One Potential Flyers Free Agent Target Nobody Is Talking About

If the Philadelphia Flyers are going to block one of their prospects on defense, they may as well lean in and make a big-ticket signing to truly justify it.

Much has been made about the availability of Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh, who is set to hit the free agent market after scoring 70 points in 73 games for the Stanley Cup contender this year.

The problems with Raddysh, though, are that he will turn 31 in February and has enjoyed his NHL success with the benefit of playing on an already-established power play that features talents like Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Jake Guentzel, and Brandon Hagel.

Raddysh is a good player, to be clear, but there are risks that might make the Flyers averse to a big-money signing there.

Elsewhere on the free agent market, though, will be Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Rasmus Andersson, who nobody seems to be talking about at all.

Andersson, 29, is on the older side as well, but has been doing it for longer on Calgary Flames teams that were both good and, well, not good at all.

The Swede can be a power play quarterback if needed, too, scoring three goals and 40 total power play points between the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons with the Flames.

Despite being a relatively average 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, Andersson plays with some nastiness, and while he does come with his warts, is in the upper-echelon of offensive defensemen around the NHL.

The point totals don't reflect that, but he generates tons of chances for himself and others, uses his legs effectively to transport the puck

As for the warts, though, we can look at JFresh Hockey's HockeyStats.com, which visualizes all of AllThreeZones's microstats for us.

Andersson struggles quite a bit in his own end at times; he ranks in the ninth percentile in pass exits, and he's even worse defending the rush with a third-percentile placement in prevention of possession zone entries.

Rasmus Andersson's microstats card. (HockeyStats.com)
Rasmus Andersson's microstats card. (HockeyStats.com)

Andersson does almost everything else at a high-to-elite level, and when we consider that both he and current Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim have been deployed as pseudo-No. 1 defensemen, putting those together as a pair becomes an attractive idea.

Undoubtedly, whether it's Raddysh or Andersson, the Flyers will have to make room for a newcomer, trading defense for offense and more than likely moving on from Rasmus Ristolainen.

That's a risk they will have to take in order to reach the next step in their rebuild, though.

Fortunately, they stumbled upon Dan Vladar, who will certainly sign a lucrative contract extension with the Flyers at some point in the near future.

And, speaking of Vladar, the Flyers' emerging vocal leader in the locker room and on the ice can help make an Andersson signing possible.

Vladar, of course, played with Andersson on the Calgary Flames for four seasons from 2021 to 2025.

It's worth noting that Garnet Hathaway is another secret agent the Flyers could have working for them, as he played with Andersson on the Flames and AHL Stockton Heat from 2016 to 2019.

Lately, it's become more and more known how appealing a destination the Philadelphia Flyers are for other players, and few on the team could speak to that more right now than Vladar and Hathaway, who always have nothing but good things to say about the team, the city, the fans, and the organization.

All signs point to the Flyers making a splash this offseason, be it through trade or free agency, but Andersson should certainly be in the mix with some Flyers connections and a productive NHL career through various circumstances under his belt.

Canadiens Lose To Hurricanes, Who Were The Better Team On The Night

After taking a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Final over the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night, the Montreal Canadiens were hoping to emulate what the Vegas Golden Knights did on Friday night and take a 2-0 lead on the road. If the Canes appeared rusty in the first period of Game 1, it wasn’t the case in Game 2.

Rod Brind’Amour’s men got out of the gate in a hurry and displayed the full extent of their relentless brand of forecheck, which seemed to take the Canadiens by surprise a bit.

Fast And Furious First

The first frame was played at high speed; at times, it looked as if the Hurricanes had five Speedy Gonzaleses on the ice. After 20 minutes, Carolina had 14 hits to the Canadiens’ seven, despite having much of the puck possession. The Canes also dominated in the faceoff department, winning 64% of their draws and leading in shots 7-2. Still, the period ended on a 1-1 tie.

There were a couple of cautionary tales on the ice for Juraj Slafkovsky. Early on, he passed the puck right in front of Jakub Dobes’ net, and it was nearly intercepted. Then, in the dying seconds, he made yet another no-look back pass that led to a two-on-one odd-man rush. Luckily for the power forward, there was no damage done, but he must play a smarter game.

For all the Canes’ possession, though, they only manage to score once, and it was on a weak shot that deflected to get past Dobes. The kind of goal a goalie hates because it’s not going in at high speed, but there was nothing he could do. Josh Anderson tied up the score less than 10 minutes later on yet another great Phillip Danault play.

Being Disciplined

Referees do not tend to call a lot of penalties in the playoffs. Still, when they do call one, they tend to even things out at the first opportunity they get, which is exactly what happened in the first frame when Jayden Struble was given a roughing penalty for taking down Andrei Svechnikov after the whistle. The Canes player went down easy, but that’s to be expected in the playoffs.

Dobes also got an interference call for interfering with Mark Jankowski as he was going around the net, but the Canes had been pressuring the Habs, and that was just the goalie trying to land a hand. His play around the net in these playoffs has been highly useful for the Habs, but that was his fourth penalty of the postseason. The rookie netminder displayed nerves of steel when a stick got stuck in his skate, and he managed to calmly thread it out, without play being stopped, as if it was just business as usual.

