Running analysis of Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs

Our hockey writers share their observations and insights throughout Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Thursday, April 30

Oilers go out with a whimper

Edmonton showed flashes of being back-to-back Western Conference champions in Round 1, but Game 6 against Anaheim showed this iteration of the Oilers was never close to being a Stanley Cup contender. Everyone expected Edmonton to turn it on for the playoffs after an uninspiring regular season, but this version was outclassed by a faster, younger, and hungrier Ducks squad.

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In their season finale, the Oilers didn't draw a penalty, were outshot, outhit, and took an egregious too-many-men minor. They simply weren't ready for the moment, which hasn't been the case the past two springs. The Ducks deserve all the credit for their Round 1 performance. They dominated at five-on-five, boasted a red-hot power play, and their stars shined at every position. Anaheim looks like a threat in the West for years to come, but make no mistake, this series will be solely be remembered as another wasted year for the McDavid-era Oilers.

The captain's two-year extension signified a clear window for contention, but there's plenty of work to be done to fix this roster. The Oilers still don't have any stability in goal, lack depth on the back end, and only have nine forwards signed for next season. The pressure on Edmonton to win a championship will be immense as long as McDavid is on the payroll, but the club's severely underwhelming playoff performance will ratchet up the noise significantly this summer. - Sean O'Leary

Series win an exclamation point on Hughes acquisition

The trade for Quinn Hughes had worked wonders for the Wild ahead of Thursday night's Game 6. A loss to the Stars wouldn't have changed anyone's opinion on the December blockbuster that sent one of the NHL's best defensemen from Vancouver to Minnesota for four premium assets.

Yet, the Wild's 5-2 series-clinching victory put an exclamation point on it.

Hughes was simply terrific in 28:55. He scored the opening and winning goals - the latter of which included a crafty bank shot off an unsuspecting Dallas player's skate - and added a primary assist while controlling the flow of play. This is Hughes' team as much as it is Kirill Kaprizov's and Matt Boldy's. And now Minnesota's off to the second round for the first time since 2015.

Goalie Jesper Wallstedt was outstanding and the Wild's defensively responsible skater group managed to outscore the Stars at even strength by a whopping 14 goals (19-5). Dallas winger Mikko Rantanen, an absolute beast last postseason, was somehow held off the scoresheet in 94 five-on-five minutes. - John Matisz

3 ways Stars can force Game 7 vs. Wild

Down 3-2 to Minnesota heading into Thursday night's Game 6, Dallas needs to find its five-on-five touch ASAP. The Stars have scored just three goals in the series' 268 five-on-five minutes and none since the first period of Game 3.

Here are a few ways Dallas can force a Game 7.

Mikko Rantanen outburst: One of the NHL's premier power forwards has pitched in six points in five games. But the big Finn hasn't looked like his usual playoff-hero self, recording a measly six quality scoring chances in all situations, according to Sportlogiq. Teammates Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston have racked up 20 and 13 chances, respectively.

Crash the net: The Stars are producing a ton of shot attempts (fifth-most per game among 16 playoff teams), shots on goal (fifth), and slot shots (fourth) while leading in offensive zone puck possession time per game. But the club isn't so successful when it comes to chances generated off rebounds (11th). Dallas needs to get more bodies in front of and around Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt.

Dominate depth minutes: Defenseman Jonas Brodin, who's logged 19:41 a night for Minnesota, has been ruled out for Game 6 after suffering an injury Tuesday. Veteran Jeff Petry is taking his place. A plodding Zach Bogosian-Petry pairing will be vulnerable against Dallas' bottom six. - John Matisz

Utah learning playoff lessons the hard way

The Vegas-Utah series is tight: The Golden Knights are up 3-2 off an 18-17 edge in goals. The Mammoth have been the better even-strength team, while the Knights have been more disciplined and more effective on special teams.

