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Fri, 25 May 2012 21:13 GMT

Bowman receives Canada's 2nd-highest honor

Fri, 25 May 2012 21:10 GMT

Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman received the Governor General's highest honor on Friday, as he was admitted to the Order of Canada.

With new owners in, Blues CEO McCarthy out

Fri, 25 May 2012 21:07 GMT

St. Louis Blues CEO Mike McCarthy is stepping down, not long after new ownership finalized its purchase of the franchise.

Heading to the Cup finals

Fri, 25 May 2012 20:51 GMT

Adam Henrique scored off a wild scramble in front early in OT and the New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Rangers 3-2 to advance to their first Stanley Cup finals since '03. The new Eastern champs will face LA next.

Devils eliminate Rangers in OT to reach finals

Fri, 25 May 2012 20:33 GMT

Adam Henrique scored off a wild scramble in front at 1:03 into overtime and the New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Rangers 3-2 to advance to their first Stanley Cup finals since 2003.

Bowman receives Canada's 2nd highest honor

Fri, 25 May 2012 20:01 GMT

Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman received the Governor General's highest honor on Friday, as he was admitted to the Order of Canada.

NHL.com: 5th Cup finals for Brodeur | 'Unbelievable'

Fri, 25 May 2012 19:59 GMT

NHL.com: Robitaille still big part of Kings

Fri, 25 May 2012 19:58 GMT

NHL.com: Torts praises Rangers after season ends

Fri, 25 May 2012 19:46 GMT

Blues CEO Mike McCarthy stepping down, not long after ownership change

Fri, 25 May 2012 18:32 GMT

2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Henrique Does It Again in OT for Devils

Fri, 25 May 2012 18:22 GMT

It came down to Henrique vs. Henrik in the Eastern Conference Final.

The Canadian forward scored on the Swedish netminder in overtime to propel the New Jersey Devils to a 3-2 win and their first Stanley Cup Final berth since 2003.

"That one was like Christmas," smiled New Jersey hero Adam Henrique afterwards on the NBC Sports Network.

The rookie forward, who is a finalist for the Calder Trophy as a top freshman this season, has had a knack for scoring big goals so far in the playoffs. He kept New Jersey alive in the first round with his wrist shot in sudden death in Game 7 in Florida, and then prevented a seventh and deciding game that would have taken place at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night when he rammed home a loose puck that slipped through New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist just 63 seconds into OT at the Prudential Center in Game 6 on Friday night.

Henrique, who tallied 25 goals and 50 points for Albany (AHL) in his first pro season last year, made his NHL debut in the 2010-11 regular season finale against Boston, but that's as far as he went at that time. The Devils couldn't overcome an ugly start to their season, and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1996.

A four-time 20-goal scorer in junior with Windsor (OHL), he notched 16 goals and 35 assists for 51 points in 74 NHL regular-season games in 2011-12, missing some time with a groin injury, while still establishing himself as an NHL regular. He tailed off somewhat down the stretch, at least scoring-wise, and that continued into the first round of the playoffs. He had just one assist entering Game 7 with the Panthers, but came up big with two goals that game, including the aforementioned game-winner, to keep the Devils alive.

Henrique, 22, who was born the year the Devils drafted Martin Brodeur, notched four assists in five games in a second-round decimation of the Philadelphia Flyers, but had nothing to show for his 11 shots on goal that series. His goal-scoring drought continued into the conference finals, where he posted three assists in the first five games as New Jersey moved within a win of the Stanley Cup finals.

You still felt that he would break through at some point. It's not as though he wasn't getting chances— he had eight shots in the first five games alone—but still, nothing was going in for him.

Henrique was temporarily laid low in Game 6 after being hit with a stick by Rangers forward Brian Boyle while defending the Devils net, as New Jersey again failed to protect a multi-goal advantage and had to resort to overtime.

Then it happened, just over a minute in.

Alex Ponikarovsky set up in the right circle and threw a puck in front that Ilya Kovalchuk got a swipe at, but couldn't put past Lundqvist's right pad. A Ranger player kicked it into the slot, and players on both sides starting hoeing away, as if they were competing in an Olympic curling contest. Henrique didn't join the fray, but instead backed off slightly to Lundqvist's left at the edge of the crease—and waited.

Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi, who did some damage to the Devils early in the series, then damaged his own team's hopes when he left Henrique practically alone in front to join the scrum on the other side, just as the disk slid through Lundqvist's legs towards the goal line. That's when Henrique, a native of Brantford, Ont.—also home to some guy named Gretzky—beat out Brad Richards and slammed the puck across the goal line to lift the Devils higher than they've been in nine years.

"I was sitting there," said Henrique to NHL.com. "I couldn't see the puck. I knew it was down, and I was just praying it was going to come under his pad. It's a big one. It's one you dream about."

Christmas indeed came early for the team that used to wear Christmas colors. Now they're four wins away from their fourth Stanley Cup title, thanks to a rookie who's so far come up biggest when the stakes have been highest.

Just ask his coach.

