Vegas Golden Knights face defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers in rematch of their 2023 playoff series

Get ready for a rematch that might be even nastier the second time around. The Oilers and Golden Knights clash again after a six-game slugfest back in 2023 that saw Vegas eliminate Edmonton en route to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. This time, both sides look loaded for another run, with superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl trying to write a different ending.

The Golden Knights haven’t missed a beat as they are once again a powerhouse contender after finishing a top the Central division. Vegas forward Jack Eichel has elevated his game, captain Mark Stone is back healthy, and their blue line remains among the league’s most lethal. 

Edmonton, meanwhile, just dismantled Los Angeles in six after winning four straight games and boasts the NHL’s second-best power play — a weapon that took them to the Stanley Cup final last June. These teams don’t like each other, and the stakes are even higher now. Don’t be surprised if this one goes the distance — and gets ugly along the way.

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

More NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Florida Panthers Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Future Options

Brandon Saad 2+ Series Goals (+155)

The Blues bought out the 32-year-old veteran forward as he wanted to go to a contender. Saad has been known as a playoff performer throughout his career with 27 goals and 30 assists for 57 points in 109 postseason games. He reached the mountain top in 2015 when he won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks and would like to add another to his trophy case. 

Saad is still a decent source of points for an older player as he finished the season with 14 points through 29 games since joining Vegas. The Pittsburgh native will get more meaningful minutes on the Golden Knights second line and should produce offence at some point while playing with an elite player in Tomas Hertl as his centre. 

He has yet to score this postseason and rides a six-game goal drought that is bound to end. We can count on at least one goal as the sportsbooks have Saad at -300 odds to get one goal, which means we'd only need one more to cash this bet. The Oilers allowed 24 goals through the first round and Saad should take advantage. 

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Mark Stone - Series Leading Scorer (+1100)

Edmonton's Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are the clear two favourites for this bet but we again look to exploit a bleeding defence like the Oilers. Vegas is without their top scorer in Pavel Dorofeyev and will need someone else to step up like their top playoff performer over the last seven postseasons in captain Mark Stone. 

With 34 goals and 34 assists for 68 points over his last 81 games, Stone is top 11 in postseason scoring and has yet to pop off for a big series with four points in the first round.

I think we can expect an over point-per-game series out of Stone and should put him in the conversation for the points leader of this series. He will continue playing on a line with Jack Eichel, who finished with the sixth-most assists in the NHL this season at 66 and recorded four more in the first round. 

*IF HEALTHY* Pavel Dorofeyev 2+ Series Goals (-105) 

The Golden Knights leading scorer this season was a breakout star in Dorofeyev. The 24-year-old Russian star has emerged as a top-end talent, netting 35 goals along with 17 assists for 52 points in a full-82 game season. Dorofeyev continued his success with a goal in the first round versus a strong defensive team in Minnesota before being sidelined with an undisclosed injury and missing game six. 

More NHL: Where Will Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet Go Next? 

It's a bit of a risk since the extent of the injury is still unknown, but if he's able to return for Game one, this bet looks solid. He'll have plenty of scoring opportunities playing on the second line alongside Hertl and Saad, and he'll also see time on the top power play unit with Eichel. As mentioned before, the Oilers defence is bleeding with no clear starter and the Golden Knights top scorer will more than likely take advantage.

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Edmonton Oilers vs. Vegas Golden Knights – Series Schedule:

• Game 1: Tuesday, May 6 – Edmonton at Vegas

• Game 2: Thursday, May 8 – Edmonton at Vegas

• Game 3: Saturday, May 10 – Vegas at Edmonton

• Game 4: Monday, May 12 – Vegas at Edmonton

• Game 5: Wednesday, May 14 – Edmonton at Vegas

• Game 6: Friday, May 16 – Vegas at Edmonton

• Game 7: Sunday, May 18 – Edmonton at Vegas

As is often the case when it comes to Florida Panthers and playoff games, much of the talk after Monday’s Game 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs was about a controversial hit.

Sometimes, it’s the Panthers player who gets hit.

This time, it was Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz leaving the game about ten minutes about taking a Sam Bennett forearm to the head.

The hit itself came as Bennett drove to the net with the puck, as his body moved into the goal crease and came into contact with Stolarz’s head.

While Bennett doesn’t appear to extend his arm or use any additional force, his momentum was enough to cause Stolarz to go down, clearly impacted by the hit.

Officials immediately whistled play dead, but no penalty was called on the play, and Stolarz remained in the game for about two minutes of game time.

Stolarz was pulled after this collision with Bennett https://t.co/Xns4P1VzVdpic.twitter.com/CxWuBJlFW6

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 6, 2025

At the next timeout, Stolarz skated over to the Leafs bench and threw up into it. After that, Joseph Woll came into the game.

It has since been reported by TSN’s Chris Johnson that Stolarz was taken out of Scotiabank Arena on a stretcher and to a local area hospital for further evaluation.

Speaking after the game, Toronto Head Coach Craig Berube made it clear how he felt about the play.

“Elbow to the head,” Berube said. “Clear as day.”

Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice was also asked about the hit.

“The referee was standing right there when it happened,” Maurice said. “You will do your thing, the league will do its thing, and I’ll coach the next game, hopefully.”

One thing that is worth noting is that Stolarz took a shot directly to the head during the first period, one that traveled with enough force to pop both lower straps off his helmet.

Shot where Stolarz mask got knocked off #TimeToHuntpic.twitter.com/RYuI05DPRt

— Florida Panthers Den (@FlaPanthersDen) May 6, 2025

The NHL Department of Player Safety looks at every play that could potentially lead to further discipline, so it’s safe to say that they’ll be taking a close look at this one.

We should find out in relatively short order if they feel this play warrants any further action.

While each head coach clearly had a different opinion on what happened, one thing that both could agree on is that they hope Stolarz turns out to be fine and is back on the ice in short order.

“We’re hopeful for Anthony and his health,” said Maurice. “We love that guy, and we hope he gets better real fast.”

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We'll find out very soon whether or not the NHL will impose supplemental discipline on Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers.

On Monday, Bennett elbowed Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz in the head in Game 1 of their second-round series. Stolarz left the game to be evaluated and did not return.

The NHL will look at it from every angle possible, but again, you're talking about Sam Bennett here. Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube is adamant Bennett knew exactly what he was doing.

"Elbow to the head," Berube said after Game 1. "Clear as day."

The incident comes two years and one day after Bennett knocked Matthew Knies of the Maple Leafs out with a concussion when he body slammed him to the ice. Like the Bennett elbow on Stolarz, there was no penalty called on the play.

Today's post-game video column goes more into what happened, so take a look and let us know what you think.

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After the Pittsburgh Penguins parted ways with former head coach Mike Sullivan last week, Penguins' POHO and GM Kyle Dubas gave some hints as to the type of coach they might be looking for to replace him.

Unfortunately, it appears that one big name has been taken off the board.

On Monday, coach David Carle and the University of Denver Pioneers reached a multi-year contract extension that will keep him in Denver for the foreseeable future. This extension was reached despite Carle having conversations with and interest from multiple NHL organizations with coaching vacancies.

STAYING PUT: David Carle signs a multi-year contract extension and is committing to a multi-year pledge in support of the Murray Armstrong Hockey Student-Athlete Enhancement Fund.

Full Story: https://t.co/kIo4vQAY1d#GoPios // #ProudPioneerspic.twitter.com/o6Q85XgM5F

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) May 5, 2025

Carle, 35, has a very good track record as a head coach in developmental leagues, as he has led Denver to two national championships and four Frozen Four appearances in his five full seasons at the helm. In 2024-25, Denver went 31-12-1 and opened the season on a 12-game winning streak.

He has also coached Team USA at the World Junior Championship for the past two years, leading the team to gold in this year's tournament.

With Carle out of the picture, the Penguins will likely still be seeking other similar candidates for their coaching vacancy. Dubas heavily leaned into player development when describing the type of coach they'd be seeking out in their "wide net" search.

"It'd be tough for me, personally, to go with somebody that has no record or real passion for development," Dubas said. "Those are becoming fewer and fewer in that brethren of coaching right now, so it will be a vital component, for sure."

He pointed to coaches with AHL, collegiate, and junior experience, which shows that the organization could potentially be prioritizing that developmental experience over a full-blown NHL coaching resume. 

'I Started To Think That It May Just Be Time': Takeaways From Kyle Dubas's Press Conference Regarding Departure Of Mike SullivanOn Monday, Pittsburgh Penguins’ president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas shook the hockey world when he announced that head coach Mike Sullivan would not be returning to coach the Penguins in 2025-26.

As of now, there are seven head coaching vacancies in the NHL, as Sullivan was already scooped up by the New York Rangers. The other teams without a bench boss at the moment are the Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Phildelphia Flyers, and Seattle Kraken.

Dubas said the organization will spend the next month conducting interviews and plan to name a new head coach sometime in early June.

8 Possible Replacements For Mike Sullivan As Penguins Head CoachWith the shocking news that the Pittsburgh Penguins and longtime coach Mike Sullivan have mutually agreed to part ways, it comes as no surprise that one of the first talking points is who will be the one replace him.

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The bad news regarding Anthony Stolarz continues.

According to TSN's Chris Johnston, the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender is being evaluated in hospital after leaving during the second period of their 5-4 win over the Florida Panthers in Game 1.

Just over five minutes into the game, Stolarz took a shot off the head from Sam Reinhart, which knocked off the goaltender's mask. Early in the second period, during a Florida power play, Sam Bennett's forearm collided with Stolarz's head, putting the goaltender to the ice.

The 31-year-old remained in the game until midway through, when it appeared he was throwing up on the bench. Joseph Woll came in for relief and stopped 17 of 20 shots for his first postseason win this year.

