Tuesday's hockey: Blues, Sens pick head coaches; Stars, Canes lose in OT

Drew Bannister is returning as coach of the St. Louis Blues after getting the interim tag removed from his title and being named Tuesday to the full-time role.

He signed a two-year contract that gives him the chance to oversee a bit of organizational retooling but also show he can get the most out of a roster stocked with veteran talent. The expectation is still for the Blues to contend for a playoff spot in the Western Conference with Bannister in charge.

Bannister, 50, replaced Craig Berube when the 2019 Stanley Cup-winning coach was fired in December. The Blues went 30-19-5 after Bannister took over and finished six points out of a playoff spot.

Three weeks after the regular season ended, and after discussing just two other potential candidates with his inner circle, president of hockey operations and general manager Doug Armstrong opted against making another change and decided to keep Bannister in the job.

“You’re just looking, like: 'Is there any better out there? Is there something different that we’re missing?” Armstrong said on a video call with reporters. "We just came back to our group that Drew had done what we’d asked him to do. We see progression. We see someone that’s earned the right to take the reins and we move forward.”

This is Bannister’s first head-coaching gig in the NHL. He previously coached the Springfield Thunderbirds of the American Hockey League, St. Louis' top affiliate, for two-plus seasons.

“(This is) something I’ve been working towards and something that I wanted for myself, my family moving forward,” said Bannister, who played 178 NHL games in the 1990s and early 2000s and was at peace with his status in recent weeks. “It can be a stressful time, but I felt by the end of the year that I’d done a lot of positive things with the players, with the team. Certainly was disappointing the way it ended up for us, but overall I was happy with the strides we made.”

Armstrong said all assistants would return under Bannister, who will be tasked with building lasting relationships with the leadership group of captain Brayden Schenn, All-Star Robert Thomas and defensemen Colton Parayko and Justin Faulk, among others. He likes what he has seen so far in that and other departments enough to trust Bannister with the direction of the franchise.

“He did a very good job in a difficult situation last year,” Armstrong said. "Now having a full training camp and two-year term to put his stamp on this team, we’re looking forward to that.”

Senators hire Green as coach

The Ottawa Senators have hired Travis Green as coach, signing him to a four-year contract through the 2027-28 NHL season.

The team announced the move Tuesday, with Green taking over for interim coach Jacques Martin. Green most recently served as interim coach of the New Jersey Devils after replacing Lindy Ruff in March. Ruff has since also moved on, returning to Buffalo, where he coached the Sabres from 1997-2013.

Green, 53, coached the Vancouver Canucks from 2017-21, guiding them to the playoffs once in four full seasons. The Senators have not qualified the past seven years going back to ’17 when they were one win away from the Stanley Cup Final and lost to eventual champion Pittsburgh in overtime in Game 7.

“After speaking to several highly qualified candidates, it became clear that Travis is the right fit to lead our group,” president of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staios said. “As we’ve routinely stated, developing a winning culture is paramount to our aspiration of achieving sustained success. Travis has a burning desire to win, is passionate about teaching and holds his players to a very high standard."

More than half the league has made at least one change at the position over the past 18 months and more could be coming. Green moving on, as expected, means the Devils are in the market for a fifth coach since 2019.

Green's hire is the latest major decision since new owner Michael Andlauer assumed control of the organization in September.

Staios took over as GM after Pierre Dorion was fired Nov. 1, hours after the league stripped the Senators of a first-round pick for their role in an invalidated trade last year. Coach D.J. Smith was fired Dec. 18 and replaced by Martin on an interim basis.

Green played 14 NHL seasons with the New York Islanders, Anaheim Ducks, Phoenix Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins.

Rangers 4, Hurricanes 3 (2OT)

New York — Vincent Trocheck couldn't describe the feeling when he finally scored in the second overtime to give the New York Rangers another big win.

Trocheck scored a power-play goal off a rebound at 7:24 of the second extra period and the Rangers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 on Tuesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their second-round playoff series.

“I don't know. I'll watch it and let you know tomorrow,” Trocheck said. “Typically when those games go into overtime, double overtime, any team could win those games.”

Alexis Lafreniere scored twice, Chris Kreider also had a power-play goal and Artemi Panarin added three assists for the Rangers. Igor Shesterkin stopped a season-high 54 shots.

“Igor played an Igor-esque type game. He was outstanding, kept us in the game,” Trocheck said. “It's tough to beat our team when he's making saves like he was tonight.”

The Rangers won their sixth straight in the playoffs, and eighth straight dating to the regular season. New York got its first overtime playoff win since Game 7 of the first round in 2022 against Pittsburgh.

Jake Guentzel scored twice, Dmitry Orlov also scored and Sebastian Aho had three assists for the Hurricanes, who have lost three of their last four — including two in double overtime. Frederik Andersen finished with 35 saves.

