Connor McDavid potted a hat trick and Bo Horvat scored twice as Canada cruised to a 5-0 victory over Norway at the World Championship in Denmark on Thursday.
McDavid tallied twice in the first period and added one in the second, while Horvat got on the board in the opening frame and then again in the third.
Canada improved to 3-0-1-0 at the tournament and moved into a tie with the United States for first place in Group B. Norway sits in second-last place in the group with no regulation wins (0-1-1-2) through four contests.
Next up for Canada is a matchup with Finland on Saturday. Norway faces Denmark on Friday.
Only two weeks removed from being benched in favor of usual backup Philipp Grubauer, Holtby turned in one of the best series of his eight-year career, and was instrumental in the Capitals punching their ticket to the conference finals for the first time since 1998.
He wasn't peppered with pucks in every outing against the Pens, but he stood tall when his team needed him most, stopping 73 of 79 high-danger chances and posting a .921 save percentage through six games.
Simply put: Washington doesn't slay its dragon without Holtby.
Of course, he's far from the first goaltender to steal a series. Here's a look at a few other netminders from recent history who are guilty of postseason robbery.
Matt Murray, Penguins - 2016, 2nd round vs. Capitals
Murray burst onto the NHL scene in the 2016 playoffs, earning three wins against the New York Rangers en route to a Penguins first-round victory. But he truly caught fire in the next round.
The Penguins are never true underdogs thanks to their two megastars in Evegni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, but they were meeting a Capitals team that put up a staggering 120 points during the regular season.
Murray wasn't fazed. Then 21, the rookie played like a 30-year-old vet, stopping 187 of 202 shots and posting a .926 save percentage while carrying his team to a six-game victory. But it's the way he got the job done that really impressed.
He was easily the best player on the ice for multiple games, putting up highlight-reel stops night after night. Here are two perfect examples, starting with a pad save late in the third period of a tied Game 1. Washington ended up with the win, but that result would have been much more one-sided if not for Murray's heroics. It also set the tone for the remainder of the series.
The second example is from Game 2. Murray once again kept the game knotted with a late third-period stunner, this time stoning Andre Burakovsky on the doorstep.
The Penguins went on to win the Cup, and can credit Murray as the main reason they got past the Capitals.
Jaroslav Halak, Canadiens - 2010, 1st round vs. Capitals
The Montreal Canadiens have a distinguished history of producing elite goaltenders. Jacques Plante, Ken Dryden, Patrick Roy ... and Jaroslav Halak? Well, for a few weeks in 2010, hockey fans in la belle province were ready to anoint Halak as the second coming of Georges Vezina thanks to his unreal first round against the No. 1-seeded ... Washington Capitals.
Montreal qualified for the postseason with 88 points, securing the eighth spot by one point over the Rangers. No one expected the Habs to win a game, let alone the series.
Check out Halak's ridiculous numbers from Montreal's four wins:
Game
Saves
GA
SV%
Game 1
45
2
.957
Game 4
37
1
.974
Game 5
53
1
.981
Game 6
41
1
.976
He was also solid in the following round when the Canadiens unseated the fourth-seeded Pittsburgh Penguins, but that was a tighter series that went the distance. Regardless, his wizardry against the Caps springboarded Montreal's trip all the way to the conference finals.
J.S. Giguere, Mighty Ducks - 2003, 1st round vs. Red Wings
While his Western Conference Final performance against the Minnesota Wild was arguably more impressive - he allowed only one goal on 123 shots in a four-game sweep - it's Giguere's first-round mastery of the powerhouse Detroit Red Wings that cements his spot here.
The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim squeaked into the 2003 postseason as a seventh seed and immediately met a squad of defending Cup champions that boasted several Hall of Famers, including Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, and Nicklas Lidstrom. Instead of bowing to his more talented and decorated opponents, though, "Jiggy" went into beast mode.
He set an NHL postseason record for saves in a playoff debut when he stopped 63 shots in a triple-overtime Game 1 win.