Maple Leafs’ Anthony Stolarz Leaves Game 1 After Taking Elbow From Panthers’ Sam BennettThe Toronto Maple Leafs’ goaltending situation took an unexpected turn in Game 1 of their second-round series against the Florida Panthers, as Anthony Stolarz was forced to leave the game midway through the second period after appearing to take an elbow to the head from Panthers forward Sam Bennett.

"Elbow to the head, clearly. Clear as day," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said post-game.

"I'm not sure why there's not a call on it, but I get it, they miss calls. But it's clearly a penalty."

Berube added that Stolarz was being evaluated. When asked whether the evaluation was inside the rink or the hospital, the head coach said, "Right now he's just being evaluated."

Knies’ Game-Winner Gives Maple Leafs 1-0 Series Lead Over PanthersWith a 5-4 win on Monday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs take a 1-0 series lead over the Florida Panthers.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman followed up on Johnston's report, saying Stolarz was taken to the hospital for further evaluation. Johnston also reported that the goaltender was taken out of Scotiabank Arena on a stretcher.

"Hopefully the league will handle it, take good care of it, and protect our players," Matthew Knies said following the game, before talking about Bennett's style of play.

"I know he's a hard player. I mean, I know you watch hockey too, so you guys see it. Especially at the 4 Nations, you see he's an intimidating player. He likes to use that, it helps him."

‘Trying To Help In Any Way I Can’: Maple Leafs Leaning On Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Former Panthers In Playoff Rematch Against FloridaThe Toronto Maple Leafs hit the ice at Scotiabank Arena for an optional morning skate Monday morning ahead of Game 1 of their second-round series against the Florida Panthers – an enticing rematch amongst former teammates.

Woll said following the game that there wasn't much conversation with Stolarz before he left the game in the middle frame. It was the first time the 26-year-old saw game action since Apr. 17 against the Detroit Red Wings.

"I think it's kind of a mix of concern for him and you don't want to see him not feeling well or whatever was going on," Woll said. "At the same time, I'm getting prepared to play, so kind of a mix of that."

Stolarz has started every single playoff game for the Maple Leafs, winning four of six games against the Senators with a .901 save percentage. He missed nearly two months from mid-December to mid-February after having knee surgery.

Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Explains Why Anthony Stolarz Will Miss Roughly 4-6 Weeks For A Procedure On His KneeAn MRI of Stolarz' knee revealed a "loose body" in his knee.

The netminder finished the regular season with a .926 save percentage through 34 games, the best total in the NHL. 

"He's been our rock for the whole year. I can't say enough about him," Chris Tanev said on Monday night. "That's all I'm really going to say about it, and Joe did a great job coming in. That's not an easy thing to do, so you got to give him a ton of props for doing that."

The Maple Leafs have an optional practice on Tuesday morning, and we will likely get another update on Stolarz then.

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Welcome to The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming nightly during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

After the big game of the night, our experts go live to react to the match that was, break down the key moments and storylines and read your opinions.

On tonight's show, Katie Gaus and Michael Augello react to the Toronto Maple Leafs holding off the Florida Panthers 5-4 in Game 1 of their second-round series.

Although the Panthers got close to coming back, Toronto hung on. But much of the focus will be on the status of goaltender Anthony Stolarz, who had to leave Monday's game.

They also react to the NHL draft lottery results.

Maple Leafs vs. Panthers Game 1 - Playoff Frenzy | The Hockey NewsJoin in to Playoff Frenzy Live presented by The Hockey News and Stix.com, where we recap all of the biggest action from every night of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Share your thoughts in the comments, and the hosts may discuss your message during the stream.

Check out the show right now.

The Florida Panthers will have to come from behind if they’re going to advance past the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Florida looked out of sorts for much of the night, falling behind early and struggling to recover as they dropped Game 1 of the second round to the Maple Leafs by a final score of 5-4.

It was a fast start for the home team, with the Leafs tickling the twine on the game’s first shift.

William Nylander beat Sergei Bobrovsky from a sharp angle after bringing the puck down the right boards, giving Toronto a 1-0 lead just 33 seconds into the game.

Nylander struck again with just over seven minutes left in the period, jumping on an Oliver Ekman-Larsson rebound and beating Bobrovsky over the glove.

Seth Jones broke the ice for the Panthers late in the first period with Florida on the power play, firing a wrist shot over Anthony Stolarz blocker through a nice screen from Sam Reinhart.

Unfortunately for Florida, they’d allow Toronto a high-end chance immediately afterwards, and Morgan Reilly beat Bobrovsky by the blocker while on an odd-man rush to reclaim the two-goal lead just 19 seconds after Jones’ goal.

After just eight shots on Bobrovsky, the Leafs had three goals.

Toronto expanded their lead again on another goal from one of their blueliners.

This time it was Chris Tanev sending a wrist shot that bounced before beating Bobrovsky to give the Maple Leafs a 4-1 lead.

Not long after, goaltender Joseph Woll came into the game and replaced Stolarz, who had taken a hit to the head from Sam Bennett earlier in the period.

