• The Canadian Press

    Oilers await second-round opponent, plan to use rest as a weapon

    EDMONTON — During what they hope is a deep run through the gruelling Stanley Cup playoffs this spring, the Edmonton Oilers will take all the time off they can get. “Rest is always a good thing,” captain Connor McDavid said. “Rest is a weapon this time of year.” The Oilers defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 on Wednesday night at Rogers Place to close out the best-of-seven series in five games, advancing to the second round and saving themselves a long trip back to Los Angeles for Game 6. "In the

  • The Canadian Press

    Hurricanes' Rod Brind'Amour says he feels 'really good' about reaching new contract

    RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said Thursday he feels “really good” that he will reach a new contract with the team, mirroring optimism from president and general manager Don Waddell a day earlier. Brind’Amour — considered by many the face of the franchise with his long-running ties here that include being the captain of the 2006 Stanley Cup winner — is in the final year of a deal reached in 2021. His status has become a talking point around the league with multip

  • The Canadian Press

    Igor Shesterkin has the Rangers looking like a Stanley Cup contender. He says he can be better

    Igor Shesterkin has stopped 94 of the 101 shots he has faced so far this postseason and his play in net is a big reason the New York Rangers rolled through the first round and look like a Stanley Cup contender. Says Shesterkin: “I could play better.” “I can do less rebounds, play more confident with the puck and in the net, too,” Shesterkin added. Up next for the Rangers are the Carolina Hurricanes in the secound round. The humbling assessment from the 2022 Vezina Trophy winner as the league's t

  • The Canadian Press

    NHL players are refining the art of the bank shot via ricochet off the masks of the goaltenders

    Off the goaltender's mask, off a defenseman's back, nothing but net. Well, at least in the net. That is how Colorado's Casey Mittelstadt got his first goal of the NHL playoffs this year, and it is not the only one. Several players have scored by ricocheting the puck in off a goalie's head, including Dallas' Evgenii Dadonov against Vegas earlier this week. It is an art that is becoming more and more refined as skaters find ways to score against the best netminders in the world. Sniping goals in f