Hockey – Brandon Sun

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Connor Ingram (39) and Leon Draisaitl (29) celebrate their victory against the Anaheim Ducks during third period first round Game 5 NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Codie McLachlan

Oilers seek to stay alive in playoffs after 4-1 win over Ducks, still trail in series

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 10:11 AM CDT

EDMONTON - Have the Edmonton Oilers turned the tide?

A 4-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday to avoid elimination from the playoffs was the Oilers' most complete game yet in the first-round series.

Edmonton still trails the best-of-seven affair 3-2 heading to Anaheim for Thursday's Game 6 at the Honda Center, where the Oilers have yet to win in this series.

The Oilers can hope they planted a seed of doubt in the speedy young Ducks side, with a dozen players under the age of 25, and 14 who have made their playoff debuts in the series. A Game 7 would be back in Edmonton on Saturday.

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Canadiens seek top-six production against host Lightning in Game 5

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Canadiens seek top-six production against host Lightning in Game 5

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Yesterday at 3:00 AM CDT

TAMPA - The Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning are tied 2-2 as their first-round series resumes tonight in Florida for Game 5.

The matchup opened with three straight overtime games before Tampa Bay’s 3-2 win in Game 4 was settled late in regulation.

Montreal enters tonight's game after surrendering a two-goal lead at home on Sunday, with Tampa Bay defenceman Max Crozier’s hit on Habs forward Juraj Slafkovsky shifting momentum late in the second period.

Montreal’s top line of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Slafkovsky has combined for 11 points in this series, all on the power play. Seven of those points came in the opener.

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Yesterday at 3:00 AM CDT

Tampa Bay Lightning's Max Crozier (24) checks Montreal Canadiens' Juraj Slafkovsky (20) during second-period NHL playoff hockey action in Montreal on Sunday, April 26, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

Draisaitl ignites desperate Oilers in clutch 4-1 win over Ducks

Shane Jones, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Draisaitl ignites desperate Oilers in clutch 4-1 win over Ducks

Shane Jones, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 9:34 AM CDT

EDMONTON - The Edmonton Oilers took a lead — and finally held it.

Leon Draisaitl scored a pair of goals, and Evan Bouchard had three assists as the Oilers dug deep to stave off elimination, defeating the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 on Tuesday to force Game 6 in California.

The Oilers had previously allowed six separate leads to slip away in the first four games of the series, but led this game pillar to post after going up 3-0 midway through the first period.

“It was a good start for us, we’ve had a few good starts in this series, and it’s a matter of holding the lead, and I thought we did a good job doing that,” Bouchard said. “I don’t know what it is with us, I’m sure you’ve heard this 1,000 times, when our backs are against the wall, we play good hockey, and we did that tonight.”

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Updated: Yesterday at 9:34 AM CDT

Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (29) celebrates a goal against the Anaheim Ducks during second period first round Game 5 NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Codie McLachlan

Matt Boldy and Wild go home with chance to clinch series after beating Stars 3-1

Stephen Hawkins, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Matt Boldy and Wild go home with chance to clinch series after beating Stars 3-1

Stephen Hawkins, The Associated Press 3 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026

DALLAS (AP) — Matt Boldy scored the tiebreaking power-play goal in the final minute of the second period, after having one taken away late in the first, and the Minnesota Wild beat the Dallas Stars 4-2 on Tuesday night for a 3-2 lead in their first-round Western Conference series.

Kirill Kaprizov scored an empty-net goal with two minutes left and had two assists, while Mats Zuccarello scored in his return from a three-game absence with an upper-body injury for the Wild. Michael McCarron also had a third-period goal.

The Wild go home for Game 6 on Thursday with a chance to advance to the second round for the first time since 2015. They have lost their last nine playoff series, including to Dallas in 2016 and 2023.

Jason Robertson had a goal with 3:21 left — after also scoring goals in each of the first four games — and assisted on Miro Heiskanen's one-timer on a power play for the Stars, who made the Western Conference final each of the past three seasons.

