Vegas Golden Knights veteran forward Tomas Hertl knows what's expected of him as part of a potent offense.
Which is why he's more than relieved to not only have snapped a 29-game drought, but also a 16-game playoff drought that dated back to last season.
Hertl, who hadn't scored a goal since March 4 in a 4-3 overtime win in Detroit, hadn't scored a playoff goal since April 26, 2025 in a 4-3 overtime win in Minnesota.
Now, he's scored in back-to-back games, in Games 3 and 4 of the Knights' current series with the Anaheim Ducks.
"Obviously, it wasn't easy for me, you know," Hertl said. "The expectation for me is to make something happen on the ice. It was nice for me to score the last game, and especially tonight.
"I was very happy about it, because it was a pretty hard two months for me, because everybody expected I would score goals and make something happen. I obviously try to do other things, but it's always nice to get a couple. Hopefully, moving forward, I can help with a couple more goals.”
Vegas coach John Tortorella praised Hertl's line, with wings Brandon Saad and Colton Sissons flanking him.
"I know they were on the ice for the tying goal, but I thought they gave us some big minutes, and we're gonna need it," Tortorella said. "As the series keeps on going, we're gonna need all four lines."
Hertl, who acknowledged being benched at times and seeing limited playing time was difficult to absorb, said he tried not to think about his scoring drought the past two months but found it difficult.
Recent conversations with a supportive Tortorella, though, have helped ease him back into a comfort zone.
"We definitely had some talks about it, and he tried to help me around," Hertl said. "But it's always just nice to score the first one. Every game, when I was going through it, I just tried not to think about a goal because, especially in the playoffs, all that matters is winning the games. It doesn't matter who scores.
"Hopefully this is behind me and this stretch never happens, honestly, again, because it was way too long."
PHOTO CAPTION
Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl (48) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period of game five of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena.
Game 5 is about to begin live from Ball Arena as the Colorado Avalanche look to clinch a spot in the Western Conference Finals with a win over the Minnesota Wild.
Let's get ready for a great game!
First Period
Just 34 seconds into the game, Marcus Johansson gave the Wild an immediate jolt, one-timing a feed from Matt Boldy from the slot to put Minnesota ahead 1-0 before the Avalanche had even settled in.
From the opening shift, the Wild made it clear they had no intention of going quietly. Minnesota established an aggressive forecheck early, finishing checks, forcing turnovers and swarming Colorado’s defensemen whenever they touched the puck. The Avalanche struggled to handle the pressure through the opening minutes and looked rattled by the pace and physicality.
Yakov Trenin, arguably Minnesota’s most relentless checker, set the tone physically. Less than five minutes into the game, he leveled Parker Kelly with a heavy hit before following it up with a cross-check to Kelly’s lower back that went uncalled.
Near the midway point of the period, Brent Burns tied up Mats Zuccarello in front of the Colorado net before wrestling him down to the ice after the whistle. The two exchanged shoves and punches while Zuccarello was on his back, adding even more tension to an already heated opening frame.
At 11:03 of the first period, Nick Foligno doubled Minnesota’s lead after tapping home a pass from former Avalanche forward Nico Sturm. It was a puck that Mackenzie Blackwood appeared to track initially, but it slipped underneath him through the five-hole and slowly crossed the line to make it 2-0.
Colorado briefly caught a break later in the period when Michael McCarron appeared to extend the lead to 3-0 by knocking a loose puck into the net. After review, officials ruled he had batted the puck in with his hand, overturning the goal. Still, the sequence wasn’t without damage for Colorado, as Gabriel Landeskog was assessed a hooking penalty during the play. The Avalanche penalty kill managed to survive the ensuing Wild pressure and, at least temporarily, kept the game within reach.
Minnesota wasn’t done. With 4:04 remaining in the period, Foligno struck again for his second goal of the night after Sturm generated a pair of dangerous rebounds on consecutive shots. Blackwood survived the first chance, but the second rebound kicked directly into the slot, where Foligno batted it home to push the Wild lead to 3-0.
