The Buffalo Sabres picked up a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of the second round. With this, the Sabres have a 1-0 series lead and will be looking to expand on it in Game 2.
Sabres forward Josh Doan was one of the main reasons for the team's win, as he put together a strong performance in Game 2. Doan scored the Sabres' game-opening goal at the 4:31 mark of the first period and then recorded an assist on Ryan McLeod's first-period goal that gave Buffalo a 2-0 lead. With this, Doan stepped up in a big way for the Sabres in their Game 1 victory over the Canadiens.
Doan is only continuing to break out for the Sabres as the playoffs roll on. The 24-year-old forward is only getting better and is continuing to show Buffalo that they made the right call picking him up from the Utah Mammoth this past off-season.
After being held off the scoresheet in his first three playoff games this spring, Doan has responded by recording five points in his last four games alone. The 2021 second-round pick is thriving right now for Buffalo, and he will be looking to stay hot from here.
ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Wild (4-4) was back on the ice for a practice at home. The Wild will square off for Game 3 against Colorado Avalanche (6-0) in round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Saturday.
It will be the first home game of the series. The Wild are behind 2-0 and will look to show up in a must-win game. They are 1-8 when down 2-0 in a series.
The only win?
2014 against the Avalanche.
But this Avalanche team is different. The same can be said about the Wild, though. Nathan MacKinnon was just a rookie back in 2014. Now he is a superstar. Jared Spurgeon was 24 that season. Now he is 36 and is the team captain.
Not to mention other star players like Quinn Hughes and Matt Boldy for Minnesota and Martin Necas and Cale Makar for Colorado.
The thing that is interesting about this go around and in this series in general, is how the Avalanche are beating the Wild at their own game.
It is a hard thing to do, but the Avalanche have completely bought into the style and have now taken the Wild's game and shoved it against them.
The Wild used to have the mantra of grit first. The physicality to wear teams down with hits and grind down defensemen. They did it against the Dallas Stars in round one this year, but haven't gotten to that in round two.
Every coach in the league has been saying it for the last couple of years. Things like the Wild are hard to play against. Minnesota is a big and hard team. Or, as head coach Jared Bednar said, “they’re a big and physical team.”
So what happened to that?
"I mean, that was part of the game plan," Marcus Foligno said after round one. "Get to their defensemen and especially, star players like Miro Heiskanen, and just make it really tough on them. Obviously, no one likes to go skating backwards for it. Those guys are very offensive. And you know, the more you can play in their end, or take some energy out on them from the defensive side of the pocket, it limits their chances of what they can do offensively. So that was good. I mean, I think our heads were right as well."
There is no doubt that Dallas is a different team from the Avalanche. Just look at the defense corps.
Heiskanen is an offensive guy and is just a notch under Makar in terms of offense. The only thing, Heiskanen played through a torn oblique muscle in the playoffs.
Makar at 100% is much more dynamic than Heiskanen at 70% or whatever he thought he was. Devon Toews of the Avalanche and Esa Lindell of the Stars are similar in terms of defensive play and the ability to break the puck out.
Thomas Harley and Nils Lundqvist are no slouches either, but here is where it gets different. Tyler Myers is 6-foot-8 and Lian Bichsel is 6-foot-7. Bichsel also suffered a strained shoulder in round one.
The two can clear the puck and defend, but they aren't as quick-moving as the Avs' defenders.
Guys like 5-foot-9 Nick Blankenburg and 5-foot-10 Sam Malinski are much more elusive than the towering Myers and Bichsel pair the Wild went up against in round one.
The point is, the Wild are having a harder time chipping the puck in and grinding down the defense corps of the Avalanche like they did to the Stars. This has allowed the Avalanche to play quickly and move the puck to their game-breaking players like MacKinnon, Necas, Brock Nelson, and others.
