Penguins' Letang Elevating Game In Playoffs

There have been a lot of factors that have contributed to the Pittsburgh Penguins finding themselves back in their first-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers.

After going down 3-0 to start the series, the Penguins won-back-to-back in Games 4 and 5 to force a Game 6. Goaltender Artūrs Šilovs has been a big part of that, as he has stopped 46 of 50 shots across the two wins to amount to a .920 save percentage. Sidney Crosby has also been a big part of it, as he leads the team with five points in five games - including four in the last two - and his line has found another gear.

But another huge factor in the last two games has been 20-year veteran blueliner Kris Letang.

Letang, 39, has had a long, successful career across two decades with the Penguins, registering 178 goals and 806 points in 1,235 career regular season games and 25 goals and 92 points in 152 playoff games. Unfortunately, he struggled to find consistency for much of the regular season, and the carousel of defense partners didn't help.

First, he was paired with Ryan Shea on the second pairing, which didn't go over very well for Letang. Then, he played about two months alongside defenseman Brett Kulak, who was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers, along with Stuart Skinner, for netminder Tristan Jarry in mid-December. He and Kulak paired well together, as Kulak's shutdown style tandemed with Letang's offensive prowess and ability in transition.

Then came Sam Girard, who was part of a swap with the Colorado Avalanche that involved Kulak going the other way. Girard, 27, is a lot like Letang in many ways, as they are generally smaller blueliners who like to carry the puck on their stick and use their skating to their advantage.

It didn't start off well for the two, as both were getting used to each other and trying to play a similar style, which often resulted in odd-man breaks against, turnovers, and lapses in defensive coverage. It was like that for the first part of their regular season together - starting in February after the Olympic break - and that's how things went in the first three games of the series against Philadelphia, too.

But just like they were able to reach another level nearing the end of the regular season, they have turned it up several notches in the last two playoff games.

Penguins' Goaltender Artūrs Šilovs Showing Big-Game Prowess In Series Against FlyersAfter going down 3-0 in their first-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins turned to rookie goaltender Artūrs Šilovs, who has some big-game experience under his belt - and he has delivered.

According to Natural Stat Trick, among the 40 defense pairings in the playoffs that have seen at least 30 minutes on the ice together, Girard and Letang have the second-highest on-ice shot attempts-for share (CF%) at 67.52, second only to Montreal Canadiens pairing Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj (70.69). The Penguins have had 79 chances for and 38 against with them on the ice.

And the next-closest Penguins' pairing? Parker Wotherspoon and Erik Karlsson at a 51.97 chances for share with 66 chances for and 61 against.

The pairing also ranks 12th out of 40 in expected goals share (GF%) at 56.26.

These numbers account for the entirety of the playoffs, too, not just the last two games, where their numbers were elevated a bit from the first three. The fact of the matter is that the Girard-Letang pair is beginning to step up again, as they did in the final few weeks of the regular season, and the Penguins are a much better team for it.

Of course, credit goes to both guys as individuals and as a pairing. Girard has been a monster in transition and in the offensive zone, which has helped the Penguins' attack a whole lot. But Letang has managed to lock in and play, arguably, his best hockey of the year in the last two games - and that has been in all facets.

Not only did he score back-to-back game-winning goals for the Penguins in Games 4 and 5, he was also able to get back to the best version of himself in all zones: A player who defends well one-on-one, can get back in plays on the backcheck, has elite puck possession and protection skills, and is strong on the breakout and - like Girard - in transition.

3 Takeaways: Behind Strong Defensive Effort, Penguins Take Game 5 Against Flyers And Climb Back Into SeriesThe Pittsburgh Penguins have climbed back into their best-of-seven first-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers after a huge Game 5 win.

Like Crosby and the other veterans in the room, Letang has been in this league for a long time, and he has a ton of playoff experience under his belt that includes three Stanley Cup Championships. So, his ability to elevate his game when the stakes have been the highest in the playoffs is nothing new - and it's helping the Penguins stay alive in this grueling series.

"Obviously, this is a guy who's been doing it for a long time and at a high level," head coach Dan Muse said Tuesday. "He's been in a lot of these big moments. I think he's got the experience of understanding, too, when it's time to elevate and how to get to another level. I think we've seen that, not just in terms of the goal-scoring, but just overall play, and I think you've seen that from a lot of our group and, definitely, a lot of our veterans leading the way. I think the experience they've had of being in these big moments, being in a lot of different situations in the playoffs, that could factor in.

"I think it's also... he's just a big-time competitor, and what you don't see behind the scenes, just the way he prepares, the way he takes care of himself, his day-to-day, gets you this time of year. And it comes as no surprise that he's put himself in a position to elevate his game."

If Letang can produce repeat performances of Games 4 and 5 - or, even, manage to turn it up a notch more - that will be very good news for the Penguins in Game 6.

Pittsburgh Penguins At Philadelphia Flyers Game 6 Preview: Penguins Will Try To Force Game 7 On SaturdayThe Pittsburgh Penguins will try to stave off elimination again on Wednesday.

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April 29, 2026

Injured Hurricanes Defenseman Returns To Practice

Alexander Nikishin looks to be ahead of schedule in terms of a potential return to game action.

After suffering a concussion on Saturday in Game 4 of the Hurricanes' first round series, the Russian blueliner was back on the ice for practice on Wednesday.

Nikishin was sporting a yellow, non-contact jersey, but according to Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour, the rookie defenseman seems to be doing well.

"They said right away that he didn't really have a lot of symptoms, so I think he's feeling good," Brind'Amour said. "Whatever he's gotta do, it's going along in the right direction."

