Monthly Archives: May 2025

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Five Canadiens’ Prospects In The Hockey News Future Watch Top 100 Prospects

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Apr 14, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens right wing Ivan Demidov (93) plays the puck against the Chicago Blackhawks in the second period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

After exceeding the goal the Montreal Canadiens’ brass set for this season, the Habs will look to improve again in the 2025-26 campaign. They’ll need significant contributions from at least one rookie to do that, but a couple more could also make an impact.

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In this year’s edition of The Hockey News’ Future Watch, five Canadiens prospects are ranked in the league’s top 100 prospects. This is the exact total as in last year’s edition, but their identity and ranking differ.

In 2024, THN had David Reinbacher as Montreal’s top entry in its ranking, 13th place. Lane Hutson was the second entry, 49th place (in hindsight, that should have been much higher). Owen Beck was 60th, Joshua Roy 83rd, and Filip Mesar 89th.

Of the lot, only Reinbacher remains. Hutson is now an established NHLer and no longer available, while Beck, Roy, and Mesar have all been overtaken by other prospects. Without further ado, here are the five Canadiens’ prospects who have made the rankings for this year's edition.

Ivan Demidov

Coming in hot at number one is Ivan Demidov; he’s a new entry since he hadn’t yet been drafted when the list was compiled in 2024, but judging by how many scouts turned up at the Bell Centre to witness his debut, many wish he were theirs. The young Russian made an immediate impact with the Canadiens when he played the last two regular-season games and the five playoff tilts against the Washington Capitals.

His puck handling, hockey IQ, and compete level are through the roof. If this season was Hutson’s year in Montreal, the next campaign promises to be Demidov’s. His insertion on the first power play from the third game of the playoffs was a game-changer. Two incredibly creative players on the man-advantage unit immediately rejuvenated the Habs' power play. It became less predictable and a real threat.

David Reinbacher

In 17th place, we find the only name returning from last year’s edition: David Reinbacher. He only lost four spots, even though he was sidelined for most of the season with a knee injury, a true testament to how highly regarded he is by GMs, scouts, and directors of player personnel.

The Canadiens did their best to ensure Reinbacher didn’t waste any development opportunities, keeping him around the team until he was ready to return to action with the Laval Rocket. The organization is being very careful with the right-shot defenseman, not letting him skate more than once a day, no morning skate for the youngster, and no extra stress put on that surgically repaired knee—until Friday morning, that is. It looks like he’s turned a corner.

With David Savard hanging up his skates, the Canadiens will have a vacancy on the right side of defense, but will Reinbacher be ready to step into that role? Not yet. I think he could do with a full season in Laval just so the Habs can evaluate what they have in him. He played professional hockey in Switzerland, but the jump to the NHL is big.

Michael Hage

Another new entry for this edition, Michael Hage is 42nd on the THN’s list. He has plenty of potential and was impressive in his first season in the NCAA, scoring 34 points in 33 games. He was even named freshman of the year in the Big 10. He was fourth in points-per-game amongst all rookies in the NCAA with 1.03.

We already know that he’s going back to Michigan for a sophomore season, and he needs it. The 19-year-old is six feet one inch but only 190 pounds. He needs to add some muscle to his frame to be effective in the NHL.

The Canadiens drafted him 21st overall in the last draft, and the organization will have to be patient with him. Don’t expect him to make the jump to the NHL right away.

Logan Mailloux

Another new entry, Logan Mailloux, lands at number 58. His first season with the Laval Rocket was great; he scored 47 points in 72 games, but things were a lot harder in his sophomore campaign. In 63 games, he scored 33 points, which works out to 0.52 points per game, down from 0.65 in his rookie season.

The organization had hoped he could have been ready to make the jump to the NHL this season, but it was apparent at camp that he wasn’t quite there yet. This prompted Kent Hughes to turn to the trade market to replace Jonathan Kovacevic, whom he had thought expendable. Still, he managed to flip Justin Barron for Alex Carrier with the Nashville Predators, and it worked out well for the team.

Mailloux played seven games with the Canadiens this season, scoring four points, but he did not look like a finished product. He was still vulnerable defensively and could probably use more time in Laval.

Jacob Fowler

The fifth and final Canadiens on the list is newly signed goaltender Jacob Fowler. Hughes did well in signing him to an ELC, which only starts next season, and added an amateur tryout for the end of this year.

It has allowed a 20-year-old, 6-foot-4, 214-pound supersize goalie to play his first few professional games. He got three games in the regular season with the Rocket, going 2-1-0 with a 2.32 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage.

Samuel Montembeault’s tearing his groin also meant that he was tasked with starting the playoffs with the Rocket since Cayden Primeau was acting as backup to Jakub Dobes. With the Canadiens now eliminated, one would have thought Primeau would have taken the reins back, but Fowler was in the starter’s net on Friday morning, with game two being played in the evening.

In his sophomore season with Boston College, he was a dominant force winning the Mike Richter award as the top goaltender in the NCAA. He finished his season with a 25-7-2 record, a 1.63 GAA and a .940 SP.

It remains to be seen if that dominance will translate well at the professional level, but what his showed so far definitively has Canadiens' fans excited. 

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Hockey News, International

5 NHLers On Finland’s Last Euro Hockey Tour Roster

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Nashville Predators goaltender Jusse Saros playing for Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off. © David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Finland lost its first game of the final leg of the 2024-25 Euro Hockey Tour on Thursday night in Brno, Czechia 4-2 to the host Czechs. Finland’s goals were scored by Lenni Hämeenaho of Ässät Pori and defenseman Veli-Matti Vittasmäki of German club Kölner Haie – the latter was a late addition to the roster.

“The guy came on hard, maybe we weren’t quite ready and the game started off a little badly, but we were able to improve as the game progressed,” Hämeenaho said after the game. “Today’s game was tougher and more physical than the (previous exhibition) games against Sweden. I noticed that the level has risen.”

Juuse Saros stopped 30 of 33 shots in the Finnish goal – Jakub Lauko beat him in the third minute of the game and also scored a late goal into the empty net.

Pastrnak Will Play For Czechs In Worlds, But Not This Weekend In Euro Hockey TourPastrnak Will Play For Czechs In Worlds, But Not This Weekend In Euro Hockey Tour Multiple Czech media outlets reported on Monday that David Pastrňák has finally agreed to play for his home country in this year’s IIHF World Championship. Czech national team GM Jiří Šlégr confirmed the news after the team’s practise.

Finland’s roster currently includes five NHLers, including Saros and Nashville Predators backup goalie Justus Annunen. Also on the team are forwards Joona Koppanen of the Pittburgh Penguins, Juuso Pärssinen of the New York Rangers and Eeli Tolvanen of the Seattle Kraken.

Under previous coach Jukka Jalonen, Finland often relied on European-based players who were familiar with the team’s system ahead of NHLers, but it will be interesting to see if new coach Antti Pennanen decides to add any players who are eliminated from the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Report: NHL Teams Interested In Finnish D-Man Valtteri PulliReport: NHL Teams Interested In Finnish D-Man Valtteri Pulli According to Finnish media outlet MTV, multiple NHL teams are interested in the services of 23-year-old Finnish defenseman Valtteri Pulli, who currently plays in Switzerland for HC Lugano.

Goaltenders: Justus Annunen, Juuse Saros (both Nashville, NHL), Emil Larmi (Växjö Lakers, SWE).

Defensemen: Robin Salo, Lassi Thomson (both Malmö Redhawks, SWE), Atro Leppänen (Sport Vaasa), Tony Sund (IFK Helsinki), Mikko Lehtonen (ZSC Lions, SUI), Valtteri Pulli (HC Lugano, SUI), Rasmus Rissanen (Linköping HC, SWE), Vili Saarijärvi (SCL Tigers, SUI), Mikael Seppälä (HV 71, SWE), Jesse Virtanen (HC Ambri-Piotta, SUI), Veli-Matti Vittasmäki (Kölner Haie, GER).

Forwards: Eemil Erholtz, Lenni Hämeenaho, Jan-Mikael Järvinen (all Ässät Pori), Hannes Björninen, Patrik Puistola (Örebro HK, SWE), Jesse Kiiskinen (HPK Hämeenlinna), Petteri Puhakka (Tappara Tampere), Joona Ikonen (Malmö Redhawks, SWE), Waltteri Merelä (SC Bern, SUI), Joona Koppanen (Pittsburgh, NHL), Juho Lammikko (ZSC Lions, SUI), Ahti Oksanen (Lausanne HC, SUI), Juuso Pärssinen (New York Rangers, NHL), Harri Pesonen (SCL Tigers, SUI), Mikael Ruohomaa (Frölunda HC, SWE), Tommi Tikka (HV 71, SWE), Eeli Tolvanen (Seattle, NHL).

11 NHLers On Swedish Roster At Last Pre-Worlds Tourney11 NHLers On Swedish Roster At Last Pre-Worlds Tourney The NHL contingent on the Swedish national team has now risen to 11 as the team approaches its last tune-up before the IIHF World Championship, and that’s the Czech Hockey Games this weekend – the final leg of the 2024-25 Euro Hockey Tour.
Hockey News

Three Takeaways From Blues' 5-2 Win Against Jets In Game 6 Of Western Conference First Round

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Nathan Walker (26) scored his third goal in two games to help the St. Louis Blues force a Game 7 against the Winnipeg Jets in the Western Conference First Round following a 5-2 win in Game 6 on Friday. (Connor Hamilton-Imagn Images)

ST. LOUIS – Honestly, this is so hard to decipher.

The discrepancy between the St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets in this Western Conference First round series is quite home-dominated.

For the sixth straight game in this series, the home team held serve and there will be a Game 7 in this series after the Blues took control of Game 6 on Friday in the second period when they scored four times in a 5-2 win before another boisterous crowd at Enterprise Center.

Philip Broberg and Alexey Toropchenko each had a goal and an assist, Brayden Schenn, Cam Fowler and Nathan Walker each scored and Jordan Binnington once again bested Connor Hellebuyck with 21 saves.

The Blues have outscored the Jets 17-5 in the three games at home after a 7-2 win in Game 3 and 5-1 in Game 4.

The likely Vezina Trophy winner was chased in each of the games in St. Louis, and the Blues chased Hellebuyck again, this time after two periods when he allowed five goals on 23 shots.

It was second period blitzkrieg that saw the Blues seize control of the game and force a Game 7 on Sunday at 6 p.m. in Winnipeg.

So without further ado, let’s go straight to Friday’s Three Takeaways:

* Four goals in 5:23 was an onslaught – There were some nervy moments there when the Jets tied the game early in the second period on a Cole Perfetti power-play goal, but just like the two previous home games, the Blues hit the Jets in the mouth.

One goal, two goals, three goals, four goals.

Game over.

Walker at 11:34. Schenn at 12:27. Fowler at 13:40. Toropchenko at 16:57.

And that was that.

It happened fast, it happened furious, it happened with precision.

Hellebuyck was staggered (again), and the crowd was electric, and as Schenn said, “It felt like when Fowler scored it almost popped the roof right off. It’s an unreal place to play, I’ve always said that about St. Louis. The fans are electric, full building every night, and they come to cheer with their Blues jersey on and pretty special city. We definitely embrace their energy.”

Walker got the lead back when he was positioned at the top of the crease when Broberg put on a skating clinic down the left hand side and around the net, before slipping a little cheeky pass that Walker tucked away for his third goal in two games.

“Whenever you can contribute and get the win, that’s obviously better than not,” Walker said. “’Broby’ made a great play there and I was just in the right spot at the right time.”

Schenn’s goal came off a breakout play when Ryan Suter hit Jake Neighbours, whose precision little touch pass off the boards sprung Schenn in stride, and like a crafty veteran, he used Jets defenseman Neal Pionk as a screen to snap a shot by Hellebuyck on the glove side.

Fowler’s goal was also a momentum play and he took advantage of the kind of traffic that makes Hellebuyck uncomfortable, and it was Walker there setting the screen that Hellebuyck never saw.

And Toropchenko finished off the onslaught when Faksa hit him in stride and he potted a shot from the slot, this time to the blocker side.

