Opinion Links for week of May 15 to 21, 2022 | Headlinehockey.com

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OPINION

MIKE STEPHENS: Can the Rangers Weather the Hurricanes? (The Hockey News)
STAN FISCHLER: The Battle of the Sunshine State (The Hockey News)
LYLE RICHARDSON: Can the Wild Afford To Sign Kevin Fiala? (The Hockey News)
MARK SPECTOR: When things get tough, these Oilers are right in their comfort zone (Sportsnet)
ERIC FRANCIS: If Flames aren't playing 5-on-5, they're in big trouble vs. Oilers (Sportsnet)
ERIC ENGELS: Hurricanes torture Rangers with suffocating forecheck, defence in Game 2 win (Sportsnet)
RON COOK: Mike Sullivan on another heartbreak, physicality perceptions and his job security (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
DANE MIZUTANI: Wild GM Bill Guerin doesn’t regret Zach Parise-Ryan Suter buyouts, and he shouldn’t (St. Paul Pioneer Press)
DAVE POULIN: Killer instinct takes time. But in the NHL playoffs, you can’t win without it (Toronto Star)
TERRY JONES: Battle of Alberta drawing plenty of betting action (Edmonton Sun)
LARRY BROOKS: Rangers’ once-lethal power play suddenly getting outworked (New York Post)
LUKE DeCOCK: Hurricanes find new ways to win, by the finest of margins, and now lead Rangers, 2-0 (Raleigh News & Observer)
STU COWAN: Captain Xavier Ouellet plays key role in Rocket's success (Montreal Gazette)
BEN FREDERICKSON: No more coasting for ballyhooed Avalanche after Blues grabbed wheel in Game 2 (St. Louis Post Dispatch)
MARK MADDEN: Penguins GM Ron Hextall hasn't done anything to lose his job or to keep it (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
MARK KISZLA: Avalanche needs coach Jared Bednar to be more than Ken doll on team bench when going gets tough in NHL playoffs (Denver Post)
GREG COTE: With title dreams slipping these Heat and Panthers players are why and better wake up fast (Miami Herald)
LARRY BROOKS: Rangers must find critical balance to unleash struggling star (New York Post)

MIKE STEPHENS: The Colorado Avalanche Look Ready for the Next Level (The Hockey News)
ADAM PROTEAU: The Calgary Flames Aren't Messing Around Here (The Hockey News)
RYAN KENNEDY: Could Crypto Be The Future For Hockey Contracts? (The Hockey News)
LYLE RICHARDSON: Early Playoff Exit Could Have The Washington Capitals Shopping For A Goaltender (The Hockey News)
ERIC FRANCIS: As Matthew’s biggest supporter, Brady Tkachuk is stealing the show in Calgary (Sportsnet)
IAIN MacINTYRE: History repeats: Lightning have Panthers' Stanley Cup hopes hanging by a thread (Sportsnet)
MARK SPECTOR: Oilers' playoff hopes hinge on Mike Smith finding his game after Game 1 stinker (Sportsnet)
SALIM VALJI: Sutter shrugs off Jack Adams Award nomination (TSN)
GREG WYSHYNSKI: How the Rangers' 'Kid Line' has sparked New York's offense (ESPN)
MICHAEL TRAIKOS: Rearranging the deck chairs might actually make sense for the Maple Leafs (National Post)
PATRICK REUSSE: Legendary hockey voice Al Shaver still bleeds Minnesota sports from afar (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)
DAVE FESCHUK: Even the best NHL coaches don’t know Jack without elite goaltending. You can look it up (Toronto Star)
BENJAMIN HOCHMAN: With the ‘BOP’ line boppin’, Berube’s moves produced vital Game 2 win (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
GREG COTE: Florida Panthers’ crushing loss, 2-0 series hole, has Comeback Cats facing biggest climb (Miami Herald)
STU COWAN: It's a sure bet you’ll see gambling ads during NHL playoffs (Montreal Gazette)
LUKE DeCOCK: Hurricanes need their star players to perform against the Rangers, in Game 2 and beyond (Raleigh News & Observer)
