The Detroit Red Wings had put themselves in a prime position to be buyers at the NHL Trade Deadline this past March for the first time in a decade.
Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman did just that, bringing back veteran forward David Perron from the Ottawa Senators, while also acquiring right-handed defenseman Justin Faulk from the St. Louis Blues.
In return for Faulk, the Red Wing sent defenseman Justin Holl, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2026 third-round pick, and forward prospect Dmitri Buchelnikov back to the Blues.
Faulk fit in nicely with the Red Wings, forming a defensive pair with Ben Chiarot, and scored five goals with three assists in the 16 games he appeared in following the trade.
Unfortunately, the Red Wings were in the early stages of unraveling yet again in March, at the time of Faulk's acquisition, and they ultimately finished on the outside looking in at the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 10th straight season.
"Ultimately, there's a lot of frustration with not getting in," Faulk said of how things finished for Detroit. "It's hard, it's hard to get in the playoffs, and it's a hard stretch to go through. Mentally, like I said, it's frustrating right now. It's something that's a goal along the way, I think the ultimate goal is to try and win a Stanley Cup."
"There's a lot of processing and steps before that, but you have to get in the playoffs to give yourself a chance," Faulk continued. "I think we all know in this League that if anyone gets in, there's a chance. There are upsets every year, teams go on runs. You've gotta get your foot in the door, but where we're sitting, it's not a great feeling."
As for his transition to the Red Wings, Faulk had already heard plenty about the organization from players who experienced both sides of what was once a heated Western Conference rivalry. It also helped that his former Blues teammate, David Perron, was back in the fold to make the adjustment smoother.
"Yeah, ultimately, I thought it went pretty well," Faulk said of the transition to Detroit from St. Louis. "I've said this a little bit I think, but I played with David Perron in St. Louis, and I had some other guys that we made a few trades over the years back and forth. We got Nick Leddy, I think (Ville) Husso ended up here, and Oskar Sundqvist and whatnot. So, I've known plenty of guys who have had a lot of familiarity with this organization, so nothing was really too unknown to me."
"Obviously, there's a lot of getting to know people and feeling it out, but the organization as a whole, those guys have filled me in, and David Perron made life a lot easier for me," Faulk continued. "Showed me how to get around town, all the little things outside the rink that get unnoticed, and you get into a flow when you're in a situation for a while.
The transition was pretty smooth."
Faulk, who has tallied a total of 146 goals with 352 assists across 1,058 career games played with the Carolina Hurricanes, Blues, and Red Wings, is signed through the end of next season.
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The San Jose Barracuda, the American Hockey League affiliate of the San Jose Sharks, start the postseason tonight in Henderson, NV as they face the Henderson Silver Knights. Let’s take a look at some of the most interesting players to watch heading into the playoffs.
Kasper Halttunen
During his time with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, Kasper Halttunen’s offensive production always found a higher gear in the playoffs. Halttunen, the Sharks’ second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, had a respectable rookie season in the AHL, scoring 16 goals and 35 points in 69 games with the Barracuda.
Back in November, Elite Prospects scout David St-Louis wrote, “Kasper Halttunen is taking steps toward becoming more of a complete power forward in the AHL, forechecking with more intensity, using his body, and helping defensively. He’s winning battles and making short passes to the middle.” Although he had a few dry spells throughout the season, his goal scoring was picking up when the regular season came to an end as well, with three goals in his last five games.
Igor Chernyshov
This one seems a bit obvious, but Igor Chernyshov can be a game-changer for the Barracuda in the playoffs. He was playing very well for the Barracuda during his time in the AHL this season, but Chernyshov seemed to really find another level during the last month of the season when he was playing in the NHL.
With the Barracuda, he scored 13 goals and 33 points in 41 games this season. Meanwhile, with the Sharks, he scored nine goals and 19 points in just 28 games. Given his performances to close out the 2025-26 regular season with the Sharks, this will likely be the last time we see Chernyshov in the AHL.
Nolan Allan
During Sharks general manager Mike Grier’s exit interview, one player he mentioned by name when discussing the future of their blue line was Nolan Allan. The 22-year-old defenseman is known for his strong skating ability and defensive play, plus he already has some NHL experience under his belt as well.
As a member of the Chicago Blackhawks organization, Allan played 43 games in the NHL during the 2024-25 season. During that time, he scored a goal and seven assists while being a -13. While he’s not a player that should be expected to contribute a lot of offense at any level, the Sharks need to figure out a way to keep the puck out of their own net, which means Allan could be on the shortlist for an NHL job as soon as next season. He’s not the flashiest player in the world by any means, but he’s a player to keep an eye on this postseason.
Filip Bystedt
The Barracuda’s leading scorer this season, Filip Bystedt, was a player who needed to take a major step forward this season. Entering the 2025-26 season, his production during his limited time in the AHL was a bit disappointing for a prospect of his caliber, but he seems to have adapted to the North American game fairly well at this stage in his career.
