Category: NHL

The Pittsburgh Penguins are about to enter what could be (and perhaps should be) a fascinating offseason. Probably one of the more fascinating offseasons they have had in years.

There is the Evgeni Malkin situation looming.

There is the fact the Penguins, coming off a surprising playoff appearance, have to wrestle with the reality that they were, in fact, a playoff team, and are also still needing to get younger and look toward the future.

There is Kyle Dubas again insisting he wants to build a championship team and not a team that simply makes the playoffs and loses in the first round.

If the first two years of the Dubas are any indication of what is ahead, you can probably expect a lot of roster movement and a lot of trades. And that is not necessarily a bad thing. The Penguins also have a pretty significant amount of salary cap space to work with, the ability to easily create more if they sell any additional players off the roster that are still under contract, and a lot of future draft picks to potentially deal from.

So what, exactly, should they do with it?

For starters, I will repeat what I said on Monday and emphatically point out I have zero interest in the unrestricted free agent market. The only thing free agency should be utilized for is filling out cheap depth or taking on cheap reclamation projects that can be rebuilt and potentially flipped. Paying Alex Tuch or Darren Raddysh $10 million per year doesn’t do anything to help you now or in the future. That’s a “get to the playoffs and lose in the first round” move.

No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No.

Just pass on all of it.

Stay out of it.

Just throw the UFA list away on July 1 and start looking at it again on July 4 or 5 to see who is left.

Aggressive trading is the way to go. Aggressively selling for more assets, and aggressively buying to potentially get the type of impact player the Penguins are still lacking for the long haul.

So with that in mind, is there a path for them to potentially go after a big fish this offseason in the trade market given some of the names that could be available? I also say this knowing full well that trade rumors and trade speculation rarely, if ever, actually turn into blockbuster trades. We go through this every trade deadline and offseason where the insiders tell us the big names that are available, we try to guess what they will go for, and then nobody actually goes anywhere.

But maybe this time will be different.

Let’s look at some options.

The “in your dreams” players

Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars. I say “dream scenario” here because this is probably all it will ever be. But this is the type of player that should be at the top of the Penguins wish list if they did want to do something bold and aggressive. He is still in his mid-20s. He is one of the best players in hockey. He could be a franchise centerpiece for probably the next seven or eight years. They have the salary cap space to pay him whatever he wants. And it is for almost all of those reasons that the Stars would be insane to move him. I know the salary cap exists, but they should be moving OTHER people to make sure he stays. And I suspect they will do exactly that. It would also likely cost you Ben Kindel as a starting point. And at the risk of saying something controversial, this is the one player potentially available that I think I would be okay with that. But it’s not likely going to come to that. It will probably stay in your dreams.

Robert Thomas, St. Louis Blues. I think Thomas could be a little more attainable than Robertson, just because the Blues are in kind of a no-man’s land where they are not particularly good and might actually be looking to re-tool things a little bit with their core. He’s not quite Robertson, but I still think he can be an impact player for a long time. He is one of the best playmakers in hockey and signed long-term to a fairly team-friendly contract. But again … the team has to actually WANT to trade him and the cost will be high. Ben Kindel high? Maybe. Maybe you can get away with multiple draft picks and a different young player/prospect, even if it’s a top prospect. I also feel like this could be one of those situations where you deal somebody off of your own roster (Karlsson? Rakell?) in order to collect more assets that could be applied to another trade.

I am also okay dealing prospects, even at this stage of where the Penguins are, because most of these guys are not going to play for the next contending Penguins team. Some of them are going to offer you their most value as trade chips. Especially if it is the right player. Do the Penguins have the right prospects to entice a team into that type of trade? Again … this is why he is in the dream category.

Matthew Knies, Toronto Maple Leafs. Knies has been mentioned in trade speculation going back to the trade deadline, and with the Maple Leafs winning the NHL Draft Lottery on Tuesday and likely adding another forward into the mix, Knies would be a logical option to move for the much-needed defense help the Maple Leafs are craving. I think there’s a chance he gets traded. He is only 23 years old, already really good and already signed long-term. I just don’t think the Penguins have the defensemen Toronto would want or need.

The buyer beware category

Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators. Tkachuk is tired of his name being in trade speculation, but brother, your name is in trade speculation and you are responsible for a lot of that. But I think I am out on him. I like the IDEA of Brady Tkachuk a lot more than I like the reality of Brady Tkachuk. He is a very good player. Maybe even better than very good. But he is also at a point where I think his perceived value across the NHL is higher (and perhaps significantly so) than his actual on-ice value. There are a lot of teams and general managers in the league that would crawl over miles broken glass and random lego pieces to get him on their roster because they see TKACHUK written in bright lights, and that’s just not a bidding war I want to get into. He’s not Matthew Tkachuk. You are not building a championship level team around him. Given all of that, I’d say this dude has New York Ranger written all over him. Let Chris Drury worry about that and make it his problem.

Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs. What a chaotic week for the Maple Leafs. Chaotic front office hires. Auston Matthews saying he is not sure he will be back next season and that he wants to see what direction the offseason goes in. Then they go and win the freaking NHL Draft lottery. Let’s be honest, there is a 99.9 percent chance he is a Maple Leaf next season, but in the event that he does somehow become available this is another situation where I like the idea of it a lot more than the reality of it. I am concerned about the wrist injury. I am concerned about the fact that he has been “really good” the past two years and not “really great.” I am concerned he is going to be 29 next season and due for a new contract in two years. I would be concerned at the price. I am not sure he fits into whatever timeline the Penguins should be on.

The reclamation project

Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks. Let’s get weird. What type of players has Kyle Dubas made an effort to acquire over the past two years?

1. Bad contracts teams do not want.
2. Talented players that have not worked out as planned/hope in their current environment. Some have worked out here better than others.

With that said, have I got the player for you, because Elias Pettersson fits BOTH of these categories.

The contract is … not great. The recent production, given the contract is … even worse.

