Maple Leafs get huge win for mourning Toronto in Game 6
Defeat Bruins to extend series hours after 10 killed, 15 injured in van attack
by Mike Zeisberger @Zeisberger / NHL.com Staff Writer
TORONTO -- There was a smile on Brendan Shanahan's face and an ache in his gut as he walked out of the Toronto Maple Leafs dressing room Monday.
Ovechkin hopes Capitals can find redemption against Crosby, Penguins
Forward 'can't wait' to face Pittsburgh in second round after previous failures
by Tom Gulitti @TomGulittiNHL / NHL.com Staff Writer
COLUMBUS -- In the aftermath of their series-clinching 6-3 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference First Round on Monday, it would have been understandable if Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals wanted to take a moment to appreciate their accomplishment rather than start looking ahead to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
But Ovechkin knew the questions were coming. The Penguins defeated the Capitals in the second round each of the past two seasons and went on to win the Stanley Cup each time.
Maple Leafs hold moment of silence before Game 6 after tragic van crash
Team honors victims of accident in North York section of Toronto on Monday
NHL.com @NHL
The Toronto Maple Leafs held a moment of silence honoring the victims of a tragic crash in the North York section of the city before Game 6 of their Eastern Conference First Round series against the Boston Bruins at Air Canada Centre on Monday.
Blue Jackets failed by lack of killer instinct against Capitals
Inability to finish, subpar special teams, goaltending led to elimination from playoffs
by Craig Merz / NHL.com Correspondent
The Columbus Blue Jackets were in position to earn their first Stanley Cup Playoff series win heading home to Nationwide Arena after two overtime victories at the Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference First Round.
But the euphoria turned to another spring of disappointment when the Capitals won the next four games, including Game 3 in double overtime and Game 5 in overtime, to eliminate Columbus in six games.
Playoff handshake line a winning tradition
Bruins, Maple Leafs will carry on post-series custom following Game 7
by Dave Stubbs @dave_stubbs / NHL.com Columnist
The only sure thing about Game 7 of the Eastern Conference First Round between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs at TD Garden on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVAS, NESN) is what will take place on the ice after the game. The post-series handshake line is one of the NHL's great traditions, a few gentlemanly moments following four, five, six or seven punishing Stanley Cup Playoff games.
In many ways, the handshake line is a contradiction: Players who have been bruising each other in every second of every game line up to shake hands and wish each other well. One team has advanced to the next round or has won the Stanley Cup; the other is vanquished into the offseason. The handshake tradition has endured, evolved, and today it is a compelling scene at the end of hard-fought playoff series.
'We're going to Boston, baby!'
Maple Leafs play-by-play man Bowen goes wild when Toronto forces Game 7 against Bruins
NHL.com @NHL
It's safe to say everyone who calls the Toronto Maple Leafs their favorite team was sky-high after their 3-1 victory against the Boston Bruins on Monday that forced Game 7 in the Eastern Conference First Round, but perhaps nobody was more excited than longtime Maple Leafs play-by-play man Joe Bowen on Sportsnet 590 The Fan.
As the third period went on, Bowen's voice seemed to get louder and louder with each near miss or great save, but he let loose following Tomas Plekanec's empty-net goal that assured the Maple Leafs and Bruins would go the distance.
Bruins in familiar territory against Maple Leafs in Game 7
10th time in 11 seasons Boston will play deciding game in series
by Amalie Benjamin @AmalieBenjamin / NHL.com Staff Writer
TORONTO -- The Boston Bruins know this feeling.
They know what it's like to go to Game 7, to feel nerves and excitement and panic and overwhelming need all at once. They have done this before, over and over. Nine times in the previous 10 seasons they have played in a do-or-die game.
Long layoff in playoffs provides unique coaching challenges
Balance between recovery, game plan implementation paramount during postseason
by David Marcoux / Special to NHL.com
The Coaches Room is a regular feature throughout the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs by one of four former NHL coaches and assistants who will turn their critical gaze to the game and explain it through the lens of a teacher. Jim Corsi, David Marcoux, Paul MacLean and Joe Mullen will take turns providing insight.
In this edition, Marcoux, former goalie coach for the Carolina Hurricanes and the Calgary Flames, provides some insight on what's going on when teams have a substantial break between playoff rounds.
Golden Knights vs. Sharks playoff preview
Goaltending duel between Fleury, Jones highlights second-round series
by Lisa Dillman @reallisa / NHL.com Staff Writer
Vegas Golden Knights vs. San Jose Sharks
Golden Knights: 51-24-7, 109 points, first in Pacific
Sharks: 45-27-10, 100 points, third in Pacific
Season series: VGK 3-0-1; SJS 1-2-1
Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: Maple Leafs force Game 7 against Bruins
Ovechkin, Capitals to face Penguins again
NHL.com @NHL
Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the 2018 NHL postseason. There were two games Monday, both in the Eastern Conference.
