Author: NHL Hockey News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

It has been a whirlwind year for Pittsburgh Penguins' prospect Vasily Ponomarev.

The 23-year-old Russian forward was brought to Pittsburgh from the Carolina Hurricanes at the 2024 trade deadline as part of the blockbuster Jake Guentzel trade, and it hasn't all been smooth-sailing since.

"There’s a huge difference between Carolina hockey and here," Ponomarev said. 

And he struggled with that transition a bit, especially in the earlygoing this season. Carolina's man-to-man, defense-heavy system lies in stark contrast to Pittsburgh's offense-oriented, zone-style defensive system, and it's something that even Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) assistant general manager Amanda Kessel acknowledged that Ponomarev has needed some time to fully grasp.

"I think that he's grown a ton," Kessel said. "At the beginning of the year, some of his, kind of, coming from a different organization and playing lots of man-on-man... some of the d-zone was, at times, a bit challenging.

"But, he's responded super well and come up with huge goals for us. His two-way game is really developing. He's somebody that gives it everything he has every single night."

And Ponomarev realized he needed to make some adjustments, too. Some of it involved tweaking his playing style in relation to learning the new system, and some of it involved the mental side of the game.

 “I think right now it’s much better than it was earlier in the year," Ponomarev said. "I changed my mind mentally more, and I felt like I’ve become stronger. But my game mentality became a little bit different, and I don’t want to talk about it too much. It’s very personal.

"Nothing crazy, but I just understood that I have to play a little bit different way than I did earlier in the year. And, right now, I feel perfectly on the ice when I’m at the NHL level... and I think it’s a good point to start growing up.”

'I Have No Doubt This Thing's Going To Be Turned Around Quickly': After Lost Season, Penguins Optimistic About FutureFor one final time this season, the Pittsburgh Penguins gathered at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, Pa. - this, time, for locker cleanout day.

Ponomarev mentioned some areas of that growth in his game - and in the system - during locker cleanout day on Friday. He feels that his three NHL games at the end of the season were good ones, and he will look to build off of it as the WBS Penguins head into the Calder Cup playoffs. 

He has played a huge role on that team, registering 15 goals and 40 points in 54 games. He plays a large role on both special teams units, and he had found chemistry on a line with Avery Hayes - who recently signed his entry-level contract - and Rutger McGroarty, who will likely miss the beginning of the AHL playoffs with a lower-body injury sustained at the NHL level. 

The trio has mostly been kept intact since the Prospects Challenge in August, and a lot of that chemistry has been built because of their off-ice relationship.

“I think we found our game in the middle half of this year around December," Ponomarev said. "And those are great dudes. I love them not only on the ice... off the ice, we are huge friends. I think I’m going to be missing 'Rut' in the first round, and I hope he’s joining us in the future rounds to go help us win a Calder Cup because it’s the most important achievement in our league right now.

"And that’s what we want. I think the whole team is passionate about the Calder Cup right now.”

And a Calder Cup run is something Ponomarev believes the team can achieve. He mentioned that the team's second half and more recent play has given them a lot of confidence heading into the playoffs, but - just like many others - the closeness of the team is perhaps the biggest factor.

 “I think one of the most important things is that we are really close as a team," Ponomarev said. "Together we are like a family inside the room and outside as well, because I know we love each other and I feel that everyone’s got the same passion."

And passion is certainly something that shows in Ponomarev's own game, too. His effort and energy are things that have earned him the respect of the coaching staff, and his contributions aren't going unnoticed.

WBS Penguins Fall 3-2 To Bruins, Slip In StandingsThe Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (39-23-7-1) played their 70th game of the season on Wednesday night, dropping a tightly contested 3-2 affair to the Providence Bruins, who broke a tie in the standings between the two clubs.

"I think he's an effort-driven guy," Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said. "I think he's a guy who can bring energy and help us gain momentum. He's a conscientious player defensively, he can help us on the penalty kill with his conscientious play there... but he's a momentum guy, he's an energy guy, and I think he's one of those guys who can make us harder to play against with his tenacity."

Effort is always the biggest part of the equation for Ponomarev, who is a pending-restricted free agent this summer. While signing a new contract is his top priority, he knows he needs to be both physically and mentally prepared to take a run at an NHL roster spot if given the chance with Pittsburgh next season. 

He plans to work as hard as he ever has to make that happen. But he knows he needs to make time for some other passions, too.

"I know we’ll spend some time on our go-karts this summer," Ponomarev said. "We’ll drive every day as fast as possible.”

Which RFAs Should The Penguins Keep?It should be quite the summer for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the free agent market.

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LAS VEGAS -- The Golden Knights are set to face the Minnesota Wild in the opening round of the Western Conference playoffs, continuing what's been an awfully close series since Vegas entered the league in 2017.

In the 35 meetings, both in the regular season and the playoffs, Vegas has won 20 times, with a 20-14-1 mark to show for it.

This will mark the second playoff series after the teams met during the postseason of the abbreviated campaign in 2021.

Here is our top five all-time meetings between the Wild and Golden Knights:

5. Feb. 9, 2023: Vegas 5, Minnesota 1 - Though Marc-Andre Fleury had already faced the Golden Knights as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks, this would be the first time Vegas would see its former netminder as a member of the Wild. The Knights arrived in St. Paul at the right time, as the Wild had lost two straight and five of seven. It was the start of a seven-game homestand for Minnesota, while Vegas was looking to build momentum at the end of a six-game road trip that saw them lose four of the first five. Vegas opened a 2-0 lead before Kirill Kaprizov scored a power-play goal in the second period to cut the Knights' lead in half. But Vegas would respond later in the period with three goals over a span of 2:26 to provide the final margin.

