The Denver Post is reporting that the brother of Patrick Roy said that Roy will be named the new head coach of the Colorado Avalanche.
Stephane Roy, the younger brother of Patrick, said: "They're discussing the final details of an arrangement. Colorado is going to be very happy. Patrick is looking for a new challenge." Roy was considered a front runner for the job as soon as Joe Sacco was relieved of his coaching duties after the end of the season. All sides would not comment but do not be surprised if there is an announcement in the next couple of days. Stay tuned.

Jonathan Toews was held pointless for the second straight game by the Detroit Red Wings.
The Red Wings have made it a point in each of the last two games to close on Toews as soon as he gets the puck. The Blackhawks' captain did still manage seven shots Monday after registering just three in Game 2, but it's clear Detroit isn't going to allow him any room to operate. Thursday's Game 4 sounds like a pretty good time for him to score his first goal of the postseason.

Patrick Kane scored a goal for the second straight game in Monday's Game 3.
Kane hadn't scored in the postseason before Saturday afternoon but appears to be finding his touch in this series. Unfortunately for Kane, the Blackhawks have lost both games in which he's scored and now trail the series 2-1 with Game 4 in Detroit on Thursday. Kane will likely need to have a strong offensive game again Thursday night if the Hawks are to even the series.

Viktor Stalberg rang a puck off the crossbar midway through the third period after colliding with the endboards head first on his first shift of the game.
It was quite a series debut for Stalberg, who was a healthy scratch the last two games. Despite hitting the crossbar, Stalberg showed the elite speed that could make him a difference maker if coach Joel Quenneville leaves him in the lineup. Truth be told, it's amazing he was even in the game in the third considering the scary nature of his first-period collision. We'll have to see if he remains active for Thursday's Game 4.

Corey Crawford allowed three goals on 30 shots as the Chicago Blackhawks lost 3-1 to the Detroit Red Wings.
It's hard to blame Crawford for this one considering two of the goals were of the highlight-reel variety. Overall, the Hawks and Crawford played pretty well but were doomed by a couple bad penalties in the third period and a questionable goalie interference call that negated what would've tied the game at 2-2. With the loss, Crawford and the Hawks fell behind 2-1 in the series and have an obviously important Game 4 coming up in Detroit on Thursday night.

Drew Miller's goal 8:20 into the second period turned out to be the game winner in Monday's 3-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Miller's goal wasn't nearly as pretty as some of the others scored Monday night, but that doesn't make it any less important. The gritty winger charged the net and swatted home the rebound of a Patrick Eaves shot only 30 seconds after Gustav Nyquist made it 1-0 for Detroit. Miller also logged a shift of 3:15 early in the second period, most of which was spent in the defensive zone and started with the tail end of a Blackhawks power play.

Pavel Datsyuk threaded a goal just under the crossbar at 6:46 of the third period in Monday's 3-1 Game 3 win.
Datsyuk's goal came just over 2 minutes after the Blackhawks had cut Detroit's lead to 2-1 and not long after the referees negated a Chicago's game-tying goal with an interference call. The goal itself was vintage Datsyuk and eerily similar to one he scored against Anaheim in the first round, with Datsyuk streaking into the zone and roofing the puck shortside just over Corey Crawford's shoulder. Datsyuk shot the puck so perfectly it rang in and out of the net fast enough for the TV announcers to think he hit the crossbar.

Jimmy Howard stopped 39 of 40 shots in Monday's 3-1 win to help the Detroit Red Wings take a 2-1 series lead over the Chicago Blackhawks.
After facing just 20 shots in Game 2, Howard was under constant threat Monday night. He also got the benefit of the crossbar stopping Viktor Stalberg and an interference call negating what would've been the game-tying goal in the third period. Still, it's hard to deny that Howard was one of the better Red Wings on the ice and one of the main reasons Detroit has a real change to upend the favored Blackhawks.

Viktor Stalberg left Monday's Game 3 after missing on a hit and going into the endboards head first.
Stalberg stayed down on all fours immediately following the very scary collision. He eventually skated off under his own power but went straight to the locker room.. After being a healthy scratch the first two games, Stalberg's return to the lineup ended up lasting just one shift. More as we know it.

Jason Demers, who suffered a sprained left ankle on April 18, said he is available to return to San Jose's lineup.
The Sharks may use him up front and dress seven defensemen in Game 4. "I'll go in wherever they want me to right now," said Demers, who practiced at forward and on defense Monday. The team is dealing with injuries to Adam Burish and Martin Havlat in addition to Raffi Torres' second-round suspension, which may place Demers at forward on Tuesday night.

