Dahlin rewrites Sabres history: NHL playoff week
Colorado eliminated Minnesota and Vegas ousted Anaheim in the Western Conference Semifinals, setting up a May 20 WCF showdown. In the East, Buffalo forced Game 7 with an 8-3 blowout at Montreal — Rasmus Dahlin setting a Sabres franchise record with 5 points in a single elimination game. Mitch Marner leads all playoff scorers (18 pts), Frederik Andersen is 8-0 with a 1.12 GAA for resting Carolina, and Montreal's inflated PDO flashes as the biggest regression signal heading into Game 7.
The Conference Semifinals delivered back-to-back series closers in the West and a stunning swing in the East. Colorado (Colorado Avalanche) and Vegas (Vegas Golden Knights) punched their tickets to the Western Conference Final starting May 20, while Buffalo forced Game 7 after rallying from 3-1 down in an 8-3 road rout that rewrote the Sabres record books.
Conference semifinals results
Three series were active this week. Here is the game-by-game log.
Colorado Avalanche def. Minnesota Wild, 4-1
Colorado entered the week in control at 2-1. Game 4 (May 11, Ball Arena) was a 5-2 victory that pushed the series to 3-1, though Artturi Lehkonen and Sam Malinski were late scratches with upper-body injuries, with Josh Manson returning from a four-game absence to shore up the blue line.1 Game 5 (May 13) produced the weekend's most dramatic hockey: Minnesota led 3-0 after the first period, starter Mackenzie Blackwood was pulled, Scott Wedgewood stopped all 7 shots he faced in relief, Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado forward, 30) scored a game-tying shot from the left circle with 1:23 left in the third, and Brett Kulak (Colorado defenseman, 32) potted the series-winning overtime goal 3:52 into OT. Colorado wins 4-3 and advances.2
Vegas Golden Knights def. Anaheim Ducks, 4-2
After Anaheim tied the series at 2-2 with a 4-3 win on May 10, Vegas reasserted control. Game 5 (May 12, Honda Center): Pavel Dorofeyev (Vegas forward, 25) — who had missed Game 4 with an injury — returned and scored twice, including the overtime winner 4:10 into OT, his first career playoff OT goal.3 Vegas won 3-2 and took a 3-2 series lead. Game 6 (May 14, T-Mobile Arena): Dorofeyev added two more in a 5-1 blowout. Vegas closes it out 4-2, advancing to the Western Conference Final for the fifth time in franchise history. The West Final vs. Colorado is set for May 20 at Ball Arena.4
Note: Vegas captain Mark Stone (lower-body injury) missed Games 4–6 and remains out heading into the West Final, with Brandon Saad stepping into the lineup.5
Buffalo Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens — tied 3-3 (Game 7: May 18, Buffalo)
The series has been a back-and-forth grind. After Montreal took a 3-2 lead with a 6-3 road win in Buffalo on May 14 — Jakub Dobes staying in net through a shaky start before Montreal pulled away — Buffalo answered with a historic blowout. Game 6 (May 16, Bell Centre): Buffalo trailed 3-1 before scoring 7 unanswered goals and winning 8-3. Both starting goalies were pulled. Sportsnet's Eric Engels called it a "disastrous Game 6" for the Canadiens and said their "resolve is facing the ultimate test."6 Game 7 is Monday, May 18 at 7:30 PM ET at KeyBank Center, Buffalo.
Meanwhile, Carolina (Carolina Hurricanes), who swept Philadelphia in the second round, awaits the winner. Taylor Hall (Carolina forward) noted the team is "relatively unscathed and healthy" entering the Eastern Conference Final.7
Top performers of the week
Skaters
| Player | Team | Position | This week | Playoff totals | Fantasy note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rasmus Dahlin, 26 | Buffalo | D, captain | 5 pts (1G+4A) in G6 | 13 pts (2G+11A) in 12 GP | Tied 5th in playoff scoring; franchise single-game record |
| Tage Thompson, 28 | Buffalo | F | 4 pts (1G+3A) in G6 | 15 pts (5G+10A) in 12 GP | Tied 2nd in playoff scoring; averaging 1.00 pt/gp in first-ever postseason |
| Mitch Marner, 29 | Vegas | F | 1G+1A in G6 (May 14) | 18 pts (7G+11A) in 12 GP | Leads all playoff scorers at 1.50 pts/gp; +11 plus/minus, tied for best |
| Martin Necas, 27 | Colorado | F | 2 assists in G5 (May 13) | 11 pts (1G+10A) in 9 GP | Primary assist on Kulak's series-winning OT goal; multi-point game in every Colorado clincher |
Rasmus Dahlin's Game 6 was the standout individual performance of the week. He scored the opening goal just 32 seconds in — on the road, down a game — then set up four more as Buffalo erased a 3-1 deficit. Dahlin becomes the first defenseman in NHL history to record five points in an elimination game.6
Tage Thompson's numbers are even more striking in context: this is his first NHL postseason appearance. His 15 points in 12 games put him among only five Sabres in franchise history to average 1.00 point per game over 10+ playoff appearances. NHL EDGE data shows him ranking first among forwards in mid-range shots on goal (20) and clocking the fastest shot speed among forwards at 96.14 mph.8 There are reports that Thompson is playing through an undisclosed injury, though Buffalo has not officially confirmed any status.9
Mitch Marner's transformation from Toronto perennial playoff question mark to Vegas's offensive engine is the bigger-picture story. The Hockey News noted he is "rewriting a narrative" but cautioned against letting "one good post-season rewrite nine years of futility."10 For fantasy purposes: Marner has primary assists on 8 of his points, meaning he is involved in the actual generation of chances, not just cleaning up.
Goalies
| Goalie | Team | This week | Playoff totals | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter Hart, 27 | Vegas | 2-0-0, .956 SV%, 65/68 saves | 8-4-0, .915 SV%, 2.37 GAA | 34 saves in G5, 31 saves in G6 series clincher |
| Frederik Andersen, 36 | Carolina | Not played (awaiting ECF opponent) | 8-0-0, .950 SV%, 1.12 GAA, 2 SO | Has not allowed more than 2 goals in any start |
| Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, 27 | Buffalo | 18/18 saves (1.000) in G6 relief | Season series ongoing | Entered with Buffalo trailing 3-1; allowed nothing the rest of the way |
Carter Hart was the backbone of Vegas's series close. He stopped 65 of 68 shots across Games 5 and 6 (.956 SV%), holding Anaheim to 1 goal in the clincher.34
Frederik Andersen is the elephant in the room for the East. Carolina has been idle since May 9 — nearly two full weeks of rest — while Andersen's .950 SV% and 1.12 GAA are the best marks in the postseason. His 5-on-5 save percentage of .970 is the best in the playoffs; in tied-or-one-goal situations it stands at 1.000.11
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's relief appearance in Game 6 flipped the series. He had been pulled early in Game 5, allowing 5 goals on 23 shots. Bouncing back when it mattered most — entering mid-period, shutting out Montreal for the remaining 50-plus minutes — is the kind of narrative that will define how the Sabres are talked about heading into Game 7.
Breakout players and fantasy adds
Konsta Helenius (BUF, F, 20, rookie) scored his first career playoff goal in Game 5 (May 14) and followed up with another in Game 6, giving him 2 goals in 2 games. Helenius was the 14th overall pick in the 2024 draft. He is not a big-name fantasy add, but he is seeing playoff ice time in a team that just scored 8 goals.6
Ivan Demidov (MTL, F, 20, rookie) scored power-play goals in both Games 5 and 6, giving him 2 PP goals in 2 games. Demidov, the 5th overall pick in 2024, is on a line with Alex Newhook and Jake Evans that has combined for 19 points in the series. He is a speculative hold if your league extends into the next round — he goes to the net and Montreal's power play is clicking at 23.5%.12
Zach Benson (BUF, F, 20) scored the game-tying goal just 60 seconds into the second period of Game 6 to spark the comeback, finished with 6 shots on goal (tied for the team lead), and played 20:04 — second among Buffalo forwards. Over 12 playoff games he has 9 points (5G+4A). NHL EDGE data places him in the top 8% of all skaters in total skating distance and top 16% in offensive zone time this postseason.8 He is a legitimate pickup if available, especially for Game 7.