4. March 25, 2025: Vegas 5, Minnesota 1 - After the Knights struggled through a rough patch in January and early February, they muddled their way into late March, having lost 16 of 27 (11-11-5). But a three-game homestand sweep sent them on the road for three games, beginning in St. Paul. Vegas would maintain its momentum thanks to Jack Eichel's hat trick - all three coming against former Knight Marc-Andre Fleury. Just like two years earlier against Fleury, in the same arena, the Knights took a 2-0 lead before the Wild cut the deficit in half. But three late third-period goals in a span of 2:31 gave the Knights a four-goal advantage and extended their win streak to four games. Vegas would go on to win its next two on the road and return home with a six-game win streak.

absolutely beautiful 🎩🎩🎩 pic.twitter.com/58BWxf5D7k

— y-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) March 26, 2025

3. Oct. 6, 2018: Vegas 2, Minnesota 1 - The Knights lost their first three meetings with the Wild, all in an inaugural season that saw Vegas land in the Stanley Cup Final. Minnesota was one of only two teams in the NHL that the Knights didn't beat in their first-ever season. After opening their second-ever season with a home loss to Philadelphia, the Knights started a five-game road trip in St. Paul, and the teams would end up in overtime. And after a combined five unsuccessful attempts from both teams, Erik Haula beat Devan Dubnyk in the sixth overall attempt of the shootout to give Vegas its first win of the season and first-ever victory over the Wild.

Walking off with our first win of the season 🤗 pic.twitter.com/12DEjQTy8N

— y-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) October 7, 2018

2. May 26, 2021: Minnesota 3, Vegas 0 - The Knights took a 3-1 series lead in the opening round of their seven-game series, which featured partially filled arenas due to the pandemic that shut down America a year prior. But after losing Game 5 at home, 4-2, the Knights hoped to close things out in St. Paul and avoid their third-ever Game 7. The Wild had other plans, however. Ryan Hartman, Kevin Fiala and Nick Bjugstad scored third-period goals on Fleury, while Cam Talbot would stop all 23 shots he faced to record his second shutout of the series to force a decisive Game 7.

1. May 28, 2021: Vegas 6, Minnesota 2 - After blowing their 3-1 series lead, the last thing the Knights wanted to do was lose Game 7 at home. The teams fought to a 1-1 tie after one period. Nic Hague gave the Knights a 2-1 lead just 2:05 into the second period, but Kaprizov's power-play goal at the 4:35 mark tied the game again. Unfortunately for the Wild, it would be their last goal of the season. Vegas got goals from Max Pacioretty and Zach Whitecloud to close the second, while Mattias Janmark scored two more in the third to complete the hat trick and give the Knights a 6-2 win and the series.

What. A. BARN!!!! #KnightUppic.twitter.com/nu7LQ82IOb

— y-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) May 29, 2021

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The Stanley Cup Playoffs are upon us!

This week on The Hockey Show, hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork got into the end of the playoff chases and the upcoming fun of the first round.

Joining the show were the co-hosts of the What Chaos show, DJ Bean and Pete Blackburn, who are apparently bigger fans of THS producer Rose than they are of Roy and Dave.

The boys all got into the Mikko Rantanen Bowl between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche, whether the Washington Capitals can build on their amazing regular season during the playoffs, the latest edition of the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers and why the Kings can possibly pull off the victory this time.

Roy and Dave also got into the upcoming series between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning, which could end up being one of the best of the first round.

Additionally, this week’s wins and fails included a couple ridiculous goals from top NHL prospect Gavin McKenna that he scored during the WHL Playoffs, a historic trio of playoff misses, another cell phone ending up on the ice and the amazing comeback of Gabriel Landeskog.

You can check out the full show in the video below: 

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The Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks have more in common than their lackluster seasons.

All three teams fired their coach during the season and named an interim bench boss.

Of the trio, only the Flyers’ Brad Shaw managed a (mini) revival of sorts, but that was in a small sample size: nine games.

That at least gives Shaw an outside chance at landing a spot as the team’s permanent coach.

The other two replacements coaches, Chicago’s Anders Sorensen and Boston’s Joe Sacco, are also hopeful. And one of them appears to have a better chance than Shaw to remain as the No. 1 guy.

Here’s a look at the three interim coaches and their pluses and minuses:

Brad Shaw, Philadelphia Flyers

Pluses

·      Shaw, who turns 61 later this month, directed the team to a 5-3-1 record, and young players like Tyson Foerster (nine goals in nine games), Matvei Michkov (six goals, 12 points in nine games) and Bobby Brink (eight points in nine games) excelled under him.

·      The players sang Shaw’s praises and played much looser – and scored more – under Shaw than they did for his predecessor, John Tortorella.

·      He is familiar with the organization, having coached with the Flyers for three seasons.

Minuses

·      Fair or not, he’s associated with the fired Tortorella.

·      The Flyers will probably go with a younger coach who has experience developing up-and-coming players. That said, the performances of Michkov, Foerster and Brink may give the Flyers’ brass reason to pause.

·      Philadelphia has missed the playoffs in all three years Shaw has been on the staff. This season, they had just 76 points – 11 fewer than last year.

Joe Sacco, Boston Bruins

Pluses

·      Bruins GM Don Sweeney praised Sacco, saying he did well, even though he had to coach “completely different teams” because of several in-season moves that were made.

·      Sacco is extremely familiar with the organization (including some very productive years), having been on the staff for 11 years.

