Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky briefly departed Sunday's Game 4 late in the second p...

<p>Montreal Canadiens forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/12706" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/12706">Juraj Slafkovsky</a> briefly departed Sunday's Game 4 late in the second period after taking a massive hit from Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/14098" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/14098">Max Crozier</a>.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="und" dir="ltr">MAX CROZIER ABSOLUTELY LEVELS JURAJ SLAFKOVSKY AT CENTER ICE 😱💥 <a href="https://t.co/4ndtbIIK6Z">pic.twitter.com/4ndtbIIK6Z</a></p>— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) <a href="https://twitter.com/GinoHard_/status/2048566084899402182?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>However, Slafkovsky returned for the start of the third period.</p><p>Crozier was not penalized for the play. The Canadiens did not engage in a fight with Crozier immediately after the hit.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Slafkovsky scored a hat trick, including the OT winner, in the series opener but has been held off the scoresheet ever since. This is the second time he's on the wrong end of a physical altercation, as he was <a href="https://x.com/GinoHard_/status/2046748842851172709">one-punched</a> by <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5633" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5633">Brandon Hagel</a> during a fight in Game 2. </p>

MONTREAL, CANADA- OCTOBER 29: Juraj Slafkovsky #20 of the Montreal Canadiens looks on during the first period of the NHL regular season game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Seattle Kraken at the Bell Centre on October 29, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Seattle Kraken defeated the Montreal Canadiens by a score of 8-2.

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Slafkovsky returns after getting leveled by Crozier

The Edmonton Oilers started Tristan Jarry in favor of Connor Ingram in a critical Game 4 against ...

<p>The Edmonton Oilers started <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3109" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3109">Tristan Jarry</a> in favor of <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4611" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4611">Connor Ingram</a> in a critical Game 4 against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.</p><p>Anaheim entered Sunday leading the series 2-1.</p><p>Ingram was solid in a 4-3 Oilers victory in Game 1, but was lit up for five goals in Game 2 and six goals in Game 3.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Jarry posted an abysmal .857 save percentage in 19 games with Edmonton during the regular season after being acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He's 2-6-0 in his postseason career with an .891 save percentage.</p><p>The Oilers surrendered <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/6553" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/6553">Stuart Skinner</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3142" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3142">Brett Kulak</a>, and a second-round pick for Jarry back in December. He was sporting a stellar .909 save percentage in 14 appearances with Pittsburgh before the trade.</p>

EDMONTON, CANADA - APRIL 20: Tristan Jarry #35 of the Edmonton Oilers participates in warmups prior to Game One of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Anaheim Ducks at Rogers Place on April 20, 2026, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

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Oilers turn to Jarry for Game 4

Anze Kopitar played the final game of his illustrious 20-year NHL career Saturday as the Los Ange...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/575" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/575">Anze Kopitar</a> played the final game of his illustrious 20-year NHL career Saturday as the Los Angeles Kings were swept by the Colorado Avalanche.</p><p>The fans at Crypto.com Arena gave Kopitar a loud standing ovation as he took the ice late in the third period.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A standing ovation for Anze Kopitar as he hit the ice in the final minutes of regulation 👑 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StanleyCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StanleyCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/59CLR2vCdl">pic.twitter.com/59CLR2vCdl</a></p>— NHL (@NHL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHL/status/2048545704805568661?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Avalanche players showed respect to Kopitar in the handshake line.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Anze Kopitar makes his way through the handshake line after his final NHL game 🥹 <a href="https://t.co/gdmM1f5mcm">pic.twitter.com/gdmM1f5mcm</a></p>— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/2048546830384820360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Kopitar saluted the crowd before heading off the ice for the final time.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A legendary career comes to a close for Anze Kopitar 🙌 <a href="https://t.co/4KNirGFqHv">pic.twitter.com/4KNirGFqHv</a></p>— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/2048547526014308736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Kopitar played his entire career in L.A. He's the franchise's all-time leader in games played (1,521), assists (864), and points (1,316). He led the Kings to Stanley Cup titles in 2012 and 2014. The Slovenian also won two Selke Trophies and three Lady Byng Trophies.</p><p>Next stop: the Hockey Hall of Fame.</p>

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 26: Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings salutes the fans after the 5-1 loss against the Colorado Avalanche in Game Four of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 26, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Anze Kopitar plans to retire at the conclusion of this season.

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Kopitar waves goodbye in final NHL game

The Colorado Avalanche completed a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday with a conv...

<p>The Colorado Avalanche completed a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday with a convincing 5-1 victory in Game 4.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3002" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3002">Nathan MacKinnon</a> delivered his best showing of the postseason, registering two goals and an assist. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/8539" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/8539">Cale Makar</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5553" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5553">Devon Toews</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4714" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4714">Nic Roy</a> also scored for the Avs. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2034" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2034">Gabriel Landeskog</a> contributed a pair of assists.</p><p>Avalanche goaltender <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1794" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1794">Scott Wedgewood</a> stayed hot with 24 saves, bringing his postseason save percentage to a sparkling .950. He allowed just five goals all series.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Colorado will play the winner of the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild in Round 2. That series is tied 2-2.</p><p>The loss for L.A. marks the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3531056" href="https://thescore.com/news/3531056">end</a> of <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/575" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/575">Anze Kopitar</a>'s illustrious 20-year NHL career. The 38-year-old announced in September that this would be his final season.</p><p>The Kings have now lost five straight Round 1 series. They haven't advanced past the opening round of the playoffs since winning the Stanley Cup in 2014.</p>

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 26: Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates his goal with teammates during the first period against the Los Angeles Kings in Game Four of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 26, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

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Avalanche dominate Kings to complete 4-game sweep

The Carolina Hurricanes are the first team to advance to Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs afte...

