Hall, Kopitar, MacKinnon finalists for Hart as NHL MVP

NEW YORK » New Jersey left wing Taylor Hall, Los Angeles center Anze Kopitar and Colorado center Nathan MacKinnon are the finalists for the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player.

The winner will be announced June 20 at the NHL Awards shows in Las Vegas.

Hall had 39 goals and 54 assists, setting career highs across the board to lead the Devils to a 27-point improvement in the standings

Maple Leafs clean out lockers

TORONTO » Mike Babcock was at his daughter’s graduation when he received a text message from a friend about reports of a strained relationship with star center Auston Matthews.

“I’ll find out in the morning,” the Toronto coach replied. “I’ll meet him. I’ll ask him in the morning.”

As the Maple Leafs cleaned out their lockers Friday in the wake of a seven-game loss to the Bruins in the first round of the playoffs, Babcock and Matthews addressed speculation the coach had “lost” his player during the series.

“I said, ‘What’s going on?”’ Babcock told reporters of his conversation with Matthews. “It’s interesting in Toronto, you (media) do such a good job. You’re everywhere. You’re under the bench, you’re in the crack in the door, you’re in the car, you’re in the parking lot. You’re everywhere, and any time anybody does anything there’s a big story.

“I asked him flat-out, ‘Do we have any (issues)?’ He was sitting right there. We don’t seem to.”

Sharks’ Kane suspended 1 game

NEW YORK » San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane has been suspended for Game 2 against Vegas because of a cross-check to the head of Pierre-Edouard Bellemare.

The NHL announced the ban Friday. The league said Kane’s second cross-check after the whistle was “not a hockey play” and served no purpose other than hitting an opponent in the head.