But here’s what you have working in your favor: There is obviously an elite talent somewhere in that body. Vancouver has been about as grim of a situation as there is in the NHL and if there is anybody that can use a fresh start it is this freaking guy. It’s also probably not going to cost you much in the way of assets because there’s probably not many teams in the league willing to take on that contract or have the ability to take on that contract. I’m not saying it’s high on my wish list. I am saying I think it’s an option at least worth exploring and discussing. I could be talked into it.

The likely path

Restricted free agents. I am not even necessarily talking offer sheets, but simply trades involving other team’s RFAs. Remember that salary cap crunch Dallas is dealing with in order to keep Jason Robertson? Maybe that costs them Mavrik Bourque. It might cost you a first-round pick and a decent prospect (think K’Andre Miller trade), but you’re getting a 20-goal scorer that still has some serious untapped potential.

Cole Perfetti? A talented player that hasn’t quite put it all together in his current spot while still flashing top-line potential? While also playing for a team that is entering a desperate offseason and likely to do something dumb? Sounds like a Pittsburgh Penguin already.

You need more young players on defense. Are Simon Nemec or Brandt Clarke long-term fits in New Jersey or Los Angeles? I feel like Nemec is probably more attainable than Clarke, but the Kings are, after all, run by Ken Holland, and he did trade Jordan Spence last offseason so he could pay Brian Dumoulin and Cody Ceci, so who knows? Sometimes you have to target the general manager more than the player.

There is also the strong possibility somebody that is not even on anybody’s radar gets moved. Either way, we are probably looking at some big roster movement this offseason, and given the resources the Penguins have to work with there are some really intriguing possibilities.

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The Philadelphia Flyers hope a change of scene can charge a comeback against the Carolina Hurricanes, with the two Metropolitan Division foes meeting at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Thursday, May 7.

My top Hurricanes vs. Flyers predictions and NHL picks anticipate Carolina continuing its own charge to the Eastern Conference Finals and peppering Philly goaltender Dan Vladar with shots.

Hurricanes vs Flyers Game 3 prediction

Hurricanes vs Flyers best bet: Dan Vladar Over 26.5 saves (-120)

The Carolina Hurricanespaced the NHL in attempts per 60 minutes on the road during the regular season and again in Round 1 of the playoffs, and they’re sporting a high-end 55.9% Corsi For percentage through two Round 2 games.

So, Philadelphia Flyers goalie Dan Vladar stands to be busy even with the series shifting to Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Plus, Vladar has done his part in the crease with a .928 SV% and 8.67 goals saved above average (GSAx) over eight postseason games, which includes respective .945 and 5.13 marks across three home starts.

Additionally, I’m anticipating Philly pushing to generate more offense, which will leave them susceptible to extra Carolina counterattacks and shooting opportunities.

Hurricanes vs Flyers Game 3 same-game parlay

The Hurricanes are too deep, talented, and experienced for the Flyers to hang with, and the gap in 5-on-5 play shows it. In addition to the highlighted possession dominance, Carolina has also generated 54.6% of the expected goals (xG) and outscored Philly 5-1 at 5-on-5.

Of course, Hurricanes starter Frederik Andersen is building a Conn Smythe case in the crease with an eye-popping .958 SV% with 12.53 GSAx through six playoff games.

Philly will have to push to generate more scoring chances in Game 2, which sets up Andersen to record 22 or more saves for the fifth time this postseason.

Turning to Carolina winger Andrei Svechnikov, he’s been held to a single playoff point despite logging top offensive minutes and being on the ice for 6.74 xG. Additionally, after taking three minor penalties in Game 2, I’m expecting a scoresheet response from Svechnikov. 

Hurricanes vs Flyers SGP

• Hurricanes -1.5
• Frederik Andersen Over 21.5 saves
• Andrei Svechnikov Over 0.5 points

Hurricanes vs Flyers odds for Game 3

• Moneyline: Hurricanes -1.5 (+160) | Flyers +1.5 (-190)
• Puck Line: Hurricanes -165 | Flyers +140
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 (+120) | Under 5.5 (-140)

Hurricanes vs Flyers trend

The Carolina Hurricanes have covered the puck line in 15 of their last 25 away games (+11.75 Units / 38% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Hurricanes vs. Flyers.

How to watch Hurricanes vs Flyers Game 3

Hurricanes vs Flyers latest injuries

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Our free agency preview continues this week at All About the Jersey, and after taking a look at some of the bigger-ticket items last week, I thought it would be a good idea this week to dig a little deeper and look at some of the goaltenders who are up for new deals.

At the NHL level, there are no goaltenders up for new deals thanks in large part to one of our former GM’s final parting gifts, an ill-advised and poorly timed contract extension for one Jacob Markstrom. Barring some unforeseen transaction (more on that in a bit), the Devils appear slated to enter next season by running it back with the Markstrom and Jake Allen pairing in net.

The AHL level is a different story though, as the two netminders who primarily saw time with the Comets this past season are due new contracts. Nico Daws and Jakub Malek are both pending RFAs with arbitration rights, and are both likely, at a bare minimum, to be tendered a contract.

Let’s take a look at both goaltenders, see how they’ve performed this past season, and determine whether or not the Devils will indeed bring one or both back.

Nico Daws

If you’re looking for a deep dive profile on Nico Daws. I have good news. I already wrote that when I previewed his RFA two years ago. You can go back and re-read that here if you so desire.

One of my larger themes in that aforementioned article is that while Daws has potential, I didn’t think it was apparent that the Devils trusted him at the NHL level to the point where they were going to continue to go “big game hunting” and “fix their goaltending” with a more proven option. Shortly after writing that, the Devils indeed made their big acquisition in net when they traded a 1st round pick and Kevin Bahl to the Calgary Flames for the aforementioned Markstrom. Markstrom and Allen have primarily been the NHL tandem for the last two seasons. This has left Daws as the “break glass in case of emergency” organizational third goaltender, a role that he has performed well in in limited action.