By the end of the opening 20 minutes, the Wild held a commanding 3-0 advantage while narrowly leading the shot count 13-11. But the score hardly reflected how lopsided the period felt. Colorado looked disorganized defensively, overwhelmed physically and shaky in net.
After an opening frame that could only be described as disastrous, it became increasingly clear that Scott Wedgewood deserved serious consideration for the second period — unless the Avalanche were intent on taking the far more difficult route toward a Western Conference Final berth by trying to clinch the series on the road instead.
Second Period
Colorado didn't have many high danger chances in the opening frame, but Logan O'Connor had a prime opportunity to get the Avs on the board in the early stages of the second. However, his one-timer just missed a wide-open net as his shot sailed by the left post.
Parker Kelly scored his second of the playoffs with nine minutes left in the second when he redirected a point wrister from Brent Burns to put the Avalanche on the board.
With less than five minutes left in the frame, Ross Colton detonated two vicious hits on Quinn Hughes that dropped the Wild defenseman to the ice and to the roar of the crowd inside Ball Arena.
The Avalanche went on their first power play with 3:08 left in the period after Damila Yurov high-sticked Cale Makar in the face. The need for Colorado to convert on this man advantage appeared critical. Unfortunately for Colorado, the power play appeared completely out of sync.
The Avs went back into the room trailing 3-1 entering the third period. Shots were in favor of Colorado 21-16.
Third Period
Scott Wedgewood made a critical save in the early stages of the third period after Vladimir Tarasenko was knocked down at center-ice by Nic Roy, but still managed to get back in the play, scoop up a loose puck, and fire a shot on net from the left circle. However, when the Avs needed a save, Wedgewood was there to keep his team in contention.
The Golden Knights head to Anaheim with a 3-2 series lead over the Ducks, and a chance to wrap up their conference semifinal on Thursday, but will do so without one of their top defenders.
Defenseman Brayden McNabb has been suspended for one game for interference against Ducks forward Ryan Poehling during Tuesday's Game 5, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday.
The incident occurred at 8:55 of the first period, when McNabb was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for interference.
The Knights played the rest of the game without McNabb. After allowing the Ducks to tie the game at 2-all in the third period, Vegas won 3-2 in overtime.
"It’s just no sense talking about it ... I just don’t get it, coach John Tortorella said after the game. "High marks for the whole team tonight. I’m proud of the team tonight. Getting down, losing Nabber, one of our top D, losing him - I think he played three minutes - and still finding a way to get things done, to get a win, I’m really proud of the hockey club."
Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger speaks to the media after their Game 5 overtime loss (2-3) to the Vegas Golden Knights.
It can be quite difficult to find your game, especially after being a healthy scratch for 13 consecutive games. But Olen Zellweger looked like he hadn’t missed a beat when he made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut in Game 4 of the Ducks’ series against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Zellweger registered a primary assist in Game 4 on defensive partner Ian Moore’s game-winning goal and provided the equalizer late in the third period of Game 5, which helped send the game to overtime. You wouldn’t be able to tell he hadn’t played in a game in more than a month.
“Just practicing hard,” Zellweger said when asked about how he was able to stay in game shape despite not playing in a game for so long. “We’ve got extra time, extra workout sort of thing. You kind of know what it takes to stay in game shape, so I think all the guys who aren't playing are doing a pretty good job of that.”
May 12, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger (51) checks Vegas Golden Knights right wing Cole Smith (22) during the third period of game five of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Assistant coach Tim Army works with healthy scratches after morning skates, putting them through rigorous conditioning skates once the skaters in that gameday’s lineup have left the ice. He also frequently works with players after practices on improving their skills, whether it’s faceoffs, puck recoveries or board battles.
“He’s been awesome. He does a great job,” Zellweger said. “We do a lot of game-like things. A lot of things that keep us in game shape, too, with skating and tempo over speed sort of stuff. So it was awesome. He's always in a great mood. He's awesome to work with.”
