Ducks Even Series with Oilers

Cutter Gauthier (Boston College) scored two goals and set up another, and Alex Killorn (Harvard) had a goal and two assists as the Anaheim Ducks topped the Edmonton Oilers, 6-4, last night in the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

The Western Conference first-round best-of-seven series is now tied at one game apiece. Zach Hyman (Michigan) had a goal for the Oilers, who are two-time defending Western Conference champions. 

Game Four is Friday in California. Edmonton triumphed, 4-3, in Game One on Monday night in Alberta.

Devils Top Oilers, 5-3, in Matinee

The New Jersey Devils continued their early-season roll by besting the Edmonton Oilers, 5-3, today in an NHL matinee at the Prudential Center in Newark.

Brett Pesce (New Hampshire) assisted on the Devils' game-opening goal in the second period, while Jack Roslovic (Miami) had an assist for the Oilers on their first goal, after the Devils had taken a 2-1 lead. Luke Glendening (Michigan) notched four hits in all and also helped set up New Jersey's third goal, which came shorthanded. 

New Jersey outshot Edmonton, 30-23, on the afternoon, while the Oilers won 29 out of 50 faceoffs overall. The two teams will finish their two-game season series on Jan. 20 in Alberta.

Michigan State's Howard Jumps to NHL

Reigning Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner Isaac Howard won't be returning to Michigan State University for his final collegiate season. 

Howard, 21, who led the Spartans to back-to-back Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles the last two years, has signed with the NHL's Edmonton Oilers after his rights were traded to the two-time Western Conference champions by the Tampa Bay Lightning, who had drafted him 31st overall in 2022.

A native of Hudson, Wisc., Howard led MSU in scoring as a junior last season with 26 goals and 26 assists for 52 points in 37 games, and then claimed the Hobey Baker Award. A 5-foot-11, 190-pound left wing, he had earlier been named as the 2024-25 Big Ten Player of the Year, and went on to help Team USA to its first gold medal at the IIHF Men's World Championship since 1933. 

A product of the U.S. National Development Team Program, Howard collected 34-54—88 points in 73 career games over two years with MSU, helping the Green and White to two NCAA tournaments, after transferring from Minnesota-Duluth. He is the third Spartan to ever win the Hobey Baker Award, following center Kip Miller (1990) and goaltender Ryan Miller (2001).

Oilers Tie Stanley Cup Final at Two

The Edmonton Oilers have made the best-of-seven 2025 Stanley Cup Final a best-of-three.

The visiting Oilers rebounded from a three-goal deficit after 20 minutes on Thursday to eventually take a 4-3 lead on a third-period goal by Jake Walman (Providence), before ultimately outlasting the Florida Panthers in overtime, 5-4. The Panthers had won the previous two games of the NHL's championship series, after the Oilers claimed the opener in OT.

Game Five is in Edmonton tomorrow night, while Game Six is slated for Florida on Tuesday evening.

ADDENDUM: Florida took Game Five by a 5-2 count, and can clinch its second straight Stanley Cup championship on Tuesday evening at home.

 

Oilers Win 2025 Stanley Cup Final Opener

Nate Schmidt (Minnesota) had two assists and Evan Rodrigues (Boston University) added another, but the defending NHL champion Florida Panthers fell, 4-3, in overtime last night to the host Edmonton Oilers in Game One of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. 

After falling behind in the first two minutes of play, Florida rebounded to take 2-1 and 3-1 leads at Rogers Centre before watching the Oilers scored three unanswered goals to take the series lead. Jake Walman (Providence), who won an NCAA title in 2015, had one assist and five shots on goal last night for the Oilers, who won the NHL's Western Conference championship for the second straight year. Florida is the Eastern Conference champion for the third straight season.

Florida defeated Edmonton in seven games last spring in the final to earn the initial Stanley Cup in franchise history, taking a 3-0 lead in that series only to see Edmonton win the next three games before the Panthers claimed the clincher at home. The Oilers are seeking their first Stanley Cup crown since 1990, their sixth overall, and the first by a Canadian-based NHL club since 1993.

ADDENDUM: Schmidt again registered two assists and Rodrigues one as the Panthers tied the series with a 5-4 win in double OT on June 6. Game Three is Monday night in Florida.

Former NCAA Skaters Score NHL Playoff Winners

Zach Hyman (Michigan) notched the game-winning goal in the third period as the Edmonton Oilers rebounded from a 2-0 deficit to top the Vegas Golden Knights, 4-2, last night in Nevada. The Oilers, the defending NHL Western Conference champions, have now won five consecutive postseason games, and lead the second-round best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoff series, one game to none.

In the Eastern Conference, the visiting Carolina Hurricanes took a one-to-nothing series lead with a 2-1 overtime win last night over the Washington Capitals. Jacob Slavin (Colorado College) scored the game-winner in the extra session for the Canes, who have won their last three playoff contests.

BU's Kaplan Debuts with NHL's Flyers

Devin Kaplan became the newest forward from the 2024-25 Boston University men's hockey team to make his NHL debut this month. 

Kaplan, 21, a junior right wing who signed with the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this week, made his big league debut last night in the Flyers' season-ending 5-4 loss to visiting Buffalo, recording one hit and one shot attempt in just over 12 minutes of ice time. The Bridgewater, N.J. native spent the last three years at BU after being drafted 69th overall by Philadelphia in 2022, recording 25 goals and 39 assists for 64 points in 115 collegiate outings with the Terriers. 

Quinn Hutson, who won the Tim Taylor Award this season as the top rookie in men's college hockey, has played in two games with the Edmonton Oilers after signing with the reigning NHL Western Conference champions as a free agent. The junior right wing from Barrington, Ill. notched 56-58—114 points in 117 games with the Terriers. Hutson, 23, also led BU in scoring this season, with career highs of 23-27—50 points in 38 contests.

Ryan Greene, who captained the Terriers this season as a junior, signed with the Chicago Blackhawks and played in two games with the Original Six franchise that drafted him 57th overall in 2022. The Paradise, Nfld. native, who turns 22 in October, collected 34-71—105 points 118 career appearances with BU as a center.

Kaplan, Huston, and Greene helped BU to three consecutive NCAA Frozen Fours in their college careers, including this year's national title game, plus the 2023 Hockey East regular-season and conference championships, along with this year's Beanpot Tournament crown. In all, they guided the Terriers to an overall record of 81-35-4 over the last three years.

In addition, senior center Matt Caponi, who played this season at BU after skating for three years with Merrimack, signed with Bakersfield (AHL) and has played in one game with the Condors. Drafted 216th overall by Edmonton in 2023, the 21-year-old Mansfield, Mass. native put up 6-18—24 points in 40 games in his lone campaign as a Terrier. 

Also signing recently was BU sophomore left wing Shane Lachance, whose NHL rights had earlier been traded from Edmonton to the New Jersey Devils. LaChance, 21, from Andover, Mass., registered 25-32—57 points in 80 career games with the Terriers, including a goal in the 2025 NCAA championship game, and has been assigned by the Devils to Utica (AHL). 

Florida Wins First-Ever Stanley Cup

Evan Rodrigues (Boston University) assisted on the game-opening goal, and the host Florida Panthers went on to a 2-1 victory in the deciding Game 7 against the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night to win the 2024 Stanley Cup. Edmonton had won the previous three games in the best-of-seven series, after Florida had claimed the first three contests. The Cup win was the first in Florida's 30-year history, while Edmonton was seeking its sixth NHL title all-time, and first since 1990. 

Florida's Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart sandwiched goals around one by Edmonton's Mattias Janmark through the first 40 minutes of play, while the third period was scoreless before 19,939 on-lookers at Amerant Bank Arena. Sergei Brobovsky made 23 saves in net for the Panthers, while Stuart Skinner finished with 19 stops for the Oilers.

Besides Rodrigues, other players with NCAA ties on this year's Panthers' roster included William Lockwood (Michigan), Ryan Lomberg (Maine), Brandon Montour (Massachusetts), Kyle Okposo (Minnesota), Mike Reilly (Minnesota), Mackie Samoskevich (Michigan) and Anthony Stolarz (Nebraska-Omaha). Lomberg, Montour, Okposo and Stolarz all played in the Cup final along with Rodrigues. Also in the Panthers' lineup was Spencer Knight (Boston College), as the third-string goaltender, although he spent the entirety of the 2023-24 season playing for Charlotte (AHL).

The Oilers came up one game short of becoming the first Canadian team to win the Cup since 1993, and the first NHL club to rebound from an 0-3 deficit in the final since 1945. Edmonton's Connor McDavid still won this year's Conn Smythe Trophy as NHL playoff MVP, just the sixth player from the losing team in the final to do so, and the first since 2003. He also led all NHL skaters in this year's postseason with 42 points, including a league-record 34 assists.

