After registering an assist in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final, and increasing his NHL-leading point total for the postseason, Mitch Marner continues to make his case as a Conn Smythe candidate.
Marner's assist on Pavel Dorofeyev's second-period goal, which gave the Vegas Golden Knights a 2-0 lead at the time, upped the forward's postseason tally to 19 points.
And as the Golden Knights stole home ice with their 4-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche, and moved seven wins away from their second Stanley Cup title in four years, Marner continued to solidify his chances.
That said, after limiting the Avalanche to two goals in an arena where they averaged 4.4 goals in their previous five home playoff games, Knights goaltender Carter Hart has entered the conversation.
At BetMGM sports book, Marner is currently +650 to win the Conn Smythe award, with teammates Pavel Dorofeyev (+1600) and Jack Eichel (+2000) next in line.
Hart, though, might be pure value right now, sitting at +3000, meaning a $100 wager would return $3,000 if Hart were to win the award.
After the Knights were arguably outplayed for much of the first period Wednesday night, it was Hart who kept them in the game until Dylan Coghlan and Dorofeyev gave them a 2-0 lead late in the second period.
"We know they’re a team that likes to put pucks to the net and ... we did a good job of getting in lanes and sacrificing the body and just battling to find pucks," Hart said. "I thought we came out really good in the first period. We know this is a hard building to play in, and it was huge for us to just get rolling and just to start off the right way and then just build off that."
Through Wednesday, Hart leads all postseason netminders with nine wins. And among all goalies who have played in at least four games during the playoffs, he ranks fourth with a save percentage of .920 and sixth with a 2.35 goals-against average.
It shouldn't come as any surprise that he's been one of the best Knights on the ice nearly every playoff game, as he returned from an injury and closed the regular season with a 6-0-0 run behind a .930 save percentage while allowing 1.7 goals per game.
He's held opponents to two or fewer goals in eight of his 13 playoff games, and in two of the four games that four pucks got past him, his team won by identical scores of 5-4 in overtime.
"Carter Hart is a hell of a goalie," coach John Tortorella said. "He was great in Philly for me. We’ve got two good ones here. Adin Hill has kind of been put off to the side a little bit, but that’s a guy who just won a Stanley Cup a couple of years ago.
"I just think (Hart) has grown so strong mentally. I don’t think much bothers him. He is just zeroed in, and he’s going to have to be because we have a little bit of work to do here."
PHOTO CAPTION
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (79) makes a save during the second period against the Colorado Avalanche in game one of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena.
The Montreal Canadiens did not have a morning skate today ahead of their 8:00 PM game against the Carolina Hurricanes. However, as is often the case, the healthy scratches took to the ice after the Canes’ practice. TVA Sports’ Felix Seguin was at the arena and reported that there was a new face in that healthy scratch squad: Arber Xhekaj. The gritty defenseman skated alongside Jacob Fowler, Samuel Montembeault, Patrik Laine, Brendan Gallagher, and Joe Veleno.
That seems to indicate that Xhekaj, who played just 1:52 in Game 7 against the Buffalo Sabres, will make way for Jayden Struble tonight as the Habs kick off their third-round duel against the Hurricanes, as we suggested in our pre-game article. The Canes don’t play as physically as the Sabres do, so the move makes sense. That’s not to say the Canadiens shouldn’t bring some physicality themselves. Expect Josh Anderson, Samuel Bolduc, Kaiden Guhle and Struble to be ready to make the game uncomfortable for the opponents with some big hits.
Furthermore, against a rested Carolina team, Martin St-Louis will no doubt want to spread the workload among his defensemen better. Not that Xhekaj cannot play, but Struble has proven to be a viable option alongside Lane Hutson in the past. Given how much ice time the sophomore defenseman will have, it makes sense to have another blueliner he’s used to play with in the lineup.
That doesn’t mean we won’t see Xhekaj in this third round; if there are some extracurricular activities, he’ll be ready to jump back in if called upon. Because of Noah Dobson’s injury, Xhekaj and Struble have both seen a fair amount of action in these playoffs. The former was dressed for all but one of the games (Game 7 against the Lightning), and the latter was dressed for the entirety of the first-round but was sidelined in the second round.
As for the other reservists, Joe Veleno had played six games, Brendan Gallagher three (all in the first-round), and Patrik Laine wasn’t called upon, just like Samuel Montembeault.
The NHL and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on Thursday announced their entry into a memorandum of understanding to protect the integrity of trading markets involving the league.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is a formal, non-binding document that details the objectives and responsibilities of at least two parties.
Key Takeaways
The arrangement mirrors one the CFTC signed with the MLB in March.
The NHL was the first professional American sports league to partner with prediction platforms.
NHL data will be shared with the CFTC, which will help watch for insider trading
With the agreement in place, the NHL will work with the CFTC to help regulate prediction markets featuring NHL players, matches, and future events. In return, the CFTC — a federal agency in charge of regulating licensed prediction platforms — will use information and resources provided by the NHL to keep a watchful eye over customers' trades and to crack down on suspicious behavior.
The CFTC and the NHL also appointed representatives who will regularly communicate to collaborate on ideas related to the integrity of markets in hockey and related events. They will also share confidential information and maintain open lines of communication.
Additionally, the NHL has internal protections and integrity partners who help combat nefarious forms of sports betting and prediction trading.
