Lindy Ruff is a finalist for the Jack Adams Award for coach of the year.
The Buffalo Sabres put the finishing touches on their first playoff victory since 2007, jumping out to an early 2-0 first-period lead and pulling away in a 4-1 series-clinching victory over the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Friday. Alex Tuch and Mattias Samuelsson put Buffalo in front early, and after David Pastrnak cut the lead in half in the middle frame, the Sabres pulled away in the third with Zach Benson scoring an important insurance marker and Josh Norris scoring into the empty net. Alex Lyon was once again steady between the pipes with 25 stops, as Buffalo swept all three road games in Boston, by a combined score of 13-3.
The game was marred with an ugly incident late in the third period, when Sabres pest Zach Benson slew-footed Charlie McAvoy, an offense that ired the Bruins blueliner to the point that he took a baseball swing that could earn McAvoy a tryout with the Red Sox. Benson was penalized a minor and McAvoy a major and game misconduct, but thus far the NHL's Department of Player Safety has not announced an hearing for supplementary discipline.
"I said, we are going to win the series. We're going to win the game. We've got to do some things better, but we're going to win the game." Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said to his club on Friday morning. "(Playing well in Boston) meant everything in this series for sure. You look at them coming into our building and winning two games, us coming into their building and winning three games, (I'd) really like to grab a hold of how energized our building is and use that to an advantage and win hockey games. Would have really liked this game to have been in Buffalo. It wasn't, but it would have been special to have this game there.”
The Sabres did show at times some signs of inexperience in the series with Boston, including an anemic man advantage that enabled Boston to play more physically and on the edge. Buffalo got big offensive production from top forwards Alex Tuch (4 goals, 3 assists), and Tage Thompson (2 goals, 5 assists), as well as unexpected contributions from Peyton Krebs (6 points) and Bowen Byram (3 goals), but they went 1 for 24 on the power play, something that will have to rectified if they hope to advance further in the postseason.
Buffalo now awaits the winner of the Tampa Bay Lightning - Montreal Canadiens series as their second-round opponent. The Lightning forced a seventh and deciding game in Tampa on Sunday night with a 1-0 victory on Friday at the Bell Centre, with Gage Gonsalves scoring at 9:03 of overtime. Andrei Vasilevskiy stood on his head with a 30-save effort, making a number of remarkable saves to keep Tampa Bay alive.
It's been a while for Nick Foligno, who hadn't played in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2023 as a member of the Boston Bruins. That team set an NHL record with 65 regular-season wins, but blew a 3-1 lead to the Florida Panthers in the first round.
Following his time in Boston, Foligno eventually became the captain in Chicago, and he was in more of a mentor role than a "try to make the playoffs" role. He embraced it and never complained.
In fact, he did the exact opposite. Every young player on the team was better for having him around early in their careers. Foligno was a great example of a leader, someone who plays every shift with high-end intensity, and a professional who conducts themselves with great class both on and off the ice.
"He's someone that's more happy for everyone else than he is himself," Connor Bedard said of Foligno as a person. "That's infections. Our whole room is like that. Everyone wants each other to do so well. We're fighting for each other every day. He's someone who exemplifies that."
As his time with the Hawks wound down, it was clear that he deserved an incredible opportunity to chase the Stanley Cup. Not only was he given that when he was traded to the Minnesota Wild on deadline day, but he was also given the chance to play with his brother Marcus for the first time at any level.
The Blackhawks lost a great leader when they traded him away. The move was in the best interest of the player, which was a wonderful gesture by the front office.
"It's bittersweet to see him go," said Kyle Davidson, who was the one who made the nice gesture to get him to Minnesota.
"I'm happy for him," head coach Jeff Blashill said after the trade was made. "An opportunity to be a part of something with your brother will be an unbelievable thing. That means a ton to him and his family. I know how important that is. For me personally, he's been awesome. He's been awesome for the organization. He's an outstanding human being. I'll miss him personally, and we'll miss him as a group."
During their first-round series, Foligno was a menace on the ice. He wasn't the offensive point producer that guys like Matt Boldy, Kirill Kaprizov, and Quinn Hughes were, but he played a role that helps any team win. His physicality, tenacity on pucks, and ability to go through the motions were infectious on the entire team.
Nick Foligno made his presence especially known in game six, which turned out to be the clinching win for the Wild to move on to round number two. Foligno laid the body more than once on the top players of the Dallas Stars, and made it very difficult for them to get anything going when he was on the ice.
The whole team was committed to playing that style of hard-nosed hockey, and they dominated at even strength as a result. Now they will play the President's Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche in the second round.
With how much Foligno has given to the game and his teammates along the way throughout his 19-year NHL career, it was time for him to have this chance.
The Wild have a long way to go. The Colorado Avalanche is their biggest test to date. Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and the rest of the team are geared up for another deep run themselves. They were the best team in the NHL from cover to cover.
However, the Wild have the depth needed to make it a series. If they skate the way that they did at even strength against the Stars, but close the gap on special teams, there will be an opportunity for them.
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On this day in 2018, the Winnipeg Jets delivered one of the most memorable playoff comebacks in franchise history, rallying from a three-goal deficit to defeat the Nashville Predators 7-4 in Game 3 of their second-round series in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Facing the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Predators, the Jets stunned a raucous Nashville crowd by scoring seven unanswered goals after falling behind early, flipping the momentum of what would become one of the most intense series of that postseason.
That Jets team, led by head coach Paul Maurice, was widely regarded as one of the most complete in franchise history. The roster featured a dynamic mix of high-end scoring and physical depth, headlined by captain Blake Wheeler, star center Mark Scheifele, and electrifying winger Patrik Laine. They had veteran leadership with the likes of Dustin Byfuglien and Bryan Little, while the blue line also featured standouts like Jacob Trouba and Josh Morrissey.
It was the breakout season for superstar goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who quickly established himself as not only a true number-one goaltender but one of the very best in the league.
The Game 3 comeback proved to be a turning point in the series as Winnipeg would go on to defeat Nashville in seven games, winning a dramatic Game 7 on the road to advance to the Western Conference Final for the first time since the franchise relocated from Atlanta.
The Jets’ run ultimately ended in the Western Conference Final, where they were defeated by the Vegas Golden Knights in five games. Despite the disappointing finish, the 2018 playoffs remain a defining moment for the franchise, showcasing the peak of a talented core and delivering several unforgettable performances, including the dramatic Game 3 comeback in Nashville.
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SAINT PAUL, MN - DECEMBER 29: Sweden forward Viggo Bjorck (21) scores a goal during a IIHF World Junior Championship game between Germany and Sweden on December 29, 2025, at Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, MN. (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Happy draft season, Devils fans and fans of fellow non-playoff teams. Today, we are kicking off our annual NHL Draft prospect profiles. Kicking off this year is a Swedish right-handed center, Viggo Björck.
Viggo Björck turned 18 years old on March 12, and he is currently listed at 5’10” and 172 pounds. Under contract with Djurgårdens IF in the Swedish Hockey League through the 2026-27 season, Björck is unlikely to make a direct jump to the NHL, but he is projected to go somewhere in the mid-to-late lottery selections this year. Below, you can see his production history on his Elite Prospects page.
With Djurgårdens this season, Björck had six goals and nine assists in 42 games. That might seem like nothing special, but it is more than above average production for a 17-year old playing his first professional season. In 2024-25, Björck had 27 goals and 47 assists for Djurgårdens’s U20 juniors team. Draft eligible players who have seasons like Björck’s last one in juniors still end up pretty good prospects if they do that in their draft year (let alone their D-1), and he added a good professional season on top of it.
This was an important season for Djurgårdens. After being promoted from the HockeyAllsvenskan league, they needed to stay above relegation territory. But aside from Björck, Djurgårdens had a good boost in the form of Jacob Josefson, who returned to the team after a four-years absence from hockey to help the team he once captained after leaving the NHL. With other NHL prospects in Anton Frondell and Victor Eklund, Djurgardens had a good mix of young talent and older veterans for their decent finish at ninth in the league table.
Rankings
Björck has been most recently ranked as follows, per his Elite Prospects page:
4th by NHL Central Scouting (EU Skaters)
6th by TSN (Button)
6th by The Hockey News (Ferrari)
6th by Sportsnet (Bukala)
7th by Smaht Scouting
8th by TSN (Peters)
8th by McKeen’s Hockey
8th by Sportsnet (Cosentino)
9th by Dobber Prospects
12th by The Hockey News (Kennedy)
What I See in the Tape
I am skipping the “what others say about Björck” section today because I have found that a lot of evaluations of him available online are from preliminary rankings, and I do not enjoy using too-dated information. As we get closer to draft season, I am sure we will start seeing more full-on draft profiles on guys like him.
Usually, when we do these prospect profiles, I go looking for some shift-by-shift videos. I was able to get one for Bjorck, but this one was a little different than usual. This was a playoff game! From just a couple weeks ago, here is Viggo playing in Djugarden’s playoff series against the Malmo Redhawks. For a teenager just five days off his 18th birthday, playing in a tough league like the SHL, I was mainly looking for how he handled himself. You might expect the tempo and physicality to be different on that big sheet of ice, but there is still quite a lot of energy at hand.
Suffice to say, Viggo Björck surprised me. I might have expected a skilled teenaged center to be a little more peripheral on the European ice, but he is very engaged. In just the first five minutes here, he is winning board battles, finishing checks, and holding his own in collisions. He draws a penalty at 3:13 (on a play that I think would not have led to a stoppage in the NHL), but still seems to get the better of the collision. I know these were his playoffs, but if he were to bring this type of energy right to the National Hockey League, fans of any team would quickly love him.
After a great defensive shift with the team down one towards the end of the second period, Björck started his third period by winning another board battle against two opponents to send the puck below the net. After Björck went to the net, Anton Frondell held the puck by the boards, just by the hash marks of the faceoff circle. With two teammates in Björck and Eklund by the net, Frondell feeds a perfect centering play to Björck, who scored his team’s second game-tying goal of the night on the redirection!
This is important to note: he is 5’10” and under 180 pounds. He’s not filled out yet. But I still see someone who is strong on the boards. Björck might keep his head down a bit too much at times, but he keeps his weight low and seems to come away with the puck a little quicker than his opponents. Defensively, one of the weaknesses I felt was apparent in his game here is actually something that might be easier for him on the smaller ice surface in North America. Björck tries to be mindful of the passing lanes, but he often seems a little off when trying to intercept passes. Engaging physically and playing right up to the opponent seems more Björck’s style.
On the power play nine minutes into the video, Björck has a couple entries broken up. On the third, he uses his wheels a little more to gain the zone cleanly, passing back to Eklund at the point on the backhand. This leads to a power play goal, with Björck picking up a secondary assist. Here, Björck seems to learn that going slow into the zone is not working, and he needs to beat the defenders the old fashioned way.
Towards the end of the third period, Björck drew a tripping penalty, giving his team a man advantage going into overtime. They did not convert there, but Björck was on the ice for another delayed penalty seven minutes into overtime. With the extra attacker, Björck went to the front of the net and looked for redirections and deflections, but a couple of chances were turned aside before the puck was touched up. On the power play, Björck set up from the left faceoff circle and worked the puck low to Victor Eklund. Eklund whipped it up to Anton Frondell, who hit the one-timer for a game-winning goal! Viggo Björck put up three points in his very first SHL playoff game in a 3-2 overtime victory.
For a full highlight video, see below:
My Thoughts
This will be Sunny Mehta’s first draft with the New Jersey Devils, and it will be interesting to see what kind of players fall to him (or don’t). As it is, I think Viggo Björck should be selected before the Devils virtually (boo) go to the podium. But if Mehta has his eye on Björck, he has a few things going for him. For starters, Björck is small and European. In last year’s NHL Draft, we saw General Managers around the league prioritize the size of players over their production potential. Since a different team will win the Stanley Cup this year, the copycat fad of the month may be a little different, but we will see when we get there.
But last season, the first player who was drafted at Viggo Björck’s height or shorter was Cullen Potter (5’10” and 172 pounds) at 32nd overall by the Calgary Flames. Only two players under 6’0″ were drafted in the lottery: James Hagens (5’11” and 186 pounds) and Benjamin Kindel (5’11” and 180 pounds). So, despite his obvious skill and potential, Björck will have to convince GMs that he is worth passing a high-ceiling 6’4″ center over, and they have been particularly unwilling to do that over the last couple of years.
Like I mentioned earlier, public draft models may have liked Bjork more this season had he stayed in juniors and dominated lesser competition. However, this is a good time to inject some personal logic into the evaluation. Below is a comparison from Byron Bader’s Hockey Prospecting of Viggo Björck with the Devils’ own Cody Glass. If you do not know, Hockey Prospecting uses an NHLe system to predict how many expected equivalent NHL points a season in a different league is worth. The SHL has one of the highest NHLe ratings in the world, and may be on par with the KHL above the AHL.
