By Jack Sponagle, The Hockey News Intern

The typical NHL player tends to hail from one of five or six countries. Canadians have long made up the majority of the talent in the league, with Americans, Russians, Swedes and Finns also filling out NHL teams’ rosters.

But every so often we see players who were born in countries that rarely come up when discussing the birthplaces of NHL stars.

Robyn Regehr, the Calgary Flames defenseman who played 1,089 NHL games, was born in Recife, in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco. Regehr’s parents were Mennonite missionaries, which also explains why his younger brother, Richie, who got into 20 NHL games, was born in Bandung, Indonesia.

Both brothers represented Canada internationally, but neither were born in the world’s dominant hockey nation.

With the 2025 IIHF World Championship on the horizon, here are 20 NHL players who were born in and sometimes even represented nations that don’t typically produce world-class hockey players.

Jordan Spence – Manly, Australia

The Los Angeles Kings defenseman was born to a Canadian father and Japanese mother in the Australian state of New South Wales. He lived in Osaka, Japan, until his family relocated to Prince Edward Island when he was 13.

Nathan Walker – Cardiff, Wales

The St. Louis Blues winger was born in Cardiff, but his family moved to Australia when he was just two years old. He was the first Australian to make it to the NHL when he broke in with Washington in 2017-18.

Yutaka Fukufuji – Kushiro, Japan

He may have only played in four NHL games as a goaltender with the Los Angeles Kings in 2006-07, and he failed to register a win, but Fukufuji can hang his hat on being the first Japanese player to appear in an NHL game.

Ryan O’Marra – Tokyo, Japan

O’Marra is the other NHLer who can claim the Land of the Rising Sun as his birthplace. Born in Tokyo to Irish-Canadian parents, O'Marra saw 33 NHL games with the Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks from 2009 to 2012.

Borna Rendulic – Zagreb, Croatia

The first Croatian-born and -trained player in the NHL, Rendulic is better known for his performances in Finnish and Russian leagues. The Zagreb-born Rendulic played 14 games with the Colorado Avalanche between 2014-15 and 2015-16, registering a goal and two points. He also got into a single game with the Vancouver Canucks in 2016-17.

Luca Sbisa – Ozieri, Italy

Ozieri is a small municipality on the Italian island of Sardinia, and it’s reputed to have one of the oldest-known cultures in Italy. It is also the birthplace of Sbisa, who played in 549 NHL games for seven different NHL teams between 2008 and 2021. Sbisa represented Switzerland internationally.

Graeme Townshend – Kingston, Jamaica

Townshend called Jamaica’s capital of Kingston his home until his family moved to Toronto when he was three. Townshend played for the Bruins, Islanders and Senators in the early 1990s. He was the first Jamaican-born player to make it to the NHL.

Andre Deveaux – Freeport, Bahamas

Deveaux played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Rangers in a 31-game NHL career from 2008 to 2012. He was born in Freeport, the second-largest city in the Bahamas. Deveaux played 13 years of pro hockey in the NHL, AHL, ECHL, as well as in Russia, Sweden, Czechia, Slovakia and the United Kingdom.

Sean Day – Leuven, Belgium

A defenseman, Day became the fourth player to be granted exceptional status to play in the OHL a year early. Long before that, though, he was born in Belgium to Canadian parents, and the first time Day skated was at a mall in Singapore. Day played two games with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021-22.

Leo Komarov – Narva, Estonia

Komarov was born to a Russian-Finnish family in the Estonian city of Narva. Komarov represented Finland internationally and played in the NHl for nine seasons for the Maple Leafs and Islanders. He’s the first and, so far, only Estonian-born NHLer.

Willi Plett – Asuncion, Paraguay

Plett was an intimidating winger who played 834 NHL games in the 1970s and 1980s, putting up 222 goals, 437 points and 2,570 penalty minutes. Plett’s family were Russian Mennonites who fled to South America during the Second World War. The 1977 Calder Trophy winner was born in Asuncion, Paraguay, before settling in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.

Mike Greenlay – Vitoria, Brazil

Robyn Regehr isn’t the only NHLer born in Brazil, as goalie Greenlay, who was born in Vitoria, played two games for the Oilers in 1989-90.

Levente Szuper – Budapest, Hungary

Szuper also had a short NHL career – so short, in fact, that he never actually played in a game. The Budapest native served as a backup goalie for nine games with Calgary in 2002-03, becoming the first and, so far, only Hungarian player to dress in an NHL game.

Alexandar Georgiev – Ruse, Bulgaria

San Jose Sharks goalie Alexandar Georgiev is the first Bulgarian player in NHL history. Born in Ruse, the fifth-largest city in Bulgaria, the former Rangers and Avs netminder was raised in Russia.

Jim Paek and Richard Park – Seoul, South Korea

The first of two pairs on this list, both Paek and Park were born in the South Korean capital of Seoul. Paek became the first Korean-born NHLer and the first player of Korean descent to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup after his contributions in the playoffs with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991 and 1992.

Park never won hockey’s most coveted prize, but he ended up playing 738 NHL games for the Penguins, Mighty Ducks, Flyers, Islanders, Wild and Canucks.

Darius Kasparaitis and Dainius Zubrus – Elektrenai, Lithuania

The second shared birthplace is Elektrenai, Lithuania, which produced both Kasparaitis and Zubrus.

Kasparaitis, a veteran of 863 NHL games in the 1990s and 2000s, was known for his aggressive and hard-hitting gameplay, which saw him accumulate 1,379 PIM in his career.

Zubrus has the most NHL experience on this list, with 1,293 NHL games across his 19-year big-league tenure, primarily with the New Jersey Devils, although his most productive seasons came with Washington in 2005-06 and 2006-07.

Claude Vilgrain – Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Vilgrain became the first Haitian to play in the NHL when he joined the Vancouver Canucks during the 1987-88 season. He played in 89 games in his NHL career.

Arthur Kaliyev – Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Kaliyev became the first NHL player born in Uzbekistan when he made his debut in 2021 with Los Angeles. Now with the Rangers, Kaliyev moved to Staten Island, N.Y., when he was two, and later to Michigan when he was 13. Kaliyev represents the USA internationally.

Akim Aliu – Okene, Nigeria

Aliu played seven NHL games with Calgary in 2011-12 and 2012-13. He was born in Nigeria and then raised in Ukraine until his family left due to the political climate caused by the fall of the Soviet Union. His family moved to Toronto when he was seven.

Owen Nolan – Belfast, Northern Ireland

The Belfast-born Nolan was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1990 draft by the Quebec Nordiques. He played 1,200 NHL games, scoring 422 goals and 885 points. Nolan represented Canada internationally, winning a gold medal at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.

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Matthew Tkachuk will not be facing any supplemental discipline following Game 3 between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Late in the third period of Tampa’s 5-1 win, Tkachuk was given a five-minute major for interference after an open ice hit on the Lightning’s Jake Guentzel.

With less than five minutes remaining in the game, Tkachuk was done for the night.

B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) on XMatthew Tkachuk has been given a 5-minute major for this hit on Jake Guentzel before Tampa's ENG

The hit came one game after Tampa forward Brandon Hagel was given a five-minute major, also for interference, on a hit on Florida Captain Sasha Barkov.

Hagel was subsequently suspended for one game by the NHL Department of Player Safety.

Barkov left the game and did not return, but he was able to play for Florida in Game 3.

Overall, the physical intensity in the series has been gradually increasing.

It came as no surprise to see Tkachuk go for the hit on Guentzel, and it will be interesting to see how both teams handle themselves as the series continues forward.

According to NHL inside David Pagnotta, the difference between the hits – that Guentzel had played the puck and Tkachuk made no head contact – were contributing factors to the league’s decision not to hold a disciplinary hearing for Tkachuk.

So far in the series, Tkachuk has racked up three goals and an assist. 

Game 4 between the Panthers and Lightning is set for Monday night at Amerant Bank Arena.

Hagel will be back from his suspension and both teams should be at full strength for what should be an amazing game between two powerhouse squads.

The puck drops in Sunrise at 7 p.m.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs had an opportunity to close out their first-round series against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night. Instead, a lack of discipline was a key factor that cost them in a 4-3 overtime loss.

Toronto handed Ottawa four power-play opportunities compared to just two of their own. While both teams scored once on the man advantage, the Leafs squandered a golden opportunity in overtime with a four-minute power play.

'That's An Easy Decision For Me': Maple Leafs Miss 4-Minute Overtime Power Play, Squander Chance to Sweep SenatorsKANATA, Ont. — The Toronto Maple Leafs were afforded a golden opportunity to complete a four-game sweep of the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. 

However, the first momentum swing came early, following a costly penalty by Max Domi. Midway through the first period, during a faceoff against Shane Pinto, Domi used the butt end of his stick to hit Pinto in the face. The puck had not yet been dropped, and as Pinto leaned in anticipating it, Domi let his emotions get the best of him, retaliating by clipping him in frustration.

Max Domi receives the first penalty of Game 4 at the face-off dot with Shane Pinto pic.twitter.com/EvS1SV4F9H

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 26, 2025

The 30-year-old was assessed a roughing penalty at 7:59 of the first period. Less than two minutes later, Tim Stutzle capitalized on the power play, recording his first career playoff goal and giving Ottawa a 1-0 lead. It marked the second consecutive game in which the Senators opened the scoring on the man advantage — a not-so-good trend for the Leafs.

Tim Stutzle scores on the power play pic.twitter.com/evz1qGRqbA

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 26, 2025

Following the Game 4 loss, Leafs head coach Craig Berube voiced his displeasure when asked about the Domi penalty during his Sunday media availability.

“Yeah, it's not a good penalty. He knows that,” Berube said. “His emotions got a little too high there and involved. And, yeah, that's one of the penalties that he knows he can't take and our team doesn't want to take.”

The bench boss had emphasized discipline before Game 4, acknowledging that staying out of post-whistle scrums and maintaining composure were critical elements to playoff success – as he’s harped on all series long.

“It's just understanding that the scrums and all that – don't react to it,” Berube said pre-game on Saturday. “Play hard between the whistles. I get there's desperation plays sometimes and take penalties, and that's going to happen in the game. But it's the other stuff you want to be really good at, having composure and initiating as much as you can. You've got to stay out of it as best you can. I don't have an answer for it. I mean, it's just the understanding of it,” said Berube before Game 4.

When push came to shove, the Maple Leafs couldn't overcome their early mistakes. Though they battled back down 2-0 and 3-2 in the game, the Leafs dropped Game 4 in overtime by a 4-3 score. The Domi penalty could have easily been avoided had he controlled his emotions, helping the Leafs earn a victory and advance to the second round. Instead, it allowed Ottawa to grab momentum and put Toronto on its heels early as the first domino to fall.

'Just Keep Going': How The Maple Leafs Will Combat The Seed Of Doubt In Game 5 Against SenatorsAs the Toronto Maple Leafs walked into the dressing room following their 4-3 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators, they could have thought either of two ways: it was only one loss, or their sky was beginning to fall.

In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, mistakes need to be limited to have any version of success. The penalty was a mistake and not a good infraction to take early in the first period on the road in a series-clinching game. It’s an area the club will need to clean up moving forward, beginning in Game 5 at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday.

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.

By Jared Clinton, Features Writer

At one time, it seemed impossible. Later, it became implausible. And then, slowly and steadily, it transformed from existing somewhere within the realm of possibility to simply a matter of time. None of that, though, makes it any less surreal that Alex Ovechkin has blasted his way past Wayne Gretzky to assume the mantle as the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring king.

When Gretzky hung up his skates in 1999, he did so in the midst of an ultra-defensive era. Scoring had plummeted. It made sense, then, that his career goal total was categorized among his individual feats that would go unmatched. But Ovechkin’s arrival and lamplighting prowess begat whispers about a challenge to Gretzky’s throne. Those whispers grew in strength as ‘The Great Eight’ rose from precocious rookie sensation to perennial Rocket Richard Trophy favorite. Now, Ovechkin has cemented himself as the greatest goal-scorer the game has ever seen.

Click here if you agree that Nathan MacKinnon is the best player in the NHL right now.

Top 💯: https://t.co/smKk3NQdgQpic.twitter.com/qw9yHoNCLI

— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) April 20, 2025

With Ovechkin overtaking one of the marks formerly considered untouchable – and in doing so proving that most records really are made to be broken – the mind starts to wander. Is it only a matter of time before other significant individual achievements fall? Which feats appear secure but are perhaps precariously held? And are there any records that remain unbreakable?

Clock is Ticking

Gretzky held the goal-scoring crown for 31 years, but that’s still shorter than Doug Jarvis’ tenure as the NHL’s ironman. Jarvis held the title for nearly 35 years, from October 1987 to January 2022, when Keith Yandle played in his 965th consecutive game. Yandle’s time as ironman, however, was short-lived. Within nine months, he was passed by Phil Kessel, who pushed the mark to 1,064 games. But the durability of this era’s players makes it seem likely that Kessel won’t hold the top spot for all that long. Nine of the 14 players to play in 600-plus consecutive games have done so in the past 11 years, including Brent Burns, the active leader at 925 consecutive games played and counting.

