Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson has upped his shooting aggression throughout the playoffs.
My Canadiens vs. Sabres predictions expect that trend to continue in tonight's winner-take-all Game 7 against the Buffalo Sabres.
Let's take a closer look at my NHL picks for Monday, May 18, and don't miss puck drop at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight!
Canadiens vs Sabres Game 7 prediction
Who will win Canadiens vs Sabres Game 7?
Canadiens: The Canadiens have shown great resilience during the playoffs, following up each loss with a win. I expect them to quickly flush Game 6. They hold the expected goals edge in this series – albeit not by much – and Jakub Dobes has been more consistent than Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen, making him a little more trustworthy in this do-or-die affair.
Canadiens vs Sabres best bet: Lane Hutson Over 1.5 shots (-115)
Lane Hutson has ramped up his shot volume significantly during the playoffs. He has averaged 5.8 attempts per game, well above his season average of 3.7.
It’s not one or two big games propping up his numbers. He attempted at least four shots in 11 of 13 games thus far.
He cleared 1.5 shots in 72% of his games this year when generating at least four attempts.
Hutson is being spoon-fed offensive zone starts and will see as much ice as he can handle in an elimination game, setting him up to fire away.
Canadiens vs Sabres Game 7 same-game parlay
It took a while to get going, but Cole Caufield is firing on all cylinders now. He has scored in three of his past four games and leads the team in scoring chances with 22.
Few players can fill the net like No. 13 when he's on, and the Sabres have gotten very inconsistent goaltending.
Alex Newhook has been a constant headache for the Buffalo Sabres. He leads the Habs in shots on goal and scoring chances at 5-on-5, and we’re unlikely to see much special teams play in a Game 7.
That makes even-strength play even more important, and Newhook has consistently made an impact in that state.
Kaiden Guhle blocked multiple shots in five of his last six road games, including all three against Buffalo. He combined for 10 blocks in Buffalo, and will be relied upon to lead the charge defensively in Game 7.
Bonus Canadiens vs Sabres SGP
Lane Hutson Over 1.5 shots
Alex Newhook Over 1.5 shots
Kaiden Guhle Over 1.5 blocked shots
Canadiens vs Sabres anytime goal scorer
Caufield is one of the league's most efficient shooters and is averaging 6.2 shot attempts over his past five games. The 50-goal scorer will cause problems for Buffalo's Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen, who had been leaky at times — and ranks last among remaining goalies in Goals Saved Above Expected during the playoffs.
Bonus AGS pick for Canadiens vs Sabres Game 7
Alex Tuch (+210)
Who doesn't love more extra picks! Alex Tuch leads the Sabres in shot attempts (38), shots on target (21), and scoring chances (20), yet has not hit the scoresheet, let alone found the back of the net.
He is constantly knocking on the door and playing more minutes than any other forward on the roster. He’ll have every opportunity to break through tonight.
Canadiens vs Sabres odds for Game 7
Moneyline: Montreal +100 | Buffalo -120
Puck Line: Montreal +1.5 (-260) | Buffalo -1.5 (+205)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-110) | Under 5.5 (-110)
Canadiens vs Sabres trend
The Canadiens have hit the moneyline in 14 of their last 20 away games (+8.6 units, 37% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Sabres.
How to watch Canadiens vs Sabres Game 7
Location
KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
Date
Monday, May 18, 2026
Puck drop
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Canadiens vs Sabres latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
In a season filled with learning experiences, the Senators saw firsthand how finding the right backup goalie can be a game-changer.
When Ottawa signed veteran goaltender James Reimer as a free agent four months ago, the move barely registered across the NHL. The Senators were tied for last in the East, so seeing them bring in Canada's Spengler Cup goalie was like watching someone rearrange deck chairs on the Titanic.
Reimer came in from the bullpen to replace Leevi Merilainen, who, despite his heroics in a small sample size last year, showed he wasn't ready for full-time NHL duty just yet. While Merilainen was sent to Belleville for the rest of the season, Reimer was viewed as experienced depth, a stopgap measure, and not much more.
Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss the Sens backup goalie plans for this fall.
But that was exactly what the Senators needed.
Linus Ullmark carried the mail down the stretch, and he and the Senators turned the season around, but Reimer was one of the stabilizing forces behind it.
When GM Steve Staios held his season-ending news conference, he admitted that he didn't support Ullmark well enough to start the season.
"When I talk about making decisions to help this team move forward, the one where we didn't do a good job was on the backup position initially," Staios said. "And we still believe in Leevi in saying this."
Staios' goaltending plans were maybe overly optimistic because he was asking both of his chosen goalies to go out and do something they've never done. For the kid, Merilainen, it was asking a 23-year-old to be a full-time NHL backup for the first time, playing behind a veteran who's never had a season where he hit the 50-game mark in NHL games played.
For Ullmark, it was asking him to bump up his games-played count. And based on his usage in the first three months of this season, they had him on a pace to start over 60 games.
The success of each plan was directly tied to the other, and neither worked out particularly well.
Now, as the Senators once again search for support behind Ullmark, it’s fair to ask an obvious question:
Why not just bring Reimer back?
When you go searching for UFA goalies whose production and contract demands might make them attractive as Ullmark's understudy, you start to realize that the list of realistic options isn't very long.
Meanwhile, we know the Reimer experiment works. He gave the Senators exactly what they needed this season. In 14 appearances with Ottawa, he posted a tidy 2.42 goals-against average. More importantly, he gave the team competent, calming goaltending on nights when Ullmark needed rest.
There wasn't a single night where Reimer looked overmatched or played at a level that didn't give the Senators a chance to win, and that trickled down to boost team confidence. Reimer upgraded the backup position and helped to upgrade Ullmark as well.
And unlike many of the other free-agent options, there’s very little mystery about the fit here.
At 38, Reimer understands the role. He’s a pro, a happy, positive teammate, who's not coming in looking to challenge Ullmark for the crease or create controversy about starts.
There’s also the financial reality.
Some of the bigger names on the market will command significantly more money, even in backup roles, and even though the cap is going up, the Senators aren't expected to spend to the absolute max. With new contracts looming and other roster needs to address, overpaying for a backup goalie when the starter is already north of $8 million isn't high on their wish list.
Reimer would be signable at nearly league minimum.
If Ottawa simply needs reliable goaltending for 30 games behind Ullmark, are they really guaranteed to get better results from anyone on the free agent market that's reasonably priced and willing to sign here?
That’s debatable.
Meanwhile, Ullmark appeared comfortable working alongside Reimer, and the Senators finally found some rhythm this season. So maybe they shouldn't overthink this.
In a city famed for being a goalie graveyard, when you finally find something that worked, maybe don't pick at it.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:
CALGARY, CANADA - NOVEMBER 25: Egor Shilov #9 of Team CHL handles the puck during warmups before the CHL USA Prospects Challenge at the Scotiabank Saddledome on November 25, 2025 in Calgary, Canada. (Photo by Leah Hennel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good afternoon, Devils fans and hockey fans, and welcome to another All About the Jersey draft profile. Today, we are going to look at someone who might fly under the radar a bit. Coming out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, but hailing from Tyumen, Russia is Yegor Shilov, a 6’1” and 180+ pound left-shooting center. From Elite Prospects, you can see his production history below.
I am always interested by any European player who dominates their local junior leagues and then flies all the way to the United States or Canada to play North American hockey as a teenager. And for what it’s worth, Shilov had a good offensive season in the United States at 16 and 17 years old in 2024-25. The USHL, as a league massively rising in quality of play over the last five or ten years, is a good offensive litmus test for forwards, and we are starting to see more Russians and Belarusians testing their hands there. Ilya Protas of the Washington Capitals played for Des Moines in 2023-24 at age 17, scoring 51 points in 61 games before tearing the OHL apart in 2024-25 at age 18. Looking back, it’s kind of baffling Protas made it to the third round in 2024.
I do think it’s interesting that Shilov decided to go to the QMJHL from there, which is a path less trodden among top prospects over the last few years, but he had a good season there as well. Among recent Devils draft picks, Matyas Melovsky went through the Q, but he didn’t hit 80 points until his age-20 season, when he had 26 goals and 57 assists after being drafted as an overager by the Devils. Melovsky, of course, went on to score 26 points in 55 AHL games this season, and he now has an assist through two Worlds games for Team Czechia.
But Shilov is only 18: he broke 30 goals and 80 points in Quebec at just 17 years old, turning 18 on April 30 of this year. Production-wise, he is about three years ahead of a guy like Melovsky, who is now decently well-regarded as a possible fourth line center in 2026 or 2027. Above, you can see that Shilov is committed to playing for Penn State in 2027-28, but I think it would be best if he tried to find a college commitment before then. He’s off to a great start, but the NCAA would be a logical step for someone who has already hit elite production in a league like the Q.
Where is Shilov Ranked?
Elite Prospects lists Shilov ranked as such:
19th by TSN (Button)
19th by NHL Central Scouting (North American Skaters)
23rd by Elite Prospects
24th by Smaht Scouting
25th by Dobber Prospects
25th by Draft Prospects Hockey
27th by Sportsnet (Cosentino)
30th by Daily Faceoff
32nd by The Hockey News (Kennedy)
40th by McKeen’s Hockey
49th by The Hockey News (Ferrari)
Additionally, Shilov rates out as a late-first quality producer by Byron Bader’s NHLe model, though he is even with Viggo Bjorck in NHL and star probability. This is an area where playing in a better league would help Shilov in production models, though I think scoring 82 points in the QMJHL at just 17 years old as a Russian-born player is pretty noteworthy.
I will note here, per Bader’s linked tool explanation, is that NHLe is tracked to estimate the average season a player would have if they were immediately dropped into the NHL. So, a player coming off 33 goals and 82 points in the QMJHL this season would be expected to score about 28 points next season. This type of prediction worked to near perfection for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who nabbed Benjamin Kindel at 11th overall last year with a 37 NHLe in the 2024-25 season, as he scored 35 points in 77 games for Pittsburgh as an 18-year old rookie this year. In short: players with NHLes like this often become viable NHLers sooner than you think, though Shilov probably has a year or two of seasoning to do.
Shilov’s skills are enough to hear his name in the first day of selections. He’s expected to be picked in the first round, but his lack of speed and relative mono-dimensional play are very likely to cause him to fall to around the 25-30 range despite his excellent passing, shooting, and puck-handling abilities.
One of the most dynamic power play producers in this draft class, Shilov is slippery holding pucks along the wall. He darts away from defenders at the last second…There is some frustration watching his game in that maximum effort isn’t always present, but he’s inspired with the puck on his stick and is a threat every time he possesses it.
Yegor Shilov is one of the most skilled centers in North America whose game is defined by elite puck feel and creative vision, but whose overall impact is limited by pace and engagement away from the puck. With possession, he’s among the most talented players in the class, manipulating defenders with ease, slipping pucks through traffic, and distributing the puck with imagination and precision. He defends more by anticipation than confrontation, playing with a deep, read-and-react posture that allows him to pick off lanes and disrupt plays with an active stick rather than physical pressure.
Shilov’s Video
I am wary of those who knock prospects for skating ability and compete level. It’s something that I generally have to see for myself, because sometimes evaluators can overvalue apparent effort over genuine skill and hockey IQ. Seeing that Shilov is praised for his quickness along the boards and heavily criticized for his 200-foot speed is also something that tells me this could be a prospect who is either still physically developing or has just not had the time to perfect his straight-line skating. But, we’ll look at the video.
What I notice early in this video is that Shilov is not really used defensively like an aggressive center. As Garrett noted for Smaht Scouting, he’s more positioned to be anticipatory. However, he does seem to try making a point of finishing his checks to start the game (even if he does so uncomfortably), so I can imagine that his coaches were encouraging him to make some changes there. On his second shift, he comes out right to a point shooter and blocks a shot wide with his stick, so I lean towards thinking Shilov tries to lean on his smarts and reads early on. He gets right in perfect position to facilitate transition up the boards, and he does not burn the opposition but manages to stay ahead long enough to send a backhand centering feed that is redirected wide. He is also able to anticipate the backchecker and quickly shows the awareness and ability to protect the puck with someone on his back.
By his third shift, I’m wondering what the problem with this guy is. He takes the puck up ice and flips after hitting the red line with four opponents to beat. He hits the burners around a defender at the blueline for a moment, just enough to be first to his flip in the corner after going around another opponent trying to slow him down. He wins the board battle under pressure by a larger player, moves the puck to his teammate, and cycles around the point to allow an activation before rejoining the play at the boards.
On the power play, Shilov scores a goal cutting from the slot to the hashmarks of the faceoff circle right off the opening draw play. He got a pass and absolutely ripped it to the far corner, an impressive shot at such short range. The goalie had no chance with the speed of his release and the placement of the shot.
Stop me if you’ve ever heard someone described like this before. Shilov was cycling around the offensive zone after a shot from his teammate was blocked. He circled around the faceoff dot and high slot waiting for a pass, but it didn’t come to him despite a big passing lane until he was near the puck carrier. After Shilov got it, he switched with his teammate at the left point, stickhandling towards the blueline until he came back into a turn towards the net. Taking the middle of the ice and the other team off guard, creating a three-man screen in front of the goalie, Shilov cut left at the last moment and roofed another goal to the far corner around the screen. Once he got the goalie moving, he took his spot and hit it.
While Shilov plays the entire second period without any issues, he does end up on the ice for a goal against in the third. He chased a puck carrier up to the point and was slightly picked, but he doesn’t come back in time to get back in the passing lane. His teammate drops to one knee rather than cover the netfront man he was on, and his team goes down 5-3 here.
Back on the power play later in the period, Shilov gets back to take the puck away in the neutral zone after his team lost possession, but he does not get a chance to make a play in the offensive zone. Late in the game, Shilov threads a perfect pass at the blueline with four opponents in the area, springing his teammate on a quick breakaway. The Armada goalie made the save, but Shilov easily could have had an assist here.
For more highlights, see the following video from HSD prospects:
My Thoughts
I think that the online scouts have it right that Shilov needs to work on his skating, but I do not think it is that dire. He can certainly gain another step, but if skating is a player’s biggest weakness going into the Draft, it’s an issue that can be overcome far easier than others. Besides, it seems like Shilov is a pretty agile skater, and he is still able to consistently beat defenders despite a lack of obvious speed because of his skill and agility.
An issue players tend not to get that much better at is making reads and anticipating plays. Shilov has those down, it seems. Shilov is also apparently a skilled passer and is certifiably a talented goal scorer. He also has a certain offensive element to his attack that I do not think we see from any Devil other than Jack Hughes. He’s incredibly cerebral with the puck. He’s looking for weaknesses and openings, and he is capable of taking advantage with quick cuts and a fast release of an accurate, quick-rising shot.
That’s one reason I became interested in Shilov in the first place. He is ranked lower than the Devils are set to pick, though he is a fall candidate as a Russian-born skilled forward without obvious physical tools. There is a chance he is available early in the second round. Of course, the Devils could always end up later in the first round if they make any trades leading up to the NHL Draft in June, such as any involving pick swaps or a pure trade down move on Draft Day. But I am not convinced that Shilov is such a worse prospect than some of the guys being pushed in that 10-15 range, anyway. His skill level is visibly much greater than that of his teammates when he has the puck, and I think he has the hockey IQ to play at a high level in the NHL.
A player like Shilov makes a ton of sense for the Devils, given that. We have all seen the Hughes-less swoons of the New Jersey Devils, when the team cannot score a goal to save their lives in the absence of their best offensive threat. We have also been watching a franchise that has repeatedly struggled to formulate a third line that has stayed a consistent, high-level offensive threat. The Devils are starting to get there now with Arseny Gritsyuk, but only until coaches realize that he should be getting paired with top six players every night. A player like Shilov, drafted and developed to be that third offensive threat at center, can not only complement the attack of Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes, but give the Devils the opportunity to have a player that can actually step into their offensive roles in the case of injury. From Mitch Brown’s juniors and NCAA tracking project, Shilov is fantastically skilled at entering the offensive zone, creating rushes out of nothing, and getting to dangerous shooting areas.
This is the exact kind of offensive player that the Devils need to be able to develop internally. If Sunny Mehta’s Devils are going to be an improvement from the last several years, this front office needs to trust that players like this can round out their games and play on the same wavelength as the team’s best players. So Shilov is not a forechecker, not much of a hitter, and he turns the puck over at times. What is most important is that the Devils have centers who can create offense, and Shilov makes up for his defensive issues by making great reads, winning a lot of plays in the neutral zone, and anticipating shooting lanes. This was visible when I watched the video of his shifts, and upon my checking it was even reflected in Brown’s tracking.
While some people might envision each line to serve a different purpose, a team is more threatening when their top offensive players are followed by third liners who can beat opponents in similar fashion. Shilov is a player who can be a puck carrier on the power play, evaluating the entry after the drop pass and either taking it in himself or seamlessly passing from his forehand or backhand. He’s a player who can keep and extend possession through cutbacks. He can switch with defensemen and attack from the point into the high slot. And, importantly, he is not reliant and creating from the outside. He wants to be in the middle of the ice, shooting and scoring goals.
It is also likely that the Devils have the chance to select someone with a better production profile than Shilov at 12th overall, if they keep that pick. I know that. But I think Shilov, one way or another, is someone to watch. He does not score cheap goals. He is not a peripheral playmaker. I do not see him as someone who relies on a type of offense that won’t be available at higher levels. He’s unpredictable, skilled, and smart. I do think he needs to up his physical compete level a little bit or perfect his anticipatory reads, but he might be one of the most skilled players in the 2026 NHL Draft, and any team that drafts him outside the top 10 is getting a good chance of making one of the best picks in the Draft. There might be better goal scorers among wingers in guys like Adam Novtony and Nikita Klepov, but Shilov had similar total point production to some of the top-ranked forwards in the Draft while being one of the top two or three goal-scoring centers.
In Memoriam
I would like to also take a moment to honor the passing of Johan Nilsson, the founder of Elite Prospects. As a young hockey fan, I was always hooked onto his website, learning about prospects or teams overseas, and it was an invaluable resource early on. It has continued to be an invaluable resource as a central base for all things hockey, and I lean on it a lot as a blogger here. My heart goes out to his family and children, and to all of those in the world battling colon cancer.
Your Thoughts
What do you think of Yegor Shilov? Do you think scouts have him right at the late first round? Or do you think he’s better than that? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and thanks for reading.
The Colorado Avalanche have successfully reached the conference final for the first time since the 2022 cup season and will host the Las Vegas Golden Knights for game one on Wednesday evening at Ball Arena.
We should get a feel for the matchup before the much-anticipated series begins, and with the benefit of time and importance, we will be able to bring you a preview piece for each position group, like old times!
Let’s start with two star-studded, accomplished forward groups on each side and see how they compare, what advantages they offer, and ultimately who I think has the edge!
Vegas brings its own Stanley Cup pedigree, with past champions like Jack Eichel and a wounded Mark Stone still on the roster. In fact, the Golden Knights currently roster 11 players who were a part of their 2023 Stanley Cup achievement.
It’s the sort of experience and talent in the top group that can actually rival the Avalanche, but with a slightly different approach. Attrition and forechecking are the focus for the Golden Knights, and although not as flashy as Colorado’s, it’s an approach that has proven plenty effective.
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) May 15, 2026
Ivan Barbashev is coming off a standout regular season and has followed it up with a great tournament performance, accumulating nine points in eleven playoff games so far, and a playoff-leading 54 hits through two rounds.
