Category: Ice Hockey

Carolina Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky revealed Wednesday on a Zoom call with local media, that new defenseman Alexander Nikishin has not yet technically signed his contract with the team.

ESPN's Emily Kaplan had first reported during Sunday's game that Nikishin hadn't yet been signed by the Canes, stating that he had instead been granted permission from the NHL to allow him to practice with the team. 

According to Tulsky, while Nikishin isn't signed, he has agreed to terms on a deal and there also isn't any real concern over getting that contract finalized.

"I expect that we will sign the deal any day now.," Tulsky said. "We're just working through some things. If we felt like we needed him on the ice in the next game, we'd get the contract in and have him ready to go. There's nothing that's getting in the way of him being able to play for us."

The biggest holdup is the fact that if the team wants him to get games in the AHL at any point this season, he'd only be able to if he signed a PTO with the Chicago Wolves. Therefore, signing his NHL contact would bar him from having that option.

"When we sign the contract, he won't be able to play in the AHL any more," Tulsky said. "He'd be restricted to NHL games, so we're trying to keep our options open by holding off for now."

It's a fairly unique situation to have a deal pretty much done, but not quite technically signed, and it probably also didn't help fans that the Hurricanes' social team put out a graphic that said 'Signed' in regards to Nikishin (although they probably just assumed the same as everyone else too. I mean, even I thought he was officially signed).

But worry not, Alexander Nikishin is going to be a Carolina Hurricane.

It's just that the front office is dancing around some legalities and loopholes to keep as many options as they can open, and it was important for them to still get him to Raleigh as quickly as possible to maximize the time they have to integrate him into the team, system and culture.

"[Nikishin] has a ton of ability, but it's a big transition for him," Tulsky said. "Every time he gets a chance to skate with the team, meet with the coaches, that helps him be ready to get on the ice and help the team. I think it's a great learning experience for him. The time he's getting around the team is helping him integrate and make sure he's ready to go when we need him."

Be sure to check out the Carolina Hurricanes 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Hub for all postseason stories!  

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The Calder Cup Playoffs are going to begin on Wednesday night for the Rockford IceHogs. They will skate against one of their biggest rivals, the Chicago Wolves. 

When the puck drops for Game One at the Allstate Arena, a good number of Chicago Blackhawks prospects will be working on their game while also trying to win in the AHL's playoff tournament. 

The AHL is the NHL's top developmental league, which means that these players will be going up against stiff competition. There is a lot to learn in a league like this, especially when the stakes are high. 

Not every one of these prospects is a guarantee to play in every game, but they should all see some time throughout.  These are the 11 players that the Blackhawks will have the most interest in seeing how they do:

AJ Spellacy

On Wednesday, another reinforcement was given to the Rockford IceHogs in the form of AJ Spellacy. Spellacy just finished his third season with the Windsor Spitfires after being drafted by the Blackhawks in the third round (72nd overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft.

Spellacy dealt with an injury while with Windsor during the OHL Playoffs, but he still managed to have three points in five games. Now, he is ready to try and make an impact in the Calder Cup Playoffs. 

Aidan Thompson

After Aidan Thompson's season came to an end at the University of Denver, the Blackhawks made sure to get him signed up right away. His breakout season as the captain of Denver included 21 goals and 34 assists for 55 points in 44 games. 

Samuel Savoie

Sam Savoie is a depth forward who provides leadership and grit. Chicago selected Savoie in the third round (81st overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft.

In 72 games for Rockford, he scored 7 goals and 15 assists for 22 points. He plays a game that should translate to the playoffs, where the ice gets smaller and things get more physical. 

Gavin Hayes

Gavin Hayes, a former third-round pick (66th overall), is a young forward looking to take a step offensively in the coming years. He only had 5 goals and 10 assists for 15 points in 50 Rockford games this year, so he'd like to get going in the playoffs. For being a rookie, he has handled himself well, but he knows that there is another level that he can get to. An experience like this is good for him. 

Marek Vanacker

The Blackhawks added Marek Vanacker to Rockford earlier this week. Like Spellacy, Vanacker was just eliminated from the OHL playoffs as a member of the Brantford Bulldogs. He was just heating up as the postseason went along, so jumping right into the Calder Cup Playoffs is perfect for him. 

Kevin Korchinski

Kevin Korchinski was the AHL All-Star Game MVP, so his experience in this league is there. He has also played a ton of games in the NHL for being so young.

Korchinski was allowed to develop in the AHL for most of this season. However, he did get 16 NHL games where he had one goal and one assist. The offense will come in the NHL for him, but being reliable defensively is taking some time for him. That is normal for a young offensive defenseman. 

Of every blue-liner on the team, he has the potential to change a series the most offensively. The Blackhawks have high hopes for Korchinski so he will be heavily watched as long as Rockford stays in it. 

Ethan Del Mastro

Ethan Del Mastro played a fair number of games with the Chicago Blackhawks and proved he can be a valuable part of an NHL team’s defense. With a little more development, he could be a great shutdown guy on a good team. 

Artyom Levshunov

Artyom Levshunov, after spending the first three quarters of the season in Rockford, finished the year with the Blackhawks. Once Chicago’s season in the NHL ended, they sent him back to the IceHogs for a Calder Cup run.

Of every player on the roster, the 2024 second overall pick could make the most noise with his skills. This is Levshunov’s first chance at playing under the bright lights on a professional level, which should be great for his development. 

