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For the New York Rangers, it was Mike Sullivan or bust in terms of their head coaching search. 

It was speculated that the Rangers could possibly take multiple weeks before naming a new head coach, but the second Mike Sullivan became available earlier this week, Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury pounced on the opportunity. 

It was no secret among other tea’s around the NHL that the Rangers were heavily pursuing Sullivan. 

Rangers Officially Hire Mike Sullivan To Be Head Coach, Bringing ‘Championship-Level Presence’Mike Sullivan will officially become the New York Rangers’ 38th head coach. 

“Chris Drury is known for being pretty secretive, he keeps his cards close to the chest,” Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today said. “He’s known around the league for not really revealing what he’s thinking, but it was well known around the league that Mike Sullivan was at the very top of his coaching wish list, not just this year, but in previous years as well.”

Drury showed how much he believes in Sullivan by reportedly giving him the highest annual salary for a coach in NHL history according to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan. 

There was a sense that if the Rangers weren’t able to land Sullivan that their coaching search would take a turn for the worst. 

“I think the Rangers would have considered it a failure and it would have been looked upon industry-wide as a failure if the Rangers hadn't convinced [Sullivan] to be their next head coach,” Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said.

There’s nothing to worry about now as the Rangers got their guy in hopes that he can help turn around the franchise.

Two years ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs walked into a second-round series against the Florida Panthers riding high from their first playoff series win since 2004. It was a long-awaited breakthrough for the franchise and the ‘Core Four,’ finally getting over the hump after years of early playoff exits. But the success was short-lived.

The Panthers made quick work of Toronto in that 2023 series, jumping out to a 3-0 lead and closing it out in five games. The Leafs had home-ice advantage then, as they do again this year, but couldn’t capitalize, dropping the first two games at Scotiabank Arena before eventually bowing out in overtime of Game 5.

Now, the two teams are set to meet again in the second round, this time in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Game 1 goes on Monday night in Toronto, and while the opponent is familiar, with certain similarities, the Leafs insist there are differences.

“I think it's always different,” said defenseman Morgan Rielly following Saturday’s optional skate. “They have different people over there. We have different people in here. So I think the playoff mindset in general remains the same, but I think there are differences with both teams and with structure and systems and whatnot. But the focus here over the next few days is going to be on us and doing what we need to do to get ready to play.”

The Leafs earned their spot in the second round after six games against the Ottawa Senators, closing out the series on Thursday. Compared to the emotional high of beating the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2023 – their first series win in nearly two decades – this year’s result came with more composure and a business-first attitude. 

“I think it's a bit different but equally as important,” Rielly said. “If you look at that series, look at this past series. On paper, there's no difference. You're doing what you came to do, and you move on. But inside of that, there's always going to be little differences. But I think for a group, we're happy with our result. But we're going to focus on what's to come and try to get ready for that.”

Maple Leafs Dismiss Tkachuk’s Intel Moves Ahead of Panthers ShowdownFlorida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk will study extensively before the second-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and part of that session includes getting intel from his brother, Brady, who just played Toronto in the first round.

One of those differences is the experience of having been through that Florida series for the first time. While it ended abruptly, the group looks to apply what they learned, especially about falling behind early in the series.

“Well, we lost the first two or first three, but the first two at home. So we'll look to improve on that,” Rielly explained. “But certainly we're going to look at everything. We're not going to leave any stone unturned. If you look at that series, going down early is not what you want, and so obviously we'll look to improve on that.”

That series in 2023 was also the beginning of Florida’s run to the Stanley Cup Final, where they eventually lost to the Vegas Golden Knights. A year later, the Panthers finished the job, defeating the Edmonton Oilers in seven games to capture their first championship in franchise history. Over the past two seasons, no team in the NHL has played more playoff games than Florida.

As the 31-year-old points out, the Leafs are equipped with three former Panthers in Anthony Stolarz, Steven Lorentz, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson – all of whom won the Stanley Cup with Florida last season. They all offer some insight into the Florida system ahead of the rematch. 

