NHLQuest for the Stanley Cup: Best photos from the NHL playoffsUSA TODAYSept. 17: Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy celebrates Tampa Bay's 2-1 win against the New York Islanders after Anthony Cirelli's overtime goal in Game 6.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsSept. 15: New York Islanders right wing Jordan Eberle (7) scores in double overtime in Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsSept. 14: The Dallas Stars celebrate Denis Gurianov's overtime game-winner that lifted them past the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 and into the Stanley Cup Final.Gerry Thomas, USA TODAY SportsSept. 13: Tampa Bay Lightning center Alex Killorn (17) checks New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27) in the second period of Game 4. Tampa Bay won 4-1 to take a 3-1 series lead.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsSept. 12: Dallas Stars' Blake Comeau falls over Vegas Golden Knights' Max Pacioretty as he grabs for Knights right wing Mark Stone's stick.JASON FRANSON, APSept. 11: New York Islanders center Brock Nelson (29) scores the go-ahead goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning.Perry Nelson, Perry Nelson-USA TODAY SportsSept. 10: The Dallas Stars' Jamie Benn (14) scores a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period in Game 3 of the Western Conference final at Rogers Place. The Stars won the game, 3-2, in overtime.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsSept. 9: New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield (24) and goaltender Semyon Varlamov (40) defend against the Tampa Bay Lightning's Yanni Gourde during the second period in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final. The Lightning won the game, 2-1, to take a 2-0 series lead.Gerry Thomas, USA TODAY SportsSept. 8: Vegas Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner makes a save with Dallas Stars center Joe Pavelski nearby. He picked up with four shutout of the playoffs in the 3-0 win.Gerry Thomas, USA TODAY SportsSept. 7: Tampa Bay Lighting center Brayden Point scores on New York Islanders goalie Thomas Greiss to start his five-point night.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsSept. 6: The Dallas Stars' Radek Faksa checks the Vegas Golden Knights' Paul Stastny during the first period in Game 1 of the Western Conference final. Dallas won the game, 1-0.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsSept. 5: New York Islanders goaltender Thomas Greiss makes a save against Philadelphia Flyers left wing James van Riemsdyk. He had a 16-save shutout in his first career Game 7.John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY SportsSept. 4: Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner stretches across the crease to rob Canucks right wing Brock Boeser during the second period in Game 7.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsSept. 4: Stars left wing Joel Kiviranta, right, celebrates his overtime goal that gave him a Game 7 hat trick against the Avalanche.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsSept. 3: Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes celebrates a third-period goal with teammates in Game 6 against the Vegas Golden Knights.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsSept. 3: Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov celebrates with teammates after scoring in double-overtime of Game 6 against the New York Islanders.Dan Hamilton, USA TODAY SportsSept. 2: Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates an empty net goal against the Dallas Stars. He has a 14-game point streak in the playoffs.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsSept. 1: Vegas Golden Knights right wing Ryan Reaves (75) and Vancouver Canucks left wing Antoine Roussel (26) are separated during a scuffle in the second period of Game 5.Gerry Thomas, USA TODAY SportsSept. 1: Flyers left wing Claude Giroux celebrates his goal against the Islanders, his first of this year's playoffs.Dan Hamilton, USA TODAY SportsAug. 31: Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) celebrates with teammates after scoring in double-overtime in Game 5 to lift the Lightning past the Boston Bruins and into the conference final. Dan Hamilton, USA TODAY SportsAug. 31: Colorado Avalanche right wing Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (41) pushes Dallas Stars center Joe Pavelski (16) into the goal during the second period of Game 5.Gerry Thomas, USA TODAY SportsAug. 30: Vancouver Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom blocks a shot against the Vegas Golden Knights' Mark Stone during the second period in Game 4 at Rogers Place. The Golden Knights won the game, 5-3.Gerry Thomas, USA TODAY SportsAug. 30: The New York Islanders' Brock Nelson (29) scores his second goal of the game against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 4 of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. The Islanders won the game, 3-2.John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY SportsAug. 30: Avalanche goaltender Pavel Francouz (39) blocks a shot against Stars left wing Roope Hintz (24) during the second period, but the Stars won 5-4 in Game 4.Gerry Thomas, USA TODAY SportsAug. 29: The Vegas Golden Knights and Vancouver Canucks tussle in front of the net during the first period of Game 3.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsAug. 29: New York Islanders forward Matt Martin scores a goal during the second period of Game 3 against the Philadelphia Flyers.John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY SportsAug. 29: Tampa Bay left wing Ondrej Palat (18), skating with the puck against Boston right wing David Pastrnak (88), scored twice during Game 4 to lift the Lightning to a 3-1 win over the Bruins.John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY SportsAug. 26: Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog (92) celebrates scoring a goal during the second period of Game 3 against the Dallas Stars.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsAug. 26: Tampa Bay Lightning center Alex Killorn (17) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the second period of Game 3 against the Boston Bruins.Dan Hamilton, USA TODAY SportsAug. 