The Florida Panthers took the ice in Fort Lauderdale on Monday for a final pre-Stanley Cup Playoff practice.

Afterward, the team made the short trip up Florida's west coast to Tampa, where they face the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of their opening round playoff series on Tuesday night.

As the Panthers prepare to defend their Stanley Cup title, the big question surround the team is regarding the health status of Matthew Tkachuk.

The All-Star forward has not played in an NHL game since before February's 4 Nations Face-Off, where he suffered an apparent groin injury while representing Team USA.

Tkachuk has been skating for several weeks, and on Saturday on Monday he took part in his first full team practices with the Panthers since before his injury.

By all accounts, Tkachuk looked normal, showing no signs of an injury while skating on a line with Sam Bennett and Mackie Samoskevich.

He also took regular reps on Florida's top power play unit, along with Sasha Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Samoskevich and Seth Jones.

As long as Tkachuk continues on his path of progress and doesn't suffer any setbacks, it sounds like the plan is for him to suit up for Game 1 against the Lightning.

“He’s got to get through the morning skate tomorrow,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice after Monday's practice. “We’re still monitoring the recovery off the practice. He was out early, before we went, went through a whole practice, stayed until the end, so we’ll see how he feels coming back in tomorrow. If he feels good, and he gets through that morning skate, and everybody gives a thumbs up, then he’ll go."

It's a tough balance for the Panthers, who will want to make sure that Tkachuk is at a point where he isn't at any risk of re-injuring himself before inserting him back into the lineup, but know how much value he provides at a time where wins are at an absolute premium.

"We’re close enough now that you also put yourself in that situation where you'd consider two more days if you felt you were right there," Maurice said. "So we’ll just let the doctors and Matthew tell us where he’s at, and then we’ll go from there.”

That's where the NHL may have done the Cats a favor in giving them the latest series start time of any in the opening round.

Every other playoff series will have started, and some will have played twice, when the puck drops on Game 1 between Florida and Tampa Bay.

For Tkachuk and the Panthers, that extra time may have been just what the doctor ordered to get Florida their start back for the series opener.

But if for some reason they decide to hold him back another couple days, the team will be prepared for that, too.

“If you go back and look at the last five games, at a different time, I was running versions of all of these lines with the idea that if Matthew doesn’t play, I know exactly who is going into that hole," Maurice said. "We’ve already run that before, and the lines that it changes beneath will look exactly like a line we ran in a game that we liked. We've got a flow chart for how we'll handle this.”

Florida will hold their morning skate Tuesday at Amalie Arena, after which Maurice will again be asked about Tkachuk's status for Game 1.

One more sleep!

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To close out the 2024-25 season, Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas spoke with the Pittsburgh media on Monday.

And if fans weren't sure about the approach that the organization plans to take this summer and beyond, Dubas seemed to clear up a few things.

After their third consecutive season of missing the playoffs, the Penguins find themselves in the midst of a rebuild. During locker cleanout day on Friday, both players and head coach Mike Sullivan expressed confidence that this team may be able to get back to contention again in a relatively quick manner.

While "returning the team to contention again as quickly as possible" remains the goal by Dubas's own admission, he also wants to pump the brakes on labeling an exact timeline for that to happen. Instead, he invoked a reassurance that the team is going to remain invested in the process of not just returning the team to playoff contention, but to Stanley Cup contention.

'I Have No Doubt This Thing's Going To Be Turned Around Quickly': After Lost Season, Penguins Optimistic About FutureFor one final time this season, the Pittsburgh Penguins gathered at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, Pa. - this, time, for locker cleanout day.

“I think if you look at the history of these things, to go from where we’re at now all the way back to legitimate contention, I don’t equate just getting into the playoffs with being a contender," Dubas said.  "Various things happen, but I think if you look at some of the [playoff] games that have transpired already - and we’ll have the tale once the playoffs are done - that those two things are not the same."

He continued: "So, when I say ‘as urgently as possible,’ I try not to put a timeline on it because I don’t this to be a perpetual and evergreen conference where we come in and say, ‘Oh, we’re just a year or two or so away.' We’re pushing because I think that’s what the organization here is used to, what the fans want. We just have to stick to a very concise plan and then execute our butts off, that’s for sure.”

Even though he didn't want to put a timeline on anything, though, rest assured: It doesn't sound like Dubas is interested in doing a full-scale teardown, and he put it quite colorfully.

"I just think there are a number of teams in the leagues that, you know, there are two paths to go down," Dubas said. "You can go into the mass teardown rebuild and hope you get lucky with the lottery and hope that all this happens. "But you can hope in one hand and s--- in the other and see which one fills up first."

He pointed to the Washington Capitals' strategy of rebuilding and how they not only drafted well while contending, but how they also managed to keep veterans like Alex Ovechkin, Tom Wilson, and John Carlson around and bridge that contention gap. Dubas believes that the Penguins need a few of those younger players - like Connor McMichael and Martin Fehervary - in order to execute something similar.

He stressed that the Penguins are "trying to rapidly get to that point," and that they will use their assets to try to get themselves to the point where they have all of those necessary pieces, as he believes that the Capitals are now the standard.

"They had to do one thing, we have to do two, which is fill that lack of the young 22, 23, 24, 25-year-old NHL players and also continue to build out our assets to use them to acquire and trade. Also, if you look at their team, they drafted extremely well... They're extraordinarily well-coached. I've known Spencer. We were together in Toronto.

"They're not going to go anywhere. So, we have to haul a-- and catch them because they're way ahead right now, as the standings show. But they weren't. They weren't two years ago. But they've done a great job in coaching, development, drafting. It's impressive."

In terms of what the plan is for this summer, Dubas gave a few hints as to what the organization's approach might be. He re-emphasized that the "execution" segment of their plan will kick into gear this summer, and given the assets and the cap space that the Penguins have, they may look to start setting the table for long-term contention with a few savvy moves.

Like Ovechkin's Capitals, Penguins Owe It To Crosby To Right The ShipOn Sunday, the hockey world got to witness Alexander Ovechkin - The Great “8” - surpass The Great “One” for the most goals in NHL history.

Those moves may not include big splashes in the unrestricted free agent market or the offer sheet market - Dubas stressed that the rising cap will make offer sheets easier to match for other teams - but that doesn't mean they won't look to restricted free agency.

"I think the areas that you probably would see us spend more would be acquisition by trade, and then signing players that other teams might not be able to fit," Dubas said. "I think the effect in free agency is probably going to be somewhat of a spike in salary, and so it’ll dry up the cap space rather quickly for us, and those players are mostly into that late 20-early 30 category.

"It could do two things. Number one, I think it's going to allow us to maybe trade for players that other teams can't afford that are restricted free agents, and then sign them longer range ourselves, using that cap space that way. You're signing a player that's 23-24 for seven or eight years versus going into free agency for someone who's 27 to 32 and getting them for seven years. So, I think that would be the more likely route... and the owners have been excellent there. There's no limitations on the player budget and spending. So, we need to use it in the right spot and not just say we were a cap team, but to use it towards getting us back to our goal."

And, as Dubas has reiterated time and time again, that goal is getting the team back to legitimate contention. It remains to be seen whether players like Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell will figure into the longer-term. He did mention that one area they'd like to add to is their left defense, which has struggled mightily.

With the assets and the veterans that the Penguins have, they might just have to give up some high value in return for such a piece, being that executing in the trade market seems to be a large part of the plan. Unlike the defense corps, Dubas believes their forward and goaltending prospect pools are in a pretty good place.

If they can revamp the defensive corps and execute on some trades and draft picks to bring legitimate young players into the fold this summer, it could help expedite the process and make good on the plan to turn the team into a contender again. And Dubas knows the importance of doing that with urgency to someone like Sidney Crosby, who wasn't shy about expressing the toll that losing takes on him and the organization.

"Everything that we do is to try to get those young players around him," Dubas said. "If you have guys in the group that have won and have been a part of it, I think it can exponentially improve and expedite the team’s return to contending. I don’t know if it’s a proof of concept. I think, from my end, it’s trying to build something that can sustain itself for a long time.

"Getting those younger players who are going to be a part of that core around Sid - him helping them and them helping him - is really what the focus is. It’s really not just Sid, it goes back to the question of Bryan Rust, Karlsson, Kris Letang, Geno, Rickard Rakell, all those others that are there... they can play a role in that as well. I’m trying to do that for every one of them because I think they are high quality people. They are high-end players who can help return us to where we want to be."

‘We’ll Begin To Shift To The Execution’: With Assets Collected, Dubas Eyes The Next Phase For Penguins HockeyPittsburgh Penguins President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas knew that the decision to shift to the future a year ago with the Jake Guentzel trade to Carolina wasn’t going to be a popular one. 

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Wild forward Matt Boldy has had consistently good seasons ever since he joined the NHL. He has been a very good top-six forward for Minnesota but so far in his playoff career, Boldy hasn't been the player the Wild hoped he'd be.

His first playoff series Boldy had one goal, four penalty minutes, three hits and was a minus-one in six games. His second playoff series, he had zero goals and was a minus-five. He had five hits in six games as well. 

The question coming into the Wild's playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights was what will you get out of Boldy in this series. 

Well, if Sunday was any indication of what we will see from Boldy in this series, watch out. 

Boldy, 24, scored the Wild's only two goals in their 4-2 loss to the Golden Knights. Not only did he score two but he had six hits. 

"I thought he was very good. Obviously he had the two goals, but I just thought he was a beast on the puck and he was moving his feet," Wild head coach John Hynes said. "He played the style of game that gives him a really good chance to be a dominant player in this series, and he did a good job of that."

What likely caused this was how Boldy played for Team USA during the Four Nations Face-Off during the middle of the season. 

The young forward was one of USA's better players and was very physical as well. He used his 6-foot-2 frame to drive to the net and power his way through guys in the tournament and the hope was that would translate to the playoffs this go around. 

The result is, it did. 

Hynes was asked if Boldy maybe changed his game for the playoffs since his six hits was much higher than his career 0.64 hits per game.

"I wouldn't necessarily say I saw his game change. I think that he's played that way throughout the season," Hynes said. "I think maybe more than his game change, I think the confidence level that he has to be able to go to the Four Nations and play in that style of tournament. He was a big factor for our team with the U.S. I thought as the tournament went on, he was better and better, and his role increased as it as it went on.

"So I think the confidence in his own game and understanding what makes him an elite player and a hard guy to be able to play against, and he's doing it regularly now. So, it's good."

The Wild as a team finished with 54 hits on Sunday which was the second-highest total in Stanley Cup Playoff play in franchise history. Boldy was a big part of that. 

As Hynes said, Boldy has a chance to be a dominant player in this series and that is exactly what the Wild need if they want to even up the series on Tuesday. 

The NHL is so often focused, for good reason, on the races at the top of the standings, but the NHL Sour Rankings looks at the bottom. 

With the regular season complete, we now have the final standings and can examine their NHL draft lottery odds and what they might do moving forward. 

San Jose Sharks, 20-50-12

Lottery odds: 18.5 percent
First-overall odds: 25.5 percent

The Sharks finished last in the NHL for a second straight year, which means they have the best odds for first overall once again. They won the first-overall pick last year, taking likely Calder Trophy finalist Macklin Celebrini, giving them a top-line center for the next decade and more. 

The vibes were high this year despite their unfortunate results, and that can be attributed to the success of the rookies, the fun that the team had on and off the ice and an understanding that they weren’t expected to be great this year. 

If they get another top pick, blueliner Matthew Schaefer seems like the obvious choice for San Jose. He would give them a defender to build around and slot other prospects, such as Sam Dickinson and Luca Cagnoni, into spots that better fit their skill set.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Blackhawks To Target Mitch Marner? Sharks To Shop First-Overall Pick?This was a difficult season for the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks. They improved marginally over their 2023-24 campaign amid concerns of growing frustration from franchise star Connor Bedard.

Chicago Blackhawks, 25-46-11

Lottery and first-overall odds: 13.5 percent

While the vibes were high in San Jose, the opposite was true for Chicago. 

Connor Bedard had 67 points this season, six more than his rookie year, but his points per game were down from 0.9 to 0.82. Frank Nazar looked good when he got into the lineup, and Artyom Levshunov had some bright moments when he got to the NHL. 

Chicago’s issue is it had so many injuries and plenty of underwhelming performances from the veterans. They just didn’t take the step they were expecting to take this year. You could see the frustration on the faces of players on a nightly basis, and the team was just down in the dumps from October to April. 

If they get the first-overall pick, pairing Michael Misa with Bedard would give them a one-two punch down the middle that opposing teams would envy, but they still need to surround them with steadying vets, something they were unable to do last summer. 

Nashville Predators, 30-44-8

Lottery and first-overall odds: 11.5 percent

No matter how many times we’ve checked in on the NHL Sour Rankings, seeing Nashville down here continues to be perplexing, at least until you watch the Predators play. They have a talented roster, and the lack of a full teardown at the deadline likely means the organization believes this season was a blip on the radar.

They won last off-season when they signed Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei. They have a lot of talent with goalie Juuse Saros, left winger Filip Forsberg and defenseman Roman Josi, but getting everyone healthy and ready to go next season will be key. 

If they win the lottery, adding Misa or Schaefer would be a great addition, as they could start building the future while competing immediately next season. The Preds are a wild card going into the summer. 

