Author: NHL Hockey News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

It appears a key forward is nearing a return for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Center Evgeni Malkin - out since Mar. 23 with an upper-body injury - was a full participant when the Penguins practiced Friday in Dallas. Malkin skated in his customary second-line center position between Rickard Rakell and rookie Ville Koivunen, which is a combination that was showcased briefly during training camp.

Malkin is expected to be a game-time decision for Saturday's tilt against the Dallas Stars.

These were the lines and pairings from practice on Friday with Malkin back in the fold:

McGroarty-Crosby-Rust
Rakell-Malkin-Koivunen
Dewar-Hayes-Tomasino
Heinen-Lizotte-Acciari

Grzyleck-Letang
Timmins-Karlsson
Graves-Kolyachonok/Shea

-  In other news, the Penguins officially optioned forward Emil Bemstrom back to Wilkes-Barre Scranton (WBS) on Friday. Bemstrom was waived by the Penguins on Apr. 1 and cleared the next day, but the Penguins kept him on their roster until Friday. He registered one point in 13 games with the NHL club this season.

Bemstrom will rejoin WBS for their Calder Cup quest. Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate has already clinched a playoff berth, but they are vying for a first-round bye in the final stretch of the season. 

In 43 AHL games this season, Bemstrom recorded 21 goals and 46 points in 43 games and was named to the AHL All-Star team. He led the team in scoring prior to his NHL call-up on Feb. 7. 

McGroarty Scores First NHL Goal In Penguins 5-4 Overtime Loss To BluesThe Pittsburgh Penguins' 5-4 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday - which gave the Blues their whopping 11th straight win - obviously wasn't the desired result.

-  Rutger McGroarty scored his first NHL goal on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues with just 23.8 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. 

As for what he plans to do with his first-goal puck (which, evidently, Koivunen - who also registered his first NHL point on the play - let him keep)?

"I plan to give the puck to my parents," McGroarty said. "They've been there through every stage, and they've helped me with just about everything in my life. I couldn't be here without him."

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The 2024-25 season is shaping up to be a historic one for both Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. The ninth and 11th all-time point producers in NHL history are wrapping up their 20th season and are now breaking Wayne Gretzky records that were once deemed unbreakable. Despite both closing in on 40 years old, neither looks like they are slowing down, with both Crosby and Ovechkin signed for at least one more season. 

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As mentioned, by the end of the season, both Crosby and Ovechkin will have passed records set by Gretzky. Starting with Crosby, he already has set a new record, becoming the NHL's all-time leader in consecutive seasons above a point per game. As for Ovechkin, he is on the verge of surpassing Gretzky's all-time goal record and, before the end of the campaign, could become the first and only player in NHL history to score 900 goals.

Watching these players battle it out over the past two decades has been a treat for hockey fans. While they weren't drafted in the same year, Crosby and Ovechkin made their NHL debuts on the same day and have faced off 97 times combined in the regular season and playoffs. Both will also be headed to the Hockey Hall of Fame while also having their jersey's retired by their organizations.

One person who has witnessed this rivality first hand is Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet. Tocchet spent three years as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins and faced the Washington Capitals in both the 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. When asked about Crosby and Ovechkin's careers, Tocchet had a simple answer as to why they have been successful for so long. 

"Well, it's just amazing, said Rick Tocchet. "We talk about consistency; they're consistency level. Whether it's scoring or whether it's any facet of the game. I lived it there for a couple of series of Washington and Pittsburgh, and watching them at high level, especially in the playoffs. Just a respect factor. It's hard to play that way every game. It's hard to play in pressure games and deliver, and they've been delivering for 18, 20 years under pressure. That's the hard part, to be able to deliver under pressure."

Crosby and Ovechkin have also served as role models for a large portion of players in the NHL. For years, whenever players were asked who their favourite player was growing up, the answer was usually Sid The Kid or The Great Eight. As Tocchet explains, he hopes young players are still paying attention to how much work Crosby and Ovechkin are putting in as the two continue to demonstrate how to be successful in the NHL.

