Latest news with #ConnorHellebuyck
USA Today
17-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Stanley Cup Final time, TV, how to watch Panthers vs. Oilers Game 6
Stanley Cup Final time, TV, how to watch Panthers vs. Oilers Game 6 Show Caption Hide Caption Jets' Hellebuyck becomes fourth goalie to win MVP Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck became the fourth goalie since 1967 to receive the Hart Trophy and be named the NHL's MVP for the 2024/25 season. unbranded - Sport The Florida Panthers, who needed 30 years to win their first Stanley Cup championship, can become the ninth NHL team with back-to-back titles. All they need is a home victory against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 on Tuesday, June 17. The Panthers took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final with a defensive masterpiece in Game 5. "The most important thing is to stick with our game," Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said. "You don't need to change anything. ... That's been our whole mindset the whole playoffs. The next game, you have be better than the previous game." The Panthers are 3-1 this postseason when they have a chance to close out a series. In last year's final, the Panthers gave up a 3-0 series lead before winning in Game 7. The Oilers are counting on their resilience as they try to force a seventh game, which would be on Friday, June 20, in Edmonton, Alberta. "For some reason when their backs are against up the wall and they've hit rock bottom and they're facing elimination … they play their best and they don't panic," Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. Stuart Skinner will be back in the Oilers net for Game 6 after Calvin Pickard had played in Game 5. Here's what to know about Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers, including how to watch: Game 6 preview: What Panthers, Oilers need to do to win When is Stanley Cup Final Game 6? Panthers vs. Oilers game time The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers will face off Tuesday, June 17, at 8 p.m. ET at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. What TV channel is Panthers vs. Oilers Game 6 on? TNT and truTV are broadcasting Game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final. Kenny Albert will provide play-by-play, while Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Darren Pang and Jackie Redmond will provide analysis and reporting. Stream the 2025 Stanley Cup Final on Sling How to watch Panthers vs. Oilers Game 6 Date: Tuersday, June 17 Tuersday, June 17 Location: Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida Time: 8 p.m. ET 8 p.m. ET TV: TNT, truTV TNT, truTV Streaming: Max, Sling TV The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter.
USA Today
17-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Stanley Cup to be awarded to NHL champion: How much does trophy weigh?
Stanley Cup to be awarded to NHL champion: How much does trophy weigh? Show Caption Hide Caption Jets' Hellebuyck becomes fourth goalie to win MVP Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck became the fourth goalie since 1967 to receive the Hart Trophy and be named the NHL's MVP for the 2024/25 season. unbranded - Sport The Stanley Cup will be in the building in Sunrise, Florida, for Game 6 on Tuesday, June 17, as the Florida Panthers try to wrap up a second consecutive NHL championship. If the Edmonton Oilers win, the players, coaches and the trophy will make the trip to Alberta for winner-take-all Game 7. Once the championship is determined and the players go through the handshake line, the presentation ceremonies begin. The Conn Smythe Trophy is first awarded to the MVP of the entire playoffs. Then the Stanley Cup is carried onto the ice to be officially awarded by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. Players, one-by-one, celebrate on the ice by lifting and skating with the trophy. Here's what to know about the Stanley Cup: How much does the Stanley Cup weigh? The Stanley Cup weighs 34.5 pounds. How tall is the Stanley Cup? The Stanley Cup is 35.25 inches tall. How old is the Stanley Cup? The original bowl, which sits in the Hockey Hall of Fame, was donated in 1892 by Sir Frederick Arthur Stanley, Lord Stanley of Preston, to be presented to "the championship hockey club of the Dominion of Canada." The trophy has been given solely to NHL champions since 1926. Bands, engraved with the names of players and others from the winning team, have been added over the years to give the trophy its current look. Older engraved bands are retired to make room for new bands. Who is presented the Stanley Cup? Unlike most other major sports, where the championship trophy is handed to the team owner, the Stanley Cup is handed to the team captain, who gets to lift it first. One notable exception: Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic accepted the Stanley Cup and handed it to star defenseman Ray Bourque for the first hoist. Who is the Keeper of the Cup? Phil Pritchard, the curator for the Hockey Hall of Fame, is known as the Keeper of the Cup. His social media handle is @keeperofthecup. He helps bring out the trophy for the presentation ceremony and is known for his white gloves. Other Hall of Fame employees also travel with the Stanley Cup. The trophy is carried in a nondescript case. Who gets to celebrate with the Stanley Cup? Each member of the winning team gets a day with the trophy.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
US hockey announces initial 6 players for 2026 Milan Olympics
File- Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) celebrates his goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, March 15, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes, File) Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck recovers from making a save on a shot from the Dallas Stars in the first period of Game 6 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series in Dallas, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson) FILE - Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews (34) consoles teammate Joseph Woll (60) in the final moments of the third period of Game 7 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series in Toronto, May 18, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP, File) FILE - Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid skates during a stoppage in play during the second period in Game 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers, in Edmonton, on June 6, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP, File) FILE - Atlantic Division's Brady Tkachuk, of the Ottawa Senators (7) and Matthew Tkachuk, of the Florida Panthers (19) watch the rerun of a goal by Matthew assisted by Brady during the NHL All Star hockey game, Feb. 4, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier, File) FILE - Atlantic Division's Brady Tkachuk, of the Ottawa Senators (7) and Matthew Tkachuk, of the Florida Panthers (19) watch the rerun of a goal by Matthew assisted by Brady during the NHL All Star hockey game, Feb. 4, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier, File) File- Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) celebrates his goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, March 15, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes, File) Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck recovers from making a save on a shot from the Dallas Stars in the first period of Game 6 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series in Dallas, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson) FILE - Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews (34) consoles teammate Joseph Woll (60) in the final moments of the third period of Game 7 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series in Toronto, May 18, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP, File) FILE - Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid skates during a stoppage in play during the second period in Game 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers, in Edmonton, on June 6, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP, File) FILE - Atlantic Division's Brady Tkachuk, of the Ottawa Senators (7) and Matthew Tkachuk, of the Florida Panthers (19) watch the rerun of a goal by Matthew assisted by Brady during the NHL All Star hockey game, Feb. 4, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier, File) FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The U.S. named Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy as its first six players for the 2026 Olympics, avoiding goaltenders on the initial roster unveiled Monday. Some assortment of Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger, Jeremy Swayman and Thatcher Demko figure to make the team when full rosters are submitted in early January. Advertisement 'Our goalies played well for us, great seasons: Connor just got the Vezina and Hart, which is incredible,' U.S. general manager Bill Guerin said on a video call with reporters. 'It was just kind of the thing we talked that about before we did it for 4 Nations: do we add a goalie, do we not add a goalie? I felt it was best we stay consistent and just let the goalies play it out during the season.' All 12 teams that qualified — with France replacing Russia because of the International Olympic Committee's ban on that country for team sports because of the war in Ukraine — announced the start of their groups set to take part in Milan. This tournament marks the return of NHL participation and what should be the first Olympics for Canada's Connor McDavid and many other top players who have not yet gotten that opportunity. 'Incredibly honored to represent my country at the biggest sporting event in the world,' McDavid said after he and the Edmonton Oilers practiced during the Stanley Cup Final. 'You think of the Canadian players that can be named to that team and to be selected again, it means a lot.' McDavid would have been there had the NHL not pulled out of the 2022 Beijing Games because of pandemic-related scheduling issues. Along with McDavid, Canada picked Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Brayden Point and Sam Reinhart, the latter of whom is also in the final with the defending champion Florida Panthers. Advertisement 'When you're growing up when you're watching as a kid, it's Stanley Cup finals and it's Team Canada,' Reinhart said. "Those are the two things that you dream about playing for. To have that opportunity is pretty exciting.' Three other Panthers players — Aleksander Barkov for Finland, Nico Sturm for Germany and Uvis Balinskis for Latvia — are penciled in for Milan. Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl headlines the list for Germany, which reached the final in 2018 when the NHL skipped the Olympics. 'There's not a lot of elite centermen in the league: I think Leon is in that category, Sasha (Barkov is) in that category,' Sturm said. 'Big left-handed centermen that you can model your game after. He's definitely somebody that I look up to a lot and try to learn from.' Obviously much can change over the next eight months, from injuries to performance, and this process with the IOC and International Ice Hockey Federation follows what the U.S., Canada, Sweden and Finland did in naming six initial players last summer for the 4 Nations Face-Off that was a massive success in February. Advertisement 'I understand it from a marketing perspective to get things up and running,' Canada GM Doug Armstrong said. 'We probably had a wide berth of players we could have named, but it is what it is. I think it's consistent with the 4 Nations and the event before, so we're OK doing. As I said to someone: 'I think the easy part's behind us, these six. Now it gets interesting as we fill out that roster.'' Sweden chose forwards Gabriel Landeskog, Lucas Raymond, William Nylander and Adrian Kempe and defensemen Victor Hedman and Rasmus Dahlin. Finland picked Barkov, fellow skaters Mikko Rantanen, Sebastian Aho, Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell and goaltender Juuse Saros. This is Barkov's second Olympics after being in Sochi in 2014. That was as a young, part-time player. 'That was my dream as a kid to be there, and I got to experience that for a little bit for two games,' Barkov said. "Now, to be named again is a huge honor. I'm really, really happy and honored and thankful for that opportunity.' Advertisement Much of the reaction to the roster release on social media had to do with Russia not taking part. That means all-time leading goal-scorer Alex Ovechkin, MVP finalist Nikita Kucherov and two time Cup-winning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy will not get the chance to go to Milan. 'It's disappointing that they're not in this event, but it's certainly nothing that the participants in the event can control,' Armstrong said. 'You have to play the teams that are on your schedule, and unfortunately this time around the Russians won't be there.' ___ AP NHL:
New York Times
16-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
NHL vibe check: Oilers' two-way support, the taxes debate and trading top-5 draft picks
As much as the NHL has evolved into a two-goalie league in the regular season, that trend hasn't carried into the playoffs. Most teams, no matter how even the regular season split may be, primarily lean on one guy in the playoffs, especially those that go on deep runs. So, Stuart Skinner starting 67 percent of the Edmonton Oilers' playoff games isn't exactly traditional. Advertisement It's out of necessity. As much as Skinner rebounded against the Stars, with 6.38 goals saved above expected in five games, the Florida Panthers are exposing his weaknesses. After giving his team a chance to win with a quality start in Game 1, he fell below expectations in his next three outings, which pulled Calvin Pickard back into action. The change from Skinner to Pickard helped stabilize the Oilers in Game 4, enough to spark a dramatic overtime comeback. But Pickard didn't instill much confidence in a Game 5 loss that pushed the team to the brink of elimination. And that makes the decision for Game 6 a lot more difficult. When Connor Hellebuyck allowed two early goals in Game 7 against the St. Louis Blues back in Round 1, it made sense why the coaches kept him in net. Despite all of his playoff demons, he's the Winnipeg Jets' ride-or-die goalie, and that was his game to lose. It's why many disagreed with Peter DeBoer's decision to pull Jake Oettinger in a Game 5 elimination in the Western Conference final, too. But the Oilers don't have a ride-or-die goalie. If anything, it's Skinner who has a bit more history with the team; his play is just too volatile to earn that title fully, and this postseason reflects that. Pickard isn't that, either — as much as he has helped Edmonton get back on the rails at times this postseason, he adds an element of chaos and volatility, considering how aggressively he plays. Just take this Game 4 sequence, when he overcommits at the top of the blue paint to Carter Verhaeghe, who moves the puck laterally to Matthew Tkachuk. EKHOLM AND RNH DENY TKACHUK 🤯 — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 13, 2025 That would be a tough save for even the best goaltenders, especially if Tkachuk doesn't take a second to accept the pass, then shoot it. Instead, Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scrambled for a block to keep the score tied. As series go deeper, teams can gather more intel on their opponents. And players can learn goalie tendencies to pinpoint their weaknesses better, too. That's true on both sides of this matchup, with the Oilers trying to target Sergei Bobrovsky up high more. So that makes the Oilers' decision even more daunting, since the Panthers seem to have Skinner and Pickard figured out. Advertisement But it's not the only problem for Edmonton heading into Game 6. The Panthers have three things working for them: an elite offense, an elite defense and a goaltender who can be an elite difference-maker. It's a key reason Florida is in the Stanley Cup Final for the third straight year. The Oilers … don't have those three elements consistently enough. The offense is elite, especially when the supporting depth steps up around Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard. The team defense can be great, as it was against the Golden Knights and Stars earlier this postseason. And that two-way support can put a shaky goaltending tandem in a position to succeed. Without that two-way support, the Oilers are left with lopsided results like Game 5. The Panthers become an even more dangerous team later in a series because they wear down opponents with their forecheck and grinding style. That showed in Game 5, with 15 shot attempts (and four goals) from the home plate area at five-on-five. The Oilers, on the other hand, only mustered five shot attempts — two in the first period (from McDavid and Connor Brown), McDavid's third-period goal and two other low-percentage shots. Florida feasted on the Oilers' third line of Jeff Skinner, Adam Henrique and Trent Frederic. Darnell Nurse, Jake Walman, and Troy Stetcher were all crushed in their minutes, too. Not only did the Panthers challenge them offensively, but also they made key defensive plays to limit Edmonton's best in the slot. So, first and foremost, if the Oilers are going to fight off elimination on Tuesday, the team has to drive to the middle of the ice and keep the Panthers out of it. Speaking of driving to the middle of the ice, that's exactly what Marchand did in Game 5 with two highlight-reel goals. OH MY BRAD MARCHAND 😱😱😱 — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 15, 2025 Marchand was a force in Game 5. Along with two goals, Florida had a 15-5 edge in shot attempts in Marchand's five-on-five minutes and an 89 percent expected goal rate. That added up to a game-high 4.59 Game Score, which ties his high this postseason (Game 7 against the Maple Leafs). It was another sparkling game in what has been an outstanding postseason. Along with 20 points in 22 games, he is rocking a 62 percent expected goal rate in the playoffs, and a 21-6 goal differential in his five-on-five minutes. And in the Final, he's been an absolute menace against the Oilers. Advertisement Marchand is showing exactly what he still has left in the tank. There were signs in Boston, even this year. While his scoring has declined in recent years, the Bruins were still a better team in his minutes, no matter his usage. Even with all those signs, acquiring players is always a gamble. As much as teams can estimate fits, the reality is no one knows how a player will mesh with another club until it happens. His skills and characteristics fit perfectly in Florida, and his role on the third line puts him in a beneficial position. Most teams will struggle to contain Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett in the top six. Few have the chops to also play the matchup game against a third line of the Panthers' caliber. Still thinking about this goal from Brad Marchand 🤩 What a #StanleyCup Final he's having 💪 — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 15, 2025 And as they've shown earlier this postseason, that third line can shift capacities into a matchup role when needed to take some of the burden off the Panthers' top scorers. Marchand is showing, on the NHL's biggest stage, that his versatility is still a strength. And that's going to get him paid this summer, even at 37. Evolving-Hockey projects a three-year deal worth $7.19 million if he signs outside of Florida, and the recency bias of his Conn Smythe-caliber play could juice that number even more. While the Panthers and Oilers fight for the Stanley Cup, 30 other teams are already in offseason mode. The Rangers have already made some changes over the last two months, from firing Peter Laviolette and hiring Mike Sullivan to trading Chris Kreider. But there's one other intriguing storyline: the return of their former head coach to the bench as an assistant. Unlike other instances where coaches return to their former clubs, there hasn't been a ton of distance between David Quinn's firing (May 2021) and his hiring. There hasn't been a major front-office reshuffle, either. Advertisement Quinn had his shortcomings in New York four years ago. Up-and-coming talent didn't develop well enough, the even-strength offense lacked and he and his staff didn't make enough adjustments over the years to change that. The question now is how much he has learned in San Jose and Pittsburgh, and whether it will translate to a different capacity. Quinn helped build the foundation of the Rangers' power play, which helped carry the team over the years (until this past season). And he helped turn around the Penguins' power play last year after a disastrous 2023-24. Maybe he can help get Mika Zibanejad's scoring back on track — if the Rangers veteran isn't moved this summer, too. As promising as that seems, defensive help is even more pressing — and the Penguins' deployment was suspect, at best, last year. That's where the Rangers need the most help, and the pressure is on Quinn to deliver this time around. Just when it seemed like the coaching carousel was done spinning for the offseason with all eight vacancies filled, one more