NHL referees swallowed their whistles in the regular season and sent players to the box with hist...

NHL referees swallowed their whistles in the regular season and sent players to the box with historic rarity. The number of power plays in the average matchup - 2.71 per team - plunged without warning.Today's games are played at breakneck speed, but the officiating standard is pretty lenient. Refs called far more penalties in the plodding clutch-and-grab era. This season's PP attempt rate, a record low, presents a complete contrast to the obstruction crackdown that followed the 2005 lockout.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="🏒 PP attempts over time" aria-label="Column Chart" id="datawrapper-chart-dmEVr" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/dmEVr/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="400" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>Missed calls didn't drive this decline: The league tracks them internally and said the officials' whiff rate remained consistent over the past few years. Theories shared with <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/nhl-says-missed-call-rate-steady-even-though-power-plays-trending-down">Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli</a> at the March general managers' meetings suggested teams preached discipline this season, and players were better at complying with the rules.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Whatever the reasons were, something has changed in the playoffs. Teams received 3.05 power plays per game through Thursday's action. Boarding, cross-checking, high-sticking, interference, and roughing are being punished at a greater rate than in the regular season, according to a scan of <a href="https://www.icydata.hockey/player_stats/49/penalties">IcyData's penalty tracker</a>. (Holding, slashing, and tripping calls have held steady.)This playoff shift happens annually. Over the past 10 years, power-play attempts have climbed in the postseason by an average of 0.19 per team game. This year's difference - 0.34 attempts - amounts to a few extra calls and scoring opportunities throughout a competitive series and dozens more over an entire round.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="🤔 How PP attempt rate shifts" aria-label="Grouped Columns" id="datawrapper-chart-llVcs" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/llVcs/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="400" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>The playoffs can seem violent and lawless, but minor infractions don't get overlooked.Compared to the regular season, fewer postseason games elapse with next-to-no penalty calls. More produce a wave of power plays.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Power play frequency" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-IlcgN" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/IlcgN/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="400" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>Here are a few takeaways on the fluctuating trend, what it means, and who it favors.Goal surge: Despite the downshift in calls in the regular season, power plays created stellar looks and beat goalies at an exceptional 21.6% clip - the best NHL average since the mid-1980s, per <a href="https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/stats.html">Hockey Reference</a>. The current playoff PP scoring rate (22.7%) is even stronger, and it dwarfs the league average from the past 10 postseasons (20.3%). The Jets are the only active team operating below 20%, but they prolonged their season with a couple of big goals Thursday.Big beneficiaries: The Stars and Hurricanes top the playoffs in power-play goals (Dallas is 11-for-38, Carolina's 9-for-32) because they mix efficiency with opportunity. Both ranked in the top three in PP attempts this season, and both are drawing more whistles now that calls are up. Outscoring their playoff opponents by a healthy 10-2 margin on special teams spurred the Canes to the conference finals.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785810/cropped_SARH.jpg?ts=1747337590" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785810/w220xh124_SARH.jpg?ts=1747337590 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785810/w320xh180_SARH.jpg?ts=1747337590 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785810/w640xh360_SARH.jpg?ts=1747337590 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785810/w768xh432_SARH.jpg?ts=1747337590 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785810/w1080xh607_SARH.jpg?ts=1747337590 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Sebastian Aho (left) and Roope Hintz. Josh Lavallee, Matthew Pearce / NHL, Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Individual standouts: Dallas center Roope Hintz shares the NHL lead for drawn penalties (seven) with Washington's Tom Wilson; Toronto's Calle Jarnkrok has drawn six in much less ice time. Carolina star Sebastian Aho paces the pack with three power-play goals and six points. The Stars' Mikael Granlund and Golden Knights' Victor Olofsson are the only players with two power-play goals in Round 2 - and both scored theirs in a single game.PK counterpunchers: No one would mistake the Panthers for model citizens, but their 88.9% penalty kill bails them out of trouble. They killed all but two of the Lightning's 18 power plays in the first round. They've held the Maple Leafs' skilled marksmen to an identical scoring rate. Like Carolina (93.3% PK) and Dallas (86.1%), Florida's equipped to deal with a parade to the box.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.

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NHL penalty calls fell, then surged. Who's capitalizing?

Stuart Skinner was kneeling in no man's land on the outskirts of the crease when a superstar team...

Stuart Skinner was kneeling in no man's land on the outskirts of the crease when a superstar teammate scored on him in Game 3. Leon Draisaitl's tiebreaking deflection into his own net with 0.4 seconds on the clock turned out to be the last goal of the Golden Knights' season.Skinner crouched for a cursory faceoff, left the ice, and returned to blank Vegas for the next 127 minutes of action. His consecutive shutouts and Kasperi Kapanen's grubby overtime series clincher sent the Oilers to a third Western Conference final in four years. Edmonton mobbed the grinning goalie and the heroic waiver pickup as the teams lined up for handshakes.The turn of events reflected the volatility of goaltending. Skinner's terrible 0-2 start to the postseason forced the Oilers to bench him. Functional backup Calvin Pickard won six games, then got hurt against Vegas, launching Skinner's redemption tour. His career playoff save percentage is .893, but in closeout games, he's 5-1 with a .925 save percentage following Wednesday's 1-0 triumph.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Over in the Eastern Conference, the Maple Leafs lit up Sergei Bobrovsky for two games and parts of another, but his turnaround in the middle of the series saved the Panthers' Stanley Cup defense. Injuries derailed Frederik Andersen's season, yet the Hurricanes veteran righted the ship and enters Thursday's elimination opportunity with a league-leading .935 save rate.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785754/cropped_GettyImages-2214431009.jpg?ts=1747322474" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785754/w220xh124_GettyImages-2214431009.jpg?ts=1747322474 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785754/w320xh180_GettyImages-2214431009.jpg?ts=1747322474 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785754/w640xh360_GettyImages-2214431009.jpg?ts=1747322474 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785754/w768xh432_GettyImages-2214431009.jpg?ts=1747322474 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785754/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2214431009.jpg?ts=1747322474 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Their shutout streaks changed the second round. Skinner stopped 47 straight shots to wreck the Golden Knights' Cup dream. Bobrovsky stoned the Leafs for 143 minutes and 25 seconds between the third period of Game 3 and garbage time in Wednesday's <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3286247" href="https://thescore.com/news/3286247">beatdown</a>. Andersen was perfect for 123:34 as Carolina swept its homestand against the Capitals to move within a win of advancing.Cold spells plagued Alex Ovechkin, who's beaten Andersen once on 11 shots, and Jack Eichel, whose last point for Vegas came in the first period of Game 3. Florida's pair of Selke Trophy finalists, Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart, handcuffed Auston Matthews' line to get the boo birds chirping on a miserable night at Toronto's Scotiabank Arena.Before Game 5 of Leafs-Panthers became a laugher, it was scoreless in the first period when Bobrovsky kicked aside William Nylander's breakaway attempt. Skinner flashed the leather a few times and was in position for timely saves throughout Edmonton's decisive win. Draisaitl made up for his oopsie on the own goal by stifling Eichel for all of Wednesday and assisting Kapanen's finisher at the end of a defensive marathon.Five of the postseason's eight shutouts to date have come in Round 2. Connor Hellebuyck blanked the Stars once, but Jake Oettinger's superiority is why the Jets are on the brink. Rock-solid netminding is separating contenders from pretenders around the league.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.

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3 shutout streaks changed the course of Round 2

Stanley Cup contenders build around homegrown superstars, but they need skaters throughout the li...

Stanley Cup contenders build around homegrown superstars, but they need skaters throughout the lineup to provide significant support. By filling a variety of valuable roles, these seven players make their teams deeper and more dangerous.<h3>Mikko Rantanen, Stars</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785437/cropped_GettyImages-2214594116.jpg?ts=1747155828" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785437/w220xh124_GettyImages-2214594116.jpg?ts=1747155828 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785437/w320xh180_GettyImages-2214594116.jpg?ts=1747155828 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785437/w640xh360_GettyImages-2214594116.jpg?ts=1747155828 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785437/w768xh432_GettyImages-2214594116.jpg?ts=1747155828 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785437/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2214594116.jpg?ts=1747155828 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Sam Hodde / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Rantanen is the ultimate in-season addition. His arrival at the trade deadline and extension through 2033 for the bargain annual price of $12 million supercharged the present and future potential of Dallas' core. Rantanen's current tear made him the third NHLer to tally nine goals and 18 points in the span of seven playoff games, per Stathead. Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri scored at the same scorching rate for the 1980s Oilers.<h3>Brad Marchand, Panthers</h3>Marchand is thriving as a rental. The Panthers will happily trade a first-round draft pick as a condition of reaching the conference finals if the ageless pest propels them past Toronto. The former Bruin and pending unrestricted free agent will always plague the Maple Leafs. Marchand had four points in Games 1-3, including a pinballing overtime winner, and he played 22 minutes on his 37th birthday in Game 4 as Florida protected a series-tying lead.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Thomas Harley, Stars</h3>Miro Heiskanen's long absence should have been disastrous for Dallas, but Harley saved the day with his Herculean minute-munching efforts. He averaged 24:53 of ice time over the final 30 games of the regular season and is up to 27:06 in the playoffs as a go-to puck-mover and temporary power-play quarterback. The tireless 23-year-old defenseman, a 4 Nations injury replacement, is gaining the inside track to make Canada's Olympic team on merit.<h3>Jaccob Slavin, Hurricanes</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785438/cropped_GettyImages-2214770991.jpg?ts=1747155952" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785438/w220xh124_GettyImages-2214770991.jpg?ts=1747155952 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785438/w320xh180_GettyImages-2214770991.jpg?ts=1747155952 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785438/w640xh360_GettyImages-2214770991.jpg?ts=1747155952 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785438/w768xh432_GettyImages-2214770991.jpg?ts=1747155952 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785438/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2214770991.jpg?ts=1747155952 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Grant Halverson / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Slavin's a tremendous penalty killer. The rangy, intelligent defenseman leads Carolina in PK minutes (3:31 per night) and wasn't caught on the ice for an opposing goal until Game 4 against the Capitals. The Canes, who stifled the Devils' power play in Round 1, have outscored New Jersey and Washington 10-2 on special teams. In the regular season, no NHL defender with a remotely similar workload suppressed PP goals and dangerous chances like Slavin.<h3>Adam Lowry, Jets</h3>The Jets captain, an expert in the faceoff circle, ranks second in won draws (112) behind Toronto's Auston Matthews. Lowry's 53.9% win rate dwarfs his 51.4% career average and counterbalances the struggles of Winnipeg's other three centers (combined 42.8% in the postseason). Outside of the dot, Lowry's forechecking and cycling led to his fabled overtime clincher against the Blues and allowed him to roof a rebound in Game 2 versus the Stars.<h3>Matthew Knies, Maple Leafs</h3>Knies is an entry-level difference-maker. The second-year power forward with five playoff goals and a $925,000 cap hit accounts for less than 4% of his talented line's price tag. His emphatic impact as the designated finisher alongside Matthews and Mitch Marner is guaranteeing Knies a steep raise in restricted free agency. He's invaluable to the Leafs, who get inconsistent scoring from the cheap veterans they shoehorn into depth roles to be cap compliant.<h3>Connor Brown, Oilers</h3>The 31-year-old Brown is a cheap, quality veteran. He re-upped with Edmonton for a year and $1 million to continue rediscovering his game after ACL surgery. The winger has scored in three playoff wins, and he's deked and pickpocketed Golden Knights defenders to create offense for himself and linemate Adam Henrique. Two of the Oilers' most affordable forwards - Brown and fellow shrewd vet Corey Perry - picked an excellent time to heat up.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.

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7 skaters providing immense value in the playoffs

A Canadian team hasn't won the Stanley Cup in 32 years, but the second round of the 2025 playoffs...

