All posts by Brandon Maron

QMJHL implements harsher penalties for fighting

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League will implement harsher penalties for players who fight during the upcoming 2020-21 season, it announced Wednesday.

All players involved in a fight will now be assessed a 10-minute misconduct along with a five-minute major. The misconduct will begin only after the five-minute major is served.

Players will also receive an automatic one-game suspension after their third fight and an additional one-game suspension for any additional fights afterward.

"It's very important to protect our players, to make sure he's playing in a safe environment. And today in the hockey business, the way that the game has improved, it's based on speed, skill (not fighting)," QMJHL commissioner Gilles Courteau told reporters Wednesday, according to The Canadian Press.

The league's season is set to kick off on Friday.

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Report: Oilers have shown interest in Mrazek

The Edmonton Oilers have at least one goalie on their radar as they enter the offseason.

Edmonton has shown an interest in Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Petr Mrazek, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported during Tuesday's edition of "Insider Trading."

LeBrun added that acquiring Mrazek would be more of a "Plan B" for the Oilers.

The 28-year-old goaltender has one season remaining on his contract that carries a value of $3.125 million. Oilers general manager Ken Holland drafted Mrazek in 2010 while with the Detroit Red Wings.

Mrazek appeared in 40 games during the 2019-20 regular season, putting together a 21-16-2 record with a .905 save percentage and 2.69 goals-against average.

The Oilers have goaltender Mikko Koskinen signed for two more seasons with an average annual value of $4.5 million. Mike Smith, who appeared in 39 games for the team last season, is an unrestricted free agent.

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Report: Rangers expected to buy out Lundqvist

Henrik Lundqvist's time with the New York Rangers is set to come to an end after 15 years.

The Rangers are expected to buy out the final year of Lundqvist's contract, TSN's Darren Dreger reported during Tuesday's edition of "Insider Trading."

"Unfortunately for Henrik Lundqvist, there will be a separation from the New York Rangers by form of that buyout," Dreger said.

"This would not come easy to the New York Rangers, again, given everything that Lundqvist has provided to the Rangers as an organization. This was a tough decision but a decision that has to be made moving forward," Dreger added.

Lundqvist has one season remaining on his current contract that carries a cap hit of $8.5 million for the 2020-21 season.

The 38-year-old has spent his entire career with the Rangers since being selected by the team in the seventh round of the 2000 NHL Draft. His 887 games played, 459 wins, and 64 shutouts are all franchise records.

Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton said in August that the team's plan is to carry only two goalies on its NHL roster next season. During the 2019-20 season, Lundqvist split starts with teammates Alexandar Georgiev and Igor Shesterkin.

Since Lundqvist's rookie season in 2005-06, the Rangers have made the playoffs 11 times. He helped guide the team to the Stanley Cup Final once in 2014 and the conference finals on two occasions.

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Watch: Lightning return to Tampa with Stanley Cup

The Tampa Bay Lightning have returned home with the Stanley Cup.

The Lightning exited the NHL bubble Tuesday after spending over two months in Toronto and Edmonton. Friends and family met them on the tarmac after they landed back in Tampa:

Players reunited with their families, including Conn Smythe winner Victor Hedman and his wife, Sanna:

Some hoisted the Cup once more, including Zach Bogosian, who made his first playoff appearance in his 13th NHL season:

Nikita Kucherov, who led the team with 34 postseason points, showed off the hardware:

After the reunion, the Lightning and their loved ones boarded trolleys and made their way to Amalie Arena as fans looked on:

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Lightning win Stanley Cup after shutting out Stars in Game 6

The Tampa Bay Lightning are the 2020 Stanley Cup champions.

Tampa Bay defeated the Dallas Stars 2-0 in Game 6 on Monday to end the series. Lightning forward Brayden Point scored the game-winning goal, while goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy recorded a 22-save shutout. Forward Blake Coleman scored Tampa's second goal of the game.

The Lightning won three straight against the Stars after dropping Game 1. After losing in double-overtime in Game 5, they bounced back to control Game 6 and claim the franchise's second title.

Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov finished the postseason with a team-leading 34 points in 25 games, while Point had 33 points in 23 games. Defenseman Victor Hedman won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after racking up 10 goals and 22 points in 25 contests.

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Jon Cooper: Last season’s ‘heartbreak’ helped inspire Lightning’s Cup win

The Tampa Bay Lightning have rebounded in a big way after suffering last postseason's historic upset, becoming the 2020 Stanley Cup Champions.

"A heartbreak. It's easy to say now, but it is true. Sometimes in failure, you find success. It doesn't come easy," Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said, per Sportsnet. "People say, 'you never know when you're gonna go back, you never know when you're gonna go back.' But I truly believe it was the heartbreak we suffered that brought us here today."

