Somewhere in the Rogers Place storage room, wedged between a pallet of unsold Zach Hyman bobbleheads and a box of 2006 playoff memorabilia that nobody has the emotional bandwidth to deal with, there may be the most important piece of Stanley Cup playoff equipment the Edmonton Oilers own.

A bobblehead. Three of them, technically. 

Edmonton is 3-0 on bobblehead nights this season. A perfect record achieved under the watchful, spring-loaded gaze of miniature plastic athletes whose heads never stop nodding, as if in constant affirmation of every decision this team makes.

The Oilers’ Most Compelling Individual Storylines This PostseasonAs the Edmonton Oilers chase a deep playoff run, the spotlight isn’t just on the team—it’s on the individual stories within it.

You can call it a coincidence, a small sample size, or the most statistically irrelevant winning streak in professional hockey. All of those things are probably true, but none of them matter because the bobbleheads are not losing, and we are not going to be the ones to stop them.

So the question isn't whether this is rational. The question is whether the Oilers can somehow get 18,000 bobbleheads into a playoff arena without the NHL stepping in to ruin everything, which they absolutely would.

Sure, the teams on those bobblehead nights weren't exactly murderers now. Nobody is pretending these were victories against the Presidents' Trophy winner, but before you dismiss the bobblehead victims as pushovers, just know that the Oilers were not exactly clawing their way to number one either. Respect the body of work.

Jason Dickinson "Highly Motivated" To Play: When Will He Get In?He's itching to hit the ice. Will injured forward Jason Dickinson be cleared for Game 1, boosting the Oilers' lineup?

Yeah, sure, the Anaheim Ducks did make the playoffs this year, which does count for something. But this is the same franchise that spent the better part of three seasons in a full institutional crouch, losing hockey games with such commitment and consistency that it started to look like a strategy—because it was—who has somehow clawed its way into the postseason. 

The cream jerseys are a whole other situation. These are alternate jerseys, a third option, the NHL equivalent of ordering something off-menu and being surprised it slaps. Not some storied vintage threads soaked in championship history.

There is no logical reason the Oilers should play better in them. The jersey does not improve their skating, sharpen their edges, or fix their breakouts. And yet, when Edmonton pulls the cream ones on, something happens that no analyst has successfully put into a chart.

3 Reasons This Ducks First-Round Draw Is One The Oilers WantedThe Edmonton Oilers have three strengths that perfectly counter the Ducks' defensive woes, setting up a favorable opening round.

The NHL's front office probably has a memo somewhere explaining why they can't wear them in the playoffs. 

Teams have been manufacturing superstitions out of flimsier material than this for decades. The 2012 LA Kings wore the same clothes on every road trip during their Cup run. Players have refused to wash their equipment, change their socks, or alter their pre-game meal for entire playoff runs.

One guy famously grew a beard, and now everyone does it. The bar for what counts as a legitimate playoff ritual is basically nonexistent.

Oilers Injury Update: Will Leon Draisaitl Play Game 1 vs the Ducks?Leon Draisaitl skated Friday, looking sharp. Will he be ready for Game 1 against the Ducks, or will the Oilers hold him back?

So maybe all it takes is someone placing a bobblehead on the shelf above the dressing room door. A small McDavid, head nodding in eternal encouragement, blessing each player as they head out to the ice. The cream jerseys hang nearby in a display case, radiating mysterious alternate-jersey energy through the plexiglass.

It's unscientific, completely unhinged, and costs roughly twelve dollars.

Worth every penny.

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Buffalo Sabres winger Josh Doan proved to be an effective offensive presence throughout his first season with the club, and that strong play will continue against the Boston Bruins tonight.

My Bruins vs. Sabres predictions and NHL picks expect Doan to clear his SOG prop on Sunday, April 19.

Bruins vs Sabres Game 1 prediction

Who will win Bruins vs Sabres Game 1?

Sabres: Buffalo's skill, team speed, and home-ice advantage should definitely be a factor after 15 years of sitting on the sidelines come playoff time. If Jeremy Swayman doesn’t stand on his head, it’ll be tough for the Bruins to hang around.

Bruins vs Sabres best bet: Josh Doan Over 1.5 shots (-150)

Josh Doan generated at least two shots in 61% of his games against Bottom-10 shot suppression teams this season. That includes three Overs in four tries against the Boston Bruins, against whom he averaged 2.75 shots per game.

He cleared this line in 10 of 12 home dates vs. Bottom-10 shot suppression sides, averaging 2.3 shots on 4.5 attempts.

Not only is the matchup good, but he’s skating on a line with Josh Norris. Doan averaged 10.22 shots on goal per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play — easily the highest of any linemate he had all season.

Bruins vs Sabres Game 1 same-game parlay

Doan has excelled playing alongside Norris and Zach Benson, outscoring opponents 8-2 at 5-on-5. They help elevate his offensive ceiling at even-strength.

He also skates on the No. 1 power play, where he has exposure to elite weapons like Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin.

On the other side, Charlie McAvoy averaged a point per game over the second half of the season and hit the scoresheet in a remarkable 78% of his appearances. He’s in line for monstrous minutes in this high-event series, making him a good candidate to produce.

Bruins vs Sabres SGP

• Josh Doan Over 1.5 shots
• Josh Doan Over 0.5 points
• Charlie McAvoy Over 0.5 points

Bruins vs Sabres Game 1 goal scorer pick

Josh Doan (+285)

Josh Doan is a playoff-type player. He plays a hard-nosed game and will work to get to the dirty areas of the ice, which is what’s needed at this time of year.

He has the hands and skill to finish in tight, and he has a better track record than many realize. He ranked third on the Sabres in 5-on-5 goals and outscored the likes of Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch on the man advantage.

Bruins vs Sabres odds for Game 1

• Moneyline: Bruins +130 | Sabres -150
• Puck Line: Bruins +1.5 (-190) | Sabres -1.5 (+160)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+120) | Under 6.5 (-140)

Bruins vs Sabres trend

Josh Doan has logged five points over his last five games. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Sabres.

How to watch Bruins vs Sabres Game 1

Bruins vs Sabres latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The Chicago Blackhawks are entering the 2026 NHL offseason as a team to watch very closely. While they have plenty of promising young prospects in their system, they should not be afraid to bring in proven NHL talent this summer as well. 

The Blackhawks' biggest need during the offseason is to bring in at least one proven top-six winger. Connor Bedard could use more help around him, and one player who stands out as a perfect target for Chicago is Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies.

The Blackhawks' interest in Knies is no secret, as Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported last month that they were one of the teams that targeted him leading up to the trade deadline. With the Blackhawks still in need of top-six help, bringing in a player like Knies would be huge for them. 

At just 23 years old, Knies would be a perfect fit on a rebuilding Blackhawks team that is looking to take that next step. This is especially so when noting that he would be far more than a rental for the Blackhawks if acquired. This is because he is signed until the end of the 2030-31 season, where he has a $7.75 million cap hit. 

Knies' offensive skill could make him thrive playing with a star center like Bedard. His stats this season show how impactful he can be, as he had 23 goals and 66 points in 79 games for the Maple Leafs. The 6-foot-3 winger also made an impact with his physicality, posting 152 hits. 

Ultimately, with the Blackhawks needing another star in their lineup, Knies is exactly the kind of young and proven forward that they should be kicking tires on again if Toronto makes him available. 

The playoffs are officially here, folks!

Well, technically they started yesterday elsewhere in the NHL, but for our purposes, today’s the day.

The Celtics kicked off their postseason at TD Garden earlier today, and hopefully that game went well—I’m putting this together on Saturday, so I hope the future is nice.

Anyways, all of the waiting and “tales of the tape” and “they have the edge here” is just about over.

It’ll be nice to enjoy some playoff hockey after a year away, and by “enjoy,” we all know that means “be in a constant state of anxiety for at least a week.”

Hey, it’s what we all look forward to, right?

Bruins! Sabres? Yes, Sabres! LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE!

Discuss.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are upon us, and The Hockey Show is pumped!

This week, THS co-hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork, along with producer Ethan Budowski, previewed the eight first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series’ that will begin on Saturday.

They also discussed the fiery comments of a pair of NHL head coaches, Carolina’s Rick Bowness and Detroit’s Todd McLellan, who had some very hard comments for the way their respective teams performed during their season finale’s last week.

Joining this week’s show to discuss playoff matchups and the Florida Panthers’ season ending was Florida’s radio analyst and former player Billy Lindsay.

In addition to previewing the first-round matchups and giving his darkhorse favorites, Billy also talked about the future of the Panthers, what the team may do with their 2026 first-round pick and how the team has maintained such a strong culture despite enduring a very challenging season.

This week’s wins and fails included some interesting moves by Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov, a player being dragged out of a goal crease during an OHL Playoff game, a couple of great moments from last week’s game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals, and a great move by the New Jersey Devils hiring former Panthers AGM Sunny Mehta as the team’s next general manager.

You can see the full show and interview in the videos below:

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Panthers Place Noah Gregor, Nolan Foote On Waivers Ahead Of AHL Playoffs

Aleksander Barkov Among Several Panthers Players Expected To Play At World Championships

For the eighth time in nine seasons, the Vegas Golden Knights are in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They’ll start the first round against the Utah Mammoth on Sunday at T-Mobile Arena.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:22 p.m. PST.

Carter Hart will start in goal for the Golden Knights. Hart had a record of 11-3-3 and an average save percentage of .891 in 18 games during the regular season.  

Karel Vejmelka starts in net for the Mammoth. Vejmelka had a record of 38-20-3 and an average save percentage of .897 in 64 games during the regular season.

Golden Knights Lines

Mitch Marner — Jack Eichel — Mark Stone

Ivan Barbashev — Brett Howden — Pavel Dorofeyev

Reilly Smith — Tomáš Hertl — Keegan Kolesar

Cole Smith — Nic Dowd — Colton Sissons

Defense

Brayden McNabb — Shea Theodore

Noah Hanifin — Rasmus Andersson

Jeremy Lauzon — Kaedan Korczak

Goaltenders: Carter Hart / Adin Hill

Mammoth Lines

Clayton Keller — Nick Schmaltz — Lawson Crouse

Kailer Yamamoto — Logan Cooley — Dylan Guenther

JJ Peterka — Alex Kerfoot — Michael Carcone

Liam O’Brien — Kevin Stenlund — Brandon Tanev

Defense

Mikhail Sergachev — MacKenzie Weegar

Nate Schmidt — John Marino

Ian Cole — Sean Durzi

Goaltenders: Karel Vejmelka / Vitek Vaněček

Special Teams (Regular Season)

VGK power play: 24.6%, 6th

VGK penalty kill: 81.4%, 7th

Mammoth power play: 20.0%, 18th

Mammoth penalty kill: 78.1%, 19th

Game Notes

In the regular season series, the Golden Knights won the first meeting by a score of 4-1. The Mammoth won the next two, 5-1 and 4-0, respectively.

