STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS APRIL 28, 2026 – OILERS SCORE EARLY AND OFTEN TO ALSO AVOID ELIMINATION
Connor McDavid (0-2—2), Leon Draisaitl (2-0—2) and Evan Bouchard (0-3—3) have been pivotal in Edmonton’s back-to-back runs to the Stanley Cup Final, once again spearheading a quick-strike Oilers offense (three goals in the opening 10:13 of play) en route to a Game 5 win and forcing a Game 6 back in Anaheim on Thursday.
- McDavid factored on a Draisaitl goal for the 28th and 29th time in their Stanley Cup Playoff careers, which tied Glenn Anderson (w/ Mark Messier) for the fifth most by one player in NHL history. In the process, the Oilers captain captured his 51st career multi-point postseason game to tie Doug Gilmour, Brett Hull and Mario Lemiuex for 10th place on the League’s all-time list.
- McDavid and Draisaitl extended Edmonton’s lead in the second period on the man-advantage and factored on the same power-play goal in the playoffs for the 38th time in their career – tied with Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier, as well as Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby for the most in Stanley Cup Playoffs history.
- Bouchard has collected multiple points in each of his past three games (one shy of the longest streak by a defenseman in franchise history) after failing to find the score sheet in Games 1 and 2. Tuesday was Bouchard’s third elimination game with three or more points (also Game 5 of 2024 SCF & Game 6 of 2024 R2) – the second most by a defenseman in Stanley Cup Playoffs history, behind Ray Bourque (4x).
- Connor McDavid, Macklin Celebrini and Nikita Kucherov were named the three finalists for the 2025-26 Ted Lindsay Award, which is presented annually “to the most outstanding player as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA.”
SHIPPING OFF TO BOSTON: PASTRNAK POTS OT WINNER AS BRUINS FORCE GAME 6. . .
The Bruins had their backs against the wall early in Game 5 after Rasmus Dahlin opened the scoring four minutes into the contest, but Boston battled back to tie the game thanks to Elias Lindholm (1-0—1) and David Pastrnak (1-0—1) then netted the winner in overtime to keep the Bruins alive in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Boston posted their 18th comeback win to stave off elimination – the third most in NHL history behind Toronto (22) and Montreal (19).
- The Bruins and Sabres became the seventh First Round series to feature at least one overtime game this postseason. The 2026 First Round is one of six opening rounds under the Wild Card format to witness the feat (8 in 2023 & 2017, 7 in 2025, 2021 & 2014).
- Pastrnak tallied his eighth career goal in games when facing elimination, which tied Milan Lucic, Cam Neely and Rick Middleton for the third most in franchise history behind Brad Marchand (10) and Peter McNab (9).
- Pastrnak also became the seventh player in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to score multiple overtime goals to stave off elimination after first achieving the feat in Game 7 of the 2024 First Round. The only others to do so over the past 30 years are Joe Pavelski (Game 4 of 2023 CF & Game 5 of 2008 CSF), Simon Gagne (Game 4 of 2010 CSF & Game 6 of 2004 CF) and Joe Sakic (Game 4 & 5 of 2004 CSF).
KAPRIZOV SHINES ON RECORD-SETTING NIGHT, WILD INCH CLOSER TO SECOND ROUND
Kirill Kaprizov (1-2—3) notched his second three-point performance of the First Round and passed Zach Parise (16) for the most playoff goals in Wild history as Minnesota took a 3-2 series lead for the second time in franchise history (also 2015 R1). The Wild head home to Grand Casino Arena for Game 6 with a chance to advance to the Second Round for the first time since 2015.
- After claiming the club’s regular-season goals record March 3, Kaprizov became the 16th player to hold an active franchise’s all-time outright regular-season and playoff goals records – Filip Forsberg (NSH), Alex Ovechkin (WSH) and Mark Scheifele (WPG/ATL) are the only other active players to do so.
- Kaprizov (2-7—9 in 5 GP), who leads all skaters in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs in scoring, matched his personal best for points in a single series (also 9 in 2025 R1). Only three Wild skaters have posted more points in a series: Marian Gaborik (11 in 2003 CSF), Zach Parise (10 in 2014 R1) and Wes Walz (10 in 2003 CSF).
ROBERTSON’S GOAL STREAK
Jason Robertson pushed his goal streak to five games and passed Steve Payne (4 GP in 1981) for the longest postseason-opening run in Stars/North Stars history, while also tying Payne (5 GP in 1981) and Milan Marcetta (5 GP in 1968) for the longest goal streak at any point in a playoff year by a Stars/North Stars skater.
NHL ERASES $1.25 MILLION OF DEBT FOR U.S. VETERANS
The NHL today announced it is erasing $1.25 million of debt for U.S. veterans in partnership with ForgiveCo, which will help 1,025 veterans and their families. Stars forward Jason Robertson hosted Specialist Cesar Gonzalez – who is one of the recipients of this debt relief initiative – at Game 5 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs as part of his ‘JR Heroes’ military appreciation initiative. Of the $1.25 million of debt being erased, $250,000 is directly supporting veterans in Dallas, Texas.
WEDNESDAY HAS PENGUINS LOOKING TO FORCE GAME 7, PAIR OF PIVOTAL GAMES 5s
Today’s schedule features Pittsburgh aiming to force the first Game 7 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs as well as critical contests in Tampa and Las Vegas with a 3-2 series lead up for grabs. Wednesday marks the 37-year anniversary of the only Game 7 between the Penguins and Flyers as Pittsburgh hopes to force a second one for Saturday.
- Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang have spearheaded the Penguins’ rally as they look to join rare company by forcing a Game 7 after facing a 3-0 series deficit, with Crosby collecting consecutive multi-point performances and Letang logging back-to-back winning goals. Philadelphia has been on either side of a 3-0 comeback attempt that required a Game 7 and earned a series win in each instance.
