LAS VEGAS — Neither team particularly was happy following the Golden Knights’ 3-1 Game 1 victory over the Ducks.
Vegas got the win to open the second round, but realizes that is not sustainable after getting outplayed by Anaheim most of the night. On the other side, the Ducks missed a great opportunity to take the early lead in the best-of-seven playoff series.
“I think the biggest thing is we need to be honest with ourselves,” Golden Knights coach John Tortorella said. “We’ll look at some of the stuff and I think we have a better game coming up.”
That would be Game 2 in Las Vegas.
The Golden Knights would have a hard time getting away with another performance in which they were outshot 34-22 and, according to Natural Stat Trick, gave up 12 high-danger chances compared to creating six.
“I don’t think anyone in that locker room is pretty satisfied with that win,” Vegas center Mitch Marner said. “We know we can play a lot better. I don’t think we got to our (offensive) zone game at all. We gave them some good looks that (goalie) Carter (Hart) made some massive saves on. But we know we’ve got to be better. We know the series is going to get harder. That’s how it always goes.”
If not for Hart’s 33 saves, the Ducks likely would be the ones up 1-0, but Anaheim found itself in a similar spot in the opening round against Edmonton. After the Oilers won the opener 4-3, the Ducks took the next three games and eventually closed out the series in six.
Win Game 2 at Vegas and suddenly home ice advantage belongs to the Ducks.
“It’s definitely a different task at hand,” Ducks center Ryan Poehling said. “I thought we played a great game (Monday) and just using our speed throughout the series is going to kind of be what dictates how it ends up for us.”
That athleticism figured to be a big advantage for Anaheim entering the series, but the Golden Knights counter with physicality and experience. The rough play was less on display, and Tortorella said the officials made cutting down on fighting and other post-play scrums a point of emphasis this series.
If it comes down to being able to create plays in open ice, the Ducks will have the decided edge, at least if Game 1 was any indication.
“I liked how we played,” Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said. “We had a good pace to our game. I thought (Lukas Dostal) was good in net and I thought across the board we had everybody contributing. We had the energy we were looking for and there was speed and pace. We missed some great chances as well.”
Montreal Canadiens at Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres showed in their six-game series victory over Boston in the first round that they aren’t just a feel-good story. In making their first playoff appearance in 15 years, Buffalo is out to make an impact in this postseason and has the chance to knock out the NHL’s most-decorated franchise in Montreal.
“I think after this series, we kind of learned that this is just hockey,” Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin said. “The media and stuff are kind of blowing it up about playoffs and different things. But we’ve played this sport for so long.”
The Canadiens pulled off the great escape to get to this point, putting just nine shots on goal in Game 7 at Tampa Bay, but still defeated the Lightning 2-1.
“We stuck together,” Canadiens forward Josh Anderson said. “We found ways to win. I thought everyone bought into the game plan and system we were bringing each and every night.”
Now they have to do it again against a team few expected to be in this position when the season began.
The last time the Islanders held the 13th pick, they traded it.
Back in 2022, the Islanders entered the lottery with the same odds as they did this time, 2.0%, and remained at No. 13.
But when the Islanders were on the clock in Montreal, they traded the pick to the hometown Canadiens.
Left-handed defenseman Alexander Romanov and Montreal's 2022 fourth-round pick came to Long Island in exchange for the 13th pick. The Canadiens then sent the Islanders' pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for centerman Kirby Dach.
The Blackhawks selected center Frank Nazar with the Islanders' pick.
Romanov, a pending restricted free agent who had been squeezed out in Montreal, signed a three-year deal worth $7.5 million annually with the Islanders. Over those first three seasons on Long Island, it was a process of becoming a more responsible defenseman while showcasing more offensive potential.
First-year general manager Mathieu Darche really believes in the player, signing Romanov to an eight-year deal worth $6.25 million annually on June 30, 2025.
Unfortunately, the first year of the deal was a nightmare. Romanov dealt with an upper-body injury early in the season, and the hope was that his poor play and analytics were largely due to it.
The struggles continued when he returned, and on Nov. 18, his season came to an end after Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen boarded him, injuring his right shoulder, an injury that required surgery.
The Islanders are relying on Romanov to bounce back, and if you know the player, you know he'll put in the work this summer to get right.
Nazar has proven to be a good example of a player who falls out of the top 10 but can still be effective in the right spot. He made his NHL debut just a season after being drafted, recording a goal in a 4-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. He went pointless in the final two games of the season.
Then in 2024-25, Nazar recorded 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points in 53 games, averaging 15:52 per game. He followed that season up with a 41-point 2025-26 campaign, with 15 goals and 26 assists. He averaged 18:19 per game.
Nazar played most of his second full season with Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen on Chicago's second line, but he did end the season as a linemate with Connor Bedard.
Back in August, with one season left on his deal, the Blackhawks signed him to a seven-year contract worth $6.59 million annually.
Dach has struggled to stay healthy and be effective since the Canadiens acquired him. He played just 58 games in 2022-23, two in 2023-24, 57 in 2024-25, and only 37 this past season, with eight goals and seven assists for 15 points.
So far in the playoffs, Dach has two goals and an assist in seven games. He is a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights.
If the Islanders are going to acquire a scoring forward this summer, one would have to think it comes via trade. And if it comes via trade, chances are the No. 13 pick is involved.
Or they can keep the pick and add to their booming prospect pool.
Stephen Halliday might just be the Ottawa Senators’ most compelling forward prospect.
At 6-foot-4 and 214 pounds with a long reach, Halliday is a hard man to knock off the puck, and he pairs that size with slick playmaking ability. In mostly a fourth-line role, he produced four goals and 11 points in 30 NHL games this season, while continuing a trend that’s followed him at every level.
He's a guy who finds ways to produce offense.
Ridly Greig is asked last week about his roughing incident in Game 4, which landed him a two game suspension.
Whether it was with the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints, Ohio State University, or the AHL’s Belleville Senators, Halliday eventually ascended to the top of his team in point production.
That’s what makes his projection so intriguing. Whether you think of him as a career fourth-line contributor or imagine him eventually climbing into a top-six role, both outcomes feel equally believable right now.