The Sharks’ 27th overall pick in 2022, Bystedt finished the regular season with 22 goals and 60 points in 65 games. Despite his strong play this season, he’s a player who still hasn’t gotten a look at the NHL level, but a strong playoff performance could help him out when training camp comes around in the fall. As a 22-year-old, there’s still time for Bystedt to break into the NHL and be an impact player, but it’s starting to reach the point where questions can start to arise in the near future if he doesn’t earn a spot on the Sharks.
Luca Cagnoni
It seems like there’s a high chance that Luca Cagnoni will be on the Sharks’ opening night roster for the 2026-27 season unless Mike Grier makes some major additions to the blue line over the summer. Grier has expressed his desire for a puck-moving defenseman on the Sharks, and internally, Cagnoni would be the option that makes sense to fill that role. He earned a “tryout” with the Sharks, so to speak, at the end of the NHL season, appearing in their final three games of the season.
Despite not recording a point in his three games with the Sharks this season, Cagnoni certainly didn’t look out of place and showed some signs that he’s on the verge of being NHL-ready. Much like Chernyshov, there’s a good chance that this postseason could be the last time we see Cagnoni in the AHL, but it seems like less of a sure thing at this stage.
Honorable Mention: Leo Sahlin Wallenius
Leo Sahlin Wallenius was the Sharks’ most recent addition to the Barracuda, as he was loaned to the AHL on Wednesday afternoon. It’s unknown when he’ll join their lineup, but it’s hard to imagine he’d play in Game 1 against the Silver Knights tonight.
As another puck-moving defenseman, Sahlin Wallenius would be an intriguing player to watch at the AHL level. He’ll be learning to adapt to North American ice on the fly, and his physicality is one of the biggest concerns surrounding his game. As a result, the playoffs will be a difficult place for him to learn the intricacies of North American hockey, but it would certainly be interesting to see how well he can adapt.
Despite icing a roster rich with talent, the Vegas Golden Knights often find themselves in an offensive rut. Their season has been defined by highs and lows, all dictated by game-to-game shooting percentages and a sporadic inability to finish.
Struggling to score isn’t a new issue for the Golden Knights— this has been a problem for a few years now. This struggle is, of course, most evident in the playoffs because of how little time and space they have. Everyone always says that it’s harder to score in the postseason. And for the third year in a row, an inability to solve that particular problem might send the Golden Knights to an early vacation.
The Golden Knights have scored just three goals at 5-on-5 over the first two games of this series against the Utah Mammoth. Two of those three goals came in Game 1, and they both came from the fourth line composed of Cole Smith, Nic Dowd, and Colton Sissons. That’s been their best line at 5-on-5, which simply can’t continue.
In a seven-game series, it’s important not to get too high or too low. It’s not yet time to hit the panic button. But alarms have to be flashing as a familiar demon rears its ugly head once more.
Their saving grace has been their power play, which helped them win Game 1 and kept them in Game 2. But even if the Golden Knights boasted a power play to rival the one that the Edmonton Oilers had in 2023, that’s not a long-term recipe for success.
The Mammoth seemed to break through at 5-on-5 in Game 2, and it’s up to the Golden Knights to respond on Friday.
Utah’s brightest stars are showing up, and the Golden Knights can’t say the same. They also haven’t found an answer for Kailer Yamamoto, Logan Cooley, and Dylan Guenther. In 17:19 TOI, that line outshot their opponents 13-5 and outscored them 2-0. And it’s not a fluke— they’ve generated five high-danger scoring chances while limiting their opponents to one.
And just think: for the next two games, the Mammoth have the last change.
Quite frankly, if the Golden Knights didn’t have such a strong penalty kill, they would likely be on their way to Salt Lake City down 2-0 in the series. Their penalty kill, which was tied for 6th in the league during the regular season, remains one of their greatest strengths. That success when down a man has carried over into the playoffs, and the Mammoth are 0-fer on five power play chances.
But the Mammoth are probably going to score a power play goal eventually. And when that happens, the Golden Knights will need to respond by breaking through at 5-on-5 unless they want to see their season abruptly end.
If anyone thought the rivalry between the Flyers and Penguins had lost its luster, they can think again.
The dislike between these two teams was alive and well Wednesday night as this best-of-seven first-round playoff series shifted to Philadelphia for Game 3.
The Flyers fueled off the intensity of the game and their rabid crowd to notch a 5-2 win over Pittsburgh at Xfinity Mobile Arena, which featured a sea of orange in the stands.
The victory handed Rick Tocchet’s club a commanding 3-0 series lead.
Trevor Zegras, Rasmus Ristolainen and Nick Seeler ripped off three goals in a feisty and decisive second period.
Noah Cates provided crucial insurance with a power play goal in the third period after Pittsburgh cut the Flyers’ deficit to one.
Owen Tippett iced the game with an empty-netter.
The Flyers enjoyed their first home playoff game in exactly eight years (the 2020 postseason was in the bubble). The last time the fan base saw playoff action in Philadelphia was April 22, 2018, when the Flyers lost a first-round Game 6 to the Penguins.
Michal Neuvirth was in net for the Flyers. The team’s defense featured Shayne Gostisbehere, Ivan Provorov, Radko Gudas, Andrew MacDonald, Brandon Manning and Robert Hagg. Porter Martone was just 11 years old.
In this series, the Flyers have outscored Pittsburgh 11-4 through three games. They’re one win away from advancing to the second round.
Flyers’ introduction and starters as playoff hockey returns to Philly for first time since 2018. pic.twitter.com/cpABa7UsMG
• The game went completely upside down just 4:33 minutes into the second period.
Travis Konecny, the Flyers’ emotional leader, was pinned to the ice by Bryan Rust behind the Penguins’ net. Konecny’s helmet was knocked off as Rust gave him some shots.
The Flyers, along with Konecny, became incensed. And the chaos loaded up the penalty boxes.
When the dust finally settled, the Flyers were awarded a power play. The Flyers and Pittsburgh each had five players whistled for roughing, but Rust received four minutes.
The Flyers took advantage of the power play when Zegras tied the game at 1-1 on a slap shot from the circle. At that point, Xfinity Mobile Arena had turned into a madhouse.
The Flyers made it a game-changing second period. They built on the energy as Ristolainen scored his first career playoff goal in his 13th NHL season before Seeler joined the fun with a blast from the blue line.
The three goals came in the span of six minutes. The Flyers went into second intermission with a 3-1 lead and all of the momentum.
Flyers fans went bonkers when the fifth Penguin took his place in the penalty box. pic.twitter.com/deefvWtOdL
The 28-year-old continued to be the Flyers’ all-important piece.
Vladar appeared to survive an injury scare in the third period. He was shaking his right blocker hand after Rust tried to make a play around the crease on a Pittsburgh power play.
After an injury stoppage, Vladar was able to stay in the game. Fans chanted his nickname of “Vladdy.”
The Flyers avoided damange on that Penguins power play. However, Matvei Michkov then committed an ill-timed roughing penalty. Pittsburgh capitalized as Erik Karlsson trimmed the Flyers’ lead to 3-2 a little under midway through the final stanza.
But Cates responded.
Penguins netminder Stuart Skinner stopped 24 of 28 shots.
As the Flyers surged ahead, 2-1, in the span of just 3:48 minutes, fans started to chant Skinner’s last name. Seeler then zipped a long-distance shot past Skinner’s glove to pad the Flyers’ lead and elicit more chants.
• After the Flyers held Sidney Crosby scoreless over the first two games of the series, the three-time Stanley Cup champion picked up an assist just 4:18 minutes into Game 3.
Pittsburgh’s power play struck for the first time in the series after Sean Couturier was whistled for tripping. Evgeni Malkin finished off a tic-tac-toe sequence to give the Penguins a 1-0 edge, their first lead of the series.
Some theatrics ensued late in the first period with Crosby and Garnet Hathaway. The Flyers’ winger clipped Crosby in the face with his stick as Pittsburgh’s center was preparing to take a faceoff.
Hathaway was whistled for high-sticking, but he was also visibly adamant that Crosby took a dive. After consultation, the officials hit Crosby with an embellishment penalty, evening out the infractions.
• The Flyers and Penguins have two days before the series resumes Saturday with Game 4 at Xfinity Mobile Arena (8 p.m. ET/NBCSP).
Will the move to Crypto.com Arena be enough for the Los Angeles Kings to top the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, April 23?
My top Avalanche and Kings predictions and NHL picks think otherwise. The Avs have dominated the play throughout the first two games of the series, and I’m anticipating the Colorado offense to fill the net in Game 3.
Avalanche vs Kings Game 3 prediction
Avalanche vs Kings best bet: Avalanche moneyline (-155)
Hats off to the Los Angeles Kings for holding the Colorado Avalanche largely in check through the first two games of the series, but the levee breaks in Game 3.
Colorado has driven the play and been the more dangerous team with a 56.2 CF% and 59.3 xGF% at five-on-five, and the Avs have limited the Kings to just two goals, 5.69 expected goals, and 20 high-danger scoring chances through two games.
Additionally, as noted, I’m anticipating the Colorado offense to solve Los Angeles goalie Anton Forsberg in Game 3. His .901 save percentage across 124 games the past four years is solid, but unspectacular, and it’s also far more reflective of the skillset than his .939 mark in Round 1.
Avalanche vs Kings Game 3 same-game parlay
While I’m anticipating the statistical correction ahead of Forsberg to be a driving force in this Game 3 total going Over the number, Avs starter Scott Wedgewood isn’t going to maintain his own high level of play through the entire series. He’s sporting an equally unsustainable .960 SV% with 3.69 goals saved above expected through two games.