A Canadian team hasn't won the Stanley Cup in 32 years, but the second round of the 2025 playoffs is providing hope. Toronto leads its series with Florida, 2-1, Edmonton's up 2-0 over Vegas, and Winnipeg's tied 1-1 with Dallas. Below, we discuss reasons for optimism and pessimism for the three Canadian clubs.<h3>Toronto Maple Leafs</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784935/cropped_GettyImages-2214294247.jpg?ts=1746845161" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784935/w220xh124_GettyImages-2214294247.jpg?ts=1746845161 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784935/w320xh180_GettyImages-2214294247.jpg?ts=1746845161 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784935/w640xh360_GettyImages-2214294247.jpg?ts=1746845161 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784935/w768xh432_GettyImages-2214294247.jpg?ts=1746845161 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784935/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2214294247.jpg?ts=1746845161 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Carmen Mandato / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Optimistic view: Toronto dictated the style and pace of play in Games 1 and 2 - two wins - and held its own in a Game 3 overtime loss. That's an extremely encouraging sign in a series against a well-oiled machine like the Panthers.The team with the most puck-battle wins has won each game, and in the Leafs' victories those battles have helped them attack off the rush with numbers. William Nylander's collected six points, four of them off the rush and a fifth when he joined the play late with downhill speed after a line change.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Other series standouts include Max Pacioretty (five points, team-high 16 hits), Matthew Knies (four points, forechecking nightmare), and Morgan Rielly (two goals, two assists). Shutdown defensemen Jake McCabe and Chris Tanev have been superb. Both are key to the penalty kill, and the Leafs are outscoring the Panthers 4-1 in the pair's 50-plus five-on-five minutes together.Pessimistic view: Auston Matthews hasn't been bad so far. In fact, he's contributed three assists, and his line with Knies and Mitch Marner has held Aleksander Barkov's line off the scoresheet at five-on-five.Yet, Matthews hasn't looked himself as a sniper. He's hesitant to shoot, especially on the power play, and when he does, the puck rarely meets its target. Matthews has 25 attempts in Round 2 but only 11 shots on goal. He has yet to solve Sergei Bobrovksy and scored just twice in the first round.Meanwhile, Leafs Nation is holding its breath every time Joseph Woll handles the puck. Woll's been competent in relief for Anthony Stolarz but had enough uh-oh moments in 165 minutes of crease time to fill a lengthy lowlight reel.A third mild concern: Tanev's durability. He's been on the receiving end of a playoff-high 71 hits for an average of 7.9 per game. He left Game 3 briefly, and it feels like he's one awkward collision from ending up on injured reserve.<h3>Edmonton Oilers</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784851/cropped_GettyImages-2214165035.jpg?ts=1746810137" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784851/w220xh124_GettyImages-2214165035.jpg?ts=1746810137 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784851/w320xh180_GettyImages-2214165035.jpg?ts=1746810137 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784851/w640xh360_GettyImages-2214165035.jpg?ts=1746810137 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784851/w768xh432_GettyImages-2214165035.jpg?ts=1746810137 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784851/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2214165035.jpg?ts=1746810137 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jeff Bottari / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Optimistic view: The Oilers top the playoffs in goals (4.5 per night) and ride a record streak of comeback wins (six in a row) into a homestand at Rogers Place, where they can nudge the Golden Knights to the brink. If the clock's still ticking, their playmakers and shooters know they can strike next and erase any deficit. That's a major psychological advantage.Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl's awesome production - they combined for 27 points through eight games - aligns with their career averages, so no letup or drop-off is coming. Edmonton's prevailed twice in overtime because of McDavid's suite of unstoppable traits (acceleration, stickhandling, and vision) and Draisaitl's precise finishing.A league-high seven Oilers have already buried at least three goals. Corey Perry's revival, Evander Kane's return to health, and breakouts from Connor Brown and Vasily Podkolzin strengthened each of Kris Knoblauch's forward trios. The defense corps is imperfect but plainly benefited from the in-season additions of John Klingberg and Jake Walman.Pessimistic view: Comebacks are magical, but the Oilers seem unable to start on time and have trailed in every playoff game. They've conceded three opening goals within three minutes of puck drop and six by the middle of the first period. While Knoblauch presents a calm front, that must make his stomach churn.The penalty kill, a forte of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final squad, owns the league's worst success rate (59.3%). Opposing power plays boast four multi-goal performances. Losing three cornerstones of last year's airtight PK - the injured Mattias Ekholm, plus Cody Ceci and Vincent Desharnais - forced worse killers to take on bigger roles.Other concerns about Edmonton are hypothetical. Calvin Pickard's .888 save percentage has yet to lead to a loss, but if he begins to spring leaks, can Knoblauch confidently turn back to Stuart Skinner? Hold that thought for now.<h3>Winnipeg Jets</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784948/cropped_GettyImages-2213665956.jpg?ts=1746851717" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784948/w220xh124_GettyImages-2213665956.jpg?ts=1746851717 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784948/w320xh180_GettyImages-2213665956.jpg?ts=1746851717 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784948/w640xh360_GettyImages-2213665956.jpg?ts=1746851717 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784948/w768xh432_GettyImages-2213665956.jpg?ts=1746851717 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784948/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2213665956.jpg?ts=1746851717 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jonathan Kozub / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Optimistic view: Nikolaj Ehlers and Gabriel Vilardi returned to the lineup in the second half of the first round. Mark Scheifele came back in Game 1 versus the Stars, and Josh Morrissey returned in Friday's Game 2. The Jets are finally at full force.The returnees' performances have ratcheted up the optimism, most notably Ehlers and Vilardi. Ehlers, a playoff no-show in the past, was flying throughout Game 2's victory, scoring twice on a game-high seven shots and adding a primary assist in less than 15 minutes of ice time. Vilardi, also a Game 2 goal-scorer, is generating inner-slot scoring chances at a high rate.Winnipeg almost didn't make it past St. Louis because superstar goalie Connor Hellebuyck faltered in multiple games. Well, he stopped all 21 Dallas shots Friday. His second-period glove save on Evgenii Dadonov was unreal, and overall his confidence appears to be back at an appropriate level.Pessimistic view: Mikko Rantanen is on the other team.The power forward has been a wrecking ball all playoffs. Since the Stars failed to score Friday, Rantanen enters Sunday's Game 3 with his wacko streak intact; he's somehow registered a point on each of Dallas' last 12 goals.The Avalanche had no answer for Rantanen in Round 1 and neither did the Jets in Game 1, as the former Av torched Winnipeg with a second-period hat trick. The series is shifting to Dallas, which means Pete DeBoer, one of the best matchup coaches in the NHL, should have an easier time getting Rantanen away from Jets captain and top defensive center Adam Lowry.Not to be forgotten: Hellebuyck collapsed in epic fashion on the road in the first round. For as good as he looked Friday, he needs a signature performance outside of Winnipeg before the doubters stop doubting him.John Matisz and Nick Faris cover the NHL for theScore.

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Each Canadian playoff team's reasons for optimism, pessimism

Incredible skill is the force behind the Oilers' string of thrilling comeback wins. Connor McDavi...

Incredible skill is the force behind the Oilers' string of thrilling comeback wins. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are the greatest postseason performers of their generation.Age and experience permit their teammates not to panic. Edmonton played with poise while coming from behind to eliminate the Kings for a fourth straight year and stun the Golden Knights in the Round 2 opener. This silvery Stanley Cup contender keeps trailing on the scoreboard, then triumphing late.Edmonton's one of the oldest squads of the salary-cap era. Over the past 20 years, just one NHL team dressed as many skaters in their 30s for the bulk of the schedule. Eleven thirtysomething members of the 2025 Oilers and 2009 Devils played at least 60 games in those regular seasons, per <a href="https://stathead.com/tiny/Q557O">Stathead</a>.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The playoff lineup is even grayer: Twelve of the 19 Oilers (eight forwards, three defensemen, goalie Calvin Pickard) who faced off with Vegas in Game 1 are aged 30 and up. Secondary offense from wily vets fueled the club's latest rally.Edmonton dug out of a 2-0 hole Tuesday when John Klingberg's outlet feed and touches from Draisaitl and McDavid set up Corey Perry's composed finish at the Vegas crease. Another sharp passing sequence between Klingberg, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Evander Kane led to Zach Hyman's clutch winner, which he rang in off the post with three minutes left. Connor Brown grabbed a blocked shot and juked Shea Theodore ahead of his brilliant insurance tally.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784568/cropped_GettyImages-2213823151.jpg?ts=1746651014" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784568/w220xh124_GettyImages-2213823151.jpg?ts=1746651014 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784568/w320xh180_GettyImages-2213823151.jpg?ts=1746651014 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784568/w640xh360_GettyImages-2213823151.jpg?ts=1746651014 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784568/w768xh432_GettyImages-2213823151.jpg?ts=1746651014 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784568/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2213823151.jpg?ts=1746651014 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Candice Ward / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The Oilers' fifth consecutive comeback win established a <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3281924" href="https://thescore.com/news/3281924">new playoff record</a>. Their two multi-goal comebacks, achieved in Game 4 against Los Angeles and Game 1 in Vegas, are more than any team managed in the entire 2023 or 2024 postseasons.Resilience is a championship trait, as theScore's John Matisz noted in his <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3279942" href="https://thescore.com/news/3279942">recent mailbag</a>. Numerous cap-era Cup winners, including the 2022 Avalanche and '23 Golden Knights, routinely bounced back from deficits and averaged more than two comeback wins per round. Conceding the first goal never alarmed them.These Oilers have been outscored 20-13 through 40 minutes of games, but they're up 17-6 in third periods. Older forwards scored most of those late goals: Brown has three; Hyman and Mattias Janmark have two; and Kane, Nugent-Hopkins, Perry, and Viktor Arvidsson added one apiece. So far, Edmonton's controlled the action when the puck-moving Klingberg and stabilizing defender Brett Kulak are on the ice.The 18 Oilers skaters in the Game 1 lineup boast a collective 1,258 games of postseason experience. The ageless Perry tops all active players with 222 career appearances.Vegas countered with 1,240 games of experience, and that was with Alex Pietrangelo (145 games) sidelined by an illness. Cagey captain Mark Stone redirected a power-play goal and promptly followed that up with a patient snipe. The Golden Knights have the skill and veteran savvy to counterpunch in Game 2.The Oilers are building momentum, though. With a brisk series triumph, they'd be able to celebrate Perry's 40th birthday on May 16 - the night of a potential Game 6 - in style.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.

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Grizzled Oilers' comebacks prove age is just a number

Each second-round playoff matchup is set after delirious Game 7 triumphs from the Dallas Stars an...

Each second-round playoff matchup is set after delirious Game 7 triumphs from the Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets. Here are significant questions for the eight teams still chasing the Stanley Cup.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783977/TOR-FLA.jpg?ts=1746366176" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783977/TOR-FLA.jpg?ts=1746366176 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783977/TOR-FLA.jpg?ts=1746366176 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783977/TOR-FLA.jpg?ts=1746366176 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783977/TOR-FLA.jpg?ts=1746366176 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783977/TOR-FLA.jpg?ts=1746366176 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> </figcaption></figure>Will Maple Leafs get depth scoring?Clutch flourishes from Max Domi (overtime winner) and Max Pacioretty (series clincher) were the only goals Toronto received in Round 1 from bottom-six forwards. The core stars shone, but they'll need consistent support to trouble an intimidating Panthers lineup that teems with scoring and bite. The Leafs' third line can't afford to cave against Florida's top few trios, which are centered by Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett, and Anton Lundell.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Can Panthers stay levelheaded?By pulverizing the Lightning, the defending champions proved they should be favored against any playoff opponent. But their reckless hits led to two major penalties and the suspension of defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who can return in Game 2 against the Leafs. The response from Florida's penalty kill was brilliant (88.9% success rate). It's still preferable to toe the line and not risk letting Toronto's quick-strike power play swing the series.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784033/cropped_GettyImages-2211519942.jpg?ts=1746387619" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784033/w220xh124_GettyImages-2211519942.jpg?ts=1746387619 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784033/w320xh180_GettyImages-2211519942.jpg?ts=1746387619 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784033/w640xh360_GettyImages-2211519942.jpg?ts=1746387619 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784033/w768xh432_GettyImages-2211519942.jpg?ts=1746387619 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784033/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2211519942.jpg?ts=1746387619 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Peter Joneleit / Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784036/WSH-CAR.jpg?ts=1746388731" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784036/WSH-CAR.jpg?ts=1746388731 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784036/WSH-CAR.jpg?ts=1746388731 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784036/WSH-CAR.jpg?ts=1746388731 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784036/WSH-CAR.jpg?ts=1746388731 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784036/WSH-CAR.jpg?ts=1746388731 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> </figcaption></figure>Can Tom Wilson be a menace?Wilson's <a href="https://x.com/theScore/status/1915934534983389328">fake cry</a> - an exceptional taunt he unleashed in Montreal - will be weaponized against him as soon as the Capitals exit the postseason. He can push them closer to the Cup by continuing to play with overwhelming force. Wilson changed the Canadiens series when he trucked Alexandre Carrier shortly before the tying goal in the Caps' third win. His evolution into a 30-goal scorer after turning 30 makes his team much more dangerous.Will Carolina's offense run dry?By winning a seventh consecutive opening series, the Hurricanes reached the trickier part of their schedule. They were outscored by the 2024 Rangers in a six-game defeat despite pumping 67 more shots on net. They managed six goals on 174 shots in Florida's razor-thin sweep of the '23 Eastern Conference Final. Finishing is a weakness whenever they're eliminated. It's promising that 11 Canes scored and Andrei Svechnikov buried five goals against New Jersey.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784034/cropped_GettyImages-2211748548.jpg?ts=1746387870" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784034/w220xh124_GettyImages-2211748548.jpg?ts=1746387870 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784034/w320xh180_GettyImages-2211748548.jpg?ts=1746387870 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784034/w640xh360_GettyImages-2211748548.jpg?ts=1746387870 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784034/w768xh432_GettyImages-2211748548.jpg?ts=1746387870 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784034/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2211748548.jpg?ts=1746387870 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Rich Graessle / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783978/VGK-EDM.jpg?ts=1746366181" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783978/VGK-EDM.jpg?ts=1746366181 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783978/VGK-EDM.jpg?ts=1746366181 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783978/VGK-EDM.jpg?ts=1746366181 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783978/VGK-EDM.jpg?ts=1746366181 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783978/VGK-EDM.jpg?ts=1746366181 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> </figcaption></figure>Has Jack Eichel hit his stride?Eichel had a respectable five points but was outplayed by opposing star Kirill Kaprizov in Round 1, and the Golden Knights were often overmatched when he was on the ice (8-3 Wild at even strength). Contributions throughout the lineup helped Vegas scrape out four close wins (two in overtime), and Eichel's four points in Games 5-6 included a breakaway goal and a wonderful shorthanded helper. He needs to stay hot and drive the bus against Connor McDavid's Oilers.Is Calvin Pickard the answer in net?Stuart Skinner opened seven consecutive playoff rounds as Edmonton's starter, then lost the gig after two limp losses to the Kings. While Pickard didn't paint a Picasso, his .898 save percentage over four wins was just below the NHL season average and didn't undermine McDavid and Leon Draisaitl's scoring. The 33-year-old journeyman can devour shots: No qualified goalie allowed fewer rebound attempts per 60 minutes this year, according to <a href="https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerteams.php?fromseason=20232024&amp;thruseason=20232024&amp;stype=2&amp;sit=all&amp;score=all&amp;stdoi=g&amp;rate=y&amp;team=ALL&amp;pos=S&amp;loc=B&amp;toi=1000&amp;gpfilt=none&amp;fd=&amp;td=&amp;tgp=410&amp;lines=single&amp;draftteam=ALL">Natural Stat Trick</a>.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784035/cropped_GettyImages-2211377263.jpg?ts=1746388034" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784035/w220xh124_GettyImages-2211377263.jpg?ts=1746388034 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784035/w320xh180_GettyImages-2211377263.jpg?ts=1746388034 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784035/w640xh360_GettyImages-2211377263.jpg?ts=1746388034 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784035/w768xh432_GettyImages-2211377263.jpg?ts=1746388034 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784035/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2211377263.jpg?ts=1746388034 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Codie McLachlan / Getty Images</figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783979/WPG-DAL.jpg?ts=1746366186" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783979/WPG-DAL.jpg?ts=1746366186 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783979/WPG-DAL.jpg?ts=1746366186 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783979/WPG-DAL.jpg?ts=1746366186 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783979/WPG-DAL.jpg?ts=1746366186 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783979/WPG-DAL.jpg?ts=1746366186 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> </figcaption></figure>Will Connor Hellebuyck and his defense level up?There's plenty of blame to share for the 27 goals the Jets, an ostensible defensive juggernaut, allowed against the Blues. Defensemen blocked Hellebuyck's sightline and let scorers waltz to the crease. Some shots, like Mathieu Joseph's wrister in Game 7, simply needed to be stopped by the Vezina Trophy favorite. But Winnipeg battled, and a frantic comeback completed in double overtime gives Hellebuyck a chance to enhance his .830 playoff save percentage.Can Mikko Rantanen be stopped?The Avalanche's season ended in infamy because Rantanen flipped Game 7 in one period with a late hat trick and four points. It was his second straight game with four points in a frame. The Stars' stingy defensive effort helped them win the decider and bought more time for Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson to return from injury. Rantanen, whose career playoff scoring average (1.28 points per game) ranks seventh all time, is his deep team's greatest weapon.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.

