Two games. Two third-period leads. Two stunning collapses.

The Los Angeles Kings are staring into the void of a dangerous 2–2 series tie with the Edmonton Oilers after what will perhaps be remembered as one of the most devastating and epic back-to-back collapses in franchise playoff history.

Instead of coming back to Crypto.com Arena with a commanding 3-1 series lead to try to close out the series, the Kings now have to fight to regain momentum in a best-of-three sprint — all because they couldn't close out what they opened.

However, this isn’t a surprise, as the Kings are the worst road team among all eight Western Conference playoff teams. But, even though they’ve struggled on the road in the season, they’ve had leads in games 3 and 4 at Edmonton. 

In game 3, after trailing 2-0 early, the Kings fought back and took a 4- 3 lead off of Trevor Moore sprinting down the ice in a one-on-one battle and scoring. LA would hold onto this lead comfortably until the 6:44 mark when they gave up two goals in 10 seconds and got outscored 4-0 in the 3rd period. 

Game 4 was a bigger choke job because the Kings were in control of the game for most of the time, until the third period, when they conceded two goals and went into overtime, ultimately losing on a game-winning goal by Leon Draisaitl. 

Not just that, but the Kings were held to zero goals, going scoreless after their 3-1 lead in the second period. Even though both teams were struggling to score after the score was tied 3-3, there was just a feeling that Edmonton was going to take this game because they were hustling, sprinting, and wanted it more in the final moments. 

Jim Hiller’s postgame comments on third period adjustments. pic.twitter.com/1LFvQqsEoN

— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) April 28, 2025

The Oilers were moving the puck around and had so many chances to score early in overtime, but were just missing their shots. Edmonton outshot LA 48-41, proving to be the more physical and aggressive team last night in their efforts to score goals. 

For Los Angeles, these back-to-back road losses are not just painful. They're exhibiting a disturbing pattern that has defined their playoffs: third-period meltdowns, defensive play with the lead, and a failure to match the sense of urgency of an Oilers team that can smell blood in the water.

A Golden Opportunity Slips Away

Again, they became passive. Again, they stood by and watched as Edmonton's suffocating pressure broke down their defense. Evan Bouchard tied the game on a blue-line one-timer early in the third, and Leon Draisaitl finished it off with a power-play goal in overtime after a Kings penalty that cost them the game.

What was meant to be a commanding 3–1 series lead is now in jeopardy — all onus now squarely on Los Angeles.

Third-Period Miscues the Story

The first four games of the series have witnessed the third period controlled by Edmonton. The Kings have been outscored 7-0 in the third period, outshot 32– 14, and are increasingly uncertain with the puck in big-game situations.

LA Kings were 30 seconds from a 3-1 series lead. Give up a Bouche Bomb and then lose in OT. Series tied 2-2 going to LA, Game 5 pivotal in LA as I had the Kings in 6. However, if Edmonton wins Game 5 then IMHO the Oilers win in six games.

If LA loses this series, Game 4 will be…

— John A. Labban (@johnalabban4629) April 28, 2025

That is the biggest story for this series, as it is split 2-2 heading into Crypto.com Arena. The Kings have become a lesser version of themselves in the third period on the road compared to the first and second, where they’ve started off looking great and building up leads. 

Despite giving up all these goals in the third period, you can’t blame Darcy Kuemper, who was phenomenal tonight in OT, standing on his head for 18 minutes, making several spectacular saves. 

Kuemper was giving his team every possible chance to get the win, but the offense just couldn't get the momentum going in the third period or overtime.

Game 5: A Defining Moment Awaits

With the series tied 2–2, Tuesday evening's Game 5 at Crypto.com Arena is now a season-defining game for the Kings — and perhaps for this generation of Kings hockey, too.

Oilers and Kings are tied 2-2 heading to Game 5.
Story of the series so far... pic.twitter.com/8atGvwtYda

— Mike Kelly (@MikeKellyNHL) April 28, 2025

Win, and the Kings seize control of the series with a chance to finish off an Oilers team that has haunted them for three straight playoff seasons. Lose, and Edmonton returns home to Rogers Place with an opportunity to send L.A. home in Game 6, thrusting the Kings' playoff hopes — and the assumptions about the window of their core's chance at a championship — into the spotlight. 

There is no fake-it-till-you-make-it anymore. There are no moral victories. The Kings have shown that they can play with Edmonton for long periods. But until they figure out how to close games, until they stop bleeding late, and until their top players step up in clutch situations, their playoffs will end like the previous three: riding the bench while watching Edmonton move forward as they wish they could've.

With two third-period meltdowns, agonizing as they were, the Los Angeles Kings are no longer battling the Oilers. They're battling themselves.

The NHL awards are nigh.