Alexandre Texier took the worst penalty in the dying seconds of the middle frame. After Nick Suzuki missed a golden opportunity to score the equalizer, the Frenchman was given two minutes for slashing K’Andre Miller, but it could have been worse. The move was reminiscent of a Brad Marchand play on Alexei Emelin back in the day, not the kind of Marchand move you want to draw inspiration from.

Playing The Game That’s In Front Of You

The Canadiens did manage to tie the game at 2-2 before the end of the third frame once again through Anderson, but they didn’t last long in overtime. Montreal tried to keep up its momentum by attacking at the start of overtime, but they weren’t doing it the right way.

The fourth line, made up of Zachary Bolduc, Kirby Dach, and Oliver Kapanen, had possession and was about to enter the offensive zone. Instead of putting the puck in deep, Kapanen rushed his play, which Jalen Chatfield intercepted. He sent the attack the other way, catching the Canadiens off guard as Mike Matheson and Noah Dobson were on their way to the bench to change. It was a two-on-two, but Dobson didn’t have the speed necessary to close down Nikolaj Ehlers, who scored his second of the game. It’s worth mentioning that his first goal was a fantastic individual effort on which he beat both Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson.

After the game, Martin St-Louis was asked about having his fourth line on the ice early in overtime. Why are you asking me that? To which the journalist replied that he was asking because it was early and the fourth line was on, St-Louis gave him a Shane Wright-worthy stare before saying, “Yeah, they were there.” It will be interesting to see if Kapanen’s mistake costs him his spot in the lineup. We’ve seen the coach stand by Dach when it was his mistake that cost the game.

While the result will be disappointing for the Canadiens, they can take solace from the fact that the Hurricanes brought their A-game in this second duel, and they weren’t blown away. Montreal still took them to overtime and is coming back to town with a 1-1 tie, having taken home-ice advantage away. Game 4 is set for Monday night at 8:00, and it promises to be an interesting evening at the Bell Centre.


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5 Players Outside Top 5 For Blackhawks To Consider Trading Down For

The Chicago Blackhawks have the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. There are a lot of players for them to consider there, depending on what the three teams ahead of them (Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, & Vancouver Canucks) decide to do. 

If all of the players that the Blackhawks truly want within that top four are already off the board, there is a different direction they can take. Plenty of prospects with similar ceilings will be available in the back half of the top ten. The Blackhawks could gain another asset by trading down 5-8 slots. 

There will be a handful of players drafted later in the first round who end up being standouts. Are the Blackhawks willing to take a risk like that to gain in the long term? One of these five players may be worth the gamble: 

Viggo Bjork

Viggo Bjork is one of those players who may end up being drafted higher than anyone thought, but he is not touted the way that his countryman, Ivar Stenberg, is. Perhaps he should be. At best, he’s still likely to be just the fourth or fifth forward selected, and there are a handful of defensemen to go in the top ten as well. If the Blackhawks wanted Bjork after seeing his SHL, World Junior, and World Championships performances, they probably can’t go down too far. 

Ethan Belchetz

Ethan Belchetz had a strong point per game type of season with the Windsor Spitfires in 2025-26, which set him up to be a mid-first round pick in the NHL Draft. He will challenge himself by playing college hockey with Michigan State in 2026-27, which will be great for his development as a winger with aspirations of making it to the NHL. If Chicago moved back to draft a player like him, you’d think that they vision him playing wing alongside one of their current young centers. 

Oscar Hemming

Oscar Hemming is a highly skilled Finnish-born player who had an interesting season. He came over during the 2025-26 season to play 19 games with Boston College, and he’s set to play the full season there next year. Should the Blackhawks select a player like Hemming, they’d be getting a forward who may end up being a center one day. It’s always good to have forwards who can play multiple positions in the organization. 

Wyatt Cullen

Wyatt Cullen is the son of former NHL player Matt Cullen, who had a long career playing big roles on good teams. The younger Wyatt may be even more skilled at this stage of the development. After playing a significant role in the United States National Team Development Program, Cullen is ready for the next stage. For him, it will be the University of Minnesota after being drafted somewhere in the middle of the NHL Draft’s first round. By adding him, the Blackhawks would continue their run of drafting fast players who can create offense at will with their speed. 

Tynan Lawrence

For a while, Tynan Lawrence of Boston University was in the conversation for the second overall pick. His stock has recently fallen just a little bit, but he will still be selected in the top-15. With the Blackhawks looking for more scoring down the middle, Lawrence is someone to think about if trading down is their mindset.

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Will This Montreal Canadiens Forward Face Supplemental Discipline For His Blatant Spear?

There was a bit of a dirty play that went down as the second period came to a close in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Montreal Canadiens.

As the horn sounded, Montreal forward Alexandre Texier looked over at  Hurricanes defenseman K'Andre Miller and intentionally speared him in the groin.

Normally, per the NHL rulebook, that action should have automatically resulted in a five-minute major and a match penalty to Texier, however the Game 2 officials (Gord Dwyer and Kelly Sutherland) reviewed the play for a major and actually downgraded it to a two-minute minor for slashing instead, something Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour vehemently disagreed with.

"Clearly that's a spear," Brind'Amour said. "There's not a person that can tell you that it wasn't. Played the game long enough to know that when you look at a guy and... [gestures a spearing motion]. That's a spear."

It doesn't really get more egregious than what Texier, who you can clearly see on video turns to make sure he's gets Miller right where he wants to, did, so I have no idea how the officials simply let it go.

I guess they didn't want to influence a close game, but that's just a play you cannot let happen.

Hopefully the Department of Player Safety takes a look at it, but knowing them, it's hard to believe that they'll actually take a proper stance on anything when it actually comes to player safety and upholding the rulebook.

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3 Takeaways: WBS Penguins Advance To Eastern Conference Final In Calder Cup Playoffs

For the first time in 12 years, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins are headed to the the AHL Eastern Conference Final in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

And, to punch their ticket, they gave a statement performance on Saturday.

In a winner-take-all Game 5, the WBS Penguins dominated the Springfield Thunderbirds, putting up a final score of 8-1 after failing to clinch in a 2-0 loss on Thursday. Forwards Tristan Broz, Ville Koivunen, and Rafael Harvey-Pinard each had two goals for the Penguins, while netminder Sergei Murashov was impressive yet again, stopping 26 of 27 Springfield shots against to improve his Calder Cup Playoff save percentage to a whopping .943. 

After failing to generate much of anything Thursday, WBS was ready from the jump. Broz kicked things off with his first goal of the contest a tick less than four minutes into the first period, driving the net and putting away a top-shelf backhand to make it 1-0. Then, less than four minutes later, Broz and Harrison Brunicke used their wheels to create a two-on-one opportunity. Broz slid a perfect pass over to Brunicke breaking through the middle then down the right side, and he also went top-shelf - hitting the water bottle in the process - to give WBS the early 2-0 lead.

And the Penguins just kept piling on. During the game's first power play - awarded to WBS later in the first - Broz rifled one home from the slot to tack on, and Harvey-Pinard scored WBS's fourth goal with 21 seconds remaining in the first period to chase Springfield starting goaltender Georgii Romanov from the game.

Atley Calvert registered the lone tally in the second period, and Ville Koivunen added on another power play goal almost three minutes into the third period to make it 6-0. Akil Thomas did score one for Springfield, but that was only four minutes before Harvey-Pinard scored on the empty net to make it 7-1.

They didn't just stop there, though. Koivunen pounced on a rebound around the goal crease for his second of the game and WBS's eighth of the game just past the midway point of the final frame, and the WBS Penguins were able to ride off into the sunset with the decisive 8-1 win.

Here are three takeaways from this one:


1. Broz continues to prove he's a big-game player

Even if players like Bill Zonnon, Brunicke, and Murashov are commanding a lot of the attention from this year's run with WBS, Broz has quietly been, arguably, their best player. 

He leads the team with three goals and nine points in the nine playoff contests they've played in, and he's been centering a third line with Mikhail Ilyin and Koivunen. He's logging tough minutes on the penalty kill and contributing to the first power play unit, and he's showing his prowess in all three zones. 

But, above all, he's still showing his knack for the clutch. Remember when he scored those two different overtime goals for the University of Denver in their 2024 National Championship run? Well, he certainly showed up in an important game Saturday, and his team reaped the benefits. 

If not for injuries, he would have earned a more extended look at the NHL level next season. Broz is a legitimately good hockey player, and he should get that shot in 2026-27.

Penguins' First-Round Pick Proving He Belongs In NHL Sooner Rather Than LaterPenguins' First-Round Pick Proving He Belongs In NHL Sooner Rather Than LaterBill Zonnon, 22nd overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft for the Pittsburgh Penguins, is making an impression in his first taste of professional hockey.

2. That said, let's not forget Murashov and Brunicke

Well, hey, what else can you say about two of those guys named before Broz?

Murashov, 21, has been dominant in these playoffs. Granted, he didn't need to exert himself super hard in this one, but he's made saves when it has mattered, and he's started every game for the Penguins. He has a 1.74 goals-against average to go along with that .943 save percentage. 

This guy is quick, athletic, and knows how to slow down the moment, and it will be surprising if he's not at the NHL level next season. 

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As for Brunicke? Next to Broz, I think he's been the team's best player in this tournament, and it's not as if he's been with this team all season long. He stepped in after the Kamloops Blazers fell in their playoffs, and since then, he's logged top-pairing minutes with Alex Alexeyev, he's the quarterback of the first power play unit, and he's one of the first defensemen called up for the penalty kill and in key defensive situations. 

He has grown substantially from his brief NHL stop early in the 2025-26 season, and at times, completely takes over the game. It may take some time for him to fully find his game at the NHL level, but the Penguins sure do have a talent in Brunicke.

3. This team - like its NHL parent club - is riddled with depth

When your fourth line consists of Zonnon - who had three goals in this series in what was his professional debut - centering Aidan McDonough and Calvert, you're probably in pretty good shape. And that's not to mention the third line of Broz, Ilyin, and Koivunen again, which has probably been their strongest line through these Calder Cup Playoffs. 

This is the deepest team WBS has had in years, and it's from top-to-bottom across positions. There is still a lot of work ahead if they want to reach the pinnacle of a Calder Cup Championship, but what they showed Saturday is that they're going to be a difficult problem to deal with for whoever between the Toronto Marlies and Cleveland Monsters gets them in the Eastern Conference Final.

