NHL Eastern Conference News

The Ottawa Senators may be the only franchise of seven from north of the 49th Parallel still alive and kicking - feebly, to be sure - in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Nick D'Agostino, a 2008 seventh-round draft pick, signed a two-year, entry level contract.

In Game 2 of the 2009 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals against the Washington Capitals , both Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin dueled like titans while netting hat tricks.

Witnesses in southwestern Virginia say a car has driven into a crowd at a parade.

Police say a gunman used anti-gay slurs before fatally shooting a 32-year-old man in New York City's Greenwich Village.

Sharks forward Raffi Torres, who is barred from the remainder of his team's second-round playoff series against Los Angeles, is a marked man who does stupid things to upset the NHL, says Don Cherry.

Bruce Boudreau of the Anaheim Ducks, Paul MacLean of the Ottawa Senators and Joel Quenneville of the Chicago Blackhawks are the three finalists for the 2012-13 Jack Adams Award, presented to the head coach who has "contributed the most to his team's success," the National Hockey League announced today.

Brooks Laich skated with the Capitals in New York last week , between Games 3 and 4 of his team's first-round NHL playoff series.

Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand celebrates following his game-winning goal against New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist during overtime in Game 1 of an NHL hockey playoffs Eastern Conference semifinal game in Boston, Thursday, May 16, 2013.

The Pittsburgh Penguins celebrate in the second period against the Ottawa Senators in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Consol Energy Center on May 17, 2013 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Working in wide-open swaths of ice left by Ottawa's tentative defense, the Pittsburgh superstar needed just over one period to complete his second playoff hat trick and lift the Penguins to a 4-3 victory Friday night in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

As encouraged as the Capitals were by Wilson's performance in three games against the New York Rangers, they don't want to rush the 19-year-old. "I explained to him, 'We're going to do what's best for your development'. Right now I'm not sure what that is," General Manager George McPhee said Wednesday.

Halifax Mooseheads centre Nathan MacKinnon, left, Portland Winterhawks defenceman Seth Jones, centre, and Halifax Mooseheads left winger Jonathan Drouin are considered by NHL Central Scouting to be the top three players in this June's draft.

Patrick Sharp has the puck in the offensive zone in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against Detroit.

For a brief spot in time, the New York Islanders were the darlings of the NHL . The ne'er-do-well franchise of the past two decades had missed the playoffs in five consecutive postseasons, and failed to advance past the Eastern Conference quarterfinals since 1993.

Tomas Kaberle is likely on the way out this summer and his replacement may already be signed, sealed though not delivered.

Former Syracuse Crunch forward Scott Walker will make an appearance at Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal between the Crunch and Springfield Falcons on Friday at the War Memorial.

The Toronto Maple Leafs, who led the NHL in blocked shots during the regular season, got in the way of 141 shots by the Bruins in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

The Pittsburgh Penguins advanced to the second round of the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs thanks to the stunning performance of backup goalie, Tomas Vokoun , who replaced Marc-Andre Fleury in Games 5 and 6 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the New York Islanders .

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis answers questions during the team's final media availability of the season.