Colorado winger Martin Necas rounds out the same-game parlay, and he’s been held to a single assist despite being on the ice for 4.93 expected goals through two games. So, after hitting 100 points during the regular season, I’m expecting the Czech star to mark the scoresheet on Thursday.
Avalanche vs Kings SGP
Avalanche -1.5
Over 5.5
Martin Necas Over 0.5 points
Avalanche vs Kings Game 3 goal scorer pick
Martin Necas (+195)
Sticking with Colorado winger Martin Necas, he's paced the club in individual expected goals during the series (1.22), and he’s also failed to find the back of the net in five consecutive games dating back to the regular season despite recording 17 shots and eight high-danger scoring chances. After scoring 38 times during the regular season, Necas breaks through and finds the back of the net in Game 3.
The Colorado Avalanche have won 14 of their last 15 away games (+12.20 Units / 49% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Kings.
How to watch Avalanche vs Kings Game 3
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Puck drop
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
TNT
Avalanche vs Kings 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.
Josh Doan generated shots at a healthy rate against the Boston Bruins in the regular season, and his volume has remained strong in the playoffs.
While it hasn’t yet led to production, my Sabres vs. Bruins predictions see Doan finding the score sheet as the series shifts to Boston.
Let’s dive into my NHL picks for Thursday, April 23.
Sabres vs Bruins Game 3 prediction
Sabres vs Bruins best bet: Josh Doan Over 0.5 points (+140)
Josh Doan has recorded multiple shots on goal in each of the first two games, combining for 12 shot attempts. A lot of his volume comes near the paint, which is where you need to get against an elite netminder like Jeremy Swayman.
The Buffalo Sabres have generated 2.76 expected goals with Doan on the ice yet scored only once. He’s getting looks at 5-on-5, and he's skating on the top power play alongside top weapons like Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin.
With that kind of usage, it’s only a matter of time before results follow his chance generation.
Sabres vs Bruins Game 3 same-game parlay
Lindy Ruff won’t be able to control matchups on the road, which means Doan and Josh Norris could be heading for less time against the likes of David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy, and more against the middle of the lineup.
That would help the cause in their quest for the first points of this series.
We’ll round out the parlay by backing Buffalo on the moneyline. It's been the better team in terms of chance share, and will have a great chance of coming out on top if Doan and Norris break through.
Sabres vs Bruins SGP
Josh Doan Over 0.5 points
Josh Norris Over 0.5 points
Sabres moneyline
Sabres vs Bruins Game 3 goal scorer pick
Josh Doan (+305)
Thompson is the only player on either team with more scoring chances than Doan in this series. He's getting quality looks, and his 13.2% career shooting percentage indicates he’s capable of finishing efficiently over time.
Josh Doan has averaged 2.5 shots on goal through six meetings with Boston this season. Find more NHL betting trends for Sabres vs. Bruins.
How to watch Sabres vs Bruins Game 3
Location
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Date
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
TNT
Sabres vs Bruins 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 take a 2-0 series lead into the Canadian Tire Centre to face the Ottawa Senators in Game 3 on Thursday, April 23.
My top Hurricanes vs. Senators predictions and NHL picks are calling for Ottawa to take down Game 3, thanks in large part to another standout showing from Linus Ullmark.
Hurricanes vs Senators Game 3 prediction
Hurricanes vs Senators best bet: Linus Ullmark Over 25.5 saves (-130)
Ottawa Senators No. 1 Linus Ullmark has a .917 SV% with 12.34 goals saved above expected across his past 11 starts.
The Carolina Hurricanes have peppered him with 29.24 shots per 60 minutes, and considering they finished the regular season ranked second in shots per game (31.5) and first in Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5 on the highway, I’m confident Ullmark will see the necessary rubber to clear this number.
It’s also important to highlight Carolina finished second in long-range shots, and it's also attempted 70.5 shots per 60 at 5-on-5 against the Sens to start the series.
Hurricanes vs Senators Game 3 same-game parlay
The Senators went 9-1-1 on home ice to close out the regular season and allowed the fourth-fewest expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 for the year, so with Ullmark also in top form, I expect the Sens to lead the way in keeping this total Under the number.
The final leg of this same-game parlay turns to Ottawa defenseman Thomas Chabot. He’s turned his 12 shot attempts into just two shots through the first two games of the series. Count on a better conversion rate tonight from the blueliner.
Hurricanes vs Senators SGP
Senators moneyline
Under 5.5
Thomas Chabot Over 1.5 shots
Hurricanes vs Senators Game 3 goal scorer pick
Tim Stutzle (+195)
I think there’s a bit of a disconnect between the underlying numbers for Sens star Tim Stutzle and how dangerous he’s actually been on the ice.
While he’s generated just 0.86 individual expected goals on six shots and four individual high-danger scoring chances during the series, he’s done everything but find the back of the net with multiple missed Grade-A chances in both games.
Stutzle finally capitalizes with a goal in Game 3.
