Asked Filip Chytil if he had any issue with the hit Niko Mikkola took on him at the end of Game 1.

He completely shrugged it off. “No, no issue with that. It was a hockey play.” Says he feels fine.

New column on ESPN.com— news and notes around the league halfway through the Stanley Cup playoffs. espn.com/nhl/story/_/id…

Here’s Sergei Bobrovsky after a ‘special’ win at Madison Square Garden. The 35-year-old is back in peak form… and recorded his shutout of the playoffs in Game 1 of the ECF.

youtu.be/Z3--NWBfY50?si…

New Jersey was one of the hottest coaching vacancies and I’m told Sheldon Keefe was NJ’s top candidate once he became available.

NJ liked Keefe’s communication & ability to work w/ other departments. The Devils also loved Keefe’s experience in Toronto working with a young core.

Chris Tanev had “at least one tooth pulled” after a 1st period collision in Game 5, according to Emily Kaplan.

Tanev returned to the game and played close to 20 minutes, and 26 more shifts 😳

Devon Toews is feeling better and will play in Game 5 tonight in Dallas. Huge for the Avs as they fight for their season.

What a win by the Canes, down 0-3 in the series, to force a Game 6.

Here’s Evgeny Kuznetsov - who had a big goal and big bird celly at MSG - postgame

When Blake Wheeler suffered gruesome leg injury in February, would’ve been easy to walk away— but he wanted to show his kids & the team he wasn’t a quitter.

Initially due to be cleared around June 1, he’s 2-3 weeks ahead of schedule. If #NYR advance he could be a lineup option.

Talked to several people in the league about the Sam Bennett / Brad Marchand play.

The NHL also didn’t see the reverse angle until Sunday, but it didn’t change how Player Safety saw it — not as a sucker punch, but as a hockey play with two players engaged.

Our ESPN video feature on Macklin Celebrini, and his special connection to the Golden State Warriors

espn.com/video/clip?id=…

Auston Matthews was cleared to play today. It was an injury he sustained sometime in Game 4, while playing through illness.

I’m told by no means is he 100% but wow is that timing fortuitous for a massive Game 7 here in Boston.

From The Point, here's what I know about Auston Matthews - who is likely out again for Game 6.

At Golden Knights morning skate in Dallas….looks like Adin Hill is in the starter net for Vegas.

No Auston Matthews tonight for the Maple Leafs.

Team is saying illness, feels like something more significant to keep a star player out of a potential elimination game.

New story with Greg Wyshynski. Inside how the Coyotes were mismanaged to end up in Utah — and how Utah landed an NHL team in record time.

espn.com/nhl/story/_/id…

Walkoff interview with Jeremy Swayman after a wild Game 3 in Toronto ⬇️

Mason Lohrei confirms he’ll be in the lineup tonight for the Boston Bruins.

23-year-old defenseman told me he was emotional before his first call-up this season.

“Maybe even more butterflies now. I mean, it’s the playoffs. This is what I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid.'

Capitals morning skate at MSG. Nick Jensen and Rasmus Sandin both wearing a light blue no contact jersey, indicating they’re both still a no-go tonight.

Info is tight & there’s a lot of gamesmanship in this Leafs/Bruins series, but as I just reported ESPN’s The Point:

Jim Montgomery told us that the decision for who to start in net for the Bruins in Game 2 was made by his staff a week ago.