A new report shared by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on his podcast, 32 Thoughts, indicates that the Florida Panthers are at risk of losing their current director of player personnel, Bryan McCabe.
McCabe has been with the Panthers organization since 2012, when he started as a development coach. After one season, he moved to the director of player personnel, a role he has held since.
In his time with the Panthers, the 50-year-old has won two Stanley Cups.
In Friedman’s report, he indicates that New Jersey Devils GM Sunny Mehta, the former Panthers assistant GM, could be interested in bringing McCabe into their organization.
“One of the people I’m curious to see if Mehta will try to add is Bryan McCabe.”
In addition to the Devils, the Toronto Maple Leafs are interested in reuniting with McCabe, as he spent seven years of his NHL career in Toronto playing with the new senior executive advisor of hockey operations, Mats Sundin.
“Bryan McCabe, the former Maple Leaf defenseman, has a really good reputation for player development,” Friedman said on the latest 32 Thoughts episode. “Mackenzie Weegar is one of the guys that has credited McCabe in the past for really helping him become the player he’s become.”
Including his time in a developmental role in Florida, McCabe finished his NHL career as the captain of the Panthers, but was traded to the New York Rangers during the season. He spent two-and-half seasons as the captain of the Panthers.
But according to Friedman, McCabe isn’t the only Panthers front office member Mehta might be eyeing.
Braden Birch, the Panthers’ current director of hockey operations, has been with the Panthers since 2016 and has held this title since 2017. Birch, like McCabe, has won two Stanley Cups with the Panthers and has quietly been a crucial part of the Panthers’ success.
“The other guy I heard could be on Sunny Mehta’s radar is a guy by the name of Braden Birch,” said Friedman.
Panthers GM Bill Zito could be a very busy man this off-season, in addition to building his NHL roster, as he has already lost one assistant GM and is now at risk of losing another assistant GM, Brett Peterson, as well as his director of player personnel and his director of hockey operations.
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That's highly unusual as Suzuki recorded an assist on 49.3% of the goals he was on for during the regular season. He also picked up a helper in 62% of all games, and last went more than four straight without one in October.
With linemates Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield set for positive shooting regression, Suzuki is well positioned to bounce back.
Sabres vs Canadiens Game 3 same-game parlay
Caufield's success goes hand in hand with Suzuki's. The two are attached to the hip at 5-on-5 and on the top power play unit, and one doesn't usually produce without the other. Suzuki has an assist in nine of the past 10 games Caufield recorded at least one point.
Noah Dobson has recorded seven shots on 11 attempts through the first two games of this series. He sees a lot of offensive zone faceoffs, and Montreal has a big edge in the dot, leading to easy shooting opportunities off draws.
Nick Suzuki has recorded 11 assists over his last 12 home games. Find more NHL betting trends for Sabres vs. Canadiens.
How to watch Sabres vs Canadiens Game 3
Location
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
Date
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet, ESPN
Sabres vs Canadiens latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Carolina Hurricanes became the first team to clinch a berth in the conference finals − and made history in the process.
Beating the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in overtime on Saturday, May 9, they became the first NHL team to sweep the first two rounds of the playoffs since the league went to four best-of-seven rounds for the 1987 playoffs.
Jackson Blake got the game-winner with his second goal of the game at 5:31 of overtime.
The Hurricanes swept the Ottawa Senators in the first round, never trailing in that series and outscoring them 11-5.
The Flyers took leads in Games 2 and 4 of the second round series, but the Hurricanes chipped away both times and won in overtime.
The Hurricanes will face the winner of the Buffalo Sabres-Montreal Canadiens series in the Eastern Conference final. That series is tied 1-1.
USA TODAY provided live updates on Game 4 of the Hurricanes-Flyers series. Here are highlights:
They'll wait to find out the winner of the Buffalo Sabres-Montreal Canadiens series. The earliest that series could wrap up is Game 5 on May 14. Game 7, if the series goes that far, is May 18, so Carolina has a long wait ahead.
