Veteran goaltender Cam Ward is heading to unrestricted free agency this summer but the 32-year-old is hopeful he can remain with the Carolina Hurricanes - with whom he has spent the first 11 years of his NHL career.
"I want to stay because I want to stay, but also because I believe in the group we have here, and where this organization is going," Ward said of his future, according to Michelle McMahon of Fox Sports. He also praised the team's young defensemen as a reason to stay in Raleigh.
"I can't say enough good things. Usually there's one rookie, but to have three, that's not normal, and they are the real deal."
Rookies Noah Hanifin, Jaccob Slavin, and Brett Pesce each appeared in at least 63 games this season - and look to make up a solid defense corps for the future behind All-Star Justin Faulk.
Ward, a Conn Smythe winner after the Hurricanes' 2006 Cup win in his rookie season, posted a 23-17-10 record in 52 appearances this season.
Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
Martin Jones will be between the pipes for the San Jose Sharks when they look for revenge against the Los Angeles Kings, head coach Peter DeBoer announced Tuesday.
Jones, who came to the Sharks from the Kings in the offseason, earned the nod over James Reimer for Game 1 at least. The tandem split time effectively for San Jose down the stretch.
In his first full season as an NHL starter, Jones posted a record of 37-23-3 with a 2.27 GAA and .918 save percentage.
Reimer, who landed in San Jose via trade from Toronto, started eight games for the Sharks and won six of them, including three shutouts.
As bitter rivals, this series promises to be among the most compelling of the opening round. The two most recently met in the first round of the 2014 playoffs, when the Kings erased a 3-0 Sharks series lead and won in Game 7 en route to a Stanley Cup championship.
The puck drops Thursday at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
Vancouver Canucks captain Henrik Sedin missed eight games this season, but it's a wonder he didn't sit out more.
Canucks president Trevor Linden revealed in a press conference Tuesday that Sedin suffered a broken finger at some point during the campaign, but played through it.
Linden said Henrik Sedin broke his finger this season and played through it. "They suffer in silence, they're warriors." #Canucks
— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) April 12, 2016
Linden didn't indicate when the injury occurred.
Sedin's 74 games played were the second-lowest total for him over an 82-game season. His career low came in 2013-14, when he suited up for 70 contests.
The 35-year-old still topped 50 points for 10th time in his career, totaling 55.
Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
The St. Louis Blues are looking to buck their recent trend of first-round playoff eliminations, and the addition of David Backes to the lineup should help.
The Blues captain said Tuesday he feels ready to go for Game 1 against the Chicago Blackhawks.
"I feel good in practice and should be just fine for a hard-fought series for a team that we've got our work cut out for us," Backes told reporters. "We've got a heck of a group here and it's our time to make a real dent in this tournament."
Backes missed the final two games of the regular season with a lower-body injury, but expects to go full tilt on Wednesday night.
"This was my mindset from the get-go, that Game 1 I'd be full bore," he said. "You get the adrenaline running, you can play through a lot of stuff. Even with little to no adrenaline in practice today, I'm feeling well."
The series gets underway Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
After breaking down the West's postseason teams Monday, it's time to shift focus to the Eastern Conference.
The case for and against eight entries from the Atlantic and Pacific divisions:
For: From the very outset of the season, this team has checked off all the boxes. The Capitals finished as the second-highest scoring team and were the second-stingiest in terms of goals against. They also had the fourth-best power play and fourth-best penalty kill, churning out the NHL's second-ranked combined special teams. It's really all gravy.
Against: Building an argument against this team is a thankless task, but if you're looking for a start, Washington's middling possession and Braden Holtby's two substandard months through January and February is probably the launching point.
For: After splitting duties for most of the season, Steve Mason took on the largest workload among East goalies after Michal Neuvirth went down in early March. And was brilliant. In 17 appearances down the stretch, Mason posted the second-best save clip among those playing meaningful hockey. We also like the fact that Philadelphia has scored the most power-play goals since Shayne Gostisbehere showed up.