Nolan Allan

Nolan Allan had games where he was Chicago’s best defensive defenseman. Seeing the impact he makes during the Calder Cup Playoffs could be a glimpse into his future as a pro defenseman. 

Taige Harding

The Chicago Blackhawks signed Taige Harding right when his great season at Providence College ended. He is a defenseman that they selected in the third round (91st overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft. 

In 37 games with Providence, Harding had 2 goals and 12 assists for 14 points. That's not a bad total for a guy focused on playing well in his own end. In 3 games to end Rockford's regular season, Harding had three assists. We'll see how his game translates to the playoffs, where things get harder. He seems to be built for this. 

Drew Commesso

The Chicago Blackhawks know that Spencer Knight is the goalie of their future. Arvid Soderblom has the inside track to be the backup for a while based on his 2024-25 season. If Drew Commesso wants to have a role in the NHL, he needs to keep playing well in the AHL. 

It starts for him in this series with the IceHogs against the Wolves. Being a second-round pick (46th overall) in 2020, he has the pedigree to be a good goaltender at the NHL level.

Commesso made his NHL debut in 2024-25, but it only lasted for one start and one relief appearance. Playing well in the Calder Cup Playoffs this spring could get him an NHL look again next year. 

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As the Battle of Ontario shifts to Ottawa for Games 3 and 4, the Toronto Maple Leafs want to keep their foot on the gas. Their new-look fourth line of Steven Lorentz, Scott Laughton, and Calle Jarnkrok, especially.

The trio has been one of the strong points for Toronto throughout the series. According to NaturalStatTrick, at five-on-five, Lorentz, Laughton, and Jarnkrok have attempted more shots than their opponents, 14-12, and have an expected goals-for percentage of 50.38, the second-best among Maple Leafs lines in the series.

They even assisted in starting the series on a positive note, with Laughton and Jarnkrok tallying the two assists on Oliver Ekman-Larsson's goal.

"We're on the same page right now, and that's what makes it easy to go out there," Lorentz said on Wednesday.

"We're not always going to be in the O-zone. Sometimes we get to match up and we're against their top lines, and we're very comfortable out there doing that. I think we're all confident in our defensive abilities, and we kind of know where each other are going to be, and we've created that chemistry.

"It's nice going out there, and you don't feel nervous like you're on your heels. We can kind of take it to those lines and kind of hem them in the offensive zone as well."

'Probably, I Haven't Made My Mind Up Yet': Maple Leafs Likely To Stick With Same Lineup For Game 3 Against SenatorsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are a perfect 2-0 in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, so it wouldn't be unreasonable for head coach Craig Berube to keep his lineup the same as their first-round series against the Ottawa Senators shifts to Canada's capital.

What's most intriguing about this fourth line is that head coach Craig Berube is deploying it like a third line.

Max Domi's line with Nick Robertson and Bobby McMann combined for 34:41 in Game 2 against the Senators, while Laughton's line combined for 35:18, nearly a minute more. They've played the second-most minutes among Toronto's lines at five-on-five during the series, according to NaturalStatTrick.

Berube also started the fourth line for Game 2 against the Senators. He did the same with the St. Louis Blues in the Stanley Cup Finals, where he iced his fourth line of Alexander Steen, Ivan Barbashev, and Oskar Sundqvist at the start of three of the seven games in the series.

‘Couldn’t Be Happier For Him’: Max Domi Plays Overtime Hero, Scores Game-Winning Goal To Lift Maple Leafs Over Senators In Game 2 VictoryIt was another overtime classic etched into the history of the Battle of Ontario on Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena – and it was a hometown player who sealed the deal.

"I think it's highly important. You need everybody in playoffs. You need everybody to do the job," Berube said on Wednesday.

"In 2019, our fourth line was very effective for us. Not only defensively and matchups and doing things like that, but they scored goals, and they scored big goals. and you need that in playoffs. Laughton's line has been very good for a while now, and going to keep using them."

It's not the first time Lorentz has started during the playoffs. In Lorentz's first postseason in the NHL, Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour would throw his fourth line out for the beginning of the game.

 "I's not always power on power, line one on line one. It's the checking guys that you want to get the energy and the crowd going in the building. It might just take a big hit on the first shift," Lorentz said.

"That's a tactical game that the coaches play. Our line, we've been comfortable. It doesn't matter what line we see. We went out there just ready at puck drop to be able to go out and make an impact."

Throughout the first two games of Toronto's series against Ottawa, Lorentz, Laughton, and Jarnkrok have averaged more time on ice than McMann, Domi, and Robertson. Whether that'll continue with the series shifting to Ottawa remains to be seen.

"We Stayed With It': Maple Leafs Halt Senators' Comeback Bid To Take 2-0 Series LeadMax Domi scored the overtime winner as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-2 to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven series on Tuesday. 

But it's a positive sign that Berube can rely on a line aside from the Maple Leafs' top-six in the postseason. It'll only get tougher from here on out with Game 3 going down in Ottawa on Thursday night.

"We’ve been pretty good," Jarnkrok said. "Working hard out there. Working for each other, trying to help the team as best as we can."

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The LA Kings host the Edmonton Oilers face-off for game two of their first round series following thriller in series-opener

The Oilers and Kings came together for a thrilling game one that Edmonton almost came back from a four goal deficit but were staved off by a late game winner from LA centre Philip Danault.

Edmonton will look to come back and respond with a road win to even up the series while LA looks to take a commanding 2-0 lead. 