<p>The Carolina Hurricanes are the first team to advance to Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs after completing a four-game sweep of the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.</p><p>The Hurricanes took a hotly contested Game 4 by a score of 4-2, with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/10707" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/10707">Logan Stankoven</a> scoring the key go-ahead goal midway through the third period.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">STANKKKKK!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StanleyCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StanleyCup</a><br><br>Make that four goals in his last four games! 🤯<br><br>🇺🇸: <a href="https://twitter.com/NHL_On_TNT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NHL_On_TNT</a> (TBS)<br>🇨🇦: <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sportsnet</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/TVASports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TVASports</a> <a href="https://t.co/5gJPk24dWo">pic.twitter.com/5gJPk24dWo</a></p>— NHL (@NHL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHL/status/2048155297680634269?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>It was Stankoven's fourth goal of Round 1 - one fewer than Ottawa's entire roster scored all series.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>A <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5681" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5681">Sebastian Aho</a> empty-netter made it 3-1. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/10037" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/10037">Dylan Cozens</a> brought the Senators within one with a late tally, but Aho's second empty-netter sealed the Hurricanes' victory.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1690" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1690">Taylor Hall</a> opened the scoring for Carolina. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9905" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9905">Drake Batherson</a> registered Ottawa's other goal.</p><p>The game featured <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3530239" href="https://thescore.com/news/3530239">plenty of bad blood</a>, mostly in the second period where 22 of the contest's 36 penalty minutes were handed out. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9227" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9227">Tyler Kleven</a> delivered a crushing hit on <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9243" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9243">Alexander Nikishin</a>, who was forced to leave the game. Shortly after, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/7845" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/7845">Brady Tkachuk</a>'s big hit on <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1690" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1690">Taylor Hall</a> led to a line brawl in which <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9190" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9190">Ridly Greig</a> sucker-punched a defenseless <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/6471" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/6471">Sean Walker</a>. Walker later got retribution by stapling Greig into the boards from behind. No major penalties were issued.</p><p>Ottawa went 1-for-8 on the power play in the game. Carolina killed off 20 of 21 power plays in the series.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2583" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2583">Frederik Andersen</a> shined in the Hurricanes' crease once again, stopping 25 of 27 shots. He finished the series with a .955 save percentage.</p><p>The Hurricanes are the 20th team in NHL history to never trail in a game during a best-of-seven series. It's their second four-game sweep in franchise history.</p><p>Carolina is also the third team in league history to win at least one series in eight consecutive postseasons. However, the Canes have yet to advance past the conference finals in that span.</p><p>It's the second straight Round 1 defeat for the Senators, who have't won a playoff series since 2017.</p><p>Carolina will play the winner of the series between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins. The Flyers hold a 3-0 lead and are back in action Saturday night.</p>

OTTAWA, CANADA - APRIL 25: Taylor Hall #71 of the Carolina Hurricanes reacts with teammates after scoring his teams first goal during the second period of Game Four of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Ottawa Senators and the Carolina Hurricanes at Canadian Tire Centre on April 25, 2026 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

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Hurricanes sweep Senators with chippy win in Game 4

Washington Capitals defenseman Rasmus Sandin underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a torn ACL in hi...

<p>Washington Capitals defenseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/7874" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/7874">Rasmus Sandin</a> underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a torn ACL in his right knee and is expected to be out approximately six-to-nine months, the team announced Wednesday.</p><p>Sandin is likely to miss the start of next season.</p><p>Sandin suffered the injury on April 11 against the Pittsburgh Penguins and missed Washington's final two games of the campaign.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The 26-year-old registered 29 points in 73 contests with the Capitals in 2025-26. He also averaged 19:12 per contest, fifth-most among Washington defensemen.</p><p>Sandin has three more years left on his contract with a $4.6-million cap hit.</p>

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 22: Rasmus Sandin #38 of the Washington Capitals skates down the ice against the Colorado Avalanche at Capital One Arena on March 22, 2026 in Washington, DC.

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Capitals' Sandin undergoes surgery to repair torn ACL

Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper embraces the narrative of the Lightning being the bad boys of the...

<p>Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper embraces the narrative of the Lightning being the bad boys of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.</p><p>"Somebody's gotta be the villain, I guess. We're OK with it," Cooper told reporters following Tampa Bay's 3-2 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. </p><p>"The guys play hard. They're a determined group. When there's obstacles in their way, they'll try and get through it any way possible. If it's fighting their way through it, then so be it. That's what happens. But it's served us well."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Florida Panthers were widely considered the villains of the last two postseasons, and they won back-to-back Stanley Cups. The Panthers beat the Lightning in Round 1 en route to each championship.</p><p>The Lightning brought a spirited effort to Game 2 against the Canadiens. There was a <a href="https://x.com/GinoHard_/status/2046737431274082397">line brawl</a> in the first period. In the second period, Lightning forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5633" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5633">Brandon Hagel</a> dropped Canadiens phenom <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/12706" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/12706">Juraj Slafkovsky</a> in a fight with a <a href="https://x.com/GinoHard_/status/2046748842851172709">devastating right hook</a> despite Slafkovsky's 40-pound weight advantage. Hagel directed the <a href="https://x.com/GinoHard_/status/2046749460361797784">"go to sleep" gesture</a> at Slafkovsky after some jawing in the penalty box.</p><p>Hagel also registered a goal and an assist Tuesday for a Gordie Howe hat trick. He's fought sparingly in his seven-year NHL career but said he felt it was an appropriate moment Tuesday.</p><p>"Everyone in the room knows we're good when we play with emotion," Hagel said postgame. "Not just myself, but guys are willing to try and bring everyone into the fight, and that was what I was trying to do a little bit. Obviously it worked."</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/34" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/34">Corey Perry</a> was also up to his usual shenanigans. He rag-dolled <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4569" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4569">Alexandre Carrier</a> during the brawl, and he later irked the Canadiens further by making a quick <a href="https://x.com/i/status/2046766148494983454">pit stop in their bench</a>.</p><p>"We're a team that we're not going to be pushed around," Perry told <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7218115/2026/04/22/lightning-win-game-2-canadiens/?source=emp_shared_article&amp;unlocked_article_code=1.c1A.jwAa.ZyxzmQWhP1_n">The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun</a>. "But when we are emotional and when we are engaged, you see what we can do. It’s pretty incredible. When times get going and things like that get going, it's fun. Damn, it's a good feeling when you win."</p><p>The series shifts to Montreal for Game 3 on Friday tied 1-1.</p>

TAMPA, FL - APRIL 21: Brandon Hagel #38 of the Tampa Bay Lightning cheers on the crowd as heads to the penalty box after a fight against the Montréal Canadiens during the first period of Game Two of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Benchmark International Arena on April 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida.

