For Ottawa Senators fans, the sting of their team’s first-round elimination is starting to fade. Soon, that disappointment will give way to excitement for the future, and much of that excitement centers around young NHL prospects.

Exhibit A is defenceman Carter Yakemchuk, probably the number one prospect in the organization. According to The Athletic in their January ranking, the Sens have the league’s 27th-best prospect pool. That makes it all the more important that a blue-chipper like Yakemchuk pans out.

And based on the state of things on the right side of Ottawa's blue line, if he does pan out, he'd be exactly what the doctor ordered.

Bookmark The Hockey News Ottawa and never miss the latest Senators news, interviews, columns, features and more. 

The 19-year-old, who turns 20 in September, will probably start next season with the Belleville Senators. He recently concluded his WHL career with the Calgary Hitmen after a Game 7 loss to Lethbridge in Round 2 of the playoffs.

Had we known at last year’s NHL Draft that the Senators were targeting an offensive defenceman at seventh overall, most fans might have assumed they’d take Zeev Buium or Zayne Parekh. Those two were ranked seventh and eighth in TSN’s Bob McKenzie’s rankings and were both still available when Steve Staios, Michael Andlauer, and head amateur scout Don Boyd hit the stage in Vegas to make their pick.

But this group values (and needs) size on the back end and couldn’t resist Yakemchuk, ranked 13th by McKenzie.

The Sens believe Yakemchuk is that rare blend of size (6'3") and skill who will someday thrive in the NHL. In 2023–24, he topped 30 goals and 70 points in the WHL, huge numbers for a draft-eligible blueliner. His offensive instincts, puck protection, and heavy shot make him a dangerous threat from the back end.

His first NHL training camp last fall was outstanding, to the point where he almost made the team. He led the Senators in preseason scoring, and his coast-to-coast OT winner against the Leafs was a highlight. Yakemchuk was the Senators’ final cut and headed back to junior to work on his defensive details and, most importantly, improve his skating.

The silver lining, or so everyone thought, was the chance to go back and dominate the WHL and also play for Team Canada at the World Junior tournament in Ottawa.

But neither of those things happened. Yakemchuk didn’t make Team Canada. In fact, he wasn’t even invited to camp. And his offensive numbers in Calgary took a sizeable dip from the season before.

Carter Yakemchuk – WHL Regular Season Stats

2023–24: GP 66, Goals 30, Assists 41, Points 71, PIM 120, -6 
2024–25: GP 56, Goals 17,  Assists 32, Points 49, PIM 82, +6 

The drop-off isn’t entirely negative.  As instructed by the Senators, Yakemchuk focused on becoming a more complete two-way player. He was also more physical, using his size advantage to finish body checks as a matter of policy.

And with the Hitmen transitioning from a struggling 65-point team to a 96-point Memorial Cup contender, the expectations were higher and the systems were more detailed.

But even with all that adjustment, you'd think some of that might have been offset by the fact that he was now a year older with some new, NHL-influenced swagger.

Take Parekh and Buium, for example. They were also drafted for their skill and were sent back to their amateur teams with instructions to work on becoming more complete players.

Neither of them had a dip in production.

Parekh didn’t make Team Canada, but they brought him to evaluation camp ahead of Yakemchuk. In his draft year, Parekh had 33 goals and 96 points in 66 games for the Saginaw Spirit. This year, he had 33 goals again and 107 points in five fewer games. The Calgary Flames even brought him in to make his NHL debut at the end of the season.

Buium played for a second year in a row at the World Juniors for Team USA. His numbers at the University of Denver stayed virtually the same, going from 50 points in his draft year to 48 this year. But the Minnesota Wild were so impressed with his development, they threw him right into the fire of a first-round playoff series, where he played four games.

Summer Breakups: Senators GM Steve Staios Prepares For Another Rebalancing ActThe Ottawa Senators held their seasonal exit meetings last Saturday, the final assignment for a fine young NHL club that took a huge step forward this season, forcing their way into the playoffs for the first time in eight years.

We're not suggesting at this point that the Senators should have taken these two players instead. I cannot stress that enough. As good as they are, adding more offensive skill with limited physicality isn't what's needed on Ottawa's blue line. 

But why did those players thrive this season in similar circumstances while Yakemchuk's numbers dipped?

It could be several things. Every young player has a different body and brain and develops at their own pace. It's hard enough to reliably figure out what's happening in the brain of a teenage male at any given moment, let alone predict what sort of player or person he'll be in five years when his frontal lobe is fully formed.

What matters is that the Sens remain very pleased with where Yakemchuk is in his development, and perhaps, as he did last fall, he’ll be able to elevate again at the pro level. This was his fourth season with the Hitmen, and while we’re not saying this is necessarily the case here, he wouldn’t be the first teenager to return to junior hockey feeling some complacency, like he’s already proven himself at that level.

But make no mistake: while this season didn’t deliver the dominant numbers many expected, Yakemchuk’s future remains bright — and the Senators are counting on it.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News - Ottawa

Bookmark The Hockey News Ottawa and never miss the latest Senators news, interviews, columns, features and more. 

On May 8, the Anaheim Ducks announced that the 12th head coach in franchise history was to be Joel Quenneville. This was the boldest move in Pat Verbeek’s tenure as general manager of the organization and potentially in the Ducks' 31 years as an NHL franchise.

Verbeek was hired on Feb. 4, 2022, in the middle of the 2021-22 season and roughly six and a half weeks before the 2022 NHL trade deadline. To that point, the Ducks had missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons (soon to be four) and had drafted in the top ten in each of those years.

