Former Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman, one of the most legendary figures not only in the history of Motor City hockey but in the NHL, celebrates his birthday today.
And it was on this day in 2002 that it was made extra special thanks to a gift served up to him by St. Louis Blues goaltender Brent Johnson.
The Red Wings were in the midst of a second round series against the St. Louis Blues, leading two games to one.
After initially falling behind by a 1-0 score thanks to a power-play goal from Scott Young, Detroit rebounded with three straight goals from Brendan Shanahan, Jiri Fischer, and Tomas Holmstrom.
In the third period, Johnson caught a dump-in attempt and tried the clear the puck himself, unaware that Yzerman was barreling down on him.
The puck deflected off Yzerman and into the net, giving his team a commanding 4-1 lead.
The Red Wings withstood a late comeback effort from the Blues, winning the game 4-3 and taking a 3-1 series they'd later close out in Detroit in Game 5 at Joe Louis Arena.
The series win set up a date with the rival Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final.
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Senators fans who like to keep tabs on their team's prospect pipeline will find plenty to watch in this year’s OHL Final between the Barrie Colts and Kitchener Rangers.
That's because three of them are Senators prospects, all playing big roles for their teams. The Rangers have forward Luke Ellinas (#104 overall 2024 NHL Draft) and defenseman Matthew Andonovski #140 overall 2023 NHL Draft, while on the Colts' side, it's defenseman Gabriel Elliason (#39 overall 2024 NHL Draft).
The 21-year-old Andonovski made headlines on Friday night with the game-winning overtime goal to give Kitchener a 4-3 victory and a 2-0 series lead. After battling injuries in AHL Belleville, Andonovski was sent back to junior in January to get some playing time.
THN's Steve Warne talks with Drake Batherson about his contractual status.
Since returning, he's shown a little more offensive swagger in his game with 14 points in 24 games to close the regular season and 7 points in 16 playoff games.
Ellinas is a 20-year-old forward who's played three seasons with the Rangers and seems to save his best for the playoffs. But this season has felt like a replay of the Josh Norris story.
Ellinas had offseason shoulder surgery in 2025, but just six games into his return last fall, he hurt the shoulder again and missed the rest of the regular season. He just returned for Kitchener's clinching game in the Conference Final and has played the first two games of the OHL Final. He has 3 points in his 3 playoff games.
Talk about going 0 to 60.
"It was definitely a lot of fun," Ellinas said in an interview posted on the OHL Facebook page. "I wanted to get back all year. So to be able to do that was a lot of fun, especially in such big games like this."
After the season he's had, the Senators probably just have their fingers crossed that Ellinas, who signed his ELC last summer, can get through this playoff run in one piece. Ellinas likes to play the game with some edge, and if he's going to do that at the next level, he'll need health and a full summer of training to prepare for it.
And speaking of edge, that brings us to 6-foot-7 Gabriel Elliason. Elliason signed his three-year, entry-level contract with the Senators, set to start in this fall.
Eliasson has spent the past two seasons with the Barrie Colts, a team I'm hesitant to write about because "nobody cares, work harder." The big man had eight points in 61 regular-season games, so he's clearly more of a shutdown defenseman who uses his incredible reach and physical play to make life miserable for opponents.
And he plays with such a chip on his shoulder that part of his focus this season was dialling it back and picking his spots a little better. He still led the OHL in penalty minutes (122) this year, but only because Andonovski, the 2024-25 OHL PIMS leader, played a partial season.
On Friday night, in the 35th OHL playoff game of his career, Eliasson recorded his first-ever OHL playoff point, drawing an assist in Game 2.
“Gabriel’s game has matured since we drafted him,” GM Steve Staios said in a club press release in March. “We’ve been pleased with his development, and his character and work ethic fit in perfectly with the team we’re building.”
The OHL final resumes Sunday night in Barrie (6 pm) with the hometown Colts down 0-2 and in a must-win situation.
