8 too-early takes from the NHL playoffs: Wild special teams, Flyers’ D, and more - The Athletic

In the early stages of the NHL playoffs, the Philadelphia Flyers have dominated defensively, holding the Pittsburgh Penguins — who scored the second-most five-on-five goals in the regular season — to just one five-on-five goal across three games, taking a commanding 3-0 series lead. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild struggled with their special teams, surrendering three power-play goals in a 4-3 loss to the Dallas Stars. These early playoff results have prompted bold early-round assessments across multiple series.