Category: Ice Hockey

The Philadelphia Flyers have had the worst power play in the NHL for three of the last four seasons, and now it has single-handedly cost them a crucial playoff game at home. Things can't continue this way.

In 2023-24, the Flyers had the 32nd-ranked power play. Then Matvei Michkov came over and led the team, tied with Travis Konecny in both categories, in power play goals and assists. They still finished 2024-25 with the 30th-ranked power play.

After that disappointment, Flyers general manager Danny Briere went out and added the uber-talented Trevor Zegras via trade, and he racked up 23 power play points with Konecny and Michkov chipping in 14 and 12, respectively.

Michkov, despite remaining similarly productive in drastically reduced ice time, has been separated from Konecny on Zegras for much of the season.

Together, that trio has played just 55:15 together on the power play this season, while Zegras and Konecny without Michkov have played 113:97, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Now, while the numbers do not indicate that they generate more chances as a trio (relatively the same, but with more chances against), it does tell us that head coach Rick Tocchet and the coaching staff saw something they didn't like and completely abandoned it.

Flyers Playoff Run On Deathbed, Hurricanes Win 'Penalty Fest' Game 3The Philadelphia Flyers were doomed by their atrocious power play in a deflating 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3.

The same was true when Michkov started the season on a line with Sean Couturier and Konecny, which lasted a total of 60 minutes, and when Couturier was a top-six center only to be reduced to a fourth-line center.

The Flyers are predisposed to outright turning their backs on things that aren't working, rather than fixing them.

They changed coaching staffs and they added players, and yet the result remains the same year after year. How can this be?

It's worth noting, too, that the power play quarterback has been a constant revolving door.

There has been little to no continuity with Jamie Drysdale, Cam York, Rasmus Ristolainen, Travis Sanheim, Emil Andrae, and even Egor Zamula getting opportunities at various points in time over the last few seasons.

It's the only position the Flyers have not addressed on the power play, and it's a position all the best teams in the NHL have elite options for.

Tocchet admitted Thursday night after Game 3 that the Flyers are using players on the power play that would not ordinarily be playing power play minutes.

Michkov, sitting on the two-defenseman second unit, took a back seat to Tyson Foerster, who has no points in nine playoff games, Christian Dvorak, and Denver Barkey.

3 Flyers Who Have Most to Prove vs. Hurricanes in Crunch TimeMatvei Michkov and his fellow Philadelphia Flyers forwards need to play to their talent levels in order to keep the Carolina Hurricanes at bay.

Nine players saw more power play ice time than the former No. 7 overall pick.

Waiting in the wings is defenseman David Jiricek, who was acquired for Bobby Brink at the NHL trade deadline.

Jiricek, 22, is a former top draft pick himself with a booming shot and strong passing chops.

But, does he have to earn his power play time with good defending, something that's completely unrelated? Would it be unfair to the Flyers players who have been with the team all year and got them to this point? Can they trust him to not turn the puck over, even though the idea is to let your talent go out there and score?

To successfully answer these questions, the Flyers must change their philosophies behind the power play, whether it's wingers playing their weak sides instead of strong sides, their personnel (Michkov), or risk assessment.

Scared money doesn't make money in today's NHL.

The Athletic's Chris Johnston recently ranked the top 20 pending unrestricted free agents heading into the summer. Two Buffalo Sabres were among the players ranked: Alex Tuch and Logan Stanley.

Tuch was given the No. 3 spot on Johnston's rankings. The only two players who were ranked ahead of him were Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh and Vegas Golden Knights blueliner Rasmus Andersson.

When looking at how well Tuch has played this season, it is not surprising to see him be named among the best pending UFAs. In 79 regular-season games for the Sabres this year, he had 33 goals, 33 assists, and 66 points. He has also been continuing to make an impact during the playoffs, as he has four goals and seven points in seven games.

With Tuch continuing to stay hot and being the NHL's top pending UFA forward, he is undoubtedly setting himself to land a big payday. This remains the case whether he re-signs with the Sabres or goes elsewhere. 

As for Stanley, he was given the No. 14 spot on Johnston's rankings. When noting that the 27-year-old defenseman had a career year at the right time, it is understandable that he has been named a top pending UFA. 