But soon, when the dust settles on this battle and the season, it won't be long before these three young men are all pulling on the same rope together in Belleville this fall.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:
May 9, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Hurricanes right wing Jackson Blake (53) controls the puck during the second period against Philadelphia Flyers in game four of the second round of the 2026 Stanely Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
James Lang-Imagn Images
PHILADELPHIA — Jackson Blake scored 5:28 into overtime for his second of the game, Logan Stankoven also scored in regulation and the Carolina Hurricanes finished a four-game sweep with a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight season.
Frederik Andersen made 15 saves for Carolina, which has not lost in eight playoff games.
Alex Bump and Tyson Foerster scored for the Flyers.
Taylor Hall and Jaccob Slavin assisted the winning goal.
Dan Vladar stopped 37 shots for Philadelphia.
Carolina will play the winner of Buffalo and Montreal in the Eastern Conference finals after the NHL’s first 8-0 start in the playoffs since 1985.
The Hurricanes, who reached the Eastern Conference finals for the third time in four years, are looking for their first Stanley Cup since 2006. Carolina is the 24th team in league history to win eight or more consecutive games during a playoff run. Eighteen of them have won the Stanley Cup.
Philadelphia scored just five goals over the four games.
Bump scored 5:52 into the third period to tie the game at 2-2.
Stankoven’s seventh tally of the playoffs 4:13 into the third period gave Carolina a 2-1 lead after he finished a beautiful cross-ice pass from Hall with a one-timer from just outside of the crease. Philadelphia evened the score 1:39 later when Bump shot past Andersen’s glove side from the slot after a setup from Travis Konecny from behind the net.
Blake tied it at 1-1 with 7:25 remaining in the second when his wrist shot from along the boards caromed off Philadelphia defenseman Jamie Drysdale and past Vladar. It appeared as if Carolina went in front just 28 seconds later when Mark Jankowski beat Vladar, but the goal was overturned following a challenge by Flyers coach Rick Tocchet when officials ruled that Carolina’s William Carrier interfered with Vladar.
The Flyers had a pair of good chances late in the period to take the lead but could not convert. The best opportunity came in the final seconds of the period when Christian Dvorak’s wrist shot from close range went off the post on Andersen’s glove side.
Carolina finished regulation with a 36-15 advantage in shots.
Russian winger Matvei Michkov was a healthy scratch for the Flyers. Michkov, 23, was the No. 7 overall pick in 2023 by Philadelphia and was heralded as an important piece for the rebuilding franchise’s future. But the right wing has struggled thus far in his first playoff experience, garnering one point while accumulating a minus-3 in eight games. It is the second time he has been a healthy scratch this postseason, following Game 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 07: Jordan Staal #11 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates with the puck against Rasmus Ristolainen #55 of the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period in Game Three of the Second Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 07, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Carolina Hurricanes picked up a 3-2 overtime win in Game 4 over the Philadelphia Flyers to secure their spot in the Eastern Conference Final, becoming the first team to go 8-0 through the first two rounds under the NHL’s current playoff format.
Just as they did in Game 2, the Flyers came out of the gate hot and made the Canes pay, as Tyson Foerster had plenty of time in the slot and rifled a wrister past Frederik Andersen to make it 1-0 for the home team.
Unlike in Game 2, Philadelphia was unable to add a second goal to its lead in the first period, as the game went into the second with a 1-0 score.
The Hurricanes played one of their best periods of the series in the second, outshooting the Flyers 15-4 and beating them out 8-2 in terms of high-danger chances.
One chance that was not particularly high-danger tied the game when Jackson Blake flung a puck toward Dan Vladar that pinballed off of Jamie Drysdale’s pants and into the net.
It looked like Carolina took a 2-1 lead just moments later when Mark Jankowski fired home a rebound, but a challenge and review determined that William Carrier had interfered with Vladar in the crease, keeping the game tied after two periods.
