Joined by Rocco from Isles House, we remember enforcer Trevor Gillies, who was a much more complex individual than his monstrous reputation would suggest.
Trevor Gillies had spent a decade in the minors fighting across North America before he finally got regular NHL playing time for a young Islanders team that needed a lot of protection. While his toughness and fearlessness instantly made him a fan favorite, those same qualities – plus one very scary image in one of the craziest melees in NHL history – made him a villain to outsiders. Getting two long suspensions in short order for two questionable actions made his time on Long Island brief. But he left a lasting impression upon those who both watched and played with him that’s only grown over time.
Rocco tells us how Gillies became one of his favorite Islanders fighters of all time, how he appreciated his list of bouts against combatants of various sizes and how Fight Night 2011 against the Penguins and its many storylines created a bond with that era that won’t be broken anytime soon. In addition to the degree of “heavy metal” Gillies brought to the Islanders, we also marvel at his insane ECHL stats, some of his former teammates and, of course, his glorious mustache.
Huge thanks again to Rocco for coming on and sharing his stories and his pizza tips. You should already be listening to him and previous Weird Islanders guests Jack and Ethan on the Isles House podcast. Or stop by Cafe Dolce Vita in either Jericho and Deer Park, grab a slice and say hello.
WEIRD BONUS MATERIAL
After 10 years in the minors, one game with Anaheim and 50 games with Bridgeport, Gillies established himself as the Islanders Enforcer of The Future in 2010.
Shockingly, he has lots of fights on YouTube! Here’s Gillies versus mouth-breathing dipshit idiot caveman Paul Bissonnette:
Gillies versus the late Derek Boogaard (RIP). Our boy lands on top but takes a lot of punishment:
Gillies vessus another fellow Weird Islander Mike Rupp
Then there was Fight Night. His most infamous altercation was against the Penguins on Feb. 11, 2011. Gillies pummeled Pittsburgh’s Eric Tangredi and looked to be taunting him from the tunnel. But that’s not really what happened.
Many saw the man for the complex person he is (and we all are). He had a job and did it. It turns out, he wasn’t an unrepentant killing machine. He could even be an inspiration. But by all accounts, he was also a great teammate. Here are two heartwarming videos: one is some friendly competition between he and, another Weird Islander, Kirill Kabanov.
And here’s Trevor and his dad Murray and their bad ass mustaches (Murray’s was first)
Believe it or not, Gillies even scored a goal for the Islanders. A nice one, too:
Gillies still loves talking about the old days and has a great sense of humor about his hockey career. You might even see him at an Islanders game!
What makes a “Weird Islander?”
We’re always open to suggestions about other Weird Islanders to discuss. Remember the criteria. Candidates must fulfill one of the two of the following:
Played one (1) season or less for the Islanders or very short stints over multiple seasons.
Be a veteran NHLer who is not generally associated with his time on Islanders.
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 13: Bradly Nadeau #29 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates his first period goal against the Philadelphia Flyers with Charles Alexis Legault #62, Jesperi Kotkaniemi #82, and Nikolaj Ehlers #27 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Then there were … 16. Expanded playoff formats across all sports makes that sound far less dramatic, but The Stanley Cup Playoffs are upon us. It has been an incredible season of hockey with young players establishing themselves as the superstars of the future, stunning trades that took us aback, and an Olympic break which was absolutely devoid of any political drama whatsoever.
The field is now set with 13 teams from the USA and three from Canada trying to capture the most difficult prize in team sports. This year everything is up in the air with the Florida Panthers crashing to earth, meaning we will see a new team hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup. Let’s look at the full field and rank them from the most-likely to win it all, to the least.
No. 1: Colorado Avalanche
The President’s Trophy (awarded to the No. 1 regular-season team) has been a serious jinx when it comes to winning the biggest prize in the sport. You have to go back to 2013 to find the last time a team won both the President’s and the Stanley Cup — but I’m not going to let superstition get in the way with this pick.
The Colorado Avalanche are a phenomenal team. Finishing with 54 wins and 116 points they’d have an even more dominant record if not for a late-second injury to Cale Makar that has sidelined him while this team waited for the playoffs to start. Anchored by Nathan McKinnon, the best player in hockey, the Avs have so much high-end talent on their roster that they seem primed for the playoffs.
It’s very difficult to find a discernible weakness here, with Colorado finishing the season with a preposterous +97 goal differential. At this point the only thing stopping them from going all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals appears to be if Makar’s injury lingers, but it shouldn’t — and they are absolutely the favorites to do it all.
No. 2: Carolina Hurricanes
Nobody else in the NHL approaches hockey the same way as the Carolina Hurricanes, which is both their biggest blessing and their worst curse. Coach Rod Brind’Amour’s brand of hockey puts a premium on even, multi-line play without an emphasis on star players. It’s for this reason that superstars often choose to avoid the Canes in free agency, but this team found its missing piece with Nikolaj Ehlers, who moved past a slow start to the season to become the most consistent player on the team.
Boasting SIX 50-point players this season is something few in the league can claim, including the mighty Avs. Carolina is incredibly deep, attacks from seemingly anywhere, but as a result, also lacks the top-end star power often needed to carry a team to the cup. Couple that with incredibly shaky goaltending and we’re left with a very, very good team that’s unquestionably the best in the East — but lacks that x-factor who can put everyone on their back and carry the team in tough game.