Stanley set new career highs with nine goals, 17 assists, and 26 points in 76 regular-season games this year split between the Winnipeg Jets and Sabres. He also had 110 hits and 128 penalty minutes, so there is no question that the 6-foot-7 defenseman's toughness adds to his appeal as well. 

After losing the first game of their second-round series against the Buffalo Sabres 4-2, the Montreal Canadiens need to bounce back and do what they did in the first round: find a way to win on the road. Given Lindy Ruff’s coaching style, it should be less of a challenge than it was against the Tampa Bay Lightning when Jon Cooper was hell-bent on keeping Anthony Cirelli stuck to Nick Suzuki.

Martin St-Louis didn’t seem worried at all when he spoke to the media on Thursday. The coach said he was at the helm of a confident group that has a short-term memory and knows how to move on from a loss. They always bounced back from a defeat against Tampa, and that served them well, but they’ve put themselves in a situation where alternating wins and losses won’t work by losing the first game of the series.

Canadiens’ Demidov Needs Help
Canadiens’ Dobes Not To Blame
Canadiens Suffer Game 1 Defeat As Opportunistic Sabres Draw First Blood

On Thursday, even though the Habs had an optional skate, Cole Caufield spent over an hour on the ice, working on his shot. The sniper knows his team is counting on him, and it’s obvious that he’s desperate to find the back of the net.

If the Sabres had an impeccable record historically in the first game of a series, it’s not the case for the second game. Buffalo is 12-29 in Game 2 over the years for a .293 win percentage, although they are 7-10 (.412) when the game is played at home. However, their record is much better when they lead 1-0 in the series; they’re 15-11 overall (.577) and 9-3 (.750) when the series started at home.

Meanwhile, the Canadiens have done well historically in the second game of a series with an 82-44 record for a .651 winning percentage. When the game is played on the road, they are 24-23 (.511). However, those numbers plummet when they are trailing 1-0; overall, they have a 17-33 (.340) record, and it’s even lower on the road, where they are 9-23 (.281).

Caufield is not the only player who will be looking to bounce back in this second game. Lane Hutson, who had his worst game of the playoffs on Wednesday, will be looking for redemption in Game 2. As for the defense corps, it will have to do a better job in front of Jakub Dobes so he can see shots coming. It will be interesting to see if St-Louis decides to make any changes to his lineup. The Canadiens looked like they were getting used to the Sabres’ style of play in the third period when they dominated 11-1 in shots, but they were unable to score on Alex Lyon.

To get a better result, they’ll have to take the Sabres’ goalie’s line of sight away by putting bodies in front of the net. Of course, that’s easier said than done with Buffalo having such a big-bodied blue line that will work hard to clear the front of the net, but if the Habs battle hard enough, those big bodies will also get in Lyon’s line of sight.

Despite having good advanced stats numbers, the second line didn’t find the scoresheet, and Montreal desperately needs some offense from its top six. Ivan Demidov and Alex Newhook could do with a more offensive center on their line. Jake Evans is a good player, but he lacks a finishing touch. If the Canadiens manage to get the win tonight, they’ll come back to Montreal having won home-ice advantage, but that’s not an easy task.

Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM, and you can catch it on HBO MAX, TNT, SN, TVAS, and CBC. Jean Hebert and  Trevor Hanson are set to officiate, while Ryan Daisy and Shandor Alphonso will be the linemen. After the game, the Canadiens will finally head back to Montreal and get ready for Game 3, which is scheduled at 7:00 PM on Sunday night. 

---

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The Western Conference Semifinals shift to Orange County tonight as the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks meet in Game 3. 

My Golden Knights vs. Ducks player props are eyeing Leo Carlsson to flourish, along with Jack Eichel and Chris Kreider. 

Read more in my Golden Knights vs. Ducks predictions and NHL picks for Friday, May 8. 

Best Golden Knights vs Ducks props for Game 3

Game 3 Prop #1: Leo Carlsson Over 3.5 SOG 

+110 at BET99

Leo Carlsson continues to do his thing in these playoffs for the Anaheim Ducks. He’s notched nine points in only eight games played, and the youngster has cashed the Over in SOG in seven of eight in the postseason. 

Carlsson put four pucks on net in Games 1 and 2, and he found the back of the net in Game 2 as the Ducks walked away with a victory. In three home games in the playoffs, Carlsson is averaging 3.33 SOG. 

