Stamkos, Kucherov lead Lightning past Panthers 5-1 in Game 3
Panthers Lightning Hockey Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak (81) watches his shot get past Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky for a goal during the second period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series Sunday, May 22, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. Game 4 is Monday night at Amalie Arena, where the Lightning have won three of four games this postseason. Sam Reinhart scored Florida’s lone goal in Game 3, snapping a puzzling 0-for-25 start to the playoffs for the Panthers’ power play. Kucherov and Stamkos added empty-net goals in the final four minutes after the Panthers removed Bobrovsky in favor of an extra attacker. NOTES: With his 50th career playoff goal, Perry moved ahead of Brad Marchant and Patrick Bergeron into sole possession of sixth place among active career playoff goal leaders.
wftv.comLightning strike first against Panthers, win 4-1 in Game 1
Florida went 0 for 18 on the power play in the series win against the Capitals and was scoreless on three more tries Tuesday. But Tampa Bay cashed in three of its six chances. Bellemare’s goal came 3:35 into the third period, giving Tampa Bay its first lead of the game — and the Lightning kept it the rest of the way. Tampa Bay left no doubt late, with Kucherov and Colton each getting power-play tallies in the final 4:06 to put the game away. ... Tampa Bay improved to 15-19 in Game 1s.
wftv.comRyan Getzlaf to retire after 17 seasons with Anaheim Ducks
ANAHEIM, Calif. — (AP) — Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf will retire at the conclusion of the regular season, ending his 17-year NHL career spent entirely with one club. Getzlaf also leads the Ducks in career games played and assists (731). Despite missing 22 games with various injuries this season, Getzlaf is tied for fourth on the Ducks' roster in scoring with three goals and 28 assists. He spent his first 14 seasons playing alongside fellow 2003 draftee Corey Perry, forming one of the most dynamic scoring partnerships in recent NHL history. Only 14 players in NHL history retired after playing more seasons than Getzlaf while spending their entire career with one club.
wftv.comRyan Getzlaf to retire after 17 seasons with Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf will retire at the conclusion of the regular season, ending his 17-year NHL career spent entirely with one club. The 36-year-old Getzlaf made his announcement Tuesday. The Ducks (28-31-12) have 11 games left in what's almost certain to be their fourth consecutive non-playoff season.
news.yahoo.comPalat scores in OT, Lightning rally past Habs in NHL return
It was the first NHL game since the Lightning won 4-3 at Vegas on Dec. 21 in the only game played that night. Tampa Bay had six players and coach Jon Cooper unavailable in COVID-19 protocols. Tampa Bay center Brayden Point had two goals and an assist in his return after missing 14 games with an upper-body injury. With goalies Andrei Vasilevskiy and Brian Elliott both out, Maxime Lagace made 27 saves in his first NHL game since May 8, 2021, with Pittsburgh. Colton gave Tampa Bay a 3-2 lead at 8:11 of the second just after a Montreal minor penalty expired.
wftv.comSaad to Blues, Perry to Lightning: Recent champs add winners
The St. Louis Blues signed Brandon Saad to a five-year contract, Thursday, July 29, 2021. The winger counts $4.5 million against the salary cap on his new $22.5 million deal signed Thursday. Saad won the Cup with Chicago in 2013 and 2015 and is heading to his fifth NHL organization. Perry agreed to terms with Tampa Bay on a $2 million, two-year deal, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. Saad and Perry each hoisted the Cup early on in their careers, and the chance to win again factored into their decisions this time around.
wftv.comAP source: Corey Perry agrees to 2-year deal with Lightning
Lightning Moves Hockey FILE - Montreal Canadiens right wing Corey Perry (94) controls a puck during the third period of Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals series against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Tampa, Fla., in this Monday, June 28, 2021, file photo. Corey Perry has agreed to terms with the Tampa Bay Lightning on a two-year contract, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File) (Phelan M. Ebenhack)Veteran forward Corey Perry has agreed to a $1 million, two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. Born in Canada, Perry brings more grit to the Lightning lineup after they lost Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow in free agency. ___Follow AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno___More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2021 The Associated Press.
wftv.comHabs brace for biggest test: Defending champion Lightning
(Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP) (Ryan Remiorz)MONTREAL — (AP) — Artturi Lehkonen is keeping his composure after becoming part of the Montreal Canadiens’ illustrious history by scoring the franchise’s most important goal in nearly three decades. The Lightning feature a playoff-experienced lineup which includes goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, who has posted shutouts in four straight series-clinching wins. The run dates to Tampa Bay’s 2-0 win over Dallas in Game 6 of last year’s Final. The Lightning have a 2-1 playoff series edge over Montreal, including a six-game second-round win in their previous meeting in 2015. “There's a reason why they're back in the Final this year.”The Canadiens have the respect of Lightning captain Steven Stamkos.