Philadelphia Flyers, 33-39-10

Lottery and first-overall odds: 9.5 percent

After narrowly missing the playoffs last year, the Flyers finished last in the East this season. They did, however, bring in high-flying rookie Matvei Michkov, who lived up to expectations, reaching the 60-point plateau in his first season and delivering on the promise of a future star immediately. Management traded several former key pieces, and they have their eyes set on the future. 

They won’t have John Tortorella behind the bench because, despite the moderate success he had last season, he was outwardly frustrated with the team, which led to his firing. His rants and raves in the media were enough. 

The team is looking to usher in a new era centered around Michkov, and a top-five pick this summer would be a big piece in building toward a better future.

Pluses And Minuses: What The Flyers, Blackhawks And Bruins Must Consider With Their Interim CoachesThe Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks have more in common than their lackluster seasons.

Boston Bruins, 33-39-10

Lottery and first-overall odds: 8.5 percent  

As much as everyone outside of Boston seems to be enjoying the downfall of the once-strong Bruins, they moved on from the old guard and are focused on building around Charlie McAvoy and David Pastrnak. It also means the Bruins are slated to get a top-five pick and have a decent chance at first overall. 

If the Bruins were to draft Misa or Schaefer, they’d get a new top prospect who sets them up for another run at being a contender for a very long time. The Bruins have been a contender for over a decade, and this year was a true fall from grace, but with the players they sold and the young players coming, they shouldn’t be down here long. 

Seattle Kraken, 35-41-6

Lottery and first-overall odds: 7.5 percent  

The Kraken seem to understand where they are, and they did a good job this season of making the right moves at the deadline to help set themselves up for the future. 

They have some very solid young players, such as Matty Beniers and Shane Wright, and their prospect pool is solid, but they need a true difference-maker and a centerpiece to build around. Misa or Schaefer could be that player. The Kraken would benefit from a lottery win, but they're in a good spot to get another solid young player regardless. 

Buffalo Sabres, 36-39-7

Lottery and first-overall odds: 6.5 percent  

Why are you still here? That’s the question everyone, Sabres fan or not, has been asking this squad, which sits at the bottom of the standings once again. 

It’s tough to gauge what Buffalo needs. They have some solid forwards, some studs on the back end and a couple of good goalies. Obviously, adding Misa, Schaefer or any other top-end talent in this draft will be a good thing, but the Sabres need to figure out how to get out of the basement, period. 

Anaheim Ducks, 35-37-10

Lottery and first-overall odds: 6.0 percent  

The Ducks were an interesting team this year. They have a lot of young talent up and down the roster, with more on the way. They have some crafty veterans as well. Anaheim seems to be on the rise, and it had a better second half of the season as its young players continued to improve and get more comfortable at the NHL level. It’s going to be interesting to see what they add at the draft and how they rise next year.

Pittsburgh Penguins, 34-36-12

Lottery and first-overall odds: 5.0 percent  

The Penguins are in a downfall. We are seeing the final years of Sidney Crosby’s NHL career come on a team with very little chance of contention unless something drastic changes. 

If they wind up with the eighth-overall pick, they aren’t getting a player who can change their fortunes anytime soon. Even if they win the lottery and get their choice of player at the top, they can’t rely on a rookie to be the Robin to Crosby’s Batman and hope for success. They need to decide on what comes next for this team, with or without Sid. 

New York Islanders, 35-35-12

Lottery and first-overall odds: 3.5 percent  

The Islanders decided to move Brock Nelson, bringing in Calum Ritchie and proving they needed to retool some things at the very least. 

They need to add more speed and skill to the roster. They have needs all over the lineup. The Islanders are dangerously close to sitting in the mushy middle for years. A lottery win would be great for this team, but any added skill would help long-term. 

New York Rangers, 39-36-7

Lottery and first-overall odds: 3.0 percent  

Oh, how the mighty have fallen – and it was ugly. 

The Rangers’ season fell off the rails early. After an off-season in which they tried to trade captain Jacob Trouba, tensions were high coming into the year, and things just continued to go south from there. The team traded notable players during the season, including Trouba, Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil, while bringing in J.T. Miller and Will Borgen, among other assets. 

It’s been a weird year. They are the last team that could move up into the first-overall selection with the lottery, but with the luck they’ve had this year, I wouldn’t count on it.

Larkin Expresses Frustration with Red Wings Trade Deadline ApproachDylan Larkin is not just the Red Wings captain.  He is also the team's longest tenured player, the only one left with first hand experience of playoff hockey in Detroit, and he grew up 40 minutes northwest of Little Caesars Arena in Waterford.  When you put it all together, it's no surprise that Larkin wears his team's shortcomings and nine season playoff drought the hardest.  At Saturday's locker clean-out day, Larkin expressed one particular aspect of that frustration.

Detroit Red Wings, 39-35-8

Lottery odds: 2.5 percent (0 percent for first overall)

Forever the bridesmaid and never the bride. Is that comment about the playoffs or the draft lottery? No one knows, but it’s certainly true in both cases for the Red Wings.

The Wings were in a playoff spot for long stretches this season before falling out at the end, just as they did last year. They also weren’t bad enough to even be in the running for first overall as the first team outside of the range to move into the top pick. 

Detroit’s best players were its young, homegrown talent. Its worst were the guys it signed to insulate the younger players. Fix the surrounding roster, and the young guys will probably get them to the postseason. It feels that simple, but the Yzerplan is struggling to get it going. 

Columbus Blue Jackets, 40-33-9

Lottery odds: 2.0 percent (0 percent for first overall)

The Blue Jackets were the darlings of the season.

They were in the running for a playoff spot up until their last game, and they had so many good things happen to them on the ice. Adam Fantilli’s ascension was fantastic, reaching the 30-goal mark. The duo of Kirill Marchenko and Dmitri Voronkov elevated their game even more this season. Zach Werenski is a Norris Trophy contender.

The Blue Jackets were legitimately fun this season after an off-season filled with tragedy. A lottery win wouldn’t get them into the top two, but it would help them add another promising young talent for a team on the rise. 

Utah Hockey Club, 38-31-13

Lottery odds: 1.5 percent (0 percent for first overall)

In their first season in Utah, the former Coyotes players looked like they were having fun again.

The team was finding some level of success on the ice and plenty more off of it. Utah still has some holes, and its young players are improving, but it could use a few more prospects entering the NHL and making an impact. Thankfully, the Hockey Club has a solid stable of players coming. This team is close to making a push for the playoffs, which could happen as soon as next season.

Vancouver Canucks, 38-30-14

Lottery odds: 0.5 percent (0 percent for first overall)

The Vancouver Canucks were essentially the Rangers-West, which made it all the more entertaining when the Canucks swapped Miller for Chytil and a pick just to flip the pick for more immediate help. 

