BOSTON -- The stat sheet tells you that over the last two games against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask has faced 95 shots.

Considering he never faced more than 42 in a single game in the regular season and didn't have to deal with more than 78 in consecutive games prior to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, one might think Rask would be feeling a little overworked heading into Game 5 of the series Friday at TD Garden (7 p.m. ET, NHLN-US, CBC, RDS).

WASHINGTON -- Hit totals rarely are the best statistic to gauge why one team won and the other lost, but what showed up on the score sheets in Games 3 and 4 does provide yet another example of how the New York Rangers were able to break even in their best-of-7 Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against the Washington Capitals.

The Rangers owned a 71-42 advantage in hits in Games 3 and 4 at Madison Square Garden, including a 38-20 edge in Game 4. They won both by identical 4-3 scores and know part of the reason why is because of how physical they were against the Capitals, particularly on their top forwards and defensemen with an aggressive and improved forecheck.

"In playoff hockey you've got to be physical, earn momentum that way, finish checks, key in on their top guys," Rangers forward Rick Nash said. "It's definitely one of the reasons for our success in the last two games."

The Ottawa Sun reported Friday that the Ottawa Senators could have top-line center Jason Spezza back in the lineup at some point in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Senators general manager Bryan Murray told an Ottawa radio station Friday that Spezza is skating with the team's "black aces" -- scratched and extra players -- as part of his recovery from back surgery that kept him out for all but five games this season.

"He's skating much harder, competing much better and feeling much stronger," Murray told The Team 1200 AM on Friday. "Skating with the black aces is a more serious involvement for him. He's got to practice a few times with the team before Paul [MacLean, coach] thinks about making a change, but there's light at the end of the tunnel."

The Colorado Avalanche announced a press conference for 3 p.m. ET on Friday, where team governor Josh Kroenke will make an announcement regarding the club's front office.

The Denver Post is reporting that announcement will involve Hockey Hall of Famer Joe Sakic to be introduced in a new role with increased responsibilities. Sakic currently serves as an executive advisor and alternate governor, a role he's held since March 25, 2011.

Sakic spent his entire NHL career with the franchise, dating to its days as the Quebec Nordiques. He retired following the 2008-09 season with 1,641 points, eighth-most in NHL history. He led the Avalanche to a pair of Stanley Cups, and served as team captain for 17 seasons.

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- In some ways, the 2012-13 season can be seen as a success for the Minnesota Wild. The franchise made the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in five years.

Defenseman Ryan Suter, signed last summer to a 13-year, $98 million contract, is a Norris Trophy finalist and through one year looks like he'll be worth every penny.

Fellow July 4 signee Zach Parise has given the franchise a legitimate superstar to build around up front.

The Wild, loaded with one of the best farm systems in the NHL, were able to get their first wave of young players -- namely defenseman Jonas Brodin and forwards Charlie Coyle and Jason Zucker -- important playoff experience they can build on for the future. They should only get better.

But for Minnesota, 5-1 losers to the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 5 of its Western Conference Quarterfinals matchup, its season is over. Here are five reasons why:

This past week had no shortage of great highlights, but we thought the three exciting moments below stood out from the rest. After you watch these videos, be sure to vote on what play you think deserves to be the Bridgestone Performance Moment of the Week.

The Los Angeles Kings are on the verge of doing something they've done only once since entering the NHL in 1967 -- coming from two games down to win a series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Kings take the ice at Staples Center for Game 6 of their Western Conference Quarterfinal against the St. Louis Blues (10 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TSN, RDS) with the chance to wrap up the series after losing the first two games. In the previous 10 best-of-7 series in which the Kings lost the first two games, they won only once -- against Detroit in 2001, when, like this spring, they lost the first two games on the road.

Of course, having to come from behind is a stark contrast from last year for the Kings, who became the first team ever to win the first three games of all four best-of-7 series on the way to the Stanley Cup.

The National Hockey League moved closer to an agreement to send its players to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia during a meeting in Stockholm on Friday. The meeting included representatives from the NHL, National Hockey League Players' Association, International Olympic Committee, Sochi2014 Organizing Committee, National Olympic Committees, International Ice Hockey Federation and IIHF Member National Associations.

"We are proceeding under the assumption that the NHL will participate in Sochi," NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said, according to IIHF.com. "We are still working on important issues with the IIHF and the IOC, and subject to [NHL] Board of Governors consideration and approval. It remains the objective that Sochi will be the fifth consecutive Olympics with NHL participation and where the NHL shuts down for the duration of the Olympic tournament."

Daly told NHL.com on Thursday that he thinks an announcement could be made sometime between now and the end of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

MONTREAL – No one expected the Montreal Canadiens to be here.

Coming off a last-place finish in the Eastern Conference, simply qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in a shortened season with a new coach was a challenge few believed the Canadiens would be able to overcome. Not only did they do so, they did in style, winning the Northeast Division and claiming the second seed in the Eastern Conference.

But a five-game loss to the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals overwhelmed all the good that was accomplished this season with the pain of having a surprisingly good season come to a very abrupt end with a 6-1 loss in Game 5 on Thursday night.

"This one hurts more than ones in the past," defenseman Josh Gorges said in a voice barely more audible than a whisper. "For our young guys – [Brendan Gallagher], [Alex Galchenyuk], [Jarred Tinordi], [Gabriel Dumont] – those guys got their first taste, they saw what it's like, how hard it is. For our other guys – like myself, [Brian Gionta], [Travis Moen], [Michael Ryder] – guys that have been around for a little bit, it's not easy. There's not a lot of time to succeed and get the ultimate goal. It gets harder and harder."

Tomas Vokoun

Goalie - PIT

RECORD: 1-0
GAA: 0.00 | SVP: 1.000

All of that during the first half of the first period of Vokoun's first appearance in a Stanley Cup Playoff game since 2007.

"I haven't played in the playoffs for such a long time, it's hard to remember six years ago and what to expect," the 36-year-old said afterward. "I got a couple of fortunate bounces -- Okposo's shot got through and it was kind of tight, but the puck stayed under my pad.

"And from that moment on, I started feeling better and moving well. After that I felt pretty good."