They ended a five-year playoff drought and goalie Dan Vladar has another year on his contract. The biggest contract to settle will be Trevor Zegras, but he is a restricted free agent. So are Jamie Drysdale, Emil Andrae and backup goalie Samuel Ersson. Pending unrestricted free agents are depth players, such as Luke Glendening.
Goalie Dan Vladar was the reason the Flyers made the playoffs and he was the reason they got past the Penguins in the first round. He made 37 saves in the Game 4 elimination loss and slammed his stick after the winning goal went in off his glove. His teammates consoled him after the loss.
Dan Vladar held it down the whole way through. Guys wanted him to remember that. pic.twitter.com/1fn0i9NBAc
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) May 10, 2026
We're heading to overtime. Carolina's Logan Stankoven and Philadelphia's Alex Bump swap goals in that period 99 seconds apart. The Hurricanes are 2-0 in overtime this postseason, beating the Flyers in Game 2. The Flyers are 1-1.
Carolina is on a 3-on-2 rush. Taylor Hall gets around his defender and feeds Logan Stankoven for a quick shot. That's seven goals for Stankoven as he retakes the league lead. Hurricanes 2, Flyers 1
LOGAN STANKOVEN WITH HIS SEVENTH AND IT'S A MASSIVE ONE 😱
He now leads all players in goals in the #StanleyCup Playoffs!
The Hurricanes get the tying goal in that period and nearly a go-ahead one, but Alexandre Carrier was ruled to have interfered with goalie Dan Vladar. Plenty of opportunities for a go-ahead goal, but Frederik Andersen makes a pad save during a 2-on-1 break, the Hurricanes shoot wide on a 3-on-1 break and Christian Dvorak hits the post. Shots are 23-9 Hurricanes.
Mark Jankowski scores 28 seconds after Blake, but the Flyers challenge for goalie interference. The challenge works and the goal is waved off. Hurricanes 1, Flyers 1
Jordan Staal is called for tripping. He's unhappy about the call. Sebastian Aho is called for hooking, so it's 5-on-3 for 40 seconds. Hurricanes kills that and the Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen takes a penalty. Finally, it's back to even strength and still 1-0 Flyers.
The Flyers score the first goal of the game, and it's a big one for the goal scorer. Tyson Foerster had no points in his previous nine games this postseason. The Flyers weren't able to add to their lead as they did in Game 2, so they head into intermission with a one-goal lead.
Tyson Foerster scores to get his first point of the playoffs at 7:50. This is just the second time that the Hurricanes haven't scored the first goal of the game. Flyers 1, Hurricanes 0
The Flyers' task looks daunting but they have rallied from a 3-0 series deficit before. That was in 2010 when they won four in a row after the Boston Bruins had led the series 3-0.
Benoit Allaire and Jesper Fast mess around during a practice session on an off day during the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs at Staples Center on June 6, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.
The Rangers’ goaltending guru is hanging up his skates.
“Benoit Allaire’s contributions to the Rangers over the past two decades have been immeasurable,” general manager Chris Drury said in a statement released on X. “Whether it was teaching a Hall of Famer or a rookie just starting his career, Benny made everyone he worked with better.
“On behalf of everyone in the Rangers organization, we wish him and his wife, Lyne, all the best in retirement.”
Benoit Allaire and Jesper Fast mess around during a practice session on an off day during the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs at Staples Center on June 6, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images
The news doesn’t come as a shock, given Allaire scaled back his responsibilities two years ago, with Jeff Malcolm being promoted to replace him as the organization’s goaltending coach.
Still, Allaire has been synonymous with the Rangers for 20 years and played a huge role in developing both Henrik Lundqvist and Igor Shesterkin.
David Leneveu, Henrik Lundqvist and goaltending coach Benoit Allaire of the New York Rangers take part in a practice session on an off day during the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs at Staples Center on June 6, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images
Even if he wasn’t around as much the last two seasons — and even if Shesterkin has been one of the few Rangers whose performance hasn’t dropped off in that time period — Allaire is a staple of the organization.
Zach Benson had an unlikely adversary to thank for escaping what could have been a dangerous moment in front of the net, as Montreal defenseman Mike Matheson turned what might have been panic into a split-second act of protection during the Canadiens’ 5-1 Game 2 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
Matheson’s Split-Second Intervention
The Montreal Canadiens evened their second-round series on Friday night with a convincing 5-1 victory, but one of the most replayed sequences had nothing to do with goals, power plays, or momentum swings.
Didn't notice this at first but what an amazing move by Matheson to protect Benson there.
Late in the second period, Buffalo forward Zach Benson found himself tangled in traffic near the Canadiens’ crease during a chaotic scramble. As bodies collapsed and skates began to flash through tight space, Tyson Kozak’s skate came dangerously close to Benson’s helmet in the pileup.
What happened next was instinctive rather than theatrical.
Mike Matheson immediately recognized the risk and dropped his focus from the puck to the player underneath the danger. Instead of escalating the scrum or chasing contact, he positioned himself over Benson, using his body to shield the Sabres forward’s head from any further accidental contact until the play was under control.
The moment quickly spread across social media, where it was met with near-universal praise for the veteran defenseman’s awareness and restraint in a high-stakes playoff environment.
“Love this. Major respect bump for Matheson in my books,” one fan wrote on X.
Another fan added, “The amount of skates just floating around and jostling near Benson’s head. Always liked Penguins Matheson, respect him more now.”
The reactions underscored how quickly perception can shift in playoff hockey, especially around a player like Benson, who has already built a reputation for agitation and edge. In this case, though, the focus was not on gamesmanship—it was on danger, and Matheson’s immediate response to it.
Playoff Poise Beyond the Scoreboard
In a postseason where space shrinks and tempers flare, net-front scrambles often turn into the most unpredictable moments of a game. Skates, not just sticks, become the hidden hazard.
Matheson’s choice to step in rather than react emotionally stood out for that reason. It wasn’t about momentum or intimidation—it was about awareness, and the split-second decision to prioritize safety in the middle of chaos.
NHL columnist Stu Cowan later reflected on that character, saying, “Mike Matheson is not only a great hockey player, he’s a great human being as anyone who has been around him knows.”
That presence matters for a Canadiens team still growing into its playoff identity. Montreal remains one of the younger squads in the postseason field, and moments like this—quiet, uncelebrated, but meaningful—often reveal as much about leadership as goals do.
Matheson also made an impact on the scoreboard, scoring in the opening period as Montreal surged to a quick 2-0 lead and never looked back. Rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes steadied the rest of the night with 28 saves, while Buffalo’s power play failed to convert on five opportunities.
The Canadiens will still need more production from their top offensive talents moving forward, but Game 2 offered something just as valuable: structure, discipline, and composure under pressure—traits Matheson showed not only in his play, but in one split-second decision that defined the night for reasons far beyond the final score.
Since the start of the playoffs, the lack of even-strength production from the Montreal Canadiens’ top line has been an area of concern. However, so far in their second-round series with the Buffalo Sabres, it’s the opponent’s top line that is struggling.
In Buffalo’s first-round series against the Boston Bruins, Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, and Peyton Krebs led their team in scoring and were very impactful. Thompson and Tuch had seven points in six games, while Krebs had a point per game. So far, in two games against the Habs, they’ve all been kept off the scoresheet.
Even worse, Krebs had only one shot across the two games and has been so ineffective that he spent only 12:25 on the ice on Friday night. Thompson has had the same number of shots, even though he spent over 18 minutes on the ice on both nights. On Friday, he finished the game with a minus-four rating and one giveaway. As for Tuch, he did manage six shots on goal on Friday night but still finished the game with a minus-three rating.
The line did combine for 12 hits in the Canadiens’ 5-1 win, but the Habs weren’t bothered and managed to find the back of the net while the Sabres’ top line was desperately trying to separate them from the puck.
