Former NHL legend and recently appointed SKA St. Petersburg coach Igor Larionov made some waves in his first official press conference as reported by RG.org. The man who took over from Roman Rotenberg said he wants to bring Ivan Demidov back to the KHL for one more season.

The 19-year-old forward finished the last year of his contract with SKA in April before signing an ELC contract with the Montreal Canadiens. Still, the bench boss say he would love to speak to the organization to plead his case.

Canadiens: Where To Watch Demidov And Laine This Summer
Former Canadiens Player Enters Colorado History Book
Canadiens: Pascal Vincent Is Not Leaving The Organization

Saying he knows both Kent Hughes and co-director of scouting Martin Lapointe, the former centerman explained that if he could talk to them, he would say that sometimes in life you have to take a step back to move three step forward.

While Larionov may well believe this would be good for the youngster’s development, there’s no way the option would even be entertained by the Canadiens. Montreal played by the rules and let the youngster honor the last year of his contract with SKA, but he’s now under the Habs’ control and needless to say the team has big plans for him.

After making his NHL debut in two regular season games, the youngster played five playoffs’ games with the Habs and has already showed that he belongs. Still, the winger is serious about becoming an impact player for his new side and he’s decided to spend the Summer in town where he’ll be able to train under the watchful eye of the Canadiens’ staff while also polishing his language skills in both French and English.

That kind of program is not at all compatible with Larionov’s wish and while he may dream of getting to work with as talented a youngster as Demidov, it will remain just that, a dream.

Photo credit:  Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

---

Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

The Buffalo Sabres seemed to find a good replacement in Rochester for Seth Appert when he joined Lindy Ruff’s coaching staff in Michael Leone, but there is some speculation that the Amerks head coach may be garnering interest to join another NHL club’s staff.

Jeff Marek of Daily Faceoff reported on Friday that the 37-year-old could be a candidate to join Dan Muse’s coaching staff in Pittsburgh. Muse coached and worked with Leone in the US National Development for two seasons. 

The Michigan native joined the Sabres organization last June and led the Amerks to a second place finish in the AHL’s North Division (42-22-8)record in his rookie season and a sweep of Syracuse before falling to Laval in the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. He previously serving as an assistant coach for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program for three years and for two seasons as head coach and general manager of the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers.

Other Sabres Stories

Is Peterka In Prime Position For Big Payday?

Sabres Summer Dilemmas - Bowen Byram

Sabres Facing An Off-Season Of Change

Former Buffalo Sabre and Rochester Americans alum Scott Metcalfe passed away on Friday. The 58-year-old was a former Edmonton Oilers first round pick and was acquired by Buffalo in 1988. He played 19 career NHL games with the Oilers and Sabres, and multiple stints with the Amerks over nine seasons. 

The Amerks mourn the loss of Hall of Famer and Calder Cup champion Scott Metcalfe, who passed away earlier this morning at the age of 58.

READ MORE | https://t.co/gLfWp0bP1hpic.twitter.com/QxN8WWo2fL

— Rochester Americans (@AmerksHockey) June 6, 2025

The Florida Panthers evened the Stanley Cup Final with a 5-4 double overtime victory over the Oilers in Edmonton on Friday. Former Sabres on both sides factored in the contest, as Evander Kane scored in the first period to wipe out an early Panthers lead and Dmitry Kulikov tied the score 3-3 in the second period. 

Evander Kane (EDM) 1G, +1, 24:25 TOI, 1 SOG, 8 Hits

Jeff Skinner(EDM) Did Not Play

Sam Reinhart(FLA) -2, 30:37 TOI, 6 SOG

Evan Rodrigues(FLA) 1A, 20:54 TOI, 6 Hits

Dmitri Kulikov(FLA) 1G, +2, 23:40 TOI, 3 SOG, 5 Hits

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

These first two games of the Stanley Cup Final have been something.

The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers are treating hockey fans to some incredibly entertaining hockey, with both teams earning a victory during the series’ first two games at Rogers Place.

On Friday, the was the Panthers evening the series at one game apiece with their thrilling 5-4 double overtime win on a goal that came off the stick of Brad Marchand.

Now the Cats will head back to South Florida quite pleased with the series split and will look to take a lead in the series when they host Game 3 on Monday.

Let’s get to the takeaways from Game 2:

SECOND OT THE BETTER OT

For the second straight Stanley Cup Final game, Florida carried a one-goal lead into the third period, and for the second straight game, Edmonton forced the game to overtime.

