Jake Guentzel's postseason legend continues to grow.
With a goal in Game 4 against the Washington Capitals, the Pittsburgh Penguins winger reached the 20-point mark in only his 10th game of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Jake Guentzel: 2018 NHL playoff leader in goals (9) and points (20).
Oh, and his playoff point streak is now at eight games (8G-8A) - the longest active point streak in the NHL. pic.twitter.com/Hla43aHnUw
Former NHL winger Jeff Parker had advanced chronic traumatic encephalopathy when he passed away last September, according to researchers at Boston University's CTE Center.
“It was fairly advanced, and we called it Stage 3 because it was significant,” Dr. Ann McKee, director of the CTE Center, told John Branch of the New York Times.
CTE is a degenerative brain disease associated with repetitive head trauma, and Parker's was classified as Stage 3 out of four.
McKee added the disease affects "the very important areas for memory and learning" of the brain.
Parker, who was 53 years old when he died, appeared in 141 NHL games between 1986-91, and joins six other former players who were diagnosed with CTE: Reggie Fleming, Rick Martin, Bob Probert, Derek Boogaard, Larry Zeidel, and Steve Montador.
He was also among more than 100 former players who filed a lawsuit against the league, arguing the NHL withheld information about the long-term health risks caused by concussions.
As recently as 2016, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman denied a link between concussions suffered in the course of play and CTE.
Parker recorded 16 goals, 19 assists, and 163 penalty minutes in the NHL, with much of his time in the box coming via fighting majors.
The Pittsburgh Penguins forward will return to the lineup for Game 4 against the Washington Capitals after missing the last three with an upper-body injury.
Hagelin on the ice for warmups in a full shield. Seems he'll play tonight. Pens have been getting healthier as the series has gone on.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 3, 2018
It's hard to begrudge Nashville Predators fans for wanting to get in a few jabs at Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien. He's been in beast mode all playoffs, establishing his physical presence while being one of the best players on the ice for Winnipeg.
So, naturally, Nashville fan Ben McGreevy started chirping Big Buff almost immediately after taking his seat at Bridgestone Arena for Game 2. However, he soon found out that the two Jets fans sitting behind him had a pretty special connection with the hulking Winnipeg blue-liner.
"I hear them laughing every single time I throw something at Byfuglien and finally, late in the second period, I stood up, and that's when I say, 'Byfuglien, you're the biggest piece of dirt on the ice!'
"And they just started dying at that," said McGreevy, according to CBC Sports.
After turning around to apologize to the couple, McGreevy learned they were closer to Byfuglien than he expected.
"I turn around, and I acknowledge the fact that (Byfuglien's) a good player and that's why I do it, and they stop and say 'No, no, no, we think it's awesome, it's hilarious - he's our son,'" Greevy explained.
That's right: The two committed Jets fans that made the trip down to Nashville were actually Byfuglien's mother and stepfather.
"I was honestly speechless. My words couldn't come out. I just started stuttering - I've just insulted someone's son for two hours right in front of their face," McGreevy said.
The couple took the trash talk in stride and shared a few laughs with McGreevy, even answering a fan's question from Twitter about how they raised such a strong and physically imposing hockey player.
McGreevy's next chance to heckle his favorite Jet comes Saturday when the series shifts back to Nashville for Game 5.
The Boston Terriers bench boss was in the running, but has now withdrawn his name from consideration, a source told Larry Brooks of the New York Post.
The Rangers are in search of a new coach after Alain Vigneault was fired at season's end. Vigneault spent the past five seasons with New York.
As for Quinn, he's set to return to Boston University, his home for the last five seasons. He guided the Terriers to regular-season championships in 2015 and 2017.
Prior to joining the college ranks, Quinn spent four seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, including one year as an NHL assistant coach and three seasons as the bench boss of Colorado's AHL affiliate.
Fiala, 21, tallied 23 goals and 48 points during the regular season and has already scored three times in the playoffs, including an overtime winner in Game 2 against the Jets.
The 36-year-old Hartnell has only suited up for one playoff game this year, but has a wealth of postseason experience, and should add another dose of grit and nastiness to what's been a physical, in-your-face series thus far.
It's understandable that head coach Peter Laviolette might want Hartnell's experience in the lineup with Nashville trailing 2-1, but fourth-liner Miikka Salomaki would've been the more obvious candidate to come out, rather than a key offensive player in Fiala.
The Preds are also making a change on the back end, as Yannick Weber will enter the fold in place of Alexei Emelin, reports Seravalli.
Kruger cleared waivers in February and was assigned to the Charlotte Checkers, where he collected eight points in 19 games after managing only six points in 48 contests with Carolina.
Martinook potted six goals and chipped in 15 points while appearing in all but one regular-season game for the Coyotes this season.
Both players have another year left on their contracts, with Kruger on the books for about $2.7 million in 2018-19 after Carolina retains 10 percent of his salary, per CapFriendly. Martinook carries a cap hit of $1.8 million.
The incident marked the third time in the postseason Wilson has been on the giving end of a questionable hit. That, tied in with a broken jaw and concussion for Aston-Reese, likely played a role in the NHL Department of Player Safety opting to make a significant statement.
However, Oshie says he's been the recipient of several high hits in his career that went uncalled, and he isn't overly pleased to be without the Caps' top agitator until a potential Game 7.
