DENVER — Cale Makar scored twice in the third period after returning from an earlier injury and the Colorado Avalanche overcame blowing a three-goal lead to beat the Minnesota Wild 9-6 on Sunday night in a wacky Game 1 of their second-round playoff series.
Makar, who left in the first period with an undisclosed ailment, scored his second goal of the game with 2:54 remaining to make it 8-6. Nathan MacKinnon added an empty-net goal with 2:08 remaining to seal it.
This was the 10th playoff game ever with at least 15 combined goals and just the second since 1994. There were five goals in each period.
Who figured this? A high-scoring affair between two of the better defensive teams in the league with two elite goaltenders. There were 14 different players who notched a goal in a game that turned into a track meet. It’s tied for the second-most in a playoff game.
The Avalanche improved to 72-1 since moving to Colorado in 1995-96 when leading a playoff game by three or more goals. The lone loss was Game 5 against St. Louis in a season they went on to win the Stanley Cup.
A well-rested Colorado team led 3-0 just 6:47 into the game. But the Wild steadily climbed back and took a 5-4 lead on a short-handed goal from Marcus Foligno late in the second.
Devon Toews tied at 5-apiece in the second period. It was just the fourth Game 1 in playoff history with both teams scoring five or more goals through two periods.
Both goalies struggled, but made some timely saves, too. Scott Wedgewood, who had the league’s best goals-against average this season, allowed one more goal than he did in the entire sweep of the Los Angeles Kings in Round 1.
He made 30 saves while Jesper Wallstedt stopped 34 shots.
Game 2 is Tuesday night in Denver.
Makar took a scary hit along the boards from Foligno early in the first period. The Avalanche defenseman’s right leg flew into the air before falling to the ice. Makar tested out his skating with some twirls at the end of the first and returned for the second. He had an assist on Nick Blankenburg’s goal.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Alex Newhook broke a tie with 8:53 left and the Montreal Canadiens outlasted the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 on Game 7 on Sunday night to end the thrilling first-round series.
The Canadiens will face the Buffalo Sabres in the second round after finishing off their first series victory since losing the Stanley Cup Final to Tampa Bay in 2021. Game 1 is Wednesday night in Buffalo.
Rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes made 28 saves and Nick Suzuki got his first goal of the series for Montreal.
Each game of the series was decided by one goal and four went to overtime. The score was tied or within one goal for all but six minutes in the seven games.
The Lightning were eliminated in the first round for the fourth straight season after falling two wins short of a Stanley Cup three-peat in 2022.
Tampa Bay’s tough defense held the Canadiens without a shot for nearly 27 minutes from the first period into the third and just four through two periods. Brandon Hagel made an outstanding, sliding stick save with an open net in the final minute but the Lightning couldn’t get the tying goal during a 6-on-5 and 6-on-4 for the final six seconds.
Montreal got a couple lucky bounces to score twice on its first eight shots on goal and finished with only nine.
After Lane Hutson fired a slap shot that went wide and bounced back out, Newhook skated backhanded the puck out of the air and in off Andrei Vasilevskiy’s pad and his backside.
AVALANCHE 9, WILD 6
DENVER (AP) — Cale Makar scored twice in the third period after returning from an earlier injury and Colorado overcame blowing a three-goal lead to beat Minnesota in a wacky Game 1 of their second-round playoff series.
Makar, who left in the first period with an undisclosed ailment, scored his second goal of the game with 2:54 remaining to make it 8-6. Nathan MacKinnon added an empty-net goal with 2:08 remaining to seal it.
This was the 10th playoff game ever with at least 15 combined goals and just the second since 1994. There were five goals in each period.
Who figured this? A high-scoring affair between two of the better defensive teams in the league with two elite goaltenders. There were 14 different players who notched a goal in a game that turned into a track meet. It’s tied for the second-most in a playoff game.
The Avalanche improved to 72-1 since moving to Colorado in 1995-96 when leading a playoff game by three or more goals. The lone loss was Game 5 against St. Louis in a season they went on to win the Stanley Cup.
A well-rested Colorado team led 3-0 just 6:47 into the game. But the Wild steadily climbed back and took a 5-4 lead on a short-handed goal from Marcus Foligno late in the second.
Devon Toews tied at 5-apiece in the second period. It was just the fourth Game 1 in playoff history with both teams scoring five or more goals through two periods.
Both goalies struggled, but made some timely saves, too. Scott Wedgewood, who had the league’s best goals-against average this season, allowed one more goal than he did in the entire sweep of the Los Angeles Kings in Round 1.