With only seven starts (and nine appearances) total at the NHL level the past two seasons, Daws hasn’t played much for the Devils. But when he has played, he has generally looked good. He has a .925 save percentage over those nine games and has saved 5.3 goals above expected. Again, its a very small sample size, but even if he regresses off of that over a larger body of work, Daws certainly looks like a guy who could put up the “average goaltending” that is often wished for around these parts when someone writes the “what if the Devils just had average goaltending” article when the season goes awry.

Daws, who will already be entering his age 26 season, has plenty of experience at the AHL level. His save percentages of .890, .893, and .892 over the last three seasons at Utica don’t exactly jump off the page as someone who has mastered the AHL level, although a lot of that can likely be attributed to Utica mostly being a bad team for much of him time there. Still, with over 150 AHL games (including postseason), I don’t think he has much of anything left to prove at the AHL level. He has plenty of experience. He’s as NHL-ready as he’s ever going to be. The question is whether or not the Devils determine if he is good enough to hold down a role as part of an NHL tandem for a full season, or if he’ll always be a ‘tweener’ AAAA-type who might be too good for the minor leagues but not good enough for the major leagues.

Tom Fitzgerald seemingly decided at some point over the last few years that the answer to that question is no, he’s not good enough. Markstrom and Allen are blocking him at the NHL level, Fitzgerald extended both of them, and this presumably leaves no room for Daws to break through.

But with that said, Tom Fitzgerald has been wrong before. Tom Fitzgerald never actually did fix the goaltending for the Devils despite his efforts to do so. Tom Fitzgerald is no longer the Devils general manager in large part because he failed to fix the goaltending (as well as other reasons). And with a new GM in Sunny Mehta comes, potentially, a fresh start.

I don’t know how Sunny Mehta will view the goaltending situation that he is inheriting, and he certainly didn’t tip his hand in regards to how he feels about any of the players when he met with the media a few weeks ago. Mehta didn’t draft Daws, nor did he trade for and sign Markstrom or Allen, so he has no preconceived notions or attachments to anyone on the Devils organizational depth chart in net.

What we do know, and what we’ve talked about in the past, is that the Devils salary cap situation is tight. If one is looking at areas where the Devils could stand to shave a few dollars off of payroll, it might be the $6M AAV goaltender who was dreadful last season that the previous regime committed to.

But is there a universe where Mehta looks at the Devils internal options and simply declares that Daws should be playing at the NHL level? Or at the very least, the Devils shouldn’t be willing to toss away Daws for nothing, whether that’s allowing him to sign overseas this summer or losing him on waivers? With two goaltenders in their mid 30s, maybe it makes sense for the Devils to be the rare NHL team that carries three goaltenders. Maybe having a younger goaltender dressing as the backup and giving the other, older goaltender a true day off on game days would make it more likely that Sheldon Keefe or whoever the coach is develops a quick hook if the starter “simply doesn’t have it” on any given night. It would require some forward, outside the box thinking, but if anyone seems capable of that, wouldn’t it be Sunny Mehta?

The Devils, as an organization, seem to be in a holding pattern while they’re waiting for Mikhail Yegorov to maybe someday be “the guy” in net. That’s fine, but Yegorov will not be an option for the Devils on Opening Night five months from now. They have to find a viable option in net in the meantime. They have to find the best options to win games here and now.

The Devils made their bed with the Markstrom situation, and if they want out of it now before the contract even starts, its complicated as to how they could feasibly make that happen. It’s a mess that Mehta is inheriting. That said, would it be all that surprising if Mehta wanted to move on from a statistically bottom-five, aging goaltender that he didn’t sign in the first place. As annoying and painful as it would be to take on that dead cap charge for a contract that hasn’t even begun yet, it might be what’s best for the Devils in the short-term and long-term.

AFP Analytics is projecting a 1-year, $892,500 contract for Daws, which is a slight raise from his previous AAV of $812,500. If he’s back with the Devils, I could see him agreeing to something close to that. Of course, I say ‘if’ because Daws might be ultimately fed up with his professional career stalling in North America. He might be fed up with Markstrom and Allen blocking him and the Devils not trading him somewhere where he could potentially make the NHL roster. And perhaps when Mehta does his evaluations, he comes to the conclusion that he likes Markstrom more than Daws for whatever reason. Maybe Mehta accepts that he can’t really do anything in net for the time being.

I say all that to say it wouldn’t be surprising to me if Daws said “thanks, but no thanks” when the Devils likely qualify him and he signs somewhere in Europe.

With the management change in New Jersey though, perhaps this is exactly the clean slate that Daws needs to finally carve out an NHL role with the Devils.

Jakub Malek

It’s hard to believe that it’s already been five years since Jakub Malek was drafted on a Zoom call at the NHL Network studios in Secaucus, but that is indeed the case.

Malek, the Devils 4th round pick in 2021, is well traveled. He played for VHK Vsetin of the Czechia2 league in 2021-22 and three seasons with Ilves of Liiga. The Devils actually signed him to his ELC on May 28th, 2024, but they wound up loaning Malek to Ilves for that aforementioned third season.

This past season was his first professional season in North America, and while he did get into a couple of games with the Adirondack Thunder, he primarily split the net with Daws at Utica. Malek posted an .895 save percentage over his 31 appearances.

Malek has yet to make his NHL debut, but there’s little reason for the Devils to do anything to move on from him at this point. They still have three more years of organizational control before he’s eligible for UFA (versus two for Daws), and unlike Daws, Malek is still exempt from waivers. Malek should be one half of the Utica goaltending tandem for the upcoming season, and time will tell whether or not he develops into anything more than that.

AFP Analytics doesn’t even have a projection for Malek, but I could see him signing something similar to the two-year deal that Daws just completed. Two years, under $900k, and the second year is one-way where Malek is making the same amount of money regardless where he plays. Granted, Daws had nearly 50 games of NHL experience when he signed his deal versus zero for Malek, so maybe that’s wishful thinking on Malek’s part, but the larger point is that a Malek contract isn’t going to break the bank and the Devils will need someone to play the games at the AHL level.

Final Thoughts

There’s no doubt in my mind that the Devils extend a contract offer to both Daws and Malek. They’re both established AHL goaltenders, at a bare minimum, and there’s little reason for the Devils to go out and pursue a Louie Domingue-type to serve as the organizational third goaltender unless one or both goaltenders decides to return to Europe. I suppose an argument could be crafted that that makes sense for Daws if he doesn’t see a path forward in his NHL career. I don’t think that really makes sense for Malek.

The only real question when it comes to whether or not the Devils should bring back Nico Daws and Jakub Malek is more of a big picture question on how do the Devils envision their goaltending the next few years. It’s not a question of “should they bring them back” because the answer to that question is yes. But we don’t know how Mehta will view things when it comes to the organizational depth chart.

I do think its worth mentioning that throughout Mehta’s time as an AGM in Florida, the Panthers consistently took a goaltender late in the draft. Devon Levi was a 7th round pick in 2020 who was ultimately flipped to Buffalo in the deal that saw Florida get Sam Reinhart. Kirill Gerasimyuk played in the VHL and MHL for years before coming to North America to play in the AHL. Tyler Muszelik played four years in college before signing an ATO with the Charlotte Checkers. The Panthers have since drafted Olog Glifford, Denis Gabdrakhmanov, and Yegor Midlak in the latter rounds the last three seasons.

I say all that to say if that philosophy sounds familiar, its not much different that the Devils approach to trying to find goaltenders by drafting one just about every season, something they’ve done since Ray Shero was the GM. It’s one of those things that could be something, or it could be nothing, but I don’t anticipate the Devils deviating from that approach. The main difference would be Mehta signing off on whoever the Devils are indeed picking going forward.

Even with all of that said though, the Devils still need guys who are capable at the NHL level of stepping in and playing at a moment’s notice. So while Daws and Malek might not necessarily be Mehta’s “guys”, there is reason to keep them around for the time being.

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The Vegas Golden Knights take a 1-0 series lead into Game 2 against the Anaheim Ducks tonight, with puck drop scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET at T-Mobile Arena. 

My Ducks vs. Golden Knights props are targeting Jackson LaCombe to stay hot, while Mitch Marner and John Carlson will also make offensive noise. 

Read more for my NHL picks and Ducks vs. Golden Knights predictions for Wednesday, May 6.

Best Ducks vs Golden Knights props for Game 2

Game 2 Prop #1: Jackson LaCombe Over 0.5 assists

+105 at BET99

Jackson LaCombe continues to lead the Anaheim Ducks in these playoffs. He notched his team-best 10th point in Game 1 against the Vegas Golden Knights, and all but one have been assists. He set up the Ducks’ lone goal in Game 1, and LaCombe has cashed the Over in helpers in six of his last seven appearances. 

The 25-year-old is playing huge minutes right now, averaging at least 27 per game across the last three contests. His TOI in the series opener was 28:07.

LaCombe plays on the top line with two of Anaheim’s best scorers in Leo Carlsson and Troy Terry, and is also a key driving force on PP1.

Game 2 Prop #2: Mitch Marner Over 0.5 assists

-140 at BET99

Mitch Marner has been a stud in the playoffs for Vegas, grabbing nine points, which includes six assists. The 28-year-old has hit the Over in helpers in four consecutive outings, and he’s notched an assist in all but one postseason game so far. 

Marner finished with two points in the series opener, and he also had 32 helpers in 41 home games during the regular season. The veteran has also fired 10 pucks on net across the last two contests. The chances are there.

Game 2 Prop #3: John Carlson Over 0.5 assists

+135 at BET99

LaCombe isn’t the only Ducks defenseman setting up goals.

Trade-deadline acquisition John Carlson had 46 helpers this season, and 10 in just 16 games after arriving in Anaheim. He’s also been productive in the playoffs, tallying six helpers so far. 

Carlson has hit the Over in two straight, and he’s notched five assists over his last five. Many of his helpers this season came on the road as well, compiling 29 in only 35 games. He’s rolling, and Carlson is one of the main playmakers on this second line.

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There’s something organic about the way it all happened. A 60-year-old Buffalo man drove around 90 minutes to just outside of Rochester to buy a Body Opponent Bag — now called “Bob the dummy” — on Facebook Marketplace two days before the city’s first playoff game in 15 years. A group of younger Sabres fans known as the Blade Gang veered around KeyBank Center before that same April afternoon.

And when Nick Mastrocovo moved his dummy — donning a Bruins jersey for the Sabres’ first-round opponent — closer to the Blade Gang during the pregame festivities April 19, one member landed a punch. Everyone erupted. Another member tackled the dummy from behind. A viral moment was born. Mastrocovo and his cousin returned for Game 2 in referee jerseys, just in case something got out of control after the added attention. The Blade Gang traveled to Boston for road games. Playoff hockey in Buffalo suddenly had more than a pulse.

It rapidly became the epicenter of the tournament.

“I don’t think that they go viral without the dummy … and I don’t think the dummy gets as much love without them,” Mastrocovo told The Post.

For more than a decade, the intersection of Washington and Perry was dormant this time of year. Seasons unofficially ended in December. Aprils were about coaching changes. The Sabres were the punch line on national television. In December, when Buffalo sat in last place in the Eastern Conference, that became the case again, but a historical turnaround that led to the Atlantic Division title has now reached the second round of the postseason for the first time in 18 years — with Game 1 of the second-round series against the Canadiens set for Wednesday in Buffalo.

And at the center of it has been the Sabres fans who “are just nuts,” Mastrocovo said.

“You’d always go out in these stores in Buffalo and you see people wearing [Alex] Ovechkin shirts or [Sidney] Crosby shirts,” Mastrocovo told The Post. “Someone wore something Sabres, the joke was, ‘Oh did you lose a bet?’ And now, you see these kids wearing Sabre jerseys.”

So for the first time since the 2006-07 season, there’s a reason for fans to descend on downtown Buffalo, weaving through the highways and streets where — with a good gust of wind — you can smell the Cheerios from the General Mills factory.

The Sabres are one of 10 NHL teams who haven’t won a Stanley Cup, though they came close in 1999, and for as much as Josh Allen and Bills Mafia and folding-table shenanigans have shaped Buffalo’s sports reputation in recent years, it has always been a hockey city, too.

Mastrocovo’s mom helped clean the visiting locker room at the old Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, he said. His two hamsters growing up were named Rick and Martin — after one of the members of the Sabres’ French Connection line. Those were links to the initial days, when they made the Stanley Cup Final in just their fifth season, and the Sabres have been a part of his entire life. They advanced to the Eastern Conference finals in 2006 and ’07, but fell short again.

Some of those runs were expected. This one, though, wasn’t.

Alex Tuch, who collected 33 goals during the regular season and another four during their first-round series, hinted at what would happen with fans in the playoffs. “I hope they have a lot of police officers and firemen on duty,” he said on TNT after the Sabres officially clinched a spot in the tournament, “because I feel like the whole city’s gonna burn down. It’s gonna be awesome.”

Ticket prices have skyrocketed. Local stores started prioritizing Sabres merch again. Watch parties at Canalside, the downtown waterfront, made cameos on broadcasts, capturing the pent-up energy. When singer Cami Clune’s microphone stopped working during the Canadian national anthem in Game 5, fans inside KeyBank Center picked up with the words and created a crescendo that spread across social media.

When the Sabres returned home from Boston after clinching the first-round series in Game 6, fans gathered at the airport to greet the team. The dummy, still in a Cam Neely No. 8 jersey, was there, too. Players recorded the scene as they drove by. And for around 30 minutes each pregame, Mastrocovo’s dummy entered the spotlight. Fans wanted pictures as it rolled up the street.

It took a beating, he joked. He messaged the woman he bought it from again and said, “Hey, I’m not sure if you caught anything online, but I just want you to know what happened to your dummy.” 

“This is the best marketplace sale I’ve ever had,” he recalled her replying.

The question becomes how long this will all last. Behind forward Tage Thompson (40 regular-season goals) and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (74 points) and a goaltender in Alex Lyon who became the starter in the middle of the Bruins series, their season could last until June.

Mastrocovo thinks it’s all sustainable for future seasons, too. For now, they’re guaranteed four more games against the Canadiens. For two of those, Mastrocovo’s dummy will have a plain, red Montreal jersey on — he has a Guy Lafleur one but wanted to be respectful.

The fans, and the spectacle that the dummy and the Blade Gang and the watch party creates, will be at the center of everything.

“It’s just balls to the wall, 100 percent, let’s go,” Mastrocovo said.

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

No. 12 it is:

Your 2026 NHL Draft Lottery results are LOCKED 🔒

Where did your team land? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/r41q8Af62f

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 5, 2026

Should the Devils bet long-term on Arseny Gritsyuk? “Yes, committing long-term after just 66 NHL games carries risk. But there are some strong indicators Gritsyuk is a player worth betting on.” [Infernal Access ($)]

“The Devils aren’t in rebuild mode, so drafting isn’t the priority it would be if they had top-five picks from year to year. Still, they will need some young talent to complement their core in the future, something Fitzgerald failed to properly address as the Devils’ GM.” [Devils on the Rush]

Hockey Links

Calder Trophy finalists:

Introducing your finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy! 🏆 #NHLAwards

The Trophy is presented annually to the player selected as the most proficient in their first year of competition. pic.twitter.com/FRzcWehoYl

— NHL (@NHL) May 5, 2026

“Jim Rutherford plans to step down as the Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations after the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft, but will help hire the next general manager first.” [NHL.com]

Scott Wheeler’s latest draft rankings: “Wingers Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg remain my top two prospects, which has been the case on all of my lists. They’re followed by half a dozen defensemen, a trio of centers and another pair of wingers to form a clear-cut top 13 prospects in this year’s class for me.” [The Athletic ($)]

Now that we know a good chunk of the draft order, it’s mock draft season: [Daily Faceoff] [The Athletic ($)]

“Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman revealed Tuesday that his absence in the final weeks of the season was caused by a need to address his mental health.” [Associated Press]

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

The Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres will finally start their second-round series on Wednesday night in Buffalo. While this should be an interesting series, it promises to be different from the one we saw against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and that could be a welcome change of pace. Lindy Ruff’s men do not have the kind of defensive forwards Jon Cooper had on his roster, and that should be good news for the Habs’ top line.

That’s not to say Buffalo doesn’t have a good defense, however. Their top four defensemen are a force to be reckoned with: Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, Bowen Byram, and Owen Power are a solid group. The quartet will no doubt be keeping a close eye on the Canadiens’ top forwards and aiming to make their lives harder with big hits.

Canadiens Soaring Prospect Wins WHL Defender Of The Year
Canadiens: Dahlin Praises Hutson
Expect A Big Battle In Round 2 As The Canadiens Take On Division Leading Sabres

On Tuesday, at practice, Martin St-Louis reunited Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky. Even though the line struggled to make a mark against the Tampa Bay Lightning, it’s not surprising to see the coach want to go back to the line that has provided so much offense for this team in the regular season. The bench boss had Alex Newhook, Jake Evans, and Ivan Demidov on his second line, Alexandre Texier with Phillip Danault and Josh Anderson on his third line, and Zachary Bolduc with Kirby Dach and Brendan Gallagher on his fourth line. Meaning that Joe Veleno, Oliver Kapanen, and Patrik Laine were on the outside looking in.

On the back end, Mike Matheson was still with Alexandre Carrier, Kaiden Guhle with Lane Hutson and Jayden Struble with Noah Dobson. That left Arber Xhekaj as the odd man out, since Adam Engstrom has been returned to the Laval Rocket. Given how big the Sabres’ defense is, I can’t imagine that the gritty defenseman will be sitting for the whole series.

