from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

- Was about to report that Paul Maurice would be added to the list of Rangers coaching candidates were he to be dismissed following a potential Jets’ first-round ouster, but this just in: Connor McDavid says Maurice should make the move from Winnipeg to Broadway immediately.

- Apparently extremely late to the party on this, but there is an undercurrent suggesting Joel Quenneville has his sights set on moving to Seattle to become the coach of the Kraken once his season is over with Florida, which might explain why Seattle general manager Ron Francis has moved so slowly on this hiring.

If the Puddy Tats let Quenneville get away, and certainly so if this is related to money, then perhaps we should all rethink whether Aleksander Barkov is a slam-dunk to re-up with the Panthers before he becomes eligible to hit the open market a year from July.

-- Finally, let’s hope that neither Turner nor ESPN, the networks that will split the NHL’s national package beginning next year, would cut away from a star player berating his team’s goaltender after a gaffe in overtime as Alex Ovechkin did to Ilya Samsonov immediately following the Capitals’ Game 3 defeat to the Bruins.

And as that scene unfolded, all I was thinking was that Ovechkin was fortunate that the goalie wasn’t Alexandar Georgiev.

more topics...

Chris Peters at Betway.com recently talked with Clark Gillies and Bobby Nystrom, two key components during the dynasty days of the New York Islanders.

I've always believed on factor in a great team is teammates caring for each other.

This proves my point.

The Florda Panthers decided to send a message.

Then more of the same below.

Four games today, two in the afternoon and two in the evening.

It's like a double, double header.

Full schedule is below and you are invited to comment on the games.

Watch both incidents below.

First up Bruins/Caps and Avs/Blues. Below find Jets/Oilers and Preds/Canes.

from Samantha Pell of the Washington Post,

The Washington Capitals simply could not keep up with the Boston Bruins on Friday night in Game 4 of this first-round playoff series. The visitors looked lifeless, at least a step behind the blur of black and yellow sweaters at TD Garden.

The result was a 4-1 loss that left them on the brink of elimination, trailing this best-of-seven affair 3-1 with Game 5 on Sunday at Capital One Arena.

“This one, we just weren’t good enough,” Capitals Coach Peter Laviolette said. “We weren’t fast enough. We didn’t execute well enough.”

Should the Capitals fail to climb out of this hole, it would be the third straight season in which they were ousted in the first round since they won the Stanley Cup in 2018.

“We have to want it,” center Nicklas Backstrom said. “It’s obviously a big game coming up, and we have to be mentally ready. I feel like the previous three games before this we were a lot better than tonight. So we’ve got to be mentally ready, and we’ve got to play for each other. That’s maybe something we didn’t do tonight.”

continued

Game highlights are below.

from Mark Spector of Sportsnet,

It’s games like the one played on Friday night that define the term “playoff experience.” A crucial game for Edmonton that started out heavily in the Winnipeg Jets’ favour, then slowly shifted Edmonton’s way. By the third period, it was two teams slugging it out in search of what became obvious would be the one goal that would win this game.

Then, overtime heartbreak.

A Paul Stastny wrist shot, an Adam Larsson screen/deflection, an OT winner that puts Edmonton down 2-0 in their opening round series.

“We battled all game. We were still battling in OT,” said Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. “We just needed one to break them. We didn’t get one tonight.”

If you’d have told me the Oilers would allow only two regulation goals in two games (that weren’t empty netters) and would be down 2-0 in this series, I wouldn’t have believed that was possible.

If you’d have added that Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl — the NHL’s two leading scorers — would be pointless as they board the charter to Winnipeg for Game 3, I’d have started talking you into a wager.

read on and watch the OT goal below...

The St Louis Blues are down 3-0 in their series with the Colorado Avalanche after a 5-1 loss Friday night. Craig Berube wasn't happy.

via Lou Korac tweets,

Berube went off on the officials tonight. First, on the Schenn no call: Yeah, he broke his stick, should be a penalty."

