Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz says the club will do all it can to sign goaltender Juuse Saros to an extension over the offseason.

"We'll be in talks," Trotz told NHL.com's Robby Stanley. "I'm sure it's not going to be definitely a July 1 announcement, probably. I think it's going to be a process with his people, his representatives. But I do know this: (Saros) wants to be here, and he's been a big part of it. I'd like him to be here, so we're going to work hard at getting something done with him."

The 2024-25 campaign will be the final season of the four-year, $20-million contract Saros signed in 2021. He's cemented himself as one of the league's top goalies over the duration of his deal, owning a .915 save percentage in 195 games while finishing top five in Vezina Trophy voting twice.

Despite his performances, Saros was often brought up in trade rumors while he and Nashville struggled early in the season. Trotz has maintained his preference of keeping Saros, but reports in March said the New Jersey Devils plan to pursue him in a trade this summer.

The Predators could turn to prospect Yaroslav Askarov, who they drafted 11th overall in 2020, to be their goalie of the future if they deal Saros. Askarov has only made three NHL appearances but impressed in the AHL this past season, compiling a 30-13-1 record and .911 save percentage for the Milwaukee Admirals.

Nashville earned the top wild-card spot in the Western Conference this season with 99 points but fell to the Vancouver Canucks in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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Jonathan Marchessault can test the open market this summer as an unrestricted free agent, but his priority is coming to an agreement to remain a Vegas Golden Knight.

"I've done everything I can to stay here," Marchessault said during Tuesday's end-of-season media session, per KTNV's Nick Walters. "I know I'm a big part of the organization. I would love to stay. I was a part of the guys who started this, one of the most proud things in my life. I'm happy to be a Golden Knight and want to be one the rest of my life."

The 33-year-old added that he met with general manager Kelly McCrimmon on Tuesday and was told the club wants him there, according to The Athletic's Jesse Granger.

Marchessault played out the final season of a six-year, $30-million contract. He produced a career-high 42 goals and led Vegas with 68 points, setting him up for a significant raise from the $5 million he earned annually since 2018-19.

The Golden Knights are perennially one of the league's most cap-strapped teams and project to have less than $1 million in financial flexibility this summer, per Cap Friendly.

Marchessault admitted it was difficult to play on an expiring deal, saying he "thought about it all year."

If Marchessault and Vegas can't strike a deal, he'd be one of this summer's most coveted free agents. He's racked up 417 points in 514 games since joining the Golden Knights for their inaugural season and won the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP in 2023.

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Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche, and Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers were named Hart Trophy finalists Tuesday.

The Hart is awarded to the league's most valuable player and voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. It will be given out after the playoffs conclude in June.

The nominated trio were the league's top three scorers this season.

Kucherov and McDavid made history as only the fourth and fifth players ever to notch 100 assists in a season.

Kucherov secured his second Art Ross Trophy as the league's top producer and is a Hart finalist for the first time since he won the award in 2019. Kucherov's 144 points were the second-most by a player in the past 28 years - clearing his next-most productive teammate by 54 points - and his exploits were a key reason the Lightning reached the playoffs.

MacKinnon is a Hart finalist for the fourth time since 2017 and has never won the prestigious award. He established a new career high with 140 points and led the league in even-strength production. The Nova Scotia native broke the 50-goal plateau for the first time, led the league in shots (405), and ranked second among all forwards in average ice time (22:49).

McDavid is a three-time Hart winner and took home the award last year. The Oilers captain recorded his fourth consecutive 100-point season and led Edmonton to the playoffs after the club stumbled to a 2-9-1 start. Only three players in league history have won the Hart four times: Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, and Eddie Shore.

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2024 NHL Draft Lottery
When: Tuesday, May 7 (6:30 p.m. ET)
How to watch: Sportsnet, TVA Sports, ESPN

A team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it secures one of the lottery draws, meaning only the top 11 seeds are eligible to win the right to draft first overall.

The Pittsburgh Penguins owe the San Jose Sharks a 2024 first-round pick as part of the Erik Karlsson trade. If the Penguins move into the top 10, they can send San Jose their 2025 first-rounder instead.

Prospects to watch for

Macklin Celebrini: The Vancouver native has been the presumptive top pick his entire draft year. Celebrini did nothing but boost his stock after winning the Hobey Baker as college hockey's top player while also shining for Canada at the world juniors. He's not on the same level as Connor Bedard, but whoever lands Celebrini will be adding a foundational building block with massive potential.

Cole Eiserman: Eiserman slid down to 12th on Central Scouting's final rankings but is one of this draft's most enticing prospects. The American winger potted 82 goals in 80 games over his last two seasons with the U.S. development program.

Ivan Demidov: The top-ranked international forward oozes skill. He led SKA St. Petersburg's junior team with 60 points in 30 games before adding 28 in the playoffs. He's under contract overseas next season but should be an impact NHL forward eventually.

