The NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs are upon us, and we continue to predict how the first round will go.

On Thursday, we posted our picks to win the Western Conference’s four series. And today, this writer is predicting the winners of each Eastern Conference first-round matchup.

Every year, we say the same thing: this writer’s picks are our best guesses to emerge as first-round winners. However, we’re also going to examine which factors could go in the other team’s favor.

Now, here are our breakdowns for the NHL's four Eastern Conference series:

Washington Capitals (M1) Vs. Montreal Canadiens (WC2)

Season series: 2-1 Washington

Why Washington will win:The Capitals handily beat the Canadiens in their first two games, winning by a combined score of 10-5. There’s every reason to think they’ll eliminate the Habs from the post-season. 

The Capitals have the NHL’s second-best offense, averaging 3.49 goals-for per game. That’s far and away better than Montreal’s 2.96. 

On defense, Washington’s 2.79 goals against per game is also significantly better than Montreal’s 3.18 goals-against average. By virtually every metric, the Capitals are the better team, and on paper, at least, they should dispose of the Canadiens rather easily.

Why Montreal will win: Nobody expected the Canadiens to qualify for the post-season, so they’re playing with house money. 

Montreal’s group of young, fast and skilled skaters very well may push Washington to its limit in Round 1. The Habs did beat the Capitals in their last showdown, and the Caps went 4-7-0 in their final 11 regular-season games, so Washington’s flaws may be exposed by Habs coach Martin St-Louis. 

Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault posted a .922 save percentage in April, and if he can stay hot, Montreal might frustrate the Capitals to the point a series upset becomes a reality.

Prediction: Capitals in seven games

The Canadiens went 7-1-2 in their final 10 games, so the notion they’re going to be steamrolled by the Capitals is far-fetched. However, Washington is extremely well-coached, and they’ve got a great goalie in Logan Thompson who will be the difference for them. We expect Montreal to put up a fierce fight and extend the series to a seventh game, but the Caps’ all-around depth will be enough to push them into Round 2.

NHL Playoff Predictions 2025: Which West Teams Win Round 1? Expect An UpsetThe first-round matchups are finalized for the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs. That means it’s time for the time-honored tradition of THN.com playoff predictions. 

Toronto Maple Leafs (A1) Vs. Ottawa Senators (WC1)

Season series: 3-0 Ottawa

Why Toronto will win:The Senators swept the season series with the Maple Leafs, but after Ottawa’s last win over Toronto on March 15, the Leafs went 13-2-1 to finish the regular season atop the Atlantic Division. 

The Leafs ended the year with the NHL’s seventh-best offense and the league’s eighth-best defense. The Sens had the NHL’s 18th-best offense and 13th-best defense. 

Toronto’s defense is deeper and stronger than Ottawa’s, and while the Buds have their flaws, they have many lineup options if things don’t go well for them early. Coach Craig Berube is also a stellar motivator and tactician. Advantage(s): Toronto.

Why Ottawa will win: The Senators looked like the Leafs’ equal in their three regular-season games, and all the pressure in this series will be on Toronto. 

Sens goalie Linus Ullmark was acquired last summer to give the Senators better performances in net, and with a .910 SP and 2.72 GAA in 44 appearances, Ullmark has delivered on that front. 

The Sens’ young core will be getting the first taste of playoff hockey. If their stars, including Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle and Dylan Cozens, can provide enough offense, Ottawa can capitalize on Toronto’s penchant for playoff letdowns and shock the Maple Leafs into a first-round defeat.

Prediction: Maple Leafs in six games

The stakes for the Leafs couldn’t be higher, and it all starts with the incredible pressure of the Battle of Ontario. But while we think the Senators’ future is extremely bright, Toronto has never had a better back end than the one they’ve currently got, and Leafs stars Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares and Matthew Knies will be too much for the Sens to handle. It won’t be easy for Toronto, but we see a Leafs win in Round 1.

Maple Leafs Are NHL's Hottest Team Entering The Playoffs, But Senators Are No Slouches EitherThe Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators faced the prospect of playing nothing games on Thursday night.

Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) Vs. Florida Panthers (A3)

Season series: 2-2 tie

Why Tampa Bay will win:The Lightning and Panthers were notably different this season. Tampa Bay went a thoroughly mediocre 27-20-4 by Feb. 1, then went 20-7-4 the rest of the way. Meanwhile, the Panthers went 40-21-3 by March 8 before going 7-10-1 through the end of the season. 

The Bolts clearly have the momentum advantage, and Lightning GM Julien BriseBois has added tremendous depth. Tampa Bay has the better goalie in the series in Andrei Vasilevskiy, and so long as they stay healthy, the Bolts will be able to outlast Florida in a long and physically taxing series.