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

For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 18-5 record on our last 23 picks, including a 5-0 record on Sunday for the Maple Leafs-Senators game one picks. 

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

Edmonton Oilers vs Los Angeles Kings Best Bets:

• Oilers Over 2.5 goals (-146)
• Oilers ML (+106)
• Trevor Moore Over 0.5 points (+138) 

It's been a while since the Oilers have had a full unit with Leon Draisaitl, Trent Frederic, Zach Hyman and Jake Walman all returning from injuries for game one.

It was evident through the first period, where the Kings took advantage of a discombobulated Oilers team that had lines playing together for the first time in game action since early April. 

More NHL: Battle of Ontario Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Futures for Maple Leafs versus Senators

LA scored two quick goals that kept Edmonton behind early and then continued to add with two more in the second period but once everything start to click things looked scary for the Kings. 

Edmonton started to receive production from all four forward lines with Connor McDavid and top line winger, Zach Hyman, both getting on the board. Second-line centre Leon Draisaitl also added a goal as well as third- and fourth-line forwards Mattias Janmark, Trent Frederic and Jeff Skinner all contributing for the Oilers' second goal. 

Things started to click and the Kings weren't ready for it and I expect a similar result on Wednesday. LA has not had much tape to watch on these units and likely can't gameplan accordingly. The Oilers pierced hot goaltender Darcy Kuemper for five goals and I expect them to do it again. 

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

LA will likely respond to the Oilers offence and I expect it to come from a surprising source in Trevor Moore. The third-line winger helped Danault get on the board and the favor should be returned especially with Moore's goal drought reaching seven games. 

Danault is hot with five points over his last five games and should stay that way thanks to Stuart Skinner allowing four or more goals in three of his last five starts. 

By now, most Sharks fans have likely heard the news on Alexander Georgiev. But if you haven’t, here’s the deal — he won’t be back in San Jose.

Georgiev confirmed at locker cleanout that he and GM Mike Grier had talked, and the team won’t be offering him an extension. That makes him a UFA this summer.

The plan moving forward is to give more starts to Yaroslav Askarov. At this point in his development, he needs consistent NHL action. The Sharks believe he has the potential to be a high-end starter and a big part of their future.

Of course, Grier will still need to find a backup. Expect it to be a veteran — someone who can support Askarov on and off the ice while helping him adjust to a heavier workload.

Two-Time NCAA Champion Goalie Joins Sharks' AHL AffiliateThe San Jose Sharks’ AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, have signed two-time national champion goalie Matt Davis to an AHL contract through the 2025–26 season.

There haven’t been any names linked to San Jose just yet, but that’ll change as we get closer to the draft and free agency.

As for Georgiev, he’ll hit the open market looking for a starting or tandem role somewhere else. If nothing comes together in the NHL, there’s always the option of heading back to the KHL.

San Jose Sharks 2025 Off-Season PreviewWith the 2025 NHL playoffs underway, teams that missed out have already turned their focus to the offseason. For the San Jose Sharks, it’s all about continuing the rebuild and making the most of this summer’s draft.

Former Sharks Players To Cheer For In The 2025 PlayoffsWith the 2024-25 NHL playoffs underway and the San Jose Sharks preparing for their summer, there are a few former Sharks you may want to cheer for.

This is a big development for the Washington Capitals. The big forward has a lot of scoring in his stick. The reported injury is a skate cut on his foot and he looks like he is moving without much issue. 

Aliaksei Protas is on the ice before #ALLCAPS skate once again. Appears to be doing more. Normal jersey. So, progress. (H/t @MonSportsNet photog Greg Abernathy.) pic.twitter.com/Fyei1TO2mb

— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) April 23, 2025

The thirty goal scorer isn’t wearing a non-contact jersey any longer so technically he could play tonight but since they won the first game, I suspect that he will sit this one out as an abundance of caution. If they are expecting to have a long playoff run, it would be smart to play it safe. Plus, why make a change when you’re winning? 

Game 2 is a must-win for the Canadiens. The Capitals offense will only get better with Protas in there and presumably they would have him for the road game. If the Capitals get up 2-0 in the series, it will be nearly impossible for Montreal to overcome. Nothing is impossible but the word improbable comes to mind.

I think the way that Protas gets in there is with a Canadiens’ win. Until then, why not give him maximum time to heal and feel even better. I believe that is what will happen. This is the fun part about playoff hockey. There’s always a lot of different storylines.

While the Montreal Canadiens were one goal away from winning game one of their first-round series against the Washington Capitals, the D.C. outfit outrageously dominated when it came to scoring chances.

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Only one Montreal line had the upper hand on Washington’s combinations—the top one. The unit formed by Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky has carried its dominating play into the playoffs, having 11 scoring chances while only surrendering three to the Caps.

It was much more difficult for the three other lines. Washington dominated the Josh Anderson, Christian Dvorak, and Brendan Gallagher trio 3-1, edged the Emil Heineman, Jake Evans, and Joel Armia combination 3-2, and obliterated the Patrik Laine, Alex Newhook, and Ivan Demidov line 10-1.

Should the Canadiens play the first frame of game two like they played the last 10 minutes of game 1, these numbers would probably be much better. If the Habs adjust their forecheck and can put the puck where they need it to be in the Capitals’ zone to apply pressure, the numbers will improve, at least for the Dvorak and Evans lines.

However, that won’t fix the Newhook combination issue, since the forecheck isn’t exactly their forte. In an ideal world, they would need to start with the puck already in the Washington zone, which is easier said than done. Changing on the fly while maintaining puck possession in the offensive zone is no small feat, and Newhook doesn’t have shining faceoff numbers. On Monday night, he only won two of his eight faceoffs.

Ivan Demidov dances into space and finds Alex Newhook for the opening goal of the game!#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/0Hrsz36Q2F

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) April 14, 2025

Perhaps the answer is to delegate another center to win the draw with orders to retreat to the bench once that mission has been accomplished, like Dvorak does when Martin St-Louis starts overtime with Suzuki, a blueliner, and him. Once puck possession is established, he retreats to the bench, and Caufield jumps on the ice. It could be one way to shield the unit, but that’s easier said than done.

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

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

Although it is probably way too early to ponder how the deadline acquisition of Andrey Kuzmenko will play out for the LA Kings in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, I am going to do it anyway. Fans and followers of both the 2012 and 2014 Cup winning teams are well aware of what bringing in the right piece at the right time can do for one's team, especially when it's the likes of Jeff Carter and Marion Gaborik. 

After Game 1 of the first round series with the Edmonton Oilers, "Kuzy" has already earned a place in the conversation with these former deadline legends by registering three points (1 G, 2 A) in LA's thrilling 6-5 win over the Oilers. By comparison, Carter had two assists against Vancouver in his playoff debut with the Kings, whereas Gaborik did not find the scoresheet until Game 3 of the first round series against the San Jose Sharks in 2014. 

In addition to his eight goals and five assists in the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs, Carter's six goals down the stretch in the month of March were a boon to the offensively challenged Kings that year. Without Carter's impact, it's doubtful whether LA would have been able to squeak in as the Western Conference eighth seed at all that year. 

While this year's squad was already securely in a playoff spot by the time Kuzmenko arrived, the 29-year-old Russian's contribution went a long way in wresting second place in the Pacific Division away from Edmonton. For a team having set a franchise record with 31 wins at home, having home ice in this series could turn out to be huge. In 20 regular season games with the Kings, Kuzmenko put up 17 points (5 G, 12 A) and injected much needed new life into the Kings' moribund power play. 

With his first period goal 2:49 into Game 1, Andrei Kuzmenko scored the Kings’ fastest game-opening goal in the playoffs since Marian Gaborik (0:34) in Game 2 of the 2014 Second Round (per @NHLPR). pic.twitter.com/TycstotTcX

— LA Kings PR (@LAKingsPR) April 22, 2025

Marion Gaborik made a similar impact in 2014 when he put up 16 points over the final 19 regular season games before exploding in the playoffs, in route to LA's second Stanley Cup in three seasons. The Slovak sniper would lead LA with 14 playoff goals, two of those coming against crosstown rivals Anaheim: one to tie the game with just seven seconds remaining in the third and the second to win it in overtime. 

On May 3, 2014, the Freeway Face-Off extended into the post season as Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks met for the first time in the playoffs. Marian Gaborik scored the game-tying goal late in the 3rd and scored the game winner in OT to give the Kings a 3-2 win in Game 1. pic.twitter.com/QNycNmw3IU

— The Kingstorian (@Kingstorian) May 3, 2019

Could another offensively gifted European leaving a John Tortorella-coached team for LA at the deadline work out well for the Kings again? Much too early to say, but at the very least, things are off to an excellent start.

Bruins' offseason to-do list must include acquiring an elite scorer originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins got great offensive production from David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie during the 2024-25 NHL season.

Pastrnak scored 40-plus goals for the fourth straight season and tallied 100-plus points for the third consecutive year. Geekie scored a career-high 33 goals — 16 more than last season.

But two good offensive players are not enough to make the playoffs, let alone make a run at the Stanley Cup. While there are plenty of roster weaknesses for Bruins general manager Don Sweeney to address over the offseason, finding another high-end scorer needs to be at the top of the list.

“(We have to find) some extra scoring potential, and we probably have to address the wing positions,” Sweeney said Wednesday at the team’s end-of-season press conference.

“That will deepen the scoring ability that showed up ineffectively this year in the way the roster was built. We didn’t score enough, and our power play was dormant for most of the season.”

The Bruins ranked 27th in goals per game (all situations) and 29th in power-play percentage. They also ranked among the league’s worst teams in scoring at even strength.

So, how do the Bruins find more scoring? Will they focus on the trade market, free agency or internal improvement?

“It’s all the above, whatever is at our disposal to utilize,” Sweeney said Wednesday. “I referenced what we tried to do at the trade deadline to find some younger players, deepen our prospect pool, add a player who would help us in Casey (Mittelstadt) from an offensive standpoint. He’s a different player than Charlie (Coyle). He could grow into some of the things that Charlie Coyle was so very good at.

“We’re going to use every mechanism possible.”

The B’s definitely could get more offense from the players already in the organization.

Pavel Zacha is a 50-point scorer who played below that level this season. The blue line, especially Charlie McAvoy, can provide more offense. Casey Mittelstadt could score 15-20 goals if used correctly.

Elias Lindholm had a strong finish to an otherwise underwhelming season. He could potentially regain his top-six center form from recent seasons. Young players such as Fabian Lysell, Fraser Minten and Matt Poitras could provide valuable scoring depth, too.

But don’t expect prospects to get NHL reps until they’ve fully earned the opportunity.

