Truth & Rumors > NHL

02:54 PM ET 05.24 | when it comes down to why they're losing, look no further than captain Jonathan Toews, who is currently playing in a very un-captain like manner at the moment. What the Red Wings have done is successfully gotten inside the head of the Blackhawks captain and it's showing during games. Toews is not only the captain of the Hawks, he's captain of cool and he's lost his more than once this series. That's the main reason the Blackhawks are in the funk they're in as Toews is setting the wrong tone for the team. Chicago should be cool and collected and they're coming out panicked and gasping for air which is a great way to lose a hockey game and end a season in the playoffs. If Chicago wants to get back into this series, they first need to allow Jonathan Toews to screw his head on right and kick the Red Wings out of the kitchen. Toews cannot be barking at the refs, hacking at the legs of Wings defenders or wasting his time sitting in the penalty box. Once Toews gets it together, the offense will start flowing again and things will get back to normal.

Fansided

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02:53 PM ET 05.24 | According to a report and multiple sources, the Phoenix Coyotes are close to giving general manager Don Maloney a new contract, as told to Fox Sports Arizona. This is good news for Coyotes fans because Maloney has brought the team into prominence in three seasons also dealing with the lowest payroll. Another reason why this is good news because Maloney's contract was set to expire on June 30th. According to Don Maloney, he stated that the Coyotes finished with the lowest payroll in the Western Conference which is $49 million and the second lowest in the NHL, with only the New York Islanders spending less and making the playoffs this season. With Maloney now in the fold, the NHL can now move onto other things with this franchise as the league is the team's current owner. Also sources say that head coach Dave Tippett is next to work out a deal. Tippett's contract also expires on June 30th.

Heat Waved

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02:51 PM ET 05.24 | Rumors flew on Friday that Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk had agreed to sign with the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) for the 2013-14 season. This, despite Datsyuk being under contract with Detroit for one more season. The Russian forward's agent denied the report when asked about it. ???It's all B.S. rumors, you can't believe it,'' said Gary Gerstein, who represents Datsyuk. ???Pavel can't talk to anybody, he's under contract with the Red Wings for one more year. It's stupid rumors, not from me, not from Pavel. ???Nobody is talking to any Russian team. We have rules, we'll talk with (Red Wings GM) Kenny Holland after the playoffs. Everything's on hold right now because of the playoffs. We have time with Pavel. We're not in a hurry.'' Datsyuk is coming off another solid season with the Red Wings, with 15 goals and 34 assists. His 49 points were good for 10th-best in the National Hockey League.

Mlive

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02:41 PM ET 05.24 | The Western Conference Semifinal series between the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings has been heavy hockey. It has officially gotten heavy off the ice, as well. It all began with Sharks forward TJ Galiardi accusing Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick of engaging in "a little embellishment." The Sharks believed that Quick had tried to dive to draw a goalie interference penalty in Games 3 and 4. That set off Los Angeles defenseman Drew Doughty, who had words for Galiardi before the Kings' Game 5 victory. "It's not even playoff talk," Doughty said. "It's just funny to even hear that from a guy who is the biggest diver on their team. Like it's just ridiculous he can even say that, to be honest." He didn't let up from there. "But I don't want to get involved in that stuff," he continued. "I don't think you have to watch many [Sharks games]. You can just watch three of his shifts and you'll see how many times he dives. There's been times where even the refs are telling him, just get up, because he's diving so often." Quick stopped 24 shots, and the Kings took a 3-2 series lead over the sharks. Game 6 is on Saturday in San Jose.

LA Times

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02:15 PM ET 05.24 | Las Vegas will once again host the National Hockey League's award show in 2014, but due to the lockout, we will see an odd arrangement for the ceremonies this season. The 2013 NHL Awards will take place over two nights in the city hosting Games 1 and 2 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final. Part one of the show will take place the day before Game 2 of the Final and feature the presentation of the less heralded trophies (Masterton Trophy, Selke Trophy, Adams Award, King Clancy Trophy, Lady Byng Trophy, Mark Messier Leadership Award, NHL Foundation Player Award and the NHL GM of the Year Award). The NHL Network will produce the ceremony. Part two will take place an hour prior to Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, and feature more of the prime, important awards given out (Calder Trophy, Hart Trophy, Norris Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award and Vezina Trophy). NBC and CBC will co-produce the show. The NHL Awards had been in Las Vegas since 2008. The lockout, however, forced the NHL to improvise, as it had little time between the end of the Stanley Cup Final, the NHL Draft and the start of free agency. As previously mentioned, the NHL Awards return to Vegas in 2014.

NHL

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