Today’s NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games:
BUF vs. MTL – ANA vs. VGK

 

REFEREES

 
Kelly Sutherland #11

TJ Luxmore #21

Games ’25-26 (RS/PO)
76 / 6
76 / 7

Career Games (RS/PO)
1680 / 258
803 / 44

First NHL Game
12/19/00
11/19/13

First Playoff Game
4/9/03
8/2/20

Birthplace
Richmond, BC
Timmins, ON

Goals/Gm
6.0 (28) | 5.9 (28)
6.0 (27) | 5.9 (26)

PP Opp/Gm
5.7 (21) | 5.4 (18)
5.8 (16) | 4.8 (43)

PPG/Gm
1.2 (24) | 1.0 (40)
1.3 (15) | 0.9 (43)

Penl/Gm
8.1 (3) | 6.8 (20)
7.6 (14) | 6.2 (39)

PIM/Gm
21.1 (2) | 6.8 (21)
19.1 (10) | 14.6 (38)

% of Penl on Home
49.7% (7) | 50.0% (9)
50.7% (3) | 50.0% (19)

% PP Opp for Home
48.8% (36) | 50.0% (34)
48.1% (37) | 50.0% (18)

Penl Diff.*
1.2 (29) | 1.2 (27)
1.3 (22) | 1.4 (11)

Home Win %
64% (8) | 60% (27)
56% (25) | 62% (23)

Home Rec.
44-24-7 | 42-27-5
34-27-9 | 42-26-6

OT/SO Games
21.3% (30) | 10.0% (39)
28.9% (9) | 20.0% (26)

Team Records
25-26
24-25
23-24
25-26
24-25
23-24

BUF
3-2-1
1-2-0
3-3-0
3-0-1
6-1-1
2-2-0

MTL
2-4-0
2-2-0
2-4-0
4-1-1
1-2-0
0-3-0

 
 
LINESPERSONS

 
Matt MacPherson #83

Julien Fournier #56

Games ’25-26 (RS/PO)
77 / 7
78 / 6

Career Games (RS/PO)
1039 / 131
452 / 11

First NHL Game
10/11/11
10/14/19

First Playoff Game
4/17/14
4/20/25

Birthplace
Antigonish, NS
Gatineau, QC

  

Refs Kelly Sutherland and TJ Luxmore were paired up starting in Round 2; they officiated PHI/CAR Game 1, ANA/VGK Game 2, and COL/MIN Game 3. 

Sutherland previously worked with Corey Syvret in Round 1, handling UTA/VGK Game 2, LAK/COL Game 3, and BOS/BUF Game 5 (BUF L 2-1). 

Luxmore skated alongside Trevor Hanson at UTA/VGK Game 1, LAK/COL Game 2, BOS/BUF Game 4 (BUF W 6-1), and MIN/DAL Game 5.

The last time Sutherland or Luxmore last worked a Habs game? March 19, when they were coincidentally paired up for MTL/DET. The Habs lost that one 3-1.

 

Standby Official: Garrett Rank (#7)Series Officiating Supervisor: Kay Whitmore
 

 

REFEREES

 
Pierre Lambert #25

Wes McCauley #4

Games ’25-26 (RS/PO)
75 / 7
77 / 7

Career Games (RS/PO)
582 / 15
1517 / 227

First NHL Game
11/17/16
1/20/03

First Playoff Game
4/21/24
4/12/07

Birthplace
St-Hubert, QC
Georgetown, ON

Goals/Gm
6.1 (21) | 5.8 (37)
6.1 (22) | 6.2 (10)

PP Opp/Gm
5.5 (28) | 5.5 (15)
5.4 (33) | 5.4 (16)

PPG/Gm
1.0 (34) | 1.3 (11)
1.1 (32) | 1.2 (19)

Penl/Gm
7.0 (28) | 6.7 (23)
7.1 (27) | 7.0 (16)

PIM/Gm
15.9 (33) | 6.7 (24)
17.7 (26) | 16.7 (14)

% of Penl on Home
49.7% (17) | 50.0% (14)
47.2% (19) | 50.0% (16)

% PP Opp for Home
51.1% (27) | 50.0% (32)
51.1% (27) | 50.0% (24)

Penl Diff.*
1.0 (40) | 1.3 (15)
1.4 (9) | 1.4 (10)

Home Win %
52% (30) | 67% (5)
50% (37) | 68% (4)

Home Rec.
12-11-0 | 44-20-9
13-14-4 | 45-19-10

OT/SO Games
20.3% (32) | 20.0% (14)
32.9% (4) | 20.0% (29)

Team Records
25-26
24-25
23-24
25-26
24-25
23-24

ANA
2-3-0
1-2-0
1-5-0
4-0-1
1-1-0
2-1-1

VGK
3-1-0
3-0-2
2-2-1
2-1-2
3-3-0
2-3-1

 
 
LINESPERSONS

 
Scott Cherrey #50

Jesse Marquis #86

Games ’25-26 (RS/PO)
42 / 7
76 / 6

Career Games (RS/PO)
1275 / 179
476 / 25

First NHL Game
10/6/07
10/11/18

First Playoff Game
4/15/11
4/18/23

Birthplace
Drayton, ON
Bouctouche, NB

  

Referees Wes McCauley and Pierre Lambert are paired up for the third time this postseason, having come together in Round 2 to work MTL/BUF Game 1 and CAR/PHI Game 4.

McCauley was paired with Brandon Blandina in the opening round for OTT/CAR Game 1, MIN/DAL Game 2, TBL/MTL Game 4, and EDM/ANA Game 6 (ANA W 5-2, series winner; no penalties called on ANA).  He also worked with Chris Rooney at MTL/TBL Game 7. McCauley’s last Vegas game came March 26 vs. Edmonton; the Golden Knights lost 4-3 in OT.

Lambert skated alongside Gord Dwyer in the opening round at ANA/EDM Game 1 (ANA L 4-3), MIN/DAL Game 3, UTA/VGK Game 3 (VGK L 4-2), PHI/PIT Game 6, and BOS/BUF Game 6.

 

Standby Official: Corey Syvret (#23)Series Officiating Supervisor: Don VanMassenhoven 

 

 

Games: PS (Preseason); RS (Regular Season); PO (Playoffs) 

Stats/Numbers: ’25-26 avg. (’25-26 rank) | ’24-25 avg. (’24-25 rank)

Number in orange/parentheses indicated referee’s rank among active officials.

* Penalty Differential represents the absolute value of the variance of penalty calls by team per game. If Team A takes two more penalties (or two fewer) than Team B, this is a 2.  Lower numbers indicate less variance between total penalties in a game – that is, a closer number of calls for both teams. 

We’ve also got new rules, new refs, promoted officials, and an updated pronunciation guide for 2025-26.

 

 

The NHL officials working the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs:

NHL Officials Advancing to Round 2 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs