Two nights after pulling off the Christmas-like miracle in Motown, the Golden Knights couldn't complete a comeback after once again allowing three unanswered goals, and lost 4-2 to the Minnesota Wild.
The loss comes two nights before a critical Pacific showdown with the Edmonton Oilers.
Minnesota scored three second-period goals in a three-minute span to take a 3-0 lead, delivering the same gut punch that has bothered the Golden Knights all season - falling behind early.
Pavel Dorofeyev scored a goal early in the third period to bring Vegas within two, but Vladimir Tarasenko extended the lead to 4-3 late in the third, putting the game out of reach despite Mitch Marner's late goal, which provided the final margin.
"You can't let the game slip away in those (three) minutes," Jack Eichel said., "Listen, they're a good team, they're gonna get chances. Can't let one trickle into three, but there was still a lot to like about our game.
"I thought we did a lot of good things in the second period, and the third as well, so, back to the drawing board I guess."
Unfortunately for the Knights, it's the same drawing board they've been sketching on after far too many losses they've had to chase games.
The Golden Knights are now in second place in the Pacific Division, one point back of the Anaheim Ducks, 73-72, with the third-place Oilers (68) on deck.
KEY MOMENT
Michael McCarron's goal at the 8:25 mark of the second period came just 18 seconds after Zach Bogosian's goal made it 2-0. Though the Knights showed some life in the third period, McCarron's goal was the knockout punch that seemingly sealed Vegas' fate.
KEY STAT
36.4% ... The Golden Knights scored a power play goal on their only opportunity of the game, improving to 4 of 11 since their return from the break. Vegas' power play ranks third in the league since the NHL resumed play after the Olympics.
WHAT A KNIGHT
Dorofeyev continued his post-Olympic offensive tear with an assist and a goal. He now has seven points in the six games out of the break, having scored four goals and dishing three assists. Dorofeyev became the first Golden Knight in franchise history to record consecutive 30-goal seasons.
STATS!!!!
Pavel Dorofeyev is the FIRST GOLDEN KNIGHT in franchise history to record consecutive 30-goal seasons 🤯 pic.twitter.com/9mXjIPQWqQ
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) March 7, 2026
UP NEXT: The Golden Knights continue their homestand with Sunday's game against the Edmonton Oilers.
PHOTO CAPTION: Minnesota Wild defenseman Jake Middleton (5) fights Vegas Golden Knights right wing Keegan Kolesar (55) during the second period at T-Mobile Arena.
Mark Stone’s latest injury may come as a shock, but the Vegas Golden Knights say it’s not as serious as feared.
Stone has been sidelined due to an upper-body injury, but general manager Kelly McCrimmon emphasized Friday that the situation is under control and does not anticipate a lengthy absence.
The 33-year-old Stone was placed on injured reserve Thursday after sustaining the injury in Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The incident occurred when Penguins defenseman Kris Letang lightly checked Stone, causing him to fall to one knee before skating slowly to the bench.
The moment Mark Stone suffered his injury.
Friday marked Stone’s third consecutive missed game, this time against the Minnesota Wild. He is also set to sit out Sunday’s home matchup against the Edmonton Oilers but will be eligible to return afterward.
When pressed about whether the injury might be related to Stone’s previously surgically repaired back, McCrimmon declined to confirm but maintained a reassuring tone. “I think we’re really comfortable that it’s manageable,” he said. “We’re not alarmed by the injury that he has.”
Meanwhile, coach Bruce Cassidy reported that the Golden Knights captain was receiving treatment at City National Arena and remained in high spirits.
This represents the best possible outcome for Stone, who had been on pace for a career season despite missing 16 games earlier in the year due to a broken finger in October.
Unfortunately for the Golden Knights, they suffered a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Wild on Friday.
The Wild exploded for three goals in just over three minutes during the second period to pull away for a 4-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday night.
Minnesota, third in the Central Division, has now gone 3-2 since the Olympic break, while Vegas remains second in the Pacific.
Mats Zuccarello sparked the scoring spree with a precise wrist shot at 5:18 of the second. Zach Bogosian followed with a blistering slap shot at 8:07, and newcomer Michael McCarron tipped in a third just 18 seconds later. Vladimir Tarasenko added an insurance goal with 4:18 left in the third, assisted by McCarron in his Wild debut.
Vegas answered with third-period goals from Pavel Dorofeyev and Mitch Marner. Dorofeyev’s power-play tally at 2:17 marked his 30th of the season and ended Gustavsson’s bid for a shutout. Goaltender Akira Schmid finished with 20 saves.
Friday also featured several notable debuts for Minnesota, including Robby Fabbri, Bobby Brink, and Nick Foligno, who joins younger brother Marcus following his trade from Chicago. Vegas debuted Nic Dowd and Cole Smith, with Dowd acquired earlier that day from Washington. Meanwhile, Vegas placed forward Mark Stone on injured reserve Thursday due to an upper-body injury.
