After nine years, Lindy Ruff is back at the helm of the Buffalo Sabres. The veteran coach, who holds the record for most games coached in Sabres history, returns to the franchise where he spent 16 seasons. Ruff’s return comes with high expectations, as the Sabres have endured the league’s longest playoff drought, spanning 13 seasons. With promising young talent and a revamped roster, Ruff will aim to guide the Sabres back to the postseason for the first time since 2011.
After 13 consecutive seasons without reaching the playoffs, the Buffalo Sabres have appointed Lindy Ruff as their new head coach. Ruff previously led the Sabres from 1997-98 and 2012-13. He joins Buffalo after four seasons with the New Jersey Devils, where he was replaced by Travis Green this year.
The Buffalo Sabres have re-hired Lindy Ruff as their head coach. Ruff previously coached the Sabres from 1997 to 2013, leading them to their last Stanley Cup playoff appearance. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in wins and playoff victories. Ruff’s return comes after stints with the Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils, and New York Rangers. The Sabres hope that his experience and familiarity with the organization will help them return to the playoffs after several years of struggles.
The Carolina Hurricanes will host the New York Islanders in Game 2 of their best-of-seven NHL playoff series on Monday, April 22, at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes won Game 1 by a score of 3-1, with Stefan Noesen and Martin Necas scoring the goals. The Islanders got a goal from Kyle MacLean, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Hurricanes’ lead. The Islanders will be looking to even the series in Game 2, while the Hurricanes will be looking to take a 2-0 lead.
The Toronto Maple Leafs suffered a 5-1 defeat against the Boston Bruins in the opening game of their first-round playoff series. Despite grabbing an early lead, the Bruins capitalized on Toronto’s mistakes, including a missed penalty shot by Auston Matthews, to secure the victory. The Maple Leafs will look to bounce back in Game 2 on Monday night in Boston.
Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith has revealed plans to involve fans in the naming process for the state’s new NHL team. The team’s name will be determined through a bracket-style vote, with Qualtrics and Doubleday & Cartwright assisting with the data collection. A fan event will be held at the Delta Center on Wednesday to introduce the team’s players, staff, and front office.
Mark Stone, captain of the Vegas Golden Knights, is set to return to action on Monday night for Game 1 of the NHL Western Conference playoffs against the Dallas Stars. Stone missed the final 26 games of the regular season with a lacerated spleen sustained in a collision on February 20 against the Nashville Predators. The 31-year-old forward has been off to a strong start with 53 points in 56 games before the injury.
An Oilers fan named Jeff Ottmeier has been growing his hair since 2015, vowing to cut it only when the team wins the Stanley Cup. Despite almost a decade of waiting, Ottmeier’s commitment has not wavered, and he plans to continue growing his hair indefinitely if necessary. He has gained a following on social media, sharing yearly updates on his hair’s progress. While caring for his long locks requires significant maintenance, Ottmeier is determined to see his hair journey through. If the Oilers do eventually bring home the cup, he intends to donate his hair to charity.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander is questionable for Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first-round series against the Boston Bruins on Monday night due to an undisclosed injury. Nylander missed Game 1 on Saturday as the Bruins rolled to a 5-1 victory. During the 2023-24 regular season, Nylander set a career high with 98 points in 82 games, but did not score a goal in his final 11 games.
Logan Thompson, the Golden Knights’ goaltender, missed out on the team’s Stanley Cup triumph last year due to injuries. This year, he’s healthy and hungry to make a mark in the playoffs. Thompson has been impressive since March, leading the Knights to a playoff berth. He’s emerged as the favorite to start Game 1 over Adin Hill. While Hill’s postseason numbers are impressive, Thompson’s recent form has earned him a chance to prove himself. Despite a few hiccups, Thompson is confident in his abilities and is determined to play a key role in the Knights’ quest for a repeat championship.
