After going up 2-0 in their best-of-seven North Division Final series against the Maine Mariners in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, the Wheeling Nailers - ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins - dropped three straight to go down in the series, 3-2, before the series turned back to Wheeling.
It would have been easy for the Nailers to lose confidence and give up hope after blowing their series lead. But they did no such thing, and they had the response they needed Saturday - even if it was in dramatic fashion.
In Game 6, Wheeling defeated Maine, 2-1, on a dramatic overtime game-winner by defenseman Emil Pieniniemi. Goaltender Taylor Gauthier had a rebound game, stopping 31 of 32, and the Nailers outshot the Mariners, 48-32.
Despite outshooting Maine 12-6 in the first period, the Nailers couldn't find the scoresheet. But that changed a little more than five minutes into the second period, when Zach Urdahl fed Nolan Renwick with a nice drop pass to the slot, and Renwick sniped it home to give Wheeling the 1-0 advantage.
The score remained that way in a tight-checking game approaching the midway point of the third, but Maine found a way. After nice right-pad save by Gauthier with the Mariners pressuring, the puck took a wild bounce and ended up near the left point on the stick of Michael Underwood. He threw it toward the net, and it found its way past Gauthier, tying the score at 1-1.
After the Nailers controlled play in regulation, overtime was a pretty even contest. Chances were traded back and forth, and Gauthier actually made a breakaway save on Ben Allison prior to the game-winning goal. With three minutes to go in the first overtime - and on a power play opportunity - Urdahl patiently stickhandled the puck in the right circle before finding Pieniniemi at the right point.
Pieniniemi elected to unleash a slapshot from there, and it found the back of the net to give Wheeling the overtime win and force Game 7 on Monday at 7:10 p.m. ET at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling.
Will Vancouver Canucks prospect Danila Klimovich be heading to the KHL?
According to his agent, Dan Milstein, the forward will not be.
With both Vancouver and the Abbotsford Canucks’s 2025–26 seasons wrapped-up, and Klimovich waiting for a new contract with the Canucks, rumours have floated of the forward signing in the KHL, which would end his five-year tenure with the AHL team.
Earlier today, Milstein clarified the rumours for a second time, confirming that Klimovich would not be going to the KHL at this moment.
“Fake news,” he wrote on X in a response to an article claiming that his client would be heading to the KHL.
Milstein also confirmed this to David Quadrelli of CanucksArmy earlier in the week, writing that the “KHL is not being considered at this time at all.”
Klimovich was drafted 41st overall in the 2021 NHL Draft but has yet to make his NHL debut. The forward has played on Abbotsford since the 2021–22 season, reaching career-highs in 2024–25 with 25 goals and 13 assists in 65 games played. He is currently tied with Linus Karlsson for Abbotsford’s franchise-high in all-time goals-scored with 70.
Klimovich’s current contract will expire come the 2026 off-season, making him a restricted free-agent if the Canucks opt not to re-sign him.
Sep 26, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Danila Klimovich (9) reaches for the loose puck against the Seattle Kraken in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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The Buffalo Sabres face the Montreal Canadiens, who are trying to close out the NHL second-round playoff series. The Montreal Canadiens are favored with a -172 moneyline compared to the Buffalo Sabres' +143.
Apr 28, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek (14) and left wing Matt Boldy (12) and left wing Marcus Johansson (90) look on in game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Defenseman Jonas Brodin and center Joel Eriksson Ek were unable to play for Minnesota in the second-round series against Colorado in the NHL playoffs because of broken bones in their feet, the veteran stalwarts revealed Friday in season-ending interviews with reporters.
Brodin suffered a fracture in the big toe in his right foot when he blocked a shot in Game 5 of the Wild’s first-round series against Dallas, requiring surgery and forcing him to miss the clinching win over the Stars and all five games against the Avalanche.