“I think that could help us for sure,” Rielly said. “Obviously, there's differences in both teams in every team year after year, but we'll take any advantage we can get to those guys playing over there,” Rielly explained. “It might offer some insight, but it's important that we take these next couple of days get focused and get dialed in on structure and just get ready to play.”

Maple Leafs Tap Ex-Panthers to Gain Mental Edge in Stanley Cup Round 2The Toronto Maple Leafs will leverage the experience of former Stanley Cup champions Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Steven Lorentz, and Anthony Stolarz when the club opens their second-round playoff series against the Florida Panthers on Monday.

In the regular season, Toronto went 1-3-0 against Florida. With another crack at the Panthers, it’s another opportunity to take the next step. This time, Toronto hopes the story ends differently.

Rielly finished with two goals, one assist, and three points against the Senators in the opening round.

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Right winger Matt Coronato signed a seven-year extension with the Calgary Flames, the team announced on Saturday. 

Coronato will earn $6.5 million annually through the 2031-32 campaign on this next deal and has a 10-team no-trade clause in the final two years of the contract, according to PuckPedia.

This contract takes the 22-year-old through the beginning of his prime years as the Flames look to their youngsters to propel the team forward.

"Matt wants to be here long-term, and that says a lot about him and where this is kind of going, moving forward," Flames GM Craig Conroy said in a statement. 

Coronato had a breakout season with the Flames in the final year of his entry-level contract, scoring 24 goals and 47 points in 77 games. Only Flames veterans Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau had more points than him on the team. 

Coronato also ended the season on a high note with a seven-game point streak where he scored four goals and four assists for eight points.

Coronato was a crucial piece to Calgary’s late-season push to make the Stanley Cup playoffs, but the team missed out by a tie-breaker scenario that favored the St. Louis Blues.

This was his first full season in the NHL, as he made 34 appearances last season. 

He spent most of that campaign with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers, where he had an impressive 42 points in 41 games, along with a solid playoff campaign with six points in as many games.

Although the Flames missed out on post-season this time, having Coronato signed until he’s 29 years old is just one step to having the younger players take charge and drive the team back into the playoffs in the long term.

Along with Coronato, Flames rookie goaltender Dustin Wolf led the way for Calgary and its young core. In 53 games, the Flames' netminder had a 29-16-8 record, a 2.64 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage.

As part of Calgary’s young group of players, Zayne Parekh made his NHL debut in the final outing of the regular season. The ninth pick in the 2024 draft doesn’t require a new contract until the 2027-28 campaign, but he has the upside to join the young Flames’ core in the future.

Parekh scored in his debut against the Los Angeles Kings, clocking 20:31 of ice time and a plus-three rating. The 19-year-old came off a 107-point campaign with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit, recording 33 goals and 74 assists in 61 games. He was the second defenseman in OHL/OHA history to score 30 goals in multiple seasons. Bobby Orr was the other D-man to accomplish that from 1964 to 1966.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Calgary Flames Could Face Another Busy SummerLast summer, the Calgary Flames were sellers, shipping out goaltender Jacob Markstrom and left winger Andrew Mangiapane after missing the playoffs. 

Left winger Joel Farabee and center Morgan Frost will also look to hit the ground running next season after recording six and 12 points with Calgary, respectively. The Flames acquired the 25-year-olds in a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers in January.

After this signing, Calgary GM Craig Conroy has a handful more RFAs to deal with heading into next season, including Frost. Connor Zary could be next on the list, as he emerges to be a middle-six forward on the roster. He finished the season with 13 goals and 27 points in 54 games. 

Others RFAs include center Sam Morton, right winger Adam Klapka and defenseman Kevin Bahl.

The NHL has had some terrific hockey in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

There’s been the high pressure of the Maple Leafs and Senators showdown, the rollercoaster action of the Kings and Oilers battle, the drama of the Panthers and Lightning series and the high-octane competition of the Jets and Blues clash. 

The most exciting first-round series of the first round between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche has had all of that in a true heavyweight punch fest, which ends in Saturday's winner-takes-all Game 7.

