Badgers in the NHL: Six skaters continue their quest for the Stanley Cup
May 06, 2024 | Men's Hockey, NHL Badgers
A Badger to compete in each round two series of the 2024 NHL Playoffs
MADISON, Wis. – After an exciting first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, six former Badgers across four different teams are set to continue their championship journey in the second round of the postseason tournament.
The Badgers have at least one alumni participating in all four second round series, with two former skaters playing in the Eastern Conference semifinals and four playing in the West.
On the East Coast, defenseman K'Andre Miller and the top overall-seeded New York Rangers swept the Washington Capitals, the East's second wildcard, four games to none, in the first round of the playoffs. The Rangers started their second round off strong, posting a 4-3 win in their first game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. The second game of the series will take place on Tuesday, May 7, at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.
In five 2024 playoff games played so far, Miller has one goal, with his first-career short-handed tally serving as the game-winner in the Rangers' second game of the first round.
Kreids + Mika with the turnover.
— x - New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 24, 2024
Key puts away the shorty. pic.twitter.com/AEMN9TtVZb
Forward Trent Frederic and the Atlantic Division two-seed Boston Bruins eliminated fellow former Badger Jake McCabe and the Atlantic Division three-seed Toronto Maple Leafs, four wins to three, in a thrilling seven-game series. In round two, the Bruins will face the Florida Panthers, the top seed in the Atlantic Division, starting Monday, May 6, at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN.
McCabe, a defenseman, finishes his 2024 postseason with one goal in seven games played, scoring his first career playoff tally in Toronto's 2-1 overtime victory in the fifth contest of the series. Game five proved to be one full of Badger hockey pride as both McCabe and Frederic scored the only regulation goals of the contest.
All #BadgersintheBigs in this one so far
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) April 30, 2024
Congrats to Eau Claire's own Jake McCabe on his first career playoff goal!!! https://t.co/RvXSWcfDEv
Frederic, who also scored his first career playoff goal this year, heads into the second round with three goals in seven 2024 postseason games played. His three goals are tied for first on the Bruins' roster and he leads the team with a plus-five rating.
…and then there's Trent Frederic too https://t.co/UXMaZvjDDE
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) May 1, 2024
In the West, Joe Pavelski, Craig Smith and Ryan Suter, the three Badgers on the conference's top-seeded Dallas Stars, earned a spot in the second round after taking seven games to eliminate the West's second wildcard, the Vegas Golden Knights. Dallas will play division-rival Colorado in round two with game one of the Stars-Avalanche series set for Tuesday, May 7, at 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.
Smith, a forward, has two assists in seven 2024 playoff games played, including notching the primary helper on the series-winning goal in game seven. Suter, a defenseman, also has two assists in seven games, while forward Pavelski is still searching for his first postseason point this year.
Craig Smith with the game-winning primary assist to send Dallas, Joe Pavelski and Ryan Suter past the defending champs and Round 2#BadgersintheBigs https://t.co/B0aBQVBQoc
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) May 6, 2024
Finally, Dylan Holloway and the Pacific Division two-seed Edmonton Oilers will play the top Pacific Division seed, the Vancouver Canucks, in round two beginning Wednesday, May 8, at 9 p.m. CT on ESPN.
In round one, Edmonton defeated the L.A. Kings, four games to one, with Holloway, a forward, scoring two goals in five playoff games played. Both of Holloway's goals came in the Oilers' 5-4 overtime loss in the third contest of the series.
Two-goal night last night for Dylan Holloway, but his Oilers dropped an OT decision https://t.co/G2HoaGHQd1
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) April 25, 2024
The Oilers' opponent, the Vancouver Canucks, eliminated former Badger defenseman Ryan McDonagh and the Nashville Predators, four wins to two. McDonagh finishes his 2024 postseason with one assist in six games played.
Several Wisconsin alumni in the AHL are also continuing their quest for the Calder Cup in round two of the AHL playoffs.
After receiving a bye to the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs, defenseman Corson Ceulemans and forward Roman Ahcan of the Cleveland Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets, are set to play a best-of-five series against the Belleville Senators. Through two games, the Monsters and Senators have won one game a piece, with game three set to be played on Wednesday, May 8.
Forwards Linus Weissbach and Michael Mersch, the pair of Badgers on the Rochester Americans, the AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres, also clinched a bye to the second round of the playoffs. After trailing their opponent, the Syracuse Crunch, two wins to one, the Americans won game four, 4-2, to force a game five on Friday, May 10. Both Weissbach and Mersch each have one goal in four 2024 playoff games played.
LUKAS ROUSEK TO LINUS WEISSBACH TO THE BACK OF THE NET! 2-0 AMERKS!#CalderCup | #ProudToBePesky pic.twitter.com/5HRmnZ7ZPX
— x - Rochester Americans (@AmerksHockey) April 28, 2024
Complete list of Badgers advancing to round two of the NHL playoffs:
Eastern Conference
Boston Bruins - Trent Frederic (2016-18)
New York Rangers - K'Andre Miller (2018-20)
Western Conference
Dallas Stars - Joe Pavelski (2004-06), Craig Smith (2009-11), Ryan Suter (2003-04)
Edmonton Oilers - Dylan Holloway (2019-21)
