John Garrett, beloved hockey broadcaster and former NHL goalie, died at the age of 74, the Canucks announced Tuesday.
Garrett was part of the Sportsnet broadcast team that was working the first-round playoff series between the Golden Knights and Mammoth. The Canadian sports network syndicated ESPN’s broadcast of Monday night’s game.
“It is with profound sadness we share the news of the sudden passing of John Garrett, a beloved colleague, friend, and one of the most familiar voices in Canadian hockey,” Sportsnet said in a statement. “‘Cheech’ was a legend. His warmth, [humor], and genuine love for the game endeared him to fans and colleagues alike. He brought insight, authenticity, and heart to every broadcast.
John Garrett of the Hartford Whalers circa 1980 in New York, New York. Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty
“He will be remembered not only for his remarkable career, but for the kindness and joy he shared with everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. John will be missed immensely. Our deepest condolences are with his family and loved ones.”
Garrett was the 38th overall pick by the Blues in the 1971 NHL Draft and spent six seasons in the NHL, playing for the Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques and Canucks.
He finished his NHL career with a 68-91-37 record with a 3.47 goals-against average and .866 save percentage.
Garrett was named to the NHL All-Star Game in 1983, which was held at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island.
Garrett’s playing career also took him to the now-defunct World Hockey Association, where he spent six seasons, appearing with the Minnesota Fighting Stars, Toronto Toros, Birmingham Bulls and New England Whalers.
After he hung up his skates, Garrett moved into broadcasting as a color commentator on “Hockey Night in Canada” in 1986. He later joined Sportsnet in 1998.
Fans cheer as broadcaster John Garrett waves to fans during the Vancouver Canucks NHL game against the Calgary Flames at Rogers Arena April 8, 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. NHLI via Getty Images
During that time, he worked as a color analyst on Oilers and Flames broadcasts before becoming part of the Canucks’ broadcasting team. The 2022-23 season marked his final one in the broadcast booth for the Canucks. He spent the past three seasons on national telecasts.
“On behalf of the Aquilini family and everyone at Canucks Sports & Entertainment, we are devastated by this loss,” Michael Doyle, president, business operations for the Canucks, said. “John meant so much to this organization and to our fans. He brought an unmistakable energy, humour, and authenticity to every broadcast, and had a way of making people feel connected to our team and to each other.
“He will be deeply missed, not only for what he did, but for who he was.”
Apr 28, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy (12) looks to move the puck past Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) during the first period in game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
DALLAS — Matt Boldy scored the tiebreaking power-play goal in the final minute of the second period, after having one taken away late in the first, and the Minnesota Wild beat the Dallas Stars 4-2 on Tuesday night for a 3-2 lead in their first-round Western Conference series.
Kirill Kaprizov scored an empty-net goal with two minutes left and had two assists, while Mats Zuccarello scored in his return from a three-game absence with an upper-body injury for the Wild. Michael McCarron also had a third-period goal.
The Wild go home for Game 6 on Thursday with a chance to advance to the second round for the first time since 2015. They have lost their last nine playoff series, including to Dallas in 2016 and 2023.
Jason Robertson had a goal with 3:21 left — after also scoring goals in each of the first four games — and assisted on Miro Heiskanen’s one-timer on a power play for the Stars, who made the Western Conference final each of the past three seasons.
Wild rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt had 20 saves, 11 in the third period.
Boldy, who had two goals in Game 1 and the overtime winner in Game 4 on a deflection Saturday, scored on a shot from the top of the circle to the left of goalie Jake Oettinger for a 2-1 lead with 32 seconds left in the second period.
Oettinger stopped 24 shots, including a sprawling save before the end of the second period.
There were only 13 seconds left in the first period when Boldy knocked the puck through on a power play. Dallas won its challenge for goalie interference, with replay showing Boldy made contact on his second-effort shot.
That was the third time in two games Boldy put a puck in the net that wasn’t a goal, but he still has four goals this postseason after 42 in the regular season. In Game 4, he had a goal waved off in regulation because of goalie interference, and another discounted in overtime because he made a kicking motion at the puck.
Zuccarello hadn’t played since having three assists in the Wild’s 6-1 winto open the series, when he also took an elbow to the head.
He had a quick impact in his return, scoring 3:51 in to the game after Kaprizov gathered the rebound of his initial up-close shot off Oettinger then slid the puck over the top of the crease to Zuccarello on the other side of net.
The Stars tied the game five minutes later when Heiskanen shot a one-timer from about 50 feet through the center of the ice.
The Minnesota Wild (2-2) welcomed back Mats Zuccarello and Yakov Trenin against the Dallas Stars (2-2) for Game 5 after their injuries.
Unfortunately for the Wild, one of their top defensemen blocked a shot in the second period and did not return.
Under two minutes into the second period, Jonas Brodin took a shot from Mikko Rantanen off the skate and was laboring.
Brodin, 32, skated off and then went down the tunnel. He did not return for the rest of the second period and is not on the ice for the third period.
The Wild have Matt Kiersted, Daemon Hunt and Jeff Petry in the wings. If Brodin can’t go for Game 6, Hunt seems like the most plausible option.
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That sentiment was echoed by head coach Dan Muse as well during training camp and throughout the regular season.
"He's gained some really good experiences in his career so far, and he's obviously still a relatively young guy," Muse said of Šilovs earlier this season. "I think those things, they seem to all kind of stack up. To have that [AHL Calder Cup run] that he had last year, and then to have the playoffs before, and then you also look at some of the different experiences that he's had in international play... you look at it and see he's not that old.
"He's got all these things already, and you own those now. You own those experiences, and you carry them with you."
And, through two playoff games in which the Penguins have faced elimination, he sure has carried that with him.
After making the post-season for the first time in four years, the Penguins went down 3-0 in their first-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers with Stuart Skinner between the pipes. Although Skinner - a veteran who has been to two Stanley Cup Finals with the Edmonton Oilers - hadn't really done anything to contribute to his team's deficit in the series, Muse made the bold decision to change goaltenders for Game 4 with Pittsburgh's season on the line.
Well, it worked. Šilovs entered Game 4 and stopped 28 of 30 Flyers' shots on goal, and he followed that up with an 18-for-20 performance in a 3-2 Game 5 win on Monday for the Penguins. Through two games, he has a .920 save percentage and, like Skinner in the first three games, has made several key saves on odd-man breaks and high-danger shots from Philadelphia.
This is in pretty stark contrast to the stretch run of the regular season, when Šilovs went 8-5-0 with a pedestrian .871 save percentage in his 13 appearances following the Olympic break. Many were questioning the decision to turn to Šilovs in Game 4 because of his struggles nearing the end of the regular season.
But, as he has always done, Šilovs has found a way to lock in and elevate when the stakes are the absolute highest - and that's something he revels in.
"Just the atmosphere to play," Šilovs said. "It's meaningful hockey. Everyone goes their hardest. You know you're playing for something, and you know there's an ultimate goal to do something, and it's fun to play, to be a part of it."
The sentiment from his coach regarding Šilovs's big-game prowess hasn't changed since his words earlier this season, either.
"Having those experiences, I think, definitely helps. Both of our guys have had a lot of big-game experience at different points and at different levels, so you have that," Muse said. "But, then, I also think with [Šilovs], it's just that he's a really competitive guy. I think he's somebody who just, naturally, he loves the big moments, he loves big games. So, I think that's just a little bit of who he is as a person."
Šilovs's teammates are pretty confident in their 25-year-old rookie netminder, too, who led the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks to a Calder Cup Championship last season with a .931 save percentage and performed well in the NHL playoffs for the Canucks two seasons ago.
"He's been making huge saves," veteran forward Bryan Rust said. "He's been calm back there making saves, the same thing he's been doing all year - coming to work every day, working hard, smile on his face."
The most impressive thing about Šilovs's first two games, too, is the situation he walked into. It's one thing to sub in due to injury, like he did against the Nashville Predators in the first round in 2024, closing out the series with a shutout and then giving Vancouver a chance through seven games against the high-octane offense of the Oilers in the second round.
But to come in when his team is down 3-0, quite literally in need of a win to survive? And not just a win, but four wins in a row? That kind of pressure can fold some goaltenders, especially ones as generally inexperienced as Silovs.
That's not happening here. His experience and performances in the NHL and AHL playoffs - as well as his international resume - show a proven track record of success in high-pressure environments, and he continues to make big saves when the Penguins are in dire need of them.
"Amazing," three-time Stanley Cup winner Kris Letang said. "Obviously, he comes up big. [Philadelphia] got really quality looks, and a couple breakaways in the last game, too, and he is pretty composed back there.
"It's tough to come in and face them for three games. You have to come in and do the job. I thought he played well."