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Lightning OK being playoff bad guys: 'Somebody's gotta be the villain'

Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Foligno believes the key to beating the Dallas Stars is to stay out...

<p>Minnesota Wild forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1489" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1489">Marcus Foligno</a> believes the key to beating the Dallas Stars is to stay out of the penalty box.</p><p>"They're looking to play five-on-four. That's their game," Foligno said following Minnesota's 4-2 loss in Game 2. "They can't hang with us five-on-five."</p><p>The Stars, who owned the NHL's second-best power play during the regular season, capitalized on two of their four opportunities with the man advantage in Monday's Game 2. Dallas' only goal during a 6-1 loss in the series opener also came on the power play.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Foligno notably received a double-minor for roughing <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/8659" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/8659">Thomas Harley</a> toward the end of the second period Monday.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Marcus Foligno received a double-minor for this takedown on Thomas Harley at the end of the 2nd period 😳😬 <a href="https://t.co/aMdwunYYkO">pic.twitter.com/aMdwunYYkO</a></p>— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) <a href="https://twitter.com/GinoHard_/status/2046435329968583096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>"We just have to be smarter, myself included," he said.</p><p>Though Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan disagreed with Foligno's notion that the Wild are superior at even strength, he said he wouldn't use the quote to motivate his team.</p><p>"I don't know if we need a bulletin board," Gulutzan said Tuesday. "We're just going to keep doing what we're doing and grind this thing to where we need to go. Obviously, I don't agree with it. It was a pretty close game last night."</p><p>The Wild have outscored the Stars 4-2 at five-on-five in the series while controlling 52.4% of the expected goals, per <a href="https://www.naturalstattrick.com/">Natural Stat Trick</a>.</p>

DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 20: Marcus Foligno #17 of the Minnesota Wild advances the puck under pressure from Miro Heiskanen #4 of the Dallas Stars \d2p of Game Two of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center on April 20, 2026 in Dallas, Texas.

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Wild's Marcus Foligno: Stars 'can't hang with us' at 5-on-5

The Vancouver Canucks received permission to interview former Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevy...

<p>The Vancouver Canucks received permission to interview former Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams for their GM opening, a source told <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7215908/2026/04/21/canucks-gm-search-kevyn-adams-interview/?source=emp_shared_article">The Athletic's Matthew Fairburn and Thomas Drance</a>.</p><p>The Canucks needed permission to interview Adams because he was still under contract when the Sabres fired him in December.</p><p>Vancouver fired GM Patrik Allvin on Friday following a last-place finish.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Although the Sabres took off after replacing Adams with Jarmo Kekalainen, the former GM is largely responsible for assembling the roster that snapped an NHL-record 14-year playoff drought with an Atlantic Division title this season.</p><p>Adams was named Sabres GM in 2020. He acquired several of Buffalo's key players via trade, including <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5550" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5550">Alex Tuch</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/7826" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/7826">Ryan McLeod</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/10715" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/10715">Josh Doan</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9904" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9904">Josh Norris</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/8599" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/8599">Bowen Byram</a>. He's also responsible for drafting <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9186" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9186">Jack Quinn</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/10545" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/10545">Owen Power</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/13818" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/13818">Zach Benson</a>, among others. The seven-year, $50-million extension he handed <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5611" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5611">Tage Thompson</a> is among the league's most team-friendly contracts.</p>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 29: Kevyn Adams of the Buffalo Sabres attends the NHL Draft at Sphere on June 29, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Report: Canucks to interview Kevyn Adams for GM vacancy

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman is "doubtful" to play in Round 1 against the Montreal C...

<p>Tampa Bay Lightning captain <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1125" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1125">Victor Hedman</a> is "doubtful" to play in Round 1 against the Montreal Canadiens, head coach Jon Cooper told reporters Tuesday.</p><p>"I wouldn't rule anything out, but I'd put (him) on the doubtful side for this series," Cooper said, according to <a href="https://x.com/jayRecher/status/2046600706329587900">Jay Recher</a>.</p><p>Hedman hasn't suited up since March 19. The team announced March 25 that he was taking a leave of absence for personal reasons.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The 35-year-old is with the club, as he took part in an optional team skate ahead of Tuesday's Game 2.</p><p>Hedman posted 17 points in 33 games with the Lightning this season, averaging a career-low 18:52 per contest. He also missed time earlier in the campaign with an elbow injury that required surgery.</p><p>Tampa Bay's blue-line depth will be tested further in Game 2, as <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/13156" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/13156">Declan Carlile</a> will draw in for an injured <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/16157" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/16157">Charle-Edouard D'Astous</a>, Cooper announced.</p>

TAMPA, FL - MARCH 14: Victor Hedman #77 of the Tampa Bay Lightning against the Carolina Hurricanes at Benchmark International Arena on March 14, 2026 in Tampa, Florida.

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Cooper: Hedman 'doubtful' to play in Round 1

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan is stepping down after six seasons at the helm, the team a...

<p>Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan is stepping down after six seasons at the helm, the team announced Tuesday.</p><p>"After a series of thoughtful and extensive discussions with ownership regarding the future of the organization, I have decided to step away as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls to allow the search process to unfold," Donovan said in a statement.</p><p>"I believe it is in the best interest of the Bulls to allow the new leader to build out the staff as they see fit."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Bulls <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3516360" href="https://thescore.com/news/3516360">fired</a> vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley in early April. The following day, CEO Michael Reinsdorf said he wanted to keep Donovan on as head coach.</p><p>"While we clearly wanted Billy to return as our head coach, we had open dialogue about the importance of respecting the process of bringing in new basketball operations leadership," Reinsdorf said Tuesday. "Together, we mutually agreed that giving that person the freedom to shape the organization was the best approach for everyone involved."</p><p>Donovan posted a 226-256 record with the Bulls, leading the franchise to one playoff appearance - a first-round loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2022. The Bulls finished 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 31-51 record in 2025-26.</p><p>Chicago has reportedly cast a wide net in its executive search, securing permission to speak with Minnesota Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd, Detroit Pistons senior vice president of basketball operations Dennis Lindsey, Atlanta Hawks senior vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham, Cleveland Cavaliers assistant general manager Mike Gansey, and San Antonio Spurs assistant general manager Dave Telep, among others.</p><p>The Bulls haven't won a playoff series since 2015.</p>

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 10: Head coach Billy Donovan of the Chicago Bulls looks on against the Orlando Magic at the United Center on April 10, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.