Joe Thornton has dominated the Los Angeles Kings in the faceoff circle three games into San Jose's second-round series.
He has won 62.7 percent (32 of 51) of his draws against the Kings going into Tuesday night's Game 4 match-up. Thornton won just 39 of his 83 faceoffs in San Jose's four-game sweep versus Vancouver in Round 1. "The last couple games, it's been working out for me. Hopefully I can continue that," Thornton said. "Puck possession is everything, so as much as you can have the puck, it's better to get on offense. It's a competitive situation. You just try to win as many as you can." Thornton has collected an assist in each of the Sharks' past two games to give him eight points in seven playoff outings.

Vincent Lecavalier talked about Tampa Bay's disappointing 2013 campaign with Damian Cristodero of the St. Petersburg Times.
"Yeah, I mean, it's definitely disappointing. The way we started the year, I think we were 6-1 at one point after the first seven games," Lecavalier said. "Yeah, after 15, 20 games if you're outside, with everybody playing each other, it's tough to get back in, and it just seemed like it snowballed and we couldn't get close to getting back to that eighth spot." He had four goals and 11 points in his first seven games, but was hit in the foot by a shot from teammate Sami Salo on Feb. 2 which hampered him until it became a fracture when he collided with Florida defenseman Erik Gudbranson on March 12. "I felt really good when I started the year," he said, "but with that shot the ankle was very weak. ... It didn't seem to get better." He has dealt with some injury concerns over the past few seasons, which have hurt his fantasy value.

To update an earlier post, Kyle Clifford expects to play in Game 4 Tuesday night.
"It definitely looks that way," Clifford said after practice Monday. "It feels good to get back in the lineup. Playing with those guys, it's going to be a lot of fun." He skated on the fourth line with Brad Richardson and Colin Fraser during Monday's session. Rookie forward Tanner Pearson would likely draw out of the lineup to make room for Clifford's return.

Jason Spezza reported no ill effects after playing in his first game in Sunday since having back surgery.
"I feel good," Spezza said Monday. "To play a double-overtime game and coming out no worse for wear is definitely positive for me and encouraging that I made the right decision [to play]. I took a pretty good pounding and played more than we had initially planned, but it's all positive and I hope to get even better as we go on." He was nailed on a big hit from Pittsburgh's Craig Adams in the first overtime session, which proved to be a good test.

According to a report from TSN, Jarret Stoll is unlikely to be back during Los Angeles' second-round series against the San Jose Sharks.
TSN insider Darren Dreger reported that Stoll suffered a head injury, which is the primary ailment, and a shoulder injury when he was checked by Raffi Torres.

Paul Stastny notched seven goals and a team-high 15 points in 10 games for Team USA at the IIHF World Championship.
He served as the Americans' captain for the tournament and his efforts helped the squad win the bronze medal. It was the United States' first medal since 2004 and their third overall since 1963. He has one year left on his current contract with the Avalanche and has been the subject of trade rumors before. Perhaps he increased his value if a team is looking to deal with the NHL draft on the horizon.

William Karlsson has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Anaheim.
The 20-year-old was named the 2012-13 Swedish Elite League Rookie of the Year after he produced 28 points (four goals, 24 assists) and a plus-17 rating in 50 games with HV71. Karlsson also earned the silver medal at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship in Russia. The Ducks chose him in the second round of the 2011 draft.

Francois Beauchemin has undergone successful ACL reconstruction, according to the Anaheim Ducks.
He said that he hopes to be ready for the start of the 2013-14 season.

Kyle Clifford (undisclosed) skated with Colin Fraser and Brad Richardson on the fourth line during Monday's practice.
He has missed the team's last four playoff games, but could return for Game 4 on Tuesday night.

Jason Demers (lower body) skated as a forward at Monday's practice.
He took line rushes on the team's fifth combination with injured winger Adam Burish and suspended winger Raffi Torres. "I feel good. It's just a question of getting back into game shape," said Demers. "As soon as you do a couple of shifts, especially in this kind of series, you'll be in shape real quick. I'm just helping out wherever I can, and going where they tell me to go." He hasn't played since April 18 because of a sprained left ankle, but he might be available for Game 4.

Adam Burish (hand) practiced with his teammates Monday and he hopes to return at some point during the Sharks' second-round series against Los Angeles.
"That's on my timeline. I'd like to get back," said Burish. "If the doctors let me, I'd play tomorrow if I could. My goal is to get back in this series sometime. When that is, I don't know. It will be between us and the coaches and the doctors to see when that is. But, I'll be ready whenever it is." Coach Todd McLellan said that Burish may be further along than the team had originally thought.

Logan Couture didn't practice Monday, but his absence wasn't surprising and he still expects to play in Game 4.
He was hurt during the second period of Game 3 but returned later in the frame and scored the game-winning goal in overtime.

Marc Staal (eye) took to the ice with the Rangers' practice squad on Monday.
He engaged in contact drills during the session. Staal's return to the lineup is still cloudy, but it's good to see him back on the ice after he took several days off to presumably rest.

