Vegas forward Brett Howden scores past Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal in the second period of the Ducks' 3-1 loss in the Western Conference semifinals on Monday night. (Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
T-Mobile Arena sits just off the Las Vegas Strip, not far from a faux Manhattan skyline, a pyramid and a casino made to look like a castle.
The line separating illusion from reality can be a thin one in Sin City, where the Ducks opened the second round of the playoffs Monday intent on proving their first-round victory over the Edmonton Oilers was more than a facade. It didn’t go well, with Brett Howden’s goal early in the second period and Ivan Barbashev’s tiebreaking tally late in the third period giving the Vegas Golden Knights a 3-1 victory in the best-of-seven series.
Mitch Marner added an empty-net goal with six seconds to play to end any hope of a Ducks comeback. Mikael Granlund scored for the Ducks with six minutes left in the game.
But the game turned on what the Ducks thought was a missed icing call just ahead of Barbashev’s goal, which came 65 seconds after Granlund tied the score.
“Clearly I disagreed with the call. Clearly it was icing,” Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said. “That was the play for me. We had just scored. It was a huge call. And an easy call.”
The Ducks were a shadow of the team that eliminated Edmonton. After averaging a playoff-high 4.33 goals a game, the Ducks were stymied by Vegas goalie Carter Hart, who turned away 33 shots. And after converting eight of 16 power-play opportunities against the Oilers, the Ducks were shut out in four chances against the Golden Knights.
Although the Ducks played their best defensive game of the postseason, giving up just 21 shots before the empty-netter, the balanced Knights gave them few good scoring opportunities, especially on the power play. Troy Terry, who had four shots, said he’ll have nightmares about the misses.
“I’ve got to put one of them in,” he said. “I’m going to be kicking myself tonight. But overall I thought the pace that we played at tonight, if we can play like that for the length of this series, we should put ourselves in a good spot.”
The Ducks, who needed to use their superior speed to counter the Knights' edge in experience, pushed the pace in the opening period but got nothing to show for it. The Knights took the lead less than four minutes into the second period when Howden made a dash to the edge of the crease to deflect in a pass from Marner for his fifth goal of the playoffs.
Vegas defenseman Rasmus Andersson celebrates after Mitch Marner's empty-net goal in the final seconds of a 3-1 win over the Ducks on Monday. (Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
Howden had a chance to double the lead less than six minutes before the second intermission, but he whiffed trying to bat a loose puck in an open net from the right side.
Mark Stone had an opportunity to score on the power play with less than nine minutes left, but Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal made a spectacular save to keep it a one-goal score. And that paid off when Granlund put the puck through Brayden McNabb's legs 2½ minutes later.
Defenseman Jackson LaCombe, who passed up a prime scoring chance earlier, made that goal, driving hard from the top of the left circle to the crease and backhanding a shot off Hart that bounced toa wide-open Granlund in the center of the right circle.
The tie was shortlived, however, with Barbashev tapping in a pass from Pavel Dorofeyev for the go-ahead goal.
The Ducks mounted a furious rally after pulling Dostal with about two minutes to play, but that ended with Marner clearing the puck the length of the ice into the empty net.
Well, folks, season two of my Pittsburgh Penguins coverage for The Hockey News is in the books.
But that doesn't mean there's a shortage of things to discuss as far as the team is concerned.
You all asked your questions - from talk of contention to the potential goaltending tandem next season - and I did my best to answer as many of you as I could.
So, without further ado, here is my first Monday Mailbox of the 2026 offseason.
What do you expect an Evgeni Malkin extension to look like? @katwhetstone_ on X
Isn't that the big question?
But, despite all the noise, I do believe a Malkin extension gets done. There is, quite literally, not a single reason good enough I can think of for the Penguins not to bring him back.
He's willing to play wing, he said he wants "one more year," he won't ask for a high payday, he's not blocking a young player in the top-six, he was point-per-game this season, and he wants to come back.
Malkin is also going to be 40. But, so what? One more year isn't going to be a hindrance to anything Dubas is trying to accomplish, which I'll get to in a bit. There is no harm in bringing him back for that "one more year." Not only is a franchise legend owed that to an extent, it's also just not worth the internal fallout if Dubas decides to force him away to another team.
One year, $5 million. Get it done.
What’s the goalie tandem you see in Pittsburgh next year? I think Murashov and Skinner with Silovs getting traded. @JimStripsky on X
What do you think our goaltending situation will look like next season? @bun_sprout on X
What do you think the goalie situation looks like next year? @1lya_rozzy on X
Clearly, many are wondering what the goaltending situation may look like next season.
