PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 27: Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) wait on the bench to take a shift during the second period in Game Five of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 27, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Whatever decision that Kyle Dubas and the Penguins make about the status of Evgeni Malkin could be the most important or telling one of the whole offseason. Bring back the 40-year old player and that sets a pretty clear course to try and make the 2026-27 season look a lot like this past year where a scrappy underdog team will be led by legends and try to see how far they can go. If the team decides against bringing Malkin back, that could signal a change in direction and possibly more of a rebuild mode to get younger and focus on the longer-term.
Two recent takes caught our eye; a case for why the Penguins should move on by Noah Hiles at the PG and the opposite side of the coin by Joe Starkey at the Trib. Let’s see who makes a better case.
The fact that he is no longer vintage Malkin hardly makes him a liability. He’s also one of the best bargains in the NHL. His cap hit of $6.1 million ranked a laughable 169th among all players and 98th among forwards, according to spotrac.com.
To review:
Cap hit among forwards: 98th
Points per game among all players: 22nd.
The Penguins have had plenty of stars. Malkin is a franchise legend — one of the four greatest Penguins of all-time (third on my list, behind Mario Lemieux and Crosby). His number will surely be retired. He is beloved inside and outside of the locker room. He can still play. He won’t break the bank.
And quite conveniently, he just put a definitive timeline on how long he wants to play. In speaking with reporters at locker-cleanout day Friday, Malkin said, “I want to play one more year in the NHL.”
There you have it. One more year. Surely, you don’t want to see him spend that year in a Washington Capitals jersey (or worse), do you?
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Meanwhile, so much of his career has been spent in Crosby’s shadow, which has been largely a blessing because it took the focus off Malkin. Next year, however, much of the focus should be on Malkin. And it should mean something, too, that Crosby wants him back.
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What’s the worst that can happen? Malkin underperforms? His one-year cap hit of $6 million or so won’t exactly bankrupt the franchise. It’ll be OK.
Hopefully, Dubas does the right thing here. If not, the Hoffman family should, assuming the sale goes through.
The great Evgeni Malkin deserves a farewell tour.
Most arguments for Malkin return can center around either sentimentality or the practical nature that he had a very strong season last year. It makes a lot of sense, the Pens almost surely can get Malkin for relatively cheap next year. It would be difficult to find a 50+ point player for a one-year commitment at like $4-6 million dollars. (Pittsburgh did find one such player in Anthony Mantha, but that kind of output is much more the exception than the rule for that class of player).
Starkey lays out a good case. Players who have given 20 years, 1400+ points, two scoring titles, an MVP and three Stanley Cups to a franchise deserve to be treated with respect and deference. If that player wants to play for one more year, maybe they should get that, right?
Not so according to the other take.
Parting ways with Evgeni Malkin won’t be easy for anyone. For fans and players alike, it will be tough to see him in another uniform. Yet, when considering everything at hand, it seems like the best option.
It’s not unreasonable to believe he can replicate similar production next year. If the Penguins are able to retain Malkin while also adding another younger, more dynamic scorer, perhaps keeping him makes sense. His veteran prowess provides value, and he seems open toward embracing a lesser role.
But even still, it’s worth wondering if the money required to bring Malkin back couldn’t be better spent elsewhere.
Should Dubas want to drastically revamp the roster, this offseason is the time for that to happen
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The Penguins would be better off letting the 2025-26 season be Malkin’s last in Pittsburgh. As someone who grew up in the area, who fell in love with sports when Malkin was in the thick of his prime, I’m well aware that this opinion will rub some the wrong way.
I understand the connection he holds with the fans. I myself still get goosebumps when hearing the crowd’s roar as he, the last player out of the room, makes his way to the ice just before the national anthem. He’s provided countless happy memories for Penguins fans, and it’s not wrong to hope for more.
However, when it comes to Malkin’s departure, it would be better to be a year early than a year late. The Penguins are already stuck with one franchise hero that’s well past his prime. Kris Letang has become more of a liability than an asset. It’s only a matter of time before Malkin’s game also plummets to that level, and the Penguins can’t afford to have two roster spots filled due to nostalgia.
The problems with this take are two-fold. For starters, the Penguins enter the offseason with about $45 million in cap space. Resigning Malkin won’t or shouldn’t hinder the Pens from revamping the roster as much as they are able to do so. The team had between $11-13 million cap space in 2025-26, they’re very likely to have at least that much room for 2026-27 as well. Whether or not they keep or part ways with Malkin, the financial aspect carries minimum significance.
The other issue is one of projection that Malkin’s game will ‘plummet’. 2026-27 might not be a ‘year too late’ it could potentially be right on time for a final campaign. Malkin was the team’s fifth leading scorer, and tied with Sidney Crosby for first in points per game. Those numbers would likely decline somewhat next season, though it’s an unsupported leap to project disaster.
Anyone is allowed a preference and an opinion, though it’s only the stance of Dubas that counts. It remains to be seen which path he will take. At breakdown day Malkin didn’t appear very confident he would be back next season, which indicates that Dubas hasn’t become particularly serious yet in reaching out to take care of the contract. On the whole, Dubas surely wants to get younger and steer the Penguins into their next era. However, 12 months ago it was looking like young players such as Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen would be ready for featured roles in the NHL in 2026-27. That no longer appears to be the case, the Pens got a big surprise from Ben Kindel’s emergence but they don’t really have a major youth movement impending on the NHL horizon.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 8: Ryan Shea #5 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates with Arturs Silovs #37 following a 5-4 overtime win over the Boston Bruins at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 8, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you haven’t already, now is the perfect time to switch into offseason mode as the Pittsburgh Penguins have a busy summer ahead as they look to continue to retool and build off the success of the 2025-26 season that saw them return to the playoffs for the first time in four years. There is plenty of work for Kyle Dubas to attend to and that work starts now as his team evaluates free agents, explore possible trade options, and prepare for the NHL Draft.