opened up. The Stars dismissed Peter DeBoer after a third straight elimination in the Western Conference Final. The Jake Oettinger situation contributed to DeBoer's dismissal, but that was the final straw, not the first. The offense drying up for the second straight year against the Oilers in the conference final was even more damning. With a star-caliber roster in place, management has to find a coach who can take them to the next level. Sometimes teams opt for a veteran option in this position, but Dallas just fired a veteran with five NHL head coaching jobs under his belt. Maybe a new direction will push this team further. The challenge is that eight head coaches have already been scooped up this summer. Candidates like Brad Shaw and Jay Leach have been hired or retained in assistant capacities. Advertisement There are still interesting names out there, because, contrary to popular belief, there is a large pool of options to draw from, beyond the same names that keep circulating. Two under-the-radar names stand out for Dallas. The first: Oilers assistant coach Glen Gulutzan. Not only did he design a power play that contributed to the Stars' elimination in each of the last two seasons, but also he has some head coaching experience without being considered a retread. Eleven other teams have a head coach who was last an associate or assistant at the NHL level, including three of this offseason's hirings. If looking at current assistant coaches seems like the best route, then the Columbus Blue Jackets' Misha Donskov, as pointed out by The Athletic's Aaron Portzline, could be an under-the-radar pick to watch, too. The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported that Utah is listening to offers on the fourth pick, but what could a return look like? There isn't a real baseline, because it's that rare of an occurrence. A handful of top-10 picks have been moved over the years. The Ottawa Senators flipped the No. 7 pick for Alex DeBrincat back in 2022, after a 41-goal season. In 2017, the Rangers acquired Arizona's No. 7 pick (and Tony DeAngelo) in exchange for Derek Stephan and Antti Raanta. In 2013, the New Jersey Devils moved the No. 9 pick to the Vancouver Canucks for Corey Schneider. A year before that, the Pittsburgh Penguins sent Jordan Staal to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for the No. 8 pick, Brian Dumoulin and Brandon Sutter. Jeff Carter was sent to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2011 in exchange for the No. 8 pick, Jakub Voracek and a third-rounder. But a top-five pick hasn't been moved after the draft order was determined since 2008, when the New York Islanders moved down from fifth to seventh (and then ninth in a second trade). So the Mammoth would be carving a new path on the value of that pick from a trade perspective if it gets moved. With Florida teams reaching the Stanley Cup Final in each of the last six years, the tax conversation is back at the forefront. Advertisement Both the Lightning and Panthers have benefited from players signing below their market value, from Sam Reinhart and Gustav Forsling in Florida to Brandon Hagel in Tampa Bay. If Sam Bennett signs a team-friendly deal to stay in Sunrise, that narrative will rage on some more. Taxes are a part of the conversation with player contracts, but it tends to get blown out of proportion — even some agents think so. Yes, it's a benefit that can help a player earn more of his paycheck in certain states, allowing a team in Florida to offer less than a team in California to maintain the same take-home amount. That's still true even after accounting for taxation on the road. But it's far from the only reason players want to sign with teams. The Lightning and Panthers, along with the Stars and Golden Knights, are desirable landing spots because of a true organizational commitment to winning. Not every team fully buys into a window of contention and invests as much as possible in a team's chances, like the Florida teams have in recent years. And that can be a deciding factor for players hungry to rack up championship rings. Add in the amenities some organizations offer, plus the overall lifestyle and vibe (compared to, say, Toronto), and it can be a no-brainer to sign a team-friendly deal. This wasn't an issue when these teams weren't Stanley Cup favorites. If anything, some Sun Belt teams were at a disadvantage for years relative to traditional markets. Imbalances will ebb and flow through the NHL, but there's a reason the CBA doesn't address each one. — Data via Evolving-Hockey, HockeyViz, HockeyStatCards, All Three Zones and Natural Stat Trick. This story relies on shot-based metrics; here is a primer on these numbers. (Top photo of Calvin Pickard: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
National Post
13-06-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Was Game 4 a turning point in the Stanley Cup Final?
Article content WATCH BELOW: On the latest episode of Off The Post, Toronto SUN Sports Columnist Steve Simmons, The Province and Vancouver Sun Canucks reporter Patrick Johnston and Postmedia's Rob Wong discuss the Edmonton Oilers winning Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, Leon Draisaitl's strong postseason play and if Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck deserved to win the Hart Trophy. Article content