No. 3: Dallas Stars
The biggest knock on the Stars is that they play in the same conference as the Avalanche. There’s no question Dallas had a great season by finishing with another 100+ point season, but it’s impossible to look at this team and feel just a little bit let down.
Mikko Rantanen has been very good, but a far cry from the 55-goal monster he was in Colorado, scoring netting just 22 on the year. He’s made up for that with his passing, where Wyatt Johnson has been the biggest goal-scoring benefactor, but a lack of solid center play outside of Johnson really makes this team stand out from the field.
Having good center play is absolutely critical in the playoffs, and it’s for this reason that the Stars lag just a little behind. Relying too much on their wings to push the tempo of the game hasn’t been a recipe for success, and it feels like this team is just one puck distributor away from being able to cement themselves as Stanley Cup favorites.
No. 4: Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning are more or less the same team they’ve been for several years now. For whatever reason the organization just keeps running it back and trying again, without a lot of adjustments being made to their core. This is fine with the caliber of players Tampa has in Nikita Kucherov, Jake Guentzel, Matthew Hagel, and Andrei Vasilevskiy in net — but beyond those guys the team falls off a cliff.
We’re left with a team in the East that has a higher top-end than some of its competitors, but much weaker depth. That’s more or less the rub on the Lightning and why they fall to 4th in our rankings.
No. 5: Buffalo Sabres
It’s really, really fun to see the Sabres back in the NHL Playoffs for the first time since 2011 and the team has all the trappings of a unit that can continue to build of this season. The core issue is that they’re too young and too inexperienced to be considered high-level contenders quite yet. Playoff hockey might as well be a completely different sport, which tends to chew up teams that aren’t ready for the tactical grind.
It was extremely tempting to put the Sabres above the Lightning considering regular season success, but I think Tampa and Carolina both have the ability to reach down and find a gear the Sabres are still lacking.
No. 6: Minnesota Wild
The Wild would be higher on this list if not for the division they play in. They have a lot of top-end talent with Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, and Quinn Hughes — but too often this team relies on stellar netminding to eke out games.
It’s going to be very difficult to grind out games hovering around the league average in goals-for and goals-against when you have to go through the Stars and Avalanche to make it to the cup. This was a big, necessary step forward for the Wild to get off the treadmill from being an easy Wild Card out, but they still lack some line depth to really make a deep run.
The good news is they have a stellar prospect pool coming up, it’s just a touch too early for them.
No. 7: Montreal Canadiens
It’s wonderful that the Canadiens are back in the playoffs. There’s just something special about the Bell Centre being full for playoff hockey, and having another original six legend back in the hunt just makes it all feel more special.
So, with all due respect to Montreal, they’re not ready yet. I’m giving them an outside chance because they are better than several Eastern Conference teams on this list, with a penchant for rising to the occasion, but they’re also average in a lot of key areas like power play, penalty kill, and goals against.
This makes the Habs a little one-dimensional. They have five core players, with the third and fourth lines being a major liability. That makes the Canadiens a team to watch in the future, but not quite yet.
No. 8: Boston Bruins
Lack of wing strength (aside from David Pastrňák) is a major weakness for the Bruins who lack those reliable 2nd and 3rd scoring options. In order to win in these playoffs they need stellar play from the defense, and the centers to win their individual battles — which is certainly possible for a game of two, but not in a seven-game series.
Leading up to the playoffs the Bruins lost three straight games to Eastern Conference playoff teams. They were competitive in each game, but it did underscore the weaknesses of this roster, which is still a few pieces away. Another case of it just being a touch too soon, the Bruins have a really strong prospect pool coming down the pipeline.
No. 9: Las Vegas Golden Knights
It isn’t often you see a team fire its coach less than a month before the playoffs when they’re still in the hunt, but making the switch to John Tortorella was a bold move that had huge results down the stretch. The Knights went 7-0-1 with Tortorella as head coach, finally finding the gear that Vegas has been missing this season.
Goal scoring has been the big issue for this team throughout the season, with scoring being down across the board from a year ago. In 2024-25 the Vegas was 5th in the NHL in goals scored, but that fell to 14th this season. This was compounded by also allowing more goals than a year ago, making this just a much weaker team in general. Tortorella could work his magic, but this team is starting to show its age a little.
No. 10: Utah Mammoth
Utah have been another feel-good story this year with the Mammoth having expansion team success and making the playoffs in just their second season. A team that loves to grind out games with strong forechecking and reliable defense, the team ranked 10th in the NHL this season in both goals allowed and goals scored.
Just making it this far is a major accomplishment. There’s also a very real chance they could win an opening series against the Golden Knights, who are substantially weaker this season than in year’s past. The issue is that eventually the Pacific Division has to face the Central, which is where the Avs, Stars, and Wild are located.
No. 11: Pittsburgh Penguins
You have to be a die-hard Pens hater not to like the romance of Sidney Crosby getting another shot at playoff hockey, which could be one of the last in his career. This is an old team that leans far too much on Crosby to still make things happen at age 38, without enough youth support behind him.
This has more or less been the story of the Penguins for the last several years, as they’ve struggled to build out their roster in a way that can compete consistently. An emotionally-charged opening series against the Flyers will likely lead to the winner facing Carolina in the second round, and it’s near-impossible to see them making it past the Canes.
No. 12: Ottawa Senators
The Senators found their way into the playoffs as the final wild card in the east and boast a deep roster with a varied attack. The problem putting them any higher is twofold: Firstly, they have substantial goaltending issues that have plagued the team this season, and secondly, they face the Hurricanes in the opening round.
No. 13: Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers are the same team they’ve been for years now. Connor McDavid is arguably the best player in hockey, Leon Draisaitl is a monster, and Evan Bouchard is one of the best offensive blueliners in the game. This team is a mess defensively, and it’s been for a while now. Ranking 25th in goals allowed, Edmonton has to overwhelm on the offensive end to win. With this playoff field it’s just not going to work.
No. 14: Philadelphia Flyers
So much about the Flyers doesn’t make sense. They’re below the league average in goals scored and allowed, their goaltending is inconsistent, and there’s a lot to love about this team — but just not yet. The future is so bright in Philly with Trevor Zegras and Matvei Michkov, but the playoffs are often determined by veteran talent that can even out a roster and bring much-needed stability. That’s something the Flyers lack right now, and it’s tough to see them making a deep run.
No. 15: Anaheim Ducks
This was a building block season for the Ducks that achieved its goals. One of the youngest teams in hockey, there was huge growth from Anaheim’s stars who are in their early 20s, showing incredible promise for the future. This team doesn’t have what it takes to hang in the playoffs hight not, but wait a few years, and with some smart moves this will be a potential Stanley Cup winning team.
No. 16: Los Angeles Kings
The Kings are in because the depth of the west is incredibly weak. I know that sounds harsh, but with a -22 goal differential this season and a roster lacking impact players means they’re going to be eaten alive by the Avalanche in the opening round. It is what it is.
Mar 29, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Trevor Zegras (46) controls the puck against the Dallas Stars in the second period at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
After two years of non-stop trade rumors and stagnant development, the Anaheim Ducks finally made the decision to trade forward Trevor Zegras this past offseason. In exchange for sending Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers, the Ducks received second-and fourth-round picks as well as veteran forward (and former Pittsburgh Penguins forward) Ryan Poehling.
At the time, I loved it from a Flyers perspective and thought it was at least a little bit of a risk for the Ducks. The upside for the Flyers is they get a top-line talent that could change some games. The downside for the Ducks, at the very least, is they look bad if a talented forward goes elsewhere and blossoms.
Even though Zegras had reached a plateau with the Ducks with obvious frustration on both sides, he was still only entering his age 24 season, still had big talent and untapped potential, and had at least shown glimpses of being a productive NHL player. Given that the cost was only a couple of mid-round picks and a completely replaceable player, it was a good gamble to take. Especially for a team that needed to find way to add more offense and high-level skill to its lineup.
For the most part, Zegras delivered.
The fresh start seemed to help re-ignite his playmaking and offensive potential, while he has also seemed to fully embrace being a Flyer.
Zegras finished with career highs in goals (26) and total points (67), while finishing just two goals and one point off the team lead in each category.
His biggest impact on the Flyers success and turnaround this season, however, are numbers that do not show up on the traditional stat sheet. It might be the reason the Flyers are even here.
The Flyers’ 27 regulation wins are not only the fewest among Eastern Conference playoff teams, they are the only team in the field that did not win at least 33 games in regulation. In the Western Conference, only Pacific Division teams Anaheim and the Los Angeles Kings (26 and 22 respectively) failed to win at least 30 games in regulation. They relied heavily on games that went beyond regulation, winning six games during 3-on-3 and a whopping 10 games in shootouts, more than any other team in the NHL.
Zegras’ contributions to those games can not be overlooked.
He led the NHL with seven shootout goals, while also scoring an overtime winner. Do they win 10 shootouts without him? Probably not. Do they have enough points to finish ahead of Washington with even half of those shootout wins? No they do not.
All of that alone has made him worth it for the Flyers.
The potential downside for the Flyers here, aside from his defensive shortcomings still being there at times, is the obvious fact that 3-on-3 overtime and shootouts are no longer a thing in the playoffs. They are going to have to rely on winning games at 5-on-5, and while they have been better later in the season, only 10 of their 19 wins since Feb. 1 came during regulation.
That’s not to say that Zegras has been a non-factor in more traditional hockey settings.
During 5-on-5 play his 0.72 goals per 60 minutes are 178th out of 384 forwards that logged at least 500 minutes, while his 0.92 primary assists per 60 minutes were 36th, demonstrating strong playmaking abilities. Overall his 1.94 total points per 60 minutes were 104th out of that group of forwards. That is fringe first-second line production. He has the potential to be a problem to deal with offensively.
They needed somebody that could deliver more offense and impact games. Zegras did both. In a traditional sense (being their best playmaker) and non-traditional sense (swinging games and the standings in shootouts).
He is one of the big reasons they are here. Now we get to see what he does now that they are here.
The Battle of Pennsylvania is on for the first time since the 2018 postseason with the Philadelphia Flyers visiting the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday, April 18.
My top Flyers vs. Penguins predictions and NHL picks are calling for Philly to continue its late season surge with a low-scoring road upset in Game 1.
Flyers vs Penguins Game 1 prediction
Flyers vs Penguins best bet: Under 6.5 (-130)
The Philadelphia Flyers were dominant defensively at five-on-five down the stretch with the fewest goals against and second-fewest expected goals against per 60 minutes during their NHL best 15-5-1 run after the March 6 trade deadline.
Excellent defense will be critical against the Pittsburgh Penguins because the Pens paced the league in goals per 60 minutes and team shooting percentage at 5-on-5 during the same result.
I’m anticipating the solid Philly defense to help kick-start statistical correction to the shooting efficiency from Pittsburgh and pave the way to this total going Under the number in Game 1.
Flyers vs Penguins Game 1 same-game parlay
The Flyers received a huge boost with Porter Martone joining the team down the stretch, and he’s collected 10 points – four goals – across his first nine NHL games, including hitting the scoresheet in each of the past six.
Martone projects to jump the boards with veterans Christian Dvorak and Travis Konecny, and the trio have posted a 57.1% shot share at five-on-five. So, with Konecny dropping to a 1.5 shots total, this is the perfect spot to target him after recording just seven shots across his final six games of the regular season.
Konecny frequently trades at a 2.5 shots total, and he recorded two or more shots in 51 of 77 regular-season games.
Flyers vs Penguins SGP
Flyers moneyline
Porter Martone Over 0.5 points
Travis Konecny Over 1.5 shots
Flyers vs Penguins Game 1 goal scorer pick
Travis Konecny (+270)
Flyers winger Travis Konecny only scored twice across his final 13 games of the regular season despite recording 3.67 individual expected goals and 14 high-danger scoring chances while averaging 18:20 of ice time and jumping the boards with the No. 1 power-play unit. His 7.4 shooting percentage during the skid was also way below his 17.7% mark through the first 64 games of the season.
Flyers vs Penguins odds for Game 1
Moneyline: Philadelphia +125 | Pittsburgh -150
Puck Line: Philadelphia +1.5 (-183) | Pittsburgh -1.5 (+183)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+105) | Under 6.5 (-130)
Flyers vs Penguins trend
The Philadelphia Flyers have won 18 of their last 25 games (+15.20 Units / 56% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Flyers vs. Penguins.
How to watch Flyers vs Penguins Game 1
Location
PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
Date
Saturday, April 18, 2026
Puck drop
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN, SN
Flyers vs Penguins 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.
The Ottawa Senators' torrid pace post-Olympics has set them up for a first-round clash with the Carolina Hurricanes, with Game 1 taking place on Saturday, April 18 at Lenovo Center.
My Senators vs. Hurricanes predictions and NHL picks suggest that, despite the Hurricanes advancing past the first round in five consecutive seasons, fans may be in for a closer series than many anticipate thanks to the exploits of Ottawa players like Dylan Cozens.
Senators vs Hurricanes Game 1 prediction
Senators vs Hurricanes best bet: Dylan Cozens Over 0.5 points (+115)
Dylan Cozens finished the regular season third in scoring for the Ottawa Senators, registering a point in five of his last six games.
He notched a multi-point performance in a 6-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on April 5, and had four points in two games against them this season.
Perhaps more importantly, the Yukon native strung together a four-game point streak to help secure a second consecutive postseason berth for the Sens.
Furthermore, his 28 shots in the month of April are nine more than his closest teammates, a testament to his level of confidence right now.
Senators vs Hurricanes Game 1 same-game parlay
Taylor Hall has been one of Carolina's most productive forwards post-Olympics. The 2010 first-overall pick ranks fourth on the team with 21 points in 23 games since the break, ending the regular season notching eight points across the final six games.
Both him and Cozens are generously priced at +115 to hit the scoresheet in Raleigh on Saturday.
The Senators, similarly red-hot since Milan, have failed to cover the spread against the Hurricanes just once in their last five meetings. Heading into Game 1, they've covered the spread in six straight and in seven of eight games in April.
Senators vs Hurricanes SGP
Dylan Cozens Over 0.5 points
Taylor Hall Over 0.5 points
Senators +1.5
Senators vs Hurricanes Game 1 goal scorer pick
Andrei Svechnikov (+195)
Andrei Svechnikov has scored in six of his last seven games, hitting his stride at the perfect time.
The 2018 second-overall pick led the 'Canes with eight playoff goals last season, and has scored in three straight games against Atlantic Division opponents. He scored against the Senators on April 5.
Four of his last six goals have come via the power play, which matches up well against the Sens' abysmal 29th-ranked penalty kill.
This matchup has hit the Over in three of the last four games, with the winner scoring at least four goals in eight of the last nine. Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Hurricanes.
How to watch Senators vs Hurricanes Game 1
Location
Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC
Date
Saturday, April 18, 2026
Puck drop
3:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN, SN
Senators vs Hurricanes 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.
The search for a new head of hockey operations for the Toronto Maple Leafs continues, and word has surfaced that a franchise legend might be in the mix. TSN’s Chris Johnston reports that Mats Sundin is currently in Toronto to meet with the club regarding a potential role within the team’s new management structure.
Mats Sundin is in Toronto to meet with the #leafs about a potential role in the new management structure, per sources
This is not the first time Sundin has been linked to a possible increased role with the organization. The Hockey Hall of Famer attended the Leafs’ training camp in 2024, where he spent nearly a week engaging in activities that went far beyond typical alumni appearances. During that time, he traveled with the roster to an exhibition game against the Montreal Canadiens.