The constant drama around the club, from the Elias Pettersson and Miller saga to the weird pending divorce with Brock Boeser, made the season a drag. This team has elite talent, such as Quinn Hughes, but they need a return to form for Pettersson and a lot of other things to fall into place, or they will become the epitome of the mediocre mushy middle.

Rick Tocchet Sounds Like He Has Unfinished Business With The Vancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are out of the playoffs and moving into summer mode, but 2024 Jack Adams Award winner Rick Tocchet will hold onto the title of NHL coach of the year for a few more weeks.

Calgary Flames, 41-27-14, (Montreal Owns Pick)

Lottery odds: 0.5 percent (0 percent for first overall)

Montreal owns Calgary’s first-round pick, but Calgary has New Jersey’s, so they shouldn’t be too upset with how this season went. They had star rookie Dustin Wolf assert himself as the guy in net, Jonathan Huberdeau quietly had a very good season, and the Flames almost made the playoffs despite many predicting them to sit near the bottom. 

Calgary needs to build on what they did this season, and finding a way to continue adding young talent will help ensure that it’s not just a one- or two-season playoff contention window.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

The Battle of Ontario kicked off Sunday with a 6-2 Toronto Maple Leafs win over the Ottawa Senators. But you know what would’ve been potentially better than that? A first-round Stanley Cup playoffs that included the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres’ history – which includes 14 consecutive seasons with no playoff hockey – is about as far from ideal as it gets. But there’s a history the Sabres have with Toronto and Ottawa that lives on in the minds and hearts of Buffalo fans, Maple Leafs fans, and Senators fans, and that’s why the Sabres need to get back into the post-season as soon as possible. 

Of course, Leafs fans remember Toronto’s most recent (and surprisingly, only) post-season showdown against Buffalo very well. It happened in the 1998-99 season, when the Sabres beat the Leafs in the Eastern Conference final. Buffalo’s win over the Leafs that year got the Sabres to the Cup final for just the second time in franchise history, and although that season was the only time the Sabres and Maple Leafs have squared off in the playoffs – something that sounds crazy, given how long both teams have been in the league – you’d better believe Buffalo's run to the Cup final in 98-99 was that much sweeter for Sabres fans because they steamrolled the Buds on the way there.

The Sabres also have a colorful post-season history with the Senators, as Ottawa has played Buffalo four times in the playoffs, with the Sens going 3-1 in those four series against the Sabres. Most memorably, Buffalo beat Ottawa to kick off that 1998-99 run to the Cup final – and the Senators paid them back when they beat the Sabres in the Eastern final in 2006-07. 

The Sabres and Senators haven’t played in the post-season since then, but that’s a result of playoff futility from both teams. That said, if the Sabres can right their ship, more playoff battles will be coming against the Maple Leafs and Senators. That’s because the NHL’’s playoff system now focuses on divisional rivalries in a way the league didn’t focus on for decades. 

Thus, it’s entirely possible we’ll get Buffalo showdowns against both Ottawa and Toronto in the same post-season, as a first-round win from two of those three teams in Round One would lead  to a second-round matchup between them, and even more drama would be ensuing. But the Senators and Leafs likely aren’t going to be missing out on the playoffs anytime soon, so it’s up to the Sabres to push into the playoff picture and get Toronto, Buffalo and Ottawa in the post-season at the same time.

Sabres sports fans have deserved much better than the results Buffalo has delivered for nearly a decade-and-a-half -- and you can also say Leafs and Senators fans have deserved better from the Sabres. Rather than taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers or Boston Bruins time and again in the post-season, Ottawa and Toronto could’ve been doing battle in the playoffs against their relatively-closer-geographical-rival in Buffalo. 

Questions Yet To Be Answered If Adams Will Remain As Sabres GMFollowing the completion of Buffalo Sabres locker cleanout and GM Kevyn Adams and head coach Lindy Ruff speaking with the media for nearly an hour on Saturday, the disposition of the club and some of the principles responsible for their 14th consecutive non-playoff season is still up in the air.

In sum, fans in Ottawa, Toronto and Buffalo should want their teams to clash against each other, because there’s something especially special when the Leafs, Senators and Sabres are squaring off. It won’t happen this year, but it absolutely should happen next season and many seasons to come. 

So let’s get it done, Sabres brass. If by next spring, Buffalo is once again out of the playoff mix, the Sabres need to blow it up and start again, because these exercises in futility are robbing fans in Ontario and Western New York of a rivalry that ought to have many more chapters than it has at present.

The Maple Leafs, Sabres and Senators already have rich rivalries, but there should be more material in each rivalry between Ottawa, Toronto and Buffalo -- and it’s on the Sabres to make it so.

Matthew Knies is the definition of a playoff performer with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

At 22 years old, Knies is already making massive blocks, scoring crucial goals — including his netfront power play marker in the third period — and playing a team-high 22:19 in Game 1 against the Ottawa Senators.

He's only two seasons removed from playing at the University of Minnesota and doing everything requested of him in the Stanley Cup playoffs — when it matters most.

"Yeah, it means a lot," Knies said on Monday, when asked about his team-high in minutes played. "I want to be able to play in every situation to dominate out there and be a physical component to our team. I think I did a good job of that, and I just want to keep it going."

Let's, though, return to when his key plays in the game came.

'I Can't Say Enough About Matthew Knies and JT In Those Areas': Maple Leafs Explode For 3 Power-Play Goals To Down Senators In Game 1The Toronto Maple Leafs exploded for three power-play goals against the Ottawa Senators in a 6-2 victory in Game 1 of their first-round series in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Ottawa was pushing for a comeback just over midway through the third period. After some time in Toronto's zone, Knies stepped in front of a Thomas Chabot slap shot, which got his teammates going.

"I mean, that’s kind of what you have to do at this time of year, pay the price," he said, when asked about his hand after blocking the shot. "But no, I feel good."

And to score the goal on the power play shortly after: "Felt rewarding for sure."

MATTHEW KNIES 🚨

THE FANTASTIC FIVE WILL NOT BE STOPPED! pic.twitter.com/ByR4aWtWQk

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 21, 2025

Knies' play has been a talking point all season long. He put up career-high numbers (29 goals and 29 assists in 78 games), and since the power forward was drafted, seemed to be suited for the playoffs.

He's big, the heaviest player on the Maple Leafs, in fact, and plays in all situations for the team. 

"He was big last night. He’s so strong. He’s a handful to deal with down low and around their net," Auston Matthews said on Monday.

"He’s just a horse out there, so he was great for us last night. He’s physical on both sides of the puck, and like I said, he’s just hard to deal with down low."

'It's Not That Much Of A Conversation': Why Max Domi Will Shift To Third-Line Center For Maple Leafs Against Senators For Game 2The Toronto Maple Leafs shifted Max Domi from the second-line winger position to the third-line center spot in the second period of their 6-2 victory against the Ottawa Senators in Game 1 of their first-round series.  And that adjustment will stick when both teams clash for Game 2.