In fact, the Stars and Avalanche series has had just about everything. They’ve had high-scoring games, including the Stars’ 6-2 win in Game 5 and the Avalanche’s 7-4 victory in Game 6.

They’ve had thrilling overtime games, including Dallas’ 4-3 win in Game 2 and 2-1 win in Game 3. 

They’ve had convincing victories, including Colorado’s 5-1 win in Game 1 and 4-0 win in Game 4. However you’ve liked your hockey, you’ve had a taste of it in this series.

On top of that, you’ve had high drama and then some between the Stars and the Avalanche. 

Dallas has pulled out gutsy wins despite not having injured star left winger Jason Robertson and star defenseman Miro Heiskanen.

Stars goalie Jake Oettinger has had some excellent performances and has narrowly outplayed Colorado's counterpart, Mackenzie Blackwood, who has the lone shutout. You’ve had a Stars team that has overcome losing the first game of the series – and the Avs tying the round in Game 4 – to take multiple series leads.

The Avalanche, meanwhile, have had life-and-death struggles when facing elimination in Game 6.

The Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar continue to live up to their superstar status, leading the way despite Colorado being down 2-1 and 3-2 in the series. And you’ve had one of the most bizarre goals ever scored in playoff history, when MacKinnon’s shot in Game 6 came to Stars center Sam Steel, who tried to clear the puck, only to have his clearing attempt go off of Dallas teammate Colin Blackwell and into the net for the game-winning marker.

Last but not least, there have been personal storylines making waves in the hockey world.

Star right winger Mikko Rantanen said in mid-March he never wanted to leave the Avalanche, which traded him in a blockbuster to the Carolina Hurricanes in January. The Stars then traded for him at the trade deadline and signed him to an eight-year contract extension. 

Rantanen’s now facing his former team and scored two goals, including a game-winner, and eight points in six games so far. It would be quite a moment for Rantanen if he could send the Avalanche packing in the early stages of his life without them.

Then, of course, you have Gabriel Landeskog.

'The Best Story In Sports': The Hockey World Reacts To Gabriel Landeskog’s First NHL Goal In 1,041 DaysColorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog grabbed the headlines with a storied goal against the Dallas Stars in Game 4 on Saturday.

The 32-year-old didn’t know whether he would ever get to play again after trying for three years to recover from a knee injury. The last time he played in the NHL was when he won the Cup with the Avalanche in 2022. As the playoffs approached, he had a trial run in the AHL.

In Game 3, he returned in front of a fan base that couldn’t be prouder, and he threw hits and made an impact in this series with a goal and four points.

At the start of the post-season, many pundits picked the Stars and Avalanche series as the key series to watch. Because of the elite skill and depth on each squad, the winner of this series has a great chance of going all the way. These teams lived up to the hype, creating one of the best first-round showdowns we have ever seen.

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The Oshawa Generals defeated the Barrie Colts 8-4 in game four of the OHL Eastern Conference Final to sweep the series and win a rematch against the London Knights in the Final. It is the second year in a row that the Generals have won the Bobby Orr Trophy. 

"Every single guy dug deep and played hard," said Colby Barlow. "I'm so proud of everybody."

In the first three games of the Eastern Conference Final, Oshawa's offense seemed to be the difference maker. Stars like Beckett Sennecke, Colby Barlow and Luca Marrelli continuously scored big goals for the Generals, while at times the Colts struggled to get pucks behind Jacob Oster. 

In game four, the Colts' offense was firing on all cylinders. Thanks to Utah Hockey Club prospect Cole Beaudoin, they had the lead after the first period. They then scored a pair of goals in 33 seconds midway through the second period to undo what had become a 2-1 Oshawa lead. 

The adulation was short-lived, as Owen Griffin banked in a fluky goal on a partial breakaway to tie the game at three going into the third period.

Frontenacs GM Wins Jim Gregory AwardEarlier today, the OHL announced that Kingston Frontenacs GM Kory Cooper is the 2024-25 winner of the Jim Gregory OHL General Manager of the Year Award. 

