The NHL is nearing an expansion decision, commissioner Gary Bettman announced Monday before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals.

"I'm not going to handicap what is going to happen," Bettman said during his state of the union news conference. "But when the board [the NHL Board of Governors] meets in Las Vegas on June 22, I am fairly certain we will know more than we do today."

Invigorated by the breakthrough postseason turned in by the Blues, head coach Ken Hitchcock is returning for the 2016-17 season. The Blues announced a new one-year deal for the veteran coach and Stanley Cup winner.

But after next season, he's done behind the bench.

During his press conference in St. Louis, Hitchcock announced that the 2016-17 season will be his final season coaching in the NHL.

"I'm not coaching after this year," Hitchcock said, leaving other options open besides coaching. "I don't know if I'm going to retire."

If Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals was any indication, we're in for a treat, with two transition teams built on speed and skill giving the sport of hockey one unreal sales job over the next two weeks.

The Penguins' 3-2 win over the Sharks on Monday night was played at warp speed -- the third-period buzzer leaving you gasping for air, if you were fortunate enough to be inside a loud Consol Energy Center.

Steven Stamkos hopes he hasn't played his last game for the Lightning.

The two-time Maurice Richard Trophy winner as the NHL's top goal scorer can become an unrestricted free agent July 1; however, he reiterated Friday that he'd like to stay with the team that drafted him No. 1 overall in 2008.

"I certainly hope to be back. We obviously have unfinished business here," Stamkos said a day after Tampa Bay's loss to the Penguins in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals.

"This group has been unbelievable, the city has been unbelievable for me," he added. "I can't believe it's been eight years already. Time flies."

The Pittsburgh Penguins posted a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday night at Consol Energy Center.

The Penguins advance to the Stanley Cup finals to face the Western Conference-winning San Jose Sharks.

The Panthers traded defenseman Erik Gudbranson to the Canucks on Wednesday night for forward Jared McCann.

Gudbranson spent all five of his NHL seasons with the Panthers and signed a deal for the 2016-17 season this month. He had 11 goals and 32 assists in 309 games with Florida, helping the team reach the playoffs twice after being the No. 3 overall selection in the 2010 draft.

McCann just turned 20 earlier this month. He had nine goals and nine assists for Vancouver this season. The Canucks got him with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2014 draft.

The San Jose Sharks finally did it on Wednesday night. After years of playoff frustration and heartbreak, they’ve advanced to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in franchise history, beating the St. Louis Blues 5-2 in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals.

The Bruins have signed defenseman Kevan Miller to a four-year contract extension.

Boston general manager Don Sweeney announced the moves Tuesday. Miller's extension will run through the 2019-20 season and have a cap figure of $2.5 million per year. He entered the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.

For 40 minutes of this Eastern Conference finals game, it didn't really matter who was in goal for the Pittsburgh Penguins, that's how good the Penguins were in rolling up a 3-0 lead through two periods over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

But in the wake of their 5-2 win Tuesday night, these two teams will play one final game Thursday night, with the winner going to the Stanley Cup finals.

Penguins assistant captain Evgeni Malkin channeled his inner Mark Messier and all but guaranteed a victory in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Lightning on Tuesday at Amalie Arena.

The Lightning hold a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.