STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS APRIL 27, 2026 – LETANG, CROSBY ALLOW PENGUINS TO FORCE A GAME 6

Kris Letang scored his second straight game-winning goal and Sidney Crosby factored on two of his team’s three tallies to ensure the Penguins would play another contest in the 2026 Stanley Cup – both climbed a number of NHL lists in the process. Pittsburgh became the sixth team since 2016 to force a Game 6 after falling behind 3-0 in their postseason series and did so for the second time in Letang and Crosby’s career (also 2012 CQF vs. PHI).

• Letang became the second defenseman in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to score consecutive game-winning goals when facing elimination, joining J.C. Tremblay (Game 6-7 of 1971 QF). At age 39 (and three days), he also became the second-oldest player in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to score consecutive game winners behind Ron Francis (39 years, 63 days) during Game 6 of the 2002 Conference Quarterfinal and Game 1 of the Conference Semifinals.
• Letang climbed multiple lists among active defensemen – he recorded his ninth career go-ahead goal, which tied Brent Burns for the most along with his 25th career postseason tally, which passed Burns and Cale Makar (both w/ 24) for tops within that cohort. Earlier this season, Letang was featured in the NHL’s Skates Off series for his passion for fashion.
• Crosby moved into a tie with Mario Lemieux (9-12—21) for the second-most points in games when facing elimination in Penguins history behind Jaromir Jagr (12-16—28). The Penguins captain also recorded his sixth career multi-point performance in that same scenario – only three active players have more: Brad Marchand (8), Patrick Kane (7) and Connor McDavid (7).
• Crosby became the fourth active player to record 100 postseason wins, joining Corey Perry (137), Ryan McDonagh (107) and Marchand (100). He also moved up the NHL’s all-time playoff list for multi-assist periods, climbing into seventh with his 28th.

THEODORE’S OT WINNER HELPS VEGAS WITHSTAND UTAH RALLY TO EVEN SERIES

The Golden Knights opened a three-goal lead but soon faced a deficit of their own after the Mammoth responded with four straight. Brett Howden (2-1—3) levelled the game in the third period with his second of the night to set up overtime, where Shea Theodore scored with 52 seconds left in the extra frame to help Vegas head home with its First Round series squared.

• Theodore netted his first career playoff overtime goal and became the first defenseman to achieve the feat for the Golden Knights. Theodore’s last game winner in the postseason came in Game 7 of the 2020 Second Round when he tallied the series clincher against Vancouver.
• Jack Eichel (0-3—3) factored on the overtime winner and matched the franchise record for most assists in a playoff game. His six three-point playoff games with Vegas are tied with Jonathan Marchessault for the most in franchise history, while his three games with three-plus assists are now the most by a Golden Knights player in the postseason.

TUESDAY HAS PIVOTAL GAME 5 IN DALLAS, TWO TEAMS TRYING TO evade ELIMINATION

Tuesday’s schedule features Edmonton and Boston looking to force Game 6 in its First Round matchups against Anaheim and Buffalo, respectively, as well as a crucial contest in Dallas with a 3-2 series lead on the line.

• Connor McDavid and the Oilers head into their 16th game facing elimination since the start of the 2017 playoffs as Jackson LaCombe and the Ducks aim for the franchise’s first series win since eliminating Edmonton in the Second Round of that same postseason. McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are among the League’s active leaders in points when facing elimination, with Draisaitl’s total including a 3-2—5 effort against Anaheim in Game 6 of the last head-to-head series.
• David Pastrnak can help the Bruins win a playoff round after facing a 3-1 deficit for the first time in franchise history, while Alex Tuch and the Sabres seek the club’s first series victory since a six-game triumph versus the Rangers during the 2007 Conference Semifinals. Boston can force a Game 6 for the first time since Morgan Geekie and Charlie McAvoy accounted for both goals in a 2-1 win against Florida during the 2024 Second Round.
• Matt Boldy played the role of overtime hero in Game 4 and leads the Wild back to American Airlines Center where they’ll face Jason Robertson, who can extend his postseason-opening goal streak to a franchise-record five games. Robertson can also tie the club mark for longest at any point in a playoff year shared by Minnesota North Stars forwards Steve Payne (5 GP in 1981) and Milan Marcetta (5 GP in 1968).

