Labanc, 23, had a strong showing for the Sharks this season, putting up a career-high 17 goals and 56 points (20 of them coming on the power play) in the final year of his entry-level contract. He has continued to improve on his numbers each season he’s been in the NHL; he had 20 points in his rookie season and doubled that point total in 2017-18 before finally hitting the 50-point mark in the 2018-19 campaign....
A number of players and teams are already looking to lock up a long-term extension before the season begins. Players like Nathan MacKinnon, David Pastrnak and Jonathan Huberdeau have already reportedly discussed getting a new deal done before the 2022-23 season starts, the final one on their current contract. There have also been some players with one year left that are in trade rumors, including Patrick Kane, MacKenzie Weegar and J....
Three teams for two spots, and two of them don’t seem to want to lose. The Eastern Conference’s wild-card race is ridiculously compelling. All ye who discounted the Florida Panthers are now having to reconsider that position. Same goes to those who crowned the New Jersey Devils as a playoff participant a couple of weeks ago; those Devils are now perilously clinging to a playoff spot as they embark on a six-game road trip out west, one that could have a big say in their fate....
With Washington’s season on the line, Holtby stopped all 24 shots he faced against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday to force a decisive Game 7. Despite leading the Capitals with 34 wins during the regular season, Holtby’s performance in Game 6 marked the first time all season where he recorded a shutout. It’s a drought that spanned across 70 games and into the 2018 playoffs. “I’ve been here four years,” Capitals head coach Barry Trotz told reporters after the game....
With Boston and Tampa Bay deadlocked at 3-3 in overtime, the Welland, Ont., product redirected a pass from Alex Killorn and knocked the game-winning goal into the net with only his left hand on the stick. GOLDEN STANDARDHow Vegas became the most successful expansion team in sports history It’s Girardi’s second goal of the playoffs so far, both of which were scored in Round 2. Prior to his pair of goals against Boston, the defenseman hadn’t scored in the postseason since 2014....
Marchand, who notched a career-high 100 points during the regular season, tallied two goals and an assist in Sunday’s 4-2 win over the Maple Leafs, setting up a decisive Game 7 in Boston. “That’s just who he is. It’s how he’s become an elite player in the league," Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said postgame. “He goes to another level, and most of the good ones do this time of year....
In the franchise’s best season to date, the Panthers earned the Presidents’ Trophy as the top team in the league. Right behind them was the Avalanche, who finished first in the Western Conference and consistently was one of the best teams all season long. Looking at the rest of the Eastern Conference, the Maple Leafs enjoyed a successful regular season on the back of Auston Matthews’ 60-goal season. The Lightning are eyeing a potential three-peat after winning in 2020 and ‘21 with their core group still intact....
Here’s a bettor’s preview of Thursday’s Stanley Cup playoff games. Lines are as of Thursday morning. Check our live odds page for updated numbers from Las Vegas. Canadiens at Lightning, 7 p.m. ET, NBCSN (Tampa Bay leads series 3-0) Montreal line: +140Tampa Bay line: -160Total: 5 (under -160) Analysis: You’ve heard it a million times. There have only been four teams in NHL history to erase a 3-0 deficit in a series and win....
The Canadian comedy created by Dan and Eugene Levy focuses on the uber-rich Rose family that suddenly becomes broke and is forced to move to the small, neighborly town of, yep, Schitt’s Creek — which, by the way, they actually own. MORE: When is the NHL trade deadline 2020? Date, time, top targets One of the funniest shows on television, it is sadly in the process of wrapping up its sixth and final season; however, we’ll always have the gifs....
Like always, hope springs eternal for all 32 teams — welcome to team No. 32: the Seattle Kraken — but not every team has the same objective. Some teams like the Golden Knights, Avalanche and Maple Leafs are Stanley Cup or bust. Others are hoping for one more chance as their windows close like Sidney Crosby and the Penguins and Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals. Teams like the Devils, Blackhawks and, yes, even the Kraken, are looking to take that next step and some teams are already signing up for the Shane Wright sweepstakes....