Following Brendan Shanahan’s departure in 2025, many believed his position might be replaced by a role that is not as involved in day-to-day roster decisions as a general manager would be. This shift comes after MLSE CEO Keith Pelley parted ways with GM Brad Treliving on March 30, 2025, following a disappointing season where the Leafs went 32-36-14 and missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
While Sundin typically prefers a quiet life in Sweden, he was asked about a potential return to the game when the club visited Stockholm for the 2023 Global Series. At that time, he notably did not dismiss the idea as he had in the past. Sundin’s return would bring significant goodwill to a franchise currently struggling to find its identity. Over his 18-season NHL career with the Leafs, Quebec Nordiques, and Vancouver Canucks, he amassed 564 goals and 785 assists across 1,346 games.
With the regular season finally coming to an end on Thursday night, the NHL released the schedule for the first round of the playoffs shortly after midnight. As had been heavily rumored over the last few days, the Montreal Canadiens will kick off their first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, and it’s fair to say that the schedule leaves something to be desired.
There are three Canadian teams in the spring dance: the Habs, the Ottawa Senators, and the Edmonton Oilers, and none of them will be in action on Saturday night. In a country where hockey is pretty much a religion, with its faithful expecting their weekly sermon on Hockey Night in Canada, the masses will have to make do with a Saturday matinee, a Sunday almost-night, and a late Monday-night game.
The commissioner and the NHL are well aware that Canadian viewers will watch the games whenever and wherever they are set, which means they are focusing their energy on courting the American market; that is why the Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins get the primetime Saturday night slot. While it was to be expected, after all, the only two playoff games in Montreal last season took place on a Friday and a Sunday night, it’s still disappointing.
In any case, here is the Canadiens’ (and yours) schedule for the first round:
Game 1: Sunday, April 19, Tampa Bay 5:45 PM Game 2: Tuesday, April 21, Tampa Bay 7:00 PM Game 3: Friday, April 24, Montreal 7:00 PM Game 4: Sunday, April 26, Montreal 7:00 PM *Game 5: Wednesday, April 29, Tampa Bay TBD *Game 6: Friday, May 1, Montreal TBD *Game 7: Sunday, May 3, Tampa Bay TBD * if necessary
Even if the series goes the distance, there won’t be any Saturday night games for the Habs faithful in this first round.
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - MARCH 25: Sam Carrick #10 and Zach Benson #6 of the Buffalo Sabres battle for position in front of Joonas Korpisalo #70 of the Boston Bruins against Mason Lohrei #6 and Fraser Minten #93 during an NHL game on March 25, 2026 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Spring is in the air and it’s that time of year again: the best part of the season for hockey fans. The first round of the NHL playoffs is one of the top parts of the whole calendar with eight series all simultaneously providing the highs and lows of playoff hockey.
Let’s take a stab at the first round, but given the preseason projections here and everywhere, maybe this is the year to expect the unexpected.
Buffalo Sabres (Atlantic 1) vs. Boston Bruins (Wild Card 1)
It still is surreal that the Sabres are a first place team, emphatically ending a 16-year playoff drought. Their reward for that great season seems like a cruel joke to draw a 100-point Boston Bruins team in the first round. The Bruins’ soft road record (16-16-9) looms large in what undoubtedly will be a beyond fired up, passionate Sabres crowd finally getting a chance to cheer on playoff hockey after all these years. Usually atmospheres and intangibles don’t make a huge difference, but sometimes they do (the mind turns to the rabid Pirates crowd hosting a playoff game as a suitable comparable). Having the home ice advantage could and should be a factor within this series in Buffalo’s benefit, for whatever it ends up being worth.
In the end, I don’t think Boston (14th in the NHL with 3.01 goals/game allowed) is strong enough defensively to slow Buffalo down. The Sabres wagon rolls into the next round, to the delight of a delirious crowd.
Prediction: Sabres in 6
Tampa Bay Lightning (Atlantic 2) vs. Montreal Canadiens (Atlantic 3)
Two 106-point teams square off in the first round that could be about a coin flip to find an edge. Tampa profiles as a sort of old guard with several pieces hanging around from their 2020 and 2021 Stanley Cup wins. Montreal is the other side of the coin with many great young players hungry to take the next step. Both teams have a ton of firepower, the Nikita Kucherov led Lightning are 4th in the NHL with 3.51 goals per game, the Canadiens with 50-goal man Cole Caufield aren’t far behind in 7th with 3.40 goals/game themselves.
On one hand, I wouldn’t be shocked at all if Tampa ended up being the Eastern Conference champions when the smoke clears. On the other hand, I can’t shake that since March 8th Jakub Dobes has a 9-4-0 record with a 2.22 GAA and .924 save% while Andrei Vasilevskiy isn’t exactly playing great lately (12-8-1 record, .899 save% since the Olympic break). I think Montreal has enough speed and skill to make it more competitive than the lopsided betting line would suggest (was seeing it at -250 for Tampa and +205 for Montreal earlier in the week). With much hesitancy and reluctance, I’m smelling an upset brewing.
Prediction: Montreal in 7
Carolina Hurricanes (Metropolitan 1) vs. Ottawa Senators (Wild Card 2)
This matchup represents a fantastic styles clash. Ottawa was the No. 1 team in the NHL in expected goals against but suffered from some of the worst goaltending in the league. That’s perhaps been rectified somewhat by the stability of Linus Ullmark (with an above average .908 save% in his last 14 games) but still is going to be a shaky proposition until proven otherwise. Their opponent, Carolina, remains the analytic darlings for second in xGoals for and xGoals Share, but struggles at finishing chances (29th, per Hockeystats.com). Who wins the battle between Carolina’s strong generation/weak finishing and Ottawa’s great suppression/bad goaltending will make for some incredible theatre.
Carolina is 6-0 in first rounds under coach Rod Brind’Amour, besides the August COVID bubble playoff of 2020. I don’t see that streak coming to an end this spring, though I really do like this potential matchup for Ottawa. There’s a way if things break differently that they could have a real chance, but in the end I’m going to call it as a series short in games which belies how tight most of the games will be.
Prediction: Carolina in 5
Pittsburgh Penguins (Metropolitan 2) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (Metropolitan 3)
Two surprise playoff teams from Pennsylvania matchup in what never fails to live up to the hype. We’ve talked a ton about this so to keep it short and sweet, I think the Penguins are better and/or deeper at every place on the ice, also aided by the fact that Pittsburgh is good in the first period (outscoring opponents 93-68 this season) and the Flyers are not (getting outscored 65-68). The Pens are used to being in the lead, having lead the third most minutes in the whole league. The Flyers are used to chasing games, and the playoffs are no time to consistently dig holes. Put yourself in enough holes and someone is bound to bury you, and let’s face it, Sidney Crosby always buries the Flyers as it is. It won’t be a smooth road, Penguins/Flyers is naturally going to have it’s twists and turns along the way but in the end the Pens continue onto the next round.
On Thursday, former New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson was honored for skating in his 1,000th NHL game when the Colorado Avalanche hosted the Seattle Kraken for their regular-season finale.
He reached the milestone back on Monday against the Edmonton Oilers, in Edmonton.
Former Islanders teammates Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas, Cal Clutterbuck, and Josh Bailey, along with their wives, were in attendance for the celebration.
During his 1,000-game tribute video, his longtime Islanders' teammates Anders Lee and Ryan Pulock, along with Bo Horvat, had some words for their former No. 29:
bo horvat, ryan pulock, and anders lee congratulating brock nelson on his 1000th game 🥹 pic.twitter.com/WMo4Z8GFxK
Drafted 30th overall at the 2010 NHL Draft, Nelson played 901 regular-season games for the Islanders, recording 574 points (295 goals, 279 assists) over the span of 12 seasons.
Dealt to the Avalanche ahead of the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, Nelson has played 99 games for his new team, recording 78 points (27 goals, 26 assists), scoring 30 goals this season with 32 assists for 65 points.
Nelson and the Avalanche host the Los Angeles Kings, with Game 1 on Sunday, April 19 at 1 PM ET.
BOSTON - APRIL 26: Miroslav Satan #81 of the Boston Bruins celebrates his game winning goal in the third period against the Buffalo Sabres in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on April 26, 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeated the Sabres 4-3 to win the series. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After the regular season officially concluded late on Thursday night, the NHL finally released the full schedule for the first round series between YOUR Boston Bruins and the Buffalo Sabres.
Bruins vs. Sabres schedule
As you know, the Sabres are the higher seed and will have home-ice advantage in the first round. Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 will be in Buffalo, with games 3, 4, and 6 at TD Garden.
Game 1: Sunday, April 19, 7:30 PM
Game 2: Tuesday, April 21, 7:30 PM
Game 3: Thursday, April 23, 7 PM
Game 4: Sunday, April 26, 2 PM
Game 5: Tuesday, April 28, TBD
Game 6: Friday, May 1, TBD
Game 7: Sunday, May 3, TBD
Bruins vs. Sabres TV channels
While the NHL website doesn’t specify this, a release from the Bruins confirms that all first round games will be broadcast on NESN locally.
This is in keeping with the usual tradition/contractual obligations, where teams’ regular season broadcasters get the first round before everything moves to national channels in the second round.
As you can see below, these games will still be broadcast on the national channels as well, but should be available on good ol’ NESN in the New England area.
Game 1: NESN, ESPN, SN360, TVAS
Game 2: NESN, ESPN, SN360, TVAS
Game 3: NESN, TNT, TruTV, HBO Max, SN360, TVAS
Game 4: NESN, TNT, TruTV, HBO Max, SN360, TVAS
Game 5: NESN, TBD
Game 6: NESN, TBD
Game 7: NESN, TBD
Bruins vs. Sabres radio broadcast schedule
Per the B’s, Games 1 through 4 are confirmed to be broadcast on 98.5 The Sports Hub, with “TBD” after that.
Normally, the games being on 98.5 would be, to use an appropriate metaphor, a lay-up.
However, Celtics games are also broadcast on 98.5 The Sports Hub, and their first round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers will conflict with the Bruins-Sabres series on:
Tuesday, April 21
Sunday, April 26
Tuesday, April 28
(Both teams have games on Sunday, April 19, as well, but the Celtics game is at 1 PM.)
As things look at the moment, it will be the Celtics who get bumped to 105.7 FM, with the B’s remaining on 98.5.
I know the formatting for this post is a little annoying, but…SEO, Apple News, etc. You get the idea.
Overall, this is a pretty standard schedule for the B’s, though the series does have two built-in back-to-back days off, which can help both teams during a rough-and-tumble playoff series.
A Sunday afternoon home playoff game at TD Garden should be a pretty fun atmosphere.
I’d imagine the Bruins-Sabres series should be near the top of the league leaderboard when it comes to eyeballs watching on TV in the United States, maybe only rivaled by the Flyers-Penguins series.
The Bruins always draw well on TV, and Buffalo is a leading “playoffs-on-TV” market even when the Sabres aren’t involved, so you can imagine how much the interest will spike with them back in the mix.
NHL playoff bracket challenge
Loyal SCOC reader tupty set up a Bracket Challenge over on the NHL website. For those unfamiliar, it’s basically like a March Madness bracket, where you pick your teams, series scores, etc.
There are plenty of recent Stanley Cup winners in the field, such as the Vegas Golden Knights (2023), Colorado Avalanche (2022) and Tampa Bay Lightning (2020, 2021).
And there are teams that are back in the hunt after long absences, such as the Buffalo Sabres, Anaheim Ducks, Utah Mammoth, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins.
So who survives the four-round grind and gets to skate around the ice with the Stanley Cup in June? USA TODAY's Mike Brehm, Jace Evans and Kevin Skiver make their predictions:
Stanley Cup Final: Colorado Avalanche vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Stanley Cup winner: Colorado Avalanche
Playoff MVP: Nathan MacKinnon
Yes, I know that the Presidents' Trophy winner rarely wins the Stanley Cup, but this Avalanche team is deep and has run the gauntlet before. The same applies to the Lightning. Both teams are coached by Stanley Cup winners who know how to push the right buttons. The Avalanche will prevail again in a rematch of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.
Jace Evans, USA TODAY
Stanley Cup Final: Montreal Canadiens vs. Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup winner: Edmonton Oilers
Playoff MVP: Connor McDavid
Canada, rejoice! Your drought will end! Or, I think it will, anyways. Yes, I am putting a lot of faith in the Connor Ingram (or Tristan Jarry!) Experience in net, but I am also putting my faith in Connor McDavid, the best player in the NHL. He just wrapped up his sixth scoring title and has led the playoffs in scoring three of the past four seasons. He's a proven postseason performer in the prime of his career. You could say the same for Leon Draisaitl, assuming he's on the verge of a return. The biggest factor for Edmonton, though, might be its potential postseason path — the Pacific Division road is the smoothest, on paper.
Kevin Skiver, USA TODAY
Stanley Cup Final: Dallas Stars vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Stanley Cup winner: Dallas Stars
Playoff MVP: Mikko Rantanen
The Stars have been knocking on the door in the playoffs for a while, but something in the West has continued to hold them back. This year, they harness that experience and get over the hump to win the Stanley Cup, overcoming a Lightning team with a wealth of experience itself.
Since Montreal Canadiens’ sniper Cole Caufield climbed up the goal scorer list to eventually come short of catching up to Colorado Avalanche ace Nathan MacKinnon, who currently has 53 goals with one game to play, there have been a lot of comments about the nature of the Rocket Richard Trophy winner-to-be’s goals. Many have lamented the fact that the leading scorer has eight empty-netters to his name this season, while Caufield has none.
If empty netters were removed from the equation, the Habs’ leading goal scorer would be first in the league with 51 goals, followed by MacKinnon with 45 goals, and a pair of Dallas Stars forwards, Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston, who both have 44 goals.
While that’s an interesting stat, it just doesn’t matter. The Rocket Richard trophy was created to reward the league’s top scorer, the player who got the puck across the goal line the most times. Whichever way you look at it, that’s the way it’s defined in the NHL, and there had never been chatter about taking empty netters out of the equation before this season.
Whichever way you score a goal, it’s a goal, and it counts, as long as it’s in the game. The same cannot be said about the shootout, but that’s a whole different animal since it’s not during an actual game, but rather in what amounts to a one-on-one duel.
While an argument can be made about empty netters being easier to score, the same could probably be said about overtime goals, which are scored while playing three-on-three, which some would say is not proper hockey. Caufield leads the league in overtime goals this season with five, while MacKinnon has only one.
It’s easy to understand the Canadiens’ fanbase’s disappointment with the fact that Caufield was ultimately unable to win the Trophy that commemorates the career of one of the biggest names in Habs’ history, but the American is still young and in the early stages of his career. He’s 25 years old and has only played 368 NHL games so far; there are plenty more to come, and he won’t forget how to score goals. Patience, Canadiens’ fans, Caufield will be in the conversation for that trophy for years to come, and something tells me it’s only a matter of time before he captures it.
The Philadelphia Flyers made the Stanley Cup playoffs largely through hard work and discipline, and one veteran leader took the discipline part literally.
Going back to the Olympic break, the Flyers have been one of the least disciplined teams in the NHL with one of the least effective penalty kills, and special teams would have cost them a playoff spot if they didn't tread carefully.
According to Natural Stat Trick, the Flyers gave up 19 goals on the penalty kill over their last 26 games of the season, which is the fourth-most in the NHL dating back to Feb. 22.
Travis Sanheim, a penalty kill mainstay and the Flyers' No. 1 defenseman, went the entire final 26 games of the season without taking a single penalty.
That streak led to him playing 79:33 shorthanded, 16 minutes more than the next-closest player, Cam York, who played 63:25.
