New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal was handed a five-minute major and game misconduct for cross-checking Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jan Rutta in the face at the end of the second period in Game 5.

Here's the play:

Rutta spent several minutes down on the ice before exiting to the locker room.

The Lightning lead the Islanders 6-0 with the third period remaining and are looking to go up 3-2 in the semifinal series.

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The San Jose Sharks re-signed winger Matt Nieto to a two-year pact, the team announced Monday.

Nieto's deal is worth $850,000 per season, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

"Matt brings a consistent, veteran presence to our lineup, and his speed and defensive awareness have made him a valuable part of our penalty-killing unit," general manager Doug Wilson said. "Additionally, his ability to chip in offensively gives our coaching staff a versatile option in crafting our lineup from night to night."

Nieto registered five goals and two assists in 28 games this past campaign. The Long Beach, California, native was originally drafted by the Sharks in the second round in 2011 before spending parts of four seasons with the Colorado Avalanche from 2016-2020.

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The Stanley Cup semifinals have delivered. Both series are down to a best of three for a spot in the final, with six of the eight games so far decided by just one goal.

Oddsmakers pegged each series to be lopsided, with the Lightning -300 favorites over the Islanders and the Golden Knights an almost unheard of -500 to beat the Canadiens.

They've been anything but one-sided through four games a piece, but oddsmakers have refused to change their stance. Will the favorites pull away, or will the underdogs continue to shine?

Lightning (-240) vs. Islanders (+200)

The Islanders were dealt a bit of a lucky hand to help them come out of the East Division. At five-on-five, they owned just a 46.3% share of the expected goals against the Penguins and a 46.4% share against the Bruins. They were outshot and outchanced through the first two rounds, but the downfall of Tristan Jarry and Tuukka Rask afforded them a clear lane to the semifinals.

However, they've grown stronger as these playoffs have worn on, and there's been nothing lucky about the Islanders' success against the Lightning. New York has controlled an exceptional 57.7% share of the expected goals at even strength in the series. That number has only dropped to 55.5% at all strengths as the team has contained a Tampa Bay power play that looked unstoppable through two rounds.

While the Islanders' top players don't get the same recognition as the Lightning's, they've been the better group in this series. Mathew Barzal has been the best player, with three goals and a ridiculous 78.18 xGF% against Tampa Bay. The top four players in expected goal share in this series are all Islanders. Three of their six defensemen have over a 60% share, while five of six are above 50%.

Conversely, Jan Rutta leads all Lightning defensemen with a 50% share. Three Tampa Bay blue-liners sit below the 40% mark. Also, Victor Hedman's injury is seemingly hampering his effectiveness. This team isn't the same without Hedman dominating on the back end.

The key here for the Islanders - this season's second-least penalized team - is to stay out of the box, because at five-on-five, Barry Trotz and Co. have figured out how to beat the Lightning. It would be ludicrous to lay -240 on a Tampa Bay team that's been second best through four games.

Pick: Islanders (+200)

Golden Knights (-360) vs. Canadiens (+300)

This series has largely mirrored Tampa Bay versus New York. Despite being overwhelming underdogs, Montreal has left little doubt it belongs in the final four. At five-on-five, the team owns 54.3% of the expected goal share and has generated 50 high-danger chances to just 34 for the Golden Knights.

The Canadiens have kept Vegas to the outside and away from the front of the net while using their speed to pose a consistent threat in transition. The Tyler Toffoli-Nick Suzuki-Cole Caufield line has been dominant, as has the Artturi Lehkonen-Phillip Danault-Brendan Gallagher trio. All six players have an expected goals share above 57% at five-on-five, with three of them over 67%. They've outplayed the Golden Knights' top six, which hasn't scored in this series.

Enough can't be said about the work the Danault line is doing. After shutting down Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews in Round 1, it's doing the same thing to Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty, who've combined for two points. Stone's 31.3 xGF% in this series is the lowest among all skaters. Pacioretty's isn't much better at 38.3%.

Vegas has received timely scoring from the back end to stay even in the series - seven of its 10 goals have been scored by defensemen - but that's not a sustainable method for success. Until Peter DeBoer can make the necessary adjustments to penetrate Montreal's stubborn defensive structure, this series will continue to be played to the Canadiens' tune.

Furthermore, while it's impossible to account for officiating when capping a game or series, you have to assume power-play opportunities will be about even. That's hardly been the case thus far. Vegas has been the biggest beneficiary of some glaring missed calls. The Golden Knights have enjoyed a rare 11-6 power-play advantage, a gap that's sure to be much more even over the final three games. There's a lot working in the Canadiens' favor, and we get them at a generous price to boot.

Pick: Canadiens (+300)

Alex Moretto is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

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Minnesota Wild assistant general manager and former NHL defenseman Tom Kurvers has died after a battle with lung cancer, the team announced Monday. He was 58.

The Wild hired Kurvers in 2018. He previously worked in the Tampa Bay Lightning's front office.

