In the third game of their second-round series on Friday against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Anaheim Ducks and head coach Joel Quenneville made the move to pull starting netminder Lukas Dostal after a first period where he allowed three goals on eight shots.

It was the second time Dostal had been pulled from the Ducks’ net this Playoff season, as the first was in Game 5 of their first-round series against the Edmonton Oilers, where he allowed three goals on nine shots in the first ten minutes of the Ducks’ 4-1 loss.

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“Both,” Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said after Game 3 against Vegas, when asked if Dostal’s pull was based on his performance or the team’s in front of him.

“It’s tough because it’s on everyone,” Ducks forward Jeffrey Viel said on Saturday. “You never want to see it happen, and we just weren’t ready as a team yesterday (Friday).”

Any public metric, both underlying and traditional, will suggest that Dostal has been poor in Anaheim’s crease this postseason. In nine starts, he has a 5-4 record, a 3.48 GAA, an .876 SV%, and has saved -4.32 goals above expected.

In his first season as the Ducks’ full-time starting goaltender and fresh off inking a five-year contract extension that carries a $6.5 million AAV, Dostal posted a 30-20-4 record, a 3.10 GAA, an .888 SV%, and 12.02 GSAx.

The 18 skaters in front of him, adjusting to a new system, coaching staff, and key personnel, provided Dostal and the Ducks’ goaltenders with one of the least optimal or stable defensive environments.

They allowed a total of 288 goals and 291.28 expected goals in all situations in the 2025-26 regular season (both placing them 29th in the NHL), and have allowed 3.43 goals against per 60 minutes and 2.99 expected goals against per 60 in the playoffs.

However, as was the case for the regular season, his poor numbers don’t paint the entire picture of his performance in these playoffs.

Public expected goals models are a resource for determining how the flow of a game or games play out vs the eye test, and are more detailed when it comes to determining which team got more shots off from higher quality areas of the ice.

It becomes a bit murkier when using those stats to evaluate goaltending. Public expected goal models don’t take into account aspects of play like pre-shot puck movement, player locations (outside of the shooter), screens, tips, breakaways, etc., and these are all areas where the Ducks have “left Dostal out to dry” this season and playoffs.

Typically, over a long sample, these aspects will even out with enough weaker shots or easier saves. However, seven and a half playoff games in the current Ducks’ defensive environment is not a large enough sample to declare Dostal’s impact, and the eye test may need to be relied upon more heavily.

Through nine games of the 2026 playoffs, Dostal has allowed 26 goals on 210 shots. When evaluating all 26 of those goals, just three of them could be classified as “soft” or “ones he wanted back,” and (including those three) five are goals he could have played more effectively and had the capability to save. Average to above-average starting goaltenders in the NHL aren’t or wouldn’t be relied on to stop the remaining 21 goals (author's opinion/evaluation).

At this point in his career, Dostal can be considered an above-average NHL starter, and as the current 10th-highest-paid goaltender, that’s exactly what he’s expected to be for the Ducks. His talent or pay grade doesn’t place him among the NHL’s elite goalies like Igor Shesterkin, Sergei Bobrovsky, Andrei Vasilevskiy, or Connor Hellebuyck.

More often than not, he makes the saves he’s supposed to and gives the Ducks a chance to win nearly every game, as his job and role require. The Ducks’ locker room still has the utmost faith in their starter, and players remain quick to support him.

“It just happens in hockey,” Ducks star forward Leo Carlsson said of the team’s reaction to their starter getting pulled. “It’s hard to be our best player on the ice every game. He’s an amazing goalie still, so nothing really changed there.”

Dostal is a positionally sound goaltender, smart on his angles, efficient on his lateral pushes, tracks pucks well, plays pucks effectively, and displays quality rebound-control tendencies. His movements often don’t require him to make spectacular athletic saves, though he has the ability to on occasion, and visually, he makes many difficult saves seem easier than they are.

“It’s great. He’s been solid all year,” Viel said when asked about the team’s confidence level in Dostal. “He made key saves at the right time against Edmonton. So, we trust Lukas as much as we can. He’ll bounce back. I’m not worried about it at all. We just didn’t play well in front of him. As a team, everyone needs to raise their level.”

Though the majority of the goals he’s let in during this Ducks playoff run aren’t goals he’s likely required to stop, he has appeared shakier in his crease than usual. On the whole, his movements haven’t been as quiet, his decision-making not quite as sharp, and he’s spat out more rebounds to the middle of the ice than has been typical for him throughout his career.

In Games 1 and 2 of the Ducks’ second-round series against the Knights, Dostal was spectacular, and it appeared that he and the team in front of him had begun to turn a corner. He saved 40 of 43 shots, many, again, more difficult than they appeared, and many exactly as difficult as they appeared.

Game 3 was a step back for Dostal and the Ducks, as he was pulled after the first period, a period where he allowed three goals on eight shots. Only one of them, Vegas’ second, could be considered soft, but a reset and change in net was required, regardless.

