NHL RUMORS AND NEWS

Detroit Free Press "Brendan Smith became the social media poster boy for all that went wrong for the Red Wings in the Game 1 debacle Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Smith is young and inexperienced — just 24 years old — and he made several costly mistakes in the 4-1 loss. He was criticized during the..." May 18

Pittsburgh Tribune Review "The Penguins took a step backward Friday. Their timing was perfect. A 4-3 win over the Ottawa Senators at Consol Energy Center staked the Penguins a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven second-round Stanley Cup playoff series. “Not a situation you want to be in,” Senators defenseman Chris..." May 18

Detroit News "So far in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, third periods are not the Red Wings' best phase. The Blackhawks and Ducks have outscored them, 15-5. But how much does it matter, and is there a specific cause? Through eight games, the Wings have scored more than their opponents in the third..." May 18

CSN New England "Spirits were pretty high in Boston Thursday night after the Bruins took Game 1 against the Rangers on a Brad Marchand overtime goal. But beyond the celebration and revelry, there was a sobering fact: Tyler Seguin once again failed to show up. Worse, he hurt the Bruins on more than one..." May 18

New York Daily News "A rare two-day layoff allows the Rangers to decompress from Thursday night’s 3-2 overtime loss in Game 1 here to learn from their mistakes and calm their frustrations (read: Henrik Lundqvist). That process began Friday afternoon back at the scene of the crime, where John Tortorella walked his..." May 18

SportingNews.com "Rick Nash has been around long enough to know that he will score another goal. Two seasons ago, he went eight games without one for the Columbus Blue Jackets, then had an 11-game drought later in the year. He still finished that campaign with 32 goals. Playing 75 games in 2010-11, Nash's..." May 18

New York Post "The Islanders met together at Nassau Coliseum yesterday for the last time this season and spoke optimistically of a bright future, full of playoff berths and runs at Stanley Cup titles. But now, the real questions begin. And they revolve around three key veterans — goaltender Evgeni Nabokov,..." May 18

Ottawa Sun "It wasn't just the earthquake shifting the ground around Ottawa. There's a strong possibility Senators' centre Jason Spezza could return to the lineup for Game 3 of the club's playoff series Sunday night at Scotiabank Place against the Penguins. Coach Paul MacLean told reporters Spezza is..." May 17

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Defenseman Kris Letang and winger Craig Adams are not participating in the Penguins' game-day skate at Consol Energy Center today. There was no immediate explanation for that absence and their status for Game 2 of the Penguins' second-round playoff series against Ottawa tonight at 7:38 is not..." May 17

NHL.com "Bruce Boudreau of the Anaheim Ducks, Paul MacLean of the Ottawa Senators and Joel Quenneville of the Chicago Blackhawks were named Friday as the finalists for the Jack Adams Award, presented "to the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success." Both Boudreau and..." May 17

Toronto Star "As Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis wrapped up his season-ending news conference, there was only one player on the roster who received his unwavering support: Phil Kessel. When he mentioned the names of others — such as pending unrestricted free agent Tyler Bozak and No. 1 goalie James Reimer — there..." May 17

Boston Herald "The Bruins were faced with an interesting predicament as they began their Eastern Conference semifinal against the New York Rangers last night at the Garden. They had to somehow get past the euphoria of their amazing comeback victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7 on Monday, yet at the..." May 17

L.A. Daily News "Dustin Brown pounced on a loose puck and swatted it into the back of the net with 1minute, 43 seconds remaining in the third period of Game 2 of the Kings' second-round playoff series against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night at Staples Center. Bedlam. Trevor Lewis guided a long rebound..." May 17

TSN.ca "San Jose Sharks forward Raffi Torres has been suspended for the remainder of the second round for his illegal check to the head on Jarret Stoll of the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 on Tuesday. Torres attended an in-person hearing at the NHL offices on Thursday. Stoll did not return to the game..." May 16

CBSSports.com "Carolina Hurricanes captain Eric Staal was injured while playing for Team Canada on Thursday at the World Championships, leaving the ice in severe pain. Late in the first period against Sweden in a quarterfinal game, Staal -- Canada's captain, too -- was playing the puck in the offensive zone..." May 16

