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Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner celebrates his goal during the second period in Game 3 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks, Friday, May 8, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif.<\/p>\n
Mark J. Terrill\/AP<\/p>\n
Montr\u00e9al Canadiens right wing Zachary Bolduc (76) and Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson (72) battle for the puck during the first period in Game 2 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Friday, May 8, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y.<\/p>\n
Jeffrey T. Barnes\/AP<\/p>\n
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart, left, and right wing Mitch Marner congratulate each other after the Golden Knights defeated the Anaheim Ducks in Game 3 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Friday, May 8, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif.<\/p>\n
Mark J. Terrill\/AP<\/p>\n
Watching Mitch Marner from afar coaching other teams, John Tortorella saw a difference-making hockey player and heard all the criticism about a lack of playoff success and production. Now together with the Vegas Golden Knights, Tortorella does not see that weighing Marner down.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI don\u2019t think it bothers him a lick,\u201d Tortorella said. \u201cHe just plays.\u201d<\/p>\n
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After earning a reputation for shrinking this time of year over a nearly decade-long stint with Toronto that never included a run past the second round, Marner leads all scorers in the playoffs with 13 points and is tied for the most goals with six after his hat trick Friday night gave Vegas a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series against Anaheim. Over in the Eastern Conference, Buffalo’s Tage Thompson struggling contributed to the Sabres losing to the Canadiens and evening up that matchup at one game apiece with play shifting to Montreal on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Making his NHL postseason debut, Thompson said it’s not anyone’s business if he’s injured and took responsibility for a bafflingly rough performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cTrying to chase the game, try and force plays that aren\u2019t there and just wasn\u2019t executing,\u201d Thompson said. \u201cEverything I touched turned into disaster tonight, so tough one. Got to be better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thompson was a point-a-game performer through the first seven games of the playoffs, and coach Lindy Ruff chalked up Game 2 to frustration. Ruff expects a lot of his players to be better, including Thompson.<\/p>\n
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It’s hard to be better than Marner was with four points in 23 minutes of ice time against the Ducks in Game 3. Linemate William Karlsson is getting a front-row seat to it \u2014 and hearing plenty of yelling when Marner wants the puck.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s very vocal out there, so he makes it easy for you,\u201d Karlsson said. \u201cI always know where he is. That\u2019s a great part of his game. But also, he sees passes kind of that aren\u2019t there \u2014 but for him they are, and he makes it work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffalo Sabres at Montreal Canadiens<\/p>\n
When\/Where to Watch: Game 3, Sunday, 7 p.m. EDT (ESPN).<\/p>\n
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The Canadiens got a pair of goals from winger Alex Newhook and one apiece from defensemen Mike Matheson and Alexandre Carrier on Friday night. To keep the momentum going back home at Bell Centre, they’ll likely need more offense from two of their best players, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky, who have gone ice cold.<\/p>\n
Caufield \u2014 who had a career-high 51 goals and 88 points during the regular season \u2014 has been held off the scoresheet the past five games dating to the first round against Tampa Bay. Slafkovsky has one point in the past eight games.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll season but especially in playoffs, it doesn\u2019t really matter who\u2019s going to put the puck in as long as you win the game,\u201d Slafkovsky said.<\/p>\n
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Sam Carrick could be back for Buffalo after missing the past 15 games going back to getting injured March 31. Carrick’s return should help the Sabres in the faceoff circle, where they’re winning just 43% of draws, the lowest rate of any team in the playoffs.<\/p>\n
Vegas Golden Knights at Anaheim Ducks<\/p>\n
When\/Where to Watch: Game 4, Sunday, 9:30 p.m. EDT (ESPN)<\/p>\n
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The Golden Knights are 3-1 on the road this postseason after beating the Ducks 6-2, and Tortorella \u2014 who coached the Lightning to the Stanley Cup 22 years ago \u2014 likes the away-from-home-ice advantage.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s probably easier to play on the road,\u201d Tortorella said. \u201cYou do simplify when you\u2019re on the road. You just simply worry about playing hockey. There\u2019s no other distractions, and you\u2019re with your teammates more. I think that helps.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vegas is 6-2 on the road since Tortorella took over in late March.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe like playing on the road,\u201d defenseman Shea Theodore said. \u201cIt\u2019s always fun to come into a loud building and shutting them up.\u201d<\/p>\n
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AP Hockey Writer John Wawrow in Buffalo, New York, and AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham in Anaheim, California, contributed to this report.<\/p>\n
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