NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 02: Dougie Hamilton #7 of the New Jersey Devils celebrates his goal with teammates on the bench during the first period against the Washington Capitals at Prudential Center on April 02, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
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“Everybody knows the Hughes brothers want to play together. Maybe Jack wants to come to Minnesota now to join forces with Quinn rather than wait or have it the other way around. It would be complicated, though, because it’s hard to believe Jack would leave their youngest brother, Luke, behind with the New Jersey Devils. That may be why, per league sources, the Wild made a pitch to former Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald to acquire Luke this past season.” [The Athletic ($)]
“While he’s still young enough to improve, it stands to reason Nemec may not be looked at as a long-term core piece by Mehta. If that’s the case, here are a few landing spots that could make sense:” [Infernal Access ($)]
What should the Devils do about Dougie Hamilton?
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Hurricanes have had a long break:
The Carolina Hurricanes will have 12 days off between games, the longest layoff in NHL playoff history 🤯
By the time the Eastern Conference Final begins, Carolina will have played just eight games in 36 days. pic.twitter.com/GaAWqsRszz
Quinn Hughes on the idea of resigning in Minnesota: “I can say that I really like it here. I love the team. I love the city and the fans. Just being in that locker room, it’s a special group. Would definitely be open to re-signing here with the guys that we have in the room and just the people we have in the room. A lot of trust with Billy, as well, and love (coach John Hynes) and (associate coach Jack Capuano) and the coaching staff.” [The Athletic ($)]
“The Vegas Golden Knights have been stripped of their second-round pick in this year’s draft, with coach John Tortorella also receiving a $100,000 fine, for ‘flagrant violations’ of the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoff media regulations, the league announced Friday.” [ESPN]
“It’s safe to say the ‘Yzerplan’ has not worked out. And as the Detroit Red Wings enter a critical off-season, they need to change up their methods, even if that doesn’t include Steve Yzerman.” [The Hockey News]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
PITTSBURGH - MAY 18: Sidney Crosby #68 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates a goal by teammate Ryan Malone #12 , surrounded by goaltender Martin Biron #43, R.J. Umberger #20 and Lasse Kukkonen #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers at 11:42 of the second period of game five of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Mellon Arena on May 18, 2008 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Eighteen years ago today, the Pittsburgh Penguins punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1992.
The Penguins, full of a mix of youth and grizzly veterans, had made their return to the postseason a year prior, quickly dispatched in five games by the Ottawa Senators.
Now a year later, Pittsburgh had seemed to have learned a lot from their loss, storming through the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 4-0 sweep of the Ottawa Senators and a 4-1 series win against the New York Rangers.
Up next were the Penguins’ cross-state rivals from Philadelphia, but the series shifted heavily towards Pittsburgh from the start.
The Flyers held off being eliminated in Game 4, but all things went Pittsburgh’s way in Game 5 at the Mellon Arena.
Ryan Malone scored twice along with goals from Evgeni Malkin, Marian Hossa, Jordan Staal, and Pascal Dupuis as the Penguins cruised to the Stanley Cup Final with a 6-0 win.
Montreal Canadiens (48-24-10, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Buffalo Sabres (50-23-9, in the Atlantic Division)
Buffalo, New York; Monday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Sabres -122, Canadiens +102; over/under is 5.5
NHL PLAYOFFS SECOND ROUND: Series tied 3-3
BOTTOM LINE: The Montreal Canadiens visit the Buffalo Sabres in game seven of the second round of the NHL Playoffs. The teams meet Saturday for the 11th time this season. The Sabres won 8-3 in the last meeting. Jack Quinn led the Sabres with two goals.
Buffalo is 50-23-9 overall and 23-10-5 against the Atlantic Division. The Sabres are seventh in the league serving 9.7 penalty minutes per game.
Montreal has a 23-13-3 record in Atlantic Division games and a 48-24-10 record overall. The Canadiens have a 49-9-9 record when scoring at least three goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Tage Thompson has scored 40 goals with 41 assists for the Sabres. Rasmus Dahlin has three goals and nine assists over the last 10 games.
Cole Caufield has 51 goals and 37 assists for the Canadiens. Lane Hutson has 10 assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Sabres: 6-3-1, averaging 3.5 goals, 5.8 assists, 5.3 penalties and 14.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game.
Canadiens: 5-4-1, averaging 3.1 goals, 5.3 assists, 6.1 penalties and 19 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game.
INJURIES: Sabres: Noah Ostlund: out (lower body), Jiri Kulich: out for season (ear), Justin Danforth: out for season (kneecap).
