9:04 AM ET Associated Press DALLAS — When first-year Dallas Stars coach Jim Montgomery called out his team over a “culture of mediocrity” in January, the St. Louis Blues weren’t too far removed from having the worst record in the NHL. Now the Central Division rivals will meet in the second round of the playoffs
NHL
9:22 AM ET Associated Press BOSTON — Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy doesn’t want to change too much heading into Game 7 of Boston’s first-round series against Toronto, explaining that his players “are a bit like dogs.” “They love routines, especially on game days,” he said after the team’s practice on Monday. “So I think you
7:10 AM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN Fare three well Nashville Predators, a team that felt disjointed all season and was bounced in six games by the Dallas Stars. Meanwhile, the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes are headed to a Game 7. Here’s what happened in the NHL last night (check out replays of every playoff game
6:02 PM ET Emily KaplanESPN Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy has told officials to watch the Maple Leafs‘ skate-bump tactics. “I’d just call it feet contacting feet,” Cassidy told reporters in Boston on Monday, one day after the Bruins staved off elimination to force a Game 7. “Whether it’s by accident or by design I don’t
12:05 AM ET Emily Kaplan Chris Peters Close ESPN staff writer Chris Peters is ESPN’s NHL draft and prospects analyst. The Chicago native previously covered the NHL for CBSSports.com and founded the popular independent blog UnitedStatesofHockey.com where he covered the game at all levels since 2010. As each NHL team is eliminated from playoff contention
7:30 AM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN The legend of Hockey Hall of Fame goalie Dominik Hasek was only starting to grow in the 1993-94 season. It was just his first season as a starter, and he led the NHL in save percentage and goals-against average. He won the first of six Vezina Trophies and finished second
11:02 AM ET Associated Press Hockey players are conditioned to think that winning the Stanley Cup means going through the best teams to be the best team. That doesn’t mean they are blind to some of the inequalities of the NHL’s current divisional playoff format. An Associated Press/Canadian Press survey of NHLPA representatives from all
9:54 AM ET Emily KaplanESPN The first round is shaping up to be a beauty; besides the early upsets of the No. 1-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning and Calgary Flames, we’re already locked in for at least two Game 7s after the Boston Bruins and San Jose Sharks staved off elimination Sunday. Here’s a recap of
12:49 AM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN LAS VEGAS — After the Game 5 victory last Thursday, Sharks forward Tomas Hertl told an arena full of jubilant San Jose fans that there would be a Game 7 in their series against the Vegas Golden Knights. “I know we have one more game and come back for Game
7:00 AM ET Emily KaplanESPN In the most trying season of Andre Burakovsky‘s professional career, there was nobody harder on the Washington Capitals winger than teammate Brooks Orpik. “He’s on me,” Burakovsky says. “Every single day.” In fact, it’s almost every time Burakovsky opens his mouth. If the Capitals have a long practice, Burakovsky sometimes