Category: NHL

NEW YORK (AP) — The NHL on Monday suspended Ottawa forward Ridly Greig for two regular-season games for roughing during the Senators’ final playoff game against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Greig was banned for sucker punching Carolina defenseman Sean Walker in the second period of Ottawa’s 4-2 loss on April 25.

Walker was engaged with a Senators player during an on-ice melee, and the video replay showed Greig delivering two separate shots to Walker, including a gloved uppercut punch that dropped Walker to his knees. Greig was not penalized on the play.

The victory gave the Hurricanes a sweep in the best-of-seven, first-round series.

Greig will serve the suspension at the start of next season.

___

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland has shared that he is searching for a new head coach. D.J. Smith, who finished the season as the interim coach of the Kings, is considered a candidate to be named the full-time bench boss.

In Holland's exit interview on Friday, he revealed that he has a list of "five to eight" coaches of multiple degrees of experience, suggesting he's looking at all the options.

We've already looked at veteran coaches and NHL assistant coaches who could be on Holland's list to be the Kings' next bench boss.

Now, here are three coaches who have either been lightly tested in the NHL, or haven't been a head coach in the league yet - in no particular order. In fact, all these listed coaches are currently leading a team in the AHL.

Andrew Lord, Ontario Reign

When a franchise goes through the process of a coaching change, it's fairly standard for the organization to take a look at who is running the affiliate club in the American League.

In this case, for the Kings, that's Andrew Lord, head coach of the Ontario Reign. Lord has been leading the Reign to a great season thus far in the minors.

This is Lord's first season with Ontario, and he currently has his team in the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs. The Reign earned a first-round bye, thanks to finishing first in the Pacific Division. 

They also finished the regular season fourth in the AHL with 99 points, the best campaign in franchise history since the Manchester Monarchs became the Ontario Reign.

This impressive season is all in the hands of coach Lord.

'A Tale Of Two Seasons': Manny Malhotra On Tenure Thus Far As Abbotsford Canucks Head CoachAfter winning the Calder Cup last season, Manny Malhotra and the Abbotsford Canucks sit near the AHL's basement and out of the playoff picture. Malhotra speaks to The Hockey News about his two years in Abbotsford, and what he learned coaching through adversity.

Manny Malhotra, Abbotsford Canucks

Manny Malhotra is the head coach of the Abbotsford Canucks, the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks. He's led the team for two seasons now and has really impressed in his first campaign.

In 2024-25, he guided Abbotsford to a Calder Cup championship, which is the first time Vancouver's American League affiliate won a championship since the Springfield Indians in 1991.

This year hasn't gone nearly as well for Abbotsford, which finished fourth-last in the AHL, but that's largely because the NHL club brought up some of the key players who helped the Calder Cup-winning team last season.

Malhotra has been a name that has floated around the NHL community as a coach who could soon get an opportunity behind an NHL bench, but as the leader of the coaching staff.

He's been behind an NHL bench before, as an assistant coach for the Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs from 2017-18 to 2023-24.

Pascal Vincent, Laval Rocket

Unlike the other two names on this list, Pascal Vincent has experience as a head coach in the NHL. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets were forced to pivot from their original hire for the 2023-24 season, Mike Babcock, and Vincent was tapped to fill in after serving as an associate coach for the organization.

He finished that season with a 27-43-12 record with a weak Blue Jackets team. Since then, he's moved on to be a head coach again in the AHL, a role he's spent multiple seasons in with the Manitoba Moose from 2016-17 to 2020-21. 

In the past two seasons, he's been the coach of the Laval Rocket, the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens. Vincent guided the Rocket to win the North Division this season, and they are in the second round of the playoffs.

Last season was even more impressive for Vincent and the Rocket as they topped the AHL for the 2024-25 regular season and made it to the Eastern Conference finals.

It could be time for Vincent to get a real chance at being a head coach in the NHL.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig was suspended for two games on Monday, May 4 for sucker punching an opponent twice during a scrum in the first round.

The incident happened in the second period of Game 4 when Senators forward Warren Foegele was engaged with Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker. Greig first hit Walker with an overhand punch.

Then when Foegele had Walker in a headlock. Greig hit him in the head with a "forceful gloved upper cut," NHL Player Safety said in its suspension video.

The suspension will be served next season because the Senators were eliminated from the playoffs after the 4-2 loss on Saturday, April 25.

CHAOS IN OTTAWA 🫨 pic.twitter.com/f8DxsTCsg9

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 25, 2026

Greig told reporters at his end-of-season availability that Walker had done nothing beforehand to prompt the sucker punch.

“I've got to do a better job of controlling my emotions," he said. "Yeah, that's all I'll say now.”

