CHICAGO (AP) — Roman Kantserov is joining the Chicago Blackhawks after a record-breaking season in the Kontinental Hockey League.
The Blackhawks announced on Thursday that they had agreed to a three-year contract with the 21-year-old Russian winger, a second-round pick in the 2023 draft. The entry-level deal carries a $1,075,000 salary cap hit.
Kantserov, listed at 5-foot-9 and 176 pounds, led the KHL with 36 goals in 63 games this season with Metallurg Magnitogorsk. He also had four goals and four assists in 15 postseason games.
Kantserov's 36 goals and 64 points were the highest single-season totals for a player under the age of 22 in KHL history.
The addition of Kantserov is a significant move for a franchise looking to climb out of a lengthy rebuilding project. Chicago also has the No. 4 pick in the upcoming NHL draft.
The Blackhawks went 29-39-14 this year, an 11-point improvement on the previous season and still nowhere near playoff contention. They have finished No. 31 in the NHL each of the last three years.
The franchise has made just one postseason appearance since 2017, and that was the expanded playoff format after the 2019-20 season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Already down a starting defenseman, the Vegas Golden Knights found themselves without another mainstay on the back end early in Game 5 after Brayden McNabb was ejected for his hit on Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Poehling. Poehling left the game following the hit and did not return.
Following the game, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety issued a one-game suspension for the hit. This is McNabb’s first suspension in his 14-year career.
Ducks coach Joel Quenneville confirmed that Poehling won’t be available for Game 6.
“You never want to see anyone get hurt,” said defenseman Rasmus Andersson. “I hope Ryan is okay over there.
The Golden Knights empathized with McNabb, too. He’s one tough customer and is annually among the team leaders in hits, but he’s far from a dirty player.
“He’d like to be out there with us,” said forward Keegan Kolesar. “I’ve been in that position. You feel gutted, putting the team in that situation, in a 5-minute major, and then down a guy early… We got through that 5-minute major with only [allowing Anaheim] one goal, I think that’s a win.
“The year we won, I took a 5-minute major in Edmonton,” Kolesar continued. “I felt pretty gutted. Thankfully, we won, and I just went around and hugged everyone. You feel awful during those moments, and having good teammates is what picks you up from that.”
The Golden Knights never shy away from facing adversity, and they do so because of how close they are with each other. Coaches and players alike rave about the strength and resilience in the locker room, as well as the tight-knit bonds among the players.
“It’s just what we do as a team: we pick each other up,” said Kolesar. “I think we just wanted to rally around each other.”
As a result of McNabb’s ejection, Ben Hutton and Dylan Coghlan stepped into elevated roles in Game 5. Their importance will carry over into Game 6 as the Golden Knights look to play a potential series-clinching game without their long-time alternate captain.
“Losing Nabber, he’s one of the leaders, if not the leader, on the back end. It’s time for other players to step up,” said Rasmus Andersson following Game 5. “I thought Hutty and Cogs did an unbelievable job. They gave us really good minutes, and I thought they were as steady as it comes.
“That’s what we need in the playoffs,” finished Andersson. “We need people to step up when their opportunity is called.”
When asked, Keegan Kolesar said that, while the group continues to rally around each other, there is no emphasis on winning for McNabb.
“It’s not like he died, or anything,” he joked. “We wanted to rally around each other, not just him alone.”
A potential blockbuster is brewing ahead of this year's NHL Draft, and the Winnipeg Jets may find themselves at the center of it.
According to multiple reports from The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta over the past couple of days, the San Jose Sharks are seriously considering trading the second overall pick they recently acquired.
The reasoning, per those reports, stems from San Jose's belief that they are already well-stocked at forward, making the selection of another high-end offensive prospect at second overall less of a priority than addressing other areas of need. The pick is widely expected to land on either Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg or, should he slide one spot, consensus top prospect Gavin McKenna.
David Pagnotta: Re Sharks 2nd overall pick: They're so deep up front...I think there might be more of a willingness to explore...in terms of moving down a little bit; they definitely want to address their D core - Sekeres & Price (5/11)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) May 14, 2026
The news has apparently turned heads around the league and while no deals have materialized, unconfirmed reports suggest several teams have expressed interest in trading up to second overall, with the Jets among those in the mix alongside the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and New York Rangers.