Quenneville and the Ducks coaching staff will remain with Dostal in their net for Game 4, maintaining the status quo and sticking with the goaltender who has put the team firmly on his back for the majority of his NHL career, as the Ducks would not be in the playoffs were it not for Lukas Dostal between the pipes.

“Dosty’s playing,” Quenneville said quickly on Saturday when asked if he had made a decision in goal for Sunday.

“He came back and had three very solid games, real good games,” Quenneville concluded when asked if he expects Dostal to respond as he did after Game 5 of the first round. “I just think that sometimes it can help settle things down and get refreshed and get ready to go.”

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By the time Mitch Marner completed a natural hat trick and added a shorthanded assist in Friday night’s Game 3 rout of the Anaheim Ducks, the narrative around his playoff pedigree had been flipped on its head. The Vegas Golden Knights thumped Anaheim 6-2 to take a 2-1 series lead in the Western Conference semifinals, and Marner’s four-point explosion wasn’t just the game’s highlight—it was the latest chapter in a postseason renaissance that has Leafs Nation asking uncomfortable questions. 

John Tortorella, Vegas’ no-nonsense head coach, didn’t mince words when asked about the long-standing doubts that followed Marner out of Toronto. In a clip that quickly went viral, Torts looked straight into the camera and delivered a blunt verdict: “That narrative is a bunch of bullsh*t.”

John Tortorella with a message to all the Mitch Marner playoff doubters, "That narrative is a bunch of bullsh*t." #ForgedInGoldpic.twitter.com/NaEHOTwbKC

— Vince Sapienza (@VinceSapienza) May 9, 2026

It was classic Tortorella—fiery, protective of his player, and dismissive of years of Toronto media and fan scrutiny. The comment landed like a body check, forcing everyone who had labeled Marner a playoff underachiever to confront the numbers now staring back at them. 

Marner was traded to Vegas in a July 2025 sign-and-trade for Nicolas Roy and promptly signed an eight-year, $96-million extension. The move was viewed by many Leafs supporters as a salary-cap relief valve and a quiet admission that the club’s marquee winger couldn’t deliver when it mattered most. Fast-forward nine months, and Marner is not only thriving—he’s leading the entire NHL in playoff scoring with 13 points (six goals, seven assists) through nine games, including a first-round series-clinching multi-point effort against the Utah Mammoth. 

Let’s put the numbers side by side, because the contrast is stark.

Toronto Maple Leafs Playoffs (2016-17 through 2024-25, nine postseasons, 71 games): 18 goals, 53 assists, 71 points, +10 rating.

That works out to roughly 0.25 goals per game and a 1.00 points-per-game average. Marner was a playmaking machine—his assist totals often masked modest goal output—but the production never quite matched his regular-season dominance or the expectations that came with a top-line role and massive cap hit. Year-by-year highlights tell the story of consistent but rarely transcendent playoff hockey:

A NATURAL HAT TRICK FOR MITCH MARNER!!! 🚨🚨🚨

And it's his first hat trick in a #StanleyCup Playoffs game!

Powered by @Verizonpic.twitter.com/bqMo6CvDLb

— NHL (@NHL) May 9, 2026

·      2016-17 (vs. Washington): 6 GP, 1G-3A-4P  

·      2017-18 (vs. Boston): 7 GP, 1G-5A-6P  

·      2018-19 (vs. Boston): 7 GP, 2G-2A-4P, -3  

·      2019-20 (vs. Columbus): 5 GP, 0G-3A-3P  

·      2020-21 (vs. Montreal): 7 GP, 0G-3A-3P  

·      2021-22 (vs. Tampa Bay): 7 GP, 2G-5A-7P, +3  

·      2022-23 (vs. Tampa Bay/Florida): 12 GP, 3G-11A-14P, +8 (his best statistical run)  

·      2023-24 (vs. Boston): 7 GP, 1G-2A-3P  

·      2024-25 (vs. Ottawa/Florida): 13 GP, 2G-11A-13P, -1

Across those 71 games, Marner posted just one career playoff hat trick, none, actually, until Friday night in Anaheim. Shooting percentage hovered around 12 percent. He was often the target of criticism in high-stakes moments: second-round exits, Game 7s, and series against heavy defensive teams like Boston and Tampa Bay. Pundits and fans alike pointed to the gap between his 90- to 100-point regular seasons and what they saw as vanishing acts when the lights were brightest. The “Mitch Marner playoff disappearances” memes were relentless. 

Vegas Golden Knights Playoffs (2025-26, nine games):

6 goals, 7 assists, 13 points, +5 rating.

That’s a 1.44 points-per-game clip—nearly 50 percent higher than his Toronto postseason average. More telling: Marner has already matched or exceeded his single-postseason goal totals from several Toronto runs in just nine contests. His shooting percentage is a scorching 24 percent. He’s not only setting up teammates; he’s finishing. The natural hat trick Friday—power-play tap-in, patient wrister, and a sharp-angle squeeze—marked the first three-goal playoff game of his career. He also added a shorthanded helper. 