Why Florida will win: The Panthers have been a banged-up group, and they lost home-ice advantage to the Lightning. But Florida will get heart-and-soul left winger Matthew Tkachuk back, likely at the start of the series. Star defenseman Aaron Ekblad also will return in Game 3 of the series, giving the Panthers a far better defense corps than Tampa Bay’s group of blueliners. 

Trade acquisition Brad Marchand can and will be a difference-maker and a true thorn in the Lightning’s side. For those reasons, Florida is every bit Tampa’s equal – and then some.

Prediction: Panthers in seven games

This series will be one of the most brutal of any first-round matchup, and there’s not going to be anywhere close to a sweep for either side. But we’ve got a hunch the Panthers will have slightly more skill, grit and determination to emerge as the victors here. The Lightning will put up a terrific fight, but one of these two teams will go home bitterly disappointed, and we’re confident that Florida will find a way to outlast Tampa Bay.

NHL Playoffs 2025 First-Round Schedule: Dates, Times, Where To WatchThe schedule for the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs is here.

Carolina Hurricanes (M2) Vs. New Jersey Devils (M3)

Season series: 2-2 tie

Why Carolina will win:The Hurricanes knew they’d be playing the Devils for weeks now, and Carolina tried to drastically improve its roster this year. 

Once again, the Hurricanes’ defense corps is one of the NHL’s deepest and most balanced groups. Carolina is not lacking for speed and skill up front, either. 

Their consistency stands out, as the Hurricanes have the NHL’s ninth-most goals-for per game, 10th-fewest goals against per game and the NHL's very best penalty kill. Carolina desperately needs a long playoff run. Against an injury-depleted Devils team, they’re likely to start on the right foot.

Why New Jersey will win: While no team that loses a superstar like Jack Hughes should be considered anything other than an underdog, New Jersey got back top D-man Dougie Hamilton, giving the Devils a competitive defense corps. 

Given that few people will be picking New Jersey to win this series, the Devils will be playing freer and easier – and perhaps, do what many believe they can’t do by sending Carolina packing.

Prediction: Hurricanes in five games

Sorry, Devils fans, but without Hughes, New Jersey can’t compete with a well-coached, well-built Hurricanes squad. Carolina needs its goalies to deliver despite massive pressure on them, but the same can be said for New Jersey’s netminding. We don’t believe Devils goalie Jacob Markstrom can outperform Frederik Andersen and/or Pyotr Kochetkov. The Hurricanes may be eliminated in Round 2, but this series should go in the Hurricanes’ favor.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs announced they have recalled forward Ryan Reaves from their AHL affiliate Toronto Marlies.

Reaves was placed on waivers and sent to the AHL prior to the NHL Trade Deadline in order for the Maple Leafs to accrue more cap space. 

The 38-year-old has two assists and 28 penalty minutes in 35 games for the Maple Leafs this season. He scored his first AHL goal since 2010 in this three-game stint with the Marlies.

The Winnipeg, Man., native has amassed 63 goals, 137 points, and 1100 penalty minutes in 912 career NHL games. He notched one assist in five playoff games for the Maple Leafs last season. 

There are no NHL roster or cap limits during the playoffs so this recall likely means Reaves will at least be around the team for the postseason. There have been no updates on whether or not he will play, he did participate in Toronto's optional skate earlier today. 

Keep an eye on The Hockey News' Toronto Maple Leafs team site for more roster updates prior to their playoff matchup against the Ottawa Senators. 

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.  Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.   

Why Bruins fans should keep close tabs on Panthers' 2025 playoff run originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

If you’re a Boston Bruins fan, rooting for the Florida Panthers doesn’t sound like a good or fun idea. And it makes perfect sense — the Panthers eliminated the Bruins from the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the last two seasons.

But this spring is a little different.

When the Bruins dealt captain Brad Marchand to the Panthers on trade deadline day in March, they got back a conditional second-round draft pick in 2027. This second-rounder will become a 2027 or 2028 first-round selection if the Panthers win two or more rounds in this year’s playoffs and Marchand plays in at least 50 percent of Florida’s postseason games.

Given how important it is to the Bruins’ future success that they have as many quality draft picks and trade assets as possible, it would really help Boston if that conditional second-rounder became a first-rounder.

So even though it might be tough, Bruins fans should be rooting for the Panthers to reach at least the Eastern Conference Final over the next month.

What are the chances they make it that far?

Well, the Panthers are currently the favorites to win the Eastern Conference for the third straight season.

But it won’t be easy. The Panthers will have to beat their in-state rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in the first round. The Panthers eliminated the Lightning in five games in Round 1 last season. This year’s series should be tougher, though. The Lightning ranked No. 3 in 5-on-5 goals scored this season, while also having the third-best save percentage.