The NHL was an early adopter of prediction platforms. Its deals with Kalshi and Polymarket, which were finalized last October, were the first between a professional American sports league and prediction operators.
“Integrity has always been and remains paramount to the NHL and fundamental to the trust our fans and partners place in our game,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.
“Our agreement with the CFTC enhances the comprehensive integrity monitoring systems already in place and strengthens our ability to identify, deter, and address potential risks. This MOU reflects a shared commitment to transparency, oversight and protecting the integrity of the game.”
Although the MOU is non-binding, it establishes a deeper connection between the CFTC and one of the most popular sports leagues in America. This comes two months after the MLB signed the first MOU with the CFTC related to prediction market integrity.
Fighting against insider trading
The rapid growth in the popularity of prediction platforms has raised real concerns about the possibility of insider trading. An infamous example of that came when a U.S. soldier involved in the capture of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro won more than $400,000 on Polymarket by predicting the event would happen shortly before embarking on the mission.
While the NHL already had employees and agencies responsible for identifying possible cases of insider trading, the new collaboration will strengthen its protection against these events.
“I’m proud the CFTC and NHL have officially signed an MOU, furthering the agency’s commitment to improve data sharing between professional sports leagues and the Commission,” said CFTC chairman Michael S. Selig.
“This agreement is another step toward safeguarding the integrity of sports and protecting market participants in prediction markets from insider trading, fraud, and other abuses. I applaud NHL Commissioner Bettman for collaborating with the CFTC and taking a leading role in protecting the integrity of professional hockey in our markets.”
While prediction platforms are experiencing a similar catapult into the mainstream as the sports betting boom that occurred after federal legalization in 2018, they should now be more equipped to identify and stop illicit behavior.
Taking the necessary steps
As NHL partners, Kalshi and Polymarket had already given the trading information access to the league’s data distributor and its betting integrity agency, IC360.
In other prediction market news, a new report from gambling research firm Eilers & Krejcik Gaming estimated that Kalshi generated $1.3 billion in NHL trading volume during the year that ended at the start of May. That represented 2.8% of its American sports trading volume, just behind the MLB (3.2%).
Apr 21, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) looks on against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first period during game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
There is only one former Ohio State Buckeye left in the NHL Playoffs.
Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobeš has played a major role in the Canadiens advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals after outlasting both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres in seven game series in the first two rounds.
Heading into the 2025-26 season, Sam Montembeault was the top goaltender for Montreal after starting 60 games last season, earning 31 wins and posting a 2.82 goals against average in the regular season. Montembeault didn’t live up to expectations over the first two months of the season, allowing 41 goals in the 13 games he appeared in.
Eventually Montreal would turn to Dobeš, who is still considered a rookie after starting 15 games during the regular season last year, and two games in the playoffs. The former Buckeye impressed in December and January, going 10-2-1 over those two months.
By the time Montreal and the rest of the NHL took some time off in February to break for the Olympics, it was clear Dobeš was the top goalie for the Canadiens.
Once the teams reconvened after the Olympics concluded, Dobeš picked up right where he left off, going 7-3 in March, with a 2.21 goals against average during the month. By the time the regular season ended in middle of April, Montreal was three points shy of tying the Buffalo Sabres for the Atlantic Division title, settling for third place in the division after tying the Tampa Bay Lightning with 106 points.
With the odd NHL Playoff format which pits the second and third place teams in each division against each other, the Lightning and Canadiens squared off in the first round of the playoffs. Had the NHL adopted a normal format which gave the division winners the top two seeds and then seeded the rest of the eight teams in the conference in order of most points, Montreal would have been the fourth seed and playing Boston in the first round.
Tampa Bay and Montreal put on a classic seven-game series, with the teams alternating wins and each game being decided by one goal. The first three games of the series went to overtime, with Dobeš and the Canadiens taking two of those three contests.
With the series tied 2-2, Dobeš stood on his head in Tampa, saving 38 of the 40 shots he faced as Montreal took a 3-2 lead in the series with a 3-2 victory in regulation.
The Canadiens had a chance to send end the series in Montreal in Game 6 but Tampa Bay wouldn’t allow that to happen despite an outstanding performance from Dobeš. The game went to overtime scoreless before the Lightning would find a winner halfway through the first overtime period. Dobeš did all he could to keep his team in the game, registering 32 saves.
Going up against veteran Andrei Vasilevskiy, Dobeš held his own in a pressure-packed Game 7 in Tampa. The Lightning peppered Dobeš with shots but the rookie was up to the task, making 28 saves in the 29 shots he faced in the 2-1 to give the Canadiens the series win.
During the seven games, Dobeš stopped 181 of the 196 shots against him. Despite being just a rookie, it became obvious that pressure wasn’t going to get the best of Dobeš.
With the win over Tampa Bay, Montreal advanced to the Conference Semifinals to battle the Buffalo Sabres, who won the Atlantic Division after not making the playoffs in over a decade. If there was a feel-good story in the NHL Playoffs this year, it was the Sabres.
Along with playing a team who many were rooting for, Montreal was the only team from Canada left in this year’s playoffs, as the country to the north hasn’t won a Stanley Cup in over 30 years.
After a back-and-forth series with Tampa Bay, the series with Buffalo was more of a roller coaster with bigger peaks and valleys. After the Sabres took the first game, Montreal responded with big wins in the second and third games of the series, where Dobeš would stop 54 of the 57 shots he faced.
