Hockey

Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor has won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as the player "adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability," the NHL announced Monday.

Connor beat out Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin and Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon for the honor. He is the first player in Jets/Atlanta Thrashers history to win the award.

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy voting results: pic.twitter.com/Nm6hoAggIW

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 7, 2022

Winning the Lady Byng is an impressive feat for Connor, especially considering Slavin won the award last season and Spurgeon finished runner-up.

Connor set career highs during the 2021-22 campaign with 47 goals and 46 assists for 93 points in 79 games. In addition, he was given just two minor penalties, the fewest among the NHL's top 100 scorers.

The 25-year-old also led Winnipeg forwards with 21:47 of ice time per game and finished 12th in the league with 66 takeaways.

The Jets selected Connor 17th overall in the 2015 draft, and he has been a staple in the team's lineup since the 2017-18 season. In 384 games, the Michigan native has tallied 178 goals and 166 assists for 344 points.

Connor is under contract with the Jets through the 2025-26 season after signing a seven-year, $50 million deal in September 2019.

The Boston Bruins will be in the market for a new head coach this offseason.

The team announced Monday that Bruce Cassidy has been relieved of his head coaching duties after six seasons with the team, which included a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2019.

"After 14 years working with Bruce, this was an extremely difficult decision. ... After taking some time to fully digest everything, I felt that the direction of our team for both this season and beyond would benefit from a new voice," Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said in the team's press release.

Boston finished fourth in the Atlantic Division this season with a 51-26-5 record but fell to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games in the first round of the playoffs. It was the team's sixth consecutive postseason appearance under Cassidy.

The Bruins face multiple questions this offseason, including the future of captain Patrice Bergeron. The 36-year-old veteran center is set to become an unrestricted free agent after declining to negotiate a contract extension during the season.

Bergeron still has a lot left in the tank, as he won the Selke Trophy for an NHL-record fifth time as the league's best defensive forward. He helped lead the Bruins to the Stanley Cup title in 2011 and two conference titles in 2013 and 2019.

In addition to Bergeron's uncertain future, Boston is also dealing with injuries to key players. Left winger Brad Marchand and defenseman Charlie McAvoy are both expected to be out for six months after undergoing recent surgeries. Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk will likely miss five months because of a shoulder procedure.

The Colorado Avalanche are just one win from the Stanley Cup Final, but they may have to finish chasing a championship without one of their primary contributors.

Darren Dreger of TSN reported Monday that center Nazem Kadri underwent surgery on his thumb after suffering an injury on a hit by Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane during Saturday's Game 3 of the Western Conference Final.

While Kadri was not ruled out for the rest of the playoffs, Dreger noted it was "unlikely" he will return to the ice until the 2022-23 campaign.

Colorado head coach Jared Bednar had told reporters that Kadri would miss the rest of the series.

"He's out. He'll be out for the series at least, if not longer," Bednar said. "The hit, it's the most dangerous play in hockey. He puts him in headfirst from behind eight feet off the boards. I'll leave it at that."

Kane hit Kadri in the first period, and the Avalanche forward never returned. Gene Principe of Sportsnet reported Sunday that Kadri had a soft cast on his right wrist.

The Oilers forward was issued a five-minute major penalty for boarding, and the NHL Department of Player Safety announced he was suspended for one game.

While Colorado may not need Kadri to close out Edmonton after winning the first three games, his absence would be felt in the Stanley Cup Final against the New York Rangers or Tampa Bay Lightning.

The 31-year-old tallied a career-best 87 points this season with 59 assists and 28 goals. His plus-minus of plus-13 was the second-best mark of his career, which started in the 2009-10 season and includes 10 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and three with Colorado.

The visiting Avalanche will look to close out the Oilers at 8 p.m. ET Monday.

NHL legend Wayne Gretzky's jersey from his final game with the Edmonton Oilers—a 6-3 victory over the Boston Bruins to clinch the 1988 Stanley Cup—has sold on Grey Flannel Auctions for $1.45 million.

Wayne Gretzky’s last game-used Oilers jersey, matched to the 1988 Stanley Cup Finals, sells tonight on @GF_Auctions for $1.45 million. pic.twitter.com/h6mah2htAC

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) June 6, 2022

Per ESPN's Dan Hajducky, it is the most money ever spent on a hockey jersey.

Gretzky posted 40 goals and 109 assists on the 1987-88 Oilers, who went 16-2 in the playoffs en route to their fourth Stanley Cup title. He put up 12 goals and 31 assists in the postseason and won the Conn Smythe Trophy for his efforts.

Three months after the season, the Oilers traded him to the Los Angeles Kings. The "Great One" finished his 20-year career in 1999 as the NHL leader in career goals scored, assists and points.

The NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane has been suspended one game for boarding Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri.

The play occurred early in Game 3 of the Avs' Western Conference Final series against the Edmonton Oilers.