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE

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Siqueira & Goveia named Lancer Athletes of the Year

Lancer standouts Gustavo Siqueira and Isabella Goveia were awarded the Olympic and Banner Shields as the University of Windsor Athletes of the Year at the Windsor Lancers annual Evening of Excellence Wednesday at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts.

It was a sensational senior year on the court for Gustavo as he elevated his game to another level to solidify his place as one of the top hitters in the entire country.

Named an OUA first-team all-star, Gustavo ranked third in the OUA and fifth in U SPORTS with 3.63 kills per set, while also finishing fifth in the OUA in hitting percentage. He consistently provided offensive firepower for the Lancers as they finished the season with an all-time best 18-2 record and a spot in their second consecutive Forsyth Cup berth.

At home at the National Championships, Gustavo had a massive weekend, putting up 40 kills across three matches. He was named a U SPORTS championship tournament all-star, the first in program history as the Lancers earned their best-ever national tournament finish.

It was a truly an incredible year for Isabella as she established herself as one of the premier distance runners in the country.

At the OUA provincial championships, she captured a gold medal, two silvers, and a bronze in what was an incredible individual performance. At the U SPORTS national championships, she took it to another level, as she won two national gold medals and two bronze medals, and was a key contributor to the Lancer Women’s national bronze medal finish.

Isabella etched her name in the Lancer history books this year as she broke two all-time school records in the 600m and 1000m.

She broke the 1000m school record twice, which was previously held by Lancer great Melissa Bishop, first breaking the record at the Can Am Invitational and then breaking her own record again at the U SPORTS championships.

The DeMarco Awards, presented annually to the top female and male students that best combine academic achievement with athletic prowess, went to Ethan John from football and to Kali Grootenboer from the women’s basketball team.

The Eddi Chittaro Assistant Coach of the Year award went to Sydney Pattison from cross country and Jimmy El-Turk from men’s volleyball, while the University of Windsor Gino Fracas Coach of the Year Award was presented to Kevin Hamlin from men’s hockey.

Lancer men’s hockey had a tremendous season under Coach Hamlin, as he led his team to a first-place finish in the OUA West Division, an OUA Silver medal and a fourth place at the U SPORTS championships.

In the regular season, the Blue and Gold finished with an 18-7-3 record, clinching first place in the OUA West division and a top 10 ranking in Canada. The Lancers swept their way past Guelph and TMU in the playoffs en route to hosting the Queen’s Cup for the second time in four years.

At nationals, the Lancers beat Mount Royal in the quarterfinals to earn their first National semi-final berth in the current tournament format. The team would end up with a fourth-place finish in Canada this season.

The Captain’s Trophy, awarded to a male and female captain who demonstrate outstanding leadership both on and off the field while also making a significant contribution to the overall success of their team, went to Joelle Olla from cross country, and Matt McNamara from men’s hockey.

The female rookie of the year award went to Lerissa Stevenson from women’s hockey, while Colton Smith from men’s hockey won the male rookie of the year. Both recipients had outstanding rookie campaigns.

The Super Sophomore awards were presented to Ella Heredi from track & field, and Tristen Miscia from track & field.

The “A” Award, marking major contributions to Lancer Athletics, went to Justin Kelly-Boxe and Marian Doll. This year’s Richard Peddie Award was presented to Sandra Ondracka, while the Moriarty academic team of the year was presented to the women’s volleyball team, and the IG Cup was awarded to men’s hockey.

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Detroit Pistons Season Schedule 2025-26

*Updated

Little Caesars Arena Parking Lots
Little Caesars Arena Seating Chart

The post Detroit Pistons Season Schedule 2025-26 appeared first on In Play! magazine.