An NHLe north of 30 in the player’s draft year tends to lead to pretty high “star probabilities,” which means a forward who produces over 57.5 points per 82 games throughout his career. Since Cody Glass tore up the WHL in his draft year, it didn’t matter he was a little weaker the year prior. Add on the fact that he is pretty big, and that made him a lottery pick in his draft. For Björck, though, had he just tacked on a few points to his 74 points in 42 games in the 2024-25 season in the J20 Nationell, he would have had a profile equivalent to Glass or better. I put a decent amount of stock into these sorts of broad evaluations, but we have to keep competition in mind. Björck had a good season in a tough league. Often, players who do well in juniors and get promoted to a league like the SHL at his age are happy to chip in just a couple points over long stretches in fourth line minutes.
That aside, how would he fit with the Devils? Well, I think. We have talked and talked about how the Devils desperately need more center depth, and Björck was often used in a center role for Djurgårdens this season despite his age. How he plays that role is even more important. From the shift tape I watched in his first playoff game, it seems like Björck is smart about not leaving the middle of the ice too often, which will be even more important in North America. He won his board battles more often than not, often beating two opponents for the puck. He is difficult to knock around in those areas because of his low center of gravity. Currently, the Devils’ only great board worker is Nico Hischier. I think Björck might be able to achieve a similar level (even if not quite as good) of proficiency at winning the puck in the NHL. From Lassi Alanen’s European tracking project, see how well-rounded his game is. At just 18 years old, he is one of the most well-rounded centers at five-on-five in the SHL.
He is also very efficient in his movement. I did not notice him drifting away from the play, and he had to be pretty patient at times on defense because of how wide their ice surface is. He might actually be more difficult to play against in the NHL when he can keep smaller gaps to puck carriers from the middle of the ice with the time it takes him to close the gap being much shorter. Offensively, he is able to perform some solid puck movement and seems smart about avoiding dangerous plays. Djurgårdens did not have success on the rush in this particular game, but he knows how to turn the jets up a bit when entering the zone. If a North American coach gets a handle on that, he could become a dangerous forechecker with his apparent skill on the boards and his strong balance. Someone who is already trying to make a living around the net at his age should be destined to do great things in the NHL.
The big question is how much his size dings him among league GMs. In my opinion, Viggo Björck is someone to mark early for the New Jersey Devils. He does not need a lot of seasoning, and could probably even be in the NHL in 2026-27 in a third-line role or in the AHL in a first-line role (under the exception rules) if he were not already under SHL contract. I will circle back on him in about a month when we have more profiles up, but there is a very good chance that he ends up being one of the best lottery bets after the top five.
If he falls to the Devils, there are so many reasons to select him. He seems like a great fit for the game that Jack Hughes wants to play, as Björck would give him outstanding forechecking along with an ability to establish position by the net and redirect pucks past the goaltender. Or, he can play third-line center and give the Devils a legitimate threat of a line behind Hischier and Hughes, especially if Cody Glass either moves up the lineup at wing or if his contract extension proves too expensive. Björck might not end up a true top-line center, but he has the foundation to get there. A little more selfishness on offense might be necessary. But if you are looking for a player to complement the game that Hischier and Hughes are trying to play on this team, Viggo Björck might be your guy.
Your Thoughts
What do you think of Viggo Björck? Do you think he will buck the multi-year trend of players under 5’11” not being drafted in the first round? Do you think he will fall to the Devils? What do you think of his game in comparison to his stature? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and thanks for reading.
Last year, the Montreal Canadiens only survived five games in the playoffs, and it’s fair to say that they were dominated and bullied by the Washington Capitals. The young Habs looked shellshocked and surprised by the intensity of the playoffs. They could only muster a single win against a team that didn’t last long in the second round.
This season, they had to take on what is a much more formidable foe. A team that has been dominant for years and has one of the best, if not the best, coaches in the NHL. The Tampa Bay Lightning have won two Stanley Cups since 2020 and boast a wealth of experience. After seeing the Florida Panthers win the last two Cups with bullying tactics, the Bolts tried to take a page out of their book this year and submit the Canadiens to the same treatment. It didn’t work; Martin St-Louis’ team was ready this year, and his men pushed back.
The Habs and Bolts duel is turning out to be a classic series, the only one to go the distance to seven games. After six confrontations, both teams have won three games and scored 14 goals. They couldn’t be more evenly matched. Tampa Bay has gotten a lot of production from their top guns; Brandan Hagel, Jake Guentzel, and Nikita Kucherov have combined for 22 points. Meanwhile, Montreal’s top guns have only produced 12 points, but all but two Canadiens have gotten on the scoresheet.
Only Jayden Struble and Oliver Kapanen remain pointless for the Habs. For the Bolts, 10 players remain pointless. Granted, some of them only played a couple of games, but four of their regulars haven’t contributed offensively: Corey Perry, Zemgus Girgensons, Nick Paul and Emil Lilleberg. Braydon Point, who had 50 points in the regular season, only has one assist.
In net, Jakub Dobes has a 2.19 goals-against average while Andrei Vasilevskiy’s stands at 2.20. The rookie netminder has a .916 save percentage, while the battle-tested veteran has a .905. So far, the youngster has had the upper hand and has been incredibly valuable to his team.
Both teams average 2.33 goals for per game and 2.33 goals against per game. They both have a 5-on-5 Goals For/Against Ratio of 1.00. The Canadiens have a 20.8% success rate on the power play, while the Lightning only strikes 15.4% of the time. The Habs have a 84.6% success rate on the penalty kill, while their success rate in the regular season only stood at 78.2 %. The Bolts' PK succeeds 79.2% of the time. In the regular season, it ranked third in the league at 82.6%. Montreal won 56 % of the faceoffs taken in the series, leaving the Bolts with a 44% success rate.
Whatever happens on Sunday night, win or lose, the Canadiens’ organization can be proud of what the players and the coach have accomplished in both the regular season and the playoffs. The future looks bright in Montreal, especially since the Habs still have some exciting prospects in the pipeline. Game 7 is scheduled for 6:00 PM on Sunday night, and it promises to be a must-watch for all hockey fans, not just those who support the two teams.
The Anaheim Ducks are through to the second round of the 2026 NHL Playoffs for the first time since 2017. They defeated the mighty Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the perennial cup-contending Edmonton Oilers in six games.
They are one of the NHL’s final eight teams standing, and their next opponent will be the Vegas Golden Knights. The first two teams the Ducks will face after missing the playoffs for seven straight seasons are the two that represented the Western Conference in the previous three Stanley Cup Finals (Vegas in 2023 and Edmonton in 2024 and 2025).
Though they are the newer franchise by 24 years, Vegas has only missed the playoffs once in their nine-year existence, while the Ducks have only made the playoffs once during those nine years (2017-18).
As was the case in the last round and will be the case for every playoff series, storylines are plentiful heading in. Let’s get into some from Anaheim’s perspective:
Another Big Dog
“We had a big dog,” Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal said following their Round 1, Game 6 victory over the Oilers on Thursday. “We had a really, really good team against us.”
Every playoff opponent that a team faces during the course of a particular run is a good hockey team. They’re one of the final 16 left standing after the first 82 games of a regular season. Though all teams have the same goal heading into the playoffs, sometimes a team’s first-round opponent is one of the few true Stanley Cup contenders. The Ducks, whether by luck or their own doing, faced one to open the playoffs and will face another one in the second round.
The task only grows increasingly more difficult from here on out, as details are amplified, momentum plays a greater role, and hunger to win becomes more profound. Do the Ducks have what it takes to knock out another Goliath?
The Ghosts of Prospects Past
Ancient history now, but two members of the current Vegas Golden Knights roster, two players who currently have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup as part of their 2023 Championship team, are Anaheim Ducks draft picks William Karlsson (53rd overall in 2011) and Shea Theodore (26th in ’13).
In the height of their previous cup-contending window, the Ducks traded the 22-year-old Karlsson, along with a second-round pick and Rene Bourque, to the Columbus Blue Jackets for defenseman James Wisniewski on an expiring contract and a third-round pick.
Wisniewski played 13 games for the Ducks down the stretch of the 2014-15 season, sustained an injury, and wasn’t able to suit up for a playoff game during that year’s run to the Western Conference Final. He retired shortly after.
Karlsson had difficulty carving out meaningful offensive minutes in two seasons with Columbus, was selected by Vegas during their 2017 expansion draft, and has become one of the most reliable middle-six centers in the NHL for the better part of a decade.
Karlsson has made the Ducks pay ever since he was traded, scoring 29 points (16-13=29) in 39 career games vs Anaheim and, as mentioned, now has a Stanley Cup ring.
The Vegas Golden Knights’ expansion draft took place in June of 2017, just one month after the Ducks were eliminated in the 2017 Western Conference Final. In an attempt to keep their core together for another run or two at a cup, the Ducks traded the then 22-year-old Theodore to the Knights with the agreement that they would select defenseman Clayton Stoner in the expansion draft, allowing the Ducks to keep defensemen Sami Vatanen and Josh Manson, who were exposed.
Theodore has gone on to become one of the NHL’s best bona fide top-pair defensemen in the NHL, a key contributor to a Stanley Cup-winning team, and has scored 384 points in 581 games for Vegas, including 25 points (8-17=25) in 33 career games against the Ducks.
Players and organizations have since moved on, but the sting of losing such talent at young ages could rear its ugly head once again as the Knights and Ducks are set to face off in the playoffs for the first time in history.
War of Attrition
The Ducks advanced through the first round of the playoffs relatively unscathed in the injury department. Troy Terry has been playing through a nagging injury for the better part of the latter half of the season, but played every game in the opening round despite not being on the ice for any practices or morning skates.
The Ducks did lose their captain, Radko Gudas, with roughly ten minutes remaining in Game 1 against the Oilers due to a lower-body injury. Drew Helleson filled in amicably for Gudas in Games 2-6, playing reliable hockey on the third pair, averaging just 8:33 TOI/G.
Every player will echo the notion that “everybody’s playing through something at this time of year,” but if the Ducks have any hopes of success in their upcoming round, those somethings that everyone has hopefully aren’t enough to force anyone out of the lineup.
Terry has appeared limited in flashes, but has found a way to remain impactful and productive, as he’s tied for second on the Ducks in scoring with eight points (3-5=8) through six games, including three points (1-2=3) in Thursday’s series clincher.
Season Sweep is Meaningless
For the first time in history, the 2025-26 Ducks swept their season series with the Golden Knights, winning all three games and accumulating six points in the standings. Before this season, the all-time numbers have been dominated by Vegas, as they still hold a whopping 27-8-3 record against the Ducks.
Two of the Ducks’ three victories this regular season against Vegas came in overtime and in unconvincing fashion. In those three games, at 5v5, despite outscoring Vegas 8-6, the Ducks lost the shots on goal battle 84-66, the shot attempts battle 158-155, and the expected goals battle 7.09-6.54.
Famously, playoff overtimes are continuously 5v5, so the Ducks won’t be able to rely on their excellent 3v3 or shootout prowess in this series. Can they find other ways to defeat Vegas four times in seven games?
Seeds of a New Rivalry
As mentioned, the Ducks and Knights have never faced each other in the playoffs, and aside from Vegas’ first year in existence, the two clubs have never been even good at the same time. Until now.
As divisional opponents, the Knights and Ducks play each other three or four times every season. The Knights have dominated those occasions, but playing each other in the playoffs up to seven consecutive times has the tendency to spark rivalries, as was the goal of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman with the institution of the current playoff format.
Anahiem’s core pieces are early in their careers. Mason McTavish is in year one of his six-year contract, Lukas Dostal is in year one of his five-year contract, and Jackson LaCombe’s eight-year extension begins at the start of next season. Young stars Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and Beckett Sennecke are all on their entry-level deals, but are projected to be in Anaheim’s extremely long-term plans.
Vegas’ core, though significantly older, is locked up for the foreseeable future as well. Theodore is in the first year of a seven-year contract, Mitch Marner is in the first year of an eight-year deal, Jack Eichel’s eight-year extension begins next season, and Tomas Hertl has four years remaining on his contract.
Neither team projects to exit the playoff picture anytime soon, meaning this next series could bleed into future regular season matchups and potentially future playoff matchups, continuously fueling that passion and animosity that renders an endlessly entertaining product.
Dates and times for this series have yet to be announced, but the series will begin at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, likely on Monday or Tuesday.