·      Cam Neely, the team’s president, said Sacco would be considered for the full-time position. Lip service or an indication he liked Sacco’s work?

Minuses

·      He failed to lead the Bruins, which dealt away key players at the trade deadline, into the playoffs.

·      Boston went just 25-30-7 since Sacco replaced Jim Montgomery in mid-November.

·      As mentioned, the Massachusetts native was a longtime Boston assistant before getting the “interim” tag, and the Bruins seem to be leaning toward someone outside the organization.

Anders Sorensen, Chicago Blackhawks

Pluses

·      Though he inherited a weak roster, Sorensen’s team was competitive, and it’s noteworthy that the struggling Connor Bedard got untracked under him.

·      Sorensen, 49, is respected for his teaching ability – a mandatory trait for someone coaching a young team. In addition, his engaging personality seemed to click with his players.

·      His last three AHL teams made the playoffs.

Minuses

·      Chicago went 17-30-9 after Sorensen replaced the fired Luke Richardson in December, finishing with the NHL’s second-worst record. Sorensen called it a “rollercoaster,” but he feels the team will be better for it in the long run.

·      The Blackhawks finished 31st in goals allowed (3.56 per game) and 26th in scoring (2.73 per game), though that can be seen as more of an indictment on the roster than Sorensen’s coaching ability.

·      Shortly after Sorensen took over, the Blackhawks lost five straight and were a defensive disaster, cementing their hold on last place in the Central.

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This is the final edition of the Calder Tracker for the 2024-25 season. That means it’s time to put together my unofficial ballot for the NHL’s rookie of the year award. 

In each of the last two years of doing the monthly Calder Tracker, I identified each of the finalists and the winner, nailing the order of all three last year. With that said, let’s get to the top five on my unofficial ballot for the Calder. 

1. Lane Hutson, D, Montreal Canadiens

Lane Hutson was a machine for the Montreal Canadiens, transforming the way they played. Not only did he lead all NHL rookies in scoring, but he finished sixth in scoring among all defenseman and tied for second in assists with Quinn Hughes, behind just Cale Makar. 

Hutson’s 60 assists tied Larry Murphy for the NHL’s all-time rookie record for a defenseman. His ability to push the pace and drive offense from the back end is special. Although the conversation about Hutson getting into the Norris Trophy conversation seems a bit premature, that is the level of difference he’s making. 

The debate between Hutson and Celebrini raged on virtually all year. Michkov and Wolf both presented challenges to the duo atop the Calder race every month, but it always seemed to come down to the dynamic defender and the cerebral center. 

Ultimately, Hutson’s historic seasons and his pivotal role in helping the Habs into the playoffs were the edge in the race at the end of the season. Both are deserving candidates, though. 

2. Macklin Celebrini, C, San Jose Sharks

There wasn’t much more that Celebrini could have done this season. 

The 2024 first-overall pick was dynamite in his first NHL season, seamlessly stepping into the San Jose lineup and asserting himself as the No. 1 center. He put up 25 goals and 63 points as a rookie on a team that struggled all year long. What was most impressive, though, was that although he missed a dozen games after making his NHL debut in the season opener, he was able to consistently keep the Sharks' vibes high.

If Celebrini wins the award, it would be well deserved. Although the points were impressive, his ability to excel at the finer details of the game, from winning puck battles to positioning himself on zone exits to providing an outlet when he wasn’t the primary puck carrier, Celebrini stepped into the NHL with the poise and steadiness of a 10-year veteran. 

3. Dustin Wolf, G, Calgary Flames

Although he fell out of the race down the stretch, Wolf’s season with the Flames was incredible. 

He was the team’s clear MVP despite it being his first season. Wolf came into the year and took hold of the starter job in the Flames crease. He was truly impressive from start to finish. 

At one point, the Flames couldn’t get a win without their rookie goaltender in net. 

His poise, battle and proficiency were all part of what made him a dark horse for Vezina votes at points in the season. Wolf belongs in the conversation for rookie of the year, and he more than deserves a finalist nod. In most seasons, what he did would likely earn him the honor, as he was one of the best rookie netminders we’ve seen in a long time. 

4. Matvei Michkov, RW, Philadelphia Flyers

He’s had some ups and downs this year, as most rookies do, but Michkov wound up with 63 points on the season, finishing second in scoring and first in goals. 

Michkov finished the year strong, really taking off after coach John Tortorella was let go. Michkov brought dynamism and skill to a Flyers lineup that desperately needed an injection of it, and with the trades of many key players throughout this season, you could see Michkov taking on a bigger role. He finished second in team scoring behind just Travis Konecny but well ahead of the rest of the pack.  

5. Will Smith, C/W, San Jose Sharks

Smith was one of the hottest rookies down the stretch. He adapted to the NHL's pace and really brought together his skills and playmaking to impact the game. 

He made a late surge up the scoring list among rookies and showcased his highlight-reel dangles and pristine passing ability throughout the final couple of months this season. He wound up finishing fourth in rookie scoring on a team that needed him to be the catalyst when Celebrini wasn’t on the ice. 

Honorable Mentions: Cutter Gauthier (ANA), Marco Kasper (DET), Logan Stankoven (CAR), Maxim Tsyplakov (NYI)

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The Vegas Golden Knights are heading into the playoffs with an abundance of confidence, winning the Pacific Division and ranking second in the Western Conference. Although most of the team is under contract beyond this season, some are not, and that could bode well for the Golden Knights. 

Throughout the season, GM Kelly McCrimmon has handed out contracts to Shea Theodore, Brayden McNabb, Brett Howden, Keegan Kolesar and Adin Hill, ensuring they remain with the team beyond this season. Despite signing five pending UFAs, the Golden Knights still head into the playoffs with players not under contract for next season.