"The easy answer is work ethic. They're doing stuff that other players aren't doing. Sidney Crosby, he trains, you know, he'll be in Germany one year training the new way of training. He's always trying to look outside the box. He always tried to build his foundation. And I think that's the same with the young players. You got to do what is required, what's more than required. Habits, build your foundation, build your game, what's your identity as a player, and then apply it in all the games."

In the end, the Crosby vs Ovechkin rivalry will go down as one of the best in NHL history. The two have battled their entire careers and produced moments that won't soon be forgotten. Luckily, fans will get one more chance to watch Crosby and Ovechkin go head-to-head, as they will face each other on April 17, 2025, which is the final day of the 2024-25 regular season. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

The Boston Bruins are so bad right now that it may help them more than people think.

It almost beggars belief that, coming off a 47-20-15 record last season, the Bruins are dead last in the Eastern Conference right now.

The Bruins were three points out of a wild-card spot at the NHL trade deadline when they traded Brad Marchand, Brandon Carlo, Charlie Coyle and Justin Brazeau. They since plummeted to the East’s basement and sit 29th overall with a 30-37-9 mark. They’re also 0-9-1 in their last 10 games after losing to longtime rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, on Thursday. It’s undoubtedly painful for Bruins fans to watch.

But the Bruins’ free fall through the standings has a positive element. It means they’ve avoided the mushy middle of the East and can now have a very high draft pick – maybe even the first-overall pick, if they win the draft lottery.

Before you know it – perhaps as soon as next season – the Bruins could be right back in the thick of the playoff hunt .

After Boston GM Don Sweeney sold at the trade deadline, Boston is committed to about $66.7 million in salary cap space next season. With the cap ceiling slated to rise to $95.5 million, that leaves the Bruins with about $29 million in cap space, which gives them leeway to spruce things up in the off-season. They do have six RFAs to take care of and five UFAs, but if they want to make changes and go big in free agency, they can.

But if the draft goes in their favor, Boston would have a draft pick in the top half of the first round for the first time since 2016, when they selected defenseman Charlie McAvoy 14th overall. 

Boston hasn’t had a top-10 pick since Dougie Hamilton went to them ninth overall in 2011, and they haven’t had a top-five pick or higher since Tyler Seguin went to them second overall in 2010. 

Needless to say, landing a top-five pick or better this season would do wonders for Boston’s core in the next decade or longer. All things considered, the Bruins’ relatively short period of struggle this season could be extremely beneficial for their big picture.

Another team in a similar situation to the Bruins is the Nashville Predators. They currently have the NHL’s third-worst record despite being major buyers in free agency. 

Heading into next season, Nashville has about $17.2 million in cap space, so GM Barry Trotz will have many areas where he can improve the organization. 

The Predators haven’t had a top-10 draft pick since they selected defenseman Seth Jones fourth overall in 2013. Incredibly, they haven’t had a top-three pick or better since selecting David Legwand second overall with the franchise’s first-ever draft pick in 1998. The Preds desperately need young, elite talent, and like the Bruins, Nashville’s unexpected collapse this season could have benefits in the long haul.

Three NHL Clubs That Made The Best Of A Seller’s MarketThe NHL trade deadline saw contenders mortgage their future by trading future first-round picks and top prospects to add players to help in their pursuit of a Stanley Cup.

But back to the Bruins, whose fans have grown accustomed to year after year of being legitimate front-runners to go on long playoff runs. Their longest playoff drought since the 1960s is two seasons.

It must be unsettling for them to see this rapid collapse, but it must be more comforting to know that this doesn’t happen as often to them as it does to other teams. They’ll also be picking up a skilled player who can be part of their core for many years to come. 

Who knows – by adding some veteran talents, Boston could return to the playoff mix next season. But you can’t get elite young players without some short-term pain, and that’s why the Bruins’ current struggles are a double-edged sword. They, at some point, needed to bottom out to take more steps forward as soon as possible, and that time is now.

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Carolina Hurricanes forward Justin Robidas will be making his NHL debut tonight as the team takes on the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena.

The Canes recalled the 2021 fifth-round pick yesterday in relation to both Jordan Staal and Andrei Svechnikov being questionable to go Friday and it was confirmed during morning skate that neither forward would be going tonight.

