NHL

Dallas Stars Matt Duchene (95), Jamie Benn (14), Miro Heiskanen (4) and Esa Lindell (23) celebrate a goal as Edmonton Oilers’ Zach Hyman (18) skates past during third period third-round NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Monday May 27, 2024.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

5 things to know about the NHL playoffs for May 28

Florida looks to claw back into their series with New York, after comeback/collapse in Edmonton

Dallas Stars Matt Duchene (95), Jamie Benn (14), Miro Heiskanen (4) and Esa Lindell (23) celebrate a goal as Edmonton Oilers’ Zach Hyman (18) skates past during third period third-round NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Monday May 27, 2024.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson (21) celebrates a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during third period third-round NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Monday May 27, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Stars dump Oilers 5-3 to take 2-1 lead in Western Conference final

Robertson’s first career playoff hat trick paves way for Dallas

Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson (21) celebrates a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during third period third-round NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Monday May 27, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Edmonton Oilers’ Adam Henrique (19) celebrates a goal against the Arizona Coyotes during NHL action in Edmonton on Friday April 12, 2024. The veteran centre will be in the lineup tonight when his Oilers take on the Dallas Stars in Game 3 of the Western Conference final, head coach Kris Knoblauch said. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Henrique returns for Edmonton, Hintz might for Dallas

Injury news front and centre as Stars and Oilers meet in Game 3

Edmonton Oilers’ Adam Henrique (19) celebrates a goal against the Arizona Coyotes during NHL action in Edmonton on Friday April 12, 2024. The veteran centre will be in the lineup tonight when his Oilers take on the Dallas Stars in Game 3 of the Western Conference final, head coach Kris Knoblauch said. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid reacts after a ruling against him by officials during overtime in Game 1 NHL hockey Western Conference Stanley Cup playoff finals against the Dallas Stars, in Dallas, Thursday, May 23, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Tony Gutierrez

Oilers lament lack of power-play opportunities in Western Conference final

‘Sometimes the standard gets changed a little bit’: Knoblauch

Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid reacts after a ruling against him by officials during overtime in Game 1 NHL hockey Western Conference Stanley Cup playoff finals against the Dallas Stars, in Dallas, Thursday, May 23, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Tony Gutierrez
New York Rangers center Barclay Goodrow, right rear, celebrates with teammates after he scored in the first period of Game 3 during the Eastern Conference finals of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs against the Florida Panthers, Sunday, May 26, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Wennberg scores in OT, Rangers top Panthers to take lead in East final

Florida dropped back-to-back games for the first time in these playoffs

New York Rangers center Barclay Goodrow, right rear, celebrates with teammates after he scored in the first period of Game 3 during the Eastern Conference finals of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs against the Florida Panthers, Sunday, May 26, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) blocks a shot by Edmonton Oilers centre Mattias Janmark, left, as Stars’ Ryan Suter (20) looks on during the second period in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Saturday, May 25, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Marchment nets winner, Stars trip Oilers 3-1 to even Western Conference final 1-1

Best-of-7 series shifts to Edmonton for Games 3 and 4 beginning Monday

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) blocks a shot by Edmonton Oilers centre Mattias Janmark, left, as Stars’ Ryan Suter (20) looks on during the second period in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Saturday, May 25, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid, centre left, gestures toward teammate defenceman Evan Bouchard (2) as teammates left wing Zach Hyman, centre right, and centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, top left, look on after McDavid scored the game-winning goal on an assist by Bouchard during the second overtime in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Western Conference Stanley Cup playoff finals against the Dallas Stars, Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

McDavid scores in double OT as Oilers edge Stars 3-2 in Game 1

Edmonton takes early lead in NHL’s Western Conference final

Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid, centre left, gestures toward teammate defenceman Evan Bouchard (2) as teammates left wing Zach Hyman, centre right, and centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, top left, look on after McDavid scored the game-winning goal on an assist by Bouchard during the second overtime in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Western Conference Stanley Cup playoff finals against the Dallas Stars, Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Patrik Allvin of the Vancouver Canucks, Jim Nill of the Dallas Stars and Bill Zito of the Florida Panthers are the finalists for this season’s Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award. Allvin laughs during an announcement for an eight year contract extension for Elias Pettersson in Vancouver, on Saturday, Mar. 2, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

Canucks’ Allvin, Stars’ Nill, Panthers’ Zito finalists for NHL’s GM of the year

A winner will be revealed June 10

Patrik Allvin of the Vancouver Canucks, Jim Nill of the Dallas Stars and Bill Zito of the Florida Panthers are the finalists for this season’s Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award. Allvin laughs during an announcement for an eight year contract extension for Elias Pettersson in Vancouver, on Saturday, Mar. 2, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
Vancouver Canucks star Elias Pettersson says he has been playing with a knee injury since January. Pettersson (40) tries to get his stick on the puck after Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner (74) made the save while Evan Bouchard, right, defends during the first period in Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, in Vancouver, B.C., Monday, May 20, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canucks star Elias Pettersson dealt with knee injury through playoffs