Staying healthy will also be important in the pursuit of the single-season power-play goal record. Tim Kerr holds the mark, having potted an astounding 34 PP goals in 1985-86, but the NHL is currently in a special-teams resurgence. This season was the fourth in a row in which NHL power plays operated at an average of 20.5 percent or higher. The last stretch of four such seasons spanned from 1986-87 to 1989-1990. And the current power-play excellence has given rise to some Kerr challengers. Leon Draisaitl notched 32 PP goals in 2022-23. Sam Reinhart posted 27 last season. If scoring with the man advantage continues to boom, Kerr’s record stands to fall.

If the Stars Align

Given that league-wide scoring is holding at levels commensurate with the first post-lockout campaign and that five of the highest-scoring individual scoring seasons of the past 20 years have come since 2022-23, there is a case to be made that we’re in an era of big-time production. Gretzky’s single-season scoring record – 215 points in 1985-86 – isn’t in danger, but could a rearguard set a new record for single-season points by a defenseman?

For more than 50 years, Bobby Orr has held the record, with his 139-point season in 1970-71 sitting atop the list. But the current generation of blueliners is redefining what it means to produce from the back end. To wit, we are only two years removed from Erik Karlsson’s 101-point season, which saw him become the first defenseman since Brian Leetch in 1991-92 to reach the 100-point plateau. That makes Karlsson one of four defensemen to register 90 points in the post-lockout era, all of whom have done so in the past four seasons.

We’re also only beginning to see Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes enter their primes. This season, Makar hit 90 points for the second straight year. Hughes battled injury but scored at nearly a 95-point pace. And the players they’re inspiring could hound after Orr’s mark down the line. Lane Hutson became the first rookie defenseman since Nicklas Lidstrom in 1991-92 to score 60 points in a season. The defensemen who emerge in the coming years could build on the foundations laid by Makar and Hughes.

But even in an era of increased scoring, a battery of goaltending records could fall at a moment’s notice. Chief among those is the longest shutout streak.

While the record is six straight shutouts, held by Alec Connell, it’s worth noting that that run came during the 1927-28 season – when the forward pass was permitted in only the defensive and neutral zones. Thus, some acknowledge Brian Boucher’s five straight shutouts in 2003-04 as the modern achievement. And while no one since Boucher has posted four consecutive shutouts, there are seven instances in the past decade in which a goaltender has pieced together a three-shutout run, most recently Andrei Vasilevskiy and Semyon Varlamov in 2020-21.

A shutout streak could pair well, too, with the record for single-season saves. Gump Worsley is in the top spot with a 2,376-save season, but it’s not unrealistic for a present-day keeper to mount a challenge. Worsley accumulated his total over 70 games, which is greater than but not far from the workloads that netminders play these days. Twice in the post-lockout NHL has Worsley been threatened – by Roberto Luongo in 2005-06 (2,275 saves in 75 games) and Cam Ward in 2010-11 (2,191 saves in 74 games). More recently, Frederik Andersen posted 2,029 saves in 66 games during the 2017-18 season.

And how about the single-season win total? In 2015-16, Braden Holtby tied Martin Brodeur’s then-nine-year-old record of 48 wins – and Holtby did so despite playing in 12 fewer games than Brodeur. Further fuelling speculation the mark could fall? Connor Hellebuyck won 47 of his 63 games this season. It proves that a workhorse keeper on a title contender can mount a chase.

It would take something truly special, though, for anyone to chase down Brodeur for the top spot on the all-time wins list. Given his consistency and sturdiness, Hellebuyck might have the best chance – he’s at 322 victories. However, he’d have to average nearly 40 wins per season for another decade. The same can be said for Vasilevskiy, who – with the pending retirement of Marc-Andre Fleury and his career 575 wins – is third among active keepers. Vasilevskiy would have to maintain a similar 40-win clip until he called it a career to reach the record. The conditions would have to be perfect for Hellebuyck, Vasilevskiy or any up-and-comer to surpass Brodeur.

The Untouchables

Which brings us to those that will stand the test of time.

While The Great One may have lost one of his most notable records, he still has a stranglehold on a great many of the NHL’s single-season and career bests – as well as one of the most formidable in league history: 50 goals in 39 games. The closest modern challengers have been Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid, who have recorded 33 goals in 39 games.

Perhaps more than his goal-scoring feats, though, Gretzky’s work as a set-up man makes for the most unattainable marks. For instance, Gretzky is atop the all-time assists ledger (1,963) by more than 700, and he’s 900 ahead of any active player. Combine that with his goal total and it’s unfathomable that anyone in this lifetime or the next will be able to match Gretzky’s 2,857 career points. That’s the equivalent of 19 consecutive 150-point campaigns. Only once since the turn of the millennium – McDavid in 2022-23 – has a player posted even one 150-point season.

And while Gretzky’s career point total is among the NHL’s most unmatchable, that record still pales in comparison to what is arguably the most awe-inspiring record in the sport: Glenn Hall’s mark for most consecutive complete games by a goaltender.

From Oct. 6, 1955, through to Nov. 4, 1962, Hall played every possible minute in the blue paint, 502 consecutive games. Forget the single-season games-played mark (Grant Fuhr’s 79 games) or the all-time total (Brodeur’s 1,266 contests) it’s Hall’s streak that is a truly breathtaking feat. What we know about the physical toll of the goaltending position on the body makes it not unlikely, not implausible, but absolutely, unequivocally impossible anyone will ever pry that record from Hall.

---

This article appeared in our 2025 Top-100 NHLers issue. This issue focuses on the 100 best players currently in the NHL, with the Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon sitting atop the list. We also include features on Alex Ovechkin finally beating Wayne Gretzky's goal-scoring record, and former CFL running back Andrew Harris' switch to semi-professional hockey. In addition, we provide a PWHL playoff preview as the regular season nears its end.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

USA Hockey has named the first 18 players to its roster at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, which runs from May 9 to 25 in Stockholm, Sweden and Herning Denmark. The USA plays in Group B in Herning.

The team so far includes 17 players from NHL teams that missed the Stanley Cup playoffs and one – goaltender Hampton Slukynsky – from Western Michigan University.

Three players have been named from each the Boston Bruins and Utah HC, two each from the Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, Seattle Kraken and Vancouver Canucks and one from the Buffalo Sabres.

Unlike past seasons, no current AHL players have been chosen and only one – Chicago’s Frank Nazar – spent any time in the league this season. The USA might start the tournament with this roster but more players will likely be named as teams start getting eliminated from the playoffs.

The head coach of the team is Ryan Warsofsky from the San Jose Sharks. His assistants are Kevin Dean, Adam Nightingale and Mike Vellucci. The team’s director of hockey operations is former NHL goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck.