The Ottawa Senators have won nine of their last 11 games at home (+6.20 Units / 31% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Hurricanes vs. Senators.
How to watch Hurricanes vs Senators Game 3
Location
Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ON
Date
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Puck drop
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet
Hurricanes vs Senators 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.
After losing the first two games in Pittsburgh, the Penguins will head to Philadelphia for a pivotal game three. It's basically a must-win for the Penguins because if they fall down 3-0 in the series, it's virtually over. There's a reason why only four teams in NHL history have ever come back from that deficit.
The Penguins have scored only two goals in this series, largely because the Flyers are so good at defending the neutral zone and their own zone. They're shutting down the passing lanes and taking away a lot of the Penguins' shooting lanes. They've also done a great job of keeping the Penguins to the outside, preventing them from reaching the high-danger areas.
In light of all of that, the Penguins are tweaking their lines for Wednesday's game, looking for a spark offensively.
Here's what the projected lineup looks like:
Forwards
Rakell-Crosby-Rust
Malkin-Novak-Mantha
Chinakhov-Kindel-Brazeau
Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari
Defensive pairs
Wotherspoon-Karlsson
Girard-Letang
Shea-Clifton
Stuart Skinner will start in goal after another great game on Monday.
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Penguins head coach Dan Muse hopes these changes will lead to more goals.
It's also time for the Penguins to play with a lead. They have yet to do that in this series, and it's costing them. If they can get a lead, it could force the Flyers to open up a little bit, which could play into the Penguins' hands.
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh, TNT, truTV, and HBO Max. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
The Ducks didn't shy away from the moment in their first playoff game in eight years, going toe-to-toe with the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1. They shrugged off a sluggish first period, erased a two-goal deficit in the second period and had a one-goal lead heading into the third period. However, they conceded two goals in the final frame, including the go-ahead goal with 1:54 remaining.
Troy Terry, who got the Ducks on the board just 19 seconds into the second period, noted during his postgame scrum how little mental mistakes can sway a series in favor of either team.
"(The loss is) hard to swallow," Terry said. "But I'm proud of our group, and I'm excited for the rest of this series. We proved it to ourselves."
Apr 20, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers center Matt Savoie (22) with center Connor McDavid (97) attempt to stop Anaheim Ducks right winger Troy Terry (19) in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs during the second period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images
Anaheim did not practice on Tuesday in between games aside from Game 1's scratches getting some light work in. Alex Killorn, John Carlson, Lukáš Dostál and head coach Joel Quenneville addressed the media as part of Anaheim's mandatory media availability for the day.
"I didn't love our start to the game," Killorn said. "I think we kind of maybe dipped our toes in a little bit. A lot of (our) guys haven't played in the playoffs. But what I did like is our resiliency after going down two goals to come back. And that second period was a really great period for us. I liked that. And then once we got the lead, we may have sat back just a little bit. A bunch of things we can learn from, but, overall, pretty good game."
"I think (we can be better in) taking care of the slot area," Dostál, who stopped 30 of 34 shots, said. "Every single team in the playoffs––doesn't matter if it's us, Edmonton or any other team; that's one dangerous area in hockey where you have to take care of it. I felt otherwise (that) we did a pretty good job on the defensive part, but I believe that's something we've just gotta focus on. Same with me, I've gotta make those saves there."
"I think we executed our game plan well on both sides of the ice," Carlson said. "I think we probably played one of our better games with the lead since I've been here as well. It didn't manufacture us anything, but I think (there's) things to build on, to work through and keep getting better (at)."
"I think that we wanted to find out about our guys in the playoffs," Quenneville said. "I thought we showed that we're competitive. I think there's some things we can learn from, and we've got to get better as we go along in the series, anyway. And I think that we look individually and collectively, that there are some positive things. Technically, we can be stronger in areas, but the effort was there. The pace was fine, and we expect to get better in order to win and be successful and that's our challenge. And I think that for a lot of the guys, getting their first exposure was a good sign in what their games (are) and what they bring and the upside to go along with that as well."
Apr 20, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) and Anaheim Ducks center Tim Washe (42) battle for the puck in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs during the third period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images
Ducks captain Radko Gudas will miss Game 2 with an undisclosed injury. He is day-to-day, per Quenneville. Drew Helleson will draw into the lineup, making his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut.
"Drew played some nice games for us down the stretch here," Quenneville said. "Drew's had some good moments for us. He gives us some quickness, some size and that spot with his partner (Tyson Hinds), they played together at some point over the last few years. Just want him to be consistent and be predictable."
"I'm excited to get out there and feel the emotions and the physicality," Helleson said. "(The coaching staff expects me to) just play my game. Defend well. Be hard to play against, make simple plays, just things I've been doing here lately. Hopefully, I can keep that going."
