The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery is tomorrow, May 5th, and will air on ESPN at 7 PM Eastern.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are scheduled to pick #14 overall, just like in 2025. Much to the delight of the team and fans, Jackson Smith was an excellent pick after seeing what he did during his freshman season at Penn State. But don't get used to that, because it won't happen every year. The Jackets were slated to pick #13, but "fell" to 14.
This year it's the same situation. They will pick #14 but will have a 1.5% chance to move up to as high as #4 in the draft. That 1.5% might as well be 0%, because it's not happening. They could actually fall to 15, which will most likely happen.
Last year, upstart Utah was allowed to move up to 4 from 14, much to the dismay of many other teams. If you subscribe to conspiracy theories, this is your chance to puff out your chest just a little bit.
The New York Islanders also jumped from 10 to 1 to secure the services of Matthew Schaefer, which again drew the ire of the teams that earned the top overall pick. Again, conspiracy theorists, stand up!
For the last few years, the NHL Draft Lottery has meant something to the Columbus Blue Jackets and their fans. Even though it was almost a given that they would fall in the draft order, they watched and begged for a miracle, which never came. The only miracle came when the Ducks picked Leo Carlsson instead of Adam Fantilli, which allowed the CBJ to pick him at #3.
Even though fans have suffered through several rough seasons, the NHL hasn't allowed this franchise to profit from its misery. Will that ever change?
This year will be just like last year, unfortunately. Sadly, it'll just be another day to watch a team win the lottery, who has either already won it in the last couple of years, or it will go to a team that happened to have a bad season randomly.
So, will you watch the Draft Lottery, or will you be partaking in the Cinco De Mayo celebration? Will you be doing both? Many fans of Columbus will torture themselves and watch as a team like Toronto, who missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016, win the NHL Lottery.
Or will it be Florida, which, due to injuries, has the 8th-best odds to win the lottery? Let me remind you that they are the two-time defending cup champs and went to three straight finals.
What about Chicago? Would the NHL allow them to draft yet another generational talent, just three years after Connor Bedard?
Of course, the CBJ could trade that pick to move up in the draft, or they could trade it to bring in roster-ready players. But that was the case last year, too, and they got absolutely zero traction from it. So, expect them to make the pick.
Get your popcorn ready if you plan to watch, because someone is going to get their feelings hurt tomorrow.
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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TAMPA, Fla. — Martin St. Louis pounded his chest in the locker room, Jakub Dobes received a shaving cream pie in the face from his fellow goalies and the Montreal Canadiens celebrated a long-awaited series victory.
“We’re not leaving,” St. Louis told his players, quoting Leonardo DiCaprio from “The Wolf of Wall Street” movie.
Indeed, the Canadiens are heading to Buffalo for a second-round series after eliminating the Tampa Bay Lightning with a 2-1 victory in Game 7.
It’s the first time Montreal has advanced since losing the Stanley Cup Finals to Tampa Bay in 2021. Game 1 against the Sabres is in Buffalo.
Before shifting attention to the next series, the Canadiens enjoyed their victory following a hard-fought, evenly-contested series that featured seven games decided by one goal and four that went to overtime.
“I feel like you can’t take the player out of me, right?” St. Louis said about his triumphant speech. “I don’t try to be in the locker room a lot. To me, this is their space. It’s their team. It’s not my team. I try and steer them. But every now and then I have my moment with them. I try and pick my spot and a night like tonight, I wanted to be with them and we had some fun.”
Despite being held to just nine shots — the Canadiens are the first team to win a playoff game with fewer than 10 shots on goal since shots were first tracked in the 1959-60 season — Montreal found a way to beat a veteran team that has plenty of experience in big games.
The Canadiens got a couple lucky bounces on goals by Nick Suzuki and Alex Newhook. But they would be going home if not for Dobes’ heroics. The rookie goaltender stopped 28 shots and outplayed Andrei Vasilevskiy over the seven games.
“Many times in the season the guys bailed me out and helped me out and I tried to do the same and vice versa,” Dobes said. “Sometimes they don’t play good. Sometimes I don’t play good. They always got my back. I always got theirs. That’s our mentality. We have a really good group, good leaders, good locker room. This wasn’t anything special. I was just trying to keep the guys in it. I was just waiting for them to get going and that’s exactly what happened.”
As for the shaving cream to the face, Dobes said: “Can’t wait for next practice. I’ll have something prepared.”
The Canadiens moved on because they played like the looser team. While the Lightning seemed tight at times — they lost three home games — upstart Montreal is having fun and feeding off their Hockey Hall of Fame coach.
The Canadiens are the only team from Canada still playing in the postseason after Ottawa and Edmonton were already knocked out.
It’s been a long road back here. After losing to the Lightning in the Cup Final, the Canadiens were last in the NHL in 2021-22. They were bottom five in the league the next two seasons before St. Louis led to the playoffs last season only to exit in the first round.
With Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky and Dobes leading the way, the Canadiens have a shot against Buffalo. The Sabres were the NHL’s best team after Jan. 1 and snapped a 14-year playoff drought with 109 points this season, only three more than Montreal.
“After the Cup Final, there was a lot of tough times and a lot of guys left,” Suzuki said. “We started this rebuild and slowly but surely, drafted some really good players and have an amazing coach. It’s probably faster than a lot of people expected but when you get great players together with a great system and great leadership, things can turn quickly.”
The Anaheim Ducks and Vegas Golden Knights meet in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals tonight, with puck drop scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET at T-Mobile Arena.