Pens Points…
With the Penguins out of the playoffs, all attentions turns to the offseason and what Kyle Dubas has plans to keep retooling the team back into a true contender. There are many avenues Dubas can pick this offseason, which should make him a busy man throughout the summer. [Pensburgh]
One of the many questions to answered this summer for Kyle Dubas and his staff will be which pending free agents to resign and which to let go. Among those pending free agents is defenseman Ryan Shea who put himself in line for a big pay day with his play this season. [Trib Live]
Shea is just one of a handful of players who the Penguins will need to make decisions on this summer. The biggest name among the group is obviously Evgeni Malkin, but Geno is far from the only player without a contract the Penguins could bring back for another run. [The Hockey News]
Two years ago, the Penguins signed Sebastian Aho as a free agent, but not the Aho who immediately comes to mind when you hear the name. Signed to be a depth defenseman in the Penguins system, Aho did not appear in a single NHL game in his two seasons in the organization. [Trib Live]
Second round action is now underway in the Stanley Cup playoffs with three of the four series already through Game 1 with just Montreal/Buffalo waiting to begin. Carolina looks to have already overmatched Philadelphia while Minnesota and Colorado should be great hockey theater. [Pensburgh]
NHL News and Notes…
Remember when we all thought the biggest event of the spring for the Penguins was going to be waiting to see how high they were picking in the 2026 NHL Draft? While the Penguins will not be taking part, 16 other teams will learn their draft fate tonight at the NHL Draft Lottery. [NHL]
NHL Award nominations roll on this week with the Bill Masterson finalists being announced on Monday. Rasmus Dahlin, Gabe Landeskog, and Jonathan Toews will vie for the Masterson trophy this season after comeback seasons from all three. [NHL]
The immediate and long-term future of the Boston Bruins could be greatly improved if the ping-pong balls fall their way in Tuesday night’s 2026 NHL Draft Lottery at 7 p.m. ET.
The Bruins exceeded expectations in 2025-26 with a 100-point regular season and a wild card playoff berth. Despite losing to the Buffalo Sabres in a six-game first-round series, the B’s could still end up with a lottery pick in the upcoming draft.
That’s because they own the Toronto Maple Leafs’ top-five protected 2026 first-round pick, which was acquired as part of the Brandon Carlo trade from the 2025 trade deadline. The B’s also got center Fraser Minten and a 2025 fourth-round pick in that trade.
The Leafs finished with the fifth-worst record in the league this season and have an 8.5 percent chance of winning the lottery as a result. If their 2026 first-rounder lands in the top five,the Leafs keep it. In that scenario, the Bruins would get Toronto’s 2027 or 2028 first-rounder instead. (More detailed pick conditions here).
If the Leafs’ pick ends up being outside the top five, the Bruins get it to complete the Carlo trade.
So, what are the chances the B’s get the pick this year? Boston has a 58.2 percent chance of getting it.
Here are the Maple Leafs’ draft pick odds, per Tankathon:
No. 1 pick: 8.5 percent (stays with Leafs)
No. 2: 8.6 percent (stays with Leafs)
No. 3: 0.3 percent (stays with Leafs)
No. 4: N/A
No. 5: 24.5 percent (stays with Leafs)
No. 6: 44 percent (conveys to Boston)
No. 7: 14.2 percent (conveys to Boston)
The Bruins need at least one team to leapfrog the Leafs in order to get Toronto’s pick. The Bruins had the fifth-best odds to win the lottery last season and two teams (Islanders and Mammoth) jumped over them, so it’s possible. Teams can move up a maximum of 10 spots in the lottery.
Getting the No. 6 or No. 7 pick would be a massive boost to the Bruins’ collection of assets. The 2026 draft has a lot of high-end defenseman prospects, and that’s one area of the Bruins’ prospect pool that needs significant improvement.
The Bruins have a bunch of exciting forward prospects, most notably James Hagens, Dean Letourneau, Will Zellers and Will Moore, among others. They don’t have a top-tier defenseman prospect, and they need one with Hampus Lindholm (32) and Nikita Zadorov (31) on the wrong side of age 30.
The Bruins also could use the No. 6 or No. 7 pick as a trade chip to pursue an impact player. They desperately need another elite forward — preferably a center — to take some of the scoring burden off David Pastrnak. Trading for top-six forwards is tough, but having a top-7 pick is a nice asset to dangle.
Even if the Maple Leafs keep their pick, the Bruins will still get a first-rounder from Toronto eventually. The Carlo trade has been a massive win regardless of when this pick conveys.
But when you look at the ages of the Bruins’ core players, getting this pick now would easily be the most ideal scenario:
Morgan Geekie, LW, 27 years old
Jeremy Swayman, G, 27
Charlie McAvoy, D, 28
Pavel Zacha, C/W, 29
David Pastrnak, RW, 29
Elias Lindholm, C, 31
Nikita Zadorov, D, 31
Hampus Lindholm, D, 32
Viktor Arvidsson, LW, 33 (UFA this summer)
The Bruins have owned the Maple Leafs on and off the ice for a long time. Toronto hasn’t won a playoff series against Boston since 1959, and the Leafs have made a bunch of awful trades with the B’s.
The Maple Leafs are due for some luck in this rivalry. And given the state of their franchise, they very badly need this pick. It should make for a thrilling lottery Tuesday night.
Montreal Canadiens (48-24-10, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Buffalo Sabres (50-23-9, in the Atlantic Division)
Buffalo, New York; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDT
LINE: Sabres -130, Canadiens +109; over/under is 5.5
NHL PLAYOFFS SECOND ROUND: Sabres host series opener
BOTTOM LINE: The Buffalo Sabres host the Montreal Canadiens to start the Eastern Conference second round. The teams meet Saturday for the fifth time this season. The teams tied the regular season series 2-2. In their last regular season meeting on Feb. 31, the Canadiens won 4-2.
Buffalo has a 20-7-5 record in Atlantic Division games and a 50-23-9 record overall. The Sabres have an 18-5-5 record in games they score one or more power-play goals.
Montreal has gone 48-24-10 overall with a 20-10-3 record against the Atlantic Division. The Canadiens are fifth in NHL play serving 10.4 penalty minutes per game.
TOP PERFORMERS: Josh Doan has scored 26 goals with 26 assists for the Sabres. Alex Tuch has seven goals and four assists over the past 10 games.