“We’re not going to just plug a player in because he’s young and exciting,” Sweeney said. “They have to earn those stripes. Fabian’s a good example of building blocks and recognizing one-on-one talent and ability is different than how it’s going to translate to winning hockey in the National Hockey League on a competitive team. Ultimately, they have to earn that. We’re going to hold them to that standard.”

The most impactful way to bolster this team’s offensive potential — at least in the short term — is to swing for the fences in free agency and/or the trade market. The B’s will enter the offseason with about $28 million in salary cap space, per PuckPedia.

Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitch Marner could become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. He is an elite offensive player who tallied a career-high 102 points this season. He’s arguably the best playmaking wing in the sport and has averaged 66 assists over the last four years.

Winnipeg Jets left wing Nikolaj Ehlers has scored 20-plus goals in eight of the last nine seasons. He can become a UFA this summer, too.

It’s unknown if Marner or Ehlers will even make it to free agency in July, but if they do, it would be smart for the Bruins to try to acquire one of them. Besides Marner and Ehlers, there aren’t any other major difference-makers in the 2025 free agent class.

That leaves the trade market as the other path for Sweeney to make significant scoring additions to his roster. As a result of his trade deadline moves, Sweeney now has a couple more quality prospects and draft picks — including four first-rounders and five second-rounders over the next three years — to dangle on the trade market.

And then, of course, the Bruins will have the opportunity to add a potential top-six forward in the 2025 NHL Draft. Boston has the fifth-best odds to win the lottery and can finish no lower than the No. 7 pick. The center position is the Bruins’ primary roster need entering this draft, and there are several talented prospects at that position in the top 15 picks.

The Bruins need to defend better next season. The goaltending — especially from Jeremy Swayman — needs to be much improved, too. But unless the B’s fix their scoring troubles, this team will be back in the draft lottery in 2026. Only one of the bottom-12 teams (the Minnesota Wild) in goals scored this season made the playoffs.

If Sweeney can acquire at least one high-end forward in the coming months, it could be enough to get the Bruins back into the playoff mix as early as next season.

The Winnipeg Jets have pulled ahead two games to zero in their opening round, best-of-seven matchup with the St. Louis Blues. 

Thanks to back-to-back game-winning goals from Kyle Connor, the Jets have taken a stranglehold on a tough Central Division opponent that got red-hot over the season's second half. 

St. Louis, which actually had its franchise-best, 12-game winning streak stopped by the Jets in the season's final weeks, has not been a pushover either. The Blues led at two different points in Game 1, and never trailed by more than a single goal at any point in this series (with the exception of Adam Lowry's empty-net marker). 

The Jets know the Blues well. Playing each other roughly four times a year, the two divisional opponents also have a postseason history. 

In 2019, a similar looking St. Louis team challenged Winnipeg in the opening round. Having been dead last in league standings near the Christmas break, the Blues rebounded dramatically in the second half, earning their way to a date with Winnipeg in first round.

They came into the former Bell MTS Place and stole both games away from the Jets, pulling ahead 2-0 in the best-of-seven. 

Winnipeg flipped the script with two wins in St. Louis, tying things up in advance of Game 5. 

But the Blues were just too strong and took the next two games, sealing the deal on the Jets' push for another lengthy postseason run. That Blues team was good, real good. So good that it went all the way to the Cup Final, where it beat the Bruins in seven games for the league championship.

Should Winnipeg manage to find a way to take down St. Louis this year, the Jets would then go on to face the winner between the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars.

Should the Avalanche come out on top, it would be another familiar opponent. Colorado was Winnipeg's Round 1 matchup last postseason. Despite beating the Avs in Game 1 at home last year, the Jets dropped the second contest, before hitting the road for Denver. 

They lost both games at Ball Arena only to come home and lose in the series-deciding contest, falling from the postseason in just five games - four after a dominant 7-6 win in the opener.

Should Winnipeg play Colorado and manage to fend off its explosive offence, a date with the Jets' most familiar postseason opponent could be in the works. 

Should they beat the Minnesota Wild in the opening round and then take care of business against either Los Angeles or Edmonton in the second round, the Vegas Golden Knights could once again be waiting on the Winnipeg Jets in the Western Conference Final. 

Sure, it's quite a reach, Winnipeg very well could be squaring off with the team that has twice booted the Jets from the postseason - including shutting down their chance at going to the Cup back in the Western Conference Final in 2018.

Vegas certainly has the depth and experience to take another swing at a lengthy postseason run. But it's just that. Are the Knights running out of oxygen? Will they sustain another series-and-a-half of playoff violence to make it to the conference final?

The same question could be said of Winnipeg, which is already down Gabe Vilardi, Nikolaj Ehlers and Rasmus Kupari on offence due to injury. 

If the Conference Final was determined by regular season standings points it would already have guaranteed a matchup between Vegas and the Jets. However, this is NHL hockey - and Stanley Cup Playoff hockey at that, where nothing is given, every inch is earned.

Yes, Vegas sent Winnipeg packing in five games back in the third round in 2018. Sure, that feels like a lifetime (and a pandemic) ago, but the wound still bleeds.

More recently, the Golden Knights denied the Jets' hopes in the first round two seasons back. In a very similar way to that of Colorado's five-game victory, Vegas allowed a Jets win in Game 1 before storming back with four-straight to eliminate Winnipeg from contention.

If it is Winnipeg and Vegas in the conference final and the Jets prove victorious, the only fitting opponent in the Stanley Cup Final would be the Montreal Canadiens - also known as the team that swept Winnipeg in four-straight games in the second round of the pandemic-shortened 2021 season. 

