The Toronto Maple Leafs surprised a lot of people by taking Game 1 of their second-round series against the defending Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers.

While it wasn't easy in the end, they still got one more goal than their opponent.

The Panthers are rightly known as one of the best teams in the NHL right now, and they have been for several seasons. Florida plays playoff-style hockey, and the additions of Brad Marchand and Seth Jones before the trade deadline made them one to watch yet again.

So what do you do if you're facing one of the most physically intimidating teams in the league? Well, you play to your strengths, not theirs. 

That's what William Nylander did for the Maple Leafs in Game 1, and the result was a two-goal, three-point effort – all in the first period – that gave Toronto enough of a boost to hang on for a 5-4 win, even after star goalie Anthony Stolarz left the game with a suspected concussion.

Nylander's first tally came in the first minute of action, sneaking a shot through Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and initiating a long night for the Panthers netminder.

"It was outstanding," said Toronto defenseman Morgan Rielly. "He was feelin' it, and that obviously helps set the tone. It's nice to get the first one, and you just go from there."

Nylander has been a standout for the Leafs all season, and part of the reason is his confidence with the puck. Not only did he set a career best with 45 goals this season, but that was his third straight campaign with at least 40 tallies. He now has five goals and 12 points through the first seven playoff games, too.

But it's more than just goal-scoring. Nylander excels at carrying the puck up the ice, and contrary to many of his peers, he hangs on to it for offensive zone entries, rather than dumping it in. Because he's so elusive, the result is more offensive zone time and the chance for his teammates to catch up and get set up for scoring chances.

In Game 1, the Panthers looked slow, and whether that was a fluke or a result of their punishing first-round series against Tampa Bay, it certainly played into Nylander's hands. 

Toronto also avoided getting sucked into playing Panthers-style hockey – the Leafs stuck with speed and skill, allowing Florida to take more penalties (though the Leafs' power play didn't cash in). Typically, the only way to win a mud fight is not to participate, and Toronto largely stayed above the fray.

'Elbow To The Head. Clear As Day': Will Sam Bennett Be Suspended For His Hit On Leafs' Anthony Stolarz?We'll find out very soon whether or not the NHL will impose supplemental discipline on Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers.

Now it's Florida that needs to figure out how to beat Toronto in this series, rather than the other way around. Stopping Nylander will be key – but with the way he's played so far this season, it won't be easy.

"First shift for him, a huge goal, and he gets the crowd right into it," said Toronto blueliner Chris Tanev. "It set the tone for how we wanted to play. We have to continue to build on that."

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Although Anthony Stolarz reportedly left Scotiabank Arena on a stretcher and was evaluated in hospital, there's still a chance, according to head coach Craig Berube, that he starts Game 2 for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"I don't know that yet," he said Tuesday morning. "I'll probably find out today at some point. I'm not sure yet."

Stolarz left Game 1 midway through the second period after throwing up at Toronto's bench during a TV timeout. Him being sick came minutes after Sam Bennett's forearm caught the goaltender in the head with his forearm.

There was no penalty on the play. Nor was there supplemental discipline from NHL Player Safety in the aftermath.

"I don't want to talk about it," Berube added. "It's over."

Panthers' Sam Bennett On Collision With Maple Leafs' Anthony Stolarz: 'I'm Just Taking The Puck To The Net'When Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett spoke on Tuesday morning, he considered his collision with Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz a bump.

Earlier in the game, the 31-year-old took a Sam Reinhart shot to the mask, knocking off the helmet straps. Stolarz stopped eight of nine shots before leaving the game at 10:12 of the second period.

Joseph Woll came in for relief, stopping 17 of 20 shots. It was the 26-year-old's first playoff game this season, after Stolarz started all six games of Toronto's first-round series against the Ottawa Senators.

"Well, you've seen him this year, played a lot of good games, a lot of good hockey for us this year," Berube said of Woll.

"Stolie, he was out for, what, two months? I don't know. Can't remember the timeline, but he (Woll) was in there holding the fort for us. We've got a ton of faith in him."

A Tough Situation For Sure’: Joseph Woll Secures Maple Leafs’ First 2025 Stanley Cup Playoff Win After Anthony Stolarz InjuryIt was not how Joseph Woll wanted to make his 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs debut.

Through eight-career playoff games, Woll has four wins and a .924 save percentage in that span. The goaltender played a career-high 42 games this season, winning 27 with a .909 save percentage.

"Yeah, he's a worker. The one thing about Wollsy, he's very dedicated to what he's doing. Off the ice and on the ice, he's one of the most dedicated guys I've been around in that aspect," added Berube.

"He works at his game constantly. He's a great teammate. He does what he needs to be ready to play."

Knies’ Game-Winner Gives Maple Leafs 1-0 Series Lead Over PanthersWith a 5-4 win on Monday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs take a 1-0 series lead over the Florida Panthers.

While it remains unknown if Stolarz will play in Game 2, it appears highly unlikely, given how he departed from Game 1, that he starts for Toronto in the second game of the series.

Hockey can be a wild sport at times, with the collisions and the physical contact, but it's good that Stolarz is in good spirits after everything that occurred on Monday night.

"I like the way that he looked this morning when I got to see him for a smile and at breakfast," Brandon Carlo said, "so that's always a good thing."

---

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The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs have left us with no shortage of storylines. We have barely scratched the surface of round two, and this feels like it could be the best NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs ever!

Okay, we probably say that after every first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Here is a look at three potential investment targets with upside, the longer their respective teams stay in the Stanley Cup hunt. 

Cole Perfetti

Cole Perfetti had a game seven to remember for the Winnipeg Jets vs. the St. Louis Blues in round one of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Perfetti scored his first goal of the game to cut the Blues' lead to one in the second period. An hour later, Perfetti scored one of the most shocking goals in the history of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

In what seemed like a busted play after Nikolaj Ehlers fanned on a shot. Kyle Connor set up Perfetti in the low slot and scored with three seconds remaining to send the game to overtime.

Adam Lowry eventually scored the overtime game winning goal which advanced the Jets to the second round.

Perfetti was placed in the record books by logging the latest game seven, game-tying goal.

Perfetti's Young Guns from Upper Deck 2021-22 Series Two Hockey can be purchased right now on eBay for as low as $5 USD. The 23-year-old had 50 points in the 2024-25 regular season and has five points in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Perfetti offers plenty of upside the longer the Jets remain in the hunt for the Stanley Cup.

Pavel Dorofeyev

Wait? The Vegas Golden Knights actually developed a player from the American Hockey League? Pavel Dorofeyev spent parts of three seasons with the Henderson Silver Knights of the AHL before earning a full-time roster spot with the Vegas Golden Knights for the 2024-25 season.

The No. 79 overall pick of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft had a breakout season in 2024-25 with 35 goals and 52 points. Dorofeyev scored one goal in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and is currently listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.

If bargain hunting is your thing, pick up a couple of Dorofeyev's Young Guns on eBay for as low as $3 delivered. Dorofeyev is a potential 40-goal scorer in the NHL and could make a major splash once he returns to action.

And everyone says the Golden Knights trade all of their prospects away...

Anton Lundell

Anton Lundell is a 23-year-old with 295 career games and 60 (and counting) NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Games. That is a ton of NHL experience for a 23-year-old.

Lundell is a Stanley Cup champion that can be relied upon for around 40 points-per-season. The No. 12 overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft has 34 points in 60 career NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs games.

Lundell is another prime bargain find as his Young Guns can be purchased for around $3 delivered on eBay. The Florida Panthers are stacked and set to be a Stanley Cup contender for years to come, Lundell has his role carved out with the team.

If you prefer to crack open some packs, just buy yourself a box of Upper Deck 2021-22 Series Two Hockey. All of the Young Guns from this article can be found in those boxes for under $50 from various retail outlets. 

Happy hunting and collecting!

Much of the attention surrounding Game 1 between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs has not been about the results.

Toronto won 5-4, in case you forgot.

No, the spotlight has been on Panthers center Sam Bennett and Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz.

During the second period of Monday’s game, Bennett skated into the crease with the puck and caught Stolarz in the head with his forearm.

Stolarz immediately went down and the officials blew the play dead. He remained on the ice for about two minutes of game time – around nine minutes in real time – before skating over to Toronto’s bench and throwing up.

He was immediately removed from the game and replaced by backup Joseph Woll.

Stolarz, who also took a shot from Sam Reinhart directly to the head that caused his mask to pop off during the first period, was then taken to a local area hospital for treatment and further evaluation, and he’s already reportedly been released.

Speaking on Tuesday, Leafs Head Coach Craig Berube did not rule out Stolarz for Game 2.

Craig Berube wouldn’t rule out Anthony Stolarz starting in Game 2: “Yeah I don’t know that yet … I’ll probably find out (later) today.”

— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) May 6, 2025

After the game, Berube was not shy about expressing his feelings on the play, saying that the “elbow to the head” was as “clear as day.”

Bennett was not penalized on the play and won’t be disciplined by the NHL Department of Player Safety.

He did not speak to the media after the game, but did on Tuesday morning.

Bennett said he considers Stolarz “a good friend of mine” – the two won the Stanley Cup with Florida last season – and said he reached out to him and that Stolarz responded.

As for the hit itself, Bennett said he had no intent to hurt Stolarz.

“You never want to see an injury like that,” said Bennett. “From my point of view, I’m just taking the puck to the net. I didn’t even know we made contact until after. I’m on the power play, I’m trying to score and I’m taking the puck to the net. That’s really all there was to it.”

Bennett is no stranger to controversial hits during the playoffs.

There was a hit on Toronto’s Matthew Knies during their second-round matchup in 2023, and last season Bennett caught then-Bruins forward, now teammate Brad Marchand with a hit to the head.

Both caused injuries, and both times Bennett was not disciplined by the league.

Bennett was asked how he manages when the outside perception of him can be a result of those divisive plays.

“That’s part of the game," he said. "I play a hard style of hockey. I think people get upset by things and worked up, but I try to just tune that out. I’m just trying to play my game, I’m just trying to help our team win and I just try and push all that noise away.”

Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice also spoke on Tuesday morning and had a similar opinion as Bennett and, apparently, the NHL.

“If I thought that Sam (Bennett) had crossed the line or an edge, I’d probably be more careful with my words,” Maurice said. “I just didn't think it happened.”

We’ll see if the Leafs players feel the same way when Florida and Toronto take the ice for Game 2 on Wednesday night.

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Panthers Sign Promising Prospect To Entry-Level Deal

Panthers Red-Hot Forward Is Hitting New Level This Playoffs

Report: Stolarz hospitalized, Leafs' coach feels Bennett 'elbow to the head' was 'clear as day'

Comeback effort falls short as Panthers struggle early in Game 1 loss to Toronto

Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk Has Big Praise For Brad Marchand

The New York Islanders earned the right to select Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer, the popular front-runner to go No. 1 in the draft when they won the NHL draft lottery Monday night.

Over the past 20 years, it has been standard procedure for the No. 1 overall pick to be in the NHL the following season. Not since Erik Johnson to the St. Louis Blues in 2006 has a player been taken with the first overall pick and not at least spent part of the season in the NHL.

But Schaefer, you may recall, was limited to just 17 games last season in the OHL. He sat out the beginning of the year with mononucleosis and saw his season end when he broke his collarbone in the second game of the World Junior Championship.

Would the Islanders, and whomever their new GM ends up being, consider sending Schaefer back to junior hockey to have the season he should have had in 2024-25?

Michael Misa, meanwhile, might actually be more ready for the NHL, since he has played three years of junior hockey, won a Memorial Cup and led all of junior hockey last season in goals (62) and points (134).

That's not to say Misa will ultimately be the better player than Schaefer, but he might be more ready right now to step in.

Check out today's video column for more, and share your thoughts.

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It's a rematch from the 2022-23 second round, but the series will be far different from the last time the Vegas Golden Knights and the Edmonton Oilers met. 

The Oilers had made the Western Conference Finals the season before but were beaten handily by the Colorado Avalanche. Their roster at the time wasn't strong enough, but due to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl's brilliance, they could defeat lesser teams. 

When they met the Golden Knights in the playoffs, the Golden Knights' solidified blue line and depth outmatched the Oilers. Although the Golden Knights still hold that advantage this time around, the Oilers have the experience of being a win away from the Stanley Cup. Their depth guys understand their role and can execute it.

“There’s always going to be some sparks when you play that team, and we’ll see when they happen,” said Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy. “So I expect that. I expect some physicality and some level of animosity amongst the two teams, and we’ll see where it goes.”

When the teams first met in the playoffs, suspensions were handed out to both teams, and the physicality was ramped up, playing into the hands of the Golden Knights. It was the start of a rivalry that has continued in each matchup. 

Getting off to a fast start on home ice is imperative, but at no time can the Golden Knights take their foot off the gas. The Los Angeles Kings took a 2-0 series lead but dropped four consecutive games to the Oilers.

Both teams are relatively healthy. Mattias Ekholm has been declared out for the entire second round, which is a major loss for the Oilers. The Golden Knights will be without Pavel Dorofeyev tonight, as his day-to-day status continues. He hasn't skated since suffering an injury in the third period of Game 5. 