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8 key questions for NHL's 2nd-round playoff teams

Our hockey writers shared observations throughout Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Sunday, M...

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Running analysis of Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs

Our hockey writers shared observations throughout Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Tap to ret...

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Past analysis of Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs

The steep downfall of the Pittsburgh Penguins led to head coach Mike Sullivan's exit Monday. The ...

The steep downfall of the Pittsburgh Penguins led to head coach Mike Sullivan's exit Monday. The two parties' agreement to part ways wasn't foreseeable or justified until Pittsburgh slumped to 13th in the Eastern Conference this season. But it was seven years in the making.The Penguins haven't won a playoff series since 2018, when the archrival Capitals bounced them ahead of Alex Ovechkin's Stanley Cup breakthrough. The Islanders swept them in 2019. Carey Price's brilliance doomed them to a meek showing against the 12th-seeded Canadiens in the 2020 bubbled qualifying round. Sullivan's team blew series leads to the Islanders and Rangers, then missed three straight postseasons by one, three, and 11 points.However, his peak in Pittsburgh was towering. Sullivan replaced Mike Johnston midway through the 2015-16 season when Sidney Crosby was seven years removed from his only taste of glory. The back-to-back championships that followed made Crosby's legacy unassailable, and the Penguins' competitive window seemed limitless.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Successive general managers (Jim Rutherford, Ron Hextall, and now Kyle Dubas) tried and failed to surround their ageless captain with sufficient help. The power play, catastrophic defensive efforts, and goaltending became major problems. Crosby carried the offense as Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson all lost a step. It's staggering that fans have grown used to not seeing the Penguins in the first round.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782916/cropped_GettyImages-2210946316.jpg?ts=1745853380" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782916/w220xh124_GettyImages-2210946316.jpg?ts=1745853380 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782916/w320xh180_GettyImages-2210946316.jpg?ts=1745853380 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782916/w640xh360_GettyImages-2210946316.jpg?ts=1745853380 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782916/w768xh432_GettyImages-2210946316.jpg?ts=1745853380 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782916/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2210946316.jpg?ts=1745853380 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Joe Sargent / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>2024-25 was a season of change in the NHL. The Bruins entered a tailspin, held a fire sale, and ended their eight-year streak of playoff appearances, which had been tied for the active league lead. The dysfunctional Rangers imploded and fired coach Peter Laviolette at the bitter end of his second season at the helm.Either Original Six franchise could bring in Sullivan for a second stint. He coached Boston on both sides of the 2005 lockout, and he was John Tortorella's lead assistant with the Rangers in the early 2010s.The Ducks and Kraken also have vacancies, while the Blackhawks and Flyers need to decide the fate of their interim coaches. Sullivan's record took a hit in recent seasons, but the 57-year-old is in his coaching prime, and he'll be in demand.The end of Sullivan's Penguins chapter also adds a layer to his rivalry with Jon Cooper. The decorated Lightning and Canada head coach beat Sullivan's United States team at the 4 Nations Face-Off. A rematch in Italy is coming at the 2026 Olympics. As of Monday, Cooper's the only active coach who's been with his NHL franchise for a decade.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.

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Playoff flops spoiled Sullivan's glorious Penguins tenure

As the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin, we highlight 16 players - one for every championship hopeful -...

As the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin, we highlight 16 players - one for every championship hopeful - with the power to take over matchups and propel their team to NHL supremacy.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="🏒 Eastern Conference series" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-vVSXo" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/vVSXo/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="165" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>Matthew Knies: The Maple Leafs have never had a player like Knies in the Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner-William Nylander era. Yes, Knies has been around for the past two playoff runs, but not this version of him. The hulking power forward exploded for 29 goals in his sophomore campaign, nearly doubling his 15 from a year ago. If he can effectively utilize his 6-foot-3, 227-pound frame for postseason hockey, it could open up more space for linemates Matthews and Marner, who need to deliver for Toronto to go deep.Brady Tkachuk: The Senators captain hasn't played in many big games in his pro career, mainly because he hasn't gotten a taste of playoff hockey. But if his performance at the 4 Nations Face-Off was any indication - he scored three goals in four games and was a maniac on the forecheck - his game is tailor-made for the postseason. If the Senators pull off the upset in this series, you can bet it will be because Tkachuk drags them into the fight.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780692/cropped_GettyImages-2209461358.jpg?ts=1744730098" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780692/w220xh124_GettyImages-2209461358.jpg?ts=1744730098 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780692/w320xh180_GettyImages-2209461358.jpg?ts=1744730098 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780692/w640xh360_GettyImages-2209461358.jpg?ts=1744730098 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780692/w768xh432_GettyImages-2209461358.jpg?ts=1744730098 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780692/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2209461358.jpg?ts=1744730098 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Vince Del Monte / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Andrei Vasilevskiy: The Lightning goaltender was a massive part of their three consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances from 2020-22. His Conn Smythe Trophy-winning 2021 playoffs, in which he recorded four series-clinching shutouts, was the stuff of legend. But Vasilevskiy has been a weakness with an .885 save percentage over the past two postseasons where Tampa Bay has been eliminated in Round 1. If the playoff Vasi of old shows up - a real possibility after a strong, healthy regular season - look out.Brad Marchand: The marriage between Marchand and the Panthers hasn't been as perfect as we might've thought - so far. The trade deadline acquisition tallied four points in 10 games with an ugly 43% expected goals share since returning from injury - a far cry from his typical 60-plus point pace. But Marchand was brought to Florida for the playoffs. Does he have enough left in the tank to deliver when it matters most? Can he be his usual agitating self?<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780550/cropped_GettyImages-2208821886.jpg?ts=1744643759" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780550/w220xh124_GettyImages-2208821886.jpg?ts=1744643759 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780550/w320xh180_GettyImages-2208821886.jpg?ts=1744643759 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780550/w640xh360_GettyImages-2208821886.jpg?ts=1744643759 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780550/w768xh432_GettyImages-2208821886.jpg?ts=1744643759 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780550/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2208821886.jpg?ts=1744643759 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andrew Mordzynski / Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Alex Ovechkin: The NHL's record goal scorer just buried 44 in 65 games despite enduring a broken leg. That translates to the fifth-best per-game scoring rate of Ovechkin's transcendent 20-year career. With a lofty 12.5% team shooting percentage, the Capitals sniped at will throughout the season but went cold during a recent funk. They can win rounds for the first time since their 2018 Cup run if Ovechkin continues to find open ice and overwhelm goalies.Lane Hutson: The Canadiens' defensive shortcomings seem insignificant when the shifty, intelligent Hutson sets up Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, or Patrik Laine for tap-ins. His preternatural poise let him control games as a historically productive rookie blue-liner. In Hutson's first brush with a playoff opponent, he'll log intense minutes as Washington seeks to close his stickhandling and passing windows and force mistakes.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780553/cropped_GettyImages-2194929042.jpg?ts=1744644951" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780553/w220xh124_GettyImages-2194929042.jpg?ts=1744644951 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780553/w320xh180_GettyImages-2194929042.jpg?ts=1744644951 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780553/w640xh360_GettyImages-2194929042.jpg?ts=1744644951 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780553/w768xh432_GettyImages-2194929042.jpg?ts=1744644951 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780553/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2194929042.jpg?ts=1744644951 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Josh Lavallee / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Seth Jarvis: Modeling consistency, the Hurricanes have advanced past the opening round of every postseason since 2019. Inevitably, they begin struggling to finish and bow out of the dance. Part of the problem is they've dropped five consecutive overtime games dating to the 2023 Eastern Conference Final. Carolina's luck will turn if Jarvis, an all-situations force whose 32 goals paced the club, jolts the offense in a huge moment.Jesper Bratt: The Devils' 9-10-1 record since March 2 shows they teetered without Jack Hughes but refused to be crushed by his season-ending injury. It helped that Bratt, a phenomenal creator, continued the scoring tear that spurred him to fifth in the NHL in assists (67), sixth in primary assists (36), and tied for 15th in points (88). New Jersey's top line - Nico Hischier between Bratt and Ondrej Palat - needs to expose the Canes' shaky goaltending.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="🏒 Western Conference series" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-oMc0v" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/oMc0v/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="165" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>Connor Hellebuyck: It's time for Hellebuyck to take over a postseason and cement his status as an all-time great goaltender. He already has the regular-season hardware with two Vezina Trophies and a third likely coming his way in June. But he's struggled mightily with an .875 save percentage and a 4.28 goals-against average in 10 games over the past two postseasons. With the Jets winning the Presidents' Trophy and Hellebuyck firmly in his prime at 31, there's no better time than now to go on a deep run.Jordan Binnington: If any goalie won't be intimidated by going head-to-head with Hellebuyck, it's Binnington, who got the better of his American counterpart in the final of the 4 Nations Face-Off. Binnington's confidence skyrocketed from his strong showing for Canada. He owned an .897 save percentage for the Blues before the tournament but posted a .910 mark afterward. A proven big-game goalie riding high is bad news for opposing shooters.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780690/cropped_GettyImages-2206516253.jpg?ts=1744729324" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780690/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206516253.jpg?ts=1744729324 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780690/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206516253.jpg?ts=1744729324 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780690/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206516253.jpg?ts=1744729324 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780690/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206516253.jpg?ts=1744729324 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780690/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206516253.jpg?ts=1744729324 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Curtis Comeau / Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Mikko Rantanen: The potential of Rantanen haunting his former team is arguably the opening round's most intriguing storyline. He started to find his footing with the Stars - something he couldn't do in his brief stint with the Hurricanes - by recording 14 points in his final 13 games. The Stars are one of the deepest teams in the league, but a true game-breaker up front like Rantanen could put them over the top in the playoffs.Brock Nelson: The Avalanche front office overhauled nearly half the team throughout the season, but Nelson was probably their biggest addition. Colorado hasn't had a center of Nelson's caliber behind Nathan MacKinnon since 2022, when the Avs won the Cup with Nazem Kadri producing valuable secondary offense. The 6-foot-4 Nelson, who boasts an impressive playoff resume with 27 goals in 78 games, could provide a similar impact.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780563/cropped_GettyImages-2196817728.jpg?ts=1744647680" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780563/w220xh124_GettyImages-2196817728.jpg?ts=1744647680 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780563/w320xh180_GettyImages-2196817728.jpg?ts=1744647680 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780563/w640xh360_GettyImages-2196817728.jpg?ts=1744647680 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780563/w768xh432_GettyImages-2196817728.jpg?ts=1744647680 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780563/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2196817728.jpg?ts=1744647680 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jared Silber / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Tomas Hertl: Acquired at the 2024 trade deadline, Hertl's unproductive first series with the Golden Knights contributed to their defeat in seven games. They'll be miserable to face this spring if he meets expectations. The big center's 11 goals in his past 17 outings helped Vegas accrue a .731 points percentage since the 4 Nations break. The Pacific Division's top seed is a buzzsaw with scoring depth, brawn, and championship experience.Kirill Kaprizov: Only four NHL megastars (Nikita Kucherov, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and MacKinnon) produced more points per game than Kaprizov, the heartbeat of the Wild. However, he was injured for half the year, and Minnesota suffered accordingly, playing at an 88-point standings pace without him in the lineup. The Wild can spook Vegas if they receive superior goaltending and Kaprizov is dominant for close to 25 minutes each night.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780556/cropped_GettyImages-2193283478.jpg?ts=1744646310" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780556/w220xh124_GettyImages-2193283478.jpg?ts=1744646310 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780556/w320xh180_GettyImages-2193283478.jpg?ts=1744646310 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780556/w640xh360_GettyImages-2193283478.jpg?ts=1744646310 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780556/w768xh432_GettyImages-2193283478.jpg?ts=1744646310 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780556/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2193283478.jpg?ts=1744646310 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Curtis Comeau / Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Vladislav Gavrikov: The Kings are a shutdown team that allowed the second-fewest goals and shots on net in the NHL. They tap Gavrikov to shadow stars, block rubber, and create calm in front of Darcy Kuemper, the potential Vezina Trophy finalist who'll be the seventh Los Angeles goalie in four postseasons to face Edmonton. Gavrikov and L.A.'s other defensive linchpins, Mikey Anderson and Drew Doughty, are battle-tested and itching to slay the beast.Connor McDavid: Who else? The Oilers were about to be swept in the last Stanley Cup Final when McDavid's back-to-back four-point explosions turned a rout into an unforgettable slugfest. When he faces the Kings in the playoffs, he transforms into Wayne Gretzky with blinding speed. The hardest player to stop, no one's better equipped than McDavid to elevate linemates, lacerate a strong defense, and drag a banged-up team to victory.

