Lightning hold off late Capitals charge in Game 5 to put them on the brink

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Cedric Paquette scored in the opening minute and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 28 shots to help the Tampa Bay Lightning hold off the Washington Capitals 3-2 on Saturday night in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final.

Ondrej Palat and Ryan Callahan also scored as the home team won for the first time in the best-of-seven matchup, with the Lightning taking a 3-2 series lead and moving within one victory of advancing the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in four seasons.

The Capitals, in the conference final for the first time in the Alex Ovechkin era, have lost three straight after winning twice on the road to begin the series.

Ovechkin scored with 1:36 remaining, trimming what once was a three-goal lead to one, however Vasiliveskiy made three more saves down the stretch to finish the victory.

Game 6 is Monday night in Washington, where Tampa Bay has already won to improve to 5-1 on the road this postseason.

The Capitals won the first two games on the road, scoring 10 goals on Vezina Trophy finalist Vasilevskiy and sending the Lightning - won had the best record in the East during the regular season - into desperation mode.

Tampa Bay responded by winning Game 3 in Washington, evening the series despite being outshot and outplayed for sizeable stretches of a 4-2 victory in Game 4 and returning home, where coach Jon Cooper was confident the Lightning would be better than they were in the first two games.

Turns out Cooper was right.

Washington's Dmitry Orlov turned the puck over in the neutral zone on the opening shift of the night and Callahan made the Caps pay for the mistake, feeding Paquette for a 1-0 lead just 19 seconds into the game.

Palat's second goal of the series made it 2-0. Tampa Bay extended the advantage to three goals when Callahan scored 33 seconds into the second period.

Outshot 13-4 and limited to one scoring opportunity in the opening period, the Caps began to put some pressure on Vasilevskiy in the second.

Evgeny Kuznetsov scored a goal in his fourth straight game, giving him a franchise single-year, playoff-best 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) and trimming Washington's deficit to 3-1 at 4:21 of the period.

The Capitals kept pressing in the third period, but didn't breakthrough against until Ovechkin scored his 11th goal this postseason.

Notes: The road team won each of the first four games of a series for the sixth time in the last 10 years and 26th time in Stanley Cup playoffs history. Under that scenario, the road team has won Game 5 only three times. ... Paquette's goal was his first in the playoffs since Game 3 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final, ending a 34-game drought for the 24-year-old center. ... At 19 seconds of the opening period, Palat's goal was not the fastest to start a game in Lightning history. Adam Hall scored for Tampa Bay 13 seconds into Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final against Boston in 2011. ... Capitals winger Andre Burakovsky was a game-time scratch.

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Jets sign goalie who went viral for celebration after scoring in USHL

Remember that Sioux Falls Stampede goaltender who celebrated in hilarious fashion after scoring from behind his own net back in November?

Well, the Winnipeg Jets gave him a three-year, entry-level contract Saturday.

Mikhail Berdin is the netminder who, as you may recall, did this:

Berdin went 24-13-3 with a .921 save percentage in 45 regular-season games for the Stampede in 2017-18. He allowed 14 goals in three playoff contests.

The 20-year-old Russian was a sixth-round pick of the Jets in 2016.

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Report: Rangers to hire Boston University’s David Quinn as head coach

The New York Rangers will hire Boston University's David Quinn as their next head coach, Rick Carpiniello of The Athletic reports.

There are still details to work out, however, and an official announcement isn't expected until Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton returns from scouting the World Championship in Denmark, Carpiniello adds.

Quinn will replace the recently fired Alain Vigneault, and is expected to sign a five-year contract worth approximately $12.5 million for his first NHL head coaching gig.

The 51-year-old had spent the last five seasons behind the bench as coach of the Terriers, accumulating a record of 105-67-51 in that span while winning the Hockey East and finishing as NCAA runners up in 2014-15.

The Rangers missed the playoffs for the first time since 2009-10 this season, and formally announced an impending rebuild over the winter. With a head coach reported to be in place, the organizational focus will shift to the draft, where New York owns three first-round picks.