So in comes the rookie, the third to make their NHL debut for the Hurricanes this season (Juha Jaaska, Ryan Suzuki).

"He's a great kid and he's kind of earned the callup," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "That's kind of how we look at it. Had a good year, did everything that they asked him to do down there and I think we're rewarding him with this callup. It's well deserved.

"He's earned it by the way he came in this summer. He put in the work and just had a solid, solid season. So I'm happy for him."

Robidas is also another of NHL lineage, as his father, Stephane, played 15 years in the league. He's now an assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens and according to FanDuel Sports Network's Hanna Yates, is trying to make it to Detroit in time for the game.

"Hopefully he can get here," Brind'Amour said. "They played last night and they don't play tonight so he should get here. Figure it out, because these are special moments in his life and in the family's life. Hopefully it has a good outcome."

The 22-year-old centerman had a strong first AHL season, with 17 goals and 48 points in 65 games.

Despite being listed at just 5-foot-8, Robidas is a relentless worker who makes an impact at 5v5, the power play and the penalty kill.

"From his work ethic to his defensive play and creating offense, he's really grown over the last two years," said Hurricanes AGM Darren Yorke to team reporter Walt Ruff. "He has developed into a consistent offensive driver, as well as a trustworthy defensive player and leader."

He'll be debuting on the fourth line alongside Mark Jankowski and Tyson Jost.

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The Nashville Predators have announced that they have signed goaltender Magnus Chrona to a one-year, two-way contract extension for the 2025-26 season. At the NHL level, Chrona will carry a $775,000 cap hit. 

Chrona, 24, was acquired by the Predators from the San Jose Sharks back in August as a part of the Yaroslav Askarov trade. This was after Chrona posted a 1-6-2 record, a 4.71 goals-against average, and a .859 save percentage in his first nine career NHL games with the Sharks in 2023-24.

Chrona has yet to make his Predators regular-season debut and has instead spent this entire campaign down in the AHL with the Milwaukee Admirals. In 29 games this season with the AHL club, he has an 11-11-5 record, a .901 save percentage, and a 2.87 goals-against average.

Overall, there is no harm in the Predators keeping Chrona around for next season. At a minimum, he will continue to provide them with more goalie depth for the AHL. 

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Alex Ovechkin ties Wayne Gretzky for NHL's all-time scoring record originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Great One has company.

Alex Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky for the most goals scored in NHL history, netting his 894th career goal in the third period of the Washington Capitals‘ home game against the Chicago Blackhawks Friday night.

The record-tying goal, which was Ovi’s second of the game, gave the Caps a 4-3 lead with 13:47 left in regulation. They went on to win 5-3 after Ryan Leonard scored on an empty net for the first goal of his career.

Capitals players stayed on the ice after the game to celebrate with their star as fans chanted, “Ovi! Ovi! Ovi!”

Ovechkin’s pursuit of the career goals record — which continues Sunday when the Capitals play on the road against the New York Islanders — has been dubbed “The GR8 Chase.”

Ovechkin reached 894 goals in his 1,486th game. Gretzky finished with 894 in 1,487 games.

Gretzky was in the building with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to witness the historic moment by the 39-year-old Ovechkin.

Gretzky had held the scoring record since 1994 when he tallied his 802nd goal to pass Detroit Red Wings legend Gordie Howe. Gretzky, who played primarily for the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings, scored his 894th and final goal came on March 29, 1999 as a member of the New York Rangers. He retired three weeks later at the age of 38, concluding a historic 20-year NHL career.

His scoring record had stood since — with Jaromir Jagr scoring 766 goals before retiring in 2018 and Brett Hull netting 741 goals before closing his 19-year career in 2006.

Then came Ovechkin, who after being selected first overall in the 2004 draft, scored 52 goals as a rookie, including two in his debut on October 5, 2005.

That was nearly 20 years and 892 goals ago.

Ovechkin scored a career best 65 goals during his third season in 2007-2008. He has recorded nine 50-plus goal seasons, matching the record shared by Gretzky and New York Islanders legend Mike Bossy. He has scored 40 or more goals in a season 14 times, which topped Gretzky’s record of 12.

