They improved to 7-0 in the 2026 NHL playoffs with a 4-1 road victory against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, May 7. And in doing so, they showed why they are so formidable.
A turning point occurred in the second period with the game tied 1-1. Taylor Hall rocked Philadelphia's Travis Sanheim into the boards.
"I was in a vulnerable spot and he decides to finish his check and it just felt like his hands drove my head right through the wall," Sanheim said. "I thought it was a pretty dirty play."
Hall was called for a five-minute major in order to trigger a review. A two-minute penalty was issued instead.
The Flyers weren't happy, but they still had a power play in order to break a tie. But 11 seconds later, it was the Hurricanes who broke the tie when Carolina forced a turnover and Jordan Staal fed defenseman Jalen Chatfield for a short-handed goal.
Here's why the Hurricanes are unbeaten in the playoffs:
They're hard to play against
Carolina plays an aggressive style that frustrates opponents. The 'Canes never trailed in the opening sweep of the Ottawa Senators and added to that in Game 1 against the Flyers.
But Philadelphia scored two quick goals in Game 2. No problem. The Hurricanes kept chipping away, tied the game and won 3-2 in overtime.
Philadelphia had a 5-on-3 power play in Game 3 and wasn't able to muster much.
Hurricanes have scoring depth
Thursday was Staal's night with a goal and an assist. It was his first goal of these playoffs.
The Hurricanes have more than enough scoring to go around.
Logan Stankoven is tied for the playoff goal lead with six. Hall has nine points and Jackson Blake has eight. Nikolaj Ehlers has goals in each of the past two games. They're unbeaten despite Andrei Svechnikov not scoring until Thursday.
Frederik Andersen is strong in net
Andersen had a regular season to forget with a 3.05 goals-against average and .874 save percentage. Brandon Bussi supplanted him at one point.
But coach Rod Brind'Amour went with the veteran Andersen in the playoffs, and it has paid off. Andersen has two shutouts and has given up two or fewer goals in each game. He's just the third goalie in the last 30 years to open 7-0.
The Flyers are banged up with Owen Tippett and Noah Cates unable to play. But unless the Flyers can figure out the Hurricanes, they, like the Senators, will be swept.
Then it comes down to whether the Hurricanes and Brind'Amour can get past the conference finals. The way they're playing, it's possible.
May 7, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) scores a goal against Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar (80) during the first period in game three of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
The Carolina Hurricanes extended their winning ways with a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night in the Xfinity Mobil Arena.
The Canes remain undefeated in postseason play and now lead this second round series, 3-0. They are 7-0 overall in these playoffs.
Going back to the regular season, they have won 16 of their last 18 games.
Frederik Andersen earned another win in goal and made 18 saves out of 19 shots.
The Flyers came out fired up and had several scoring chances early, but failed to convert. They hit the post a couple of times and the other times Andersen and the Carolina defense were both equal to the task.
Late in the period, Jordan Staal took a puck off the boards during a powerplay and tucked it past goalie, Dan Vladar to start off the scoring.
Trevor Zegras tied it up early in the second but that would be the only time they could get one past Andersen.
During a shorthanded opportunity a bit later in the period, Staal fed a wide open Jalen Chatfield who made no mistake as he gave the Canes a 2-1 lead.
At 3:52 into the third period, Andrei Svechnikov rifled in a one-timer to give Carolina a 3-1 lead. It was another powerplay goal for the Canes, who went 2-9 on the night.
K’Andre Miller and Jordan Martinook then got the puck to a streaking Nikolaj Ehlers and “Fly” broke in alone and roofed in a beautiful goal to virtually put the game out of reach.
Carolina’s balanced scoring made a statement in this game.
On the other side, the penalty kill was perfect, even during over a minute of a 5-3, disadvantage. This was due to a poor sportsmanship call on coach Rod Brind’Amour.
Obviously it was far from a perfect game but the Hurricanes did what they had to do for the win. It was another penalty filled fiasco at times. The Canes were called for 10 penalties while the Flyers were called for 15, but six of them were called with less than three minutes left in the game when the home team intentionally tried to rough up the Canes.
Carolina will look for another sweep as they face the Flyers for game four on Saturday.
