The Philadelphia Flyers are going to have a boatload of cap space to play with in free agency this offseason, even after they re-sign many of their own players, such as Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale.

As the club's power play continued to helplessly flounder on the big stage in the Stanley Cup playoffs, one free agent began to gain some plaudits in an otherwise barren free agent class.

That's none other than 30-year-old Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh, who exploded for 22 goals, 48 assists, and 70 points in 73 games this season while taking over as the team's top point player on the first power play unit.

In the previous two seasons, Raddysh had scored no more than 37 points while playing second unit power play minutes behind Victor Hedman.

Now, on paper, the formerly undrafted defenseman would actually be a good addition to the Flyers, but it's the future risk that brings about many questions.

Injured Flyers Duo Never Came Close to Return for NHL PlayoffsThe Philadelphia Flyers would have needed to make an impossible run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs to get two of their injured forwards back.

Age, obviously, is one of them, and with the Flyers looking to integrate Oliver Bonk and/or David Jiricek at the expense of Rasmus Ristolainen and Noah Juulsen, adding another veteran wouldn't make too much sense.

Jiricek, in particular, has the ability to emerge as a top power play quarterback.

With unrestricted free agents, like Raddysh, you're always paying them for what they were, not necessarily what they are or will be with your team. With younger unrestricted free agents, it's a cheaper bet largely hedged on potential.

Behind Rasmus Andersson, Raddysh is the clear-cut second-best defenseman out there on the free agent market this year, and he should command a significant raise on his $975k cap hit (as in, nearly 10x) while getting quite a few years of term to match.

So, by the basic math, the Flyers would be paying between $7- and $9 million a year on the cap to a 30-year-old defenseman coming off a career year with a Cup contender, featuring on a power play with the likes of Nikita Kucherov, Jake Guentzel, Brayden Point, and Brandon Hagel.

Flyers' Power Play Philosophy Needs to ChangeThe Philadelphia Flyers power play is doomed to fail until the minds behind it stop playing scared.

And the Flyers, of course, do not have even one player of that caliber at the moment. Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone will probably get there, but now isn't that time.

Heading into the offseason, the Flyers absolutely need to find a power play quarterback better than Ristolainen and Jamie Drysdale and fix the units altogether, but there are better ways to do it than throwing a very risky $50 million contract at a player coming off a career year.

If the Flyers want to preach youth and development, they must go that route and find their own guys, just like Tampa Bay did with Raddysh over the last few seasons.

---

The Ducks look to regroup after a poor showing in Game 3, in which Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner had a natural hat trick and their goaltender Lukáš Dostál was replaced after the first period, allowing three goals on eight shots.

Perhaps the Ducks felt too comfortable, as Alex Killorn alluded to postgame, after having one of their best performances of the season in Game 2. Jeff Viel said on Saturday that the team didn't come ready to play.

"I think we might have gotten a little bit too comfortable and thought it was going to be easy," Viel said. "(Vegas is) a veteran team, so they've been there before. They were going to raise their game for sure."

“I think that there's a lesson to take out of today's game,” head coach Joel Quenneville said after Game 3. “Only going to get harder every single game, not going to get any easier. So, let's get ready to go to war.”

Mason McTavish, who was a healthy scratch for Games 2 and 3, will re-enter the lineup for Game 4. Jansen Harkins will come out of the lineup to accommodate McTavish. McTavish is expected to be on a line with Ryan Poehling and Cutter Gauthier.

Defenseman Drew Helleson was not at Sunday’s morning skate and will miss Game 4 with an undisclosed injury. He is day-to-day, per Quenneville.

Ducks captain Radko Gudas is a game-time decision for Game 4, but the expectation is that he will play and slot into Helleson’s spot alongside Tyson Hinds.

“He’s our guy, he’s the best guy ever and plays so hard,” McTavish said of Gudas. “He’s never fun to play against (while) practicing. So I'm sure he’ll be throwing his body around and winning his battles. He makes a lot of sneaky, really good plays, too, so I'm excited about that.”

“He’s got a great shot, he’s got great vision,” Gudas said of McTavish. “He's going to be great on the power play. Wherever he's going to play, I think he's going to be a big factor for us. We need him to be humming for us to be successful, so I'm looking forward to seeing him back out there and playing a big role for us. 
He's a big part of this young core, so we're happy to see him back in lineup.”

Vegas’ Mark Stone will miss Game 4 due to an undisclosed injury that he suffered in Game 3. He played just 4:24 before departing during the first period. Brandon Saad will draw into the lineup, making his first appearance of the series.