25-year-old, who struggled in recent games, says injury impacted his play

Vancouver Canucks star Elias Pettersson says he has been playing with a knee injury since January. Pettersson (40) tries to get his stick on the puck after Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner (74) made the save while Evan Bouchard, right, defends during the first period in Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, in Vancouver, B.C., Monday, May 20, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Jim Hiller behind the bench with the Toronto Maple Leafs. (PHOTO COURTESY ALBERNI VALLEY BULLDOGS)

B.C.’s Jim Hiller named head coach of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings

Hiller is a former coach of the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs

Jim Hiller behind the bench with the Toronto Maple Leafs. (PHOTO COURTESY ALBERNI VALLEY BULLDOGS)
New York Rangers celebrate a win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, May 16, 2024. The Rangers advanced to the Eastern Conference final. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

NHL will have a new Stanley Cup champion this century

None of the 4 remaining teams have won the cup in the last 25 years

New York Rangers celebrate a win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, May 16, 2024. The Rangers advanced to the Eastern Conference final. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
Vancouver Canucks’ Quinn Hughes (43) and Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid (97) talk while shaking hands after Edmonton defeated Vancouver during Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, in Vancouver, on Monday, May 20, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

‘We were close’: Game 7 loss to Oilers hits Canucks hard

Quinn Hughes couldn’t quite find the words to describe his emotions Monday…

Vancouver Canucks’ Quinn Hughes (43) and Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid (97) talk while shaking hands after Edmonton defeated Vancouver during Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, in Vancouver, on Monday, May 20, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Spectators react during the third period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series between the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Stars get some needed rest ahead of third-round date with Oilers

Players were starting to ‘run on fumes’ in NHL playoffs

Spectators react during the third period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series between the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Edmonton Oilers’ Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, from left to right, Zach Hyman, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard and Connor McDavid celebrate Nugent-Hopkins’ goal during the second period in Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, in Vancouver, on Monday, May 20, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Oilers advance to Western Conference final with huge 3-2 win over Canucks

Edmonton fends off late Vancouver comeback in Game 7, will now play Dallas

Edmonton Oilers’ Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, from left to right, Zach Hyman, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard and Connor McDavid celebrate Nugent-Hopkins’ goal during the second period in Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, in Vancouver, on Monday, May 20, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Vancouver Canucks’ Brock Boeser (6) and Edmonton Oilers’ Evan Bouchard (2) battle for the puck during first period second-round NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Saturday May 18, 2024.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser out for decisive Game 7: coach

Sources indicate 27-year-old dealing with a blood clotting issue

Vancouver Canucks’ Brock Boeser (6) and Edmonton Oilers’ Evan Bouchard (2) battle for the puck during first period second-round NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Saturday May 18, 2024.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Vancouver Canucks’ Brock Boeser (6) and Edmonton Oilers’ Evan Bouchard (2) battle for the puck during first period second-round NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Saturday May 18, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Canucks must ‘want that big moment’ heading into decisive Game 7: coach

Edmonton outshot Vancouver 27-15 during their win Saturday

Vancouver Canucks’ Brock Boeser (6) and Edmonton Oilers’ Evan Bouchard (2) battle for the puck during first period second-round NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Saturday May 18, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Vancouver Canucks’ goalie Arturs Silovs (31) makes the save on Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid (97) during second period second-round NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Saturday May 18, 2024.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Bouchard has 3 points, Oilers roll over Canucks 5-1 to force Game 7

Deciding game in playoff series set for Monday night in Vancouver

Vancouver Canucks’ goalie Arturs Silovs (31) makes the save on Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid (97) during second period second-round NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Saturday May 18, 2024.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
FILE - St. Louis Blues head coach Craig Berube talks to players during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks in Chicago, Nov. 26, 2023. The Blues fired coach Berube on Tuesday, Dec. 12, hours after a loss to the Detroit Red Wings. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

Leafs tap former Stanley Cup-winner Berube to end their 57-year drought

Former St. Louis Blues coach hired by Toronto to replace Sheldon Keefe

FILE - St. Louis Blues head coach Craig Berube talks to players during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks in Chicago, Nov. 26, 2023. The Blues fired coach Berube on Tuesday, Dec. 12, hours after a loss to the Detroit Red Wings. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
Edmonton Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl, back left, and Connor McDavid talk before a faceoff against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, in Vancouver, on Thursday, May 16, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Draisaitl ‘paid to step up in big moments’ as Oilers face elimination

Big centre leads playoff scoring as Edmonton tries avoid Vancouver win on Oiler ice

Edmonton Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl, back left, and Connor McDavid talk before a faceoff against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, in Vancouver, on Thursday, May 16, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Vancouver Canucks’ J.T. Miller celebrates after scoring the winning goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, in Vancouver, on Thursday, May 16, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Five things to know about the NHL playoffs for May 17

Kreider flips the switch and the Rangers move into the final 4

Vancouver Canucks’ J.T. Miller celebrates after scoring the winning goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, in Vancouver, on Thursday, May 16, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck