The Buffalo Sabres ripped off a four-goal first period and never looked back en route to a 6-1 win over the Boston Bruins in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series on Sunday, April 26.

Peyton Krebs, Josh Doan, Bowen Byram and Alex Tuch all had a goal and an assist, while Zach Benson and Beck Malenstyn also scored for Buffalo. The Sabres takes a 3-1 series lead back home for Game 5 on Tuesday, April 28, after claiming back-to-back victories in Boston.

Krebs netted the opening goal only 4:17 into the first and it was 3-0 less than 10 minutes into the game.

The early flurry was more than enough offense to back goaltender Alex Lyon, who made 23 saves and held a shutout until Boston's lone goal by Sean Kuraly with 40 seconds left in the third.

Boston's Jeremy Swayman allowed six goals on 29 shots before Joonas Korpisalo entered in relief for the final 13:19.

In the midst of falling into a 4-0 deficit in the first period of a playoff game for the first time ever, the Bruins lost Viktor Arvidsson to an upper-body injury after he was hit by Buffalo defenseman Mattias Samuelsson.

Samuelsson hit on Arvidsson #LetsGoBuffalo#NHLBruinspic.twitter.com/aUxhAf4Dml

— Buffalo Hockey Moments (@SabresPlays) April 26, 2026

Buffalo had a 19-5 shot advantage and eight high-danger scoring chances in the opening period.

Krebs scored Buffalo's first game-opening goal of the series. A turnover led to Tuch creating the scoring chance, firing a no-look pass to his oncoming winger for a wrister from the slot.

Just two seconds after Boston killed off a penalty, Doan made it a 2-0 game by deflecting Ryan McLeod's centering pass from the right goal line to the top of the crease at 7:10.

Benson added to the tally only 2:05 later. After picking defenseman Jordan Harris' pocket along the left wing, he drove hard to the net and snuck a backhand shot five-hole on Swayman.

Byram's third goal in three games capped off the four-goal period with 5:36 left. The defenseman took a pass from partner Owen Power down the left side and scored across the grain past a diving Swayman.

Two goals in a span of 84 third-period seconds put an exclamation point on Buffalo's win.

Starting the quick-fire sequence, Jordan Greenway's point shot took deflections off Tyson Kozak and then Malenstyn on its way past Swayman at 5:08. Malenstyn made the ultimate tip from between the circles.

Tuch finalized the Sabres' scoring to make it 6-0 at 6:32, slotting home Tage Thompson's feed from behind the net.

Kuraly scored on the rebound of Andrew Peeke's point shot for the lone Bruins goal, which came short-handed.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sabres crush Bruins 6-1; Boston loses Viktor Arvidsson to injury

The Montreal Canadiens are set to face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 4 of the first round. The Habs are entering this game with momentum on their side, as they defeated the Bolts in overtime by a 3-2 final score in Game 3. 

With their victory in Game 3, the Canadiens have a 2-1 series lead heading into Game 4. With this, the Canadiens have a golden opportunity in front of them in Game 4.

If the Canadiens can pull off a victory in Game 4, they would have a 3-1 series lead over the Lightning before heading back to Tampa for Game 5. This would be huge for the Canadiens, as they would have control of the series and three chances to knock out the Lightning. 

However, if the Canadiens lose to the Lightning, the series would be tied back up at 2-2. This would once again give the Lightning home ice advantage, which would be far less than ideal for the Habs. 

It will be interesting to see if the Canadiens can defeat the Lightning in Game 4. If they do, they will be in very good shape. 

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Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel was one of the most productive playmakers in the NHL this season, ranking ninth in assists per game.

With Game 4 looming, my Golden Knights vs. Mammoth predictions expect his facilitation skills to be on full display in Utah.

Let’s dive deeper into my NHL picks for Monday, April 27.

Golden Knights vs Mammoth Game 4 prediction

Golden Knights vs Mammoth best bet: Jack Eichel Over 0.5 assists (-135)

Jack Eichelrecorded 63 assists over 74 games during the regular season, and he has picked up where he left off during the playoffs, notching an apple in two of three games against the Utah Mammoth. 

The Vegas Golden Knights have generated 37 shots on goal with Eichel on the ice — the most of any player on the team, but he has taken only seven of those 37 attempts (18.9%). 

