NHL Rumor Mill – February 26, 2026

by | Feb 26, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – February 26, 2026

Who could the Maple Leafs peddle if they become trade deadline sellers? What’s the latest on Canadiens winger Patrik Laine? Could Brendan Shanahan and Marc Bergevin join the Predators’ front office? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

MAPLE LEAFS TRADE CANDIDATES

TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan looked at five potential Maple Leafs trade candidates if management becomes a seller by the March 6 trade deadline.

Bobby McMann topped the list. The 29-year-old winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Maple Leafs currently lack a first-round pick in this year’s draft. Given the way first-round picks are thrown around in trades now, McMann could fetch one.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Bobby McMann (NHL Images).

McMann has said he wants to re-sign with the Maple Leafs, but that could cost between $4.5 million and $5 million per season. Koshan believes he’ll be moved if he hasn’t signed an extension before next Friday.

Scott Laughton is also UFA-eligible, and he hasn’t provided the return that the Leafs sought when they sent a first-rounder and prospect Nikita Grebenkin to the Philadelphia Flyers last year to get him. He could be an effective depth player for a contender.

Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson has two years left on his contract with an average annual value of $3.5 million. He could be an attractive piece for teams with Stanley Cup aspirations.

Goaltender Anthony Stolarz’s four-year contract extension begins next season with an AAV of $3.75 million. Injuries have hampered his performance this season.

Like McMann and Laughton, forward Calle Jarnkrok is due to become a UFA on July 1.

TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos reports the Maple Leafs would like to re-sign McMann, but it doesn’t seem like they’re willing to pay him up to $5 million annually. They’d also like to keep Laughton, but where his salary number starts is debatable.

There’s not much of a goalie market heading toward the trade deadline. The Leafs might have to wait until the offseason to determine who stays or goes between Stolarz, Joseph Woll, and Dennis Hildeby.

SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon listed some possible trade destinations for McMann.

Topping his list is the Edmonton Oilers, followed by the Utah Mammoth, New York Islanders, Seattle Kraken, Detroit Red Wings, and Los Angeles Kings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McMann’s style of play and his affordable $1.4 million cap hit will make him among the most desirable players at this year’s trade deadline.

The Oilers lack their 2026 first-rounder, and their prospect pool is getting shallow. The other clubs have their first-rounders, while the Islanders and Kraken each have two, though their spare first-rounders come with conditions attached. Most of them also have plenty of prospects and promising young players to draw on for trade bait.

CANADIENS AND KINGS DISCUSSED PATRIK LAINE

TVA SPORTS: According to Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period, the Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings had talks about Patrik Laine in recent weeks.

The Kings are looking for a top-six forward and spoke with the Canadiens about Laine, who is due to return to action after being sidelined by abdominal surgery since October. However, there doesn’t seem to be a fit right now, and the Kings are looking elsewhere.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was expected that the Kings would return to the trade market following Kevin Fiala’s season-ending leg injury during the Olympics. No surprise that they checked in with the Canadiens, who could be having some difficulty fitting players returning from injuries back into their lineup.

It’s doubtful that Laine will end up with the Kings by the trade deadline, but the 27-year-old winger could end up with another playoff contender by March 6.

The Canadiens have played well in Laine’s absence, and he no longer fits in their plans. He’s UFA-eligible on July 1. The asking price won’t be high, and the Canadiens could be willing to retain part of his $8.7 million cap hit.

COULD SHANAHAN AND BERGEVIN JOIN THE PREDATORS?

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports multiple NHL sources claim Brendan Shanahan and Marc Bergevin have been linked to the Nashville Predators.

Shanahan is the former president of the Toronto Maple Leafs, while Bergevin is the former general manager of the Montreal Canadiens and currently an associate GM with the Buffalo Sabres.

Predators general manager Barry Trotz has indicated he will step down as soon as a suitable replacement is found. It’s rumored that Shanahan would become the Predators’ President of Hockey Operations while Bergevin would be their new general manager.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Murphy stated that his sources caution that nothing is set in stone yet. Shanahan and Bergevin could be among several candidates for those positions.

