Peter Chiarelli could be back in the saddle and managing an NHL front office. The former Edmonton Oilers general manager is reportedly on the radar for a GM role after several years out of the spotlight.
New reports are that he's leaving the St. Louis Blues as changes are made with their management group. He is now a candidate for the Nashville Predators GM job, per Darren Dreger.
"The @StLouisBlues front office is changing with Kevin Maxwell and Peter Chiarelli leaving the club to pursue other opportunities. Chiarelli is a candidate in Nashville’s interview process and Maxwell is expected to return to the New York Rangers in a management role."
Chiarelli's Time in Edmonton Was Polarizing
Chiarelli’s time in Edmonton didn’t end well. He was let go in 2019 after four rocky seasons, remembered largely for a string of questionable moves—most notably trading away Taylor Hall, who went on to win the Hart Trophy, and dealing Jordan Eberle, along with parting with high draft capital in the Griffin Reinhart deal. He traded Ryan Strome for Ryan Spooner, then acquired Brandon Manning, after Manning took out Connor McDavid and broke his collar bone.
Many fans might not even have realized that Chiarelli had been working behind the scenes with the St. Louis Blues, first as a consultant and later as Vice President of Hockey Operations. But, as GM Doug Armstrong moves on and other changes are being made, Chiarelli is exploring his options, including throwing his hat into the mix for the Nashville Predators GM job, with Barry Trotz stepping aside.
It’s a fascinating development. Chiarelli played a major part in building the Boston Bruins team that won the Stanley Cup in 2011, but his reputation took a hit in Edmonton.
Whether he gets another chance to run a team remains to be seen—but he’s clearly back in the conversation.
Pierre LeBrun reported, "My sense of the Preds' executive search is that they are not feeling rushed by any deadline, they've cast a wide net (spoken to 15 or so people) and it'll take as long as it needs to take until they make the hire(s) they feel are right. So if outgoing GM Barry Trotz needs to run the June draft, so be it. But obviously a hire could happen before then."
In other words, Chiarelli isn't a shoo in. This decision could take some time.
The Florida Panthers are in New York for a quick weekend back-to-back set against the two teams that play on the east side of the Hudson River.
All the fun will begin Saturday when Florida lines up against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena in Elmont.
Florida arrives on Long Island with an injury-riddled roster, most recently losing forward Evan Rodrigues to a broken finger.
He joins the Panthers’ CVS receipt of an injured list, which features Sasha Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Brad Marchand, Anton Lundell, Niko Mikkola, Uvis Balinskis, Jonah Gadjovich, and Cole Schwindt.
Youngster Mackie Samoskevich, who has missed each of the past three games after suffering a laceration on his neck, could be back in the lineup on Saturday.
As for the Islanders, they are pushing hard for a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Entering play Saturday, New York holds the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with 87 points, one point ahead of both the Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings.
They are also tied in points with the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are third in the Metropolitan Division, and one point behind Pittsburgh for second place.
The Panthers, meanwhile, remain in a fight to retain their top-10 protected first-round pick.
Currently the Cats hold the eighth-worst record, one point behind the Seattle Kraken and two back of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Saturday’s showdown on Long Island:
Photo caption: Mar 1, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) skates with the puck defended by New York Islanders defenseman Tony DeAngelo (77) during the third period at UBS Arena. (Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images)
WINNIPEG, CANADA - MARCH 26: Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche taps in the puck on the goal line and scores in the third period against the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre on March 26, 2026 in Winnipeg, Canada. (Photo by Cameron Bartlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Wins in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, and Winnipeg have made flying the friendly skies a first class experience for the first place Colorado Avalanche after completing this most recent road trip.
Tonight, the NHL’s best team books a return fair against the recently-vanquished Winnipeg Jets as the Avs begin a three game home stand in pursuit of the top seed in the Stanley Cup Playoffs!
Colorado Avalanche (48-13-10)
The Opponent: Winnipeg Jets (30-30-12)
Time: 5:00 P.M. MDT/7:00 P.M. EDT
Watch: ALT, ALT+ (Avalanche Local Broadcast Area), ESPN+, NHL Center Ice (Outside Regional Broadcast Areas – US), SN+, NHL Centre Ice (Canadian Broadcast Areas)
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
As mentioned previously, the Avalanche come into today’s game fresh off a 3-2 victory over these same Winnipeg Jets on Thursday evening at Canada Life Center. Despite trailing early after a goal by Jets franchise center Mark Scheifele, the Avs would turn the tables with three unanswered goals—two courtesy of Nathan MacKinnon—en route to their first regular season victory in Manitoba since February 24, 2023. This game saw the return of Artturi Lehkonen, who had missed the previous eleven games due to injury. He factored in on the eventual game-winning goal with a great seeing-eye pass that MacKinnon deflected past Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck early in the third period. Winnipeg would unsuccessfully challenge the goal for goaltender interference, but the call on the ice withstood the challenge. A late goal by Scheifele made things interesting, but the Avalanche were able to stave off a Winnipeg push to complete the road trip sweep.
With this latest victory, the Avalanche increased their point lead over the Dallas Stars—who suffered a 2-1 regulation loss to the New York Islanders earlier Thursday evening—to nine points in the Central Division, and still hold a game in hand in their possession. They remain the undisputed leader across the Central Division, Western Conference, and League standings. Dallas will be in action against Pittsburgh today, and the Minnesota Wild, who have pulled within three points of Dallas, will face Boston. Dallas has a game in hand over Minnesota, but another regulation loss—a possible fourth loss in a row for Dallas—would open the door for Minnesota to pull within a single point of second place in the Central should they defeat the Bruins today.
The stakes in the standings are getting higher and higher, and the margin for error is growing thinner and thinner. The Avs control their own destiny, and completing the home and home series with Winnipeg with another victory will only tighten their grip on what’s been a near wire-to-wire run at the top of the standings.
Coach Jared Bednar said after Thursday’s game, “It was a good effort from our guys. We gave up a couple of goals on turnovers on the D-zone walls, so there’s a couple of things we want to improve on, but for the most part, I think, [at the] end of the road trip, we played hard; we were competitive. Special teams did a really nice job tonight, and from the goaltender out, I think we had everybody involved and were able to carve out a win against a really good team, a desperate hockey team.”
Bednar made it clear to say that, even with the Avs in control of their destiny as the regular season winds down, the remaining games still mean something. “We’re still fighting for first place,” he said, “so every win’s important until they put the mark beside our [name in the] standings, so we’ve had something to play for down the stretch run here. I think we’ve had a good year, but we’re not comfortable. We’re still just kind of fine-tuning our game before going into the playoffs […] but you’re playing hungry teams every night that are jockeying for position, trying to fight [their way] into the playoffs, trying to move up the standings, so there’s still lots to play for in the season, and lots of hockey, and we certainly don’t want [our] game deteriorating over the last month of the season before we get into the playoffs, so that’s our main focus.”
Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 22 of 24 shots for the victory in Winnipeg for his third straight win. Should Bednar turn to him again today, Blackwood could tie his single season career high in wins (22) with another stellar performance. However, if Bednar continues to alternate between starting him and Scott Wedgewood, then look for Wedgewood to return to the crease. Both goalies have victories over Winnipeg this season, so Bednar won’t be lacking in confidence in either option as the four game series comes to an end today.
Bednar said this of Blackwood’s recent play and his goaltending tandem as a whole: “[Blackwood] came out of the [Olympic] break playing really good, then he had a dip in a handful of his starts, and he’s gone to work, and I feel like his last handful of games here, he’s given us a great chance to win. He’s coming up with big saves when we need him, he’s been exceptional on the penalty kill, which always helps, so [I’m] pretty happy with the way both of those guys are playing in net right now.”
MacKinnon remains the NHL’s goal scoring leader (48), but remains four points behind both Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Tampa’s Nikita Kucherov (both forwards have 114 points apiece at the time of this writing). Nečas now ranks second in team goal scoring (34), while Brock Nelson remains a close third (32). Cale Makar, who scored his 20th goal of the season against Dallas on March 18, needs only one point to reach 500 career points. It is currently unknown whether Nicolas Roy, who has not played since March 22 at Washington, will return to the lineup for today’s game.
Today’s game marks the first of a three game home stand at Ball Arena, the last extended stretch on home ice for the Avs this regular season.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Gabriel Landeskog – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas Ross Colton – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin Artturi Lehkonen – Nazem Kadri – Logan O’Connor Parker Kelly – Jack Drury – Joel Kiviranta
Defense: Brett Kulak – Cale Makar Devon Toews – Sam Malinski Josh Manson – Brent Burns
Between the Pipes: Scott Wedgewood Mackenzie Blackwood
Winnipeg Jets
When Winnipeg hosted Colorado at Canada Life Center two weeks ago, their playoff hopes were hanging in the balance. As mentioned in this space back then, a successful back to back weekend could prove to be the turning point in their bid to secure a postseason berth on the heels of last season’s historic run that saw them secure the top seed in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the Presidents Trophy as the best team in the NHL. Although Winnipeg did defeat both Colorado and St. Louis in those back to back games, Winnipeg then proceeded to lose four of its next six games—including their most recent loss to Colorado on Thursday evening—and now remain five points outside the last wild card spot in the Western Conference, currently occupied (somehow) by the Nashville Predators.
With ten games remaining on their regular season schedule, Winnipeg has a lot of work ahead of them. Four of those games are against teams also chasing a wild card berth: Seattle (one point ahead of Winnipeg), San Jose and St. Louis (both one point behind Winnipeg), and Utah (currently eight points ahead of Winnipeg and holding the first wild card position in the Western Conference). While the term, “must-win” is thrown around a lot in sports, these four games are games that Winnipeg absolutely cannot afford to lose. A win today against Colorado would certainly help their cause, but games against Dallas, Vegas, and the surging Columbus Blue Jackets are also monumental hurdles for Winnipeg to clear in their desperate push to sneak into the postseason. It’s not an impossible task, but the odds are growing longer and longer, and as much as Winnipeg must focus on their own performance, they’ll also need to get some help to keep the teams they’re chasing close enough to pass.
With his pair of goals against Colorado on Thursday, Scheifele continues leading all Winnipeg skaters in goals (34), assists (54), and points (88). Kyle Connor is second in all three categories (32G/50A/82PTS). Defenseman Josh Morrissey still leads all Winnipeg defensemen in all three categories (12G/37A/49PTS). After missing the previous game against Colorado two weeks ago, defenseman Neal Pionk played in his fourth game on Thursday night since his return from injury on March 21. Former Avalanche forward Vladislav Namestnikov will remain out of the lineup due to injury. With so much riding on the line for Winnipeg, it’s almost a given that Hellebuyck will make his third consecutive start—his 50th of the season—today.
Today marks the first of a four game road trip for Winnipeg, its final extended road trip of the season. By the time this road trip is over, they may know if they’re cleared for a postseason takeoff, or if they’ve been grounded on the runway.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Kyle Connor – Mark Scheifele – Alex Iafallo Cole Perfetti – Adam Lowry – Gabe Vilardi Isak Rosén – Morgan Barron – Brad Lambert Cole Koepke – Jonathan Toews – Gustav Nyquist
The Ottawa Senators are in the thick of the Eastern Conference Wild Card chase, and still in distance of a Top 3 spot in the Atlantic as they battle the Tampa Bay Lighting on Saturday afternoon.
My Senators vs. Lightning predictions and free NHL picks have these two high-scoring teams lighting the lamp with frequency on March 28.
Senators vs Lightning prediction
Senators vs Lightning best bet: Over 6.5 (+110)
It’s a battle of two teams in the Top 10 in scoring.