TERRY JONES: Forget 1991, Oilers need to play like end of first round (Edmonton Sun)
JOHN ROMANO: For a guy who was washed up in 2019, Corey Perry is a heckuva player (Tampa Bay Times)
GENTRY ESTES: Are Preds a rebuilder or contender? I'm not convinced they know (The Tennessean)
DAVE HYDE: Panthers’ defensive mistake costs Game 2 as Tampa Bay takes 2-0 series lead. (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
BENJAMIN HOCHMAN: The Blues' Bortuzzo embodies the toughness needed to succeed in the playoffs (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
MIKE SIELKSI: Why the Flyers’ 47-year Stanley Cup drought shows no signs of ending soon (Philadelphia Inquirer)
LARRY BROOKS: Rangers must finally eliminate costly mid-game lulls from DNA (New York Post)
TIM BENZ: Steelers, Penguins both idling in Pittsburgh playoff purgatory (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

STEVEN ELLIS: Flames, Oilers Game 1 Was Everything We Hoped For (The Hockey News)
ADAM PROTEAU: Goaltending Could be the Difference Between Panthers, Lightning (The Hockey News)
KEN CAMPBELL: The History of the Battle of Alberta (The Hockey News)
LYLE RICHARDSON: Will Bergeron and DeBrusk Return to the Bruins? (The Hockey News)
ERIC FRANCIS: With Alberta on hockey's centre stage, Flames and Oilers deliver 15-goal classic (Sportsnet)
MARK SPECTOR: Unprepared from the opening minute, the Oilers fail to show up in Game 1 (Sportsnet)
SALIM VALJI: Battle of Alberta: Flames look to learn from wild Game 1 victory over Oilers (TSN)
JOE STARKEY: Are you ready to pay big bucks to Tristan Jarry? (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
TERRY JONES: Gretzky picks Calgary to win Battle of Alberta (Edmonton Sun)
CHRIS JOHNSTON: Will the connection between the Leafs’ Jack Campbell and Kyle Dubas continue with another contract? (Toronto Star)
TIM BENZ: Pittsburgh fans unload on Penguins for blowing playoff lead; rip Pirates' hitting; mock 'Vogie's mad dash' (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
TOM TIMMERMANN: Blues missed a chance to steal Game 1. Now what? (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
BRUCE GARRIOCH: Tim Stuetzle unlikely to suit up for Team Germany again this spring (Ottawa Sun)
LUKE DeCOCK: Hurricanes courted disaster against Rangers, rescued themselves before it was too late (Raleigh News & Observer)
BILL SPEROS: Bergeron may be ready to retire, but Bruins fans hope not (Boston Herald)
JOHN ROMANO: Who in the world steps in front of a puck at 100 mph? Yeah, these guys (Tampa Bay Times)
STEVE SIMMONS: Next on Auston Matthews' bucket list: Playoff greatness (Toronto Sun)
BENJAMIN HOCHMAN: Blues’ clues to beating Avalanche reside in film of Vegas-Colorado series (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
RON COOK: Penguins stars may add to year of difficult Pittsburgh goodbyes (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
MARK MADDEN: Penguins need roster refresh, not more excuses (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
DAVE FESCHUK: Leafs’ brass pats itself on the back for progress despite sixth straight first-round exit (Toronto Star)
MIKE HARRINGTON: A big opportunity was lost but Amerks have another one at hand in Game 5 at Utica (Buffalo News)
LARRY BROOKS: Goalie was very much up to the opportunity he never got with Rangers (New York Post)

ADAM PROTEAU: Marner Carjacking Situation Highlights How NHLers Aren't Much Different Than the Rest of Us (The Hockey News)
RYAN KENNEDY: "Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help" (The Hockey News)