This will be the first playoff series between the Golden Knights and the Mammoth. The Golden Knights have the edge in certain areas, but the young, hungry Mammoth will pose a unique challenge.

In 12 career Game 1s, Mitch Marner has five goals and 13 points.

Jack Eichel led the Golden Knights in scoring this season with 27 goals and 90 points in 74 games. Eichel has two goals and six points in six regular season games against the Mammoth.

Clayton Keller led the Mammoth in scoring this season with 26 goals and 88 points in 82 games. Keller has 10 goals and 26 points in 34 career games against the Golden Knights.

The Golden Knights went 20-12-9 at home this season; the Mammoth were 21-17-3 on the road.

How to Watch

TV: Vegas 34, ESPN

Streaming: KnightTime+

Radio: FOX Sports Las Vegas 94.7/1340, Deportes Vegas 1460

The Chicago Blackhawks selected Nick Lardis in the third round, 67th overall, in the 2023 NHL Draft. He then became a prolific goal scorer in the OHL with the Brantford Bulldogs.

In his final season with Brantford, Lardis scored 71 goals in 65 games played. This was a massive jump from the 29 goals he had one year prior. When the 71-goal season ended, it was clear that Lardis had a knack for finding the back of the net, but would it translate to pro hockey? 

Lardis started this season with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League, and he was one of their best rookies. In 35 AHL games, Lardis scored 18 goals. He also had two stints in the NHL, totaling 41 games, exactly half of the regular season. 

In those 41 games, Lardis scored 10 goals. A 20-goal pace as a 20-year-old rookie, one who was selected in the third round, is excellent. His ability to score has followed him at every level. He won’t score 70 in the NHL, but becoming a solid contributor to their middle six is an incredible ceiling. His first year was outstanding for his development. 

"I think I learned a lot,” Lardis said. “Not just on the ice, but also on how to be a pro off the ice. I think that's important. There are a lot of great leaders here, and even in Rockford, too, when I was down there. They showed me the ropes a little bit and how to be a consistent pro hockey player. I thought that was big, too."

Lardis knows that he has what it takes to be a great goal-scorer. He is ready to learn from this season and apply what he learns to his future. He also soaked in what he might need to do to improve as the years go by. 

"I think a big thing for me in my first pro year is learning,” Lardis said. “I think there are a lot of little details that [Blashill] wants me and the other guys to improve on. I think for this summer, my overall strength, I want to be a lot stronger and win more puck battles next year, just making sure I'm winning a lot of battles and improving my strengths."

Being a double-digit goal scorer in 41 games played as a rookie is telling. As of now, it is hard to argue that he isn’t a top young goal-scoring player in the organization. That start to his career should give him the confidence to come in next year knowing for a fact he should be on the team. Once the games begin, he doesn’t have to wonder if he belongs because of his totals from the previous year. 

 "It helps, for sure,” Lardis said of reaching the 10-goal plateau, giving him more confidence. “But, I'm not going to think about it too much, honestly. I still believe in myself that I can be a great goal scorer in this league. It helps with confidence going into the summer. But next year, I'll have bigger goals. It just motivates me more to want to get more than 10 next year.”

Is Lardis a lock to make the team out of camp? That’s a lot to assume, but he will definitely be on the inside track coming into the preseason because of what he accomplished in his first year pro. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

When it comes to their trajectory, the Vancouver Canucks are in an interesting situation. On one hand, their potential is bolstered by a crop of talented young players all in their early 20s. On the flip side, their supposed ‘veterans’ are, for the most part, still slightly under 30, though the younger ‘veterans’ all have a good chunk of NHL games under their belt. 

Max Sasson is one of a couple players who don’t quite fit into either of the two categories. While the 25-year-old did play in 29 games with the Canucks last year, he spent the majority of his time with the Abbotsford Canucks and played a key role in the team’s Calder Cup run back in June. The 2025–26 season was his first full stint in the NHL, during which he put up 13 goals — tied for sixth-most on the team — and six assists in 66 games. Having said that, since the start of the 2024–25 season, Sasson has played in some of the most games of all current Canucks; 162 in both the NHL and AHL. 

A full off-season to properly rest and train will go a long way for him personally, Sasson explained during Friday’s end-of-season media availability. 

“Last summer, I got home on July 1, and I was back here like August 20-something. So using this full off-season to obviously, you hear the answers that train and which obviously, 100%, I’m going to use this to be more mobile. I think there’s areas of my game that I can clean up with my wall play, my puck touches. I also think I can transform myself with this long off-season into more of a, I say NHL third-line body, where you’re not getting pushed off the puck as easy.” 

