ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Blues tried their darndest. Oh, did they ever.

They tried to overcome near impossible odds to break the door down to the Western Conference playoff race for a second straight season.

But in the end, it was just too much to overcome this year. Living on the edge, in the end, is not the way to go, to be honest.

The Blues got into the tournament as the second wild card in large part to a franchise-record 12-game winning streak, and even then, they squeaked in past the Calgary Flames by winning on the final day of the regular season and getting in on the first tiebreaker with one more regulation win (32-31).

They were 14 points out of the wild card heading into the Olympic break but were able to get as close as three points as late as April 5 but finally ran out of steam, before finishing this season 37-33-12, four points behind the Los Angeles Kings.

So why are the Blues of the past two seasons so good late but so poor early?

“It’s kind of hard to say what really caused it,” Blues forward Jordan Kyrou said. “I think that’s something as a team internally, we’ve got to talk to each other about and find out as a group and then obviously down the stretch after the break, we kind of found our footing a little bit. We started to play kind of how we wanted as a team and kind of to our identity.”

Let’s look at the numbers by month of the past two seasons:

* October – 8-13-2

* November – 12-10-5

* December – 13-12-3

* January – 9-16-1

* February – 7-4-2

* March – 22-4-3

* April – 9-4-2

So October-January, the team is 42-51-11, and once the clock turns and they go to February-April, the Blues are 38-12-7.

And after bulldozing their way into the playoffs last season and expectations rising to a level of at least competing for the playoffs once again. And losing in the fashion that they did in Game 7 of the first round against the Winnipeg Jets, there should have been a summer’s worth of motivation to come in with their skates on fire.

It never happened.

“Disappointing I would say,” Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said. “I thought we were, based on the second half of last season and then the playoffs, I thought we had progressed to a spot where we would be more competitive out of the gate. Obviously our first half of the season was not to the standard that we had hoped for, made us re-assess our short term and maybe medium-term plans, not our long-term plans. I would say that I thought that we would be a better team.”

Coach Jim Montgomery added, “Poor start, and then I would say not being able to find solutions early enough to be able to get on the right path was very frustrating, for everybody involved, and we all need to be significantly better. We all need to change and affect change within ourselves, and that’s not easy to do, whether it’s your training habits, it’s your attitude, it’s your mindset. All of those things need to be different for us to get off to a better start. It’s two years in a row that I’ve been accustomed to what’s happened here. I don’t know what happened in the two years prior to that, but they were non-playoff years as well. Getting off to a better start and trying to find the attitudes and the mindsets that we’ve had in the last two months of the season in the last two years, not because of results, but because the mindsets and the attitudes were significantly different.”

Montgomery used a word there that’s key to everything: attitude.

Why is it that this particular group, and it likely won’t look exactly the same as the one that ended the season against the Utah Mammoth, doesn’t view October-January games like it does February-April?

Those games mean the same on Oct. 28 mean exactly the same as the ones played on April 5, and that’s attitude, and until that changes, the Blues are going to be the same group that disappoints early, gets the fans’ hopes up late, only to more times than not, come up short.

“Attitude’s the most important thing,” Montgomery said. “All of us have to be willing to do the right things on a consistent level and it’s got to be an attitude of, I believe it’s a Truman quote that it’s not who gets the praise but it’s the common good of the group that succeeds. It doesn’t matter who gets the credit for the success. It matters who’s doing the work together to create the success, and that needs to be the attitude by everybody, and I’m not just talking players.

“I don’t care of you drive the Zamboni. Drive the Zamboni the best way that you can and make sure you don’t miss a line. Those are the kind of attitudes that we’ve got to make sure everyone’s having.”

Armstrong agreed.

“Yeah, there has to be a reckoning of what happened and how it happened and make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said. “I’m not talking about the wins and losses, it’s just our attitude of how we came to work every day. I shared with some people today, the groups that I have worked with that have had success loved the grind. They loved the challenge. They loved the adversity. They couldn’t wait for it. They thrived under it. They wanted someone to punch them in the mouth so they could respond. That’s what you’re seeing (from) 16 teams playing now that had that and we are not one of them today.”

So how do they change it?

“I think it’s preparation, but I think guys got to truly sink into that,” said Blues forward Dylan Holloway, who ripped off 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) the final 25 games of the season. “It’s not that guys aren’t prepared, per se. Everybody’s working all summer, everyone’s training hard, but I think more mentally, it’s kind of like, ‘OK, we start on this day’ like mentally. I think mentally we’ve got to take it back a little bit and truly like be mentally prepared for the season because like you said, we got off to two slow starts. But for me, it’s not like this team doesn’t have the capability to be an elite team, to be a playoff team. It’s just kind of finding that consistency more and the start’s huge.”

The Blues never had more than a four-game winning streak this past season. That’s part of the consistency that was missing for large swaths. Last season, they were the last team to reel off a three-game winning streak. This season, they never won more than two games in a row until the first of three four-game streaks starting March 1-6.

The harsh reality of having to sit at Enterprise Center this past Saturday and think about why they failed really set in.

“I think it starts with training camp,” Armstrong said. “And it’s going to be interesting because we’re all going into a new training camp format. We’re down to four (preseason) games, it’s two weeks, there’s a lot of pressure on the players to show up in great shape. The nagging training camp injuries you see are going to bleed into the first and second week of the season now. So players are going to have to skate harder in the summer, they’re going to have to take care of themselves, they’re going to have to have leadership practices that are almost NHL practices. You can’t have sore groins and sore backs like you could when Bernie [Federko] was playing. You have to show up ready, so I think that’s going to be a main focus and then I think respecting the league. Understand that it’s a very difficult league and if you’re not prepared mentally and physically to play, you’re going to fall back and I think our mental toughness has to improve. Our ability to turn the page quickly, I think we hung onto things organizationally too long and they dragged into the second game, the third game, and then I think we didn’t get grounded quick enough after a couple of wins. It felt like it took us five years to win multiple games in a row there for a while. We didn’t have that mental resolve that playoff-caliber teams have.”