Halliday took a clear step forward as a pro this season, producing at a point-per-game pace in the American Hockey League with 29 points in 29 games. His pass-first instinct stood out, with only 2 of those points being goals. But as he showed during his NHL stint, he’s got a quick, effective release when he chooses to use it.
“Yeah, no, I thought it was a great learning experience,” Halliday told Senators host Jackson Starr on Tuesday. “Super excited that I got a chance to show what I could do up with the big club, but again, I really give credit to the guys in Belleville, like David Bell and all the guys that kind of helped me along the way.”
There’s still a sense that Halliday is just scratching the surface. For now, he remains in that “happy to be here” phase at the NHL level, even as expectations begin to rise.
“Oh yeah, like if you would have told me like I'd be here sitting today, like at the beginning of the year, I would have definitely like been like, 'God, I hope,' and stuff like that.”
Even after proving he can contribute, he didn't get ahead of himself last season. Even now, with a new contract, he knows he still has a lot of work to do to become the player he wants to be. But he learned a lot last season.
“Yeah, like kind of just trying to play every shift, like it was my last, I think trying to improve my pace of play, kind of my physicality, like I wasn't as big of a physicality player like in college and in the NHL, but trying to add that type of part to my game.”
He also pointed to the culture around him as a key factor in his progress.
“Yeah, like going back to like kind of what Sandy said in that post-game interview, like the '25 best friends' thing. Every single guy in the room was trying to help each other, whether it was G or whether it was Timmy, like all of those types of guys.”
That growth earned him a two-year contract on Tuesday worth $1.075 million per season. But according to PuckPedia, it’s a two-way deal, which is a loud reminder that, as head coach Travis Green likes to say, nothing is given.
Halliday was playing regularly leading up to the NHL trade deadline, but after the Senators acquired Warren Foegele, he spent much of the stretch run in the press box.
At the moment, it looks like an NHL opportunity may be there this fall. But a lot can happen in a single offseason.
Two summers ago, like Halliday, Angus Crookshank was a top scorer in Belleville who was getting some long looks in Ottawa and looked like he might be ready to break through as a full-timer. Then the Sens went out that summer and wiped out Crookshank's chances by signing five free agent forwards: David Perron, Michael Amadio, Nick Cousins, Noah Gregor and Adam Gaudette.
What the Senators learned this season is that Halliday belongs in the NHL conversation. And if his track record is any indication, wherever he lands in the lineup, he’ll eventually find a way to produce.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News/Ottawa
This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:
Roughly an hour after the NHL announced the Calder Trophy finalists on Tuesday afternoon, the NHL Draft Lottery took place to determine the draft order at the top of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
Here were the odds for eligible teams to win the first lottery draw and select first overall:
The Toronto Maple Leafs won the drawing to select first overall, and the San Jose Sharks won the second drawing and will select second overall.
The Sharks and Anaheim Ducks franchises had been in the basement of the NHL standings for nearly an identical amount of time. The Ducks just snapped their seven-year playoff drought, and the Sharks just missed the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season in 2025-26.
The two teams, on similar trajectories and rebuilding schedules, are projected to soon represent two of the top teams in the Pacific Division and Western Conference due to the talent they’ve amassed over the better part of the last decade.
Though the Ducks are finding current success, making the playoffs and advancing to the second round, it’s undeniable that the Sharks boast the roster with the best player, likely the best since Connor McDavid took hold of the “best player in the world” title: Macklin Celebrini.
Relying heavily on a season from Celebrini that deserves Hart Trophy consideration, the Sharks took a sizable leap in the NHL standings, missing the Western Conference’s second wild card spot by four points. They’ll now be selecting in the top two of the NHL Draft for the third consecutive season and in the top four for the fourth consecutive season.
With all their top ten picks throughout the course of their rebuild having been at forward positions, they could best utilize one of this draft’s top blueliners (Chase Reid, Carson Carels, Keaton Verhoeff). However, the two players consistently projected as the top two selections are Gavin McKenna and Ivan Stenberg, supremely talented albeit relatively undersized wingers.
Whichever direction San Jose goes with their now-top pick will give them a further significant boost toward their ultimate goal of consistent contention. The Ducks will likely have their hands full with the Sharks for a long time, and it could produce one of the most entertaining and high-powered rivalries in the NHL for a long time to come.
Sharks GM Mike Grier will have a tall order surrounding their young talents with quality complementary pieces. The potential advantages the Ducks can cling to at the moment, when comparing trajectories, is that they have the projected edge along the blueline, and their core pieces, in theory, may have an advantage when playoff hockey rolls around, size is more valuable, and physicality is amplified.
The NHL is smack-dab in the middle of the 2026 Playoffs, with eight remaining teams battling out their second-round matchups. However, playoff time also means NHL Awards time, and finalists for all major awards are being announced daily.
On Tuesday, the NHL announced the finalists for the 2026 Calder Trophy, awarded “to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition” and voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA).
The three finalists for the award this year are Ivan Demidov (forward, Montreal Canadiens), Matthew Schaefer (defenseman, New York Islanders), and Beckett Sennecke (forward, Anaheim Ducks).
Though statistically, the three players produced at a similar rate, all finishing between 59 and 62 points while playing all 82 regular season games, the trophy will almost certainly be awarded to Schaefer, as he tied Sennecke for the rookie lead in goals (23), was immediately his team’s #1 defenseman, averaged 24:41 TOI, and plays (arguably) the most difficult position on the ice (the hardest one to adapt to). He’s already an elite NHL defenseman, and he turned 18 just before the season, in September.
Heading into the 2025-26 season, with a new head coach and a mandate from ownership and management to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it was unclear what their plan was for Sennecke. His playstyle is naturally volatile, he had a long way to go in his 200-foot development, and on paper, the Ducks had a crowded top-nine forward group.
Former Ducks forward Ryan Strome suffered an oblique injury to open the season, leaving a spot open for Sennecke. Sennecke grabbed it, didn’t loosen his grip on that spot all season, and is now a Calder finalist.
Sennecke finished his rookie season with 60 points (23-37=60), good enough for second among all NHL rookies and third among Ducks players. Though many worried about his trajectory, joining the NHL ranks seemingly underdeveloped, Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville and general manager Pat Verbeek’s strategy seemed to be to simply let him play through his inevitable mistakes, affording him a long leash and letting the good outweigh the bad.
Sennecke is a unique talent, ever involved and influential in plays in all three zones. His 6-foot-3, 206-pound frame suggests a prototypical “power forward,” but his puck skills suggest “shifty winger,” and the truth is that he’s both. He works perimeters, he mixes things up at the net-front, and he thrives off the rush. He’s as complete an offensive talent as a rookie can be.
The decision-making and defensive habits leave a lot to be desired and offer much room for improvement, but those are mistakes made by the vast majority of rookies and are to be expected.
During these playoffs, Sennecke’s play has been greater than his production, as he’s only managed a point (a goal) in seven games. As the margins are infinitely finer in the Spring, Sennecke is currently working through ways to remain impactful to his team’s success. On the positive side, the costly mistakes have nearly dried up completely, and he hasn’t been a liability in any sense for the Ducks.
Sennecke is a foundational piece to the Ducks’ current and future success, and his Calder nomination is earned.
ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 3: Robert Thomas #18 of the St. Louis Blues takes a shot as Kris Letang #58 of the Pittsburgh Penguins defends on April 3, 2025 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Scott Rovak/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Penguins are about to enter what could be (and perhaps should be) a fascinating offseason. Probably one of the more fascinating offseasons they have had in years.
There is the Evgeni Malkin situation looming.
There is the fact the Penguins, coming off a surprising playoff appearance, have to wrestle with the reality that they were, in fact, a playoff team, and are also still needing to get younger and look toward the future.
There is Kyle Dubas again insisting he wants to build a championship team and not a team that simply makes the playoffs and loses in the first round.
If the first two years of the Dubas are any indication of what is ahead, you can probably expect a lot of roster movement and a lot of trades. And that is not necessarily a bad thing. The Penguins also have a pretty significant amount of salary cap space to work with, the ability to easily create more if they sell any additional players off the roster that are still under contract, and a lot of future draft picks to potentially deal from.
So what, exactly, should they do with it?
For starters, I will repeat what I said on Monday and emphatically point out I have zero interest in the unrestricted free agent market. The only thing free agency should be utilized for is filling out cheap depth or taking on cheap reclamation projects that can be rebuilt and potentially flipped. Paying Alex Tuch or Darren Raddysh $10 million per year doesn’t do anything to help you now or in the future. That’s a “get to the playoffs and lose in the first round” move.
No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No.
Just pass on all of it.
Stay out of it.
Just throw the UFA list away on July 1 and start looking at it again on July 4 or 5 to see who is left.
Aggressive trading is the way to go. Aggressively selling for more assets, and aggressively buying to potentially get the type of impact player the Penguins are still lacking for the long haul.
So with that in mind, is there a path for them to potentially go after a big fish this offseason in the trade market given some of the names that could be available? I also say this knowing full well that trade rumors and trade speculation rarely, if ever, actually turn into blockbuster trades. We go through this every trade deadline and offseason where the insiders tell us the big names that are available, we try to guess what they will go for, and then nobody actually goes anywhere.
But maybe this time will be different.
Let’s look at some options.
The “in your dreams” players
Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars. I say “dream scenario” here because this is probably all it will ever be. But this is the type of player that should be at the top of the Penguins wish list if they did want to do something bold and aggressive. He is still in his mid-20s. He is one of the best players in hockey. He could be a franchise centerpiece for probably the next seven or eight years. They have the salary cap space to pay him whatever he wants. And it is for almost all of those reasons that the Stars would be insane to move him. I know the salary cap exists, but they should be moving OTHER people to make sure he stays. And I suspect they will do exactly that. It would also likely cost you Ben Kindel as a starting point. And at the risk of saying something controversial, this is the one player potentially available that I think I would be okay with that. But it’s not likely going to come to that. It will probably stay in your dreams.
Robert Thomas, St. Louis Blues. I think Thomas could be a little more attainable than Robertson, just because the Blues are in kind of a no-man’s land where they are not particularly good and might actually be looking to re-tool things a little bit with their core. He’s not quite Robertson, but I still think he can be an impact player for a long time. He is one of the best playmakers in hockey and signed long-term to a fairly team-friendly contract. But again … the team has to actually WANT to trade him and the cost will be high. Ben Kindel high? Maybe. Maybe you can get away with multiple draft picks and a different young player/prospect, even if it’s a top prospect. I also feel like this could be one of those situations where you deal somebody off of your own roster (Karlsson? Rakell?) in order to collect more assets that could be applied to another trade.
I am also okay dealing prospects, even at this stage of where the Penguins are, because most of these guys are not going to play for the next contending Penguins team. Some of them are going to offer you their most value as trade chips. Especially if it is the right player. Do the Penguins have the right prospects to entice a team into that type of trade? Again … this is why he is in the dream category.
Matthew Knies, Toronto Maple Leafs. Knies has been mentioned in trade speculation going back to the trade deadline, and with the Maple Leafs winning the NHL Draft Lottery on Tuesday and likely adding another forward into the mix, Knies would be a logical option to move for the much-needed defense help the Maple Leafs are craving. I think there’s a chance he gets traded. He is only 23 years old, already really good and already signed long-term. I just don’t think the Penguins have the defensemen Toronto would want or need.
The buyer beware category
Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators. Tkachuk is tired of his name being in trade speculation, but brother, your name is in trade speculation and you are responsible for a lot of that. But I think I am out on him. I like the IDEA of Brady Tkachuk a lot more than I like the reality of Brady Tkachuk. He is a very good player. Maybe even better than very good. But he is also at a point where I think his perceived value across the NHL is higher (and perhaps significantly so) than his actual on-ice value. There are a lot of teams and general managers in the league that would crawl over miles broken glass and random lego pieces to get him on their roster because they see TKACHUK written in bright lights, and that’s just not a bidding war I want to get into. He’s not Matthew Tkachuk. You are not building a championship level team around him. Given all of that, I’d say this dude has New York Ranger written all over him. Let Chris Drury worry about that and make it his problem.
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs. What a chaotic week for the Maple Leafs. Chaotic front office hires. Auston Matthews saying he is not sure he will be back next season and that he wants to see what direction the offseason goes in. Then they go and win the freaking NHL Draft lottery. Let’s be honest, there is a 99.9 percent chance he is a Maple Leaf next season, but in the event that he does somehow become available this is another situation where I like the idea of it a lot more than the reality of it. I am concerned about the wrist injury. I am concerned about the fact that he has been “really good” the past two years and not “really great.” I am concerned he is going to be 29 next season and due for a new contract in two years. I would be concerned at the price. I am not sure he fits into whatever timeline the Penguins should be on.
The reclamation project
Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks. Let’s get weird. What type of players has Kyle Dubas made an effort to acquire over the past two years?
Bad contracts teams do not want.
Talented players that have not worked out as planned/hope in their current environment. Some have worked out here better than others.
With that said, have I got the player for you, because Elias Pettersson fits BOTH of these categories.
The contract is … not great. The recent production, given the contract is … even worse.
But here’s what you have working in your favor: There is obviously an elite talent somewhere in that body. Vancouver has been about as grim of a situation as there is in the NHL and if there is anybody that can use a fresh start it is this freaking guy. It’s also probably not going to cost you much in the way of assets because there’s probably not many teams in the league willing to take on that contract or have the ability to take on that contract. I’m not saying it’s high on my wish list. I am saying I think it’s an option at least worth exploring and discussing. I could be talked into it.
The likely path
Restricted free agents. I am not even necessarily talking offer sheets, but simply trades involving other team’s RFAs. Remember that salary cap crunch Dallas is dealing with in order to keep Jason Robertson? Maybe that costs them Mavrik Bourque. It might cost you a first-round pick and a decent prospect (think K’Andre Miller trade), but you’re getting a 20-goal scorer that still has some serious untapped potential.
Cole Perfetti? A talented player that hasn’t quite put it all together in his current spot while still flashing top-line potential? While also playing for a team that is entering a desperate offseason and likely to do something dumb? Sounds like a Pittsburgh Penguin already.
You need more young players on defense. Are Simon Nemec or Brandt Clarke long-term fits in New Jersey or Los Angeles? I feel like Nemec is probably more attainable than Clarke, but the Kings are, after all, run by Ken Holland, and he did trade Jordan Spence last offseason so he could pay Brian Dumoulin and Cody Ceci, so who knows? Sometimes you have to target the general manager more than the player.
There is also the strong possibility somebody that is not even on anybody’s radar gets moved. Either way, we are probably looking at some big roster movement this offseason, and given the resources the Penguins have to work with there are some really intriguing possibilities.
The Philadelphia Flyers hope a change of scene can charge a comeback against the Carolina Hurricanes, with the two Metropolitan Division foes meeting at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Thursday, May 7.
My top Hurricanes vs. Flyers predictions and NHL picks anticipate Carolina continuing its own charge to the Eastern Conference Finals and peppering Philly goaltender Dan Vladar with shots.
Hurricanes vs Flyers Game 3 prediction
Hurricanes vs Flyers best bet: Dan Vladar Over 26.5 saves (-120)
The Carolina Hurricanespaced the NHL in attempts per 60 minutes on the road during the regular season and again in Round 1 of the playoffs, and they’re sporting a high-end 55.9% Corsi For percentage through two Round 2 games.
Plus, Vladar has done his part in the crease with a .928 SV% and 8.67 goals saved above average (GSAx) over eight postseason games, which includes respective .945 and 5.13 marks across three home starts.
Additionally, I’m anticipating Philly pushing to generate more offense, which will leave them susceptible to extra Carolina counterattacks and shooting opportunities.
Hurricanes vs Flyers Game 3 same-game parlay
The Hurricanes are too deep, talented, and experienced for the Flyers to hang with, and the gap in 5-on-5 play shows it. In addition to the highlighted possession dominance, Carolina has also generated 54.6% of the expected goals (xG) and outscored Philly 5-1 at 5-on-5.
Of course, Hurricanes starter Frederik Andersen is building a Conn Smythe case in the crease with an eye-popping .958 SV% with 12.53 GSAx through six playoff games.
Philly will have to push to generate more scoring chances in Game 2, which sets up Andersen to record 22 or more saves for the fifth time this postseason.
Turning to Carolina winger Andrei Svechnikov, he’s been held to a single playoff point despite logging top offensive minutes and being on the ice for 6.74 xG. Additionally, after taking three minor penalties in Game 2, I’m expecting a scoresheet response from Svechnikov.
The Carolina Hurricanes have covered the puck line in 15 of their last 25 away games (+11.75 Units / 38% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Hurricanes vs. Flyers.
How to watch Hurricanes vs Flyers Game 3
Location
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Puck drop
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
TNT
Hurricanes vs Flyers latest injuries
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NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 22: Nico Daws #50 of the New Jersey Devils defends his net during the second period of the game against the Minnesota Wild on October 22, 2025 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Our free agency preview continues this week at All About the Jersey, and after taking a look at some of the bigger-ticket items last week, I thought it would be a good idea this week to dig a little deeper and look at some of the goaltenders who are up for new deals.
At the NHL level, there are no goaltenders up for new deals thanks in large part to one of our former GM’s final parting gifts, an ill-advised and poorly timed contract extension for one Jacob Markstrom. Barring some unforeseen transaction (more on that in a bit), the Devils appear slated to enter next season by running it back with the Markstrom and Jake Allen pairing in net.
The AHL level is a different story though, as the two netminders who primarily saw time with the Comets this past season are due new contracts. Nico Daws and Jakub Malek are both pending RFAs with arbitration rights, and are both likely, at a bare minimum, to be tendered a contract.
Let’s take a look at both goaltenders, see how they’ve performed this past season, and determine whether or not the Devils will indeed bring one or both back.
One of my larger themes in that aforementioned article is that while Daws has potential, I didn’t think it was apparent that the Devils trusted him at the NHL level to the point where they were going to continue to go “big game hunting” and “fix their goaltending” with a more proven option. Shortly after writing that, the Devils indeed made their big acquisition in net when they traded a 1st round pick and Kevin Bahl to the Calgary Flames for the aforementioned Markstrom. Markstrom and Allen have primarily been the NHL tandem for the last two seasons. This has left Daws as the “break glass in case of emergency” organizational third goaltender, a role that he has performed well in in limited action.