Thankfully for the Sabres, Zach Benson and Josh Doan have stepped up, putting up three points each in the first two duels of the series, but there’s only so much depth scoring a team can get. There comes a time when your best players must be your best players. In the regular season, Thompson had 81 points and Tuch 66. Their contribution is essential if the Sabres are to win this series. Unless, of course, their depth scoring holds up, like the Canadiens’ did in the first round…Crazier things have happened.
With another disappointing first-round playoff exit, the Los Angeles Kings are set to find their next head coach for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
According to Dennis Bernstein, David Pagnotta, host of SiriusXM NHL Network Radio, reportedly mentioned on the "Hot Stove" that Bruce Cassidy is in the mix for the Los Angeles Kings' head-coaching vacancy.
As @TheFourthPeriod just mentioned on @HotStoveTFP, Bruce Cassidy is in the mix for the LA Kings head coaching spot.
Cassidy, a longtime veteran head coach, would be a great fit as the next head coach for the Kings. Former coach of the year in the 2019-20 season with the Boston Bruins and winning the Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023 are great accolades in his coaching career.
The 60-year-old is known for his consistent success, leading teams to high point totals, including the 2020 Presidents' Trophy. In his three and a half seasons with the Golden Knights, Cassidy never had a season in which his team finished under .500, and his team won 50 games in two of those three seasons.
Now, the real problem is that hiring Cassidy won't solve the Kings' struggles or make them a Stanley Cup contender right away. LA can blame the head coaches as much as they want, but much of the blame falls on this team's personnel and roster construction.
Los Angeles has had four head coaches in the last seven seasons: Willie Desjardins, serving half a season as interim head coach in 2019; Todd McLellan from 2020-24; Jim Hiller for one and a half seasons; and interim head coach D.J. Smith for half a season.
This has clearly been an issue for LA, which hasn't seemed to pick the right bench leader to lead this team to a deep playoff run for over a decade now. The Kings have arguably had the worst stretch in the last 12 years of any team in the league, with zero playoff series wins since winning their Stanley Cup in 2014.
Inconsistent goal-tending and defense throughout the season plagued the Kings. Come playoff time, the offense, which was hot to end the season, let them down, while the defense and goaltending picked up, leaving a lot of inconsistencies on this roster.
Major changes will need to come this offseason for the Kings if they want to improve their chances and reinvent this team as a threat in the Western Conference. After Anze Kopitar retired this past season, the LA Kings need to move in a direction that is plausible rather than remain in the same place for years now.
Los Angeles has had four head coaches in the last seven seasons: Willie Desjardins, serving half a season as interim head coach in 2019; Todd McLellan from 2020-24; Jim Hiller for one and a half seasons; and interim head coach D.J. Smith for half a season.
Several teams will undoubtedly be in the mix to land Bruce Cassidy as their next head coach, but LA should do everything it can to secure him and make him a strong offer as it moves into a new phase of rebuilding this team.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Are you, as a Rangers fan, happy or sad when you read about MSG favorites Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba having a heckuva wonderful run in Anaheim?
The Maven is delighted.
If you remember Jake has a determined, hard-hitting, devoted Rangers captain, you'd have to wish that he still wore a Blue Shirt.
And if you recall Kreids as a heroic New York mentor to young teammates and a scoring whiz, then you have to be thinking "Wish You Were Here."
Now test your memory bank with this character. Who in this village called Rangerville can picture the human volcano called John Tortorella coaching your favorite team like Vince Lombardi orchestrating the great Green Bay Packers.
The insightful and incendiary Torts was the most "New York Kind Of Guy" ever to march behind his players while leading them to play the kind of hockey we Gothamites loved.
His slight – but never annoying – New England accent was a delight to the ears and part of our Big Apple hockey adventure with the great man and genuine dog-lover.
Do we miss him? You bet we do.
By tons, and even more so now that he has the Golden Knights playing New York hockey in Vegas. (In case you missed it, John's Knights are in the second round, leading Anaheim two games to one.)