"I mean, this kid's just the right place, right time, all the time," said Devils head coach Peter DeBoer. "The two biggest goals of the playoffs come off his stick, and that's not accidental."

Read more NHL news on BleacherReport.com

New Jersey Devils Can Write Their Own History After Eliminating New York Rangers

Fri, 25 May 2012 18:20 GMT

For all of the talk that surrounded this game as a potential repeat of the 1994 series, none of it would come to fruition.

The Rangers had a great season. They won more games than any other team in the Eastern Conference. For the first time in years, they had an established identity and a coach they could believe in. It was supposed to be their year.

Meanwhile, Peter DeBoer's Devils had a different outcome in mind.

The storyline leading up to this game was largely viewed through the Ranger' lens: Could they repeat what Mark Messier did in 1994? Is it time for "King Henrik" to finally get his hardware?

For one reason or another, the Devils eluded the national spotlight in Spurs-like fashion, who, despite losing to the Rangers in that fateful 1994 series, went on to win three more Stanley Cups, and never quite got the recognition they deserved.

As it turns out, this game was not about the Rangers' road back to glory. It was about the new-age Devils making their own mark in league history—with the help of a 40-year-old goaltender, the only remaining player from the 1994 series, who was playing like he was half his age.

The truth is, for as juicy as the storyline the Rangers were riding into this game, the Devils' locker room was filled with personal stories just as, if not more enticing than, their Ranger counterparts. After all, the Devils were supposed to be the underdogs in this series.

Where was the coverage of Zach Parise, the young captain who can cement himself in Devils' history with a Stanley Cup victory (and returning to the team next season)? How about Ilya Kovalchuk, who was once known for being a "one-dimensional" player during his time in Atlanta, finally getting his chance to play on the game's biggest stage?

How about the world's most underrated sports executive, Lou Lamoriello, who made the necessary trade for Kovalchuk and moved up in the draft for Zach Parise? Or Peter DeBoer, a law school graduate who you would pass in the supermarket without a second thought, rising through the coaching ranks to bring the Devils back to their former glory?

Of course, the man with the most on the line for the Devils in this series was Martin Brodeur, who was phenomenal in Game 6. For all of his accomplishments, Brodeur never quite got the recognition he deserved for being one of the greatest athletes of this generation, even in his own town.

Perhaps his lack of recognition was because he never could get past the Rangers in the playoffs. Despite the fact that the Devils have been immensely more successful than the Rangers since 1994, they would never truly usurp the Rangers' rule of the market until they beat them in the postseason.

After the game, it was evident that the lack of credit he and his franchise was given certainly bothered him a bit:

Brodeur cont: 'So it’s now it’s at least 1-1. I don’t know if they’re going to give us credit, but it’s 1-1.'
— Tom Gulitti (@TGfireandice) May 26, 2012

Brodeur also understood the unwarranted "big-brother syndrome" that Devils fans have endured. As he said after the game (via Tom Gulitti of Fire and Ice):

But, I think winning against them in the big stage, not just for me, but for the fans of New Jersey, people that are supporting us, and always take a second seat to these guy for whatever reason, now they’ve got to be pretty happy going to work and going to school and doing all their things that they do. I know from some of the messages I got throughout this playoff series we made a lot o f people real happy right now by beating them.

Still, there is work to be done by the New Jersey Devils if they are not to waste their incredible efforts. But the nightmares of 1994 can begin to recede and be replaced by new memories from the 2012 campaign.

Read more NHL news on BleacherReport.com

Toronto Maple Leafs: Justin Schultz a Real Possibility

Fri, 25 May 2012 18:05 GMT

As far as consolation prizes go, you could do a lot worse than Jake Gardiner.

You see, when the Toronto Maple Leafs were working out the details of the Francois Beauchemin trade with the Anaheim Ducks back in early 2011, the Leafs had actually initially asked for Justin Schultz, Gardiner's teammate at the University of Wisconsin.

The Ducks decided that Schultz had more potential, so Gardiner was deemed expendable and the Leafs are thankful for it.

In a cruel twist for Anaheim, Schultz might end up in Toronto anyway, this time for little to no compensation.

To make it worse for the Ducks, they won't be receiving a compensatory draft pick for failing to sign him because he wasn't drafted in the first round.

As mentioned in this article published on TheHockeyWriters.com, section 8.3(b) of the NHL's Collective Bargaining Agreement states that a compensatory draft pick will only be awarded to a team that fails to sign a player drafted in the first round.

The article cites the Blake Wheeler case in 2008 as an example of this rule.

The Phoenix Coyotes drafted Wheeler fifth overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, but failed to come to terms with him when he left the University of Minnesota following the 2007-08 season. As a result, the League awarded the Coyotes the fifth pick in the second round of the 2008 draft as compensation.

In another strange twist, that pick (35th overall) was traded from Phoenix to Anaheim along with the 39th overall pick for the 27th overall pick.

With the 35th overall pick, the Ducks selected a young man by the name of Nicolas Deschamps.

Small world.