The Canadiens would eventually go up 3-1 in the series before Buffalo would go on to win two of the next three games, including an 8-3 victory in Game 6, which would see Dobeš pulled in the third period after allowing six goals.
Many goaltenders might have trouble rebounding for Game 7 after such a poor performance in the previous game, but Dobeš was the reason Montreal was able to end Buffalo’s Cinderella run. The Canadiens went up 2-0 in the game before the Sabres tied the game in the third period.
For the rest of the third period and early in the first overtime period it felt like it was only a matter of time before Buffalo won the game and the series but Dobeš kept stopping pucks and was able to keep his team in the game before Alex Newhook scored the series winner.
Now Montreal will take on the Carolina Hurricanes, who were the top seed in the Eastern Conference with 113 points. Unlike Montreal, who has played the maximum of 14 games through the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Hurricanes have swept both Ottawa and Philadelphia.
The two teams have met twice in the playoffs since Carolina moved from Hartford. The Hurricanes won both of those series with the most recent being in the Conference Quarterfinals in 2006.
Should Montreal be able to move past Carolina, it would mark the first Stanley Cup Final for the Canadiens since the 2020-21 season, where they lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the bubble.
The last time Montreal made the Stanley Cup Final in a normal NHL season was at the end of the 1993-94 campaign when they beat the Los Angeles Kings in five games, marking the last time a team from Canada won the Stanley Cup.
With how fundamentally sound Carolina is on the ice, Dobeš is going to need to continue to display the incredible focus he has shown in the first two rounds. Despite his lack of his experience, Dobeš looks like a seasoned veteran between the pipes.
The Hurricanes are certainly to test the former Buckeye just as much mentally as they will physically. At least Dobeš can bring some confidence into the matchup, as he won all three of his starts against Carolina during the regular season.
The Eastern Conference Finals kick off tonight in Raleigh and the winner of the series will go on to play the winner of the Western Conference Finals between the Las Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche.
It’s finally game day for the Carolina Hurricanes and the Montreal Canadiens. The two teams couldn’t have had a more different road to the Eastern Conference Final. The Hurricanes swept both the Ottawa Senators and the Philadelphia Flyers; they didn’t even trail once against the Senators. Meanwhile, the Canadiens needed seven games to dismiss both the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Buffalo Sabres.
The Habs would do well to start strong tonight to take advantage of the fact that their opponents might be somewhat rusty after such an extended break. Carolina might need a bit of time to regain their synchronism. Meanwhile, the Canadiens are coming off an emotive Game 7 win and might still be riding that high.
Montreal couldn’t start strong in their series against the Sabres; they looked like they were still at the speed of the battle with the Bolts. This time around, though, they’re not going from a team that has a slower pace to a high-speed one. Buffalo played a fast game, and so does Carolina. What might help the Canadiens, however, is the fact that the Hurricanes' defense corps is not as offensive as the Sabres’ was.
The battle in net will be interesting. Frederik Anderson has had a great start to the playoffs; he’s 8-0 with a 1.12 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage. In 24 career games against Montreal, he has a 15-7-2 record with a 2.41 GAA and a .918 SV, but he has lost his last two games against the Canadiens this season, one by a score of 5-2 and the other by a score of 3-1.
Meanwhile, Jakub Dobes has been the Canadiens’ MVP so far in these playoffs. He’s 8-6 with a 2.52 GAA and a .910 SV. He was the goaltender who played all three regular-season games against Carolina this year and surrendered eight goals in those duels. The Czech netminder should see a lot of rubber in this series. Rod Brind’Amour’s team shoots often and from everywhere, but that’s not something that will worry the young netminder; he likes seeing a lot of action.
Up front, the Canadiens will need to be mindful of the Canes’ second line formed by Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake. The trio has racked up 31 points in eight games so far. Their first line has been quieter; Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis have combined for just 11 points in eight games. Unlike the Canadiens’ top line, however, their differential isn’t that bad; they have a combined plus-two.
In the regular season, Aho had six points against Montreal, Svechnikov five and Nikolaj Ehlers four. The former Winnipeg Jets forward is currently skating on the Canes’ third line with Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook, which proves how much depth Carolina has up front.
As for the Habs, they are led by Lane Hutson, who has 14 points and Nick Suzuki, who has 13. Three players follow with nine points: Alex Newhook, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky. Most of the first line’s points have come on the power play, and at the risk of sounding like a broken record, Martin St-Louis will need more from his top guns at even-strength if the Canadiens are to go to the Stanley Cup Final. At the very least, if they don’t produce, they’ll need to tighten up defensively since they have a combined minus-20 rating.
During the regular season, Suzuki, Slafkovsky, Caufield and Ivan Demidov all put up five points in three games against Carolina. Both Caufield and Suzuki had three goals each, a contribution that would go a long way in this series.
Unsurprisingly, the Hurricanes will have a morning skate at 10:30 today, while the Canadiens will not take to the ice. St-Louis will therefore keep us guessing about his lineup. There’s no doubt that Dobes will be in the net, but will Oliver Kapanen still be dressed? Will Arber Xhekaj play in this series? Less physicality is expected in this series, and perhaps Jayden Struble would be better suited to this match-up.
