Vincent Lecavalier waits to address expected retirement

After his final Stanley Cup Playoffs run came to an end earlier than he must have expected, Los Angeles Kings center Vincent Lecavalier declined the opportunity to address his anticipated retirement.

The 36-year-old former No. 1 overall pick, who accepted a lifeline from the Kings after a largely unsuccessful run of two-and-a-half seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, said he will wait to comment until he completes his exit interviews.

Lecavalier has plainly stated prior that retirement occurs at the end of the season - a condition believed to be worked out before his acquisition.

He's owed $6 million with a $4.5 million total cap hit over the next two seasons, due to be split between the Kings and Flyers.

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IOC unwilling to pay operating costs to bring NHL players to Olympics, IIHF boss says

The NHL's involvement at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang appears further dim.

The International Olympic Committee is reportedly unwilling to cover transportation and insurance costs required to have NHL players participate in the event, International Ice Hockey Federation president Rene Fasel told Inside the Games at the SportAccord Convention in Lausanne, Switzerland.

"Our wish is to have the best players," Fasel said. "(But the IOC) not covering the cost as they did at the last five Olympic Games puts us in a difficult financial situation.

"We still have challenges - it is even more difficult than before."

Though the Olympics have helped its profile as an international showcase, the NHL has previously held reservations about lending its players to the competition during the season, even when the operating costs - estimated between $10 and $14 million - weren't its responsibility.

The belief, according to the Inside the Games report, is that the IOC is wary of other sport bodies seeking similar compensation.

Meanwhile, the NHL-branded World Cup of Hockey will be reintroduced this summer in Toronto.

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NHL Rumor Mill – April 23, 2016

Updates on the Red Wings plus the latest on Steven Stamkos, P.K. Subban,  Tyson Barrie and Justin Faulk in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.  What next for the Red Wings? THE DETROIT NEWS: Gregg Krupa believes the Red Wings must deal their way out of their current morass. While they require significant changes, it will take […]

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 23, 2016

Sharks eliminate the Kings, game recaps and more in today’s collection of NHL morning headlines.  NHL Playoff Recaps. SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS/LOS ANGELES TIMES: Two years after blowing a 3-0 series lead to the Los Angeles Kings, the San Jose Sharks avenged that upset on Friday night with a 6-3 victory in Game Five to eliminate the […]

Sharks off to 2nd round after eliminating Kings

The San Jose Sharks will play in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Sharks beat the Kings 6-3 in Game 5 on Friday night in Los Angeles, and win the first-round series between the in-state rivals 4-1. San Jose will play the winner of Anaheim-Nashville.

More to come.

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Watch: Koivu’s slick OT deflection keeps Wild alive

This is why Mikko Koivu is the captain.

The Minnesota Wild veteran tied up the game at 4-4 with slightly over three minutes left in the third period in Game 5, and then scored the overtime winner to keep his team alive against the Dallas Stars in their first-round series.

It's Koivu's third goal of the series and second game-winner. Game 6 goes Sunday in Saint Paul at 3 p.m. ET.

"We've gotta win the battles," Koivu said ahead of overtime. "It doesn't really change."

The Wild blew leads of 2-0 and 3-2, but will enjoy a pleasant flight home. Ryan Suter, Jared Spurgeon, and Jason Pominville each finished with two assists.

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Watch: Quine rips 2OT power-play goal, Islanders take Game 5

This one needed a lot of extra time to decide.

In the end, the New York Islanders took Game 5 from the Florida Panthers thanks to a double overtime power-play goal off the stick of Alan Quine.

Quine, 23, appeared in only two regular-season games for the Islanders, and now has a goal and an assist in five playoff appearances.

This one, however, will be tough to beat.

The Islanders now hold a 3-2 series lead, with Game 6 to be played back in Brooklyn on Sunday.

Thomas Greiss was a beast for the Islanders, stopping 47 of 48 shots, including a penalty shot in OT.

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