Anaheim technically still has time to negotiate with Schultz's camp, but apparently, he is all but set to hit free agency come July 1st.

Per TSN Insider Bob McKenzie:

Ducks have 30-day exclusive window to sign him but writing is on wall: Schultz going to UFA. 30-day window expires just prior to NHL draft.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 25, 2012

Obvious strategy now for ANA is to trade Schultz's rights to club Schultz will sign with but Ducks would need Schultz's cooperation on that.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 25, 2012

Here's the thing. If Schultz already has an idea of where he wants to go, that particular team probably won't have to bother trading for his rights.

On the other hand, if the young defenseman decides he wants to test the market, acquiring his rights might be a smart move.

In the latter case, the Leafs would have quite a few pieces they'd be willing (read: happy) to deal for his rights. Mike Komisarek, Tim Connolly and Matthew Lombardi, anyone?

A mid-round pick would likely be more welcome from the Ducks' point of view, but Leaf fans can dream, right? (And boy, do they ever.)

There are probably 29 teams out there that are interested in Schultz's services, but the Leafs have a not-so-secret ace-in-the-hole in his old college pal Jake Gardiner.

Bob McKenzie thinks Schultz will end up with the Edmonton Oilers because he would fit in well with all the other kids over there, but McKenzie's fellow TSN analyst Marc Crawford thinks he'll end up in Toronto.

I think he's going to go to Toronto, one of the reasons is I want to fix the entire Toronto defence tonight, I'm picking Dumba and Schultz, but also he has a former teammate there in Jake Gardiner.

It appears at least one expert agrees that the Leafs should draft a defenseman, but I digress.

Unlike some of Schultz's soon-to-be fellow free agents like Ryan Suter or Zach Parise, the Toronto Maple Leafs appear to have a distinct advantage over the 28 other teams that will be trying to sign him.

Let's hope Jake Gardiner is a good salesperson.

Read more NHL news on BleacherReport.com

Matthew Barry: Jon Moncreif Would Have Wanted it This Way

Fri, 25 May 2012 18:04 GMT

Jon grew up a New Jersey Devils fan. When Jon moved to SoCal he quickly became a Kings fans and covered them for various publications. Jon knew everything about the Devils and the Kings right down to the brand of shoelace each player wore. He was an encyclopedia of knowledge and I can't even recall the amount of times I laughed when he and Jim Fox would argue at the Kings practice facility a...

Video: Highlights: OT goal delivers Devils to Cup finals

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:43 GMT

Check out highlights as the New Jersey Devils advanced to the Stanley Cup finals by defeating the New York Rangers, 3-2, in overtime. (NBC Sports)

2012 Stanley Cup Finals Set: Who Will Hoist the Cup?

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:34 GMT

If you say that you predicted a Devils-Kings Stanley Cup Finals at the beginning of the season or even the beginning of the playoffs, you're lying.

That's what's great about the NHL playoffs. No one predicted this matchup. For that reason and the fact that these are two very good, deep teams, this will be a great series.

First and foremost, the goaltending storyline is a very good one. Martin Brodeur is a sure-fire Hall of Famer and unquestionably one of the best goaltenders of all-time. Jonathan Quick has emerged as one of the best young, up-and-coming netminders in the league.

Does the 40-year-old Brodeur still have what it takes to capture hockey's ultimate prize for the fourth time, or is it time for him to hand the reins over to the young Vezina finalist in Quick?

This series will also feature two American-born captains who have been great leaders on and off the ice for their teams during this postseason.

Dustin Brown has probably been the Kings' most effective player, second only to Quick. He's scoring, hitting and certainly getting under opponents' skin as he so often does.

Zach Parise may become the league's most coveted free agent come July 1st, but right now, he dons the "C" on his Devils' sweater, and he is their leader and most important forward.

Throughout the regular season, both of these teams were very inconsistent at times, but they have seemingly pushed all the right buttons and made everything click just right in the playoffs.

After the Kings' domination of the Presidents' Trophy-winning Vancouver Canucks, I decided that I would not pick against L.A. again this season. Although they're a No. 8 seed, Quick is on fire and gives them an edge in every game.

If L.A. does prevail, look for Quick to be an easy pick for the Conn Smythe.

The Kings are also in the midst of an NHL-record 10-consecutive road playoff wins, and they will continue their road ice advantage into New Jersey this series.

With that said, do not expect Brodeur and the Devils to go down easily. The Kings have only lost two games over the course of three playoff series thus far. They may be tested for the first time this postseason.

The Devils boast weapons like Parise, Ilya Kovalchuk and rookie Adam Henrique. The Kings' offense will have to continue to produce. Brown, Anze Kopitar, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter will be key.

My pick: Kings in six.

Read more NHL news on BleacherReport.com

Rangers eliminated by Devils with crushing OT loss after another rally in Game 6 falls short

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:30 GMT

NHL Playoffs 2012: New Jersey Devils' 4th Line Delivers for Playoff Run

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:24 GMT

When the NHL playoffs started in mid-April, not too many people predicted the New Jersey Devils going to the finals. Well, the Devils completed the unlikely feat by beating the New York Rangers in Game 6 in overtime.