The Wild were eliminated on Wednesday in a 4-3 overtime loss in Denver, with both Brodin and Eriksson Ek relegated to watching the game on TV. Their defensive acumen, physical presence and playoff experience were all missed against the high-scoring Avalanche, who had the best regular season record in the league.
Brodin, who finished his 14th season in the NHL, all with the Wild, was aiming to return at the end of the conference finals if they were to advance.
“It’s awful to not play in the playoffs,” Brodin said. “Best time of the year.”
Eriksson Ek, who finished his 10th season in the NHL, all with the Wild, broke the heel bone in his right foot in Game 6 against Dallas. He took part in practice in a limited basis before Game 3 against Colorado last week, but he said he was unable to fully push off the foot on the ice.
“You want to play,” Eriksson Ek said. “I just couldn’t do it. Too painful to skate.”
Brodin also had to miss the Olympics this year when surgery on an earlier lower body injury kept him from playing for Sweden.
“It’s a frustrating year. We’ve got to stay positive and come back stronger next year,” Brodin said.
LAVAL, Quebec (AP) — Maggie Flaherty scored 14:12 into overtime to give the Montreal Victoire a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Charge in Game 2 of the Professional Women’s Hockey League 's Walter Cup final on Saturday.
Flaherty one-timed Marie-Philip Poulin's pass in the slot and fired the puck past goaltender Gwyneth Philips for her second goal of the playoffs.
The win gave Montreal a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series, with the Victoire winning the opener 3-2 in overtime on Thursday night.
Ottawa will host Game 3 on Monday as the Charge face elimination for the first time in this postseason.
Kati Tabin had the other Montreal goal. Sarah Wozniewicz scored for the Charge.
Ottawa was held without a shot for the first eight minutes of the game, but opened the scoring on its first opportunity.
After a shot hit the post behind Montreal goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens, Wozniewicz found the puck in the crease and tucked it in the net.
Montreal outshot the Charge 11-5 in the opening period, despite killing the period’s only penalty.
The Victoire tied the game 32 seconds into the second period.
Off the faceoff, Tabin picked up a loose puck and roofed a backhand on Philips. It was the defender’s first goal of the playoffs.
It was the only goal of a physical middle period, with Ottawa outshooting Montreal 6-4. The best chance was Montreal’s Laura Stacey's breakaway attempt when her wrist shot hit the crossbar.
The Colorado Avalanche skated back onto the ice Saturday following a brief break, though the roster still wasn’t fully whole.
Absent from the on-ice session were defensemen Cale Makar and Brent Burns, along with forward Artturi Lehkonen. Defenseman Josh Manson briefly skated before returning to the locker room, while fellow blueliner Sam Malinski took part in a red non-contact jersey.
“They’re all dealing with stuff in their day-to-day,” Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar explained.
Expected to be back at practice soon?
“Yeah,” Bednar responded. “I think some of them will practice in the time we have.”
Lehkonen and Malinski both missed the final two games of the Minnesota series due to upper-body injuries, while Manson has also been managing an upper-body issue. Makar, a Norris Trophy finalist, exited after a collision late in Game 5 before returning to help Colorado secure a 4-3 overtime win. Burns, 41, hasn't missed a game in over 13 years.
Vegas Presents A Completely Different Challenge
Colorado leaned heavily on its stars throughout the second round, especially with injuries forcing constant adjustments on the back end. Cale Makar and Devon Toews logged massive minutes, while Nathan MacKinnon continued carrying a huge offensive workload during the Avalanche’s five-game series win over Minnesota.
Now the challenge gets even tougher.
Vegas enters the Western Conference Final with depth throughout the lineup, an aggressive forecheck, and the kind of postseason experience that has repeatedly overwhelmed opponents this time of year. That makes Colorado’s health situation impossible to ignore heading into Game 1.
The Avalanche have spent most of the playoffs proving they can withstand injuries.
Whether they can continue doing it against the Golden Knights may ultimately decide how far this postseason run goes.