Oilers Knot 2024 Stanley Cup Final

The 2024 Stanley Cup Final will come down to a seventh game.

The Edmonton Oilers, who dropped the first three games of the best-of-seven series, won their third straight contest against the Florida Panthers on Friday night, this time by a 5-1 count in Game 6. The series is now tied, three to three, with Edmonton having outscored Florida, 18-5, over the last three contests.

Warren Foegele (New Hampshire) opened the scoring last night, just over seven minutes into the first period, as Edmonton ultimately went ahead, 3-0, after 40 minutes before 18,347 at Rogers Place. Zach Hyman (Michigan) tallied his playoff-leading 16th goal late in the second stanza, his second goal in two games, before Foegele help set up one of two empty-net Edmonton goals in the final frame.

Game 7 is slated for Monday night in Sunrise, Fl., at 8 p.m. ET (ABC, CBC). Edmonton is seeking to become the first NHL team to rebound from a 3-0 deficit in the Stanley Cup Final since 1942, and just the second club ever to do so.

Oilers Win Again in Stanley Cup Final

Zach Hyman (Michigan) finally got a goal in this year's Stanley Cup Final—and now the Edmonton Oilers are one win away from tying the series, after losing the first three games. 

Hyman, who scored a career-high 54 goals during the NHL regular season, notched his league-leading 15th goal of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday on a power play as the Oilers raced out to a three-goal lead and held on for a 5-3 win over the host Florida Panthers in Sunrise, Fla. The Panthers still lead the best-of-seven series, three games to two, but failed to close it out and win the Cup for the second straight game, this time at home before 19,956 spectators at Amerant Bank Arena.

Florida rebounded to make it a 4-2 contest by the end of the second stanza, with Brandon Montour (Massachusetts) setting up Evan Rodrigues (Boston University) for his league-best fourth goal of the final late in the period. The Panthers then closed to within a goal just over four minutes into the final frame, but Edmonton held on to close out matters with an empty-net goal in the final half-minute by NHL leading scorer Connor McDavid, who has recorded eight points (3g-5a) for the Oilers over the last two games.

Game Six is Friday night at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

Oilers Explode in Game Four to Stay Alive

Dylan Holloway (Wisconsin) and the Edmonton Oilers refused to go away Saturday night.

Down three games to none to the visiting Florida Panthers in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, the Oilers scored three times in each of the first and second periods, and twice more in the third stanza, en route an 8-1 victory in Game Four to stave off elimination. 

Holloway led all players with two goals, and also assisted on the Oilers' final goal of the night before 18,347 on-lookers at Rogers Arena. Zach Hyman (Michigan) assisted on two Edmonton goals for his first points of the series, while Warren Foegele (New Hampshire) also recorded an assist for the Oilers. Florida netminder Anthony Stolarz (Nebraska-Omaha) made 16 saves on 19 shots in relief for the Panthers.

Game Five of this year's NHL championship series will be Tuesday night in Sunrise, Fla.

NCAA Skaters Dot 2024 Stanley Cup Rosters

More than a dozen former NCAA players in all are listed on the rosters of the two competing teams in this year's Stanley Cup Final. Per hockeydb.com:

Edmonton Oilers

• Vincent Desharnais (Providence)
• Warren Foegele (New Hampshire)
• Dylan Holloway (Wisconsin)
• Zach Hyman (Michigan)
• Philip Kemp (Yale)
• Troy Stecher (North Dakota)

Florida Panthers

• William Lockwood (Michigan)
• Ryan Lomberg (Maine)
• Brandon Montour (Massachusetts)
• Kyle Okposo (Minnesota)
• Mike Reilly (Minnesota)
• Evan Rodrigues (Boston University)
• Mackie Samoskevich (Michigan)
• Anthony Stolarz (Nebraska-Omaha) 

Game One of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final is on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET (ABC, CBC). Florida returns to the final for the second year in a row, and the third time ever, but is still seeking its first-ever NHL playoff championship. Five-time Cup champion Edmonton is back in the final for the first time since 2006 and is after its first NHL title since 1990, along with Canada's first Stanley Cup crown since 1993.

Former NCAA Netminders Traded in NHL

Two former NCAA netminders were traded for each other on Friday, with Cam Talbot (Alabama-Huntsville) going to the Philadelphia Flyers and Anthony Stolarz (Nebraska-Omaha) heading to the 
Edmonton Oilers in turn.