The idea of Montreal - the Eastern Conference's eighth-seed - making a run to the Stanley Cup may be the most preposterous part of this proposition, but the possibility is not completely far-fetched. The Habs would have to beat the top team in the East (Washington) before taking down a combination of Toronto, Tampa Bay, Florida and Carolina to make it to the Cup.

It would be an insanely wild ride for the Jets and their fans, but it's not entirely impossible. Sure, many stars would need to align to allow this redemption tale for the ages, but for now, it starts with the Blues, as the Jets allow feelings from 2019, 2024, 2018, 2023 and maybe, just maybe, 2021 fuel their passion for greatness. 

Tkachuk and Domi made headlines on Day 4 of the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs – but it wasn’t Keith and Tie.

The last time Keith Tkachuk and Tie Domi were in the playoffs at the same time was in 2004. This time, it was the Florida Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk and Toronto Maple Leafs’ Max Domi scoring important goals on Tuesday night, although Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk recorded his first career goal as well.

Here are the key storylines from each game.

Carolina Hurricanes Defeat New Jersey Devils 3-1 (CAR leads series 2-0)

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen took over the spotlight in Game 2 against the New Jersey Devils. In a low-scoring 2-1 win for the Hurricanes, Andersen made 25 stops on 26 shots to record a .962 save percentage.

Aside from the opening five minutes of the game when they scored, the Devils didn’t have many grade-A chances. According to naturalstattrick.com, New Jersey had seven high-danger chances, while Carolina had 15.

Although the Hurricanes controlled most of this game, the Devils put up a strong fight defensively. Brett Pesce kept the game close, with six blocked shots and two goal-line clearances.

Devils coach Sheldon Keefe liked his team’s game as the series moves to New Jersey for two games.

“I liked a lot about our game today,” Keefe said. “We showed attitude, we showed competitiveness, we showed care.”

Demoted But Not Down, Max Domi Scores OT Winner For Toronto Maple LeafsFor most of this season, the Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t know what to do with Max Domi — or where he fit in.

Toronto Maple Leafs Defeat Ottawa Senators 3-2 OT (TOR leads series 2-0)

The Toronto Maple Leafs took Game 2 over the Ottawa Senators in overtime thanks to a Max Domi snipe. With that, the Leafs take a 2-0 series lead for the first time since 2002 against the New York Islanders.

Max isn’t the first Domi to score a game-winner against the Senators in the playoffs. His father, Tie, scored a game-winning goal in Game 5 of their first-round series against the Sens in 2004. 

Domi’s reaction to his goal? 

“Big win, on to the next one now,” he told reporters.

Ottawa had a tough time hitting the net in the third period with only three shots on goal. Nonetheless, the Senators forced overtime with a goal from Adam Gaudette. With that, they applied heavy offensive pressure on the Leafs, which coach Travis Green praised.

“I really liked the way we played tonight,” Green told reporters. “To play a road game like that was encouraging for our team.”

The Senators will get another crack at the Maple Leafs on Thursday at the Canadian Tire Centre.

No Panic: Ottawa Senators Lose Again, But They'll Be Better For It In The Short- And Long-TermThere are no moral victories in the Stanley Cup playoffs, so the reality is the Ottawa Senators find themselves down 2-0 in the Battle of Ontario and face an enormous task getting back into this first-round series.

Florida Panthers Defeat Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2 (FLA leads series 1-0)

It took four days from the opening night of the playoffs before fans could see the Battle of Florida between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. However, Game 1 might not have ended the way many would’ve anticipated.

Speaking of waiting, Matthew Tkachuk finally returned to the Panthers roster after being out with a lower-body injury since the 4 Nations Face-Off. He made his presence known, scoring two goals and an assist in his return, all on the power play.

The Panthers went on to steamroll the Lightning in a 6-2 win on the road to set the tone for the series. Defenseman Nate Schmidt added another two goals past Andrei Vasilevskiy, who had a rough outing for the Bolts.

It was a night to forget for Vasilevskiy, who finished the game with a .625 SP, allowing six goals on 16 shots.

The third period was when things got out of hand for Tampa Bay. They allowed three goals that sucked the energy out of the team. The Lightning challenged Schmidt’s first goal and lost the argument, which then led to another goal 14 seconds later on the power play.

Eventually, they added a third, and fans began to leave Amalie Arena early. 

“You have to stop the bleeding,” Victor Hedman said to reporters. 

Minnesota Wild Defeat Vegas Golden Knights 5-2 (Series Tied 1-1)

The Minnesota Wild flipped the script on the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2, with a 5-2 win. It was a hot start for the Wild, scoring three goals in the opening period past Adin Hill, to give the team a large cushion for the rest of the contest.

Minnesota’s first line led the way, with Kirill Kaprizov making multiple highlight plays in the game. He started with a shoulder-high, breakaway pass to Matt Boldy, who opened the scoring. Boldy has three goals and four points, while Kaprizov has two goals and five points in this series.

“I think (Joel Eriksson Ek, Boldly, and Kaprizov), they play a playoff-style type of hockey,” Wild coach John Hynes told reporters. “They play north. They play direct. They can use their competitive level in combination with skill. It gives them a chance to be a line that's hard to play.”

Kaprizov iced the game with 2:26 left on the clock with the empty net. While protecting their lead, he pounced on a loose puck after a save from Filip Gustavsson and threw it the length of the ice, into Vegas’ empty net to secure the win.