Mar 6, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Martin Necas (88) scores the game winning goal against Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) during the overtime shootout period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Following a monumental trade deadline which saw the return of Nazem Kadri, the Colorado Avalanche still had a game to play. One of the most important Central Division games was on tap this Friday evening in Dallas against the Stars. Ultimately the Avalanche would win 5-4 in a shootout after numerous last second goals in a comeback affair.
The Game
After a whirlwind of a day, the evening matchup between the league’s two best teams didn’t disappoint. At first the Avalanche got on the board with a Cale Makar power play goal but the lead didn’t last long as Miro Heiskanen got Dallas their own score on the man advantage.
From there the Stars proceeded to add to their lead. First from Wyatt Johnston who walk around the defense and picked a corner on Mackenzie Blackwood. It would be the Colorado goaltender who misplayed the puck behind the net which allowed the Dallas fourth line in Justin Hryckowian to take advantage and put the Stars up by two.
The first period wasn’t over yet, however, as the Avalanche got one last power play opportunity and Nathan MacKinnon put the puck past Jake Oettinger with one second left on the clock to cut the Dallas lead to 3-2 by the end of the first 20 minutes of play.
That momentum didn’t carry on for Colorado as Dallas struck first in the middle frame. Josh Manson lost a board battle and Jamie Benn was left alone in front to put Dallas up 4-2. That was the end of Blackwood’s night as Scott Wedgewood took the crease in relief.
Colorado still wouldn’t give up, though, and Martin Nečas cut the Stars’ lead in half again. That’s how the second period would conclude with the Stars holding a 4-3 advantage heading into the final frame.
A big moment happened midway through the third period as the Avalanche killed off a Stars 5-on-3. Another missed opportunity for Dallas was when Benn could have sealed the game but missed the cage on an empty net shot. The Avalanche had new life and naturally tied the game with 13 seconds left from none other than Val Nichushkin. With a 4-4 tie the game headed to overtime.
Despite the Avalanche having a few early good looks it was the Stars who held much of the possession in the extra frame. But still, nobody could get a puck past Wedgewood. And a shootout was needed to decide this game.
Colorado went with the hot hand in Nichushkin and it paid off as he used his long reach to poke the puck past Oettinger. NeÄŤas took that inspiration and netted a goal doing the same. Wedgewood stopped both shots he faced and the Avalanche walked away with a 5-4 victory.
Takeaways
Colorado clearly wants to give Blackwood the net but Wedgewood has stepped up time and time again, this time not allowing a single goal, including in the shootout, if relief. He more than earned this win, his 23rd on the season. It might make sense to keep an open mind on a goalie rotation in the playoffs since that’s what’s worked for the Avalanche thus far.
Upcoming
Another big game in a rematch with the Minnesota Wild in a matinee affair at 12 p.m. MT on Sunday, March 8th nationally televised on TNT. Perhaps the return debut of Nazem Kadri on national television?
The Chicago Blackhawks capped off trade deadline day with a match against the Vancouver Canucks. The Blackhawks certainly aren't a playoff-caliber team, but the Canucks came in with the worst record in the NHL at 18-36-7. It is almost certain that they will finish the year with the best odds of winning the lottery.
Arvid Soderblom surprisingly started the game in goal for the Blackhawks. Spencer Knight is sick, so Caydon Edwards was signed to a PTO to be the backup.
Before the game kicked off, Darren Pang and the Blackhawks hosted a wonderful ceremony to kick off "The Next Originals", the final chapter of their centennial celebration.
Once the puck was dropped, it looked like two teams who made a handful of trades in an effort to build for the future. Just because the Canucks are in last place doesn't mean it isn't a team full of proud professionals.
Ryan Donato found a loose puck dumped in by Frank Nazar and made a forehand backhand move to make it 1-0. That was just 1:08 into the game.
Exactly one minute later, Drew O'Connor's deflection goal made it a 1-1 tie. 24 seconds later, Jake DeBrusk made it 2-1. From there, the Canucks started to clearly outskate the Blackhawks.
Teddy Blueger made it 3-1 at 6:32, which was the third goal on Soderblom on just seven shots. With an emergency backup goalie on the bench, there wasn't even a thought about pulling him.
Instead of going away quietly in the first period, the Blackhawks started to show some fight from there. After accepting a pass from Tyler Bertuzzi, Oliver Moore made a great play to set up Ilya Mikheyev for an open cage. The goal was scored at exactly 12:00. That 3-2 score held through the first intermission.
The second period was heavily dominated by the Blackhawks. They possessed the puck more than Vancouver, outshot them 10-6, and scored the only goal with less than one minute remaining in the middle frame.
Frank Nazar tied the game with a deflection of Alex Vlasic's point shot. The 3-3 score went into the second intermission. After a tough start to the game, the Blackhawks really buckled down to get it tied.
Despite having the momentum after a brilliant second period, the Canucks took it back early in the third period when Brock Boeser batted one out of mid-air past Soderblom to give the Canucks a 4-3 lead.
