Top Line: Desperate Blackhawks; inspired Rangers; sad Habs; more links
Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews says the Hawks are determined to reach Game 7. (Harry How/Getty Images)
By Allan Muir
An annotated guide to this morning's must-read hockey stories:
• Did Chicago's Game 5 win shift all the pressure onto Los Angeles? That's the approach the Hawks are taking as they get set to face the Kings tonight in Game 6 (9 p.m. ET; NBCSN,CBC,RDS).
• The Man-Child became The Man in Chicago's season-saving Game 5 win. The Hawks will need another effort like that from Brandon Saad to get the WCF to a decisive Game 7 at the United Center.
• This is why I love Drew Doughty. Asked about his 39-minute effort in Game 5, he replied, "Your heart doesn't get tired." What a beauty.
• Is New York-Los Angeles really the NHL's dream matchup for television? Chicago promises better numbers argues one TV critic.
• Dominic Moore's game-winner was the latest inspirational moment for a Rangers team that seems to be pulling them out of a hat this postseason.
• If you're not familiar with Moore's back story, here's a touching feature from ESPN's E60 on why he's at the heart of New York's success.
• There's more than a championship on the line for Martin St. Louis and Henrik Lundqvist. A Stanley Cup win all but punches their tickets to the Hall of Fame, according to Ken Campbell. Me, I think Lundqvist already is a lock, but St. Louis' candidacy clearly needs another defining moment. This could be it.
• Did the Rangers touch the Prince of Wales Trophy?
• Close doesn't feel too good right now to a Montreal team that's left to wonder what might have been.
• Leave it to P.K. Subban to find something positive in defeat.
• Montreal's fans felt a mix of pride and dejection as they watched their team go farther than expected this spring, but still fall short of the ultimate goal.
https://twitter.com/MichaelFarber3/status/472351086905659392
• From a New York perspective: Dustin Tokarski was valiant in defeat for the Canadiens. No arguing that point. The debate begins now on whether he was a flash in the pan or took the first steps on his path to becoming a legitimate starter in the NHL.
• This was the moment that everyone wanted to see after the game: Brandon Prust and Derek Stepan in the handshake line.
• Cathal Kelly says there's nothing wrong with the playoffs other than the fact that they drag on into late June. Can't argue with his thinking, but there's no practical option for shortening the regular season to get us out of this mess.
• Here's a terrific story from Bob Duff about New Jersey's Adam Henrique and the enduring bond he shares with his junior hockey billets after helping them through a time of family tragedy.
• Prepare to be dazzled by the hand-eye coordination (and wrist strength) of first-round prospect Sonny Milano:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIOm8porGv4
• Aaron Ekblad may be the prohibitive favorite to be drafted first overall, but the rugged defenseman says he still needs to work on at least one thing.
• The Red Wings have a rep for maximizing their returns in the draft, but a defection to the KHL closes the book on a truly disappointing class.
• Adam Proteau writes that both the Capitals and Alex Ovechkin would be best served if he returned home to play in the KHL. I suspect this piece generated some inspired responses from the greater DC area.