Against: Philadelphia required career seasons from Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn, as well as the emergence of Gostisbehere and the power-play efficiency that followed to score enough goals to scrape into the playoffs. Contributions are thin after Philly's big five, which accounted for more than 50 percent of the team's goals.
For: Life is good in the post-Mike Johnston era. Since Mike Sullivan took over coaching duties, the Penguins lead the NHL with 175 goals, and the East with a plus-41 goal differential. They've also controlled shot attempts on par with the Corsi Kings. And, imagine that, Sullivan's emphasis on attacking the opposition has been the Pens' best defense. They've allowed the fifth-fewest scoring chances under his watch.
Against: Pittsburgh's only constant is now its greatest concern. Marc-Andre Fleury and Matt Murray are dealing with head and suspected head injuries, respectively, forcing the recall of the team's fourth goaltender down the depth chart, Tristan Jarry.
For: For a second straight season, no team tallied more of those all-important even-strength goals than the Rangers, who once again failed to rule over shot attempts. This isn't an exemplary model; they just continue to score more goals in the on-ice situation that dominates playoff hockey.
Against: Ryan McDonagh's absence, for however long it may be, is a massive blow to the Rangers' postseason chances. Their defense is already a major source of frustration for fans. How will that unit hold up without the captain's 30 shifts?
For: The argument can be made that Florida is the NHL's best even-strength team - at the very least defensively. Outscoring the competition 159-124, the Cats will carry the best 5-on-5 goal differential into the tournament largely on the merit of their vastly underrated defense and inimitable ability to limit scoring chances. But don't forget 44-year-old Jaromir Jagr, who contributed to this ratio by finishing in a tie for third in 5-on-5 scoring.
Against: So then what held the Panthers back? Special teams. They'll bring the worst combined power play and penalty kill into the playoffs.
For: It appears as though John Tavares saved his best for last in what's been a down season by his standards. The Islanders captain scored 10 goals and averaged a primary point per game over his last 19 starts, leading the NHL.
Against: The Isles received appreciable contributions in net, placing ninth in total save percentage. It's surprising considering the loss of Jaroslav Halak and reliance on Thomas Greiss, but made downright incredible due to the fact that only the Senators, Canucks, and Avalanche allowed more total scoring chances.
For: He might not have a share of the NHL record at 48 wins, but Ben Bishop was the most efficient puck stopper among Eastern Conference playoff teams. He's the only goalie to place top five in wins, goals-against average, save percentage, and shutouts, and owns a dazzling .911 shorthanded save clip.
Against: Under normal circumstances (you know, without having their five most important skaters banged up or worse) the Bolts would be considered by most as the class of the Atlantic bracket. But with Steven Stamkos and Anton Stralman out, and if Victor Hedman, Tyler Johnson, and Nikita Kucherov (and also Ryan Callahan), are truly hampered by injuries, the Bolts will be punching up in weight, even against the Red Wings.
For: Well for one, they can breathe again. That's 25 consecutive postseason appearances, regardless if it was gifted. This doesn't have the look of a team who can contend, but they've already accomplished something special this season. Now they have a favorable matchup, and nothing to lose.
Against: The Red Wings have conceded 85 goals since Petr Mrazek's game came undone about two months ago. Over that stretch, only the Maple Leafs, Canucks, and Flames allowed more. It will be Jimmy Howard and his .906 save percentage in 33 starts in Game 1 for Detroit.
Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
If NHL 16 is right, Alex Ovechkin will soon be hoisting the Stanley Cup.
On the eve of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs, EA Sports ran its annual postseason simulation, wherein the Washington Capitals defeated the San Jose Sharks in a seven-game series for the trophy.
The @washcaps win the Stanley Cup! See the full sim here: https://t.co/FwLV3BmyaG pic.twitter.com/5rtDUXuUbU
— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) April 12, 2016
Braden Holtby emerged as the Conn Smythe winner after finishing the playoffs with 16 Wins, a .933 save percentage and three shutouts.
The full breakdown can be read here.
Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
On the Fly, theScore's NHL roundtable series, is back for another edition - two in two days! With the playoffs set to begin Wednesday, we continue to look back on two of the more memorable storylines of the regular season.
