There was a bit of a dirty play that went down as the second period came to a close in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Montreal Canadiens.
As the horn sounded, Montreal forward Alexandre Texier looked over at Hurricanes defenseman K'Andre Miller and intentionally speared him in the groin.
Texier only given TWO MINUTES for slashing K’Andre Miller at end of 2nd period.
Normally, per the NHL rulebook, that action should have automatically resulted in a five-minute major and a match penalty to Texier, however the Game 2 officials (Gord Dwyer and Kelly Sutherland) reviewed the play for a major and actually downgraded it to a two-minute minor for slashing instead, something Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour vehemently disagreed with.
"Clearly that's a spear," Brind'Amour said. "There's not a person that can tell you that it wasn't. Played the game long enough to know that when you look at a guy and... [gestures a spearing motion]. That's a spear."
It doesn't really get more egregious than what Texier, who you can clearly see on video turns to make sure he's gets Miller right where he wants to, did, so I have no idea how the officials simply let it go.
I guess they didn't want to influence a close game, but that's just a play you cannot let happen.
Hopefully the Department of Player Safety takes a look at it, but knowing them, it's hard to believe that they'll actually take a proper stance on anything when it actually comes to player safety and upholding the rulebook.
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For the first time in 12 years, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins are headed to the the AHL Eastern Conference Final in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
And, to punch their ticket, they gave a statement performance on Saturday.
In a winner-take-all Game 5, the WBS Penguins dominated the Springfield Thunderbirds, putting up a final score of 8-1 after failing to clinch in a 2-0 loss on Thursday. Forwards Tristan Broz, Ville Koivunen, and Rafael Harvey-Pinard each had two goals for the Penguins, while netminder Sergei Murashov was impressive yet again, stopping 26 of 27 Springfield shots against to improve his Calder Cup Playoff save percentage to a whopping .943.
After failing to generate much of anything Thursday, WBS was ready from the jump. Broz kicked things off with his first goal of the contest a tick less than four minutes into the first period, driving the net and putting away a top-shelf backhand to make it 1-0. Then, less than four minutes later, Broz and Harrison Brunicke used their wheels to create a two-on-one opportunity. Broz slid a perfect pass over to Brunicke breaking through the middle then down the right side, and he also went top-shelf - hitting the water bottle in the process - to give WBS the early 2-0 lead.
— x - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) May 23, 2026
And the Penguins just kept piling on. During the game's first power play - awarded to WBS later in the first - Broz rifled one home from the slot to tack on, and Harvey-Pinard scored WBS's fourth goal with 21 seconds remaining in the first period to chase Springfield starting goaltender Georgii Romanov from the game.
— x - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) May 23, 2026
Atley Calvert registered the lone tally in the second period, and Ville Koivunen added on another power play goal almost three minutes into the third period to make it 6-0. Akil Thomas did score one for Springfield, but that was only four minutes before Harvey-Pinard scored on the empty net to make it 7-1.
They didn't just stop there, though. Koivunen pounced on a rebound around the goal crease for his second of the game and WBS's eighth of the game just past the midway point of the final frame, and the WBS Penguins were able to ride off into the sunset with the decisive 8-1 win.
— x - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) May 24, 2026
Here are three takeaways from this one:
1. Broz continues to prove he's a big-game player
Even if players like Bill Zonnon, Brunicke, and Murashov are commanding a lot of the attention from this year's run with WBS, Broz has quietly been, arguably, their best player.
He leads the team with three goals and nine points in the nine playoff contests they've played in, and he's been centering a third line with Mikhail Ilyin and Koivunen. He's logging tough minutes on the penalty kill and contributing to the first power play unit, and he's showing his prowess in all three zones.
— x - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) May 23, 2026
But, above all, he's still showing his knack for the clutch. Remember when he scored those two different overtime goals for the University of Denver in their 2024 National Championship run? Well, he certainly showed up in an important game Saturday, and his team reaped the benefits.
If not for injuries, he would have earned a more extended look at the NHL level next season. Broz is a legitimately good hockey player, and he should get that shot in 2026-27.
2. That said, let's not forget Murashov and Brunicke
Well, hey, what else can you say about two of those guys named before Broz?
Murashov, 21, has been dominant in these playoffs. Granted, he didn't need to exert himself super hard in this one, but he's made saves when it has mattered, and he's started every game for the Penguins. He has a 1.74 goals-against average to go along with that .943 save percentage.