The Montreal Canadiens picked up a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7. With this, the Canadiens have moved on to the second round and will be facing off against the surging Buffalo Sabres. 

Game 7 was certainly far from a perfect win for the Canadiens, as the Habs finished the contest with only nine shots. Yet, despite not generating many chances, the Canadiens still pulled away with the victory.

The Canadiens can thank Jakub Dobes for that.

Dobes was excellent for the Canadiens in Game 7, as he stopped 28 out of 29 Lightning shots he faced. With this, Dobes finished Game 7 with a .966 save percentage. 

Dobes' heroics ended up making him the recipient of a funny prank by fellow Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault.

Following an interview on TNT, Dobes received a shaving cream pie to the face from Montembeault. TNT was able to capture the aftermath of the prank, which was great. 

Jakub Dobeš talked to the panel after his AMAZING Game 7 performance 👏🔥

"I feel like every game I played this year was kind of like a Game 7... I was playing for my life" 😤

Also got a shaving cream pie after 😂 pic.twitter.com/5TML7tKV3r

— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) May 4, 2026

Montembeault has not played this postseason, but he has been a great teammate. For example, during Game 6, Montembeault was seen waving his towel like the Habs fans. 

Sam Montembeault with the towel wave while watching the Habs playoff game

pic.twitter.com/SCVX1cLikW

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) May 2, 2026

Now, Dobes will be looking to lead the Canadiens past the Sabres in the second round. If he does, Montembeault may have no choice but to prank him again. 

Nine defensemen Sharks could target in NHL free agency, trades this offseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

• Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.

It’s no secret that the Sharks need to upgrade their blue line this offseason.

They can’t count entirely on improvement from within: At the moment, veteran Dmitry Orlov and 19-year-old Sam Dickinson are the only NHL defensemen signed. Restricted free agent Shakir Mukhamadullin and a prospect like Eric Pohlkamp also could help, too. Their own unrestricted free agents, chiefly Mario Ferraro or Vincent Desharnais, might also return.

But if the Sharks want to make the Stanley Cup playoffs next year, they’ll probably need at least one or two significant additions to this group.

Here are nine of the smarter possible adds who could make the biggest impact on the Sharks’ blue line.

Let’s start with free agents.

When I say smart, keep in mind, every move is a risk.

But trying to add an impact UFA makes sense because it won’t cost the Sharks any of their prized young forward depth or cadre of picks and prospects.

Darren Raddysh

Is Raddysh for real?

That’s the big question for the 30-year-old, who pretty much doubled or tripled previous career highs with his 22 goals and 70 points during the 2025-26 NHL season.

In theory, the right-hander still is in his prime and would be the perfect addition to the Sharks’ power play.

John Carlson

The 36-year-old still is an impact player and was a go-to power-play option for two teams this season, the Washington Capitals and Anaheim Ducks.

Unlike Raddysh, Carlson’s 60 points this season are no outlier: That’s the eighth time in his illustrious NHL career that he has cleared 50.

The age is a concern, but that also means the contract commitment to the right-hander won’t be as high. Add in his leadership, and he’s probably a perfect bridge power-play quarterback for the young Sharks.

Jacob Trouba

Sharks general manager Mike Grier knows Trouba well: Both were with the New York Rangers at the same time, before Grier was tapped for San Jose’s top job.

The 32-year-old right-hander has the size and physicality that Grier craves on his blue line, and also re-discovered his offensive touch this past season in Anaheim, scoring double-digit goals for the first time since 2021-22.

The ex-Rangers captain also would provide leadership and penalty-killing chops to the Sharks’ defense.

Rasmus Andersson

There’s no reason to believe that Andersson will leave the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Golden Knights acquired Andersson from the Calgary Flames at the 2026 NHL trade deadline, the Swede has been successful in Vegas, and rumor is, the 29-year-old has had his sights set on playing in Sin City for a while.

If Andersson does hit free agency, the right-hander is not a top-flight PP1 option, but he’s a true two-way blue liner who you can count on for double-digit goals and 20-plus minutes a night.

Frankly, it’s a shallow pool for impact defensemen in free agency, so if any of Raddysh, Carlson, Trouba, or Andersson hit July 1, the market for them will be very competitive.

So, if the Sharks can’t sign one, who can they trade for that can make a difference on defense?

These might be some of the smarter deals.

Simon Nemec

Why would the New Jersey Devils trade the No. 2 pick of the 2022 NHL Draft, who appeared to be coming into his own this year?

The 22-year-old right-hander set career highs with 11 goals and 26 points.

It appeared, however, the Slovakian defenseman was headed out the door under former Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald … so what does new GM Sunny Mehta think of him?

“People are mixed on him,” Scout No. 1 said.

If the Sharks believe in Nemec, especially as a soon-to-be PP1 weapon, his age and draft pedigree could be a good gamble.

Filip Hronek

Is Hronek even available?

Considering the Vancouver Canucks were the NHL’s worst team last year, he probably should be.

He won’t come cheap, but the Czech defenseman checks a lot of boxes for the Sharks: He’s 28, relatively young. He had a career-high 49 points last year and is a physical two-way force. He’s right-handed. He’s signed long-term at a reasonable rate, $7.25 million AAV until 2032.

While he’s not a true No. 1 defenseman, he should be a credible No. 2-3 in the coming years as the Sharks climb the standings.

The Canucks acquired Hronek from the Detroit Red Wings at the 2023 trade deadline for essentially a first and a second-round draft pick. If the Sharks could get him for about the same price, it should be well worth it.

Speaking of cost, the Sharks don’t have to pay full price in a trade for a defensive upgrade, either. They can take on another team’s bad contract, assuming that the team retains some salary on the player.

These three older and overpaid blueliners should be an upgrade for the Sharks at a fraction of the acquisition cost for Nemec or Hronek.

Darnell Nurse

Nurse is 31 and has a $9.25 million AAV until 2030.

“Nurse’s only problem is he makes too much money,” Scout No. 2 said.

If the Edmonton Oilers retained a healthy amount, the big and physical minutes-munching left-hander could prove to be a bargain for the Sharks, adding some much-needed jam.

Morgan Rielly

Rielly is 32 and has a $7.5 million AAV until 2030.

“Not the high-end offensive guy which people expect [anymore],” Scout No. 1 said.

The left-hander remains a power-play asset, though his defensive game and mobility are question marks.

Dougie Hamilton

Hamilton is 32 and has a $9 million AAV until 2028.

The Devils tried to dump Hamilton’s salary on the Sharks last summer, but the right-hander blocked the trade.

Could Hamilton change his mind now, after Macklin Celebrini and the Sharks’ monumental improvement this season?

Hamilton still is a power-play asset, and after his controversial Jan. 12 healthy scratch finished the season with seven goals and 27 points in his last 36 games.

Like Nemec, question is, how much does new GM Mehta value Hamilton?

He’s definitely better offensively than defensively, but the short-term commitment to him, as opposed to Nurse and Rielly, could make Hamilton a more attractive bridge addition.

We’re still far away from the 2026 NHL Draft on June 26 and there are still some vacant GM openings, so the market for defensemen this summer is still forming.

But here are some other names who could be available to the Sharks this summer.

Roman Josi, Josh Morrissey, and Adam Fox are still No. 1 defenseman, and all are on less-than-competitive teams right now.

Left-hander Josi, 35, is a former Norris Trophy winner, making $9.059 million AAV through 2028.  He’s still a big-time offensive weapon, though he won’t come cheaply if the Nashville Predators decide to rebuild.

Left-handed Morrissey, 31, is making just $6.25 million AAV through 2028. With that bargain contract rate and relative youth, the all-around defender would cost a pretty penny if the Winnipeg Jets decide to break their team up.

Right-hander Fox, 28, is making $9.5 million AAV through 2029. His relative youth and affinity to the city of New York — he’s got a complete NMC — suggests he’s unlikely to move.

Some other top-four defensemen who could be available to monitor over the next couple months?

Could big stay-at-home left-hander Gavrikov, making $7 million AAV through 2032, want out of the cellar-dwelling Rangers?

“Gavrikov is still a steady top-four guy for me,” Scout No. 3 said.

The Seattle Kraken has been circling the drain competitively since their 2023 playoff appearance; could they look to change up their mix? Offensive defensemen Brandon Montour and Vince Dunn could be upgrades for the Sharks’ power play. Right-hander Montour, 32, is signed for $7.143 million AAV until 2031; left-hander Dunn, 29, is signed for $7.35 million AAV until 2027.

“Wouldn’t call Montour an impact top-four guy. Feel he’s declining,” Scout No. 3 said. “Dunn can be with the right partner.”

He added: “[Gavrikov] would actually be a good partner for Dunn.”

The Buffalo Sabres tried to acquire Colton Parayko from the St. Louis Blues at the trade deadline for a top prospect and a first-round pick, but the right-hander declined to waive his no-trade clause. Would the big two-way Olympian, signed until 2030 at a bargain $6.5 million AAV, be willing to go west? And would the Sharks be willing to pony up for the 32-year-old?

Speaking of the Sabres, who are still in the playoffs, they might have to make a decision between Bowen Bryam ($6.25 million AAV through 2027) and Owen Power ($8.35 million AAV through 2031) soon. Byram’s next contract projects to be very expensive, and the 24-year-old left-hander has moved ahead of Power on the depth chart.

