Hockey headlines for April 8, 2019

Monday, April 8, 2019

Jason Botterill says Sabres' second-half collapse led to Phil Housley's dismissal as coach (Buffalo News)
Panthers fire Boughner after disappointing season; team closing in on deal to hire Quenneville to be next coach (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
Willie Desjardins will not be returning as coach of the Kings (Los Angeles Times)
Connor McDavid injury not as bad as first looked, will still undergo MRI (Edmonton Sun)
Capitals’ title defense will begin against red-hot, scrappy Hurricanes (Washington Post)
Isles-Pens series begins Wednesday at Coliseum (New York Newsday)
Maple Leafs and Flames open Stanley Cup playoffs Thursday (Toronto Star)
Capitals’ first-round series with Hurricanes to start Thursday (Washington Times)
Golden Knights, Sharks open NHL playoffs Wednesday (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Wild winger J.T. Brown arrested in Dallas, misses team’s final game of season (St. Paul Pioneer Press)
Panthers closing in on hiring a new coach. And he’s won three Stanley Cups as a coach (Miami Herald)
In Barry Trotz, the Islanders Trust (New York Times)
Fighting, physicality’s place in hockey is changing (Boston Herald)
Islanders-Penguins shows how strange this NHL year has been (New York Post)
Somehow, so much turnover has been a boon for these Penguins (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
What to look for as Bruins-Maple Leafs meet in another playoff duel (Boston Globe)
Jets roughed up Blues in season series — but teams haven't played since Dec. 7 (St. Louis Post Dispatch)
No looking back before playoffs (Winnipeg Free Press)
Inexperienced Flames will learn on fly during Stanley Cup playoffs (Calgary Sun)
Light on playoff experience, Stars prepare for different brand of hockey: 'It's just cars crashing into each other everywhere' (Dallas Morning News)
Islanders bought in early to Barry Trotz's concepts (New York Newsday)
Barry Trotz's stingy Islanders an irritating first-round matchup for Penguins (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Bruce Cassidy mulling lines for Bruins playoff opener (Boston Herald)
Islanders’ turnaround fueled by dramatic improvement in nets (New York Post)
Like Blues as a whole, Schenn started slow but finished strong (St. Louis Post Dispatch)
Penguins must choose wisely to survive 1st-round series with Islanders (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
Here’s how Blue Jackets could pull upset of Lightning (Columbus Dispatch)
Alexandre Texier will suit up for Game 1 (Columbus Dispatch)
Maple Leafs' Tavares ready for lead playoff role (Toronto Sun)
‘Interesting rumor’ on Joel Quenneville makes Blackhawks’ Jonathan Toews smile (Chicago Sun-Times)
Assessing possible candidates to replace Phil Housley as Sabres coach (Buffalo News)
Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman eyes defense in critical offseason (Chicago Sun-Times)
Gorton views season as positive, cites young players (New York Newsday)
Different season, same old problems for Flyers: falling behind and chasing games (Philly.com)
More change is a given for Wild: 'What we have is not working.' (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)
Senators not happy they're headed for an early summer (Ottawa Sun)
Mixed emotions as Edmonton Oilers close the book on a wasted season (Edmonton Journal)
Red Wings frustrated by season but believe future is bright (MLive.com)
Ducks' exit interviews come earlier than they have in last seven seasons (Los Angeles Times)
There will be no shortage of changes as Senators head their separate ways (Ottawa Sun)
Changes are coming with Oilers ending near bottom looking way up (Edmonton Sun)
Henrik Lundqvist will need some time to sort out difficult season (New York Post)
Kreider's future a big topic on breakup day (New York Newsday)
Ducks center Ryan Kesler evaluating medical options for his injured hip (Orange County Register)
No doubt about it: Jonathan Toews pleased after the best season of his career (Chicago Tribune)
Blackhawks star Patrick Kane put on career-best show in lost season (Chicago Sun-Times)
20 years later: Remembering the Dallas Stars' Stanley Cup win, and the wild parties that followed (Dallas Morning News)