Florida came out looking much more aggressive during the third period, and they were rewarded with a couple of quick goals.

First it was Eetu Luostarinen deflecting an Anton Lundell shot past Woll just 99 seconds into the final frame, then with the Lundell line back on the ice less than three minutes later, Uvis Balinskis walked the puck down from the point and wired a shot over Woll’s glove.

Just like that, the Panthers were right back in the game with plenty of time to go.

A bad line change cost the Cats dearly as Matthew Knies went in all alone on Bobrovsky and beat him with a backhand over the glove to restore the Leafs’ two-goal lead.

With Bobrovsky on the bench, Sam Bennett scored from the bottom of the left circle, shooting a wrist shot that went off defenseman Brandon Carlo’s stick and over Woll’s right shoulder to cut the lead back to one with 1:55 to go.

That would be as close as it would get.

Florida certainly has a lot they’ll wait to clean up before Wednesday night.

On to Game 2.

QUICK THOUGHTS

Jones has goals in two of his past three games.

Brad Marchand has recorded two assists in back-to-back games and is now averaging a point per game during the playoffs.

Matthew Tkachuk picked up an assist, his sixth point in six postseason games.

Carter Verhaeghe has points in three straight games after picking up an assist on Jones’ PPG.

Also with a three-game point streak is Lundell, who has six points during the run.

Just like his buddy Lundy, Luostarinen has points in three straight games, and six points during his streak, as well.

Florida’s penalty kill, fresh off an impressive series against Tampa Bay, went a perfect 5-for-5 in Game 1.

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The ping-pong balls did not fall in the favor of the Nashville Predators, who ended up with the No. 5 overall pick in Monday's NHL Draft Lottery.

The Predators, who finished the regular season ranked 30th out of the 32 NHL teams, got their lowest possible position in the Draft Lottery at No. 5. The New York Islanders, who had a 3.5% chance to win the No. 1 pick, beat the odds and landed in the top spot in the first draw.

In the draw for No. 2 overall, Utah Hockey Club jumped from the No. 14 slot to take the No. 4 pick. Since no team can jump more than 10 spots, the San Jose Sharks get the No. 2 pick, and the Chicago Blackhawks get No. 3.

The No. 5 selection in this year's draft will give the Predators their highest draft pick since they selected Scottie Upshall at No. 6 overall in 2002.

Beyond the No. 5 pick, Nashville has two additional first-round picks in the 2025 draft. The Predators own the Tampa Bay Lightning's first-round pick, which is expected to be between No. 22 and No. 26 overall, as well as the Vegas Golden Knights' first-round pick. Tampa's first-rounder was acquired in the Tanner Jeannot trade in 2023, while Vegas' came courtesy of the San Jose Sharks in the Yaroslav Askarov trade in August.

The Predators have 10 picks in the 2025 draft, including three in the first round, and two in each of the second and sixth rounds.

The full order for the top 16 NHL Draft selections in 2025 is as follows:

1. New York Islanders
2. San Jose Sharks
3. Chicago Blackhawks
4. Utah Hockey Club
5. Nashville Predators
6. Philadelophia Flyers
7. Boston Bruins
8. Seattle Kraken
9. Buffalo Sabres
10. Anaheim Ducks
11. Pittsburgh Penguins
12. New York Rangers
13. Detroit Red Wings
14. Columbus Blue Jackets
15. Vancouver Canucks
16. Montreal Canadiens

The 2025 NHL Draft will take place from June 27-28 at L.A. Live's Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

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The Philadelphia Flyers are confirmed to hold the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft following Monday's draft lottery results. In other words, this was the worst-case scenario for the Flyers.

Before the draft lottery, Philadelphia had a 9.5% chance of picking either first or second, but those picks now belong to the New York Islanders and San Jose Sharks, respectively.

The Isles moved up nine spots to win the lottery, and to make matters worse, the Utah Hockey Club jumped the Flyers, moving up 10 spots to receive the No. 4 overall pick.

So, by the end of it all, the Flyers ended up with the sixth pick, despite having the highest odds for the fifth pick and finishing with the fourth-worst record in the NHL.

While this outcome is invariably going to sting in the moment for Flyers fans, there are still plenty of prospects worth discussing. The following mock draft is my gut feeling for the top-six teams at the moment, followed by my reasoning for the Flyers' draft selection post-draft lottery.

Flyers Mock Draft 2.0

1. New York Islanders: James Hagens, C, Boston College

2. San Jose Sharks: Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie Otters

3. Chicago Blackhawks: Michael Misa, F, Saginaw Spirit

4. Utah Hockey Club: Porter Martone, W, Brampton Steelheads

5. Nashville Predators: Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton Wildcats

With the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers select...

Jake O'Brien, C, Brantford Bulldogs

I think most Flyers fans would like to see with the Orange and Black go with Anton Frondell here, but I'm not nearly as high on Frondell as some are.

In my mock draft 1.0, I selected Frondell, who has an elite shot and can be a bully along the walls, at pick five, but there's a growing concern about his true position at the next level. Plus, he's not great in transition, and the Flyers desperately need strong puck transporters.

