After a short adjustment period, Porter Martone was one of the best players for the Philadelphia Flyers during their playoff push, and head coach Rick Tocchet quickly took notice.

Martone, 19, scored only one point--an assist--in his first three NHL games, though he did fire off 15 shots on goal. The 2025 No. 6 overall pick was due for positive offensive scoring regression, and it was all up from there.

The prized Flyers prospect scored all four of his first NHL goals and added another five assists in the final six games of the season, and during that six-game point streak, the Flyers went 5-1-0, securing their first playoff berth since 2020.

Suffice to say, Martone has impressed Tocchet early on.

"He's just a hockey player, right? Yeah, he's got some things to improve on or whatever, and he's really worked on his skating. You can tell he's improved over the year. He knocks pucks down, he goes to the dirty areas, he's got a hell of a shot. He's got a hell of a hockey IQ," Tocchet said of Martone on the NHL Network's "NHL Now" segment.

Flyers' Porter Martone Explains Viral Hat PhotoBy now, you may have seen the photo, now effectively a meme, of <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> rookie Porter Martone rocking a suit and large fedora. According to Martone, there is a story behind it all.

"We were playing Carolina the other night. Their PK's really good. It's a pressure PK where they just fly out everywhere. We practiced it in the morning, we talked about 'Hey, you gotta be ready'. If you look at the tying goal, he knew. He beat pressure, he knew where [Trevor Zegras] was, he threw it, great pass, and we end up getting the goal.

"That's his hockey IQ. Him taking the information that day and applying it in a pressure situation. So, for a 19-year-old, gotta give him a lot of credit."

The stakes were high for Martone, Tocchet, and the Flyers on Monday night; it was a win-and-in situation against a Carolina Hurricanes team resting several of their top players.

Of course, it wasn't an easy game, and the Flyers went down 2-0 early, but Matvei Michkov started the comeback, and then Martone and Trevor Zegras combined to tie the game.

A pivotal moment, too, as the Flyers required a shootout to seal the deal and reach the postseason.

Now, just imagine the next level Martone can hit for the Flyers once he gains more NHL experience and comes into a season fresh.

The Chicago Blackhawks had a lot of great playoff moments with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. During most of their true prime, they were a lock for a postseason berth every year. 

In 2025-26, Kane plays for the Detroit Red Wings, and Jonathan Toews is with the Winnipeg Jets. Neither of them disappointingly made the playoffs, and they have uncertain futures in the NHL. 

Kane just wrapped up his third season in Detroit. He scored 16 goals and had 41 assists for 57 points in 67 games played. The Red Wings held a playoff spot for most of the season, including a double-digit points cushion, but fell off in March. 

Since leaving the Blackhawks, Kane has been signing one-year deals, making him a free agent once again this summer. He wants to go back to the Detroit Red Wings, but nothing is certain following a bad ending as they had. 

“I’d love to be part of the solution that helps us get over the hump," Kane said in his locker clean-out media session. "I think there is mutual interest.”

Although Patrick Kane doesn't bring much on the defensive side of the puck, he is still a high-level playmaker who can skate on a line with anybody. He has especially good chemistry with another former Blackhawk, Alex DeBrincat. 

If Kane goes back to the Red Wings, they will take another run at making the playoffs together. If they decide to go in a different direction, however, Kane may be looking for a new hockey residency. There is still a lot more hockey left in him, so it's fair to wonder what's truly next for his career. 

As for Toews, he came back to the NHL after two seasons off. Winnipeg was coming off a President's Trophy season, so their missing the playoffs is pretty shocking.

After missing all of that time, Toews played in all 82 games, which is an incredible feat for someone in his shoes. He had 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points in those 82 games.

It wasn't the offensive production he was looking for, but he was a solid two-way depth piece. Toews finished second in the NHL (by one percent) with a faceoff winning percentage of 62.1. He clearly still brings winning attributes to a team. 

Now, will Toews retire after proving he can make a comeback, or does he want more? He has an even more uncertain NHL future than Kane. 

"If I decide to play next year, I’d love to be a part of this group," Toews said in his exit presser. It sounds like it's Winnipeg or nothing, if he even decides to play. 

Once these two former superstars retire, they will go to the Hall of Fame, have their numbers retired, and see statues of themselves at the United Center. For now, however, they have decisions to make as to their current hockey future in other markets. 

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

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

For the first time since 2011, the Buffalo Sabres are set to play postseason hockey. The Sabres kick off their first round series against the Boston Bruins on Sunday and will be looking to start the series by picking up a victory in Game 1. 

When looking at the Sabres' roster, it is clear that as long as he has the crease, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonnen is the team's biggest X-factor. 

The Sabres are going to need Luukkonen to be on his A-game during the playoffs, much like he was during the regular season. The 27-year-old goaltender was a major reason for the Sabres' turnaround this campaign, as he had a 22-9-3 record, a .910 save percentage, a 2.52 goals-against average, and one shutout.

With numbers like these, it is clear that Luukkonen has the potential to be a major difference-maker for the Sabres during the playoffs. If he can replicate his regular-season form during the postseason, the Sabres will be an incredibly tough team to beat. 

It will be fascinating to see how Luukkonen performs during his first career postseason. The Sabres undoubtedly need him to be playing at his highest level. 

The 2025-26 season was an incredibly up-and-down ride of the Los Angeles Kings, but somehow, for the fifth straight year they are headed to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

There have been several major storylines that came out of Los Angele this season. from Anze Kopitar's farewell tour and Adrian Kempe's contract negotiations to the arrival of Artemi Panarin and a record breaking 20 overtime losses. It has certainly been a season Kings fans will remember for a long time.

To wrap up the regular season, we figured that it would be a good idea to hand out some awards for the Kings top performers this year.

*Note: The Kings shared their own team awards on X (formerly known as twitter) Ours were picked in advance and had no intention on copying the team

Most Valuable Player: Adrian Kempe

Honorable Mentions: Quinton Byfield, Kevin Fiala

After entering the season in the midst of contract extension drama, Adrian Kempe eventually signed a monster eight-year extension worth $85M ($10.625M) putting the drama in the rear view mirror.

Kempe appeared in all but one of the Kings 82 games, scoring 36 goals along with 37 assists for 73 points. This is the 29-year-old's 4th career 30+ goal season, as well as his 3rd straight season with 70+ points. 

Like always, the Swedish sniper came up clutch when it mattered most with his team-leading eight game winning goals. Four of which came in 3-on-3 overtime which was good for second in the NHL behind just Cole Caufield's five total OT game winners.

With Kopitar retiring, Kempe has done a great job preparing to be the face of the franchise when the future Hall-of-Famer hangs up the skates.

Best Defenseman and Most Improved: Brandt Clarke

Best Defenseman Honorable Mentions: Joel Edmundson, Drew Doughty

Most Improved Honorable Mentions: Taylor Ward, Anton Forsberg

Brandt Clarke deserves a tremendous amount of credit for his play this season. The 23-year-old entered the season under a large amount of pressure as he was expected to take his play to another level.

For the first time in his young career, Clarke appeared in all 82 games while scoring eight goals and 32 assists for 40 points, reaching career highs in all three statistics. His +11 rating was also a positive note as he is on a team that doesn't score a lot of goals.

Of his 40 points, 13 of them came on the power play which is positive in two ways. One, that he has shown he can succeed as a quarterback on the power play, and the other is that he doesn't solely rely on it as a source of production. 

Kings fans should be very excited for Brandt Clarke's continued progress as the former 8th overall pick will continue to get better.

How Do The Los Angeles Kings Match Up Against The Colorado Avalanche?The Los Angeles Kings clinched a playoff berth, but are currently in line to face the NHL's best team, the Colorado Avalanche. How can the Kings match up against the Presidents' Trophy winners?

Best Addition: Artemi Panarin

Honorable Mentions: Scott Laughton, Anton Forsberg

Entering the season, if you were to tell a Kings fan that Artemi Panarin would be leading them to a playoff berth, they likely would have called you crazy. But here we are.

After he was acquired in February, Panarin came in and produced exactly how he was expected. As an over point-per-game player, the 'Breadman' found chemistry with Kempe and Kopitar. 

In 26 games as a member of the Kings, the 34-year-old scored nine goals and 18 assists for 27 points. His goal scoring could improve but for a team that hasn't had a point-per-game player since Kevin Fiala in 2023, there are no complaints here.

Not only will Panarin be exciting to watch in the postseason, but it will be intriguing to see the numbers he can put up in his first full season in L.A. in 2026-27.

Most Underrated Player: Anton Forsberg

When the Kings signed Forsberg last summer they brought him in to be a solid backup to Darcy Kuemper, but he has proved to be much more than that.

As the season went on and Kuemper dealt with multiple injuries, Forsberg stepped in and kept the Kings afloat. He even played some of the best hockey of his career down the stretch as he was one of, if not the biggest reason that Kings clawed their way into the postseason.

In 31 starts and 36 appearances this season, the 33-year-old netminder went 16-12-5 while posting a 2.57 GAA and .910 SV%. He also tied a career high with three shutouts. Forsberg ranked 18th among all goaltenders with a 9.4 GSAx (Goals Saved Above Expected) on the year.

The Swedish veteran may be an option to start in net for game one against the Colorado Avalanche due to his recent play.

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

TORONTO (AP) — Sidney Crosby is seen by his peers as the NHL player most likely to become a head coach, according to the National Hockey League Players’ Association’s annual player poll released Friday.

The 38-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins captain topped the category with 10.3% of the vote, followed by Minnesota’s Nick Foligno at 5% and Detroit’s David Perron, Toronto’s John Tavares and Calgary’s Ryan Strome at 2.6% or lower.

The 11th annual poll surveyed 348 players anonymously from all 32 teams during the first half of the season.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon was named the player with the most intense training regimen at 20.7%, followed by Edmonton’s Connor McDavid at 5.5% and Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang at 4%.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander led a pair of off-ice categories, ranking first as the most fashionable player at 32.9% and for the best social media presence at 17.4%.

Nylander also featured among the league’s best nicknames with “Willy Styles,” but trailed Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak, whose “Pasta” nickname topped the list at 13.5%. Other notable entries included Detroit’s Patrick Kane (“Showtime”) and Nashville’s Ryan O’Reilly (“Factor”).

Florida’s Aleksander Barkov topped forwards who could also excel as defensemen at 18%, while Colorado’s Cale Makar led defensemen who could also excel as forwards at 36.3%.

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington was voted the league’s best puck handler at 22.4%, ahead of the New York Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin at 14%.

Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller was named the league’s best golfer at 15.9%, while Montreal’s Bell Centre was voted to have the league’s best ice at 46.8%. Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena topped the list for best visiting dressing room.

Players also pointed to Houston as the preferred expansion market at 34.3%, followed by Quebec City at 16.9%, while 68.1% opposed a switch to white jerseys at home.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — The Vancouver Canucks fired general manager Patrik Allvin on Friday after missing the playoffs for a third time in four seasons with him in the position.

President of hockey operations Jim Rutherford is keeping his job. Rutherford acknowledged he has to shoulder some of the blame for how the Canucks tumbled to the bottom of the NHL standings.

Allvin made his own decisions as GM, Rutherford said.

“He was in charge of most of the things in hockey, making the trades, deciding who was getting called up and down and working with the coach and all those things,” Rutherford said. “I take full responsibility for the season. I head up the hockey department. But I don’t make decisions for other people. And Patrik had the opportunity to make his own decisions.”

Allvin’s dismissal came a day after Vancouver ended its season with a 6-1 loss to the Oilers in Edmonton. The result punctuated a season where the Canucks finished last overall with a 25-49-8 record.

“It’s unfortunate. He’s a friend of mine. I think Patrik’s a great hockey guy,” Rutherford said. “But we felt it was time to make a change and let someone else sit in that chair, that GM’s chair, and make the decisions going forward.”

The Canucks will conduct a wide search for Allvin’s replacement, he added, and already have a “very good” candidate in Ryan Johnson, currently general manager of the American Hockey League’s Abbotsford Canucks and an assistant GM with the NHL club.

Vancouver’s next general manager will have a lot of responsibility, Rutherford said, including making a decision on whether Adam Foote will stay on as the team’s coach.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The Florida Panthers have assigned Marek Alscher, Mikulas Hovorka, Ludvig Jansson, Mike Benning, Tobias Bjornfot, and Wilmer Skoog to the Charlotte Checkers.

Additionally, Noah Gregor and Nolan Foote have cleared waivers and will be assigned to the AHL. 

Alscher, Hovorka, Jansson, Bjornfot, and Skoog were called up in April to join the Panthers while they dealt with injuries.

Alscher recorded three assists in four games while averaging 20:22 of ice time. The 22-year-old made a strong first impression. 

Jansson was called up at the same time as Alscher, and he recorded one assist in four games, averaging 17:16.

Hovorka was called up in three different instances, notching one assist in four games, averaging 14:55 of ice time. Skoog also earned his first call-up to the NHL, and he posted two assists in three games.

Bjornfot played 19 total games in the NHL this season, scoring two goals and four points. Bjornfot left a positive mark on the franchise, as he was more than serviceable when the Panthers needed him.

Panthers Place Noah Gregor, Nolan Foote On Waivers Ahead Of AHL PlayoffsThe Florida Panthers are attempting to beef up their AHL roster, placing Noah Gregor and Nolan Foote on waivers for assignment to the Charlotte Checkers.

And finally, Benning looked like a real good player during his 18 NHL games. He was a strong puck mover, and as his minutes increased, Benning’s play only improved. He finished his first NHL stint with two goals and six points.

Each player will play a critical role for the Checkers as they look to avenge their Calder Cup finals loss last season. The Checkers are making their eighth consecutive playoff appearance and will begin their postseason run at Bojangles Coliseum on Wednesday, April 22, at 7 p.m. ET.

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

While the Vancouver Canucks’ 2025–26 season has officially concluded, the AHL remains in action for another few days. To get these two prospects some playing time, the Canucks have re-assigned forward Ty Mueller and defenceman Kirill Kudryavtsev to the AHL. 

Mueller returns to the Abbotsford Canucks having spent the past six games with Vancouver, scoring his first career NHL goal in his team’s 6–1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night. The forward has primarily played in the AHL this season, putting up 16 goals and 19 assists in 59 games played at a top-six centre role for Abbotsford. For his efforts at the AHL-level, Mueller was named Abbotsford’s MVP for 2025–26. This season was not technically his first in the NHL, as Mueller made his NHL debut on April 12, 2025 against the Minnesota Wild. 

Like Mueller, Kudryavtsev also made his NHL debut the season prior, a game later on April 14, 2026 against the San Jose Sharks, but recorded his first NHL point this year. He played in three games with Vancouver this season and tallied his first point on Curtis Douglas’ first NHL goal against the Anaheim Ducks. Kudryavtsev also added an assist in Vancouver’s final home game of the 2025–26 season on April 14. 

