NHL

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan O’Reilly (90) protects the puck from Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Victor Hedman (77) during second period NHL Stanley Cup playoff hockey action in Toronto on Thursday, April 27, 2023. O’Reilly is one of the names poised to hit the free agency market. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

NHL free-agent frenzy: Some of the players poised to hit the open market July 1

League’s signing period returns to July 1 after three years of pandemic impacts

 

Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner, left, celebrates with teammates Mattias Ekholm (14) and Darnell Nurse after the team’s win over the Los Angeles Kings in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Keith Birmingham/The Orange County Register via AP)

5 things to know about the NHL playoffs

Oilers and Maple Leafs, Canada’s last two teams in the NHL playoffs, are headed for the second round

 

Los Angles Kings goalie Joonas Korpisalo gives up a goal to Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid during the first period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Keith Birmingham/The Orange County Register via AP)

Oilers advance to second round with 5-4 victory over Kings

Series dominated by superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl

 

Toronto Maple Leafs center Ryan O’Reilly (90) chases a rebound after Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) made a save during the first period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Saturday, April 29, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

Tavares’ OT goal gives Maple Leafs series win over Lightning

‘Today is a significant step, but we’re not going to celebrate anything beyond’

Toronto Maple Leafs center Ryan O’Reilly (90) chases a rebound after Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) made a save during the first period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Saturday, April 29, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
A shot from Central Division’s Seth Jones, of the Chicago Blackhawks (4) gets past Pacific Division’s goaltender Logan Thompson, of the Las Vegas Knights (36) during the NHL All Star hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Rivals Crosby and Ovechkin relish being All-Star teammates

‘I think we have fun to play together, not against each other’

A shot from Central Division’s Seth Jones, of the Chicago Blackhawks (4) gets past Pacific Division’s goaltender Logan Thompson, of the Las Vegas Knights (36) during the NHL All Star hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) waves as he continues to celebrate his goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets, in Washington, Friday, Dec. 23, 2022. It was Ovechkin’s 802nd NHL goal. Ovechkin, Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev and Vancouver Canucks centre Elias Pettersson have been named the NHL’s three stars of the week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Nick Wass

Ovechkin, Georgiev, Pettersson named NHL’s three stars of the week

Ovechkin had two goals and four assists as the Capitals won all three of their games on the week

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) waves as he continues to celebrate his goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets, in Washington, Friday, Dec. 23, 2022. It was Ovechkin’s 802nd NHL goal. Ovechkin, Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev and Vancouver Canucks centre Elias Pettersson have been named the NHL’s three stars of the week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Nick Wass
Nashville Predators forward Yakov Trenin (13) and Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn (14) react after being called for penalties by referee Garrett Rank (48) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)

Behind the stripes: What 3 NHL officials enjoy off the ice

Referees, linesman say sharing other aspects of lives helps humanize them

Nashville Predators forward Yakov Trenin (13) and Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn (14) react after being called for penalties by referee Garrett Rank (48) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Hockey Canada says members of its 2003 men's world junior hockey championship team is being investigated for a group sexual assault. Hockey Canada logo at an event in Toronto on November 1, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Canada’s 2003 world hockey junior team also accused of group sexual assault

2nd allegation of sexual assault involving Hockey Canada to become public in a span of two months

Hockey Canada says members of its 2003 men's world junior hockey championship team is being investigated for a group sexual assault. Hockey Canada logo at an event in Toronto on November 1, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
The Colorado Avalanche celebrate after the team defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals on Sunday, June 26, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. The Avalanche won 2-1. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Avalanche dethrone Lightning in 6 games to win Stanley Cup for 3rd time

Lehkonen scores winning goal for Colorado

The Colorado Avalanche celebrate after the team defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals on Sunday, June 26, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. The Avalanche won 2-1. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Colorado Avalanche centre Nazem Kadri (91) checks Colorado Avalanche centre Alex Newhook (18) during the third period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan Ebenhack)

Avs 1 win away from Stanley Cup after Kadri’s OT tally in Game 4 versus Lightning

3-2 victory gives Colorado a chance to win title at home on Friday

Colorado Avalanche centre Nazem Kadri (91) checks Colorado Avalanche centre Alex Newhook (18) during the third period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan Ebenhack)
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews poses with the Hart Trophy, left, and Ted Lindsay Award after the NHL hockey awards Tuesday, June 21, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. The Hart Trophy is presented annually to the leagues’ most valuable player and the Ted Lindsay award is giving the the most outstanding player. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Auston Matthews wins Hart Trophy as NHL’s most valuable player

