NHL News

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

10:28 PM ET Emily KaplanESPN The Carolina Hurricanes conducted elaborate postgame celebrations all season but gave their fans the biggest reason to cheer on Thursday, two days before the conclusion of the regular season. Carolina clinched a playoff berth for the first time in 10 years, snapping the NHL’s longest postseason drought. The Washington Capitals

11:46 AM ET In case your March Madness bracket didn’t go the way you hoped, fear not! There’s a chance for redemption coming up. With the NHL regular season coming to an end this weekend, it’s time for us to start thinking about how we’re going to fill out our Stanley Cup playoff picks between

11:24 AM ET The night of April 18, 2015, was one of the most dramatic in recent NHL history. Hockey fans everywhere gathered around their TVs that evening for the unveiling of a draft lottery that would place the unquestioned No. 1 and 2 picks, Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel, in two lucky cities. The

5:55 PM ET Associated Press PITTSBURGH — Evgeni Malkin might be ready to get back to work. The Pittsburgh Penguins certainly need him. The veteran center practiced with his teammates on Wednesday and could be back in the lineup on Thursday night against Detroit. Malkin has missed eight games with an upper-body injury and watched