TAMPA, Fla. (AP) The status of a couple of key players remains uncertain for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Colorado coach Jared Bednar says there's a chance Game 1 overtime hero Andre Burakovsky could return Sunday night following a three-game absence from the best-of-seven series. Tampa Bay's Brayden Point figures to be a game-time decision for the two-time defending champion Lightning, too.

The Avalanche lead the series 3-2, despite being without Burakovsky since the forward suffered a hand injury blocking a shot in Game 2.

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DENVER (AP) The Stanley Cup was in the building and just waiting to be paraded around the ice.

Pack it up. It's heading back to Florida.

CHICAGO (AP) The Chicago Blackhawks are nearing a deal with Luke Richardson to become their next coach, turning to the former NHL defenseman to help lead their already painful rebuilding process.

Richardson and the Blackhawks are working on a contract, according to a person familiar with the talks, and the move could be finalized as soon as next week. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Friday on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been completed.

DENVER (AP) Keep the champagne chilled. It's back to the slushy ice of Amalie Arena for the Colorado Avalanche after they failed to close out the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final.

"It's not supposed to be easy, and it's not going to be easy," Avs captain Gabriel Landeskog said after Colorado's 3-2 loss in Game 5 sent this sensational series back to Tampa, where the Lightning can even things up Sunday night.

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) Paul Maurice's journey toward becoming the new coach of the Florida Panthers included a fortuitous flick of the remote control, plus was aided by a college admissions department.

He was watching games one night in January, a month or so after he stepped aside as coach of the Winnipeg Jets. He stumbled upon the Panthers and quickly told his wife that he was intrigued by their club.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Fanatics founder Michael Rubin is selling his stake in the company that owns the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils.

Rubin, worth an estimated $8 billion according to Forbes, said on social media posts he was "s hifting from part-owner " of the teams run by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and "back to life-long fan."

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Toronto's Auston Matthews won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player on Tuesday night, becoming only the third Maple Leaf to win the award and the first since Ted Kennedy in 1954-55.

The 24-year-old forward received 119 first-place votes in voting by the Professional Hockey Writers Association and finished well ahead of Edmonton's Connor McDavid and Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers for the honor presented during the NHL Awards Show.

DALLAS (AP) Pete DeBoer didn't really hesitate to jump right back into coaching with the Dallas Stars about a month after he was fired by the Vegas Golden Knights.

Now the 54-year-old is ready to try to spark the offense of the only playoff team to get outscored during the 2021-22 regular season.

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) The Edmonton Oilers have given coach Jay Woodcroft a three-year contract extension for taking over the team in February and leading them to the NHL Western Conference final.

The Oilers announced the deal Tuesday in removing Woodcroft's interim tag.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Herb Fritch wanted to start a transition away from his role as chairman of the Nashville Predators, and he saw a former Tennessee governor as the perfect person to take over as majority owner.

"We're stable financially, we're stable here," Fritch said Thursday. "We've got a longer lease, and now it's just finding a majority owner that'll keep going longer than I would have and just be a good steward ... and I think we've done that. I'm really excited as a fan to see this transition. I think it's a great thing for the city and the franchise."