After their double-OT win on Saturday—yet another opportunity for me to swear at Corey Perry—the Dallas Stars will yet again try to hold off elimination in tonight’s Game 6. The Lightning confirmed yesterday that Steven Stamkos won’t return to the series, which isn’t exactly a surprise.

Good luck to the Bolts for several reasons, not the least of which is my desire for the season to end so the offseason (the weird, weird, autumnal offseason) can begin. I want trades! Signings! The opportunity to publicly mock the ill-conceived roster moves of our enemies! At the very least, I would like this particular game to avoid multiple overtimes, because covid-19 has fucked up my sleep schedule quite enough, thank you.

Today’s Game

Tampa Bay Lightning at Dallas Stars, Game 6 (Tampa Bay leads 3-2)                                                         8pm ET | NBC, CBC, TVAS, SN

ICYMI

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Stuff We Didn’t Write

Injured Steven Stamkos won’t be back in the Stanley Cup final — after one shining goal | The Star
The Lightning are up three games to two on the Dallas Stars in part because of Stamkos’s comeback efforts in Game 3 — his first appearance since core ...

Report: Red Wings could acquire Torey Krug in a trade with Bruins - Winging It In Motown
Detroit is among four teams included in the report

New York Rangers trade Marc Staal to Detroit Red Wings | The Star
The 33-year-old Staal has played his whole 13-season NHL career so far with the Rangers,

'Black Aces' in bubble have toughest job in NHL playoffs
They're part of the taxi squad of extras called the ''Black Aces,'' a 19th century poker term brought into hockey by Hall of Famer Eddie Shore 90 years ago.

The Loan Stars: Corey Perry and Joe Pavelski give Dallas life in the Stanley Cup final | The Star
Off-season deals with Corey Perry, brought in after a buyout in Anaheim, and Joe Pavelski, a free-agent pickup after 13 years in San Jose, have been m...

Golden Knights, Alex Pietrangelo linked in free agency | Las Vegas Review-Journal
Please, Vegas, feel free to take Tyson Barrie.

Morning after thoughts: Here we are, exactly where we thought we would be - Raw Charge
No one said this was going to be easy

Chris Stewart with a lovely retirement message:

From The Branches