Glad Wednesday, Razzball devoted!
It’s one last Wednesday write-up out of your man, MarmosDad, and issues are beginning to get fascinating within the first spherical. Sens and Kings followers are prepared to observe much more baseball, and some different groups are headed in the identical route.
Right now, there can be extra updates on the main scorers from every collection, together with notes on a few of the names I outlined within the 2026 Fantasy Hockey Playoff Pool Overview.
Which means updates for all of the Should Have skaters and any of the Well worth the Gamble or Beneath the Radar guys who want them.
Will we get a clearer image of who we’ll be seeing in Spherical Two? Did the Bruins copy the Penguins by staving off elimination and forcing a Sport 6?
Let’s take a look!
BUFFALO (A1) vs BOSTON (WC1)
Buffalo leads 3-2.
After I noticed this “energy outage” earlier than Sport 5 even began, I used to be a bit apprehensive.
The mic lower out throughout O Canada, and the Buffalo crowd didn’t miss a beat 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/uoo18MD7gb
— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) April 28, 2026
Please, for the love of Patrice Bergeron (aka god), let the Bruins keep in mind they’re supposed to begin taking part in within the first interval as an alternative of sleepwalking by 20 minutes like they did final Sunday.
| PLAYER | GOALS | ASSISTS | POWERPLAY POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Pastrnak | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Morgan Geekie | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Alex Tuch | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Bowen Byram | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Peyton Krebs | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Tage Thompson | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Owen Energy | 0 | 4 | 0 |
My unique decide of “BOSTON in 6” appeared fairly obscene after Sport 3 in Boston, then, when the Sabres pumped 4 previous Swayman within the first interval of Sport 4…properly…
Humorous sufficient, a pal I work with was born and raised in Buffalo, and he or she texted me after the primary interval asking if I used to be watching baseball but. And this was my response:
That was one crystal ball prediction I wasn’t wanting ahead to manifesting.
As for final evening’s recreation, and extra importantly, the additional time interval, I’ve acquired two issues to share:
- If Buffalo doesn’t open up the vault and pay Alex Tuch earlier than he hits free company, they’ve made an enormous mistake. That man has hit one other stage within the playoffs, and will have ended the Bruins’ season not less than a handful of instances in OT final evening.
- Bruce Cassidy mentioned it on TNT earlier than OT, however it bears repeating. As irritating as it may be when David Pastrnak hits a lull within the scoring division, he’s a famous person who can step up in clutch moments. And this one was simply that.
DAVID PASTRNAK SCORES A FILTHY GOAL AND THIS SERIES IS HEADING BACK TO BOSTON WOW 😱🚨 pic.twitter.com/T73vNeHv0I
— Gino Onerous (@GinoHard_) April 29, 2026
TAMPA (A2) vs MONTREAL (A3)
Collection tied 2-2.
| PLAYER | GOALS | ASSISTS | POWERPLAY POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Hagel | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| Jake Guentzel | 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Nikita Kucherov | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Nick Suzuki | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Cole Caufield | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Lane Hutson | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Juraj Slafkovsky | 3 | 0 | 3 |
My unique prediction was Montreal in 6, and whereas it may nonetheless occur, it’s robust to not see this one going to a winner-take-all Sport 7. I discussed it final week, and I’ll repeat it right here. Watching Buffalo/Boston play on the identical nights means I missed these video games, however you get the sense that even by watching spotlight reels, these two groups are so evenly matched up that it might make for a fairly epic end in the event that they pushed one another to the max.
If anybody predicted that Kucherov would have 5 factors in his first 4 video games, I don’t assume there would’ve been a lot of an argument. However only one purpose? Kuch may take one in every of these video games over in a rush and put up a hat trick as early as the subsequent matchup.
Sport 5: Tonight (Wednesday) at 7:00 PM EST in Tampa.
CAROLINA (M1) vs OTTAWA (WC2)
CAROLINA swept 4-0.
| PLAYER | GOALS | ASSISTS | POWERPLAY POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor Corridor | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Logan Stankoven | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Jackson Blake | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Sebastian Aho | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Ok’Andre Miller | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Drake Batherson | 3 | 1 | 1 |
I used to be off by one recreation in my prediction, and I assumed Ottawa would win one. It could possibly be worse. This man thought they’d win 4.
At the very least he acquired the broom half proper.
It appears like my reasoning within the playoff preview was sound after I mentioned to draft Taylor Corridor. I don’t know if anybody would have predicted Corridor would lead the scoring from each groups in Spherical One, however right here we’re. Hopefully, you managed to choose him up in these later rounds of your playoff pool and are driving that scoring enhance to the highest of your standings.
PITTSBURGH (M2) vs PHILADELPHIA (M3)
Philly leads 3-2.
| PLAYER | GOALS | ASSISTS | POWERPLAY POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney Crosby | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Rickard Rakell | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Evgeni Malkin | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Erik Karlsson | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Rasmus Ristolainen | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Travis Konecny | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Trevor Zegras | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Travis Sanheim | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Porter Martone | 2 | 1 | 1 |
It appeared like a fairly unceremonious finish to the Malkin/Crosby period after final week’s Spherical One write-up noticed the Pens fall behind 0-3 within the collection.
However, as they are saying, “You’ve gotta win 4”. Sid scored his first of the collection in a Sport 5 Pittsburgh win, then added two extra assists on Monday evening, together with one on the game-winner from Kris Letang.
I don’t know if the Pens have the stamina to push this collection to the restrict, however I’m simply glad they made it right into a collection.
