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Golden Knights build on late-season success under coach John Tortorella in playoffs
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NHL playoffs/ABC News

Golden Knights build on late-season success under coach John Tortorella in playoffs

John Tortorella and the Vegas Golden Knights are off to the second round after pushing aside the pesky Utah MammothByJOHN COON Associated PressMay 2, 2026, 2:49 AMSALT LAKE CITY -- John Tortorella and the Vegas Golden Knights are off to the second round after pushing aside the pesky Utah Mammoth.Vegas ground out three straight victories to finish off the Mammoth, winning 5-1 on Friday night in Game 6 after consecutive overtime wins. Vegas overcame third-period deficits in its first three victories.After Tortorella took over as coach from the fired Bruce Cassidy, the Golden Knights closed the regular season 7-0-1. They went from a team struggling to stay in the playoff picture to winning a division title for the fifth time in nine seasons.Depth, confidence, and experience helped Vegas make winning plays to close out tight games as the series progressed. Mitch Marner and fellow forward Brett Howden specifically answered the bell with big plays. Howden had four goals in the series, and Marner had two goals and five assists.“When you roll four lines, it doesn’t matter too much about where the faceoff is,” Golden Knights captain Mark Stone said. “You can just kind of put whoever out on the ice.

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NHL playoff schedule: Dates, TV channels, scores for second round
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NHL playoffs/USA Today

NHL playoff schedule: Dates, TV channels, scores for second round

Updated May 2, 2026, 11:48 p.m. ETThe second round of the 2026 NHL playoffs got underway on Saturday, May 2 with the Eastern Conference-leading Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Philadelphia Flyers.Then on Sunday, the Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7 of the first round to determine which team will advance to face the Buffalo Sabres. That series will start on Wednesday, May 6, at Buffalo.In the Western Conference, the series are the Colorado Avalanche vs. the Minnesota Wild (starting May 3) and the Vegas Golden Knights vs. the Anaheim Ducks (starting May 4).Here is the full second round schedule for the 2026 NHL playoffs, including dates, times and TV information.NHL second-round scheduleAll times p.m. ET. x-if necessaryEASTERN CONFERENCEBuffalo Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens/Tampa Bay LightningGame 1: May 6, Montreal/Tampa Bay at Buffalo, 7, TNT, truTVGame 2: May 8, Montreal/Tampa Bay at Buffalo, 7, TNT, truTVGame 3: May 10, Buffalo at Montreal/Tampa Bay, 7, ESPNGame 4: May 12, Buffalo at Montreal/Tampa Bay, TBA, ESPNx-Game 5: May 14, Montreal/Tampa Bay at Buffalo, TBA, TNT, truTVx-Game 6: May 16, Buffalo at Montreal/Tampa Bay, TBA, ABC or ESPN)x-Game 7: May 18, Montreal/Tampa Bay at Buffalo, TBA, ESPNCarolina Hurricanes vs. Philadelphia FlyersHurricanes

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NHL playoff predictions for second round: Who goes to conference finals?
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NHL Playoffs/USA Today

NHL playoff predictions for second round: Who goes to conference finals?

Updated May 3, 2026, 3:37 p.m. ETThe Hurricanes and the Colorado Avalanche swept their first round opponents and Carolina made it five wins in a row with a victory against the Philadelphia Flyers in the teams' second round opener.The Avalanche might have a tougher time in their second round series because the Minnesota Wild are among the best teams in the league.The Vegas Golden Knights are taking on the upstart Anaheim Ducks and the Buffalo Sabres are still waiting to find out their opponent as the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens are playing in Game 7 on Sunday, May 3.Here are USA TODAY Sports' predictions for who advances to the conference finals (the Sabres series prediction will be provided once their opponent is known):Carolina Hurricanes vs. Philadelphia FlyersMike Brehm: Hurricanes in 5. The Flyers are better than the Ottawa Senators, but the Hurricanes are much better than the Pittsburgh Penguins. Philadelphia will avoid a sweep, but the Hurricanes play too aggressively and too well defensively for the Flyers to get more than one win.Jace Evans: Hurricanes in 5. The Flyers could find a way to muck things up, and goalie Dan Vladar — coming off a sterling first round

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More in Nhl Playoffs

Golden Knights build on late-season success under coach John Tortorella in playoffs
NHL playoffs/ABC News

Golden Knights build on late-season success under coach John Tortorella in playoffs

John Tortorella and the Vegas Golden Knights are off to the second round after pushing aside the pesky Utah MammothByJOHN COON Associated PressMay 2, 2026, 2:49 AMSALT LAKE CITY -- John Tortorella and the Vegas Golden Knights are off to the second round after pushing aside the pesky Utah Mammoth.Vegas ground out three straight victories to finish off the Mammoth, winning 5-1 on Friday night in Game 6 after consecutive overtime wins. Vegas overcame third-period deficits in its first three victories.After Tortorella took over as coach from the fired Bruce Cassidy, the Golden Knights closed the regular season 7-0-1. They went from a team struggling to stay in the playoff picture to winning a division title for the fifth time in nine seasons.Depth, confidence, and experience helped Vegas make winning plays to close out tight games as the series progressed. Mitch Marner and fellow forward Brett Howden specifically answered the bell with big plays. Howden had four goals in the series, and Marner had two goals and five assists.“When you roll four lines, it doesn’t matter too much about where the faceoff is,” Golden Knights captain Mark Stone said. “You can just kind of put whoever out on the ice.

