Avalanche Eliminates Wild in Five Games

Jack Drury (Harvard) pulled his team within a goal late in the third period, and the Colorado Avalanche went on to top the Minnesota Wild, 4-3, in overtime on Thursday in their Western Conference quarterfinal. The Avalanche, who overcame a 3-0 deficit after one period of play, won the best-of-seven 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff series in five games.

Devon Toews (Quinnipiac) assisted on Drury's goal, and finished the series with a goal and four assists over five games. Nico Sturm (Clarkson) set up two goals for the Wild, which was seeking its first NHL conference final berth since 2003. Colorado, which outshot Minnesota on the night, 34-20, advanced to its first Western Conference final since it won the Stanley Cup in 2022. 

Hurricanes Advance, Wild Triumphs

Jackson Blake (North Dakota) scored two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, and added an assist as the Carolina Hurricanes edged the host Philadelphia Flyers, 3-2, early last night. The Hurricanes swept the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series, four games to zero, and are now 8-0 so far in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Trevor Zegras (Boston University) and Porter Martone (Michigan State) both assisted on Philadelphia's game-opening goal as the Flyers finished their longest playoff run since 2000. Carolina will now await the winner of the Buffalo-Montreal series, which is tied at one game apiece.

Late Saturday night, the Minnesota Wild climbed back into their Western Conference series with a 5-1 victory over the visiting Colorado Avalanche. Quinn Hughes (Michigan), Brock Faber (Minnesota) and Matt Boldy (Boston College) scored goals for the Wild, handing top-seeded Colorado its first loss so far this postseason, while Faber also posted two assists. Game Three will be held in St. Paul on Monday night, with the Avalanche still leading the series, two games to one.

Two More NHL Western Playoff Series End

Troy Terry (Denver) and Chris Kreider (Boston College) each scored a goal and set up two others, and Cutter Gauthier (Boston College) notched a goal and an assist as the host Anaheim Ducks eliminated the Edmonton Oilers from the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 5-2 victory last night. Anaheim won the best-of-seven Western Conference series, four games to two, its first postseason series victory since 2017, ousting an Oilers club that had won the NHL's Western Conference the last two seasons. Edmonton's Zach Hyman (Michigan) had a goal disallowed for a kicking motion in the second period. The Ducks will now face the winner of the Utah-Vegas series in the conference semifinals.

The Minnesota Wild won their first Stanley Cup Playoff series since 2015 as Quinn Hughes (Michigan) recorded two goals and an assist in a 5-2 victory over the visiting Dallas Stars on Thursday. Minnesota won the best-of-seven Western Conference series, four games to two, and will now take on top-seeded Colorado in the second round. Matt Boldy (Boston College) sealed the win yesterday with two empty-net goals for the Wild, while Jake Oettinger (Boston University) made 16 saves for the Stars.

Wild Tie Series With Dallas

Matt Boldy (Boston College) tipped home a shot in the final minute of overtime to give the Minnesota Wild a 3-2 win over the visiting Dallas Stars last night in their first-round 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff series. The best-of-seven NHL Western Conference matchup is now tied at two games apiece.

Brock Faber (Minnesota) scored the Wild's first goal, and also assisted on the tying goal late in regulation along with Nico Sturm (Clarkson). Jake Oettinger (Boston University) made 40 saves in goal for Dallas. Game Five is Tuesday night in Texas.

 

BC's Guerin Named Minnesota Wild GM

Bill Guerin (Boston College) was named General Manager of the Minnesota Wild last week, making him the fourth GM in the franchise's history.

Guerin, 48, served the past five years as Assistant GM with the Pittsburgh Penguins, who won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 2016 and 2017. He was also GM of the Penguins' AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton the past two years, and also spent three years as a development coach with Pittsburgh.