My Ducks vs. Golden Knights player props for the series opener will highlight Jackson LaCombe, Mark Stone, and Leo Carlsson.
Jackson LaCombe has been brilliant in these playoffs for the Anaheim Ducks, leading the team with nine points. He’s scored once and tallied eight assists, three of which came with the man advantage. The defenseman is a tremendous playmaker, and I’m eyeing him to keep it rolling in Game 1.
LaCombe cashed the Over in helpers in five of the six games against the Oilers in the first round. LaCombe also had 48 apples during the regular season, and he compiled two helpers in three meetings with the Vegas Golden Knights.
He's also pacing the team in ice time per game (just under 27 minutes), giving him extra opportunities to be involved when Anaheim lights the lamp.
Game 1 Prop #2: Mark Stone Over 0.5 assists
+120 at BET99
Mark Stone has been his usual productive self in the playoffs, notching five points, including three assists.
The veteran finished with a helper in each of the final two games against the Mammoth. The Ducks may have looked better against the Oilers, but they were 28th in the league this season in goals allowed, and Stone almost always has his hand in the Golden Knights' offense.
He finished with 28 goals and 45 helpers in 2025-26. Stone only faced Anaheim once, but he was setting up goals left and right, tallying a pair of assists. The 33-year-old also had 27 of his assists this season at T-Mobile Arena in only 31 outings. He’ll produce in Game 1.
Game 1 Prop #3: Leo Carlsson Over 2.5 shots on goal
-155 at BET99
Leo Carlsson averaged 2.75 SOG per game during the season, and he’s upped that production in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Carlsson is averaging an impressive 4.66 shots on target across six contests. While he only finished with two SOG in Game 6 against the Oilers, the other five were a shot frenzy.
The 21-year-old hit the Over in all of those contests, and he even had 10 SOG in the series opener. Carlsson was also a key chance creator in two regular-season meetings with Vegas, putting six pucks on net. He’s also cashed the Over in three consecutive road games.
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TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning dominated most of Game 7, had triple the scoring opportunities and still found a way to lose.
It’s an early exit for the fourth straight season.
A pair of fluky goals helped the Montreal Canadiens beat the Lightning 2-1, sending Tampa Bay to a familiar first-round exit.
The Lightning played their best game of the series, held the Canadiens to just nine shots and yet are heading on vacation while the Canadiens advance to face the Buffalo Sabres.
Montreal’s first goal bounced off Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser and went in. The second was whacked out of the air behind the net, hit goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy’s pad and his backside and went in..
“The hockey gods have been in my corner many, many times. Tonight they were in the other corner,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said.
For a talented team whose standard is hoisting Stanley Cups, nobody has any answers. Since falling two wins short of a three-peat in 2022, Tampa Bay can’t win a series.
“I don’t really have words,” Ryan McDonagh said. “You like a lot about the game. From start to finish, we stuck with our process and our plan. But at the end it doesn’t matter because they had two, we had one. It’s a loss. Credit to them. They grinded and found a way.”
The Lightning just couldn’t get much past rookie goalie Jakub Dobes throughout the series. He made 28 saves in Game 7. Tampa Bay didn’t get enough production from its offensive stars. Nikita Kucherov, who had 130 points in the regular season, still has zero in his career in Game 7s.
“There’s some disbelief in our room that we can play like that and not walk away with anything,” Cooper said about the defensive effort. “We couldn’t have played any better and still it wasn’t good enough. You have to tip your cap to (Canadiens coach) Martin St. Louis, Jakub Dobes and the Montreal Canadiens.”
After tallying 106 points in the regular season and finishing second in the division, the Lightning missed an opportunity to make a run at the Cup.
And, the team could be running out of time together.
Kucherov and Jake Guentzel, the team’s two leading scorers in the regular season, and Vasilevskiy are in their early 30s. McDonagh is 36. Captain Victor Hedman, who hasn’t played since March, is 35.
Darren Raddysh, who is coming off a breakout 70-point season, will be a free agent.
“It sucks. You don’t get any younger that’s for sure,” Brandon Hagel said. “I have one goal on my mind every single year and I just want to win.”
The Lightning have to wait until next year to do that.
LAS VEGAS — If the first round of the NHL playoffs played out almost exactly like the opening series a year ago when the Golden Knights eliminated Minnesota in six games, their next opponent is a striking reminder to the one they just vanquished.
The Golden Knights again are the more playoff-seasoned team, but the Anaheim Ducks counter with a faster team interested in more of a track meet when their best-of-seven series opens in Vegas.
Much like the Utah Mammoth, a team Vegas eliminated in six games. The Golden Knights are -210 favorites.
Their playoff experience was crucial against the Mammoth, never panicking even when the Golden Knights had every reason to, trailing in the third period in each of the first five games. They found ways to survive before putting together their most complete game in the 5-1 clincher.
“I think (the experience) only helps the farther you go,” Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb said. “The pressure ramps up as you keep going. A lot of guys in here have had long playoff series and understand what it’s like. Intensity and speed kind of ramp up as the series goes on.”
The Golden Knights have advanced beyond the first round for sixth time in their eight playoff appearances. The 2023 Stanley Cup champions have missed the postseason only once in their nine years as a franchise.
This is the Ducks’ first playoff appearance since 2018, but Vegas captain Mark Stone said that is misleading. Nine players not only appeared in the playoffs before this season, eight have played in conference finals and beyond. Alex Killorn won two Stanley Cups in Tampa Bay and John Carlson was on the Washington team that beat the Golden Knights for the 2018 championship.