Logan Stankoven took the NHL lead in goals in the playoffs when he buried a gorgeous feed from Taylor Hall to make it 2-1, but the Flyers weren’t ready to give up just yet, as Alex Bump tied the game after Travis Konecny worked the puck to him by making a phenomenal play on the forecheck to strip K’Andre Miller of the puck.
The game went to overtime tied at two apiece, and it didn’t take too long for the Hurricanes to end the game and the series.
Hall picked up the puck at center ice and gained the zone with control and numbers, pushing the defense back to feed Blake and leave him plenty of time and space for a shot.
Blake ripped one off of Vladar’s glove, and the puck hung in the air for a bit before falling in behind the goal line to deal the decisive blow.
Two years after helping the Vancouver Canucks to Game 7 of the second-round during their 2024 Stanley Cup Playoff run, Philadelphia Flyers Head Coach Rick Tocchet has been eliminated from the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Tocchet, former Canuck Noah Juulsen, and the Flyers were swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in the Division Finals.
Similar to his first full season with the Canucks, Tocchet was able to help the Flyers along to a second-round exit in his first year as Philadelphia’s new Head Coach. This time, however, his team was taken out in only four games during the Division Finals. The final game ended in dramatic fashion, as Jackson Blake scored the overtime winner in a 3-2 victory for the Hurricanes.
Juulsen, who spent four seasons with Vancouver, only ended up playing in one game during the Flyers’ second-round matchup. Earlier on in the post-season, he registered two assists in Game 3 of Philadelphia’s first-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Flyers’ second-round loss will send former Canuck Jalen Chatfield and the Hurricanes to the Eastern Conference Final for the fourth time in the past eight years — and their third in the past four. They have yet to make it past the third round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs since they won the Stanley Cup in 2006.
Carolina will face the winner of the Montréal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres’ second-round series in the Eastern Conference Final. As of writing, that series is tied 1-1.
May 2, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet walk off the ice after their loss to the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
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The Montreal Canadiens struck back with authority in Game 2, powering past the Buffalo Sabres 5–1 to level the series at one win apiece as the matchup now shifts into a hostile setting at the Bell Centre for Game 3.
Buffalo, meanwhile, won’t be making the trip at full strength—but they will be adding back a familiar, physical presence at the right time.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed to reporters, including TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, that forward Sam Carrick is expected to draw back into the lineup for Game 3 against the Canadiens.
Carrick isn’t the type to drive headlines, but his value shows up in all the places coaches notice most—penalty kills, defensive-zone faceoffs, and the grinding minutes that stabilize a bottom-six group. For Buffalo, his return is less about flash and more about function, restoring a layer of structure and physical edge that becomes even more important in a tightly contested playoff series.
Across the season, Carrick split time between the New York Rangers and the Sabres, appearing in 73 games while recording nine goals, seven assists, and 16 points. He also delivered 106 hits and finished with a plus-2 rating, cementing himself as a dependable depth forward. Since joining Buffalo, he’s chipped in five goals and an assist in 13 games, quickly earning trust in a checking-line role.
Ruff Confident Sabres Can Reset and Respond in Montreal
Still, the bigger message out of Buffalo isn’t about personnel—it’s about belief.
Even after a decisive Game 2 loss, Ruff projected calm rather than concern, leaning on his group’s ability to respond to adversity rather than spiral from it. The Sabres’ bench boss emphasized that postseason swings are part of the rhythm of winning in the playoffs, and that one result rarely defines the next.
“Sometimes when you're winning, you don't ever think you're going to lose in the playoffs,” Ruff said. “Then when you lose one, you don't ever think you're going to win again.”
He pointed to recent examples of Buffalo’s resilience during the regular season, including responses after uneven stretches and setbacks following long winning runs. For Ruff, the pattern has been consistent: the Sabres have shown an ability to reset quickly rather than carry frustration forward.
