The Coaches Behind the Contenders: John Davidson on the NHL Playoffs

John Shannon and Daren Millard are joined by John Davidson on 100% Hockey to break down the NHL’s Conference Final matchups.

The conversation looks at the road each team took to get here, including Buffalo’s series with Montreal, with a heavy focus on goaltending and the impact of coaching under playoff pressure.

Davidson shares thoughts on several of the NHL’s most talked-about bench bosses, including Martin St. Louis, John Tortorella, Jared Bednar and Rod Brind’Amour, discussing how each approaches leadership, player development, and high-pressure situations differently.

The group also previews Colorado-Vegas and Montreal-Carolina, analyzing team depth, physicality, momentum swings, and the challenge of staying sharp after long breaks between series. They also touch on standout playoff performances from players like Josh Anderson and Taylor Hall, along with the outside distractions facing Vegas during their postseason run.

A detailed look at what separates the NHL’s final four teams from the rest of the pack.