Those players include UFAs Reilly Smith, Victor Olofsson, Brandon Saad, Tanner Pearson, Ilya Samsonov and Group-6 UFA Jonas Rondbjerg. The pending RFAs include Nicolas Hague, Alexander Holtz and Cole Schwindt. 

Contract talks can be a distraction for some players, thinking they have to be perfect to maximize the money they can earn on their next contract. For some, it's motivation to work hard and play better, and for others, it has no effect on their performance as they believe everything will work out. 

For RFAs the pressure is lighter, the team has more control of what happens with them, and they are more than likely to work something out. For UFAs, they have more control over where they end up, but if a contending team isn't interested, they could find themselves on a bottom-feeder playing meaningless hockey. 

Playoff performances can earn players extra money on their contracts, as it's done with Chandler Stephenson or Michael Amadio. If the Golden Knights are going to go on a long run, they'll need contributions from these players. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

Five Golden Knights Players Return To PracticeJack Eichel, Alex Pietrangelo, Nicolas Hague, Victor Olofsson and Ilya Samsonov all returned to the Vegas Golden Knights' practice today.

Breaking down which wild card team has best odds to advance to second round in NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are the most unpredictable in sports with constant upsets, thrilling come-from-behind wins and stellar individual performances. The unpredictability is something that every better looks to exploit heading into the playoffs as a Stanley Cup contender usually goes down early.

Since 2014, when the NHL switched to the Divisional setup instead of the one-through-eight conference ranking setup, a wild card team has managed to take down a one seed in seven of the last ten seasons with the 2019 postseason, featuring a rare sight where all one seeds were downed.

 More NHL: The Battle of Ontario Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Futures for Maple Leafs versus Senators

Wild Card History in First Round of Stanley Cup Playoffs:

• 2024 - All #1 Seeds Advance
• 2023 - WC1 Seattle Kraken beat #1 Colorado Avalanche, WC2 Florida Panthers beat Boston Bruins
• 2022 - All #1 Seeds Advance
• 2021 - D4 Montreal Canadiens Beat #1 Toronto Maple Leafs, D4 New York Islanders beat #1 Pittsburgh Penguins
• 2020 - #7 Vancouver Canucks Beat #1 St. Louis Blues
• 2019 - All Four #1 Seeds lost
• 2018 - All #1 Seeds Advance
• 2017 - WC2 Nashville Predators Swept #1 Chicago Blackhawks, WC1 New York Rangers Beat #1 Montreal Canadiens
• 2016 - WC1 Nashville Predators Beat #1 Anaheim Ducks, WC1 New York Islanders Beat #1 Florida Panthers
• 2015 - WC1 Minnesota Wild Beat #1 St. Louis Blues
• 2014 - WC1 Minnesota Wild Beat #1 Colorado Avalanche

This means we should see one make it through to the next round this season with many wondering who it'll be?

The Senators have the highest odds to win in their first round series versus the Maple Leafs with +158 odds while the Blues and Wild are close behind with +184 and +190 odds respectively. Montreal is set up for a tough matchup against top seed in the east in Washington.

More NHL: Blues Enter Stanley Cup Playoffs As Dark Horse Contender

The Capitals limped to the finish line this season with a 4-7-1 record and a 4.25 goals against average in their final 12 games.It's the least popular option but the Habs could catch the Capitals by surprise as they already secured a championship or sorts with Alex Ovechkin breaking the all-time goal record but the team has since won two of their last six games.

It may be a bubble bursting for the Caps as they worked hard to get their captain the record and celebrated like they won a championship afterwards. They may be having a hard time refocusing and the Habs could take advantage as they've also been slow but have been playing extremely hard to secure their spot in the postseason.

More NHL: Demidov Shines in NHL Debut versus Blackhawks

I expect the Habs to push almost all of these games to the over as they've been red hot with a 15-5-6 record in their final 26 games. Montreal also got a massive momentum boost with the injection of rookie Ivan Demidov into the lineup.

The 19-year-old Russian superstar scored and dished for an assist in his NHL debut. His presence added even more life into a team that has a lot of potential with most of the team gaining experience from a run to the Stanley Cup Final back in 2021 during the Pandemic.

The Habs also have a much better history of playoff success with the Capitals having lost five straight first round matchups with their last win being their Stanley Cup Final win in 2019. I expect the Capitals being the ones to choke once again and you can get in on the Habs at a decent price tag with +106 odds to cover a series spread of +1.5 meaning they can win the series or lose in game seven.

I like the idea of adding the Habs series spread at +2.5 with -240 odds and parlaying it with the Carolina Hurricanes to down the New Jersey Devils in the first round at -280 odds. The Canes have won at least one playoff series in six straight seasons and when added with Montreal, gives us a very solid parlay with -109 odds. 

More Hockey: Top NHL Prospect Expected to Join Michigan Wolverines Next Season

The seemingly unstoppable London Knights defeated the Erie Otters in overtime to sweep their second-round series and advance to the Western Conference Finals.

London has played eight playoff games and come away with eight wins. Neither the Owen Sound Attack nor the Erie Otters managed to put so much as a dent in their armor as they marched towards a repeat of last year's championship season. 

They are the only team to remain undefeated through the first two rounds of the playoffs.

Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan leads the team in points with a stunning eight goals and 13 assists in eight games. Although he sits three points behind playoff leading scorers Ilya Protas and Liam Greentree, his points per game average of 2.625 is very comparable to their 2.66 points per game. 

