But each qualifying round series features one potential back-to-back, a rarity in modern playoffs.“I think that (players have) got to be a little bit concerned about those knowing that the next day’s the next day,” Quenneville said. He agrees with Olczyk that these playoffs will be wide open and unpredictable — in large part because of how it starts.“In a short series,” Quenneville said, “anything can happen.”AP Hockey Writer John Wawrow contributed to this report.Follow AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhynoFor more AP NHL coverage: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP—SportsTurn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Edmonton Oilers: Bench boss Dave Tippett spent the final year of his playing career in Philadelphia. And now they want us to have them, too. Stevens won two Cups as an assistant with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014. Last season, the Stars had a 45-30-7 mark and finished the year with 97 points.Also this season, the Stars had to deal with the distraction created by derogatory comments made by forward Sean Avery about a former girlfriend, actress Elisha Cutbert.Avery was suspended for six games by the NHL on Dec. 5 and agreed to undergo counselling.The Stars placed Avery on waivers in February and he was ultimately claimed by the New York Rangers.Stars captain Brenden Morrow (ACL) played in only 18 games, veteran defenceman Sergei Zubov (hip) missed all but seven games, and Brad Richards was out for most of the final two months with hand and wrist injuries.Prior to joining the Stars, Tippett spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Kings.Tippett, of Moosomin, Sask., played 11 seasons in the NHL as a forward with the Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals.He accumulated 93 goals and 169 assists in 721 career games.In 1999, he led the Houston Aeros to the Turner Cup title while serving as the IHL club's head coach and GM.Tippett was hired May 21, 2002, by the Stars and made the post-season in his first five seasons, winning two division titles.Dallas lost to eventual Stanley Cup winners Detroit in the conference finals in 2008 and came into the season with high aspirations.However, the Stars missed the playoffs for the third time since moving to Dallas in 1993 and for the first time since hiring Tippett.Owner Tom Hicks decided to shake up his front office last month.He reassigned co-general managers Brett Hull and Les Jackson within the organization and hired Nieuwendyk, the Conn Smythe Award in '99.Not a subscriber? Winnipeg, which faces Calgary, can lean on assistant coach Charlie Huddy, who won a couple five-game series on the way to Stanley Cup championships with the Oilers.Then there's Tocchet's old Philadelphia teammate Craig Berube with a fresh 2019 Stanley Cup ring on his hand as coach of the St. Louis Blues. Does Edmonton Oilers coach Dave Tippett just flip a coin for Saturday’s Stanley Cup opener against Corey Crawford who will almost surely be … Throwback 5-game series force players to 'embrace the grind'Officer in George Floyd death argues drug overdose killed him, not knee on neckMassachusetts governor activates up to 1,000 National Guard members 1 fatally shot as pro-Trump supporters clash with counterprotesters in PortlandTrump's favorability and perceptions of COVID-19 response stagnate: POLL Edmonton Oilers head coach Dave Tippett talks to the team during NHL hockey training camp in Edmonton, Alberta, Tuesday, July 14, 2020. Subscribe to our Free Newsletter. Dave Tippett, who has been the head coach of the Coyotes and Stars, has been hired by the Oilers to take over a team that has missed the playoffs in 12 of the past 13 seasons. Edmonton Oilers head coach Dave Tippett talks to the team during NHL hockey training camp in Edmonton, Alberta, Tuesday, July 14, 2020.
Fans counted down the seconds to the final buzzer, “Brass Bonanza” played over the speakers at Hartford Civic Center and Whalers players Dave Tippett, Joel Quenneville and Dean Evason celebrated a three-game sweep of the Quebec Nordiques.Wait, Hartford Whalers? Are you a Stathead, too? The league this summer holds its first best-of-five playoff series in 34 years, and Tippett, Quenneville and Evason are among those involved in some capacity who know from personal experience what to expect.“You have to be ready for the grind,” said Tippett, now coach of the Edmonton Oilers. Game 4 it was like, ‘Wow.' Tippett's Oilers face the Chicago Blackhawks, whom Quenneville coached to three Cup titles from 2010-15.