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16 players who will headline the Stanley Cup race

In recent years, elite North American hockey players had access to half of the opportunities they...

In recent years, elite North American hockey players had access to half of the opportunities they craved. NHLers competed nightly in league play and chased the sport's ultimate prize, the Stanley Cup. But the NHL spurned the international spotlight, while stars of the women's game got to clash for patriotic bragging rights and gold medals.The sport found the right balance in 2025. The hostile, riveting 4 Nations Face-Off was best-on-best hockey in its ideal form. The women who bridged a border divide to create a league of their own - the PWHL - bolstered their abilities in front of sellout crowds. These advances signal a golden age for Canada's bitter rivalry with the United States as the 2026 Milan Olympics approach.First, the countries meet Sunday in Ceske Budejovice, Czechia, in the round robin of the 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship. Both squads are 2-0 at the tournament, and barring a giant upset, they'll reunite in the final on April 20 for the 23rd time. The Canadians, whose record in the title game is 13-9, are aiming to bag a fourth gold medal in five years.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Both women's national teams mix established and emerging talent. They're built like the 4 Nations lineups that upstaged Finland and Sweden on home ice while exhibiting hatred and incredible skill. No longer dormant, the Canada-U.S. men's rivalry has a jagged edge. Heading forward, women's tussles stand to be more competitive than ever.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="🌎 Worlds schedule" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-bA7FR" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/bA7FR/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="345" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>Pros who've spent two seasons in the PWHL have had time to concentrate on the craft, take and throw hits, become faster and stronger, and quicken the pace of play. Gains they make in that high-end environment will translate to the world stage.Coaching tips, conditioning and nutrition regimens, and growing chemistry between linemates helped players <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3235097" href="https://thescore.com/news/3235097">boost scoring</a> throughout the league. There are 5.11 goals per game in the PWHL's second season, up from 4.83 in the inaugural year. At the same time, the excellence of defensive workhorses and the league's goalies explains a sterling average save percentage of .913 (the NHL equivalent is .900).International icons top the PWHL in goals (Marie-Philip Poulin, 17) and points (Hilary Knight, 28). Poulin redefined clutch play with her four winning tallies for Canada in Olympic or world championship finals. Knight continues to pad her career scoring record at worlds with 67 goals and 114 points in 82 games.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780062/cropped_Fillier_and_Harvey.jpg?ts=1744382246" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780062/w220xh124_Fillier_and_Harvey.jpg?ts=1744382246 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780062/w320xh180_Fillier_and_Harvey.jpg?ts=1744382246 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780062/w640xh360_Fillier_and_Harvey.jpg?ts=1744382246 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780062/w768xh432_Fillier_and_Harvey.jpg?ts=1744382246 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780062/w1080xh607_Fillier_and_Harvey.jpg?ts=1744382246 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Sarah Fillier (left) and Caroline Harvey. Troy Parla / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Every line their teams send over the boards in Czechia blends finesse, jam, and offensive touch. Dominant up-and-comers like Canada's Sarah Fillier, the rookie forward lighting up the PWHL, control big games at a young age. Dynamic defenders Laila Edwards and Caroline Harvey are two of nine rising stars the U.S. plucked from the college ranks as the program girds for a post-Knight future.Venom has coursed through the rivalry since Hayley Wickenheiser accused the 2002 U.S. Olympic team of laying the Canadian flag on their dressing room floor. Brawls intensified two exhibition matchups in the lead-up to the 2014 Winter Games.When the result matters, every game is a close thriller. Eleven of the last 13 Canada-U.S. finals at the Olympics or worlds were decided by a goal. Eight in the span required overtime.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="🏒 Major women's finals" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-O1Y5E" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/O1Y5E/2/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="1152" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>Tension was palpable in February at the 4 Nations, a turf war with a tribal feeling that even the Stanley Cup Playoffs can't replicate.Fighting for the flag, Canada and the U.S. traded haymakers, chirps, and glorious chances until Connor McDavid wired a wrister over Connor Hellebuyck's glove in overtime of the final. For Canadian fans, the snipe felt like an affirmation of national sovereignty.In defeat, the bruising and banged-up Tkachuk brothers became American cult heroes. Brady and Matthew's tour of the late-night circuit and popular YouTube shows grew hockey's profile and reach.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780074/GettyImages-2199888550.jpg?ts=1744384813" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780074/GettyImages-2199888550.jpg?ts=1744384813 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780074/GettyImages-2199888550.jpg?ts=1744384813 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780074/GettyImages-2199888550.jpg?ts=1744384813 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780074/GettyImages-2199888550.jpg?ts=1744384813 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780074/GettyImages-2199888550.jpg?ts=1744384813 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Brady Tkachuk fights Sam Bennett at the 4 Nations. Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images </figcaption></figure>With NHLers in the mix again, the 2026 Olympics will be cinematic. The introduction of a healthy Quinn Hughes would supercharge the proceedings and counter Canada's deployment of the wondrous Cale Makar. Stacking the blue line with Hughes, Zach Werenski, Jaccob Slavin, and Jake Sanderson is probably how the swaggering Americans will pursue their first triumph at a best-on-best event since the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3216657" href="https://thescore.com/news/3216657">1996 World Cup</a>.Jordan Binnington's 4 Nations heroics won't silence questions about Canadian goaltending. But Canada boasts supreme star power: Makar, McDavid, and Nathan MacKinnon get to debut at the Olympics alongside Sidney Crosby, the golden sniper at Vancouver in 2010. Living legends will link up at biennial tournaments - the Winter Games and the revived World Cup - for years to come.National pride and strife <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3222303" href="https://thescore.com/news/3222303">brought the best</a> out of these players. Skill, bad blood, and high drama produce pulsating entertainment. There's more of that to come in Ceske Budejovice and Milan.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.

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Golden age dawns for Canada-USA hockey rivalry

The Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings can't escape each other. Unless the Vegas Golden Knight...

The Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings can't escape each other. Unless the Vegas Golden Knights tailspin out of first in the Pacific Division, these familiar foes will place second and third for a fourth consecutive year. They're on course to collide in yet another opening round of the postseason.These incessant brushes stem from the star-studded Oilers' surprising inability to win a division title. The franchise hasn’t done that since Wayne Gretzky menaced the Smythe Division in 1987. L.A. leapfrogged Edmonton in this year's standings to engineer a small shakeup, but it probably won't be enough to catch Vegas and overhaul the Pacific bracket.Kings-Oilers 4.0 is the logical result of a playoff format that stokes rivalries through repetition. The NHL ditched the 1-through-8 pathway through each conference to adopt the current divisional gauntlet in 2014. The change produced a blizzard of common matchups over the next decade.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>For legions of fatigued fans, the format is too predictable - and Kings-Oilers helps explain why. It's about to become the most frequent first-round playoff showdown since divisional realignment.As visualized below, a pair of teams in every division has met three times in Round 1. If L.A. and Edmonton renew hostilities, they'll rewrite that milestone in one uninterrupted swoop while tying the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins for most meetings under the present format.(Note: This table excludes matchups from the 2020 and '21 postseasons, which were configured differently because of the pandemic.)<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="🆚 Most common matchups" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-vvx8V" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/vvx8V/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="1184" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>Some magnetic property connects certain teams. By theScore's count, the Kings and Oilers were the 37th set of opponents in league history - and just the sixth this century - to clash in three consecutive postseasons.There are 11 historical examples of rivals extending a playoff matchup streak to four years. If the Kings and Oilers join that list, it would be the seventh four-peat since NHL expansion began in 1967, and the first to be confined to this century.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="🏒 Longest matchup streaks" aria-label="Range Plot" id="datawrapper-chart-y1iW5" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/y1iW5/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="372" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>Coincidentally, the Oilers were part of the past two endlessly repetitive matchups, including against the Kings right after their titanic Gretzky trade. They could become the second set of teams, following the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens, to face off four consecutive times in multiple eras. In fact, they'd join the Bruins and Habs as the only squads since '67 to meet four straight times in the same round.Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid deluged L.A. on the power play as Edmonton won its past three opening series by an aggregate score of 74-50. But the 2024-25 Kings battened the hatches: They're a defensive force that's allowed the second-fewest goals (2.44 per game) and the fewest expected goals (2.62 per 60 minutes, according to <a href="https://www.naturalstattrick.com/teamtable.php?fromseason=20242025&amp;thruseason=20242025&amp;stype=2&amp;sit=all&amp;score=all&amp;rate=y&amp;team=all&amp;loc=B&amp;gpf=410&amp;fd=&amp;td=">Natural Stat Trick</a>) in the NHL. Their .816 points percentage and plus-59 goal differential on home ice bode well if the next series reaches Game 7.These Kings revived veteran goalie Darcy Kuemper and count on Adrian Kempe, Anze Kopitar, Kevin Fiala, and Quinton Byfield to lead the offensive charge. They've gotten strong production from Warren Foegele, the free agent who changed sides from Edmonton. Foegele can't avoid this matchup, but like the Oilers' Viktor Arvidsson, he has the rare opportunity to experience it from a new perspective.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30894249/related

Death, taxes, and Kings vs. Oilers in the NHL playoffs

A budding champion engineered the greatest single-year turnaround in recent NHL memory. The Color...