What stuck out most about Knies' availability on Monday was his discipline. He wasn't getting ahead of himself or satisfied with everything the Maple Leafs did in Game 1. Part of that attitude has come from Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube's coaching style, but also from the player himself understanding there is lots more playoff hockey left.

And if you want to go far in the postseason, you need that mentality.

"I think there’s just a little bit of a different feel to it. It could be the new coach, it could be the new faces in the locker room," Knies said.

"It’s always going to feel a little bit different, but I think we’re ready for the test, and I think we did a good job. But I think it’s just one step, and we gotta keep this going, keep this one going. We don’t expect it to be a short series at all, so we just gotta keep working."

---

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One win down, three more to go.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs is all about being the first team to 16 wins, and taking it one game at a time.

The Colorado Avalanche has been taking a lot of things day by day. One of which has been the potential return of their captain, Gabriel Landeskog.

*See update at the bottom of this story.

Bookmark The Hockey News Colorado Avalanche team site so you never miss the latest news, game day coverage, and information on the Avalanche players.

The pillar of the Avalanche team played two games of a conditioning loan with the Colorado Eagles, where he recorded two points.

Trending Avalanche Stories

GAME PREVIEW: Gabe Landeskog is "an option for Round 1" According to Avalanche Head CoachA riveting revenge matchup is on the horizon as the Colorado Avalanche prepare to face the Dallas Stars in Game 1 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Zakhar Bardakov: What The Avalanche Have In New Prospect

Former Avalanche Goalie Will Be Free Agent

'I Can't Say Enough': Jared Bednar Praises Avalanche GM For New Additions

'Now It's All Business': Mikko Rantanen, Ex-Avalanche Forward, On Facing Old Team

A Round One Schedule for the Stanley Cup Playoffs is HereNHL Public Relations announced the full schedule for games 1-4 of round one for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Thursday morning. Dates for games 5-7 were also announced with times listed as TBD, meaning they will be announced once or if they become necessary.

Landeskog hasn’t played a game since June 26th, 2022, when the Avalanche defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Six of the Stanley Cup Final, winning the Stanley Cup.

Now, all that waiting might turn around on Monday night.

Gabriel Landeskog Returns Tonight?

Head coach Jared Bednar did not confirm or deny that Landeskog would be in the lineup for Game Two. However, that hand might have already been shown.

According to a few media outlets present at the Morning Skate, Landeskog was one of the first skaters to exit the ice for the optional skate. This is important to note because Landeskog has usually stayed out with the extras.

Landeskog is one of the first players off the ice for the optional skate. He’s been staying on with the extras normally.

Do with that what you will.

— Jesse Montano (@jessemontano_) April 21, 2025

Landeskog's return would be massive for the Avalanche. The team has been fantastic without their captain. However, the morale boost of having him in the lineup after almost three calendar years without him would skyrocket through the roof.

Unfortunately, Avalanche fans will have to wait until warmups to see if Landeskog will play or not.

Gabriel Landeskog has been activated from Injured Reserve. pic.twitter.com/TNQ8Mphago

— x - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 21, 2025

*Update: The Avalanche announced that they have activated Landeskog from Injured Reserve. This all but confirms that he will play in Monday night's game against the Dallas Stars.

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How long is the Maple Leafs' NHL-record Stanley Cup drought? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Toronto Maple Leafs own the second-most Stanley Cup titles in NHL history. But it’s been well over a half-century since their last championship triumph.

The Leafs saw their record Stanley Cup drought extended with a second-round loss to the defending champion Florida Panthers in the 2025 NHL playoffs.

Toronto, the Atlantic Division’s No. 1 seed, eliminated the wild-card Ottawa Senators in six games this postseason before jumping out to a 2-0 series lead over Florida. The Panthers then responded with three straight wins, but the Leafs won Game 6 on the road to keep their season alive.

But, in a decisive Game 7 at home, the Leafs were booed off the ice as an ugly 6-1 defeat pushed the storied franchise’s championship drought even closer to six decades.

When was the last time the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup?

The Leafs’ most recent Stanley Cup championship came in the 1966-67 season.

What’s the longest Stanley Cup drought in NHL history?

Toronto’s current championship drought is the longest in NHL history at 58 years.

The Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks both are mired in title droughts of 50-plus years, as well. Buffalo and Vancouver joined the NHL in the 1970-71 season and neither has won a Stanley Cup in the 54 years since. The Canucks have reached three Stanley Cup Finals (1982, 1994, 2011) and the Sabres have reached two (1975, 1999).

When was the last time the Maple Leafs made the Stanley Cup Final?

The Leafs’ 1966-67 championship campaign also stands as their last appearance in the Stanley Cup Final. That means the Original Six franchise hasn’t reached the Cup Final in the expansion era (since the 1967-68 season).

The Leafs last appeared in the conference final in the 2002 postseason.

How many Stanley Cup Finals have the Maple Leafs made?

Toronto has reached the Cup Final 21 times, trailing only the Montreal Canadiens (33 appearances) and Detroit Red Wings (24 appearances) for the most in NHL history.

How many Stanley Cups have the Maple Leafs won?

The Leafs were victorious in 13 of those 21 Cup Finals. Only the 23-time champion Canadiens have won more Stanley Cups than Toronto.

Here’s a full look at Toronto’s Stanley Cup Final history (years listed are when Cup Finals were played):

• 1967: Beat Montreal Canadiens
• 1964: Beat Detroit Red Wings
• 1963: Beat Detroit Red Wings
• 1962: Beat Chicago Blackhawks
• 1960: Lost to Montreal Canadiens
• 1959: Lost to Montreal Canadiens
• 1951: Beat Montreal Canadiens
• 1949: Beat Detroit Red Wings
• 1948: Beat Detroit Red Wings
• 1947: Beat Montreal Canadiens
• 1945: Beat Detroit Red Wings
• 1942: Beat Detroit Red Wings
• 1940: Lost to New York Rangers
• 1939: Lost to Boston Bruins
• 1938: Lost to Chicago Blackhawks
• 1936: Lost to Detroit Red Wings
• 1935: Lost to Montreal Maroons
• 1933: Lost to New York Rangers
• 1932: Beat New York Rangers
• 1922: Beat Vancouver Millionaires
• 1918: Beat Vancouver Millionaires

Editor’s note: This story was first published on April 21.

How long is the Maple Leafs' NHL-record Stanley Cup drought? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Toronto Maple Leafs own the second-most Stanley Cup titles in NHL history. But it’s been well over a half-century since their last championship triumph.

The Leafs saw their record Stanley Cup drought extended with a second-round loss to the defending champion Florida Panthers in the 2025 NHL playoffs.

