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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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Bruins' lack of accountability over drafting and developing is concerning originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

There are a lot of reasons why the Boston Bruins find themselves in the unusual position of not playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and staring at the possibility of having a top-five pick in the NHL Draft.

Poor drafting and player development are at or near the top of the list.

You can get away with bad drafting and development if you have a good veteran team, which the Bruins had for over a decade. But at some point it catches up to you, and for the Bruins, that reality came in the 2024-25 season as they sunk to the fifth-worst record in the league.

The Bruins could make a few fixes this summer to get back in the playoff mix next season, but for them to really compete for a Stanley Cup title over the long term, there has to be a much larger emphasis on drafting and player development.

The Bruins’ draft record over the last 10 years is not good. There’s no room for debate. In fact, since Don Sweeney took over as general manager in 2015, he has drafted only two impact players who are still on the roster: defenseman Charlie McAvoy and goaltender Jeremy Swayman.

Only one forward drafted by Sweeney has scored 20-plus goals in a season — Jake DeBrusk — and he’s no longer on the roster. Only 10 of the 38 players drafted by the Bruins from 2017 through 2023 have played in an NHL game.

Despite the team’s lackluster draft and development history, Bruins president Cam Neely got pretty defensive when asked about it during Wednesday’s end-of-season press conference.

Here’s the exchange between Neely and The Boston Globe’s Kevin Paul Dupont:

Dupont: “Question on drafting and development, neither of them have really been up to expectations in my opinion.”

Neely: “Can you just elaborate on that, Kevin?”

Dupont: “The drafting?”

Neely: “Yep. Where we’ve picked, who we’ve picked and how it’s turned out.”

Dupont: “Well, where you’ve picked is not a lot of top 10 picks.”

Neely: “Not a lot of first-round picks.”

Dupont: “But ultimately, are those draft picks, have they developed and come on line the way you’ve wanted? If that’s the case, fine.”

Neely: “Well, obviously, you want to hit on all of your picks. The work the scouts do over the course of a year, they put in a lot of time and effort, they understand the players as best they can. We get the information from the scouts. Don ultimately ends up making the picks with information he gets from the scouts throughout the year.

“But I think our drafting and developing, the narrative there is a little off. And it’s been going on for quite some time. It goes back to 2015. In 2015, it was really unfair to Don. By the time Don got hired it was late May, the draft was late June. He probably wasn’t thinking about being the general manager at the time.

“What Don did leading up to the draft to make the acquisitions he did with those picks, to get those three picks, I thought was really good. Then Don was trying to move up in the draft and it didn’t work out.

“What we should have done, looking back, we should have taken some time out and said, ‘OK guys, let’s regroup here. We didn’t move up. We’ve got three picks in a row.’ I think it was very new for everybody. We stood backstage for those three picks. What we should have done was get back to our table and say, ‘Are we OK with our list?’

“These are things you try to learn from. Other picks after that, I think we’ve got a number of players, not necessarily with the Boston Bruins, that we have drafted that have played NHL hockey games. We have traded some of the picks and prospects to try and improve our club to win the Stanley Cup.

“The narrative — we’re not hitting on all our draft picks. No one is. You pick in the top 10, you better hit. We haven’t done that in quite some time. Have we been perfect? No. Can we be better? Yes.”

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

The lack of accountability from Neely and Sweeney at this press conference as it relates to the franchise’s drafting and player development should concern Bruins fans.

Neely’s excuse that the Bruins haven’t picked in the first round much recently is pretty unsatisfying.

One of the biggest reasons why the Bruins have traded away so many first-round picks is because they can’t draft and develop good players on a consistent basis. When that happens, you have roster weaknesses that must be addressed at the trade deadline. And how do you fix those issues at the trade deadline? By trading away draft picks.

And when you don’t have those picks, it’s hard to draft good players. It’s like a vicious cycle.

Neely also noting “where we’ve drafted” didn’t make sense, either. So, good players can’t be found outside the first round? Or outside the top 10?

In 2021, the Bruins picked forward Fabian Lysell at No. 21 overall. Two picks later, the Dallas Stars took Wyatt Johnston. In 2017, the Bruins selected defenseman Urho Vaakanainen at No. 18 overall. Two picks later, the St. Louis Blues took forward Rob Thomas. There were two top-six forwards on the board in the range Boston picked in both of those drafts and the front office missed on both.