Along the way, Ovechkin won nine Rocket Richard Trophies for most goals scored in a season, three Hart Trophies as most valuable player, and the 2017 Stanley Cup, which was the first in Capitals’ franchise history.

Ovechkin entered his 20th NHL season in October needing 42 goals to top a record once believed to be unbreakable. He missed 16 games earlier this season with a fractured left fibula, pushing the record pursuit closer to the end of the season.

Ovechkin scored No. 893 less than four minutes into Friday’s game, setting the stage for the record-tying goal in front of the Washington fans.

He now shares the league’s hallowed scoring record with the sport’s most revered player.

“Alex has been exceptional for our game,” Gretzky told CNBC earlier this season. “I hope I’m the first guy to shake his hand when he does break the record.”

Alex Ovechkin ties Wayne Gretzky for NHL's all-time scoring record originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Great One has company.

Alex Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky for the most goals scored in NHL history, netting his 894th career goal in the third period of the Washington Capitals‘ home game against the Chicago Blackhawks Friday night.

The record-tying goal, which was Ovi’s second of the game, gave the Caps a 4-3 lead with 13:47 left in regulation. They went on to win 5-3 after Ryan Leonard scored on an empty net for the first goal of his career.

Capitals players stayed on the ice after the game to celebrate with their star as fans chanted, “Ovi! Ovi! Ovi!”

Ovechkin’s pursuit of the career goals record — which continues Sunday when the Capitals play on the road against the New York Islanders — has been dubbed “The GR8 Chase.”

Ovechkin reached 894 goals in his 1,486th game. Gretzky finished with 894 in 1,487 games.

Gretzky was in the building with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to witness the historic moment by the 39-year-old Ovechkin.

Gretzky had held the scoring record since 1994 when he tallied his 802nd goal to pass Detroit Red Wings legend Gordie Howe. Gretzky, who played primarily for the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings, scored his 894th and final goal came on March 29, 1999 as a member of the New York Rangers. He retired three weeks later at the age of 38, concluding a historic 20-year NHL career.

His scoring record had stood since — with Jaromir Jagr scoring 766 goals before retiring in 2018 and Brett Hull netting 741 goals before closing his 19-year career in 2006.

Then came Ovechkin, who after being selected first overall in the 2004 draft, scored 52 goals as a rookie, including two in his debut on October 5, 2005.

That was nearly 20 years and 892 goals ago.

Ovechkin scored a career best 65 goals during his third season in 2007-2008. He has recorded nine 50-plus goal seasons, matching the record shared by Gretzky and New York Islanders legend Mike Bossy. He has scored 40 or more goals in a season 14 times, which topped Gretzky’s record of 12.

Along the way, Ovechkin won nine Rocket Richard Trophies for most goals scored in a season, three Hart Trophies as most valuable player, and the 2017 Stanley Cup, which was the first in Capitals’ franchise history.

Ovechkin entered his 20th NHL season in October needing 42 goals to top a record once believed to be unbreakable. He missed 16 games earlier this season with a fractured left fibula, pushing the record pursuit closer to the end of the season.

Ovechkin scored No. 893 less than four minutes into Friday’s game, setting the stage for the record-tying goal in front of the Washington fans.

He now shares the league’s hallowed scoring record with the sport’s most revered player.

“Alex has been exceptional for our game,” Gretzky told CNBC earlier this season. “I hope I’m the first guy to shake his hand when he does break the record.”

We're closing in on one month since the NHL’s trade deadline on March 7, and a lot's happened since then.

One team that stood quiet looks like a group of geniuses one month later, while teams that looked like winners right away are holding up to that designation. Other squads that weren't among the top immediate winners are proving they do deserve to be considered for that category.

In alphabetical order, let's look at six of the biggest winners since the NHL trade deadline approaching the one-month mark.

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche made their defense corps one of the deepest in the NHL by adding Ryan Lindgren and Erik Johnson. They then brought in center Brock Nelson to lock down the No. 2 center role. 