However, even those Devils' faithful who believed in the team probably did not expect Ryan Carter, Stephen Gionta and Steve Bernier playing such a large role. Oh, how they were wrong.

Those three players, who have comprised the Devils' fourth line throughout the playoffs, have played significant roles in game after game. They've scored game-deciding goals, added early-game support, and forechecked to no end.

How good have they been? Check out the below table:

	Steve Bernier	Ryan Carter	Stephen Gionta
Goals	2	4	3
Assists	4	2	4
Plus/Minus	+4	+6	+7
Hits	45	23	27
Takeaways	4	4	7
Game-Winning Goals	0	2	0
Average Time-on-Ice	10:41	8:15	8:41
Shots	22	15	18

The nine goals and 10 assists are impressive, but this is the fourth line. Few teams are lucky enough to see production like that from their theoretically-worst players, and it's not that hard to see why the Devils are succeeding.

After all, the Devils have a great team, but they are not the best. On paper, there's at least three or four teams and probably more that are better no paper.

The problem with roster comparisons is that they don't account for lines like this.

Ryan Carter has led the way, with four goals and two game-winners. All of the players have impressed though, averaging minimal time while still each having at least six points.

Their plus/minus ratings are equally impressive, given that the team's leading goal scorers, Travis Zajac, Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise, are minus-four, -three and -one, respectively.

But most importantly, they are physical. They've combined to contribute almost 100 hits, giving a physical edge to a team without much physicality. They check, they poke, and they annoy, all while giving more talented players valuable resting time.

These three players have proved incredibly valuable and if the Devils are looking to keep winning, they'll need to keep seeing great play from their bench-warmers. The Kings have a dangerously deep offense, but when all four lines are producing for the Devils, they'll match up pretty favorably.

Frustratingly, you likely won't see much more ice-time from these players, since that would go against their very purpose on the team. But as long as they keep adding that kick to the Devils' already-talented roster, they give the team a great chance to compete in any given game.

Read more NHL news on BleacherReport.com

Rangers' gas tank hits empty

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:21 GMT

PHT: Blame it on fatigue if you want, but the Devils were just too much for the Rangers. New Jersey had too much talent and boasted too much depth as the Blueshirts found themselves chasing the Devils more often than not in the series.

PHT: Rangers' gas tank hits empty | Rally falls short

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:21 GMT

Friday’s Three Stars: Devils head to Final; Brodeur, Kovalchuk the difference in Game 6

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:16 GMT

No. 1 Star: Ilya Kovalchuk, New Jersey Devils

This time last year, Kovalchuk was a punchline, a cautionary tale of what happens when you spend an untold fortune on one guy. Now, he looks like he's worth it. Kovalchuk had a game-high 6 shots, he scored a beautiful powerplay goal, and he picked up an assist on Adam Henrique's game-winner in a 3-2 Game 6 victory over the New York Rangers, sending the Devils to the Stanley Cup Final.

No. 2 Star: Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils

Brodeaur kicked it old-school Friday night, looking like the difference-maker he once was in the Devils' victory. He made 33 saves in the win. This one was my favourite:

No. 3 Star: Adam Henrique, New Jersey Devils

Henrique scored his second series winner of these playoffs, banging home a rebound just 1:03 into overtime. He also added 3 blocked shots.

Honourable mention: Ryan Callahan played his tail off for the Rangers, scoring the game-tying goal ... Brad Richards played a strong game. He also took 28 faceoffs for the Rangers. The rest of the team took 29 combined ... Ryan McDonagh was excellent, with assists on both Ranger goals in just under 30 minutes of action ... here's the handshake line, for those of you that get off on sportsmanship:

Conn Smythe Watch: 1. Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings; 2. Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings; 3. Ilya Kovalchuk, New Jersey Devils; 4. Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers; 5. Brad Richards, New York Rangers; 6. Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings; 7. Zach Parise, New Jersey Devils; 8. Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils; 9. Travis Zajac, New Jersey Devils; 10. Adam Henrique

Dishonourable mention: Michael Del Zotto had another rough night, on the ice for both New Jersey goals. It was in keeping with a series where he was on the ice for 8 Devils' goals, including 3 game-winners ... And finally, did this stick ever touch Steve Bernier? A lot of people were saying it didn't, but it's pretty clear that it clips his visor at the very least:

PHT: Rangers' gas tank hits empty

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:02 GMT

PHT: Who will win the 2012 Stanley Cup finals?

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:02 GMT

PHT: Will Devils or Kings win Stanley Cup finals?

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:02 GMT

PHT: Burning questions coming out of Devils' win

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:01 GMT

Devils eliminate Rangers in Game 6, ending fear of the past, setting course for the future

Fri, 25 May 2012 16:45 GMT

It was all so familiar.

The New Jersey Devils' 3-2 overtime victory over the New York Rangers was like watching a clip show. The entire affair looked stitched together from old memories.

First, there was that 2-goal cushion, as the Devils took a commanding lead in the first period of Game 6, just as they had in Games 4 and 5. Ryan Carter opened the scoring, continuing the strong play of the Devils' fourth line by banging home a rebound on a 3-on-1 at the 10-minute mark. Then, 4 minutes later, Ilya Kovalchuk finished off one of the smoothest, sexiest power-play passing plays you're ever going to see to make it 2-0.

(Seriously, the goal was a sultry sax riff away from being something you can't show during primetime. When it was done, everybody spooned.)

But any fans with a recollection of 1994 were holding their breath. The Devils led 2-0 in Game 6 then too, people said. This one was retracing the tracks of the past far too eerily for anyone's comfort.

[Nicholas J. Cotsonika: New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur writes another special chapter in storybook career]

Sure enough, just as they had in 1994, the Rangers turned the game around and clawed their way back. The second period was a mirror image of the first, with New York matching New Jersey's two first period goals, almost right down to the time they were scored. Ruslan Fedotenko cut the lead in half at the 10-minute mark; Ryan Callahan eradicated the lead 4 minutes later.

And the Rangers kept coming. They controlled the final 40 minutes of this game, outshooting the Devils 21 to 12. It seemed as though it was only a matter of time before they broke through and scored that third goal.

But Martin Brodeur could not be stopped. He looked like the best goaltender in the world.

It was all so familiar.

Brodeur shut the door in the third period with a throwback performance for the ages. There were pad stacks, sweep checks, and moments when the goaltender looked downright unbeatable. It was vintage Brodeur.

And then it was Adam Henrique's turn to remind us of what had come before. 1:03 into overtime, the Calder nominee pounced on a loose puck on the goal line and stuffed it past Henrik Lundqvist, giving the Devils the game and the series, just as he did in Round 1 versus the Florida Panthers. That was a 3-2 overtime win as well.

It was all so familiar.

But in the end, the Devils don't have to compare this run to anything. They don't have to compare this game to anything. And they don't have to compare their players to past playoff heroes. These guys are playoff heroes now.

The Devils don't have to look back at all. They don't have time to look back. They've got a Stanley Cup Final to look forward to.

Mike Augello: Marlies Win AHL Western Conference, Face Norfolk in Calder Cup Finals

Fri, 25 May 2012 16:33 GMT

The Toronto Marlies advanced to the Calder Cup Finals for the first time since 1992 with a 3-1 victory over the Oklahoma City Barons in front of over 7500 fans at Ricoh Coliseum on Friday night. Defenseman Simon Gysbers broke a 1-1 tie midway through the third period and Toronto held on to eliminate the team the top seed in the AHLâs Western Conference in five games. Toronto will face the...

NHL Playoffs 2012: Is Devils Rookie Adam Henrique a Rising Clutch Artist?

Fri, 25 May 2012 16:31 GMT

Last year, it was Nathan Horton for the Boston Bruins. This year, it is Adam Henrique for the New Jersey Devils.

They now share at least one more common thread other than each having played for Peter DeBoer.

In both cases, the player in question had never previously partaken in a Stanley Cup playoff game. Yet by the end of three rounds, all within one season, they had ended a Game 7 overtime thriller in the Eastern Conference finals and clinched the Prince of Wales Trophy for their respective teams.

The rookie Henrique has but three goals in 18 career NHL playoff games. But all three, along with two of his eight assists, have come in games where the Devils have a chance to close out a series.

Thanks in large part to his input, they have not lost one of those matches.

Henrique inserted a pair of goals to bookend the scoring in a 3-2, double-overtime triumph over the Florida Panthers in the deciding game of the first round. He set up Bryce Salvador’s equalizer and Ilya Kovalchuk’s dose of power-play insurance to seal up a 3-1 victory on New Jersey’s first attempt to put away the Philadelphia Flyers.

And on Friday, after his team spilled an initial 2-0 deficit and faced the specter of going back to Madison Square Garden for a rubber match with the New York Rangers, Henrique stepped up again.

With his linemates Kovalchuk and Alexei Ponikarovsky both forking away at Vezina Trophy nominee Henrik Lundqvist, Henrique made his way to the gaping portion of the net and swept in a rebound at the 63-second mark of overtime.

The goal was Henrique’s first playoff strike at the Prudential Center, and his first overall since, well, he knocked out the Panthers. And this one sends the Devils to their first Stanley Cup Final since their previous championship in 2003.

For Henrique, this spells an opportunity to win his third hockey championship of any kind in four years. Prior to spending the bulk of his first professional campaign with AHL Albany, he helped the Windsor Spitfires with back-to-back Memorial Cups.

In 35 OHL playoff games over those two banner seasons, Henrique inserted three game-winners, including a conference semifinal clincher against the Plymouth Whalers in 2009.

Later that season, Henrique scored in overtime of the Memorial Cup semifinal, then opened the scoring in the championship game en route to Windsor’s 4-1 triumph over the Kelowna Rockets.