MIKE STEPHENS: What Does Jason Spezza's NHL Future Hold? (The Hockey News)
IAN KENNEDY: Panthers Coach Andrew Brunette Deserves to Lose Interim Tag (The Hockey News)
LYLE RICHARDSON: Have Malkin and Letang Played Their Last Games With The Penguins? (The Hockey News)
IAIN MacINTYRE: With statement victory, Lightning make Panthers look like playoff tourists (Sportsnet)
ERIC FRANCIS: How Battle of Alberta has changed since 'brutal, violent' 1991 series (Sportsnet)
MARK SPECTOR: This Battle of Alberta won't be like the past, but the emotion will be unmatched (Sportsnet)
ELLIOTTE FRIEDMAN: 32 Thoughts: Maple Leafs fallout and off-season questions around the league (Sportsnet)
SALIM VALJI: Oilers and Flames alumni recall Battle of Alberta from playoffs past (TSN)
KRISTEN SHILTON: Guide to the Battle of Alberta between Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers (ESPN)
CATHAL KELLY: Can Leafs fans really accept another playoff nightmare? (Globe & Mail)
MICHAEL TRAIKOS: Maple Leafs have two years to prove to Matthews that they can win a championship (National Post)
JOHN SHIPLEY: Wild fans are done with ‘steps in the right direction’ (St. Paul Pioneer Press)
DAVE HYDE: Power-play problems, Kucherov’s speed shows — five thoughts on Panthers’ Game 1 loss (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
ROSIE DiMANNO: Maple Leafs don’t lack for talent or heart, but they still ‘need to dig in and do even more’ (Toronto Star)
WES GILBERTSON: The Battle of Alberta is back on ... so who is everyone picking? (Calgary Sun)
MARK KISZLA: Sneaky good move by Joe Sakic gives Avalanche 3-2 playoff victory vs. St. Louis (Denver Post)
LARRY BROOKS: 'Big Game Mika' has emerged under Gerard Gallant (New York Post)
TIM BENZ: Sidney Crosby's comments on his long-term future should get us thinking (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
BARRY SVRLUGA: Alex Ovechkin’s situation isn’t as simple as Putin is ‘my president’ (Washington Post)
TERRY JONES: Broadcaster Cuthbert gets to call another Battle of Alberta (Edmonton Sun)
GREG COTE: Florida Panthers drop Game 1 to Tampa Bay, 4-1. Time for Huberdeau and Barkov to step up (Miami Herald)
STEVE SIMMONS: What if this is the best the Maple Leafs will ever be? (Toronto Sun)
BRUCE GARRIOCH: Tim Stuetzle doesn't finish Team Germany's victory after suffering leg injury (Ottawa Sun)
MICHAEL ARACE: Kekalainen not fazed by NHL draft lottery losses (Columbus Dispatch)
JOHN ROMANO: Lights, cameras, Kucherov! Lightning star takes center stage in Game 1 (Tampa Bay Times)
NEIL BEST: Gallant's tactic is simple — keep it simple (New York Newsday)
STU COWAN: Salary cap has completely changed NHL's finances (Montreal Gazette)
DAVE FESCHUK: The Leafs’ brass pats itself on the back for progress after a sixth straight first-round exit (Toronto Star)
GEOFF BAKER: Win now or build for future? In today’s NHL, choice becoming clear for Kraken and others (Seattle Times)
LUKE DeCOCK: Why the Hurricanes’ recipe for a victory over the Rangers sings a familiar refrain (Raleigh News & Observer)
TED KUFAN: Battle of Alberta sure to stoke passion for Canadian hockey fans (Detroit News)
PAUL ZEISE: Mike Sullivan's seat shouldn't be hot yet, but it certainly should be warming up (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
DAVE BARRY: Heat vs. Panthers? A playoff guide for the casual South Florida sports fan (Miami Herald)

ADAM PROTEAU: NHL Coaching Carousel Continues in New York, Vegas (The Hockey News)
STAN FISCHLER: Thoughts After a Sizzling First Round (The Hockey News)
LYLE RICHARDSON: Will The Toronto Maple Leafs Shake Things Up In the Off-season? (The Hockey News)