Talbot, 31, has posted a record of 137-110-24 and a 2.59 goals-against average in 284 career NHL regular-season appearances with the New York Rangers and the Oilers, from 2013 to the present. A native of Caledonia, Ont., he turned pro in 2009-10 as a free agent with Hartford (AHL), where he played for most of the next three seasons. He played three years at UAH (2007-2010), where he went 15-44-6 in 70 games with a 3.03 GAA and helped the Chargers to the 2010 NCAA Tournament his final collegiate campaign.

Stolarz, 25, has played a career-high 12 NHL contests so far this season, going 4-3-3 with one shutout for Philadelphia. In 19 career NHL contests, all with the Flyers, he has gone 6-4-4 with a 2.86 GAA. A native of Edison, N.J., and a second-round draft choice of Philadelphia in 2012, he played eight NCAA games with UNO in 2012-13, winning twice with the Mavericks, before joining London (OHL), where he won 38 games over two major junior seasons before turning pro with Lehigh Valley (AHL) in 2014-15.

Caggiula, Garrison Dealt to Blackhawks by Oilers

Drake Caggiula (North Dakota) is on the move. 

The former Fighting Hawk forward, who led UND to the 2016 NCAA title, was dealt by the Edmonton Oilers along with defenseman Jason Garrison (Minnesota-Duluth) to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. In return, Edmonton received defensemen Brandon Manning and Robin Norell, according to NHL.com.

Caggiula, 24, who signed with the Oilers as free agent in 2016, has 27 goals and 22 assists for 49 points in 156 career NHL contests, all with Edmonton. He has posted seven goals and 11 points in 29 games so far this season.

In 162 career NCAA appearances with North Dakota from 2012 to 2016, Caggiula amassed a total of 62-65—127 points, including a career-high line of 25-26—51 points as a senior when he earned NCAA Frozen Four MVP honors in spearheading UND's run to its first NCAA title in 16 years. He tallied four goals and an assist in the Fighting Hawks' two Frozen Four wins over Denver and Quinnipiac, and scored twice in the national title game in Tampa.

Garrison, 34, who helped the Tampa Bay Lightning to the 2015 Stanley Cup Final where it fell in six games to Chicago, has posted 49-111—160 points in 555 career NHL regular-season starts with Florida, Vancouver, Tampa Bay, Vegas and Edmonton. He has one goal in 17 NHL contests so far this season, and in three years (2005 to 2008) at UMD accumulated 9-20—29 points in 87 contests for the Bulldogs before he signed with Florida as a free agent in 2008.

It is not yet known if Caggiula and Garrison will skate for Chicago against the Boston Bruins in the 2019 NHL Winter Classic at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind. on Tuesday (1 p.m. ET, NBC TV).

Devils Roll in 2018-19 Opener

Kyle Palmieri (Notre Dame) and Travis Zajac (North Dakota) scored two goals apiece as the New Jersey Devils opened their 2018-19 NHL campaign with a 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers at the 2018 NHL Global Series in Gothenburg, Sweden on Saturday.

Miles Wood (Boston College) set up two goals for the Devils, who got 17 saves from Keith Kinkaid (Union). Cam Talbot (Alabama-Huntsville) made 22 stops for Edmonton. The victory marked New Jersey’s third win in its last five season openers, and also makes the Devils  21-9-6 overall in season-opening contests.

Howard, Talbot Among NHL Goalie Leaders

Two former college goaltenders are currently leading the National Hockey League in at least two netminding categories apiece.

According to NHL.com, Jimmy Howard (Maine) of the Detroit Red Wings is atop the league in both goals-against average (0.50) and save percentage (.984). The Syracuse native, who backstopped the Black Bears to the 2004 NCAA championship game, is nine wins short of 200 regular-season victories for his NHL career.

Cam Talbot (Alabama-Huntsville) of the Edmonton Oilers is pacing the circuit with five wins, two more than any other NHL goaltender at present. He is also tied for the league lead with one shutout, which came in Sunday's Heritage Classic in Winnipeg with a 3-0 blanking of the Jets. The Ontario native needs one victory to reach 60 wins in his NHL tenure.

Detroit hosts Carolina tonight, while Edmonton entertains Washington on Wednesday.

