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Leo Carlsson Pots Game-Winner Wednesday Night
Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson scored the game-winning goal as his team tied the second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 with a 3-1 road victory. Carlsson's goal made it 2-0 6:36 into the third period. The Swedish talent became the third Ducks player aged 21 or younger to record multiple game-winning goals in a single playoff campaign. He's averaging more than a point per game in the postseason, with four goals and five assists in eight outings. Yet Carlsson has been on the score sheet in back-to-back games just once this postseason. Greater consistency from him would benefit the team.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Juraj Slafkovsky Ends Point Drought in Game 1 Loss
Montreal Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky notched an assist in Wednesday's series-opening 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. He combined with Ivan Demidov to set up Nick Suzuki for a power-play goal late in the first period. Slafkovsky ended a six-game point drought. In Round 1, he also got things started with a productive outing, scoring a hat trick. But those were Slafkovsky's only points in the series. Eight games into the postseason, Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield still haven't registered any even-strength points, which must be concerning for the Canadiens. Their next opportunity to break the duck will come on Friday.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Bowen Byram Ties Franchise Record With Fourth Postseason Goal
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram potted a power-play goal in Wednesday's 4-2 Game 1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, tying the franchise record for most goals scored in a postseason by a defenseman. Byram has found the back of the net four times on 17 SOG, adding two assists in seven outings. He is tied for the fifth-most points among defensemen this postseason. While Rasmus Dahlin has typically been the star man on the Sabres' blue line, it's been the Byram show so far in the playoffs. Bizarrely, he hadn't scored a single goal in his first 28 Stanley Cup Playoffs appearances before erupting for four goals in six games.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Zach Benson Posts Second Consecutive Multi-Point Game
Buffalo Sabres left wing Zach Benson contributed two assists in Wednesday's 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, registering his second consecutive multi-point game. He became only the fourth player in Sabres history to record consecutive multi-point playoff games at age 20 or younger. Benson assisted Josh Doan at even strength with only a few minutes played in the first period and later helped set up a power-play goal for Ryan McLeod in the same frame. Through seven postseason games, Benson leads his team with 28 penalty minutes and has recorded five points (two goals, three assists).
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Rasmus Dahlin "Seems Fine" After Early Exit on Wednesday
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (undisclosed) looks to have avoided a serious injury in Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday. He didn't play in the final few minutes after blocking a shot. Speaking to reporters after the game, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said Dahlin "seems fine" but added that he had not yet spoken to the medical staff. Dahlin had a monster year with a career-high 74 points (19 goals, 55 assists) during the regular season and has continued to chip in offensively in the playoffs. He has tallied one goal and three assists in seven games.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Nils Hoglander Will Miss World Championship Due to Injury
Vancouver Canucks left wing Nils Hoglander (undisclosed) won't play for Sweden at the 2026 World Championship, Adam Kierszenblat of The Hockey News reports. He was injured in a pre-competition game last weekend. Detroit's Lucas Raymond has been called up as Hoglander's replacement. The 25-year-old also began the 2025-26 campaign nursing an injury and was limited to 38 appearances, registering two goals and three assists. It was a hugely disappointing season for Hoglander in the first year of a three-year, $9 million contract. Having flirted with a 40-point campaign a couple of years ago, Hoglander could be poised for a strong bounce-back season in 2026-27.
Source: Adam Kierszenblat
Source: Adam Kierszenblat
Christian Dvorak Likely to Play in Game 3 Against Hurricanes
Philadelphia Flyers center Christian Dvorak (undisclosed) is likely to play in Thursday's Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes, Adam Kimelman of NHL.com reports. The Flyers practiced without Dvorak on Wednesday, but head coach Rick Tocchet said he will likely play Thursday night. On Wednesday, Tocchet ruled out fellow center Noah Cates (lower-body injury) for the rest of the second-round series, making Dvorak's availability crucial for Philadelphia. In his first season with the Flyers, Dvorak has enjoyed a career year, posting 51 points (18 goals, 33 assists) in 80 regular-season appearances. He has added three assists in eight postseason outings.
Source: Adam Kimelman
Source: Adam Kimelman
Owen Tippett a Game-Time Decision Thursday
Philadelphia Flyers winger Owen Tippett (undisclosed) will be a game-time call for Thursday's tilt against the Carolina Hurricanes, Adam Kimelman of NHL.com reports. The 27-year-old has yet to play in the series because of a lingering injury that also affected him in the first-round matchup with Pittsburgh. Getting Tippett back would be huge for the Flyers, especially after losing Noah Cates (lower body) for the rest of the series. In the playoffs, Tippett has been limited to two points (one goal, one assist) in six outings, but he was a consistent offensive threat during the regular season. Across 81 outings, Tippett produced a team-high 28 goals and 23 assists.