He broke the ice in the national title game the following year as well, later tacking on a second goal as part of Windsor’s 9-1 rout of the Brandon Wheat Kings.

He has yet to translate his major-junior productivity rate of 38 goals and 26 assists in 54 postseason games. Nor should he be expected to replenish that exact radiance.

But to date, in the effort to build upon a not-so-shabby regular-season log of 16-35-51, Henrique has made his contributions to the Devils count with a hand in five out of nine goals during potential series clinchers.

Read more NHL news on BleacherReport.com

Devils drop Rangers in OT

Fri, 25 May 2012 16:29 GMT

In their 30-year history, the New Jersey Devils have had consistent success negotiating the road map to the Stanley Cup finals.

Adam Henrique sends New Jersey Devils to Stanley Cup Final with OT goal vs. Rangers (VIDEO)

Fri, 25 May 2012 16:15 GMT

The New Jersey Devils jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Then a player born in the Soviet Union, Ruslan Fedotenko, scored. Then the New York Rangers captain, Ryan Callahan, scored. The ghosts of the 1994 Eastern Conference Final Game 6 appeared to be haunting the barn in New Jersey, 18 years after Alexei Kovalev and Mark Messier rallied the Rangers to an eventual series win.

That is, until rookie Adam Henrique scored this goal 1:03 into overtime to give his team a 3-2 win and send the New Jersey Devils to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2003:

"That one was like Christmas," said Henrique on NBC, as his team celebrated its fifth conference title since 1995. "[Alexei Ponikarovsky] and [Ilya Kovalchuk] jarred it loose, it fell through his pads, and I'll take it."

It was Henrique's second overtime game winner of the 2012 playoffs, as his double-OT goal eliminated the Florida Panthers in Game 7 of the opening round.

[Nicholas J. Cotsonika: New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur writes another special chapter in storybook career]

It also game in the same game as this rather uncomfortable moment for Henrique earlier in Game 6:

The joy and pain of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Game 1 of the Final begins on Wednesday in Newark.

Marlies Advance To Calder Cup Final

Fri, 25 May 2012 16:11 GMT

TORONTO _ Simon Gysbers scored the game-winning goal to propel the Toronto Marlies into the American Hockey League's Calder Cup final after defeating the Oklahoma City Barons 3-1 on Friday. Gysbers scored 8:38 into the third period when he ska...

Rangers vs. Devils: Game 6 Highlights, Twitter Reaction and Analysis

Fri, 25 May 2012 16:10 GMT

Rookie forward Adam Henrique scored an overtime goal to give the New Jersey Devils a 3-2 Game 6 victory Friday night and a berth into the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2003.

The Devils will host the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday at the Prudential Center.

Devils fans were happy that their team won Game 6 at home and didn't allow the series to go back to New York for a Game 7, which is exactly what happened in the two teams' 1994 Eastern Conference Finals series, which the Rangers won. Ending the Rangers' season makes this playoff run for the Devils much sweeter for their fans.

Credit the Devils for not getting discouraged after allowing a 2-0 first period lead to slip away in the second period. They showed a lot of composure in this game.

Let's recap an exciting series-clinching win for New Jersey.

Best Tweets

Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo's Puck Daddy Blog tweeted about Ryan Callahan after he tied the game in the second period:

Off of Callahan, which means he's two goals away from the ultimate 1994 homage.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) May 25, 2012

Sean Leahy of Puck Daddy shared a photo of CBC's Don Cherry wearing a really interesting flower suit during Coach's Corner on Hockey Night in Canada:

Don Cherry is wearing your grandma's flower bed - twitpic.com/9p84oj
— Sean Leahy (@Sean_Leahy) May 25, 2012

Adam Proteau of The Hockey News talks about Ilya Kovalchuk of the Devils and Marian Gaborik of the Rangers:

People saw Kovalchuk & Gaborik as soft, playoff non-factors early in their career. Kovy is proving them wrong; Gaborik is proving them right
— Adam Proteau (@Proteautype) May 25, 2012

Tom Gulitti of the Fire and Ice Blog tweets about rookie Adam Henrique:

Adam Henrique might not win the Calder, but has a rookie ever scored two bigger goals than he has in this year's playoffs.?
— Tom Gulitti (@TGfireandice) May 25, 2012

Must-See Highlights

Rookie Adam Henrique sends the Devils to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Watch Ilya Kovalchuk finish a great power-play goal by the Devils.

Ryan Callahan tied the game at 2-2 in the second period with a deflection off his leg.

Grades for Key Devils Players

Ilya Kovalchuk: B

Kovalchuk played really well in the first period and gave the Devils a 2-0 lead with a power-play goal (see video above).

Though his defense in the second period was poor, he ended the game with an even rating. Overall, Kovalchuk played well and was aggressive offensively, which is what Devils fans want to see. He will finally get the chance to play in a Stanley Cup Finals.

Martin Brodeur: B+

Brodeur looked great in the first period and was playing with a lot of confidence. In the second period he allowed two goals, which erased the Devils' early 2-0 advantage from the first period. He finished the game with 33 saves.