NHL DECEMBER 31, 2025 – MacKINNON CAPS 2025 WITH 400TH CAREER GOAL, 70TH POINT OF THE SEASON

Nathan MacKinnon (2-2—4) celebrated New Year’s Eve with a four-point night, his 400th career goal and his 70th point of the season while the Avalanche (30-2-7, 67 points) celebrated with their ninth consecutive victory, 15th straight home win and League-best 56th regular-season victory in the calendar year.

• MacKinnon (34-36—70) and Connor McDavid (24-46—70), who will both suit up for Team Canada at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, and each recorded their 70th point of the season Wednesday and made 2025-26 the first campaign since 1995-96 (Mario Lemieux & Jaromir Jagr) to feature multiple players hit the mark before New Year’s Day.
• MacKinnon and Valeri Nichushkin, who ended the game with a hat trick, accounted for all four of Colorado’s goals in the opening 4:39 of their contest. They became the second set of teammates in NHL history to each score multiple goals in the opening five minutes of a game. They joined the Islanders’ duo of Duane Sutter (2-0—2) and Bryan Trottier (2-0—2) on Jan. 26, 1982.
• MacKinnon became the third player in franchise history to reach the 400-goal mark, following Joe Sakic (625) and Michel Goulet (456), ended the calendar year with 52-73—125 in the regular season – the most points among all players for the second straight year.
• Cale Makar collected an assist in the win and finished 2025 with 31-60—91 in the regular season – tops among defensemen after also pacing them in 2024. He became the first blueliner to lead his position in regular-season points in consecutive calendar years (outright or tied) since Nicklas Lidstrom (1999-2000).

DETROIT RED WINGS WIN ON NEW YEAR’S EVE

The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 at Little Caesars Arena on December 31, 2025. Dylan Larkin scored on the power play and Mason Appleton added another goal in the first period. John Gibson made 24 saves for Detroit. Logan Stanley scored Winnipeg’s lone goal as the Jets suffered their seventh straight loss.

SABRES EXTEND WINNING STREAK TO 10, MOVE INTO PLAYOFF POSITION

Tage Thompson (2-1—3) scored a pair of third-period goals to seal the victory and help the Sabres extend their winning streak to 10 games, matching the longest run in franchise history as well as the longest run by any team this season (also COL: 10 GP from Nov. 4-26). Buffalo (21-14-4, 46 points) leapfrogged idle Florida (21-15-3, 45 points) and moved into a playoff spot for the first time this season.

• Buffalo recorded its 11th comeback win of the season, tied for second most in the NHL behind only Philadelphia (14). The Sabres have earned six come-from-behind victories during their 10-game winning streak and have posted more comeback wins at this stage of a season (39 GP) only three times in franchise history (13 in 2006-07, 2005-06 & 1983-84).
• The Sabres became the third team in the past five seasons to win 10 straight games after not qualifying for the playoffs in season prior (min. 82 GP). They joined the 2022-23 Devils (13 GP) – who were also led by Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff – and the 2024-25 Blues (12 GP).

NEWEST OLYMPIC-BOUND PLAYERS SHINE HOURS AFTER. . .

Tom Wilson and Macklin Celebrini were among several players who shone for their clubs in the hours after they were named to Team Canada’s roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

• Wilson (2-1—3) recorded his 15th career three-point outing, reached 200 NHL goals and 40 this calendar year to lift the Capitals (21-14-5, 47 points) to victory. Wilson became the sixth player to score 200 goals with the franchise and became the third member from the 2012 NHL Draft class to reach the mark alongside Filip Forsberg (334) and Tomas Hertl (267). Wilson is one of four forwards who did not represent his country at the 4 Nations Face-Off (also Celebrini, Bo Horvat & Nick Suzuki) who will be heading to Italy – the Capitals shared a video of him learning the news that he had made Team Canada’s roster.
• Celebrini (1-1—2) collected two points and scored in the shootout to help the Sharks (20-17-3, 43 points) surpass the Kings (16-13-9, 41 points) for the first Wild Card seed in the Western Conference. He became the third-fastest teenager to 40 assists in a season in NHL history, behind Sidney Crosby (34 GP in 2006-07) and Wayne Gretzky (36 GP in 1980-81). Celebrini can become the youngest player and only teenager to play for Team Canada at Olympics involving NHL players.
• Brandon Hagel (0-3—3) and Brayden Point (1-0—1), two of the three Lightning players named to Team Canada’s roster (also Anthony Cirelli), were a part of every Tampa Bay goal to help their club move into second place in the Atlantic Division. Hagel and Point helped their current head coach – and bench boss for Team Canada in Italy – earn a win in his 1,000th game. It marked Jon Cooper’s 595th victory, which is the most by a head coach through that milestone (next closest: Al Arbour w/ 531).