The appeal for Winnipeg is obvious as both Stenberg and McKenna project as game-breaking talents at the NHL level, and either one could conceivably make an immediate impact, potentially slotting into the Jets' opening night lineup from day one. For a team navigating a pivotal stretch of its rebuild and looking to add star power, the opportunity to land a generational prospect is difficult to ignore.
The challenge, of course, is the price as the Jets currently hold the eighth overall pick, and moving up six spots to second overall for a player of this caliber would not come cheap. High picks are rarely moved in the NHL, and any deal with San Jose would almost certainly require a significant package of assets heading back to the Bay Area. What that package looks like, and whether Cheveldayoff is willing to pay it, remains to be seen.
For now it is a situation worth monitoring closely, and one that could dramatically reshape the direction of the Jets franchise depending on how the next few weeks unfold.
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — The Vancouver Canucks promoted Ryan Johnson to general manager on Thursday and said Daniel and Henrik Sedin will share the role of president of hockey operations.
Rutherford said the search for general manager involved more than 15 candidates. The list reportedly included former Ottawa Senators GM Pierre Dorion, Boston Bruins assistant general manager Evan Gold and former Maple Leafs special adviser Shane Doan.
Johnson, a 49-year-old former NHL center from Thunder Bay, Ontario, first joined the Canucks’ front office in 2013 and was named assistant general manager in 2024. He played 13 seasons in the NHL, splitting his time with the Canucks, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks.
He will be joined in the front office by the Sedins, the Swedish twins who Johnson played with in Vancouver before later working alongside them in developing the franchise’s young talent.
The Sedins played 17 seasons together for the Canucks, including the team’s run to the 2011 Stanley Cup final, where Vancouver lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games.
Henrik Sedin served as Vancouver’s captain from 2010-18 and still leads the franchise in games played (1,330), assists (830) and points (1,070). He won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 2010.
Daniel Sedin is the franchise-leader in goals (393), power-play goals (138) and game-winning goals (86).
The Hall of Fame forwards retired in 2018, then rejoined the Canucks as special advisers to the general manager in June 2021. They moved into player development roles the following spring.
One of the quieter but more meaningful decisions facing Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff this off-season centers on the future of goaltender Eric Comrie, who is set to hit free agency and whose return is far from guaranteed.
The 30-year-old Edmonton native has become a genuine fan favorite since returning for his third stint with the organization that originally drafted him in the second round of the 2013 NHL Draft.
After bouncing around the league with stops in Detroit, New Jersey and Buffalo, Comrie found his way back to Winnipeg and has brought a dependable presence and a likeable personality to the backup role. This past season, however, the numbers were difficult to overlook.
Comrie finished with a 12-11-1 record, a 3.13 goals-against average and an .890 save percentage across 25 games, figures that fall well short of what a contending team ideally wants from its backup behind a Vezina-caliber starter like Connor Hellebuyck.
The Jets are not without internal options like goaltender Thomas Milic made his NHL debut this past season and has shown genuine promise throughout his development, giving the organization reason to believe he could be ready to take on a larger role in the not-too-distant future.
Domenic DiVincentiis is another name in the pipeline, though his numbers have been inconsistent, and the question of whether he can stabilize his game enough to function as a reliable NHL-level backup remains unanswered for now.
Should Cheveldayoff choose to look outside the organization, the free agent market could offer some intriguing alternatives. Names like Stuart Skinner, Connor Ingram and Vitek Vanecek could all potentially be available and may offer stronger statistical profiles than what Comrie produced this past season.
It will not headline the Jets' off-season, but the decision of who backs up Hellebuyck next year carries real weight for a team that views itself as a legitimate contender. Cheveldayoff will need to weigh loyalty, cost, and capability as he determines whether Comrie remains part of the plan or whether it is time to turn the page.
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On Tuesday, the Vegas Golden Knights visit the Anaheim Ducks for Game 6. They hold a 3-2 lead and will look to close out the series tonight at the Honda Center.
Puck drop is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. PST.
The teams last clashed on Tuesday for Game 5. The Ducks scored first on the power play, but the Golden Knights responded on a power play opportunity of their own not long after. They responded well after giving up the tying goal late, and Pavel Dorofeyev scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give the Golden Knights a 3-2 victory.