The Senators won’t trade defenseman Erik Karlsson during the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas. That’s the word from Senators general manager Pierre Dorion, responding to a question over his captain’s future during a Tuesday town hall-style meeting with 300 season-ticket holders. The Ottawa Sun’s Ken Warren also reports Dorion intends to table an eight-year contract extension to the Senators captain July 1. Senators fans are understandably worried over Karlsson’s future in Ottawa....
Tuesday night, the Sharks scored a goal that should've beaten the Buffalo Sabres (considering that it was the Sabres, they should've scored a bunch more, but that's San Jose's fault). Your browser does not support iframes. That's a goal. Oh man, that's *really* a goal. But when is a goal not a goal? In the moments between a referee's visual observation and the act of forcing air into a whistle and creating a sound....
REPORTED BY: Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune DETAILS: As Monday’s trade deadline looms, the Capitals are said to be searching for a winger to play alongside Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom on their top line. Enter Sharp and the cap-strapped Blackhawks, who present the greatest opportunity for Washington to acquire a bona fide top six forward before the deadline. Sharp, 33, has one year remaining on his contract after this season with a $5....
Pacific Division Anaheim Ducks Dany Heatley is “fine” according to Bruce Boudreau, although he’s got a groin pull that’ll have him out “at least” a week. But he’s fine. Bruce said so. Kyle Palmieri is somewhat less fine, having suffered a high ankle sprain in mid-September. He’s skating, but gingerly . A high ankle sprain differs from a regular one in that it affects the ligaments that actually hold the two bones of the lower leg together....
Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali knows that more than many. Both of cycling’s other “Grand Tours” that he has already won were marred by doping cases. Last year’s Giro d’Italia was tarnished by three positive tests while in the 2010 Vuelta Nibali’s runner-up, Ezequiel Mosquera, later tested positive for a masking agent that can hide blood-booster EPO — long cycling’s designer drug. But on the rest day Monday before the pack heads to the Pyrenees, the serene, talented and methodical 29-year-old Italian was focusing on the race, saying he wants to make sure he avoids a “crisis” like the crashes that forced out rivals 2013 Tour champ Chris Froome and two-time winner Alberto Contador....
In a blog on the official Pokémon Go site, Niantic confirms the dates for the October, November and December Community Days. According to the post, trainers will want to go outside and explore on October 12, November 16, December 14 and 15. While the spotlight Pokémon or the in-game bonuses for each Community Day were not announced, we can speculate and make educated guesses as to what Pokémon Go players can expect in the coming months....
According to ESPN, Diaz has agreed to fight Jorge Masvidal at UFC 235 in Las Vegas next March. If Diaz fights Masvidal in March, it’ll be his first fight in four years. His last bout came in 2015, when he lost to Anderson Silva at UFC 183. Initially the result was unanimous in Silva’s favor, but it was changed to no-contest after both parties failed their drug tests. That may have been his most recent fight, but he hasn’t actually won since his UFC 137 victory over BJ Penn back in 2011....
In his first competitive match since the Australian Open in late January, the 26-year-old looked sharp as he wrapped up a free-flowing first set before breaking his Argentine opponent in the first game of what would be a one-way second set. Kyrgios was knocked out in the second round of the Aus Open in the men’s singles but teamed up with Thanasi Kokkinakis to claim a shock doubles title. Despite it being nearly six weeks since his last game, the world number 137 showed little rust in his first match at Indian Wells - a tournament he was handed a wildcard for....
Saban made that mistake when he said Wednesday night that Texas A&M “bought every player” in its 2022 class. Fisher responded with an all-timer of a press conference Thursday in defense of his program. Then he made the same mistake when he directed a series of insults that questioned Saban’s success over his coaching career. Cue the Michael Jordan “Last Dance” memes. Two wrongs don’t make a right, but when it comes to SEC football, this exchange is high-level entertainment....
The top-ranked Crimson Tide secured their trip to Lucas Oil Stadium with an old-school 27-6 victory over No. 4 Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl. The third-ranked Bulldogs earned their chance to rematch against Alabama with a 34-11 beatdown of Michigan in the Orange Bowl. MORE: Georgia opens as favorite in CFP title game The two have had an eventful rivalry since Smart left Alabama to become head coach at Georgia....