One distinct characteristic of Sasson’s game through his first two NHL seasons has been the speed he can exhibit while cutting into the O-zone. It’s something that, despite being so noticeable, the forward believes he can still work on for the coming season.  

“I want to continue to work on my speed. I don’t think you can ever be fast enough.” 

Sasson’s speed went on full-display towards the back-end of the season, when he was moved to wing after playing mostly at centre. This slight shift in position is something that the forward isn’t entirely opposed to as his career progresses — if anything, he’s intrigued by it.

“I played a little bit of it last year here, but for the majority of my three seasons, I’ve been a centre, but yeah, I think I have embraced it. And I think there are chances for me to use more of my speed, especially maybe not having to work as hard in the D-zone, and maybe using my energy to push the pace up-ice and getting more foot races. Do I see that as a path forward? Honestly, I feel comfortable with both. However, I think in the second half, the majority of games were at the wing, and I think I proved that I probably can be a pretty good winger in this league.”

The mental side of the game is another part that Sasson is planning on working on during the off-season. Keeping focus on what’s going on internally is something that, he admitted, he has noticed more at the NHL level. 

“I feel a lot of times that when guys are thinking a lot, and they have a lot going through their mind, you can see it on the ice. And when a guy’s playing free and playing with confidence, it’s very noticeable.” 

Despite picking out a few things he’s hoping to work on this off-season, Sasson acknowledges that everyone on the team needs to put in the work in order for the team to keep themselves on the path to future success. Sure, Vancouver may be in the rebuilding stage of their process, but as Sasson said, that shouldn’t stop them from coming into training camp with a healthy level of compete.  

“No player in here is thinking rebuild. We’re all going to train our butts off this summer and come into camp and try to compete for a playoff spot. But when you hear rebuild, I think you can think of some excitement and look around the league at some of the teams that have done it. And you know, you see Willy (Willander), you see Zeev, you see Öhgy (Öhgren), you see all these really young players. That should be exciting for fans to see, because the potential is endless with these guys. I think when, if [a rebuild]’s done right, you can be one of the best teams in the league.” 

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.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

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For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Get ready to rumble!!

First Period

Josh Manson wasted no time setting the tone, flipping the switch on his physical game early and delivering a crushing reverse hit on Scott Laughton that sent the longtime Flyer sprawling to the ice in a heap. It was the kind of jolt that instantly raised the temperature inside the building.

Momentum briefly tilted Colorado’s way midway through the period when Los Angeles forward Jared Wright was whistled for slashing Gabriel Landeskog at 10:54, handing the Avalanche their first power play of both the afternoon and the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Despite a few controlled entries and some perimeter movement, Colorado couldn’t crack through, and the Kings’ penalty kill held firm.

13 minutes in, the game remained locked in a tight, scoreless battle, with the Avalanche holding a slight 5–3 edge in shots. By the end of the opening frame, nothing had changed on the scoreboard—still 0–0—but Colorado carried a bit more of the play, outshooting Los Angeles 9–5 while establishing an early physical and technical edge.

Second Period 

The second period opened with an unintentional bit of comedy. Kings defenseman Brian Dumoulin was still jawing at the officials after a whistle, clearly frustrated as he picked himself up off the ice. But when the replay hit the jumbotron, the crowd got the punchline—Dumoulin hadn’t been taken down by an Avalanche player at all. It was his own teammate who sent him tumbling, taking the edge off his argument in a hurry.

Colorado got another opportunity to seize momentum at 3:05 when Mathieu Joseph was called for interference on Jack Drury, handing the Avalanche their second power play. There was a little more bite this time—some net-front hacks, a couple of dangerous looks—but the finish still wasn’t there. The Avs slipped to 0-for-2, and you could feel a bit of frustration starting to creep in.

For Dumoulin, the period only got worse. Just over six minutes in, he went down awkwardly and stayed there, clearly in discomfort. After a pause, he needed help getting off the ice, favoring his lower body. It looked serious in the moment, though he would later return—an early scare in what had already been a rough stretch for him.

Then came the kind of sequence that leaves everyone shaking their heads.

In what felt like the latest installment of “What Exactly Is Goaltender Interference?”, Drury was tripped by Drew Doughty and sent crashing into Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg just as Logan O’Connor fired the puck into the net. The Avalanche celebrated what looked like a 1–0 lead—but the officials immediately waved it off. No goal. Interference.

Colorado challenged, hoping for a different outcome, but the ruling stood after review. Instead of a lead, the Avalanche found themselves shorthanded with a delay-of-game penalty. Confusion turned into frustration in a matter of seconds.

The chaos didn’t stop there. With 9:36 remaining, Artemi Panarin found himself staring at a wide-open net at the top of the crease, but in a split-second defensive play, Sam Malinski lifted his stick just enough to throw off the shot, sending it wide at the last possible moment.

Ten seconds later, the Avalanche were right back on the power play after Quinton Byfield tripped Nathan MacKinnon. It felt like another chance to finally break through—but it evaporated almost instantly. Just 41 seconds in, Martin Nečas was whistled for holding, and the ice tilted back to even strength.

Finally, the breakthrough came—and this one left no doubt.

With 4:31 to go in the period, MacKinnon threaded a slick pass to Artturi Lehkonen, who drove into space and snapped a shot past the outstretched right leg of Forsberg. Clean. Clinical. No debate this time.

