Category Archives: Hockey News

Desjardins won’t return as Kings coach

Los Angeles Kings interim head coach Willie Desjardins won't be back behind the bench next year, the team announced Sunday.

"Today we thanked Willie Desjardins for his effort and dedication while serving as our interim head coach," general manager Rob Blake said in a statement. "We wish Willie and his family nothing but the best going forward. The process for hiring our next head coach is underway and we look forward to conducting a thorough search for the right person to lead our team."

Desjardins took over for John Stevens just 14 games into the season and couldn't right the ship, compiling a 27-34-8 record. The Kings finished with both the second-worst offense and overall record in the NHL.

The former head coach was also publicly criticized by Ilya Kovalchuk after making the high-paid forward a healthy scratch.

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Report: Panthers granted permission to interview Quenneville

The Florida Panthers are moving quickly in their quest to replace Bob Boughner behind the bench and have reportedly received permission from the Chicago Blackhawks to speak to Joel Quenneville about the vacancy, a source told ESN's Greg Wyshynski.

The Panthers have offered Quenneville a multi-year deal worth more than $6 million per season with bonuses, Wyshynski added. Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock is the league's highest-paid coach at around $6.25 million annually.

The Panthers fired Boughner on Sunday after two seasons without making the playoffs, while Quenneville was let go in November after 11 seasons with the Blackhawks. He has one season remaining on his contract with Chicago at $6 million.

Quenneville has a long relationship with Panthers general manager Dale Tallon, winning the Stanley Cup together with the Blackhawks in 2010. Tallon joined the Panthers' front office that same year, while Quenneville went on to win two more championships in Chicago.

In a statement, Tallon said the Panthers want a "transformative, experienced head coach with Stanley Cup pedigree," to right the ship in Florida.

Quenneville is by far the most experienced coach available on the open market with 22 years behind an NHL bench. He also ranks second all-time with 890 wins.

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Panthers fire Bob Boughner after 2 seasons

The Florida Panthers fired Bob Boughner on Sunday after two seasons as the club's head coach, the team announced.

"We made a tough decision today and have relieved Bob Boughner of his duties as head coach," president of hockey operations and general manager Dale Tallon said in a statement. "We didn't meet expectations this season and share responsibility for that fact. After careful evaluation, we have determined that this is a necessary first step for our young team and we will seek to identify a transformative, experienced head coach with Stanley Cup pedigree to lead our team going forward. We're grateful to Bob, Paul, and their families for their hard work and their dedication to the Panthers organization and we wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors."

The Panthers registered 86 points this season and missed the playoffs for the third straight year. They did receive strong performances, however, from Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau, who each eclipsed 90 points.

Florida's struggles came between the pipes, as it ranked 28th in the league with 273 goals against.

In March, Tallon said the club plans to be aggressive in free agency, which can be made possible with the over $17 million in projected cap space it has next season, according to Cap Friendly.

The next Panthers head coach will be the franchise's sixth since 2013. Anaheim, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Ottawa, Philadelphia, and St. Louis also have vacancies behind the bench.

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NHL announces 1st-round playoff schedule

The schedule for the first round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs was announced Sunday. Below are the dates and start times of all eight matchups, which get started Wednesday, April 10.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

Tampa Bay Lightning (A1) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (WC2)

Game Date Time (ET) Home TV
1 Wednesday April 10 7:00 p.m. Lightning FOX / SN360 / TVA Sports
2 Friday April 12 7:00 p.m. Lightning FOX / SN360 / TVA Sports
3 Sunday April 14 7:00 p.m. Blue Jackets FOX / SN360 / TVA Sports
4 Tuesday April 16 7:00 p.m. Blue Jackets FOX / SN360 / TVA Sports
5* Friday April 19 TBD Lightning TBD
6* Sunday April 21 TBD Blue Jackets TBD
7* Tuesday April 23 TBD Lightning TBD

Boston Bruins (A2) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (A3)

Game Date Time (ET) Home TV
1 Thursday April 11 7:00 p.m. Bruins NBCSN / SN / CBC / TVA Sports
2 Saturday April 13 8:00 p.m. Bruins NBC / CBC / TVA Sports
3 Monday April 15 7:00 p.m. Maple Leafs CBC / TVA Sports / NBCSN
4 Wednesday April 17 7:00 p.m. Maple Leafs CBC / TVA Sports / NBCSN
5* Friday April 19 TBD Bruins TBD
6* Sunday April 21 TBD Maple Leafs TBD
7* Tuesday April 23 TBD Bruins TBD

Metropolitan Division

Washington Capitals (M1) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (WC1)

Game Date Time (ET) Home TV
1 Thursday April 11 7:30 p.m. Capitals USA / SN360 / TVA Sports
2 Saturday April 13 3:00 p.m. Capitals NBC / SN / TVA Sports
3 Monday April 15 7:00 p.m. Hurricanes CNBC / SN / TVA Sports
4 Thursday April 18 7:00 p.m. Hurricanes SN360 / TVA Sports
5* Saturday April 20 TBD Capitals TBD
6* Monday April 22 TBD Hurricanes TBD
7* Wednesday April 24 TBD Capitals TBD