Ducks Name Joel Quenneville Head Coach

Joel Quenneville's On-Ice Impact with the Ducks

Ducks Part Ways with Thompson, Clune

The Ducks were a rebuilding team, but hadn’t quite realized or operated as such. Verbeek changed that, sending out previous core members of the roster at the 2022 trade deadline like Hampus Lindholm, Josh Manson, and Rickard Rakell.

As perhaps expected, the Ducks missed the playoffs in all three (full) seasons of Verbeek’s tenure, continuing to finish near the bottom of the standings and accumulate top ten picks.

Heading into 2025-26, Verbeek’s fourth full season in the big chair, the Ducks have the third-longest playoff drought in the NHL, and he’ll face a new set of pressures, mandated by himself as well as ownership.

“I expect us to be very active and aggressive. I think I see this team at a point to where my expectation of this team is to make the playoffs next year,” Verbeek said on April 19, following the firing of Greg Cronin as head coach. “I expect our group to take a step, and so I'm going to be active and aggressive in making our team better.”

It’s been a tough sell to ask fans and ownership to buy into a long-term rebuild, especially in one of the league’s smaller markets, and having recently witnessed a sustained period of success between 2013-2018, where they qualified for the playoffs every season, won five consecutive Pacific Division titles, and reached the Western Conference Final twice.

“It has been a long, painful process, but we felt that we’ve reached a point where the rebuild is coming to an end,” Ducks co-owner Henry Samueli said following Thursday’s introductory press conference announcing Quenneville. “It really is, and it’s time to take the step to becoming a perennial playoff contender and eventually (a) Stanley Cup contender.”

The organization-wide mandate is to truly turn the corner and make the playoffs immediately. Speculation would suggest, this could have been a consequential contributing factor in Verbeek’s decision to appoint Quenneville as head coach.

There were several qualified and accomplished head coaching candidates on the market when the Ducks hired Quenneville, including reported finalists Rick Tocchet and Jay Woodcroft. Verbeek went with the most-qualified of the bunch, but also the one with the most baggage that could potentially alienate a significant portion of the fanbase.

“Oh, 100%. That is the pressure we’re putting on both Pat and Joel,” Samueli continued when asked if playoffs were the goal for 2025-26. “They know that the fans and the ownership expect to make the playoffs this season. It’s a lot of pressure to put on a coach and GM, but you’ve got to do it.”

The Samuelis (Henry and his wife, Susan) have been notoriously as “behind-the-scenes” as any owners in professional sports, delegating the spotlight to those they appoint in hockey-based roles.

However, with construction underway to improve Honda Center and create a surrounding sports and entertainment district (OCVIBE), the goal is to have a competitive team by the time ribbons are cut.

That also comes with the cutting of very large checks.

OCVIBE and Honda Center construction is setting the Samuelis back billions of dollars. They intend to now direct some of that spending toward the team and team staff, it would seem.

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, one of the NHL’s premier insiders, reported on his “32 Thoughts” podcast that the Ducks will be paying Quenneville more to coach the team than they had previously paid at the position.

“The Ducks have not historically paid a ton to their coaches,” Friedman said. “They did do that here on some level for Quenneville.”

Friedman noted the length of Quenneville’s contract was either two years, two years plus an option for the third, or three years.

“We know what it’s like (to be a contender), and I miss it personally, going to playoff games,” Samueli said. “That’s one reason we were willing to write a much bigger check this time around. That’s because bringing in someone of Joel’s stature that’s going to cost more money, but we’re willing to make that investment into the team.

“We’ve told the same thing to Pat. Going out looking for players, you will have the budget you need to make this a serious playoff team. You don’t have to pinch pennies anymore. Do what it takes to make us a contender.”

As of now, the Ducks will have over $38.6 million in projected cap space heading into the 2025 offseason, and Verbeek has been given the green light and directive to spend as much as necessary to improve the team to the point of contention.

“Potentially, if necessary. He’s going to spend wisely,” Samueli said when asked if spending to the cap was in the cards. “We’re not going to write stupid checks, but I told him, do what it takes to make this a really steady, perennial playoff contender and Stanley Cup contender down the road. And if that means signing big-name free agents, go for it. We told him, going forward, you will not be constrained by the budget.”

There may be yet another factor to consider when analyzing why Verbeek was bold enough to hire as controversial a figure as Quenneville. Friedman reported that the conclusion of Verbeek’s contract was on the nearing horizon, a previously unknown tidbit.

“Verbeek, by the way, is heading towards the end of his contract,” Friedman said. “So, he knows the pressure’s on him, too, to show some results in Anaheim.”

As stated by Samueli and Verbeek, they felt the potential rewards outweighed the risks of hiring Quenneville as the next head coach of the Anaheim Ducks. Verbeek hasn’t been one to shy away from bold choices in his time as GM, but a new directive to put the finishing touches on a prolonged rebuild and get to the playoffs may have been a deciding factor.

Joel Quenneville on Being Named Ducks Head Coach

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek on Quenneville Hiring

Marchand is still tormenting Maple Leafs, and Bruins could benefit as a result originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Two blockbuster deals made at the NHL trade deadline on March 7 are having a massive impact on the results of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

One of them is the Dallas Stars’ acquisition of elite winger Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes. Rantanen has 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) in 10 playoff games for the Stars, including a hat trick in their Game 7 win over the Colorado Avalanche in the first round. Dallas currently has a 2-1 lead over the Winnipeg Jets in Round 2.

The other major trade that’s changed the balance of power was the Boston Bruins trading Brad Marchand to the defending champion Florida Panthers.

The veteran left wing turned 37 years old Sunday, but he’s still one of the most effective postseason performers in the sport.

Marchand rescued the Panthers in Game 3 of their second-round series versus the Toronto Maple Leafs with a goal in overtime on Friday. Florida would have trailed the series 3-0 if it had lost that matchup.

BRAD MARCHAND WINS IT IN OT FOR THE PANTHERS 🐀🐀🐀🐀🐀🐀 pic.twitter.com/fUP840Yv4q

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 10, 2025

“Obviously, you see what he does on the ice,” Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe told reporters after Machand’s Game 3 heroics, per TSN. “He’s such a great player, and he’s been around for so long. He’s a playoff performer, and he scores big goals at big moments. He’s done it all — won a Stanley Cup. He brings so much life and energy to our group.”

The Panthers beat the Leafs 2-0 in Game 4 on Sunday, tying the series at two wins apiece.

Marchand now has four points (two goals, two assists) in four games against the Leafs in this series, which gives him 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists) in 31 career playoff games versus Toronto. He torments this franchise and its fans wherever he’s playing.

Overall, Marchand has tallied eight points (two goals, six assists) in nine playoff games this spring.

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

“He’s been incredible,” Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk told reporters before Sunday’s game. “Him and that whole line have been incredible, especially toward the end of (the first round). They were amazing for us in that closeout game and going into this series they’ve kept it going.

“It’s crazy, he’s the oldest guy in the series … (but) you would not think that by the way he’s playing right now. Super impressed to see what he’s doing. Super lucky to have him on our side.”

Marchand isn’t just driving offense on the Panthers’ third line. He’s making a positive contribution to their power play and penalty kill. He’s establishing a physical tone each game. He’s dragging his teammates into the fight with his energy and competitive fire.

Simply put: He’s doing what he did for so many years for the Bruins each April and May.

Marchand’s 58 career playoff goals are the second-most in the league since he made his postseason debut in 2011. His 146 playoff points are the second-most during that span, trailing only Nikita Kucherov’s 171.

Watching Marchand play a meaningful role in what could be another Stanley Cup run for the Panthers must be a tough watch for Bruins fans. The Bruins weren’t able to work out a contract extension with Marchand before the trade deadline and made the decision to move him. The fact that the B’s traded him wasn’t shocking. Seeing him go to the Panthers was the real surprise.

The Bruins’ return for Marchand was a conditional 2027 second-round pick, although that will turn into a first-rounder if the Panthers reach the Eastern Conference Final and Marchand plays in at least 50 percent of Florida’s games.

This series isn’t over yet, but you have to like the Panthers’ chances of eliminating the Leafs and having to give the Bruins a first-round pick to complete the Marchand trade.

This playoff run has proven that, despite his age, Marchand remains one of the best all-around left wings in the sport. And if he continues to make a great impact for the Panthers and they get to the Cup Final again, he could have plenty of potential suitors in free agency this summer.

EDMONTON – They say that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

For the Edmonton Oilers in their 2025 playoff run, that’s a very good thing.

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

As the Oilers prepare for Game 4 against the Vegas Golden Knights, they must thank their lucky stars for Corey Perry. Because the grizzled veteran forward is proving to be worth every single penny the team spent on him.

The top dogs of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard dominate the top of the Oilers’ scoring. However, you don’t need to look too far past them to see Perry’s name on the list.

Trending Oilers Stories

New Oilers Schedule For Round 2 vs Golden KnightsEDMONTON – Everyone’s life revolves around a calendar and a schedule.

Oilers' Leon Draisaitl On His Rare, Costly Mistakes

'Remarkable': Messier On How Unique Oilers' McDavid & Draisaitl Really Are

Oilers Are Surging Towards A New NHL Record

Oilers Suffer Heartbreaking Buzzer-Beater Loss To Golden Knights

Former Oilers' Pat Maroon Announces New Gig

EXCLUSIVE: Mark Messier On Oilers, Budweiser, His Future & MoreEDMONTON – Mark Messier loves Edmonton.

Perry sits fifth in Oilers’ playoff scoring, with seven points. He’s tied with Zach Hyman in points and is two back of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

He’s earned his top line deployment and this production virtually guarantees that he’ll sustain his placement.

Perry is tied with Draisaitl for five goals during the 2025 playoffs. What’s perhaps most impressive is that he’s scored three of his five tallies in their current series against the Golden Knights.

Corey Perry became the oldest player in @EdmontonOilers history to score a multi-goal game in the #StanleyCup Playoffs, eclipsing Willy Lindstrom (33 years, 12 days in Game 4 of 1984 SCF).#NHLStats: https://t.co/meexMOQ4vQpic.twitter.com/XyJCkwtYce

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) May 11, 2025

Not too shabby for a 39-year-old forward who’s on a team-friendly deal worth $1.15 million (not counting bonuses). 

For the Oilers to move on past the Golden Knights, everyone needs to do their part. Perry is contributing more than enough. Considering what his regular season role was, you couldn’t ask for anything more from him.

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

Swedish defenseman Filip Roos, 26, has signed a two-year contract with Färjestad BK, the SHL club announced on Sunday. This comes two days after Färjestad signed Czech forward Radim Zohorna to a two-year deal.

“It’s gonna be fun,” said Roos. “I don’t know much about Karlstad, but I lived up in Karlskoga for two years, which is not very far away. The times I’ve played here, you can feel the energy from the fans in the arena. It will be really fun.”