A budding champion engineered the greatest single-year turnaround in recent NHL memory. The Colorado Avalanche's goal differential improved from minus-112 in their unspeakable 2016-17 season to plus-20 in 2017-18. The Avs rose to respectability, followed by Stanley Cup contention.The stunning revival of the Washington Capitals began in a different place. They were a declining Cup winner that lost dozens of blowout games yet backed into last year's postseason with a goal differential of minus-37. Those Capitals were swept in the first round, and it seemed attempts to wring the juice out of Alex Ovechkin's glorious career would help him break a famous record but fail to generate more group success.Instead, his team got much better. The 2024-25 Capitals easily eclipsed 100 points and are coasting to first place in the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference. With seven games remaining, Washington's goal differential is plus-67, which translates to a year-over-year net increase of 104 goals. Only the 2018 Avalanche and 2023 New Jersey Devils authored steeper ascents since Ovechkin's <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3245458" href="https://thescore.com/news/3245458">debut</a> at the outset of the salary-cap era.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="💥 Greatest turnarounds" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-gSp5r" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/gSp5r/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="611" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>The Capitals escaped mediocrity with a balanced effort. They boast none of the league's top 25 scorers and weren't represented at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Their only award favorite is head coach Spencer Carbery, the Jack Adams Award shoo-in. They benefited from a bold retool spearheaded by president of hockey operations Brian MacLellan and general manager Chris Patrick, whose magic touch reversed the club's fate.Smart trades and surprising breakouts rejuvenated Washington and kicked Ovechkin's pursuit of Wayne Gretzky into overdrive. Capitals teammates set up their grizzled captain to bury chances at a relentless rate. Ovechkin has 39 goals this season despite suffering a broken leg and needs three more to topple Gretzky's all-time milestone of 894.Most of his supporting cast is wrapping up a career season. Veterans, young guns, and marquee summer additions simultaneously leveled up in Ovechkin's 20th year and Carbery's second at the helm.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="🏒 Capitals' top scorers" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-6XC9x" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/6XC9x/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="471" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>Unwanted by the Chicago Blackhawks three years ago, top center Dylan Strome just reached 70 points for the first time while assisting close to half (19) of Ovechkin's goals. Tom Wilson belatedly evolved into a 30-goal scorer by staying healthy, avoiding suspension, spending less time in the box, and owning the low slot. His 21 snipes from that fertile area rank in the league's 98th percentile, per <a href="https://edge.nhl.com/en/skater/8476880">NHL EDGE</a>.Aliaksei Protas entered the year with 53 career points, then produced massive numbers for a forward with a minimal power-play role (0:08 of ice time per game, one PP assist). The hulking Belarusian's 60 even-strength points and three shorthanded goals are team highs. Washington is 18-2-1 (.881 points percentage) when key complementary talent Connor McMichael scores and 30-6-4 (.800) when McMichael tallies a point.Buy-low trades MacLellan swung last June and July added difference-makers in their prime to each segment of Washington's lineup. Parting with a starting goaltender, a decent defenseman, and draft capital strengthened the Capitals all over the ice.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="↔️ Capitals' offseason trades" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-Vnddl" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Vnddl/4/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="215" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>Providing unreal value between the pipes, Logan Thompson owns sterling stats (.910 save percentage, 31-6-6 record) while accounting for less than 1% of the salary cap on a $766,667 contract. Defenseman Jakob Chychrun, a poor fit with the Ottawa Senators, has pounded pucks past goalies and helped lessen John Carlson's immense workload.Three previous clubs soured on Pierre-Luc Dubois, but the big center has showcased the playmaking touch and defensive aptitude that explain his enduring appeal. Despite being relegated to a depth role, Andrew Mangiapane's recent three-game goal streak hinted he's the sort of opportunistic finisher who could swing a tight playoff matchup.Meanwhile, Ovechkin's filling the net with furious efficiency. Buffalo Sabres sniper Tage Thompson is the only NHL regular with more five-on-five goals per 60 minutes (Ovi's rate is 1.54). Rather than cheapening his record chase, Ovechkin's eight empty-netters - his way of turning defense into offense - signal that his team builds and cements late leads. The Capitals are 41-4-3 when they're ahead or tied entering the third period.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="🎯 Grizzled snipers" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-OvwHb" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/OvwHb/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="760" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>Fortune favored the Capitals in this dominant season. Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie are beloved franchise legends, but placing them on LTIR freed up significant cap space. The Caps rocketed from 28th to first in NHL scoring thanks to the hottest team shooting percentage (13%) seen in the league since 1996. Even if their sticks cool in the playoffs at a terrible time, the excitement of the record chase will make the year unforgettable.The extension of the Capitals' competitive window contrasts the downfall of the Pittsburgh Penguins. These archrivals met in the postseason every time that either Ovechkin or Sidney Crosby won the Cup. Pittsburgh bagged two more rings than Washington in Crosby's heyday but cratered in the standings despite his continued greatness and record 20th straight point-per-game season.Barely stingier than the Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks, the Penguins hemorrhage chances as the league's No. 30 defensive team. They've suffered 23 blowout defeats (one less than last year's Caps) by at least three goals, per <a href="https://stathead.com/tiny/BLdgh">Stathead</a>. Age slowed Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson, and the long-term signings of Ryan Graves and Tristan Jarry were whiffs. Pittsburgh's trove of upcoming draft selections - 30 between 2025 and 2027 - won't help Crosby contend again.Facing Washington in the season finale could be humbling. The April 17 matchup in Pittsburgh is the Capitals' last playoff tuneup. Besides home ice, it would be the perfect stage for Ovechkin to claim the record - and pad that lofty goal differential.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.

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During Women's History Month in March, theScore is publishing stories that illustrate how women in sports lead, inspire change, and navigate their careers.TORONTO - When Daryl Watts debuted at the pro level as the highest-paid player in women's hockey, she wasn't strong enough to lift the puck to the glass. Muscles in her wrists atrophied over the previous 10 months while she test-drove early retirement from the sport after college. Hanging up her skates blunted her deadeye shot.The unusual circumstances suited a unique player. Watts was a thrilling college superstar at Wisconsin who clinched a national championship in overtime by banking the puck over the goalie's shoulder from behind the net. When she graduated, she figured the game wouldn't provide a comfortable living. But she set aside a future in commercial real estate in January 2023 to ink the richest contract in the Premier Hockey Federation, the final forerunner to the PWHL.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Nobody in hockey can relate to Watts' career arc. Her record $150,000 salary for the 2023-24 season was voided without warning when the PHF was bought out. Her rusty cameo and middling production in the defunct league lowered her PWHL draft stock. Then she glowed in the maiden year of best-on-best competition and became the first major free agent to test the market and change teams, completing a milestone with no precedent.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777521/cropped_GettyImages-2195915888.jpg?ts=1743100379" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777521/w220xh124_GettyImages-2195915888.jpg?ts=1743100379 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777521/w320xh180_GettyImages-2195915888.jpg?ts=1743100379 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777521/w640xh360_GettyImages-2195915888.jpg?ts=1743100379 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777521/w768xh432_GettyImages-2195915888.jpg?ts=1743100379 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777521/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2195915888.jpg?ts=1743100379 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Michael Chisholm / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>To realize her promise and hush doubts, she had to return to playing shape. Watts enlisted the help of Gary Roberts, the retired NHL forward and demanding performance trainer in the Toronto area."I'd stopped lifting weights. I was just going on long walks with my dogs. Treadmill. Post-hockey girl activity," Watts told theScore in a recent interview. "Because I had lost so much muscle, I needed a drastic, get-back-to-it workout regime. I reached out to Roberts. I've trained with him now for two-and-a-half years. He built me from no muscle and got me more fit than I'd ever been."The payoff was immense. Late in Year 2 of the PWHL, Watts ranks third in league scoring with 25 points in 26 games for her hometown Toronto Sceptres. The 25-year-old winger is a rare must-see talent who entered her prime with scant international experience. Canada finally tapped Watts to play at this season's Rivalry Series with the United States and will send her over the boards in significant moments at next month's world championship in Czechia.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="🏒 Daryl Watts' trajectory" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-zsgW4" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/zsgW4/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="531" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>Her skill and intellect supercharge top lines. Toronto's first championship pursuit combusted when Natalie Spooner, the PWHL scoring leader and regular-season MVP, suffered an ACL tear in the 2024 playoffs. Watts became an offseason target for Gina Kingsbury, general manager of the Sceptres and the Canadian national team."She's got a dynamic step to her skating. She can burn defenders quite easily. She's got a good release. She's got great hands. Great vision," Kingsbury said. "She was one of the athletes we (really wanted) to bring in. We were looking at Spooner being out for half the season. We knew we would need to find and add more offense to our lineup to make sure we could survive and flourish."Danger spikes when Watts has possession. To bag her first Sceptres goal, she intercepted a breakout pass and kicked her leg to fake a wrist shot before <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbwdFQJnD88&amp;t=159s">dangling</a> Minnesota Frost goalie Maddie Rooney. To freeze Frost penalty killers in another matchup, she inched toward the slot with the puck, continually threatened to shoot, finally <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWWv8ZKKg70&amp;t=190s">fired</a> from close range, and banged in her own rebound."She creates something every time she gets the puck on her stick," Sceptres forward Emma Woods said."There's a gift there that's really hard to explain," said Troy Ryan, head coach of Toronto and Team Canada. "When she attacks people, her feet are always moving, and she always has her head up. As a defender, when you're looking at her, I don't think she looks easy to defend. She always looks in control. She looks like she's got momentum and usually is building speed as she touches the puck."Peers can't replicate some of her mesmerizing plays. Watts sprung teammates on breakaways in recent weeks by threading a three-line feed between Montreal Victoire defenders and saucering a backhand from her knees against the New York Sirens. A stylish wraparound winner that downed the Ottawa Charge in overtime stemmed from Watts calmly sidestepping the opposition to unlock and exploit an opening.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gDMx8HM_kPo?si=t8XQLs1Gb8IsnJ7K&amp;start=304" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>"You'll see players come in with the puck, look to take a shot, and rip it into a shinpad. She's got the patience to wait, find the seam, and then make her pass or her shot," said PWHL broadcast analyst Becky Kellar, the retired Canadian Olympic defender. "She's going to take a split second, move laterally, circle the net, and find a better option. She's got the confidence and poise to be able to do that."Watts was raised in Toronto's west end, idolized Maple Leafs legend Mats Sundin, skated on a backyard rink as a child, and torched goalies at every level. She's the No. 2 career scorer in the Ontario women's junior league and sits fifth on the NCAA all-time leaderboard, per <a href="https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/ncaa-w/stats/all-time">Elite Prospects</a>. The Patty Kazmaier Award winner as a goal-per-game freshman, Watts paced Boston College in points twice despite feeling like her development stagnated and joy for hockey declined, she told <a href="https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/28531740/how-2018-patty-kazmaier-winner-daryl-watts-reinvigorated-hockey-passion-wisconsin">ESPN</a>.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rNLJrwyv3bc?si=uySP3ryJpwDablJB" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>Rejuvenated by transferring to Wisconsin, Watts retrieved a missed shot in overtime of the 2021 national title game and wheeled behind the Northeastern net. Watts paused and flipped the puck off a defender's knee as she crouched to block a passing lane. The clincher eluded and irritated netminder Aerin Frankel, the current Boston Fleet and Team USA starter, who <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWB6FqfA1d8">claimed</a> the goal was lucky and unintentional."Daryl differentiates herself from a lot of other players," said Brette Pettet, the captain of Wisconsin's championship team. "She watches a lot of hockey, and she knows a lot about the game. It doesn't surprise me at all that she was able to think out of the box to score that goal. Most players would force a pass or try to stuff it past the goalie. Daryl has a special poise and patience to her game that showed in that instance."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/583775/cropped_GettyImages-1231843136.jpg?ts=1688757484" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/583775/w220xh124_GettyImages-1231843136.jpg?ts=1688757484 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/583775/w320xh180_GettyImages-1231843136.jpg?ts=1688757484 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/583775/w640xh360_GettyImages-1231843136.jpg?ts=1688757484 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/583775/w768xh432_GettyImages-1231843136.jpg?ts=1688757484 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/583775/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1231843136.jpg?ts=1688757484 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Justin Berl / NCAA Photos / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Watts wasn't on Canada's veteran-laden 2022 Olympic squad, and she quit hockey for close to a year but reversed course when the PHF salary cap doubled to $1.5 million, then a record figure in women's sports. She chose to publicize her landmark salary with the Toronto Six to inform and inspire college standouts, setting a bar for compensation they could aim to raise.Watts weathered unexpected turbulence. She looked on the bright side when the sudden buyout of the PHF nixed her contract but unified women's hockey's star talent, transforming the sport. The Charge mined a hidden gem by drafting Watts in the sixth round and deploying her next to Brianne Jenner, the '22 Olympics MVP. Watts' 10 goals - the league's fourth-best haul in the first season - included a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AwLnGcCjJ4">hat trick</a> that triggered a comeback over her future team.She was one of five PWHL free agents, and the only big scorer, who exercised the right last summer to sign with a new club. Watts' pioneering move to the Sceptres on a two-year deal was a coup. She touched off a five-game point streak in January by assisting Sarah Nurse's winner on the power play at Scotiabank Arena, the Leafs' home ice. She pickpocketed a Sirens defender last week, swerved to the slot, and rifled a deceptive wrister across her body to the inside of the post.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h9zBiARHGss?si=DeyDHATCv-jfuc_A&amp;start=84" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>As part of her latest multi-goal effort, she beat Frankel with another bank shot.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ogLNy6AfPSA?si=H3bEAmv2XyXiI7Px&amp;start=70" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>Winners of 10 of 12 games in February and March, the Sceptres only trail the archrival Victoire in the six-team standings. Vibes are high as the international break and the last push for the Walter Cup Playoffs approach."I wanted to go a team where the stars would align. A team that would be a championship contender. A place where I would have an impact, be valued, and help the team win," Watts said. "It was a dream come true for all the right factors to click in my hometown."<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure>When Watts was 10, the highlight of her year was a family vacation to the Vancouver Olympics. The Wattses watched snowboarding and speedskating, and they witnessed the gripping hockey final that a teenaged Marie-Philip Poulin won for the home team with a pair of first-period snipes. The scene - a Canadian sellout crowd cheering triumphant women in an NHL rink - was formative and motivational."Probably the best family trip ever," Watts said.For a long while, the last time Watts donned the maple leaf and engineered offense for her country was at the 2017 Under-18 world championship. Six minutes remained in the gold-medal game in Czechia when she tiptoed to the slot and picked the top left corner to erase a 1-0 U.S. lead. The Ryan-coached Canada squad didn't score again and lost a tearjerker.Watts contacted Hockey Canada head scout Cherie Piper before the first PWHL season to ask to be evaluated for the senior national team. By measuring production and impact, the league slots players in a pecking order, and Watts outscored and upstaged some Team Canada mainstays. In her Rivalry Series debut, she played in all five games and assisted two opening goals with a slick deke of Frankel and a controlled zone entry.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DYx1iXLl8ZY?si=0Av8ZlDTjv8KHRis&amp;start=8" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>She wasn't flustered by the Americans' talent, their dogged puck pressure, or the whirlwind pace."You're playing with teammates who are so good that it's not like it's harder hockey. It's faster, of course, but I think it's incredibly fun because the skill is so high," Watts said. "Passes are tape-to-tape. It's such a higher level that you can almost do more. There are higher-level concepts. There are more complicated plays. There are more skill plays."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777522/cropped_GettyImages-2193894461.jpg?ts=1743100509" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777522/w220xh124_GettyImages-2193894461.jpg?ts=1743100509 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777522/w320xh180_GettyImages-2193894461.jpg?ts=1743100509 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777522/w640xh360_GettyImages-2193894461.jpg?ts=1743100509 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777522/w768xh432_GettyImages-2193894461.jpg?ts=1743100509 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777522/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2193894461.jpg?ts=1743100509 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Rich Graessle / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Toronto's high-end offense fell apart when Spooner crumpled into the boards in the first round of the inaugural postseason. Toronto blew a 2-0 series lead to Minnesota while settling for one goal on 65 shots from Games 3-5. Pairing Watts with Hannah Miller, a newly dominant center, jolted the Sceptres' first line and league-leading power play during the final stages of Spooner's rehab and Nurse's ensuing absence with a lower-body injury.Some college phenoms stutter in the pros. Watts' scoring touch translated to a hard-nosed environment. She withstands contact and initiates it in the corners with a comparable hit count (26, fifth most on Toronto) to Poulin and Sarah Fillier, two swaggering superstars who play with flair and bite."I watch (Watts) and she seems to exude confidence," Kellar said. "I think it's partly because she can find open ice. It's like Mitch Marner: Why does someone that small not just get creamed every time he touches the puck? But they can't catch him because he's very elusive. She's a little bit like that, I find. She'll step to the middle, slow down, speed up. It's allowed her to succeed in a league where the physicality has taken away from a lot of the skilled players - or did initially, especially last year."<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="🚨 PWHL scoring leaders" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-b8r2M" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/b8r2M/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="515" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>The Sceptres hope to help Watts evolve into a complete winger who chips pucks, maintains sound positioning, and demonstrates shrewd judgment. Ryan's seen her make subtly wise decisions, like executing a simple pass in the neutral zone or along the wall, that drain the defense over the course of a shift."She's seldom trying to engage in one-on-one situations in dangerous areas. She doesn't mind tucking the puck, driving wide, using her speed, and being really creative down below the top of the circle. She can do whatever she wants down there," Ryan said. "When she's in trouble in the corner, she doesn't try to overextend her possession. She realizes there's a release option behind the net or high. She takes that and re-establishes her offense."Being an efficient finisher is a work in progress. The analytics the Sceptres track place Watts near the top of the PWHL in individual Grade-A scoring chances, Ryan said. But 15 of the 20 forwards who've buried the most goals around the league this season boast a higher shooting percentage.Bolstered by four goals in her last three games, Watts' 11.4% scoring rate is hardly an eyesore. Teammates tap in some of her rebounds, Ryan pointed out, and timely tallies punctuate her growing highlight reel. Between the world championship in April, the PWHL playoffs in May, and presumably next year's Olympics, Watts will have chances to pump rubber on net and author a signature moment."You think of one of those clutch players and someone you want in big games," Pettet said. "Anyone who knows Daryl or played against her knows that she's a threat on the ice."Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.

