Montreal took a 3–2 series lead over Buffalo, in part, by sticking with Jakub Dobes despite a rough first period and a bad third goal against, a decision by Martin St. Louis and goalie coach Marco Marciano that paid off as Dobes settled in and the Habs rolled to a 6–3 win with offence throughout the lineup. Cole Caufield appears to have found his game, while Buffalo’s stars have been too quiet and the Sabres may need line changes and better discipline heading into a potentially chaotic Game 6 at the Bell Centre. Vegas eliminated Anaheim as Mitch Marner scored what the guys called the goal of the playoffs on an outrageous between-the-legs move, while the Ducks still showed major progress this season despite needing more defensive structure and experience. In Edmonton, the Oilers fired Kris Knoblauch just before his extension was set to begin after reports leaked the team unsuccessfully sought permission to speak with Bruce Cassidy, making the situation feel messy and leaving names like Craig Berube and Peter Laviolette in the mix. Toronto also moved on from Berube as new GM John Chayka appears focused on hiring a younger, more data-driven coach, with Kris Knoblauch, Jay Woodcroft and David Carle among the names discussed. Meanwhile, Vancouver revamped its front office by naming the Sedin twins co-presidents of hockey ops and promoting Ryan Johnson to GM, while questions remain about whether the Canucks can keep Manny Malhotra in the organization amid growing interest in him as a head coach elsewhere.

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The Montreal Canadiens responded after an early Buffalo goal in Game 3, dominating much of the night with their speed and depth as Alex Newhook scored twice and the Habs’ centres continued to outplay the Sabres down the middle. Buffalo struggled defensively, Alex Lyon was repeatedly left exposed, and tensions boiled over following a collision between Beck Malenstyn and goalie Jakob Dobes that sparked a discussion about whether post-whistle penalties should carry over into the next playoff game. Meanwhile, Carolina completed a sweep of Philadelphia with an OT win in Game 4, continuing a dominant postseason run built on elite team defence, strong health and a resurgence from Taylor Hall, though a lengthy layoff before Round 3 could become a concern. Despite the sweep, the Flyers took a major step forward this season under Rick Tocchet, though more roster additions are still needed before relying heavily on young prospects like Porter Martone and Alex Bump. Out West, Anaheim evened its series with Vegas at 2-2 after a 4-3 win powered by Cutter Gauthier’s three assists, continuing an impressive playoff showing from a young Ducks team that is quickly learning it can compete and win at this level. Mitch Marner’s three-point night gave him the playoff scoring lead and his overall play has prompted praise from John Tortorella regarding lingering Toronto narratives around his game. The Wild also pushed back against Colorado with a huge Game 3 win to keep their series alive, setting up a critical Game 4 as Colorado considers whether to stick with Scott Wedgewood or turn to Mackenzie Blackwood after an uneven outing.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs shocked the hockey world by winning the NHL Draft Lottery despite fairly long odds, leaving fans in Vancouver and Calgary frustrated as another Canadian team leapfrogged them to secure the top pick. This development may put added focus on Auston Matthews and his future as newly minted GM John Chayka now has even more to consider in an already busy offseason. In the playoffs, the Montreal Canadiens prepare for Game 2 against the Buffalo Sabres after a shaky opener where Lane Hutson struggled early, but Ivan Demidov impressed and Zach Benson continued to be a major agitator for Buffalo. Elsewhere, the Carolina Hurricanes moved within one win of eliminating the Philadelphia Flyers thanks to a dominant, aggressive PK and another strong outing from Frederik Andersen. Out West, the Anaheim Ducks earned a road split against the Vegas Golden Knights with their speed becoming a major factor heading home for Game 3, while the Colorado Avalanche stayed unbeaten with a 2-0 series lead over the Minnesota Wild as Nathan MacKinnon appears to be taking over the series after back-to-back three-point performances.

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