It was a night that St. Louis Blues forward Pat Maroon will never forget.

The St.Louis, Miss., native scored the winning goal in double over time of Game 7 against the Dallas Stars in front of friends and family to propel the Blues into the Western Conference Final for the second time in four seasons.

"The biggest goal of my career, what a moment it's been," Maroon told Sportsnet after the game.

"It's been an emotional rollercoaster for me all year, and to score a big goal like that in front of my home town, my son in the stands tonight, fiance, friends and family," said Maroon.

Maroon's 10-year-old son, Anthony, watched from the seats as his father delivered one of the biggest goals in the franchise's 51-year history. Following the contest, Anthony was given a chance to share his thoughts on the big moment.

"I was looking at the page with all the players, where they’re from and all that stuff," Anthony said according to The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford. "All I heard was everybody scream. My friend turns around and says, ‘It’s your dad!’ I just started crying.”

"I may have taught him a thing or two," the youngster joked according to NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger.

The 31-year-old signed a one-year, $1.75-million contract with the Blues on July 10 after receiving little interest from other teams around the league. Just 10 months later, Maroon is the hero in the city he grew up in.

"I saw my son - he was crying," Maroon said according to NHL.com's Lou Korac. "I saw him and I pointed to him. I’m proud. I’m proud to be from St. Louis and I’m proud to put that jersey on every night and I’m proud to work hard in front of these fans and to work hard for these guys that deserve it in here."

The Blues will face either the San Jose Sharks or Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final starting later this week.

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With Game 7 between the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues requiring extra time to decide their second-round series Tuesday night, three win-or-go-home affairs in these playoffs have required overtime.

That's the most ever in a single playoff year, according to the league.

The San Jose Sharks rallied amid controversy to stun the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 7 of their first-round matchup, and the Carolina Hurricanes eliminated the Washington Capitals in double overtime of Game 7 in their opening-round series.

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Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz has been battling a serious medical condition.

Katz has dealt with a life-threatening, bacteria-resistant sinus infection for the past few years, the club confirmed to The Canadian Press on Tuesday.

Sportsnet's John Shannon shared the details of Katz's ailment Tuesday after the owner's appearance at Ken Holland's introductory news conference caused concern.

The infection comes with a 50-50 survival rate. The owner has undergone three surgeries over the past 10 months, with one more procedure remaining, Shannon tweeted.

Katz's condition is the primary reason he hasn't been around Edmonton and the team. He carried an IV bag at all times during the Oilers' playoff run in spring 2017, according to Shannon, who added that Katz is "through the worst of it" and the long-term prognosis is positive.

The 57-year-old billionaire didn't address his health on Tuesday. He's owned the Oilers since 2008.

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Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy was handed a one-game ban on Tuesday for his hit to the head of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson in Game 6, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced.

McAvoy will be unavailable for the Bruins in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.

McAvoy was handed a two-minute minor for the illegal check to the head on the play. Anderson was shaken up after the second-period hit but stayed in Monday's contest. The Blue Jackets went on to lose the game and series.

The 21-year-old sophomore has been the backbone of a strong Bruins' blue line this postseason, logging a team-high 322 minutes - 26 more than any of his teammates - and mostly against the opponent's top talents.

Playing in his second NHL season, this is the first time McAvoy has faced supplemental discipline.

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Rod Brind'Amour appears to have an appreciation for Allen Iverson's most memorable quip.

The Carolina Hurricanes' head coach did his best impression of the NBA Hall of Famer on Tuesday when asked about forward Jordan Martinook's status ahead of the Eastern Conference Final against the Boston Bruins.

Tuesday is the 17th anniversary of Iverson's legendary rant in which the former Philadelphia 76ers guard repeatedly said "we talkin' about practice."

Brind'Amour and Iverson played in Philadelphia during a three-and-a-half season stretch in the late '90s.

The Hurricanes' bench boss suited up for the Flyers from 1991 to 2000, and he was traded to Carolina about two-and-a-half years before Iverson's rant.

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The third-period horn at Nationwide Arena on Monday night sounded the end to the Columbus Blue Jackets' season, and thus kicked off the most compelling offseason in franchise history.

Columbus has six pending unrestricted free agents. There are deadline additions Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel, Adam McQuaid, and Keith Kinkaid, and franchise pillars Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin, who were both unwilling to indulge in extension talks during the season.

"Moving forward we want guys who are proud to be Blue Jackets, proud to be living in Columbus, and loving it here," general manager Jarmo Kekalainen told The Athletic's Tom Reed after Monday's series-ending defeat to the Boston Bruins. "It's really important that they bleed blue. Guys that don't want to be here - good luck."

Bobrovsky wrapped up his seventh season with the Blue Jackets and ranks first in franchise history in wins, goals-against average, save percentage, shutouts, and many other major goaltending statistics.

