Running analysis of Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs

Our hockey writers share their observations and insights throughout Round 2 of the NHL postseason.

Monday, May 18

Dobes rebounds in big way

Jakub Dobes could've crumbled after allowing six goals and getting pulled in Game 6. He could've unraveled when Sabres fans jeered him after each Buffalo goal in Game 7.

Instead, the rookie sensation stood tall again, making 37 saves Monday to help Montreal reach the Eastern Conference Final.

"I was just doing my job," Dobes said postgame, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels. "Their fans like to chant my name, so I like that, too. Thanks for that. That was giving me fire because I like when you're the villain when you're in this situation."

Dobes has stopped 65 of 68 shots across two Game 7 starts this postseason, good for a .956 save percentage. After goaltending was a concern for so much of the Canadiens' season, Dobes has risen to the occasion in the biggest moments of these playoffs.

The 24-year-old outduelled Andrei Vasilevskiy in the opening round. He then got the best of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Now, with a trip to the Stanley Cup Final on the line, Dobes will take on Carolina Hurricanes veteran Frederik Andersen, who boasts a perfect 8-0 record with a postseason-best .950 save percentage. - Kyle Cushman

Keys to Game 7

The Sabres and Canadiens will wrap up the second round with a highly anticipated Game 7 on Monday night. Anything can happen in a winner-take-all - look no further than the Habs' nine-shot triumph against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 1. Here are some key areas to watch for each team tonight.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is likely to start in goal after stabilizing Buffalo's crease in Game 6, but the 27-year-old has been inconsistent in the playoffs overall; he was yanked in Game 4 and owns an .875 save percentage in five appearances this spring. It goes without saying that Luukkonen will need to replicate Saturday's performance in order for the Sabres to advance.

🏒 Bet on the NHL playoffs with theScore Bet here

The Canadiens need a complete rebound after being run out of their own building in Game 6, but the player we'll be watching closely is captain Nick Suzuki, who said that Saturday's showing is the worst game Montreal has played. The Habs seem to go as Suzuki does this postseason, as nine of his 12 playoff points have come in victories.

Additional storylines to watch are Alex Tuch's six-game point streak, Juraj Slafkovsky's goal slump, Jakub Dobes' ability to bounce back from his worst performance of the playoffs, and Montreal's 5-0 postseason record following a loss. - Sean O'Leary

Saturday, May 16

Dahlin refused to lose

Rasmus Dahlin wasn't going to allow Buffalo's season to end Saturday. The Sabres captain was the best player in a come-from-behind 8-3 thumping, registering a goal and four assists in the must-win Game 6 to tie a franchise record for most points in a playoff contest. He's also the first defenseman in NHL history to record five points in a game with his team facing elimination.

Dahlin set the tone by opening the scoring just 32 seconds into the game, completely undressing Juraj Slafkovsky before roofing a backhand over Jakub Dobes.

In one of his more underrated plays of the evening, Dahlin absorbed a massive hit behind the net to deliver a long stretch pass that set up a two-on-one goal in the second period.

The Sabres controlled 83.3% of the expected goals when Dahlin was on the ice at five-on-five, per MoneyPuck. Notably, when Dahlin and his regular defense partner, Mattias Samuelsson, were on the ice together, the club controlled 100% of the expected goals.

Buffalo received outstanding performances from several other key players. Tage Thompson flourished in a move to the wing, collecting four points. Owen Power didn't reach the scoresheet, but he looked like the player the Sabres were hoping they'd get when they drafted him first overall, posting a game-high 91.7% expected goals share.

Yet it was Dahlin who stood out above the rest, leading by example when it mattered most. He showed exactly why he's a finalist for the Norris Trophy in one of the most competitive years for the award in recent memory. - Josh Wegman

Canadiens' mental toughness put to test

The Montreal Canadiens have been an extremely resilient group this postseason, posting a perfect 5-0 record after losses. However, they haven't been beaten as badly as they were by the Buffalo Sabres in Saturday's 8-3 shellacking. That's their largest margin of loss, by far.

The 8-3 score was even generous. The Canadiens scored on each of their first three shots - two of which were egregious goals given up by Alex Lyon before he was yanked. It was about as bad of a performance as you could ask for.