Darroll Powe (undisclosed) skated with the team's practice squad Monday.
He participated in the contact drills as well, which is a positive sign. Powe has been sidelined with what is suspected to be a concussion since Game 3 of the opening round against Washington. His status is uncertain for Game 3 versus Boston.

Carl Hagelin doesn't believe he "stinks" on the power play, contrary to what coach John Tortorella told the media on Saturday.
"For me, I definitely don't think I stink on the power play," Hagelin said in his defense. "That's the only comment I have on the PP." He received 46 seconds of man advantage time in Sunday's loss to Boston and felt he generated a couple of good chances.

Henrik Lundqvist said his shoulder issue is "under control" when he spoke to the media after Monday's practice.
"Yeah, it's under control," he said "I landed on the ice awkwardly and hurt it a little bit. It's under control. Everybody's sore. It's the playoffs. You can't sit out (because) it's hurting a little bit. it happens and you just have to make sure you do the right things to keep it good." He fully expects to start in Game 3 Tuesday night and the Rangers will need him after dropping the first two games of their semifinal series to the Boston Bruins.

Martin Havlat (lower body injury) won't play Tuesday in Game 4 versus Los Angeles.
Coach Todd McLellan made the call on Sunday after Havlat didn't practice. He didn't take part in Monday's session either. "If you're hurt and you can't play, you can't play," McLellan said. "We can be as frustrated as we want. It was hard because we had to juggle the lineup, but we talked about the difference between being injured and hurt. He's injured."

The Red Wings aren't expected to make any changes to their lineup entering Game 3 Monday night.
That means that Todd Bertuzzi and Mikael Samuelsson will probably remain as healthy scratches. The two teams have each won one game with the semifinal series shifting to Detroit. "Now it's a best-of-five," coach Mike Babcock said. "Not much to pick between the two teams the first two games. They were better than us in Game 1. We were better than them in Game 2. Series starts all over here today, and I imagine you'll have to up the ante to win here today. We're excited to play at home, as usual. We have good fan support."

Evgeni Malkin had a game-high 10 shots on goal in Pittsburgh's double overtime loss to Ottawa Sunday night.
He wasn't able to register a point in the contest. Penguins defenseman Kris Letang had a busy night as well with seven shots on goal, but he didn't get onto the scoresheet either as Ottawa goaltender Craig Anderson shut the door in a 2-1 victory. They'll try to get Pittsburgh's offense rolling again on Wednesday night in Game 4.

Ryan Johansen spent Game 4 of the AHL playoffs as a healthy scratch for Springfield.
He recorded one assist and a minus-8 rating in the first three games of the series in what ended up as a second-round sweep for Syracuse. "I just felt like his level of play wasn't where it needed to be," coach Brad Larsen said. "We talked after Game 2, and I tried to ramp him up. In Game 3, we just felt like he wasn't all there, like he wasn't invested 100 percent." He didn't require permission from the team's brass to scratch Johansen, but they understood and supported his decision. Johansen played better defensively down the stretch for the Blue Jackets, but he recorded just 12 points in 40 games.

Dave Bolland appears as though he will center Chicago's second line in Game 3 Monday night.
He played between Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp during the regular season, but his groin injury moved Michal Handzus into that role in the playoffs. With Bolland back in the lineup now, it was only a matter of time before he was moved back up. The Blackhaws will be hoping that Bolland's pesky and physical style will open up holes for his talented linemates.

Michal Handzus is expected to play in Game 3 Monday night versus Detroit despite sitting some practices.
However, from the projected forward lines it looks like he will skate on the wing on the fourth line with Michael Frolik and Marcus Kruger. Handzus had been playing as Chicago's second-line center while Dave Bolland was sidelined.

Viktor Stalberg is projected to play with Bryan Bickell and Andrew Shaw in his return to the lineup in Game 3 against Detroit.
"That's always a challenge, you can be maybe a little too excited," said Stalberg who has been a healthy scratch for the past two games. "But I'll just keep it simple, play hard and use my assets to my advantage." He had one assist in five games against Minnesota in the first round.

Ryan McDonagh was back with Dan Girardi during Monday's practice.
The two of them were expected to be reunited after the Rangers were outscored 5-2 in Game 2. Girardi struggled in Sunday's loss, while skating for most of the game alongside Michael Del Zotto, and was on the ice for all five goals against. We would expect to see them on the same pairing in Game 3 Tuesday night.

Henrik Lundqvist participated in Monday's practice after talking about a left shoulder issue following Sunday's loss to Boston in Game 2.
It doesn't appear as though the problem will prevent him from playing in Game 3 Tuesday night since he was given the green light to take part in Monday's practice session.

