We are down to the final three teams still competing for the Stanley Cup. The Vegas Golden Knights shocked the world when they swept the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Finals. Over in the East, after losing Game 1, the Carolina Hurricanes have rattled off three straight wins and are one game away from advancing past the Montreal Canadiens. This would set up a very tight-checking Stanley Cup final between the Hurricanes and Golden Knights.

While there are plenty of storylines to chat about, there is some news to catch up on.

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced they had re-signed long-tenured Penguin Evgeni Malkin to a one-year, $5.5 million contract. Just five minutes after the initial announcement, the Penguins released a video of Malkin signing the contract.

Malkin was drafted second overall by the Penguins in 2004. He has spent his entire 20-year NHL career in Pittsburgh, filling the net and his trophy case throughout the years. He won the Calder Trophy in 2007, the Art Ross and Conn Smythe Trophies in 2009, the Hart, Ted Lindsay, and another Art Ross Trophy in 2012, along with three Stanley Cup rings in 2009, 2016, and 2017.

The 39-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down. Last season, a year in which the Penguins were viewed as the only rebuilding team in the entire NHL heading into the year, Malkin scored 19 goals and 42 assists for 62 points in 56 games. The 6’5″ Russian forward’s efforts helped the Penguins finish second in the Metropolitan Division and earn a playoff berth. Although they were eliminated in the first round by their Pennsylvania rival, the Philadelphia Flyers, Malkin scored two goals and an assist in six games.

Playing behind Sidney Crosby throughout his career, Malkin’s efforts for the Penguins sometimes get overshadowed. However, his 1,407 points in 1,269 games, all in a Penguins uniform, have him third on the franchise all-time list in points and second in games played. When he does decide to hang up the skates, his No. 71 will be hanging in the rafters of PPG Paints Arena, with his picture in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

A scary play occurred in Switzerland at the IIHF World Championships in the quarter-final game between Team Canada and Team USA.

Edmonton Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard skated into the USA zone with speed, and Seattle Kraken defenceman Ryan Lindgren made direct contact with his head, leaving the Canadian defenceman knocked out cold and lying on the ice.

Lindgren was given a five-minute penalty for the hit and was ejected from the game. Canada would not score on that power play, but with goals from Macklin Celebrini, Dylan Holloway, Connor Brown, and Sidney Crosby, they walked away with the 4-0 shutout.

Bouchard served as Canada’s top defenceman throughout the tournament. He helped his nation go a perfect 7-0 in the round-robin stage, scoring one goal and five assists for six points in those seven games, and was among the tournament leaders in plus/minus at a plus-14 rating. We will provide an update on his status once one becomes available.