Five Swedish NHLers (So Far) Say Yes To World Championship At Home Five players have so far confirmed their spots on the Swedish roster for this year’s IIHF World Championship, which the Swedes will co-host with Denmark at the newly-renovated Avicii Arena in Stockholm.

While the USA has not won a standalone World Championship since 1933, this roster includes many players that have had success at the World Junior and U-18 World levels.

Goaltenders (3): Joey Daccord (Seattle, NHL), Jeremy Swayman (Boston, NHL), Hampton Slukynsky (Western Michigan University, NCAA).

Defensemen (6): Michael Kesselring (Utah, NHL), Jackson LaCombe (Anaheim, NHL), Andrew Peeke, Mason Lohrei (both Boston, NHL), Brady Skjei (Nashville, NHL), Alex Vlasic (Chicago, NHL).

Forwards (9): Matty Beniers (Seattle, NHL), Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley (both Utah, NHL), Drew O’Connor, Conor Garland (both Vancouver, NHL), Cutter Gauthier (Anaheim, NHL), Michael McCarron (Nashville, NHL), Frank Nazar (Chicago, NHL), Tage Thompson (Buffalo, NHL).

Brady Tkachuk: "I don't think anyone can get under my skin"In the third game for each team, Slovakia built up a 4-1 lead after two periods but the USA stormed back with three straight in the third to force overtime. Miloš Kelemen, who had opened the scoring in the fourth minute, ended it in overtime to claim two points for Slovakia. However, the late comeback allowed the Americans to get one. They now have four points after three games but have the group’s toughest opponents now seemingly out of the way.

The Vegas Golden Knights and the Minnesota Wild find themselves even at two games apiece, with the series heading back to Vegas on Tuesday for a 6:30 p.m. PST puck drop. 

The series has been a tale of two stories. When the Golden Knights win the special teams battle, they go on to be victorious. When they don't, Kirill Kaprizov takes over and leads the Wild to wins.

Games 1 and 4 saw the Golden Knights take advantage of their power play opportunities while shutting down the Wild with their penalty kill. Games 2 and 3 were filled with unforced errors from the Golden Knights and iffy goaltending from Adin Hill.

Although the Golden Knights would rather be leading the series and heading back onto home ice looking to close it out, they still maintain home ice advantage in what can now be considered a best-of-three. 

In Game 4, the HC Bruce Cassidy threw his lines into a blender, trying anything to spark some offence. The move paid off, scoring two even-strength goals alongside their two power play markers. Ivan Barbashev ended the game in overtime, scoring his first of the series, assisted by Reilly Smith and Nicolas Roy, a trio that has rarely seen the ice together. 

Cassidy will have a decision to make for Game 5 regarding his lines. He can continue with what brought him success in Game 4, or go back to what's worked so frequently throughout the regular season. Whatever his choice is, it will have major implications.

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3 Takeaways: Barbashev Lifts Golden Knights To 4-3 Overtime Win In Game 4, Sends Series Back To Vegas Tied 2-All The Minnesota Wild were the only NHL team to carry an undefeated record into the third period when leading after two. Captain Mark Stone Epitomizes Leadership Role For Golden KnightsLAS VEGAS -- When the Golden Knights traded for Mark Stone in 2019, general manager Kelly McCrimmon knew the franchise landed much more than one of the most talented 200-foot forwards in the NHL.

Whenever he’s asked about expanding the Stanley Cup playoff pool, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has come up with a response that’s tough to argue: the current format creates the most compelling first round in all of sports. 

This year has been no different, with familiar matchups, old favorites from a generation ago and fresh rivalries igniting. After eight days, all 16 teams are still alive, and there’s at least a small element of doubt in every series. 

Here are six players that have stood out in the early going — for better or for worse.

Winners

Gabriel Landeskog – Colorado Avalanche

The smile said it all when Landeskog’s high wrister beat Jake Oettinger over his glove to put the Colorado Avalanche up 3-0 against the Dallas Stars on Saturday night.

1,041 days later 💙

What a night for Gabriel Landeskog who scores his first NHL goal since the 2022 #StanleyCup Final. pic.twitter.com/cr1ZBHUwfc

— NHL (@NHL) April 27, 2025

It was the first goal for the Colorado captain since June 20, 2022 — a triumphant story of perseverance that also served as an important insurance marker to level one of this year’s most high-level first-round series at 2-2. 

Adrian Kempe - Los Angeles Kings

Does practice make perfect for the big Swede? Kempe had 11 goals and 19 points across 18 games in the Kings’ previous three playoff meetings with the Edmonton Oilers. This year, he has obliterated that pace with nine points in the first three games, including four goals. 

The Kings let one slip away in Edmonton on Friday, but Kempe still finished the night with two points. At 28, he’s an underrated threat whose start could shine brighter than ever before if L.A. can finish the job and advance.

Jake Sanderson – Ottawa Senators

Who better than the Senators’ future Norris Trophy hopeful to foil the Toronto Maple Leafs’ dream of a first-round sweep? At just 22, Ottawa has Jake Sanderson locked up for seven more years. He could become one of the league’s great bargains if he continues his trajectory.

Sanderson picked a perfect moment to score the most important goal of his career on Saturday. Let’s see what’s next.

CATCH US WATCHING THIS ON REPEAT 🔁#GoSensGopic.twitter.com/Ltf5N8NPlV

— X - Ottawa Senators (@Senators) April 27, 2025

Losers

Stuart Skinner - Edmonton Oilers

He’s been here before, but it can’t be easy for Stuart Skinner to cede his crease to Calvin Pickard for the second-straight year.

Last season, Kris Knoblauch replaced Skinner for two starts against Vancouver in Round 2. He was steadier when he got back into action, and earned his team two series wins.

This year, Skinner’s regular-season numbers dropped, and his playoff performance followed suit. He gave up 11 goals in five-and-a-half periods and gave up 4.7 goals above expected before he got the hook. 

The silver lining? After three games, the Kings’ Darcy Kuemper has surrendered 5.2 goals above expected. If the Oilers can stay alive long enough for Skinner to get back on track, there’s still a path for them to advance.

Jack Eichel - Vegas Golden Knights

Eichel picked up his first playoff point of the year as the Golden Knights evened their series with the Wild on Saturday. But he was also a minus-2, taking him to minus-7 over four games. 

Plus-minus may not be a perfect stat, but that’s not good.

Being a No. 1 center is no easy task, but Eichel crushed it in his maiden voyage two years ago, chipping in better than a point a game while playing sound two-way hockey on his way to winning a Cup. 

He knows exactly what it takes, so is there something holding him back? Despite hitting a new career high with 94 points and attracting some Hart Trophy chatter during the regular season, he went cold late in the year, logging just one point in his last five games played, and missing four just before the playoffs with an upper-body issue. 