Former Ducks forward Adam Henrique will miss Game 2 after suffering an injury during Game 1. He played just 2:56 after exiting in the first period and did not return to the game. Josh Samanski will draw into the lineup in his place. Jason Dickinson is also a game-time decision, per Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch. Curtis Lazar would draw in if Dickinson is unable to play.
While Game 1 may feel like a lost opportunity for Anaheim, they can find solace in the fact that they were able to erase a multi-goal deficit and, momentarily, hold a lead against a hardened Oilers team.
Apr 20, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (91) and center Mikael Granlund (64) celebrate a goal on the Edmonton Oilers in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs during the second period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images
Terry and Leo Carlsson shined in their playoff debuts, with both having multi-point performances. Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard were both kept off the scoresheet for the Oilers, but Jason Dickinson and Kasperi Kapanen provided depth scoring with two goals apiece. On the backend, Jake Walman picked up two assists. Anaheim will need their depth to provide the same kind of secondary scoring moving forward.
"We need everybody," Quenneville said. "We're gonna need everybody going forward every game, every shift. We're calling on everybody to get better from the first game. There are some positives we've taken out of that game, but we're gonna need more. Can't be satisfied with that."
"I think our PK did a tremendous job," Mason McTavish said. "That's one of the best power plays ever; they did a great job. Also, shutting down McDavid, that's not easy to do. I thought we did a good job limiting his touches and space. He's a great player. Obviously, he's going to get some chances, but I thought we did a good job eliminating that."
"There should be a lot of credit to Anaheim," Knoblauch said. "They did a great job making it hard for us to get into the zone. Usually, Connor's making those plays. The other night, they were able to get their sticks on pucks. More often than not, he's making those. Tonight, we'll have to see if we have to make some big adjustments."
Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville speaks to the media after their morning skate at Rogers Place.
Ducks Projected Lines
Chris Kreider - Leo Carlsson - Troy Terry Alex Killorn - Mikael Granlund - Beckett Sennecke Mason McTavish - Ryan Poehling - Cutter Gauthier Jeff Viel - Tim Washe - Ian Moore
Jackson LaCombe - Jacob Trouba Pavel Mintyukov - John Carlson Tyson Hinds - Drew Helleson
Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)
Oilers Projected Lines
Matt Savoie - Connor McDavid - Zach Hyman Vasily Podkolzin - Leon Draisaitl - Kasperi Kapanen Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Jason Dickinson - Jack Roslovic Colton Dach - Josh Samanski - Trent Frederic
The Detroit Red Wings are entering a critical offseason after missing the playoffs for a tenth straight year, a finish that has left fans searching for answers about how the organization can finally take a step toward contention next season.
Much of the discussion has centered on captain Dylan Larkin, who played through injuries this season and still produced 67 points in 74 games. The performance has sparked mixed reactions among fans.
Some argue Larkin should be producing more consistently in his role as captain, especially given his history as a point-per-game player in previous seasons. Others point to his two-way impact, leadership, and skating ability as traits that are increasingly rare in today’s NHL, making him an invaluable part of the roster even when not at his offensive peak.
The debate has even stretched into more extreme territory online, with some calling for a change in leadership or even suggesting trade scenarios, despite Larkin being a Michigan native and long-time face of the franchise.
However, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman recently pushed back strongly on those rumors. Speaking on Sportsnet’s Oilers Now, Friedman dismissed the idea that Detroit would consider moving its captain.
“I’ve had people wonder, would they ever move Dylan Larkin, I think that’s crazy,” Friedman said.
During his end-of-season availability, Larkin called the year “not great” and admitted it was especially frustrating given another missed playoff berth for the Red Wings. He took accountability as captain, noting he needed to do a better job driving play and establishing momentum, particularly at home as they suffered many debilitating losses at Little Caesars Arena to end off the season.
Despite the disappointment, he reaffirmed his commitment to the franchise, stressing his goal of helping lead Detroit back to the playoffs and eventually competing for a Stanley Cup has not waivered.
Larkin just completed his 11th NHL season, sitting at 276 goals and 367 assists for 643 points across 808 games. He continues to climb the franchise’s all-time ranks and remains under contract through 2031, reinforcing the expectation that he will remain a cornerstone of the Red Wings moving forward.
Despite that stability, the narrative around his tenure has grown complicated. Detroit has not reached the playoffs since Larkin’s rookie season, a statistic that continues to follow both player and team as expectations rise.
If Larkin were ever to leave, it would likely be on his own terms, driven by a desire to compete for a Stanley Cup and play in meaningful postseason games more consistently.
Adding to his recent resume, Larkin also represented Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where he helped capture a gold medal in what stands as the biggest international achievement of his career to date. That experience is expected to further fuel his desire to compete in high-pressure, playoff-style environments at the NHL level.
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Convenience has been the theme so far in the Pittsburgh Penguins' first-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers when it comes to the selection of the third goaltender for games. They recalled Wheeling Nailers (ECHL) goaltender Taylor Gauthier for the first two games of the series in Pittsburgh, since Wheeling is less than two hours from Pittsburgh.