Jarome Iginla has embraced his new role with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
"It's not to say I didn't enjoy it back then," he said referring to his leadership role with the Calgary Flames. "I'm just enjoying what comes. Playing. When you're captain, there's more responsibility. You're thinking 'How's this guy feeling?', 'Where's the coach at?' Most of my focus is on just playing now, on myself, on being ready. And, yeah, that is a nice change." He's still thrilled to be back in the playoffs, where he has 10 points in nine games, and said he has no plans to retire in the off-season. Iginla is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent this July if an extension isn't reached with the Penguins.

Wade Redden (undisclosed) practiced Monday and he will travel with his Boston teammates to New York.
The Bruins and Rangers will play Games 3 and 4 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively. Redden hasn't played since Game 6 in the first round versus Toronto, but he appears to be getting closer to a return after skating with the team for a second time.

Dennis Seidenberg joined his teammates for Monday's practice for the first time since he suffered a lower-body injury in Game 7 against Toronto.
He will travel with the Bruins when their semifinal series shifts to New York for Game 3 on Tuesday night. However, it hasn't been decided yet when he will be able to return to game action.

Jonathan Toews is up for the 2012-13 Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award which goes "the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice during the regular season."
Toews has been the captain of the Hawks since 2008 and he plays in all situations for the team. He volunteers at the Make-A-Wish Foundation and visits patients at the local children's hospital.

Daniel Alfredsson has been tabbed as a finalist for the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award.
He is the league's longest-serving active captain and he's involved in several charities in Ottawa, including the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa which he has supported for the past 10 seasons.

Dustin Brown has been named a finalist for the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award.
He has served as Kings' captain for the past five seasons and is frequently among the league leaders for hits. Brown supports several charities through his physical style. He donates $50 for each hit he delivers which has helped him raise $60,000.

Sidney Crosby said his protective shield on his jaw isn't the reason why he's struggled on faceoffs during the playoffs.
"That's me," he said, smiling. "All me. I'd love to be able to say [the protective bar is an issue]. I was trying to figure out why everyone kept asking me about that. Guess I know now." Heading into Game 3 Sunday night, Crosby had won 71 of his 82 draws for a success rate of 46.4 percent. He was better on Sunday though, winning 51.16 of his faceoffs. Crosby said he was told to expect "three or four" more medical procedures once his off-season begins to fix up his jaw and mouth.

Wojtek Wolski has signed with Torpedo Nizhni Novgorod of the KHL.
He wasn't utilized much by the Washington Capitals during the lockout-shortened season and was set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Wolski produced four goals and five assists in 27 games with the Caps.

Jussi Jokinen hasn't played in Pittsburgh's last five playoff games and it's unclear if he's healthy or not.
He dressed in the first four games of the Penguins' opening-round series against the New York Islanders after taking a leg-on-leg hit in Game 1. The team has a policy for the playoffs where they don't address injuries or lineups, so Jokinen's status is cloudy even though he may just be the odd man out right now.

Mark Eaton was back in Game 3 against Ottawa after sitting out Pittsburgh's past four playoff contests.
He took Deryk Engelland's spot in the lineup and was paired with Doug Murray.

Tanner Glass played 9:56 of ice time in Pittsburgh's double overtime loss to Ottawa in Game 3.
He suited up in four games against the Islanders in the first round, but Sunday's match was his first appearance in the semifinals. He replaced Joe Vitale in the lineup.

The Pittsburgh Penguins went 0-for-6 with the man advantage in Game 3 against Ottawa on Sunday.
The Penguins had been clicking at 32.3 percent rate over their eight previous playoff games. The Senators also scored a shorthanded marker in the final minute of the third period to force overtime and eventually win in the second extra session. Pittsburgh will look to get their special teams back on track in Game 4.

Jason Spezza logged 18:40 of ice time in his return to Ottawa's lineup Sunday night in Game 3.
He won 60 percent of his faceoffs and posted four shots after being sidelined since Jan. 27 due to a back injury which required surgery. Spezza understands that even though he feels much better, back issues can be something that linger. "It's better than before I had surgery, but it's going to take awhile before I feel 100 percent," he said. "Once you have back problems, they never really leave you. It's kind of a daily grind. I've done exercises every day for the last six years. My wife doesn't like when I have to sit on the floor and stretch instead of sitting on the couch with her. I wouldn't wish back pain on my worst enemy."

Daniel Alfredsson potted the game-tying goal with 28.6 seconds left in regulation to force overtime in Game 3 Sunday night.
The Senators ended up winning the contest in double overtime to get back into the series, where they trail Pittsburgh 2-1. Alfredsson's third goal of the playoffs came shorthanded when the Penguins chose to play passive and defend rather than attack. The Ottawa captain has eight points in eight postseason contests.

