標籤: Matchups

The Montreal Canadiens (4-4) will face the Buffalo Sabers (5-2) in Game 2 of their second-round series on Friday, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

The Habs dropped Game 1, although the 4–2 scoreline was slightly favorable to the host Sabres, a team that had scored four goals on its first nine shots. That doesn’t mean they didn’t deserve to win the game, but there were some key factors that suggest Montreal might have better luck in Game 2.

The first line, in particular, had an encouraging game, which is important, as Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkowski have had a very hard time making an impact at 5v5. And as we all know, a team without a functional first line is barely a team, especially in the playoffs.

With that in mind, we shouldn’t overlook Suzuki’s impact, as he currently leads the Canadiens with seven points in eight games.

Buffalo Sabers captain Rasmus Dahlin on Habs captain Nick Suzuki:

“I think he’s got the whole package. He can score, he’s foul foul and he can play defense. He’s just a legitimate first line center in this league, so he really definitely deserves that (Selke) nomination.” pic.twitter.com/59feGVCZzC

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 8 May 2026

Montreal also received significant and regular offensive contributions from its depth players, which was a recurring theme in April and May. This certainly wasn’t the case for most of the regular season, but fans certainly won’t be looking a gift horse in the mouth at this point in the schedule.

Players like Kirby Dach, Alex Texier and Josh Anderson have done wonders to complement the goal output, including a stellar individual effort from Dach in Game 1.

Very good! What a goal from Kirby Dach! #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/S70CqWC9Fn

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 7 May 2026

Possible Lineup Changes

The Canadiens did not practice Friday or make their players available to the media.

Given that this is the playoffs, any changes to the lineup will have to be confirmed after the teams take the ice for pre-game warm-ups.

Head coach Martin Saint-Louis seemed quite satisfied with his team’s performance in Game 1, suggesting there will not be any major changes in Game 2.

However, don’t be surprised if he revises his third pairing and fourth line, with Jaden Struble potentially replacing Arbor Zekaj while Joe Velano makes way for Brendan Gallagher.

Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup

Cole Coffield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkowski

Alex Newhook – Jake Evans – Ivan Demidov

Alexandre Texier – Philippe Danault – Josh Anderson

Zachary Bolduc – Kirby Dach – Joe Veleno*

Mike Matheson – Alexandre Carrier

Caden Guhle – Lane Hutson

Arbor Zekaj* – Noah Dobson

jacob dobbs

jacob fowler

Buffalo Sabers Projected Lineup

Peyton Krebs – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch

Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Jack Quinn

Zach Benson – Josh Norris – Josh Doan

Jordan Greenway – Tyson Kozak – Beck Malensteen

Rasmus Dahlin – Mattias Samuelsson

Bowen Byram – Owen Power

Logan Stanley – Connor Timmins

Alex Lyon

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

How to watch Hubs Vs. saber

Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres, Friday, May 8, 2026, will be broadcast on CBC, Sportsnet and TVA Sports. A quick recap with highlights will be available on SportsNote once the final whistle blows.

Additional NHL Playoff Analysis

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

The 2026 Stanley Cup playoff bracket has been set as the NHL postseason begins. Below is the complete series layout, updated matchups and main storylines as teams compete for the Stanley Cup.

Updated April 17– Standings and brackets indicate games played on April 16.

2026 Stanley Cup playoff bracket

Here is the current 2026 Stanley Cup playoff bracket after the NHL games on Thursday, April 16.

eastern conference

• Boston Bruins vs. Buffalo Sabers – tied at 0-0
• Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning – tied at 0-0
• Ottawa Senators vs. Carolina Hurricanes – tied at 0-0
• Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins – tied at 0-0

western conference

• Los Angeles Kings vs. Colorado Avalanche – tied at 0-0
• Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars – tied at 0-0
• Utah Mammoth vs. Vegas Golden Knights – tied at 0-0
• Anaheim Ducks vs. Edmonton Oilers – tied at 0-0

Stanley Cup Playoff Storyline

• Edmonton and McDavid are trying to bounce back from the loss and win the Stanley Cup Finals, starting with Los Angeles.
• Dallas and Minnesota will face off in an epic first-round series that is bound to be a classic
• Buffalo returns to the playoffs as one of the favorites for the first time since 2011
• Carolina hopes to reach the top of the mountain, Florida misses the playoffs

How do the nhl playoffs work?

The playoffs consist of 16 teams competing in a best-of-seven series over four rounds: First Round, Second Round, Conference Finals, and the Stanley Cup Finals.

Who won the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals?

The Florida Panthers defeated Edmonton in six games to win the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals. This is the second consecutive championship for the Panthers.

Who is the favorite to win the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals?

According to BetMGM, Colorado is favored to win the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals after finishing the NHL regular season with the best record.

When do the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs start?

• start date: Saturday, April 18

The first round begins on Saturday, April 18, two days after the conclusion of the 2025–26 NHL regular season.

READ MORE: NHL playoff games today – schedule, start times and matchups

Austin Konensky is a writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and more. His work can also…more about Austin Konensky

NHL playoff games continue the race for the Stanley Cup today, with key matchups shaping the first round of the postseason. Here is the complete Stanley Cup Playoff schedule, including start times, matchups and what to watch.

Update: April 17, 2026 – 9:39am ET

nhl playoff games today

• Total Games: 0
• Round: first round
• Featured matchups: N/A
• Elimination Game: N/A
• TV Coverage: N/A

today’s nhl playoff schedule

There are no NHL playoff games today, Friday, April 17.

Top NHL playoff matchups to watch

These games make the biggest impact based on momentum, star power and playoff implications.

• [Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars] – Minnesota-Dallas is the top NHL playoff matchup, as both teams are among the best in the league. This Central Division rivalry should be re-ignited in the first round.
• [Boston Bruins vs Buffalo Sabres] – Buffalo is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2011, while Boston looks to make some noise after missing out last year.

player to watch

Connor McDavid – Edmonton Oilers

Connor McDavid heads to the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs after losing the last two finals to the Florida Panthers. McDavid will lead Edmonton with his elite attack.

Nathan MacKinnon – Colorado Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon wants to get Colorado into playoff hockey in June. MacKinnon would lead the Avalanche during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Quinn Hughes – Minnesota Wild

Quinn Hughes could be the final puzzle for Minnesota. Hughes will help lead the Wild with his stellar offense and defense.

What’s at stake tomorrow?

• Carolina and Ottawa look to get off to a great start to the playoffs with wins
• Minnesota and Dallas continued their rivalry in the first round.
• Philadelphia and Pittsburgh renew Pennsylvania rivalry

This page is updated daily with today’s latest NHL games, start times and matchups.

READ MORE: Full NHL playoff pictures today – updated standings and Stanley Cup bracket

Austin Konensky is a writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and more. His work can also…more about Austin Konensky

The Memphis Grizzlies enter the 2026 NBA Draft with two first-round picks and the first selection of the second round. It all depends on the Indiana Pacers maintaining their tank lead over the Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets. However, as the standings settle over the last few weeks of the regular season, every front office executive expecting a lottery selection will participate in at least one NCAA Sweet Sixteen square-off.

Franchise-changing talent fills the bracket, and for an organization with great drafting depth, even first-round prospects deserve a hard look. EVP Zach Kleiman’s scouting department should prioritize these three matchups to understand how the Grizzlies should utilize their top-5, top-20 and top-33 selections this summer.

Duke, St. John seems one-sided

This matchup provides one of the widest scouting ranges in the area. All eyes will be on Duke freshman Cam Boozer, a unanimous top-five pick whose evaluation is more about confirmation than discovery. Boozer’s mix of size, experience and offensive polish makes him the safest bet among this group, and a deep tournament run will only strengthen that position.

However, what the Grizzlies need to take away from this matchup goes far beyond Duke’s star. Evans, Ngongba and Sarr all enter the Sweet Sixteen with something to prove. Each is in danger of falling out of the lottery without a strong showing in March, which creates urgency and opportunity for a team pick at the end of the first round.

On the St. John’s side, Zubie Ejiofor and Dillon Mitchell represent the kind of motivated prospects that scouts love to track in high-risk environments. Playing as underdogs against a Duke roster loaded with lottery talent, both players have the platform to make a financial leap if they can take advantage of the moment. The Grizzlies would be well served to evaluate how each performs under pressure and against specific competition.

About Arkansas vs Arizona All Stars

This matchup is less about star power and more about volume scouting. The Razorbacks and Wildcats offer a mix of high-end guard play and international size, filling two clear needs for the Grizzlies’ future roster. Basically, the convergence of Darius Acuff Jr. and Melek Thomas against Koa Peat, Braden Burries and Motijes Krivas offers an extended look at players who could fit into Tuomas Isalo’s rotation at multiple positions.

Acuff Jr. and Thomas are certainly explosive scorers. His matchup against Arizona’s perimeter defense will serve as an important assessment of how his play translates against a high-level structure. Pete, in particular, is the type of versatile frontcourt player the Grizzlies could attract if they opt to insure Zack Eddy. On the other hand, can Arkansas stop anyone without a foul?

This is the type of game where front offices can identify fit-based targets rather than pure upside. Memphis should pay particular attention to players who can contribute within a defined role. Trayvon Brazil and Jaden Bradley, both second-round projections, could move into the late first-round conversation with strong performances in a game of this magnitude.