“Still haven’t been able to figure out Power,” Scout No. 3 said.

Like Nemec, the 2021 No. 1 pick does represent untapped potential, so if the Sharks believe they can get the best out of the 23-year-old left-hander, he’d be a good gamble.

Download and follow the San Jose Hockey Now podcast

If you had been told at the start of the playoffs that the Montreal Canadiens would beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games without Cole Caufield scoring a single even-strength goal, you more than likely would have choked on your coffee. Fast forward two weeks, though, and that’s exactly what happened to pretty much everyone’s amazement. There were a few reasons why that came to be: the Habs got timely depth scoring, the defense corps played admirably in Noah Dobson’s absence, and, first and foremost, Jakub Dobes.

The Czech netminder had a solid start to the season, while Samuel Montembeault struggled out of the gate. Since the Quebecer was the established first-choice goalie, he was given every opportunity to bounce back, despite Dobes playing some stellar games. Eventually, the youngster started to struggle as well. By Christmas, the organization was forced to call up Jacob Fowler while they sent Montembeault on a conditioning stint with the Laval Rocket in the AHL.

The Turning Point Of the Canadiens vs. Lightning Series Didn’t Happen On The Ice
Canadiens Win The Series With Close 2-1 Steal In Game 7
Canadiens Make Roster Move After Game 7 Win

While it seemed to have had its impact at first, Montembeault faltered again. Eventually, the organization had to call Fowler up for good, finishing the season with two rookie goaltenders. From March 6, the two rookies shared the workload, but eventually Dobes made the net his own. That battle for winning the starter job was a great preparation for a winner-takes-all Game 7. Speaking on NHL Game Break after the Habs’ win on Sunday night, he explained how he stayed so calm with stakes so high:

I feel like every game that I played this year was kind of like a Game 7 for me. To be honest, I was playing for my life the whole season, so it’s not new to me to try to prove myself and play with passion, emotion, and a 100% effort, and it worked, so I’m really happy.

Throughout the first-round series, the masked man posted a 2.04 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage while facing 196 shots. Meanwhile, at the other end of the ice, Vezina Trophy finalist Andrei Vasilevskiy, had a 2.18 GAA and a .897 SV while only having to face 156 shots. Dobes had 4.4 goals saved above expected according to Moneypuck, while Vasilevskiy had only 2.9, and in the end, that was the difference maker.

On Sunday, Montreal was outshot by 20 shots and still came out on top. It was the first time a team won a Game 7 after being so heavily outshot since the Canadiens did it against the Washington Capitals back in 2010 with Jaroslav Halak in net. That’s fitting, since Dobes’ performance was quite similar to what Halak did back in 2010.

Throughout the series, Dobes didn’t look like a rookie; he looked like an experienced goaltender who was used to handling the kind of pressure that comes with being the Canadiens’ goaltender. He became just the third rookie Canadiens’ netminder to win a Game 7 on the road after Jacques Plante and Ken Dryden.

When Montembeault struggled, Dobes saw an opportunity and grabbed it with both hands. The fifth-round pick at the 2020 draft doesn’t seem like he has any intention of letting go either, even if Fowler is considered by most to be the goaltender of the future. Dobes is enjoying the present, and if he has anything to say about it, Fowler and the future will have to wait their turn.

"People sometimes say that I get too emotional. But every game I play is like a Game 7."

Jakub Dobeš joins @sportsnetkyle after leading the Habs to the Second Round in the #StanleyCup Playoffs pic.twitter.com/E3R4XXnqxR

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 4, 2026

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

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. 

In Game 3 of the Ducks’ first round matchup against the Edmonton Oilers, Jeff Viel took a cross checking penalty 200 feet from his own net, sending the Oilers to the power play. Connor McDavid would score on the ensuing power play, cutting the Ducks’ lead to one.

“Bad penalty,” Viel said after the game. “Cant take a penalty in the o-zone. I kind of felt bad, especially since they score on (the power play). Huge goal they get back after.”

But Viel would atone for his error, depositing a backhand past Connor Ingram—after some terrific work from Jackson LaCombe—to give Anaheim a much-needed insurance goal with just over three minutes left to play in the third period.

In Game 4, Mason McTavish also took an offensive zone penalty, with the Oilers scoring just four seconds into that power play. Viel would score in his second consecutive game 10 minutes later, setting the series up for its first overtime game. Again, a Ducks player would atone for his earlier error, with McTavish proving vital on Ryan Poehling’s overtime winner.

As Oilers forward Trent Frederic attempted to skate the puck out of the defensive zone, McTavish stripped him and sent the puck up to Poehling all in one motion. Poehling’s centering pass to Chris Kreider caromed off Darnell Nurse’s skate and slipped through goaltender Tristan Jarry, barely crossing the goal line. That play gave the Ducks a 3-1 series lead, a momentum swing that put them in the driver’s seat.

“I think that we have ways of whether you get scored on or you make mistakes, we expect it,” head coach Joel Quenneville said. “I think sometimes, you might miss a little of time, you might miss a shift here or there, but you're gonna be out there. 
You're gonna be right back out there. Sometimes, (there) might be some longer absences in that, whether it’s missing a part of a period and after that, you might not play games. But, for the most part, (they should) expect to be out there.

“The guys know that we're going to make mistakes, especially defensively. We’ve been trying to improve that area because we know that we battle back and we have fine ways of putting ourselves back in the game. It’s basically been the way the season has gone all year long. That’s been proven that, hey, we're not out of anything.”

“It was pretty stressful in the penalty box,” Viel said. “The confidence from Q for putting me back out there after a tough penalty was a good vote of confidence. Awesome to get rewarded.”

“We’re just gonna make mistakes,” defenseman Jacob Trouba said. “We’re still gonna continue to make mistakes. We’re learning on the fly here, but there’s no quit in the group. There’s no letdown. We believe we can score goals, we believe we can defend well enough, we believe we can win hockey games. I think that’s what it’s all about right now.”

The words ‘believe’ and ‘belief’ have been used heavily by the Ducks throughout this playoff run. Troy Terry stated how proud he was of the team after Game 1 of their series against the Oilers.

“It’s unfortunate, the result of that game, and it's going to be tough to swallow, but we got to put it behind us.” Terry said. “But I I we kind of got our feet under us. We’re into this thing now.”

“We believe in ourselves,” Captain Radko Gudas said. “We’ve been down so many times this year and we keep coming back, so there's a big belief in this group.”

“We just believe in ourselves,” Poehling echoed after his overtime winner in Game 4. “I thought we played great, honestly. 
The whole game just got off to a start where they got a few bounces, but that's the thing about our team. We've done it all year and I think it just teaches you throughout a season that, hey, you're never out of it. And the belief on the bench is something that you truly feel and you go out there with confidence and play. It’s a great way to play hockey.”

The Ducks’ self-belief, coupled with a short memory, will aid them well in a matchup against another team with plenty of playoff experience in Vegas. While the Ducks may have swept the season series, a new face is behind the bench for Vegas after Bruce Cassidy was fired with eight games remaining in the regular season. John Tortorella has the reins for the rest of the season and holds a record of 11-2-1 since becoming the new bench boss.

“Short memory, forget about it,” Cutter Gauthier said of the team’s reaction to their Game 5 loss in Edmonton.” The longer we let it linger, the longer it's going to affect our game. It’s a new day. We have a 3-2 series lead right now, and we have an opportunity to win the series tonight. 
So we're going to do everything we can to try and get that done.”

The best players at keeping a short memory are the goaltenders. Lukáš Dostál’s performances in the first round were quite up to standard, but he saved his best performance for the closeout game, stopping 25 of 27 shots and making plenty of key saves to prevent the Oilers from sending the series to seven games.

“He’s a special goalie,” defenseman Jackson LaCombe said. “He's been huge for us all year, and I think, honestly, that (the goals against) starts on us as players. I think we’ve got to be better. We knew they were gonna have a push when their backs against the wall. He’s been great for us all year, and I think those goals are on us.”

“I can turn the page right away because I don't wanna really dig too much into the past,” Dostál said. “I'm trying to take the positives, trying to take the negatives, always, from the game and just move on.”

The idea of self-belief being the driving factor for top-notch playoff performances may feel a bit whimsical, but the Ducks have shown that they can turn up another gear. Their 2-6-2 stretch to close out the regular season was nowhere to be found in the playoffs as they dispatched the Oilers in six games. They’ll need some of the same self-belief and short memory if they hope to beat the Golden Knights.

Related:

2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 2, Game 1 - Ducks vs. Golden Knights Gameday Preview (05/04/26)

Five Key Matchups for the Ducks in the Second Round vs. Golden Knights

Five Anaheim Ducks Storylines Ahead of their Second Round Series vs the Vegas Golden Knights

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson will return for Game 1 of the team's second-round playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks after missing nearly six months with a lower-body injury.

Coach John Tortorella confirmed the news before Monday night's game.

Karlsson was hurt in the first period of Vegas’ 4-3 overtime loss against the Ducks on Nov. 8.

Karlsson had four goals and three assists early in the season before the injury. He had back-to-back 50-point seasons, but finished with only 29 in 53 games last season, when he was sidelined twice because of injuries.

___

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Viva Las Vegas, baby. The Ducks have made it to the second round, winning their first playoff series in nine years in their first playoff berth in eight years against the defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers.