Ivan Barbashev had missed a practice on May. 3 with what was deemed maintenance, and will be in the lineup tonight. 

Karlsson-Eichel-Stone
Saad-Hertl-Kolesar
Barbashev-Roy-Smith
Pearson-Howden-Olofsson

Hague-Pietrangelo
McNabb-Theodore
Hanifin-Whitecloud

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.

Golden Knights, Oilers Open Second Round On Tuesday In VegasThe Golden Knights will open their second-round series with the Edmonton Oilers at home on Tuesday at 6:30 pm (pacific).

The Florida Panthers have made a move, signing defenseman Ludvig Jansson to a three-year, entry-level contract. His new deal will kick in during the 2025-26 campaign.

Jansson, 21, was selected by the Panthers with the 125th overall pick of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Since then, the 6-foot blueliner has been working on his development overseas in Sweden. However, after signing this entry-level contract, he is able to begin his professional career in North America next season.

Jansson appeared in 50 games this season with Lulea HF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), where he had one goal, four points, and a minus-2 rating. He also recorded two assists in 17 playoff games for the SHL squad, where they took home the Le Mat Trophy.

Jansson will likely need to spend some time with the Panthers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, before making the jump to the NHL level. However, the right-shot defenseman has good upside, and it will be fascinating to see how much of an impact he can make with the Panthers later down the road from here.

Recent Panthers News 

Panthers Red-Hot Forward Is Hitting New Level This PlayoffsThe Florida Panthers lost their Game 1 matchup to the Toronto Maple Leafs by a 5-4 final score. The Panthers made a push in the third period by scoring three goals, but they could not complete the comeback. Report: Stolarz hospitalized, Leafs' coach feels Bennett 'elbow to the head' was 'clear as day'As is often the case when it comes to Florida Panthers and playoff games, much of the talk after Monday’s Game 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs was about a controversial hit. Comeback effort falls short as Panthers struggle early in Game 1 loss to TorontoThe Florida Panthers will have to come from behind if they’re going to advance past the Toronto Maple Leafs. Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk Has Big Praise For Brad MarchandThe Florida Panthers made a major move at the 2025 NHL trade deadline, acquiring star forward Brad Marchand from the Boston Bruins. With this move, the Panthers added another top-six forward to their group. 

The Florida Panthers lost their Game 1 matchup to the Toronto Maple Leafs by a 5-4 final score. The Panthers made a push in the third period by scoring three goals, but they could not complete the comeback.

Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen kicked off Florida's third-period rally attempt, as he scored just 1:39 into the period. It was a nice goal, too, as he deflected a Anton Lundell feed past Maple Leafs goalie Joseph Woll to cut Toronto's lead to 4-2. 

With this goal, Luostarinen extended his point streak to three games. The 26-year-old forward has been excellent during this streak, posting two goals, six points, and a plus-7 rating over that span. This includes scoring a goal and recording four points in the Panthers' series-clinching win against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5 of the last round. 

With numbers like this, Luostarinen is undoubtedly hitting a new level offensively right now for the Panthers. While the 2017 second-round pick is more known for his strong defensive play and physicality, he has been a difference-maker offensively for the Panthers this post-season so far.

If the Panthers hope to get by the Maple Leafs and go on another long playoff run, they will need players like Luostarinen to continue to thrive for them. It will be interesting to see how he builds on his impressive play from here. 

Recent Panthers News 

Report: Stolarz hospitalized, Leafs' coach feels Bennett 'elbow to the head' was 'clear as day'As is often the case when it comes to Florida Panthers and playoff games, much of the talk after Monday’s Game 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs was about a controversial hit. Comeback effort falls short as Panthers struggle early in Game 1 loss to TorontoThe Florida Panthers will have to come from behind if they’re going to advance past the Toronto Maple Leafs. Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk Has Big Praise For Brad MarchandThe Florida Panthers made a major move at the 2025 NHL trade deadline, acquiring star forward Brad Marchand from the Boston Bruins. With this move, the Panthers added another top-six forward to their group. 

The New Jersey Devils' failure to make a significant addition at the NHL’s March trade deadline contributed to their first-round playoff exit.

However, it wasn't due to a lack of effort by GM Tom Fitzgerald.

According to RG.Org's Jim Biringer, Fitzgerald was interested in Ryan O'Reilly of the Nashville Predators. The 34-year-old two-way center lacks a no-trade clause, but the Predators treated him like he had one. 