Earlier on Monday, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that Stuart Skinner is not expected to return to the Penguins next season. To be honest, I am not entirely surprised by this, as Skinner was replaced by Silovs for the must-win games in the playoffs (even if the losses weren't on him) and the Penguins have a lot of young goaltenders knocking on the door, which probably means he has a better shot at a multi-year deal and a starting job elsewhere.
I do think the Penguins will bring back Arturs Silovs. He put up a .939 save percentage in his three playoff games, which only builds on his prior success in high-stakes hockey. Finding goaltenders with a track record of thriving in those environments is rare, and even if Silovs had an up-and-down first full NHL regular season, his playoff prowess along is reason enough to take a chance on him.
And then, there's the Penguins' farm system. Sergei Murashov is the best the Penguins' system has to offer right now, and he'll probably be ready to make the jump to the NHL in 2026-27. Taylor Gauthier - who has put together an unreal campaign for the Wheeling Nailers in the ECHL - should be at the AHL level, but injuries during training camp and the existence of Murashov and Joel Blomqvist have blocked him from that opportunity.
I think Silovs and Murashov will be the NHL tandem next season, and I think it will be Blomqvist and Gauthier in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS). There comes a point when development is being stunted if guys aren't progressing upward, and I think the Penguins have reached that point with Murashov, Blomqvist, and Gauthier.
All that said, I would not be surprised, either, to see someone like Blomqvist or Gauthier leveraged as part of a trade package for a young NHL player. If that happens, it might change a few things.
Who’s more likely to be a permanent member on the roster next year, Koivunen, Avery Hayes or McGroarty? @Ozzyhen on X
It's pretty crazy how one calendar year can change perceptions entirely.
At the end of the 2024-25 season, Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty were called up to the NHL and gave what fans thought would be a preview for 2025-26, with Koivunen registering seven points in eight games and McGroarty putting up a goal and three points in five. Avery Hayes had not even made his NHL debut at that point, even if he was on people's radar.
Fast forward to now, and Koivunen was a disappointment this season with two goals and seven points in 39 NHL games and has not yet appeared to process things at NHL speed, while McGroarty began the season on injured reserve and struggled to find consistency with three goals and six points in 24 NHL games. Hayes debuted Feb. 5, scored two goals, and showed a bit more consistency down the stretch than the other two. He was also favored late in the season as an injury call-up for the NHL club.
Things appear to be trending up for Hayes, and I imagine he's most likely to stick on the roster out of the three next season - especially since he can effectively be plugged into a fourth-line role without any kind of detriment to his development. That said, I still believe McGroarty has the highest ceiling of the three. It might just take him a bit longer to get there.
Will the tandem of Alexeyev/Brunicke make the Pens next year. @TheAud25 on X
I have a hard time seeing Alexander Alexeyev crack the NHL roster, assuming the Penguins tender him an RFA offer. Parker Wotherspoon and Sam Girard are under contract for another year, it remains to be seen what happens with Ryan Shea, and Owen Pickering will also be in the mix on the left side. And that's not even accounting for the possibility of the Penguins looking to upgrade their blue line.
Harrison Brunicke, on the other hand, probably cracks the roster with a good training camp - again, barring no upgrade on the right side. He's already playing top-pair minutes for WBS in the playoffs over guys who have been there the whole season and helped them earn a playoff berth, and he's made tangible progress physically and in the defensive details of his game.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Brunicke start in WBS next season, as he will (finally) be AHL-eligible. But, even if he does, I think folks will see plenty of him at the NHL level in 2026-27. The Penguins are very much invested in Brunicke's potential as an impact NHL player, so they're not going to rush him if he's not ready.
Was there any word on the injuries the players were dealing with? Sid definitely didn't seem to be fully recovered from his injury at the Olympics. @samsdrunkdog.bsky.social on Bluesky
Crosby said his knee is fine and that it does not require offseason surgery, but he didn't want to elaborate further - even if he cheekily addressed that a certain star Canadian forward and Vegas Golden Knights player blurted it out already.
Other than that and Silovs playing the last 3-4 weeks with a knee injury - which makes his playoff performance even more impressive - no other updates were provided.
Do you think dubas will re-sign dewar and acciari to keep the 4th line together? or just re-sign one and fill the empty spot with a player from wbs? @chinny_crosby on X
Dewar, 27, had 14 goals and 30 points last season and is good enough and young enough to be a key depth contributor for the next few years. There is little risk in signing him to a deal as long as it's not an overpay.
But, as for Acciari, he's 34. He had a great season for the Penguins and is an important player for them, as he hits, wins faceoffs, forechecks well, penalty kills well, blocks a lot of shots, and elevated his game offensively.
Most of those are things that a guy like Hayes excels at, too, and he's 23. Hayes also has speed and a bit more offensive upside, so he's a good candidate to, essentially, replace Acciari on that line. A line of Dewar, Blake Lizotte, and Hayes could give the opposition headaches with their speed, energy, and forechecking ability.
What is the best plan to replace Anthony Mantha's 30 goal production? @AdamMihara on X
I'll go over this in the next question, but I think it will, somewhat, be by committee. I think the Penguins are going to target a good young player in the trade market, and add that to some of the young guys hopefully beginning to assert themselves and the Penguins having a full season of Egor Chinakhov and a better offensive version of Ben Kindel - and there's your answer.
Do you think the Pens take a step backwards next year? They overachieved this season and Mantha and few others probably won’t be here.
What are the odds that Dubas makes a big/huge move this summer to bring in a young superstar? @brian_andrews on X
Will the Penguins have a directive to try and land an Auston Matthews or Jason Robertson in a trade to ensure playoff revenue? @joshuacarns.bsky.social on Bluesky
could u see the penguins trade for a bigger younger player like a robertson, wright, nemec @jansen_aid97343 on X
Brian asked two questions - and Joshua and Jansen asked a similar question - and I think they kind of both tandem with my answer.
Contrary to what some others are saying around these parts, I do not believe the Penguins will be taking a step back next season, and I will have a long piece detailing why in the coming days. Yes, they overachieved this season, but I've long-believed that the summer of 2026 was always going to be a target of sorts for them to start making bigger moves toward contention.
Older players may have been large contributors to their success this past season, but I think one young player has pretty handily altered the short-term outlook of this team.
I expect Kindel to take a step next season, potentially easing into the 2C role. He already has all the details sorted out in his game - even if he needs to and will add a little bit more weight in the offseason - which is rare for a player as young as he is. He plays and thinks the game like a veteran, and the production will eventually follow.
And, when you couple Kindel with the possibility of guys like Brunicke, Murashov, and Hayes populating the roster - in addition to Koivunen, McGroarty, Tristan Broz, Tanner Howe, and possibly Bill Zonnon, who will likely play in the AHL next season - there's already more youth talent that should be in the mix.
Plus, the Penguins can sell and buy, which is something I think they're going to do. Sure, shipping off someone like Rickard Rakell or Bryan Rust alone isn't going to net them a young star player, but packaging one of the two with their 2026 first-round pick - which will already be in the 20s, anyway - and perhaps another few picks and a shiny prospect or two not named Murashov (or Kindel, even if he's techincally not a prospect anymore)?
Then, they might be able to pull off a pretty big move for a very good younger player, which helps them in both the short- and the long-term.
Do I think they're Cup contenders next season? No. But I expect them to push for the playoffs again, and I expect them to be making tangible progress with the development of some of their more promising young players. Even if a bona fide "superstar" isn't available, I also expect them to execute a trade for either a solid young blueliner with higher upside or a young top-six forward.
If a superstar does become available, I'm not sure the Penguins would have the shiniest assets to be able to outbid for someone like Jason Robertson or Auston Matthews. But they will certainly be in on those players, as will most other teams. And they might be able to build enough of a package with all of the assets they've collected up to this point quantity-wise.
Either way, I think this is a team that tries to get better. Adding peripheral young talent to the roster - and, potentially, having three core pieces in Murashov, Kindel, and Brunicke already in the organization and in the NHL - not only helps the now, but it should also minimize the amount of time the Penguins need to "tank" after Crosby retires.
And that, I believe, would be the goal for the rebuild: Have two windows of contention. One with Crosby, and one a few years after Crosby, with much of the young peripheral talent intact to bridge that gap. Again, the purpose of adding all this young talent now, via trade or through the system, would be to have those lottery-zone picks for a few years after Sid, but not for more than that. Minimizing the turnover time is key.
What do you think is the Penguins biggest need to contend for next year? @BalmalcolmArab on X
In general, to get younger by both selling and buying. Positionally? They still need to upgrade their blue line. I think they will try to land a young, top-four left-side defenseman in the trade market this summer. The Penguins are playing better systemically on defense, but they could simply use more talent there, too.
What does EDM do with McJesus? @TomParr14916922 on X
Haha. Well, they'll keep him for now, but they're certainly running out of time - for both McDavid and Draisaitl.
If we're talking about these same things next summer? Yeah, they may have to change course and consider the market, if that's what either or both players want.
What are your summer plans? :) @meowlkin on X
I would love to say "relax and take some time off," but, unfortunately, the grind never stops. The draft is in June, and development camp and free agency is in July, so I'll be covering those closely.
