NHL News

8:11 AM ET Emily KaplanESPN Three games went to overtime. The other was a physical battle that brought drama and a potentially costly suspension. Here’s a recap of last night’s action — check out replays of every playoff game on ESPN+ — and what to watch for tonight, in today’s edition of ESPN Stanley Cup

1:46 PM ET Emily KaplanESPN Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov has been suspended one game after boarding Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Markus Nutivaara on Friday night during Game 2 of the teams’ first round series. Game 3 is Sunday in Columbus. Kucherov, who led the league in scoring with 128 points (41 goals, 87

8:17 AM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN The Columbus Blue Jackets followed up their Game 1 surprise with an emphatic win over the heavily favored Tampa Bay Lightning, one of three series that moved to 2-0 on Friday night. The one that’s tied up was delightfully contentious. Here’s what happened last night, and what to watch for

7:54 PM ET Chris PetersESPN NHL Close Chris Peters is ESPN’s NHL draft and prospects analyst. The Chicago native previously covered the NHL for CBSSports.com and founded the popular independent blog UnitedStatesofHockey.com where he covered the game at all levels since 2010. BUFFALO, N.Y. — UMass defenseman Cale Makar was named the 2019 recipient of

7:06 AM ET Emily KaplanESPN The current playoff format just isn’t fair, because a legitimate Stanley Cup contender like the Boston Bruins must play a powerhouse team in round one like the… Toronto Maple Leafs? Toronto played a complete game to knock down the Bruins at home in Game 1, though this series is far

10:16 AM ET Emily Kaplan Greg Wyshynski After three Stanley Cups and a decade of dominance, it’s easy to forget that the Chicago Blackhawks looked very much like the current Florida Panthers when then-GM Dale Tallon hired Joel Quenneville as his coach in 2008. They had a collection of young stars that weren’t quite yet

6:56 AM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN They say anything can happen in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and yet one of the greatest regular-season teams in NHL history blowing a three-goal lead to lose on home ice to the lowest seed in its conference felt stunning to the point where “anything” wouldn’t cover it. Here’s what happened

6:50 PM ET ESPN News Services NEW YORK — Slava Voynov is appealing the suspension imposed by the NHL after it determined he committed acts of domestic violence. Jonathan Weatherdon, a spokesman for the NHL Players’ Association, said Wednesday that the organization had filed an appeal on behalf of Voynov. Players have the right to

7:27 AM ET Emily KaplanESPN Four sleeps without hockey was too many if you ask us. The NHL returns tonight with five games opening the slate of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Here’s what to watch for in today’s edition of ESPN Stanley Cup Playoffs Daily: About last night… There was some NHL action last

2:21 PM ET Emily KaplanESPN The NHL has suspended defenseman Slava Voynov for the 2019-20 season as well as the 2020 playoffs for “unacceptable off-ice conduct.” Voynov, then with the Los Angeles Kings, was suspended indefinitely by the NHL following an arrest on Oct. 20, 2014. He was eventually convicted of misdemeanour domestic abuse and

7:00 AM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN The San Jose Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights will square off in a matchup that may well go down as the best of the entire 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs. Who will win? Let’s break it down: How they got here: It took until September, but the Sharks landed the prize

6:35 PM ET Associated Press NEWARK, N.J. — The New Jersey Devils have given executive vice president/general manager Ray Shero a new multiyear contract despite a disappointing season, which the team finished with the NHL’s third-worst record. Managing partner Josh Harris announced the contract on Monday without disclosing length or salary details. A year after

11:30 PM ET Associated Press EDMONTON, Alberta — Connor McDavid feared the worst when he crashed into the net and limped off the ice during Edmonton’s season finale Saturday night. A rare bit of good news for him and the Oilers: His left knee injury isn’t as serious as he initially thought. X-rays were negative,

2:43 PM ET The Los Angeles Kings announced Sunday that interim coach Willie Desjardins will not return next season. “Today we thanked Willie Desjardins for his effort and dedication while serving as our interim head coach,” Kings vice president and general manager Rob Blake said in a statement. “We wish Willie and his family nothing

8:00 AM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN From the moment the Edmonton Oilers won the 2015 NHL draft lottery — and the right to draft generational prospect Connor McDavid — we’ve all been playing the role of remote psychoanalysts. The way he looked when the Oilers were revealed as the top pick — was that despondency? The

BOSTON — The Tampa Bay Lightning won their NHL record-tying 62nd game, getting a shorthanded goal by Steven Stamkos during a three-goal second period in their 6-3 victory over the Boston Bruins on Saturday in the teams’ regular-season finale. Nikita Kucherov, Anthony Cirelli, Erik Cernak and Braydon Coburn also scored for Tampa Bay (62-16-4), which

9:34 PM ET Greg Wyshynski Chris Peters Close ESPN NHL Chris Peters is ESPN’s NHL draft and prospects analyst. The Chicago native previously covered the NHL for CBSSports.com and founded the popular independent blog UnitedStatesofHockey.com where he covered the game at all levels since 2010. As each NHL team is eliminated from playoff contention —

1. Nikita Kucherov, RW, TB RW1 3 2. Connor McDavid, C, Edm C1 2 3. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Col C2 8 4. Johnny Gaudreau, LW, Cgy LW1 4 5. John Tavares, C, Tor C3 5 6. Auston Matthews, C, Tor C4 1 7. Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, TB G1 9 8. Alex Ovechkin, RW, Was RW2