Ducks right wing Troy Terry slides the puck past sprawling Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson during a shootout last season. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
Anaheim Ducks forward Troy Terry needs hip surgery that could endanger his availability at the start of next season.
Terry has a chronic hip impingement, the Ducks revealed Thursday in their postseason injury report. Anaheim’s first postseason since 2018 ended last week in the second round with a six-game loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Ducks haven’t finalized a date for Terry’s hip surgery or a definite time frame for his recovery.
Terry has been Anaheim’s most consistent offensive player for the past half-decade, scoring at least 19 goals and 50 points each year. He scored 57 points last season before adding three goals and eight assists in 12 playoff games — the first postseason contests of his career.
The team also confirmed that goal-scoring forward Cutter Gauthier played with two fractured vertebrae in his back during the postseason. Gauthier was hurt in late March, but only missed five games before returning and eventually scoring 12 points in the postseason.
Captain Radko Gudas sprained his ankle in the Ducks’ playoff opener and didn’t return to the lineup, but he would have been available if Anaheim had advanced to another round. So would forward Ryan Poehling, who has been cleared after incurring a concussion from an illegal hit by Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb, who was suspended for a game.
Defenseman Pavel Mintyukov sprained a ligament in his knee, but he will be ready for training camp.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Anaheim Ducks forward Troy Terry needs hip surgery that could endanger his availability at the start of next season.
Terry has a chronic hip impingement, the Ducks revealed Thursday in their postseason injury report. Anaheim's first playoff season since 2018 ended last week in the second round with a six-game loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Ducks haven't finalized a date for Terry's hip surgery or a definite timeframe for his recovery.
Terry has been Anaheim's most consistent offensive player for the past half-decade, scoring at least 19 goals and 50 points each year. He scored 57 points last season before adding three goals and eight assists in 12 playoff games — the first postseason contests of his career.
The team also confirmed that goal-scoring forward Cutter Gauthier played with two fractured vertebrae in his back during the postseason. Gauthier was hurt in late March, but only missed five games before returning and eventually scoring 12 points in the postseason.
Captain Radko Gudas sprained his ankle in the Ducks' playoff opener and didn't return to the lineup, but he would have been available if Anaheim had advanced to another round. So would forward Ryan Poehling, who has been cleared after incurring a concussion from an illegal hit by Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb, who was suspended for a game.
Defenseman Pavel Mintyukov sprained a ligament in his knee, but he will be ready for training camp.
The Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes open the Eastern Conference finals. Montreal advanced after defeating the Buffalo Sabres in seven games. The Hurricanes swept the Philadelphia Flyers in four games. The puck line is set at Carolina -1.5 with an over/under of 5.5 goals.
How to watch Montreal Canadiens vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Not only did the Grand Rapids Griffins stave off elimination from the Calder Cup Playoffs thanks to their overtime victory over the Chicago Wolves on Tuesday evening, but they'll now face a shorthanded Wolves squad in Game 4 of the Central Division Finals.
On Thursday, the AHL's Player Safety Committee today announced that Wolves defenseman Charles Alexis Legault has been suspended for Game 4 because of his dangerous hit from behind on Griffins forward Amadeus Lombardi.
The Griffins eventually prevailed by a 4-3 score in overtime thanks to a highlight-worthy goal from forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygård.
Lombardi was selected with the 113th pick by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2022 NHL Draft, and has registered three assists in seven AHL postseason games this spring after having scored 16 goals with 26 assists in 47 regular-season contests this season.
Game 4 between the Griffins and Wolves will be played at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET on Thursday.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Despite losing in the second round of the playoffs to the Montreal Canadiens, the Buffalo Sabres had themselves a very special 2025-26 season. They not only made the playoffs for the first time since 2011, but also finished the regular season at the top of the Atlantic Division standings and defeated the Boston Bruins in the first round.
With how this season went for the Sabres, there is no question that Sabres fans' passion for the club skyrocketed. Due to this, they have landed some praise from New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes.