“Colorado plays different. Dallas was bigger. These guys move really well back there," Michael McCarron said. "When you chip the puck in, they keep the puck moving really well, and they move with the puck as well. So they’re hard to touch. We’re gonna have to find our way to stop these, slow these D down more. But imposing our will, I thought five-on-five, we did really well.”
In round one, the Wild finished second in the NHL in hits with 219 for a hits/60 minutes of 31.92. Through two games of round two, the Wild have 55 hits for a hits/60 minutes of 27.50.
The Avalanche had 109 hits in round one against the Los Angeles Kings for a hits/60 minutes of 26.40. Through two games of round two, the Avs have 54 hits for a hits/60 minutes of 27.00. They went from last in the NHL to eighth in the NHL in that category.
After the second period of Game 2, ESPN Analyst and Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Messier talked about how the Wild just haven't been able to get to their game.
Their game is what was alluded to above in the story. Wearing down the opposition, forcing them to make mistakes, capitalizing on the mistakes, and beating them 5-on-5.
Colorado is outscoring Minnesota 9-7 at 5-on-5 after the Wild allowed just four 5-on-5 goals to the Stars in six games of round one.
They were able to break down the Stars by physical play and it took a toll on them as the series went on. This led to less offense from Dallas.
Colorado is the best team in the league and is the best team when it comes to off the rush as well. The Wild held the Stars in check off the rush, but have not done the same to the Avalanche.
"Exactly. You want to play with the puck. I think the biggest thing is to not get beaten back by the dman," Nico Sturm said on how important physical play will be to stop the Avalanche off the rush. "Sometimes, that's the thing with physicality. You can also overdo it, and then you kind of get yourself out of position because you want to finish a hit, and it ends up, you know, you take yourself kind of out of place. So, you've got to tread the line. You want to be physical, but you don't want to run around like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off, right? So it's, it's always a fine line to tread."
Unfortunately, the Wild have done neither. Two different goalies in two games, and Minnesota has allowed 14 goals.
Back to Messier's point, the Wild have not been able to get to their game. They aren't able to hit the oposition like they did against Dallas because the makeup of the Avalanche is different and they are able to move past those plays.
Minnesota has shown that it can't adjust. At least through two games.
Along with the Wild's awful penalty kill, to be blunt, Minnesota doesn't want to take a penalty because being shorthanded is almost always a goal. Exactly was Messier's point.
Even against the Avalanche, who went 1-for-11 in round one on the power play and are now 3-for-7 in two games against the Wild.
They went from 9.1% on the power play to 42.9%. That is what the Wild's PK can do.
Minnesota allowed ten power-play goals to the Stars in round one in 25 times shorthanded for a 60% PK. They are at 57.1% right now.
It is the same story year after year for Minnesota. A PK that lets them down in the playoffs. Since 2022, the Wild's PK sits at 65%, which ranks 27th out of 28 teams.
The power play?
4-for-30. 13.3%. This postseason.
But if the first two games were an indication for what is to come, the Wild are in for one. The Avalanche stars want it more. They are willing to do what it takes to win games.
MacKinnon leads the NHL in points for round two with six. He is also doing everything it takes in this series to try to advance.
MacKinnon, who has won the MVP, led the NHL in goals and points, is a five-time All-Star and is coming off a Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy season, has blasted both Boldy and Quinn Hughes this series.
The Avalanche just seem to want it more and are willing to do whatever it takes to shut down the Wild's stars. Boldy has zero goals and just four shots in the first two games.
It is easy to say, but if the Wild were at their game, this would be a series they could win and would be the first time since 2003, and the second time in franchise history, they would be in the conference final.
If the Wild can't get back to their game, this won't be a long series. If they can't adjust, this won't be a fun extended series with multiple superstars going at it.
Minnesota has talked all season about identity. About being hard to play against. About winning the hard areas of the ice and wearing teams down over a seven-game series. Against Dallas, that identity showed up. Against Colorado, it seems to have disappeared.