With the offseason officially in full swing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, it's fair to wonder what this roster is going to look like next season.
Fresh off a season where they defied expectations and made the NHL playoffs, the Penguins will have some big decisions to make this summer regarding some uncertain situations. GM and POHO Kyle Dubas has done a masterful job in collecting assets and draft capital, and there's a good chance he will target and favor young talent to help this team take the next step in 2026-27.
So, which pending restricted and unrestricted free agents figure to be part of that focus? There is a pretty long list of them, and not all of them will be wearing black and gold next season.
Here is who the Penguins should lock up - and who they should let go.
Restricted free agents
F Egor Chinakhov: Sign
This is a no-brainer, and it doesn't require too much explanation. Chinakhov said during locker cleanout day that he wanted to sign in Pittsburgh and be "part of the organization for a long time."
Well, his 18 goals and 36 points in 43 regular season games with the Penguins certainly earned him a multi-year deal, even if it is more along the lines of a two- or three-year bridge deal. The Penguins really like Chinakhov and his potential as a star top-six winger, and Chinakhov really likes the Penguins.
I would be shocked if he is not in Pittsburgh next season, and I think three years, $4.5 million per sounds about right given the salary cap spike.
I can't say I've seen a player literally earn a new contract at the last minute before. But Silovs did just that.
His .939 save percentage and otherwordly performance in the playoffs gave the Penguins a chance to come back from down 3-0 against the Philadelphia Flyers, and his playoff success is nothing new. He was tournament MVP during the Abbotsford Canucks' AHL Calder Cup run in 2025, and he gave the Vancouver Canucks a chance to win against the Edmonton Oilers in a seven-game series in 2024 with next to no prior NHL experience.
Finding goaltenders who can turn it up five notches in the playoffs isn't an easy thing. It's a rarity. Even if there are some ups and downs as Silovs searches for regular season consistency, re-signing him as a playoff surety is a worthwhile gamble.
There's a greater than decent chance that he and Sergei Murashov are the Penguins' NHL tandem next season.
Acciari had a nice season for the Penguins, registering 13 goals and 25 points, which were each the second-highest totals of his career. He did that as part of a fourth line that was very formidable for the Penguins, generating momentum from the forecheck, turning in strong defensive plays and physicality, and successfully killing penalties.
But Acciari is 34, and he's the exact kind of player who would block a worthy young player like Avery Hayes or Tristan Broz. Those guys are at a point in their development where NHL playing time is essential if they've earned it, which they largely have.
For that reason, there's no sense in bringing back Acciari in terms of where the Penguins are at.
D Connor Clifton: Walk
Clifton started to come around at the end of the season, and his physicality is a unique aspect of his game and something that the Penguins could definitely use more of.
At the end of the day, he's replaceable - and the Penguins may just add to their blue line this summer, anyway. Even if they don't, Brunicke can effectively replace those minutes on the Penguins' bottom pairing, assuming he has a strong camp.
After putting together a nice season - posting career-highs in goals (14) and points (30) to go along with a plus-16, the highest mark among forwards on the Penguins - there is a chance that another NHL team offers Dewar something above what the Penguins are willing to. And, like Acciari, he's a fourth-line player, and Pittsburgh has plenty of younger players who will be vying for NHL roster spots.
It's also worth noting that Dewar's production dropped off significantly in the second half of the season.
But I think this is a player they bring back. Dewar likes it in Pittsburgh, and the Penguins are very happy with what Dewar has brought to the fourth line alongside Blake Lizotte. He'll be 27 next season, which is still young enough to have around for several more years as a key depth contributor.
F Kevin Hayes: Walk
Hayes is a great locker room presence. The guys love him, and he's a very positive and honest influence in that room.
But he played in only 28 games this season and was healthy-scratched otherwise. He's 33, and he still has a set of hands, but his footspeed is an issue. There's not really much point in keeping him around.
There are a lot of narratives out there about Malkin right now: He's too old, he's too injury-prone, he's too unpredictable, the Penguins need youth, they shouldn't commit to term, etc.
Well, here's the thing. Malkin - who will be 40 next season - was over point-per-game for the first time in three years this season, is willing to play wing, has declared he wants "one more year," probably won't ask for a lot of money based on past comments, and is not currently blocking any "younger player" from top-six minutes because Ben Kindel is going to stay put at center and no one else has pushed.
So, there is no good reason not to bring him back for one year. It's what Malkin wants, and it will have little to no effect on what Dubas is trying to accomplish. Quite frankly, I fail to understand why an extension hasn't happened yet.