Of course, there is still a lot of runway left in this series. The Penguins have made it 3-2, but that means they still need to survive two more elimination games in order to keep their Stanley Cup hopes alive and move on to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the next round.
They are taking it one day, one game at a time, and they see this situation as an opportunity. And having two goaltenders they are able to rely on if things start to get a bit dicey is something that no one takes for granted.
Apr 25, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs (37) celebrates win with teammates against the Philadelphia Flyers in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
Captain Sidney Crosby thinks Šilovs has done an excellent job handling that responsibility.
"We have confidence in both guys. I mean, they've proven it throughout the season," Sidney Crosby said. "I think Arty's done a great job when they've applied pressure, and when we've made mistakes, he's been there to bail us out. That's gonna happen. You're not going to play a perfect game, and you're going to have to rely on your goalie to make those saves. You don't want to make him work too hard, and I think for the most part, we've done a pretty good job of that.
"We're always trying to make his job a little easier, and when we haven't, he's made some great saves and shown a lot of poise."
As for Šilovs? He's just enjoying the opportunity, taking it in stride, and using the emotions of playing in these must-win games as fuel to put his best game on the ice.
"It's an exciting opportunity," Šilovs said. "I think playing in the playoffs is the most fun you could ever have, and we've been waiting for a whole season to get to this point. So, just enjoying every minute of it."
On March 29th, the Vegas Golden Knights made a change behind the bench with just eight games left in the regular season. They relieved head coach Bruce Cassidy of his duties and subsequently brought in John Tortorella to take his place.
From broadcasters to the media to fans, this move caught the hockey world by surprise. And when Cassidy joined the NHL on TNT intermission panel nearly a month after the incident, he admitted that it shocked him, too.
“Yeah,” said Cassidy on Tuesday. “You know, you grind for 74 games, and you want to be there at the end. That’s the payoff, right? Playing for the cup, getting your name on the cup again… Great guys in that locker room, great players. I’m excited for the guys, but disappointed I didn’t get a chance to finish the job with them.”
Throughout their nine-year history, the Golden Knights have earned a reputation as a team that will do whatever it takes to win. This move is a bit too extreme to be par for the course, but it’s not completely without precedent.
“Vegas, they have their standards,” Cassidy acknowledged. “They felt we weren’t there, so they made a change.”
In 2022, the Golden Knights hired Cassidy as their third head coach in franchise history. The move immediately paid dividends, and he led them to their first Stanley Cup in 2023. Typically, Stanley Cup Champion head coaches get a longer leash; in this case, the floundering Golden Knights needed a spark, and Cassidy was the casualty.
“I think somewhere along the way, we lost our spirit, and we lost our energy as a team,” said general manager Kelly McCrimmon after the coaching change. “You need to make hard decisions, and the easiest thing in the world to do is nothing… If we didn’t have the expectations and the belief in our team that we do, we probably would’ve let this thing ride out.”
Following the coaching change, the Golden Knights went on a 7-0-1 run to close out the regular season.
“I would have liked to see it through, I’ll definitely say that,” Cassidy admitted. “We’d won once before, so we knew what it looked like to win… Yes, I would have loved to have the opportunity. But it didn’t work out that way, so you start thinking about your next challenge.”
With the Bruins facing elimination in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Sabres, they needed their two-best players — David Pastrnak and Jeremy Swayman — to lead the way Tuesday night in Buffalo.
Pastrnak really struggled in the two previous games in Boston. He was held without a point in those matchups, and in Game 4 he had only one shot. The superstar right wing played much more aggressively in Game 5 with a team-leading seven shots, and the final one resulted in the winning goal to help Boston stave off elimination.
Pastrnak did a great job to drag his left skate to stay onside, and then he beat Sabres goalie Alex Lyon with a fantastic move.
It was Pastrnak’s second career playoff OT goal. The first came in Game 7 of the 2024 first-round series versus the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“What a nice finish by him,” Bruins head coach Marco Sturm said postgame. “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 Bruins had a 23-11 edge in shot attempts, a 12-4 advantage in shots on net, a 14-4 lead in scoring chances and a 6-1 differential in high-danger chances during Pastrnak’s 19:46 of even-strength ice time in Game 5, per Natural Stat Trick.
Scoring in big games is nothing new for Pastrnak. He has scored in four of the six Game 7s he’s played in his career. And he also has 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 15 games in which the Bruins were facing elimination.
The Bruins have scored only four goals over the last three games. They need to increase their scoring output to have a real chance to win this series, and as a five-time 40-goal scorer, Pastrnak has to lead that charge.
Pastrnak wouldn’t have had a chance to win Game 5 if Swayman didn’t stand on his head all night. He gave another fantastic performance with 26 saves on 27 shots (.963 save percentage). He saved an impressive 1.96 goals above expected, and he stopped all five high-danger shots sent his way.
“He’s been great in every game,” Sturm said. “Believe it or not even last game, if it wasn’t for him it was 10-0 after the first period. He’s a big competitive guy and he showed it again today. Big moments, big games, he wanted the big guys to show up and he’s one of them, and he did it. He made a few really good saves. He was awesome.”
Swayman made a couple clutch saves late in the third period when the Sabres were making a strong push in search of the winning goal. He also made a huge stop on Sabres forward Alex Tuch shortly before Pastrnak’s winner.
The Bruins have had a tough time scoring on Lyon since he entered the series in the third period of Game 2, which has put an enormous amount of pressure on Swayman to be almost perfect each night. And so far, he’s been the Bruins’ top player in the series, and it’s not even close.
He has a .911 save percentage through five games, which is skewed downward by the team’s awful 6-1 loss in Game 4. If you take out that game — which wasn’t his fault by any means — he has a .937 save percentage in the other four matchups combined.
Swayman is the No. 1 reason why the Bruins exceeded expectations and made the playoffs this season, and he’s the No. 1 reason why they are still alive in this series.
And he’ll need to be the Bruins’ best player the rest of the way if they are going to complete what would be a historic series comeback.
At the moment, the St. Louis Blues haven’t decided just yet whether they are ready to move on from Jordan Binnington.
Reports indicate that the Blues will explore their options, and if he does hit the market, the Blues will have plenty of buyers.
The 32-year-old is an experienced goaltender, having won a Stanley Cup, a 4 Nations Face-Off gold medal, and an Olympic silver medal, but 25-year-old Joel Hofer outperformed him throughout the 2025-26 season and is poised to continue improving and lock down the No. 1 role.
With all that being said, let’s visit three destinations where Binnington could thrive.
Florida Panthers
There may not be a better fit for Binnington’s character than the Florida Panthers. The back-to-back Stanley Cup champions thrive on being considered the villains, and Binnington is no stranger to the hate of NHL fans.
Besides culture fit, Binnington aligns with the Panthers’ timeline. Reports indicate the Panthers and Sergei Bobrovsky are far off in negotiations, and his time in Florida could be over.
The Panthers’ roster is filled with players in or around 30 years old, like Binnington. The Panthers not only want to return to the playoffs but also go on a deep run again, and Binnington has the pedigree to do so.
The Edmonton Oilers and Binnington have been linked numerous times, but this season, the links were the strongest. Ultimately, the Oilers went in a different direction, trading for Tristan Jarry from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The move has failed miserably, and the Oilers might be in the market for another starting goaltender. The goaltending position in Edmonton comes with a lot of scrutiny, and no goalie is mentally stronger to handle that pressure than Binnington.
The Oilers need to do everything they can to convince Connor McDavid that they can win a Stanley Cup, and acquiring Binnington, a netminder he’s had success with at the international level, could be a positive step toward that goal.
Although Frederik Andersen put on a phenomenal display for the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, goaltending remains a weak point for this contending team.
All three goaltenders the Hurricanes used this season had save percentages below .900. Additionally, Andersen is set to become a UFA.
Binnington could come to the Hurricanes and bring the snarl they’ve lacked, while being a calming force in the crease. Binnington is at his best when the stakes are highest, and the Hurricanes need a goaltender who can deliver in those moments.
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The Detroit Red Wings are fortunate to have two of the NHL's most intriguing goaltending prospects in their system, one of whom is expected to make the jump to a full-time role in Detroit next season.
Sebastian Cossa (15th overall, 2021 NHL Draft) and Trey Augustine (41st overall, 2023 NHL Draft) are both currently with the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins, and fans are understandably excited at the thought of one (or even both of them) being an eventual brick wall for the Red Wings at some point in the near future.
Augustine, who hails from the Detroit suburb of South Lyon, played for the U.S. National Team Development Program in Plymouth and attended Michigan State University.
He has since joined the Griffins on an amateur tryout after completing his time in the collegiate ranks.
Having grown up in Michigan as a Red Wings fan, routinely attending games at Joe Louis Arena, getting a chance to suit up for the club would be nothing short of living out a childhood dream.
“It means so much to me and my family as well,” Augustine explained recently to WILX reporter Ben Shockley, reflecting on the significance of joining the Red Wings organization.
“Me and my Dad used to go to games at Joe Louis Arena all the time, seeing Jimmy Howard, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg play,” he added. “I mean, growing up in Michigan, I've always been a Red Wings fan. Hopefully one day, I'll get to wear the Winged Wheel.”
While with the Spartans, Augustine became the goaltender in school history to win the Mike Richter Award as the nation's top player at his position, and was also named a First Team All-American two consecutive years.
Additionally, he won back to back Big Ten Goaltender of the Year awards, and was also a 2026 Hobey Baker Award Top Ten Finalist.
Making the adjustment to life in professional hockey has been smooth so far, and Augustine hopes that he'll eventually see some playing time.
"It's been good so far, it's a little different than Michigan State, but it's been good to get my feet wet," he said. "Looking forward to playing hockey down the stretch."
"There are a bunch of new guys, but they're all great and helped me feel like part of the team, which is awesome. "
Right now, Augustine is third on the Griffins' goaltending depth chart behind Cossa and Michal Postava. While his competitive side wants to see as much playing time as possible, he's also voiced his support for his teammates while standing at the ready if he's called upon.
"Obviously, I'd like to play every game, but they're a great team with two great other goalies," Augustine said of Cossa and Postava. "I'll just do anything I can to help them be ready to go, and obviously put myself in a position where if I'm called to play, I'm ready."
"Obviously, we're trying to win the Calder Cup here, and the coaches are gonna play who they think will give the team the best chance to win the game, and I'm going to do everything I can to help support that," he continued.
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Apr 23, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Viktor Arvidsson (71) skates against Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) during the third period of game three of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Boston Bruins will be without second-line forward Viktor Arvidsson when they face elimination in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series at Buffalo on Tuesday night.
Without disclosing the nature of the injury, coach Marco Sturm said Arvidsson did not travel with the team. Arvidsson was hurt after being checked by Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson in the first period of Boston’s 6-1 loss on Sunday.
The Bruins trail the series 3-1, with Arvidsson scoring twice in Boston’s 4-2 victory in Game 2.
Sturm said forwards Michael Eyssimont and Alex Steeves are among the options to make their series debuts. The coach added veteran defenseman Henri Jokiharju will replace Jordan Harris and play his first game of the series.
“I think we are excited to bounce back,” Sturm said. “We want to show that last game that’s not really us.”
Apr 24, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) shoots the puck against Anaheim Ducks center Mikael Granlund (64) during the third period of game three of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
EDMONTON, Alberta — Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid will be a game-time decision Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks in the teams’ Game 5 of their first-round playoff series.
McDavid, who led the NHL in points this season, did not participate in the team’s morning skate ahead of a must-win game for Edmonton.
The Oilers are trying to avoid elimination and rally from a 3-1 deficit in the best-of-seven series. Edmonton reached the Stanley Cup final in each of the last two seasons before losing to the two-time champion Florida Panthers.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch also said the status of forward/center Jason Dickinson would be decided before the game and that Connor Ingram would start in net.
The 29-year-old McDavid has looked uncomfortable at times since rolling his ankle in the second period of Game 2 when he collided with teammate Mattias Ekholm.
McDavid, who led the league with 138 points, scored his first goal in Game 3 and had his first multi-point games in the third and fourth games of the series in Anaheim. McDavid didn’t participate in Saturday’s off-day skate in Anaheim.
McDavid was nominated Tuesday for the Ted Lindsay Award, along with San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov. The award is for the league’s “most outstanding player” as voted by NHL players. McDavid is a four-time winner.
Ingram returns to the Edmonton net on Tuesday after Tristan Jarry made 34 saves in a 4-3 overtime loss in Game 4. Ingram started the first three games of the series. He earned a 4-3 victory in Game 1 before allowing 11 goals in consecutive losses behind a leaky Edmonton defense.
“Nothing against Jarry,” Knoblauch said. “I thought he had a solid game the other night, but going down this last few weeks or months, Ingram’s been our starter. He’s been our guy. Now that our season’s on the line, we felt that we would go with our guy.”
Dickinson sat out the second and third games of the series due to injury. He scored twice in Edmonton’s win in the opener and assisted on the Oilers’ first goal in the Game 4 loss.
The Montreal Canadiens are back in the Sunshine State to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in tonight's Game 5, with the series tied 2-2.
This juggernaut Atlantic Division series has become a best-of-three, with both teams snagging a crucial road win.
My Canadiens vs. Lightning predictions and NHL picks for Wednesday, April 29, expect the Canadiens' usual suspects to rise to the occasion, with timely help from secondary scoring.
Canadiens vs Lightning Game 5 prediction
Who will win Canadiens vs Lightning Game 5?
Montreal: This game may be the biggest toss-up of the series. The Habs were one of the best road teams during the regular season, and will be extra hungry after letting a two-goal lead slip away in Game 4.
Canadiens vs Lightning best bet: Nick Suzuki Over 0.5 Assists (-150)
Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki has been one of the league's best playmakers all season and has registered four assists through four games in this series. He's garnered 11 apples in 12 April games, and his 72 assists in the regular season ranked fifth in the entire league.
The 101-point scorer has 10 assists in his last nine road games and will be heavily relied upon in a pivotal Game 5 in Tampa Bay. Perhaps him connecting with Cole Caufield for a goal in Game 4 will finally open the floodgates for the Habs' top line.
Canadiens vs Lightning Game 5 same-game parlay
Lane Hutson has seemingly kicked into another gear in the absence of Noah Dobson.
The sophomore blue liner has compiled 10 shots on goal this series -- more than he had in his previous 11 games combined. He's played over 26 minutes in every game of the series, peaking at 32:00 in Game 2.
He's everywhere, all the time, and has been firing on all cylinders this series.
Apart from the likely heroes in Suzuki, Hutson, and company, the Habs have welcomed some very timely secondary scoring. Zachary Bolduc has three points in this series and has fired seven shots on goal in his last three games.
The Quebecer makes up one-third of a formidable third line alongside Kirby Dach and Oliver Kapanen. At plus-odds, there's some serious value in a young, hometown kid making his presence felt.
Canadiens vs Lightning SGP
Nick Suzuki o0.5 Assists
Lane Hutson o1.5 Shots on Goal
Zachary Bolduc o1.5 Shots on Goal
Canadiens vs Lightning Game 5 goal scorer pick
Lane Hutson (+475)
Hutson already has two goals in this series, including that unforgettable overtime winner in Game 3. He rang one off the post in the dying seconds of Game 2, putting the Habs inches away from a commanding series lead.
Expect the defenseman to be wreaking havoc in the offensive zone tonight.
Each of the last five games between these teams have been decided by a goal, with three needing extra time. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Lightning.
How to watch Canadiens vs Lightning Game 5
Location
Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
Date
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
TNT, truTV, CBC
Canadiens vs Lightning latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Boston Bruins will be without second-line forward Viktor Arvidsson when they face elimination in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series at Buffalo on Tuesday night.
Without disclosing the nature of the injury, coach Marco Sturm said Arvidsson did not travel with the team. Arvidsson was hurt after being checked by Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson in the first period of Boston’s 6-1 loss on Sunday.
The Bruins trail the series 3-1, with Arvidsson scoring twice in Boston’s 4-2 victory in Game 2.
Sturm said forwards Michael Eyssimont and Alex Steeves are among the options to make their series debuts. The coach added veteran defenseman Henri Jokiharju will replace Jordan Harris and play his first game of the series.
“I think we are excited to bounce back,” Sturm said. “We want to show that last game that’s not really us.”
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid will play Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks in Game 5 of the teams' first-round playoff series.
McDavid, who led the NHL in points this season, did not participate in the team's morning skate ahead of a must-win game for Edmonton and was a game-time decision, according to coach Kris Knoblauch.
The 29-year-old McDavid has looked uncomfortable at times since rolling his ankle in the second period of Game 2 when he collided with teammate Mattias Ekholm.
The Oilers are trying to avoid elimination and rally from a 3-1 deficit in the best-of-seven series. Edmonton reached the Stanley Cup final in each of the last two seasons before losing to the two-time champion Florida Panthers.
Edmonton forward/center Jason Dickinson, also a game-time decision, was also in the lineup released shortly before gametime.
Knoblauch said earlier Tuesday that Connor Ingram would start in net after Tristan Jarry started in Game 4.
McDavid, who led the league with 138 points, scored his first goal in Game 3 and had his first multi-point games in the third and fourth games of the series in Anaheim. McDavid didn’t participate in Saturday’s off-day skate in Anaheim.
