The NHL salary cap is making a big jump next season, with even larger increases happening in the coming years.

Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin says his struggling team needs to start playing harder if it wants to return to the playoffs.

Oliver Bjorkstrand scored twice, Philipp Grubauer was stellar in stopping 33 shots and the Seattle Kraken eliminated the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche with a 2-1 win in Game 7.

The Seattle Kraken clinched the first playoff berth in franchise history and set an NHL record for victories in an expansion team’s second season by beating the Arizona Coyotes 4-2.

Adam Larsson scored the first overtime goal in Seattle Kraken history to lift the expansion team to a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Seattle Kraken have set their initial roster.

Rookie Jason Robertson had a goal and an assist in the first period, leading the Dallas Stars to a 5-2 win and a two-game sweep of the Detroit Red Wings.

Dallas Stars' Ty Dellandrea reacts after scoring a goal on Detroit Red Wings goaltender Thomas Greiss (29) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)DETROIT – Tanner Kero broke a scoreless tie late in the second period, Anton Khudobin stopped all 21 shots he faced and the Dallas Stars pulled away to beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-0 Saturday night. “At this point, you appreciate every game you get in," Kero, who is from Hancock, Michigan, said after playing in his 85th NHL game. “We’re not the only team that has struggled to score against that team," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. The Red Wings will have a couple days off, a luxury in the NHL this season, before playing the Predators on the road Tuesday night.

EDMONTON, AB – Nikita Kucherov and the Tampa Bay Lightning got themselves up off the ice to get even in the Stanley Cup Final. It was the first time in seven games Tampa Bay scored the opening goal. But Dallas interim coach Rick Bowness challenged that Tampa Bay was offside, and replay clearly showed that Blake Coleman was. ... Kucherov’s 28 points (six goals, 22 assists) are the most ever in a postseason for a Tampa Bay player. The Lightning have started all three of the Stanley Cup Final appearances the same way, losing Game 1 and then winning Game 2.

Justin Abdelkader #8 and Trevor Daley #83 of the Detroit Red Wings battle for the puck with Jamie Oleksiak #2 of the Dallas Stars. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)DETROIT - Anthony Mantha scored his career-high fourth goal with 53.3 seconds left, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars on Sunday night in their home opener. Jonathan Bernier stopped 19 shots to help the Red Wings improve to 2-0. The Red Wings had a 5-on-3 power play for 40 seconds midway through the third and failed to take advantage. ... Red Wings C Andreas Athanasiou was scratched with a lower-body injury.