After all the chaos, controversy, and missed chances, Colorado had its lead—1–0, and one that actually stuck.

At the end of 40 minutes of play, the Avalanche held a 1-0 lead with a 22-17 advantage in shots on goal. 

Third Period

This time, it counted for Logan O'Connor. After taking a pass from Jack Drury, the hard-charging Av skated hard down the right wing, skated past a defender, and ripped a top shelf wrister that beat Forsberg and gave Colorado a 2-0 lead.

Strategy and coaching decisions are a big factor when the playoffs roll around, and line-matching plays a crucial role in taking advantage of your opponent.

As massive underdogs against the Colorado Avalanche, the Los Angeles Kings and interim head coach D.J. Smith will need to take line-matching seriously and give it careful consideration.

Offensively, the Avalanche's top-three forward lines can really inflict damage. With Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas on the top line, Brock Nelson on line No. 2, and Nazem Kadri and Gabriel Landeskog listed on the third line, Los Angeles will need to spread out its defensive expertise.

So Smith should be asking himself, 'Who will be matching up with MacKinnon, Nelson and Kadri?' Luckily for the Kings, especially the centers on the team, they thrive in a shutdown assignment.

Colorado's top-three centers are met with Los Angeles' Anze Kopitar, Quinton Byfield, and newcomer Scott Laughton.

Laughton will likely get the assignment of looking after Kadri when the two third lines meet on the ice. Kadri and Laughton both share a nasty and physical edge to their individual games, which could create a fiery matchup.

Kings Vs Avalanche Game 1 Preview: Kings Looking To take a Series LeadThe Kings are getting ready for game 1 of the playoffs as they take on the Colorado Avalanche.

More importantly, Laughton excels in the defensive side of the game, particularly in the faceoff dot and on the penalty kill. Among players who take faceoffs regularly, Laughton leads the team in faceoff percentage at 59.4 percent. 

That just leaves two-time Selke Trophy winner Kopitar and Byfield to supervise MacKinnon and Nelson.

Based on overall defensive talent, Kopitar would have the edge on Byfield with the aforementioned awards and legacy that the Kings captain has imposed.

However, there's a little more to it when dealing with the Rocket Richard Trophy winner and Hart Trophy candidate, MacKinnon. And one of MacKinnon's biggest assets is speed, which would make Byfield a sensible matchup for the Avalanche superstar center.

Three Los Angeles Kings X-Factors For The Stanley Cup PlayoffsGoing up against a tough team like the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Los Angeles Kings will need these three players to be X-factors in hopes of getting by the Presidents' Trophy winners

Byfield has proven to be not only one of the best skaters on the Kings but in the entire NHL. According to NHL Edge, Byfield is in the 98th percentile in speed bursts over 20 mph and skating distance. He's also ranked in the 89th percentile for max skating speed, reaching 23.16 mph against the Chicago Blackhawks back in December.

Furthermore, next to Byfield are Trevor Moore and Alex Laferriere, who are both very strong skaters. That'll be key when MacKinnon is likely paired with Necas on the top line, also a speedster who reached 100 points for the first time in his career this past regular season.

That leaves an appropriate matchup of Kopitar's line going up against Nelson's line. Kopitar and Nelson are a bit slower and are aging, with Kopitar being 38 years old and Nelson being 34. 

Aside from the idea of shutting down the opposition, putting Kopitar's line with Artemi Panarin and Adrian Kempe on his flanks could benefit the Kings offensively. Reports say that Nelson is joined by Valeri Nichushkin, who is a strong offensive player but not known for his two-way game, and Parker Kelly, who has spent most of the year on Colorado's bottom six.

In the end, the home team's coach will have the upper hand in terms of getting the matchup they like, but it's always fascinating to see specific assignments.

---

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Kings are taking on the Avalanche for their first game of the 2025-26 NHL Playoffs. The Kings have made the playoffs in their past 5 seasons, and the previous 4 have featured them facing the Edmonton Oilers in the first round. But this season is different, as the Kings are taking on the President's Trophy winners. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:00 P.M Eastern time. 

Kings Projected Lines

Here are the projected Kings lines for game 1: 

Artemi Panarin - Anze Kopitar - Adrian Kempe

Trevor Moore - Quinton Byfield - Alex Laferriere

Joel Armia - Scott Laughton - Jared Wright

Mathieu Joseph - Samuel Helenius - Jeff Malott

Mikey Anderson - Drew Doughty

Joel Edmundson - Brandt Clarke

Brian Dumoulin - Cody Ceci

Anton Forsberg

Darcy Kuemper

Avalanche Projected Lines

Here are the projected Avalanche lines for game 1: 

Artturi Lehkonen - Nathan MacKinnon - Martin Necas

Parker Kelly - Brock Nelson - Valeri Nichushkin

Gabriel Landeskog - Nazem Kadri - Nicolas Roy

Joel Kiviranta - Jack Drury - Logan O’Connor

Brett Kulak - Cale Makar

Devon Toews - Sam Malinski

Josh Manson - Brent Burns

Mackenzie Blackwood

Scott Wedgewood

Line Changes and Injuries

The Kings' interim coach said that Malott, Turoctte and Kuzmenko are all available for the first round, but only Malott is expected to play in game 1. For the Avalanche, Kadri, who missed 4 games due to a finger injury, and Manson, who missed 2 games with an undisclosed injury, are both expected to play today. Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar also said that he would not reveal lineup decisions, including his starting goaltender.