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Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger, left, looks on as Minnesota Wild players celebrate a second period power play goal by left wing Matt Boldy, back right, in Game 5 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs hockey series, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Pastrnak scores 9:14 into OT, Bruins avoid elimination with 2-1 win over Sabres

John Wawrow, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Pastrnak scores 9:14 into OT, Bruins avoid elimination with 2-1 win over Sabres

John Wawrow, The Associated Press 2 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — David Pastrnak scored on a breakaway 9:14 into overtime, and the Boston Bruins avoided elimination with a 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 5 of their first-round NHL playoff series on Tuesday night.

Catching Buffalo on a line change, Hampus Lindholm fed a pass up the right boards to find Pastrnak in stride just as he crossed the blue line. Driving in alone on net a step ahead of Buffalo's Mattias Samuelsson, Pastrnak faked cutting across the front and nearly lost his balance before slipping the puck inside the right post.

The series shifts back to Boston for Game 6 on Friday night, with Buffalo still seeking to clinch its first playoff series victory since eliminating the New York Rangers in six games of a 2007 second-round series. The Sabres are in the playoffs for only the third time since, and after snapping an NHL record 14-season playoff drought this year.

Elias Lindholm also scored for Boston which overcame a 1-0 deficit. Jeremy Swayman stopped 25 shots, including foiling Jason Zucker set up in front 3:30 into the extra period.

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Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon (34) makes a save during the third period in Game 5 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Boston Bruins Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Cassidy surprised by Golden Knights’ firing, sounds ready to return to coaching

Mark Anderson, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Cassidy surprised by Golden Knights’ firing, sounds ready to return to coaching

Mark Anderson, The Associated Press 3 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Former Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said Tuesday he was surprised at his late-season firing, but indicated he was ready to get back behind a bench.

“You grind for 74 games and you want to be there at the end,” Cassidy said while serving on TNT's studio show for the NHL playoffs. “That's the payoff, playing for the (Stanley) Cup, getting your name on the Cup again. But Vegas, they have their standards. They felt we weren't there, so they made a change.

"Great guys in that locker room. Great players. I'm excited for the guys, but disappointed I didn't get a chance to finish the job with them.”

The Golden Knights host the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday night in Game 5 of their opening-round series, which is tied at 2-all.

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Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026

FILE — Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy stands behind his bench during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, on March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Burleigh commits to Western New England

Massimo De Luca-Taronno 6 minute read Preview

Burleigh commits to Western New England

Massimo De Luca-Taronno 6 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026

Zach Burleigh hasn’t had a place to call home until now.

The 20-year-old Langton, Ont., goaltender and journeyman who spent this past year with the Neepawa Titans can finally take a breather after committing to play NCAA Division III with the Western New England University Golden Bears in Springfield, Mass., for the 2026-27 season.

“It’s super exciting. It’s been a a nice weight off the shoulders, so now I can just focus on this off-season and not have to worry about where you’re going or all that,” Burleigh said on Monday. “I get to go to school and also play my favourite sport, so it’s gonna be great.

“I love hockey and I love going to the states so I’m Iooking forward to starting a new chapter going to school, just might have to hit the books a little bit more.”

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Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026

Neepawa Titans goaltender Zach Burleigh (31) has committed to Western New England University in Springfield, Mass., for the NCAA Division III 2026-27 season. (Submitted)

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NHL Commissioner Bettman backs ruling that allowed Ducks’ OT goal to stand in Game 4 win vs. Oilers

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

NHL Commissioner Bettman backs ruling that allowed Ducks’ OT goal to stand in Game 4 win vs. Oilers

The Associated Press 3 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026

NEW YORK (AP) — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman offered his unequivocal support Tuesday for the ruling that upheld the Anaheim Ducks’ overtime goal against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series.

“It wasn’t a controversy, it was absolutely the right call,” Bettman said in meeting with Associated Press Sports Editors at the NHL headquarters in New York City. “Because of the technology that we currently use and the cameras that we have inside the net, you could see it, knew for certain that it would be in and over the line.”

