National Hockey

Anticipation, excitement and a fair amount of nerves are to be expected ahead of a Game 7. That's the easy part. Or at least the predictable part.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The smiling side of a handshake line at the end of the second round was a brand-new experience for Alex Ovechkin and Barry Trotz.

BOSTON — Bruins forward Brad Marchand has used the past few days since his team was eliminated in the second round in five games by the Tampa Bay Lightning to reflect on his role in the loss.

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins don't expect the sting from their second-round playoff exit to fade anytime soon.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Rod Brind'Amour helped deliver the greatest moment in Carolina Hurricanes' history — a Stanley Cup championship. His next challenge is to create more memorable moments as their coach.

Jim Nill could have picked anyone from an extensive list of experienced out-of-work NHL coaches to fill the Dallas Stars' vacancy.

NASHVILLE — Filip Forsberg dropped his broken stick and raced to the bench for another just as the puck slid around the boards near his skates.

WINNIPEG — There was a brief moment of locker-room levity after the Jets had just blown a chance to clinch a spot in the Western Conference final for the first time in franchise — and the city's — history.

If the Winnipeg Jets are going to be the first Canadian NHL team in a quarter of a century to win a Stanley Cup, they'll have to buck a recent trend of this country's clubs losing the seventh game of a playoff series.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Joe Thornton says it's no secret he wants to finish his career with the San Jose Sharks and he's hopeful he can get another contract signed before hitting free agency this summer.