NHL Rumours: McKenna’s Mother Charged, Playoff Marner & Wallstedt Bounceback

In today’s NHL rumour rundown, we start off with Mitch Marner, who, in his first season away from the Toronto Maple Leafs, is having the best playoff run of his career. Elsewhere, Krystal McKenna, the mother of top draft-eligible prospect Gavin McKenna, is facing charges.

Finally, the Minnesota Wild went with Filip Gustavsson for Game 2 against the Colorado Avalanche, which marked the first time Jesper Wallstedt watched from the bench this postseason. Who do they go with for Game 3?

Playoff Marner: A Different Beast in Vegas

After facing so much criticism throughout his time with the Maple Leafs, Marner has been performing incredibly well with the Vegas Golden Knights through his first playoff run with his new team.

So much of the criticism Marner received came from his play in the playoffs. Before this postseason, Marner had just 13 goals in 70 playoff games. While his point totals are respectable, the biggest issue was later in a series.

From 2019 to 2025, Marner played in 20 games that were either Game 5, Game 6, or Game 7. In that span, he recorded just seven points, all being assists. The belief was that he didn’t have what it took to show up in the big moments.

Now, it is important to note that those games are almost always low-scoring environments where defense is as tight as can be. The first four games of a series are often more wide-open, which he took advantage of.

With the Golden Knights, through nine games, he leads the league in points with 13, and his six goals are tied for the most.

His previous career-high in goals for one playoff run was three, which he had only hit once. Every other season was one, two, or even no goals. On May 8, 2026, Marner scored a hat-trick in just over 23 minutes of ice time.

Was it the pressure of the Toronto market? Is it about the fit he has in Vegas? While there won’t be a concrete answer to that, Marner has completely invalidated any argument that he can’t show up in the playoffs.

Krystal McKenna Charged with Third-Degree Misdemeanor

On Jan. 31, Gavin McKenna filled the headlines after an altercation at a bar in the Penn State area. McKenna allegedly broke someone’s jaw during the altercation, but the felony first-degree assault charges were dropped once prosecutors inspected the video surveillance.

On May 8, a report came out, stating, “Krystal McKenna, the mother of Penn State men’s hockey’s Gavin McKenna, has been charged with selling or furnishing liquor to minors.” (from Gavin McKenna’s mom charged with furnishing liquor for minors, The Daily Collegian, May 8, 2026)

The charge of furnishing liquor to minors has vague parameters, but often entails someone providing alcohol to a minor or knowingly allowing them to consume it on their property.

The report indicates that the incident took place on Jan. 31, 2026, the same night as the bar altercation.

There will be a preliminary hearing for her on June 3.

Wild Likely Go Back to Wallstedt in Game 3

After a dominant first-round series against the Dallas Stars, Wallstedt was shelled in the first game against the Avalanche, allowing eight goals on 34 shots.

It was a controversial decision to go with Wallstedt at all in the playoffs, but until Game 1, it looked like it was the right call, undoubtedly.

Gustavsson got the start in Game 2, but he allowed four goals on 18 shots, not making his mark and stealing the crease back.

The Athletic’s Joe Smith spoke with Wallstedt, and his mindset was all about bouncing back from a loss. (from Wild’s Jesper Wallstedt has ‘no bad feelings’ over Game 2 snub, wants to bounce back, The Athletic, May 9, 2026)

Smith notes that when asked about what kind of conversation he had with head coach John Hynes, Wallstedt stated, “It was good timing to get ‘Gus’ in to play as well, too. Obviously, you give up eight goals, it’s a good reason to try another (goalie). No bad feelings about that.”

There is a good chance that Hynes goes back to the goalie who got them through the first round. There could be frustration building up with Gustavsson, who, after sitting for nearly three weeks, didn’t have a good showing.

Will the Wild move a goalie in the offseason? Wallstedt was in trade rumours earlier in the year, but now it may be Gustavsson who has become expendable.