The Generals answered the call in the third, scoring three unanswered goals in the span of a minute and a half to take a 6-3 lead.

While Barrie's Dalyn Wakely did score his seventh of the playoffs to claw one back for Barrie, the damage had already been done. The final score was 8-4 in favour of Oshawa. 

"It was a 20-minute hockey game," said Barlow. "All the guys put everything on the line and got the job done.

The stars once again provided for Oshawa. Luca Marelli scored a goal and added four assists to complete a five-point evening. Third-overall pick at the 2024 NHL Draft, Beckett Sennecke also tallied four assists in the game while Calum Ritchie scored a goal and added two assists. 

"A lot of these guys, it's their last year in this league," said Malone. "For them to have the opportunity to do what we're going to do, I am very proud of them, it's a great experience."

Undefeated Knights Advance To J. Ross Robertson CupLast night, the London Knights swept the Kitchener Rangers in the Western Conference Final of the OHL Playoffs. They now have the opportunity to win back-to-back OHL Championships. 

The win guarantees Oshawa's return to the J. Ross Robertson Cup Finals. They get an opportunity to get revenge against a London group that swept them in last year's finals. 

It will undoubtedly be a titanic clash between two squads that are incredibly deep and loaded with talent. A total of 19 NHL-drafted players will be featured in the final matchup, 12 of whom play for London and seven for Oshawa.

This is not the inexperienced and young Oshawa team London faced last year. The Generals are one of the most talented teams in the league offensively and a colossal D-corps that includes standouts like 6-foot-6 Simon Wang and the 6-foot-4 Nashville Predators prospect Andrew Gibson. 

The talented Generals group will do everything they can to dethrone the London Knights, who have been in the finals for the last three years. Buckle up, it's going to be a wild ride.

---

The “Warhorse from Whitehorse” will have to wait until next season to get another taste of postseason hockey, as Dylan Cozens and the Ottawa Senators were eliminated by the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games after the Leafs 4-2 victory in Kanata, ON on Thursday. 

Cozens finished with two points (1 goal, 1 assist) in six games, with the highlight being his third-period short-handed goal in Game 5 that broke Toronto’s back and extended the series, but in the finale on Thursday, the former Sabre was on the ice for both Max Pacioretty’s game-winning goal and William Nylander’s empty-net insurance marker. 

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In other ex-Sabres playoff news, Zemgus Girgensons and the Tampa Bay Lightning went down in surprisingly easy fashion to the Florida Panthers in five games. The 31-year-old Latvian played mostly fourth-line minutes for the Lightning and had no points and three shots on goal in five games. 

The Minnesota Wild gave Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights a tough time in their first-round series before falling in six games. Former Sabre Marcus Foligno had an excellent series, scoring three goals in six games, Marcus Johansson had two assists in five games, while blueliner Zach Bogosian had one assist in five games. Eichel and the Golden Knights advance and will play Evander Kane and the Edmonton Oilers. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

Former Buffalo Sabres Sam Reinhart and Jack Eichel each had good weeks. Reinhart and the Florida Panthers advanced to the second round after eliminating the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games, while Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights had a difficult time with the Minnesota Wild before eliminating them in six games. The pair of former second-overall picks also were nominated for awards by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Reinhart was nominated along with teammate Aleksander Barkov and Tampa’s Anthony Cirelli for the Selke Trophy for the league’s best defensive forward. Reinhart has been one of the league’s most consistent scorers and is also excellent defensively and as a penalty-killer. The Sabres top pick in 2014 had 81 points (39 goals, 42 assists), which includes five short-handed goals. 

Other Sabres Stories

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Eichel was nominated along with Tampa’s Brayden Point and Anze Kopitar of the LA Kings for the Lady Byng Trophy, awarded “to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.” 

The Sabres 2015 top pick scored a career-high 94 points (28 goals, 66 assists) in 77 games (8th in NHL scoring), leading the Golden Knights to the Pacific Division title. Eichel had just eight penalty minutes during the regular season. Both forwards and their clubs face difficult second-round matchups, with Reinhar facing the Atlantic Division-winning Toronto Maple Leafs, while Eichel and the Golden Knights take on the reigning Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers.  

