Even if the Pittsburgh Penguins' 2025-26 season came to a close after a disappointing first-round Stanley Cup Playoff loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, things down on the farm are alive and well as far as the post-season is concerned.
And one of their affiliates punched their ticket to the second round on Saturday.
In a double-overtime thriller, the Wheeling Nailers - ECHL affiliate of the Penguins - beat the Reading Royals, 1-0, in Game 5, and advanced to the second round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Forward Nolan Renwick scored the OT winner, which came a little more than seven minutes into the second overtime period, to put away the ECHL affiliate of the Flyers.
— xy-Wheeling Nailers (@WheelingNailers) May 3, 2026
Goaltender Taylor Gauthier - who served as the Penguins' emergency backup goalie during home games in the first round of the NHL playoffs - made 41 saves and earned his third shutout of the series. He is up to a .974 save percentage in these playoffs.
With the shutout, he tied an ECHL record for the fewest number of goals given up in a five-game series, and his three playoff shutouts are the most in franchise history.
Wheeling will meet the winner of the Maine Mariner and Adirondack Thunder series in the North Division Final, which will start on May 8 in Wheeling.
May 2, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) and Philadelphia Flyers center Luke Glendening (41) battle during the first period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
James Guillory-Imagn Images
RALEIGH, N.C. — Logan Stankoven scored twice to continue his postseason tear and the Carolina Hurricanes smothered the Philadelphia Flyers in a 3-0 victory Saturday night to open the second-round series.
Jackson Blake also scored for Carolina, and Frederik Andersen stopped 19 shots for his second shutout of these playoffs and seventh in his postseason career.
Game 2 of the series is Monday night in Raleigh.
Carolina never trailed in closing a first-round sweep of Ottawa last weekend, then had an extended break while the Flyers battled to push past Pittsburgh in overtime of Game 6 on Wednesday night. That led to rest-versus-rust conversations about how the the Eastern Conference’s top seed would start Saturday night.
Instead, the Hurricanes pounced from the opening puck drop, a departure from how all four regular-season meetings went to overtime or a shootout.
Stankoven scored in each of the four wins against the Senators, then scored on a redirect from the slot just 1:31 in. Blake followed at 7:30, splitting two defenders as he entered the zone and charging in to slip a puck behind Dan Vladar.
That was more than enough offense on this night with the Flyers struggling to apply much pressure on Andersen.
Philadelphia started its first postseason since 2020 by battling through Pittsburgh to close out a six-game series in overtime on Cam York’s Wednesday night winner. But the Flyers sputtered from the start, managing just nine shots on goal through two periods and being outshot 3-2 on their four power plays for the night.
By the final 10 minutes, the game had turned testy with players having to be separated multiple times. That included 10-minute misconduct penalties on Philadelphia’s Trevor Zegras and Nick Seeler, along with Blake and Shayne Gostisbehere for Carolina.
Both teams were down key players. The Flyers didn’t have regular-season goals leader Owen Tippett because of an undisclosed injury, while the Hurricanes were missing defenseman Alexander Nikishin after he suffered a concussion in Game 4 against Ottawa.
The Rangers filled their director of player development role internally.
Tanner Glass, who had been the assistant director of player development since 2019, was promoted to the primary role after Jed Ortmeyer — who had held that position since 2017 — left to pursue other opportunities, The Post’s Mollie Walker confirmed Friday.
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His promotion was reflected on the Blueshirts’ website Saturday.
Glass, like Ortmeyer, is a former Rangers player, skating in 134 games across three seasons from 2014-17, and he returned to the organization in the development role after a season with the Panthers and a campaign in France.
And now, he’ll be tasked with helping fix the Blueshirts’ struggle to turn prospects into reliable — and high-end — NHL regulars.
There have been glimmers of hope recently with Gabe Perreault and Noah Laba, but for the most part, dating back to Ortmeyer’s arrival in 2017 and certainly since Glass’ return to the Rangers two years later, draft picks and prospects have continued to underwhelm.
Tanner Glass, who played for the Rangers from 2014-17, was promoted to be the team’s director of player development on May 2, 2026. Andrew Theodorakis
With the Rangers in the middle of a public retool, too, the development of the pieces set to define their next era will be critical.
The Artemi Panarin trade already brought back prospect Liam Greentree.
Any other potential deals in the offseason involving established Rangers pieces will likely include draft picks or prospects.
