Running analysis of Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs

Our hockey writers share their observations and insights throughout Round 2 of the NHL postseason.

Friday, May 15

Ducks on exciting trajectory despite loss

Anaheim's fun run ended at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night in a one-sided affair. The Ducks trailed nearly the entire way, thanks to Mitch Marner's ridiculous tally only 1:02 into the contest.

The disappointment of Game 6 shouldn't take away from what was a fantastic season for the Ducks. Anaheim ended its seven-year playoff drought, dispatched the back-to-back Western Conference champs in Round 1, and pushed the Golden Knights to six. That's a strong start and incredible experience for the Ducks' young core in its first taste of the postseason.

The team arrived earlier than most expected. Leo Carlsson has blossomed into a legit No. 1 center. Beckett Sennecke looks like a stellar pick after being a surprise selection at third overall. Although Jackson LaCombe struggled in the second round, he shut down Connor McDavid in the opening series.

There are a ton of positives to take away from this season. Yes, this loss stings, but the Ducks will be back. This is only the start of their journey.

That's not to say it will be easy. Anaheim general manager Pat Verbeek has work to do with most of the blue line needing new contracts, plus Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier being in line for big paydays.

The Ducks showed they're on an exciting trajectory in the first of what will likely be many trips to the playoffs.

Thursday, May 14

Canadiens have gear Sabres are missing

The Canadiens-Sabres series was billed as a matchup between two inexperienced teams, but after the Habs' Game 5 win, it's clear that Montreal is a step or two ahead of its Atlantic Division counterpart. The Canadiens had an answer for everything Buffalo threw their way Thursday, with Montreal's resilience and maturity the key difference as it sits one win from the Eastern Conference Final.

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The Sabres opened the scoring with an early goal for the third straight game, but the Habs answered within four minutes. Montreal then needed just nine seconds to respond to Buffalo's second goal later in the frame and stuck with goaltender Jakub Dobes despite his rocky start. The Sabres had a chance to take a lead on the man advantage shortly after the Canadiens tied the contest in the second period, but they generated nothing. Montreal jumped out on top four minutes later and scored on both its power-play opportunities afterward to put the game out of reach.

The contest was up for grabs for both clubs until late in the second period, but it was the Canadiens who looked comfortable in the moment, while the Sabres squandered ample opportunities to take control.

Although momentum, coaching decisions, discipline, and clutch plays are all working in Montreal's favor at the moment, we'd be remiss not to mention how effectively the Canadiens are shutting down Buffalo's top players. Veteran center Phillip Danault has put the clamps on Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch, who were each minus-2 in Game 5 and are now minus-9 and minus-8, respectively, for the series. - Sean O'Leary

Loss stings but Wild in terrific shape

Minnesota scored the opening goal in Games 3, 4, and 5 against Colorado. It had a 3-1 lead with about three minutes left in regulation Wednesday. Then the juggernaut Avalanche stormed back to claim the series in five games.

Now, the Wild are doing some soul-searching. Players used the words shock, anger, and frustration in somber post-Game 5 media availabilities. It's a shame we didn't see Minnesota at full strength; No. 1 center Joel Eriksson Ek and top-four defenseman Jonas Brodin were both sidelined due to injury.

The Wild need an alpha dog down the middle. Some combination of Eriksson Ek, Ryan Hartman, Danila Yurov, Nico Sturm, and Michael McCarron (if he re-signs) can fill the 2C, 3C, and 4C spots nicely - no problem there. It's up to general manager Bill Guerin to find a proper 1C. The most likely route is a trade. Guerin's ammunition includes first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, a few interesting prospects, and, perhaps, one of the club's starter-caliber goalies.

Make no mistake, Guerin's aced the hardest part of the roster-building process by acquiring high-end talent. Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Quinn Hughes, and Brock Faber is as good of a four-pack of skaters as any in the NHL. This nucleus is capable of winning a Stanley Cup. All four are back next year, and Hughes, signed through 2026-27, is the only one on a short deal.