“We’ve had our eyes on Filip for a long time and we believe that he, with his abilities, will strengthen our defense in a good way, said Färjestad sports director Rickard Wallin. “Of course, we’re looking to strengthen all parts of the team to the best of our ability, and even though we thought the defense had the qualities that we wanted in advance of last year, we didn’t really get it together as a whole. We think the qualities that Filip Roos has match very well with what we want to add.”

Wallin described Roos as “a really good two-way defenseman at the SHL level. He skates well, has good size and can play in all zones. We think the ceiling is high and we know that he is eager to come here so it feels great.”

Roos, who describes himself as “a skilled defenseman who likes to drive the puck and hopefully can use it even more at home on bigger ice,” is originally from Gothenberg and played one SHL game with Frölunda in 2017-18 and 56 with Skelleftea AIK in 2021-22, recording seven points in the regular season and playoffs.

Roos was never drafted by an NHL team but spent the last three seasons in North America. The first two seasons he spent in the Chicago Blackhawks organization, recording three points and four penalty minutes in 21 NHL games, spending the rest of the time with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs. He spent last season in the Ottawa Senators organization, recording 17 points – all assists – in 68 AHL games with the Belleville Senators.

Last season, Färjestad finished fourth in the SHL regular season and was eliminated in the quarterfinals. The team also reached the final of the Champions Hockey League, losing to the ZSC Lions in Zurich.

In addition to Zohorna and Roos, Färjestad has under contract for next season ex-NHLers Oskar Steen and Marián Studenič, and NHL prospects Lucas Forsell (Vancouver Canucks), Jack Berglund (Philadelphia Flyers), Noel Fransén (Carolina Hurricanes) and goaltender Melker Thelin (Utah Mammoth).

Radim Zohorna Signs With Swedish ClubCzech forward Radim Zohorna, 29, has signed a two-year contract with Färjestad BK, the SHL club announced on Friday.

Chaos erupted as the final buzzer went in the Toronto Maple Leafs' 2-0 loss to the Florida Panthers on Sunday in Game 4 of the series.

In the corner, all five players from each team were involved in a scrum after Max Domi checked Aleksander Barkov from behind into the boards. After the hit, several Panthers played dogpiled Domi, while Brad Marchand and Bobby McMann traded shots.

Domi was called for boarding. McMann, Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad received misconducts.

As that happened, Matthew Tkachuk and William Nylander were jawing back and forth on the bench.

On TNT's broadcast, you can hear what appears to be Tkachuk saying to Nylander that he will go after him in Game 5. Tkachuk also winked towards Toronto's bench as the scrum in the corner was still happening.

Maple Leafs Shut Out By Panthers In Game 4, Head Back To Toronto With Series TiedThe Toronto Maple Leafs dropped their second straight game at Amerant Bank Arena, falling 2-0 to the Florida Panthers on Sunday. With the loss, the series is tied 2-2, heading back to Toronto for Game 5.

What did Nylander make of the Florida forward getting in his ear?

"Just talking. That's what he does," Nylander said.

"He'll probably do whatever he can to get a player off their game, but yeah, the next game's going to be a fun one."

The series is beginning to heat up as the Panthers have won back-to-back games at home. Both teams will head to Toronto, and whoever wins there will have a chance to advance to the third round on Friday in Florida.

‘He’s Progressing’: Maple Leafs’ Anthony Stolarz Trending In Right Direction, But Yet To Resume SkatingThe Toronto Maple Leafs are still without starting goaltender Anthony Stolarz as they prepare for Game 4 of their second-round series against the Florida Panthers. 

It's the Maple Leafs' second shutout loss of the playoffs, with the first being in Game 5 against Ottawa, where Toronto lost 4-0. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped all 37 shots on Sunday night, and although his save percentage in the series (.890) doesn't say it, it feels like the goaltender is finding his form.

Toronto had its chances despite the loss. John Tavares led the Maple Leafs with five shots in the game, Nylander was right behind him with four, and Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies had three.

Why Auston Matthews Missed Maple Leafs Morning Skate Before Game 4 Against PanthersWhen the Toronto Maple Leafs filed onto the ice for their morning skate before Game 4 against the Florida Panthers, one player was missing: Auston Matthews.

"I think they did a good job keeping us on the outside and hard getting to the inside, letting their goalie see the puck," Nylander said. "Yeah, they did a great job. The series, it's a tough battle."

However, it shouldn't feel like the sky is falling for the Maple Leafs. They handled Florida well in the first two games, showing what their high-powered offense can do. Even in the early goings of Game 3, Toronto was playing sound hockey.

Either Game 4 was an anomaly, which it likely was, or we're witnessing the Panthers' Stanley Cup-winning pedigree come to life. Either way, the Maple Leafs will keep battling back, as they have under head coach Craig Berube throughout the year.

'Guys In This Room Recognize That': How Maple Leafs’ Elite Defense Is Powering Their 2025 Stanley Cup Playoff RunJake McCabe did everything possible to get the puck away from their net when it rolled into the Toronto Maple Leafs' crease with just over five-and-a-half minutes left in the third period.

And Nylander, he doesn't believe this series is close to being over.

"Yeah, I mean, 2-2," he said. "It's going to be a long series. That's our mindset."

---

Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

The Winnipeg Jets fell to the Dallas Stars in Game 3 of their second matchup by a 5-2 final score. With this, the Jets are now down 2-1 in the series and will aim to tie it back up on the road in Game 4. While the Jets lost, former Carolina Hurricanes forward Nino Niederreiter did his part to try to get them a victory. 