Forsberg takes game to another level in playoffs for Predators
Forward dazzled in first round after being Nashville's leading scorer in regular season
by Tracey Myers @TraMyers_NHL / NHL.com Staff Writer
Filip Forsberg gave NHL defensemen fits all season. He has continued to do so in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where the Nashville Predators forward has scored four goals, two in spectacular fashion.
He has looked almost impossible to stop, but former NHL defenseman and current Predators broadcaster Hal Gill knows what he would have done if he had to face Forsberg.
Pekka Rinne vs. Connor Hellebuyck
Revamped techniques have paid dividends for goalies in Predators-Jets series
by Kevin Woodley / NHL.com Correspondent
Goaltending is an integral part of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. To better understand the strengths and weaknesses of each goaltender, the final 100 goals allowed for each goaltender in the regular season and each goal in the playoffs were charted, with the help of Apex Video Analysis and Save Review System from Upper Hand Inc., to see what patterns emerge.
Andersen makes 32 saves, Maple Leafs top Bruins in Game 6
Nylander, Marner each score for Toronto to force deciding game in Eastern series
by Dave McCarthy / NHL.com Correspondent
TORONTO -- Frederik Andersen made 32 saves for the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 3-1 win against the Boston Bruins in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Air Canada Centre on Monday.
The series is tied 3-3. Game 7 is at Boston on Wednesday.
Capitals advance with Game 6 win against Blue Jackets
Ovechkin scores two goals to help clinch Eastern series; will face Penguins next
by Craig Merz / NHL.com Correspondent
COLUMBUS -- The Washington Capitals advanced to the Eastern Conference Second Round with a 6-3 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game 6 of the first round at Nationwide Arena on Monday.
Washington won the best-of-7 series 4-2 after losing the first two games at home in overtime. The Capitals will face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round.
After the two home losses, the Capitals won the next two in Columbus, including a double overtime victory in Game 3. The fourth OT of the series was also won by the Capitals, 4-3 in Game 5 on Saturday.
Andersen uses stick wizardry to deny Bruins a goal again
Maple Leafs goalie robs Backes, keeps game scoreless late in first
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Fantasy: Rankings for 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs
NHL.com lists most valuable forwards, defensemen, goaltenders for basic postseason pools
by Rob Reese @NHLReese / NHL.com Fantasy Editor
The 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs are almost here, meaning fans in fantasy postseason pools need to translate their bracket predictions into the overall player landscape.
Below are fantasy player rankings by position (forwards, defensemen, goalies) for basic postseason pools counting points (goals, assists) for skaters, as well as wins and shutouts for goalies. Whether you're doing an offline snake draft or another format, use this list as a basis for your decision-making.
Marner has big hug for Maple Leafs mascot after Game 6 win
Forward seeks out Carlton the Bear for postgame celebration
NHL.com @NHL
Fans at Air Canada Centre were going wild after the Toronto Maple Leafs forced a deciding Game 7 with a win against the Boston Bruins Monday night. And Mitchell Marner needed someone to hug.
Enter Carlton the Bear.
Capitals will play Penguins in Eastern Conference Second Round
Eliminate Blue Jackets to advance; Ovechkin, Crosby go head-to-head for third straight postseason
by David Satriano @davidsatriano / NHL.com Staff Writer
The Washington Capitals advanced to the Eastern Conference Second Round and will play the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the third straight season.
The Capitals defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-3 in Game 6 on Monday to win that best-of-7 series and will have home-ice advantage against the Penguins.
Marc-Andre Fleury vs. Martin Jones
Weaknesses for goalies hard to detect in Golden Knights vs. Sharks series
by Kevin Woodley / NHL.com Correspondent
Goaltending is an integral part of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. To better understand the strengths and weaknesses of each goaltender, the final 100 goals allowed for each goaltender in the regular season and each goal allowed in the playoffs were charted, with the help of Apex Video Analysis and Save Review System from Upper Hand Inc., to see what patterns emerge.
Vegas Golden Knights No. 1 Marc-Andre Fleury and his San Jose Sharks counterpart, Martin Jones, posted equally impressive statistics while sweeping through the Western Conference First Round, but they achieved those results with very different puck-stopping styles.
Hertl healthy, contributing for Sharks in playoffs
Forward scored three goals in first-round sweep of Ducks after multiple knee injuries
by Eric Gilmore / NHL.com Correspondent
SAN JOSE --Tomas Hertl was in his third game as a rookie with the San Jose Sharks four seasons ago when he scored four goals in a 9-2 victory against the New York Rangers at SAP Center, capped by a between-the-legs, backhand goal.
Hertl, a forward, had seven goals in his first five games and 15 in his first 32. His NHL trajectory was pointed straight up until a knee-on-knee collision with Los Angeles Kings forward Dustin Brown on Dec. 9, 2013, knocked him off course.
Flames hire Peters as coach
Replaces Gulutzan after Calgary misses playoffs
by Aaron Vickers / NHL.com Correspondent
CALGARY -- Bill Peters was hired as coach of the Calgary Flames on Monday.
Peters, who resigned as coach of the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday, received a multiyear contract. He replaces Glen Gulutzan, who was fired April 17 after the Flames missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the seventh time in nine seasons.