---

Ducks Projected Lines

Chris Kreider - Leo Carlsson - Troy Terry
Alex Killorn - Mikael Granlund - Beckett Sennecke
Mason McTavish - Ryan Poehling - Cutter Gauthier
Ross Johnston - Tim Washe - Jeff Viel

Jackson LaCombe - Jacob Trouba
Tyson Hinds - Radko Gudas
Pavel Mintyukov - John Carlson

Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)

Golden Knights Projected Lines

Ivan Barbashev - Jack Eichel - Pavel Dorofeyev
Brett Howden - William Karlsson - Mitch Marner
Brandon Saad - Tomáš Hertl - Keegan Kolesar
Cole Smith - Nic Dowd - Colton Sissons

Brayden McNabb - Shea Theodore
Noah Hanifin - Rasmus Andersson
Ben Hutton - Dylan Coghlan

Carter Hart (confirmed)

The Philadelphia Flyers were forced to deal with some substantial injuries throughout their Stanley Cup playoff run, and they were never particularly close to getting back some reinforcements, either.

On Saturday night, after the Flyers' 3-2 Game 4 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, we learned that players like Owen Tippett and Christian Dvorak were playing through debilitating injuries: a separated shoulder and sports hernia, respectively.

Defenseman Cam York purportedly played through a broken rib, and Noah Cates went down for the count early in Round 2 with a foot injury.

In the wake of injuries to Tippett and Cates, the Flyers could have used another winger and center, but reinforcements never arrived.

Bottom-six duo Nikita Grebenkin and Rodrigo Abols, who have been out since March 21 and Jan. 17, respectively, weren't able to get close to a return in time for the Flyers.

On the topic of injuries, I’ve heard that forwards Nikita Grebenkin and Rodrigo Abols will only become considerations to return for the Flyers if they make a long run, such as late in a long ECF or early in the SCF#IgniteTheOrange

— Jonathan Bailey (@ByJonBailey) May 9, 2026

Abols, 30, had resumed skating just prior to the Flyers' Game 4 loss to the Hurricanes, albeit in a non-contact jersey.

Grebenkin, 23, has been sidelined with an upper-body injury that originally came with a seven-to-10 day evaluation timeline.

A source familiar with their situations told The Hockey News that the Flyers would have needed to play a long Eastern Conference Final, or even reach the Stanley Cup Final outright, for Grebenkin and Abols to become considerations to return to the team and play.

Since the Hurricanes won't begin the Eastern Conference Final until Thursday, at the earliest, this would have meant another two or three weeks of rehab, recovery, and conditioning for the two injured forwards.

Key Flyers Forwards Reportedly Played Through Significant InjuriesTwo Philadelphia Flyers forwards played in the playoffs with injuries that will make your skin crawl.

Grebenkin finished his first full season in the NHL with four goals, 10 assists, and 14 points in 55 games, primarily featuring on the fourth line with an occasional opportunity to play higher in the lineup here and there.

The eclectic Russian forward is a pending restricted free agent, and the Flyers will have a decision to make on his future with their glut of wingers.

As for Abols, he'll be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and it remains to be seen as to whether or not the Flyers want to bring the Latvian back for a third season for depth or set their sights higher elsewhere.

The Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens meet in Game 3 of their second-round playoff series. The series is tied 1-1 after the Canadiens won 5-1 in Game 2. The Canadiens are favored by 1.5 goals in Game 3.

How to watch Buffalo Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens

• Date: Sunday, May 10

• Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

• Where: Bell Centre, Montreal, QC

• TV Channels: ESPN, Spor, CBC, TVAS

• Live Stream:ESPN+ | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Odds

• Spread: Montreal Canadiens -1.5

• Moneyline: Montreal Canadiens -123 (52.8%) / Buffalo Sabres +103 (47.2%)

• Over/Under: 5.5

The Anaheim Ducks are looking to even their second-round playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4. Vegas took a 2-1 lead in the series with a 6-2 victory in Game 3. Vegas is favored by 1.5 goals. The over/under is set at 6.5.

How to Watch Vegas Golden Knights vs Anaheim Ducks

• Date: Sunday, May 10

• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Honda Center, Anaheim, CA

• TV Channels: ESPN, Spor, SN36, TVAS

• Live Stream:ESPN+ | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Odds

• Spread: Anaheim Ducks +1.5

• Moneyline: Anaheim Ducks -101 (48.1%) / Vegas Golden Knights -118 (51.9%)

• Over/Under: 6.5

One of the Chicago Blackhawks' top objectives this off-season should be to improve their forward group. It isn't a secret that they need to improve their top six. Due to this, the Blackhawks have now been labeled as a potential fit for one of the NHL's most fascinating young forwards. 

In a recent article for Bleacher Report, Lucky Ngamwajasat named the Blackhawks among the top potential trade destinations for Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov.

"It's been hard sledding for Bedard in Chicago, as the 'Hawks have yet to make the playoffs in his short tenure in the Windy City. A lack of talent has been one of the biggest culprits for this and a trade for Michkov would instantly give Chicago's franchise player a dazzling linemate," Ngamwajasat wrote. 

The idea of the Blackhawks bringing in Michkov is an intriguing one. While the 21-year-old forward had a tough 2025-26 season with the Flyers, there is no question that he has a ton of skill and potential. He also recorded 26 goals and 63 points in 80 games with the Flyers as a rookie, so he has already shown that he can be an impactful offensive contributor early in his career. 