“We knew we had to play really well in Boston,” he added, referencing a previous playoff series. “The whole year we've answered the call. You had a couple stretches, even after our 10-game winning streak. We played a terrible game in Columbus, and we bounced back with real good hockey, so really just reset, refocus, let's take the temperature down a little bit.”
Now, with the series tied and the pressure shifting to Montreal, Buffalo’s message is simple—Game 2 is in the rearview mirror. Game 3 is a different game entirely.
The Montreal Canadiens got things back on track with their 5-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 2. With this, the Canadiens have now tied the series up at 1-1 as they head back to Montreal for Game 3.
However, the Sabres are expected to get back one of their key forwards for Game 3 against the Canadiens.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff told reporters, including TSN's Pierre LeBrun, that Sam Carrick is available to play for Buffalo in their Game 3 matchup against the Canadiens.
With Carrick being an important part of the Sabres' bottom six and penalty kill, it is not necessarily the best news that he is returning to the lineup for Buffalo. While this is the case, the Canadiens will be looking to build off their big Game 2 win against the Sabres by beating them again in Game 3.
In 73 games this season split between the New York Rangers and Sabres, Carrick recorded nine goals, seven assists, 16 points, 106 hits, and a plus-2 rating. This included him posting five goals and an assists in 13 games after being traded to Buffalo.
For weeks, something about Mikko Rantanen looked off — and now the hockey world finally knows why.
The former Colorado Avalanche star played through a torn MCL suffered during the 2026 Winter Olympics, a revelation that suddenly reframes an otherwise uneven postseason from one of the NHL’s most dominant forwards.
A year ago, Rantanen felt almost impossible to contain. He carved through Colorado during the 2025 playoffs with the sort of ruthless offensive precision Avalanche fans know all too well, helping drive the Dallas Stars deep into the Western Conference playoffs while simultaneously haunting the franchise he once helped lead to a Stanley Cup.
This spring was different.
The production never completely disappeared — one goal and six assists in six games against the Minnesota Wild is still respectable by most standards — but the explosiveness, the power through contact, the ability to completely take over stretches of a game just didn’t feel fully present. There were moments where Rantanen looked caught between instincts and physical limitations, like a player trying to access another gear that simply wasn’t there.
The Missing Piece Behind an Uneven Postseason
Now, the explanation feels painfully obvious in hindsight.
Playing playoff hockey on a compromised knee is brutal enough on its own. Trying to do it as a six-foot-four winger whose game relies heavily on balance, edge control, puck protection, and lower-body strength makes it even more difficult. A torn MCL may not carry the same shock value as an Achilles or ACL injury, but it can quietly strip away the subtle mechanics that make elite players look effortless.
And yet, Rantanen played through it anyway.
That probably won’t surprise many people in Colorado.
During his years with the Avalanche, Rantanen built a reputation as one of those players coaches never had to worry about mentally. If there was a path onto the ice, he was going to find it. He wasn’t interested in watching from a distance while teammates fought through the postseason grind. Whether fully healthy or held together by tape and adrenaline, he played.
Unfortunately for Dallas, this version of Rantanen simply wasn’t the unstoppable force they saw a season earlier.
A Playoff Matchup That Never Happened
There’s also an unavoidable “what if” hanging over all of this from Colorado’s perspective.
Had the Stars advanced further, the Avalanche may have gotten another crack at the player who helped crush their Stanley Cup hopes last spring. That potential rematch carried genuine intrigue — not only because of the lingering playoff history, but because there’s always something emotionally charged about facing a franchise icon wearing different colors.
Instead, the possibility disappeared before it could materialize.
Now the focus shifts toward recovery. With the offseason ahead of him, Rantanen should finally have the opportunity to fully heal and reset physically before next season begins.
Meanwhile, Colorado continues to surge forward.