Over the course of the full season, Sanheim allowed 7.98 goals against per 60 minutes while shorthanded, while Rasmus Ristolainen (8.14), York (9.13), Emil Andrae (15.67), and Jamie Drysdale (15.98) were all more porous to varying degrees.
With that math in mind, we can only imagine how much worse the Flyers' penalty kill would have been without Sanheim.
In addition to keeping Andrae and Drysdale off the ice for special teams purposes, Sanheim's play had an impact on the overall lineup, too.
Much to the chagrin of Flyers fans, head coach Rick Tocchet had a penchant for substituting Andrae out with veteran Noah Juulsen specifically to utilize the latter on the penalty kill when needed.
But, from Feb. 22 to Game 82, Andrae led all Flyers defensemen in Corsi per 60 (53.6), Corsi percentage (52.08%), expected goals percentage (57.15%), scoring chance percentage (53.88%), and high-danger Corsi percentage (59.34%) at 5-on-5.
So, because Sanheim simply stayed out of the box and played hard for the final 26 games, a ripple effect occurred that benefitted the entire Flyers team.
Andrae, despite playing 69 minutes less at 5-on-5 than every other Flyers regular on defense, was one of their most effective, and he may not have gotten the opportunity if the disciplinary issues and lackluster penalty kill had gotten any worse.
In such an event, it would have been very easy to tempt Tocchet into turning to a trusted veteran when the stakes were highest.
Instead, Tocchet and the Flyers regularly iced their best lineup and reaped the rewards, culminating in their first playoff berth since 2020.
Sanheim, while not overly vocal, did his job as a respected leader on this team and led the defense by example.
The results followed, and now the Flyers get to compete for a Stanley Cup.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 18: Assistant General Manager, Head of Analytics Sunny Mehta for the Florida Panthers poses for his official headshot for the 2024-2025 NHL season on September 18, 2024 at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Mehta will be the hockey operations decision maker for the Devils. No immediate decisions on head coach Sheldon Keefe or any other staff. He will take time to evaluate. Media conference for introduction on Tuesday.
“The biggest takeaway from the New Jersey Devils‘ exit interviews is the one that didn’t happen. Star defenseman Dougie Hamilton ‘politely declined’ to interview with the media, remaining in hiding after his agent went public this winter with displeasure over a healthy scratch.” [New Jersey Hockey Now]
“I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that this is the most crucial offseason the organization has had in years. They have to get the front office structure right, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. There are quite a few big decisions ahead for the next GM, and that should lead to an offseason of intrigue in the Garden State.” [Devils on the Rush]
“…We have spent the past few weeks canvassing many of the top player agents in hockey for their thoughts on key big-picture questions from around the league. In all, The Athletic polled more than 20 agents, who combine to represent hundreds of NHL player contracts worth billions of dollars, on nine key questions facing the league and its future.” [The Athletic ($)]
“Auston Matthews avoided playing fortune teller when addressing his career moving forward long-term with the Maple Leafs. Toronto’s captain met with the media Thursday following the Leafs’ final regular-season game the night before, a loss to Ottawa that signaled the end of a lost season for Toronto. Matthews wasn’t in the lineup — he has been sidelined by a torn MCL since mid-March — but with the Leafs heading into a transitional phase after missing their first postseason since 2016-17, Matthews was noncommittal on what lies ahead for him in Toronto.” [ESPN]
“Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin said he’s ‘pretty sure’ that Tuesday’s season finale at Columbus won’t be his last game, as the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer contemplates retirement.” [ESPN]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 05: Egor Chinakhov #59 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in action during the game against the Philadelphia Flyers at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 5, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning…
In an alternate universe, Egor Chinakhov might be wearing blue and white and playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs reportedly tried to trade for Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets, including discussions around a swap involving Nick Robertson. They couldn’t finalize a deal before he was ultimately sent to the Pittsburgh Penguins. [PensBurgh]
Penguins forwards Connor Dewar and Blake Lizotte appear to be in the final stages of recovery from their respective maladies. When asked recently whether they would be able to suit up for Game 1 on Saturday night, both players said they were ready to “go.” [Trib Live]
Many within the Penguins’ locker room are embracing their return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after missing out in recent seasons, with players and coaches emphasizing that meaningful spring hockey is exactly what they worked for all year. [Trib Live]
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Plum native and ESPN host Pat McAfee made a friendly wager on the Penguins-Flyers first-round playoff series, with Shapiro backing Philadelphia and McAfee rooting for his hometown Penguins. If the Penguins win, Shapiro will wear a tank top to work; if the Flyers win, McAfee will wear a suit on his show. [Trib Live]
The Penguins are moving on from defenseman Matt Dumba after the team reportedly placed the veteran on waivers for contract termination. [TSN]
News and notes from around the NHL…
Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews has made waves in Hockey Mecca, creating uncertainty about his long-term future with the Leafs by refusing to commit beyond his current contract, saying he “can’t predict the future” as the team searches for a new general manager. [Sportsnet]
The New Jersey Devils have hired Sunny Mehta as the team’s newest general manager. Mehta had been working in the Florida Panthers’ front office since 2020. [ESPN]
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Rick Bowness have agreed to a contract extension through the 2026-27 season, the team announced on Thursday. [Yahoo! Sports]