The Ottawa Senators dropped a 4-3 shootout to the Penguins last time, but it’s another game where they’ve picked up points – 18 times in the last 21.
The Senators are down five defenseman, including standouts Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot, and that will be tough against the league’s second-highest scoring team.
The Tampa Bay Lightning boast five players with at least 20 goals on the year.
The Over has hit in four of the last five between these teams, and it appears they’ll stay on trend today.
Senators vs Lightning same-game parlay
Jake Guentzel has been on fire for Tampa of late, scoring four times in his last five games. He’s tallied six times in his last 10 against Ottawa.
Tim Stutzle is coming off a two-assist game against Pittsburgh, and he’s been a solid setup man against the Lightning, recording at least one assist against them in nine of the last 10 games.
Senators vs Lightning SGP
Over 6.5
Jake Guentzel anytime goal
Tim Stutzle Over 0.5 assists
Senators vs Lightning odds
Moneyline: Senators +150 | Lightning -180
Puck Line: Senators +1.5 | Lightning -1.5
Over/Under: Over 6.5 | Under 6.5
Senators vs Lightning trend
The Senators have won 11 of their last 12 day games against East opponents. Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Lightning.
How to watch Senators vs Lightning
Location
Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
Date
Saturday, March 28, 2026
Puck drop
1:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN5, The Spot
Senators vs Lightning latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Vancouver Canucks (21-42-8) kick off a four-game road trip on Saturday against the Calgary Flames (30-34-8). Both these teams are at the bottom of the standings and have won a combined eight of their past 20 games. Vancouver enters the game looking to snap a four-game losing streak, while Calgary is coming off an overtime loss on Thursday.
Saturday is setting up to be an interesting game from a draft lottery perspective. While the Canucks have all but secured 32nd place, the Flames have a chance to finish the season with the second-best odds at first overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. Ultimately, Saturday could be called a tank battle as both teams have struggled mightily this season.
As for Vancouver, they cannot have a repeat of Thursday night. Even if the Canucks lose, they need to show that they can play a full 60 while improving areas like shot generation and the penalty kill. At this stage of the season, the process is more important than results, as Vancouver will remain at the bottom of the standings the rest of the year.
Players To Watch
Tom Willander:
Tom Willander is one of the younger players getting more opportunities as the season comes to a close. He played over 21 minutes on Thursday and showed late in the game that he isn't afraid to get involved in a scrum. Even though he is only 21, Willander looks like he is developing into a leader for the Canucks.
Hunter Brzustewicz:
A familiar face will be in the lineup for Calgary on Saturday as Hunter Brzustewicz will patrol the blue line for the Flames. Initially drafted by Vancouver in 2023, the 21-year-old is projected to suit up for his 27th career game. So far this season, Brzustewicz has three points and is averaging 15:07 per night.
Nov 23, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (32) defends against Vancouver Canucks center Linus Karlsson (94) during the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images
Vancouver Canucks (21–42–8):
Points:
Elias Pettersson: 15–28–43
Filip Hronek: 8–33–41
Brock Boeser: 17–20–37
Jake DeBrusk: 15–18–33
Linus Karlsson: 13–17–30
Goaltenders:
Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1
Kevin Lankinen: 8–25–5
Nikita Tolopilo: 5–6–2
Jiří Patera: 0–1–0
Calgary Flames (30–34–8):
Points:
Mikael Backlund: 16-23-39
Matt Coronato: 16-20-36
Morgan Frost: 17-18-35
Joel Farabee: 16-16-32
Blake Coleman: 17-13-30
Goaltenders:
Dustin Wolf: 21-25-3
Devin Cooley: 9-9-5
Game Information:
Start time: 7:00 pm PT
Venue: Scotiabank Saddledome
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
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The Detroit Red Wings had not scored a first-period goal since their victory over the New Jersey Devils on March 8, but they were able to remedy that drought on Friday evening.
In fact, they did it three times.
First-period goals from Alex DeBrincat, Lucas Raymond, and Marco Kasper paced the Red Wings to a critical 5-2 road win over the Buffalo Sabres, enabling them to get back to within a point of the second and final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
For the Red Wings, getting off to a big start was key.
"Everyone was asking me about the want or the need to score in the first period, so it was really big," head coach Todd McLellan said. "We caught them maybe a little bit flat, and you could see when they took it up in the second (period) and it was a different game. But the lead was something we needed."
As McLellan noted, the Sabres upped their game in the contest's middle frame, limiting the Red Wings to only three shots while also finally solving John Gibson with a Tage Thompson goal.
However, Detroit kept Buffalo at bay and secured an insurance tally from former Sabres defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker. Despite a Sabres goal from team captain Rasmus Dahlin soon afterward, Buffalo native and future Hall of Famer Patrick Kane sealed the victory with an empty net goal.
Kane made sure to not only emphasize the importance of the fast start but also credit Gibson, who made 28 saves.
“It was a great start, I think we were really focused on the start tonight, and that obviously put us in a great position. Second period wasn't great, obviously, but kind of held down the fort, only gave up one. Gibby made some huge saves."
Gibson returned to the form that made him one of the NHL's best goaltenders since the beginning of December, turning aside several prime chances for the Sabres.
"He was unbelievable for us tonight, and a lot of bending but not breaking in the right moments in the game, and obviously the fourth goal was huge to give us a cushion," Kane said. "So, big team win. Coming into Buffalo against a good team, we should feel good about that one, but got to get right back to it tomorrow.”
The Red Wings are back in action on Saturday evening against the visiting Philadelphia Flyers.
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The Columbus Blue Jackets are back at home for the first of three straight games in the friendly confines of Nationwide Arena. This game features the San Jose Sharks.
San Jose Sharks - 32-21-7 - 71 Points - 2-6-2 in the last 10 - Lost 6 - 6th in the Pecific
Columbus Blue Jackets - 38-23-11 - 87 Points - 6-2-2 in the last 10 - Lost 1 - 3rd in the Metro
Team Notes Per CBJ PR
CBJ wrapped up a three-game road trip (1-2-0) with a 2-1 loss at Montreal on Thursday. Each contest was decided by a single goal.