Carter Hart starts in goal for the Golden Knights. Hart has a record of 7-4 and an average save percentage of .911 in 11 games this postseason.
Lukáš Dostál starts in goal for the Ducks. Dostál has a record of 6-5 and an average save percentage of .878 in 11 games this postseason.
The Golden Knights will be without defenseman Brayden McNabb tonight, who was suspended one game for his hit on Ryan Poehling. Kaedan Korczak draws into the lineup in his place.
Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella is tight-lipped about injuries, but confirmed Jeremy Lauzon is OUT for Game 6. Mark Stone, who exited Game 3 with a lower-body injury after playing just 4:24, has also been officially ruled OUT for Thursday’s game against the Ducks.
Golden Knights Lines
Ivan Barbashev — Jack Eichel — Pavel Dorofeyev
Brett Howden — William Karlsson — Mitch Marner
Brandon Saad — Tomáš Hertl — Colton Sissons
Cole Smith — Nic Dowd — Keegan Kolesar
Defense
Shea Theodore — Dylan Coghlan
Noah Hanifin — Rasmus Andersson
Ben Hutton — Kaedan Korczak
Goaltenders: Carter Hart / Adin Hill
Ducks Lines
Chris Kreider — Leo Carlsson — Troy Terry
Alex Killorn — Mikael Granlund — Beckett Sennecke
Jeffrey Viel — Mason McTavish — Cutter Gauthier
Jansen Harkins — Tim Washe — Ross Johnston
Defense
Jackson LaCombe — Jacob Trouba
Pavel Mintyukov — John Carlson
Olen Zellweger — Ian Moore
Goaltenders: Lukáš Dostál / Ville Husso
Special Teams
VGK power play: 24.2%, 5th
VGK penalty kill: 87.9%, 5th
Ducks power play: 33.3%, 2nd
Ducks penalty kill: 70.4%, 14th
Game Notes
The Golden Knights are 13-11 in potential series-clinching games during a best-of-seven series and are 7-7 on the road. They have never lost a series after winning Game 5 to take a 3-2 lead.
Historically, teams that take a 3-2 series lead go on to win 79.8% of the time.
Mitch Marner is the postseason leader in scoring with 16 points.
Brett Howden and Pavel Dorofeyev have seven goals this postseason. They are tied for the league lead in that statistic, along with Nathan MacKinnon, Matt Boldy, and Logan Stankoven.
Jack Eichel leads the league in assists this postseason with 14.
Ryan Johnson will be the 13th General Manager in Vancouver Canucks franchise history.
After a lengthy month-long search process involving more than 15 candidates interviewed, Vancouver has selected Johnson, formerly the Canucks’ Assistant General Manager and Abbotsford Canucks’ General Manager, as their new GM. This will be the longtime Canucks organization executive’s first NHL General Manager job.
Johnson has been with the Canucks organization since 2013, first taking on the role of a development coach. He became the assistant director of player development in the 2015–16 season but was soon elevated to director of player development and Assistant GM of the Canucks’ AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets at the time, in 2017–18. He has held this role in the AHL since then, moving with the team from Utica to Abbotsford.
In 2022–23, Johnson took on a new role as special assistant to the GM — which was Patrik Allvin at the time. He remained in this role through the season after but was soon elevated once again to the status of Assistant GM in 2024–25.
Now officially hired as the Canucks’ new GM, Johnson will join a Canucks front-office that includes both Daniel and Henrik Sedin as co-presidents of Hockey Operations. After both spending their entire NHL playing careers with Vancouver, the Sedins were brought on as special assistants to the General Manager in 2021-22. The season after, they were elevated to the roles of player development coaches.
With a GM now locked-down, the Canucks will turn their attention to the 2026 NHL Draft on June 26 and 27. Vancouver currently holds two first-round selections including the third-overall pick.
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Last week, Roman Kantserov ended his contract with Metallurg of the KHL. This was a play made to come to North America and play for the Chicago Blackhawks.
On Thursday, the Chicago Blackhawks announced that his deal is official. He will play pro hockey on North American soil in 2026-27. Kantserov's entry-level deal will carry a cap hit of $1.075 million for three years.
it's officially official, everyone say 'hi Roman!!'
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) May 14, 2026
There is a chance that he starts in the American League with the Rockford IceHogs, but all signs point to him playing in the National Hockey League with Chicago. In fact, he may be given an early opportunity to play in the top six right away.