Although it was his first trip to the playoffs, Giguere was the difference-maker, turning aside 165 of 171 Red Wings shots en route to a four-game sweep. If it wasn't for his stellar play, Anaheim's epic run to the Cup Final would have ended almost before it began. He went on to win the Conn Smythe Trophy even though the Mighty Ducks lost to the New Jersey Devils.
While most fans tune into a Game 7 for its edge-of-your-seat entertainment and painstaking pressure-packed moments, others throw it on to watch their degenerate bets cash - or crumble - before their eyes.
And with Game 7 between the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets set for Thursday night from the Music City, oddsmakers have come up with a fun list of prop bets to keep even the most avid of bettors occupied.
Check out the list of props for the Predators' and Jets' deciding game:
Team to score first?
Winnipeg Jets (2.05)
Nashville Predators (1.74)
Team scoring first wins the game?
Yes (1.435)
No (2.90)
Goal in the first 9:30 of first period?
Yes (1.83)
No (1.90)
First team to three goals?
Winnipeg Jets (3.00)
Nashville Predators (2.10)
Neither (3.40)
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
Total goal number Odd/Even?
Even (3.05)
Odd (1.35)
Will the game go to overtime?
Yes (3.70)
No (1.26)
Total saves in the game - Connor Hellebuyck (Jets)?
Over 29.5 (1.87)
Under 29.5 (1.87)
Total saves in the game - Pekka Rinne (Predators)?
Over 30.5 (1.87)
Under 30.5 (1.87)
Game 7 puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET from Bridgestone Arena.
The winger has come under fire for a pair of incidents involving licking opposing players during the playoffs, and was officially put on watch by the NHL as a result of the odd behavior.
Speaking at a year-end press conference Thursday, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said he believes Marchand's remorse is sincere.
"... I think he realizes the impact," Sweeney said, per Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald. "We spoke a little about his family and how it reflects on him as a person, more so than him as player. I think he's gained a tremendous amount respect around the National Hockey League, worldwide as a matter of fact for him as a player. And I think that's where the attention needs to be 100 percent focused on, his impact as a hockey player ... and as a leader of our hockey club.
"The things that he does to take away from that really don't need to exist anymore. And it'll be up to him. The proof will be if he can find that line and never really cross it anymore. Because he doesn't need to. He's accomplished things as a hockey player and now hopefully he wants to accomplish things as a leader and quality person."
Head coach Bruce Cassidy echoed his GM's sentiments.
"Brad's an elite player in the National Hockey League so when I have conversations with him, it always starts there," he said. "Then it goes to 'Well, what do you want your legacy to be?' He's at a stage in his life and maturity where he understands, he truly gets it that he doesn't need the other stuff to make him to truly be an elite player."
Marchand, who recorded 34 goals and 51 assists in 68 games this season, remains under contract with the Bruins for the next seven seasons at a cap hit of $6.125 million.
The United States defeated Latvia 3-2 in overtime on Thursday to stay undefeated through four games at the 2018 World Championship.
After Chris Kreider opened the scoring, Latvia responded with two goals to take a 2-1 lead, but Colin White notched the equalizer midway through the second frame.
The win places USA atop the Group B standings, and its next game comes Friday against Korea. Latvia, meanwhile, earns a point for the loss and will play Germany on Saturday.
It's time for the conference finals, and to get you prepared for the Eastern showdown between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals, we've prepared a statistical breakdown to set the table. (Advanced stats at 5-on-5 courtesy: Corsica)
Lightning 1A vs. Capitals 1M
Lightning
Stat
Capitals
8-2
Playoff Record
8-4
11
Goal Differential
10
54.33% (1st)
5-on-5 Corsi
49.71% (8th)
7.76% (8th)
Shooting Percentage
8.14% (5th)
.943 (3rd)
Save Percentage
.930 (7th)
102.12 (2nd)
PDO
101.19 (5th)
Nikita Kucherov (12)
Leading Scorer
Alex Ovechkin (15)
After finally taking down the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Capitals face another stiff test in the top-seeded Lightning. The main storyline, of course, is Alex Ovechkin, who after somewhat quietly producing 15 points in 12 games so far, gets his first-ever taste of playoff hockey beyond the second round.