PHILADELPHIA — Jordan Staal and Andrei Svechnikov scored on the power play and Jalen Chatfield added a short-handed goal, keying a special teams effort that helped the Carolina Hurricanes win their seventh straight playoff game, 4-1 over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 3 on Thursday night.
The Hurricanes — who outshot the Flyers 30-19 —can complete their second straight postseason series sweep in Game 4 on Saturday in Philadelphia.
The Hurricanes — coming off a Game 1 shutout and a Game 2 overtime thriller — again rode the hot hand of Frederik Andersen in net to move to the brink of a sweep.
The Flyers, the last team in the East to clinch a playoff spot who then beat Pittsburgh in the first round, had a few sensational early looks at the net but again failed to finish and again failed on the power play. They had the worst power-play efficiency (15.7%) in the NHL this season and did not score with the man advantage in Game 3.
To make it worse, Chatfield scored to make it 2-1 in the second just 11 seconds into the Flyers’ power play with Taylor Hall in the box for boarding.
The Flyers hit Andersen with 15 shots during 19 minutes of overtime in Game 2 and whiffed on their chance at the win — and perhaps their best shot at making this a competitive series — when Travis Konecny missed a makeable look on a breakaway.
Konecny fired another clean look minutes into Game 3, only for Andersen to knock it away with his pads. Porter Martone, the Flyers’ teen sensation, rang the right side of the post moments later and two great chances at goals meant nothing on the scoreboard.
The Flyers still had a chance on the power play but were stymied and fell at that point to 1 for 12 in the series and 3 for 29 in nine playoff games.
The Hurricanes are too playoff tested, too veteran savvy to not capitalize on Philadelphia’s slow start.
Staal punched in a rebound in the first period for the 1-0 lead.
Trevor Zegras, a 26-goal scorer held without a point the previous four games, tied the game for the Flyers from one knee in the second period.
That was it for the Flyers. They went 0 for 5 on the power play while the Hurricanes were 2 of 7.
Svechnikov and Nikolaj Ehlers scored in the third period, the latter of which sent Flyers fans headed toward the exits.
NHL playoff history is still against the Flyers. Only four teams that trailed 3-0 in a seven-game series have come all the way back to win — the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, 1980 New York Islanders, 2010 Flyers and 2014 Los Angeles Kings.
In case you missed it, Rangers boss Chris Drury is cleaning house. Jed Ortmeyer is out as director of player development.
Our superior judge of hockey personnel Jess Rubenstein has some thoughts on that. Go, Jess, Go!
"The 47-year-old spent the previous nine seasons in the role following an eight-year playing career, which included three years with the Rangers," Rubenstein recalls.
The change comes following a second straight season without the playoffs for New York, which finished last in the Eastern Conference in 2025-26 and holds the third-best odds for the No. 1 overall pick in Tuesday’s NHL Draft Lottery.
Here's why Ortmeyer is the wrong guy to blame for the mess the Rangers are in:
1- You had four different coaches with four different systems
2- Ortmeyer's job was development, but he cannot develop young players when the core is all veterans
3- How can Ortmeyer develop players when they don't draft correctly?
4- And it is not Ortmeyer's fault when those drafted are pushed to the NHL before they are ready or they skip time in Hartford
5- Ortmeyer can't develop young players when they are traded in their first year (Exhibit A Mancini).
The 2026 NHL Entry Draft is less than two months away. Due to this and the draft lottery now passed, The Athletic's Scott Wheeler recently released his first 2026 NHL Mock Draft.
In it, Wheeler predicted that the Sabres will end up selecting forward Ryan Roobroeck as their first-round pick this year.
Roobroeck is a fascinating prospect who has shown plenty of promise at the OHL level. This was especially the case during the 2024-25 season, as he recorded 41 goals, 46 assists, and 87 points in 64 games with the Niagara IceDogs.
Roobroeck also had strong offensive numbers for the IceDogs during this season, posting 30 goals, 28 assists, and 58 points in 49 games. With numbers like these, it is clear that the 6-foot-3 winger has good upside.
While the Sabres are cementing themselves as legitimate contenders, it is still important for them to boost their prospect pool as they enter their window. Taking a gamble on a big prospect like Roobroeck would make sense for Buffalo if he is still available because of it.
It will be interesting to see if Roobroeck ends up becoming a Sabre at this year's draft. However, for now, the Sabres' focus is beating the Montreal Canadiens in the second round.
Rick Tocchet didn’t hide from the daunting thought of a 3-0 series deficit against the Eastern Conference’s top seed.
To put it simply, the Flyers needed to win Game 3 in this best-of-seven second-round matchup. Without dumping a load of pressure on his players before the game, the head coach knew it.
Once again, the Flyers were unable to crack the Hurricanes as they lost Thursday night, 4-1, at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Trevor Zegras made it a 1-1 game 2:31 minutes into the second period when he scored on a delayed penalty. But Carolina picked apart the Flyers on special teams with two power play goals and one at shorthanded.
“It’s tough to come back in a series 3-0, I’m going to be honest with you,” Tocchet said at morning skate. “We win this game, we’re back in the series. If we lose, now we’re really behind the eight ball.”
They’re behind by three games and now have to be perfect for four straight if they want to somehow keep their season alive.
In the history of the NHL, only four teams have survived a 3-0 series hole. The Flyers, of course, were one of them. They pulled it off in the second round of the 2010 playoffs and made a run to the Stanley Cup Final.
The Hurricanes have yet to lose in these playoffs. They’ve won all seven of their games and have surrendered just eight goals.
Going back to the start of the 2021-22 season, the Flyers have lost 19 of their last 22 games against Carolina.
The first dagger was from Andrei Svechnikov on the power play, which put the Flyers down 3-1 just 3:52 minutes into the third period. Cam York was in the penalty box for goaltender interference.
The final dagger came from Nikolaj Ehlers, who padded the Hurricanes’ lead on a breakaway. Rasmus Ristolainen made a poor read when he pinched in the neutral zone.
Jordan Staal handed Carolina a 1-0 first-period lead with a power play goal. Sean Couturier was in the penalty box for tripping. Jalen Chatfield swung the game in the second period when he gave the Hurricanes the lead on the penalty kill.
The Flyers were on the power play after Travis Sanheim was boarded by Taylor Hall. Sanheim and his teammates weren’t happy with Hall, who had a five-minute major penalty reduced to a two-minute minor.
Carolina netminder Frederik Andersen stopped 18 of the Flyers’ 19 shots.
The 36-year-old has held the Flyers to just three goals in the series. The Flyers have scored only eight goals over their last six games after putting up 11 through the first three games of the playoffs.
The Flyers had some quality looks early on Thursday night, but they couldn’t shake their scoring struggles.
Travis Konecny was denied just 59 seconds into the action after he found his way behind the Hurricanes’ defense. Porter Martone hit the post 3:36 minutes later and then Alex Bump was denied in close with 8:11 minutes left in the first period.
Jaccob Slavin, one of the league’s top defenders, kept the Flyers off the board with 1:35 minutes to go in the opening stanza. After a Ristolainen shot snuck through Andersen, the Carolina defenseman corralled the puck and flung it away before it could cross the goal line.
• After giving up the go-ahead shorthanded goal, the Flyers’ power play had 1:15 minutes of a 5-on-3 opportunity. The Hurricanes’ bench was hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The Flyers’ power play, however, failed to take advantage of a golden chance to tie the game.
A prevailing opinion coming into the playoffs was that the league-worst power play would cost the Flyers at some point. It absolutely did in Game 3.
The Flyers have gone 3 for 33 on the power play in the playoffs.
On Tuesday night, the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery was conducted. The Toronto Maple Leafs won the first overall pick, the San Jose Sharks won the second overall pick, and every non-playoff team was pushed down in reverse order of the standings.
The Vancouver Canucks dropped down to third, which means the Blackhawks ended up with the fourth overall pick. That isn’t the ideal outcome for either team, but both will still get an incredible prospect.
Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson confirmed that he is interested in the best player available, no matter what their position is, assuming he doesn’t trade the pick. This is how the draft could look for the 16 lottery teams with the Blackhawks selecting 4th:
1. Toronto Maple Leafs - Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State
Winning the draft lottery changed the entire off-season outlook for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Instead of trading Auston Matthews or Matthew Knies, they could add Gavin McKenna to play with them at even strength and on the power play. His skills are close to being NHL-ready, and he should be a star in short order.
2. San Jose Sharks - Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste. Marie
For a long time, Ivar Stenberg was a lock to be right there with McKenna for first overall. However, San Jose winning the second overall pick changes things a bit. They need prospect depth on defense, and there are three elite ones for them to think about here. Ultimately, Chase Reid's two-way game gets him compared to Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer. Only time will tell if he can be that good, but the base could make the Sharks think twice about passing him.
3. Vancouver Canucks - Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford
Vancouver needs help down the middle more than help on the wing. That may make them consider Caleb Malhotra, whose father Manny is the head coach for their AHL team, the Abbotsford Canucks. Caleb is a strong two-way centerman who has flown up the draft board this season because of his dominance with Brantford.
4. Chicago Blackhawks - Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda
Ivar Stenberg falling to the Chicago Blackhawks is the best-case scenario for them, but it is very possible that they get him due to the circumstances ahead of them in the draft. Drafting Stenberg would give Anton Frondell a friend and World Junior teammate to play with, in addition to a winger who can make all of their centers more lethal.
5. New York Rangers - Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota
Keaton Verhoeff, who may have the highest offensive ceiling of any defenseman in the draft, would be perfect for the suddenly rebuilding New York Rangers. Learning from a star like Adam Fox would be great for his development, and he could be able to help them get back to winning sooner rather than later.
6. Calgary Flames - Carson Carels, D, Prince George
The Calgary Flames round out a clear top-six in the draft. Carson Carels, whether he's the first, second, or third defender drafted, is going to make the team that selects him very happy. The Calgary Flames could be the team of the decade in the 2030s with the rate at which they're building, and Carels would be just another great weapon.
7. Seattle Kraken - Alberts Smits, D, Jukurit
The Seattle Kraken would see a major improvement on their blue line in their organization if they selected Alberts Smits. They are desperate for star power there, and Smits could develop into a star. For a young player who was an Olympian for Latvia and was very good, he could be on an NHL roster quickly after being drafted.
8. Winnipeg Jets - Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert
The Winnipeg Jets did not expect to be in this spot after winning the President's Trophy in 2024-25. Now, they have a chance to add a great prospect with what they hope is a one-off top-ten pick. Adding Daxon Rudolph so he can develop in their system could help them sustain success once they get back on track.
9. Florida Panthers - Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University
Perhaps even more than the Winnipeg Jets, the Florida Panthers having a top-ten pick is shocking. The Chicago Blackhawks fully anticipated landing a second first-round pick from Florida in this draft, but their landing in the top ten pushes it back a year. Tynan Lawrence from Boston University would be a great get for them, as they could add another strong center to the mix.
Viggo Bjorck would be perfect for the Nashville Predators. He was one of Sweden's best young players alongside Stenberg and Blackhawks prospect Anton Frondell this year. Bjorck played a big role in Sweden winning Gold at the World Juniors, and now he has the opportunity to make waves as an NHL prospect.
11. St. Louis Blues - Oscar Hemming, RW, Boston College
Boston College has been pumping out first-round NHL prospects at a high rate for years now. Oscar Hemming is the best one coming out this year, and the St. Louis Blues make so much sense for a winger like him. Whether they trade Robert Thomas and/or Jordan Kyrou or not, Hemmings is a winger worth drafting and developing.
12. New Jersey Devils - J.P. Hurlbert, LW, Kamloops
The New Jersey Devils are always looking for new wingers to give a chance with Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier. J.P. Hurlbert, who will play for Michigan next season, would fit in well with New Jersey, which has been great at drafting Wolverines. At Michigan, Hurlbert should be one of the best players in college hockey and help lead a dominant team.
13. New York Islanders - Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor
The New York Islanders didn't get as lucky in this lottery as they did in the last one, but their pipeline of young players is very strong. Ethan Belchetz, out of Windsor, is another one to add to the mix.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets - Adam Novotny, LW, Peterborough
The Columbus Blue Jackets need to continue adding young forwards to the group if they want to sustain their success once they start to reach it regularly. Adam Novotny is good for them at 14.
15. St. Louis Blues via Detroit Red Wings - Brooks Rogowski, RW, Oshawa
The St. Louis Blues have yet another lottery pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, as they will add the 15th overall selection to their crop of young players. Here, it's Brooks Rogowski, another winger.
16. Washington Capitals - Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver
The future of Alex Ovechkin in the NHL is near the top of mind in the hockey world, but the Washington Capitals will be thinking about their organizational future when they come up to make the 16th overall pick in the draft. Ryan Lin of Vancouver is a great defenseman who could help their blue line's potential for years to come.
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The Philadelphia Flyers have been a great story this year, and they are in the second round of the playoffs this spring because of it. Yet, with the Flyers still being a team that is focused on the future, they will certainly be hoping to have success at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
The Flyers have their first-round pick for this year's draft. In his most recent mock draft for The Athletic, Scott Wheeler predicted that the Flyers would end up selecting defenseman Juho Piiparinen with their first-rounder this summer.
Piiparinen is a big right-shot defenseman with good upside, so it would make a lot of sense if the Flyers decided to select him with their first-round pick this year. The 6-foot-3 blueliner is known for his steady defensive play, and he could be a nice pickup for the Flyers because of it.
Piiparinen played in 29 games this season with Tappara of Finland's Liiga, where he recorded three assists and a plus-6 rating. He also played in 15 games for Tappara's U20 team, where he posted one goal and 13 points.
With the Flyers needing help on the right side of their blueline, it would make sense if they took a chance on Piiparinen with their first-round pick. The potential for him to blossom into a top-four defenseman is there, and it is no secret that NHL teams will forever value big right-shot blueliners like him. Thus, it would not be a bad thing at all if the Flyers added him to their system.
The Buffalo Sabres picked up a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of the second round. With this, the Sabres have a 1-0 series lead and will be looking to expand on it in Game 2.
Sabres forward Josh Doan was one of the main reasons for the team's win, as he put together a strong performance in Game 2. Doan scored the Sabres' game-opening goal at the 4:31 mark of the first period and then recorded an assist on Ryan McLeod's first-period goal that gave Buffalo a 2-0 lead. With this, Doan stepped up in a big way for the Sabres in their Game 1 victory over the Canadiens.
Doan is only continuing to break out for the Sabres as the playoffs roll on. The 24-year-old forward is only getting better and is continuing to show Buffalo that they made the right call picking him up from the Utah Mammoth this past off-season.
After being held off the scoresheet in his first three playoff games this spring, Doan has responded by recording five points in his last four games alone. The 2021 second-round pick is thriving right now for Buffalo, and he will be looking to stay hot from here.
ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Wild (4-4) was back on the ice for a practice at home. The Wild will square off for Game 3 against Colorado Avalanche (6-0) in round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Saturday.
It will be the first home game of the series. The Wild are behind 2-0 and will look to show up in a must-win game. They are 1-8 when down 2-0 in a series.
The only win?
2014 against the Avalanche.
But this Avalanche team is different. The same can be said about the Wild, though. Nathan MacKinnon was just a rookie back in 2014. Now he is a superstar. Jared Spurgeon was 24 that season. Now he is 36 and is the team captain.
Not to mention other star players like Quinn Hughes and Matt Boldy for Minnesota and Martin Necas and Cale Makar for Colorado.
The thing that is interesting about this go around and in this series in general, is how the Avalanche are beating the Wild at their own game.
It is a hard thing to do, but the Avalanche have completely bought into the style and have now taken the Wild's game and shoved it against them.
The Wild used to have the mantra of grit first. The physicality to wear teams down with hits and grind down defensemen. They did it against the Dallas Stars in round one this year, but haven't gotten to that in round two.
Every coach in the league has been saying it for the last couple of years. Things like the Wild are hard to play against. Minnesota is a big and hard team. Or, as head coach Jared Bednar said, “they’re a big and physical team.”
So what happened to that?
"I mean, that was part of the game plan," Marcus Foligno said after round one. "Get to their defensemen and especially, star players like Miro Heiskanen, and just make it really tough on them. Obviously, no one likes to go skating backwards for it. Those guys are very offensive. And you know, the more you can play in their end, or take some energy out on them from the defensive side of the pocket, it limits their chances of what they can do offensively. So that was good. I mean, I think our heads were right as well."
There is no doubt that Dallas is a different team from the Avalanche. Just look at the defense corps.
Heiskanen is an offensive guy and is just a notch under Makar in terms of offense. The only thing, Heiskanen played through a torn oblique muscle in the playoffs.
Makar at 100% is much more dynamic than Heiskanen at 70% or whatever he thought he was. Devon Toews of the Avalanche and Esa Lindell of the Stars are similar in terms of defensive play and the ability to break the puck out.
Thomas Harley and Nils Lundqvist are no slouches either, but here is where it gets different. Tyler Myers is 6-foot-8 and Lian Bichsel is 6-foot-7. Bichsel also suffered a strained shoulder in round one.
The two can clear the puck and defend, but they aren't as quick-moving as the Avs' defenders.
Guys like 5-foot-9 Nick Blankenburg and 5-foot-10 Sam Malinski are much more elusive than the towering Myers and Bichsel pair the Wild went up against in round one.
The point is, the Wild are having a harder time chipping the puck in and grinding down the defense corps of the Avalanche like they did to the Stars. This has allowed the Avalanche to play quickly and move the puck to their game-breaking players like MacKinnon, Necas, Brock Nelson, and others.
“Colorado plays different. Dallas was bigger. These guys move really well back there," Michael McCarron said. "When you chip the puck in, they keep the puck moving really well, and they move with the puck as well. So they’re hard to touch. We’re gonna have to find our way to stop these, slow these D down more. But imposing our will, I thought five-on-five, we did really well.”
In round one, the Wild finished second in the NHL in hits with 219 for a hits/60 minutes of 31.92. Through two games of round two, the Wild have 55 hits for a hits/60 minutes of 27.50.
The Avalanche had 109 hits in round one against the Los Angeles Kings for a hits/60 minutes of 26.40. Through two games of round two, the Avs have 54 hits for a hits/60 minutes of 27.00. They went from last in the NHL to eighth in the NHL in that category.
After the second period of Game 2, ESPN Analyst and Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Messier talked about how the Wild just haven't been able to get to their game.
Their game is what was alluded to above in the story. Wearing down the opposition, forcing them to make mistakes, capitalizing on the mistakes, and beating them 5-on-5.
Colorado is outscoring Minnesota 9-7 at 5-on-5 after the Wild allowed just four 5-on-5 goals to the Stars in six games of round one.
They were able to break down the Stars by physical play and it took a toll on them as the series went on. This led to less offense from Dallas.
Colorado is the best team in the league and is the best team when it comes to off the rush as well. The Wild held the Stars in check off the rush, but have not done the same to the Avalanche.
"Exactly. You want to play with the puck. I think the biggest thing is to not get beaten back by the dman," Nico Sturm said on how important physical play will be to stop the Avalanche off the rush. "Sometimes, that's the thing with physicality. You can also overdo it, and then you kind of get yourself out of position because you want to finish a hit, and it ends up, you know, you take yourself kind of out of place. So, you've got to tread the line. You want to be physical, but you don't want to run around like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off, right? So it's, it's always a fine line to tread."
Unfortunately, the Wild have done neither. Two different goalies in two games, and Minnesota has allowed 14 goals.
Back to Messier's point, the Wild have not been able to get to their game. They aren't able to hit the oposition like they did against Dallas because the makeup of the Avalanche is different and they are able to move past those plays.
Minnesota has shown that it can't adjust. At least through two games.
Along with the Wild's awful penalty kill, to be blunt, Minnesota doesn't want to take a penalty because being shorthanded is almost always a goal. Exactly was Messier's point.
Even against the Avalanche, who went 1-for-11 in round one on the power play and are now 3-for-7 in two games against the Wild.
They went from 9.1% on the power play to 42.9%. That is what the Wild's PK can do.
Minnesota allowed ten power-play goals to the Stars in round one in 25 times shorthanded for a 60% PK. They are at 57.1% right now.
It is the same story year after year for Minnesota. A PK that lets them down in the playoffs. Since 2022, the Wild's PK sits at 65%, which ranks 27th out of 28 teams.
The power play?
4-for-30. 13.3%. This postseason.
But if the first two games were an indication for what is to come, the Wild are in for one. The Avalanche stars want it more. They are willing to do what it takes to win games.
MacKinnon leads the NHL in points for round two with six. He is also doing everything it takes in this series to try to advance.
MacKinnon, who has won the MVP, led the NHL in goals and points, is a five-time All-Star and is coming off a Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy season, has blasted both Boldy and Quinn Hughes this series.
The Avalanche just seem to want it more and are willing to do whatever it takes to shut down the Wild's stars. Boldy has zero goals and just four shots in the first two games.
It is easy to say, but if the Wild were at their game, this would be a series they could win and would be the first time since 2003, and the second time in franchise history, they would be in the conference final.
If the Wild can't get back to their game, this won't be a long series. If they can't adjust, this won't be a fun extended series with multiple superstars going at it.
Minnesota has talked all season about identity. About being hard to play against. About winning the hard areas of the ice and wearing teams down over a seven-game series. Against Dallas, that identity showed up. Against Colorado, it seems to have disappeared.
Now, down 2-0 with the series shifting back to St. Paul, the Wild are out of time to search for it. Because if they can’t find a way to slow down the Avalanche and get back to the style that made them successful in round one, this series won’t turn into the heavyweight battle many expected.
It will turn into another short playoff exit for a team still searching for answers this time of year.
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ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Brock Nelson #11 congratulates Cale Makar #8 of the Colorado Avalanche after his goal. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It has been a big week for the Colorado Avalanche during their three-day break before continuing their second round playoff series against Minnesota on Saturday. Accolades have been rolling in as the NHL continue their announcements of the three finalists for their voted awards.
First, a bit of a surprise as Brock Nelson was nominated for the Frank J. Selke Trophy. The 33 goals and 65 points he amassed on the league leading Avalanche squad certainly helped raise his profile this season.
Presenting the finalists for the Frank J. Selke Trophy! 🏆 #NHLAwards
The trophy is presented annually to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game. pic.twitter.com/5pftUkfZLL
Then, the nominees for the James Norris Memorial Trophy were announced and mainstay Cale Makar was among the finalists. It was a bit of a down year by Makar’s standards as the power play woes hurt his point totals, particularly in the goals department with 20 to go along with 79 points. Still, Makar keeps his nomination streak alive at six consecutive years in his seven-year NHL career.
Presenting the finalists for the James Norris Memorial Trophy! 👏 #NHLAwards
The trophy is awarded to the defenseman who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position.
Despite the honors, neither Avalanche player is expected to take home the hardware as Nick Suzuki is the favorite for the Selke and Zach Werenski for the Norris. That’s ok, the Avalanche have their sights set on a larger trophy.
The United States will enter this year's men's hockey world championships in an unusual position: defending champion.
Team USA won a gold medal at the International Ice Hockey Federation tournament last spring for the first time since 1933.
This year's team has only two returnees and will be less star-studded than the 2025 one The big exception is Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, a two-time Stanley Cup winner and U.S. Olympian.
Some of the players from last year aren't available because they were or are in the playoffs, such as Tage Thompson, Clayton Keller, Jackson Lacombe, Cutter Gauthier and Jeremy Swayman. Plus, there's no Olympics as an incentive to suit up.
Here is the Team USA roster and some takeaways:
Team USA world championships preliminary roster
Goaltenders
Devin Cooley, Flames
Drew Commesso, Rockford (AHL)
Joseph Woll, Maple Leafs
Defensemen
Will Borgen, Rangers
Declan Carlile, Lightning
Connor Clifton, Penguins
Justin Faulk, Red Wings
Wyatt Kaiser, Blackhawks
Ryan Lindgren, Kraken
Mason Lohrei, Bruns
Ryan Ufko, Milwaukee (AHL)
Forwards
Matt Coronato, Flames
Paul Cotter, Devils
James Hagens, Bruins
Isaac Howard, Bakersfield (AHL)
Sam Lafferty, Blackhawks
Ryker Lee, Michigan State
Ryan Leonard, Capitals
Oliver Moore, Blackhawks
Danny Nelson, Notre Dame
Tommy Novak, Penguins
Mathieu Olivier, Blue Jackets
Max Plante, Minnesota-Duluth
Max Sasson, Canucks
Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers
Team USA roster takeaways
Howard and Lohrei are the only returnees from last year.
Leonard and Hagens made up two-thirds of the top line for the gold medal-winning USA team at the 2025 world junior championships. The third linemate, Gabriel Perreault isn't at this tournament.
Howard and Plante are the last two winners of the Hobey Baker Award.
When and where are the world championshps?
The tournament will be held from May 15 to 31 in Fribourg and Zurich, Switzerland.
Team USA world championships preliminary round schedule
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Matthew Tkachuk has the chance to be the first American in hockey’s Triple Gold Club.
After winning the Stanley Cup back to back with the NHL’s Florida Panthers and a gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics as part of the U.S. team, Tkachuk is set to play at the world championships later this month.
Tkachuk was part of the preliminary roster for the tournament unveiled by USA Hockey on Thursday. The U.S. is the defending champion at the event after winning it last year for the first time since 1933.
“We’re excited about our group,” said U.S. general manager Brett Peterson, who is part of Florida's front office. “We’ve got a good blend of players that are excited about representing our country and competing for a gold medal.”
Tkachuk was the only Olympian from Milan named to the team. Goaltender Drew Commesso represented the U.S. in 2022 and Will Borgen in 2018 when the NHL did not participate. The world championships take place May 15-31 in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland.
There are currently 30 players who have been Stanley Cup, Olympic and worlds champions, led by 11 Canadians and nine Swedes.
The Pittsburgh Penguins may have made the playoffs this season, but they are still very much focused on the future. Due to this, they will be looking to land a good player with their first-round pick this year.
In his most recent 2026 NHL Mock Draft for The Athletic, Scott Wheeler predicted that the Penguins will select forward JP Hurlberg with the 22nd overall pick.
If the Penguins landed Hulpert in the first round of this year's draft, he would give them another skilled prospect to work with. The 6-foot winger is coming off an excellent season in the Western Hockey League (WHL), where he had 42 goals, 55 assists, 97 points, and a plus-13 rating in 68 games with the Kamloops Blazers.
When looking at Hurlbert's numbers in junior, it is clear that he has plenty of offensive skill. With this, he would have the potential to be a good addition to the Penguins' prospect pool as they continue on with their retool.
The Penguins should be on the hunt for help on the wing, too, so it would be understandable if Hurlbert ended up being their pick if he is still available once they are on the clock. It will be interesting to see if he ends up being their pick this summer.
The Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres will run it back at KeyBank Center on Friday, May 8. Buffalo enters this matchup with a 1-0 series lead after firing up the Sabres faithful with a commanding Game 1 win.
My Canadiens vs. Sabres predictions and NHL picks expect another tight-fought Game 2, as the Canadiens will look to even the playing field before heading back to Montreal.
Expect Ivan Demidov to make his mark for the Habs.
Canadiens vs Sabres Game 2 prediction
Canadiens vs Sabres best bet: Ivan Demidov Over 0.5 points (-110)
Ivan Demidov picked up an assist on the power play in Game 1 after a few quiet outings to conclude the first round.
He's set at fair odds to hit the scoresheet again in Game 2, and with the Montreal Canadienscontrolling the play despite the loss in Game 1, I expect the young phenom to explode offensively against the Buffalo Sabres.
The 20-year-old had a quiet opening round against the Lightning, but in a more offense-centric matchup, he has a fantastic opportunity to hit the scoresheet aplenty.
Canadiens vs Sabres Game 2 same-game parlay
These two teams ranked fifth and seventh, respectively, in goals scored during the regular season, and hit the Over in Game 1. Furthermore, neither had a Top 10 defense this season.
This matchup has resulted in six or more total goals nine consecutive times dating back to November 2024.
Lane Hutson ranks second among all defensemen left in the postseason in average ice time (27:17) and has blocked 15 shots in eight playoff games. He's still logging heavy minutes despite the return of Noah Dobson.
Josh Doan registered two points in Game 1, averaged 2.07 shots/game during the regular season, and has compiled eight shots on goal in his last two games.
Canadiens vs Sabres SGP
Over 5.5
Lane Hutson Over 1.5 blocked shots
Josh Doan Over 1.5 shots on goal
Canadiens vs Sabres odds for Game 2
Moneyline: Canadiens +114 | Sabres -129
Puck Line: Canadiens +1.5 | Sabres -1.5
Over/Under: Over 5.5 | Under 5.5
Canadiens vs Sabres trend
The Canadiens have hit the moneyline in 11 of their last 15 away games (+7.85 Units / 45% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Sabres.
How to watch Canadiens vs Sabres Game 2
Location
KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
Date
Friday, May 8, 2026
Puck drop
7 p.m. ET
TV
TNT, CBC
Canadiens vs Sabres latest injuries
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