In Game 2, the Panthers looked much better while trying to hold the lead, only allowing a goal in the final seconds on a great play and shot by Corey Perry.

Unfortunately, that goal gave Edmonton a jolt of energy that carried into the overtime, where they outshot the Panthers 13-8 and forced Sergei Bobrovsky to make several big saves.

It was a different story in the second overtime, though, as Florida played much more sound defense while keeping possession and sustaining pressure.

“I didn't love our overtime,” Maurice said. “We'll focus on that, and then, even the goal, I liked our second overtime period. I thought we were right there. They had some chances, we had chances, they’re a really good team we’re playing, and we're a really good team, but I didn't love that (first overtime), so that will be our place of growth here in the next couple of days.”

FORSLING BACK TO FORM

Gus Forsling is usually as steady as you can find on the blue line.

He had a rough night during Florida’s Game 1 loss to the Oilers, but boy did he bounce back on Friday.

While he didn’t factor in on the scoresheet and actually finished with a minus-1 rating, Forsling made several elite plays with his stick to shut down high danger opportunities for Edmonton.

His ability to stay with Connor McDavid on multiple rush opportunities, whether with his body or with his stick, was a critical piece of why Florida was able to get out of Edmonton with a win.

“He's one of the elite skating defensemen in the league, and most elite skating defensemen have a completely offensive bent,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “If you skate that well as a young man, you're put into offensive situations, you become a power play guy. But he's has taken that skill and applied it to the defensive side of the game. To fully appreciate, you'd have to be down at ice level to see how fast Connor McDavid is and Leon Draisaitl, they’ve got a very fast team, but he excels in that game.”

BENNETT THE ROAD WARRIOR

The Panthers are now 9-3 on the road during this postseason after their OT win in Game 2.

A big part of that success has been Sam Bennett.

On Friday, Bennett set a new NHL record for most road goals in a single playoff, netting his 12th away from Sunrise.

He’s now scored in five straight road games, racking up seven goals and nine points during those away contests.

“We've started and played most of our playoff lives this year on the road, and then there is no part of his game that changes home to road,” Maurice said of Bennett. “He's not intimidated by anything. He's not a home performer, and he's not a match-up guy. He'll play against anybody.”

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Brad Marchand scores double OT winner as Panthers win to tie Stanley Cup Final

Panthers' Sam Bennett Sets New Incredible NHL Record

3 Panthers Who Need Big Performances In Game 2 vs. Oilers

The Hockey Show: David Pagnotta talks Stanley Cup Final rematch, coaching changes

Panthers Gritty Forward Ruled Out For Game 2 vs. Oilers

Photo caption: Jun 6, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) skates past Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling (42) during double overtime in game two of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)

EDMONTON – For one night at least, there were indeed rats in Alberta as Brad Marchand scored the double overtime-winner to tie the Stanley Cup final at 1-1.

Marchand played the hero for the Florida Panthers with his second goal of the game to cap off a 5-4 victory and another dramatic match against the Edmonton Oilers.

"He's been incredible for us this whole playoffs and scoring massive goals at massive times," Sam Bennett said post-game. "That one's definitely the biggest."

Game 2 got off to an explosive start, with special teams playing a big role.

Edmonton came out flying and very aggressive – but Evander Kane got a little too aggressive and ended up with a high-sticking penalty 40 seconds in. Florida cashed in on the power play when Nate Schmidt found Bennett for yet another road goal on a nice passing play. Bennett's 12th goal on the road set a record for the most by any NHL player in Stanley Cup playoff history.

"I don't think there's any difference between at home or on the road for me, but right now, they seem to be going in," Bennett said.

The teams traded more man advantages, and there were numerous scoring chances. Sergei Bobrovsky made a big stop on Trent Frederic, while Eetu Luostarinen backhanded one over Stuart Skinner after the Panthers winger was sent in alone by Marchand.

Kane made amends for his early penalty by sending a laser past Bobrovsky after a Florida turnover eight minutes into the frame, while Evan Bouchard gave Edmonton its first lead of the game when he followed up his own rebound and rifled in a wrister during 4-on-4 play. But a deadly passing sequence minutes later knotted things up again when Seth Jones was set up by Luostarinen.