If the Panthers make it to Round 2, they’d likely have to play the Toronto Maple Leafs, who won the Atlantic Division. The Leafs have not reached the conference finals since 2002 and have won only one playoff series in the last 20 years. Toronto is very talented, but you’d have to like Florida’s chances of winning a potential playoff series versus the Leafs. The Panthers have a huge edge over the Leafs in playoff experience and quality of goaltending.

Nothing is guaranteed in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Bruins know that better than anyone. That said, B’s fans should be cautiously optimistic about the chances of that 2027 conditional second-rounder becoming a future first-round pick.

 The Hockey News Big Show is here to preview the first round of the NHL’s 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Your Guide To The 2025 NHL Playoffs by The Big Showundefined

Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Steve Warne discussed in this episode:

0:57: Will the Battle of Ontario have over or under three fights in this series?

3:01: Do the Ottawa Senators hope they can suck the Toronto Maple Leafs into playing a physical style of game? 

3:55:  What will playoff Brady Tkachuk look like?

5:45: Who will be the Maple Leafs’ X-factor for them? 

7:40: How much of a load will Jake Sanderson face against Toronto's top line? 

8:55: Predictions for the Leafs and Sens series

10:34: Do the youngsters in Montreal have enough in them to run the table against the Washington Capitals?

13:59: Prediction for the Canadiens and Capitals series

15:18: In the Battle of Florida, Vasilevskiy and Bobrosky have both been known to turn it on in the playoffs. Will this series turn into a goalie duel?

17:21: Will the physical aspect of Florida match up to the skill of Tampa? 

18:45 Predictions for the Panthers and Lightning series

21:04: Predictions for the Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils series

21:49: Are there any similarities you see between this year's St. Louis Blues team and the 2019 team that won the Cup? 

24:21: Does Jordan Binnington have the edge over Connor Hellebuyck? 

25:34: Prediction for the Jets and Blues series

26:43: How do injuries affect the Dallas Stars? 

28:52: Will Mikko Rantanen be the X-factor for Dallas while facing his old team? 

30:39: How do you see this series between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Minnesota Wild shaking out? 

32:13: Are there any similarities you see between this year's Vegas team and the team that won the Cup? 

33:38: Predictions for the Knights and Wild

34:02: Are injuries still a big issue for the Edmonton Oilers? 

35:03: How will the goaltending matchup look between the Oilers and Los Angeles Kings? 

37:08: Predictions for the Kings and Oilers series 

37:20: Who do you see in the Stanley Cup final? 

40:06: Which player will lead the playoffs in scoring?

41:14: Since the 2014-15 season, only three of the Stanley Cup winners have been from the Western Conference. Will this year's winner be coming from the East or West?                                                                                                                                                                                  42:16: Which team will go on a Cinderella run?

43:44: Who is an unlikely playoff hero?

44:36: Which Cup "favorite" will go out earliest?

Watch the full episode here.   

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

For one final time this season, the Pittsburgh Penguins gathered at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, Pa. - this, time, for locker cleanout day.

Some players - like pending-RFA Philip Tomasino and pending-UFA Matt Grzelcyk - discussed their desire to return to Pittsburgh and their contract negotiation statuses. Some - like Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell - talked about career milestones and individual accomplishments this season.

But there was one overarching sentiment among both veterans and youth: There is some degree of hope and belief that things can turn around quickly for these Penguins.

“Obviously, I think everyone here would love for that to happen," Karlsson said. "I’m sure that in some regards, I think, obviously, that’s what they’re hoping for and that’s what [POHO/GM Kyle Dubas] is trying to do. Whether it works out or not, you never know. But, I like this team here. I think that the two years that I’ve been here, we’ve underachieved, and the group that we have in here is capable of a lot more.”

Rust echoed the same thoughts.

"Obviously, we've got some good, solid young players, and you guys have all seen that," Rust said. "The people around this organization... they care so much, and they are so invested in making this team great again that I have no doubt this thing's going to be turned around quickly."

Like Rust, many of the veterans pointed to young guys like Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty as reason for optimism in the near-term. The injection of youth on Pittsburgh's roster late in the season gave the team a jolt that they hope can carry into next season.

“Those guys came in here, and they were productive and helped us win hockey games right from the start," Rakell said. "So, I think they got these games under their belt, and they have the summer to prepare for next year. I think we’re only going to get better with them.”

'I Would Love To Come Back': After Career Year, Grzelcyk Hopes To Stay In PittsburghWhen defenseman Matt Grzelcyk made the decision to sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins last summer, he did so with the mindset that he'd come in and be granted some opportunity to rediscover his game.

And from the perspective of the younger guys, the veterans in the room give them confidence that the transition to full-time in the NHL can be a relatively smooth one. And they look forward to the competition in training camp next season.