Now, down 2-0 with the series shifting back to St. Paul, the Wild are out of time to search for it. Because if they can’t find a way to slow down the Avalanche and get back to the style that made them successful in round one, this series won’t turn into the heavyweight battle many expected.
It will turn into another short playoff exit for a team still searching for answers this time of year.
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ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Brock Nelson #11 congratulates Cale Makar #8 of the Colorado Avalanche after his goal. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It has been a big week for the Colorado Avalanche during their three-day break before continuing their second round playoff series against Minnesota on Saturday. Accolades have been rolling in as the NHL continue their announcements of the three finalists for their voted awards.
First, a bit of a surprise as Brock Nelson was nominated for the Frank J. Selke Trophy. The 33 goals and 65 points he amassed on the league leading Avalanche squad certainly helped raise his profile this season.
Presenting the finalists for the Frank J. Selke Trophy! 🏆 #NHLAwards
The trophy is presented annually to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game. pic.twitter.com/5pftUkfZLL
Then, the nominees for the James Norris Memorial Trophy were announced and mainstay Cale Makar was among the finalists. It was a bit of a down year by Makar’s standards as the power play woes hurt his point totals, particularly in the goals department with 20 to go along with 79 points. Still, Makar keeps his nomination streak alive at six consecutive years in his seven-year NHL career.
Presenting the finalists for the James Norris Memorial Trophy! 👏 #NHLAwards
The trophy is awarded to the defenseman who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position.
Despite the honors, neither Avalanche player is expected to take home the hardware as Nick Suzuki is the favorite for the Selke and Zach Werenski for the Norris. That’s ok, the Avalanche have their sights set on a larger trophy.
The United States will enter this year's men's hockey world championships in an unusual position: defending champion.
Team USA won a gold medal at the International Ice Hockey Federation tournament last spring for the first time since 1933.
This year's team has only two returnees and will be less star-studded than the 2025 one The big exception is Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, a two-time Stanley Cup winner and U.S. Olympian.
Some of the players from last year aren't available because they were or are in the playoffs, such as Tage Thompson, Clayton Keller, Jackson Lacombe, Cutter Gauthier and Jeremy Swayman. Plus, there's no Olympics as an incentive to suit up.
Here is the Team USA roster and some takeaways:
Team USA world championships preliminary roster
Goaltenders
Devin Cooley, Flames
Drew Commesso, Rockford (AHL)
Joseph Woll, Maple Leafs
Defensemen
Will Borgen, Rangers
Declan Carlile, Lightning
Connor Clifton, Penguins
Justin Faulk, Red Wings
Wyatt Kaiser, Blackhawks
Ryan Lindgren, Kraken
Mason Lohrei, Bruns
Ryan Ufko, Milwaukee (AHL)
Forwards
Matt Coronato, Flames
Paul Cotter, Devils
James Hagens, Bruins
Isaac Howard, Bakersfield (AHL)
Sam Lafferty, Blackhawks
Ryker Lee, Michigan State
Ryan Leonard, Capitals
Oliver Moore, Blackhawks
Danny Nelson, Notre Dame
Tommy Novak, Penguins
Mathieu Olivier, Blue Jackets
Max Plante, Minnesota-Duluth
Max Sasson, Canucks
Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers
Team USA roster takeaways
Howard and Lohrei are the only returnees from last year.
Leonard and Hagens made up two-thirds of the top line for the gold medal-winning USA team at the 2025 world junior championships. The third linemate, Gabriel Perreault isn't at this tournament.
Howard and Plante are the last two winners of the Hobey Baker Award.
When and where are the world championshps?
The tournament will be held from May 15 to 31 in Fribourg and Zurich, Switzerland.
Team USA world championships preliminary round schedule
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Matthew Tkachuk has the chance to be the first American in hockey’s Triple Gold Club.
After winning the Stanley Cup back to back with the NHL’s Florida Panthers and a gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics as part of the U.S. team, Tkachuk is set to play at the world championships later this month.