Canadiens: Patrik Laine: out (abdomen).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
After admitting that his team still had a "long way to go" to match the likes of the Carolina Hurricanes - the gold standard in the Metropolitan Division - he explained that they needed difference-makers in that age range to reach that level.
“I think what we really lack are those players in their later 20s that are really true difference makers. Or mid-20s, late 20s, that are true difference makers," Dubas said.
After explaining that Pittsburgh should be a favorable destination for such players - and doubling down on that - he went on to reaffirm that he and the Penguins will “investigate all those [players] as they go into the summer.” While he did mention acquiring players similar to the likes of Egor Chinakhov, who broke out for 18 goals and 36 points in 43 games after being traded from Columbus to Pittsburgh in late-December, there’s also the possibility that he was thinking a bit higher in terms of impact names.
"I think if we're going to take really big steps next year that [are] sustainable, it's going to be by using the cap space that we have, but [also] the assets that we have, the draft picks, the prospects, etc, to go and acquire somebody," Dubas said. "Is that going to be possible? We're sure going to find out. But I'm being open with you because that's the path ahead.”
So, if Dubas is truly considering “big-game hunting” this summer, let’s go big.
As a disclaimer, it typically takes a lot for bigger names to actually be on the market, and it’s also going to take a lot - a whole lot - for the Penguins to be in on those names if they are, especially in a rising-cap environment. Players like Brayden Schenn and Justin Faulk - talented but aging players - fetched first-round picks plus roster and prospect talent at the deadline.
But some of the NHL’s most elite players are at that level for a reason, and the cost will be much steeper than that. So, if some of these acquisition costs seem like overpays, well, that’s probably because they are.
With the lack of true blue-chip prospects, the Penguins would have to send a lot the other way in any “big fish” trade scenario. With that, what would it - theoretically - cost to acquire who could be three of the biggest players not named Connor McDavid (at least, not yet) on the market this summer?
Estimated cost: F Bryan Rust, D Harrison Brunicke, F Bill Zonnon, F Rutger McGroarty, G Joel Blomqvist, 2026 and 2027 first-round picks, 2026 second-round pick, 2028 third-round pick
Let's get this one out of the way because Matthews would, most certainly, cost more than any big name potentially on the market this summer - assuming McDavid isn’t on it.
The 28-year-old forward has a resume that speaks for itself, as he has notched two 60-plus goal seasons, has scored 30 or more goals in nine of his 10 NHL seasons, has scored 40 or more six times, and has 428 goals and 780 points in 679 games. He is also currently sixth all-time in goals-per-game at .621, which is outpacing all-time goals leader Alex Ovechkin at .591.
Injuries are the primary reason he’s unlikely to beat Ovechkin’s goal record - whatever it ends up being - and they have been a concern for him throughout his career, as he plays a gritty game despite his high-level skill and he’s only played five seasons of 70 or more games. The other thing that may drive down his value a bit is the fact that his contract - which pays him $13.25 million annually through the end of 2027-28 - has a full no-movement clause, meaning Matthews controls if he goes and where he goes.
That said, we’re talking about someone who is legitimately one of the greatest goal-scorers of all-time.
In order for the Penguins to have any kind of shot at Matthews, they would have to be willing to surrender pretty much anything. Rust seems like a given in this deal, as Toronto could either keep him or flip him again for a first-round pick and more if they choose to tear it down (which is likely if Matthews departs). There could even be a third team involved for the Rust portion of it.
And if the Penguins are married to keeping Kindel, well, they’re going to have to sacrifice at least two of their next-best prospects in Brunicke and Zonnon. Heck, Murashov might even be a requirement over Blomqvist, as Toronto never has any shortage of goaltending needs.
So, acquiring him will cost an arm and a leg - and rightfully so - and even this proposal could fall short. However, that doesn’t mean that the Penguins are primed to even target someone like this quite yet, especially since they’re still in the middle of their rebuild and are banking on some of their current assets to pan out.
Still, if Matthews is available, Dubas - like every other GM - should be picking up the phone to poke around. He and Matthews have a good relationship, and he’s a game-changing superstar worth paying up for.
Estimated cost: F Bryan Rust, D Harrison Brunicke, F Tristan Broz, 2026 first-round pick, 2028 conditional first-round pick, 2027 third-round pick
Thomas may not be quite on the same level as Matthews. But, a few tiers below Matthews is still a pretty darn good player.
It’s not as if first-line centers grow on trees and become available very often. But that’s exactly what was rumored to happen prior to the trade deadline, when the Blues were reportedly engaging on Thomas.
And one of the teams rumored to be in on Thomas was the Penguins, with the apparent asking price involving Kindel, per Elliotte Friedman on his '32 Thoughts' podcast. Of course, Kindel wouldn’t have been the only piece headed the other way, though, as acquiring first-line centers doesn’t come cheap. Plus, Thomas’s team-friendly salary of $8.125 million through 2030-31 is a coveted commodity.
Since the Blues aren’t exactly in teardown mode quite yet, they’ll probably want NHL or near-ready NHL talent in return. Rust fits the bill as a veteran scoring top-line scoring replacement on the cheap, but St. Louis also needs right defensemen and centers, making the ask of Brunicke and someone like Broz reasonable. And if that, plus the picks, can’t get a deal across the finish line, the Penguins could maybe add some salary retention for Rust or an additional pick or NHL roster player with some upside like an Avery Hayes or Elmer Soderblom.
However, Dubas and the Penguins should tread carefully here. Sure, Matthews is a talent worth selling the farm for, but is Thomas? Thomas is a solid first-line center, and he will be for at least another handful of years. But his career production doesn’t necessarily warrant the Penguins giving up more than one of their very best prospects, plus all that draft capital.
The Blues have all the time in the world, too, even if Thomas has a no-trade clause, so they can drive up the price however much they’d like to. Again, the Penguins should absolutely be in on Thomas if he’s still available since he helps a lot in the near-term, but they shouldn’t overpay significantly to win a bidding war here.
Estimated cost: F Rickard Rakell (30 percent retained), F Will Horcoff, F Rutger McGroarty, D Owen Pickering, 2026 first-round pick, 2027 second-round pick, 2026 third-round pick
If you're noticing a pattern here, yes, the Penguins - since they, again, don't have any bona fide "blue chip" prospects - would need to keep tacking on extra players in order to get a deal for a superstar player across the finish line.
First thing’s first: Robertson is probably not going anywhere, as Dallas would, quite frankly, be crazy to let a player of his caliber get away, especially since they’re one of the league’s best teams in win-now mode. Folks are more likely to see names like Tyler Seguin, Matt Duchene, Roope Hintz, Mavrik Bourque, and even Esa Lindell get jettisoned before the 26-year-old Robertson would.
But, the reality is that Dallas is cap-strapped, as they are only projected to have $10.99 million in cap this summer, according to PuckPedia. If they sign Robertson, they’d still have to shed some bigger salaries and fill out the rest of their roster, which is easier said than done.
So, if he is, somehow, on the way out, Dubas should be breaking through the door to acquire one of the league’s best wingers.
Rakell, 33, makes sense here. He may not be a three-time 40-goal scorer like Robertson, but he is a three-time 30-goal scorer, and he has scored at a respectable point-per-game rate for the past two seasons and can man the middle. He would be a nice short-term solution in terms of a scoring stopgap for losing Robertson, and he’s on a team-friendly deal at $5 million. If there’s salary retention involved, that helps Dallas even more.
McGroarty and Pickering are also cheap, NHL-ready-as-can-be options with upside that could help them in both the short- and long-term. Plus, a scorer like Horcoff - who would be a little farther off in terms of readiness - is a promising piece for their future, and they’d be fairly compensated in terms of draft capital, too, that they can either flip for more talent or keep to draft talent.
If the price is driven up, the Penguins can offer another mid-late pick. They can offer to take on another salary dump from Dallas to free up even more space, too, which would likely be part of any deal for Robertson. There is flexibility in how they can build a package here, which works to their advantage. Robertson should command a fair bit more than what Jake Guentzel did two years ago, so this seems pretty reasonable as far as acquisition cost, especially since the Penguins will want a sign-then-trade in this case.
Robertson is the one superstar who makes sense for a lot of reasons, and his acquisition cost shouldn’t be quite as high in terms of asset value as the other two, since centers come at a premium and since he is an RFA. It would cost a lot, but he’s probably the most realistic “big fish” on this list, should he hit the market.
Stan Bowman might need to find a starting goaltender this summer, but the UFA market has looked him dead in the eyes and shrugged.
This year's free agent market could've been one for the ages. Stars like Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, and Kirill Kaprizov were all eligible for UFA status. Then they all signed extensions, and what was once a promising class became one of the weakest in years. Nowhere is that more apparent than in net.
Sergei Bobrovsky is the biggest name potentially available, a two-time Vezina winner and two-time Stanley Cup champion who has certainly become one of the more interesting storylines of the summer. But he's 37, the Panthers may still re-sign him, and even if he hits the market, he's not going to be a long-term answer for anyone.
Cam Talbot is also expected to reach free agency, but turns 39 on July 5. Frederik Andersen, who has been in and out of the lineup in Carolina for two seasons, is another name that might surface.
So: a 37-year-old coming off a down year, a 39-year-old, and a 36-year-old whose body has made his retirement decision for him twice already. For a team that needs its goaltender to carry a real workload next October, this is not exactly a buyer's market.
There is, however, one intriguing option. A 27-year-old pending UFA with two Stanley Cup Final appearances on his résumé, a .902 career save percentage, and a cap hit that won't break the bank. A guy who knows Rogers Place, knows the dressing room, knows how to play behind McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
His name is Stuart Skinner. You may have heard of him.
Skinner split his season between Edmonton and Pittsburgh after the mid-December trade, posting an .891 save percentage with the Edmonton Oilers and .885 with the Penguins. Nearly identical numbers on two very different rosters.
Pittsburgh isn't expected to bring him back, with younger options like Arturs Silovs and Sergei Murashov in the pipeline. He's projected to command somewhere in the $3.8 million range on his next deal.
The circular nature of it all is almost poetic. Bowman traded Skinner away in December to acquire Tristan Jarry, a move that did not go well for anyone involved. Jarry had an .858 save percentage in 19 games with the Oilers and started just once in the playoffs. Now Jarry is still owed $5.375 million a year for two more seasons, Skinner is a free agent, and Edmonton is back at square one.
Could Bowman actually re-sign the goalie he traded away six months ago? Stranger things have happened, though not many. The optics would be awkward. The price would be modest. And in a market this thin, modest and available might be the best offer on the table.
Skinner has always said he has no regrets about his time in Edmonton. Whether he'd want to come back is a separate question. Whether Bowman has the nerve to ask is another one entirely.
The Rangers have two new role models to copy in their hopes for retool-rebuild-renaissance: the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens.
Originally picked by The Hockey News Yearbook to finish seventh in the Atlantic Division, the Sabres could make it to the Conference Final with a win in Game Seven tomorrow night.
Their stunning – and it was STUNNING – second half rush was fueled by speed up and down the line, excellent leadership by captain Rasmus Dahlin and Lindy Ruff's sag coaching.
Not much difference with the Habs led by the equally astute Marty St. Louis except for goaltending. The difference last night was between the pipes. Buffalo has it and the Canadiens can't rely on their trio of rubber-stoppers.
By contrast, the Rangers have the goaltending and not much else!
One of the Philadelphia Flyers' top objectives this off-season should be to add another impactful defenseman. When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, Boston Bruins blueliner Mason Lohrei stands out as an interesting potential option.
Questions about Lohrei's future in Boston came up often during this season, and it should carry over to the summer. The 6-foot-5 defenseman notably was scratched by the Bruins multiple times during the playoffs and simply could use a change of scenery. With the Flyers needing an offensive defenseman, he would be an intriguing buy-low target for them to consider.
If the Flyers acquired Lohrei, he could compete for a spot in their top four due to his ability to play both the left and the right side. However, even if he played on their bottom pairing and was often used on their power play, he would have the potential to provide the Flyers' blueline with a real boost.
Lohrei appeared in 73 games this season with the Bruins, where he recorded seven goals, 26 points, and a plus-17 rating. This is after he had five goals and 33 points in 77 games with the Bruins in 2024-25. Overall, the 25-year-old defenseman has shown that he has the potential to produce decent offense from the point.
Yet, with Lohrei still being young, it is fair to wonder if he could hit a new level if given a change of scenery. Perhaps joining an exciting team on the rise, like the Flyers, could help him do just that.
Game 6 was a nightmare for the Montreal Canadiens, as they fell to the Buffalo Sabres by an 8-3 final score. While this is the case, the Canadiens now have the opportunity to get their revenge against the Sabres in Game 7.
If the Canadiens pull things back together and win Game 7 against the Sabres, Jakub Dobes would join some elite company.
According to NHL Public Relations, Dobes would join Ken Dryden, Carey Price, Patrick Roy, and Jaroslav Halak as the only Canadiens goalies with multiple Game 7 wins in their franchise history.
This would undoubtedly be a major accomplishment for Dobes in what has been a strong post-season for the 24-year-old netminder. Despite having a tough start in Game 6, he still has a .906 save percentage and a 2.59 goals-against average in 13 games this post-season.
It will now be interesting to see if Dobes can lead the Canadiens to a victory in Game 7 from here.
The Buffalo Sabres defeated the Montreal Canadiens by an 8-3 final score in Game 6. With this, the Sabres have kept their playoff run alive and have forced Game 7.
Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jason Zucker contributed to the Sabres' victory, as he had a strong game for the Atlantic Division club in Game 6.
Zucker scored a goal and recorded an assist in the Sabres' Game 6 victory over the Canadiens, and both were important moments.
With the Sabres down 3-1 in the first period, Zucker scored to cut the Canadiens' lead to 3-2. This was the first of seven unanswered goals scored by the Sabres, so Zucker's goal undoubtedly helped spark Buffalo's dominance in Game 6.
Zucker's assist in Game 6 was also important, as it was the primary one on Konsta Helenius' second-period goal that gave the Sabres a 5-3 win.
With this clutch game, Zucker now has two goals and four points in 12 playoff games so far this spring. This is after the former Penguins forward had 24 goals and 45 points in 62 games for the Sabres this regular-season.
The Buffalo Sabres didn’t just survive Saturday night in Montreal — they clawed their way back from the brink behind a handful of unlikely difference-makers who refused to let the season die quietly.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen Slammed the Door Shut
When Lindy Ruff pulled Alex Lyon after three goals on four shots, the atmosphere inside the Bell Centre felt almost fatal for Buffalo. The Sabres looked rattled, the Canadiens smelled blood, and the season appeared to be slipping away in real time.
Then Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stepped into the chaos and completely flipped the emotional gravity of the game.
Instead of unraveling under the pressure of an elimination game on the road, Luukkonen delivered the kind of composed, season-saving performance that changes playoff series. He turned aside all 18 shots he faced after entering the game, erasing dangerous chances and stabilizing a team that desperately needed someone to calm the storm.
Every save seemed to strengthen Buffalo’s belief. Every stop drained life from a Canadiens crowd expecting a knockout blow.
What made the performance even more remarkable was the circumstance surrounding it. Luukkonen entered after a disastrous Game 5 outing and likely wasn’t even expected to see the ice Saturday night. Yet when the Sabres needed someone to rescue the season, he answered with the biggest relief appearance of his career.
Now, heading into Game 7, the crease unquestionably belongs to him.
Jack Quinn Finally Delivered the Breakthrough Buffalo Needed
The Sabres have spent much of this series searching for consistency from their power play, and for stretches, it looked like special teams might ultimately bury them.
Instead, Jack Quinn turned it into Buffalo’s greatest weapon in Game 6.
The winger entered the night still searching for his first playoff goal, making him an unlikely candidate to become one of the offensive catalysts in the most important game of the season. But Quinn erupted with two power-play goals, both arriving at critical moments as Buffalo seized momentum and refused to let Montreal recover.
More importantly, Quinn looked dangerous every time the puck found his stick. There was confidence in his release, urgency in his movement, and a level of assertiveness that had been missing earlier in the postseason.
Buffalo’s stars carried much of the offensive burden, but Quinn’s emergence gave the Sabres something they had lacked for large stretches of the series — secondary scoring capable of punishing Montreal’s mistakes.
If that version of Quinn shows up again Monday night, the complexion of Game 7 changes dramatically.
Konsta Helenius Is No Longer Just a Feel-Good Story
When the Sabres inserted Konsta Helenius into the lineup earlier in the series, it initially felt like an injection of youthful energy more than anything else — a talented prospect getting a taste of playoff hockey.
That storyline has officially expired.
Helenius is impacting games in meaningful moments now, and his second-period goal in Game 6 may have been one of the defining swings of the night.
At the time, Buffalo had battled back to reclaim momentum, but the game still felt fragile. One Canadiens push could have erased everything the Sabres had worked to rebuild after the ugly opening minutes.
Then Helenius struck.
His goal pushed the lead to 5-3 and completely changed the pressure dynamic inside the building. Suddenly, Montreal looked tense. Buffalo looked freer. The rookie didn’t just add insurance — he gave the Sabres breathing room in a game that had been emotionally volatile from puck drop.
Beyond the goal itself, Helenius continues to look remarkably composed for a player thrown into playoff hockey under immense pressure. The pace hasn’t overwhelmed him. The stage hasn’t intimidated him.
25 years ago, in our Mar 9, 2001 issue No. 26, vol. 54, we focused on a pair of Russian stars named Alexei. One was a current Senators star and the other was a future one, and Ottawa's memories of both men are mixed.
Alexei Yashin and Alexei Kovalev are both remembered for their high skill level, but also for their high maintenance.
In the 2000-01 season, two years after Yashin finished second in Hart Trophy voting, and one year after he skipped the entire Senators season in a contract holdout, he finished 12th in NHL scoring with 88 points in 82 games.
Pittsburgh's Alexei Kovalev was still nine years away from his one season in Ottawa, and finished fourth in NHL scoring with 95 points in 79 games. Of course, he had the benefit of playing with Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr.
Drake Batherson talks about his respect for the way Brady Tkachuk handled some of the non-hockey issues that came his way this season.
Joe Starkey wrote about Kovalev, who had his best season that year, following his years of underachieving with the New York Rangers. Bruce Garrioch wrote about Yashin's welcome return to the lineup after a contract holdout the season before.
Here's a little hockey time travel, back to 2001.
KOVALEV THRIVING IN PITTSBURGH
By Joe Starkey
He just takes the puck with one or two guys on top of him and can take it to the net. That makes any player look good, when you can stickhandle with two guys on your back and get the puck to the net and be able to shoot. That’s what he does. He takes it to the net from anywhere.
Alexei Kovalev’s many critics are forgiven. Kovalev has no time for resentment or revenge. No time to rub it in. He’s too busy torturing opposing goaltenders to worry about his critics.
Besides, they’re all hanging out in the same closet these days and are difficult to reach.
“I don’t want to show anything to anybody,” says Kovalev, Pittsburgh’s “other” star right winger. “I’m not that kind of guy. I want to prove to myself that I can be a better player.”
Amid all the excitement surrounding Mario Lemieux’s comeback and Jaromir Jagr’s chase for a fourth consecutive scoring title, Kovalev has quietly put together a career season. One might say this 28-year-old with a pilot’s license is just starting to fly.
“I feel I can do a lot more,” he says. “And here I am.”
All those people who said Kovalev didn’t shoot enough? Through 59 games he was tied with Colorado’s Joe Sakic for second in the league in shots with 235.
All those people who said Kovalev would never score 30 goals? He bagged No. 30 on Feb. 7 against Philadelphia, part of a two-game binge in which he netted consecutive hat tricks. Through 60 games he had 36 goals and 70 points, both career highs.
Oh, and all those people who said Kovalev doesn’t understand that the object of the game is to put the puck in the net? Well, we called one of them - and Neil Smith still loses his mind when he thinks back to Kovalev’s days as a New York Ranger.
He was the GM during the Kovalev years (1992-98) and as much as Smith adores Kovalev, he doesn’t back down from any of the statements he made toward the end of Kovalev’s stint in Manhattan.
“Alex obviously didn’t understand that putting the puck in the net is actually what wins hockey games,” says Smith, now a consultant with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. “I know it seems simple, but Alex really didn’t get it. It doesn’t matter how tough we are, how good we’re able to kill penalties, how fast we are, what our average age is. What does matter is that the number underneath our name has to be bigger than the other guys’, which means that all that matters is we have to put the rubber disc into the other guvs’ net.”
Alexei Kovalev is finally getting all the right bounces.
If it seems like Smith needs a tranquilizer now, imagine how he felt watching Kovalev circle around like a malfunctioning satellite, spinning into infinity, attempting to beat the same defenseman three times but rarely attempting a shot on goal. That happened often.
“He grew up playing keepaway hockey with the kids in his neighborhood - him versus everybody,” Smith says. “The objective wasn’t to score, but who could keep the puck. He carried that right into the NHL.”
The easygoing Kovalev had no hard feelings when Smith first made the critical statements. He still doesn’t. “Maybe Neil said something at the end, but he did a lot of good things for me, too,” said the native of Togliatti, Russia. “He kept me on the team when (coach) Mike Keenan wanted to trade me the year we won the Cup (1994).”
Kovalev rang up 21 points in 23 playoff games that year, but failed to build on it, never managing even 60 points as a Ranger.
Smith finally gave up on Kovalev on Nov. 25, 1998, shipping him to the Penguins along with $2.5 million and center Harry York in exchange for Petr Nedved, Chris Tamer and Sean Pronger. That move helped the bankrupt Penguins meet payroll. Three years later, Kovalev is ready to break the bank. He’s in the final year of a contract that pays him $2.3 million this season.
Kovalev also found freedom in Pittsburgh. In New York, nobody wanted to blame Wayne Gretzky or Mark Messier for the team’s failures. Kovalev was next up.
“Here, he’s a whole different player,” says Kevin Stevens. “You leave him alone and he’s a top-10, top-15 player in the league, a phenomenal talent.”
Kovalev’s rise actually started last season, when he produced a careerbest 26 goals and 66 points. This season, he was leading the team in ice time (23:48 per game), game-winners (eight) and shorthanded goals (two) and was tied for the lead in power play goals (nine).
Besides snooting more, another factor in Kovalev’s success is having familiar, steady linemates in Robert Lang and Martin Straka. But the biggest reason for his breakthrough is his coaches have given him the freedom to be himself.
“They let me play the game I love to play and it made a big difference,” he said.
Smith couldn’t be happier to see Kovalev enjoying so much success. One thing Kovalev never lost in New York was his love for the game. Not even at the end, on the day Smith traded him.
“I said, Alex, I’m sorry, but I have to do what I have to do,’” Smith said. “And do you know what he said? He said, ‘That’s OK, Neil, I’m still going to be able to play hockey. I just won’t be playing in New York.’ He didn’t have the reaction I thought he’d have. What’s life and death to Alexei Kovalev is playing hockey. He loves to play.” □
COMRADES IN ARMS
Friends and former teammates in Russia, Alexei Kovalev and Alexei Yashin have been best known for their ability to infuriate - Kovalev by not living up to his potential, Yashin by not living up to his contracts. This season they are making amends with inspired performances. Come this summer, it’s payback time. ■
YASHIN'S RETURN TO OTTAWA
By Bruce Garrioch
He’s one of the most talented players I’ve ever seen. He can do things with the puck that are amazing. In junior he was unbelievable. It’s good to see him playing well and having success. He’s a good player and a good guy. You like to see him enjoy playing.
Alexei Yashin’s comeback has been nothing like the celebrated one by Mario Lemieux in Pittsburgh. Instead, the Ottawa Senator had to get back in the good books by proving himself all over again.
After spending a year on the run from the final year of a contract that pays him $3.6 million this season, the star center gave up the fight last summer when an Ontario court judge ruled Yashin’s only choice was to honor his deal.
But now the boos which rained down on him during the pre-season have mostly turned to cheers. And while some critics suggested the Senators were better off without Yashin, he has, after a mediocre start, reemerged as an elite player. A noted patron of the arts, Yashin realizes the truest test is in his performance.
“When I put on the No. 19 jersey I always play with all my heart,” he says.
“I’m here and I’m going to do my best for the Ottawa Senators. I always do the best I can do whenever I step on the ice. Sometimes the points are not always there, but that doesn’t mean I’m not trying.”
The questions started the warm September afternoon Yashin stood on a podium in the bowels of the Corel Centre, wearing his new leather pants and acting defiant as he talked about his return.
He came back to the Senators as a man with a lot to prove, and prove it he has. Determined to make $8-to-$10 million next season, he recently passed Marian Hossa for the club scoring lead after trailing him by as many as 15 points.
Were it not for the sluggish start, Yashin would be on pace for a career year. As it is, he’s on pace for 86 points, just eight fewer than he had in 1998-99, when he was a Hart Trophy finalist.
“The guy is just playing really well,” says Ottawa goaltender Patrick Lalime. “I don’t know what has happened, maybe he has gotten confidence from putting so many by me in practice. It has helped him to score again.”
With the playoff drive entering its final stages, Yashin was the club’s hottest player with 16 goals and 25 points in 19 games as of Feb. 23.
“To me, he has been our best player,” says Ottawa coach Jacques Martin. “What we’re seeing now is that his game is getting back to the level of where it was before he left.
“The one thing we’ve talked about with him is using his shot. He has a great shot and I didn’t think he was shooting the puck enough. If you look at the great players in this league, they shoot the puck a lot.” Yashin had 187 shots through 60 games, 20th in the NHL.
He has never missed a game because of injury, but Yashin has a checkered past because of contract disputes that have made him and New Jersey-based agent Mark Gandler two of the most unpopular people in Ottawa.
Yashin finished his rookie season in 1992-93 with 79 points, then held out of training camp the next year until a bonus structure was put in place to get a new contract.
That resulted in another dispute which ultimately got GM Randy Sexton fired before his replacement Pierre Gauthier signed Yashin to a five-year, $13-million contract midway through 1996-97.
“He has been no trouble whatsoever,” says captain Daniel Alfredsson of Yashin.
“I think we all realize that if he’s giving it everything he has, then we’ve got a better chance of winning as a team.
That’s all we want.”
Says Yashin: “All I’ve ever wanted for this team is to have success. I feel good about the position that we’re in, but we have to keep playing well as a team.”
It’s no coincidence Yashin’s game improved the day Mario Lemieux madehis return to the pittsburgh lineup. The Pens’ star has always been a source of inspiration for the Ottawa center.
Following a game Dec. 30 at Mellon Arena, Yashin asked Lemieux for one of his sticks. The stick arrived withspecial words attached and is in a special place in his Ottawa home.
“When you see these great players and you see what they can do, it makes you want to play better,” Yashin says.
Or at least as good as he was playing before. And that’s a whole lot better than anyone in Ottawa imagined possible. □ ■
The Colorado Avalanche finally got the kind of update every playoff team spends May desperately hoping to hear: relief instead of bad news.
Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar struck an optimistic tone Sunday afternoon, saying he expects all of Colorado’s banged-up regulars to be available for Game 1 against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday to open the Western Conference Final.
Reinforcements Arriving At The Right Time
Defenseman Sam Malinski and winger Artturi Lehkonen both missed Games 4 and 5 against Minnesota, while superstar defenseman Cale Makar appeared visibly battered during the series-clinching Game 5 victory. Makar briefly left the game before gutting through the remainder of regulation and overtime, continuing to battle both hip and shoulder injuries.
Bednar says “I think everyone’s going to be available for Game 1, but we’ll see” regarding injured guys.
Asked earlier if Malinski is trending towards being available for G1 and he said “yes.”
Makar has not practiced over the last couple of days, though Bednar’s confidence Sunday suggested the organization believes its franchise cornerstone is trending in the right direction.
Veteran defenseman Brent Burns has also been absent recently, but indications are pointing toward a return sooner rather than later. Malinski was the lone injured regular spotted practicing Sunday, while Makar, Lehkonen and Burns remained off the ice.
Surviving The Grind Of Playoff Hockey
At this stage of the postseason, nobody is healthy — only available.
The Avalanche still need eight more wins to lift the Stanley Cup, and surviving this time of year often comes down to which teams can endure the physical damage piling up beneath the surface. Colorado at least appears to be getting critical reinforcements at the perfect time after expending enormous emotional and physical energy clawing past Minnesota in one of the wildest series of the playoffs.
Now the focus shifts entirely to Vegas.
Colorado is off Monday before likely returning to practice Tuesday, when the statuses of Makar, Lehkonen, Burns and Malinski should come into even sharper focus ahead of Game 1.
If there’s one player that hasn’t disappointed on the Montreal Canadiens' roster in the playoffs this season, it’s Lane Hutson. Despite only being 22 years old, the sophomore defenseman is playing like a seasoned vet and leads by example every day on the ice, whether it’s at practice or in game action.
Throughout 13 games, the youngster has 13 points and leads the Canadiens in points, but what’s even more impressive is the fact that he has a plus-three rating. Hutson plays well on both sides of the puck, and when he gets dispossessed or gives the puck away, he backchecks like a man possessed to fix his own mistake.
The team’s other top players have been on the ice for more than their fair share of goals. Nick Suzuki is minus-five, Cole Caufield is minus-seven, and Juraj Slafkovsky is minus-eight. While plus-minus doesn’t always accurately reflect what’s happening on the ice, in these playoffs, there’s no denying that the first line has been struggling defensively. In the last two games, the opponent’s first goal has been set up by their turnovers in the defensive zone. Slafkovsky’s missed clearance on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres was eerily similar to Caufield’s on Thursday.
In the Canadiens’ disappointing performance on Saturday night, the blueline had 10 attempts on net. Unfortunately, only one of those shots made it to the goalie, but that’s partly because he has learned to take advantage of the traffic in front of the opposing goaltender. He puts the puck on net and tries to set up his teammates for deflections, something he didn’t use to do as much.
In 13 games so far, the rearguard has averaged over 25 minutes of ice time. Martin St-Louis is using him in all situations. He quarterbacks the first power play and gives it more punch with his mobility and ability to dish passes everywhere on the ice. He also has a knack for buying himself more time and space, dancing along the offensive blueline all the while preparing his next move.
Even when the Canadiens are down a man, Hutson doesn’t get a break, as he’s an important piece of the second penalty-killing unit. Martin St-Louis wasn’t keen on using him in that situation early on in the season, but he has proven that he can handle it and shows no sign of slowing down, no matter how much time he spends on the ice.
If the Canadiens are to eliminate the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night, they’ll need Hutson to lead his team into battle once again.
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.