The Mammoth's inability to protect late leads is holding them back. The Andre Tourigny-coached squad entered the third period of Game 1 up 2-1, then allowed three straight goals to lose 4-2. Utah grabbed a 4-3 lead with 14:50 left in regulation in Game 4, only to allow a Vegas goal five minutes later to force overtime and another one 19 minutes into OT. In Wednesday's Game 5, the Mammoth led 4-3 with 7:18 left in the third, the Golden Knights scored with 53 seconds remaining, and then Utah lost a heart-breaker in the second overtime period.

The late-night Game 5 winner came off a turnover deep in Utah's zone. Vegas' aggressive penalty kill had overwhelmed the No. 2 power play unit.

Maybe this is an oversimplification, but from afar, experience appears to be playing a major role in the outcome of these games. Vegas, an old and battle-tested group, isn't wilting in the gut-check moments. Utah, with the top of its lineup filled with first- and second-time playoff performers, is finding out the hard way what it takes to close out games in the postseason.

Salt Lake City's Delta Center will be electric Friday for Game 6. - John Matisz

Wednesday, April 29

Was this Pittsburgh's last postseason with Crosby, Malkin, and Letang?

It's entirely possible the Pittsburgh Penguins' season-ending loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday was the last time we see the illustrious trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang share the ice in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Crosby and Letang are signed through next season and aren't going anywhere, but Malkin is a pending unrestricted free agent. Malkin, 39, has not committed to playing in the NHL next season. This could've been the last game of his career.

Even if Malkin does return for another year, it's far from guaranteed Pittsburgh will be back in the postseason. The veteran trio will be another year older. The rest of the core is getting up there, too: Erik Karlsson will be 36 next season, Bryan Rust will be 34, and Rickard Rakell will be 33.

There was also a certain degree of magic that followed the Penguins around this season, with journeymen like Anthony Mantha, Justin Brazeau, Ryan Shea, and Parker Wotherspoon all enjoying out-of-nowhere career years.

President of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas is clearly intent on setting up the Penguins as best as he can for the future rather than maximizing whatever window remains with the veteran core. In other words, don't expect any win-now trades or lucrative long-term deals to top free agents this offseason in service of a "Last Dance."

It was fun to see Crosby, Malkin, and Letang in the playoffs again after a three-year hiatus. But going out in six games - and getting shut out in the final game - despite a favorable draw against the conference's No. 8 seed is an unfortunate potential final act. - Josh Wegman

Danault, Evans are Montreal's unsung heroes in Game 5

Jakub Dobes will deservingly get heaps of praise for outplaying Andrei Vasilevskiy with a 38-save performance in Game 5, but the Montreal Canadiens' center depth was paramount in the victory.

Phillip Danault and Jake Evans were particularly brilliant, even though neither recorded a point.

Danault logged 19:40 - second-most among Montreal forwards - and was on the ice for the final 3:31 of regulation as the Canadiens closed out the nail-biting win. He won 60% of his faceoffs, too.

Evans was on the ice for just one scoring chance against in 15:14 of action, per Natural Stat Trick. He won a staggering 85.7% of his faceoffs.

Both Evans and Danault played crucial roles in Montreal's penalty kill going a perfect 3-for-3.

Montreal's center depth behind Nick Suzuki has been the team's perceived weakness most of the season, but that certainly wasn't the case Wednesday. - Josh Wegman

Vasilevskiy historically great in Game 5s

History shows that the longer a series goes, the better Andrei Vasilevskiy gets. The Tampa Bay Lightning netminder enters Wednesday's pivotal tilt against the Montreal Canadiens with a 12-6 record, a .930 save percentage, and a 1.99 goals-against average in 18 career Game 5s. He's been even more effective in Game 6s (.933 save percentage) and Game 7s (.945 save percentage).