MARK SPECTOR: This Battle of Alberta won't be like the past, but the emotion will be unmatched (Sportsnet)
MICHAEL TRAIKOS: Why the Maple Leafs should fire Sheldon Keefe — and hire Barry Trotz (National Post)
ED GRANEY: Pete DeBoer turns out to be Golden Knights’ fall guy (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
PAUL ZEISE: This could be the end of an era for Penguins, but does it need to be? (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
DAMIEN COX: Joel Quenneville could help the Leafs, but how long does disgrace last in hockey? (Toronto Star)
DAVE HYDE: Miami Heat, Florida Panthers start big playoff series — and blame TV for it happening at same time (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
LUKE DeCOCK: A tale of two Domis: A Game 7 hero and a famous father jumping on Hurricanes bandwagon (Raleigh News & Observer)
BRUCE GARRIOCH: Tim Stuetzle doesn't finish Team Germany's victory after suffering leg injury (Ottawa Sun)
NEIL BEST: There's just no quit in these Rangers (New York Newsday)
SEAN KEELER: Avalanche’s Stanley Cup dreams have died between pipes for 20 years. Darcy Kuemper can change all that. (Denver Post)
MARK MADDEN: After Penguins blow series, it's time for decisive action from Fenway Sports (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
GREG COTE: Heat-Celtics, Panthers-Lightning making history: 3 keys to each series, who’ll win and why (Miami Herald)
STU COWAN: Canadiens dealt ahead of deadline thriving with new teams (Montreal Gazette)
JOE WARMINGTON: Don Cherry offers advice to Maple Leafs after playoff loss (Toronto Sun)
RON COOK: The time has come to break up Penguins' core (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
NEIL BEST: Isles have new coach, but pressure still remains on Lou (New York Newsday)
MATT PORTER: Patrice Bergeron can’t commit to playing next season, but it wouldn’t be with any team but the Bruins (Boston Globe)
TERRY JONES: Stanley Cup Playoffs Battle of Alberta should be epic (Edmonton Sun)
RON COOK: Despite loss, Tristan Jarry should be lauded for Game 7 efforts (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

ADAM PROTEAU: The Future is Bright for the Los Angeles Kings (The Hockey News)
MIKE STEPHENS: The Maple Leafs Lost Again – What Now? (The Hockey News)
ERIC FRANCIS: Gaudreau gets justice on Oettinger with OT winner to set up Battle of Alberta (Sportsnet)
SALIM VALJI: Gaudreau the hero as Flames advance past Stars (TSN)
CATHAL KELLY: Leafs face long road back as another postseason slips away (Globe & Mail)
BRUCE ARTHUR: Losing hurts, but the Leafs are closer to their goal. Run it back (Toronto Star)
TIM BENZ: Blown leads result in blown series as Penguins season ends in New York (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
JIM SOUHAN: Reality hits hard — this Wild team wasn't that special (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)
LARRY BROOKS: These Rangers refuse to surrender (New York Post)
CHRIS JOHNSTON: Every off-season move the Leafs make will be about Auston Matthews. The stakes are high (Toronto Star)
CHAD FINN: For Bruins, little suspense on the ice, but there will be plenty off it (Boston Globe)
MAC ENGEL: Dallas Stars blow historic performance by their goalie; enter offseason needing change (Fort Worth Star Telegram)
STEVE SIMMONS: The annual Maple Leafs Mystery: Where do surprise scorers and killer instinct come from? (Toronto Sun)
HELENE ELLIOTT: Playoff-tested Kings promised ‘one tough year’ ahead following Oilers loss (Los Angeles Times)
CHIP SCOGGINS: Why next steps for Wolves, Wild will be harder than this year's progress (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)