Horcoff Joins Red Wings as Player Development Director

Shawn Horcoff has come back to the state of Michigan full-time.

The former Michigan State University star, who retired earlier this year after a 15-season NHL career, has been named director of player development for the Detroit Red Wings, as reported at mlive.com.

Drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the fourth round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft after his sophomore campaign at MSU, Horcoff spent the first 12 years of his professional career with them. He also captained the Oilers, and helped them to within one win of the Stanley Cup in 2006. He joined the Dallas Stars for two seasons beginning in 2013, before finishing up last year with the Anaheim Ducks.

He tallied 186 goals and 325 assists for 511 points in 1,008 NHL regular-season outings, and added 11-19—30 points in 46 Stanley Cup playoff contests, according to hockeydb.com. A native of Castlegar, B.C, Horcoff, 38, played at MSU from 1996 to 2000, and was a member of its NCAA Frozen Four team as a junior. He joined the Spartans after starring with the Chilliwack Chiefs of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League

As a senior at MSU, Horcoff was tabbed as the Central Collegiate Hockey Association’s Player of the Year and its Best Defensive Forward while leading the conference in scoring, with 14-51—65 totals in 42 games overall. He was also named to the CCHA All-Academic Team and the league’s first All-Conference Team that spring, and was a Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist and first team All-America selection, according to uscho.com.

In 155 games in his tenure in East Lansing, Horcoff recorded 50-102—152 points. He also helped the Spartans to two CCHA regular-season titles, two CCHA Tournament championships, and four NCAA Tournament berths while skating for the late Ron Mason.

Hendricks, Scrivens Headed to Edmonton Oilers

Two former NCAA stars were acquired by the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers in separate transactions on Wednesday, according to NHL.com.

Former St. Cloud State forward Matt Hendricks (above, right) and former Cornell goaltender Ben Scrivens are both headed to Alberta after being traded from the Nashville Predators and Los Angeles Kings respectively. Hendricks was dealt for goaltender Devan Dubnyk, while Scrivens was obtained for a third-round choice in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft in Philadelphia.

Hendricks, a center from Blaine, Minn. has tallied 29 goals and 33 assists for 62 points in 307 career NHL games since becoming a league regular in 2009-10 with the Colorado Avalanche. He spent the next three seasons with the Washington Capitals before joining the Predators this season, where has two goals and four points in 44 outings.

At SCSU, Hendricks posted 54-58—112 points in 152 contests for the Huskies from 2000 to 2004 . He also served as team captain as senior.

Scrivens has seen the bulk of the work in the Los Angeles net this season, with counterpart Jonathan Quick sidelined by a groin injury. In 19 games with the Kings, Scrivens has fashioned a 7-5-4 record with a 1.97 goals-against average and a.931 save percentage to go along with three shutouts.

Scrivens split the previous two seasons between the Toronto Maple Leafs and their AHL affiliate, and in 51 career NHL appearances has gone 18-19-6 with five shutouts. The Spruce Grove, Alta. native went 65-37-13 with 19 shutouts in 117 career games at Cornell from 2006 to 2010, and also earned First Team All-America accolades as a senior.

Edmonton returns to action on the road Thursday night against the Minnesota Wild.

Wisconsin's Schultz Signs with Edmonton

Defenseman Justin Schultz, who earlier bypassed his final year of eligibility at Wisconsin, has signed a free-agent contract with the Edmonton Oilers. The Badgers blueliner from Kelowna, B.C. took advantage of a loophole in the NHL's Collective Bargaining Agreement to bypass Anaheim, which drafted him four years ago, and join the Oilers instead.

Schultz, 21, was chosen 43rd overall by the Ducks in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, but withdrew from school after the 2011-12 season and then did not sign with Anaheim by June, which made him a free agent.

A 6'1", 185-lb. defender, Schultz recorded 16 goals and 28 assists for 44 points in 37 games last year. In three seasons with the Badgers, he posted 40-73--113 points and 62 penalty minutes in 121 outings. He tallied five game-winning goals in his tenure, and also registered 21 power-play tallies.

A two-time All-America selection, All-WCHA choice, WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, and Hobey Baker Award finalist, he led all NCAA Division I college defensmen in overall scoring the past two seasons. He also helped Wisconsin to its most recent NCAA Tournament berth during his freshman campaign.

Schultz is expected to attend training camp in September with the Oilers, who finished 32-40-10 last year and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the sixth straight season.