Vasilevskiy has been extremely average so far in Round 1, and that's being generous. He owns an .882 save percentage in the series while stopping 0.56 goals above expected, per Evolving-Hockey. However, it's very possible his best performances have yet to come. - Josh Wegman

Peterka, Doan going in opposite directions

The Sabres and Mammoth made a fun two-for-one trade last June. Michael Kesselring and Josh Doan headed to Buffalo, and JJ Peterka landed in Utah. As part of the deal, Peterka signed a five-year, $38.5-million extension.

At the time, Peterka was the hottest commodity among the three players. The dynamic winger, then 23, had just broken out for 68 points in 77 games in his third season. He looked like a perfect fit for a fast, skilled team like Utah.

Oh, what a difference 10 months can make.

Peterka's regular-season ice time was slashed by two minutes a game in his first season with the Mammoth, and he's currently in coach Andre Tourigny's doghouse. The German's played poorly throughout the club's opening-round series against Vegas, and a high-sticking penalty in Monday's Game 4 resulted in a full-on benching. Peterka didn't take a single shift in the back half of the third period or during 19 minutes of overtime action, and he's healthy.

"I had a discussion with JJ, and that discussion will stay inside our room," Tourigny told reporters Tuesday.

While the oft-injured Kesselring was supposed to be the key acquisition for Buffalo, Doan's the one flourishing. The detail-oriented winger has become one of the Sabres' most important players as well as a dressing-room leader. The 24-year-old inked a seven-year, $48.65-million extension in January.

The son of ex-NHLer Shane Doan recorded 25 goals and 52 points in the regular season. In five playoff games, he's made his mark alongside Zach Benson and Noah Ostlund (currently injured) on a territorially dominant third line. Utah sure could use Doan's well-roundedness right now. - John Matisz

Tuesday, April 28

Oilers' big guns show up - including McDavid

The Edmonton Oilers needed their best players to show up with their season on the line, and they delivered. In the case of Connor McDavid, who was a game-time decision, they literally needed him to show up. He did that and more, notching a pair of assists in a season-saving 4-1 win while logging 24:09 - more than any forward in the game. The ice time is a notable development considering McDavid played an unusually low 19:32 in a Game 4 overtime loss while laboring through some sort of lower-body ailment.

The rest of Edmonton's core also produced: Leon Draisaitl scored a pair of goals, Evan Bouchard had three assists, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a pair of helpers.

But the most important development of this game for Edmonton - perhaps other than Connor Ingram turning aside 29 of 30 shots - was McDavid looking more like himself. - Josh Wegman

Pastrnak's execution saves Bruins' season

The Sabres are significantly deeper than the Bruins on paper, and the talent imbalance has bore out over the course of the Atlantic Division series.

Still, only one team has David Pastrnak at its disposal.

Boston's superstar winger, mostly unremarkable through the first four games, provided a signature moment nine minutes into overtime in Tuesday's Game 5 for the 2-1 victory. Streaking down the middle lane, Pastrnak corralled a stretch pass from defenseman Hampus Lindholm at the offensive blue line, deked left at the hashmarks, cut right, then tucked the puck past Sabres goalie Alex Lyon.

It was Pastrnak's first goal since Game 1, and first off the rush overall despite shaking loose for a handful of breakaways or partial breaks in the series. He's up to six points in five games, though it feels like he's only getting started.

Boston's edge is star power. Pastrnak is the series' most talented forward and Jeremy Swayman is its most talented goalie. Both can take over games or execute a specific play at a very high level. Both have stepped up, and the underdog Bruins are still alive. Game 6 goes Friday in Boston. - John Matisz

Do Sabres possess killer instinct?

The largely inexperienced Buffalo Sabres have looked ready for the playoff spotlight thus far, building a 3-1 series lead over the Boston Bruins. However, the pressure to close out a series is an entirely different beast. We've seen how difficult that can be for a young team already this postseason, with the Philadelphia Flyers dropping two straight against the veteran Pittsburgh Penguins after jumping out to a 3-0 series lead.

The Bruins are not completely different than the Penguins. Guys like David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy have been in moments like this. They've found another gear when they've had their backs against the wall (See: 2019 vs. Maple Leafs).

