Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was unperturbed by repeated contact from the Carolina Hurricanes in h...

<p>Goaltender <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1631" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1631">Sergei Bobrovsky</a> was unperturbed by repeated contact from the Carolina Hurricanes in his Florida Panthers' 5-2 win in Game 1.</p><p>"It's OK. It's playoffs. They try to get under the skin. It's alright. I just focus on my things," Bobrovsky said postgame Tuesday, according to team reporter <a href="https://x.com/JamesonCoop/status/1925028121574609089">Jameson Olive</a>.</p><p>Multiple Hurricanes players bumped Bobrovsky in Game 1. Most notably, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/7706" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/7706">Andrei Svechnikov</a> caught the Panthers netminder in the head with his leg while flying by the crease.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Hurricanes haven’t been shy about making contact with Bobrovsky in Game 1 <a href="https://t.co/vqoat1wYrw">pic.twitter.com/vqoat1wYrw</a></p>— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1925008232428220861?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2025</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Svechnikov wasn't penalized for the play.</p><p>Bobrovsky made 31 saves on 33 shots and now has a .952 save percentage in his last four games.</p><p>The veteran netminder has played every second for Florida this postseason. He's the only goaltender still playing in the playoffs to do so. The 36-year-old has a .905 SV% and a 2.29 goals-against average in 13 starts and leads the postseason with nine wins.</p><p>Goaltender contact isn't new to Panthers games these playoffs. Forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3949" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3949">Sam Bennett</a> collided with Toronto Maple Leafs goalie <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9766" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9766">Anthony Stolarz</a> in Game 1 of the second round. Stolarz sustained a concussion and ultimately didn't play again, though he dressed as the backup for Game 7. Bennett didn't face supplemental discipline.</p>

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 20: Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Florida Panthers defends against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center on May 20, 2025 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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Ottawa Charge head coach Carla MacLeod applauded Emily Clark after she scored the overtime winner...

<p>Ottawa Charge head coach Carla MacLeod applauded <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15828" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15828">Emily Clark</a> after she scored the overtime winner in Game 1 of the Walter Cup Final versus the Minnesota Frost.</p><p>"(Clark) just plays her heart out every single game, every single shift," MacLeod said postgame Tuesday. "She absolutely loves playing here in Ottawa. I think if you back it up to her final two shifts there in the third period, you could just see she found another gear."</p><p>MacLeod added, "You see her smile in those warmups. She captures the hearts of her teammates and the fans here in Ottawa, and it was nice to see her be rewarded."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Clark's overtime tally is her second straight game-winner after she scored the series-clincher in Game 4 of the semifinals against the Montreal Victoire.</p><p>"I just wanted to get it on net," Clark admitted. "I had an opportunity the shift before with some speed, and the puck kinda rolled off my stick. I was just trying to shake that off, and I just had in my mind that if I have another opportunity, I was just going to try to use my speed and get it to the net."</p><p>Netting an overtime winner is an unfamiliar feeling for the 29-year-old forward.</p><p>"I don't know the last time (I scored an overtime goal)," Clark laughed. "Definitely (ranks) high up there. Obviously, just happy we got the win. Tonight, it was a hard-fought game, and to be able to start the series off with a win, especially at home in front of our fans, is really special."</p><p>The Charge are now 3-0 on home ice in the playoffs and are two wins away from capturing the Walter Cup. Clark gave the Ottawa crowd love for its loud support, including chants of her name, which she says was a first for her.</p><p>"That's incredibly special," Clark said. "We can't say enough good things about being able to play in front of this community, and any time we have the chance to play at home, it's just such a boost."</p><p>Game 2 of the best-of-five series is Thursday in Ottawa.</p><p> </p>

OTTAWA, ONTARIO - MAY 13: Emily Clark #26 of the Ottawa Charge skates with the puck against the Montreal Victoire during the second period at The Arena at TD Place on May 13, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario.

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Charge's MacLeod praises Game 1 hero Clark: 'Plays her heart out'

The Carolina Hurricanes collected their 13th consecutive Eastern Conference Final defeat with a 5...

<p>The Carolina Hurricanes collected their 13th consecutive Eastern Conference Final defeat with a 5-2 loss in Tuesday's Game 1 versus the Florida Panthers.</p><p>The Hurricanes were swept in the 2009 conference final by the Pittsburgh Penguins, in 2019 at the hands of the Boston Bruins, and in 2023 against the Panthers.</p><p>Carolina's last win in the final four came in 2006, when the Hurricanes went on to claim the Stanley Cup.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Canes already held the longest conference final drought in NHL history. The next longest was the Toronto Maple Leafs, who lost 10 straight conference final games from 1954-56.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3208" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3208">Carter Verhaeghe</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3946" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3946">Aaron Ekblad</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9403" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9403">A.J. Greer</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="" href="">Sam Bennett</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2631" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2631">Eetu Luostarinen</a> scored for the Panthers. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5681" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5681">Sebastian Aho</a> tallied a goal late in the first period for Carolina, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/10630" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/10630">Jackson Blake</a> added the Hurricanes' second tally when Florida held a 5-1 advantage in the third.</p><p>Game 2 is Thursday in Carolina.</p>

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 20: Aleksander Barkov #16 of the Florida Panthers celebrates after a goal is scored against Frederik Andersen #31 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center on May 20, 2025 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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Panthers hand Hurricanes 13th straight loss in conference final

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck learned valuable lessons in what was an up-and-down pl...