For now, Trotz remains as general manager and is handling the club’s plans for the upcoming trade deadline. There is no timetable to replace Trotz, but it’s believed the club prefers to do so before the 2026 NHL Draft in June.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 25, 2026

by | Feb 25, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – February 25, 2026

Check out the latest on the Canucks’ Elias Pettersson and Evander Kane, the Flames’ Nazem Kadri, the Maple Leafs and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

CANUCKS GETTING INTEREST IN ELIAS PETTERSSON, COULD MOVE EVANDER KANE

TSN: Darren Dreger reports there is renewed trade interest in Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson, but they haven’t yet received an offer worth considering. Pettersson’s agents are aware of the trade discussions. However, they won’t include their client (who has a no-movement clause) until it reaches a point where there is a potential deal.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pettersson’s declining production is a stumbling block in the path to a trade, though the teams that have inquired about him likely believe he’ll regain his scoring form with a change of scenery. Nevertheless, his no-movement protection and his $11.6 million average annual value through 2031-32 are also significant hurdles that could keep him in Vancouver beyond the March 6 trade deadline.

Chris Johnston reports Evander Kane was the subject of a fair amount of trade discussions. It’s expected the 34-year-old winger could be moved to a playoff club by the March 6 deadline, with the Canucks willing to retain half of his $5.125 million cap hit. The Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Dallas Stars are among the clubs that have made inquiries.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane is more likely to be moved by March 6 than Pettersson, especially if the Canucks retain half of his remaining salary. He might cost at most a third-round pick.

FLAMES COULD MOVE KADRI, LOOKING AT INTEREST IN COLEMAN AND MORE

TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Calgary Flames are still testing the trade market for Nazem Kadri. He claims the 35-year-old center wants to be traded. They’re also looking at the interest in winger Blake Coleman and defensemen MacKenzie Weegar and Zach Whitecloud. Dreger stated that Flames general manager Craig Conroy will remain patient to ensure he has a full assessment of the trade market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: All those players are signed beyond this season. That’s why Conroy can play the waiting game. He’s under no pressure to move them at the trade deadline. If there are no suitable offers by March 6, he can wait for the offseason to see if the trade market improves.

Chris Johnston suggested the Colorado Avalanche might be a suitor for Kadri, who played for them for several seasons before signing with the Flames in the summer of 2022. The Avalanche created extra salary-cap space on Tuesday by trading defenseman Samuel Girard to the Pittsburgh Penguins for blueliner Brett Kulak. They’re expected to use that additional cap room to add a forward, probably a centerman.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kadri carries an AAV of $7 million through 2028-29 with a 13-team no-trade list. It’s a good bet that the Avalanche aren’t on that list. He’d probably leap at the opportunity to rejoin the Avalanche and pursue another Stanley Cup with them.

WILL THE MAPLE LEAFS BECOME SELLERS?

TSN: Darren Dreger thinks the next two or three games for the Toronto Maple Leafs will decide if they become sellers at the trade deadline. They’re currently six points out of a wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference with four clubs to leapfrog.

If the Leafs decide to sell, Dreger believes UFA-eligible forwards such as Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton could be put on the trade block.

WHICH PLAYERS’ TRADE VALUE WAS AFFECTED BY THEIR OLYMPIC PERFORMANCES?

DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin examined which players’ trade value changed for better or worse by the performances in the Olympics.

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington topped the list of those whose value went up. Binnington had a solid performance between the pipes for Canada. New York Rangers winger Mika Zibanejad and Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen also likely got a boost from their efforts in the Olympics.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson, Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Ottawa Senators center Lars Eller, and Seattle Kraken winger Eeli Tolvanen saw their stock go down.










NHL Rumor Mill – February 11, 2026

by | Feb 11, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – February 11, 2026

Check out the latest on the Flyers, Maple Leafs, and Blue Jackets in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHICH FLYERS COULD BECOME TRADE BAIT?

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James recently looked at the Philadelphia Flyers’ potential plans for the March 6 trade deadline.

Philadelphia Flyers winger Owen Tippett (NHL Images).

James dismissed a recent rumor suggesting the Flyers could shake things up by trading Travis Konecny. He pointed out that the 27-year-old winger has a full no-movement clause, is a respected team leader, and will be part of the Flyers’ plans to get better sooner rather than later.