Hughes, traded to Minnesota from Vancouver in a December blockbuster, is eligible to sign a new contract on July 1. By all accounts, the elite blue-liner has thoroughly enjoyed his time in Minnesota. Nobody would bat an eye if the U.S. Olympian put pen to paper on a multi-year extension. - John Matisz

Wednesday, May 13

Avalanche are inevitable

The Minnesota Wild were considered a top-three team in the NHL by many, especially after they slayed the Dallas Stars in Round 1. However, they stood virtually no chance against the juggernaut Colorado Avalanche.

"They outplayed us the whole series, plain and simple," defenseman Brock Faber said after Minnesota's season-ending Game 5 loss.

The Avalanche can beat opponents in so many ways. Try to sit back and frustrate them? Colorado can be patient and win low-scoring games, as it did in Round 1 against the Los Angeles Kings. Want to play river hockey and go shot-for-shot? The Avs will likely embarrass you in that setting, too, just like they did in a 9-6 Game 1 victory against Minnesota. Even a perfect first period, like the Wild's 3-0 start in Game 5, doesn't guarantee safety.

This is the deepest iteration of the Avalanche we've seen in the Nathan MacKinnon era - yes, perhaps even deeper than the 2022 Cup-winning squad.

Two of Colorado's goals in Game 5 came from fourth-liners Parker Kelly (who had 21 during the regular season) and Jack Drury. Brett Kulak, who buried the OT winner, became the team's 17th different player to score this postseason in just nine games. He was the 16th different Avs player to score in Round 2, tying a Stanley Cup Playoff record for most in a single series.

But Colorado's star power has also been on full display. MacKinnon's shot to force OT in Game 5 was downright absurd. Martin Necas' set up on Kulak's winner was excellent. The only question mark at this point is Cale Makar's effectiveness after he appeared to injure his shoulder Wednesday. Still, he has ample time to recover with Colorado ending the series early.

It's hard to imagine any team - even the red-hot Vegas Golden Knights or the 8-0 Carolina Hurricanes - beating Colorado four times in a seven-game series. The Presidents' Trophy curse is bound to end sooner or later, and it would be fitting for this Avs team - which we may look back on as an all-time great - to be the ones to do it. - Josh Wegman

Dorofeyev delivering and driving up his price

Pavel Dorofeyev was the first star in Vegas' Game 5 victory Tuesday, thanks to a two-goal performance that included an overtime winner to give the Golden Knights a 3-2 series lead. The team is undoubtedly focused on securing one more victory to reach the Western Conference Final, but one can't help but wonder what Dorofeyev's clutch postseason means for his upcoming contract negotiations.

Dorofeyev, who's a restricted free agent this offseason, has provided incredible value with back-to-back campaigns of 30-plus goals on a $1.835-million salary. His 72 tallies over the past two seasons rank 17th in the NHL, and his 33 power-play markers are tied for second. Dorofeyev has carved out a role as the triggerman for pass-friendly teammates Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel, and he's likely to be paid handsomely for his unique skill set. The 25-year-old is currently tied for the playoff lead with seven goals this spring.

The Golden Knights are projected to have $4.6 million in cap space this summer, per PuckPedia, but they can gain an extra $8.8 million if Alex Pietrangelo can't suit up again next year. AFP Analytics estimates that Dorofeyev could earn up to $8.46 million on a long-term deal and $5.6 million on a short-term agreement. Regardless of the term, Vegas has a major negotiation on its hands this summer, and Dorofeyev is gaining leverage as each game passes. - Sean O'Leary

Tuesday, May 12

Canadiens squander opportunity in Game 4

If the Montreal Canadiens end up losing this series to the Buffalo Sabres, they'll look at Game 4 as a missed opportunity.

The Sabres dominated early before a lengthy double review zapped all their momentum. The first review was to determine if a puck caught by Jakub Dobes crossed the goal line (it did). Then the Canadiens successfully challenged for goalie interference, benefiting from a questionable ruling, to say the least.

Buffalo seemingly tried to gift Montreal a 3-1 series lead with all the penalties it took, but the Canadiens failed to capitalize, going 1-for-7 on the man advantage.