Kantserov is an intriguing prospect, as are most young stars coming out of the KHL. In 2025-26, he led the league in goals and had one of the best seasons a player of his age (or younger) has ever had.
With a young core already in place and developing, Kantserov fits right in as he will be 22 right before the 2026-27 campaign begins. As a former 2nd overall pick in 2023, he is the perfect age and has the skillset to match his peers.
Is it going to take some time for Kantserov to adjust to playing in North America both on and off the ice? Of course it is. However, the tools and resources are there for him to make that transition properly.
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Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville speaks to the media ahead of Game 6 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Facing elimination for the first time this postseason, the Anaheim Ducks have home ice in Game 6 against the Vegas Golden Knights. Game 5 came down to a pair of special shots from the Golden Knights' Pavel Dorofeyev, who won the game in overtime.
Ducks forward Ryan Poehling left the game in the first period with an upper-body injury due to a hit from Brayden McNabb and did not return. He is out indefinitely. McNabb had a hearing with NHL Player Safety on Wednesday afternoon and was given a one-game suspension.
With Poehling out, Jansen Harkins is expected to draw back in after being a healthy scratch in Games 4 and 5. Mason McTavish is expected to center the Ducks’ third line, with Jeff Viel and Cutter Gauthier flanking him.
May 6, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Jansen Harkins (24) shoots and scores an empty net goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period of game two of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
“I think all year long, you share responsibility,” Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said. “A lot of times, the guy coming in there doesn't have to be that guy, but I think everybody can absorb—whether it's more quality ice time or more ice time or you don't play as much, I think we adapted to the situations quite well. Everybody's excited about getting the chance to play more. (McTavish) might get more middle. We’ll see.”
“He’s just a tremendous part of this team,” Tim Washe said of Poehling. “But we’ve got some guys stepping up here. Everyone’s got to be at their best and help the team out any way they can.”
“It’s a hard role to fill,” Leo Carlsson said. “But we have a lot guys who can do it, too, so I'm not too worried.”
After registering eight points in the Ducks’ first round series against the Edmonton Oilers, Carlsson had just two points and a minus-3 rating through five games. His linemates Chris Kreider and Troy Terry have just two points apiece as well. Their line was guilty of not getting the puck out of the defensive zone prior to Dorofeyev’s overtime winner.
May 12, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (91) shoots against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of game five of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
“Vegas plays tight defensively,” Quenneville said. “They don't give up much. (That line is) targeted and then for (Vegas) to be aware of them of being out there. But they've seen that throughout the whole season. And obviously the attention grows come playoff time. I think that tonight, we're gonna need them to be a factor. You don't have to score, just want to make sure that your line's going to be generating and spending some offensive zone-possession time and solid in the defensive structure.”
“Just need to play a little more simpler,” Carlsson said. “Breakout easier. They’re on us on breakouts, too, but just play a little bit simpler in the o-zone and (on) breakouts, too.”
Troy Terry, Alex Killorn, Jackson LaCombe and Mikael Granlund were all absent from Thursday’s morning skate, but all four are expected to be in the lineup for Game 6. Radko Gudas (lower-body) participated in morning skate once again, but Quenneville said that he is not likely to play in Game 6.
Golden Knights forward Mark Stone is again out with a lower-body injury that he suffered in Game 3. With McNabb serving his one-game suspension, Kaeden Korzcak will draw back into the lineup.
Ducks Projected Lines
Chris Kreider - Leo Carlsson - Troy Terry Alex Killorn - Mikael Granlund - Beckett Sennecke Jeff Viel - Mason McTavish - Cutter Gauthier Ross Johnston - Tim Washe - Jansen Harkins
Jackson LaCombe - Jacob Trouba Pavel Mintyukov - John Carlson Olen Zellweger - Ian Moore
Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)
Golden Knights Projected Lines
Ivan Barbashev - Jack Eichel - Pavel Dorofeyev Brett Howden - William Karlsson - Mitch Marner Brandon Saad - Tomáš Hertl - Colton Sissons Cole Smith - Nic Dowd - Keegan Kolesar
In possession of the 13th pick in the upcoming NHL Draft, the New York Islanders will have an opportunity to bolster their already strong prospect pool.