The promotion of Glass marked the latest change impacting the Rangers on the personnel side — before any other moves for the roster follow once free agency and the offseason officially arrive — since the beginning of April, when Kevin Maxwell, a pro scout and general manager of the Blues’ AHL affiliate, was brought back as the Blueshirts’ director of pro scouting and director of player personnel.
It might have dropped during the National Anthem in Game 1, but the NHL has at last finally dropped the schedule for the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Carolina Hurricanes opened up the second round slate at home on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers and they'll play Game 2 again at Lenovo Center on Monday, May 4 at 7 p.m.
Here's the full schedule breakdown:
Game 1 - 8 p.m., Saturday, May 2 (@ Lenovo Center) Game 2 - 7 p.m., Monday, May 4 (@ Lenovo Center) Game 3 - 8 p.m., Thursday, May 7 (@ Xfinity Mobile Arena) Game 4 - 6 p.m., Saturday, May 9 (@ Xfinity Mobile Arena) Game 5 - Monday, May 11 (@ Lenovo Center) Game 6 - Wednesday, May 13 (@ Xfinity Mobile Arena) Game 7 - Saturday, May 16 (@ Lenovo Center)
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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Philadelphia Flyers forward Owen Tippett sat out Saturday night against the Carolina Hurricanes to open that second-round playoff series.
The Flyers ruled out their regular-season goals leader about a half-hour before the start of the game due to an undisclosed injury.
Tippett had 28 goals and 23 assists in the regular season, then had one goal and one assist in the six-game series against Pittsburgh that marked Philadelphia's first postseason appearance since 2020.
The Flyers said Tippett is considered day to day.
The Hurricanes took the ice a week after closing out a sweep of Ottawa. But defenseman Alexander Nikishin was out of the lineup Saturday as he continues to recover from a concussion suffered on a jarring hit by Tyler Kleven in Game 4. Nikishin had returned to skating in a yellow no-contact jersey by Wednesday, then shed that practice Friday.
Coach Rod Brind’Amour said Saturday morning that Nikishin needed to complete another test as he works to clear the concussion protocol.
Carolina forward Nikolaj Ehlers was back after a lower-body injury made him a late scratch for Game 4.
Coming out of the lockout for the 2005-2006 season, the Senators seemed to have it all.
They had an excellent young team whose playoff kryptonite for four of the previous five seasons had been the Toronto Maple Leafs. But with Toronto missing the playoffs that year, as they would for 10 of the next 11 years, they were no longer a concern.
Meanwhile, the Sens had the league's best offence, the second-best defence, and entered the playoffs as the top seed in the East and the Stanley Cup favourite.
They had acquired Dany Heatley and Dominik Hasek for that season, and Zdeno Chara and Martin Havlat were both still here. For my money, it was the greatest team in Senators history.
Back in February, my colleague, Graeme Nichols, produced the best story ever written about the 2005-06 Senators. It's an incredible, long-form piece, filled with interviews and anecdotes with just about everyone from that team, and I highly encourage you to check it out here.
But as we hit The Hockey News Archive, it's time for a little time-travel, a chance to dip back into the moment to see what people were saying about the 2006 Senators. Mike Brophy wrote in our Apr 25, 2006, issue about the Senators' chances as they entered the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
A New Sensation
From The Hockey News Apr 25, 2006 Vol. 59, Issue 31
It’s Stanley Cup or bust for the Ottawa Senators as they try to reverse their failed playoff history and win Canada’s first NHL title since 1993.
BY MIKE BROPHY
A few years ago, Daniel Alfredsson boldly announced his Ottawa Senators would win the Stanley Cup.
Then, a few days later, he backed off his ambitious statement by saying something to the affect of, “I didn’t say this year.”
The Senators, of course, have not won a Stanley Cup; at least not since 1927. The current incarnation of the Ottawa Senators has yet to even make it to the final since joining the league in 1992-93.
So, any predictions for us this year, Daniel?
“No,” Alfredsson says with a chuckle.
You’re out of the prediction-making business?
“Not exactly,” he continues. “I think it will be a great playoffs. There will be some upsets, as always, and it’s going to be really fun playing in the playoffs and watching the other games as well.”
OK, if you won’t say your team is going to win the Stanley Cup, Daniel, we’ll say it for you. With all due respect to a number of contenders in the new NHL, the Senators have what it takes to win the Cup, particularly since their nemesis, the Toronto Maple Leafs, aren’t going to the dance. And to think, not long ago Ottawa’s Stanley Cup was simply to get past the Leafs, who sent them golfing in four of the past five seasons.