Are the Flyers the team that can unlock Frondell's potential and find his best position? Given their recent draft and development history, I wouldn't bet on that.

Someone I would bet on, though, is Brantford's Jake O'Brien.

Not to conjure up some old memories, but O'Brien is far better than former draft bust Jay O'Brien was. Not to worry, friends.

O'Brien, 17, has the build of a prototypical center at 6-foot-2, 170 pounds. Like most young athletes his age, he'll need time to physically mature and fill out his frame.

The Toronto, Ontario, native is a playmaker in the purest sense, finishing second (66) to only Michael Misa (72) in assists amongst OHL draft-eligible skaters this season.

I watched more of Jake O'Brien recently and wow, was I ever impressed.

High IQ player with advanced playmaking ability. Has so many tools. Just hasn't quite put it all together.

He will go top-10 in June. Here are some playmaking clips from his last 10 GP (#44).#2025NHLDraftpic.twitter.com/yHTbQMAKyY

— Ben Misfeldt 🇨🇦 (@BBMHockey) March 14, 2025

Additionally, O'Brien, with his 98 points, was a distant second to Misa (134) in overall scoring, but he was notably level with Porter Martone, albeit while appearing in nine more games.

The drop off between a Martone and an O'Brien might feel or seem significant based on the differing media coverage between the two, and while Martone is certainly the better prospect, O'Brien absolutely deserves his flowers, too.

In this scenario, Caleb Desnoyers goes earlier than anticipated with Nashville opting to draft for need, which leaves the Flyers with question marks at the center position in Frondell and Roger McQueen.

I like O'Brien better than all three of them, plus he's ranked seventh on Bob McKenzie's latest rankings, which are largely based on industry consensus.

While McKenzie's scouts around the NHL like Frondell and Desnoyers a bit more than O'Brien, the latter is more the Flyers' speed.

O'Brien is an expert manipulator when he's on the puck, and he's sneaky-good defensively, too. A responsible player all around who can be a handful to contain when paired with equally opportunistic players, like a Matvei Michkov or an Alex Bump.

He's a pass-first player, so he'll have to develop his shot and mentality as he goes along. When O'Brien adds some mass and if he adds an extra gear of speed to his game, he could really become a menace.

St. Louis Blues star Robert Thomas was the 20th pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, and while it took him some time to hit his stride, he would be the No. 1 center on a number of aspiring contenders.

Thomas, 25, is a little shorter and bulkier than O'Brien at 6-foot, 190 pounds, but they play a very similar game. Both centers are smart, instinctive, creative, responsible, and not afraid to engage physically when necessary.

And, Thomas, of course, now has back-to-back 80-point seasons under his belt, on top of his 77-point 2021-22 season.

Not every good center in the NHL was a No. 1 pick. Whether it's O'Brien or another player they draft, the onus is on the Flyers to develop the kid they draft into his best self.

O'Brien, with his size and skillset, could very well be the talisman they crave if all goes according to plan.

The NHL draft lottery went live this year, and the drama was real, with the New York Islanders moving all the way to No. 1 once the balls were read out.

The Utah Hockey Club won the second draw, so they moved up from 14th overall to fourth.

So let's get to the fun part and mock draft the first 16 picks of the 2025 NHL draft, shall we?

1. New York Islanders: Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie (OHL): The Islanders could honestly use high-end help at any position for the future, so let's just go with the best player available here. Schaefer is a game-changing defenseman who can do it all, and while he missed most of the season due to injury, it won't take him long to get into an NHL uniform on Long Island.

2. San Jose Sharks: Michael Misa, C, Saginaw (OHL):The Sharks could probably use a D-man more at this point, but with a pick this high, only a forward would be prudent based on this class. Misa is an incredibly skilled and competitive center who would make for a daunting one-two punch down the middle with Macklin Celebrini. With Will Smith there too, the Sharks have the option of putting one of them on the wing.

3. Chicago Blackhawks: Porter Martone, RW, Brampton (OHL): Connor Bedard needs help and Martone could be his Tom Wilson or Matthew Tkachuk. Martone has plenty of skill, but he's also big and mean. The Hawks have the luxury of already having Bedard and Frank Nazar at center, but they could use a power forward.

4. Utah Hockey Club: Anton Frondell, C, Djurgarden (Swe.): GM Bill Armstrong likes his players big, though Utah could use more size up front. Frondell gets the nod here over James Hagens because he's bigger and stronger. On his own merits, Frondell also has a wicked shot and has proved he can handle himself against men, helping Djurgarden get promoted to the Swedish League recently.

5. Nashville Predators: James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA): A bit of a gift here for the Predators, as Hagens brings excellent skill and perhaps the best hockey IQ in the draft class. He's in a great situation at Boston College and should probably stick there another year to get stronger, but Hagens is the type of elite talent Nashville needs.

