The second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs is complete, with four teams advancing to the conference finals and four heading home. Here's a deeper look at the biggest winners and losers from Round 2.
Winner: Mitch Marner's Playoff Reputation
Marner transformed his playoff narrative, leading the Vegas Golden Knights past the Anaheim Ducks to reach the Western Conference Final. Once criticized as a playoff underperformer with Toronto, Marner recorded 11 points in six games, including a hat trick in Game 3 and a two-point performance in Game 6 to close out the series.
With 14 points in his last seven games, Marner now leads the Golden Knights in scoring this postseason. As Vegas prepares to face the Avalanche in the Western Conference Final, there's no doubt about his ability to lead in the playoffs.
Loser: Alex Tuch Goes Ice Cold
Alex Tuch was a force for the Buffalo Sabres in the regular season and the first-round series against the Boston Bruins. However, he went ice cold at the worst possible moment in Game 7 against the Montreal Canadiens.
Tuch failed to record a single point in the seven-game series, and the Sabres were outscored 8-1 with him on the ice at five-on-five. He put 26 shots on net—the most of anyone on the team—but none found the back of the net. He'll enter contract negotiations with the Sabres on a sour note.
Winner: Jakub Dobes' Coming-Out Party
The Canadiens have sought stability in goal since Carey Price stepped off the ice in April 2022. If this postseason is any indication, they've found it in Jakub Dobes. The 24-year-old goaltender showed poise beyond his years in Game 7, making key saves as the Sabres pushed hard.
A fifth-round pick in 2020, Dobes proved he's the future of the crease in Montreal. Against the Sabres, he posted a .913 save percentage with a high-danger save percentage of .870. If he keeps playing this way, he'll give the Canadiens a chance to upset the Carolina Hurricanes.