The game is set for 8:00 PM, and you can catch it on HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS, and CBC. Jean Hebert and Garrett Rank will be officiating, while Scott Cherrey and Jesse Marquis will be the linemen. Historically, the team that wins the first game of a best-of-seven series has won the series 68.2% of the time. When the home team wins the first game, they take the series 74.7% of the time, but as we’ve seen against Buffalo, there are exceptions to the rule.
What - Game 1 When - 8 p.m., Thursday, May 21 Where - Lenovo Center; Raleigh, NC How to Watch - TNT, truTV, HBO MAX, CBC, SN, TVAS
After an 11-day layoff, the Carolina Hurricanes will once again be playing hockey as the host the Montreal Canadiens for the opening game of the Eastern Conference Final.
The Canes got here by sweeping both the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers, while the Habs went seven games with both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres.
No team left in the postseason has played fewer games and had more days off than the Hurricanes while no team has played more than the Canadiens, so it'll be a true test between rest and momentum.
The series will also see the two best netminders in the playoffs (Frederik Andersen and Jakub Dobes) go head-to-head and the difference in this one may be which guy falters first.
It'll should be a good series pitting experience and depth versus youth and top-end talent.
Streaks
K'Andre Miller (3a) has points in three straight games.
Game Notes
Carolina and Montreal are meeting for a playoff series for the third time in team histories. The Hurricanes are 2-0 (2002, 2006).
Montreal went 3-0 against Carolina in the regular season this year.
Former Habs on the Hurricanes roster include Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Mike Reilly and Nicolas Deslauriers.
Hurricanes prospects Ryan Suzuki is brothers with Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki and Justin Robidas is the son of Montreal assistant coach Stephane Robidas.
For their regular season careers, Sebastian Aho (13g, 30pts in 25gp) and Andrei Svechnikov (13g, 21pts in 20gp) are point-per-game players.
Frederik Andersen has a career record of 15-7-2 against Montreal, with a 0.918 save percentage and two shutouts.
Key Matchups
Projected Starting Goalies
Frederik Andersen: 8-0; 0.950 Sv%; 1.12 GAA
Jakub Dobes: 8-6; 0.910 Sv%; 2.52 GAA
Leading Scorers
Goals - Logan Stankoven (7) / Alex Newhook (7)
Points - Taylor Hall (12) / Lane Hutson (14)
Power Play
Carolina - 13.5% (5/37)
Montreal - 25% (13/52)
Penalty Kill
Carolina - 95% (38/40)
Montreal - 74.1% (40/54)
Hurricanes Projected Lineup
Andrei Svechnikov - Sebastian Aho - Seth Jarvis Taylor Hall - Logan Stankoven - Jackson Blake Nikolaj Ehlers - Jordan Staal - Jordan Martinook William Carrier - Mark Jankowski - Eric Robinson
Jaccob Slavin - Jalen Chatfield K'Andre Miller - Sean Walker Shayne Gostisbehere - Alexander Nikishin
Frederik Andersen Brandon Bussi
Injuries and Scratches: Mike Reilly, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Nicolas Deslauriers, Pyotr Kochetkov
Canadiens Projected Lineup
Cole Caufield - Nick Suzuki - Juraj Slafkovsky Alex Newhook - Jake Evans - Ivan Demidov Alexandre Texier - Phillip Danault - Josh Anderson Zack Bolduc - Oliver Kapanen - Kirby Dach
Mike Matheson - Alexandre Carrier Lane Hutson - Noah Dobson Arber Xhekaj - Kaiden Guhle
Jakub Dobes Jacob Fowler
Injuries and Scratches: Samuel Montembeault, Patrik Laine (abdomen), Owen Beck, Adam Engstrom, Brendan Gallagher, David Reinbacher, Jayden Struble, Joe Veleno, Florian Xhekaj
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One area that the Philadelphia Flyers could look to boost this off-season is their goaltending. Samuel Ersson struggled this season with the Flyers, as he posted an .870 save percentage and a 3.12 goals-against average in 33 games. With this, it would be understandable if the Flyers looked to switch things up at the backup position.
If the Flyers do want to create some more competition for their backup spot, one goalie who could be worth taking a chance on is Boston Bruins netminder Michael DiPietro.
DiPietro has been blocked from the Bruins' roster due to Jeremy Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo being ahead of him on their depth chart. While this is the case, DiPietro's dominance at the AHL level makes him an interesting potential option for the Flyers to consider.
DiPietro had an excellent 2025-26 season with the Providence Bruins, posting a 34-8-1 record, a .930 save percentage, a 1.91 goals-against average, and three shutouts. This was after he had a 26-8-5 record, a .927 save percentage, and a 2.05 goals-against average in 40 games with Providence during the 2024-25 season.
With his strong play, DiPietro has won the Bastien Award as the AHL's best goaltender for each of the last two seasons.
With how well DiPietro has played at the AHL level, he could be a goalie worth taking a gamble on if the Bruins make him available for trade. The potential for him to be a solid backup goalie at the NHL level is there, and he could take that next step in a bigger role in Philly.
The Senators may be long gone from the Stanley Cup playoffs, but a few familiar faces are still in the mix for Lord Stanley's extra-large mug.
At the halfway point, three former Senators remain alive in the postseason, each carrying a very different storyline into the second round.
The biggest name, of course, is former Ottawa captain Mark Stone.
Drake Batherson talked about his admiration for how captain Brady Tkachuk handled everything that came his way this season.
Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights
May 4, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) controls the puck in front of Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal (1) during the third period of game one of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Stone and the Vegas Golden Knights are facing a massive challenge against the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference final. Vegas may have captured the Pacific Division title, but it hardly came easy. For stretches of the regular season, the playoffs themselves were no sure thing.
They were so worried about it, they replaced head coach Bruce Cassidy in late March despite the fact Cassidy guided the franchise to its first Stanley Cup championship in 2023. The cuddly John Tortorella has since taken over behind the bench and steered the Knights to a 7-0-1 mark to close the season.
Colorado, meanwhile, looked like a wagon all season long. The Avalanche finished with a staggering 55-16-11 record, piling up 121 points, 26 more than Vegas managed in the regular season.
But the Knights drew first blood with a 4-2 win Wednesday night in Game 1, despite not having their captain available.
Stone remains sidelined with a lower-body injury and hasn’t played since Game 3 of the second round against Anaheim. Now 34, Stone remains one of the NHL’s top two-way forwards, posting 73 points in just 60 games this season and celebrating goals as hard as he ever did here.
And Sens fans, he'll be a UFA next summer.
Parker Kelly, Colorado Avalance
Apr 23, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Parker Kelly (17) warms up prior to game three of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Parker Kelly never crossed paths with Stone in Ottawa, but assuming Stone returns to action, they’ll see plenty of each other in this series.
Kelly enjoyed a breakout campaign with Colorado this season, putting up 21 goals and 35 points, totals he had never come remotely close to in the past. He finished sixth among Avalanche forwards in scoring and became an important depth player on the league’s best team.
Kelly spent the better part of seven seasons in the Ottawa organization after signing as an undrafted free agent. But in 2024, when Senators GM Steve Staios went on a shopping spree for veteran depth forwards with experience, Kelly was allowed to walk into free agency and eventually signed with Colorado.
Mike Reilly, Carolina Hurricanes
Mar 7, 2026; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Mike Reilly (6) against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
The final former Senator still alive in these playoffs is defenseman Mike Reilly of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Reilly was part of the early stages of Ottawa’s rebuild, playing 70 games for the Senators over two seasons around the turn of the decade.
The veteran didn't play in round one against his old team and has only appeared in two playoff games so far for Carolina. But if the ‘Canes win it all, Reilly’s 42 regular-season games this year would be just enough to get his name on the Cup.
Reilly has a chance to write a feel-good NHL story. A few years after leaving Ottawa, he had some medical challenges in November of 2024 when a heart issue was revealed during concussion protocol. Reilly rallied quickly, but something like that can certainly transform your mindset about hockey and life.
And winning a Stanley Cup a year and a half after undergoing a heart procedure would be next level.
So while the Senators lick their wounds, wondering how they’ll someday get to this stage or win a Cup, a few former members of their team are still very much in the hunt.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News
This story was originally published at The Hockey News Ottawa Senators site. Click on the latest headlines below to read the latest stories there:
The Columbus Blue Jackets could be losing Boone Jenner and Mason Marchment to free agency, which would create a hole at center with Jenner gone.
Yes, the CBJ have a couple of young guys in Cleveland that could step up and fill in for a few minutes every night, but Don Waddell has said that it's go time, so would he do that, or possibly bring in a veteran center to help stabilize the lineup?
Should the CBJ decide to go the free agent route, they'll need to bring in a veteran with experience.
Today, the player we talk about is Latvian centerman Teddy Blueger.
Target: Teddy Blueger - Center - 31 Years Old - 8 Years of Experience
Teddy Blueger was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2nd round of the 2012 NHL Draft. After spending five years in Pittsburgh, he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on March 1, 2023, to help them with their Stanley Cup run. That summer, he signed with Vancouver, where he scored 23 goals in three seasons.
Stats - 9g-8a-17 points in 35 games
Blueger only played 35 games last season due to injury. After going down in October, he returned in January and played the rest of the season out. He totaled 17 points in 35 games while playing 16:31 of ice time.
Blueger has never scored double-digit goals in his career, and has a career-high of 28 points, which he's done twice. His 9 goals last season tied his career high.
Previous Contract
Blueger just finished a two-year deal that paid him $1,800,000 per season. After playing only 35 games in 25-26 due to injury, he returned in January and finished the season injury-free. His next contract should be relatively cheap.
The next contract for the former Stanley Cup Champion is projected to be around $2.7 million per season.
Realistic Chances Of A Signing: Luke-Warm
Signing the former Olympic Captain could be a real possibility. Bluegers has played with CBJ goalie Elvis Merzlikins in various international tournaments for Latvia, so it's possible he gets a good word put in from Elvis. He also played with new Jacket Conor Garland.
Should the CBJ lose Jenner, which is a real possibility, Waddell will want to fill that 4th line role with a veteran, and who better to fill it than a Cup champion? They don't need a superstar; they need someone to come in and fill a need, which is that 4th line center role. Columbus does not currently have a former Cup Champ on the roster.
Many fans are going to expect Waddell to fill Jenner's spot with some superstar via trade, but that's not the position Jenner was playing after Rick Bowness came to town. Jenner was bumped to the 4th line, and that is what needs to be addressed. Having two young wingers on the outside of a veteran center could be what they need.
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.
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The Hockey News has opened its full archive to subscribers, giving fans access to 76 years of hockey history, feature stories, and unforgettable moments. In the latest issue, we rank the NHL’s top 100 players, with Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin coming in at No. 56th overall. Here is a free preview featuring players ranked 51 through 57.