6. Philadelphia Flyers: Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton (QMJHL): Desnoyers would be loved by Flyers fans: He brings skill, leadership and a 200-foot game that doesn't have any holes in it. He's a strong kid playing on one of the best junior teams in Canada and he absolutely racked up the points for Moncton this season.

7. Boston Bruins: Viktor Eklund, RW, Djurgarden (Swe.): If you're going to play for the Bruins, you have to work and Eklund will do that. Eklund plays much bigger than his frame and has an unceasing motor, on top of enough skill to get him onto Sweden's world junior team this past winter. He also helped Djurgarden's pro team get promoted to the SHL.

8. Seattle Kraken: Jackson Smith, D, Tri-City (WHL): Coming off a scintillating world under-18s with gold-medal Canada, Smith brings a little bit of everything to a Kraken pipeline that is still growing. He's a great skater with size and physicality and the offensive potential was really on display at the World Men's Under-18s.

New York Islanders Win NHL Draft Lottery: Who Should They Pick First Overall?The NHL draft lottery was broadcast live for all to see, and the balls fell in the New York Islanders’ favor.

9. Buffalo Sabres: Kashawn Aitcheson, D, Barrie (OHL):Sabres fans need a reason to cheer and Aitcheson will lift them out of the seats one way or another. He put up a bunch of points from the blueline this year, but his trademarks come in his own end, where the Colts D-man is a physically punishing intimidator who has no problem dropping the gloves.

10. Anaheim Ducks: Roger McQueen, C, Brandon (WHL): With so many young players already in the lineup, the Ducks can think more long-term here. McQueen missed much of the season due to injury and scouts worry about his back, but Anaheim can be patient. If he turns out, he's a 6-foot-5 center who can shoot the puck and has top-five skill in the draft class.

11. Pittsburgh Penguins: Jake O'Brien, C, Brantford (OHL): The Penguins need a center of the future and O'Brien is a whip-smart pivot who can play in all three zones and produce offense at an elite clip. Get him in the same dressing room as Sidney Crosby in a year or two and you've got a perfect mentorship situation.

12. New York Rangers: Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL): For a team in need of a culture refresh, Martin would be a great future building block. He's a farm-boy strong center who dazzled at the World Under-18s for Canada and played great for a Soo team that didn't have much else. Great skater who competes and plays the right way.

13. Detroit Red Wings: Braeden Cootes, C, Seattle (WHL): Scouts absolutely love Cootes, who has the triumvirate of skating, skill and hockey sense. He didn't have much help in Seattle, but still drove the play, contributed in all situations and got results. Another player who made a difference for Canada at the recent World Under-18s.

14. Columbus Blue Jackets: Radim Mrtka, D, Seattle (WHL): There's a lot of potential in Mrtka thanks to his big frame and length. Coming over to North America from Czechia during the season, Mrtka really found his offense as time went on and while that won't be his calling card, it's nice to know he has it in his quiver.

NHL Draft Lottery Through The Years: From McDavid And Matthews To Bedard And CelebriniThe NHL draft lottery is the most exciting time of the post-season for the clubs that missed out on a playoff spot.

15. Vancouver Canucks: Carter Bear, LW, Everett (WHL): While he got hurt near the end of the year, Bear showed scouts enough to have them impressed. High compete, a 200-foot game and intense as a competitor, Bear has a very coach-friendly game. The fact he can put the puck in the net regularly doesn't hurt, either.

16. Montreal Canadiens (from CGY): Logan Hensler, D, Wisconsin (NCAA): The Habs have a lot of great young players in the lineup already, so we'll go with potential here. Hensler is a great skater with size and strength and while he didn't put up big numbers as a freshman, he's still pretty young. With time and patience, he could be a solid defender.

In past draft lotteries, the Pittsburgh Penguins have seen their fair share of luck.

This time around, not so much.

After the results of the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery on Monday, the Penguins slid from the ninth overall draft slot to 11th overall. The Penguins - when the last of the four lottery balls was about to be drawn - were tied for the highest odds at 18.5 percent, but, ultimately, the New York Islanders - previously slotted at 10th overall - won the first overall pick.

The Utah Hockey Club - previously positioned at 14th overall - won the second lottery selection and moved up 10 spots to fourth overall. Because two teams behind the Penguins in original draft order leapfrogged them, the Penguins dropped two slots to 11th.

In addition, the New York Rangers slid from 11th to 12th in draft order. The Penguins acquired the Rangers' 2025 conditional first-round pick from the Vancouver Canucks in the Marcus Pettersson trade on Jan. 31. 

The pick is top-13 protected, and the Rangers have up until 48 hours before the draft on June 27 to let Penguins' POHO and GM Kyle Dubas know if they want to keep their 2025 pick or defer the pick to 2026.

Marc-Andre Fleury Reunites With Sidney Crosby At IIHF World ChampionshipsThe Minnesota Wild were recently eliminated by the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round of the Stanley Cup, ending Marc-Andre Fleury's legendary career.