TEAM CANADA UNVEILS OLYMPIC ROSTER

Team Canada unveiled their full 25-man roster ahead of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, naming 19 players in addition to Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Cale Makar, Sam Reinhart and Brayden Point, who were originally revealed in June.

• Team Canada’s roster has combined to win 23 Stanley Cups, 35 individual NHL Awards (including 7 Art Ross Trophies, 6 Hart Trophies and 4 Conn Smythe Trophies) and includes four NHL captains (Crosby, McDavid, Mark Stone & Nick Suzuki) as well as 19 players returning from the team that won the 4 Nations Face-Off last February.
• Drew Doughty (age 36) joined Crosby (age 38) on the roster – the pair will look to win Olympic gold for the third time as teammates (2014 & 2010).
• All three goaltenders have won the Stanley Cup, a first for Team Canada at the Olympics: Jordan Binnington (2019 w/ STL), Darcy Kuemper (2022 w/ COL) and Logan Thompson (2023 w/ VGK).

FORWARDS

• Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks)
• Anthony Cirelli (Tampa Bay Lightning)
• Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins)
• Brandon Hagel (Tampa Bay Lightning)
• Bo Horvat (New York Islanders)
• Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche)
• Brad Marchand (Florida Panthers)
• Mitch Marner (Vegas Golden Knights)
• Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers)
• Brayden Point (Tampa Bay Lightning)
• Sam Reinhart (Florida Panthers)
• Mark Stone (Vegas Golden Knights)
• Nick Suzuki (Montreal Canadiens)
• Tom Wilson (Washington Capitals)

DEFENSE

• Drew Doughty (Los Angeles Kings)
• Thomas Harley (Dallas Stars)
• Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche)
• Josh Morrissey (Winnipeg Jets)
• Colton Parayko (St. Louis Blues)
• Travis Sanheim (Philadelphia Flyers)
• Shea Theodore (Vegas Golden Knights)
• Devon Toews (Colorado Avalanche)

GOALTENDERS

• Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues)
• Darcy Kuemper (Los Angeles Kings)
• Logan Thompson (Washington Capitals)

NOTES

• Sidney Crosby and Drew Doughty are the only players with previous Olympic experience (2010 Vancouver, 2014 Sochi)
• 16 players on the roster have won the Stanley Cup
• 19 players participated in Canada’s 2025 4 Nations Face-Off victory

TROCHECK, RANGERS CONTEST FINAL GAME BEFORE WINTER CLASSIC

Vincent Trocheck (1-0—1) was one of several players with a history of coming up big in outdoor games to find the score sheet for the Rangers in their final game before they face off against the Panthers in the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic at loanDepot park in Miami on Friday. Puck drop is at 8 p.m.

• Trocheck, who posted 2-1—3 in the 2024 Stadium Series to help New York become the first team in NHL outdoor history to earn a three-goal comeback win, spent his first six and a half NHL seasons with the Panthers and witnessed firsthand the growth of hockey in Florida – hockey registration has risen in the state by 49.63% since the franchise’s inaugural season (find more in the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic By The Numbers). The chance to play outdoors in the Sunshine State means a lot to Trocheck.
• Artemi Panarin, who leads all Rangers in outdoor points (1-3—4 in 3 GP), collected a pair of assists against the Capitals and became the first player born outside North America to record five consecutive calendar years with at least 90 points. Click here to read more about Panarin and the other top outdoor performers highlighted in the #NHLStats Pack: 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic.
• Adam Fox (1-1—2) and Mika Zibanejad (0-1—1) also found the score sheet Wednesday and hope to have their names added to Team USA and Team Sweden rosters, respectively, for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 in the coming days. There are currently five players named to Olympic rosters with the Panthers or Rangers: Brad Marchand (Team Canada), Sam Reinhart (Team Canada), Matthew Tkachuk (Team USA), Aleksander Barkov (Team Finland) and Uvis Balinskis (Team Latvia).