Toronto star finishes well ahead of Edmonton’s Connor McDavid

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews poses with the Hart Trophy, left, and Ted Lindsay Award after the NHL hockey awards Tuesday, June 21, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. The Hart Trophy is presented annually to the leagues’ most valuable player and the Ted Lindsay award is giving the the most outstanding player. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Tampa Bay Lightning centre Anthony Cirelli (71) scores past Colorado Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final on Monday, June 20, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Lightning bounce back, beat Avalanche 6-2 in Game 3 of Stanley Cup Final

Colorado still holds 2-1 series lead

Tampa Bay Lightning centre Anthony Cirelli (71) scores past Colorado Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final on Monday, June 20, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) deflects a shot next to Colorado Avalanche left wing J.T. Compher during the second period of Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Avalanche edge Lightning 4-3 in OT to open Stanley Cup Final

Burakovsky nets winner for Colorado 1:23 into extra frame

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) deflects a shot next to Colorado Avalanche left wing J.T. Compher during the second period of Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche’s Gabriel Landeskog (92), Artturi Lehkonen (62), Kurtis MacDermid (56) and Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrate a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during third period NHL conference finals action in Edmonton on Monday, June 6, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Lehkonen nets OT winner as Avs sweep aside Oilers and reach Stanley Cup final

Colorado finishes off Edmonton with 6-5 triumph

Colorado Avalanche’s Gabriel Landeskog (92), Artturi Lehkonen (62), Kurtis MacDermid (56) and Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrate a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during third period NHL conference finals action in Edmonton on Monday, June 6, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Colorado Avalanche defenceman Erik Johnson (6) and Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (29) battle for the puck during second period NHL conference finals action in Edmonton on Saturday, June 4, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Avalanche down Oilers 4-2 to take 3-0 stranglehold on Western Conference final

J.T. Compher scores winner with 7:18 left in regulation

Colorado Avalanche defenceman Erik Johnson (6) and Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (29) battle for the puck during second period NHL conference finals action in Edmonton on Saturday, June 4, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Pavel Francouz (39) clears the puck during the second period in Game 2 of the team’s NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Western Conference finals against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday, June 2, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Francouz makes 24 saves as Avs blank Oilers 4-0 in Game 2 of Western Conference final

Colorado leads series 2-0, Game 3 Saturday in Edmonton

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Pavel Francouz (39) clears the puck during the second period in Game 2 of the team’s NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Western Conference finals against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday, June 2, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Colorado Avalanche centre Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates a goal against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mike Smith, rear, during the first period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Western Conference finals Tuesday, May, 31, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Makar leads Avs to wild 8-6 win over Oilers in Western Conference final opener

Edmonton, Colorado clash again in Game 2 Thursday in Denver

Colorado Avalanche centre Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates a goal against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mike Smith, rear, during the first period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Western Conference finals Tuesday, May, 31, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) ties up Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon (29) during third period NHL action in Edmonton on Saturday, March 25, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Codie McLachlan

McDavid’s Oilers, MacKinnon’s Avalanche poised to meet in Western Conference final

Best-of-7 series set to begin Tuesday night in Denver

Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) ties up Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon (29) during third period NHL action in Edmonton on Saturday, March 25, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Codie McLachlan
Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid, left, tries to get the puck past Calgary Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom during first period NHL second-round playoff hockey action in Calgary, Thursday, May 26, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

McDavid nets OT winner as Oilers beat Flames 5-4 to reach Western Conference final

Edmonton finishes off series in five games

Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid, left, tries to get the puck past Calgary Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom during first period NHL second-round playoff hockey action in Calgary, Thursday, May 26, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Calgary Flames forward Trevor Lewis, right, holds back Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman during third period NHL second-round playoff hockey action in Edmonton, Tuesday, May 24, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Calgary Flames want to extend Battle of Alberta in NHL playoffs, avoid elimination

Edmonton Oilers lead series 3-1 with Game 5 Thursday

Calgary Flames forward Trevor Lewis, right, holds back Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman during third period NHL second-round playoff hockey action in Edmonton, Tuesday, May 24, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh