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

After the big game of the night, our experts go live to react to the match that was, break down the key moments and storylines, provide updates on the rest of the night's NHL slate and read your opinions.

On tonight's show, Emma Lingan and Andrew McInnis react to the Florida Panthers beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 after a third-period comeback. It was full of hits, including one that earned Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola a game misconduct.

Panthers Vs Lightning Game 4 - Playoff Frenzy | The Hockey NewsWelcome to Playoff Frenzy Live by The Hockey News presented by STIX.com, where we give our live reactions and break down the latest news to all the biggest g...

They'll also give updates of the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars game as part of a quick look around the NHL.

Check out the show right now and share your opinions in the live chat and in our comment section.    

Heading into the NHL’s 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, we knew there would be brutal battles right from the start of the first round. For the most part, that’s what’s happened. 

In the Western Conference, all four first-round series were tied at two games apiece after Sunday’s games.

With that in mind, let’s look at where the momentum in each of the first-round series is at the moment and whether that’s changed this writer’s pre-playoff predictions. Remember, what follows are educated guesses. You may disagree with some or many of our picks, but that’s the beauty of predictions – there’s rarely consensus, and that’s what makes things so compelling.

Winnipeg Jets (C1) vs. St. Louis Blues (WC2)

Where’s The Momentum? In St. Louis’ favor

Does That Change Our Prediction Of Jets Winning In Six Games? Yes

What’s Our Prediction Now? Blues in seven games 

Why? The Jets narrowly won both games at home to start the series. But the Blues stormed back convincingly, winning Game 3 by a 7-2 score, then pulling even by beating the Jets 5-1 on Sunday. Outscoring Winnipeg by a 12-3 combined score does not bode well for star Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who now has a 4.24 GAA and .817 SP.

In our initial prediction, we believed the Blues would win a couple of games, but they’ve already done that, and the momentum has swung in their direction. Home-ice advantage still favors the Jets, but we’re now of the opinion St. Louis can win a game in Winnipeg, either in Game 5 or Game 7. And if the Blues win in St. Louis, the series will end in the Blues’ favor.

That would spell big moves this summer for the Jets, who will be at a competitive crossroads. But unfortunately for Winnipeg, the Blues can physically dominate the Jets at crucial times, so we're switching up our pick for this series and going with St. Louis in seven games.

Why The NHL's Three Vezina Trophy Finalists Each Deserve To WinThe NHL revealed the final three goaltenders who can win the Vezina Trophy. 

Vegas Golden Knights (P1) vs. Minnesota Wild (WC1)

Where’s The Momentum? In Vegas’ favor

Does That Change Our Prediction Of Golden Knights Winning In Five Games? Yes

What’s Our Prediction Now? Golden Knights in six games

Why? We’re owning our cynicism about the Wild, but we have to give them their due – Minnesota stunned Vegas with 5-2 victories in Games 2 and 3, momentarily stealing home-ice advantage from the Golden Knights, which won Game 1. However, the resilient Knights edged out the Wild in a 4-3 overtime win in Game 4 to even things up.

Obviously, our pick of Vegas in five games must be adjusted, but we’ve seen enough from the Golden Knights to double down on them. They’ve hung on to home-ice advantage without high-impact performances from stars Mark Stone and Jack Eichel, and we don’t believe the Wild will be able to hold that dynamic duo down much longer. 

Vegas has taken Minnesota’s best blow and still managed to keep a series win well within its reach. The Golden Knights should and can win Game 5 to put the Wild on the brink of elimination, and we foresee Vegas winning Game 6 as well to send Minnesota home for the summer. The Knights’ depth separates them from the Wild, and that’s why we’re still comfortable picking Vegas to win this showdown. It’ll just take a couple more games for the Golden Knights to get it done.

Post-Trade Check-In: How Rantanen, Necas And Stankoven Are Faring With New Teams As Playoffs Heat UpThe fallout from the NHL’s biggest blockbuster trade of the past season continues to be seen, as all the main players involved in the trade tree – Dallas Stars right winger Mikko Rantanen, Carolina Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven, and Colorado Avalanche left winger Martin Necas – all continue to be active in their team’s Stanley Cup playoff action. 

Dallas Stars (C2) vs. Colorado Avalanche (C3)

Where’s The Momentum? In Colorado’s favor

Does That Change Our Prediction Of Avalanche Winning In Seven Games? No

What’s Our Prediction Now? Avalanche in seven games

Why? For a while there, the Stars had the Avalanche in a vulnerable position. After Colorado won Game 1 by a 5-1 score, Dallas pushed back by winning 4-3 and 2-1. Despite being behind the Stars, that still tracks for our initial prediction of an Avs series win in seven games.

After Colorado’s 4-0 blanking of Dallas in Game 4 – a game in which the Avalanche outshot the Stars 48-23 – it’s clear the Avs now have the momentum. The Avalanche have already shown they can win on the road in this series, and we expect they’ll win two of the next three games to eliminate the Stars.

Without injured superstar defenseman Miro Heiskanen and left winger Jason Robertson, Dallas doesn’t have the horses to close out a deeper, stronger Avs squad. Colorado flexed its muscles in Game 4, and nothing we’ve seen in the first four games has changed our mind about the winner of this series. Until further notice, the road to the Western Conference final goes through Denver. And Dallas will be the Avalanche’s first of many victims.

Oilers' Evan Bouchard Joins Rare Company With Clutch PerformancesWhen you put Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard in the playoff spotlight, he can put up points from the blueline like not many others.

Los Angeles Kings (P2) vs. Edmonton Oilers (P3)

Where’s The Momentum? In Edmonton’s favor

Does That Change Our Prediction Of Kings Winning In Six Games? Yes

What’s Our Prediction Now? Kings in seven games

Why? The Kings scored a ton against the Oilers in this series’ first two games, posting six goals against Edmonton in each of Games 1 and 2. But the Kings weren’t exactly a defensive menace, as they surrendered a combined seven goals in those first two games. And the Oilers pounded the Kings by a 7-4 score in Game 3 before tying the series on Sunday. 

In Games 3 and 4, Edmonton had to overcome multiple Kings leads, and that earned last year’s Stanley Cup finalists more respect in our eyes. That said, we did expect the Oilers to win a couple of games in our first prediction, so we’re not seeing anything that’s a gigantic surprise. 

Yes, the momentum is in Edmonton’s favor, and we expect Edmonton to win another game, but the Kings still have home-ice advantage. That strong play at home is likely to be the difference, but it may take seven games for L.A. to send Edmonton packing. That’s a credit to the Oilers, but we remain a skeptical of Edmonton’s lineup, especially with key defenseman Mattias Ekholm out of action. The Kings remain our pick to win here, even if it takes one additional game to eliminate the Oilers.

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The NHL announced the three finalists for the 2024-25 Vezina Trophy today. The trophy is awarded to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position.

Former Wild goaltender Darcy Kuemper was named one of the three finalists. 

Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets and Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning are the other two.

Kuemper, 34, went 31-11-7 with the Los Angeles Kings this year with a 2.02 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. He ranked second in the NHL in both goals-against average and save percentage. 

The 6-foot-5 goaltender was originally drafted by the Wild in 2009. He played in five seasons for the Wild where he went 41-34-14 in 89 games. He had a 2.60 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage in his Wild career. 

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

Wild News

(4-28-25) Minnesota Wild Practice Update: Eriksson Ek, Ohgren, Johansson, MerrillST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild practiced on Monday morning before going to Vegas for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday. Here are a few notes. Wild Drop Game 4 With A 4-3 Overtime Loss To VegasST. PAUL - For the fifth time in franchise history, the Minnesota Wild have failed to turn a 2-1 series lead into a 3-1 series lead. In 2022, the Wild had a 2-1 series lead over the St. Louis Blues. In 2023, the Wild had a 2-1 series lead over the Dallas Stars. 

As of 3:30 pm PT, the Vancouver Canucks have yet to extend Head Coach Rick Tocchet, nor has Tocchet’s camp provided any information on him signing with another team. While the two sides are still locked in a stalemate, this morning, reports have broken on why the Canucks and Tocchet have yet to work things out. 

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“I think we’re gonna know soon,” Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman said on Donnie & Dhali of whether Tocchet will stay with the Canucks or not. Previously, Friedman reported that a conclusion would be imminent following the end of the regular season. “I don’t know if it’s going to be today, but I had some people say to me this morning, ‘who knows?’”

Friedman also clarified that many hope the decision is made sometime this week. From what Vancouver has said in the past regarding Tocchet’s potential return, it seems as though they are still working hard at keeping him. Friedman noted that, “As of Friday, nobody had been given permission to talk to Tocchet.” Adding on that, today, TSN’s Farhan Lalji reported that other NHL teams have not reached out to Tocchet yet.  

“I think in Vancouver, part of it is contract, a practice facility, Quinn Hughes’ future, and team direction,” Friedman specified. 

If Tocchet were to depart from the Canucks, this would make them the fifth NHL team to have a vacancy at the position of Head Coach since the start of this off-season. Other teams that have recently parted ways with Coaches are the Anaheim Ducks (Greg Cronin), New York Rangers (Peter Laviolette), and Seattle Kraken (Dan Bylsma). Most notably, the Pittsburgh Penguins noted that they are parting ways with longtime Head Coach Mike Sullivan earlier today. Sullivan spent nearly a decade with the Penguins, coaching the team to two back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. 

It’s no secret that Canucks management is fond of bringing familiar players and staff back into their fold. Jim Rutherford, spent around seven years as the Penguins’ General Manager and has brought those he knows to Vancouver throughout his past three and a half years as President of Hockey Operations. Because of this, speculation has risen that Sullivan could end up with the Canucks. However, rumours have also circulated that Sullivan will stay on the east coast and find a new home with the Rangers or Boston Bruins instead. Previously, Tocchet had also been rumoured to be in the running for a job with New York. This has since cooled, as Friedman believes Tocchet’s two options boil down to Vancouver or the Philadelphia Flyers.  

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

The Pittsburgh Penguins parted ways with longtime coach Mike Sullivan Monday morning in a move many observers have predicted was coming for quite some time. With the Penguins missing the Stanley Cup playoffs for the past three seasons, the writing was on the wall for Sullivan, who now is on the free agent market.

However, Sullivan won't be out of work for very long. As a two-time Cup-winning coach, Sullivan has the pedigree every team is looking for. And wouldn't it be great for Buffalo Sabres fans if the Sabres blew their competition out of the water by hiring Sullivan as a replacement for current coach Linday Ruff? 

It might take a serious overpayment for Sullivan to join the Sabres, but there's no salary cap on NHL coaches, and if Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams gave Sullivan some input on roster moves, that might be enough to make the Sabres the preferred destination for Sullivan.

At one point, Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula looked fondly on former Penguins management members, hiring former Pens GM Craig Patrick as a special advisor and Jason Botterill as GM. So making a splash by hiring Sullivan shouldn't be completely out of the realm of possibilty for the Pegulas now. 

There will be many competitors aiming to sign Sullivan as quickly as possible. The Boston Bruins, New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers all need a new bench boss, and that makes it all the more intriguing for the Sabres to outbid them for Sullivan's services. The Bruins, Flyers and Rangers are teams Buffalo will be battling for a playoff berth next season, and spending extra money to acquire Sullivan would be a huge coup for the Sabres.

That said, Buffalo will have to move fast to land Sullivan. In our estimation, Sullivan will be off the market in a matter of weeks, if not days. And if that means the Sabres have to bid farewell to Ruff, so be it. The St. Louis Blues wasted no time in firing coach Drew Bannister in November when Jim Montgomery came available, and that's the type of aggressive move a team needs to make when a quality coach hits the open market.

Sabres' Off-Season Must Radically Shake Up Team CultureThe Buffalo Sabres' off-season has many priorities, includng getting the team's seven RFAs signed to contract extensions. But the overarching change for the franchise is clear: there has to be an extensive culture change, one that charts a new course for an organization that has flailed often as it tries to end what is now a 14-year stretch without any Stanley Cup playoff action. 

Nobody will expect the Sabres to win the battle for Sullivan, and that's exactly why Buffalo ownership needs to do it. If it's true that fortune favors the bold, the Sabres need to heed that truth and bring in a proven champion to effect a major culture change on and off the ice. That's exactly what Sullivan has the skills to do.

