Dallas Stars bench boss Ken Hitchcock announced his retirement from coaching Friday after 22 seasons as a head coach. He'll remain with the team in a consultant role.
"Ken Hitchcock is an icon when it comes to head coaches, not only in hockey, but across all of sports," general manager Jim Nill said, according to Scott Bell of the Dallas Morning News. "He poured his whole life into better understanding in-game concepts and strategy, inspiring players and enhancing teams."
The 66-year-old led the Stars to their only Stanley Cup in franchise history in 1999.
Hitchcock inked a multi-year contract with Dallas at the completion of the 2016-17 regular season with the intention to join the front-office staff once the contract was finished.
He ends his coaching career as the 2012 Jack Adams Award winner and with 823 regular-season wins under his belt.
It was nine years in the making, but Evander Kane made a big splash in his first career postseason contest.
The San Jose Sharks forward scored twice in the second period Thursday, giving his team a 2-0 lead.
The first goal came on a five-on-three power play, when Kane took a Joe Pavelski pass in the slot and beat Anaheim Ducks netminder John Gibson glove side.
Nearly seven minutes later, Kane nabbed his second, taking another Pavelski pass and beating Gibson on a breakaway with a nifty backhand.
Kane has been productive since joining San Jose, as the latest tallies gave him 11 goals and 16 points in 18 games since being acquired from the Buffalo Sabres ahead of the trade deadline.
A Game 1 overtime loss at the hands of the Columbus Jackets has put them in an early hole, raising age-old questions as to whether this team will ever be able to get it done in the postseason.
In reality, Washington played well on Thursday, largely controlling play and benefiting from an early five-minute power play that carried the Capitals to the second period with a two-goal lead.
Columbus, however, kept chipping away, and stole the game on a beautiful overtime winner by Artemi Panarin.
As far as head coach Barry Trotz is concerned, a lack of discipline hurt his team's chances to secure the win.
"I thought it was almost three different games," Trotz said after the game. "The first period, we were very disciplined and we carried the play, obviously got our power-play goals. Second period, you know they're going to have a push. I thought the first part of that period they were a little bit better, a little bit stronger on the puck. I thought we got it back later in the period.
"We took three penalties in the third period and that ended up putting us in a position where we're going to overtime."
A big adjustment that could be made for Game 2 would be in net. Trotz said Philip Grubauer was fine and he'll take some time to evaluate whether to go back to him or turn to Braden Holtby.
As far as captain Alex Ovechkin is concerned, there's no reason to panic.
Alex Ovechkin on the loss: "A couple of mistakes we need to correct and we'll be fine."
Nazem Kadri knows his fate is in the hands of the NHL's Department of Player Safety.
The Toronto Maple Leafs center was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for boarding Tommy Wingels during Thursday's Game 1 against the Boston Bruins, and while he acknowledged it'll be reviewed by the league, he argued there wasn't much he could do to avoid it.
"It's out of my control at this point," Kadri said, per TSN's Mark Masters. "I certainly wasn't trying to hit him when he was down like that. I was already committed to the hit. If he's still standing up, there's nothing wrong with that."
Kadri added he was reacting to Wingels' hit on Mitch Marner moments earlier.
"Initially, I felt like he made contact with Mitchy's head and I didn't see a call there. He was turned up the wall so I was committed to the hit and he ended up falling. It happened quick and he was reaching for the puck. I don't think I stuck my leg or arm out."
Here's another look at the play in question:
Game 2 is set for Saturday in Boston, and Kadri may or may not be available, and the same goes for Wingels, according to Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy.
Bruce Cassidy said Tommy Wingels is still being evaluated. Said he agreed with the 5 minute major and the rest is up to the league
Kadri appeared to be retaliating after Zdeno Chara and Wingels hit Mitch Marner up high in quick succession.
The Leafs' talented agitator has been suspended multiple times in his career, and most recently received a four-game ban for cross-checking Luke Glendening of the Detroit Red Wings in April 2016.