Key Factors

The Kings have done the hard part by making the playoffs, and now they have to prove they deserve to be there. They face the best team in the NHL. The Kings will have to get all of their players at their best, especially the offensive duo of Panarin and Kempe. 

While today is only game 1, it is still very important for the Kings to set the tone, and if they can steal a game on the road, that could be extremely impactful later in the series. 

While the Avalanche have not released a true starting goaltender, it looks like the Kings will start Anton Forsberg in game 1, and this feels like the right call, as Forsberg has won 4 of his last 5 starts for the Kings. 

Overall, the Kings can flip the series on its head with a win tonight. Game 1 between the Kings and the Avalanche starts at 3:00 P.M. Eastern Time, and the Kings are looking to go up 1-0 after today. 

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The time has arrived as the Buffalo Sabres get set to play in their first playoff games in 15 years. You can immediately feel the vibe as an outsider when you cross the border into the Queen City and see the 'GO SABRES' signs with makeshift Stanley Cups, as the fanbase gets ready to scratch a long-standing playoff itch.

For Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff, the priority is managing emotions for the many players on his roster who have no experience with playoff hockey. While he doesn’t want his players doing something reckless that will lead to penalty trouble, he wants them to feed off the local energy.

“I'm hoping that we are amped up because it will be electric,” Ruff said. “It will be a totally different feeling for sure. I'm looking forward to how our guys are going to react to it. We've talked about the energy we need to bring and how we need to play. I anticipate them being ready to do it”.

There’s immense excitement throughout the city. When the Sabres last went to the postseason, the KeyBank Center was known as the HSBC Arena. Back then, the facility stood among many vacant parking lots that have since been developed. LECOM Harborcenter, the team’s official practice facility, had not yet been built.

Oh, they’ve got a fever. pic.twitter.com/wbJq7GfWLF

— David Alter (@davidalter) April 19, 2026

Current owner Terry Pegula had only recently purchased the team at that time, and much of the modern development around the Sabres’ home did not exist. This includes the Canalside area around the building, which is expected to be packed with fans watching the game from outside the arena. The demand for entry is historic; as of Sunday morning, the lowest-priced ticket for Game 1 was $450 USD—by far the most expensive "get-in" price of any opening home game in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

While Ruff was the coach the last time the club made the playoffs, the management structure around him has changed significantly. A mid-season change at general manager from Kevyn Adams to Jarmo Kekäläinen seemingly sparked the club’s fortune. The team transformed from a struggling 14-14-5 squad tied for last in the Eastern Conference into the winners of the Atlantic Division.

Simply getting to the "dance" is a milestone, but expectations remain high. The Sabres haven’t won a playoff round since 2007, and rolling over for their opponent, the Boston Bruins, won’t be accepted by a rabid fanbase eager for a return to glory.

The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs have officially begun. The Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild, and Philadelphia Flyers have already won Game 1 of their respective series’ so far, with the Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings, Tampa Bay Lightning and Montréal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins, and Utah Mammoth and Vegas Golden Knights set to begin their series’ today. The Hockey News - Vancouver Canucks Site Editors have put together their predictions for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs: here are our picks. 

First Round Results 

Adam Kierszenblat, Site Editor: 

Eastern Conference: 

Carolina Hurricanes over Ottawa Senators

Buffalo Sabres over Boston Bruins

Tampa Bay Lightning over Montréal Canadiens

Pittsburgh Penguins over Philadelphia Flyers 

Western Conference: 

Colorado Avalanche over Los Angeles Kings

Dallas Stars over Minnesota Wild

Utah Mammoth over Vegas Golden Knights

Edmonton Oilers over Anaheim Ducks

Izzy Cheung, Deputy Site Editor: 

Eastern Conference: 

Hurricanes over Senators 

Sabres over Bruins 

Lightning over Canadiens 

Penguins over Flyers 

Western Conference: 

Avalanche over Kings 

Stars over Wild

Golden Knights over Mammoth 

Oilers over Ducks 

Second Round Results

AK: 

Eastern Conference: 

Hurricanes over Penguins 

Lightning over Sabres 

Western Conference: 

Avalanche over Stars 

Mammoth over Oilers 

IC: 

Eastern Conference: 

Hurricanes over Penguins 

Lightning over Sabres 

Western Conference: 

Avalanche over Stars 

Oilers over Golden Knights 

Third Round Results

AK: 

Hurricanes over Lightning 

Avalanche over Mammoth 

IC: 

Hurricanes over Lightning 

Avalanche over Oilers 

Stanley Cup Final Result

AK: Hurricanes over Avalanche 

IC: Avalanche over Hurricanes 

Who Will Win The Conn Smythe? 

AK: Sebastian Aho 

IC: Nathan MacKinnon 

Who Will Finish Playoffs With The Most Points? 

AK: Nathan MacKinnon 

IC: Nathan MacKinnon 

Who Will Finish Playoffs With The Most Goals? 

AK: Nathan MacKinnon 

IC: Andrei Svechnikov 

Which Goaltender Will Have The Strongest Post-Season? 

