News Category: NHL

Canucks relying on G Casey DeSmith as series heads to Nashville

With the Canucks and Predators tied one game each in their Western Conference first-round playoff series, the biggest issue is the absence of Vancouver’s No. 1 goaltender Thatcher Demko going into Game 3 on Friday night in Nashville. Demko sustained a lower-body injury in backstopping the Canucks to a 4-2 win in the opener on Sunday, and the team announced on Monday that he would miss Game 2 Tuesday and might be out for the

Kings relying on veterans as series vs. Oilers moves to L.A.

Fresh off a resilient victory that changed the course of their first-round Western Conference playoff series, the Los Angeles Kings return home for Game 3 on Friday against the Edmonton Oilers. The Kings evened the best-of-seven series at a game apiece Wednesday when they took a pair of two-goal leads, weathered an Oilers comeback and won the game 5-4 a mere two minutes into overtime on the most fortunate of goals from Anze Kopitar. If

Goalie issues swing outcomes for Jets-Avalanche series

The Winnipeg Jets dominated Colorado during the regular season, outscoring the Avalanche 17-4 in sweeping the three games. That gave them home-ice advantage for their Western Conference first-round series, but that lasted just two games. Colorado stole home ice with a 5-2 win in Game 2 on Tuesday and hosts the next two games, starting with Game 3 on Friday night. The Avalanche had the second-best home record in the NHL regular season but lost

Alex Ovechkin, Caps must produce as Rangers lead series 2-0

Alex Ovechkin hasn’t been quite himself through the first two games of the Washington Capitals’ Eastern Conference first-round series against the New York Rangers. With it shifting to the nation’s capital, Ovechkin and his teammates look to get going in Game 3 on Friday. New York leads the series 2-0. “I thought the first two games, he’s looked a little bit off,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said after the 4-3 loss in Game 2 on

Lightning get crack at home ice down 2-0 to Panthers

The Florida Panthers defended home ice with an overtime victory on Tuesday. Now it’s up to the Tampa Bay Lightning to try and match it. The best-of-seven Eastern Conference playoff series shifts to Tampa for Game 3 on Thursday night, with the Atlantic Division champions Panthers leading 2-0. Tied 2-2 in the third Tuesday night, the Lightning’s NHL-best power play unit had a four-minute opportunity after Eetu Luostarinen committed a double-minor for high-sticking, but the

Islanders attempt to shake off meltdown, host Hurricanes for Game 3

The New York Islanders are frustrated they didn’t earn a split of the first two games of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes. But the loss the Islanders are lamenting isn’t their historic Game 2 defeat. New York will try to climb back into the best-of-seven series when it faces Carolina in Game 3 on Thursday night in Elmont, N.Y. The Hurricanes went up 2-0 in the series on Monday night,

Kings see bigger picture after series-opening loss to Oilers

The Los Angeles Kings will not even bother trying to fool themselves: The Edmonton Oilers were the superior team en route to claiming a 7-4 victory in the opener of their Western Conference first-round playoff series. With Game 2 coming Wednesday in Edmonton, the Kings expect the biggest difference to be their own performance. “It’s a seven-game series, and you have to win the first to four. We’re down 1-0, but we can easily win

Stars in familiar territory with Game 2 vs. Golden Knights ahead

The Dallas Stars no longer own home-ice advantage after dropping the opener of their best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series 4-3 against the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights on Monday. Despite the turn of events, there was no sense of panic among coach Peter DeBoer’s squad as the Stars head into Game 2 on Wednesday at Dallas. The Stars have been in this position before. Twice last season, en route to the Western Conference

Leafs focused on Game 3 after earning split in Boston

Star forward Auston Matthews made his presence felt to help the Toronto Maple Leafs capture a road split of the first two contests of their Eastern Conference first-round series against the Boston Bruins. Matthews and the Maple Leafs will look to ride that momentum into Game 3 on Wednesday when the best-of-seven series shifts to Toronto. The 2021-22 Hart Trophy recipient was held in check during the series opener before scoring the go-ahead goal in

Quick-strike Rangers aim to go up 2-0 on Capitals

Sunday, the New York Rangers struck first with a three-goal, second-period barrage in a little more than two minutes to take control and open the playoffs impressively while ignoring most attempts by the Washington Capitals to physically engage them. The Rangers did just about everything right in Game 1 and will attempt to duplicate the effort Tuesday night when they host the Capitals in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first-round series. New York seeks