"The first thing I take from that whole series, that crowd in Buffalo is incredible," Hughes said. "I think that place is off the hook. They were down 2-0 early (in Game 7), and then when they got that first one, and then when Dahlin scored, the roof kind of popped off."
It is hard to disagree with Hughes here, as there is no question that the energy in the Sabres' building was incredibly high throughout the post-season. It is understandable that it was with how exciting of a year it was for the Sabres.
Now, the Sabres will be looking to build off their excellent season by taking another step forward in 2026-27.
The Chicago Blackhawks have four picks in the first two rounds of this year's NHL Entry Draft. They have the fourth-overall pick, their own second-round, the Toronto Maple Leafs' second-round pick, and the New York Islanders' second-round pick. With this, the Blackhawks have the potential to land some promising new prospects in their system at the draft.
The Athletic's Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler recently released their latest mock draft, where they predicted each of the first two rounds of this year's draft.
For the Blackhawks' fourth-overall pick, Pronman predicted that Chicago would land left winger Ivar Stenberg. This would be massive if it came to fruition for the Blackhawks, as he is widely considered one of the best players in this year's draft. He has the potential to become a star in the NHL and would be a big pickup for a Blackhawks club that needs more skill on the wing.
In 43 games with Frolunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), Stenberg recorded 11 goals, 22 assists, and 33 points.
With the Blackhawks' own second-round pick, Pronman predicted that they would select defenseman Jakub Vanecek. Vanecek is a 6-foot-2 left-shot defenseman who demonstrated plenty of promise this season with the Tri-City Americans of the WHL. In 59 games this season, he posted 14 goals, 21 assists, and 35 points.
With the Maple Leafs' second-round pick, Wheeler predicted that the Blackhawks would take another left-shot defenseman in Ben Macbeath. The 6-foot-2 blueliner spent this season in the WHL with the Calgary Hitmen, posting seven goals and 51 points in 67 games. The Calgary, Alberta native has plenty of skill and could be a nice pickup for Chicago if selected.
Then, with the Islanders' second-round pick, Wheeler had the Blackhawks take goaltender Dmitri Borichev. The 6-foot-3 netminder spent this season in Russia's MHL with Loko-76 Yaroslavl, where he posted a 12-8-3 record, a .929 save percentage, and a 2.25 goals-against average.
HAMILTON, Ontario (AP) — The name of the New York Islanders’ American Hockey League affiliate is the Hamilton Hammers after the club was relocated to the Canadian city from Bridgeport, Connecticut.
The Islanders unveiled the Hammers moniker and logo at a news conference in Hamilton on Thursday and said it was a tribute to the city’s steelmaking industry. The team is set to play in the recently renovated TD Coliseum.
“We look forward to building on the progression and foundation established this past season in the AHL and bringing that momentum to Hamilton,” Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said. “The Hamilton Hammers will embody the city’s hard-working spirit — built on heart, work ethic and a community identity that never backs down."
Bridgeport made the playoffs this past season in Rocky Thompson's first year as coach. Prospects such as recent first-round picks Cole Eiserman, Victor Eklund and Kashawn Aitcheson could all be playing for Hamilton in 2026-27.
The Islanders had their top minor league affiliate in Bridgeport for the previous 25 years.
The Philadelphia Flyers will have to think outside of the box this offseason if they want to make the big splash they have been advertising and add more firepower in the form of a top-six center.
By their own admission, the 2026 free agent class is devoid of any high-end talent, as studs like Jack Eichel, Kirill Kaprizov, and Artemi Panarin all signing contract extensions with their respective clubs.
That leads the Flyers to two roads, both of which can be dangerous if not navigated with care.
On one hand, the Flyers can leverage the mounds of cash they have available thanks to the salary cap increase and make a play for one of the top restricted free agents.
The problem, though, is that it would take a ludicrous offer sheet to get a center like Adam Fantilli or Leo Carlsson without Columbus and Anaheim, respectively, matching that offer sheet.
And, not to mention, Fantilli is yet to have a 60-point NHL season, and an unmatchable offer sheet from the Flyers' side would cost north of $12 million annually as well as four first-round picks as compensation.
So, the only other option for the Flyers is to consult the trade market, assuming they aren't willing to throw the kitchen sink at someone like Fantilli.
The Flyers' most obvious trade target, and one that is subject to great controversy online, is Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson, who played under Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet for parts of three seasons.
Pettersson, 27, is a smooth, creative two-way forward who was, up until very recently, regarded as one of the best centers in the NHL.
The 2017 No. 5 overall pick erupted for 102 points in 80 games under Tocchet and Bruce Boudreau in 2022-23, then followed that up with an 89-point effort in his first full season under Tocchet in 2023-24.
Of course, Pettersson has managed just 30 goals and 96 points in his last two seasons combined, and it's worth noting the level of disarray that has plagued the Canucks organization in those last two seasons.
The other detractor for Pettersson is his staggering $11.6 million cap hit and full no-move clause, which severely limits the number of suitors for him on top of having complete say over his next destination.
At this point, the Canucks, who will now have a new GM and a new head coach heading into 2026-27, should lean into a full rebuild.
It remains to be seen whether or not the Flyers, Tocchet, and Pettersson all have interest in a reunion, but on paper, it makes sense, and there is a history of some success to fall back on.
No. 1 centers don't go on trees, and Pettersson may be the best shot at one for the Flyers. For all parties involved, a resolution might be the best path forward.
(Photo: Kiyoshi Mio, Imagn Images)
A far less appealing option, but still an option nonetheless, is Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish, who appears to have completely fallen out of favor under new head coach Joel Quenneville, mimicking the career path of former teammate and current Flyers star Trevor Zegras.
McTavish, 23, just finished the first year of a six-year, $42 million extension that comes with an annual cap hit of $7 million, but GM Pat Verbeek and the Ducks paid all that out for a meager 41 points this past season.
The Ducks have Leo Carlsson in need of a massive new payday, and they have 2025 first-round pick Roger McQueen on the way, too.
McTavish won't come without his warts; he's four seasons into his NHL career with just one 20-goal, 50-point campaign and isn't a great skater.
Still, the Ducks could flip him to add more talent elsewhere and recoup some assets, whereas the Flyers would be betting on the potential that made McTavish the No. 3 pick in 2021, just as they did Zegras a year ago.
(Photo: Steven Bisig, Imagn Images)
Last but certainly not least, and sticking with the underperforming theme here, is Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers.
The Kraken are not exactly the Vegas Golden Knights in terms of taking an expansion team and becoming an instant contender, and with most of their defense and winger groups rapidly ageing, they may as well start from scratch.
Beniers, 23, has played a role in that, too, with career-highs of 24 goals and 57 points through the first four years of his NHL career.
The 2021 No. 2 overall pick will turn 24 in November and is already heading into Year 3 of the seven-year, $50 million extension he signed with the Kraken on Aug. 20, 2024.
Beniers will be an unrestricted free agent as a 28-year-old in 2031 and is already making $7.142 million against the cap.
The former Michigan ace is a detail-oriented playmaker who does his best work in his own end of the ice. Beniers has the tools to be more of a scoring threat, though, and he can certainly unlock that potential in Philadelphia.
The Flyers have a much more robust group of wingers at their disposal than Seattle does, and as a result, Beniers won't have to focus on defense all the time while also trading in his Batman cape.
Tocchet and Co. deployed Matvei Michkov almost exclusively with Noah Cates and Sean Couturier this past season, so a partnership between Beniers and the Russian phenom feels like a natural fit.
No center on this list is a sure-thing, home-run add, but the Flyers are eventually going to have to make a move to get going on their way to becoming Stanley Cup contenders.
Talented centers with legitimate top-line upside don't come around very often, which makes now the time for the Flyers to use their roster and draft capital to build.