Justin Cuthbert: The NHL had a 100-point scorer and nearly twice as many 30-goal men this season over last, but league-wide scoring remained on a (slight) downward trajectory. That, however, wasn't the case among elite defensemen.
Erik Karlsson, one of only two blue-liners who finished among the top 50 scorers last year, upped his peerless production to 82 points - the most by a defenseman in two decades. That point-per-game production saw him become the first D-man in three decades - and only the fifth ever - to place top five in scoring.
Elsewhere, Brent Burns finished 11th in league scoring with 75 points. His 27 goals were the most by a defenseman since Mike Green's 31 in 2008-09, and only Alex Ovechkin topped Burns' video-game total of 353 shots.
Factor in Kris Letang, who contributed 1.15 points per game since Christmas; Roman Josi, who minted a Predators record with 61 points; John Klingberg, who collected 48 helpers; Mark Giordano, who shattered career highs in goals and points; and of course another 20-goal season from Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and it's easy to gloss over the fractional decrease in overall scoring.
Sean O'Leary: Patrick Kane's been a star from the moment he was taken first overall in 2007.
His vision, speed, and silky-smooth hands have made him nearly impossible to defend his entire career, but now, thanks to a linemate equally as dynamic on the opposite wing, you can only hope to contain what is officially the Chicago Blackhawks' second line.
Kane, along with rookie sensation Artemi Panarin, lit the league on fire, scoring 106 and 77 points respectively. And they did it in style.
Watching the duo work together perfectly, masterfully in sync, is a treat, as both share the same creativity and flair.
The two consistently play on the same wavelength, carving opposing defenses with cross-ice one-timers, which they seem to have down to a science.
If you need another example of how the two work in perfect harmony, feast your eyes here.
Kane potted a career-high 46 goals, while Panarin crunched Chicago's salary cap by scoring 30 himself. And in case it wasn't abundantly clear from their energized celebrations, these two absolutely love scoring goals.
If Kane and Panarin's chemistry doesn't bring you to the edge of your seat every time they're on the ice, get your pulse checked, because they're the NHL's most exciting duo - and they're only getting started.
Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
You don't often catch an entire press conference in a tweet video. Blues coach Ken Hitchcock is ready 4 playoffs. pic.twitter.com/uE7eGW9w9f
— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) April 12, 2016
The St. Louis Blues are ready for the playoffs, or at least head coach Ken Hitchcock is.
Hitchcock wasted no time in his press conference Tuesday, assuring reporters that everybody is healthy and ready to play.
Hopefully for the Blues, their playoff run isn't as brief.
Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
It was time for a change in an effort to develop more defensive responsibility in Ottawa.
That was the message espoused by Pierre Dorion as he addressed the firing of head coach Dave Cameron and his staff, a decision the new Senators general manager clearly didn't relish.
"This is not a great day. Not a fun day. These are human beings here," Dorion said. "They are all good people ... At the end of the day, this was my call and I feel it was the right thing to do."
Related: 3 candidates to coach the Senators
The impetus for the decision was the team's struggles on defense and special teams.
Special teams, way played in own end a major area of concern. First goal 51 times and outshot 51 times something we needed to change. #Sens
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) April 12, 2016
Ottawa allowed a 26th-ranked 2.94 goals per game, and finished in a tie for the league's third-worst power play with a success rate of 15.8 percent. The Senators penalty kill ranked 29th (75.8 percent).
Dorion added the onus is also on the players, who he's convinced are intent on winning in Ottawa.
In terms of a new hire, Dorion said he'd like to have a coach in place by the draft, and someone who has NHL head coaching experience. He won't limit himself to that pool of candidates should a rookie candidate blow him away in the interview process, and financial considerations won't hinder the process.
"Mr. Melnyk has assured me that we have the resources to hire the best coach available." - #Sens GM Pierre Dorion
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) April 12, 2016
Dorion said the attributes necessary in a successful candidate are communication, running strong practices, media accountability, and a strong relationship with management.
Dorion added there will be changes to the roster this summer, but wanted to focus on the topic at hand for the time being.
With that, the Senators will have a new look next season, at least behind the bench and in the front office.
Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.