Mikko Rantanen returned to the lineup for the Avalancheon Saturday and played an integral role in their dominating 7-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Mi sing the last 16 games after sufferinga lower-body injury on Oct. 21 against the Blues, the 23-year-old winger put together a four-point effort in the landslide win and he only played two periods. With Vin Baker Jersey a goal and three a sists through two periods, Rantanen's night was over as the team took a sizable 7-2 lead into the second intermi sion. His goal came on the tail end of a gritty fight to keep the puck in the attacking zone. After dishing the puck backhanded to Samuel Girard, Rantanen found the soft side of the net and was inthe perfect position to redirectthe rebound off Girard's shot. NHL trade rumors: Four po sible destinations for Devils' Taylor Hall A BEAUTIFUL REBOUND, MIKKO. Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) Now with six goals and 11 a sists three of which came Saturday on goals by Nazem Kadri, Nathan MacKinnon and Joonas Donskoi Rantanen has at least one point in all but one game this season. Saturday markedhis first four-point game since Dec. 11, 2018. The team has not confirmed the reason for his early exit. Going into the second intermi sion, though, Rantanen said, "I feel good and the team is playing well, so it's easy to hop back in." I feel good and the team is playing well, so its easy to hop back in. Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) Malcolm Brogdon Jersey
More : | | | | | 5. : Ask people in Pittsburgh and they will probably tell you Evgeni Malkin hasn't been playing his best hockey for much of the postseason. Then again, Malkin's performance always seems to come under intense scrutiny in Pittsburgh no matter what he does or how well he plays. There is probably some truth to the argument he can be better than he's been, but that's simply a testament to how much talent this guy has because he's been pretty outstanding for the . He's been one of their best po se sion players (his linemate, James Neal, ) and is their leading scorer.Not bad for a guy who supposedly isn't playing his best. Eastern Conference Final Preview 4. Marian Ho sa: I think everybody acro s the league agrees Marian Ho sa is a special player, but sometimes I wonder if we truly appreciate just how good he is (and has been throughout his career), especially in Chicago, where he usually loses out on headlines to Jonathan Toews and Travis Shaw Jersey Patrick Kane. Through the first two rounds Ho sa is tied for Chicago's lead in scoring, averaging almost a point per game for the , and continues to get it done at both ends of the ice. He's one of the NHL's best two-way players and has been great in the playoffs.3. : If the Penguins don't make the switch from Marc-Andre Fleury to Tomas Vokoun before Game 5 against the Islanders I'm not convinced they win that series. Vokoun has taken over the starting job in Pittsburgh and been absolutely incredible ever since, which shouldn't be that much of a surprise. He's been one of the best goalies in the NHL for the past eight years, and he's still playing like it right now. There is only one goalie in the NHL that has a higher save percentage this postseason, and we'll get to him in a minute.2. : I don't even know if David Krejci has been Boston's best player this postseason, but you can't overlook the fact he has more points through two rounds than any other player and that's going to count for something. Why? Because that's the way these things work. Since 2000 there have been six non-goalies to win the Conn Smythe trophy. Two of them were defenseman (Scott Niedermayer and Nicklas Lidstrom). The other four were either first or second in the NHL in scoring that postseason (three of them were first). He's always been a key part of Boston's lineup but he's never really scored at a pace like this. It's not going to last forever, but that's OK because the only need him to keep it up for a few more weeks. 1. : It has to be Jonathan Quick. It can't be anybody other than Jonathan Quick. The are in the Western Conference finals for the second year in a row and once again look like a powerhouse team that can win it all. They're trying to become the first repeat champions the NHL has seen since the late 1990s, and with the unbelievable play they're getting from Quick in net I wouldn't want to bet against them doing it. Jose Bautista Jersey
The Olympics are, more than anything, about nationalism. Your country is the best, and it's the best because it's good at sports. So, picking an all-snub roster for the hockey tournament flies in the face of what the Games, truly, are about. These guys should hate each other. Instead, they're united by spite and ready to take on all who doubt them. This is is a gold-medal team. Book it. OLYMPIC ROSTERS: | | | Forwards James Neal-Joe Thornton-Tyler Seguin Taylor Hall-Claude Giroux-Bobby Ryan Logan Couture-Eric Staal-Martin St. Louis Brandon Saad-Jordan Staal-Kyle Okposo Extras: Alexander Semin, Radim Vrbata Thornton, for whatever reason, never came up all that seriously in Team Canada projections. Maybe the big ice, and the fact that he'd have to beat out Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews for top-six minutes, scared people off. Whatever. Imagine him setting up Neal, who has one of the best shots in the game, and Seguin. Bonus: Bringing Seguin means that you wouldn't have to carry an extra center. Giroux and and Eduardo Salazar Jersey Hall can . Staal profiles well as a third-line center, and Couture went from a projected Crosby linemate to a snub in le s than 24 hours. Martin St. Louis had more points than anyone on earth last season. Jordan Staal is proving to the Hurricanes that he's most effective in a bottom-six