<p>Winnipeg Jets goaltender <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3997" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3997">Connor Hellebuyck</a> learned valuable lessons in what was an up-and-down playoff run.</p><p>"The first round was definitely a roller coaster and a mental grind," Hellebuyck said Tuesday. "Once we got through that, the weight of the world came off my shoulders. I started going back to playing my game, and everything that I was studying in the previous round kind of started to come together, back to my game.</p><p>"You can't abandon your game. Maybe make some tweaks here and there, but nothing huge, nothing drastic. You just gotta go out there and have fun and realize bad bounces do happen, and sometimes there's a little bit of a luck factor in hockey."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Presidents' Trophy-winning Jets advanced past the St. Louis Blues with a dramatic Game 7 double-overtime victory before losing to the Dallas Stars in six games in the second round.</p><p>Hellebuyck, the overwhelming favorite to win the Vezina Trophy and a finalist for the Hart Trophy, was pulled three times versus the Blues, and he ended the series with a woeful .830 save percentage.</p><p>The 31-year-old rebounded in Round 2, posting shutouts in Winnipeg's two wins, but still finished the postseason with an .866 SV% and a 3.08 goals-against average. It's the third year in a row Hellebuyck has ended the playoffs with a save percentage below .890.</p><p>"This playoff run, there's a lot of learning curves and a lot of things that we've learned, and we can take away," Hellebuyck said. "I know this group is gonna get a lot better from that. Not only do we get tighter as a family, but our game got tighter, and we're gonna continue to grow that and build that.</p><p>"We have pretty much the same group coming back, so we're all very motivated for a Cup. That's our goal. That's all we got on our mind, from now until this time next year."</p>

ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 27: Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) as seen before the Stanley Cup Playoffs round one game four between the Winnipeg Jets and the St. Louis Blues on April 27, 2025, at Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO.

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Hellebuyck learns from 'roller-coaster' playoff run

The 2026 Olympics in Milan-Cortina will be legendary American forward Hilary Knight's last, she a...

<p>The 2026 Olympics in Milan-Cortina will be legendary American forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15719" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15719">Hilary Knight</a>'s last, she announced Tuesday.</p><p>"It's time," Knight told <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/nancy-armour/2025/05/20/hilary-knight-illustrious-olympic-career-team-usa-milan/83731085007/">USA Today Sports' Nancy Armour</a>. "I have grown up in this program, and it's just given me so much. I'm at peace. I just have this feeling that it's time. And I'm grateful that - hopefully I can stay healthy and everything - I can go out when I'd like to be done. That is such a privilege that only a handful of competitors get."</p><p>The 2026 Games will be the fifth of Knight's illustrious career. She won gold at the 2018 Olympics and has also won three silver medals. The 35-year-old ranks seventh in all-time Olympic women's hockey scoring with 12 goals and 27 points in 22 games, and she ranks second to Jenny Potter among Americans.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Knight captained the United States to gold at the World Championship in April. She's the all-time leader at the event in goals (67), assists (53), and points (120) and has captured 10 gold medals.</p><p>Knight's coming off a bounce-back campaign in the PWHL with the Boston Fleet. She tallied 15 goals and 29 points to finish in a tie for the league's scoring lead and was named a finalist for Forward of the Year.</p><p>The Fleet captain intends to continue playing in the PWHL after her international career ends. Her current contract expires after the 2025-26 season.</p><p>Knight has come to terms with ending her Olympic career, and she has a singular goal in mind for 2026.</p><p>"It took me a while, but I think I'm very much so at peace with it," Knight said. "I've had an incredible career at the Olympic stage. And (in Milan), I will have the same mission and the same purpose, and that's to win an Olympic gold."</p>

GANGNEUNG, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 22: Gold medal winner Hilary Knight #21 of the United States celebrates after defeating Canada in a shootout in the Women's Gold Medal Game on day thirteen of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Gangneung Hockey Centre on February 22, 2018 in Gangneung, South Korea.

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Hilary Knight to end illustrious Olympic career at 2026 Games

The Walter Cup finals are here.  The defending champion Minnesota Frost look to go back-to-back, ...