KOPITAR CAN RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH 1,300 POINTS

The first day of 2026 will be rung in with an eight-game slate including three national broadcasts across Canada on Sportsnet as well as Anze Kopitar within striking distance of 1,300 career points. Kopitar (446-852—1,298) can become the fifth active player to reach that milestone when the Lightning visit the Kings – should he do so, he would join Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and Patrick Kane.

Canadiens’ Demidov Named NHL ‘Rookie of the Month’ for December

Montreal Canadiens right wing Ivan Demidov, who topped all rookies with 4-10—14 in 15 games, has been named the NHL’s “Rookie of the Month” for December.

Demidov edged Anaheim Ducks right wing Beckett Sennecke (5-6—11 in 15 GP), Detroit Red Wings defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka (2-7—9 in 15 GP), Vancouver Canucks center Linus Karlsson (5-3—8 in 13 GP), San Jose Sharks left wing Igor Chernyshov (3-5—8 in 7 GP) and Washington Capitals right wing Ryan Leonard (2-6—8 in 7 GP) for the honor.

The 20-year-old Demidov paces NHL rookies with 10-23—33 through 39 total contests this season, also sitting among the top 2025-26 freshmen in assists (1st; 23), even-strength assists (1st; 15), shooting percentage (1st; 18.9% – minimum: 1 SOG/GP), even-strength points (2nd; 23), power-play assists (2nd; 8), power-play points (t-2nd; 10), game-winning goals (t-2nd; 2), goals (3rd; 10) and even-strength goals (3rd; 8).

McDavid, MacKinnon and Celebrini Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ for December

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon and San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini – three No. 1 picks selected for Canada’s roster at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 – have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of December.

FIRST STAR – CONNOR McDAVID, C, EDMONTON OILERS

McDavid led the League with 13-21—34 in 15 contests – the most points by any NHL player in a single calendar month since Mario Lemieux in December 1995 (12-22—34 in 14 GP w/ PIT) – to lift the Oilers (20-15-6, 46 points) from sixth to first place in the Pacific Division via a 9-5-1 December. McDavid failed to find the scoresheet in his first appearance of the month (Dec. 2 vs. MIN), but closed December with points in 14 straight outings – his seventh career run of at least 14 games and first since March 11 – April 13, 2023 (10-19—29 in 16 GP). He produced nine multi-point efforts over his final 14 contests, including five straight from Dec. 4-13 (7-8—15), his 13th career hat trick (Dec. 4 vs. SEA: 3-1—4), and his second career five-assist and 12th career five-point performance (Dec. 23 vs. CGY: 0-5—5). McDavid additionally placed among the top December performers in power-play assists (1st; 12), power-play points (1st; 16), assists (t-1st; 21), power-play goals (t-1st; 4), goals (2nd; 13), shots on goal (2nd; 71), even-strength goals (t-3rd; 8) and even-strength points (t-3rd; 17). The 28-year-old McDavid, who sat eight points behind MacKinnon for the League scoring lead at the end of November, now shares first place with 24-46—70 through 41 total appearances this season. The five-time Art Ross Trophy winner also paces the NHL in assists (46), power-play assists (23) and power-play points (30) in 2025-26, while ranking fourth in goals (24), even-strength points (38) and shots on goal (145).

