Top Line: Lack of cool killing Penguins; Blackhawks brace for Wild; more
Will the Penguins justify Evgeni Malkin's confidence for their Game 7 showdown against the Rangers? (Fred Vuich/SI)
By Allan Muir
An annotated guide to this morning's must-read hockey stories:
• Kevin Allen says the Penguins have spent the past five years lowering our expectations with their postseason inconsistency. Given their historical lack of composure, there's no way of knowing what we'll see from them in Game 7.
• Evgeni Malkin channeled his inner Mark Messier and promised a Pittsburgh win in Game 7.
• Dejan Kovacevic says that the result of Game 7 won't mask the myriad problems that undermine the potential of the Penguins organization.
• This is what it's come to for Rick Nash: Coach Alain Vigneault trusts him more on the penalty kill than the power play.
• Just in time, the Rangers have found their soul, says Larry Brooks.
• Here's a look at the guys who create the in-arena experience at Pittsburgh's Consol Energy Center.
• Facing their their third elimination game of the past two weeks, the Wild aren't ready to concede anything to the Blackhawks ahead of Tuesday night's must-win Game 6.
• The Hawks expect Minnesota to present them with their toughest challenge of the season.
• Win or lose in Game 7, Damien Cox likes where the Wild are headed.
• If the old Forum's legendary ghosts are a figment of the imagination, how is it that the Canadiens played like a team possessed in Game 6?
• The Bruins couldn't overcome a rare off night by Zdeno Chara in Monday night's loss.
• David Krejci promised that his line would be better last night, and it was. He just didn't promise that it would score. It didn't.
• P.K. Subban has become the spokesman both on and off the ice for a Montreal team that is confident it can knock off favored Boston.
• The Kings fended off elimination four times in the first round. Now they have to come up with another miracle if they hope to survive Game 6 against the surging Ducks.
• A weary L.A. defense could be the tipping point in a series where momentum is now swinging in Anaheim's favor.
• Just getting to know Ducks goalie John Gibson? Chris Peters brings you up to speed, recounting Gibson's brief but memorable journey from prospect to NHL playoff hero.
• Rosie DiManno writes that dealing the un-C-worthy Dion Phaneuf would be best for all concerned.
• Barry Trotz as the next coach of the Capitals? Gotta think that won't thrill Alex Ovechkin ... which means it may be the best decision Washington could make.
• Ovechkin took out his frustrations on Team USA at the World Championships in Belarus.