Torts still has the knack. He figured out what Toronto coaches failed to do; and that is to turn Mitch Marner into a playoff demon. Last night Double M not only scored a natural hat trick but added an assist and leads all NHL players in playoff scoring. He can thank Torts for that.
My gut feeling is that 99 percent of Rangers fans are rooting for John, master of ice savvy New Yorkers know – Torts also has a surplus of guts and it is a key element in his success!
The Montreal Canadiens dominated Game 2 of their series against the Buffalo Sabres from start to finish, but there’s one area in which the host dominated: hits. Someone who didn’t watch the game and checked the stats to see the Sabres had 44 hits to the Canadiens’ 18 would be forgiven for thinking that the Habs had a rough night physically, but that wasn’t the case.
The main reason Buffalo had so many hits is that they spent much of the game chasing the puck. For the first 40 minutes, the Canadiens dominated puck possession, forcing the Sabres to try to separate them from the puck. Of course, 44 hits are an impressive total, but the timing of the hits left a lot to be desired. Juraj Slafkovsky explained it well after the game:
I feel like all of their hits happen after the plays. Especially me, I mean, I made a play, and then, three seconds after, I got hit. That doesn't do anything to me, in my opinion. But yeah, everyone was just making plays, and sometimes, you've got to take a hit to make a play.
The most compelling example of Slafkovsky’s assessment came on the Canadiens’ third goal. Noah Dobson took a punishing hit after sending the puck up the board to Jake Evans. Sabres fans were still applauding the hit when Evans sent a picture-perfect pass to Alex Newhook to give the Canadiens a 3-1 lead. Feeling a bit of physical discomfort is nothing compared to the pain of giving away a goal in the playoffs. A hit for a goal is a trade-off the Canadiens will always be fine with.
The one exception on the night came when Ivan Demidov was sent flying by a Jordan Greenway hit and landed awkwardly on the ice. The Russian rookie needed a few seconds to get back up and then headed straight to the room. It was a worrying moment, but he was back in the game a few minutes later and looked no worse for wear, unleashing a few one-timers on the next power play.
It will be interesting to see if the Sabres put such an emphasis on physical play in Game 3. Last night, it looked like they had been instructed to finish all their checks, no matter what, even if that took them out of the play. A bit like when Arber Xhekaj used to chase hits at all costs despite what else was happening on the ice. Something the rugged defenseman has now eliminated from his play, most of the time at least.
Mitch Marner is the hottest player in the NHL playoffs at this point.
And it's amazing how much trolling fans will go to when they've become salty over athletes.
Perhaps fans from Toronto can't find any other reason to lash out after the Maple Leafs' disastrous season - they were the second-worst team in the Eastern Conference, one of just two squads that couldn't get to 80 points.
When Marner signed with the Golden Knights the day before free agency last summer, the only thing hotter than Vegas' weather was blue and white jerseys with the No. 16 on it. Fans could be seen burning Marner jerseys.
Now, the only thing hotter than Marner nearly one year later, are fans who vow the 29-year-old won't be showing up the next period, game or round.
And yet here is, with at least one point in seven of the Golden Knights' games, leading the postseason with 13 points (6 goals, 7 assists) and fresh off scoring a hat trick in Friday's 6-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks.
The Golden Knights lead the second-round series, 2-1, and have regained home-ice advantage, much in part to Marner's offensive prowess.
"People talk about (Marner), this, that, the other thing," Vegas coach John Tortorella said. "I don’t think he listens to it, whether it be good or bad.
"He’s just a hockey player."
A hockey player who is seemingly dialed and doing his part at the right moment, toe-dragging the Golden Knights in their push toward a third trip to the Stanley Cup Final in nine years.
"I try to always be an energizer guy, a guy that goes out there and brings a lot of passion and energy to games," Marner said after his first playoff hat trick. "It’s always nice to contribute, but at the end of the day, you just want to win games."