“So you still have to be on your toes,” Stone said. “You just have to play good. You’re playing against the same opponent for seven games potentially. Experience helps, but it’s not everything.”
The Ducks certainly aren’t exhibiting a just-happy-to-be-here vibe. That was evident in their six-game series victory over an Edmonton team that played in the past two Cup Final series.
“We didn’t accomplish any goal yet,” Anaheim defenseman Jackson LaCombe said. “We’re kind of playing as underdogs through the whole playoffs here, so we’re just going to keep doing our thing.”
Ducks wing Troy Terry said the focus after dispatching the Oilers didn’t take long to shift to the Golden Knights.
“It’s May, and you guys (media) are still talking to me,” Terry said. “It’s new for me, and it’s new for a lot of us. It’s just exciting to come to the rink.”
Young Ducks rising
LaCombe appeared to signal his arrival as an NHL star in the first round with nine points and shutdown defense against Connor McDavid, but other Anaheim youngsters also had auspicious playoff debuts.
Leo Carlsson scored eight points and thrived in the run-and-gun tempo of the first series, demonstrating his formidable two-way game while centering Anaheim’s top line. The 21-year-old Swede led the Ducks with 28 shots.
Cutter Gauthier kept up the pace from his 41-goal regular season, pumping four past the Oilers – three on the power play with his vicious one-timers from the faceoff circle. The 22-year-old wing had seven points and forced the Oilers to pay inordinate attention to his side of the ice and created opportunities for the likes of linemate Ryan Poehling, who scored four goals.
The other Great One
Golden Knights forward Brett Howden was being interviewed at his locker when teammate Keegan Kolesar yelled out, “Brettsky!”
Howden kept on talking, and even he knows it’s a little much to be compared to Wayne Gretzky.
“(Kolesar) likes to call me whatever he wants to call me,” Howden said with a chuckle. “Only my dad and my mom called me that growing up.”
The Golden Knights are probably done for the season if not for Howden. He scored four goals over the final three games. Two were short-handed, including the Game 5 overtime winner.
Anaheim roots, Vegas heights
The careers of Shea Theodore and William Karlsson will come full circle in this series: Two of the most important players in Golden Knights history began their NHL careers in Anaheim before ex-Ducks general manager Bob Murray foolishly let them go.
Theodore, a first-round pick by Anaheim, was two seasons into his NHL career when Murray traded him to Vegas in 2017 to ensure the Knights would not pick Josh Manson off the Ducks’ unprotected list in the expansion draft. Theodore has been a mainstay on Vegas’ blue line ever since, become the top-scoring defenseman in team history.
Karlsson, a Ducks second-round pick in 2011, still was finding his NHL stride when Murray traded him to Columbus in March 2015 in an inexplicable deal for aging defenseman James Wisniewski, who only played 13 games for Anaheim.
Vegas took Karlsson in the expansion draft two years later, and “Wild Bill” grew into the second-leading scorer in Golden Knights history. He has been sidelined since last November with a lower-body injury, but is back skating in practice and might suit up this in this series.
Special teams could decide it
Both teams made it this far because of their success on special teams.
For the Ducks, that came off the power play, where they converted 50% of their chances against the Oilers. The penalty kill was key for the Golden Knights, in which they were 15 of 16 and even outscored the Mammoth 2-1 on the Utah power play.
“I think it can definitely carry over,” McNabb said of the PK. “It’s been good all year. It’s something we’re going to need.”
In the end, it wasn’t Max Crozier’s thundering hit on Juraj Slafkovsky that was the turning point in this series or that Brandon Hagel’s jab to his chin, but rather when coach Martin St-Louis stopped hoping his top guys would “figure it out”. The Montreal Canadiens’ bench boss has been known for sticking to his guns, as he explained a couple of years ago, he didn’t care for the opinion of people he wouldn’t ask for advice. The bench boss is the type of person who believes he knows better until he’s proven wrong, and after Game 4, he concluded that he had been.
At that stage of the series, he realized that if he let the Tampa Bay Lightning’s bench boss get the matchups he wanted, the Habs wouldn’t come out on top. He not only decided to make some changes to his attacking lines but also learned to do so on the fly, mixing things up to keep Jon Cooper guessing as the game went on.
The coach realized that if he didn’t react, his team would be doomed. He understood that while there’s an argument to be made for not disturbing his players’ rhythm by letting them play with consistent lines, that also allowed the Bolts to gain some rhythm because of the Canadiens changes’ predictability.
St-Louis mixing up his lines and spreading the talent around gave Cooper headaches; he didn’t have two Anthony Cirelli. He still had his top defensive center stick to Nick Suzuki like glue, but having Juraj Slafkovsky take some shifts on another line at times with Ivan Demidov created some opportunities, even if they couldn’t convert. Furthermore, that freed his bottom six to create offense, as they had easier matchups.
In the end, this series forced St-Louis out of his comfort zone, and he proved up to the challenge, getting the better of the Jack Adams Trophy finalist he was pitted against. Montreal is a young team on the ice, and behind the bench, just like his players gained experience by taking on the Bolts, the coach gained some by facing Cooper.