Of course, what we saw in practice and in the warmup in the first round wasn’t always what we saw during the games, so no one should be shocked if that’s not how the Canadiens line up on Wednesday night. Still, it would be surprising if St-Louis didn't stick to his usual first line. 

On Tuesday, Ruff told the media that Sam Carrick, who was originally supposed to miss the second round, was now officially considered day-to-day. No such luck for Noah Ostlund, however, as the centerman is still expected to miss the best-of-seven series. As for the Habs, with Dobson’s return in Game 7 against Tampa, they can be considered fully healthy, well aside from the bumps and bruises hockey players always play through of course.

The Sabres have a very good record in the first game of a series; they are 26-15 (.634) and 12-5 when the series starts on their own turf, for a whopping .706 winning percentage. Meanwhile, the Canadiens have improved their record to 76-50 in the first game of a series when they beat Tampa Bay to kick off these playoffs. On the road, that gives them a 14-32 record, for a measly .304 winning percentage.

Both teams won the first game of their previous series, so something will have to give when they both meet on Wednesday night. The Habs and Sabres have also split the season series evenly, with both teams winning two games each and scoring 13 goals across the four games. It’s interesting to note that Jakub Dobes was in the Canadiens’ net for both wins, the only two games he’s ever played against Buffalo.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM and you can catch it on HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS, and CBC. Pierre Lambert and Wes McCauley are set to officiate with  Scott Cherrey and Jesse Marquis being the linemen. 

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Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

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Here are your Pens Points for this Wednesday morning…

As the debate to re-sign Evgeni Malkin continues to be the dominant news item (and figures to remain that way until a decision is made), two opposing views on Malkin’s future with the Penguins win out above everything else: one argument is that he’s still productive and deserves to return for a final season, while the other says the team should move on to prioritize a long-term rebuild. Which one will win out is anyone’s guess. [PensBurgh]

Forward Anthony Mantha said he felt “right at home” during his lone season with the Penguins after posting career-best numbers, including 33 goals and 64 points. His postseason performance left much to be desired, however. As he likely hits the open market, Mantha said he’d still welcome a return to Pittsburgh. [Trib Live]

News and notes from around the NHL…

The Toronto Maple Leafs won the NHL draft lottery on Tuesday night despite having the fifth-best odds, securing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft. After a disappointing 2025-26 season, the team is now in a position to draft a difference-making prospect as new general manager John Chayka helms the ship in rough waters. [Sportsnet]

Jim Rutherford said he will step down as the Vancouver Canucks’ president of hockey operations and move into an advisory role following next month’s draft. [TSN]

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman revealed in a statement on Tuesday that he stepped away from the team to focus on his mental health, explaining that his decision, while difficult, was necessary to take care of himself and return as a better player, teammate, and person. [Sportsnet]

New York Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer headlines the finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy, joined by Montreal’s Ivan Demidov and Anaheim’s Beckett Sennecke. [ESPN]

A day after a widely panned press conference to introduce their new GM and figurehead, the Toronto Maple Leafs were handed a gift by the hockey gods/conspiracy forces by winning the draft lottery to get the #1 pick this summer.

This was quite the cliffhanger, as had just one lower team won the first or second pick lottery, the Leafs would have fallen out of the top five, meaning their high first-round pick would transfer to the Bruins as part of a trade that was only top-five protected.

Making matters worse for the last-place Vancouver Canucks, the San Jose Sharks then won the 2nd-pick lottery, giving them three consecutive years with a pick in the top two, and four consecutive years with a pick in the top four. While the Sharks took a big step forward this season, the tanking residue is still paying dividends.

And, of course, Toronto and San Jose’s lottery wins mean the Rangers drop from 3rd overall to 5th. Pity, that.

Islanders News

• In far less surprising news, the NHL announced the Calder finalists as shoe-in Matthew Schaefer (duh), preseason favorite Ivan Demidev and the Ducks’ Beckett Sennecke. This award is voted on by the writers. [NHL | Newsday]
• In Islanders-initiated news, after a successful season at the helm of their AHL squad, Rocky Thompson has been brought up to Pete DeBoer’s NHL staff. Thompson was an assistant in the NHL previously with the Flyers, Oilers and Sharks (with current Isles assistant Bob Boughner), and he overlapped with DeBoer a bit when he was head coach of the Knights’ AHL affiliate in Chicago when DeBoer was in Vegas. [Isles]
• No lottery luck this summer; the Islanders will select 13th overall, the slot where they selected Derek King and Dean Chynoweth back in the ’80s, which was {counts in head} damn…a long time ago. [Isles]
• Here’s Matthew Schaefer and his roommates explaining how the draft lottery works:

Elsewhere

• Tuesday night the Avalanche and Wild exchanged quick early goals again, but then Colorado settled in and maintained control on the way to a 5-2 (EN) win and 2-0 series lead. [NHL]
• What a difference 24 hours made for the mood in Toronto. [Sportsnet]
• Apparently Leafs GM John Chayka did Shane Doan dirty, and that bothers Coyotes followers who think of Doan as a swell guy. [Arizona Sports]
• Jim Rutherford will steap away from the “day to day” with the Canucks after the draft and after they presumably name a GM, sunsetting his very odd tenure with that team. [NHL | Sportsnet]
• Four first-round losses for the Lightning does not change their commitment to Jon Cooper. [Sportsnet]

Carolina Hurricanes (53-22-7, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (43-27-12, in the Metropolitan Division)

Philadelphia; Thursday, 8 p.m. EDT

LINE: Hurricanes -164, Flyers +138; over/under is 5.5

NHL PLAYOFFS SECOND ROUND: Hurricanes lead series 2-0

BOTTOM LINE: The Carolina Hurricanes visit the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round of the NHL Playoffs with a 2-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Monday for the seventh time this season. The Hurricanes won 3-2 in overtime in the last meeting.

Philadelphia has gone 43-27-12 overall with a 16-12-6 record against the Metropolitan Division. The Flyers have a 38-7-4 record when scoring three or more goals.