"Tom's kindness and enthusiasm will be greatly missed by the countless number of people on whom he had a positive influence throughout his life," the Wild's statement read. "We join the State of Hockey in mourning the loss of a great hockey player and an even better person."

Kurvers, a Minnesota native, had a prolific collegiate career with the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He won the Hobey Baker Award as the nation's top player in 1983-84 after notching 76 points in 43 games.

The Montreal Canadiens drafted Kurvers in 1981. He won the Stanley Cup with the franchise in 1986. Kurvers also played for the Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, and then-Anaheim Mighty Ducks.

He had 421 points in 659 NHL games.

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The Dallas Stars signed veteran winger Blake Comeau to a one-year contract worth $1 million, the team announced Monday.

The 35-year-old has spent the last three seasons with the club and notched 14 points in 51 games in 2020-21 while averaging over 15 minutes per contest.

Comeau was drafted 47th overall by the New York Islanders in 2004 and has played 903 career contests to date.

The Stars have nearly $16 million in cap space after Comeau's new deal, but have five unrestricted and four restricted free agents currently on their roster, according to Cap Friendly.

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With the Seattle expansion draft one month away, theScore is predicting every team's protection list and putting one club from each division under the microscope. This edition offers potential lists for the Atlantic Division. (We'll project a full 30-player roster for the Kraken closer to the July 21 draft.)

Atlantic | Metropolitan (June 22) | Central (June 23) | Pacific (June 24)

The 2021 expansion draft will follow the same rules as the 2017 expansion draft that welcomed the Vegas Golden Knights to the NHL:

• Each team must submit a protection list of seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie OR eight skaters and one goalie
• Any player with a no-movement clause must be protected unless the player waives it
• Each team must expose two forwards, one defenseman, and one goalie who are under contract and played at least 40 games this past season or 70 combined games over the last two seasons
• All first- and second-year players, as well as unsigned draft picks, are exempt from selection
• Any player with a career-ending injury is exempt from selection

Teams must submit their protection lists to the league by July 17.

Note: Our lists of exposed players and exemptions include only the most notable names rather than every player who would fit each category. Teams are also unlikely to protect pending unrestricted free agents, as Seattle will probably not risk selecting a player it can't retain.

(Salary cap, and contract source: CapFriendly)

* indicates no-movement clause

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs have two legitimate options to consider as they attempt to navigate another offseason that should feature plenty of roster turnover.

Toronto could very well opt to protect seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie. Doing so would guarantee forwards Alexander Kerfoot, Jason Spezza, and Pierre Engvall stay put. But that 11-player protection scheme would also leave defensemen Justin Holl and Travis Dermott unprotected. While the Maple Leafs can afford to give up Dermott, losing Holl for nothing would be a tough pill to swallow. A second-pairing blue-liner making $2 million a year through 2022-23, Holl is the type of player Toronto desperately needs on its books.

The less risky - and more likely - option is a nine-player protection list of four forwards, four defensemen, and one goalie. To meet the league's exposure requirements under that configuration, however, the Maple Leafs must sign another defenseman to have at least one available for the Kraken. That shouldn't be too difficult, with Dermott, Zach Bogosian, and Ben Hutton all due for new contracts.

Here is Toronto's projected list under a 4-4-1 scheme:

Exposed players: F Pierre Engvall, F Alexander Kerfoot, F Jason Spezza, D Travis Dermott, G Michael Hutchinson
Exemptions: F Ilya Mikheyev, F Nicholas Robertson, D Timothy Liljegren, D Rasmus Sandin
UFAs: F Nick Foligno, F Alex Galchenyuk, F Zach Hyman, F Riley Nash, F Wayne Simmonds, F Joe Thornton, D Zach Bogosian, D Ben Hutton, G Frederik Andersen

Realistically, the Maple Leafs are hoping Seattle picks Kerfoot. Not because Kerfoot is a liability or can't help win games, but because he makes $3.5 million a year in each of the next two seasons. Cap space is at a premium when four forwards are earning $40.5 million combined; Kerfoot is serviceable as a middle-six center or wing, but he's simply too expensive.

From Seattle's perspective, why not select Kerfoot? The 26-year-old can fill a key role up front on opening night, and his cap hit - which isn't onerous for a team with more flexibility than the Maple Leafs - can help Seattle reach the $60.2-million floor. And if he doesn't work out, no big deal: Kerfoot is a UFA in two seasons.

There's a chance the Kraken choose Dermott instead, which would be less than ideal but not catastrophic for Toronto. The organization is relatively deep on the left side of the blue line. As for Spezza, we're assuming he isn't a priority for Seattle after he threatened to retire if a team claimed him off waivers from the Maple Leafs this past season.