There’s no doubt that St-Louis won’t want to take the credit for the series win, because he wasn’t on the ice, but recognizing his impact on proceedings doesn’t take anything away from the fact that Jakub Dobes was impressive all the way through, that the Canadiens played a physical brand of hockey that put pressure on the Bolts’ defense, that Josh Anderson’s forecheck was key or that the defense managed to make-do without Noah Dobson for six games. Credit has to be given where credit is due. The Canadiens won their duel with the Lightning, but they couldn't have done it if St-Louis didn't win his with Cooper.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 02: K'andre Miller #19 of the Carolina Hurricanes knocks the puck away from Garnet Hathaway #19 of the Philadelphia Flyers in Game One of the Second Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center on May 02, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Carolina Hurricanes are ready to do battle again with the Philadelphia Flyers for game two of round two of the NHL Playoffs. Game time is 7 P.M. tonight at the Lenovo Center.
So far in these playoffs the Hurricanes have been at the top of their game regarding puck possession and shot suppression. They have yet to trail at any point in a game this postseason.
The scary part is, they can still be better.
While Logan Stankoven, (points in 13 straight games), Taylor Hall, (leads team in postseason scoring with 8 points in five games), and Jackson Blake are tearing it up, the other lines are ready to break through as well.
The penalty kill is almost flawless, but the powerplay needs to improve.
Walt Ruff is reporting from the morning skate. Fred Andersen is in the starter’s net.
Right back to business!
Frederik Andersen is once again in the starter's crease for the #Canes, ahead of tonight's Game 2 against the Flyers.
Alexander Nikishin is skating, working with Sean Walker, as K'Andre Miller gets another morning off. Mike Reilly is with Shayne… pic.twitter.com/eeXkbeciAM
I expect Nikishin to be a game time decision based upon how he feels. The lines are the same as in game one.
How will the Flyers regroup?
The game will be televised by ESPN. Our friends, Mike Maniscalco, Tripp Tracy, and Shane Willis will be on 99.9 The Fan with the play-by-play and analysis.
The Anaheim Ducks upset the back-to-back Western Conference champions in Round 1, and they’ll look to start Round 2 off in style with a win over the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Monday, May 4.
My top Ducks vs. Golden Knights predictions and NHL picks expect Anaheim to keep Vegas starter Carter Hart busy tonight.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.
Ducks vs Golden Knights Game 1 prediction
Who will win Ducks vs Golden Knights Game 1?
Ducks: There’s serious momentum for the Ducks, and Anaheim has scoring depth Vegas can’t match. I’m steering clear of backing either team in a moneyline bet until I see how they match up against one another, and while I usually don’t put much stock into regular-season results ahead of a postseason series, the Ducks did win all three meetings this year.
Ducks vs Golden Knights best bet: Carter Hart Over 24.5 saves (-105)
The Anaheim Ducks finished Round 1 with the most shots and third most attempts per 60 minutes at 5-on-5, and I’m expecting them to be firing away again in Game 1 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
While it was a so-so first round from Golden Knights No. 1 Carter Hart overall, he posted a .910 SV% and 1.35 goals saved above expected (GSAx) on home ice and also stopped 22 of 23 shots with a 1.65 GSAx in the series clincher Friday.
Let’s not forget, Hart capped off the regular season with six straight wins with a .930 SV%, and Anaheim also ranked third in shots per game (30.8).
Marner and Stone both hit the scoresheet in five of six games during Round 1, and after allowing the fourth-most goals per game (3.51) during the regular season, the Ducks allowed 3.5 per night in Round 1.
Ducks vs Golden Knights SGP
Mitch Marner Over 0.5 points
Mark Stone Over 0.5 points
Carter Hart Over 24.5 saves
Ducks vs Golden Knights Game 1 goal scorer pick
Jack Eichel (+175)
Vegas star Jack Eichel was held to a single goal during Round 1 despite racking up a healthy 18 shots, 2.09 expected goals and nine high-danger scoring chances. The Ducks allowed a healthy 3.5 goals per game during the opening round, and Eichel is cemented into a go-to offensive role and sports an active five-game point streak.
Ducks vs Golden Knights odds for Game 1
Moneyline: Ducks +140 | Golden Knights -165
Puck Line: Ducks +1.5 (-185) | Golden Knights -1.5 (+155)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-105) | Under 6.5 (-115)
Ducks vs Golden Knights trend
The Anaheim Ducks have hit the Over in nine of their last 15 games (+5.35 Units / 29% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Ducks vs. Golden Knights.
How to watch Ducks vs Golden Knights Game 1
Location
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Date
Monday, May 4, 2026
Puck drop
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN, SN360
Ducks vs Golden Knights 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.
Mike and Dan go PTI-style across a few Islanders topics before discussing how a recent playoff elimination made them reflect on the past, present and future of the franchise.
The last few weeks have seen a couple of departures – of an assistant coach and a third string goalie, respectively – and a couple of guys being celebrated for the great seasons they had. But even there, we can feel disappointment and tempered enthusiasm where we really should be rejoicing. A few Islanders will be attending the World Championships, while one notable guy is staying home, for good reason. Finally, we listen to the new coach talk about his hiring and philosophies, which right now are the biggest reasons to be excited for next season.
In the second half, we look at how yet another Oilers ouster took on a different feel now that the Islanders have a generational star of their own. Connor McDavid going home empty-handed used to be funny, but now we see him as a cautionary tale of how putting too much pressure on one or two players can be a huge mistake. The Islanders are one of the few NHL teams to not have made a Stanley Cup final this century, and it’s high time the organization fixes that and produces some actual results. The right time is right now, not later. Just look at the Oilers.