How do you guys think the Avalanche will fair against Vegas this time around? Let us know in the comments.
The Chicago Blackhawks are entering the off-season as a team to watch. With the Blackhawks having cap space to work with, it is certainly possible that they will look to bring in some new talent this off-season.Â
Adding a top-six winger would be significant for the Blackhawks, as Connor Bedard could use some more help around him. While this is the case, they also could look to upgradie their blueline. Due to this, they are now being urged to pursue a notable pending unrestricted free agent defenseman if he hits the free-agent market.
In a recent article for The Athletic, Scott Powers named Mario Ferraro as a defenseman the Blackhawks should consider targeting if he does not re-sign with the San Jose Sharks.Â
"The Blackhawks could use a veteran defenseman to bring some stability to their young group," Powers wrote. "From his defensive play to his toughness to his puck-moving ability, he could fit in well with what Chicago already has."
If the Blackhawks signed Ferraro, they would be bringing in a proven top-four defenseman who plays a strong all-around game. Due to this, he would have the potential to benefit the Blackhawks' defensive group if signed.
Ferraro's age undoubtedly adds to his appeal, as he is 27 years old. With this, he is right in his prime and will be for multiple more seasons. Thus, signing him would not come with much risk for the Blackhawks.Â
Ferraro appeared in 82 games this season with the Sharks, where he recorded seven goals, 16 assists, 23 points, 137 hits, and 150 blocks. With numbers like these, he would have the potential to be a strong pickup for the Blackhawks if they landed him. Yet, given his importance to the Sharks' blueline, the possibility of San Jose bringing him back is undoubtedly there.Â
The Athletic recently took a look at one free agent who each NHL team should try to sign during the off-season. When it came to the Montreal Canadiens, The Athletic's Arpon Basu argued that the Habs should consider making a push for former New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba if he hits the market this off-season.
"This pick is more in theory than in practice, because the Canadiens tried hard at the trade deadline to add a physical, right-shot defenseman. With the uncertain status of prospect David Reinbacher and the continued right-left imbalance on their blue line, a player such as Trouba on a short-to-medium-term contract would be helpful," Basu wrote.
While Basu noted that there is a real chance that Trouba probably wouldn't sign with the Habs, he would have the potential to be a good fit on their blueline. The 32-year-old blueliner showed this season with the Anaheim Ducks that he can still be an impactful top-four defenseman. With this, he could provide the Canadiens' blueline with a nice boost if signed this off-season.Â
Trouba appeared in 81 games this season with the Ducks, where he recorded 10 goals, 25 assists, 35 points, 143 hits, and 149 blocks. With numbers like these, he not only provided the Ducks with a lot of physicality but also showed that he can still provide some offense from the point. With this, he could be a good fit on the Canadiens.
If the Canadiens signed Trouba this off-season, he could work well in their top four and on their penalty kill. Yet, even if Trouba played on Montreal's bottom pairing, he would still have the chance to be a nice pickup for the Habs. Let's see if they target him from here.Â
A win tonight would mark the second time Buffalo has earned five wins in their first six road contests in a single playoff year. Buffalo split the first two road games of this series, emerging victorious in the most recent road matchup between the two teams in Game 4 (3-2).
In his last six games, Zach Benson has registered six points (3+3).Benson has four goals in the playoffs and is the first Sabres skater age 21 or younger to register four or more goals in a single playoff year since Pierre Turgeon in 1988 (4; 18 years old).
Josh Doan’s plus-5 rating is the best mark by a Sabres forward in the first 11 games of their playoff career since Paul Gaustad (plus-5) and Derek Roy (plus-6) from April 22 to May 13, 2006. In his last eight games, Doan has registered 10 points (3+7), including at least one point in each of his last six contests.