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Top 100 NHL Players: 51-57 - Apr. 17 2026 - Vol. 79 Issue 10
51 JAKE OETTINGER
POS: G | AGE: 27 | LY: 51
‘Otter’ has helped the Stars author three consecutive trips to the conference final, but his success has halted there – often in shocking fashion. In fact, entering the 2026 playoffs, Oettinger had an .881 save percentage across 18 conference-final outings. No goaltender with more than five games had fared worse.
52 JAKOB CHYCHRUN
POS: D | AGE: 28 | LY: 95
Should he have been on Canada’s Olympic team? You won’t find any dissenters in Washington. Big, athletic and talented, Chychrun led the Capitals in ice time while also providing a nice helping of offense. And on a team featuring Alex Ovechkin, it was Chychrun with the most game-winning goals this year.
53 WYATT JOHNSTON
POS: C | AGE: 22 | LY: 63
Buoyed by a career-best shooting percentage and league-leading 26 power-play goals, three-time 30-goal scorer Johnston hit the 40-goal plateau for the first time. That offensive outburst is just another tool in his arsenal. The most respected aspects of his game, though, are his two-way acumen and high hockey IQ.
54 JAKE SANDERSON
POS: D | AGE: 23 | LY: 88
Sanderson is easily the best Senators defenseman since Erik Karlsson. Sanderson resembles Karlsson in many respects, namely skating, puckhandling, hockey IQ and a penchant for being a one-man breakout. Even when Ottawa was struggling early in the season, Sanderson was one of the bright spots.
He’ll probably never score 57 goals again – as he did two seasons ago – but you can pretty much put Reinhart down for 30 a year in indelible marker. He can also be counted on to be a Selke-level player in the defensive zone. There are really no deficiencies in his game, and he’s one of the NHL’s most cerebral on-ice performers.
56 DYLAN LARKIN
POS: C | AGE: 29 | LY: 53
If there’s a modern-day player who was destined to play for the Red Wings, Larkin is the guy. His 200-foot game is almost without peer, and he’s developed a surprising sneaky-dirty facet to his overall game. Larkin is a possession beast, and when he doesn’t have the puck on his stick, he’s very good at getting it back.
57 KYLE CONNOR
POS: LW | AGE: 29 | LY: 38
Connor’s consistency is remarkable. He’s eclipsed 30 goals in each of his full seasons, barring the shortened 2020-21 campaign. He’s also an all-strengths asset in Winnipeg. Over the past five seasons, Connor ranks second in even-strength, first in power-play and sixth in shorthanded ice time among Jets forwards.
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PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 31: Erik Karlsson #65 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in action during the game against the Detroit Red Wings at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 31, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
While most of the focus for the offseason is going to be on the Pittsburgh Penguins pending unrestricted free agents (like, say, Evgeni Malkin) and what they do with their available salary cap space, there’s another group of players that should get some attention. It is the eight players entering the final year of their current contracts and eligible for new contracts on July 1.
Let’s take a quick look at that group and try to determine if the Penguins should try to keep them, shop them or simply let them move on.
Sidney Crosby: Extend
I’m not sure there is much more analysis needed here.
He’s still playing at a high level. He should continue to do so for at least another couple of years. As long as he wants to keep playing it’s probably a safe assumption he is here. Whether that’s a longer-term deal, year-to-year, shorter-term deals … whatever. He is here. He will be here. That is what the Penguins probably want. It is what he probably wants. Easy call.
Erik Karlsson: Shop, but consider an extension
I wouldn’t trade Karlsson just for the sake of trading him because you think that’s what you need to do in a rebuild. But I also wouldn’t completely take him off the table. You’re not doing your job if you’re not at least listening, keeping an open mind and seeing what is out there.
Especially given the lack of defensemen on the free agent market and the fact you might be able to get a really solid return for him. His value has to be sky-high right now, or at least higher than it’s been, and there will no doubt be at least some interested teams.
But … Kyle Dubas has not totally ruled out the idea of an extension, and even though he is in his mid-30s it could make sense. Defensive depth is thin, Karlsson is still a top-pairing defender and he should still have a few high-level years remaining.
Listen to offers. See what’s out there. But keep an extension on the table.
Tommy Novak: Shop/Trade
Novak is by no means a bad player. He has a role on an NHL team, and it can be a very fluid role given his versatility to play up and down the lineup, on the wing, at center, and pretty much anywhere he is needed. But like I said in his year-in-review entry, he can also be a little frustrating. He’s good, but he also lulls you into wanting a little more given his talent. His playoff showings have also left something to be desired. Plus, when his next contract begins he will be 30 years old.
I am okay paying superstars into their 30s, because even if they decline and regress they are starting from a significantly higher point and can still remain productive.
But when you start talking about second-and third-tier players, that is where contracts into their 30s start to become problematic.
Shop him and see what’s out there.
Justin Brazeau: Shop/move on
Brazeau was part of the Penguins’ highly successful 2025 offseason and exceeded everybody’s expectations by scoring 17 goals with 34 total points. He’s big. He brings some physicality. He is extremely talented for his size and always seems to be a late-bloomer at every level.
But like Novak you are talking about a non-star player in his late 20s when his next contract kicks, and it will almost certainly be a contract that goes into his 30s. This is a situation where you found some lightning in a bottle, ride it out for as long as you can, and then try to find the next Justin Brazeau. If you slip out of the playoff race by the trade deadline he would be ideal trade fodder given his cheap salary.
