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 and their first playoff appearance since 2011-12.
Kopitar scored 35 goals and had 57 assists, nearly tripling his goals and doubling his points from 2016-17 to power the Kings to their seventh playoff berth in the past nine years.
MacKinnon had 39 goals and 58 assists to guide the Avalanche to a 47-point improvement, matching the fourth-highest year-toyear gain in league history.
Matthews, Babcock deny rift as 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.”
Matthews, who had just a goal and an assist against Boston, said talk of friction also was news to him. “I don’t know what that’s all about,” he said. “Our relationship’s fine. Obviously, you guys can speculate all you want, but I think it’s pointless.”
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.
The play came in the third period of a series opener that San Jose lost 7-0 to the Golden Knights.