26: Philadelphia Flyers forward Sean Couturier (14) celebrates the game-winning goal in overtime by defenseman Philippe Myers in Game 2 against the New York Islanders.Dan Hamilton, USA TODAY SportsAug. 25: Vegas Golden Knights center Jonathan Marchessault (81) and right wing Reilly Smith (19) collide behind Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) during the second period of Game 2.Gerry Thomas, USA TODAY SportsAug. 25: Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ondrej Palat celebrates with teammate Patrick Maroon after scoring the game-winner in overtime of Game 2 against the Boston Bruins.John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY SportsAug. 24: Dallas Stars defenseman Esa Lindell (23) scores a goal during the second period of Game 2 against the Colorado Avalanche.Gerry Thomas, USA TODAY SportsAug. 24: New York Islanders captain Anders Lee celebrates after scoring a goal in the third period of Game 1 against the Philadelphia Flyers.John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY SportsAug. 23: The Vegas Golden Knights' Nate Schmidt (88) chases the puck against the Vancouver Canucks' Elias Pettersson (40) during the second period of Game 1 of their second-round playoff series.Gerry Thomas, USA TODAY SportsAug. 23: An official tries to separate Boston Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk and Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Alex Killorn during the second period of Game 1.John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY SportsAug. 22: The Colorado Avalanche's Nikita Zadorov and J.T. Compher check on goaltender Philipp Grubauer after he suffered an injury during Game 1 against the Dallas Stars.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsAug. 21: Vancouver Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom and defenseman Oscar Fantenberg celebrate the team's series-winning Game 6 victory against the St. Louis Blues.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsAug. 21: Philadelphia goalie Carter Hart shakes hands with Montreal's Carey Price, whom he idolized while growing up, after the Flyers' clinching 3-2 win against the Canadiens in Game 6.Dan Hamilton, USA TODAY SportsAug. 20: Dallas Stars center Joe Pavelski scores a goal during the second period in Game 6 against the Calgary Flames.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsAug. 20: Islanders forward Anthony Beauvillier goes airborne when he's checked after scoring his second goal of the game.Elsa, Getty ImagesAug. 19: Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point scores in overtime against Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Joonas Korpisalo for a series-clinching 5-4 win in Game 5.John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY SportsAug. 19: Vancouver Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom makes a sprawling save in the second period against the St. Louis Blues.Jeff Vinnick, Getty ImagesAug. 19: Montreal Canadiens forward Jake Evans gets tripped up by Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov.Elsa, Getty ImagesAug. 19: The Colorado Avalanche celebrate a goal by Nathan MacKinnon (29), who had four points in the series-clinching 7-1 win against the Arizona Coyotes.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsAug. 19: Boston winger David Pastrnak (88) had his two assists in his return to action as the Bruins ousted the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5.John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY SportsAug. 18: The Vegas Golden Knights' Mark Stone (61) celebrates scoring a goal with teammates Max Pacioretty (67) and Shea Theodore (27) during the second period against the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 5 of their playoff series at Rogers Place. The Golden Knights won the game, 4-3, to win the series, four games to one.Gerry Thomas, USA TODAY SportsAug. 18: The Washington Capitals' Nick Jensen (3) skates as the New York Islanders' Brock Nelson (29) takes a shot against Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby in the second period of Game 4 of their playoff series at Scotiabank Arena. The Capitals won the game, 3-2, to avoid a series sweep.John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY SportsAug. 18: The Dallas Stars' Jason Dickinson (18) checks the Calgary Flames' TJ Brodie during the third period of Game 5 of their playoff series at Rogers Place. The Stars won the game, 2-1.Gerry Thomas, USA TODAY SportsAug. 18: Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart makes a save during the third period against the Montreal Canadiens in Game 4 of their playoff series at Scotiabank Arena. The Flyers won the game, 2-0.John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY SportsAug. 17: Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon tussles with the Arizona Coyotes' Christian Fischer during the third period.Jason Franson, APAug. 17: The Vancouver Canucks' Zack MacEwen (71) fights the St. Louis Blues' Justin Faulk (72) during the second period of Game 4 of their first-round playoff series at Rogers Place. The Blues won the game, 3-1, to even the series at 2-2.Gerry Thomas, USA TODAY SportsAug. 17: Boston Bruins left wing Jake DeBrusk goes airborne after colliding with Carolina Hurricanes goaltender James Reimer but manages to scoreDan Hamilton, USA TODAY SportsAug. 17: Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Joonas Korpisalo denies Tampa Bay Lightning forward Pat Maroon with a pad save.Elsa, Getty ImagesAug. 16: The Vancouver Canucks' Quinn Hughes (43) chases the puck with the St. Louis Blues' Justin Faulk (72) during the third period in Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsAug. 16: Montreal Canadiens defenseman Ben Chiarot (8) and goaltender Carey Price (31) defend against Philadelphia Flyers center Scott Laughton (21) and right wing Travis Konecny (11) during the second period of Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. The Flyers won the game, 1-0.John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY SportsAug. 