General manager Mathieu Darche made three first-round selections in his first draft with the team in 2025, selecting Matthew Schaefer (No. 1), Victor Eklund (No. 16), and Kashawn Aitcheson (No. 17).
With draft season here, one name that has been linked to the Islanders is Ryan Lin, a 5-foot-11, right-shot defenseman from the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League (WHL).
Lin is a mobile, puck-moving defenseman known for his hockey IQ.
While his ability to frequently join teammates on the rush has given fans the impression he is an offensive defenseman, he also knows when to prioritize his defensive responsibilities, truly lacking any glaring weaknesses, including in his own zone.
Love this clip from the U18s. Oliver Suvanto pushes 6-foot-4 Lucas Ambrosio out of the way like it's nothing so he can drive the puck behind the net, but 5-foot-11(ish) Ryan Lin says "Nope, not on my watch" pic.twitter.com/tThNSIQndh
As an alternate captain for the Giants, he recorded 57 points (14 goals, 43 assists) in 53 games this season, the second-highest point total on the team and the highest among defensemen, as well as six points (one goal, five assists) in five games for Canada at the U18s.
Lin's 57 points ranked third among draft-eligible WHL defensemen, trailing only Daxon Rudolph (78 points) and Carson Carels (73 points), who are each projected top-10 picks.
Islanders scouts are likely already familiar with Lin's game, as he has spent the past two seasons in Vancouver alongside goaltender Burke Hood, the New York's 170th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Looking ahead, Lin is committed to the University of Denver for 2026-27, one of the most esteemed NCAA programs in recent seasons.
— Locked On NHL Prospects (@LO_NHLProspects) May 11, 2026
Under head coach David Carle, Denver has won three of the past five national championships while developing some of the top defense prospects to come out of the NCAA in Zeev Buium and Eric Pohlkamp, the 2025 and 2026 Hobey Baker Award finalists, respectively.
It is also worth noting that, like Lin, Buium and Pohlkamp are undersized, standing 6-foot and 5-foot-11, and they each spent two seasons with Denver.
Pohlkamp played his freshman season at Bemidji State University before transferring to Denver. During that season, he won gold at the World Junior Championship while playing for Carle.
With both Buium and Pohlkamp playing professionally, Lin will have some big shoes to fill, but there is no better place than Denver for a defenseman to develop.
Projected to play alongside at least three other drafted defensemen, Lin is projected to develop his game as a top-pairing option for Carle while competing for a national championship.
In the long-term, Lin projects as an NHL top-four defenseman, capable of leading a power-play unit.
The Islanders organization is weak on the right side of the defense, so Lin would provide an immediate boost to the team’s long-term outlook.
Notably, the Islanders have not selected a right-shot defenseman in the draft since Tomas Machu (No. 221) in 2021, and the only right-shot defensemen under contract for the 2026-27 season are Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield, who are 31 and 33 years old, respectively.
With Lin’s NHL ETA projected closer to Spring 2028 or the 2028-29 season, the Islanders would need to be patient, but if all goes according to plan, they could add another young defensive piece to an already exciting group led by Schaefer and Aitcheson.
Rankings have Lin projected to go in the 8-18 range, so he may not be available for the Islanders at 13.
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’s win in Game 4 marked the first Sabres playoff victory in which their opponent had at least seven power-play opportunities since May 4, 2007 vs. NY Rangers (7). The win marked the third time Buffalo has earned four wins in the team's first five road contests in a single playoff year. The Sabres also did so from April 11 to May 2, 2001 and April 22 to May 14, 1998.
In his last five games, Zach Benson has registered six points (3+3), including the game-winning goal in Game 4 at Montreal on Tuesday. Benson has four goals in the playoffs and is the first Sabres skater age 21 or younger to register four or more goals in a single playoff year since Pierre Turgeon in 1988 (4; 18 years old). With one more goal, Benson would become the first Sabres skater age 21 or younger to register five or more goals in a single playoff year since Danny Gare in 1976 (5; 21 years old).
Josh Doan and Peyton Krebs’ plus-5 ratings are tied with Derek Roy and Paul Gaustad from April 22 to May 11, 2006, and Matthew Barnaby from May 8, 1993 to May 7, 1997 for the best mark by a Sabres forward in the first 10 games of their playoff career. In his last seven games, Doan has registered nine points (2+7), including at least one assist in each of his last five contests. An assist tonight would make Doan the first Sabres skater since Alexei Zhitnik from May 14 to 27, 1999 (six games; 1+6) to register an assist streak of six or more games in the playoffs (within a single playoff year).