Sullivan is a winner, and no team needs more winners than the Sabres right now. A motivated owner would and should spare nothing to add a difference-maker behind the bench, and Sabres fans would be rightfully-delighted if Buffalo did outbid the rest of the field and came away with Sullivan on board.

If the Sabres want to be considered as a destination for players, they need to show it's a destination for management members, and that process can start by hiring Sullivan. It won't be easy, but moves of consequence rarely are. And that's why Buffalo should shock the league and make Sullivan a key component for many years to come.

The Buffalo Sabres deal at the trade deadline that sent former first-rounder Dylan Cozens to Ottawa for Josh Norris and defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker cannot be truly evaluated at this point. Norris played three games for the Sabres before being shut down with an oblique injury, and Bernard-Docker exceeded expectations playing on the right side with Owen Power for his short tenure, while Cozens has struggled in his four playoff games against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The 24-year-old had an assist in the Senators' Game 1 loss on Easter Sunday and was victimized by Max Domi on his overtime winner in Game 2, but in two home games at Canadian Tire Centre, he went pointless. The verdict on this deal will be in the coming years, as Ottawa hopes that Cozens regains the scoring touch he possessed in 2023, when he scored a career-high 31 goals, while Buffalo is hoping that Norris can manage to stay healthy and center one of their top two lines. 

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Over the weekend, former Sabres captain  Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights regained home-ice advantage with a 4-3 overtime victory in Minnesota, while Sam Reinhart and the Florida Panthers lost Game 3 to Tampa Bay 5-1 at home, but still hold a 2-1 lead in the series with the Lightning. 

Here is how some former Sabres did in the playoffs on Sunday:

William Carrier (CAR) -1, 12:33 TOI, 1 Hit, 1 SOG

Eric Robinson (CAR) 14:00 TOI, 6 Hits, 4 SOG

Taylor Hall (CAR) 13:18 TOI, 2 Hits, 1 SOG

Jeff Skinner (EDM) Did Not Play

Evander Kane (EDM) -2, 23:23 TOI, 4 Hits, 4 SOG

Joel Armia (MTL) 14:57 TOI, 3 Hits, 1 SOG

 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

LAS VEGAS -- As the second-seeded Golden Knights saw their opening round series with the Minnesota Wild slipping away, and on the brink of becoming out of hand, coach Bruce Cassidy did what he has done countless times: put his forward lines in a blender.

With his team trailing in the series 2-1, and home ice now in Minnesota's hands, the Golden Knights made one lineup change, swapping Victor Olofsson out for Tanner Pearson. But when the Golden Knights trailed heading into the third period, Cassidy pulled out his biggest change yet, and the blending paid off.

Cassidy got the goals he was searching for, with Nic Roy scoring an equalizer on the power play, and even-strength goal from Tomas Hertl to put the Golden Knights ahead momentarily. The Wild quickly tied the game, but Ivan Barbashev scored the overtime winner, playing alongside Roy and Reilly Smith.

"Well, the overtime goal is a big goal for Nic Roy's line. I thought he was really had good jump. He played with Smitty when we first reacquired him. I liked what they brought. Barby's played with Nic and probably Kolesar more than Smith, so he's been there."

And while one of Cassidy's most significant changes didn't score, and came away with a -1, the most dangerous Golden Knights line returning home for Game 5 could arguably be William Karlsson, Jack Eichel and Pavel Dorofeyev forging together a potent trio.

"Jack and Karly, that was one that matchup dictated," Cassidy said. "Two of our best centers against their top line, and they were okay with it. So we just made a move, shuffled some people around."

The line didn't play together during the regular season, but Dorofeyev has spent time with both Eichel and Karlsson separately, showing chemistry with each by raising his caliber of play to the level of his veteran teammates. Surprisingly, Eichel and Karlsson have little to no experience together.

The three were the first line on display at Monday's practice.

Understandably, Eichel and Karlsson haven't seen time alongside one another because both are exceptional centermen, but the combination could trigger their offensive games Tuesday night in Game 5, where Vegas will look to seize momentum on home ice, and take a 3-2 series lead back to St. Paul.