Nicholas Suzuki has 29 goals and 72 assists for the Canadiens. Josh Anderson has scored three goals with one assist over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Sabres: 7-1-2, averaging 3.8 goals, 6.2 assists, 4.7 penalties and 11.3 penalty minutes while giving up 1.9 goals per game.
Canadiens: 5-3-2, averaging 2.4 goals, 4.6 assists, 5.6 penalties and 11.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game.
INJURIES: Sabres: Noah Ostlund: out (lower body), Jiri Kulich: out for season (ear), Sam Carrick: day to day (arm), Justin Danforth: out for season (kneecap).
Canadiens: Patrik Laine: out (abdomen).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Anaheim Ducks (43-33-6, in the Pacific Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (39-26-17, in the Pacific Division)
Paradise, Nevada; Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Golden Knights -159, Ducks +134; over/under is 6.5
NHL PLAYOFFS SECOND ROUND: Golden Knights lead series 1-0
BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights host the Anaheim Ducks in the second round of the NHL Playoffs with a 1-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Monday for the fifth time this season. The Golden Knights won the previous meeting 3-1.
Vegas is 39-26-17 overall with a 16-5-6 record against the Pacific Division. The Golden Knights have a 42-6-11 record in games they score three or more goals.
Anaheim is 43-33-6 overall with a 19-13-1 record in Pacific Division games. The Ducks have given up 288 goals while scoring 265 for a -23 scoring differential.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jack Eichel has scored 27 goals with 63 assists for the Golden Knights. Pavel Dorofeyev has six goals and one assist over the past 10 games.
Cutter Gauthier has 41 goals and 28 assists for the Ducks. Troy Terry has four goals and five assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Knights: 8-2-0, averaging 3.9 goals, 6.3 assists, four penalties and 8.2 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game.
Ducks: 5-4-1, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.4 assists, 3.2 penalties and 7.3 penalty minutes while giving up 3.4 goals per game.
INJURIES: Golden Knights: Jeremy Lauzon: day to day (undisclosed).
Ducks: Radko Gudas: day to day (lower body), Petr Mrazek: out for season (lower-body).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
For the first time since 2017, the Anaheim Ducks are through to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. With a tall task ahead of them, they traveled to Las Vegas to open up their best-of-seven series against the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday.
The Ducks bested the Edmonton Oilers in six games, finishing on home ice on Thursday. A day later, the Knights wrapped up their series against the Utah Mammoth and immediately turned their sights on the Ducks.
Vegas got a surprise addition for Game 1 of this series and regained the services of middle-six center and former Ducks prospect William Karlsson. Karlsson slotted in on Vegas’ listed third line, between Tomas Hertl and Keegan Kolesar.
Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville elected to deploy the same lineup that earned his club their Game 6 victory on Thursday. Here’s how the Ducks lined up in this one:
Kreider-Carlsson-Terry
Killorn-Granlund-Sennecke
Gauthier-Poehling-McTavish
Viel-Washe-Moore
LaCombe-Trouba
Mintyukov-Carlson
Hinds-Helleson
Lukas Dostal got the start for the Ducks, as he had in every first-round game. He saved 19 of 21 shots. In Vegas’ crease, Carter Hart got the nod and stopped 33 of 34.
Game Notes
The Ducks got out to perhaps their very best start of the postseason and played their best 60-minute, 200-foot defensive game in recent memory. They controlled play for most of the hockey game, defended the front of their net well, and created numerous high-danger chances.
Unfortunately, the story of this game will be a waived icing call in the third period that directly led to the Golden Knights’ game-winning goal by Ivan Barbashev. It occurred 1:05 after Anaheim tied up the game and was pushing to net another tally.
“Clearly, I disagree with the call, and it was clearly... you know… icing, but their guy stopped skating, which really made me annoyed,” Quenneville said after the game.
“I didn’t mind the way we played. I thought we did alright,” Quenneville continued. “I thought we were there the whole game. Had a lot of pace, both teams worked hard. It was a heck of a hockey game.”
Jackson LaCombe-Vegas attacks in a much different stylistic way than the Oilers, and it impacted LaCombe’s effectiveness on the game. Vegas is much more savvy on the cycle and can maintain possession for minutes at a time. LaCombe is an elite rush defender, and he played well in all facets during this game, but he’ll have to find ways to render himself more effective deep in his end.
He had a roller coaster game, as he passed up an opportunity to bury a puck in the low slot that would have given Anaheim a lead in the second period, he led an excellent sequence to set up the Ducks’ lone goal, and following the non-icing no-call, he misplayed Pavel Dorofeyev and allowed him to get to the middle with possession. At his best, LaCombe can be the Ducks’ difference-maker in this series, and he was good, but this was not his best.
Lukas Dostal-Dostal did enough in this game to win it for Anaheim. Though the shot total was low, the quality of the chances the Knights generated should have earned them more than two goals on Dostal, but the Ducks’ netminder was locked in.
Dostal was perfect on his angles, tracked movement around traffic, and displayed phenomenal rebound control, getting pucks to stick to him and pouncing on others around his crease.
Power Play-Anaheim’s power play, a key contributor to the Ducks’ success in the first round, went 0-4 on the power play. Vegas’ penalty kill is elite, leaps and bounds above Edmonton’s, but the Ducks still managed to execute most of what they’re trying to accomplish between their two units.
Carlson’s unit was able to run their give-and-go sequence with Carlsson and Granlund that led to a couple of quality looks, and LaCombe’s unit was able to find Gauthier on the right flank for a heavy, precise release on a one-timer. Hart matched them all, however, and it could be argued he stole this game for the Knights.
Game 2 will be right back at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Wednesday at 6:30 PM PST.
The Anaheim Ducks and the Vegas Golden Knights entered the Second Round as two of the top teams in the league when it comes to goals per game. The Ducks were second in the league with an average of 4.33 goals per game; the Golden Knights were fourth with 3.83. And yet, in a series promising offense, this was a 1-0 game with eight minutes remaining in the third period.
That’s hockey.
The Ducks came out flying and dominated the first period; they held a 7-1 shot advantage at the first TV timeout. They continued taking it to the Golden Knights throughout the first period, but entered the first intermission tied 0-0 thanks to some near misses and remarkable stops by Carter Hart.
The second period followed the same script: the Ducks were the better team, holding the edge in shots and generating more scoring chances. However, they couldn’t finish their chances, and the Golden Knights eventually took advantage of that.
Despite Anaheim’s domination, the Golden Knights broke the ice first, beating Lukáš Dostál 3:14 into the second period. Rasmus Andersson flew up ice in transition and dropped an entry pass for Mitch Marner, who drifted deeper into the zone and found Brett Howden back-door.
Ducks dominate the game, but Vegas scores first. That’s hockey. Marner to Howden back-door.
In the third, the song remained the same. The Ducks generated scoring chances seemingly at will, and held a 13-8 edge in shots.
The Ducks finally solved Carter Hart and found the equalizer at 13:57 in the third. Jackson LaCombe blew past Cole Smith, drove the net, and pinballed a pass through a sea of bodies to Mikael Granlund at the right dot. Granlund had an empty net to shoot at, and he didn’t miss.
If you didn’t feel that tying goal coming… I’m not sure what to tell you. Jackson LaCombe with a great play and Mikael Granlund finishes it off into the empty net.
Just over a minute later, the Golden Knights regained the lead after the officials waved off an icing call. Pavel Dorofeyev blew past Leo Carlsson, protected the puck from Jackson LaCombe, and found Ivan Barbashev back-door for an easy tap-in.
Oh, so NOW they’re trying to hit the over. Pavel Dorofeyev with a fantastic play to find Ivan Barbashev back-door and the Golden Knights are right back on top!
Down by a goal once again, the Ducks pulled Lukáš Dostál for the extra attacker with just under two minutes remaining in regulation. They managed just three shots on goal, and Mitch Marner iced the game with a high-flipper.
Mitch Marner with the empty net goal of all time. Burger flip from looooooooong range.
“I don’t think anyone in that locker room is very satisfied with that win,” said Marner following the 3-1 victory. “We know we can play a lot better. I don’t think we got to our game at all… We know we’ve got to be better.”
Three Takeaways of the Knight
1. The officials made themselves the story with the controversial no-call on Ivan Barbashev’s game-winning goal. Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe won the race to the puck, but the officials waved off icing; seconds later, the Golden Knights scored. Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville was irate behind the bench, and he didn’t change his tune during his postgame media availability.
“Clearly, I disagreed with the call. Clearly, it was icing,” Quenneville said. “Their guy stopped skating… We’d just scored. It was a huge call, and it was an easy call.”
Following the game, the officials declined to speak with the pool reporter or make a statement about the non-call.
2. The Golden Knights, who only allowed one goal when down a man in the First Round, continue to ice a dominant penalty kill. In the First Round, the Ducks converted on 50% of their power play opportunities. Tonight, they went 0-for-4 on the man advantage.
“I think our penalty kill has been really consistent,” said Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella postgame. “I think they feel confident. The biggest thing with our penalty kill starting to take off a little bit is going together. If we’re going to be aggressive, we’re moving in all together, and all four guys are aggressive. If we have to sit tight and hold on, we do that, blocking shots at key times.
“A really important part of the game tonight, as far as them doing their work,” Tortorella finished.
3. The Golden Knights were the second-best team on the ice and should not have won this game tonight. However, their goaltender bailed them out; Carter Hart finished the game with a .971 SV% and a 2.08 GSAx.
“He was our best player tonight,” said Tortorella postgame. “We struggled to find our game… But Carter, he was outstanding.”
“Phenomenal game by him,” agreed forward Brett Howden. “Early on, especially, we didn’t have our best, and he really kept us in it. He gave us a really good chance, and continued that throughout the whole game. He played a great game.”
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Taylor Hall slipped the puck past Dan Vladar at 18:54 of overtime to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Monday night, taking a 2-0 lead in their second-round series in the NHL playoffs.
Hall took a short feed from Sean Walker and carried the puck in on the left side before being knocked to his knees near the top of the crease. But Hall hopped up as Jackson Blake battled for the loose puck, corralled it and beat Vladar to cap a night that saw the Hurricanes fall behind 2-0 quickly for their first deficit of the postseason.
The series shifts to Philadelphia for Thursday’s Game 3.
Seth Jarvis had the third-period goal that forced overtime for Carolina, while Nikolaj Ehlers also scored. Frederik Andersen finished with 34 saves to help the Hurricanes improve to 6-0 in the postseason.
Vladar had 40 saves, including twice stopping Carolina’s Eric Robinson on second-period breakaways. He also got a timely bit of help in that period from Travis Sanheim, who cleared a loose puck that had slipped behind Vladar in the crease to deny Carolina a tying score.Taylor Hall slipped the puck past Dan Vladar at 18:54 of overtime to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Monday night, taking a 2-0 lead in their second-round series in the NHL playoffs.
Hall took a short feed from Sean Walker and carried the puck in on the left side before being knocked to his knees near the top of the crease. But Hall hopped up as Jackson Blake battled for the loose puck, corralled it and beat Vladar to cap a night that saw the Hurricanes fall behind 2-0 quickly for their first deficit of the postseason.
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 3, DUCKS 1
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Ivan Barbashev scored off a terrific pass from Pavel Dorofeyev with 4:58 left to put the Golden Knights ahead for good, and Vegas went on to defeat Anaheim in the opener of their second-round series.
Game 2 is Wednesday night in Las Vegas.
Barbashev took advantage after officials did not call icing, which didn’t sit well with Ducks coach Joel Quenneville, who was clearly upset on the bench.
Vegas’ Brett Howden extended his goal streak to a career-long four games, his fifth over that span. Mitch Marner, who also assisted on Howden’s goal, added a 162-foot empty-net goal with 6 seconds left and Carter Hart made 33 stops.
Mikael Granlund scored for Anaheim, and Lukas Dostal recorded 19 saves.
Vegas forward Brett Howden scores past Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal in the second period of the Ducks' 3-1 loss in the Western Conference semifinals on Monday night. (Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
T-Mobile Arena sits just off the Las Vegas Strip, not far from a faux Manhattan skyline, a pyramid and a casino made to look like a castle.
The line separating illusion from reality can be a thin one in Sin City, where the Ducks opened the second round of the playoffs Monday intent on proving their first-round victory over the Edmonton Oilers was more than a facade. It didn’t go well, with Brett Howden’s goal early in the second period and Ivan Barbashev’s tiebreaking tally late in the third period giving the Vegas Golden Knights a 3-1 victory in the best-of-seven series.
Mitch Marner added an empty-net goal with six seconds to play to end any hope of a Ducks comeback. Mikael Granlund scored for the Ducks with six minutes left in the game.
But the game turned on what the Ducks thought was a missed icing call just ahead of Barbashev’s goal, which came 65 seconds after Granlund tied the score.
“Clearly I disagreed with the call. Clearly it was icing,” Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said. “That was the play for me. We had just scored. It was a huge call. And an easy call.”
The Ducks were a shadow of the team that eliminated Edmonton. After averaging a playoff-high 4.33 goals a game, the Ducks were stymied by Vegas goalie Carter Hart, who turned away 33 shots. And after converting eight of 16 power-play opportunities against the Oilers, the Ducks were shut out in four chances against the Golden Knights.
Although the Ducks played their best defensive game of the postseason, giving up just 21 shots before the empty-netter, the balanced Knights gave them few good scoring opportunities, especially on the power play. Troy Terry, who had four shots, said he’ll have nightmares about the misses.
“I’ve got to put one of them in,” he said. “I’m going to be kicking myself tonight. But overall I thought the pace that we played at tonight, if we can play like that for the length of this series, we should put ourselves in a good spot.”
The Ducks, who needed to use their superior speed to counter the Knights' edge in experience, pushed the pace in the opening period but got nothing to show for it. The Knights took the lead less than four minutes into the second period when Howden made a dash to the edge of the crease to deflect in a pass from Marner for his fifth goal of the playoffs.
Vegas defenseman Rasmus Andersson celebrates after Mitch Marner's empty-net goal in the final seconds of a 3-1 win over the Ducks on Monday. (Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
Howden had a chance to double the lead less than six minutes before the second intermission, but he whiffed trying to bat a loose puck in an open net from the right side.
Mark Stone had an opportunity to score on the power play with less than nine minutes left, but Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal made a spectacular save to keep it a one-goal score. And that paid off when Granlund put the puck through Brayden McNabb's legs 2½ minutes later.
Defenseman Jackson LaCombe, who passed up a prime scoring chance earlier, made that goal, driving hard from the top of the left circle to the crease and backhanding a shot off Hart that bounced toa wide-open Granlund in the center of the right circle.
The tie was shortlived, however, with Barbashev tapping in a pass from Pavel Dorofeyev for the go-ahead goal.
The Ducks mounted a furious rally after pulling Dostal with about two minutes to play, but that ended with Marner clearing the puck the length of the ice into the empty net.
Well, folks, season two of my Pittsburgh Penguins coverage for The Hockey News is in the books.
But that doesn't mean there's a shortage of things to discuss as far as the team is concerned.
You all asked your questions - from talk of contention to the potential goaltending tandem next season - and I did my best to answer as many of you as I could.
So, without further ado, here is my first Monday Mailbox of the 2026 offseason.
What do you expect an Evgeni Malkin extension to look like? @katwhetstone_ on X
Isn't that the big question?
But, despite all the noise, I do believe a Malkin extension gets done. There is, quite literally, not a single reason good enough I can think of for the Penguins not to bring him back.
He's willing to play wing, he said he wants "one more year," he won't ask for a high payday, he's not blocking a young player in the top-six, he was point-per-game this season, and he wants to come back.
Malkin is also going to be 40. But, so what? One more year isn't going to be a hindrance to anything Dubas is trying to accomplish, which I'll get to in a bit. There is no harm in bringing him back for that "one more year." Not only is a franchise legend owed that to an extent, it's also just not worth the internal fallout if Dubas decides to force him away to another team.
One year, $5 million. Get it done.
What’s the goalie tandem you see in Pittsburgh next year? I think Murashov and Skinner with Silovs getting traded. @JimStripsky on X
What do you think our goaltending situation will look like next season? @bun_sprout on X
What do you think the goalie situation looks like next year? @1lya_rozzy on X
Clearly, many are wondering what the goaltending situation may look like next season.
Earlier on Monday, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that Stuart Skinner is not expected to return to the Penguins next season. To be honest, I am not entirely surprised by this, as Skinner was replaced by Silovs for the must-win games in the playoffs (even if the losses weren't on him) and the Penguins have a lot of young goaltenders knocking on the door, which probably means he has a better shot at a multi-year deal and a starting job elsewhere.
I do think the Penguins will bring back Arturs Silovs. He put up a .939 save percentage in his three playoff games, which only builds on his prior success in high-stakes hockey. Finding goaltenders with a track record of thriving in those environments is rare, and even if Silovs had an up-and-down first full NHL regular season, his playoff prowess along is reason enough to take a chance on him.
And then, there's the Penguins' farm system. Sergei Murashov is the best the Penguins' system has to offer right now, and he'll probably be ready to make the jump to the NHL in 2026-27. Taylor Gauthier - who has put together an unreal campaign for the Wheeling Nailers in the ECHL - should be at the AHL level, but injuries during training camp and the existence of Murashov and Joel Blomqvist have blocked him from that opportunity.
I think Silovs and Murashov will be the NHL tandem next season, and I think it will be Blomqvist and Gauthier in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS). There comes a point when development is being stunted if guys aren't progressing upward, and I think the Penguins have reached that point with Murashov, Blomqvist, and Gauthier.
All that said, I would not be surprised, either, to see someone like Blomqvist or Gauthier leveraged as part of a trade package for a young NHL player. If that happens, it might change a few things.
Who’s more likely to be a permanent member on the roster next year, Koivunen, Avery Hayes or McGroarty? @Ozzyhen on X
It's pretty crazy how one calendar year can change perceptions entirely.
At the end of the 2024-25 season, Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty were called up to the NHL and gave what fans thought would be a preview for 2025-26, with Koivunen registering seven points in eight games and McGroarty putting up a goal and three points in five. Avery Hayes had not even made his NHL debut at that point, even if he was on people's radar.
Fast forward to now, and Koivunen was a disappointment this season with two goals and seven points in 39 NHL games and has not yet appeared to process things at NHL speed, while McGroarty began the season on injured reserve and struggled to find consistency with three goals and six points in 24 NHL games. Hayes debuted Feb. 5, scored two goals, and showed a bit more consistency down the stretch than the other two. He was also favored late in the season as an injury call-up for the NHL club.
Things appear to be trending up for Hayes, and I imagine he's most likely to stick on the roster out of the three next season - especially since he can effectively be plugged into a fourth-line role without any kind of detriment to his development. That said, I still believe McGroarty has the highest ceiling of the three. It might just take him a bit longer to get there.
Will the tandem of Alexeyev/Brunicke make the Pens next year. @TheAud25 on X
I have a hard time seeing Alexander Alexeyev crack the NHL roster, assuming the Penguins tender him an RFA offer. Parker Wotherspoon and Sam Girard are under contract for another year, it remains to be seen what happens with Ryan Shea, and Owen Pickering will also be in the mix on the left side. And that's not even accounting for the possibility of the Penguins looking to upgrade their blue line.
Harrison Brunicke, on the other hand, probably cracks the roster with a good training camp - again, barring no upgrade on the right side. He's already playing top-pair minutes for WBS in the playoffs over guys who have been there the whole season and helped them earn a playoff berth, and he's made tangible progress physically and in the defensive details of his game.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Brunicke start in WBS next season, as he will (finally) be AHL-eligible. But, even if he does, I think folks will see plenty of him at the NHL level in 2026-27. The Penguins are very much invested in Brunicke's potential as an impact NHL player, so they're not going to rush him if he's not ready.
Was there any word on the injuries the players were dealing with? Sid definitely didn't seem to be fully recovered from his injury at the Olympics. @samsdrunkdog.bsky.social on Bluesky
Crosby said his knee is fine and that it does not require offseason surgery, but he didn't want to elaborate further - even if he cheekily addressed that a certain star Canadian forward and Vegas Golden Knights player blurted it out already.
Other than that and Silovs playing the last 3-4 weeks with a knee injury - which makes his playoff performance even more impressive - no other updates were provided.
Do you think dubas will re-sign dewar and acciari to keep the 4th line together? or just re-sign one and fill the empty spot with a player from wbs? @chinny_crosby on X
Dewar, 27, had 14 goals and 30 points last season and is good enough and young enough to be a key depth contributor for the next few years. There is little risk in signing him to a deal as long as it's not an overpay.
But, as for Acciari, he's 34. He had a great season for the Penguins and is an important player for them, as he hits, wins faceoffs, forechecks well, penalty kills well, blocks a lot of shots, and elevated his game offensively.
Most of those are things that a guy like Hayes excels at, too, and he's 23. Hayes also has speed and a bit more offensive upside, so he's a good candidate to, essentially, replace Acciari on that line. A line of Dewar, Blake Lizotte, and Hayes could give the opposition headaches with their speed, energy, and forechecking ability.
What is the best plan to replace Anthony Mantha's 30 goal production? @AdamMihara on X
I'll go over this in the next question, but I think it will, somewhat, be by committee. I think the Penguins are going to target a good young player in the trade market, and add that to some of the young guys hopefully beginning to assert themselves and the Penguins having a full season of Egor Chinakhov and a better offensive version of Ben Kindel - and there's your answer.
Do you think the Pens take a step backwards next year? They overachieved this season and Mantha and few others probably won’t be here.
What are the odds that Dubas makes a big/huge move this summer to bring in a young superstar? @brian_andrews on X
Will the Penguins have a directive to try and land an Auston Matthews or Jason Robertson in a trade to ensure playoff revenue? @joshuacarns.bsky.social on Bluesky
could u see the penguins trade for a bigger younger player like a robertson, wright, nemec @jansen_aid97343 on X
Brian asked two questions - and Joshua and Jansen asked a similar question - and I think they kind of both tandem with my answer.
Contrary to what some others are saying around these parts, I do not believe the Penguins will be taking a step back next season, and I will have a long piece detailing why in the coming days. Yes, they overachieved this season, but I've long-believed that the summer of 2026 was always going to be a target of sorts for them to start making bigger moves toward contention.
Older players may have been large contributors to their success this past season, but I think one young player has pretty handily altered the short-term outlook of this team.
I expect Kindel to take a step next season, potentially easing into the 2C role. He already has all the details sorted out in his game - even if he needs to and will add a little bit more weight in the offseason - which is rare for a player as young as he is. He plays and thinks the game like a veteran, and the production will eventually follow.
And, when you couple Kindel with the possibility of guys like Brunicke, Murashov, and Hayes populating the roster - in addition to Koivunen, McGroarty, Tristan Broz, Tanner Howe, and possibly Bill Zonnon, who will likely play in the AHL next season - there's already more youth talent that should be in the mix.
Plus, the Penguins can sell and buy, which is something I think they're going to do. Sure, shipping off someone like Rickard Rakell or Bryan Rust alone isn't going to net them a young star player, but packaging one of the two with their 2026 first-round pick - which will already be in the 20s, anyway - and perhaps another few picks and a shiny prospect or two not named Murashov (or Kindel, even if he's techincally not a prospect anymore)?
Then, they might be able to pull off a pretty big move for a very good younger player, which helps them in both the short- and the long-term.
Do I think they're Cup contenders next season? No. But I expect them to push for the playoffs again, and I expect them to be making tangible progress with the development of some of their more promising young players. Even if a bona fide "superstar" isn't available, I also expect them to execute a trade for either a solid young blueliner with higher upside or a young top-six forward.
If a superstar does become available, I'm not sure the Penguins would have the shiniest assets to be able to outbid for someone like Jason Robertson or Auston Matthews. But they will certainly be in on those players, as will most other teams. And they might be able to build enough of a package with all of the assets they've collected up to this point quantity-wise.