He would become one of five Buffalo skaters (Dale Hawerchuk, Pat LaFontaine, Gilbert Perreault, Zhitnik) to record an assist streak of six or more games in the playoffs at least one time. • Any point tonight would make Doan the first Sabres skater to post a point streak of six or more games in the playoffs since Thomas Vanek from April 14 to 27, 2007 (six games; 5+2).
Tage Thompson has tallied 11 points (4+7) in 10 playoff games thus far, including two points in each of the last two contests. Thompson’s four multi-point games in the playoffs were tied for the second-most among all NHL skaters entering play on Wednesday. A multi-point effort tonight would make Thompson the first Buffalo skater to register three or more consecutive multi-point games in the playoffs since Miroslav Satan from April 14 to 17, 2001 (three games; 2+4). A goal in tonight’s game would make him the first Sabres forward to record a goal streak of three or more games in the playoffs since Jason Pominville from April 18 to 25, 2007 (three games; 3+0). Thompson is the first Sabres skater to record at least one point per game through the first 10 playoff games of their career since Tim Connolly from (April 22, 2006 to April 14, 2007; 5+7). Thompson is the only Buffalo skater to do so in a single playoff year.
In his last six games, Rasmus Dahlin has posted six points (2+4), including an assist in back-to-back games. With an assist tonight, Dahlin would join Doan, Thompson and Owen Power as the only Sabres skaters who have registered an assist streak of at least three games in this year’s 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.
Mattias Samuelsson (42 hits; three goals) was the only NHL defenseman with 40 or more hits and three or more goals in the playoffs entering play on Wednesday. He was one of just two NHL skaters who had both (Ivan Barbashev; 61 hits and three goals).
The Montreal Canadiens travel the short distance to KeyBank Center on Thursday, May 14, for Game 5 against the Buffalo Sabres.
My Canadiens vs. Sabres props tackle an abundance of valuable markets, highlighting the likes of Alex Newhook and Josh Doan, who have significantly elevated their play at the perfect time.
Few players are as red-hot as Alex Newhook is at this very moment. Although the Newfoundland native entered this series with just two points in seven first-round games, his explosive speed has exposed an offense-hungry and inexperienced Buffalo Sabres defensive corps.
He's scored five goals and registered 17 shots on goal in four games this series, providing value in virtually any market. I'll side with the point market, as his linemates in Jake Evans and Ivan Demidov can find the back of the net too.
Game 5 Prop #2: Josh Doan Over 0.5 assists
+155 at BET99
Josh Doan was quietly the Sabres' top U24 scorer this season, and has notched an assist in five consecutive games — the longest active assist streak among all players tonight.
Three of his five assists this series have come via the power play, as Buffalo has scored a PPG in three of four games. Doan is also playing on a third line that's been red hot since the postseason.
The trio of Doan/Norris/Benson has combined for 18 points through 10 postseason games.
Game 5 Prop #3: Nick Suzuki Over 2.5 shots
+110 at BET99
Nick Suzuki's confidence did not waver amid 5-on-5 struggles in Round 1.
The Montreal Canadiens' captain has 13 shots on goal this series, notching three or more in four of his last five. Buffalo ranked 23rd in shots allowed during the regular season, and the likes of Suzuki and Newhook have been pouncing on the opportunity.
The 101-point man ranks third on the team in shots this series and is the only Canadien listed at plus odds with this line.
These three props can be parlayed to +1000 at Bet99.
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EDMONTON, Alberta — The Edmonton Oilers fired coach Kris Knoblauch on Thursday, dismissing him after a first-round exit followed him guiding the team to consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final.
Knoblauch coached the Oilers to the playoffs three times since taking over as a midseason replacement when Jay Woodcroft was fired following a bad start in November 2023. They won 166 of their 286 total games behind the bench, and Knoblauch’s .623 regular-season points percentage ranks sixth among active NHL coaches.