Tkachuk was part of the preliminary roster for the tournament unveiled by USA Hockey on Thursday. The U.S. is the defending champion at the event after winning it last year for the first time since 1933.
“We’re excited about our group,” said U.S. general manager Brett Peterson, who is part of Florida's front office. “We’ve got a good blend of players that are excited about representing our country and competing for a gold medal.”
Tkachuk was the only Olympian from Milan named to the team. Goaltender Drew Commesso represented the U.S. in 2022 and Will Borgen in 2018 when the NHL did not participate. The world championships take place May 15-31 in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland.
There are currently 30 players who have been Stanley Cup, Olympic and worlds champions, led by 11 Canadians and nine Swedes.
The Pittsburgh Penguins may have made the playoffs this season, but they are still very much focused on the future. Due to this, they will be looking to land a good player with their first-round pick this year.
In his most recent 2026 NHL Mock Draft for The Athletic, Scott Wheeler predicted that the Penguins will select forward JP Hurlberg with the 22nd overall pick.
If the Penguins landed Hulpert in the first round of this year's draft, he would give them another skilled prospect to work with. The 6-foot winger is coming off an excellent season in the Western Hockey League (WHL), where he had 42 goals, 55 assists, 97 points, and a plus-13 rating in 68 games with the Kamloops Blazers.
When looking at Hurlbert's numbers in junior, it is clear that he has plenty of offensive skill. With this, he would have the potential to be a good addition to the Penguins' prospect pool as they continue on with their retool.
The Penguins should be on the hunt for help on the wing, too, so it would be understandable if Hurlbert ended up being their pick if he is still available once they are on the clock. It will be interesting to see if he ends up being their pick this summer.
The Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres meet once again at KeyBank Center for Game 2 tonight.
Buffalo carries a 1-0 series lead, but my Canadiens vs. Sabres predictions and NHL picks suggest another tightly contested matchup, with Montreal pushing to even the series before heading back home.
Expect Ivan Demidov to make his presence felt for the Habs.
UPDATE: Added prediction for who will win & goal scorer pick.
Canadiens vs Sabres Game 2 prediction tonight
Who will win Canadiens vs Sabres Game 2?
Canadiens: The Habs nabbed three games on the road from Tampa Bay last round and outshot Buffalo in Game 1 despite the unfavorable result. Jakub Dobes had his quietest night of the postseason, and I fully expect him to rebound accordingly for Game 2.
Canadiens vs Sabres best bet: Ivan Demidov Over 0.5 points (-110)
Ivan Demidov picked up an assist on the power play in Game 1 after a few quiet outings to conclude the first round.
He's set at fair odds to hit the scoresheet again in Game 2, and with the Montreal Canadienscontrolling the play despite the loss in Game 1, I expect the young phenom to explode offensively against the Buffalo Sabres.
The 20-year-old had a quiet opening round against the Lightning, but in a more offense-centric matchup, he has a fantastic opportunity to hit the scoresheet aplenty.
Canadiens vs Sabres Game 2 same-game parlay
These two teams ranked fifth and seventh, respectively, in goals scored during the regular season, and hit the Over in Game 1. Furthermore, neither had a Top 10 defense this season.
This matchup has resulted in six or more total goals nine consecutive times dating back to November 2024.
Lane Hutson ranks second among all defensemen left in the postseason in average ice time (27:17) and has blocked 15 shots in eight playoff games. He's still logging heavy minutes despite the return of Noah Dobson.
Josh Doan registered two points in Game 1, averaged 2.07 shots/game during the regular season, and has compiled eight shots on goal in his last two games.
Canadiens vs Sabres SGP
Over 5.5
Lane Hutson Over 1.5 blocked shots
Josh Doan Over 1.5 shots on goal
Canadiens vs Sabres Game 2 goal scorer pick
Nick Suzuki (+240)
The Habs' captain has scored in back-to-back games and has scored in three of his last four against Buffalo. He's seen an uptick in shot volume over the last few games, perhaps accommodating for his linemate Cole Caufield's lack of scoring.