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The NHL held its Draft Lottery before the opening of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday, and the Buffalo Sabres, because of two teams below them in the standings moving up into the top four, will be selecting ninth overall at the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles in late June. 

After the balls were drawn by Commissioner Gary Bettman,  the New York Islanders, who finished 23rd overall and had a 3.5% chance, will be selecting first overall, while the Utah Hockey Club, who missed the playoffs by seven points (19th overall) move up from the 14th to the fourth overall pick. The Sabres, who had a 6.5% chance at winning the lottery and were in the seventh slot, moved down two spots to the ninth overall pick. 

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The San Jose Sharks, who won the Draft Lottery one year ago and selected Macklin Celebrini at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas last June, had the top odds (18.5%) but moved down to the second overall pick, with the Chicago Blackhawks moving down from the second slot to third overall. The big losers were the Nashville Predators, who slipped from potentially the third overall pick to fifth, the Philadelphia Flyers dropping from fourth to sixth, and the Boston Bruins dropping from fifth to the seventh overall pick.  

The late winning streak by the Sabres cost them better odds of finishing in the top five, where they would have been in the mix for Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schafer, Saginaw’s Michael Misa, Mississauga’s Porter Martone, James Hagens of Boston College, or Swedish center Anton Frondell. At ninth overall, players who Buffalo could be in the mix for are Roger McQueen of the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, Frondell’s teammate Victor Eklund of Djurgardens IF, Brantford Bulldogs C Jake O’Brien, and Jackson Smith of the WHL’s Tri-City Americans. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo 

With a 5-4 win on Monday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs take a 1-0 series lead over the Florida Panthers.

The two teams went at it again, two years after their first series, which Toronto lost in five games. Since then, the Maple Leafs have brought in a new coach in Craig Berube, while the Panthers have added a Stanley Cup to their resume.

Toronto eliminated the Ottawa Senators in six games. William Nylander led the way with nine points—three goals and six assists—in the series. New father Mitch Marner (one goal, seven assists) is one point behind Nylander for the team lead through six games.

Nylander led the Maple Leafs in points during the game with two goals and an assist, now with 12 points in seven games. Matthew Knies scored the game-winner, his fourth goal of the playoffs, with six minutes remaining in the third period.

Steven Lorentz, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Anthony Stolarz, three former Panthers, face their former team in the postseason after winning the ultimate prize last June.

Florida eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games. Selke Trophy nominee Sam Reinhart led the team in points with two goals and four assists during the series. Sergei Bobrovsky had a .901 save percentage in the five games played.

3rd Period

During the second intermission, Sportsnet showed Stolarz appearing to throw up on the Maple Leafs' bench. After stopping four shots in the middle frame, Woll led the Maple Leafs out for the third period.

As the final period began, the team announced that Stolarz wouldn't return to the game and remains under evaluation. Dennis Hildeby is Toronto's third goalie.

Maple Leafs’ Anthony Stolarz Leaves Game 1 After Taking Elbow From Panthers’ Sam BennettThe Toronto Maple Leafs’ goaltending situation took an unexpected turn in Game 1 of their second-round series against the Florida Panthers, as Anthony Stolarz was forced to leave the game midway through the second period after appearing to take an elbow to the head from Panthers forward Sam Bennett.

At 1:39 of the third period, Eetu Luostarinen one-hands a pass from Anton Lundell in front, which beats Woll over the glove to make it a 4-2 game.

Eetu Luostarainen cuts the lead in half pic.twitter.com/LuNvj6Xfog

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

Nearly three minutes later, Uvis Balinskis beats Woll over the shoulder to cut Toronto's lead to just a goal. Brad Marchand assisted on Florida's second and third goals.

Balinskis makes it a one-goal game pic.twitter.com/m3zvgVzrK6

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

Domi finishes his check on Matthew Tkachuk, putting him into the boards, before joining the rush with Bobby McMann on a two-on-one. McMann gets the puck across to Domi, but Bobrovsky stops the chance.

what a rush from Domi and McMann pic.twitter.com/bW1lSZFTPj

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

Shortly after Domi's scoring opportunity, Knies finds himself behind the Panthers' defense. Marner ties up Nate Schmidt's stick before sending the 22-year-old on a breakaway.

He pulls the puck to the backhand and beats Bobrovsky with six minutes left in the third period, putting Toronto up 5-3. It's Knies' fourth goal in seven playoff games this year.

MATTHEW KNIES 🚨

TWO-GOAL LEAD RESTORED! pic.twitter.com/GPTUSyHoaA

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

With 1:53 remaining in the third period and Bobrovsky on the bench, Tavares tries to clear the puck, but cannot, and Bennett's shot goes off two Maple Leafs sticks before beating Woll over the shoulder.

Sam Bennett makes it 5-4 off some deflections pic.twitter.com/pGRPq7qcgt

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

2nd Period

After not scoring on a power play early in the period, the Panthers went to the man advantage following Pontus Holmberg's interference with Jones in front of Florida's net.

The Panthers weren't able to score, but had some strong chances, including one at the end of the power play where Sam Bennett's forearm hit Stolarz in the head.