Alexander Nikishin skating this morning in a yellow, non-contact jersey pic.twitter.com/64ELpQyaok
— Ryan Henkel (@RyanHenkel_) April 29, 2026

The Hurricanes have had plenty of time off since their series sweep of the Senators and they might just continue enjoying this extended recovery time with the way the first round has been going.

While some worry about the rust factor, the benefit for injured players like Nikishin certainly outweighs those fears.

"Scary moment, but thank God he's fine," said teammate Andrei Svechnikov. "He's skating with us now and I think he's gonna be good."

And while the team has depth that they can rely on, having all of their main guys available is obviously preferred.

Nikishin has been a steady presence on Carolina's blueline this year, as the rookie finished the year not only third in defensive scoring, but also set a team record for points by a first-year defenseman.

His game has come a long way throughout the course of the season, and he's developed pretty well overall into being a consistent and trusted part of the defensive corps too.

"His game has been progressing all year," Brind'Amour said. "Playoff hockey, the only thing that changes is the intensity and the physicality, and that's something that he should be able to adapt too really well. His game is good, but I still think there's another level and I think he knows that too. But a lot of positives too with where he's come and where we think he can get to."

"He had a really good second half of the year," Svechnikov said. "I think first half, he was trying to figure out and get used to the NHL speed and physicality and all that stuff. He's been really good. It's exciting to see him and I think he's only gonna get better from this point."

I asked Svechnikov today on his response to Kleven's hit on Nikishin: "Scary hit. When I saw Niki laying on the ice, I just tried to jump the guy because when you play the physical game and you try to hurt someone, that's what's gonna happen." https://t.co/ZPZKLDSKaP
— Ryan Henkel (@RyanHenkel_) April 29, 2026

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April 29, 2026

Goaltender Scott Wedgewood rises from career backup to the Avalanche’s playoff rock

DENVER — Scott Wedgewood tends to notice just about everything happening around him, no matter the task.

That traffic pattern five lights ahead while driving? He’s already planned for it. The people passing by while he’s walking in the airport or the mall with his family? He’s logged each detail.

He may just be that locked in. Or perhaps it’s an occupational hazard of being an NHL goaltender.

“My mind,” Wedgewood said, “is always on.”

He certainly has been peace of mind for the Colorado Avalanche this season, with the career backup turning into a stabilizing force in net. He led all NHL goaltenders in both goals-against average (2.02) and save percentage (.921).

Colorado coach Jared Bednar started Wedgewood throughout the first round of the playoffs in lieu of a platoon situation with Mackenzie Blackwood. The 33-year-old Wedgewood, making his first NHL playoff starts, allowed five goals in a sweep of the Los Angeles Kings. They await the winner of the Minnesota-Dallas series, which the Wild lead 3-2.

“A career backup ... here he is starting in the playoffs,” Bednar said. “I’m happy for him.”

Net gains

As kids, his two older brothers turned him into a goaltender so they had someone to shoot on in their basement in Ontario. One particular time, he ran upstairs after suffering a cut next to his eye that required stitches.

“My parents were like, ‘You guys weren’t even supposed to be playing!’” Wedgewood said.

A defenseman back then, Wedgewood started to become enamored with goalie life. When he was asked to step in while the team’s regular goaltender went on vacation, he accepted. He recounted how at a 3-on-3 youth game the score with him in net was something like 26-20.

He left with the biggest smile.

“My dad’s like, ‘I thought you were going to hate it for how many goals were scored,’” said Wedgewood, whose family expanded in January when his wife, Brittany, had their second daughter. “But it was amazing.”

The backup plan

Wedgewood has been trying to carve out his own path since he was picked by the New Jersey Devils in the third round of the 2010 draft. Everywhere he went, though, it seemed like he was option No. 2.

His fellow goaltender while in the Devils organization was Blackwood. They were friendly but competitive and nothing like today.

Today, they’re competitive, supportive and good friends.

Colorado is coming off a regular season in which the team allowed the fewest goals-against. For that, Wedgewood and Blackwood shared the William M. Jennings Trophy, which is presented to the goaltender(s) who’ve played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against.

Wedgewood went 31-6-6 in 45 games played, while Blackwood finished 23-10-2 in 39 games. Splitting playoff games may still be a plan going forward, but Wedgewood’s taken his game to another level.

Inside Ball Arena, each save by Wedgewood is greeted by chants of “Wedg-ie, Wedg-ie, Wedg-ie.” His teammates appreciate his sprawling saves, too.

“I don’t know anything about goaltending but he’s stopping the puck,” forward Nathan MacKinnon said. “He’s got a great attitude every day. Really cool story. Obviously bounced around a little bit, found a home here and the fans love him. ... We have two really good goalies.”

The relationship between Wedgewood and Blackwood has gone through stages. Early on in New Jersey, it was difficult because, “a little bit of the feeling that they were turning the page on me,” Wedgewood said.

A different feeling, though, when he rejoined the Devils a few years later after bouncing around.

“I had experiences and a little bit more maturity,” Wedgewood said. “He had proven that he was a great goalie and getting his chance. We were like, ‘Hey, I want you to do well.’”

A full-circle moment arrived when they were paired again in Colorado. Wedgewood was acquired by Colorado on Nov. 30, 2024, from Nashville in a swap of backup goaltenders. Nine days later, the Avalanche picked up the 29-year-old Blackwood from San Jose for starter Alexandar Georgiev.

“It was like, ‘You’re the guy, and I understand my role, and I want to help you and support you in any way,’” said Wedgewood, who backed up Blackwood in the playoffs last season. “It just becomes a friendship.”

Blackwood was hurt to start the season. It opened the door for Wedgewood, who posted a 5-0-2 mark in his first seven appearances. He’s been a dependable wall — his Instagram handle is “Wedgewall” — ever since. The Avs feel good about their Lumberyard.

“We feel confident in both of these guys,” Bednar said.

Turning the page

Wedgwood is an avid reader and recently took part in a book event with fans in which he swapped goalie sticks for copies of Matt Dinniman’s science fantasy series “Dungeon Crawler Carl.” The author was in attendance at the game.

This is no science fiction: Wedgewood once wanted to be an NHL defenseman.

“That’d be one of my my genie wishes,” he said, “to see what would have happened.”

Could he have been on the level of Cale Makar?

“No, no, no, no,” Wedgewood said.

He grinned and added, “But I’d have to say I was pretty good.”

April 29, 2026

We ran the numbers. Cale Makar is the NHL playoffs’ fastest defenseman

In game two of the Colorado Avalanche's opening round series against the Los Angeles Kings on April 21, defenseman Cale Makar reached a maximum speed of 23.92 mph.

That speed is the fastest ever recorded by a defenseman in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since the NHL started tracking the stat in the 2021-22 season. It’s also the fastest overall speed in this year’s playoffs, regardless of position.

Makar’s top speed is over 1 mph faster than this year’s next fastest defenseman of the playoffs, Erik Karlsson of the Pittsburgh Penguins (22.78 mph). Previously, the highest max speed mark for a defenseman in the playoffs was set last year by Noah Hanifin for the Vegas Golden Knights (23.66 mph).

The next fastest skater after Makar this year is Los Angeles’ Trevor Moore. The left winger has topped out at 23.48 mph this postseason.

Makar’s previous top speed in the playoffs was 23.28 mph, which he hit last year. During the 2021-22 regular season, he reached a max speed of 23.74 mph, which — until this April— was his highest ever recorded.

During the 2025-26 regular season, Makar was the fifth-fastest defenseman, as he trailed Ottawa's Jake Sanderson, Utah's Mikhail Sergachev, Boston's Nikita Zadorov, and Karlsson. His new 23.92 mph mark lags only Sanderson’s top speed of 24.37 mph among defensemen.

Makar’s Colorado teammate Nathan McKinnon has the all-time playoff speed record of 24.54 mph, set during the 2022 playoffs.

Makar and the Western Conference’s top-seeded Avalanche swept the Kings in round one and await the winner of Dallas-Minnesota in round two.

Methodology note: Data from NHL EDGE.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cale Makar NFL playoffs speed chart: How he compares to everyone else

April 29, 2026

Dark Spots Of The Kings' First-Round That Must Be Addressed Before The Next NHL Season

In a first-round playoff sweep by the Colorado Avalanche, the Los Angeles Kings weren't able to record one win after fighting all season to get into the post-season. The Avalanche were able to handle anything the Kings threw at them, and in the end, Los Angeles wasn't very threatening.

The reasons the Kings weren't able to get a lead for most of this series, or even win a game, are glaring. And these issues may hold the Kings back from even seeing the Stanley Cup playoffs next year.

So, what were the alarming dark spots that held Los Angeles back in the post-season?

General Offense

It's no secret that the Kings have struggled to score goals, not only in the playoffs but throughout the regular season, too.

Across the 82-game campaign, Los Angeles scored 220 goals, which was the fourth fewest in the NHL. Only the lottery teams, the Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks and Calgary Flames had weaker offenses.

In the post-season, that weak offense was on full display for the Kings, especially at 5-on-5. In total, Los Angeles tied the Ottawa Senators with the fewest goals scored in the playoffs, with five in four games.

Bright Spots The Kings Could Build On From A Disappointing First-Round Playoff SeriesThough it was a disappointing ending to the campaign, here are a couple of positives that the Los Angeles Kings can take with them into next season.

In terms of 5-on-5, the Kings had the fewest goals with just a pair. The rest of the team's tallies were on the power play, which is surprising considering that they had the fifth-worst power-play percentage in the regular season.

But at 5-on-5, Los Angeles really couldn't generate many threatening chances.

Understandably, the Kings would be a little more conservative against the Presidents' Trophy winners and heavy favorites Avalanche. But Los Angeles didn't give themselves a chance to force Colorado on its heels, and ultimately, it was an ugly series for them offensively.

Artemi Panarin, Brandt Clarke, Adrian Kempe and Joel Edmundson (Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)

Lack Of Star Power

Los Angeles' top line was pretty much invisible when it came to getting on the scoresheet, which is another reference to the team's inability to score. However, the Kings' top players are responsible for leading the way offensively, and they weren't close to that.

Artemi Panarin and Anze Kopitar didn't register a single even-strength point, and Adrian Kempe finally got his first in the lone goal of Game 4. Top defensemen Drew Doughty and Brandt Clarke can be added to the list of notable Kings to not earned an even-strength point in the series.

Anze Kopitar: Five Career Defining Moments From being the 11th overall pick in the 2005 NHL draft, Anze Kopitar has defined what it is to be a LA King.

The way the Kings prioritized defensive hockey over a more balanced game was evident, and that's what leads to a dry spell offensively. Even in the regular season, it's not often that the Kings have a player reach 80 points in a season.

Panarin finished the campaign with 84 points, but most of his year was spent with the New York Rangers. The last time Los Angeles had an 80-point scorer was in 2017-18 when Kopitar scored 92 points.

If the Kings want to be a serious team when it matters most, the stars must shine under the bright lights, and that starts with exceptional production in the regular season, which hasn't been the case over the years.

Possibly, with a new head coach, that could change.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

April 29, 2026

Vezina Trophy finalists announced. Favorite and snubs for best goaltender in NHL

Three NHL goaltenders stood out in a year when the league's overall save percentage fell below .900.