Montgomery wasn’t around for the off-season going into the 2024-25 season but was last year. It was his first full camp as the coach and understands when players report, there will be no easing into camp.

“There’s a couple of things you can do. I’ve always been a coach that looks to get the team off to a … pace is really important in camp, I’m just talking about training camp,” Montgomery said. “I think training camp bleeds into … players got to do their work to be in great shape and be ready to go and having done improvements in their games on their own in the summer because they’re not under our guide at that time. When you start the year, training camp, I always believe you build the whole, which means five-man groups and you get off to pace and you start to build the details and habits within that. The finer points, they have to teach individuals. You build that as you go along. So you start with a whole, then you build the small parts, and then you go back to the whole. That has usually driven a lot of success, but I would say my last two training camps, that hasn’t happened. So now I’m going to be looking at those habits and details starting with the small parts and that requires a lot more gruntwork, a lot more grind on the players. It means camp’s going to be harder, but that’s the way it needs to be. We need to change things in order … to affect change, you need to change. So that’s the things I’m looking at to affect change.

“After being done with the year-end meetings with the players and getting their perspective on some of the questions that you guys are asking, I’m asking them pointedly, ‘What will they do to affect change?’ I told you guys that. Then I’ve got to start looking for assistant coaches. Then it’s going to be working a lot with ‘Steener’ on how we see the team, not only playing, how we’re going to make our team have a better camp. All those things, him and I need to discuss ad nauseum because it’s really important that we have a great summer. In order to have a great start, you have to have a great summer. It starts right away. For us, that’s this week.”

The players get the long off-season to reflect but they’ve really got to dig into it and understand that the status quo isn’t nearly good enough.

“I think we’ve all got to really reflect on it,” said Blues forward Robert Thomas, who also ended the season on fire with 31 points (14 goals, 17 assists) in 22 games. “Obviously it’s been something that’s happened the last two years in a row. I think a lot of opinions and stuff should be kept private and handled inside. After those conversations happen, I think we can all come together and kind of voice our opinions and plans on how we’re going to change that.”

And just just change one thing, it’s change plenty, because early this season, goaltending was poor, defensive play was poor, the offense was lacking consistency and special teams were bad.

“Obviously everybody strives to get into the playoffs and go for a run,” Blues defenseman Philip Broberg said. “Obviously sitting here, it’s disappointing. We didn’t get (off) to a good start to the season and then we kind of got going. But I think it was pretty disappointing to not make the playoffs for sure.”

But as much as the Blues need to change with their attitude towards Game 1 to 84 – yes, 84 next season, Holloway wants to make one thing clear.

“Our culture in the room is amazing,” he said. “I feel like everybody’s friends with everybody, everybody talks to everybody. The guys go for dinner with everybody. It’s a rare thing to have as tight of a group as we do. It was weird like that to start. I feel like everybody thought that we were going to get off to a hot start and it was just going to continue from where we were last year and then when that didn’t happen, it was kind of a shock to everyone. It took us a little bit to get it back together and then when we did, you can see how good hockey that we did play. I think the goal going into next season is to find that right away.”

Jordan Kyrou's Down Season Raises Trade Questions Again; Should Two Sides Seek Fresh Start Or Refocus On Coming Back Better, Stronger?Forward had lowest output in goals, points since 2020-21, remains committed to St. Louis; team also remains committed -- for nowIf Robert Thomas Was Available For Trade Before, He Shouldn't Have Been, Nor Should Be Moving ForwardSt. Louis Blues' No. 1 center found game again down stretch for second straight season, formulated team's No. 1 line with play with Dylan Holloway, Jimmy Snuggerud; but 26-year-old wants to hear management's plans moving forward despite four years left on contractWhat Does Dylan Holloway's Next Contract Look Like For St. Louis Blues?Forward who overcame torn abductor muscle, high ankle sprain within past year, set to become restricted free agent July 1, but unlike Philip Broberg, Doug Armstrong more open-ended regarding 24-year-old's contractJordan Binnington Keeping Open Mind Regarding FutureSt. Louis Blues Stanley Cup-winning goalie wants to discuss future team plans with GM-in-waiting Alexander Steen, management team with one year remaining on current contractBlues' AHL Affiliate Goes From Awful Start To Calder Cup PlayoffsFrom tough beginning to coaching change to Steve Ott, Springfield Thunderbirds to face Charlotte in best-of-3 series starting Wednesday

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After the Bruins melted down in the last eight minutes of Game 1, Marco Sturm and several of the players cited a desire to learn from the experience and move forward for Game 2.

Tonight’s last seven minutes showed they learned a thing or two—but not quite enough to avoid nearly giving their fans a collective heart attack in the process.

After taking a 4-0 lead into the final half of the third period, the B’s held on down the stretch to skate out of Buffalo with a 4-2 win and a series even at a game apiece.

Viktor Arvidsson scored twice for the Bruins, while Pavel Zacha and Morgan Geekie added one goal each.

Jeremy Swayman was immense for the Bruins, making 34 saves, including 18 in the third period alone.

Buffalo scored twice in a span of 1:14 in the last few minutes of the third period, raising blood pressures across New England, but Swayman made a few more saves and the Bruins emerged with the win.

Exhale.

After a scoreless first period, Arvidsson got the scoring started five minutes into the second period to make it 1-0 Bruins.

Geekie doubled the lead ten minutes later, beating Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with a hiiiiiiiiiiiiigh fly ball from center ice to make it 2-0 Bruins. As Judd Sirott said on NESN, “E-1” for Luukkonen.

Zacha capped a sterling second period for the Bruins with a tip-in on the power play to make it 3-0 Bruins with 1:50 left in the period.

Arvidsson would get his second just 16 seconds into the third period, beating Luukkonen clean with a wrist shot on the rush to make it 4-0 Bruins.

Bowen Byram gave the Sabres life with 6:06 left in the third period, making it 4-1 Bruins.

Peyton Krebs would add another for Buffalo (with the goalie pulled) a little more than a minute later, making it 4-2 Bruins, as Sabres fans were thinking about another crazy comeback.

Buffalo would continue to push in the last five minutes, but the Bruins held on (for dear life, at times).

Bruins win, 4-2.

Game notes

• Aren’t the playoffs fun? As a few of you said in the comments, that was probably the most nerve-wracking two-goal win I can remember for quite some time, especially given what happened at the end of Game 1.
• Speaking of the playoffs, it was funny to see Buffalo getting really angry about a penalty call on Connor Timmins, only for the penalty to be as clear as day. “It’s the f***ing playoffs” generally doesn’t excuse a crosscheck to the neck, but maybe I’m just sensitive.
• This game featured plenty of rough stuff, with Mark Kastelic fighting Logan Stanley (one of you fine commenters told us prior to the series this would happen at some point) and ten-minute misconducts for Nikita Zadorov, Andrew Peeke, Tage Thompson, and Zach Benson. In total, the game featured 94 penalty minutes, split evenly at 47 each for both teams.
• The Sabres seemed to be seeking opportunities to “accidentally on purpose” make contact with Swayman, with Buffalo players running into the Bruins goalie multiple times in the first half of the first period alone. Something to file away, I guess, and something Zadorov noted postgame.
• Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy had monster nights for the Bruins, skating 27:40 and 27:22, respectively. Some of that was due to the third period misconducts for Peeke and Zadorov, but it was also evidence of Sturm leaning on his two most dependable defenders.
• Swayman grabbed the bull by the horns and told his coaches to call a timeout after the second Buffalo goal, something Sturm failed to do to stem the tide in Game 1.
• After a bad game in Game 1, the Bruins got a much better performance from their second line tonight. Arvidsson’s two goals get the headlines (along with Zacha’s, though that was on the power play), but they were much more involved across the board (in a good way) than they were in Game 1.
• Arvidsson’s first goal came via a backhand that beat Luukkonen. In the first period, Arvidsson skated onto a loose puck for a mini-breakaway after coming out of the penalty box. Because he was in tight, he elected to hold onto the puck and go forehand, only for Luukkonen to make the save. I can’t help but wonder if that was on his mind when he went backhand on the second opportunity.
• Speaking of mini-breakaways, tonight saw a few more (mini or standard) for the B’s, coming on the heels of a few breakaway opportunities in Game 1. I’m not sure if the Bruins are a making a conscious effort to try to sneak behind the Buffalo D or if it’s a circumstantial thing.
• While they didn’t end up on the scoresheet, the Bruins’ third line had another good night. Fraser Minten, Marat Khusnutdinov, and James Hagens were involved in a good way, creating a handful of half-decent chances and generally bringing positive energy. Hagens did take a stick foul penalty with nine minutes left in the third period, but I’d imagine Sturm won’t hold that against him when looking at the big picture.
• Along with the aforementioned fight, Kastelic also had four shots on goal and won more than 71% of his face-offs. The Bruins had a much better face-off night in general, winning 36 out of the game’s 66 draws.
• David Pastrnak had two assists tonight, giving him 1G-4A-5PTS in the first two games of this series. He’s now tied with Bobby Orr for eight in all-time franchise playoff scoring.

Game 3 will be at TD Garden on Thursday night. That game is slated for a 7 PM start (not 7:30), so plan accordingly.

The San Jose Sharks have been linked to Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly by insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period. Sharks general manager Mike Grier has been clear about his desire to improve on the blue line this offseason, but what would the long-time Maple Leaf bring to the Sharks?

In short, Rielly is an offensive defenseman who can help on the power play, although his offensive numbers have taken a considerable step backward under the current Maple Leafs head coach, Craig Berube. He’s not the type of defenseman who will help the Sharks keep the puck out of the net and improve their goals-against, which was third-worst in the league this past season. 

Fit in the Lineup

At this stage in his career, it’s hard to imagine Rielly as a true number one defenseman. He can be a reliable option on the second pairing, but it seems that he’s struggled in a top-pair role for the Maple Leafs as of late. 

Back in January, my colleague Adam Proteau wrote, “Rielly has clearly regressed this season. He's a team-worst minus-13 despite having 26 points in 42 games. You can chalk up some of that to averaging 21:55 of ice time, but compare that to McCabe, who is averaging 22:01 and is a plus-26 while chipping in 16 points, and you can see why Leafs fans have grown tired of Rielly's subpar defensive play.”

The Toronto Maple Leafs Lack A True No. 1 DefensemanToronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly's struggles in his own zone highlight a glaring defensive void for the Buds. And it's now painfully obvious the Leafs have lacked a true No. 1 blueliner in the Auston Matthews Era.

Rielly finished the season with 11 goals and 36 points while playing in 78 games for the Maple Leafs, his lowest total since the 2020-21 season when he had 35 points in 55 games. The one bright side for him offensively this season was his goal-scoring. 11 goals were the most that he’s scored since the 2018-19 season, when he hit the 20-goal plateau for the only time in his career. 

Although Rielly has occasionally filled in on the penalty kill when necessary, he’s certainly not reliable enough in his own zone to be counted on regularly in that regard. 

As a second-pairing puck-mover and power play specialist, he could be an effective player. If he’s used as a top-pairing player and given the most difficult defensive assignments, he’ll struggle mightily. Currently, that would leave Dmitry Orlov as the Sharks’ top defenseman if Rielly slotted into the second pairing; however, Grier will likely make additional moves that could move either of them down the lineup.

A Hefty Contract

The biggest concern with Rielly at this stage of his career will undoubtedly be his contract. He’s signed through the 2029-30 season with an average annual value of $7.5 million. The Sharks could undoubtedly handle that contract now, and the rising salary cap will help prevent it from becoming an issue later on down the line. With that being said, players like Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and quite a few others are going to be due for pay raises in the near future, which could quickly eat up cap space. 

