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

 

REFEREES

 
Chris Rooney #5

Graham Skilliter #24

Games ’25-26 (RS/PO)
38 / 7
76 / 6

Career Games (RS/PO)
1571 / 190
887 / 37

First NHL Game
11/22/00
1/28/13

First Playoff Game
4/14/03
5/19/21

Birthplace
Boston, MA
La Ronge, SK

Goals/Gm
5.5 (40) | 6.4 (5)
5.9 (31) | 6.2 (14)

PP Opp/Gm
6.3 (5) | 5.6 (12)
5.6 (22) | 5.2 (32)

PPG/Gm
1.4 (4) | 1.3 (10)
1.1 (28) | 1.1 (28)

Penl/Gm
7.7 (10) | 6.8 (22)
7.2 (26) | 6.2 (41)

PIM/Gm
19.1 (11) | 6.8 (15)
17.0 (30) | 14.8 (35)

% of Penl on Home
46.5% (32) | 50.0% (35)
49.8% (23) | 50.0% (11)

% PP Opp for Home
52.1% (19) | 50.0% (13)
52.0% (20) | 50.0% (30)

Penl Diff.*
1.3 (24) | 1.3 (22)
1.0 (39) | 1.3 (23)

Home Win %
55% (27) | 66% (9)
61% (17) | 57% (35)

Home Rec.
17-13-8 | 43-22-6
43-27-6 | 37-27-10

OT/SO Games
26.3% (14) | 20.0% (34)
17.1% (35) | 20.0% (7)

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

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

BUF
3-1-2
1-2-0
2-2-0
3-1-0
1-0-0
4-1-0

 
 
LINESPERSONS

 
Bevan Mills #53

Kiel Murchison #79

Games ’25-26 (RS/PO)
77 / 7
77 / 7

Career Games (RS/PO)
592 / 43
962 / 96

First NHL Game
11/29/16
1/21/13

First Playoff Game
5/16/21
4/17/15

Birthplace
Surrey, BC
Cloverdale, BC

  

Refs Chris Rooney and Graham Skilliter joined forces in the second round of the postseason, skating at MIN/COL Game 2 and ANA/VGK Game 3.

Rooney worked Round 1 with Peter MacDougall at PHI/PIT Game 1, ANA/EDM Game 2, TBL/MTL Game 3 (MTL W 3-2), and DAL/MIN Game 6. He also officiated MTL/TBL Game 7 (MTL W 2-1) with Wes McCauley.  His last Sabres game was April 15 vs. the Dallas Stars (BUF L 4-3 SO). 

Skilliter skated with Frederick L’Ecuyer in the opening round, handling MTL/TBL Game 2 (MTL L 3-2 OT), ANA/EDM Game 3, LAK/COL Game 4, and UTA/VGK Game 6.  He last worked a Buffalo game on February 27 vs. Florida (BUF W 3-2).

The Montreal Canadiens are 4-0-0 under referee Chris Rooney this season, including playoffs. 

The Buffalo Sabres are 8-2-0 over the past two seasons under referee Graham Skilliter. 

 

Standby Official: Jon Mclsaac (#2)Series Officiating Supervisor: Kay Whitmore
 

 

REFEREES

 
Garrett Rank #7

Kyle Rehman #10

Games ’25-26 (RS/PO)
76 / 7
76 / 7

Career Games (RS/PO)
749 / 42
1159 / 54

First NHL Game
1/15/15
1/22/08

First Playoff Game
5/17/21
4/12/18

Birthplace
Elmira, ON
Red Deer, AB

Goals/Gm
6.4 (7) | 5.7 (39)
6.4 (5) | 5.8 (36)

PP Opp/Gm
6.1 (10) | 5.3 (25)
6.1 (12) | 5.8 (8)

PPG/Gm
1.3 (9) | 1.0 (38)
1.3 (14) | 1.4 (4)

Penl/Gm
8.4 (2) | 7.0 (18)
7.6 (13) | 7.3 (10)

PIM/Gm
21.3 (1) | 7.0 (21)
17.6 (28) | 17.8 (12)

% of Penl on Home
48.2% (18) | 50.0% (36)
47.2% (31) | 50.0% (7)

% PP Opp for Home
51.2% (26) | 60.0% (5)
53.7% (11) | 50.0% (37)

Penl Diff.*
1.5 (2) | 1.3 (18)
1.5 (4) | 1.3 (17)

Home Win %
47% (38) | 60% (30)
56% (26) | 55% (39)

Home Rec.
32-37-7 | 40-26-8
27-21-6 | 36-30-8

OT/SO Games
26.7% (12) | 20.0% (12)
22.7% (29) | 30.0% (3)

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

VGK
2-0-1
3-1-0
3-1-0
4-4-1
3-0-1
5-1-0

ANA
2-3-0
1-1-1
1-2-0
5-3-0
3-5-1
0-7-1

 
 
LINESPERSONS

 
Ryan Gibbons #58

Trent Knorr #74

Games ’25-26 (RS/PO)
77 / 7
78 / 6

Career Games (RS/PO)
790 / 92
850 / 48

First NHL Game
10/8/15
11/13/13

First Playoff Game
4/12/17
4/12/17

Birthplace
Vancouver, BC
Powell River, BC

  

Refs Garrett Rank and Kyle Rehman have worked together throughout the postseason.  In Round 1, they handled PHI/PIT Game 2, BUF/BOS Game 3, DAL/MIN Game 4, and VGK/UTA Game 4 (VGK W 5-4).  Round 2 saw them officiate MIN/COL Game 1, PHI/CAR Game 3, and MTL/BUF Game 3.

Rank’s last Ducks game was January 26 vs. Edmonton (ANA L 7-4), while Rehman last saw Anaheim against Utah on March 20 (ANA W 4-1).

 

Standby Officials: Trevor Hanson (#14) Jesse Marquis (#86)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