SECOND STAR – NATHAN MacKINNON, C, COLORADO AVALANCHE

MacKinnon, the “First Star” of November, placed second in December with 14-12—26 across 14 games to power the League-leading Avalanche (30-2-7, 67 points) to a 12-1-1 month as they created a 10-point cushion in the Presidents’ Trophy race. MacKinnon registered points in 12 of his 14 December outings, highlighted by an NHL-best 10 multi-point performances – including a four-game stretch from Dec. 9-16 (4-5—9) and a three-game run to end the month (Dec. 27-31: 4-5—9), capped by his 400th career goal and 32nd career four-point effort Dec. 31 vs. STL (2-2—4). He also scored in nine of his 14 contests to top the League in both goals (14) and even-strength goals (13) while ranking among the December leaders in shots on goal (1st; 72), plus/minus (1st; +21), even-strength points (2nd; 21) and game-winning goals (t-2nd; 3). The 30-year-old MacKinnon, who has finished as the runner-up in the Art Ross Trophy race each of the past two years, matches McDavid with 34-36—70 through 39 total games this season – the first time since 1995-96 that multiple NHL players have accumulated at least 70 points before New Year’s Day. MacKinnon, who currently has a nine-goal edge in the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy race (34), also sits among the 2025-26 leaders in points per game (1st; 1.79), even-strength goals (1st; 27), even-strength points (1st; 54), shots on goal (1st; 180), even-strength assists (2nd; 27), game-winning goals (t-2nd; 5), assists (5th; 36) and power-play points (t-10th; 16).

THIRD STAR – MACKLIN CELEBRINI, C, SAN JOSE SHARKS

Celebrini finished fourth in the NHL with 8-17—25 in 14 contests to propel the Sharks (20-17-3, 43 points) into the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference on the strength of an 8-6-0 December. Celebrini found the scoresheet in 11 of his 14 appearances, including a nine-game run to close the month (Dec. 11-31: 7-12—19). He also notched eight multi-point performances, spurred by a pair of three-game stretches (Dec. 13-18: 3-6—9 and Dec. 27-31: 3-4—7), and produced five contests with at least three points. Celebrini additionally ranked among the December leaders in even-strength assists (1st; 16), even-strength points (1st; 24), assists (t-3rd; 17), even-strength goals (t-3rd; 8), goals (t-7th; 8), shots on goal (t-9th; 51) and plus/minus (t-12th; +10). The 19-year-old Celebrini, who registered 25-38—63 during his rookie campaign (70 GP), sits third in League scoring with 22-40—62 through 40 overall appearances in 2025-26 – a point total surpassed by just two teenagers in NHL history through their first 40 games of a season: Wayne Gretzky (21-49—70 in 1980-81 w/ EDM) and Sidney Crosby (21-45—66 in 2006-07 w/ PIT). Celebrini – who has factored on 50.8 percent of his team’s total goals this season (62 of 122), second only to McDavid (51.1%) – also places among the 2025-26 leaders in even-strength assists (1st; 28), assists (2nd; 40), even-strength points (2nd; 46), even-strength goals (t-2nd; 18) and goals (t-8th; 22).

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Stanley Cup Playoffs – May 2, 2025 – BLUES FORCE FIRST-EVER GAME 7 IN WINNIPEG

A pair of defensemen led the charge in Game 6 as Philip Broberg (1-1—2) and Cam Fowler (1-0—1) helped the Blues earn their 15th straight win with a 5-2 win over Winnipeg at Enterprise Center dating to Feb. 23 and force a winner-take-all showdown against the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Jets. This marks the fifth straight year under the Wild Card format that at least one First Round Game 7 will include a Wild Card team.

• Fowler boosted his 2025 First Round totals to 2-8—10 (6 GP) and became the first Blues defenseman to record 10 points in a single series. The last St. Louis skater to hit the mark was Doug Weight (5-8—13) in the 2003 Conference Quarterfinals.
• Broberg became the third Blues blueliner in the past 25 years to post multiple points in a game when facing elimination. The others: Nick Leddy (0-3—3 in Game 5 of 2022 R2) and Alex Pietrangelo (1-1—2 in Game 7 of 2019 SCF).
• The Blues have won four consecutive Game 7s and can become the fifth team in NHL history to win at least five straight, following a foursome that all claimed six in a row: Carolina (2006-2022), NY Rangers (2012-2015), Boston (1983-1994) and Detroit (1949-1964). Meanwhile, the Jets will host their first-ever Game 7 in Winnipeg after winning their only Game 7 to date in the 2018 Second Round (5-1 W at NSH).
• The Blues will seek to become the fifth straight team to win a Game 7 against the Presidents’ Trophy winners – a list that includes the Jets (FLA in 2023 R1 at BOS, WPG in 2018 R2 at NSH, PIT in 2017 R2 at WSH & TBL in 2015 CF at NYR) – with opposing teams holding a 7-3 record in Game 7s against the League’s top team over the past 20 years. Overall, teams are 11-14 in 25 Game 7s against the Presidents’ Trophy winners, including a 3-4 mark in the opening round (wins by FLA in 2023, MTL in 2010 & SJS in 2000).