Owen Tippett was also mentioned as a trade candidate. James believes the Flyers would prefer to keep him, but their surplus of wingers could force their hand. Tippett could be someone they could include in a package deal if they were to pursue someone such as St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas.

Bobby Brink could also become a trade chip. He’s slated to become a restricted free agent in July and might have to make room for younger wingers in the Flyers’ system.

As for their defensemen, James suggested moving Rasmus Ristolainen as one option before March 6. He also wondered about Noah Juulsen, Emil Andrae, and Nick Seeler.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers’ recent slide in the standings likely killed off their chances of reaching the playoffs. Management will likely be sellers at the deadline, seeking returns that could accelerate their development, such as young NHL players.

The Flyers could use a first-line center, and Thomas would fit the bill. However, he has a full no-trade clause and might not be keen on joining a retooling/rebuilding club. If he is willing to join the Flyers, Tippett could be part of the deal, but it would cost perhaps another good young player, along with the Flyers’ 2026 first-rounder, and one of their top prospects. The Blues are setting high asking prices for guys like Thomas.

WHICH MAPLE LEAFS ARE THE MOST LIKELY TRADE CANDIDATES?

THE ATHLETIC: Jonas Siegel believes forwards Calle Jarnkrok, Scott Laughton, and Bobby McMann are the most likely trade candidates for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The trio is due to become unrestricted free agents on July 1.

Siegel also wouldn’t be surprised if defensemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Troy Stecher, and winger Nick Robertson end up getting moved by March 6.

Ekman-Larsson has two years left on his contract with an average annual value of $3.5 million and a 16-team no-trade list. Stecher is UFA-eligible on July 1, while Robertson is due to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McMann, Ekman-Larsson, and Laughton would likely fetch the best returns. McMann is considered their best trade chip because of his style of play and affordable contract.

WHAT WILL THE BLUE JACKETS DO BEFORE THE TRADE DEADLINE?

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline believes Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell and his staff will be busy during the Olympic break attempting to sign forwards Boone Jenner, Charlie Coyle, Mason Marchment, and defenseman Erik Gudbranson. The four are UFA-eligible on July 1.

Given the Blue Jackets’ surge in the standings before the Olympic break, Waddell wants to help his club by the trade deadline. If he can find an offensive finisher with term left on his contract, Waddell could go for it. He could also make depth moves, perhaps by targeting Chicago Blackhawks captain (and former Blue Jacket) Nick Foligno.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Waddell’s trade deadline plans will also depend on whether the Blue Jackets can maintain the hot streak they were on before the Olympics. If they struggle and end up sliding in the standings, he could attempt to move any unsigned UFAs.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 22, 2026

by | Jan 22, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 22, 2026

Recapping Wednesday’s action, the Sabres re-sign Josh Doan, the Bruins re-up Alex Steeves, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller scored the tying and overtime goals in a 5-4 comeback victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Keller finished with three points while Dylan Guenther and Nick Schmaltz each had two assists as the Mammoth (26-20-4) overcame a 4-2 deficit. Chris Dvorak had two goals and an assist for the 23-17-9 Flyers.

Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers forward Rodrigo Abols missed this game and is expected to be sidelined for two months with a fractured ankle.

Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal kicked out 40 shots as his club nipped the Colorado Avalanche 2-1. Cutter Gauthier scored the winner in the shootout for the 26-21-3 Ducks, who picked up their fifth straight win. Scott Wedgewood turned aside 16 of 17 shots in regulation and overtime for the league-leading Avalanche (34-5-9), who are 1-1-2 in their last four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the 1,000th regular-season NHL game for Ducks winger Alex Killorn. Ducks center Mason McTavish missed this game with an upper-body injury. Defenseman Jackson Lacombe was named to the United States Olympic men’s hockey team as a replacement for sidelined Florida Panthers blueliner Seth Jones.

An overtime goal by Dylan Larkin gave the Detroit Red Wings a 2-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Larkin also assisted on Simon Edvinsson’s game-tying goal while John Gibson stopped 30 shots for the Red Wings (31-16-4), who have won seven of their last eight games. Joseph Woll made 39 saves, and Scott Laughton scored for the 24-17-9 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson suffered a lower-body injury midway through the first period and did not return to action. He will be reevaluated on Thursday.

The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Calgary Flames 4-1. Evgeni Malkin and Tommy Novak each had a goal and an assist for the 24-14-11 Penguins, who are 3-0-2 in their last five contests. Yegor Sharangovich replied for the Flames, who dropped to 21-24-5.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins defenseman Kris Letang missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Flames winger Jonathan Huberdeau is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser had a goal and an assist as his club ended an 11-game winless skid with a 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals. Kevin Lankinen made 29 saves for the Canucks (17-28-5). Dylan Strome tallied twice and collected an assist for the slumping Capitals (24-21-6), who have dropped four straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals winger Tom Wilson collected an assist in his return to action after missing eight games with a lower-body injury. Capitals defenseman John Carlson collected two assists to reach 600 for his NHL career.

The Seattle Kraken beat the New York Islanders 4-1. Vince Dunn had a goal and an assist for the 22-18-9 Kraken, ending a four-game winless skid (0-3-1). Anthony Duclair scored for the Islanders (27-18-5).

IN OTHER NEWS…

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: The Sabres signed forward Josh Dean to a seven-year, $48.75 million contract extension, with an average annual value of $6.95 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Acquired from the Mammoth in the JJ Peterka trade last June, the 23-year-old Doan has become a valuable young forward for the Sabres. He’s moved up in their lineup into a first-line role, and sits fourth among their scorers with 35 points in 49 games.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins signed forward Alex Steeves to a two-year contract extension with an AAV of $1.625 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Steeves, 26, has become a versatile player for the Bruins this season, earning praise from head coach Marco Sturm for his ability to play any forward position and move easily throughout the lineup as required.

TSN: The New Jersey Devils placed defenseman Luke Hughes (shoulder) on long-term injury reserve.

TAMPA BAY TIMES: The Lightning have officially extended their lease at the Benchmark International Arena for six more years through 2043.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 12, 2025

by | Dec 12, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 12, 2025

A four-goal performance by Predators forward Steven Stamkos, Canadiens rookie goalie Jacob Fowler wins his NHL debut, four-point performances by the Bruins’ David Pastrnak and the Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov, and more in today’s Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Steven Stamkos had his second career four-goal NHL game as the Nashville Predators thumped the St. Louis Blues 7-2. Luke Evangelista collected three assists as the 12-14-4 Predators have won six of their last eight games. Winger Hugh McGing scored his first NHL goal as the Blues fell to 11-14-7.

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos is now six goals away from reaching 600 regular-season goals in his NHL career.

Montreal Canadiens rookie goaltender Jacob Fowler stopped 36 shots to win his first NHL game in a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Cole Caufield netted his 17th goal of the season while Lane Hutson and Juraj Slafkovsky each had two assists for the Canadiens (16-11-3). Bryan Rust and Erik Karlsson replied for the 14-8-7 Penguins, who are 0-1-2 in their last three games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fowler became the first Florida-born goaltender in NHL history. He’s also the fourth goaltender in Canadiens history to make his NHL debut against the Penguins, joining Ken Dryden, Patrick Roy, and Carey Price.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak tallied twice and collected two assists to defeat the Winnipeg Jets 6-3. Morgan Geekie had three assists for the Bruins, who extended their win streak to four games and improved to 19-13-0. Morgan Barron, Alex Iafallo, and Gabriel Vilardi scored for the struggling Jets (14-15-1) as they’ve lost three straight contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy collected an assist as he returned to action after missing 11 games due to a facial fracture.

The Tampa Bay Lightning pounded the New Jersey Devils 8-4. Nikita Kucherov had four assists while Jake Guentzel and Oliver Bjorkstrand each had three points for the Lightning (18-11-2), who reclaimed first place in the Atlantic Division with 38 points. Goalie Jacob Markstrom was replaced by Jake Allen after giving up three goals on seven shots as the Devils (17-13-1) have lost six of their last seven games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning captain Victor Hedman was placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury. Dave Randorf reports it’s the same injury that sidelined him for 12 games earlier this season. He will see a specialist for a second opinion, and it will be a couple of days before they know how long he’ll be sidelined.

Devils forward Timo Meier missed this game as he took a personal leave to attend to a family health matter.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi turned aside 22 shots to win his eighth straight start in a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals. Seth Jarvis scored the winning goal in the shootout, while Nikolaj Ehlers and Logan Stankoven each had a goal and an assist for the 19-9-2 Hurricanes, who moved past the Capitals into first place in the Metropolitan Division with 40 points. Connor McMichael and Rasmus Sandin each had two points for the Capitals (18-9-4).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bussi became the first goaltender in NHL history to win 10 of the first 11 games of his career. Meanwhile, the Capitals announced that sidelined rookie forward Ryan Leonard will miss three to four weeks with a shoulder injury.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist in a 6-2 win over the Florida Panthers. The league-leading Avalanche (22-2-7, 51 points) picked up its 10th straight home win. Noah Gregor and Mackie Samoskevich replied for the 15-13-2 Panthers as their three-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon leads all scorers with 25 goals and 53 points. Avalanche rookie forward Gavin Brindley had a goal and an assist as he returned from a 10-game absence due to a lower-body injury.

The Vegas Golden Knights got an overtime goal from captain Mark Stone to nip the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2. Stone finished with two goals while linemate Jack Eichel had two assists for the 15-6-9 Golden Knights, who took over first place in the Pacific Division with 39 points. Trevor Zegras and Noah Juulsen scored for the Flyers (16-9-4).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights opted not to play Carter Hart against this former club, pointing out that he was coming off back-to-back starts.

New York Islanders captain Anders Lee had two goals and two assists to lead his club over the Anaheim Ducks by a score of 5-2. Simon Holmstrom had a goal and two assists for the Islanders, who have won five of their last six games and improved to 18-11-3. Troy Terry had a goal and an assist for the Ducks (19-11-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders center Bo Horvat is listed as day-to-day after leaving this game in the second period with an injured left leg.

The Minnesota Wild defeated the Dallas Stars 5-2, snapping the latter’s 11-game points streak. Matt Boldy had a goal and two assists, and Marcus Johansson tallied two goals for the 17-9-5 Wild. Miro Heiskanen had a goal and an assist for the Stars (21-6-5).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars center Roope Hintz left this game late in the third period with an injured foot. Earlier in the day, the Wild placed winger Mats Zuccarello and defenseman Jake Middleton on injured reserve.

Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman tallied a hat trick in a 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Connor McDavid picked up four assists for the 14-11-6 Oilers. Simon Edvidsson replied for the Red Wings (17-12-3) as their six-game points streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Oilers placed forwards Jack Roslovic and Connor Clattenburg on injured reserve, and moved defenseman Jake Walman on long-term injury reserve.

Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle scored two goals in a 6-3 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Drake Batherson, Michael Amadio, and Dylan Cozens each had three points for the Senators (14-12-4) as they ended a three-game losing skid. Jet Greaves replaced Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins after giving up three goals on five shots as his club slipped to 13-12-6.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators center Lars Eller left this game with a lower-body injury. This was his second game back from an undisclosed injury.

An overtime goal by Alexander Wennberg lifted the San Jose Sharks over the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2. Wennberg finished with three points, and John Klingberg tied the game late in the third for the Sharks, who improved to 15-14-3. William Nylander had two assists for the Maple Leafs (14-11-5).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson left this game in the third period after injuring his left leg. He will be reevaluated on Friday. Before the game, the Leafs announced that sidelined blueliner Brandon Carlo (lower-body injury) underwent surgery and will be out for a month.

The Buffalo Sabres held off the Vancouver Canucks by a score of 3-2. Tage Thompson had a goal and an assist for the Sabres (13-14-4) as they picked up their first regulation road win since Apr. 1. Kiefer Sherwood and Max Sasson scored for the 11-17-3 Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Sabres placed goaltender Colten Ellis on injured reserve.

DAILY FACEOFF: Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley is expected to miss at least eight weeks with a lower-body injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s a significant blow for the struggling Mammoth. He leads them with 14 goals and is fourth in points with 23.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 20, 2025

by | Apr 20, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 20, 2025

The Jets and Avalanche take the opening games of their respective series, the Rangers and Ducks fire their head coaches, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING SATURDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION

NHL.COM: Kyle Connor scored the winning goal with 1:36 remaining in the third period as the Winnipeg Jets defeated the St. Louis Blues 5-3, taking a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven opening round series.

Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor (NHL Images).

Connor and Mark Scheifele each had a goal and two assists as the Jets scored three unanswered third-period goals to overcome a 3-2 deficit. Robert Thomas, Oskar Sundqvist and Jordan Kyrou scored for the Blues. Game 2 is Monday, Apr. 21, in Winnipeg starting at 7:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Game 1 was anything to go by, this should be a fast-paced, entertaining series. The Blues set a physical tone, outhitting Winnieg 53-33. However, the Jets adapted and took control of the game in the final period.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals and collected an assist to lead his club to a 5-1 win over the Dallas Stars to take a 1-0 lead in their first-round series. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 23 shots for the win in his first-ever NHL playoff game.

Roope Hintz tallied for the Stars to make it 2-1 in the third period before the Avalanche pulled away with three goals. Game 2 is Monday in Dallas at 9:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon was outstanding as usual, but Blackwood was the real star of this one for the Avs, coming up with several big saves to frustrate the Stars.

Avalanche forward Ross Colton left this game in the third period with a lower-body injury. An update on his status is expected Sunday. Meanwhile, sidelined Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen attended Saturday’s morning skate and has been upgraded to day-to-day. He’s been out since undergoing knee surgery in late January.

HEADLINES

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers fired head coach Peter Laviolette on Friday. Hired in 2023, Laviolatte guided the Blueshirts to the 2023-24 Presidents’ Trophy, but the club struggled this season and missed the playoffs. They are seeking their fourth head coach since 2021.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks relieved Greg Cronin of his duties as head coach after two seasons. The rebuilding Ducks improved by 21 points over last season but missed the playoffs for the seventh straight season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Laviolette firing was expected, given his inability to cope with the turmoil within the team as management attempted to remake the roster during this season. However, the Cronin firing was a surprise because of the Ducks’ notable improvement this season.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk was a full participant in practice on Saturday as his club prepares for Game 1 of their first-round series with archrival Tampa Bay Lightning. The power forward has been sidelined with a groin injury since the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in February.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning-Panthers series begins on Tuesday. Barring a setback, expect Tkachuk to return to action in Game 1.

DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Lightning, winger Oliver Bjorkstrand will miss that series with the Panthers because of a lower-body injury.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs defensemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jake McCabe were back in their usual spots on the blueline during Saturday’s practice. Both rearguards had been sidelined with injuries heading into the postseason.

DAILY FACEOFF: Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson revealed he played the final 12 games of the regular season with a broken fibula after blocking a shot during a March 25 game against the Seattle Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andersson kept playing because he was trying to help his club stay in the playoff race. While those efforts were unsuccessful, his toughness and will to win are among the reasons why management hopes to sign him to a contract extension this summer.

NEW YORK POST: Islanders forward Mathew Barzal and goaltender Semyon Varlamov are expected to be ready for training camp in September. Knee surgeries sidelined both players and their absence was partly responsible for the Isles missing the playoffs.

THE SCORE: Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen is expected to miss the start of next season after undergoing arm surgery. His last game of this season was March. 11.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ristolainen’s improved performance before his injury was among the few bright spots for the Flyers this season.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Sabres defenseman Owen Power won’t require surgery on his injured left knee. He’s been told to stay off the ice for two months, which shouldn’t interfere with his offseason training.

Meanwhile, Sabres forward Josh Norris revealed a torn oblique muscle limited him to just three games with the club following his March 7 trade from the Ottawa Senators.

THE TENNESSEAN: Nashville Predators winger Jonathan Marchessault was critical of head coach Andrew Brunette’s offensive system. “Clearly, it didn’t work,” he said, adding that there had to be adjustments before next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators were among this season’s worst offensive teams despite the additions last summer of scoring forwards Marchessault and Steven Stamkos. That inability to score occasionally sparked speculation over Brunette’s job security.

TSN: The Edmonton Oilers signed defenseman Ty Emberson to a two-year, $2.6 million contract extension.