Game 3 Prop #2: Jack Eichel Over 0.5 assists

-140 at BET99

Jack Eichel had an impressive 63 helpers during the regular season, and he’s added another nine in the playoffs, serving as one of the Vegas Golden Knights’ top playmakers. Eichel set up his team’s lone goal in Game 2. 

The American has hit the Over in helpers in four of his last five contests, and he’s already grabbed five assists in only three road games in the playoffs. 

Game 3 Prop #3: Chris Kreider Over 0.5 assists

+175 at BET99

The Ducks got production from Chris Kreider in Game 2 as he set up one of their two goals. The winger has compiled five helpers in the postseason and three in his last three contests. Kreider notched two helpers in the series-clincher against the Edmonton Oilers at home.

In fact, he’s hit the Over in assists in two of three games at the Honda Center in the playoffs, and 21 of his 28 regular-season helpers were on home ice.

Playing on the top line with lethal finishers like Carlsson and Troy Terry, he has a really high chance of tallying another assist in Game 3. 

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The Anaheim Ducks are two games into the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, a spot not many predicted them to be in at the start of the 2025-26 season. They will bring a 1-1 series back to Orange County, where they’ll host the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday evening.

The Ducks’ path to the playoffs has been long and winding, but the personnel that has them where they are is only eclipsed in confusion by the personnel that hasn’t.

Exactly a year ago, the Ducks hired Joel Quenneville as their next head coach. In attendance at his introductory press conference were Ducks players Troy Terry, Frank Vatrano, and Ryan Strome.

The latter two surprisingly had an extremely difficult time carving a role out for themselves on the Ducks depth chart in 2025-26 after playing such prominent roles over the previous three seasons for the organization.

Ducks Prospect Tarin Smith Commits to University of Minnesota for 2026-27

Takeaways from the Ducks 3-1 Win over the Golden Knights, Series Tied 1-1

Strome entered the season with an oblique injury that cost him the first 15 games of the season for Anaheim. He only suited up for 33 games after the injury and scored just nine points (3-6=9). He was moved to the Calgary Flames at the trade deadline in exchange for a seventh-round pick.

Vatrano, like Strome, had difficulty impacting games from lower in the Ducks’ lineup for the first half of the season. He sustained a shoulder injury in late December and took some time away from the team due to personal reasons.

He played very little down the stretch of the regular season, often serving as a healthy scratch, in a greatly limited role, and finished with nine points (5-4=9) in 50 games. Vatrano is in the first year of a three-year, $18 million contract extension that, due to deferred salary, carries an AAV of $4.57 million.

Another Ducks player who has struggled mightily this season is young, talented forward Mason McTavish. McTavish endured an extended contract negotiation after coming off his ELC that lasted well into Ducks training camp.

The two sides agreed to terms on a six-year contract with a $7 million AAV, but McTavish missed roughly half of camp, setting him back when it came to learning the intricacies of a new system, a new coaching staff, and several new players. He finished the regular season with a career-low 41 points (17-24=41) in 75 games and was healthy scratched a couple of times late in the year.

Surprisingly, defenseman Ian Moore has been a staple of the fourth line, playing right wing, for the latter part of the season and was a fixture in that position in the Ducks’ opening-round six-game series win over the Edmonton Oilers.

Through the Ducks’ first eight games of the playoffs, Vatrano has yet to suit up, serving as a healthy scratch.

The Ducks lost Game 1 of each of their series, and just like he did in the first round, Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville made a last-minute lineup adjustment after running through morning skate and warmups with a seemingly set lineup for Game 2.

In the first round, it was a simple swap of first and third-line left wingers, Chris Kreider and Cutter Gauthier. In the second round, the adjustment was far more dramatic.

Again, after running through typical line rushes, Quenneville scratched Ian Moore and Mason McTavish in favor of physical forward Ross Johnston and high-motor, versatile forward Jansen Harkins.

“It’s never easy. Never an easy decision,” Quenneville said after Game 1. “It’s not punishment, it’s that we want to have more troops in this series. We think we’re going to need everybody. That was basically the reason.”

The Ducks won Game 2 by a score of 3-1, and Quenneville typically doesn’t change a winning lineup unless injury or outside circumstances dictate.