The Oilers are now set for their sixth coach since Connor McDavid entered the NHL in 2015 and became the best player in the world, skating alongside fellow MVP Leon Draisaitl. The two still have not won a championship, now going into their 12th season together.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch looks on from behind the bench. AP
Moving on from Knoblauch comes in the aftermath of a report earlier this week that Edmonton had sought and were denied permission from the Vegas Golden Knights to speak to Bruce Cassidy, whom they fired as coach in late March but is still under contract. Teams making offseason changes typically wait until there is a vacancy before reaching out about prospective candidates.
General manager Stan Bowman getting to make this move seems to indicate he will keep his job, along with president of hockey operations Jeff Jackson, who joined the organization in August 2023. Jackson took over control of hockey operations following the team’s first trip to the final in 2024 and hired Bowman as GM that summer. Assistant coach Mark Stuart was also fired.
“Following a thorough review of this past season, we believe these changes are needed,” Bowman said. “We are grateful for the contributions both Kris and Mark have made to our organization and we wish them the best moving forward.”
The Oilers fell behind 3-0 in their first final matchup against Florida before pushing the Panthers to a Game 7 and losing by a goal. They made it back the following year and had home-ice advantage but seemed to regress in a six-game series defeat that could be blamed on poor defense and goaltending.
Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers looks on during the third period in Game Six of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Anaheim Ducks. Getty Images
Those problems continued this season, before and after Bowman made a goalie swap to get Tristan Jarry and send Stuart Skinner to Pittsburgh. It made the situation worse, as Edmonton ranked 29th out of 32 teams in the league in save percentage at .883.
McDavid late in the season heaped praise upon Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper after the Lightning beat the Oilers 5-2. Even if it was not meant as criticism of Knoblauch, it stood out from a player who usually speaks more about taking responsibility for losses.
Edmonton was eliminated by the less-experienced Anaheim Ducks, when he was unable to find someone to stop the puck between Jarry and backup-turned-starter Connor Ingram. They combined for an .880 save percentage, worst in the playoffs, and the Oilers’ 4.33 goals allowed also ranked last.
The three-year contract extension the Oilers signed Knoblauch to in October kicks in next season and runs through 2028-29. They are obligated to pay him until another team hires him and would be on the hook for any differential in salary over that time.
DENVER — Jared Bednar may have put it best after the Colorado Avalanche erased a three-goal deficit to win their series on an overtime tally by a defenseman who hadn’t scored since January and with a different team, no less.
“That one was,” the coach said, “something.”
Something, indeed.
The Avalanche advanced to the Western Conference final for the eighth time since relocating to Denver courtesy of a Brett Kulak goal in a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild in Game 5. It’s just the second time in the last nine playoff appearances the Avalanche have made it past the second round.
On the other occasion, in 2022, the team went on capture the Stanley Cup championship.
With a team led by Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, it’s always a Cup-or-bust scenario. This team especially, given a regular season with captain Gabriel Landeskog on the ice, their depth — the Avalanche had 16 different players score in the Wild series — and the play of their stars.
Stanley Cup favorite
Among the preseason favorites, they led the NHL most of the regular season in capturing their fourth Presidents’ Trophy, which goes to the team with the best record.
Like Carolina, the Avalanche are rolling into the conference finals. The Hurricanes advanced with a pair of sweeps while the Avalanche required nine games, including a first-round sweep of the Los Angeles Kings. As of Thursday, Colorado is a slight favorite over the Hurricanes to win the Cup.
Next up for Colorado is either Vegas or Anaheim. Colorado was 2-0-1 against both the Golden Knights and the Ducks in the regular season.
Bednar understands the lofty expectations year in and out, given his talented roster. Criticism comes with the territory.
“It’s hard to win,” Bednar said. “But I wouldn’t want it any other way. I don’t think our players would want it any other way.
“People are going to get on you because you didn’t win the Cup. I’d still rather be fighting for that, having earned that type of reputation because of the way you play through the regular season and the group that you put together as an organization and the high expectations, rather than, “Let’s just try and make the playoffs.’”
Not much rattles the Avalanche these days. Not even a three-goal hole, which set up a frantic finish and the overtime winner from Kulak, who took a pinpoint pass from Martin Necas and lined it into the net to send the capacity crowd into a frenzy.
It was Kulak’s first goal since Jan. 19 when he was with Pittsburgh before being traded to Colorado the following month. It was also the first time the Avalanche won a series on home ice since 2008, when they beat the Wild in Game 6 of the conference quarterfinals.