Tampa Bay had one of the most dominant regular seasons of all-time during the 2018-19 season. They accrued 128 regular-season points and entered the playoffs as a heavy Cup favorite.

The Lightning were then shocked in the first round, where they got swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets. The club became the first Presidents' Trophy winners to lose four straight first-round games in the modern era.

Tampa Bay has remained a top contender in recent years but hasn't been able to capture a title. They lost in the Stanley Cup Final in 2015 and in the conference finals in 2018.

Victor Hedman, who was named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy and has been with the team since 2009, recognized the hard work it took for the team to get their hands on the Cup.

"It’s been a grind. It’s not easy. It hasn’t been easy," Hedman said, according to The Athletic's Craig Custance. "But it’s all worth it now, for sure. That’s the bottom line. We’re Stanley Cup champs."

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Tampa to hold boat parade for Stanley Cup celebration

The Tampa Bay Lightning's celebration with the Stanley Cup will likely look different than usual.

The team will host a boat parade along the city's Riverwalk and Hillsborough River at 5 p.m. on Wednesday to celebrate the Cup win. Fans are encouraged to gather safely along the Riverwalk.

"The Stanley Cup is once again coming home to Tampa, and we could not be more proud of the Tampa Bay Lightning for embodying the resilient, fighting spirit of the Tampa Bay community and for bringing the Cup home," Tampa Bay mayor Jane Castor said.

"Despite every challenge this past year, Tampa continues to ensure that our comeback is even greater than any setback. Thank you to our team for working hard, playing hard, and giving our community something to celebrate. We cannot wait for Stanley to get than tan."

There will also be a celebration at Raymond James Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, with socially distant pod seating available.

This victory marks the second time the Lightning have claimed the Stanley Cup, last winning in 2004.

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Stars keep Cup dreams alive with 2OT win over Lightning in Game 5

The Dallas Stars defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 in double overtime in Game 5 on Saturday, keeping their hopes alive in the Stanley Cup Final.

Stars forward Corey Perry's second score was the game-winning goal.

Perry opened scoring with minutes remaining in the first period, giving the Stars the lead. Lightning forward Ondrej Palat got Tampa on the board in the second, tying the game up heading into the third.

Just over three minutes into the final frame, Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev beat Stars goaltender Anton Khudobin to score the go-ahead goal. Stars veteran Joe Pavelski tied things up with 6:45 remaining in the third period and forced overtime for the second straight game.

Pavelski's 61st career goal sets the record for most playoff goals scored by an American-born player, passing Joe Mullen.

Khudobin was superb in the game, stopping 39 of the 41 shots he faced. Andrei Vasilevskiy let in three goals on 33 shots.

Dallas now trails the series 3-2. The teams will play Game 6 on Monday at 8 p.m. ET.

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Rangers trade Marc Staal to Red Wings

The New York Rangers have traded defenseman Marc Staal and a 2021 second-round draft pick to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for future considerations, the team announced Saturday.

Staal appeared in 52 games for New York during the 2019-20 regular season, recording two goals and nine assists. He had a 37.31 Corsi For percentage and 36.22 expected goals for percentage in all situations.

The 33-year-old has one year remaining on a deal carrying a $5.7-million annual cap hit. He's spent his entire 13-season career with the Rangers after they selected him 12th overall in the 2005 NHL Draft.

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Pavelski laments OT penalty call on Benn: ‘We expect to battle it out’

Joe Pavelski wasn't happy with an overtime penalty call against Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn that ultimately led to the Tampa Bay Lightning's game-winning power-play goal in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Friday.

"The ref's got a tough job. I see it. It's in front of (referee) Kelly (Sutherland), he's got a great look at it, the back ref calls it," Pavelski said postgame. "I don't have a ton of time for a play where (Lightning forward) Tyler Johnson steps in front of Jamie Benn and has no real effect in the play.

"Jamie breathes on the guy and he falls over. Whether that's the case or not, there's a little battle going on there. It's playoffs, it's overtime, we expect five-on-five. We expect to battle it out."

Benn was called for tripping just over five minutes into overtime after taking down Johnson while the two battled for a loose puck. It was Dallas' fourth penalty of the game. Lightning defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk scored on the ensuing power play to give Tampa the win.

Stars head coach Rick Bowness also disagreed with the call.

"I saw two guys going for a loose puck, their guy hooking our guy, and our guy trying to fight through the hook. ... That's a hockey play," Bowness said. "That's what I saw. I looked at the replay a couple of times, and it's two guys in the playoffs and you're going for a loose puck."

He continued: "The players want to dictate the end of the game, and they're right. They want to play five-on-five and let's see what happens here. ... Let the players decide the game."

With the loss, the Stars have their backs against the wall and trail 3-1 in the series. Game 5 is set for Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.

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