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"Rental" becomes one of the most used words in hockey around this time every season. The spotlight shines bright on pending unrestricted free agents - and rightfully so, seeing as UFAs drive trade activity ahead of the deadline.But what about the other, typically younger guys moving midseason? We're talking about "change of scenery" trades, like the Jan. 30 deal between the Flyers and Flames. Forwards Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee, 25 and 24, weren't part of Philadelphia's long-term plan, so the club shipped them to Calgary.Let's check in on seven NHLers who could use a change of scenery ahead of the March 7 deadline. (Note: we skipped Elias Pettersson and Seth Jones since both cases are very public and have been discussed ad nauseam.)<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Dylan Cozens, Sabres</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771336/cropped_GettyImages-2190562201.jpg?ts=1740062786" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771336/w220xh124_GettyImages-2190562201.jpg?ts=1740062786 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771336/w320xh180_GettyImages-2190562201.jpg?ts=1740062786 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771336/w640xh360_GettyImages-2190562201.jpg?ts=1740062786 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771336/w768xh432_GettyImages-2190562201.jpg?ts=1740062786 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771336/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2190562201.jpg?ts=1740062786 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The Cozens situation checks many of the classic change-of-scenery boxes.The player and team are underperforming for a second straight season. The front office is under fire locally (coming up on 14 seasons of no playoffs in Buffalo!) and must be, at the very least, considering a major shakeup to the roster. Multiple reports have surfaced regarding several clubs inquiring about the player, and each team surely believes Cozens would excel in a new environment.Ultimately, the Sabres are weighing the risk and reward of moving a two-way center who put up 31 goals and 68 points as a 21-year-old. Cozens may not be confident or productive right now, but there's a difference-maker in there.The 24-year-old nicknamed the "Workhorse from Whitehorse" is locked in at $7.1 million per year through 2029-30 - in other words, his entire prime. In a rising cap world, that AAV will soon be peanuts if he can regain his form.Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams is likely selling low here. Yet, desperate times call for desperate measures.<h3>Lawson Crouse, Utah</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771992/cropped_GettyImages-2194469327.jpg?ts=1740346833" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771992/w220xh124_GettyImages-2194469327.jpg?ts=1740346833 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771992/w320xh180_GettyImages-2194469327.jpg?ts=1740346833 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771992/w640xh360_GettyImages-2194469327.jpg?ts=1740346833 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771992/w768xh432_GettyImages-2194469327.jpg?ts=1740346833 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771992/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2194469327.jpg?ts=1740346833 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Crouse has missed one game this season - a healthy scratch on Feb. 4.One sitting doesn't necessarily mean the player's permanently in the coach's doghouse, even if said player is the club's associate captain. Yet, Crouse's scratch signaled to the league that not everything is going according to plan.Crouse, 27, is on pace for only 17 points in 81 games after back-to-back 40-point campaigns. While the 6-foot-4 power forward contributes in other ways through physicality and responsible two-way play, the lack of offense is concerning. Utah GM Bill Armstrong is motivated to build a sustainable winner. And unlike in the cash-poor Arizona era, Armstrong has a green light to be proactive in the trade market. Crouse is a serviceable NHLer, but you have to give to get in needle-moving deals. His team-friendly contract ($4.3 million through 2026-27) would make him highly desirable to a specific demographic of teams.Winnipeg and Buffalo both struggle to attract talent in free agency and need middle-six help. The Jets, who sit atop the Western Conference, are motivated to add in the lead-up to the deadline. Could Crouse be the missing piece to Winnipeg's forward group? Or does a club like the Sabres swoop in?Crouse already has a scenery change on the resume. The Panthers sent him to the Coyotes in August 2016, just 14 months after picking him 11th overall.<h3>Max Domi, Maple Leafs</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771452/cropped_GettyImages-2191994711.jpg?ts=1740062896" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771452/w220xh124_GettyImages-2191994711.jpg?ts=1740062896 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771452/w320xh180_GettyImages-2191994711.jpg?ts=1740062896 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771452/w640xh360_GettyImages-2191994711.jpg?ts=1740062896 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771452/w768xh432_GettyImages-2191994711.jpg?ts=1740062896 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771452/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2191994711.jpg?ts=1740062896 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Kevin Sousa / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Teammate Nick Robertson's stagnant production and discontent with the Maple Leafs has been widely chronicled. Domi, who's underwhelmed in a middle-six role, is a sneaky relocation candidate.Once a 28-goal man, Domi lost his scoring touch somewhere en route to Toronto, where he signed in 2023. He has 12 goals in 129 Leafs appearances. He endured goal droughts that lasted more than 20 games this season on both sides of a random December hot streak. He's also taken the most penalties and owns the worst penalty differential among Toronto forwards for the second straight year.The aging agitator became a journeyman long before his 30th birthday, which he'll celebrate next Sunday. Domi's cycled through seven teams in 10 NHL seasons and has been involved in four trades, including at the deadline in 2022 and 2023.Domi's four-year contract extension, signed on the eve of free agency last summer, carries a $3.75-million cap hit and a 13-team no-trade list. Cutting bait is a worthwhile option to explore. Maybe Toronto could send Domi with a sweetener to a bubble or rebuilding club that values his playmaking ability and wealth of experience.<h3>Erik Karlsson, Penguins</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771453/cropped_GettyImages-2197160093.jpg?ts=1740062976" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771453/w220xh124_GettyImages-2197160093.jpg?ts=1740062976 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771453/w320xh180_GettyImages-2197160093.jpg?ts=1740062976 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771453/w640xh360_GettyImages-2197160093.jpg?ts=1740062976 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771453/w768xh432_GettyImages-2197160093.jpg?ts=1740062976 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771453/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2197160093.jpg?ts=1740062976 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jamie Sabau / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Pittsburgh is precariously close to the Eastern Conference basement and owes Karlsson $10 million annually through 2027. He needs to be in the playoff mix to justify his price tag. Karlsson's composure and silkiness with the puck help him conjure offense in the rough-and-tumble postseason while less creative players struggle to elude checks.That's never been a problem for Karlsson. He scored off the rush and added two primary assists during Sweden's futile yet gripping run at the 4 Nations Face-Off. He was the lone backpedaling defenseman on the ice for two overtime goals against, but overall, he seemed rejuvenated by the competition level and intense atmosphere.Unlike Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang, Karlsson doesn't have deep ties or unyielding loyalty to Pittsburgh. He's never played in a Stanley Cup Final. Even at 34, big games are more fun when he's involved.There's one hang-up: Acquiring Karlsson would be expensive. The Penguins and a trade partner can't loop in an additional club to assume some of his current cap hit. A maximum of three teams can pay a share of one contract, and the Sharks retained some of Karlsson's salary when they moved him in 2023 following his third Norris Trophy season.<h3>Casey Mittelstadt, Avalanche</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771455/cropped_GettyImages-2192464041.jpg?ts=1740063088" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771455/w220xh124_GettyImages-2192464041.jpg?ts=1740063088 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771455/w320xh180_GettyImages-2192464041.jpg?ts=1740063088 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771455/w640xh360_GettyImages-2192464041.jpg?ts=1740063088 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771455/w768xh432_GettyImages-2192464041.jpg?ts=1740063088 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771455/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2192464041.jpg?ts=1740063088 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Matthew Stockman / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Last year's Mittelstadt-for-Bowen Byram thunderclap got hockey sickos excited. The rare one-for-one swap materialized without warning when teams dealt from a position of strength - Colorado had a glut of puck-moving defensemen, and Buffalo had promising forwards - to fill an important need.The 26-year-old Mittelstadt hasn't bombed as Colorado's second-line center. He's producing at a 44-point pace for a playoff lock. Yet he's miscast as a key reinforcement for NHL scoring leader Nathan MacKinnon, who continues to be overworked.Mittelstadt's passing is an asset, but he's bad at faceoffs (42% win rate), has been a defensive drag, and doesn't kill penalties or challenge goalies. Opponents held him to two goals on 33 shots in his past 40 games. The Avalanche's share of high-danger scoring chances in his five-on-five shifts has plummeted to 42% from 55% last season following the Byram trade, per Natural Stat Trick.Other Western Conference heavyweights ice strong center duos. The Oilers boast Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The Stars have Matt Duchene and Roope Hintz. William Karlsson of the Golden Knights complements Jack Eichel. Colorado needs an upgrade, and paradoxically, Mittelstadt might benefit from joining a less talented or more balanced forward corps that doesn't force him to follow MacKinnon over the boards.<h3>Vladimir Tarasenko, Red Wings</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771461/cropped_GettyImages-2186580362.jpg?ts=1740063645" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771461/w220xh124_GettyImages-2186580362.jpg?ts=1740063645 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771461/w320xh180_GettyImages-2186580362.jpg?ts=1740063645 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771461/w640xh360_GettyImages-2186580362.jpg?ts=1740063645 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771461/w768xh432_GettyImages-2186580362.jpg?ts=1740063645 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771461/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2186580362.jpg?ts=1740063645 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mike Mulholland / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Tarasenko, a longtime Blues cornerstone, jumped ship to the Rangers as a rental in 2023. He went on to sign with the Senators, orchestrated a deadline trade to the juggernaut Panthers, celebrated his second Stanley Cup win, and inked a two-year contract with Detroit to continue touring the Atlantic Division.The fit has been clunky. Tarasenko's a sporadic scorer in the middle of a top-heavy lineup. Through 55 games, his seven goals are 10 fewer than he buried for the listless 2023-24 Senators in a similar time frame.Tarasenko entered the 4 Nations break as Detroit's eighth-leading point producer over the previous 20 games. The Red Wings caught fire in the span, tallying a league-best .775 points percentage to surge into the playoff picture. Head coach Todd McLellan, the architect of the turnaround, can afford to allot Tarasenko's minutes to younger wingers.The Russian veteran would need to waive his no-trade clause for a third straight year to be dealt. Maybe he'd reunite with Florida or approve a move to another contender that can absorb his $4.75-million cap hit and protect him on defense. Tarasenko scored big goals during the '24 Cup run - including a series winner against the Rangers - as the designated sniper on a lionhearted third line with Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen.<h3>Trevor Zegras, Ducks</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771459/cropped_GettyImages-2185658847.jpg?ts=1740063298" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771459/w220xh124_GettyImages-2185658847.jpg?ts=1740063298 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771459/w320xh180_GettyImages-2185658847.jpg?ts=1740063298 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771459/w640xh360_GettyImages-2185658847.jpg?ts=1740063298 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771459/w768xh432_GettyImages-2185658847.jpg?ts=1740063298 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771459/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2185658847.jpg?ts=1740063298 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Patrick McDermott / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Note: Zegras <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3225979" href="https://thescore.com/news/3225979">was suspended</a> for three games Monday for interfering with Detroit’s Michael Rasmussen.Zegras accepted a pass at the center red line and was off, two-on-one during four-on-four action. He completed a <a href="https://x.com/NHL/status/1893463254573138236">nifty give-and-go</a> passing sequence with Ducks teammate Jackson LaCombe, then fired the puck into the back of the net. Anaheim 1, Boston 0, in an eventual 3-2 Ducks win.On Saturday night, we saw the best of Zegras. He'd be excused from all change-of-scenery discussions if he consistently showcased that version of himself. However, the fact of the matter is that Zegras has long been a frustrating winger for Anaheim GM Pat Verbeek and his head coaches.To summarize, the 2019 ninth overall pick is a supremely skilled playmaker who's simultaneously not productive enough (0.69 career points per game) and not strong enough defensively to warrant "star" status of any kind.Zegras, who's in the middle season of a three-year deal paying him $5.75 million annually, is reportedly available for the right price. A recent run of poor health luck - Zegras missed 51 games last season and 22 games this campaign due to three different injuries - is undoubtedly giving rival teams reason for pause.The 23-year-old is miscast as a franchise cornerstone in Anaheim. He's closer to being a complementary piece than a superstar. An acquiring club would be betting on Zegras flourishing in a more insulated role on and off the ice.John Matisz and Nick Faris cover the NHL for theScore.