Vatrano was signed to his contract extension on Jan. 5, 2025, and McTavish signed his on Sept. 27, 2025. At the time of their signings, both players were seen as important pieces of the Ducks’ present and future. Less than 18 months later, they’re healthy scratches in the second round of the playoffs, the organization’s most important games in nine years.

The duo represents $13 million in actual annual money and an annual cap hit of $11.57 million; a lot of money was sitting in the press box for Game 1 and projects to be in Game 2 as well. Questions about their futures with the Ducks franchise moving forward are, and will likely remain, understandably in question.

Though Vatrano’s contract seems unappetizing for opposing teams coming off the year he had in 2025-26, in the three prior seasons, he scored 22, 37, and 21 goals for the Ducks. He’s 32 years old and has two years left on his contract.

The Ducks were able to move on from Strome, who was outscored by Vatrano in his first three seasons with the Ducks and had a higher cap hit, at the deadline, without having to retain. A limited free agent class could drive a team to inquire about Vatrano, and the Ducks likely wouldn’t have to part with assets or retain to move on from him.

If the Ducks intend to move on from him, McTavish’s trade value likely isn’t close to what it was at this time last year. However, his combination of youth (23 years old), size, skill, previous success, and lingering draft pedigree likely indicates it may not be completely diminished.

There is some precedent in this scenario. Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek previously moved on from Trevor Zegras when his value was at its lowest. While the trade brought back Ryan Poehling to join the roster, Eric Nilson at the 2025 Draft, and another 4th round pick on the way, it’s fair to question the timing of the deal, as seemingly more could have been had if Zegras had played any amount of games under Quenneville or Verbeek had simply waited until free agency was over and teams were more desperate to add.

This upcoming summer became far more interesting when it comes to the future of the Ducks organization, as they’ll have several high-profile decisions to make, whether that be the projected big-money extensions for Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier, extensions for RFA blueliners Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger, potentially re-signing veterans Radko Gudas, John Carlson, and Jacob Trouba, and now the futures of Frank Vatrano and Mason McTavish.

For the Ducks at this present moment, their focus is presumably narrowed on the current task at hand: success in their second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights.

It can be assumed that the second the Ducks’ season is over, Verbeek will be one of the busier GMs in the NHL, as he aims to further build on this season’s success and flesh out the roster on their journey to becoming a perennial Cup-contending team for the foreseeable future.

The Ducks’ contending window is now fully open, and a multitude of high-profile decisions are on the ever-nearing horizon.

Anaheim Ducks Rival Sharks to Draft Second Overall

Beckett Sennecke Calder Trophy Finalist

Takeaways from the Ducks 3-1 Loss to the Golden Knights, Vegas Leads Series 1-0

Early in the morning on Friday, it was announced by Metallurg of the KHL that Roman Kantserov would terminate his contract in an effort to come to North America to play in the National Hockey League with the Chicago Blackhawks. 

Kantserov had one of the best seasons by a 21-year-old (or younger) in the KHL. He led the league with 36 goals in 63 games while also showing off his ability to be tenacious and strong on every single shift he takes. 

⚡️ Спасибо, Роман!

ОФИЦИАЛЬНО: хоккейный клуб «Металлург» и нападающий Роман Канцеров расторгли контракт. Форвард принял решение о продолжении карьеры в системе команды НХЛ «Чикаго Блэкхокс».#Металлург#Магнитогорск#ММК#Братьяпоогнюpic.twitter.com/cbYS3hXq3l

— ХК «Металлург» (@MetallurgMgn) May 8, 2026

It is unclear what positions Anton Frondell and Frank Nazar will play in 2026-27, but Kantserov is sure to play on the wing in the top six alongside one of them or Connor Bedard. Right away, thanks to his ability to score in bunches, it should be an improved group simply based on his addition alone. 

The Blackhawks selected Kantserov in the second round (44th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft. Now they have convinced him to leave his KHL squad to pursue opportunities in the world's best hockey league. 

Kantserov will turn 22 just ahead of the 2026-27 season, so he fits in perfectly with his future teammates, who are all young and ready to take a step in their development. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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It’s go time for the Montreal Canadiens after losing the series opener to the Buffalo Sabres, and the two Atlantic Division foes go toe-to-toe at the KeyBank Center for Game 2 on Friday, May 8.