Now, before you say the Senators don’t have a chance if No. 1 goalie Dominik Hasek doesn’t return from his groin injury, it must be said that rookie Ray Emery has proven himself to be good enough to carry the load. When a team is as good as the Senators, it doesn’t necessarily need great goaltending to win it all; it just needs its goalie not to lose games. The Senators will be fine.
“You need at least good goaltending and in the past that may have been one of the shortcomings I experienced,” says Ottawa coach Bryan Murray. “The other team’s goalies played just a tad better than my goalies. We’re hoping that just good goaltending this time will be adequate.”
Alfredsson says his team is quietly confident about its chances in the post-season.
“The biggest thing entering the playoffs is, we know we have a team that can win it all,” Alfredsson says. “But you need a lot of things to go right for you. You need to be healthy and you need to have a little good luck. More than anything, you need to play well in big games.
“We feel this is a good opportunity for this group and we’re going to try to make the most it and see what happens.”
This group, as Alfredsson puts it, contains some the NHL’s most dangerous scorers.
Dany Heatley, who has revived his career in Ottawa, ranked fourth in league scoring, having set the team record for goals in a season with 48 and totalling 97 points in 78 games. Alfredsson, himself, who had established single-season highs in goals (41) and points (95) with four games remaining, was seventh in league scoring. Super playmaker Jason Spezza, despite missing 14 games with a chest injury, had 68 assists and 86 points in 64 games.
And that is just the tip of the iceberg. No team comes close to matching the Senators’ scoring depth up front with the likes of Peter Schaefer, Bryan Smolinski, newly acquired Tyler Arnason, Antoine Vermette, Patrick Eaves, Mike Fisher and even tough guy Chris Neil capable of lightning it up on any given night.
What is even more astounding is the fact the Senators also have one of the best and deepest bluelines in the NHL.
Wade Redden and Zdeno Chara are bona fide stars, solid at both ends of the rink, while Chris Phillips, Brian Pothier, Anton Volchenkov and rookie Andrej Meszaros, who is among the NHL leaders at plus-35, are all rock-solid.
Bryan Murray has coached and managed great teams in the past, most recently taking the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim to the final as GM in 2003. But this year, he says, is different.
“No. 1, I think our defensive corps is as good as I’ve ever had…the depth of it,” Murray says. “I’ve had some good individual players on the blueline like (Rod) Langway and (Scott) Stevens, but to have the depth that we have is a little more than I’ve had in the past. If we get everybody back, we have a lot of depth up front, too, with a lot of scoring ability.”
The Senators, like all teams, will face some distractions, such as if and when will Hasek be back; and, can the team afford to sign both Chara and Redden, who will be unrestricted free agents in the summer. But Murray says it should not affect the way the team plays on the ice.
“We just try to focus now on the team,” Murray says. “Obviously we’re affected somewhat by what people say, but mostly we just play. As a coach, all you can do is prepare and play.”
Before the season began, we chose the Philadelphia Flyers as our Cup favorite. And why not? They added superstar Peter Forsberg, along with monster defensemen Derian Hatcher and Mike Rathje and big, scoring winger Mike Knuble, as well as a handful of blue chip prospects. That had us convinced the season would be nothing more than a formality. Just hand them the Cup.
The Flyers, though, have been woefully inconsistent. Injuries have taken a toll and there was never really a point during the season where it looked like they would ultimately live up to expectations. The thing about the Flyers is, you can’t dismiss them completely because they have so much talent they are entirely capable of kicking it into gear and winning every game they play. In that regard, coach Ken Hitchcock may face his greatest challenge ever.
Other teams capable of upsetting the Senators include the Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes. People waiting for the Prague Rangers to fold their tents in the playoffs may be disappointed. If goalie Henrik Lundqvist and superstar Jaromir Jagr, the NHL’s most valuable player, live up to their potential, they’ll be a tough opponent for anybody. And don’t discount the work their grunt players do, either.
While the Hurricanes have only played .500 hockey down the stretch, they, too, will not be a desirable opponent for anyone in the opening round.
As for the 2004 Stanley Cup-champion Lightning, unless goalie John Grahame goes to bed one night and wakes up the next morning as Bernie Parent, Tampa Bay doesn’t stand a chance of repeating. The other finalist from two years ago, the Calgary Flames, have put a lot of trust in goalie Miikka Kiprusoff and may rue the day they failed to find an offense-minded center to play with Jarome Iginla.