At the 10:07 mark of the second period, Niederreiter scored to tie the contest up at 2-2. The former Hurricanes forward's goal was a nice one, too, as he received a great feed from Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey before beating Stars goalie Jake Oettinger with an excellent snap shot.

Gimme fuel, gimme fire, gimme Nino Niederreiter 🔥 pic.twitter.com/QWaFi3YZeS

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 11, 2025

With this goal, Niederreiter has extended his point streak to three games, where he has two goals and an assist over the span. In addition, he now has four goals and six points in his last six contests. Thus, the former Hurricane is certainly hot right now for the Jets.

During his tenure with the Hurricanes, Niederreiter was impactful because of his secondary scoring ability and tenacity. He is providing just that for the Jets this post-season, and now ranks second on Winnipeg with four goals and fourth on the team with six points in 10 playoff games. 

In 234 games with the Hurricanes over four seasons from 2018-19 to 2021-22, Niederreiter posted 69 goals, 137 points, 287 hits, and a plus-53 rating. His time with the Canes ended when he signed with the Nashville Predators during the 2022 NHL off-season. 

Recent Hurricanes News 

Carolina Hurricanes Have Golden Opportunity In Game 4After a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals in Game 2, the Carolina Hurricanes bounced back in a big way in Game 3. The Hurricanes put together a strong effort in Game 3, defeating the Capitals by a 4-0 final score. Hurricanes Provide Positive Update On Injured PlayersCarolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour delivered some positive news on the injury front Sunday afternoon. 'That Was Textbook Hurricanes Hockey': Rod Brind'Amour, Andrei Svechnikov, Eric Robinson, Jack Roslovic, Frederik Andersen On Game 3 WinThe Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Washington Capitals 4-0 in Game 3 at Lenovo Center Saturday night to take a 2-1 series.

The Rockford IceHogs were looking great in the Calder Cup Playoffs. When they took a 2-0 series lead over the Milwaukee Admirals in their second-round matchup, they did it with their fourth win in a row.

That gave them three chances to close out the series. After losing the next two, the two teams competed in a winner-take-all game five on Sunday in Milwaukee. 

Game five started negatively for Rockford. Chase De Leo scored his first of the playoffs for Milwaukee to put them up 1-0. 

However, the IceHogs showed some life in the first ten minutes of the second period. Zach Sanford scored two goals in under three minutes to give Rockford a 2-1 lead. 

Before the middle frame ended, the Admirals took the lead back. Back-to-back goals by Fedor Svechkov and Jesse Ylonen made it a 3-2 score. 

At 11:09 of the third period, Joey Anderson tucked in his fifth of the playoffs to tie the game for the IceHogs. At that point, it was clear that both teams wanted to move on badly. It would be an understatement to say that they were evenly matched, despite where they finished in the regular season standings. 

60 minutes wasn't enough to settle this game or series. Just 1:38 into the fourth period, Fedor Svechkov scored his second to win the game and the series for Milwaukee. It was a hard-fought matchup between two great teams. It was only fitting that it came down to one sudden-death goal.

Now, the Admirals will move on to the Central Division Championship of the Calder Cup Playoffs. They will see the Texas Stars in that series. 

As for Rockford, there will be some changes. The Chicago Blackhawks may have a handful of their players in their opening night lineup next year.

Guys like Artyom Levshunov, Ethan Del Mastro, and Nolan Allan, amongst others, are all going to compete for jobs at training camp. There are also players on the IceHogs roster who may be looking to make their NHL debut in the fall. 

Reinforcements could be on the way as well. The Blackhawks will likely have some of the younger guys, like Taige Harding and Marek Vanacker, play in Rockford to begin their careers.

Goaltender Drew Commesso deserves some individual praise. He gave the IceHogs a chance to win every night. The Blackhawks' backup situation in 2025-26 is cloudy, but he will be in the mix.  

Only time will tell if Rockford has what it needs to make a run again next season. It can be difficult in the AHL with all of the NHL transactions that affect their on-ice list of players.

Every player, including veterans like Joey Anderson and Brett Seney, should be proud of the year that they had. 

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

The Pittsburgh Penguins just wrapped up their 57th season, missing the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third consecutive season. Despite their recent lack of success, the franchise has appeared in the playoffs 37 times and won five championships.

Our newest series will reflect on how the Penguins performed on specific days leading up to the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.

Today, May 11, Pittsburgh has compiled a 6-3 record in nine games on this date.

• 1991 - Game 6 Win vs. Boston Bruins (5-3)
• 1992 - Game 5 Win vs. New York Rangers (3-2)
• 1996 - Game 5 Win vs. New York Rangers (7-3)
• 1999 - Game 3 Win vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (4-3)
• 2008 - Game 2 Win vs. Philadelphia Flyers (4-2)
• 2009 - Game 6 Loss vs. Washington Capitals (5-4 OT)
• 2013 - Game 6 Win vs. New York Islanders (4-3 OT)
• 2014 - Game 6 Loss vs. New York Rangers (3-1)
• 2022 - Game 5 Loss vs. New York Rangers (5-3)

Notable Penguins Performances On This Day

May 11, 1991 - The Penguins advance to their first Stanley Cup Final with a Game 6 win over the Bruins, thanks in part to Larry Murphy's four points (goal, three assists) along with three point nights from Mario Lemieux (goal, two assists) and Mark Recchi (goal, two assists).

At the time, it was Murphy's first four-point playoff game, and Lemieux's sixth career three-point playoff game.

May 11, 1996 - Lemieux records his third and final career playoff hat trick. Meanwhile, Jaromir Jagr records his only postseason in the same game, the only time these two legends combined for six goals in one contest with the Penguins.

May 11, 1999 - Ten seasons after his first career three-point playoff game, Rob Brown picks up three assists in a 4-3 win over the Maple Leafs. Moreover, Jagr has a goal and two helpers for three points. 

Former Penguin Marc-Andre Fleury Named To NHL Quarter-Century TeamTwo days after Pittsburgh Penguins' forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were named to the NHL Quarter-Century Team, another longtime former teammate will be joining them.

May 11, 2008 - Sergei Gonchar compiled his first three-point playoff game with the Penguins, registering three assists in a 4-2 win against the Flyers.

May 11, 2009 - Evgeni Malkin records three assists in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Capitals. At the time, it was his seventh three-point playoff game. As of 2025, he's up to 16. 

May 11, 2013 - Brooks Oprik is the overtime hero, eliminating the Islanders in Game 6 with his first career overtime goal. 

A playoff game between the Montreal Victoire and Ottawa Charge set a record for the longest game in Professional Women’s Hockey League history on Sunday night, spanning over 135 minutes and four overtime periods.

The puck dropped at 2:08 p.m. ET, and the game went on for more than five hours, finally coming to an end at 7:42 with Montreal winning 3-2.

Catherine Dubois scored the game-winning goal with just under five minutes remaining in the fourth overtime period to give Montreal its first playoff win in franchise history.

“I’m just happy we got a win and it’s over now,” Dubois said.

Québec native setting records in her home Province 🥺

Catherine Dubois' GWG in 4OT ⬇️⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ojMk9j1jdN

— PWHL (@thepwhlofficial) May 11, 2025

It was the second consecutive year – on the exact same day – that Montreal’s second game of the postseason turned into a hockey marathon. Last season, Boston beat Montreal 2-1 in triple overtime with Taylor Wenczkowski’s game-winner at 111:44.

Sunday night’s game was more than 20 minutes longer than last year’s record (135:33) and longer than two regulation hockey games combined.

At one point during the game, Ottawa had packets of mustard and pickle juice on the bench, according to rinkside reporter Kelly Greig.

The @PWHL_Ottawa trainers have started taping packs of mustard to the bench. Apparently eating mustard can prevent cramping after playing for this long. pic.twitter.com/Wk8PKjwvaS

— Kelly Greig (@KellyGreig) May 11, 2025

“At some point, you just laugh,” said Ottawa forward Emily Clark. “The mustard was coming out, the pickle juice … It honestly went down easier than I thought it was going to.” 

For most of regulation it looked like Montreal might cruise to victory, holding a 2-0 lead in the third period. But Ottawa charged back with two goals in the final five minutes, including Brianne Jenner’s game-tying goal with only 42 seconds left to force overtime.

“There’s so much to be proud of,” said Ottawa defender Jocelyne Larocque, who led the team with 56 minutes of ice time. “We never gave up. We tied it up late in the game. We gave an amazing effort.”

Both teams had quality chances to end the game in the first overtime period, including five-on-three power plays on both sides, but failed to capitalize. Montreal forward Alexandra Labelle also appeared to win the game just minutes into the fourth overtime period, but the puck rang off the post behind Ottawa netminder Gwyneth Philips.

Finally, Dubois ended it on the 121st shot of the game. It was her first career playoff goal and builds off a strong regular season for Dubois, who finished tied for third in goals on the Victoire behind only captain Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey.

Montreal goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens set a record with 63 saves on 65 shots. Philips made 53 saves for the Charge, good for a franchise record.

Montreal defender Erin Ambrose logged a game-high 58:09 in ice time, less than her all-time high 61:33 in last year’s Game 2 thriller. Stacey led all forwards with 46:47; her 12 shots on goal is a PWHL single-game record.

It was the second-longest game in Montreal’s rich professional hockey history, just shy of Game 1 of the 1936 semifinals between the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Maroons (176:30). It was also the second consecutive year that Montreal’s second game of the postseason turned into a hockey marathon. Last season, Boston beat Montreal 2-1 in triple overtime en route to a 3-0 series win.

With the win Sunday, the Victoire have tied the best-of-five semifinal series and took a key step toward avenging last year’s opening-round sweep against Boston.

“I think that the group showed the grit that was needed to win a playoff game,” said Montreal coach Kori Cheverie. “I’d like to think that the momentum is in our corner, but we’ll have to wait and see and be able to put another game together for 60-plus minutes.”

In the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader, the Minnesota Frost beat the Toronto Sceptres 7-5 in the highest-scoring game in league history. Minnesota, the reigning champion, now has a 2-1 series lead.

The PWHL playoffs continue Tuesday.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Women's Hockey

2025 The Athletic Media Company

Who gets the Cup first? NHL insiders pick likely Stanley Cup handoff heroes for each contender.

The moment every kid dreams of is the one where they hoist the Stanley Cup. Some of the most memorable moments from Stanley Cup wins is when the team captain makes the first handoff to a player who worked long and hard to finally lift up the greatest trophy in sports. 

Who could forget when Ray Bourque finally won his first Stanley Cup in year 22 of his legendary career? Or when Scott Niedermayer passed the Cup to his brother Rob in 2007? 

These iconic moments endure through time, creating unforgettable memories as fans witness the players who’ve represented them for generations finally achieve the ultimate glory in the sport.

With that in mind we look at all the eight current Stanley Cup Contenders and spoke with team insiders as to which player would most likely get the first handoff. 