"Karl's such a great player, he's super easy to play with," Eichel said. "And obviously we know what Pav brings and his ability to score and shoot the puck and make plays. So, yeah, I thought we did a good job of just getting some looks off the cycle and creating some offense. And, obviously, trying to keep them off the score sheet as well."

In Game 4, the trio played 6:52 together at 5-on-5, holding the advantage in Corsi (12-3), shots on goal (4-2) and Fenwick (8-2). Although they allowed a goal and gave up a high-danger chance, the process was visible and obviously to everyone's liking.

"I think it's important," Eichel said of the line changes. "I think we have all smart players on this team, and guys are easy to play with. I think you can shuffle lines up when need be, and you get a good result.

"Sometimes that's what happens, you need to shuffle things up, and all of a sudden you catch a spark. ... We rely on all of our forwards and all our defensemen to contribute. And I don't think it really matters who you're playing with. I think it's just trying to bring whatever you have to the team and help the team win."

Each player in the trio certainly has the skill set to complement one another.

Dorofeyev doesn’t need the puck to be dangerous, always lurking in high-danger areas to showcase his quick release. Eichel, the team's point leader in the regular season, naturally loves the puck and always looks for it in transition or during the cycle. With the puck, he can be a facilitator or use his deadly accurate release to beat goaltenders. Karlsson, meanwhile, is the perfect balance at both ends, as he can make plays with the puck but sees the ice well enough to get himself open without it.

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

On April 28, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that they mutually parted ways with head coach Mike Sullivan. As the winningest coach in franchise history, it's a monumental day for the organization, which will begin its search for a new leader for the first time since 2015.

Considering how long Sullivan has guided the Penguins, his decade-long run behind the bench is one of the more successful tenures in NHL history. Today, we will reflect on Sullivan's tenure and compare these numbers to those of other coaching legends.

Before being hired by Pittsburgh in 2015-16, Sullivan was the head coach of his hometown Boston Bruins, compiling a record of 70-56-15-23 in 164 games, with a 3-4 playoff record. 

After taking over the Penguins, Sullivan helped the club achieve a 33-16-5 record in 54 games, culminating in a Stanley Cup victory in June 2016. During his first full season, the team repeated as champions, winning in June 2017. 

'I Started To Think That It May Just Be Time': Takeaways From Kyle Dubas's Press Conference Regarding Departure Of Mike SullivanOn Monday, Pittsburgh Penguins’ president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas shook the hockey world when he announced that head coach Mike Sullivan would not be returning to coach the Penguins in 2025-26.

From 2016 to 2022, Sullivan and the Penguins qualified for the playoffs, but missed the postseason in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh did not have a losing season until the 2024-25 season, when they finished with a record of 34-36-12. 

During his time in Pittsburgh, Sullivan achieved the following milestones:

• He is the only head coach to guide the Penguins to two Stanley Cup titles, one more championship than Bob Johnson (1991), Scotty Bowman (1992), and Dan Bylsma (2009).
• Sullivan is the only head coach to win more than 300 and 400 games (429) with the franchise, breaking Bylsma's record of 252.
• He overtook the Penguins' record for most losses (255) in 2024-25, breaking Eddie Johnston's record of 224.
• Sullivan compiled 907 points in the regular season, almost doubling Bylsma's 536, who formerly held the record.
• His .602 PTS% ranks third behind Bylsma (.668) and Bowman (.628).
• Sullivan (82) broke Bylsman's playoff games coached record (78) in 2022, and with a win on May 9, 2022, became the all-time leader in postseason wins with 44. Following a Game 7 loss to the New York Rangers that same playoff year, he overtook the loss record with 38.
• He ranks second all-time in playoff win percentage at .537, trailing Bylsma's .551 record.
• Sullivan is the only head coach in Pittsburgh history to coach more than seven seasons, surpassing Johnston (seven) and Bylsma (six).
• He is one of only four coaches never to record a tie with the Penguins, joining Bylsma, Michel Therrien, and Mike Johnston.

• Sullivan is one of three Pittsburgh coaches to secure a 50-win campaign, following Bowman (56 - 1993) and Bylsma (51 - 2012, 2014).
• The Penguins never lost more than 36 games in a single season under Sullivan's guidance.

