Hey everyone, hope you are doing well. Tonight, we are back again for another great Episode 34 of Season 7 of Two Guys & Hockey Talk. Another week, another round of playoff chaos across the hockey world. Some of the news from around the league and in the world of hockey are:
- Craig Berube Fired by Toronto Maple Leafs – The Toronto Maple Leafs have officially fired head coach Craig Berube following a disappointing and chaotic season that saw the team miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs entirely despite entering the year with high expectations. Berube was originally brought in to change the culture of the team, add accountability, and bring a more structured playoff-style system to Toronto, but things never fully clicked throughout the season as inconsistency, defensive breakdowns, injuries, and roster concerns continued to pile up. There is also new management in place (Mats Sundin & John Chayka) who are looking to move in a different direction.
- Charlie Coyle Signs Long-Term Extension with Columbus – The Columbus Blue Jackets have officially signed veteran center Charlie Coyle to a six-year contract extension worth $36 million (with an AAV of $6 million annual cap hit). The move comes after a very strong first season in Columbus where Coyle quickly became one of the team’s most reliable and important players both on and off the ice. Coyle, 34, finished the season with 20 goals and 58 points while playing all 82 games, continuing to show consistency, leadership, and durability. He immediately became a key part of the Blue Jackets’ leadership group and was praised heavily by management for his professionalism, defensive play, and veteran presence in a younger locker room.
- Charlie McAvoy Suspended 6 Games – The NHL Department of Player Safety has issued a six-game suspension to Charlie McAvoy of the Boston Bruins for a retaliatory slashing incident on Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson during Game 6 of their playoff series. The incident occurred late in the third period after a sequence of contact between the two players escalated into McAvoy swinging his stick in retaliation, which the league deemed dangerous and outside the bounds of acceptable play. It is unclear if he and his camp will appeal.
- Carolina Hurricanes Continue Dominance – The Carolina Hurricanes continue to be one of the biggest stories of the Stanley Cup Playoffs after sweeping through the first two rounds and punching their ticket to the Eastern Conference Final after beating the Philadelphia Flyers. Carolina has combined elite goaltending, strong defensive structure, and timely scoring to become arguably the most complete team remaining in the playoffs. Their veteran core led by Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov and Jaccob Slavin has elevated their game at the perfect time, while Frederik Andersen has been excellent between the pipes. After years of playoff disappointment, Carolina now looks like a legitimate Stanley Cup favourite.
- The Buffalo Sabres versus Montreal Canadiens – This series has been super fun and wild, as both teams have continued their impressive playoff run after evening their second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens. Both have strong young cores and continue to mature quickly as Zach Benson delivering one of the biggest performances of his young career on his birthday, while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen bounced back with a strong performance in net. The Sabres are playing with confidence, speed, and physicality, and for the first time in years, Buffalo fans truly believe this team could make a deep playoff run. But the Montreal Canadiens aren’t going away and their core group also have a bright future with players like Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovský and Lane Hutson who have all taken major steps forward this season, helping transform the Canadiens into a legitimate playoff contender and pushing back the Sabres in a very exciting match-up.
- Colorado Avalanche Push Minnesota to the Brink – In the West, the Colorado Avalanche are now one win away from advancing to the Western Conference Final after dominating much of their series against the Minnesota Wild. Colorado’s offense has once again proven too much for opponents to contain, with Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar continuing to lead the way offensively while the Avalanche depth scoring has overwhelmed Minnesota at times. The Wild continue to battle hard, but Colorado’s playoff experience and speed are becoming major factors in the series.
- Vegas Golden Knights Lean on Playoff Experience – In the other series in the West, the Vegas Golden Knights continue to show why playoff experience matters after taking control of their series against the Anaheim Ducks. Pavel Dorofeyev delivered a massive overtime winner in Game 5, while Vegas continues to get contributions throughout the lineup. Anaheim’s young stars have impressed throughout the postseason, but the Golden Knights’ veteran leadership and composure in key moments have given them the edge as they look to return to the Western Conference Final once again. Game 6 goes tomorrow.
- Springfield Thunderbirds Pull Off Massive Calder Cup Upset – Over in the AHL, the Springfield Thunderbirds shocked the hockey world after eliminating the heavily favoured Providence Bruins in what many are calling one of the biggest upsets in recent Calder Cup Playoff history. Dillon Dube scored the overtime winner to complete the series victory, while Springfield’s aggressive forecheck and strong goaltending frustrated Providence throughout the series. The upset once again highlights the unpredictability and excitement of AHL playoff hockey.
- KHL Gagarin Cup Final Underway – Over in the KHL, the Gagarin Cup Final is officially underway with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl taking on Ak Bars Kazan in a heavyweight championship matchup. Lokomotiv entered the series looking to defend their title after surviving an intense semifinal series, while Ak Bars are chasing another championship after a strong playoff run of their own. Game 1 already delivered playoff intensity, with Lokomotiv taking an early series lead as both teams continue to rely heavily on elite defensive structure and strong goaltending.
- PWHL Expanding to Las Vegas and Hamilton – The Professional Women’s Hockey League officially announced expansion franchises for both Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario as part of the league’s aggressive growth plans heading into the 2026-27 season. The additions will bring the league up to 11 teams, with one more expansion franchise expected soon as the PWHL prepares to grow to a 12-team league just two years after originally launching with six teams in 2024.
- Kitchener Rangers Capture OHL Championship – The Kitchener Rangers are officially OHL Champions after defeating the Barrie Colts in the OHL Final, capturing the franchise’s first J. Ross Robertson Cup since the 2007-08 season. The Rangers completed the series victory in dominant fashion and now move on with their sights set on the Memorial Cup as one of the top junior hockey teams in Canada.
- NHL Announces GM of the Year Finalists – The NHL officially announced that Bill Guerin of the Minnesota Wild, Chris MacFarland of the Colorado Avalanche, and Pat Verbeek of the Anaheim Ducks are the three finalists for the 2026 Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award. The award is given annually to the NHL general manager who best excelled at his role during the regular season and is voted on by NHL executives, general managers, and members of the media following the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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’