I'm also a barista, so I'll be working. A lot. But, that said, I'm going on a nice beach vacation in July and, possibly, a Disney vacation with my baby nephew and the family just before training camp. I would also like to bike a lot more this summer - whilejamming to my mixed playlist that includes the likes of Eric Church, The Black Keys, KONGOS, Jake Bugg, Daughtry, The Vaccines, Jack Johnson, THE BAND CAMINO, Miley Cyrus, and others (mostly in the alternative/indie rock realm), which was a question requested by @reallyafairy on X - and take a Yoga in the Park class. I spend a whole lot of time inside at my desk writing, so I want to make an effort to get a whole lot more fresh air this summer.
Getting some things done around my apartment that I've been putting off would be nice, too. Also a big amusement park enthusiast, so I'll be making my rounds at those.
But the big thing for me is spending time with family and my dog. I mentioned my nephew, but I have a newborn little niece now, too, and spending time with them is my new favorite thing to do. No amount of time with them is ever enough, and not having to be at the rink most days - as much as I love my job - makes way for that time.
Hope you enjoy whatever plans you have this summer as well.
Taylor Hall scored the overtime winning goal to give the host Carolina Hurricanes a 3-2 comeback victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Nikolaj Ehlers scored once and added an assist, while Seth Jarvis tallied once for the Hurricanes, who lead the Eastern Conference semifinal series 2-0.
With time ticking down in the first overtime period, Hall drove to the net during a rush led by Sean Walker, had his first attempt stopped, but during the ensuing scramble pounced on a loose puck and got it past Flyer goalkeeper Dan Vladar at 18:54 of overtime.
It was Hall's first career playoff overtime goal during his seven seasons of post-season play.
Goaltender Frederik Andersen make 34 saves for the Hurricanes, who erased an early two-goal deficit. Jackson Blake collected a pair of assists.
Jamie Drysdale and Sean Couturier tallied for the Flyers, while Vladar stopped 39 shots.
The Flyers had a golden chance to win with an early overtime power play but could not convert.
The series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Thursday.
The Flyers competed much better than in the series-opening 3-0 loss.
Drysdale's power-play goal opened the scoring at 4:02. Amid a flurry at the net, the puck came out to the high slot and Drysdale stepped in from his point position to bury the chance.
The score marked the first time during this year's playoffs that Carolina has trailed in a game.
It was also Philadelphia's first goal during the opening period of the playoffs, and the first time the Hurricanes surrendered a goal in the first period.
Couturier doubled the lead 39 seconds later with his first tally of the playoffs. From behind the net, Carl Grundstrom slipped a pass to the top the crease and Couturier was on the spot to slip home the chance.
That sparked the Hurricanes and they were rewarded when Ehlers netted his first goal of the playoffs with a power-play tally of his own. Ehlers set up at right face-off dot and hammered a one-timer set up by Blake and K'Andre Miller at 10:21 of the first period.
Jarvis tied the clash with 8:39 remaining in regulation time, joining an odd-man rush and finding the mark after a drop pass from Ehlers as he reached the right circle.
Carolina outshot the visitors, 35-21, through 60 minutes, but the Flyers pumped 15 shots on goal to eight for the Hurricanes in overtime.
May 4, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) and Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler (24) battle during the third period in game two of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
James Guillory-Imagn Images
RALEIGH, N.C. — Taylor Hall slipped the puck past Dan Vladar at 18:54 of overtime to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Monday night, taking a 2-0 lead in their second-round series in the NHL playoffs.
Hall took a short feed from Sean Walker and carried the puck in on the left side before being knocked to his knees near the top of the crease. But Hall hopped up, corralled the puck and beat Vladar to cap a night that saw the Hurricanes fall behind 2-0 quickly for their first deficit of the postseason.
Seth Jarvis had the third-period goal that forced overtime for Carolina, while Nikolaj Ehlers also scored. Frederik Andersen finished with 34 saves to help the Hurricanes improve to 6-0 in the postseason.
The series shifts to Philadelphia for Thursday’s Game 3.
Jamie Drysdale and Sean Couturier scored in a 39-second span of the first period for the Flyers, but Philadelphia couldn’t beat Andersen again.
May 4, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Seth Jarvis (24) scores a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period in game two of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
James Guillory-Imagn Images
RALEIGH, N.C. — Seth Jarvis scored midway through the third period to complete the Carolina Hurricanes’ rally from an early two-goal deficit and force overtime against the Philadelphia Flyers in Monday night’s second-round playoff game.
Carolina is chasing a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Jarvis took a feed from Nikolaj Ehlers as the trailer and beat Dan Vladar from the right side at the 11:21 mark to knot the score at 2-2. Ehlers had Carolina’s first goal with a first-period one-timer and the Hurricanes on the power play.
Jamie Drysdale and Sean Couturier scored in a 39-second span of the first period for the Flyers, whose flurry in the opening 5 minutes put Carolina in its first deficit of the postseason.