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Nikolaj Ehlers saves Carolina, beats Montreal 3-2 in Overtime

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 23: Nikolaj Ehlers #27 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with his teammates after scoring the game wining goal on Jakub Dobes (not pictured) #75 of the Montreal Canadiens during overtime in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center on May 23, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The fourth line for the Hurricanes were arguably the best on the ice, the team as a whole looked like the team that had gone 8-0 in the playoffs before Game One, and Nikolaj Ehlers put his stamp on the game with one of the most beautiful goals you’ll ever see and then one of the most important goals in franchise history as Carolina staved off Montreal to take Game Two 3-2 in Overtime.

The Hurricanes established from the beginning that they had learned their lessons from Thursday Night, as the team was on top of Montreal from the jump. It looked like the Hurricanes team we had seen all postseason with a tight forecheck, the opponent unable to really get settled into the zone, and multiple chances on net. The work was quickly rewarded as the fourth line produced the first score. The play started with Mark Jankowski digging the puck off the wall and feeding a pass to William Carrier. Carrier shot the puck on net and on its way, Eric Robinson stuck his stick out to change the path, deflecting it past Jakub Dobeš and putting Carolina up 1-0

Carolina continued to dominate play until a sequence changed the tenor of the period. Dobeš would push the net off its post, causing play to stop. No penalty was called but replays in the arena showed the only reason it came off was Dobeš. Montreal would get possesion of the ensuing face off, and while trying to set up in the zone Logan Stankoven would be called for interference on Kaiden Guhle. Carolina killed the penalty, but a few moments after Taylor Hall tried a poor outlet pass to the neutral zone. It was intercepted by Guhle, and Montreal had the opening to rush the net. Josh Anderson would get it past Frederick Andersen and the score was tied. Carolina would later get a power play that was ended early thanks to a boarding call on Andrei Svechnikov. The Hurricanes were able to stand tall and got to the locker room tied 1-1.

The second period was mostly a back and forth affair, with both teams getting extended looks in the offensive zone and the defenses plus goalies coming up big. The Canes would get a power play when Dobeš was called for an interference, but it didn’t result in any really good looks. It appeared the period would end tied until Nikolaj Ehlers just pulled off one of the most amazing one-man goal moves to cause the Lenovo Center to explode and put the Canes up 2-1.

The period would end with Carolina almost giving up the lead again but Svechnikov made a great defensive play to break it up, and Andersen would move the puck out. In the process Alexandre Texier hit K’Andre Miller with his stick crumpling him to the ice. The officials called a major to look at it, but it was reduced to a two minute penalty on review, despite pretty universal agreement that Texier speared Miller and should have not only gotten the five minutes but a Game Misconduct.

Carolina was unable to convert on the two minute man advantage, and while they had several opportunities they weren’t able to finish around Dobeš. That work was enough to where Montreal started to take control in the back half of the period, leading to the tying goal on a scrum in front of Andersen. Several Hurricanes were in front of the net, but Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis were unable to clear the puck fully, and as Aho essentially knocked Andersen off balance, the puck ended up on Josh Andersen’s stick. He was able to push it by the goalie to knot the score at two with 7:09 left. Both teams would have other chances, but for the third straight series, the Hurricanes would go to overtime in Game 2.

That’s when Ehlers put in his second signature moment. The overtime basically started like the Philadelphia Game Four overtime where the Canes established control and Montreal just wasn’t able to get anything going. Then just a little over three minutes in, Jalen Chatfield intercepted an attempt by Kapanen to get into the zone. The puck had just passed the Hurricanes bench when Ehlers hopped on the ice, and Chatfield pushed the puck to center ice. Mark Jankowski completed a nice touch pass to the streaking Ehlers who saw what was happening. He easily beat Dobeš to blow the roof off of Lenovo Center and give the Canes the 3-2 win.

Thanks to Cory Lavalette for pointing out, it was Ehlers’ second ever overtime playoff goal. The first came against Edmonton in the 2021 First Round.

After the game, Ehlers was clearly still trying to soak in what he did and the weight of what had just been accomplished.

The play of the whole Ehlers line was key to the win, as they were paired up with the monster Suzuki line, and held them completely in check. Rod talked about that, as well as the work done by the rest of the team on the off day, and had some thoughts on the lack of a call at the end of the second when I asked him.

That is what I get for trying to be delicate in asking about a spear to the groin.

Carolina will practice at the Lenovo Center on Sunday before heading out to Montreal. Game three of the best of seven will be Monday Night at 8 PM.

Nikolaj Ehlers plays hero as Hurricanes beat Canadiens in OT to even Eastern Conference finals

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Nikolaj Ehlers (27) is mobbed by teammates after scoring the game-winning overtime goal in the Hurricanes' 3-2 win over the Canadiens in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals in Raleigh, N.C. , Image 2 shows Nikolaj Ehlers celebrates after scoring the game-winning overtime goal in the Hurricanes' Game 2 win over the Canadiens

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes knew they had to play more to their style to get back into the Eastern Conference Final series against Montreal.

They got that most of Saturday night for Game 2, along with a huge performance from offseason addition Nikolaj Ehlers.

Ehlers got loose up the center of the ice and popped the puck past Jakub Dobes at 3:29 of overtime to lift the Carolina Hurricanes past the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on Saturday night to level the Eastern Conference Final at one game apiece.

