Islanders Worlds & NHL Playoff News: Avs sinking

Hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend (if your country does that) and enjoyed hanging out with friends and watching NHL playoffs like I did.

Somewhat shockingly, John Tortorella’s Knights have the Avalanche on the brink of a sweep. Meanwhile, the Carolina-Montreal Offer Sheet Series continues to be a close one.

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We already linked it before the weekend but man, I’m not inspired by that Hamilton Hammers logo. “Subtle hockey puck details on the hammer knobs pay homage to the iconic puck in the New York Islanders logo, linking the sport’s identity with the craftsmanship of the tools and nodding to the franchise’s origins, including the fisherman logo era.” Alright, okay, sure. [Isles]

Keeping up at the Worlds: Danny Nelson gets a point in the loss (to Latvia!?!) and is scratched for the win over Hungary (???). How is Hungary even in the… [Isles]

• It was another dominant Hurricanes performance (12 shots allowed!) yet close game as Carolina needed overtime to get past the Canadiens in Game 3. [Sportsnet]

• Cale Makar returned and was a force in Game 3 logging over 27 minutes, but not enough. [NHL | Sportsnet]

• But Nathan MacKinnon, who was injured blocking a shot in Game 3, is a question mark. [NHL]

• Spinning the right cliches: The Avs say they’re “embracing” the 0-3 challenge while the Knights say they’re taking nothing for granted. [NHL]

• Color of Hockey: profiling draft prospect Ryan Lin, who upped his offensive game for WHL Vancouver. [NHL]

• Elliotte Friedman’s sources say the Leafs’ meeting with Auston Matthews was “positive.” [Sportsnet]

• Meanwhile, his old running mate Mitch Marner is building a Conn Smythe candidacy. [Sportsnet]

• Bad news for Max Domi, who must be reevaluated in training camp after complications from an unspecified surgery. [NHL]

• Say what you will about PK Subban as a commentator (we sure will), he was an electric player who made an astounding charitable commitment, and kept it. [NHL]

• The Oilers have signed Aku Raty, and I share that just so you can help keep straight that it’s not Aatu Raty, the former Islander and current Canuck who is Aku’s brother. [Sportsnet]

• F Bettman and the NHL: A Quebec town could not hold a Canadiens playoff watch party because it’s in Senators “territory.” [TSN]