NHL Pacific

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse has been suspended for Game 5 of the team's second-round Stanley Cup playoffs matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights for instigating a fight in Wednesday's Game 4, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Thursday.

Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft was also fined $10,000.

At the 19:10 mark of the third period in Game 4, Nurse was assessed a two-minute minor penalty for instigating, a five-minute major penalty for fighting and a 10-minute misconduct after dropping the gloves with Vegas' Nicolas Hague.

Darnell Nurse and Nic Hague finally go at it. 😳🥊 pic.twitter.com/efkjrr6r07

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 11, 2023

The Oilers won 4-1 to even the second-round series at 2-2.

Nurse's suspension is a tough blow for the Oilers. Golden Knights captain Mark Stone said after the game that Hague asked for the fight before the faceoff, according to Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff.

Nurse has been the team's most-used defenseman this postseason, averaging 23 minutes and 24 seconds on ice and recording four assists in 10 games. The 27-year-old has also been one of the franchise's best defensemen since bursting onto the scene full-time during the 2015-16 campaign, tallying a career-high 43 points this season.

With Nurse out for Game 5, Mattias Ekholm figures to slot into the first pairing alongside Cody Ceci. Philip Broberg may also be entered into the lineup on defense, likely on the third pairing.

In addition to Nurse, it's also possible Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo will receive a suspension after being ejected from Game 4 following a brutal slash of Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl.

After Draisaitl missed a chance to score on an empty net late in the third period, Pietrangelo skated across the ice, lifted his stick in the air and brought it down on the Edmonton star's arm.

Alex Pietrangelo gives Leon Draisaitl a two-handed slash after an empty net opportunity. pic.twitter.com/wziPdleLDx

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 11, 2023

Pietrangelo has a hearing for the slash scheduled with the Department of Player Safety for Thursday.

Game 5 between the Oilers and Golden Knights will be played Friday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The winner will push its opponent to the brink of elimination.

On a night that felt like a must-win on their home ice, the Edmonton Oilers sorely missed a signature Connor McDavid performance.

McDavid, widely regarded as the best player in the NHL and who has had a tremendous postseason thus far, was contained by the Vegas Golden Knights in a 5-1 loss at Rogers Place on Monday night.

Coming off a three-point performance in Edmonton's Game 2 win in Las Vegas, McDavid couldn't conjure up much magic as his team was dominated throughout all three periods.

Things looked good for the Oilers to start things off as Warren Foegele gave them the early lead, but it wouldn't last long. Vegas' Jonathan Marchessault responded nearly two minutes later to even the score and got a second one right before the end of the first period to give the Golden Knights a 2-1 lead.

The second period was where things got really ugly for the home team as Vegas got a goal each from Zach Whitecloud, Jack Eichel and Chandler Stephenson.

Meanwhile, it seemed like everyone in the arena was waiting for McDavid and the rest of the squad to get things going, but that moment never came.

It wasn't too difficult of a night for Vegas goalie Adin Hill, who had to step in for starter Laurent Brossoit after he left the game in the first period with an injury following a save against McDavid.

Hill performed admirably, saving all 25 shots he faced.

NHL Twitter was tough on McDavid and the Oilers for their off-night.

Make that FIVE goals for Vegas 🔥

The Golden Knights are rolling in Game 3 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/2gM0RcUPt9

— ESPN (@espn) May 9, 2023

Vegas forwards just gaining position on #Oilers D all night and going to the net for easy goals.
Far too soft a performance.

— Paul Almeida (@AzorcanGlobal) May 9, 2023

terrible effort from the #Oilers . i had concerns about this . they never respond at home . crowd all fired up . then it back fires #NHL

— Gabriel Morency (@sportsrage) May 9, 2023

Oilers overpassing with Hill in net. Makes no sense. They haven't tested him at all.

— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) May 9, 2023

This can't be what you look like when you don't get any powerplays.
Playoff hockey is still won at 5 v 5, and tonight the Oilers can't match Vegas at evens.

— Mark Spector🇨🇦🇺🇦 (@SportsnetSpec) May 9, 2023

https://twitter.com/K_Dottxx/status/1655757732597702656

The Oilers at times can look like one of the best teams ever assembled and other times look uninterested… Brossoit is hurt, take advantage of Hill who has barley played this entire playoffs. Gotta be more consistent scoring w/out a PP.