AK: Frederik Andersen 

IC: Frederik Andersen 

Which Former Canuck Will Have The Best Performance? 

AK: Jalen Chatfield 

IC: Vasily Podkolzin 

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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Count actor Wyatt Russell among the many Buffalo Sabres fans who were skeptical this year's team would be the one to end the franchise's 15-year NHL playoff drought.

Back before the season started, the Marvel movie star vowed he'd jump into Lake Erie come playoff time if the Sabres made it. Sure enough, the Sabres not only made the playoffs, they gained the Eastern Conference's No. 2 seed with 109 points.

So on the eve of Buffalo's playoff opener, it was time for Russell to make good.

Braving 40-degree temperatures − along with colleagues from Lake Hour, the canned cocktail company he founded − Russell took a big chug and then took the plunge.

His father and fellow actor Kurt Russell (who has a hockey connection of his own after starring in the movie "Miracle") offered his congratulations.

Kurt Russell 🤝 Wyatt Russell

#LetsGoBuffalopic.twitter.com/zMgassUxyP

— y - Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) April 18, 2026

"I like an underdog story always, first of all, number one," Russell told Buffalo TV station WIVB. "Number two, the Sabres right now this year have represented like what hockey is to me, which is like hard work, nose to the grindstone, don’t give up when everybody’s doubting you."

Hmmm. Sounds a lot like the plot to "Miracle." And we all know how that turned out at the 1980 Olympics in nearby (well, 300 miles or so ...) Lake Placid, New York.

Buffalo hosts the Boston Bruins on Sunday, April 19 in the first game of their best-of-seven series.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wyatt Russell, Buffalo Sabres fan, plunges into Lake Erie for bet

NEWS & NOTES

Blue Jackets Continue To Benefit From This Great TradeThe Blue Jackets' decision to acquire this forward keeps paying off.

Blue Jackets forward Charlie Coyle played a role in Columbus' clutch win over the Flyers, as he scored two goals in the contest. With this, there is no question that he helped the Blue Jackets pick up this much-needed victory. 

The Hockey News Sunday Recap: Columbus Blue JacketsDid you miss anything from the past week at The Hockey News - Columbus Blue Jackets? If you did, we have you covered with the Sunday Recap. Click on each card below to read the stories from the past week.BREAKING NEWS: The Columbus Blue Jackets Have Been Eliminated From The 2026 Stanley Cup PlayoffsFor the second straight season, the <a href="http://thn.com/carolina">Carolina Hurricanes</a> have played a part in eliminating the <a href="http://thn.com/columbus">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> from the Stanley Cup Playoffs just one day before their last regular-season game.&nbsp;

For the second straight season, the Carolina Hurricanes have played a part in eliminating the Columbus Blue Jackets from the Stanley Cup Playoffs just one day before their last regular-season game.   

Blue Jackets Winger Named Among NHL's Most Underrated ForwardsThis Blue Jackets forward is being viewed as one of the most underrated forward's in the NHL.

Mathieu Olivier has been an outstanding fit on the Columbus Blue Jackets' roster since his arrival to the team during the 2022-23 season. It is exactly why he earned a six-year, $18 million contract extension with the Blue Jackets last March.

Alex Ovechkin, The Greatest Goal Scorer In League History, Could Possibly Play His Last NHL Game Against The Columbus Blue JacketsAfter two decades of Alex Ovechkin and the <a href="http://thn.com/washington">Washington Capitals</a> torturing the <a href="http://thn.com/columbus">Columbus Blue Jackets</a>, it could finally be over.&nbsp;

His career started against the Blue Jackets in 2005, where he scored the first two of 52 that year, and the first two of his 929....and counting?

In the 53 games that he's played against Columbus, he has a stat line of 28-18-46, 17 pp goals, is a -6, and has 7 total game-winning goals.

Blue Jackets Put In Poor Effort In Season Finale, Beaten By Ovechkin And The CapitalsThe Blue Jackets' final record for the 2025-26 was 40-30-12, and finished 5th in the Metro.

Boone Jenner (13) scored the only goal for the Blue Jackets in the season finale, as they were dumped by Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night.  

Jet Greaves stopped 19 of 21 Caps shots, including 7 while shorthanded in the loss. Greaves played a really good game, but the rest of his teammates seemed to pack it in for the season. 

A Final Look At The Individual Stats For The 2025-26 Columbus Blue Jackets See how the individual players performed this season.

Goals 

1. Kirill Marchenko - 27 - He finished the 2025-26 season leading the team in goals for the third-straight season (tied in 2024-25), while also ranking second in points as well as third in assists. He is only the second player in franchise history to score 20-plus goals in their first four seasons with the club (R.J. Umberger). 
2. Adam Fantilli - 24 - Took a slight step down in goals as he had 31 last season. 
3. Zach Werenski - 22 - Werenski led league defensemen in even strength goals. and had 4 power play goals. 
4. Charlie Coyle - 20 - He scored 20 goals in a season for only the third time in his career (25 in 2023-24 with Boston & 21 in 2015-16 with Minnesota). He had 7 power play goals. 
5. Mason Marchment - 19 - Scored 15 after being traded to Columbus. His 19 are the second highest of his career. He had 3 power play goals. 

