The National Hockey League announced that Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov has been named one of three finalists for the 2017-18 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy awarded to “the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.”
Barkov joins Vegas’ William Karlsson and Buffalo’s Ryan O’Reilly as the finalists for this season’s Lady Byng. The winner is selected by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers Association at the conclusion of the regular season and will be announced during the 2018 NHL Awards presented by Hulu at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Wednesday, June 20.
Barkov led the Panthers with a career-best 78 points (27G/51A) and 51 assists in a career-high 79 games played. With an assist on March 15 against the Boston Bruins, the 6-foot-3, 213-pound native of Tampere, Finland, became the first Panther to reach the 70-point mark in a ten years (Olli Jokinen, 71 points, 2007-08). His five shorthanded goals led the NHL this season.
Stanley Cup Playoffs
The Winnipeg Jets soared to a 5-0 win over Minnesota, eliminating the Wild from the postseason in five games. It is the first time in franchise history that the Jets have won a playoff series. Winnipeg got goals from five different players and Connor Hellebuyck made 30 saves to post his second straight shutout.
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Sean Couturier scored the game-winning goal with 1:15 left in regulation and Michal Neuvirth, who finished with 30 saves, robbed Sidney Crosby right after that as the Philadelphia Flyers edged the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2 to stay alive. The series heads back to the City of Brotherly Love with the Penguins holding a three to two advantage in the series.
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Gabriel Landeskog and Sven Andrighetto scored late third period goals as the Colorado Avalanche came back to stun the Nashville Predators 2-1 at Bridgestone Arena to stave off elimination. Third string goaltender Andrew Hammond made 44 saves for the upstart Avalanche. Nashville now leads the series three games to two.
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Today’s Games
New Jersey at Tampa Bay 3 p.m. NBC (Lightning lead series 3-1)
Columbus at Washington 3 p.m. NBC (Series tied 2-2)
Toronto at Boston 8 p.m. NBCSN (Bruins lead series 3-1)