— Kader 🇵🇸 (@K_Dottxx) May 9, 2023

Oilers tonight #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/ZDjnY3vWRD

— Rachel Gimore XXX (@EskimosCFL) May 9, 2023

#EDMvsVGK after that 5th goal i'm just like pic.twitter.com/wzWlUZgds0

— tanya 💛 (@tanyaxmcquoid) May 9, 2023

The Oilers no-showed tonight and looked awful, deserving a loss. It’s not a “this is on the refs” night.

The refs have been very bad at their jobs tonight and most of the playoffs.

True and true.

— OilScud (@ScottBiggsify) May 9, 2023

Now, the Golden Knights have stolen home-ice advantage and hold a 2-1 series lead over Edmonton. All the pressure in the world will be on the Oilers and McDavid to come up with a big response in Game 4 to avoid falling into a dangerous 3-1 series deficit.

It's time for the world's best hockey player to have another masterclass.

Game 4 of the series is set for Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET.

It was the most dominant 20 minutes of hockey thus far in these Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Seattle Kraken poured in five goals in the second period en route to a 7-2 win over the Dallas Stars at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Sunday night to take a 2-1 series lead.

Goals from Jordan Eberle, Alex Wennberg, Carson Soucy, Matty Beniers and Eeli Tolvanen contributed to an electric and stunning display that effectively won the game for the Kraken as they took a 5-1 lead into the final period.

But they didn't stop there as Yanni Gourde and Justin Schultz tacked on another two goals to complete the rout and put an exclamation point on one of the best playoff displays this year.

None of that would have happened, however, without the superb play from goalie Philipp Grubauer, who kept the Stars scoreless in the first period and held off an onslaught the rest of the game as the visitors tried to get back into it.

Grubauer was arguably the team's MVP as he saved 24-of-26 shots for a .923 save percentage, keeping Dallas at bay after it scored four goals in its Game 2 win.

NHL Twitter went wild after watching how strong the Kraken came out to defend their home ice.

GOAL NUMBER 5️⃣ FOR THE KRAKEN IN THE 2ND‼️

Seattle leads Dallas 5-1 in Game 3. pic.twitter.com/j3sNnwaQJF

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 8, 2023

It's a route. Last two goals have come against the Marchment—Domi—Pavelski line.

3-0, Kraken

— Saad Yousuf (@SaadYousuf126) May 8, 2023

Kraken I don’t know if you will win this series but I’m sorry I ever doubted you. Holy buzzsaw. They are a TEAM playing for each other and it’s evident.

— Brian Boyle (@BriBrows22) May 8, 2023

Again, when people keep asking how the Kraken are doing this, they just showed why.

Three goals from three different scorers in Jordan Eberle, Alexander Wennberg and Carson Soucy in the span of six minutes. #SeaKraken

— Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark) May 8, 2023

Carson Soucy, clean on Jake Oettinger, five hole, and the floodgates are opening on the Dallas Stars.

Turnabout is fair play here in period two. 3-0 lead and the Kraken have been fully released.

— Mike Benton (@Benton_Mike) May 8, 2023

https://twitter.com/kimischilling/status/1655404578634858497

FERRY HORN 4 - This is ridiculous. Matty Beniers. 4-0

— Tim Booth (@ByTimBooth) May 8, 2023

GIVE US YOUR BEST

🗣️ GRUUUUUUUUUUU pic.twitter.com/7b8cRtsk31

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) May 8, 2023

Kraken make it 5-1. Rough period for Oettinger.

— Mike Heika (@MikeHeika) May 8, 2023

5 goal period, but props go to Gru #SEAKraken pic.twitter.com/QutgpIr96K

— Kraken It Open (@KrakenItOpenNHL) May 8, 2023

Let’s goooooo!!!!! #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/TVlTtV0OsN

— Jake (@JZW73) May 8, 2023

Ol’ fashion ass-kickin’!! @SeattleKraken pic.twitter.com/APkiVjoHGh

— Keegan Hall (@KeeganHall) May 8, 2023

While it's unlikely that that second-period production will be replicated by the Kraken, that type of performance could stick in the back of Dallas' mind throughout the rest of the series.

Because now it knows what Seattle is capable of if it sniffs an opportunity.

