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FILE - In this June 20, 1999, file photo, Dallas Stars coach Ken Hitchcock hoists the Stanley Cup after the Stars defeated the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 in triple overtime in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals in Buffalo, N.Y. Stars coach Ken Hitchcock is retiring, ending a 22-year career as the third-winningest coach in NHL history. Hitchcock will become a consultant for the team he led to its only Stanley Cup championship in 1999. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

Ken Hitchcock, 3rd in NHL wins, retiring after 22 years

By SCHUYLER DIXON - Associated Press

FILE - In this April 12, 2018, file photo, Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) shoves Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri (43) to retaliate for his late hit on Boston Bruins center Tommy Wingels (57), bottom left, as Maple Leafs center Mitchell Marner (16) starts to get up during the third period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series, in Boston. Through the first two days of the Stanley Cup playoffs, there have already been a handful of hits to the head, two ejections, one suspension and the possibility of more to come. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Punishment for hits to head prevalent early in NHL playoffs

By STEPHEN WHYNO - Associated Press

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates his goal with Jake Guentzel (59) during the second period in Game 1 of an NHL first-round hockey playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, April 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Penguins defense quietly doing its job against Flyers

By WILL GRAVES - Associated Press

FILE - In this Feb. 27, 2018, file photo, Washington Capitals goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31) watches warmups before the start of NHL hockey game against the against the Ottawa Senators, in Washington. Grubauer did his thing all the way to the Ontario Hockey League title and the Memorial Cup. Last year, he did his thing to help Germany qualify for the Pyeongchang Olympics. This spring, he did his thing to earn the Capitals’ starting job going into the playoffs over 2016 Vezina Trophy winner and longtime No. 1 Braden Holtby. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

Patience finally pays off for big-game goalie Grubauer

By STEPHEN WHYNO - Associated Press

FILE - In this June 5, 2017, file photo, Nashville Predators fan Anna Claire Massey kisses a catfish as fans celebrate before Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals between the Nashville Predators and the Pittsburgh Penguins, in Nashville, Tenn. Tossing catfish has long been a popular hockey tradition in Music City, and the Predators finally have their own catfish tank inside the arena. President Sean Henry unveiled the new tank hours before the Predators open the NHL postseason against Colorado in their first-round Western Conference series. The team put the first of four catfish into the tank Wednesday with the second coming before Game 1 on Thursday night, April 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

Predators unveil new catfish tank for start of NHL playoffs

Associated Press

Pittsburgh Penguins' Josh Jooris, center, is pushed by Ottawa Senators' Thomas Chabot (72) into goaltender Craig Anderson, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 6, 2018, in Pittsburgh. Chabot was penalized on the play. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Crunching the numbers for the Stanley Cup playoffs

By PAT GRAHAM - Associated Press

FILE - In this Oct. 4, 2017, file photo, Buffalo Sabres forward Jack Eichel, left, and general manager Jason Botterill shake hands before an NHL hockey news conference in Buffalo, N.Y. If there's anything Botterill can draw upon from his experience with the Penguins, is seeing the notable difference between what makes up a winning organization such as Pittsburgh, and a losing one in a Sabres team that finished last for the third time in five years. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Changing losing culture top offseason priority for Sabres GM

By JOHN WAWROW - Associated Press

Tod Leiweke, right, gives a wave as he walks with majority owner David Bonderman after a news conference at Chihuly Garden and Glass naming Leiweke as the president and CEO for a prospective NHL expansion hockey team, Wednesday, April 11, 2018, in Seattle. Leiweke is the brother of Tim Leiweke, the CEO of the group heading the redevelopment of the arena which would serve as a home for a new team. The group is seeking to have a team awarded in time to begin play in 2020. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Seattle NHL expansion group names Tod Leiweke team president

By TIM BOOTH - Associated Press

New Jersey Devils left wing Taylor Hall works out ahead of the first round of the NHL hockey playoffs, Wednesday, April 11, 2018, in Newark, N.J. The Devils will open the playoffs on the road against the Tampa Bay Lightning starting on Thursday. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Half the Devils roster has never played in NHL postseason

By TOM CANAVAN - Associated Press

FILE - In this April 15, 2012, file photo, Philadelphia Flyers Claude Giroux, left, holds on to Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby as Kimmo Timonen, right, lands a punch to Crosby's jaw during the first period of Game 3 in a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs hockey series in Philadelphia. The NHL’s divisional playoff format was brought back specifically to ignite old and create new rivalries, which has been a successful venture even if hate looks different than it did in the days of the “Broad Street Bullies.” Playoff rivalries are no longer about dropping the gloves or even laying out bone-crushing hits like in past eras. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek, File)