BREAKING: Penguins And Head Coach Mike Sullivan Mutually Part WaysAfter nearly 10 years, the Pittsburgh Penguins will have a new voice behind the bench for the 2025-26 season.

• Despite owning the franchise's playoff wins record, Sullivan helped the Penguins win just nine postseason series, with four in 2016 and 2017 and just one in 2018.
• Sullivan ranks 15th in NHL history for most wins with a single franchise (409). Additionally, he is one of just 15 head coaches to have recorded 400 wins with a single team.
• He ranks 17th overall, with 753 games behind the bench for one club, the last person to join the 750-game club.
• Captain Sidney Crosby scored 321 goals, 504 assists, and 825 points with Sullivan behind the bench, which ranks sixth in the NHL during this time.
• According to statistics available at NHL.com, 144 skaters dressed with the Penguins from Nov. 19, 2015, to Apr. 17, 2025.
• During Sullivan's tenure, 13 goalies dressed for Pittsburgh, led by Tristan Jarry, who went 152-97-31 in 293 games.

At just 57 and coming off a Silver Medal finish at the 4 Nations Face-off, Sullivan shouldn't be unemployed for long, with several teams potentially interested in hiring a multi-time Stanley Cup winner. 

The Nashville Predators assigned forward prospect David Edstrom to the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals on Monday ahead of the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

The 20-year-old, whose season with Frölunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League came to an end on April 14, has joined the team in Milwaukee for the start of his North American pro hockey career.

HE’S HERE 🗣️

the @predsnhl have assigned center David Edstrom to us!#MILhockeypic.twitter.com/LSTaowZ3tp

— y - Milwaukee Admirals (@mkeadmirals) April 28, 2025

Edstrom joined the Predators' organization as a centerpiece of the San Jose Sharks' trade package for top goaltending prospect Yaroslav Askarov last fall. Internationally, he has earned silver with Sweden at the 2024 World Junior Championship and 2023 U-18 World Championship.

Edstrom was originally selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round (No. 32 overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft. The Golden Knights flipped him to San Jose less than a year later as part of a trade package for Tomáš Hertl.

Edstrom joins an Admirals team that won the AHL's Central Division for the second straight season with a record of 40-21-5-6 (91 points) and will play in the Calder Cup Playoffs for a fifth straight campaign.

Milwaukee will open the Central Division Semifinals Thursday at 7 p.m. CT against the winner of the best-of-three Central Division First Round series between the Chicago Wolves and Rockford IceHogs.

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Now that Mike Sullivan has officially parted ways with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the New York Rangers have already jumped in as the favorites to land the Stanley Cup-winning coach.

After 10 seasons with the Penguins, Sullivan is free to search for a new head coaching gig and coincidentally, the Rangers are looking for a coach. 

Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury pursued Sullivan in the past, specifically in 2021 when he reportedly did some behind-the-scenes work to see if Sullivan was interested in a move according to The Athletic’s Arthur Staple. 

Sullivan wasn’t interested in moving on from the Penguins at that time and Drury went ahead and hired Gerard Gallant, a marriage that only lasted two seasons before he was fired in 2023. 

Some people around the NHL believe that it is a matter of when the Rangers hire Sullivan, not if. 

“I’ve gotten messages from NHL general managers already this morning saying ‘Does Mike Sullivan end up in New York today or tomorrow?’ I think it is one of those things that could be locked up within the next 42 to 78 hours,” NHL insider Frank Seravalli said. 

The Rangers have been through three coaches since 2021 between David Quinn, Gallant, and most recently Peter Laviolette who was fired after the completion of the 2024-25 season. 

Mike Sullivan's Departure From Penguins Paves The Way For Rangers To Swoop In The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Monday morning that they have parted ways with longtime head coach Mike Sullivan.

The other teams looking for head coaches include the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Anaheim Ducks, and Seattle Kraken.

After winning the first two games of their first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Florida Panthers fell to the Bolts by a 5-1 final score in Game 3. Overall, it was simply a tough game for the Panthers, and they will now look to bounce back in Game 4 from here.