- Brandon Hagel can surpass Steven Stamkos (4 GP in 2024) and Vincent Lecavalier (4 GP in 2007) for the longest postseason-opening goal streak in franchise history, while Nick Suzuki seeks his first marker but has tallied three times in Game 5s including both of his playoff winners (2021 & 2020 R1). Tampa Bay and Montreal have been tied or separated by one goal for 98% of the series (250:42 of 256:19).
- Shea Theodore and the Golden Knights shift back to T-Mobile Arena, where Logan Cooley collected a goal in each of the series’ first two contests. Theodore played the role of overtime hero in Game 4 and accounts for one of seven winners by defensemen this postseason, which are five back of the most during a single playoff round in NHL history (12 in 1994 CQF & 1992 DSF).
Sorokin, Swayman and Vasilevskiy Voted Vezina Trophy Finalists
Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders, Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins and Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning are the three finalists for the 2025-26 Vezina Trophy, awarded “to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position,” the National Hockey League announced.
NHL general managers submitted ballots for the Vezina Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists.
Following are the finalists, in alphabetical order:
Ilya Sorokin, New York Islanders
Sorokin, who compiled a 29-24-2 record across 55 appearances (2.68 GAA, .906 SV%, 7 SO), led the NHL in shutouts (7), high-danger saves (452), high-danger shots against (523), high-danger save percentage (.864), road wins (18) and road shutouts (5). Sorokin’s seven total shutouts equaled a franchise record, previously achieved by him in 2021-22 as well as Semyon Varlamov in 2020-21 and Glenn “Chico” Resch in 1975-76. His 26th career shutout (all w/ NYI) on Jan. 6 vs. NJD also lifted Sorokin ahead of Resch for the most such performances in Islanders history. A third-round pick (78th overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft, Sorokin additionally ranked among the 2025-26 League leaders in games allowing one or fewer goals (4th; 15), 30-save performances (6th; 16), saves (8th; 1,386), wins (t-9th; 29), minutes played (10th; 3,226:10), starts (t-10th; 54), save percentage (16th; .906) and goals-against average (18th; 2.68). The 30-year-old Sorokin, who finished second in voting in 2022-23, is a Vezina Trophy finalist for the second time. He is vying to become the second Islanders goaltender to win the award, after Billy Smith in 1981-82.
Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins
Swayman shared fourth place in the NHL with a career-high 31 wins in 54 contests (31-18-4, 2.71 GAA, .908 SV%, 2 SO) to propel the Bruins to their ninth playoff berth in the last 10 seasons. He became the 14th different goaltender in franchise history to record a 30-win season and the fifth to do so this century, following Linus Ullmark (2022-23), Tuukka Rask (5x, most recently 2017-18), Tim Thomas (4x, most recently 2011-12) and Byron Dafoe (2001-02). Swayman also finished among the top 10 in 2025-26 in 30-save performances (t-1st; 17), mid-range save percentage (2nd; .928), shootout save percentage (2nd; .893), high-danger saves (t-4th; 379), games allowing two or fewer goals (5th; 31), saves (5th; 1,426), minutes played (9th; 3,235:17) and starts (t-10th; 54). The 27-year-old Swayman, a fourth-round pick (111th overall) from the 2017 NHL Draft who is a first-time finalist, is seeking to become the seventh different Bruins goaltender to win the Vezina Trophy and the fifth to do so under the current format (since 1981-82), following Ullmark (2022-23), Rask (2013-14), Thomas (2010-11 and 2008-09) and Pete Peeters (1982-83).
Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning
Vasilevskiy, aided by an 18-game point streak from Dec. 20 – Feb. 25 (17-0-1), topped the NHL with 39 victories in 58 starts (39-15-4, 2.31 GAA, .912 SV%, 2 SO) to guide the Lightning to their ninth consecutive postseason appearance – tied for the longest current run in the League. He became the sixth goaltender in NHL history to post at least nine 30-win seasons, with his active run of nine straight such campaigns the second-longest in League history behind only Martin Brodeur (12 from 1995-96 through 2007-08). Vasilevskiy, the 19th overall selection in the 2012 NHL Draft, additionally placed among the 2025-26 League leaders in games allowing two or fewer goals (t-1st; 35), goals-against average (2nd; 2.31), save percentage (3rd; .912), starts (t-3rd; 58), minutes played (4th; 3,430:45), high-danger save percentage (7th; .844), mid-range save percentage (7th; .912) and saves (10th; 1,353). The 31-year-old Vasilevskiy is a Vezina Trophy finalist for the sixth time, a total reached by just three other goaltenders under the current format (since 1981-82): Brodeur (9x), Patrick Roy (7x) and Dominik Hasek (6x). Vasilevskiy is looking for his second win, after topping voting in 2018-19, placing second in 2024-25 and 2020-21, and finishing third in 2019-20 and 2017-18.
History
Leo Dandurand, Louis Letourneau and Joe Cattarinich, former owners of the Montreal Canadiens, presented the trophy to the NHL in 1926-27 in memory of Georges Vezina, the outstanding Canadiens goaltender who collapsed during an NHL game on Nov. 28, 1925, and died of tuberculosis a few months later. Before the 1981-82 season, the goaltender(s) of the team allowing the fewest number of goals during the regular season was awarded the Vezina Trophy.
Stars’ Benn Fined for Cross-Checking
Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn has been fined $2,604.17, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for cross-checking Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman during Game 5 of the teams’ First Round series in Dallas on Tuesday, April 28. The incident occurred at 14:45 of the third period. Benn was assessed a minor penalty for cross-checking. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.