The most controversial moment of the game came when Bennett, scourge of the Oilers, fell on Skinner's leg, causing the Edmonton goalie to remain down on the ice for an extended period.

Bennett received a goaltender interference penalty for the incident.

"I was pushed, and then the goalie kicked out my heel, which made me fall," Bennett said post-game. "I didn't agree with that one, but got to move on."

Matthew Tkachuk and Frederic took coincidental roughing penalties after the whistle as well. Tkachuk gave Bennett a pat on the chest as he stepped into the box, but the Oilers made Bennett pay.

Connor McDavid pulled off another dazzling display of offensive splendor, cutting through the Florida defense before dishing off to his favorite target, Leon Draisaitl, who made no mistake.

The second period was slightly less eventful, but not by much. Bobrovsky and Skinner made crucial saves early, but Florida tied up the game 3-3 when a Dmitry Kulikov point shot evaded a screened Skinner midway through the period. The Panthers continued the party on the penalty kill, with Marchand getting sprung for a shorthanded breakaway and sinking one for a 4-3 Florida lead.

Bobrovsky was still challenged in the third, particularly on a tricky Bouchard point shot, but the veteran netminder made the save. Disciplined and defensive hockey in front of him aided the Panthers as they protected the lead. Bobrovsky had to be sharp again with Adam Henrique blazing toward him with a backhand attempt, but he couldn't beat the Florida goalie.

The Oilers pulled Skinner for the extra attacker with around two-and-a-half minutes to play, though an offside forced him back into the net temporarily. Bobrovsky made a sprawling save on Draisaitl with a minute to go, but it was Corey Perry finding a loose puck on the doorstep that drew Edmonton even with 17 seconds to go.

In overtime, the Panthers had a close call when Verhaeghe slid one under Skinner, but it stuck to the outside of the post and was cleared away. Later, Sam Reinhart was sprung for a breakaway, but he shot wide.

At eight minutes into the second overtime, Marchand received a breakout pass and sprung through the middle of the ice. He didn't get a clean shot off on Skinner, but the puck squeaked through the five-hole to seal the deal with Marchand's parents in the stands.

"These are memories that you have for the rest of your life, not just for yourself but for your whole family, and we're all enjoying the journey right now," Marchand told Sportsnet's Gene Principe post-game.

"These are the opportunities you dream of as a kid and the moments you wish you could hold onto forever."

The teams now head to Sunrise, Fla., for Game 3 on Monday at 8 p.m. ET.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

The Florida Panthers picked up a crucial win to get on the board in the Stanley Cup Final.

Florida scored first, took a lead into the third period and held on for the Game 2 victory, taking down the Edmonton Oilers 5-4 in double overtime to tie the series at one game apiece.

An early power play got the Panthers off to a great start.

A couple of great passes from Matthew Tkachuk and Nate Schmidt led to a shot by Sam Bennett sliding past Stuart Skinner to give Florida a 1-0 lead just 2:07 into the game.

Similarly to Game 1, it didn’t take long for the Oilers to respond.

Evander Kane snapped a shot under Sergei Bobrovsky’s glove to tie the game at one less than five minutes later.

About 100 seconds later, Evan Bouchard picked up his own rebound after a shot block by Sasha Barkov and beat Bobrovsky to give the Oilers their first lead of the game.

The goals kept coming fast and furious, as Seth Jones finished off a pretty passing play from Eetu Luostarinen and Schmidt to tie the game at two.

Exactly one minute later, Leon Draisaitl scored his second power play goal of the series, giving the Oilers a 3-2 lead that they would take into the first intermission.

Florida gradually began regaining some momentum during the second period, and it led to a tying goal by a Panthers defenseman.

Dmitry Kulikov wired a wrist shot from just inside the Oilers blue line that went off the backside of Evan Bouchard and into the net to knot the score at three at the 8:23 mark.

The third period was a defensive battle between the two teams, keeping shots on goal and scoring chances to a minimum.

That worked out just fine for Florida, right up until it didn’t.

Cory Perry picked up a loose puck and scored with 17.8 seconds to go, sending Game 2 into overtime.

Edmonton actually earned more shots on goal during the first overtime session, finishing with a 13-9 advantage, but it was the Panthers with the better scoring opportunities, 10-7.

The game ended on a Marchand breakaway goal 8:04 into the second overtime, beating Skinner through the legs with a sneaky backhand.

On to Game 3.