Besides Cowan, London boasts six players who have all averaged at least a point per game so far in the playoffs, including Denver Barkey, Kasper Halttunen, Sam O'Reilly, Sam Dickinson and Landon Sim.

Frontenacs Tie The Series At Two The Kingston Frontenacs tied the series against Barrie at two earlier tonight with a 9-4 win on home ice. Vegas Golden Knights prospect Tuomas Uronen led his team, scoring a hattrick before the end of the second period.

Facing elimination, the Otters put up a fantastic fight in the game. After the first period, the two teams were tied at one, with Cowan and Pano Fimis scoring goals. 

Erie's Ty Henry scored in the opening minutes of the second period to give the Otters a 2-1 lead that they managed to maintain until Sam O'Reilly and Sam Dickinson scored a pair of power play goals near the end of the second period to take a 3-2 lead.

London's power play played a huge role in this game, as it has in the postseason in general. Operating at a 30 percent success rate, the London power play is the second-best remaining in the playoffs. 

Senators Prospect Keeps Rangers Hopes Alive Last night, Senators prospect Luke Ellinas kept the Kitchener Rangers' season alive by scoring all three goals in their 3-0 win over the Windsor Spitfires. 

Early in the third period, Malcolm Spence tied the game at three and ended up forcing overtime. The Otters found goals in critical moments despite being outshot 50-28 during the game. 

Just under seven minutes into the first overtime period, Sam O'Reilly ended the game and the series by crashing the net and slipping a puck into the Erie goal. 

Based on their roster and unbeaten start the postseason, the Knights have to be viewed as the favourites to win a second consecutive OHL Championship.

They will await the winner of the series between Windsor and Kitchener. The Spitfires currently hold a 3-1 series lead and could end the series tonight at home. Puck drop is a 7:05 p.m. at the WFCU Centre in Windsor.

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The NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs are upon us, and we continue to predict how the first round will go.

On Thursday, we posted our picks to win the Western Conference’s four series. And today, this writer is predicting the winners of each Eastern Conference first-round matchup.

Every year, we say the same thing: this writer’s picks are our best guesses to emerge as first-round winners. However, we’re also going to examine which factors could go in the other team’s favor.

Now, here are our breakdowns for the NHL's four Eastern Conference series:

Washington Capitals (M1) Vs. Montreal Canadiens (WC2)

Season series: 2-1 Washington

Why Washington will win:The Capitals handily beat the Canadiens in their first two games, winning by a combined score of 10-5. There’s every reason to think they’ll eliminate the Habs from the post-season. 

The Capitals have the NHL’s second-best offense, averaging 3.49 goals-for per game. That’s far and away better than Montreal’s 2.96. 

On defense, Washington’s 2.79 goals against per game is also significantly better than Montreal’s 3.18 goals-against average. By virtually every metric, the Capitals are the better team, and on paper, at least, they should dispose of the Canadiens rather easily.

Why Montreal will win: Nobody expected the Canadiens to qualify for the post-season, so they’re playing with house money. 

Montreal’s group of young, fast and skilled skaters very well may push Washington to its limit in Round 1. The Habs did beat the Capitals in their last showdown, and the Caps went 4-7-0 in their final 11 regular-season games, so Washington’s flaws may be exposed by Habs coach Martin St-Louis. 

Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault posted a .922 save percentage in April, and if he can stay hot, Montreal might frustrate the Capitals to the point a series upset becomes a reality.

Prediction: Capitals in seven games

The Canadiens went 7-1-2 in their final 10 games, so the notion they’re going to be steamrolled by the Capitals is far-fetched. However, Washington is extremely well-coached, and they’ve got a great goalie in Logan Thompson who will be the difference for them. We expect Montreal to put up a fierce fight and extend the series to a seventh game, but the Caps’ all-around depth will be enough to push them into Round 2.

NHL Playoff Predictions 2025: Which West Teams Win Round 1? Expect An UpsetThe first-round matchups are finalized for the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs. That means it’s time for the time-honored tradition of THN.com playoff predictions. 

Toronto Maple Leafs (A1) Vs. Ottawa Senators (WC1)

Season series: 3-0 Ottawa

Why Toronto will win:The Senators swept the season series with the Maple Leafs, but after Ottawa’s last win over Toronto on March 15, the Leafs went 13-2-1 to finish the regular season atop the Atlantic Division. 

The Leafs ended the year with the NHL’s seventh-best offense and the league’s eighth-best defense. The Sens had the NHL’s 18th-best offense and 13th-best defense. 

Toronto’s defense is deeper and stronger than Ottawa’s, and while the Buds have their flaws, they have many lineup options if things don’t go well for them early. Coach Craig Berube is also a stellar motivator and tactician. Advantage(s): Toronto.

Why Ottawa will win: The Senators looked like the Leafs’ equal in their three regular-season games, and all the pressure in this series will be on Toronto. 

Sens goalie Linus Ullmark was acquired last summer to give the Senators better performances in net, and with a .910 SP and 2.72 GAA in 44 appearances, Ullmark has delivered on that front. 

The Sens’ young core will be getting the first taste of playoff hockey. If their stars, including Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle and Dylan Cozens, can provide enough offense, Ottawa can capitalize on Toronto’s penchant for playoff letdowns and shock the Maple Leafs into a first-round defeat.

Prediction: Maple Leafs in six games

The stakes for the Leafs couldn’t be higher, and it all starts with the incredible pressure of the Battle of Ontario. But while we think the Senators’ future is extremely bright, Toronto has never had a better back end than the one they’ve currently got, and Leafs stars Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares and Matthew Knies will be too much for the Sens to handle. It won’t be easy for Toronto, but we see a Leafs win in Round 1.