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After defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 by a 2-1 final score, the Montreal Canadiens have made a roster move.
The Canadiens have announced that they have assigned defenseman Adam Engstrom to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket.
While Engstrom has been on the Canadiens' roster, he has not appeared in a playoff game for them this spring. Now, with this news, he is heading back to Laval for the time being.
Engstrom played in his first 15 career NHL regular-season games this season with the Canadiens, where he had one assist and a plus-2 rating.
In 45 regular-season games this year with the Rocket, Engstrom had 10 goals, 24 assists, 34 points, and a plus-14 rating. This is after he had five goals and 27 points in 66 games with the AHL squad during the 2024-25 season.
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Flyers on Monday night face a pivotal Game 2 against the Hurricanes in their best-of-seven second-round playoff series.
Rick Tocchet’s club is trying to bounce back from a 3-0 loss Saturday night in Game 1. The head coach felt like his team didn’t want the puck enough early on and then it never recovered from a quick 2-0 deficit.
“Is it a mindset?” Tocchet said Sunday. “Is it inexperience? Is it the quick turnaround? I don’t know, it could be a bunch of those things, but we don’t have time. You can’t put three or four games like that; you’ve got to figure it out quickly.”
Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. ET with Flyers Pregame Live on NBC Sports Philadelphia+. Puck drop is scheduled for around 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Flyers Postgame Live will follow immediately after the game on NBCSP+.
Owen Tippett here at practice after missing his first game of the playoffs. Rick Tocchet didn’t have an update on his status, said he’s day to day. pic.twitter.com/P0BthwFE71
Flyers practice here at Lenovo Center today. Game 2 is Monday night. They’ll try to even the second-round series after being shut out, 3-0, in Game 1. pic.twitter.com/TO6iSLhiNT
The Anaheim Ducks are one of the final eight teams left standing in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. They upset a perennial cup-contending Edmonton Oilers squad in six games in the first round and will be up against another cup-contender in the second round: the Vegas Golden Knights.
Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville, with the help of his coaching staff, out-coached Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch in round 1, and will have to pull out all his tricks once again if he’s to defeat brand new Vegas head coach John Tortorella.
Tortorella has only been the Knights’ head coach for eight games heading into the playoffs after they shockingly parted ways with Bruce Cassidy. Vegas went 7-0-1 down the stretch under Tortorella and dispatched the Utah Mammoth in six games in their first-round series.
It’s unclear if, how, or to what extent (beyond lineup alterations) Tortorella can make changes throughout the course of a long series, behind the bench of a new team, but Quenneville will have to win five key matchups if the Ducks are to win four games in the next seven and advance to the Conference Final.
Alex Gallardo-Imagn Images
Jackson LaCombe vs Jack Eichel
If the Conn Smythe Trophy were awarded after one round, a very strong case could be made for it to be awarded to Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe. LaCombe scored nine points (1-8=9) in six games, tied for second in playoff scoring and leading all defensemen, dominated underlying metrics, dictated play on every shift, and effectively shut down (or severely limited) Connor McDavid, the world’s best hockey player.
If Quenneville continues to hard-match LaCombe against his opponent’s top player, LaCombe’s next assignment will be Team USA teammate, 2026 Olympic Gold Medalist, and 2023 Stanley Cup Champion Jack Eichel.
Tying LaCombe, Eichel scored nine points (1-8=9) in six games against Utah in the first round, while averaging 24:22 TOI/G, and offers a completely different challenge for LaCombe than McDavid did. McDavid is far and away the fastest player in the NHL who does most of his damage off the rush and operates at a high rate of speed in every facet of his offense.
Eichel, not slow by any means and still one of the NHL’s best skaters, attacks more surgically and methodically. He utilizes his 6-foot-2, 206-pound frame to protect pucks with an elite glide and is one of the NHL’s best passers, displaying deception and throwing misinformation at every turn. He’s equally as dangerous off the rush or on the cycle.
Eichel prefers to carry pucks low to high in the offensive zone and across the blueline, looking for and opening dangerous seams. Like with McDavid, it will require all five skates on the ice to properly limit his impact, but LaCombe will need to be smart not to drift too far from the net front and remain in good positions.
Lukas Dostal vs Carter Hart
Any goaltender will echo that they aren’t playing against the opposing goaltender, but rather the opposing team as a whole. However, in this particular series, Ducks netminder Lukas Dostal will have to out-duel Vegas netminder Carter Hart, and out-duel him significantly, if the Ducks are to have a chance at advancing beyond the Golden Knights.
Through the first round, traditional numbers suggest that Dostal and Hart have been two of the worst goaltenders in the playoffs, with Hart finishing with better numbers.
Hart finished his first round series by allowing 18 goals on 167 shots (.892 SV%) and saved -0.13 goals above expected (GSAx). The eye test suggests a slightly different narrative, as he let in several goals from distance, without a screen, and/or through his body (between his arm and his torso).
Dostal’s numbers were far worse in the first round, as he allowed 20 goals on 158 shots (.873 SV%) and saved -4.61 GSAx. His eye test suggests he was better than those numbers, but unspectacular nonetheless. His rebound control and puck tracking (typically two staples of his game) left a lot to be desired, but none of the goals (of very few) could be classified as “soft.”
Dostal either allowed goals with screens in front of him, off of deflections, and/or from incredibly high-danger areas of the ice. If he could see a shot, he typically saved it, but he wasn’t able to “steal a game,” and he didn’t come up with a “big save that he wasn’t supposed to make” very often.
