Kraken ink No. 2 pick Beniers to entry-level deal

The Seattle Kraken have their first-ever first-round pick under contract.

Matty Beniers agreed to a three-year, entry-level pact, the Kraken announced Sunday.

The 19-year-old is expected to practice with Seattle on Monday and travel with the club on its upcoming road trip to Western Canada.

The Kraken selected Beniers second overall in last year's entry draft. The Massachusetts-born forward was named one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award last month after racking up 20 goals and 23 assists over 37 games in his sophomore season with Michigan.

Beniers' NCAA career ended Thursday when the eventual national champion Denver Pioneers defeated his Wolverines in overtime.

The skilled two-way player has already represented the United States at the World Junior Championship, the World Championship, and the Olympics. He came up in the U.S. National Team Development Program.

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Flyers sign Bobby Brink to 3-year, entry-level contract

Fresh off of helping Denver win a national championship, forward Bobby Brink has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, the team announced Sunday.

Philadelphia selected Brink 34th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft. The 20-year-old led all college hockey players with 57 points this season, logging 14 goals and 43 assists as a junior.

Brink was also named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, which is given out annually to the top college men's ice hockey player.

"Bobby possesses a high compete level combined with terrific hockey sense and offensive skill that has led him to succeed at every level he has played in his young career," Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said.

The Minnesota native has also represented the United States at two World Junior Championships, winning a gold medal in 2021 after pitching in with six points in seven games.

Brink will end his college career with 27 goals and 65 assists in 84 contests.

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Golden Knights’ Pacioretty returns after missing last 12 games

Vegas Golden Knights forward Max Pacioretty played Saturday against the Arizona Coyotes after missing the past 12 contests with an undisclosed ailment.

Pacioretty is in the throes of an injury-riddled season. The 33-year-old had been limited to just 29 games after sustaining a fractured foot in October and undergoing wrist surgery in December.

His return is a welcome sight for the desperate Golden Knights, who are fighting for a playoff spot down the stretch. Pacioretty has been a point-per-game player when he's been healthy in 2021-22. He entered Saturday's tilt with 15 goals and 14 assists.

Vegas came into Saturday's action sitting outside of the postseason picture with a 39-29-4 record.

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Golden Knights’ Pacioretty returns after missing last 12 games

Vegas Golden Knights forward Max Pacioretty played Saturday against the Arizona Coyotes after missing the past 12 contests with an undisclosed ailment.

Pacioretty is in the throes of an injury-riddled season. The 33-year-old had been limited to just 29 games after sustaining a fractured foot in October and undergoing wrist surgery in December.

His return is a welcome sight for the desperate Golden Knights, who are fighting for a playoff spot down the stretch. Pacioretty has been a point-per-game player when he's been healthy in 2021-22. He entered Saturday's tilt with 15 goals and 14 assists.

Vegas came into Saturday's action sitting outside of the postseason picture with a 39-29-4 record.

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Maple Leafs clinch playoff spot for 6th straight season

The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading back to the postseason.

The club clinched a playoff berth for the sixth straight year with a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens at home Saturday night. Toronto is second in the Atlantic Division with a 47-19-6 record.

Auston Matthews scored two goals in the contest, with his initial tally making him the first player since Mario Lemieux in 1996 to score 50 goals in 50 games. John Tavares also added one marker.

The fans at Scotiabank Arena broke out into "MVP" chants for Matthews midway through the game. The 24-year-old is up to 58 goals and 41 assists in 67 contests.

"You just get kind of get chills, chills in your bones," Matthews said of hearing the crowd, according to The Leafs Nation's David Alter.

The Maple Leafs became the fifth team in the NHL to clinch a playoff spot, joining the Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, and New York Rangers.

Toronto hasn't won a postseason series since 2004. The team has played in the playoffs six times since.

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Rangers get Kakko back after 31-game absence

Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko is in the lineup against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant confirmed, according to The New York Post's Mollie Walker.

Kakko last played Jan. 21. He missed the previous 31 games with an upper-body ailment. Gallant said in February that the issue had been bothering Kakko for a week or two prior to his extended absence.

The 21-year-old came into Saturday's contest with five goals and nine assists in 37 games this season. New York selected Kakko with the second overall pick in the 2019 draft.

Forward Kevin Rooney is also returning Saturday for the Rangers. He missed the last 18 contests with an upper-body issue.

New York is sitting pretty in second place of the Metropolitan Division with a 46-20-6 record entering Saturday's tilt.

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Islanders’ Cizikas suspended 1 game for boarding Hurricanes’ Smith

New York Islanders forward Casey Cizikas has been suspended one game for boarding Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brendan Smith during Friday night's contest, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Saturday.

The incident occurred during the opening minute of the third period in the Islanders' 2-1 victory. Cizikas finished a check to Smith's back in the Hurricanes' zone, sending him into the boards.

Cizikas received a minor penalty for boarding on the play. Smith left the game and did not return. There was no update on his status after the game.

The league posited that the onus was on Cizikas to avoid the check or deliver a legal hit, arguing that he had plenty of time to change course before making contact.

Cizikas will forfeit $12,500 in salary due to the ban. The 31-year-old has never previously been fined or suspended in his 653-game NHL career.

The Islanders take on the St. Louis Blues on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.

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Devils shut down Wood, Siegenthaler for rest of season

New Jersey Devils forward Miles Wood and defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler have been shut down for the remainder of the season, head coach Lindy Ruff announced Saturday.

Wood played just three games in 2021-22 after a preseason hip injury derailed his campaign. He underwent surgery in November and made his season debut on March 27. He played his last matchup on April 5.

The 26-year-old has 65 goals and 56 assists in 326 career NHL games, all with New Jersey.

Siegenthaler, meanwhile, is out after suffering a broken hand during Thursday's contest against the Montreal Canadiens.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a strong season with the Devils, logging one goal and 13 assists in 70 games while averaging 20:34 of ice time per contest.

New Jersey has 11 games remaining after failing to make the playoffs for the fourth straight season.

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