The Sabres, meanwhile, went 2-for-4 on the power play, including Tage Thompson's tying goal off a wild bounce. Perhaps that was the hockey gods correcting the earlier goalie interference call. - Josh Wegman

Sabres turn back to Luukkonen

The Buffalo Sabres are going back to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen after Alex Lyon allowed nine goals in Games 2-3 against the Montreal Canadiens.

The two goaltenders shared the Sabres' crease in the regular season and posted similar numbers. Luukkonen began the playoffs as Buffalo's starter but quickly lost the gig after giving up four goals on 20 shots in Game 2 of its first-round series against the Boston Bruins.

Lyon played exceptionally upon taking over, allowing two or fewer goals in each of his first five starts through Game 1 versus Montreal. But the last two contests have been a struggle for both Lyon and the Sabres overall, and a different look could be just what Buffalo needs to even the series.

The Sabres are also adding rookie Konsta Helenius and veteran Luke Schenn to the lineup in place of Sam Carrick and Logan Stanley. Helenius, the 14th overall pick in 2024, could provide a much-needed spark to their bottom six. - Kyle Cushman

Monday, May 11

Colorado's depth shines in Game 4

The Colorado Avalanche's superior depth proved to be the difference in a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild in Monday's pivotal Game 4.

Ross Colton scored his first goal of the 2026 postseason to give the Avalanche the lead in the third period with a great feed from Nic Roy. Less than three minutes after the Wild tied it, Parker Kelly restored Colorado's advantage with his first goal of the playoffs that stood as the winner. Even Jack Ahcan, a virtually unknown defenseman inserted into the lineup for his first career playoff game, contributed with a pair of crucial blocks during a mad scramble in front of the Avalanche net.

But back to Kelly: he scored 21 goals during the regular season yet still finds himself on the fourth line. That illustrates the abundance of talent Colorado possesses - even while dealing with key absences to forward Artturi Lehkonen and defenseman Sam Malinski.

The same can't be said for the Wild, who sorely miss the presence of No. 1 center Joel Eriksson Ek and shutdown defenseman Jonas Brodin - both injured in Round 1. Eriksson Ek in particular is a huge loss. The Wild's biggest weakness before his injury was their center depth, and now Ryan Hartman and Danila Yurov are completely overmatched centering Minnesota's first and second lines.

On a night where Nathan MacKinnon was held off the scoresheet until his empty-netter, and Cale Makar was held without a point, this was a game Minnesota needed to win. But Colorado's supporting cast had other ideas. - Josh Wegman

Avs' goalie choice sets tone for Game 4

Head coach Jared Bednar wouldn't confirm anything after morning skate, but Colorado appears poised to make a goalie change for Game 4 after Mackenzie Blackwood took starters' reps at practice on Monday. It's a near-unthinkable development after Scott Wedgewood looked like a Conn Smythe favorite in Round 1, but Bednar seems ready to gamble in order to recapture momentum against the Minnesota Wild.

In Round 2, Wedgewood's allowed 11 goals in three starts and was yanked in the Game 3 beatdown that allowed Minnesota to climb back into the series. The Avalanche used a tandem system in goal en route to the Presidents' Trophy, and Bednar suggested Monday that Wedgewood may be out of gas.

"He's done a great job when he's gone in the net and played for us," Bednar said, per The Athletic's Peter Baugh. "Some of them are small stretches, and some are a little larger. But I think for a guy that's not used to going every night, (with) the mental stress of a playoff series or two playoff series, it can be beneficial to give him a break and kind of reset."

Whether or not the Avalanche's genuine aim is simply getting Wedgewood some rest, the Wild must feel confident after forcing a significant lineup change on the heels of their dominant victory. Blackwood hasn't started a game since April 14, and you don't need to look far to find an example of a goalie switch backfiring: The Wild turned to Filip Gustavsson in Game 2. He allowed four goals in a loss before handing the crease back to Jesper Wallstedt for Game 3. - Sean O'Leary

Sunday, May 10

Ducks' lineup shuffle pays dividends

Ducks coach Joel Quenneville made three lineup changes ahead of Sunday's Game 4 against the Golden Knights. Each of them worked out splendidly.