The main concern with an offensive defenseman in their early-to-mid 30s with a big contract is simply a fear of regression. Their legs can slow down at any moment, and they can lose a step without much warning. With that being said, Rielly is still a very quick player. His maximum skating speed during the 2025-26 season was 22.71 miles per hour, which puts him in the 87th percentile around the NHL. 

Shooting Tendency and Leadership

One area in which Rielly has shown some regression over the years is his shot. While he’s never been known for having the hardest shot, his fastest shot during the 2025-26 season was 87.13 miles per hour, according to NHL Edge. That’s a reduction of four miles per hour from his fastest shot the season before, and 12 miles per hour slower than his all-time fastest recorded shot from the 2021-22 season. His average shot power is also below league average for a defenseman, and he has a tendency to pass on taking one-timers from the point. 

On the other hand, Rielly has been a key member of the Maple Leafs’ leadership group for many years. It was often praised earlier in his career, and he’s been an alternate captain for Toronto since the 2016-17 season. As a result, he could be a good mentor for the Sharks’ young players, especially a young offensive defenseman like Sam Dickinson. He should also, on paper, fit the locker room culture that the Sharks have been building as of late. 

Ultimately, like with every player, there are positives and negatives for the Sharks if they were to acquire Morgan Rielly. There’s the risk of his age, his contract, and his shot as well. On the other hand, he’s a leader who has maintained his footspeed to this point in his career and could help fill the role as a puck-moving defenseman, something the Sharks certainly need at this point. It remains to be seen if this is the type of move Mike Grier will pull the trigger on over the summer, but it certainly is an interesting idea to ponder at the very least.

What Makes Collin Graf a Good Complement For Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith? While Macklin Celebrini’s record-breaking sophomore season and Will Smith’s growth received the majority of the attention around the San Jose Sharks this season, Collin Graf quietly showed his value on their wing and on the penalty kill. Zack Ostapchuk Making Himself "Super Important" to Sharks' FutureThe contributions of fourth-line forwards often go under the radar. They rarely show up on the scoresheet, but their hard work and determination earn the respect of their teammates and players around the league. Zack Ostapchuk may not have started the season in the NHL with the San Jose Sharks, but he proved his value to the team when he earned his opportunity.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — J.J. Moser scored 12:48 into overtime to give the Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night, tying the first-round playoff series at 1-1.

The series shifts to Montreal for two games, with Game 3 set for Friday night. Game 4 is Sunday.

Brandon Hagel had a Gordie Howe hat trick with a goal, assist and a fight, and teammate Nikita Kucherov also scored for Tampa Bay. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 25 shots.

The Lightning had lost four consecutive home playoff games and 10 of the past 11, dating to Game 4 against Colorado in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.

Lane Hutson and Josh Anderson scored for the Canadiens. Jakub Dobes finished with 31 saves.

BRUINS 4, SABRES 2

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Morgan Geekie bounced in a shot from beyond center as part of Boston’s three-goal second-period surge and the Bruins beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-2 to even their first-round playoff series at 1 on Tuesday night.

Viktor Arvidsson scored twice and Pavel Zacha also scored. David Pastrnak had two assists to give him five points in the series and tie Bobby Orr for eighth on the Bruins career playoff list with 92 points.

Jeremy Swayman stopped 32 shots, and this time Boston managed to not blow a multigoal third-period lead.

Bowen Byram and Peyton Krebs scored 1:14 apart to cut Boston’s lead to 4-2 with 4:52 remaining in regulation before being stymied by Swayman, who stopped the final eight shots he faced.

The series shifts to Boston for Game 3 on Thursday night.

After a 4-3 overtime win in Game 1, the Montreal Canadiens were back at it on Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Martin St-Louis’ men were hoping to win a second game in a row and take a 2-0 lead back to Montreal. Jon Cooper had laid his cards on the table, inserting Scott Sabourin in his lineup, a clear sign that the Bolts were coming in with the intention to create some mayhem.

Meanwhile, Martin St-Louis stuck to his guns, making no changes to his winning lineup. After all, why change a winning formula?

Canadiens And Anderson Earn Big Praise From Tkachuk
Canadiens' Nick Suzuki Predicted To Win Top Award
Canadiens: Round 2 In Tampa For Arber Xhekaj & Scott Sabourin?

Playing Smart

After the first game, Cooper didn’t hesitate to call his players’ play stupid because they took several penalties in the offensive zone, and one has to say they didn’t act any smarter in Game 2. Right from the get-go, Sabourin was running after Josh Anderson, trying to bait him into dropping the gloves. It made sense given how much of an impact the power forward had on proceedings in the first duel, but he just brushed him off, avoiding the trap laid by the Bolts. Needless to say, had they dropped the gloves and been sent to the box for five minutes, the Canadiens would have suffered a much bigger loss.

Later in the first frame, it was Corey Perry who tried to bait Alexandre Carrier into fighting. The Tampa agitator dropped his gloves and tried his hardest to get the Canadiens defenseman to dance, but he wouldn’t, despite mayhem breaking all around them. As a result, the Bolts got an extra penalty, and the Habs were able to tie up the game.

Anderson Comes Up Clutch…Again

Tampa Bay tried to concentrate a bit more on hockey in the second frame and dominated in shots with 11 to the Canadiens’ nine, but St-Louis’ men were the only ones to find the back of the net, through Anderson, who scored for a second game in a row. The Habs patiently played the game in front of them, taking no unnecessary risks and pouncing when the time was right.

After 40 minutes, Anderson had four of the Canadiens 21 shots, more than any other Hab. While much of the chatter ahead of this series was about the Habs being a one-line team, their defence-first and fourth line scored in both games, this time getting the better of the Bolts’ third line featuring Yanni Gourde, Nick Paul and Zemgus Girgensons.