All betting lines are from Bet365 and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

More NHL: Jonathan Toews NHL Return Could Be With Anaheim Ducks, According to NHL Insider

Winnipeg Jets - Mark Schefiele (+10000)

We spoke to both of The Hockey News' Winnipeg Jets insiders in Carter Brooks and Julian Gaudio with the two coming to the consensus that captain Adam Lowry’s first handoff would go to Mark Scheifele, the first-ever draft pick of this era of the Jets franchise.

The 32-year-old Kitchener native has been with the team for 14 seasons and has totaled 804 points through 879 career games. Scheifele is the longest active tenured Jet and makes the most sense for the honor of getting the Cup first. 

Dallas Stars - Tyler Seguin (+800)

Mikko Rantanen is putting together a solid resume for the Conn Smythe trophy if the Stars were to win the cup but would that mean he gets the Cup first? Team insider Taylor Newby believes it would be longtime Star Tyler Seguin being the first handoff. 

After spending the first three years of his career in Boston, Seguin has solidified himself as a Dallas Stars legend with 688 points through 786 games over 12 seasons with the team.

He and captain Jamie Benn have been known to have a very close relationship and they are the team's two longest tenured players and would make the most sense for them to celebrate the moment together.

Edmonton Oilers - Adam Henrique (+10000)

The Devils run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2012 was headlined by several big goals by a young Henrique, who put his name on the map. Unfortunately the Devils fell just short but the now 35-year-old centre is still on the hunt for his first cup and could get a chance with the red hot Oilers. 

People expect McDavid to pass it to his star teammate in Draisaitl but history shows the veterans get it first. When Sidney Crosby won all three of his Stanley Cups, none of his first handoffs were to superstar teammate Evgeni Malkin. 

More NHL: Utah Hockey Club Announces New Team Name

Vegas Golden Knights - Tomas Hertl (+3000)

The 31-year-old forward came close to lifting lord Stanley when reaching the Finals in 2016 with the San Jose Sharks. Gaudio also covers the Golden Knights and spoke to Hertl's character of being a positive guy and that the team would be more than happy to give him to Cup first. 

Toronto Maple Leafs - John Tavares (+750)

The hometown hero has been a difference maker to Toronto’s success this season, racking up 74 points—including 38 goals, matching the second-highest total of his career. After being the Leafs captain over the last five seasons, Tavares stepped down to allow superstar Auston Matthews to take over as the leader and face of the franchise they drafted him to be. 

More NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Florida Panthers Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Future Options

Johnny Toronto getting the Cup first makes as he is the third-oldest player on the team but an honorable mention is veteran Max Pacioretty, who is the oldest on the team at 36 years old. 

Florida Panthers - Nate Schmidt (+1500)

The runaway favourite for the defending Stanley Cup Champions is newcomer Nate Schmidt, who has come close before when reaching the Finals in 2018 with the Vegas Golden Knights.

At age 33, Schmidt has played nearly 750 games and has accrued a dominant +106 rating, which is 48th-best in the NHL since joining the league back in the 2013-14 season. 

Carolina Hurricanes - Brent Burns (+490)

Hurricanes insider Ryan Henkel agrees with sportsbooks that have Burns as the overall favourite to be the first handoff for the cup.

The sure-fire Hall-of-Fame defenceman has never won before despite ranking ninth all-time in goals and 12th in points. He currently holds the fourth longest iron man streak in the NHL and is three games short of 1,500 games played. 

Washington Capitals - Nic Dowd (+10000)

Washington's pick is easy as the 34-year-old winger joined the Caps shortly after they won the Stanley Cup in 2018 and has become such an integral part of the team that many may not know, he hasn't won yet. 

Team captain Alex Ovechkin will surely spot that their second-oldest player on the roster after himself hasn't won yet and deserves the respect of getting the first handoff. 

After a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals in Game 2, the Carolina Hurricanes bounced back in a big way in Game 3. The Hurricanes put together a strong effort in Game 3, defeating the Capitals by a 4-0 final score.

Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen was undoubtedly a significant reason for the victory, as he recorded a 21-save shutout. Hurricanes forward Jack Roslovic also stepped up for the Metropolitan Division club, scoring a goal and adding an assist. Jackson Blake, Eric Robinson, and Andrei Svechnikov all scored for the Hurricanes as well.

With their strong team effort, the Hurricanes now sport a 2-1 series lead over the Capitals. With this, they now have a major opportunity in front of them heading into Game 4. If the Hurricanes can win at home again, they will take a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Capitals. This would be massive for the Hurricanes, as it is always incredibly challenging for teams to overcome 3-1 deficits. 

A loss to the Capitals, on the other hand, would certainly be a tough blow for the Hurricanes. If the Hurricanes are defeated in Game 4, the series will be tied back up at 2-2, and the Capitals would regain their home-ice advantage. Thus, this matchup carries great weight for both teams.

Nevertheless, it will be very interesting to see if the Hurricanes can stay hot and pick up a win in Game 4 from here.

Recent Hurricanes News 

Hurricanes Provide Positive Update On Injured PlayersCarolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour delivered some positive news on the injury front Sunday afternoon. 'That Was Textbook Hurricanes Hockey': Rod Brind'Amour, Andrei Svechnikov, Eric Robinson, Jack Roslovic, Frederik Andersen On Game 3 WinThe Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Washington Capitals 4-0 in Game 3 at Lenovo Center Saturday night to take a 2-1 series. Carolina Hurricanes Defend Home Ice, Shutout Capitals In Game 3The Carolina Hurricanes defended home ice in Game 3, smashing the Washington Capitals 4-0 at Lenovo Center Saturday night.