Source: Adam Kimelman
Source: Adam Kimelman
Noah Cates to Miss Rest of Round 2
Philadelphia Flyers center Noah Cates (lower body) will sit out the rest of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs second-round matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes, Adam Kimelman of NHL.com reports. Cates suffered a lower-body injury in Game 2 of the series and was initially deemed day-to-day. The 27-year-old finished the 2025-26 regular season with a career-high 47 points (18 goals, 29 assists) in 82 games and has also played well in the playoffs. In eight outings, Cates has contributed one goal and three assists. With him on the shelf, Philadelphia plans to bring Trevor Zegras back to the center position and also use Denver Barkey more in the middle.
Source: Adam Kimelman
Source: Adam Kimelman
Arber Xhekaj Rejoins Canadiens Lineup Wednesday
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj will re-enter the lineup on Wednesday in Game 1 against the Buffalo Sabres, Shawn P. Roarke of NHL.com reports. Montreal scratched the heavy-hitting blue-liner for Sunday's Game 7 against Tampa Bay, with Noah Dobson making his 2026 postseason debut. Xhekaj played in each of the first six games of the first-round matchup, recording one assist, five SOG, three blocks, 31 hits, and 12 penalty minutes. On Wednesday, he will rejoin Kaiden Guhle on the third defensive pairing, bumping Jayden Struble out of the lineup.
Source: Shawn P. Roarke
Source: Shawn P. Roarke
Brendan Gallagher Scratched on Wednesday
Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher will be a healthy scratch in Game 1 against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, Shawn P. Roarke of NHL.com reports. The veteran will return to the press box after also sitting out the first four games of the first-round matchup with Tampa Bay. Gallagher scored in his 2026 postseason debut, but that has remained his only point. In three outings in Round 1, he averaged just 6:25 of ice time. On Wednesday, Gallagher will be replaced in the lineup by Joe Veleno, who will make his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut. Veleno will likely have a similar workload to Gallagher on the fourth line and isn't expected to make an offensive impact. Across 61 regular-season games, Veleno posted only five points (two goals, three assists).
Source: Shawn P. Roarke
Source: Shawn P. Roarke
Logan Stanley Returns to Action Wednesday
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Logan Stanley (illness) will return from a one-game absence on Wednesday against the Montreal Canadiens, Shawn P. Roarke of NHL.com reports. Stanley is projected to rejoin Connor Timmins on the third defensive pairing. He didn't play in Game 6 against Boston on Friday. Michael Kesselring filled in for Stanley and will be scratched Wednesday night. In the first round, Stanley didn't score any points in five outings, but he had five SOG, six blocks, six hits, and five penalty minutes.
Source: Shawn P. Roarke
Source: Shawn P. Roarke
Mats Zuccarello Extends Point Streak to Five Games
Minnesota Wild right wing Mats Zuccarello extended his personal point streak to five games with an assist in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. The veteran forward became only the third player in Wild history to record a point in each of his first five appearances of a postseason campaign. He has tallied two goals and five assists in five games. Zuccarello was unavailable for three contests during Round 1 against Dallas due to an upper-body injury. Since returning to the lineup, Zuccarello has formed a prolific trio with Kirill Kaprizov and Ryan Hartman. He is also a threat on the first power-play unit.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Kirill Kaprizov Nets Third Playoff Goal
Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov scored his third goal of the 2026 postseason in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. The Russian star needed just six seconds to respond to Martin Necas' opening goal in the first period. Unfortunately for the Wild, they were second-best again in the matchup and will take a 2-0 series deficit back home. On Tuesday night, Kaprizov caught teammate Quinn Hughes atop the postseason scoring charts. He has tallied 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in eight games. Including the regular season, Kaprizov has posted four goals and eight points in six meetings with the Avalanche this season. Colorado is struggling to contain him, but Kaprizov clearly needs more help in the series.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Scott Wedgewood Returns to Form in Game 2 Against Wild
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood stopped 29 of 31 pucks in Tuesday's 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild. While Wedgewood finished with one fewer save than in Game 1 of the series, his performance was much better. His save percentage went from .833 to .935. The 33-year-old looked unbeatable at times during the regular season and has also been brilliant for the Avalanche in the playoffs. Wedgewood has won all six starts, allowing 2.12 goals with a .923 save percentage. Cam Ward and Tiny Thompson are the only netminders in NHL history to win each of their first seven career postseason starts. Wedgewood can join them in Game 3 against Minnesota.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