“In an environment like this, where the building felt like it was going to start shaking at any moment, it was exciting,” said Landeskog, who played in his first regular season since 2022 after being sidelined with a knee injury. “Now, it’s kind of a sigh of relief.”
Banged-up Avalanche have chance to heal
The Avalanche have a few days to heal. They were without forward Artturi Lehkonen and defenseman Sam Malinski the last two games of the Wild series due to upper-body injuries. Makar momentarily left Wednesday’s game after a collision but returned.
“The playoffs are a long grind and you want to keep your focus narrow,” said Kulak, who made the Stanley Cup Final with Edmonton last season. “We can get some rest.”
Colorado has a 3-4 record in the conference finals since arriving in town before the 1995-96 season. All three times the team has advanced, though, a banner has followed — 1996, 2001 and 2022.
“They’re a really good team,” Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes said.
Depth on display
A strength of Colorado has been its depth. The 16 different players to score in the second round is tied for the most in a singles series, according to NHL Stats.
“The depth is what’s going to win, coming down the stretch here in the playoffs,” Landeskog said. “Guys are stepping up all over the place.”
In net, too, even if a goalie dilemma may now be a storyline.
Scott Wedgewood took over in the second period after Mackenzie Blackwood surrendered three first-period goals. Wedgewood stopped all seven shots he faced in the second and third periods (he saw none in OT).
“Just proud,” Wedgewood said of making the conference final. “Proud of our group ending it and finding a way to do that because we knew going into the series, it wasn’t going to be an easy out. There’s a long road ahead, a lot of stories to write and just preparing for that.”
Although the Philadelphia Flyers largely stuck with the same group of players throughout their run in the Stanley Cup playoffs this year, the team hopes that many of the young players who watched on standby will benefit from the experience.
Top Flyers prospects like Spencer Gill, Nikita Grebenkin (upper-body), Carson Bjarnason, Oliver Bonk, Jett Luchanko, Jack Berglund, and David Jiricek were all present in the press box for the Flyers' five home games in the postseason.
Only Bonk and Luchanko managed to play in a game, the Flyers' Game 4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, and Jiricek was a participant in warmups.
All of the players, however, got to see and hear what playoff hockey was like in Philadelphia.
The intensity of the games against seasoned opponents like Pittsburgh and Carolina, the cheers and boos from the crowd, and the boisterous standing ovation following the end of the season, which Flyers general manager Danny Briere lauded multiple times in his end-of-season press conference.
"We always ask a lot about our fans, and we ask them to invest in the team and spend money and time to come and see us. What they did last game was truly, truly amazing," Briere said to start his press conference.
"I wanted them to know that it was our players who took notice of that. I probably had seven or eight guys in my exit meetings that specifically mentioned how the fans reacted at the end of the game. They knew how special it was to play in the playoffs in Philadelphia. They didn't realize how special it was."
Now that the Flyers have gotten a taste of that, they want everyone to be hungry to get back to the playoffs every year and continue to learn and improve.
That includes the prospects who will be important parts of this process in the near future.
"We didn't know our fans would react the way they did, which was fantastic. That was amazing. Along the way, we didn't know if Oliver Bonk or David Jiricek would play games, but they got the chance to go on the ice for a few warmups. That was all part of the experience," Briere said.
"We had Jack Nesbitt and Spencer Gill here at the end of the season. Even though they couldn't play, they came in, spent a few days being around the team to see what it was like, the atmosphere of the playoffs, and get a taste of how exciting it could be. It goes beyond just the guys who were playing. A lot of our young guys were here. To have them around to experience that, we hope will help their development."
With Noah Juulsen a pending free agent and the future of Rasmus Ristolainen uncertain, it would certainly seem that Bonk and Jiricek have strong chances to parlay that experience into roster spots and improvement in their games next season.
Luchanko, who replaced Matvei Michkov for Game 4 against Carolina, will assuredly make his bid to make the Flyers out of training camp for a third consecutive season.
Berglund played seven playoff games with the SHL's Farjestad BK before helping the Lehigh Valley Phantoms with their playoff push on an AHL tryout, then watched the Flyers from afar.
The Flyers hope that all of these prospects will take something from the two-round playoff run and apply it in the near future.
Alex Newhook
Josh Doan