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7 NHLers who could use a change of scenery ahead of trade deadline

Note: This story was published in October 2020 and is being republished with minor updates for Bl...

Note: This story was published in October 2020 and is being republished with minor updates for Black History Month.Willie O'Ree's surname, the four letters that changed hockey for the better when they appeared on an NHL lineup card in 1958, derives from that of the American military officer who enslaved his great-great-grandfather. The officer was Peter Horry, pronounced unlike what you'd expect. He fought the British in the Revolutionary War, and in recognition of his service, he was given a Black man to own. The man was Paris O'Ree, as the name was later stylized, whose courage unlocked a future for his descendants.Willie O'Ree isn't sure how Paris secured his freedom, but archival records he's read relate the enormity of what the man accomplished. Along with some family and at tremendous risk, Paris is believed to have escaped South Carolina, where Horry lived, late in the 18th century, becoming a farmer and father upon settling north of the border. He came to own a couple hundred acres in New Brunswick, Willie's future home province. Paris' son had a son who had a son who had a son, the trailblazing winger who's proud to share his ancestor's spirit.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>A name is weighted with history, and Paris O'Ree rewrote his family's. In 2020, anti-racism protests gripped his great-great-grandson's sport, along with North American society at large. Where Paris sought liberty, NHL players want their game to be inclusive and welcoming, full stop. They want to eliminate any remnant of the barriers and the hate that Willie O'Ree - the first Black man to play in the NHL - conquered when he debuted with the Boston Bruins.Paris and his family "set goals for themselves, I guess the way I did," O'Ree said in a phone interview. "They wanted to make a better life for themselves. (Despite) the hardships and things they had to go through, they just made things happen."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422827/cropped_GettyImages-1126971629.jpg?ts=1602767175" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422827/w220xh124_GettyImages-1126971629.jpg?ts=1602767175 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422827/w320xh180_GettyImages-1126971629.jpg?ts=1602767175 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422827/w640xh360_GettyImages-1126971629.jpg?ts=1602767175 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422827/w768xh432_GettyImages-1126971629.jpg?ts=1602767175 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422827/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1126971629.jpg?ts=1602767175 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mike Stobe / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>O'Ree wrote a memoir, "<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/624419/willie-by-willie-oree-with-michael-mckinley/9780735239746">Willie: The Game-Changing Story of the NHL's First Black Player</a>," in 2020 with author Michael McKinley. The book recounts his ascent to hockey history: how he twice dressed for the Bruins in 1957-58, tallied 14 points in 43 games for Boston in 1960-61 - no small feat in the Original Six era when NHL roster spots were in short supply - and skated in a further 785 games in the minor-pro Western Hockey League, from which he retired in 1974 as a top-20 career scorer. As it happens, 1974 was the year the Washington Capitals drafted and signed Mike Marson, the first Black player to follow O'Ree to the NHL.O'Ree is almost 90 years old, and his presence in the game remains cherished. He was elected as a builder to the Hall of Fame in 2018, and became that same year the namesake of the NHL's Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award, presented annually to a person who harnesses hockey to positively impact his or her part of the world. O'Ree lives near San Diego, his longtime WHL home, but he's a product of Fredericton, New Brunswick. It was there as a child that he listened by radio to Hockey Night in Canada. He idolized Maurice Richard, and Foster Hewitt's nasal, rousing commentary provided the soundtrack to his Saturday nights.Without a TV at home, O'Ree never watched Richard play. Only later did he think about the upside of this constraint: how seeing no Black men on the ice might have snuffed his childhood ambition, and how instead he was empowered to visualize a sport and league in which he belonged.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422835/cropped_GettyImages-53130958.jpg?ts=1602767815" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422835/w220xh124_GettyImages-53130958.jpg?ts=1602767815 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422835/w320xh180_GettyImages-53130958.jpg?ts=1602767815 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422835/w640xh360_GettyImages-53130958.jpg?ts=1602767815 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422835/w768xh432_GettyImages-53130958.jpg?ts=1602767815 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422835/w1080xh607_GettyImages-53130958.jpg?ts=1602767815 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">O'Ree (right) skates for the Bruins in 1961. Bruce Bennett / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>O'Ree's first hockey mentor was his oldest brother, Richard (nicknamed "Coot"), a regional light-heavyweight boxing champion 17 years his senior whose tutelage helped fine-tune O'Ree's best skills: the blazing speed, the stickhandling honed on choppy pond ice, the will to absorb hard hits and respond in kind. Booted off his high school team for hurting the coach's son with a clean open-ice check, O'Ree charted his own course through Fredericton's youth ranks to Quebec's top junior league. There, his coach - the former NHL star Phil Watson - endorsed O'Ree's towering potential, telling him he had the talent to become hockey's Jackie Robinson.Emulating Robinson's breakthrough on the diamond required O'Ree to keep a troublesome secret: He was blind in one eye, the consequence of a deflected slapshot that had smashed his right retina in junior.O'Ree told a single confidant, his older sister Betty, about the injury. To everyone else, he looked like the same fleet left-winger with scoring touch, and the Bruins, whose vetting process didn't include a sight exam, soon promoted him to the NHL. Squeezed out of the 132-player league after 1961, O'Ree went on to excel for 13 seasons in the WHL, where the Los Angeles Blades cleared a positional glut by shifting him to the right wing. The switch enabled his good eye to process more of the ice, powering him to five 30-goal seasons."It was a big move for me," O'Ree said.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422833/cropped_GettyImages-1059705258.jpg?ts=1602767712" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422833/w220xh124_GettyImages-1059705258.jpg?ts=1602767712 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422833/w320xh180_GettyImages-1059705258.jpg?ts=1602767712 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422833/w640xh360_GettyImages-1059705258.jpg?ts=1602767712 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422833/w768xh432_GettyImages-1059705258.jpg?ts=1602767712 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422833/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1059705258.jpg?ts=1602767712 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mark Blinch / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The 13th and youngest child of one of two Black families in Fredericton, O'Ree writes in his memoir that he was never bullied for the color of his skin growing up. In adulthood, racism tailed him across the continent. O'Ree rode a segregated bus to attend a pro baseball training camp - he was a good middle infielder, too - in Georgia in 1956. Junior hockey fans in Chicoutimi, Quebec, chanted racial obscenities at him. Minor-league fans in Virginia hurled a black cat over the glass during one of his shifts. During an NHL road game in 1961, O'Ree writes, Chicago forward Eric Nesterenko called him the N-word, shattered his front teeth with a butt-end to the mouth, and repeated the slur. (Nesterenko, who died in 2022, said he didn't remember the oft-told incident.)In 1965, O'Ree and a Blades teammate drove through the Los Angeles neighborhood of Watts in the aftermath of the area's six-day uprising against racial discrimination. He recalls breathing in the air and surveying burned-out buildings, processing the fury and sorrow that compelled Watts' Black residents to take to the streets.Rage and the desire for justice - for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other Black victims of U.S. police violence - moved millions of Americans to protest in 2020. In the absence of justice, O'Ree writes in his reflection on Watts, anger is an understandable response."People of color have always been targeted, way back since slavery," O'Ree said. "I'm all for protesting in a nonviolent way, and the marching to let people know that people's lives matter. They really do. I'm just hoping, and I keep my fingers crossed, that things are going to get better."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/423570/cropped_GettyImages-1263215812.jpg?ts=1603227748" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/423570/w220xh124_GettyImages-1263215812.jpg?ts=1603227748 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/423570/w320xh180_GettyImages-1263215812.jpg?ts=1603227748 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/423570/w640xh360_GettyImages-1263215812.jpg?ts=1603227748 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/423570/w768xh432_GettyImages-1263215812.jpg?ts=1603227748 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/423570/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1263215812.jpg?ts=1603227748 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Dave Sandford / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>In hockey, Black players who followed O'Ree to the peak of the profession took it upon themselves to lobby for change. At the start of the NHL's bubbled postseason, Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba spoke at center ice on behalf of the nascent Hockey Diversity Alliance, exhorting his sport to take seriously the need to combat racism. The players who kneeled before a Vegas Golden Knights-Dallas Stars game - Ryan Reaves, Robin Lehner, Tyler Seguin, and Jason Dickinson - were among the hundreds who forced the playoffs to pause later in 2020, hockey's contribution to the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2010059" href="https://www.thescore.com/news/2010059">athlete sit-out protests</a> following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.In effect, players such as Hockey Diversity Alliance co-founders Evander Kane and Akim Aliu now front the cause O'Ree has championed for decades. After his minor-league career ended, O'Ree recalls in his book, he took jobs spanning a wide gamut. He worked construction, drove a Pepsi truck, sold Pontiacs, and even supervised security at San Diego Chargers NFL home games. In 1996, not long after O'Ree turned 60, NHL executive Bryant McBride recruited him to the league's diversity outreach program; in the days before search engines were prevalent, McBride went so far as to ask acquaintances at the FBI to track down his phone number.Before the COVID-19 pandemic, O'Ree's ambassadorship kept him on the road 10 days a month, running hockey clinics and recounting his journey to youth of color from coast to coast. He said the fire to work - to make the game more accessible to kids who lack the means or opportunity to play - still burns within him.In the meantime, hockey's best and most promising Black players continue to log major milestones. Blake Bolden, the first Black player in the defunct National Women's Hockey League, joined the L.A. Kings as a scout. The Kings in 2020 drafted Quinton Byfield second overall, making him the highest-selected Black prospect in NHL history. The cast of standout players with whom O'Ree keeps in touch - P.K. Subban, Wayne Simmonds, Anson Carter - includes Jarome Iginla, the Hall of Famer who wrote the foreword to "Willie."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422823/cropped_GettyImages-1203588500.jpg?ts=1602766544" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422823/w220xh124_GettyImages-1203588500.jpg?ts=1602766544 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422823/w320xh180_GettyImages-1203588500.jpg?ts=1602766544 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422823/w640xh360_GettyImages-1203588500.jpg?ts=1602766544 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422823/w768xh432_GettyImages-1203588500.jpg?ts=1602766544 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/422823/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1203588500.jpg?ts=1602766544 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">O'Ree and Blake Bolden, the National Women's Hockey League's first Black player. Juan Ocampo / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>In his book, O'Ree makes clear that other Black men could have ascended to the NHL before him. He counts six predecessors or contemporaries who, in his view, were worthy of the honor: Herb and Ossie Carnegie, Manny McIntyre, Art Dorrington, John Utendale, and Stan Maxwell. If O'Ree's story is a testament to his own self-belief and persistence - "I stayed true to my goals (through) the things that I had to overcome," he said - it's also intertwined with a larger legacy.O'Ree hopes his readers come to understand the magnitude of the challenges he endured, starting with the eye injury and recurrent bigotry. In Iginla's foreword, the legendary Calgary Flames captain contemplates the maltreatment O'Ree would have faced in the NHL: Every opposing agitator and prejudiced fan had a ready-made target to try to rile, knowing O'Ree, bearing a pioneer's burden, was out there alone.All O'Ree did, Iginla marvels, was smile and proceed to prove he belonged. His example has uplifted generations."(Black players aren't in the NHL) because of their color. They're there because they have the skills and the ability to play in the National Hockey League," O'Ree said. "They've proven that. It's just a nice feeling to know that I was the person who made it possible for them to be there."Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.