This guy is quick, athletic, and knows how to slow down the moment, and it will be surprising if he's not at the NHL level next season.
As for Brunicke? Next to Broz, I think he's been the team's best player in this tournament, and it's not as if he's been with this team all season long. He stepped in after the Kamloops Blazers fell in their playoffs, and since then, he's logged top-pairing minutes with Alex Alexeyev, he's the quarterback of the first power play unit, and he's one of the first defensemen called up for the penalty kill and in key defensive situations.
He has grown substantially from his brief NHL stop early in the 2025-26 season, and at times, completely takes over the game. It may take some time for him to fully find his game at the NHL level, but the Penguins sure do have a talent in Brunicke.
Harrison Brunicke with the Superman celebration after putting #WBSPens up 2-0.
3. This team - like its NHL parent club - is riddled with depth
When your fourth line consists of Zonnon - who had three goals in this series in what was his professional debut - centering Aidan McDonough and Calvert, you're probably in pretty good shape. And that's not to mention the third line of Broz, Ilyin, and Koivunen again, which has probably been their strongest line through these Calder Cup Playoffs.
This is the deepest team WBS has had in years, and it's from top-to-bottom across positions. There is still a lot of work ahead if they want to reach the pinnacle of a Calder Cup Championship, but what they showed Saturday is that they're going to be a difficult problem to deal with for whoever between the Toronto Marlies and Cleveland Monsters gets them in the Eastern Conference Final.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 23: Nikolaj Ehlers #27 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with his teammates after scoring the game wining goal on Jakub Dobes (not pictured) #75 of the Montreal Canadiens during overtime in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center on May 23, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The fourth line for the Hurricanes were arguably the best on the ice, the team as a whole looked like the team that had gone 8-0 in the playoffs before Game One, and Nikolaj Ehlers put his stamp on the game with one of the most beautiful goals you’ll ever see and then one of the most important goals in franchise history as Carolina staved off Montreal to take Game Two 3-2 in Overtime.
The Hurricanes established from the beginning that they had learned their lessons from Thursday Night, as the team was on top of Montreal from the jump. It looked like the Hurricanes team we had seen all postseason with a tight forecheck, the opponent unable to really get settled into the zone, and multiple chances on net. The work was quickly rewarded as the fourth line produced the first score. The play started with Mark Jankowski digging the puck off the wall and feeding a pass to William Carrier. Carrier shot the puck on net and on its way, Eric Robinson stuck his stick out to change the path, deflecting it past Jakub Dobeš and putting Carolina up 1-0
Carolina continued to dominate play until a sequence changed the tenor of the period. Dobeš would push the net off its post, causing play to stop. No penalty was called but replays in the arena showed the only reason it came off was Dobeš. Montreal would get possesion of the ensuing face off, and while trying to set up in the zone Logan Stankoven would be called for interference on Kaiden Guhle. Carolina killed the penalty, but a few moments after Taylor Hall tried a poor outlet pass to the neutral zone. It was intercepted by Guhle, and Montreal had the opening to rush the net. Josh Anderson would get it past Frederick Andersen and the score was tied. Carolina would later get a power play that was ended early thanks to a boarding call on Andrei Svechnikov. The Hurricanes were able to stand tall and got to the locker room tied 1-1.
The second period was mostly a back and forth affair, with both teams getting extended looks in the offensive zone and the defenses plus goalies coming up big. The Canes would get a power play when Dobeš was called for an interference, but it didn’t result in any really good looks. It appeared the period would end tied until Nikolaj Ehlers just pulled off one of the most amazing one-man goal moves to cause the Lenovo Center to explode and put the Canes up 2-1.
The period would end with Carolina almost giving up the lead again but Svechnikov made a great defensive play to break it up, and Andersen would move the puck out. In the process Alexandre Texier hit K’Andre Miller with his stick crumpling him to the ice. The officials called a major to look at it, but it was reduced to a two minute penalty on review, despite pretty universal agreement that Texier speared Miller and should have not only gotten the five minutes but a Game Misconduct.