If he wants to go even further, he and his teammates will need to be at their absolute best, as the Lightning enter the matchup as favorites after dismantling the Boston Bruins in a convincing series win. Tampa Bay heads into the showdown allowing just seven goals in the last four games of Round 2, while overwhelmingly controlling play at even-strength.
Both sides have excelled on the strength of their high-powered offenses, and have benefited from rock-solid goaltending from two world-class netminders. The Lightning appear to hold the edge in terms of defensive corps, but in three regular-season contests between the two clubs, Tampa Bay won twice by a combined score of 9-8, and with a trip to the Stanley Cup Final on the line this time around, it's safe to expect an extended battle.
Game 1 begins Friday at 8 p.m. ET (View full schedule)
McAvoy's schedule opened up following a second-round elimination at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He joins Boston teammates David Pastrnak and David Krejci, who will represent the Czech Republic in Copenhagen.
The 20-year-old finished his first full NHL season with 32 points in 63 games, and added five more in 12 postseason contests. McAvoy suited up for the U.S. at last year's tournament as well, and won a gold medal at the world juniors in 2017.
Does any hockey family share a clearer on-ice resemblance than the Tkachuks?
They’re all cast from the same mold: offensive upside combined with the habit of being a real pain in the neck for opponents. Matthew Tkachuk’s lineage has already become obvious in his emergence with the Calgary Flames - he may take a lot of penalties, but he draws more (and puts up points besides), and it infuriates opposing teams.
With that in mind, each Tkachuk is his own player. Brady isn’t Keith, nor is he Matthew. Here’s who he is: a potential power forward with a nose for the net. Though he isn’t the best forward available in this draft, he should still make the NHL team that selects him very happy.
Year in review
Tkachuk spent the 2017-18 season playing for Boston University, where he was used mostly as a left wing (though he can play center). He curbed his tendency to take penalties, averaging just under two penalty minutes per game. He also put up 31 points, including eight goals, in 40 games. The Terriers won the Hockey East championship, and Tkachuk was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie team.
Tkachuk also played for Team USA at the 2018 World Junior Championship. He and Quinn Hughes were the only first-time draft-eligible prospects on the roster. Tkachuk totaled nine points, including three goals, in seven tournament games, and took home a bronze medal.
It was recently reported that Tkachuk will return to BU in the fall. While things can certainly change (especially if, for example, he were to make his NHL team), it seems unlikely, as BU apparently stopped pursuing a graduate transfer student-athlete because Tkachuk would be back.
Areas of strength
When Tkachuk goes to the crease, everyone watching knows he’ll shoot as soon as he gets the opportunity - that’s why he crashed the net in the first place. His offensive strengths lie more in his creative playmaking ability, however. His hockey sense and passing ability are high-end. He can make the kind of perfect pass in a tight space that other players might not be able to execute, and his stickhandling is good.
Tkachuk is also effective away from the puck. In an echo of his brother Matthew, he is capable of driving his opponents up the wall. Brady goes about it a bit differently, however, constantly battling for the puck, staying in the faces of opposing goaltenders, and using his stick to cut down passing and shooting lanes. He’s also not shy about finishing his checks - or running his mouth.
Areas of improvement
Skating is frequently listed as an area where Tkachuk needs to improve, and with good reason. He has a powerful stride, good lower-body strength and balance, and his top speed is good. The problem lies in his first step. Acceleration and explosiveness off that first step are crucial when trying to reach top speed and win races. He could improve his agility as well.
It's also important to note that Tkachuk isn’t the elite goal-scorer that many people who rank him above prospects like Filip Zadina want him to be. That’s more an indictment of the person evaluating him than his skill level, however. He shouldn't be drafted based on what a team wants to believe he is, or simply hopes he’ll grow into. As one of the oldest players in this draft class, the trajectory of his development is more clear than it might be for others.
Scouting reports
“Skilled, two-way power winger with a soft touch who mixes physical play with elite vision and hockey sense. Brady with his helmet off may look like a teenager, but every aspect of his play on the ice makes you wonder how a kid so young can perform with such savvy and maturity.