Either way, I think this is a team that tries to get better. Adding peripheral young talent to the roster - and, potentially, having three core pieces in Murashov, Kindel, and Brunicke already in the organization and in the NHL - not only helps the now, but it should also minimize the amount of time the Penguins need to "tank" after Crosby retires.
And that, I believe, would be the goal for the rebuild: Have two windows of contention. One with Crosby, and one a few years after Crosby, with much of the young peripheral talent intact to bridge that gap. Again, the purpose of adding all this young talent now, via trade or through the system, would be to have those lottery-zone picks for a few years after Sid, but not for more than that. Minimizing the turnover time is key.
What do you think is the Penguins biggest need to contend for next year? @BalmalcolmArab on X
In general, to get younger by both selling and buying. Positionally? They still need to upgrade their blue line. I think they will try to land a young, top-four left-side defenseman in the trade market this summer. The Penguins are playing better systemically on defense, but they could simply use more talent there, too.
What does EDM do with McJesus? @TomParr14916922 on X
Haha. Well, they'll keep him for now, but they're certainly running out of time - for both McDavid and Draisaitl.
If we're talking about these same things next summer? Yeah, they may have to change course and consider the market, if that's what either or both players want.
What are your summer plans? :) @meowlkin on X
I would love to say "relax and take some time off," but, unfortunately, the grind never stops. The draft is in June, and development camp and free agency is in July, so I'll be covering those closely.
I'm also a barista, so I'll be working. A lot. But, that said, I'm going on a nice beach vacation in July and, possibly, a Disney vacation with my baby nephew and the family just before training camp. I would also like to bike a lot more this summer - whilejamming to my mixed playlist that includes the likes of Eric Church, The Black Keys, KONGOS, Jake Bugg, Daughtry, The Vaccines, Jack Johnson, THE BAND CAMINO, Miley Cyrus, and others (mostly in the alternative/indie rock realm), which was a question requested by @reallyafairy on X - and take a Yoga in the Park class. I spend a whole lot of time inside at my desk writing, so I want to make an effort to get a whole lot more fresh air this summer.
Getting some things done around my apartment that I've been putting off would be nice, too. Also a big amusement park enthusiast, so I'll be making my rounds at those.
But the big thing for me is spending time with family and my dog. I mentioned my nephew, but I have a newborn little niece now, too, and spending time with them is my new favorite thing to do. No amount of time with them is ever enough, and not having to be at the rink most days - as much as I love my job - makes way for that time.
Hope you enjoy whatever plans you have this summer as well.
Taylor Hall scored the overtime winning goal to give the host Carolina Hurricanes a 3-2 comeback victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Nikolaj Ehlers scored once and added an assist, while Seth Jarvis tallied once for the Hurricanes, who lead the Eastern Conference semifinal series 2-0.
With time ticking down in the first overtime period, Hall drove to the net during a rush led by Sean Walker, had his first attempt stopped, but during the ensuing scramble pounced on a loose puck and got it past Flyer goalkeeper Dan Vladar at 18:54 of overtime.
It was Hall's first career playoff overtime goal during his seven seasons of post-season play.
Goaltender Frederik Andersen make 34 saves for the Hurricanes, who erased an early two-goal deficit. Jackson Blake collected a pair of assists.
Jamie Drysdale and Sean Couturier tallied for the Flyers, while Vladar stopped 39 shots.
The Flyers had a golden chance to win with an early overtime power play but could not convert.
The series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Thursday.
The Flyers competed much better than in the series-opening 3-0 loss.
Drysdale's power-play goal opened the scoring at 4:02. Amid a flurry at the net, the puck came out to the high slot and Drysdale stepped in from his point position to bury the chance.
The score marked the first time during this year's playoffs that Carolina has trailed in a game.
It was also Philadelphia's first goal during the opening period of the playoffs, and the first time the Hurricanes surrendered a goal in the first period.
Couturier doubled the lead 39 seconds later with his first tally of the playoffs. From behind the net, Carl Grundstrom slipped a pass to the top the crease and Couturier was on the spot to slip home the chance.
That sparked the Hurricanes and they were rewarded when Ehlers netted his first goal of the playoffs with a power-play tally of his own. Ehlers set up at right face-off dot and hammered a one-timer set up by Blake and K'Andre Miller at 10:21 of the first period.
Jarvis tied the clash with 8:39 remaining in regulation time, joining an odd-man rush and finding the mark after a drop pass from Ehlers as he reached the right circle.
Carolina outshot the visitors, 35-21, through 60 minutes, but the Flyers pumped 15 shots on goal to eight for the Hurricanes in overtime.
May 4, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) and Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler (24) battle during the third period in game two of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
James Guillory-Imagn Images
RALEIGH, N.C. — Taylor Hall slipped the puck past Dan Vladar at 18:54 of overtime to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Monday night, taking a 2-0 lead in their second-round series in the NHL playoffs.
Hall took a short feed from Sean Walker and carried the puck in on the left side before being knocked to his knees near the top of the crease. But Hall hopped up, corralled the puck and beat Vladar to cap a night that saw the Hurricanes fall behind 2-0 quickly for their first deficit of the postseason.
Seth Jarvis had the third-period goal that forced overtime for Carolina, while Nikolaj Ehlers also scored. Frederik Andersen finished with 34 saves to help the Hurricanes improve to 6-0 in the postseason.
The series shifts to Philadelphia for Thursday’s Game 3.
Jamie Drysdale and Sean Couturier scored in a 39-second span of the first period for the Flyers, but Philadelphia couldn’t beat Andersen again.
May 4, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Seth Jarvis (24) scores a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period in game two of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
James Guillory-Imagn Images
RALEIGH, N.C. — Seth Jarvis scored midway through the third period to complete the Carolina Hurricanes’ rally from an early two-goal deficit and force overtime against the Philadelphia Flyers in Monday night’s second-round playoff game.
Carolina is chasing a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Jarvis took a feed from Nikolaj Ehlers as the trailer and beat Dan Vladar from the right side at the 11:21 mark to knot the score at 2-2. Ehlers had Carolina’s first goal with a first-period one-timer and the Hurricanes on the power play.