While we think the Stanley Cup champion will come from the Eastern Conference, the most interesting and competitive hockey is in the West, where the team that finishes eighth – the San Jose Sharks, in all likelihood – could be a threat to make it all the way to the final.
Detroit and Dallas, the cream of the Western crop, both look like potential conference champions, but it won’t be an easy trail to the final.
“What people don’t understand when a team from the East wins the Cup is, the Western Conference teams kick the crap out of each other just trying to make it to the final,” says Edmonton defenseman Chris Pronger.
Looking for a dark horse? Try Pronger’s Oilers – if they made the playoffs, that is. With three games remaining in the regular season, the Oilers were sitting in eighth place in the Western Conference. The additions of defenseman Jaroslav Spacek and left winger Sergei Samsonov have added experience and skill at both ends. If Dwayne Roloson offers up solid goaltending, the Oilers certainly could pull off a first round upset.
And if that happens, they could go on a roll similar to the one the Flames went on two years ago.
Will being the Cup favorite make life tough for the Senators?
“It can’t matter that much, if we let outside factors be that big of a deal,” Murray says.
“But I think, from a confidence point of view, we talk about what we have to do and to have other people recognize a certain ability level doesn’t hurt.”
STAT SHOT
Here’s how teams that were still in the playoff picture through April 10 compare in goals scored per game, goals against per game, overall record in overtime and shootouts, and odds of winning the Cup.
By Mike Brophy The Hockey News Archive Apr 25, 2006/vol. 59, issue 31
The Philadelphia Flyers are going to enter Game 1 of Round 2 against the vaunted Carolina Hurricanes without perhaps their most important player for this kind of matchup.
On Saturday night, the Flyers announced that speedster winger Owen Tippett would sit against the Hurricanes with an injury, declaring him day-to-day.
Notably, the Flyers did not disclose the nature of the injury (upper-body, lower-body, etc.).
It was becoming clear towards the end of the Round 1 series with the Pittsburgh Penguins that Tippett, 27, was not quite himself.
The buccaneering winger recorded more than one shot on goal in just two of the six games against the Penguins, which is highly unusual for a volume-shooter like him.
Tippett loves to shoot from everywhere and anywhere, and, obviously, uses his legs and power to create opportunities for himself and teammates.
Neither of those things were happening, and Tippett was increasingly invisible for the Flyers leading up to this point.
The 27-year-old out late for Saturday's practice, which was the first indication that he would be out for Game 1 against the Hurricanes.
In his stead, we can expect that rookie Alex Bump remains in the lineup, Tyson Foerster moves up, and veteran Garnet Hathaway draws back in on the fourth line.
Sean Couturier - Luke Glendening - Garnet Hathaway
Travis Sanheim - Rasmus Ristolainen
Cam York - Jamie Drysdale
Nick Seeler - Noah Juulsen
In the six games leading up to his injury, Tippett recorded one goal (empty-net) and one assist for the Flyers with a +2 rating and nine shots on goal.
Bump, 22, now playing in an expanded role, has one goal in two playoff games for the Flyers with a +1 rating and a hefty six shots on goal.
They were one shot away from sending their first-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers back to Pittsburgh for Game 7, but Cam York had other ideas, beating Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs at the end of the first overtime period. He fired a harmless-looking shot from the point, but it found the back of the net since Silovs was screened.
Penguins rookie forward Ben Kindel was on the ice for the goal after he was guilty of an icing that brought the faceoff back to the defensive zone. He ultimately lost the draw, and the Penguins couldn't clear the puck in time before York scored.
Kindel was asked about those two plays during Friday's locker cleanout day and delivered one heck of an answer.
“Still kind of sick to my stomach when you think about that last shift and how the season ended," Kindel said. "Nothing you can do about it now. Just look to use it as motivation in the future and in future years. And to do whatever you can to not let it end like that again.”
That's a player who is going to be a future leader on this team. It's also big that Kindel got to experience these high-stakes games so he could see what the Stanley Cup Playoffs are all about. Did he go pointless in six games? Yes, but I honestly thought he was getting better as the series went on.
He played well defensively and created some scoring chances as we got deeper into the series, especially in Game 6, when he nearly won it in OT. The series may have ended on a sour note for him and the team, but he's going to be totally fine.