The big saves he does make often go unnoticed, as his primary strength as a netminder is his positioning, and he makes difficult saves often seem routine. However, with what Vegas strives to accomplish on offense, Dostal will need to make those big, athletic saves he’s not supposed to, and he may have to “steal” a game or two.
Both goaltenders have the skill sets to dictate a series from their respective creases, but neither had to for their teams to advance to the second round. One may have to, however, if they intend to backstop games in the third round.
Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images
Ducks Power Play vs VGK Penalty Kill
In the regular season, Vegas boasted elite special teams, featuring the sixth-best power play (24.6%) and seventh-best penalty kill (81.4%). That continued into the playoffs, as they currently have the fifth-best PP (20%) and third-best PK (93.8%).
The Ducks are a completely different study, as they had middling to poor special teams in the regular season (18.6% PP, 76.4% PK). Their penalty kill remained unimpressive through the first round (71.4%), but it didn’t bite them, as they are the least-penalized team in the playoffs to date.
Anaheim’s power play flipped a switch, however, in the first round, and was one of the greatest factors that led to them defeating the Oilers in six games. With two units finding cohesion and chemistry after 82 games of trial and error, the Ducks scored eight power play goals on 16 attempts in round one.
With the assumption that Vegas’ power play will remain productive and Anaheim’s penalty kill will continue to allow goals at a similar rate, the Ducks’ power play will prove ever-important once again in the second round, as will a continued discipline from Anaheim to limit their own trips to the penalty box.
Ducks Depth Scoring vs Knights Middle Pair (Hanifin-Andersson)
The Ducks’ top line (Gauthier/Kreider-Carlsson-Terry) accounted for six of the Ducks’ 14 goals at 5v5 in the first round and were on the ice for seven. Vegas opted not to match a pair or line against Utah’s top line in their first-round series with much consistency, but the gap between Utah’s first line (Crouse-Schmaltz-Keller) and their second line (Yamamoto-Cooley-Guenther) isn’t as drastic as Anaheim’s.
Utah’s top line did see slightly more ice against Vegas’ top pair (McNabb-Theodore) than they did against their second pair (Hanifin-Andersson). If Vegas’ top pair has remotely the success they did against Utah’s top line, Anaheim’s depth scoring will be more vital to their success in this series.
Anaheim has the offensive prowess down their forward lineup to supplement Terry and Carlsson at the top, with a potent blend of veterans like Mikael Granlund and Alex Killorn alongside talented youth like Beckett Sennecke and Mason McTavish. McTavish and Sennecke got their first taste of playoff hockey, and both project to thrive, stylistically, in that environment. However, both will hope to increase production and factor into more dangerous plays in the second round.
Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Ducks Net Defending vs Vegas Slot Offense
At various points in the 2025-26 season, the Ducks struggled to defend every facet of on-ice play. While adapting to a new coaching staff that brought in a new system, the Ducks had sorting issues defending the rush and made poor pressure decisions at the offensive blueline. However, the area that consistently pained them most was defending the front of their net.
Though they’ve improved when defending cycles, they are still susceptible to getting beat back to the front of the net from the perimeter, and they can still get caught puck watching when plays shift sides of the ice laterally.
When pucks are funneled to the crease from the perimeter, the Ducks struggle mightily with boxing out, tying up sticks, and clearing rebounds.
Vegas is as polished as they come on the cycle. They can work pucks low to high for point shots, dominate possession below the goal line, and sustain pressure for minutes at a time. They’re at their best when their best players (Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel) skate pucks up the walls and across the blueline, drawing defenders out of position to open seams and passing lanes.
Anaheim’s centers will have to make astute decisions on whether and when to pressure in those situations, and defensemen will have to limit their temptation to drift too far from the crease. When defending the net-front, they’ll also have to work tirelessly to eliminate screens, tips, and second-chance opportunities. Easier said than done.
As with any series, this Ducks roster stands a chance to win four of seven, especially with Quenneville behind the bench. However, the execution will need to be nearly perfect, and they’ll have to come out on the positive end of these five matchups to do so.
MONTREAL, CANADA- APRIL 26: Alex Newhook #15 of the Montreal Canadiens screams during the warm-up of Game Four of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Arianne Bergeron/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Colorado Avalanche News
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Wild vs. Avalanche Western 2nd Round preview. [NHL]
Who has the edge in Wild vs. Avalanche? Breaking down a titanic, conference-final worthy showdown. [The Athletic]
Notebook: Avalanche prepare for heavyweight Round 2 series vs. Wild. [Sportsnet]
News Around the League
Habs hang on in Game 7, eliminate Lightning on a goal from Alex Newhook, move on to face Buffalo Sabres. [CBC]
NHL Draft Lottery: Canucks are no strangers to sliding, even with a lucky charm. [The Province]
Malkin wants to keep playing in NHL, even if Penguins don’t re-sign him. [NHL]
Maple Leafs elect for high-risk, high-reward option in hiring franchise legend Mats Sundin. [The Leafs Nation]
Leon Draisaitl unloads: Edmonton Oilers have ‘taken big steps backward’. [Edmonton Journal]
Top 50 NHL UFAs of 2026: Bobrovsky isn’t in the playoffs, yet his value is rising. [Daily Faceoff]
Rantanen fined $5K for cross-checking Kaprizov. [The Score]
The National Hockey League is going to conduct the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery on Tuesday, May 5th. This weighted lottery will select one team to pick first overall, and another to pick second. From there, the picks will go in reverse order of the standings for the non-playoff teams.
