NHL Public Relations announced the schedule for the Opening Day of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday evening. Playoffs are set to begin on Saturday, April 19th, and will broadcast two games on Saturday evening.

Per an email from NHL PR, game 1 of the first round series between the Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars is set for Saturday, April 19th at 6:30 pm MT/8:30 pm ET. The series will begin in Dallas at American Airlines Center for the first two games before both teams travel to Denver to play out games 3 and 4 at Ball Arena. TNT, TruTV, and Max will broadcast the games in the United States, while Sportsnet, SN360, and TVA Sports will host the game broadcast in Canada.

This will not be the only game set to air on Saturday. The series between the St. Louis Blues and the Winnipeg Jets is set to begin with game 1 in Winnipeg at Canada Life Centre. Puck drop is set for 4:00 pm MT/6:00 pm ET. The game will be on Sportsnet, CBC, and TVA Sports in Canada. In the United States, the game will be on TNT, truTV, and Max.

The Carolina Hurricanes had a memorable night Wednesday even despite a 4-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens as the team had a pair of rookies making their NHL debuts.

Forward Skyler Brind'Amour, son of head coach Rod Brind'Amour, and defenseman Domenick Fensore got to suit up for their first NHL games after both putting in good years in the AHL.

"I think they acquitted themselves well," Rod Brind'Amour said. "I really do. It's a tough environment to walk into, but I thought all of them did a nice job."

Brind'Amour, 25, logged 15:28 centering William Carrier and Logan Stankoven and finished the night with a block and a hit as well as going 8-for-10 in the dot.

"There's been a lot of emotions," Brind'Amour said on his debut. "Kind of all over the place. It was a lot of fun. Obviously it's the best league in the world so it's tough to jump in and get your feet wet in that kind of environment with playoffs on the line for them, but it was really cool to be able to do that and really grateful for everybody that's helped me get to this point."

There were still a few learning moments for the rookie, namely the opening goal where he found himself accidently screening Pyotr Kochetkov.

 "He was fine," Rod Brind'Amour said. "Had the one big mess up on the first goal, covered the wrong guy and kind of took him too far in and then screened the goalie on a long shot, which as I said, if there's no screen, it's not going in. But other than that, I think he handled himself pretty well.

"I was happy for him because he's earned it. He's earned it, played solid. He's not a guy who's going to score three, four goals a night, but I think he was good on the faceoffs and that's kind of the little things that he does, kill penalties, that kind of role and I think he did a good job."

Fensore, 23, played 17:13 and had five shots on goal, a block and two hits.

The defender showcased his smooth skating, being unafraid to carry and transition the puck and his defending was nothing to scoff at either.

"It's been kind of crazy," Fensore said. "Got the news yesterday and flew here last night. Just being jumped into a big game like this was pretty special."

Both players also got time on the penalty kill, which was a perfect 3-for-3 on the night for Carolina.

In total, the pair brought the Canes' rookie number to five in Montreal as they skated also alongside Bradly Nadeau, Scott Morrow and Logan Stankoven and they all will probably have the chance for one more game too in Ottawa on Thursday.

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ST. LOUIS -- The quest for the Stanley Cup begins on Saturday for the St. Louis Blues, who will open their Western Conference First Round series against the Winnipeg Jets at 5 p.m. (CT). 

The game will be televised on TNT, truTV and Max in the U.S. and Sportsnet, CBC and TVA Sports in Canada for those Blues fans north of the border. Of course, it can also be heard on ESPN 101.1-FM.

Games 1 and 2 will be played at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, with Games 3 and 4 slated for Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Game 5, if necessary, would be back in Winnipeg; Game 6, if necessary, would be in St. Louis and Game 7, also if necessary, would close the series in Winnipeg.

The NHL will release its full playoff schedule soon and the remainder of dates between the Blues and Jets will be released.

It's the first time the teams have squared off in the playoffs since the Blues, as the third seed in the Central Division, knocked off the No. 2-seeded Jets in six games in 2019, en route to the franchise's first Stanley Cup championship.

Winnipeg took three of the four matchups this season, with the Blues going 1-2-1, with their lone win on Dec. 3, 4-1. The Jets won the most recent matchup, 3-1, April 7 in Winnipeg.

The Blues (44-30-8) finished as the second wild card from the Western Conference, while the Jets (56-22-4) won the Presidents' Trophy for the first time ever and claimed the Central Division title.

Carolina Hurricanes forward and top prospect Bradly Nadeau registered his first NHL point Wednesday night in the team's 4-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. 

