Solely one of many two undefeated playoff groups coming into Saturday’s video games remains to be undefeated. The nonetheless undefeated staff is off to the following spherical, whereas the now not undefeated staff seems to be going through its first true check of the playoffs.
Carolina 3, Philadelphia 2, OT (Hurricanes win collection 4-0)
The Carolina Hurricanes are nonetheless undefeated within the playoffs. Jackson Blake‘s recreation winner simply over 5 minutes into time beyond regulation despatched the Canes to the Jap Convention Last, the place they may await a winner between Montreal and Buffalo.
This was Blake’s second purpose and third level of the sport, as his line with Taylor Corridor and Logan Stankoven did all the harm once more. Corridor completed with three assists, whereas Stankoven scored the opposite purpose. Blake has established himself as an excellent sleeper in playoff swimming pools with 11 factors in eight video games, just one level behind Corridor for the staff lead. Stankoven leads the Canes with seven objectives. Getting extra offense from the likes of Sebastian Aho (4 PTS in 8 GP), Nikolaj Ehlers (4 PTS in 7 GP), Seth Jarvis (1 G and three A in 8 GP), and Andrei Svechnikov (1 G and a pair of A in 8 GP) ought to turn into extra of a precedence within the convention ultimate.
The Canes outshot the Flyers 40-17 within the 65-minute recreation, which meant that Frederik Andersen did not qualify for a top quality begin in permitting two objectives. Andersen had high quality begins in all of his earlier seven playoff video games. Andersen has not allowed greater than two objectives in any of the eight video games within the collection. The 36-year-old Andersen will profit from one other break of at the least one week with the Sabres and Canadiens set to play at the least three extra video games. The Hurricanes should be thought of favorites in opposition to both of these groups at this level, though they’re a mixed 1-8 in two latest journeys to the convention ultimate.
Tyson Foerster and Alex Bump scored the Flyers’ objectives. Dan Vladar made 37 saves in preserving the Flyers on this recreation. Vladar additionally posted a top quality begin in Recreation 2, however he had allowed at the least three objectives in each recreation of this collection. That is not his fault, because the Hurricanes had been unquestionably the higher staff on this collection.
Matvei Michkov was a wholesome scratch for this recreation, as he was held and not using a level over the primary three video games of the collection. Jett Luchanko entered the Flyers’ lineup in his place. I’ve already been by Michkov’s scenario with Rick Tocchet and the Flyers. Tocchet’s emphasis on low-event hockey (simply take a look at the shot whole of this recreation and others within the collection) does not work properly for a extra artistic participant like Michkov. By the best way, Michkov led the Flyers in scoring after the Olympic break with 22 factors in 26 video games.
By way of the larger image, Tocchet deserves compliments for the Flyers’ efficiency this season. On paper, I did not suppose this was a staff that might make the playoffs, not to mention get to the second spherical. Tocchet acquired all that he might out of this roster.
Minnesota 5, Colorado 1 (Avalanche lead collection 2-1)
This Central Division showdown appears like will probably be a collection in spite of everything. Brock Faber and Kirill Kaprizov every scored a purpose together with two assists, whereas Quinn Hughes additionally scored with an help. Ryan Hartman and Matt Boldy scored the Wild’s different objectives.
Kaprizov’s three-point recreation vaulted him into the playoff scoring lead with 14 factors (4 G, 10 A). Hughes is now proper behind him, tied for second in scoring with 13 factors (4 G, 9 A). Whether or not the Wild make it out of this collection or not, those that have rostered Kaprizov, Hughes, Boldy, and Faber have gotten nice mileage out of them. All 4 of those gamers are producing at the least some extent per recreation whereas showing in each playoff recreation.
After permitting eight objectives in Recreation 1 and being benched in favor of Filip Gustavsson for Recreation 2, Jesper Wallstedt was again between the pipes for Recreation 3. Wallstedt rebounded after which some, permitting only one purpose on 35 photographs. Maybe a reset was wanted to get his recreation again on monitor. For extra on Wallstedt, see this week’s The Journey.
Nathan MacKinnon scored Colorado’s solely purpose, giving him objectives in 4 consecutive video games and 10 factors over that span. Nate Dogg has additionally taken at the least 4 photographs in every of these 4 video games. He’s solely behind Kaprizov and Hughes in playoff scoring as a result of he has performed two fewer video games.
Scott Wedgewood was pulled after permitting three objectives on simply 12 photographs. Wedgewood was changed by Mackenzie Blackwood, who appeared within the playoffs for the primary time. Blackwood allowed one purpose on 13 photographs. Wedgewood was the superior goalie in the course of the common season and thus deserved to begin the primary recreation of the playoffs, however he has had two actually dangerous begins on this collection (Video games 1 and three). Which means the Avs should be critically contemplating turning to Blackwood for Recreation 4 as they hope the collection does not turn into a best-of-3 for Recreation 5.