The Chicago Blackhawks have the second-best odds of winning the lottery at 13.5%. Only the Vancouver Canucks have better odds at 25.5%. Rounding out the top three is the New York Rangers at 11.5%.
The results of this lottery will change the plans of multiple franchises that are in the mix. This mock draft is a projection of how the picks could go if the Blackhawks win the first pick and the Canucks get the second.
1. Chicago Blackhawks - Gavin McKenna, FWD
If the Chicago Blackhawks win the draft lottery, it would be hard to pass up on Penn State forward Gavin McKenna. He had an up-and-down road to this point, but there is no doubt that he'd fit in right away with this organization.
There is already an off-ice connection with Connor Bedard, which would make it a bit easier for him to translate to the NHL after a productive college season, especially the second half.
If Gavin McKenna came to the Blackhawks, his boyhood team, he would have the inside track to play in the NHL as soon as next season.
2. Vancouver Canucks - Ivar Stenberg, FWD
The Vancouver Canucks have a strong history of drafting Swedish-born players, and Ivar Stenberg could be the next in line.
After a dominant performance in the World Junior Championships en route to the Gold Medal, Stenberg cemented himself into this top-three draft pick conversation.
Like McKenna, he has the potential to play in the NHL as early as next season. With how poorly constructed Vancouver's lineup is right now, there is plenty of room for him to hop right in.
3. New York Rangers - Caleb Malhotra, FWD
Caleb Malhotra has risen on the draft board as much as any player who will be selected in June. The New York Rangers weren't expecting to be in this conversation heading into the year, but Malhotra would be a great consolation prize.
Malhotra is a forward who could come to the NHL and change the fortunes of his franchise because of his incredible two-way game. The Rangers don't have many young forwards like him, which makes him someone that they can build around.
4. Calgary Flames - Keaton Verhoeff, D
The Calgary Flames have been very good drafters over the last handful of years while they rebuild. That includes players from the NCAA.
Keaton Verhoeff would make a perfect addition to their organizational prospect depth as a slippery smooth offensive defenseman.
5. Toronto Maple Leafs - Chase Reid, D
Chase Reid has more of a two-way style to his game from the back-end, which is exactly what the Toronto Maple Leafs need in their long-term plan.
6. Seattle Kraken - Tynan Lawrence, FWD
The Seattle Kraken are dying for an offensive gamebreaker. It is unclear whether Tynan Lawrence will become that guy, but he certainly has great upside as a forward.
7. Winnipeg Jets - Carson Carels, D
The Winnipeg Jets won the President's Trophy last season, which makes them selecting seventh overall surprising. Carson Carels, a defenseman, would join that organization and be groomed by one of the best at developing this position.
8. Florida Panthers - Viggo Bjorck, FWD
The only thing more surprising than the reigning President's Trophy drafting in the top-ten is the defending Stanley Cup champions drafting in the top-ten. That is the reality for the Florida Panthers, who would be the perfect landing spot for Viggo Bjorck.
9. San Jose Sharks - Daxon Rudolph, D
The San Jose Sharks had a remarkable season based on their expectations coming in. Still, one more top-ten pick will be great for them, especially if it's a defenseman. They don't have that position solidified in the long-term, but this would help.
10. Nashville Predators - Alberts Smits, D
Like the Jets, the Nashville Predators are very good at drafting and developing defensemen. They've been a factory for multiple decades. With change coming to the organization at the top, their next big defender could be Alberts Smits.
11. St. Louis Blues - Oliver Suvanto, FWD
The St. Louis Blues may or may not move on from some of their star forwards this summer. If they do, they might want to start stockpiling new ones in the organization. Oliver Suvanto is someone to consider for that type of role.
12. New Jersey Devils - Oscar Hemming, FWD
Everything the New Jersey Devils do at forward starts with one question: how would they look playing alongside Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier? Oscar Hemming may have the skills necessary to at least be given a chance one day.
13. New York Islanders - Ethan Belchetz, FWD
The New York Islanders won the draft lottery in 2025, and it changed them forever. Matthew Schaefer is a superstar in every sense of the word. Now, they are looking to continue building. A forward like Ethan Belchetz makes a lot of sense for them.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets - Ryan Lin, D
The Columbus Blue Jackets enjoy drafting skilled defensemen in the first round. Ryan Lin is one ready to make an impact on the organization in the long-term.
15. St. Louis Blues via Detroit Red Wings - Malte Gustafsson, D
The St. Louis Blues received this pick from the Detroit Red Wings, and they would make it count if they selected Malte Gustafsson for their defense pipeline.
16. Washington Capitals - Nikita Kiepov, FWD
The Washington Capitals select Nikita Kiepov in this mock spot. He will attend Michigan State in 2026-27, which should prepare him for the NHL as well as any school in the United States.
17. Los Angeles Kings - Adam Novonty, FWD
The Los Angeles Kings must start restocking their prospect farm with more talent again. A retool is necessary for them as Anze Kopitar retires. Adam Novonty is a Czech-born forward who would be a great addition.
18. Washington Capitals via Anaheim Ducks - Ilya Morozov, FWD
The Washington Capitals may have two picks out of three late in the teens, depending on how the Anaheim Ducks finish. In this spot, forward Ilya Morozov makes perfect sense for them as they look to continue building their new forward core.
19. Utah Mammoth - Marcus Nordmark, FWD
The Utah Mammoth had a great season, and they never moved their first-round pick, despite rumors. Now, they could go with a forward like Marcus Nordmark out of Sweden.