Boston will presumably bring its very best with its season on the line. Can Buffalo answer? How the Sabres respond to the added tension could tell us a lot about this group. - Josh Wegman

McDavid's status a bad omen for Oilers

The vibes just went from bad to worse in Edmonton.

Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch labeled captain Connor McDavid and center Jason Dickinson as "game-time decisions" ahead of Tuesday night's Game 5. Edmonton trails Anaheim 3-1 after coughing up a third-period lead and then allowing the game-winning goal a few shifts into overtime in Game 4.

McDavid briefly left Game 2 with an apparent leg or foot injury. Clearly still feeling the effects of the ailment, McDavid didn't look right in Game 4 (despite recording two assists). He finished sixth among Oilers skaters in ice time.

Jackson LaCombe, the Ducks' slick-skating two-way defenseman, has done a terrific job reining in McDavid throughout the series. The Oilers have been outscored 5-2 in McDavid's 69 minutes at five-on-five - not a recipe for success.

If McDavid doesn't dress or proves to be a nonfactor in Game 5, the Ducks will be in complete control. The poorly constructed Oilers rely way too much on McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to generate offense, and it's infinitely easier to shut down one of them if the other isn't contributing. - John Matisz

Stars controlling play in series vs. Wild

The Stars-Wild series is tied 2-2 heading into Tuesday's Game 5. While the series has been tight, anybody paying attention will know the Stars have looked like the better team overall. The underlying numbers back up the eye test.

Dallas has generated far more quality scoring chances thanks to a potent power play and effective even-strength cycles and forechecks. The totals, according to Sportlogiq: 51 quality chances for the Stars, 37 for the Wild.

Jason Robertson has been dynamite. Leading the series with four goals and 23 shots, the Stars winger is consistently firing pucks from the most dangerous area of the offensive zone. He's recorded 12 inner-slot shots, or 52% of Minnesota's total as a team (23).

Meanwhile, the Stars' defense has limited the Wild to 3.2 scoring chances off the rush per game (down from six in the regular season) and 0.5 chances off rebounds (down from 2.2).

So why isn't this series 3-1 for Dallas? Simply put, the Wild's top players have delivered in gut-check moments. Goalie Jesper Wallstedt and forwards Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy have been just clutch enough. - John Matisz

Monday, April 27

Vegas comeback continues league-wide trend

Utah had Vegas right where it wanted it as the third-period clock hit its halfway point Monday. Up 2-1 in the series and 4-3 in Game 4 after an impressive comeback, the Mammoth merely needed to tighten up defensively.

Golden Knights forward Brett Howden had other plans, tipping a point shot to even the score with 9:24 left. No lead is safe this postseason: It was the ninth game-tying goal in the final 10 minutes of regulation in just 33 contests.

Defenseman Shea Theodore, uncovered in the slot, buried a pass from behind the goal line with 52 seconds remaining in the first overtime period. The series pitting the Pacific Division No. 1 seed against the top West wild card has serious Game 7 potential. Game 5 goes Wednesday night. - John Matisz

Crosby authors another memorable showing

Sidney Crosby, Flyers killer - yes, even at 38 years old.

The Penguins captain put on a masterclass in veteran savvy play Monday night to lead Pittsburgh to a 3-2 Game 5 victory. Early in the second period, Crosby knocked down a Flyers clearing attempt, then niftily set up Connor Dewar for a slot-shot attempt - goal. No. 87 briefly left the game later in the second after taking a puck to the right knee. Upon his return, he collected a primary assist on the Penguins' third goal, a Kris Letang point shot. Then, in the third, Crosby won two key defensive-zone faceoffs in the final 37 seconds.

It was the type of showing that reminds the hockey world of Crosby's brilliance. He isn't at the peak of his powers in 2026. But he's still damn good.

No NHLer in history has recorded more playoff points against the Flyers than Crosby, who's up to 41 (16 goals, 25 assists) in 28 games. Game 5 was his first multi-point effort of this series. More importantly for Crosby and the Pens, the club has rallied from being down 3-0 to force a Game 6. - John Matisz

Will Vegas' decision to stick with Hart backfire?

Vegas Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella is giving goaltender Carter Hart a major vote of confidence. Hart put forth arguably the worst single-game goaltending performance of the postseason in Game 3, allowing four goals on just 12 shots in a 4-2 loss. Nevertheless, Torts is sticking with Hart for a pivotal Game 4 as the Golden Knights look to even the series.

Maybe we shouldn't be surprised considering Hart started six of eight games down the stretch after Tortorella was hired. Tortorella also knows Hart from their time together with the Philadelphia Flyers.

However, the Golden Knights have other options in net. Akira Schmid was their best goaltender during the regular season. Adin Hill had a rough year, but he played well in two starts under Tortorella and carries a legitimate playoff pedigree after leading Vegas to the 2023 Stanley Cup with a .932 save percentage in 16 games that postseason.

If Hart struggles again in Game 4 and Vegas loses, Tortorella will have no choice but to throw Hill or Schmid into the fire in a do-or-die contest. Will he regret waiting that long? Or will Hart bounce back? - Josh Wegman

Expected Michkov scratch not unwarranted

Matvei Michkov didn't skate on any of the top four forward lines during Sunday's Flyers practice - a strong indication the crafty winger will be scratched for Monday's Game 5 against the Penguins. Rookie Alex Bump appears to be taking Michkov's place with Philly holding a 3-1 series lead.

Michkov, the 2023 seventh overall pick, is pointless through four games while averaging 10 minutes of ice time, including a team-low 8:09 at even strength. He's registered four shots on goal, three minor penalties, two blocked shots, two hits, and two giveaways. He's been, in a word, ineffective.

The benching isn't uncalled for, nor is it coming out of nowhere (Michkov and head coach Rick Tocchet famously aren't best buddies). That said, Michkov's 51 regular-season points tied Owen Tippett and Christian Dvorak for third on the team. The Flyers, 21st in goals per game this year, will need Michkov's offensive spark sooner than later, assuming they get past the Pens. - John Matisz

Sunday, April 26

How can you make that call?

It's almost certainly a good goal. But the referees will still be the storyline after the Ducks took a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Oilers on a controversial overtime winner.

Anaheim's Ryan Poehling fired a puck in front of the net from a sharp angle. It bounced off Edmonton's Darnell Nurse and squeaked through Tristan Jarry's pads to eventually settle underneath the goaltender's skate. The puck looked like it was about to cross the line definitively, but Jarry's skate obscured any absolute certainty. What followed, though, was chaos.

Jake Brenk, the nearest referee, was above the goal line and against the boards. Eventually, Brenk coasted in to blow play dead without making a call. The lamp remained unlit. The referees and linesmen huddled behind the net and made the official decision that it was a good goal. Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch noted the call was made "60-90 seconds after." That made it incumbent upon review to find definitive proof to overturn the call on the ice - and that's where the controversy starts. Can poor process be forgiven if the result is likely still correct?

It's an agonizing way to lose a hockey game. The refs probably did get it right, though. And this much is definitely true: The Oilers blew a 2-0 lead in Game 4 with a chance to tie the series, and now they need to win three straight. - Michael Bradburn

Hagel playing at MVP level for Bolts

The NHL doesn't award the Conn Smythe Trophy a week into a two-month marathon. That would be silly. But, in an alternate universe in which it did, you can bet Brandon Hagel's name would be getting inscribed right now.

The relentless 27-year-old has become the main character of Tampa Bay versus Montreal, the opening round's best series. Hagel scored two third-period goals in a 3-2 come-from-behind Lightning victory Sunday night. The Atlantic Division matchup is tied 2-2. Game 5 goes Wednesday in Tampa.