Samuel Girard: Shop, but consider an extension
I am going to stay bullish on this, but I am not writing off Sam Girard.
I just think there’s more to his game than what we saw after the trade this past season, and I want to see what he does with a fresh start at the beginning of the season. There’s talent there. He’s been a good NHL player before. And as I said with Karlsson, the defensive depth in the organization isn’t great at the moment when it comes to short-term or medium-term options. Owen Pickering isn’t that guy. Harrison Brunicke might be that guy, but there is only one of him. You are going to need people here.
I am not extending him right now now.
I wouldn’t turn down reasonable trades for him.
But I’m keeping an open mind toward an extension, especially if he comes back strong next season. There were some rocky moments at the end of the season and in the playoffs, but there were also some really good moments.
Parker Wotherspoon: Move on
Wotherspoon was another offseason surprise that made a bigger-than-expected impact. He went from an expected depth piece to a top-pairing defenseman alongside Karlsson for pretty much the entire season, and it was one of the most effective defense pairings in the NHL. That’s great. But I wouldn’t push my luck on it, especially when Karlsson’s future in Pittsburgh is in some question given HIS contract situation.
The problem with Wotherspoon is that while he was very effective alongside Karlsson, his impact took a significant hit when he was away from Karlsson.
There was a pretty notable and significant Karlsson boost happening here. You got a great value for a couple of years. Be happy with that.
Caleb Jones: Move on
We only saw him for seven games before he was injured and then suspended. Over the past three years he has played 48 games in the NHL. He will be 30 when his next contract begins. Organizational depth at best. There are 25 Caleb Jones-type players available every offseason.
Jack St. Ivany: Move on, but consider keeping
I would be a little more open to keeping him as organizational depth than Jones just based on age alone. St. Ivany is still only 26 (well, 27 next season) and at least played a few more games in the NHL this season and was, at times, pretty solid. I wouldn’t want him playing a regular shift, but as a seventh defenseman or organizational depth he is fine.
When Chayka was named GM of the Maple Leafs, many were surprised and shocked by the hire, for several different reasons.
With the surprise hire for the GM position, what if Toronto go a similar route when selecting the 42nd head coach in franchise history?
Here are three surprising head coach candidates for the Maple Leafs.
Todd Nelson
Maybe it wouldn't surprise some if the Maple Leafs considered hiring Todd Nelson as the team's next head coach. Nonetheless, he'd be a great candidate to be a head coach in the NHL, let alone for Toronto, and many may not have Nelson at the top of their lists.
Nelson is currently an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins, coming off his first season with the team. He previously spent three years as the head coach of the AHL's Hershey Bears, winning a pair of Calder Cups in that stint. Nelson has won a total of four Calder Cups in his coaching career.
Despite his excellence in the American League, Nelson has never had a true tenure as an NHL head coach. In 2014-15, Nelson led the Edmonton Oilers behind the bench as an interim head coach for the final 51 games of that regular season.
Even if the Maple Leafs don't snatch him up, Nelson should be getting an offer to be a head coach in the NHL eventually.
Dallas Eakins has been out of the league for a few years now, with his last season as an NHL head coach coming in 2022-23. Since then, he's been the head coach of the DEL's Mannheim in Germany.
In the NHL, Eakins coached the Oilers for two seasons and was actually replaced by Nelson in 2014-15. He also had a four-year stint with the Anaheim Ducks from 2019-20 to 2022-23. In between those gigs, he was the head coach of Anaheim's AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls.
It's worth noting that Eakins has ties to the Maple Leafs, serving as an assistant coach in 2006-07 and 2007-08, as well as the director of player development in 2008-09. Also, he was the bench boss of the Toronto Marlies from 2009-10 to 2012-13.
Like Eakins, it's been a few years since Bruce Boudreau has been a head coach in the NHL. His last stint ended in 2022-23 when he was fired by the Vancouver Canucks in the midst of his second campaign with the team.
Boudreau, a Toronto native, has had some successful campaigns as an NHL head coach.
In his first year as an NHL bench boss, he won the Jack Adams Trophy with the Washington Capitals. In 2009-10, he led Washington to a stellar 54-15-13 record, which turned out to be the best season in Capitals history.
He had some more great years with the Ducks, marking a 54-20-8 record in the 2013-14 season, which was also the best campaign in Anaheim's franchise history.
Boudreau certainly knows how to make a team successful in the regular season, winning eight divisional titles in his NHL coaching career.
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The Edmonton Oilers are in the market for a new head coach following the dismissal of Kris Knoblauch, and amid the pursuit of high-profile options like Bruce Cassidy, whispers have emerged about a name that once commanded respect across the NHL but now carries significant baggage: Former Toronto Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock.
On Oilers Now, host Bob Stauffer and former NHL GM Brian Lawton floated the idea, with Lawton suggesting that someone with Stan Bowman’s background might consider Babcock given his pedigree. Lawton, who knows Babcock personally, described him as a good human being who deserves a second chance in a business that can be unforgiving. Yet, the conversation quickly pivoted to the realities of Babcock’s recent past, particularly the short-lived and tumultuous stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Babcock's coaching journey is one of remarkable highs followed by a steep fall from grace. He began his NHL head coaching career with the Anaheim Ducks, leading them to the 2003 Stanley Cup Final. His true breakthrough came in Detroit, where he guided the Red Wings to the 2008 Stanley Cup and established himself as one of the league's elite tacticians. His international success with Team Canada, securing Olympic gold in 2010 and 2014, further cemented his status as a winner who could extract the best from star-studded rosters.