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Donovan steps down as Bulls coach after 6 seasons

The first Stanley Cup Playoff game in Western New York in 15 years was worth the wait, as the Buf...

<p>The first Stanley Cup Playoff game in Western New York in 15 years was worth the wait, as the Buffalo Sabres scored four goals in the final eight minutes of regulation to beat the Boston Bruins in an epic 4-3 comeback win.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5611" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5611">Tage Thompson</a> broke <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9893" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9893">Jeremy Swayman</a>'s shutout at the 12:02 mark of the third period to give the Sabres life. He added another to tie the game 3:42 later. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9735" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9735">Mattias Samuelsson</a> notched the go-ahead marker 52 seconds after Thompson's equalizer, sending KeyBank Center into a frenzy. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5550" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5550">Alex Tuch</a>'s empty-netter stood as the game-winner after the Bruins scored with seven seconds left to bring the game back within one.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QtIVOJQRzcA?si=wfk9fqrbnKEmG7yR" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><p>It's the first home playoff win for the Sabres since April 20, 2011 - a span of 5,746 days.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"You could feel the building shaking," head coach Lindy Ruff said postgame. "Even upstairs they said the same thing. The atmosphere was unbelievable."</p><p>Thompson, who also added an assist, was named first star of the game.</p><p>"These are the games that you dream of," Thompson <a href="https://x.com/espn/status/2046055793254977710">said</a> following his playoff debut. "So happy to finally be here."</p><p>Sabres captain <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/7216" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/7216">Rasmus Dahlin</a> lauded Thompson's role in igniting the comeback.</p><p>"We always talk about dogs have to be dogs and today he showed up and led the team," Dahlin said. "That was special."</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/6480" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/6480">Morgan Geekie</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3001" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3001">Elias Lindholm</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4122" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4122">David Pastrnak</a> scored for the Bruins. Geekie and Pastrnak each added a pair of assists.</p><p>Buffalo took a 1-0 series lead with the victory. Game 2 is set for Tuesday.</p>

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - APRIL 19: Mattias Samuelsson #23 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates with teammates after scoring during the third period in Game One of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Boston Bruins at KeyBank Center on April 19, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. Buffalo won, 4-3.

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Sabres score 4 in final 8 minutes for 1st playoff win since 2011

Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov moved into the top 20 on the all-time playoff points lis...

<p>Tampa Bay Lightning star <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3322" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3322">Nikita Kucherov</a> moved into the top 20 on the all-time playoff points list with his second-period assist in Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday.</p><p>It was the 172nd point of his 153-game postseason career to pass Hall of Famer Peter Forsberg. Kucherov added another helper in the third period to pass Mario Lemieux for sole possession of 19th on the all-time playoff points list.</p><p>Kucherov ranks 53rd all time in playoff goals (53) and 13th in assists (120).</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>He's third among Russians on the postseason points list, trailing Evgeni Malkin (182) and Sergei Fedorov (176).</p><p>The 32-year-old Kucherov helped the Lightning win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020-21. He also led Tampa Bay to the finals in 2015 and 2022.</p>

TAMPA, FL - APRIL 19: Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning shoots against the Montreal Canadiens in Game One of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Benchmark International Arena on April 19, 2026 in Tampa, Florida.

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Kucherov enters top 20 in career playoff points

To prevent ruffling any feathers, forward Justin Hryckowian planned to keep a low profile when th...