In his last seven games, Rasmus Dahlin has posted seven points (2+5), including an assist in three straight games. With an assist tonight, Dahlin would join Owen Power as the only Sabres defensemen who have registered an assist streak of at least four games in this year’s playoffs. Dahlin would become just the fourth Buffalo defenseman all-time (Power, Alexei Zhitnik, Jason Woolley) to register an assist streak of four or more games in the playoffs.
Tage Thompson has tallied 11 points (4+7) in 11 playoff games thus far, including four points (2+2) in his last three games.Thompson’s four multi-point games in the playoffs are tied for the third most among all NHL skaters.
Bowen Byram has recorded four goals in the playoffs and is one goal
away from recording the most goals by a Sabres defenseman in a single playoff year all-time.
Mattias Samuelsson (43 hits; three goals) is the only NHL defenseman with 40 or more hits and three or more goals in the playoffs.
For the 10th consecutive season, the Detroit Red Wings are watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs from home.
Their fate was officially sealed after yet another late-season collapse, in which a once-comfortable lead above the playoff cut line vanished, culminating in a disappointing 5–3 loss and a chorus of boos from frustrated fans at Little Caesars Arena on April 11.
Down the stretch, it was McLellan who repeatedly decried what he viewed as "jerseys" on the ice, or players who weren't making a difference and weren't giving a complete, total effort.
So far, we’ve examined the lack of production from both Michael Rasmussen, Detroit’s former ninth-overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, and forward J.T. Compher, who hasn’t come close to delivering the level of production expected from a player carrying a $5.1 million cap hit.
While Appleton has never been a player that the clubs that he's played for so far in his NHL career expect to be a focal point of their offense, the Red Wings were counting on him to make more of an impact than he did in the second half of the season.
Appleton, whom the Red Wings inked to a two-year, $5.8 million deal last offseason with a cap hit of $2.9 million, began his tenure in Detroit on a positive note.
Not only did he score the game-winning goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs late in regulation in their fourth game of the season, but he was on track for around 35-40 points after his first month.
However, his offense began to taper off, and after the calendar flipped to 2026, was nearly nonexistent.
In fact, beginning on January 1, Appleton went 19 straight games without registering a single point, finally breaking that dismal streak with a pair of assists on March 2. But from that point on, he managed just one point over the next 14 games.
Ultimately, over his last 34 games of the season, Appleton scored just once.
Appleton was largely ineffective for the Red Wings in the second half of the season, leading to questions about whether or not he'll be offered a new contract upon the expiration of his current deal next summer - or if GM Steve Yzerman could potentially look to move on from him before then.
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The Philadelphia Flyers were one of the NHL's biggest surprises this season. This is because they not only made it into the playoffs, but they also advanced to the second round.Â
While the Flyers were swept by the Carolina Hurricanes, it is clear that they are heading in the right direction, and this year was a real success. Now, the Flyers should be looking to make some upgrades to their roster this summer.Â
Due to this, the Flyers have urged to try to land one of the NHL's best pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) if they hit the market on July 1.Â
In a recent article for The Athletic, Kevin Kurz argued that the Flyers should make a push for defenseman Darren Raddysh if he does not re-sign with the Tampa Bay Lightning.Â
"The Flyers’ power play has been awful for five years running, including a last-place finish during this past regular season. Raddysh had 10 goals and 26 points on the power play this season, and would give the Flyers the big, booming shot that Rick Tocchet is seeking," Kurz wrote.
With the Flyers' power play needing help and their blueline lacking a high-impact offensive defenseman, Raddysh does stand out as an interesting potential target for the Flyers to consider. This is especially so when noting that Raddysh just had a monster year for the Bolts, posting 22 goals, 48 assists, and 70 points in 73 games.
If Raddysh could replicate his career year as a member of the Flyers, he would be a massive addition to their group. Yet, it is certainly hard to say with full certainty that he will, as he his previous career high in points was 37 during the 2024-25 season.Â
However, with the year that Raddysh just had, he would have the potential to give the Flyers' blueline more offense if signed. It will be interesting to see if the Flyers try to land him this summer because of it, but the Lightning are likely going to work hard to keep him in Tampa.Â
NHL 26 has been undefeated so far in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The simulation predicted both a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Kings and a five-game defeat of the Minnesota Wild in round two for the Colorado Avalanche.