“We utilized our speed and our physicality,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “I thought we were able to be physical down low, we were able to skate with some speed through the neutral zone and we were really committed to getting to the net front again. Those first couple of goals, they’re really good screen goals. That Faksa line was dominant tonight.”

* Faksa line sets tempo again, but is also now scoring – And that leads into the Faksa line.

Montgomery starts them seemingly every game, just like Craig Berube used to do with the Ivan Barbashev-Oskar Sundqvist-Alexander Steen fourth line of the Stanley Cup-winning team in 2019, and with good reason.

They do all the little things that make a line go and sets the tone for the rest of their linemates, but after collectively putting up four points in Game 5, the line had two goals and three assists in Game 6 and have 11 points in the series.

Faksa also had two assists to go with the contributions of Toropchenko and Walker.

“In a series, there’s the game within the game of a series,” Montgomery said. “They’re a load to handle. it doesn’t matter. They’ve scored goals against every D-pairing, so they’re hard to handle down low. Over and over it gets hard and they’re creating that identity that we look for that allows us to get to net fronts, to win races and get screened goals.”

It’s why teammates trust them in all situations.

“They’ve been the most consistent line all year with the way they play, pretty much right from Game 1,” Schenn said. “They don’t really get broken up that much and it’s almost like they play robotic because they’re so on the same page, they play on the goal line, they wear other teams down. They’re big, they can skate and they hold on to pucks and get to the net. Obviously good chemistry and guys that get along off the ice that’s translating on to the ice.”

Broberg added, "I think they've been great all year.  They work so hard and they play physical and they score goals, important goals, for us. And all three guys are great guys as well off the ice so you love to have them on your team, and they've been huge for us."

Oh, and hey Logan Stanley, 6-foot-7, 231-pound Logan Stanley ... 5-9, 187-pound Nathan Walker doesn't move that easily:

* Broberg’s goal timely – As for Broberg, his goal was so crucial.

There was a sense in the building that the Blues were somewhat tentative.

The Jets came out with a purpose, and the first five minutes or so, even though they didn’t get a high volume number of shots, they had an advantage with territorial possession of the puck.

But there was some footing with the Blues on that shift, and it was on a puck that got played by Justin Faulk behind the net while being challenged near the O-zone blue line, Jimmy Snuggerud found Robert Thomas, who in turn found Broberg in the high slot. And Broberg’s fluttering knuckle puck got through Hellebuyck as Pavel Buchnevich was doing a fly-by at the top of the crease that saw defenseman Dylan Samberg push Buchnevich into some contact.

“Yeah, I think they came out hard, for sure, and I think we responded well,” Broberg said. “After that, I think we played better and played to our strengths.”

It seemed to give the Blues some life and slowly but surely turn the tides in which they began to play more in the offensive zone and not allow Winnipeg, which was playing without Mark Scheifele due to his undisclosed injury in the first period of Game 5, to get to its forecheck and disrupt the Blues from transitional play.

“It was really important,” Montgomery said. “I thought it was a great play by Faulk to drive wide and that’s that speed we’re talking about and then we had people drive through and were able to go low to high and pound that puck. It was really important because I did not like the start of our first 8-10 minutes, then we started to come after that goal.”

* Bonus takeaway: Binnington made some precise saves – While a lot of the focus has been on Hellebuyck, Binnington was once again, with back against a wall, making timely saves.

It started with pushing from right to left on Nikolaj Ehlers 1:14 into the game. If the Jets score there, what kind of game are we talking about?

And there was another unbelievable save on Kyle Connor off a low-slot one-timer that he pushes left to right outstretched to keep a puck out.

“He’s the total package,” Fowler said. “He’s a huge reason why we are where we are and we’ll continue to lean on him because he’s shown everybody time and time again that he’s world class.”

Hockey News

Game 1 between Panthers and Maple Leafs officially set for Monday night

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Apr 8, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Scott Laughton (24) and Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) battle for the puck during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

We now have a date to circle on our calendars.

The NHL announced an official start date for the second-round series between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs.

It’s not happening this weekend.