The eye test matches the stats. Marner is playing with confidence, pace, and an edge that Tortorella has clearly unlocked. “I’ve watched this guy play for so many years in this league,” Torts said earlier in the postseason. “Up close and personal with him now, he’s a hell of a player. He does so many good things away from the puck. I think that helps him offensively have the puck more. How patient he is with the puck. It was fun to watch.” The coach’s pre-series comments about the “bullsh*t” narrative were even more pointed—evidence that Tortorella sees Marner not as a fragile star, but as a misunderstood one. 

Your new playoff point leader (13) and co-goal leader (6):

Mitchell Marner pic.twitter.com/4F5n1J4ZjG

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 9, 2026

Context matters, of course. Vegas’ path so far has included a first-round matchup against Utah and now Anaheim—teams many view as lighter lifts than the Eastern Conference gauntlets Marner faced annually in Toronto. 

Critics have already begun the “he’s feasting on weaker competition” counter-narrative. Yet Marner’s underlying metrics—shot attempts, scoring chances created, and even defensive contributions—remain elite. Vegas controls play when he’s on the ice at even strength, and his chemistry with Jack Eichel and the power-play unit has been immediate. 

So were Toronto fans and pundits wrong?

The honest answer is layered. Marner’s Toronto playoff numbers were not bad—they were good, often very good by most standards. He led or co-led the Leafs in playoff points multiple times and posted career-best runs in 2022-23 and 2024-25. But in a market that measures success by Stanley Cup contention rather than first-round exits, “good” was never going to be enough for a player drafted fourth overall, paid like a superstar, and paired nightly with Auston Matthews. 

The pressure cooker of Scotiabank Arena, the annual Boston series disappointments, and the endless media scrutiny created a feedback loop that amplified every turnover and quiet game. Marner himself has never been one to dodge the conversation. He heard the noise in Toronto and, by all accounts, internalized some of it. In Vegas, the spotlight is different—fewer Canadian national broadcasts, a front office and coaching staff that seem genuinely invested in his strengths rather than frustrated by perceived flaws. 

Marners joined the boys mid Biz cry session (over missing him) to talk about his hat trick and the Knights taking game 3😂⚔️ pic.twitter.com/2AgAD4h1cN

— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) May 9, 2026

Tortorella’s blunt motivational style appears to have been the perfect antidote to years of second-guessing. None of this erases what happened in Toronto. The Leafs invested heavily in Marner expecting him to be the difference-maker in May and June. He wasn’t ,through no single fault of his own, but as part of a larger roster and cultural dynamic that repeatedly came up short. Yet the speed with which he has reinvented himself in Vegas raises legitimate questions about whether the narrative was ever fully fair. Was it the player, or the environment? As the Golden Knights prepare for Game 4 in Anaheim on Sunday, with a potential second-round clash against Colorado looming, Marner’s story is still being written. One hat trick and nine dominant games do not a legacy make. 

But they do force a reevaluation. Toronto fans who spent nearly a decade questioning Marner’s playoff mettle now watch him lead the NHL in postseason scoring while wearing a different logo. Tortorella’s “bunch of bullsh*t” line will echo for years. Whether the narrative was entirely wrong or simply incomplete is up for debate. What’s undeniable is this: Mitch Marner, freed from the weight of Maple Leafs expectations, is finally playing like the difference-maker many always believed he could be.

Montreal Canadiens fans have been used to Carey Price’s even-keeled demeanour over the years; not much could rattle the Habs’ goaltender. He did lose his cool once and went to town on Kyle Palmieri with his blocker, but that was the exception and not the rule. The Sainte-Flanelle’s current goaltender, Jakub Dobes, is a whole different animal.

Who remembers when Carey Price went crazy on Kyle Palmieri? pic.twitter.com/kjZiwJlA6O

— Alex (@ivandemigoal) August 31, 2022

The Czech netminder has shown over the last two seasons that he’ll do what he needs to do to protect his crease, but he stepped it up a notch in these playoffs. He’s no Battlin Billy (New York Islanders great Billy Smith) or Hexy (Philadelphia Flyers’ long-time goalie Ron Hextall), but there’s serious gamesmanship there.

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On Friday night, there was a scrum around his net, and he took the opportunity to throw a couple of sneaky hits on Zach Benson, who’s fast becoming the Canadiens’ players’ nemesis. Whenever someone gets too close, he doesn’t hesitate for a second to shove them forward or give them a little slash on the calf.

Here's the entire play that involved Benson and Dobes. #GoHabsGo

Benson eventually got up and started yelling again. pic.twitter.com/mlDOO64YAf

— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) May 9, 2026

Oftentimes, goaltenders are focused individuals who avoid any kind of interaction with the opponent, but not Dobes. Not only does he make his presence felt physically, but he’s right in the mix when it comes to chirping. That’s something we’ve seen from him in last year’s series against the Washington Capitals, which prompted the Caps to stand in his way as he was trying to go back to the Canadiens’ bench at the end of a period.

