Regarding the Rangers, as the hockey department convenes at Glen Sather’s La Quinta Western White House this week for its offseason congress: Only one team in NHL history other than the 2012-15 Blueshirts won as many as eight playoff rounds over four years and failed to win the Stanley Cup. The Bruins of 1988-91 won […]
Read MoreBrendan Smith’s sights are not necessarily set on hitting the open market on July 1, but the impending free-agent defenseman’s agent made it clear Monday that while the 28-year-old could eschew free agency to remain with the Rangers, it would have to be for a fair market value deal. “Brendan has told me that he […]
Read MoreIt was during that slog of a franchise-record nine-game road trip from late January into February when Doug Weight, the Islanders’ interim head coach, realized he needed help. Just over a month into his tenure, Weight was trying to do everything. While making room for individual meetings with his young group, he cut short his […]
Read MoreThe Devils needed a change, so they started by axing a pioneer. The team did not renew the contract of radio broadcaster Sherry Ross after 10 years as the color commentator. Matt Loughlin, the full-time radio play-by-play man since 2006, confirmed to The Post he will remain in his role and will start next season […]
Read MoreESPN analyst and longtime NHL player and coach Barry Melrose talks Predators, Garth Brooks and ESPN’s hockey coverage with The Post’s Justin Terranova. Q: What is the biggest reason the Predators are in the Stanley Cup finals? A: Pekka Rinne, I’d give him the Conn Smythe right now. I can hardly remember a bad goal, […]
Read MorePITTSBURGH — The Penguins are heading back to the Stanley Cup final. Chris Kunitz beat Craig Anderson 5:09 into the second overtime to give the defending champions a 3-2 victory over the Senators in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final Thursday night. “With the way [Kunitz] was holding the stick you could tell he […]
Read More“Smokey, this is not ’Nam, this is bowling. There are rules.” – The Big Lebowski Here’s the thing about officiating in the NHL: Everyone knows that the rules change once the playoffs start. And then the rules change again as those games get into the third period and overtime. It’s a foolish understanding, but it’s […]
Read MoreThis is not Canada, so the Stanley Cup final is not ingrained as must-watch television. But even for the most casual fan, the upcoming series between the Penguins and Predators is going to be rife with interesting storylines when it begins Monday in Pittsburgh. Here are the top five reasons to watch: Repeat Pens The […]
Read MoreNashville, which finished with the exact same record as the Islanders and with the same number of points as the Lightning (with one fewer victory, no less), is four wins away from the Stanley Cup — so remind me again of the value of the six-month, 82-game grind of the NHL regular season, if you […]
Read MoreThis is not the same Penguins team, and this has not been an easy run for Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and their running mates. But once again, they are in the Stanley Cup final, four wins away from back-to-back titles and hoisting their third Cup in the past eight years. With Game 1 on Monday […]
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