And it appears they continued to roll with that same theme ahead of Game 3 in Philadelphia.
On Wednesday, the Penguins recalled young netminder Sergei Murashov from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins of the AHL, likely to serve as the team's emergency goaltender for Games 3 and 4. WBS is a little more than three hours from Philadelphia, as opposed to Wheeling being more than seven hours.
WBS has already clinched a first-round bye in the Calder Cup Playoffs, and their seeding is locked in.
Murashov, 21, has played in five NHL games this season, going 1-1-2 with an .897 save percentage and a 2.56 goals-against average. At the AHL level, he is 24-9-3 with a .919 save percentage and a 2.20 goals-against average.
He figures to be the third goaltender behind Stuart Skinner - who has earned his third-straight start - and Arturs Silovs, who was the backup in the Penguins' first two games, both of which they dropped to go down 2-0 in the best-of-seven series. Game 3 is Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. ET, while Game 4 is scheduled for Saturday at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Niagara Falls breadmaker has been roasted after making a special bath of Buffalo "sabre" bread that bore an uncanny resemblance to a penis.
This bread got a rise out of onlookers.
An upstate bakery is getting roasted over the X-rated shape of a special batch of Buffalo Sabres-themed bread that it released in honor of the ongoing Stanley Cup playoffs.
Di Camillo Bakery in Niagara Falls was paying tribute to hometown — or at least hometown-adjacent — hockey team, who are currently tied 1-1 with the Boston Bruins, 7 News WKBW reported.
After initially mulling over making hockey sticks or pucks, the company settled on depicting the team’s logo with a sword-shaped baguette featuring a sesame seed pommel.
Unfortunately, the wholesome local story took a turn into the gutter after many people noticed that the breadstick bore an uncanny resemblance to a penis.
Many social media users clocked the bread’s phallic shape. Facebook/Di Camillo Bakery
“We wanted to do something hockey related,” breadmaker president Matthew Di Camillo innocently said of the playoffs “good luck charm,” confessing that he hoped to make a “lot of them.”
But the creation instead got burned online.
“How did the guy making this keep a straight face?” wondered one critic on Facebook, while another quipped, “I bet it’s made with dill dough.”
“This is our good luck charm for the Sabres playoffs,” said bakery guru Matthew Di Camillo. WKBW
“That’s the bread she says is ‘Just Friends,'” joked a third about the well-endowed wheat sword.
Another prankster wrote, “Use Viagra instead of yeast to get that kinda rise.”
Di Camillo’s magnum opus also got burned on Reddit, with one commenter flatly declaring, “Yeah that’s a penis.”
Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson celebrates his goal during the third period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Boston Bruins on April 19 in Buffalo. AP
“That thing’s got a Doaner,” said another, making a play on the name of Buffalo Sabres player Josh Doan.
Through two games against the Colorado Avalanche in Denver, Anton Forsberg has been nothing short of exceptional under the crease, saving 30 of 32 shots in Game 1 and 34 of 36 shots in Game 2.
Facing one of the NHL's most dangerous offenses, the Los Angeles Kings goaltender has delivered under pressure in his first-ever playoff series, keeping his team within striking distance in both contests.
Forsberg was once again a difference-maker in Game 2, turning aside 34 of 36 shots in a tightly contested overtime loss. Time and time again, he came up with timely saves, whether it was shutting down odd-man rushes, controlling rebounds in traffic, or holding strong during extended pressure from Colorado’s top lines and power plays.
Jeremy Swayman Carter Hart Scott Wedgewood Anton Forsberg
In the last two games, Los Angeles has held the No. 1 offense in hockey to four goals and zero power-play goals, yet the Kings still find themselves heading back to Los Angeles down 2-0 in the series.
This raises a familiar question: how much longer can elite goaltending by Forbserg carry a team without offensive support? We know how great Forsberg has been this season as a starter, finishing the last seven games of the season 6-0-1 and helping the Kings make the playoffs.
Flashback to the 2023 playoff series, where the Los Angeles Kings lost to the Edmonton Oilers in six games, but were very competitive, led by former Kings goaltender at the time, Joonas Korpisalo.
Just like Forbserg, Korpisalo was a solid goaltender who exploded in that series, winning two games with elite play in net, but after Edmonton tied the series 2-2, he fell off in the final two games, resulting in a 4-2 series loss.
For the 33-year-old goaltender, it's only a matter of time to see if he's good enough to maintain this for a full seven-game series, or will consecutive losses like this on the road hurt his play?
After the game, Forsberg talked about the disappointment in going down 0-2 after two strong efforts.
"It’s tough, the way it ended, both games," said Forsberg. "We’re right in there, playing well, we’re fighting, we’re fighting hard. Just got to stick with it and turn this around."
Los Angeles has committed to a physical, defense-first identity in this series, with players like Mikey Anderson and Drew Doughty stepping up in key moments.