New York Islanders (M2) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (M3)

Game Date Time (ET) Home TV
1 Wednesday April 10 7:30 p.m. Islanders NBCSN / CBC / TVA Sports
2 Friday April 12 7:30 p.m. Islanders NBCSN / CBC / TVA Sports
3 Sunday April 14 12:00 p.m. Penguins NBCSN / SN / CBC/ TVA Sports
4 Tuesday April 16 7:30 p.m. Penguins NBCSN / CBC / TVA Sports
5* Thursday April 18 TBD Islanders TBD
6* Saturday April 20 TBD Penguins TBD
7* Monday April 22 TBD Islanders TBD

Western Conference

Pacific Division

Calgary Flames (P1) vs. Colorado Avalanche (WC2)

Game Date Time (ET) Home TV
1 Thursday April 11 10:00 p.m. Flames SN / CBC / TVA Sports / NBCSN
2 Saturday April 13 10:30 p.m. Flames SN / CBC / TVA Sports / NBCSN
3 Monday April 15 10:00 p.m. Avalanche CNBC / CBC / TVA Sports
4 Wednesday April 17 10:00 p.m. Avalanche NBCSN / CBC / TVA Sports
5* Friday April 19 TBD Flames TBD
6* Sunday April 21 TBD Avalanche TBD
7* Tuesday April 23 TBD Flames TBD

San Jose Sharks (P2) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (P3)

Game Date Time (ET) Home TV
1 Wednesday April 10 10:30 p.m. Sharks NBCSN / SN / TVA Sports
2 Friday April 12 10:30 p.m. Sharks NBCSN / SN360 / TVA Sports
3 Sunday April 14 10:00 p.m. Golden Knights NBCSN / SN / TVA Sports
4 Tuesday April 16 10:30 p.m. Golden Knights NBCSN / SN360 / TVA Sports
5* Thursday April 18 TBD Sharks TBD
6* Sunday April 21 TBD Golden Knights TBD
7* Tuesday April 23 TBD Sharks TBD

Central Division

Nashville Predators (C1) vs. Dallas Stars (WC1)

Game Date Time (ET) Home TV
1 Wednesday April 10 9:30 p.m. Predators USA / SN1 / TVA Sports
2 Saturday April 13 6:00 p.m. Predators CNBC / SN / TVA Sports
3 Monday April 15 9:30 p.m. Stars NBCSN / SN / TVA Sports
4 Wednesday April 17 8:00 p.m. Stars USA / SN / TVA Sports
5* Saturday April 20 TBD Predators TBD
6* Monday April 22 TBD Stars TBD
7* Wednesday April 24 TBD Predators TBD

Winnipeg Jets (C2) vs. St. Louis Blues (C3)

Game Date Time (ET) Home TV
1 Wednesday April 10 8:00 p.m. Jets SN / TVA Sports / NHL Network
2 Friday April 12 9:30 p.m. Jets SN / TVA Sports / CNBC
3 Sunday April 14 7:30 p.m. Blues CNBC / SN / CBC / TVA Sports
4 Tuesday April 16 9:30 p.m. Blues CNBS / SN / TVA Sports
5* Thursday April 18 TBD Jets TBD
6* Saturday April 20 TBD Blues TBD
7* Monday April 22 TBD Jets TBD

*If necessary
TBD: To be determined

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NHL stat leaders: Kucherov claims Art Ross, Ovechkin wins ‘Rocket’ Richard

The 2018-19 NHL regular season came to a close Saturday, making official the league leaders in a number of notable statistical categories.

Here's a look at the top five in goals, points, save percentage, and more.

Goals

Rank Player Team Goals
1 Alex Ovechkin Capitals 51
2 Leon Draisaitl Oilers 50
3 John Tavares Maple Leafs 47
4 Steven Stamkos Lightning 45
5 Patrick Kane Blackhawks 44

Assists

Rank Player Team Assists
1 Nikita Kucherov Lightning 87
2 Connor McDavid Oilers 75
3 Blake Wheeler Jets 70
4 Mitch Marner Maple Leafs 68
T5 Patrick Kane Blackhawks 66
T5 Brent Burns Sharks 66

Points

Rank Player Team Points
1 Nikita Kucherov Lightning 128
2 Connor McDavid Oilers 116
3 Patrick Kane Blackhawks 110
4 Leon Draisaitl Oilers 105
T5 Brad Marchand Bruins 100
T5 Sidney Crosby Penguins 100

Plus/Minus

Rank Player Team +/-
1 Mark Giordano Flames 39
2 Ryan McDonagh Lightning 38
3 Brett Pesce Hurricanes 35
4 Mikael Backlund Flames 34
5 Brian Dumoulin Penguins 31

Wins

Rank Player Team Wins
1 Andrei Vasilevskiy Lightning 39
2 Sergei Bobrovsky Blue Jackets 37
T3 Frederik Andersen Maple Leafs 36
T3 Martin Jones Sharks 36
5 Carey Price Canadiens 35