It was just the second career NHL game for the 2023 first-round pick, having made his debut in the final game of the season last year.

"I thought, as the game got on, he was actually starting to be really noticeable," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "Made a couple of nice plays, had a good tip there on the goal. Had a couple shots on the power play there. He did a good job."

Nadeau grew more and more noticeable as the game went on and finally, late in the third period, the winger was fighting for position in front of the Montreal net and managed to get his stick on a Dmitry Orlov shot.

The puck nearly found its way into the net on its own, but it needed a little help and luckily Tyson Jost was there to poke it home.

Bradly Nadeau sets up Tyson Jost😭 pic.twitter.com/4L9hgR6oBT

— Penticton Vees-xyz (@PentictonVees) April 17, 2025

"There's a lot of emotions that go through it," Nadeau said on picking up his first NHL point. "Obviously your team scored, so you're back in the game there and then also you get your first NHL point. I think just a lot of emotions, but hopefully it's one of many."

Nadeau, 19, has been lighting up the AHL in his first professional season, pacing all AHL rookies with 30 goals on the season.

The New Brunswick native has shown a penchant for producing at every level of his career so far and I don't think it will be too long before we see him doing it consistently at the NHL level either.

"Every chance you get to play for an NHL team you kind of embrace and play as hard as you can," Nadeau said. "Learn from mistakes and the experience. Had a lot of fun. Unfortunately we came up short, but I think there was a lot to like."

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The Carolina Hurricanes fell 4-2 to the Montreal Canadiens Wednesday night at Centre Bell, as the Habs punched their ticket to the postseason.

Taylor Hall and Tyson Jost each scored, Bradly Nadeau registered his first NHL point and Skyler Brind'Amour and Domenick Fensore made their NHL debuts.

After the game, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour along with Skyler Brind'Amour and Nadeau spoke with the media in Montreal. Here's what they had to say:

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Rod Brind'Amour

On the game: We had a couple coverage issues and they ripped them in the net. I think the game was pretty even. Haven't looked at the scoring chances, but zone time and all that felt like, after the first period, we did a real nice job. And we controlled the faceoff dot. Like there were little areas that we were doing well in and then, like I said, the skill... Suzuki was all alone in front and you can't leave the best player all alone and he ripped it into the net. That's what they do. A couple little breakdowns and they took advantage of it. But overall, I thought we did pretty well considering what we were walking into and with the guys we were missing.

On Bradly Nadeau: I thought, as the game got on, he was actually starting to be really noticeable. Made a couple of nice plays, had a good tip there on the goal. Had a couple shots on the power play there. He did a good job.

On how he felt the callups performed: I think they acquitted themselves well. I really do. It's a tough environment to walk into, but I thought all of them did a nice job.

On the way the team played despite missing some key guys: We were shorthanded for sure, but I think the compete level was pretty high. That's what allowed us to at least hang in there and make it an even game. It could have went either way, but their skill got us at the end of the day. A couple of good plays. But we were just competing hard. We killed a couple of penalties and kept ourselves in the game.

On Pyotr Kochetkov: You can't fault him on the goals. Guys were right in front of him so he couldn't see the shots. If he saw those, he's probably saving them as they're wristers from well out, but he didn't get good looks at them. Tip your hat to their team for getting traffic. But he made a couple good saves that allowed us to keep hanging in there.

On Skyler's performance: He was fine. Had the one big mess up on the first goal, covered the wrong guy and kind of took him too far in and then screened the goalie on a long shot, which as I said, if there's no screen, it's not going in. But other than that, I think he handled himself pretty well. Like I said, all the guys did a good job.

On his feelings watching his son out there: I was happy for him because he's earned it. He's earned it, played solid. He's not a guy who's going to score three, four goals a night, but I think he was good on the faceoffs and that's kind of the little things that he does, kill penalties, that kind of role and I think he did a good job.

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Skyler Brind'Amour

On making his NHL debut: There's been a lot of emotions. Kind of all over the place. It was a lot of fun. Obviously it's the best league in the world so it's tough to jump in and get your feet wet in that kind of environment with playoffs on the line for them, but it was really cool to be able to do that and really grateful for everybody that's helped me get to this point.

On the differences between the NHL and AHL: It's a little bit of a different pace obviously. A little bit faster and I think the biggest thing was guys finding the open guy right away. You can't take a breath. It's a learning experience for me. Just a little blown coverage or if you're a half-second late and then the guy gets it and it's in the back of your net. Just one of those things. It's a learning experience. You kind of wish it didn't happen that way, but you have to learn somehow.

