IAN COLE

The NHL salary cap could be going up more than expected sooner than expected.

The National Hockey League said it found no evidence to support sexual abuse claims made by a Twitter user against Tampa Bay Lightning's Ian Cole.

The NHL said Saturday it found no evidence to substantiate allegations posted on social media against Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ian Cole and has concluded its investigation.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ian Cole is accused of sexually assaulting and grooming a woman when she was a minor. The accusations were made on Twitter.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are suspending defenseman Ian Cole pending an investigation into allegations made on social media that he sexually abused a woman when she was a minor.

Johnny Gaudreau leaving Calgary for Columbus headlined a busy offseason of player movement around the NHL.

After two vastly different outcomes on Wednesday night, the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes, along with the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames, continue their second round series on Friday night. EASTERN CONFERENCEMetropolitan Division(2) New York Rangers vs. (1) Carolina Hurricanes (Hurricanes lead 1-0)The two divisional rivals met in an extremely tight opening game on Wednesday, with former Ranger goaltender Antti Raanta playing exceptional to keep the Hurricanes in the game, after giving up a first period goal to Filip Chytil. Watch the NHL Playoffs on FuboTV (7-day free trial)WESTERN CONFERENCEPacific Division(2) Edmonton Oilers vs. (1) Calgary Flames (Flames lead 1-0)Similar to the first game of the night on Wednesday, the No. Unlike the first game, scoring was much more abundant, as The Battle of Alberta is showing that it might cease to disappoint. However, Calgary settled down, scoring thrice, two of which coming from Matthew Tkachuk, to pull out a wild 9-6 win.

Ian Cole beat Igor Shesterkin at 3:12 of overtime to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the New York Rangers 2-1 to take Game 1 of their second-round playoff series.

The Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes are among the contenders looking to get over the hump this year and win the Stanley Cup.

The eight playoff teams in the Eastern Conference have been set since before the All-Star break.

Kevin Fiala and Frederick Gaudreau each had a goal and an assist for the Minnesota Wild in a 3-2 victory over Carolina.

Nino Niederreiter's second goal of the game 18 seconds into the third period was the tiebreaker, and the short-handed Carolina Hurricanes beat the Detroit Red Wings 5-3.

The Colorado Avalanche have acquired goaltender Devan Dubynk from the San Jose Sharks for defenseman Greg Pateryn and a fifth-round pick in the 2021 draft.

FILE - In this Feb. 16, 2019, file photo, St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko, right, is congratulated as he passes the team box after scoring a goal against the Colorado Avalanche during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Denver. Tarasenko makes his return after early season shoulder surgery that limited him to three goals in 10 games. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Ditto for St. Louis, the defending Stanley Cup champions. The Blues and Avalanche were navigating through some key injuries before the season was halted in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. The hiatus allowed time to heal and now the top two teams in the Western Conference return as Cup favorites. The two teams get things rolling Sunday in Edmonton by facing each other to kick off a round-robin tournament to determine seeding in the West. It should be a fun ride.Back on the ice for the Blues is forward Vladimir Tarasenko, who underwent shoulder surgery in late October.