QUICK THOUGHTS

Scmidt recorded his second straight multi-point outing and fourth of the playoffs.

He’s got four points over his past two games and 11 so far during the postseason.

Bennett has now scored in five straight road games.

He has seven goals and 11 points over his past seven outings.

Evan Rodrigues has points in three straight games after picking up an assist on Bennett’s goal.

He’s logged 10 points in eight games since returning from an injury.

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Panthers' Sam Bennett Sets New Incredible NHL Record

3 Panthers Who Need Big Performances In Game 2 vs. Oilers

The Hockey Show: David Pagnotta talks Stanley Cup Final rematch, coaching changes

Panthers Gritty Forward Ruled Out For Game 2 vs. Oilers

Panthers enter Game 2 in Edmonton looking to earn series split before returning to South Florida

Photo caption: Jun 6, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) scores a goal against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) during the second period in game two of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images

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

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

On tonight's show, Katie Gaus and Adam Kierszenblat break down Game 2 between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers with Avry Lewis-McDougall joining live from inside Rogers Place.  

Join the conversation in the comment section and send in your questions. They may end up on the post-game show.

Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers Game 2 - Playoff FrenzyWelcome to Playoff Frenzy Live presented by The Hockey News, where we break down all of the biggest news and action from every night of the 2025 Stanley Cup ...

Stay tuned to The Hockey News and Playoff Frenzy Live throughout the Stanley Cup final.

Check out the show here.

Promo image credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images

From the Canadian Golf and Country Club, the site of this year's alumni tournament, Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer strode across the practice putting green with a smile before jumping into the air and clicking his heels.

Click the heels and get your 1st round pick back ;) pic.twitter.com/2Q94JBAPrH

— Coming In Hot (@ComingInHotSens) June 6, 2025

It was a jovial sign of misdirection because as soon as he reached the edge of the green to meet with the assembled media, the owner, without provocation, began his address by taking issue with recent specific reports suggesting the organization was testing the market on forward Drake Batherson.

"We're at the (NHL prospect) combine, and apparently, we're trading Batherson," the visibly irritated Andlauer stated. "It's not right. You have to get your sources right. You can always validate it here, but it's not for me or Steve. To me, it's all about the player."

Hopefully, Andlauer saved some swings for the course.

One of the defining characteristics of Andlauer's short tenure as the Senators' owner has been his openness and genuine care for his employees and players. If he believes that someone has been wronged, he will put himself at the forefront of the issue to address it.

So, coming off a successful season in which his team reached the postseason, it is not surprising to see Andlauer personally step in and try to shelve any rumours that could adversely impact Batherson's offseason. Considering the importance of progress and the internal growth of this team's core, eliminating anything the players could perceive as negative or distracting is paramount.

The unfortunate part of rumours is that they will not go away. As closely as Steve Staios and his management group keep their cards close to their chest, the nature of the gossip industry is that the Senators cannot prevent agents and other organizations from leaking information.

Similarly, they cannot prevent other teams from calling and kicking tires on Drake Batherson's, or any other player's, availability.

For all the reasons that I outlined in yesterday's article on Batherson's reported availability, he is a valued asset for the Senators. There are only a handful of players who scored 20-plus goals and 60-plus points while tallying more than 100 hits. Batherson was one of those players this season, and the two years remaining on his deal that carries a modest $4.95 million cap hit will make the 27-year-old an asset that the Senators and the rest of the NHL value.

It is the second instance this season where the organization has had to dispel concerns about a player's future publicly. Earlier this season, the New York Post's Larry Brooks suggested the New York Rangers were targetting Brady Tkachuk in a trade, which prompted Staios to reach out to his team's captain to let him know the report was baseless.

Drake Batherson Doesn’t Belong Anywhere Near Ottawa's Trade Bait BoardThere's been quite a bit of dialogue over the past few days about Ottawa Senators winger Drake Batherson and potential trade talks around the league. According to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch, three NHL executives are out there telling people that Batherson is "a name to keep an eye on" as the NHL Draft approaches.

Just as he did then, Staios felt compelled to reach out to Batherson.

"It's not often that I do (that)," explained the general manager. "I know things get out there or are written, and that there's no truth to (the rumours).

"When it was written on back-to-back days, I was informed that it was out there a couple days in a row. I talk to our players often through the offseason anyway, but I just thought the timing was right to make sure that Drake knows that there's no truth to it."