Toronto, the Atlantic Division’s No. 1 seed, eliminated the wild-card Ottawa Senators in six games this postseason before jumping out to a 2-0 series lead over Florida. The Panthers then responded with three straight wins, but the Leafs won Game 6 on the road to keep their season alive.

But, in a decisive Game 7 at home, the Leafs were booed off the ice as an ugly 6-1 defeat pushed the storied franchise’s championship drought even closer to six decades.

When was the last time the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup?

The Leafs’ most recent Stanley Cup championship came in the 1966-67 season.

What’s the longest Stanley Cup drought in NHL history?

Toronto’s current championship drought is the longest in NHL history at 58 years.

The Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks both are mired in title droughts of 50-plus years, as well. Buffalo and Vancouver joined the NHL in the 1970-71 season and neither has won a Stanley Cup in the 54 years since. The Canucks have reached three Stanley Cup Finals (1982, 1994, 2011) and the Sabres have reached two (1975, 1999).

When was the last time the Maple Leafs made the Stanley Cup Final?

The Leafs’ 1966-67 championship campaign also stands as their last appearance in the Stanley Cup Final. That means the Original Six franchise hasn’t reached the Cup Final in the expansion era (since the 1967-68 season).

The Leafs last appeared in the conference final in the 2002 postseason.

How many Stanley Cup Finals have the Maple Leafs made?

Toronto has reached the Cup Final 21 times, trailing only the Montreal Canadiens (33 appearances) and Detroit Red Wings (24 appearances) for the most in NHL history.

How many Stanley Cups have the Maple Leafs won?

The Leafs were victorious in 13 of those 21 Cup Finals. Only the 23-time champion Canadiens have won more Stanley Cups than Toronto.

Here’s a full look at Toronto’s Stanley Cup Final history (years listed are when Cup Finals were played):

• 1967: Beat Montreal Canadiens
• 1964: Beat Detroit Red Wings
• 1963: Beat Detroit Red Wings
• 1962: Beat Chicago Blackhawks
• 1960: Lost to Montreal Canadiens
• 1959: Lost to Montreal Canadiens
• 1951: Beat Montreal Canadiens
• 1949: Beat Detroit Red Wings
• 1948: Beat Detroit Red Wings
• 1947: Beat Montreal Canadiens
• 1945: Beat Detroit Red Wings
• 1942: Beat Detroit Red Wings
• 1940: Lost to New York Rangers
• 1939: Lost to Boston Bruins
• 1938: Lost to Chicago Blackhawks
• 1936: Lost to Detroit Red Wings
• 1935: Lost to Montreal Maroons
• 1933: Lost to New York Rangers
• 1932: Beat New York Rangers
• 1922: Beat Vancouver Millionaires
• 1918: Beat Vancouver Millionaires

Editor’s note: This story was first published on April 21.

After being informed he’ll be let go this summer, San Jose Sharks goalie Alexandar Georgiev is now available to the Philadelphia Flyers in free agency. But should the Flyers even have any interest?

Georgiev, 29, has seen better days in his NHL career. The formerly undrafted Bulgarian has posted a save percentage north of .900 just once since the 2020-21 season.

And that one time was in the 2022-23 season, when Georgiev was 40-16-6 with the high-flying Colorado Avalanche, doing his part with a 2.53 GAA, a stellar .919 save percentage, and a career-high five shutouts.

Notably, Georgiev also had save percentages of .910 or higher in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons with the New York Rangers, appearing in 33 and 34 games, respectively, in those seasons.

The Flyers, in search of any kind of goaltending help, are actually a strong fit for Georgiev.

It’s no secret that Georgiev has the ability to play at a high level throughout a full season; he’s done so multiple times in his eight-year NHL career.

The former NHL All-Star has a career save percentage of .903, which is neither great nor terrible, but an upgrade for the Flyers by all accounts.

If the Flyers were to take a chance on Georgiev for one year, for example, and he rebounds from the form that saw him post a .875 save percentage this season, they would have rehabbed his trade value to the point where they could get an asset for him at the NHL trade deadline.

Or, Georgiev could simply stay in Philadelphia to platoon with Sam Ersson and/or a Flyers goalie prospect until a true heir apparent emerges.

Naturally, the Flyers and fans will have a great deal of concern about Georgiev’s propensity to self-immolate and meltdown to lose games.

If Georgiev reprises his role as the pumpkin he turned out to be the 2024-25 season, it’s tantamount to the Flyers keeping Ersson, Ivan Fedotov, and Aleksei Kolosov as their bloc of goalies.

And in that case, the Flyers would be, whether they wanted to or not, positioning themselves well for the 2026 NHL Draft, which is loaded with potentially franchise-altering talents like Gavin McKenna, Keaton Verhoeff, Ivar Stenberg, Dylan Roobroeck, and Viggo Bjorck.

The Flyers would still be heading back to square one at the goalie position if that is how things played out with Georgiev, but it wouldn’t be for nought. McKenna, Stenberg, Roobroeck, and Bjorck all have the potential to set Matvei Michkov up with a running mate for the next two decades with a proper development plan and supporting cast.

Georgiev won’t be the only external goalie option available to the Flyers this summer, but this year’s free agent goalie class is a thin one, and Georgiev is one of the most unlikely to receive a contract offer from a Stanley Cup contender.

His implosion in Colorado nearly upended the Avalanche’s season before GM Chris MacFarland intervened with haste.

Without Georgiev, the Sharks will turn the keys over to top goalie prospect Yaroslav Askarov, someone who represents what the Flyers should be looking at with respect to the future at the position.

That someone is not readily apparent within the Flyers’ organization, but signing Georgiev could buy the Flyers some time to figure that all out in the end.

Breaking down the best value bets, futures to take and strategies to look out for ahead of the first round matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals

The Montreal Canadiens scratched and clawed their way into the postseason only to be greeted by the top team in the East in the Washington Capitals. Unlike the Battle of Ontario or round four of the Oilers and Kings, this is a matchup we don't get to see too often. 

Washington has met Montreal just once in the first round of the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs, where the Habs overcame a 3-1 deficit to win the series in seven games.

This series could go seven games once again as the Caps have lost four of their final six games since Alex Ovechkin became the NHL's all-time leading scorer. 

This series promises to be a thrilling showdown, headlined by the clash between the Canadiens’ rising Russian star, Ivan Demidov, and the greatest Russian hockey player of all time, Alex Ovechkin, leading the Capitals.

More NHL:Predicting Which Wild Card Team Can Upset Top Divisional Seed in the Stanley Cup Playoffs

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

Nick Suzuki - Series Leading Goal Scorer (+1000)

If you've kept up with the Habs hot streak since the Four Nations Face-Off, you would be aware of how prolific Montreal captain Nick Suzuki has been.