Carolina is 53-22-7 overall with a 22-4-2 record against the Metropolitan Division. The Hurricanes have a 26-9-2 record in games they score at least one power-play goal.

TOP PERFORMERS: Trevor Zegras has 26 goals and 41 assists for the Flyers. Porter Martone has three goals and three assists over the last 10 games.

Seth Jarvis has 32 goals and 34 assists for the Hurricanes. Logan Stankoven has scored eight goals with four assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Flyers: 6-3-1, averaging 2.4 goals, 3.9 assists, 5.9 penalties and 15.8 penalty minutes while giving up two goals per game.

Hurricanes: 9-0-1, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.9 assists, 5.8 penalties and 13.8 penalty minutes while giving up 1.3 goals per game.

INJURIES: Flyers: Owen Tippett: day to day (undisclosed), Noah Cates: day to day (lower body), Rodrigo Abols: out (ankle), Nikita Grebenkin: out (upper body).

Hurricanes: None listed.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Matthew Schaefer’s historic rookie season is one step away from being immortalized in hardware. 

During a live broadcast of the NHL draft lottery Tuesday night, the 18-year-old defenseman was announced as a finalist for the 2026 Calder Memorial Trophy, which is awarded annually to the player “selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the NHL.” 

Schaefer was announced alongside Montreal’s Ivan Demidov and Anaheim’s Beckett Sennecke. 

The winner is selected by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers Association members at the conclusion of the regular season. 

Schaefer has long been considered the front-runner for the award after making an immediate impact on the Islanders in more ways than one. 

After the Islanders selected Schaefer with the top pick in last year’s draft, the Ontario native endeared himself to the fanbase and the entire NHL both on the ice and off. His stardom has pulled a much-needed spotlight onto the hockey club on Long Island. 

Posting 59 points (23 goals, 36 assists) over 82 games, Schaefer tied Brian Leetch’s record for the most goals by a rookie defenseman in a single season. 

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After a strong first season behind the bench of the Isles’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport, Rocky Thompson earned a place with the varsity club as an assistant coach, the team announced Tuesday. 

The Sweetest Place on Earth turned sour on Tuesday night when minor league hockey fans began throwing debris onto the ice after they didn’t believe a game-winning goal had been actually scored in a rivalry playoff matchup. 

Hershey Bears fans “refused to leave” Giant Center in Hershey, Pa., after Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins winger Rutger McGroarty scored the deciding goal 5:03 into overtime to give his side a 4-3 win and a 2-1 series lead in the best-of-five Atlantic Division semifinal. 

The issue?

Wild scene here in Hershey pic.twitter.com/bVi6rfvwLM

— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) May 6, 2026

Some Bears fans didn’t believe the puck had gone in the net and became irate after the officials left the ice without reviewing the goal. They then began chucking trash onto the ice. 

Video posted to social media showed beer cans being flung onto the playing surface after both teams left the ice, with AHL reporter Tony Androckitis describing it as a “wild scene.” 

CBS21 assistant news director Tyler Jeski wrote on X that Bears fans were “bewildered at how the OT game against Wilkes-Barre ended with a shot that didn’t appear to go into the net.”

In another video, fans could be heard chanting, “Refs, you suck!” One supporter also violently banged on the glass behind one of the goals. 

Hershey Bears fans refused to leave after Rutger scored the OTW for the WBS Pens. pic.twitter.com/l7ewl7Ilvo

— jlass (@Jlass21) May 6, 2026

“Totally unacceptable throwing things on the ice. I saw a group of Bears fans hit with objects sitting in the 1st row. Terrible behavior,” former TV sports anchor Andrew Kalista wrote on X. 

But the replay showed that the puck did go in, despite the confusion from fans. 

An overhead shot of the goal clearly showed the puck hitting the back bar of the net and deflecting out.

pic.twitter.com/hdV346xPwy

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) May 6, 2026

Penguins take this one. pic.twitter.com/eiTiCwJHXT

— x – Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) May 6, 2026

The loss puts the Bears on the brink of elimination amid a battle against a rival. 

Not only do both teams call Pennsylvania home, but the Bears and Penguins are also the farm teams of the NHL’s Capitals and Penguins, respectively.

Ball Arena welcomed Avalanche fans (and some Wild fans) for game two of the second round series between the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild, and those supporting the home club would head to the lot happy once again.

THIS IS OUR HOUSE 🏔️ pic.twitter.com/MSCrUIkxAr

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) May 6, 2026

The Avalanche scored first and last tonight, and despite Matt Boldy, Quinn Hughes, and Marcus Johansson’s best effort, Colorado’s star power and physicality won the night.

Nathan MacKinnon had three assists and a goal, Gabe Landeskog scored on the power play, and the Avalanche were the aggressors in the checking department.

Scott Wedgewood made some clutch saves on the kill and looked good in his 6th consecutive playoff start and victory.

On the other hand, Filip Gustavsson gave up two goals on his first two shots and didn’t appear all that comfortable for the Wild.

The Avs have Minnesota in a must-win situation now after snagging a 5-2 victory.

Let’s take a deeper look at the action of game number two!

The Game

I hardly get a bold prediction right on the Mile High Hockey Lab, but today I actually earned a ding as Martin Necas was indeed the first goalscorer of the evening. I mentioned on the program that I felt he’d been plenty creative and was due for a goal rather than a setup.

Nathan MacKinnon broke in and found Martin Necas on a drop pass, who broke toward the net and sent a backhand shot through traffic that beat Filip Gustavsson.

In the intermission report, Mark Messier said, “You need a save there,” when recapping the tally that would give the Avalanche a 1-0 lead.

Marty got the party started 🥳 pic.twitter.com/5vhUxaA0Ou

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) May 6, 2026

That lead would last all of six seconds as a broken play leading to Devon Toews and Cale Makar both covering the same Wild player.

Martin Necas was left to pick up Kirill Kaprisov, but didn’t really stand a chance in that regard.

Kaprisov would break in all alone and beat Scott Wedgewood with ease. We were tied at one.