Michkov did see his numbers drop a bit this season, though, as he finished the 2025-26 season with 20 goals and 51 points in 81 games. He also had zero goals and one assist during the Flyers' playoff run and was scratched in Philadelphia's Game 4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. 

Yet, when noting that Michkov is still so young and has already put up strong offensive numbers in the NHL, it is hard to bet against him bouncing back. With this, he would have the potential to be a strong pickup for the Blackhawks if acquired.

However, at the same time, the Blackhawks also have several promising forward prospects in their system who have the potential to be special. Thus, there is certainly an argument to be had that the Blackhawks should focus on their current youngsters rather than bring in a player who took a step back in his second season, like Michkov.

5/10/26 - 7:00 pm at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec

TV - US - ESPN, Canada - CBC Hockey Night In Canada

Buffalo – 50-23-9 | - 109  points – 1st place in the Atlantic Division

Montreal  – 48-24-10 | - 106 points – 3rd place in the Atlantic Division

 

Special Teams

Buffalo

Power Play(Reg) – 19.5% (21st)

Power Play(Playoffs) - 3 for 32 - 9.4% (13th) 

Penalty Kill(Reg) – 81.9% (4th)

Penalty Kill(Playoffs) - 15 for 23 - 87.0% (6th) 

Montreal

Power Play(Reg) – 23.1% (10th)

Power Play(Playoffs) - 6 for 33 - 18.2% (8th)

Penalty Kill(Reg) - 78.2% (18th)

Penalty Kill(Playoffs) - 28 for 37 - 81.1% (10th)

Top Scorers

Buffalo

Alex Tuch: 8 GP, 4 G, 3 A, 7 PTS

Tage Thompson: 8 GP, 2 G, 5 A, 7 PTS

Bowen Byram: 8 GP, 4 G, 2 A, 6 PTS

 

Montreal

Nick Suzuki: 9 GP, 3 G, 5 A, 8 PTS

Lane Hutson: 9 GP, 2 G, 5 A, 7 PTS

Zachary Bolduc: 9 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 5 PTS

 

Starting Goalies

Buffalo – Alex Lyon (4-2, 1.73 GAA, .934 Sv %)

Montreal  – Jakub Dobes (5-4, 2.14 GAA, .917 Sv %)  

Other Sabres Stories

Canadiens Sluggish In Game 1 Loss 

Sabres Line Combinations and Pairings 

Forwards

Peyton Krebs   - Tage Thompson - Alex Tuch

Zach Benson - Josh Norris - Josh Doan 

Jason Zucker - Ryan McLeod - Jack Quinn  

Jordan Greenway - Sam Carrick - Beck Malenstyn

Ex., Tanner Pearson,, Josh Dunne, Tyson Kozak

Defense

Mattias Samuelsson - Rasmus Dahlin

Owen Power - Bowen Byram 

Logan Stanley - Conor Timmins 

Ex. Luke Schenn, Michael Kesselring, Zach Metsa

Goaltenders

Alex Lyon

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Ex. Colten Ellis

Injuries

Justin Danforth (lower body, Oct. 18; injured reserve)

Jiri Kulich (blood clot, Nov. 4; injured reserve - out for the season) 

Noah Ostlund (lower body, Apr 28; week-to-week)

 

Sabres Playoff Stats Leaders 

Shots: Dahlin (30), Thompson/Tuch (27), Doan (20) 

Hits: Samuelsson (31), Malenstyn (27), Tuch (23) 

Blocked Shots: Timmins (19), Samuelsson/Tuch (11), Dahlin (9)

https://x.com/DuaneS39/status/2053207890379292707?s=20 

 

 

Notes

This season marks the first time the Sabres have advanced past the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs since they advanced to the 2007 Eastern Conference Final. The Sabres have earned three playoff series victories over the Canadiens in franchise history. 

Buffalo last faced Montreal in the playoffs in the 1998 Eastern Conference Semifinals, a series in which the Sabres won four games to none. The Sabres also defeated the Canadiens three games to none in the 1983 Adams Division Semifinals and four games to two in the 1975 Semifinals. Buffalo has allowed just 12 total goals in the team’s last six games. Prior to this season, the Sabres last allowed 12 or fewer goals in a six-game span in the playoffs from April 20 to May 4, 2007 (12). The Sabres have allowed only one power-play goal over their last six games, the fewest by a Buffalo team in any six-game span in the playoffs all-time. 

In his last five games, Zach Benson has posted six points (3+3), including at least one point in three straight contests. Benson’s five points (2+3) in his last three games are the most by an NHL skater age 20 or younger in any three-game span in the playoffs since Wyatt Johnston from April 27 to May 1, 2024 (3+2). A point in tonight’s game would make him the first NHL skater age 20 or younger since Cole Caufield from June 6 to 18, 2021 (five games; 2+3) to register a point streak of four or more games in the playoffs. Benson would be the first Sabres skater to do so since Pierre Turgeon from April 5 to 9, 1989 (four games; 3+5). 