Eichel centers a dangerous top line and plays on a loaded power play featuring Tomas Hertl, Pavel Dorofeyev, and Mitch Marner, who have combined for zero goals on 27 chances. They’re due for an outburst, and Eichel is likely to be involved.

Golden Knights vs Mammoth Game 4 same-game parlay

Mark Stone is the only player on the Vegas roster who plays alongside Eichel at both 5-on-5 and the top power play unit.

Stone is coming off the most productive season of his career and strongly correlates with Eichel, making him a priority target in this parlay.

On the other side, it’s hard to ignore Dylan Guenther’s shot volume. The young sniper has peppered the Vegas net, generating 4+ shots in all three games while averaging 11.7 shot attempts.

Guenther attempted 12 shots in Game 3 and will continue to avoid the toughest matchups at home.

Golden Knights vs Mammoth SGP

• Jack Eichel Over 0.5 assists
• Mark Stone Over 0.5 points
• Dylan Guenther Over 2.5 shots

Golden Knights vs Mammoth odds for Game 4

• Moneyline: Golden Knights -115 | Mammoth -105
• Puck Line: Golden Knights -1.5 (+220) | Mammoth +1.5 (-270)
• Over/Under: Over 6 (+100) | Under 6 (-120)

Golden Knights vs Mammoth trend

Jack Eichel has collected four assists over his last four games in Utah. Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs. Mammoth.

How to watch Golden Knights vs Mammoth Game 4

Golden Knights vs Mammoth latest injuries

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Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig will have a hearing with the Department of NHL Player Safety after he sucker punched a Carolina Hurricanes player in a Game 4 loss.

During a scrum in the second period, Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker was being held in a headlock by the Senators' Warren Foegele. Greig hit Walker with an upper cut but wasn't penalized on the play.

A date and time for the hearing has yet to be announced. Any suspension would be served next season because the Senators were eliminated from the playoffs after the 4-2 loss on Saturday, April 25.

CHAOS IN OTTAWA 🫨 pic.twitter.com/f8DxsTCsg9

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 25, 2026

Greig has one previous NHL suspension, sitting out one preseason and one regular-season game for cross-checking in 2021.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ridly Greig faces NHL hearing after sucker punching Sean Walker

The first three games of the opening round playoff series between the Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings were tightly contested.

Game 4 was anything but.

The Avalanche rolled to a 5-1 victory over the Kings to complete the sweep and punch their ticket to the second round. It marks just the third time in franchise history that the Avalanche have swept their opponent in the opening round of the postseason, with Colorado going on to win the Stanley Cup in two of those previous three seasons.

Colorado was powered by Nathan MacKinnon, who finished with three points on two goals and an assist. Cale Makar, Devon Toews, and Nic Roy also scored, while captain Gabe Landeskog added two assists.

Scott Wedgewood, who started all four games in the series, turned aside 24 shots as the Avalanche completed the sweep. Anze Kopitar’s career came to an end following the loss.

First Period

The Avalanche killed off two penalties in the first half of the period after Roy and Nick Blankenburg were both called for interference, though the second penalty was, at best, a ticky-tack call.

NATHAN MACKINNON HAS HIS 1ST GOAL OF THE SERIES 🐶🚨 pic.twitter.com/gjQ8d715IQ

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 26, 2026

Los Angeles also fell victim to a controversial interference call when Brian Dumoulin knocked Artturi Lehkonen down in front of the net. On the ensuing power play, MacKinnon blasted a one-timer from the left circle to make it a 1–0 game. It was the Rocket Richard Trophy winner’s first goal of the postseason and Colorado’s first power play goal of the playoffs.

This scrum between the Kings and Avalanche just WOULD NOT END 😳 pic.twitter.com/oufex4Sanf

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 26, 2026

At 17:58, a flurry of penalties broke out involving both teams. Jack Drury and Alex Turcotte each received minor penalties, while Samuel Helenius was assessed two separate minors along with a 10-minute misconduct. Jeff Malott was also sent off for roughing Drury during the same sequence, turning the moment into a multi-player scrum with penalties on both sides.