Ian Moore, a defenseman who sometimes plays the wing for the Ducks, took captain Radko Gudas' spot on the third defense pairing. The 24-year-old may be limited offensively but his point shot early in the third period proved to be the eventual winner. The Ducks took Game 4, 4-3, to even the series 2-2.

Olen Zellweger, Moore's partner, picked up an assist in his first game since April 7. He was solid in 11:52, blocking a game-high three shots. Amazingly, Zellweger's the 15th Ducks player to make his playoff debut this postseason.

Mason McTavish, a member of the Ducks' long-term core, was scratched in Games 2 and 3. The winger responded with a team-high four scoring chances, per Natural Stat Trick. Anaheim dominated Vegas in his eight five-on-five minutes: 16-4 shot attempts, 10-1 shots on goal. - John Matisz

Dobes not backing down from anything

Jakub Dobes is officially one of the main characters of these NHL playoffs.

The 24-year-old goalie stopped 26 of 28 shots Sunday in Montreal's commanding 6-2 victory over Buffalo. Dobes, a rookie playing his 10th playoff game, saved 1.54 goals above expected, according to HockeyStats.com, to outduel counterpart Alex Lyon. The Canadiens now hold a 2-1 series lead.

Dobes' .918 postseason save percentage is impressive and noteworthy. But what really separates the Czechia kid at this very moment is an unmistakable fiery side. Dobes jawed at Sabres skaters all night, aggressively pushed them out of the way when they entered his crease, and refused to lose focus after Buffalo forward Beck Malenstyn ran him over in a contentious second period.

Dobes celebrated Montreal's goals exuberantly from the other end of the ice. Late in the third period, he cracked a wide smile during a stoppage in play while watching the center-ice video screen, which was showing a Habs fan holding a sign that read "DOBES" instead of "STOP." The Bell Centre erupted.

"I'm just a goofy goalie who tries to stop pucks, and trust me, I don't call myself a hero," Dobes told reporters postgame when asked about his cult status in Montreal. "I pretty much will go home, eat, watch Game of Thrones, and go to bed."

Other key developments for Montreal: Cole Caufield scored his first goal in six games despite squandering a few golden opportunities early in Game 3, and Alex Newhook scored twice for the second consecutive game. - John Matisz

Sabres in trouble if Thompson's cooked

Buffalo's most dangerous forward is presumably hurt. Tage Thompson, No. 1 center and lead sniper, has been uncharacteristically fumbling pucks in recent games, managed just one shot on goal in the first two contests of Round 2, and last scored three weeks ago in Game 1 against Boston.

Expect the man nicknamed "TNT" to be booed every time he touches the puck during Sunday's Game 3 in Montreal. The Bell Centre crowd, educated and deafeningly loud, knows its role in the hotly contested, 1-1 series.

Most concerningly, Thompson is the primary shooting option of a first power-play unit that's gone mystifyingly cold. The Sabres have converted on three of 33 PP opportunities through eight playoff games to sit last in PP% among remaining teams. The first unit has accounted for only one goal.

Coach Lindy Ruff shuffled the units in Saturday's practice, with youngsters Zach Benson, Josh Doan, and Jack Quinn joining Thompson and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin on PP1. Props to Ruff for trying something different.

Now, it's not as if Thompson has been unnoticeable in the postseason. He's getting plenty of looks at even strength and (occasionally) on the power play. He ranks first among Sabres in slot shots, and second in shot attempts, shots on goal, and inner-slot shots, according to Sportlogiq. - John Matisz

Stone's Game 4 status looms large

Golden Knights captain Mark Stone left in the first period of Friday's Game 3 against the Ducks with an apparent leg or groin injury. He reappeared in the second frame to test his skating during a TV timeout but never took a shift.

Vegas head coach John Tortorella didn't provide an update on Stone in his postgame media availability and the Golden Knights were off Saturday. It's unclear if the star two-way winger will dress for Sunday's Game 4.