Florida eliminated Tampa Bay on Wednesday and Toronto finished off Ottawa Thursday night, so both have had plenty of time to, as Sergei Bobrovsky would say, rest, reset and refocus.

They’ll have a couple more days to recharge the batteries, because Game 1 between the Panthers and Maple Leafs will take place Monday night, with an 8 p.m. puck drop.

We’ll have to wait and see when the league drops the full series schedule.

There are still two Game 7s coming up this weekend – Saturday with Colorado in Dallas and Sunday between the Blues and Jets – but both are including Western Conference teams.

Once the full schedule is announced we’ll make sure to post it here on THN Florida.

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Hockey News

Maple Leafs vs Panthers: Game 1 Start Time and Date Revealed

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Apr 8, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Scott Laughton (24) and Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) battle for the puck during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to open the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday.

Following the end of the St. Louis Blues' 5-2 victory against the Winnipeg Jets in Game 6 of their first-round series, Sportsnet revealed that the Leafs will open their second-round series against the Florida Panthers on Monday with a start time of 8 p.m. ET.

‘That’s How You Win A Series’: Craig Berube Praises Scott Laughton’s Shot-Blocking Heroics, Maple Leafs' Bottom-Six Delivers Against Senators‘That’s How You Win A Series’: Craig Berube Praises Scott Laughton’s Shot-Blocking Heroics, Maple Leafs' Bottom-Six Delivers Against SenatorsWith 25 seconds left on the clock in a one-goal game, it wasn’t a member of the ‘Core Four’ who made the defining play of the Toronto Maple Leafs' series-clinching win – it was Scott Laughton, throwing himself in front of a Jake Sanderson slap shot to preserve the lead.

The Maple Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators 4-2 on Thursday and advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second time in three seasons. As they did back in 2023, they meet the Panthers, who knocked off the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games. 

Maple Leafs’ ‘Business-Like’ Mindset Overcomes Potential Playoff Disaster to Advance to Second RoundMaple Leafs’ ‘Business-Like’ Mindset Overcomes Potential Playoff Disaster to Advance to Second RoundKANATA, Ont. — When the final horn sounded at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday, the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrated their 4-2 win against the Ottawa Senators, pushing them through to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Panthers are defending Stanley Cup Champions and are repeat Stanley Cup Finalists. The 8 p.m. ET start time will be the latest start for the Leafs during the postseason. They had one 7:30 p.m. ET start in round one, with the other five games starting shortly after 7 p.m. EDT.

It should be noted that the NHL Draft Lottery is also set for Monday at 7 p.m. ET and it's more than likely that the league did not want to have a playoff game going running against it. Even still, that lottery broadcast is expected to be finished by 7:30 p.m, allowing rightholders to have the full 30-minute pre-game prior to the 8 p.m. start.

'I Thought I Was Done Playing A Number Of Times': How Maple Leafs' Max Pacioretty Persevered To Score Series-Clinching Goal Against Senators'I Thought I Was Done Playing A Number Of Times': How Maple Leafs' Max Pacioretty Persevered To Score Series-Clinching Goal Against SenatorsIt was 225 days ago, on Sept. 19, when Max Pacioretty, wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs hoodie with the number 67 stamped on, first stepped in front of the camera to explain why he joined the organization.

The Leafs took Friday off after their big win and are scheduled to be back on the ice on Saturday. The remaining first-round schedule has yet to be released.

Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

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Connor Hellebuyck Pulled For Third Time In Four Games; Jets Drop Game 6 5-2 To Blues

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St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn (10) reacts to scoring a goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the second period in game six of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Connor Hamilton-Imagn Images

Connor Hellebuyck was pulled from the Winnipeg Jets' crease for the third time in four games as the St. Louis Blues won Game 6, 5-2.

The first period came to an end with the Blues leading 1-0, thanks to Phillip Broberg's first goal of the playoffs. The Jets were heavily outplayed in the opening frame, throwing just two shots at Jordan Binnington. 