The Vegas Golden Knights escaped the series opener with a 4-2 win, and they’ll look to make it two in a row over the Colorado Avalanche when the teams meet at Ball Arena for Game 2 tonight.
My top Golden Knights vs. Avalanche predictions and NHL picks for Friday, May 22 expect Vegas starter Carter Hart to have a busy start to the weekend, with Colorado set to even the series.
Golden Knights vs Avalanche prediction tonight
Golden Knights vs Avalanche Best bet: Carter Hart Over 28.5 saves (-125)
Vegas Golden Knights No. 1 Carter Hart is turning in a solid postseason with a tidy .918 save percentage, and while he isn’t going to pile up 2.44 goals saved above expected nightly as he did in Game 1, Hart just needs to make the saves he should to hit this Over.
The Colorado Avalanche led the way in shots per game (33.7) during the regular season, and the Avs are leading the postseason in both shots per 60 minutes overall and at 5-on-5.
So, with Colorado facing an 0-1 series deficit, I’m anticipating the Avalanche picking up where they left off after piling up an eye-popping 38 shots in Game 1.
The Avalanche dominated 5-on-5 play in Game 1 with a 59.3 Corsi For percentage and 63.6 expected goals percentage, and linemates Nazem Kadri, Valeri Nichushkin, and Ross Colton combined for respective 66.8% and 80.7% marks.
Nichushkin scored in the series opener to climb to 34 points across his past 47 postseason games, and Kadri has recorded 40 points through his past 43 playoff contests, so I like this duo to have a say again in Game 2.
The Avalanche have won 11 of their last 13 games (+7.95 Units / 33% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs. Avalanche.
How to watch Golden Knights vs Avalanche
Location
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date
Friday, May 22, 2025
Puck drop
8 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Golden Knights vs Avalanche latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
After registering an assist in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final, and increasing his NHL-leading point total for the postseason, Mitch Marner continues to make his case as a Conn Smythe candidate.
Marner's assist on Pavel Dorofeyev's second-period goal, which gave the Vegas Golden Knights a 2-0 lead at the time, upped the forward's postseason tally to 19 points.
And as the Golden Knights stole home ice with their 4-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche, and moved seven wins away from their second Stanley Cup title in four years, Marner continued to solidify his chances.
That said, after limiting the Avalanche to two goals in an arena where they averaged 4.4 goals in their previous five home playoff games, Knights goaltender Carter Hart has entered the conversation.
At BetMGM sports book, Marner is currently +650 to win the Conn Smythe award, with teammates Pavel Dorofeyev (+1600) and Jack Eichel (+2000) next in line.
Hart, though, might be pure value right now, sitting at +3000, meaning a $100 wager would return $3,000 if Hart were to win the award.
After the Knights were arguably outplayed for much of the first period Wednesday night, it was Hart who kept them in the game until Dylan Coghlan and Dorofeyev gave them a 2-0 lead late in the second period.
"We know they’re a team that likes to put pucks to the net and ... we did a good job of getting in lanes and sacrificing the body and just battling to find pucks," Hart said. "I thought we came out really good in the first period. We know this is a hard building to play in, and it was huge for us to just get rolling and just to start off the right way and then just build off that."
Through Wednesday, Hart leads all postseason netminders with nine wins. And among all goalies who have played in at least four games during the playoffs, he ranks fourth with a save percentage of .920 and sixth with a 2.35 goals-against average.
It shouldn't come as any surprise that he's been one of the best Knights on the ice nearly every playoff game, as he returned from an injury and closed the regular season with a 6-0-0 run behind a .930 save percentage while allowing 1.7 goals per game.
He's held opponents to two or fewer goals in eight of his 13 playoff games, and in two of the four games that four pucks got past him, his team won by identical scores of 5-4 in overtime.
"Carter Hart is a hell of a goalie," coach John Tortorella said. "He was great in Philly for me. We’ve got two good ones here. Adin Hill has kind of been put off to the side a little bit, but that’s a guy who just won a Stanley Cup a couple of years ago.