Colorado is the third-hottest NHL team since the deadline, going 10-2-2. They’re averaging two goals against per game in that span, which is tied for the second fewest. Nelson also has four goals and 10 points in 14 games, which is the type of secondary scoring Colorado needed. Deadline acquisition Charlie Coyle also has five points while averaging 13:32 in ice time.

The major long-term question is whether the team will be better off after trading former pending UFA Mikko Rantanen, who signed an eight-year contract extension with the Dallas Stars. Martin Necas has 26 points in 27 games in Rantanen’s place.

Nevertheless, the Avalanche’s moves on trade deadline week have paid off well – and that’s why they’re one of the more frightening teams heading into the playoffs.

Dallas Stars

Dallas has gone 9-2-2 since the deadline, and its big pickup – star right winger Rantanen – has fit right in. He has nine assists and 13 points in 13 games as one of five Stars players averaging at least a point per game since March 7. Earlier acquisition Mikael Granlund also has six goals and 18 points in 24 games since joining Dallas.

Rantanen is one of the reasons the Stars are now in a position to challenge the Winnipeg Jets for the top spot in the highly competitive Central Division. Tyler Seguin could even return in the playoffs as well, and if they get past the first round, Miro Heiskanen could also return. 

Dallas GM Jim Nill’s willingness to step up and make big swings at the trade deadline is one of the reasons why the Stars are once again asserting themselves as a Stanley Cup front-runner.

Ottawa Senators

The Senators made one of the biggest moves at the deadline, picking up center Dylan Cozens from the Buffalo Sabres for center Josh Norris as part of a package deal. 

Since the deadline, the Senatorshave gone 9-4-1, solidifying their hold on the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot and getting within a hot streak of challenging the Florida Panthers for third place in the Atlantic Division. 

Cozens has six assists and nine points in 14 games as a Senator, and that’s music to Ottawa’s ears. Six of those points came at even strength, which comes out to one-third of Norris's 18 even-strength points in 53 games for Ottawa this season. 

While Fabian Zetterlund only has one assist in that span, he’s taken the fifth-most shots on net on the team since March 7, and he’s generating enough chances to suggest he’s due for goals.

If the Sens pull off a first-round upset, the price they paid at the deadline will be well worth it – if it isn’t worth it already.

Almost There: Ottawa Senators Set To End Playoff Drought Before Red Wings, SabresThe Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings all had the same goal this season.

St. Louis Blues

The Blues didn’t make any trades at the deadline. Sometimes, the moves you don’t make are more important than the ones you do, and that’s certainly true for St. Louis this year. 

The Blues are enjoying an 11-game win streak that’s pushed them into the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference. They might not have gotten there had they traded captain Brayden Schenn, as was heavily rumored at the deadline. 

So yes, St. Louis should be on this list, as they’ve been one of the biggest winners because of their decisions at the deadline. They could’ve been much more active, but that could’ve sunk their season. Standing pat absolutely was the right choice for them.

The Blues Are The Wild Card Team That No One Wants To Face In The PlayoffsIn both style and substance, the St. Louis Blues look a lot like a team that was pretty successful six years ago.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning are 7-5-1 since the deadline, but they’ve won four of their last five games to move into second place in the Atlantic. 

Tampa Bay’s big pre-deadline move brought in forwards Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Seattle Kraken. Both players have done well in the early going with the Lightning, as Gourde has nine assists in 14 games, and Bjorkstrand has four goals and six points in 14 games. 

Neither player has to do the heavy lifting for Tampa Bay, but the Lightning needed that quality depth in their lineup. Gourde already has more points for the Bolts than Zemgus Girgensons’ six points in 75 games and Luke Glendening’s seven points in 74 games, and he has as many as Cam Atkinson’s nine points in 38 games.

Toronto Maple Leafs 

It’s true the Maple Leafshaven’t gotten much offensive production from forward Scott Laughton since spending a first-round draft pick to acquire him from Philadelphia. Still, Laughton has looked more comfortable of late, and he’s now a better fit as a winger on Toronto’s third line. 