The Blue Jackets, who begin a three-game homestand on Saturday, have earned points in 12-straight home games (9-0-3), tied for the longest home points streak in club history (12; 9-0-3 from Feb. 11-Mar. 31, 2013). The team has also collected points in 16-of-17 contests at Nationwide Arena in 2026 (12-1-4).
The club has earned points in 24 of its last 28 contests (20-4-4, 44 pts) to lead the league in wins (tied), points pct. (.786) and goals against per game (2.43) since Jan. 11.
Columbus has allowed two goals or less in eight of the last nine games since Mar. 10 (1.78 GA/GP, 3rd in NHL).
CBJ play their 15th of 16 back-to-back sets (18-6-4, .714 pts pct.) vs. San Jose (Saturday) and Boston (Sunday).
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Adam Fantilli has registered points in seven out of the last nine games (3-6-9) and in 13 of the last 17 contests (8-10-18). He is two points (21-32-53, 72 GP) from setting a single-season career high.
Jet Greaves has earned points in 14 of his last 16 starts since Jan. 11 (12-2-2, 2.23 GAA, .915 SV% in 16 GP), while G Elvis Merzlikins has recorded points in 10 of his past 12 starts over that span (8-2-2, 2.50 GAA in 13 GP).
Boone Jenner has registered 1-3-4 in the last five games and sits two contests shy of 800 for his NHL career (209-207-416, 798 GP).
Mason Marchment has totaled 13-10-23 in 30 contests with the Blue Jackets.
Mathieu Olivier has posted 3-1-4 in the past six games and ranks eighth-T in the NHL in goals since Jan. 28 (11 in 21 GP).
Zach Werenski has recorded multiple points in three of the last five games (1-7-8). He has notched 21-56-77 and 25 multi-point efforts in 65 games in 2025-26 to lead NHL blueliners in points-per-game (1.18), multi-point efforts, and shots on goal (226) and sit second in points and third in goals. He's also tied Artemi Panarin's single-season club record for multi-point games (2018-19).
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 20.0% - 17th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 78.2% - 21st in the NHL
Goals For - 226 - 17th in the NHL
Goals Against - 218 - 16th in the NHL
SharksStats
Power Play - 19.8% - 18th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 79.0% - 16th in the NHL
Goals For - 210 - 19th in the NHL
Goals Against - 250 - 30th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheSharks
Columbus is 29-35-0-6 all-time, and 19-13-0-3 at home vs. San Jose.
Columbus had its six-game points streak in the series (5-0-1) in the 5-2 loss in the last meeting at San Jose.
The Blue Jackets have earned points in 10 of the last 14 games of the series since Mar. 4, 2018 (9-4-1).
CBJ have won four-straight home games against the Sharks and five of the past six at Nationwide Arena.
The home team has won four-straight and collected points in nine of the last 10 in the series (8-1-1).
Six of the last seven games played at Nationwide Arena have been decided by multiple goals.
The winning team has scored four-plus goals in 7 of the last nine matchups in the overall series.
The teams have each recorded six shutouts and three hat tricks in the series, with CBJ recording the most recent in each category (Bobrovsky, 26 saves in a 4-0 shutout win at CBJ on Feb. 23, 2019; Carter, three goals in a 6-3 W at CBJ on Feb. 21, 2012).
Who To Watch For TheSharks
Macklin Celebrini leads the team with 35 goals, 61 assists, and 96 points.
Alex Wennberg has 31 assists and 45 points.
Yaroslav Askarov is 19-17-3 with a SV% of .888
Ohioan Alex Nedeljkovic is 13-13-4 with an .893 SV%.
CBJ Player Notes vsSharks
Charlie Coyle has 6 goals and 12 points against San Jose.
Zach Werenski has 8 points in 14 career games.
Mason Marchment has 6 points vs. the Sharks.
Injured Reserve & Other Injuries
Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 34 Games IR - Out for the rest of the regular season.
Damon Severson - Upper Body - Left the game early against the Montreal Canadiens.
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 180
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FanDuel Sports Network. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
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While the novelty of outdoor games might have worn off for those watching on TV, they remain an incredible experience for those in attendance, and Montreal is now the only Canadian team that has not hosted an outdoor game. In the latest edition of his written 32 Thoughts, Sportsnet's insider Elliotte Friedman reports that the Montreal Canadiens are working to fix that.
Furthering Renaud Lavoie’s report about the fact that the Habs are aiming to build a temporary outdoor stadium at Parc Jean Drapeau, Friedman reports that it would be able to seat 42,000 fans, and the organization aims to have that ready for the 2028-29 season. He also adds that a woman’s game would be part of the festivities. That would no doubt be a big success given how popular the Montreal Victoire have been since its inception.
The Canadiens have taken part in four outdoor games so far: the very first regular-season outdoor game in 2003, in which they battled the Edmonton Oilers, another Heritage Classic in 2011 against the Calgary Flames, a Winter Classic in Foxborough against the Boston Bruins, and the NHL Centennial game against the Ottawa Senators in December 2017. Montreal has a 2-2-0 record playing outside in the regular season. Next season, the Habs will feature in their fifth outdoor game, taking on the Winnipeg Jets on October 25 at the Princess Auto Stadium.
Having attended the game in Foxborough in 2016, I can attest to the special atmosphere, with 67,246 fans cheering on the archrivals. The Canadiens won that game 5-1, and the fans who had come down from Montreal for the event didn’t go home disappointed. The weekend would have been perfect had it not been for the life-altering injury Denna Laing sustained in the game between the Boston Pride and the Montreal Canadiennes the day before the Winter Classic. The forward suffered a spinal cord injury when she collided headfirst with the boards and has been in a wheelchair since. Last year, she was awarded the NHL Foundation Athlete Leadership Award for her leadership and advocacy for spinal cord injury awareness.
If and when the Canadiens manage to have a temporary stadium and the NHL schedules a game there, I highly recommend attending; you’ll have a wonderful time.
Kirill Kaprizov: 38G-42A-80PTS; Matt Boldy: 38G-38A-76PTS; Quinn Hughes: 6G-64A-70PTS
Filip Gustavsson: 26-12-6, 2.51 GAA, .911 save percentage; Jesper Wallstedt: 15-8-6, 2.73 GAA, .912 save percentage
Game notes
The Boston Bruins are set to face off against the Minnesota Wild this evening in the first of a back-to-back weekend. They’ll head to Columbus tomorrow to take on the Blue Jackets Friday.
It will also be the first of three games in four days for the Bruins as the season winds down with 10 games left.
It’s still a tight wild card race and again, every point matters. The B’s are holding onto the first wild card spot with 88 points, one point ahead from the New York Islanders. Ottawa trails a wild card spot by a point with 86.
The Bruins last saw the Wild on Dec. 14, 2025. The Bruins dropped that game, 6-2. In the game, the B’s allowed two power play goals and Kaprizov scored twice.
The Wild have the edge on special teams this evening and it’s something the Bruins need to clean up down this stretch.
Head Coach Marco Sturm said after practice they’ve switched positions “a little bit” on the power play to try to get it going. He said they’ve tried to let things ride out, saying maybe the units need another game and have taken things day by day. But he added the power play isn’t there yet and there’s been too many turnovers. “These guys, we need to be better. Hopefully we can get back on track here as soon as possible,” he said.
The Bruins are also looking to tune up their penalty kill as they’ve allowed five power play goals by their opponents in the last three games. “We have to find out ways to come out even,” Sturm said.
Recent point leaders: For the Bruins, David Pastrnak has nine points in his last five games with three goals and six assists. Pavel Zacha has four goals in that time. For the Wild, Brock Faber has six points with one goal and five assists in his last five games.
The Wild last played on Thursday when they beat the Florida Panthers, 3-2.
The Bruins had a visit from Patrice Bergeron yesterday skating with Morgan Geekie and Fraser Minton before yesterday’s practice.
Per the nhl.com, the Bruins are projected to look like this today:
Lines:
Marat Khusnutdinov — Fraser Minten — David Pastrnak
Casey Mittelstadt — Pavel Zacha — Viktor Arvidsson
Put it over the radio: New York’s Bravest and Finest will light the lamps on the ice this weekend.
The annual NYPD and FDNY hockey game — a grudge match filled with flying fists, punishing hits and high-octane play from the departments’ heroes — is a day circled on every first responder’s calendar.
“This is basically our Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final,” firefighter and goalie Nick Battaglia told The Post.
“The first two minutes of that game, everyone wants to kill each other. Nobody’s worried about the puck,” added NYPD general manager and former captain Charlie Venticinque. “If you have the puck, you’re getting tanked.”
The game sells out NHL arenas year after year, and this time at UBS Arena at 1:30 p.m. Sunday will be no different. Fans and family come ready to roar and even bring banners and signs for their kin to make it feel like the real deal.
Months on end, teammates in their mid-20s to late-40s have been doing whatever it takes to be in game, or rather fighting, shape.
They want to put on a show in the 52nd annual head-to-head meeting.
“Guys are missing work, missing overtime, missing things with their family, switching their tours around,” said newly anointed NYPD captain and defenseman George Antzoulis. “Guys are staying at work for three days straight, going from hockey back to work, sleeping in the office, sleeping in chairs, sleeping in their cars in the parking lot.”
It’s a labor of love, pride, and brotherhood, as tugging on that jersey — Antzoulis knows stepping on the ice with the “C” on his chest will be an emotional moment — represents something much larger than the individual athlete.
They’re always reminded of that in the locker room on game day.
DNY goalie Nick Battaglia says the annual game against the NYPD is “basically our Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.” Heather Khalifa for New York Post
Families of members lost in the line of duty have come in to inspire the players, as have the brass of both departments.
“You get chills,” said NYPD center and alternate captain Dan O’Donoghue, who was in Islanders rookie camp in 2010.
“Seeing the stands fill up, then you do the 9/11 remembrance, the bagpipes, and the national anthem … you try to take it all in. It goes really fast.”
Extra motivation to play through each whistle is hardly necessary — especially when the archrivals start chirping one another with cop and firefighter jokes.
When bone-crushing, open-ice hits mix in — O’Donoghue added that he’s “usually limping around the house a week or so after” — the gloves “organically” come off, said FDNY right wing Stephen Kelly.
Dan O’Donoghue of the NYPD played several AHL seasons and attended Islanders rookie camp in 2010 NYPD hockey team
“That passion runs through you. … We stand up for each other, we look out for each other,” he added, recalling a few past brawls that went viral online in the wild game for charity. “It’s just like your family at home. You’re going to defend them … whether you’re at work or on the hockey rink. That’s the fire department brotherhood.”
The temporary adversaries, many of whom grew up playing with or against one another, remember they’re all on the same team where it counts after the final buzzer.
“At the end of the day, everybody knows it’s a hockey game,” Kelly said.
The teams are now celebrities in the hockey world from their remarkable style of lambasting physical play — it gets the rowdy crowd going like an Islanders-Rangers game — as they travel across the country to face other teams and organizations.
The NYPD recently took on the Boston PD, and the FDNY typically lands in an Ontario firefighter hockey tournament, where the opposition is in a league of its own.
“Those departments, they recruit hockey players to be firemen,” firefighter forward Derek Kern said of the Canadians. “They have draft picks, they have guys that played in the NHL.”
FDNY’s high level of competition has paid off, as red hasn’t lost to blue in a decade.
They also hold a 31-18-2 all-time record against the NYPD, dating back to the first game at Madison Square Garden in 1974.
But the cops want to read ’em their rights this time around.
“We’re due. Man, we need one … it’s something I’m dying for,” Antzoulis said.
But if not, the captain is content having an unforgettable day with his brothers.
“There are 33,000 cops in the NYPD, and there are only 30 of us,” he said. “We’re the luckiest 30 in the world.”
The Islanders’ up-down, up-down form hopefully does not continue today when they host the Panthers for a 1 p.m. matinee in Elmont.
Florida split two games at home (lost to the Wild, beat the Kraken) after finishing a road trip with a 4-1 loss in Calgary. Yes, they are last-except-for-the-Rangers in the East, but the Cup champs are not pushovers and have not thrown in the towel, going 5-5 over their last 10 (just a game worse than the Islanders, by the way).
After squeaking by the Stars on Thursday, if the Islanders can pull off another win chances are it will be by one goal, which is how they’ve gotten 27 of their wins thus far this season.
Islanders News
Five dudes who are key to the Isles’ playoff push. [Newsday]
Here’s how they lined up at Friday’s practice. [Isles]
The Isles ground out a win vs. the Stars, they’ll need that again this afternoon. [Post]
The Skinny: “Schaefer has 22 goals, tying Barry Beck (22) for the second-highest total in a season. His next goal will tie Brian Leetch’s NHL record.” [Isles]
It was team photo day, and the behind-the-scenes shots are all cute ‘n stuff. Kyle Palmieri and Alex Romanov sightings, plus Matt Martin in a suit and Matthew Schaefer hamming it up. [Isles]
Elsewhere
Just two games last night but the Red Wings won in Buffalo, in regulation, earning a valuable two points from one of their two games in hand.
PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 11: Roope Hintz #24 of the Dallas Stars skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on November 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Who:Dallas Stars (43-18-11, 97 points, 2nd place Central Division) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (36-20-16, 88 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division)
When: 5:00 p.m. eastern
How to Watch: Locally broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and Victory+, streaming on ESPN+
Pens’ Path Ahead: The Penguins have a back-to-back coming up that will have a major impact on the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Pens take on the New York Islanders on the road on Monday before matching up with the Detroit Red Wings at home on Tuesday.
Opponent Track: The Stars have hit a recent skid, going 1-4-1 in their last six games (coming on the heels of going 8-0-1 in the first nine games out of the Olympic break). When Dallas is good, they’re very good but that hasn’t been the case recently having lost four-straight games (0-3-1) with losses to Minnesota, Vegas, New Jersey and most recently a 2-1 regulation defeat to the Islanders on Thursday night. Between the Stars’ slide, combined with Colorado’s recent four-game winning streak, it looks like Dallas is heading towards the ‘first round matchup of doom’ this year in the Central Division against Minnesota in what could feature two 105+ point teams squaring off.
Season Series: Back before the Penguins exorcised their shootout demons, they lost a 3-2 shootout decision against the Stars on Dec. 7 thanks to a Mikko Rantanen shootout goal against Tristan Jarry.
Hidden Stat: The Stars clinched a playoff spot on Sunday, which marked the franchise’s fewest games to earn a playoff spot (70) since the team did it in 63 games during their 1998-99 Stanley Cup season (h/t NHL Stats).
Hidden Stat 2.0: Home ice hasn’t been that friendly to the Penguins, who have only won 16 out of the 35 games at PPG Paints Arena (with another “home” win in the standings counted in a victory in Sweden when the Pens were designated as the home team). Overall the Pens are just 16-11-8 this season in their true home arena.
Rantanen is nearing a return from injury, he participated in Thursday’s morning skate ahead of the NYI game (though he didn’t play). As of 12 days ago Rantanen was said to be 10-14 days away, so he’s right in the window for a possible return to action for today’s game.
Mikko Rantanen is still more than 10 days to two weeks away from any possible return.
He will not go on the road with the team this week.
Roope Hintz and Radek Faksa are further away from consideration.
The Stars will be without Tyler Seguin for the rest of the season and the playoffs after placing him on LTIR in February amid his recovery from a torn ACL. They’ll still hope to get Hintz and Faksa back in time for the postseason, in addition to the impending return of Rantanen.
Former Penguin Michael Bunting was one of the Stars’ additions at the trade deadline alongside defenseman Tyler Myers. Bunting has since slotted in on Dallas’ second line alongside Matt Duchene.
Dallas could soon have two brothers on the same team for the first time since Jamie and Jordie Benn. The Stars recently signed Dylan Hryckowian, brother and former college teammate of third-line center Justin Hryckowian, to an entry-level contract.
Stars going dim
Generating offense has been an issue for Dallas during their current losing streak. They’re currently without two of their top-five point producers and stretching others into bigger roles has had an effect on output lately.
During the past 5 games, Dallas has scored 1 goal 1 goal 2 goals 4 goals 1 goal
The loss of Rantanen and Hintz is now a major issue. It's not just the loss of the two forwards but also the effect it has on special teams and depth scoring.
Wyatt Johnston has recorded career highs in both goals and points while centering Jason Robertson, who is enjoying his fourth straight 80-point season in Dallas.
It’s been an up-and-down season for Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger, although he’s been strong as of late. The Stars are playing the Philadelphia Flyers on the road tomorrow, so they’ll have to decide whether Oettinger or former Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith will be getting the start in Pittsburgh tonight.
DeSmith, by the way, has only played against Pittsburgh once in his career. That happened last year as a member of the Stars, where he stopped 35 of 39 shots but picked up the loss. Oettinger has a lot of career success against the Pens, boasting a 6-1-0 record with a .942 save% and 1.71 GAA.
The Stars have been running one of the most formidable power plays in the NHL this season, although their top unit has recently taken a hit with the injury absence of Mikko Rantanen.
Dallas has had some injury issues but they haven’t played many different players, just 27 skaters have dressed this season. By comparison, the Penguins have dressed 38 different skaters so far this season.
And now for the Pens
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Rickard Rakell – Sidney Crosby* – Bryan Rust
Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Anthony Mantha
Ville Koivunen – Ben Kindel – Justin Brazeau
Elmer Soderblom – Connor Dewar – Noel Acciari
DEFENSEMEN
Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson
Sam Girard / Kris Letang
Ryan Shea / Connor Clifton
Goalies: Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner
Potential Scratches: Ilya Solovyov, Blake Lizotte (injured), Kevin Hayes, Ryan Graves, Evgeni Malkin (injured)
IR: Filip Hallander, Jack St. Ivany
The Pens canceled a practice yesterday, so we’ll have to wait and see for this morning on any updates on the status of Crosby. If Crosby can’t play, it’s possible that Joona Koppanen will be in the lineup as a bottom-six center. The team could also opt to shift Rickard Rakell or Noel Acciari to center for the day and insert a winger like Avery Hayes into the lineup. Depending on Crosby’s status it could be a very fluid situation with a couple different options on how they want to go about patching a lineup together.
We’ll also await word on Evgeni Malkin, officially day-to-day with an undisclosed injury (believed to be in the finger/hand area). Malkin did not even travel with the team to Ottawa for Thursday’s game which might not bode well for his availability just a couple days later.
Bryan Rust is currently in the midst of a career-long nine-game point streak (5G-8A) and has points in 14 of his last 15 games played (7G-12A) dating back to Feb. 28th, per Pens PR. Rust’s streak is the second longest active one in the league behind Boston’s David Pastranak (11).
Sam Girard is set to play in career game No. 600 today. Not bad for a guy who won’t turn 28 until May.
Whether or not the goalie rotation continues will be interesting as well, Skinner has been performing much better than Silovs lately — but the team has other considerations in mind with a massive set of games on Monday/Tuesday against NYI and Detroit. They may want to keep Skinner fresh and in rhythm for that Monday game by not leaning too hard on him today, which would make Monday his third game in five days. They may also not want Silovs to have his next action come on Tuesday and have him go a full week between starts by skipping him today. Lots to weigh and consider for that decision on who plays in goal today for the Pens with more variables in mind than simply this one game.
Erik Karlsson is deep into Paul Coffey territory for points in a single month — always a great sign for any defender. Across the NHL this month, only Tampa’s Nikita Kucherov (26) has more points than Karlsson with his 21.
For the first time in franchise history, the Vegas Golden Knights will finish a season with more losses than wins.
Despite entering the year with a roster built around elite talent, headlined by players such as Jack Eichel and the high-profile addition of Mitch Marner, the Golden Knights have struggled to meet expectations. A 4-3 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night at T-Mobile Arena only added to a season defined by inconsistency, missed chances, and an inability to close out tightly contested games.
Goaltending Instability And The Root Of The Problem
One of the clearest issues throughout the season has been goaltending. While not the only reason for the team’s struggles, it has consistently been one of the most significant factors limiting Vegas from performing at its usual level.
Ted Orion said it best: "You can't win games if you can't play defense." Vegas can score, but stopping them is an issue.
To understand how things reached this point, it’s worth looking back at how the goaltending situation has evolved over the past few seasons.
The Golden Knights weren’t always unstable in net. In 2023, they captured the Stanley Cup with a more dependable structure in goal. However, Logan Thompson suffered a lower-body injury late in that season.
During his absence, Vegas turned to a rotation that included Laurent Brossoit, Adin Hill, rookie Jiří Patera, and midseason acquisition Jonathan Quick. Although Thompson was unavailable for the playoffs, he remained part of the championship team, and his name was eventually engraved on the Stanley Cup alongside his teammates.
The following season opened with Thompson and Hill sharing the net as a tandem. That arrangement changed when Hill dealt with a series of lower-body injuries, which allowed Thompson to step into the starting role. After some early inconsistencies, Thompson’s play improved notably following the Winter Classic, where he began to settle into a more consistent rhythm.
Heading into the playoffs, Thompson was named the Golden Knights’ starter and responded well early, helping Vegas win back-to-back games against the Dallas Stars on April 22 and 24. But as the series progressed, momentum began to shift. Thompson dropped the next two games, and while he delivered a strong performance in Game 3 with a career-high 43 saves, it came in a losing effort.
Logan Thompson deserved better. Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie
Facing pressure, the Golden Knights made the decision to turn to Adin Hill for Game 5. The move carried risk, largely based on Hill’s prior success as the goaltender who helped backstop the team to a Stanley Cup. The hope was that he could recapture that form and provide a spark.
Instead, the decision didn’t deliver the desired result. The change disrupted the stability in net, and Vegas was unable to regain control of the series, ultimately falling to the Stars in seven games.
Following the season, Thompson requested a trade, and the Golden Knights honored that request by sending him to the Washington Capitals during the 2024 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for two third-round picks.
Fallout And The Current State Of The Position
Since that move, the Golden Knights have struggled to find consistent goaltending. Adin Hill has endured the worst season of his career, ranking near the bottom of the league statistically with a 9-9-4 record, a 3.07 goals-against average, and a .868 save percentage.
In contrast, Thompson has thrived in Washington, emerging as one of the league’s top goaltenders. He currently ranks 2nd among 94 goaltenders, posting a 25-20 record, a 2.40 goals-against average, and a .914 save percentage. The difference in production has only intensified scrutiny around the decision to move on from him.
The organization also added Carter Hart, who arrived under the shadow of the Hockey Canada sexual assault investigation. His season, however, has been hampered by injuries and uneven play, and he has not been able to provide the stability the team was hoping for. Akira Schmid has filled in as well, but his performance has largely reflected that of a depth option rather than a true starter, further highlighting the uncertainty in net.
Hart making a save against the Oilers. Credit: Walter Tychnowicz
Entering the season, Vegas believed Hill and Hart would anchor the position. That plan has not materialized, and goaltending has become one of the team’s most pressing concerns.