Now the Avalanche are four wins away from a berth in the Stanley Cup Final. What’s going to happen next? Let’s find out.
Game 1 — Golden Knights 5, Avalanche 2
The Vegas Golden Knights controlled Game 1 from the opening minutes and never fully let Colorado back into the matchup, riding a fast start and steady finishing touch to a 5–2 win in the Western Conference Final simulation.
William Karlsson opened the scoring at 4:52 of the first period, slipping a backhander through Scott Wedgewood’s five-hole to make it 1–0. Keegan Kolesar doubled the lead just minutes later, redirecting a Rasmus Andersson shot to push it to 2–0.
Colorado generated pressure midway through the period, with Martin Necas setting up Nathan MacKinnon for a clean look, but Carter Hart denied the attempt. Vegas kept pushing, and Noah Hanifin extended the lead to 3–0 late in the frame with a wrist shot over Wedgewood’s glove.
The Avalanche answered late in the period when Nazem Kadri finished a feed from Brett Kulak, beating Hart with a wrist shot to cut it to 3–1.
Colorado carried that momentum into the second period and closed the gap further when Gabe Landeskog spun and buried a backhand past Hart to make it 3–2.
Scott Wedgewood kept the Avalanche within reach with key saves, but Vegas regained control in the third. Tomas Hertl finished a rebound at the back door to make it 4–2, and Shea Theodore sealed the game with an empty-net goal late.
Final Stats — Game 1
Final Score: Golden Knights 5, Avalanche 2
Scoring (VGK): William Karlsson, Keegan Kolesar, Noah Hanifin, Tomas Hertl, Shea Theodore
Scoring (COL): Nazem Kadri, Gabe Landeskog
Shots on Goal: Golden Knights 33 — Avalanche 28
Goaltenders:
Scott Wedgewood (COL): 29 saves
Carter Hart (VGK): 26 saves
Multi-point players: Tomas Hertl (1G, 1A), Shea Theodore (1G, 1A)
Game 2 — Golden Knights 3, Avalanche 1
The Vegas Golden Knights stayed in full control of the series with another disciplined road win, defeating the Colorado Avalanche 3–1 behind an early strike, strong defensive structure, and a standout performance from Carter Hart to take a 2–0 series lead.
Jack Eichel opened the scoring early, finishing a Brett Howden feed on a one-timer to give Vegas a 1–0 advantage and set the tone for the night.
Colorado responded with pressure and possession, outshooting Vegas 10–6 in the first period, but Hart kept the Avalanche off the board with several key stops, including a glove save on a Josh Manson point shot, as the Golden Knights carried the lead into intermission.
The Avalanche continued to press in the second, nearly tying the game on multiple chances—most notably a rebound scramble where Devon Toews cleared Brett Howden from danger, and later a Toews rush opportunity that Hart again turned aside.
Vegas eventually doubled the lead midway through the period when Cole Smith scored through traffic after a defensive breakdown in front of Scott Wedgewood, despite Colorado continuing to control shot volume.
In the third, Colorado’s frustration grew as Josh Manson hit the post and additional chances from Valeri Nichushkin and Gabe Landeskog were denied by Hart, who stayed locked in down the stretch.
Late pressure came with Cale Makar generating a rebound look from the point, but Hart smothered the chance before Colorado could capitalize. Jack Eichel then sealed the game with an empty-net goal, with Nicolas Roy adding a late consolation marker for the Avalanche in the final seconds.