Bettman’s response comes two days after Ryan Poehling’s goal was extensively reviewed to determine whether it fully crossed the goal line, before being allowed to stand in a 4-3 win. The Ducks lead 3-1 and have a chance to clinch the series in playing Game 5 at Edmonton on Tuesday night.

Though on-ice officials ruled Poehling scored, questions were raised as to whether there was enough visible evidence to show the puck crossing the line 2:29 into overtime.

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Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026

Anaheim Ducks left wing Chris Kreider, top center, reacts on the game-winning, overtime goal by center Ryan Poehling, not shown, in Game 4 in the first round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Hurricanes’ Rod Brind’Amour is hopeful Ehlers and Nikishin will be ready for Round 2 of NHL playoffs

Aaron Beard, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Hurricanes’ Rod Brind’Amour is hopeful Ehlers and Nikishin will be ready for Round 2 of NHL playoffs

Aaron Beard, The Associated Press 2 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour is hopeful that winger Nikolaj Ehlers and defenseman Alexander Nikishin will be ready for Round 2 of the NHL playoffs with extra time off to recover from injuries.

The Eastern Conference’s top seed closed out a first-round sweep of Ottawa on Saturday, though Ehlers was a late scratch with a lower-body injury. Nikishin was knocked from the second period with a concussion on a jarring hit from Tyler Kleven, leaving Nikishin prone on the ice and struggling to get back to his feet.

The Hurricanes were the first team to advance to Round 2 and next face the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh winner. The Flyers won the first three games, but the Penguins have extended the series to Wednesday's Game 6.

Neither Ehlers nor Nikishin skated with the team returning to practice Tuesday, though there’s clearly no need to rush them back. Afterward, Brind'Amour said “everything's trending in the right direction” on Nikishin.

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Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026

Carolina Hurricanes defenceman Alexander Nikishin (21) is helped off the ice by teammates Seth Jarvis (24) and Shayne Gostisbehere (4) after being checked by Ottawa Senators defenceman Tyler Kleven (43) during second period of first round Game 4 NHL playoff hockey action in Ottawa on Saturday, April 25, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Six things to watch as Canadiens-Lightning series becomes best-of-three

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Six things to watch as Canadiens-Lightning series becomes best-of-three

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026

MONTREAL - The Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning are all square as their playoff series returns to the Sunshine State for Game 5 on Wednesday

Tampa Bay rallied for a 3-2 comeback Sunday night in Montreal, tying the first-round matchup at two games apiece after the first three meetings needed overtime.

Here are six things to watch for as the series becomes a best-of-three:

SLIM MARGINS

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Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) stops a shot by Montreal Canadiens left wing Juraj Slafkovsky (20) during the third period in Game 2, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Oilers captain McDavid confirmed for Game 5 of playoff series against Ducks

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Oilers captain McDavid confirmed for Game 5 of playoff series against Ducks

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026

EDMONTON - Connor McDavid was in the Edmonton Oilers' lineup for Game 5 of a playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks after his coach deemed him a game-time decision Tuesday.

Edmonton's captain and centre Jason Dickinson didn't participate in the morning skate, after which Kris Knoblauch said both men were game-time decisions. Both were on the game roster.

The Oilers reached the Stanley Cup final each of the last two years before bowing out to the Florida Panthers both times.

Edmonton was in danger of an early exit this post-season. The Oilers trailed the Ducks three games to one in the best-of-seven series.

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Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026

Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid, right, shoots as Anaheim Ducks defenceman John Carlson, left, defends during the second period of Game 4 in the first round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

McDavid, Celebrini, Kucherov named finalists for Ted Lindsay Award

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

McDavid, Celebrini, Kucherov named finalists for Ted Lindsay Award

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026

TORONTO - Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov are the finalists for the 2025-26 Ted Lindsay Award, the NHL Players’ Association announced Tuesday.

The award is given out annually to the league's "most outstanding player" as voted by NHL players.

McDavid, seeking his fifth award, led the NHL with 138 points and reached key career milestones of 800 career assists and 400 goals.

