.75 million (prorated): It was basically a no-lose gamble by the Wings when they signed Kane in November, and the Wings won big. Kane was superb, with 20 goals and 47 points in 50 games, and injecting the Wings with some valuable swagger and confidence. But at age 35, how far do you go with Kane on this upcoming contract? Kane showed he remains an impact player and will be looking for a much larger contract. Can the Wings commit to an expensive multi-year contract for an older player? Kane's comments at the end of the season didn't sound optimistic. Return: Possible.

more ($) players, Fisher and Perron (likely), Reimer and Sprong (unlikely)

from the CP at TSN,

Here’s the list of Aleksander Barkov’s top highlights from the Florida-Boston series: the go-ahead goal that sparked a Game 2 victory, scoring a spectacular game-winning goal to cap a comeback in Game 4, then blocking a shot late in Game 6 to keep things tied about 90 seconds before the Panthers won the game and clinched the series.

He did it all. And Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk heaped praise his way afterward.

“I don’t really even have words for what he’s doing for our team right now,” Tkachuk said. “He’s playing the best hockey in the world right now. He’s the best player in the world right now on both ends of the ice. He’s been unbelievable.”

The Panthers have plenty of standouts — among them, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has been stellar, Tkachuk is always dangerous, Sam Reinhart has scored more than 60 goals combined in the regular season and playoffs and Gustav Forsling is clearly one of the NHL’s best defensemen. But the unquestioned leader in the room is Barkov, who hoisted the Prince of Wales Trophy last season after Florida won the Eastern Conference for a berth in the Stanley Cup Final.

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from Amalie Benjamin of the NHL's website,

Ullmark is signed for another season, the final one of a four-year, $20 million contract he signed July 28, 2021. Asked about his future, he said, "My future here? I've got one more year. I'm very excited about what's to come. … I'm very motivated. Mixed in with some revenge, obviously, some inspiration as well, but most of all excitement of what's to come."

The Bruins will have a significant amount of space under the NHL salary cap next season that they will likely use to sign Swayman and try to upgrade at the center position. But it remains possible that they could opt to go with Swayman and trade Ullmark, something they reportedly explored before the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline on March 8.

"I have my (no-trade) list and my list is there. We've worked very hard for it," Ullmark said. "There is a reason for why it is there. That's something that the players before me worked really hard to get to the point that we have that luxury. There's a reason why it's there and there's a reason why certain teams are on there and there might be personal things, but that's up to each and every player to have."

The trade rumors this season were challenging for Ullmark, especially given how much he likes the situation he has in Boston.

"That's also one of the things that was new for me this year," he said. "I've never been a part of any trade talks before, so that was a new experience. Was it hard? Yeah, it was hard, because you're very comfortable where you are. You don't want to move when you feel like you're playing well and you have the team, you have the bonds in the teammates.

"For me, it's above my pay grade, really. I don't have the luxury to choose that. If I could, I'm probably going to say the same thing as everybody else. I want to stay and I'm going to stay, but we live in a world where in professional sport, you've got to deal with the hand you've been dealt with.

more

from Luke DeCock of the News & Observer at Yahoo,

The gambling ads are everywhere. On the boards. On the ice. During the commercials. In the middle of the broadcasts. When the Carolina Hurricanes played at PNC Arena during the playoffs, there were advertisements for three different online sportsbooks on the playing surface.

The ads have become overwhelming. They are ubiquitous, and for Aaron Ward, they’re a constant reminder of how he lost everything. He gambled away a life and career he has been trying to rebuild ever since.

Gambling wasn’t the only cause of Ward’s downfall, but it was his primary vice, his addiction, his escape from reality, until reality came crashing down on the former Hurricanes defenseman.

He lost his marriage, his prominent job on Canadian television and his place in the hockey media. He had to build entirely new relationships with his three children, whose childhood he scarred. His 2015 arrest after getting in an argument with his then-wife at their Cary home was the proximate cause — the charges were later dropped and expunged, which didn’t come with the same international headlines — but it was also the rock-bottom moment that led him to accept an offer of help.

“My agent, over and over, made attempts,” Ward said. “I’ve gone back to those people and reconciled: In retrospect, years later, I appreciate you. I just wasn’t in a place where I could recognize and understand what you meant by it. I just felt like I had everything under control. I was just completely hiding that I was out of control.”

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from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

- Freddy being Freddy. Where have you seen this before? Freddy Andersen did to the Carolina Hurricanes what he did to the Leafs way too often. He let it in a terrible goal with Carolina leading 3-1 in the third period of Game 6. The series with New York should have gone to a seventh game. The crappy goal — see Leafs vs. Capitals, Leafs vs. Bruins playoff time — is almost impossible to recover from.