Boston Bruins

Exposed players: F Trent Frederic, F Ondrej Kase, D Connor Clifton, D Jeremy Lauzon, D Jakub Zboril
Exemptions: F Jack Studnicka, D Urho Vaakanainen, G Jeremy Swayman
UFAs: F Taylor Hall, F David Krejci, D Mike Reilly, G Jaroslav Halak, G Tuukka Rask

The Bruins' biggest decision essentially comes down to protecting Ritchie, Kase, or 2016 first-rounder Frederic. Kase hasn't been able to stay healthy, and Frederic has yet to carve out a role for himself, so we decided to protect Ritchie. It may not matter, though; the Kraken could see the 24-year-old Lauzon as the most desirable asset.

Buffalo Sabres

Exposed players: F Rasmus Asplund, F Zemgus Girgensons, F Kyle Okposo, D Colin Miller
Exemptions: F Dylan Cozens, G Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
UFAs: D Jake McCabe, G Carter Hutton

Ullmark is a pending UFA, but the Sabres have no other goalie worth protecting (no offense, Dustin Tokarski). Buffalo didn't move Ullmark at the trade deadline, strongly suggesting the team hopes to re-sign him. Miller - whom Vegas selected in the last expansion draft - might be the most tantalizing piece for the Kraken.

Detroit Red Wings

Exposed players: F Vladislav Namestnikov, F Frans Nielsen, F Richard Panik, F Givani Smith, D Danny DeKeyser, D Christian Djoos, D Troy Stecher, G Thomas Greiss
Exemptions: F Joe Veleno, F Filip Zadina
UFAs: F Valtteri Filppula, F Luke Glendening, F Darren Helm, F Taro Hirose, D Marc Staal, G Jonathan Bernier

The Red Wings are well-positioned to lose nobody of significance in expansion. Stecher is a nice player but he probably doesn't factor into their long-term plans. Fulcher isn't a big-time prospect, but protecting the youngster seems wiser than using a spot on the 35-year-old Greiss. Detroit's roster is so thin it could theoretically acquire a player for pennies on the dollar from a team that doesn't want to lose someone for free.

Florida Panthers

Exposed players: F Noel Acciari, F Mason Marchment, F Lucas Wallmark, D Gustav Forsling, D Radko Gudas, D Markus Nutivaara, D Anton Stralman
Exemptions: F Grigori Denisenko, F Aleksi Heponiemi, F Owen Tippett, G Spencer Knight
UFAs: F Alexander Wennberg, D Brandon Montour, G Chris Driedger

Bennett's play after joining the Panthers at the trade deadline earned him must-protect status. Duclair was non-tendered by the Senators last year and became a UFA, but his stellar play this season should earn him an extension with Florida. The Kraken have some decent options here - particularly Acciari, Marchment, Forsling, Nutivaara, and Gudas.

Montreal Canadiens

Exposed players: F Paul Byron, D Ben Chiarot, D Brett Kulak, G Jake Allen
Exemptions: F Cole Caufield, F Nick Suzuki, D Alexander Romanov
UFAs: F Joel Armia, F Phillip Danault, F Corey Perry, F Eric Staal, F Tomas Tatar, D Erik Gustafsson, D Jon Merrill

The Canadiens are unlikely to use a 4-4-1 scheme, as doing so would leave a key player up front exposed. Petry must be protected, while Edmundson is three years younger than Chiarot and signed for two more years. There's an off chance Montreal strategically exposes Weber, as Seattle probably wouldn't be overly intrigued by a 35-year-old with a long injury history who's signed through 2026. But it's difficult to imagine the Habs would risk losing their captain.

Ottawa Senators

Exposed players: F Vitaly Abramov, F Jonathan Davidsson, F Chris Tierney, F Austin Watson, D Josh Brown, G Matt Murray
Exemptions: F Alex Formenton, F Josh Norris, F Shane Pinto, F Tim Stutzle, D Artem Zub
UFAs: F Artem Anisimov, F Ryan Dzingel, F Derek Stepan

It may seem hard to envision the Senators exposing Murray a year after trading a second-rounder for him and signing the netminder to a hefty contract. But Gustavsson, formerly a highly touted prospect, is just 23 years old and had a strong showing in his rookie season with a .933 save percentage over nine games. Tierney should garner interest from Seattle.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Exposed players: F Yanni Gourde, F Tyler Johnson, F Alex Killorn, F Ondrej Palat, D Cal Foote, D Jan Rutta
Exemptions: None of note
UFAs: F Blake Coleman, F Barclay Goodrow, D David Savard, G Curtis McElhinney, G Anders Nilsson

The Lightning seem like one of the more obvious candidates to negotiate a side deal with the Kraken. Perhaps Tampa Bay will offer Seattle some sort of sweetener to take Johnson - a native of Spokane, Washington - and his $5-million annual cap hit through 2024. If not, one of Killorn, Palat, and 2017 first-rounder Foote is likely gone. There's a fair argument that the Lightning should protect Foote over McDonagh, but the Bolts need the veteran blue-liner as long as they're in win-now mode.

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