Jamie Drysdale and Sean Couturier scored in a 39-second span of the first period for the Flyers, whose flurry in the opening 5 minutes put Carolina in its first deficit of the postseason.
Then Vladar spent the rest of regulation flirting with making that 2-0 margin hold up, including twice stopping breakaways by Eric Robinson. And Travis Sanheim came through to back up his goalie with a big second-period play, clearing a puck that had gotten loose behind the netminder in the crease to deny a potential tying goal.
There won't be any more 3-on-3 play. It is 5-on-5 instead, just like in regulation play. There won't be any more shootouts after five minutes of scoreless overtime play. There is sudden death, and it could last a very long time.
This postseason, there have been 14 overtime games, including three double-overtime games.
Here's what to know about playoff hockey overtime, including the format, longest games and 2026 results.
How does OT work in NHL playoffs?
If the score is tied after three periods, the teams go to the dressing rooms for 15 minutes while the ice is resurfaced. Overtime periods last 20 minutes or until someone scores. It's 5-on-5 play (barring penalties). If no one scores in the first overtime, the process repeats and continues until someone scores. The teams change sides for each overtime period. The first overtime is the long change to get back to the bench.
The NHL Situation Room reviews all goals to make sure they are legally scored, such as the goal that ended Game 4 of the Anaheim-Edmonton series or the overturned goal in Game 4 of the Vegas-Utah series.
2026 NHL playoff overtime games
May 4:Hurricanes 3, Flyers 2: Taylor Hall scored at 18:54 of the first overtime for a 2-0 series lead.
April 28:Bruins 2, Sabres 1 (OT). David Pastrnak scored at 9:14 of the first overtime to cut the Bruins' series deficit to 3-2.
April 27:Golden Knights 5, Mammoth 4 (OT). Shea Theodore scored at 19:08 of the first overtime to tie the series at two games apiece.
April 26:Ducks 4, Oilers 3 (OT). Ryan Poehling scored 2:29 into the first overtime to give Anaheim a 3-1 series lead.
April 25:Wild 3, Stars 2. Matt Boldy scored at 19:31 of the first overtime as the Wild tie the series 2-2.
April 24:Canadiens 3, Lightning 2. Lane Hutson scored at 2:09 of the first overtime, giving Montreal a 2-1 series lead.
April 22:Stars 4, Wild 3. Wyatt Johnston scored at 12:10 of the second overtime, giving Dallas a 2-1 series lead.
April 21:Avalanche 2, Kings 1: Nicolas Roy scored the winning goal at the 12:16 mark of the first overtime, giving Colorado a 2-0 series lead.
April 21:Lightning 3, Canadiens 2: J.J. Moser scored at 7:12 in the first overtime to tie up the series at a game apiece. It was Moser's first career NHL playoff goal.
April 20:Hurricanes 3, Senators 2: Jordan Martinook scored at 13:53 of the second overtime. He was stopped on a penalty shot in the first overtime.
April 19:Canadiens 4, Lightning 3: Juraj Slafkovsky scored at 1:22 of the first overtime, completing a hat trick.
What are the longest NHL playoff overtime games?
1 - Six overtimes (116 minutes, 30 seconds of overtime) in the 1936 semifinals. March 24, 1935. Detroit 1, Montreal Maroons 0. Mud Bruneteau scored the winner.
2 - Six overtimes (104 minutes, 46 seconds of overtime) in the 1933 semifinals. April 3, 1933. Toronto 1, Boston 0. Ken Doraty scored the winner.
3 - Five overtimes (92 minutes, 1 second of overtime) in the 2000 conference semifinals. May 4, 2000. Philadelphia 2, Pittsburgh 1. Keith Primeau scored the winner.
4 - Five overtimes (90 minutes, 27 seconds of overtime) in the 2020 first round. Aug. 11, 2020. Tampa Bay 3, Columbus 2. Brayden Point scored the winner.
5 - Five overtimes (80 minutes, 48 seconds of overtime) in the 2003 conference semifinals. April 24, 2003. Anaheim 4, Dallas 3. Petr Sykora scored the winner.
6 - Four overtimes (79 minutes, 47 seconds of overtime) in the 2023 conference finals. May 18, 2023. Florida 3, Carolina 2. Matthew Tkachuk scored the winner.
Longest Stanley Cup Final games
Eight Stanley Cup Final games have gone to the third overtime. The Edmonton Oilers were part of the longest game when Petr Klima scored at 15:13 of the third overtime for a 3-2 win against the Boston Bruins in the 1990 Final.
Which players in 2026 postseason have the most playoff overtime goals?
5 - Corey Perry, Lightning
4 - Leon Draisaitl, Oilers (all in 2025 playoffs, an NHL record for one postseason)
3 - Brayden Point, Lightning; Jordan Staal, Hurricanes; Anze Kopitar, Kings; Artemi Panarin, Kings; Matt Duchene, Stars
The collective euphoria of having won the Stanley Cup for the first time in 42 years is a feeling Detroit Red Wings fans around the world will never forget.
It was a long road to get there, starting with a six-game victory over the St. Louis Blues in the opening round of the 1997 Stanley Cup Playoffs and setting up a date with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.
The Ducks were in their first playoff appearance, and had dispatched the Phoenix Coyotes in their opening round series.
However, the dangerous offensive combination of Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne proved to be no match for the Red Wings, who swept through the series in four games.
And amazingly, three of the four games required overtime to settle a winner.
Less than a minute into overtime in Game 1, Brendan Shanahan broke in on a two-on-one rush with Martin Lapointe, who beat goaltender Guy Hebert for what he described as his first-career overtime goal dating back to his Pee Wee hockey days.
But Game 2 took nearly two full games worth of hockey to decide a winner. It was Slava Kozlov who finally sent the fans home happy at 1:38 of the third overtime, firing a shot from the face-off circle past goaltender Mikhail Shtalenkov, who replaced the injured Hebert.
Following a regulation Game 3 victory in Anaheim, Detroit punched their ticket to the Western Conference Final against the Colorado Avalanche thanks to a double-overtime game-winning goal from Brendan Shanahan in Game 4.
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