Maple Leafs Are NHL's Hottest Team Entering The Playoffs, But Senators Are No Slouches EitherThe Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators faced the prospect of playing nothing games on Thursday night.

Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) Vs. Florida Panthers (A3)

Season series: 2-2 tie

Why Tampa Bay will win:The Lightning and Panthers were notably different this season. Tampa Bay went a thoroughly mediocre 27-20-4 by Feb. 1, then went 20-7-4 the rest of the way. Meanwhile, the Panthers went 40-21-3 by March 8 before going 7-10-1 through the end of the season. 

The Bolts clearly have the momentum advantage, and Lightning GM Julien BriseBois has added tremendous depth. Tampa Bay has the better goalie in the series in Andrei Vasilevskiy, and so long as they stay healthy, the Bolts will be able to outlast Florida in a long and physically taxing series.

Why Florida will win: The Panthers have been a banged-up group, and they lost home-ice advantage to the Lightning. But Florida will get heart-and-soul left winger Matthew Tkachuk back, likely at the start of the series. Star defenseman Aaron Ekblad also will return in Game 3 of the series, giving the Panthers a far better defense corps than Tampa Bay’s group of blueliners. 

Trade acquisition Brad Marchand can and will be a difference-maker and a true thorn in the Lightning’s side. For those reasons, Florida is every bit Tampa’s equal – and then some.

Prediction: Panthers in seven games

This series will be one of the most brutal of any first-round matchup, and there’s not going to be anywhere close to a sweep for either side. But we’ve got a hunch the Panthers will have slightly more skill, grit and determination to emerge as the victors here. The Lightning will put up a terrific fight, but one of these two teams will go home bitterly disappointed, and we’re confident that Florida will find a way to outlast Tampa Bay.

NHL Playoffs 2025 First-Round Schedule: Dates, Times, Where To WatchThe schedule for the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs is here.

Carolina Hurricanes (M2) Vs. New Jersey Devils (M3)

Season series: 2-2 tie

Why Carolina will win:The Hurricanes knew they’d be playing the Devils for weeks now, and Carolina tried to drastically improve its roster this year. 

Once again, the Hurricanes’ defense corps is one of the NHL’s deepest and most balanced groups. Carolina is not lacking for speed and skill up front, either. 

Their consistency stands out, as the Hurricanes have the NHL’s ninth-most goals-for per game, 10th-fewest goals against per game and the NHL's very best penalty kill. Carolina desperately needs a long playoff run. Against an injury-depleted Devils team, they’re likely to start on the right foot.

Why New Jersey will win: While no team that loses a superstar like Jack Hughes should be considered anything other than an underdog, New Jersey got back top D-man Dougie Hamilton, giving the Devils a competitive defense corps. 

Given that few people will be picking New Jersey to win this series, the Devils will be playing freer and easier – and perhaps, do what many believe they can’t do by sending Carolina packing.

Prediction: Hurricanes in five games

Sorry, Devils fans, but without Hughes, New Jersey can’t compete with a well-coached, well-built Hurricanes squad. Carolina needs its goalies to deliver despite massive pressure on them, but the same can be said for New Jersey’s netminding. We don’t believe Devils goalie Jacob Markstrom can outperform Frederik Andersen and/or Pyotr Kochetkov. The Hurricanes may be eliminated in Round 2, but this series should go in the Hurricanes’ favor.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs announced they have recalled forward Ryan Reaves from their AHL affiliate Toronto Marlies.

Reaves was placed on waivers and sent to the AHL prior to the NHL Trade Deadline in order for the Maple Leafs to accrue more cap space. 

The 38-year-old has two assists and 28 penalty minutes in 35 games for the Maple Leafs this season. He scored his first AHL goal since 2010 in this three-game stint with the Marlies.

The Winnipeg, Man., native has amassed 63 goals, 137 points, and 1100 penalty minutes in 912 career NHL games. He notched one assist in five playoff games for the Maple Leafs last season. 

There are no NHL roster or cap limits during the playoffs so this recall likely means Reaves will at least be around the team for the postseason. There have been no updates on whether or not he will play, he did participate in Toronto's optional skate earlier today. 

Keep an eye on The Hockey News' Toronto Maple Leafs team site for more roster updates prior to their playoff matchup against the Ottawa Senators. 

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.  Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.   

Why Bruins fans should keep close tabs on Panthers' 2025 playoff run originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

If you’re a Boston Bruins fan, rooting for the Florida Panthers doesn’t sound like a good or fun idea. And it makes perfect sense — the Panthers eliminated the Bruins from the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the last two seasons.

But this spring is a little different.

When the Bruins dealt captain Brad Marchand to the Panthers on trade deadline day in March, they got back a conditional second-round draft pick in 2027. This second-rounder will become a 2027 or 2028 first-round selection if the Panthers win two or more rounds in this year’s playoffs and Marchand plays in at least 50 percent of Florida’s postseason games.

Given how important it is to the Bruins’ future success that they have as many quality draft picks and trade assets as possible, it would really help Boston if that conditional second-rounder became a first-rounder.

So even though it might be tough, Bruins fans should be rooting for the Panthers to reach at least the Eastern Conference Final over the next month.

What are the chances they make it that far?

Well, the Panthers are currently the favorites to win the Eastern Conference for the third straight season.

But it won’t be easy. The Panthers will have to beat their in-state rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in the first round. The Panthers eliminated the Lightning in five games in Round 1 last season. This year’s series should be tougher, though. The Lightning ranked No. 3 in 5-on-5 goals scored this season, while also having the third-best save percentage.