The Winnipeg Jets continue their road woes, dropping Game 3 to the Dallas Stars 5-2.

The Stars broke the ice in Game 3 and went into the first intermission with a one-goal lead. Roope Hintz recorded his fifth goal of the playoffs on the power play. Mikko Rantanen was once again involved in the scoring, picking up an assist on the goal. Kyle Connor added his fifth of the playoffs to tie the game, but Thomas Harley, who continues to evolve, scored his third of the postseason to regain the lead. 

Harley's goal was the first Stars goal that Rantanen had not picked a point on since Apr. 28. Rantanen had picked up points on 14 consecutive Stars goals.

The Jets were able to tie the game in the second period after Josh Morrissey danced around the blue line before setting up Nino Niederreiter for his fourth goal of the playoffs.

In the third period, a lengthy review determined that Alexander Petrovic did not kick the puck, but also that Connor Hellebuyck knocked it into his net, giving the Stars the 3-2 advantage. Rantanen added to the lead less than a minute later, scoring his ninth goal of the playoffs and fourth of the series. Wyatt Johnston gave the Stars a three-goal lead with his fourth of the playoffs.

Lulls in focus have hampered the Jets at home, giving up consecutive goals in periods for the fourth straight game. Hellebuyck has now allowed five or more goals in all four road games, and Mark Scheifele has not recorded a point on the road.

The Jets will attempt to tie the series at two games apiece on Tuesday when the teams play Game 4.

Stay updated with the most interesting Jets stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

Sometimes, an NHL player more or less owns a particular opponent. Whether it’s happenstance or deliberate dominance, there are unquestionably powerful performances made by certain NHLers against certain teams. And there’s probably no better example of a player laying the boots to one franchise than Florida Panthers left winger Brad Marchand’s amazing play against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Whether it’s been in his time as a member of the Boston Bruins or his current stint with the Panthers, Marchand has been as prickly a thorn in the side of the Maple Leafs as they come. And after Marchand’s game-winning overtime goal in Game 3 of Toronto’s second-round series against Florida, Marchand now has 33 points in 31 career playoff games against the Leafs. 

That’s the third-highest career total of any opponent in Maple Leafs history – only Detroit Red Wings legends Gordie Howe (53 points) and Alex Delvecchio (35) have more post-season points against Toronto. And those players put up those points at a time when there were far fewer teams in the league, making it all the more remarkable that Marchand has been so devastating to the Leafs’ aspirations in a 30-plus-team NHL.

But the 37-year-old Marchand has been a not-so-silent assassin since he began his NHL days in 2009. Marchand’s Game 3-winner against Toronto was his 14th career game-winning goal in the post-season – the most among active NHL players. And Marchand’s game-winner against the Maple Leafs was his fifth career post-season game-winner against Toronto. That ties him with Montreal Canadiens icon Jean Beliveau for the most game-winning playoff goals against the Buds.

In some respects, you could’ve forgiven Leafs GM Brad Treliving if he went out at this year’s trade deadline and acquired Marchand. Of course, the best way you can contain Marchand is to have him on your team. But Marchand wanted to be dealt to the Panthers, and that’s the best stroke of good fortune Florida could’ve asked for.

The Panthers didn’t trade for Marchand strictly because they envisioned a playoff showdown against the Leafs, but you’d be fooling yourself if you believed that Marchand’s success against Toronto didn’t cross the mind of Florida GM Bill Zito when he decided to acquire Marchand.

There’s still lots of the Leafs/Panthers series to be played, and let’s not forget, Toronto did win the first two games of the series with Marchand being on the losing end of things. But the Maple Leafs have been haunted by Marchand for a very long time now, and the prospect of Marchand continuing to thrive against Toronto has to be driving Leafs fans crazy.

The Leafs were within one goal of going up three games to none in the series against Florida, but Marchand stopped that from happening with his latest timely goal. Time will tell if Toronto can shake off the Marchand-related demons of the past and get to the Eastern Conference final this spring, but one thing is for certain – Marchand will go down in history as one of the Maple Leafs’ toughest opponents.

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.

Two days after Pittsburgh Penguins' forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were named to the NHL Quarter-Century Team, another longtime former teammate will be joining them.

Future Hall-of-Fame goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury - who officially announced his retirement from the NHL following the first-round conclusion to the Minnesota Wild's season - was named as one of five goaltenders to the Quarter-Century Team, which is a media and fan-voted list in recognition of the top-25 NHL players from the last 25 years. 

Fleury, 40, was drafted by the Penguins first overall in the 2003 NHL Draft, and he remained with the Penguins until 2017, when he was selected in the expansion draft by the Vegas Golden Knights. He won three Stanley Cups (2009, 2016, 2017) with Pittsburgh and is the all-time franchise leader in wins with 375.

He won a Vezina Trophy with the Golden Knights in 2020-21 and is second all-time in goaltending wins with 575, behind only Martin Brodeur's 691. He has suited up for the Penguins, Golden Knights, Chicago Blackhawks, and Wild.

Despite his retirement from the NHL, Fleury is currenty representing Team Canada at the IIHF Men's World Championship in Sweden and Denmark, and he earned his first World Championship win on Sunday in a 7-1 victory over Team Latvia.

Crosby, Malkin Named To NHL Quarter-Century TeamThe votes for the NHL Quarter-Century Team are finally in. 

The other goaltenders named to the Quarter-Century Team were Martin Brodeur, Patrick Roy, Carey Price, Henrik Lundqvist, and Roberto Luongo.

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!