For club and country…
The final four will be set after tonight’s final game of the second round, with the Dallas Stars waiting to see whether they’ll face the Vancouver Canucks or the Edmonton Oilers.
But first, a little Isles note:
- Sure it was Kazakhstan, but it was only the third goal of the game: Brock Nelson ties the all-time record for Team USA goals at the IIHF World Championship. [THN | Isles]
Not the most glorious mark, since it means you’ve been available for the World Championship a lot (after your NHL team’s season is done), but it shows he’s always been there for the U.S. and done a fine job of it. This is his sixth WC, and first since 2017; a little reminder to the brass to consider him for the upcoming international tournaments that include the Olympics and whatever made-up, four-country, very-much-not-the-World-Cup thing the NHL and NHLPA have contrived.
- Grading Anders’ Lee’s season: C+. [Eyes on Isles]
Elsewhere
- If Nelson is selected for either of those tournaments, he’ll be playing for Mike Sullivan, who was picked to coach the U.S. in them. [TSN]
- Big news for tonight’s game, Brock Boeser is out addressing a blood clot issue, so while it’s not life-threatening, the timetable for a return (should the Canucks advance) is up in the air. [Sportsnet]
- Despite that news, the Canucks have been resilient all year, so why not tonight too? [Sportsnet]
- It’s a Game 7, it’s what every player dreams of (especially if their team was trailing heading into Game 6). [TSN]
- The Oilers went back to Stuart Skinner in their must-win Game 6, when he made 14 saves. [ESPN]
- Recalling Todd Marchant’s epic Game 7 OT winner in the Oilers’ epic upset of the Stars back in the pre-cap era when Dallas, Colorado, Detroit and the Rangers outspent the rest of the league by a country mile each year, making three of those teams annual contenders. [NHL]
- Apparently Blake Wheeler hasn’t been a healthy scratch by the Smurfs, but had a lower body injury — and he’s ready to return, and do anything, just needs the call. [NHL]
- No fuss, Rod Brind’Amour gets a five-year extension as Hurricanes coach. [NHL]
- The infamous Luke Fox Jukebox has only 57 tunes for the Leafs at this moment. [Sportsnet]
- The Bruins’ strength was their 1-2 goalie tandem that they rotated all year until going with the hot hand in the playoffs. Will they make a move this offseason? [NHL]
- Aleksandar Barkov is the Selke winner again. Love watching that dude play. [TSN]