Canadiens vs Sabres odds for Game 2 tonight
Moneyline: Canadiens +114 | Sabres -129
Puck Line: Canadiens +1.5 | Sabres -1.5
Over/Under: Over 5.5 | Under 5.5
Canadiens vs Sabres trend
The Canadiens have hit the moneyline in 11 of their last 15 away games (+7.85 Units / 45% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Sabres.
How to watch Canadiens vs Sabres Game 2
Location
KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
Date
Friday, May 8, 2026
Puck drop
7 p.m. ET
TV
TNT, CBC
Canadiens vs Sabres latest injuries
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Any Rangers fans who enjoys good hockey should take in the Anaheim Ducks-Vegas Knights series tied at one apiece.
This is one gripping tourney because the teams are about even in quality, well coached by Joel Quenneville (Ducks) and John Tortorella (Vegas.)
For Blueshirt fans it's bitter sweet because Chris Drury's discards defenseman Jacob Trouba and Christ Kreider are playing some of the best hockey of their lives. No surprise, Kreider set up the winning Anaheim goal in the 3-1 victory.
Escaping the rank Rangers dressing room was part off both revival stories; not to mention the fact that Quenneville has the coaching knack that somehow has eluded smiley Mike.
A prospect Detroit left behind has found a new home in the nation's capital as the Washington Capitals announced on Thursday that they have signed Swedish center Theodor Niederbach to a one-year, two-way $1.025 million contract, general manager Chris Patrick announced. The 24-year-old will be getting an opportunity that the Detroit Red Wings chose not to offer him.
Detroit selected Niederbach 51st overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, a second-round swing on a playmaking center out of Sweden with a promising junior pedigree. He represented his country at the World Junior Championship in both 2021 and 2022 and was considered one of the organization's more intriguing prospects at the time. But the Red Wings never extended an entry-level contract, and his draft rights were eventually allowed to expire.
He returned to Sweden and quietly built one of the more consistent records among North American-drafted prospects playing in the SHL, a defensively structured league where 30 points in a season is considered a genuine benchmark.
While the Red Wings no longer hold his rights you have to wonder if they’re still in contact with Theodor Niederbach. He’s having a bit of a breakout year. Scores his 10th goal of the year today #Frölundapic.twitter.com/czQvY0nA9Y
Niederbach has cleared it in back-to-back campaigns, posting a career-high 32 points on 13 goals and 19 assists in 52 games with Frölunda this past season. Over 238 career SHL games with Swedish clubs MoDo, Rögle BK and Frölunda, he has accumulated 100 points.
Theodor Niederbach(2nd round ‘21 for MoDo) suspended 4 games for this hit. #LGRW
Washington is betting that production translates as Niederbach may begin his North American pro career with the Hershey Bears, Washington's AHL affiliate, who are currently in the division semifinals against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
If he sticks, Detroit fans may eventually find themselves watching a familiar name flourish elsewhere, a reminder of a draft night decision that didn't go the way the organization planned.
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The Philadelphia Flyers have managed to score just three goals over the course of their last three playoff games, and if they continue to struggle, they will suffer a swift exit at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Already down 2-0 in the series and dealing with multiple injuries, the Flyers need a group of their stragglers to both up their game and account for their fallen teammates.
Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen leads the Flyers in playoff points so far with five in eight games, while his fellow blueliners, Travis Sanheim and Jamie Drysdale, are two of the team's three total players with multiple goals this postseason.
That might have worked against a mediocre team like the Pittsburgh Penguins, but it certainly won't fly against a Stanley Cup contender like the Hurricanes.
The obvious place to start with these struggles is at wing, where Tyson Foerster, despite playing in all eight playoff games for the Flyers thus far, is stuck in second gear with zero points.
Defenseman Emil Andrae is the only other Flyer without a point, and he's played in just three games averaging 11:06 of ice time. Foerster averages a whopping 18:31.
