Silver Nuggets: Coaching candidates; Preds earn Sens extra draft pick

Yesterday in NHL action, we saw one more series end after the Nashville Predators sent the Anaheim Ducks to join the Phoenix Coyotes and New York Rangers in the realm of the eliminated teams. Both the Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks stayed alive and set up a seventh and final game in their respective series.

Senators headlines:

• Allen Panzeri looks at some eligible candidates for the Senators' vacant coaching job. Some names listed: Kirk Muller, Craig MacTavish, Brad Shaw, and Perry Pearn. (Ottawa Citizen)
• With the Nashville Predators clinching a first-round win over the Anaheim Ducks yesterday, the Ottawa Senators have guaranteed themselves a third-round pick from Nashville in the 2012 draft. If the Preds go on to the Western Conference Final, that third-rounder becomes a second (but the first-rounder we have this year would get worse). (Sens Town)
• Jason Spezza and Stephane Da Costa faced off against each other yesterday in World Championship pre-tournament action between the national teams from Canada and France. Both of them scored a goal, but Canada came out on top by a 3-2 score. (National Post)
• Spezza will be one of four players alternating associate captaincy for Team Canada, along with Travis Zajac, Dion Phaneuf, and Andrew Ladd. Rick Nash is the team's captain. (NJ.com)
• There's little rest for the B-Sens, as they're right back at it on Wednesday. (Press & Sun Bulletin)
• For Binghamton, Locke was skating this morning in practice, so he may return for game one of the second round. The B-Sens also signed Bob Raymond to a PTO to play defence for the team, and Barry Brust is dealing with an injury of undisclosed nature. (Blogging the B-Sens)

General NHL and hockey news:

• The finalists for this year's Norris Trophy include Shea Weber, Nicklas Lidstrom, and Zdeno Chara. (NHL)
• Canada finished fourth in the 2011 IIHF World U18 Championships this year. (Puck Worlds)
• Coverage of the Preds' first-ever first-round victory. (On The Forecheck)
• The Tampa Bay Lightning look to avoid elimination again tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins. (Raw Charge)
• And the San Jose Sharks try to take advantage of their second straight chance to eliminate the Los Angeles Kings. (Fear the Fin)