National Hockey

EDMONTON — Jamie Benn and Dallas enjoyed the moment so much that the relative silence was pretty much an afterthought. The Stars are going to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 20 years.

CALGARY — Geoff Ward made his NHL head coaching debut, finished his first season and will start his second all in unusual circumstances. The 58-year-old from Waterloo, Ont.

Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher figures he could have returned to action mere weeks after suffering a broken jaw on a controversial play in the playoffs.

TORONTO — NHL general managers left their annual March meetings in Florida filled with optimism. The salary cap was projected to hit at least US$84 million in 2020-21 — a bump of $2.

New York Islanders (35-23-10, fifth in the Metropolitan Division during the regular season) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (43-21-6, second in the Atlantic Division during the regular season) Edmonton, Alberta; Tuesday, 8 p.m.

EDMONTON — While the New York Islanders were celebrating Brock Nelson scoring the first goal of the game, Tampa Bay Lightning centre Yanni Gourde was steaming about giving it up. Coach Jon Cooper decided to keep him on the ice for some redemption.

The Dallas Stars were fourth in the Western Conference when the NHL season paused for the pandemic. Dallas hovered under the radar in the post-season bubble, particularly after losing two of three round-robin games.

EDMONTON — Anton Khudobin gloved the puck out of the air on Shea Theodore's shot at the most intense moment of the game like it was part of a leisurely morning practice.

EDMONTON — Lou Lamoriello of the New York Islanders is the winner of the Jim Gregory general manager of the year award.

EDMONTON — Brayden Point didn't walk out of the tunnel to the ice with his Tampa Bay Lightning teammates for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference final, and there's no certainty he'll do so in Game 4.