The Avalanche have looked fast, aggressive, and increasingly dangerous through the early part of their second-round series against Minnesota. With a chance to grab a commanding 3–0 lead in Game 3, Colorado suddenly appears to be building the exact kind of momentum every contender spends months chasing this time of year.
The Columbus Blue Jackets will be a team to watch closely this off-season. When noting that they missed the playoffs following a rough finish to the regular-season, they should be looking to boost their roster.
One specific area that the Blue Jackets could aim to improve is the right side of their blueline. It is fair to argue that they could use another top-four defenseman for their right side. When looking at this year's pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs), Rasmus Andersson stands out as a clear potential option.
Andersson is one of the best defensemen who can hit the free-agent market on July 1, if not the best. This is because the 29-year-old defenseman provides solid offense from the point, plays steady defensively, and works in all situations. With this, he would be an excellent pickup for the Blue Jackets if they successfully signed him.
Andersson had another strong regular-season in 2025-26, too. In 81 games split between the Calgary Flames and Golden Knights, the 6-foot-1 defenseman recorded 17 goals, 30 assists, 47 points, 149 blocks, and a plus-4 rating. With numbers like these, he would certainly give the Blue Jackets' defensive group a nice boost if Columbus ended up landing him.
When looking at the Blue Jackets' current defensive group, Andersson could slot nicely on their top pairing with superstar blueliner Zach Werenski. Yet, even if Andersson ended up playing on the Blue Jackets' second pairing, he would make Columbus' top four stronger. He would also give them another option to consider for both their power play and penalty kill.
Yet, with Andersson being one the best pending UFAs who could hit the market on July 1, there is no question that he will be getting a significant raise from his current $4.55 million cap hit. This remains the case whether he ends up signing a contract extension with the Golden Knights or signs with another team. Therefore, he would almost certainly be an expensive addition for the Blue Jackets if they ended up being the lucky team that lands him in free agency.
However, given how well Andersson has fit into the Golden Knights' system, it would not be shocking in the slightest if he ends up signing a contract extension to stay in Vegas this summer. Yet, if Andersson and the Golden Knights do not come to terms on a new contract, the Blue Jackets should consider at least kicking tires on the 6-foot-1 defenseman. The fit looks strong on paper.
The Buffalo Sabres practiced on Saturday morning prior to departing for Montreal after their worst performance of the post-season in a 5-1 loss to the Canadiens on Friday night. The evening was frustrating throughout, as the Sabres fell behind early and could never seem to gain traction on the Habs, who played with desperation after struggling in a Game 1 loss.
Buffalo’s top players were particularly wanting in the loss, as Rasmus Dahlin was beaten to the net on Alex Newhook’s second goal early in the second, and Alex Tuch was -3 on the night, but leading scorer Tage Thompson had the worst night. The Sabres center was on the ice for four of the five Canadiens goals, and his glaring turnover on Alexandre Carrier’s third-period marker essentially ended any chance of the Buffalo comeback.
Alex Lyon - can he carry the Sabres to the promised land?
“Everything I touched turned to disaster. (it was) a tough one, we’ve got to be better.” Thompson said. “It is simple as that, we have to flush that one and move on.”
Thompson has fizzled since scoring a pair of goals in the Sabres improbable comeback in Game 1 of the Boston series. In the seven proceeding games, the three-time 40 goal scorer has no goals and four assists, leading to the belief that he may be playing injured. When asked by WGR 550 reporter Paul Hamilton whether he was hurt, the forward was curt in his response.
Where Thompson’s struggles have really been felt is on the power play. Buffalo went 0 for 5 on Friday and are 3 for 32 in eight playoff games. Two of those goals on the man advantage were scored in Game 1 by the second unit.
Head coach Lindy Ruff focused on the club’s ability to bounce back throughout the season, which was on display after a pair of home losses to the Bruins in the first round. The Sabres went 3-0 on the road against Boston and will hope to follow the same pattern on Sunday at the Bell Centre.