20. San Jose Sharks via Edmonton Oilers - Elton Hermansson, FWD
Speaking of Swedes, Elton Hermansson may go one pick later to the San Jose Sharks. Although they need more defensemen, it never hurts to add a skilled forward as well. With the way that they've set up their draft for this year, one forward and one defenseman in the first round is a sound strategy.
21. Philadelphia Flyers - Xavier Villenueve, D
The Philadelphia Flyers are still alive, so their pick is far from locked at 21. If it did stick, however, Xavier Villenueve would be a great future defenseman for a team that has gone forward a lot in recent first rounds.
22. Pittsburgh Penguins - JP Hurlbert, FWD
The Pittsburgh Penguins didn't make a top-five pick last year, but one of their picks, Ben Kindle made it to the NHL right away as a teenager. They might not expect that of JP Hurlbert or anyone that they draft this year, but he is a good player nonetheless.
23. Boston Bruins - Juho Piiparinen, D
The Bruins overachieved this season after making the 7th overall pick last year, but they can still draft a good player like Juho Piiparinen. A young first-round talent like him for their organizational blue line would be great.
24. Vancouver Canucks via Minnesota Wild - Yegor Shilov, FWD
The Vancouver Canucks don't have Quinn Hughes anymore, but this pick is one of the many gifts that the Minnesota Wild gave them for their former captain. Yegor Shilov is a forward who may make an NHL impact perfectly in line with Vancouver's rebuild.
25. Montreal Canadiens - Mathis Preston, FWD
The Montreal Canadiens stayed the course of their own rebuild, despite being a 100-point team that has now won a round. Keeping their first round pick in a year like this is impressive fortitude, and a prospect like Mathis Preston could be a great prize.
26. Seattle Kraken via Tampa Bay Lightning - Wyatt Cullen, FWD
The Seattle Kraken make perfect sense for Wyatt Cullen, who is the son of former NHL forward Matt Cullen. Matt had a tremendous NHL career and was one of the best players to ever come out of Minnesota. Fittingly, his son Wyatt will play for the Golden Gophers in 2026-27.
27. New York Rangers via Dallas Stars - Niklas Aaram-Olsen, FWD
The New York Rangers will make a first-round pick in the top five and the bottom ten, which is great for a rebuilding squad. Niklas Aaram-Olsen would help them replenish their forwards as more of their veterans could follow Artemi Panarin out the door this summer.
28. Calgary Flames via Vegas Golden Knights - Simas Ignatavicius, FWD
The Calgary Flames, like the New York Rangers, will have an early and late pick in the first round. That will do wonders for their highly respectable prospect pool. Simas Ignatavicius is a forward who could be a diamond for them.
29. Buffalo Sabres - Maddox Dagenais, FWD
The Buffalo Sabres are not used to picking in the bottom third of the first round, unless it is a pick that a contender gave to them for one of their star players that they had to trade away. This year, a prospect like forward Maddox Dagenais would be going to a winning organization in Buffalo.
30. Carolina Hurricanes - Liam Ruck, FWD
The Carolina Hurricanes thrive on getting something out of these late picks. Liam Ruck is a forward who may keep their prospect depth intact.
31. St. Louis Blues via Colorado Avalanche - Alexander Command, FWD
The St. Louis Blues have the first-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche. They may pick late in the 20s or in the 30s, depending on how the Avalanche finish. Alexander Command is someone for them to consider regardless of where the pick lands.
32. Ottawa Senators - William Hakansson, D
The Ottawa Senators are locked into the 32nd overall pick. At first, it was forfeited, but the NHL restored it to them in the form of the final pick in the first round.
This comes as a punishment that stemmed from an attempted Evgenii Dadonov trade between the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks were on Dadonov's "no-trade list", but the Golden Knights were not told that by the Senators, who traded Dadonov to Vegas previously. The NHL made them forfeit a first-round pick in either 2024, 2025, or 2026 before restoring it.
William Hakansson, a defenseman, makes great sense for Ottawa as they could use another defense prospect with high upside to work on developing.
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NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 21: New Jersey Devils introduce General Manager Sunny Mehta at Prudential Center on April 21, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Maclean/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI vis Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
“Unfortunately for Meier, the narrative that he has underperformed donning the red and black isn’t unique to this past season. Outside of his 2022-23 production (and even then), he has long been soured on by fans, and for good reason. After all, the three-time 30-plus goal scorer has never surpassed that mark with New Jersey, nor has his production ever matched his output from his San Jose Sharks years. And yet, as perhaps the most bullish person on him of anyone I know, I would argue that as far as bounce-back candidates go, Meier should be right at the top of the list.” [Infernal Access ($)]
“Sunny Mehta wants to focus on the process. That should make New Jersey Devils fans feel optimistic about the 2026 offseason and beyond.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]
Front office changes:
#NEWS: The New Jersey Devils announced the team will not renew the contracts of Dan MacKinnon and Chuck Fletcher.
“Even in a league with 32 teams that range from model franchises to … um, not that, everyone is good at something. In fact, every team in the league is the very best at something. You just have to be willing to dig deep enough to find it.” [The Athletic ($)]
“Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch revealed that McDavid played through a fracture in the foot and ankle area en route to losing in six games to the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference quarterfinals. He also said forward Jason Dickinson had a similar injury.” [ESPN]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
Jackson LaCombe
Mark Stone
