The Colorado Avalanche lost to the Vegas Golden Knights 6-3 last night, with the Knights closing the series out in six games and avoiding a Game 7. Nathan MacKinnon was not happy.

That leaves a third round lineup of the Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Vegas, which is like staring into the void. Those are some rough bandwagoning options:

  • The Habs are, as we all know, Satan’s own hockey team
  • The Islanders are the Islanders
  • Watching Tampa Bay’s Leafs knockoff uniforms will give me flashbacks, although confused flashbacks, as the Bolts by all appearances know how to play hockey
  • Finally, typing this article has reminded me of how annoying I find “Vegas Golden Knights” as a name. The city is Las Vegas. The truncation is just unnecessary./

In other news, the Montreal Canadiens’ new ECHL affiliate announced its name and logo, which manages to be both cool and unnerving, all at the same time. It’s like a lion about to come for me through a blue-painted wrought iron fence. I don’t hate that, and I hate not hating things to do with the Habs.

ICYMI

Maple Leafs Free Agents are already leaving - Pension Plan Puppets
There is going to be a lot of roster churn this year, and the signing season has already begun.

Matthews nominated for Hart alongside MacKinnon and McDavid - Pension Plan Puppets
MacKinnon and two guys who didn’t make it past the first round are up for league MVP

Stuff We Didn’t Write

Canucks: Sutter, Kerfoot could help solve riddles in the middle | The Province
“I had a good meeting with the Canucks ... But at the end of the day, Colorado offered more (opportunity) ... ' — Leafs centre Alex Kerfoot

Third-line center candidates for the Toronto Maple Leafs: Free agent & trade options

Down Goes Brown: The Athletic Hockey Show: Hanging with Mr. Cooper

Bednar cleared to coach Avs after virus testing irregularity | The Star
Jared Bednar was cleared to coach the Colorado Avalanche in Game 6 of their second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights after missing the mor...

Blue Jackets promote Brad Larsen to head coach | The Star
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Blue Jackets promoted Brad Larsen on Thursday to fill the head coaching vacancy left after Columbus parted ways with John To...

Introducing the Lions de Trois-Rivières - Eyes On The Prize
The Montreal Canadiens’ new ECHL affiliate unveils its team name.

They said it: Svechnikov, Hamilton discuss contracts and overview of 2021 season - Canes Country
Andrei Svechnikov and Dougie Hamilton discuss their ongoing contract talks and give overviews of themselves and the 2021 season as a whole.

Wild hire longtime NHL GM Ray Shero as senior advisor | The Star
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Wild hired longtime NHL general manager Ray Shero on Wednesday as a senior advisor to general manager Bill Guerin...

Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now: Habs trying to turn the clock back to 1993 - Eyes On The Prize
The unlikely semifinal-bound Canadiens are drawing inspiration from the year of their last championship.

Girls hockey coach still on ice despite permanent suspension for punching threats | CBC News
In March, the Ontario Women's Hockey Association permanently banned Jenya Feldman for verbal abuse and threats of violence against players. But the private hockey academy owner is still on the ice with teen girls, and authorities say they can do little about it.

From The Branches