Pittsburgh Penguins center Ben Kindel (81) handles the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae (36) during the second period in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Kindel had a tremendous rookie season, finishing with 17 goals and 35 points in 77 games. He was the third-line center for most of the season and faced every challenge that came his way, passing each one with ease. Kindel really liked how everything went and also told reporters that he loves playing for the Penguins.
“It was great," Kindel said. "It was a great experience. A lot of fun. I love playing for this team. Great to get a first year under my belt in the NHL and see what it was like. I think I learned a lot.”
Kindel blew past everyone's expectations for him this season. It was widely expected that he would return to the WHL's Calgary Hitmen, but he kept improving throughout training camp and the preseason.
The coaching staff and front office rewarded him for his great September with a spot in the opening night lineup against the New York Rangers, and he impressed right away. Despite only playing in his first game, he looked like a seasoned veteran out there. He made all the right reads, was responsible in his own end, and was around the crease at times.
He built off that performance and scored his first NHL goal on Oct. 11 against that same Rangers team. He then kept getting even better, and the Penguins had no choice but to start his entry-level contract. He played in every situation throughout the season and will now go through his first offseason as an NHL player.
Kindel will undoubtedly be stronger for next season when it gets going in October. The fact that he's already this good and he's still only 19 is also crazy. There's a real chance that he scores 20-25 goals and puts up 60-65 points next season if he keeps developing well.
He's going to be an important player for a long time.
With that, he shared that he already has a list of candidates of various degrees of experience, admitting that his radar is about "five to eight" names long. Though Holland's preference doesn't seem to be concrete in terms of his next coach's experience, there are plenty of veteran bench bosses out there.
Here are three veteran head coaches who should be on Holland's list going into the 2026-27 regular season.
Bruce Cassidy
For teams that are looking to be competitive and a contender for the Stanley Cup playoffs, Bruce Cassidy should be at the top of that list for all those organizations.
Cassidy has led two different teams to the Stanley Cup finals. First, it was the Boston Bruins in 2019 when they eventually lost to the St. Louis Blues. He won the Jack Adams Trophy just one season later.
Most recently, he pushed the Vegas Golden Knights to be Cup champions for the first time in franchise history in 2023.
The Golden Knights fired him on March 29, and he is currently on the market and is probably on Holland's short list of coaching candidates.
Bruce Cassidy (Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports)
Peter Laviolette
Peter Laviolette has been a head coach in the NHL for a very long time. He's coached over 1,500 games in the league, winning a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006, and also visited the Stanley Cup final on two separate occasions with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010 and the Nashville Predators in 2017.
He's spent this past 2025-26 campaign on the sidelines. His last stint was two years with the New York Rangers. In his first season with the Rangers, he took them to the Eastern Conference finals, followed by missing the playoffs in the next year, ultimately costing him his job.
Nonetheless, he's accomplished big achievements with whatever team he's guided in the past, even if he has a shorter shelf life than others.
Gerard Gallant is another bench boss who has seen the Stanley Cup final. He was the coach who led the Golden Knights to the final in their first year of existence in 2017. He also won the Jack Adams Trophy that season as the NHL's best head coach of the year.
Gallant has been out of the NHL for a little while now. His last stint was with the Rangers from 2021-22 to 2022-23.
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Following two consecutive Stanley Cup Final losses to the Florida Panthers, the Oilers faced a tumultuous 2025-26 season that ended in a 4-2 series loss to Anaheim where it never really felt like Edmonton had any kind of control or direction. Connor McDavid finished with six points in the series and was held without points in three of those games, whereas Leon Draisaitl had 10 points. It was confirmed after the postseason McDavid suffered a fracture in his lower leg during Game 2, but all the same, McDavid and Draisaitl didn't hold back in their postmortem evaluation of the Oilers' season.
"We were an average team all year," McDavid told reporters after the game. "An average team with high expectations, you're gonna be disappointed. Um, you know, we just never found it."
Looking forward, however, Draisaitl was more concerned about what this season means on a bigger scale for Edmonton.
"I am concerned about [moving in the wrong direction]," Draisaitl said in his season-ending interview. "And a little bit of that leads into ... we didn't do a good enough job of properly winning games. ... But I think you really have to in the regular season form these moments and get comfortable in these moments and we didn't do that this year ... But yes I am concerned because we're not trending in the right direction, we've taken big steps backwards."
The biggest question for Edmonton now is what its window looks like. McDavid is still the NHL's premier player, having led the league in points in 2025-26. But as McDavid talks about his desire to win, there is a clock.
Connor McDavid contract details
McDavid inked a two-year extension in October 2025 worth $12.5 million AAV to cap off an eight-year, $100 million contract he signed in 2017. The extension kicks in during 2026-27 and will put him as a free agent in 2028 at age 31.
Draisaitl made no bones about it: The Oilers' window closes if McDavid leaves.
"He's signed for two more years and God knows where that goes, but we have two years here right now," Draisaitl said of McDavid's future. "We have to get significantly better."
Oilers GM Stan Bowman also spoke to reporters on McDavid calling the team average.
"We were average for a lot of the year," Bowman said. "The way I took that comment was in previous years we've had stretches where we've been able to get our game going and dominate and win five-six-eight, 10 in a row. And also have some losing streaks."
Though Bowman focused on the "average" comment and sidestepped the McDavid aspect, he did say the time for the Oilers is now.
"I know how bad Connor wants to win," he said. "And I certainly feel the same way. That's why we all do this. So we're pushing hard. Not every year does it work in the decisions you make. But it's not like we're building for five years from now ... We're pushing every year ... Now is the time when we want our team to win, we're not looking down the road."
While McDavid did concur in his news conference that the "organization as a whole has taken a step back, and that starts with me," the subtext of what he and Draisatil are saying is clear: If the organization doesn't build a team that can win with them, they'll go win without them.
Draisaitl, of course, is under contract until 2033, so he's locked in as a franchise staple. But with McDavid putting up 138 points this year, it seems disingenuous to say he's taken a "step back."
McDavid and the Oilers now go into the offseason licking their wounds, but the wounds are different than the festering gashes of two consecutive Stanley Cup Finals losses. Perhaps two deep runs caught up to them, and this season can be a reset. Either way, the Oilers have two years to figure it out with both of their franchise staples. How they come out in 2026 will be a good litmus test for where they're at.
While the opening round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs is not over, the NHL is kicking off the second round on Saturday night. Seven of the eight teams have already been decided, with the final slot being filled on Sunday. Here is a look at the seven former Canucks players who have advanced to the second round.
Western Conference:
Quinn Hughes- Minnesota Wild
Quinn Hughes was a difference maker for the Minnesota Wildin the first round. Vancouver's former captain recorded eight points in six games while averaging 31:40. Hughes also finished the series with a plus/minus of +9, which ranks third in the NHL
Nic Dowd & Ben Hutton- Vegas Golden Knights
Nic Dowd, Ben Hutton and the Vegas Golden Knightsare once again off to the second round. While Hutton has yet to make his 2026 playoff debut, Dowd played in all six first-round games, where he recorded two goals. Vegas also features John Tortorella, who spent one year as head coach of the Canucks.
Eastern Conference:
Jalen Chatfield- Carolina Hurricanes
The only former player on this list to sweep the first round was Jalen Chatfield. The Carolina Hurricanes defenceman has become a key part of the Hurricanes' roster, averaging 23:15 of ice time per night in the first round. Chatfield also recorded an assist while finishing the series with three hits.
Apr 13, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield (5) in action against the Philadelphia Flyers in the third period at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Noah Juulsen- Philadelphia Flyers
Another former defenceman heading to the second round is Noah Juulsen. While he did not play every game for the Philadelphia Flyers, he was still productive with two assists in four games. The Flyers also have Rick Tocchet behind the bench, who coached Vancouver to their last post-season appearance in 2024.
Tanner Pearson & Luke Schenn- Buffalo Sabres
The final two members of this list are Luke Schenn and Tanner Pearson. Neither has appeared for the Buffalo Sabres in the playoffs so far. Both Schenn and Pearson have plenty of post-season experience, as each has lifted the Stanley Cup.
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, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Utah Mammoth by a 5-1 final score in Game 6. With this, Vegas is moving on to the second round of the playoffs.Â
A former Buffalo Sabres star forward is a big reason for the Golden Knights making it to the second round. This is because Jack Eichel has been on fire so far this post-season.Â
In six games against Utah this series, Eichel had nine points. This included him having three games with at least two points for the Golden Knights. His best game was in Game 4, though, as he recorded three assists in the Golden Knights' 5-4 overtime win against the Mammoth.