Carolina was unable to convert on the two minute man advantage, and while they had several opportunities they weren’t able to finish around Dobeš. That work was enough to where Montreal started to take control in the back half of the period, leading to the tying goal on a scrum in front of Andersen. Several Hurricanes were in front of the net, but Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis were unable to clear the puck fully, and as Aho essentially knocked Andersen off balance, the puck ended up on Josh Andersen’s stick. He was able to push it by the goalie to knot the score at two with 7:09 left. Both teams would have other chances, but for the third straight series, the Hurricanes would go to overtime in Game 2.
That’s when Ehlers put in his second signature moment. The overtime basically started like the Philadelphia Game Four overtime where the Canes established control and Montreal just wasn’t able to get anything going. Then just a little over three minutes in, Jalen Chatfield intercepted an attempt by Kapanen to get into the zone. The puck had just passed the Hurricanes bench when Ehlers hopped on the ice, and Chatfield pushed the puck to center ice. Mark Jankowski completed a nice touch pass to the streaking Ehlers who saw what was happening. He easily beat Dobeš to blow the roof off of Lenovo Center and give the Canes the 3-2 win.
Thanks to Cory Lavalette for pointing out, it was Ehlers’ second ever overtime playoff goal. The first came against Edmonton in the 2021 First Round.
After the game, Ehlers was clearly still trying to soak in what he did and the weight of what had just been accomplished.
The play of the whole Ehlers line was key to the win, as they were paired up with the monster Suzuki line, and held them completely in check. Rod talked about that, as well as the work done by the rest of the team on the off day, and had some thoughts on the lack of a call at the end of the second when I asked him.
That is what I get for trying to be delicate in asking about a spear to the groin.
Carolina will practice at the Lenovo Center on Sunday before heading out to Montreal. Game three of the best of seven will be Monday Night at 8 PM.
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes knew they had to play more to their style to get back into the Eastern Conference Final series against Montreal.
They got that most of Saturday night for Game 2, along with a huge performance from offseason addition Nikolaj Ehlers.
Ehlers got loose up the center of the ice and popped the puck past Jakub Dobes at 3:29 of overtime to lift the Carolina Hurricanes past the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on Saturday night to level the Eastern Conference Final at one game apiece.
Nikolaj Ehlers (27) is mobbed by teammates after scoring the game-winning overtime goal in the Hurricanes’ 3-2 win over the Canadiens in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals in Raleigh, N.C. Getty Images
Ehlers scored twice for the Eastern Conference’s top seed, the first with a highlight-reel individual effort in the second period against two Montreal defenders.
And when the game went to OT, the guy the Hurricanes landed as a sought-after free agent carried them to the finish line.
“He’s a special talent,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said, “and it was on full display tonight.”
The winning sequence started with a retreating Jalen Chatfield bouncing the puck back into the neutral zone to Mark Jankowski. Jankowski had a quick redirection to Ehlers entering the zone at full speed for a clean look at Dobes for the sudden winner.
“We didn’t get a second breath,” said Dobes, who had 23 saves. “It was over pretty quick.”
As the puck hit the net, that sent a tense home crowd into a relieved but jubilant roar — along with a screaming Ehlers.
Nikolaj Ehlers celebrates after scoring the game-winning overtime goal in the Hurricanes’ Game 2 win over the Canadiens. Getty Images
“I can barely talk right now, but I was yelling pretty loudly after that OT winner,” Ehlers said.
“It was a great pass … and then just try to get some speed and get the puck off my stick as quick as possible and try to surprise the goalie,” Ehlers said. “Seeing that go in, seeing how the fans reacted was pretty cool.”
Eric Robinson also scored for Carolina, which improved to 4-0 in overtime in the playoffs — including 3-2 home wins in extra time during Game 2 in all three playoff series so far.
Carolina was facing massive pressure to regroup from Thursday’s 6-2 loss in the series opener that only magnified the team’s long-running troubles in the Eastern Final. Now the series is level as it shifts to Canada for Monday’s Game 3.
Josh Anderson scored twice for the Canadiens, the second coming at the 12:51 mark of the third period to ultimately force the overtime at 2-2.
The Canadiens won Game 1 by jumping on a Carolina team coming off an 11-day break after sweeping through the first two rounds — the longest wait to start a series in more than a century — for four goals in the opening 11 1/2 minutes. Montreal repeatedly got loose for clean breakouts and breakaways for high-danger chances against Frederik Andersen in that one.
But Carolina looked much closer to its earlier playoff form with is aggressive forecheck and defensive pressure, holding Montreal to 12 shots on goal and giving up far fewer of those quick transition chances the Canadiens kept burying in Game 1.