Then Vladar spent the rest of regulation flirting with making that 2-0 margin hold up, including twice stopping breakaways by Eric Robinson. And Travis Sanheim came through to back up his goalie with a big second-period play, clearing a puck that had gotten loose behind the netminder in the crease to deny a potential tying goal.
There won't be any more 3-on-3 play. It is 5-on-5 instead, just like in regulation play. There won't be any more shootouts after five minutes of scoreless overtime play. There is sudden death, and it could last a very long time.
This postseason, there have been 14 overtime games, including three double-overtime games.
Here's what to know about playoff hockey overtime, including the format, longest games and 2026 results.
How does OT work in NHL playoffs?
If the score is tied after three periods, the teams go to the dressing rooms for 15 minutes while the ice is resurfaced. Overtime periods last 20 minutes or until someone scores. It's 5-on-5 play (barring penalties). If no one scores in the first overtime, the process repeats and continues until someone scores. The teams change sides for each overtime period. The first overtime is the long change to get back to the bench.
The NHL Situation Room reviews all goals to make sure they are legally scored, such as the goal that ended Game 4 of the Anaheim-Edmonton series or the overturned goal in Game 4 of the Vegas-Utah series.
2026 NHL playoff overtime games
May 4:Hurricanes 3, Flyers 2: Taylor Hall scored at 18:54 of the first overtime for a 2-0 series lead.
April 28:Bruins 2, Sabres 1 (OT). David Pastrnak scored at 9:14 of the first overtime to cut the Bruins' series deficit to 3-2.
April 27:Golden Knights 5, Mammoth 4 (OT). Shea Theodore scored at 19:08 of the first overtime to tie the series at two games apiece.
April 26:Ducks 4, Oilers 3 (OT). Ryan Poehling scored 2:29 into the first overtime to give Anaheim a 3-1 series lead.
April 25:Wild 3, Stars 2. Matt Boldy scored at 19:31 of the first overtime as the Wild tie the series 2-2.
April 24:Canadiens 3, Lightning 2. Lane Hutson scored at 2:09 of the first overtime, giving Montreal a 2-1 series lead.
April 22:Stars 4, Wild 3. Wyatt Johnston scored at 12:10 of the second overtime, giving Dallas a 2-1 series lead.
April 21:Avalanche 2, Kings 1: Nicolas Roy scored the winning goal at the 12:16 mark of the first overtime, giving Colorado a 2-0 series lead.
April 21:Lightning 3, Canadiens 2: J.J. Moser scored at 7:12 in the first overtime to tie up the series at a game apiece. It was Moser's first career NHL playoff goal.
April 20:Hurricanes 3, Senators 2: Jordan Martinook scored at 13:53 of the second overtime. He was stopped on a penalty shot in the first overtime.
April 19:Canadiens 4, Lightning 3: Juraj Slafkovsky scored at 1:22 of the first overtime, completing a hat trick.
What are the longest NHL playoff overtime games?
1 - Six overtimes (116 minutes, 30 seconds of overtime) in the 1936 semifinals. March 24, 1935. Detroit 1, Montreal Maroons 0. Mud Bruneteau scored the winner.
2 - Six overtimes (104 minutes, 46 seconds of overtime) in the 1933 semifinals. April 3, 1933. Toronto 1, Boston 0. Ken Doraty scored the winner.
3 - Five overtimes (92 minutes, 1 second of overtime) in the 2000 conference semifinals. May 4, 2000. Philadelphia 2, Pittsburgh 1. Keith Primeau scored the winner.
4 - Five overtimes (90 minutes, 27 seconds of overtime) in the 2020 first round. Aug. 11, 2020. Tampa Bay 3, Columbus 2. Brayden Point scored the winner.
5 - Five overtimes (80 minutes, 48 seconds of overtime) in the 2003 conference semifinals. April 24, 2003. Anaheim 4, Dallas 3. Petr Sykora scored the winner.
6 - Four overtimes (79 minutes, 47 seconds of overtime) in the 2023 conference finals. May 18, 2023. Florida 3, Carolina 2. Matthew Tkachuk scored the winner.
Longest Stanley Cup Final games
Eight Stanley Cup Final games have gone to the third overtime. The Edmonton Oilers were part of the longest game when Petr Klima scored at 15:13 of the third overtime for a 3-2 win against the Boston Bruins in the 1990 Final.
Which players in 2026 postseason have the most playoff overtime goals?
5 - Corey Perry, Lightning
4 - Leon Draisaitl, Oilers (all in 2025 playoffs, an NHL record for one postseason)
3 - Brayden Point, Lightning; Jordan Staal, Hurricanes; Anze Kopitar, Kings; Artemi Panarin, Kings; Matt Duchene, Stars
The collective euphoria of having won the Stanley Cup for the first time in 42 years is a feeling Detroit Red Wings fans around the world will never forget.