That said, I think it will. It may just drag out a bit, whether that's fair to a franchise legend like Malkin or not.
While folks didn't seem to be overly impressed with Mantha's playoff performance - he recorded just one point in six post-season games - this is a guy who still led the Penguins in goals this season with 33 and was a huge reason they ended up making the playoffs, especially during the stretch run of the season.
But, Mantha is going to get paid - and he should get some term, too. Even though the Penguins have a lot of cap space, committing term to a 31-year-old winger coming off a career year and who is prone to injury probably isn't the smartest move.
Had the Penguins not been in playoff contention, flipping Mantha would have been an easy choice. Not flipping him at the deadline isn't going to set back their future, however, so neither will letting him walk and cash in elsewhere.
D Ryan Shea: Sign
Shea - like many - also had a career year for the Penguins. He had six goals and 35 points and was a team-high plus-30, and he helped shore up the Penguins' bottom defensive pairing. The 29-year-old will be due for a relatively significant pay raise from his current $900,000, and he is likely to sign for more than one year.
I do think Shea will sign an extension with the Penguins for two or three years, but I don't necessarily think that means he'll stick around. I believe the Penguins are going to try to upgrade their blue line this summer - particularly, on the left side - and it would be a crowded place with a new face, Parker Wotherspoon, Shea, and Sam Girard.
It's more likely that Girard or Wotherspoon is dealt as part of a package, but there is a chance that Shea could be the odd-man out. The only way I don't see the Penguins signing him in the first place is if a team wants to throw stupid money at a third-pairing defenseman, and I can't entirely rule that out.
Speaking of the left side, Solovyov is another option. While he very well may leave for a better opportunity outside of Pittsburgh, I kind of see him as a Jack St. Ivany replacement of sorts: He'll be young enough at age 26 that there is still more upside potential, he'll come cheap, he can play both sides, and he is a good depth option.
Again, if another team comes knocking and offers Solovyov the chance to get more minutes, he'll probably bite. But I don't necessarily think that's going to happen. If the Penguins can retain him, I think they will.
G Stuart Skinner: Walk
The goaltending situation in Pittsburgh will be sure be an interesting one to watch. Skinner played well in the playoffs and was good enough down the stretch for the Penguins to help them reach the playoffs in the first place. He's also a great locker room presence and has said numerous times that he loves the family environment in Pittsburgh.
However, the play of Silovs during the playoffs may have just pushed Skinner out. Silovs is younger - technically, he was still a rookie this season - and he has a proven track record at this point of being able to perform in the playoffs.
Again, Murashov is pretty likely to be full-time in the NHL next season. I'm sure the Penguins would love to have Skinner back in a veteran mentor capacity to guide their most promising goaltending prospect.
But I'm not sure Skinner would settle for that. Goaltending is always needed across the league, and the 27-year-old can probably find a better opportunity elsewhere. Plus, I think the Penguins would be generally comfortable with a Silovs-Murashov tandem next season, especially with Joel Blomqvist and Taylor Gauthier likely to be waiting in the wings in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
When the Senators parted ways with head coach DJ Smith and GM Pierre Dorion during the 2023–24 season, it was fair to wonder if they'd get another opportunity. The two men were at the helm through some pretty dark days for the franchise, including a seemingly never-ending rebuild.
But after a couple of seasons as an assistant coach in L.A., Smith resurfaced this season as the Kings' interim head coach when Jim Hiller was fired, and helped guide them to the post-season.
It was a reminder that everyone is usually better in their second job because of the lessons learned in their first.
Senators captain Brady Tkachuk said last week that he's frustrated by the incessant questions about his future.
The Vancouver Canucks, with the worst record in the NHL this season, think there’s a chance that may also be true for Dorion.
According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the Canucks, after firing Patrik Allvin on April 17, have interviewed Dorion for their GM vacancy.
Former Ottawa Senators GM, Pierre Dorion was in Vancouver last week and has interviewed for the Canucks GM vacancy.
Dorion was fired in 2023 because of the Senators’ botched communications during their 2021 trade of Evgenii Dadonov to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Sens failed to disclose Dadonov’s no-trade list, which derailed the Knights’ later attempt to trade him to Anaheim.
The NHL penalized the Senators by docking them a first-round draft pick, a debt they were scheduled to pay off this year until Gary Bettman recently let them off the hook. The Sens will draft 32nd overall this summer, no matter what.
Dorion certainly had a long list of missteps as GM in Ottawa, but it’s not hard to imagine that, under the late Eugene Melnyk, there was considerable meddling in hockey matters.