Bouncing back from a narrow defeat is one thing. But rebounding from a loss in which you were gifted a 3-1 lead with a chance to close out a series on home ice, then completely outclassed the rest of the way, is an entirely different beast. Montreal's performance in Game 7 will tell us a lot about the psyche of this core moving forward. - Josh Wegman

Sabres need to split up Thompson, Tuch

Buffalo's dynamic duo of Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch have struggled in Round 2 against the Montreal Canadiens. Thompson has just one point at even strength in the series and is a team-worst minus-9, while Tuch has been held off the scoresheet entirely and is minus-8.

Will Lindy Ruff do anything about it?

With the Sabres not practicing Friday or holding a morning skate Saturday, there's no inclination about potential line combinations ahead of Saturday's must-win Game 6. Still, those numbers speak for themselves, and playing on the road will mean fewer opportunities to get away from Phillip Danault, who's been outstanding as Montreal's shutdown center this postseason.

Ruff could try surrounding Thompson with Josh Doan and Zach Benson: two pesky, defensively responsible, play-driving wingers who've arguably been Buffalo's best two forwards in the series. Danault is going to follow Thompson regardless of who he plays with, so maybe getting Tuch into some easier matchups alongside Josh Norris, Ryan McLeod, or Konsta Helenius could benefit him as well.

If Ruff is too hesitant to bring the line blender out, the only thing the Sabres will be blending by Monday will be a batch of margaritas in Cabo. - Josh Wegman

Friday, May 15

Ducks on exciting trajectory despite loss

Anaheim's fun run ended at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night in a one-sided affair. The Ducks trailed nearly the entire way, thanks to Mitch Marner's ridiculous tally only 1:02 into the contest.

The disappointment of Game 6 shouldn't take away from what was a fantastic season for the Ducks. Anaheim ended its seven-year playoff drought, dispatched the back-to-back Western Conference champs in Round 1, and pushed the Golden Knights to six. That's a strong start and incredible experience for the Ducks' young core in its first taste of the postseason.

The team arrived earlier than most expected. Leo Carlsson has blossomed into a legit No. 1 center. Beckett Sennecke looks like a stellar pick after being a surprise selection at third overall. Although Jackson LaCombe struggled in the second round, he shut down Connor McDavid in the opening series.

There are a ton of positives to take away from this season. Yes, this loss stings, but the Ducks will be back. This is only the start of their journey.

That's not to say it will be easy. Anaheim general manager Pat Verbeek has work to do with most of the blue line needing new contracts, plus Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier being in line for big paydays.

The Ducks showed they're on an exciting trajectory in the first of what will likely be many trips to the playoffs. - Kyle Cushman

Thursday, May 14

Canadiens have gear Sabres are missing

The Canadiens-Sabres series was billed as a matchup between two inexperienced teams, but after the Habs' Game 5 win, it's clear that Montreal is a step or two ahead of its Atlantic Division counterpart. The Canadiens had an answer for everything Buffalo threw their way Thursday, with Montreal's resilience and maturity the key difference as it sits one win from the Eastern Conference Final.

The Sabres opened the scoring with an early goal for the third straight game, but the Habs answered within four minutes. Montreal then needed just nine seconds to respond to Buffalo's second goal later in the frame and stuck with goaltender Jakub Dobes despite his rocky start. The Sabres had a chance to take a lead on the man advantage shortly after the Canadiens tied the contest in the second period, but they generated nothing. Montreal jumped out on top four minutes later and scored on both its power-play opportunities afterward to put the game out of reach.

The contest was up for grabs for both clubs until late in the second period, but it was the Canadiens who looked comfortable in the moment, while the Sabres squandered ample opportunities to take control.

Although momentum, coaching decisions, discipline, and clutch plays are all working in Montreal's favor at the moment, we'd be remiss not to mention how effectively the Canadiens are shutting down Buffalo's top players. Veteran center Phillip Danault has put the clamps on Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch, who were each minus-2 in Game 5 and are now minus-9 and minus-8, respectively, for the series. - Sean O'Leary

Loss stings but Wild in terrific shape

Minnesota scored the opening goal in Games 3, 4, and 5 against Colorado. It had a 3-1 lead with about three minutes left in regulation Wednesday. Then the juggernaut Avalanche stormed back to claim the series in five games.

Now, the Wild are doing some soul-searching. Players used the words shock, anger, and frustration in somber post-Game 5 media availabilities. It's a shame we didn't see Minnesota at full strength; No. 1 center Joel Eriksson Ek and top-four defenseman Jonas Brodin were both sidelined due to injury.