"I just think (Hart) has grown so strong mentally. I don’t think much bothers him. He is just zeroed in, and he’s going to have to be because we have a little bit of work to do here."
PHOTO CAPTION
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (79) makes a save during the second period against the Colorado Avalanche in game one of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena.
The Montreal Canadiens did not have a morning skate today ahead of their 8:00 PM game against the Carolina Hurricanes. However, as is often the case, the healthy scratches took to the ice after the Canes’ practice. TVA Sports’ Felix Seguin was at the arena and reported that there was a new face in that healthy scratch squad: Arber Xhekaj. The gritty defenseman skated alongside Jacob Fowler, Samuel Montembeault, Patrik Laine, Brendan Gallagher, and Joe Veleno.
That seems to indicate that Xhekaj, who played just 1:52 in Game 7 against the Buffalo Sabres, will make way for Jayden Struble tonight as the Habs kick off their third-round duel against the Hurricanes, as we suggested in our pre-game article. The Canes don’t play as physically as the Sabres do, so the move makes sense. That’s not to say the Canadiens shouldn’t bring some physicality themselves. Expect Josh Anderson, Samuel Bolduc, Kaiden Guhle and Struble to be ready to make the game uncomfortable for the opponents with some big hits.
Furthermore, against a rested Carolina team, Martin St-Louis will no doubt want to spread the workload among his defensemen better. Not that Xhekaj cannot play, but Struble has proven to be a viable option alongside Lane Hutson in the past. Given how much ice time the sophomore defenseman will have, it makes sense to have another blueliner he’s used to play with in the lineup.
That doesn’t mean we won’t see Xhekaj in this third round; if there are some extracurricular activities, he’ll be ready to jump back in if called upon. Because of Noah Dobson’s injury, Xhekaj and Struble have both seen a fair amount of action in these playoffs. The former was dressed for all but one of the games (Game 7 against the Lightning), and the latter was dressed for the entirety of the first-round but was sidelined in the second round.
As for the other reservists, Joe Veleno had played six games, Brendan Gallagher three (all in the first-round), and Patrik Laine wasn’t called upon, just like Samuel Montembeault.
The NHL and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on Thursday announced their entry into a memorandum of understanding to protect the integrity of trading markets involving the league.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is a formal, non-binding document that details the objectives and responsibilities of at least two parties.
Key Takeaways
The arrangement mirrors one the CFTC signed with the MLB in March.
The NHL was the first professional American sports league to partner with prediction platforms.
NHL data will be shared with the CFTC, which will help watch for insider trading
With the agreement in place, the NHL will work with the CFTC to help regulate prediction markets featuring NHL players, matches, and future events. In return, the CFTC — a federal agency in charge of regulating licensed prediction platforms — will use information and resources provided by the NHL to keep a watchful eye over customers' trades and to crack down on suspicious behavior.
The CFTC and the NHL also appointed representatives who will regularly communicate to collaborate on ideas related to the integrity of markets in hockey and related events. They will also share confidential information and maintain open lines of communication.
Additionally, the NHL has internal protections and integrity partners who help combat nefarious forms of sports betting and prediction trading.
The NHL was an early adopter of prediction platforms. Its deals with Kalshi and Polymarket, which were finalized last October, were the first between a professional American sports league and prediction operators.
“Integrity has always been and remains paramount to the NHL and fundamental to the trust our fans and partners place in our game,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.
“Our agreement with the CFTC enhances the comprehensive integrity monitoring systems already in place and strengthens our ability to identify, deter, and address potential risks. This MOU reflects a shared commitment to transparency, oversight and protecting the integrity of the game.”
Although the MOU is non-binding, it establishes a deeper connection between the CFTC and one of the most popular sports leagues in America. This comes two months after the MLB signed the first MOU with the CFTC related to prediction market integrity.
Fighting against insider trading
The rapid growth in the popularity of prediction platforms has raised real concerns about the possibility of insider trading. An infamous example of that came when a U.S. soldier involved in the capture of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro won more than $400,000 on Polymarket by predicting the event would happen shortly before embarking on the mission.