On Friday, as time was winding down and both teams were slashing and shoving like there was tomorrow, when Benson was given a penalty as the ref had seen enough, Dobes was quick to rub salt in the wound.

Asked about his goaltender’s extracurricular activities on Friday night, Martin St-Louis explained:

I don’t know, I don’t see everything, but for me, he’s a competitor. That’s all he’s doing; he’s competing out there. But I feel like he’s doing that and just being himself. I don’t overthink it; I let him be.

- Martin St-Louis on Dobes' extracurricular activities

The fact that he’s able to stay in his game while taking an active part in the rough stuff will no doubt make Dobes a fan favourite sooner rather than later, if he isn’t already. On top of what he does on the ice, he’s also a refreshing guy to interview; he doesn’t just stick to the clichés, and he wears his heart on his sleeve.

---

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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jackson Blake scored 5:28 into overtime for his second of the game, Logan Stankoven also scored in regulation and the Carolina Hurricanes finished a four-game sweep with a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight season.

Frederik Andersen made 15 saves for Carolina, which has not lost in eight playoff games.

Alex Bump and Tyson Foerster scored for the Flyers.

Taylor Hall and Jaccob Slavin assisted the winning goal.

Dan Vladar stopped 37 shots for Philadelphia.

Carolina will play the winner of Buffalo and Montreal in the Eastern Conference finals after the NHL’s first 8-0 start in the playoffs since 1985.

The Hurricanes, who reached the Eastern Conference finals for the third time in four years, are looking for their first Stanley Cup since 2006. Carolina is the 24th team in league history to win eight or more consecutive games during a playoff run. Eighteen of them have won the Stanley Cup.

WILD 5, AVALANCHE 1

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Kirill Kaprizov scored first and assisted on the next two goals as Minnesota forced a goalie change and handed Colorado its first loss in this postseason with a victory in Game 3 of their second-round NHL playoff series.

Quinn Hughes followed Kaprizov’s four-on-four score late in the first period with a four-on-three goal less than two minutes later. Ryan Hartman batted in a deflected power-play shot with 4:23 elapsed in the second period to prompt an early departure for Avalanche goalie Scott Wedgewood, who was replaced by Mackenzie Blackwood.

Nathan MacKinnon got the Avalanche on the board on a power play later in the second period before Brock Faber answered just 20 seconds later by deflecting a puck past Blackwood.

Matt Boldy added an empty-net goal and Jesper Wallstedt made 34 saves in his return to the net for the Wild after a 9-6 loss in the unhinged series opener prompted a start for Filip Gustavsson in Game 2.

The Avalanche will take a 2-1 lead into Game 4 in Minnesota on Monday, before the teams return to Colorado for Game 5 on Wednesday.

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

Former Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman, one of the most legendary figures not only in the history of Motor City hockey but in the NHL, celebrates his birthday today. 

And it was on this day in 2002 that it was made extra special thanks to a gift served up to him by St. Louis Blues goaltender Brent Johnson. 

The Red Wings were in the midst of a second round series against the St. Louis Blues, leading two games to one. 

After initially falling behind by a 1-0 score thanks to a power-play goal from Scott Young, Detroit rebounded with three straight goals from Brendan Shanahan, Jiri Fischer, and Tomas Holmstrom. 

In the third period, Johnson caught a dump-in attempt and tried the clear the puck himself, unaware that Yzerman was barreling down on him.

The puck deflected off Yzerman and into the net, giving his team a commanding 4-1 lead. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

The Red Wings withstood a late comeback effort from the Blues, winning the game 4-3 and taking a 3-1 series they'd later close out in Detroit in Game 5 at Joe Louis Arena.

The series win set up a date with the rival Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final. 

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Senators fans who like to keep tabs on their team's prospect pipeline will find plenty to watch in this year’s OHL Final between the Barrie Colts and Kitchener Rangers.

That's because three of them are Senators prospects, all playing big roles for their teams. The Rangers have forward Luke Ellinas (#104 overall 2024 NHL Draft) and defenseman Matthew Andonovski #140 overall 2023 NHL Draft, while on the Colts' side, it's defenseman Gabriel Elliason (#39 overall 2024 NHL Draft).

The 21-year-old Andonovski made headlines on Friday night with the game-winning overtime goal to give Kitchener a 4-3 victory and a 2-0 series lead. After battling injuries in AHL Belleville, Andonovski was sent back to junior in January to get some playing time.

Since returning, he's shown a little more offensive swagger in his game with 14 points in 24 games to close the regular season and 7 points in 16 playoff games.

Ellinas is a 20-year-old forward who's played three seasons with the Rangers and seems to save his best for the playoffs. But this season has felt like a replay of the Josh Norris story.

Ellinas had offseason shoulder surgery in 2025, but just six games into his return last fall, he hurt the shoulder again and missed the rest of the regular season. He just returned for Kitchener's clinching game in the Conference Final and has played the first two games of the OHL Final. He has 3 points in his 3 playoff games.