Brady, whose father Keith was one of the NHL’s top snipers of the 1990s, is a relentless puck hound with decent speed and a long, smooth stride. His agility and exceptional stickhandling buy him more than enough time and space to create for his linemates. And although his zone entries are controlled and calculated, he has mastered the art of the soft dump-in and chase - Tkachuk has a long reach and finishes his checks with authority, and defenders appear wary to turn their backs for puck retrieval. Additionally, he is deadly from in close, using an array of moves and dekes to bury the puck. Want to talk hybrid? How about a physical, 200-foot winger with size who doubles as a top-line playmaker and is an outstanding penalty killer.” - Steve Kournianos, TheDraftAnalyst.com
“Brady Tkachuk plays the game as his name would suggest: physically, aggressively, and with a significant amount of skill. Tkachuk has a pro-ready game in most respects as he is physically mature and strong enough to play against men. His skating is an asset as he has good acceleration and top speed, and is very strong on his skates in terms of balance and can make power drives to the goal when he drops his shoulder ... He is dangerous in front of the goal as he uses his size and strength to plant himself as a screen in front of the goalie and has excellent hand-eye coordination for tips and rebounds. Tkachuk has a quick release on his shot, (and) has a variety of dangerous shooting options from a quick wrist shot to a powerful one-timer.” - Peter Harling, DobberProspects.com
Did You Know?
Tkachuk is blogging about his draft experience for NHL.com.
In his last season with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, Tkachuk had 129 penalty minutes in 61 games.
According to Tkachuk himself, one of his best qualities is his versatility and ability to play in any situation.
It's only been 10 days since Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan announced the decision to transition Lou Lamoriello from his role as general manager into a senior advisor position.
However, the legendary front-office exec has no intention of filling that role, sources told The Athletic's Arthur Staple. Leading to "an avalanche of chatter regarding Lamoriello's inevitable arrival on Long Island."
The reports linking Lou to the Islanders come one month after New York's co-owner Jon Ledecky said he would be re-evaluating all aspects of the organization, including GM Garth Snow, who's not exactly a popular guy in New York hockey circles.
Since that presser, discussions surrounding a potential front-office shakeup have died down for the Islanders, with no further statements coming from either Ledecky or the team.
Although, it should also be noted Lamoriello's son, Chris, has been serving as the Isles' director of player personnel since August of 2016. Working side by side with his son might be too good of an opportunity for Lou to pass up.
Over half of Filip Forsberg's goals this postseason have been extraordinary.
Four out of seven, to be exact.
And as the Nashville Predators get set to host the Winnipeg Jets for Game 7 of their second-round series on Thursday, Forsberg could either be hanging up his skates for the last time this spring or he may get at least another four games to add to that highlight reel in the Conference finals.
For now, here's a look at Forsberg's memorable goals from the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, ranked in reverse order.
4. Sticking with it
In a season-saving Game 6 win over Winnipeg, Forsberg skated by the bench to retrieve a new stick after his had broken. He then proceeded to receive a pass from Craig Smith, get a lead on Ben Chiarot, and score on Connor Hellebuyck while being dragged to the ice by the trailing Jets defenseman.
As we shall see, it wasn't even his most impressive goal of the night.
Back in Game 3 of the opening round, the Colorado Avalanche defenseman was tasked with going man-on-man with Forsberg, and the result was utter domination on the part of the Predator.
In fairness to Siemens, he gave more of an effort than goaltender Jonathan Bernier on the play.
2. Between the legs, Part 1
In a goal previewed in the last clip, Forsberg had already made a mockery of the Avalanche defense earlier in the series.
In Game 1, he dangled past former teammate Samuel Girardi by putting the puck between his legs while in full motion. He then slid the puck between Girardi's legs before firing the puck past Bernier.
Talk about hitting the ground running.
1. Between the legs, Part 2
Back to Game 6 in Winnipeg.
Early in the third period, Forsberg took a centering pass from Viktor Arvidsson and once again put the puck between his legs.
This time, he fired off a shot directly from that vantage point in front of the net after gathering himself following a bump from defenseman Jacob Trouba.
Does Forsberg have any magic left for Game 7 and beyond? All signs point to yes.
Puck drop in Nashville is set for shortly after 8 p.m. ET on Thursday.
