If you really think about it, there is only one sure thing in this year’s NHL awards field. (Minas Panagiotakis/Icon SMI)

By Allan Muir

Think about the levers that Washington Capitals coach Adam Oates had to pull to convince struggling superstar Alex Ovechkin to play the game his way, or how Mike Babcock guided the Detroit Red Wings into the post-Nick Lidstrom era with a rookie-laden lineup. That is a pair of remarkable coaching efforts right there, yet neither was good enough to make the cut for the Jack Adams Award, which is given to the coach who has contributed most to his team’s success. That tells you all you need to know about the quality of this year’s field.

The NHL announced this morning that Bruce Boudreau of the Anaheim Ducks, Paul MacLean of the Ottawa Senators, and Joel Quenneville of the Chicago Blackhawks are the finalists for the Adams, as selected by the members of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association. It’s pretty easy to craft an argument in support of any one of them.

MORE NOMINEES: Hart | Norris | Vezina | Calder | Lindsay | Masterton | Selke | Byng

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See ya: The Sharks will be in deep without Raffi Torres for the rest of their series vs. the Kings. (Icon SMI)

By Allan Muir

An annotated guide to this morning’s must-read hockey stories:

• In San Jose, they’re calling the Game 2 loss unnecessary, and possibly backbreaking. I’m not sure the Sharks have the stones to recover from this one, either.

• Raffi Torres’ series-ending suspension wasn’t about his hit on Jarret Stoll. It was all about his past catching up with him. Me, I’m still stunned that his hit drew a penalty, let alone a suspension. Maybe it’s time to eliminate the Stanley Cup and hand everyone a participation ribbon, whaddya think? Here’s Stu Hackel’s take on the suspension’s impact.

• Late-game heroics allowed the Kings to win on a night when they seemed bound to lose, writes Helene Elliott.

• All Brad Marchand had to do was beat his man to the back door. Just like that, he had his first goal of the playoffs, and the Bruins had Game 1 against the Rangers. Marchand was flying last night. If he’s got his legs under him, Boston actually has a shot in this thing.

• With all the unlikely twists and pivotal moments, Game 1 was worth the 40-year wait.

• With the Rangers being outshot 16-5 in overtime it was only a matter of time before Bruins broke through. The Rangers might want to try spending a little more time in Boston’s end in Game 2.

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The Kings scored two goals within 22 seconds to take Game 2 and secure a 2-0 series lead. (Evan Gole/Getty)

If we’ve learned anything from watching hockey this week, it’s this: No lead is safe in the 2013 NHL playoffs.

Three days after the Boston Bruins pulled off a miraculous three-goal Game 7 comeback against the Maple Leafs, the defending champion Los Angeles Kings worked some last-minute magic of their own, scoring two power play goals 22 seconds apart to earn a stunning 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks.

It’s fair to wonder after this one if the Sharks can recover. The visitors were on the verge of evening up the series, riding three unanswered goals to a 3-2 lead when the thrill ride began. Energetic rookie Tyler Toffoli was hauled down by San Jose’s Brad Stuart while driving the net, drawing a penalty at 17:19 of the third. Seconds later, Marc-Edouard Vlasic joined him in the box after clearing the puck into the crowd, putting the Kings on a five-on-three. And just like that, it was over. Dustin Brown pounced on a rebound of a Mike Richards shot and shoveled it behind Antti Niemi to tie the score. On the next shift, Trevor Lewis drove the net and buried another rebound, this one off a Toffoli shot, to seal the win with just 1:21 remaining.

For Los Angeles, this was a statement game. There’s more than one way the Kings can win.

As for the Sharks? They made a statement, too, only it was less flattering. They were the better team for much of the night. They scored three on Jonathan Quick. But in the end, they let the Kings take it away from them.

And their chance at winning the series may have gone with it.

Here are some more observations from Game 2:

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The Xcel Energy Center, home of the Minnesota Wild, has plenty of atmosphere. (Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

What’s the best place to watch an NHL game?

According to Stadium Journey magazine, Minnesota’s Xcel Energy Center was tops in 2013.

The magazine ranked the overall fan experience of attending a game in all of the league’s 30 buildings. Factoring into its decisions were elements such as “food and beverage in the arena, overall atmosphere, the neighborhood, the fans, access (which includes parking, traffic, restrooms, and concourses), return on investment, and an extras category for any unique or bonus points.”

So, why did Xcel top the charts? “The fans know the game and appreciate the little things, such as clearing the puck on the penalty kill, or a good defensive play to prevent a scoring chance. That is what gives the Xcel a truly special atmosphere.”

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Patrick Kane, Matt Moulson and Martin St. Louis are paragons of skill and sportsmanship. (Icon SMI (2) :: Getty)

By Allan Muir

When was the last time you heard anyone gripe about someone getting snubbed for the Lady Byng Trophy?

Right. It never happens. Well, until today.

Good lord, forget about winning the thing, which is awarded ”to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.” How does the Professional Hockey Writers Association not count up enough votes for San Jose’s Logan Couture to get him a spot among the three finalists? Wait … you don’t suppose it’s that East Coast bias thing again, do you?

OK, so Couture and his 37 points, four penalty minutes and fearless play didn’t make the cut. Fine. Instead, Chicago’s Patrick Kane, New York’s Matt Moulson and Tampa Bay’s Martin St. Louis were adjudged to be the players who scored the most points and retaliated least often to the abuse they take least often.

MORE NOMINEES: Hart | Norris | Vezina | Calder | Lindsay | Masterton | Selke

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Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard played valiantly, but didn’t get much help from his teammates. (Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

An annotated guide to this morning’s must-read hockey stories:

• Chicago’s deep supporting cast came up big in their Game 1 win over the Red Wings. And this was on a night when bottom-six stalwart Viktor Stalberg was scratched.

• With the Wings and Hawks destined for different conferences in 2013-14, this series provides a fitting end to one of hockey’s fiercest rivalries.

• This could be a very short series if Detroit can’t come up with an answer for Chicago’s forecheck. Heard a few wags predicting the Hawks in three after Game 1.

• Jimmy Howard was terrific, but the Red Wings failed to support him with any kind of counter to Chicago’s aggressive attack. A little less standing around would go a long way in Game 2.

• Sportsnet looks at the top 7 moments in the storied Bruins-Rangers rivalry.

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Marcus Kruger (right) scored the goal that put the game out of reach for the visiting Red Wings. (Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

To a man, the Chicago Blackhawks came out of their first-round series with the Minnesota Wild saying they had to take their game up a level if they hoped to continue on the path to the Stanley Cup. They proved tonight that they weren’t just flapping their gums.

After a stodgy first period, the Hawks seriously ramped up their attack on the way to a convincing 4-1 win over the Red Wings in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series.

Marian Hossa opened the scoring for Chicago in the first, with Johnny Oduya, Marcus Kruger and Patrick Sharp tallying in the third. Damien Brunner replied for Detroit after Hossa’s goal, but that was all the Wings could muster.

If not for the heroics of goalie Jimmy Howard, who stopped 38 of the 41 shots he faced, things would have been a lot worse for the visitors. The Hawks came at Detroit’s defenders in waves, overwhelming them with numbers or sheer tenacity and pinning them in their own zone for long, exhausting stretches. Howard made some big saves along the way — his skateblade stop on Dave Bolland’s breakaway bid was a highlight — but too often he was left on his own while his defenders stood still or were caught looking the other way while their checking assignments skated unmolested into the slot.

This was a statement game from Chicago. Now it’s up to the Red Wings to prove they can match it.

A few more observations from the series opener:

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Patrice Bergeron, Jonathan Toews and Pavel Datsyuk make the Selke a highly contested award. (Icon SMI (2); Getty)

By Allan Muir

The league announced today that Boston’s Patrice Bergeron, Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk, and Chicago’s Jonathan Toews are the three finalists for the 2012-13 Frank J. Selke Trophy, which is awarded “to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game.”

Nary a “knock me over with a feather” nominee in that bunch. The Selke has taken a few hits over the years as being a reputation-based award, but this trio burnished their well-established reps for two-way excellence with undeniably strong seasons.

When the vote counts are revealed, it won’t be a surprise to learn this was the year’s most hotly contested hardware. You can’t make an argument against any of these guys.

MORE NOMINEES: Hart | Norris | Vezina | Calder | Lindsay | Masterton

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The Penguins put two power play goals and a shortie behind Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson in Game 1. (Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

An annotated guide to this morning’s must-read hockey stories:

• Pittsburgh’s power play and penalty kill set the table for a decisive Game 1 win over the Senators.

• Ottawa’s special teams, on the other hand…

• Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson promises that adjustments will be made after his team’s weak Game 1 effort.

• The Kings almost blew their opener because they didn’t know how to handle a two-goal lead, writes Helene Elliott.

• The Sharks may have outshot the Kings, 35-20, but they didn’t do the one thing they had to in order to beat the champs.

• Raffi Torres’ hit on Jarret Stoll has some wondering if he’s really changed his ways at all.

• San Jose fourth-liner Bracken Kearns doesn’t just have the best name in hockey, he has the coolest back story.

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Jonathan Quick was stellar for the Kings, but was aided by the defense in front of him. (Chris Williams/Icon SMI)

By Allan Muir

It’s safe to assume that Jonathan Quick will be called upon to steal a game or two if the Los Angeles Kings hope to hold onto their title as Stanley Cup champs. But don’t be fooled by Tuesday’s 35-save performance: The series-opening 2-0 win over the San Jose Sharks was not one of those stolen wins.

That’s not to diminish Quick’s efforts as much as it is to give credit where it’s due.

While Quick was a model of poise and efficiency, stopping everything he faced with a minimum of motion, his teammates’ efforts made it all look so easy. For all the time of possession, for all the opportunities the Sharks had to let fly, the Kings never allowed them what they really needed: control of the puck in the middle of the ice or on Quick’s doorstep. Held to the outside all night, San Jose racked up shots but few real scoring chances.

Rebounds? Deflections? Not a chance. If a puck eluded Quick’s control off the original shot, it was quickly swept into a corner or up and out of the zone by a someone in a black sweater.

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