Zellweger said there were a lot of things that went well in the Ducks’ 4-3 win in Game 4, which helped them even the series heading back to Vegas for Game 5. He pointed to the different perspective that he had while watching games from the press box and how he would envision himself in those game situations, to better prepare himself for if he were to end up being down there at any point.
“Overall, I felt fine. I think my timing felt pretty good. Just trying to communicate and get to my spots. When I'm watching from above, I'm trying to see the situations I'd be in, so I didn't feel like it was that crazy. It was a lot of time (being out), but just wanted to go out there and play direct, simple and help the team where I could.”
May 10, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger (51) skates with the puck during the first period against the Vegas Golden Knights in game four of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images
Between Games 3 and 4, head coach Joel Quenneville said that he wanted to incorporate the defensemen offensively as much as they can, and see the team skating at a higher level and doing things quicker. The insertion of Zellweger surely did that.
“I think when there's those opportunities, especially with the skill we have, it can be dangerous for the other team,” Zellweger said. “Jumping in where I can, still having the discipline with our structure. But I think it's harder to defend when we're active, especially at the right times.”
“I loved the shot,” Quenneville said of Zellweger’s Game 5 goal. “He was active, he was skating. He had some possession time, too, as well off the rush or endzone. He was a factor, and good to see him respond in the last couple of games after watching as much as he did. It was a great response.”
“Zelly made a great play there and was able to get himself open and make a great shot,” Cutter Gauthier, who set up Zellweger’s goal, said. “He’s been extremely disciplined with how he carries himself on and off the ice this whole season. When he heard his name called these last handful of games, he was ready to go. Kudos to him for having a great mindset these last few months, it pays off with the big goal.”
May 12, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal (1) makes a save as defenseman Olen Zellweger (51) checks Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21) during an overtime period in game five of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Zellweger received more ice time down the stretch in Game 5, which led to him being on the ice for that game-tying goal. He played nearly 17 minutes, with almost all of it coming at even strength.
“Commend him,” Quenneville said. “That’s a great attribute to show, his competitiveness. Stayed with it. Professional for a young kid, knowing that you lose your lifetime dream of not playing in a playoff game. And then he bided his time, he worked his tail off, getting himself not just conditionally ready for it, but mentally. That was the thing that we were all appreciative of, how he approached it mentally and prepared himself to be a part of it and contribute in a meaningful way, and he did more than we were expecting.”
Anaheim is facing elimination for the first time this postseason, entering Game 6 down 2-3 after falling in overtime to the Golden Knights in Game 5. Confidence has been unwavering in the Ducks locker room, with a sense that they can push the Golden Knights to the brink.
“Yeah, a ton of confidence. I know this group is going to bounce back,” Zellweger said. “I think we have all playoffs long. We're going to take a few lessons from this one, and then ready to go.”
“Everyone knows it's an elimination game in the room, but it's not something that's really talked about or said if everyone knows it,” Gauthier said. “Everyone’s gonna give just a little bit extra to try to get the win and force a game seven, so I’ve got confidence in the group that we'll get that job done.”
NEW YORK (AP) — Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb has been suspended for Game 6 of the team's second-round playoff series at Anaheim on Thursday night for his late hit that injured Ducks center Ryan Poehling.
The NHL's Department of Player Safety announced the suspension Wednesday, hours after holding a disciplinary hearing with him about the hit.
McNabb was given a 5-minute major penalty for interference and ejected 9 minutes into Game 5 on Tuesday night. While the hit was shoulder to shoulder, it came long after the puck was gone.
The back of Poehling's head hit the glass, and he was wobbly when he tried to stand back up. Teammates helped him off the ice, and the team ruled him out for the rest of the game because of an upper-body injury.
McNabb missed most of Game 5 for the first period hit, which left Poehling woozy. McNabb received a five-minute major for interference and game misconduct. Poehling left the game with assistance and didn't return.