While the NHL already had employees and agencies responsible for identifying possible cases of insider trading, the new collaboration will strengthen its protection against these events.
“I’m proud the CFTC and NHL have officially signed an MOU, furthering the agency’s commitment to improve data sharing between professional sports leagues and the Commission,” said CFTC chairman Michael S. Selig.
“This agreement is another step toward safeguarding the integrity of sports and protecting market participants in prediction markets from insider trading, fraud, and other abuses. I applaud NHL Commissioner Bettman for collaborating with the CFTC and taking a leading role in protecting the integrity of professional hockey in our markets.”
While prediction platforms are experiencing a similar catapult into the mainstream as the sports betting boom that occurred after federal legalization in 2018, they should now be more equipped to identify and stop illicit behavior.
Taking the necessary steps
As NHL partners, Kalshi and Polymarket had already given the trading information access to the league’s data distributor and its betting integrity agency, IC360.
In other prediction market news, a new report from gambling research firm Eilers & Krejcik Gaming estimated that Kalshi generated $1.3 billion in NHL trading volume during the year that ended at the start of May. That represented 2.8% of its American sports trading volume, just behind the MLB (3.2%).
Ray Bennett, the longtime NHL assistant who spent last season running their woeful power play, won’t return for the 2026-27 campaign, the team announced, and the Capitals subsequently announced that he’d joined their staff as an assistant.
The decision for Bennett to leave the Islanders was mutual, according to The Post’s Ethan Sears, and it marked the second change since the Islanders’ season ended outside of the playoffs — with AHL head coach Rocky Thompson also getting promoted to the NHL staff earlier this month after one year running Bridgeport.
Assistant coach Ray Bennett of the New York Islanders works the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at UBS Arena on April 09, 2026 in Elmont, New York. Getty Images
“The organization would like to thank Ray for his hard work and dedication to the organization last season,” the Islanders said in a statement.
Bennett, who also spent time as an assistant with the Blues and Kings, arrived last year as an addition to Patrick Roy’s staff after a stint with the Avalanche running their power play, but the Islanders’ unit kept struggling and finished with the third-worst unit in the NHL during the regular season at 16.5 percent.
Over the final 12 games of the regular season, with the Islanders clinging to their playoff hopes, they converted just five of their 34-man advantage opportunities, and that percentage worsened to just 2-for-18 across their final six games.
That, somehow, marked an improvement from their 12.5 percent rate from 2024-25.
Matthew Schaefer, who won the Calder Trophy as the league’s rookie of the year, led the Islanders with eight power-play goals while Bo Horvat added seven, but no one else collected more than five.
New York Islanders head coach Peter DeBoer looks on during the third period against the Ottawa Senators at UBS Arena, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Elmont, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
It’ll serve as a primary issue for DeBoer, who coached the final four games after Patrick Roy’s firing, and his staff to solve entering next season, and now, with Bennett not returning, someone else will be tasked with running it, too.
Apr 21, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) looks on against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first period during game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
There is only one former Ohio State Buckeye left in the NHL Playoffs.
Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobeš has played a major role in the Canadiens advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals after outlasting both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres in seven game series in the first two rounds.
Heading into the 2025-26 season, Sam Montembeault was the top goaltender for Montreal after starting 60 games last season, earning 31 wins and posting a 2.82 goals against average in the regular season. Montembeault didn’t live up to expectations over the first two months of the season, allowing 41 goals in the 13 games he appeared in.
Eventually Montreal would turn to Dobeš, who is still considered a rookie after starting 15 games during the regular season last year, and two games in the playoffs. The former Buckeye impressed in December and January, going 10-2-1 over those two months.
By the time Montreal and the rest of the NHL took some time off in February to break for the Olympics, it was clear Dobeš was the top goalie for the Canadiens.