That reputation led the Toronto Maple Leafs to sign him to a massive eight-year, $50-million contract in 2015, positioning him as the franchise’s saviour during a rebuild. In Toronto, Babcock inherited a young core headlined by Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and others. His early tenure showed promise, with the team improving and making the playoffs in three straight seasons. However, underlying issues simmered.
The most infamous incident involved a then-19-year-old Marner during the 2016-17 season. Babcock tasked the rookie with ranking his teammates by work ethic. Marner, eager to please, complied and even placed himself at the bottom. What followed was a betrayal of trust: Babcock shared the list with veterans like Tyler Bozak and Nazem Kadri, who were ranked lower. Marner was reportedly brought to tears, and teammates were furious with the coach for pitting players against each other in such a public, humiliating way.
These incidents paint a picture of a coach whose old-school, demanding approach, once celebrated for driving success, now collides with today's NHL values around mental health, player autonomy, and respect. Babcock's 700-plus wins and championship pedigree remain undeniable, but trust has eroded.
For the Oilers, facing pressure to deliver with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the appeal of a proven winner is understandable, especially if other targets like Cassidy prove elusive due to contractual hurdles with Vegas. Bowman himself received a second chance after his own controversies, as Lawton noted. But hiring Babcock would invite intense scrutiny and potential locker-room friction in a market already under a microscope.
As of now, Babcock insists he's content in retirement. The Oilers' search continues, likely prioritizing candidates who can unify rather than divide. In a league evolving rapidly, Babcock's history serves as a cautionary tale: success on the ice doesn't always translate when the human element falters. Edmonton must weigh pedigree against past patterns carefully if his name resurfaces.
As is customary, the GM and coach of all the teams that made the final four had a scheduled media availability before the start of their third-round series. On Wednesday, Eric Tulsky and Rod Brind’Amour from the Carolina Hurricanes spoke to the media early in the afternoon, while Kent Hughes and Trevor Letowski from the Montreal Canadiens met the press later in the day.
When Tulsky was asked about how the Canadiens operated their rebuild, he said:
Yeah, I mean, he’s done a great job. The team has come a long way; they’ve got a really strong young core, and they’re well set up to obviously have a great run this year and set up to keep getting better from there. Very impressed with what they’ve done, what they’ve put together. It’s going to be a tough round for us.
That’s a fair assessment, especially when considering that most pundits considered the Canadiens’ window of contention hadn’t opened yet, and here they are in the Eastern Conference Final, just four wins away from playing for the Stanley Cup.
As for being well set up for the future, I believe their goaltending duo says a lot about how well Hughes and his team have planned. They may not have drafted Jakub Dobes, but they did recognize he was a better option than Cayden Primeau, and they now have him competing with Jacob Fowler, who was the heir apparent. Up front, they still have exciting prospects coming through the ranks in Alexander Zharovsky and Michael Hage, and they also have good blueliners waiting for their opportunity.
As for Brind’Amour, he was asked what had made the Canadiens’ power play so successful against the Buffalo Sabres, and he explained:
Well, I don’t know if that’s just in the playoffs, but they’ve been dynamic. They have dynamic players. All five of those guys in their own right are elite at what they do [Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, and Lane Hutson]. You put them together in those roles, and I think they feed off each other really well.”
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You just watch, they’re in synch. I think a power play is about skill, and they have it. So that’s a definite concern.
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While the Canadiens have had a good success rate on the power play in these playoffs at 25%, they’ll have their work cut out for them against Carolina. The Canes have the second-best penalty kill with a 95% success rate over the eight games they played. However, things have not gone as smoothly on the power play for Brind’Amour’s men; with the man-advantage, they’ve only scored on 13.5% of their opportunities.
It will be interesting to see just how big a role special teams play in the third round. Will penalties be called consistently? It seems like the referees struggled with that in the first two rounds, and it would be great if the quality of the on-ice product weren’t affected by them.
PITTSBURGH - MAY 21: Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins scores a hat trick in the third period as Dennis Seidenberg #4 and Cam Ward #30 of the Carolina Hurricanes are unable to stop the shot during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 21, 2009 at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Seventeen years ago today, Evgeni Malkin put on a show with one of the most remarkable goals of his career in the Eastern Conference Final.
In 2009, the Penguins stormed back to the Stanley Cup Final by blowing past the Carolina Hurricanes in the Conference Final, thanks in part to Evgeni Malkin’s spectacular play with six goals in the four games of the series.
The most special of those six goals came during the Penguins’ 7-4 win in Game 2 of the series.
The Penguins had trailed 3-2 in the game before jumping back out to a 5-3 lead, but Carolina wouldn’t go quietly, drawing back within a goal to make it 5-4 early in the third period.
That’s when Evgeni Malkin made headlines with a special goal, his third of the game.
“Oh my word!” Joe Beninati said on the call. “Evgeni Malkin….spectacular for the hat trick!”
Malkin’s hat-trick goal gave the Penguins a bigger lead, one that they never gave up for the rest of the game, going on to win Games 3 and 4 on the road, and punching their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final.