16: Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford (50) makes a save against Vegas Golden Knights center Nicolas Roy (10) during the first period in Game 4 of the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. The Blackhawks won the game, 3-1.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsAug. 16: Calgary Flames defenseman Derek Forbort (20) is checked by Dallas Stars left wing Blake Comeau (15) during the second period in Game 4 of the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. The Stars won the game, 5-4, in overtime.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsAug. 16: Islanders forward Mathew Barzal scored 4:28 into overtime of Game 3 against the Capitals on this nifty move.John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY SportsAug. 15: Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) celebrates his second-period goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets.John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY SportsAug. 15: Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford moves the Vegas Golden Knights' Ryan Reaves (75) from the crease during the third period.Jeff Vinnick, Getty ImagesAug. 15: Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper makes a save against Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen. He had 49 saves in a 4-2 Arizona win.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsAug. 15: Boston Bruins goaltender Jaroslav Halak celebrates a win against the Carolina Hurricanes with defenseman Torey Krug. Halak got the start when Tuukka Rask left the Toronto bubble to be with his family.John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY SportsAug. 14: Calgary Flames forward Mikael Backlund (11) celebrates his second-period goal with Elias Lindholm during Game 3 against the Dallas Stars.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsAug. 14: New York Islanders center Brock Nelson scores on Braden Holtby 15 seconds after the Washington Capitals had tied the game.Nathan Denette, APAug. 14: Vancouver Canucks center Bo Horvat celebrates his overtime against the St. Louis Blues.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsAug. 14: Montreal Canadiens forward Tomas Tatar celebrates his second goal of the game against the Philadelphia Flyers.Elsa, Getty ImagesAug. 14: Associate coach Kirk Muller, filling in after coach Claude Julien's heart surgery, looks on against the Philadelphia Flyers.Elsa, Getty ImagesAug. 14: Colorado Avalanche left wing Andre Burakovsky celebrates his game-winning goal against the Arizona Coyotes.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsAug. 13: The Dallas Stars' Corey Perry (10) scores a goal against the Calgary Flames in Game 2 at Rogers Place. The Stars won the game, 5-4.Sergei Belski, USA TODAY SportsAug. 13: The Boston Bruins' Sean Kuraly skates with the puck away from the Carolina Hurricanes' Sami Vatanen (45) during Game 2 at Scotiabank Arena. The Hurricanes won the game, 3-2.Dan Hamilton, USA TODAY SportsAug. 13: Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford reacts as the Vegas Golden Knights' Reilly Smith scores a goal during the overtime period in Game 3 at Rogers Place. The Golden Knights won, 4-3.Sergei Belski, USA TODAY SportsAug. 13: Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Joonas Korpisalo makes a save behind the Tampa Bay Lightning's Pat Maroon during the third period in Game 2 at Scotiabank Arena. The Blue Jackets won the game, 3-1.Dan Hamilton, USA TODAY SportsAug. 12: Vancouver Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom makes a save against the St. Louis Blues during the first period in Game 1 of the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. The Canucks won the game, 5-2.Sergei Belski, USA TODAY SportsAug. 12: The Montreal Canadiens' Xavier Ouellet (61) and Philadelphia Flyers' Tyler Pitlick (18) battle for the puck in Game 1 of the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. The Flyers won the game, 2-1.Dan Hamilton, USA TODAY SportsAug. 12: Colorado Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer makes one of his 14 saves in a 3-0 win against the Arizona Coyotes.Sergei Belski, USA TODAY SportsAug. 12: Colorado's Andre Burakovsky is called for holding Arizona's Jason Demers.Jeff Vinnick, Getty ImagesAug. 12: New York Islanders left wing Anthony Beauvillier (18) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Washington Capitals in the third period.Dan Hamilton, USA TODAY SportsAug. 12: Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson, back from an injury, scuffles with Anders Lee after the New York Islanders captain's check on Nicklas Backstrom.Elsa, Getty ImagesAug. 12: Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) celebrates with Brad Marchand (63) and Torey Krug (47) after scoring the winning goal against the Carolina Hurricanes in the second overtime.Dan Hamilton, USA TODAY SportsAug. 12: Left wing Brock McGinn scores in the second period with the Carolina Hurricanes shorthanded after their challenge of a Boston Bruins goal was overturned.Dan Hamilton, USA TODAY SportsAug. 11: Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point celebrates scoring in the fifth overtime period for a 3-2 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets.Dan Hamilton, USA TODAY SportsAug. 11: Tampa Bay's Blake Coleman and goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy defend against Columbus' Cam Atkinson.Elsa, Getty ImagesAug. 11: An official attempts to separate the Vegas Golden Knights' Jonathan Marchessault (81) and Chicago Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews during a second period brawl in Game 1 of their playoff series.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsAug. 11 Vegas Golden Knights left wing William Carrier (28) scores a goal past the Chicago Blackhawks in a 4-1 win in Game 1.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsAug. 11: Dallas Stars right wing Corey Perry fights Calgary Flames left wing Matthew Tkachuk during the first period.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY SportsAug. 11: Dallas Stars defenseman Jamie Oleksiak battles for the puck with Calgary Flames left wing Milan Lucic.Perry Nelson, USA TODAY Sports