Final Stats — Game 2
Score: Golden Knights 3, Avalanche 1
VGK Goals: Jack Eichel (2), Cole Smith
COL Goal: Nicolas Roy
Shots On Goal: Avalanche 28 — Golden Knights 17
Assists (COL): Cale Makar, Ross Colton
Goaltending:
Carter Hart — 27 saves
Scott Wedgewood — 15 saves
Series: Golden Knights lead 2–0
Game 3 — Avalanche 1, Golden Knights 0
The Colorado Avalanche finally broke through in the Western Conference Final simulation, grinding out a tight defensive battle and getting just enough offense to edge the Vegas Golden Knights 1–0 in Game 3.
After nearly two scoreless periods defined by structure, saves, and limited space, the breakthrough finally arrived late in the second. With 4:03 remaining in the frame, Valeri Nichushkin and Gabe Landeskog drove hard to the net, creating chaos in front of Carter Hart. Amid the traffic, Nichushkin found a window and slipped a wrister through the five-hole to give Colorado the only goal it would need.
From there, the Avalanche leaned into a disciplined defensive effort, protecting the lead through a tense third period where space continued to shrink and every chance carried weight.
Scott Wedgewood stood tall throughout the night, turning aside Vegas pressure with 33 saves to secure the shutout bid, while Hart finished with 25 stops at the other end in a low-event, tightly controlled game.
Final Stats — Game 3
Score: Avalanche 1, Golden Knights 0
Scorer (COL): Valeri Nichushkin
Shots on Goal: Golden Knights 33 — Avalanche 26
Goaltending:
Scott Wedgewood — 33 saves (Shutout)
Carter Hart — 25 saves
Series: Golden Knights lead 2–1
Game 4 — Avalanche 3, Golden Knights 2 (3OT)
The Colorado Avalanche clawed their way back into the Western Conference Final simulation in dramatic fashion, outlasting the Vegas Golden Knights 3–2 in triple overtime to even the series at two games apiece in a marathon Game 4.
Colorado struck first at 4:08 of the opening period when Brock Nelson jumped on a Gabe Landeskog rebound and snapped it past Carter Hart to give the Avalanche an early 1–0 lead.
Vegas answered on the power play at 8:16 of the second period in a chaotic sequence. Mitch Marner created space with a slick deke through coverage, lost control of the puck in traffic, but it deflected off Valeri Nichushkin’s skate and trickled into the net to tie the game 1–1.
The Avalanche regained the lead early in the third. At 3:40, Martin Necas found Landeskog in the slot, and the captain blasted a one-timer past an outstretched Hart to make it 2–1.
Vegas responded late, tying the game with 8:36 remaining when Nic Dowd pounced on a loose puck at the doorstep and slid it under Scott Wedgewood’s pad to force overtime.
What followed turned into a war of attrition—three full overtime periods of grinding, chances, and survival on both ends.
Vegas controlled the shot volume throughout the night, but Wedgewood repeatedly kept Colorado alive, while Hart also stood tall to push the game deep into marathon territory.
Finally, the breakthrough came in triple overtime. After Nathan MacKinnon won a crucial offensive-zone draw, Sam Malinski fired a point shot that created a rebound in front. Martin Necas reacted quickest, snapping it over Hart’s glove to seal a 3–2 Avalanche victory and level the series.
Final Stats — Game 4
Score: Avalanche 3, Golden Knights 2 (3OT)
Shots on Goal: Golden Knights 60, Avalanche 42
COL Goals: Brock Nelson, Gabe Landeskog, Martin Necas (OT winner)
VGK Goals: Mitch Marner, Nic Dowd
Goaltending:
Scott Wedgewood — 58 saves
Carter Hart — 39 saves
Series: Tied 2–2
Game 5 — Avalanche 2, Golden Knights 0
The Colorado Avalanche carried their momentum from a triple-overtime classic into Game 5 and delivered a disciplined, defensive road win, shutting out the Vegas Golden Knights 2–0 to take a 3–2 series lead in the Western Conference Final simulation.
With both Scott Wedgewood and Carter Hart given the night off after the exhausting Game 4 marathon, Mackenzie Blackwood and Adin Hill stepped into the spotlight and delivered strong performances on both ends of the ice.
