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Around the NHL: Avs’ Landeskog scores 1st goal since 2022, Hurricanes’ Andersen leaves Game 4 injured
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Photo credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Jeremy Tingly
Apr 28, 2025, 07:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 27, 2025, 23:23 EDT
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The Stanley Cup Playoffs are in full swing, as the first round has been very entertaining across the board. Storylines have materialized in every series, including line brawls in Montreal, Vezina-caliber goaltenders getting chased in St. Louis, and unsung heroes winning games in Toronto.
Winnipeg Jets’ netminder Connor Hellebuyck has been chased twice this first round, after going all season long without being pulled. The St. Louis Blues won Game 4 Sunday 5-1, to even the series at two. Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New Jersey Devils 5-2 in Game 4, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs couldn’t get to handshakes in Kanata on Saturday night, as the Senators kept their season alive with a 4-3 overtime win. It’s great to have playoff hockey back on a nightly basis, here’s the very latest from around the NHL:

Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog records goal, assist in Game 4

Gabriel Landeskog has completed one of the most impressive comeback’s in hockey history. The Colorado Avalanche captain has battled his way back from multiple injuries, and has made a triumphant return to the ice. While Landeskog didn’t record a point in his first game since 2022 in Game 3, Game 4 was a different story.
Landeskog recorded a goal and an assist in the Avalanche’s Game 4 4-0 win over the Dallas Stars. Landeskog’s goal was his first since 2022, a span of almost three years without appearing in an NHL game. Teammate Nathan MacKinnon is blown away by Landeskog’s ability to not skip a beat despite being away from game action for so long. “It’s beyond all of our expectations,” MacKinnon said, per The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun. “I was kind of laughing in my head, but he’s like, ‘I don’t think there’s a difference between a month off or three years off.’ And I was thinking, like, ‘Hmm, whatever. OK.’ But he was right. It looks like he’s been out for four weeks.”
Landeskog has been away for a long stretch, there’s no doubt, but he’s a proven Stanley Cup winner. The 32-year-old has now registered 69 points in 71 career Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Anaheim Ducks interviewed Joel Quenneville for head coaching vacancy

Joel Quenneville is looking to get back behind an NHL bench, and the next chapter of his career could be coming in Anaheim. Ducks GM Pat Verbeek recently interviewed Quenneville for the team’s head coach position.
Verbeek and Quenneville are familiar with one another, as the two were teammates playing for the Hartford Whalers back in 1989-90. Quenneville’s considered a very strong candidate for the role.
Quenneville is the second-winningest coach in NHL history, compiling an impressive record of 969-572-77-150 in 1,768 career regular season games. The NHL reinstated Quenneville last July, as the former coach was a part of an ugly situation with the Chicago Blackhawks back in 2010, and in 2021, stepped away from his head coaching role with the Florida Panthers. Quenneville had to meet with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to plead his case to be eligible to coach again.
The Ducks finished the season 35-37-10, and Verbeek has recently mentioned it’s playoffs or bust next season.

Hurricanes’ Frederik Andersen leaves Game 4 after collision

A tough scene in New Jersey, as Devils forward Timo Meier went barreling into Carolina Hurricanes’ goaltender Frederik Andersen. Andersen took the brunt of the blow to what appeared to be his head, and left the game immediately, and did not return.
The Hurricanes went on to win Game 4 5-2, thanks in large part to an Andrei Svechnikov hat trick. Andersen was replaced by Pyotr Kochetkov, who stopped 14 of 15 shots to finish off the win.

Quick hits from around the NHL:

  • Canucks’ president Jim Rutherford made an interesting comment last week, stating defenceman Quinn Hughes would eventually like to play with his brothers, Jack and Luke. Hughes has two seasons left on his current deal, at $7.85 million AAV.
  • Canadiens’ netminder Samuel Montembeault is day-to-day, with Jakub Dobes now carrying the load in net for Montreal.
  • Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports David Carle has withdrawn from the interview process for the Chicago Blackhawks’ head coach position.
  • New York Islanders’ Cal Clutterbuck announced his retirement after 17 seasons
  • Speaking of the Islanders, Lou Lamoriello will not have his contract renewed, and the search for a new GM has begun on Long Island.
  • Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason has been named the head coach for Team Canada at the upcoming World Championships in Denmark and Sweden.
  • Seattle Kraken fired head coach Dan Bylsma after just one season and have moved Ron Francis to president of hockey operations, and named Jason Botterill GM.
  • Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin admitted last week seeing GM Steve Yzerman not make any significant additions ahead of the trade deadline was a tough blow for the dressing room.
  • New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin thinks ‘something broke’ during the season, and the Rangers could never figure out what happened, resulting in them missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
  • Penguins president/GM Kyle Dubas had some interesting comments about defenceman Erik Karlsson, stating in a recent media availability: “I had a long meeting with him (Karlsson)… my push would be his actions have to match his ambitions.”
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