With Soderblom on the bench for the extra attacker, the Canucks threw one into the empty net. They didn't settle for just one empty net goal, though. They had a second one and skated out of town with a 6-3 victory.
This is a game that the Blackhawks fell to a lesser team because they didn't come out of the game playing well defensively. When you go down 3-1 before the first period is half over, it is going to be hard to come back once the game settles down.
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 7, 2026
What’s Next For The Blackhawks?
The Blackhawks will be back in action again on Sunday evening when they take on the Dallas Stars. This is a one-game road trip down to Texas to take on the Stars before returning home for a Monday night game against the Utah Mammoth at the United Center.
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Call it the post-trade deadline bump. The Vancouver Canucks took a 6–3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks in their first game after the 2026 Trade Deadline, snapping a seven-game losing streak dating back to January 31. Drew O’Connor, Jake DeBrusk, Teddy Blueger, Brock Boeser (2), and Max Sasson all found the back of the net, while Nikita Tolopilo made 20 saves on 23 shots faced in his 10th NHL start of the season.
Despite the moves they made resulting in major absences in their lineup, Vancouver looked noticeably lighter while playing today. Boeser, who has seen his fair share of trade deadlines, spoke on the impact the deadline passing can have on a player and their performance.
“It’s definitely a distraction for a lot of guys when your name’s out there. I’m just happy that we’re past it, and a lot of guys are happy,” he told Sportsnet post-game. “I just want to move forward and really start playing the right way with all these young guys and the older guys.”
With Vancouver having traded Conor Garland and David Kämpf ahead of the deadline, Aatu Räty ended up slotting back into the lineup for his first game since February 4 against the Vegas Golden Knights. Räty will likely see a lot more playing time now that Kämpf, one of the Canucks’ go-to defensive centres, has been moved. In today’s game, the forward led his team in faceoff winning percentage with 84.6% and had two hits in 10:53 minutes played.
It looked like this game could end up being quite the shootout within the first five minutes, as the Blackhawks scored the opening goal a little over a minute into the first period. O’Connor and DeBrusk scored within 30 seconds of one-another only a minute after Chicago’s goal to give Vancouver the 2–1 lead by the three-minute mark. Blueger potted another one six and a half minutes into the period to put Vancouver up 3–1. While the Blackhawks did tie things up at three apiece, Boeser gave Vancouver the go-ahead goal at the beginning of the third period.
Vancouver did a good job of taking themselves to the net this game, as all four of the non empty-net goals they scored came from close-range. Adding onto that, all three of the Canucks’ first-period goals came about with traffic crowding the area in front of Blackhawks goaltender Arvid Söderblom. O’Connor and Räty made their way to the net on the former’s tip-in goal, while it was Nils Höglander and DeBrusk who crowded Söderblom on the latter’s. While Blueger was all alone on his, the centre brought two Chicago players to the net with him when he put it past the goaltender.
Part of what many fans have been looking for from the team has been an increase in minutes for their younger players now that some of their veterans have been dealt. This process started out positively in today’s game, as young forwards like Sasson and Liam Öhgren spent some time on the penalty kill, while Tom Willander and Zeev Buium each recorded over two minutes on Vancouver’s power play.
The Canucks, for the most part, haven’t shied away from making moves better aligned with the direction they’re planning on taking now that the deadline has passed. Vancouver’s roster is noticeably younger now, with the team icing a D-core with the average age of 24 tonight. With no moves available for the rest of the season, Vancouver’s aim moving forward will be to continue growing with each game.
“It’s definitely good to know the direction,” Boeser added. “We have so many young guys in the lineup, and we’ve talked about how everyone has to learn and stick together and focus on the details that the coaches are preaching. So that was a much better job tonight.”
Mar 6, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Vancouver Canucks center Teddy Blueger (53) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Stats and Facts:
Today marks the second time this season Drew O’Connor and Jake DeBrusk have scored exactly 24 seconds apart in the first period, as they also did-so on November 17 against the Florida Panthers
Marcus Pettersson records his first multi-point game since joining the Canucks
Jake DeBrusk increases his personal point streak to three straight games
With an assist today, Marco Rossi extends his personal point streak against the Blackhawks to four straight games
Scoring Summary:
1st Period:
1:08 - CHI: Ryan Donato (14) from Frank Nazar
2:08 - VAN: Drew O’Connor (15) from Tom Willander and Marcus Pettersson
2:32 - VAN: Jake DeBrusk (14) from Zeev Buium and Elias Pettersson
6:32 - VAN: Teddy Blueger (6) from Marcus Pettersson and Max Sasson
12:00 - CHI: Ilya Mikheyev (12) from Oliver Moore and Tyler Bertuzzi
2nd Period:
19:17 - CHI: Frank Nazar (8) from Alex Vlasic and Ilya Mikheyev
3rd Period:
2:40 - VAN: Brock Boeser (14) from Linus Karlsson and Jake DeBrusk (PPG)
18:34 - VAN: Max Sasson (11) (ENG)
19:44 - VAN: Brock Boeser (15) from Marco Rossi and Filip Hronek (ENG)
Up Next:
Vancouver will be back in action tomorrow night when they take on the Winnipeg Jets as part of Hockey Night in Canada. Since Tolopilo started tonight, it’s expected that Kevin Lankinen will play tomorrow. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:00 pm PT.