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Switzerland stuns Canada in massive upset to advance to gold-medal game

Switzerland pulled off a massive upset Saturday at the World Championship, defeating Canada in the semifinals 3-2 to advance to the gold-medal game against Sweden on Sunday.

Swiss goaltender Leonardo Genoni was sensational, making 44 saves and leaving a Canadian squad full of NHL stars shaking their heads as they went to the bench after each failed scoring attempt.

In the crease opposite Genoni, Darcy Kuemper's performance was lackluster. He allowed three goals on just 16 shots.

The Swiss offense was stuck in neutral in the third period, as it had only one shot compared to Canada's 18. That lone shot - a redirect from Gaetan Haas on a wrister that was going wide - turned out to be the game-winning goal.

Despite the one-sided final frame, Switzerland weathered the storm in its own end. Canada got within a goal after Colton Parayko's tally with two minutes left, but no closer.

This marks the first time in four years that the Canadians won't play for gold at the worlds. They'll take on the United States at 9:45 a.m. ET on Sunday for the bronze medal.

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Trotz confirms Capitals’ lineup changes for Game 5

The Washington Capitals are shaking up their forward group a bit ahead of Saturday night's Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, head coach Barry Trotz announced to reporters, including NBC Sports Washington's Tarik El-Bashir.

Winger Andre Burakovsky will sit in favor of Alex Chiasson, who will provide Trotz with a bit more size and physicality on the wing of the fourth line along with Jay Beagle and Devante Smith-Pelly. Nicklas Backstrom will resume his natural spot on the Capitals' second line between T.J. Oshie and Chandler Stephenson.

Burakovsky's been a non-factor, registering zero points in six playoff games. Chiasson hasn't exactly been lighting it up, but he's been used by Trotz much more frequently, tallying one goal and one assist across 15 games.

With the series tied 2-2, Game 5 is set for 7:15 p.m. ET at Amalie Arena.

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Marian Hossa ends playing career after 19 seasons

Marian Hossa, a veteran of 19 NHL seasons, announced the end of his playing career Saturday.

"I'm done playing hockey," he told Slovak newspaper Novy cas, as translated by NHL.com. "I have a contract with Chicago for the next three years, but I have to watch my health, and my body says the comeback is not possible."

Hossa missed the 2017-18 season due to a progressive skin disorder and the side effects of the medication used to treat it.

"Before the season, the NHL sent me to a clinic in Minneapolis to see a specialist who confirmed that it's impossible to play hockey when using those (anti-allergic) medicaments," he said. "I have to be aware of what might happen and I don't want to get back to the state I had been in during the previous seasons."

It's unclear what will happen with the remaining three years of Hossa's contract, as the Blackhawks could again place him on long-term injured reserve, or even possibly trade him.

"Let's see how this is done in the club," he said. "Maybe my contract changes to another club, I can not say yet, or I will stay on the list of injured players."

Slovak publication Dennik Sport recently reported that Hossa was planning to meet with Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz and president John McDonough to discuss a potential new role within the organization, according to The Athletic's Scott Powers.

"I can only do it after the expiration of the contract," Hossa said. "I have already talked to the boss of the club, so it's real that after three years I will work in the Chicago organization."

One of the best two-way forwards of his generation, Hossa finishes his career with 1,134 points in 1,309 games. He spent seven years with the Ottawa Senators to begin his career before a blockbuster trade sent him to Atlanta in exchange for Dany Heatley. After brief stints in Pittsburgh and Detroit, where he helped both teams reach the Stanley Cup Final, he joined the Chicago Blackhawks, with whom he spent the last eight seasons of his career, winning three Stanley Cups.

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Sweden steamrolls U.S., advances to World Championship final

Sweden earned a 6-0 shutout victory over Team USA at the World Championship on Saturday, advancing to Sunday's gold medal game.

The Americans got off to a solid start, but the game was seemingly always Sweden's to lose, as the Tre kronor dominated play at both ends of the ice.

Swedish goaltender Anders Nilsson was rock solid, turning aside all 21 shots he faced.