“It’s hard to go 200 feet and produce offense unless you execute a little bit through that pressure,” Montreal coach Martin St. Louis said. “I felt today we weren’t terrible, we just weren’t as good” as Thursday.
RALEIGH, N.C. — Nikolaj Ehlers got loose up the center of the ice and popped the puck past Jakub Dobes at 3:29 of overtime to lift the Carolina Hurricanes past the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on Saturday night to level the Eastern Conference Final at one game apiece.
Ehlers scored twice for the Eastern Conference’s top seed, the first with a highlight-reel individual effort in the second period against two Montreal defenders.
And when the game went to OT, the guy the Hurricanes landed as a sought-after free agent carried them to the finish line.
Eric Robinson also scored for Carolina, while Josh Anderson scored twice for Montreal.
There won't be any more 3-on-3 play. It is 5-on-5 instead, just like in regulation play. There won't be any more shootouts after five minutes of scoreless overtime play. There is sudden death, and it could last a very long time.
Here's what to know about playoff hockey overtime, including the format, longest games and 2026 results.
How does OT work in NHL playoffs?
If the score is tied after three periods, the teams go to the dressing rooms for 15 minutes while the ice is resurfaced. Overtime periods last 20 minutes or until someone scores. It's 5-on-5 play (barring penalties). If no one scores in the first overtime, the process repeats and continues until someone scores. The teams change sides for each overtime period. The first overtime is the long change to get back to the bench.
The NHL Situation Room reviews all goals to make sure they are legally scored, such as the goal that ended Game 4 of the Anaheim-Edmonton series or the overturned goal in Game 4 of the Vegas-Utah series.
May 12:Golden Knights 3, Ducks 2: Pavel Dorofeyev scored the winning goal just over four minutes into the first overtime period to give Vegas a 3-2 series lead over Anaheim.
April 28:Bruins 2, Sabres 1 (OT). David Pastrnak scored at 9:14 of the first overtime to cut the Bruins' series deficit to 3-2.
April 27:Golden Knights 5, Mammoth 4 (OT). Shea Theodore scored at 19:08 of the first overtime to tie the series at two games apiece.
April 26:Ducks 4, Oilers 3 (OT). Ryan Poehling scored 2:29 into the first overtime to give Anaheim a 3-1 series lead.
April 25:Wild 3, Stars 2. Matt Boldy scored at 19:31 of the first overtime as the Wild tie the series 2-2.
April 24:Canadiens 3, Lightning 2. Lane Hutson scored at 2:09 of the first overtime, giving Montreal a 2-1 series lead.
April 22:Stars 4, Wild 3. Wyatt Johnston scored at 12:10 of the second overtime, giving Dallas a 2-1 series lead.
April 21:Avalanche 2, Kings 1: Nicolas Roy scored the winning goal at the 12:16 mark of the first overtime, giving Colorado a 2-0 series lead.
April 21:Lightning 3, Canadiens 2: J.J. Moser scored at 7:12 in the first overtime to tie up the series at a game apiece. It was Moser's first career NHL playoff goal.
April 20:Hurricanes 3, Senators 2: Jordan Martinook scored at 13:53 of the second overtime. He was stopped on a penalty shot in the first overtime.
April 19:Canadiens 4, Lightning 3: Juraj Slafkovsky scored at 1:22 of the first overtime, completing a hat trick.
What are the longest NHL playoff overtime games?
1 - Six overtimes (116 minutes, 30 seconds of overtime) in the 1936 semifinals. March 24, 1935. Detroit 1, Montreal Maroons 0. Mud Bruneteau scored the winner.
2 - Six overtimes (104 minutes, 46 seconds of overtime) in the 1933 semifinals. April 3, 1933. Toronto 1, Boston 0. Ken Doraty scored the winner.
3 - Five overtimes (92 minutes, 1 second of overtime) in the 2000 conference semifinals. May 4, 2000. Philadelphia 2, Pittsburgh 1. Keith Primeau scored the winner.
4 - Five overtimes (90 minutes, 27 seconds of overtime) in the 2020 first round. Aug. 11, 2020. Tampa Bay 3, Columbus 2. Brayden Point scored the winner.
5 - Five overtimes (80 minutes, 48 seconds of overtime) in the 2003 conference semifinals. April 24, 2003. Anaheim 4, Dallas 3. Petr Sykora scored the winner.
