Samwise NHL & Hockey Newsletter
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Kopitar’s 20-Year Kings Career Ends in Cheers and Tears After Avalanche Sweep
Anze Kopitar closed out a 20-year NHL career with the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday after Colorado completed a first-round sweep with a 5–1 Game 4 victory at Crypto.com Arena. The 38-year-old center, who announced before the season that 2025–26 would be his final year, retires as the Kings’ all-time points leader with 1,316 career points in 1,521 games. Kopitar won two Stanley Cups with Los Angeles in 2012 and 2014 and earned two Selke Trophies as the league’s best defensive forward. Teammates circled him at game’s end, tapping sticks in honor, as the Crypto.com crowd rose for a lengthy standing ovation.
Sources: NHL.com
Kris Letang’s Late Redirect Lifts Penguins in Game 5, Forces Flyers to Game 6
The Pittsburgh Penguins staved off elimination for the second consecutive game Monday, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 3–2 to cut the series deficit to 3–2. Elmer Soderblom opened scoring 2:45 into the game, and Connor Dewar doubled the lead early in the second period. Philadelphia rallied with goals from Alex Bump and Travis Sanheim to tie the game, but Kris Letang’s shot ricocheted off the back wall and snuck past goalie Dan Vladar to give Pittsburgh a 3–2 lead it would not relinquish. Game 6 returns to Philadelphia, where the Flyers will try to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Wednesday.
Sources: NHL.com
Theodore’s OT Blast Saves Golden Knights After Utah’s Three-Goal Surge
The Vegas Golden Knights trailed the Utah Mammoth 4–3 entering the final period Monday before roaring back to win 5–4 in overtime at Delta Center, tying their Western Conference First Round series at two games apiece. Shea Theodore delivered the winner at 19:08 of overtime, but the evening also included a controversial sequence when the Knights’ first overtime goal was overturned on an offsides review. Utah had turned a 3–1 deficit into a 4–3 lead with three goals in roughly four minutes midway through the game, including two in 30 seconds. The series now returns to Las Vegas for Game 5.
Sources: NHL.com
Ducks’ Poehling Wins Disputed OT Review to Push Oilers to Brink of Elimination
Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Poehling scored at 2:29 of overtime Sunday to give the Ducks a 4–3 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4 of the Western Conference First Round, putting the Ducks up 3–1 in the series. The goal stood following an extensive video review after the puck appeared to deflect off an Edmonton skate before barely crossing the goal line under goalie Tristan Jarry. Connor McDavid acknowledged the Oilers must now win four straight to advance, calling the goal “not exactly an oil painting” while crediting the Ducks for their persistence. Game 5 is Tuesday night in Edmonton.
Sources: TSN
Hall, Andersen Lead Dominant Hurricanes into Second Round While Flyers–Penguins Concludes
The Carolina Hurricanes are waiting in the Eastern Conference Semifinals after sweeping the Ottawa Senators 4–0, with goaltender Frederik Andersen posting a .955 save percentage and 1.10 goals-against average across four starts. Forward Taylor Hall led Carolina with seven points in the opening round. The Hurricanes, the Metropolitan Division’s top seed, will face either the Philadelphia Flyers or Pittsburgh Penguins next, with that series extended to a Game 6 after Pittsburgh’s 3–2 comeback victory Monday. Carolina will hold home-ice advantage against either opponent. The Hurricanes are the first team in the 2026 playoffs to advance to the second round.
Sources: NHL.com
Hintz “Still a Ways Away” as Stars and Wild Prepare for Pivotal Game 5
Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz, sidelined since sustaining a lower-body injury on March 6, is unlikely to return for Tuesday’s Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild at American Airlines Center, coach Glen Gulutzan confirmed. Gulutzan said the first-line center suffered a setback that prevented him from resuming on-ice work until this week and is now skating on his own in Dallas. The Wild themselves are dealing with the absence of forward Mats Zuccarello, who also missed Games 3 and 4. Dallas and Minnesota enter Game 5 with the series tied 2–2 after Matt Boldy scored in overtime Saturday to force the game back to Dallas.
Sources: NHL.com
Sabres’ Kozak and Zucker Expected Back for Game 5 After Early Exits in 6–1 Blowout
Buffalo Sabres forwards Tyson Kozak and Jason Zucker exited Saturday’s dominant 6–1 Game 4 win over the Boston Bruins but are expected to be available for Tuesday night’s potential series-clinching game at KeyBank Center. Coach Lindy Ruff said both exits were precautionary given the substantial lead, noting each player could have returned had the game remained competitive. Kozak, 22, and the veteran Zucker, 35, avoided serious injury, according to the team’s official transaction report. Buffalo holds a 3–1 series lead and can clinch a berth in the second round with a home victory on Tuesday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Sources: NHL.com
Stanley Cup Playoffs — First Round
Eastern Conference
Sabres vs. Bruins — Sabres lead 3–1 (Game 5 tonight)
Canadiens vs. Lightning — Series tied 2–2
Hurricanes vs. Senators — Hurricanes win 4–0 ✓
Flyers vs. Penguins — Flyers lead 3–2
Western Conference
Avalanche vs. Kings — Avalanche win 4–0 ✓
Stars vs. Wild — Series tied 2–2 (Game 5 tonight)
Golden Knights vs. Mammoth — Series tied 2–2
Ducks vs. Oilers — Ducks lead 3–1 (Game 5 tonight)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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