With only seven starts (and nine appearances) total at the NHL level the past two seasons, Daws hasn’t played much for the Devils. But when he has played, he has generally looked good. He has a .925 save percentage over those nine games and has saved 5.3 goals above expected. Again, its a very small sample size, but even if he regresses off of that over a larger body of work, Daws certainly looks like a guy who could put up the “average goaltending” that is often wished for around these parts when someone writes the “what if the Devils just had average goaltending” article when the season goes awry.
Daws, who will already be entering his age 26 season, has plenty of experience at the AHL level. His save percentages of .890, .893, and .892 over the last three seasons at Utica don’t exactly jump off the page as someone who has mastered the AHL level, although a lot of that can likely be attributed to Utica mostly being a bad team for much of him time there. Still, with over 150 AHL games (including postseason), I don’t think he has much of anything left to prove at the AHL level. He has plenty of experience. He’s as NHL-ready as he’s ever going to be. The question is whether or not the Devils determine if he is good enough to hold down a role as part of an NHL tandem for a full season, or if he’ll always be a ‘tweener’ AAAA-type who might be too good for the minor leagues but not good enough for the major leagues.
Tom Fitzgerald seemingly decided at some point over the last few years that the answer to that question is no, he’s not good enough. Markstrom and Allen are blocking him at the NHL level, Fitzgerald extended both of them, and this presumably leaves no room for Daws to break through.
But with that said, Tom Fitzgerald has been wrong before. Tom Fitzgerald never actually did fix the goaltending for the Devils despite his efforts to do so. Tom Fitzgerald is no longer the Devils general manager in large part because he failed to fix the goaltending (as well as other reasons). And with a new GM in Sunny Mehta comes, potentially, a fresh start.
I don’t know how Sunny Mehta will view the goaltending situation that he is inheriting, and he certainly didn’t tip his hand in regards to how he feels about any of the players when he met with the media a few weeks ago. Mehta didn’t draft Daws, nor did he trade for and sign Markstrom or Allen, so he has no preconceived notions or attachments to anyone on the Devils organizational depth chart in net.
What we do know, and what we’ve talked about in the past, is that the Devils salary cap situation is tight. If one is looking at areas where the Devils could stand to shave a few dollars off of payroll, it might be the $6M AAV goaltender who was dreadful last season that the previous regime committed to.
But is there a universe where Mehta looks at the Devils internal options and simply declares that Daws should be playing at the NHL level? Or at the very least, the Devils shouldn’t be willing to toss away Daws for nothing, whether that’s allowing him to sign overseas this summer or losing him on waivers? With two goaltenders in their mid 30s, maybe it makes sense for the Devils to be the rare NHL team that carries three goaltenders. Maybe having a younger goaltender dressing as the backup and giving the other, older goaltender a true day off on game days would make it more likely that Sheldon Keefe or whoever the coach is develops a quick hook if the starter “simply doesn’t have it” on any given night. It would require some forward, outside the box thinking, but if anyone seems capable of that, wouldn’t it be Sunny Mehta?
The Devils, as an organization, seem to be in a holding pattern while they’re waiting for Mikhail Yegorov to maybe someday be “the guy” in net. That’s fine, but Yegorov will not be an option for the Devils on Opening Night five months from now. They have to find a viable option in net in the meantime. They have to find the best options to win games here and now.
The Devils made their bed with the Markstrom situation, and if they want out of it now before the contract even starts, its complicated as to how they could feasibly make that happen. It’s a mess that Mehta is inheriting. That said, would it be all that surprising if Mehta wanted to move on from a statistically bottom-five, aging goaltender that he didn’t sign in the first place. As annoying and painful as it would be to take on that dead cap charge for a contract that hasn’t even begun yet, it might be what’s best for the Devils in the short-term and long-term.
AFP Analytics is projecting a 1-year, $892,500 contract for Daws, which is a slight raise from his previous AAV of $812,500. If he’s back with the Devils, I could see him agreeing to something close to that. Of course, I say ‘if’ because Daws might be ultimately fed up with his professional career stalling in North America. He might be fed up with Markstrom and Allen blocking him and the Devils not trading him somewhere where he could potentially make the NHL roster. And perhaps when Mehta does his evaluations, he comes to the conclusion that he likes Markstrom more than Daws for whatever reason. Maybe Mehta accepts that he can’t really do anything in net for the time being.
I say all that to say it wouldn’t be surprising to me if Daws said “thanks, but no thanks” when the Devils likely qualify him and he signs somewhere in Europe.
With the management change in New Jersey though, perhaps this is exactly the clean slate that Daws needs to finally carve out an NHL role with the Devils.
Jakub Malek
It’s hard to believe that it’s already been five years since Jakub Malek was drafted on a Zoom call at the NHL Network studios in Secaucus, but that is indeed the case.
Malek, the Devils 4th round pick in 2021, is well traveled. He played for VHK Vsetin of the Czechia2 league in 2021-22 and three seasons with Ilves of Liiga. The Devils actually signed him to his ELC on May 28th, 2024, but they wound up loaning Malek to Ilves for that aforementioned third season.
This past season was his first professional season in North America, and while he did get into a couple of games with the Adirondack Thunder, he primarily split the net with Daws at Utica. Malek posted an .895 save percentage over his 31 appearances.
Malek has yet to make his NHL debut, but there’s little reason for the Devils to do anything to move on from him at this point. They still have three more years of organizational control before he’s eligible for UFA (versus two for Daws), and unlike Daws, Malek is still exempt from waivers. Malek should be one half of the Utica goaltending tandem for the upcoming season, and time will tell whether or not he develops into anything more than that.
AFP Analytics doesn’t even have a projection for Malek, but I could see him signing something similar to the two-year deal that Daws just completed. Two years, under $900k, and the second year is one-way where Malek is making the same amount of money regardless where he plays. Granted, Daws had nearly 50 games of NHL experience when he signed his deal versus zero for Malek, so maybe that’s wishful thinking on Malek’s part, but the larger point is that a Malek contract isn’t going to break the bank and the Devils will need someone to play the games at the AHL level.
