Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for June 4, #254

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If you're following the Stanley Cup finals, then today's Connections: Sports Edition might be a dream puzzle for you. (I still miss my Minnesota North Stars, moved to Dallas before we fans ever got to celebrate Lord Stanley's Cup.) Read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is out of beta now, making its debut on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9. That's a sign that the game has earned enough loyal players that The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times, will continue to publish it. It doesn't show up in the NYT Games app but now appears in The Athletic's own app. Or you can continue to play it free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Here are four hints for the groupings in today's Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Rink roles.

Green group hint: Great White North groups.

Blue group hint: Turn that red light on.

Purple group hint: Recent hockey champions.

Yellow group: Hockey positions.

Green group: Canadian NHL teams.

Blue group: Types of hockey goals.

Purple group: Last four Stanley Cup winners.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

The theme is hockey positions. The four answers are center, defenseman, goaltender and winger.

The theme is Canadian NHL teams. The four answers are Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal and Ottawa.

The theme is types of hockey goals. The four answers are empty net, even strength, power play and short-handed.

The theme is last four Stanley Cup winners. The four answers are Colorado, Florida, Tampa Bay and Vegas.