NHL

6:47 AM ET The Dallas Stars are in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 20 years … and they’ll have to wait a little bit longer to find out who they are playing. The New York Islanders kept their season alive by besting the Tampa Bay Lightning in a double-overtime Game 5.

7:00 AM ET The New York Islanders were one of the strongest teams in the Toronto bubble, but ever since they arrived in Edmonton, they’ve been outmatched by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference finals. Sure, we can forget about the 8-2 drubbing in Game 1 and chalk it up to an unfavorable

3:57 PM ET In announcing Peter Laviolette as his new head coach, Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan used an unusual phrase, saying they were fortunate to “have him available at a time of need for our organization.” One often hears buzzy managerial language in situations like this — “taking us to the next level”

6:50 AM ET The Dallas Stars will play for the Stanley Cup after eliminating the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals. The Tampa Bay Lightning can join them if they do the same to the New York Islanders in Game 5 of their series on Tuesday night. Check out ESPN

12:38 AM ET Coach Peter DeBoer was speechless as he walked into the Vegas Golden Knights dressing room after Game 5 of the Western Conference finals. “I didn’t prepare something to say to them tonight, because I just didn’t think we’d lose,” he said. Lose, they did. Dallas Stars forward Denis Gurianov’s goal at 3:36

7:02 AM ET Entering the Western Conference finals, the Vegas Golden Knights were the odds-on favorite to win the Stanley Cup. After four games of that series, they’re now one loss away from elimination. The Dallas Stars‘ suffocating defense, outstanding goaltending and opportunistic scoring have them up 3-1 in the series over Vegas, winning 2-1

7:00 AM ET The Dallas Stars are one win away from advancing to their first Stanley Cup Final since 2000. Eliminating the Vegas Golden Knights won’t be easy, as Vegas is claiming the Western Conference finals are “a long way from over.” Can Dallas close out the series on its first try? Meanwhile, the Tampa

3:13 PM ET New York Islanders forwards Casey Cizikas and Tom Kuhnhackl have both left the Edmonton bubble due to injuries, the team announced ahead of Game 4 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday. Neither player will return for the rest of the playoffs, the team said. Cizikas, an important member of the Islanders’

12:41 AM ET With a suffocating defense and clutch goaltending, the Dallas Stars are one win away from advancing to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2000. But the Vegas Golden Knights vowed that the Western Conference finals are “a long way from over” following their 2-1 loss in Game 4 on

8:16 PM ET Associated Press EDMONTON, Alberta — Lou Lamoriello of the New York Islanders is the winner of the NHL’s Jim Gregory general manager of the year award. The league announced Saturday night that Lamoriello finished ahead of fellow finalists Julien BriseBois of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Jim Nill of the Dallas Stars.

5:23 PM ET Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes parted ways with defenseman Joel Edmundson after one season, trading his free-agent rights to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday for a fifth-round pick. Carolina acquired Edmundson after he won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in the 2019 trade that sent defenseman Justin Faulk

7:39 AM ET Slashes, fights, and goals galore. The Eastern Conference finals are just starting to heat up. Meanwhile, the Dallas Stars can put everyone on watch tonight, with the opportunity to go up 3-1 on the favored Vegas Golden Knights. Check out ESPN NHL Playoffs Today every day of the postseason until the Stanley

9:16 PM ET Associated Press ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild acquired center Nick Bjugstad on Friday from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a conditional selection in the 2021 NHL draft, a swap that includes the Penguins covering an unspecified portion of Bjugstad’s $5.25 million salary next season. Bjugstad, a 28-year-old Minnesota native, played in

7:00 AM ET Kevin Connolly has never been shy about his love for the New York Islanders. The Long Island native, most famous for his role as “E” on “Entourage,” directed the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary “Big Shot,” about the time a con man briefly bought Connolly’s favorite team in 1996. Connolly is often

6:54 AM ET The Dallas Stars took as 2-1 lead in the Western Conference Final over the Vegas Golden Knights, and the Tampa Bay Lightning are seeking a 3-0 lead over the New York Islanders over in the Eastern Conference Final. But the Bolts enter Game 3 a bit shorthanded. Check out ESPN NHL Playoffs

9:57 PM ET Associated Press EDMONTON, Alberta — Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier became the third Flyers player to be chosen as the NHL’s top defensive forward when he was awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy on Thursday night. “It’s one thing to produce offensively, but if you want to be out on the ice

Sep 10, 2020 Every week, we’ll provide a handy recap and accompaniment to the latest episode of “Quest For The Stanley Cup,” the NHL docuseries about the playoffs, available exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+. The second episode for the 2020 playoffs is titled “Sevens are Wild.” Describe this episode in 10 words or less.

9:25 AM ET Tom Brady ruins everything. I’m speaking as a lifelong New York Jets fan, of course. But I’m also speaking as a hockey fan who wants the greatest number of people to enjoy the greatest sport on the planet (sorry, marble racing) at its greatest time of the season: The Stanley Cup conference