Second Period

Makar made it 2–0 at 5:48 when he tracked down a loose puck at the blue line, danced around Kings defenseman Taylor Ward, and snapped a wrister past Kings netminder Anton Forsberg, who made 27 saves, to double the lead. Ward tried to haul him down after realizing he was beaten but couldn’t slow him before he got the shot off.

JOEL EDMUNDSON BREAKS THROUGH FOR LA AND THE KINGS HAVE LIFE 👀🚨 pic.twitter.com/Pf11uby1hV

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 26, 2026

The Kings got a lifeline with 6:17 left in the period when Joel Edmundson fired a shot through a screen by Kopitar, beating Wedgewood to cut the deficit to 2–1.

CALE MAKAR SCORES A BEAUTY AND THE AVS DOUBLE THEIR LEAD 😮‍💨🔥 pic.twitter.com/F0zFlk3MQt

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 26, 2026

With under five minutes remaining in the second, Kadri took a series of punishing hits from Edmundson, who eliminated him against the boards. 

But with Josh Manson out for an undetermined amount of time with an upper-body injury, the question remains who will step up and provide that physical edge for the Avalanche. MacKinnon certainly didn’t hesitate, delivering a heavy hit on Dumoulin at the blue line just before the end of the period.

This Dogg protects 😤 pic.twitter.com/fiIEQU9Zjl

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 26, 2026

Third Period

The Kings came out with a head of steam in the early moments of the third period, desperate to avoid getting swept. Kopitar led the rush up the ice and got a shot off on Wedgewood, but the Avalanche goaltender came up with the save.

NIC ROY RESTORES THE AVS' 2-GOAL LEAD AND IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR LA 🫨🚨 pic.twitter.com/IVPZiFBibT

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 26, 2026

Nic Roy cashed in at 3:13 with his second goal of the series, punching home a rebound off an initial shot from Artturi Lehkonen to restore Colorado’s two-goal lead at 3–1. The play was set up by Sam Malinski, who fed Lehkonen along the right wing as the Finnish forward fought off a defender before getting the puck on net.

DEVON TOEWS WITH THE DAGGER FOR COLORADO 😱

KINGS TRAIL BY 3 😶 pic.twitter.com/qNhNk1w9C6

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 26, 2026

Just 2:48 later, Colorado added an insurance marker when MacKinnon fed Devon Toews, and the star defenseman ripped a top-shelf wrister to make it 4–1, as the Avalanche made it clear they wanted to close out the opening round with a statement win.

With the seconds ticking away, it became evident that the Kings may have traded for Artemi Panarin at the deadline just to make their annual first-round exit feel a little more expensive.

MacKinnon added an empty-net goal, and his second of the night, to make it 5-1. It was MacKinnon's 57th career playoff goal in his 99th career playoff game.

In the end, it was a championship-caliber performance from the Colorado Avalanche.

Even without their most physical presence in the lineup, every line elevated its game, every shift carried weight, and every response felt intentional. That’s what separates good teams from dangerous ones—and right now, this group looks very much like the latter.

The Avalanche will face the winner of the series between the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild, with the Wild earning a 4-3 overtime victory on Saturday to even the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.

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Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby has generated offense efficiently against the Philadelphia Flyers, leading all players in shots on goal during this first-round series.

My Flyers vs. Penguins predictions expect Crosby to be at the forefront of the Pens’ attack in Game 5.

Let’s break down my NHL picks for Monday, April 27.

Flyers vs Penguins Game 5 prediction

Flyers vs Penguins best bet: Sidney Crosby Over 2.5 shots (-165)

Sidney Crosby has registered at least three shots on goal in every game this postseason. Even with the Philadelphia Flyers leaning on their structured defensive system, Crosby is still getting his share of looks.

That should continue in Game 5. The Pittsburgh Penguins are once again playing an elimination game, which means they’ll rely heavily on Crosby.

Considering it's also a home game for Pittsburgh, Head coach Dan Muse will control the matchups and be able to get Crosby some extra shifts away from Philly defenseman Travis Sanheim.

Flyers vs Penguins Game 5 same-game parlay

Bryan Rust has hit the scoresheet in a remarkable 73% of his games this season following one day of rest. That number jumps to 80% when isolating home dates.

Rust leads the Penguins in high-danger chances during this series and is attached to the hip of Sidney Crosby in all situations, making him a real threat to produce.

Meanwhile, the Flyers have generated more chances with Travis Konecny on the ice than with any other forward on the team.

Flyers vs Penguins SGP

• Sidney Crosby Over 2.5 shots
• Bryan Rust Over 0.5 points
• Travis Konecny Over 0.5 points

Flyers vs Penguins odds for Game 5

• Moneyline: Flyers +120 | Penguins -140
• Puck Line: Flyers +1.5 (-210) | Penguins -1.5 (+175)
• Over/Under: Over 6 (+100) | Under 6 (-120)

Flyers vs Penguins trend

Sidney Crosby has recorded 3+ shots in 14 of his last 17 games against Philadelphia. Find more NHL betting trends for Flyers vs. Penguins.

How to watch Flyers vs Penguins Game 5

Flyers vs Penguins latest injuries

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Long before Tyler Toffoli signed with the San Jose Sharks during the summer of 2024, he began his career in Southern California and spent eight seasons alongside Jonathan Quick and Anze Kopitar, both of whom are calling it quits after the 2025-26 season. 

Kopitar's career could come to an end at any moment now, as the Los Angeles Kings are on the verge of being eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Colorado Avalanche. Toffoli had nothing but praise for the current Kings captain.

"He's the best," Toffoli said of Kopitar. "He's a guy that I definitely looked up to when I came in the league, and he definitely took care of me. I'm excited to watch him. To see the respect and everything that he got from everybody this year was something pretty special. He's one of the best teammates I've ever had and [I have] nothing but great things to say about him and and his family."

While Kopitar was a life-long member of the Kings, Quick had a different journey. Like Toffoli, Quick moved around a bit after departing Los Angeles. He had a stint with the Vegas Golden Knights, spent a couple of hours as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets organization, and finished his career with the New York Rangers.

"I had the inside scoop," Toffoli joked when asked if he was surprised to hear that Quick was retiring. "You never would have expected him to keep going and do what he was doing in New York . He's also one of the best teammates I've ever had. The way that he plays and competes, no offense to any of the other goalies I played with, but that would be the goalie that I pick in any Game 7."

The NHL is a never-ending revolving door of players coming and going. Long-time Sharks fans will always remember the hard-fought battles between the Sharks and Kings during the 2010s, many of which focused around Kopitar and Quick.

As for Toffoli, he's can use the knowledge he gained as a member of those Kings teams to help the next generation of Sharks to make the next iteration of the rivalry even more unforgettable. 

Down 2-1 in their series against the Utah Mammoth, the Vegas Golden Knights’ offense has once again dried up. Thus, they have changed the one thing that remained constant throughout the season: the power play.

Barring a few games with injuries, the Golden Knights trotted a five-man forward group out for every 5-on-4 power play opportunity. Mitch Marner ran the point; Jack Eichel ran the half wall. Mark Stone worked his magic below the goal line, Tomáš Hertl was parked in the bumper, and Pavel Dorofeyev was set up in the right circle for a one-time opportunity.

In the regular season, this unit was money. Despite Stone missing 22 games, they finished the year as the 6th-ranked power play with a 24.6% success rate.

But now, in the postseason, they’ve hit a wall. After going 2-for-5 through the first two games of the series, the Golden Knights are 0-fer their last five opportunities. Three of those opportunities would have gotten them back into the fight in Game 3, which was ultimately a 4-2 loss.

So, the Golden Knights are changing things up.

On the first unit, Eichel, Stone, and Dorofeyev remain in their usual spots. But Ivan Barbashev replaced Hertl in the bumper, and Shea Theodore slots into Marner’s position at the point.

The second unit is a bit more interesting. Rasmus Andersson joins Marner at the point, and Noah Hanifin is on the half wall. Brett Howden is netfront, and Hertl is in the bumper.

Head coach John Tortorella simply said, “We changed it. We’re gonna see how it works.”

After starting all three postseason games with the same lineup, the Golden Knights are changing things up. They shuffled the top three lines and kept the fourth line intact:

Ivan Barbashev – Jack Eichel – Pavel Dorofeyev

Reilly Smith – Mitch Marner – Mark Stone

Brett Howden – Tomáš Hertl – Keegan Kolesar

Cole Smith – Nic Dowd – Colton Sissons

The defensive pairs remained unchanged. Carter Hart will remain the starting goaltender.