During his time in Toronto, the former first-round, fourth-overall pick, he had 13 goals and 50 assists in 70 games. And despite being the Leafs' offensive player, he was oft-scrutinized for his performances, or lack thereof, in the postseason.
Mitch Marner, long criticized for his playoff performances in Toronto, is now leading the ENTIRE 2026 Playoffs in scoring 🤯⚔️ pic.twitter.com/QroLjvvSCj
Thus, the trolls have emerged, reminding everyone how the Maple Leafs went nowhere when Marner in town, conveniently forgetting other premier names were also on the roster.
"I think he’s a hell of a hockey player," Tortorella said. "I think he’s very cerebral and very confident in what he brings.
"You know, people give him s*** all the time about playoffs and this and that, and I don’t think it bothers him a lick. He just plays."
And that will continue to infuriate Toronto fans.
Perhaps they'd be better served griping over Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman, who has a 4.63 ERA over his last two starts and is a lifetime 32-34 with a 4.00 ERA against the other four AL East teams.
PHOTO CAPTION
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner (93) controls the puck against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period in game three of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center.
The Minnesota Wild are looking for their first win of their NHL second-round playoff series with the Colorado Avalanche in Game 3. The Avalanche won the series’ first two games in Denver. Minnesota will be home for the next two games. The Avalanche are favored by 1.5 goals.
How to watch Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild
The Carolina Hurricanes will try to sweep the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series. The Hurricanes own a commanding 3-0 lead and will advance with one more victory. Carolina is favored by 1.5 goals. The over/under is set at 5.5.
How to Watch Carolina Hurricanes vs Philadelphia Flyers
For the second time in three years, pending free agent Lassi Thomson has parted ways with the Senators and signed with a European team.
HC Lugano announced this week that the Senators' 2019 first-round draft pick has signed a two-year deal to play in Switzerland's National League.
As a 25-year-old who hasn't played at least 80 career NHL games, Thomson was scheduled to become a Group 6 unrestricted free agent on July 1st, and seemed to be working his way back onto the NHL radar, if not in Ottawa, then maybe somewhere else in the league.
THN's Steve Warne talks with Drake Batherson about his contractual status.
With the ridiculous amount of injuries on Ottawa's blue line, Thomson was one of the men who helped backfill during the Senators' impressive run to nail down a playoff spot. He got into 11 regular-season games with the Sens, and when Artem Zub was hurt in Game 1 of the playoffs, it was Thomson who subbed in for Game 2.
Thomson left the organization to play one season for Malmo in the Swedish League in 2024-25, but returned to the Senators last summer, hoping there might be an opportunity. However, he signed back here before the Sens traded for Jordan Spence and before anyone knew that Nick Jensen would recover in time for the 2025-26 season.
So that set Thomson up for another season of playing mostly in Belleville, and rumours popped up back in January that Thomson was planning to move back to Europe again at season's end. Clearly, the late-season NHL work wasn't enough to sway him from his plan.
“Obviously, it is kind of frustrating seeing your teammates from Belleville are getting called up, and you're not getting that chance,” Thomson said last month. “But obviously, you have to try to think about it the other way and try to be positive, rather than worry if (a recall) is going to be coming or if it's not coming.
“So, I tried not to get too frustrated. I will say, I just tried to enjoy the hockey. That was the biggest thing for me this year. Just come here and enjoy the hockey. Whatever is going to happen, it's gonna happen.”
GM Janick Steinmann says his team is thrilled to have him.
"Lassi is an offensive D-man who played on the highest level the past years," said in a translated club statement. "He was one of the best D-men in the SHL during the 2024/25 season. He is very creative, has a great shot and can skate very well.
"He will help us on the power play and driving our game, 5 on 5. He has a lot of natural leadership qualities and is in the prime of his career."
Steinmann had a field day with Ottawa's organizational depth this week. He also signed Belleville forward Olle Lycksell, who started this season in Ottawa and appeared in seven games for the NHL club.
Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 07: Jordan Staal #11 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with teammates after a 4-1 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Three of the Second Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 07, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Carolina Hurricanes have the opportunity to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Final on Saturday in Game 4 of their second-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers.