Interestingly, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Dorion's former assistant GM may be competing with him for the Canucks job. After Dorion was fired in Ottawa, Ryan Bowness spent another year and a half with the Sens as associate GM under new Sens GM Steve Staios.
Dorion did have some highlights, though, including arguably the most lucrative first round in Sens history. He took Tim Stützle and Jake Sanderson in the 2020 Draft and eventually signed both to team-friendly long-term deals. He also grabbed Ridly Greig in the first round that year.
The 53-year-old Ottawa native made the most of the 2018 Erik Karlsson trade to San Jose, acquiring Josh Norris, Dylan DeMelo, and Chris Tierney, along with a 2020 first-round pick that became Stützle, and a 2019 second that was packaged so they could draft Mads Søgaard.
He also has an ace in the hole.
While the Canucks have interviewed other candidates, no one will be able to match Dorion’s GM experience in navigating the pitfalls of an NHL rebuild while dealing with challenging ownership.
That job experience would almost certainly come in handy in Vancouver.
There were 24 NHL teams at the start of the 1992-93 season. When Gary Bettman took over as commissioner of the National Hockey League in early 1993, he had a vision. He wanted to bring hockey to non-traditional markets, and he wanted those teams to experience great success.
It didn’t happen overnight– for years, poor management and low attendance made these teams the punchline of every joke around the league– but Bettman’s dream has finally become a reality. There are 32 teams in the NHL, 10 of which are based in non-traditional markets. And as for success, five of the last six Stanley Cup Champions have hailed from non-traditional markets.
The Vegas Golden Knights were perhaps the greatest of Bettman’s many accomplishments. He’d long since wanted to put an NHL team in Las Vegas, and finally got his wish in 2016. The team’s success speaks for itself– they made the playoffs in their first season, and won the Stanley Cup in their sixth.
In 2026, the Golden Knights are no longer the new kids on the block. In 2024, the Arizona Coyotes relocated to Salt Lake City; now, all eyes are on the Utah Mammoth.
In a poetic turn of events, the Golden Knights drew the Mammoth in Utah’s first-ever postseason run. Ultimately, the Golden Knights proved they’re still the team to beat, eliminating their opponent in six games. But in those six games, the Mammoth made their mark, impressing the Golden Knights with their play and their fans.
“It was a really cool experience playing there; it was a pretty rowdy building,” said defenseman Noah Hanifin. “I think it’s good for the league. It’s good for the game, and there’s a bright future there.”
“It was a lot of fun playing in Utah,” agreed forward Brett Howden. “The crowd is so good. They’re really into the game, which is really fun… And their stands, they’re really over top of you, so you can really feel them. But yeah, it was really cool. It was fun.”
As many teams do during the postseason, the Delta Center provided every Mammoth fan with a rally towel, and the resulting scenes were electric.
“Me and Keegan [Kolesar] both said it kind of reminded us of the Winnipeg series,” Howden said. “When we played there, they had the White Out, and they all had the white towels. So, it kind of had the same vibe.”
Following the series win, several Golden Knights players acknowledged how much they enjoyed getting to experience a team’s first postseason run. They also drew comparisons between Utah and Vegas’ early days.
“It was awesome, it was really cool to see,” said Noah Hanifin. “I remember when Vegas [entered the league], and just what a cool environment it was to play in, and how much pride and passion the fans had, and I felt the same way in Utah.”
Brett Howden also compared playing in Salt Lake City to the times when he played in Vegas as a visitor.
“When I wasn’t with Vegas, we’d come to play here, and it was just so much fun,” he said. “Like, the crowd was so engaged, and it made it a lot of fun as an away team.
“It’s even better as a home team playing here,” Howden added with a wry smile.
The Golden Knights will visit one of the first non-traditional hockey markets in the Second Round. The Anaheim Ducks, who entered the league in 1993, are back in the postseason for the first time since 2017. Southern California hasn’t exactly become an arctic tundra in the 33 years since the Ducks entered the league– but that means very little, as is the case in Vegas.
“I’ve seen some of the games in Anaheim, and it looks like they’ve got a great crowd,” said Howden.
TAMPA, Fla. — Alex Newhook broke a tie with 8:53 left and the Montreal Canadiens outlasted the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 on Game 7 on Sunday night to end the thrilling first-round series.
The Canadiens will face the Buffalo Sabres in the second round after finishing off their first series victory since losing the Stanley Cup Final to Tampa Bay in 2021. Game 1 is Wednesday night in Buffalo.
Rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes made 28 saves and Nick Suzuki got his first goal of the series for Montreal.