McDavid was nominated Tuesday for the Ted Lindsay Award, along with San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov. The award is for the league’s “most outstanding player” as voted by NHL players. McDavid is a four-time winner.
Ingram returns to the Edmonton net on Tuesday after Jarry made 34 saves in a 4-3 overtime loss in Game 4. Ingram started the first three games of the series. He earned a 4-3 victory in Game 1 before allowing 11 goals in consecutive losses behind a leaky Edmonton defense.
“Nothing against Jarry,” Knoblauch said early Tuesday. “I thought he had a solid game the other night, but going down this last few weeks or months, Ingram’s been our starter. He’s been our guy. Now that our season’s on the line, we felt that we would go with our guy.”
Dickinson sat out the second and third games of the series due to injury. He scored twice in Edmonton’s win in the opener and assisted on the Oilers’ first goal in the Game 4 loss.
NEW YORK (AP) — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman offered his unequivocal support Tuesday for the ruling that upheld the Anaheim Ducks’ overtime goal against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series.
“It wasn’t a controversy, it was absolutely the right call,” Bettman said in meeting with Associated Press Sports Editors at the NHL headquarters in New York City. “Because of the technology that we currently use and the cameras that we have inside the net, you could see it, knew for certain that it would be in and over the line.”
Bettman’s response comes two days after Ryan Poehling’s goal was extensively reviewed to determine whether it fully crossed the goal line, before being allowed to stand in a 4-3 win. The Ducks lead 3-1 and have a chance to clinch the series in playing Game 5 at Edmonton on Tuesday night.
Though on-ice officials ruled Poehling scored, questions were raised as to whether there was enough visible evidence to show the puck crossing the line 2:29 into overtime.
Poehling’s sharp-angle shot hit an Edmonton player’s skate in front and trickled under goalie Tristan Jarry. The puck creeped through Jarry’s legs, appearing to barely cross the goal line, though the top portion of the puck was hidden by the goalie’s skate blade.
NHL replay officials determined there was no reason to overturn the on-ice call.
“I thought I saw some white (between the puck and the goal line) when I was behind the net,” Poehling said. “Then everyone was celebrating. Did it go in? I’m like, ‘I think so?’ But yeah, I thought so right away.”
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch was not convinced.
“I can’t see it going in,” Knoblauch said. “I can’t see the line. ... The (initial) goal call on the ice was probably about 60 to 90 seconds after (the shot), maybe even more. They huddled when they got to center ice and then they made the (initial) call that it was a good goal. I don’t know. Wasn’t very definitive.”
Bettman on Tuesday said the NHL is currently testing technological advancements that would further assist replay officials in determining goals. He didn’t reveal any details or provide a timeline on when the technology would be introduced.
Anze Kopitar has been with the LA Kings for his entire career, and he has shown the hockey world just what that means. From his immediate impact as a rookie to helping the Kings capture 2 Stanley Cups in 3 seasons, and having his nation receive international success with him leading the way, Anze Kopitar has left a truly inspirational legacy and career-defining moments that nobody could have imagined.
Kopitar's Immediate Impact
Anze Kopitar was drafted by the Kings at 11th overall in the 2005 NHL Draft, and he made his presence known in his first NHL career game. He debuted on October 6th 2006, on the road against the Anaheim Ducks. Kopitar would score his first NHL goal in that game after receiving a pass from Dustin Brown. Kopitar would rush down the wing and pass Chris Pronger before outwaiting Jean-Sebastien Giguere for his first NHL goal. Kopitar would score his 2nd career goal later that game, and that was just the beginning for Anze Kopitar.
Kopitar would finish his rookie season with 72 games played, 20 goals, 41 assists, and 61 points. Kopitar was the player the Kings needed to help get back to the playoffs and compete for a Stanley Cup.
In the early parts of Kopitar's career, he improved steadily as he reached career milestones early and often.
Some of Kopitar's Milestones in his early career were:
First Career Hat-Trick October 22 2009
100th NHL Goal January 28 2010
First Career Playoff Goal April 17th 2010
Anze Kopitar achieved all of these feats before the age of 24, and he was showing the entire NHL just how good a player he was becoming.
Playoff Experiences
In his first 3 seasons with the Kings, Kopitar did not make the playoffs, but in his 4th season, they qualified, and for Kopitar, it was his first time in the NHL competing for the Stanley Cup. The Kings would play the Vancouver Canucks in the first round, and while they would be eliminated in Game 6, Kopitar would have 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points in those 6 games. While the Kings did not make the playoffs the following year, it would not be long before Kopitar and the Kings returned to the postseason.