Abbotsford will play out their final two games of the 2025–26 regular season on Saturday, April 18 against the Ontario Reign, and on Sunday, April 19 against the Coachella Valley Firebirds. The AHL Canucks currently sit at 30th-overall in the AHL standings ahead of the Hartford Wolf Pack and Calgary Wranglers. 

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

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

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Well, that didn’t take long.

In just their second year in the NHL, Clayton Keller’s Utah Mammoth have advanced to the postseason.

After clinching the first Wild Card spot in the West, André Tourigny’s club will take on Jack Eichel’s Pacific Division winning Las Vegas Golden Knights (who also went to the Stanley Cup in their inaugural season) first-ever playoff series.

Games 3 and 4 — along with Game 6 if necessary — at Utah’s Delta Center are set for:

Game ThreeFriday, April 24
7:30 p.m.

Game FourMonday, April 27
TBA

Game SixFriday, May 1
TBA

If you’d like to be there, tickets are available for all three potential tilts in Salt Lake City as of today.

At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on tickets for any one first-round showdown in Utah was $176 including fees on StubHub.

Prices start at $64 including fees for games at Sin City’s T-Mobile Arena.

Over the course of the regular season, the Mammoth and Golden Knights met three times. And, while Vegas arguably had a better season, Utah did win two of their three matchups.

Still, oddsmakers consider the Knights to be the favorites in this high-stakes series.

Eichel and co. finished the 2025-26 campaign strong on a 10-game point streak and haven’t suffered a defeat in regulation in what we’re calling the John Tortorella era (which began in late March).

Therefore, Keller, Dylan Guenther, Mikhail Sergachev, Karel Vejmelka and Logan Cooley will need all the help they can get at the Delta Center.

“They earned the right to play game 83,” Tourigny said. “We talked about it all season long. Proud of the guys for that and excited to get going.”

Tusks up, Mammoth fans- this is your moment.

For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about the Utah Mammoth vs. Las Vegas Golden Knights 2026 First-Round NHL Playoff Series below.

Utah Mammoth playoff home game tickets

A complete calendar including all announced Mammoth home game dates at the Delta Center and the best prices on tickets can be found here:

Utah Mammoth home game dates	StubHub prices start at
Game Three Friday, April 24	$183(including fees)
Game Four Monday, April 27	$176(including fees)
Game Six Friday, May 1	$204(including fees)

Las Vegas Golden Knights playoff home game tickets

All Golden Knights playoff home game dates and the cheapest tickets available can be found below.

Las Vegas Golden Knights home game dates	Ticket prices start at
Game One Sunday, April 19	$69(including fees)
Game Two Tuesday, April 21	$64(including fees)
Game Five Wednesday, April 29	$85(including fees)
Game Seven Sunday, May 3	$104(including fees)

How to watch the Penguins and Flyers on TV

Fans hoping to catch high-stakes showdowns on the tube can watch all first-round playoff games on ABC, ESPN and TNT.

Just make sure to review your local listings before tuning in.

If you don’t have cable, your best bet may be DIRECTV.

2026 NHL playoff schedule

Want to keep tabs on how the postseason is shaking out?

Check out the NHL’s 2026 Playoff Bracket here.

Huge concerts at the Delta Center in 2026

Who else is heading to the Mammoth’s home these next few months?

We thought you’d never ask.

Here are just five of our favorites that are coming your way the next few months that you won’t want to miss live.

• Los Tigres Del Norte (April 25)

• Carin León (Oct. 2)

• Disney’s Worlds Collide (Oct. 14)

• Gorillaz (Oct. 20)

• Teddy Swims (Nov. 3)

Want to see who else is SLC-bound? Check out this list of all the upcoming events at the Delta Center to find the show for you.

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Why you should trust ‘Post Wanted’ by the New York Post

This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.

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The Colorado Avalanche enter the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs chasing something the NHL hasn’t seen in over a decade: a Presidents’ Trophy winner finishing the job with a Stanley Cup. The last team to pull it off was the Chicago Blackhawks—and that’s the kind of company this Colorado roster believes it belongs in.

Colorado didn’t just have a great year—they controlled the league. A 121-point campaign was the best in franchise history. That's really all that needs to be said there.

At the center of it all was Nathan MacKinnon, who delivered a defining season. His 53 goals not only led the NHL but earned him his first-ever Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, adding another layer to an already elite résumé. Meanwhile, Cale Makar piled up 79 points while anchoring the blue line. It won't be good enough for a third Norris Trophy, but he's still one of the best players in the world. 

And then there’s the difference-maker Colorado hasn’t always had in recent postseasons: stability in net. Scott Wedgewood quietly put together one of the best goaltending seasons in the league, leading the NHL with a 2.02 goals-against average—exactly the kind of reliability that can swing a playoff series.

The First Test: Los Angeles

Standing in the way is the Los Angeles Kings, a team that made the playoffs without much margin for error. Their 90-point season was enough to sneak in, but it came with clear limitations—especially offensively.

Where L.A. hangs its hat is structure. They finished among the league’s better defensive teams, allowing the seventh-fewest goals. But scoring? That’s been the issue all year. Only one player, Adrian Kempe, cracked the 50-point mark.

The Kings will need to lean heavily on Darcy Kuemper, who brings playoff experience—including a Cup run with Colorado—to even the playing field.

If you’re looking for optimism from the Kings’ perspective, the regular-season matchups don’t offer much. Colorado swept all three meetings, outscoring L.A. 13–5 without allowing even an overtime point

Colorado has continuity with Jared Bednar, one of the league’s longest-tenured coaches, guiding a veteran core that knows how to win.

The Kings, meanwhile, are navigating the postseason with interim coach D.J. James, who did stabilize things late (11-6-6 finish), but this is still a team finding its identity under pressure.

Series Odds 

Every major sportsbook is leaning heavily in the same direction—but each one prices the series slightly differently.

Across DraftKings, the Avalanche are listed at -450, making them strong favorites, while the Kings sit at +340 as a long-shot underdog.

At FanDuel, Colorado is even more heavily favored at -530, with Los Angeles priced at +390, reflecting a similar expectation that the Avalanche should advance.

Caesars is the most aggressive on Colorado, listing them at -600, the steepest favorite number among the books, while the Kings come in at +450, signaling a major underdog status.

Meanwhile, BetMGM mirrors DraftKings closely, with the Avalanche at -450 and the Kings at +350.

Avalanche "Should" Win

There’s always temptation to chase the underdog in a playoff series—but this one feels different.

Colorado checks every box: elite scoring, suffocating defense, playoff experience, and now, dependable goaltending. The so-called “Presidents’ Trophy curse” lingers, but history suggests if it strikes, it usually doesn’t happen this early.

For Los Angeles to flip this series, they’d need to play near-perfect defensive hockey and get a vintage performance from Kuemper—while somehow manufacturing offense against one of the league’s best defensive teams.

That’s a tall task. 

It would seem that the Avalanche are destined to dominate their first round series, but we've seen upsets before. It's up to Colorado to find a way and get overthrow the monarchs. 

The simulation puck has officially dropped—and if this version of reality holds any weight, the Colorado Avalanche aren’t just winning their first-round series… they’re steamrolling it.

The full 2-hour and 45-minute stream can be watched in its entirety here.

Game 1 — Avalanche 3, Kings 2

The opening frame had a little bit of everything—tempo, tension, and an early missed opportunity. Colorado’s first power play came eight minutes in after Cody Ceci cross-checked Nazem Kadri, but the Avs couldn’t cash in.

Still, they struck first.

With under five minutes to play in the period, Nic Roy buried a rebound off a Gabriel Landeskog chance that slipped through Darcy Kuemper. Depth scoring, right on cue.

Colorado carried a 1–0 lead into intermission, narrowly edging Los Angeles 9–8 in shots.

The Kings pushed back in the second. Anze Kopitar—playing what could be his final postseason—redirected a Drew Doughty point shot past Scott Wedgewood to even things up. The period tilted toward Los Angeles, who outshot Colorado 9–4, but the score stayed locked at one.

Then came the chaos.

Just 1:49 into the third, a Colorado turnover sparked a 2-on-1, and Artemi Panarin found Adrian Kempe for a clean finish to give Los Angeles its first lead.

It didn’t last.

Off an offensive-zone draw, Brock Nelson did the dirty work, and Landeskog did the rest—dangling from forehand to backhand and beating Kuemper to tie it. A captain’s answer.

Moments later, Nathan MacKinnon hit another gear, slicing through defenders before setting up Artturi Lehkonen on the doorstep… only for the puck to clang off iron like it owed him money. Full Arnold Schwarzenegger, terminator-level post.

Late-game pressure broke the Kings. With under a minute to go, Nelson retrieved a loose puck behind the net and fed Landeskog in the slot. This time, no mistake—glove side, game over.

Landeskog finished with three points (2G, 1A), Nelson added two, and Roy chipped in with the opener. Wedgewood stopped 21.

Game 2 — Avalanche 3, Kings 2

Colorado controlled the pace early but found themselves trailing after Taylor Ward cleaned up a power play scramble midway through the first.

The response came quickly—and bizarrely.

Kuemper mishandled a routine puck in his crease, chaos followed, and Nelson capitalized with a slick backhand to tie it.

The second period belonged to Colorado. After Brian Dumoulin took a penalty, Martin Necas hammered home a power play goal to make it 2–1. The Avs dominated possession, outshooting the Kings 25–11 through two.

Kuemper, to his credit, kept Los Angeles alive with several massive saves, including a rocket from Cale Makar.

Kopitar tied it again early in the third on a power play one-timer, because of course he did.

But once again, Colorado had the final word.

Ross Colton forced a turnover, Nic Roy picked it up, and Colton spun and fired past Kuemper in one motion. Clinical. Decisive.