Talk about going 0 to 60.

"It was definitely a lot of fun," Ellinas said in an interview posted on the OHL Facebook page. "I wanted to get back all year. So to be able to do that was a lot of fun, especially in such big games like this."

After the season he's had, the Senators probably just have their fingers crossed that Ellinas, who signed his ELC last summer, can get through this playoff run in one piece. Ellinas likes to play the game with some edge, and if he's going to do that at the next level, he'll need health and a full summer of training to prepare for it.

And speaking of edge, that brings us to 6-foot-7 Gabriel Elliason. Elliason signed his three-year, entry-level contract with the Senators, set to start in this fall.

Eliasson has spent the past two seasons with the Barrie Colts, a team I'm hesitant to write about because "nobody cares, work harder." The big man had eight points in 61 regular-season games, so he's clearly more of a shutdown defenseman who uses his incredible reach and physical play to make life miserable for opponents.

And he plays with such a chip on his shoulder that part of his focus this season was dialling it back and picking his spots a little better. He still led the OHL in penalty minutes (122) this year, but only because Andonovski, the 2024-25 OHL PIMS leader, played a partial season.

On Friday night, in the 35th OHL playoff game of his career, Eliasson recorded his first-ever OHL playoff point, drawing an assist in Game 2.

“Gabriel’s game has matured since we drafted him,” GM Steve Staios said in a club press release in March. “We’ve been pleased with his development, and his character and work ethic fit in perfectly with the team we’re building.”

The OHL final resumes Sunday night in Barrie (6 pm) with the hometown Colts down 0-2 and in a must-win situation.

But soon, when the dust settles on this battle and the season, it won't be long before these three young men are all pulling on the same rope together in Belleville this fall.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:  

Batherson Wide Open To Signing Extension: 'Ottawa Feels Like Home'
Dylan Cozens Will Represent Canada At World Championships Next Week
Will The Senators Re-Sign 38-Year-old UFA Claude Giroux?
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The Carolina Hurricanes picked up a 3-2 overtime win in Game 4 over the Philadelphia Flyers to secure their spot in the Eastern Conference Final, becoming the first team to go 8-0 through the first two rounds under the NHL’s current playoff format.

Just as they did in Game 2, the Flyers came out of the gate hot and made the Canes pay, as Tyson Foerster had plenty of time in the slot and rifled a wrister past Frederik Andersen to make it 1-0 for the home team.

Unlike in Game 2, Philadelphia was unable to add a second goal to its lead in the first period, as the game went into the second with a 1-0 score.

The Hurricanes played one of their best periods of the series in the second, outshooting the Flyers 15-4 and beating them out 8-2 in terms of high-danger chances.

One chance that was not particularly high-danger tied the game when Jackson Blake flung a puck toward Dan Vladar that pinballed off of Jamie Drysdale’s pants and into the net.

It looked like Carolina took a 2-1 lead just moments later when Mark Jankowski fired home a rebound, but a challenge and review determined that William Carrier had interfered with Vladar in the crease, keeping the game tied after two periods.

Logan Stankoven took the NHL lead in goals in the playoffs when he buried a gorgeous feed from Taylor Hall to make it 2-1, but the Flyers weren’t ready to give up just yet, as Alex Bump tied the game after Travis Konecny worked the puck to him by making a phenomenal play on the forecheck to strip K’Andre Miller of the puck.

The game went to overtime tied at two apiece, and it didn’t take too long for the Hurricanes to end the game and the series.

Hall picked up the puck at center ice and gained the zone with control and numbers, pushing the defense back to feed Blake and leave him plenty of time and space for a shot.

Blake ripped one off of Vladar’s glove, and the puck hung in the air for a bit before falling in behind the goal line to deal the decisive blow.

Two years after helping the Vancouver Canucks to Game 7 of the second-round during their 2024 Stanley Cup Playoff run, Philadelphia Flyers Head Coach Rick Tocchet has been eliminated from the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Tocchet, former Canuck Noah Juulsen, and the Flyers were swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in the Division Finals. 

Similar to his first full season with the Canucks, Tocchet was able to help the Flyers along to a second-round exit in his first year as Philadelphia’s new Head Coach. This time, however, his team was taken out in only four games during the Division Finals. The final game ended in dramatic fashion, as Jackson Blake scored the overtime winner in a 3-2 victory for the Hurricanes. 

Juulsen, who spent four seasons with Vancouver, only ended up playing in one game during the Flyers’ second-round matchup. Earlier on in the post-season, he registered two assists in Game 3 of Philadelphia’s first-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

The Flyers’ second-round loss will send former Canuck Jalen Chatfield and the Hurricanes to the Eastern Conference Final for the fourth time in the past eight years — and their third in the past four. They have yet to make it past the third round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs since they won the Stanley Cup in 2006. 