“It was a hard fought game,” Carolina's Jordan Staal said. “This one is going to sting but we’ve got to find a way to get it done at home and move on from there.”

The series shifts to Raleigh, North Carolina, for the next two games, with Game 3 on Thursday night.

The Rangers were 2 for 7 on the power play, scoring twice with the advantage for the second straight game against the league's top penalty-killing team. After finishing third on the power play, New York is converting at 40% (10 for 25) in the playoffs, including 4 for 9 in this series.

“We're confident for sure,” Trocheck said. “We do expect to score. Obviously it's not going to happen every single time. We feel as a unit the team relies on us to score on the power play, especially so far in this playoffs. Special teams has been so big.”

The Rangers led the league with 28 comeback wins and got their third of the playoffs — first when trailing in the third period.

“As the game went on I thought we stayed with it, maybe even got better through the overtimes," Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. "It was a roller coaster a little bit, so for the guys to stay in there, locked in and focused like that, it was a pretty big effort.”

Avalanche 4, Dallas 3 (OT)

Dallas — Miles Wood screamed for the puck, and delivered the game-winner in overtime for the Colorado Avalanche once he got it.

Wood scored on a hard-charging backhander 11:03 into OT after getting the puck from Andrew Cogliano, and the Avalanche, after trailing by three goals in the first period, beat the top-seeded Dallas Stars 4-3 on Tuesday night in the opener of their second-round Western Conference series.

“Instead of just turning and firing it … (Cogliano) gets his eyes up and Wood was fresh and went slashing through their D,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “When Woody get’s going like that, he’s hard to stop. He’s fast and he’s powerful, and he just took it to the house.”

Staying ahead of defenseman Miro Heiskanen, Wood got the puck around Jake Oettinger to wrap up only the Avalanche's third three-goal comeback to win a playoff game in their history — and first since 1997.

“There’s a scrum in the corner there. … I was just screaming ‘Chip, chip, chip.’ He made a great play, and from there on out, I just used my speed,” said Wood, still breathing heavily from the game-winning play. “I definitely kicked it into high gear there.”

Cale Makar had a goal and two assists for Colorado, while Valerie Nichushkin had a goal and an assist. Nathan MacKinnon had the tying goal only 39 seconds into the third period when left open just to the left of the net, and Mikko Rantanen, who had two assists, had a shot off the post midway through the third period.

“It would have been easy to kind of fold after that first period," MacKinnon said. "But we felt like we were playing better than what the score showed. We wanted to see it through”

Alexander Georgiev had 19 saves while winning his fifth consecutive start in goal for the Avs. But Dallas, after nine shots on net in the first period, had only seven combined the rest of regulation, and six in overtime when he denied Tyler Seguin twice in less than a minute and knocked down a couple of long high shots by Thomas Harley.

“He's been playing great for us. We’re all so pumped for him,” Wood said of the goalie. “He let in three there in the first quickly, but he was solid from there on out.”

Stars goalie Oettinger stopped 22 shots, ending his six-game streak of allowing two goals or less.

Dallas led 3-0 in the first period against the 2022 Stanley Cup champion, only two nights after wrapping up a seven-game series against Vegas, last year’s champ, in which both teams finished with 16 goals and the margin was never more than two goals.

“It’s a tough turnaround for us as a group. I thought we had a great start,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. “The fatigue from Game 7 I thought hit us in the second half of that game.”

Jamie Benn had a goal and an assist for the Stars, who lost their series opener at home like in the first round when they dropped the first two games. Ryan Sutter and Wyatt Johnston also scored goals.

Game 2 is Thursday night.

Five local players taken in Phase 2 of USHL draft

Five Michigan-area hockey players were selected in Phase 2 of the United States Hockey League on Tuesday after 12 local players were taken in Phase 1 on Monday.

More:Monday's hockey: Twelve local players taken in USHL draft; Bruins take opener

Round 12

175. Tri-City: Cameron Kovary, RW, Detroit Little Caesars U15

Round 13

188. Sioux Falls: Gairin Michalski, RD, Detroit Victory Honda U16

Round 16

237. Sioux City: Luke Lalonde, C, Detroit, Detroit Little Caesars U15

Round 18

267. Sioux City: Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen, LD, Northville, USA U18

272. Fargo: Judd Knauft, C, Fenton, Detroit Little Caesars U15

Marchessault's future in Vegas uncertain

Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb was asked Tuesday if he could imagine not having Jonathan Marchessault in the Golden Knights' locker room next season.

“No,” he said succinctly, letting that word hang in the air before more fully answering the question two days after the Knights were eliminated in the first round of the NHL playoffs by Dallas.

McNabb, who was sitting next to Marchessault, could've stopped at no. His short initial answer more than conveyed the feelings among teammates regarding a player who epitomizes what it means to be a “Golden Misfit,” the name the original Knights bestowed on themselves.