Stone, who turns 34 on Wednesday, is one of his generation's best defensive forwards and easily a top three forward on Vegas. An eight-time 60-point player, he's integral to the Knights' success at even strength, and on both special teams. He's also known to be the emotional leader of a group that won the 2023 Stanley Cup.

Anaheim's no pushover. Losing Stone would be a significant blow to Vegas, which has a tenuous 2-1 lead in the second-round series. Reilly Smith and Brandon Saad would be options to replace him in the lineup.

Stone's missed huge chunks of time in the second half of his 14-year career, most notably having to undergo multiple back surgeries. - John Matisz

Saturday, May 9

Wild send firm message to Avs

The win itself is the most valuable part of the Wild's 5-1 victory Saturday.

Of course.

Yet the manner in which Minnesota won Game 3 versus the Presidents' Trophy-winning Avalanche can't be glossed over. Led by its top guns, the Wild dictated play from puck drop to final buzzer, proving to themselves and Colorado that this star-studded series can be lopsided in either direction.

The Wild, who lost Game 1 9-6 and Game 2 5-2, chased Avs starter Scott Wedgewood early in Saturday's second period. Midway through the third, Minnesota put Wedgewood's partner, Mackenzie Blackwood, and five Avs skaters in a spin cycle by maintaining offensive zone time for 1:34 straight.

Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Brock Faber, and Quinn Hughes were buzzing all night. The four-pack of smart, crafty, and mobile Wild studs delighted the home crowd with exhilarating sequences and also marked up the scoresheet.

Bending the flow of play to his whim every shift, Hughes displayed next-level edge work and shot-making ability on what ended up being the winning goal.

Kaprizov, winner of countless puck battles, bagged a gorgeous goal off the rush to open the scoring, then added two assists. Faber, so confident right now, earned three points as well in a game-high 29:39. Boldy, a puck protection wizard, scored the empty-netter off a team-high five shots.

Jesper Wallstedt was exceptional in his return to the Wild net, saving 2.91 goals above expected, according to Natural Stat Trick. - John Matisz

Canes completely outclass Flyers

Philadelphia, the significantly less-talented and less-experienced team, ends up dealing with injuries to multiple key players. Carolina, a deep, in-your-face team with high standards, lives up to its reputation as a well-oiled machine.

Translation: the Hurricanes' 4-0 series victory wasn't the least bit shocking.

Let's be honest, the Flyers never had a chance against the Hurricanes. Not heading into the Round 2 matchup nor at any point during the four-game series. Carolina outclassed them every step of the way - collecting 62% of the shot attempts, 60% of the shots on goal, and 59% of the expected goals - before completing the sweep Saturday night with a 3-2 overtime victory.

The Hurricanes are off to the Eastern Conference Final for the third time in the last four years, making history as the first team to start a postseason 8-0 since the 1985 Oilers. The franchise last competed in the Stanley Cup Final way back in 2006.

All that said, it's not all doom and gloom for Philly.

The roster's far from a finished product, so just making the 2026 playoffs counted as a massive positive. Rick Tocchet taught his players how to defend as a unit over his first season behind the bench, and they can carry that forward.

On an individual level, 2025 first-round pick Porter Martone was fantastic all postseason, which is a huge development for a Flyers team desperate for needle-moving players. Meanwhile, 2023 first-rounder Matvei Michkov was invisible in eight playoff games and watched Philadelphia get eliminated from the press box. Is Michkov due for a change of scenery? - John Matisz

Wild goalie needs to steal game - and quick

Down 2-0, Minnesota head coach John Hynes has a key decision to make ahead of Saturday's Game 3 versus Colorado. Hynes is returning to Game 1 starter Jesper Wallstedt over giving Filip Gustavsson his second straight start. The high-upside rookie draws back in over the 27-year-old with a five-year extension that kicks in next season.

Now, Wallstedt might need to steal a game. It's time Minnesota got at least one notable performance between the pipes.

Sportlogiq tracks a "steal" metric for goalies. A netminder earns a steal if its single-game goals saved above expected value exceeds the difference in the final score - for instance, 1.3 GSAE in a 3-2 victory. Tuesday's Game 2 loss to the Avalanche was Gustavsson's only appearance in the playoffs, while Wallstedt's recorded just one steal in seven appearances (Game 4 vs. Dallas).