A first-round draft choice of the New Jersey Devils (fifth overall) in 1989, Guerin played 17 seasons as a forward in the NHL with New Jersey, Edmonton, Boston, Dallas, St. Louis, San Jose, the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh from 1991 to 2010. A 12-time 20-goal scorer, he collected 429 goals and 427 assists for 856 points to go with 1,660 penalty minutes in 1,263 career NHL regular-season outings. He added 39-35—74 points and 162 PIM in 140 Stanley Cup Playoff games, and won hockey's most coveted trophy twice, in 1995 with New Jersey and in 2009 with Pittsburgh. He also skated for the U.S. Olympic Team on three occasions, and won a silver medal with the Americans in Salt Lake City in 2002.

A junior hockey product of the Springfield (Mass.) Olympics program, Guerin played two seasons at Boston College and helped the Eagles to the NCAA Tournament both years (1990, 1991), including the 1990 Frozen Four in Detroit. He tallied 40-30—70 points in 77 career games, and was ultimately inducted into the BC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.

BU's Coyle Traded for Harvard's Donato

Two Boston-based former NCAA centers were exchanged by their respective NHL teams earlier this week. The Minnesota Wild traded Charlie Coyle (Boston University) to the Boston Bruins on Wednesday, in return for Ryan Donato (Harvard) and a fifth-round selection in the 2019 NHL Draft.

Originally drafted 28th overall by the San Jose Sharks in 2010, Coyle had spent his entire NHL career with the Wild. Through 479 career NHL regular-season games with Minnesota, he has posted 91 goals and 151 assists for 246 points. A native of East Weymouth, Mass., the 6-foot-3, 220-pound forward played in 53 games with BU from 2010 to late 2011, and recorded 10-30—40 points in 57 outings with the Terriers. He then joined Saint John (QMJHL) in 2012 and put up 38 points in 23 games, along with 34 points in 23 postseason contests, before turning pro that fall with Houston (AHL). 

Donato, 22, a finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award and a U.S. Olympian in 2017-18, made his NHL debut last spring with the Bruins shortly after finishing his third and final campaign at Harvard. He registered five goals and nine points in his first 12 regular-season appearances with the Bruins, who drafted him 56th overall in 2014, and split this season between his native Boston and Providence (AHL). In 47 career NHL outings, he has tallied 11-9—20 points, after recording 60-44—104 points in 97 career games with Harvard after prepping at the Dexter School, and in junior hockey with both South Shore (USPHL) and Omaha (USHL). As a sophomore in 2016-17, the six-foot, 193-pound Donato also helped the Crimson to both an ECAC Hockey League championship and an NCAA Frozen Four berth.

Hutsko Headlines 2018 Boston College Draftees

Logan Hutsko (Boston College) was the lone current member of the BC men's hockey team to be drafted on Saturday at the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas. The Florida native was chosen in the third round, 89th overall, by the Florida Panthers.

A former member of the U.S. National Team Development Program, Hutsko overcame both a neck fracture and a cracked kneecap prior to college to tally 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points as a freshman for the Eagles in 2017-18. He also helped BC to last season's Hockey East regular season title.

Incoming BC freshman Jack McBain, son of retired NHL player Andrew McBain, was the first choice of the third round, and went 63rd overall to the Minnesota Wild. The 6-foot-3 center recorded 21-37—58 points in 48 regular-season appearances last year with his hometown Toronto Junior Canadiens in the Ontario Junior Hockey League. On the first day of the draft on Friday, incoming BC forward Oliver Wahlstrom was selected 11th overall by the New York Islanders.

Two former Eagle defensemen were involved in trades over the weekend. On Saturday, Noah Hanifin was traded from the Carolina Hurricanes to the Calgary Flames, in a deal that also involved former Calgary draft choice Adam Fox (Harvard) going to Carolina. Hanifin played just one year at BC, and helped the Eagles to the 2015 NCAA Tournament by notching five goals and 23 points in 37 outings. He has collected 18-65—83 points in three complete NHL seasons, all with the Hurricanes.