Final Thoughts
There’s no doubt in my mind that the Devils extend a contract offer to both Daws and Malek. They’re both established AHL goaltenders, at a bare minimum, and there’s little reason for the Devils to go out and pursue a Louie Domingue-type to serve as the organizational third goaltender unless one or both goaltenders decides to return to Europe. I suppose an argument could be crafted that that makes sense for Daws if he doesn’t see a path forward in his NHL career. I don’t think that really makes sense for Malek.
The only real question when it comes to whether or not the Devils should bring back Nico Daws and Jakub Malek is more of a big picture question on how do the Devils envision their goaltending the next few years. It’s not a question of “should they bring them back” because the answer to that question is yes. But we don’t know how Mehta will view things when it comes to the organizational depth chart.
I do think its worth mentioning that throughout Mehta’s time as an AGM in Florida, the Panthers consistently took a goaltender late in the draft. Devon Levi was a 7th round pick in 2020 who was ultimately flipped to Buffalo in the deal that saw Florida get Sam Reinhart. Kirill Gerasimyuk played in the VHL and MHL for years before coming to North America to play in the AHL. Tyler Muszelik played four years in college before signing an ATO with the Charlotte Checkers. The Panthers have since drafted Olog Glifford, Denis Gabdrakhmanov, and Yegor Midlak in the latter rounds the last three seasons.
I say all that to say if that philosophy sounds familiar, its not much different that the Devils approach to trying to find goaltenders by drafting one just about every season, something they’ve done since Ray Shero was the GM. It’s one of those things that could be something, or it could be nothing, but I don’t anticipate the Devils deviating from that approach. The main difference would be Mehta signing off on whoever the Devils are indeed picking going forward.
Even with all of that said though, the Devils still need guys who are capable at the NHL level of stepping in and playing at a moment’s notice. So while Daws and Malek might not necessarily be Mehta’s “guys”, there is reason to keep them around for the time being.
The Vegas Golden Knights take a 1-0 series lead into Game 2 against the Anaheim Ducks tonight, with puck drop scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET at T-Mobile Arena.
My Ducks vs. Golden Knights props are targeting Jackson LaCombe to stay hot, while Mitch Marner and John Carlson will also make offensive noise.
Jackson LaCombe continues to lead the Anaheim Ducks in these playoffs. He notched his team-best 10th point in Game 1 against the Vegas Golden Knights, and all but one have been assists. He set up the Ducks’ lone goal in Game 1, and LaCombe has cashed the Over in helpers in six of his last seven appearances.
The 25-year-old is playing huge minutes right now, averaging at least 27 per game across the last three contests. His TOI in the series opener was 28:07.
LaCombe plays on the top line with two of Anaheim’s best scorers in Leo Carlsson and Troy Terry, and is also a key driving force on PP1.
Game 2 Prop #2: Mitch Marner Over 0.5 assists
-140 at BET99
Mitch Marner has been a stud in the playoffs for Vegas, grabbing nine points, which includes six assists. The 28-year-old has hit the Over in helpers in four consecutive outings, and he’s notched an assist in all but one postseason game so far.
Marner finished with two points in the series opener, and he also had 32 helpers in 41 home games during the regular season. The veteran has also fired 10 pucks on net across the last two contests. The chances are there.
Game 2 Prop #3: John Carlson Over 0.5 assists
+135 at BET99
LaCombe isn’t the only Ducks defenseman setting up goals.
Trade-deadline acquisition John Carlson had 46 helpers this season, and 10 in just 16 games after arriving in Anaheim. He’s also been productive in the playoffs, tallying six helpers so far.
Carlson has hit the Over in two straight, and he’s notched five assists over his last five. Many of his helpers this season came on the road as well, compiling 29 in only 35 games. He’s rolling, and Carlson is one of the main playmakers on this second line.
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There’s something organic about the way it all happened. A 60-year-old Buffalo man drove around 90 minutes to just outside of Rochester to buy a Body Opponent Bag — now called “Bob the dummy” — on Facebook Marketplace two days before the city’s first playoff game in 15 years. A group of younger Sabres fans known as the Blade Gang veered around KeyBank Center before that same April afternoon.
And when Nick Mastrocovo moved his dummy — donning a Bruins jersey for the Sabres’ first-round opponent — closer to the Blade Gang during the pregame festivities April 19, one member landed a punch. Everyone erupted. Another member tackled the dummy from behind. A viral moment was born. Mastrocovo and his cousin returned for Game 2 in referee jerseys, just in case something got out of control after the added attention. The Blade Gang traveled to Boston for road games. Playoff hockey in Buffalo suddenly had more than a pulse.
It rapidly became the epicenter of the tournament.
Sabres fans partake in pre-game antics involving a dummy dressed in a Bruins jersey before Game 5 of their first-round matchup, won by Buffalo in six games. AP
“I don’t think that they go viral without the dummy … and I don’t think the dummy gets as much love without them,” Mastrocovo told The Post.
For more than a decade, the intersection of Washington and Perry was dormant this time of year. Seasons unofficially ended in December. Aprils were about coaching changes. The Sabres were the punch line on national television. In December, when Buffalo sat in last place in the Eastern Conference, that became the case again, but a historical turnaround that led to the Atlantic Division title has now reached the second round of the postseason for the first time in 18 years — with Game 1 of the second-round series against the Canadiens set for Wednesday in Buffalo.
And at the center of it has been the Sabres fans who “are just nuts,” Mastrocovo said.
“You’d always go out in these stores in Buffalo and you see people wearing [Alex] Ovechkin shirts or [Sidney] Crosby shirts,” Mastrocovo told The Post. “Someone wore something Sabres, the joke was, ‘Oh did you lose a bet?’ And now, you see these kids wearing Sabre jerseys.”
So for the first time since the 2006-07 season, there’s a reason for fans to descend on downtown Buffalo, weaving through the highways and streets where — with a good gust of wind — you can smell the Cheerios from the General Mills factory.
The Sabres are one of 10 NHL teams who haven’t won a Stanley Cup, though they came close in 1999, and for as much as Josh Allen and Bills Mafia and folding-table shenanigans have shaped Buffalo’s sports reputation in recent years, it has always been a hockey city, too.
Sabres fans get pumped up before Game 1 of their first-round series against the Bruins, which they went on to win in six games. NHLI via Getty Images
Mastrocovo’s mom helped clean the visiting locker room at the old Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, he said. His two hamsters growing up were named Rick and Martin — after one of the members of the Sabres’ French Connection line. Those were links to the initial days, when they made the Stanley Cup Final in just their fifth season, and the Sabres have been a part of his entire life. They advanced to the Eastern Conference finals in 2006 and ’07, but fell short again.
Some of those runs were expected. This one, though, wasn’t.
Alex Tuch, who collected 33 goals during the regular season and another four during their first-round series, hinted at what would happen with fans in the playoffs. “I hope they have a lot of police officers and firemen on duty,” he said on TNT after the Sabres officially clinched a spot in the tournament, “because I feel like the whole city’s gonna burn down. It’s gonna be awesome.”
A Sabres fan skates outside the arena before their Game 5 matchup against the Bruins. Getty Images
Ticket prices have skyrocketed. Local stores started prioritizing Sabres merch again. Watch parties at Canalside, the downtown waterfront, made cameos on broadcasts, capturing the pent-up energy. When singer Cami Clune’s microphone stopped working during the Canadian national anthem in Game 5, fans inside KeyBank Center picked up with the words and created a crescendo that spread across social media.
When the Sabres returned home from Boston after clinching the first-round series in Game 6, fans gathered at the airport to greet the team. The dummy, still in a Cam Neely No. 8 jersey, was there, too. Players recorded the scene as they drove by. And for around 30 minutes each pregame, Mastrocovo’s dummy entered the spotlight. Fans wanted pictures as it rolled up the street.
It took a beating, he joked. He messaged the woman he bought it from again and said, “Hey, I’m not sure if you caught anything online, but I just want you to know what happened to your dummy.”
Sabres fans get pumped up before Game 1 of their series against the Bruin in which they won in six games. NHLI via Getty Images
“This is the best marketplace sale I’ve ever had,” he recalled her replying.
The question becomes how long this will all last. Behind forward Tage Thompson (40 regular-season goals) and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (74 points) and a goaltender in Alex Lyon who became the starter in the middle of the Bruins series, their season could last until June.
Mastrocovo thinks it’s all sustainable for future seasons, too. For now, they’re guaranteed four more games against the Canadiens. For two of those, Mastrocovo’s dummy will have a plain, red Montreal jersey on — he has a Guy Lafleur one but wanted to be respectful.
The fans, and the spectacle that the dummy and the Blade Gang and the watch party creates, will be at the center of everything.
“It’s just balls to the wall, 100 percent, let’s go,” Mastrocovo said.
SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY - MAY 05: Detailed view of the draft board is shown following the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery at the NHL Network Studio on May 5, 2026 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Should the Devils bet long-term on Arseny Gritsyuk? “Yes, committing long-term after just 66 NHL games carries risk. But there are some strong indicators Gritsyuk is a player worth betting on.” [Infernal Access ($)]
“The Devils aren’t in rebuild mode, so drafting isn’t the priority it would be if they had top-five picks from year to year. Still, they will need some young talent to complement their core in the future, something Fitzgerald failed to properly address as the Devils’ GM.” [Devils on the Rush]
Hockey Links
Calder Trophy finalists:
Introducing your finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy! 🏆 #NHLAwards
The Trophy is presented annually to the player selected as the most proficient in their first year of competition. pic.twitter.com/FRzcWehoYl
“Jim Rutherford plans to step down as the Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations after the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft, but will help hire the next general manager first.” [NHL.com]
Scott Wheeler’s latest draft rankings: “Wingers Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg remain my top two prospects, which has been the case on all of my lists. They’re followed by half a dozen defensemen, a trio of centers and another pair of wingers to form a clear-cut top 13 prospects in this year’s class for me.” [The Athletic ($)]
Now that we know a good chunk of the draft order, it’s mock draft season: [Daily Faceoff] [The Athletic ($)]
“Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman revealed Tuesday that his absence in the final weeks of the season was caused by a need to address his mental health.” [Associated Press]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
The Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres will finally start their second-round series on Wednesday night in Buffalo. While this should be an interesting series, it promises to be different from the one we saw against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and that could be a welcome change of pace. Lindy Ruff’s men do not have the kind of defensive forwards Jon Cooper had on his roster, and that should be good news for the Habs’ top line.
That’s not to say Buffalo doesn’t have a good defense, however. Their top four defensemen are a force to be reckoned with: Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, Bowen Byram, and Owen Power are a solid group. The quartet will no doubt be keeping a close eye on the Canadiens’ top forwards and aiming to make their lives harder with big hits.
On Tuesday, at practice, Martin St-Louis reunited Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky. Even though the line struggled to make a mark against the Tampa Bay Lightning, it’s not surprising to see the coach want to go back to the line that has provided so much offense for this team in the regular season. The bench boss had Alex Newhook, Jake Evans, and Ivan Demidov on his second line, Alexandre Texier with Phillip Danault and Josh Anderson on his third line, and Zachary Bolduc with Kirby Dach and Brendan Gallagher on his fourth line. Meaning that Joe Veleno, Oliver Kapanen, and Patrik Laine were on the outside looking in.
On the back end, Mike Matheson was still with Alexandre Carrier, Kaiden Guhle with Lane Hutson and Jayden Struble with Noah Dobson. That left Arber Xhekaj as the odd man out, since Adam Engstrom has been returned to the Laval Rocket. Given how big the Sabres’ defense is, I can’t imagine that the gritty defenseman will be sitting for the whole series.
Of course, what we saw in practice and in the warmup in the first round wasn’t always what we saw during the games, so no one should be shocked if that’s not how the Canadiens line up on Wednesday night. Still, it would be surprising if St-Louis didn't stick to his usual first line.
On Tuesday, Ruff told the media that Sam Carrick, who was originally supposed to miss the second round, was now officially considered day-to-day. No such luck for Noah Ostlund, however, as the centerman is still expected to miss the best-of-seven series. As for the Habs, with Dobson’s return in Game 7 against Tampa, they can be considered fully healthy, well aside from the bumps and bruises hockey players always play through of course.
The Sabres have a very good record in the first game of a series; they are 26-15 (.634) and 12-5 when the series starts on their own turf, for a whopping .706 winning percentage. Meanwhile, the Canadiens have improved their record to 76-50 in the first game of a series when they beat Tampa Bay to kick off these playoffs. On the road, that gives them a 14-32 record, for a measly .304 winning percentage.