Hagel is a 2016 sixth-round pick of the Sabres who considered quitting hockey when he was 20 to pursue schoolteaching. He's now blossomed into one of the sport's true big-game dudes. He's an elite all-situations winger blessed with the "it" factor. His recent exploits include being in the thick of the 4 Nations Face-Off fight fest, recording 90 points last season, and making a stacked Canadian Olympic squad.

Now, Hagel's playing at an MVP level.

"He's not afraid of the moment, even though his road here has been much different than most," Lightning and Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper told theScore one day before Hagel's epic 4 Nations fight with Matthew Tkachuk.

Hagel leads the postseason with six goals - one more than the rest of the Lightning combined. He also leads all forwards in the series in ice time (24:58 a night) and won a fight against Juraj Slafkovsky in Game 2. - John Matisz

Sabres' A-plus game arrives in Game 4 blowout

The Sabres trounced the Bruins, 6-1, on Sunday to take a 3-1 series lead. Game 4 was never in question, with Buffalo dictating play from the opening puck drop to the final buzzer. Boston put forth an ugly, burn-the-tape effort.

Still, the Sabres deserve a ton of credit for finding their A-plus game. The club's large collection of two-way forwards were pressuring pucks in all three zones, while the defense corps asserted itself physically and joined the rush.

Game 4 was the type of performance that we often saw from Buffalo over a dominant four-month stretch to end the regular season. It didn't fluke into the top seed in the Atlantic Division. This team is ultra hungry, talented, and deep.

Look no further than the young dogs line of Noah Ostlund (22) between Zach Benson (20) and Josh Doan (24), which set the tone Sunday. The puck-hounding trio finished with huge advantages in shot attempts (15-4), shots on goal (9-3), and expected goals (0.88-0.37) in 8:22 five-on-five minutes. Doan and Benson were two of Buffalo's six different goal-scorers. - John Matisz

All eyes on premier matchup in Habs-Bolts

The Canadiens and Lightning have both scored five five-on-five goals through three games. Montreal leads 2-1 in an extremely tight series thanks to a 4-3 edge in special teams goals and better execution over three overtime periods.

Instead of relying on a traditional shutdown line, Lightning coach Jon Cooper has pitted Anthony Cirelli, Brandon Hagel, and Jake Guentzel/Nikita Kucherov against the Canadiens' No. 1 line of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky. We saw this in the Tampa Bay contests and Game 3 in Montreal.

It's worked out wonderfully for Cooper so far. The Suzuki line, which finished the regular season with a sparkling plus-19 five-on-five goal differential, has failed to score while allowing three goals against in 36 five-on-five minutes.

Interestingly, Habs coach Martin St. Louis hasn't shied away from the premier matchup or hinted at different usage and deployment for his star forwards in his media availabilities ahead of Sunday's Game 4. Buckle up. - John Matisz

Will Game 4 be it for Kopitar?

The Avalanche-Kings series has unfolded about how we imagined it would - the action's not overly compelling and Colorado can sweep L.A. on Sunday.

But, wait, there's still good reason for fans across the league to tune in for Game 4. Future Hall of Famer Anze Kopitar may be pulling a Kings jersey over his head one last time. The 38-year-old career-long King, competing in his 20th NHL season, is retiring at the end of the campaign and, frankly, L.A. looks toast.

Kopitar is one of two Slovenians ever to make the NHL. The two-way center was a driving force of Los Angeles' two Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014, and is the franchise leader in points. He won the Selke Trophy twice and finished top five in voting on five other occasions. A classy man off the ice who rarely takes penalties despite playing a defense-first style, Kopitar's also accumulated three Lady Byng Trophies, with a fourth potentially coming this season.

It's safe to say Kopitar's on the short list for most underappreciated players of his generation. If this is it, happy trails to the man they call Kopi. - John Matisz

Saturday, April 25

Vladar, Flyers fumble close-out opportunity

The goalie storyline ahead of Penguins-Flyers Game 4 was straightforward. How would Pittsburgh's Arturs Silovs fare in relief of No. 1 Stuart Skinner?