Eichel led all Vegas forwards with 29:57 of ice time on Saturday, and his six shots were one more than the first three games of the series combined. Sin City fans will be hopeful that’s a sign that his full game is starting to round back into form.

Aaron Ekblad – Florida Panthers

It’s a small sample size, to be sure. But after his Florida Panthers carved out a 2-0 series lead on the road in Tampa, Ekblad’s return to the lineup from his 20-game performance-enhancing-substance suspension couldn’t have gone much worse.

While he was out, Nate Schmidt seized his moment and scored three goals in two games. But with Ekblad back in the lineup and Uvis Balinskis scratched, the Panthers suffered a 5-1 beatdown on home ice on Saturday. 

Ekblad finished third in ice time among Florida defensemen, at 20:20. But he and partner Gustav Forsling were both an ugly minus-4 for the day.

Ekblad needs to sharpen up in a hurry to help the Panthers move on — and to help set the table for his next payday. The 29-year-old is heading for free agency on July 1, and there hasn’t been much talk yet about an extension with Florida.

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Dallas Stars forward Roope Hintz and Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins among names listed for struggling players yet to produce in Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Stanley Cup Playoffs have seen some exciting moments early on like Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog returning to the lineup after being sidelined for three years or Toronto depth defenceman Simon Benoit finally getting his moment and contributing two overtime winners.

It's been fun to see some players get their day in the sun but for others, this postseason has been one to forget following a slow start. Here are some players that have either been out to slow starts or have done well but aren't being respected at the sportsbooks.

Roope Hintz - Dallas Stars

The 28-year-old Finnish winger has struggled to generate offence early on after recording 28 goals and and 39 assists for 67 points this season. His 0.88 point-per-game average was still very solid and people expected the young centre to play a big role in the Stars' postseason success.

After the first four games of the opening round, Hintz has recorded just one point—a surprising turn considering he came into the series riding a three-game point streak against Colorado and had finished the regular season strong with 12 points in his final 13 games. Points will come eventually for Hintz and I expect his prop bets to become a great value over the final three games.

Ivan Demidov - Montreal Canadiens

This one is more of a player simply being due as the highly-anticipated Russian prospect has now played five career games in the NHL and hasn't gotten on the scoresheet since his debut. His wild first game was fun to watch and I expect another big Demidov game as the Habs have the momentum in the series after a big game three win.

The Capitals have also lost a ton of steam after losing starting goaltender Logan Thompson to what looked like a painful knee injury. They will likely smell blood in the water and play a very tight second game in Montreal. Demidov is seeing more chances after playing just over 15 minutes in game three which was his most time on the ice since his debut. If he gets more ice-time the chances should come.

More NHL: Montreal Canadiens vs Washington Capitals Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Future Options

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers have really struggled to find secondary scoring with superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl being forced to carry the load. While both star players were out this season, Nugent-Hopkins stepped into a much bigger role as the team's top centre and finished the season strong with ten points over his last 13 games.

He recorded his first point of the series with a goal in a 7-4 game three win and I expect him to build on it as the Oilers will only look to get hotter and climb back into their series with LA. Nugent-Hopkins sees time on the first power play unit, which has been shown to be deadly in the past and could provide a cheap option to get in on scoring from McDavid and Drasaitl for odds at plus money.

More NHL: Edmonton Oilers vs LA Kings Round 4 Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Future Options

Mark Stone - Vegas Golden Knights

It was a breakout year for the Vegas captain, who managed a 1.02 point-per-game average with a career-high 67 points through 66 games. It was a solid campaign from the 32-year-old Winnipeg native but since turning to the postseason, he hasn't found nearly the same success.

Stone is known to be a gamer for Vegas with 64 points through 75 playoff games with the Golden Knights. However, the Minnesota Wild have been shutting down Stone and limiting his chances with just one point through the first four games of the series. I expect a huge bounce back from Stone after finishing second on the team in points during the regular season and will most certainly see points start to come as he plays with lethal forwards in Ivan Barbashev and superstar Jack Eichel.

More NHL: Bolts, Golden Knights Present Last Call For Massive Betting Values

John Carlson - Washington Capitals

A name that many may forget about is Carlson as a solid defenceman that has helped quarterback the Capitals blueline since being drafted back in 2008 with the 27th overall pick. The now 35-year-old defenceman has been a decent source of points throughout his career with 51 points this season and passing the 50-point mark for the seventh time in the last 11 seasons.

When making the playoffs, Carlson has also been one of the highest producing blueliners in the game with 40 points over his last 54 playoff games. He has no points through the Capitals' three games so far and I expect this to change over the next few games.

Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog grabbed the headlines with a storied goal against the Dallas Stars in Game 4 on Saturday.

For the first time in nearly three years, Landeskog has scored a goal in the NHL. It took him over 1,000 days to recover from his chronic knee injury that he suffered back in 2020 and lingered for another two years. Furthermore, he has undergone three surgeries since March 2023.

However, he made a dramatic return to the Colorado lineup on Wednesday for Game 3, playing his first game since June 2022. 

Now, in his second game since returning, he has scored his first goal since June 20, 2022. “There were days where I didn’t know if I would ever score again,” Landeskog told reporters after the Avalanche's 4-0 victory over the Stars to tie the series at two games apiece.

“There were days where I didn’t know if I would ever score again”

- Gabe Landeskog

— Jesse Montano (@jessemontano_) April 27, 2025

His goal came in the second period to give the Avs a 3-0 lead. It came off an assist from trade-deadline acquisition Brock Nelson. Nelson recorded his first playoff point as a member of the Avalanche on the play, as he coasted into the offensive zone on the left wing, found Landeskog in the slot, and the Avs captain wired it home. 

🚨 GABRIEL LANDESKOG GOAL! GABRIEL LANDESKOG GOAL! 🚨

His first goal in the NHL since June 20, 2022 puts the @Avalanche up 3-0 in this one! #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT (TBS) & @SportsonMax ➡️ https://t.co/4TuyIATi3T
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️… pic.twitter.com/w7UBXIWFpM

— NHL (@NHL) April 27, 2025

Landeskog’s teammates were smiling ear-to-ear as they joined him along the boards in celebration. And their excitement for him didn’t wear off after the game.

“There's only one Gabe Landeskog in the world," said Nathan MacKinnon, a longtime teammate and friend of Landeskog’s. "It was more than just a playoff goal... It was a life goal."

Along with teammates, the hockey world acknowledged the incredible comeback story that has unfolded in front of their eyes.

NHL on TNT host Liam McHugh said on X (formerly Twitter), “The best story in sports just keeps getting better. Gabe Landeskog buries his first goal in 1,041 days — and the roof is about to rip off of Ball Arena.”