Washington Post "The Capitals have confirmed Ovechkin’s injury. Alex Ovechkin played the final two games of the Capitals’ first-round series against New York with a hairline fracture in his left foot, according to a league source with direct knowledge of the winger’s injury. In the first period of Game 6,..." May 16

CBC Sports "Council has passed a deal that will see the city of Edmonton and Oilers owner Daryl Katz each put in more money to offset the $55 million shortfall needed to build the new downtown arena. All but three city councillors voted in favour of the deal. Kerry Diotte, Tony Caterina and Linda Sloan..." May 16

NHL.com "Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks, Matt Moulson of the New York Islanders and Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning have been named the finalists for the 2013 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, awarded "to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly..." May 16

TSN.ca "San Jose Sharks forward Raffi Torres will have an in-person disciplinary hearing in New York at Noon et on Thursday for his hit on Jarret Stoll of the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 on Tuesday. The in-person hearing means Torres could be suspended for five or more games. Stoll did not return to..." May 16

Ottawa Sun "The Senators don't need to put an SOS out just yet. Trailing their Round 2 series to the Pittsburgh Penguins after a 4-1 loss in Game 1, the question whispered in the bowels of the Consol Energy Center Wednesday was whether Jason Spezza will be parachuted in to join this series. The club's..." May 16

Philly.com "Was something lost in translation, or is Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov feeling lost in the woods again? Bryzgalov gave a lengthy interview to the Russian sports site Championat, and it was translated on the Deadspin website Wednesday. It should be noted that in the past, Bryzgalov has claimed..." May 16

St. Paul Pioneer Press "Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom underwent successful sports hernia surgery Thursday in Philadelphia and is expected to be ready for the 2013-14 season, Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher announced. Backstrom, however, will be a free agent. He was injured during pregame warmups for..." May 16

Denver Post "Take this to the bank: it’s going to be a while before the Avs name a new coach. My spies tell me there will be no new coach in the near future. This probably means the following: - The Avs would like to see if Dave Tippett will be available. The Phoenix coach’s contract runs out June 30...." May 16

Detroit News "There has been heavy speculation that Red Wings star Pavel Datsyuk will return to play in his native Russia when his contract runs out after next season. That's not going to happen, Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said Wednesday. "You mean how long is his deal and how much is he gonna make?..." May 16

CSN Chicago "Faster skating, dictating the tempo more, firing a plethora of shots at the opposing goaltender: that is Chicago Blackhawks hockey. And it was more evident Wednesday night than in any other postseason game they’ve had thus far. Patrick Sharp had a three-point night and Johnny Oduya scored the..." May 16

NHL.com "Yankee Stadium will host a doubleheader of a different sort this winter. The 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series will see the three New York City metropolitan NHL teams play a pair of games at the home of the New York Yankees. The New York Rangers will face the New Jersey Devils at 12:30 p.m...." May 15

Washington Post "I have now achieved a rare trifecta: consecutive posts featuring Michael Wilbon on Alex Ovechkin, Skip Bayless on Alex Ovechkin and now Mike Milbury on Alex Ovechkin. Where is my prize???? “I try to just tell it the way it is,” Milbury said on NBC Sports Network Tuesday night. “And this made it..." May 15

NHL.com "Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins, Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings and Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks have been named the finalists for the 2013 Frank J. Selke Trophy. The award is given annually "to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the..." May 15

Chicago Sun-Times "Winger Viktor Stalberg again found himself in a white jersey Tuesday, skating outside the top four lines for the third consecutive practice. And he wasn’t in much of a mood to discuss it. ‘‘I don’t really have anything to say about it,’’ he said. ‘‘Ask Q.’’ Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said..." May 15

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel "Even one of the few seemingly healthy Panthers players needed surgery after an injury-marred season, as rookie forward Jonathan Huberdeau underwent successful hip surgery Tuesday in Nashville. Huberdeau, one of four Panthers to play in all 48 games, along with forwards Tomas Fleischmann and..." May 15

NHL.com "If earning status as a finalist for the Selke Trophy as the NHL's top defensive forward wasn't enough of a compliment for Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron, teammate Jaromir Jagr paid Bergeron another one after practice at TD Garden on Wednesday. Bergeron, Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red..." May 15

