As the NHL enters the final month of its season, the KHL playoffs have been in full swing for a few weeks now. The conference finals are highlighted by Traktor vs. Ak Bars and Dynamo Moscow vs. SKA.

On Tuesday, Dynamo took a commanding 3-0 series lead over SKA after scoring four unanswered goals to take a 4-2 victory. Delaying Dynamo's ability to start a comeback was a save in the second period by goaltender Ilya Ezhov with SKA holding a 2-0 lead.

With SKA on a power play, Ilya Gorokov fired a one-timer from the point as Ezhov was recovering and the goaltender managed to stretch enough to make the stop:

That big save didn't deter Dynamo, the defending Gagarin Cup champions, as all four of their goals came in the final period, with the winner coming with less than 7 seconds left in regulation.

On Wednesday, SKA stayed alive and forced a Game 5 with a 6-2 victory, while Ak Bars, who feature Andrei Kostitsyn and Evgeny Kuznetsov, hold a 2-1 series lead after a 1-0 overtime win on Tuesday.

In other Russian hockey news, Alex Kovalev announced his retirement last week, but during a charity game in Montreal on Sunday he said he will look to play in Europe next season. But alas, a return to the KHL isn't in the cards as he told the Gazette there are “worse (hockey) politics than here."

Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

APNo. 1 Star: Nikolai Khabibulin, Edmonton Oilers

Khabibulin was kept busy in goal stopping all 43 shots he faced as the Oilers blanked the St. Louis Blues 3-0. Jordan Eberle scored twice and assisted on the Oilers' third goal. The shutout was Khabibulin's first of the season and 46th of his career.

No. 2 Star: Joffrey Lupul, Toronto Maple Leafs

In his second game back from suspension Lupul was the difference as his two goals in the third period helped give the Maple Leafs a 3-2 victory over the Florida Panthers. Lupul scored 22 seconds into the final frame and then potted his second and the game winner 2:50 later. Ben Scrivens made 40 saves for his first win in five starts.

[Also: Mr. T scores from center ice during Chicago Blackhawks game]

No. 3 Star: Evander Kane, Winnipeg Jets

The Winnipeg Jets downed the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 and it was Kane who had a hand in all four goals. He'd get credit for an own goal in the third period and helped set up the Jets' first three tallies to finish with a 4-point night. Ondrej Pavelec made 39 saves. The win moves Winnipeg six points ahead of Carolina in the Southeast Division standings.

Getty ImagesA day after Jim Belushi awkwardly held court at center ice during the "Shoot the Puck" intermission game, the Chicago Blackhawks invited a true American hero to try tonight between the second and third periods of their tilt against the Calgary Flames.

When Belushi fails to deliver, you bring in a better 1980s entertainment icon. So the Blackhawks went out and got Mr. T, a man who known for getting things done.

It wasn't his first time doing this, but the man once known as Clubber Lang still had a familiar prediction: Pain!

(Also: success)

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together?

As Mr. T referenced in his pre-shot interview, he participated in "Shoot the Puck" back in 2011, and that practice helped him make his shot tonight.

And if you're wondering, no, those weren't Jersey Fouls either time. It's Mr. T after all. He'll always get a pass.

Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

Here are your Puck Previews: Spotlighting the key games in NHL action, news and views as well as general frivolity. Make sure to stop back here for the nightly Three Stars when the games are finished.

AP

Sorry, Davis Drewiske, you're off the team.

Preview: Montreal Canadiens at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET. Practicing with his new teammates for the first time, Brenden Morrow skated on a line with Dustin Jeffrey and James Neal this morning. He will make his debut against the Canadiens, who bring head coach Michel Therrien, who was the bench boss for the Penguins for parts of four seasons. Kris Letang will also play tonight after being removed from the IR. On the line will be Pittsburgh's 12-game winning streak; a streak that began with a 7-6 overtime win over Montreal on March 1.

Preview: New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers, 7:30 p.m. ET. The Rangers will look to continue their recent domination over the Flyers as two points are on the line for a pair of teams desperately seeking to find a way into the playoffs. New York has taken 11 of their last 12 games against Philadelphia, a streak the Flyers will look to turnaround without Danny Briere, who is out of the lineup with a concussion. Henrik Lundqvist will be in goal for the eighth consecutive game.

Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m. ET. Cory Schneider will face off against Sergei Bobrovsky. Columbus sits two points behind the San Jose Sharks in the muck that is the race for the Western Conference's No. 8 spot. The Canucks enter tonight on a four-game winning streak, while the Blue Jackets have taken 16 points from their last 10 games.

Check out previews and updated scores for all of today's games on the Y! Sports NHL scores and scheds page. For tonight's starting goalies, check out Goalie Post.

Getty ImagesSad news in the hockey world today as long-time NHL assistant coach Wayne Fleming has passed away at the age of 62 from brain cancer.