"I'm definitely thankful for everything I had here," he told NHL.com's Dan Rosen. "I won my two Vezinas here. I think the hockey is growing here in Columbus. It is fun to watch and it was fun to be part of.”

Panarin has been in Columbus for just two seasons but managed to make quite an impression. His campaigns of 82 and 87 points are the two best single-season marks in franchise history.

"Who knows," Panarin told TSN's Frank Seravalli when asked if he'll be back next year. "I not think about that."

With those contracts coming off the books, Columbus projects to have just over $30 million in cap space for next season. In addition to aforementioned names from the Blue Jackets' roster, this free-agent class has the potential to be one of the deepest in recent memory.

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The third-period horn at Nationwide Arena on Monday night sounded the end to the Columbus Blue Jackets' season, and thus kicked off the most compelling offseason in franchise history.

Columbus has six pending unrestricted free agents. There are deadline additions Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel, Adam McQuaid, and Keith Kinkaid, and franchise pillars Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin, who were both unwilling to indulge in extension talks during the season.

"Moving forward we want guys who are proud to be Blue Jackets, proud to be living in Columbus, and loving it here," general manager Jarmo Kekalainen told The Athletic's Tom Reed after Monday's series-ending defeat to the Boston Bruins. "It's really important that they bleed blue. Guys that don't want to be here - good luck."

Bobrovsky wrapped up his seventh season with the Blue Jackets and ranks first in franchise history in wins, goals-against average, save percentage, shutouts, and many other major goaltending statistics.

"I'm definitely thankful for everything I had here," he told NHL.com's Dan Rosen. "I won my two Vezinas here. I think the hockey is growing here in Columbus. It is fun to watch and it was fun to be part of.”

Panarin has been in Columbus for just two seasons but managed to make quite an impression. His campaigns of 82 and 87 points are the two best single-season marks in franchise history.

"Who knows," Panarin told TSN's Frank Seravalli when asked if he'll be back next year. "I not think about that."

With those contracts coming off the books, Columbus projects to have just over $30 million in cap space for next season. In addition to aforementioned names from the Blue Jackets' roster, this free-agent class has the potential to be one of the deepest in recent memory.

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Here are four takeaways from Ken Holland's introductory press conference as general manager and president of hockey operations with the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.

Full autonomy

As reported in the days leading up to the announcement, Holland will have full autonomy over the entire hockey operations department. He said he wouldn't have come to Edmonton if this wasn't the case.

How quickly will Holland use this power within the organization? Who, if anyone, from the "Old Boys Club" is safe? Given his scouting background, will he overhaul this department? How many executives from the Detroit Red Wings' front office will he bring over?

Time will tell how long it takes for Holland to start leaving his fingerprints on the organization, but priority No. 1 will be finding a new head coach to replace Ken Hitchcock.

'Sacrifice'

Holland used the word "sacrifice" more than a handful of times during his press conference, but one particular statement stuck out.

"One of the things I've asked my players through the years is to sacrifice," he said. "Go to the minors, spend extra time in the minors, take a little bit less money. It's about sacrifice. If you're going to win everyone has to sacrifice a little bit."

Holland also preached that he wants players to be "overripe" when they come to the NHL. This indicates that youngsters such as Evan Bouchard, Kailer Yamamoto, and others may be asked to spend a full season in the AHL.

Contractually, most of Edmonton's core is locked up, with one exception: Darnell Nurse is set to become a restricted free agent after next season. When his time comes for an extension, will he be asked to take a pay cut to help fit all the pieces of the puzzle together? If so, will he oblige?

Eyeing playoffs right away

Holland said he wants sustained success, but he also made it clear that the goal is to be a playoff team next season.

Making the postseason in 2019-20 is a daunting task, to say the least. Not only has Edmonton not made the playoffs in the last two seasons, but the team hasn't even been within striking distance, missing out by more than 10 points each time.

Holland will have roughly $12 million in cap space to work with. That may seem like a lot, but the Oilers have many holes to fill to become a playoff team, and $12 million might not cut it.

A genuine enthusiasm

Holland is reportedly getting $25 million over five years, and while that was certainly a significant factor in taking the job, it doesn't appear - at least on the surface - to be his main source of motivation.

The 63-year-old had a boyish enthusiasm as he addressed media members at Rogers Place. His demeanor suggested a first-time GM, not somebody who's held that position for the last 22 years.

Even after Yzerman replaced him in Detroit less than a month ago, Holland said he envisioned being a "Red Wing for life." He mentioned to Red Wings owner Chris Ilitch that he might get "restless" to become a GM again one day. Apparently, he got restless much sooner than he thought.

It's clear Holland loves being a GM and is genuinely excited for his new challenge.

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