Brett Howden (VGK, F) has 7 playoff goals after totaling just 12 in the entire regular season. He is tied for the NHL lead in high-danger goals (5) and plays on Vegas's top forward unit alongside Marner and Dorofeyev. That line has driven most of what Vegas does offensively.13
Jackson Blake (CAR, F, 22) is worth tracking for the Eastern Conference Final. In 8 playoff games he has 11 points (4G+7A) and became the youngest player in Hurricanes history to score a series-clinching overtime goal (Game 4 against Philadelphia). His line with Taylor Hall and Logan Stankoven has outscored opponents 9-1. Rod Brind'Amour (Carolina head coach) said Blake is "super competitive" and "stands out almost every shift doing stuff."14
Team analytics: what the numbers say
Five teams remain active. Here is the 5-on-5 possession picture heading into the Conference Finals.
| Team | CF% (5v5) | xGF% (5v5) | GF% (5v5) | PDO | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Avalanche | 56.53 (#1) | 56.00 (#1) | 63.89 | 1.024 | 25.0% (4th) | 79.3% (12th) |
| Vegas Golden Knights | 48.80 | 50.57 | 50.00 | 1.005 | 25.7% (3rd) | 86.8% (5th) |
| Buffalo Sabres | 52.42 | 52.36 | 53.06 | 1.007 | 20.8% | 78.0% |
| Montreal Canadiens | 46.65 | 47.44 | 55.56 | 1.031 | 23.5% | 73.6% |
CF% = shot attempt share at 5-on-5; xGF% = expected goal share at 5-on-5; GF% = actual goal share at 5-on-5; PDO = shooting% + save% (league average = 1.000). Source: NaturalStatTrick.com.1516
Colorado is the class of the field by every possession metric. Their 56.53 CF% is the highest among all active teams, and their xGF% matches it, meaning the underlying quality of their chances is as good as the quantity. The one exposed weakness is their penalty kill (79.3%, 12th of 16) — Vegas coach John Tortorella explicitly called that out as a target, saying "when you're in the playoffs, special teams are important."17 Jack Eichel (Vegas forward) acknowledged Colorado presents "a lot of challenges" with MacKinnon's "combination of speed and explosiveness."17
Vegas wins through different means: they lead the NHL in high-danger goals (27) and shorthanded goals (4), and their penalty kill (86.8%) is one of the strongest remaining. Tortorella described the team as "flatline — they don't get too excited when things are going really well."17 Their 5v5 possession metrics look pedestrian, but they have survived by converting high-danger chances at a high rate and protecting leads.
