They tell me there was a hockey game last night. I dunno, the French Open is on and Annie’s arriving today, what do I know from hockey? From the descriptions though, I assume people are pulling my leg.

Game 1 Recap: Shoot to score. Pens find way to win 5-3 - PensBurgh
The Penguins go 37 minutes without a shot on goal. And only have 12 in the game. But 5 of them end up in the back of the net and that's good enough to win Game 1 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final against the Nashville Predators.

Penguins take weird NHL final opener: Arthur | Toronto Star
Penguins move one win closer to Stanley Cup repeat despite almost 37 minutes without a shot on net.

Penguins beat Predators in bizarre Stanley Cup final opener - The Globe and Mail
Pittsburgh, the highest-scoring team in these playoffs, went almost two full periods without registering a shot on goal

ICYMI

Expansion draft protection lists are due June 17 - Pension Plan Puppets
What are they, and what decisions do the Leafs have to make?

Senior speculation: NCAA grads that should sign up for the CWHL draft - Pension Plan Puppets
Annie has a look at four players she’d love to see in Furies blue and white

My two weeks at the 2017 Mastercard Memorial Cup: I have many thanks to give - Pension Plan Puppets
Seldo spent two solid weeks surrounded by junior hockey players and hockey media. Did he survive unscathed?

Maple Leafs to play Capitals in outdoor game next year - Katya
I know you’ve seen this link before but the league made it official yesterday so...

Other news

Blackhawks not playing outdoor game for 1st time in 5 years - Second City Hockey
The joke is dead ... for now! The joke is not dead, don’t be silly.

More Ilya Kovalchuk Rumors: Could He Stay with SKA St. Petersburg? - All About The Jersey
Ilya Kovalchuk rumors abound today. Elliotte Friedman had a small report and Alexander Medvedev of SKA St. Petersburgh made a big claim that he’ll re-sign with SKA.

NHL’s positive spin can be dizzying: Arthur | Toronto Star
Scoring’s at a five-year high. Video review and concussion protocol working just fine, the commish swears. But on the whole this remains a league mired in the land of the uninspired

Draft Profile

Patrick Khodorenko: 2017 NHL Draft Prospect Profile - All About The Jersey
We don’t have any of these scheduled today, so have someone else’s.

From The Branches