Landeskog’s goal wasn’t the last time he would make an impact in this contest. He added a secondary assist in the third period, connecting with Nelson again, with defenseman Samuel Girard scoring the fourth and final goal of the game – his first goal of the 2025 playoffs.

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LAS VEGAS -- When the Golden Knights traded for Mark Stone in 2019, general manager Kelly McCrimmon knew the franchise landed much more than one of the most talented 200-foot forwards in the NHL.

"That's when I felt we were moving into the contender category," McCrimmon said one day before the Knights opened their postseason series with the Minnesota Wild.

Sure, the Golden Knights had already shocked the hockey world with an impressive run to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season. But, to sustain a certain prowess that allows you to navigate through 82 games annually, to be a perennial favorite, they would need a leader.

"That was a tremendous acquisition," McCrimmon continued. "Fantastic player that makes players better. Really adds a lot to your team, to his linemates, the leadership, he's our captain. The emotional energy that he brings to the team, to a game, what that does for a team.

"He's been everything that we would have ever hoped for, and more."

Since his first game as a Golden Knight, Stone ranks No. 1 with 323 points, along with his team-high 91 power-play points.

He also has a franchise-best 23 game-winning goals, while his +86 margin is fourth behind current Knights Brayden McNabb (+102), William Karlsson (+88) and Shea Theodore (+87).

But it's more than numbers when it comes to the captain.

For instance, his leadership and mere presence couldn't have been any clearer than in Saturday's 4-3 overtime win in Minnesota that evened the opening round series, 2-2.

Just 1:48 into the third period, Wild rookie Zeev Buium gouged the blade of his stick into Stone's eyebrow and sent Vegas' leader to his knees. As he emerged, Stone was bleeding profusely, left the ice immediately, and sprinted down the tunnel once it was determined they couldn't stop the blood flow.

Stitched up and ready to skate, Stone returned to the ice later in the period, knowing the importance of his presence in a game that held even more urgency.

"I think what makes Stoney so great at what he does is he's himself every day," team points leader Jack Eichel said. "His character, and I think his values and his ability to relate to people, he never strays from who he is, he's himself. He doesn't change, he's very honest, he's honest with himself, he's honest with us.

"He's a special guy."

GOLDEN STONE

Bloody eye aside, Stone has dealt with his share of injuries since 2022, including two back surgeries and a lacerated spleen. And yet he's still considered by many as one of the league's best two-way wingers. His fierce tenacity that comes from within is the same vibrant energy displayed after he scores a goal.

It's an energy felt by anyone on the ice, the players on the bench, the roughly 18,000 fans inside T-Mobile Arena every home game, and in living rooms across Southern Nevada with fans glued to their television sets.

"His emotions during the games, it's something special," veteran forward Tomas Hertl said. "I think that's why he's such a good captain, probably one of the best in the league. And he shows it on the ice, off the ice, he cares.

"After every loss, he's pissed. After wins, he's super excited. On the ice, if somebody scores, the emotion you see from him is something special. And you don't see that from many guys. And I think his leadership is really good here. I think that's why the locker room works like (it does), everybody having great time. But when it's time to work, everybody (is) ready to go."

And it's shown.

Since Feb. 26, 2019, his first game with Vegas, the franchise ranks fifth in the NHL with 605 regular-season points, one of only seven teams with 600 or more points, spanning 474 games. Though Stone has played in only 340 of those games, it's his presence and captainship that continues to fuel one of the league's most powerful vessels.

In addition, since Stone started wearing a Knights jersey, Vegas has the fourth-most playoff wins (45), ranks third with 3.20 goals per game, and in allowing 2.47 goals per contest.

Most importantly, getting back to McCrimmon's notion, the 32-year-old captained the Knights to a Stanley Cup title in 2023, fulfilling owner Bill Foley's goal of the franchise doing so by its sixth year in the league.

"I've been around a lot of leaders, and he's obviously the best captain that I've played with," Eichel said. "I think he exemplifies what it means to be a leader. He's just such a great guy, too. Somebody enjoy being around.

"Obviously his play on the ice, I think, speaks for itself. But I think what he means to our locker room and the organization goes far beyond that. We're really lucky to have him."

THE ROLE

Stone, the franchise's first and only captain, understands and appreciates the 'C' he wears on his sweater, but said he doesn't overthink the role, knowing how important all the personalities in the room have become as McCrimmon annually constructs the roster.

When the team is experiencing a lull, or certain players might be in scoring droughts, Stone said there's no elixir as a captain to fix things. It's more about providing support and simply being there for a teammate like anyone else in the room might do.

"I don't think I've really done much different than anything that I've done in the five years that I've been the captain," Stone said. "I don't think it's been much. We've had a lot of guys kind of elevate their games in times where we needed it. I haven't really changed anything, to be honest with you, I don't think I've had to."

As the Golden Knights maneuver their way through another postseason, which has come down to a best-of-three series with the Wild, Stone said if there's one thing he's become appreciative of when it comes to learning new things, it's observing his teammates evolve their game by coming into their own and playing to their potential during the grind of an 82-game season.

"Whether it's elevated roles, or maybe you see a guy bring a little more than he has in the past, I think we've had that this season," said Stone, who is signed with the Golden Knights through the 2026-27 season. "I think that's the only thing that I noticed that's a ton different throughout a season, is guys elevate their games, they rise in the lineup I guess you could say. I think that's been mostly the things that I noticed throughout the years. You find different things out about different about people."

And it's those teammates who are elevating their games that give Stone credit for helping them evolve.

"I think it was bound for him to be captain, I think it was an obvious choice," said Brayden McNabb, one of four original Knights on the roster. "He's meant everything to this city, and the team. He's a good friend, great leader, and his play on the ice shows. He's a very smart player. If you have any questions in terms of hockey in your game or anything like that, he's a very smart guy. He sees the game well, and he can analyze the game very well, and he's fun to be around."

Added veteran defenseman Noah Hannifin: "He's just one of those guys that comes to the rink, he does his job hard every single day, leads by example, and when he speaks everybody listens. I think for me, those are usually the most impactful types of leadership. Sets the example for us every day. And obviously, he's a winner. Just a great guy to have in the room, great teammate, we all love him here."

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Finding a good coach can be challenging.

Luckily, the Colorado Avalanche have a Stanley Cup-winning coach in Jared Bednar who has no desire to skip town. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Colorado Avalanche team site so you never miss the latest news, game day coverage, and information on the Avalanche players.

Other teams aren't so lucky. Currently, there are coaching vacancies available with the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, Seattle Kraken, New York Rangers, and Anaheim Ducks. 

