The Czech Republic's roster at the ongoing World Championship is apparently about to be bolstered by a couple of talented Boston Bruins forwards.

David Pastrnak and David Krejci have an agreement in place to join the squad soon, Czech head coach Josef Jandac told Sport-Express' Igor Eronko on Tuesday night.

Jandac added that the duo will play on the same line when they arrive.

Pastrnak set new career highs in goals (35), assists (45), and points (80) this season, and became the youngest player in NHL history to notch six points in a playoff game, eclipsing none other than Wayne Gretzky. The 21-year-old racked up 20 points in 12 postseason games.

Krejci was limited to 64 regular-season contests, but chipped in 17 goals and 44 points of his own prior to the playoffs, adding 10 points in 12 postseason games.

If Krejci does suit up, it will be the first time he's represented his home country since the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, according to 98.5 The Sports Hub.

Pastrnak played in the World Cup of Hockey in Toronto in the fall of 2016.

The Czech Republic defeated Switzerland in a shootout Tuesday to move into fourth place in Group A. The Czechs have no regulation wins through the first three games, but still have four contests remaining in the preliminary round.

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Joe Thornton would like to remain in San Jose, and he's open to some concessions if that's what it takes to make it happen.

"I want to come back, and I'm sure we'll try to work something out. It's no secret I'm a Shark," the veteran forward said Tuesday at the club's clean-out session. "I bleed teal, and I want to come back. I know I'm going to be healthy when I come back, so I'm sure we can figure something out, but I want to come back."

When asked if the one-year deal he signed last summer is where he is "at" in terms of a potential contract, Thornton said that's something to which he'd be amenable.

"Yeah, I'm comfortable signing one-year deals, and it's fine."

The 38-year-old also took a selfless approach when asked if he'd be open to taking less money if that allowed the Sharks to pursue a "big fish" in free agency.

"Absolutely, there's enough money around for everybody ... I want this team ultimately to win the Stanley Cup," he said. "This city deserves it and these guys deserve it, so whatever we decide, (what's) going to be in the back of my head is just making this team better."

Thornton agreed to a one-year, $8-million deal with the Sharks last July after appearing in all but three regular-season games and four of San Jose's six playoff contests.

He played 47 games in 2017-18 before sitting out the final 35 in the regular season and all 10 in the postseason with what he revealed Tuesday to be MCL and ACL tears in his right knee, the same injuries he endured in his left knee last season.

Thornton is the Sharks' all-time assist leader, and he ranks second in points and games played behind Patrick Marleau.

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The dates are set, with one participating team yet to be determined.

The NHL has released the Conference finals schedule, with the Washington Capitals set to visit the Tampa Bay Lightning for Game 1 in the East on May 11.

The winner of Thursday's second-round Game 7 between the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets will host the Vegas Golden Knights out West on May 12.

Here's a look at the full schedule:

Washington vs. Tampa Bay

* if necessary

Vegas vs. Nashville or Winnipeg

* if necessary

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It's been well documented that San Jose Sharks centerman Joe Thornton was dealing with knee injuries this season, but we are finally learning just how banged up he was.

The longtime Shark suffered both an MCL and ACL tear in his right knee, according to Paul Gackle of Bay Area News Group. The exact same injuries he dealt with in his opposite knee a season before.

Thornton was missing from the Sharks' lineup since Jan. 23, sitting out San Jose's final 35 regular-season games. The injured knee also forced him to sit out for the entire playoffs.

In more positive news, Thornton told reporters Tuesday he wants to return to the Sharks next season. He went as far to say he would be willing to sign another one-year deal to stay in San Jose, according to Gackle.

Thornton inked a one-year, $8-million deal last July. He went on to register 13 goals and 23 assists in 47 games this season.

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Canada's defense is getting a huge boost.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic of the San Jose Sharks is heading to Denmark to represent his country at the World Championship, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

Vlasic has appeared in four major international tournaments for Canada, winning gold at the Olympics (2014) and the World Cup (2016), as well as two silver medals at the worlds (2009, 2017).

The 31-year-old recorded 11 goals and 21 assists in 81 regular-season games, and added two assists in 10 postseason appearances.

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As NHL teams are eliminated from Stanley Cup contention, theScore NHL freelance writer Katie Brown looks back at the highs and lows of their seasons, along with the biggest questions ahead of 2018-19. The 23rd edition focuses on the Colorado Avalanche.

The Good

Nathan MacKinnon. The former No. 1 pick was Colorado’s best player and leading scorer during the regular season. MacKinnon scored a career-high 39 goals and 97 points before being named a Hart Trophy finalist. If that wasn't enough, he led his team to the playoffs and a 47-point improvement over last season.