They find themselves against the Vegas Golden Knights, the first time that these two teams are facing each other in the playoffs. It’s the first time since the Golden Knights’ inaugural season that both teams are in the playoffs.

“They're a good hockey team,” Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said. “They’ve got balance, they skate, they're big, they go to the net, they defend pretty well, they play as a group of five in all zones, they seem to be connected. Not a lot of holes. I think that we’ve got to be at our best. We're gonna have to make sure that we start the series (hard). 
Every game's going to be important that we play consistently, we can't give up leads. When I say leads, we can't give up basically chasing a game—like we saw most of the year and in that last round as well—to have success. So, let's make sure our starts are going to be better.”

“Everybody’s really excited,” Mason McTavish said. “We’ve got a great Vegas team we’re gonna be playing, so I'm just excited for that challenge. They’ve got a lot of great players and so do we, so it should be a great series and we're looking forward to it.”

Troy Terry has regularly missed morning skates over the past month or so, but will play in Game 1, per Quenneville. Radko Gudas (lower-body) participated in Monday’s morning skate and could be an option going forward. He has not played since Game 1 of the Oilers series.

Former Duck William Karlsson will return to the lineup for the Golden Knights in Game 1. He had been out since November with a lower-body injury. His re-insertion into the lineup gives the Golden Knights four steady cogs down the middle in Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Karlsson and Nic Dowd.

Ducks Projected Lines

Chris Kreider - Leo Carlsson - Troy Terry

Alex Killorn - Mikael Granlund - Beckett Sennecke

Mason McTavish - Ryan Poehling - Cutter Gauthier

Jeff Viel - Tim Washe - Ian Moore

Jackson LaCombe - Jacob Trouba

Pavel Mintyukov - John Carlson

Tyson Hinds - Drew Helleson

Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)

Golden Knights Projected Lines

Ivan Barbashev - Jack Eichel - Pavel Dorofeyev

Brett Howden - Mitch Marner - Mark Stone

Tomáš Hertl - William Karlsson - Keegan Kolesar

Cole Smith - Nic Dowd - Colton Sissons

Brayden McNabb - Shea Theodore

Noah Hanifin - Rasmus Andersson

Ben Hutton - Kaedan Korczak

Carter Hart (confirmed)

The first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs is complete, and although the Florida Panthers did not participate, several former Panthers players have moved on.

The first round featured several thrilling series, as well as sweeps.

Today, we’ll look at how each former Panthers player fared in the first round and what comes next for them in the second round.

Owen Tippett and Noah Juulsen, Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers pulled off a slight upset over the Pittsburgh Penguins, winning the series in six games. The Flyers made a late run into the playoffs and carried that momentum into the playoffs.

Former first-round pick of the Panthers, Owen Tippett, was a force for the Flyers. The 27-year-old only scored one goal and two points, but his speed was a handful for the Penguins to deal with. Unfortunately, he picked up an injury against the Penguins and was held out of the lineup for Game 1 against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Noah Juulsen played just four games with the Panthers, but he’s become a serviceable third-pairing defender. Juulsen played in four games against the Penguins, failing to record a point and averaging 10:51 of ice time. 

Former Panthers Goaltender Signs Extension With HurricanesThe Carolina Hurricanes have signed former Florida Panthers goaltender Brandon Bussi to a three-year, $5.7 million contract extension.

Brandon Bussi and Mike Reilly, Carolina Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes are rolling. They swept the Ottawa Senators in the first round and started their series against the Flyers with a dominant 3-0 win.

While Brandon Bussi hasn’t played, Frederik Andersen has been the starting netminder for the Hurricanes. He was great for the Hurricanes during the regular season. Bussi was signed to a two-way deal by the Panthers in the off-season, but was claimed off waivers by the Hurricanes in pre-season.

As for Mike Reilly, he played just two games with the Panthers, but he has been an effective defenseman throughout his career. Reilly did not play in the first round, but the 32-year-old notched two assists in Game 1 against the Flyers. 

Samuel Montembeault and Mike Matheson, Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round in Game 7 just last night. Montembeault didn’t dress for any game, as he has been demoted to the third-string netminder. 

The 29-year-old was a third-round pick of the Panthers in 2015, but played just 25 games with the organization. 

Mike Matheson played 299 games with the Panthers, the most of any team in his career, although it will be the Canadiens with whom he’s played the most soon. The 32-year-old has posted some strong offensive seasons in his career, but now he’s used more as a solid second-pairing two-way defender.

The Canadiens are set for a challenging second-round matchup against the Buffalo Sabres.

Alex Lyon, Buffalo Sabres

Alex Lyon is a Panthers hero, and now he’s becoming a Sabres icon. Lyon helped the Panthers make a late push to the playoffs in 2023, and now he’s stepped into the crease in place of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and has dominated. 

The 33-year-old guided the Sabres to three wins, allowing just one goal in each win. He allowed just two goals in his only loss in the playoffs so far. 

Frank Vatrano and Radko Gudas, Anaheim Ducks

Radko Gudas and Frank Vatrano haven’t been a factor in the Anaheim Ducks’ success. If anything, Gudas did the opposite.

In Game 1 against the Edmonton Oilers, Gudas fell over his feet while Mattias Ekholm skated towards him, allowing a clean shot on goal before the Oilers scored on the rebound. Gudas then exited the lineup with an injury and has not returned. The Ducks went on to win four of the next five games.

As for Vatrano, he’s been a healthy scratch for the Ducks. He played five seasons in Florida, but the same issues that plagued him before continue: inconsistency.

Could The Panthers Take Advantage Of The Goaltending Situation In Minnesota?If the Florida Panthers are in the market for a goaltender this off-season, could they look to take advantage of the situation with the Minnesota Wild?

Vladimir Tarasenko and Jeff Petry, Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild may have been handed the toughest hand in the first round, but they didn’t complain. Rather, they defeated the Dallas Stars in six games and looked more in control than the Stars did.

Vladimir Tarasenko was a bit quiet, but he remains a solid offensive player now in his mid-thirties. Tarasenko wasn’t an incredible producer for the Panthers when they won the Stanley Cup in 2024, but he pitched in when needed. 

As for Petry, he was an off-season signing whom the Panthers traded away at the deadline. The veteran has skated in just one playoff game for the Wild so far. 

The Wild will be in tough against the Colorado Avalanche in the second round, as Game 1 finished 9-6 in a loss for the Wild. 

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Montreal Canadiens will be facing off against the Buffalo Sabres in the second round after their impressive Game 7 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

Now, the Sabres have already gotten some promising news that has the potential to make things a bit more difficult for the Canadiens. 

Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff shared that forward Sam Carrick has been progressing well and could practice with Buffalo on Tuesday. This is after Carrick was initially expected to miss all of the second round. Yet, with Carrick making progress and potentially being ready to practice with the team, there is a real chance that he could end up playing for Buffalo this series after all. 

If Carrick ends up being good to go for the Sabres, it would not be the best news for the Canadiens. While he is not a big-time star, he is a hard-nosed forward who plays a smart defensive game, kills penalties, and has success at the dot. Because of this, he would have the potential to make things more difficult for the Canadiens if he ends up being given the green light to return for Buffalo. 

In 73 games this season split between the New York Rangers and Sabres, Carrick had nine goals, seven assists, 16 points, 65 penalty minutes, and 105 hits. He notably heated up after being traded to the Sabres, though, posting five goals and an assist in 13 games. 

Sam Carrick, who was initially expected to miss Round 2, has progressed well and could practice tomorrow, per coach Lindy Ruff.

More → https://t.co/VVFs8QUDLV

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) May 4, 2026

Everything changed for the New York Islanders when they won the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery, selecting then 17-year-old defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the first overall pick.

From living with Matt Martin and his family to breaking so many records, Schaefer has gone quickly from draft prospect to prodigy. 

BREAKING: Islanders' Matthew Schaefer Will Not Play For Team Canada At 2026 World Championships Disappointing Olympic snub foreshadows Schaefer's surprising absence from Canada's 2026 World Championship roster.

Schaefer has been tremendous on the ice, and when the cameras are rolling, so it's not a shock that he was back on camera ahead of Tuesday's 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. 

On Monday, the NHL released a video of Schaefer Face-Timing the Martin girls, a skit to explain the draft lottery in a way that everyone can understand:

The NHL Draft Lottery is Tuesday night at 7 p.m.

Want to know how it's going to work? Let Matthew Schaefer of the @NYIslanders explain. https://t.co/1FeMmtLb6Z

— Bill Price (@BillPriceNHL) May 4, 2026

The Islanders, who won the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery with just 3.5 percent odds, ended the 2025-26 season with a 2.0% chance of winning the lottery for a second straight season. 

However, per the rules, teams can only move up 10 spots in the lottery, so, while the Islanders technically could win the lottery for a second straight year, winning would just mean they select third overall in Buffalo on June 26 and June 27.  

You can watch the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery, which takes place live from NHL Network's studio in Secaucus, New Jersey, at 7 PM ET on ESPN, Sportnets and TVA. 

The Buffalo Sabres were in an unfamiliar position, awaiting the results of a Game 7 contest between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens. In spite having a roster littered with Stanley Cup winners and outshooting the Habs 29-9, Alex Newhook’s third period sent the favored Lightning to the golf course early for the fourth straight postseason, and the young Montrealers to the second round for the first time in five seasons. 

