The New York Rangers have hired Mike Sullivan as head coach in what’s expected to be one of the richest deals in NHL history. Tampa Bay’s elimination by Florida raises questions about Jon Cooper’s future with the team and speculation about other markets he might consider coaching in if a split were to happen. Edmonton bounced back from a tough start to their series to eliminate the Kings in six, but Ray isn’t convinced their current levle of play will be enough to get past Vegas. The Leafs closed out the Sens in 6 games thanks to Nylander’s clutch play and a bold move to elevate Pacioretty, who delivered the series-winner. Winnipeg faces St. Louis in Game 6 without Scheifele or Ehlers, and controversy still swirls around the hit that caused Scheifele’s injury. Meanwhile, Dallas and Colorado are headed for a can’t-miss Game 7, with Ray making a case for how the Avs could steal it on the road.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first round of the NHL playoffs is delivering big storylines on and off the ice. Rick Tocchet has reportedly turned down a 5-year contract offer from the Canucks, with the Flyers and Penguins believed to be circling, while Mike Sullivan looks as though he might land with the Rangers — and could command a massive $30M deal. Meanwhile, Aaron Ekblad was hit with a 2-game suspension for his forearm on Hagel, did the refs have other options to address it in-game?. On the ice, the Hurricanes rolled past the injury-riddled Devils and extended Taylor Hall, while the Oilers have flipped the script against the Kings with three straight wins. Ottawa blanked the Leafs 4-0 to force Game 6, as pressure mounts on Toronto’s stars. In Washington, the Caps are pushing to eliminate Montreal after a game-changing hit by Tom Wilson, and in Winnipeg, concern is growing over Connor Hellebuyck’s form as the Jets prepare for a pivotal Game 5 against a fast, loose Blues squad.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Canadiens showed great resilience in a Game 3 home win, though injuries to both starting goalies could hurt Montreal more than Washington. Tom Wilson and Josh Anderson sparked chaos with a fight on the Caps bench, while the Oilers edged the Kings in a wild game with Cal Pickard in net. Evander Kane’s strong playoff return helped Edmonton capitalize on a costly Kings challenge, could it be series-altering? Meanwhile, Brandon Hagel received a one-game suspension, Tkachuk and Gallagher lead Ray’s chirp rankings, Ottawa faces fines and elimination after some pregame shenanigans, and Winnipeg must regroup fast after a tough Game 3 loss.

Ask R&D Anything looks at dealing with selfish players and stories of friendly fire injuries.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Playoff intensity is here, and the storylines are already heating up. Travis Green's message to the Sens is undoubtedly to cool it with the penalties after gifting the Leafs too many powerplay chances—Ottawa looked solid 5-on-5, but inexperience showed. Mitch Marner led Toronto with 3 points in a one-sided opener. Carolina looked strong in their win over New Jersey, though injuries and a bizarre friendly-fire moment for the Devils are already concerns. Winnipeg rallied past a physical Blues team in game 1, an important opener for the Jets to win. LA’s home ice edge looms large against an Oilers squad still trying to find chemistry among injury returns. Montreal’s youth faces a tough, heavy Caps team, and Dallas struggled to keep pace with Colorado’s speed in Game 1.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ray & Dregs Playoff Preview! Leafs will be a tough out if their stars show up, but the Senators bring energy and strong goaltending. Montreal fought their way into the postseason and are healthier than top-seed Washington, who have shown incredible consistency all season. Florida’s health is a question mark, and Tampa enters with Vasilevskiy in top form. Carolina vs. New Jersey will be low-scoring, can Markstrom steal it for the Devils? Winnipeg is out for redemption, but the red-hot Blues could push them into deep waters. Edmonton faces LA for the fourth straight year, but Ekholm being out and the Kings’ home dominance could give them an edge. Colorado’s season-long roster turnover hasn’t slowed them one bit, expect a beauty in their series against Dallas. Vegas looks built for another run, can the resilient Minnesota Wild prove to be more than a speedbump on their road to the Stanley Cup?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Injuries, rest and returns are a league-wide overarching theme as the regular season winds down. Connor McDavid made a surprise return in the Oilers' win over St. Louis, notching three assists including a key play on the game-winner. Edmonton isn’t the same without McDavid and Draisaitl, and getting healthy ahead of the playoffs is crucial. The Leafs dropped a rough one to the Panthers Tuesday, then bounced back against Tampa Bay behind a Matthew Knies hat trick on Wednesday, leading to much discussion about which Florida team the Leafs matchup better against. In Minnesota, a wild 8–7 OT win over the Sharks featured big returns from Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek, and what was probably Marc-Andre Fleury’s final home start. Vegas is also eyeing full health with Pietrangelo and Hague recovering, but Hertl and Eichel’s absences are causing concern up front.

Jason Strudwick joins to talk about getting up to game speed for players like Evander Kane and Gabe Landeskog, his concerns about the Oilers' goaltending and how Quinton Byfield could be a difference-maker in this year's playoffs.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex Ovechkin makes history by scoring goal 895 with a signature power-play strike. Plenty of praise and serendipity surround the goal itself and the way the teams and the league handled its celebration. Winnipeg ends St. Louis’ franchise-record win streak in a potential playoff preview. Calgary stays alive in the playoff chase but they're in a tough spot; Minnesota's strength of schedule could seal the deal for the Wild. Kings and Oilers both lose—seeding likely set with one head-to-head matchup left. Rangers exposed by Tampa; Ray sees major summer changes ahead. Is a KHL 49-goal scorer worth a look back in the NHL?

In Ask Ray & Dregs Anything... does Ovie's game need to change now that he has the record and will he garner Hart Trophy consideration? Plus, desserts and pranksters!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex Ovechkin is three goals away from the all-time goal scoring record, and with seven games left, Ray is confident he gets there. Chatfield’s takedown of McMichael received unanimous condemnation... but will receive nothing from the Department of Player Safety. St. Louis is on a 10-game win streak, likely securing a wild card spot, with Doug Armstrong’s offseason RFA moves proving key. Minnesota’s hopes for playoff success rest largely on Kaprizov and Brodin’s returns, but their impact is uncertain. Montreal, Ottawa, and New Jersey each have compelling storylines, from Suzuki’s leadership to Staios’ smart moves and Hughes’ lingering absence.

In Ask Ray and Dregs Anything: Can the Leafs upend the champs in a 7-game series? Which current injury will affect a team most? What's a stat you would like to see kept? And how much do GM's and coaches communicate during trade deadline time?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.