The reason Foerster has so much to prove, especially right now, is because of how many other options the Flyers have at his position.
Alex Bump always looks like such a dynamo with the puck on his stick, and Denver Barkey is quickly becoming a coach's favorite due to his competitiveness, mobility, and positional versatility.
Foerster has one year remaining on his contract at a $3.75 million cap hit and has yet to develop his playmaking and skating, and he has to compete with the likes of Owen Tippett, Matvei Michkov, Porter Martone, Bump, Nikita Grebenkin, Jack Berglund, and more for a spot in the lineup, both now and in the future.
The hallmark of the 24-year-old's game is his shot; Foerster scored 13 times in just 29 games this season and tallied 45 goals over the previous two years.
The playoffs, though, are exposing Foerster's one-dimensionality, and as a young player, he will need to evolve and show the Flyers something before the end of the postseason to re-solidify his future in Philadelphia.
Continuing at the winger position, we have to put Travis Konecny in the spotlight.
The Flyers' highest-paid player with an $8.75 million cap hit, Konecny has just one goal and four points in eight games this playoff run, and notably came up short on a breakaway in overtime in Game 2 that would have otherwise sent the Flyers back to Philadelphia with a series tied at 1-1.
Konecny, 29, has always been in the crosshairs of fans due to his historic playoff struggles, producing just two goals and 12 points in his 30 career postseason games to date.
It's a bit odd, too, considering that Konecny has scored 30 goals twice in his career and has recorded no fewer than 60 points in each of the last four seasons.
He, more than anyone, should be a player the Flyers can rely on in crunch time, but he is not the one driving the bus for the team.
Last but certainly not least is Matvei Michkov, whose struggles have been well-documented at this point.
The 21-year-old looked great in overtime in Game 2 and helped produce the game-winning moment in Game 6 against the Penguins, but one point in seven games is objectively not strong enough for a player with his talents.
Noah Cates, Michkov's center for most of the season, is out for the rest of this series against the Hurricanes, so the odds favor Michkov playing on a more offensively-oriented line for the last few games.
The Russian phenom will probably never be a player who creates offense with his own legs, but he always know where to be and when in the offensive zone and constantly seeks open ice and advantageous scoring positions.
With the Flyers dying for offense, now is the time for Michkov to arrive and prove himself.
Fans of the Detroit Red Wings who were used to watching Hall of Fame defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom regularly win the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman will have to wait at least another year for a Red Wings player to capture the award.
The NHL announced on Thursday afternoon that Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, and Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin are this season's finalists for the Norris.
Conspicuously absent from the finalists was Moritz Seider, who not only enjoyed the best season of his NHL career but also posted numbers that were more than worthy of Norris consideration.
The James Norris Memorial Trophy finalists are in! 🏆 #NHLAwards
The trophy is presented annually to the defenseman who demonstrates the greatest all-around ability at the position. pic.twitter.com/krWLsUybFh
Seider reached career highs in goals (10) and assists (50), along with plus/minus (+15). Additionally, he led all Red Wings skaters in average ice time per game with 25:39, routinely playing in all situations against the opposition's top players.
Seider finished the season as one of the NHL’s leaders in goals against (2.22) per 60 minutes, while the numbers also highlighted just how much the Detroit Red Wings struggled defensively whenever he was off the ice.
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The NHL has announced its three finalists for this year's Norris Trophy. Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson did not make the cut, even after posting 12 goals, 66 assists, 78 points, and a plus-36 rating in 82 games.
While Hutson is not in the running for the Norris Trophy this season, one of the Canadiens' foes in the second round is: Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.
Dahlin, Cale Makar, and Zach Werenski are this year's finalists for the Norris.
Dahlin being a Norris Trophy finalist comes after he had 19 goals, 55 assists, 74 points, and a plus-18 rating in 77 games this season with the Sabres. With this, he was a big reason why the Sabres took such a significant step forward this season and finished with a 50-23-9 record.