Berube on officials: "Like the refereeing every game, we get one or two calls. It's usually late in the third period. They're getting four a game, five, how many did they get tonight, five? I mean, it's not that lopsided. I'm not sure why. We don't get the calls that we deserve.

More Berube: "Parayko gets tripped in the corner, they go down, score a goal on the goalie challenged goal. He gets tripped in the corner, slew-footed and they don't call it, okay, and it cost us a goal. It's terrible. It's so one-sided, it's not even funny."

Why is the officiating so one-sided? Berube: "I don't know, you'll have to ask the referees or the league. I don't have an answer for that."

Rod Brind’Amour is in the same boat.

THREE HARD LAPS

* Matt Duchene scored the double-overtime winner to cap the third-longest game in Predators history and cut their First Round series deficit to 2-1.

* The Jets are headed home with a 2-0 lead in their First Round series after Paul Stastny scored within the first five minutes of overtime in Game 2.

* The Bruins and Avalanche took series leads of 3-1 and 3-0, respectively, to move within one win of the 2021 Second Round.

Illegal check to the head.

The refs reviewed the major call, made it a double minor. Right call?

via the NHL PR department,

CAROLINA, COLORADO EYE 3-0 SERIES LEADS ON FRIDAY

Two of the top three teams from the regular season could find themselves within one victory of the Second Round after tonight’s action as the Hurricanes and Avalanche each hit the road with 2-0 series leads. It has been 15 years since the Avalanche have taken a 3-0 series lead in a best-of-seven (2006 CQF vs. DAL) – something they’ve done four times in franchise history (all since relocating) – while the Hurricanes did so just two years ago, one of two instances for the club (2019 R2 vs. NYI & 2006 CSF vs. NJD).

DOES EXTRA TIME AWAIT IN GAME 4 BETWEEN THE BRUINS AND CAPITALS?

The Bruins will also look to move within one victory of the Second Round when they host the Capitals for Game 4. They can become the third set of clubs in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to play four consecutive overtime games in a series – the only two instances to date happened to come from the start of the series (1951 Stanley Cup Final: TOR vs. MTL; 2012 Conference Quarterfinals: PHX vs. CHI).

Below find tonight's schedule.

Vancouver, BC - Vancouver Canucks General Manager Jim Benning announced today that head coach Travis Green has agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension.

"We are excited to have Travis Green continue to lead the Canucks as head coach and move forward from a challenging year to focus on future seasons," said Benning. Our plan has always been to draft and develop a young core and surround them with supporting players who can help us win. We have some of the best young players in the NHL and I believe Travis is the right coach to help us achieve team success and a return to the playoffs."

"Coaching the Vancouver Canucks has been a privilege and I am excited at the opportunity to continue behind the bench with this team," said Green. "I believe this young team and organization is on the rise. They have shown character, a strong will to win and we expect big things in the years ahead. Thank you to Jim, Francesco and the Aquilini family for the opportunity to continue as the coach of the Vancouver Canucks."

RIGA, Latvia – Justin Abdelkader (Muskegon, Mich.) has been named captain of the 2021 U.S. Men’s National Team.

“We’re excited to have Justin leading this team,” said Jack Capuano, head coach of the 2021 U.S. Men's National Team. “This is a special group who’ve all made sacrifices to be here, who’ve capitalized on the opportunity to wear the USA crest, and we intend to play with that pride and effort every game. Justin, Matt and Colin will be our leaders on the ice, but we have a special brotherhood here in this locker room and we’re excited to see everyone play for each other and represent our country well.”

In addition, Matt Roy (Detroit, Mich.) and Colin Blackwell (Lawrence, Mass.) will serve as alternate captains for Team USA.

from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

Davidson’s move to a division rival also seeking a coach in the wake of John Tortorella’s departure from the organization could have an impact on the Rangers if the Jackets go hard after Gerard Gallant, who is believed at the top of New York’s wish list following his meeting last week with the Blueshirts’ president-GM Chris Drury.