<p>To prevent ruffling any feathers, forward Justin Hryckowian planned to keep a low profile when the Dallas Stars first called him up. Captain Jamie Benn quickly explained that it wasn't necessary.</p><p>"When you gotta come play in the league you're obviously just not trying to f--k up or get in the way of anyone else," Hryckowian told theScore before Dallas' penultimate regular-season game. "But (Benn) kind of made that clear: Be yourself and enjoy it. It just makes the transition of playing so much easier. You can just play free and not think too much."</p><p>Right away, Benn made sure Hryckowian felt welcomed, inviting him to team functions like dinners on the road.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"Just an elite human," Hryckowian added. "So humble. Doesn't speak too much. Not a guy who talks your ear off, but loves to hang out with the guys and lead by example. Such a great guy, very generous."</p><p>Benn's guidance has worked wonders for Hryckowian, who has blossomed into one of Dallas' latest developmental success stories. An undrafted college free agent out of Northeastern in 2024, the 25-year-old flourished for the Stars in his first full NHL season, registering 14 goals and 30 points in 81 games<strong> </strong>in 2025-26 while posting strong defensive metrics and playing a vital penalty-kill role.</p><p>Hryckowian has also been an effective pest, notably getting the oft-disciplined Connor McDavid to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTZTHe1q9Es&amp;rco=1">throw punches</a> back in March.</p><p>Encouraging Hryckowian to be his unapologetic self is the type of leadership the Stars organization will miss whenever Benn decides to hang up his skates. While Alex Ovechkin's impending <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3517849" href="https://thescore.com/news/3517849">retirement decision</a> has garnered league-wide attention, Benn also has yet to declare whether this campaign will be his last. The 36-year-old signed a one-year, $1-million deal (plus incentives) last offseason to stay in Dallas when he easily could've fetched more money on the open market. This may be it for him.</p><p>At his peak, Benn was a premier power forward and one of the league's top offensive producers. From 2013-14 to 2017-18, he racked up 403 points in 404 games, third among NHLers over that span behind only Sidney Crosby and Patrick Kane. Benn won the Art Ross Trophy with 87 points in 2014-15 when NHL scoring was near its lowest of the salary-cap era.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/144178/cropped_GettyImages-497583782.jpg?ts=1776289489" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/144178/w220xh124_GettyImages-497583782.jpg?ts=1776289489 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/144178/w320xh180_GettyImages-497583782.jpg?ts=1776289489 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/144178/w640xh360_GettyImages-497583782.jpg?ts=1776289489 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/144178/w768xh432_GettyImages-497583782.jpg?ts=1776289489 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/144178/w1080xh607_GettyImages-497583782.jpg?ts=1776289489 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Benn during the 2015-16 campaign <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Bill Wippert / National Hockey League / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Although Benn hasn't been that dominant player for quite some time, he's remained an effective depth contributor into the twilight of his career. After missing the first 19 games of the season with a collapsed lung, Benn finished 2025-26 with 15 goals and 36 points in 60 appearances while playing a third-line role. His 2.4 points per 60 minutes at five-on-five led all Stars skaters.</p><p>"He's gotten a little older. I haven't seen any grays in his hair yet," Stars coach Glen Gulutzan quipped when reflecting on how Benn has changed over the years. Gulutzan, who coached Dallas from 2011-13 during Benn's early NHL days and returned in 2025, added, "I watch him today, and it passed through my mind, he's still flying around. He still moves out there.</p><p>"When I had Jamie (12) years ago, he was our best player, a young guy. You know what, he's still that player, he still has that ability, but just his leadership. If you left somebody for (12 years) and came back, you'd be very proud to see what they've become, and that's Jamie. He's a great leader, he's an ultimate team guy, and I'm saying that on and off the ice with his teammates and coaching staff. All he wants to do is win. He embodies everything you want in a captain."</p><p>Transitioning from once being the franchise's go-to guy to embracing a bottom-six role requires a certain level of humility that not every professional athlete possesses. But Benn has done so without any fuss.</p><p>"He's so selfless," Hryckowian said. "Never makes it about himself. He'll play any role, any job."</p><p>Benn is the definition of a throwback. He has never hesitated to drop the gloves in defense of his teammates, which can't be said of every NHL captain. Over the years, he's tangled with some of the league's toughest customers, fighting Adam Lowry, Luke Schenn, Nikita Zadorov, Nick Foligno, Corey Perry, Pat Maroon, David Backes, Dustin Byfuglien, and Jarome Iginla, among others. Benn's also one of just four players remaining in the league who don't wear a visor.</p><p>"It's fun to see the captain (fight)," Stars forward Mikko Rantanen said. "It for sure impresses the other guys."</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/830950/cropped_GettyImages-2268971069.jpg?ts=1776289677" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/830950/w220xh124_GettyImages-2268971069.jpg?ts=1776289677 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/830950/w320xh180_GettyImages-2268971069.jpg?ts=1776289677 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/830950/w640xh360_GettyImages-2268971069.jpg?ts=1776289677 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/830950/w768xh432_GettyImages-2268971069.jpg?ts=1776289677 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/830950/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2268971069.jpg?ts=1776289677 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Benn fighting Lowry in April <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Benn has spent his entire 17-year career in Dallas, wearing the "C" for 13 of them. He's amassed 992 points in 1,252 regular-season games and entered the 2026 postseason with 80 points in 120 career playoff contests. His accolades include two first-team All-Star honors and one second-team All-Star nod, further solidifying his place among the franchise's greats.</p><p>"Big time legacy in Dallas. His number is going to the rafters, no doubt," Rantanen said. "Long time he's played here, and he's always been successful. Great human being. We're going to miss him when it's time, but hopefully not yet."</p><p>Internationally, Benn has won an Olympic gold medal while representing Canada at the 2014 Games. The Victoria, British Columbia, native scored a pair of goals in six contests, including the game-winner in a 1-0 semifinal victory over the United States.</p><p>The only thing missing from Benn's resume is a Stanley Cup ring.</p><p>He came excruciatingly close in the 2020 bubble, leading the Stars to the Stanley Cup Final before losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. Benn was a catalyst for Dallas that postseason, ranking third on the team with 19 points in 27 contests.</p><p>However, heartbreak has continued to haunt Benn and the Stars, who have fallen in the Western Conference Final in each of the last three seasons.</p><p>Dallas is once again a Stanley Cup favorite, finishing second in the Western Conference with 112 points this season. Its road back to the conference finals won't be easy, though. Due to the NHL's highly scrutinized playoff format, the Stars face the Minnesota Wild, the No. 3 team in the conference, in Round 1. They're in an early hole after a 6-1 loss in Game 1. If Dallas advances, a likely Round 2 matchup looms against the Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche.</p><p>Going through an incredibly difficult playoff path to win his first Cup would be fitting for Benn - this is a player who's had nothing handed to him. A late bloomer, Benn wasn't taken in his WHL draft year. He had to grind his way from Jr. B to Jr. A before the Stars selected him in the fifth round (129th overall) of the 2007 NHL Draft.</p><p>The hope for Dallas is that Benn's potential swan song can provide enough extra fuel to push them through the Central Division gauntlet and into the promised land. At the very least, it's inspiring his teammates.</p><p>"We all know all he wants to do is win," Hryckowian said. "That's definitely an extra piece of motivation."</p>

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 19: Jamie Benn #14 of the Dallas Stars lines up against the Colorado Avalanche in the second period of Game One of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the American Airlines Center on April 19, 2025 in Dallas, Texas.

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'All he wants to do is win:' Benn's potential swan song fueling Stars

With the 2025-26 NHL regular season over, we visited the coroner's office to diagnose the cause o...