The dude in the other net stole the headlines Sunday - for all the wrong reasons.

Dan Vladar, who enjoyed a strong regular season and start to the playoffs, allowed three goals - including two softies - on 20 shots in a 4-2 Flyers loss.

The opening marker featured Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, goalless through three games, unleashing a one-timer from the high slot. Unscreened and square, Vladar managed to get only a piece of the puck with his glove.

Pittsburgh's second goal came off some poor puckhandling. Vladar stopped a dump-in behind the Flyers' net, then hesitated. Rickard Rakell smelled blood and swarmed the Czech goalie. The puck popped out of Vladar's grasp, allowing Rakell to pull off an impressive diving wraparound.

Vladar was screened by a jumping Crosby on the 3-1 goal scored by Kris Letang. The 32-foot slap shot was destined for the back of the net.

The Flyers, up 3-1 in the series, remain in control after the loss, and Vladar's lackluster showing doesn't warrant a change between the pipes. But he needs to be better (along with Philly's skaters) in Monday's Game 5. - John Matisz

Third time's a charm for Wild's Boldy

What an overtime performance from Matt Boldy on Saturday night. Or, more specifically, what a final six minutes of the first overtime period, in which the Wild star winger skated for roughly three minutes across three different shifts.

Boldy almost ended Game 4 of Minnesota-Dallas with 5:45 left in OT. He corralled an off-target Kirill Kaprizov pass, spun around, and whipped the puck at the Stars' net, but goalie Jake Oettinger made a heroic lunging save.

Boldy was at the netfront again around 5:30. This time, the 6-foot-2, 201-pound American elected to kick the puck out of midair. It hit his knee before spinning past Oettinger and into the net. The goal was prompted called off.

The 25-year-old finished the job for real two shifts later, craftily tipping a Jared Spurgeon point shot with 29 seconds left. Boldy leaped into the Grand Casino Arena glass in celebration of the 3-2 winner. The Wild and Stars, a pair of Western Conference titans, are now tied, 2-2. Game 5 goes Tuesday in Dallas.

Boldy is one of the NHL's most clutch players because he craves having the game on his stick, is a dominant one-on-one player, and instinctively seeks out high-percentage scoring areas in the offensive zone. - John Matisz

Poor power play, injuries sink Sens in sweep

So much for the "watch out for the sneaky Sens!" narrative.

The Senators, a popular Round 1 underdog pick in playoff brackets, were swept by the Hurricanes and eliminated Saturday. Here are a few things that put Ottawa on the wrong end of the 11-5 series scoreboard.

Missing in action: Five Sens recorded 50 or more points in the regular season. Drake Batherson, Dylan Cozens, and Jake Sanderson carried their share of the offensive load against the Hurricanes with a combined eight points. Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk decidedly did not. Stutzle, the club's most dynamic player, contributed one assist, and it didn't come until Game 4. Tkachuk went pointless while racking up a series-high 13 penalty minutes. Both players failed to execute despite generating a fair number of quality scoring chances.

Power outage: Ottawa's power play scored just once on 22 opportunities against Carolina's aggressive penalty kill. The Sens had a five-on-three man advantage for 1:28 in Game 3 and 2:10 in Game 4. Not only did the Sens fail to make Carolina pay, they rarely even looked dangerous. It was painful to watch.

Consistently overmatched: Injuries depleted the Sens' blue line. Nick Jensen missed the whole series, Tyler Kleven was out for Games 1 and 2, Artem Zub played eight minutes in Game 1, and, most importantly, Sanderson missed half of Game 3 and all of Game 4. Ottawa was unlucky, too, striking five posts and a crossbar. However, in the aggregate, the Sens were simply outclassed by a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. The Canes, led by a terrific second line of Logan Stankoven between Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake, are a well-oiled machine that's won at least one playoff series in eight consecutive seasons. - John Matisz

Past analysis

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