Off The Post – May 10th Edition

Introducing Off The Post Radio Weekly, a new blog for Hockey Hot Stove, where Off The Post Radio listeners can get caught up on our latest episodes!

It was a busy week in the National Hockey League as the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs got underway and the NHL Draft Lottery determined the order of selections for the June 27-28 event in Los Angeles, California.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have proven themselves to be up to the task of taking on the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. Despite losing goalie Anthony Stolarz to an upper-body injury, the Leafs took the first two games on home ice.

Back in South Florida, the Cats were resilient in Game Three, rallying from a 3-1 second-period deficit before Brad Marchand scored in overtime to give Florida a 5-4 victory.

The Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights, the last two Western Conference champions, face off in a second-round series that sees the former with a surprising two games to none lead headed back to Alberta.

The Oilers haven’t lost since the second game of their first-round series with the Los Angeles Kings. Game Two of this series proved to be a wild roller coaster that was capped by Hart Trophy nominee Leon Draisaitl’s overtime winner to give them a 5-4 win.

In the other Eastern Conference series, the Washington Capitals were surprised by the Carolina Hurricanes in overtime, falling 2-1 in Game One, before stepping up their physical play in Game Two with a 3-1 victory, led by Tom Wilson, to even the series at one game apiece.

Out West, the President Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets lost home ice advantage to the Dallas Stars in Game One thanks to another Mikko Rantanen third-period hat-trick, losing 3-2.

However, they tightened up their defensive play in front of goalie Connor Hellebuyck to shut out the Stars, 4-0, in Game Two on Friday night.

Saturday, May 10, 2025 Episode: Second Round So Far and NHL Expansion Talk

On Saturday’s Off The Post Radio, Michael Augello, Russ Cohen, and I gave our takes on the series so far and the reports of NHL Expansion in Atlanta and other potential markets!

Wednesday, May 7, 2025 Episode (with Special Guest Stefen Rosner)

There was no bigger surprise this past week than the New York Islanders winning the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery, jumping up nine slots to earn the right to select defenseman Matthew Schaefer, offensive dynamo Michael Misa, “hometown boy” center James Hagens, or perhaps someone else.

Islanders beat writer Stefen Rosner from NHL.com, The Hockey News, and The Elmonters dropped in as our guest on Wednesday to discuss that, the post-Lou Lamoriello Islanders landscape, and more.