An improbable season. Just making the playoffs was an accomplishment many thought the Avalanche wouldn’t be able to pull off - but they did, in their last game of the regular season. That the team was able to survive a litany of injuries and make the playoffs just one year after having one of the worst seasons in NHL history was truly remarkable.

Trading Matt Duchene. When the Avalanche traded Matt Duchene to the Ottawa Senators, they didn’t look like a playoff-bound team. Afterward? They looked like a completely different club. There’s no way to know if this was solely due to unloading Duchene, who was linked to trade rumors for what seemed like forever, but some of the pieces acquired in the deal - goalie Andrew Hammond and defenseman Samuel Girard - ended up becoming important ones down the line.

The Bad

Losing the starting goaltender, then the backup. Semyon Varlamov's season ended right before the playoffs when he went down with a lower-body injury, a huge blow to a team that had snuck into the playoffs. Varlamov played in 51 regular-season games, owning a .920 save percentage and 2.68 goals against average. Backup Jonathan Bernier started the first four playoff games, allowed 14 goals, and then left Game 4 with a lower-body injury. That meant Hammond, who’d played in one regular-season contest all year was next up. He was lights out in Game 5 of the Avalanche’s series against the Nashville Predators but gave up five goals on 37 shots in Game 6, where they were eliminated.

One-dimensional offense. The top line of MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, and Mikko Rantanen scored 243 of the team's collective 658 points during the campaign. When they faltered in the postseason, so did the Avalanche, who lost every game where the top line recorded fewer than three points.

Inexperience vs. experience. The Predators were a more experienced team than the Avalanche, and not just in playoff games played, of which Colorado had the least of any playoff team at the start of the postseason. Nashville’s defensive depth was intimidating, their forward group was deeper, and their goaltending was better in the first-round series. Colorado was able to keep up with Nashville longer than many thought, but in the end, experience won out.

The Questions

What’s on Sakic’s summer to-do list? One of general manager Joe Sakic’s priorities this summer should be finding at least one defenseman. There were points during the season where the Avalanche were playing with more than one AHL blue-liner. Patrik Nemeth and Anton Lindholm will probably not be returning, so Sakic may have two spots to fill. If it's decided not to bring Bernier back, a decision will also need to be made for a backup goaltender.

Who should be re-signed? Without a doubt, Rantanen should be signed to a long-term extension. He has one year remaining on his entry-level deal and is arguably one of the franchise’s most important pieces going forward. Mark Barberio, Blake Comeau, Gabriel Bourque, Mark Alt, Hammond, and Bernier are all unrestricted free agents this summer, and Sakic will have to consider who he wants to keep around. It’s doubtful that all of them will be brought back. Of RFAs in need of new contracts, the only one who will probably not be given a qualifying offer is Nail Yakupov.

Should they make a run at Tavares? Pending UFA John Tavares could stay with the New York Islanders. There’s also a chance he may not, and there are a dozen or more teams who would love to win the Tavares sweepstakes. With $25.3 million to play with, minus whatever Rantanen’s contract runs (if Colorado goes that route) and any other free agents, the Avalanche would have a lot to offer Tavares. And they need to address scoring, so why not? If Tavares doesn’t pan out, James van Riemsdyk is another intriguing option.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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The New Jersey Devils announced a trio of significant medical updates Tuesday.

Hart Trophy finalist Taylor Hall underwent surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left hand. The injury was suffered in late December, but he was able to play through it under the care of the team's medical staff.

Hall will be good to go for training camp in September.

Goaltender Cory Schneider also went under the knife to repair torn cartilage in his left hip, with an expected recovery time of five months.

And finally, winger Patrick Maroon underwent surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back and is expected to be ready prior to training camp. He can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

All three players will be evaluated as the summer progresses.

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Barry Trotz is finally heading to the third round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs as a head coach.

It's a stage he was never able to reach in 15 seasons with the Nashville Predators, nor in his first three campaigns behind Washington's bench, but Trotz and the Capitals were finally able to get over that hump with a Game 6 win in Pittsburgh on Monday.

"I’ve been at this for a while and it’s so hard to move forward sometimes," Trotz said, per Adam Zielonka of the Washington Times. "It’s always thrown in your face everywhere you turn. I know it’s thrown in (Alex Ovechkin's) face everywhere he turns, and he’s a great player in this league.

"It’s a hard league to get there. I knew the frustration because you’re so close and you just can’t get it, and you just gotta stay with it."

Trotz's reaction when Evgeny Kuznetsov scored the overtime winner really says it all:

Trotz ranks fifth on the NHL's all-time regular-season coaching wins list with 762, but the Game 6 victory was only his 47th in 101 playoff contests.

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