The Colorado Avalanche have battled through three tightly contested games thus far in their first-round series, emerging victorious despite, among other things, the stifling defensive tactics employed by the Los Angeles Kings.

With a victory today, the Avalanche can be the first team in the Western Conference to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Colorado Avalanche

Scoring had been hard to come by for the Avalanche in the first two games against Los Angeles, with their first goals not coming until the second and third periods, respectively. Game Three was a different story, as a shot from Gabe Landeskog ricocheted off the end boards before bouncing off the skate of goaltender Anton Forsberg early in the first period to give the Avs the lead. Los Angeles would tie the game with a bounce of their own off Trevor Moore in the second period, but Cale Makar’s first goal of the playoffs restored the lead. A shorthanded goal from Artturi Lehkonen would give the Avs some breathing room in the third, but a power-play goal for Los Angeles would make things interesting late. Brock Nelson would cap off the night with an empty net goal to secure a 3-0 series lead to wrap up a game that featured more end-to-end action for both teams. Scott Wedgewood stopped twenty-four of twenty-six shots for his third consecutive playoff win.

Projected Lineup

Forwards:
Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas
Parker Kelly – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin
Gabe Landeskog – Nazem Kadri – Nicolas Roy
Ross Colton – Jack Drury – Logan O’Connor

Defense:
Cale Makar – Devon Toews
Brett Kulak – Sam Malinksi
Nick Blankenburg – Brent Burns

Between the Pipes:
Scott Wedgewood
Mackenzie Blackwood

Los Angeles Kings

What do you do if you’re the Los Angeles Kings coming into today’s game? The League’s most potent offense, featuring the current Rocket Richard winner in Nathan MacKinnon—who hasn’t scored a goal during this postseason—has been held to eight total goals. The power play has found success in three straight games. The penalty kill has been flawless. Anton Forsberg has been solid. Artemi Panarin has been the primary driver on offense, which is what General Manager Ken Holland was banking on when he made the trade for him.

The ingredients for playoff success are there, and what’s been the end result? An elimination game scenario on your own ice after three consecutive losses to start the postseason.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs giveth, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs taketh away.

Projected Lineup

Forwards:
Artemi Panarin – Anže Kopitar – Adrian Kempe
Trevor Moore – Quinton Byfield – Alex Laferriere
Joel Armia – Scott Laughton – Jared Wright
Mathieu Joseph – Samuel Helenius – Jeff Malott

Defense:
Mikey Anderson – Drew Doughty
Joel Edmundson – Brandt Clarke
Brian Dumoulin – Cody Ceci

Between the Pipes:
Anton Forsberg
Darcy Kuemper

Bruins-Sabres Game 4 takeaways: B's need much more from David Pastrnak originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

BOSTON — The Bruins had a great chance to bounce back from their Game 3 loss against the Buffalo Sabres three days ago and even their first-round playoff series with a Game 4 win Sunday afternoon at TD Garden.

Instead, they played one of the worst playoff games in team history. Literally.

The Sabres became the first team since the Hartford Whalers in 1991 to score four goals against the Bruins in the first period of a playoff game. Buffalo dominated from start to finish in a 6-1 victory to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.

Now the series shifts back to Buffalo for Game 5 on Tuesday night, and the Bruins must win that matchup (and the next two) to stave off elimination.

Here are four quick takeaways from the Bruins’ historic defeat.

1. David Pastrnak is really struggling

David Pastrnak led the playoffs in scoring with five points (one goal, four assists) through the first two games of the series. Was he dominating in those matchups? No, but he was making an impact at even strength and the power play.

He hasn’t given the B’s much of anything offensively the last two games, though, and it’s one of the primary reasons why Boston faces a 3-1 series deficit.

Pastrnak tallied zero points in Games 3 and 4 in Boston. He was especially ineffective Sunday with zero shots on net through two periods and one shot through 60 minutes. Nearly every time Pastrnak tried to make a move past a Sabres player, he lost the puck and the rush up ice was halted.

Pastrnak was asked postgame if he’s healthy and replied, “Yes.”