The Canadiens will now be looking to shut down Dahlin and the Sabres as they continue their second round series. Game 1 was a tough one for the Habs, as they lost to Buffalo by a 4-2 final score. Thankfully, the series is still young, and the Canadiens have a golden opportunity to get things back on track in Game 2.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.
Business is picking up between the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks, with their series tied 1-1 and heading to the Honda Center tonight.
My top Golden Knights vs. Ducks predictions and NHL picks for Friday, May 8 are calling for Anaheim to take the series lead in a higher-scoring Game 3.
Puck drop is set for 9:30 p.m. ET from the Honda Center in Anaheim, with the game airing on TNT and Sportsnet.
Golden Knights vs Ducks Game 3 prediction
Who will win Golden Knights vs Ducks Game 3?
Ducks: The Ducks have been the better 5-on-5 team this series with a 57.1 Corsi For percentage and 56.2 expected goals percentage, and Golden Knights starter Carter Hart isn’t maintaining his .951 SV% through two games after posting a .864 mark on the road in Round 1.
Vegas No. 1 Carter Hart has a .951 save percentage with 3.57 goals saved above expected, and Anaheim starter Lukas Dostal sports respective .930 and 2.11 marks.
The window for positive regression is particularly wide open at 5-on-5, with the Golden Knights posting a 6.0 team shooting percentage and the Ducks at 6.7.
So, considering they respectively posted 9.72 and 9.1 marks in Round 1, the uptick in scoring is coming.
Golden Knights vs Ducks Game 3 same-game parlay
Anaheim has caved Vegas in at 5-on-5 with a 57.1 Corsi For percentage and 56.1 expected goals percentage through two games, and now the Ducks have the last-change advantage on home ice for Game 3.
In addition to Hart's highlighted unsustainable numbers, the Vegas netminder also posted an .864 SV% on the highway in the opening round.
Turning to the final leg of this same-game parlay, Ducks star Cutter Gauthier has been held without a point despite posting an elite 67.2 CF% and 84.2 xGF% at 5-on-5 and pacing Anaheim with 1.22 individual expected goals and 12 scoring chances. After recording seven points in Round 1, he's positioned to leave his mark on the scoresheet in Game 3.
Golden Knights vs Ducks SGP
Ducks moneyline
Over 5.5
Cutter Gauthier Over 0.5 points
Golden Knights vs Ducks Game 3 goal scorer pick
Cutter Gauthier (+175)
Sticking with Gauthier, the last-change advantage stands to help head coach Joel Quenneville find his star scorer more favorable on-ice matchups, and 24 of Gauthier’s 41 goals came on home ice during the regular season.
Puck Line: Golden Knights -1.5 (+210) | Ducks +1.5 (-270)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-135) | Under 5.5 (+115)
Golden Knights vs Ducks trend
Anaheim has hit the Over in six of its last 10 home games (+4.75 Units / 39% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs. Ducks.
How to watch Golden Knights vs Ducks Game 3
Location
Honda Center, Anaheim, CA
Date
Friday, May 8, 2026
Puck drop
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
TNT, Sportsnet
Golden Knights vs Ducks latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 04: Taylor Hall #71 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Two of the Second Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center on May 04, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Carolina Hurricanes take their undefeated postseason record on the road as they visit the Philadelphia Flyers for Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semi-finals on Thursday night at the Xfinity Mobile Arena. Game time is 8 P.M.
According to reports from the morning skate the Canes will have their full complement of players available, including Alexander Nikishin, who has missed the last two games while he recovered from a concussion.
The #Canes are all set for tonight's Game 3 in Philadelphia (8 p.m.; TNT, truTV).
Alexander Nikishin appears set to draw back in for the first time since R1, G4, working with Shayne Gostisbehere this morning. Mike Reilly is on the extra pair.
The injury bug has bit the Flyers. Not only is Owen Tippett out (confirmed) but Noah Cates is out for the rest of the series. Officially, he has a lower body injury, (he was seen walking on crutches with a boot after Monday night’s game.)