The NHL Player Safety department said Poehling was no longer eligible to be checked at the time he was.
"With the puck having long been cleared away from Poehling and with sufficient time to elect to avoid or minimize contact, McNabb instead finishes the hit with considerable force," the NHL Player Safety department said in its suspension video.
Brayden McNabb has been assessed a 5-minute major and a game misconduct for this hit on Ryan Poehling 😬
Poehling needed assistance getting off the ice and has gone to the locker room 🤕 pic.twitter.com/hhHsqZlpzB
The Golden Knights lead the second round series 3-2 and can clinch a trip to the Western Conference final with a Game 6 win on Thursday night in Anaheim.
McNabb will be eligible to return in Game 7, if there is one, or in Game 1 of the conference finals if Vegas wins Thursday. The defenseman has averaged 20 minutes a game in the playoffs, with one goal, two assists, 22 blocked shots and 23 hits.
The Minnesota Wild are trying to avoid elimination against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 5 of their second-round NHL playoff series. The Avalanche will advance with one more victory. The Avalanche are favored by 1.5 goals. The over/under is set at 6.5.
How to watch Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche
Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Kevin Korchinski is one of the team's most promising prospects. There is a reason why the Blackhawks selected the skilled blueliner with the seventh-overall pick of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
Korchinski is still looking to cement himself as a full-time NHL defenseman at this point in his career. The 21-year-old has played in 105 career NHL games over three seasons, but 76 of them came during the 2023-24 campaign when he was a rookie. With this, he has seen limited NHL action in recent years, but that certainly should change next season.
Korchinski had another solid year in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs, as he recorded two goals, 24 assists, and 26 points in 53 games. With this and the Blackhawks' blueline being less crowded, Korchinski has a good shot of being a regular on their NHL roster throughout next season.
When noting that Korchinski is still very young and has a ton of potential, it is hard to bet against him breaking out next season for Chicago. If he can hit that next level and cement himself as an impactful NHL defenseman, it would be huge for a Blackhawks club that is looking to take a step forward next season.
After emerging as the Los Angeles Kings' top candidate on the coaching vacancy radar a few days ago, the Vegas Golden Knights have not yet allowed Los Angeles to speak with Bruce Cassidy.
According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Kings have not yet been given permission to speak with Bruce Cassidy in their coaching search, similar to reports yesterday about the Edmonton Oilers, who are also bidding to hire a former Stanley Cup champion.
Per Elliotte, the Kings have also not been given permission yet to speak with Bruce Cassidy in their coaching search, similar to reports yesterday about Edmonton. https://t.co/IcYhZyPOfc
It's another fight between the Oilers and the Kings, this time it's off the ice, with both teams fighting for the same coach who is on their radar and happens to be a former Stanley Cup winner as a coach and a Jack Adams winner and finalist.
Cassidy will likely interview with both teams as soon as Vegas grants them a chance to meet with the former Jack Adams Award winner. It's gonna come down to which team Cassidy thinks is the best fit for him long-term and which team he can build for the future and win with for many years.
“As of last night, I was told that the Oilers and Kings, neither one has permission to talk to him yet,” Friedman on Bruce Cassidy. https://t.co/BqcgP41czm
There could be another team that no one is talking about that will be interested in Cassidy, and maybe the Golden Knights will allow that team to interview Cassidy because they don't want one of their two divisional rivals to land their former head coach in the same division as them.
It remains to be seen which direction the Kings will eventually take in their head-coaching search. With free agency approaching, the Kings will be under pressure to improve this roster once their coaching search is complete, following Anze Kopitar's farewell.
With the Kings still very interested in Cassidy despite Vegas blocking the interview, will they move in a different direction with the coaching search, or will they wait until Vegas greenlights an interview?
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The Pittsburgh Penguins should be looking to add more young talent to their roster this off-season. One player who would make a lot of sense for the Penguins to consider targeting because of this is Florida Panthers forward Mackie Samoskevich.
Samoskevich is entering the off-season as a pending restricted free agent and is due for a nice raise from his $775,000 salary this year. With the Panthers having limited cap space, the Penguins should kick tires on the 2021 first-round pick's availability.
If the Penguins acquired Samoskevich, he would give them another promising forward with good upside. The 23-year-old is coming off a solid season with the Panthers, as he scored 12 goals and set new career highs with 20 assists and 32 points in 77 games. This is after he had 15 goals and 31 points in 72 games with the Panthers during the 2024-25 season.
With numbers like these, Samoskevich has already shown that he can provide solid secondary offensive production at the NHL level. However, with Samoskevich being so young, he certainly has the potential to hit a new level. He could do just that in a more significant role on a team focused on the future like the Penguins.
It will be interesting to see if the Penguins end up making a push for Samoskevich, but the fit looks good on paper.
Detroit Red Wings prospect Carter Bear just can't stop racking up the points for the WHL's Everett Silvertips in their best-of-seven WHL Championship Series against the Prince Albert Raiders.
Bear, who already has three goals in the series, upped his postseason point total to 21 points in 16 games played, thanks to his pair of assists, helping the Silvertips take a two games to one series lead over the Raiders with a 3-2 win.
He assisted on teammate Matias Vanhanen's first period goal, followed by another helper on Julius Miettinen's game-winning goal in the third period.
Carter Bear(1st round’25) 2 Assists +2 4 shots 4 PIMs in a 3-2 win. Tips lead the series 2-1. Bear was everywhere tonight. Multiple chances, a post, 2 assists, countless scrums, 4 penalties drawn. #LGRW Mix. pic.twitter.com/OEVRYbqesx
— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) May 13, 2026
Bear, Detroit's first round (13th overall) pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, was described as "a very intelligent hockey player" with a high compete level by GM Steve Yzerman, who made the selection in late June.
"I think (we’re) getting a very intelligent hockey player, extremely competitive, and at the junior level, he really can score,” Yzerman said. "And we think all of his game translates to the NHL as well. I think our fan base will really take to him when the time comes that he’s playing for the Red Wings because he competes hard. He’s a really good person. We’re very excited about this pick."
Yzerman, who indicated that there were trade discussions with a handful of other unnamed NHL clubs, said that the intention was to remain pat at No. 13 overall to select Bear.
“We had a couple of teams call us as our pick was coming near to see if we would move back,” Yzerman said. “As long as Carter was on the board, we were prepared to stay there. In fact, there’s a couple of other players as well, had he been selected, that we would have been more than happy with selecting.”
Bear and the Silvertips will try and pick up another crucial win in Game 4 against the Raiders, which is scheduled for Wednesday evening.
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The 5-on-5 profile is very good, and that's especially important given that there are often fewer penalties called in elimination games. Refs want to keep things at full-strength and 'let the players decide', which sets up well given how well Carlsson has played at 5-on-5.
Carlsson is also more productive on home soil. Playoffs included, he has averaged 1.1 points per game and hit the scoresheet in 70% of his appearances since the calendar flipped to 2026.
Golden Knights vs Ducks same-game parlay
Jackson LaCombe has played a whopping 130 minutes through five games, logging more ice time than any player in this series. Joel Quenneville is going to ride his star defenseman into the ground in a do-or-die game, which only enhances his already strong chances of production.
The Ducks are going to push and be especially aggressive offensively with their season on the line. That will lead to plenty of blocked shot opportunities for Shea Theodore, who leads the Golden Knights in ice time and has averaged 3.1 blocks over the last nine games.
Golden Knights vs Ducks SGP
Leo Carlsson Over 0.5 points
Jackson LaCombe Over 0.5 assists
Shea Theodore Over 1.5 blocked shots
Golden Knights vs Ducks odds for Game 6
Moneyline: Golden Knights -110 | Ducks -110
Puck Line: Golden Knights -1.5 (+220) | Ducks +1.5 (-275)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-140) | Under 5.5 (+120)
Golden Knights vs Ducks trend
The Anaheim Ducks have hit the first-period game total Over in 17 of their last 20 games (+12.70 Units / 40% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs. Ducks.