Nikolaj Ehlers (27) is mobbed by teammates after scoring the game-winning overtime goal in the Hurricanes’ 3-2 win over the Canadiens in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals in Raleigh, N.C. Getty Images

Ehlers scored twice for the Eastern Conference’s top seed, the first with a highlight-reel individual effort in the second period against two Montreal defenders.

And when the game went to OT, the guy the Hurricanes landed as a sought-after free agent carried them to the finish line.

“He’s a special talent,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said, “and it was on full display tonight.”

The winning sequence started with a retreating Jalen Chatfield bouncing the puck back into the neutral zone to Mark Jankowski. Jankowski had a quick redirection to Ehlers entering the zone at full speed for a clean look at Dobes for the sudden winner.

“We didn’t get a second breath,” said Dobes, who had 23 saves. “It was over pretty quick.”

As the puck hit the net, that sent a tense home crowd into a relieved but jubilant roar — along with a screaming Ehlers.

Nikolaj Ehlers celebrates after scoring the game-winning overtime goal in the Hurricanes’ Game 2 win over the Canadiens. Getty Images

“I can barely talk right now, but I was yelling pretty loudly after that OT winner,” Ehlers said.

“It was a great pass … and then just try to get some speed and get the puck off my stick as quick as possible and try to surprise the goalie,” Ehlers said. “Seeing that go in, seeing how the fans reacted was pretty cool.”

Eric Robinson also scored for Carolina, which improved to 4-0 in overtime in the playoffs — including 3-2 home wins in extra time during Game 2 in all three playoff series so far.

Carolina was facing massive pressure to regroup from Thursday’s 6-2 loss in the series opener that only magnified the team’s long-running troubles in the Eastern Final. Now the series is level as it shifts to Canada for Monday’s Game 3.

Josh Anderson scored twice for the Canadiens, the second coming at the 12:51 mark of the third period to ultimately force the overtime at 2-2.

The Canadiens won Game 1 by jumping on a Carolina team coming off an 11-day break after sweeping through the first two rounds — the longest wait to start a series in more than a century — for four goals in the opening 11 1/2 minutes. Montreal repeatedly got loose for clean breakouts and breakaways for high-danger chances against Frederik Andersen in that one.

But Carolina looked much closer to its earlier playoff form with is aggressive forecheck and defensive pressure, holding Montreal to 12 shots on goal and giving up far fewer of those quick transition chances the Canadiens kept burying in Game 1.

“It’s hard to go 200 feet and produce offense unless you execute a little bit through that pressure,” Montreal coach Martin St. Louis said. “I felt today we weren’t terrible, we just weren’t as good” as Thursday.

Ehlers’ OT goal lifts Hurricanes past Canadiens in Game 2 of Eastern Conference Final

RALEIGH, N.C. — Nikolaj Ehlers got loose up the center of the ice and popped the puck past Jakub Dobes at 3:29 of overtime to lift the Carolina Hurricanes past the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on Saturday night to level the Eastern Conference Final at one game apiece.

Ehlers scored twice for the Eastern Conference’s top seed, the first with a highlight-reel individual effort in the second period against two Montreal defenders.

And when the game went to OT, the guy the Hurricanes landed as a sought-after free agent carried them to the finish line.

Eric Robinson also scored for Carolina, while Josh Anderson scored twice for Montreal.

The series shifts to Canada for Monday’s Game 3.

NHL playoff overtime explained: Longest games, 2026 OT results

The NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs mean a major change in the overtime format.

Unlike the Olympics, where 3-on-3 overtime is played even in the gold medal game, the NHL switches things up in the postseason when the games matter more.

There won't be any more 3-on-3 play. It is 5-on-5 instead, just like in regulation play. There won't be any more shootouts after five minutes of scoreless overtime play. There is sudden death, and it could last a very long time.

This postseason, there have been 18 overtime games, including three double-overtime games. Game 7 of the Montreal-Buffalo series was the 18th.

Here's what to know about playoff hockey overtime, including the format, longest games and 2026 results.

How does OT work in NHL playoffs?

If the score is tied after three periods, the teams go to the dressing rooms for 15 minutes while the ice is resurfaced. Overtime periods last 20 minutes or until someone scores. It's 5-on-5 play (barring penalties). If no one scores in the first overtime, the process repeats and continues until someone scores. The teams change sides for each overtime period. The first overtime is the long change to get back to the bench.

The NHL Situation Room reviews all goals to make sure they are legally scored, such as the goal that ended Game 4 of the Anaheim-Edmonton series or the overturned goal in Game 4 of the Vegas-Utah series.

2026 NHL playoff overtime games

May 18:Canadiens 3, Sabres 2: Alex Newhook scored the winner at 11:22 of the first overtime as Montreal ousted Buffalo in Game 7.

May 13:Avalanche 4, Wild 3: Brett Kulak scored the winner at 3:52 of the first overtime as Colorado ousted Minnesota in Game 5.

May 12:Golden Knights 3, Ducks 2: Pavel Dorofeyev scored the winning goal just over four minutes into the first overtime period to give Vegas a 3-2 series lead over Anaheim.

May 9:Hurricanes 3, Flyers 2: Jackson Blake scored at 5:31 of the first overtime to sweep the Flyers.

May 4:Hurricanes 3, Flyers 2: Taylor Hall scored at 18:54 of the first overtime for a 2-0 series lead.

May 1:Lightning 1, Canadiens 0: Gage Goncalves scored at 9:03 of the first overtime to tie the series.