 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

There is no shortage of young players getting into their first NHL playoff action or taking another step in the post-season – and it’s only been the first round.

The first round of the NHL playoffs has always had some of the most exciting hockey in the sport. The intensity, speed, skill, and tenacity are all ratcheted up. It’s often where we see whether or not young players have the juice to compete and excel at the highest level of hockey. 

Let’s look around the NHL to see which under-24 players put their talents on display at the start of the playoffs. 

Matt Boldy, LW, Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wildwent home earlier than hoped in their series against the Vegas Golden Knights. That said, the play of Matt Boldy on the top line alongside Kirill Kaprizov was a big reason the Wild took a 2-1 lead in the series, leading to more excitement about the prospects of a Minnesota team at full strength. 

Boldy’s blend of power and speed, as well as his center-focused attack, led to many scoring chances for the Wild’s top line. His five goals and seven points lead all U-24 skaters.

Anton Lundell, C, Florida Panthers

In each of the Panthers’ last two deep playoff runs, Anton Lundell consistently found a way to be an effective player. He’s grown in each of their playoff runs, with 10 points in their first run to the final and 17 in last year's Cup-winning campaign. 

This year, he has been the centrepiece on the team’s third line with Eetu Luostarinen and Brad Marchand, providing a level of depth no other team can match.

Lundell has the two-way ability to match up against the best offensive players in the world, so even when Aleksander Barkov isn’t on the ice, the Panthers are more than capable of winning their minutes.

Tim Stutzle, C, Ottawa Senators

Although the Senators lost to the Leafs in six games, the first foray for Ottawa’s new core into the playoffs was a great showcase of their talent, Stutzle included. 

The dynamically skilled center was consistently one of the most dangerous players on the ice, attacking downhill and cutting laterally to change the angle of the defender and goalie. He was electric to watch at times, and the Senators should be extremely happy with the fact their emerging superstar is capable of stepping up when the lights get brightest. 

Whether it was Stutzle, Jake Sanderson or Brady Tkachuk, the Sens were a ton of fun in the post-season. 

Matthew Knies, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs

Although his stats don’t jump out at you with just three goals in the six-game victory over Ottawa, Matthew Knies brings functional physicality to the Toronto lineup that’s been sorely missing during the Core Four era. 

Knies is a bull in a china shop, barrelling through defenders with his strength and using his puck skill to keep up with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. 

Knies would make former Leafs GM Brian Burke proud because he embodies truculence. 

Lane Hutson, D, Montreal Canadiens

Everyone who watched Lane Hutson this season was in awe of his ability to generate offense, but there was always the question of whether he would be able to do it in the playoffs. 

While the Canadiens weren’t expected to get into the post-season this year, they surprised everyone and reached the playoffs, largely because of Hutson’s incredible play. 

When the pressure increased, Hutson showed the world that he was ready, recording five assists. 

His dynamism and skill never waned. He was still just as cerebral as ever, and it helped Montreal play some of the tightest and most entertaining games of the playoffs against Washington despite its series loss.

The Canadiens Are Saving Money On Lane Hutson, But They'll Pay For It This SummerNobody, not the Montreal Canadiens, not Lane Hutson and certainly not his agent, thought that this year would turn out the way it did for the rookie defenseman.

Thomas Harley, D, Dallas Stars

There was hope the Stars would see franchise defender Miro Heiskanen return from injury, but it wasn’t in the cards in the first round. That left a massive void for the Stars on the blueline.

While almost no one could fully fill his shoes, Thomas Harley has elevated his game and shown himself to be more than capable at both ends of the ice, recording two goals and two assists.

We’ve seen Harley leverage his skating and vision in every facet of the game. The Stars needed someone to step up to have any hope of getting past the Avalanche, and now they head into Game 7 with Harley being their stud on the back end.

Seth Jarvis, RW, Carolina Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes' biggest issue over the last few playoffs is struggling to score against top-end teams, but Seth Jarvis has helped turn that around this year with two goals and five points.

