PITTSBURGH -- This can be an intimidating time of year for a young NHL star playing in his first postseason. The impressive class of American rookie standouts making their playoff debuts -- the Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews, the Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski, the Calgary Flames' Matthew Tkachuk and the Boston Bruins' Charlie McAvoy -- have found a way to make it a little more fun: Constant contact with each other.
Werenski and Matthews spent hours playing video games online together a few days before the playoffs began, the two potential Calder finalists chatting about what was ahead.