If the Panthers make it to Round 2, they’d likely have to play the Toronto Maple Leafs, who won the Atlantic Division. The Leafs have not reached the conference finals since 2002 and have won only one playoff series in the last 20 years. Toronto is very talented, but you’d have to like Florida’s chances of winning a potential playoff series versus the Leafs. The Panthers have a huge edge over the Leafs in playoff experience and quality of goaltending.

Nothing is guaranteed in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Bruins know that better than anyone. That said, B’s fans should be cautiously optimistic about the chances of that 2027 conditional second-rounder becoming a future first-round pick.

 The Hockey News Big Show is here to preview the first round of the NHL’s 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Your Guide To The 2025 NHL Playoffs by The Big Showundefined

Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Steve Warne discussed in this episode:

0:57: Will the Battle of Ontario have over or under three fights in this series?

3:01: Do the Ottawa Senators hope they can suck the Toronto Maple Leafs into playing a physical style of game? 

3:55:  What will playoff Brady Tkachuk look like?

5:45: Who will be the Maple Leafs’ X-factor for them? 

7:40: How much of a load will Jake Sanderson face against Toronto's top line? 

8:55: Predictions for the Leafs and Sens series

10:34: Do the youngsters in Montreal have enough in them to run the table against the Washington Capitals?

13:59: Prediction for the Canadiens and Capitals series

15:18: In the Battle of Florida, Vasilevskiy and Bobrosky have both been known to turn it on in the playoffs. Will this series turn into a goalie duel?

17:21: Will the physical aspect of Florida match up to the skill of Tampa? 

18:45 Predictions for the Panthers and Lightning series

21:04: Predictions for the Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils series

21:49: Are there any similarities you see between this year's St. Louis Blues team and the 2019 team that won the Cup? 

24:21: Does Jordan Binnington have the edge over Connor Hellebuyck? 

25:34: Prediction for the Jets and Blues series

26:43: How do injuries affect the Dallas Stars? 

28:52: Will Mikko Rantanen be the X-factor for Dallas while facing his old team? 

30:39: How do you see this series between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Minnesota Wild shaking out? 

32:13: Are there any similarities you see between this year's Vegas team and the team that won the Cup? 

33:38: Predictions for the Knights and Wild

34:02: Are injuries still a big issue for the Edmonton Oilers? 

35:03: How will the goaltending matchup look between the Oilers and Los Angeles Kings? 

37:08: Predictions for the Kings and Oilers series 

37:20: Who do you see in the Stanley Cup final? 

40:06: Which player will lead the playoffs in scoring?

41:14: Since the 2014-15 season, only three of the Stanley Cup winners have been from the Western Conference. Will this year's winner be coming from the East or West?                                                                                                                                                                                  42:16: Which team will go on a Cinderella run?

43:44: Who is an unlikely playoff hero?

44:36: Which Cup "favorite" will go out earliest?

Watch the full episode here.   

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

For one final time this season, the Pittsburgh Penguins gathered at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, Pa. - this, time, for locker cleanout day.

Some players - like pending-RFA Philip Tomasino and pending-UFA Matt Grzelcyk - discussed their desire to return to Pittsburgh and their contract negotiation statuses. Some - like Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell - talked about career milestones and individual accomplishments this season.

But there was one overarching sentiment among both veterans and youth: There is some degree of hope and belief that things can turn around quickly for these Penguins.

“Obviously, I think everyone here would love for that to happen," Karlsson said. "I’m sure that in some regards, I think, obviously, that’s what they’re hoping for and that’s what [POHO/GM Kyle Dubas] is trying to do. Whether it works out or not, you never know. But, I like this team here. I think that the two years that I’ve been here, we’ve underachieved, and the group that we have in here is capable of a lot more.”

Rust echoed the same thoughts.

"Obviously, we've got some good, solid young players, and you guys have all seen that," Rust said. "The people around this organization... they care so much, and they are so invested in making this team great again that I have no doubt this thing's going to be turned around quickly."

Like Rust, many of the veterans pointed to young guys like Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty as reason for optimism in the near-term. The injection of youth on Pittsburgh's roster late in the season gave the team a jolt that they hope can carry into next season.

“Those guys came in here, and they were productive and helped us win hockey games right from the start," Rakell said. "So, I think they got these games under their belt, and they have the summer to prepare for next year. I think we’re only going to get better with them.”

'I Would Love To Come Back': After Career Year, Grzelcyk Hopes To Stay In PittsburghWhen defenseman Matt Grzelcyk made the decision to sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins last summer, he did so with the mindset that he'd come in and be granted some opportunity to rediscover his game.

And from the perspective of the younger guys, the veterans in the room give them confidence that the transition to full-time in the NHL can be a relatively smooth one. And they look forward to the competition in training camp next season.

“I feel like camp’s going to be ultra-competitive," McGroarty said. "Especially when you have 87 driving the bus, it’s always going to be a competitive camp. With the young group, too, right now, it’ll be a lot of fun, and a lot of guys want to put their best foot forward. I know a lot of guys are going to have a lot of big summers.” 

The Penguins may not be where they want to be right now. But given how other teams - the Washington Capitals being one of them - have found the right combination of youth and veteran talent to turn things around on-the-fly, they hope that the collection of players they have can do something of the same.

“I think we have the makings of being a competitive team," head coach Mike Sullivan said. "I think the team is postured right now to try to take that next step, and that next step towards becoming more competitive. It's not an easy process... teams have deployed different strategies in how they go about that. I think Kyle's done a really good job in thinking through and strategizing with his hockey operations team on what he thinks is best for the Pittsburgh Penguins with the group that we have. Every organization's different, but I know that there's been a thorough process that the group has gone through when trying to strategize what the best course of action is for this group.

