Samwise NHL & Hockey Newsletter
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Sabres Down Canadiens 4-2 in Eastern Second Round Opener
The Buffalo Sabres opened the Eastern Conference Second Round with a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens at KeyBank Center on Wednesday evening. Josh Doan and Ryan McLeod each contributed a goal and an assist to power Buffalo’s attack, while goaltender Alex Lyon turned aside 26 shots. Nick Suzuki and Kirby Dach replied for Montreal, and Jakub Dobes allowed four goals on 30 shots in net for the Canadiens. Buffalo, which eliminated the Boston Bruins in six games during the first round, now leads the best-of-seven series one game to none. Game 2 is set for Friday, May 8, in Buffalo.
Sources: NHL.com
Sennecke and Carlsson Power Ducks Past Golden Knights to Even Series
The Anaheim Ducks evened their Western Conference Second Round series at one game apiece with a 3-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday. Beckett Sennecke, Leo Carlsson, and Jansen Harkins scored for Anaheim, while goaltender Lukas Dostal stopped 23 of 24 shots. Mark Stone scored a late power-play goal for Vegas to avoid a shutout. The Golden Knights had taken Game 1 by a 3-1 margin on Sunday. Game 3 shifts to Honda Center in Anaheim on Friday, May 8, with the series now deadlocked and momentum swinging toward the young Ducks.
Sources: Boston Globe
Hurricanes Arrive at Game 3 Riding a Six-Game Playoff Winning Streak
The Carolina Hurricanes head to Philadelphia on Thursday for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Second Round carrying a six-game winning streak and a 2-0 series lead over the Flyers. Carolina won Game 1 on Logan Stankoven’s two goals and a 19-save shutout by Frederik Andersen, then rallied from two goals down before Taylor Hall scored in overtime to take Game 2. The Hurricanes have become only the seventh team since 2000 to open a postseason with six consecutive wins. A victory tonight at Xfinity Mobile Arena would tie the franchise’s longest postseason winning streak in club history at seven games.
Sources: NHL.com / Carolina Hurricanes
Colorado Avalanche Cruise to 8-0 Playoff Record, Lead Wild 2-0
The Colorado Avalanche have been the most dominant team of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, winning all eight games to date and taking a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Minnesota Wild in the Western Conference Second Round. Colorado won Game 1 in a high-scoring 9-6 contest on May 3, then followed with a 5-2 victory on May 5 in which Nathan MacKinnon recorded three points and passed Peter Forsberg for sole second place on the franchise’s all-time playoff goals list with his 59th career marker. The series shifts to St. Paul for Game 3 on Saturday.
Sources: ESPN
Flyers Lose Cates for Rest of Second Round to Lower-Body Injury
Philadelphia Flyers center Noah Cates has been ruled out for the remainder of the Eastern Conference Second Round after sustaining a lower-body injury in Game 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday. Cates left the game having played 20 minutes and 53 seconds, including 3:23 of overtime before Carolina’s Taylor Hall ended the contest. The forward had contributed four points in eight playoff games this season and was the only Philadelphia forward to average more than two minutes per game on both the power play and penalty kill. The injury is a significant blow to a Flyers team already trailing 0-2 in the series.
Sources: NHL.com
Flyers Recall 19-Year-Old Luchanko from OHL to Bolster Playoff Roster
The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled 19-year-old center Jett Luchanko from his junior club in the Ontario Hockey League ahead of Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. Luchanko, a first-round pick in 2024, spent part of this season with the Flyers before being returned to the OHL without recording a point in four games. He then posted 43 points across 38 regular-season games with Brantford and Guelph in the OHL, adding seven points in 15 playoff games before his junior season ended Monday. The recall comes as Philadelphia deals with key injuries heading into a must-win Game 3.
Sources: The Hockey News
Höglander Ruled Out of IIHF World Championship After Pre-Tournament Injury
Vancouver Canucks forward Nils Höglander will miss the 2026 IIHF World Championship after suffering an injury during Sweden’s pre-tournament preparation. Höglander was hurt while Sweden defeated Switzerland 8-1 at the Fortuna Hockey Games, a preparatory tournament held ahead of the World Championship opening May 15 in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland. Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond has been named as his replacement on the Swedish national team roster. The tournament will run until May 31 and feature 16 nations competing across the group stage and knockout rounds. Sweden is among the medal favorites at the annual event.
Sources: The Hockey News
McKenna to Skip World Championship, Focus on Upcoming NHL Draft Combine
Gavin McKenna, the projected first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, will not participate in the IIHF World Championship in Switzerland this spring, choosing instead to focus his preparation on the NHL Draft Combine. The decision was reached between McKenna’s representatives and Hockey Canada following the Toronto Maple Leafs’ victory at the May 5 NHL Draft Lottery, which gives them the right to select first overall in Buffalo on June 26. McKenna, 18, recorded 51 points in 35 games at Penn State this season and won Big Ten Freshman of the Year honours. The 2026 Draft is scheduled for June 26-27.
Sources: TSN
Stanley Cup Playoffs — Second Round
Eastern Conference
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Philadelphia Flyers — Hurricanes lead 2–0
Buffalo Sabres vs. Montréal Canadiens — Sabres lead 1–0
Western Conference
Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild — Avalanche lead 2–0
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Anaheim Ducks — Series tied 1–1
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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