<p>The Walter Cup finals are here.</p><p>The defending champion Minnesota Frost look to go back-to-back, while the underdog Ottawa Charge hope to bring the PWHL championship north of the border.</p><p>The two semifinal series couldn't have been more different. The Frost prevailed in a high-scoring matchup against the Toronto Sceptres that was highlighted by a 12-goal Game 3, while Ottawa advanced in a goaltending duel with the narrowest of margins.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Here are the top contenders in the mix for the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP award entering the finals.</p><h3>5. Emily Clark, Charge</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786243/cropped_Credit_PWHL_-_MTL_at_OTT_-_Game_4_-_May_16__202531.jpg?ts=1747578784" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786243/w220xh124_Credit_PWHL_-_MTL_at_OTT_-_Game_4_-_May_16__202531.jpg?ts=1747578784 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786243/w320xh180_Credit_PWHL_-_MTL_at_OTT_-_Game_4_-_May_16__202531.jpg?ts=1747578784 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786243/w640xh360_Credit_PWHL_-_MTL_at_OTT_-_Game_4_-_May_16__202531.jpg?ts=1747578784 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786243/w768xh432_Credit_PWHL_-_MTL_at_OTT_-_Game_4_-_May_16__202531.jpg?ts=1747578784 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786243/w1080xh607_Credit_PWHL_-_MTL_at_OTT_-_Game_4_-_May_16__202531.jpg?ts=1747578784 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">PWHL</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>GP</th>
<th>G</th>
<th>A</th>
<th>PTS</th>
<th>ATOI</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>24:18</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15828" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15828">Clark</a> became the Charge's most important forward this season as captain <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15824" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15824">Brianne Jenner</a>'s role decreased. Head coach Carla MacLeod has leaned on the speedy, two-way Clark in all situations, and her defensive play against Montreal Victoire superstar <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15778" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15778">Marie-Philip Poulin</a> is a key reason Ottawa is playing for the Walter Cup this week.</p><p>Under a minute into the third period of Game 4, the 29-year-old drove hard to the net and beat two of the best players in the world, Poulin and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15780" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15780">Ann-Renee Desbiens</a>, for the eventual series-winning goal. She played 21:02 in that clincher and was on the ice defending the lead in the final minute.</p><p>Clark has a huge task in trying to limit the Minnesota Frost's electric top line while generating offense herself. She succeeded in the semifinals versus Montreal, and that could set Clark and Ottawa up for more of the same.</p><h3>4. Kendall Coyne Schofield, Frost</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786245/cropped_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_4_-_TOR_at_MIN_-__May_14__2025_01.jpg?ts=1747578927" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786245/w220xh124_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_4_-_TOR_at_MIN_-__May_14__2025_01.jpg?ts=1747578927 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786245/w320xh180_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_4_-_TOR_at_MIN_-__May_14__2025_01.jpg?ts=1747578927 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786245/w640xh360_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_4_-_TOR_at_MIN_-__May_14__2025_01.jpg?ts=1747578927 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786245/w768xh432_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_4_-_TOR_at_MIN_-__May_14__2025_01.jpg?ts=1747578927 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786245/w1080xh607_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_4_-_TOR_at_MIN_-__May_14__2025_01.jpg?ts=1747578927 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">PWHL</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>GP</th>
<th>G</th>
<th>A</th>
<th>PTS</th>
<th>ATOI</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>17:58</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Last year, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15749" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15749">Coyne Schofield</a>'s only goal in the playoffs was an empty-netter in Game 5 of the finals against Boston. She's already been significantly more impactful this time around, notching two assists in Game 3 versus the Sceptres before tallying two vital goals in the Frost's Game 4 overtime win to take the series.</p><p>Coyne Schofield's speed will be a handful for the Charge. One of the PWHL's most prolific five-on-five scorers, she's gaining momentum and will be itching to keep her line rolling after an excellent end to the semis against Toronto.</p><h3>3. Lee Stecklein, Frost</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786246/cropped_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_MIN_at_TOR_-__May_7__202523.jpg?ts=1747579115" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786246/w220xh124_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_MIN_at_TOR_-__May_7__202523.jpg?ts=1747579115 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786246/w320xh180_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_MIN_at_TOR_-__May_7__202523.jpg?ts=1747579115 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786246/w640xh360_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_MIN_at_TOR_-__May_7__202523.jpg?ts=1747579115 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786246/w768xh432_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_MIN_at_TOR_-__May_7__202523.jpg?ts=1747579115 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786246/w1080xh607_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_MIN_at_TOR_-__May_7__202523.jpg?ts=1747579115 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">PWHL</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>GP</th>
<th>G</th>
<th>A</th>
<th>PTS</th>
<th>ATOI</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>26:29</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15733" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15733">Stecklein</a>'s offensive emergence came out of nowhere. The typically defensive defender had zero goals in 28 games entering the final week of the PWHL campaign. Now she has six in her last six contests dating back to the last two games of the regular season.</p><p>The 31-year-old is one of the league's most underrated players, and she's finally getting the recognition she deserves with this recent offensive outburst. Stecklein plays huge minutes in all situations. If she manages to continue racking up points in the finals, she'll have a good case for MVP given her vital importance on the defensive end as well.</p><h3>2. Taylor Heise, Frost</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786240/cropped_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_4_-_TOR_at_MIN_-__May_14__2025_22.jpg?ts=1747578447" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786240/w220xh124_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_4_-_TOR_at_MIN_-__May_14__2025_22.jpg?ts=1747578447 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786240/w320xh180_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_4_-_TOR_at_MIN_-__May_14__2025_22.jpg?ts=1747578447 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786240/w640xh360_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_4_-_TOR_at_MIN_-__May_14__2025_22.jpg?ts=1747578447 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786240/w768xh432_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_4_-_TOR_at_MIN_-__May_14__2025_22.jpg?ts=1747578447 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786240/w1080xh607_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_4_-_TOR_at_MIN_-__May_14__2025_22.jpg?ts=1747578447 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">PWHL</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>GP</th>
<th>G</th>
<th>A</th>
<th>PTS</th>
<th>ATOI</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>17:24</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>There's no other way to put it: <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15750" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15750">Heise</a> is a rock star. The reigning Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP rebounded from a tough Game 1 against the Sceptres with multi-point efforts in Minnesota's three straight wins to take the series, including the Game 4 overtime winner for her lone goal of the playoffs to date.</p><p>Head coach Ken Klee has consistently encouraged Heise to shoot more. She had just two shots on goal entering Game 4 versus Toronto, then fired six in the series finale, capped by the game-winning goal.</p><p>Heise was lights out in the Walter Cup finals last year with three goals and six points in the five-game series. If the Frost triumph again and she repeats that kind of performance, Heise will be a two-time playoff MVP at just 25 years old.</p><h3>1. Gwyneth Philips, Charge</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786247/cropped_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_8__2025_01.jpg?ts=1747579435" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786247/w220xh124_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_8__2025_01.jpg?ts=1747579435 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786247/w320xh180_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_8__2025_01.jpg?ts=1747579435 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786247/w640xh360_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_8__2025_01.jpg?ts=1747579435 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786247/w768xh432_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_8__2025_01.jpg?ts=1747579435 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786247/w1080xh607_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_8__2025_01.jpg?ts=1747579435 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">PWHL</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>GP</th>
<th>Saves</th>
<th>SV%</th>
<th>GAA</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>129</td>
<td>.956</td>
<td>1.14</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15833" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15833">Emerance Maschmeyer</a>'s injury in March could've spelled the end of the Charge's campaign. Instead, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15830" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15830">Philips</a>, a rookie goaltender, stepped up and helped carry Ottawa not just to its first playoff appearance, but to the finals.</p><p>Philips went head to head against the presumptive Goaltender of the Year, Desbiens, and came out on top. She did the same in the gold-medal game at the World Championship in April for Team USA, coming in cold during the third period to replace the injured <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15725" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15725">Aerin Frankel</a>.</p><p>The 24-year-old's numbers speak for themselves; a .956 save percentage and a 1.14 goals-against average are absurd. She's the only goalie with a shutout so far these playoffs. It'll be a challenge to stifle the league's best offensive team in the Frost, but should Ottawa prevail to lift the Walter Cup, Philips is the clear front-runner for MVP at the outset of the series.</p>

OTTAWA, ONTARIO - APRIL 30: Gwyneth Philips #33 of the Ottawa Charge keeps an eye on the puck after a save during the first period against the Minnesota Frost at The Arena at TD Place on April 30, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario.

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PWHL Playoff MVP Rankings: Heise's heroics, phenomenal Philips

Dallas Stars head coach Peter DeBoer praised defenseman Thomas Harley after his Game 6 overtime w...