- I give up. I don’t know what goalie interference is anymore, if I ever knew. And I don’t know cross checking is anymore, if I ever knew.

- For those counting, this is 11 seasons for Nathan MacKinnon — five of them with Cale Makar and just one Stanley Cup. It tells you, teams win championships in hockey, individuals do not.

- NHL goaltenders have never been better equipped or better prepared to play. But while they’re consumed with technique, too many still don’t know how to read the game or the play. It makes for more great stops and more dubious goals against than ever before … Ed Belfour was the most economical goalie I’ve ever seen up close. He was always square to the puck. He rarely made a great save because he didn’t have to.

more notes, including Berube/Leafs...

from Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now,

This is going to be Derek Lalonde’s third season on the job as head coach of the team when the Red Wings go to training camp in the fall. He’s also entering the last year of the three-year deal he signed with Detroit, so viewing it from the outside, it’s easy to see this as a make it or break it season concerningas his future with the team.

That being the case, it’s interesting to get a sense of the sentiments that the Red Wings players have of the job their bench boss is doing.

“Newsy, one thing I really respect about him and like about him as a coach is he’s always pretty even keeled,” Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin said. “He’s demanding but he knows how to get the best out of each guy I believe.

“Whether it’s different, or the same, I think he’s just really always the same, even keel. You know what you’re gonna get and I respect that.”

f you pay attention during Lalonde’s sessions with the media, his answers often take on a point-counterpoint aura. Reporters covering the team are often referring to this as Lalonde’s ‘yeah but’ instinct.

He’ll frequently follow a compliment about a player by highlighting a moment of an instance where they could’ve done something better, especially if it’s an example of how they hampered the team’s chances at success.

“I can’t say I’ve watched too much of what he’s like in the press room but he is a pretty calm guy, but he’s still passionate,” Red Wings forward J.T. Compher said. “There’s times where he’s fired up.”

read on

* The regular suspects rose to the occasion for the Oilers as either Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl factored on each of Edmonton’s five goals to help the club avoid elimination and force the 197th all-time Game 7 and third of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

* Connor McDavid’s 13th outing with three or more assists in 2023-24 (regular season & playoffs combined) helped the Oilers score at least five goals in a game to fend off elimination for the first time since Game 6 of the 2017 Second Round versus Anaheim.

* Leon Draisaitl extended his postseason-opening point streak to 11 games and joined elite company in Stanley Cup Playoffs history by recording his 100th career point in just 60 contests.

NEW YORK (May 18, 2024) – The National Hockey League today announced the dates, starting times and national broadcast information for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Finals. The Eastern Conference Final will feature the Florida Panthers versus the New York Rangers. The Western Conference Final will feature the Dallas Stars versus the winner of Monday’s Second Round series Game 7 between the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks. All times are ET and subject to change.

A win tonight in Edmonton will propel the Canucks to the Western Conference Final to play the Dallas Stars.

A loss would force a game 7 in Vancouver on Monday, with a winner take all scenario.

The game starts just after 8pm ET and can be watched on ESPN, CBC, Sportsnet and TVAS.

NEW YORK (May 18, 2024) – Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov is the 2023-24 recipient of the Frank J. Selke Trophy, recognizing “the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game,” as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Barkov is a Selke winner for the second time in his career, having become the first winner in franchise history in 2020-21. Adding a third-place finish in voting in 2021-22, the Panthers captain has been a Selke Trophy finalist in three of the past four seasons.

from Iain MacIntyre of Sportsnet,

If this thing doesn’t work out with the Vancouver Canucks — and being a National Hockey League coach carries the job security of a newspaper delivery person — Rick Tocchet could probably make more money batting cleanup for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Tocchet has mashed for power and average while pushing the Canucks to the brink of the franchise’s fourth conference final in 54 years and the first one since 2011.

Plus, we all know the Blue Jays need the help, although Tocchet is more likely to replace manager John Schneider than Vlad Guerrero Jr.

On Wednesday, after excoriating his team for its “passengers” while tied 2-2 in a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers, Tocchet reminded reporters that he was here to take his cuts at the plate. Twice fired as a head coach from unwinnable situations in Tampa and Phoenix, Tocchet made it clear soon after he was hired by the Canucks 16 months ago that he would swing for the fences, not try to work the count or sneak on base with a bunt. He did not come to Vancouver to play it safe.

“I told you guys when I took the job, 'I'm swinging the bat,’” Tocchet said Wednesday. “Like, I'm not scared. You can't play safe if you want to win. You've got to go for it.”

continued

from Mark Spector of Sportsnet,

from Rich Thompson of the Boston Herald,

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman couldn’t close the deal on a second straight elimination game.