Artyom Levshunov: Levshunov is a virtual lock to be a top-five pick and become Belarus' highest-drafted player. The 18-year-old D-man suited up at Michigan State this past season, ranking second on the club with 35 points in 38 games. He has all the makings of a future top-four, right-side NHL defenseman with a balanced blend of physicality and mobility.

Cayden Lindstrom: Lindstrom enters the draft as the third-ranked North American skater after racking up 46 points in 32 games with the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers. He's a strong skater with impressive size for an 18-year-old at 6-foot-3, 210 lbs.

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The Dallas Stars earned a 2-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 7 on Sunday to eliminate the defending Stanley Cup champions and set up a second-round meeting with the Colorado Avalanche.

Radek Faksa scored the game-winner 44 seconds into the third period.

"This is the biggest goal of my career so far," Faksa told the TNT crew postgame.

Faksa also revealed that he told his son he'd find the scoresheet before the game.

"I promised him I would score a goal tonight," Faksa said. "I'm glad I did. I'm so excited to show him the video of the goal in the morning."

Wyatt Johnston opened the scoring in the first period, but Brett Howden answered for Vegas late in the middle frame. Sunday's contest was the fourth one-goal game of the series and the third that went Dallas' way.

"I'm so proud of the guys for how we responded going down 0-2," goaltender Jake Oettinger said after the contest. "Hell of a win."

The stats favored the Stars throughout the series, as the Central Division winners owned 58.6% of expected goals and 58.01% of scoring chances at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Head coach Pete DeBoer is now 8-0 in Game 7s for his career and 2-0 with Dallas.

Sunday's loss marks only the third time in seven years of existence that the Golden Knights failed to win a playoff series. The club loaded up for a run at repeating before the trade deadline, acquiring Noah Hanifin, Tomas Hertl, and Anthony Mantha. Vegas opened the series with a pair of wins but then lost three straight before a Game 6 victory forced a winner-take-all in Dallas.

The Stars were 1-2-1 against the Avalanche this season, getting outscored 20-15 in the four games. Their series is scheduled to begin Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. ET in Dallas.

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Boston Bruins superstar David Pastrnak scored the overtime winner in Game 7 on Saturday night to secure a 2-1 victory and eliminate the Toronto Maple Leafs from the playoffs.

The dramatic goal sets Boston up for a second-round series with the Florida Panthers.

Pastrnak's heroics came at the 1:54 mark of the extra frame as he dashed past Toronto's back line and converted a bank pass off the end boards from teammate Hampus Lindholm.

"Excitement. But also a little sense of relief as well," Pastrnak said after scoring, per Boston Sports Journal's Joe Haggerty. "I was just really proud of how this group really stuck together throughout the series."

Boston head coach Jim Montgomery called out Pastrnak following the club's Game 6 loss, saying its leading scorer needs to step up. He entered Saturday's game with two goals and two assists in the series after a 110-point regular season.

"I told him, 'If I were the coach and you were me, I would say the same thing,'" Pastrnak said, according to Bruins Daily. "I had no problem with him saying that, he's trying to bring the best out of every single player."

The Bruins have now eliminated the Maple Leafs from the playoffs four times since 2013. Each series has ended with a Boston win on home ice in Game 7.

Toronto broke the scoreless tie midway through the third period on a goal from William Nylander but surrendered the equalizer 1:21 later. Game 7 was the fourth one-goal game of the series and the third in a row.

Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman had an outstanding game once again, turning aside 30 of 31 shots he faced in the series-deciding victory. The young netminder owned a dazzling .950 save percentage in the first round.

"Swayman was our best player in the series and it wasn't even close," Montgomery said, according to NBC Sports Boston's Ty Anderson.

Auston Matthews returned to the lineup after missing two games with an undisclosed injury and illness. He registered an assist in 17:35 played and declined to divulge postgame on what specifically kept him sidelined.

Ilya Samsonov earned the start in goal after the Leafs announced Joseph Woll was injured in Game 6.

The Maple Leafs have now lost six consecutive Game 7s dating back to 2013. They also dropped the decisive Game 5 in their play-in series during the bubble postseason in 2020.

"Obviously, the series was very close. Thinnest of margins you can get, Game 7 overtime," head coach Sheldon Keefe said. "Obviously, very disappointing to not come out on the right side of it."

He added: "It's a tough way to go."

Toronto has scored one goal or fewer in in five consecutive winner-take-all games, according to Sportsnet Stats. The Leafs' offense was ice-cold throughout the entire series, managing only 12 tallies after ranking second in goals for during the regular season.

"When teams play the Leafs, they set up the game for the Leafs to beat themselves," Keefe said, crediting Boston's defensive structure.

The Bruins' series with the Panthers begins Monday in Florida. The two clubs met in the first round of last year's playoffs, with the Panthers eliminating Boston after trailing 3-1.

