The second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs is complete, with winners and losers emerging from each series. Four teams advanced to the conference finals while four others were eliminated.
Biggest Winner: Mitch Marner's Playoff Reputation
Marner transformed his playoff choker narrative into a legendary performance, serving as the primary catalyst for the Vegas Golden Knights' victory over the Anaheim Ducks.
Against the Ducks, 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. He added a stellar three-point effort against the Utah Mammoth in Game 6.
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 longer any doubt about his ability to lead in the playoffs.
Biggest 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 cold at the worst possible moment.
Tuch failed to record a single point in the seven-game series against the Montreal Canadiens. The Sabres were outscored 8-1 with him on the ice at five-on-five.
Despite putting 26 shots on net — the most of anyone on the team — none found the back of the net. The process left questions, with both teams at full strength posting a 46.9% expected goals share.
Tuch will enter contract negotiations with the Sabres on a sour note.
Winner: Jakub Dobes' Coming-Out Party
Since Carey Price departed in April 2022, the Canadiens have sought stability in goal. They've found it in 24-year-old Jakub Dobes.
Dobes displayed poise beyond his years in Game 7, making crucial saves as the Sabres pushed hard at home. One of his biggest stops came in overtime when he denied Tage Thompson on an odd-man rush.
A fifth-round pick in 2020, Dobes is proving he's the future of the crease in Montreal. In the second-round series against the Sabres, he posted a .913 save percentage with a high-danger save percentage of .870.
If Dobes continues performing this way, he'll give the Canadiens a chance to upset the Carolina Hurricanes in the next round.