Colorado's Scott Wedgewood, Carolina's Frederik Andersen, Montreal's Jakub Dobes, and Vegas' Carter Hart have all earned multiple steals.

Goalies are often showered with an outsized portion of the praise after a win and burdened with too much blame following a loss. That's the nature of the position. But it's also true that teams need their goalie to bail them out every once in a while. Saturday is one of those times for the Wild. - John Matisz

Colorado and Carolina flirting with history

The Avalanche and Hurricanes finished atop their respective conferences with regular-season point totals of 121 and 113. Neither squad's let up through four weeks of playoff hockey and together could make history this weekend.

Carolina enters Saturday's Game 4 against Philadelphia with the rare chance to sweep two series to start a playoff run. Colorado's a game behind but also rocking a perfect record, with Game 3 versus Minnesota also set for Saturday.

How unique is this scenario? No playoff team has started 8-0 since the NHL adopted the best-of-seven format for all four rounds of its postseason in 1987. (Four teams, including the Jean Beliveau-led 1960 Canadiens and Wayne Gretzky-led 1985 Oilers, started 8-0 or better prior to the change.)

How many times have two clubs started 7-0 or better? Never. - John Matisz

Habs are the bounce-back kings

The Canadiens are a young team, but their maturity and resilience has been on full display in the playoffs. Martin St. Louis' crew improved to 4-0 following a loss these playoffs with Friday's victory over Buffalo, and the Habs have to be confident heading home after that performance. Montreal jumped out to a 2-0 lead less than five minutes in, and controlled 69.7% of expected goals at even strength.

Montreal's bounce-back ability dates back to the stretch run of the regular season, as it hasn't lost back-to-back games since March 14-15.

Whether it's goalie Jakub Dobes standing tall, or the entire team in front of him tightening up defensively, the Canadiens have found a way to limit goals against and steal momentum from their opponents. Montreal's given up two goals or fewer in each of its bounce-back wins this postseason, and the young club appears to be feeding off the experience it's gaining in real time.

"It's built over time," captain Nick Suzuki said after Game 2. "There's not one specific moment where it's like, 'Oh yeah, we're really good.' We lost a lot, then we had to learn what it takes to win, and that journey leads to where we are right now and the confidence that we have in our game plan and in each other."

All that said, the Canadiens have yet to win back-to-back games in these playoffs. That will be the next test for this group against a Sabres squad that's also consistently found ways to answer adversity this spring. - Sean O'Leary

Friday, May 8

Prolific Marner, Vegas dismantle Ducks

Mitch Marner, clutch playoff performer.

The above sentence has a nice ring to it if you cheer for the Golden Knights.

It might make Maple Leafs fans vomit.

Marner, the poster boy for playoff failures during his nine-year tenure in Toronto, dazzled for his new team Friday. The first-year Knight recorded a natural hat trick and added a primary assist in a game-high 23 minutes of action. Vegas' 6-2 Game 3 win gives them a 2-1 series lead over the Ducks.

Marner has already doubled his career high for goals in a single playoff run (three in 2022-23, six in 2025-26) despite competing in just nine games.

"He's confident," Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella told reporters following Friday's dismantling of the Ducks, per Jesse Granger of The Athletic. "People give him shit about the playoffs, and this, and that. I don't think it bothers him a lick."

Marner had previously picked up two points in a playoff game nine different times. He'd grabbed three points on four different occasions. But Game 3 was the 29-year-old's first four-point effort, and he impressively managed to produce at five-on-five, five-on-four, and four-on-five against Anaheim.

Labeled a playoff choker in the past, Marner leads all playoff skaters with 13 points. The Leafs, meanwhile, very well could pick Gavin McKenna first in June's draft after winning Tuesday's lottery. Strange times. - John Matisz

Canadiens' faceoff men silence Sabres

The Canadiens are headed to Montreal tied 1-1 with Buffalo. It's a solid result given that the rowdy Bell Centre should provide an edge in Sunday's Game 3.

