NHL Wraparound Podcast

If it appears something always seems to happen to the Dallas Stars when the calendar flips to spring, you're probably not alone. Despite being one of the top teams during the regular season for the past five seasons, injuries, cold streaks and simply not being able to close series out has spelled doom in Big D. While the youth of the team are the cornerstones of the offense, other areas are starti...

The Sabres had their legs a bit quicker than the Canadiens Wednesday and that was enough to propel them to a win to open their second round series. In Vegas, the Golden Knights never appeared to get their legs as the Ducks took home ice from the hosts in Game 2 of that Western Conference semi. Vic and Neil look back at those games and preview Game 3 in Philadelphia where the wounded Flyers try to...

If there was a team that truly took people off guard in a positive way during the regular season, it was the Pittsburgh Penguins. With a rookie head coach, an aging core and a relatively non-descript 2025 off-season, the Pens proved from opening night that, just because "experts" think one way, those assessments mean nothing to the team in the room. Still, an opening-round playoff loss to a lower...

With each passing game, the Colorado Avalanche continue to make a statement as to why they were Presidents' Trophy winners during the regular season after taking a 2-0 lead over a wounded Minnesota team in the Western semi-final Tuesday. Vic and Neil look back on that game, preview the opener between the Sabres and Canadiens plus game two between the Golden Knights and Ducks AND... ...can anyone b...

Looking at some of the key stats for the Los Angeles Kings in 2925-26, that they even qualified for the playoff was a miracle. A late season coaching change, an uptick in play and the floundering of those around them proved to be just enough to get in...and they be disposed in four straight. With their longtime captain retired and the head coaching position in flux, GM Ken Holland has a busy off-s...

The Philadelphia Flyers brought considerably more to the Carolina Hurricanes in the second game of their series Monday but just fell short as the 'Canes moved to 6-0 during the post season. In Vegas, a controversial goal helped propel the Golden Knights past the Ducks in the opener of their Western semi-final. Vic and Neil break it down and look ahead to the second game between the Avalanche and W...

And then there were eight. Though the second round has seen two series already get underway, that's not stopping, Neil, Vic or TSN's Craig Button from breaking the four series down. In addition to offering their takes on who makes the conference finals, they'll also look back to the opening round where there will be some zingers exchanged on some of those fearless prognostications. Also, don't mis...

After making a surprise trip to the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2025, the Ottawa Senators faced an uphill climb for nearly the entire season before qualifying this time around. Improved offensive output helped offset poor penalty killing, spotty goaltending and a rash of late season injuries to the defense. While it wasn't nearly enough to make a dent in the post-season, the Senators are known for the...

Any thoughts the Carolina Hurricanes might have a bit of rust after a week since finishing off Ottawa, were quickly dispelled in gaining a quick upper hand over Philadelphia to kick off round two. Vic and Neil review that game and preview two games on opposite sides of the playoff schedule as the Canadiens and Lightning conclude their epic opening round series in Tampa while the Wild and Avalanche...

The essence of Stanley Cup theatre was on full display Friday as the Tampa Bay Lightning forced the lone seventh game in the opening round as Andrei Vasilevskiy simply refused to lose in the 1-0 OT win. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres and Vegas Golden Knights both punch their tickets to the second round, taking out Boston and Utah respectively. Vic and Neil discuss the three games and also look ahea...

It took 11 and nine years respectively but the Minnesota Wild and Anaheim Ducks are finally through to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Meanwhile a loaded Dallas Stars team maintained Bridesmaid status and the questions surrounding the two-time Western Conference champions are just beginning. Vic and Neil break down Thursday's two games and look ahead to three more elimination games F...

The thrill ride in Philadelphia continued Wednesday with the lone goal of the night coming deep in overtime to propel the Flyers into the second round for a meeting with the Carolina Hurricanes. There was also a late night in Sin City where it took double overtime to send Vegas to within a win of advancing while the Montreal Canadiens earned the right to finish off the Lightning Friday prevailing...