“The last time I checked the series is 1-1, and we are heading on the road and we’ve been a good road team.” Ruff said. “The whole year, we’ve answered the call. We had a couple stretches, even after our 10-game winning streak, we played a terrible game in Columbus, and we bounced back with real good hockey. So, really just reset, refocus. Let’s take the temperature down a little bit knowing that we can all be better.”
Trevor Zegras felt if the Flyers could take just one game, the Hurricanes would “tighten up a little bit.”
But the Flyers couldn’t get that one game. They were swept out of the playoffs in the second round after suffering a 3-2 overtime loss Saturday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Jackson Blake scored the winner 5:31 minutes into the bonus period. It was his second goal of the night.
Carolina, the top seed in the Eastern Conference, was decisively better in this best-of-seven matchup. The Flyers hung with the Hurricanes for stretches of the series and took them to overtime twice. But Carolina’s pedigree and depth were too much.
The Flyers got goals from Tyson Foerster and Alex Bump in Game 4.
Bump’s marker drew the Flyers even 5:52 minutes into the third period. The Flyers struck first when Foerster ended his scoreless postseason with a first-period goal.
In celebration, Foerster raised his arms, gazed toward the rafters and smiled. The 24-year-old winger had gone without a point through nine games, but Rick Tocchet stuck with him.
The Flyers very much exceeded expectations by not only making the playoffs, but also winning a round. Now they need to build on it. They snapped a five-year postseason drought with an impressive surge down the stretch.
The Hurricanes have not lost in these playoffs. They’ve won all eight of their games and have surrendered just 10 goals.
Going back to the start of the 2021-22 season, the Flyers have lost 20 of their last 23 games against Carolina. Just a bad matchup for the Flyers.
• Dan Vladar once again did his job, converting 37 saves on 40 shots.
He carried the Flyers and gave them a chance.
The Hurricanes took the lead 4:13 minutes into the third period when Logan Stankoven scored his seventh of the playoffs. But Bump countered 1:39 minutes later from the slot off a feed from Travis Konecny.
It was a 1-1 game at second intermission. Just 28 seconds after Jackson Blake tied the game in the middle stanza, Mark Jankowski had a go-ahead goal taken off the board. The Flyers won a coach’s challenge that deemed William Carrier interfered with Vladar.
Carolina netminder Frederik Andersen stopped 15 of the Flyers’ 17 shots. The 36-year-old held the Flyers to just five goals in the series.
He robbed Garnet Hathaway at the doorstep with 3:36 minutes left in the second period. With 10 seconds left in the frame, Andersen got some love from his one post as Christian Dvorak rung it.
The Flyers’ offense really dried up, which was a major concern heading into the playoffs. This was not a high-end scoring team during the regular season — 2.93 goals per game, good for 21st in the NHL.
Tocchet’s club scored only 10 goals over its last seven games after putting up 11 through the first three games of the playoffs. The Flyers’ top four goal scorers from the regular season — Konecny, Zegras, Owen Tippett and Matvei Michkov — combined for four goals, and one of them was an empty-netter.
Tippett didn’t play in the second round because of an undisclosed injury. Michkov was a healthy scratch twice (more on that below). The Flyers lost Noah Cates to a lower-body injury for the final two games of the second round. Dvorak, who was definitely banged up, didn’t have a goal in the playoffs.
The Flyers’ league-worst power play went 3 for 36 in the postseason.
Hurricanes win in OT, sweep Flyers. Teammates went to Dan Vladar to support him. He was excellent in the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/NLwLUecP1I
• Michkov sat for the second time this postseason.
The 21-year-old winger struggled. He just wasn’t noticeable with his legs and activity around the net. Tocchet has stressed pace in these playoffs. And at times, Michkov looked a step behind. He had no goals and an assist in eight games, while playing just 11:50 minutes per game.
Tocchet made a pair of eye-opening moves by putting Jett Luchanko and Oliver Bonk into the lineup for their playoff debuts. Luchanko took Michkov’s spot and Bonk played in place of Emil Andrae.
So, along with Bump, Denver Barkey and Porter Martone, the Flyers had five rookies in their Game 4 lineup. A combined 78 games of NHL regular-season experience between those five — not even a full season’s worth.
On Carolina’s go-ahead third-period goal, Bonk couldn’t stay in front of Taylor Hall, who set up Stankoven.
• The offseason begins for Danny Briere and company.
Zegras and Jamie Drysdale are the team’s notable restricted free agents that need to be re-signed.
Unrestricted free agency come July 1 could be an interesting period for the Flyers. They have some dead money coming off the books and the NHL salary cap is climbing by $8.5 million.
It’s a lean market, though, at the center position, if the Flyers were looking to add there. They could address their defense or backup goaltending. Samuel Ersson is a restricted free agent, as well.
Don’t rule out Briere getting creative on the trade market. He acquired Zegras last offseason via trade.
Cutter Gauthier was held off the scoresheet in each of the first three games of the second round, but not for a lack of opportunities.
My Golden Knights vs. Ducks predictions expect Gauthier to get back on track in a crucial Game 4.
Let's dig into why with my NHL picks for Sunday, May 10.
Golden Knights vs Ducks Game 4 prediction
Golden Knights vs Ducks best bet: Cutter Gauthier Over 0.5 points (-150)
Cutter Gauthier has been extraordinarily productive in Anaheim, recording 20 points over his last 18 home games.
Gauthier was not held pointless in back-to-back home games once over that stretch, and that's something he'll be looking to avoid against the Vegas Golden Knights.
He is yet to hit the scoresheet in the series but appears on the verge of a breakout. The star winger leads the Anaheim Ducks in shot attempts (25), scoring chances (13), and expected goals (1.53) through three games.
He has played more minutes than anybody, and a lot have aligned with Gauthier. The two have shared the ice for 75 minutes across all situations. No forward on the Ducks has spent more time with LaCombe, offering great correlation.
The Ducks have generated more high-danger chances at 5-on-5 than any other team in the second round, a sign they're not in over their heads against the Golden Knights. Look for them to even the series at home.
Golden Knights vs Ducks SGP
Cutter Gauthier Over 0.5 points
Jackson Lacombe Over 0.5 points
Ducks moneyline
Golden Knights vs Ducks odds for Game 4
Moneyline: Golden Knights -115 | Ducks -105
Puck Line: Golden Knights -1.5 (+205) | Ducks +1.5 (-250)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-105) | Under 6.5 (-115)
Golden Knights vs Ducks trend
The Ducks are 3-1 as home underdogs in the playoffs. Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs. Ducks.
How to watch Golden Knights vs Ducks Game 4
Location
Honda Center, Anaheim, CA
Date
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Puck drop
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN, 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.
With their backs against the wall in a 3-0 series hole, the Philadelphia Flyers have some decisions to make ahead of Game 4 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday evening.
Forcing some of those decisions is the absence of forward Owen Tippett, who has been out for the Flyers since Game 6 of the Round 1 series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Despite skating with the team, head coach Rick Tocchet announced Saturday that Tippett won't return for the Flyers just yet, marking his fourth consecutive absence due to an undisclosed injury.
The Flyers are again without Noah Cates and Tippett, which has forced Denver Barkey into the center position with Alex Bump establishing himself in the lineup.
As for further lineup changes, the defense has been a topic of discussion recently, given how anemic the Flyers' power play has been all year long.
Owen Tippett out for Flyers in Game 4 vs. the Hurricanes. Coach Rick Tocchet said there could be other lineup changes, including the possibility of rookie defenseman Oliver Bonk entering the lineup. "He's in the mix to look at."
Jamie Drysdale made a costly gaffe on the hapless man advantage in Game 3 on Thursday night, and Rasmus Ristolainen has offered next to nothing on the second unit.