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For most of this season, the Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t know what to do with Max Domi — or where he fit in.

Was he a second-line winger? A third-line centre? After acquiring Scott Laughton at the trade deadline, was Domi even a top-nine forward anymore?

In a 3-2 overtime win against the Ottawa Senators, Domi answered back with: Yes. Yes. And yes.

The 30-year-old gap-toothed forward, who played up and down in the lineup on Tuesday, was a bit of everything for the Leafs in Game 2. That included being the somewhat unlikely OT hero in a game that the home team nearly gave away.

Domi started the night playing wing on a second line with John Tavares and William Nylander. But in overtime, he was centering the third line with Bobby McMann and Nick Robertson when Domi deked past a couple of defenders and scored the winning goal to give the Leafs a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

“Every night there’s a different hero in playoffs, it doesn’t matter who scores as long as we get the win,” said Domi. “Shoot the puck, anything can happen.”

In the process, Domi reminded everyone that his biggest asset might just be his versatility, along with his dedication to improving his skill-set.

After all, that move that Domi pulled off in overtime was one that he practised often. That very morning, while his teammates were still in the dressing room, Domi was alone on the ice ripping shot after shot on an empty net. Hours later, he did it for real, while his dad, who is no stranger to the Battle of Ontario, cheered him on from the stands.

“Great play by him,” said Mitch Marner. “That was really cool for him to get that. I’m happy for him. It was an amazing play by him to get that middle (on the ice) and that shot.

'That's Playoff Hockey': Leafs' Stolarz Explains Bodychecking Senators' Greig In Game 2 WinThe Ottawa Senators outhit the Toronto Maple Leafs 44 to 25 in Game 2 on Tuesday night.

Taking a drop pass from Simon Benoit in the Ottawa end, Domi weaved through traffic and then beat goalie Linus Ullmark with a wrist shot at 3:09 in the extra frame.

“He works on his craft so much on ice, off ice,” said Marner. “How he takes care of his body, how he’s such a pro. I was lucky that I got to see that in London as well when I was really young. To learn off of him was amazing. To see nothing has changed and he’s even more of a pro now is pretty special.”

For Domi, it was the kind of moment that he has likely dreamed about. But it was also the kind of moment that has eluded him for most of his time with the Leafs. After signing a four-year extension worth $15-million last summer, there was an expectation that Domi would get back to being the highly skilled player who once scored 28 goals and 72 points for the Montreal Canadiens in 2018-19.

No Panic: Ottawa Senators Lose Again, But They'll Be Better For It In The Short- And Long-TermThere are no moral victories in the Stanley Cup playoffs, so the reality is the Ottawa Senators find themselves down 2-0 in the Battle of Ontario and face an enormous task getting back into this first-round series.

At the very least, with Craig Berube hired as coach, the thinking was Domi would embody the hard-nosed style that the new Leafs coach was preaching.

Instead, with just eight goals and 33 points, Domi has spent the year trying to justify his salary and spot in the lineup.

A day earlier, Berube had told reporters that “Max is good about playing wherever.” After the Leafs gave up a 2-0 lead, Domi was taken off the second line in favour of Pontus Holmberg. “Just an adjustment with match-ups more than anything,” said Berube.

Turns out, it was the right move.

"We Stayed With It': Maple Leafs Halt Senators' Comeback Bid To Take 2-0 Series LeadMax Domi scored the overtime winner as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-2 to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven series on Tuesday. 

Whether he’s playing on the second line, third line or even the fourth line, Domi found a way to make an impact.

“Big win, obviously we needed that one,” said Domi. “I give Ottawa all the credit in the world. They played a heck of a hockey game. We stuck with it, made some plays that we had to make at the right time and big win. On to the next one now.”

The Vegas Golden Knights entered Game 2 hoping to take a 2-0 series lead, but will now head to Minnesota with the series tied after Kirill Kaprizov imposed his will, helping the Minnesota Wild win 5-2.

Heading into the series, a lot was made of the matchup between Kaprizov and Jack Eichel, but through two games, it's been all Kaprizov. The 27-year-old Russian winger has scored two goals and five points on seven Wild goals. All three of Kaprizov's assists have been primary helpers on Matt Boldy's goals. 

Kaprizov's dominance should not diminish Boldy's excellence. Through two games, he's showcased his skill, hockey IQ, and physicality. Boldy has found ways to sneak behind the Golden Knights' defence and open up passing lanes for Kaprizov. On last night's opening goal, he was first to notice the change of possession, darted up the middle of the ice, received an outstanding pass from Kaprizov and used his body to shield Shea Theodore from the puck before finishing off the breakaway chance. 

“It was unbelievable,” Boldy said, mentioning that it may be the best pass he's ever seen.

As great as Boldy has been, it's Kaprizov who has his hands in every bit of action that comes from the Wild. 

Through two games, the Wild have outscored the Golden Knights 3-1 at 5-on-5 with Kaprizov on the ice, own 56.89% of the expected goals, and out-chance the Golden Knights 23-10.  

The Golden Knights need more from their best players to maintain or keep up with Kaprizov. Eichel and Mark Stone have not yet recorded a point through two games and are a -3. Theodore had a very difficult night, finding himself on the ice for all four Wild goals as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead. He turned the puck over for two goals and was caught puck-watching on the others.

“He’s trying to do too much out there. It’s that simple,” HC Bruce Cassidy said of Theodore. “He was light on the puck tonight. What do you want me to say? He’s a great player for us. It wasn’t his night, and it snowballed. There’s a player trying to make amends, and I respect that. I like that. It didn’t go that way, and someone has to pick him up by putting out a fire.”