Once the teams reconvened after the Olympics concluded, Dobeš picked up right where he left off, going 7-3 in March, with a 2.21 goals against average during the month. By the time the regular season ended in middle of April, Montreal was three points shy of tying the Buffalo Sabres for the Atlantic Division title, settling for third place in the division after tying the Tampa Bay Lightning with 106 points.
With the odd NHL Playoff format which pits the second and third place teams in each division against each other, the Lightning and Canadiens squared off in the first round of the playoffs. Had the NHL adopted a normal format which gave the division winners the top two seeds and then seeded the rest of the eight teams in the conference in order of most points, Montreal would have been the fourth seed and playing Boston in the first round.
Tampa Bay and Montreal put on a classic seven-game series, with the teams alternating wins and each game being decided by one goal. The first three games of the series went to overtime, with Dobeš and the Canadiens taking two of those three contests.
With the series tied 2-2, Dobeš stood on his head in Tampa, saving 38 of the 40 shots he faced as Montreal took a 3-2 lead in the series with a 3-2 victory in regulation.
The Canadiens had a chance to send end the series in Montreal in Game 6 but Tampa Bay wouldn’t allow that to happen despite an outstanding performance from Dobeš. The game went to overtime scoreless before the Lightning would find a winner halfway through the first overtime period. Dobeš did all he could to keep his team in the game, registering 32 saves.
Going up against veteran Andrei Vasilevskiy, Dobeš held his own in a pressure-packed Game 7 in Tampa. The Lightning peppered Dobeš with shots but the rookie was up to the task, making 28 saves in the 29 shots he faced in the 2-1 to give the Canadiens the series win.
During the seven games, Dobeš stopped 181 of the 196 shots against him. Despite being just a rookie, it became obvious that pressure wasn’t going to get the best of Dobeš.
With the win over Tampa Bay, Montreal advanced to the Conference Semifinals to battle the Buffalo Sabres, who won the Atlantic Division after not making the playoffs in over a decade. If there was a feel-good story in the NHL Playoffs this year, it was the Sabres.
Along with playing a team who many were rooting for, Montreal was the only team from Canada left in this year’s playoffs, as the country to the north hasn’t won a Stanley Cup in over 30 years.
After a back-and-forth series with Tampa Bay, the series with Buffalo was more of a roller coaster with bigger peaks and valleys. After the Sabres took the first game, Montreal responded with big wins in the second and third games of the series, where Dobeš would stop 54 of the 57 shots he faced.
The Canadiens would eventually go up 3-1 in the series before Buffalo would go on to win two of the next three games, including an 8-3 victory in Game 6, which would see Dobeš pulled in the third period after allowing six goals.
Many goaltenders might have trouble rebounding for Game 7 after such a poor performance in the previous game, but Dobeš was the reason Montreal was able to end Buffalo’s Cinderella run. The Canadiens went up 2-0 in the game before the Sabres tied the game in the third period.
For the rest of the third period and early in the first overtime period it felt like it was only a matter of time before Buffalo won the game and the series but Dobeš kept stopping pucks and was able to keep his team in the game before Alex Newhook scored the series winner.
Now Montreal will take on the Carolina Hurricanes, who were the top seed in the Eastern Conference with 113 points. Unlike Montreal, who has played the maximum of 14 games through the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Hurricanes have swept both Ottawa and Philadelphia.
The two teams have met twice in the playoffs since Carolina moved from Hartford. The Hurricanes won both of those series with the most recent being in the Conference Quarterfinals in 2006.
Should Montreal be able to move past Carolina, it would mark the first Stanley Cup Final for the Canadiens since the 2020-21 season, where they lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the bubble.
The last time Montreal made the Stanley Cup Final in a normal NHL season was at the end of the 1993-94 campaign when they beat the Los Angeles Kings in five games, marking the last time a team from Canada won the Stanley Cup.
With how fundamentally sound Carolina is on the ice, Dobeš is going to need to continue to display the incredible focus he has shown in the first two rounds. Despite his lack of his experience, Dobeš looks like a seasoned veteran between the pipes.
