Conference finals set as Marner shines and Tuch fades in NHL playoff round two

The second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs has concluded, with four teams advancing to the conference finals and four eliminated. The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Anaheim Ducks to reach the Western Conference Final, while the Montreal Canadiens eliminated the Buffalo Sabres in seven games to advance to the Eastern Conference Final. In the West, the Colorado Avalanche advanced past the Minnesota Wild, and in the East, the Carolina Hurricanes swept the Philadelphia Flyers.

Mitch Marner led the Golden Knights with 11 points in six games against the Ducks, silencing previous criticism regarding his playoff performance. Marner recorded a hat trick in Game 3 and a two-point performance in Game 6 to close out the series. Including his three-point effort in the previous round against the Utah Mammoth, Marner has 14 points in his last seven games and leads the Golden Knights in postseason scoring.

Conversely, Buffalo's Alex Tuch failed to record a point in seven games against Montreal. The Sabres were outscored 8-1 at five-on-five when Tuch was on the ice, despite him taking 26 shots on net, the most of any team member. Tuch entered contract negotiations with the Sabres on a sour note after the series loss, which ended with a Game 7 defeat in Montreal.

Montreal goaltender Dobes posted a .913 save percentage and a .870 high-danger save percentage in the series against Buffalo. Dobes made a critical save in overtime of Game 7 against Tage Thompson, securing the series win. The 24-year-old goaltender, a fifth-round pick in 2020, provides stability for the Canadiens as they prepare for a potential matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final.

The Colorado Avalanche advanced past the Minnesota Wild, highlighting depth issues for the Wild. Minnesota’s four healthy centers combined for one goal and six assists at five-on-five against Colorado, with Joel Eriksson Ek missing the series due to injury. Colorado’s depth was evident as Brett Kulak scored the overtime winner in Game 5, becoming the 17th different goal-scorer for the Avalanche in the playoffs.

The Carolina Hurricanes swept the Philadelphia Flyers on May 9, giving them an 11-day break before the Eastern Conference Final. Flyers prospect Michkov struggled offensively, recording one point in eight playoff games and being a healthy scratch in two games. With the Flyers controlling just 32.1% of expected goals at five-on-five when Michkov was on the ice, the prospect faces a critical offseason.

Anaheim controlled 52.4% of expected goals against Vegas, but goaltender Lukas Dostal allowed 4.55 goals above average with a .711 high-danger save percentage. The Ducks were outplayed between the pipes by Carter Hart, preventing a series that could have gone seven games. Dostal’s struggles in the playoffs mirror issues from the regular season, raising questions for Anaheim’s future goaltending.

The Minnesota Wild’s inability to upgrade at center during the trade deadline proved costly against the Avalanche. General Manager Bill Guerin reportedly attempted to trade for St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas, but a deal did not come together. The Wild’s center depth will be a high priority in the offseason as they look to address the gap exposed against Colorado’s deeper lineup.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are a grueling tournament, and the Carolina Hurricanes’ 11-day break before the Eastern Conference Final offers a significant advantage. While there is debate about rest versus rust, the extra time allows the Hurricanes to get healthy and refreshed. Head coach Rod Brind-Amour is expected to have his team ready for the next round, with the Stanley Cup within their grasp.

Philadelphia’s playoff exit marks a disappointing end to Michkov’s sophomore season. After a strong rookie year where he finished fourth in Calder Trophy voting, Michkov’s production dipped in 2025-26. His playoff performance, coupled with underlying metrics showing poor expected goals control, suggests a difficult offseason for both the player and the Flyers organization.