How to watch Golden Knights vs Ducks Game 6
Location
Honda Center, Anaheim, CA
Date
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Puck drop
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
TNT, Sportsnet
Golden Knights vs Ducks latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Pittsburgh Penguins took a nice step in the right direction this season by making the playoffs. Now, they will be looking to build off that next season.
One player who should be watched incredibly closely on the Penguins next campaign is forward Rutger McGroarty. The 22-year-old forward is one of the Penguins' top breakout candidates heading into next season, and it would not be surprising if he takes a big step in development because of it.
McGroarty showed clear signs of progress this season in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In 30 games with the AHL squad, he recorded 10 goals and 34 points. This is after he had 14 goals and 39 points but in 60 games for the AHL club during the 2024-25 season.
With this, the Penguins will now be hoping that McGroarty can tap into his potential more next season on their NHL roster. The 2022 first-round pick posted three goals and six points in 24 games this season for Pittsburgh, so it will be interesting to see how much he improves his offense next year in the NHL.
There is a lot to like about McGroarty's game, and it would be huge for the Penguins if he has that big breakout year.
The Philadelphia Flyers acquired defenseman David Jiricek from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Bobby Brink on trade deadline day. The move was understandable, as the Flyers need help on their blueline and had a surplus of NHL-caliber wingers. As a result, they are now hoping that Jiricek can become a solid part of their blueline as he continues to develop.
Jiricek undoubtedly showed promise in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms after being acquired by the Flyers. In 15 games with the Phantoms following the move, he recorded two goals, 11 assists, and 13 points. Now, the Flyers will be hoping that he can translate some of his play with the Phantoms this campaign over to next season on their NHL roster.
When noting that Jiricek is still only 22 years old and has good upside, there is no question that he is a breakout candidate to watch for next season. The 2022 sixth-overall pick has the potential to emerge as an impactful NHL defenseman, and it will be interesting to see if he can take that next step with the Flyers in 2026-27 from here.
In 85 career NHL games split between the Columbus Blue Jackets, Wild, and Flyers, Jiricek has recorded two goals, 11 assists, and 13 points.
The Montreal Canadiens might have failed to take a 3-1 series lead over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night, but that wasn’t because of Alex Newhook. The speedy winger has goals in four of the last five games, and he was the one who first got the Habs on the scoreboard in their 3-2 defeat.
Earlier in the series, Tage Thompson said that everything he touched turned to crap. Newhook is experiencing the exact opposite; it seems like everything he touches turns to gold. With a pair of goals in Games 2 and 3, he became the first Canadiens player since Mark Recchi in 1997 to score multiple goals in consecutive playoff games.
In the same span, Ivan Demidov has also gathered three assists, which will go a long way to making the young Russian more confident. The rookie has struggled to make an impact in these playoffs; he’s yet to find the back of the net, so having someone on his line who can at least complete his plays is essential.
As for Jake Evans, four of his five assists this postseason have come in the last three games while playing with Newhook and Demidov. There’s no doubt that Evans is not in the right chair; he’s not a second-line center, but it works well for the Canadiens, and they have to roll with it for now.
On Tuesday night, Newhook had five shots on goal and seven attempts on net while landing three hits on the forecheck. He’s the only Canadiens player to sport a Stanley Cup ring, he knows what it takes to earn the right to lift Lord Stanley’s mug, and he’s leading by example on the ice.
If some still thought Kent Hughes paid a high price to land Newhook in a deal with the Colorado Avalanche when he sent a first-round pick, a second-round pick and Gianni Fairbrother to Denver, they have quieted down lately. The winger still has another year on his contract, but if he can keep playing as he has all season (in the 42 games he played) and in these playoffs, he could end up being with the Canadiens for a long time.