Montreal's PDO of 1.031 is the highest among all active teams and stands out as the single biggest regression signal in the playoffs. They are being out-possessed (46.65 CF%), out-chanced (44.47 SCF%), and outshot at 5-on-5, yet their goals-for percentage is 55.56%. That gap closes in time. Lane Hutson (Montreal defenseman) acknowledged Game 6's structural problems: "We gave them tons of opportunity to possess pucks and make plays."18 Montreal's historical Game 7 record on the road is 8-6, so even a regression-candidate squad has a real chance. But the possession gap is real, and Buffalo's adjusted power play (4-for-6 in Game 6 after shifting Doan, Benson, and Quinn onto the top unit) makes that 73.6% penalty kill a genuine liability.18
One speed note that matters for the West Final: Colorado has four players in the top 10 playoff max skating speeds — Cale Makar ranks first at 23.92 mph.19 MacKinnon logged 14 speed bursts above 20 mph in Game 5 against Minnesota alone — the most in a single game this postseason.20
Injury and discipline log
Active teams
- Mark Stone (VGK, F, captain) — lower-body injury, missed Games 4–6 of the second round, listed as out heading into the Western Conference Final. Brandon Saad stepped into the lineup.5 Vegas also lost Jeremy Lauzon (upper-body) and Jonas Rondbjerg (lower-body) for Game 6, meaning they advanced to the West Final with four players unavailable.21
- Cale Makar (COL, D) — played Game 5 with a visible right arm/shoulder issue after a hit from Mats Zuccarello late in the third period. He logged 25:50 of ice time but had zero shots. Makar did not practice on Saturday (May 16). Colorado expects him available for the West Final, which begins May 20.22
- Artturi Lehkonen and Sam Malinski (COL, F and D) — both out with upper-body injuries for the final two games of the Minnesota series; WCF status undetermined.1
- Tage Thompson (BUF, F) — multiple analysts have noted signs of Thompson playing through an injury (reduced explosiveness, altered mechanics), but Buffalo has not issued any official confirmation of a physical issue.9 He still recorded 4 points in Game 6.
Suspensions and discipline
- Brayden McNabb (VGK, D) was suspended one playoff game for interference on Anaheim's Ryan Poehling (upper-body injury) in Game 5 on May 12. McNabb missed Game 6 — his first career suspension in 14 NHL seasons.23 The Vegas organization was also fined by the NHL for Tortorella skipping his post-game press conference after Game 6, described by the league as a "flagrant violation" of playoff media regulations. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Tortorella's absence may have been linked to his frustration with the McNabb decision.24
- Charlie McAvoy (BOS, D) — separately, the league announced a 6-game regular-season suspension for his slashing of Zach Benson in Round 1. The suspension carries into the 2026-27 regular season. McAvoy also revealed at Boston's exit availability that he played most of the first round with a broken hand.25
Post-elimination injury revelations
- Minnesota Wild revealed that Joel Eriksson Ek (center) played none of the second round due to a broken heel bone that prevented him from planting his foot on the ice, and Jonas Brodin (defenseman) fractured the first metatarsal of his right foot in Round 1 and required surgery, missing all six games of the second round.26
- Philadelphia Flyers disclosed a 10-player injury list at their exit availability: Travis Konecny (broken ribs + broken nose), Owen Tippett (internal bleeding + core muscle injury, missed the entire second round), Trevor Zegras (elbow ligament sprain), Emil Andrae (broken wrist, needs surgery), Cam York (broken ribs), Garnet Hathaway (broken fibula), Christian Dvorak (broken ribs + separated rotator cuff), Noah Cates (broken foot, no surgery), Alex Bump (MCL sprain), Nikita Grebenkin (upper-body).27
What's next
- Game 7, BUF at MTL — Monday, May 18, 7:30 PM ET, KeyBank Center, Buffalo. Buffalo is 1-6 all-time in Game 7s; Montreal is 8-6 on the road in Game 7s. The winner faces Carolina.
- Western Conference Final, COL vs. VGK — Game 1 on Wednesday, May 20 at Ball Arena, Denver. Colorado enters as the deeper possession team; Vegas brings the better special-teams structure and a game plan targeting Colorado's PK.
Cover image from: NHL.com — Sabres score 7 straight, surge past Canadiens to force Game 7
References
- 1
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- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10The Hockey News/Yahoo Sports — Conn Smythe front runners
sports.yahoo.com
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14The Hockey News — Jackson Blake shooting into stardom
thehockeynews.com
- 15NaturalStatTrick.com — Team Season Totals (2026 Playoffs, 5v5)
naturalstattrick.com
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
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- 23
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- 25Spectrum Local News/AP — Bruins' McAvoy suspended 6 games for slashing Benson
spectrumlocalnews.com
- 26
- 27
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