It was a long road to get there, starting with a six-game victory over the St. Louis Blues in the opening round of the 1997 Stanley Cup Playoffs and setting up a date with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.
The Ducks were in their first playoff appearance, and had dispatched the Phoenix Coyotes in their opening round series.
However, the dangerous offensive combination of Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne proved to be no match for the Red Wings, who swept through the series in four games.
And amazingly, three of the four games required overtime to settle a winner.
Less than a minute into overtime in Game 1, Brendan Shanahan broke in on a two-on-one rush with Martin Lapointe, who beat goaltender Guy Hebert for what he described as his first-career overtime goal dating back to his Pee Wee hockey days.
But Game 2 took nearly two full games worth of hockey to decide a winner. It was Slava Kozlov who finally sent the fans home happy at 1:38 of the third overtime, firing a shot from the face-off circle past goaltender Mikhail Shtalenkov, who replaced the injured Hebert.
Following a regulation Game 3 victory in Anaheim, Detroit punched their ticket to the Western Conference Final against the Colorado Avalanche thanks to a double-overtime game-winning goal from Brendan Shanahan in Game 4.
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Already guaranteed a top five selection after finishing this past season with the worst record in the Eastern Conference and the third-worst overall, the Blueshirts have an 11.5 percent chance of earning the right to draft projected top pick Gavin McKenna on the KeyBank Center stage in Buffalo on June 26.
The possibility of it all is tantalizing for an organization attempting to redirect while maintaining competitive integrity.
That is considering the impacts made by the most recent first-overall picks, like Juraj Slafkovský (2022) in Montreal, Connor Bedard (2023) in Chicago, Macklin Celebrini (2024) in San Jose, and Matthew Schaefer (2025) on Long Island.
The Rangers thought they struck lottery gold not too long ago, when the ping-pong balls bounced their way into one of the top two picks in back-to-back drafts in 2019 and 2020.
Gavin McKenna skates during Penn State’s March 27 game. Getty Images
But Kaapo Kakko, whom the club took at No. 2 in 2019, now plays for Seattle, and the jury is still out on 2020 first-overall pick Alexis Lafrenière.
McKenna is widely considered NHL-ready, but he is not necessarily expected to headline in Year 1 like Schaefer just did.
The ceiling for McKenna is believed to be much higher than the other prospects expecting to hear their names called early in the draft.
McKenna’s overall offensive game captured teams’ attention, but its depth and potential upside separated the Penn State product from the rest of the pack.
A second crack at developing a first-overall pick could rejuvenate a Rangers team that got younger as the 2025-26 season went along.
While McKenna has been largely considered the consensus top selection, the Rangers could have their pick of the litter at the top of a draft class if the top pick falls into their lap.
Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg is expected to go at No. 2, which the Rangers have an 11.2 percent chance of landing.
After the Blueshirts jumped from what could’ve been as low as the No. 15 pick to drafting Lafreniere at first overall in 2020, the organization is well within reach of a repeat six years later.
Chris Drury addresses reporters during a September 2025 press conference. Charles Wenzelberg
The NHL Draft Lottery, which will be broadcast live from NHL Network studios at 7 p.m. on ESPN, will determine the order of selection for the first 16 picks in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft.
All of the teams participating either did not qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs or have acquired the first-round drafting positions of those non-playoff teams.
The drawing will be conducted in two phases to decide which teams will select first and second in the draft.
Under lottery rules, teams can move up a maximum of 10 spots. Therefore, only the top 11 seeds are eligible to receive the first-overall pick.
The NHL uses a four-number combination system to determine the selection order.
There are four balls numbered 1 to 14 and 1,001 possible four-number combinations.
One combination is designated as a redraw (11, 12, 13, 14), which allows the league to divide by 1,000 among the 16 teams that did not qualify for the postseason.
Using the final regular-season standings and the lottery odds determined by the Board of Governors, each team receives an allotment of randomly assigned four-number combinations.
Since the Canucks finished in last place, Vancouver receives 185. The Rangers, who finished 30th in the NHL, receive 115.
The lower a team places in the NHL regular-season standings, the more lottery tickets it receives.
After McKenna and Stenberg, a group of defensemen is expected to go one by one.
Left-handed blueliner Carson Carels of the Western Hockey League, as well as right-handed defenseman Chase Reid of the Ontario Hockey League and the WHL’s Daxon Rudolph, could go in any order near the top of the draft.
Incoming sophomore at the University of North Dakota, RHD Keaton Verhoeff, is also projected to be one of the first few defensemen taken.
Among the forward group, Caleb Malhotra — son of former Ranger Manny Malhotra — is one player who likely entices the Rangers. Committed to Boston University, a major bonus among a Terrier-riddled Rangers organization, Malhotra is considered the center of the draft.