Marchessault, who went from undrafted to the Conn Smythe Trophy winner last year as the playoff MVP, is one of just five players remaining from that 2017-18 team. The winger is an unrestricted free agent who just put together his finest season, scoring 42 goals, only one shy of William Karlsson's team record.

“I've done everything I can to stay here,” Marchessault said. “I know I'm a big part of that organization. I've proved it along the years. I would love to stay. It's my home. I've been part of the guys that we started this with. It's the most proud thing I've done in my life, professionally for sure. I'm happy to be a Golden Knight. I would like to be the rest of my life, but it's not necessarily in my control.”

Marchessault said he spoke with general manager Kelly McCrimmon earlier Tuesday and the GM told him he would like to bring him back. McCrimmon and coach Bruce Cassidy were scheduled to meet with reporters later Tuesday.

“It depends if this is important to them or not,” Marchessault said of whether a deal gets done. “I want to be in an organization that wants me. I have a couple of years left. I don't play it for fun. I play it because I want to win. I want to be in a place that's going to help me win.”

Blackhawks re-sign forward Reichel

The Chicago Blackhawks have re-signed forward Lukas Reichel to a two-year contract.

The team announced the deal on Tuesday. It runs through the 2025-26 season with a $1.2 million cap hit.

The Blackhawks were hoping for a breakout performance from Reichel this season, but he struggled with inconsistency for much of the year. Reichel, who turns 22 on May 17, finished with five goals and 11 assists in 65 games.

Reichel's development is an ongoing issue for Chicago as it tries to take its rebuilding project to the next level. The Blackhawks set a franchise record for losses by going 23-53-6 this season.

The contract gives Reichel some security as he prepares to play for Germany at the upcoming world championships in Czechia.

The 6-foot Reichel was selected by Chicago with the No. 17 pick in the 2020 draft. He has 12 goals and 20 assists in 99 NHL games.

Eastern Conference playoff matchups

Second round

Eastern Conference

Carolina vs. N.Y. Rangers

(Rangers lead 2-0)

▶ Game 1: Rangers 4-3

▶ Game 2: Rangers 4-3 (2OT)

▶ Game 3: Thursday @ Carolina, TBA

▶ Game 4: Saturday @ Carolina, TBA

▶ Game 5: May 13 @ New York, TBA

▶ Game 6: May 16 @ Carolina, TBA

▶ Game 7: May 18 @ New York, TBA

Boston vs. Florida

(Bruins lead 1-0)

▶ Game 1: Boston 5-1

▶ Game 2: Wednesday @ Florida, TBA

▶ Game 3: Friday @ Boston, TBA

▶ Game 4: Sunday @ Boston, TBA

▶ Game 5: May 14 @ Florida, TBA

▶ Game 6: May 17 @ Boston, TBA

▶ Game 7: May 19 @ Florida, TBA

Western Conference

Colorado vs. Dallas

(Avalanche lead 1-0)

▶ Game 1: Avalanche 4-3 (OT)

▶ Game 2: Thursday @ Dallas, 9:30

▶ Game 3: Saturday @ Colorado, TBA

▶ Game 4: May 13 @ Colorado, TBA

▶ Game 5: May 15 @ Dallas, TBA

▶ Game 6: May 16 @ Colorado, TBA

▶ Game 7: May 19 @ Dallas

Edmonton vs. Vancouver

▶ Game 1: Wednesday @ Vancouver, 10

▶ Game 2: Friday @ Vancouver, 10

▶ Game 3: Sunday @ Edmonton, TBA

▶ Game 4: May 14 @ Edmonton, TBA

▶ Game 5: May 16 @ Vancouver, TBA

▶ Game 6: May 18 @ Edmonton, TBA

▶ Game 7: May 20 @ Vancouver, TBA

Eastern Conference

First round

Rangers vs. Capitals

(Rangers win 4-0)

▶ Game 1: Rangers 4-1

▶ Game 2: Rangers 4-3

▶ Game 3: Rangers 3-1

▶ Game 4: Rangers 4-2

Bruins vs. Maple Leafs

(Bruins win 4-3)

▶ Game 1: Bruins 5-1

▶ Game 2: Leafs 3-2

▶ Game 3: Bruins 4-2

▶ Game 4: Bruins 3-1

▶ Game 5: Leafs 3-2 (OT)

▶ Game 6: Leafs 2-0

▶ Game 7: Bruins 2-1 (OT)

Panthers vs. Lightning

(Panthers win 4-1)

▶ Game 1: Panthers 3-2

▶ Game 2: Panthers 3-2 (OT)

▶ Game 3: Panthers 5-3

▶ Game 4: Lightning 6-3

▶ Game 5: Lightning 6-1

Hurricanes vs. Islanders

(Hurricanes win 4-1)