CBSSports.com "The Florida Panthers lobbied Broward County for funds to install a new scoreboard at BB&T Center on Tuesday and were successful. With the new scoreboard the franchise will also get the NHL Entry Draft in a couple of years, CBSSports.com has confirmed. As part of their pitch to the county for..." May 15

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "The Penguins downed the Ottawa Senators, 4-1, tonight at Consol Energy Center in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series. Paul Martin opened the scoring with a power-play goal. His shot from the right point glanced off of Ottawa's Jared Cowen and past goaltender Craig Anderson to give the..." May 15

Los Angeles Times "Brent Burns practically set up base camp next to Jonathan Quick in the third period, the San Jose forward getting clean looks and helping generate chance after chance against Quick. The Kings' goalie had to be at his very best under a prolonged third-period siege by Burns and his teammates,..." May 15

NHL.com "Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that head coach Glen Gulutzan and assistant coach Paul Jerrard have been relieved of their coaching duties, effective immediately. Jim Nill will be available to the media today at 3:00 p.m. inside of Dallas' locker room at Dr Pepper Arena in..." May 14

NHL.com "Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby, Minnesota Wild goaltender Josh Harding and Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid have been named finalists for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded to "the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance,..." May 14

Boston Herald "Patrice Bergeron rarely takes a lot of heat from fans or press in Boston. He’s too talented and honest a player to draw down the wrath of many, even when he is not playing his best. And in the team’s first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, he was not. But the criticism was focused..." May 14

Yahoo! Sports "After a regular season that saw him regain his MVP form, Alex Ovechkin had a frustrating postseason as the Washington Capitals lost in seven games to the New York Rangers. He pumped 30 shots on Henrik Lundqvist, scoring just one goal, a power-play tally back in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference..." May 14

NHL.com "The Washington Capitals have announced that captain Alex Ovechkin will represent Russia at the 2013 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship in Helsinki, Finland, and Stockholm, Sweden, which began on May 3 and runs through May 19. Ovechkin will be available at Kettler Capitals..." May 14

Ottawa Citizen "The Senators packed up for Pennsylvania Monday, thrown right back into the playoff fray after a couple of days of leisure. Bring it on, they said, more or less as one. “We gotta get back on the horse and go for a ride again,” said goaltender Craig Anderson, the man who will stare down Sidney..." May 14

CSN New England "Both the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers won their respective Game 7's Monday night, and the two will now play each other with an Eastern Conference Finals berth on the line. The Bruins and Rangers will kick things off at the TD Garden Thursday night at the TD Garden at 7:30pm. Game 2 will..." May 14

Detroit News "Normally, one playoff series doesn't define a team or validate a plan. But this isn't a normal season, and the Red Wings just won their most important series in years. Now comes the chance to accelerate the process even more, with a second-round collision against the Blackhawks. And while..." May 14

New York Daily News "The Rangers intended to make a last stand Monday night and sparked something even better: a new beginning. Game 7 at the Verizon Center was nothing short of a Blueshirt rebirth, a 5-0 statement steamrolling of the three-seed Washington Capitals built on the foundation of goaltender Henrik..." May 14

WEEI Boston "The Bruins ended up having the comeback that mattered most, Boston came back from a 4-1 deficit in the third period against the Maple Leafs in Game 7 before advancing on an overtime goal from Patrice Bergeron. With the Bruins trailing, 4-1, entering the third, Nathan Horton, Milan Lucic and..." May 13

Fox Sports Arizona "The latest turn in the Coyotes’ ownership saga came swiftly but not unexpectedly. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed Monday that the league had rejected a purchase bid submitted by Darin Pastor on Friday. “The terms of his proposal were inconsistent with what we had previously..." May 13

NHL.com "Marc Bergevin of the Montreal Canadiens, Bob Murray of the Anaheim Ducks and the Pittsburgh Penguins' Ray Shero on Monday were named the finalists for the 2013 NHL General Manager of the Year Award. The award is voted on by the 30 NHL GMs and a panel of NHL executives and members of the print..." May 13