<p>With the 2025-26 NHL regular season over, we visited the coroner's office to diagnose the cause of death for all 16 teams that missed the postseason.</p><h3>Calgary Flames</h3><p><strong>🪦 Cause of death</strong>: Regression</p><p>Did anybody really think the Flames would repeat their 96-point campaign from a year ago? This season, they met expectations relative to the talent on the roster. The outcome might've been a blessing in disguise, as it prompted Calgary to embrace a much-needed rebuild by trading away veterans Nazem Kadri, MacKenzie Weegar, and Rasmus Andersson.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Chicago Blackhawks</h3><p><strong>🪦 Cause of death</strong>: Youth</p><p>A youthful spirit usually extends life, but that's not always the case in the NHL. The league's youngest team didn't stand much of a chance, even with Connor Bedard enjoying a breakout year. There just wasn't enough talent on this roster behind the 2024 Calder Trophy winner, and the Blackhawks never seriously threatened to compete for the playoffs this season. However, with a loaded farm system, Chicago's resurgence could be coming soon.</p><h3>Columbus Blue Jackets</h3><p><strong>🪦 Cause of death</strong>: Dean Evason</p><p>Much has been made of Columbus' 2-8-1 finish down the stretch after <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3523430" href="https://thescore.com/news/3523430">Rick Bowness' tirade</a>, but it's the way the team started the season that ultimately did it in. The hockey world largely wrote off the Blue Jackets after they started the campaign 19-19-7 with Evason behind the bench. But they climbed into the playoff picture with Bowness as head coach, going 21-11-5.<strong> </strong>If not for the poor play under Evason, Columbus would be gearing up for the postseason.</p><h3>Detroit Red Wings</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/762761/cropped_GettyImages-2191619131.jpg?ts=1735521521" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/762761/w220xh124_GettyImages-2191619131.jpg?ts=1735521521 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/762761/w320xh180_GettyImages-2191619131.jpg?ts=1735521521 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/762761/w640xh360_GettyImages-2191619131.jpg?ts=1735521521 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/762761/w768xh432_GettyImages-2191619131.jpg?ts=1735521521 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/762761/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2191619131.jpg?ts=1735521521 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Mike Mulholland / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>🪦 Cause of death</strong>: Choking</p><p>Not even the Heimlich maneuver could have saved this team from choking. With a 33-19-6 record heading into the Olympic break, Detroit held a seven-point cushion for a postseason berth and a 78.3% chance to snap its nine-year playoff drought. Given such a glorious opportunity, you'd think the Red Wings would've shown more desperation down the stretch. Instead, they went 8-12-4 in their final 24 games. General manager Steve Yzerman and head coach Todd McLellan both deserve blame, but this one's on the players at the end of the day.</p><h3>Florida Panthers</h3><p><strong>🪦 Cause of death</strong>: Wear and tear</p><p>Playing 68 playoff games over the last three years took a toll on the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions. Matthew Tkachuk, Brad Marchand, and Seth Jones all missed significant time with injuries, while captain Aleksander Barkov didn't suit up at all due to a torn ACL and MCL. But no one appeared to be more affected by the Panthers' grueling playoff runs than Sergei Bobrovsky, who posted his worst season with a .877 save percentage in 52 contests.</p><h3>Nashville Predators</h3><p><strong>🪦 Cause of death</strong>: Lack of direction</p><p>Poor directional skills can be catastrophic if lost in the wilderness - and the same can be said in the NHL. Nashville clearly needed a functional compass this season because it had no direction. After a slow start, it seemed like the Predators were going to tear it all down. Hot stretches in December and January kept their playoff hopes alive, but they eventually came back down to earth and ultimately settled for trading only fringe players at the deadline. Whoever succeeds Barry Trotz as general manager needs a more convincing vision.</p><h3>New Jersey Devils</h3><p><strong>🪦 Cause of death</strong>: Bad luck</p><p>New Jersey already fired GM Tom Fitzgerald, and head coach Sheldon Keefe is potentially next. Still, this season's outcome might have been much different had some bounces gone the Devils' way. They finished 32nd in PDO (shooting percentage plus save percentage) despite respectable possession numbers. Losing Jack Hughes for 21 games due to injury didn't help, either.</p><h3>New York Islanders</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/827663/cropped_GettyImages-2267902306.jpg?ts=1774232446" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/827663/w220xh124_GettyImages-2267902306.jpg?ts=1774232446 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/827663/w320xh180_GettyImages-2267902306.jpg?ts=1774232446 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/827663/w640xh360_GettyImages-2267902306.jpg?ts=1774232446 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/827663/w768xh432_GettyImages-2267902306.jpg?ts=1774232446 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/827663/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2267902306.jpg?ts=1774232446 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Dennis DaSilva / National Hockey League / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>🪦 Cause of death</strong>: Team defense</p><p>Ilya Sorokin put together a Vezina Trophy-caliber season, but it didn't matter in the end because the Islanders offered minimal support defensively in front of their star goalie. New York ranked 30th in expected goals against and high-danger scoring chances against.</p><h3>New York Rangers</h3><p><strong>🪦 Cause of death</strong>: Home woes</p><p>Though the Rangers were a respectable 20-19-2 on the road, their disastrous 14-20-7 record at Madison Square Garden doomed their season. New York lost its first seven games at home while getting shut out an unimaginable five times in that span. Talk about giving fans a reason to lose hope early.</p><h3>San Jose Sharks</h3><p><strong>🪦 Cause of death</strong>: Team beyond Celebrini</p><p>Most of San Jose's games came down to whether Macklin Celebrini could put on his cape and drag the team to victory. He managed to do it plenty of nights, putting together a ridiculous 115-point campaign at just 19 years old. However, the Sharks also had their depth and inexperience exposed in some contests, as no other player reached 60 points.</p><h3>Seattle Kraken</h3><p><strong>🪦 Cause of death</strong>: Special teams</p><p>The Kraken were a decent five-on-five team but finished with the league's second-worst penalty kill and the<strong> </strong>20th-ranked power play. Improved special teams could've gotten them into the playoffs in a weak Western Conference.</p><h3>St. Louis Blues</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/817866/cropped_GettyImages-2256072226.jpg?ts=1768625272" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/817866/w220xh124_GettyImages-2256072226.jpg?ts=1768625272 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/817866/w320xh180_GettyImages-2256072226.jpg?ts=1768625272 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/817866/w640xh360_GettyImages-2256072226.jpg?ts=1768625272 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/817866/w768xh432_GettyImages-2256072226.jpg?ts=1768625272 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/817866/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2256072226.jpg?ts=1768625272 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Scott Rovak / National Hockey League / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>🪦 Cause of death</strong>: Terminal illness</p><p>The 2025-26 Blues died a slow, painful death. They were always just outside the playoff picture, yet never fell completely out of the race to lose all hope. St. Louis hung around until the end, but it ultimately wasn't enough.</p><h3>Toronto Maple Leafs</h3><p><strong>🪦 Cause of death</strong>: 18-wheeler off a cliff</p><p>Former Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke infamously described the team's collapse in 2011-12 as "an 18-wheeler going right off a cliff." That's essentially what happened 14 years later, too. Toronto entered the Olympic break on a three-game winning streak to give itself a chance at making the playoffs, but a disastrous 0-6-2 run after the Games effectively ended the club's season. Mismanagement by former GM Brad Treliving, poor coaching by Craig Berube, injuries, and a down year from Auston Matthews are all to blame for this tire fire.</p><h3>Vancouver Canucks</h3><p><strong>🪦 Cause of death</strong>: Everything</p><p>It's impossible to choose just one reason why the Canucks ended the campaign in last place. They ranked 31st in goals for, 32nd in goals against as well as penalty kill, and 30th in expected goals share.<strong> </strong>You can't even use the Quinn Hughes trade to pinpoint where it all went downhill, as Vancouver posted a league-worst 11-17-3 record with one of the game's best players still on the roster. This team flat-out stunk.</p><h3>Washington Capitals</h3><p><strong>🪦 Cause of death</strong>: Wrong place, wrong time</p><p>Washington's 95 points led all non-playoff teams. That total would've been enough to make the postseason in 2024-25 and would have easily qualified them this season had they played in the Western Conference. In fact, 95 points would've ranked them fourth in the West and earned them a Pacific Division title.</p><h3>Winnipeg Jets</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746614/cropped_GettyImages-2151652288.jpg?ts=1727138051" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746614/w220xh124_GettyImages-2151652288.jpg?ts=1727138051 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746614/w320xh180_GettyImages-2151652288.jpg?ts=1727138051 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746614/w640xh360_GettyImages-2151652288.jpg?ts=1727138051 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746614/w768xh432_GettyImages-2151652288.jpg?ts=1727138051 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746614/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2151652288.jpg?ts=1727138051 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Darcy Finley / National Hockey League / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>🪦 Cause of death</strong>: Lack of scoring depth</p><p>A down year from reigning Hart Trophy and Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck certainly didn't help, but the main culprit for Winnipeg's downfall was a lack of scoring depth. You can't succeed as a one-line team in the NHL, and outside of Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, and Gabe Vilardi, no Jets forward contributed more than Cole Perfetti's 32 points.</p><p>(Analytics sources: <a href="https://moneypuck.com/">MoneyPuck</a>, <a href="https://evolving-hockey.com/">Evolving-Hockey</a>, <a href="https://www.naturalstattrick.com/">Natural Stat Trick</a>)</p>