His pace-pushing offensive game allows him to break the opposing defense down, layering skill on top of his speed. His ability to change the game in an instant was key to the Hurricanes taking out the Devils handily.

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The Montreal Canadiens announced they have returned goaltender Cayden Primeau tand reassigned forward Oliver Kapanen to the Laval Rocket. 

The team also assigned goaltender Luke Cavallin to their ECHL affiliate Trois-Rivieres Lions. 

Primeau was recalled to serve as the Canadiens third goaltender for their series against the Washington Capitals. 

The 25-year-old had a dominant record of 21-2-2 with a .927 SP, 1.96 GAA and two shutouts in the AHL this season.

Laval have a fascinating goaltending choice going forward, after a first round bye the Rocket are now up 2-0 on the Cleveland Monsters and Jacob Fowler has looked fantastic in net, backstopping the team to both wins and stopping 43 of 45 shots against in what were his fourth and fifth career professional starts. 

Les Canadiens ont cédé Oliver Kapanen et Cayden Primeau au Rocket de Laval.

The Canadiens have loaned Oliver Kapanen and Cayden Primeau to the Laval Rocket. pic.twitter.com/fvEpaeGpTK

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) May 3, 2025

Kapanen has had a busy season, he picked up one assist in 18 regular season games with the Canadiens before heading to the SHL where he notched 15 goals and 35 points in 36 games.

He added three points in six SHL playoff games before returning to North America where he appeared in three games for the Canadiens against the Capitals where he recorded an assist. 

A second round pick of the Canadiens in 2021, Kapanen has a chance to appear in the playoffs for three teams in three different leagues if he suits up for Laval. 

Keep an eye on The Hockey News' Montreal Canadiens site for more updates on the Rocket. 

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.   

Back again with another NHL 25 Hockey Ultimate Team Fantasy Hockey update as the NHL Playoffs approaches the end of the first round. 

Andrei Svechnikov had a great first round, recording five goals and five games and now sits at 98 overall. 

Laura Stacey was the lone PWHL player to receive an upgrade and is up to 97 overall. 

Brett Howden and Matthew Knies are each up to 96 overall, while Trevor Moore, Juraj Slafkovsky, Marco Rossi, Adam Lowry, Nick Paul, Timo Meier, and Anton Lundell are 95 overall. Mikael Granlund and Jake Neighbours are 94 overall. 

Moore, Slafkovsky, Rossi, Paul, and Meier's teams have been eliminated and each card will not receive any future upgrades. 

All updates are in the video above. 

Check out Week 1 of the Playoff Event here.   

Check out the recent Team Builder release and roster update. 

For more NHL 25 news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed. For gaming discussion check out our forum.  

Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk will study extensively before the second-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and part of that session includes getting intel from his brother, Brady, who just played Toronto in the first round.

After the Panthers eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games and the Maple Leafs eliminated the Ottawa Senators in six, Matthew joined The Pat McAfee Show to discuss how he'll approach the series against Toronto.

"We don't know when our first game is, but definitely before that, I'll give [Brady] a call and ask him what he saw throughout the series, little things," Matthew said.

"I'll ask a lot about individuals, like, what you can exploit with some guys, what guys maybe get a little too riled up, guys you can get off their game, what guys are looking like they're playing through stuff or look a little injured.

"It's all the little stuff I'll ask him. It's playoffs. Every advantage you can get, and it's nice having my brother that just played them, so he'll give me the honest truth."

'I Thought I Was Done Playing A Number Of Times': How Maple Leafs' Max Pacioretty Persevered To Score Series-Clinching Goal Against SenatorsIt was 225 days ago, on Sept. 19, when Max Pacioretty, wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs hoodie with the number 67 stamped on, first stepped in front of the camera to explain why he joined the organization.

The Maple Leafs held an optional practice on Saturday, two days before their series against Florida gets underway. Toronto faced the Panthers in the second round back in 2023 and were eliminated in five games.

It was the first time the Maple Leafs got out of the first round since 2004.