It is a considerate gesture, but it also establishes a precedent. This organization simply should not have to respond to every rumour that circulates.

It is an unsustainable model.

What happens when the next rumour hits and the organization ignores it? Will that mean that it is true? Will the players infer that? Or worse, what happens if a general manager calls on Batherson and makes an offer the Senators cannot refuse?

The potential for an awkward situation is real, so despite how good the intentions and the soundbites are, it may serve the organization's best interests if they move forward by refusing to comment on rumours and speculation. 

Banner image: Ottawa Senators

Graeme Nichols
The Hockey News Ottawa

More Senators Headlines:

Tick-Tock: Ottawa Senators Continue To Navigate Contract Decisions On Six Pending UFAs

Senators Sign Tyler Kleven To New Contract As His Two-Way Potential Begins To Emerge

Building A Contender: What The Ottawa Senators Can Learn From The Oilers And Panthers

Will the Sens Use Their First-Round Pick On Another Calgary Hitman?

Marchand becomes first player to achieve this Stanley Cup feat with 2OT goal originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Game 2 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final was an instant classic.

After 80 minutes of hockey wasn’t enough to determine a winner, the Florida Panthers evened the series with a goal in double overtime by Brad Marchand to beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-4 at Rogers Place.

BRAD MARCHAND STUNS THE EDMONTON CROWD AND WINS GAME 2 FOR THE PANTHERS IN DOUBLE OVERTIME 🚨 pic.twitter.com/AwfnAJBULw

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 7, 2025

Marchand also scored a shorthanded goal in the second period. He now has three goals — one at even strength, one on the power play and one shorthanded — in two games against the Oilers.

He’s also the first player in Cup Final history to score a shorthanded goal and an overtime goal in the same game.

Panthers Brad Marchand is the only player in history to score a shorthanded goal, followed by an Overtime goal in a #StanleyCup Final game.

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) June 7, 2025

Overall, Marchand has tallied 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 19 games during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The 37-year-old left wing now has 10 career goals in the Stanley Cup Final, which is the most of any active player.

The Panthers acquired Marchand from the Boston Bruins right before the NHL trade deadline on March 7. If Florida wins this series and secures back-to-back Stanley Cup titles, that trade will go down as one of the best in recent history.

The Cup Final resumes Monday night with Game 3 in Florida.

Brad Marchand scores in 2OT, Panthers steal Game 2 vs. Oilers in Stanley Cup originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Brad Marchand scored on a breakaway in double overtime and the defending champion Florida Panthers punched back against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 2 of their Stanley Cup Final rematch, winning 5-4 on Friday night to even the series.

Marchand’s second goal of the night 8:04 into the second OT allowed Florida to escape with a split after Corey Perry scored to tie it with 17.8 seconds left in the third period and Stuart Skinner pulled for an extra attacker. Each of the first two games this final have gone to overtime, for the first time since 2014 and just the sixth in NHL history.

Much like last year and the playoff run to this point, Sergei Bobrovsky was dialed in when he was needed the most, making some unreal saves while stopping 42 of the 46 shots he faced. His teammates provided the necessary goal support.

Along with Marchand, Sam Bennett scored his postseason-leading 13th goal and NHL record 12th on the road. Seth Jones scored into a wide-open net after some spectacular tic-tac-toe passing, and fellow defenseman Dmitry Kulikov tied it with a shot through traffic that Stuart Skinner almost certainly did not see.

Kulikov’s goal came after Florida controlled play for several minutes in the second, hemming Edmonton in its zone shift after shift and piling up a 34-13 advantage in shot attempts during the period. Marchand’s OT goal was his 10th career goal in the final to lead all active players.

Game 3 is Monday night as the teams traverse the continent and play shifts to Sunrise.

The Panthers wrested home-ice advantage away from the Oilers by splitting the first two, rebounding from a Game 1 overtime loss and asserting they won’t go quietly against Draisaitl and Connor McDavid looking like they’ll do everything in their power to hoist the Cup for the first time.

Of course, those stars had their moments. They assisted on Evan Bouchard’s goal when coach Kris Knoblauch put them on the ice together, and McDavid stickhandled through multiple defenders in highlight-reel fashion to set up Draisaitl scoring on the power play.

There were a lot of those — 10 in total — after officials whistled 14 penalties, including three in the first four minutes. Each team had a few calls it was not happy with, though most of that evened out over the course of the game.

