Emily Kaplan is ESPN’s national NHL reporter. The New York Islanders split two games in Tampa Bay, giving them a golden opportunity to take control of the series with back-to-back games at the Nassau Coliseum. There’s only one obstacle: the Lightning started to look like their dominant selves again in Game 2. Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens continue to surprise, taking […]

New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz lamented a blatant missed call that almost certainly accelerated a loss Tuesday night in their Stanley Cup playoffs semifinal series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. It came in the second period when there were seven Lightning players (teams play with five skaters, plus a goalie) on the ice as Tampa Bay winger Ondřej Palát scored a […]

Greg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer. The underdog had its day in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup semifinals between the New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning. Can the Montreal Canadiens continue shocking the hockey world against the Vegas Golden Knights? Check out the ESPN NHL Playoffs Daily to catch up every day of the postseason until the […]

Greg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer. TAMPA, Fla. — The New York Islanders were mentally prepared for Game 1 of their Stanley Cup semifinal series. The Tampa Bay Lightning were not. “Our work ethic was there. Our compete [level] was there. Our minds weren’t there,” said Lightning coach Jon Cooper, whose team lost 2-1 on Sunday afternoon. “Some of […]

We’re down to the final four teams in contention for the Stanley Cup. Our No. 1 vs. No. 4 matchup pits the Vegas Golden Knights against the Montreal Canadiens. Vegas was one of the top Cup favorites at the start of the postseason, while Montreal was not. But the Habs have relished their role as underdogs. Meanwhile, it’s a rematch […]

Emily Kaplan is ESPN’s national NHL reporter. LAS VEGAS — The Vegas Golden Knights are going to the semifinals for the third time in four years — not bad for a team that has been around for only four years. Vegas knocked out the Colorado Avalanche with a 6-3 win in Game 6 on Thursday, its fourth straight win to […]

Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton isn’t too upset about Carolina’s exit from the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs — especially considering that his team lost to a Lightning squad that is a whopping $17.5 million over the salary cap. In his postseason exit interview, Hamilton brought up the excessive bill that Tampa Bay is carrying this postseason when discussing how Carolina played against […]

NEW YORK — Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews and Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon have been named the finalists for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP. McDavid, considered the likely winner of the award, dominated the 2020-21 scoring race with 105 points in 56 games — 21 more than runner-up and Oilers teammate Leon […]

Greg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer. The Montreal Canadiens are eight wins away from capturing the Stanley Cup. One Canadian team was going to make it out of the North Division playoffs. No one expected it would be them. Some of us are a little bummed about it, including me. I’ve picked against Montreal in both of its series […]

Emily Kaplan is ESPN’s national NHL reporter. LAS VEGAS — As the Vegas Golden Knights grind away in their thrilling second round series against the Colorado Avalanche, the team’s most productive line has been the second line. Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson and Reilly Smith have scored eight goals in five games against Colorado. Coach Peter DeBoer called the trio “the […]