The New York Islanders' Ilya Sorokin, Boston Bruins' Jeremy Swayman and Tampa Bay Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy were named on Wednesday, April 29 as the three finalists for the Vezina Trophy for top goaltender. The award is voted on by general managers and the winner will be announced at a later date.

Sorokin tied a franchise record with seven shutouts while Swayman had a career-best 31 wins to help the Bruins get back to the playoffs. Vasilevskiy had a league-best 39 wins as the Lightning reached the playoffs for a ninth consecutive season.

Here's what to know about the Vezina Trophy finalists and the rollout for announcements for the NHL's major awards.

Vezina Trophy finalists

Players listed in alphabetical order Voting is by general managers

Ilya Sorokin, New York Islanders: Sorokin led the NHL in shutouts (seven), high-danger saves (452), high-danger shots against (523), high-danger save percentage (.864), road wins (18) and road shutouts (5). He's a second-time finalist.
Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins: Swayman, who struggled at times in 2024-25 after missing training camp in a contract dispute, bounced back this season. He had his first 30-win season and led the league with 17 games with 30 or more saves. He allowed two or fewer goals in 31 games. He's a first-time finalist.
Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning: Vasilevskiy led the league with 39 wins and allowed two or fewer goals in 35 games, which tied him for first. He ranked second in goals-against average (2.31) and third in save percentage (.912). He's a six-time finalist and won the award in 2018-19.

Who will win the Vezina Trophy?

Likely Sorokin, considering he finished first in multiple categories. He was considered a favorite all season before the Islanders slumped at the end of the season and missed the playoffs.

Vezina Trophy snub

Colorado's Scott Wedgewood led the league in goals against average and save percentage among goalies with 40 or more starts.

NHL awards finalists announcement schedule

Tuesday, April 28: Ted Lindsay Award (most outstanding player): Macklin Celebrini, Nikita Kucherov, Connor McDavid.
Wednesday, April 29: Vezina Trophy (goaltender): Ilya Sorokin, Jeremy Swayman, Andrei Vasilevskiy
Thursday, April 30: Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanship)
Friday, May 1: Jack Adams Award (coach)
Monday, May 4: Masterton Trophy (perseverance)
Tuesday, May 5: Calder Trophy (rookie)
Wednesday, May 6: Selke Trophy (defensive forward)
Thursday, May 7: Norris Trophy (defenseman)
Friday, May 8: Hart Trophy (MVP)
Monday, May 11: Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award (impact on community, culture or society)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ilya Sorokin amid Vezina Trophy finalists after Islanders miss playoffs

April 29, 2026

Islanders Goaltender Ilya Sorokin Named Vezina Finalst

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (29-24-2, 2.68 GAA, .906 SV%, 7 SO) has been named a 2026 Vezina Trophy finalist, the National Hockey League has announced.

He will be battling against Boston Bruins' Jeremy Swayman (31-18-4, 2.71 GAA, .908 SV%, 2 SO) and Tampa Bay Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy (39-15-4, 2.31 GAA, .912 SV%, 2 SO).

#NHL announces that #Isles Ilya Sorokin is a Vezina finalist, along with #NHLBruins Jeremy Swayman & #GoBolts Andrei Vasilevskiy.
— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) April 29, 2026

Per the Islanders release: "Sorokin led the NHL with seven shutouts, while posting a 29-24-2 record, a .906 save percentage and a 2.68 goals-against average over 55 games (54 starts) in his sixth NHL season. His save percentage ranked sixth and his goals-against average was seventh among goalies with at least 50 appearances. Among all netminders, Sorokin also led in road wins (18), ranked eighth in saves (1,386), ninth in shots against (1,530), tied for ninth in wins (29) and games played (55), and 10th in minutes (3,226). He also paced all goalies in high-danger saves (452) and high-danger save percentage (.864).

"The Mezhdurechensk, RUS native went 15-5-0 when facing more than 30 shots, including a franchise-record setting streak of 13-0-0 in such games to start the season. His 15 wins in that scenario also led the NHL. He turned aside 44 shots on January 6, the most saves by any NHL goalie in a shutout this season. The performance marked his 26th career shutout, breaking the Islanders' all-time shutout record that had stood for nearly 50 years. His seven shutouts also tied for the most by an Islander in a single season."

According to MoneyPuck.com, Sorokin's 25.3 Goals Saved Above Expected ranked third to Swayman's 28.8. Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson led the league with a 29.3 GSAE.

Sorokin has never won the Vezina. He was the Vezina runner-up in 2022-23, after posting a 31-22-7 record with a 2.34 GAA and a .924 SV%, adding a league-leading six shutouts.

Following the season, we asked Sorokin about what it would mean for him to win the Vezina.

"It's not something to discuss now. There's no chance," Sorokin said the night after the Islanders' season came to an end. "And I never think about this. I think about making the playoffs, and that didn't happen this year. But I think I had a good season, maybe ended a little bit, it went down, but in total, the guys played well. We have a good group here, good, great young guys and great veterans."

Vasilevskiy is the favorite but you never know how these things play out.

April 29, 2026

Examining Florida Panthers History With NHL Draft Lottery

In less than a week, hockey fans across the globe will tune in to the NHL Draft Lottery.

That’s when we’ll find out the order of the first half of the first round of 2026 NHL Entry Draft, which takes place on June 26 and 27 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.

Thanks to an injury-laden season like none the franchise had ever seen, the back-to-back defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers find themselves in the Lottery mix.

Florida finished the season with the eighth-worst record in the league.

That means the Panthers first-round selection will either be first, second, eighth, ninth or tenth, depending how the two Lottery draws go.

If Florida wins either of the draws – there is one for the first overall pick and one for the second pick – they’ll move up and select there. According to the NHL, Florida has a 6.0% chance of moving up from eighth to first.

If a team behind the Panthers wins either draw, they would move up and bump Florida back one spot to ninth. If two teams behind the Panthers each win one of the draws, that would bump the Cats back two spots, and they would pick tenth.

This year’s NHL Draft Lottery is set for Tuesday, May 5 and will be broadcast live from the NHL Network studios in Secaucus, New Jersey.

Looking back over the past 30 years of the NHL Draft Lottery (the first lottery draw was held in 1995), the Panthers have some limited history with the league’s ping pong balls.

Be warned, though…it’s not much, and it starts a bit frustratingly.

In 2002, the Panthers won the NHL Draft Lottery, moving up from the third-worst record.

Fast forward two months to the 2002 NHL Draft and the Panthers decided to trade down, swapping picks with Columbus, who had the third overall pick, in exchange for “future considerations” which were that Florida would have the right to swap picks again with the Blue Jackets the following year if they so desired. That didn’t happen, and we’ll get into why in a moment.

Columbus ended up taking Rick Nash first overall while the Panthers selected Jay Bouwmeester with the third pick.

The following season, Florida finished with the fourth-worst record while Columbus finished third-worst, but for the second straight year, the Panthers ended up winning the Draft Lottery.

That meant those “future considerations” would not be needed, as the Panthers would be keeping their 2003 top pick instead of swapping with Columbus.

Once again, the Panthers decided to shop their shiny new first overall selection.

This time, they swapped picks with the Pittsburgh Penguins, again moving down from one to three.

Pittsburgh took goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and the Panthers snagged Nathan Horton.

Perhaps learning from the previous year, Florida also acquired a player (Mikael Samuelsson) and a second-round pick (55th overall, Stefan Meyer) in the trade, while sending Pittsburgh a third-round pick (73rd overall, Daniel Carcillo).

So yeah, the hindsight view says the Panthers could have just kept their picks, selected Nash and Fleury, and who knows what may have happened.

Perhaps ‘the dark ages’ of Panthers hockey, where the team went 12 years between postseason appearances and 26 years between playoff series’ wins, would not have been a thing.

But alas, let’s move on.

It wasn’t for another 11 years that the Panthers would find themselves back in the Draft Lottery spotlight.

When the dust settled on the 2013-14 season, Florida finished with the second-worst record in the NHL, ahead of only the lowly Buffalo Sabres.

Then came the Draft Lottery, which saw the Panthers leapfrog Buffalo and slide into the top pick.

This time, Florida hung onto their selection and took defenseman Aaron Ekblad first overall.

It was a decision that has panned out nicely for the Panthers, as Ekblad has become a cornerstone player for the franchise and a big part in Florida’s current championship pedigree.

We’ll have to wait and see whether the Lottery gods once again smile on the Panthers when the ping pong balls are let loose next Tuesday in Secaucus.

While that would be amazing for Florida and their prospects of remaining a Stanley Cup contender for years to come, the rest of the league would likely have some not-so-nice thoughts about the development.

We shall see.

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Photo caption: Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Aaron Ekblad puts on a team jersey after being selected as the number one overall pick to the Florida Panthers in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. (Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)

April 29, 2026

Wild going home against Stars with chance to advance in NHL playoffs for 1st time since 2015

DALLAS — Mats Zuccarello and the Minnesota Wild now are in the position that they try to be in every season in the NHL playoffs.

Things feel a bit different now, with the Wild going home for Game 6 with a chance to eliminate the Dallas Stars and advance to the second round for the first time since 2015.

“I think it’s important just to stay calm. You know, don’t overthink it,” said Zuccarello, the 16-year NHL veteran in his seventh season with the Wild. “Don’t read whatever you guys (media) say about we haven’t gotten out of the first round in a couple of years. Just calm and collected.”

Zuccarello scored the first goal less than four minutes into Game 5 in Dallas, which was the 38-year-old top-line forward’s return from a three-game absence with an upper-body injury. The Wild, in their 12th playoff appearance over 14 seasons, went on to a 4-2 win for a 3-2 series lead.

The only other time Minnesota ever has had a 3-2 series lead was that first round in 2015, when they beat St. Louis in six games. The Wild since have lost nine consecutive playoff series, including to Dallas in 2016 and 2023.

“We’ve got to just look to control our emotions in Game 6 and in front of our home crowd, a place where we had a good feeling leaving last time,” said forward Marcus Foligno said, who is in his ninth season. “I think it’s a little bit different. I think we have a lot of leadership and guys that are experienced. ... It’s a close group but a really hard working group and a confident one right now.”

Wild captain Jared Spurgeon and fellow defenseman Jonas Brodin are the only two current players who have taken part in a postseason series victory in Minnesota. Spurgeon then was a 25-year-old in his fifth of his 16 NHL seasons — all with the same team. Brodin’s status is uncertain for the potential clincher at home after leaving Game 5 with a lower-body injury.

If Minnesota can’t wrap up the powerhouse first-round series at home, where it won Game 4 in overtime, a deciding Game 7 would be in Dallas.

The series winner will advance to play well-rested top-seeded Central Division foe Colorado, which finished off a sweep of its first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings.

Kirill Kaprizov had two assists, two days after his 29th birthday, before an empty-net goal with two minutes left. His second goal in this series was the 17th playoff goal of his career, breaking a tie with Zach Parise for the most in franchise history. His ninth career multipoint playoff game also surpassed Parise.

Matt Boldy, the 25-year-old budding standout, had the tiebreaking power-play goal in the final minute of the second period after having one taken away because of a goalie interference challenge at the end of the first.

Jesper Wallstedt, their 23-year-old rookie who has started every game in net over Filip Gustavsson in this series, had 20 saves in Game 5. He has allowed only three goals against the Stars in five-on-five situations, with neither coming that way.