My top Canadiens vs. Sabres NHL players props and NHL picks have you covered for the action and are headlined by Montreal winger Ivan Demidov.

Best Canadiens vs Sabres props for Game 2

Game 2 Prop #1: Ivan Demidov Over 0.5 points

-110 at BET99

Montreal Canadiens rookie Ivan Demidov was solid in Game 1, and we’re landing a good price on the uber-talented scorer to mark the scoresheet again tonight.

Demidov skated on a new-look line with Jake Evans and Alex Newhook at five-on-five in the series opener, and the trio paced the Habs in both Corsi For percentage (57.3%) and expected goals percentage (60.3%).

Perhaps, even more importantly, Demidov is a go-to puck distributor on the No. 1 power-play unit and has averaged 4:52 of ice time with the man advantage this postseason.

Game 2 Prop #2: Alex Lyon Over 2.5 goals against

+100 at BET99

Hats off to Alex Lyon for backstopping the Buffalo Sabres with an otherworldly .950 save percentage and 1.023 goals saved above expected per 60 minutes across six postseason starts because he’s staring statistical correction right in the eye.

After all, he posted respective .906 and 0.380 marks across 36 regular-season games.

The Canadiens were also incredibly resilient in Round 1 and bounced back with three or more goals following two of their three losses to the Tampa Bay Lightning. I also value the Habs continuing to push in Game 1 in the third period by posting a 64.7 CF% at 5-on-5 and overall 61.4 xGF%.

Game 2 Prop #3: Conor Timmins Over 1.5 blocked shots

+110 at BET99

Sabres defenseman Conor Timmins’ ice time has increased in five consecutive games, and most importantly, he’s jumping the boards with the No. 1 penalty-kill unit and paces the club in blocked shots while shorthanded.

The Montreal Canadiens are going to have a push back in Game 2, as well, so I’m anticipating the Habs funnelling more pucks to the net.

Montreal has also drawn 44 penalties across eight postseason games while averaging a healthy 6:11 of power-play time per game.

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2026 NHL mock draft roundup: Early Bruins first-round pick predictions originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery could not have unfolded worse for the Boston Bruins.

Not only did the Bruins not get the Maple Leafs’ first-round pick to complete the Brandon Carlo trade from 2025, Toronto actually won the lottery and will pick No. 1 overall. The Leafs now have the opportunity to draft top prospect Gavin McKenna, who could be an elite forward for a long time.

The Bruins will eventually get a first-round pick from the Maple Leafs as part of the Carlo trade, but it won’t be until 2027 or 2028.

The B’s do have their own first-round pick, though. The draft order after the lottery is not yet final, but Boston’s first-rounder should be in the low-20s.

What positions do the Bruins need to upgrade with their 2026 first-round selection? The blue line is one specific area that must be bolstered in the very near future.

If you were to make a list of the Bruins’ top 10 prospects, it would be hard to put any defenseman on there. Maybe Frederic Brunet would be No. 9 or No. 10, but you could easily put a forward or two ahead of him. Simply put, there are no top-tier defenseman prospects in Boston’s system right now.

The Bruins have made three first-round picks and three second-round picks over the last five drafts, and only one of those selections was a defenseman — Liam Pettersson from Sweden in Round 2 last year. The Bruins prioritized upgrading at center the last couple years, which was absolutely the right move given their lack of high-end talent at that position following Patrice Bergeron’s retirement in 2023.

Now it’s time to switch it up a bit, if possible. The 2026 draft class is loaded with exciting defenseman prospects, but most of them are going to be off the board in the first 15 or so picks. That’s one reason why it was pretty disappointing for the Bruins to not land the Maple Leafs’ 2026 first-rounder.

If there aren’t any defenseman worth taking in the early 20s when the Bruins are on the clock in Round 1, then they should just take the best player available. The Bruins’ propsect pool has improved a lot in just the last year, but it’s not in a place where the team should be drafting for need if there are much better players available at other positions.

Which players should the Bruins target with their first-round pick? Here’s a roundup of mock drafts after this week’s Draft Lottery.