Nikita Kucherov - Tampa Bay Lightning (1)* pic.twitter.com/mN2v54yRw3

— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) April 22, 2026

Slafkovsky Answered The Bell

It’s not Juraj Slafkovsky’s job to drop the gloves, but when Brandon Hagel challenged him, he answered the bell. It was obvious that the power forward didn’t have much experience in that department, but he was still able to throw a couple of good hits before Hagel connected with his chin, sending him down to the ice. Still, the former first-overall pick jumped right back up, in time to throw another punch. One could say he took it on the chin literally and moved on.

💙💙Brandon Hagel💙💙
is the best!

Nite Nite Slafkovsky😴💤 https://t.co/kltIJ6bFV7

— 🏀CurlyCat4UK🏀 (@CurlyCat4UK) April 22, 2026

A Missed Opportunity

With just two minutes left on the boards, Cooper sent out Sabourin, who blindsided Anderson with a hit in the lower back. The refs called a five-minute major, then reviewed the play and gave him a two-minute minor. The Canadiens were unable to capitalize on the power play, and the game went to overtime.

They downgraded this to a two, which is probably fair, but what a dirtbag hit by Sabourin.

Exact same thing Kucherov did that they didn't call, by the way. pic.twitter.com/uOGJlOrBDM

— Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) April 22, 2026

One-Sided Finish

While the Canadiens had a good game, the overtime belonged to the Bolts. They had nine shots while Montreal had none. Jakub Dobes was making big saves after big saves, but eventually it caught up to them.

The game-winning goal came after Kirby Dach iced the puck unnecessarily, which led to a faceoff right by Dobes, which the Lightning won. Then, as the play unfolded, Dach felt he was being interfered with and raised his arm in protest, rather than focusing on the play. J.J. Moser found the back of the net on Anthony Cirelli's pass. Dach had no shot, no blocked shot, three hits and one giveaway. If St-Louis feels it's time to bring someone else in, Dach might just have volunteered his spot.

The series is now tied 1-1, and it becomes a best-of-five. While a split on the road is still a good result, the way in which they lost Game 2 could be deflating for the young Canadiens. The next game will take place on Friday night, at 7:00 PM in Montreal.

---

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As if Sabres fans didn’t have enough to lose their minds over as Buffalo’s NHL team looked to take a 2-0 series lead over the Bruins, Josh Allen did his darndest to hype the crowd up even more at KeyBank Center. 

Allen was in attendance for Game 2 on Tuesday night and was the honorary person to bang the drum to get a “Let’s Go Buffalo” chant going.  

Not only did the Bills’ star quarterback do that, but he also chugged a bear to the delight of the crowd, electrifying the building even more. 

After three rounds of getting the chant going, he flipped the mallet that he used to beat the drum and pulled out a Corona Extra to start chugging. 

JOSH ALLEN ON THE DRUM

BUFFALO IS ALIVE pic.twitter.com/ElCRchT1rE

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 21, 2026

Allen then slammed the can to the ground and raised his arms in the air to motivate the crowd to cheer even louder.

The former MVP had been in town for the team’s voluntary minicamp and had told reporters on Monday that he was “hoping to” be at Game 2 of the Sabres series with the Bruins. 

Allen could feel the buzz in the city over the excitement surrounding the Sabres’ playoff run. 

“I think just for the city of Buffalo, I think it’s a better place when the Sabres are playing well, and it being the first playoff game in, was it 15 years?” Allen said, according to Syracuse.com. 

“We talked about ‘One Buffalo’ for the longest time and it’s been fun to watch them progress, and now going into these playoffs rolling,” Allen also said. 

The Sabres had gone into Game 2 coming off a dramatic come-from-behind win in the first game that saw the Bruins blow a two-goal lead in the third period. 

Buffalo scored four goals in the final 10 minutes of the game to erase the deficit.

But unfortunately, for Buffalo, they couldn’t match its Game 1 heroics on Tuesday night as the Sabres fell 4-2 to the Bruins in Game 2.

DENVER — Hockey can look like a masterpiece one minute and a full-on street fight the next—and Game 2 between the Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings lived in both extremes all night long.

In the end, Colorado found a way through the chaos. Nic Roy buried the overtime winner 7:44 into the extra frame, lifting the Avalanche to a 2–1 win and a firm 2–0 grip on the series.

But the path there was anything but clean.

A Whistle-Filled, Bone-Rattling Start

The game opened with tension already simmering. At 2:55 of the first period, Adrian Kempe knocked over Nathan MacKinnon at center ice, handing Colorado its first power play after interference was called. The Avalanche generated a few solid looks but couldn’t break through.

Los Angeles made it clear early they planned to raise the physical stakes—but Colorado didn’t just absorb it, they answered. MacKinnon returned the favor with a heavy hit on Trevor Moore in the defensive zone, igniting an edge that never really went away.

That edge boiled over minutes later.

After Cale Makar was sent off for tripping, a center-ice collision involving Mikey Anderson left Martin Necas shaken and eventually heading down the tunnel. The response was immediate. Brett Kulak wrestled Anderson to the ice, while Artturi Lehkonen and Mathieu Joseph exchanged blows in a chaotic scrum.

When officials sorted it out, Colorado came out shorthanded again—Kulak assessed four minutes, Anderson just a minor. It was a theme that would define the first half of the game: plenty of contact, plenty of emotion, and plenty of penalties—many of them questionable.

The whistles kept coming. Joel Armia went off for holding, giving Colorado another power play that was quickly erased when Gabriel Landeskog was called for hooking. Another missed call—this time an elbow from Jeff Malott on Makar—sparked yet another post-whistle scrum.

Colorado closed the period with a clear message, taking runs at Anderson whenever the opportunity presented itself. The only real sigh of relief came when Necas returned to the bench late in the period.

Chaos Peaks with a Save—and Shattered Glass

If the first period was messy, the second somehow got stranger.

Early on, Malott was penalized for boarding Lehkonen. Moments later, Quinton Byfield broke free on a partial breakaway. As Makar chased him down and lifted his stick, officials awarded a penalty shot—a decision that left plenty of confusion in its wake.