Each game of the series was decided by one goal and four went to overtime. The score was tied or within one goal for all but six minutes in the seven games.
The Lightning were eliminated in the first round for the fourth straight season after falling two wins short of a Stanley Cup three-peat in 2022.
Tampa Bay’s tough defense held the Canadiens without a shot for nearly 27 minutes from the first period into the third and just four through two periods. Brandon Hagel made an outstanding, sliding stick save with an open net in the final minute but the Lightning couldn’t get the tying goal during a 6-on-5 and 6-on-4 for the final six seconds.
Montreal got a couple lucky bounces to score twice on its first eight shots on goal and finished with only nine.
After Lane Hutson fired a slap shot that went wide and bounced back out, Newhook skated backhanded the puck out of the air and in off Andrei Vasilevskiy’s pad and his backside.
Playing in front of their 461st consecutive sellout crowd and hundreds more fans watching from Thunder Alley outside Benchmark International Arena, the Lightning lost for the 11th time in their last 13 playoff games at home, including three times in this series.
The Canadiens didn’t have a shot on net in the second period despite two power-play chances. They became the first team to have zero shots in a playoff period since Pittsburgh in Game 1 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals against Nashville.
Dominic James tipped in Charle-Edouard D’Astous’ one-timer from just inside the blue line to tie it at 1 on a power play in the second period.
Suzuki opened the scoring 1:21 left in the first. After scoring 29 goals in the regular season, Suzuki needed a lucky bounce to get one. His redirection of Kaiden Guhle’s slap shot was heading wide but the puck hit Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser and went in.
Montreal’s Martin St. Louis, a Hockey Hall of Famer whose No. 26 is retired by the Lightning, became the fifth player to appear in a Game 7 for a team and coach against them in another.
Another name can be added to the long list of candidates interviewed for the Vancouver Canucks' open general manager job. In a post on social media, TSN's Darren Dreger wrote, "Former Ottawa Senators GM, Pierre Dorion was in Vancouver last week and has interviewed for the Canucks GM vacancy." Dorion has not been listed with an organization since 2023, when he was let go by the Ottawa Senators.
Dorion has plenty of experience as an NHL executive. He served as the Senators' GM from 2016-2023, and before that, was with Ottawa in different capacities since 2007. Dorion also spent time as a scout with both the New York Rangers and the Montréal Canadiens since 1994.
Under Dorion's leadership, the Senators posted a regular-season record of 225-261-59. During that time, Ottawa made the playoffs once, which was in 2017. Some notable draft picks made during Dorion's time as GM include Tim Stützle, Jake Sanderson and Brady Tkachuk.
May 9, 2016; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion attends a press conference to introduce Guy Boucher as the new head coach of the Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
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TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Maple Leafs hired former captain Mats Sundin as senior executive adviser of hockey operations and John Chayka as general manager Sunday.
The moves mark a reset of the club’s front office after a season that ended with Toronto missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
The team said Sundin will provide support across hockey operations, with a focus on team culture, player development and leadership support.
“This fan base deserves greatness and I am grateful for the opportunity to help this team, organization and city achieve that,” Sundin said in a release.
Toronto fired GM Brad Treliving in March, near the end of the disastrous campaign for the Maple Leafs, who entered the season among the Stanley Cup favorites.
The club also did not replace president Brendan Shanahan after he was let go in May 2025.
Sundin and Chayka arrive with the organization still searching for its first Stanley Cup since 1967.
The Maple Leafs’ career points leader, Sundin had a complicated Toronto exit in 2008 before a brief stint with the Vancouver Canucks, but remains a fan favorite for his 13 seasons in blue and white.
The 55-year-old Swede, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012 and returned home to start a family after retiring, has never held a formal management position in the game.
The 36-year-old Chayka became the NHL’s youngest GM when he was hired by the Arizona Coyotes a decade ago. His time in the desert was marked by an analytics-heavy push and bold trades.
“I’m honored to join the Toronto Maple Leafs organization and excited to work alongside Mats and the entire organization,” Chayka said in a statement. “This is one of hockey’s most historic franchises, with a passionate fan base who want to win."
Chayka abruptly resigned in July 2020 on the eve of the league’s pandemic restart and was subsequently suspended by commissioner Gary Bettman for one year in 2021 for “conduct detrimental to the league and game” after pursuing job opportunities with other teams while still employed by the Coyotes.
Arizona was also docked first- and second-round picks for holding unauthorized workouts with draft prospects under his watch, in breach of the league’s scouting combine policy.
After a 3-0 Game 1 trouncing at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes, the Philadelphia Flyers must recognize that the game has changed for them in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
A mediocre Flyers offense was already cooling off in the second half of the Round 1 matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins and, by the end, needed a Cam York prayer to beat an injured Arturs Silovs.
The Flyers' staunch defense, which was initially tasked with marshalling and silencing the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Erik Karlsson, now faces an entirely new task altogether.
Instead of worrying about defense and fundamentals, the blueline corps now has to learn how to play fast under pressure. It's the only way they'll bypass the Hurricanes' disruptive forecheck and subsequently retain possession and create offense.
The problem, though, is that they aren't built for that, and the Flyers will have to adapt.
Veteran defenseman Noah Juulsen, who has done a solid job for the Flyers in limited action, struggles to move the puck and isn't capable of using his legs as a weapon.
The same, to a lesser extent, applies to Nick Seeler, too.
Juulsen, in particular, was victimized by the Hurricanes' intensity in Game 1, as he was forced into an error with the puck in his own zone that led to Logan Stankoven cashing in for his second goal of the night, making it 3-0 and effectively burying the Flyers where they stood.
The Flyers have options, though there is risk involved.
Youngsters Emil Andrae and David Jiricek each boast premium puck-movement skills; Andrae is more nimble, while Jiricek is overall more talented.
The Flyers probably won't want to throw someone like Jiricek, who has yet to make his playoff debut despite playing in 85 NHL games, into the fire, but other prospects who are considered important parts of the franchise's future have felt the flames already.
Players like Denver Barkey, Alex Bump, Porter Martone, and Matvei Michkov are all 22 or younger and going through this for the first time, but that isn't the case on defense.
Jiricek, 22, is virtually penciled in for a roster spot on the Flyers next season, if for no reason other than being unable to be sent to the AHL without passing through waivers first.
The recent trade acquisition is the Flyers' most talented defender with the puck on his stick, and it isn't close.
Will Jiricek struggle with defending and the pace of play in the playoffs? Sure, but didn't everyone else in Game 1?
If the Flyers want to have a fighting chance for the rest of the series, they would be wise to turn to Jiricek, who can at least buoy the disgraceful power play and help the team move the puck up the ice in transition with his passing skills.
Juulsen has done a solid job defensively, but he's played more than 12:29 just once this postseason--the Game 6 win over the Penguins that went deep into overtime (14:46).
Those minutes should be going to a player who needs the experience, if they're going to be so limited.
It's clear the Flyers are going to need more juice to weather the Hurricanes, and Jiricek has the ability in spades.
The Los Angeles Kings are searching for a head coach, according to GM Ken Holland. While D.J. Smith is a candidate for the job after filling in as the interim coach of the Kings from March 1 to the end of the season, there's a good chance Holland will look for new blood.
There is a selection of head coaches that are available for hire, and some great veteran bench bosses at that. But what if the organization wants to go a different route and hire someone who isn't a household name?
Sometimes, teams will look to bring in an assistant coach from another, relatively successful team, and that could be the case here with Los Angeles.
Here are three NHL assistant coaches who could wind up being the Kings' head coach for the 2026-27 campaign.
Jay Woodcroft, Anaheim Ducks
For Jay Woodcroft he's actually a well-known coach in the NHL, especially in the Kings community, as he was the bench boss of the Edmonton Oilers.
He led the Oilers from behind the bench for just one full regular-season campaign, and two stints in the post-season, none of which were Edmonton's back-to-back Stanley Cup final appearances.
Therefore, Woodcroft does have experience in running a team behind the bench, even if it wasn't a lengthy period.
In his one full regular season, he helped the Oilers register a 50-23-9 record, accumulating 109 points in the standings, finishing two points off Pacific Division winners, the Vegas Golden Knights.
In the playoffs, Woodcroft took the Oilers as far as a Western Conference final sweep at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche in 2022.
This season, he joined the Anaheim Ducks' coaching staff as an assistant coach to Joel Quenneville. In Anaheim, his duties are with the offense and power play.
An offense-minded coach could be the shakeup the Kings need after sitting back and playing defensive hockey for several years to this point.
Muse doesn't become the coach with one of the most impressive campaigns of this NHL season without a competent coaching staff around him, and Nelson has a say in that.
In terms of other NHL experience, Nelson's most recent role was as an assistant with the Dallas Stars for four seasons from 2018-19 to 2021-22. Dallas made a Stanley Cup final appearance in that span.
Nelson has also spent many years as a head coach in the AHL, including stints with the Hershey Bears, Grand Rapids Griffins, and the Oklahoma City Barons.