Even if he’s not 100 percent, the Bruins need him to play like a top 10 offensive player (which he is) to have any chance at mounting a series comeback. The Bruins badly need goals — they’ve scored only one in each of the last two games — and as a five-time 40-goal scorer, he has to lead the way in that department.

2. Turnovers prove costly

The Bruins were very sloppy with the puck, especially in the first period. Three of the Sabres’ first four goals were the direct result of a B’s turnover in their own zone.

Buffalo’s 10 goals scored within 10 seconds of forcing a turnover lead the playoffs.

PEYTON KREBS STRIKES FIRST FOR BUFFALO ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/gOv7DQ6kFn

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 26, 2026

“They did a good job getting on us quick. They had a lot of speed tonight,” Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm said. “They came out on us quick. It’s something we have to look at to try to be a little stronger on pucks and kill their speed a little bit and not play into their game.”

3. Marco Sturm’s lineup changes don’t work

Taking top prospect James Hagens out of the lineup and putting Lukas Reichel in at third-line left wing did not have the intended impact. Reichel had a golden look at the net in the second period but he couldn’t get off a shot and failed to score. He didn’t make much of an impact the rest of the game.

Hagens is 19 years old and has very limited playoff experience. He didn’t play amazing in Game 3. But his speed and high-end offensive skill set are really needed for the Bruins right now. Putting him back into the lineup for Game 5 should be a no-brainer.

Jordan Harris also replaced Mason Lohrei on the right side of the second defense pairing next to Hampus Lindholm. It was a tough night for Harris in his playoff debut. He turned the puck over in the first period and the Sabres immediately capitalized with a goal that increased their lead to 3-0. Harris had enough time and space to clear the zone but didn’t execute.

ZACH BENSON BURIES HIS FIRST #STANLEYCUP PLAYOFF GOAL 😤

SABRES TAKE A 3-0 LEAD IN THE FIRST 🦬 pic.twitter.com/JR7TtdQMdE

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 26, 2026

Harris was on the ice for two goals against, he had two turnovers and played the fewest minutes (13:37) by far of any Bruins defenseman. The Sabres had a 12-3 edge in scoring chances during Harris’ 12:18 of even-strength ice time.

In fairness, the whole team was bad, not just Harris. Now Sturm has to decide what to do with the blue line entering Game 5. Will the Bruins go back to Lohrei? Could Henri Jokiharju draw in? There aren’t many good options.

4. No home-ice advantage

The Bruins played awesome at home this season. Their 29 wins at TD Garden were tied for the second-most home wins of any Eastern Conference team in the regular season.

Finding that same success in the playoffs has proven very difficult. But it’s not just a 2026 problem.

The Bruins lost the last two games of this series at home, extending their losing streak in home playoff games to five. Boston’s last home playoff victory was Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2024 first round.

The B’s have lost 10 of their last 13 playoff games at the Garden dating back to the 2023 first-round series versus the Florida Panthers.

“Very disappointing,” Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy said when asked about the team’s home struggles in this series. “I don’t know if we maybe thought it would just be easy here. I don’t know what happened, but we can’t do anything about it now except look forward and realize this is still a series.”

Home-ice advantage isn’t as powerful in the NHL as it used to be, but there’s still no reason for the Bruins to play so poorly in their own building, especially when it’s not an issue the first six months of the season.

In BC, all eyes are on the Vancouver Canucks heading into the NHL Draft Lottery on May 5. The Canucks, who finished 32nd overall in the NHL, will enter the lottery with the highest odds of drafting first-overall. Earning the first-overall selection would make them the second professional hockey team in Vancouver to earn a first-overall pick in their respective 2026 Entry Drafts, as the Vancouver Goldeneyes clinched this feat on Saturday night. 

The Goldeneyes finished their inaugural PWHL season with a record of 9–3–4–14, ultimately being eliminated from playoff contention on April 18. This activated their race for the Gold Plan, which is a system that helps decide which of the eliminated teams will be awarded the first-overall pick. From after a team is eliminated until the end of the regular season, they will continue to collect points in the standings; however, these points will instead go towards a potential draft order, with the team that collects the most points being awarded the first-overall selection in the upcoming draft. 