6 - Four overtimes (79 minutes, 47 seconds of overtime) in the 2023 conference finals. May 18, 2023. Florida 3, Carolina 2. Matthew Tkachuk scored the winner.
Longest Stanley Cup Final games
Eight Stanley Cup Final games have gone to the third overtime. The Edmonton Oilers were part of the longest game when Petr Klima scored at 15:13 of the third overtime for a 3-2 win against the Boston Bruins in the 1990 Final.
Which players in 2026 postseason have the most playoff overtime goals?
5 - Corey Perry, Lightning
4 - Leon Draisaitl, Oilers (all in 2025 playoffs, an NHL record for one postseason)
3 - Brayden Point, Lightning; Jordan Staal, Hurricanes; Anze Kopitar, Kings; Artemi Panarin, Kings; Matt Duchene, Stars
Meet The Talented Mr. Zetterberg: February 7, 2006 - Volume 59, Issue 20
DETROIT – Henrik Zetterberg knew the big test was coming, so he wasn’t surprised or startled when Darren McCarty took a run at him during his first scrimmage with the Detroit Red Wings.
And he wasn’t particularly alarmed when McCarty ran him again…and again…and again.
The new kid arrived in Hockeytown with a mighty reputation and the reigning Stanley Cup champion Red Wings – McCarty in particular – wanted to test his mettle. The kid, 21 at the time, passed the test. Talk about an initiation into the NHL.
“He’s an unbelievable player,” says Red Wings veteran Brendan Shanahan.
“I remember when he first arrived here for training camp, they weren’t sure how he would handle the physicality of the NHL, so Darren ran him a few times in our pre-season camp. It didn’t change the way he played. I remember Mac saying to me, ‘Not only is this kid tough, he’s pretty solid.’ I think he knocked the wind out of Mac.”
Considered by many to be the best player not in the NHL the season before he joined the Wings, Zetterberg might now be aptly described as the best player in the NHL that nobody knows. A shy, laid-back individual, Zetterberg has quietly become Detroit’s most dominant player. But if you don’t follow the Wings – or better yet, play on a line with him, you probably wouldn’t know him to pass him on the street.
Sitting in a cozy lunch room next to the team’s dressing room, the walls adorned with action shots of Detroit stars from the past, the humble Zetterberg says he was aware he’d be tested by his new teammates when he arrived in 2002.
They wanted to know, did he have the jam to play with the big boys? Or would he wilt when the going got tough?
“In the first couple of red-and-white games, (McCarty) took a few runs at me,” recalls Zetterberg, his Bon Jovi-like locks strategically tussled to make him look more like a rock star than a professional athlete. “I heard before I came over here that it was going to be tough, so I was prepared. I didn’t hit him back or slash him; I just kept playing.
“After camp, (McCarty) came to me and told me he was instructed to hit me. He told me he was impressed with how I handled it.”
At 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, Zetterberg is not an imposing physical specimen. Standing next to him you can’t help but wonder how he survives in the NHL’s trenches. The answer is easy: speed and finesse. When he straps on his skates and takes control of the puck, he’s a force, able to make jaw-dropping moves while flying at full speed.
Zetterberg’s game is based on skill and determination and he simply refuses to be outworked.
“When I first got here, I was amazed at how many times he’d split the defense,” says defenseman Mathieu Schneider. “He takes such quick strides through the neutral zone. He’s a tremendous player. There are no weak parts to his game.”
Adds Steve Yzerman: “He stood out pretty quickly. Not so much for the flashy stuff, but for his allaround play. He is great defensively and he’s a pretty good positional player. Along the boards, he’s really good with the puck.”
Zetterberg took his first strides toward becoming an NHL star when he was two years old. In his hometown of Njurunda, a community of about 100,000 located four hours north of Stockholm, his dad, Goran, strapped a pair of blades to his son’s winter boots and watched as young Henrik negotiated a frozen pond.
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If you're a lover of player prop bets, look no further than Golden Knights star center Jack Eichel in Game 3.
Eichel loves a good homecoming, especially in the playoffs.
Since arriving in Vegas, the all-world forward has registered at least one point in eight of the 10 home playoff games that followed a road contest.
The Golden Knights lead the top-seeded Colorado Avalanche 2-0 after taking Games 1 and 2 of the Western Conference Final in Denver. Games 3 and 4 are in Las Vegas on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively, and Eichel already has three points in the first two games (1 goal, 2 assists).
As part of Vegas' three-goal comeback in the third period of Friday's 3-1 win, Eichel scored the game-tying goal and assisted Ivan Barbashev on the game-winner.
This is Eichel's 10th career playoff series - all with Vegas - and in 54 postseason games, he's got 12 goals and 49 assists.
More specifically, in those 10 home playoff games where the Knights returned from the road, Eichel has 15 points (2 goals, 13 assists), again, registering at least one point in eight of those contests.
Eichel has been instrumental in helping the Knights move two wins away from their third Stanley Cup Final appearance in nine seasons, and six wins from their second championship.
The 29-year-old has 18 points this postseason, with two goals and 16 assists, registering at least one point in 11 of the team's 14 games.
"Phenomenal," Vegas defenseman Noah Hanifin said of Eichel. "I mean, he’s such a good 200-foot player, but man, some of the offensive things he can do with the puck, how smart he is, how patient he is.
"He steps up at big moments. That’s what you need out of your best players."
Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9), right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) and defenseman Kaedan Korczak (6) celebrate a third-period goal against the Colorado Avalanche in game two of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena.
Earlier this week, the Washington Capitals announced that they have signed former San Jose Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren to a two-year contract extension. Liljegren's new contract carries an average annual value of $3.25 million, which is a $250,000 raise from his prior contract.
Liljegren's time in San Jose began when he was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs, who selected him in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft, in exchange for Matt Benning and two draft picks in October 2024.
Across two partial seasons in San Jose, Liljegren appeared in 110 games for the Sharks. During that time, he scored seven goals and registered a total of 28 points while being a -32.
The Sharks then traded Liljegren to the Capitals ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline this spring, receiving a fourth round draft pick in return for the 27-year-old defenseman.
After being traded to Washington, the Kristianstad, Sweden native played in just four games for the Capitals often serving as a spare player in case of injury. Moving forward, he is expected to play a much more important role for the Capitals though. At this time, Liljegren is one of just three NHL-caliber right-handed defensemen under contract with the Capitals for next season, with Matt Roy and Dylan McIlrath being the others.
It’s the fights we had along the way… | Getty Images
It’s Memorial Day weekend in the United States, the impetus for barbecue and such. But the playoffs march on with Carolina-Montreal Game 2 Saturday and Colorado-Vegas Game 3 Sunday…
Islanders News
Tracking Danny Nelson at the Worlds for Team USA. [THN]
In a summer of affiliation shuffles, the Isles ECHL affiliate will now be in Trenton. [Isles]
Officially now, the Islanders announced that their relocated AHL affiliate in Hamilton shall be named the Hammers. [Isles] At this time, a friend shall lose a friend’s hammer…:
Elsewhere
The Avalanche are in an 0-2 hole heading to Vegas, both games missing Cale Makar. [NHL]
The (consecutive) long layoffs are a thing for the Avalanche and Hurricanes. Ex-NHLer Craig Johnson discusses. [NHL]
A dozen years since he and the Canucks parted, Mike Gillis ‘wasn’t the right fit’ for the Leafs, or vice versa. [Sportsnet]
The Knights’ ruthlessness in management may be the new model for the NHL. [Sportsnet]
For the first time this postseason, the Carolina Hurricanes have to find a way to respond.
The Hurricanes suffered their first playoff loss of the season, falling 6-2 to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 on Thursday night.
It's an unfamiliar situation for the 2026 Carolina Hurricanes, who became the first team in the modern era to sweep back-to-back rounds, but it's one that isn't too uncommon for the franchise.
In seven trips to the Eastern Conference Final, the Canes have never won the opening game.
Twice they've responded in Game 2, ultimately winning the series in both instances, but four other times they've proceeded to lose in either four or five.
But the past is the past and the team can't be too bogged down worrying about what's already happened.
Yes, they have to make sure that those glaring mistakes they made in Game 1 don't happen again, but they more so just have to focus on coming out of the gate the right way in Game 2.
"No one likes to lose, so everyone comes back ready to roll for the next game," said captain Jordan Staal. "At this time of year, obviously every game is massive. We know how much more this one is going to be and we're going to have to be ready to roll."
"We know we have a lot more to give," said Taylor Hall. "You don't want to let things slide and so whether we win or lose in Game 2, we have to play our game and to our identity and let that come through for 60 minutes. That's our focus for Game 2 and let the cards fall where they do."
Carolina is where they are for a reason. They're a good team. One with a strong identity, good players and a solid foundation.
It isn't often that they have a game like they did, but it's even rarer for it to happen twice in a row.
In the regular season, Carolina was 22-7-0 coming off of a loss, which was the best rate in the entire NHL.
The #Canes were 22-7-0 (.759 P%) following a loss of any kind during the regular season, the highest points percentage in the NHL in that scenario. pic.twitter.com/jm6BThjo0a
"We've been relentless all year and faced adversity throughout the year and we've always been able to bounce back," said Jalen Chatfield. "We have a lot of good leadership in here. As a man to each other, we know what we're capable of and we're going to play to that standard next game."
While the game's opening 12 minutes were obviously a disaster, the Hurricanes did manage to show a glimpse of their game in the second period.
After they stopped the bleeding and regrouped, the Canes outchanced Montreal 34-13 and had a 17-6 edge in scoring chances.
"It's pretty clear the disparity between the first and second periods there," said Eric Robinson. "That's our game and our room knows that's kind of how we have to start tonight."
That's the kind of game Carolina is going to need to play from the get go if they want to beat the Canadiens and they're confident that they can get to that game.
"The first period wasn't our best, but I thought we played a good second period," said Andrei Svechnikov. "We were dominating them and that's what we're going to do tonight."
It's imperative that the Hurricanes find a way to get back in the win column on Saturday, else it's going to be a really tough series to get back into.
"We're trying to win a hockey game tonight," said Sebastian Aho. "That's the main goal, our only goal, honestly."
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The Western Conference Final is something worth paying attention to for Philadelphia Flyers fans, and it isn't because they have draft positioning on the line from owning another team's draft pick.
Instead, it's that two high-profile former Flyers are succeeding with the Vegas Golden Knights under the brightest of spotlights.
Head coach John Tortorella, who was fired by the Flyers just 14 months ago, jumped from the ESPN studio to Sin City to replace Bruce Cassidy, who was cast aside by the Golden Knights.
A 7-0-0 run under Tortorella earned Vegas a playoff spot, and after knocking down the Utah Mammoth and Anaheim Ducks, the Golden Knights are within two wins of the Stanley Cup Final.
A Western Conference Final matchup with the vaunted, high-octane Colorado Avalanche was thought to be a nightmare, but Tortorella and the Golden Knights have jumped out to a 2-0 series lead against a Cale Makar-less Avalanche team.
Even without Makar, the Avalanche, led by Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas, still pose a massive threat offensively.
Despite that, former Flyers goalie Carter Hart, who was let go by the Flyers when the 2018 Hockey Canada sexual assault case was gearing up in 2024, has been up to the task.
After being found not guilty of sexual assault stemming from that case, and after serving a suspension imposed by the NHL, Hart had a mostly unimpressive return to the ice for Vegas, finishing the regular season with a .891 save percentage despite a strong 11-3-3 record overall.
The playoffs, though? For the ex-Flyers netminder, that's been a different story altogether.
Hart, 27, has won each of his last four playoff starts, stopping 130 of 136 shots, posting a .956 save percentage, and a stellar 1.47 GAA.
Hart was 9-5-0 in the playoffs for the Flyers back in the 2019-20 bubble playoffs, dropping two shutouts to the tune of a 2.23 GAA and .926 save percentage.
With his recent surge, Hart is 10-4-0 for the Golden Knights with a 2.25 GAA and .924 save percentage overall.
Now, Tortorella and Hart are within two wins of reaching the Stanley Cup Final.
Montreal Canadiens’ rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes has a perfect record this season against the Carolina Hurricanes. He beat them three times in the regular season and once again in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final.
In those four games, the Czech netminder has a .923 save percentage and a 2.50 goals-against average. Dobes has been a formidable force for the Canadiens in this postseason. He’s currently first in goals saved above expected with 11,9 and has been particularly impressive on the road, where he now has seven wins.
With Thursday night’s win, Dobes caught up to Steve Penney for most wins by a rookie netminder in one postseason with the Canadiens; both have nine wins. There are only two masked men in Habs history with more wins as a rookie goalie in one postseason: Ken Dryden with 12 and Patrick Roy with 15. Both won the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe trophy.