For Vegas, the story is Mitch Marner and his playoff success. Despite what we’ve heard from Toronto fans for years, Mitch Marner is a gamer, and he has proven it already this postseason, reaching a point in the bracket Toronto hasn’t reached since 2002.
This series will be won and lost in the neutral zone, as it’s likely to be John Torterella’s point of emphasis to muddy the waters, disrupt Colorado’s attack, and effectively deploy a counterstrike.
The Avalanche are capable of a measured approach, but are at their best when they can work their transition game and active defenders.
Nathan MacKinnon is on an absolute tear this postseason, and if he continues that trend, it’s hard to imagine the Avalanche losing many games.
Marty Necas has officially brought the party to the postseason with a beautiful and patient assist of the series-clinching game winner that left the stick of Brett Kulak.
The Avalanche have also been the benefactors of a downright effective Gabe Landeskog. Last postseason, he spoke about riding on adrenaline, but this time around, he has the legs, the frame, and the work ethic to thrive.
All things considered, these top six groups are talented and, although different in approach, highly competitive in their own right.
The status of Artturi Lehkonen and Mark Stone will be worth monitoring as we get closer to puck drop.
Both teams have already practiced some misdirection or tactic regarding the reporting of certain players’ health status.
Bednar iced both Malinski and Lehkonen in the morning skate to pull them from the lineup at puck drop against the Wild, and Vegas is catching fines for avoiding the press altogether. Wish us luck!
Josh Manson and Sam Malinski are on the ice for full practice in regular jerseys.
The kicker in this series could be the bottom six, as both teams have groups that have contributed timely goals and gutsy effort. Vegas’ Brett Howden is currently sporting a ridiculous shooting percentage (40%), and additions Colton Sissons and Nic Dowd have fit right in.
The Avalanche got a game-winner from Parker Kelly in the second round and saw the third and fourth lines at their best against the Wild in general.
COACHES: I’ve had the opportunity to walk through a lot of higher-level locker rooms, and a staple word that you see on the wall for many of them is RELENTLESS.
This is an incredible shift on being relentless on the forecheck. Parker Kelly as F1 gets in hard, is physical, and… pic.twitter.com/qw2hlJ9zJG
How these groups match up will be interesting, with both sides capable of some shuffling in the middle six. In a series that’s Torts vs. Bedsy, I’m thinking the focus will be on coverage and limiting the opposition, so expect a similar series to Avs vs. LA but with Vegas having actual scoring potential.
Advantage: Nathan MacKinnon’s Revenge
This one is hard to give to either side because, although I think the Avalanche have a better forward group both in terms of top-end talent and depth, I feel that Vegas is equally effective with who they have and what they aim to accomplish.
Colorado’s roster is more like a cup champion, but Vegas-style is the kind that can win any game on any given night, no matter who their opponent is.
When I look for the kicker, I see Nathan MacKinnon and Mitch Marner as the best candidates for each side, and I’ll have to defer to the talents of Nate. I have nothing but respect for Mitch Marner, but this Nathan MacKinnon we have seen in the postseason feels unstoppable.
There’s no doubt that the Montreal Canadiens would have liked to clinch the win in their second-round series against the Buffalo Sabres last night at the Bell Centre, but the visitors had other plans. Despite the disappointing result and humiliating scoreline, there was no panic in the Habs dressing room after the game.
Of course, the atmosphere wasn’t the same as it would have been if things had gone according to plan, but none of the players interviewed looked like they had lost all hope. Sophomore defenseman Lane Hutson conveyed how the team chose to attack the prospect of a Game 7 on Monday night:
There’s no panic or anything, I think we’re all excited. It’s just more hockey for us. We don’t want it easy; we like the challenge, and they brought their best. We’ve got to answer the bell.
As for the Canadiens’ coach, Martin St-Louis, he looked confident at the prospect of playing a do-or-die game in Buffalo on Monday night:
I feel like we’ve been good at bouncing forward, and that’s what we intend to do. It wasn’t our best tonight. […] We’re going to reset, go on the road and try to put our best foot forward.
As philosophical as ever, the bench boss explained:
We didn’t have much calm, much poise. You have to live through those moments to learn. Those are stressful moments for the players; they want the result, and it’s noisy and chaotic. Tonight, we couldn’t see things clearly through that chaos. We’re better than this; it just wasn’t a good game for us. […] We’re gaining experience, that’s for sure. That’s how you grow, through those experiences.
Meanwhile, captain Nick Suzuki said his side would have to rely on the experience they gained through Game 7 against the Tampa Bay Lightning and that they could let this 8-3 loss be their last game of the season on home ice.
Hopefully, the Canadiens will have learned through their experience in Tampa that you have to take more than nine shots on goal to win, normally. It’s hard to think they will go through if they deliver the same kind of performance on Monday as they did two weeks ago in Florida.
However, they can take a lot away from the way they played throughout the first round against the Bolts. Contrary to the first few games against the Sabres, there was a lot less space on the ice for the Canadiens’ forwards. Lindy Ruff’s side applied consistent forecheck on the puck carrier, not unlike what Tampa did. That's something they'll need to adjust to if they want a better result on Monday.
For a franchise that looked dangerously close to wasting another year of Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar’s prime, Chris MacFarland rebuilt a Stanley Cup favorite in real time.
There really shouldn’t be much debate about the NHL’s General Manager of the Year award.
The job description for a modern NHL general manager is brutally complicated. You have to protect the future without sacrificing the present. You have to manage personalities, injuries, contracts, cap math, timing, and pressure from a market expecting championships every spring. Most executives spend years trying to thread that needle.
MacFarland spent the last 18 months doing it aggressively — and nearly every gamble paid massive dividends.
The Rantanen Decision That Changed Everything
The move everyone will remember first is the one that could have detonated the locker room if it failed: trading Mikko Rantanen.
Superstars like Rantanen are not supposed to leave contenders in the middle of a championship window. They especially are not supposed to be moved when the fanbase already believes the roster has flaws elsewhere. But MacFarland looked at the bigger picture and saw something uncomfortable: Colorado had become too top-heavy, too vulnerable, and too expensive to sustain in its existing form.
Complicating that reality was the fact that Rantanen wanted $14 million on his next deal.
It made the pivot unavoidable.
Martin Necas arrived and immediately unlocked another level offensively. Jack Drury became the type of dependable, hard-minute center playoff teams desperately need in May. The cap flexibility created by moving Rantanen opened the door for additional reinforcements that transformed Colorado from dangerous into overwhelming.
That’s the part people miss when they isolate the trade itself.
The Rantanen move wasn’t a one-for-one hockey trade. It was the first domino in a complete roster reconstruction.
Building Depth In The Shadows Of Stars
Suddenly the Avalanche could afford Brock Nelson. They could take swings on veteran depth. They could add Brett Kulak to stabilize the blue line. They could bring in Nicolas Roy and Nazem Kadri to harden the bottom-six and insulate the stars.
Now Colorado rolls four lines with almost no weakness.
That matters in the playoffs, where series stop being about talent and start becoming about survival.
Against Minnesota, the Avalanche were missing pieces almost nightly. Josh Manson was banged up. Sam Malinski missed time. Artturi Lehkonen wasn’t available. Cale Makar was clearly fighting through something physically by the end of the series.
Colorado kept winning anyway.
The Avalanche are no longer built like a top-heavy track team trying to outscore problems. They look layered, punishing, and adaptable. They can beat opponents with speed one night and grind them down the next. Few teams in hockey can absorb injuries to key contributors and still look deeper than the opponent. Colorado can.
The Goaltending Fix That Reshaped The Identity
And none of it matters without fixing the crease.
That may ultimately become MacFarland’s defining achievement.
Early in the season, Colorado’s goaltending situation looked catastrophic. The Avalanche were hemorrhaging goals and wasting elite performances from Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen because they simply could not get saves when games tightened. Georgiev, in particular, was about as stable as an Avenged Sevenfold song, which, for the record, isn’t very stable. Cup contenders don’t survive long with unstable goaltending, and MacFarland knew it.
So he acted before the season slipped away.
Scott Wedgewood came in first. Mackenzie Blackwood followed shortly after. Suddenly, the Avalanche went from one of the NHL’s shakiest teams in net to one of its most reliable.
“The Lumberyard” became one of the best stories in hockey.
Not only did the tandem stabilize Colorado, they did it at a bargain price compared to the rest of the league. While other contenders committed enormous money to goaltending, the Avalanche found elite production without crippling their cap structure. That flexibility became critical later when the deadline arrived.
And unlike some executives who empty the future for one desperate run, MacFarland somehow managed to strengthen both timelines simultaneously.
Necas is signed long-term.
Malinski is already locked into a manageable contract after emerging as one of the breakout defensemen in the league.
Parker Kelly turned into a 21-goal player on a contract that now looks like highway robbery.
Wedgewood’s extension could become one of the best-value deals in hockey if his play holds.
Even the Brent Burns signing — a low-risk veteran addition many initially viewed as a depth move — became enormous once injuries started piling up on the back end.
A Contender Built To Survive Anything
That’s what separates a good GM year from an elite one.
Anybody can make flashy moves. The hard part is building connective tissue throughout the lineup so the roster survives adversity when spring hockey becomes chaotic. Colorado finally has that again.
And the timing of all this matters.
Twelve months ago, there were real questions surrounding the Avalanche. Gabriel Landeskog’s future remained uncertain. Valeri Nichushkin’s situation cast a shadow over the organization. The goaltending was unstable. The supporting cast around MacKinnon and Makar no longer looked championship caliber.
The core still gave Colorado a chance.
MacFarland gave them support.
Now the Avalanche enter the Western Conference Final looking like the most complete team left standing.
That didn’t happen organically. It didn’t happen because Colorado simply stayed healthy or waited for internal growth. It happened because the front office identified weaknesses honestly and attacked them relentlessly.
That’s why the GM of the Year conversation is a no-brainer.
Chris MacFarland rebuilt a Stanley Cup contender while the window was already open — and somehow made it look calculated instead of desperate.
The Western Conference Final may feature the NHL’s most explosive offense, but if the Vegas Golden Knights drag this series into the mud, the Colorado Avalanche could suddenly find themselves fighting for every inch of ice instead of flying through it.
Vegas Knows How To Suffocate Elite Teams
The Avalanche enter the series as Presidents’ Trophy winners, armed with overwhelming speed, transition pressure, and the terrifying ability to erase deficits in minutes. Nathan MacKinnon is playing like a force of nature, Cale Makar remains impossible to scheme against for long stretches, and Colorado’s depth has overwhelmed nearly everyone in its path.
But Vegas is built differently than the teams Colorado has steamrolled so far.
This is a veteran-heavy roster that understands how to slow games down emotionally as much as tactically. The Golden Knights are comfortable turning playoff hockey into a trench war — layered defensive coverage, heavy forechecking, punishing board battles, and relentless pressure below the goal line. That style becomes even more dangerous in a seven-game series where adjustments compound over time.
According to reporting from Jesse Granger of The Athletic, Vegas believes it can challenge Colorado by forcing the Avalanche to defend for extended stretches instead of constantly attacking off the rush. Granger’s reporting also highlighted how the Golden Knights want to make Colorado’s defensemen repeatedly absorb contact and wear down physically over the course of the series.
That matters because the Avalanche are entering the conference final less than fully healthy.
Josh Manson remains a major question mark after missing time against Minnesota and skated separately from the main group during Saturday’s practice at Family Sports Center. Artturi Lehkonen and Sam Malinski have also been dealing with injuries, although Malinski did participate with the team while wearing a non-contact jersey. There’s also at least some concern surrounding Cale Makar, who may not be operating at full strength entering the series.
Vegas, meanwhile, enters the series with its own uncertainty surrounding captain Mark Stone, whose health is always worth monitoring this time of year given the physical toll of his style of play.
The Avalanche can survive injuries against lesser opponents because their talent ceiling is outrageous. Against Vegas, though, every missing body — or every star playing below full capacity — changes the complexion of the matchup.
Especially against a Golden Knights team capable of rolling wave after wave of heavy, experienced forwards.
The Battle Below The Dots Could Decide Everything
The obvious headline matchup will center around MacKinnon and Jack Eichel, but this series may ultimately be decided lower in the lineup.
Vegas thrives when it turns games into grinding, territorial battles. Tomas Hertl, Brett Howden, Pavel Dorofeyev, and William Karlsson all excel at extending possessions and creating chaos around the crease. Dorofeyev enters the series leading the NHL playoffs in goals, while Mitch Marner has been the engine of Vegas’ offense with 18 postseason points.
Colorado’s challenge is surviving those long defensive-zone shifts without sacrificing its identity.
The Avalanche are lethal when they attack with pace through the neutral zone. But Vegas has enough structure to clog lanes and enough physicality to force dump-ins rather than controlled entries. If the Golden Knights consistently force Colorado into retrieval hockey instead of rush hockey, the balance of the series changes dramatically.
That’s part of why the Avalanche face a difficult Game 1 decision in goal.
Scott Wedgewood has delivered massive postseason performances and helped stabilize Colorado during critical moments against Minnesota. But MacKenzie Blackwood remains in the picture, creating one of the few legitimate uncertainties surrounding the Avalanche entering the series.
Against Vegas, rebound control and composure under sustained pressure become critical. The Golden Knights create offense through attrition. They don’t always need pretty goals — they just need repeated pressure until coverage finally breaks.
And unlike some previous Colorado opponents, Vegas has the maturity to remain patient waiting for those mistakes.
Colorado’s Speed Threatens To Break The Series Open
For all the reasons Vegas presents a nightmare matchup, the Avalanche still possess something no team can fully prepare for: overwhelming speed combined with elite finishing talent.
MacKinnon can alter a series in a single shift. Makar changes the geometry of the ice whenever he touches the puck. Martin Necas has quietly become one of Colorado’s most dangerous playmakers, posting six points against Vegas during the regular season series.
And perhaps most importantly, Colorado has shown an ability to survive adversity already this postseason.
The comeback against Minnesota in Game 5 revealed something deeper than talent. Down 3-0, the Avalanche never looked emotionally shaken. They simply kept coming until the game cracked open.
Vegas will test Colorado differently than the Kings or Wild did. The Golden Knights are deeper, heavier, more experienced, and far more comfortable playing ugly hockey for long stretches.
But the danger for Vegas is simple: if this series ever opens up, even briefly, the Avalanche can bury opponents faster than anyone left in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
That tension — Vegas trying to suffocate the game while Colorado tries to ignite it — is what could make this Western Conference Final unforgettable.
May 16, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Buffalo Sabres center Konsta Helenius (94) celebrates with his teammates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period in game six of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
David Kirouac-Imagn Images
MONTREAL — Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 18 saves after starter Alex Lyon stopped only one of the four shots he faced, and the Buffalo Sabres roared back to beat the Montreal Canadiens 8-3 on Saturday night and force a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.
The winner Monday night in Buffalo will face Carolina for the conference title and a chance to play for the Stanley Cup. The Hurricanes swept both of their series, last playing May 9.
“I think if you would have asked every guy in here in September if they would have taken being in Game 7 in Round 2, we all would have signed up for that,” Buffalo forward Tage Thompson said. "So, we’re in a great spot. Now it’s just one game. That’s all that matters.”
Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin had a goal and four assists for a team playoff-record five points.
Buffalo came back after trailing 3-1 midway through the first period.
“We believed in it from the beginning and (Luukkonen) came in and gave us a little boost,” Dahlin said. “It was a mix of everything, but I’m super happy with the character from today’s game.”
Jack Quinn scored twice and added an assist, Thompson had three assists and an empty-net goal, and Zach Benson and Jack Quinn each had a goal and an assist. Konsta Helenius and Zach Metsa also scored.
Arber Xhekaj, Ivan Demidov and Jake Evans scored for Montreal, which won a Game 7 at Tampa Bay in the first round. Jakub Dobes stopped 27 of 33 shots, and Jacob Fowler made a save and allowed a goal in relief.
“Pretty shocked,” Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki said. “We’re up 3-1 in the first period and we lose 8-3."
After Dahlin opened the scoring 32 seconds in, Montreal chased Lyon with the three-goal burst.
Xhekaj tied it at 1:40, Demidov scored on a power play at 8:12 and Evans made it 3-1 on a short-handed break with 9:46 left. Luukkonen then took over in goal, and Zucker got one back for Buffalo on a power play with 6:04 to go in the period.
Benson tied it a minute into the second, slipping in a short backhander from the left side. Quinn put Buffalo ahead on a power play with 9:06 left in the second, slapping a one-timer from the top of the right circle past Dobes. Helenius made it 5-3 with 7:01 remaining in the period, striking from short range.
“We did have control of it,” Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson said. “They made a push, they made some good plays, and we didn’t really fight back hard enough for whatever reason.
Quinn added his second of the night on a power play midway through the third. Thompson scored into the empty net, and Metsa capped the scoring on a late power play.
Buffalo was 4 for 6 on the power play. Montreal was 1 for 3.
It had been 11 long years since Montreal, the Mecca of hockey, got a real taste of Saturday night playoff hockey, and fans were hungry for an instant classic. Long before puck drop, at quarter past six, fans were chanting “Go Habs Go” in the arena, soaking up the atmosphere and egging each other on. As always, the starting montage only fired up the crowd further, especially when another Stanley Cup winner from the organization’s past, Larry Robinson, walked in with the torch to light up the ice.
Business As Usual
Despite having the best of intentions, the start of the game felt like Groundhog Day, but starring Martin St-Louis instead of Bill Murray. The Montreal Canadiens’ coach could only watch helplessly from the bench as Juraj Slafkovsky committed an unforced turnover and was easily beaten by Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin, who walked in with the puck and backhanded it behind Jakub Dobes.
Just like on Thursday, though, the Canadiens roared back into the game, scoring three goals on their first three shots, ending Alex Lyon’s night after just over 10 minutes of action. The Canadiens beat him at even strength through Arber Xhekaj to equalize, on the power play through Ivan Demidov to take the lead and shorthanded when Jake Evans scored on an odd-man rush. Clearly, the Canadiens are no fans of Jean De Lafontaine's fable The Hare and the Tortoise; they may not start on time, but they are confident that they can catch up, perhaps a little too confident.
While Slafkovsky has two three-point games in these playoffs, he has had several ups and downs. When he’s not sending no-look back passes in no-man’s land, he appears unaware of what’s going on around him.
In the series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, he was completely blindsided by a hit, and it happened again on Saturday night. He was rocked by a hit in the middle of the neutral zone; it wasn’t as hard as the one against the Bolts, but it still led to the Canadiens losing puck possession.
Then, on the power play, he was attacking the zone as if he had all the time in the world, unaware that there was a Sabres forward hot on his tail just about to dispossess him. While some of that may be due to just how noisy the Bell Centre is, he still has to be more aware of what’s happening around him. In the third, as the Habs were desperately trying to generate some scoring chances, he almost collided with Nick Suzuki as he had his head down.
Dobes Got The Hook
After resisting the urge to pull his goaltender in Game 5, St-Louis had to pull the trigger in Game 6. The Canadiens had become completely undone, and Dobes had allowed six goals on 33 shots by the time he was called back to the bench to make way for Jacob Fowler.
One would be hard-pressed to blame him for the loss, however. After scoring three quick goals in the first frame, the Habs appeared to forget how to play. Not only could they not generate anything offensively, but they also forgot how to defend, allowing plenty of odd-man rushes.
At one stage, it became pointless to leave Dobes out there in a game the Canadiens were never going to get back into. In the end, the Habs lost 8-3 and will now have to play a do-or-die game in Buffalo on Monday night. While that’s not the result they were hoping for, the Habs can at least find comfort in the fact that they have been playing better on the road than at home in these playoffs and that they are 5-0 after a loss.
When it comes to the backup goalie position, the Philadelphia Flyers will have a lot of deliberating to do this summer.
Whatever they decide to do with Sam Ersson, though, they cannot allow emotion to be a factor.
Ersson, 26, is a pending restricted free agent in need of a new contract this summer, but the problem is that he posted a dismal 3.12 GAA and .870 save percentage this season - the worst overall campaign of his NHL career.
That effort follows one in 2024-25 when he wasn't much better, stumbling to a 3.14 GAA and .883 save percentage.
Through his three seasons as a full-time NHLer, Ersson has not finished one with a save percentage over .890, and his level of play has actually progressively declined each year.
A 2018 fifth-round pick, Ersson has been with the Flyers organization for a total of eight years now.
"First of all, he's a great teammate. The guys love him. He's been here for a while. We've invested a lot of years into him," Flyers general manager Danny Briere said of Ersson at his end-of-season press conference Thursday.
"It was a tough start for Sam, but we also have to give him credit, the way he stuck with it, found a way to bounce back to win some really big games down the road to get into the playoffs. That was impressive. . . We want to sit down and discuss."
It goes without saying that intangibles and the alchemy of the locker room are often-dismissed performance factors in sports, but they aren't the be-all, end-all.
Objectively, we have to look at Dan Vladar and recognize that he took the opportunity the Flyers gave him, ran with it, and made Ersson an afterthought while emerging as Philadelphia's starting goalie.
Ersson has seen his win totals drop from 23 to 22 to 14 and save percentage plummet from .890 to .883 to .870 over the last three years.
According to MoneyPuck, Ersson allowed 4.8 goals more than expected in 2023-24, 19.9 goals above expected (league-worst) in 2024-25, and 16.5 goals above expected this past year.
The Flyers giving the Swede credit for his post-Olympic break performance is fair, but they did the same thing in 2023-24. That's how we got here.
Two seasons ago, Ersson was pushing Carter Hart for starts after an injury to the latter and a strong performance in the fall (that followed an awful start).
Then, Hart had the personal leave and ultimately turned himself in to deal with the sexual assault charge stemming from the 2018 Hockey Canada case, which he was later acquitted of.
Ersson started nearly every game down the road in lieu of the likes of Cal Petersen and Felix Sandstrom and faltered, but the Flyers gave him credit for being burnt out, unprepared, and thrown into a tough situation.
Objectively true, but the Flyers could have made the playoffs that year if they held it together even just a little bit.
Ersson reprised his role as the starter last season, and the platoon of him, Ivan Fedotov, and Aleksei Kolosov was the league's worst.
And then came the run this year, when Ersson won five of his last six starts to help send the Flyers to the postseason.
Can the Flyers evaluate a struggling goalie based on a handful of games from stretches from two different seasons?
They already re-signed Aleksei Kolosov to partner up with Carson Bjarnason on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms again this year, and Keith Petruzzelli re-upped for some organizational depth.
Heading into 2026-27, the Flyers' backup goalie will either be Ersson or someone else, and alternatives like Stuart Skinner, Daniil Tarasov, Eric Comrie, David Rittich, and Sergei Bobrovsky are all more appealing options in free agency.
It would seem that Ersson's best chance of returning to Philadelphia comes from the Flyers striking out on one of the above options on the open market, which is an unlikely but not impossible scenario.
The team's decision to re-sign Kolosov re-emphasizes their patient approach to prospect development; the Flyers clearly have no designs of taking a Bjarnason or Egor Zavragin and throwing them into the NHL ASAP.
Ersson has already had three years of that patience, and regardless of it being him or someone else, anyone who steps in behind Vladar is a placeholder for a young prospect looking to break through in the near future.
The importance of this, though, is a.) having someone reliable to play behind Vladar in the event of injury, and b.) having someone who can perform consistently to help guide the Flyers to the playoffs year over year.
In recent years, the Flyers' pro scouts have nailed their evaluations.
They took Sean Walker on from the L.A. Kings as a throw-in for the Ivan Provorov trade, then turned Walker into a first-round pick at the NHL trade deadline.
That same summer, the Flyers signed Ryan Poehling, and eventually turned him and a second-round pick into Trevor Zegras.
Vladar has been a revelation, and Christian Dvorak had a career year this past season as well.
Amateur scouting is a different story, but precedent tells us we can trust the Flyers' evaluations of current NHLers.
Ersson can very well be, and has the talent to be, a goalie they decide to keep, but the Flyers have to come to that conclusion for the right reasons: watching the tape, believing in the talent, finding the right length and price on a contract.
It just can't be an emotional decision because he's been with the organization for eight years. After making the playoffs this past year, they have too much to lose from making rash decisions in free agency.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 09: Jordan Staal #11 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates the win in Game Four of the Second Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 09, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
There’s a dwindling number of teams remaining in the NHL playoffs and a former Penguin will be celebrating a Stanley Cup championship this summer – we just don’t know exactly which one yet.
Carolina
The Hurricanes have roared out to an 8-0 postseason, getting halfway there without so much as losing a playoff game. Carolina is captained by Jordan Staal, former Penguin Stanley Cup champion who is looking to get back to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2009 when he won it with Pittsburgh. The Canes also have Mark Jankowski in their playing lineup.
Vegas
Reilly Smith wasn’t happy when the Golden Knights traded him to the Pens to relieve a cap crunch and was able to find his way back to Vegas. At 35 he’s no longer the 50-60 point player he once was (scoring 26 points in 69 games this season and having two points in six playoff games) but is back where he wants to be and chasing a second Stanley Cup. The Knights also have Brandon Saad on their team for another Pittsburgh connection, though he’s been a reserve piece that has only appeared in three playoff games.
Colorado
The most recent former Penguin, Brett Kulak, has made his mark to help the Avalanche through the first two rounds of the playoffs with five points in nine games – including the OT goal to defeat Minnesota. That’s all the direct Penguin connections, though surely Sidney Crosby will be watching and pulling for his good friend Nathan MacKinnon to nab a second Stanley Cup.
Buffalo/Montreal
This has been written before last night’s Game 6, so by this point either Montreal has moved on or the Sabres have forced a Game 7 in that series. Either way, a former Pen will be involved next round. The Canadiens have Mike Matheson on their team, Buffalo has Jason Zucker and Conor Timmins as regulars with Tanner Pearson (no playoff games) in reserve. Buffalo also has Mattias Samuelsson, the son of former Penguin Ulf to add an indirect connection.
After going up 2-0 in their best-of-seven North Division Final series against the Maine Mariners in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, the Wheeling Nailers - ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins - dropped three straight to go down in the series, 3-2, before the series turned back to Wheeling.
It would have been easy for the Nailers to lose confidence and give up hope after blowing their series lead. But they did no such thing, and they had the response they needed Saturday - even if it was in dramatic fashion.
In Game 6, Wheeling defeated Maine, 2-1, on a dramatic overtime game-winner by defenseman Emil Pieniniemi. Goaltender Taylor Gauthier had a rebound game, stopping 31 of 32, and the Nailers outshot the Mariners, 48-32.
Despite outshooting Maine 12-6 in the first period, the Nailers couldn't find the scoresheet. But that changed a little more than five minutes into the second period, when Zach Urdahl fed Nolan Renwick with a nice drop pass to the slot, and Renwick sniped it home to give Wheeling the 1-0 advantage.
The score remained that way in a tight-checking game approaching the midway point of the third, but Maine found a way. After nice right-pad save by Gauthier with the Mariners pressuring, the puck took a wild bounce and ended up near the left point on the stick of Michael Underwood. He threw it toward the net, and it found its way past Gauthier, tying the score at 1-1.
After the Nailers controlled play in regulation, overtime was a pretty even contest. Chances were traded back and forth, and Gauthier actually made a breakaway save on Ben Allison prior to the game-winning goal. With three minutes to go in the first overtime - and on a power play opportunity - Urdahl patiently stickhandled the puck in the right circle before finding Pieniniemi at the right point.
Pieniniemi elected to unleash a slapshot from there, and it found the back of the net to give Wheeling the overtime win and force Game 7 on Monday at 7:10 p.m. ET at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling.
Going into the 2025-26 season, Anthony Mantha was a good bet to be the next Anthony Beauvillier for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Penguins signed Beauvillier to a cheap one-year deal heading into the 2024-25 season before flipping him at the trade deadline to the Washington Capitals for a second-round pick. He compiled 13 goals and 20 points in 63 games with the Penguins before he was moved.
Mantha was coming off a torn ACL that limited him to only 13 games during the 2024-25 season, and the Penguins thought he'd be a good bounce-back candidate. They put him on the second line to start this season, and he was an instant fit with Evgeni Malkin and Justin Brazeau before he developed more chemistry with Ben Kindel on the third line (and Brazeau after he was moved off the second line).
Mantha scored some huge goals during the regular season and had his best season overall, finishing with 33 goals and 64 points in 81 games. He helped the Penguins exceed expectations and qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since the 2021-22 season. He played so well that Penguins general manager/president Kyle Dubas couldn't afford to move him at the 2026 trade deadline.
However, once the playoffs started, Mantha's game went downhill, and he was a complete non-factor in the Penguins' first-round loss against the Philadelphia Flyers. He came into this year's playoffs with no goals and only six points in 14 playoff games and finished the series against the Flyers with only one point (an assist in Game 5).
The puck followed Mantha throughout Game 6 in Philadelphia, especially in the third period and overtime, but he flubbed every chance he got, and the Penguins eventually lost on a Cam York goal in the final three minutes of the first OT.
Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Anthony Mantha (39) controls the puck against Philadelphia Flyers goalie Dan Vladar (80) in the second period in game six of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Earlier this week, Dubas spoke about Mantha's season, calling it "great." He also confirmed that he spoke with him in his exit interview, but hasn't talked with his agent.
“It’s hard to say it wasn’t a great fit and great season for Anthony," Dubas said on Tuesday.
"I talked directly to Anthony in his exit interview. Haven’t had any discussion with his agent. He was pretty clear with me what his intentions are. That’s private and personal for him. That’s not on me to say that here publicly. But we’ll see how all the other things materialize, and we can always circle back.”
While it's still early in the offseason, Dubas's statement that Mantha was clear with him about his intentions suggests he plans to test the market. Who could blame him? He's coming off an outstanding season and will get some good offers from teams that are looking for more scoring. The free-agent market isn't strong either, and it could lead to a bidding war for his services.
The Penguins have all the cap space in the world to pay him, but he's also going to be another year older (32) when the 2026-27 season starts and is coming off a career-best season. It's unlikely that Mantha will ever repeat that kind of production.
The Penguins still need to get younger and that will be a high priority for Dubas this offseason. He wants to find those difference-making players who are in their 20s that they lack.
Mantha was a brilliant signing by Dubas last offseason and worked out better than anyone could've imagined. He's also a player that the Penguins don't need to attach themselves to for another contract.
Will Vancouver Canucks prospect Danila Klimovich be heading to the KHL?
According to his agent, Dan Milstein, the forward will not be.
With both Vancouver and the Abbotsford Canucks’s 2025–26 seasons wrapped-up, and Klimovich waiting for a new contract with the Canucks, rumours have floated of the forward signing in the KHL, which would end his five-year tenure with the AHL team.
Earlier today, Milstein clarified the rumours for a second time, confirming that Klimovich would not be going to the KHL at this moment.
“Fake news,” he wrote on X in a response to an article claiming that his client would be heading to the KHL.
Milstein also confirmed this to David Quadrelli of CanucksArmy earlier in the week, writing that the “KHL is not being considered at this time at all.”
Klimovich was drafted 41st overall in the 2021 NHL Draft but has yet to make his NHL debut. The forward has played on Abbotsford since the 2021–22 season, reaching career-highs in 2024–25 with 25 goals and 13 assists in 65 games played. He is currently tied with Linus Karlsson for Abbotsford’s franchise-high in all-time goals-scored with 70.
Klimovich is one of four players currently in the Canucks organization who are represented by Milstein, with the others being Evander Kane, Max Sasson, and Kirill Kudryavtsev. Milstein also represents Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov, Montréal Canadiens rookie Ivan Demidov, and former Canucks forward Ilya Mikheyev.
Klimovich’s current contract will expire come the 2026 off-season, making him a restricted free-agent if the Canucks opt not to re-sign him.
Sep 26, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Danila Klimovich (9) reaches for the loose puck against the Seattle Kraken in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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The Buffalo Sabres face the Montreal Canadiens, who are trying to close out the NHL second-round playoff series. The Montreal Canadiens are favored with a -172 moneyline compared to the Buffalo Sabres' +143.
