Welcome to the PHT Morning Skate, a collection of links from around the hockey world. Have a link you want to submit? Email us at phtblog@nbcsports.com.
• Here’s the NBC Sports Stanley Cup playoff update for May 7
• ‘That’s just hockey’ won’t cut it for the Dallas Stars in Game 7. (SportsDay)
• Berube’s belief in his team was validated in the Blues’ Game 6 win. (NHL.com)
• Blues regrouped after Game 5 dud. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
• The man who braved the rain to watch his Dallas Stars outside American Airlines Center was handed tickets to Games 5 and 6. (NHL.com)
• A look at head coaching options for newly-minted Oilers GM Ken Holland. (Oilers Nation)
• It looks like Cal Clutterbuck will go under the knife to fix his back. (IslandersPointBlank)
• Don Cherry just can’t keep the Carolina Hurricanes out of his mouth. (News & Observer)
• A very good deep-dive about Mitch Marner and his next contract. (Faceoff Circle)
• KHL stars set to feature for the Maple Leafs. (TSN)
• Ageless wonder Zdeno Chara is following in the footsteps of another ageless wonder. (Sportsnet)
• Handshake lines, one of the hardest things to do in hockey. (Sin.Bin Vegas)
• Americans take home gold at sled hockey worlds. (NBC Sports Olympics)
• It appears to be the end of the line for Devante Smith-Pelly’s time in Washington. (NBC Sports Washington)
• Seattle’s new NHL team features an ownership group with some interesting claims to fame. (Seattle Times)
• Did anyone’s draft stock change at the U18s? (EP Rinkside)
Scott Billeck is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @scottbilleck