The veteran goaltender made some important saves with the game tied 2-2, and will now try to win his fourth Stanley Cup title.

Zach Parise: C

The Devils' captain wasn't able to make much of an impact offensively in Game 6. Parise had just one shot on goal and scored zero points.

New Jersey didn't need Parise on this night, as the rest of the team, especially Ryan Carter and Adam Henrique, stepped up.

Grades for Key Rangers Players

Henrik Lundqvist: B

The Rangers' goaltender allowed the Devils to continue their first period dominance in this series by giving up two early goals.

After that, Lundqvist regained his composure and was fantastic for the rest of the contest. He was forced to make a number of important saves in the second period, including a big one on Devils rookie forward Adam Henrique.

In the end, Henrique would get the better of Lundqvist with a series-winning goal in overtime. Lundqvist finished the game with 26 saves.

Marian Gaborik: D+

Gaborik once again wasn't able to find the back of the net and finished the game with zero points. The talented winger had just one point in the series.

The Rangers needed Gaborik to play like a top-line scorer in this series and he wasn't able to deliver. He was a major disappointment in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Deciding Factor: New Jersey's First Period

The Rangers really hurt themselves by allowing the Devils to take an early 2-0 lead, which forced the Blueshirts to play from behind again.

With the Game 6 defeat, New York lost its final seven games when allowing the first goal. Playing catch-up hockey is a tough way to play when your season is on the line.

Game MVP: Adam Henrique

Adam Henrique's game-winning goal was an awesome moment for the young rookie, and he played great the entire game. He gave everything he had on the ice and was rewarded for his hard work with a goal he will never forget.

Henrique also won the Devils' first-round series against the Florida Panthers with a double-overtime goal in Game 7.

What's Next?

The Los Angeles Kings will travel to the Prudential Center to take on the Devils in Game 1 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC.

Follow @NicholasGoss35

Nicholas Goss is an NHL Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and was also the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston.

Read more NHL news on BleacherReport.com

Cataractes earn berth in championship final

Fri, 25 May 2012 16:08 GMT

Michael Chaput scored two goals and added an assists to help lead the Cataractes to a 7-4 win over the defending MasterCard Memorial Cup champions Saint John Sea Dogs.

Calder Cup Final Schedule

Fri, 25 May 2012 16:07 GMT

The Toronto Marlies, a proud member of the American Hockey League, will play the Norfolk Admirals (AHL affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning) in the 2012 Calder Cup Final Series. Toronto earned a berth in the Calder Cup by defeating the Oklahoma Ci...

Heading to the finals

Fri, 25 May 2012 16:05 GMT

Adam Henrique scored off a wild scramble in front at 1:03 into overtime and the New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Rangers 3-2 to advance to their first Stanley Cup finals since 2003.

Henrique scores early in OT as Devils beat Rangers 3-2 to advance to Cup finals

Fri, 25 May 2012 15:59 GMT

Rookie Henrique scores early in OT as Devils beat Rangers 3-2 to advance to Cup finals

Fri, 25 May 2012 15:59 GMT

2012 Stanley Cup Finals Schedule: Los Angeles Kings vs. New Jersey Devils

Fri, 25 May 2012 15:54 GMT

The Los Angeles Kings punched their ticket to the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals with a Game 5 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on Tuesday, March 22, when Dustin Penner scored at 17:42 of overtime. Since then, the Kings have been sitting and waiting to see whom they will face in the finals.

On Saturday night, they found out that they will meet the New Jersey Devils, after the Devils defeated the New York Rangers in a six-game series that they were able to close out in front of their home fans at “The Rock” in Newark. The Devils jumped out to an early lead on Saturday night only to see the Rangers tie it up in the second.

The score remained tied until 1:03 of the first overtime when Adam Henrique grabbed the puck during a scrum in front of the Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist and gave the series to the Devils.

For the Kings, this will be the second time they have played in the Stanley Cup Finals. Their first trip in 1993 ended with a loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

The Devils will be making their fifth trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. Of their four previous series, three ended with the Devils lifting the Cup. All four featured Martin Brodeur in the net for the Devils, with their first Cup coming in 1995.

Below is the full schedule for the Los Angeles Kings versus New Jersey Devils Stanley Cup Finals:

Game 1 Wed., May 30 8 p.m. LA at NJ NBC, CBC, RDS
Game 2 Sat., June 2 8 p.m. LA at NJ NBC, CBC, RDS
Game 3 Mon., June 4 8 p.m. NJ at LA NBCSN, CBC, RDS
Game 4 Wed., June 6 8 p.m. NJ at LA NBCSN, CBC, RDS
*Game 5 Sat., June 9 8 p.m. LA at NJ NBC, CBC, RDS
*Game 6 Mon., June 11 8 p.m. NJ at LA NBC, CBC, RDS
*Game 7 Wed., June 13 8 p.m. LA at NJ NBC, CBC, RDS

*If necessary

Read more NHL news on BleacherReport.com

Cataractes advance to Memorial Cup final

Fri, 25 May 2012 15:45 GMT

SHAWINIGAN, Que. (CP) - Yannick Veilleux broke a tie at 13:14 of the third period as the host Shawinigan Cataractes upset the defending champion Saint John Sea Dogs 7-4 in the semifinal of the Mastercard Memorial Cup on Friday night. The Catara...