Brad Marchand scores in 2OT, Panthers steal Game 2 vs. Oilers in Stanley Cup originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Brad Marchand scored on a breakaway in double overtime and the defending champion Florida Panthers punched back against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 2 of their Stanley Cup Final rematch, winning 5-4 on Friday night to even the series.

Marchand’s second goal of the night 8:04 into the second OT allowed Florida to escape with a split after Corey Perry scored to tie it with 17.8 seconds left in the third period and Stuart Skinner pulled for an extra attacker. Each of the first two games this final have gone to overtime, for the first time since 2014 and just the sixth in NHL history.

Much like last year and the playoff run to this point, Sergei Bobrovsky was dialed in when he was needed the most, making some unreal saves while stopping 42 of the 46 shots he faced. His teammates provided the necessary goal support.

Along with Marchand, Sam Bennett scored his postseason-leading 13th goal and NHL record 12th on the road. Seth Jones scored into a wide-open net after some spectacular tic-tac-toe passing, and fellow defenseman Dmitry Kulikov tied it with a shot through traffic that Stuart Skinner almost certainly did not see.

Kulikov’s goal came after Florida controlled play for several minutes in the second, hemming Edmonton in its zone shift after shift and piling up a 34-13 advantage in shot attempts during the period. Marchand’s OT goal was his 10th career goal in the final to lead all active players.

Game 3 is Monday night as the teams traverse the continent and play shifts to Sunrise.

The Panthers wrested home-ice advantage away from the Oilers by splitting the first two, rebounding from a Game 1 overtime loss and asserting they won’t go quietly against Draisaitl and Connor McDavid looking like they’ll do everything in their power to hoist the Cup for the first time.

Of course, those stars had their moments. They assisted on Evan Bouchard’s goal when coach Kris Knoblauch put them on the ice together, and McDavid stickhandled through multiple defenders in highlight-reel fashion to set up Draisaitl scoring on the power play.

There were a lot of those — 10 in total — after officials whistled 14 penalties, including three in the first four minutes. Each team had a few calls it was not happy with, though most of that evened out over the course of the game.

EDMONTON – Game 1 ended up the way that the Edmonton Oilers wanted.

On Friday night, the hockey world waits to see how Game 2 will pan out.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. 

The Florida Panthers let a 3-1 lead slip away, resulting in a 4-3 overtime victory for the home team. Leon Draisaitl scored the dagger while Stuart Skinner played out of his mind to earn the victory.

A massive part of the game is the special-teams battle. This battle is often dictated by the referees who are working the game. 

With that in mind, here are the referees for Friday night’s Game 2.

Trending Oilers Stories

How To Make The McDavid-To-Maple Leafs Rumors StopEDMONTON – When will it ever end?

Oilers Secretive Of New Victory Song, "Pink Pony Club"

Connor McDavid's Wife Lauren Makes Big Announcement

'I Really Hope We Score': Oilers' Stuart Skinner And His Remarkable Talent Of Staying Ready

New Oilers Defender Has Boxing Legend Lineage

REPORT: Ex-Oilers Jay Woodcroft Surprising Favorite For New Coaching GigEDMONTON – Good coaches can be hard to find.

Jean Hebert & Chris Rooney Are The Game 2 Referees

Jean Hebert and Chris Rooney will be the referees for Game 2 on Friday night. Both have worked over 100 playoff games in their career. 

Here are the details for each referee that you need to know.

2025 Team Records:

Hebert: Panthers (4-3-2) Oilers (2-2-0)

Rooney: Panthers (3-1-1) Oilers (2-1-1)

Hebert and Rooney have been the referee team for one game this postseason. They were holding the whistles for the Panthers Game 7 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Team Results Apart From Each Other

Here are the results of Herbert's previous games with other referee partners:

Game 2 of Dallas Stars/Oilers (3-0 Oilers win)

Game 4 of Carolina Hurricanes/Panthers (3-0 Hurricanes)

Game 3 of Vegas Golden Knights/Oilers (4-3 Vegas)

Game 6 of Panthers/Maple Leafs (2-0 Maple Leafs)

Here are the results from Rooney’s previous games with other referee partners:

Game 4 of Stars/Oilers (4-1 Oilers)

Game 5 of Stars/Oilers (6-3 Oilers)

Game 1 of Maple Leafs/Panthers (5-4 Toronto)

Game 4 of Panthers/Tampa Bay Lightning (4-2 Florida)

Game 6 of Oilers/Los Angeles Kings (6-4 Oilers)

Playoff Record With Each Referee

Oilers are 3-0 with Rooney

Florida is 2-1 with Rooney

Florida is 1-2 with Hebert

Oilers are 1-1 with Hebert

Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

In comments he made before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final Wednesday night in Edmonton, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman dismissed the concept of a play-in round of the post-season. 