The team's offensive charge was led by Viktor Arvidsson, who registered two goals, including a first-period tally that held up as the game-winner. Adrian Kempe, Patric Hornqvist, Magnus Paajarvi, and Mattias Janmark also chipped in with goals.

American netminder Keith Kinkaid made 12 saves on 16 shots in the loss.

Sweden will get a chance to defend its gold medal Sunday afternoon against the winner of Canada-Switzerland.

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Solo effort: Breaking down Reilly Smith’s Game 4 snipe show

The Vegas Golden Knights wrote another chapter in their storybook season Friday night, dusting aside the Winnipeg Jets in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final thanks to Reilly Smith's third-period bar-down game-winner.

The takeaway, the blistering speed, the patience to hold the puck with defenders breathing down his neck, and then the laser-like wrister - Smith's one-man show definitely deserves a closer look.

For a full video of the goal, click here.

Blue-line behemoth Dustin Byfuglien has been a game-changing presence almost every night of the postseason, so he's potentially earned a pass from Jets fans for this gaffe.

Byfuglien fanned on a point shot and Smith sprang into action, jumping on the loose puck and quickly turning up ice with only Connor Hellebuyck in front of him.

This is when Smith's solo effort starts to get highlight-reel worthy. He shows off some impressive foot speed by leaving Chris Tanev (No. 13) in the dust, and recognizes that Josh Morrissey (No. 44) is closing in from the center of the ice.

Smith got from blue line to blue line in under two seconds, leaving Morrissey and Tanev in poor position to defend him.

Instead of waiting for his linemates or making the kind of sweet dish he's become known for, the speedy winger protected the puck from the Winnipeg defenders' outstretched sticks and switched the puck to his forehand.

Smith then quickly sized up Hellebuyck, who'd come out to the very edge of the blue paint, and unleashed a rocket to the top-left corner.

Smith beat Hellebuyck bar down over the blocker side with a perfectly placed shot that nine out of 10 goalies probably don't stop, capping off a stellar solo effort that has the expansion Golden Knights only one win from a trip to the final.

(Images courtesy: NHL.com)

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Top 50 pending UFAs: 20-11

With July 1 less than two months away, theScore takes a look at the top 50 pending unrestricted free agents heading into the start of free agency.

10-1 | 20-11 | 30-21 | 40-31 | 50-41

Stats legend:
GV = Giveaways
TK = Takeaways
ATOI = Average time on ice per game
CF% = Percentage of shot attempts team took while player was on ice at even strength
(Rel) = CF% of player compared to when he's not on the ice

20. Patrick Maroon

Position: Left wing
Age on July 1: 30
2017-18 cap hit: $2M
2017-18 teams: Oilers/Devils

GP G A P GV TK ATOI CF% (rel)
74 17 26 43 37 22 16:32 53.3 (+3.4)

Maroon should be in for a nice little pay raise. With 44 goals over the past two years, he has proven he can keep up and pitch in offensively when playing alongside talented linemates, all while providing a physical presence, racking up 150 hits in each of the last three seasons.

19. Kyle Brodziak

Position: Center
Age on July 1: 34
2017-18 cap hit: $950K
2017-18 team: Blues

GP G A P GV TK ATOI CF% (rel)
81 10 23 33 18 52 13:28 47.7 (-5.4)

Brodziak is one of the most underrated bottom-six centers in the entire league. He was one of two players this season with at least 50 takeaways but less than 20 giveaways and posted a career-best 52.1 faceoff percentage. His possession numbers aren't pretty, but he started the bulk of his shifts in the defensive zone. He might get overlooked because of his age, but he can help plenty of teams on a short-term deal.

18. Derek Ryan

Position: Center
Age on July 1: 31
2017-18 cap hit: $1.425M
2017-18 team: Hurricanes

GP G A P GV TK ATOI CF% (rel)
80 15 23 38 48 54 15:36 57.1 (+3.2)

Ryan is the definition of a journeyman. After his WHL career, he spent four years playing Canadian University hockey, followed by stints overseas in Austria and Sweden before returning to North America in the AHL in 2015-16. Last season was the late bloomer's breakout campaign. An elite faceoff man (career 56.1 percent) with good offensive instincts won't have trouble finding a multi-year contract.