<p>Dallas Stars head coach Peter DeBoer praised defenseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/8659" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/8659">Thomas Harley</a> after his Game 6 overtime winner versus the Winnipeg Jets to send the Stars through to the Western Conference Final.</p><p>"If there's an MVP of the second half of the season, with what happened with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/6612" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/6612">Miro (Heiskanen)</a>, I think it would have to be (Harley)," DeBoer said. "He went to a different level. We piled so much on his shoulders, from running the power play to playing against other teams' best players to transitioning the puck. The kid just keeps delivering and delivering every night."</p><p>Harley notched a career-high 16 goals and 50 points from the back end during the regular season. The 23-year-old was superb down the stretch, tallying nine goals and 27 points in 30 contests after Heiskanen's injury Jan. 28.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Harley has four goals and 11 points in 13 postseason games, ranking second to the Edmonton Oilers' <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/7827" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/7827">Evan Bouchard</a> among defenders in scoring. He also leads all players who advanced past the first round with an average time on ice of 26:37.</p><p>DeBoer also credited goaltender <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/8282" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/8282">Jake Oettinger</a>, who's made 125 more saves than the next closest goaltender still playing in the postseason.</p><p>"Our goaltending's been exceptional," DeBoer said. "He just went head-to-head with maybe the MVP of the league and what everyone is saying is the best goaltender in the world, and he probably was this year in <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3997" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3997">(Connor) Hellebuyck</a>. And he went toe-to-toe with him, nose-to-nose with him, the entire series. Great character, gut check by Jake, and he's delivering at a real key time for us."</p><p>The Stars are into the Western Conference Final for the third straight year, having knocked off two of the league's best teams in the Presidents' Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche.</p><p>"It's hard to believe we're halfway, right?" DeBoer said. "It sure feels like we've been through a lot. But that's the beauty of the NHL playoffs. We'll take a couple days (to rest). I think we've got a lot left.</p><p>"I've said it here, I think we've got something special going on. We're going to have to prove it again. We've been to this spot the last two years and haven't taken the next step, so that's the challenge."</p>

DALLAS, TEXAS - MAY 11: Thomas Harley #55 of the Dallas Stars skates with the puck against the Winnipeg Jets during the first period of Game Three of the Second Round in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 11, 2025 in Dallas, Texas.

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DeBoer: Harley would have to be NHL MVP of 2nd half

The Montreal Victoire were eliminated in the PWHL semifinals by the Ottawa Charge in a 2-1 Game 4...

<p>The Montreal Victoire were eliminated in the PWHL semifinals by the Ottawa Charge in a 2-1 Game 4 loss on Friday, a defeat that's weighing heavily on star forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15778" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15778">Marie-Philip Poulin</a>.</p><p>"This one hurts," Poulin said, according to <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/sports/charge-advance-to-professional-womens-hockey-league-final-with-2-1-win-over-victoire/article_f584ae08-aa3e-5fce-a1d4-6428c88b17d7.html">The Canadian Press' Lisa Wallace</a>. "I think we had a deep enough team, but, unfortunately, once again, we can't get past the first round. It hurts.</p><p>"I think we're going to need to look in the mirror and see what we can do differently, how we can change, and how we can get better."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Montreal also lost in the semifinals last year in a sweep by the now-Boston Fleet in three overtime games.</p><p>The Victoire have won only one playoff game over their two seasons, with the lone victory a quadruple overtime classic Sunday. Montreal was the top seed in the regular season and chose to play the Charge.</p><p>"We tried to do what was best for the group," Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie explained. "Kudos to Ottawa for the series that they put forward. They're moving on."</p><p>Poulin and fellow star forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15763" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15763">Laura Stacey</a> were limited to one goal each despite combining for 55 shots on goal over four games.</p><p>Rookie goaltender <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15830" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15830">Gwyneth Philips</a> shone in the series for the Charge, posting a .956 save percentage and a 1.14 goals-against average.</p><p>"I think the whole series has been a battle of the goaltenders," Cheverie said. "Obviously, we made a really good push to the end there and just couldn't seem to find a way to get that little black rubber thing across the line. Just couldn't score."</p><p>Victoire netminder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15780" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15780">Ann-Renee Desbiens</a> now owns a .938 SV% and a 1.61 GAA in seven career playoff games but has just a single win to show for it.</p><p>The PWHL is adding two new teams in Vancouver and Seattle next season. The looming expansion draft will shake up rosters, which adds another layer of emotion to the defeat for Victoire defender <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15773" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15773">Erin Ambrose</a>.</p><p>"I've always said that internationally is great," Ambrose said. "It's obviously a privilege to play there, but to be on this team, day in and day out with this group of people, and the phenomenal people that they are, it makes it really disappointing that we couldn't get the job done, and that's staff included. ... The hardest thing is knowing that this group will never be back together."</p>

OTTAWA, ONTARIO - MAY 16: Captain Marie-Philip Poulin #29 of the Montreal Victoire watches the Ottawa Charge celebrate prior to the handshake line after the Ottawa Charge eliminated the Montreal Victoire from the PWHL Playoffs in game four at The Arena at TD Place on May 16, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario.

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Poulin: Victoire 'need to look in the mirror' after 2nd straight early exit

Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice believes the Toronto Maple Leafs' effort in Game 6 was s...

<p>Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice believes the Toronto Maple Leafs' effort in Game 6 was similar to Game 5 despite the significantly different scores.</p><p>"Not nearly as much (changed for Toronto from Game 5 to Game 6) as everybody in this room is gonna write," Maurice said. "They worked hard. They played hard tonight. But I thought that, the last game - they got killed for that last game, (and) they didn't deserve to, in my opinion."</p><p>Toronto forced a Game 7 with a 2-0 win on Friday. The Leafs were blown out 6-1 on home ice in Game 5 on Wednesday and were showered with boos from the Toronto crowd.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"We had four knucklers go in," Maurice explained. "(Game 5) was a pretty tight game. It didn't feel like that on the scoreboard, but when you watch the game and you look at the analytics, the 6-1 game was the second-tightest game of the series. So, this one will look a lot like that. Two pretty good offensive teams, there really isn't a whole lot to be had out there."</p><p>Scoring chances were 22-17 in the Panthers' favor in Game 6, according to <a href="https://www.naturalstattrick.com/game.php?season=20242025&amp;game=30216&amp;view=limited">Natural Stat Trick</a>, but Maple Leafs goaltender <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/8266" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/8266">Joseph Woll</a> stifled Florida with his first playoff shutout. The Panthers had a larger advantage in Game 5, outchancing Toronto 30-19.</p><p>"They played hard, we played hard (in Game 6)," Maurice said. "It was tight. We probably had four go in last game that I'm not sure you're counting on that happening on a regular basis, or even every 10-20 games. We had a couple go off sticks. So, when you get into a 0-0 game, (it's) just gonna be tight."</p><p>Game 7 goes Sunday in Toronto.</p>

SUNRISE, FL - MAY 09: Florida Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice looks on during the Stanley Cup Playoffs 2nd Round game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers on Friday May 9, 2025 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla.