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NHL postmortems: What went wrong for all 16 non-playoff teams

The red-hot Vegas Golden Knights clinched first place in the Pacific Division for the second stra...

<p>The red-hot Vegas Golden Knights clinched first place in the Pacific Division for the second straight year after defeating the Seattle Kraken 4-1 on Wednesday.</p><p>Its the fifth division title for the Golden Knights in their nine-year existence. Vegas caught fire down the stretch, going 7-0-1 since making the bold decision to fire head coach Bruce Cassidy and replace him with John Tortorella.</p><p>Vegas will play the Utah Mammoth, the Western Conference's top wild-card team, in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The rest of the Pacific Division seeding is yet to be determined. The Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, and Los Angeles Kings are all still eligible to finish as the Pacific's No. 2 seed, No. 3 seed, or the West's second wild-card team. They all play their season finales on Thursday.</p><p>The only other matchup that's confirmed in the Western Conference is the Central Division's No. 2 seed Dallas Stars against the No. 3 seed Minnesota Wild.</p><p>The Eastern Conference bracket was <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3523396" href="https://thescore.com/news/3523396">set</a> Tuesday.</p>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 15: Jack Eichel #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates after scoring a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs in overtime to win their game 6-5 at T-Mobile Arena on January 15, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Golden Knights win Pacific Division, will play Mammoth in Round 1

A disastrous season for the Toronto Maple Leafs ended with at least one silver lining.  The Maple...

<p>A disastrous season for the Toronto Maple Leafs ended with at least one silver lining.</p><p>The Maple Leafs lost their season finale 3-1 to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday, guaranteeing a 28th-place finish in the NHL standings and increasing their chances of securing the 2026 first-round pick they previously traded to the Boston Bruins.</p><p>However, it's far from assured that Toronto will regain the top-five-protected pick. If a team outside the top five of the projected draft order wins one of the two lotteries, the Maple Leafs' pick would drop to six (or seventh if two teams outside the top five win the lotteries). In that case, Boston would keep the selection.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Maple Leafs have a 41.9% of picking in the top five: 8.5% for first overall, 8.6% for second overall, 0.3% for third overall, and 24.5% for fifth overall, per <a href="https://www.tankathon.com/nhl/pick_odds">Tankathon</a>. That means there's a 58.1% chance that Toronto gets leapfrogged in the lottery and loses the selection.</p><p>The outcome could've been much worse for the Maple Leafs, though. If they won Wednesday and the Seattle Kraken lost their last two games in regulation, Toronto would've finished 27th and only had a 15.4% chance of picking in the top five.</p><p>The Maple Leafs traded their 2026 first-round pick, a 2025 fourth-round pick, and forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/12711" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/12711">Fraser Minten</a> to the Bruins at the 2025 trade deadline for defenseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4643" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4643">Brandon Carlo</a>. In March, Toronto fired Brad Treliving, its former general manager who swung the deal.</p><p>If the Maple Leafs keep their 2026 first-rounder, Boston will receive Toronto's first-round pick in either 2027 or 2028. Toronto also traded its 2027 first-round pick (top-10 protected) to the Philadelphia Flyers in a 2025 deadline deal for forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2855" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2855">Scott Laughton</a>.</p><p>The NHL draft lottery is scheduled for May 5.</p>

ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 30: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his goal with teammates during the third period against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on March 30, 2026 in Anaheim, California.

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Maple Leafs finish 28th in NHL, boosting odds of regaining 1st-rounder

Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness aired his grievances in an emotional tirade after a...