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Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov earned a surprise start in Saturday's 2-1 Game 7 overtime loss against the Boston Bruins.

He made 29 saves on 31 shots in the series-ending defeat.

Joseph Woll was ruled out before puck drop due to an undisclosed injury he sustained in Game 6.

Martin Jones dressed as the backup with Woll unavailable.

Woll backstopped Toronto to victories in Games 5 and 6 - allowing only two combined goals - after relieving Samsonov in the third period of the Maple Leafs' Game 4 loss. Woll participated in Saturday's morning skate.

Following the loss, Samsonov divulged that he was notified he'd be the starter Friday afternoon, according to Chris Johnston of The Athletic.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs forced a winner-take-all Game 7 in their first-round series against the Boston Bruins after earning a narrow 2-1 victory on home ice Thursday night.

Boston will host the final game Saturday. TD Garden housed Game 7s between the two clubs in 2013, 2018, and 2019, with the home side prevailing each time.

The winner will move on to face the Florida Panthers in Round 2. The Cats eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games this year and ended both the Bruins' and Maple Leafs' playoffs last spring en route to a Stanley Cup Final appearance.

Toronto's victory came largely on the backs of William Nylander and Joseph Woll. The winger scored both Maple Leafs goals, while the netminder had his shutout snapped with 0.1 seconds left on the clock.

"(Nylander) is a heck of a game-breaker," Toronto captain John Tavares said postgame, per The Hockey News' David Alter. "When he's got the puck on his stick, he can make something happen at any time. Two elite finishes for us tonight, obviously came at a great time in a huge way, so not surprising. We love having him here."

Woll made 22 saves on the night and is 2-0 in the series after taking over starting duties from Ilya Samsonov.

"It's a pretty special moment to be part of," Woll told NHL on TNT. "I'm just trying my best to play hockey. I think last year's experience definitely helped me feel a bit more comfortable in the situation. I'm just loving playing with this group of guys."

The rookie made his playoff debut last spring and started Games 4 and 5 of the Leafs' second-round loss to the Panthers.

Boston held a 69-49 edge in shot attempts at all strengths in Game 6, but Toronto blocked 27 shots, per Natural Stat Trick.

"I can't say enough about the guys in front of me. ... I wouldn't trade my D corps for anyone," Woll said.

The Maple Leafs were again without Auston Matthews, who has been out of action since the third period of Game 4 due to injury and illness. His status for Game 7 is unclear.

Including the regular season, Toronto has gone 3-0 without Matthews in the lineup this campaign.

The Bruins fumbled a 3-1 series lead in the opening round against the Panthers last spring. Maple Leafs winger Tyler Bertuzzi was a member of the Bruins during that collapse.

"I think everyone's frustrated over there," he said Thursday, per TSN's Chris Johnston.

Puck drop for Game 7 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

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Alex Ovechkin got 31 goals closer to Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal-scoring record this season but is remaining levelheaded in his pursuit of 42 more tallies.

"I'm always saying the same thing: If I make it, it's good, but it's still 42 goals," Ovechkin said Tuesday, per NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "It's kind of a long way, but it's possible if you're going to be healthy."

Ovechkin endured an up-and-down season, scoring only eight goals in his first 43 games before helping the Washington Capitals reach the playoffs with 23 tallies in his final 36 contests. He set an NHL record with his 18th 30-goal campaign but failed to reach 40 over a full schedule for the first time since 2016-17.

Only two other Washington players reached the 20-goal mark this season, one of whom, Anthony Mantha, was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights before the deadline.

"There's a lot of pressure on (Ovechkin)," general manager Brian MacLellan said. "That he's expected to carry us offensively at 38 is probably not fair."

He added: "I think we need to add something in that area. We need to get a little more skill, a little more goals."

Ovechkin has scored 853 career goals. He has two more seasons on his current contract to surpass Gretzky's record of 894 goals.

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The Tampa Bay Lightning saw a goal called back for goalie interference in each of the first two periods of Monday's Game 5 series-ending loss to the Florida Panthers.

First, Anthony Cirelli's would-be opener was wiped off the board after Panthers head coach Paul Maurice successfully challenged the goal.

Then, late in the second period, the Bolts appeared to tie the game at 2-2 on a point blast from Mikhail Sergachev. However, referee Eric Furlatt immediately called it no goal on the ice due to Cirelli making contact with Sergei Bobrovsky in the crease.

Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper addressed the calls after the defeat.

"This is clearly a turning point in the game," Cooper said, per Bally Sports Sun. "If anyone is going to talk about this game, they're going to talk about the goals that were taken away."

He added, "There's (league) mandates. The words were: To pull a goal off the board, it has to be unbelievably egregious. That's the standard to pull a goal off the board. Well, the first one's on the board, and I couldn't find anything remotely egregious about that."

Cooper conceded the missed calls weren't the reason his club lost the game, as the Panthers dominated the third period and advanced to the second round with a 6-1 victory.

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