Alex Lyon has allowed 11 total goals in seven appearances in the playoffs, tied for the fewest goals allowed in any seven-game span in the playoffs by a Sabres goaltender all-time (Dominik Hasek; April 23 to May 14, 1999). It is the first time any NHL goaltender has allowed 11 or fewer goals in their first seven playoff games (within a single playoff year) with a team since Jacob Markstrom from May 3 to 15, 2022 with Calgary (11). Lyon has posted a .934 save percentage in his first seven appearances in the playoffs, the best mark by a Sabres goaltender in any seven-game span in the playoffs since Ryan Miller from April 18, 2007 to May 4, 2007 (.937). It is the second-best save percentage by a Sabres goaltender in their first seven playoff appearances with Buffalo (within a single playoff year) all-time (Steve Shields; April 21 to May 5, 1997; .935). 

Peyton Krebs has registered six points (2+4) in the playoffs thus far and his plus-6 rating through the team’s first eight playoff games ranks first among all Sabres skaters. Krebs’ plus/minus is the best by a Sabres skater in their first eight playoff games with Buffalo since Toni Lydman from April 22 to May 8, 2006 (plus-9). It is tied with Matthew Barnaby (May 9, 1993 to May 3, 1997; plus-6) for the best mark by a Sabres forward all-time in their first eight playoff games with Buffalo. 

In his last five games, Josh Doan has registered six points (2+4), including at least one assist in each of his last three contests. An assist tonight would make Doan the first Sabres forward since Tim Connolly from April 27 to May 4, 2007 (four games; 0+4) to register an assist streak of four or more games in the playoffs. 

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. 

Conor Timmins tallied the first point of his playoff career with an assist in Game 2 against the Canadiens. Timmins would become the third Sabres defenseman to record an assist in at least two consecutive games this postseason with an assist tonight (Byram, Owen Power).

 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

The Philadelphia Flyers' playoff run came to an end on Saturday night with their 3-2 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4. While the Flyers were swept by the Hurricanes, the 2025-26 season undoubtedly was a big success for Philadelphia. 

The Flyers took a significant step in the right direction with their rebuild by making the playoffs and winning their first-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Now, they should be looking to strengthen their roster this summer. 

The Flyers' biggest need heading into the 2026 NHL off-season is a legitimate first-line center. Due to this, they would be wise to kick tires on St. Louis Blues star Robert Thomas. 

Thomas was one of the most notable trade candidates leading up to the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, and he should continue to generate interest around the league this summer. With the Flyers needing a first-line center, there may not be a better option for them to pursue than Thomas right now. 

Thomas is not only a star center, but the 26-year-old is also signed until the end of the 2030-31 season. With this, he would give the Flyers a long-term answer for their first-line center spot, which would be huge. 

While the price to land Thomas would be very high, he is the kind of player that the Flyers should be looking to add as they aim to aim to take another step forward in 2026-27. In 64 games this season with St. Louis, he had 25 goals, 39 assists, and 64 points. 

The Carolina Hurricanes knocked out the Philadelphia Flyers with their Game 4. With this, the Hurricanes are once again playing in the Eastern Conference Final. 

A former Chicago Blackhawks forward played a big role in the Hurricanes' series-clinching win, as Taylor Hall had a strong night for the Metropolitan Division club.

Hall recorded three assists in the Hurricanes' 3-2 overtime win against the Flyers in Game 4. This included him recording the primary assist on Jackson Blake's overtime winner. 

When noting that Hall factored in all three of the Hurricanes' goal, there is no question that he stepped up for them big time in Game 4. Now, the former Blackhawks forward will be looking to stay hot this post-season from here. 

With this three-assist night, Hall now has 12 points and a plus-10 rating in eight playoff games so far this spring. It is clear that the former Blackhawks forward is playing some excellent hockey right now, and it will be intriguing to see how he builds on it. 

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The Anaheim Ducks will look to knot up the series at two games apiece when they welcome the Vegas Golden Knights to Honda Center for Game 4 tonight.

Mitch Marner has been an offensive dynamo throughout the series and is a highlight of my Golden Knights vs. Ducks props for Game 4, alongside Leo Carlsson and Carter Hart.

For more NHL picks, read our complete Golden Knights vs. Ducks predictions for Sunday, May 10.

Best Golden Knights vs Ducks props for Game 4

Game 4 Prop #1: Mitch Marner Over 0.5 assists

-120 at BET99

Mitch Marner has unquestionably been the best player during the second round, highlighted by a hat trick and four-point performance in Game 3.

While the Vegas Golden Knights star has scored four goals in this series and six in his last four contests overall, Marner is known more for his playmaking — and he's been doing plenty of that in the postseason as well.

Marner has collectedOver 0.5 assists in five of his last six games and seven of nine overall this postseason. He’s also picked up a helper in five of his last six road games.

Game 4 Prop #2: Leo Carlsson Over 3.5 shots

+110 at BET99

Leo Carlsson has delivered in his first postseason with the Anaheim Ducks, co-leading the team with 10 points and pacing the club with 39 shots — 10 more than any other Ducks skater, and the second most in the entire NHL.

