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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Keith Pelley and the Toronto Maple Leafs held end-of-season media availabilities, with major questions around the team’s direction, Auston Matthews’ future heading into the fall, and Mats Sundin stepping into a new role. Ray and Dregs also dig into a busy stretch for the Department of Player Safety after another controversial slash, while the NHL Draft Lottery approaches with 11 teams eligible to land the first-overall pick.

In Edmonton, Oilers end-of-season media availabilities brought blunt comments from Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, raising questions about how Stan Bowman will respond. The guys also look ahead to Round 2 of the playoffs, including what to expect from Sabres vs. Habs as the gaps between teams continue to tighten, plus the latest on the Jack Adams race, Victor Hedman’s public statement, and the Western Conference matchups, where the Ducks could create real problems for the Golden Knights.

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The Philadelphia Flyers closed out the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 OT, capping a surprisingly solid “bridge year” for Pittsburgh’s aging core, with Evgeni Malkin expressing interest in returning at 40 and Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang also expected back. Philly, meanwhile, nearly let a 3–0 series slip but got a great performance from goalie Dan Vladar leading to Cam York’s eventual winner, though a tough matchup with the Carolina Hurricanes awaits. The Montreal Canadiens moved within one win of eliminating the Tampa Bay Lightning thanks to Alex Texier’s Game 5 winner and stellar goaltending from Jakub Dobes, while Brendan Gallagher made an immediate impact in his playoff debut, setting up a raucous Game 6 at the Bell Centre. Out West, Brett Howden scored a shorthanded double-OT winner to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 3–2 edge over Utah in a series where goaltending has been uncertain at best, and at times, chaotic. The Edmonton Oilers face elimination on the road against the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6, needing early pressure on Dostal, but also the consistency they’ve lacked all season. The Minnesota Wild have an opportunity at home to eliminate the Dallas Stars behind Jesper Wallstedt and their heavy-minute defenders, who are proving to be a difficult matchup.

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A controversial finish in Anaheim headlines the episode, as the Ducks’ apparent OT winner crossed the goal line but lacked definitive video proof, reigniting calls for puck-tracking technology. However, Edmonton’s inability to hold leads and close out games remains the bigger issue, with concerns also mounting about Connor McDavid’s health and usage. Tampa Bay evened its series with Montreal behind two third-period goals from Brandon Hagel in a physical, back-and-forth matchup that feels destined for seven. The Colorado Avalanche swept Los Angeles to mark the official end of Anze Kopitar’s storied career, leaving the Kings facing key roster questions despite some core pieces in place. Carolina’s sweep of Ottawa was tighter than it looked, with four one-goal games and strong contributions from inexperienced Sens defenders amid injuries, reinforcing optimism about their future. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh staved off elimination after making a goaltending switch to Artūrs Šilovs, but offensive struggles continue and Philadelphia faces a major decision with young star Matvei Michkov likely sitting out Game 5.

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Special teams were a big story in game 2 as Anaheim evened its series with Edmonton at one game apiece. Connor McDavid was held pointless in back-to-back playoff games for the first time since the 2024 Cup Final (Games 6 & 7) and briefly left with an injury, while the Oilers continue to look out of sync playing a looser, Ducks-style game. Dallas took a 2–1 series lead over Minnesota on Wyatt Johnston’s double-OT winner despite a number of bad penalties, with Jake Oettinger and the PK holding firm, while the Wild miss Mats Zuccarello’s presence on the power play. Philadelphia has dominated Pittsburgh to a 3–0 series lead, stifling their speed with a 1-1-3 setup as the Penguins have just four goals (three on the PP) and look older and slower. Ottawa returns home down 2–0 to Carolina after a wild double-OT game, with Linus Ullmark strong in goal but facing a Hurricanes team built on elite team defence; Boston and Buffalo head into Game 3 of a physical, tightly contested series with Boston’s depth and goaltending potentially tipping the balance. Tampa Bay and Montreal’s series grows increasingly heated while Martin St. Louis sticks with his group and holds off inserting Brendan Gallagher. Colorado leads Los Angeles 2-0 despite their offence being limited by the Kings, raising questions about whether the Avs have another gear after a middling finish.

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"O-Dog" Jeff O'Neill filling in for Ray Ferraro to discuss how Ottawa and Carolina delivered a double-OT thriller in Game 2 that’s being overshadowed by a bizarre series of events. An OT goal overturned on a questionable offside call, a dramatic penalty shot save and a redemtion of sorts on the eventual winner; the Sens are 0–10 all-time when going down 0–2 in a series, though there’s confidence they’ll respond at home after Ullmark’s stellar outing. In Edmonton, the Oilers won Game 1 over Anaheim with Leon Draisaitl and Jason Dickinson returing from injury, Dickinson and Kasperi Kapanen each scored twice and Connor Ingram stepped up with a solid effort and key late save. The Oilers managed their first win of the season without a Connor McDavid point, reinforcing the idea that contenders need multiple paths to win. Philadelphia seized control in Pittsburgh with a 2–0 series lead, mixing it up physically—including getting under Sidney Crosby’s skin—while Dallas evened things with Minnesota behind a strong Jake Oettinger performance despite missing Roope Hintz. Looking ahead, Montreal aims to build on a statement Game 1 vs. Tampa Bay, highlighted by Juraj Slafkovský’s hat trick and growing into a key complementary power presence alongside Caufield, Suzuki, and Demidov, while Buffalo looks to carry momentum from a stunning four-goal third-period comeback against Boston—but will need a far better start against a structured Bruins team.

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