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Yesterday I listed and mentioned three gamers that I drafted in my fantasy leagues this previous season. Listed here are three extra. The primary quantity for every participant reveals what decide was used on the participant in my league, whereas the second quantity is the participant’s Yahoo rating for the yr.
Adam Fantilli (174, 98)
Once I posted my outcomes from one in all my drafts, I obtained extra compliments on X from choosing Fantilli than another participant. Had been the kudos warranted? I would not say he was the sleeper of the yr, however at age 21 and having simply completed his third NHL season, Fantilli is making clear development.
One robust indicator is the truth that his shot quantity elevated from 2.3 SOG/GP in 2024-25 to 2.6 SOG/GP in 2025-26. His purpose whole did lower from 32 objectives final season to 24 objectives this season, however that was associated to a capturing share that fell from 16.7% to 11.3%.
Energy-play time was the one principal concern for Fantilli, which was additionally introduced up as a reply to those that had been praising Fantilli. That point elevated from the primary quarter to the fourth quarter, whereas Fantilli’s power-play manufacturing additionally step by step elevated by quarter (1, 3, 4, 5 PPP). Midseason teaching substitute Rick Bowness realized that Sean Monahan wasn’t the reply on the highest energy play, changing him with Fantilli. Energy-play time helped Fantilli common almost 19 minutes per recreation, which is a excessive degree for a 21-year-old.
With a career-high 59 factors in 2025-26, Fantilli was Columbus’ second-highest scoring ahead. He was notably robust after the Olympic break, recording 23 factors in 26 video games (0.92 PTS/GP). That would put him proper on monitor for a real fourth-year breakout, one that might see him attain the 60-70-point vary and into the Prime 100 Roto Rankings.
Dylan Holloway (90, 121)
Holloway virtually made it onto my “gamers I regretted drafting” record (coming quickly). His first-half manufacturing (17 PTS and three PPP in 34 GP) didn’t meet expectations, and he battled accidents on high of that. Thankfully, I didn’t drop Holloway. After the Olympic break, he turned his whole season round.
Over the past two months of the season, Holloway was among the finest gamers in all of fantasy hockey. I do not suppose that is an exaggeration. Over his final 25 video games, Holloway piled up 34 factors, a plus-26, 83 photographs, and 38 hits. These are averages of over some extent per recreation, a plus-1 per recreation, over three photographs per recreation, and 1.5 hits per recreation – numbers that you possibly can use in your fantasy staff each recreation. After the tough begin, Holloway completed with 0.86 PTS/GP, which might have amounted to 71 factors over a full season. Hypothetical query: If you happen to draft a participant that could be a bust throughout your fantasy common season however delivers large time throughout your fantasy playoffs, is that participant nonetheless a bust?
Holloway’s shock breakout in 2024-25 did not become a fluke, though it appeared that it is perhaps after a tough first half. Now locked in with a five-year extension, Holloway ought to stay in a top-6 function with the Blues. He’s a multicategory contributor when it comes to hits and photographs on purpose, however various power-play time is an space to be involved about. Thankfully, his power-play time leaned over 50 p.c down the stretch, which bodes properly for subsequent season. Holloway is a deserving Prime 100 participant within the Roto Rankings.
Jackson LaCombe (100, 80)
LaCombe has established himself as each a powerful real-life defender in addition to a professional fantasy breakout defenseman. The broader viewers that does not get to observe many late Geese video games has observed LaCombe’s potential to defend Connor McDavid within the playoffs. By way of factors, LaCombe took one other leap ahead in 2025-26 with 58 factors, together with 18 power-play factors.
Following his trade-deadline acquisition from Washington, John Carlson has taken a few of LaCombe’s power-play time. But LaCombe has remained largely unaffected scoring-wise with 10 factors in 9 playoff video games. On high of that, there is no assure that Carlson will re-sign with the Geese subsequent season. By way of different challengers, LaCombe has handed Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger on the Geese depth chart, each of whom had been greater draft picks and assumed to have greater upside. That is a primary instance of how we do not all the time know the way issues will play out.
There’s quite a bit to love about LaCombe’s recreation. Along with the scoring, LaCombe averaged almost two photographs per recreation this season, blocked about 1.5 photographs per recreation, and he logged over 24 minutes per recreation. He’s additionally surrounded by younger up-and-coming scorers akin to Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and Beckett Sennecke. Subsequent season, LaCombe needs to be a top-30 defenseman in fantasy leagues who ought to have the ability to attain at the least 45 factors – even when he loses power-play time.
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Observe me on X @Ian_Gooding and Bluesky @goodsfantasyhockey.bsky.social