Houston, Illinois is in depth

If the goal is to evaluate competitive translatability, this is the key match. Houston’s Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac taking on Illinois’ Keaton Wagler and Tomislav Ivicic presents a series of straightforward, NBA-caliber positional battles. These are the types of face-to-face assessments that often hold more importance than raw statistical outputs.

But this game may ultimately be decided by the level of the second round. Joseph Tugler vs. Kylen Boswell and Milos Uzan vs. Andrej Stojakovic represent four players who could swing a deep, high-stakes NCAA Tournament game and, in doing so, dramatically change their draft trajectory.

Zvonimir Ivicic is the real wild card of the game. When locked down, Illinois’ great power becomes a force that security struggles to contain. When isolated, he may remain missing for long periods of time without registering any meaningful impact. This inconsistency is a red flag for any team investing in a guaranteed contract, and it’s likely worth valuing him as a late second-round selection or undrafted free agent option. Well, until the Sweet Sixteen slugfest against Cenac changes that narrative.

The tank-season situation of the NBA Draft will take care of itself in the final weeks of the regular season. What requires active management right now is an intelligence gathering operation ahead of one of the team’s most consequential draft nights in recent memory. The Grizzlies aren’t just looking for talent; They are assessing the risk across multiple choices.

Two first-rounders and the 31st pick give Memphis flexibility. The Sweet Sixteen gives the front office a clear view of who deserves them.

March Madness officially begins with the First Four on Tuesday, with the next two days helping to determine which four programs advance to the first round. Luckily, we have some good First Four matchups to enjoy this year.

Let’s take a look at our March Madness predictions for the First Four.

(16) UMBC Retrievers vs. (16) Howard Bison

Eight years after the UMBC Retrievers men’s basketball team stunned us forever by defeating No. 16 seed No. 1-seeded Virginia 74-54, they are back to try to deliver another Cinderella story. Of course, the program is very different several years later with fifth-year coach Jim Ferry and a new roster. The Retrievers also faced a tough test against a Howard Bison program that went 11–1 in their last 12 games with a +19.7 point differential. However, UMBC is currently riding a 12-game winning streak, and during that time they have shot 47.7 percent from the field while averaging nearly 80 points per game. We’re giving the edge to a Retrievers team that has a little more scoring and playmaking depth. Heading into UMBC facing Michigan, millions are hoping we’ll see the 16-seed beat the No. 1 seed again.

• Prediction: UMBC 74, Howard 69

(11) Texas Longhorns vs. (11) NC State Wolfpack

After helping McNeese reach March Madness in consecutive years, coach Will Wade is on the verge of doing it again in his first season with the NC State Wolfpack. Wade’s program could be facing the Texas Longhorns at just the right time. The Longhorns finished 1–5 in the SEC, allowing 85.7 ppg and shooting 50.8 percent from the field, all the while barely winning the rebounding battle (180–177). Dellin Swain, the SEC Newcomer of the Year and an All-SEC Second Team selection, has played an average of nearly 37 minutes per game during that span, and he has been able to average over 20 points with double-digit rebounds and five assists along with multiple steals. However, NC State is very well coached, and we think Wade will prepare them to exploit the Longhorns’ defensive weaknesses. NC State advances to face BYU.

• Prediction: NC State 82, Texas 77

Rebroadcast: 2026 NBA mock draft, lottery picks ahead of March Madness

(11) SMU Mustangs vs. (11) Miami Redhawks

Did the Miami (OH) RedHawks deserve a run in March Madness after going undefeated in the regular season? Absolutely. 31 consecutive wins deserve recognition; This is a historic achievement that we don’t get to see often. That said, losing immediately to a 17-15 UMass Minutemen team in the quarterfinals of the MAC Championship Tournament also served as a reminder of why so many doubted the Redhawks. Heading into the First Four, the SMU Mustangs are ranked 42nd in the KenPom rankings, while Miami (OH) is ranked 93rd. We expect guard Boopie Miller and the Mustangs to win comfortably, clinching a spot in the first round against Tennessee.

• Prediction: SMU 89, Miami (Ohio) 75

(16) Prairie View AM Panthers vs. (16) Lehigh Mountain Hawks

Lehigh returns to the tournament for the first time since 2012, following an 18–16 season that ended with a dominant win over Boston University to win the Patriot League title. The win means a First Four matchup against Prairie View A&M, which won the SWAC Tournament after finishing just one game above .500 this season. In his second season with the program and coming off an outstanding Patriot League Tournament appearance, guard Nasir Whitlock would lead Lehigh to victory. Unfortunately for the program, the No. 1-seeded Florida Gators are waiting for them.

• Prediction: Lehigh 80, Prairie View A&M 68

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson