Two years ago, the Nashville Predators were the talk of the hockey world. Usually a conservative franchise, GM Barry Trotz stunned many by signing a trio of high-end free agents. The result: a disastrous 2024-25 season.

With expectations lowered, the Preds started this past season in similar fashion before turning into the team which was expected a season sooner. Though they finished short of a playoff spot, the personnel on the roster combined with a heap of draft picks in June will make this off season event - particularly with a new GM likely to be in place by then.

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While there was much anticipation in Boston, Ottawa and Los Angeles Thursday, home fans went home disappointed in each of those cities as the Sabres got a leg up on the Bruins and Hurricanes and Avalanche moved to within a win of advancing to round two.

Vic and Neil discuss the matchups and set up a trio of third games Friday, which includes the first-ever home playoff game for the Utah Mammoth.

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After winning the Eastern Conference during the regular season in 2024-25, the Washington took a step back finishing out of the playoffs.

There was significant drop off from a number of key players, a major injury and a slide on both special teams.

With Alex Ovechkin's return in question, the Caps are a team in flux as Ovi's decision will likely determine the path the team will take in 2026-27.

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The Philadelphia Flyers have been in playoff mindset since the final 25 games in the regular season and its continued into the first round as they have pushed their in-state rivals to the brink.

As Wednesday evening pressed forward, Anaheim managed to prevail late in Edmonton while the Stars and Wild went even deeper into the night before a winner was decided.

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So who had the J.J. Moser/Nick Roy parlay in their overtime goal pool Tuesday?

That's just a start re-capping a night where the temperature came up considerably in all four series with three of those guaranteed to go at lease five games.

We'll also look ahead to the three Wednesday matchups as Ottawa and Pittsburgh look to get themselves off the ropes.

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For the sixth consecutive spring, the Columbus Blue Jackets are out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. What started poorly was replaced to an incredible run to playoff position after a coaching change, only to falter at the end for the second straight season.

Vic and Neil, look back at what went wrong and look ahead with plenty of decisions for GM Don Waddell.

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While the Stanley Cup Playoffs are a two month physical battle of attrition, the mental component plays an equally significant role in determining the fate of clubs.

Monday, Pittsburgh, Ottawa and Anaheim all went down in very different ways and are going to be challenged to get themselves back in their respective series.

Elsewhere, Dallas avoided a 2-0 hole against Minnesota and we look ahead, to four games on the games on the Tuesday schedule where the Lightning, Bruins, Mammoth and Kings will try to even their series.

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Let the plots begin to unfold as the Stanley Cup Playoffs opened over the weekend with seven of the eight series beginning to tell their respective stories. Perhaps no tale was better than in Buffalo where, after a decade-an-a-half of waiting, fans in Western New York were treated to a stirring comeback at the hands of the rival Bruins.

Elsewhere, some favorites held serve as expected while a couple of others stunned their hosts.

Finally, the number of hits more than doubled from that of a regular season game according to stats compiled by the NHL. Really? Let's get to the definition of a hit and go from there.

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