Furthermore, in the last 10 years, Nelson has won three Calder Cups as the champion of the American League. Others who have won the Calder Cup and gone on to be respectable NHL coaches include Jared Bednar, Jon Cooper, Sheldon Keefe and Ryan Warsofsky.
Neil Graham has spent the past eight years in the Stars organization, most of which in the head coaching role with the AHL's Texas Stars.
In his final three seasons as Texas' coach, they've made the American League post-season. The team's best campaign came in his last year when the AHL Stars advanced to the third round of the playoffs.
Following that tenure in the minors, Graham then became a prime candidate to become the head coach of Dallas, following the sacking of Peter DeBoer in the aftermath of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Nonetheless, since Graham was close to landing the job with Dallas, he could very well be a name that Holland is keeping a close eye on as the next head coach of the Kings.
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The Chicago Blackhawks have an impressive crop of young talent throughout the organization. With a top-four pick coming in the 2026 NHL Draft, it is about to become an even stronger pipeline. The prospects already in place give the Blackhawks a bright future outlook.
One of those prospects, Roman Kantserov, was a second-round pick (44th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft. Kantserov is a forward who has spent the last couple of seasons in the KHL with Metallurg Magnitogorsk.
In this most recent KHL regular season, Kantserov had 36 goals and 28 assists for 64 points in 63 games played. It was one of the best seasons a 21-year-old has ever had in the KHL.
Over the weekend, Kantserov and his Metallurg team lost their series to Ak Bars 4-1 in the Gagarin Cup semifinals. After being one of the best teams in the league all season long, they are now eliminated. In 15 playoff games, Kantserov had 4 goals and 4 assists for 8 points.
Now that his year is done, he is free to sign with the Chicago Blackhawks this summer. His KHL deal will officially expire on May 31st, but negotiations may take some time. The decision is still being made on whether he will do it right away, but all signs point to him becoming an NHL player by next season.
When Kantserov first comes to North America, it will be a major transition for his overall game. Once he is used to the pro game on this side of the world, the talent is there for him to make an impact quickly.
Kantserov has the goal-scoring skills to take full advantage of good playmakers like Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, or Anton Frondell. He can also make plays himself, which will benefit the goal-scoring abilities of those aforementioned teammates.
It might take some time for this all to click, but bringing him over on his entry-level deal will mark a big milestone in his NHL career.
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Following their 1-0 loss in the Central Division Semifinal of the Calder Cup Playoffs against the Manitoba Moose, the Grand Rapids Griffins responded in kind.
The Griffins evened up the series at one game apiece on Sunday afternoon, earning a 2-0 victory at Canada Life Centre in downtown Winnipeg.
Leading the way on the scoreboard for the Griffins were a pair of Detroit Red Wings draft selections that the club hopes will someday soon be making a postseason impact for them.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Detroit's first round (14th overall) pick from the 2024 NHL Draft, opened the scoring in the second period by capitalizing on a three-way passing play with Sheldon Dries and John Leonard.
Brandsegg-Nygård initially made the Red Wings roster in the fall out of Training Camp and appeared in 12 total NHL games, registering an assist. Both Dries and Leonard also saw action with the Red Wings at various points in the season.
The Griffins then got an insurance goal from defenseman William Wallinder, who was the first pick (32nd overall) of the second round in the 2020 NHL Draft.
Goaltender Michal Postava was solid between the pipes, picking up his first career postseason shutout by stopping all 30 shots that he faced from the Moose.
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Former Vancouver Canucks forward and Hall-of-Famer Mats Sundin has officially been hired for a front-office role.
Sundin, longtime Toronto Maple Leafs captain from 1997–98 to 2007–08, was announced as the Maple Leafs’ senior executive advisor of hockey operations on Sunday afternoon. Alongside his announcement was the news that former Arizona Coyotes General Manager and President of Hockey Operations, John Chayka, would be joining the Maple Leafs as GM.
This news comes around the same time that the Canucks take part in their own search for a new General Manager, during which many Maple Leafs candidates had also been linked to the Canucks. Names such as Boston Bruins Assistant General Manager Evan Gold were also reported to be in consideration for the Maple Leafs’ role as well as Vancouver’s.
While known primarily for his time with Toronto, Sundin also spent 41 games as a member of the Canucks during the 2008–09 season. Vancouver signed him to a one-year deal worth $5.626M back on December 18, 2008. Though his tenure was short, the forward scored nine goals and 19 assists in his time with the Canucks, while also putting up three goals and five assists in eight post-season games. Most notably, he scored the shootout winner in his return to Toronto, helping the Canucks win the game by a score of 3–2.