Evander Kane was given a 5-minute major for boarding on this hit on Nazem Kadri. #StanleyCup | #LetsGoOilers | #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/xRv9dN2WQs

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 5, 2022

Kane received a five-minute major penalty.

Kadri is out for at least the remainder of the Western Conference Final because of an undisclosed injury, per Avs head coach Jared Bednar (h/t Peter Baugh of The Athletic).

According to Gene Principe of Sportsnet, Kadri was seen with a soft cast on his right wrist Sunday.

The Avalanche lead the best-of-seven series three games to none after a 4-2 win over the Oilers on Saturday. Game 4 will take place on Monday at 8 p.m. ET in Edmonton.

Kadri is a big loss for the Avs. The 31-year-old has been sensational in this year's playoffs with six goals and eight assists in 13 games. He notably had the primary assist on the Avs' first three goals in a 4-0 win over Edmonton in Game 2.

Kane won't be easy to replace either. The 30-year-old dominated in limited action this year with 22 goals and 17 assists in 43 games. That's in addition to his NHL-high 13 goals in this season's playoffs.

Ultimately, the Oilers' backs are against the wall down 3-0. While not impossible, a comeback is unlikely against the Western Conference's top seed this year. The question for the Avs is the state of Kadri's health come Stanley Cup time.

It's unclear when the Final will take place until the New York Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning series nears its conclusion. Right now, the Blueshirts hold a 2-1 series edge with Game 4 set for Tuesday. But Kadri would be a tough loss if he's forced to miss any Stanley Cup time.

For now, both teams need to regroup without their productive forwards as the Western Conference Final moves on.

Boston Bruins star Patrice Bergeron underwent elbow surgery Tuesday.

Bergeron, fresh off winning the Selke Trophy for the fifth time, acknowledged the procedure will force him to think long and hard about his status for the 2022-23 NHL season.

"What [the surgery] did only is it just delayed my decision-making process," he told reporters. "I had some MRIs and meetings with them and talks with them about what I should do and whatnot. That's the only thing I can say about that."

The 36-year-old is due to hit free agency after his eight-year, $55 million contract expired with the end of this season.

Bergeron's Selke win is an illustration of how he continues to play at a reasonably high level given his age. He finished with 25 goals and 40 assists in the regular season and recorded seven points in Boston's first-round exit at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Bergeron explained how his contract status is a driving force behind his general uncertainty, per the Associated Press' Stephen Whyno:

"My whole career I’ve had contract extensions or I’ve had long-term contracts. I would head into the summers I guess with that in the back of my mind, meaning that I know what I’m doing next year and all that stuff. And now I’m 36 and I don’t have a contract and I can actually take a step back for the first time in my career, the first time in my life that I can just reflect on what I do want looking forward for the future."

Should he signal a desire to continue skating next year, Bergeron should have little trouble either re-signing with the Bruins or finding a new home. A player with his experience and resume would be an obvious target for a contending team that wants a short-term solution for its forward line.

Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron has won the 2021-22 Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive forward, it was announced Sunday.

Taking the throne. 🤴

Patrice Bergeron has won his record-breaking fifth Selke Trophy. Congratulations to the #SelkeKing!

📰: https://t.co/bUgJ8PY8gV pic.twitter.com/D7WAW5ghJd

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) June 5, 2022

He beat out Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers and Elias Lindholm of the Calgary Flames for the honor.

This marks the fifth time Bergeron has won the award, which is the most in NHL history. He was previously tied with former Montreal Canadiens forward Bob Gainey at four wins apiece.

This is also the 11th straight season in which the 36-year-old has been named a finalist for the award, which he last won in 2016-17.

Bergeron finished the 2021-22 season with 25 goals and 40 assists for 65 points in 73 games. He also led the NHL with 991 face-off wins and a 61.9 face-off win percentage, per Natural Stat Trick.

In addition, the Canadian led all forwards in puck possession (65.58). He also finished the season with 78 hits, 45 blocked shots and 37 takeaways.

Selke nominees are out. Let's dig into the three players chosen.

Bergeron should win, and I don't think it's that close. 1.6 on-ice expected goals against per 60 minutes; next-lowest was 1.85. Guy shut everyone down while creating offence at a high-end rate as well. #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/TBmjbXAVhT

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) May 17, 2022

Bergeron has been a staple in Boston's lineup since being selected in the second round of the 2003 NHL draft. He has tallied 400 goals and 582 assists for 982 points in 1,216 games across his 18-year career.

Besides being a five-time Selke winner, he also won the King Clancy Trophy in 2012-13 and the Mark Messier Trophy 2020-21, on top of leading the Bruins to a Stanley Cup victory in 2010-11.

The Tampa Bay Lightning enter Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final in a new scenario during their championship run.

Tampa Bay lost back-to-back postseason games for the first time since 2019 in Games 1 and 2 at Madison Square Garden.

The New York Rangers held serve on home ice and can play with less pressure in Game 3, but they can't afford to let the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champions get back into the series with ease.

Tampa Bay outshot the Rangers by eight, but it managed just two goals in each contest against Igor Shesterkin.