The Stars will be looking for a big bounce-back performance in Seattle to avoid falling into a dreaded 3-1 series hole.

Game 4 is set for Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Having two of the best hockey players in the world has its perks.

The Edmonton Oilers started hot and finished strong, earning a 5-1 Game 2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round of the Western Conference, evening the series at 1-1.

The visiting Oilers' strong response to a 6-4 Game 1 loss was needed, as many were frustrated that the team wasted a four-goal performance from Leon Draisaitl.

The German star was excellent again in Game 2, scoring twice more to give him 13 total playoff goals on this run. The mark ties him with Nathan MacKinnon and Evander Kane's league-leading totals from last season.

Leon Draisaitl ties the leaders from last year’s playoffs with 13 goals.

We are in Game 2 of the second round … #Oilers

— Tony Brar 🚀 (@TonyBrarOTV) May 6, 2023

Connor McDavid, the likely league MVP, did not let Draisaitl get all of the the glory. He chipped in two goals and an assist in the victory.

Evan Bouchard chipped in the other goal for Edmonton, and Stuart Skinner made 30 saves in the cage.

This performance from the team's two stars shows how dynamic they can be when they take control of games. Fans on Twitter showed their appreciation for the duo.

CONNOR MCDAVID, THAT WAS SILKY‼️ pic.twitter.com/frEZfQI1ex

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 6, 2023

CONNOR MCDAVID IS SMOOOOTH pic.twitter.com/CdKqchqFuo

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) May 6, 2023

CONNOR MCDAVID. WOW. 🤯🔥#LetsGoOilers #Oilers https://t.co/P4921OFQe7

— Connor Hrabchak (@ConnorHrabchak1) May 6, 2023

Leon draisaitl is the best player since Connor McDavid

— Bruins Mafia (@BruinsMafia) May 7, 2023

Leon Draisaitl has 13 goals this playoffs. That's how many Nathan MacKinnon had in ALL of last year's playoffs 😳 https://t.co/20som8wGJ7

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 6, 2023

The NHL record for most goals in a single Stanley Cup Playoffs is 19.

Leon Draisaitl has 13.

The Oilers are in Game 2 of the second round.

— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) May 6, 2023

I have whatever Leon Draisaitl is having during these playoffs for $1,000 #LetsGoOilers

— Shukri Wrights (@ShukriWrights) May 7, 2023

I just don’t see a world where Draisaitl and McDavid don’t end up with their names on the Cup.

— Sean (@seanhhm) May 6, 2023

laurent brossoit begging leon draisaitl to not shoot the puck pic.twitter.com/ayB7pja8yc

— y - emily 🌺✨ (@johnmarinoh) May 7, 2023

Let's talk about Leon Draisaitl's expected goals

I expect him to score even more goals

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) May 7, 2023

Leon Draisaitl became the fifth player in NHL history to score five consecutive team goals in a postseason, joining Joffrey Lupul (5 in 2006), Ray Ferraro (5 in 1993), Reggie Leach (5 in 1976) and Maurice Richard (5 in 1944). #StanleyCup #NHLStats: https://t.co/62TAXReQQk pic.twitter.com/UTFFht3akC

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) May 6, 2023

Leon Draisaitl: the third-fastest player in NHL history to 75 career playoff points. 👏 pic.twitter.com/dgzTdtgLWm

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 6, 2023

leon draisaitl when he’s within a three mile radius of a hockey puck pic.twitter.com/mKSlJruOb9

— Ava (@avatarrant) May 6, 2023

The win allows Edmonton to return home with an even series and a chance to take a 3-1 lead before traveling back to Vegas for Game 5. They are 2-1 at Rogers Place in the playoffs and were 23-12-6 during the regular season.

Game 3 is scheduled for Monday at 7:30 E.T.

Leon Draisaitl's historic performance in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals was wasted by the Edmonton Oilers in a 6-4 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old had the 41st postseason game with at least four goals in NHL playoff history. His scoring outburst came one day after Dallas Stars captain Joe Pavelski also scored four times against the Colorado Avalanche.

DRAISAITL'S GOT FOUR 🔥🔥 https://t.co/Bv4lTXANOX

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 4, 2023

Connor McDavid assisted on two of Draisaitl's goals. The Oilers' dynamic duo spent more than 24 minutes on the ice in the game, but their efforts were for naught.

