FHN Today: Avalanche in Final, make addition from Florida

The Colorado Avalanche were arguably the best team in the NHL throughout the regular season and on Monday night, it took out the Edmonton Oilers and moved into the Stanley Cup Final.

Tuesday morning, former Florida Panthers digital reporter and Bally Sports host Katie Gaus announced she was joining the party. 

Gaus, who was with the Panthers for three seasons, has joined Altitude TV as an Avs reporter and will be part of the team’s Finals coverage.

The Avs, which swept its way through the first and third rounds of the Western Conference playoffs, is waiting on an opponent.

The Lightning play host to the Rangers in Game 4 tonight.

OILERS V. AVALANCHE

For the first time in 21 years, the Avs are in the Cup Final thanks to a game-winning overtime goal from Artturi Lehkonen with Pavel Francouz getting the win in net.

— Grades from Colorado’s wild win over the Oilers.

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— The Avs did not have Nazem Kadri on Monday, but things worked out just fine.

— The Oilers are disappointed but learned some valuable lessons in their loss.

RANGERS V. LIGHTNING

If the Tampa Bay Lightning are to beat the Rangers, Andrei Vasilevskiy needs to be the difference.

— Brayden Point continues to be out for the Bolts as he has been ruled out for Game 4.

— The Rangers need to keep their mistakes to a minimum against the Lightning.

— Here is where the Rangers stand on the injury front going into tonight.

PANTHERLAND

Sasha Barkov had himself one heck of a season but it was not enough to repeat as the winner of the Selke Trophy as Patrice Bergeron won it for a record fifth time.

— Taking a look at what Mason Marchment‘s future looks like in Florida.

— After the most successful regular season in franchise history, we handed out our Florida Panthers awards for the 2021-22 season.

— Anton Lundell learned a lot in his rookie campaign after taking a larger role than was previously expected.

— The Panthers only have about $4 million under the salary cap so GM Bill Zito will be busy this offseason.

NATIONAL HOCKEY NOW, NHL NEWS

The big news outside of the playoffs teams came from the Boston Bruins who fired Bruce Cassidy on Monday.

Boston Hockey Now: Who could replace Cassidy in Boston?

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Some trade talk involving the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Montreal Hockey Now: Could the Montreal Canadiens trade up to get the second overall pick in the upcoming draft as well?

Vegas Hockey Now: With Marc-Andre Fleury gone, it was up to Robin Lehner who struggled as the starter for the Vegas Golden Knights.

San Jose Hockey Now: Could Mike Grier be the new GM of the San Jose Sharks?

Sportsnet: Kyle Connor wins the Lady Byng.

CAFECITO CORNER

The Godfather speaks as Pat Riley challenges his Miami Heat after another long playoff run. Miami was perhaps a possession away from its second trip to the Finals in three seasons.

— A good season ends badly for the Miami Hurricanes.

— Yes, the Dolphins really were in on Deshaun Watson.

— What’s working for the Miami Marlins?