After being snubbed from Team Canada, the London, Ontario native has been red hot with the fourth-most points during that span with 37 through 26 games. His 15 goals during this time had his name among the likes of David Pastrnak, Artemi Panarin and Jason Robertson. 

Suzuki finished the season with eight goals over his final ten games and could easily continue scoring against a slumping Capitals defence. Since Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky's record, Washington has struggled to find the same motivation going into every game especially on the defensive end. 

The Capitals once-top three defence has now managed a 4.25 goals against average in their final 12 games and could struggle against a blazing hot Habs team.

Suzuki has the second-most career playoff points of anyone on Montreal with 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points through 32 postseason games. 

More NHL:The Battle of Ontario Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Futures for Maple Leafs versus Senators

Habs +1.5 - Series Spread (+106) or Habs +2.5 (-250)

Washington has a notable history of struggling in the playoffs with a long standing rivalry with the Pittsburgh Penguins that they eventually overcame to win their franchise's first Stanley Cup in 2019. 

However, since then they've found themselves in a similar problem as the Toronto Maple Leafs with severe troubles making it out of the first round. Since their Stanley Cup win, the Capitals haven't won a series in fact with five straight losses in the first round. 

This bolds well for a Montreal team that looks to extend the history of a wild card team advancing. Since introducing the current playoff format, a wild card team has advanced to the second round in seven of the last ten seasons.

The Blues, Wild and Senators are all behind in their respective series with the Habs looking like the best available option.

More NHL:Edmonton Oilers vs LA Kings Round 4 Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Future Options

We must not forget that this Montreal team has more experience than we expect as they went to the Stanley Cup finals just a few years ago in 2021.

Suzuki and other young players gained valuable experience then and it should help propel them to keeping this series closer than people may expect.

I like the idea of adding the Habs series spread at +2.5 and parlaying it with the Carolina Hurricanes to down the New Jersey Devils in five or six games at -370 odds.

The Canes have won at least one playoff series in six straight seasons and when added with Montreal, gives us a very solid parlay with -129 odds.

More NHL:Top NHL Prospect Expected to Join Michigan Wolverines Next Season

Matchup Trends: Potential Player Prop Targets

Washington Capitals:

• Alex Ovechkin has 19 goals and 15 assists for 34 points over his last 25 games against the Canadiens. The Capitals captain old age has shown in recent years as he rides a five-game point drought in the postseason.
• Dylan Strome has five goals and eight assists for 13 points over his last ten games against the Canadiens. The Mississauga native has been red hot with six goals and eight assists for 14 points in his last ten games entering the postseason.
• John Carlson has the second-most playoff points on the Capitals with 20 goals and 55 assists for 75 points through 127 games. He finished the season strong with four assists in as many games.
• Tom Wilson is red hot with 29 points and a team-best 84 hits over his last 30 games. He enters a playoff atmosphere that he excels in with 34 points and 347 hits in 87 career playoff games. 

Montreal Canadiens: 

Fresh blood is a good thing.

For NHL contenders, it’s even better.

The Colorado Avalanche have added many new faces this season. Mackenzie Blackwood, Scott Wedgewood, Brock Nelson, Ryan Lindgren, Charlie Coyle, and Jack Drury are all new to the Avalanche organization.

Bookmark The Hockey News Colorado Avalanche team site so you never miss the latest news, game day coverage, and information on the Avalanche players.

On Sunday, April 20th, the Avalanche signed KHL forward Zakhar Bardakov. The two parties agreed to a one-year entry-level contract that goes into effect next season

Trending Avalanche Stories

Avalanche Get Great Gabriel Landeskog NewsOne win down, three more to go.

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'Now It's All Business': Mikko Rantanen, Ex-Avalanche Forward, On Facing Old Team

POSTGAME: Mackenzie Blackwood Puts on Goaltending Clinic in Avalanche Win Over the Stars in Game OneTo cap off the first day of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Colorado Avalanche put up five goals to the Dallas Stars' one to take Game 1 in their first-round series against the Dallas Stars.

The 24-year-old forward was originally a New Jersey Devils draft pick in the 2021 draft. Bardakov was traded to the Avalanche along with a 2024 7th-round draft pick for Kurtis MacDermid.

Bardakov is coming off a solid year in the KHL. He just finished his third season in Russia’s top league, collecting 35 points in 53 games. He averaged 16:10 per game while firing 122 shots on goal, playing for SKA St. Petersburg.

He saw his responsibilities increase during the playoffs. Bardakov’s ice time rose over four minutes to 21:51 per game. He recorded two points in six playoff games.

Considering that Bardakov was a 7th-round draft pick (203rd overall), if he plays any NHL games, that would be a slam dunk for the organization.

Bardakov’s contract officially expires on May 31st of this year. That, combined with him signing his ELC, suggests he’s ready to cross the pond for next season. The young forward could push for an NHL position; however, an AHL assignment is more likely.

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This was a difficult season for the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks. They improved marginally over their 2023-24 campaign amid concerns of growing frustration from franchise star Connor Bedard.

Bedard denied rumors that he was unhappy playing for Chicago, acknowledging the club was in the process of growth and learning. Nevertheless, there's no question he needs some help, especially offensively. The Blackhawks rose from a league-worst 2.17 last season to 2.73, but they still finished 26th overall in that category. 

The Blackhawks have plenty of salary cap space if management wants to add scoring punch. PuckPedia indicates they have a projected cap space of $30.9 million with 20 active roster players under contract next season.

Mark Lazerus and Scott Powers of The Athletic believe the Blackhawks could be first in line if Mitch Marner goes to free agency on July 1. They acknowledged the 27-year-old two-way right winger prefers staying in Toronto but wondered if the Maple Leafs can make the money work.

Marner reached the 100-point plateau for the first time this season. He'd become the best player potentially available in this summer's UFA market. 

Lazerus and Powers believe the Blackhawks' favorable cap situation gives them more money to throw toward Marner than any other club. They speculated it could cost between $12 million and $14 million annually, but felt it would be worth it. 

That's assuming Marner would join a rebuilding club instead of a playoff contender.

Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner Shows Up In Game 1 – The 4 Nations Experience Played A PartDespite the fact the Toronto Maple Leafs came into the playoffs as the Atlantic Division champions, there were questions (ohh the questions) about how their first-round series against the Ottawa Senators would kick off.

Turning to the San Jose Sharks, their last-place finish in the overall standings gives them the best odds of winning the upcoming NHL draft lottery for the second straight year. They selected promising center Macklin Celebrini in last year's draft, who's gone on to become a favorite to win the Calder Trophy.

Sheng Peng of NBC Sports Bay Area reported Sharks GM Mike Grier could be open to trading that pick if the lottery balls bounce their way again this year. He said he wouldn't say no if he received a really good offer of young, established players. 

Grier believes defenseman Matthew Schaefer of the OHL's Erie Otters is the prospect currently considered the consensus first-overall pick. After him, this year's draft is mostly forward-heavy. 

It's possible Grier trades that pick for the right price. So could any other GM who wins the draft lottery. However, it's unlikely to happen. 

The last time the first-overall pick was traded was in the 2003 NHL draft, when the Florida Panthers sent it to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Mikael Samuelsson, the third-overall pick and a second-rounder. The Penguins used that pick to select future Hall of Famer Marc-Andre Fleury.

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The last three playoff series for the Minnesota Wild that started with two road games, resulted in the Wild winning game one. 

Minnesota opened the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on the road again, this time in Vegas to face the Golden Knights. The Wild opened the 2021 playoffs in Vegas and won 1-0 in overtime on a Joel Eriksson Ek goal. 

This game was a little different.

Thomas Hertl opened the scoring in the first period after he outworked Brock Faber in the slot and fired a shot over Filip Gustavsson's right shoulder, short side, 

Matt Boldy was able to answer back not long after and tie the game up at 1-1. Vegas got the next two goals to make it 3-1 before Boldy scored to make it a one-goal game. 

Vegas was able to score with the empty net, on the power play, with 0.1 seconds left. They walked away with a 4-2 win. 

In the second period, Eriksson Ek was called for a high-stick. This sent Vegas on the power play. Five seconds later, Pavel Dorofeyev, who was making his NHL Playoffs debut, scored to give Vegas a 2-1 lead. 

Dorofeyev unloads a bomb 5 seconds in to the powerplay! 💣 pic.twitter.com/p3gNClyV48

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) April 21, 2025

It came after Hertl beat Freddy Gaudreau on the face-off. Gaudreau then went to go to the point but was interfered with by Hertl. This left Marcus Foligno and Jake Middleton out of position trying to make up for Gaudreau on the ice after Hertl took him out. 

Vegas controlled the puck on the point, with no attacker because he was on the ice, and found Dorofeyev wide open at the top of the circle for the one-timer. 

Wild head coach John Hynes was asked if he thought that was interference on Gaudreau.

"Yes," Hynes said bluntly. 

In the first period, Ryan Hartman was skating through the Wild's defensive zone, without the puck-I might add, he was blindsided by Ivan Barbashev. No penalty call. Hartman skated to the bench very slowly and didn't take his next shift for a little bit.

Wild bench wanted a penalty but never got one.

Later in that period, Eriksson Ek was interfered with in the offensive zone after he got picked by one of the Vegas players.

A pick is when an opposing player just happens to skate right in front of the other team and causes that player not to make a play. 

Harmless play to say the least, but it is an interference penalty if we are looking at the rule book. 

Later in the third, Hartman is battling along the boards with Vegas defenseman Nicolas Hague. The puck is to the right of Hartman. Hague then turns around and sticks the shaft of his stick into Hartman's face and follows through with a body slam. 

WWE Wrestlemania was on Saturday and Sunday night in Vegas. Maybe Hague was inspired and wanted to try a move of his own.

No penalty call by referee Furman South, who could not have been closer to the play.

This was not called a penalty pic.twitter.com/tTjvdwfqsu

— World Hockey Report (@worldhockeyrpt) April 21, 2025

The Wild showed up to play. They were more physical and had their chances. According to MoneyPuck, the Wild had 2.43 expected goals to Vegas's 2.67. They had their chances, but weren't able to put it together. 

Credit to Adin Hill, he played a great game in net for the Golden Knights. 

Vegas led the league in the fewest penalty minutes during the regular season. Whether that be a testament to their discipline or penalties that just weren't called, the Wild need to put that behind them for game two on Tuesday or they are in danger of being down 2-0 coming back home were they went 22-17-2 in the regular season. 

How long is the Maple Leafs' NHL-record Stanley Cup drought? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Toronto Maple Leafs own the second-most Stanley Cup titles in NHL history. But it’s been well over a half-century since their last championship triumph.

The Leafs saw their record Stanley Cup drought extended with a second-round loss to the defending champion Florida Panthers in the 2025 NHL playoffs.

Toronto, the Atlantic Division’s No. 1 seed, eliminated the wild-card Ottawa Senators in six games this postseason before jumping out to a 2-0 series lead over Florida. The Panthers then responded with three straight wins, but the Leafs won Game 6 on the road to keep their season alive.

But, in a decisive Game 7 at home, the Leafs were booed off the ice as an ugly 6-1 defeat pushed the storied franchise’s championship drought to nearly six decades.

When was the last time the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup?

The Leafs’ most recent Stanley Cup championship came in the 1966-67 season.

What’s the longest Stanley Cup drought in NHL history?

Toronto’s current championship drought is the longest in NHL history at 58 years.

The Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks both are mired in title droughts of 50-plus years, as well. Buffalo and Vancouver joined the NHL in the 1970-71 season and neither has won a Stanley Cup in the 54 years since. The Canucks have reached three Stanley Cup Finals (1982, 1994, 2011) and the Sabres have reached two (1975, 1999).

When was the last time the Maple Leafs made the Stanley Cup Final?

The Leafs’ 1966-67 championship campaign also stands as their last appearance in the Stanley Cup Final. That means the Original Six franchise hasn’t reached the Cup Final in the expansion era (since the 1967-68 season).

The Leafs last appeared in the conference final in the 2002 postseason.

How many Stanley Cup Finals have the Maple Leafs made?

Toronto has reached the Cup Final 21 times, trailing only the Montreal Canadiens (33 appearances) and Detroit Red Wings (24 appearances) for the most in NHL history.

How many Stanley Cups have the Maple Leafs won?

The Leafs were victorious in 13 of those 21 Cup Finals. Only the 23-time champion Canadiens have won more Stanley Cups than Toronto.

Here’s a full look at Toronto’s Stanley Cup Final history (years listed are when Cup Finals were played):

• 1967: Beat Montreal Canadiens
• 1964: Beat Detroit Red Wings
• 1963: Beat Detroit Red Wings
• 1962: Beat Chicago Blackhawks
• 1960: Lost to Montreal Canadiens
• 1959: Lost to Montreal Canadiens
• 1951: Beat Montreal Canadiens
• 1949: Beat Detroit Red Wings
• 1948: Beat Detroit Red Wings
• 1947: Beat Montreal Canadiens
• 1945: Beat Detroit Red Wings
• 1942: Beat Detroit Red Wings
• 1940: Lost to New York Rangers
• 1939: Lost to Boston Bruins
• 1938: Lost to Chicago Blackhawks
• 1936: Lost to Detroit Red Wings
• 1935: Lost to Montreal Maroons
• 1933: Lost to New York Rangers
• 1932: Beat New York Rangers
• 1922: Beat Vancouver Millionaires
• 1918: Beat Vancouver Millionaires

Editor’s note: This story was first published on April 21.