Series lead won't affect Crosby call, says Sullivan

Alex Ovechkin and three other Washington Capitals players were added to the NHL’s COVID-19 list Wednesday and the team was fined $100,000 by the league for violating coronavirus protocols. In addition to three-time MVP Ovechkin – one of just eight players in NHL history with more than 700 goals – the Capitals joining the COVID-19 list were center Evgeny Kuznetsov, defenseman Dmitry Orlov and top goalie Ilya Samsonov. Five players from the Carolina Hurricanes also are on the list and that team’s games were called off by the league through ”at least” Saturday.

Playoff hockey is a constant reminder of how quickly momentum can change. On April 20, our model’s record was perfect: The Penguins clinched their series in five games and the Ducks and Predators had won in sweeps. Not only were we one of the very few to pick the Preds over the mighty Blackhawks, but our seemingly insane prediction that the Maple Leafs would take the series over the Presidents’ Trophy winning Capitals in a “coinflip” series seemed to have legs, with the series tied at two (including three games going to overtime and the teams’ stats lines standing virtually identical.

Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid is white-hot after another spectacular performance in the Battle of Alberta.