Gallant spent six years with Columbus at the turn of the century, serving as an assistant coach from 2001-02 through mid-2003-04 before he was elevated to the top job that he held for 142 games.

There would not seem to be much comparison between the open jobs behind the Rangers’ and Blue Jackets’ benches, nor between the talent on the clubs’ respective rosters. But if Gallant has an affinity for life in Columbus and is unsure about New York, then Drury might have to accelerate his timetable and attempt to reel in the coach before he can be wooed away by JD.

Davidson said his dismissal was “disappointing” but that he did not wallow in despair after the deed had been done and dove into what might be next, whether retirement, a move back to television or to another team’s executive suite. The fit in Columbus, a city of which Davidson has always spoken fondly, was too perfect to ignore.

more

All this in 2 minutes.

via Sportsnet's YouTube page,

What You Need To Know from Day 6 of the playoffs, as Leafs & Habs renew rivalry hostilities, Tavares leaves on a stretcher after a very scary collision, and Price stands on his head; Plus Malkin has 2 points in his return to the Penguins lineup, Panthers win a slugfest to keep their hopes alive vs. Tampa, and Knights score 5 unanswered goals to take a 2-1 series lead over Minny.

Below, another video...

Morning Glory from Day 6 of the NHL playoffs, as Habs and Leafs renew rivalries, and Byron scores the goal of the playoffs, bad blood spills over between Pens & Isles, Knights score 5 unanswered goals, and Panthers' Lomberg emerges an unlikely hero.

from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

With his eyes clearly glassy, John Tavares attempted to get up and almost collapsed backwards into the arms of the Maple Leafs training staff.

The hockey building, already silent without fans, was suddenly even more silent. Quiet and afraid.

There were nine minutes and 31 seconds remaining in the first period of the first game of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the Leafs when the captain was hit by Ben Chiarot, fell somewhat awkwardly, and then his head somehow collided violently and accidentally with the knee of Corey Perry.

It was the kind of frightening sporting moment that no one ever wants to witness. The kind of play that turns the stomach of those watching from home on television and those playing the game at precisely the same time....

“He’s conscious and communicating well,” coach Sheldon Keefe said after the 2-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. “The tests that he’s had came back clear.”

“We all believe in each other and we’ll be ready to go next game.”

Tavares was expected to remain in hospital overnight and probably through Friday. There are more tests to be done.

“In terms of losing John, that’s a big loss for us,” said Keefe. “But we have a lot of depth. It’s a big loss, it’s our captain. Good teams overcome these kind of things.”

In an odd night of hockey, with an injury and an incident becoming the unfortunate story, the Leafs lost Game 1 for a variety of reasons. They only scored one goal. Too often, they were beaten by the speed of the Canadiens. Montreal chose to bench kids in favour of veterans, the Leafs chose to play rookie Rasmus Sandin. Sandin was victimized on both Montreal goals.

read on

Below, watch Corey Perry post-game on his collisiion with Tavares.

added 10:18am, below, Nick Foligno talks after the game.

THREE HARD LAPS

* Paul Byron scored a highlight-reel shorthanded goal in the third period to power the Canadiens past the Maple Leafs in their first head-to-head playoff game in over 42 years.

* Florida rallied past Tampa Bay in the 10th postseason contest in NHL history where both teams overcame a multi-goal deficit. The Golden Knights and Islanders also erased a two-goal deficit to at least tie their respective game.

* Two of Thursday’s four contests featured either a tying or go-ahead goal scored in the final four minutes of regulation. There were eight game-tying goals overall.

If you missed any action tonight, check out the highlights.

Toronto/Montreal first, Habs lead series 1-0.

Below find Tampa/Florida, TBL up 2-1 in the series and Pittsburgh/NYI, Pens lead 2-1. added 4:07am, Wild/VGK below now too.

All great games, enjoy.

Tavares did give a thumbs up while on the stretcher.

Watch below. added 8:54pm, video has been removed.

added 9:04pm, HNIC panel on Tavares and the fight that followed. Watch below.

Hoping for a good series.

via Sportsnet,