If the Panthers hope to extend their series lead to 3-1 over the Lightning, they will need these three key players to shine in Game 4. 

Sergei Bobrovsky 

Bobrovsky is certainly a Panther to watch against the Lightning in Game 4. The 36-year-old's goal will be looking to have a strong night after a shaky performance in Game 3. During it, he allowed four goals on 21 shots, which equates to a .810 save percentage.

While Bobrovsky had some struggles in Game 3, he undoubtedly has the potential to bounce back for the Panthers. He notably had a 19-save shutout in Game 2, and it will be intriguing to see if he regains that form in Game 4 against the Lightning from here. 

Brad Marchand 

One of the main reasons the Panthers brought Marchand in from the Boston Bruins was his high amount of success in the playoffs. He is still looking to have his first big playoff performance as a Panther, and perhaps it will come in a crucial Game 4. 

Marchand has one assist, five shots, and a plus-2 rating in three playoff games for the Panthers so far. Overall, he has been creating chances, and it will be interesting to see if he puts together a multi-point night in Game 4.

Matthew Tkachuk

Good things happen for the Panthers when Tkachuk is on his game, and he has been all post-season. In three games thus far, the 2016 sixth-overall pick has three goals, one assist, and a plus-1 rating. This includes scoring the Panthers' lone goal in their Game 3 loss. 

With the Panthers looking to not allow the Lightning to tie the series up, they will be hoping that Tkachuk can have himself another clutch game. Given how well he has played early on this post-season, it is hard to bet against him doing just that. 

Recent Panthers News

Panthers' Nate Schmidt Ties NHL Record With Hot Playoff StartThe Florida Panthers have had a fantastic start to the 2025 NHL playoffs. After defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning by a 6-2 final score in Game 1, the Panthers followed that up with a hard-fought 2-0 win over the Bolts in Game 2. With this, they are now heading back home for Games 3 and 4 with a 2-0 series lead. Panthers look to take control of series with Tampa Bay in pivotal Game 4 An entertaining and contentious series between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning will continue on Monday night in Sunrise. Matthew Tkachuk hit on Jake Guentzel won't lead to disciplinary hearing, per report Matthew Tkachuk will not be facing any supplemental discipline following Game 3 between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Coachella Valley, CA - The Coachella Valley Firebirds shut out the Calgary Wranglers 2-0 on Saturday night at Acrisure Arena. Goaltender Nikke Kokko was perfect between the pipes, stopping all 23 shots he faced to earn his first AHL playoff shutout.

Mitchell Stephens, who scored his first overtime game-winner for Coachella Valley in Tuesday’s series opener, and John Hayden—both of whom saw NHL action with the Kraken this season—each contributed goals in the win. Hayden sealed the series with an empty-netter on Saturday night.

Kokko, a 2022 NHL Draft pick, has had a standout season. He made his NHL debut with the Seattle Kraken in February during a road game against the St. Louis Blues, stepping in after head coach Dan Bylsma pulled starter Joey Daccord following the Blues’ fifth goal in the second period. Kokko earned his shutout in clutch fashion, making three key saves in the final four minutes—none bigger than a deflection stop with 40 seconds left, which he calmly smothered to deny a rebound.

The Firebirds have now eliminated the Wranglers from the playoffs for a third straight year—each year in the franchise’s three-season history—and advance to Round Two of the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs. They’ll face the Abbotsford Canucks in a best-of-five series starting Thursday, May 1, at Acrisure Arena. This marks the first postseason meeting between the teams, with Coachella Valley holding a 3-1-0-0 record against Abbotsford this season and a 12-3-0-1 all-time regular-season advantage.

Round Two Series Schedule:

Game One – Thursday, May 1st – 7:00 p.m. PT – Acrisure Arena

Game Two – Saturday, May 3rd – 6:00 p.m. PT – Acrisure Arena

Game Three – Wednesday, May 7th – 7:00 p.m. PT – Abbotsford Centre

Game Four* – Friday, May 9th – 7:00 p.m. PT – Abbotsford Centre

Game Five* – Sunday, May 11th – 7:00 p.m. PT – Abbotsford Centre

Related

Firebirds Clinch Playoff Berth And Home Ice Advantage For Round OnePalm Springs, CA - For the third consecutive season, the Coachella Valley Firebirds have clinched a spot in the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs—securing home-ice advantage for the opening round of the best-of-three series, which begins Tuesday, April 22.