With Sundin and Chayka now hired, the Maple Leafs are now off the board when it comes to open GM positions in the NHL.
Jan 28, 2009; Vancouver, BC, Canada; Vancouver Canucks center Mats Sundin (13) in action against the Nashville Predators at General Motors Place in Vancouver, BC. The Thrashers beat the Canucks 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-Imagn Images
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Logan Stankoven has been one of the stars of the playoffs, recording seven points and 23 shots on goal through five games.
My Flyers vs. Hurricanes predictionssee Stankoven having another productive showing in Game 2.
Let’s take a closer look at my NHL picks for Monday, May 4.
Flyers vs Hurricanes Game 2 prediction
Flyers vs Hurricanes best bet: Logan Stankoven Over 2.5 shots (-125)
Logan Stankoven has turned it up a couple of notches in the playoffs. He's averaged 4.6 shots on goal while clearing this line in all five games. Stankoven had at least four shots in four of five, often getting the job done with room to spare.
He’s been even more productive on home soil, producing 5.3 shots on 7.7 attempts through three games in Carolina.
What’s especially impressive is that the bulk of his games came against Ottawa, an even stingier shot suppression team than Philadelphia.
There’s no reason to expect a dip in Game 2.
Flyers vs Hurricanes Game 2 same-game parlay
Stankoven has points in all five playoff games thus far, including multi-point efforts in two of three home dates. He's getting easier matchups on home soil and, clearly, taking advantage of it.
Taylor Hall is a natural fit to round out the parlay. He has eight points through five playoff games and is attached to the hip of Stankoven, playing together at both 5-on-5 and on the man advantage.
Carolina has won nine of the last 10 games against Philadelphia. Find more NHL betting trends for Flyers vs. Hurricanes.
How to watch Flyers vs Hurricanes Game 2
Location
Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC
Date
Monday, May 4, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Flyers 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.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 02: Logan Stankoven #22 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates the win against the Philadelphia Flyers after Game One of the Second Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center on May 02, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Believe it or not, Logan Stankoven has yet to be named the Carolina Hurricanes “Player of the Game” for Canes Country in these playoffs. I’m fixing that right now.
He only led the team in notching goals in round one and scored first in the first three games, tying NHL records for that. But his teammates did so well we had to look somewhere else.
Not so for Saturday night. He not only scored the first goal of the game again, this time off a nice tip of a Mike Reilly shot, he scored again later in the game giving him a total of six goals in the five playoff games so far this postseason.
Talk about being hot, Stankoven now has a 13 game point streak going back to the final eight games of the regular season. He certainly picked the right time to be hot.
The center opened the scoring just 1:31 into the game with his tip. Later in the period, Jackson Blake made a beautiful move and guided the puck behind goalie, Dan Vladar.
The center scored again in the second period after Andrei Svechnikov broke up a play and got the puck to Seth Jarvis who found Stankoven wide open cross ice. The youngster made no mistake as he beat Vladar bar down to make it 3-0 to virtually end the game in Carolina.
Not only did he score his two goals, in just 13 minutes of play he also led the team with 5 shots on goal and had a 64% winning percentage in the faceoff circle. (7 of 11).
Honorable mention goes to Fred Andersen, who notched his second shutout in these playoffs. Usually a shutout earns you a “player of the game” shout out, but he had a inactive game for much of it. Through two periods the Flyers only had nine shots on goal. They picked up a lot of offensive zone time and shots when they had a two man advantage late in the game and finished with 19 for the game.
K’Andre Miller continues to shine for Carolina. He made the defensive play of the game when he caught up to Garnet Hathaway who broke free when he got out of the penalty box. Miller dove on the ice and with his long reach, used his stick to knock away the puck from Hathaway before the Flyer could get a shot on goal. The defenseman avoided taking a penalty and also did not slide into his goalie on the perfect play.
Mike Reilly also played well as he substituted for Alexander Nikishin. A decent 7th defenseman is something the Hurricanes missed dearly last year.
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In other news, we will be publishing the new thread for the “Canes Country Pick’em Contest” after the Lightning/Canadiens game tonight. I will leave it open until Carolina’s 7 P.M. start time on Monday night. Hopefully that gives everyone who wants to participate a proper chance. Two second round opening games will be completed by then but everyone is on equal footing so I believe this is the best way to go.
Finally, our own Al Hood was a repeat guest on Adam Gold’s YouTube channel after last night’s game. You can check that out next.
Last share-in case you missed me with Adam Gold and you want to see a few of my many caps. https://t.co/BS6ZKaKiUx