Fighting down, hatred still high in NHL playoff rivalries

By STEPHEN WHYNO - Associated Press

FILE - This April 7, 2018 file photo shows Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog celebrating with teammates during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues in Denver. Landeskog has galvanized a youthful squad. They’ve bought in and followed Landeskog’s lead straight into the postseason. The Avalanche will take on Nashville in the first round. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, file)

Leadership of Landeskog has helped Avs turn things around

By PAT GRAHAM - Associated Press

FILE - At left, in a Nov. 28, 2017, file photo, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov (86) skates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, in Buffalo, N.Y. At right, in a Jan. 30, 2018, file photo, New Jersey Devils forward Taylor Hall (9) controls the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, in Buffalo, N.Y. The Lightning boast the league's No. 1 offense led by Kucherov's 100 points. The Devils are paced by Taylor Hall, who will be making the first playoff appearance of his eight-year career. Game 1 of the Lightning and Devils first round playoff series is Thursday, April 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes, File)

Top-seeded Lightning expect tight series vs. young Devils

By FRED GOODALL - Associated Press

Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne, of Finland, defends the net as left wing Viktor Arvidsson (33), of Sweden, sets up in front of him during a practice Monday, April 9, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. The Predators are scheduled to play the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the NHL Western Conference hockey playoffs on Thursday. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Predators ready to start chasing Stanley Cup against Avs

By TERESA M. WALKER - Associated Press

FILE - In this Dec. 2, 2017, file photo, Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92), of Russia, scores a goal against Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72), also of Russia, during the third period of an NHL hockey game, in Washington. Russian stars Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Dmitry Orlov of the Capitals and Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin of the Blue Jackets are expected to be difference-makers in what could be a tight series between Metropolitan Division-champion Washington and Columbus. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) ** FIE **

Russian stars could decide Blue Jackets-Capitals series

By STEPHEN WHYNO - Associated Press

FILE - In this Dec. 2, 2017, file photo, Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask looks for a loose puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, in Philadelphia. Toronto goalie Frederik Andersen and Boston counterpart Tuukka Rask have near identical save percentages at .918 and .917, respectively.Game 1 of the Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs first round playoff series is Thursday, April 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton, File)

Bruins, Maple Leafs back at it, with memories of 2013

By JIMMY GOLEN - Associated Press

FILE - In this March 24, 2018, file photo, Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury leans on the top of the net during a timeout against the Colorado Avalanche in the third period of an NHL hockey game in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Gary Bettman: NHL Awards to remain in Las Vegas

By W.G. RAMIREZ - Associated Press

Winnipeg Jets' Mark Scheifele (55) celebrates his goal against the Minnesota Wild during the second period of Game 1 in an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Wednesday, April 11, 2018, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

Joe Morrow breaks tie, Jets beat Wild 3-2 in Game 1

Associated Press

New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, left, and Philadelphia Flyers' Nolan Patrick watch the puck shot by Claude Giroux head towards the net for a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 7, 2018 in Philadelphia, PA. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

Rangers all in on rebuild, seeking new coach to lead charge

By VIN A. CHERWOO - Associated Press

FILE - In this June 19, 2017, file photo, Vegas Golden Knights General Manager George McPhee speaks during a news conference in Las Vegas. NHL executives, coaches and players are quick to say the game is played faster than ever. Technology is available to track how fast players are skating, how hard they're shooting and how quickly they're getting the puck from end to end. &quot;That's the next wave,&quot; Vegas general manager McPhee acknowledged. As the expansion team prepares for the playoffs, McPhee was not interested in sharing any secrets. &quot;I don't tell people what we do,&quot; McPhee said. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

Big brother is watching the NHL game, faster than ever

By LARRY LAGE - Associated Press

FILE - In this March 16, 2018, file photo, San Jose Sharks left wing Evander Kane (9) celebrates his fourth goal with center Chris Tierney (50) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against Calgary Flames in Calgary, Alberta. For someone few teams were willing to gamble on acquiring at the NHL trade deadline in late February, Evander Kane has provided the San Jose Sharks a tremendous boost in mounting their late-season playoff push. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

NHL trade deadline deals deliver for several playoff teams

By JOHN WAWROW - Associated Press