It didn’t matter. Scott Wedgewood stole the moment anyway, diving left to deny Byfield and keep the game scoreless.

The crowd erupted—and then things literally broke.

Fans behind Kings head coach D.J. Smith surged forward, shattering the glass behind the bench. Play came to a dead stop for 19 minutes while crews cleared debris and installed a replacement, turning an already bizarre night into something downright surreal.

AVS FANS WERE BANGING ON THE GLASS BEHIND THE KINGS BENCH AND IT SHATTERED 😱

WHAT is going on in the NHL playoffs tonight?! 😭 pic.twitter.com/wDWKcNKdhR

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 22, 2026

When play resumed, the whistles returned almost immediately. MacKinnon was sent off for interference after colliding with Alex Laferriere, a sequence that only added to the growing frustration on the Colorado side.

Through two periods, it barely resembled a hockey game. It was choppy, disjointed, and tense—more survival than rhythm.

Finally, Hockey Breaks Out

The third period finally brought something closer to real flow—and, eventually, goals.

A late penalty to Parker Kelly for high-sticking proved costly. On the ensuing power play, Artemi Panarin wired a shot past Wedgewood at 13:04 to give Los Angeles a 1–0 lead.

THE BREADMAN ARTEMI PANARIN FINALLY BREAKS THROUGH FOR THE KINGS LATE IN THE 3RD 😱🚨 pic.twitter.com/7t0AtezOk1

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 22, 2026

Even that came with controversy. Colorado argued the sequence should have been reset to neutral ice after Josh Manson’s clearing attempt deflected out of play off a linesman. Instead, the faceoff stayed in the Avalanche zone—and the Kings capitalized.

It felt like the moment that might swing the series.

Instead, Colorado’s leaders answered.

With 3:35 remaining, Devon Toews held the line and funneled the puck down low to Necas. In one fluid, almost improbable motion, Necas slipped a pass through the legs of Anton Forsberg and onto the tape of Landeskog, who was all alone in the slot. The captain tapped it into an open net, tying the game and detonating the building.

GABE LANDESKOG ANSWERS FOR THE AVALANCHE AND WE'RE TIED 🫨🚨 pic.twitter.com/v3Q5Ob8Emp

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 22, 2026

Landeskog nearly ended it in regulation minutes later, but Forsberg stood tall, forcing overtime.

Roy Finishes It

The extra period finally delivered the kind of back-and-forth the game had been missing all night. Chances came at both ends, the tension building with every rush.

Then came the finish.

NICOLAS ROY IS THE OVERTIME HERO FOR COLORADO 🚨

AVS LEAD THE SERIES 2-0 🔥 pic.twitter.com/LSmubVSlqO

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 22, 2026

Roy, who was acquired at the deadline, planted himself at the top of the crease, fought through traffic, and buried a rebound past Forsberg to end it—equal parts grit and timing, a fitting conclusion to a game that never really settled down.

COLORADO DEFENDS HOME ICE AND TAKES A 2-0 SERIES LEAD 🥶🏔️ pic.twitter.com/lgNvBmX5zs

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 22, 2026

Game 3 shifts to Los Angeles on Thursday night. The Avalanche head west in control of the series—but if Game 2 proved anything, it’s that control in this matchup is always one hit, one whistle, or one bounce away from disappearing.

Once upon a time, Owen Tippett was the most popular Philadelphia Flyers player mired in the NHL trade rumors, but now, especially after his legendary play in Game 2 against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup playoffs, those days are over.

Tippett, 27, may always be a polarizing player with offensive production that isn't quite in line with his overall skills and athleticism, but, as he enters his prime years, has found what makes him an effective NHLer.

Expectations were always, fairly or unfairly, high for the former No. 10 overall pick after being the centerpiece of the Claude Giroux trade, and while Tippett has not replaced Giroux, he has established himself as a core player for the Flyers.

In his four full seasons in Philadelphia, Tippett has reached 20 goals four times, including a career-high 28 goals in 2023-24 and this year in 2025-26. Those two seasons, by extension, saw Tippett break the 50-point threshold.

Heading into this year, one of the perpetuated knocks on Tippett was his decision-making, often choosing to shoot from poor angles or pass when an option wasn't open.

Porter Martone Has Already Delivered His Signature Moment for the FlyersIt has become clear that the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> would not be where they are right now without Porter Martone, and they certainly would not have won their first Stanley Cup playoff appearance since 2020 without him, either.

This year, Tippett finished the season with 220 shots on goal--the second-fewest of his tenure in Philadelphia--but a career-high 12.7% shooting percentage. It was one of many ways Tippett continued to work at and round out his game.

That maturity manifested in the form of an assist in Game 2 against the Penguins, when Tippett played the puck to himself around a Penguins forward along the wall before carrying forward and dishing to Garnet Hathaway for an easy tap-in shorthanded.

This time last year, that never seemed like it would ever be a possibility.

After a dismal 2024-25 season, the buccaneering winger was primarily involved in trade talks because of his inconsistency, aforementioned decision-making, and lack of versatility, as well as the Flyers' glut of cheaper alternatives at the position.

tbh can't stop won't stop thinking about this Owen Tippett shift pic.twitter.com/6KevfXrbCe

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) April 21, 2026

Then, Tippett went on to establish himself as a penalty-killer for Rick Tocchet's club, primarily due to the injuries Tyson Foerster dealt with before and after the start of the season, while also racking up a career-high 166 hits, according to Hockey-Reference.

A player who was once an all-offense daredevil volume shooter is now a dual-threat power forward that can contribute on both special teams.

Former Flyers head coach John Tortorella deserves some credit for getting the ball rolling on Tippett, but it has really been Tocchet and Co. who have finished the job developing the speedster.

And Tippett isn't the only one. Teammates Noah Cates and Christian Dvorak have also looked like brand-new players this season, even if they aren't as naturally gifted as Tippett in terms of talent and athleticism.

Flyers' Black Aces Could Have Strong Impact vs. PenguinsThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> proved in a 3-2 Game 1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins that experience in the Stanley Cup playoffs can sometimes be overrated.