Thursday’s win was also the 10th playoff win of Dobes’ career, and he became just the 15th rookie netminder in league history to reach the double-digit mark, and the fifth to do it with the Canadiens after Jacques Plante (14), Dryden (14), Penney (15), and Roy (15).
More importantly, with another standout performance against the Hurricanes, the young goaltender could turn up the pressure on veteran goalie Frederik Anderson. The 36-year-old has struggled against the Canadiens this year, and that, coupled with his losing record in the third round, may be starting to weigh heavily on his mind. At this stage of the playoffs, any psychological advantage you can get over your opponent is a big plus.
In the second round, against the Buffalo Sabres, the Canadiens managed to make Lindy Ruff juggle with his goaltenders, which is not great for a team’s confidence. Ruff went from Alex Lyon to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, then back to Lyon, and finally back to UPL. Having some consistency in net is huge for a team’s confidence in the playoffs.
Based on the comments of Buffalo Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen earlier this week, the club is satisfied with their three-headed goaltending monster of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis, but there has been speculation that the Sabres could be looking for an upgrade between the pipes this summer, based on the inconsistent performance of Luukkonen and Lyon in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"They're all real good people, real good teammates, real good pros. I think Lindy touched on it too, that they pushed each other, they supported each other, they challenged each other, they had fun. All of them want to probably play more games, but that's great." Kekalainen said. "It's internal competition, and we'll be better off at some point. We may have to change that, but I think it's worked great so far, and it's been the strength of our team. We had Ellis go in a few times and play incredible games, Lyon and (Luukkonen), they played the most of the games and had good seasons."
The Sabres have less than $13 million in cap space entering the off-season, but do have an organization chock full of young prospects and their 2026 first round pick, which could make pursuing a goalie a realistic possibility.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff gets a two-year contract extension
Jeff Marek of Daily Faceoff speculated this week on an appearance on WGR 550 that it might be the time for the Sabres to take a big swing at a top goalie, such as Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck, but a deal for the Olympic gold medal, Vezina, and Hart Trophy winner would be extremely costly, even if the 33-year-old netminder asked to be moved. Other possibilities could be two-time Cup winner Sergei Bobrovsky, but as an unrestricted free agent, he would require a hefty price tag.
Another name that has been speculated about in connection with clubs in search of goaltending help is Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues. The 32-year-old is entering the final year of his contract at a $6 million cap hit, and based on the exodus that included veterans Brayden Schenn and Justin Faulk prior to the trade deadline and rumors involving the Sabres and Blues regarding defenseman Colton Parayko and Robert Thomas, the club under new St. Louis GM Alex Steen appears to be entering a potential rebuild.
Luukkonen has three more years left on a five-year extension signed in 2024 at $4.75 million per season. The 27-year-old has a five-team no-trade clause that kicks in on July 1 and could be attractive as part of a deal for another goalie or from another club looking for help between the pipes. Lyon ($1.5 million), Ellis ($850,000) and minor leaguer Devon Levi ($812,500) are all under contract through next season.
Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Avery Hayes took a nice step in the right direction with his development this season. The 5-foot-10 forward appeared in his first 16 NHL games with Pittsburgh this season, where he recorded five goals, 12 penalty minutes, and 23 hits. This included him scoring two goals in his final NHL game of the season with Pittsburgh.
Hayes earned his first look on Pittsburgh's roster this season, as he was excellent in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In 42 games with the AHL club this campaign, he recorded 24 goals, 15 assists, 39 points, and a plus-10 rating. With this, he showed clear signs of improvement and has created more excitement about his future because of it.
Due to how well Hayes played this season, it is clear that he is a breakout candidate to watch on the Penguins next season. The Westland, Michigan native has the tools to emerge as a full-time NHL player, and it would not be surprising if he taps into his offensive potential a bit more next season.
If Hayes can break out next season, it would be big for a Penguins club that is looking to continue to trend in the right direction. It will be fascinating to see if he can do just that from here.
'We Can Start The Series Over Now': Nikolaj Ehlers, Jalen Chatfield, Jaccob Slavin, Frederik Andersen, Eric Robinson, Mark Jankowski On Game 2 OT WinNikolaj Ehlers’ overtime heroics powered Carolina to a gritty Game 2 victory. Go inside the locker room as the Hurricanes break down their relentless pursuit and series-tying win.