The Flyers face the Hurricanes on Saturday at Lenovo Center to open their best-of-seven playoff series.
Rick Tocchet’s club is coming off a first-round victory over the Penguins in six games. Carolina is the Eastern Conference’s top seed and swept the Senators.
Coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. ET with Flyers Pregame Live on NBC Sports Philadelphia+. Puck drop is scheduled for around 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Flyers Postgame Live will follow immediately after the game on NBCSP+.
Wonder about Owen Tippett’s status tonight. He’s still out here with the presumed scratches getting in extra skating. He was not made available after skate. So we’ll see.
Alex Bump was not at optional morning skate, a sign that he’s playing tonight. pic.twitter.com/LkKmWL72M0
Don Waddell and the
Columbus Blue Jackets have a lot of decisions to make, starting with the 23 free agents that they're going to have.
One of those players who will be a restricted free agent is 23-year-old Corson Ceulemans. Actually, he'll be 23 in three days, so we're rounding up.
Ceulemans was drafted 25th overall in 2021 by former GM Jarmo Kekäläinen. The thought when he was drafted was that after college and a year or two in the AHL, he would be ready to go. Unfortunately, Ceulemans ended up being a victim of Kekäläinen's swing for the fence trades of Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson, more specifically, Severson.
Columbus has two UFA's and an RFA on the big roster. If Gudbranson, Brendan Smith, and Egor Zamula all leave, that could free up a spot for Ceulemans. Going into next season, Waddell will have 6 defensemen under contract, so Ceulemans could very easily slot is as the 7th d-man and rotate in with Jake Christiansen.
This past season, Ceulemans set career highs in multiple areas, including goals (8), assists (16), points (24), PIM, GWG, and shots in a career-high 64 games played. So far in three playoff games, he has two points. He was the second-highest scoring defenseman for the Monsters this season behind Dysin Mayo.
Is he ready?
The
EliteProspects 2021 NHL Draft Guide described Ceulemans as a player who can "pinch, engage opponents, box them out, control them on the boards, and shove them away from the puck. His gap is tight through the neutral zone, and he defends the front of the net well. Quick threat identification there and attaches himself to them."
The best thing at this point for the young defenseman would be to promote Ceulemans to the NHL next season, but there is just one issue with that, and that is that they'd need to re-sign him to a new contract, which shouldn't be a problem.
Ceulemans is coming off of his ELC that he signed in 2023, so he'll likely get a couple of years to prove himself. He's not eligible to be a UFA until 2030.
Will Ceulemans end up getting his shot? I guess we'll find out in September, but it's probably time to give him that chance.
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft Lottery on May 5, 2025, where the CBJ will most likely pick 14 or 15.
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Mitch Marner delivered when Vegas needed him most, scoring twice and adding an assist as the Golden Knights rolled past the Utah Mammoth 5-1 on Friday night in Game 6 to close out their first-round playoff series in emphatic fashion.
With the victory, Vegas advances to the Western Conference semifinals, where a showdown with Anaheim now awaits. The Ducks punched their ticket Thursday after a convincing 5-2 win over Edmonton in their own Game 6 clincher.
What once looked like a team searching for direction has quickly transformed into one gathering real momentum. Since John Tortorella replaced Bruce Cassidy behind the bench, the Golden Knights have rediscovered their edge. Vegas finished the regular season 7-0-1 after the coaching change, then responded to a 2-1 series deficit against Utah by rattling off three consecutive wins.
“This is what I hoped for,” Marner said. “There’s a lot more work to keep going.”
Marner Takes Over Under The Bright Lights
Marner was electric throughout the series, totaling two goals and five assists, but Friday marked his most dominant outing yet. It was also his first multi-goal playoff performance since April 20, 2023, when he accomplished the feat against Tampa Bay.
“It was his best game of the series. He just looked comfortable,” Tortorella said.
Vegas opened the scoring late in the first period when Brett Howden continued his scorching run. Marner fired a shot wide of the net, but the rebound kicked directly into the slot, where Howden buried it with 4:58 remaining. It was Howden’s fourth goal of the series, all of them coming over the final three games.
Howden had already been a difference-maker earlier in the week, scoring the winner in Vegas’ dramatic 5-4 double-overtime triumph in Game 5. He also netted twice in regulation during the club’s Game 4 overtime win.
Marner doubled the lead with just 45 seconds left in the second period after Vegas controlled possession in Utah’s zone for more than two straight minutes. Stationed high in the right circle, he hammered a slap shot that deflected off Ian Cole’s knee and found the back of the net.
“I’ve had a couple opportunities in that same area that I had just missed on,” Marner said. “That’s why I just decided to quickly wind one up and see if I could get a clapper though.”
Vegas Calmly Slams The Door
Utah finally answered in the third period when Kailer Yamamoto trimmed the deficit to 2-1, briefly giving the home crowd hope. But Vegas responded immediately, refusing to let the game tighten.
Colton Sissons restored the two-goal cushion moments later, Marner buried a power-play goal for his second of the night, and Cole Smith sealed the result with an empty-net finish.
“We’ve been here before,” Vegas captain Mark Stone said. “We don’t have the panic. Maybe some teams do. We can calm ourselves pretty quickly.”
Carter Hart turned aside 21 shots in a steady performance, while Utah goaltender Karel Vejmelka also made 21 saves in defeat.
For the Mammoth, the ending was especially jarring. Utah had led in the third period of each of the first five games in the series, only to spend all of Game 6 chasing from behind.
“I didn’t have that in my bingo card,” Utah coach Andre Tourigny said. “I was really confident we would go to Vegas tomorrow.”
Instead, the Mammoth are going home early. But it was not a failed season by any sense of the word.
The Mammoth are a young squad and if they can acquire some new players in the offseason that can help them on special teams and between the pipes, that would be a healthy start.
The Hockey Show returned this week with plenty to discuss as the Stanley Cup Playoffs are off and running.
Several of the opening round series’ have already been decided, and while some are threatening to go seven games, others ended much sooner than many anticipated.
Joining THS hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork this week is NHL Network’s Adnan Virk.
Among the topics discussed were Adnan’s Philadelphia Flyers advancing to face the Carolina Hurricanes after knocking out the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games, the Edmonton Oilers' quest for a third straight Stanley Cup Final trip coming to an abrupt ending after being knocked out of the first round by the Anaheim Ducks, and the future of the Dallas Stars, who were knocked out in round one by the Minnesota Wild after three straight appearances in the Western Conference Finals.
Carolina reached round two after sweeping the Ottawa Senators, and the quick exit by Ottawa led to speculation about the future of team captain Brady Tkacuk in Ottawa.
Roy and Dave had some insight into the story, including some intel they had yet to report before the show.
This week’s wins and fails included Sabres fans stepping up when the microphone cut out during O Canada, a stick-throwing celebration in Philly, an early exit in Edmonton, a baseball team getting booed and a not-so-controversial sucker punch.
You can check out the full show and interview in the videos below:
The Vegas Golden Knights are off to the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Vegas clinched its series against the Utah Mammoth thanks to a 5-1 victory in Game 6. With the win, the Golden Knights will now face the Anaheim Ducks for a spot in the West Final.
Vegas' current roster features two former members of the Vancouver Canucks. John Tortorella is the biggest name, as he has had a significant impact since taking over as head coach before the post-season. As for players, Ben Hutton is the only former skater, but he has yet to play in the playoffs.
Over on the Mammoth side, two former Canucks have seen their seasons come to an end. Ian Cole was solid on the blue line for Utah, as he recorded two points in six games. As for Michael Carcone, he finished the series with two goals over the six-game series.
Mar 30, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella holds a presser after the Golden Knights defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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The stage was set for the Montreal Canadiens to punch their ticket for the second round on Friday night, leading 3-2 over the Tampa Bay Lightning ahead of Game 6. It felt like a Saturday night as fans gathered outside the Bell Centre before 4:00 p.m. in anticipation of the game. Before puck drop, Diane Bibaud warmed up the crowd as always, and while her sets are normally flawless, she did play the Bee Gees’ "Staying Alive" on the organ on a night where the city hoped the Bolts wouldn’t survive. A puzzling choice…
But the DJ countered by having the two teams warm up to the sound of Rage Against the Machine’s "Killing in the Name of", a much more appropriate song to pump up an already electric crowd. Clearly, the song's message wasn’t lost on the two teams, as they offered fans an incredibly exciting first frame and a fantastic game.
It was obvious quite quickly that the referees didn’t intend to be a factor in this game, or that they were told not to be. Early on, Arber Xhekaj rocked a rival with a big hit, and after he fell to the ice, the gritty defender gave him a couple of cross-checks, but the arms remained down.
Minutes later, Brendan Gallagher was trying to take off from the defensive zone, and his stick was held, stopping him in his tracks. There was no call there either, which at least indicated that both teams would receive the same treatment. The only call of the first frame came on an obvious high stick on Kaiden Guhle, courtesy of Jake Guentzel.
The same was true for the middle frame, as two obvious stick infractions were called. The one call that made many gasp was the goalie interference call on Demidov in the dying moments of regulation. The youngster was attacking the net and looked to be hooked, which sent him spinning, and he ended up in Vasilevskiy’s crease, falling shoulder-first into the goal post.
Ivan Demidov heads to the penalty box with 3:18 remaining in the third
Asked if he felt the refs let the team play tonight, Phillip Danault said:
Well, yeah, towards the end of the series, it is really important, and they called four each way, so it was even.
-
Nervous Play
This new iteration of the Habs had never given itself the opportunity to eliminate an opponent, and it showed. Jakub Dobes, who had been solid handling the puck around the net all series long, made a couple of blunders in the first frame that could have been costly.
As for the skaters, they appeared to be overtaken by the enormity of the moment for the first part of the second frame. They were withstanding attack after attack, and while they were managing to get the puck back, they were so eager to make a play that they just turned it back over to Tampa.
The Bolts came quite close to opening the score, but Phillip Danault saved the Canadiens, clearing the puck on the goal line. The close call seemed to wake up the Habs somewhat, and they managed to manufacture a couple of odd-man rushes, but they were unable to capitalize. It did allow them to draw a rare power play, but Andrei Vasilevskiy made two brilliant saves on Ivan Demidov, who could only look to the heavens.
When the Canadiens managed to kill the Demidov penalty at the end of the third period, it felt like when the Lightning had killed the Scott Sabourin one at the end of Game 2. One could have hoped that it would have given them the momentum needed to score the game-winner in OT, but it wasn’t to be.
In the end, it was Gage Goncalves who was finally able to get a puck past Dobes, with Dominic James and Brendan Hagel picking up the helpers. While it was obviously not the ending the Canadiens wanted, St-Louis was quite philosophical in his post-game presser, explaining:
It was quite a hockey game. I think both teams played the best game of the series. We had our chances. I loved the game, aside from the result, which was disappointing. It’s meant to be, it’s fate, it wants our 20 guys who have never played a Game 7 to play one. I think it’s part of our journey, and we have to embrace it. We have to pick ourselves up and go.
-
There’s a lot to build on in that game for the Habs. Cole Caufield was much more visible on the night; he registered eight shot attempts, with four making it to the Bolts’ cage. The same can be said of Demidov, who led the team in shots with five and three missed.
Meanwhile, Josh Anderson and Arber Xhekaj were like trains out there, dishing out hit after hit. The former had nine, while the latter had seven. Despite the disappointing loss, veteran Mike Matheson said the group was confident going into Tampa:
The whole series has been trading chances; each team has won one, lost one, so it’s our turn.
-
The Canadiens will travel to Tampa tomorrow to face the Lightning one last time on Sunday, and meet their fate, whatever that is.
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
Evgeni Malkin made it clear Friday that he wants to play in the NHL next season, even if it’s not with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Malkin told reporters during exit interviews following Wednesday’s Game 6 elimination loss to the Philadelphia Flyers he had talked to general manager Kyle Dubas but had no updates on his pending unrestricted free agency.
“It’s not easy for Kyle. Maybe he wants new blood here. I understand it,” Malkin said. “I understand he wants, maybe, new team.”
Malkin continued, “I want one more year in NHL. I’m not moving back to KHL, play in Russia. Again, if not Pittsburgh, I hope some team.”
When asked if he would play for another NHL team other than the Penguins, Malkin had a definitive answer: “Yes.”
#Pens Evgeni Malkin long answer, says he understands GM Kyle Dubas situation but wants to be back pic.twitter.com/8FhnNuLWYw
It sounds like whether Malkin ends up taking offers from other teams will be at least partially in the hands of Dubas. Malkin said he’s still hoping to “play together one more year” with Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang.