"Sometimes playoffs are just about winning the game. It's not how you get it done," Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said on Monday. "You've got to find different ways. You watch that game last night. You got a crazy goal. You haven't had a lot of opportunities.....Sometimes it doesn't look real pretty, but you got to find ways to win games in the playoffs, and they found a way to win Game 7." 

The Sabres split their season series with the Canadiens (1-1 at Key Bank Center and 1-1 at the Bell Centre), and were successful at playing effectively on the road in the postseason, winning all three games in Boston, limiting the Bruins to just three goals at TD Garden. That kind of success will be even more difficult to achieve in Montreal, in front of their rabid fanbase. 

Other Sabres Stories

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

"I think you (have to) manage to puck well and don't give them the start they want. That'll be a high energy building for sure. Every building in the playoffs is high energy,” Ruff said. “It's one of the great places to play hockey, to be there for a game where (you're) the home team (or) the road team. I couldn't wait when I started my career to play in Montreal, because of the history of that place."

 Ruff provided an update on his injured players on Monday. Center Noah Ostlund suffered a lower-body injury in Game 5 last week and has been ruled out for the second round. He had also indicated that Sam Carrick would be out for Round 2, but on Monday said that the veteran center is feeling further along than he said, and could practice with the club on Tuesday if he gets the go-ahead from the team’s medical staff.  

Justin Danforth, who has been out since mid-October with a broken knee-cap, is working his way back, but Ruff would not rule out him returning if the club goes deeper in the playoffs.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

Jakub Dobes, take a bow.

The 24-year-old netminder posted a .923 SV% and 2.04 GAA in the Montreal Canadiens' series win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Next up, the Buffalo Sabres.

We'll take a look at Dobes' Conn Smythe odds and see where he stands among the other elite netminders who've received the honor.

Jakub Dobes Conn Smythe odds entering Round 2

Conn Smythe Odds

Jakub Dobes (+3500)

Bet now at img src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/82/bet99_bg.svg" alt="BET99" style="display: block; height: 44px; width: auto; max-width: 160px; object-fit: contain; border-radius: 4px;"

The situation

Jakub Dobes' 35/1 odds put him on the same level as Tage Thompson, Kirill Kaprizov, and Nick Suzuki. The only player who's really done anything remotely close to the Montreal Canadiens' netminder is Kaprizov, and he's staring in the face of the Colorado Avalanche, who're the consensus Stanley Cup odds favorite — already down 1-0.

Dobes and the Canadiens have a difficult but easier task against the Sabres, with books pricing this near a pick' em. If Montreal gets by Buffalo, things don't get any easier.

The Habs will likely face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final and the Colorado Avalanche after that... but let's not pretend like Montreal just took out the Los Angeles Kings.

Dobes outplayed a future Hall of Famer in Andrei Vasilevskiy, and while he's no Carey Price, the team Dobes has in front of him is better than what the Habs gave No. 30 in 2021.

History at a glance

Netminders have won the Conn Smythe Trophy 17 times in NHL history, with Canadiens legend, Patrick Roy, winning it thrice. As for recent history, Vasilevskiy — the goalie who just got bounced — won in 2021 — while Jonathan Quick and Tim Thomas won in 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Here is a breakdown of their stats, and how Dobes stacks up through Round 1:

Player	GAA	SV%
Andrei Vasilevskiy	1.90	.937
Jonathan Quick	1.41	.946
Tim Thomas	1.98	.940
Jakub Dobes	2.04	.923

Looking at that, the Habs' netminder will need to get that GAA below 2.00 and up his SV% to at least above .935 if history repeats itself. One thing he does have going for him, though, is that no skater has more than six points for Montreal.

Dobes was clearly the best player in bleu, blanc, rouge against the Bolts, which is why only Suzuki currently has the same odds as him. 

I think it's quite clear that the biggest obstacle between the 24-year-old netminder and the Conn Smythe is actually winning the Cup.

Goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere did win in 2003 despite his Ducks falling one game short, but his .945 SV% and 1.62 GAA slots him ahead of every playoff run we just mentioned outside of Quick.

Yes, Dobes was the reason the Canadiens now own the record for fewest shots by a team in a playoff win, but the best path to the Conn Smythe is leading Montreal to their first Cup since 1993.

The conclusion

The Habs are hungry, and the rebuild has clearly paid off. They're about to play a very winnable series against Buffalo, and will then likely take on a Carolina Hurricanes team known for crumbling under the pressure when the going gets tough deep into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Bet99 currently has Montreal at +950 to win the Cup, which sounds like a great bet to pair with Dobes winning Conn Smythe honors.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.