The Colorado Avalanche power play dominated the conversation throughout the regular season (not in a good way). Still, it was on point tonight, starting with the third goal of the first period logged by Gabe Landeskog.

When Gabe scores, everyone is happy 😊 pic.twitter.com/Gtt8bFkt0b

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) May 6, 2026

The tape-to-tape passes from Kadri to Makar to Necas connected with Nathan MacKinnon, who one-touched a pass from the net side to Landeskog in the bumper position. Landy left no doubt with the finish. 2-1 Avalanche, and that’s how the first period would end.

The Avalanche got an early second-period goal from deadline addition Nicolas Roy on a feed from Ross Colton to give the boys in burgundy a 3-1 lead.

Roy-t a way to start the period! pic.twitter.com/nJKbbwCxAz

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) May 6, 2026

Good to see Rosco get on the board for the first time this playoffs, and Nic Roy now has 4 points in the six playoff games this postseason.

Colorado hasn’t lost a game all season where they’ve held the lead heading into the third, and would add another notch to that log on the back of another power play goal, this time from Nathan MacKinnon.

Nate did well to find himself some open ice and got a fortunate bounce as his one-timer went off Yakov Trenin’s shin and in. The Avalanche would extend their lead to 4-1.

A rocket from MacKinnon 🚀 pic.twitter.com/8HYTbp7LW0

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) May 6, 2026

We saw a little pushback from the Minnesota Wild, who got a third-period goal from Marcus Johansson. I thought Johansson was among the Wild’s best players, and so I wasn’t surprised that he finally broke through, bringing the score to 4-2.

In the end, a not-so-smart cross-check from Karpisov would tranquilize the Wild’s comeback effort, and inevitably, Val Nichushkin would loft a puck the length of the ice and into the empty net.

BIG HUGS FOR WEDGIE 🪵 pic.twitter.com/R2fNq7HgDu

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) May 6, 2026

The Avalanche win 5-2 in a professional, workman-like effort and improve to 6-0 in the playoffs, taking a 2-0 series lead heading to Minnesota for game three.

Takeaways

The Wild have to be disappointed in a couple of things tonight, but I’ll start with the penalties they took. Ryan Hartman’s trip in the second and Kaprisov’s cross-check to Makar’s face were killers tonight.

Hartman’s didn’t end up in a goal and neither did Kaprisov’s, oddly enough, but they did kill some much-needed momentum on completely avoidable infractions.

The Avalanche pulled the uno-reverse card and outhit the Minnesota Wild with more than a few memorable and crunching hits.

Brock Nelson caught Ryan Hartman reaching, Nathan MacKinnon bowled right over Quinn Hughes, and pasted Matt Boldy to the boards. I expect a response from the Wild in this regard in game three, so it will be important for Colorado to make the most of those three days’ rest.

Minnesota went with Filip Gustavsson tonight as a surprise replacement for Jesper Wallstedt, and it seemed to backfire a bit.

A couple of Colorado’s goals, you’d like your goalie to make a save, but Gustavsson hasn’t had a start since March and was making a habit of giving up four or more back then, so I’m confused as to what sort of jolt John Hines was expecting from that move.

It’s so shockingly odd that it leads me to speculate that something was wrong with Wallstedt. It could be as simple as he just needed a night off. Speculation aside, I’d bet the Wild go with Wallstedt for the rest of the series.

Colorado’s top guns were flying around tonight, and when that’s the case, they are a tough team to beat. It felt like the Lehkonen — MacKinnon — Necas line could score on any shift, and Gabe Landeskog still seems to find another level this time of year.

Gabe Landeskog on elevating his game this time of year yet again:

“It’s playoff hockey it’s what you play for. It’s about leaving it out there really.”#GoAvsGo

— Adrian Hernandez (@AdoHernandez27) May 6, 2026

Colorado did recommit defensively, and outside of that lapse that led to Kaprisov’s goal, they were back to shutting things down. What you just read may be true, but make no mistake: Scott Wedgewood did his thing yet again.

Well done my friend. Well done. #GoAvsGopic.twitter.com/qJxFofDZDB

— Adrian Hernandez (@AdoHernandez27) May 6, 2026

Upcoming

The Avs will head to Minnesota for a Saturday night game three at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul for a 7 p.m. MT start time.

Let us know what you thought of this contest in the comments!

For most of the third period, it looked like the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins were going to lose Game 3 of their series against the Hershey Bears. 

They were down 3-2 going into the third and were trailing for most of the period until Avery Hayes scored the tying goal with just under three minutes left in the final frame. He let the puck rip from just above the right circle and was mobbed by his teammates along the boards. 

Goaltender Sergei Murashov had just been pulled for the extra attacker when Hayes tied the game up. 

GOAL. Avery Hayes ties Game 3 with 2:53 left in regulation.

With Sergei Murashov off for the extra attacker, #WBSPens score 6-on-5 to tie this one up at 3-3.@InsideAHLHockeypic.twitter.com/b23zLfVtYg

— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) May 6, 2026

Hershey goaltender Clay Stevenson had been making some big saves in that final frame before Hayes finally broke through. 

Before the game got to that point, WBS started fast with goals from defenseman Phil Kemp and forward Mikhail Ilyin in the first period. Ilyin scored his first AHL goal in the first period, making it a 2-0 game. 

After that, Hershey rallied to tie the game at the end of the first period before taking a 3-2 lead 37 seconds into the second period. WBS goaltender Sergei Murashov made some timely saves after allowing the third goal, keeping his team within striking distance so that Hayes could eventually tie the game. 

Overtime was needed to decide the game, and the game-winner was scored by Rutger McGroarty. McGroarty's deflection went in and out of the net so fast that Hershey players were stunned that the game was over.

Even Hershey fans were confused because they felt the puck didn't go in, but the AHL confirmed it crossed the goal line via an overhead view. 

btw https://t.co/GpojO2pSb1pic.twitter.com/dywvsPhjqY

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) May 6, 2026

WBS will now try to close out Hershey in Game 4 on Thursday. 

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