MATT DUCHENE

The Buffalo Sabres had just completed a pregame meeting and veteran forward Kyle Okposo was struck by what he noticed once the coaches left the room. Without referencing how things went in the past, Okposo was making a clear point about the current — post-Jack Eichel — makeup of the Sabres and the bonds being formed among a group of developing youngsters and journeymen.

Luke Kunin scored his second goal at 16:10 of the second overtime,and the Nashville Predators beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 Sunday to tie the first-round series 2-2.

Oilers star Connor McDavid, who had 105 points in the regular season, is still looking for his first point of the series as the Jets lead 2-0.

Matt Duchene scored at 14:54 of the second overtime and the Nashville Predators beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 on Friday night to cut their series deficit to 2-1.

The Carolina Hurricanes and the Nashville Predators begin their Stanley Cup playoff series Monday.

Tim Peel's career as an NHL referee is over after his voice was picked up by a TV microphone saying he wanted to call a penalty against the Nashville Predators. Referee Tim Peel is shown in this Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, file photo. Derik Hamilton / AP"Nothing is more important than ensuring the integrity of our game," NHL vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell said in a statement. "I don't think it's right. I think if it's an obvious one I don't think it should be made up for."

Tim Peel's career as an NHL referee is over after his voice was picked up by a TV microphone saying he wanted to call a penalty against the Nashville Predators. The league on Wednesday, March 24, 2021, announced that Peel no longer will be working NHL games now or in the future. Peel will “no longer will be working NHL games now or in the future," the league said. “Watch what happens at the end of games,” said Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour, a former center who played more than 1,600 NHL games. That level of experience made him a “senior-level official” in the terms of the league's collective bargaining agreement with the NHL Officials Association.

... That was a special moment.”Joe Pavelski had two goals and two assists and Alexander Radulov also scored twice for the Stars, who had a scoreless first period. Five of Dallas’ goals came in the second, including three on the power play and an unassisted short-handed wrist shot by Esa Lindell. Pavelski and Kiviranta added power-play goals in the third period, those against Pekka Rinne, who entered after Saros allowed five goals on 20 shots. CAPTAIN HURTStars captain Jamie Benn was injured when his right leg buckled awkwardly after a collision with Viktor Arvidsson in the second period. Three of the shots game in the first period, including a wraparound attempt into Khudobin’s pads and a hard second shot on the rebound.