“We’re very confident of where we’re at. ... Now we get to bring the series home,” Wallstedt said. “I’ve never played in a game of that type of magnitude. I’m very excited. I’m looking forward to it so much.”

April 29, 2026

Blackhawks Urged To Address Two Big Roster Needs

The Chicago Blackhawks have some decisions to make this offseason. If they want to take that next step and compete for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, it would not necessarily be surprising if they looked to make some upgrades to their group.

Due to this, in a recent article for The Athletic, Scott Powers urged the Blackhawks to add a top-four defenseman and a top-six forward this offseason.

The idea of the Blackhawks adding a top-four defenseman is an interesting one. They have several promising young blueliners on their roster who will be competing for spots on the NHL roster next season. While this is the case, it also could be beneficial for the Blackhawks to add a proven top-four NHL defenseman.

When it comes to adding a top-six forward, Powers argued that the Blackhawks should bring one in if Roman Kantserov does not sign his entry-level contract with Chicago this offseason and if they don't land either Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg in the draft.

The Blackhawks need to give Connor Bedard more help on his wings, so it would make a lot of sense for the Blackhawks to add a proven top-six winger. As for their blueline, it is already crowded, but adding a top-four defenseman could be worth it if it is a player who would help them out significantly.

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if the Blackhawks address these needs during the summer from here.

April 29, 2026

Leon Draisaitl’s 2 goals lift the Oilers past the Ducks 4-1 to stave off elimination

EDMONTON, Alberta — Leon Draisaitl scored a pair of goals and Evan Bouchard chipped in with three assists as the Edmonton Oilers staved off elimination by beating the Anaheim Ducks 4-1.

The Oilers now trail the best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series 3-2 with Game 6 in Anaheim.

Vasily Podkolzin and Zach Hyman also scored for the Oilers who previously had allowed six separate leads to slip away in the first four games of the series.

Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each had a pair of assists. Edmonton is now 18-3 when scoring first in a game when facing elimination.

Alex Killorn scored for the Ducks.

Connor Ingram made 29 stops for Edmonton, while Ville Husso recorded 10 saves for Anaheim after coming in to relieve Lukas Dostal, who allowed three goals on nine shots.

For the fifth straight game the Oilers struck first, scoring on the game’s first shot just 2:22 into the contest as Podkolzin beat Dostal high for his second of the postseason.

Edmonton took a 2-0 lead 8:33 into the opening period as a point shot was deflected twice, the second time through Dostal’s legs by Hyman.

The Oilers took a 3-0 lead just 1:14 later as Draisaitl tipped Bouchard’s point shot in for his second of the playoffs. That spelled an early end of the night for Dostal.

Anaheim got on the board on the power play 8:26 into the second period as Mason McTavish dropped it back to Killorn, who extended his points streak to four games with his third goal of the playoffs.

Edmonton responded with a power-play goal a couple of minutes later on a one-timer by Draisaitl, who tied Wayne Gretzky for the most postseason power-play goals in franchise history at 23.

Edmonton has played the most playoff games of any NHL team since 2022 with 80, two more than the Florida Panthers, who beat the Oilers in the last two Stanley Cup finals before failing to qualify this season.

Playing in his 80th career playoff game, Bouchard collected his 88th point, moving into a tie for third place for players through 80 games with Brian Leetch, behind only Bobby Orr (92) and Paul Coffey (92).

McDavid (63 points) passed Adam Oates for the second-most points in NHL history when trailing in a playoff series. Only Gretzky (80) has more.

April 29, 2026

Sabres fans save anthem singer from potential catastrophe in ‘crazy but cool’ NHL playoffs scene

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows A packed hockey arena with fans watching the game and players on the ice, Image 2 shows Sabres anthem singer Cami Clune looks at the microphone as it cuts out during

The biggest save in Buffalo Tuesday night came before puck drop.

While Sabres anthem singer Cami Clune was performing “O Canada” before Game 5 of the Sabres-Bruins series, her microphone kept cutting out.

No matter, as the crowd picked Clune up amid the technical difficulties and belted out the anthem in a heartwarming scene.

After a microphone issue in Buffalo, the entire crowd helps with the singing of O Canada ahead of Game 5 pic.twitter.com/0q6HeLTCZ8
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 28, 2026

“What a crazy but cool moment!! Thank you all for singing along,” Clune, a finalist on Season 19 of “The Voice,” wrote on Instagram.

“We have the best fans ever!” she added in a separate message.

With Buffalo situated right near the Canadian border, the Canadian national anthem is always sung before Sabres games in addition to “The Star-Spangled Banner,” even if the visiting team is not based in Canada.

Sabres anthem singer Cami Clune looks at the microphone as it cuts out during “O Canada” on April 28, 2026. X/Sportsnet

“And this is the sole reason I know the Canadian national anthem by ,” tennis star Jessica Pegula, the daughter of Sabres owner Terry Pegula, wrote on X in response to video of the moment, using a heart-hands emoji to indicate she knows the song by heart.

Sabres fans have finally had something to cheer about this season as they snapped a 14-year playoff drought, winning 50 games en route to an Atlantic Division title.

Things did not go their way Tuesday night with a chance to advance, however, as they fell to the Bruins 2-1 in overtime. Buffalo leads the first-round series 3-2 with Game 6 set for Friday night in Boston.

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Rasmus Dahlin’s power-play goal 3:35 into the first period gave the Sabres 1-0 lead. Elias Lindholm tied it for the Bruins in the second period.

David Pastrnak scored the winner 9:14 into overtime to keep Boston’s season alive.

Buffalo hasn’t won a playoff series in 19 years. They reached their second consecutive Eastern Conference Final in 2007 after defeating the Islanders and Rangers in the first and second rounds, respectively, before losing to the Senators in five games.