After taking a 4–3 overtime win against the Minnesota Frost on Saturday, and having the Seattle Torrent lose in a shootout, the Goldeneyes were able to secure the rights to the first-overall pick in the 2026 PWHL Entry Draft. 

The Canucks have yet to pick first-overall throughout franchise history, though their current odds should set them up well to do-so. They have made four selections at second-overall (Daniel Sedin, 1999; Petr Nedvěd, 1990; Trevor Linden, 1988; and Dale Tallon, 1970) and four at third-overall (Henrik Sedin, 1999; Dennis Ververgaert, 1973; Don Lever, 1972; and Jocelyn Guevremont, 1971). 

Interestingly, this would not be the first time a city’s (or overall demographic) NHL and PWHL team were both awarded the first-overall draft pick. This honour belongs to New York, as the Islanders and the Sirens both selected first-overall in the 2025 Draft, with the Islanders picking defenceman Matthew Schaefer and the Sirens selecting forward Kristýna Kaltounková. 

The options at first-overall are bountiful for both the NHL and PWHL. For the NHL, forward Gavin McKenna appears to be the favourite to go first, though Ivar Stenberg has made a strong case for himself. From a PWHL standpoint, all signs point towards defender Caroline Harvey going first-overall; however, defender Laila Edwards, forward Abbey Murphy, and centre Tessa Janecke have all made notable impressions in their respective seasons. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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The Charlotte Checkers have been eliminated in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs following a Game 3 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues’ AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. 

Game 1 of the best-of-three series started perfectly for the Checkers. They defeated the Thunderbirds 8-1 in Game 1, thanks to dominant performances from several players who gained NHL experience with the Florida Panthers late in the season.

In Game 2, the Thunderbirds bounced back, picking up a 5-2 win. It was another strong start, as the Checkers jumped out to a 1-0 lead after the first period, but the Thunderbirds responded in the middle frame. The Thunderbirds went into the final stanza with a 3-2 lead and added another two goals to win Game 2. 

The first two matchups were fairly high-scoring affairs, but Game 3 was a defensive showdown. The Checkers once again opened the scoring thanks to a tally from Tobias Bjornfot.

The Checkers held onto their lead until late in the third period when veteran defender Calle Rosen tied the game at 1-1.

In the overtime frame, former 2016 first-round pick Julien Gauthier scored the winner, eliminating the Checkers and sending the Thunderbirds into a second-round matchup with the Providence Bruins. 

Charlotte Earns Dominant Game 1 Win, Receive Contributions From Several Panthers Call-UpsCall-ups fuel Charlotte's dominant Game 1 victory, with multiple Panthers prospects exploding offensively. Prospects gain invaluable experience on their playoff journey.

Although the Checkers fell short of replicating their post-season success from last year, they still introduced several rookies to their lineup. They also saw several players, highlighted by Sandis Vilmanis, Alex Benning, and Mikulas Hovorka, play impactful minutes in the NHL.

The Savanah Ghost Pirates, the Panthers’ ECHL affiliate, are the final remaining team in the Panthers organization still alive in the playoffs. However, they are down 2-0 in their first-round series against the Blues’ ECHL affiliate, the Florida Everblades. 

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After leading the Philadelphia Flyers in scoring after the Olympic break, Matvei Michkov has fallen flat against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Michkov, 21, has yet to record a point for the Flyers this postseason, joining Tyson Foerster as the only two forwards (who have played) in that category.

The problem, though, is that the Russian phenom isn't as physical or versatile as Foerster, and it's forced head coach Rick Tocchet to use center Noah Cates as a rogue player at times due to the line's overall ineffectiveness.

Things came to a head in a 4-2 Game 4 loss to the Penguins, when Michkov was out-attempted 14-1--yes, 14-1--at 5-on-5, according to Natural Stat Trick.

The former No. 7 overall pick needs opportunities and possession in the offensive zone to contribute, and those opportunities have been far and few between.

Hypothetically, Tocchet's idea of having Cates and Denver Barkey fetch the puck for Michkov on the forecheck should have worked, but it hasn't. Now it's time to adjust.

NHL Star Admiring Flyers' Porter Martone From AfarTop <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> prospect Porter Martone has impressed his teammates, the organization, and fans with how well he's played so far, but he's quickly earning the respect of his peers, too.