Morgan Barron had thought he tied the game, but an offside challenge reversed the call. The Jets did, however, tie the game with Cole Perfetti's first of the playoffs. But just like Games 3 and 4, the Jets imploded the Blues took over, scoring four unanswered goals. Nathan Walker got it started before, Brayden Schenn, Cam Fowler and Alexey Toropchenko added to the lead. 

As the third period began, it was Eric Comrie who took over the Jets' net, replacing Hellebuyck for the third consecutive road game. Nino Niederreiter scored his second goal of the playoffs to cut the Blues' lead to 5-2, but the thoughts of a comeback were short-lived, as the Blues shut down every attempt the Jets made. 

Hellebuyck allowed five goals on 23 shots, and his replacement, Comrie, stopped all four shots he faced. While he wasn't challenged too often, when called upon, Binnington delivered, turning away 21 of the 23 shots he saw. 

The Jets and Blues will return to Winnipeg for a do-or-die Game 7 on Sunday.

Stay updated with the most interesting Jets stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

Hockey News, Sports

Why can't the Kings beat the Oilers? A familiar pattern emerges in playoff elimination

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Oilers Viktor Arvidsson, Mattias Janmark and Vasily Podkolzin celebrate a second-period goal against the Kings
Viktor Arvidsson (33), Mattias Janmark (13) and Vasily Podkolzin (92) celebrate after scoring during the second period during Game 6 of their playoff series against the Kings Thursday at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Andy Devlin / NHLI via Getty Images)

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but the summer is starting early for the Kings after a first-round playoff loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

This one is a little different, though, because this was a season that had inspired rare promise before it ended Thursday in the same painful monotony as the last three, with the Oilers going on and the Kings going home.

And that’s particularly disappointing since the Kings tied franchise records for wins (48) and points (105) and set one for home victories (31) this season. Yet it ended with the team breaking another record: it has now gone 11 seasons without winning a playoff series, the longest drought in team history.

A postseason in which the Kings seemed primed for a long run lasted just six games, the last a 6-4 loss to the Oilers at Rogers Place that leaves the organization once again shuffling off into the offseason plagued by doubt, frustration and one big question.

Edmonton Oilers Adam Henrique and Trent Frederic celebrate after scoring in the first period against the Kings
Edmonton Oilers Adam Henrique and Trent Frederic celebrate after scoring in the first period against the Kings during Game 6 of their playoff series at Rogers Place on Thursday. (Andy Devlin / NHLI via Getty Images)

What happened?

“Having the season that we had, the group of guys in this locker room, and know, to come up short again? It sucks,” said captain Anze Kopitar, who scored the team’s final goal of the season. “It's frustrating. This one hurts a little more.”

Hurts a little more because the Kings lost more than a game and a series Thursday. They lost a golden opportunity. Rarely has a postseason set up so favorably for the team.

After acquiring Andrei Kuzmenko at the trade deadline, the Kings went on a tear, winning 17 of their final 22 games, averaging better than 3.7 goals a game. The once-punchless power play became potent; goalkeeper Darcy Kuemper went 15 games allowing two or fewer goals, the second-longest streak in the NHL’s expansion era; and the team sprinted past the Oilers to place second in the Pacific Division, its best finish in nine seasons.

No team finished the season hotter nor healthier than the Kings.

Read more:Kings' season ends in another playoff loss to Oilers: 'This one hurts a little more'

That also meant the Kings, who had the best home record in the NHL in the regular season, would have the home-ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs. And if they finally got past an Edmonton team that limped into the postseason wounded, they would have faced Las Vegas in the second round and a team from a quartet of Winnipeg, Dallas, Colorado or St. Louis in the Western Conference final.

The Kings were a combined 8-4-1 against those teams in the regular season. It wasn’t outlandish to think the Kings had a shot at the Stanley Cup Final.

“It’s all going according to plan,” one team executive whispered early in the playoffs. And then it wasn’t, with the Kings once again tripping over a familiar hurdle.

“One hundred percent it’s a missed opportunity,” Kings coach Jim Hiller said. “We had great buy-in from our players. We believe we could have won the series. We believe we should have won the series. We didn't.

“So that's the bottom line.”

The Oilers have proven to be the kryptonite to even the most Superman-ish of Kings teams, with Edmonton the place the Kings postseasons go to die.

The teams have met in the playoffs 11 times since 1982 with the Oilers winning nine of those series, including the last four in a row. The last time the Kings beat Edmonton in the playoffs, in 1989, Wayne Gretzky led the team in points, current general manager Luc Robitaille was in his third season as a player while Kopitar, the only player on this year’s team who was even alive then, was still in diapers.

This year’s loss may be the most painful of the lot though.

The Kings had the home-ice advantage, one of the league’s top three goaltenders in Darcy Kuemper and the top power play in the playoffs. They led in every game.

Yet they still lost in six.

The turning point in the series came in late in Game 3. After dominating the first two games at home, the Kings were leading the first game in Edmonton with about seven minutes to play when disaster struck. After the Oilers’ Evander Kane tied the game on a controversial goal, Hiller challenged the call, claiming goalie interference. He lost, Edmonton was awarded a power play, and 10 seconds later the Oilers went in front to stay.

Read more:Kings rally to take lead, only to collapse in third period of Game 3 loss to Oilers

In Game 4 the Kings led with less than 35 seconds to play when Quinton Byfield failed to make a simple clearance out of the Kings’ zone. The Oilers pounced on the mistake to tie the game, then won it in overtime. They never lost again.

“You can pinpoint Game 3, we didn’t close out,” Kopitar said. “Definitely Game 4. It's a completely different series if we go home up 3-1 versus 2-2. But could’ve, should’ve, would’ve.”

The Kings simply wore down, especially on the blue line. That’s why they gave up a playoff-worst 15 goals in the third period and overtime in the series. The Oilers scored just 12 times in the first and second periods combined.

Yet asked in his postgame news conference if he regretted how he used his defensemen, Hiller was curt.

“No,” he said.

And with that he walked away from the podium for the final time this season.

Oilers fans hold up signs that reads "Loss Angeles" as they celebrate their team's playoff series win over the Kings
Edmonton Oilers fans celebrate their team's playoff series win over the Kings Thursday at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Andy Devlin / NHLI via Getty Images)

Then there’s the offense. Kopitar and Adrian Kempe combined for 19 points in the series, but had just one goal and two assists combined after Kane’s tying goal in Game 3.

“The chances were there. We just couldn’t convert,” Kopitar said. “Credit to their goalie, he made some good stops. Credit to their team. The last couple of games they played a solid checking game and made it harder on us to generate stuff.

“We fought and came up short.”

That’s beginning to sound redundant.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Gaming, Hockey News

Playoff Event Week 2 In NHL 25 HUT

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EA SPORTS NHL 25

Week 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Event is now live in NHL 25 Hockey Ultimate Team. 

The five new 94 overall master set players are Andrei Vasilevskiy, Larry Murphy, Ryan McDonagh, Bryan Trottier, and Jarome Iginla. 

16 additional Stanley Cup base cards were added, led by 93 overall Thomas Steen, Olaf Kolzig, Deryk Engelland, and Borje Salming and 92 overall Sergei Zubov, Cory Sarich, and Bernie Nicholls. 

Six new Wildcard players were added and are playable, all are 94 overall. The players are David Pastrnak, Nikita Kucherov, Connor McDavid, Jacob Markstrom, Zdeno Chara, and Cale Makar. 

Four new Game Day players, two 91 overall players from the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars are also available, Evgenni Dadonov and Cody Ceci for the Stars and Josh Manson and Jonathan Drouin for the Avalanche. 

Each master set Playoff player costs three 91+ Playoff cards and any two 91+ cards.

Players can trade any three 89+ Playoff cards for a 91 Playoff card or any three 87+ cards for an 89 overall Playoff card. 

There are Collectible sets where players can trade in Stanley Cup Collectibles for player packs. Players can trade in 30 Stanley Cup Playoff Collectibles for a 91 overall untradeable or 93 overall BND card. 

Check out Week 1 of the Playoff Event here. 

EA SPORTS NHL 25EA SPORTS NHL 25EA SPORTS NHL 25

Check out the recent Team Builder release and roster update. 

For more NHL 25 news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed. For gaming discussion check out our forum.