▶ Game 1: Hurricanes 3-1

▶ Game 2: Hurricanes 5-3

▶ Game 3: Hurricanes 3-2

▶ Game 4: Islanders 3-2 (2OT)

▶ Game 5: Hurricanes 6-3

Western Conference playoff matchups

Dallas vs. Vegas

(Series tied 3-3)

▶ Game 1: Vegas 4-3

▶ Game 2: Vegas 3-1

▶ Game 3: Dallas 3-2 (OT)

▶ Game 4: Dallas 4-2

▶ Game 5: Dallas 3-2

▶ Game 6: Vegas 2-0

▶ Game 7: Sunday @ Dallas, 7:30

Winnipeg vs. Colorado

(Avalanche win 4-1)

▶ Game 1: Jets 7-6

▶ Game 2: Avalanche 5-2

▶ Game 3: Avalanche 6-2

▶ Game 4: Avalanche 5-1

▶ Game 5: Avalanche 6-3

Vancouver vs. Nashville

(Canucks win 4-2)

▶ Game 1: Canucks 4-2

▶ Game 2: Predators 4-1

▶ Game 3: Canucks 2-1

▶ Game 4: Canucks 4-3 (OT)

▶ Game 5: Predators 2-1

▶ Game 6: Canucks 1-0

Edmonton vs. Los Angeles

(Oilers win 4-1)

▶ Game 1: Oilers 7-4

▶ Game 2: Kings 5-4 (OT)

▶ Game 3: Oilers 6-1

▶ Game 4: Oilers 1-0

▶ Game 5: Oilers 4-3

American Hockey League playoffs

Central Division semifinal

(Griffins win series 3-1)

▶ Game 1: Grand Rapids 3-2 (OT)

▶ Game 2: Rockford 5-1

▶ Game 3: Grand Rapids 4-3 (OT)

▶ Game 4: Grand Rapids 4-2

Central Division semifinal

(Texas leads 2-0)

▶ Game 1: Texas 6-3

▶ Game 2: Texas 4-1

▶ Game 3: Wednesday @ Milwaukee

▶ Game 4: Friday @ Milwaukee

▶ Game 5: Sunday @ Milwaukee

ECHL

Central Division Final

Toledo vs. Wheeling

(Toledo leads 2-0)

▶ Game 1: Toledo 2-1 (OT)

▶ Game 2: Toledo 5-3

▶ Game 3: Wednesday @ Wheeling, 7:10

▶ Game 4: Friday @ Wheeling, 7:10

▶ Game 5: Saturday @ Wheeling, 7:10

▶ Game 6: Monday @ Toledo, 7:10

▶ Game 7: Tuesday @ Toledo, 7:10

Central Division Semifinal

(Toledo wins 4-0)

▶ Game 1: Toledo 3-2 (OT)

▶ Game 2: Toledo 5-2

▶ Game 3: Toledo 6-2

▶ Game 4: Toledo 4-2

Road to the Memorial Cup in Saginaw

(Saginaw hosts May 24-June 2)

▶ Friday, May 24: WHL vs. Saginaw, 7:30

▶ Saturday, May 25: OHL vs. QMJHL, 4

▶ Sunday, May 26: Saginaw vs. QMJHL, 7:30

▶ Monday, May 27: OHL vs. WHL, 7:30

▶ Tuesday, May 28: QMJHL vs. WHL, 7:30 

▶ Wednesday, May 29: Saginaw vs. OHL, 7:30 

▶ Thursday, May 30: Tie breaker (if necessary)

▶ Friday, May 31: Semifinal, 7:30

▶ Sunday, June 2: Final, 7:30

CHL finals in WHL, OHL, QMJHL

Western Hockey League

Moose Jaw vs. Portland

▶ Game 1: Friday @ Portland

▶ Game 2: Saturday @ Portland

▶ Game 3: May 14 @ Moose Jaw

▶ Game 4: May 15 @ Moose Jaw

▶ Game 5: May 17 @ Moose Jaw

▶ Game 6: May 19 @ Portland

▶ Game 7: May 20 @ Portland

Ontario Hockey League

Oshawa vs. London

▶ Game 1: Thursday @ London

▶ Game 2: Saturday @ London

▶ Game 3: May 13 @ Oshawa

▶ Game 4: May 15 @ Oshawa

▶ Game 5: May 17 @ London

▶ Game 6: May 19 @ Oshawa

▶ Game 7: May 20 @ London

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

Baie-Comeau vs. Drummondville

▶ Game 1: Thursday @ Baie-Comeau

▶ Game 2: Friday @ Baie-Comeau

▶ Game 3: May 13 @ Drummondville

▶ Game 4: May 14 @ Drummondville

▶ Game 5: May 16 @ Baie-Comeau

▶ Game 6: May 18 @ Drummondville

▶ Game 7: May 21 @ Baie-Comeau