Daniel Girardi posted a minus-4 rating in Game 2 versus Boston and was on the ice for all five of the Bruins' goals in a 5-2 loss Sunday.
He was out with Michael Del Zotto for the Bruins' last four goals. Girardi is typically one of the team's most dependable defenseman, but he had a rough game in his own zone. As a result of his struggles, he logged a playoff low 19:29 of ice time. Look for him to be better in Game 3 Tuesday night when the semifinal series shifts back to New York.

Derick Brassard's six-game postseason point streak came to end in Sunday's loss to Boston.
He registered four shots and a minus-1 rating in the Rangers' 5-2 loss in Game 2 to the Bruins. Brassard's streak had been the longest in the franchise's history since Wayne Gretzky earned a point in nine straight playoff games in 1997.

Michel Therrien was surprisingly omitted as a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, which goes to the NHL coach "adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success."
Therrien helped guide the Canadiens to the Northeast Division title after the club finished dead last in the Eastern Conference a year ago. However, he didn't make the cut with Anaheim's Bruce Boudreau, Ottawa's Paul MacLean and Chicago's Joel Quenneville getting the nod as finalists instead.

John Scott has signed a one-year extension worth $750,000 to stay with the Buffalo Sabres.
He would have been able to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He received a decent raise after making $600,000 last season. Scott skated in 34 games with the Sabres in 2013 and amassed 69 penalty minutes.

Jhonas Enroth made 26 saves in Sweden's 5-1 win over Switzerland in Sunday's gold-medal game of the IIHF World Championship.
The Swedes become the first team to win the title on home ice since the Soviet Union in 1986 and Enroth captured the Best Goalkeeper in the tournament honor for his efforts. His play under pressure should be a positive sign for the Sabres, who may trade starter Ryan Miller in the off-season.

Milan Lucic got his third goal of the postseason in Boston's Game 2 win over the New York Rangers.
He potted the last goal of the contest in a 5-2 victory. Lucic also posted two hits to give him a total of 42 in just nine playoff games. He currently has 10 postseason points.

David Krejci contributed two assists in Boston's 5-2 win over New York in Game 2 Sunday afternoon.
He hasn't scored a goal since his hat trick in Game 4 of Round 1 versus Toronto, but he has six helpers in five playoff outings since then. The Bruins lead the Rangers 2-0 in the second-round series and Krejci still leads all skaters in the postseason in scoring with 16 points.

Brad Stuart had a big game on Saturday despite being the culprit on Tyler Toffoli's game-tying goal.
Stuart's bad pass went directly to Toffoli who backhanded the puck over Antti Niemi, tying the game at one. But he had a big hit on Justin Williams later in the period and ended up with five hits and four blocked shots. "You make a mistake, and all you can do is try not to let it affect the rest of your game," Stuart said after Game 3. "You just hope the team pulls it out. It was a tight game. I'd like that back, but it happens. I just tried to put it behind me and not let it affect the rest of the game."

Gregory Campbell got his first goal of the 2013 playoffs in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Rangers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The fourth-line center also picked up three hits and a fighting major in the third when he squared off with pugilist Derek Dorsett. Campbell has two points, 11 penalty minutes and 25 hits in nine playoff games.

Logan Couture's overtime winning goal Saturday was on the power play.
It was the fifth power play overtime goal in the playoffs and that set an NHL record and there are still over two rounds to go. The Sharks have won their last four overtime games in the playoffs against the Kings so they must be feeling pretty confident if the two sides are tied after regulation.

Brad Marchand found the back of the net for a second straight game against the Rangers in Boston's second-round series.
He scored the game-winning goal in overtime in Game 1 and he struck again on a very similar play in Game 2 early into the third period to give the Bruins a two-goal cushion. Marchand mustered just three assists in seven games versus Toronto in the opening round, but he's already been more productive in Round 2 with two goals and two assists in two matches so far.

Antti Niemi set a San Jose playoff record when he won his eighth game in overtime Saturday.
Niemi was tied with Evgeni Nabokov at seven heading into action on Saturday. Niemi is now 5-2 in the playoffs with a 2.06 GAA with a .926 save percentage.

Johnny Boychuk registered what turned out to be the game-winning goal in Boston's 5-2 win over the New York Rangers on Sunday in Game 2.
He potted the go-ahead goal just past the midway point of the second period for his third tally of the postseason. Boychuk had one marker and five assists during 44 regular-season contests. "You know, just hitting the net I guess, and sometimes it's luck," he said referring to his upswing in offense. "Just getting shots on net and hitting the net. Better chance to score when you hit the net."

Mark Dekanich has reportedly signed with Medvescak of the KHL.
He appeared in 35 games with the St. John's IceCaps of the AHL this past season, where he compiled a 16-14-1 record to go with a 2.98 goals-against average and an .895 save percentage.