"I'd like for them to watch the hit. I'd like for them to break it down for me," Oshie told NHL.com's Brian McNally. "From what I see, it's two guys that see each other. It's a north-south hit. Tom goes straight through his body. Yes, the head gets hit. But there's been a million times when I've gotten hit, I go to the ref, I say: 'I was hit in the head,' and the ref just says 'he's bigger than you.'
"That's the way it goes. I've been blown up a couple times this year and I haven't complained about it when it's a monster hit. I remember in New Jersey, someone blew me up at the end of the game. I knew he was coming, but I had to make a play. My head was down, he flew overtop of me, which I guess is jumping now if you fly up, and not a word was said."
Regardless of Oshie's thoughts, the highly entertaining Pens-Caps series moves on to Game 4 on Thursday night, with Washington facing an opportunity to grab a 3-1 series lead.
He passed away at his home in Florida, the NHL confirmed Thursday afternoon.
Torrey was the architect of the Islanders' four consecutive Stanley Cup championships in the early 1980s and later helped build the Panthers into instant contenders in the following decade.
"It is no wonder that he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and was the recipient of a Lester Patrick Award," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement Thursday.
"From his iconic bow tie, retired by the Islanders organization, to his devilish sense of humor, he truly was one of a kind," Bettman continued. "He grew up in close proximity to NHL greatness, near the Montreal Forum, where his passion for the game at all levels developed at an early age. He attended as many games as he could in junior rinks, where he was as at home as at an NHL Board of Governors meeting - and his counsel was sought out at both.
"On a personal level, Bill was a close and cherished friend and a great source of counsel. I will miss his wit, wisdom and warmth."
Torrey became the Islanders' first employee in 1972 and spent 21 years with the franchise, including 20 as GM and alternate governor.
"Bill set the model for how to build a franchise with the leadership he instilled through his coaching staff, his innovative drafting methods, and the trades he executed," current Islanders president and GM Garth Snow said Thursday.
"He was a pioneer, who became a mentor and even better friend, to so many in the industry. The teams he constructed set records that may never be broken, including the four straight Stanley Cup Championships and 19 straight playoff series wins. On behalf of the entire organization, we send our deepest condolences to Bill's family."
Torrey was named president of the expansion Panthers in 1993 and helped them reach the Cup Final three years later. He retired in 2001.
Panthers owner Vincent Viola said Thursday that he was heartbroken to hear of Torrey's passing, offered condolences to the family, and said it was an honor to work with him, while current President GM Dale Tallon also expressed his thoughts on one of modern hockey's most influential figures.
"Bill was a giant of our game," Tallon said. "He was the architect of a dynasty, a Hockey Hall of Famer and most importantly, a committed family man. I'm heartbroken by the news of his passing. Bill was a mentor and a dear friend who was instrumental in bringing me to South Florida to work alongside him.
"He was a wonderful person who never lost his passion for the game and loved being at the rink," Tallon continued. "I am proud to have worked with him and I will always be grateful for his support and friendship. He was a legend and the original Panther. I send my deepest condolences to his family and many friends. Bill's tremendous legacy will never be forgotten."
Torrey was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the Lester Patrick Award for outstanding service to the hockey community in 1983.
Any postseason matchup between the top two teams in their respective conference is bound to be a good one. But when you look at the star power between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins, it's easy to get excited at the prospect of these rosters going head to head in a best-of-seven series.
But three games into their second-round series, the Bruins' and Lightning's stars have gone mostly quiet, shifting the focus into a depth battle.
The Bruins' top line was dominant in Game 1, a 6-2 victory, but haven't been as potent in Games 2 and 3. The Kucherov-Stamkos pairing, on the other hand, has been completely silent, mustering just one point - an empty-netter from the captain to close out Wednesday's win.
With Tampa's duo struggling to get going, one would think Boston easily holds the upper hand. However, in back-to-back wins, the Lightning's depth players have outplayed the Bruins', and it's been the difference so far in the series.
After an admittedly poor Game 1, Brayden Point flipped the script and put forth a four-point effort in Game 2. Ondrej Palat, Point's left winger, scored two goals early in Game 3 to set the tone in what was a near perfect road victory, which also saw Anthony Cirelli bury his first NHL postseason marker.
(Photo Courtesy: Getty Images)
All in all, the Lightning have 25 points from lines two through four combined with the defensive corps through three games, while the Bruins have generated just nine points from players outside the aforementioned first unit.
The Bruins' strength all season long was the success of the Bergeron line, and that carried into the postseason, as they only beat the Leafs when that line was rolling. Now facing a deficit in a series for the first time in the playoffs, head coach Bruce Cassidy knows changes, either in performance or personnel, need to be made.
Cassidy was asked about the production of his third line, the scoreless triumvirate of Danton Heinen, Riley Nash, and David Backes, following Game 3, and he indicated a shakeup may be in order to help find a spark.
"I am concerned," he said, per Tim Rosenthal of Boston.com. "We've got some guys that weren't dressed tonight that have played well for this team.
"Some guys have had a tough time ... if they stay in, obviously they need to better."
The good news for the Bruins is they have several internal options capable of subbing in successfully, as the likes of Ryan Donato and Brian Gionta occupy the press box, and could feasibly step in and help balance the scales.
The Bruins just better hope it happens fast, because their season may depend on it.