The 2015 draft conversation also won’t die. While it does get tiring to talk about it over and over, the reality is it was a major blunder by the franchise.

Not being able to trade up in 2015 shouldn’t have been a major setback. The three players selected after Boston’s three picks were Mathew Barzal (top-six center), Kyle Connor (one of the league’s best goal scorers) and Thomas Chabot (top-four defenseman). It was all there for the Bruins to get three impact players, and they came away with zero.

You could argue the Bruins could have won the the Stanley Cup in 2019 and 2023 (and maybe other years) if they took Barzal and/or Connor. If they drafted Connor, they probably don’t have to give up a first-round pick (and more assets) to trade for Rick Nash in 2018.

The Bruins have picked in Round 1 in just three of the last seven drafts. They’ve made just three second-round picks in the last seven drafts. The last time they picked in the first two rounds of the same draft was 2017. This path is not sustainable. The Bruins need to fully commit to building their prospect pool and developing the next wave of franchise pillars.

After trading away so many veteran players at the March 7 trade deadline and stockpiling a bunch of draft picks as a result — four first-rounders and five second-rounders in the next three drafts — it will be fascinating to watch how they use this capital.

Will they trade some of these picks for immediate help? Charlie Jacobs, Neely and Sweeney all said or hinted at the notion that if healthy, and with upgrades this summer, the Bruins can be in the playoffs next season.

That’s great, but if this team actually wants to win the Stanley Cup in the near- or long-term, the drafting and developing has to improve. Throwing money at free agents and gutting the farm system/draft capital to address major roster issues isn’t a way to build a perennial winner.

And if that means the 2025-26 season doesn’t go well and you get another lottery pick, so be it. The Bruins don’t need to go through a Buffalo Sabres or Chicago Blackhawks type of rebuild where it’s a prolonged period of bad hockey.

They just need to reset a bit.

Ridly Greig stood before Anthony Stolarz and received a few chops and shoves before getting knocked down by the towering goaltender shortly after.

It's been a series of physicality for the goaltender, who, after Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win, has a .934 save percentage, the third-best among goaltenders during the playoffs.

Greig drove the net hard and barreled into Stolarz during Toronto's Game 1 win. But when the Senators forward planted his skates in front of Stolarz on Tuesday, the goaltender was having none of it.

"It was just caught up in the heat of the battle. Just one of those things that, it didn’t matter. I didn’t even know who it was," Stolarz said post-game. "It’s just one of those, you’re in the heat of the moment, and it is what it is."

Stolarz remembered the collision from Game 1 pic.twitter.com/ZI3xTXDlS0

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 23, 2025

It's not the first time, and likely not the last, that Stolarz gets into it with an opponent who stands their ground in front of him. "I’ve taken quite a few penalties in my day," he grinned.

"I’ve known Stollie for a long time, and I’ve seen that in junior, too. He’s a big man. He sticks up for himself," said Mitch Marner, who played with Stolarz on the OHL's London Knights.

"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. 

That mix-up might've been the most comedic part of the night. However, it won't be overshadowed by his strong play throughout Game 2, where he only allowed two goals on 28 shots.

He's been through a lot this season: getting more games than ever in the NHL and having knee surgery in mid-December, which cost him nearly two months. Stolarz came back from that and didn't miss a beat.

‘He’s Ready To Go’: Craig Berube All But Confirms Maple Leafs Goaltender Anthony Stolarz As Game 1 Starter Ahead Of Battle Of OntarioThe Toronto Maple Leafs held their first full skate of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Saturday, a day before the puck drops for Game 1 against the Ottawa Senators. While head coach Craig Berube didn’t officially name his starting goaltender for Game 1, his words left little doubt, with all signs pointing to Anthony Stolarz getting the nod. 

He's backstopping the Maple Leafs as they take a 2-0 series lead to Ottawa.

"He's just getting going in pro. You go through your career, how he went through it, kind of always was like the backup, but not a starter, and still a valuable position," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said.

"He's coming off a very good season last year and won a Stanley Cup. He came in this year wanting to be a starter, and I know it was a shared net for the most of the year. I think a lot of the reason for that was we had two guys that have not played a significant amount of games throughout the season. I like the combination of both of them, but he's been excellent all year."

Stolarz left Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday evening with four goals against through two games against the Senators. Part of that was because of how the Maple Leafs played in front of him, though his calm play also played a key role.

'He Made Big Saves': How Anthony Stolarz Won Game 1 Of The Goalie Battle Against Senators' Linus UllmarkAnthony Stolarz showed up and showed out against the Ottawa Senators in Game 1 of the Battle of Ontario, which the Toronto Maple Leafs won commandingly, 6-2.

Most of what the 31-year-old has learned about playoff hockey came from getting a front-row seat to Sergei Bobrovsky's run with the Florida Panthers last spring.

"Last year, being able to be behind Bob and see how he conducted his day-to-day routine and what it took to prepare, and sit next to him in the locker room and just speak to him, I think that went pretty far for me," Stolarz said.

"I’m just trying to take all that experience from last year and roll it over to this year."

Stolarz flashes leather pic.twitter.com/T0vYFIcEY7

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 23, 2025

Clearly, what he's learned is working for him.

Before the playoffs began, Stolarz admitted he's not like other goaltenders, or in his words, the "weirdo." Stolarz likes to be around his teammates off the ice. However, when it comes down to business, he wants to win.

It's been a long road for the goaltender. He's a playoff starter in his ninth NHL season. Stolarz is enjoying the ride. The next stop: Ottawa for a crucial Game 3 of the Battle of Ontario.

"You obviously want your opportunity [to be a starter], but at the end of the day, I’m playing in the NHL. I like to have fun out there," said Stolarz. "I like to enjoy the moment with everyone on the team. We’ll enjoy this one tonight, but tomorrow, right back to work."

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One thing that Montreal Canadiens’ fans have to be noticing is the magical year that Washington Capitals star, Alex Ovechkin is having. I’m afraid his two-goal game is just the tip of the iceberg.

That playoff overtime goal was the first of his illustrious career. That’s hard to believe since he’s played for so long and he has a Stanley Cup ring - - but here we are. Now, I think the Canadiens have to game plan more for stopping Ovechkin.

You have to try and keep Ovechkin on the outside. His stamina isn’t what it used to be so make him skate more. The Canadiens’ best defense might be holding on to the puck more than they did. That’s a total team effort that could pay dividends.

After looking at NHL Edge stats, I would boost Mike Matheson and Alexandre Carrier’s minutes and pull back a lot of Jayden Struble and some from Lane Hutson. And use David Savard less at the beginning of games and more from the second period on. There may be a way to give him a few more minutes but have him out there in key spots for his experience even though he has slowed down.

The Canadiens’ are playing with house money but that doesn’t mean that they can’t put a scare into the Capitals while gaining valuable playoff experience. Ovechkin is the Capitals best player once again and Montreal needs to play him tighter. I felt like he was able to roam free at times and that’s just dangerous.

It all comes down to this: the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Every team either suffers immense heartbreak or incredible joy.

The Colorado Avalanche knows about the incredible joy, after all, they recently won the Cup in 2022. However, this is a different year, marked by distinct challenges and new personnel.

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One of those new faces is going to be a key piece for the Avalanche’s success.

Martin Necas was the big piece coming back in the Mikko Rantanen trade. To say that things have gone well since his acquisition is certainly an understatement.

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

After the trade, the Czech forward scored 28 points in 30 games while playing 20:30 a night. Necas found a home alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen. That line was able to dominate the fancy stats (63.1 Corsi For Percent) and out-score the opposition whenever they were on the ice (13-4).

The Avalanche will need that magic in the postseason.

This is why Necas is the Avalanche’s X-Factor for this playoff run. MacKinnon has been his usual self through two games, amassing three goals and one assist for four points total. But, the Avalanche are going to need more than their (assumed) Hart Trophy Finalist to win the Stanley Cup. They definitely need more to make it past the Dallas Stars in the opening playoff round.

Necas currently has one assist in two playoff games. Jack Drury, Ryan Lindgren, and Logan O’Connor all have more points than he does. He’s going to have to step up his game on the offensive side of the puck to become an X-Factor for the Avalanche.

With Game 3 scheduled for Wednesday night, fans will see if tonight is the night that Necas kicks things into high gear for the Avalanche.

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