Now, it appears that one of those teams has found their man.

According to a report in the RG publication, Joel Quenneville could be the next head coach of the Ducks. 

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According to this report, Quenneville has been offered the head coach position with the Ducks. However, it's not official as Quenneville is still deciding if he wants the position. 

Other teams have reportedly offered him a position in their organization. 

Quenneville has a history with the Avalanche. He began his NHL coaching career as an assistant with the Quebec Nordiques in 1994. After one year, they moved to Colorado and were renamed the Avalanche. He remained with the team for another two years following the move. 

Gabriel Landeskog's Powerful Return Lights Up Home CrowdInjuries have kept him back, but he’s made his glorious return.

He became the head coach of the St. Louis Blues in the 1996-97 season. After eight years there, he moved on to coach the Avalanche. Quenneville spent three seasons (2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08) with the Avalanche. In two of those three seasons, they lost in the second round of the playoffs. In the middle season, they didn’t make the playoffs.

Joel Quenneville's Coaching Qualifications

Quenneville has 25 years of coaching experience. This, combined with his three Stanley Cups as a head coach, is why he is highly sought after to coach in the NHL (again).

He has a .612 regular season points percentage in 1768 games. Quenneville has a lifetime coaching record of 969-572-77-150. His 969 career wins rank him second all-time in coaching wins, behind only Scotty Bowman.

Time will tell if the one-time Jack Adams trophy-winner will return to the NHL, and if the Ducks will be the team he makes his return with.

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The Chicago Blackhawks have a number of defensemen that they have to figure out what to do with ahead of next season. While the team hasn't pulled out of the rebuild yet, more than enough young talent is flooding the NHL and deserving of playing time.

This makes it so the Blackhawks have some tough decisions to make. There is room for seven defensemen on the roster and Chicago has 10 who have played NHL games and can play more as soon as next season.

This list includes Alex Vlasic, Sam Rinzel, Artyom Levshunov, Kevin Korchinski, Wyatt Kaiser, Connor Murphy, TJ Brodie, Ethan Del Mastro, Nolan Allan, and Louis Crevier.

Three don't have to go, but 1-2 may be on their way out.

The first and most likely on his way out is Brodie. He wasn't utilized in the latter half of the season and his game has fallen off from his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He ended the season with 54 games played, had two goals and 10 points, was a -18, and logged 15:38 per game. The only d-man on the Blackhawks who averaged fewer minutes per game in the NHL this season was Allan, and he's 21 years old and still played 43 games of better hockey than the veteran.

Brodie will have to go via a buyout. As the Blackhawks are a team other teams would look at to take on bad contracts, it doesn't make sense for them to waste an asset moving the final year of the veteran's contract when cap space isn't a concern. Buying Brodie out wouldn't be a difficult thing to do at all. The only other way I can see this going is if the Blackhawks just bury him in the minors, but he'll take up playing time over a young defenseman if they do that.

The Blackhawks can't have zero veterans left on the team with Alec Martinez already announcing his retirement. That should mean there is a good chance Murphy is kept around through at least the first half of the season. He has one year left on his deal and if the Blackhawks were to trade anyone at the deadline next season, it would be him. That would make 23-year-old Vlasic the veteran on defense, but we've seen that kind of look on the back-end with the Buffalo Sabres this season. It's better to play the young players than to have to move them or lose them.

3 Standouts in the Blackhawks' Pipeline Have Already Debuted This SeasonNear the end of January of this year, general manager Kyle Davidson mentioned six prospects playing outside of the NHL/AHL that caught his eye and stood out. This list of talented young players in the Chicago Blackhawks' organization included Nick Lardis, Sacha Boisvert, Oliver Moore, Sam Rinzel, Roman Kantserov, and Ryan Greene.

Vlasic, Levshunov, and Rinzel are seemingly untouchable at this time, but I wouldn't say the same for Kaiser, Del Mastro, Allan, and Korchinski. I think Korchinski, being drafted as high as he did and still so young, deserves a much longer look and leash. All four should be safe for now and rotated into the lineup. That leaves Crevier.

He is a RFA, the only one on defense, is 23 years old, and is a former seventh rounder. I don't just write off players drafted that late, but if there is an easiest player to go out of the young bunch, it would be him. The other way to look at it is that the Blackhawks don't have anyone else coming on defense, so Crevier could be brought back and played here and there or used as a depth body.

Tough decisions do have to be made and sometimes the wrong ones are made with so much young talent coming in all at once. You can never be certain who is going to pop off and who is going to fizzle out so early in their pro careers. Fortunately, major decisions don't have to be made for the Blackhawks yet.

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

The Anaheim Ducks parted ways with head coach Greg Cronin on April 19, following his second season behind the Ducks’ bench.

Why Now was the Right Time for the Ducks to Part with Cronin

Just one week later, on April 26, the first sizable news around general manager Pat Verbeek’s coaching search surfaced, a somewhat surprising development considering Verbeek’s statements alluding to casting a wide net and being open to any coach at his media availability following Cronin’s firing.

“It’s much like the way I took the approach last time,” Verbeek said. “The net’s going to be cast wide. I’m not going to really eliminate any options as far as my approach to the next coach.”

On Saturday morning, ESPN’s John Buccigross sent a cryptic post on social media of side-by-side images of controversial (to say the least) three-time Stanley Cup-winning head coach Joel Quenneville and a family of Ducks.

Nearly four hours later, James Murphy of RG Media reported that a “well-connected NHL source” told him the Ducks offered Quenneville their open head coaching job.

“The job is his if he wants it, and I’d be stunned if he doesn’t take it,” Murphy’s source relayed to him. “I’d say it’s 99.999999 percent he becomes the next head coach in Anaheim.”

Roughly an hour and a half later, PHWA President Frank Seravalli from DailyFaceoff.com slightly contradicted Murphy’s report, confirming the Ducks interviewed Quenneville, but stated the team is early in their process.

“Joel Quenneville recently interviewed for the (Ducks) head coaching vacancy,” Seravalli reported on social media. “He is a strong candidate but it’s still early in the process, multiple interviews to come in Anaheim.”

Quenneville (66) sits second on the NHL’s all-time wins list for head coaches with 969. He hasn’t coached a game since Oct. 28, 2021. He resigned from his position as head coach of the Florida Panthers following the results of Jenner & Block’s investigation into the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks.

The Ducks have stated that they are not going to confirm or deny each report and rumor on candidates.

UPDATE

The IIHF U18 World Championship is underway in Frisco, Texas, the final big on-ice draft event of the season. Making up most of the attendance numbers are NHL coaches, scouts, media, and family members of players.

Sean Shapiro of DLLS Sports and Elite Prospects offered an update on the Anaheim coaching search via social media on Saturday.