Florida defenseman Gustav Forsling flicked home a rebound inside the near post at 18:27 of the third with the game winner in the Panthers’ 2-1 victory in the deciding Game 6 on Friday night at the TD Garden.

“I didn’t see it,” said Swayman. “I wish that I had put the rebound in a better spot and I didn’t see the release of the second shot. There was a hole there obviously and it was unacceptable.”

Swayman brought the series back to Boston with a 28-save effort in a 2-1 elimination game victory over the Panthers in Sunrise, Fla., last Tuesday. The Panthers eliminated the Bruins from the Stanley Cup playoffs in consecutive seasons and will face the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference finals.

Swayman will be restricted free agent with arbitration rights, but he made it clear after the game his heart is in Boston.

“I told these guys in the locker room after that I never loved a team more, especially at the pro level when guys all have their own lives and their own families,” said Swayman.

“Every one of these guys took the initiative to come to the rink every day and make this our family. I don’t think there are many locker rooms in the world that have that. I think we should celebrate the fact that every day when we come to the locker room that everyone has each other’s backs away from the rink and at the rink.”

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from Mark Kiszla of the Denver Gazette,

Two years after hoisting the Stanley Cup, every step away from the victory parade gets heavier with regret of what might have been for this ridiculously talented Avalanche team.

The clock struck midnight on another Colorado season in the waning seconds of Friday night. And this 2-1 loss, in double overtime to Dallas, couldn’t have been more bitter, because our old friend Matt Duchene drove a stake in the Avalanche’s heart with the game-winning goal.

Another early exit from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. A team that professed to be all in has bombed out.

"A devastating result," Avs defenseman Cale Makar said, after the disappointment of Friday turned to Saturday and the first day of vacation the Avs didn't want.

Another season wasted in the prime of the careers of Makar, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, players Duchene called "borderline super-human."

continued

Dallas defeated the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 in 2OT to win the series 4-2

They will face the winner of Vancouver/Edmonton.

Here is the game winner and below find handshakes and highlights.

The Panthers defeated the Boston Bruins 2-1 to win the series 4-2.

Here is the late winning goals and handshakes and highlights are below.

from Ansar Khan of Mlive,

Detroit Red Wings prospect Trey Augustine made 20 saves Friday in his first World Championship start and the United States defeated Poland 4-1 in Ostrava, Czechia.

It was the third appearance for Augustine, 19, in the tournament. He previously relieved an injured Alex Lyon and replaced an ineffective Alex Nedeljkovic.

Augustine ranks third in goals-against average (1.37) and fourth in save percentage (.929) among all goalies. He has stopped 39-of-42 shots in three games.

continued

from Mark Spector of Sportsnet,

This series turned here in Game 5, a smash and grab by a Vancouver Canucks team that got their hands around this game and simply just took off with it.

The Edmonton Oilers, a team that’s been chasing this series since blowing a 4-1 lead to lose Game 1, just didn’t have any more chase in them Thursday, losing 3-2 on a J.T. Miler goal in the game’s final 30 seconds.

It was another blown lead by Edmonton, but this one was different. When the teams came out of the dressing rooms for Period 2, Vancouver had more, played faster, executed better.

In the end it was a one-goal game in name only, a 5-2 drubbing dressed up like a 3-2 thriller.

The Canucks were not just the better team for the vast majority of the final 40 minutes, the players on both teams weren’t the only ones who noticed. So did the Hockey Gods, as a puck that hit the Oilers post with 29 seconds left in the game was guided perfectly to the stick of the deserved, Canucks bulldog Miller.

continued

from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

His signature is all over recent Rangers history. You can’t miss it. Just as no one, but no one, could miss him down here on Thursday night.

The. National. Hockey. League. Saw. Chris.

Number 20 came about as close as possible as pulling a No. 11, for it was Chris Kreider, the senior Ranger, who recorded a natural hat trick in the third period to enable the Rangers to overcome a 3-1 deficit and record a Game 6 series-clinching 5-3 victory over the Canes.

It will mark the Blueshirts’ fifth trip to the conference final in the 13 years since Kreider joined the team fresh out of Boston College for the first round of the 2012 tournament. He was there for Adam Henrique. He was there for Jonathan Quick. He fairly famously crashed into Carey Price one time. He was there for the Tampa Bay letdown. He was there for The Letter.

And Kreider was there in the locker room after the second period Thursday. He stood up and said he would get one. He lied. He got three.

continued

Mark Lazerus of The Athletic on the Carolina Hurricanes,