Fans offered their sympathy for Draisaitl doing everything he could to carry the team in a losing effort for Edmonton.

leon draisaitl on the oilers bench right now… https://t.co/NZSpqkjJPU

— dom 📈 (@domluszczyszyn) May 4, 2023

https://twitter.com/fakenewshaterr/status/1653973631419187200

First time in 35 years the NHL has two consecutive days with a guy scoring four goals in a game (Pavelski, Draisaitl)... and both of their teams *lose* the game.

Stanley Cup Playoffs, baby!

— Saad Yousuf (@SaadYousuf126) May 4, 2023

pavelski and draisaitl after they both scored 4 goals and their teams still lost pic.twitter.com/W3q2WWbfiO

— y - emily 🌺✨ (@johnmarinoh) May 4, 2023

Leon Draisaitl is two goals away from tying the leading goal scorer from last year's entire playoffs. It's the first game of the second round

— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) May 4, 2023

https://twitter.com/stressedhockey/status/1653985742409076736

Joe Pavelski & Leon Draisaitl

First pair to score 4 goals on back-to-back nights in the postseason since John Tucker (Sabres) & Tony Hrkac (Blues) on April 9-10, 1988

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) May 4, 2023

Leon Draisaitl tonight for Edmonton: #NHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/SWew3Caz88

— Avry's Sports Show (@Avry) May 4, 2023

McDavid and Draisaitl trying to drag Edmonton to a cup with zero goaltending every year pic.twitter.com/MjVz51UC6k

— Alex Martin (@AMART1313) May 4, 2023

https://twitter.com/m4rkys4uc3/status/1653982209831759873

The 2022-23 Oilers had one of the franchise's best seasons. Their 109 points during the regular season tied for the fourth-most in club history. They won 50 games for the first time since 1986-87 when Wayne Gretzky won his eighth consecutive Hart Trophy.

McDavid is almost certain to win his third career MVP award after leading the league in goals (64), assists (89) and points (153).

Draisaitl would be a strong candidate in many other years after racking up a career-high 128 points. He's already got 15 points in just seven playoff games after Wednesday's showing.

The biggest concern for the Oilers in the playoffs was on display in Game 1 against the Golden Knights. They ranked 17th in goals allowed during the regular season (260).

Stuart Skinner is 24 years old in his first postseason, and it has shown in his performance. He has allowed at least two goals in each of his seven starts and at least four three different times.

Edmonton has the offensive firepower to overcome some of the goaltending deficiencies, but Skinner can't keep giving up points at this rate for the team to make a deep playoff run.

Draisaitl, McDavid and the Oilers will look to even the series against the Golden Knights in Game 2 on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET.

Yanni Gourde crashed Joe Pavelski's "welcome back" party.

The Seattle Kraken center scored the overtime winner in Game 1 of the Western Conference second-round series against the Dallas Stars, spoiling Pavelski's four-goal outburst.

How's this for heroics?

GOURDE WINS IT IN OT FOR THE KRAKEN 🚨 https://t.co/cZsVQIFB51

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 3, 2023

Five different Kraken players scored on Tuesday night, with Jaden Schwartz, Justin Schultz, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Jordan Eberle joining Gourde. Philipp Grubauer made 31 saves on 35 attempts.

The Kraken came out firing, putting up four goals in the first period alone before the Stars staged a comeback and forced overtime.

THREE GOALS IN 52 SECONDS 🤯

Welcome to the Second Round, @SeattleKraken! #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: @espn ➡️ https://t.co/JZM7Ps85kY
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/h2m2a2hkO9 pic.twitter.com/t315TJ0CJK

— NHL (@NHL) May 3, 2023

Pavelski was astonishing for the Stars, meanwhile, becoming the oldest player in NHL history to score four times in a playoff game:

🌟 WELCOME BACK JOE PAVELSKI 🌟 #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: @espn ➡️ https://t.co/XLQlIIcUUi
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/JJXGbg8vT0 pic.twitter.com/WIa8nniYCb

— NHL (@NHL) May 3, 2023

JOE PAVELSKI TIMES 2 ✌️ #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: @espn ➡️ https://t.co/XLQlIIcUUi
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/JJXGbg8vT0 pic.twitter.com/wwkJ97zH49

— NHL (@NHL) May 3, 2023

⭐️ WHAT A RETURN ⭐️

Joe Pavelski (@jpav8) nets an @Enterprise hat trick in his first game back in the lineup! #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/SsyHkaAblK

— NHL (@NHL) May 3, 2023

PLAYOFF HISTORY‼️

Joe Pavelski is the oldest player in Stanley Cup playoff history with a 4️⃣-goal game 😱 pic.twitter.com/XQyr7kPJtR

— ESPN (@espn) May 3, 2023

Joe Pavelski is the oldest player with a 4-goal game in Stanley Cup Playoff history.

