If there was a team that truly took people off guard in a positive way during the regular season, it was the Pittsburgh Penguins.

With a rookie head coach, an aging core and a relatively non-descript 2025 off-season, the Pens proved from opening night that, just because "experts" think one way, those assessments mean nothing to the team in the room.

Still, an opening-round playoff loss to a lower seed leaves plenty of questions for GM Kyle Dubas in preparing the club for 2026-27.

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With each passing game, the Colorado Avalanche continue to make a statement as to why they were Presidents' Trophy winners during the regular season after taking a 2-0 lead over a wounded Minnesota team in the Western semi-final Tuesday.

Vic and Neil look back on that game, preview the opener between the Sabres and Canadiens plus game two between the Golden Knights and Ducks AND...

...can anyone believe what happened at the NHL Draft Lottery?

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Looking at some of the key stats for the Los Angeles Kings in 2925-26, that they even qualified for the playoff was a miracle. A late season coaching change, an uptick in play and the floundering of those around them proved to be just enough to get in...and they be disposed in four straight.

With their longtime captain retired and the head coaching position in flux, GM Ken Holland has a busy off-season ahead to upgrade an older, underperforming roster.

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The Philadelphia Flyers brought considerably more to the Carolina Hurricanes in the second game of their series Monday but just fell short as the 'Canes moved to 6-0 during the post season.

In Vegas, a controversial goal helped propel the Golden Knights past the Ducks in the opener of their Western semi-final.

Vic and Neil break it down and look ahead to the second game between the Avalanche and Wild...and guessing we won't see 15 goals this time around.

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And then there were eight.

Though the second round has seen two series already get underway, that's not stopping, Neil, Vic or TSN's Craig Button from breaking the four series down.

In addition to offering their takes on who makes the conference finals, they'll also look back to the opening round where there will be some zingers exchanged on some of those fearless prognostications.

Also, don't miss mid-show, the two former GM's opining about the new leadership team in Toronto.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[01:31] - Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To:

[07:19] - Carolina vs. Philadelphia

[14:20] - Buffalo vs. Montreal

[22:01] - There's a new hockey leadership group in Toronto and it's being met with considerable skepticism.

[31:45] - Colorado vs. Minnesota

[38:52] - Vegas vs. Anaheim

[44:45] - What the first round would have looked like in a 1-8, 2-7, 3-6, 4-5 world.

[52:53] - First round pick review from "The Experts."

[54:16] - The best and worst of other playoff prognostications.

[1:00:41] - Wrap-up segment. Schedule for the next three nights, a couple of predictions for Monday's games and a special birthday wish for a long time fan.

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After making a surprise trip to the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2025, the Ottawa Senators faced an uphill climb for nearly the entire season before qualifying this time around.

Improved offensive output helped offset poor penalty killing, spotty goaltending and a rash of late season injuries to the defense. While it wasn't nearly enough to make a dent in the post-season, the Senators are known for their compete level and it's now up to GM Steve Staios to ensure that doesn't wane while bolstering the roster for 2026-27.

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Any thoughts the Carolina Hurricanes might have a bit of rust after a week since finishing off Ottawa, were quickly dispelled in gaining a quick upper hand over Philadelphia to kick off round two.

Vic and Neil review that game and preview two games on opposite sides of the playoff schedule as the Canadiens and Lightning conclude their epic opening round series in Tampa while the Wild and Avalanche open their second round series in Denver.

Finally, the urgency level is officially approaching DEFCON 1 in Edmonton and Charlie McAvoy may be on the sidelines to start 2026-27 after his antics at the end of the Bruins season ending loss to Buffalo Friday.

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The essence of Stanley Cup theatre was on full display Friday as the Tampa Bay Lightning forced the lone seventh game in the opening round as Andrei Vasilevskiy simply refused to lose in the 1-0 OT win.

Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres and Vegas Golden Knights both punch their tickets to the second round, taking out Boston and Utah respectively.

Vic and Neil discuss the three games and also look ahead to the opening game of Round Two as Philadelphia takes on Carolina.

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