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Patchwork Panthers: How Florida built a perennial contender
Only three players on the current roster have been there since being drafted by the Panthers. Here's how the front office, coaches make it all work.
Rangers on the ropes: Players to watch in Game 6
What swung Game 5 in this series, and what to watch in Game 6.
NHL
Oilers one win from Cup Final: Game 5 takeaways, early look at Game 6
With the Oilers up 3-2 headed back to Edmonton, here are the key trends to monitor, and the players who will be critical in a possible clinching game.
Top Headlines
Oilers dominate Stars and go up 3-2 in the WCF
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' two goals lead the Oilers to a 3-1 victory in Game 5.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins opens scoring with power-play goal
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins taps the puck past Jake Oettinger to put the Oilers on the board.
Wyatt Johnston's goal puts the Stars on the board
Wyatt Johnston tallies a goal to put the Stars on the board in the third period.
Stuart Skinner's impressive save keeps the Stars scoreless in the 3rd
Oilers' goalie Stuart Skinner denies the Stars to keep them scoreless in the third period.
Oilers go up 3-0 on Philip Broberg's goal
Philip Broberg fires the puck home to give the Oilers a 3-0 lead.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins slaps home his 2nd goal for Oilers
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scores his second goal to pad the Oilers' lead.
Stuart Skinner strings together two saves to keep the Stars scoreless
Stuart Skinner denies the Stars twice with two impressive saves to keep the Stars scoreless in the first half.
PLAYOFFS CENTRAL
Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason
From the first round all the way through the Stanley Cup Final, ESPN has you covered. Explore the full results, and coverage on each team.
CHANGING THE COURSE OF HISTORY
How Blue Jacket buddies Panarin, Bobrovsky changed the trajectory for the Rangers, Panthers
The Russian pair walked away from Columbus in 2019, altering the rebuild timelines for the two current Eastern Conference finalists.
IN THEIR BAD BOYS ERA
How the Panthers became the NHL's bad boys -- and why they'll need to be to win against the Rangers
Frustrating, free-flowing and full of finesse. Florida is incapable of being rattled and is often the team instigating the extracurriculars.
EDMONTON OILERS
NHL
Kris Knoblauch's journey from youth hockey coach to 'saving' Oilers' season
"We dug out of a big hole and Kris was a big reason for it," Edmonton GM Ken Holland said. It's been quite a year for the former West Hartford Wolves volunteer.
Have the Oilers done enough to get Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl a Stanley Cup?
Building around superstars can be a challenge. How did the Oilers do it, and could this be their best shot to win with McDavid and Draisaitl?
DRAFT PROSPECT RANKINGS
NHL DRAFT IS JUNE 28, 29 ON ESPN, ESPN+
NHL draft Big Board: Updated top-32 rankings following under-18 championships, draft lottery
With the draft order set and many prospects' seasons over, here's the new list ahead of the draft combine in June.
Post-lottery NHL mock draft: San Jose on the clock at No. 1
The Sharks, Blackhawks and Ducks have the top three picks, with Macklin Celebrini, Artyom Levshunov and Cole Eiserman among top prospects available.
Why everyone -- including Draymond Green and Steve Kerr -- sees Macklin Celebrini as a can't-miss prospect
The expected No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft, Celebrini has seen athletic success up close over the years with his dad working for a number of professional sports teams.
AWARD WINNERS
NHL awards and trophies for the 2023-24 season: Full schedule, list of winners
It's time to recognize the best players from this season. Who will take home the hardware for MVP, rookie of the year and more?
Top Headlines
- Kraken pick Firkus named as CHL's top player
- 'Disjointed' Stars face elimination; DeBoer heated
- Oilers win, on cusp of first Cup Final in 18 years
- Saginaw tops Moose Jaw, reaches Memorial final
- Wild not retaining longtime assistant Hendrickson
- Panthers success leads to attendance record
- Panthers win, on verge of Stanley Cup Final return
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NHL conference finals 2024: Projections, matchups, tactics
The conference final round is underway. Here are projections on the points of difference that will determine who wins.
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Offseason keys for NHL teams, including draft, free agency
We explore the next moves each team should make this summer and forecast its 2024-25 outlook.
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Ranking every NHL team's prospects: Why the Sabres are No. 1
Clubs will add to their pools of young talent in the draft, but who has the best system right now? We count them down from 32 to 1.
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Ranking the top 50 NHL players in 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs
With Matthews in the top spot, where do MacKinnon, McDavid and Panarin rank? What about the top goalies? Here's what our voters think.
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Stanley Cup playoffs: A guide to all 16 teams' quirky traditions
From knight battles to the catfish toss, all 16 Stanley Cup playoff teams have franchise-defining traditions.
- (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
What's on the masks of Stanley Cup playoff goalies? Our guide
From throwback logos to player tributes to a friendly otter, see the unique mask designs that goalies on 2024 postseason teams have worn this season.