“We had a play-in,” Bettman said. “Did you know that three clubs' positions in the playoffs weren't determined until the last game that they played in the regular season?”

That’s accurate – the league did have some teams in the Eastern and Western conferences fight for one of the final wild-card playoff berths right through the final days, just like there were many more games where nothing was at stake. 

The biggest difference between having a play-in round and the status quo is the former is guaranteed to have more meaningful games.

If you’re adding more teams to the playoff mix with a play-in round, you’re guaranteed to have a heightened level of drama and interest. There are more playoff spots available, and there will still be battles for them in the regular season. And more playoff teams equal more playoff interest equals more eyeballs on the entertainment product you’re tasked with selling.

There’s a legitimate reason why the NBA and MLB expanded their playoffs. It’s not like they did so for the heck of it.

So while Bettman can argue that the current system works well, we’re talking about a change that leads to a system that could generate better business for the NHL.

If the NHL expands to 34 teams, not every division will have the same number of teams. Moving to a structure where teams have to fight for the final couple of traditional playoff spots – the seventh and eighth seeds – will be far more preferable to the current setup.

The NHL should aim to have as few late-season games as possible that are utterly devoid of excitement. Those types of games will always happen, no matter what the format is, but with a play-in round, you know more markets will have games they can sell out and use for greater TV and fan saturation.

Play-in systems even reward teams at the top of their division for regular-season success even more because they’d get a chance to rest up, but they also address the ultra-thin line between playoff teams and teams that just miss the cut in a traditional playoff structure.

When it works for other sports leagues in the entertainment business, there’s no reason it can’t work for the NHL. So it feels like only a matter of time before the league gets there.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

The Dallas Stars fired coach Peter DeBoer Friday morning, opening up the only remaining job opportunity for NHL coaches seeking work. But although DeBoer has failed to win a Stanley Cup in his 18-year coaching in hockey's top league, him coming on the market should cause the Buffalo Sabres to dismiss current bench boss Lindy Ruff and charting a new direction for the franchise.

Now, let's be clear right of the jump: we don't believe Ruff is going to be fired -- at least, not before the beginning of the 2025-26 regular-season. For better or worse, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams has hitched his wagon to Ruff, and it's unlikely he'll change his mind and send Ruff packing right away.

However, just because Adams won't fire Ruff doesn't mean he shouldn't do it. Indeed, you can look at other recent NHL coaching decisions and see where organizations do make immediate changes to their coaching situation when the right candidate materializes. 

For instance, the St. Louis Blues dismissed. coach Drew Bannister this season when the Boston Bruins fired Jim Montgomery in November. It took exactly five days from Montgomery's firing before he was hired by St. Louis, and the move paid off very well, as Montgomery led the Blues to a 35-18-7 record and a playoff berth in the highly-competitive Central Division. St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong rightfully recognized his team needed a different voice, made his move, and the team was better for it.

The same could be true with Ruff, DeBoer and the Sabres. Say what you will about DeBoer's spectacular flame-out in Dallas -- and to be sure, he deserves every bit of criticism for throwing Stars goalie Jake Oettinger under the bus and sealing his fate as Dallas' coach -- but DeBoer has a clear track record of getting his teams into the Stanley Cup playoffs. He has coached teams that haven't made the post-season, but that was mostly at the start of his career with sad-sack Florida Panthers and New Jersey Devils squads. Clearly, he's not perfect, but no coach is.

DeBoer's more recent record as coach speaks more to what he could bring to the table in Buffalo. In his most recent 11 seasons coaching the San Jose Sharks, Vegas Golden Knights and Stars, DeBoer has missed out on the playoffs just two times -- and one of those times came when he was fired by San Jose after only 33 games in 2019-20. By-and-large, DeBoer has taken what's been given to him and consistently led his team into the post-season. And getting into the playoffs is the first stepping stone that the Sabres need to take -- and they need to take it next season.