O'Reilly preferred to stay in Nashville, prompting the Predators to set a very high asking price. Biringer claimed they wanted three young assets in return, but Fitzgerald didn't want to pay a premium to get him. 

Biringer also cited a source suggesting the Devils could move defenseman Simon Nemec or right winger Dawson Mercer this summer for a return that upgrades the roster. 

Maybe Nemec and Mercer could be used in a bigger deal to acquire a superstar defenseman. Larry Brooks of the New York Post included Nemec and Mercer in his proposed trade package for Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes. 

Brooks observed Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford's recent remarks indicating that Hughes may want to play one day with his brothers, Jack and Luke, who both skate for the Devils. 

The Post pundit believes it's only a matter of time until the Hughes brothers are reunited, and it won't happen with the Canucks, pointing out that Quinn's contract expires in 2027. He thinks it's in the best interest of both teams to make this deal happen sooner rather than later.  

Brooks isn't basing his proposal on any inside info from the Canucks or Devils. There's nothing in the grapevine suggesting the two clubs are discussing a reunion of the Hughes brothers, and Rutherford has indicated the Canucks will do everything they can to keep Hughes in Vancouver. Rutherford also suggested on the 100% Hockey with Millard & Shannon podcast last Friday that Hughes hasn’t told him he wants to play with his brothers, but it’s “been out there” and “people assume that.”

Nevertheless, this likely won't be the last time Quinn Hughes is linked to the Devils in the NHL rumor mill.

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Matthew Knies is only 22 years old, but he's not playing like it on the NHL’s biggest stage in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

After the Florida Panthers had clawed back from a 4-1 deficit with two quick goals early in the third period, cutting the lead to one in Game 1 of the second round against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the club needed someone to step up. With six minutes to go, Knies was the player who gave the Leafs some breathing room with an insurance goal – his fourth of the postseason – which proved to be the game-winner. 

Linemate Mitch Marner won a puck battle along the wall in the Leafs’ end, poking the puck free to Knies. From there, the 6-foot-3, 227-pound forward was off to the races on a breakaway against Sergei Bobrovsky.

Knies sold the forehand, flipped the puck to his backhand, and lifted it over the glove, restoring the Leafs' two-goal cushion and eventually sealing a 5-4 victory with his second breakaway goal of the playoffs.

“I just saw that I could spring myself past their D, and Mitchie made a great play on the wall there to get it to me. I just wanted to beat him high on the glove side,” said Knies post-game.

MATTHEW KNIES, THAT WAS SICK 🥵 #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: @espn ➡️ https://t.co/m0LyTCHYnH
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctFpic.twitter.com/zlijq6S32y

— NHL (@NHL) May 6, 2025

Knies now has four goals on six breakaway opportunities this season (regular season and playoffs combined), according to Sportsnet Stats. The goal was similar to the one he scored on April 2nd – also with Bobrovsky in the crease – where Marner fed him on a stretch pass, and Knies again beat the veteran netminder, again going forehand-backhand, but that time along the ice for another game-winner.

"I think we did a lot of video, and I thought that I got him earlier in the regular season. I just wanted to elevate that one. It worked out for me," Knies explained.

But it’s not just the ability to finish that’s catching the attention of fans, teammates, and coaches. It’s how Knies is seamlessly making these plays in high-pressure moments and how much he’s grown in just his second full NHL season. Given his size and playstyle as a power forward, the Phoenix, AZ., native has elite hands in-tight – an underrated aspect of his game.

“Somebody asked me, what are you most impressed by with Knies?” said head coach Craig Berube. “He's got great hands in tight. And I didn't know this coming in here. You see the power in his skating and the physicality and that sort of stuff, but the hands are really good in tight. And that was a great example of it tonight with the goal we scored.”

The forward has quickly become one of Toronto’s most reliable forwards this postseason, not just with goals, but with execution, physical play, and a mature approach for his age. 

He continues to impress.

Knies’ Game-Winner Gives Maple Leafs 1-0 Series Lead Over PanthersWith a 5-4 win on Monday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs take a 1-0 series lead over the Florida Panthers.

Through seven playoff games, he has five points (4G, 1A), including a secondary assist on Chris Tanev’s goal in the second period to go along with his own tally in a strong Game 1 performance.

“He's a tremendous player. He's a pit bull out there with some nice hands,” Tanev said of Knies. “When he seems to get half a step on guys, it's tough for anyone to catch him. So, I guess he's done a bit of everything for us at a very high level of play. It's been huge for us.”

