The Chicago Blackhawks fell 4-1 to the Nashville Predators to be swept out of the playoffs in four game in the first round.
In Hawks prospect news, Alex DeBrincat and the Erie Otters open the Western Conference Final in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs with Game 1 against Owen Sound on Friday in Erie. Matthew Highmore and Nathan Noel also will play Game 1 on Friday at home of their Quebec Major Junior Hockey League semifinal series when Saint John hosts Chicoutimi.
HAWKS
**Preds beat Hawks with more speed than they could handle (SCH)
**RECAP: Hawks lose Game 4, swept in first round by Preds (SCH)
**New reality beckons for Hawks after merciless sweep by Preds (Chicago Sun Times)
**Hawks never could get in offensive flow against Preds (Chicago Tribune)
**Quenneville on Hawks’ inability to fight back: ‘That’s on me’ (Chicago Tribune)
**Another first-round exit ‘nullifies’ Hawks’ regular-season success (The Athletic)
**Why the Hawks were eliminated in the first round…again (The Athletic)
**Norm Maciver could leave Hawks for Sabres GM job, per report (SCH)
**Hawks’ diligence paid off in Kero’s unlikely journey to NHL (The Athletic)
CENTRAL DIVISION
**First goal is crucial in Blues-Wild series (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
**Blues need Tarasenko to get going (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
**Blues need to give Allen some breathing room (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
**Wild’s Coyle steps up his game in playoffs (Star Tribune)
**Kiszla: Avs GM Sakic would be crazy to let another NHL team hire DU coach Jim Montgomery (Denver Post)
NHL
**Stanley Cup playoff schedule, matchups (SBN)
**2017 Calder finalists: Laine, Matthews, Werenski (SBN)
**Sabres fire coach Bylsma, GM Murray (Die By The Blade)
**Who should be the next Sabres GM and head coach? (Die By The Blade)
**Sabres can’t wait too long to find new GM, head scouts (Die By The Blade)
**RECAP: Rangers win Game 5 over Habs, take series lead (NHL.com)
**RECAP: Fleury makes 49 saves, Penguins win series in Game 5 (Pensburgh)
**RECAP: Oilers win Game 5 against Sharks in OT, take series lead (NHL.com)
**Report: NHL linesman Don Henderson files $10.25M lawsuit against Dennis Wideman (PHT)
**Tryamkin leaves Canucks, returns to KHL Avtomobilist (The Providence)
**Canucks’ Gaunce to have shoulder surgery, could be out 4-6 months (PHT)
**Devils sign KHL d-man Dyblenko (PHT)
HOCKEY WORLD
**Denver, NCAA hockey champions, could have uneasy offseason (Denver Post)
**OHL Playoffs: Steelheads down Petes to open Eastern Conference final (Sportsnet)
**OHL conference final preview: Erie returns with ‘extra pressure’ to win (Sportsnet)
**WHL conference final preview: Pats, T-Birds have home ice in rematches (Sportsnet)
**Captain Amy Menke on North Dakota cutting women’s hockey (The Players’ Tribune)