"It's the least surprising thing that I've heard all morning," Leon Draisaitl said of his fellow Oilers superstar as the team prepared for a do-or-die Game 5 on Tuesday against visiting Anaheim.

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Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026

Anaheim Ducks' Tim Washe (42) pursues Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) during second period NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Monday, April 20, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Codie McLachlan

John Garrett, former NHL goaltender and longtime Canucks broadcaster, dead at 74

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

John Garrett, former NHL goaltender and longtime Canucks broadcaster, dead at 74

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026

VANCOUVER - John Garrett, a fixture on Vancouver Canucks broadcasts for more than two decades and a former NHL goaltender, has died. He was 74.

Sportsnet announced Tuesday that Garrett died suddenly, and no cause of death was provided.

Garrett spent more than two decades as the colour commentator on Canucks regional broadcasts and was a regular presence on national NHL coverage.

He began his broadcasting career in 1986 with CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada before joining Sportsnet.

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Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026

Broadcaster John Garrett acknowledges the crowd after his retirement was announced during a stoppage in play as the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames play during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Saturday, April 8, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Theodore’s overtime goal lifts Golden Knights to 5-4 win over Mammoth; series tied 2-all

John Coon, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Theodore’s overtime goal lifts Golden Knights to 5-4 win over Mammoth; series tied 2-all

John Coon, The Associated Press 3 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Shea Theodore scored on a snap shot from the high slot with 51.5 seconds left in overtime and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Utah Mammoth 5-4 on Monday night after squandering a three-goal lead, tying their first-round playoff series at two games apiece.

“We just didn’t quit,” Theodore said.

Game 5 in the best-of-seven series is Wednesday night in Las Vegas.

The Golden Knights appeared to have won the game earlier in OT when Pavel Dorofeyev tapped in a loose puck with 9:41 left, but the apparent score was waved off when it was determined Vegas was offside.

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Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026

Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller, center left, reacts to scoring a goal with teammates Utah Mammoth defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, center right, Utah Mammoth left wing Lawson Crouse, right, and Utah Mammoth defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, left, during the third period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)

Penguins fend off elimination again with 3-2 win over Flyers in Game 5

Will Graves, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Penguins fend off elimination again with 3-2 win over Flyers in Game 5

Will Graves, The Associated Press 3 minute read Monday, Apr. 27, 2026

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Connor Dewar, Kris Letang and Elmer Soderblom scored and the Pittsburgh Penguins avoided elimination for the second time in 48 hours with a 3-2 win over Philadelphia in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Monday night.

Sidney Crosby shook off a shot to his left knee to add two assists for the Penguins, who cut the Flyers’ lead in the best-of-seven series to 3-2.

Game 6 is Wednesday in Philadelphia, where the pressure will be on the Flyers to avoid putting themselves in danger of becoming just the fifth team in NHL history to blow a series after winning the first three games.

“We know it’s a big challenge going into there," Crosby said. "But I think we have a lot of belief in our group, and we’ve done it time and time again.”

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Monday, Apr. 27, 2026

Pittsburgh Penguins' Elmer Soderblom (25) celebrates with Ben Kindel (81) and Anthony Mantha (39) after scoring against the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period of Game 5 in the first round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Pittsburgh, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Senators veteran Chabot says quick playoff exit feels like a ‘punch in the face’

Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Senators veteran Chabot says quick playoff exit feels like a ‘punch in the face’

Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Monday, Apr. 27, 2026

OTTAWA - Days after a first-round playoff sweep, the Ottawa Senators are still coming to terms with an ending that arrived far too quickly.

After fighting to clinch the final wild-card in the Eastern Conference the Senators saw their playoff hopes dashed by the Carolina Hurricanes in four games.

Veteran defenceman Thomas Chabot described the experience as a “punch in the face,” and one that will leave an impact.

“I think it’s a big thing as players and as individuals that just the way they carried themselves the whole playoffs,” Chabot said of how Carolina approached their game. “You saw how even keel they were the whole playoffs.”

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Monday, Apr. 27, 2026

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