wftv.comVegas opens Stanley Cup semifinal with 4-1 win over Montreal
Canadiens Golden Knights Hockey Vegas Golden Knights right wing Ryan Reaves (75) celebrates after the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup semifinal playoff series Monday, June 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) (John Locher)LAS VEGAS — (AP) — Shea Theodore had a goal and an assist, Marc-Andre Fleury made 28 saves and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 in the first game of the Stanley Cup semifinal. Fleury, whose 90th career playoff win leaves him two shy of tying Grant Fuhr for third place all-time, has now allowed two or fewer goals in nine of his 13 playoff appearances this season. Alec Martinez, Mattias Janmark, and Nick Holden also scored for the Golden Knights, who were vividly fueled by an announced crowd of 17,884 glow-stick waving fans. Teams that win Game 1 are 108-50 (.684) winning a best-of-7 NHL semifinals series.
wftv.comPrice has 30 saves, Canadiens top Maple Leafs 3-1 in Game 7
Canadiens Maple Leafs Hockey Montreal Canadiens forward Tyler Toffoli (73) celebrates his empty-net goal with teammate Eric Staal (21) during third-period NHL Stanley Cup hockey game action against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto, Monday, May 31, 2021. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) (Nathan Denette)TORONTO — (AP) — Carey Price made 30 saves and the Montreal Canadiens advanced to the second round by beating the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1 in Game 7 on Monday night. The Maple Leafs appeared in control of this series while taking a 3-1 lead, but Montreal forced a deciding Game 7 by winning two in a row in overtime. The Maple Leafs nearly tied it moments later when Price stopped Zach Hyman in tight before Auston Matthews ripped a shot off the post on a 2-on-1. INJURIESAlready without captain John Tavares (concussion, knee), the Maple Leafs also had to play without defenseman Jake Muzzin (suspected groin injury) after he left Saturday in the first period.
wftv.comPrice has 29 saves, Canadiens top Maple Leafs 3-1 in Game 7
Canadiens Maple Leafs Hockey Montreal Canadiens forward Tyler Toffoli (73) celebrates his empty-net goal with teammate Eric Staal (21) during third-period NHL Stanley Cup hockey game action against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto, Monday, May 31, 2021. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) (Nathan Denette)TORONTO — (AP) — Carey Price made 29 saves and the Montreal Canadiens advanced to the second round by beating the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1 in Game 7 on Monday night. The Maple Leafs appeared in control of this series while taking a 3-1 lead, but Montreal forced a deciding Game 7 by winning two in a row in overtime. The Maple Leafs nearly tied it moments later when Price stopped Zach Hyman in tight before Auston Matthews ripped a shot off the post on a 2-on-1. INJURIESAlready without captain John Tavares (concussion, knee), the Maple Leafs also had to play without defenseman Jake Muzzin (suspected groin injury) after he left Saturday in the first period.
wftv.comCanadiens beat Maple Leafs 3-2 in OT to force Game 7
Maple Leafs Canadiens Hockey Montreal Canadiens' Jesperi Kotkaniemi (15) reacts after scoring in overtime on Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell (36) in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff seres Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP) (Ryan Remiorz)MONTREAL — (AP) — Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored at 15:15 of overtime and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Saturday night to force Game 7 in the first-round series. Jason Spezza and T.J. Brodie scored for Toronto, beating Price with under 10 minutes to go in regulation to tie it. Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe's challenge was denied, putting the Maple Leafs back down a man. And the Canadiens made the Maple Leafs pay when Toffoli squeezed a shot past Campbell at 6:43 to stretch the lead to 2-0.
wftv.comTavares has concussion, knee injury; likely to miss series
(Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) (Frank Gunn)Toronto captain John Tavares will probably miss the rest of the first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens after sustaining a concussion and a knee injury during Game 1. The center's availability for the rest of the postseason is uncertain, if the Maple Leafs advance. Speaking by conference call before Game 2 on Saturday night, Dubas indicated the knee issue is expected to keep Tavares out of the lineup at least two weeks. “The head injury and concussion, I think it’s very difficult to place a timeline on when someone’s going to return,” Dubas said. Tavares was checked to the ice in the first period of Thursday’s 2-1 loss by Canadiens defenseman Ben Chiarot.
wftv.comLeafs captain John Tavares leaves hospital; out indefinitely
Canadiens Maple Leafs Hockey Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares (91) is helped onto a stretcher after being injured during the first period against the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Thursday, May 20, 2021, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) (Frank Gunn)TORONTO — (AP) — Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares was discharged from the hospital Friday, one day after leaving the ice on a stretcher following a knee to his head. Tavares was kept overnight at St. Michael’s Hospital and is now resting at home under the supervision of team doctors, the team said. The 30-year-old center crashed into Montreal’s Ben Chiarot 10:29 into the first period of Thursday’s playoff series opener and was hit in the head by Corey Perry’s knee as he fell. Tavares gave a thumbs-up as he was wheeled off the ice.
wftv.com