But, as the Flyers continue their playoff run and head into the offseason, they can say with certainty that Tippett's $49.6 million contract ($6.2 million AAV) is a steal for a play-driver that now contributes as much as he does at both ends of the ice.

The Anaheim Ducks lost their first playoff game in eight years in somewhat devastating fashion. As has been typical, they fell behind by a couple of goals in the first period and battled back to take a 3-2 lead into the third period.

Like the veteran, unflappable team that the Edmonton Oilers are, they adjusted and stormed back with a goal halfway through the third, followed by another one with two minutes left when it seemed like the game was heading to overtime.

Takeaways from the Ducks 4-3 Game 1 Loss to the Oilers, Oilers Lead Series 1-0

Three Key Matchups for the Ducks Heading into First Round Against the Oilers

The Oilers took game 1of the series by a score of 4-3, but there were several aspects Anaheim could build upon, along with areas that’ll need some fine-tuning if they’re to make a series out of this.

Here are some adjustments they will need to make in game 2 and moving forward:

Stick to Your Identity

For the majority of the season, the Ducks have been one of the most unpredictable, volatile, yet fun teams in recent memory. Their ability to score goals at will came attached to a willingness to pressure and activate for offense in all three zones.

That priority to possess pucks through heavy pressure came at a cost this season, however. In learning a new system and playing to their offensive strengths, they sacrificed on the defensive end of the spectrum and were forced to outscore their problems or rely on their goaltenders significantly to win hockey games this season.

As the playoffs drew nearer, the significant mistakes were minimized to a degree, but were still present. Playoff hockey is notoriously tighter, and details become more influential. In an attempt to eliminate said costly mistakes in game 1, the Ducks’ first period was a clear effort to play a safer brand of hockey.

In that first period of game 1, Anaheim made smart advancements with pucks, were conservative with their pressures, and defensemen were hesitant to activate, a sizable feature to their offense generation this season.

“I feel like we kind of dipped our toe in and were just kind of waiting to see what was going to happen,” Killorn said. “It’s kind of been the case with our team all year. Once we go down, I think we feel a little bit more comfortable, which is weird. Once we went down, I felt like we were just a little bit looser and felt like we could make some plays.”

Following the first intermission and after giving up the first two goals of the hockey game, Anaheim reverted to the brand of hockey that made them so successful. They pressured puck carriers into turnovers, flew weak-side teammates, and were aggressive with their pinches on outlets.

The first ten to fifteen minutes of the game, where the Ducks played over-cautiously, proved costly, as they couldn’t weather Edmonton’s offensive storm playing that way. They’ll need to make a more concerted effort to dictate game flow from the opening puck drop in Game 2.

Heavier F1

An aspect of the Ducks game in 2025-26 that’s been spotty has been the effectiveness of their forecheck. They prefer to maintain possession as they advance pucks up ice rather than settle for stretch passes, high flips, tip-ins, or dump-ins deep into the opponent’s end in order to establish a forecheck.

Though it’s not their preferred brand, when they are forced to play that way, the Ducks can mount steady and efficient forechecks where they cause turnovers deep in the offensive zone or disrupt breakout attempts before counterattacking after a change of possession.

The Oilers’ forward group is as deep, diligent, and dangerous as it gets in the NHL. However, their defense corps, when pressured properly, can be forced into turnovers in precarious situations on the ice.

With questionable puck-retrievers on the blueline and a goaltender not known for playing pucks proficiently behind his net, that could provide the Ducks an exploitable facet within their opponent in Game 2 and beyond.

Draw Opposing F1 Low

Early in Game 1, it was clear that part of the Oilers’ game plan involved laying a hit on Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe every time he touched the puck. As the game progressed, LaCombe and the defensemen adjusted to Edmonton’s mandate for a high-pressure F1.

LaCombe would draw said forechecker, either using his momentum against him or drawing him out of position so he could move pucks to his open outlets, slip an incoming hit, or join a rush.

For the Ducks to best utilize their top defenseman, it would benefit them to continue using Edmonton’s desire to be physical with LaCombe against them.

If the Ducks can build on the aspects of their game that were successful in Game 1, while making some slight tweaks to their approach and deficiencies, they would have a good chance of heading back to Anaheim with this series tied at one game apiece.

Can Ducks Beat Oilers? Yes, If They Keep Things Simple

Five Storylines for the Anaheim Ducks' First Round Series vs the Edmonton Oilers

Ducks to Face Oilers in Round One of 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Buffalo Sabres brought in the most popular athlete in the city to fire up the crowd before Game 2 of their playoff series against the Boston Bruins.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, wearing Alex Tuch's No. 89, had the honor of banging the drum for the Sabres on Tuesday night, leading the chant of "Let's go Buffalo!" After his final hit, Allen tossed the drumstick aside and pulled out what appeared to be a beer from his back pocket. He proceeded to chug the drink (most of it anyway), to roars of approval from the crowd.

The Sabres, who last made the playoffs in 2011, entered Tuesday's game with a 1-0 lead in the series after a dramatic comeback victory in Game 1.

Watch: Josh Allen chugs beer, fires up crowd

JOSH ALLEN ON THE DRUM 💥

BUFFALO IS ALIVE ‼️ pic.twitter.com/ElCRchT1rE

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 21, 2026

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Josh Allen chugs beer, fires up crowd before Buffalo Sabres game

Bruins-Sabres Game 2 takeaways: Second line, Swayman power B's to win originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins bounced back in impressive fashion with a Game 2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night at KeyBank Center to even their first-round playoff series 1-1.

Just like in Game 1, the Sabres made a strong comeback in the third period. This time, they trimmed the Bruins’ lead from 4-0 to 4-2 with five minutes left in regulation. But the B’s didn’t let the momentum carry the Sabres any further.

They tightened up defensively and goaltender Jeremy Swayman rose to the occasion with a bunch of important saves.