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Panthers' Maurice: Leafs didn't deserve to get 'killed' for Game 5 blowout

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube won't split up star forwards Auston Matthews and Mitc...

<p>Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube won't split up star forwards <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5586" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5586">Auston Matthews</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4718" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4718">Mitch Marner</a> for Friday's must-win Game 6 versus the Florida Panthers.</p><p>"These guys have been a combo for a long time, and they've had a lot of success," Berube said, according to <a href="https://x.com/markhmasters/status/1923410941204381736">TSN's Mark Masters</a>. "So, I trust them. I believe in them."</p><p>Matthews has just three goals in his last 21 playoff games, and he's been held to zero through five contests against the Panthers. Matthews and Marner were held off the scoresheet entirely in Games 4 and 5.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Leafs were dismantled 6-1 in Wednesday's Game 5. Toronto's top line of Matthews, Marner, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/10575" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/10575">Matthew Knies</a> was heavily outplayed, as the unit was on the ice for two goals against and was outchanced 11-3 in 9:10 at five-on-five, according to <a href="https://www.naturalstattrick.com/game.php?season=20242025&amp;game=30215&amp;view=limited">Natural Stat Trick</a>.</p><p>Over the full series, Matthews and Marner have been outchanced 42-27 at five-on-five, though the duo has won its five-on-five minutes 5-4, per <a href="https://www.naturalstattrick.com/linestats.php?fromseason=20242025&amp;thruseason=20242025&amp;stype=3&amp;sit=5v5&amp;score=all&amp;rate=n&amp;team=TOR&amp;vteam=FLA&amp;view=wowy&amp;loc=B&amp;gpfilt=none&amp;fd=2025-04-19&amp;td=2025-05-16&amp;tgp=2000&amp;strict=incl&amp;p1=8479318&amp;p2=8478483&amp;p3=0&amp;p4=0&amp;p5=0">Natural Stat Trick</a>.</p><p>Matthews told reporters that nobody is 100% and that everyone is pushing through something at this time of the year, according to <a href="https://x.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1923408384407036339">Sportsnet's Luke Fox</a>.</p><p>The Maple Leafs are looking to stave off elimination and force a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday. Toronto hasn't made the conference finals since 2002.</p>

SUNRISE, FL - MAY 11: Auston Matthews #34 and Mitch Marner #16 of Toronto Maple Leafs take the ice for warm ups against the Florida Panthers in Game Four of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena on May 11, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida.

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Berube won't split Matthews, Marner for Game 6: 'I believe in them'

New Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet thinks the team has more ability than was showcas...

<p>New Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet thinks the team has more ability than was showcased this season.</p><p>"Looking at the roster, there's a talent pool here that's untapped. I really believe that," Tocchet said at his introductory press conference Friday.</p><p>Tocchet added: "They got some star players here in the making, and that's my job, to really maximize those guys."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Flyers finished last in the Metropolitan Division with a 33-39-10 record after narrowly missing the playoffs in 2023-24. Rookie forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/13822" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/13822">Matvei Michkov</a> impressed with 26 goals and 63 points, while <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4574" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4574">Travis Konecny</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4175" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4175">Travis Sanheim</a> won the 4 Nations Face-Off with Canada in February.</p><p>Tocchet lauded Philadelphia's long-term outlook and put the team's head coaching gig among the league's most coveted.</p><p>"The roster of the team, the potential, the prospect pool, the cap space that's coming here, there's a lot of positives for this job," Tocchet said. "It's an attractive job. I think it's one of the best jobs in hockey, and I'm very fortunate to get it."</p><p>General manager Daniel Briere believes Tocchet's hiring makes the Flyers a more attractive destination for free agents.</p><p>"There's no doubt that Rick is gonna make us more enticing for players to come here, there's no doubt about that," Briere said. "There's already agents calling and letting us know."</p><p>Briere made it clear that Tocchet's arrival won't alter the team's plan amid a rebuild.</p><p>"The plan doesn't change here," Briere said. "Rick has been part of this before, has coached some younger teams, has coached some veteran teams, and we see him as the long-term solution for our head-coaching position."</p><p>Tocchet won the Jack Adams Award in 2024 after guiding the Vancouver Canucks to the playoffs. He's made the postseason twice in nine seasons as a head coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Arizona Coyotes, and Canucks.</p>

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 8: Rick Tocchet watches the action from behind the bench against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center on April 8, 2025 in Dallas, Texas.

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Tocchet: Flyers have 'untapped' talent pool

The Minnesota Wild signed forward Danila Yurov to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team an...

<p>The Minnesota Wild signed forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/12754" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/12754">Danila Yurov</a> to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Friday.</p><p>Yurov, 21, tallied 13 goals and 25 points in 46 games this season with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the KHL. The Wild drafted Yurov 24th overall in 2022.</p><p>The contract includes a European out clause allowing Yurov to be loaned back to the KHL if he doesn't make the Wild out of training camp, reports <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6302564/2025/05/16/wild-danila-yurov-signs/">The Athletic's Michael Russo</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Wild general manager Bill Guerin explained what excites him about Yurov.</p><p>"I just think his skill level," Guerin said, according to <a href="https://x.com/JoeSmithNHL/status/1923411230674292979">The Athletic's Joe Smith</a>. "He's a big, lanky kid. He hasn't even grown into his body yet. The skill level, the ability to produce offense. That's what we're excited about."</p><p>In 2023-24, Yurov broke <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2582" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2582">Vladimir Tarasenko</a>'s record for most points in the KHL by a 20-year-old when he recorded 21 goals and 49 points in 62 games. He added nine points in 23 playoff contests to help Magnitogorsk win the Gagarin Cup.</p><p>Yurov moved to center in 2023-24. His faceoff percentage increased 6.3% this campaign, up to 47.3%. The Wild plan to keep Yurov at center, Guerin said, according to Smith.</p><p>The 6-foot-1 pivot accumulated 41 goals and 88 points in 209 career KHL games over parts of five seasons. Yurov briefly represented Russia at the 2022 world juniors before the tournament was postponed.</p><p>Yurov ranked No. 25 on theScore's <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3042997" href="https://thescore.com/news/3042997">top 50 NHL-affiliated prospects</a> list in September.</p>

ST. PAUL, MN - JULY 07: Minnesota Wild forward Danila Yurov (81) looks up ice during Minnesota Wild Development Camp on July 7, 2023, at TRIA Rink in St. Paul, MN.