The Wild need an alpha dog down the middle. Some combination of Eriksson Ek, Ryan Hartman, Danila Yurov, Nico Sturm, and Michael McCarron (if he re-signs) can fill the 2C, 3C, and 4C spots nicely - no problem there. It's up to general manager Bill Guerin to find a proper 1C. The most likely route is a trade. Guerin's ammunition includes first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, a few interesting prospects, and, perhaps, one of the club's starter-caliber goalies.

Make no mistake, Guerin's aced the hardest part of the roster-building process by acquiring high-end talent. Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Quinn Hughes, and Brock Faber is as good of a four-pack of skaters as any in the NHL. This nucleus is capable of winning a Stanley Cup. All four are back next year, and Hughes, signed through 2026-27, is the only one on a short deal.

Hughes, traded to Minnesota from Vancouver in a December blockbuster, is eligible to sign a new contract on July 1. By all accounts, the elite blue-liner has thoroughly enjoyed his time in Minnesota. Nobody would bat an eye if the U.S. Olympian put pen to paper on a multi-year extension. - John Matisz

Wednesday, May 13

Avalanche are inevitable

The Minnesota Wild were considered a top-three team in the NHL by many, especially after they slayed the Dallas Stars in Round 1. However, they stood virtually no chance against the juggernaut Colorado Avalanche.

"They outplayed us the whole series, plain and simple," defenseman Brock Faber said after Minnesota's season-ending Game 5 loss.

The Avalanche can beat opponents in so many ways. Try to sit back and frustrate them? Colorado can be patient and win low-scoring games, as it did in Round 1 against the Los Angeles Kings. Want to play river hockey and go shot-for-shot? The Avs will likely embarrass you in that setting, too, just like they did in a 9-6 Game 1 victory against Minnesota. Even a perfect first period, like the Wild's 3-0 start in Game 5, doesn't guarantee safety.

This is the deepest iteration of the Avalanche we've seen in the Nathan MacKinnon era - yes, perhaps even deeper than the 2022 Cup-winning squad.

Two of Colorado's goals in Game 5 came from fourth-liners Parker Kelly (who had 21 during the regular season) and Jack Drury. Brett Kulak, who buried the OT winner, became the team's 17th different player to score this postseason in just nine games. He was the 16th different Avs player to score in Round 2, tying a Stanley Cup Playoff record for most in a single series.

But Colorado's star power has also been on full display. MacKinnon's shot to force OT in Game 5 was downright absurd. Martin Necas' set up on Kulak's winner was excellent. The only question mark at this point is Cale Makar's effectiveness after he appeared to injure his shoulder Wednesday. Still, he has ample time to recover with Colorado ending the series early.

It's hard to imagine any team - even the red-hot Vegas Golden Knights or the 8-0 Carolina Hurricanes - beating Colorado four times in a seven-game series. The Presidents' Trophy curse is bound to end sooner or later, and it would be fitting for this Avs team - which we may look back on as an all-time great - to be the ones to do it. - Josh Wegman

Dorofeyev delivering and driving up his price

Pavel Dorofeyev was the first star in Vegas' Game 5 victory Tuesday, thanks to a two-goal performance that included an overtime winner to give the Golden Knights a 3-2 series lead. The team is undoubtedly focused on securing one more victory to reach the Western Conference Final, but one can't help but wonder what Dorofeyev's clutch postseason means for his upcoming contract negotiations.

Dorofeyev, who's a restricted free agent this offseason, has provided incredible value with back-to-back campaigns of 30-plus goals on a $1.835-million salary. His 72 tallies over the past two seasons rank 17th in the NHL, and his 33 power-play markers are tied for second. Dorofeyev has carved out a role as the triggerman for pass-friendly teammates Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel, and he's likely to be paid handsomely for his unique skill set. The 25-year-old is currently tied for the playoff lead with seven goals this spring.

The Golden Knights are projected to have $4.6 million in cap space this summer, per PuckPedia, but they can gain an extra $8.8 million if Alex Pietrangelo can't suit up again next year. AFP Analytics estimates that Dorofeyev could earn up to $8.46 million on a long-term deal and $5.6 million on a short-term agreement. Regardless of the term, Vegas has a major negotiation on its hands this summer, and Dorofeyev is gaining leverage as each game passes. - Sean O'Leary

Tuesday, May 12

Canadiens squander opportunity in Game 4

If the Montreal Canadiens end up losing this series to the Buffalo Sabres, they'll look at Game 4 as a missed opportunity.

The Sabres dominated early before a lengthy double review zapped all their momentum. The first review was to determine if a puck caught by Jakub Dobes crossed the goal line (it did). Then the Canadiens successfully challenged for goalie interference, benefiting from a questionable ruling, to say the least.