Blackwood stopped 18, and the Avalanche took a 2–0 series lead.

Game 3 — Avalanche 2, Kings 1 (OT)

Los Angeles struck first, capitalizing on a 2-on-1 as Kempe set up Brandt Clarke to beat Wedgewood.

From there, it became a goaltending duel.

Colorado dominated stretches of the second, but Kuemper refused to break—until Sam Malinski burst in on a breakaway and slipped a backhand home late in the period to tie it.

The third period? Pure chaos disguised as control. Both goalies traded highlight-reel saves.

Then overtime delivered the madness.

Scott Laughton nearly ended it for L.A., but Wedgewood pulled off a save that defied both physics and basic human expectation.

Moments later, the Kings went on the power play—but it backfired spectacularly.

Cale Makar won a race to the puck, fed Logan O’Connor in the slot, and O’Connor buried the shorthanded winner.

Ballgame. Series stranglehold.

Wedgewood was unreal, stopping 38.

Game 4 — Avalanche 1, Kings 0

This one was tight. Suffocating, even.

Both teams traded chances, but nothing got through—until the final seconds.

With just 21 ticks left, Nelson forced a turnover at center ice and sent Landeskog flying down the wing. One shot. One finish.

That was it.

Four games. Four wins. Series over.

Let’s Be Real

Nathan MacKinnon going an entire series without a goal? Not happening in any known universe. The simulation clearly has a personal vendetta.

But if there’s one takeaway here, it’s this: Colorado’s depth, structure, and late-game execution completely overwhelmed Los Angeles.

Now, reality steps in.

Game 1 hits Sunday at Ball Arena.

And unlike the simulation… this one counts.

It's no secret that the Pittsburgh Penguins have a wealth of playoff experience on their roster.

Five of them - Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Bryan Rust, and Sam Girard - have Stanley Cup rings. A few more have gotten a taste of the Stanley Cup Final, only to have fallen just short. Many have limited playoff experience but playoff experience nonetheless.

But there are a handful of players - six of them, to be exact - on the Penguins' active roster who have never been graced with the opportunity to experience the greatest postseason in all of sports. Ben Kindel, Egor Chinakhov, Elmer Soderblom, Ryan Shea, Jack St. Ivany, and Ilya Solovyov will finally, in some capacity, have that opportunity when the Penguins face the Philadelphia Flyers in round one of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, which begins Saturday at 8:00 p.m. ET. 

And a player's first time in the NHL playoffs is something that they can only experience once.

"It's, obviously, been a whirlwind of a season, but this has always been the goal since making the team," Kindel said. "Really, really excited to have this opportunity to go into the playoffs with this group of guys and see what we can do."

Kindel, a rookie, made the team out of training camp and was given the chance to stick around through the entirety of the regular season. And some of the other players in a similar situation didn't join the squad until midway through.

Chinakhov is one of those guys, as he was dealt from the Columbus Blue Jackets to Pittsburgh on Dec. 29. He has played in five NHL seasons up to this point, and all have ended in futility.

To come to the Penguins' organization mid-season and be thrust into the Stanley Cup Playoffs has been a whirlwind for him, but he's happy to finally have gotten here.

"I'm excited to play in the playoffs," Chinakhov said. "I played in the KHL [playoffs], and I know it feels different than the regular season. Yeah, just need to prepare and be ready for Game 1."

'This Is What You Play For': Penguins Thrilled To Be Back In Playoff Picture, Confident About IdentityThe Pittsburgh Penguins are back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in four years - and their longest-tenured veterans are itching for a chance to bring home another championship for the organization.

The same can be said for Soderblom, who joined the team at the NHL Trade Deadline from the Detroit Red Wings on Mar. 7.

"It's going to be fun," Soderblom said. "I think it's going to be something special, and it's going to be exciting to play, for sure. I think we can just learn a lot from the players who have been through it, you know, and won the Cup. So, I think it's a good opportunity to just get better." 

The "new guy, new team" situation doesn't apply to everyone in this position, though. Shea and St. Ivany have been with the organization for a few years now, and they have seen the Penguins at the lowest point they've been since Crosby's rookie season.

Shea joined the Penguins in 2023-24 after getting drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks and spending a few years in the Dallas Stars' organization. He's been to the playoffs before, but nothing quite like the NHL playoffs. 

Pittsburgh Penguins-Philadelphia Flyers Series Preview: Series History, X-Factors, Series PredictionThe Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers are set to meet again in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Here's a full preview of the series.

“I mean, it’s pretty cool. I’ve played a lot of meaningful hockey in my life, whether it’s playoffs in the AHL or college hockey, but this is obviously the pinnacle," Shea said. "This is what you want to get to.

"I feel like the first two years, we were so close, but always the outside looking in. And this year, we had to learn how to play when we were in a position to make the playoffs, and we did pretty well coming down the stretch with that. But, I’m just super excited. It’s great for the guys."