At Sunday's practice at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J., Michkov was observed to be taking line rushes with projected scratches Garrett Wilson and Carl Grundstrom, while rookie Alex Bump skated with Foerster and Cates.

The Flyers are up 3-1 in the series because they've gotten scoring from the first and fourth lines (Christian Dvorak and Sean Couturier units) that were meant to be handling matchup duties against Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

On the other hand, the Trevor Zegras and Cates lines that were set up to have easier matchups have done very little of that, though Zegras and Travis Konecny drove the bus for the Flyers in Game 4, specifically.

So, why is Tocchet making the expected move now, with the Flyers needing some offense and with Michkov producing in key moments as recently as a week ago?

"I just think he's part of the young group. Barks went through it a little bit, Bump a little bit. You hit, not the wall, but you kind of plateau. There's a lot of pace in the playoffs," Tocchet was quoted as saying of Michkov by PHLY's Charlie O'Connor.

Flyers Have Significant Goaltending Edge After Latest Penguins Lineup ChangeWith a commanding 3-0 series lead, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> are about to face a desperate Pittsburgh Penguins team doing anything it can to stay alive in the stanley Cup playoffs.

"I think it's OK to evaluate them every once in a while, give them a rest and stuff. Whether it's Matvei, whether it's Bumper, it doesn't really matter. I think that's the way you develop them as players."

By default, the new-look Bump, Cates, and Foerster trio should look better and more cohesive. They're better suited for the responsibilities they'll have than Barkey and Michkov were together.

What the immediate future holds for Michkov is currently unclear, but each game he went without scoring or improving made this moment increasingly likely.

Now, we'll have to wait and see how the 21-year-old responds to yet another challenging moment in his young career.

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist avoided having to go to the hospital after taking a skate to his face, though coach Glen Gulutzan had no further update Sunday.

Lundkvist suffered a deep laceration after taking an inadvertent skate to the left side of his face during the second period of Dallas' 3-2 overtime loss at Minnesota on Saturday that tied the best-of-seven first-round series at 2-2.

Stars players had the day off Sunday, when Gulutzan spoke to reporters on a Zoom call and said he was waiting for an update after a further examination of Lundkvist. But the coach said Lundkvist never had to to go the hospital for the cut.

Game 5 is Tuesday night in Dallas.

On the play where he go hurt, Lundkvist was called for a tripping penalty. As Michael McCarron tumbled over, his skate inadvertently caught the face of the Stars defenseman, who was bleeding when he immediately went to the Dallas bench and then down the tunnel.

Lundkvist signed a two-year, $3.5 million contract that was announced just before the start of the playoffs and goes through the 2027-28 season.

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AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The Colorado Avalanche have a chance to end their first-round series Sunday afternoon, while a loss for Los Angeles could also bring the curtain down on the legendary 20-year career of Anze Kopitar.

The Avalanche carry a 3-0 series lead into Game 4 at Crypto.com Arena after grinding out victories in all three matchups, including a 4-2 win in Game 3. Colorado has not overwhelmed Los Angeles offensively, but it has been the steadier, more composed club in the moments that have mattered most.

Colorado in Control

Each game in the series has featured narrow margins, yet the Avalanche have consistently found answers. They opened with a 2-1 win, followed with a 2-1 overtime triumph in Game 2, then created separation late in Game 3 to move within one win of advancing.

Colorado’s structure, depth, and poise have allowed it to dictate the tone even when the Kings have clogged the neutral zone and turned games into trench warfare. The Avalanche now have an opportunity to become the first Western Conference team to punch its ticket to the next round.

Kings Facing Elimination

For Los Angeles, the challenge is clear: generate more offense before the season disappears. The Kings have defended competitively throughout the series, but too often their attack has stalled before it could truly pressure Colorado.

Now back on home ice, Los Angeles will try to summon the urgency and emotion that often accompanies elimination games. Anything short of a win sends the Kings into the offseason.

Puck drop is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. MT. Broadcast coverage will be available on Altitude, TNT, TruTV, and HBO Max, with radio coverage on Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM.

But most importantly, how are you, the fans feeling? Will the Avalanche pull off the sweep? Don't miss all the action as The Hockey News will cover every facet of the game!