If they can do it, they would become the first team since the NHL moved to having the postseason comprised entirely of best-of-7 series to open with two sweeps to start a playoff run.
Game 3 on Thursday was a close one until the Hurricanes’ advantage on special teams came up big, as a shorthanded goal from Jalen Chatfield gave Carolina a 2-1 lead it would not relinquish before Andrei Svechnikov buried his first of the postseason on a one-timer on the power play to make it 3-1.
Now, an overmatched (and banged up) Flyers team with its backs against the wall will take its best shot at forcing the series back to Raleigh.
Rick Tocchet’s crew will still be without key defensive forward Noah Cates, but it remains to be seen whether speedy winger Owen Tippett will be ready to draw back into the lineup for the first time this series or not. He’s been participating in morning skates, but has not been ready to go.
The Hurricanes announced on Friday that they would not hold a morning skate in advance of Saturday’s game, but that head coach Rod Brind’Amour would be available to the media a few hours prior to puck drop.
In terms of the lineup, Philadelphia’s attempt to mix things up after Game 3 was well out of hand could force Brind’Amour’s hand to dress Nic Deslauriers to serve as a deterrent against his former teammates.
When the Hurricanes were in a similar spot against a chippy Ottawa team in Game 4 last round, Deslauriers drew in for a banged up Nikolaj Ehlers, and it certainly didn’t hurt to have the veteran enforcer’s presence in the lineup on that day.
Frederik Andersen will most certainly get the nod between the pipes again today. The Great Dane leads the NHL in the postseason with a .957 save percentage and 1.02 goals against average.
A win today would make for a guaranteed lengthy rest ahead of the Eastern Conference Final. The Montreal Canadiens’ win over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night means that series will last at least until next Thursday, and it seems unlikely that one of those teams is going to rattle off three straight wins over the other now.
Here’s how to check out the action…
Time: 6:00 PM EST
Location: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
TV: TNT, TruTV with Alex Faust and Colby Armstrong on the call.
Radio: 99.9 FM the Fan will carry the broadcast from Hurricanes TV voice Mike Maniscalco and color commentator Tripp Tracy on the call.
Streaming: HBO Max app
Odds: Hurricanes -188/Flyers +155 Moneyline, Hurricanes -1.5 +134/Flyers +1.5 -164 Puckline, Total Goals O5.5 +118/U5.5 -144, all per FanDuel Sportsbook.
VOORHEES, N.J. — The Flyers felt like they played a lot of must-win games down the stretch of the regular season.
Now they face the truest must-win scenario — an elimination game in the playoffs.
On Saturday night, the Flyers host the Hurricanes in Game 4 of this best-of-seven second-round series. Rick Tocchet’s club could not solve the Eastern Conference’s top seed through the first three games.
In fact, Carolina has yet to lose in these playoffs, going 7-0 and surrendering just eight goals.
The Flyers will try to change that.
Coverage begins at 5:30 p.m. ET with Flyers Pregame Live on NBC Sports Philadelphia+. Puck drop is scheduled for around 6 p.m. ET on TNT. Flyers Postgame Live will follow immediately after the game on NBCSP+.
Here are some updates and visuals from Saturday and the last few days.
"I know how you guys all felt during that Pitt series because we were feeling it, too. It's stressful. Get one win, you go there, you pull one out and then the pressure's on them. We felt it."
– Travis Konecny on Flyers trying to come back from 3-0 series deficit vs. Hurricanes pic.twitter.com/sen4fHGATT
Trevor Zegras said what he appreciates about Rick Tocchet is that he’ll get in your face, but then he gets you back out there on the ice and gives you a chance to make up for stuff. pic.twitter.com/gDr2KzkCxm
Devils Hire Former Panthers Assistant GM Sunny Mehta As New General ManagerDevils tap former Panthers Assistant GM Sunny Mehta, a hometown hero and analytics wizard, to lead their franchise back to glory.