Scott Wheeler, The Athletic: Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown (USHL)

“Hextall isn’t a sexy, flashy, offensive first-rounder, but he’s well-liked and well-respected around the USHL and NHL, and widely viewed as a first-rounder for a lot of the same reasons Command is: a heavy stick, pro habits and details, position, etc. He’s got some big backers, and I could see the Bruins being interested in him as a potential future middle-six center behind James Hagens. I think he goes in the 20s or early 30s somewhere.”

Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff: Mathis Preston, RW, Vancouver Giants (WHL)

“Preston would be a great pick here. Preston’s strong showing at the U-18s helped Preston boost his stock in a big way. He finished with six points in five games while being one of the team’s top all-around offensive threats. He was a puck-possession machine, and he consistently got the puck into high-danger areas.

“Preston is an undeniably talented player who could become a top-six threat down the line. Preston has a remarkable shot and often wastes no time firing in the back of the net from the slot. His shot looks NHL-ready right now.”

Hannah Stuart, Bleacher Report: JP Hurlbert, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

“Hurlbert’s vision and offensive instincts are unquestionably high-end; he finished the WHL regular season with 97 points in 68 games and added 3 more points in 4 playoff games. Play away from the puck was a concern, but the back half of the season looked much better.

“The main concern for Hurlbert is whether his offensive game can translate to higher levels of play. Improving physicality and poise under pressure would go a long way toward reassuring us of that. The NCAA environment could be a good place to push those elements of his game this fall.”

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

Who might the Devils be able to acquire using the No. 12 pick in this year’s draft? A look at some names to consider: [New Jersey Hockey Now]

Hockey Links

Norris finalists:

The James Norris Memorial Trophy finalists are in! 🏆 #NHLAwards

The trophy is presented annually to the defenseman who demonstrates the greatest all-around ability at the position. pic.twitter.com/krWLsUybFh

— NHL (@NHL) May 7, 2026

Payroll range is official:

NHL officially informs teams of the 2026-27 Salary cap and payroll range:

Floor: $76.9M
Midpoint: $90.4M
Ceiling: $104M

Maximum salary: $20.8M

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 6, 2026

A look at each of the lottery teams and the case for each of them trading their pick ahead of the draft: [The Athletic ($)]

A look at some of the underrated performers in the Stanley Cup Playoffs thus far: [The Hockey News]

“Wedgewood, now on the Stanley Cup favorite Colorado Avalanche and holding a 2-0 series lead against the Minnesota Wild, has emerged as one of the best stories of these playoffs. Over the past decade, the 33-year-old has gone from an AHL-NHL tweener to someone who looked like a career backup to a starter on one of the best regular-season teams in NHL history. Through it all, he has impressed those around him by maintaining the same outgoing, charming demeanor.” [The Athletic ($)]

“Mikko Rantanen sustained a torn MCL in his knee during the Olympics, an injury that Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill says kept their standout forward from being himself the rest of the season.” [Associated Press]

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have plenty of promising prospects in their system. One of them is goaltender Sergei Murashov, as he has the potential to blossom into a very good NHL goaltender.

Murashov played in first five NHL games this season with Pittsburgh, where he had a 1-1-2 record, an .897 save percentage, and a 2.56 goals-against average. This included him recording a 21-save shutout against the Nashville Predators on Nov. 16. 

Murashov was excellent down in the AHL this regular-season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In 38 games with the AHL club, he had a 24-9-4 record, a .919 save percentage, a 2.20 goals-against average, and four shutouts. He also has a .920 save percentage in three playoff games this spring.

With how well Murashov has been performing at the AHL level, there is no question that he is a prime breakout candidate to watch next season. There is a very good chance that the 22-year-old goaltender will get more opportunities at the NHL level with Pittsburgh next season, and he certainly has the potential to take advantage of it.

It will be interesting to see if Murashov can hit a new level for the Penguins next season. When looking at how well he continues to play, it is hard to bet against him. 

Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning…

The Penguins re-signed forward Connor Dewar to a two-year deal and defenseman Ilya Solovyov to a one-year contract, the team announced on Thursday. [PensBurgh]

Hooks has compiled a list of players he is revisiting now that the 2025-26 is in the rearview mirror. These players’ futures remain something of an uncertainty, including Owen Pickering, Ville Koivunen, Tommy Novak, Arturs Silovs, and Tristan Broz. Each showed flashes of potential this season, but questions about consistency and NHL readiness remain heading into next year. [PensBurgh]

How well did the Penguins do in their attempt to get younger during the 2025-26 season? Without committing to a full rebuild, Kyle Dubas and Dan Muse integrated 14 players age 24 or younger while still leaning heavily on veterans. There were promising contributors like Ben Kindel and Egor Chinakhov, while also some concerning developments regarding the aforementioned Pickering and the since-departed Samuel Poulin. [PensBurgh]

Defenseman Connor Clifton and forward Tommy Novak have been selected for Team USA’s roster ahead of the upcoming IIHF World Championship tournament. [Trib Live]

Forward prospect Bill Zonnon signed an amateur tryout agreement with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the remainder of this season. [Trib Live]

Rickard Rakell thinks the Penguins are capable of winning a championship, still believing in the team’s veteran core and improved stretches of play as reasons for optimism. [Trib Live]

News and notes from around the NHL…

Buffalo Sabres blueliner Rasmus Dahlin, Colordo Avalanche superstar Cale Makar, and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski were named finalists for the Norris Trophy. [TSN]

Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill revealed that Mikko Rantanen played through a torn MCL suffered while representing Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, which limited his effectiveness for the remainder of the season. [Sportsnet]

Carolina Hurricanes (53-22-7, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (43-27-12, in the Metropolitan Division)

Philadelphia; Saturday, 6 p.m. EDT

LINE: Hurricanes -188, Flyers +156; over/under is 5.5

NHL PLAYOFFS SECOND ROUND: Hurricanes lead series 3-0

BOTTOM LINE: The Carolina Hurricanes visit the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round of the NHL Playoffs with a 3-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Thursday for the eighth time this season. The Hurricanes won 4-1 in the last meeting.

Philadelphia is 43-27-12 overall and 16-13-6 against the Metropolitan Division. The Flyers are 38-7-4 in games they score three or more goals.

Carolina has a 53-22-7 record overall and a 23-4-2 record in Metropolitan Division games. The Hurricanes have a 29-6-3 record in games they have fewer penalties than their opponent.

TOP PERFORMERS: Travis Konecny has scored 27 goals with 41 assists for the Flyers. Bobby Brink has four assists over the last 10 games.

Nikolaj Ehlers has 26 goals and 45 assists for the Hurricanes. Jackson Blake has two goals and seven assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Flyers: 5-4-1, averaging 2.3 goals, 3.7 assists, 7.3 penalties and 19.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.2 goals per game.

Hurricanes: 9-0-1, averaging 2.9 goals, 5.7 assists, 6.3 penalties and 14.8 penalty minutes while giving up 1.2 goals per game.

INJURIES: Flyers: Owen Tippett: day to day (undisclosed), Noah Cates: out (lower body), Rodrigo Abols: out (ankle), Nikita Grebenkin: out (upper body).

Hurricanes: None listed.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

One of the central topics of discussion on locker cleanout day last week was which Pittsburgh Penguins could, potentially, take the opportunity to represent their respective countries at the IIHF World Championship. 

And it looks like at least two of them are headed to Switzerland. 

On Thursday, the Penguins announced that forward Tommy Novak and defenseman Connor Clifton would both be representing Team USA for the tournament, which takes place from May 15-31 in Zurich and Fribourg. It will be the first appearance at the IIHF World Championship for both players, who had previously represented Team USA at the junior and under-18 levels. 

Novak, 29, registered 16 goals and 42 points in 82 games for the Penguins this season, which was his first full season in Pittsburgh after being dealt to the Penguins from the Nashville Predators before the 2025 NHL trade deadline. It's the third time in his NHL career that he recorded 40 points in a season, and he spent a good chunk of his season centering Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov on the second line.

Clifton, 31, is a pending unrestricted free agent and was dealt to Pittsburgh from the Buffalo Sabres during last summer's NHL Draft. Known for his physicality, Clifton led the Penguins in hits with 180 despite playing in only 50 games, and he had two goals and six points in those 50 games. 

The preliminary round for Team USA kicks off on May 15 when they face Switzerland.

Is This The Summer For The Penguins To Trade Their First-Round Pick? After an expectations-defying 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins are picking later in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft - and it could open up some opportunities in the trade market this summer.

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