Martin Havlat (lower body) did not practice on Sunday.
Havlat returned to action in Game 3 Saturday but only played six shifts before getting hurt again. He is unlikely to play the remainder of the season and his career in San Jose could be over. The injury-prone winger had eight goals and 18 points in 40 regular season games this season after missing 43 games in 2011-12.

T.J. Galiardi is playing on a line with Joe Thornton and Brent Burns.
The line was very good on Saturday in the 2-1 overtime win over the Kings as they stopped the Kings best line of Mike Richards, Jeff Carter and Dwight King. "I mean, if you look at it, I think we're in their zone every time," Galiardi said. "I don't remember being in our zone the whole series, so I'd say so. We just have to score now." Galiardi and Burns have not scored in the series while Thornton has two assists.

The Los Angeles Kings have been getting a lot more production from their second line of Mike Richards and Jeff Carter and whoever Darryl Sutter likes at the moment over their top line of Anze Kopitar, Justin Williams and Dustin Brown.
"Well, Richards' line has produced more in the playoffs than Kopi's line, so it's who you like most is your top line. I don't think you can get by with a "top line" - one top line," Sutter said. "I think we're playing against a team with two top lines, and we need our two top lines, without having our top checking centerman, we need those two lines to be very productive, and I think if I look at the series, just thinking about it, I think we've scored four even strength goals, and I think Richards' line has scored three and Lewie and Tyler's scored one last night. So that's four in the series." The Kings need the Kopitar line to start scoring if they hope to advance.

Jonathan Quick needs to control his temper a little better according to coach Darryl Sutter.
Quick picked up a game misconduct for abuse of officials at the end of Game 3 when he thought the referees gave the Kings the short end of the stick by calling two penalties in the last minute of the third. "I think he's got to handle that," Sutter said. "He can't be frustrated. That's a byproduct of being a great goaltender. It's very simple," Sutter said. "That's part of being on a good team and looked on as the best player and looked on as a top goalie That's exactly what they're doing [with contact] and we saw it the last series with two or three of their players."

Anze Kopitar says the Los Angeles Kings need to shoot the puck more in Game 3.
The Kings were outshot 40-27 in Game 2. "I think we've got to throw more shots at Niemi," Kopitar said. "I don't think we've done a very good job throughout the series with the exception of the last seven minutes in Game 2, where we peppered him because we were desperate. So we've got to play like that right from the start." Kopitar has a goal and four points in nine games and has scored only once in his past 25 games. The Kings need a lot more production from their top offensive player if they hope to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

Alex Hemsky will likely be dealt in the off-season according to The Edmonton Journal.
The injury-prone forward is quite the scorer when healthy but he has been anything but the last four seasons as he has missed 118 games in that span. "I don't think there's a market for him . . .I shouldn't say there's no market," said former NHL GM Craig Button, who now works for TSN. "But the salary cap is coming down to $64.3 million. He makes $5 million for one more year. Would the Oilers pick up half of that to trade him, 50-50 (with another team)? That would still free up $2.5 million in cap space for the Oilers. I don't know if they can get something tangible in return for Hemsky. Andrew Cogliano got the Oilers a second-round draft (pick). I don't know if they can get that for Hemsky." Hemsky has struggled the last two seasons with 20 points in 38 games this season and 36 points in 69 games in 2011-12 but was a point-a-game player, or close to it, before that.

Mikael Samuelsson is still day-to-day with a sore pectoral muscle.
Samuelsson originally sustained the injury on March 31 and returned to play in the first round against the Ducks, playing in the final five games of the series. He had a goal and an assist against Anaheim but has yet to play in round 2. Consider him questionable for Monday's contest.

Mike Babcock is having a great time coaching the Detroit Red Wings in the 2013 playoffs.
"It's fun, it's the most fun I've had coaching in a couple of years, by far," Babcock said. "Just because we've got an enthusiastic group. Not that we didn't before, but we've got a really enthusiastic group. We've got good leadership. At the start of the year, we weren't a good team, but we understand that. We buckled down and we got better. The coaching staff is fun, the players are fun, it's been a fun year for us." The Red Wings hope the fun continues tonight as they meet the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3 of the Western Conference semi-finals.

Mike Babcock is a lot happier these days as he has three good offensive lines.
The third line of Joakim Andersson, Damien Brunner and Gustav Nyquist has been outstanding for the Detroit coach as he put the trio together late in the regular season when the Red Wings promoted Nyquist and Andersson from the minors and dropped Brunner from the top line. "The Andersson line has been a key for us because we got worked in the three line the first two or three months (of the regular season)," Babcock said. "We couldn't handle it."

Damien Brunner is excelling on the third line with fellow rookies Joakim Andersson and Gustav Nyquist.
Brunner has four goals and seven points in nine playoff games to lead all first year players. Brunner is not actually considered a rookie because of his age but it is his first season in the NHL after a very good career in Europe. He played a lot of the regular season with Henrik Zetterberg but his play in the playoffs has been excellent as a third line player. "I really don't think (Brunner) has a clue what's going on," Jimmy Howard said with a chuckle. "I don't think he understands the realm of things and what can possibly happen as the playoffs unfold. He's in a good mood every single game. We got a lot of guys with a lot of energy, and you can just see the excitement on their faces."