Does Ducks Young Star Forward Make Sense As A Trade Target For Sabres?As one of the most disappointing teams in the NHL for many seasons now, the Buffalo Sabres need to make extensive roster changes this summer. And an intriguing target for the Sabres could be an Anaheim Ducks youngster in need of a change of employer -- left winger Trevor Zegras.

As such, there is definitely going to be an urgency enveloping Buffalo right out of the gate next fall, and if the Sabres do struggle, we absolutely see Adams firing Ruff at that time. But if DeBoer somehow takes another job between now and then, you can make the argument Adams has missed out on a golden opportunity to hire a difference-maker coach because he wasn't proactive.

More than ever, coaches are hired to be fired, and it's not only in the NHL where that happens. The NBA has just seen New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau after he led the team to its strongest finish in a quarter-century. There is no appetite for patience anymore. But somehow, the Sabres are hanging tough with a coach who couldn't do much for them last season, and who has missed the playoffs in five of his past six seasons. Someone make it make sense.

Sabres Should Be Focusing On Trading For This Veteran Stanley Cup-WinnerThe Buffalo Sabres are in need of many things this summer -- but more than anything else, they need some veterans to come in and establish a winning standard for a new era for the franchise. And while it won't be a cakewalk to acquire the type of talent that can change things for the Sabres, that doesn't mean Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams shouldn't be swinging for the fences in trades and free agency. 

DeBoer is likely to get another kick at the can sooner than later, and the Sabres should be the team taking a chance on him. Buffalo ownership has to be cold-blooded about their management team, and Adams has to be cold-blooded about his coach.

But it certainly doesn't feel like it at the moment. And time will tell, one way or another, whether the Sabres were wise to let it play out like this, or whether they should've bid farewell to Ruff and replaced him with someone who's accomplished much more than he has of late.

The Toronto Maple Leafs hired former Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde as an assistant coach on Friday. But between the time the Wings fired Lalonde midway through this season and the time Toronto hired him, he’s kept busy.

There’s a not-so-secret factor that keeps coaches in the spotlight when they aren’t behind the bench, and that’s the media.

Yes, the adversary for many hockey executives can also be a lifeline thrown to them in between coaching jobs.

Lalonde won two Stanley Cup championships as an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021, and he wasn’t a total washout as Red Wings coach, either, putting up an 89-86-23 record in three seasons before he was fired in December. 

Instead of staying out of the spotlight, Lalonde appeared as an analyst on Sportsnet. He worked the NHL trade deadline and select games earlier in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Even while he coached the Red Wings, he was a playoff analyst on Sportsnet before, including in the 2023 playoffs when the Maple Leafs faced the Lightning. Being an analyst was a solid choice, as he provided great insight for TV viewers.

Lalonde is hardly the first coach to go the broadcasting route between coaching gigs. 

Longtime coach John Tortorella, who’s not afraid to challenge the media, has taken TV jobs with TSN and ESPN before. Rick Tocchet appeared on TNT before the Vancouver Canucks hired him in 2023. More recently, veteran coach Bruce Boudreau has worked the circuit, often on TSN but also multiple times on The Hockey News Big Show, among other shows. Retired coach Rick Bowness has appeared on Sportsnet and TNT as well.

Being on air is a tidy way to keep your name in the hockey community vernacular as a coaching candidate, and fans always have an easier time relating to you if they see what personality and acumen you bring to the table by watching your viewpoint on TV. 

That was true for Lalonde, who was affable and insightful in the limited time he was out of work in NHL circles.

Now, he’s also going to get a bump in recognition by working in Maple Leafs-crazed Toronto, the same way Lane Lambert – the guy Lalonde replaced with the Leafs – got a bump in recognition in just one year as an assistant with the Buds after being the head coach of the New York Islanders. 

Lambert’s increased profile with Toronto certainly didn’t hurt his cause, and he’s now the new coach of the Seattle Kraken. Things worked out about as well as Lambert could’ve hoped. And Lalonde would be lying if he told you he still didn’t aspire to getting another shot as a coach somewhere down the line. 

The coaching industry churns and burns coaches faster than ever, but what never changes is the fact that broadcasters are always looking for people in the coaching bubble to provide a glimpse at what mentalities go into being behind an NHL bench.

When it comes down to it, it’s one part of the circle of life for coaches. And Lalonde now has a new lease on his coaching career.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.