Stay updated with the most interesting Kraken stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News or Join the discussion with others in your hockey community on the Seattle Kraken Forum.

The Wraparound is here to discuss a bunch of rapid-fire NHL and hockey topics in the playoffs and elsewhere.

Does Capitals' Wilson Deserve Discipline For Hit On Canadiens' Carrier? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan and Michael Augello discussed in this episode:

0:00: Should the Washington Capitals' Tom Wilson have received supplemental discipline for his hit on the Montreal Canadiens' Alexandre Carrier?

4:56: Can the Winnipeg Jets overcome Connor Hellebuyck’s poor start to the playoffs?

8:33: After recording back-to-back victories, should the Edmonton Oilers stick with Calvin Pickard in net?

10:30: Can Kirill Kaprizov lead the Minnesota Wild to an upset win over the Vegas Golden Knights?

13:31: Have the Ottawa Senators planted a seed of doubt within the Toronto Maple Leafs after winning Game 4?

16:09: Has Gabriel Landeskog’s return shifted from being a feel-good story to him being the X-factor for the Colorado Avalanche?

19:14: After finally generating offense on Sergei Bobrovsky, can the Tampa Bay Lightning come back in their series versus the Florida Panthers?

21:48: How much will Frederik Andersen’s potential absence affect the Carolina Hurricanes?

24:26: What to make of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ decision to fire Mike Sullivan

28:10: Will Gavin McKenna generate the same level of hype as Connor Bedard and Connor McDavid?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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Rumors of big off-season changes for the New York Islanders had been percolating since the March 7 trade deadline.

They wasted little time getting started, not bringing back GM Lou Lamoriello last week. 

Led by team co-owner John Collins, the Islanders are searching for Lamoriello's replacement. It would be ideal to have the new GM in place by the end of May, giving them enough time to prepare for the 2025 NHL draft on June 27 and 28 and the start of free agency on July 1. 

The Hockey News' Stefen Rosner said some top candidates might not be available to interview for the position while the Stanley Cup playoffs are on. They can, however, prepare to move quickly once they do become available.

The Athletic's Arthur Staple reported former NHL GMs, such as Marc Bergevin, Jarmo Kekalainen and Peter Chiarelli, are among the names getting the most play. However, it remains to be seen if the Isles choose one of them or opt for someone else.

Whoever gets the job has a lot to deal with throughout the summer. 

Ethan Sears of the New York Post reported Isles coach Patrick Roy and his staff remain in limbo until Lamoriello's replacement is found. He believes Roy's future behind their bench depends on whether he can establish a rapport with the new GM.

Rosner reacted to the Pittsburgh Penguins parting with coach Mike Sullivan on Monday, calling it a game-changer for the Islanders and any team with coaching questions.

Before his firing, Lamoriello was having contract extension talks with Kyle Palmieri, but those discussions are on hold for now. The 34-year-old right winger is slated to become a UFA on July 1. 

Sears wondered if the new GM would entertain trade offers for long-time Isles forwards Anders Lee and Jean-Gabriel Pageau. Lee, 34, and the 32-year-old Pageau are a year away from UFA eligibility.  

Defensemen Noah Dobson, Alexander Romanov and winger Simon Holmstrom are the Islanders' notable RFAs. 

Before Lamoriello's firing, Staple believed both defensemen would be re-signed. He speculated the 25-year-old Dobson could get a four or five-year contract worth an average annual value of $7.5 million and $8 million. Romanov could receive a six or seven-year deal between $6.5 million and $7 million annually. 

The changes in Islanders management likely won't affect the club's plans to re-sign Dobson and Romanov. They're too valuable to their blueline to trade, and they won't risk another club signing them to offer sheets. 

Contract buyouts could also take place under new management. Sears suggested forward Pierre Engvall and defenseman Scott Mayfield as buyout candidates.

The Hockey News' Adam Proteau, meanwhile, believes the Islanders should be more aggressive pursuing a full rebuild with a new GM.

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