Before the season, Geno said he wanted one more playoff run with Sid & Tanger…
"Now I want more… these two, special guys. I hope we play together one more year. If not, I had a great twenty years together, never forget." 😆🥲 pic.twitter.com/NJlVhgKjpb
— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) May 1, 2026
Malkin was a point-per-game player when available this season, posting 61 points (19 goals, 42 assists) while transitioning from center to wing.
He was a good fit with Egor Chinakhov, who is heading into the summer as a restricted free agent, and he’s likely not blocking any forward prospects from making an immediate jump to the NHL.
Malkin also won’t help the Penguins get any younger in the immediate future. He turns 40 this summer after missing a total of 26 games last season.
“I think it’s clear I’d love to be playing with him for longer,” Crosby said. “So, we’ll see what happens, but I think it’s pretty obvious at this point I’d love to keep playing with him.”
Erik Karlsson, meanwhile, acknowledged Malkin could be leaving this offseason: “He’s still a capable player to be an impactful player in this league, so happy for him. No matter what happens to him, he’s going to land on his feet, and he’ll be just fine.”
"I'd love to keep playing with him… For as long as he's played here, he's been a part of setting the standard."
The Athletic’s Josh Yohe reported last June the Penguins weren’t planning to re-sign Malkin after this season. Whether this run to the playoffs has changed Dubas’ mind is unclear, as is where Rust and Rakell (both signed through 2027-28) fit into his long-term plans.
The Penguins are heading into next season with $45.8 million in projected cap space thanks in part to expiring contracts for players including Malkin, Kevin Hayes, Anthony Mantha, Noel Acciari, Connor Dewar, Ryan Shea and Stuart Skinner, per PuckPedia.
Malkin made $6.1 million last season. Whether he returns for another run in Pittsburgh could potentially depend on his willingness to agree to a pay cut and a one year deal.
Outside of Malkin, pending UFAs Shea and Mantha both expressed a desire to return to Pittsburgh next season.
Another notable part of locker room clean-out day was some reflections from Ben Kindel, who lost the last face-off of his rookie season just before the Flyers scored in Game 6 overtime.
“Still kind of stick to my stomach when you think about that last shift and how the season ended,” Kindel told reporters Friday. “Obviously nothing I can do about it now, but just look to use in as motivation in the future, in future years, and do whatever we can to not let it end like that again.”
Absolutely heartbreaking quote from Kindy on that last shift against Philly 😢
"Still kind of sick to my stomach… use it as motivation in the future to do whatever we can to not let it end like that again." pic.twitter.com/mazaT7T8Pn
— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) May 1, 2026
Also notable is that Artūrs Šilovs told reporters he played the last three to four weeks of the season, including his three playoff starts, through a knee injury.
Crosby, for what it’s worth, said he physically feels “good” after the knee injury that sidelined him for the month following the 2026 Olympics.
Šilovs, Rakell, Shea and Crosby indicated they had not yet decided about playing in the upcoming IIHF World Championships, while Karlsson said he wouldn’t be participating.
Then, late in the period, the Bruins were hemmed into their own end, and the Sabres moved in just the right way to give Mattias Samuelsson a perfect screen to beat Jeremy Swayman.2-0 Sabres.
Unfortunately, that was all the scoring in the period for Boston, but Buffalo didn’t score, so things worked out!
Third Period
The goal that killed the season is almost preposterously stupid to describe. Hampus Lindholm forced a pass to David Pastrnak, who could not receive it and had him and McAvoy racing against Josh Doan for the puck, and finding out way too late that they’d unintentionally given Zach Benson unrestricted access to the net-front. 3-1 Sabres.
Game, Series and Season Over. Buffalo eliminates Boston in Six Games.
Game (and Series) Recap:
Your TOI Leader for tonight’s game was Charlie McAvoy, who played 25:09
The Boston Bruins lost this game the same way they’ve lost nearly every game they played this year. The only difference is that it counted for something. They let the other team have the puck for far too long, they completely bailed on their defensive structure; ESPECIALLY in front of their net, they puck watched, they absolutely could not win a puck battle to save their lives, and they needed Pasta and Swayman to try and get some hope back into their game. That’s not new. The difference is that they ran headlong into the Buffalo Sabres in an elimination game. Their X-Factors failed. Their usual weaknesses were exploited, and the Sabres eliminated them. Didn’t even seem to phase them that much. There was just not enough across the lineup. The Boston Bruins do not have enough.
The Sabres weren’t even really all that physically inclined; they were just faster on every single puck, they just had better position on just about every single play, and their best are built like super mutants when they did get hit. If I knew I could conjure their kind of scoring from anywhere like they had, I don’t think I’d be super worried about getting clipped from a hit or being down a goal either. What does it matter if you beat me up when Tage Thompson’s coming over the boards next? Yeah I’ll be a bit sore, but you’ll still be down where it matters.
If there’s anything about this series that I want Don Sweeney to understand, it’s this. Let’s just hope he recognizes what that actually means.
Speaking of which! There are a lot of players who absolutely did not show up for this series with a good amount of it that were needed. Morgan Geekie tapered off after some time. Victor Arvidsson got hurt and that forced Marco Sturm’s hand. A lot of this roster spent this playoff series in first gear and it ended badly. Do not listen to people who said “the Fourth line was great!”. Outside of a very specific group of players, the forwards were hot swamp ass for six games. Not even close to enough. There were players who I thought earned second looks, or maybe some temporary plaudits, but eventually results matter. This roster is slow and their forwards are hopelessly dependent on a handful of players to get anything done. That’s not a recipe for success.
Please politely remind your friends that would like to trade off someone like David Pastrnak that, despite what self-described fairweather fans running the morning radio shows will tell you, that he absolutely showed up for this series. Led it in goals, led it in points, for like two days was leading the league in that category. The problem is that there is a power gap after his name on the statsheet. The problem is that after getting some of that hope that I brought up earlier? The guy who did a “rah-rah we’re coming back” thing with the team? Absolutely nobody else met that moment. Not the rookie. Not the vets. Not the so-called tough guys and definitely not the defense. He showed, and Swayman showed. The few times they didn’t? They got absolutely murdered. Got blown the hell out.
During the preview, I noted that the Bruins defense needed to lock all the way down in order to keep competitive in this series, and they were able to do it…a grand total of once. Maybe twice. Meanwhile everything else came apart at the seams. Charlie McAvoy played his worst game of the series at the worst possible time and Hampus Lindholm pissed this game away for Boston on a play so bad it gave me stomach cramps just thinking about it again. This defense needs an overhaul and badly.