While Tkachuk might have intel on the Maple Leafs, a few players on Toronto who were on Florida's Stanley Cup-winning team last spring, will have the same: Steven Lorentz, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Anthony Stolarz.

"I've had discussions with them," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said Saturday.

"There is things that you might not know; more mindset stuff for me with those guys, being in a locker room, and being around the organization and the team."

Maple Leafs’ ‘Business-Like’ Mindset Overcomes Potential Playoff Disaster to Advance to Second RoundKANATA, Ont. — When the final horn sounded at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday, the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrated their 4-2 win against the Ottawa Senators, pushing them through to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Tkachuk is a player who likes to get under his opponent's skin. Could having intel from his brother on the Maple Leafs help him in that sense throughout the series? 

"Well, if you allow people to push your buttons, then maybe. You don't allow them to push your buttons. That's the way I look at it," Berube said.

"You can control what you want to control. Again, emotion plays a big part of the game. We all know that. Discipline and composure. We got through one round, and it's got to be more elevated now."

Lorentz played 16 playoff games last year with the Panthers, scoring two goals and one assist. He's appeared in all six games for the Maple Leafs this postseason, but has yet to register a point.

His line, however, with Calle Jarnkrok and Scott Laughton, was very successful in round one against Ottawa. What did he make of Tkachuk saying he was gathering information on which Toronto players appear to be playing through things?

‘That’s How You Win A Series’: Craig Berube Praises Scott Laughton’s Shot-Blocking Heroics, Maple Leafs' Bottom-Six Delivers Against SenatorsWith 25 seconds left on the clock in a one-goal game, it wasn’t a member of the ‘Core Four’ who made the defining play of the Toronto Maple Leafs' series-clinching win – it was Scott Laughton, throwing himself in front of a Jake Sanderson slap shot to preserve the lead.

"I mean, everyone's banged up in the playoffs, so it doesn't matter," said Lorentz.

"I've seen guys play through this and that, and there's a laundry list every single year, but it doesn't really matter what the advantage is. I think if a guy's able to play skates and put the jersey on it and stand up there and start the game, then you're going to expect his best, whether he's hurt or not."

Toronto lost its first two home games to Florida, and they are looking to change that this time around. Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, and Brad Marchand play within the Panthers' top nine, so that alone won't make it an easy series.

It won't just be those three that make it difficult, though. Florida has a two-time Selke Trophy-winner in Aleksander Barkov, a strong defense, and a two-time Vezina Trophy winner, Sergei Bobrovsky, as the backstop.

Why The Maple Leafs' Confidence In Anthony Stolarz Hasn't Faltered After Back-To-Back Losses To SenatorsAs Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot fired a shot from the point in the second period of Game 5, Anthony Stolarz did his best to track the puck. But he couldn't see anything until it was too late.

"They have different people over there. We have different people in here," Morgan Rielly said, highlighting the differences between the series in 2023 and now.

"I think the playoff mindset in general remains the same, but I think there's differences with both teams and with structure and systems and whatnot. But the focus here over the next few days is going to be on us and doing what we need to do to get ready to play."

The Maple Leafs will use Sunday to practice before gearing up for Game 1 against the Panthers on Monday. It'll be a later start time at 8:00 p.m. ET, due to the NHL's Draft Lottery beginning an hour earlier.

Maple Leafs vs Panthers: Game 1 Start Time and Date RevealedThe Toronto Maple Leafs are set to open the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday.

But either way, it's going to be a long and gruelling series between the Maple Leafs and Panthers.

"I'm very comfortable. I don't feel worried about it at all," Berube said about the physicality of the upcoming series.

"Our team, they're ready for it. They understand it. Listen, that's playoffs. It's going to be hard, and there's going to be hits, and you've got to get up and play. And you've got to be disciplined."

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Shaw's sample size enough to win Flyers' coaching job? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

As the Flyers search for a new head coach, we’re looking at potential candidates to fill the vacancy.

“Communication and teaching are probably two things that will be at the forefront of our next coach,” general manager Danny Briere said April 19 at his end-of-the-season press conference. “When you have a young team in place, I really think those two attributes are extremely important.”