April 29:Golden Knights 5, Mammoth 4 (2OT): Brett Howden scored at 5:28 of the second overtime as Vegas took a 3-2 lead on Utah.

April 29Flyers 1, Penguins 0: Cam York scored at 17:32 of the first overtime as the Flyers ousted the Penguins in Game 6.

April 28: Bruins 2, Sabres 1 (OT). David Pastrnak scored at 9:14 of the first overtime to cut the Bruins' series deficit to 3-2.

April 27: Golden Knights 5, Mammoth 4 (OT). Shea Theodore scored at 19:08 of the first overtime to tie the series at two games apiece.

April 26: Ducks 4, Oilers 3 (OT). Ryan Poehling scored 2:29 into the first overtime to give Anaheim a 3-1 series lead.

April 25: Wild 3, Stars 2. Matt Boldy scored at 19:31 of the first overtime as the Wild tie the series 2-2.

April 24: Canadiens 3, Lightning 2. Lane Hutson scored at 2:09 of the first overtime, giving Montreal a 2-1 series lead.

April 22: Stars 4, Wild 3. Wyatt Johnston scored at 12:10 of the second overtime, giving Dallas a 2-1 series lead.

April 21: Avalanche 2, Kings 1: Nicolas Roy scored the winning goal at the 12:16 mark of the first overtime, giving Colorado a 2-0 series lead.

April 21: Lightning 3, Canadiens 2: J.J. Moser scored at 7:12 in the first overtime to tie up the series at a game apiece. It was Moser's first career NHL playoff goal.

April 20: Hurricanes 3, Senators 2: Jordan Martinook scored at 13:53 of the second overtime. He was stopped on a penalty shot in the first overtime.

April 19: Canadiens 4, Lightning 3: Juraj Slafkovsky scored at 1:22 of the first overtime, completing a hat trick.

What are the longest NHL playoff overtime games?

  • 1 - Six overtimes (116 minutes, 30 seconds of overtime) in the 1936 semifinals. March 24, 1935. Detroit 1, Montreal Maroons 0. Mud Bruneteau scored the winner.
  • 2 - Six overtimes (104 minutes, 46 seconds of overtime) in the 1933 semifinals. April 3, 1933. Toronto 1, Boston 0. Ken Doraty scored the winner.
  • 3 - Five overtimes (92 minutes, 1 second of overtime) in the 2000 conference semifinals. May 4, 2000. Philadelphia 2, Pittsburgh 1. Keith Primeau scored the winner.
  • 4 - Five overtimes (90 minutes, 27 seconds of overtime) in the 2020 first round. Aug. 11, 2020. Tampa Bay 3, Columbus 2. Brayden Point scored the winner.
  • 5 - Five overtimes (80 minutes, 48 seconds of overtime) in the 2003 conference semifinals. April 24, 2003. Anaheim 4, Dallas 3. Petr Sykora scored the winner.
  • 6 - Four overtimes (79 minutes, 47 seconds of overtime) in the 2023 conference finals. May 18, 2023. Florida 3, Carolina 2. Matthew Tkachuk scored the winner.

Longest Stanley Cup Final games

Eight Stanley Cup Final games have gone to the third overtime. The Edmonton Oilers were part of the longest game when Petr Klima scored at 15:13 of the third overtime for a 3-2 win against the Boston Bruins in the 1990 Final.

Which players in 2026 postseason have the most playoff overtime goals?

  • 5 - Corey Perry, Lightning
  • 4 - Leon Draisaitl, Oilers (all in 2025 playoffs, an NHL record for one postseason)
  • 3 - Brayden Point, Lightning; Jordan Staal, Hurricanes; Anze Kopitar, Kings; Artemi Panarin, Kings; Matt Duchene, Stars

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL playoff bracket overtime rules, 2026 results and longest games

From The Hockey News Archives: Meet The Talented Mr. Zetterberg

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Meet The Talented Mr. Zetterberg: February 7, 2006 - Volume 59, Issue 20

DETROIT – Henrik Zetterberg knew the big test was coming, so he wasn’t surprised or startled when Darren McCarty took a run at him during his first scrimmage with the Detroit Red Wings.

And he wasn’t particularly alarmed when McCarty ran him again…and again…and again.

The new kid arrived in Hockeytown with a mighty reputation and the reigning Stanley Cup champion Red Wings – McCarty in particular – wanted to test his mettle. The kid, 21 at the time, passed the test. Talk about an initiation into the NHL.

“He’s an unbelievable player,” says Red Wings veteran Brendan Shanahan.

“I remember when he first arrived here for training camp, they weren’t sure how he would handle the physicality of the NHL, so Darren ran him a few times in our pre-season camp. It didn’t change the way he played. I remember Mac saying to me, ‘Not only is this kid tough, he’s pretty solid.’ I think he knocked the wind out of Mac.”

Considered by many to be the best player not in the NHL the season before he joined the Wings, Zetterberg might now be aptly described as the best player in the NHL that nobody knows. A shy, laid-back individual, Zetterberg has quietly become Detroit’s most dominant player. But if you don’t follow the Wings – or better yet, play on a line with him, you probably wouldn’t know him to pass him on the street.

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Sitting in a cozy lunch room next to the team’s dressing room, the walls adorned with action shots of Detroit stars from the past, the humble Zetterberg says he was aware he’d be tested by his new teammates when he arrived in 2002.