The 21-year-old has been buzzing with Over 3.5 shots in seven of nine appearances in these playoffs. 

Anaheim has outshot Vegas by an average margin of 32-24 through the first three games of the series. Carlsson and the Ducks will continue to pile up the shots in Game 4.

Game 4 Prop #3: Carter Hart Over 26.5 saves

-125 at BET99

Shot totals have been lopsided in this series, and Carter Hart has had to stand tall for the Golden Knights.

The Vegas starter has made 30+ stops in two of three games in the second round, and Over 26.5 saves in six of nine starts this postseason.

The Ducks own the highest rate of shots per 60 minutes among all teams this postseason (31.96). Assuming that trend holds in Game 4, Hart will be busy between the Vegas pipes once again.

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Juraj Slafkovsky exploded for a hat trick in his playoff opener, but the Montreal winger has been held quiet since as the Canadiens prepare for a pivotal Game 3 against the Buffalo Sabres.

Despite the recent scoring drought, the opportunities are still there, and my Sabres vs. Canadiens props expect Slafkovsky to bounce back in a big way tonight.

Let’s break down my favorite Sabres vs. Canadiens predictions, along with today’s top NHL picks and the full game preview for this Eastern Conference showdown.

Best Sabres vs Canadiens props for Game 3

Game 3 Prop #1: Juraj Slafkovsky Over 0.5 points

-155 at BET99

Juraj Slafkovsky opened the playoffs with a hat trick, but he has picked up just one point over his last seven games despite piling up 22 scoring chances. That leads all Montreal Canadiens players and ranks ahead of names like Matt Boldy and Jack Eichel league-wide.

The Canadiens are consistently generating chances during his minutes, creating 9.1 expected goals but scoring only three times. Montreal also scored 123 goals on 117 expected goals with Slafkovsky on the ice during the regular season, so this kind of cold finishing is not the norm.

The puck should start going in sooner rather than later, and Slafkovsky is well-positioned to benefit when it does.

Game 3 Prop #2: Rasmus Dahlin Over 2.5 shots

-125 at BET99

Rasmus Dahlin leads all defensemen in shot attempts, shots on goal, and scoring chances during the playoffs.

He has been extremely aggressive in the offensive zone, and he should have plenty of room to operate against a Montreal Canadiens team more focused on clogging the middle of the ice than pressuring the points. The Wild are the only active playoff team allowing more shots per game to defensemen during their postseason run.

Dahlin has already generated nine shots on goal through two games in this series and has cleared 2.5 shots in seven of his last nine meetings with Montreal.

Game 3 Prop #3: Ivan Demidov Over 0.5 points

-120 at BET99

Martin St. Louis can give Ivan Demidov easier matchups and more favorable usage at home, and that has shown up clearly in his numbers. When isolating Montreal’s home games this postseason, Demidov leads the Canadiens in shots on goal and scoring chances.

Only Lane Hutson has attempted more shots, and he has logged 33 more minutes across just three games.

With plenty of offensive-zone starts against weaker lines and pairings at 5-on-5, plus consistent work on the top power-play unit, Demidov has a strong path to getting back on the scoresheet.

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In the third game of their second-round series on Friday against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Anaheim Ducks and head coach Joel Quenneville made the move to pull starting netminder Lukas Dostal after a first period where he allowed three goals on eight shots.

It was the second time Dostal had been pulled from the Ducks’ net this Playoff season, as the first was in Game 5 of their first-round series against the Edmonton Oilers, where he allowed three goals on nine shots in the first ten minutes of the Ducks’ 4-1 loss.

Takeaways from the Ducks 6-2 Loss to the Golden Knights, Vegas Leads Series 2-1

Ducks Won Game 2 vs Golden Knights with a lot of Money Sitting in the Press Box, Future of Key Players in Question

“Both,” Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said after Game 3 against Vegas, when asked if Dostal’s pull was based on his performance or the team’s in front of him.

“It’s tough because it’s on everyone,” Ducks forward Jeffrey Viel said on Saturday. “You never want to see it happen, and we just weren’t ready as a team yesterday (Friday).”

Any public metric, both underlying and traditional, will suggest that Dostal has been poor in Anaheim’s crease this postseason. In nine starts, he has a 5-4 record, a 3.48 GAA, an .876 SV%, and has saved -4.32 goals above expected.

In his first season as the Ducks’ full-time starting goaltender and fresh off inking a five-year contract extension that carries a $6.5 million AAV, Dostal posted a 30-20-4 record, a 3.10 GAA, an .888 SV%, and 12.02 GSAx.

The 18 skaters in front of him, adjusting to a new system, coaching staff, and key personnel, provided Dostal and the Ducks’ goaltenders with one of the least optimal or stable defensive environments.

They allowed a total of 288 goals and 291.28 expected goals in all situations in the 2025-26 regular season (both placing them 29th in the NHL), and have allowed 3.43 goals against per 60 minutes and 2.99 expected goals against per 60 in the playoffs.

However, as was the case for the regular season, his poor numbers don’t paint the entire picture of his performance in these playoffs.