“I feel like camp’s going to be ultra-competitive," McGroarty said. "Especially when you have 87 driving the bus, it’s always going to be a competitive camp. With the young group, too, right now, it’ll be a lot of fun, and a lot of guys want to put their best foot forward. I know a lot of guys are going to have a lot of big summers.” 

The Penguins may not be where they want to be right now. But given how other teams - the Washington Capitals being one of them - have found the right combination of youth and veteran talent to turn things around on-the-fly, they hope that the collection of players they have can do something of the same.

“I think we have the makings of being a competitive team," head coach Mike Sullivan said. "I think the team is postured right now to try to take that next step, and that next step towards becoming more competitive. It's not an easy process... teams have deployed different strategies in how they go about that. I think Kyle's done a really good job in thinking through and strategizing with his hockey operations team on what he thinks is best for the Pittsburgh Penguins with the group that we have. Every organization's different, but I know that there's been a thorough process that the group has gone through when trying to strategize what the best course of action is for this group.

"And I believe that there's a core group here that's worthy of building around, and that's our challenge. And that's the process that we're going through right now."

Like Ovechkin's Capitals, Penguins Owe It To Crosby To Right The ShipOn Sunday, the hockey world got to witness Alexander Ovechkin - The Great “8” - surpass The Great “One” for the most goals in NHL history.

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Carlo has averaged the fifth-most ice time among Maple Leafs defensemen since being acquired by Toronto.

The Toronto Maple Leafs added Brandon Carlo at the NHL trade deadline, and he's been a seamless fit since.

Going into the deadline in March, there was a lot of talk of how Toronto would find a player to complement Morgan Rielly, who, at the time, wasn't playing his best hockey. There were a few intriguing options, like Luke Schenn, whom Rielly played with in the past playoffs.

That, however, was botched when the Pittsburgh Penguins picked him up from the Nashville Predators before shipping him off to the Winnipeg Jets. Then Carlo came into the mix when the Boston Bruins decided they were having a fire sale.

Toronto added the 28-year-old, who has two more seasons on his contract at $3.485 million, for Fraser Minten and a 2026 first-round pick. That move was likely their most consequential at the deadline.

'I'm Thankful I'm Not Knocked Out': Maple Leafs Brandon Carlo Fights Kings' Jeff Malott, Brother Of UFC Fighter Mike MalottCarlo's fight on Saturday against Malott was his first in almost two years.

Since then, Carlo has averaged 19:13 through 20 games with Toronto, playing most of his minutes alongside Rielly. According to NaturalStatTrick, the pairing has a 57.04 expected goals-for percentage at five-on-five through 220 minutes.

It's the best among Maple Leafs pairings that have played more than 200 minutes together this season.

"I would just say he's sort of come as advertised, right? On the ice, he's a big, long guy. We've talked a lot about it, they're just harder to get around. He's a sticky player. He's got reach, he's got length. The way he clears the front of the net, a simple puck mover," Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving said on Friday.

"I think his game is sort of as advertised. And then always the unknown when you bring a new (player) is the fit, right? How it's all going to fit, and I think he's fit seamlessly. I think him, not only just him and Morgan, but down the stretch here we've had guys out, and he's fit with different people.

"He's become a really important player, and we've added a really elite teammate. The people in Boston talked about how great of a guy he was. You guys have had a little chance to get to know him. Just a wonderful person. So I think it's been a real good fit."

Will Maple Leafs' Injured Players Be Ready For Game 1 Against Senators On Sunday?The Maple Leafs held an optional skate on Friday before having a full practice on Saturday.

When the Maple Leafs step onto the ice for practice on Saturday, one day before Game 1 against the Ottawa Senators, you'll likely see Carlo back with Rielly as Toronto's top pair, barring any of their injured defensemen remaining out.

Carlo has been referenced by head coach Craig Berube several times throughout the last few weeks as a vacuum. Maple Leafs fans have witnessed that for years when Toronto has gone up against the Boston Bruins.

However, now, he's on their side and looking to help the Maple Leafs lock up the ultimate prize.

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Sometimes, it’s better to cut bait and avoid any more damage.

That certainly proved to be a prudent mantra for the Colorado Avalanche this season.

In particular, the team solidified its goaltending situation for the season. They started the year with Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen and traded both in a 10-day span to acquire Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood. That’s a lot of wood.

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It proved to be a night-and-day difference between the two tandems. Annunen had a 6-4-0 record to go along with a 3.23 goals against average (GAA) and a .872 save percentage (SV%). Similarly, Georgiev had a record of 8-7-1. He posted a 3.38 GAA and a .874 SV%.

