The Tampa Bay Lightning have been synonymous with success for the past decade. However, since losing the Final in 2022 in their quest for a three-peat, the team has bowed out of the playoffs in the opening round in each of the past four springs.

Though the team will, no doubt, remain competitive in 2026-27, it's also one of the older teams in the NHL so there's work ahead for GM Julien BriseBois to re-tool his club on the fly to keep his Bolts among the NHL's elite.

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Just one seat remains at the Conference Finals table as the Vegas Golden Nights finished off the Anaheim Ducks to book a date with the Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche.

In Buffalo, the Montreal Canadiens got off to a wobbly start but then kicked it into gear to take a 3-2 series lead back home with a chance to clinch Saturday night.

Vic and Neil re-cap both games and also discuss the new leadership team in Vancouver with two legends being tapped to lead the Canucks from the depths of the NHL.

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The elation of the Colorado Avalanche dramatic come-from-behind win to earn a spot in the Western Conference Final can likely be equalled by the sting felt by the Minnesota Wild in failing late in their quest to force a sixth game. Vic and Neil offer their take and how the injury bug truly had an impact.

Also, news on the coaching front as, for the second consecutive day, a vacancy has been created - this time in Edmonton.

Finally, the Calder Trophy was awarded Wednesday. While the winner didn't come as a shock, the presentation sure did.

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In their second season in Salt Lake City, the Utah Mammoth managed to do something the franchise achieved only once since 2012: qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which they did as the Arizona Coyotes and that coming in the bubble of 2020.

With a strong foundation and a team mixed with experience and youth, their strong showing in this year's opening round leaves plenty of reason to believe the leadership team of GM Bill Armstrong and head coach Andre Tourigny will be able to keep the team moving on an upward trajectory.

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In addition to a pair of thrillers Tuesday evening, plenty of news off the ice as well with Craig Berube being dismissed as the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Vic and Neil tackle the Sabres series tying win in Montreal, overtime drama in Vegas and front office news which includes not only the doings in Toronto but GM of the Year nominees as well.

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One of the true feel-good stories in the 2025-26 regular season was the Boston Bruins. Much like the Penguins, the B's summer moves in 2025 did little to suggest a return to the playoffs was at hand.

However, also much like the Penguins, the stars produced and others looked at more as middle-to-bottom six types up front delivered a season that enabled Boston to separate themselves from other bubble teams and qualify for the post-season as a second Wild Card.

The new challenge in Beantown is whether some of those with surprising seasons can sustain into 2026-27 and how will GM Don Sweeney augment his team with a minimal number of players heading to free agency.

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One win remains for the Colorado Avalanche to join the Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL's final four after defeating the Minnesota Wild in a hard fought fourth game in St. Paul.

Vic and Neil break that down, preview the Tuesday games in Montreal and Vegas and also look at the good and the ugly of player interviews - both on display during the Avs win.

The show concludes addressing news about a possible destination for former Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy and what the optics are about this development.

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After making the last two Stanley Cup Finals, there could only be one expectation for the Edmonton Oilers in 2026-27. Unfortunately, there's that saying of "The best laid plans.." and for the Oilers, the entire season never appeared to get traction.

They were exposed badly during the opening round of the playoffs by Anaheim and enter an off-season with a problem in goal, a severe lack of secondary scoring and perhaps just two more seasons of having Connor McDavid leading them.

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