Public expected goals models are a resource for determining how the flow of a game or games play out vs the eye test, and are more detailed when it comes to determining which team got more shots off from higher quality areas of the ice.

It becomes a bit murkier when using those stats to evaluate goaltending. Public expected goal models don’t take into account aspects of play like pre-shot puck movement, player locations (outside of the shooter), screens, tips, breakaways, etc., and these are all areas where the Ducks have “left Dostal out to dry” this season and playoffs.

Typically, over a long sample, these aspects will even out with enough weaker shots or easier saves. However, seven and a half playoff games in the current Ducks’ defensive environment is not a large enough sample to declare Dostal’s impact, and the eye test may need to be relied upon more heavily.

Through nine games of the 2026 playoffs, Dostal has allowed 26 goals on 210 shots. When evaluating all 26 of those goals, just three of them could be classified as “soft” or “ones he wanted back,” and (including those three) five are goals he could have played more effectively and had the capability to save. Average to above-average starting goaltenders in the NHL aren’t or wouldn’t be relied on to stop the remaining 21 goals (author's opinion/evaluation).

At this point in his career, Dostal can be considered an above-average NHL starter, and as the current 10th-highest-paid goaltender, that’s exactly what he’s expected to be for the Ducks. His talent or pay grade doesn’t place him among the NHL’s elite goalies like Igor Shesterkin, Sergei Bobrovsky, Andrei Vasilevskiy, or Connor Hellebuyck.

More often than not, he makes the saves he’s supposed to and gives the Ducks a chance to win nearly every game, as his job and role require. The Ducks’ locker room still has the utmost faith in their starter, and players remain quick to support him.

“It just happens in hockey,” Ducks star forward Leo Carlsson said of the team’s reaction to their starter getting pulled. “It’s hard to be our best player on the ice every game. He’s an amazing goalie still, so nothing really changed there.”

Dostal is a positionally sound goaltender, smart on his angles, efficient on his lateral pushes, tracks pucks well, plays pucks effectively, and displays quality rebound-control tendencies. His movements often don’t require him to make spectacular athletic saves, though he has the ability to on occasion, and visually, he makes many difficult saves seem easier than they are.

“It’s great. He’s been solid all year,” Viel said when asked about the team’s confidence level in Dostal. “He made key saves at the right time against Edmonton. So, we trust Lukas as much as we can. He’ll bounce back. I’m not worried about it at all. We just didn’t play well in front of him. As a team, everyone needs to raise their level.”

Though the majority of the goals he’s let in during this Ducks playoff run aren’t goals he’s likely required to stop, he has appeared shakier in his crease than usual. On the whole, his movements haven’t been as quiet, his decision-making not quite as sharp, and he’s spat out more rebounds to the middle of the ice than has been typical for him throughout his career.

In Games 1 and 2 of the Ducks’ second-round series against the Knights, Dostal was spectacular, and it appeared that he and the team in front of him had begun to turn a corner. He saved 40 of 43 shots, many, again, more difficult than they appeared, and many exactly as difficult as they appeared.

Game 3 was a step back for Dostal and the Ducks, as he was pulled after the first period, a period where he allowed three goals on eight shots. Only one of them, Vegas’ second, could be considered soft, but a reset and change in net was required, regardless.

Quenneville and the Ducks coaching staff will remain with Dostal in their net for Game 4, maintaining the status quo and sticking with the goaltender who has put the team firmly on his back for the majority of his NHL career, as the Ducks would not be in the playoffs were it not for Lukas Dostal between the pipes.

“Dosty’s playing,” Quenneville said quickly on Saturday when asked if he had made a decision in goal for Sunday.

“He came back and had three very solid games, real good games,” Quenneville concluded when asked if he expects Dostal to respond as he did after Game 5 of the first round. “I just think that sometimes it can help settle things down and get refreshed and get ready to go.”

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By the time Mitch Marner completed a natural hat trick and added a shorthanded assist in Friday night’s Game 3 rout of the Anaheim Ducks, the narrative around his playoff pedigree had been flipped on its head. The Vegas Golden Knights thumped Anaheim 6-2 to take a 2-1 series lead in the Western Conference semifinals, and Marner’s four-point explosion wasn’t just the game’s highlight—it was the latest chapter in a postseason renaissance that has Leafs Nation asking uncomfortable questions. 

John Tortorella, Vegas’ no-nonsense head coach, didn’t mince words when asked about the long-standing doubts that followed Marner out of Toronto. In a clip that quickly went viral, Torts looked straight into the camera and delivered a blunt verdict: “That narrative is a bunch of bullsh*t.”

John Tortorella with a message to all the Mitch Marner playoff doubters, "That narrative is a bunch of bullsh*t." #ForgedInGoldpic.twitter.com/NaEHOTwbKC

— Vince Sapienza (@VinceSapienza) May 9, 2026

It was classic Tortorella—fiery, protective of his player, and dismissive of years of Toronto media and fan scrutiny. The comment landed like a body check, forcing everyone who had labeled Marner a playoff underachiever to confront the numbers now staring back at them. 