Rick Bowness Expected To Sign Extension With The Columbus Blue Jackets Bowness had a record of 21-11-5 with Columbus in 25-26.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will re-sign head coach Rock Bowness to a new contract. The deal is for next season. With him coming back and having a shortened preseason with the team, can he take this team to the next level? Stay Tuned!

A Final Look At The Team Stats For The 2025-26 Columbus Blue JacketsThe 25-26 season for the Columbus Blue Jackets came to a disappointing end on Tuesday night, finishing with a record of 40-30-12 and 92 points. They finished 5th in the Metro.

Takeaways From Other Team - 352 - 2nd Most in NHL

Giveaways To Other Team - 1135 - 11th Most in NHL

Defensive Zone Giveaways - 556 - 8th Most in NHL

Blocked Shots - 1104 - 10th Most in NHL

Hits Given - 1505 - 12th fewest in NHL

Hits Taken - 1412 - 3rd fewest in NHL

2 Blue Jackets Netminders Make Best NHL Goalie Prospects ListThese two Blue Jackets have been ranked among the top goalie prospects in the league.

The Athletic's Scott Wheeler released his latest top 20 drafted NHL goalie prospect rankings, and two Columbus Blue Jackets made the cut: Pyotr Andreyanov and Sergei Ivanov.  

Blue Jackets Must Target Kraken 29-Goal Scorer This SummerThe Blue Jackets should look to sign this Kraken forward if he becomes a free agent.

Following the 2026 NHL trade deadline, The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta reported that the Columbus Blue Jackets were among the teams that targeted forward Bobby McMann before he was traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Seattle Kraken.   

The 2025-26 Columbus Blue Jackets Injury Bug Wasn't That Bad For A ChangeThe Blue Jackets weren't injury-plagued but had some ill-timed injuries instead.

One of the positives is the injury situation. For the most part, the team stayed relatively healthy throughout the season. The problem was the timing of the injuries. Damon Severson and Mathieu Olivier's late-season injuries seemed to slow the CBJ to a crawl. 

The Blue Jackets finished with 218 man-games lost. In 2024-25, they had 309, 563 in 23-24, and 541 in 22-23. 

A Look At The Columbus Blue Jackets Attendance Numbers For 2025-26The Columbus Blue Jackets finished 25-26 with a 40-30-12 record.

The fans of the Columbus Blue Jackets are loyal, loud, and love showing up at Nationwide Arena to watch their team play NHL Hockey. 

Former Columbus Blue Jackets Are Strongly Represented In This Years Playoffs There are 22 ex-Blue Jackets in the playoffs this season.

There are 22 different players on the playoff teams this season. All teams except the Ottawa Senators, Anaheim Ducks, and Philadelphia Flyers have ex-Jackets on their rosters. Many others work in the various front offices, but we'll stick to players today. 

GAME PREVIEWS & RECAPS

Blue Jackets Beat Canadiens To Keep Playoff Hopes AliveThe Blue Jackets' record is now 40-28-12 with 92 points. They currently sit two points out of third in the Metro behind Philadelphia.

Boone Jenner (12), Charlie Coyle (19,20-PPG), Kirill Marchenko (27-GWG), and Sean Monahan (13) powered the Blue Jackets' offense in a 5-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night. 

Columbus Blue Jackets (92 pts) vs. Boston Bruins (96 pts) Game PreviewColumbus is 17-18-11 all-time, and 10-8-6 at home vs. Boston.

Series History vs. The Bruins

• Columbus is 17-18-11 all-time, and 10-8-6 at home vs. Boston.
• CBJ have earned points in nine of the last 12 games against Boston at Nationwide Arena since Dec. 27, 2016 (6-3-3)

Columbus Blue Jackets Lines, Defensive Pairings, & Scratches For Tonight's Game vs. Boston BruinsThe Columbus Blue Jackets are back at home for the penultimate regular-season game inside the friendly confines of Nationwide Arena. This game features the Boston Bruins. Blue Jackets Can't Find A Way To Beat Boston, Playoff Hopes Still Alive HoweverThe Blue Jackets' record is now 40-29-12 with 92 points. They're currently sitting two points behind Philadelphia for third, and one point behind Washington for fourth in the Metro.

Mason Marchment (19) and Adam Fantilli (24) scored the only goals in a 3-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Sunday night. Jet Greaves made 19 saves in the loss.

The Columbus Blue Jackets' Stanley Cup Playoff hopes are officially on life support. For the second year in a row, the CBJ will go down to the wire and will most likely be eliminated. It's not officially over, but it's close. 

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Washington CapitalsColumbus is 21-29-1-10 all-time, and 11-13-0-6 at home vs. Washington.

Series History vs. The Capitals

• Columbus is 21-29-1-10 all-time, and 11-13-0-6 at home vs. Washington.
• The home team has earned points in 11 of the last 14 meetings in the series since Jan 8, 2023 (7-2-4).

Columbus Blue Jackets Lines, Defensive Pairings, & Scratches For Tonight's Game vs. Washington CapitalsAlex Ovechkin could potentially be playing his final NHL game, and it'll be against Columbus. If you're a gambler, I would put money on him sco

Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft Lottery on May 5, 2025, where the CBJ will most likely pick 14 or 15. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

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For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.