Of course, there's not really any other way to truly prepare for the NHL playoffs aside from simply getting thrust into it. Crosby knows that feeling all too well, as he remembers his first taste of the playoffs. 

But, regardless, he and the other veterans in the room are ready to help those with little to no NHL postseason experience - even if they can only do so much.

"I think you've got to prepare as best you can, but until you've actually experienced it, there's only so much you can do to try to prepare," Crosby said. "But, we'll definitely do that. You can do your best to try to help them out and make sure that [they] prepare, but just getting thrown into it is just sometimes the best. And I think anyone who has played in the playoffs, you remember that first game, that's for sure. You'll remember that first shift, first period... those always tend to stick out."

#LetsGoPens Kris Letang spoke on when he realized this could be a playoff team and why so many of the newer faces in the group - like Egor Chinakhov - have excelled in Pittsburgh. @TheHockeyNews#NHL#StanleyCupPlayoffspic.twitter.com/gYnRVdXDwO

— Kelsey Surmacz (@kelsey_surmacz4) April 17, 2026

And Shea - like Soderblom - said that the experience of guys like Crosby and the other veterans in the room will certainly help him and others, especially in terms of regulating emotions.

"I pick up the little things that guys talk about, whether it’s body language, picking up teammates, all that stuff," Shea said. "For me, I’m pretty hard on myself. So, having those guys through this experience and having a guy of that caliber coming up to you and being like, ‘Hey, go get it next shift’ or something like that… that goes a long way. We’re all in this fight together. I think we’ve done a great job this year being a team and keeping the vibes at a high, and I think we need that no matter what, whether we go down 2-0, up 2-0, whatever the case may be.

"We need to control our emotions, and that’s where those guys come in. And, for me, I know I’m going to be overly excited to start the game, but I think, at the end of the day, it’s just another hockey game. My nerves and my excitement will just pull back, and then, you’re pretty much just going about your business.”

Top-5 Moves That Shaped Penguins' Successful 2025-26 SeasonThere are many moves that NHL GM of the Year frontrunner Kyle Dubas made this season to contribute to the Penguins' success - but there are five that were crucial to their first Stanley Cup Playoff berth in four years.

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The New York Islanders have salary-cap overages that impact their cap space heading into the summer.

Per PuckPedia, the Islanders' bonus overage carryover is $3.5 million. 

Here's how they get to that number:

"The New York Islanders super rookie Matthew Schaefer earned the maximum bonuses possible for an Entry Level player - $3,500,000.  He hit 4 “A” bonuses for Goals, Assists, Points per game, and Time on Ice, earning $1 million, and by finishing in the top 10 among NHL Defensemen in goals, he earned his $2.5 million “B” bonus.  Since the Islanders used LTIR and finished over the cap, this entire $3.5 million bonus is an overage.  This large overage isn’t quite as high as the overages incurred by Boston ($4.5 million in 23-24) and Edmonton ($3.55 million in 24-25) in recent years."

🔥PuckPedia Breaking News🚨

At least 8 teams (& up to 10) will have a performance bonus overage cap charge in 26-27. #Isles#GoAvsGo#TexasHockey#GoHabsGo#NJDevils#SJSharks#LetsGoOilers#TimetoHunt

Check out the amounts, who earned them, & morehttps://t.co/1vMlQd9WPopic.twitter.com/86wUcrlw2p

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) April 17, 2026

Schaefer earned every dollar of his bonus. It's not a problem, just something the Islanders need to get used to. 

To sum things up, this means that the Islanders' cap hit next season is reduced by $3.5 million. 

So you're telling me there's a chance? 

With the Nashville Predators missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs by three points, all eyes are on the NHL Draft Lottery, which will be held on May 5. 

According to Tankathon.com, which runs mock drafts and tracks draft odds across all five major sporting leagues, the Predators have a 3.5% chance to land the No. 1 overall pick with the 10th-best odds. 

Their highest odds are to land the 10th overall pick at 73.3%. 

The Vancouver Canucks have the highest odds of getting the No. 1 pick at 25%. They finished dead-last in the NHL standings with a 25-49-8 record and 58 points. 

first NHL Lottery simulation now that the regular season has endedhttps://t.co/wLoRi9gsgwpic.twitter.com/kOt6z4Kafw

— Tankathon.com (@tankathon) April 17, 2026

It's a slim chance for the Predators to get the top pick, but it has happened before. The New York Islanders had the 10th-best odds to land the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft at 3.5%.

They'd end up winning the lottery and drafting defensman Matthew Schaefer. This season, Schaefer has recorded 59 points in 82 games and is the leading candidate to win the Calder Memorial Trophy. 

This didn't favor the Predators last season, who had an 11.5% chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick and the highest odds of landing the No. 3 overall pick, yet fell to the No. 5 overall pick.

Nashville ended up selecting center Brady Martin from the Soo Greyhounds with the pick. It was selected three times in the first round of the 2025 Draft. 

The New York Rangers notably had a 9.5% chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft and won the lottery, selecting forward Alexis Lafrenière. 

This year's draft is all about Penn State forward Gavin McKenna, who lit the WHL on fire last season with 129 points (41 goals and 88 assists) in 56 games at 16/17 years old. 

He made the move to the NCAA this season, recording 51 points (15 goals and 36 assists) in 35 games. While having a fall-off from the 2024-25 season, McKenna is still the top prospect in this draft class. 

In the midst of a general manager search, the Predators will have 12 picks in this upcoming draft. 

Nashville Predators 2026 NHL Draft picks by round 

First round: One pick

Second round: Two picks (Acquired a pick from Minnesota Wild, trading C Michael McCarron) 

Third round: Two picks (Acquired a pick from Seattle Kraken, trading F Michael Bunting to Dallas Stars for the pick, which was originally Seattle's.) 

Fourth round: Two picks (Acquired a pick from Pittsburgh Penguins, trading D Luke Schenn and C Thomas Novak for Bunting and a 2026 4th round pick) 

Fifth round: Three picks (Acquired two picks from the Edmonton Oilers, trading a 2025 fifth-round pick and from the Carolina Hurricanes, trading C Mark Jankowski.) 

Sixth round: One pick (Acquired a pick from Utah Mammoth for 2025 sixth-round pick)

Seventh round: One pick 

The Chicago Blackhawks finished the season 29-39-14, which was good for 72 points. Their 31st-place finish makes it four years in a row that they finished in the bottom three, and they will pick in the top four for the same number of years.  

Kyle Davidson received a contract extension, which will give him security ahead of the rebuild's next step. Now, it's all about taking the opportunity to use their incredible farm system to put together a winner. 

This could end up being the most important summer of the entire project. There are many young players in the organization, and not all of them can be on the NHL roster full-time going forward. Trades and signings must be a part of it. 

There is no limit to how many moves a team can make during the off-season, but some are more important than others. These five decisions stick out as the top priorities: 

Make a wise decision with their lottery pick

The Chicago Blackhawks are going to pick in the top four. If they're picking fourth, that means that multiple teams below them won lotteries, which is unlikely. Regardless of where they land, however, they have to make a smart decision. 

Most believe that Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg will be the first two forwards taken, while Chase Reid and Keaton Verhoeff will be the first two defensemen off the board. Regardless of who the Blackhawks take, they must get them on the best possible development path.

Extend Connor Bedard to a multi-year deal

Connor Bedard is the franchise centerpiece. The Blackhawks were handed a gift when they won the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery, and he has rewarded them by putting in the work to develop into an elite player. There is still even more room for growth, which is what's most impressive about him.

Bedard is a restricted free agent and is in need of a contract extension. He was wise to wait through this year to get it done, because he's proven that he's worth an eight-figure number for a very long time. He will get that. 

Although this is a no-brainer, there is always a worry about how long it takes to get done. The Blackhawks must learn from cases like Jeremy Swayman or Luke Hughes, as missing training camp can hinder seasons. The earlier this deal gets done, the better it will be for the team and the player. 

Add a high-end top-six forward with NHL experience

The Blackhawks have a lot of great young forwards. A lot of them have the skills necessary to play in the top six. They also have Tyler Bertuzzi, who scored 32 goals, which led the team. This was a career year for Bertuzzi, so they need to add another good top-six forward to the group. 

There are going to be some snipers available via a trade (and possibly free agency), and there are some who have had their name out there, but it remains to be seen if they'll actually be moved. 

If the Blackhawks want a chance at winning more next season, a high-end talent to play with Bedard is a must. This will also push other guys down the lineup, which can be beneficial to other centers like Anton Frondell or Frank Nazar. 

Add a veteran to the defense

The Blackhawks were without Matt Grzelcyk for the last month of the season, which made 24-year-old Alex Vlasic their elder statesman on the blue line. 

It might be wise to add another veteran to play with this youth-filled group. Artyom Levshunov, Wyatt Kaiser, and Sam Rinzel could all use another mentor in the room to help them when things get tough. 

The Blackhawks may also draft a young defenseman, depending on where things fall, which would make a veteran useful as well. There isn't going to be a world-beater available, but a steady second-pair guy would go a long way. 

Be smart with Ilya Mikheyev's pending free agency

The Blackhawks traded Nick Foligno, Connor Murphy, and Jason Dickinson at the deadline. All three of those pending UFAs are going to the playoffs, but it left a leadership hole on the team. 

It also left Ily Mikheyev behind as a pending UFA. The Blackhawks tried to get him extended before the deadline, but to no avail. Over the summer, it would be in their best interest to revisit those conversations. 

If Mikheyev is willing to sign a two-year deal at a good number, the Blackhawks should not hesitate. Even an overpriced one-year deal would be better than nothing. Mikheyev is one of the best penalty-killing forwards in the NHL, and he does everything you'd expect a bottom-six forward to do on a nightly basis. 

Mikheyev, who is a wizard defensively, is also good for 15-20 goals a season with absolutely no power play time. A guy like that is hard to let go of, especially when he's one of your only players with significant NHL experience. 

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