Marner was traded to Vegas in a July 2025 sign-and-trade for Nicolas Roy and promptly signed an eight-year, $96-million extension. The move was viewed by many Leafs supporters as a salary-cap relief valve and a quiet admission that the club’s marquee winger couldn’t deliver when it mattered most. Fast-forward nine months, and Marner is not only thriving—he’s leading the entire NHL in playoff scoring with 13 points (six goals, seven assists) through nine games, including a first-round series-clinching multi-point effort against the Utah Mammoth. 

Let’s put the numbers side by side, because the contrast is stark.

Toronto Maple Leafs Playoffs (2016-17 through 2024-25, nine postseasons, 71 games): 18 goals, 53 assists, 71 points, +10 rating.

That works out to roughly 0.25 goals per game and a 1.00 points-per-game average. Marner was a playmaking machine—his assist totals often masked modest goal output—but the production never quite matched his regular-season dominance or the expectations that came with a top-line role and massive cap hit. Year-by-year highlights tell the story of consistent but rarely transcendent playoff hockey:

A NATURAL HAT TRICK FOR MITCH MARNER!!! 🚨🚨🚨

And it's his first hat trick in a #StanleyCup Playoffs game!

Powered by @Verizonpic.twitter.com/bqMo6CvDLb

— NHL (@NHL) May 9, 2026

·      2016-17 (vs. Washington): 6 GP, 1G-3A-4P  

·      2017-18 (vs. Boston): 7 GP, 1G-5A-6P  

·      2018-19 (vs. Boston): 7 GP, 2G-2A-4P, -3  

·      2019-20 (vs. Columbus): 5 GP, 0G-3A-3P  

·      2020-21 (vs. Montreal): 7 GP, 0G-3A-3P  

·      2021-22 (vs. Tampa Bay): 7 GP, 2G-5A-7P, +3  

·      2022-23 (vs. Tampa Bay/Florida): 12 GP, 3G-11A-14P, +8 (his best statistical run)  

·      2023-24 (vs. Boston): 7 GP, 1G-2A-3P  

·      2024-25 (vs. Ottawa/Florida): 13 GP, 2G-11A-13P, -1

Across those 71 games, Marner posted just one career playoff hat trick, none, actually, until Friday night in Anaheim. Shooting percentage hovered around 12 percent. He was often the target of criticism in high-stakes moments: second-round exits, Game 7s, and series against heavy defensive teams like Boston and Tampa Bay. Pundits and fans alike pointed to the gap between his 90- to 100-point regular seasons and what they saw as vanishing acts when the lights were brightest. The “Mitch Marner playoff disappearances” memes were relentless. 

Vegas Golden Knights Playoffs (2025-26, nine games):

6 goals, 7 assists, 13 points, +5 rating.

That’s a 1.44 points-per-game clip—nearly 50 percent higher than his Toronto postseason average. More telling: Marner has already matched or exceeded his single-postseason goal totals from several Toronto runs in just nine contests. His shooting percentage is a scorching 24 percent. He’s not only setting up teammates; he’s finishing. The natural hat trick Friday—power-play tap-in, patient wrister, and a sharp-angle squeeze—marked the first three-goal playoff game of his career. He also added a shorthanded helper. 

The eye test matches the stats. Marner is playing with confidence, pace, and an edge that Tortorella has clearly unlocked. “I’ve watched this guy play for so many years in this league,” Torts said earlier in the postseason. “Up close and personal with him now, he’s a hell of a player. He does so many good things away from the puck. I think that helps him offensively have the puck more. How patient he is with the puck. It was fun to watch.” The coach’s pre-series comments about the “bullsh*t” narrative were even more pointed—evidence that Tortorella sees Marner not as a fragile star, but as a misunderstood one. 

Your new playoff point leader (13) and co-goal leader (6):

Mitchell Marner pic.twitter.com/4F5n1J4ZjG

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 9, 2026

Context matters, of course. Vegas’ path so far has included a first-round matchup against Utah and now Anaheim—teams many view as lighter lifts than the Eastern Conference gauntlets Marner faced annually in Toronto. 

Critics have already begun the “he’s feasting on weaker competition” counter-narrative. Yet Marner’s underlying metrics—shot attempts, scoring chances created, and even defensive contributions—remain elite. Vegas controls play when he’s on the ice at even strength, and his chemistry with Jack Eichel and the power-play unit has been immediate. 

So were Toronto fans and pundits wrong?

The honest answer is layered. Marner’s Toronto playoff numbers were not bad—they were good, often very good by most standards. He led or co-led the Leafs in playoff points multiple times and posted career-best runs in 2022-23 and 2024-25. But in a market that measures success by Stanley Cup contention rather than first-round exits, “good” was never going to be enough for a player drafted fourth overall, paid like a superstar, and paired nightly with Auston Matthews. 

The pressure cooker of Scotiabank Arena, the annual Boston series disappointments, and the endless media scrutiny created a feedback loop that amplified every turnover and quiet game. Marner himself has never been one to dodge the conversation. He heard the noise in Toronto and, by all accounts, internalized some of it. In Vegas, the spotlight is different—fewer Canadian national broadcasts, a front office and coaching staff that seem genuinely invested in his strengths rather than frustrated by perceived flaws. 

Marners joined the boys mid Biz cry session (over missing him) to talk about his hat trick and the Knights taking game 3😂⚔️ pic.twitter.com/2AgAD4h1cN

— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) May 9, 2026

Tortorella’s blunt motivational style appears to have been the perfect antidote to years of second-guessing. None of this erases what happened in Toronto. The Leafs invested heavily in Marner expecting him to be the difference-maker in May and June. He wasn’t ,through no single fault of his own, but as part of a larger roster and cultural dynamic that repeatedly came up short. Yet the speed with which he has reinvented himself in Vegas raises legitimate questions about whether the narrative was ever fully fair. Was it the player, or the environment? As the Golden Knights prepare for Game 4 in Anaheim on Sunday, with a potential second-round clash against Colorado looming, Marner’s story is still being written. One hat trick and nine dominant games do not a legacy make. 

But they do force a reevaluation. Toronto fans who spent nearly a decade questioning Marner’s playoff mettle now watch him lead the NHL in postseason scoring while wearing a different logo. Tortorella’s “bunch of bullsh*t” line will echo for years. Whether the narrative was entirely wrong or simply incomplete is up for debate. What’s undeniable is this: Mitch Marner, freed from the weight of Maple Leafs expectations, is finally playing like the difference-maker many always believed he could be.

Montreal Canadiens fans have been used to Carey Price’s even-keeled demeanour over the years; not much could rattle the Habs’ goaltender. He did lose his cool once and went to town on Kyle Palmieri with his blocker, but that was the exception and not the rule. The Sainte-Flanelle’s current goaltender, Jakub Dobes, is a whole different animal.

Who remembers when Carey Price went crazy on Kyle Palmieri? pic.twitter.com/kjZiwJlA6O

— Alex (@ivandemigoal) August 31, 2022

The Czech netminder has shown over the last two seasons that he’ll do what he needs to do to protect his crease, but he stepped it up a notch in these playoffs. He’s no Battlin Billy (New York Islanders great Billy Smith) or Hexy (Philadelphia Flyers’ long-time goalie Ron Hextall), but there’s serious gamesmanship there.

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On Friday night, there was a scrum around his net, and he took the opportunity to throw a couple of sneaky hits on Zach Benson, who’s fast becoming the Canadiens’ players’ nemesis. Whenever someone gets too close, he doesn’t hesitate for a second to shove them forward or give them a little slash on the calf.

Here's the entire play that involved Benson and Dobes. #GoHabsGo

Benson eventually got up and started yelling again. pic.twitter.com/mlDOO64YAf

— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) May 9, 2026

Oftentimes, goaltenders are focused individuals who avoid any kind of interaction with the opponent, but not Dobes. Not only does he make his presence felt physically, but he’s right in the mix when it comes to chirping. That’s something we’ve seen from him in last year’s series against the Washington Capitals, which prompted the Caps to stand in his way as he was trying to go back to the Canadiens’ bench at the end of a period.

On Friday, as time was winding down and both teams were slashing and shoving like there was tomorrow, when Benson was given a penalty as the ref had seen enough, Dobes was quick to rub salt in the wound.

Asked about his goaltender’s extracurricular activities on Friday night, Martin St-Louis explained:

I don’t know, I don’t see everything, but for me, he’s a competitor. That’s all he’s doing; he’s competing out there. But I feel like he’s doing that and just being himself. I don’t overthink it; I let him be.

- Martin St-Louis on Dobes' extracurricular activities

The fact that he’s able to stay in his game while taking an active part in the rough stuff will no doubt make Dobes a fan favourite sooner rather than later, if he isn’t already. On top of what he does on the ice, he’s also a refreshing guy to interview; he doesn’t just stick to the clichés, and he wears his heart on his sleeve.

---

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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — 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.

WILD 5, AVALANCHE 1

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Kirill Kaprizov scored first and assisted on the next two goals as Minnesota forced a goalie change and handed Colorado its first loss in this postseason with a victory in Game 3 of their second-round NHL playoff series.

Quinn Hughes followed Kaprizov’s four-on-four score late in the first period with a four-on-three goal less than two minutes later. Ryan Hartman batted in a deflected power-play shot with 4:23 elapsed in the second period to prompt an early departure for Avalanche goalie Scott Wedgewood, who was replaced by Mackenzie Blackwood.

Nathan MacKinnon got the Avalanche on the board on a power play later in the second period before Brock Faber answered just 20 seconds later by deflecting a puck past Blackwood.

Matt Boldy added an empty-net goal and Jesper Wallstedt made 34 saves in his return to the net for the Wild after a 9-6 loss in the unhinged series opener prompted a start for Filip Gustavsson in Game 2.

The Avalanche will take a 2-1 lead into Game 4 in Minnesota on Monday, before the teams return to Colorado for Game 5 on Wednesday.