Seeing Eichel have such a hot start to the playoffs is not surprising in the slightest. There is no question that the former Sabres forward can make a serious impact when playing at his best, and he is showing that right now with the Golden Knights.
It will now be interesting to see what Eichel does for the Golden Knights in the second round from here.Â
Eichel was selected by the Sabres with the second-overall pick of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. In 375 games over six seasons with Buffalo, he had 139 goals, 216 assists, and 355 points.Â
As the Flyers and Hurricanes opened their best-of-seven second-round playoff matchup Saturday night, the rest of the series schedule was announced.
Game 2 at Lenovo Center will be Monday night.
The series then shifts to Xfinity Mobile Arena for Game 3 on Thursday night and Game 4 next Saturday night.
The times for Games 5 through 7, if necessary, are to be determined.
The Flyers got past the Penguins in the first round. They won the series in six games. Rick Tocchet’s club finished the regular season with 98 points at 43-27-12.
Carolina swept the Senators in the first round. The Hurricanes went 53-22-7 in the regular season for 113 points.
Every matchup between the Flyers and Carolina in the regular season was decided after regulation. The Flyers lost three of the four games.
Here’s the full series schedule.
Game 1 — Saturday, May 2, Flyers at Hurricanes, 8 p.m. ET/ABC Game 2 — Monday, May 4, Flyers at Hurricanes, 7 p.m. ET/ESPN Game 3 — Thursday, May 7, Flyers vs. Hurricanes, 8 p.m. ET/TNT Game 4 — Saturday, May 9, Flyers vs. Hurricanes, 6 p.m. ET/TNT *Game 5 — Monday, May 11, Flyers at Hurricanes, TBD/ESPN *Game 6 — Wednesday, May 13, Flyers vs. Hurricanes, TBD/TNT *Game 7 — Saturday, May 16, Flyers at Hurricanes, TBD/TNT *if necessary
The first Game 7 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs is set for Sunday, May 3, when the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning clash in a winner-take-all contest.
My Canadiens vs. Lightning predictions and NHL picks focus on Habs defenseman Lane Hutson, who has been an offensive catalyst throughout the series.
Canadiens vs Lightning Game 7 prediction
Canadiens vs Lightning best bet: Lane Hutson Over 0.5 assists (-125)
Lane Hutson’s five points are tied for the team lead so far this postseason, and the Montreal Canadiens blueliner will add to his assist totals in Game 7.
The Habs have controlled nearly 53% of expected goals at 5-on-5 with Hutson on the ice — the sixth-best mark among all Montreal skaters — while his 5.01 on-ice expected goals are tops on the team. In short, Hutson has arguably been the Canadiens’ best player at generating scoring chances.
Hutson has found the score sheet in allthree road games against the Tampa Bay Lightning inthis series, including a helper in two of those contests.
Canadiens vs Lightning Game 7 same-game parlay
The Lightning and Canadiens have combined for Under 5.5 goals in every meeting this series outside of Game 1. It’ll be another tight, low-scoring battle in Game 7.
Brandon Hagel has found the scoresheet in five of six contests and co-leads all skaters in the series with eight points. He also ranks second on Tampa Bay in ice time per game (25:21).
Montreal is 8-2 SU in its last 10 road games. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Lightning.
How to watch Canadiens vs Lightning Game 7
Location
Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL
Date
Sunday, May 3, 2026
Puck drop
6:00 p.m. ET
TV
TNT
Canadiens vs Lightning latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
In the few weeks that have passed since the Vancouver Canucks fired General Manager Patrik Allvin, a sea of names have popped up in various reports on who could be next in line for the role. From Jim Rutherford’s initial ringing endorsement of Assistant General Manager Ryan Johnson, to newer names like Brett Peterson and Evan Gold, here is a list of 10 names mentioned in reports surrounding the Canucks’ GM search.
Ryan Johnson, Canucks AGM & Abbotsford Canucks GM
Johnson has been with the Canucks organization since the 2013–14 season, first acting as a Development Coach before stepping into management in 2017–18 with then AHL-affiliate Utica Comets. In 2022–23, his role with Vancouver shifted from Director of Player Development to Special Assistant to the GM, before evolving to Assistant GM in 2024–25.
Kevyn Adams, Buffalo Sabres GM (Former)
Adams was fired by the Sabres in December of 2025, ending a tenure with the organization that had lasted since the 2009–10 season. During his time with Buffalo, Adams served as a:
Development Coach (2009–10 to 2010–11),
Assistant Coach (2011–12 to 2012–13),
Director (2013–14 to 2018–19),
Youth Hockey Supervisor (2013–14 to 2018–19),
Vice President (2019–20),
And General Manager (2020–21 to 2025–26).
Vancouver required permission to interview Adams due to the fact that the former GM is still under contract with the Sabres.
Ryan Bowness, New York Islanders AGM
Son of former Canucks Assistant Coach Rick Bowness, Ryan, currently the Islanders’ Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel, has been in scouting and management roles at the NHL level since 2009–10. From 2009–10 to 2012–13, he acted as the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets’ Team Manager, before transitioning into a pro scout. His tenure with the Jets organization ended when he joined the Pittsburgh Penguins in a pro-scouting role in 2016–17, where he was ultimately elevated to Director of Pro Scouting in 2019–20. Bowness then joined the Ottawa Senators organization as an Assistant General Manager and General Manager of the Belleville Senators of the AHL (2022–23 to 2024–25) before joining the Islanders.
Shane Doan, Toronto Maple Leafs’ Special Assistant To The GM
While not necessarily confirmed to be considered for the GM role, reports circulated that Vancouver had requested permission to interview Doan, a former NHL veteran with 20+ years of experience. After 13 years of captaining the Arizona Coyotes, Doan began his management career as an owner of the Kamloops Blazers before adding on team consultant and general manager work for Team Canada (2018–19 to 2022–23). He joined the Maple Leafs as Special Assistant to the GM in 2023–24 and has occupied this role since.
Bill Scott, Edmonton Oilers AGM
Scott, who has been with the Oilers organization since the 2010–11 season, was reported to be having a Zoom interview with the Canucks sometime this week. Throughout this span of time, he has served as:
The Oilers’ former AHL-affiliate, the Oklahoma City Barons, General Manager (2010–11 to 2013–14),
Edmonton’s Assistant General Manager (2014–15 to 2015–16, 2022–23 to current),
The Bakersfield Condors’ General Manager (2015–16 to 2017–18),
And Director of Hockey Operations with an emphasis on salary cap management as Director (2016–17 to 2021–22).
Brett Peterson, Florida Panthers AGM
Peterson is one of the newer names added to the list of potential Canucks General Manager candidates, with his name being floated through reports on Wednesday. The Panthers Assistant General Manager has held his current role since the 2020–21 season, also taking on roles with Team USA at the IIHF World Championships since 2023–24. He’ll serve as Team USA’s General Manager for the 2025–26 World Championship for the second time in his career after acting as Assistant GM in 2024–25.
Evan Gold, Boston Bruins AGM & Providence Bruins GM
Pascall has been a member of the Flames’ management team since the 2014–15 season, working as an Assistant General Manager for all 11 seasons. He has also served as the Flames AHL-affiliate’s General Manager — with the Stockton Heat from 2015–16 to 2016–17 and in 2021–22, as well as the Wranglers from 2022–23 to now. Pascall has also taken on various General Manager and Assistant General Manager roles with Team Canada at the Spengler Cup (2012–13, 2013–14, 2023–24, 2024–25), World Championships (1998–99, 2013–14), and U20 (2007–08) and U18 (2008–09, 2009–10) World Junior Championships.
Jeff Tambellini, Tampa Bay Lightning AGM & Syracuse Crunch GM
The 2025–26 season was Tambellini’s first time acting as an Assistant General Manager for an NHL team, though he has previous experience in the role at different levels. The former Canuck served as the Trail Smoke Eaters’ GM and Head Coach in 2018–19 and 2019–20, before ultimately joining the Lightning as a college scout. He was the Seattle Kraken’s Director of Player Development from 2022–23 to 2024–25, as he went back to Tampa Bay for the 2025–26 season.
Jamie Langenbrunner, Boston Bruins AGM
Like fellow candidate Gold, Langenbrunner has spent the entirety of his NHL management career with the Bruins. He joined the organization as a Development Coach in 2015–16 before being elevated to Director of Player Development in 2019–20. In 2022–23, Langenbrunner once again saw his role change, as he became an Assistant General Manager for the Bruins and has stayed in this role since.
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'There's A Lot To Build On': Penguins Confident 2025-26 Season Is Just The Starting Point For ContentionAfter being eliminated from the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs by the Philadelphia Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins are confident that they'll be back in the post-season in the years to come.