Carolina will face the winner of the Montréal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres’ second-round series in the Eastern Conference Final. As of writing, that series is tied 1-1. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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The Colorado Avalanche entered Game 3 looking to take a commanding 3–0 series lead, but instead ran into a Minnesota Wild team that responded with urgency on home ice.

Kirill Kaprizov, Quinn Hughes, Ryan Hartman, Brock Faber, and Matt Boldy all scored for Minnesota, while Jesper Wallstedt delivered a composed performance between the pipes to help the Wild secure a 5–1 victory and cut Colorado’s series lead to 2–1.

Colorado struggled with turnovers and defensive-zone breakdowns throughout the night, and those mistakes proved costly against a Wild team that capitalized on its opportunities. Nathan MacKinnon scored the Avalanche’s lone goal on the power play in the second period, briefly giving Colorado life before Minnesota quickly answered to restore control.

The game also featured an early goaltending change for the Avalanche after Ryan Hartman’s goal early in the second period made it 3–0. Head coach Jared Bednar elected to pull Scott Wedgewood in favor of Mackenzie Blackwood after Wedgewood allowed three goals on 12 shots.

First Period

Colorado struggled in the early stages, with turnovers limiting their ability to establish any sustained pressure. One giveaway at the blue line came when Martin Nečas tried to get too creative with the puck, only to cough it up and hand possession back to the opposition.

Even past the halfway point, the Avalanche continued to have trouble maintaining control in the offensive and neutral zones. Cale Makar also misplayed the puck in his own end, opening the door for Kirill Kaprizov to create a dangerous chance. However, Scott Wedgewood came up large, turning aside the opportunity with a sequence of three key saves to keep the game scoreless.

On the very next shift, Colorado’s depth began to show. Nazem Kadri found Parker Kelly coming off the boards with a sharp pass, sending him in alone on Jesper Wallstedt. Kelly went to the backhand, but Wallstedt got just enough of it with the glove to slow it down. The puck slid behind him but never fully crossed the goal line, keeping the game tied.

The ensuing minutes featured a series of penalties that disrupted the flow of the game. Brock Faber was called for high-sticking Nathan MacKinnon, giving Colorado a power-play opportunity.

The Avalanche were unable to capitalize with the man advantage, as Minnesota’s penalty kill held firm and kept them off the scoreboard.

Shortly after, tempers flared after a whistle when Parker Kelly and Ryan Hartman became entangled in some post-play roughing. The officials quickly intervened, assessing matching minors to both players and restoring order before play resumed.

Kirill Kaprizov scored his fourth goal of the playoffs with just under four minutes remaining in the opening period during a 4-on-4 sequence. He carried the puck into the offensive zone, patiently waited out Scott Wedgewood, and then snapped a shot top shelf to give the Wild a 1–0 lead.

Quinn Hughes made it two goals in 1:33 when Scott Wedgewood lost his stick, allowing Hughes to take control of the puck. He circled the zone, settled himself, and then unleashed a heavy wrist shot that sailed over Wedgewood’s blocker to double the lead.

Second Period

Sometimes you’re just unlucky, and that’s exactly how the second period started for the Avalanche. Ryan Hartman was left alone in the slot and batted a puck out of midair to triple the lead at 4:23. At that point, head coach Jared Bednar made the decision to pull Scott Wedgewood in favor of Mackenzie Blackwood. Wedgewood finished the night with nine saves on 12 shots.

Nearly nine minutes later, Nathan MacKinnon finally got Colorado on the board with a power-play goal. After Gabe Landeskog’s initial shot was turned aside by Jesper Wallstedt, MacKinnon crashed the crease and buried the rebound to cut the deficit to 3–1.

However, Minnesota answered just 20 seconds later during a delayed penalty at 13:31. Vladimir Tarasenko fired a snap shot from the left circle that rebounded off Mackenzie Blackwood before deflecting off Brock Faber’s right leg and into the net, restoring the Wild’s three-goal advantage at 4–1.

Colorado’s response was immediate but costly, as they were then assessed a penalty. Devon Toews was identified as the guilty party after hooking Matt Boldy, sending Minnesota to the power play and shifting momentum further in the Wild’s favor.

Third Period

Colorado largely dictated the pace of the third period, controlling possession and generating the better opportunities. What the Avalanche could not do, however, was the most important part of the game — score.

And sometimes, playoff games are decided by the slimmest of margins.

Colorado pulled Blackwood for the extra attacker with a little more than two minutes remaining, desperately searching for a late push to get back into the game.

Matt Boldy added an empty-net goal with four seconds remaining as the Wild secured a 5–1 victory, cutting Colorado’s series lead to 2–1.

The Montreal Canadiens struck back with authority in Game 2, powering past the Buffalo Sabres 5–1 to level the series at one win apiece as the matchup now shifts into a hostile setting at the Bell Centre for Game 3.

Buffalo, meanwhile, won’t be making the trip at full strength—but they will be adding back a familiar, physical presence at the right time.

Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed to reporters, including TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, that forward Sam Carrick is expected to draw back into the lineup for Game 3 against the Canadiens.

Carrick isn’t the type to drive headlines, but his value shows up in all the places coaches notice most—penalty kills, defensive-zone faceoffs, and the grinding minutes that stabilize a bottom-six group. For Buffalo, his return is less about flash and more about function, restoring a layer of structure and physical edge that becomes even more important in a tightly contested playoff series.

Across the season, Carrick split time between the New York Rangers and the Sabres, appearing in 73 games while recording nine goals, seven assists, and 16 points. He also delivered 106 hits and finished with a plus-2 rating, cementing himself as a dependable depth forward. Since joining Buffalo, he’s chipped in five goals and an assist in 13 games, quickly earning trust in a checking-line role.

Ruff Confident Sabres Can Reset and Respond in Montreal

Still, the bigger message out of Buffalo isn’t about personnel—it’s about belief.

Even after a decisive Game 2 loss, Ruff projected calm rather than concern, leaning on his group’s ability to respond to adversity rather than spiral from it. The Sabres’ bench boss emphasized that postseason swings are part of the rhythm of winning in the playoffs, and that one result rarely defines the next.

“Sometimes when you're winning, you don't ever think you're going to lose in the playoffs,” Ruff said. “Then when you lose one, you don't ever think you're going to win again.”

He pointed to recent examples of Buffalo’s resilience during the regular season, including responses after uneven stretches and setbacks following long winning runs. For Ruff, the pattern has been consistent: the Sabres have shown an ability to reset quickly rather than carry frustration forward.

“We knew we had to play really well in Boston,” he added, referencing a previous playoff series. “The whole year we've answered the call. You had a couple stretches, even after our 10-game winning streak. We played a terrible game in Columbus, and we bounced back with real good hockey, so really just reset, refocus, let's take the temperature down a little bit.”

Now, with the series tied and the pressure shifting to Montreal, Buffalo’s message is simple—Game 2 is in the rearview mirror. Game 3 is a different game entirely.

The Montreal Canadiens got things back on track with their 5-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 2. With this, the Canadiens have now tied the series up at 1-1 as they head back to Montreal for Game 3. 

However, the Sabres are expected to get back one of their key forwards for Game 3 against the Canadiens.

Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff told reporters, including TSN's Pierre LeBrun, that Sam Carrick is available to play for Buffalo in their Game 3 matchup against the Canadiens. 

With Carrick being an important part of the Sabres' bottom six and penalty kill, it is not necessarily the best news that he is returning to the lineup for Buffalo. While this is the case, the Canadiens will be looking to build off their big Game 2 win against the Sabres by beating them again in Game 3. 

In 73 games this season split between the New York Rangers and Sabres, Carrick recorded nine goals, seven assists, 16 points, 106 hits, and a plus-2 rating. This included him posting five goals and an assists in 13 games after being traded to Buffalo.

For weeks, something about Mikko Rantanen looked off — and now the hockey world finally knows why.

The former Colorado Avalanche star played through a torn MCL suffered during the 2026 Winter Olympics, a revelation that suddenly reframes an otherwise uneven postseason from one of the NHL’s most dominant forwards.

A year ago, Rantanen felt almost impossible to contain. He carved through Colorado during the 2025 playoffs with the sort of ruthless offensive precision Avalanche fans know all too well, helping drive the Dallas Stars deep into the Western Conference playoffs while simultaneously haunting the franchise he once helped lead to a Stanley Cup.

This spring was different.

The production never completely disappeared — one goal and six assists in six games against the Minnesota Wild is still respectable by most standards — but the explosiveness, the power through contact, the ability to completely take over stretches of a game just didn’t feel fully present. There were moments where Rantanen looked caught between instincts and physical limitations, like a player trying to access another gear that simply wasn’t there.

The Missing Piece Behind an Uneven Postseason

Now, the explanation feels painfully obvious in hindsight.

Playing playoff hockey on a compromised knee is brutal enough on its own. Trying to do it as a six-foot-four winger whose game relies heavily on balance, edge control, puck protection, and lower-body strength makes it even more difficult. A torn MCL may not carry the same shock value as an Achilles or ACL injury, but it can quietly strip away the subtle mechanics that make elite players look effortless.

And yet, Rantanen played through it anyway.

That probably won’t surprise many people in Colorado.

During his years with the Avalanche, Rantanen built a reputation as one of those players coaches never had to worry about mentally. If there was a path onto the ice, he was going to find it. He wasn’t interested in watching from a distance while teammates fought through the postseason grind. Whether fully healthy or held together by tape and adrenaline, he played.

Unfortunately for Dallas, this version of Rantanen simply wasn’t the unstoppable force they saw a season earlier.

A Playoff Matchup That Never Happened

There’s also an unavoidable “what if” hanging over all of this from Colorado’s perspective.