On the second day of the week designated by the NHL for releasing major award nominees, the league announced the finalists for the Norris Trophy for 2025.

Colorado Avalanche superstar defender Cale Makar is, once again, nominated. Apart from his rookie season (where he won the Calder Trophy), he’s either won or been a finalist.

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He was the runner-up to the New York Rangers’ defender Adam Fox in 2020-21. The following year, Makar would win the award after putting up an 86-point season. The Avalanche would go on to win the Stanley Cup, with Makar also taking home the Conn Smythe Trophy.

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GAME PREVIEW: Girard and Avalanche Look to Carry Momentum to Dallas for Game 5Sam Girard capped off a dominant 4-0 win over the Dallas Stars during Game 4 in Denver on Saturday. Girard, Logan O'Connor, Nathan MacKinnon, and Gabriel Landeskog all contributed goals in the win at home, only made more dominant by Mackenzie Blackwood, who earned his first career postseason shutout. Blackwood has played his first four career postseason games with the Avalanche this year.

In the last two years, he’s been one of the three finalists. Erik Karlsson and Quinn Hughes won the trophy in those years (playing for the San Jose Sharks and Vancouver Canucks respectively).

For 2025, he joins Hughes (again) and Columbus Blue Jackets blueliner Zach Werenski as this year’s finalists. 

Makar’s season is well deserving of a nomination. He’s had a career year and is putting his name in the ring for one of the best offensive defenders ever to play the game.

Six years in the NHL, five Norris nominations. 

Cale Makar is ________________. pic.twitter.com/KJN3mcYTMH

— x - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 29, 2025

He collected 30 goals and 62 assists for 92 points in 80 games. Makar also averaged 25:43 of ice time per game. He set career-highs in goals and points this past season.

Makar also began the season with a 13-game point streak, which is only the second all-time to Bobby Orr.

Avalanche fans will have to wait until the end of the playoffs to see if Makar will add a second Norris Trophy to his collection.

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The most successful coaches in the NHL right now are do not belong to the Rangers

That, of course, is because the Blueshirts – for the moment at least – don't have one and even if they sign Mike Sullivan he'll be ranked 32nd best out of 32.

Picking out the perfect coach for a team is not easy but the Tampa Bay Lightning solved that problem a long time ago with Jon Cooper.

When the Lightning signed him on March 25, 2013 Coop had no NHL experience but had done exceptional work in the AHL. Instead of going for a retread, the Boltd gambled on Cooper and it paid off. 

"Jon has more than proved his worth," says Tampa Bay broadcaster Larry Hirsch. "The fact he's been around for more than a decade says it all for how he has adjusted with the seasons and changes in personnel."

Stanley Cup champion Paul Maurice has an even longer track record, dating back 20 years to the Hartford Whalers. Witty, insightful and wisely self-critical, Maurice walked away from the Winnipeg gig without being pushed.

"Paul instinctively knew that for the Winnipeg Jets' sake – and his sake – it was imperative to withdraw, take stock and reevaluate what works what does not," says The Old Scout. "That's what Sully will have to do if he comes to Rangers."

Right now Sullivan is the ultimate recycled retread with nothing impressive about his work but three missed playoffs in a row with the Penguins.

"Instead of Malkin and Crosby," adds The Old Scout, "his Rangers keys will be Panarin, Shesterkin, some promising kids and Fat Cats. There's nothing about what he did in Pittsburgh that suggests he'll do better on Seventh Avenue."

Mike Sullivan's Departure From Penguins Paves The Way For Rangers To Swoop In The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Monday morning that they have parted ways with longtime head coach Mike Sullivan.

Chris Drury blew it when he bypassed Rangers farmhand coach Kris Knoblauch for Peter Laviolette. In case you missed it, Knoblauch took Edmonton to the Cup Final last spring and who knows? – might even do it again.

Now we wait and see whether Drury does what everyone thinks he's gonna do; hire Sullivan. If so, New York will be Retread City all over again; except that the Rangers' version inevitably will be just like Pittsburgh's. 

Ersatz!

Rangers' logic defies credulity.

Chris Drury spends the 2024-25 season multiplying mistakes from dumb trades to overpaying fat cats by the ton.

His club misses the playoffs and instead of being booted into the East River the guy gets a new contract. Rangers' illogical logic prevails.

Now the talk is that Mike Sullivan has all but clinched the open head coaching slot and isn't that wonderful when you consider how badly he failed in Pittsburgh that not even his buddy Sid Crosby could save his job. 

With Hall of Famers Crosby and Geno Malkin leading the Penguins' lineup, Sully has missed the playoffs for three straight years.