Injuries are the only way Kaprizov has been held in check this season. During the regular season, he scored 25 goals and 56 points in 41 games. Going back to Minnesota, it will be harder for Cassidy to get the matchups he wants against the 2015 fifth-round pick, but it will have to be a team effort to slow him down. 

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Golden Knights Attempting To Stay Mentally Sharp; Using Experience and Rest To Take Upper HandThe Vegas Golden Knights hold multiple advantages over the

Golden Knights Show Success In Second Leg Of Back-To-Back Meetings With Same Opponent Under Bruce CassidyLAS VEGAS -- The

It was another overtime classic etched into the history of the Battle of Ontario on Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena – and it was a hometown player who sealed the deal.

Just 3:09 into overtime, Max Domi delivered a highlight-reel goal to lift the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators and a 2-0 series lead in their first-round matchup.

The play began with Simon Benoit breaking up a rush in the Leafs' zone, turning the puck up ice, and feeding Domi just as they crossed the Senators’ blue line. The 30-year-old forward then danced through Dylan Cozens and Drake Batherson before wiring the puck past Linus Ullmark, capping off a big win for Toronto. 

“It’s a heck of a play by Benny, he made that whole thing happen. I got a little lucky when it squeaked through, I’m not really sure if it was Cozens or who it was, but a little lucky. Then you get inside the hashmarks like that in the middle of the ice, you just got to shoot it. Ullmark is a heck of a goalie, but I’ll take it,” Domi said post-game.

“A lot of excitement. It’s a great play by him,” added teammate Mitch Marner. “It starts with Benny reading that play in our D zone and making a great outlet pass up the ice, and then joining, net front screen. Overall, just a great play by both of them.”

THE HOMETOWN KID!!!@Rogers | #LeafsForeverpic.twitter.com/nlN2THGWPb

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 23, 2025

It was a special moment for Domi, his first goal and point of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with his father, former Maple Leafs fan-favorite Tie Domi, watching in the crowd. 

“Pure jubilation. Obviously, the building erupts, but you couldn’t be happier for him,” said goaltender Anthony Stolarz. “He’s worked his a** off all year for us. He’s a great two-way player. He’s a hell of a teammate in the room, and to see someone like that get rewarded, hopefully it’s the start of something big for him this playoffs.”

“Everyday is a real privilege when you play with guys like him… For him to have that moment in overtime here at home, is extremely special for all of us. I can’t imagine how he’s feeling," added defenseman Morgan Rielly.

Tie Domi couldn't be happier 🥹 pic.twitter.com/DhHl3GEvlv

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 23, 2025

Toronto jumped out to a 2-0 lead for the second straight game, scoring on two of their first four shots. But unlike Game 1, Ottawa pushed back. The Senators dominated much of the second period, outshooting the Leafs 28-21 and throwing 44 hits in the game, while controlling enough offensive zone time to force overtime.

Despite the pressure, the Leafs held strong. They blocked 32 shots, and Stolarz once again stood tall in net.

“Unreal. Great for him (Domi), great for our team. Obviously, we got off to a real good start today. They pushed back hard, and we just stick with it,” said Tavares. “It wasn’t always pretty at times, but did what we had to do and got a big play by him. Obviously, winning in overtime is always a great feeling.”

"We Stayed With It': Maple Leafs Halt Senators' Comeback Bid To Take 2-0 Series LeadMax Domi scored the overtime winner as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-2 to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven series on Tuesday. 

This postseason marks Domi’s second with the Maple Leafs. He recorded four points (1G, 3A) in their seven-game series loss to the Boston Bruins last spring, and while his regular season numbers this year were modest, finishing with eight goals and 25 points in 33 games, his versatility continues to be an asset.

After starting Game 1 on the second line on the wing, Domi was moved back to center in Game 2, anchoring the third line with Bobby McMann and Nick Robertson – a spot he spent most of the season in.

'It's Not That Much Of A Conversation': Why Max Domi Will Shift To Third-Line Center For Maple Leafs Against Senators For Game 2The Toronto Maple Leafs shifted Max Domi from the second-line winger position to the third-line center spot in the second period of their 6-2 victory against the Ottawa Senators in Game 1 of their first-round series.  And that adjustment will stick when both teams clash for Game 2.

As the game took a turn, head coach Craig Berube, who had urged Domi to utilize his shot more often throughout the season, gave the forward the opportunity to make something happen in the extra frame. Playing his style, his game, Domi made no mistake when the chance presented itself.

“Yeah, it was great to see that goal by Max. Obviously, a great play. Benoit made a great play on it,” said Berube.

“He still works hard. I mean, he's always trying to improve and get better and work with people, skill guys, and practice and stuff like that. I feel very good. I feel very happy for him to get a goal. It's a big goal, obviously, and it's a great feeling to score one of those,” added Berube. “I'm very happy for him. He's a hard worker. I thought he had a good game tonight overall. He was skating. I always say that when Max skates and attacks, he's on his game.”

The Leafs now head to Ottawa with a 2-0 series lead, taking care of business on home ice. Toronto is 10-0 all-time in best-of-seven series when taking a 2-0 lead at home, and it also marked the first time since 2002 that the Leafs have led a playoff series 2-0. 

As Stolarz mentioned, if Tuesday night was any indication, the best may still be to come for Domi.

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