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Sitting in third place in the Atlantic Division, the Detroit Red Wings are determined to prove that this March, a month they've heavily struggled in during the last three campaigns, will be different this time around.
But it's hard not to feel the listless feelings of the last three years creeping in after the way the club’s last two games have unfolded.
For the second consecutive game at Little Caesars Arena, the Red Wings dropped a contest against an opponent that had lost on the road the previous night before traveling to Detroit.
On Wednesday evening, it was the Vegas Golden Knights. And on Friday evening, it was the Florida Panthers, a team fighting for its playoff lives and which had lost its previous four games in a row, that dealt the Red Wings a disappointing loss.
Matthew Tkachuk, Dylan Larkin's Team USA teammate with whom he won a gold medal late last month, scored his sixth career hat-trick and first since 2024 in a 3-1 win over Detroit.
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 7, 2026
Even more concerning was that Larkin was injured midway through the third period after going down awkwardly on the ice. He slowly made his way back to the bench while hunched over, before heading immediately to the dressing room and did not return.
Larkin leaves hurt after a weird fall - skate slipped and made him do the splits. Seemed to be in some pain, have to hope nothing is torn... #LGRWpic.twitter.com/lUuUDxY1lF
Matthew Tkachuk scored the first of his three goals on the night after Michael Rasmussen turned the puck over in the corner. Carter Verhaeghe then sent a pass to a wide-open Tkachuk in front of the net, where he one-timed it past John Gibson.
The Red Wings knotted the score in the second period while enjoying a five-on-three advantage. Alex DeBrincat netted his 32nd goal of the season after he batted the puck out of the air off a rebound from the boards past goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
However, throughout the game, Bobrovsky looked more like the goaltender who helped lead the Panthers to consecutive Stanley Cup titles over the past two springs than the struggling netminder who entered the game with a goals-against average north of 3.00.
He turned aside everything Detroit threw at him and also caught a break when a shot from Dylan Larkin dribbled through his legs and slid just inches wide of the post. Minutes later, he made another stop on the goal line as Larkin tried to jam the puck in from the side of the net.
He also robbed Patrick Kane's deflection of a pass from DeBrincat from in tight.
Tkachuk scored his second goal of the game early in the third period on the power-play, deflecting Sam Reinhart's shot past Gibson after a failed clearing attempt by defenseman Albert Johansson.
With Gibson pulled for the extra attacker, Tkachuk completed the hat trick by firing the puck into the open net from his own defensive zone.
Bobrovsky finished the game with 28 saves, while Gibson countered with 20 saves.
The Red Wings, who acquired defenseman Justin Faulk from the St. Louis Blues on Friday, expect the veteran defenseman to join them in New Jersey for their next game against the Devils on Sunday.
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The NHL's trade deadline is officially complete, and while the Los Angeles Kings didn't have a loud day on Friday, they made some moves.
Though these trades aren't franchise-altering by any means, Kings GM Ken Holland deserves some credit for what he's done, and here's why.
For starters, back on Feb. 4, he made a grand addition, bringing in superstar left winger Artemi Panarin. While it wasn't technically a deal that was made at the trade deadline, the Kings only lost prospect Liam Greentree and a couple of conditional draft picks, none of which were first-rounders.
On Friday's deadline day, the Kings made a pair of moves. The first trade was sending right winger Corey Perry to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick.
"When Tampa called, it was (Perry's) decision," Holland told reporters in a press conference. "He wanted to go there, so we got a second-round pick."
With the Foegele and Perry trades, as well as the Phillip Danault deal with the Montreal Canadiens back in December, Los Angeles has six second-round picks for the next three drafts, including three for 2026.
"Coming into the deadline… I wanted to try and get another pick or two for our scouts," Holland said. " I think it's important that we got to continue to draft, try to get some young players in the organization."
Later in the day, not long before the 12 p.m. PST cutoff, Los Angeles acquired center Scott Laughton from the Toronto Maple Leafs. That trade costs the team a 2026 third-round pick, which becomes a second-rounder if the Kings make the playoffs.
"Laughton's a veteran guy," the Kings GM mentioned. "He's a center iceman, he can kill penalties, wins draws, competitive, and just gives us more depth."
On Thursday, Joseph was placed on waivers by the St. Louis Blues for the purpose of contract termination and became a UFA on Friday.
Los Angeles' GM said that head coach D.J. Smith is familiar with Joseph from their time with the Senators' organization. Joseph's best seasons were under Smith, including in 2023-24 when he recorded a career-high 35 points, registering 11 goals and 24 assists.
While it may seem like a boring and bleak addition, it's a more sensible move than some may think.
The Kings departed from Foegele and Perry just before the deadline, meaning there were two holes in the bottom-six forward group.
Scott Laughton (Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)
One was filled with the acquisition of Laughton, and the other with Joseph. But there's more of an explanation behind this decision, specifically between Foegele and Joseph.
Joseph, 29, and one year younger than Foegele, has scored more points than the former King this season.
Joseph has two goals and 11 points in 39 appearances, while Foegele has seven goals and nine points in 47 games.
Furthermore, Joseph comes at a much lower cap hit than Foegele's $3.5 million. Not to mention, Foegele fetched the Kings a second-round pick for the upcoming draft, while Joseph was brought in for no exchange of assets and a low cap hit.
Essentially, Holland grabbed a second-rounder for an underachieving Foegele while acquiring another player of a similar position with no assets, and is outperforming Foegele in terms of offensive production.
In summary, the Kings' GM was crafty and looked to bring in the most value that he could with the assets he had. The team brings in a handful of draft picks for the future, while slightly upgrading their personnel up front with Laughton and Joseph over and underperforming Foegele and an aging pending UFA in Perry.
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The Florida Panthers opened the post-NHL Trade Deadline portion of their schedule on Friday night.
Florida is facing an incredibly difficult task in terms of trying to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but took a step in the right direction by picking up a solid 3-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.
It was the Panthers who picked up the game’s opening goal, and it came off the stick of Matthew Tkachuk.
With Florida controlling the puck deep in Detroit’s zone, Carter Verhaeghe hustled to pick up the puck behind John Gibson’s net and sent a quick backhand pass to the slot, where Tkachuk had made himself at home between the circles.
Tkachuk’s quick one-timer gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead at the 11:06 mark of the opening frame.
A pair of penalties on Anton Lundell and Gus Forsling midway through the second period led to the game-tying goal for Detroit.
While enjoying a two-man advantage, Alex DeBrincat picked up his 33rd goal of the season on a primary assist from Patrick Kane, knotting the score at one with 9:04 remaining until the final intermission.
Florida began the third period on the power play and quickly took advantage.
Once again it was Tkachuk, this time deflecting a shot by Sam Reinhart past Gibson to give Florida a 2-1 lead at the :35 second mark.
Tkachuk completed the hat trick late in the third, cashing in on an empty-net goal while giving the Panthers that all-important insurance tally.
Sergei Bobrovsky finished with 27 saves, including an impressive eight high-danger stops, to earn his 23rd win of the season.
The victory was Florida’s first in five games, sending the Cats back to Sunrise feeling good.
Photo caption:Â Mar 6, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) receives congratulations from teammates after scoring in the first period against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. (Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images)
Nazem Kadri won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022 and wasn't re-signed, starting the team's search for a No. 2 center.
They finally found one at the 2025 NHL trade deadline with Brock Nelson. But now they also have found a Kadri-style player.
Nazem Kadri.
The Avalanche and Calgary Flamesworked out a deal to bring back Kadri, giving up only Victor Olofsson off their roster, plus draft picks and an unsigned draft pick. Colorado now has enviable center depth and can trot out Nathan MacKinnon, Nelson, Kadri and fellow 2026 trade deadline acquisition Nicolas Roy.
Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin, who made the big move for Quinn Hughes earlier in the season, was busy during deadline week. He added penalty killing forward Michael McCarron and winger Bobby Brink, plus depth defenseman Jeff Petry. But his acquisition of Nick Foligno had an added benefit for the former Blackhawks captain. He'll get to play alongside his brother Marcus for the first time in their professional careers.
Sabres go all-in
The Sabres have been on a roll since Jarmo Kekalainen replaced fired Kevyn Adams as general manager. And the GM took steps to try to help the team end a record 14-season playoff drought. An attempted trade for Colton Parayko didn't materialize when the defenseman declined to waive his no-trade clause. Kekalainen responded with a trade for the Jets' Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn, giving Buffalo a rugged third defensive pairing behind an impressive top four that includes Rasmus Dahlin. Sam Carrick was added to improve the team's league-worst faceoff winning percentage, and depth forward Tanner Pearson also joined. Schenn and Pearson have won Stanley Cup titles, important if the Sabres make a rare foray into the postseason.
Panthers hang on to free agents
The Panthers' run of back-to-back championships (and three trips to the Final) is heading toward an end because of a string of injuries that include captain Aleksander Barkov tearing his ACL on the first day of fall practice. GM Bill Zito traded pending free agent Petry but held on to free agents Sergei Bobrovsky and A.J. Greer and will try to re-sign them. The Panthers' core, when healthy, is still championship caliber. If they can't overcome their deficit, they can heal up and try again next season.
LOSERS
Capitals players devastated
They took it hard when Nic Dowd was dealt to the Golden Knights after being in Washington since 2018-19. Then they woke up Friday morning to find out that 17-year veteran John Carlson was heading to Anaheim after a late-night trade.