Colorado struck early once again, with Martin Necas opening the scoring to give the Avalanche a 1–0 lead and immediately tilt the pace in their favor.
From there, the game settled into a tight, low-scoring grind, with both goaltenders holding firm as chances came at a premium. Blackwood, however, was perfect when it mattered most, turning aside everything Vegas threw at him to keep Colorado in front.
The Avalanche finally added insurance in the closing seconds. With nine seconds remaining, Necas struck again, finishing into an empty net to seal the 2–0 victory and extend Colorado’s winning streak to three straight games.
Final Stats — Game 5
Score: Avalanche 2, Golden Knights 0
COL Goals: Martin Necas (2)
Shots on Goal: Avalanche 33 — Golden Knights 21
Goaltending:
Mackenzie Blackwood — 21 saves (Shutout)
Adin Hill — 32 saves
Series: Avalanche lead 3–2
Game 6 — Avalanche 3, Golden Knights 1
Desperation defined Game 6 from the opening puck drop, with the Vegas Golden Knights fighting to extend the series and the Colorado Avalanche trying to punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final in a tense, tightly played elimination game.
Neither side found the breakthrough through two periods, despite Colorado holding a 21–14 edge in shots on goal and controlling long stretches of possession. Both goaltenders stood firm, turning away chance after chance to keep the game scoreless heading into the third.
Vegas finally broke through at 2:26 of the final frame. Ivan Barbashev drove hard to the net, saw his initial attempt partially deflected, and stayed with the play to poke home the rebound past Mackenzie Blackwood, giving the Golden Knights a 1–0 lead.
Colorado answered quickly on the power play. Just over three minutes later, Ross Colton buried a one-timer off a Nic Roy feed, tying the game 1–1 while William Karlsson served a tripping penalty on Cale Makar.
With the game hanging in the balance late, the Avalanche struck again in familiar fashion. At 2:21 remaining in regulation, Artturi Lehkonen finished a feed from Logan O’Connor, snapping a shot from the left circle past Carter Hart to give Colorado its first lead of the night.
O’Connor then sealed the result with an empty-net goal, lifting the Avalanche to a 3–1 victory and sending them on to the Stanley Cup Final after winning four of the final five games in the series.
Final Stats — Game 6
Score: Avalanche 3, Golden Knights 1
COL Goals: Ross Colton, Artturi Lehkonen, Logan O’Connor (EN)
VGK Goal: Ivan Barbashev
Shots on Goal: Avalanche 34, Golden Knights 22
Goaltending: Mackenzie Blackwood — 21 saves
Carter Hart — 32 saves
Series Result: Avalanche win series 4–2, advance to Stanley Cup Final
What do you guys think will happen in round three? Let us know.
The roar inside Joe Louis Arena on May 16, 1996, still echoes through hockey history. In a tense, scoreless Game 7 between the Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues, captain Steve Yzerman delivered one of the most unforgettable goals the NHL has ever seen.
Deep into double overtime, with every shot carrying the weight of an entire season, Yzerman gathered a loose puck near center ice after a neutral-zone turnover by Wayne Gretzky.
The Red Wings captain crossed the blue line and unleashed a blistering slapshot from nearly sixty feet away, a seemingly harmless attempt that suddenly rocketed past Blues goaltender Jon Casey and exploded into the top of the net.
Yzerman flew through the air in celebration as the Red Wings escaped with a 1-0 victory, winning the series and preserving Detroit’s Stanley Cup hopes in dramatic fashion. What made the moment even more remarkable was how unexpected it felt as only moments earlier, Casey had robbed Sergei Fedorov on a dazzling point-blank save that appeared certain to extend the game further. Then came Yzerman’s gamble, a laser beam from just inside the blue line that Casey never truly tracked.