Then once more, if anybody noticed Rasmus Ristolainen because the main scorer on this collection with 5 factors and NONE of them on the Powerplay…properly, I’d just like the title of the witch who purchased your soul for that form of edge.
The one factor saving me from whole failure is that if Pittsburgh can handle to come back again and win it in 7. (I had PIT in 4).
Sport 6: Tonight at 7:30 PM EST in Philadelphia.
COLORADO (C1) vs LOS ANGELES (WC2)
COLORADO swept 4-0.
| PLAYER | GOALS | ASSISTS | POWERPLAY POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gabriel Landeskog | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Artturi Lehkonen | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Nathan MacKinnon | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Nicolas Roy | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Devon Toews | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Cale Makar | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Alex Laferriere | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Artemi Panarin | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Rinse and repeat from my Carolina/Ottawa prediction. I assumed the Kings would be capable of steal one, if not only for Anze Kopitar to exit on a little bit of a excessive observe. However nope.
I do know hindsight is 20/20, however was it value buying and selling Liam Greentree (twenty sixth total in 2024) and two picks for Artemi Panarin and an additional 4 video games? I assume that’s all moot since Panarin signed a two-year extension.
The excellent news is, it appears like Anze Kopitar left with a smile on his face anyway.
“From the underside of my coronary heart, thanks very a lot! This has been my dwelling for 20 years…” 🥹
Anze Kopitar speaks to the @LAKings‘ crowd after his last common season dwelling recreation. pic.twitter.com/snVRmZhocG
— NHL (@NHL) April 11, 2026
DALLAS (C2) vs MINNESOTA (C3)
Minnesota leads 3-2.
| PLAYER | GOALS | ASSISTS | POWERPLAY POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kirill Kaprizov | 2 | 7 | 2 |
| Joel Eriksson Ek | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Matt Boldy | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Brock Faber | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Quinn Hughes | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| Mats Zuccarello | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Matt Duchene | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Jason Robertson | 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Wyatt Johnston | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Mikko Rantanen | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Miro Heiskanen | 2 | 4 | 5 |
Identical to I mentioned above with Taylor Corridor, hopefully you managed to choose up an inexpensive, late Matt Duchene in your playoff pool draft. The “outdated guys” are placing issues collectively once more, and I’m right here for it. Matt Duchene’s 8 factors in 5 video games trails simply Kirill Kaprizov’s 9-point whole.
I hedged right here on this collection, taking Dallas in 7 for the Razzball Bracket problem that Viz put collectively, however my official name was Minnesota in 7 on right here. Both manner, it’s wanting like I’ll get the variety of video games proper. This collection has been as tight as any in Spherical 1.
VEGAS (P1) vs UTAH (WC1)
Collection tied 2-2.
| PLAYER | GOALS | ASSISTS | POWERPLAY POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Eichel | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Ivan Barbashev | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Noah Hanifin | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Mark Stone | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Mitch Marner | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Lawson Crouse | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Dylan Guenther | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Mackenzie Weegar | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Clayton Keller | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Utah has 8 gamers with 3 or extra factors on this collection, outlining how deep a staff they’re and the way it’s by no means been about one or two superstars main the cost all yr.
I mentioned Vegas in 5 video games, so I’m already unsuitable there, however I feel Vegas nonetheless squeaks out the collection win even when it goes the space.
Sport 5: Tonight at 10:00 PM EST in Vegas.
EDMONTON (P2) vs ANAHEIM (P3)
Anaheim leads 3-1…earlier than final evening’s recreation
(chart updated after 1st interval final evening)
| PLAYER | GOALS | ASSISTS | POWERPLAY POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leon Draisaitl | 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Kasperi Kapanen | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Connor McDavid | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Evan Bouchard | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Vasili Podkolzin | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Jackson LaCombe | 1 | 7 | 2 |
| Mikael Granlund | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Alex Killorn | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Troy Terry | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Leo Carlsson | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Cutter Gauthier | 1 | 4 | 4 |
I don’t know whose Bingo card had Anaheim main the collection three video games to 1, however it actually wasn’t on mine.
What within the effing eff is occurring in Edmonton? Draisaitl is again, they’re getting scoring from guys like Kasperi Kapanen, and so they have the very best hockey participant within the universe in Connor McDavid.
How are these guys down 3-games-to-1 heading into (final evening’s) Sport 5?
Effectively, Sport 4’s 4-3 OT win may have gone both manner, regardless of Anaheim outshooting the Oilers 38-27.
Final evening’s first interval? Effectively, if it’s any indication of how the remainder of the sport would shake out, Edmonton is properly on its approach to forcing a Sport 6.
The Oilers scored 3 targets early, chased Lukas Dostal (3 SV, 6 SA), and seem like they’ve proven up with some super-charged superstars. Leon Draisaitl has one; Podkolzin and Hyman have the opposite two. And RNH & Bouchard have two assists every. After 20 minutes. It appears like one staff doesn’t need to go dwelling early tonight.
EDIT: Edmonton and Anaheim traded targets within the first half of the second interval on the time of ultimate edits. 4-1 Edmonton, and, barring a complete collapse, it appears like we’ll get a Sport 6 right here.
That’s all for this week AND FOR THIS YEAR. Earlier than I bounce, I simply wished to take a second to thank everybody for studying and thank Viz and Gray for the possibility to jot down up hockey every week once more this yr. It was a whole lot of enjoyable.
When you’ve got any questions or feedback, depart them beneath, and I’ll get again to you ASAP.
Glad Wednesday, and luxuriate in the remainder of the playoffs, everybody!
Comply with me @marmosdad on Twitter/X and Bluesky @marmosdad.bsky.social