The reason why the Leafs are on this list is the play of veteran defenseman Brandon Carlo, who has been very solid since the Buds acquired him from Boston. Carlo has proven to be a great fit with Morgan Rielly on Toronto’s first defense pairing, and the Leafs also needed more of his physical edge and shot-blocking ability. 

Toronto has gone 8-4-1 since the deadline to move into the top spot in the Atlantic, and they’re a tougher team to play against ahead of a pressure-filled playoff run.

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The Buffalo Sabres practiced at LECOM Harborcenter on Friday after taking team photos on their day off after returning from Ottawa after going 2-1-0 on a three-game road swing. The club returns to action on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the contest will mark the NHL debut of youngster Noah Ostlund, who the club called up on Friday.

The 21-year-old was the Sabres middle first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and has made remarkable strides in his first full season in North America. After missing two months with an injury, the young center returned in December and struggled to find his game, going goalless in 11 straight.

"It was something with my hand that wasn't right, and (they) had to do a little surgery on it, and now I don't feel it," Ostlund said. "(After returning, I just found my game a little bit more. I've been playing more with the puck and creating more."

Since January 19, Ostlund has been red-hot, with 18 goals in 28 games. Last week, he was named AHL Player of the Week, and his empty net goal in the Amerks playoff clinching win over Springfield on Wednesday marked his sixth straight game with a goal, which prompted the Sabres to recall him with the injury to center Tyson Kozak.

Recently recalled prospect Noah Ostlund is at #Sabres practice at Harborcenter. pic.twitter.com/y9TPqNRLGG

— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) April 4, 2025

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"(I’ve heard) nothing but good (things). The way he's played, the way he's defended, how well he's operated with the puck, he's put together real good year down (in Rochester)." Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said. "It's just a player (who is) finding his path, and he feels comfortable down there. (The AHL is) a hard league to play in, but he's progressed and pushed himself to where he's become one of the top players down there……I always think players need that time. It's a hardness that you have to get. It's like I say, sometimes playing down there is harder than playing up here, and he's navigated that path pretty well."

Ostlund skated on Friday in place of Kozak on the fourth line with Beck Malenstyn and Sam Lafferty. Ruff indicated that his being placed there was more due to not mixing up his other three lines and not to overwhelm the youngster against a lineup of Stanley Cup-winning veterans with the Lightning.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

As the NHL season begins to wind down, the top teams in the standings are starting to punch their ticket to the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

For the Columbus Blue Jackets, the path is still uncertain. With just eight games remaining, they sit four points back of the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

The road ahead won’t be easy. The Blue Jackets have a tough schedule to close out the regular season, with key games against teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, and Washington Capitals.

Blue Jackets Remaining Schedule:

• Saturday, April 5: vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
• Sunday, April 6: vs. Ottawa Senators
• Tuesday, April 8: vs. Ottawa Senators
• Thursday, April 10: vs. Buffalo Sabres
• Saturday, April 12: vs. Washington Capitals
• Sunday, April 13: vs. Washington Capitals
• Tuesday, April 15: vs. Philadelphia Flyers
• Thursday, April 17: at New York Islanders

They’ll need to pick up points fast and string together wins if they want to catch the Montreal Canadiens in the standings. That push begins Saturday in Toronto.

Blue Jackets Suffocated By Colorado; Slips Further From Wild Card SpotSean Monahan(17), Zach Aston-Reese(5), and Boone Jenner(6) scored the goals for Columbus, and Elvis Merzļikins gave up seven goals on 28 Avs shots to secure a 7-3 CBJ loss on Thursday.  Scoreboard Watch For Thursday, April 3The Columbus Blue Jackets haven't had to scoreboard-watch in April in a few years, but here we are. Columbus Prospect Hits NCAA Transfer Portal Again And Will Play For Third Team In Three Years A Columbus Blue Jackets prospect has hit the NCAA’s transfer portal once again.

On March 28, the St. Louis Blues signed top prospect Jimmy Snuggerud to a three-year entry-level contract. This was after the 20-year-old forward posted 24 goals, 27 assists, and 51 points in 40 games this season with the University of Minnesota. 