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Wild sign Yurov to 3-year ELC

Sam Gagner retired Thursday after 17 NHL seasons and joined the Ottawa Senators as the team's dir...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/457" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/457">Sam Gagner</a> retired Thursday after 17 NHL seasons and joined the Ottawa Senators as the team's director of player development.</p><p>Gagner played 19 games with the Senators' AHL affiliate this campaign after being on a professional tryout with the Carolina Hurricanes during training camp. The 35-year-old also suited up for Canada at the Spengler Cup.</p><p>The London, Ontario, native accumulated 197 goals and 529 points in his 1,043-game career over parts of 17 seasons. He suited up for the Edmonton Oilers, Arizona Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Vancouver Canucks, Detroit Red Wings, and Winnipeg Jets.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Gagner scored four goals and eight points on Feb. 2, 2012, against the Chicago Blackhawks to tie the Oilers' single-game scoring record. He still holds the mark alongside Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey. Gagner remains the only player to score eight or more points in a game since Mario Lemieux in 1989.</p><p>A standout with the London Knights, Gagner was drafted sixth overall by Edmonton in 2007. He spent the first seven years of his career with the Oilers, and returned to Edmonton for two more stints in 2018-19 and 2023-24.</p><p>Gagner notched a career-high 18 goals and 50 points in 81 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2016-17. His best campaign came in 2012-13, when he tallied 14 goals and 38 points in 48 contests with Edmonton.</p><p>Internationally, Gagner won gold with Canada at the 2007 world juniors and silver at the 2008 World Championship, and he claimed the Spengler Cup in 2012 during the NHL lockout.</p>

EDMONTON, CANADA - FEBRUARY 21: Sam Gagner #89 of the Edmonton Oilers lines up for a face-off during the game against the Boston Bruins at Rogers Place on February 21, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

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Gagner retires after 17 seasons, joins Senators' front office

The Chicago Blackhawks are launching a Hall of Fame as part of the team's centennial celebration ...

<p>The Chicago Blackhawks are launching a Hall of Fame as part of the team's centennial celebration for the 2025-26 campaign, and fans will get to have a vote.</p><p>"The concept of a Hall of Fame has been in the works for a long time," Blackhawks chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz said, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6356402/2025/05/15/blackhawks-hall-of-fame-centennial-celebration/">The Athletic's Scott Powers</a>. "If we're going to do it, let's do it right. Let's be thoughtful. Let's think of the criteria. Let's think about how we do this, where it lives, how it comes to life, like all the details that go into it.</p><p>"So when we launch it, we're not going to launch it half-assed. It's going to be something really well presented, a real honor, and something that can be sustainable, kind of in perpetuity as a way to honor our history and our past."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Blackhawks Hall of Fame will have a dedicated physical exhibition space at the expanding Fifth Third Arena.</p><p>Players who have had their numbers already retired by Chicago were automatically inducted. Those nine are Chris Chelios, Tony Esposito, Glenn Hall, Marian Hossa, Bobby Hull, Keith Magnuson, Stan Mikita, Pierre Pilote, and Denis Savard.</p><p>Each year, the Blackhawks will induct two alumni into the Hall of Fame. One will come from a modern-era ballot featuring players who completed their career in Chicago after 2000, and a heritage-era ballot for players who left Chicago before 2000. Players must be retired from the NHL for three or more years to be eligible.</p><p>The process will see fans, Blackhawks alumni, and media vote for one player from each ballot, and the results for each voting group will be weighed equally to determine inductees.</p><p>The inaugural fan vote began Thursday. Here are the initial ballots:</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Modern Ballot</th>
<th>Heritage Ballot</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Tony Amonte</td>
<td>Ed Belfour</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brian Campbell</td>
<td>Doug Bentley</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Corey Crawford</td>
<td>Johnny Gottselig</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Eric Daze</td>
<td>Dirk Graham</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Niklas Hjalmarsson</td>
<td>Dennis Hull</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Duncan Keith</td>
<td>Cliff Koroll</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brent Seabrook</td>
<td>Steve Larmer</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Patrick Sharp</td>
<td>Chico Maki</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Shaw</td>
<td>Mush March</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Steve Sullivan</td>
<td>Pit Martin</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jocelyn Thibault</td>
<td>Bill Mosienko</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alexei Zhamnov</td>
<td>Troy Murray</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>Eric Nesterenko</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>Jeremy Roenick</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>Doug Wilson</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Fans can vote <a href="https://hof.blackhawks.com/">here</a>.</p>

NOVEMBER 20: Marian Hossa poses with his his former teammates Ducan Keith Brent Seabrook Niklas Hjalmarsson Patrick Sharp Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews in front of the stanley cup during his jersey retirement celebration before a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Chicago Blackhawks on November 20, 2022 at the United Center in Chicago, IL.

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Blackhawks create Hall of Fame, fans to vote from list of candidates

Montreal Victoire's Ann-Renee Desbiens, Boston Fleet's Aerin Frankel, and Ottawa Charge's Gwyneth...