Shesterkin got the best of his goalie battle with Andrei Vasilevskiy in New York, and he will be the key to New York taking a surprising 3-0 series lead.

Eastern Conference Final Game 3 Odds

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

Moneyline: Tampa Bay (-180; bet $180 to win $100); New York Rangers (+155; bet $100 to win $155)

Over/Under: 5.5

Puck Line: Tampa Bay (-1.5; +150), New York (+1.5; -170)

Tampa Bay Should Find Footing in Series

Tampa Bay was within a goal of New York for most of Game 2 and for the first 30 minutes of Game 1.

New York's largest advantage was gained through a four-goal flurry that started right over the halfway mark of the second period in Game 1.

The Lightning rebounded from that onslaught by scoring the opening tally in Game 2. They also scored the final tally in the contest to create a small bit of momentum going into Game 3.

Tampa Bay peppered the New York net for 31 shots in Game 2, but it could use more out of its star forwards.

Nikita Kucherov had a goal and an assist in Game 2, but he only put two shots on target. Steven Stamkos did not record a point and tested Shesterkin with three shots.

Tampa Bay needs Kucherov and Stamkos to be more active in front of the Rangers net. The Lightning need more out of those players since Brayden Point is out injured.

The early key for the Lightning could be to get on the power play in the opening 20 minutes. That worked in Game 2, as Kucherov scored two minutes and 41 seconds into Game 2.

The Lightning can match New York's defensive output. Vasilevskiy and the defensemen in front of him played countless games at home in the postseason together.

Tampa Bay needs to feed off the home crowd and limit any early concessions to switch the series in its favor.

The Lightning may not be able to score an abundance of goals, but if they play solid defense and beat Shesterkin in key moments, they should get back into the series.

Shesterkin Makes Life Difficult on Tampa Attack

Shesterkin will be the reason why the Rangers come away with a Game 3 victory—if that happens.

The Russian netminder has made life difficult on the Tampa Bay offense through two games. He conceded four times on 70 shots.

Shesterkin played better than his fellow countryman, Vasilevskiy, who has been an integral part of Tampa Bay's two Stanley Cup runs. Shesterkin conceded two tallies in each of his last four postseason games. He allowed more than two once in the last nine games.

Tampa Bay may not need an offensive explosion to beat the Rangers, but it has to find better ways to beat Shesterkin to avoid the Rangers taking all of the momentum in Game 3.

A three-goal total would be ideal for the Lightning to reach since Shesterkin is 3-6 in games in which opponents reach that mark in the postseason.

If the first two games are any indication of the series, Shesterkin will be a tough customer in net and will make scoring a frustrating issue for the Lightning.

Tampa Bay can win by scoring one or two goals, but in that situation, it leaves more room for the Rangers to steal a victory in Florida through a strong outing for Shesterkin.

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Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri has been ruled out for the remainder of the Western Conference Finals against the Edmonton Oilers, head coach Jared Bednar confirmed while speaking with reporters following a 4-2 Game 3 win on Saturday.

Kadri left the first period of Saturday's game after taking a hit from behind into the end boards by Oilers forward Evander Kane.

"He's out. He'll be out for the series at least, if not longer," Bednar said. "I mean, the hit, it's the most dangerous play in hockey. I mean, he puts him in head-first from behind, you know, eight feet off the boards. I'll leave it at that."

As Kadri was trying to control the puck in the offensive zone just about one minute into the game, Kane crosschecked him in the numbers and knocked him into the boards. Kane was assessed a five-minute major penalty for boarding, and Kadri did not return to the game.

Evander Kane was given a 5-minute major for boarding on this hit on Nazem Kadri. #StanleyCup | #LetsGoOilers | #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/xRv9dN2WQs

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 5, 2022

Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog also shared his thoughts on the hit in his postgame comments, telling reporters that he's sure the NHL Department of Safety will review it for a possible fine or suspension.

"I was on the bench, but I don't like it," Landeskog said. "You know, those are the ones that kind of gives you the chills down your spine. You're taught from a young age that you don't do that and especially in that distance from the boards. So, it's a dangerous play, and I don't know what else to say. I'm sure they'll take a look at it.

Kane was last suspended for an on-ice incident in February 2020 for elbowing Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk. He also served a 21-game suspension for violating the NHL's COVID-19 protocols in September 2021, but that wasn't an on-ice incident and wouldn't be factored into a potential suspension for boarding Kadri.

Kadri has been one of the best players for the Avalanche this year, tallying 28 goals and 59 assists in 71 regular-season games. The 31-year-old entered Saturday's game with six goals and eight assists in 12 playoff games.

With Kadri sidelined, J.T. Compher, who scored the game-winning goal in Game 3, could replace him on the second line. It's unclear who the Avs might call up to join the team for the remainder of the Western Conference Finals.

Colorado holds a 3-0 lead over Edmonton and could clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2001 with a win in Game 4 on Monday at Rogers Place.