The Hartford Courant: Hocket/CT Whale

Sure, Edmonton’s Corey Perry is in the Stanley Cup Final for a fourth time in five years, but he lost his three previous trips. Florida’s Carter Verhaeghe is there for a third time in that span and has a ring to show for it, from 2020 as a rookie with Tampa Bay. It’s no coincidence he keeps scoring big goals for the Panthers, and he appreciates each one because of his long road to even reach the NHL. He got one of them in the opener against the Oilers that put Florida three wins from a championship.

Since 1986, the Presidents’ Trophy has been awarded 38 times. Only eight of those winners have won the Stanley Cup. That drought will continue after the Rangers were eliminated Saturday night in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final to the Panthers. The Blueshirts had their best season since winning the Stanley Cup in 1994. […]

The New York Rangers face a must-win situation on Saturday against the Florida Panthers on the road to advance to the Stanley Cup finals. The Panthers lead the series 3-2.

There are potentially seismic changes coming to college sports, but UConn is confident and committed to weathering any storms to maintain is position of prominence in basketball. ... Yard Goats ace Carson Palmquist is worth watching, why is Hal Steinbrenner yapping now? And more in the Sunday Read.

The Wolf Pack were eliminated from the AHL playoffs with a 4-1 loss to Hershey at the XL Center on Wednesday night.

The Wolf Pack rebounded from early adversity to win their series against Charlotte and Providence. Now they trail Hershey in the AHL Atlantic Division finals and must win in Hartford Wednesday night to keep their season going.

The Rangers will begin their Eastern Conference Final series against the Panthers on Wednesday. With the much-needed break before Game 1, the Blueshirts could potentially see the return of a key player. Blake Wheeler told reporters after Sunday’s practice that he is “an option and available” for the series against the Panthers. However, Rangers coach […]

Seems there is always something there to remind us of the Whalers. Jake Leschyshyn, whose father, Curtis Leschyshyn played for the green and blue, is now starring in the Calder Cup playoffs for the Wolf Pack, who play Hersey in an elimination game at XL Center on Wednesday night.

Charlie McAvoy got the game winner and Jeremey Swayman made 28 saves to nail down a 2-1 win in Game 5.

The Hartford Wolf Pack advanced to the Atlantic Division finals for the second straight year after a 2-1 overtime win over the Providence Bruins in Game 4 of their playoff series on Friday night at the XL Center.