<p>Montreal Victoire's <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15780" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15780">Ann-Renee Desbiens</a>, Boston Fleet's <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15725" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15725">Aerin Frankel</a>, and Ottawa Charge's <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15830" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15830">Gwyneth Philips</a> are the finalists for the PWHL's 2025 Goaltender of the Year award, the league announced Thursday.</p><p>A selection committee votes for the annual honor, which recognizes "the goaltender who showcases the most outstanding ability at the position throughout the regular season."</p><p>Desbiens had a huge campaign between the pipes for Montreal. She led PWHL starters with a .932 save percentage and 1.86 goals-against average. Her impressive 15-2-2 record was tops in the league and helped the Victoire claim first place in the regular season.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The 31-year-old had a PWHL-best win streak of six games, and she had a stretch of 14 starts where she allowed two or fewer goals.</p><p>Desbiens made 63 saves in Montreal's quadruple overtime win versus Ottawa on Sunday to set a new PWHL single-game record, though playoff results aren't a factor for the award.</p><p>Frankel is the only repeat finalist from last year, when the award was won by Toronto Sceptres netminder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15859" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15859">Kristen Campbell</a>. Boston's "Green Monster" had another superb season, leading the PWHL with 23 starts and making a league-high 591 saves. She went 12-8-3 and her .921 SV% ranked second to Desbiens among starters, while her 2.28 GAA was seventh among goalies with at least 10 games played.</p><p>The 25-year-old had five starts where she made 35 or more saves, the most in the PWHL, and she went a perfect 3-0 in shootouts, in which she stopped 12-of-13 attempts.</p><p>Philips took over as Ottawa's starter when <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15833" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15833">Emerance Maschmeyer</a> went down with an injury March 11. The rookie didn't miss a beat, winning five of eight starts down the stretch to help the Charge make the playoffs for the first time.</p><p>The 24-year-old was tied for third among starters with a .919 SV% and a 2.11 GAA. Philips was the first rookie goaltender to pitch a shutout, which she did in her third career start Jan. 21. Her two shutouts on the campaign are more than both Desbiens and Frankel.</p><p>New York Sirens goaltender <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15806" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15806">Corinne Schroeder</a> led the PWHL with a record four shutouts on the campaign, ranked third in wins, and was tied with Philips with a .919 SV%, but she didn't make the top three.</p><p>The PWHL awards ceremony is scheduled for June 25 at 11:30 a.m. ET.</p>

MONTREAL, QC - MARCH 01: Look on Montreal Victoire goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) during the Boston Fleet versus the Montreal Victoire game on March 01, 2025, at Centre Bell in Montréal, QC

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Desbiens, Frankel, Philips named finalists for Goalie of the Year

Brandon Carlo was on the other side of some Toronto Maple Leafs playoff failures while he was a m...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4643" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4643">Brandon Carlo</a> was on the other side of some Toronto Maple Leafs playoff failures while he was a member of the Boston Bruins, but he believes the group can push through when it matters most now that he's in the blue and white.</p><p>"I have the utmost faith that these guys are ready to take the next step," Carlo said Thursday, according to <a href="https://x.com/reporterchris/status/1923019496601633067">TSN's Chris Johnston</a>.</p><p>The Florida Panthers demolished Toronto 6-1 in Wednesday's Game 5 to put the Maple Leafs on the brink of elimination. The Panthers also shut out the Leafs in Game 4.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Toronto acquired Carlo from the Bruins before the trade deadline. The defensive rearguard has played 83 career playoff games, and has eight hits and 26 blocks in Toronto's 11 postseason contests this year.</p><p>The Leafs' playoff woes are well-documented. Since 2017, Toronto has made the postseason every year but has won just two series and hasn't advanced past the second round. Carlo's Bruins handed the Leafs three of their eight playoff exits.</p><p>Head coach Craig Berube believes the mental game played a role in Toronto's Game 5 loss, and he made it clear that the team needs to reset for Friday's Game 6.</p><p>"We overthink things," Berube said, according to <a href="https://x.com/jonassiegel/status/1923021663123149246">The Athletic's Jonas Siegel</a>.</p><p>"A loss is a loss," added Berube, according to <a href="https://x.com/koshtorontosun/status/1923023713626128844">Postmedia's Terry Koshan</a>. "If we would have lost 2-1 and it was a close game, would it really matter today? We got beat. I've been in this situation before. We're all going to be down and dejected, but we can't be. We have to regroup."</p><p>Berube vowed the Maple Leafs will "be a lot better in Game 6," according to <a href="https://x.com/koshtorontosun/status/1923024421410717887">Koshan</a>.</p><p>Toronto is still missing goaltender <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9766" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9766">Anthony Stolarz</a>, who has been out of the series since leaving during Game 2. Berube said the netminder is doubtful to travel to Florida for the must-win Game 6, according to <a href="https://x.com/reporterchris/status/1923020619001520496">Johnston</a>.</p>

TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 29: Brandon Carlo #25 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Ottawa Senators during the first period in Game Five of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on April 29, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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Leafs' Carlo: 'Utmost faith' these guys are ready to take next step

The Vegas Golden Knights fell short of their own expectations by being eliminated by the Edmonton...

<p>The Vegas Golden Knights fell short of their own expectations by being eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers in Wednesday's 1-0 overtime loss.</p><p>"Every year you don't win feels like a year wasted," <a href="https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/video/round-2-game-5-william-karlsson-postgame-6372830240112">said</a> forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2975" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2975">William Karlsson</a>. "I believed in this team, and we got knocked out. Hopefully, in a few days, I'll just keep looking forward to next year."</p><p>It was a sentiment reiterated by veteran defenseman and two-time Stanley Cup champion <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1098" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1098">Alex Pietrangelo</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"Any time you have a good team, you just feel like you didn't really finish what you set out to do," Pietrangelo <a href="https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/video/round-2-game-5-alex-pietrangelo-postgame-6372828883112">said</a>. "We got a helluva team, a helluva locker room. It's disappointing. It's a hard league to win in, and we know that, we knew that going in. So it's just disappointing."</p><p>The Golden Knights won the Pacific Division for the fourth time in eight seasons with a 50-22-10 record.</p><p>Vegas dropped two overtime games in the five-game defeat, and the Golden Knights failed to score a goal in the last two contests of the series.</p><p>"Unfortunately, we lost too many close games," Karlsson said. "I think that was the difference. We don't score the last two games. Yeah, that's the difference."</p><p>Head coach Bruce Cassidy thinks his team had another level to give in the series.</p><p>"I wouldn't say it was our best through the series," Cassidy <a href="https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/video/round-2-game-5-bruce-cassidy-postgame-6372830245112">said</a>. "So, that's where I'm going to walk away and say, 'What could I have done better to get the best out of this group?' That's on me." </p><p>Pietrangelo put the onus on Vegas for the lack of goal scoring in key moments.</p><p>"I mean, we had chances, we just couldn't really capitalize," Pietrangelo said. "It's more on us than, probably, them."</p><p>Vegas put 23 shots on goal in Monday's 3-0 defeat, and managed 24 in the series finale Wednesday, while the Oilers had 32 shots on goal in both efforts.</p><p>The Golden Knights were outchanced 25-19 in Game 5, according to <a href="https://www.naturalstattrick.com/game.php?season=20242025&amp;game=30245">Natural Stat Trick</a>, but high-danger attempts at five-on-five were an even eight apiece.</p><p>The Oilers are the first team through to the conference finals.</p>

EDMONTON, AB - MAY 12: Las Vegas Golden Knights Center William Karlsson (71) in action skates past Edmonton Oilers Goalie Stuart Skinner (74) in the second period of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Second Round Edmonton Oilers game versus the Las Vegas Golden Knights on May 12, 2025 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB.

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Golden Knights' Karlsson: 'Feels like a year wasted'

The Toronto Sceptres turned to goaltender Carly Jackson for Wednesday's must-win Game 4 versus th...

<p>The Toronto Sceptres turned to goaltender <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15863" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15863">Carly Jackson</a> for Wednesday's must-win Game 4 versus the Minnesota Frost.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15859" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15859">Kristen Campbell</a> has an .813 save percentage and a 4.75 goals-against average in three playoff games. She allowed seven goals on 24 shots in Sunday's 7-5 loss in Game 3.</p><p>The 2024 Goaltender of the Year played 21 games in the regular season with a .910 SV%, and Campbell has started every postseason game in Toronto's history.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Jackson has played one game over two seasons with the Sceptres. They made their PWHL debut in Toronto's penultimate game of the regular season, where they made 25 saves on 26 shots in a shootout victory over the New York Sirens.</p><p>"There was some discussion of whether we would put CJ in (during Game 3)," Toronto head coach Troy Ryan told theScore on Monday. "At the point when we had the discussions, we felt it was best to keep CJ almost removed from that game. If we so choose to use her in Game 4, at least she can come in fresh with her own start, feeling good about where she is."</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pwhl/players/15838" href="https://thescore.com/pwhl/players/15838">Raygan Kirk</a>, Toronto's backup netminder for most of the campaign, is on long-term injured reserve.</p><p>The Sceptres trail Minnesota 2-1 in the best-of-five series.</p>

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Sceptres switch netminders for must-win Game 4 vs. Frost

The Los Angeles Kings named Ken Holland as the team's new vice president and general manager on W...

<p>The Los Angeles Kings named Ken Holland as the team's new vice president and general manager on Wednesday.</p><p>Holland will oversee the team's day-to-day hockey operations. He was the general manager of the Edmonton Oilers from 2019-24, and he worked as a consultant in the NHL's hockey operations department this season.</p><p>"As we did our due diligence, we identified Ken as the absolute best option and acted decisively to make him our general manager," Kings president Luc Robitaille said in a statement. "His track record of success is undeniable and, after our conversations with him, we were clearly convinced he was the right person for us at this time. He has the experience to lead us on the proper path that will help us win now and compete for the Stanley Cup."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Kings parted ways with previous GM Rob Blake after Los Angeles' fourth straight first-round exit at the hands of the Oilers.</p><p>Holland has the fifth-most wins among general managers in NHL history. He's held the position for 26 seasons, most notably with the Detroit Red Wings from 1997 to 2019. He won four Stanley Cups in Detroit - three as the team's GM - and helped the club to four Presidents' Trophies.</p><p>Robitaille signed with the Red Wings while Holland was GM in 2001. He played two years in Detroit and won the Stanley Cup in 2002.</p><p>The Oilers made the playoffs every season with Holland at the helm, and Edmonton lost in the Stanley Cup Final in his final campaign with the organization.</p><p>Holland was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2020.</p>

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 07: General manager Ken Holland of the Edmonton Oilers speaks to the media during Media Day ahead of Game One of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on June 07, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida.

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Kings name Holland as vice president, GM

The Vancouver Canucks signed defenseman Tom Willander to a three-year, entry-level contract, the ...

<p>The Vancouver Canucks signed defenseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/13847" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/13847">Tom Willander</a> to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Wednesday.</p><p>Willander, drafted 11th overall by the Canucks in 2023, tallied two goals and 24 points in 39 games this season at Boston University. The right-handed rearguard was named a second-team All-Star in the Hockey East conference for the second straight year.</p><p>"We are excited to have Tom under contract and for him to start his professional hockey career," general manager Patrik Allvin said in a statement. "Our group has watched him closely the past couple of seasons and has been impressed with his progression and growth in the NCAA. Now is the perfect time for him to take the next step and join our organization."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The contract includes an average of $800,000 worth of Schedule A performance bonuses, reports <a href="https://x.com/DhaliwalSports/status/1922723948963176626">CHEK's Rick Dhaliwal</a>. The maximum is $1 million.</p><p>"We're happy it is done. Tom can realize his dream to play for the Canucks and work to make the roster," Willander's agent, Todd Diamond, told <a href="https://x.com/DhaliwalSports/status/1922724200680186305">Dhaliwal</a>.</p><p>Willander totaled six goals, 49 points, and a plus-47 rating in 77 career games with the Terriers over two campaigns.</p><p>The Swede won a silver medal at the 2024 world juniors and again represented his nation in January, notching five points in the seven-game tournament.</p>

OTTAWA, CANADA - JANUARY 05: Tom Willander #24 of Team Sweden skates the puck in the third period against Team Czechia of the bronze medal game during the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship at Canadian Tire Centre on January 5, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Team Czechia defeated Team Sweden 3-2 in a shootout.

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Canucks sign 2023 11th overall pick Willander to 3-year ELC

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