An NHL source has told the Denver Post that Patrick Roy is one of the top candidates for the head coaching job with the Colorado Avalanche.
This is no surprise as Roy was the leading choice in 2009 but family concerns kept him in the province of Quebec and the job was given to Joe Sacco. Sacco was relieved of his coaching duties less than a month ago and now Roy's name is popping up yet again. Avalanche vice president of hockey operations Joe Sakic and Roy himself would not comment on the rumors at this time but where there is smoke, there is fire. Stay tuned.

Brent Seabrook has yet to garner a point in seven playoff games.
Seabrook is one of only two Blackhawks who have played in every playoff game to be held off the scoresheet as Michal Rozsival also is pointless, but Rozsival is plus-six while Seabrook is struggling with a minus-two rating. Seabrook had eight goals and 20 points in 47 regular season games so his fantasy owners in the playoffs hope a break out game is around the corner.

Johnny Oduya missed practice on Sunday but will be in the Chicago lineup Monday according to coach Joel Quenneville.
Oduya led the Blackhawks with 30 shifts Saturday and likely needed the day to recover. He has had a great playoff thus far with two goals and three points to go with a team-leading plus-seven rating.

Corey Crawford will get the start in goal Monday for the Blackhawks.
Crawford gave up four goals on 30 shots Saturday and there was some thought that coach Joel Quenneville might go to backup Ray Emery but Quenneville said "We're fine with Corey". Crawford is 5-2 in the playoffs with a 1.64 GAA and a .937 save percentage. Keep him in goal if you have him in your pool.

The Chicago Blackhawks head onto the road and into Joe Louis Arena for Game 3 Monday where they are 7-0-1 in the last three seasons.
This record has occurred in the regular season and the Blackhawks have played well again this season on the road as they outscored Detroit 9-2 in winning both games in the Motor City. "We''ve played in that building a lot but everything that happened in the past is in the past," Duncan Keith said. "We're worried about the big game tomorrow. It's going to be tough, whether it's in Joe Louis, the United Center, or wherever. We know it's going to be tough."

Tyler Kennedy was the lone goal scorer for the Penguins in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Senators in Game Three of their second round playoff series Sunday.
The goal was the second of the postseason for Kennedy, who has played in every game of the second round after dressing for only Games 5 and 6 of the first round after being made a healthy scratch for the first four contests. Matt Cooke picked up his first point of the playoffs with an assist on the goal.

Tomas Vokoun allowed two goals on 48 shots Sunday in a 2-1 double-overtime loss to the Senators.
Despite being saddled with a loss Vokoun was excellent in this contest, a vast improvement over his play in a Game Two victory. The loss is the first blemish against his otherwise perfect record in the playoffs and it will be interesting to see whether coach Dan Bylsma tabs Vokoun for the Game Four start rather than return to Marc-Andre Fleury.

Craig Anderson turned away 49 of 50 shots for the Senators in a 2-1 double-overtime win over Pittsburgh Sunday night.
As was the case on numerous occasions throughout the season, Anderson was the single-biggest reason for the Ottawa victory on this night. With a 2.17 GAA and .940 save percentage in the postseason, there's no question he's holding up his end of the bargain.

Colin Greening's overtime goal was the difference for Ottawa in a 2-1 victory over the Penguins in Game Three of their second round playoff series.
Playing in front of their home crowd for the first time in the series, the Sens avoided the dreaded 0-3 series deficit with the victory. Daniel Alfredsson's goal with 30 seconds remaining in regulation tied the score and forced the extra time.

While it's too early to label him as injured, Henrik Lundqvist admitted that his left shoulder bugged him late in Game 2.
He seemed to be favoring his arm in the third period, but stuck it out. It wouldn't be surprising if he plays through pain in the playoffs, yet with the New York Rangers in a tough spot, any advantage could be deadly against the Boston Bruins. Stay tuned for updates from the team and other sources.

The New York Rangers' putrid power play came up short once more in a 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins in Game 2 on Sunday.
The Rangers PP went 0-for-5 today. Considering how poorly things have been going, can it really "stink" any more if Carl Hagelin is inserted back into the special teams mix? To be fair to him, he's averaged about 10 seconds of PP time per contest.

Rick Nash finally broke through and scored his first playoff goal in the 2013 playoffs, but it wasn't enough as the New York Rangers lost to the Boston Bruins 5-2 in Game 2 on Sunday.
He now has a single tally on 32 shots in this postseason, giving him a 3.1 shooting percentage. He had 21 goals in 44 games during the regular season. Ryan Callahan scored a beauty for New York's other tally today.