role. Saad's versatile and physical, as is Okposo, and Staal can cover for their mistakes. Score some goals. Semin can actually play a variety of roles, and he'd be playing angry. Vrbata's good guy to have around, as well. Defense Victor Hedman-Kris Letang Keith Yandle-Dan Boyle Mark Giordano-Brent Seabrook Extras: Marc Staal, Jonas Brodin If Letang was healthy, he'd have been deep in the Canada discu sions. If he avoids bad decisions, he's a top-pairing defenseman on any team. Hedman has become the guy everyone thought he'd be. Boyle can cover for . Giordano and Seabrook are reliable. Same goes for Staal if someone loses a grip, he can enter the lineup. Goaltenders Marc-Andre Fleury Ben Bishop Josh Harding Roll the dice on all of these guys. Bishop and Harding are in the middle of career years, and Fleury, for now, seems to have rebounded from the worst postseason of his life. There. Game over. When it's all said and done, they'll be on the podium. Here's a behind-the-scenes shot from the future. We'll use the best flag. Mason Thompson Jersey
fans, avert your eyes. fans, grab a bib to protect your clothes from the drool. Connor McDavid has done it again.In Dave Winfield Jersey a season of many, many highlights for the projected No. 1 pick for the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, McDavid scored another beautiful goal. With his Erie Otters taking on the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the OHL conference finals, McDavid pulled out a trusty move on a shorthanded breakaway.After forcing a turnover in the neutral zone, McDavid broke in all alone. He used some shifty moves to get the goalie thinking and then he dropped the Forsberg on him.Vine via : Weve seen this goal scored a lot in the NHL of late, particularly in the shootout, which is where that move became famous. forward did it twice in a live game this year alone. But few times will you see it pulled off as effortle sly and fluidly as McDavid did it.Over just 12 games in the OHL playoffs so far, McDavid has 18 goals and 32 points. And the game this goal happened in is still being played as of this writing. Is it po sible that weve all just been in a season-long dream and McDavid is not actually real? Brian Serven Jersey
The Canadiens earned a much-needed playoff victory in Game 3 of their first round series against the Capitals. Cole Caufield and Alex Newhook tallied a goal and an a sist each in Montreal's 6-3 victory. Six players scored a goal for the Canadiens in Game 3. The Capitals started the scoring early, netting one just 3:20 into the contest. It took until the final minute of the first period for the Canadiens to tie the game. The second period had more scoring, but it was just as tight. The Canadiens scored another late goal, this time with under 10 seconds remaining in the period, to Buddy Bell Jersey go up, 3-2. Moments after, Tom Wilson and Josh Anderson got into a fight that tumbled into the benches. After Alex Ovechkin tied the game early in the third period, the Canadiens finally took control. They scored three unanswered goals to win, 6-3, and avoid trailing 3-0 in the series. Here's what you need to know about Sunday's matchup between Canadiens and Capitals, including broadcast information and start time. What channel is Canadiens vs. Capitals on today? TV channel: TBS, truTV Live stream: Game 4 of theCanadiens vs. Capitals series will air live on TBS and truTV on Sunday, April 27. Fans looking to stream Canadiens vs. Capitals can watch live on , which will carry every NHL playoff game on TNT and TBS in 2025. Sling is your home for playoff action. Catch NHL and NBA postseason games with a range of sports channels including TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, ABC and more. What is Sling TV? Sling TV is a popular live streaming service that offers a flexible and affordable way to watch television without a traditional cable subscription. It provides a range of channel packages, allowing users to customize their viewing experience by choosing from various genres, including sports, news, and entertainment. One of its best qualities is the no-contract model, which gives subscribers the freedom to start and stop service as they please. Additionally, Sling TV's user-friendly interface, compatibility with multiple devices, and the option for add-ons like premium channels make it an attractive choice for those looking to streamline their viewing options. Canadiens vs. Capitals start time Date: Sunday, April 27 Time: 6:30 p.m. ET Game 4 of the NHL Playoffs series between Canadiens and Capitals is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. Montreal saved itself the trouble of having to overcome a 3-0 deficit by winning Game 3 at home. It set the tone for Game 4, which could serve as a series-tying matchup. This was the Canadiens' first playoff win since they lost the Stanley Cup Final in the 2020-21 season. These teams played each other three times during the regular season with Washington winning two matchups. The Capitals will need to bounce back in Game 4 to avoid tying the series for a pivotal Game 5. Canadiens vs. Capitals radio station Radio station: Fans can listen to the Canadiens vs. Capitals broadcast live on SiriusXM. New subscribers can enjoy SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NHL, NBA, MLB and NFL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels. Canadiens vs. Capitals series schedule Capitals vs. Canadiens Date Game Time (ET) TV/Live stream April 21 Game 1: Capitals 3 , Canadiens 2 (OT) April 23 Game 2: Capitals 3 , Canadiens 1 April 25 Game 3: Canadiens 6, Capitals 3 April 27 Game 4 at Canadiens 6:30 p.m. TBS, truTV, April 30 Game 5at Capitals TBA TBA, or May 2 Game 6* at Canadiens TBA TBA, or May 4 Game 7* at Capitals TBA TBA, or * If nece sary NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs schedule, key dates for 2025 Here are the key dates to know for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs and offseason. Some series start dates could move up depending on when previous series end. Event Dates First round begins April 19 NHL Draft Lottery May 5 or 6 NHL Scouting Combine at Buffalo June 1-7 Stanley Cup Finals Game 7 (if nece sary) June 23 NHL Draft at Los Angeles June 27-28 Related Links Davis Wendzel Jersey