2025 NHL DRAFT LOTTERY TO FEATURE LIVE DRAW FOR THE FIRST TIME
The NHL will broadcast the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery on Monday, May 5 will, for the first time in its 30-year history, feature the drawing live in-studio, allowing viewers to follow along and learn the results at the same time as the Draft Lottery participants. It will be conducted at NHL Network’s Secaucus, N.J., studio, with the event broadcast live on ESPN, Sportsnet and TVA Sports at 7 p.m. ET, and will determine the order of selection for the first 16 picks in the first round of the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft.

AVALANCHE, STARS PUT IT ALL ON THE LINE IN GAME 7

The Stars (50-26-6, 106 points) and Avalanche (49-29-4, 102 points), who were separated by one win and four standings points during the 2024-25 regular season, have both held the series lead in a thrilling First Round matchup that has averaged 6.5 goals per game and will fittingly require a seventh and deciding contest Saturday.

• The 199th Game 7 in Stanley Cup Playoffs history will mark the fourth Game 7 between the Stars and Avalanche, the seventh head-to-head matchup in NHL history with as many Game 7 showdowns. Dallas has won each of the past three Game 7s between the clubs en route to an eventual appearance in the Stanley Cup Final (2020 R2, 2000 CF & 1999 CF).
• In the last Game 7 between these teams (2020 R2), the score was tied 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 and 4-4 before then Stars forward and current Avalanche Joel Kiviranta capped a hat trick with an overtime goal. Kiviranta became the first rookie in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to score a hat trick in a Game 7 and the first player overall to do so since Wayne Gretzky 27 years earlier in the 1993 Conference Finals. Kiviranta also joined Esa Tikkanen (1991 DSF) as the second player to score a Game 7 hat trick that included an overtime winner.
• The Stars will contest a Game 7 for the fourth consecutive postseason (2-1 over that span), just the ninth team in NHL history with a run that long and first since Anaheim’s five-year stretch from 2013 to 2017.
• Stars forward Wyatt Johnston has emerged as a clutch Game 7 performer for Dallas. In Game 7 of the 2023 Second Round, he became the youngest player in NHL history to score a Game 7-clinching goal – doing so one day after his 20th birthday on May 15, 2023. In Game 7 of the 2024 First Round against the then-defending Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights, Johnston opened the scoring in a tightly-contested 2-1 victory and became the second player in NHL history to score a goal in each of his first two Game 7s at the age of 20 or younger (also Jeremy Roenick: 1990 DSF & DF w/ CHI).
• Colorado will look to channel the Joe Sakic-era Avalanche, who guided the franchise to its last Game 7 win in the 2002 Conference Semifinals (vs. SJS). The Avalanche are looking to snap a string of six consecutive defeats in the winner-takes-all contest and to do so will need to earn their first Game 7 win on the road since the franchise’s move to Denver in 1995-96.
• The Avalanche have been buoyed by the return of their longtime captain, Gabriel Landeskog, who re-joined the team for Game 3 of this series after missing 1,032 days due to injury as detailed by his wife, Melissa, in a recent episode of the podcast “Never Offside with Julie & Cat.’ Landeskog (1-3—4 in 4 GP) has produced at a point-per-game pace since his return.
• On Friday, Landeskog was named alongside Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and Blue Jackets forward Sean Monahan as a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy which is awarded “to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey,”

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