Rookie Jakub Dobes has been excellent between the pipes, stopping 39 of 44 shots across two games. Five of Montreal's seven goals have come from unlikely sources in Alex Newhook (two tallies in a 5-1 Game 2 victory), Kirby Dach, Mike Matheson, and Alexandre Carrier. What also sticks out about the Habs' start is the degree to which they've dominated in the faceoff circle.

I'm not talking about a random neutral zone faceoff five minutes into the second period here. No, the Habs are consistently owning the Sabres in high-leverage situations, winning 10 of 14 defensive-zone draws while down a man. These faceoff wins have led to Canadiens penalty killers icing the puck and shaving valuable time off the power-play ticker. At one point Friday, the Habs had won a stunning seven of eight D-zone draws while shorthanded.

Jake Evans, Montreal's best faceoff guy, is now six for 10 in those situations.

The Sabres' power play has been largely ineffective since the start of April, though it did score twice in Game 1 against Montreal. In Game 2, Buffalo rarely entered the offensive zone cleanly and, when they did enter, rarely found a rhythm upon setting up. Much of the Sabres' PP issues are specific to them. Still, the Canadiens' faceoff men deserve some credit. - John Matisz

Sabres' Benson blossoming into Tkachuk 2.0

Zach Benson's been a nuisance on and off the ice ever since he was a "young lad." The Sabres winger grew up trying to outscore (and annoy) his older brother during daily mini-stick battles at the Benson home in British Columbia.

The younger brother rarely tired and the smile on his face rarely left.

"I literally didn't run out of energy," Benson told theScore back in October.

Benson heads into Friday's Game 2 against Montreal with five points and a 63% expected goals rate in seven playoff contests. He's become one of the postseason's breakout stars for two main reasons: his savvy two-way game suggests he's 30 when in reality he turns just 21 next week, and he's a rat.

Benson has put plenty of thought into his place in the league, having studied three smart and small-ish Atlantic Division forwards in Brad Marchand, Matthew Tkachuk, and Brayden Point. Tkachuk's skill set and feel for the game overlap nicely with Benson's assets. Both are high-impact wingers who combine agitation with strong wall play and crafty goal-line playmaking.

"You have to pick your spots on the physicality and chirping side of things," Benson said of what he's learned in the early stages of his career. "That could be you going out of your way to hit a guy, or actually not running after him to save your energy and try to make a play on the offensive side of the game."

He added, "For me, I'm taking a guy who thinks the game at an elite level over a guy who can skate like the wind down the wing. Tkachuk's a prime example. He's a gamer. Always makes an impact. Guys like him win Cups."

The Sabres aren't even halfway to the Stanley Cup Final. But if they manage to make an appearance, Benson will surely be front and center. - John Matisz

Sky's the limit for Ducks' Carlsson

Leo Carlsson is a top 10 center on the planet - a superstar at 21 years old.

The Ducks franchise cornerstone earned that status months ago, having levelled up substantially year over year. But the Swede's only now starting to receive the kind of universal love he deserves; such is life for a small-market player who missed out on a prominent role at the Olympics because of injury.

Carlsson, the No. 2 pick in the 2023 draft, has evolved into the full package for the emergent Ducks. A dual threat offensively and stingy defensively, he offers a wondrous combination of size, agility, hockey sense, puck skills, and poise. Former NHL defenseman-turned-analyst Alec Martinez recently compared Carlsson to prime Anze Kopitar, which I think is fair. I'd go a step further and predict prime Carlsson will rack up points at a much higher clip.

Carlsson's notched four goals and five assists in his first eight playoff games, with the ninth set for Friday night as the 1-1 Ducks-Golden Knights series shifts to Anaheim. Among all postseason skaters, he ranks fifth in expected goals per game (0.60), fourth in scoring chances off the rush per game (1.38), tied for fourth in slot shots per game (2.50), and tied for ninth in slot passes per game (2.38), according to Sportlogiq. Superstar stuff. - John Matisz

Past analysis

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