The OHL’s Ethan Belchetz and Nikita Klepov may also be among the Rangers’ considerations within the top five picks.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Philadelphia Flyers forward Owen Tippett and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin will miss Monday's Game 2 of the second-round series in the NHL playoffs.
Coach Rick Tocchet said before Monday's game that Tippett would be considered a gametime decision for Thursday's Game 3. He's dealing with an undisclosed injury.
Tippett had a team-best 28 goals to go with 23 assists in the regular season, then had one goal and one assist in the six-game series against Pittsburgh that marked Philadelphia’s first postseason appearance since 2020.
Tippett, who brings needed speed to the lineup, skated Sunday. But he spent part of that session working with goalie Aleksei Kolosov at one end of the ice while the rest of the team worked at the other end.
As for the Hurricanes, Nikishin took warmups before being scratched. He's recovering from a concussion on a jarring hit in a Game 4 win at Ottawa on April 25 that clinched a first-round sweep,
Nikishin has been skating in practices but coach Rod Brind'Amour said he didn't play Game 1 after he didn't feel quite right. Veteran Mike Reilly drew in and had two assists in Game 1.
Apr 4, 2026; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators center Ridly Greig (71) skates with the puck in the third period against the Minnesota Wild at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-IMAGN Images
Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
NEW YORK — The NHL on Monday suspended Ottawa forward Ridly Greig for two regular-season games for roughing during the Senators’ final playoff game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Greig was banned for sucker punching Carolina defenseman Sean Walker in the second period of Ottawa’s 4-2 loss on April 25.
Walker was engaged with a Senators player during an on-ice melee, and the video replay showed Greig delivering two separate shots to Walker, including a gloved uppercut punch that dropped Walker to his knees. Greig was not penalized on the play.
The victory gave the Hurricanes a sweep in the best-of-seven, first-round series.
Greig will serve the suspension at the start of next season.
Who's your money on now that all NHL semi-final round rivals are set? Here's how The Maven views the field:
FLYERS AT CAROLINA: It's already 1-0 for the Canes and, frankly, there's nothing about Philly that suggests a Flyer win. If top- to-bottom strong Carolina doesn't sweep, I'll be stunned.
DUCKS AT VEGAS: These teams are so evenly-matched it's ridiculous. From coaching on out, it's even. John Tortorella's team has home ice advantage and in this case, I go with Sin City's skaters in seven.
WILD AT AVALANCHE: The Denver skaters may lose one – maximum two – but as much as I respect Minny, the Avs are in a class by themselves.
CANADIENS AT BUFFALO: Let's face it, there's no way Montreal should have won game Seven in Tampa Bay. Luck prevailed but it'll take more than luck to take the Sabres. I go with Buffalo.
RALEIGH, N.C. — Travis Sanheim felt there would be a “big difference” in the Flyers’ start to Game 2.
His feeling was right.
But the Flyers ended up wasting an early 2-0 lead Monday night. They couldn’t nail it down and suffered a damaging 3-2 overtime loss to the Hurricanes at Lenovo Center.
The Flyers now head home with a 2-0 deficit in this best-of-seven second-round playoff series against the Eastern Conference’s top seed.
Taylor Hall scored the winner for Carolina with 1:06 minutes left in overtime. You could argue the Flyers were the better team in OT.
Seth Jarvis tied the game with 8:39 minutes remaining in regulation.
Two nights ago, the Flyers appeared shell-shocked to open the game. They trailed 2-0 just 7:30 minutes into the action and went on to be shut out, 3-0.
Prior to Game 2, the Hurricanes had not trailed all postseason. The Flyers stunned them with two goals not even five minutes into the game. Jamie Drysdale buried one on the power play and Sean Couturier struck 39 seconds later.
Carl Grundstrom played his first game of these playoffs and assisted Couturier’s goal. He entered the lineup for Garnet Hathaway.
The Flyers, though, didn’t build on their lead. They’ve scored just seven goals over their last five games in these playoffs after ripping off 11 through their first three games.
Rick Tocchet’s club was without Owen Tippett for a second straight game. More on his status here.
Going back to the start of the 2021-22 season, the Flyers have lost 18 of their last 21 games against Carolina.
The 28-year-old converted 40 saves on 43 shots. He couldn’t glove a loose puck on the OT winner.
Just 2:42 minutes into overtime, Vladar made a sharp pad save on Eric Robinson, who turned and ripped one from the slot.
Jarvis beat Vladar after the Flyers backed up defensively and allowed the talented winger to skate right into his shot.
Vladar was not happy with Logan Stankoven and Sebastian Aho running into him during the third period.