"And I believe that there's a core group here that's worthy of building around, and that's our challenge. And that's the process that we're going through right now."

Like Ovechkin's Capitals, Penguins Owe It To Crosby To Right The ShipOn Sunday, the hockey world got to witness Alexander Ovechkin - The Great “8” - surpass The Great “One” for the most goals in NHL history.

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Carlo has averaged the fifth-most ice time among Maple Leafs defensemen since being acquired by Toronto.

The Toronto Maple Leafs added Brandon Carlo at the NHL trade deadline, and he's been a seamless fit since.

Going into the deadline in March, there was a lot of talk of how Toronto would find a player to complement Morgan Rielly, who, at the time, wasn't playing his best hockey. There were a few intriguing options, like Luke Schenn, whom Rielly played with in the past playoffs.

That, however, was botched when the Pittsburgh Penguins picked him up from the Nashville Predators before shipping him off to the Winnipeg Jets. Then Carlo came into the mix when the Boston Bruins decided they were having a fire sale.

Toronto added the 28-year-old, who has two more seasons on his contract at $3.485 million, for Fraser Minten and a 2026 first-round pick. That move was likely their most consequential at the deadline.

'I'm Thankful I'm Not Knocked Out': Maple Leafs Brandon Carlo Fights Kings' Jeff Malott, Brother Of UFC Fighter Mike MalottCarlo's fight on Saturday against Malott was his first in almost two years.

Since then, Carlo has averaged 19:13 through 20 games with Toronto, playing most of his minutes alongside Rielly. According to NaturalStatTrick, the pairing has a 57.04 expected goals-for percentage at five-on-five through 220 minutes.

It's the best among Maple Leafs pairings that have played more than 200 minutes together this season.

"I would just say he's sort of come as advertised, right? On the ice, he's a big, long guy. We've talked a lot about it, they're just harder to get around. He's a sticky player. He's got reach, he's got length. The way he clears the front of the net, a simple puck mover," Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving said on Friday.

"I think his game is sort of as advertised. And then always the unknown when you bring a new (player) is the fit, right? How it's all going to fit, and I think he's fit seamlessly. I think him, not only just him and Morgan, but down the stretch here we've had guys out, and he's fit with different people.

"He's become a really important player, and we've added a really elite teammate. The people in Boston talked about how great of a guy he was. You guys have had a little chance to get to know him. Just a wonderful person. So I think it's been a real good fit."

Will Maple Leafs' Injured Players Be Ready For Game 1 Against Senators On Sunday?The Maple Leafs held an optional skate on Friday before having a full practice on Saturday.

When the Maple Leafs step onto the ice for practice on Saturday, one day before Game 1 against the Ottawa Senators, you'll likely see Carlo back with Rielly as Toronto's top pair, barring any of their injured defensemen remaining out.

Carlo has been referenced by head coach Craig Berube several times throughout the last few weeks as a vacuum. Maple Leafs fans have witnessed that for years when Toronto has gone up against the Boston Bruins.

However, now, he's on their side and looking to help the Maple Leafs lock up the ultimate prize.

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Sometimes, it’s better to cut bait and avoid any more damage.

That certainly proved to be a prudent mantra for the Colorado Avalanche this season.

In particular, the team solidified its goaltending situation for the season. They started the year with Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen and traded both in a 10-day span to acquire Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood. That’s a lot of wood.

Bookmark The Hockey News Colorado Avalanche team site so you never miss the latest news, game day coverage, and information on the Avalanche players.

It proved to be a night-and-day difference between the two tandems. Annunen had a 6-4-0 record to go along with a 3.23 goals against average (GAA) and a .872 save percentage (SV%). Similarly, Georgiev had a record of 8-7-1. He posted a 3.38 GAA and a .874 SV%.

Trending Avalanche Stories

Return Of Avalanche Star Could Be Best Story Of The PlayoffsThe Colorado Avalanche are set to take on the Dallas Stars in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. But on Tuesday, the Avalanche made big news when they recalled veteran star Gabriel Landeskog -- and Landeskog's return to action after nearly three calendar years on the sidelines with a catastrophic knee injury could be the best story of the post-season.

Gabriel Landeskog Set to Play in His First Professional Game Since 2022

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"I came here to win. I'm not here to retire." Erik Johnson and Charlie Coyle Speak to Colorado Media for the First Time

A Round One Schedule for the Stanley Cup Playoffs is HereNHL Public Relations announced the full schedule for games 1-4 of round one for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Thursday morning. Dates for games 5-7 were also announced with times listed as TBD, meaning they will be announced once or if they become necessary.

Blackwood was stellar for the Avalanche, boasting a 22-12-3 record, a 2.33 GAA, a .913 SV%, and three shutouts. Wedgewood was even better in a backup role, with a 13-4-1 record to go with a 1.99 GAA, a .917 SV%, and two shutouts.

The San Jose Sharks have long been eliminated from playoff contention. Their season finale was on Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers. After the game, Georgiev revealed to the media that Sharks GM Mike Grier informed him that they won’t be retaining him.

Georgiev says Grier has told him that Sharks are moving on from him. He’s a UFA

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 17, 2025

Of course, this is highly irregular for a player to reveal that the team he’s currently playing for won’t renew his expiring contract. Unfortunately, this is the situation Georgiev finds himself in.

All the best to Georgiev, who will be searching for a new team to play for once free agency arrives in the offseason.

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