Who improved their standing with Hockey Canada at the worlds?

With seven vacant slots remaining on Canada's World Cup roster, an eager group of first-rate talents considered to be in the conversation to wear the red and white again descended on Russia for the worlds with a different international showcase - one set to directly precede the NHL's 2016-17 season - in mind.

So, after more than a month overseas and gold now draped around their necks, who was able to improve their standing with Hockey Canada before the final rosters for the World Cup are cemented this week?

Corey Perry -- Widely considered a lock for preliminary selection, a trying postseason motivated the Ducks' scoring pest to go overseas and captain his country. Perry did his job, scoring four times, finishing two points off the team lead, and becoming the 27th member of the Triple Gold Club. But at the same time, he was fairly silent in the knockout round, registering only an assist and three shots. Perry didn't hurt his chances per se, but failed to drive home presumed participation at a tournament that's essentially the only thing he hasn't won in hockey.

Taylor Hall -- Hall was certainly one of the tournament's more threatening players, finishing a goal off the tournament lead and firing more shots on target than any Canadian. Hall's efficiency, too, dipped in the knockout round, having collected seven of his nine points versus the tournament's clearly inferior opponents. That said, Hall proved something perhaps more important to Canada's brass, emerging as a reliable defender in key spots - even finding himself guarding the middle of the ice in the waning moments of the gold medal final.

Matt Duchene -- Five goals, five assists, and a team-best plus-10 rating among forwards, Duchene was a force up front, exceedingly threatening on the attack, and also a contributor when it mattered most. The Olympian in 2014 continues to be a willing participant, and provided no reason for him not to be included again.

Brad Marchand -- After the season of his life, in which he scored more goals than any Canadian winger aside from Jamie Benn, Marchand lent his two-way talent to the national team, and to great effect. He scored four times, including once shorthanded, to go along with three assists, and showed just how dangerous he is in open ice while still anchoring his top-six unit defensively. He didn't eradicate disciplinary concerns, having taken the second-most penalty minutes, but was never a liability.

Ryan O'Reilly -- He did all the little things, like winning defensive-zone faceoffs, and spearheading a near-flawless penalty kill as he carved out a top-nine role with Mark Scheifele and Mark Stone. O'Reilly's versatility, which includes playing the wing, is important considering Canada's surplus of centers, but it behoves Doug Armstrong to fill in the gaps with natural wingers.

Mark Stone -- Stone enjoyed an excellent tournament, capitalizing on the opportunistic offense that's made him the Senators' leading point producer among forwards over the last two seasons. He finished near the top of every major statistical category, and scored on almost every fourth shot he put on target. A World Cup selection, though, would remain a surprise.

Brendan Gallagher -- Gallagher tumbled into the fourth-line rotation, but still found a way to contribute. His quintessential goal to open the scoring in the semifinal versus the United States was a significant moment for the team. He'll likely have to beat out Marchand and O'Reilly to make the squad, which will be difficult considering the need for reliable penalty killing.

Bonus: Auston Matthews -- Not Canadian, nor eligible for his country's entry, but few players made a stronger World Cup statement. In Russia, he clearly showed he was polished enough, and will likely carve out a role on the young guns. But it should be noted that the North American roster has few center-ice positions available, and two pivots in Scheifele and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins who are certainly qualified.

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NHL Unrestricted Free Agent Listing – May 24, 2016.

It’s a light day for actual trade & free-agent rumors and speculation, so here’s the latest ranking of this summer’s top UFAs and a preview of next summer’s top free agents.      TSN’s Top-30 NHL 2016 Unrestricted Free Agents. TSN.CA: Frank Seravalli recently unveiled his network’s Top-30 UFA rankings. Steven Stamkos Loui Eriksson Milan […]

Blues’ Allen: ‘I didn’t get the job done’

Jake Allen was straight and to the point after the St. Louis Blues dropped Game 5 at home to the San Jose Sharks.

"I didn't get the job done," Allen said, according to NHL.com's Lou Korac.

The goaltender, starting his second straight game of the Western Conference Final in place of Brian Elliott, allowed four goals on only 25 shots. He didn't have much of a chance on Joe Pavelski's game-winning goal in the third period, the Sharks captain deftly tipping the puck into the net only 16 seconds into the frame. But Allen acknowledged what a back-breaker the marker was.

"Took the juice out of us right away," he said. "Not the way we wanted to start."

Blues head coach Ken Hitchock characterized Allen's play as "fine," and wouldn't commit to Allen or Elliott for a do-or-die Game 6. He said he'd discuss it with his staff Tuesday before making a call.

The decision on which Blues goalie starts will be a major talking point over the next 24 hours. Game 6 is Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET.

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Blues’ Allen: ‘I didn’t get the job done’

Jake Allen was straight and to the point after the St. Louis Blues dropped Game 5 at home to the San Jose Sharks.

"I didn't get the job done," Allen said, according to NHL.com's Lou Korac.

The goaltender, starting his second straight game of the Western Conference Final in place of Brian Elliott, allowed four goals on only 25 shots. He didn't have much of a chance on Joe Pavelski's game-winning goal in the third period, the Sharks captain deftly tipping the puck into the net only 16 seconds into the frame. But Allen acknowledged what a back-breaker the marker was.

"Took the juice out of us right away," he said. "Not the way we wanted to start."

Blues head coach Ken Hitchock characterized Allen's play as "fine," and wouldn't commit to Allen or Elliott for a do-or-die Game 6. He said he'd discuss it with his staff Tuesday before making a call.

The decision on which Blues goalie starts will be a major talking point over the next 24 hours. Game 6 is Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET.

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Tarasenko held pointless for 5th straight game

Vladimir Tarasenko's dynamic scoring punch has completely disappeared in the Western Conference Final.

The St. Louis Blues sniper was held without a point for the fifth consecutive game in Monday night's Game 5 loss to the San Jose Sharks.

Tarasenko managed only one shot on goal in nearly 19 minutes of ice time during the 6-3 defeat that gave the Sharks a 3-2 series lead.

He's been neutralized by Marc-Edouard Vlasic and the Sharks' defense.

Tarasenko recorded only two shots on goal during his 20 minutes on the ice in the Blues' 6-3 victory in Game 4.

The 24-year-old has gone ice cold since piling up 13 points in 14 games over the first two playoff rounds against the Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars.

Tarasenko led the Blues with 40 goals and 74 points in the regular season, and he was on a historic point-per-game pace early in the playoffs.

Now, St. Louis is on the brink of elimination, and its brightest star looks lost.

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Pavelski nets 2 as Sharks push Blues to the brink

ST. LOUIS - Joe Pavelski scored two goals, including the go-ahead score in the opening minute of the third period, and the San Jose Sharks beat the St. Louis Blues 6-3 to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference final on Monday night.

Joel Ward also scored twice including one of two empty-netters in the final minute for San Jose, which can close it out at home on Wednesday night. The Sharks have never reached the Stanley Cup Final. Joe Thornton had three assists for the Sharks.

Pavelski leads the playoffs with 12 goals and has three two-goal games, one in each series. The Sharks' captain added an assist and is tied with teammate Logan Couture for the postseason points lead, each with a franchise-record 21 points.

Related: Watch: Pavelski reclaims goal-scoring lead with nifty tip

Rookie Robby Fabbri scored and David Backes had an assist for St. Louis. Both were questionable coming off injuries in Game 4.

The Blues are just 4-6 at home in the postseason, and failed to hold leads of 2-1 and 3-2 in Game 5. They're 6-3 on the road.

The Sharks were 2 for 3 on the power play in the win.

Troy Brouwer batted in a rebound from midair for St. Louis and Ward also scored a similar goal for San Jose with his first of the game.

Related: Watch: Blues' Brouwer bats in 8th goal of playoffs

Brouwer leads St. Louis with eight goals in 19 games this postseason after totaling seven in his first 78 playoff games.

Pavelski was left alone in the slot on a power play at 18:33 of the second and beat Jake Allen to tie it at 3-3. He redirected Brent Burns' drive from the point 16 seconds into the third to put the Sharks in front to stay.

San Jose goalie Martin Jones allowed three goals on the Blues' first 13 shots, but stopped all seven shots in the third.

The Sharks scored first on Marc-Edouard Vlasic's first goal of the postseason from the point at 3:51 of the first period.

Jaden Schwartz snapped a 13-game goal drought to tie it on a rebound at 7:04 of the first.

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Watch: Pavelski reclaims goal-scoring lead with nifty tip

Joe Pavelski and Nikita Kucherov appear to be in a heated game of H-O-R-S-E.

A day after the Tampa Bay Lightning forward scored twice to take the postseason lead in goals, Pavelski responded with two of his own to reclaim his rightful spot on top.

After firing home a one-timer late in the second period to knot Monday's game at 3-3, the San Jose Sharks captain found the back of the net again early in the third period, deflecting a Brent Burns shot past Jake Allen for his 12th of the playoffs.

(Video courtesy: NHL.com)

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Watch: Blues’ Brouwer bats in 8th goal of playoffs

Troy Brouwer is proving his worth in this postseason.

The veteran forward batted a rebound in out of mid-air to give the St. Louis Blues a 2-1 lead over the San Jose Sharks in the first period of Game 5 on Monday night.

Brouwer now leads the Blues in goal scoring in the playoffs, and sits in a tie for second in points with 13.

He also scored the winner in Game 7 to eliminate the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round last month.

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Blues’ Backes, Fabbri in lineup for Game 5

St. Louis Blues forwards David Backes and Robby Fabbri will play in Game 5 against the San Jose Sharks on Monday.

Both forwards were question marks heading into Game 5 after Backes left Game 4 after the first period with an apparent upper-body injury and Fabbri left early in the third period with a lower-body injury.

Fabbri leads the Blues in scoring in the postseason with 14 points, while Backes sits tied for second with 13.

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