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How Willie O'Ree blazed a trail for Black NHL players

A thrilling finish is guaranteed when the United States plays host to its bitter rival, Canada, i...

A thrilling finish is guaranteed when the United States plays host to its bitter rival, Canada, in the must-see 4 Nations Face-Off championship game. These storylines will shape Thursday night’s battle in Boston.<h3>Will U.S. stifle Canada's superstars?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771061/cropped_GettyImages-2199895385.jpg?ts=1739889057" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771061/w220xh124_GettyImages-2199895385.jpg?ts=1739889057 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771061/w320xh180_GettyImages-2199895385.jpg?ts=1739889057 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771061/w640xh360_GettyImages-2199895385.jpg?ts=1739889057 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771061/w768xh432_GettyImages-2199895385.jpg?ts=1739889057 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771061/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2199895385.jpg?ts=1739889057 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Sidney Crosby's errant pass was stolen ahead of the winning snipe when these powerhouse teams traded haymakers Saturday night in Montreal. At other times in the tournament, the captain's fantastic vision and hustle helped him record points on five of Canada's 10 goals.Crosby and his superstar teammates exploit time and open ice, but a shortage of both doomed them in the previous meeting. U.S. defenders formed a fortress and killed plays in front of Connor Hellebuyck, the runaway Vezina Trophy favorite. Walling off the net manned by the NHL's best goalie is how the Americans erased an early deficit in a hostile environment.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Thursday's rematch could be a legacy game for Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. Crosby, a World Cup and two-time Olympic champion, can take over the final by creating shots on the move for those budding legends or complementary weapons such as Brayden Point.Hellebuyck's allowed two goals in two starts. Both were scored in transition, including when McDavid accepted a pass with a head of steam and split the U.S. defense.The Americans outshot opponents 88-70 in the round robin. They boast excellent skaters, including shutdown partners Jaccob Slavin and Brock Faber, and took only one obstruction minor against Canada, whose power play is 1-for-3 overall. That unit's brilliant lone goal - Crosby put a spinning backhand feed on MacKinnon's tape - showed what can happen within seconds if Canada draws penalties.<h3>Can Makar control the tempo?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771057/cropped_GettyImages-2199640524.jpg?ts=1739888428" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771057/w220xh124_GettyImages-2199640524.jpg?ts=1739888428 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771057/w320xh180_GettyImages-2199640524.jpg?ts=1739888428 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771057/w640xh360_GettyImages-2199640524.jpg?ts=1739888428 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771057/w768xh432_GettyImages-2199640524.jpg?ts=1739888428 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771057/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2199640524.jpg?ts=1739888428 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Canada is undefeated in two games with Cale Makar in the lineup and lost the lone game he missed against USA. Coincidence?The Americans' second-biggest advantage over Canada - after goaltending - is arguably their forecheck. Brady and Matthew Tkachuk were forces to be reckoned with in the first meeting. J.T. Miller and Matt Boldy imposed their will physically, too.The best kryptonite for an aggressive forecheck? A dynamic, puck-moving defenseman such as Makar who's equally dangerous at skating his way out of trouble or snapping a breakout pass to one of Canada's high-flying forwards. In a game with such high stakes, you can bet he'll log more than 25 minutes.His presence slots every blue-liner more appropriately down the lineup. Devon Toews gets familiarity with his longtime partner back. Josh Morrissey and Colton Parayko can operate as the second pair again. Travis Sanheim moves back to his natural, left side on the third pair with Drew Doughty.Canada's attack runs through Makar. He's someone the U.S. has to specifically game-plan for. He can make a game-breaking play to turn the tide in Canada's favor.<h3>Are the Americans too banged up?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771060/cropped_GettyImages-2199502844.jpg?ts=1739888909" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771060/w220xh124_GettyImages-2199502844.jpg?ts=1739888909 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771060/w320xh180_GettyImages-2199502844.jpg?ts=1739888909 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771060/w640xh360_GettyImages-2199502844.jpg?ts=1739888909 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771060/w768xh432_GettyImages-2199502844.jpg?ts=1739888909 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771060/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2199502844.jpg?ts=1739888909 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andrea Cardin / 4NFO / World Cup of Hockey / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Auston Matthews and both Tkachuk brothers missed all or most of the round-robin finale. Center Vincent Trocheck briefly exited after blocking a pass with his hand. No team escapes injuries, but a significant chunk of Mike Sullivan's forward corps is limping into the final, and key defenseman Charlie McAvoy is already <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3220898" href="https://thescore.com/news/3220898">ruled out</a>.Each forward plans to dress Thursday. Leading scorers Jack Eichel and Jake Guentzel, along with defenseman Zach Werenski, can spark offense without much added help. Once the puck drops, we’ll see if the lineup is visibly compromised or skating at full bore.The Tkachuk brothers' past week was a wild ride. They menaced Finland with four goals, 13 shots on net, and 10 hits. They fought Canada's Brandon Hagel and Sam Bennett in the opening seconds to antagonize the Bell Centre crowd. They relish villainy and will inflict punishment on every shift - unless they're laboring and are forced to chase the play.Jon Cooper's reshuffled bottom six is built to combat their impact. Anthony Cirelli's checking line hounds the puck. An abrasive Bennett-Brad Marchand-Seth Jarvis trio can bang bodies, get in Hellebuyck's grill, and potentially convert a chance.<h3>Will Binnington let in a softy?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771058/cropped_GettyImages-2199640658.jpg?ts=1739888598" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771058/w220xh124_GettyImages-2199640658.jpg?ts=1739888598 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771058/w320xh180_GettyImages-2199640658.jpg?ts=1739888598 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771058/w640xh360_GettyImages-2199640658.jpg?ts=1739888598 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771058/w768xh432_GettyImages-2199640658.jpg?ts=1739888598 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771058/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2199640658.jpg?ts=1739888598 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>It's no secret the United States' biggest strength is also Canada's biggest weakness: goaltending.Jordan Binnington has had an up-and-down tournament. His aggressive puck handling has helped tremendously on Canada's breakouts. He's made some timely saves, too. But he's also allowed at least one soft goal every game. Adrian Kempe handcuffed him with a wrister against Sweden, Guentzel snuck one five-hole that proved to be the difference against the U.S., and Esa Lindell beat him from a sharp angle to spark Finland's near-epic comeback.Goaltending is one of the most volatile positions in sports. Any netminder at this level is capable of outplaying any counterpart when it comes down to one game. Binnington's last winner-take-all game also came at Boston's TD Garden when he stopped 32 of 33 shots in Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, leading the St. Louis Blues past the Bruins.With Hellebuyck in the opposing crease, Binnington will have to be nearly perfect. In a game that projects to be decided by inches, one soft goal allowed by Binnington will likely be the difference between being Canada's hero or scapegoat. No pressure.Nick Faris and Josh Wegman cover the NHL for theScore.

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4 questions that will decide Canada-USA grudge match

The United States surged to first place in the 4 Nations Face-Off standings by routing Finland 6-...

The United States surged to first place in the 4 Nations Face-Off standings by routing Finland 6-1 in its tournament opener. Here are three observations about Thursday night's American victory.<h3>Tkachuk connection jolts U.S.</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770550/cropped_GettyImages-2199502444.jpg?ts=1739516216" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770550/w220xh124_GettyImages-2199502444.jpg?ts=1739516216 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770550/w320xh180_GettyImages-2199502444.jpg?ts=1739516216 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770550/w640xh360_GettyImages-2199502444.jpg?ts=1739516216 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770550/w768xh432_GettyImages-2199502444.jpg?ts=1739516216 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770550/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2199502444.jpg?ts=1739516216 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>During Thursday's first period, the Sportsnet broadcast aired a pregame clip of U.S. coach Mike Sullivan urging his players to start fast and exhibit "American swagger.""Swagger" is the sum of the speed, skill, sniping, and sandpaper that should make Sullivan's team riveting to watch and a complete pain to defend. The Americans played to their identity for a few minutes, forechecking doggedly to shake the glass with hits. Then they started losing puck battles, dithering on the power play, passing up open shots, and ringing the crossbar as Finland took a stunning lead.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>They overcame the choppy start and Finland's tenacious checking by flocking to the blue paint. Three of the four goals by Brady and Matthew Tkachuk, along with Matt Boldy's deft tip, were scored within a few feet of Juuse Saros' net. Defensemen Brock Faber and Zach Werenski sifted point shots through bodies to help facilitate the barrage.The U.S. finally pressed its talent advantage and turned a squeaker into a cakewalk when Brady joined his older brother and Jack Eichel on the top line. Riding shotgun with Stanley Cup winners, the Senators captain made a loud impact with five shots and eight hits. Auston Matthews and Jack Hughes nurtured their own connection on the second line, looking dynamic and slippery together while combining to feed Jake Guentzel for the goal that opened the floodgates.Booed lustily in Montreal, the Americans set up a heavyweight slugfest and mouthwatering stylistic clash with the home team. The Tkachuks will unite again Saturday night to lead the charge. They'll aim to own the grimy areas and combat the breakneck pace of Canada's young star forwards, which paired perfectly with Sidney Crosby's playmaking genius in the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3216706" href="https://thescore.com/news/3216706">Canada-Sweden overtime classic</a>.<h3>Hellebuyck makes a difference</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770546/cropped_GettyImages-2199479656.jpg?ts=1739515584" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770546/w220xh124_GettyImages-2199479656.jpg?ts=1739515584 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770546/w320xh180_GettyImages-2199479656.jpg?ts=1739515584 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770546/w640xh360_GettyImages-2199479656.jpg?ts=1739515584 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770546/w768xh432_GettyImages-2199479656.jpg?ts=1739515584 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770546/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2199479656.jpg?ts=1739515584 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andre Ringuette / 4NFO / World Cup of Hockey / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Quebec used to be a goaltender factory, but some of this competition's most imposing goalies hail from Michigan (U.S. starter Connor Hellebuyck), Minnesota (backup Jake Oettinger), and Alaska (third-stringer Jeremy Swayman). Hellebuyck, the Jets superstar who's pursuing a third Vezina Trophy, is favored to win every duel he enters.His 20-save effort wasn't a masterpiece, but Hellebuyck stoned hot shots as a potential upset brewed. He denied Patrik Laine's one-timer early in the second period when the Finnish cycle game was humming. The score remained tied when he stopped Anton Lundell's partial break and grazed Erik Haula's full-fledged breakaway attempt with his right arm.Finland's powerful forwards, led by Aleksander Barkov and Mikko Rantanen, can rag the puck and may be able to wear down the rival Swedes on Saturday afternoon. They didn't rattle Hellebuyck, who shook off a weak goal and bought time for the U.S. to solve Saros after he gamely held the fort for almost 40 minutes.If the 4 Nations was simulated 1,000 times, Hellebuyck would probably backstop the U.S. to the most triumphs. The real thing is a one-off, and even the underdog Finns have the firepower to ride a shooting streak to glory. Thursday's result showed it's smart to trust the guy with a .925 NHL save percentage and a decade-long track record of dominance.<h3>Finnish D gets exposed</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770547/cropped_GettyImages-2199507328.jpg?ts=1739515708" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770547/w220xh124_GettyImages-2199507328.jpg?ts=1739515708 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770547/w320xh180_GettyImages-2199507328.jpg?ts=1739515708 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770547/w640xh360_GettyImages-2199507328.jpg?ts=1739515708 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770547/w768xh432_GettyImages-2199507328.jpg?ts=1739515708 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770547/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2199507328.jpg?ts=1739515708 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andrea Cardin / 4NFO / World Cup of Hockey / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Barkov's deployment as the quarterback of a five-forward power-play unit emphasized the obvious: With Miro Heiskanen injured, Finland's defensemen are outmanned in this elite setting.The ragtag group of bland veterans and fringe NHLers will spend the tournament in survival mode. Players like Henri Jokiharju and Olli Maatta want to clog lanes, minimize the glorious chances fired at Saros, and avoid appearing in highlights. Two elements of D-zone play - rush defense and breakouts - will pose challenges.On Finland's goal, Maatta retrieved a dump-in, joined the rush, and supplied a screen as Jokiharju snuck a wobbling shot under Hellebuyck's stick. But the Americans promptly scored off a failed clearance. They stole pucks in the neutral zone and used pretty passing to twist the other Finnish defensive pairs into knots when Guentzel and Brady Tkachuk struck quick in the third frame.Maatta and Niko Mikkola own Stanley Cup rings, and Esa Lindell has major playoff experience, but no Finnish blue-liner is used to shouldering the hardest minutes. Every 4 Nations shift is intense. Sheltered matchups don't exist. The scoring flurry that buried Finland hammered that home.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.

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3 takeaways as U.S. sends message by thrashing Finland

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Nick Faris

Features Writer

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John Matisz

Senior NHL Writer

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Josh Wegman

News Editor

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Sean O'Leary

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Kyle Cushman

News editor

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