Cataractes top Sea Dogs to reach Memorial Cup

Fri, 25 May 2012 15:26 GMT

The Shawinigan Cataractes didn't make it past the second round of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs.

Marlies in Calder Cup final

Fri, 25 May 2012 15:15 GMT

There are no previous outbreaks of Calder Cup fever recorded in Toronto's medical journals.

World juniors a massive success

Fri, 25 May 2012 15:12 GMT

The home team couldn't score gold, but the host country has plenty of loot to show for the 2012 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships.

IN-GAME BLOG: Barons at Marlies Game 5

Fri, 25 May 2012 14:29 GMT

PRE-GAME NOTES Welcome to the Game 5 edition of the OKC Barons live in-game blog. We'll be updating the action from the game as it happens. We'll also be adding photos, videos from big plays and more throughout the game. In terms of lineup c...

NHL investigating Coyotes for postgame actions

Fri, 25 May 2012 14:03 GMT

The NHL is further investigating the postgame actions and comments of some Phoenix Coyotes players after their season-ending, overtime loss in the Western Conference finals, league executive vice-president Colin Campbell told ESPN.com on Thursday.

Watch Ilya Kovalchuk’s Game 6 goal for Devils, a.k.a. power-play porn (VIDEO)

Fri, 25 May 2012 14:00 GMT

Adam Oates is the New Jersey Devils assistant coach in charge of the power play, which was 2-for-20 against the New York Rangers heading into Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final. It's entirely possible he will carry around this Ilya Kovalchuk goal in his wallet, showing it to complete strangers and telling them how gorgeous it is.

Watch all five Devils get involved on their second goal of Game 6, with Ruslan Fedotenko in the box for tripping Ryan Carter.

That's some video game [expletive] right there.

[Also: Conan O'Brien joins list of L.A. media who haven't figured out Kings]

For those keeping score at home, it was Adam Henrique to Peter Harrold at the top of the zone as the Devils played the umbrella. Harrold waited out a Derek Stepan blocked-shot attempt and dished to Henrique, who sent a quick pass to David Clarkson in the slot. Rather than shoot, Clarkson dumped down to Dainius Zubrus, who had a wide-open seam in front of the crease. He passed to Kovalchuk who one-timed it past Henrik Lundqvist.

We don't want to say that power-play goal was a thing of beauty, but it was just named Miss New Jersey.

Gagne, out since Dec., returns to Kings practice

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:42 GMT

Simon Gagne returned to practice with the Kings on Friday as they went through their first full workout since clinching a spot in the Stanley Cup final.

John Jaeckel: Maybe Mellanby, And More

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:41 GMT

Follow me @jaeckel Here's a quickie going into the Memorial Day weekend: I'm hearing through a top source that Scott Mellanby, who used to play for Joel Quenneville and has served for the last two seasons as an assistant on the Blues' staff, will discuss the Hawks' assistant coach vacancy with Quenneville next week. A former NHL captain, Mellanby scored 364 goals in the NHL and played a...

Richard Cloutier: Would You Take a Bullet for the President?

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:14 GMT

I'm 95% sure the next Head Coach of the Edmonton Oilers will be Brent Sutter. Sutter is the first name that comes up when hockey-people speak about what is happening in Edmonton this summer. Pierre McGuire stated on Thursday that the only way Sutter won't get the job is if he rejects the it. Wait a minute...Didn't Oilers President of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe say recently in an interview on...

NHL Stanley Cup Finals: 25 Burning Questions Heading into the Finals

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:08 GMT

With Game 6 tonight, the Stanley Cup Finalists could well be in place before midnight; seventh overtime notwithstanding. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Kings are hoping that they won't have to wait too long before they get to lace up their skates again.

With a shot at the first title in franchise history, the Kings have defied the odds by knocking off the top three seeds in the Western Conference along the way. A top seeded Eastern Conference foe would be the icing on the cake for their unlikely playoff run, but Los Angeles will take either team in stride.

The Rangers and Devils will be beating the crap out of each other for at least another 60 minutes while the Western Conference Champs can put their feet up and watch.

The puck is getting ready to drop at the Rock in Jersey, so get ready to hear Mike Emrick do some screaming!

Begin Slideshow

GARTH: Hasek Returning To NHL?

Fri, 25 May 2012 12:59 GMT

Forgive me for being late to the party on the Hasek too return to the NHL rumour. I spent the entire day on Friday landscaping the yard and prepping the homestead for the warm weather months. The first sniff of Hasek found me via text on Friday morning. I laughed it off and told the sender to have another two-four of pale ale. Two hours later, another text hit my phone. This time I took it more...