Samwise NHL & Hockey Newsletter
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Marner’s Natural Hat Trick Propels Golden Knights Past Ducks, 6–2, in Game 3
Mitch Marner recorded the first hat trick of his Stanley Cup Playoffs career — all three goals coming naturally within the first two periods — and added an assist as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Anaheim Ducks 6–2 in Game 3 of their Western Conference Second Round series Friday at Honda Center. Marner’s four-point night set a new NHL postseason personal high. Shea Theodore and Brett Howden each added a goal and an assist, while Carter Hart made 31 saves. Vegas leads the best-of-seven 2–1. Beckett Sennecke and Chris Kreider scored for Anaheim, who hosted their first home postseason game since 2017.
Sources: NHL.com
Newhook Scores Twice as Canadiens Rout Sabres 5–1, Level Series at 1–1
Alex Newhook scored twice and the Montreal Canadiens cruised to a 5–1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Second Round series Friday at KeyBank Center, evening the best-of-seven at 1–1. Newhook gave Montreal a 1–0 lead just 1:36 into the game, redirecting a Kaiden Guhle shot, then added a second goal in the second period on the rush immediately after a Sabres power play expired to make it 3–0. Mike Matheson, Alexandre Carrier, and Nick Suzuki — with an empty-netter — also scored for Montreal. Jakub Dobes made 29 saves. Alex Lyon stopped 23 shots for Buffalo.
Sources: NHL.com
Hurricanes Defeat Flyers in Game 3, Take Commanding 3–0 Series Lead
The Carolina Hurricanes moved within one win of the Eastern Conference Final, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 4–1 in Game 3 of their second-round series Thursday at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Jordan Staal and Andrei Svechnikov each scored a goal and added an assist for Carolina, with Jalen Chatfield and Nikolaj Ehlers also finding the net. Special teams played a decisive role: the Hurricanes converted two of nine power plays and added a short-handed goal, while the Flyers went scoreless on five chances. Frederik Andersen made 18 saves to extend his unbeaten postseason record. Trevor Zegras scored for Philadelphia, and Dan Vladar made 26 saves.
Sources: NHL.com
Golden Knights Captain Mark Stone Exits Game 3 With Upper-Body Injury
Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone left Game 3 against the Anaheim Ducks in the first period Friday with an upper-body injury, casting a shadow over the team’s 6–2 victory at Honda Center. Stone briefly returned to the bench early in the second period before heading to the locker room for the remainder of the contest. He registered an assist in his limited ice time. Stone has been a critical contributor in Vegas’s 2026 playoff run, and coach Bruce Cassidy had not confirmed his availability for the next game in the series. The Golden Knights lead the series 2–1.
Sources: NHL.com
Flyers’ Power Play Futility Puts Them on Brink of Elimination by Hurricanes
The Philadelphia Flyers’ power play has become the defining failure of their Eastern Conference Second Round series against the Carolina Hurricanes. Through three games, the Flyers are 1-for-16 on the man advantage — worse than their last-place 15.7 percent efficiency from the regular season. In Game 3, Philadelphia generated just three shots on five power plays and surrendered a short-handed goal that served as the game-winner in a 4–1 defeat. Carolina’s penalty kill has allowed just one goal in 21 short-handed situations throughout the entire postseason. The Hurricanes lead 3–0 and can complete the sweep in Saturday’s Game 4 in Philadelphia.
Sources: NHL.com
Oilers Scout Goalie Trade Targets; Sharks Weigh Dealing No. 2 Draft Pick
The Edmonton Oilers are scouting goaltending trade targets for the offseason after Tristan Jarry failed to stabilize the crease following his December acquisition from Pittsburgh. According to insider Bob Stauffer, Edmonton could target a young goalie from a team with surplus depth — the Detroit Red Wings, who carry prospects Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine, were cited as one potential source. Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks, holding the second overall pick in the June 26 draft at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, are reportedly open to trading that selection, per The Mercury News. Penn State’s Gavin McKenna and Swede Ivar Stenberg are the class’s consensus top two prospects.
Sources: The Hockey News
Wild Face Critical Game 3 as Avalanche Eye 3–0 Series Dominance
The Minnesota Wild enter Game 3 of their Western Conference Second Round series against the Colorado Avalanche trailing 2–0 and staring down a historically unforgiving deficit — no NHL team has ever recovered from going down 3–0 in a best-of-seven. Colorado outscored Minnesota 14–8 in the opening two games, with Nathan MacKinnon recording six points and Cale Makar tallying two goals and four assists. NHL Network analyst Guy Boucher suggested the Wild’s three days of rest between Games 2 and 3 could be a factor, with injured center Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin potentially available to return at Xcel Energy Center.
Sources: NHL.com
Stanley Cup Playoffs — Second Round
Eastern Conference
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Philadelphia Flyers — Carolina leads 3–0
Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres — Series tied 1–1
Western Conference
Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild — Colorado leads 2–0
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Anaheim Ducks — Vegas leads 2–1
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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