Goaltender Joseph Woll, who’s built a close relationship with Knies, has witnessed the evolution of the up-and-coming forward firsthand.

“He's a special player, man. He's a horse,” said Woll after Monday’s win. “You guys see him on the forecheck. He's got a lot of skill, and he shows it. He's pretty special. I think he's got a lot of maturity. He shows that. I think he's pretty unfazed by all of that. He just goes out and does his job. He doesn't try to be someone that he's not. He plays to his strength as much as he can.”

Knies had a career year offensively, posting highs in goals (29), assists (29), and points (58) in 78 regular-season games, taking a step from his freshman campaign with the organization. He found a rhythm on Toronto’s top line and increasingly showed flashes of the high-ceiling power forward the Leafs envisioned when they drafted him in the second round back in 2021.

As the season progressed, his confidence with the puck grew, and so did his impact.

“I think he's letting his skill come out more, and you guys are seeing that. Obviously, he's had a great year,” added Woll. “He puts the puck in the net and makes plays and is a menace on the forecheck.”

If his trajectory is any indication, he may only be scratching the surface of what’s to come, especially the possibilities in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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

The hire of Mike Sullivan as the latest Blueshirt coach has inspired all kinds of speculation in Rangerville.

And since The Maven believes in fair reporting, all sides of the story, I chose to get an X-Ray on Sullivan from a Pittsburgh reporter who has covered Sully throughout his tenure with the Penguins.

How To Help Mike Sullivan Fix The BlueshirtsThe Rangers need help and that’s why The Maven is here to aid and abet Mike Sullivan at no cost to Jim Dolan or Chris Drury for that matter.

Vince Comunale is as fair-minded as they come so keep that in mind as you read his analysis. (Hint: By the end of this you'll be smiling.) Here's a complete analysis from Sullivan in Pittsburgh and how he'll do in New York:

"Mike Sullivan coached parts of 10 seasons with the Penguins, amassing a 409-255-89 record, good for a winning percentage of .537. While a .537 winning percentage might not seem all that bad, consider that he had an average winning percentage of .642 in his first seven seasons in Pittsburgh. 

"However, the team's record was a paltry 112-99-35 the past three seasons with winning percentages of .555, .537, and .488, respectively, falling short of the playoffs in all three seasons. 

'Did Sullivan forget how to coach? No, but he did show a bit of reluctance to insert younger players into the lineup to support the aging core of Penguins superstars. 

"Up until late this past season it was often the case that young players would be called up from the AHL, but then either healthy scratched or placed on the fourth line in a limited role.'

It seems he had forgotten that young players like Bryan Rust, Jake Guentzel, and Conor Sheary had given the Penguins the boost they needed back in 2016 and 2017 to push them to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.

"Additionally, after parts of ten seasons with Pittsburgh, it seemed as though Sullivan's message had gotten stale. Let's face it, players like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson are more-than-likely just out there doing their own thing and not taking much coaching guidance. 

"That core four are, of course, mostly free from coaching criticism and reprimand, which also makes it difficult for a head coach. 

"There were numerous times the past two seasons where Karlsson should have been benched for his actions, but no coach is going to bench a three-time Norris Trophy winner.

"By the close of this past season it became clear that the Penguins were in full blown rebuild mode and that Sullivan was likely not the head coach to see the team through a rebuild. Not that Sullivan is not capable of guiding a team through a rebuild, but he is a veteran head coach that is one of the most in-demand coaches in the NHL, so the mutual parting of ways did not come as a surprise. 

"It also did not come as a surprise that Sullivan landed a new head coaching job about a week after his tenure in PIttsburgh came to an end. 

"While Sullivan is inheriting a bit of a complex situation with the Rangers, he is the right person for the job. He is used to coaching superstars and used to coaching big personalities."

"Additionally, he is used to coaching teams with immense talent. The situation he is inheriting with the Rangers is very similar to the one he inherited in Pittsburgh during the 2015-16 season. 

"The Penguins were loaded with talent and a preseason Stanley Cup favorite, but found themselves well out of a playoff spot when they made a coaching change in December of 2015. 

"Similarly, the Rangers are one season removed from winning the Presidents' Trophy and many of the players that contributed to that Presidents' Trophy-winning season are still on the roster. 