Attention has naturally turned toward general manager Kelly McCrimmon. While he remains a respected executive and a Stanley Cup-winning architect, the current shortcomings—especially in goal—have raised legitimate questions. Accountability comes with the job.
Ultimately, McCrimmon is tasked with finding a solution. Whether through internal development, roster adjustments, or future acquisitions, the Golden Knights need to stabilize the goaltending position if they hope to return to contention.
Not every gamble works out, and when they don’t, the consequences can be significant. In professional sports, results drive everything. If McCrimmon is unable to guide the team back to consistent success, changes within the organization may eventually follow.
The New York Rangers’ 6-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night was headlined by a number of NHL firsts for a few of the Blueshirts’ young players.
The main storyline going into Friday night’s game was the highly anticipated debut of Drew Fortescue, who signed his entry-level contract with the Rangers last week after completing his junior season at Boston College.
Fortescue played a total of 17:23 minutes and recorded his first NHL point, assisting Jonny Brodzinski’s goal in the third period.
“I thought he was solid,” Mike Sullivan said of Fortescue. “For the most part, he played the game with composure. He didn't just throw pucks away. He made some outlet passes. He had good poise. I thought he had a high-panic threshold. He didn't throw pucks away when he was under pressure, he protected it. He defended well. I think he's got a good stick, decent mobility. There's a lot to like about Drew's game. For such a young kid in his first NHL game, I thought he played really well.”
In his second NHL game, Adam Sýkora recorded his first NHL goal, on a two-on-one chance with Will Cuylle.
The excitement from Sýkora was evident, as he celebrated with passion, and his teammates were ecstatic for the young rookie, who could be seen embracing him on the bench.
“I couldn't describe the feeling,” Sýkora said about his first NHL goal. “You play the first game (Wednesday), then you have a goal. I just appreciate every moment here to be around these guys and... help them to win games. And just enjoy every second I got an opportunity to play here.”
Sýkora has spent multiple years playing with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League, creating a reputation for himself as a player who plays with ferocious energy and a personality that is infectious.
That same energy, both on and off the ice, has been felt since the Rangers called him up earlier this week.
“He’s a dog on the bone on the puck,” Sullivan said of Sýkora. “Doesn’t matter what the score is, he’s going to give you 110%… His personality is infectious. You could see the reaction of his teammates when he scored the goal. I think that speaks volumes of what they think of him as a person.”
Dylan Garand was able to notch his first NHL victory in a moment he says that he’ll never forget.
The 23-year-old goalie made 27 saves on 28 shots, and in his two starts since taking over the backup goaltending job for the injured Jonathan Quick, Garand has caught the eye of Sullivan.
“I thought he looked really solid in there, and that's the second game in a row I felt that way so. It's two really good starts for him and I'm happy for him because I know how hard he's worked to get to this point,” Sullivan said of Garand. “It's great for our team, it's great for our organization... The feeling I've gotten behind the bench in the two starts that he's had is that he's completely in control and he has good composure in there.”
While the Rangers may be eliminated from playoff contention with less than 10 games remaining in the 2025-26 season, this is an opportunity for the young players to make their mark with the organization and prove their worth moving forward.
“I think we're all hungry,” Garand said. “This is kind of, for some of us, our opportunity. Guys like me and [Adam Sýkora], we've been playing in Hartford for a long time and we finally get to play games. We're hungry and we're excited to try and help this team win in any way we can. It's a lot of fun right now.”
The Chicago Blackhawks took on the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Friday night. This was the third game out of four on their East Coast road trip.
The first game of the trip on Tuesday night was an impressive win over the New York Islanders, while they were blown out by the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. This game, the second half of a back-to-back, was a chance for the Blackhawks to bounce back.
Earlier in the week, Anton Frondell made his NHL debut, while Sacha Boisvert did one game later. The excitement of their first games is in the past, and now it's about getting them to become contributors on the team.
After losing to Philadelphia 5-1 on Thursday, they were beaten by the Rangers 6-1 one night later. It’s a young team, and it showed by being outscored 11-2 over two nights.
Nick Lardis scored Chicago’s lone goal on Friday by getting himself into a good position so he could take advantage of a pretty passing play by every skater on the ice. That’s three goals in the last four games for Lardis, who continues to find the back of the net no matter what level he’s at.
From there, the Rangers scored six unanswered to skate home with a 6-1 victory. Although New York and Chicago are at the same level in the standings, the former has veterans who can bring their A-game on any given night, which is usually enough to take down a young team like the Blackhawks.
The excitement of two prospects joining the lineup has gone away, but they were both noticeable in the loss to the Rangers.
For Frondell, who led all Blackhawks forwards in ice-time, he had one play where he stripped US Olympian JT Miller of the puck and found Connor Bedard all alone in front of the net. The shot was saved, but more often than not, that effort will result in goals. It was one of many noticeable plays that Frondell had over the course of the match.
As for Sacha Boisvert, he participated in his first career NHL fight. He mentioned that as a desire of his right when he signed, and now he has that checked off his list.
The Blackhawks didn't go after JT Miller right away when he hit Artom Levshunov, but they handled it later on, and that eventually led to Boisvert's fight against Will Borgen.
Making a name for himself in any way that he can is a key to earning a roster spot in 2026-27, and he’s done that through two games in limited ice time. As his role grows, so will his level of play.
The Blackhawks poor results can mostly be attributed to bad puck possession and defensive decision-making. Shots aren’t the end-all, be-all, but giving up 39 or more in four of the last five games is not ideal.
The Rangers had just 10 against the Ottawa Senators a couple of nights ago, and they had 39 against the Blackhawks. There is a sincere difference in competitive level between the Blackhawks and other NHL teams right now.
This is a tough stretch for the Blackhawks. No matter who is on the other side, a young team like them is going to struggle at times with all of their inexperience in the lineup. The core of the team must grind through and take that next step in their development, and it will only happen with reps like these.
Wins over the Islanders are a glimpse into how good things can be, and defeats like these two late-week losses show how far away they are.
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