From cellar dwellers to playoff contenders, the San Jose Sharks made one of the most dramatic improvements in the NHL in 2025-26. Led by budding superstar Macklin Celebrini, the Sharks remained in contention right to the end of the regular season. With one of the most dynamic young offenses in the NHL, the priority for GM Mike Grier and head coach Ryan Warsofsky is to clean up the other end of the...

The Bruins and Oilers had plenty to prove after digging themselves 3-1 holes and both delivered to survive to Game 6. In Dallas, the Stars did not run Wild over Minnesota and, thus, will head back to their former home trying to save their season. Vic and Neil review the three Tuesday games and look ahead to Wednesday where a pair of deadlocked series will put teams in the drivers seat while the Fl...

From Presidents' Trophy to missing the playoffs. That was the story of the 2025-26 Winnipeg Jets. The season started well enough but lack of support for the top line and inconsistent play put the Jets in a position where they chased the pack during the second half and eventually ran out of runway to qualify for the post-season. Vic and Neil look back at what their expectations were back last Augus...

Faced with different types of adversity, the Penguins and Golden Knights both answered the call Monday as the Pens staved off elimination for the second straight game and the VGK regained home ice advantage with an overtime win in Utah. Vic and Neil will cover those games and also look ahead to a trio of Game 5's as the Sabres and Ducks look to advance at the expense of the Bruins and Oilers while...

Every playoff series is like a fingerprint. No two series are exactly alike and each develops a unique personality as play moves on. Two stirring games highlighted Sunday with the Anaheim Ducks moving to within a win to taking out the Edmonton Oilers with a controversial overtime goal while the Lightning used a late third period goal in Montreal to draw even in that series. In a series played clos...

In the past four springs, there have been only two opening round sweeps. We got another one Saturday with Hurricanes being the first to punch their ticket to the conference semi-finals by taking out the Ottawa Senators. The Pittsburgh Penguins put off their own summer vacation with a solid effort in Philadelphia while Minnesota Wild avenged a Game 3 double OT loss with an OT win of their own to sq...

While road teams thrived Thursday, the hosts got the upper hand on Friday as the Canadiens, Mammoth and Ducks all took 2-1 series leads in their respective series. Vic and Neil look at those games and set up Saturday where the Hurricanes and Flyers can be the first to advance and, in the process, ensure a second round matchup with each other. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smith: https:...

Two years ago, the Nashville Predators were the talk of the hockey world. Usually a conservative franchise, GM Barry Trotz stunned many by signing a trio of high-end free agents. The result: a disastrous 2024-25 season. With expectations lowered, the Preds started this past season in similar fashion before turning into the team which was expected a season sooner. Though they finished short of a pl...

While there was much anticipation in Boston, Ottawa and Los Angeles Thursday, home fans went home disappointed in each of those cities as the Sabres got a leg up on the Bruins and Hurricanes and Avalanche moved to within a win of advancing to round two. Vic and Neil discuss the matchups and set up a trio of third games Friday, which includes the first-ever home playoff game for the Utah Mammoth. X...

After winning the Eastern Conference during the regular season in 2024-25, the Washington took a step back finishing out of the playoffs. There was significant drop off from a number of key players, a major injury and a slide on both special teams. With Alex Ovechkin's return in question, the Caps are a team in flux as Ovi's decision will likely determine the path the team will take in 2026-27. X:...

The Philadelphia Flyers have been in playoff mindset since the final 25 games in the regular season and its continued into the first round as they have pushed their in-state rivals to the brink. As Wednesday evening pressed forward, Anaheim managed to prevail late in Edmonton while the Stars and Wild went even deeper into the night before a winner was decided. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound...

So who had the J.J. Moser/Nick Roy parlay in their overtime goal pool Tuesday? That's just a start re-capping a night where the temperature came up considerably in all four series with three of those guaranteed to go at lease five games. We'll also look ahead to the three Wednesday matchups as Ottawa and Pittsburgh look to get themselves off the ropes. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil Smi...

For the sixth consecutive spring, the Columbus Blue Jackets are out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. What started poorly was replaced to an incredible run to playoff position after a coaching change, only to falter at the end for the second straight season. Vic and Neil, look back at what went wrong and look ahead with plenty of decisions for GM Don Waddell. X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound Neil S...