"Sullivan will get to the root of what was/is causing the discord in the Rangers' locker room and fix it. He might not guide the Rangers to a Stanley Cup Championship in his first season as he did with Pittsburgh, but it is a safe bet he will have them back in the playoffs. 

'The Penguins and Rangers franchises are in two very different situations, but it is clear that it was the right time for the Penguins and Sullivan to part ways and the right time for the Rangers to hire him!"

The NHL announced the three nominees for the Calder Trophy on Monday, and there were no surprises. Former first-round pick and San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, Calgary Flames netminder Dustin Wolf, and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson are the three players in contention.

Canadiens: The Brass’ Final Word On The Season
Canadiens' Farm Team Drops Game Three
Canadiens: Mike Matheson on Staying Grounded and The World Championship

Hutson’s nomination is probably the least surprising of the three since the 21-year-old blueliner has had what can only be described as a historic season. With 66 points, Hutson has produced the 4th highest total ever by a rookie defenseman in the NHL (behind Larry Murphy (76), Brian Leetch (71), and Gary Suter (68)). His 60 assists tied the NHL record set by Murphy in 1980-81. The Habs’ rearguard led the rookie race from start to finish, with Celibrini coming in second with 63 points and Philadelphia Flyers Matvei Michkov third with 63 points, but in more games than the Sharks’ forward.

The youngster was also seventh in points amongst all NHL defensemen this season, second in assists, and fourth amongst all players when it came to stealing pucks from opponents with 56; only Jacob Slavin, Cale Makar, and Mitch Marner had more steals. The diminutive defenseman dished out 40 hits on the season. While that’s not a lot, it’s better than Shea Theodore, who had six, Cam Fowler, who had eight, and Quinn Hughes, who only landed 13.

His 66 points also made him the most productive rookie defenseman in Canadiens’ history, overtaking Chris Chelios, who had set the mark with 64 in 1984-85. He was also third in scoring on the Canadiens this season behind Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. Hutson was about more than points though, his creativity and spectacular play made him an instant fan favourite. 

The last time a defenseman won the Calder Trophy was in 2021-22 when Detroit Red Wings’ Moritz Seider put up 50 points. Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar also won it with the same amount of points in 2019-20, but it was in 57 games only. When Aaron Ekblad grabbed it in 2014-15, he had 39 points in 81 games, but he was a much more defensive kind of blueliner.

Lane Hutson 2024-2025 HighlightsAll 66 points of Lane Hutson in his rookie season 2024-2025 and scoring chances and skillful plays #lanehutson #hutson #habs #nhl #hockey #montreal #canadiens

It’s been a long time since a netminder has won the award. Steve Mason did it last in 2008-09. That year, he won 33 games and had a 2.29 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage. In comparison, Wolf had a 29-16-8 record with a 2.64 GAA and a .910 SP. While he did have an impressive season, his chances would have been much better had he been able to guide the Flames to the playoffs.

The winner will be announced in June at a date yet to be revealed by the NHL, which makes sense since it’s too early to know when the playoffs will end.

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Vegas Golden Knights face defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers in rematch of their 2023 playoff series

Get ready for a rematch that might be even nastier the second time around. The Oilers and Golden Knights clash again after a six-game slugfest back in 2023 that saw Vegas eliminate Edmonton en route to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. This time, both sides look loaded for another run, with superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl trying to write a different ending.

The Golden Knights haven’t missed a beat as they are once again a powerhouse contender after finishing a top the Central division. Vegas forward Jack Eichel has elevated his game, captain Mark Stone is back healthy, and their blue line remains among the league’s most lethal. 

Edmonton, meanwhile, just dismantled Los Angeles in six after winning four straight games and boasts the NHL’s second-best power play — a weapon that took them to the Stanley Cup final last June. These teams don’t like each other, and the stakes are even higher now. Don’t be surprised if this one goes the distance — and gets ugly along the way.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

More NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Florida Panthers Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Future Options

Brandon Saad 2+ Series Goals (+155)

The Blues bought out the 32-year-old veteran forward as he wanted to go to a contender. Saad has been known as a playoff performer throughout his career with 27 goals and 30 assists for 57 points in 109 postseason games. He reached the mountain top in 2015 when he won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks and would like to add another to his trophy case. 

Saad is still a decent source of points for an older player as he finished the season with 14 points through 29 games since joining Vegas. The Pittsburgh native will get more meaningful minutes on the Golden Knights second line and should produce offence at some point while playing with an elite player in Tomas Hertl as his centre. 

