Gallant, Rangers part ways after elimination
The New York Rangers and coach Gerard Gallant are parting ways after their first-round playoff elimination.
The Rangers announced the change, which they called mutual, on Saturday — less than a week after a seven-game series loss to the Devils.
“I have a ton of respect for Gerard as both a coach and person and truly appreciate everything he did for us on and off the ice these last two seasons,” general manager Chris Drury said in a statement.
“After my evaluation of the season and discussions with Gerard, we mutually came to the conclusion that a change would be beneficial for both parties. I wish he and his family all the best in the future. Our search for a new head coach will begin right away.”
Gallant led New York to the Eastern Conference finals in 2022 in his first season with the team and was a finalist for the Jack Adams Trophy as coach of the year. He has not lasted three full seasons in any of his five head coaching jobs in the league.
In a statement sent through the team, Gallant thanked owner James Dolan and Drury for the opportunity.
“The experience of coaching an Original Six franchise with such rich history and an incredibly passionate fanbase is something I will never forget,” Gallant said.
The Rangers begin another coaching search in hopes of finding the person who will get them their first Stanley Cup since 1994.
Three-time championship-winning coach Joel Quenneville’s name has been connected to the franchise, though he would need to be reinstated by commissioner Gary Bettman after his role in a sexual assault scandal with the Blackhawks from 2010 that caused him to resign from his job with the Panthers in October 2021.
Oilers even series
Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid each scored twice and the Edmonton Oilers won, 5-1, to tie their Western Conference semifinal series at one game apiece against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday night.
Game 3 will be Monday in Edmonton, where the Oilers were 2312-6 during the regular season.
Drasaitl, who scored four goals in the first game, has at least 1 point in the first eight games of the postseason, totaling 17 (13 goals, 4 assists). McDavid, meanwhile, is on a sevengame point streak, with five goals and 11 assists.
Evan Bouchard also scored for the Oilers, while rookie goaltender Stuart Skinner stopped 30 shots.
Ivan Barbashev ruined Skinner’s bid for a shutout less than two minutes into the third period by scoring his third goal of the series, the lone goal for the Golden Knights.
Vegas goaltender Laurent Brossoit stopped 26 of 31 shots before being pulled after two periods.
McCann back on the ice
The Kraken welcomed leading scorer Jared McCann back to practice, but coach Dave Hakstol doesn’t expect him to play in Sunday’s Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against Dallas.
McCann has been out since getting hurt in Game 4 of the first round against Colorado on a hit from Cale Makar. McCann’s injury is unknown, with Hakstol only saying he’s working through “injury protocol.”