On Friday, two-time Stanley Cup champion Brooks Orpik was dealt from the Washington Capitals, whom he helped to their first-ever Cup earlier this month, to the Colorado Avalanche. A member of BC's 2001 NCAA championship team, Orpik notched 41 points and 324 penalty minutes in three seasons at the Heights, and has registered 185 points and 940 PIM in 14 full NHL campaigns.

Tuch Leaves Boston College for NHL's Wild

Alex Tuch has passed up his final two years at Boston College to sign with the Minnesota Wild, who drafted him in the first round (18th overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He will not be eligible to participate in this spring’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, but may practice with the team.

A native of Baldwinsville, N.Y., the 6-foot-4, 220-pound right wing led BC in scoring as a freshman in 2014-15 with 14 goals and 14 assists for 28 points as the Eagles advanced to the NCAA Tournament. This season, Tuch notched 18-16—34 points, including an overtime goal in the Beanpot Championship game against Boston University in February. 

Tuch also scored a goal in an NCAA Northeast Regional victory over Harvard last month, and collected his final college goal in a Frozen Four semifinal loss a week ago to Quinnipiac. He finishes his two-year college career with 32-30—62 points in 77 outings, and also helped the Eagles to a share of this year’s Hockey East regular-season title.

Prior to enrolling at the Heights, Tuch, 19, tallied 13-19—32 points in 26 outings with the U.S. National Under-18 Team in 2013-14. He becomes the fourth undergraduate with eligibility remaining to leave BC in the past week. Junior defenseman Steve Santini and freshman forward Miles Wood signed with the New Jersey Devils late last week, while junior forward Adam Gilmour preceded Tuch this week with the Wild.  

Michigan's Madden Hangs 'Em Up

Former University of Michigan forward John Madden, who won the Stanley Cup in both 2000 and 2003 with the New Jersey Devils, has retired as an active NHL player. According to Fire and Ice, he will join the Montreal Canadiens staff, with an emphasis on scouting the U.S. college ranks.

Madden, who also won a Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, completed his NHL career with 165 goals and 183 assists for 348 points in 898 regular-season games with New Jersey, Chicago, the Minnesota Wild, and the Florida Panthers. He added 21-22--43 points in 141 Stanley Cup Playoff contests from 2000 through 2012.

A 5-11, 190-pound native of Barrie, Ont., Madden set an NCAA record with 23 career shorthanded goals at Michigan, while recording 80-100--180 points in all in four seasons in Ann Arbor (1994-1998), including three consecutive 20-goal campaigns. He was a junior on Michigan's first NCAA title team in 32 years in 1996, and also helped the Wolverines to the Frozen Four as a senior.

Undrafted out of college, Madden signed with New Jersey soon after. After a brief apprenticeship with Albany (AHL), he made it to the Meadowlands for good in the fall of 1999, ultimately winning two Cups and compiling 140-157--297 points in 712 regular-season outings as a Devil, including 19 shorthanded goals. He also won the Selke Trophy in 2001 as the NHL's best defensive forward, notching a career-high 23 goals as the Devils eventually fell to Colorado in seven games in the Stanley Cup Final.

After he was not re-signed by the Devils for 2009-10, Madden went west to Chicago as a free agent, and tallied 10-13--23 points in 79 games as the Blackhawks went on to capture their first NHL crown since 1961. The following year he was in Minnesota, and posted 12-13--25 points in 76 appearances with the Wild.

He played his final NHL game with Florida in late April, in the Panthers' 3-2 double overtime Game 7 loss to his old Devils squad. He had three goals in 31 regular-season games with the Panthers for his final NHL points.

Despite my having worked two years at Michigan State, I can say that Madden, 39, wasn't too bad for a Michigan guy. I'm pretty sure he walked by me once at a minor league baseball game in New Jersey and wasn't too pleased to see a Spartan logo on my shirt, though  ...

I'll remember how hard he played and how tenacious he was, especially in those two Stanley Cup seasons with the Devils. I'll also recall his playoff hat trick against the Rangers in 2006 at Continental Airlines Arena, including a pair of shorthanded markers. He definitely proved you can play four years in college and still experience NHL success - even if your name was never called at the draft.