On Thursday, the top-seeded team in one conference was eliminated, while the top-seeded team in the other conference staved off elimination.

Carolina 3, Washington 1 (Hurricanes win series 4-1)

Andrei Svechnikov scored the game-winning goal with just 1:59 left in regulation to secure a spot for the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final.

ANDREI SVECHNIKOV GIVES CAROLINA THE LEAD LATE 😱 #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT & @SportsonMax ➡️ https://t.co/4TuyIATi3T
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/PJnmIFlnrV

— NHL (@NHL) May 16, 2025

Svechnikov's shot did not look dangerous, but it eluded Logan Thompson at the worst possible time. When a player is hot, those types of shots go in for them. Svechnikov definitely fits the "hot" category with eight goals in 10 playoff games, trailing only Mikko Rantanen in that category. Svechnikov also has goals in three consecutive games, as well as 16 hits over those three games. His 41 hits in the playoffs ties him for the Canes' team lead, so he has been instrumental in their two series wins.

Jordan Staal scored the first goal of the game for the Canes, while Seth Jarvis scored into an empty net.

Frederik Andersen stopped 18 of 19 shots he faced in earning the win. Andersen was up to the task in this series, allowing just six goals total with a .937 SV% over the five games. In fact, he might be the best goalie in this season's playoffs, sporting a 7-1-1 record with a 1.36 GAA and .937 SV%. While health remains a concern, Andersen can still be dominant.

Alexander Nikishin made his NHL debut in Game 5, logging 10:33 while being paired with Shayne Gostisbehere. Nikishin entered the lineup in place of Jalen Chatfield, who is dealing with an undisclosed injury. Early indications are that the 6-4, 216 lb. Nikishin might be a beast.

On Alexander Nikishin's first shift, Capitals forward Andrew Mangiapane tried to get in and finish a check on him.

With the new #21 listed at 6-foot-4, 216 lbs., it's instead Mangiapane who winds up on the ice. pic.twitter.com/ReTzX4hAuS

— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) May 15, 2025

Anthony Beauvillier scored the lone Washington goal, which was his second of the playoffs.

Alex Ovechkin's record-setting season has now come to an end. The Canes managed to cool down the Great 8 in this series, holding him to just a single goal without an assist in the five-game series. Ovie took at least three shots in each of the last four games, but getting a puck past Andersen was too much of a task for Ovechkin and many of the Capitals. He finished the playoffs with five goals and an assist in 10 games.

John Carlson, Tom Wilson, Aliaksei Protas, and Connor McMichael were all held without a point over the last three games of the series. I really though Wilson in particular would be more of a factor in this series, but the Canes really controlled the play and limited Wilson to just hitting whatever he could. Despite the lack of scoring, Wilson registered 21 hits over the last three games.

With the Capitals (111 points) eliminated, the new top seed in the Eastern Conference is now… the Toronto Maple Leafs (108 points)! Does that make you feel any better about Game 6, Leafs fans?

Winnipeg 4, Dallas 0 (Stars lead series 3-2)

The Jets were clearly the dominant team in Game 5, outshooting the Stars 35-22. That being said, the Jets have also been a much better team at home than on the road during the playoffs, so Game 6 in Dallas should represent a tough test.

Nikolaj Ehlers led the Jets with two goals in Game 5. Ehlers now has five goals during the playoffs, all of which have been during the last four games. He has elevated his game during that span, averaging five shots per game. With just 14 points in 37 playoff games entering this season and just four goals over his first 40 playoff games, Ehlers is shifting the narrative that he disappears during the playoffs.

Mark Scheifele and Vladislav Namestnikov scored the other Jets' goals in Game 5. Scheifele also added an assist for a two-point game. Kyle Connor and Neal Pionk finished with two assists each.

In stopping all 22 shots he faced, Connor Hellebuyck picked up his second shutout of the series. Hellebuyck seems to be past his first-round struggles, but like his team, he has a much more difficult time on the road at home. He and the Jets have yet to win a road game during this season's playoffs.

Although the final numbers may not show it, Jake Oettinger looked strong in this game, particularly early on. Oettinger has eight quality starts during the playoffs compared to just one really bad start, which was in Game 1 of the first round.

