Top Line: Marian Gaborik saves Kings; P.K. Subban responds; more links
Marian Gaborik (12) gets kudos from teammates after his game-winning goal in Game 1. (Debora Robinson/Getty Images)
By Allan Muir
An annotated guide to this morning's must-read hockey stories:
• The forced chemistry experiment between Marian Gaborik as a Los Angeles King is working out better than expected. I was skeptical highly skeptical when he was picked up at the deadline, but he's showing a knack for doing exactly what they needed of him: scoring big goals at big moments.
• Dave Stubbs says the Canadiens almost rebounded from their Game 1 victory until their luck melted away late in the Game 2.
• Boston's third-period comeback offered all the drama you could ask for, but only masked the team's ongoing problems with the Canadiens.
• Bruins broadcaster Jack Edwards offered his thoughts on the game commentary provided by Pierre McGuire. I suspect there was some support in the hockey world for his position.
• P.K. Subban addressed the racist tweet issue on Saturday, and handled it exactly as you'd expect.
• Looks like P.K. comes by his greatness honestly.
• We keep asking and Dan Bylsma keeps saying the same thing: he's not concerned that Sidney Crosby is in a 12-game goal drought. We'll revisit this is the Pens go down 2-0 to the Rangers tonight and the streak extends to 13...
• The Wild played a good game in their opener against the Hawks, which offered them the opportunity to learn that a good game won't cut it against Chicago.
• A reversal of a troubling playoff trend would be a good place for the Wild to start.
• Steve Simmons says the Maple Leafs were one of four teams ready to hire Todd McLellan, and that only one thing separates Drew Doughty from winning the Norris every year. These thoughts and more in his Sunday potpourri column.
• There's no shame in losing to the Kings or Blackhawks and that's why Fluto Shinazawa thinks this is what should happen in San Jose and St. Louis.
• The Panthers are willing to trade the first-overall pick? OK, so would this get a deal done?
• You say you've got a new arena in Quebec City? That's nice, says Gary Bettman, but the NHL isn't interested in expansion right now. It's only a matter of time though before the thought of splitting expansion fees of up to $1 billion will be too tempting for the league's 30 owners to say no any longer.
• Could this young superstar be stolen from his team via an offer sheet this summer?
• The Washington Capitals have their eye on a candidate to become their next president. And even without experience in the position, everyone agrees he'd be a Great One.
• Sam Carchidi considers the bold steps Paul Holmgren could take to improve the Flyers over the offseason.
• Here's Kevin Dupont's latest column. Because you should always read Kevin Dupont.
• Jamie Benn's postseason play left no doubt he was the right choice for the captaincy of the Stars. The way he played against the Ducks, there's only one player in the league I would consider trading him even-up for if I'm Jim Nill. One.