17. Calvin de Haan

Position: Defense
Age on July 1: 27
2017-18 cap hit: $3.3M
2017-18 team: Islanders

GP G A P GV TK ATOI CF% (rel)
33 1 11 12 24 14 18:45 49.1 (-1.3)

De Haan will be one of the most sought-after blue-liners on the open market. He's very young for a UFA, can skate and move the puck, and is also responsible in his own end. As someone capable of playing top-four minutes, don't be surprised if he inks a four- or five-year deal.

16. Tyler Bozak

Position: Center
Age on July 1: 32
2017-18 cap hit: $4.2M
2017-18 team: Maple Leafs

GP G A P GV TK ATOI CF% (rel)
80 11 32 43 42 37 15:39 53.3 (+4.5)

Had Bozak hit the open market after his career-high 55-point season a year ago, he would've been a hot commodity. However, for an offensive-minded player with declining foot speed, his value is significantly lower than it was last summer. Nonetheless, he's a regular 40-point producer and a great faceoff man, so he could still earn a multi-year deal, but it would probably come with a pay cut.

15. Jonathan Bernier

Position: Goaltender
Age on July 1: 29
2017-18 cap hit: $2.75M
2017-18 team: Avalanche

GP Rec. GAA SV% SO
37 19-13-3 2.85 .913 2

Bernier was a major reason for the Avalanche's transformation from league laughingstock to a playoff team last season. Yet, like many of the goalies on the market, it's unlikely he'll be considered for a starting opportunity. He could, however, serve as a good platoon netminder.

14. Thomas Vanek

Position: Left wing
Age on July 1: 34
2017-18 cap hit: $2M
2017-18 teams: Canucks/Blue Jackets

GP G A P GV TK ATOI CF% (rel)
80 24 32 56 35 28 14:05 47.3 (-1.7)

Vanek finished with the fourth-most points among all pending UFAs. Even in his mid-30s, he can still produce in a limited role. Many may think of him as a power-play specialist, but 20 of his 24 goals were scored at even strength. He could provide nice value on a short-term contract for a team needing some offense.

13. Michael Grabner

Position: Right wing
Age on July 1: 30
2017-18 cap hit: $1.65M
2017-18 teams: Rangers/Devils

GP G A P GV TK ATOI CF% (rel)
80 27 9 36 33 46 14:49 44.8 (-2.8)

After signing a two-year, $3.3-million contract prior to 2016-17, Grabner will be in for a nice pay raise after back-to-back 27-goal seasons. "Playmaker" isn't in his vocabulary, but he routinely creates breakaways with his elite speed, and as long as he can still fly, he should continue to put the puck in the net.

12. Rick Nash

Position: Left wing
Age on July 1: 34
2017-18 cap hit: $7.8M
2017-18 teams: Rangers/Bruins

GP G A P GV TK ATOI CF% (rel)
71 21 13 34 38 58 17:03 51.2 (+4.4)

It will be interesting to see what kind of contract Nash gets after three straight underwhelming seasons in which he missed a total of 48 games. In a game that's increasingly being dominated by speed, the 6-foot-4 power forward is a bit of a dinosaur, but he can still be a productive top-six winger in the right setting.

11. Riley Nash

Position: Center
Age on July 1: 29
2017-18 cap hit: $900K
2017-18 team: Bruins

GP G A P GV TK ATOI CF% (rel)
76 15 26 41 14 55 15:25 51.7 (-2.0)

Boston's other Nash chose the right time to have a career year. As one of the few centers on the market, he'll be in heavy demand. Teams that miss out on John Tavares and Paul Stastny will turn to Nash. His offensive numbers might be a bit inflated due to a stint centering Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak during Patrice Bergeron's absence, but as one of two players this season with at least 50 takeaways but fewer than 20 giveaways, he can help teams in a lot of ways as a premier third-line center.

(Salary information courtesy: Cap Friendly)
(Stats courtesy: Hockey Reference)
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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