We’ve profiled Mike Sullivan (hired by the Rangers), Rick Tocchet and Pat Ferschweiler. Next up in our series is Brad Shaw, who went 5-3-1 as the Flyers’ interim head coach.

Why Shaw would be a fit

The 61-year-old already has great continuity with the Flyers’ roster. Players have spoken highly of Shaw and he has done good work in his three seasons on the team’s staff.

Under former head coach John Tortorella, Shaw was in charge of the back end and penalty kill. A number of the Flyers’ defensemen have grown through Shaw’s time here, while the team’s penalty kill was a top-five unit in 2023-24 and scored a league-leading 16 shorthanded goals.

“He has meant so much to my game personally,” Travis Sanheim said a little over two weeks ago. “I think a lot of guys on the D core could probably say the same thing. We don’t know what’s going to happen, time will tell. In saying that, I’m just super thankful for where he has taken my game and I really enjoyed my time working with him, so it would obviously be a disappointment if I didn’t get to continue that.

“I think we built a really good relationship, us two. I feel like we can talk to each other about anything and kind of go over certain things — how I see it, how he sees it, have disagreements. I might see something differently than he sees it and that’s kind of what makes him a better coach and me a better player.”

In Shaw’s nine games as the interim head coach, the Flyers definitely played freer. Part of that could have been because of the standings, but the Flyers scored 3.89 goals per game under Shaw. They scored six or more three times with Shaw. In the 73 games prior, the Flyers had scored six or more four times.

Shaw has over 20 seasons of NHL experience as an assistant coach. He checks off the box of teacher and it doesn’t hurt that he knows what it’s like to coach in Philadelphia.

“It has only been three years, but I love my time here,” Shaw said last month. “It’s a unique city. I love the inherent pressure the fans put on you. I’ve never been booed more in three years in my life, but I think it’s good. I think it’s an extra indicator of what the fans think.”

Why Shaw would not be a fit

The obvious knock on Shaw’s candidacy is that he has never been a full-time head coach at the NHL level. His other interim role was with the Islanders for 40 games in 2005-06.

He’s such a good players’ coach, but will he have enough of that demanding style? It’s often the biggest question for assistants trying to make the transition to a head coaching job.

While the Flyers put up goals under Shaw, they did allow them, too. They surrendered 3.56 per game and were outshot five times. With the circumstances, it was a tough spot for Shaw to implement any significant changes.

Shaw was Tortorella’s right-hand man for five seasons with the Blue Jackets and three in Philadelphia. Making their first head coaching hire, it’s possible Briere and president of hockey operations Keith Jones will want to put an imprint on things by bringing in their own guy.

If Shaw doesn’t get the job, he said he’d be interested in returning with his assistant role. The interest could be mutual from the Flyers’ side, but that ultimately might be up to the next head coach.

On May 3, 2024, the Vancouver Canucks stunned the Nashville Predators with a late third period goal to advance to the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This was the only tally of the game, as Vancouver ultimately won the game 1–0. 

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The series-clinching effort came as a result of multiple stellar performances. Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left in the third period to silence the crowd at Bridgestone Arena. Meanwhile, back in Vancouver, Rogers Arena came to life with the cheers of thousands of fans who attended the team’s watch party. Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson helped set up Suter’s series-winning tally. 

Despite scoring with less than two minutes left, the Canucks’ final stretch while up 1–0 was possibly the toughest hockey they had to play. With a little more than 30 seconds left in the game, Elias Lindholm was called for cross-checking, forcing Vancouver onto the penalty kill to finish the match. Even so, the team pulled off an impressive slew of blocks, scrambles, and saves in order to take home the win. 

While the rest of the league had likely heard of Vancouver’s issues with goaltender injuries, after this game, all they would have remembered is the name of Artūrs Šilovs. The Latvian goaltending prospect, who was 23 at the time, stopped all 28 of Nashville’s shots to post his first NHL shutout. This included having to face three different Predators power play opportunities. With this win, Šilovs became the youngest goalie in Canucks history to record a playoff shutout. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.