Both teams won the first game of their previous series, so something will have to give when they both meet on Wednesday night. The Habs and Sabres have also split the season series evenly, with both teams winning two games each and scoring 13 goals across the four games. It’s interesting to note that Jakub Dobes was in the Canadiens’ net for both wins, the only two games he’s ever played against Buffalo.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM and you can catch it on HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS, and CBC. Pierre Lambert and Wes McCauley are set to officiate with Scott Cherrey and Jesse Marquis being the linemen.
PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 27: Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) looks on 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
Here are your Pens Points for this Wednesday morning…
As the debate to re-sign Evgeni Malkin continues to be the dominant news item (and figures to remain that way until a decision is made), two opposing views on Malkin’s future with the Penguins win out above everything else: one argument is that he’s still productive and deserves to return for a final season, while the other says the team should move on to prioritize a long-term rebuild. Which one will win out is anyone’s guess. [PensBurgh]
Forward Anthony Mantha said he felt “right at home” during his lone season with the Penguins after posting career-best numbers, including 33 goals and 64 points. His postseason performance left much to be desired, however. As he likely hits the open market, Mantha said he’d still welcome a return to Pittsburgh. [Trib Live]
News and notes from around the NHL…
The Toronto Maple Leafs won the NHL draft lottery on Tuesday night despite having the fifth-best odds, securing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft. After a disappointing 2025-26 season, the team is now in a position to draft a difference-making prospect as new general manager John Chayka helms the ship in rough waters. [Sportsnet]
Jim Rutherford said he will step down as the Vancouver Canucks’ president of hockey operations and move into an advisory role following next month’s draft. [TSN]
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman revealed in a statement on Tuesday that he stepped away from the team to focus on his mental health, explaining that his decision, while difficult, was necessary to take care of himself and return as a better player, teammate, and person. [Sportsnet]
New York Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer headlines the finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy, joined by Montreal’s Ivan Demidov and Anaheim’s Beckett Sennecke. [ESPN]
He will teach you the way. | NHLI via Getty Images
A day after a widely panned press conference to introduce their new GM and figurehead, the Toronto Maple Leafs were handed a gift by the hockey gods/conspiracy forces by winning the draft lottery to get the #1 pick this summer.
This was quite the cliffhanger, as had just one lower team won the first or second pick lottery, the Leafs would have fallen out of the top five, meaning their high first-round pick would transfer to the Bruins as part of a trade that was only top-five protected.
Making matters worse for the last-place Vancouver Canucks, the San Jose Sharks then won the 2nd-pick lottery, giving them three consecutive years with a pick in the top two, and four consecutive years with a pick in the top four. While the Sharks took a big step forward this season, the tanking residue is still paying dividends.
And, of course, Toronto and San Jose’s lottery wins mean the Rangers drop from 3rd overall to 5th. Pity, that.
Islanders News
In far less surprising news, the NHL announced the Calder finalists as shoe-in Matthew Schaefer (duh), preseason favorite Ivan Demidev and the Ducks’ Beckett Sennecke. This award is voted on by the writers. [NHL | Newsday]
In Islanders-initiated news, after a successful season at the helm of their AHL squad, Rocky Thompson has been brought up to Pete DeBoer’s NHL staff. Thompson was an assistant in the NHL previously with the Flyers, Oilers and Sharks (with current Isles assistant Bob Boughner), and he overlapped with DeBoer a bit when he was head coach of the Knights’ AHL affiliate in Chicago when DeBoer was in Vegas. [Isles]
No lottery luck this summer; the Islanders will select 13th overall, the slot where they selected Derek King and Dean Chynoweth back in the ’80s, which was {counts in head} damn…a long time ago. [Isles]
Here’s Matthew Schaefer and his roommates explaining how the draft lottery works:
Elsewhere
Tuesday night the Avalanche and Wild exchanged quick early goals again, but then Colorado settled in and maintained control on the way to a 5-2 (EN) win and 2-0 series lead. [NHL]
What a difference 24 hours made for the mood in Toronto. [Sportsnet]
Apparently Leafs GM John Chayka did Shane Doan dirty, and that bothers Coyotes followers who think of Doan as a swell guy. [Arizona Sports]
Jim Rutherford will steap away from the “day to day” with the Canucks after the draft and after they presumably name a GM, sunsetting his very odd tenure with that team. [NHL | Sportsnet]
Four first-round losses for the Lightning does not change their commitment to Jon Cooper. [Sportsnet]
Carolina Hurricanes (53-22-7, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (43-27-12, in the Metropolitan Division)
Philadelphia; Thursday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Hurricanes -164, Flyers +138; over/under is 5.5
NHL PLAYOFFS SECOND ROUND: Hurricanes lead series 2-0
BOTTOM LINE: The Carolina Hurricanes visit the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round of the NHL Playoffs with a 2-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Monday for the seventh time this season. The Hurricanes won 3-2 in overtime in the last meeting.
Philadelphia has gone 43-27-12 overall with a 16-12-6 record against the Metropolitan Division. The Flyers have a 38-7-4 record when scoring three or more goals.
Carolina is 53-22-7 overall with a 22-4-2 record against the Metropolitan Division. The Hurricanes have a 26-9-2 record in games they score at least one power-play goal.
TOP PERFORMERS: Trevor Zegras has 26 goals and 41 assists for the Flyers. Porter Martone has three goals and three assists over the last 10 games.
Seth Jarvis has 32 goals and 34 assists for the Hurricanes. Logan Stankoven has scored eight goals with four assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Flyers: 6-3-1, averaging 2.4 goals, 3.9 assists, 5.9 penalties and 15.8 penalty minutes while giving up two goals per game.
Hurricanes: 9-0-1, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.9 assists, 5.8 penalties and 13.8 penalty minutes while giving up 1.3 goals per game.
INJURIES: Flyers: Owen Tippett: day to day (undisclosed), Noah Cates: day to day (lower body), Rodrigo Abols: out (ankle), Nikita Grebenkin: out (upper body).
Hurricanes: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Jackson LaCombe
Mitch Marner