From Hockey Canada:

“Hockey Canada has lost a great friend, and the hockey world has lost not only a tremendous coach, but a wonderful man,” said Bob Nicholson, president and CEO of Hockey Canada. “We send our condolences to Wayne’s wife, Carolyn, their four children and the rest of the Fleming family.”

Fleming was last with the Tampa Bay Lightning after being hired in July 2010, a month after the hiring of Guy Boucher.

"I needed someone with experience as well as an open mind and he certainly fits that perfectly," former Lightning head coach Boucher said at the time. "I think he’s the perfect fit for our staff."

Fleming underwent brain surgery in April 2011 after a malignant tumor was discovered, and in the weeks that followed the Lightning would make a run to the Eastern Conference Final, coming within a game of playing for the Stanley Cup, all while with their ailing assistant coach on their minds.

In February, Fleming was made a member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame eight months before the actual induction was to take place. During a small ceremony at his home in Calgary, Fleming laid unresponsive until opening his eyes after hearing a small speech from Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee chair Don Kuryk, according to Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun.

Fleming served as an assistant with the Islanders, Edmonton, Calgary, Philadelphia, Phoenix and finally with the Lightning. He also was a big supporter of Hockey Canada, helping lead the nation to a silver medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics and gold in 2002 as an associate coach.

Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

APA year ago Monday, Jon Cooper was waking up the day after his Norfolk Admirals won their 20th consecutive game – a streak that would eventually end at 29 games and see the team win the first AHL Calder Cup in its history.

Now Cooper wakes up as the new head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, hoping to instill into his new charges the winning spirit he's brought to his two previous stops.

He shouldn’t have a tough time attempting to plead his case to his Lightning players, seeing as how Cooper has a background as a defense attorney, a job he held as recently as 2003. The approach to that kind of job is the same as a hockey coach: Just win, baby.

Getty ImagesWhen the Pittsburgh Penguins called up 21-year old forward Beau Bennett on Feb. 14, it was too short notice for his family to travel to Winnipeg, a place they know well. Bennett's grandma and aunt were born there, and they introduced hockey to the family while he was growing up in California.

While Bennett didn't score in his NHL debut, he played 11:37 in the Penguins' 3-1 win, and afterward his phone was pretty busy with congratulatory voicemails and texts. "I live in Canada, so my phone bill is probably going to be not happy with that," Bennett joked.

Pittsburgh's first round pick in 2010 made history. At No. 20 overall, Bennett became the highest drafted California-born-and-trained player ever in the NHL. After two years at the University of Denver, the Penguins signed Bennett and he started the 2012-13 season with their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre. His 25 points in 35 games earned him the call-up in mid-February and he hasn't looked back.

We spoke with Bennett after the Penguins' morning skate on Friday. Enjoy.

Getty ImagesWith the Tampa Bay Lightning sitting 14th in the Eastern Conference and having just won 4 times in their past 14 games, GM Steve Yzerman announced on Sunday morning that head coach Guy Boucher had been fired.

From the Lightning:

"Guy has poured his heart and soul into the Lightning organization for these past three years and we appreciate all the work he has done," said Yzerman upon making the announcement. "But ultimately I am not satisfied with the direction we are heading and I believe making a change today is in the best interest of our franchise."

Having lost the first two of a Canadian trip earlier this week, Boucher said he needed to "create urgency" heading into this weekend's games against the Ottawa Senators and Winnipeg Jets. The Lightning responded Saturday afternoon by allowing four first period goals in a 5-3 loss to the Senators. Yzerman had seen enough.

Things had not been heading in the right direction for the Lightning all season. Goaltender Anders Lindback, who Yzerman acquired from Nashville over the summer, hasn't played up to par. Injuries have plagued the lineup, as well, but unlike the Senators, the team and Boucher weren't able to find success in spite of them. Just look at their roster against the Senators and you'll find it was littered with rookies and players who have spent time in the AHL this season.

The team announced that Boucher's assistants, Martin Raymond and Dan Lacroix, will handle the coaching duties for Sunday's game in Winnipeg.

Beyond Sunday, who might Yzerman turn to for relief? Now that he's a free agent, Lindy Ruff will be linked to any open job, and he does have a tie to Yzerman through their Team Canada connection. If Yzerman decides to go the AHL route again, he can turn to Jon Cooper, who currently runs the Syracuse Crunch bench, Tampa's minor league affiliate. Given the number of Lightning players who have played for Cooper, it wouldn't be a surprise if Yzerman turns to him, at least for the short-term.

In his first year as head coach in 2010-11, Boucher helped Tampa make a 23-point improvement in the standings and led them to within a victory of playing for the Stanley Cup, before falling to the eventual champion Boston Bruins. The Lightning then finished last season with 19 less points and missed the playoffs.

With 17 games left in their season and only five points out of the eighth spot in the East, there is time for Yzerman to repair this, but will the results show a quick fix like with Boucher or have a lasting effect?

Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy