NHL News

6:48 AM ET Down but not out, the Vegas Golden Knights return to T-Mobile Arena for a critical Game 3. Can they keep this series interesting, or are the Colorado Avalanche clicking on too many levels right now? Meanwhile, after an unsettling end to Game 1, the Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets return to the

7:00 AM ET The lottery for the 2021 NHL draft was on Wednesday night, but the presumed No. 1 pick wasn’t watching. Instead, Owen Power was sleeping. “You nervous?” Power’s former GM with the Chicago Steel, Ryan Hardy, texted the defenseman on Wednesday. Power was in Latvia, playing with Canada at the IIHF Men’s World

9:00 AM ET The 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs have rolled into their second round. There have been some expected results and some shocking surprises — and the Toronto Maple Leafs losing in the first round, which probably fits into both categories, if we’re being honest. Here are 10 takeaways from the playoffs so far, from

6:55 AM ET The New York Islanders return to what should be a deafening Nassau Coliseum for Game 3 of the East Division final against the Boston Bruins, while the Carolina Hurricanes try to avoid an 0-3 deficit as their series heads to Florida against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Plus, we take a look at

7:00 AM ET With their thrilling Game 7 victory over the heavily favored Toronto Maple Leafs, the Montreal Canadiens earned a spot in the North Division final. They’ll face the Winnipeg Jets, who had a significantly shorter experience in Round 1, but one that was no less impressive. They swept the Edmonton Oilers, while largely

6:45 AM ET The Montreal Canadiens just completed an unlikely and emotional upset, beating the heavily favored Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games. There’s not much time to celebrate, as they’re back at it for the start of the second round on Wednesday, against a well-rested Winnipeg Jets team. Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights look

5:07 PM ET Associated Press RIGA, Latvia — Kevin Labanc and Conor Garland scored two goals apiece and the United States won its sixth straight game with a 4-2 victory over Italy in its final preliminary game at the world hockey championship on Tuesday. With the victory, the U.S. clinched first in Group B and

6:45 AM ET Never doubt that the Toronto Maple Leafs can find new and exciting ways to disappoint their fans and fail in the postseason. Losing star John Tavares in Game 1 to injury, winning three straight games and then losing three straight games to an enormous underdog in the Montreal Canadiens, in their first

7:22 AM ET NHL Insiders The 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs has produced another Game 7, and this one features two of hockey’s most iconic franchises. Monday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Montreal Canadiens, after the Habs earned a thrilling overtime win in Game 6 in front of 2,500 fans at the Bell Centre.

7:16 AM ET It doesn’t get much juicer than this: a Game 7 between two Original Six franchises, and the first such matchup between two Canadian teams in 17 years. The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to exorcise past playoff demons. And to do it, they’ll have to get past a red-hot Carey Price and

7:43 AM ET Two more second-round series get underway in the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs on Sunday — including that epic Colorado Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights tilt — while the remaining divisional first-round series was extended to seven games by the pesky Montreal Canadiens (and the collapsing Toronto Maple Leafs). Check out the ESPN

8:20 AM ET NHL Insiders The second round of the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs is set to begin on Saturday, with the Boston Bruins hosting the New York Islanders. On Sunday, the Carolina Hurricanes take on the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Colorado Avalanche begin their series against the Vegas Golden Knights. The North Division

8:00 AM ET The first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs was a wonderful appetizer to the remaining courses, the first of which begins on Saturday with the Boston Bruins hosting the New York Islanders at 8 p.m. ET. As a reminder, this season’s first and second rounds are intradivisional. Once the postseason division

7:32 AM ET Sachin Chandan Tonight, the Toronto Maple Leafs will get their second chance to close out their first playoff series win since before the 2004-05 lockout. Should the Montreal Canadiens win, then the Leafs would go from being up 3-1 to having to fight through a Game 7. Speaking of which, that’s exactly

7:00 AM ET NHL Insiders We’ve got our first Game 7 of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild will square off on Friday night, after the Wild fought their way back from a 3-1 deficit. Who will be the biggest X factors of this game? Should Vegas coach Peter

6:27 AM ET After the Carolina Hurricanes punched their ticket for the second round on Thursday with a thrilling overtime win over the Nashville Predators, either the Minnesota Wild or Vegas Golden Knights will join them on Friday night, as they play the first Game 7 of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Check out the

8:30 AM ET The first one who will tell you that Seth Jones had a disappointing 2020-21 campaign is Seth Jones. “I didn’t have the greatest season. I’m not sure why,” the Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman said. After garnering so much attention for his iron-man defensive play in the 2020 postseason bubble, when he averaged

6:31 AM ET Wednesday brought us three more elimination games, but only two teams were sent packing. The Minnesota Wild kept their series with the Vegas Golden Knights alive with a massive home win to force the first Game 7 of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Florida Panthers saw their