<p>Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness aired his grievances in an emotional tirade after a disappointing season finale put a bow on the club's lackluster play down the stretch.</p><p>"All you have to do is look at the stat sheet. Three hits, 23 giveaways. ... These guys, they don't care," an irate Bowness said after Columbus' 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, according to <a href="https://x.com/joenuge/status/2044239236509884527">WCMH's Joe Nugent</a>. </p><p>"Losing is not important enough to them. It doesn't bother them. How can you go out and play like that? I should have done this about a month ago. But this is why we are where we are. This is why we're out of the playoffs. That kind of effort. You have to hate losing. I don't care if it's a meaningless game. I don't care. Show up and compete."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rick Bowness furious following the 2-1 loss to Washington.<br><br>The Blue Jackets finish the season losing six straight at home, barely missing the playoffs, more tonight <a href="https://twitter.com/nbc4i?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nbc4i</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CBJ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CBJ</a> <a href="https://t.co/o7We2CEmTY">pic.twitter.com/o7We2CEmTY</a></p>— Joe Nugent (@joenuge) <a href="https://twitter.com/joenuge/status/2044239236509884527?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The Blue Jackets owned an 88% chance of making the playoffs in late March, per <a href="https://x.com/MoneyPuckdotcom/status/2036630397249900664">MoneyPuck</a>, but went 2-8-1 in their final 11 games to fall out of the race and were officially eliminated Monday.</p><p>"Some of those guys are so lucky the season's over and there's no practice tomorrow," Bowness added.</p><p>Despite the flat finish, Bowness did an impressive job getting the Blue Jackets back in the playoff hunt at all. Columbus started the campaign 19-19-7 under head coach Dean Evason, but it went 21-11-5 after Bowness took over midseason.</p><p>Bowness' contract only covered the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign, but the 71-year-old said big changes are coming next season if his deal gets renewed.</p><p>"I don't know if I'm back (next season), but if I'm back, I'm changing this culture," he said.</p><p>The Blue Jackets opted to keep several pending unrestricted free agents at the deadline instead of trading them, including <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2474" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2474">Charlie Coyle</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9435" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9435">Mason Marchment</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2058" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2058">Boone Jenner</a>. Columbus has missed the playoffs six years in a row.</p>

RALEIGH, NC - APRIL 02: Head Coach Rick Bowness of the Columbus Blue Jackets watches the play develop during the NHL game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Carolina Hurricanes on April 2, 2026 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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Bowness rips Blue Jackets' effort down the stretch: 'They don't care'

The Eastern Conference playoff picture is finalized.  The Boston Bruins beat the New Jersey Devil...

<p>The Eastern Conference playoff picture is finalized.</p><p>The Boston Bruins beat the New Jersey Devils 4-0<strong> </strong>on Tuesday, clinching the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and setting up a Round 1 matchup with the Buffalo Sabres.</p><p>Boston's victory also means the Ottawa Senators are locked into the second wild-card spot and will play the conference's No. 1-seeded Carolina Hurricanes in Round 1.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The other two opening-round matchups in the Eastern Conference were determined Monday, although Tampa Bay secured home-ice advantage over Montreal with the Canadiens' regulation loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday. Here's the full picture:</p><ul>
<li>Buffalo Sabres (A1) vs. Boston Bruins (WC1)</li>
<li>Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) vs. Montreal Canadiens (A3)</li>
<li>Carolina Hurricanes (M1) vs. Ottawa Senators (WC2)</li>
<li>Pittsburgh Penguins (M2) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (M3)</li>
</ul><p>The Sabres and Bruins last met in the playoffs in 2010 - which also marked Buffalo's last division title - when Boston won the Round 1 series in six games. Ottawa and Carolina have never faced off in the postseason.</p><p>The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Saturday. Final seeding in the Western Conference has yet to be determined.</p>

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - MARCH 25: Pavel Zacha #18 of the Boston Bruins celebrates his overtime game-winning goal against Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen #1 of the Buffalo Sabres with Charlie McAvoy #73 and David Pastrnak #88 during an NHL game on March 25, 2026 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.

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Bruins clinch top wild-card spot to lock in East playoff matchups

The entire Stanley Cup Playoff field is now set after the Los Angeles Kings clinched the last pos...

<p>The entire Stanley Cup Playoff field is now set after the Los Angeles Kings clinched the last postseason berth in the Western Conference by defeating the Seattle Kraken 5-3<strong> </strong>on Monday.</p><p>The Philadelphia Flyers also <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3522661" href="https://thescore.com/news/3522661">locked up</a> the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference on Monday. Seeding for both conferences is still to be determined.</p><p><strong>Playoff teams</strong></p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Western Conference</th>
<th>Eastern Conference</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Colorado Avalanche</td>
<td>Carolina Hurricanes</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dallas Stars</td>
<td>Buffalo Sabres</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Minnesota Wild</td>
<td>Tampa Bay Lightning</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vegas Golden Knights</td>
<td>Montreal Canadiens</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Edmonton Oilers</td>
<td>Pittsburgh Penguins</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Anaheim Ducks</td>
<td>Philadelphia Flyers</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Utah Mammoth</td>
<td>Boston Bruins</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Los Angeles Kings</td>
<td>Ottawa Senators</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>The Avalanche are locked in as the Presidents' Trophy winners. The Hurricanes secured the top seed in the East and will face either the Bruins or Senators. Wild-Stars and Flyers-Penguins are set for the opening round while the Canadiens and Lightning will also meet with home ice still to be determined.</p><p>The Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks, and Winnipeg Jets were eliminated from postseason contention as a result of L.A.'s victory.</p><p>This marks the fifth consecutive playoff appearance for the Kings, who lost in Round 1 to the Edmonton Oilers in each of the last four years. Los Angeles hasn't won a postseason series since 2014, when it won the Stanley Cup.</p><p>The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Saturday.</p>

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 13: Quinton Byfield #55 reacts after a goal is scored by Trevor Moore #12 of the Los Angeles Kings during the second period of a game against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on April 13, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.

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NHL playoff field set after Kings clinch final West spot

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