The Kings have blocked shots, delivered hits, and disrupted Colorado’s rhythm as good as it gets. Holding the league’s top offense to just two goals in Game 2, and one in regulation, is not easy to do.
Despite forcing turnovers and generating high-danger looks, Los Angeles has struggled to convert offensively. Missed breakaways, failed power plays, and an inability to finish around the net have defined the first two games of the series.
The Kings have had opportunities to shift momentum, especially in Game 2, but couldn’t hold onto their lead for long after scoring their first goal in the final frame.
Now, as the series shifts back to Crypto.com Arena, the focus quickly turns to Game 3.
Forsberg has given the Kings a foundation. His play has been more than good enough to win, and if he continues at this level, Los Angeles will have a chance every night.
But can Forsberg continue this play at home, where the Kings have been terrible compared to playing on the road? If LA is hoping to tie this series 2-2 after four games, they'll need their Swedish goaltender to play at this level the rest of the way compared to his normal usage.
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Colorado goaltender Scott Wedgewood saves a shot by Kings center Samuel Helenius during overtime of Game 2 in their first round playoff series Tuesday in Denver. (Jack Dempsey / Associated Press)
He’ll make good on that pledge Thursday when his Kings and the Colorado Avalanche face off in Game 3 of their first-round series at Crypto.com Arena. But it could prove to be a short encore because after losing the first two games of the best-of-seven Stanley Cup playoff in Denver, the Kings need a win Thursday or in Game 4 on Sunday to extend both their season and Kopitar’s Hall of Fame career.
The Kings’ — and Kopitar’s — last six playoff appearances have all ended after just one round. And they’re halfway to another first-round loss this year, though they probably deserve better after giving the league’s best team everything it could handle, only to lose twice by a goal, including a 2-1 overtime loss in Game 2 on Tuesday.
“To a man we're playing hard,” interim Kings coach D.J. Smith said. “We hoped to split here, but regardless we're gonna have to win at home. We’ve got to find a way to win a game.
“Clearly good isn't enough.”
Kopitar announced his retirement before the start of this season, the 20th in his Hall of Fame career. And while many of his teammates talked of their desire to see their captain hoist the Stanley Cup one more time, just making the playoffs appeared beyond the Kings’ reach until the final two weeks of the regular season.
Colorado, meanwhile, led the league in everything, winning the most games, collecting the most points, scoring the most goals and allowing the fewest. The Kings? Not so much. They gave up 22 more goals than they scored, worst among playoff teams, and needed points in 11 of their last 13 games just to squeak into the postseason as the final wild-card team.
Colorado left wing Joel Kiviranta skates under pressure from Kings center Scott Laughton and goaltender Anton Forsberg during Game 2 of their first-round NHL playoff series Tuesday in Denver. (Jack Dempsey / Associated Press)
Yet two games into this series, it’s been hard to tell the teams apart on the ice. The Kings have outhustled, outhit and outskated the Avalanche for long stretches. But those moral victories have been their only wins.
Asked if he can take solace for the way the team has played, goalie Anton Forsberg, who was outstanding in his first two career playoff games, stared straight ahead.
“No,” he said. “We wanted to go to home [with] a win.”
“We would have liked to steal one,” he said. “But you can't look back. You have to look forward. Confidence-wise, we hung in there with them for two games and we've been competitive. I think we could have won either night.”
They won neither night, however, which leaves little margin for error in the next two games.
If the Kings lacked wins in Denver, they didn’t lack chances. On Tuesday they had a man advantage for nearly a quarter of the first 25 minutes and had five power plays and a penalty shot on the night.
When Quinton Byfield’s second-period penalty shot was stuffed by Colorado goalie Scott Wedgewood, a group of Avalanche fans celebrated by pounding on the protective plexiglass behind the Kings’ bench with such force it shattered, raining shards down on the team’s coaches
"Whoever the guy [was] just kept pushing and pushing and pushing," Smith said. "I looked back because it hit me a bunch of times, then it broke."
Fans broke the glass pane behind the Kings' bench after Scott Wedgewood's save. pic.twitter.com/5ajTi5ffwy
The Kings couldn’t score on the power play either until Artemi Panarin finally found the back of the net with less than seven minutes left in regulation, giving the team its first lead of the series.
“We had every opportunity,” Smith said. “You’ve got to be able to close it out.”
They couldn’t. So when Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog evened the score 3 ½ minutes later, the teams headed to a fourth period.
The overtime was the 34th in 84 games for the Kings this season, an NHL record by some distance. But it ended in the team’s 21st overtime loss when Nicolas Roy banged home a rebound 7:44 into the extra period.
“We had some good looks. I thought we really had the momentum in overtime,” Smith said. “Maybe a bad bounce or a turnover, whatever, it ends up in your net. But to a man this team is playing hard and we’ve got to find a way to win.
“I expect that we'll be better at home.”
If they aren’t, the Kings face another long summer and Kopitar’s retirement will start earlier than he had hoped.
