Mission Accomplished, The Canadiens Are Back In The Playoffs

The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs officially begin on Saturday with four teams in action, including the Winnipeg Jets hosting the St. Louis Blues and the Dallas Stars facing the Colorado Avalanche. The Florida Panthers will start their playoff run on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, marking their fourth postseason matchup in five years, with both teams boasting strong rosters and coaching. Coach Paul Maurice anticipates a healthy lineup for Game 1, potentially including Matthew...

Veteran defenseman Matt Grzelcyk is a free agent but is open to returning to the Pittsburgh Penguins, expressing gratitude for the team's support during a season where he achieved a career-high 40 points. In other news, forward Noel Acciari is managing a hip injury and hopes to avoid surgery while contributing to the team’s depth with solid stats, and rookie Ville Koivunen impressed in his late-season call-up, recording seven assists in eight games and signaling...

The Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, and Chicago Blackhawks, all struggling this season, have each fired their head coach and appointed interim replacements. Brad Shaw of the Flyers achieved a 5-3-1 record, with young players thriving under his guidance, but faces competition for the permanent role due to the team's playoff absences. Joe Sacco of the Bruins and Anders Sorensen of the Blackhawks also have strengths and weaknesses, with Sacco praised for navigating roster changes but...

The London Knights defeated the Erie Otters in overtime to sweep their second-round series, advancing to the Western Conference Finals with an undefeated playoff record of eight wins. Easton Cowan leads the Knights with eight goals and 13 assists, supported by strong performances from players like Sam O'Reilly and Sam Dickinson. The Knights, boasting a potent power play at 30%, are favored to win their second consecutive OHL Championship as they await the winner of...

SummaryMontreal Canadiens defenseman David Savard, 34, experienced a decline in performance this season, with his average ice time dropping from 20:14 to 16:35, leading to a role on the bottom pairing. Despite this, he served as a valuable mentor to younger players, filling the leadership void left by Shea Weber's retirement, as acknowledged by coach Martin St-Louis. With emerging defensemen like David Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux, Savard's decision to step back aligns with his family...