"Today sucks, it's brutal," forward Tom Wilson told reporters. "I’m sure there are some guys that want to cry. That’s the reality of it. Today you can cry and tomorrow you got to wake up and be a big boy and go out and play hockey."
Awkward position for Colton Parayko
Parayko had every right to veto a trade to Buffalo. That's why agents negotiate no-trade clauses with teams. But the fact that news of the trade leaked made things awkward for the defenseman as he took the time to make a decision on his future.
"We did some due diligence as soon as that happened," general manager Doug Armstrong told reporters, according to the Post-Dispatch. "We checked the phone records of all of our staff, texts and emails, and everybody passed the test, not surprisingly. I was disappointed it got out. I know it didn't come from us."
The Maple Leafs gave up a first-round pick and a prospect last season to land Scott Laughton and two mid-round picks from the Flyers. Leafs general manager Brad Treliving traded the pending free agent to the Kings on Friday and received a conditional third-round pick. It can become a second-rounder if Los Angeles makes the playoffs.
New CBA rules
The new collective bargaining agreement included a playoff salary cap and rules making it harder for teams to use a second team to retain some salary in a trade. The result: Deadline day was fairly dull until the Kadri trade surfaced.
The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline is offically in the books. While the Vancouver Canucks were not the busiest team, Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin were able to pull off five trades and a waiver claim over the past week. Here is a look at what the Canucks trade deadline looked like.
Tyler Myers To Dallas:
Vancouver's first move of trade deadline week involved sending defenceman Tyler Myers to the Dallas Stars. In exchange, the Canucks recieved a 2027 second-round pick and a 2029 fourth-round pick. Vancouver also retained 50% of Myers' contract, which expires after the 2026-27 season and carries an AAV of $3 million.
Overall, this was a decent trade for both the Canucks and player. The organization recieved two draft picks that will help with the rebuild while Myers gets a shot at a Stanley Cup. While parting with Myers was no doubt a difficult decision, it was one that should help the organizaiton in the future.
Jett Woo To San Jose For Jack Thompson:
A day after the Myers move, Vancouver traded defenceman Jett Woo to the San Jose Sharks for defenceman Jack Thompson. Both players are currently in the AHL, but do have NHL contracts. Woo and Thompson have already reported to their new AHL teams.
Woo played 293 games for the organization in the AHL. He was part of the 2025 Calder Cup Championship and ranks second all-time in games played for the Abbotsford Canucks. As for Thompson, he is a 23-year-old right-shot defender who has played 203 AHL games along with 34 at the NHL level.
Conor Garland To Columbus:
The biggest trade deadline move for the Canucks was trading forward Conor Garland to the Columbus Blue Jackets. In exchange for Garland, Vancouver recieved a 2028 second-round pick and a 2026 third-round pick. Like the Myers trade, the Canucks were able to trade a player with term as Garand has a six-year extension that is set to kick in after the season.
Moving Garland before July 1 was cruical as his new deal had a no-movement clause for the first three years of the contract. The 29-year-old played a signifcant role for the organiaztion over the past five seasons as he recorded 221 points in 371 games. Vancouver also did not retain on his current or future contract, which opens up $6 million per season for the next six years.
Curtis Douglas Waiver Claim:
The Canucks did acquire one player on deadline day as they claimed forward Curtis Douglas off waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 26-year-old is listed at 6'9", 243 lbs, and is not afraid to play a physical game. Douglas has already dropped the gloves eight times this season and is up to 26 regular-season fights over the last three years.
Bringing in Douglas is a low-risk, high-reward move. He adds some toughness to the lineup and is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. The hope is that Douglas can be an enforcer, which is something Vancouver has not had in their lineup all season.
Lukas Reichel To Boston:
On deadline day, the Canucks were able to find a buyer for forward Lukas Reichel. The 2026 Olympian was traded to the Boston Bruins in exhange for a 2026 sixth-round pick. Reichel was acquired earlier this season from the Chicago Blackhawks, where he was traded for a fourth-round pick in 2027.
Reichel's tenure with Vancouver was difficult to watch. He played 14 games with the Canucks before being assigned to the AHL. Reichel's best moments with the organization argubaly came during the 2026 Winter Olympics as he scored two goals and recorded three points in five games for Germany.
David Kämpf To Washington:
The final move of the deadline involved trading center David Kämpf to the Washington Captials. In return, Vancouver acquired a sixth-round pick in 2026. Kämpf was signed by the Canucks in November after he was bought out by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Getting an asset back for Kämpf should be seen as a win for Vancouver. He was an unrestricted free agent and brought back some form of value that may help the organization in the future. Yes, it was a sixth-round pick, but if scouted properly, that prospect could turn into an NHL player one day.
Jan 31, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers (57) and forward David Kampf (64) and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) battle for the loose puck in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Overall Grade:
Ultimatley, Vancouver had an average deadline. While they added draft captial to the organization, they also failed to move two unrestricted free agents in Teddy Blueger and Evander Kane. As for a letter grade, the Canucks recieve a C+ for their work at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.