The Hurricanes are certainly to test the former Buckeye just as much mentally as they will physically. At least Dobeš can bring some confidence into the matchup, as he won all three of his starts against Carolina during the regular season.
The Eastern Conference Finals kick off tonight in Raleigh and the winner of the series will go on to play the winner of the Western Conference Finals between the Las Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche.
It’s finally game day for the Carolina Hurricanes and the Montreal Canadiens. The two teams couldn’t have had a more different road to the Eastern Conference Final. The Hurricanes swept both the Ottawa Senators and the Philadelphia Flyers; they didn’t even trail once against the Senators. Meanwhile, the Canadiens needed seven games to dismiss both the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Buffalo Sabres.
The Habs would do well to start strong tonight to take advantage of the fact that their opponents might be somewhat rusty after such an extended break. Carolina might need a bit of time to regain their synchronism. Meanwhile, the Canadiens are coming off an emotive Game 7 win and might still be riding that high.
Montreal couldn’t start strong in their series against the Sabres; they looked like they were still at the speed of the battle with the Bolts. This time around, though, they’re not going from a team that has a slower pace to a high-speed one. Buffalo played a fast game, and so does Carolina. What might help the Canadiens, however, is the fact that the Hurricanes' defense corps is not as offensive as the Sabres’ was.
The battle in net will be interesting. Frederik Anderson has had a great start to the playoffs; he’s 8-0 with a 1.12 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage. In 24 career games against Montreal, he has a 15-7-2 record with a 2.41 GAA and a .918 SV, but he has lost his last two games against the Canadiens this season, one by a score of 5-2 and the other by a score of 3-1.
Meanwhile, Jakub Dobes has been the Canadiens’ MVP so far in these playoffs. He’s 8-6 with a 2.52 GAA and a .910 SV. He was the goaltender who played all three regular-season games against Carolina this year and surrendered eight goals in those duels. The Czech netminder should see a lot of rubber in this series. Rod Brind’Amour’s team shoots often and from everywhere, but that’s not something that will worry the young netminder; he likes seeing a lot of action.
Up front, the Canadiens will need to be mindful of the Canes’ second line formed by Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake. The trio has racked up 31 points in eight games so far. Their first line has been quieter; Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis have combined for just 11 points in eight games. Unlike the Canadiens’ top line, however, their differential isn’t that bad; they have a combined plus-two.
In the regular season, Aho had six points against Montreal, Svechnikov five and Nikolaj Ehlers four. The former Winnipeg Jets forward is currently skating on the Canes’ third line with Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook, which proves how much depth Carolina has up front.
As for the Habs, they are led by Lane Hutson, who has 14 points and Nick Suzuki, who has 13. Three players follow with nine points: Alex Newhook, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky. Most of the first line’s points have come on the power play, and at the risk of sounding like a broken record, Martin St-Louis will need more from his top guns at even-strength if the Canadiens are to go to the Stanley Cup Final. At the very least, if they don’t produce, they’ll need to tighten up defensively since they have a combined minus-20 rating.
During the regular season, Suzuki, Slafkovsky, Caufield and Ivan Demidov all put up five points in three games against Carolina. Both Caufield and Suzuki had three goals each, a contribution that would go a long way in this series.
Unsurprisingly, the Hurricanes will have a morning skate at 10:30 today, while the Canadiens will not take to the ice. St-Louis will therefore keep us guessing about his lineup. There’s no doubt that Dobes will be in the net, but will Oliver Kapanen still be dressed? Will Arber Xhekaj play in this series? Less physicality is expected in this series, and perhaps Jayden Struble would be better suited to this match-up.
The game is set for 8:00 PM, and you can catch it on HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS, and CBC. Jean Hebert and Garrett Rank will be officiating, while Scott Cherrey and Jesse Marquis will be the linemen. Historically, the team that wins the first game of a best-of-seven series has won the series 68.2% of the time. When the home team wins the first game, they take the series 74.7% of the time, but as we’ve seen against Buffalo, there are exceptions to the rule.