The series had already become a clash of giants with Detroit entering the postseason after one of the greatest regular seasons in NHL history, finishing 62-13-7 with 131 points, the second-highest total ever recorded at the time. The Red Wings captured their second consecutive Presidents’ Trophy and were overwhelming favorites to win the Stanley Cup.
Yet the Blues pushed them to the brink as St. Louis iced a roster overflowing with Hall of Fame talent, including Wayne Gretzky, Brett Hull, Al MacInnis, Chris Pronger, and Glenn Anderson. Detroit was forced to win Game 6 on the road simply to force a deciding game back at The Joe. In the defining moment of the series, Yzerman delivered when the Red Wings needed him most.
Awaiting Detroit in the Western Conference Finals was the Colorado Avalanche, a newly relocated franchise in its first season in Denver but already loaded with stars such as Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Patrick Roy, and Claude Lemieux. The series would ignite one of the fiercest rivalries in sports history.
It featured the infamous hit by Lemieux on Kris Draper, a devastating collision that fueled years of hatred between the franchises. Colorado ultimately defeated Detroit in six games before capturing the Stanley Cup, but the bitterness and intensity forged during that series transformed both organizations forever.
Yzerman’s goal against the Blues became more than just a series winner. It was the spark that ignited a dynasty.The heartbreak of 1996 hardened Detroit into a champion. The Red Wings would return stronger, winning Stanley Cups in 1997, 1998, and 2002 while establishing one of hockey’s defining dynasties of the modern era.
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Secondary scoring was one of the most pressing issues facing the Winnipeg Jets this past season. The Jets averaged just 2.79 goals per game, tying the New York Islanders for the seventh-lowest rate in the entire NHL.
Addressing the forward group will be among the top priorities for general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff this summer, and while this is not a free agent class loaded with marquee names, there is genuine depth available that could allow Winnipeg to meaningfully reshape their lineup. Here are three names Cheveldayoff should have at the top of his list.
Anthony Mantha, RW/LW, Pittsburgh Penguins
Mantha had a career season in Pittsburgh, finishing with 64 points and playing a meaningful role on a Penguins team that defied expectations and made the postseason despite many predicting a bottom-dwelling finish for the rebuilding club.
The 31-year-old Quebec native is a consistent 40-plus point player who showed last season that when placed in the right role, he is capable of being a standout forward. Pittsburgh was a surprising destination for Mantha, and with the Penguins' future remaining uncertain, he may look to take his game somewhere with a better chance to win.
Winnipeg could offer him exactly that, and a spot alongside Cole Perfetti on the second line could be a strong fit for both player and team.
Jason Dickinson, C, Edmonton Oilers
Finding reliable center depth is never easy, which is precisely why the Edmonton Oilers gave up a first round pick and Andrew Mangiapane to acquire Jason Dickinson.
The 30-year-old from Georgetown is not a player who fills up the scoresheet, but his value lies in his high-end two-way play. Over the last three seasons, Dickinson posted a minus-14 rating despite playing for Chicago Blackhawks teams that went 77-138-31 during that span, the second-worst record and fewest wins in the league over that stretch.
The fact that he held his own on those teams speaks to how dependable he is on both sides of the puck. Dickinson is also a proven penalty kill contributor, which is an area of need for a Jets team that finished with the 21st-ranked penalty kill this season. Adding a player of his caliber in that role alone could make a noticeable difference.
Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning
Bjorkstrand is something of a reclamation project, but one that carries real upside. The 31-year-old Danish winger was a consistent 50 to 60 point producer earlier in his career but saw his game regress this past season, finishing with just 32 points in 80 games while playing a bottom-six role with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Winnipeg could make a compelling case that they are the right landing spot to revive his game. Bjorkstrand thrives with top-six minutes and meaningful deployment, and the Jets could offer him both. On a multi-year deal, a return to form from Bjorkstrand would give Winnipeg a cost-effective and productive winger during what the organization hopes will be a continued championship push.
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.
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