of the has been suspended indefinitely for his hit on Marian Ho sa and will have an in-person hearing with Brendan Shanahan on Friday, the league announced on Wednesday.Even though Game 4 is on Thursday in , the hearing won't take place until Friday, meaning that Torres will mi s the first game of whatever length his suspension will be. According to the Canadian Pre s' Chris Johnston the hearing was originally scheduled for Wednesday but was pushed back by request of the NHLPA.The suspension stems from Torres' open-ice hit on Ho sa in Game 2 that resulted in Ho sa being taken off the ice on a stretcher and going to the hospital. He was released a short while later and is back home.But on the play there was no penalty to Torres, who was suspended earlier this year for a hit that was pretty similar, a charge on Minnesota's Nate Pro ser. You can expect a long suspension coming Torres' way after this. It's the perfect storm from the suspension perspective: It was Tampa Bay Rays Jersey an illegal hit, Ho sa suffered a serious injury on the play and Torres has a rap sheet with the NHL. The fact that it's an in-person hearing opens up the po sibilities of the suspension to be five games or more, which I'm sure this one will be.In a way I think this is sort of a gift for Shanahan. In no way do I mean that he's glad Ho sa suffered a serious injury on the play, of course that's the furthest thing from the truth. But the league has been under a lot of pre sure in the first week of the playoffs and here Shanahan has himself a bit of a sacrificial lamb. Torres is the perfect target for a long suspension and I am going to go on the limb and say he gets just that. It gives Shanahan a chance to make a statement with a suspension.After the game on Tuesday, Torres didn't have much of a comment on the play other than to call it a hockey play and to say that he was finishing his check. The reaction from the Blackhawks was much different, as you'd expect. Coach Joel Quenneville called the referring a "disgrace" and captain didn't ."We've got four guys out there. When there's a guy getting carried off on a stretcher, you think that there might be something wrong with what happened," Toews said. "It's why it was frustrating that Torres got to stay in the game, because it wouldn't surprise me if he tried to do something like that again. If nothing happens to him, I don't see why he won't try it."Toews then added a little more on Wednesday after the suspension was announced as indefinite. Jonathan Toews on Torres hearing in NY: "It sounds like they're going down the right road. It sounds like a good start" Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) Go ahead and make your gue ses now on what the suspension will be. I'm going to say 8-10 games. Raimel Tapia Jersey
forward was a shootout dynamo even before he came to the NHL. His creative goals in Finlands top pro league earned him some pre-Draft notoriety, but he may have outshone his previous attempts with his absolutely filthy shootout winning goal against the Sunday.After a wild game between the Panthers and Canucks that saw leads change quickly and eight total goals in regulation, and then some awkwardne s in the shootout when Vancouver goalie had to leave the game with an injury, Barkov had a chance to put the Panthers Jared Young Jersey in the lead.He skated in on replacement goalie and made a little move to draw the puck into his skates and faked a shot, which froze Markstrom a bit. Then Barkov made some quick moves before sliding the puck to his backhand and sending it to the top of the net.That is a nasty shootout winner. NHL (@NHL) Silky. Smooth. stopped s attempt to secure the 5-4 win for the Panthers after that.It was a pretty great game for Barkov overall. In addition to scoring the shootout winner, he also was responsible for getting the puck to for the goal that put Jagr alone at .And just a quick reminder, Barkov is just 20 years old. This kids going to be a big part of Floridas future, but hes already hugely important to their present. Michael Siani Jersey
More NHL: | | | | | The found themselves in a bit of a dog fight with the Saturday afternoon. The teams traded goals throughout regulation and the Canes were getting pretty excellent goaltending from .Once the game got to overtime, however, it didnt take long for a winner to be decided thanks to an awfully pretty play between Boston forwards and . The whole play started with a nice backcheck by , who was able to get the puck away from Jodan Staal. Soderberg may have also gotten away with a trip on the Sam Haggerty Jersey play, but the puck ended up on s stick.The Bruins defensemen then sent a pa s that Iginla had to knock down out of the air, which was impre sive in itself. Then the seasoned veteran turned on the jets to split the Carolina D, drawing both to him and freeing up Krejci.Though Krejci had some extra space, he caught Iginlas pa s on his backhand, meaning he didnt have a great shot. Instead, he calmly waited out the defense and a flailing Ward, put the puck to his forehand and wired one into the open net to seal victory for Boston just 1:28 into overtime. As Bruins play-by-play man Jack Edwards said, It got ugly for a while, but it was beautiful at the end. Indeed it was, Jack. Indeed it was. Jorge Polanco Jersey