New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov is between the pipes for Game 2 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, the team announced.

Varlamov missed Game 1 due to a lower-body injury. Rookie backup Ilya Sorokin made his first career playoff start, stopping 39 of 42 shots in the 4-3 overtime win.

The 33-year-old Varlamov was New York's best goalie during the regular season, though. He went 19-11-4 with a .929 save percentage, a 2.04 goals-against average, and a league-best seven shutouts. Additionally, Varlamov has played 46 career postseason games.

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Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper called out Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett for his check on Blake Coleman in Game 1 on Sunday night.

Cooper said it was a "predatory hit," according to NHL.com's Brian Burns.

Bennett received a two-minute minor for charging on the play, and the penalty marked a significant momentum shift in the game. Brayden Point scored on the ensuing power play to tie the contest in the third period, and then he potted the game-winner just under six minutes later.

Game 2 is set for Tuesday night at 8 p.m. ET.

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It didn't take long for the first big swing of momentum in the Battle of Florida.

A Florida Panthers goal was immediately waved off due to goaltender interference early in the first period of Game 1. Panthers forward Sam Bennett appeared to push Andrei Vasilevskiy's left pad with his stick.

Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville didn't challenge the play.

The Tampa Bay Lightning responded right away when Blake Coleman notched a shorthanded tally off the ensuing faceoff.

The first playoff meeting between the in-state rivals is already off to a heated start.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets and former head coach John Tortorella mutually agreed to part ways on Monday, but the bench boss didn't want to coach the team this past season at all.

Tortorella tried to step down last offseason after the Tampa Bay Lightning eliminated the Blue Jackets from the playoffs, reports The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.

The two-time Jack Adams Award winner was reading the room, and he thought the club wasn't close to being on the path Tortorella believed the team was progressing toward two years earlier, according to Portzline.

However, the Blue Jackets reportedly wouldn't fire Tortorella. And if he quit, the 62-year-old wouldn't have received his $2.5-million salary for the final year of his contract. He still wouldn't have been paid his full compensation in 2020-21 if Tortorella agreed to accept a different role in the organization.

While the money was a factor in his decision to return, former captain Nick Foligno also convinced Tortorella to stay. Foligno, who was later dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs prior to the trade deadline, told him he wanted to "finish what we started," according to Portzline.

The Blue Jackets hired Tortorella during the 2015-16 campaign. He led them through the most successful run in franchise history, with Columbus making the playoffs four straight years. The team pulled off arguably the greatest postseason upset ever, sweeping the heavily favored Lightning in Round 1 in 2019.

The Blue Jackets finished last in the Central Division with 48 points this campaign. Tortorella reportedly informed the organization in late April he was ready to leave. His departure was made official on May 9.

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Tampa Bay Lightning forwards Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos will be in the lineup for Game 1 against the Florida Panthers on Sunday, head coach Jon Cooper said, per The Athletic's Joe Smith.

Kucherov and Stamkos haven't started and completed a full game together since Feb. 22, 2020, against the Arizona Coyotes.

Kucherov missed the entire 2020-21 season after undergoing hip surgery. The 2018-19 Hart Trophy winner led the playoffs in scoring last year with 34 points during Tampa Bay's Stanley Cup run.

Stamkos has been out since April 8 due to a lower-body injury. The Lightning were initially optimistic he'd return when he was eligible to come off long-term injured reserve May 1.

The captain played just 2:47 during the 2020 playoffs due to a lower-body ailment.

Stamkos recorded 17 goals and 34 points in 38 games this season.

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Even at 41 years old, Patrick Marleau believes he has more left in the tank.

"I feel like I still have a lot to give," Marleau told reporters Thursday, according to the Teal Town USA podcast. "I'm eager to have a really good season next season."

Marleau said he hasn't discussed a possible return to the San Jose Sharks with general manager Doug Wilson, but will talk to him soon.

The veteran forward recorded four goals and five assists in 56 games this past season. He admitted he wasn't happy with his play at times.

"There were some pretty sleepless nights with that, but I'm looking forward to a rebound season next year," he said, according to Curtis Pashelka of the Bay Area News Group.

Marleau played in his 1,768th game on April 19, passing Gordie Howe for the most in NHL history.

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The NHL unveiled schedules for Round 1 of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Thursday.

The West Division is still not set, but the Colorado Avalanche will take top spot in the West if they beat the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night. If the Avs lose (in regulation or beyond), the Vegas Golden Knights will be the division's top seed. Therefore, the West Division matchups are still contingent on Thursday's results.

All times ET.
* if necessary.

North Division

Due to the North Division playoffs starting later than the others, each All-Canadian Round 1 matchup features a back-to-back in Games 3 and 4.

No. 1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. No. 4 Montreal Canadiens

No. 2 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. 3 Winnipeg Jets

East Division

No. 1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 4 New York islanders

No. 2 Washington Capitals vs. No. 3 Boston Bruins

Central Division

No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 4 Nashville Predators

No. 2 Florida Panthers vs. No. 3 Tampa Bay Lighting

West Division

No. 1 Avalanche/Golden Knights vs. No. 4 St. Louis Blues

No. 2 Avalanche/Golden Knights vs. No. 3 Minnesota Wild

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Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said he plans to start Frederik Andersen between the pipes Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators, according to TSN's Mark Masters.

Andersen hasn't played since March 19 due to a knee injury.

The 31-year-old started two games with the AHL's Toronto Marlies this past week on a conditioning stint, stopping 46 of 52 shots for an .885 save percentage.

The 2020-21 campaign has been easily Andersen's worst in the NHL. He's posted an .897 save percentage and a 2.91 goals-against average in 23 appearances.

Toronto has two regular-season games left before the playoffs begin.

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ESPN is beginning to assemble its on-air talent ahead of becoming the NHL's primary broadcaster in the United States next season.

Ray Ferraro and Brian Boucher signed with the network as lead analysts, reports Andrew Marchand of the New York Post.

Ferraro is TSN's top color analyst in Canada. ESPN owns a minority stake in TSN, so it's unclear how this would affect Ferraro's role with his current employer. The 56-year-old spent 18 seasons in the NHL as a player, racking up 898 points in 1,259 games.

Boucher is currently a color analyst for NBC, which will no longer broadcast NHL games beginning next season. The 44-year-old played 13 years in the NHL as a goaltender, winning 120 games.

ESPN has yet to finalize its play-by-play commentators, but Steve Levy and Sean McDonough are viewed as leading internal candidates, reports Marchand.

The legendary Gary Thorne, who was ESPN's lead NHL announcer from 1992-2004, said in March that he would "love to talk to" the network about a reunion.

The Walt Disney Company, which owns ESPN and ABC, is paying the NHL over $400 million per season for the duration of a seven-year agreement that begins in 2021-22. Four Stanley Cup Finals will be broadcast on ABC during that span.

Turner Sports picked up the "B package" of the NHL's TV deal in the United States, paying $225 million over seven years, and gets the other three Stanley Cup Finals.

Kenny Albert and Eddie Olczyk, who will call this season's Stanley Cup Final for NBC, are reportedly joining Turner next season.

Turner is reportedly eyeing Wayne Gretzky for a broadcasting role after his talks with ESPN fell apart.

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The NHL revealed its 31 nominees for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy on Monday.

The award is given to the player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey."

Philadelphia Flyers forward Oskar Lindblom may be considered the front-runner this season after announcing he was cancer-free in December. Lindblom was one of three finalists last year.

Bobby Ryan won last season as a member of the Ottawa Senators. He entered the player assistance program to help fight his battle with alcoholism.

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