The previous oldest was Maurice "Rocket" Richard when he was 35 years, 245 days old for the Canadiens in Game 1 of the 1957 Stanley Cup Final vs the Bruins. pic.twitter.com/uxUUxsB8GH

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 3, 2023

Considering Pavelski had missed the team's previous five games with a concussion suffered in Game 1 of the first round against the Minnesota Wild, it was an impressive return to action.

And the Stars needed every last one of his goals to stay in the game.

2019: Pavelski was injured vs Vegas. Returned 15 days later with 1 goal and 1 assist in Game 7 vs Colorado.
2023: injured vs Minnesota. Returns 15 days later with 4 goals (and counting?) vs Seattle.
The sequel even better than the original.

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 3, 2023

Joe Pavelski making the Hall of Fame in his late 30’s…

— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) May 3, 2023

Zero rust for Joe Pavelski. Immediate impact. Great pace to this one.

— Paul Bissonnette (@BizNasty2point0) May 3, 2023

This is Joe Pavelski's first career four-goal game. At age 38. In the playoffs. After not playing for 15 days due to a concussion.

Unreal.

— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) May 3, 2023

But ultimately this was Gourde's night, and NHL Twitter gave him his flowers:

Yanni Gourde, man. Great win for the Kraken after the Stars roared back in Game 1.

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) May 3, 2023

Yanni Gourde with the winner over the Dallas Pavelskis tonight

— Shayna (@shaynagoldman_) May 3, 2023

Right before the clock literally struck midnight in Dallas, the Cinderella story continues with Yanni Gourde scoring the game winner for #SeaKraken.

— Aaron Levine (@AaronLevine_) May 3, 2023

IT’S DECORATIVE GOURDE SEASON, MFers! #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/6lM5lwWNaR

— Alexis Boucher (@alexis_b82) May 3, 2023

Yanni Gourde Himothy!!!!!!

— Meek Milroe szn 😈 (@seahawksfan2314) May 3, 2023

Yanni Gourde - perpetual pest. Helluva win.

— Tim Booth (@ByTimBooth) May 3, 2023

https://twitter.com/SiggysACLL/status/1653625812594335745

It was a wild ride of a night for Stars goalie Jake Oettinger, meanwhile. He looked poised to potentially be benched after the first period but was brilliant the rest of the way, ultimately saving 39 attempts.

It was the five he didn't stop that cost his team Game 1, cost Pavelski central billing and at least temporarily cost his team home-ice advantage.

Game 2 will take place in Dallas on Thursday at 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT.

Darryl Sutter is out as head coach of the Calgary Flames.

The Flames announced Monday that they have fired Sutter after three seasons with the team. His two-year contract extension was slated to begin in July, according to Frank Servalli of Daily Faceoff.

"On behalf of ownership and all Calgary Flames fans, we want to thank Darryl for his cumulative years of service to the Calgary Flames and to the community at large," CSEC President and CEO John Bean said in a statement.

Sutter was hired by the Flames in March 2021 after the franchise fired Geoff Ward. He previously served as head coach of the franchise from 2003-2006, leading Calgary to a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2004.

In his most recent three-year stint with the franchise, Calgary went 103-63-28, reaching the postseason just once, which came during the 2021-22 campaign. After finishing with the best record in the Pacific Division, the team was eliminated in the second round by the Edmonton Oilers.

Following the 2021-22 season, Sutter won the Jack Adams Award as the best coach in the NHL and was awarded with a two-year extension from the Flames.

However, Calgary failed to meet expectations in 2022-23 after bringing in the likes of Jonathan Huberdeau, Nazem Kadri and Mackenzie Weegar to replace Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk.