Following signing his ELC, Snuggerud quickly made his NHL debut with the Blues on April 1 against the Detroit Red Wings. During it, the 2022 first-round pick did not look out of place and recorded two shots in 10:43 of ice time. 

During the Blues' following matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 3, Snuggerud took another step forward. The Minnesota native recorded his first NHL point by picking up the primary assist on Jake Neighbours' third-period goal.

Snuggerud showed off his impressive playmaking skills leading up to the goal, too. While stickhandling the puck in the offensive zone, Snuggerud made a perfect feed across the slot to Neighbours before the latter fired it home.

This was a great play from Snuggerud, and the young forward showed just how solid of a passer he is with it. Overall, the youngster is fitting in quite nicely with the Blues early on, and it will be fascinating to see how he builds off this from here. 

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MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- The St. Louis Blues will have to be without one of their promising young forwards for at least the foreseeable future.

Dylan Holloway did not practice on Friday due to a lower-body injury he suffered in a 5-4 overtime win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday and is listed as week to week.

“He went and saw a doctor today and he’s not back yet so we don’t have information, but he’s not going to be a player for the next couple of games,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “Saturday and Monday, he’s not going to play. That I know.”

Holloway, who has 63 points (26 goals, 37 assists) in 77 games, was checked in the offensive zone by Penguins forward Rutger McGroarty at the 17:09 mark; he came on for a final shift with 1:16 remaining but left the ice quickly hunched over and was ruled out the rest of the game after leaving the bench area.

At practice on Friday, the Blues shuffled around their forward lines, only leaving the line of Radek Faksa, Alexey Toropchenko and Nathan Walker together.

Jimmy Snuggerud, the No. 23 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft who had an assist – his first NHL point – on Thursday in his second game, moved up to the top line and was paired with Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich, while Jake Neighbours slid down to skate with Brayden Schenn and Jordan Kyrou, and Mathieu Joseph, a healthy scratch the past two games, moved onto ‘The 70s’ line with Zack Bolduc and Oskar Sundqvist.

“The good thing is we have a lot of options,” Montgomery said. “You have Bolduc, you have Snuggerud, you have Mojo. I don’t want to split up the ‘Faksi’ line, they’re just too important to our team identity and how I use them. We have a lot of guys that are playing really good hockey. Unfortunatey, ‘Tex’ is out or he would be another option. Snuggerud has shown a lot. I like ‘The 70s’ line. I like it a lot. That and moving Jake with Schenn and Kyrou is going to allow me to get more ice time for Jake.

“[Snuggerud’s] shown us a lot. He’s a hockey player. He’s making plays and he’s competing. As long as that maintains and stays up, I say that cautiously. This is the NHL and to be an every day player in the NHL is not easy. You see it a lot with young players.”

Texier, who played in four straight games before being a healthy scratch the past two, has an upper-body injury and is also unavailable for Saturday’s game against the Avalanche.

“Upper body issue that he went to see a doctor about, what treatment he needs to get back as soon as possible,” Montgomery said. “I think he is day to day, not a player tomorrow. That’s all the information I have. He’s not back from the doctor either.”

As for reuniting ‘The 70s Line’ again, Montgomery said,.”Speed, how they attack the blue line with speed and how ‘Sunny’ gives that line incredible details, especially in our own end and in tracking. And the other two work.”

LAS VEGAS -- Needing to distance themselves from the pack, the Golden Knights missed another opportunity when they lost to the Western Conference-leading Winnipeg Jets, 4-0, on Thursday.

Facing Winnipeg's backup goaltender, Eric Comrie, the Knights stumbled through a sluggish start and couldn't catch up once the Jets got their offense started. Comrie made 26 saves in recording his second shutout of the season.

Vegas started Adin Hill, who made 16 saves before being pulled in the third period for Akira Schmid.

Here are three takeaways from the game:

WESTERN WOES: Vegas has split its 32 games since Jan. 14, with a majority of its wins coming against Eastern Conference foes. The Knights, who turned in a 10-2-2 mark in March, are 16-11-5 during that stretch, including 10-4-3 against teams from the East. That leaves a disappointing 6-7-2 against Western Conference foes in the same span.

"I’m concerned," coach Bruce Cassidy said. "This isn’t a one-off. We should be prepared to play. We didn’t."

The Golden Knights have seven games remaining - all against Western Conference teams.

ENEMY TERRITORY: With three road games on deck, the Golden Knights bring their fledgling offense north of the border for a date with a dangerous and hungry Calgary Flames team that is still looking for a playoff berth. The Flames (84) are five points back of the Minnesota Wild, who have 89 points and are in second place in the Wild Card race. Calgary will be playing its second game of a two-game homestand after Thursday's 4-1 win over Anaheim. The Flames have won two of their last three in Calgary. The Knights have won their last two meetings with the Flames, but the home team is on a 5-1 run with this series.

NOW WHAT, AGAIN: To revisit the same thought after Tuesday's loss to Edmonton, the Golden Knights have clinched a playoff berth, but are not out of the wild-card woods just yet. Vegas (98) is now only three points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings (93) and five in front of the Edmonton Oilers (91). Sitting in first and second of the Western Conference Wild Card standings are the St. Louis Blues and Wild, both from the Central Division. The Knights aren't in jeopardy of slipping out of the Pacific Division's top three, but could fall into second- or third-place with a late-season collapse. By doing so, they would face either the Kings or Oilers in the first round, rather than the Blues or Wild. The Knights have seven games remaining, including five on the road. They'll need to shake off their back-to-back losses at home and get back to winning if they want to wrap up their fifth Pacific Division title.

Alex Ovechkin ties Wayne Gretzky for NHL's all-time scoring record originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Great One has company.

Alex Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky for the most goals scored in NHL history, netting his 894th career goal in the third period of the Washington Capitals‘ home game against the Chicago Blackhawks Friday night.

The record-tying goal, which was Ovi’s second of the game, gave the Caps a 4-3 lead with 13:47 left in regulation. They went on to win 5-3 after Ryan Leonard scored on an empty net for the first goal of his career.

Capitals players stayed on the ice after the game to celebrate with their star as fans chanted, “Ovi! Ovi! Ovi!”

Ovechkin’s pursuit of the career goals record — which continues Sunday when the Capitals play on the road against the New York Islanders — has been dubbed “The GR8 Chase.”

Ovechkin reached 894 goals in his 1,486th game. Gretzky finished with 894 in 1,487 games.

Gretzky was in the building with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to witness the historic moment by the 39-year-old Ovechkin.

Gretzky had held the scoring record since 1994 when he tallied his 802nd goal to pass Detroit Red Wings legend Gordie Howe. Gretzky, who played primarily for the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings, scored his 894th and final goal came on March 29, 1999 as a member of the New York Rangers. He retired three weeks later at the age of 38, concluding a historic 20-year NHL career.

His scoring record had stood since — with Jaromir Jagr scoring 766 goals before retiring in 2018 and Brett Hull netting 741 goals before closing his 19-year career in 2006.

Then came Ovechkin, who after being selected first overall in the 2004 draft, scored 52 goals as a rookie, including two in his debut on October 5, 2005.

That was nearly 20 years and 892 goals ago.

Ovechkin scored a career best 65 goals during his third season in 2007-2008. He has recorded nine 50-plus goal seasons, matching the record shared by Gretzky and New York Islanders legend Mike Bossy. He has scored 40 or more goals in a season 14 times, which topped Gretzky’s record of 12.

Along the way, Ovechkin won nine Rocket Richard Trophies for most goals scored in a season, three Hart Trophies as most valuable player, and the 2017 Stanley Cup, which was the first in Capitals’ franchise history.

Ovechkin entered his 20th NHL season in October needing 42 goals to top a record once believed to be unbreakable. He missed 16 games earlier this season with a fractured left fibula, pushing the record pursuit closer to the end of the season.

Ovechkin scored No. 893 less than four minutes into Friday’s game, setting the stage for the record-tying goal in front of the Washington fans.

He now shares the league’s hallowed scoring record with the sport’s most revered player.

“Alex has been exceptional for our game,” Gretzky told CNBC earlier this season. “I hope I’m the first guy to shake his hand when he does break the record.”