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A Round One Schedule for the Stanley Cup Playoffs is HereNHL Public Relations announced the full schedule for games 1-4 of round one for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Thursday morning. Dates for games 5-7 were also announced with times listed as TBD, meaning they will be announced once or if they become necessary.

Blackwood was stellar for the Avalanche, boasting a 22-12-3 record, a 2.33 GAA, a .913 SV%, and three shutouts. Wedgewood was even better in a backup role, with a 13-4-1 record to go with a 1.99 GAA, a .917 SV%, and two shutouts.

The San Jose Sharks have long been eliminated from playoff contention. Their season finale was on Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers. After the game, Georgiev revealed to the media that Sharks GM Mike Grier informed him that they won’t be retaining him.

Georgiev says Grier has told him that Sharks are moving on from him. He’s a UFA

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 17, 2025

Of course, this is highly irregular for a player to reveal that the team he’s currently playing for won’t renew his expiring contract. Unfortunately, this is the situation Georgiev finds himself in.

All the best to Georgiev, who will be searching for a new team to play for once free agency arrives in the offseason.

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The writing was on the wall for Montreal Canadiens veteran defenseman David Savard. The 34-year-old looked slower this season, and his ice time significantly dropped. From an average of 20:14 last season, his average ice time dropped to 16:35, and he was a fixture on the bottom pairing.

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He still had a lot of impact on his teammates, as a veteran who could guide them and fill the “dad” role left vacant when Shea Weber called it quits. It’s a role he liked to fill, and he did it admirably. Asked to comment on the news, Habs coach Martin St-Louis said:

Savy’s a player I played against, and it happens to everyone. One of those days, you have to make that kind of decision. He’s a family man; I’m happy I had the opportunity to work with him. He brings a lot to our young group, and that kind of presence is not easy to replace. We’re happy we can extend his career a bit. For our vets, it’s essential to have that kind of opportunity. He did everything, got everything he deserved, and did everything with class.

- Martin St-Louis on David Savard

With the likes of right-shot defensemen David Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux progressing in Laval, and with Kent Hughes having acquired Alexandre Carrier, it makes sense for Savard to bow out. He had already said any decision would involve his family, and he didn’t want to uproot them.

Drafted 94th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets at the 2009 draft, he spent the best part of 10 seasons with the Ohio side before being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2021 trade deadline. He helped the Bolts to retain the Stanley Cup, playing 20 games and beating the Canadiens 4-1 in the Cup final.

In 870 regular-season games, Big Play Dave, as Kirby Dach calls him, scored 242 points and picked up 467 penalty minutes. It’s obvious the word in the room now becomes “Win it for Dave,” and the announcement timing couldn’t have been better from a motivational standpoint.

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The Buffalo Sabres struggles at the end of the season served to provide a bit of drama to what looked to be the inevitability of head coach Lindy Ruff reaching a notable career achievement, but after four attempts to reach career win #900, the Sabres 5-4 season finale victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday put Ruff in exclusive company.    

The 65-year-old bench boss is only the fifth head coach in NHL history to compile 900 wins, joining former Sabres head coach Scotty Bowman (1,244 wins), Joel Quenneville (969), Paul Maurice (914), and Barry Trotz (914). Ruff compiled 328 wins during four seasons with the Dallas Stars and another 281 victories in almost four years in New Jersey, but more than two-thirds of his victories (607) were with the Sabres over 16 seasons.

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"It's a number for sure. I've coached a lot of hockey games." Ruff said after the game. "I've had a lot of good players, a lot of good coaches and management, and with a lot of trust in me. It isn't about me, it's about the teams I've had and the people around me."

Ruff ranks fifth all-time in total wins (regular season and playoffs) with 971 and could join Bowman and Quenneville as the only coaches in NHL history with 1000 or more total wins sometime next season, but his focus to end the season was to end on a positive note, and not on the personal milestone. 

In spite of some positive individual achievements and stretches where the club seemed to find their footing, the Sabres season overall was a failure, as the club really did not come close to ending their long playoff drought. GM Kevyn Adams revealed in an interview with WGR 550 on Tuesday that Ruff will return for the final year of his two-year contract, but there could be significant changes to the roster and coaching staff over the summer. 

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The Nashville Predators have signed defenseman Andreas Englund to a one-year contract worth $775,000 for the 2025-26 season.

Nashville claimed Englund, 29, off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 10. He played in 24 games for the Predators this season, recording two assists, 58 hits and 33 blocked shots to go along with 36 penalty minutes.

The 6-foot-4, 200 pound defenseman helped replace some of the size Nashville was missing on the blue line after losing Roman Josi and Jeremy Lauzon to season-ending injuries and trading Luke Schenn to the Pittsburgh Penguins ahead of the March deadline.

Englund, a native of Stockholm, was originally selected by the Ottawa Senators in the second round of the 2014 NHL Draft. He has played in 197 NHL games over seven seasons, recording 20 points and 484 hits.

The Predators now have eight NHL defensemen under contract for 2025-26, including Englund, Josi, Lauzon, Nick Blankenburg, Brady Skjei, Justin Barron, Jordan Oesterle, Adam Wilsby.

The Ottawa Senators’ regular-season finale was quite the ride.

A Thursday night goals fest against the Carolina Hurricanes served as the final test for both clubs before the playoffs. While Carolina’s playoff streak reaches its seventh season, the Senators’ seven-year post-season drought ends when they face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday.

Taking a 3-0 lead, conceding five unanswered goals and coming back to win 7-5 was a rollercoaster game fitting for Ottawa’s rollercoaster journey back to the playoffs – even if it took longer to reach this point than captain Brady Tkachuk expected.

“Definitely not seven years,” Tkachuk said post-game. “But everything happens for a reason, and (it) just sets the stage that much better.”

The Senators scored three times in the first period Thursday night. Eight years ago, the Senators nearly won three rounds in the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs, ousting the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers before the Pittsburgh Penguins eliminated them in overtime of Game 7. Ottawa entered the 2017-18 campaign riding high, with then-GM Pierre Dorion even acquiring center Matt Duchene in a three-team blockbuster.

Then came the fall.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored for the Hurricanes 11 seconds after Ottawa’s third goal Thursday night. The Senators lost 16 of 19 games after returning from the 2017 NHL Global Series in Sweden.

Skyler Brind’Amour cut the Sens’ lead to one with his first career NHL goal. The Senators traded Derick Brassard, Dion Phaneuf and Mike Hoffman to begin the teardown in 2018.

Andrei Svechnikov tied the game 50 seconds into the second period. With Erik Karlsson’s contract expiring at the end of the 2018-19 season, Ottawa traded its captain to the San Jose Sharks before training camp even began that year.

Jack Roslovic gave Carolina the lead. An Uber driver posted footage of Sens players criticizing a former assistant coach in November 2018, saying they haven’t paid attention in meetings and that there were no fixes for the penalty kill.

Tyson Jost took advantage of a giveaway to increase the Senators’ deficit. In 2019, the team traded Mark Stone, Duchene and Ryan Dzingel.

Ottawa finished near or at the bottom of the NHL standings for five straight years. Attendance fell to an average of 12,618 fans in 2019-20 before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The Sens got to within six points of a playoff spot in 2022-23 before finishing 26th in 2023-24 – and learning they must forfeit a first-round pick for their role in a 2021 Evgenii Dadonov trade that led to a 2022 Dadonov trade being invalidated.

The franchise underwent major changes during this time. 

In 2023, Michael Andlauer bought a majority stake in the Senators from the estate of Eugene Melnyk, who passed away in March 2022. Melnyk’s two daughters, Anna and Olivia, retained a 10-percent stake.

Steve Staios became president of hockey operations ahead of the 2023-24 season. He took over GM duties from Dorion in November 2023 following the announcement of the Dadonov trade penalty.

D.J. Smith, who coached the team for most of the rebuild, was replaced by interim coach Jacques Martin and, in 2024-25, new coach Travis Green.

By the time they joined the fold, many of the pieces were in place to set the stage.

The fall in 2017-18 led to Tkachuk. The Karlsson trade led to Tim Stutzle and Josh Norris (moved to Buffalo at this year’s trade deadline for Dylan Cozens.) The rebuilding led to Jake Sanderson, Shane Pinto, Ridly Greig and Tyler Kleven, all who recorded at least a point on Thursday.

The years of resetting gave much of those players, as well as Thomas Chabot (18th overall in 2015) and Drake Batherson (121st overall in 2017), time to develop.

Then came the rise.

Adam Gaudette cut the deficit to one on Thursday night. The Senators signed Claude Giroux in 2022.

Batherson deked out Hurricanes netminder Frederik Andersen to tie the game. Last June, the Sens acquired Linus Ullmark from the Bruins as their new starting goaltender. He signed a four-year contract extension, and his 25 wins this season are the most of any Sens goalie since Craig Anderson’s 25 in 2016-17.

Batherson scored again to give Ottawa a new lead. The Senators clinched a playoff spot nine days earlier.

As a bonus, Stutzle stickhandled past three Hurricanes skaters and beat Andersen blocker-side for a 7-5 lead. Ric Flair “woos” popped up throughout the arena, and the crowd gave a standing ovation as the clock ticked down on the regular season.

Ottawa’s season was a rollercoaster as well – one with multiple loops. They had a five-game winless streak in November, a six-game winning streak in December, six losses in seven games from late December to early January, five wins in six games afterward, a five-game win streak, a five-game losing skid and a six-game win streak.

The ride now leads to the first round against the Atlantic Division winners, the Maple Leafs. They, too, recovered from a two-goal deficit to win on Thursday night. (And yes, fans in Ottawa chanted “Leafs suck” on more than one occasion and had signssaying the same.)

Brady Tkachuk said he’ll be good to go for Game 1. He played his first game since March 30 but left the game early as a precaution after getting high-sticked.

“I worry in advance for some of the defense on Toronto,” older brother Matthew Tkachuk told Carol Schram on Monday. “I think Brady is going to have a lot of built-up anger over not playing in playoffs for the last few years, so he's going to be ready to go. Him when he's at his best, when he's physical and that skilled, he's a nightmare to play against.”

As for how Brady Tkachuk thinks this series will go down after Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz predicted it to be a “blood bath…”

“We’ll just have to wait and see,” Tkachuk said.

The Senators, the Leafs and the rest of the NHL will just have to wait and see whether there’s higher ground for this rollercoaster to climb.

Maple Leafs Are NHL's Hottest Team Entering The Playoffs, But Senators Are No Slouches EitherThe Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators faced the prospect of playing nothing games on Thursday night.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators faced the prospect of playing nothing games on Thursday night.

Both had every reason to simply mail it in and avoid injuries facing two-goal deficits in the third period, but both roared back for victories.

Now bring on the Battle of Ontario. In order to win, the Senators will have to hope their pre- and regular-season mastery of the Maple Leafs over the course of the regular season continues. The Leafs must ensure their stars don't get pushed out of the series and are rendered invisible, something that has had a history of happening.

The Leafs are the NHL's hottest team down the stretch, and only the St. Louis Blues had more points after the 4 Nations Face-Off.

But that and 12 dollars will get you a coffee at Starbucks. As Chris Tanev and Scott Laughton said, "Now the fun starts."

Today's video column has more.

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The NHL season is officially over, and after the Montreal Canadiens won their playoff race, rookie blueliner Lane Hutson won the rookie scoring race. Against all odds, the five-foot-nine offensive defenseman who slid down to 62nd overall in his draft because of his size took the NHL by storm and outscored the competition.

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Before the 2024-25 campaign, most hockey pundits agreed that Macklin Celebrini was the favorite to win both the rookie scoring race and the Calder Trophy, but six months on, one has to admit things didn’t unfold as planned.

The Habs’ rearguard had an exceptional season, scoring 66 points in 82 games, while the San Jose Sharks center put up 63 in 70 games, and the Philadelphia Flyers’ right winger Matvei Michkov got 63 in 80 games.

Even though he was the only one to play all 82 games of the regular season, the win is impressive considering he’s a defenseman and not a forward. Furthermore, it took some time at the start of the season before he was finally put on the Canadiens’ first power play unit, stealing the job from Mike Matheson.

Considering 40% of his points came on the power play, it’s hard not to wonder how much more he would have had if the move had been made earlier. 35% of Celebrini’s points were obtained on the man-advantage while only 27% of Michkov’s were scored under similar circumstances.

LANE HUTSON WENT NET-TO-NET AND SCORED 😱

The rookie is playing like a vet! pic.twitter.com/wyhndM1KIU

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 6, 2025

Thanks to his 66 points, Hutson set a new record, becoming the most productive rookie defenseman in franchise history. His 60 assists also tied Larry Murphy’s NHL record for most helpers by a defenseman established in 1980-81.

Canadiens’ fans now eagerly await the Calder Trophy winner announcement. It has been a very long time since the storied franchise had the rookie of the year in its ranks. It was 53 years ago that rookie goaltending phenom Ken Dryden won it, the Canadiens are way overdue.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins finished their 2024-25 campaign with a convincing 5-2 win over the Eastern Conference’s top team, the Washington Capitals, at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday night. 

Outside of Bryan Rust reaching 30 goals for the first time in his career, the night belonged to two future Hall of Famers, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, who kept their long-time rivalry alive with some classic goals and passes, moments fans will remember for a lifetime.

However, the Capitals still have plenty of hockey to play as they face the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Meanwhile, the Penguins will disband, with some youngsters headed back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, while the veterans can prepare themselves for next season’s grind. 

Here’s one final regular season takeaway.

History in the Making

In case anyone missed it, here’s a quick rundown of the milestones players achieved in the season finale:

Rust scored two goals to reach 30 goals for the first time in his career. By doing so, he becomes the oldest Penguins draft pick to register their first 30-goal season. 

25 Fascinating Facts About The NHL In 2005-06, The Last Time The Penguins Had A Losing SeasonWin or lose on Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins (33-35-12) will have their first losing season since the 2005-06 campaign, when the club was 22-46-14.