On his biggest areas of focus for growth and development: I think it's always just been about work ethic and having a positive attitude. Trying to stay positive. My first year pro in the AHL was a tough year for mem but again, just got right back to work. Had a chance to go to Chicago this year and it's been great. The coaching staff down there has been fantastic. I just try to keep a positive attitude and work my way and here we are.

On having his family in attendance: Obviously it's cool to have your family here. They're the people that have helped you along the way so much and so many people back home watching. I could go on for hours about all the people that have helped me get to this point and just playing pro hockey in general. It's been a crazy couple days and I'm just grateful for everybody.

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Bradly Nadeau

On his first NHL point: Just got a stick on it and got fortunate that it went kind of like behind Montembault and Josty just came in and cleaned up the rebound. 

On the emotions of getting his first NHL point: When that happens, there's a lot of emotions that go through it. Obviously your team scored, so you're back in the game there and you get your first NHL point. I think just a lot of emotions, but hopefully it's one of many.

On the experience being back up in the NHL again: It's unbelievable. Every chance you get to play for an NHL team you kind of embrace and play as hard as you can. Learn from mistakes and the experience. Had a lot of fun. Unfortunately we came up short but I think there was a lot to like.

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The New York Islanders have clinched their first bottom-11 finish since the 2017-18 NHL season.

The team went 35-37-10 and finished 22nd out of 31 teams that season.

This season, they sit at 35-34-12 heading into Game 82.

If the Islanders manage a win against the Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Rangers fall to the Tampa Bay Lightning in regulation, the Islanders will finish 22nd in the standings.

Any other outcome in either game will result in the Islanders finishing 23rd.

Regardless of the result, the Islanders have clinched a chance to land the first overall pick in the lottery, as only the bottom 11 teams are able to move into the No. 1 position.

The last time a team outside the top 10 moved up in the draft lottery was in 2020 during the pandemic, when "Team E," a placeholder that had just a 2.5% chance of winning the lottery, landed at No. 1. 

That pick eventually went to the New York Rangers following a subsequent lottery.

Before that was 2019, when the Chicago Blackhawks went from pick No. 13 to No. 3 to select Kirby Dach.

The year prior, the Carolina Hurricanes jumped from No. 11 to No. 2 to select Andrei Svechnikov, while the Philadelphia Flyers jumped from No. 13 to No. 2 to select Nolan Patrick the year before that.

The Islanders will have a 7.2% chance to land a top-two pick if they finish 23rd in the standings and a 6.2% chance if they finish 22nd.

Needless to say, it is absolutely possible the Islanders move into a top-two selection.

The draft lottery is set to take place on either May 5 or May 6.

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The St. Louis Blues have announced that they have reassigned forward Dalibor Dvorsky to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. 

Dvorsky played in his first two NHL games this season with the Blues, where he recorded zero points and two shots on goal. His last appearance with the Blues was on April 9 against the Edmonton Oilers, where he had 8:09 of ice time. 

The Thunderbirds will certainly be happy to have Dvorsky back on their roster, as he has had a strong first season with the AHL squad. In 59 games, the 19-year-old forward posted 20 goals and 44 points. Due to his impressive play, he was also named to the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic.

Dvorsky was selected by the Blues with the 10th overall pick of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. With this, he is one of the team's most promising prospects and is viewed as a big piece of their future. 

It will be fascinating to see how much of an impact Dvorsky can make back with the Thunderbirds from here. 

Recent Blues News 

Blues Top Prospect Jimmy Snuggerud Scores First NHL GoalDuring the St. Louis Blues' April 15 contest against the Utah Hockey Club, top prospect Jimmy Snuggerud scored his first career NHL goal. It was a significant one, too, as it gave the Blues a 3-0 lead in the first period.  Exciting Blues Goalie Prospect Continuing To ThriveSt. Louis Blues goalie prospect Colten Ellis is enjoying an excellent season down in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Springfield Thunderbirds. In 41 appearances, the 24-year-old netminder has a 22-13-3 record, a 2.62 goals-against average, and a .922 save percentage.  However, what's more encouraging about Ellis' strong play is that he is only continuing to thrive as the campaign carries on. In his last appearance against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on April 12, he stopped 40 out of 43 shots, which equates to a .930 save percentage. Furthermore, he has had a .900 save percentage or better in six out of his last seven appearances. This includes a 36-save shutout against the Iowa Wild on March 28. Blues Star Is Heating Up In A Big WaySt. Louis Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich is one of the team's most important players. When playing at his best, the 29-year-old is a big difference-maker because of his high offensive skill.