Buffalo seemingly tried to gift Montreal a 3-1 series lead with all the penalties it took, but the Canadiens failed to capitalize, going 1-for-7 on the man advantage.

The Sabres, meanwhile, went 2-for-4 on the power play, including Tage Thompson's tying goal off a wild bounce. Perhaps that was the hockey gods correcting the earlier goalie interference call. - Josh Wegman

Sabres turn back to Luukkonen

The Buffalo Sabres are going back to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen after Alex Lyon allowed nine goals in Games 2-3 against the Montreal Canadiens.

The two goaltenders shared the Sabres' crease in the regular season and posted similar numbers. Luukkonen began the playoffs as Buffalo's starter but quickly lost the gig after giving up four goals on 20 shots in Game 2 of its first-round series against the Boston Bruins.

Lyon played exceptionally upon taking over, allowing two or fewer goals in each of his first five starts through Game 1 versus Montreal. But the last two contests have been a struggle for both Lyon and the Sabres overall, and a different look could be just what Buffalo needs to even the series.

The Sabres are also adding rookie Konsta Helenius and veteran Luke Schenn to the lineup in place of Sam Carrick and Logan Stanley. Helenius, the 14th overall pick in 2024, could provide a much-needed spark to their bottom six. - Kyle Cushman

Monday, May 11

Colorado's depth shines in Game 4

The Colorado Avalanche's superior depth proved to be the difference in a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild in Monday's pivotal Game 4.

Ross Colton scored his first goal of the 2026 postseason to give the Avalanche the lead in the third period with a great feed from Nic Roy. Less than three minutes after the Wild tied it, Parker Kelly restored Colorado's advantage with his first goal of the playoffs that stood as the winner. Even Jack Ahcan, a virtually unknown defenseman inserted into the lineup for his first career playoff game, contributed with a pair of crucial blocks during a mad scramble in front of the Avalanche net.

But back to Kelly: he scored 21 goals during the regular season yet still finds himself on the fourth line. That illustrates the abundance of talent Colorado possesses - even while dealing with key absences to forward Artturi Lehkonen and defenseman Sam Malinski.

The same can't be said for the Wild, who sorely miss the presence of No. 1 center Joel Eriksson Ek and shutdown defenseman Jonas Brodin - both injured in Round 1. Eriksson Ek in particular is a huge loss. The Wild's biggest weakness before his injury was their center depth, and now Ryan Hartman and Danila Yurov are completely overmatched centering Minnesota's first and second lines.

On a night where Nathan MacKinnon was held off the scoresheet until his empty-netter, and Cale Makar was held without a point, this was a game Minnesota needed to win. But Colorado's supporting cast had other ideas. - Josh Wegman

Avs' goalie choice sets tone for Game 4

Head coach Jared Bednar wouldn't confirm anything after morning skate, but Colorado appears poised to make a goalie change for Game 4 after Mackenzie Blackwood took starters' reps at practice on Monday. It's a near-unthinkable development after Scott Wedgewood looked like a Conn Smythe favorite in Round 1, but Bednar seems ready to gamble in order to recapture momentum against the Minnesota Wild.

In Round 2, Wedgewood's allowed 11 goals in three starts and was yanked in the Game 3 beatdown that allowed Minnesota to climb back into the series. The Avalanche used a tandem system in goal en route to the Presidents' Trophy, and Bednar suggested Monday that Wedgewood may be out of gas.

"He's done a great job when he's gone in the net and played for us," Bednar said, per The Athletic's Peter Baugh. "Some of them are small stretches, and some are a little larger. But I think for a guy that's not used to going every night, (with) the mental stress of a playoff series or two playoff series, it can be beneficial to give him a break and kind of reset."

Whether or not the Avalanche's genuine aim is simply getting Wedgewood some rest, the Wild must feel confident after forcing a significant lineup change on the heels of their dominant victory. Blackwood hasn't started a game since April 14, and you don't need to look far to find an example of a goalie switch backfiring: The Wild turned to Filip Gustavsson in Game 2. He allowed four goals in a loss before handing the crease back to Jesper Wallstedt for Game 3. - Sean O'Leary

Past analysis

Check out all our archived items from previous days here.

US: Must be 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER; Hope is here. Call (800)-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support (MA); Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY).

ON: Please play responsibly. 19+. ON only. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call ConnexOntario 24/7 at 1-866-531-2600. Text us at 247247 or chat with us at www.connexontario.ca.