I’m not gonna sugarcoat it. If your coach isn’t playing your so-called “defender of the future” because he can’t trust him even though he’s big as a horse? Trade him. There’s no future for this player on this team. I don’t wanna hear about his f!#king tools if he doesn’t have the head to use them correctly more than once in the most important games of the year.
I think we have this understanding that the Buffalo Sabres are bad and have had it so reinforced from years of disappointment and incompetence that we still don’t quite “get” that they are good now. Maybe we don’t want to; I sure as hell don’t. They’ve got the best xGF% of any team left in the Eastern Conference and they get to wait out Tampa and Montreal killing each other. It’s a slim margin against the Hurricanes to be sure, but they are genuinely, all the way good for the first time since they wore those stupid navy blue sweaters. Their fans are gonna be unbearable twerps about this, and frankly after putting up with organizational malfeasance that would have Bruins fans melting like the wicked witch if it happened for more than a season, I think they have earned at least 24 hours of shit talking. Hats off to them; the better team won.
That said, once that 24 hours is over? Go turn that energy towards beating whoever comes out of Montreal/Tampa.
Jeremy actual Swayman, dude. I am so happy this player finally figured himself out and came back into this season poised to bounce back. The Bruins would not be in this position without his work, and we are fortunate to have him. Still walked away from this one with an .880 SV%.
A .906 SV% through six games however? Not bad! It’s not Frederik Anderson (lol. lmao.) or Scott Wedgewood (?!?!?!?!), but hey; this is the mid-nu-20’s NHL: that’s pretty decent.
The Good news is that while the playoffs are kind of tearing through at a breakneck pace, the Draft Lottery is also due in the upcoming week! We’ll get to see if Boston gets a high draft pick once and for all!
If the Vegas Golden Knights were the slightest bit nervous before a potential series-clinching Game 6 against the Utah Mammoth, they didn’t let it show. The locker room was loose after Friday’s morning skate– Rasmus Andersson cracked jokes with Noah Hanifin, while Mitch Marner looked cool as a cucumber. In fact, you might have thought they were preparing for a game they already knew they were going to win.
That’s how they played, too. The Golden Knights were all over the Mammoth right from puck drop, and they didn’t relent until the final horn. Even their celebrations were business as usual following a 5-1 victory to send them into Round Two.
“We’ve been here before,” said Mark Stone following the blowout win. “We don’t have the panic. Maybe some teams do, but we calm ourselves pretty quickly.”
The Golden Knights came out swinging and outshot the Mammoth 10-6 in the first. They didn’t press for offense; they simply waited for the Mammoth to make a mistake. They finally capitalized on one at 15:02 into the period.
Lawson Crouse misread a play as the Mammoth tried to exit the zone, and Mitch Marner took it back the other way. He played catch with Mark Stone, moved into the slot, and fired a shot that went wide of the net. The puck bounced off the end boards right onto the stick of Brett Howden, who chipped it in for his fourth goal in three games.
Total misread by Crouse as the Mammoth tried to exit the zone, and the Golden Knights capitalize! Brett Howden has four goals in his last three games.
The Mammoth came flying out of the gate in the second period and generated four high-danger scoring chances in the first few minutes. However, they simply couldn’t sustain enough offensive pressure to make it count; the Golden Knights had no such problem.
The Golden Knights capped off a 2-minute, 42-second shift in the offensive zone with a goal at 19:15 in the first. With five tired Mammoth on the ice, Ivan Barbashev made a great play to find Mitch Marner fresh from the bench in the high slot. Marner took advantage of Utah’s tired players, blew by Michael Carcone, and beat Karel Vejmelka with a clapper from the right dot.
Mitch. Marner. Caps off over a minute of extended pressure with a smaller from the right circle.
The Mammoth got on the board at 7:41 in the third. Mikhail Sergachev sent a stretch-pass to Kailer Yamamoto, who entered the zone with speed and beat Carter Hart with a snipe from the right dot.
Yamamoto’s goal energized the crowd, and the Mammoth fed off of it. But as Stone said, the Golden Knights simply ‘don’t have the panic,’ and they snuffed Utah’s surge out as quickly as it started.
The Golden Knights restored their two-goal lead less than two minutes after Yamamoto’s goal. Nic Dowd won an offensive zone draw, and Colton Sissons banged in Brayden McNabb’s rebound.
“There was no panic on the bench,” said head coach John Tortorella postgame. “We just settled ourselves down…. For us to come back, and just taking a shot on goal, looking for a rebound, playing in the blue… The third goal was a pretty big one for us.”
From there, the Mammoth had nothing; the Golden Knights were home free. Mitch Marner scored his second of the game on the power play at 12:09 in the third to cap off a three-point night.
The Mammoth pulled Vejmelka for the extra attacker with over four minutes remaining in regulation, but weren’t able to generate any offense. Cole Smith hit the empty net at 16:24 in the third, and the Golden Knights cruised through the final three minutes of regulation.
Three Takeaways of the Knight
1. There’s no way Mitch Marner wasn’t feeling the pressure heading into Game 6. Despite playing well and doing the little things right all series, the production wasn’t there. But when his team needed him, he answered the call. He scored two goals, including the game-winner, and recorded a team-leading seven shots on net.
“I’ve had a couple of opportunities in that same area that I just have missed on, and that’s why I kind of just decided to quickly wind one up and see if I can get a clapper through. Lucky enough, it went through and found a hole and found the net,” said Marner following the win. “Yeah, just trust yourself. Trust yourself in those moments.”
2. Carter Hart didn’t have the best stats in Games 2-5, but John Tortorella’s confidence in him never wavered.
“I don’t look at the numbers,” said Tortorella on Friday morning. “Carter made three or four huge saves at key times. That’s what playoffs are… I look at momentum swings in the game, and what he’s done for us to keep us in it if we’re not playing well.”
Tortorella’s confidence paid off in a big way. Hart finished the night with 21 saves and a 1.37GSAx.
3. When the Golden Knights are on their game defensively, they frustrate their opponents to no end. That’s exactly what happened tonight, and there was a moment in the second period when Mammoth captain Clayton Keller smashed his stick against the glass after a failed scoring chance.
The Mammoth are brimming with young talent, but that youth also equates to inexperience. The Golden Knights’ veteran maturity matters, and they’ll be facing another young and inexperienced opponent in Round Two in the Anaheim Ducks.