“He’s Mr. Consistency,” coach Rick Tocchet said. “He does a lot of things for us, but it’s no different than other teams. Next man up.
“You’ll see (Denver) Barkey getting more time at center; thought he did a nice job (in Game 2). Trevor (Zegras) is going to have to go back to center again. We’ll try to get him going. And obviously ‘Coots’ (Couturier) is playing really well, and you got ‘Devo’ (Christian Dvorak). We’re good there. We’ll be OK.”
It should be another good one tonight.
The game will be nationally televised and broadcast on TNT/truTV starting at 8 P.M. The normal characters will be on 99.9 The Fan starting at 7 P.M. with the local perspective.
The Hockey News has opened its full archive to subscribers, giving fans access to 76 years of hockey history, feature stories, and unforgettable moments. In the latest issue, we rank the NHL’s top 100 players, with Winnipeg Jets lethal scoring winger Kyle Connor coming in No. 57th overall. Here is a free preview featuring players ranked 51 through 57.
Subscribe today to see where other standout Winnipeg players, including Mark Scheifele, Connor Hellebuyck and Josh Morrissey landed on the list, explore the complete top 100 rankings, and dive into the full THN Archives
Top 100 NHL Players: 51-57 - Apr. 17 2026 - Vol. 79 Issue 10
51 JAKE OETTINGER
POS: G | AGE: 27 | LY: 51
‘Otter’ has helped the Stars author three consecutive trips to the conference final, but his success has halted there – often in shocking fashion. In fact, entering the 2026 playoffs, Oettinger had an .881 save percentage across 18 conference-final outings. No goaltender with more than five games had fared worse.
52 JAKOB CHYCHRUN
POS: D | AGE: 28 | LY: 95
Should he have been on Canada’s Olympic team? You won’t find any dissenters in Washington. Big, athletic and talented, Chychrun led the Capitals in ice time while also providing a nice helping of offense. And on a team featuring Alex Ovechkin, it was Chychrun with the most game-winning goals this year.
53 WYATT JOHNSTON
POS: C | AGE: 22 | LY: 63
Buoyed by a career-best shooting percentage and league-leading 26 power-play goals, three-time 30-goal scorer Johnston hit the 40-goal plateau for the first time. That offensive outburst is just another tool in his arsenal. The most respected aspects of his game, though, are his two-way acumen and high hockey IQ.
54 JAKE SANDERSON
POS: D | AGE: 23 | LY: 88
Sanderson is easily the best Senators defenseman since Erik Karlsson. Sanderson resembles Karlsson in many respects, namely skating, puckhandling, hockey IQ and a penchant for being a one-man breakout. Even when Ottawa was struggling early in the season, Sanderson was one of the bright spots.
55 SAM REINHART
POS: C | AGE: 30 | LY: 25
He’ll probably never score 57 goals again – as he did two seasons ago – but you can pretty much put Reinhart down for 30 a year in indelible marker. He can also be counted on to be a Selke-level player in the defensive zone. There are really no deficiencies in his game, and he’s one of the NHL’s most cerebral on-ice performers.
56 DYLAN LARKIN
POS: C | AGE: 29 | LY: 53
If there’s a modern-day player who was destined to play for the Red Wings, Larkin is the guy. His 200-foot game is almost without peer, and he’s developed a surprising sneaky-dirty facet to his overall game. Larkin is a possession beast, and when he doesn’t have the puck on his stick, he’s very good at getting it back.
57 KYLE CONNOR
POS: LW | AGE: 29 | LY: 38
Connor’s consistency is remarkable. He’s eclipsed 30 goals in each of his full seasons, barring the shortened 2020-21 campaign. He’s also an all-strengths asset in Winnipeg. Over the past five seasons, Connor ranks second in even-strength, first in power-play and sixth in shorthanded ice time among Jets forwards.
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