Anze Kopitar and the Kings would make it back to the postseason in the 2011-2012 NHL season, where they would face the Vancouver Canucks in round 1. This time, the Kings would defeat them in 5 games, marking Anze Kopitar's first playoff series win.
In that same year, Anze Kopitar and the Kings would defeat the St. Louis Blues in 4 games, then the Phoenix Coyotes in 5 games to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they would take on the New Jersey Devils. Anze Kopitar made an immediate impact in the Stanley Cup Finals, scoring the overtime-winning goal in game 1, and the Kings never looked back as they captured their franchise's first Stanley Cup after defeating the New Jersey Devils in 6 games.
Anze Kopitar was tied for the Playoff Point lead with fellow King Dustin Brown as they both had 20 points. That was not enough for Kopitar and the Kings, as 2 years after winning the Kings' first Stanley Cup, the Kings would make history once again.
In the first round of the 2013-2014 NHL playoffs, the Kings faced the San Jose Sharks, and after the first 3 games, they found themselves down 3-0 in the series. But the Kings would battle back to force a game 7, where Anze Kopitar would register the game-winning goal to complete the reverse sweep, a feat that has not happened in the NHL since.
What made this comeback even more legendary was that the Kings would find themselves in the Stanley Cup finals once again and capture their 2nd Stanley Cup in 3 years, with Anze Kopitar leading the way with 26 playoff points. Kopitar was a key piece for the Kings 2 Stanley Cup runs, and he was slowly becoming a legend in the making.
International Success
While Kopitar was coming off 2 Stanley Cup wins in 3 seasons, he added another great feat to his hockey resume, helping Slovenia achieve its best-ever performance at the Olympics. In that tournament, Slovenia would defeat Slovakia 3-1 and secure their first-ever Olympic hockey win; they would also defeat Austria 4-0 and advance to their first-ever Olympic Quarterfinals.
Slovenia made history with its best-ever hockey showing, and they did it with only 1 NHL player on the roster: Anze Kopitar. Kopitar would finish the 2014 Olympics with 2 goals, 1 assist for 3 points in 5 games.
Kopitars Impact
While Anze Kopitar was a spectacular player on the ice, it was his off-ice character that had Kings and hockey fans alike admiring the type of person he is. Kopitar, throughout his career, would receive individual awards that showcased his skill, character, and the kind of person he was.
Kopitar would receive 2 Selke Trophies, which are awarded to a forward who best excels in the defensive aspect of the game, meaning that Kopitar was considered the best 2-way forward in the NHL. It shows just how much he wants to support his teammates with his play in every aspect of the game. Kopitar would also receive the Lady Byng Trophy 3 times in his career, an award given to a player who has shown the best type of sportsmanship alongside a high standard of playing ability.
Lastly, Kopitar would receive the Mark Messier Leadership Award, presented to a player who demonstrates leadership qualities on and off the ice and plays a leading role in their community to grow the game of hockey. What all of these awards say about Kopitar is how good a person, teammate, and player he truly is.
Anze Kopitar Career Awards:
Lady Byng: 2015-2016, 2022-2023, 2024-2025.
Frank J. Selke: 2015-2016, 2017-2018.
Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award: 2021-2022.
Becoming The Greatest King
While Anze Kopitar, throughout his career, showcased to the world just how elite he is for the Kings, he was slowly chasing down the Kings franchise history, and in the 2025-2026 NHL season, he rewrote it.
After already being the Kings' franchise leader in games played with 1521, Kopitar would have an opportunity to break another Kings record: the franchise points leader. Before this season, the Kings' point leader was Marcel Dionne, who had 1307 career points. But on March 14th 2026, Anze Kopitar would receive a pass from Artemi Panarin and redirect it past Jake Allen to pass Marcel Dionne for the Kings franchise point leader, and he would end the season with the point record at 1316.
Saying Goodbye
Anze Kopitar has had a Hall of Fame career with the Kings, playing his entire career with the team since being drafted in 2005. Anze Kopitar has set the standard for what it means to wear the LA Kings jersey, and not only will he be a future Hall of Famer, but he will also be, for many NHL fans, a true childhood hero.
To Anze Kopitar, thank you for all you have done for the Kings organization, and Enjoy Your Retirement as the Kings, NHL, and Hockey fans say Goodbye to one of the best to ever do it.
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