“Chatter at U18s from some in the NHL coaching circles is that Anaheim has interviewed, but not offered the job to anyone,” Shapiro said.

Elliotte Friedman from SportsNet is one of the NHL's premier insiders. He gave his thoughts on Monday’s rendition of his “32 Thoughts” podcast.

“The way I understand it, he’s definitely a serious candidate there, and we’ll see if he ends up being the guy. But he’s definitely a serious candidate. I don’t think that’s the only team that’s interested in him.

“I think the Ducks are very serious about it from a hockey perspective. You’ve heard Pat Verbeek say that they want to make the playoffs next year, and that’s why I think he’s looking at Quenneville, and Quenneville is a possibility. And I think the two of them met face-to-face last week.

“The bottom line is the Ducks are considering him, and he is a very serious contender for their job.”

Carlsson, Lundeström to Represent Sweden at 2025 Betano Hockey Games, World Championship

Pair of Former Ducks Defensemen Come up Big in Game 3

Friday night’s game was full of twists and turns at the Bell Centre; nine goals were scored, and four goaltenders were used, a rare feat. Emergency backup goaltender Patrick Chevrefils ended up on the Montreal Canadiens’ bench, wondering if he would be called into action, but the goalie hemorrhage stopped after the starting netminders.

Canadiens: If Montembeault Isn’t Good To Go
Canadiens: Home Sweet Home

On Saturday afternoon, Martin St-Louis said Samuel Montembeault was still being evaluated, and Spencer Carbery, the Washington Capitals coach, said he expected to get an update on Logan Thompson later in the day. It was no great surprise. Show me a coach who’s an open book about their lineup or injuries during the NHL playoffs.

However, judging by how Thompson exited the ice without putting any weight on his left leg on Friday, he’s going to need to be Wolverine to heal in time, but that’s not unheard of. We’re talking about a hockey player here, not a footballer. As for Samuel Montembeault, he was seen gingerly going up some stairs after the game, and that’s not a good sign either.

Logic dictates that on Sunday night, Capitals backup Charlie Lindgren will be taking on the team that gave the undrafted free agent his first chance in the pro ranks at the end of his third season in the NCAA with St. Cloud State in 2015-16.

The 31-year-old has never faced the Canadiens in postseason action, but he has a 3-1-0 record against them in the regular season with a 2.51 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage.

As for Jakub Dobes, it’s not far-fetched to believe he’ll be back in the net after being credited with the win on Friday night. That was the first time he had faced the Capitals, or any other team in the playoffs. He gave up one goal on eight shots and finished his night with a .875 SP. The young netminder also beat Washington once in the regular season when he backstopped the Habs to a 3-2 win in D.C. in early January.

Up front, the Capitals will have to keep a close eye on the Canadiens’ top line. Cole Caufield put up two points last night, Jurja Slafkovsky scored a big goal, and across three games, the former has a staggering 19 shots on goal while the latter has 14. Rookie wonder Lane Hutson has three points in three games about Ovi and co.

As for the Habs, they’ll have to know where Alex Ovechkin is at all times. The Capitals’ captain has 14 points in just 10 games against the Canadiens, followed by Dylan Strome, who has five in three games.

Exceptionally, the game is set for 6:30 PM. Make sure not to tune in late; the intensity is ramping up quickly in this series, and who knows what could happen early.

---

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Though the warmup shenanigans ahead of Game 3 in the Battle of Ontario led to disciplinary fines, Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz says he didn’t even notice the sideshow despite being at the center of it.

Following Toronto’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators in Game 4, the 31-year-old was asked for the first time about the much-discussed warmup incident involving Ottawa Senators forward Nick Cousins. His response was surprising, considering his role in the matter.

“I mean, I didn't even notice, to be honest,” said Stolarz post-game.

The league certainly noticed.

On Friday, the NHL fined Cousins $2,083.33 – the maximum allowable under the CBA – for “unsportsmanlike conduct” during warmups. The Senators organization was also hit with a $25,000 fine for their involvement.

Nick Cousins, Senators Issued Fines For ‘Unsportsmanlike Conduct’ In Game 3 Warmups Against Maple LeafsThe NHL has officially handed out disciplinary fines following a pre-game incident in Game 3 of the Battle of Ontario first-round playoff series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators.

The fines stem from an incident ahead of Game 3 in Ottawa. During pre-game warmups, Cousins and members of the Senators sent pucks directed at Stolarz and into the Maple Leafs’ half of the ice, making it all the more surprising that he hadn’t even noticed.

The situation escalated enough to prompt an NHL investigation. A video clip, circulated on social media Friday morning, appeared to show Cousins intentionally targeting Stolarz.

Here’s what NHL is looking at from last night. “Friend of Bieksa” Nick Cousins shoots puck at Stolarz. NHL not crazy about pre-game stuff…also clamped down on funny Scheifele/Hofer standoff in Blues/Jets series pic.twitter.com/ZF08AZwdO4

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) April 25, 2025

Despite the headlines, both teams have somewhat dismissed the controversy. Senators head coach Travis Green downplayed the situation when speaking to reporters Friday, suggesting Cousins was simply trying to rattle an old teammate and throw him off his game. 

"Nick Cousins and Stolarz have played together. I don't know. Yeah, he's probably trying to either laugh at him or make a joke or get him off his game, and it is what it is,” said Green. 

Stolarz appears to agree with the popular opinion and the same sentiments as Green.

The goaltender shared locker rooms with Cousins during stints with the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, and most recently during their Stanley Cup-winning run with the Florida Panthers last season.

“It's one of those things. Obviously, I know Cousy; I played with him for a number of years. So, I'm sure he didn't mean any malicious intent by it,” Stolarz explained. 

'It's An Active Investigation': How Senators Players Are Reacting to the Maple Leafs Puck Warmup DramaKANATA, Ont. — Ottawa Senators head coach Travis Green had some fun when asked about the NHL's investigation over a pre-game incident involving his club firing pucks at Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz during warmup.

When asked if he and Cousins had spoken about the incident, Stolarz offered a simple, “No.” While the league’s fines served as a message against pre-game antics, it appeared to have the desired effect. Prior to Game 4, both sides kept their distance during warmups with no issues.

Both teams have turned the page with Game 4 in the books, and for Toronto, the focus remains on closing out the first-round series. Despite Saturday’s loss, the Leafs hold a 3-1 series lead and will have a chance to finish the job again on Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena.

“Just keep doing what we're doing,” said Stolarz. “Like I said, I thought we played a really good game tonight. We were boxing out really well. We were getting pucks in, kind of going low to high on them. I just think if we continue that, it will be the recipe for success.

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