Under four and a half minutes into the second period, Vladar delivered a couple of massive saves on Robinson to bail out the Flyers’ power play and keep his team’s lead at 2-1.
Not long after that, Sanheim made a heads-up defensive play to prevent Carolina from tying the game. A redirection snuck through Vladar’s legs, but Sanheim batted the puck away as it trickled toward the goal line.
Hurricanes netminder Frederik Andersen stopped 34 of the Flyers’ 36 shots.
He denied a Matvei Michkov backhand attempt with 5:43 minutes left in overtime. He turned away a wide-open Travis Konecny with 4:45 minutes to go.
Noah Cates had a great look with eight seconds remaining in regulation, but Hall blocked it.
• The Flyers’ power play finished 1 for 7 and the penalty kill went 5 for 6.
The Flyers had a power play in overtime and recorded one shot on net. Carolina blocked a pair of shots.
The Hurricanes trimmed the Flyers’ lead to 2-1 in the first period when Nikolaj Ehlers blasted one past Vladar. Rasmus Ristolainen had a failed clear that kept Carolina in the offensive zone.
• The series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Thursday (8 p.m. ET/TNT).
NEW YORK (AP) — The NHL on Monday suspended Ottawa forward Ridly Greig for two regular-season games for roughing during the Senators’ final playoff game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Greig was banned for sucker punching Carolina defenseman Sean Walker in the second period of Ottawa’s 4-2 loss on April 25.
Walker was engaged with a Senators player during an on-ice melee, and the video replay showed Greig delivering two separate shots to Walker, including a gloved uppercut punch that dropped Walker to his knees. Greig was not penalized on the play.
The victory gave the Hurricanes a sweep in the best-of-seven, first-round series.
Greig will serve the suspension at the start of next season.
In Holland's exit interview on Friday, he revealed that he has a list of "five to eight" coaches of multiple degrees of experience, suggesting he's looking at all the options.
Now, here are three coaches who have either been lightly tested in the NHL, or haven't been a head coach in the league yet - in no particular order. In fact, all these listed coaches are currently leading a team in the AHL.
Andrew Lord, Ontario Reign
When a franchise goes through the process of a coaching change, it's fairly standard for the organization to take a look at who is running the affiliate club in the American League.
In this case, for the Kings, that's Andrew Lord, head coach of the Ontario Reign. Lord has been leading the Reign to a great season thus far in the minors.
This is Lord's first season with Ontario, and he currently has his team in the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs. The Reign earned a first-round bye, thanks to finishing first in the Pacific Division.
They also finished the regular season fourth in the AHL with 99 points, the best campaign in franchise history since the Manchester Monarchs became the Ontario Reign.
This impressive season is all in the hands of coach Lord.
Manny Malhotra is the head coach of the Abbotsford Canucks, the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks. He's led the team for two seasons now and has really impressed in his first campaign.
In 2024-25, he guided Abbotsford to a Calder Cup championship, which is the first time Vancouver's American League affiliate won a championship since the Springfield Indians in 1991.
This year hasn't gone nearly as well for Abbotsford, which finished fourth-last in the AHL, but that's largely because the NHL club brought up some of the key players who helped the Calder Cup-winning team last season.
Malhotra has been a name that has floated around the NHL community as a coach who could soon get an opportunity behind an NHL bench, but as the leader of the coaching staff.
He's been behind an NHL bench before, as an assistant coach for the Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs from 2017-18 to 2023-24.
Pascal Vincent (James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports)
Pascal Vincent, Laval Rocket
Unlike the other two names on this list, Pascal Vincent has experience as a head coach in the NHL.
The Columbus Blue Jackets were forced to pivot from their original hire for the 2023-24 season, Mike Babcock, and Vincent was tapped to fill in after serving as an associate coach for the organization.
He finished that season with a 27-43-12 record with a weak Blue Jackets team. Since then, he's moved on to be a head coach again in the AHL, a role he's spent multiple seasons in with the Manitoba Moose from 2016-17 to 2020-21.
In the past two seasons, he's been the coach of the Laval Rocket, the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens. Vincent guided the Rocket to win the North Division this season, and they are in the second round of the playoffs.
Last season was even more impressive for Vincent and the Rocket as they topped the AHL for the 2024-25 regular season and made it to the Eastern Conference finals.
It could be time for Vincent to get a real chance at being a head coach in the NHL.
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The incident happened in the second period of Game 4 when Senators forward Warren Foegele was engaged with Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker. Greig first hit Walker with an overhand punch.
Then when Foegele had Walker in a headlock. Greig hit him in the head with a "forceful gloved upper cut," NHL Player Safety said in its suspension video.
The suspension will be served next season because the Senators were eliminated from the playoffs after the 4-2 loss on Saturday, April 25.