What were the key factors in the Bruins’ win? Let’s look at four key takeaways from Game 2.

1. Second line bounces back

Game 1 was ugly for the Bruins’ second line of Viktor Arvidsson, Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt. This trio tallied zero points, four total shots, and had only 0.28 expected goals at 5-on-5. It was a rare bad outing for one of the league’s most productive lines post-Olympic break.

Bruins head coach Marco Sturm admitted the team needed more from this line after Game 1.

“I think the Zacha line, they can be better, they really can,” he told reporters Monday. They were just OK, but I know they have another gear, like they’ve been all year. So I think that’s, that’s one line that needs to get better.”

These guys bounced back in a major way in Game 2, and it was the difference in the outcome.

Viktor Arvidsson was the catalyst for Boston. After failing to score on a first-period breakaway, he cashed in on another breakaway attempt in the second period to beat Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with a backhand shot.

ARVIDSSON CASHES ON THE BREAKAWAY, B'S STRIKE FIRST AGAIN 👀 pic.twitter.com/devaTAQD70

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 22, 2026

Arvidsson also put the B’s up 4-0 just 16 seconds into the third period with another excellent shot that resulted in the Sabres pulling Luukkonen.

Arvi adds another one. pic.twitter.com/Wj73ZFYwux

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 22, 2026

Zacha also scored on a second-period power play. Mittelstadt picked up assists on both of Arvidsson’s goals. Overall, this line had three goals, two assists and nine total shots.

It is ALL Bruins in Game 2… make it 3-0 👀 pic.twitter.com/drhjszvoog

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 22, 2026

The Bruins need scoring depth to win this series. They can’t rely too much on the top line. The rest of the lineup stepped up to the challenge in Game 2.

2. Jeremy Swayman giving B’s clear advantage in net

Swayman played really well in Game 1 despite the loss, and he was even better in Game 2. He made 34 saves on 36 shots for a .944 save percentage. He also saved 1.67 goals saved above expected, per MoneyPuck, and he made eight saves on nine high-danger scoring chances for the Sabres.

Swayman was especially reliable late in the third period after the Sabres scored twice to cut the lead in half. He didn’t relent, tracked the puck well and prevented the score from getting too close for comfort. He made 18 saves in the third period. It was a pivotal stretch in the series.

Sturm praised Swayman’s leadership postgame.

“He’s a big part of it. If you have a goalie like that, he doesn’t have to have a ‘C’ or an ‘A’ on him,” Sturm told reporters at his press conference. “We know he’s a big part of our team, he’s a big leader. He’s been through it, those ups and downs. He’s been very quiet but when he speaks we all listen.”

Swayman has a .931 save percentage in the series, which is outstanding. As expected, he has given the B’s a huge advantage in net. Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen didn’t play great in the series opener and gave an awful performance in Game 2 with four goals against, including a shocking goal from center ice on a simple dump in by Morgan Geekie.

The Sabres now need to figure out whether to go back to Luukkonen for Game 3 or go with backup Alex Lyon. There’s no such controversy with the Bruins. Swayman is the most trustworthy player in the series right now.

Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

3. Bruins’ penalty kill surprisingly excellent so far

The Bruins didn’t have an effective penalty kill in the regular season. This unit ranked 24th in the league with a 77 percent success rate. The B’s have shown tremendous improvement shorthanded in this series, though.

Boston went 5-for-5 on the penalty kill in Game 2 and this group is a perfect 9-for-9 in the series. Swayman is a huge part of that success. He has stopped all 18 shots the Sabres have generated on the power play.

It hasn’t all been Swayman, though. The B’s are consistently breaking up passes, winning puck battles and preventing zone entries while shorthanded.

The Sabres are in a power play slump. They’ve failed to score on 31 straight opportunities with the man advantage going back to the regular season. Will the Sabres’ power play break through in Boston?

4. David Pastrnak making strong impact offensively

Superstar players have to deliver in the playoffs, and Pastrnak has stepped up for the Bruins through two games.

After scoring one goal with two assists in Game 1, he added two more assists in Game 2, moving him into a tie with Hall of Fame defenseman Bobby Orr for eighth place on the Bruins’ all-time playoff scoring leaderboard with 92 career points.

David Pastrnak (0-2—2) recorded his 24th career multi-assist playoff game and moved into eighth place on the @NHLBruins’ all-time list. #StanleyCup

Tune in 🇺🇸 (@ESPN), 🇨🇦 (@Sportsnet, @TVASports), 🌎: https://t.co/dT34F4MhkCpic.twitter.com/KDxVFMe5VV

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) April 22, 2026

Pastrnak isn’t just making a difference at even strength. He has factored into both of Boston’s power play goals (one goal, one assist) in the series, too.

Pastrnak could maybe be a little more aggressive looking for his shot on the power play, but the numbers don’t lie: The B’s have produced 19 scoring chances and 11 high-danger chances when he’s been on the ice through two games.

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The Detroit Red Wings entered the 1999 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, and matched up against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim for the second time in the last three seasons. 

The Red Wings had suffered through inconsistency for much of the 1998-99 NHL campaign, but loaded up at the 1999 Trade Deadline thanks to the acquisitions of multiple high-profile veterans, including Chris Chelios, Bill Ranford, Wendel Clark, and Ulf Samuelsson. 

After accumulating 93 points, the Red Wings earned the top spot in the Central Division and home ice advantage over the Ducks, whom they'd defeated two years prior in a four-game sweep.

Ultimately, the 1999 Western Conference Quarterfinal would prove no contest, as the Red Wings once again advanced with a four-game sweep of the Ducks. 

On April 21, Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman registered the fourth playoff hat trick of his career as part of Detroit's 5-3 win at Joe Louis Arena. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Detroit followed that win with a 5-1 triumph in Game 2 thanks to a pair of goals from Brendan Shanahan.

As the series shifted to Southern California, the Red Wings maintained their dominance over the Ducks with 4-2 and 3-0 wins in Games 3 and 4, completing the sweep. 

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