TERRY JONES: Oilers most important win in 32 years (Edmonton Sun)
JACK TODD: We should feel sorry for the Leafs and their fans, eh? (Montreal Gazette)
DAVE FESCHUK: The bar for the Maple Leafs couldn’t be lower. Something’s got to give (Toronto Star)
KEVIN PAUL DUPONT: With Patrice Bergeron or without him, the Bruins’ forward corps needs a significant revamp (Boston Globe)
LARRY BROOKS: Rangers hope to remind Penguins this harsh lesson (New York Post)
TERRY KOSHAN: Off-season decisions for Dubas will be crucial, but foundation is in place for success (Toronto Sun)

STEVEN ELLIS: The Lightning are Serious About a Threepeat — And They're Just Getting Started (The Hockey News)
ADAM PROTEAU: Domi's Best Career Performance Comes at the Right Time for Hurricanes (The Hockey News)
MARK SPECTOR: McDavid incredibly hits another level as Oilers get over first-round hump (Sportsnet)
SALIM VALJI: Flames embracing pressure ahead of Game 7 showdown (TSN)
MICHAEL TRAIKOS: If Leafs break up core group, Lightning coach is waiting (National Post)
CATHAL KELLY: Maple Leafs’ fall to Tampa Bay Lightning wasn’t as painful as seasons past. This time, they lost to a better team (Globe & Mail)
MICHAEL TRAIKOS: Maple Leafs' Campbell is not to blame for Game 7 loss to Lightning (National Post)
LUKE DeCOCK: ‘It felt like it was our time’: Hurricanes’ continue on Stanley Cup path, ousting Bruins (Raleigh News & Observer)
JIM SOUHAN: Reality hits hard — this Wild team wasn't that special (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)
STEVE SIMMONS: Different team, better team, same heartbreak for the Maple Leafs (Toronto Sun)
LARRY BROOKS: Expect more Islanders changes if Lou Lamoriello desires new playing style (New York Post)
HELENE ELLIOTT: Kings bid farewell to Dustin Brown and season in emotional Game 7 loss (Los Angeles Times)
TARA SULLIVAN: It’s over for the Bruins. Is it over for Patrice Bergeron? (Boston Globe)
WES GILBERTSON: This could be the best Flames team in years, but they must survive Game 7 (Calgary Sun)
JOHN ROMANO: Start a new scrapbook, another Lightning team is making playoff memories (Tampa Bay Times)
MIKE HARRINGTON: Sabres' development takes another step with Amerks' trip to the Calder Cup Playoffs (Buffalo News)
CHIP SCOGGINS: Why next steps for Wolves, Wild will be harder than this year's progress (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)
MIKE CHAMBERS: Production/temperament of Blues’ Ryan O’Reilly, Avalanche’s Nazem Kadri among series keys (Denver Post)
DAVE POULIN: Game 7 is the toughest challenge for an NHL player, in a good way (Toronto Star)
LARRY BROOKS: It's time for Rangers, Artemi Panarin to meet the moment in Game 7 (New York Post)
JIM ALEXANDER: A reminder that Jonathan Quick is still a beast (Los Angeles Daily News)
RON COOK: Ron Cook: It may be too little, too late for Penguins in playoff series (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
TERRY KOSHAN: Leafs' valiant third-period effort not enough, fall in Game 7 to Lightning (Toronto Sun)
TERRY JONES: Another Game 7 to go in history books for Edmonton Oilers (Edmonton Sun)
MATT PORTER: After Bruins elimination, Brad Marchand gets emotional about a potential future without Patrice Bergeon (Boston Globe)
MIKE VACCARO: Rangers-Penguins series proof of this piece of sports perfection (New York Post)
ROSIE DiMANNO: The Leafs are out, but there was no choke. They didn’t shy away (Toronto Star)
BENJAMIN HOCHMAN: ‘They pick you apart.’ Avs’ offense dominates, but Blues’ D is better than last postseason (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)