They wanted to know, did he have the jam to play with the big boys? Or would he wilt when the going got tough?

“In the first couple of red-and-white games, (McCarty) took a few runs at me,” recalls Zetterberg, his Bon Jovi-like locks strategically tussled to make him look more like a rock star than a professional athlete. “I heard before I came over here that it was going to be tough, so I was prepared. I didn’t hit him back or slash him; I just kept playing.

“After camp, (McCarty) came to me and told me he was instructed to hit me. He told me he was impressed with how I handled it.”

At 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, Zetterberg is not an imposing physical specimen. Standing next to him you can’t help but wonder how he survives in the NHL’s trenches. The answer is easy: speed and finesse. When he straps on his skates and takes control of the puck, he’s a force, able to make jaw-dropping moves while flying at full speed.

Zetterberg’s game is based on skill and determination and he simply refuses to be outworked.

“When I first got here, I was amazed at how many times he’d split the defense,” says defenseman Mathieu Schneider. “He takes such quick strides through the neutral zone. He’s a tremendous player. There are no weak parts to his game.”

Adds Steve Yzerman: “He stood out pretty quickly. Not so much for the flashy stuff, but for his allaround play. He is great defensively and he’s a pretty good positional player. Along the boards, he’s really good with the puck.”

Zetterberg took his first strides toward becoming an NHL star when he was two years old. In his hometown of Njurunda, a community of about 100,000 located four hours north of Stockholm, his dad, Goran, strapped a pair of blades to his son’s winter boots and watched as young Henrik negotiated a frozen pond.

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Prop Offering On Golden Knights Star Forward Could Carry Value Based on Homecoming Games

If you're a lover of player prop bets, look no further than Golden Knights star center Jack Eichel in Game 3.

Eichel loves a good homecoming, especially in the playoffs.

Since arriving in Vegas, the all-world forward has registered at least one point in eight of the 10 home playoff games that followed a road contest.

The Golden Knights lead the top-seeded Colorado Avalanche 2-0 after taking Games 1 and 2 of the Western Conference Final in Denver. Games 3 and 4 are in Las Vegas on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively, and Eichel already has three points in the first two games (1 goal, 2 assists).

As part of Vegas' three-goal comeback in the third period of Friday's 3-1 win, Eichel scored the game-tying goal and assisted Ivan Barbashev on the game-winner.

This is Eichel's 10th career playoff series - all with Vegas - and in 54 postseason games, he's got 12 goals and 49 assists.

More specifically, in those 10 home playoff games where the Knights returned from the road, Eichel has 15 points (2 goals, 13 assists), again, registering at least one point in eight of those contests.

Eichel has been instrumental in helping the Knights move two wins away from their third Stanley Cup Final appearance in nine seasons, and six wins from their second championship.

The 29-year-old has 18 points this postseason, with two goals and 16 assists, registering at least one point in 11 of the team's 14 games.

"Phenomenal," Vegas defenseman Noah Hanifin said of Eichel. "I mean, he’s such a good 200-foot player, but man, some of the offensive things he can do with the puck, how smart he is, how patient he is.

"He steps up at big moments. That’s what you need out of your best players."

At BetMGM sportsbook, Eichel is +145 to go over 1.5 points on Sunday.

PHOTO CAPTION

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9), right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) and defenseman Kaedan Korczak (6) celebrate a third-period goal against the Colorado Avalanche in game two of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena.

Former Sharks Defenseman Signs Extension With Capitals

Earlier this week, the Washington Capitals announced that they have signed former San Jose Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren to a two-year contract extension. Liljegren's new contract carries an average annual value of $3.25 million, which is a $250,000 raise from his prior contract. 

Liljegren's time in San Jose began when he was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs, who selected him in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft, in exchange for Matt Benning and two draft picks in October 2024. 

Across two partial seasons in San Jose, Liljegren appeared in 110 games for the Sharks. During that time, he scored seven goals and registered a total of 28 points while being a -32. 

The Sharks then traded Liljegren to the Capitals ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline this spring, receiving a fourth round draft pick in return for the 27-year-old defenseman. 

After being traded to Washington, the Kristianstad, Sweden native played in just four games for the Capitals often serving as a spare player in case of injury. Moving forward, he is expected to play a much more important role for the Capitals though. At this time, Liljegren is one of just three NHL-caliber right-handed defensemen under contract with the Capitals for next season, with Matt Roy and Dylan McIlrath being the others. 

Islanders & NHL Playoff News: Hammer time (and Trenton too)

It’s the fights we had along the way… | Getty Images

It’s Memorial Day weekend in the United States, the impetus for barbecue and such. But the playoffs march on with Carolina-Montreal Game 2 Saturday and Colorado-Vegas Game 3 Sunday…

Islanders News

Tracking Danny Nelson at the Worlds for Team USA. [THN]

  • In a summer of affiliation shuffles, the Isles ECHL affiliate will now be in Trenton. [Isles]
  • Officially now, the Islanders announced that their relocated AHL affiliate in Hamilton shall be named the Hammers. [Isles] At this time, a friend shall lose a friend’s hammer…:

Elsewhere

  • The Avalanche are in an 0-2 hole heading to Vegas, both games missing Cale Makar. [NHL]
  • The (consecutive) long layoffs are a thing for the Avalanche and Hurricanes. Ex-NHLer Craig Johnson discusses. [NHL]
  • A dozen years since he and the Canucks parted, Mike Gillis ‘wasn’t the right fit’ for the Leafs, or vice versa. [Sportsnet]
  • The Knights’ ruthlessness in management may be the new model for the NHL. [Sportsnet]

Carolina Got Their First Taste Of Adversity; How Will They Respond?