Henrik Lundqvist had some great moments in Game 2 against the Boston Bruins, but the 5-2 score will prompt many to blame him for the New York Rangers' 5-2 loss on Sunday.
He seemed to tweak his arm during the game. While he didn't miss any time, it's something to survey in the time between now and Game 3. Newsday's Arthur Staple reports that Lundqvist hasn't allowed five goals in a single postseason game since 2009.

The Boston Bruins' offensive outburst overshadows the fact that Tuukka Rask had another great performance in a 5-2 win against the New York Rangers in Game 2 on Sunday.
Rask has now won three games in a row. Rask now has nearly the same save percentage (.928) as he did during his excellent regular season (.929). It's getting tougher and tougher to deny that Rask is one of the better options among goalies, even if he isn't as flashy as Tim Thomas.

Jaromir Jagr remains snakebitten as he was unable to score a goal against the New York Rangers even as the Boston Bruins won 5-2 in Game 2.
Jagr hasn't scored a point in this series after having four assists in the Bruins' seven-game series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Patrice Bergeron set him up for a great chance late in the third, but Henrik Lundqvist (or the post) prolonged his frustrations.

Patrice Bergeron is on fire, continuing his scoring streak from that breakout performance in Game 7 of the Boston Bruins' first-round series.
He now has points in three straight games as he had two assists in Game 2, including setting up a big Brad Marchand goal that gave Boston key insurance in an eventual 5-2 win. David Krejci also had a pair of apples while Marchand had a two-point output as well (1G, 1A).

It's obvious that Torey Krug is feeling it as he begins his playoff career.
He now has a goal in both of his first two postseason contests and added an assist for a two-point afternoon on Sunday. He was a big part of the Boston Bruins' 5-2 win against the New York Rangers in Game 2 and it's hard to imagine him losing his spot when the veteran defensemen are ready to return.

Henrik Sedin's two goals helped Sweden throttle Switzerland 5-1 to win a gold medal in the 2013 IIHF World Championships.
Loui Eriksson, Erik Gustafsson and Simon Hjalmarsson were the other goal scorers. Sweden enjoyed a rare treat in winning in front of its home crowd as the event took place in Stockholm.

Jonathan Quick received a game misconduct for ranting at an official in Game 3, but it will stop at that.
Quick won't receive supplementary discipline for whatever he said to a referee. It's not surprising that it stayed at that, but considering the $100K fine the San Jose Sharks received recently, you never know.

To little surprise, Martin Havlat won't play for the San Jose Sharks against the Los Angeles Kings in Game 4 of their second-round series.
He barely played a period in Game 3, logging just under five minutes before leaving the contest with an undisclosed injury. At this point, it's hard not to wonder about Havlat's career prospects after a steady stream of injuries.

Jarret Stoll didn't skate on Sunday.
The defensive center is dealing with an undisclosed injury suffered from the hit that led to Raffi Torres' series-long suspension. The Los Angeles Kings lost the San Jose Sharks in Game 3, so it's looking like that Western Conference semifinals bout could be challenging enough that his presence might be missed.

After previously practicing with a no-contact jersey, Kyle Clifford practiced normally for the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday.
Or at least he's not wearing that specific sweater while skating, indicating there's at least been a little bit of progress for Clifford. The Kings still aren't sharing what, exactly, is bothering him.

Michal Handzus and Johnny Oduya were not at practice with the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.
The center and defenseman might miss out on Game 3, but there's always the chance that one or both of them were just getting a little breather. Viktor Stalberg could very well take Handzus' spot if injuries are the issue, though.

Joel Quenneville identified "sloppy neutral zone play" as one of the Chicago Blackhawks' biggest problems in Game 2.
The Detroit Red Wings really managed to seal up and slow down the Blackhawks on Saturday. We'll see if the Blackhawks can adjust as the series shifts to Detroit for Games 3 and 4.

Alex Galchenyuk scored two shootout goals to help the United States win the bronze medal game against Finland at the 2013 IIHF World Championships.
John Gibson made 36 saves in the victory while Craig Smith wrapped up an impressive tournament with a goal in the bronze medal game.

The Boston Bruins will be without defensemen Dennis Seidenberg and Wade Redden during Sunday's Game 2 against the New York Rangers.
Seidenberg was ruled out by Saturday, but Redden seemed like he had a chance to return. We'll see if either player can make it for Game 3 on Tuesday.

The Chicago Blackhawks will add Viktor Stalberg back into the lineup for Game 3 against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday.
The Blackhawks probably want to add some more scoring punch to the mix after being neutralized by the Red Wings in Game 2. He's struggled in the playoffs with just one assist in five playoff games, but was solid in the regular season, scoring 23 points in 47 contests.