He has yet to score this postseason and rides a six-game goal drought that is bound to end. We can count on at least one goal as the sportsbooks have Saad at -300 odds to get one goal, which means we'd only need one more to cash this bet. The Oilers allowed 24 goals through the first round and Saad should take advantage. 

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Mark Stone - Series Leading Scorer (+1100)

Edmonton's Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are the clear two favourites for this bet but we again look to exploit a bleeding defence like the Oilers. Vegas is without their top scorer in Pavel Dorofeyev and will need someone else to step up like their top playoff performer over the last seven postseasons in captain Mark Stone. 

With 34 goals and 34 assists for 68 points over his last 81 games, Stone is top 11 in postseason scoring and has yet to pop off for a big series with four points in the first round.

I think we can expect an over point-per-game series out of Stone and should put him in the conversation for the points leader of this series. He will continue playing on a line with Jack Eichel, who finished with the sixth-most assists in the NHL this season at 66 and recorded four more in the first round. 

*IF HEALTHY* Pavel Dorofeyev 2+ Series Goals (-105) 

The Golden Knights leading scorer this season was a breakout star in Dorofeyev. The 24-year-old Russian star has emerged as a top-end talent, netting 35 goals along with 17 assists for 52 points in a full-82 game season. Dorofeyev continued his success with a goal in the first round versus a strong defensive team in Minnesota before being sidelined with an undisclosed injury and missing game six. 

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It's a bit of a risk since the extent of the injury is still unknown, but if he's able to return for Game one, this bet looks solid. He'll have plenty of scoring opportunities playing on the second line alongside Hertl and Saad, and he'll also see time on the top power play unit with Eichel. As mentioned before, the Oilers defence is bleeding with no clear starter and the Golden Knights top scorer will more than likely take advantage.

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Edmonton Oilers vs. Vegas Golden Knights – Series Schedule:

• Game 1: Tuesday, May 6 – Edmonton at Vegas

• Game 2: Thursday, May 8 – Edmonton at Vegas

• Game 3: Saturday, May 10 – Vegas at Edmonton

• Game 4: Monday, May 12 – Vegas at Edmonton

• Game 5: Wednesday, May 14 – Edmonton at Vegas

• Game 6: Friday, May 16 – Vegas at Edmonton

• Game 7: Sunday, May 18 – Edmonton at Vegas

As is often the case when it comes to Florida Panthers and playoff games, much of the talk after Monday’s Game 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs was about a controversial hit.

Sometimes, it’s the Panthers player who gets hit.

This time, it was Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz leaving the game about ten minutes about taking a Sam Bennett forearm to the head.

The hit itself came as Bennett drove to the net with the puck, as his body moved into the goal crease and came into contact with Stolarz’s head.

While Bennett doesn’t appear to extend his arm or use any additional force, his momentum was enough to cause Stolarz to go down, clearly impacted by the hit.

Officials immediately whistled play dead, but no penalty was called on the play, and Stolarz remained in the game for about two minutes of game time.

Stolarz was pulled after this collision with Bennett https://t.co/Xns4P1VzVdpic.twitter.com/CxWuBJlFW6

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 6, 2025

At the next timeout, Stolarz skated over to the Leafs bench and threw up into it. After that, Joseph Woll came into the game.

It has since been reported by TSN’s Chris Johnson that Stolarz was taken out of Scotiabank Arena on a stretcher and to a local area hospital for further evaluation.

Speaking after the game, Toronto Head Coach Craig Berube made it clear how he felt about the play.

“Elbow to the head,” Berube said. “Clear as day.”

Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice was also asked about the hit.

“The referee was standing right there when it happened,” Maurice said. “You will do your thing, the league will do its thing, and I’ll coach the next game, hopefully.”

One thing that is worth noting is that Stolarz took a shot directly to the head during the first period, one that traveled with enough force to pop both lower straps off his helmet.

Shot where Stolarz mask got knocked off #TimeToHuntpic.twitter.com/RYuI05DPRt

— Florida Panthers Den (@FlaPanthersDen) May 6, 2025

The NHL Department of Player Safety looks at every play that could potentially lead to further discipline, so it’s safe to say that they’ll be taking a close look at this one.

We should find out in relatively short order if they feel this play warrants any further action.

While each head coach clearly had a different opinion on what happened, one thing that both could agree on is that they hope Stolarz turns out to be fine and is back on the ice in short order.

“We’re hopeful for Anthony and his health,” said Maurice. “We love that guy, and we hope he gets better real fast.”

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