Bennett catches Stolarz in the head pic.twitter.com/AorFonA398

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

Tanev's knuckler of a point shot beats Bobrovsky, putting Toronto up 4-1 at 7:50 of the second period. It's the 35-year-old's first goal since the regular season finale against the Detroit Red Wings.

McCabe tallies his second assist of the game, and Knies gets his first assist of the playoffs. Toronto's defense now has seven of the Maple Leafs' 23 goals during the postseason.

CHRIS TANEV 🚨

THE KNUCKLE BOUNCER pic.twitter.com/ChuszWWhEB

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

Joseph Woll enters the net at 10:14 for the Maple Leafs after Stolarz goes to the dressing room. Stolarz was in good spirits, speaking and smiling with Woll during the TV timeout.

Joseph Woll has entered the game for the Maple Leafs pic.twitter.com/1RRh1smrNO

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 6, 2025

Knies buries Jones in the corner of Florida's zone before setting up Auston Matthews for a chance. The Maple Leafs' captain's shot just goes wide.

I would've went Super Saiyan 3 if Matthews scored here after obliterating Jones pic.twitter.com/13rYKclMwS

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

1st Period

Nylander scores the series-opening goal 33 seconds into the game. It's his fourth goal in seven games, with assists going to Max Pacioretty and Jake McCabe. Bobrovsky couldn't see anything with John Tavares and Seth Jones battling in front.

WILLIAM NYLANDER 🚨

33 SECONDS IN! pic.twitter.com/N5yFqKGioY

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

Toronto's second line continued with another chance a few minutes later. Nylander finds Tavares in the slot, and his shot is stopped by Bobrovsky before going out of play.

another chance for the second line pic.twitter.com/sVXkcLgEgr

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

The Maple Leafs' third line gets involved after a few chances from the second line. Max Domi deflected Chris Tanev's point shot before it took another deflection as it travelled to the net. Bobrovsky made the difficult stop with his glove.

double deflection pic.twitter.com/6xBKh5tUUh

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

Domi takes a cross-checking penalty 6:38 into the first period after getting tied up with Brad Marchand following a whistle. Toronto's coaching staff was surprised by the call. The Maple Leafs allowed one shot on Florida's power play.

this was a penalty!? pic.twitter.com/HAdjrdG2TF

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

McCabe throws a massive hit on Dmitry Kulikov, heating the game even more than it already was.

McCabe dropped Kulikov pic.twitter.com/oVsbnOAhzp

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

Nylander scores his second goal of the game and fifth of the playoffs at 12:51 after Ekman-Larsson's rebound bounced to him. It's the defenseman's first assist of the playoffs. Nylander shimmied left and right before going upstairs on Bobrovsky.

The Maple Leafs have two goals on their first six shots of the game.

WILLIAM NYLANDER 🚨🚨

FIFTH OF THE PLAYOFFS! WHAT A GOAL! pic.twitter.com/yGND4G6idx

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

Toronto takes a too-many-men penalty midway through their power play. Jones gets the Panthers on the board with his second goal of the playoffs at 16:57 as his point shot beats Stolarz.

Seth Jones on the power play pic.twitter.com/y7VHIjuTmi

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

Nineteen seconds after Florida cut Toronto's lead in half, Morgan Rielly found himself on a two-on-one with Tavares after a pass from Nylander. Rielly beats Bobrovsky over the blocker for his third postseason goal, putting the Maple Leafs up 3-1.

Nylander's third point of the night ties him for the playoff lead with Mikko Rantanen and Kyle Connor.

MORGAN RIELLY 🚨

WHAT A SHOT! THE LEAFS GET IT BACK! pic.twitter.com/l5hORXFpKn

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

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The Islanders don’t currently have a GM, but whoever they end up hiring just picked up a pretty significant asset. 

New York officially won the NHL Draft Lottery on Monday night -- meaning that they now own the first overall pick in the 2025 Draft. 

The Isles entered the night with just a 3.5 percent chance of landing in the top spot, but they somehow had the luck of the draw on the first roll of the night and are now in a good spot to take the young talent of their choice.

One of the top prospects in this class is 18-year-old Long Island-native James Hagens, who produced 11 goals and 26 assists this season with Boston College. 

How bout the Blueshirts?

The Rangers, on the other hand, weren’t so lucky. 

With the Utah Hockey Club jumping up to the fourth overall pick, they actually moved down a selection and will now be at No. 12 this year. 

They now have until two days before the draft to decide if they want to keep that pick and use it themselves or send it to Pittsburgh by way of the Vancouver Canucks to help complete the J.T. Miller trade. 

If they do keep it, they’ll send the Penguins a 2026 unprotected first-round pick. 

Here's a look at the rest of the order:

Presenting the 2025 #NHLDraft Lottery results! 🤩

The 2025 Upper Deck #NHLDraft will be held June 27-28. pic.twitter.com/6JJLYngoww

— NHL (@NHL) May 5, 2025