That should make him a perfect Rangers fit: A. An over-the-hill retread. B. A three-straight loser. Isn't that a wonderful combo. Like tapioca pudding with ketchup. OY VAY!

Owner Jim Dolan's spin on rehiring Drury was...was...was..something like, "I just like this guy and that's all there is to it" kind of spin. 

Well there's gotta be something good about Drury other than his name is easy to spell and he's got a pizza business.

As for Sullivan, well, let's see. Sidney likes him. Geno likes him. Hmmmm!

The talk also has the Bruins wanting sulled Sully. And that figures because the one thing you really gotta love about the Bostonians is that their high command can match the Rangers on the Ineptitude scale.

This is how dopey the Beantown general staff is these days. First, they open the season with good coach Jim Montgomery. Then, they panic durin an early season slump. 

Next they dump Monty who goes to St.Louis and turns the Blues into a playoff team while the Bruins fade and go into non-playoff hibernation.

NHL General Managers Reportedly Believe Mike Sullivan Will End Up With The Rangers Now that Mike Sullivan has officially parted ways with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the New York Rangers have already jumped in as the favorites to land the Stanley Cup-winning coach.

Gimme a break. If Mike Sullivan is so good; so desirable perhaps theRangers and Bruins ought to make a lend-lease deal and share him. Hey, you get him for October and we get him for November. 

And we fire him for Christmas!

Does all the Tocchet talk point to coach's return with Flyers? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

As the Flyers search for a new head coach, we’re looking at potential candidates to fill the vacancy.

“Communication and teaching are probably two things that will be at the forefront of our next coach,” general manager Danny Briere said April 19 at his end-of-the-season press conference. “When you have a young team in place, I really think those two attributes are extremely important.”

We started our series with Mike Sullivan. Next up, we profile Rick Tocchet, whose time in Vancouver came to an end Tuesday. The Canucks did not exercise their club option on Tocchet for next season, but wanted him to stay. If the sides didn’t come to terms on a new contract, Tocchet would become a free agent.

And that became the case Tuesday.

“I’m choosing to move on from the Vancouver Canucks,” Tocchet said as part of a statement released by the team. “Family is a priority, and with my contract lapsing, this becomes the opportune time. While I don’t know where I’m headed, or exactly how this will play out for me over the near term, I feel like this is the right time for me to explore other opportunities in and around hockey.”

We’ll see if Tocchet becomes the Flyers’ top target.

This was from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently on the Donnie and Dhali show: “My bet is if he’s coaching next year, it’s either in Vancouver or Philadelphia.”

And from ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski: “Most of the sources we spoke with expected that Philadelphia would be Tocchet’s next stop if he and the Canucks part ways.”

Why Tocchet would be a fit

There are connections abound with Tocchet and the Flyers.

He adores the city and franchise. He’s in the Flyers Hall of Fame. He and Briere were teammates with the Coyotes and he was a Flyers teammate with president of hockey operations Keith Jones.

“I’m sure the players will tell you, there’s no better place to play,” Tocchet said in November 2021 at his Flyers Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

“I don’t think there’s a better fan base in the NHL. You guys support the team, you guys want to win as bad as anybody.”

Not only does Tocchet know what it takes to play in this market, but he has also proven he can coach a little, too. He won the Jack Adams Award (Coach of the Year) last season in his first full year with Vancouver. The Canucks put up 50 wins, 109 points and took the eventual Western Conference champion Oilers to seven games in the second round.

This season, Vancouver had a drama-filled year and finished with 90 points (38-30-14) to miss the playoffs.

Overall, though, the Canucks played with structure and smarts. They were tied for the fourth-fewest goals allowed at 5-on-5 in Tocchet’s two full seasons. They made high-percentage plays and limited shots, creating offense through work ethic.

If the Flyers wanted to reinvigorate some of their fan base, landing Tocchet would do the trick. The 61-year-old has the presence to put butts in seats.

He also has three Stanley Cup rings, all with the Penguins — one as a player and two as an assistant coach. He never got a ring in Philly but came oh-so close. Motivation would be pretty high for Tocchet behind the Flyers’ bench.

Why Tocchet would not be a fit

Tocchet is not rich with experience. He has been to the playoffs twice as an NHL head coach and his 11 postseason victories are tied with former Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol.

The 12-win, 19-point drop-off with Vancouver this season might have some feeling that last season was more of an outlier, perhaps that initial jump teams often take under a new voice.

It’s worth noting, though, that Tocchet’s résumé may be a bit skewed from his previous stop. He spent four seasons leading the Coyotes, one of the NHL’s most challenging markets at the time.

As outlined above, Tocchet has a deep Flyers background. Would outside perspective from a younger, up-and-coming coach be a better fit for a rebuilding Flyers team? It’s a question that may be asked.