1 hr ago
NHL playoff schedule: Dates, TV channels, scores for second round
NHL playoffs/USA Today

NHL playoff schedule: Dates, TV channels, scores for second round

Updated May 2, 2026, 11:48 p.m. ETThe second round of the 2026 NHL playoffs got underway on Saturday, May 2 with the Eastern Conference-leading Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Philadelphia Flyers.Then on Sunday, the Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7 of the first round to determine which team will advance to face the Buffalo Sabres. That series will start on Wednesday, May 6, at Buffalo.In the Western Conference, the series are the Colorado Avalanche vs. the Minnesota Wild (starting May 3) and the Vegas Golden Knights vs. the Anaheim Ducks (starting May 4).Here is the full second round schedule for the 2026 NHL playoffs, including dates, times and TV information.NHL second-round scheduleAll times p.m. ET. x-if necessaryEASTERN CONFERENCEBuffalo Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens/Tampa Bay LightningGame 1: May 6, Montreal/Tampa Bay at Buffalo, 7, TNT, truTVGame 2: May 8, Montreal/Tampa Bay at Buffalo, 7, TNT, truTVGame 3: May 10, Buffalo at Montreal/Tampa Bay, 7, ESPNGame 4: May 12, Buffalo at Montreal/Tampa Bay, TBA, ESPNx-Game 5: May 14, Montreal/Tampa Bay at Buffalo, TBA, TNT, truTVx-Game 6: May 16, Buffalo at Montreal/Tampa Bay, TBA, ABC or ESPN)x-Game 7: May 18, Montreal/Tampa Bay at Buffalo, TBA, ESPNCarolina Hurricanes vs. Philadelphia FlyersHurricanes

7 hr ago
NHL playoff predictions for second round: Who goes to conference finals?
NHL Playoffs/USA Today

NHL playoff predictions for second round: Who goes to conference finals?

Updated May 3, 2026, 3:37 p.m. ETThe Hurricanes and the Colorado Avalanche swept their first round opponents and Carolina made it five wins in a row with a victory against the Philadelphia Flyers in the teams' second round opener.The Avalanche might have a tougher time in their second round series because the Minnesota Wild are among the best teams in the league.The Vegas Golden Knights are taking on the upstart Anaheim Ducks and the Buffalo Sabres are still waiting to find out their opponent as the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens are playing in Game 7 on Sunday, May 3.Here are USA TODAY Sports' predictions for who advances to the conference finals (the Sabres series prediction will be provided once their opponent is known):Carolina Hurricanes vs. Philadelphia FlyersMike Brehm: Hurricanes in 5. The Flyers are better than the Ottawa Senators, but the Hurricanes are much better than the Pittsburgh Penguins. Philadelphia will avoid a sweep, but the Hurricanes play too aggressively and too well defensively for the Flyers to get more than one win.Jace Evans: Hurricanes in 5. The Flyers could find a way to muck things up, and goalie Dan Vladar — coming off a sterling first round

5 hr ago
Carolina Hurricanes keep rolling with Game 1 shutout of Philadelphia Flyers
NHL playoffs/USA Today

Carolina Hurricanes keep rolling with Game 1 shutout of Philadelphia Flyers

May 2, 2026Updated May 3, 2026, 1:07 a.m. ETThe Carolina Hurricanes continue rolling though the NHL playoffs.After sweeping the Ottawa Senators in the first round, the Hurricanes dominated the Philadelphia Flyers 3-0 on Saturday, May 2 to take Game 1 of their second-round series.The Hurricanes have yet to trail in the 2026 postseason and they grabbed the lead 91 seconds into the game on a Logan Stankoven goal. It was 2-0 on a Jackson Blake goal about six minutes later and Carolina outshot the Flyers 12-4 in the first period.Stankoven, acquired in last season's Mikko Rantanen trade with Dallas, scored again in the second period to take a share of the NHL goal lead with his sixth of the postseason.Even though the Flyers outshot the Hurricanes 10-2 in the third period, Frederik Andersen finished with his second shutout of the postseason.The Flyers were without injured forward Owen Tippett, who's listed as day-to-day.The teams play again on Monday in Raleigh, North Carolina.What time is Philadelphia Flyers vs Carolina Hurricanes Game?Puck drop between the Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers is scheduled for 8 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, May 2.How to watch Philadelphia Flyers vs Carolina Hurricanes on SaturdayAll times Eastern and accurate

10 hr ago