Had the Stars advanced further, the Avalanche may have gotten another crack at the player who helped crush their Stanley Cup hopes last spring. That potential rematch carried genuine intrigue — not only because of the lingering playoff history, but because there’s always something emotionally charged about facing a franchise icon wearing different colors.

Instead, the possibility disappeared before it could materialize.

Now the focus shifts toward recovery. With the offseason ahead of him, Rantanen should finally have the opportunity to fully heal and reset physically before next season begins.

Meanwhile, Colorado continues to surge forward.

The Avalanche have looked fast, aggressive, and increasingly dangerous through the early part of their second-round series against Minnesota. With a chance to grab a commanding 3–0 lead in Game 3, Colorado suddenly appears to be building the exact kind of momentum every contender spends months chasing this time of year.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will be a team to watch closely this off-season. When noting that they missed the playoffs following a rough finish to the regular-season, they should be looking to boost their roster.

One specific area that the Blue Jackets could aim to improve is the right side of their blueline. It is fair to argue that they could use another top-four defenseman for their right side. When looking at this year's pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs), Rasmus Andersson stands out as a clear potential option. 

Andersson is one of the best defensemen who can hit the free-agent market on July 1, if not the best. This is because the 29-year-old defenseman provides solid offense from the point, plays steady defensively, and works in all situations. With this, he would be an excellent pickup for the Blue Jackets if they successfully signed him. 

Andersson had another strong regular-season in 2025-26, too. In 81 games split between the Calgary Flames and Golden Knights, the 6-foot-1 defenseman recorded 17 goals, 30 assists, 47 points, 149 blocks, and a plus-4 rating. With numbers like these, he would certainly give the Blue Jackets' defensive group a nice boost if Columbus ended up landing him. 

When looking at the Blue Jackets' current defensive group, Andersson could slot nicely on their top pairing with superstar blueliner Zach Werenski. Yet, even if Andersson ended up playing on the Blue Jackets' second pairing, he would make Columbus' top four stronger. He would also give them another option to consider for both their power play and penalty kill. 

Yet, with Andersson being one the best pending UFAs who could hit the market on July 1, there is no question that he will be getting a significant raise from his current $4.55 million cap hit. This remains the case whether he ends up signing a contract extension with the Golden Knights or signs with another team. Therefore, he would almost certainly be an expensive addition for the Blue Jackets if they ended up being the lucky team that lands him in free agency. 

However, given how well Andersson has fit into the Golden Knights' system, it would not be shocking in the slightest if he ends up signing a contract extension to stay in Vegas this summer. Yet, if Andersson and the Golden Knights do not come to terms on a new contract, the Blue Jackets should consider at least kicking tires on the 6-foot-1 defenseman. The fit looks strong on paper. 

The Buffalo Sabres practiced on Saturday morning prior to departing for Montreal after their worst performance of the post-season in a 5-1 loss to the Canadiens on Friday night. The evening was frustrating throughout, as the Sabres fell behind early and could never seem to gain traction on the Habs, who played with desperation after struggling in a Game 1 loss. 

Buffalo’s top players were particularly wanting in the loss, as Rasmus Dahlin was beaten to the net on Alex Newhook’s second goal early in the second, and Alex Tuch was -3 on the night, but leading scorer Tage Thompson had the worst night. The Sabres center was on the ice for four of the five Canadiens goals, and his glaring turnover on Alexandre Carrier’s third-period marker essentially ended any chance of the Buffalo comeback. 

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Canadiens Sluggish In Game 1 Loss 

“Everything I touched turned to disaster. (it was) a tough one, we’ve got to be better.” Thompson said. “It is simple as that, we have to flush that one and move on.”

Thompson has fizzled since scoring a pair of goals in the Sabres improbable comeback in Game 1 of the Boston series. In the seven proceeding games, the three-time 40 goal scorer has no goals and four assists, leading to the belief that he may be playing injured. When asked by WGR 550 reporter Paul Hamilton whether he was hurt, the forward was curt in his response. 

“I don’t think that’s any of your business”.

Le charisme de Carrier fait tomber Tage Thompson 😮🥶‼️ pic.twitter.com/sC2ySjmeCK

— lanuitnhl (@lanuitnhl) May 9, 2026

Where Thompson’s struggles have really been felt is on the power play. Buffalo went 0 for 5 on Friday and are 3 for 32 in eight playoff games. Two of those goals on the man advantage were scored in Game 1 by the second unit. 

Head coach Lindy Ruff focused on the club’s ability to bounce back throughout the season, which was on display after a pair of home losses to the Bruins in the first round. The Sabres went 3-0 on the road against Boston and will hope to follow the same pattern on Sunday at the Bell Centre.

“The last time I checked the series is 1-1, and we are heading on the road and we’ve been a good road team.” Ruff said. “The whole year, we’ve answered the call. We had a couple stretches, even after our 10-game winning streak, we played a terrible game in Columbus, and we bounced back with real good hockey. So, really just reset, refocus. Let’s take the temperature down a little bit knowing that we can all be better.”

  

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