The Flames failed to qualify for the postseason, finishing fifth in a difficult Pacific Division with a 38-27-17 record and 93 points.

Rumors about Sutter's status with the Flames arose after he failed to hold an end-of-season news conference, which is typical of coaches once teams are done for the year.

Those rumors continued after Sportsnet's Eric Francis reported Wednesday that "several key players made it abundantly clear in their exit interviews with [Don] Maloney and [Brad] Treliving that the environment in which they are working is untenable."

The Flames parted ways with Treliving, their general manager, in mid-April and hired Maloney as their new president of hockey operations.

The franchise will now undergo a search for a new head coach, and there are some interesting options available in this year's carousel, including Peter Laviolette, Brad Larsen and Dallas Eakins.

The Anaheim Ducks finished out the 2022-23 regular season with a win, by losing.

By dropping their season finale 5-3 to the visiting Los Angeles Kings, the Ducks clinched a 1-in-4 chance of selecting Connor Bedard with the No. 1 pick.

Visiting fans weren't the only ones chanting "Go, Kings, Go" in Honda Center on Thursday night. Ducks supporters want to see Bedard, billed as the first "generational" talent to hit the draft since Connor McDavid, in Anaheim next year.

In 57 games for the Regina Pats, Bedard racked up 71 goals and 143 points this WHL season. He turns 18 in July.

His ability to read plays, deadly release and deft hands made him nearly unbeatable in the WHL. By next fall, Regina head coach John Paddock thinks Bedard will be ready to bring that offensive firepower to the big league.

"The details to prepare for the game and get focused for, say, a road trip, he would have that," Paddock told NHL.com's Aaron Vickers in February. "That's not going to change. There's going to be an adaptation for him for bigger, faster, stronger, but clearly he's on top of the charts as a 17-year-old in our league. I think that's pretty hard to argue."

As the 32nd-ranked team, the Ducks will now have a 25.5 percent shot at getting to see Bedard adapt to the NHL in Anaheim.

The 2023 NHL Draft Lottery will take place May 8 at 7 p.m. ET. Separate lotteries will be held for each of the first two picks. Teams can move up a maximum of 10 spots.

Here are the final odds for each team to get the top two picks, according to Tankathon.

No. 1 pick lottery odds

1. Anaheim Ducks: 25.5%
2. Columbus Blue Jackets: 13.5%
3. Chicago Blackhawks: 11.5%
4. San Jose Sharks: 9.5%
5. Montréal Canadiens: 8.5%
6. Arizona Coyotes: 7.5%
7. Philadelphia Flyers: 6.5%
8. Washington Capitals: 6.0%
9. Detroit Red Wings: 5.0%
10. St. Louis Blues: 3.5%
11. Vancouver Canucks: 3.0%

No. 2 pick lottery odds

1. Anaheim Ducks: 18.8%
2. Columbus Blue Jackets: 14.4%
3. Chicago Blackhawks: 11.5%
4. San Jose Sharks: 9.8%
5. Montréal Canadiens: 8.8%
6. Arizona Coyotes: 7.9%
7. Philadelphia Flyers: 6.9%
8. Washington Capitals: 6.4%
9. Detroit Red Wings: 5.4%
10. St. Louis Blues: 3.8%
11. Vancouver Canucks: 3.3%
12. Ottawa Senators: 2.9%

The Pittsburgh Penguins, who will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2005-06 after losing their last two games of the season to the Blackhawks and Blue Jackets, derailed both teams' best shot at the top pick by granting them late-season wins.

Those two victories allowed the Ducks, which lost 13 games straight to end the 2022-23 campaign, to settle comfortably into last place and the best shot at Bedard.

The Blue Jackets then edged out Chicago for the second-best odds on the last day of the season by losing 5-2 in regulation to the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night.

This is the second year that the NHL has restricted how many spots a team can move up with a lottery win. Large jumps like in 2017, when the Philadelphia Flyers moved up from 13th to second to select Nolan Patrick, are no longer possible.

That's not to say the places are set in stone. Last year the New Jersey Devils, which entered the lottery ranked fifth, moved up to snag defenseman Simon Nemec with the second selection.

In a draft lottery as strong as this one, with both Bedard and Hobey Baker Award winner Adam Fantilli, the projected No. 2 pick, looking like immediate game-changers, a jump like that has the potential to shape a franchise's future.