With those two power play quarterbacks not working, the Flyers figured adding Cam York next to Ristolainen on the second unit would help... it did not.
According to Tocchet, though, prospect defenseman Oliver Bonk, with his one game of NHL experience and half a season of pro experience in the AHL, is "in the mix" to play for the Flyers in Game 4.
Bonk, 21, has power play experience and can do the job in limited minutes, but it's a tough spot for him nonetheless.
Fellow defenseman David Jiricek could also be an option for the Flyers given his talents and power play prowess, though he has not played an NHL game since January, when he was still with the Minnesota Wild.
Jiricek, 22, has two goals, 11 assists, and 13 points in 85 career AHL games, ripped off 13 points in 15 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms post-trade, and has been playing pro since the 2019-20.
The Flyers have some interesting decisions to make in a win-or-go-home Game 4, and it may serve them well to get some prospects into an NHL playoff game, especially against an intense team like the Hurricanes.
A new report shared by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on his podcast, 32 Thoughts, indicates that the Florida Panthers are at risk of losing their current director of player personnel, Bryan McCabe.
McCabe has been with the Panthers organization since 2012, when he started as a development coach. After one season, he moved to the director of player personnel, a role he has held since.
In his time with the Panthers, the 50-year-old has won two Stanley Cups.
In Friedman’s report, he indicates that New Jersey Devils GM Sunny Mehta, the former Panthers assistant GM, could be interested in bringing McCabe into their organization.
“One of the people I’m curious to see if Mehta will try to add is Bryan McCabe.”
In addition to the Devils, the Toronto Maple Leafs are interested in reuniting with McCabe, as he spent seven years of his NHL career in Toronto playing with the new senior executive advisor of hockey operations, Mats Sundin.
“Bryan McCabe, the former Maple Leaf defenseman, has a really good reputation for player development,” Friedman said on the latest 32 Thoughts episode. “Mackenzie Weegar is one of the guys that has credited McCabe in the past for really helping him become the player he’s become.”
Including his time in a developmental role in Florida, McCabe finished his NHL career as the captain of the Panthers, but was traded to the New York Rangers during the season. He spent two-and-half seasons as the captain of the Panthers.
But according to Friedman, McCabe isn’t the only Panthers front office member Mehta might be eyeing.
Braden Birch, the Panthers’ current director of hockey operations, has been with the Panthers since 2016 and has held this title since 2017. Birch, like McCabe, has won two Stanley Cups with the Panthers and has quietly been a crucial part of the Panthers’ success.
“The other guy I heard could be on Sunny Mehta’s radar is a guy by the name of Braden Birch,” said Friedman.
Panthers GM Bill Zito could be a very busy man this off-season, in addition to building his NHL roster, as he has already lost one assistant GM and is now at risk of losing another assistant GM, Brett Peterson, as well as his director of player personnel and his director of hockey operations.
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That's highly unusual as Suzuki recorded an assist on 49.3% of the goals he was on for during the regular season. He also picked up a helper in 62% of all games, and last went more than four straight without one in October.
With linemates Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield set for positive shooting regression, Suzuki is well positioned to bounce back.
Sabres vs Canadiens Game 3 same-game parlay
Caufield's success goes hand in hand with Suzuki's. The two are attached to the hip at 5-on-5 and on the top power play unit, and one doesn't usually produce without the other. Suzuki has an assist in nine of the past 10 games Caufield recorded at least one point.
Noah Dobson has recorded seven shots on 11 attempts through the first two games of this series. He sees a lot of offensive zone faceoffs, and Montreal has a big edge in the dot, leading to easy shooting opportunities off draws.
Nick Suzuki has recorded 11 assists over his last 12 home games. Find more NHL betting trends for Sabres vs. Canadiens.
How to watch Sabres vs Canadiens Game 3
Location
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
Date
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet, ESPN
Sabres vs Canadiens latest injuries
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