For the first time this postseason, the Carolina Hurricanes have to find a way to respond.

The Hurricanes suffered their first playoff loss of the season, falling 6-2 to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1  on Thursday night.

It's an unfamiliar situation for the 2026 Carolina Hurricanes, who became the first team in the modern era to sweep back-to-back rounds, but it's one that isn't too uncommon for the franchise.

In seven trips to the Eastern Conference Final, the Canes have never won the opening game.

Twice they've responded in Game 2, ultimately winning the series in both instances, but four other times they've proceeded to lose in either four or five.

But the past is the past and the team can't be too bogged down worrying about what's already happened.

Yes, they have to make sure that those glaring mistakes they made in Game 1 don't happen again, but they more so just have to focus on coming out of the gate the right way in Game 2.

"No one likes to lose, so everyone comes back ready to roll for the next game," said captain Jordan Staal. "At this time of year, obviously every game is massive. We know how much more this one is going to be and we're going to have to be ready to roll."

"We know we have a lot more to give," said Taylor Hall. "You don't want to let things slide and so whether we win or lose in Game 2, we have to play our game and to our identity and let that come through for 60 minutes. That's our focus for Game 2 and let the cards fall where they do."

Carolina is where they are for a reason. They're a good team. One with a strong identity, good players and a solid foundation.

It isn't often that they have a game like they did, but it's even rarer for it to happen twice in a row.

In the regular season, Carolina was 22-7-0 coming off of a loss, which was the best rate in the entire NHL.

"We've been relentless all year and faced adversity throughout the year and we've always been able to bounce back," said Jalen Chatfield. "We have a lot of good leadership in here. As a man to each other, we know what we're capable of and we're going to play to that standard next game."

While the game's opening 12 minutes were obviously a disaster, the Hurricanes did manage to show a glimpse of their game in the second period.

After they stopped the bleeding and regrouped, the Canes outchanced Montreal 34-13 and had a 17-6 edge in scoring chances.

"It's pretty clear the disparity between the first and second periods there," said Eric Robinson. "That's our game and our room knows that's kind of how we have to start tonight."

That's the kind of game Carolina is going to need to play from the get go if they want to beat the Canadiens and they're confident that they can get to that game.

"The first period wasn't our best, but I thought we played a good second period," said Andrei Svechnikov. "We were dominating them and that's what we're going to do tonight."

It's imperative that the Hurricanes find a way to get back in the win column on Saturday, else it's going to be a really tough series to get back into.

"We're trying to win a hockey game tonight," said Sebastian Aho. "That's the main goal, our only goal, honestly."


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Ex-Flyers Goalie Carter Hart Dominating in NHL Playoff Spotlight

The Western Conference Final is something worth paying attention to for Philadelphia Flyers fans, and it isn't because they have draft positioning on the line from owning another team's draft pick.

Instead, it's that two high-profile former Flyers are succeeding with the Vegas Golden Knights under the brightest of spotlights.

Head coach John Tortorella, who was fired by the Flyers just 14 months ago, jumped from the ESPN studio to Sin City to replace Bruce Cassidy, who was cast aside by the Golden Knights.

A 7-0-0 run under Tortorella earned Vegas a playoff spot, and after knocking down the Utah Mammoth and Anaheim Ducks, the Golden Knights are within two wins of the Stanley Cup Final.

A Western Conference Final matchup with the vaunted, high-octane Colorado Avalanche was thought to be a nightmare, but Tortorella and the Golden Knights have jumped out to a 2-0 series lead against a Cale Makar-less Avalanche team.

Even without Makar, the Avalanche, led by Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas, still pose a massive threat offensively.

Flyers Decline to Comment on Potential Carter Hart ReunionFlyers Decline to Comment on Potential Carter Hart ReunionIn spite of recent reports, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> are not prepared to comment on any potential reunion with or interest in former goalie Carter Hart.

Despite that, former Flyers goalie Carter Hart, who was let go by the Flyers when the 2018 Hockey Canada sexual assault case was gearing up in 2024, has been up to the task.

After being found not guilty of sexual assault stemming from that case, and after serving a suspension imposed by the NHL, Hart had a mostly unimpressive return to the ice for Vegas, finishing the regular season with a .891 save percentage despite a strong 11-3-3 record overall.

The playoffs, though? For the ex-Flyers netminder, that's been a different story altogether.

Hart, 27, has won each of his last four playoff starts, stopping 130 of 136 shots, posting a .956 save percentage, and a stellar 1.47 GAA.

Hart was 9-5-0 in the playoffs for the Flyers back in the 2019-20 bubble playoffs, dropping two shutouts to the tune of a 2.23 GAA and .926 save percentage.

With his recent surge, Hart is 10-4-0 for the Golden Knights with a 2.25 GAA and .924 save percentage overall.

Now, Tortorella and Hart are within two wins of reaching the Stanley Cup Final.