Crosby, thanks to a goal and an assist, became only the sixth player in NHL history to record a point in a season after turning 37. Moreover, with the game-winner, his 10th of the year, Crosby is now one of just five Pittsburgh players to reach double digits in this category, which includes Jaromir Jagr, Mario Lemieux, Petr Sykora, and Phil Kessel. 

Rickard Rakell, who had a third-period assist on Philip Tomasino’s goal, tied Tomas Sandström with 70 points to share the franchise record for most points scored by a Swedish player in a single season with the Penguins.

Matt Grzelcyk recorded his sixth multi-assist game of the season to finish the year with 40 points, a new career high, surpassing his previous best of 26.

Penguins Played With Passion

With nothing on the line except pride, the Penguins went out and gave their hometown fans something positive to think about heading into the off-season. Against the game’s greatest goal scorer and his rookie netminder, Pittsburgh kept the pedal to the metal and didn’t give either the time and space to be effective.

Penguins End Season On High Note, Defeat Caps, 5-2It's difficult to imagine a more fitting end to the 2024-25 season - and any season, really - than one last matchup between Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.

Of course, Clay Stevenson made some outstanding saves, but the Penguins pressured him from all angles, scoring five times on him in his first NHL appearance. Meanwhile, Ovechkin did get on the scoresheet, but wasn’t given much to work with (two shots) despite the home team’s season-long issues on the back end. 

Even though the Penguins finished the year with a losing record, a handful of extra performances like Thursday night could have had them closer to a wildcard spot, if not a place in the divisional race. 

A Look Ahead

Of course, fans want to see Crosby make another run for a Stanley Cup ring, but that didn’t happen in 2024-25. However, reinforcements are on the way, and it’s been fun watching the kids work their magic over the past couple of weeks. 

Whether it was Rutger McGroarty finding a role in the top six and contributing, or Ville Koivunen putting up two points in the season finale, the days of not qualifying for the postseason are soon to be a thing of the past, as the organization prepares for life after Crosby retires in 2027. 

Unfortunately, not many fans have come to realize that the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are one of the top teams in the AHL, and it shows by the strong play of McGroarty nd Koivunen. When these report to training camp in the fall, they will be more seasoned and have invaluable experience to grow upon, giving Penguins fans hope for a better 2025-26 campaign.

EDMONTON – “It’s pretty much impossible to shut them down one-on-one.”

Two of the best players in today’s NHL play for the same team.

Edmonton Oilers fans are treated to the likes of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl every night. Each of them attacks the opposition in their own, dangerous way.

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When The Hockey News spoke with Mark Messier last Friday, we discussed Draisaitl. Specifically, how impressive it has been to watch his evolution.

When he entered the league, he was already a formidable passer and playmaker. Now, he’s added goal-scorer to his arsenal, culminating in being awarded the 2025 Maurice Richard Trophy for scoring the most goals this season. Draisaitl scored 52 goals this year, finishing seven more than the next highest goal scorer, Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (45).

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“It’s amazing,” Messier raved. “I remember Sidney Crosby wanting to score more goals. So he went back in the summer and worked on his shot and came back.”

Draisaitl has done a similar thing. Anyone who has been watching the Oilers since he entered the league knows that Draisaitl wasn’t scoring powerplay goals from his spot on the goal line from day one.

The 2018-19 season was the first year that Draisaitl scored more than 30 goals. He was in his fourth full season, fifth overall, playing NHL games. He scored 50 that year. 

Mark Messier Shows Love To Leon Draisaitl

It took time to develop those skills. Messier highlighted a few skills and attributes that make Draisaitl a formidable player.

“He’s got incredible size,” Messier said. “He’s an underrated skater, in my opinion.”

“And Leon not only has the reach,” Messier continues,  “but now…you see him holding people off with one arm. They can't contain him in the corner. He's too strong coming off the boards.” 

“And then, of course, when you double-team him, he's good enough to find the open player. And if you don't double-team him, then he shoots it and scores himself.”

Leon Draisaitl secures his first Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the NHL's goal-scoring leader this season! 🚨 #NHLAwards

He ends 2024-25 with 52 goals. pic.twitter.com/p3hzXU2c8W

— NHL (@NHL) April 18, 2025

This is one of the most significant ways in which the duo of McDavid and Draisaitl poses a real problem for the opposition during the playoffs.

“It's a real problem for matchups, for not only players, but for teams trying to shut both of them down,” Messier told The Hockey News. “Connor's got his own skill set…it's just amazing that he's (Draisaitl) scoring at the rate he's scoring and probably one of the most elite passers in the game.”

“Leon is a special talent for so many reasons.”

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