Goals Against Average

Rank Player Team GAA
1 Jordan Binnington Blues 1.89
2 Ben Bishop Stars 1.98
3 Robin Lehner Islanders 2.13
4 Thomas Greiss Islanders 2.28
5 Jack Campbell Kings 2.30

Save Percentage

Rank Player Team SV%
1 Ben Bishop Stars .934
2 Robin Lehner Islanders .930
3 Jack Campbell Kings .928
T4 Jordan Binnington Blues .927
T4 Thomas Greiss Islanders .927

Shutouts

Rank Player Team SO
1 Sergei Bobrovsky Blue Jackets 9
2 Marc-Andre Fleury Golden Knights 8
3 Ben Bishop Stars 7
T4 Andrei Vasilevskiy Lightning 6
T4 Robin Lehner Islanders 6

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NHL playoff matchups set

Get your popcorn ready, because it's officially playoff time.

While some NHL postseason matchups have been known for a while, many were decided on the final night of the regular season. Here's a look at all eight:

Eastern Conference

Claus Andersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Atlantic Division

Home Away
Tampa Bay Lightning (A1) Columbus Blue Jackets (WC2)

Drawing the Presidents' Trophy winners in Round 1 was probably not what Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen envisioned when he went all-in prior to the trade deadline. The Lightning emphatically swept the season series 3-0, outscoring Columbus 17-3.

Home Away
Boston Bruins (A2) Toronto Maple Leafs (A3)

The Maple Leafs and Bruins will meet in Round 1 for a second straight year after Boston's seven-game series victory in 2018. The Bruins were much stronger down the stretch and won the season series 3-1, which could give them a leg up.

Metropolitan Division

Home Away
Washington Capitals (M1) Carolina Hurricanes (WC1)

The Hurricanes don't qualify for the playoffs often, but they usually make the most of it. Carolina reached the conference finals in its last postseason appearance in 2009, and the team earned trips to the Stanley Cup Final in each of its two playoff berths prior (2006 and 2002). The Canes will be in tough against the defending champs, as the Capitals swept the season series 4-0.

Home Away
New York Islanders (M2) Pittsburgh Penguins (M3)

The Islanders will be hosting a playoff series for the first time since 1988, but it'll be no easy task against a Penguins squad that's getting healthier. Defensive mastermind Barry Trotz slowed down Pittsburgh's offense during Washington's second-round victory a year ago, but can he do that in two straight series?

Western Conference

Scott Rovak / National Hockey League / Getty

Central Division

Home Away
Nashville Predators (C1) Dallas Stars (WC1)

Take the under in this series. The Predators-Stars matchup is the only one in which both teams ranked in the bottom half of the league in scoring. The two squads made the postseason through stingy defense and stellar goaltending.

Home Away
Winnipeg Jets (C2) St. Louis Blues (C3)

The Jets lugged their way into the postseason, and they could have their hands full against the Blues, a club that was dead last in the NHL on Jan. 2 before a miraculous second half of the season. The Jets took the season series 3-1, but these teams haven't met since Dec. 7.

Pacific Division

Home Away
Calgary Flames (P1) Colorado Avalanche (WC2)

There aren't many question marks tied to the Flames, but the one that does exist is a doozy: Which goalie will lead the way in the playoffs? Mike Smith and David Rittich posted both hot and cold streaks during the season, but neither took the job and ran with it. The same can't be said for the Avs, as Philipp Grubauer's .956 save percentage over his final 14 regular-season contests has him entrenched as the club's No. 1 netminder despite playing fewer games than Semyon Varlamov.

Home Away
San Jose Sharks (P2) Vegas Golden Knights (P3)

The Golden Knights sunk the Sharks 4-2 in the second round in 2018, but thanks to the fall of the Ottawa Senators, both teams have added significant reinforcements. Mark Stone and Erik Karlsson are game-changers, and whoever has a greater impact on this series could determine the winner.

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Connor McDavid helped off after crashing leg first into post

Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid was helped off the ice after crashing leg first into a post against the Calgary Flames on Saturday night.

With a little under four minutes gone in the second period, McDavid made a hard rush to the net and Flames defenseman Mark Giordano sprawled to stop his approach. That upended McDavid, sending him barreling into the net at top speed.

McDavid remained on the ice for several minutes while training staff attended to him. Teammates then helped him to the dressing room, and McDavid couldn't put any weight on his injured left leg.

X-rays after the game came back negative indicating he does not have a broken leg, the team announced. He will return to Edmonton and undergo an MRI.

McDavid entered the game second in the league with 116 points. With the Oilers missing the playoffs for the second straight year, Saturday's game was his final NHL contest of the season. However, it was believed a healthy McDavid would play for Canada at the 2019 IIHF World Championships.

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Predators clinch back-to-back Central Division titles

The Nashville Predators clinched first place in the Central Division for the second straight season Saturday after defeating the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Preds will now face the Stars in Round 1 following Dallas' victory over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday.

Scoring could be tough in the Stars-Predators series. Both teams rank in the bottom half of the league offensively and are also two of the stingiest defensive clubs.

Nashville's win guarantees a first-round matchup between the Winnipeg Jets and St. Louis Blues, though the location of Game 1 is yet to be determined.

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