April 29, 2026

David Pastrnak scores 9:14 into OT and Bruins avoid elimination with 2-1 win over Sabres

BUFFALO, N.Y. — When Hampus Lindholm got the puck inside Boston’s blue line after teammate Fraser Minten broke up the Buffalo Sabres’ rush, and the Bruins defenseman knew immediately who to look for.

Sure enough, there was David Pastrnak already heading toward Buffalo’s zone.

Set up by Lindholm, Pastrnak scored on a breakaway 9:14 into overtime, and the Bruins avoided elimination with a 2-1 win in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series.

“He’s pretty special when it comes to those opportunities, too, so it was fun to see it go in,” Lindholm said.

Pastrnak said the chemistry he has with Lindholm is a result of them being neighbors.

“We always call it the neighbor connection,” Pastrnak said. “Seems like anytime he has the puck and I have an opening, I have the confidence that he’s gonna find me.”

The series shifts back to Boston for Game 6, with Buffalo still seeking to clinch its first playoff series victory since eliminating the New York Rangers in six games of a 2007 second-round series. The Sabres are in the playoffs only for the third time since, and after snapping an NHL record 14-season playoff drought this year.

Elias Lindholm also scored for Boston which overcame a 1-0 deficit. Jeremy Swayman stopped 25 shots, including foiling Jason Zucker set up in front 3:30 into the extra period.

Rasmus Dahlin scored for Buffalo and Alex Lyon stopped 27 shots.

“He’s always lurking,” Lyon said of Pastrnak, whom the goalie robbed on several chances. “Obviously, he’s one of the best players in the league,” Lyon added of a player who reached the 100-point mark for a fourth straight season. “It’s just one play at the end from a really good player. That’s usually how these things go. And now it’s just incumbent on us to move forward.”

The Sabres were caught up ice, and the Bruins jumped into making a line change, with Pastrnak coming off the bench as the turnover occurred.

Accepting Lindholm’s pass in stride as he crossed Buffalo’s blue line, Pastrnak drove in on net a step ahead of Buffalo’s Mattias Samuelsson. He faked cutting across the front and nearly lost his balance before slipping the puck inside the right post.

“He always gets it done. And what a nice finish from him,” coach Marco Sturm said of the 12th-year player. “I’m just very happy because this guy puts a lot of pressure on himself and he wants to be the difference. And today he was.”

The goal was the 41st of Pastrnak’s playoff career, and second in overtime. He scored Boston’s last overtime goal, also coming in an elimination game, to seal the Bruins’ 2-1 win over Toronto in Game 7 of their 2024 first-round series.

Lindholm tied it 9:24 into the second period after his bad-angle shot bounced into the slot. Lindholm got to the loose puck first and, with his back to the net, spun around and fired in a low shot through a crowd.

Dahlin opened the scoring at 3:35 with his first playoff goal, and Buffalo’s first power-play goal in nearly a month. Driving up the left wing, Zucker’s initial pass attempt was blocked before recovering the puck and feeding Dahlin for a one-timer in the right circle.

The Sabres had gone 0-of-17 with the man advantage this series, and entered the playoffs failing to convert 22 straight chances, dating to a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders on March 31.

The Bruins played without second-line forward Viktor Arvidsson, who was hurt in the first period of Game 4.

Buffalo lost rookie forward Noah Ostlund to a lower-body injury in the first period.

Coach Lindy Ruff didn’t reveal what the injury was, but said, “it doesn’t look good.” Ostlund had just returned to the lineup from an upper-body injury in Game 3, in which he had a goal and assist.

The Bruins have won back-to-back outings in Buffalo after squandering a 2-0 lead in the final 7:58 of a 4-3 loss in Game 1. The Sabres won both outings in Buffalo, and were coming off a 6-1 win.

“We’re in a good spot. We should be ready for the next one,” Dahlin said. “It’s a tight game and stuff happens, so we’re ready for going to Boston.”

April 29, 2026

NHL Player Props & Best Bets for Today, April 29: Vasilevskiy Plays Giant

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Another night, another loaded slate on the ice, and my NHL player props have you covered for all three games on Wednesday, April 29.

Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy headlines my NHL picks in a pivotal Game 5 tilt against the Montreal Canadiens to begin tonight’s action.

Best NHL player prop bets today

Player
Vasilevskiy Over 22.5 saves	-105
Drysdale Over 1.5 shots on goal	-110
Sergachev Over 1.5 shots on goal	-140

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(not available in Ontario)

Our best NHL player props for Wednesday, April 29

Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.

Prop #1: Andrei Vasilevskiy Over 22.5 saves

-105 at BET99

The Montreal Canadiens being held to just 18 shots on home ice in Game 4 is bulletin-board material if you ask me, so I’m fully expecting a heightened emphasis from the Habs to shoot more tonight. Especially considering Montreal has attempted the fewest shots per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 this postseason.

So, while we haven’t seen the best from Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy yet, he sports a .917 save percentage across 124 postseason games and won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2021.

Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ESPN, CBC

Prop #2: Jamie Drysdale Over 1.5 shots on goal

-110 at BET99

Of the 123 shots the Pittsburgh Penguins have allowed this series, 40 (32.5%) have been from Philadelphia Flyers defensemen, and blueliner Jamie Drysdale has accounted for 10 across the past three games.

Drysdale’s 22 shot attempts for the series also rank third on the Flyers, and he quarterbacks the No. 2 power-play unit while averaging a healthy 20:15 of ice time per game.

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: TNT, Sportsnet 360

Prop #3: Mikhail Sergachev Over 1.5 shots on goal

-140 at BET99

Utah Mammoth No. 1 defenseman Mikhail Sergachev is living on the ice, with a series-high 104:27 logged, and he’s second on the club in shot attempts with 22. So, when I saw that the Russian blueliner has only converted three into shots on goal (13.6%), this was an easy click.

