Hey everyone, hope you are doing well. Tonight, we are back again for another great Episode 29 of Season 7 of Two Guys & Hockey Talk. Here are some of the top stories from around the league:
- The Buffalo Sabres are Back in the Playoffs – After almost 14 years, the Buffalo Sabres are back in the playoffs, tying the Atlantic lead after a win over the Tampa Bay Lightning is a huge statement. They’ve shown offensive depth and been very excited to watch, but playoff success will hinge on whether their young core can handle postseason intensity. I am sure Buffalo fans are very excited, but they still have Alex Tuch to potentially resign, as he’s become a cornerstone piece and fan favorite and the expectation is that Buffalo keeps him long-term.
- Jets pushing, Canadian playoff picture – The Winnipeg Jets are making a late push and could absolutely sneak into the playoffs if they maintain momentum, potentially becoming the final Canadian team in. This is also true for the Ottawa Senators, who have been trying to keep up with the tough Atlantic Division although nothing is guaranteed. But two teams who may be strong enough to make some waves in the post-season are the Montreal Canadiens, who remain in a rebuilding phase with flashes of promise but aren’t quite ready, while the Edmonton Oilers are still the most dangerous Canadian contender thanks to elite star power, if they get in cleanly, they’re a legitimate threat to go deep. They did just lose to the Utah Mammoth, which may be a preview of the first round. But they will still be without Leon Draisaitl, who’s dealing with a lower-body injury and has no clear return timeline.
- Panthers Won’t 3-Peat – Speaking of former champs, It’s a shocking drop for the Florida Panthers, who are going to miss the playoffs and may potentially pick high in the upcoming 2026 NHL draft. This feels more like a reset than a collapse, as the core talent is still there, and they have dealt with many injuries. Therefore Bill Zito has some work to do, but with some smart offseason tweaks, they could bounce back quickly. It also signals how highly competitive the Eastern Conference is.
- Maple Leafs GM candidates – For the Toronto Maple Leafs, they have hired Neil Glasberg and PBI Sports to assist with their new search for a new head of hockey operations. Some of the potential GM names that are being brought up are Sunny Mehta offers a modern, analytics-driven approach, Mike Gillis brings experience and a progressive mindset, Chris Pronger and Brandon Pridham (who is currently an AGM) but also represents continuity and cap expertise. The decision likely comes down to whether Toronto wants a fresh philosophical reset or internal stability and determine what they see their vision is for next season.
- New York Islanders’ late coaching shake-up – The New York Islanders in a shocking move, have fired Patrick Roy days before season’s end and quickly hired Peter DeBoer. It’s a ruthless, win-now approach (similar to the Vegas Golden KnightS) where ownership clearly believes the roster is playoff-caliber and isn’t willing to wait around for results and see the Vegas move where the team is 4-0-0 under John Tortorella.
- Devils Move on from Fitzgerald – The New Jersey Devils have fired Tom Fitzgerald, given that the team has been eliminated from the playoffs and signals frustration with stalled progress with ownership. Despite some strong roster pieces like Jack and Luke Hughes, and Nico Hischier , missing the playoffs made it a lost season. This opens the door for a new voice to reshape the team’s direction and better capitalize on its young talent and to take the New Jersey Devils to the next level.
- Wild fan moments in Edmonton – Sometimes hockey has some unique stories and no are more unforgettable than someone giving birth during a game at Rogers Place while another fan gets hit by a puck between the Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights. It’s a reminder of how unpredictable the live experience can be: part electric atmosphere, part chaos, and always memorable for those involved. Both fans are okay but it shows that anything goes at a good old hockey game.
- Avalanche lock up the West – The Colorado Avalanche have officially clinched the top spot in the Western Conference, reinforcing their status as a Cup favorite. Valeri Nichushkin led the charge in a key win, though there are concerns after a possible injury to Nazem Kadri. They’re deep, fast, and now have home-ice throughout the West having a huge advantage heading into the playoffs.
- The Carolina Hurricanes secure the Metropolitan Division – The Carolina Hurricanes clinching the Metropolitan Division highlights their consistency and depth under Rod Brind’Amour. Led by Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov, they rely on a structured, high-pressure system rather than star power and with home-ice advantage secured, they’re a serious contender, but their playoff success will depend on getting reliable goaltending along with depth scoring. Can they finally go the distance and win another Stanley Cup?
Thoughts? Questions? Suggestions? Then remember to tune in each week to get all the latest news in the world of hockey as we start up Season 7 of the Podcast each Wednesday night at 7pm MST, where we dive into some of these great topics, interview many in the game and so much more. For more hockey news, different takes or if you want to chat about anything hockey give me a follow @hockey_two & @revinev on X and give us a follow on YouTube, and check out our website for articles that we share regularly at https://twoguysandhockeytalk.com/. If you wish to reach out to us, feel free to email us at twoguyshockeytalk@gmail.com
- Pawel ‘The Cat’
