We’re wrapping up Round 1 and kicking off the second series in Round 2 today in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Today’s NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games:
MTL vs. TBL – MIN vs. COL
Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning
Game 7 – 6:00 PM ET
REFEREES |
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Wes McCauley #4 |
Chris Rooney #5 |
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| Games ’25-26 (RS/PO) | 77 / 4 | 38 / 4 | ||||
| Career Games (RS/PO) | 1517 / 224 | 1571 / 187 | ||||
| First NHL Game | 1/20/03 | 11/22/00 | ||||
| First Playoff Game | 4/12/07 | 4/14/03 | ||||
| Birthplace | Georgetown, ON | Boston, MA | ||||
| Goals/Gm | 6.1 (22) | 6.2 (10) | 5.5 (40) | 6.4 (5) | ||||
| PP Opp/Gm | 5.4 (33) | 5.4 (16) | 6.3 (5) | 5.6 (12) | ||||
| PPG/Gm | 1.1 (32) | 1.2 (19) | 1.4 (4) | 1.3 (10) | ||||
| Penl/Gm | 7.1 (27) | 7.0 (16) | 7.7 (10) | 6.8 (22) | ||||
| PIM/Gm | 17.7 (26) | 7.0 (14) | 19.1 (11) | 16.5 (15) | ||||
| % of Penl on Home | 47.2% (19) | 50.0% (16) | 46.5% (32) | 50.0% (35) | ||||
| % PP Opp for Home | 51.1% (27) | 50.0% (24) | 52.1% (19) | 50.0% (13) | ||||
| Penl Diff.* | 1.4 (9) | 1.4 (10) | 1.3 (24) | 1.3 (22) | ||||
| Home Win % | 50% (37) | 68% (4) | 55% (27) | 66% (9) | ||||
| Home Rec. | 13-14-4 | 45-19-10 | 17-13-8 | 43-22-6 | ||||
| OT/SO Games | 32.9% (4) | 20.0% (29) | 26.3% (14) | 20.0% (34) | ||||
| Team Records | 25-26 | 24-25 | 23-24 | 25-26 | 24-25 | 23-24 |
| MTL | 3-0-1 | 2-1-1 | 2-0-1 | 2-0-0 | 2-1-0 | 2-2-2 |
| TBL | 3-3-0 | 3-3-1 | 5-1-1 | 2-1-0 | 2-2-1 | 2-3-0 |
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Scott Cherrey #50 |
Matt MacPherson #83 |
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| Games ’25-26 (RS/PO) | 42 / 4 | 77 / 4 | ||||
| Career Games (RS/PO) | 1275 / 175 | 1039 / 128 | ||||
| First NHL Game | 10/6/07 | 10/11/11 | ||||
| First Playoff Game | 4/15/11 | 4/17/14 | ||||
| Birthplace | Drayton, ON | Antigonish, NS | ||||
Refs Wes McCauley and Chris Rooney are paired up for the first time this postseason for today’s Game 7.
McCauley was paired with Brandon Blandina for OTT/CAR Game 1, MIN/DAL Game 2, TBL/MTL Game 4 (TBL W 3-2) and EDM/ANA Game 6.
Rooney worked with Peter MacDougall at PHI/PIT Game 1, ANA/EDM Game 2, TBL/MTL Game 3 (MTL W 3-2), and DAL/MIN Game 6.
Minnesota Wild at Colorado Avalanche
Game 1 – 9:00 PM ET
REFEREES |
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Garrett Rank #7 |
Kyle Rehman #10 |
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| Games ’25-26 (RS/PO) | 76 / 4 | 76 / 4 | ||||
| Career Games (RS/PO) | 749 / 39 | 1159 / 51 | ||||
| First NHL Game | 1/15/15 | 1/22/08 | ||||
| First Playoff Game | 5/17/21 | 4/12/18 | ||||
| Birthplace | Elmira, ON | Red Deer, AB | ||||
| Goals/Gm | 6.4 (7) | 5.7 (39) | 6.4 (5) | 5.8 (36) | ||||
| PP Opp/Gm | 6.1 (10) | 5.3 (25) | 6.1 (12) | 5.8 (8) | ||||
| PPG/Gm | 1.3 (9) | 1.0 (38) | 1.3 (14) | 1.4 (4) | ||||
| Penl/Gm | 8.4 (2) | 7.0 (18) | 7.6 (13) | 7.3 (10) | ||||
| PIM/Gm | 21.3 (1) | 7.0 (21) | 17.6 (28) | 17.8 (12) | ||||
| % of Penl on Home | 48.2% (18) | 50.0% (36) | 47.2% (31) | 50.0% (7) | ||||
| % PP Opp for Home | 51.2% (26) | 60.0% (5) | 53.7% (11) | 50.0% (37) | ||||
| Penl Diff.* | 1.5 (2) | 1.3 (18) | 1.5 (4) | 1.3 (17) | ||||
| Home Win % | 47% (38) | 60% (30) | 56% (26) | 55% (39) | ||||
| Home Rec. | 32-37-7 | 40-26-8 | 27-21-6 | 36-30-8 | ||||
| OT/SO Games | 26.7% (12) | 20.0% (12) | 22.7% (29) | 30.0% (3) | ||||
| Team Records | 25-26 | 24-25 | 23-24 | 25-26 | 24-25 | 23-24 |
| MIN | 1-2-1 | 1-1-1 | 4-3-0 | 3-1-0 | 1-0-1 | 0-3-1 |
| COL | 2-0-1 | 4-2-0 | 2-0-0 | 6-0-1 | 4-3-0 | 7-0-1 |
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Ryan Gibbons #58 |
Trent Knorr #74 |
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| Games ’25-26 (RS/PO) | 77 / 4 | 78 / 4 | ||||
| Career Games (RS/PO) | 790 / 89 | 850 / 46 | ||||
| First NHL Game | 10/8/15 | 11/13/13 | ||||
| First Playoff Game | 4/12/17 | 4/12/17 | ||||
| Birthplace | Vancouver, BC | Powell River, BC | ||||
Rank and Rehman worked together in the opening round, handling. PHI/PIT Game 2, BUF/BOS Game 3, DAL/MIN Game 4, and VGK/UTA Game 4.
The NHL officials selected to work the opening round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs:
Games: PS (Preseason); RS (Regular Season); PO (Playoffs)
Stats/Numbers: ’25-26 avg. (’25-26 rank) | ’24-25 avg. (’24-25 rank)
Number in orange/parentheses indicated referee’s rank among active officials.
* Penalty Differential represents the absolute value of the variance of penalty calls by team per game. If Team A takes two more penalties (or two fewer) than Team B, this is a 2. Lower numbers indicate less variance between total penalties in a game – that is, a closer number of calls for both teams.
We’ve also got new rules, new refs, promoted officials, and an updated pronunciation guide for 2025-26.