Matt Duchene has not scored a goal in his last 18 playoff games. That dates back to the second round of last season. A point-per-game player during the regular season who also led the Stars in scoring (82 PTS in 82 GP), Duchene has five assists in 12 playoff games this season. The Stars have had enough scoring depth where Duchene could afford to slump up to this point, but he will need to do something sooner rather than later.

In his second game back from injury, Miro Heiskanen was back on the top power play in Game 5, logging 18:33 total while taking four shots. I thought the Stars would stick with Thomas Harley through at least the rest of the playoffs, as Harley has been effective in that role. Harley has nine points in 12 playoff games, with five of those points coming with the man advantage. Harley had 15 PPP in 186 power-play minutes during the regular season, while Heiskanen had just 7 PPP in 179 power-play minutes. Yet the old sports axiom is that a player shouldn't lose their job because of an injury.  

Jamie Benn could be facing supplemental discipline for this sucker punch to Mark Scheifele during the third period. Somehow Dallas ended up with the power play after this sequence.

JAMIE BENN DROPPED MARK SCHEIFELE IN THE MIDDLE OF A SCRUM 😱👊 pic.twitter.com/fgd3iLwAsD

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) May 16, 2025

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The Top 100 Roto Rankings have been updated for May. Thank you to those who left comments on social media. Some notes on the rankings:

I had Zach Werenski ahead of Quinn Hughes in the previous update, which was in March. Hughes wasn't 100% for much of the second half, and he should benefit from an offseason of rest. Although Werenski had a fine season finishing second in scoring among defensemen, Hughes was second in points per game among blueliners (1.12 PTS/GP), behind only Cale Makar. I've ranked the d-men Makar, then Hughes, then Werenski. For the rest, you'll have to go to the rankings.

Many players fell due to other players returning from injury. However, I made a priority of boosting young players – in particular, Lane Hutson, Macklin Celebrini, and even Connor Bedard – relative to other players around them. I may have to raise their rankings even more as we get closer to fantasy drafts next season. Hutson had the biggest jump of the three, given his top-10 defensemen scoring numbers. Was the increase enough? Again, check out the rankings and let me know. 

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Two head coaches were hired this week, both of whom were behind the bench this past season for the Canucks. I'll share some thoughts about how their teams might be affected.

Rick Tocchet – Philadelphia

Tocchet was viewed as an offense-averse coach in Vancouver, particularly during his final season there. However, that was not only system-based, but also personnel-based. In the process of losing a big chunk of their scoring by trading J.T. Miller, the Canucks upgraded their defense and shifted toward a low-event style of game.

Tocchet might attempt a similar low-event style for a Flyers team that finished with the league's fourth-worst record. Their current netminders are a downgrade from Vancouver's, so leaving it to the goalies won't be a path to success. As well, the Flyers have had one of the league's worst power plays for several seasons. Needless to say, Tocchet will have his work cut out for him. As well, how he handles Matvei Michkov will be an area of interest, although replacing John Tortorella with just about any coach is probably an upgrade to Michkov's fantasy value.

Adam Foote – Vancouver

Foote was Tocchet's right-hand man in Vancouver, tasked with handling the defense. That defense improved under Foote, who seems like the most seamless transition from a Tocchet-based system. If a defense-first style has you concerned about Quinn Hughes's scoring, keep in mind that Hughes had glowing reviews about Foote during a post-game interview. Hughes most likely provided some input on the Foote hire, with the Canucks' strategy this offseason centering around keeping their captain happy so he is more likely to re-sign when his contract expires in two seasons.  

"I think Adam Foote is the best coach I've ever had" – Quinn Hughes

(🎥: @BR_OpenIce/X) pic.twitter.com/3AwF2ZqFnv

— CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) May 14, 2025

What happens with Elias Pettersson is also a burning question for the Canucks. If Foote is the coach that Hughes describes, and Pettersson is as committed to his offseason training as the Canucks hope he will be, then perhaps he is the right coach for Pettersson next season. Much of that will be up to Pettersson, regardless of who the coach is. Expect 2025-26 projections for Pettersson to be all over the map.

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