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In the wake of the Pittsburgh Penguins being without both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for what will likely be at least a few games - and with their lack of movement at the NHL's trade deadline on Friday - the team made a roster move to address some of their scoring depth.
The 6-foot, 184-pound forward prospect was brought to Pittsburgh via the Jake Guentzel trade in the spring of 2024, and he has been up and down between the AHL and NHL levels this season. He began the season in Pittsburgh for the first two games of the season and was sent back for most of October, then he returned for a longer stint until the end of December.
In 27 NHL games this season, he has two goals and seven points, and he has 12 points in 35 career NHL games split between this season and last season. He figures to slot either in Malkin's spot alongside Egor Chinakhov and Tommy Novak or on the third line with Ben Kindel.
Koivunen is the only WBS Penguins' player above point-per-game this season with 11 goals and 33 points in 28 AHL games.
Like Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, the Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars just bring the best out of one another.
On a night that began with blockbuster news, the Colorado Avalanche followed it up with an unforgettable comeback.
Hours after pulling off a stunning last-second trade to bring back Nazem Kadri just before the deadline, Colorado erased a four-goal deficit to defeat the Dallas Stars 5–4 in a shootout Friday night at American Airlines Center.
Dallas came out flying, scoring four times in the opening 22 minutes to seize full control early. But the Avalanche gradually clawed their way back, chipping away at the deficit before forcing extra time in dramatic fashion.
VALERI NICHUSHKIN TIES IT WITH 15 SECONDS LEFT IN THE THIRD!!!
With Colorado’s net empty and the extra attacker on the ice, Valeri Nichushkin buried the equalizer with just 13.2 seconds remaining in regulation, tying the game 4–4 and stunning the home crowd. The goal was Nichushkin’s 13th of the season and only his second since recording a hat trick on New Year’s Eve.
From there, the Avalanche completed the comeback in the shootout to secure the victory.
Martin NeÄŤas led the charge offensively with a dominant four-point performance, while Nathan MacKinnon added a goal and two assists. The win pushes Colorado seven points ahead of Dallas atop the NHL standings, with the Avalanche also holding a game in hand.
Mackenzie Blackwood gave up four goals on 11 shots and was replaced by Scott Wedgewood, who shut out the Stars the rest of the way with 10 saves.
Dallas saw goals from Wyatt Johnston, Jamie Benn, Miro Heiskanen, and Justin Hrycokowian. Jake Oettinger made 25 saves.
First Period
The Avalanche earned an early power play when Oskar Back was called for holding Zakhar Bardakov. Dallas nearly flipped the momentum with a dangerous shorthanded rush, but Colorado managed to break it up before it developed into a real scoring chance.
For the third straight game, Colorado’s power play delivered. Nathan MacKinnon threaded a perfect cross-ice pass to Cale Makar, who ripped a laser top shelf past Jake Oettinger to give the Avalanche a 1–0 lead.
CALE MAKAR!!!
1-0
Third straight game with a power play goal for the Avs. Getting hot when it matters. Top shelf cheese#goavsgo@TheHockeyNews
Nearly six minutes into the period, the Avalanche found themselves shorthanded when Jack Drury was called for holding Dallas forward Nathan Bastian. The Stars took advantage of the opportunity as Miro Heiskanen fired a shot from the point that deflected off Devon Toews and past Mackenzie Blackwood, tying the game at 1–1.
Just over three minutes later, Dallas struck again. Wyatt Johnston took a pass from Heiskanen behind the net, circled into the slot, stickhandled through traffic, and snapped a wrist shot past Blackwood’s glove side to give the Stars a 2–1 lead.
The mistakes continued to pile up for Colorado soon after. A miscommunication between Blackwood and Toews proved costly when Blackwood left his crease to play the puck, lost his stick, and was caught out of position. Mavrik Bourque quickly found Hryckowian in the slot, who buried the puck into a wide-open net to extend Dallas’ lead to 3–1.
Hryckowian was sent to the penalty box moments later for high-sticking Makar, but the Avalanche were unable to capitalize despite generating several quality chances. Devon Toews nearly cut the deficit with a booming one-timer, but Oettinger came up with a strong stop to keep the Stars ahead.
Dallas took another penalty late in the period when Bourque delivered a late hit on Nic Roy, who was acquired in a trade on Thursday, along the boards with just 13.7 seconds remaining. The play was ruled interference, giving Colorado one more power-play opportunity before the intermission.
The Avalanche made it count.
With 1.9 seconds to go in the period, MacKinnon hammered a one-timer from the top of the left circle off a slick feed from Martin Necas, beating Oettinger cleanly to pull Colorado back within one. The goal marked Colorado’s second power-play tally of the period, as the Avalanche finished the frame 2-for-3 with the man advantage.
After 20 minutes, the Avalanche trailed 3–2 despite holding a slight 11–9 edge in shots on goal.
Second Period
It took less than two minutes for Dallas to score in the following period. After Josh Manson was checked into the boards by Hryckowian and lost the puck behind the net, Hryckowian found Jamie Benn in the slot and Benn toe-dragged and slid the puck by Blackwood to make it a 4-2 game. After giving up four goals on 11 shots, Blackwood was replaced in net by former Star Scott Wedgewood.
Wedgewood was met immediately with fire, and he responded with fire as he went post to post making highlight-reel saves.
But the Avs would get one back when Gabe Landeskog shook off a pair of Stars defenders to get the puck to Nathan MacKinnon, who found Nečas. He snapped a top shelf shot past Oettinger, who thought Nečas was going far side blocker but was completely fooled, making it a 4–3 game.
Stars forward Roope Hintz suffered what appeared to be a lower-body injury late in the period after getting tied up with MacKinnon and the latter chucked him down to the ice. No penalty was called on the play, but Colorado would get penalized late in the period when Manson was called for cross-checking.
Third Period
Colorado spent the first portion of the third killing off Manson's penalty, but the PK unit got the job done.
Just over five minutes into the period, the Stars were awarded another man advantage when Brett Kulak high-sticked Matt Duchene while battling for a puck behind the net.
With the Avs’ net empty, Nichushkin delivered in the clutch. Stationed in the right circle, Nichushkin snapped a wrist shot past Oettinger to even the score and send the game to overtime.
It continued a trend for the Avalanche winger, as six of his 13 goals this season have now come in the third period.
Shootout
Overtime couldn’t produce a winner, sending the contest to a shootout, where Valeri Nichushkin showed that his late third-period heroics were no accident. He scored in the shootout, joined by Martin Nečas, helping the Avalanche edge closer to victory. The shootout extended into the second round, but Jonas Wedgewood stood tall, stopping attempts from Jason Robertson and Matt Duchene to clinch the win.
The Avalanche (42–10–9) earned a key Central Division win and will return to Ball Arena on Sunday to take on the Minnesota Wild (36–16–10) led by star forward Kirill Kaprizov. Puck drop is scheduled for 12 p.m. local time.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 05: Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) skates with the puck during the first period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres on March 5, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The NHL has ruled, Evgeni Malkin will be out for the next five games on suspension due to his slash against Rasmus Dahlin.
Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin has been suspended for five games for slashing Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin. https://t.co/CJFhMVuZ9k
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 7, 2026
From the league:
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin has been suspended for five games, without pay, for slashing Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin during NHL Game No. 977 in Pittsburgh on Thursday, March 5, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.
The incident occurred at 0:35 of the second period. Malkin was assessed a minor penalty for cross-checking, a major penalty for slashing and a game misconduct.
Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Malkin will forfeit $158,854.15. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Malkin will be eligible to return on the March 16th game against Colorado. He will miss games against four teams in currently in a playoff position (Boston, Carolina, Vegas and Utah) as well as tomorrow’s game against Philadelphia.
In response, the Penguins have recalled forward Ville Koivunen from the AHL on an emergency basis. The Pens also acquired forward Elmer Soderblom at the NHL trading deadline. The team will miss the impact of Malkin, their second-leading scorer this season with 47 points in 46 games, especially while their leading scorer Sidney Crosby continues to rehab an injury suffered at the Olympics. Crosby practiced today and the team has been hopeful he is moving in the direction of a return, though he still figures to be a ways away from the initial four week timeline on an injury suffered just over two weeks ago.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin is set to miss some very important games.Â
Malkin has been suspended for five games by the NHL's Department of Player Safety for slashing Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin in the head on Thursday.Â
The slash came after Malkin took a couple of cross-checks from Dahlin.Â
This suspension comes at a brutal time for the Penguins, who are in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race and are also without captain Sidney Crosby. Crosby returned to practice on Friday, but he won't play this weekend.Â
Malkin has been having an outstanding season, compiling 13 goals and 47 points in 46 games.Â
Despite their best efforts, the Senators were quiet on NHL Trade Deadline Day, but shortly after the deadline passed, the Sens did announce an interesting minor-league deal.
The Senators swapped forwards with the Washington Capitals, acquiring Graeme Clarke, a player with strong local ties. Clarke grew up in Ottawa and spent three seasons in the OHL with the Ottawa 67’s before turning pro.
In return, the Senators are sending the Capitals Wyatt Bongiovanni, Belleville's leading goal scorer last season.Â
Originally drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the third round (80th overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft, Clarke appeared in three NHL games with the Devils, and his AHL career has taken him to Hershey, Binghamton, Utica, and Iowa.
He was part of those outstanding 67s teams whose Memorial Cup potential was derailed by the COVID shutdown, and represented Canada at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, scoring three points in five games en route to a gold medal.
Clarke's younger brother, Brandt, is a defenseman with the LA Kings, and it was Brandt's emergence last season that made Jordan Spence expendable in LA. Clarke's sister, MacKenzie, plays defense for the St. Lawrence University women’s team.
According to his new team, he may make his Belleville debut on Saturday night, when the Sens host the Comets at CAAÂ Arena.Â