Sergachev recorded two or more SOG in 47 of his 78 regular-season games, while converting his attempts into shots at a 43.3% rate.

Statistical correction kicks in tonight.

Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: TNT, Sportsnet

These props are available now at BET99, one of our best betting sites.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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April 29, 2026

Blackhawks Player Grades: Wyatt Kaiser, Louis Crevier Outshined Everyone Else On Defense

The Chicago Blackhawks ended the season as the youngest in the National Hockey League. Part of that was because of the youth they had on their blue line after the trade deadline.

Chicago’s defense doesn’t have a front-runner to be the future number one guy, but there are a couple of guys in the mix. They are also deep when it comes to players under the age of 24 who are capable of making an impact right now.

Throughout the season, some veterans played big minutes before the deadline, allowing the youth to be eased in.

This is every defender who skated for Chicago at some point in 2025-26, graded against their expectations:

Louis Crevier: A

Coming into the season, nobody thought that Louis Crevier was going to be an everyday defenseman. Not only did he do that, but he was the most important every single night. Crevier ended up dressing in 78 games out of 82, which is excellent for a guy who came in as the seventh defenseman.

In those 78 games, Crevier had 7 goals and 18 assists for 25 points, which led all blue-liners on the team.

Creivier admitted that even he didn't expect this, but he will also work to continue getting better in all three zones while putting extra emphasis on being a steady defender. This might be the most unexpected A-grade for any player at any position, but he's firmly a part of the future now.

Artyom Levshunov: C

Artyom Levshunov might be the hardest player, at any position, to evaluate in the entire organization. He has all of the skills in the world, and he has put them on display a lot, but he also makes mistakes from time to time that simply can't happen.

He trailed Crevier by one point for the team lead with 10 fewer games played, but nobody would ever think that he was the best defender on the team this year.

In the final four games leading up to the Olympics, the Blackhawks put Levshunov on a development plan that held him out of the lineup without sending him down to the AHL. He simply had to work on his skills in practice with the big club.

Once he was inserted back into the lineup, he played much better. Overall, he gets a C-grade for his up-and-down season, but he has much loftier goals for 2026-27.

Alex Vlasic: C

Overall, Alex Vlasic had a tough year by his standards. He didn't get much power-play time, he wasn't a high-end player at even strength, and he left a lot to be desired by the end of the season.

The fact is, however, that you're a great player at the base if this is your "tough year". Vlasic only had two goals and 19 assists for 21 points in 81 games played, but his role isn't to produce points as much, and it may never be.

Vlasic gets a C-grade for simply being a solid player this year; he just doesn't get anything better because you can't say he took a step. Expect somewhat of a bounce-back in 2026-27 if the team around him is significantly better.

Wyatt Kaiser: A

Wyatt Kaiser, like Louis Crevier, was unexpectedly a top defenseman on the team. With the way he played this year, Kaiser might officially be a part of the long-term core. That gets you an A-grade alone.

He was sensational and may only get better. Kaiser didn’t get power play time, despite displaying some offensive skills from time to time, but he was used a lot as a top penalty killer on the team. Every winning team has a defender like Kaiser, who should be a staple on the blue line for a long time.

Sam Rinzel: C

Sam Rinzel did not have the season he wanted, and he would tell you that. When camp began, few players on the blue line had the same level of hype as he did.

The start of the season was rough for him, though, and eventually he had a stint in the AHL. Without ever complaining about it, the rookie took it in stride as an opportunity to develop further.

Eventually, he came back and stayed. There is still another level for him to get to, but the end of the season got him back up to a C-grade.

Connor Murphy: B

Connor Murphy was traded to the Edmonton Oilers at the deadline, which put an emphasis on how impactful he was as a Chicago Blackhawks defenseman over the years.

They never won like they wanted to with him, but he helped them transition from the former core to the new core. The interesting stat that floated around when he was traded was that he played for the Blackhawks longer than Marian Hossa.

As far as this season, he didn’t impress with big offensive numbers, but he was a steady contributor on a team that wasn’t going anywhere. The young kids, especially on defense, loved having him around as a mentor, so for that, he gets a B-grade.

Matt Grzelcyk: C

The Blackhawks brought Matt Grzelcyk in on a PTO during training camp, and he earned a spot as a veteran on the team. With a solid NHL tenure surrounded by some of the legends of the game, he was perfect for the young group.

He didn’t have a big offensive season, and his time in that type of role never truly existed the way it has for him in the past, but he gave an honest effort in every game he played.

Grzelcyk was in the lineup in almost every match until the end of the year when he got hurt. His future in the NHL is uncertain, but a C-grade is good for him this year, as that’s exactly what was expected of him.

Kevin Korchinski: C

Kevin Korchinski was drafted 7th overall, so the organization is being patient with him. He was brought in as an offensive-minded defenseman who may have some deficiencies in his own end, but the juice hasn’t been worth the squeeze in terms of point producing.

Other young players have passed him by at his biggest strength, so he has a hill to climb after only seeing constant NHL time in the final month.

Ethan Del Mastro: C

Ethan Del Mastro didn’t play with the NHL club as much as he would have hoped, but he did get a look towards the end of the season.

There are players ahead of him on the depth chart, but he is certainly a C-grade replacement option for the organization. Being so young, Del Mastro has time to develop into an everyday contributor, but he must keep working.

Forward Grades:

Blackhawks Player Grades: Connor Bedard Unsurprisingly Leads All ForwardsThe Chicago Blackhawks had an up-and-down year from their forwards. This is a grade for everyone who dressed.

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.